King’s eyes blazed.
“Yet he flaunts his love for another woman in your face.”
She flinched as from a blow, but answered tenderly.
“Yes; he is mad now. The flesh has mastered the spirit in its struggle for the moment. She holds his body”—a pause and a smile—“but his soul is mine. He may not know it now. He will some day. I know it, and I abide God’s time.”
“How long can you hold such a delusion, I wonder?” he asked, with angry amazement.
“Forever.” she softly whispered.
He drew himself up with grim force.
“I am going to win you, Ruth,” he said, slowly lingering with his lips over her name as though he could taste its sweetness.
He looked at her beautiful face and figure tenderly and with an intensity that gave to his eyes a strange glitter.
She turned from him with a sigh and gazed on Gordon’s portrait hanging over the mantel.