It was an inspiration to have such a listener. Under the encouragement
of her sympathy I found an unwonted flow of words and ideas. Laughter
and tears shone in her eyes as the ludicrous and sorrowful parts of my
experience touched her by turns. And at the end I found--I really don't
know how it happened--I found that I was clasping her hand and looking
up into her eyes in a trance of intoxication from the subtle magnetism
of her lovely presence.
For a minute we were silent.
"Oh," she cried softly, withdrawing her hand, and looking dreamily
away, "I knew it was right--that it must be right. You have justified
my faith, and more!"
"I am repaid for all by those words," I said. I am afraid I stared very
hard at her, but it was pleasant, indeed, to look into Luella's eyes
without any reservations or conscientious qualms in thinking of my duty
to hang her father.
"You deserve a much greater reward than that," said Luella.
"I want a much greater reward than that," said I boldly.
I did not think the courage was in me. But under the magnetic influence
of the woman before me I forgot what a poor devil I was. Luella looked
at me, and I saw in her eyes that she understood what I would say.
I do not know what I did say. I have no doubt it was very badly put,
but she listened seriously. Then she said:
"That's very nice of you to want me, but I am going to marry the
president of the Omega Company."
I turned sick with despair at these words so gently said, and a pang of
fierce jealousy, tinged with wonder, shot through me.
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