the filigree ball-第50部分

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way　up　to　where　she　moved　among　the　carved　pillars　when　I　heard　a
soft　sigh　above　and　caught　the　rustle　of　her　dress　as　she　sat　down
upon　a　bench　at　the　head　of　the　steps　near　which　I　stood。　　Somehow
that　sigh　deterred　me。　　I　hesitated　to　break　in　upon　a　melancholy
so　invincible　that　even　the　sight　of　all　this　loveliness　could　not
charm　it　away；　and　in　that　moment　of　hesitation　something　occurred
above　which　fixed　me　to　my　place　in　irrepressible　curiosity。

〃Another　step　had　entered　the　open　door　of　the　chapel　…　a　man's
step　…　eager　and　with　a　purpose　in　it　eloquent　of　something　deeper
than　a　mere　tourist's　interest　in　this　loveliest　of　interiors。　　The
cry　which　escaped　her　lips；　the　tone　in　which　he　breathed　her　name
in　his　hurried　advance；　convinced　me　that　this　was　a　meeting　of　two
lovers　after　a　long　heart…break　and　that　I　should　mar　the　supreme
moment　of　their　lives　by　intruding　into　it　the　unwelcome　presence
of　a　stranger。　　So　I　lingered　where　I　was　and　thus　heard　what
passed　between　them　at　this　moment　of　all　moments　ire　their　lives。

〃It　was　she　who　spoke　first。

〃　Francis；　you　have　come！　　You　have　sought　me！'

〃To　which　he　replied　in　choked　accents　which　yet　could　not　conceal
the　inexpressible　elation　of　his　heart：

〃'Yes　I　have　come；　I　have　sought　you。　　Why　did　you　fly？　　Did　you　not
see　that　my　whole　soul　was　turning　to　you　as　it　never　turned　even
to　…　to　her　in　the　best　days　of　our　unshaken　love；　and　that　I　could
never　rest　till　I　found　you　and　told　you　how　the　eyes　which　have
once　been　blind　enjoy　a　passion　of　seeing　unknown　to　others　…　a
passion　which　makes　the　object　seem　so　dear　…　so　dear　…　'

〃He　paused；　perhaps　to　look　at　her；　perhaps　to　recover　his　own
self…possession；　and　I　caught　the　echo　of　a　sigh　of　such　utter
content　and　triumph　from　her　lips　that　I　was　surprised　when　in
another　moment　she　exclaimed　in　a　tone　so　thrilling　that　I　am　sure
no　common　circumstances　had　separated　this　pair：

〃'Have　we　a　right　to　happiness　while　she　…　　Oh；　Francis；　I　can　not！
She　loved　you。　　It　was　her　love　for　you　which　drove　her　…　'

〃'Cora！'　came　with　a　sort　of　loving　authority；　'we　have　buried　our
erring　one　and　passionately　as　I　loved　her；　she　is　no　more　mine；
but　God's。　　Let　her　woeful　spirit　rest。　　You　who　suffered；
supported　…　who　sacrificed　all　that　woman　holds　dear　to　save　what；
in　the　nature　of　things；　could　not　be　saved　…　have　more　than　right
to　happiness　if　it　is　in　my　power　to　give　it　to　you；　I；　who　have
failed　in　so　much；　but　never　in　anything　more　than　in　not　seeing
where　true　worth　and　real　beauty　lay。　　Cora；　there　is　but　one　hand
which　can　lift　the　shadow　from　my　life。　　That　hand　I　am　holding
now　…　do　not　draw　it　away　…　it　is　my　anchor；　my　hope。　　I　dare　not
confront　life　without　the　promise　it　holds　out。　　I　should　be　a
wreck　…　'

〃His　emotion　stopped　him　and　there　was　silence；　then　I　heard　him
utter　solemnly；　as　befitted　the　place：　'Thank　God！'　and　I　knew　that
she　had　turned　her　wonderful　eyes　upon　him　or　nestled　her　hand　in
his　clasp　as　only　a　loving　woman　may。

〃The　next　moment　I　heard　them　draw　away　and　leave　the　place。

〃Do　you　wonder　that　I　long　to　know　who　they　are　and　what　their　story
is　and　whom　they　meant　by　'the　erring　one？'〃







End