Page:The Father Confessor, Stories of Danger and Death.djvu/159

Rh The young man smiled nervously upon them. "I shall leave you together," he said anxiously; "you will do the best you can for me, sir?"

When the door closed after him, the man turned to his daughter.

"So you will not marry him?" he said gently. "Why?"

"I had not thought of marrying," the girl answered, looking into his eyes with unfaltering gaze.

"Do you not love him?"

"I had not thought of loving," said the girl, flushing softly.

"Why, what a hard heart!" replied the father, smiling; "and yet he is handsome and honest."

"It is not hard," the daughter replied; "but it is already full—I think there is no room for any one there but you." She wound her arms round his neck, he took her upon his knees, as he used to do when she was a child. He spoke to her of his property. He told her that everything was straight now, and that she would have quite a little fortune.

"For years," he said, "I was afraid you would lose it; but it is safe at last, little girl."