David's Little Lad

“It is my just punishment, brother. Still, I must say something now. Owen, I love you now. I love you now as I never did long ago; I understand you now. My heart can read yours at last I love you a thousand times better than of old. I don’t expect you to respond to it,” I concluded, with a sob.

Owen rose to his feet. “One moment,” he said; “do you love me well enough not to flatter me; well enough never to flatter me again; well enough to help me?”

“Oh, yes! Oh! if we might help each other!”

“I do respond to your love. Come to me, Gwladys.”

Standing by the little grave, he held out his arms and folded them round me, and kissed my cheek; and as I looked up into the dear, beautiful, noble face – it was all that truly now – I felt that my air castle had arisen out of its ashes; my day dream was fulfilled, and I had got back my hero and my darling.

The End.