| OCR Text |
Show 260 1lUlbat a !DIIftr• encc! Glltl 1Rose ant! Stiller "I didn't know," he stammered, "that there was so much kindness in the world. I have been very lonely since--" Her eyes filled and she held his hand more closely. "You won't be lonely any more. I 'II come whenever you want me, night or day, to play, to read-or anything. Only speak, and I 'II come." u How g<X>d you are ! ., he murmured, gratefully. "No, please don't let go of my hand." In some inexplicable fashion strength seemed to flow to him from her. "I think you 'II be glad to know," she said, "how sympathetic everybody has been. Strangers stop us on the street to ask for you, and people telephone every day. Down in the library, there 's a pile of letters that would take days to read, and many of them have foreign stamps. It makes one feel warm around the heart, for it brings the ideal of human brotherh<Xl<i so near." He sighed and his face looked haggard. The brotherhood of man was among the things that did not concern him now. The weariness of the ages was in every line of his body. "I have been thinking," he went on, after a little, "what a difference one little hour can make, a minute, even. Once I had everything -youth, health, strength, a happy home, love, a dear father, and every promise of success in my chosen career. Now I 'm old and "1ess tban tbe l!lust" broken; health, strength, and love have been taken away in an instant, my father is gone, and my career is only an empty memory. _I have no violin, and, if I had, what use would It be to me without-why Rose, I haven't even fingers to make the notes nor hands to hold it." Rose could bear no more. She sprang to her feet with arms outstretched, all her love and longing swelling into infinite appeal. "Oh Boy!" she cried, "take mine! Take my hands, for always ! " For a tense instant they faced each other. Her breast rose and fell with every quick breath; her eyes met his, then faltered, and the crimson of shame mantled her white face. "Oh," she breathed, painfully, and turned away from him. When she was half way to the door, he called to her. "Rose I Dear Rose!" She hesitated, her hand upon the knob. "Close the door and come back," he pleaded. "Please-oh, please ! " Trembling from head to foot, she obeyed him, but her face was pitiful. She could not force herself to look at him. ''Forgive," she murmured, "and forget." The hand he took in his was cold, but her nearness gave him comfort, as never before. His heart was unspeakably tender toward her. "Rose," he went on, softly, "I've been too near the other world not to have the truth 261 ""U:allc mine! '' |
