"If you love me you'll keep out of his way," replied the girl.
"If I love you? . . . My God! . . . I've felt my heart die a thousand times
since that mornin'--when--when you--"
"Lin, I didn't know," she interrupted, with sweet, grave earnestness. "I know
now!"
And Slone could not but know, too, looking at her; and the sweetness, the
eloquence, the noble abandon of her avowal sounded to the depths of him. His
dread, his resignation, his shame, all sped forever in the deep, full breath
of relief with which he cast off that burden. He tasted the nectar of
happiness, the first time in his life. He lifted his head--never, he knew, to
lower it again. He would be true to what she had made him.
"Come in the shade," he whispered, and with his arm round her he led her to
the great tree-trunk. "Is it safe for you here? An' how long can you stay?"
"I had it out with Dad--left him licked once in his life," she replied. "Then
I went to my room, fastened the door, and slipped out of my window. I can stay
out as long as I want.
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