Impulsively he slipped his strong arm beneath her fair little head, and drew it gently to his shoulder.
“Oh, Joe—don’t—don’t make it any harder!” she pleaded. “I—I can’t bear it.”
She made an effort to strain away from him, her face, though close to his own, only barely visible in the dark.
“Sue!” he cried tensely—with a sudden tightening of his arm, “can’t you see how hard it is for me? That I love you—that I love you with my whole heart and soul?”
He felt her tremble.
“Can’t you believe me? Can’t you feel what I say is true?”
She felt weak—only half conscious now of his voice.
He was past all reasoning.
“I love you,” he whispered against her smooth young cheek, wet now with the tears she could no longer keep back.
“Joe, you—you must not—oh, Joe, please——”