to this young girl of love. The blood of friends and
servants was still rusty on her skirt's ragged hem.

Yet, that night, when at last in safety she had said good-bye to the man
who had secured it for her, he knew that he was in love with her. And,
at such crises, the veil that hides hearts becomes transparent.

At that instant he had seen and known. Afterward he had dared not
believe that he had know.

But hers had been a purer courage.

* * * * *

As he strode on, the comprehension of her candour, her honesty, the
sweet bravery that had conceived, created, and sent that letter,
thrilled this young man until his heavy boots sprouted wings, and the
trail he followed was but a path of rosy clouds over which he floated
heavenward.

* * * * *

And half an hour later he came to his senses with a distinct shock.

Straight ahead of him on the trail, and coming directly toward him,
moved a figure in knickers and belted tweed.

Flecked sunlight slanted on the stranger's cheek and burnished hair,
dappling face and figure with moving, golden spots.

Instantly Darragh knew and trembled.

But Theodorica of Esthonia had known him only in his uniform.

As she came toward him, lovely in her lithe and rounded grace, only
friendly curiosity gazed at him from her blue eyes.

Suddenly she knew him, went scarlet to her yellow hair, then white: and
tried to speak -- but had no control of the short, rosy upper lip which
only quivered as he took her hands.

The forest was dead still around them save for the whisper of painted
leaves sifting down from a sunlit vault above.

Finally she sad in a ghost of a voice: "My -- friend. ..."

"If you accept his friendship. ..."

"Friendship is to be shared. ... Ours mingled -- on that day. ... Your
share is -- as much as pleases you."

"All you have to give me, then."

"Take it ... All I have. ..." Her blue eyes met his with a little
effort. All courage is an effort.

Then that young man dropped on both knees at her feet and laid his lips
to her soft hands.

In trembling silence she stood for a moment, then slowly sank on both
knees to face him across their clasped hands.

So, in the gilded cathedral of the woods, pillared with silver, and
azure-domed, the betrothal of these two was sealed with clasp and lip.

Awed, a little fearful, she looked into her lover's eyes with a gaze so
chaste, so oblivious to all things earthly, that the still purity of her
face seemed a