God! If she really loved, her father knew only too well how
she would love. Was the man crazy? Had he entirely forgotten the gulf
that lay between them? Great drops of perspiration rose to his forehead.
Two ideas held him in a desperate struggle, --his child's happiness; the
prejudice of a lifetime. Something conquered finally, and he arose quietly
and walked slowly off.
Through the trees he heard laughter. He walked round and saw her swinging
Will Tyrrell.
"There's your father," cried Boss, from the limb of a tree.
She looked up, startled. With a newborn shyness she had endeavored to put
off this meeting with her father. She gave the swing another push and
waited his approach with beating heart.
"The boys will excuse you, Ruth, I think; I wish you to come for a short
walk with me."
At his voice, the gentle seriousness of which penetrated even to the
Tyrrell boys' understanding, she felt that her secret was known.
She laid her arm about his neck and gave him his usual morning kiss,
reddening slowly under his long searching look as he held her to him. She
followed him almost blindly as he turned from the grounds and struck into
the lane leading to the woods. Mr. Levice walked along, aimlessly knocking
off with his stick the dandelions and camomile in the hedges.
Pages:
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184