Herminia fixed her piercing eyes upon his face once more. Tears

stood in them now. The tenderness of woman was awakened within

her. "Dear Alan," she said gently, "don't I tell you I have

thought long since of all that? I am PREPARED to face it. It is

only a question of with whom I shall do so. Shall it be with the

man I have instinctively loved from the first moment I saw him,

better than all others on earth, or shall it be with some lesser?

If my heart is willing, why should yours demur to it?"

"Because I love you too well," Alan answered doggedly.

Herminia rose and faced him. Her hands dropped by her side. She

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was splendid when she stood so with her panting bosom. "Then you

decide to say good-bye?" she cried, with a lingering cadence.

Alan seized her by both wrists, and drew her down to his side.

"No, no, darling," he answered low, laying his lips against hers.

"I can never say good-bye. You have confessed you love me. When a

woman says that, what can a man refuse her? From such a woman as

you, I am so proud, so proud, so proud of such a confession; how

could I ever cease to feel you were mine,--mine, mine, wholly mine

for a lifetime?"

"Then you consent?" Herminia cried, all aglow, half nestling to his

bosom.

"I consent," Alan answered, with profound misgivings. "What else

do you leave open to me?"

Herminia made no direct answer; she only laid her head with perfect

trust upon the man's broad shoulder. "O Alan," she murmured low,

letting her heart have its way, "you are mine, then; you are mine.

You have made me so happy, so supremely happy."




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