nown future,
and he had surrendered to it impulsively, without explaining to Olga
where he was going.

"Johnny, Johnny, you mustn't!" She sprang up, seizing his head and
wildly kissing him. "You mustn't! God understands, and Olga. Oh, you
mustn't sob like that! You are tearing my heart to pieces!"

"I ran away like a yellow dog! I didn't go down there and die with her!"

"You didn't run away to-night when you offered your life for my liberty.
Johnny, you mustn't!"

Under her tender ministrations the sobs began to die away and soon
resolved into little catching gasps. He was weak and spent from his
injuries; otherwise he would not have given way like this, discovered to
her what she had not known before, that in every man, however strong and
valiant he may be, there is a little child.

"It has been burning me up, Kitty."

"I know, I know! It is because you have a soul full of beautiful things,
Johnny. God held you back from dying with Olga because He knew I needed
you."

"You will marry me, knowing that I did this thing?"

Marry him! A door to some blinding radiance opened, and she could not
see for a little while. Marry him! What a miserable wretch she was to
think that he would want her otherwise! Johnny Two-Hawks, fiddling in
front of the Metropolitan Opera House, to fill a poor blind man's cup!

"Yes, Johnny. Now, yesterdays never were. For us there is nothing but
to-morrows. Out there, in the great country--where souls as well as
bodies may stretch themselves--we'll start all over again. You will be
the cowman and I'll be the kitchen wench. As in the beginning, so it
will always be hereafter, I'll cook your bacon and eggs."

She pulled his chair round and pushed it toward a window, dropped beside
it and laid her cheek against his hand.

"Let us look at the stars, Johnny. They know." Kuroki, having arrived
with coffee and sandwiches, paused on the threshold, gazed, wheeled
right about face, and returned to the kitchen.

By and by Kitty looked up into Hawksley's face. He was asleep. She got
up carefully, lightly kissed the top of his head--the old wound--and
crossed to Cutty's door. She must tell dear old Cutty of the wonderful
happiness that was going to be hers. She opened the study door, but did
not enter at once. Asleep on his arms. Why, he hadn't even opened that
Ali Baba's bag! Tired out--done in, as Johnny Two-Hawks called it in his
English fashion. She waited; but as he did not stir she approache