For two fearful hours she gripped his rough hands until at last her nails brought the blood, but the man didn't know or care. Every smothered cry that came from her lips began to tear the heart out of his body at last. He could hold the long pent agony no longer without words.
"My God, Nancy, what can I do for ye, Honey?"
Her breath came in gasps and her eyes were shining with a strange intensity.
"Nothing, Tom, nothing now—I'm looking Death in the face and I'm not afraid——"
"Please lemme give ye some whiskey," he pleaded, pressing the glass to her lips.
"No—no, take it away—I hate it. My baby shall be clean and strong or I want to die."
The decision seemed to brace her spirit for the last test when the trembling feet entered the shadows of the dim valley that lies between Life and Death.
The dark, slender figure lay still and white at last. A sharp cry from lusty lungs, and the grey eyes slowly opened, with a timid wondering look.
"Tom!" she cried with quick eager tones.
"Yes, Nancy, yes!"