“Yes. I've made my arrangements. I've business back here the first of the year that can't wait. Marry me and go with me. We'll take our honeymoon down there. By George, we'll go together in the car! Every day by each other's side over hundreds and hundreds of miles! Say, ain't you game? Come on! It's a crime to send me away without you. How can you do it?”
“I can't—I'm afraid,” she faltered.
“You'll marry me, then?”
“Yes!” she whispered. “What is the latest day you can start?”
“Next Saturday, if we go in the car——”
“All right,”—she was looking straight into the depths of his soul now—“next Saturday.”
He clasped her in his arms and held her with desperate tenderness.
CHAPTER IX. ELLA'S SECRET
The consummation of her life's dream was too near, too sweet and wonderful for Jane's croakings to distress Mary Adams beyond the moment. She had, of course, wished her friend to be present at the wedding—yet the curt refusal had only aroused anew her pity at stupid prejudices. It was out of the question to ask her father to leave his work in the Kentucky mountains and come all the way to New York. She would surprise him with the announcement. After all, she was the one human being vitally concerned in this affair, and the only one save the man whose life would be joined to hers.