Page:Curwood--The Courage of Captain Plum.djvu/326

 gloom of the cabin, and he saw only that a figure was standing there, as still as death. His pistol dropped to the floor. He stretched out his arms, and his voice sobbed in its entreaty as he whispered the girl's name. In response to that whisper came a low, glad cry, and Marion lay trembling on his breast.

"I have come back for you!" he breathed.

He felt her heart beating against him. He pressed her closer, and her arms slipped about his neck.

"I have come back for you!"

He was almost crying, like a boy, in his happiness.

"I love you, I love you—"

He felt the warm touch of her lips.

"You will go with me?"

"If you want me," she whispered. "If you want me—after you know—what I am—"

She shuddered against his breast, and he raised her face between his two hands and kissed her until she drew away from him, crying softly.