larmed me----"

"Are you capable of loving me?"

"Duane, you must not ask me that!"

"Tell me!"

But she pushed him back, and they faced each other, her hands remaining
on his shoulders. She strove piteously to endure his gaze, flinched,
strove to push him from her again--but the slender hands lay limply
against him. So they remained, her hands at intervals nervously
tightening and relaxing on his shoulders, her tearful breath coming
faster, the dark eyes closing, opening, turning from him, toward him,
searching, now in his soul, now in her own, her self-command slipping
from her.

"It is cowardly in me--if I do it," she said in the ghost of a voice.

"Do what?"

"Let you risk--what I m-might become."

"You little saint!"

"Some saints _were_ depraved at first--weren't they?" she said without a
smile. "Oh, Duane, Duane, to think I could ever be here speaking to you
about--about the horror that has happened to me--looking into your face
and giving up my dreadful secret to you--laying my very soul naked
before you! How can I look at you----"

"Because I love you. Now give me the right to your lips and heart!"

There was a long silence. Then she tried to smile.

"My--my lips? I--thought you took such things--lightly----"

She hesitated, glanced up at him, then began to tremble.

"Duane--if you are in earnest about our--about an engagement--promise me
that I may be released if I--think best----"

"Why?"

"I--I might fail----"

"The more need of me. But you can't fail----"

"Yes, but if I should, dear. Will you release me? I cannot--I will not
engage myself to you--unless you promise to let me go if I think it
best. You know what my word means. Give it back to me if matters go
wrong with me. Will you?"

"But I am going to marry you now!" he said with a short, excited laugh.

"Now!" she repeated, appalled.

"Certainly, to make sure of you. We don't need a license in this State.
There's a parson at West Gate Village.... I intend to make sure of you
now. You can keep it a secret if you like. When you return to town we
can have everything en regle--engagement announced, cards, church
wedding, and all that. Meanwhile I'm going to be sure of you."

"W-when?"

"This afternoon."

His excitement thrilled her; a vivid colour surged over neck and brow.

"Duane, I did not dream that you cared so much, so truly--Oh, I--I do
love you then!--I love you, Duane! I love you!"

He drew her suddenly into his a