This time, when his hand fell on hers, she did not move. Surprised, he looked into her eyes. There were tears there.
Travis knew when he had gone far enough. Reverently he kissed her hand as he said:
“Never mind—in your own time, Alice. I can wait—I have waited long. Twenty years,” he added, patiently, even sweetly, “and if need be, I'll wait twenty more.”
“I'll go now,” he said, after a moment.
She looked at him gratefully, and arose. “One moment, Richard,” she said—“but you were speaking of mother, and knowing your zeal for her I was afraid you might—might—the mortgage has been troubling her.”
“Oh, no—no”—he broke in quickly—“I did nothing—absolutely nothing—though I wanted to for your sake.”
“I'm so glad,” she said—“we will manage somehow. I am so sensitive about such things.”
“I'll come to-morrow afternoon and bring your mare.”
She smiled, surprised.
“Yes, your mare—I happened on her quite unexpectedly in Tennessee. I have bought her for you—she is elegant, and I wish you to ride her often. I have given Jim orders that no one but you shall ride her. If it is a pretty day to-morrow I shall be around in the afternoon, and we will ride down to the bluffs five miles away to see the sunset.”