Page:The leopard's spots - a romance of the white man's burden-1865-1900 (IA leopardsspotsrom00dixo).pdf/302

 could scarcely be heard. He touched the tip of her beak with a bird kiss, they chirped, and flew away to the woods together.

Gaston determined to speak or die. His eyes were wet with unshed tears, and he was trembling from head to foot. He had meant to pour out his love for her like that bird in words of passionate beauty, but all he could do was to say with stammering voice low and tense with emotion,

"Miss Sallie, I love you!"

He had meant to say "Sallie," but at the last gasp of breath, as he spoke, his courage had failed. He did not look up at first. And when she was silent, he timidly looked up, fearing to hear the answer or read it in her face. She smiled at him and broke into a low peal of joyous laughter! And there was a note of joy in her laughter that was contagious.

"Please don't laugh at me," he stammered, smiling himself.

She buried her face in her hands and laughed again. She looked at him with her great blue eyes wide open, dancing with fun, and wet with tears.

"Do you know, it's the funniest thing in the world, you are the sixth man who has made love to me on this rock within a year!" and again she laughed in his face.

"Look here, Miss Sallie, this is cruel!"

"Dear old rock. It's enchanted. It never fails!" and she laughed softly again, and patted the rock with her hand.

"Surely you have tortured me long enough. Have some pity."

"It is a pitiable sight to see a big eloquent man stammer and do silly things isn't it?"

"Please give me your answer," he cried still trembling.