Page:Mehalah 1920.djvu/315

Rh he laid Mehalah, whilst he groped for his boat, and unloosed the rope that attached it to the shore. He returned, and took up the still unconscious girl. He felt her feeble breath on his cheek as he carried her, but he did not see the spot of returning colour in her face. He was eager, and hasty. He knew no delay, but pressed on. He carried her into the boat and took his oars and began to row, with her lying in the bottom. The tide was running out. His instinct guided him. The bells of Mersea tower were dancing a merry peal. The windows of the Leather Bottle were lighted up, and the topers were drinking prosperity to the married pair. George De Witt was making his way to the Mussets, little conscious that Mehalah was lying in a boat, stunned, and being carried out seaward. Presently Elijah felt sure by the fresher breeze and increased motion that he was out of the fleet in deep water. Then he quietly shipped his oars.

He lifted Mehalah, and drew her into his arms and laid her against his heart. "My Glory! my own dearest! my only one!" he moaned. "I could not help it. You would have left me had I not done this. There was no other way out of the tangle, there was no other path into the light. Glory! we were created for each other, but a perverse fortune has separated your heart from mine here. We shall meet and unite in another world. We must do so, we were born for each other. Glory! Glory!" She stirred and opened her eyes, and drew a long breath. "Are you waking. Glory?" he asked. "Hark, hark! the marriage bells are ringing, ringing, ringing, for you and me. Now Glory! now only is our marriage! now only, locked together, shall we find rest."

He took the iron chain, and wound it round her and him, tying them together tight, and then he fastened the padlock and flung the key into the sea. "Once I turned the key in the lock carelessly, and he who was bound by this chain escaped. I have fastened it firmly now, it will not fall apart for all eternity. Now Glory! Now we are bound together for everlasting."