The Parson O' Dumford

“No, no, no,” she whispered, with a shudder.

“Then give me some little hope – however little. My darling, I will wait for years if you will but tell me – You turn from me – am I mad in thinking that you might some day trust me with this little hand? You said you must go. Why – why leave me? Oh, Eve – darling! have I kept my secret so long for this?”

He was rising from his seat when her little hands went up to his, and he sank beside her, as they were placed upon his breast, and Eve’s cheek went down upon them, and she nestled there.

“Is this a dream?” he exclaimed.

“One,” she whispered, “that I have prayed might some day come true, but trembled, for I thought it was a sin.”

“And you can love me?” he cried, drawing her closer and closer to him.

“At last,” she murmured; “and when I thought I was alone in the wide, wide world. Love you!” she faltered, as she hid her face in his breast, “I have loved you from the first.”