Page:A strange, sad comedy (IA strangesadcomedy00seawiala).pdf/261

Rh stood by the hearth watching her. When she had got through, he suddenly went up close to her and caught her hands in his.

"Letty," he said, in a firm and serious voice that she had never heard him use before, "do you know what I came here for?"

In an instant she knew. But the knowledge staggered her. The idea that Farebrother would take the bit between his teeth and break through all her maze of little coquetries like that had never dawned upon her. In another minute he had made his meaning so plain to her that there was no evading it.

For the first time Farebrother saw a frightened look come into her clear eyes. She turned pale, but she made no effort to escape from him. He told her that he loved her well, with the manly force and directness that women like, and Letty stammered some sweet, incoherent answer which revealed that she too knew the exaltation of life's great fever. All her pretty airs and graces dropped from her in a moment—she stood trembling, and unconsciously returned the clasp of Farebrother's strong hands, like some weak creature holding desperately to one that is all steadfastness. Farebrother could not recall