The services had not yet begun, and her thoughts had flown far away to the dear ones worshipping in the upper sanctuary, when suddenly they were recalled to earth. A rustle of silk, and three gayly-dressed young girls swept up the aisle closely followed by two young men, the foremost, Espy Alden, stepping so close in passing that she could easily have laid her hand upon his arm.
Her heart gave a wild bound as she recognized him, but he did not see her.
She said to herself she was glad of it, yet it pained her to her heart’s core. Had he no eyes for any one but Miss Carrie Lea? Surely if his heart were loyal as of yore to his first love, he would have felt her presence near. It had seemed ever so in those earlier days.
He sat where she could see his side face, and many a furtive glance fed her hunger for the old love, a consuming fire that pride—her woman’s pride—vainly strove to trample out. Ah, it was the only earthly love left her, and it had been so sweet!
CHAPTER XIX.
A GREAT SURPRISE.
“Thinkest thou
That I could live and let thee go,
Who art my life itself? No, no!”—Moore.