Part 24 (2/2)

”There is but one woman in the world for me,” I murmured, ”as truly as there was only one for the first lonely man. I know not how it is with her, but I hope--oh, what would life now be to me without this hope!--that she cannot have inspired this absolute conviction that she is essential to my being without some answering sympathy in her own woman's heart. But whether this is true or not, or whether it ever can be true, _I have met my fate_.”

As I returned from the garden I saw that the dawn was coming, and I sat down and watched it brighten with the feeling that a new and happy life was also coming.

THE END OF BOOK FIRST

_BOOK SECOND_

CHAPTER I

THE DAY AFTER

The epochs of one's life are not divided according to the calendar, nor are they measured by the lapse of time. Within a few brief hours I had reached a conclusion that left no shadow of doubt on my mind. As I sat there in the beautiful June dawn I turned a page in my history. The record of future joys and ills would have to be kept in double entry, for I felt with absolute conviction that I could entertain no project and decide no question without instinctively and naturally consulting the maiden who had quietly and as if by divine right obtained the mastery of my soul. But a day since I would have said that my present att.i.tude was impossible, but now it seemed both right and inevitable.

The doubt, the sense of strangeness and remoteness that we justly a.s.sociate with a comparative stranger, had utterly pa.s.sed away, and in their place was a feeling of absolute trust and rest. I could place in her hands the best treasures of my life, without a shadow of hesitancy, so strongly had I been impressed with her truth.

And yet it all was a beautiful mystery, over which I could have dreamed for hours.

I had not shunned society in the past, and had greatly admired other ladies. Their voices had been sweet and low, as a woman's tones should be, and their glances gentle and kind, but not one of them had possessed the power to quicken my pulse or to disturb the quiet slumber of my heart; but this woman spoke to me as with authority from heaven.

”My whole being,” I murmured, ”bows down to her by a constraint that I could scarcely resist, and no queen in the despotic past ever had a more loyal subject than I have become. To serve her, even to suffer for her and to stand between her and all evils the world could inflict, are privileges that I covet supremely. My regard is not a sudden pa.s.sion, for pa.s.sion is selfish and inconsiderate. My love is already united with honor and reverence, and my strongest impulse is to promote her happiness before my own. The thought of her is an inspiration toward a purer, better manhood than I have yet known. Her truth and innate n.o.bility produce an intense desire to become like her, so that she may look into my eyes and trust also.”

I scarcely know how long my bright-hued dream would have lasted, but at length the door of Mrs. Yocomb's room opened, and steps were on the stairs. A moment later the physician came out, and Miss Warren stood in the doorway.

”They are all sleeping quietly,” he said, in answer to my inquiry.

”Yes; all danger in Zillah's case is now pa.s.sed, I think; but she's had a serious time of it, poor little thing!”

”There's no need of your walking home to-night,” protested Miss Warren.

”We can make you comfortable here, and Reuben will gladly drive you over in the morning.”

”It's morning now,” he said, smiling, ”and I'll enjoy the walk in the fresh air. I'll call again before very long. Good-day!” and he walked lightly down the path, as if all were very satisfactory to him.

”What are you doing here, Mr. Morton?” Miss Warren asked, a.s.suming an expression of strong surprise.

”Helping to watch.”

”What a waste! You haven't done Zillah a bit of good.”

”Didn't you know I was here?”

”Yes; but I hope you don't think that I need watching?”

”I was within call.” ”So you would have been if sleeping. I could have blown the great tin horn if it had been necessary to waken you, and you had remained undisturbed by other means.”

”Oh, well, then, if it made no difference to you, I'll merely say I'm a night editor, and kept awake from habit.”

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