"What have you done! You evil cat! What have you done to the man?"
But McElroy's breast had heaved with a great breath, sweet as the wind
over a harvest field to a tired man, and he looked up at Rette with
eyes that seemed to be suddenly flooded with life.
"Done?" he whispered; "done, Rette? The child has given me salvation!"
And then he held out a shaking, thin hand.
"Come here," he said softly; "come here."
Fearful, trembling, tear-stained Francette crept back, and the factor
took both her small hands in a tender clasp:
"I thank you, little one," he said, "from my heart I thank you,--there
is nothing to forgive. We are all sinners through the only bit of
Heaven we possess,--love. Go, little one, and cease this crying. Know
that I shall sleep this night in a mighty peace. You have given me--
life!"
CHAPTER XXX THE LAND OF THE WHISPERING HILLS
Springtime once more kissed all the wilderness into tender green. From
the depths of the forest, lacing its myriad branches in finest fluff of
young leaves, came the old-new sound of birds at the mating, rivers and
tiny streams rushed and tumbled to the lakes, and overhead a sky as
blue and sweet as the eyes of loved rocked its baby clouds in cradles
of fresh winds.
Pages:
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318