Page:Randall Parrish--My Lady of the South.djvu/298

MY LADY OF THE SOUTH I might bear away with me some knowledge that you do care, although it be ever so little. The real love of any man must have meaning to the memory of the one woman."

"And it has—will ever have to me."

There was an impulsiveness to these words which sent my heart throbbing.

"How-how could I be indifferent?" she went on, almost indignantly. "I am young, scarcely more than a girl, and this is all new to me; I hardly comprehend the meaning of it. But—but I cannot forget. No tale of romance could be stranger than the way in which we have been thrown together. You are a Yankee, an enemy to all I have been taught to revere, in warfare against my people, your first act a grievous wrong against myself, and—and yet I can't hate you. I've tried, but I can't! Oh, it is the strangest thing! I even believe I dread to have you go away, and yet you must, and I wish you to."

"Then I shall go, but you tempt me strongly."

"Tempt you?—how?—to what?"

"Tempt me to urge that the war will some time be over; tempt me to hope I may be welcome when that time comes."

"Have I said that?—have I said anything like that?"

"No; only that you are not indifferent; that you do care a little. It is not your words, but your eyes, which encourage me." [ 282 ]