place, suddenly and intensively, and there wasn’t a soul around to witness their meeting, though perhaps it would not have made the least difference to them, for they were aware of nobody but their own two selves.
She went to his arms as to a haven she had always known she possessed, and his arms went around her and drew her close, with her gold head right over his heart, her cheek rubbing deliciously against the fine serge of his dark blue coat. Dark blue serge, how she loved it! He had worn a coat like that when she first found him!
He laid his lips against her forehead, her soft hair brushing his face, and held her close for a moment, breathing, “Oh, my darling!”
Then suddenly they drew apart, almost embarrassed, each afraid of having been too eager, and then drew together again, his arm about her waist, drawing her into the small reception room and down to the small sofa just inside the portiere.
The man laughed softly, triumphantly.
“I was afraid to come,” he said. “I was afraid it would be too soon, after—after—that other man!”
“You mean Carter?” said Sherrill, and then with a sudden inner enlightenment, “Why, there never was any other man but you.” She said it with a burst of joy. “I thought there was, but now I know there never was! At least I thought he was what you are! There has always been you—in my thoughts, I guess!” and she dropped her eyes shyly, afraid to have too quickly revealed her heart.
“How could I have been so mistaken!” she added with quick anger at herself. “Oh, I should have had to suffer longer for being so stupid!”
But he drew her within his arms again and laid his lips on hers, then on her sweet eyelids, and then, his cheek against hers, he whispered, “Oh, my precious little love!”
Suddenly he brought something from his pocket, something bright and flashing, and slipped it on her finger. Startled, she looked down and saw a great blue diamond, the loveliest she had ever seen, set in delicate platinum handiwork.
“That marks you as mine,” he said with a wonderful look into her eyes. “And now, darling, we’ve got to work fast, for I haven’t much time.”
“Oh!” said Sherrill in instant alarm. “Have you got to go back again right away?”
“Not back again,” he laughed, “but off somewhere else. And I don’t know what you’ll think of what I’ve come to propose. Maybe you’ll think it is all wrong, rushing things this way when we’ve scarcely known each other yet, and you don’t really know a thing about me or my family.”
“That wouldn’t matter,” said Sherrill emphatically, without even a thought of the emerald necklace, though Gemmie at that moment was stalking noisily through the hall beyond the curtain.
“You precious one!” said Copeland, drawing her close again and lifting one of her hands, the one with the ring on the third finger, to his lips.
“Well, now, you see, it’s this way. I’m being sent quite unexpectedly to South America on a matter of very special business. It’s a great opportunity for me, and if I succeed in my mission it means that I’ll be on Easy Street, of course. But I may have to stay down there anywhere from six weeks to six months to accomplish my purpose—”
“Ohhh!” breathed Sherrill with a sound like pain.
He smiled, pressed her fingers close, and went on speaking.
“I feel that way, too, dearest. I can’t bear to be away from you so long when I’ve only just found you. And I’ve been audacious enough to want to take you with me! Do you suppose you could ever bring yourself to see it that way, too? Or have I asked too much? I’ve brought all sorts of credentials and things with me.”
“I don’t need credentials,” said Sherrill, nestling close to him. “I love you.” And suddenly she felt she understood that other poor girl who had said she would marry Carter McArthur if she knew she had to go through hell with him. That was what love was, utter self-abnegation, utter devotion. That was why love was so dangerous perhaps to some. But this love was different. This man knew her Christ, belonged to Him. Oh, what had God done for her! Taken away a man who was not worthy, and given her one of His own children!
His arms were about her again, drawing her close, his words of endearment murmured in her ear.
“You will go?” he