more about her, and trying harder to
please her, his old love will be revived--that is, _if it ever died_.
Who could tell? I couldn't."

"Look here, Dixie, listen to me!" Henley's voice shook with subdued
passion. "I've never felt like it was exactly honorable, fixed like I
am, to tell you--to talk out plain to you about--about how I feel toward
you, but you are nagging me on to it. I can't help it. Right now it is
burning me up inside. I love you more than a man ever loved a woman. You
are in my mind day and night. Standing here before me now you seem as
far-off and precious as an angel of light. I want you. I want you from
the very bottom dregs of my suffering soul. She asked me to move over
there, and when she did it the thought of getting farther away from you
made me actually sick. I'd rather live here on a crust of bread than to
rule a nation away from you. I may as well confess it. I don't love her.
I couldn't in a thousand years. She killed the love I once had. She was
slowly killing it by her strange ways while you was growing into my
heart by your sweet, brave, unselfish life. Now, I've said all I can. I
have no hope of ever having you all for my own, but I can love you--I
can worship you, and no earthly power can prevent me."

Even in the starlight he could see the color rising in her face and the
shimmer of delight in her eyes. She laid her hand on his tense,
throbbing arm. "I see," she said, a sweet cadence in her voice. "I've
had all my scare for nothing. Oh, Alfred, I've been nigh crazy. I
doubted you. All the talk about your wife's wonderful luck went clean
against my better judgment. I kept telling myself that you was different
from ordinary men, but, somehow, it wouldn't stick. I may as well tell
the truth. That's why I come here to-night. I've been unable to sleep--I
was going crazy. You are mine, Alfred, all mine--ain't you?"

He felt her throbbing fingers on his wrist and saw her shoulders rise
convulsively. An overpowering force within him urged him to clasp her to
himself. He opened his arms, but she deftly caught his hands and held
them tightly. "No, no," she said, firmly, "not that--not that! Folks say
men and women fixed like we are can't love one another without doing
wrong; but they can. The strong ones can, and we are strong, Alfred. Our
love is sweet enough as it is. It is of heaven; let's keep it right. You
might think you'd respect me if I let you hold me in your arms--here at
your own