figure moved, swayed. A faint, sweet voice
called, piercing his heart like a keen blade. All of a sudden he had
gone mad, he thought; this return to his old work had disordered his
mind. The tremor of his body succeeded to a dizziness; his breast seemed
about to burst.

"NEALE!" called the sweet voice. She was coming toward him swiftly.
"IT'S ALLIE--ALIVE AND WELL!"

Neale felt lifted, as if by invisible wings. His limbs were useless--had
lost strength and feeling. The room whirled around him, and in that
whirl appeared Allie Lee's face. Alive--flushed--radiant! Recognition
brought a maddening check--a shock--and Neale's sight darkened. Tender,
fluttering hands caught him; soft strong arms enfolded him convulsively.

18

Neale seemed to come into another world--a paradise. His eyes doubted
the exquisite azure blue--the fleecy cloud--the golden sunshine.

There was a warm, wet cheek pressed close to his, bright chestnut
strands of hair over his face, tight little hands clutching his breast.
He scarcely breathed while he realized that Allie Lee lived. Then he
felt so weak that he could hardly move.

"Allie--you're not dead?" he whispered.

With a start she raised her head. It was absolutely the face of Allie
Lee.

"I'm the livest girl you ever saw," she replied, with a little low laugh
of joy.

"Allie--then you're actually alive--safe--here!" he exclaimed, in wild
assurance.

"Yes--yes.... With you again! Isn't it glorious? But, oh! I gave you a
shock. You frightened me so. Neale, are you well?"

"I wasn't--but I am now."

He trembled as he gazed at her. Yes, it was Allie's face--incomparable,
unforgettable. She might have been a little thin and strained. But time
and whatever she had endured had only enhanced her loveliness. No harm
had befallen her--that was written in the white glow of her face, in
the violet eyes, dark and beautiful, with the brave soul shining through
their haunting shadows, in the perfect lips, tremulous and tender with
love.

"Neale, they told me you gave up your work--were going to the bad," she
said, with an eloquence of distress changing her voice and expression.

"Yes. Allie Lee, I loved you so well--that after I lost you--I cared for
nothing."

"You gave up--"

"Allie," he interrupted, passionately, "don't talk of ME!... You haven't
kissed me!"

Allie blushed. "I haven't?... That's all you know!"

"Have you?"

"Yes I have--I have.... I was afraid I'd strangled