But I had to have one
more try for happiness first. I had just one little hope to
inspire me with sufficient boldness. I saw you, that night, when
you came back here and picked up my rose! I had come back,
myself, to be alone and unhappy."
"It is the most wonderful thing that ever happened--that you
should love me," I said.
"It's not--I couldn't help it," said Betty, nestling her brown
head on my shoulder. "You taught me everything else, Stephen, so
nobody but you could teach me how to love. You've made a
thorough thing of educating me."
"When will you marry me, Betty?" I asked.
"As soon as I can fully forgive you for trying to make me marry
somebody else," said Betty.
It was rather hard lines on Frank, when you come to think of it.
But, such is the selfishness of human nature that we didn't think
much about Frank. The young fellow behaved like the Douglas he
was. Went a little white about the lips when I told him, wished
me all happiness, and went quietly away, "gentleman unafraid."
He has since married and is, I understand, very happy. Not as
happy as I am, of course; that is impossible, because there is
only one Betty in the world, and she is my wife.
XII. IN HER SELFLESS MOOD
The raw wind of an early May evening was puffing in and out the
curtains of the room where Naomi Holland lay dying. The air was
moist and chill, but the sick woman would not have the window
closed.
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