i f6c06dd9cf3fe221 by Unknown (the false prince .TXT) 📕

his, he held himself still, not touching her. Then, "That's what I'll remember always," he said.

Putting his arms about her and holding her tenderly, he asked, "What made you suddenly decide to marry Pat Delahunty, Kate, that Christmas Eve? I've always wanted to ask you, but kept putting it off, thinking you would tell me. It was something to do with me, wasn't it?"

"You know Pat's dead?" she asked.

"Yes, I know, and I was really sorry. I liked him, in spite of him loving you."

"I sometimes think his death was my fault."

"Nonsense! He would have been called up in any case.... But why were you going to marry him?"

"To escape you ... and because they were saying that I ... was your mistress, and you were the father of Annie."

"Kate! No!" He sprang up and drew her with him:

"No!" he repeated.

"Yes...." A goods train puffed by them and they stood silent during its passage, Rodney gazing at Kate with knitted brows.

Oh, darling. And you've had to put up with all this! No wonder you were afraid. Poor, poor dear. But what could liave given them that idea? "

"I don't know; I can't tell ... only that you made a fuss of Annie."

Gently drawing her to him, he said, "It only I had been Annie's father"

I've always loved her. You see, I could love her when I couldn't allow myself to love you . I sometimes used to imagine I was her father.

How funny! When they must have been thinking that, saying that, and watching me. What a queer world 1 And now they'll be saying, "What did I tell youl It's been going on for years." Oh, if only it had! Kate, I've such a lot to make up to you; life has been so hard for you. "

"Not half as hard as for some. I've had the Tolmaches ... now I've you."

"Oh, my love, you're so brave."

"How much longer have we?" she asked.

"For ever.... Don't let's look," he said, holding her close.

Presently, taking two small packages from his pocket, he exclaimed, "I almost forgot: here's your Christmas box, and Annie's. They're all I could get in the time. Now don't open them until you reach home."

She stood looking down at them.

"Oh, Rodney; and I've nothing to give you, not a thing."

"Don't talk nonsense."

"You know," she smiled at him, 'if there were time I'd resent being told I talk nonsense, that I'm ridiculous and that I'm silly. You have a very arrogant manner. Doctor Prince! "

"Oh, darling; do I sound arrogant?"

"You do."

"Well then, do as I say, and I'll be like a lamb when I get my own way.... Let me arrange about the money."

She put her hand over his mouth: "Seriously, dear, don't talk about it the time is flying. Oh!" she ex claimed, "I have something ... but don't laugh." Opening her handbag she took out a tiny. flat tin box which had once had an enamelled picture on its lid . "It's my rosary.

I've had it since I was a child. Will you take it? I'm still superstitious about it; I haven't done much praying lately, but I feel I must carry it with me. And, if you have it, it will still be with me."

He held the tiny rosary in his fingers: "Thanks, my dear. It will never leave me, because it is yours."

Then he smiled: "The only thing we want now is Father O'Malley's blessing ... what?"

A gale of laughter assailed them; they rocked helplessly with it.

"Well, we've travelled some distance when we can laugh at the old fellow.... What do you say, darling?"

Kate didn't answer. Suddenly he felt her face wet. "Oh, my dear, don't ... don't!" he begged.

"Look, only three more minutes. Come, smile. I want to remember you smiling and those eyes playing their tricks with me.... Tell me you'll never forget me, darling. Say it."

"I'll never forget you.... Oh, Rodney, take care!"

He dried her face gently with his handkerchief.

"Good heavens, you'll be in much more danger than I shall be, stuck miles behind the lines!"

She turned swiftly: "Here's the train 1 Oh, it can't be I It's early, but it won't stop a minute. Oh, my darting! ... Oh, you can't go! I have so much to say ... I love you, I love you." ^ They held together as the train slowed down. Doors opened. Rodney dragged himself away, his face stiff and showing grey in the dim light from the carriages.

"Keep on loving me, dearest, always. There'll never be anyone but you.

Goodbye, my love. "

He got into the carriage, the door dosed and the train moved, and she was left on the platform, alone. It was as if it had been a dream and he had never really been there.

As the red light disappeared into the tunnel, she moved away, thinking, I never thanked him for the presents . such footling thoughts!

She walked all the way home in a maze of numbed pain, she was back where she was an hour ago, with anxiety lying heavy on her.

When she entered the kitchen Tim was sitting before the fire, his leg resting on a chair. The lire was blazing up the chimney, glowing bright with coal. She went straight upstairs, anger, for the moment, blotting out her anxiety. That would be the last of the coal, which she had been keeping to light the fires with. There was nothing she could do about it, nothing she could say . no word ever passed between them now.

Passing Sarah's door, she called softly. Til be in in a minute, ma, when I've taken my things off. "

She sat on her bed