Kemp purposed taking would leave. Ruth, with this knowledge at
heart, had softly risen and left the cottage. Close behind the depot rose
a wooded hill. She had often climbed it with the Tyrrell boys; and what
was to prevent her doing so now? It afforded an excellent view of the
station.
It was very little past six, and she began leisurely to ascend the hill.
The sweet morning air was in her nostrils, and she pushed the broad hat
form her happy eyes. She paused a moment, looking up at the wooded
hill-top, which the sun was jewelling in silver.
"Do you see something beautiful up there?"
With an inarticulate cry she wheeled around and faced Dr. Kemp within a
hand's breadth of her.
"Oh," she cried, stepping back with burning cheeks, "I did not mean--I did
not expect--"
"Nor did I," he said in a low voice; "chance is kinder to us than
ourselves--beloved."
She turned quite white at the low, intense word.
"You understood me last night--and I was not--deceived?"
Her head drooped lower till the broad brim of her hat hid her face.
With one quick step he reached her side.
"Ruth, look at me."
She never had been able to resist his compelling voice; and now with a
swift-drawn breath she threw back her head and looked up at him fairly,
with all her soul in her eyes.
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