"
He saw a mystified expression steal into Zenas Henry's face.
"Happiness didn't come to you early in life, Zenas Henry," went on
Willie, his voice taking on a note of gentle persuasion, "an' often
I've heard you lament you was cheated out of spendin' your youth with
Abbie. Of course, marryin' late is better than not marryin' at all,
though. Some of the rest of us--" he motioned toward the three
captains and Celestina, "have got passed by altogether. But Delight
an' Bob have found love early, while the bloom is still on it. You
wouldn't wish to keep 'em from their birthright, would you, Zenas
Henry?"
In the hush that followed the plea, Abbie crept up to her husband and
slipped her hand into his.
"The child loves him, dear," she said, looking up into the man's stern
face. "I read it in her eyes long ago. You want her to be happy,
don't you?"
Her voice trembled. Only the mother instinct, supreme in its
selflessness, gave her the strength to continue: "We must not think of
ourselves. Real love is heaven-sent. It is ours neither to give nor
to deny.
Pages:
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320