They can come for me as soon as I can travel.

Tell Kilday I wasn't worth it.' Oh, Sandy! I don't know whether it was right or wrong,--what you did,--but it was merciful: if you could have seen him that last week, crying all the time like a little child, afraid of the shadows on the wall, afraid to be alone, afraid to live, afraid to die--" Her voice broke, and she covered her face with her hands.
Sandy started forward, then he paused and gripped the chair-back until his fingers were white.
"Ruth," he said impatiently, "you'd best be going quick.

It'll break the heart of me to see you standing there suffering, unless I can take you in me arms and comfort you.

I've sworn never to speak the word; but, by the saints--" "You may!" sobbed Ruth, and with a quick, timid little gesture she laid her hands in his.
For a moment he held her away from him.

"It's not pity," he cried, searching her face, "nor gratitude!" She lifted her eyes, as honest and clear as her soul.
"It's been love, Sandy," she whispered, "ever since the first." [Illustration: "'It's been love, Sandy, ...