Page:In the days of the comet.djvu/147

 I wish she and me together were lying in our graves."

"But"--I moistened my lips and spoke slowly--"she may have gone to marry."

"If that was so! I've prayed to God it might be so, Willie. I've prayed that he'd take pity on her--him, I mean, she's with."

I jerked out: "Who's that?"

"In her letter, she said he was a gentleman. She did say he was a gentleman."

"In her letter. Has she written? Can I see her letter?"

"Her father took it."

"But if she writes-- When did she write?"

"It came this morning."

"But where did it come from? You can tell--"

"She didn't say. She said she was happy. She said love took one like a storm--"

"Curse that! Where is her letter? Let me see it. And as for this gentleman--"

She stared at me.

"You know who it is."

"Willie!" she protested.

"You know who it is, whether she said or not?" Her eyes made a mute unconfident denial.

"Young Verrall?"

She made no answer. "All I could do for you, Willie," she began presently.