"You are
my friend. I have never crossed your wishes, and, as you say, I
have never regretted being guided by them. I will do exactly as
you wish in this case also, I promise you that. But, in so
solemn a question, I must be very certain what you DO wish.
There must be no doubt in my mind or heart. Look me squarely in
the eyes, Stephen--as you haven't done once to-day, no, nor once
since I came home from school--and, so looking, tell me that you
wish me to marry Frank Douglas and I will do it! DO you,
Stephen?"
I had to look her in the eyes, since nothing else would do her;
and, as I did so, all the might of manhood in me rose up in hot
revolt against the lie I would have told her. That unfaltering,
impelling gaze of hers drew the truth from my lips in spite of
myself.
"No, I don't wish you to marry Frank Douglas, a thousand times
no!" I said passionately. "I don't wish you to marry any man on
earth but myself. I love you--I love you, Betty. You are dearer
to me than life--dearer to me than my own happiness. It was your
happiness I thought of--and so I asked you to marry Frank because
I believed he would make you a happy woman. That is all!"
Betty's defiance went from her like a flame blown out. She
turned away and drooped her proud head.
"It could not have made me a happy woman to marry one man, loving
another," she said, in a whisper.
I got up and went over to her.
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