Part 7 (1/2)
The question appeared to take her somewhat by surprise, if one could judge by the look she bestowed upon him with her dark, flas.h.i.+ng eyes.
”In Fate, Mr. Reilly? that is a subject, I fear, too deep for a girl like me. I believe in Providence.”
”All this morning I have been thinking of the subject. Should it be Fate that brought me to the rescue of your father last night, I cannot but feel glad of it; but though it be a Fate that has preserved him--and I thank Almighty G.o.d for it--yet it is one that I fear has destroyed my happiness.”
”Destroyed your happiness, Mr. Reilly! why, how could the service you rendered papa last night have such an effect?”
”I will be candid, and tell you, Miss Folliard. I know that what I am about to say will offend you--it was by making me acquainted with his daughter, and by bringing me under the influence of beauty which has unmanned--distracted me--beauty which I could not resist--which has overcome me--subdued me--and which, because it is beyond my reach and my deserts, will occasion me an unhappy life--how long soever that life my last.”
”Mr. Reilly,” exclaimed the _Cooleen Bawn_, ”this--this--is--I am quite unprepared for--I mean--to hear that such n.o.ble and generous conduct to my father should end in this. But it cannot be. Nay, I will not pretend to misunderstand you. After the service you have rendered to him and to myself, it would be uncandid in me and unworthy of you to conceal the distress which your words have caused me.”
”I am scarcely in a condition to speak reasonably and calmly,” replied Reilly, ”but I cannot regret that I have unconsciously sacrificed my happiness, when that sacrifice has saved you from distress and grief and sorrow. Now that I know you, I would offer--lay down--my life, if the sacrifice could save yours from one moment's care. I have often heard of what love--love in its highest and n.o.blest sense--is able to do and to suffer for the good and happiness of its object, but now I know it.”
She spoke not, or rather she was unable to speak; but as she pulled out her snow-white handkerchief, Reilly could observe the extraordinary tremor of her hands; the face, too, was deadly pale.
”I am not making love to you, Miss Folliard,” he added. ”No, my religion, my position in life, a sense of my own unworthiness, would prevent that; but I could not rest unless you knew that there is one heart which, in the midst of unhappiness and despair, can understand, appreciate, and love you. I urge no claim. I am without hope.”
The fair girl (_Cooleen Bawn_) could not restrain her tears; but wept--yes, she wept. ”I was not prepared for this,” she replied. ”I did not think that so short an acquaintance could have--Oh, I know not what to say--nor how to act. My father's prejudices. You are a Catholic.”
”And will die one, Miss Folliard.”
”But why should you be unhappy? You do not deserve to be so.”
”That is precisely what made me ask you just now if you believed in fate.”
”Oh, I know not. I cannot answer such a question; but why should you be unhappy, with your brave, generous, and n.o.ble heart? Surely, surely, you do not deserve it.”
”I said before that I have no hope, Miss Folliard. I shall carry with me my love of you through life; it is my first, and I feel it will be my last--it will be the melancholy light that will burn in the sepulchre of my heart to show your image there. And now, Miss Folliard, I will bid you farewell. Your father has proffered me hospitality, but I have not strength nor resolution to accept it. You now know my secret--a hopeless pa.s.sion.”
”Reilly,” she replied, weeping bitterly, ”our acquaintance has been short--we have not seen much of each other, yet I will not deny that I believe you to be all that any female heart could--pardon me, I am without experience--I know not much of the world. You have travelled, papa told me last night; I do not wish that you should be unhappy, and, least of all, that I, who owe you so much, should be the occasion of it.
No, you talk of a hopeless pa.s.sion. I know not what I ought to say--but to the preserver of my father's life, and, probably my own honor, I will say, be not--but why should love be separated from truth?” she said--”No, Reilly, be not hopeless.”
”Oh,” replied Reilly, who had gone over near her, ”but my soul will not be satisfied without a stronger affirmation. This moment is the great crisis of my life and happiness. I love you beyond all the power of language or expression. You tremble, dear Miss Folliard, and you weep; let me wipe those precious tears away. Oh, would to G.o.d that you loved me!”
He caught her hand--it was not withdrawn--he pressed it as he had done the evening before. The pressure was returned--his voice melted into tenderness that was contagious and irresistible: ”Say, dearest Helen, star of my life and of my fate, oh, only say that I am not indifferent to you.”
They were both standing near the chimney-piece as he spoke--”only say,”
he repeated, ”that I am not indifferent to you.”
”Well, then,” she replied, ”you are not indifferent to me.”
”One admission more, my dearest life, and I am happy forever. You love me? say it, dearest, say it--or, stay, whisper it, whisper it--you love me!”
”I do,” she whispered in a burst of tears.
CHAPTER IV.--His Rival makes his Appearance, and its Consequences
--A Sapient Project for our Hero's Conversion