He leaned close:
"I'm afraid I'm not brave, Miss Betty. I ran with the rest of them yesterday, ran like a dog for my life"—he paused and caught his breath—"but I'm not sorry for it now. In the madness of that scramble to save my skin I had a sudden revelation of why life was sweet——"
He stopped and she scarcely breathed. Her heart seemed to cease beating. Her dry lips refused to speak the question she would ask. The sweet moment of pain and of glory had come. She felt his trembling hand seize her ice-cold fingers as he went on impetuously:
"Life was sweet because—because—I love you, Betty."
She sprang to her feet trembling from head to foot. He followed, whispering:
"My own, I love you—I love you——"
With sudden fierce strength he clasped her in his arms and covered her lips with kisses.
She lifted her trembling hands:
"Please—please——"
Again he smothered her words and held her in mad close embrace.