I'd die for you,"
whispered Nell, with clenching hands. "But I won't disgrace you."
"Dear, you have worried over this trouble till you're morbid. It
has grown out of all proportion. I tell you that I'll not only
be the happiest man on earth, but the luckiest, if you marry me."
"Dick, you give not one thought to your family. Would they receive
me as your wife?"
"They surely would," replied Gale, steadily.
"No! oh no!"
"You're wrong, Nell. I'm glad you said that. You give me a chance
to prove something. I'll go this minute and tell them all. I'll
be back here in less than--"
"Dick, you will not tell her--your mother?" cried Nell, with her
eyes streaming. "You will not? Oh, I can't bear it! She's so
proud! And Dick, I love her. Don't tell her! Please, please
don't! She'll be going soon. She needn't ever know--about me.
I want her always to think well of me. Dick, I beg of you. Oh,
the fear of her knowing has been the worst of all! Please don't
go!"
"Nell, I'm sorry. I hate to hurt you. But you're wrong. You
can't see things clearly. This is your happiness I'm fighting
for. And it's my life....Wait here, dear. I won't be long."
Gale ran across the patio and disappeared. Nell sank to the
doorstep, and as she met the question in Belding's eyes she
shook her head mournfully. They waited without speaking. It
seemed a long while before Gale returned. Belding thrilled at
sight of him. There was more boy about him than Belding had
ever seen.
Pages:
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387
388