Kate turned her head aside. She could not bear to look upon the meeting of the lovers. Their joy tore her heart and made the life-blood in her veins run chill with agony.
“Oh, Heaven! give thy poor handmaiden strength to bear her cross,” she murmured, in despair. And as she spoke, a sudden faintness came over her; all things swam before her eyes, and but for the support of the rude fence by which she stood, she would have fallen.
The lovers wrapped up in the joy of each other’s presence, did not notice her agitation.
“Again I hold you in my arms,” the young man said, softly, as he strained the loved form of the maiden to his heart.
“And I thought you dead,” Virginia said.
“To Kate I owe my life!” And as he spoke, both he and Virginia turned their eyes toward the Kanawha Queen.
By this time Kate had recovered her composure, except that her cheek was paler than it was wont to be.
“To Heaven your thanks, not to me, its humble instrument,” replied Kate, modestly.
Then the three entered the cabin.
A cheerful fire blazed in the broad fire-place. By the fire, the three sat.