Harding was the first to speak. "After all his mighty toil; after his self-sacrificing life; after all his struggles, Brewster died and was not permitted to see his children. It is most pitiable."
"May be he sees them now," said Ashley, softly. "It can not be far from here to Heaven."
"I wish I had never seen her," said Harding, impetuously. And then all his reserve breaking down he arose, stretched out his arms and cried:
"I wish I had died in Brewster's stead."
"Is she not divine?" said Ashley. "A very Iris, goddess of the rainbow, bringing divine commands to man, his guide and his adviser."
"Say not so," said Harding. "Rather she is Ceres, in her original purity returned to earth; flowers bloom under the soft light of her divine eyes, and all bountifulness rests in the heaven of her white arms. I tell you, Ashley, the man who could have that woman's eyes to smile up approvingly upon him, would have to move on from conquest to conquest so long as life lasted."
An anxious look came over the face of Ashley. "Which lady do you mean?" he asked.
"Mean!" echoed Harding. "I mean she of the royal brow and starry eyes, Mildred Brewster."
"Thank God," said Ashley with a great sigh of relief.
"And why do you thank God?" asked Harding.