"Did you miss me?"
"Dreadfully!" she sighed. "But I've been happy—happy in your love—oh, so happy, dearest!"
"Well, if Dad wins this election to-night," he said with a boyish smile, "I'm going to tell him. Now's the time—no more slipping and sliding!"—he paused, rushed to the window and looked out—"come, the clouds have lifted and the moon is rising. Our old seat among the roses is waiting."
With a look of utter happiness she slipped her arm in his and they strolled across the lawn.
CHAPTER XIX
"FIGHT IT OUT!"
Cleo had heard the shouts in the square with increasing dread. The hour was rapidly approaching when she must face Norton.
She had deeply regretted the last scene with him when she had completely lost her head. For the first time in her life she had dared to say things that could not be forgiven. They had lived an armed truce for twenty years. She had endured it in the hope of a change in his attitude, but she had driven him to uncontrollable fury now by her angry outburst and spoken words that could not be unsaid.