It was several minutes past the appointed hour, and Miss Braxton had not
come. He had begun to fear that perhaps her father, suspecting something,
had detained her, when he saw her figure, a white outline among the
rose-bushes, far up the walk. As she drew near he stepped out from the
shadows, and she gave a little cry of delight.
"I know I am late, but I was talking with father," she said,
apologetically, and the brown eyes became troubled. "He was very restless
and nervous to-night and when he is in that condition he says I soothe
him." They had slowly walked towards the tree as she was speaking, and when
she had finished they were completely hidden from any chance passer. She
glanced up, and even in the gloom she noticed how white and tense was his
face.
"Do you know," he cried, abruptly, "if I go away from Lexington to-night it
will only be to return in a day, or two days? For weeks I have been able to
think of nothing, to dream of nothing, except you. I haven't come here
to-night to say good-bye to you," he continued, passionately, "because I
cannot say good-bye to you, but to implore you to come with me--to marry
me--to-night--now.
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