Page:Caroline Lockhart--The Fighting Shepherdess.djvu/73

 FOR ALWAYS

The unconscious pathos went straight to the boy's chivalrous heart.

" Oh, Honey ! " he cried impulsively, and taking her hand in both of his he held it tight against his breast.

Her eyes grew luminous at the word and the caress.

" Honey !" she repeated in a wondering whisper. " I like that."

Her lids lowered before the new and strange expression in his face.

" You've always seemed so independent and self-re- liant, like another fellow, somehow. I didn't know you were so sweet. I'm just finding you out."

She looked at him before replying, but he trembled be- fore the soft light shining in her eyes.

He stood for a moment uncertainly, fighting for his self-control, then, casting off restraint, he threw his arms about her, crying passionately :

" I love you ! I love you, Katie I There's nobody like you in the whole world. Kiss me — Sweet! "

She drew back startled, looking into his eyes. Her own seemed to melt under what she saw there, and she slowly lifted her lips. When she could speak —

"You'll love me for always, Hughie?"

"For always," huskily. ** For ever and ever, Katie."

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