But Lena motioned her back, saying, fearfully:
“Let me go; for what if your enemies have traced you here?”
She left the room, and went out into the hall to open the front door, while Violet listened eagerly, at the parlor door, which was a little ajar.
She heard Lena open the door; she heard the murmur of a man’s voice—the voice that could almost have called her back from death itself!
She pushed wide the door, and called out in a voice that thrilled with joy, and love, and longing:
“Cecil! Darling Cecil!”
“Oh, dear!” exclaimed Lena Lavarre, for the intruder brushed wildly past her, and rushed into the parlor, where Violet, his love Violet, was waiting.
“My angel!” he cried, and caught her to his heart, clasping her close, and raining kisses on her beautiful, happy, upturned face.
In the bliss of that fond meeting, the reunited lovers quite forgot the barrier between their hearts. Violet was transported with joy and gratitude that he had come so soon in answer to her piteous appeal, and, nestling in the haven of his dear arms, she held up her red lips for his kisses like sweet flowers thirsting for rain.
“You kissed me! My head drooped low on your breast,