“Why should we postpone our happiness, darling? I have waited long enough for it already—longer than you dream. And, somehow, I can never feel quite sure of you until the magic words are spoken that make you mine.”
Who could hold out against such pleading words and tender looks? Not Eva, who was so alone and lonely that he was her whole world. So she consented to his prayer, though she said tearfully:
“Do you know that I shall have to marry you, dear, in borrowed plumes?”
“That will not matter in the least. We will go on a little bridal tour to Parkersburg the next day, and do all the shopping you like,” he answered, kissing the pearly tears from the beautiful dark eyes, and thanking her over and over for her sweet consent.
He was like a man drunken with bliss. The desire of his heart was going to be granted to him. He had loved her so long, so faithfully, without hope, that he could scarcely realize fate’s kindness, now that, overleaping all adverse barriers, it was going to give him bonnie, golden-haired Eva for his own.
How fast the days flew!
He could scarcely attend to his duties at the hospital, he was so eager to spend every moment with his darling. When he came to see her he could scarcely tear himself away from her side.
He dreamed all night of her dark eyes, her rosy lips, her curling golden hair, her sweet kisses, the warm clasp of her soft, clinging hands. His every moment was a pæan of joy and gratitude because God was going to give him the desire of his heart.
Every one in the town and at the hospital knew that he was going to marry little Eva in a week. He was so proud of it that he could have shouted it aloud to the winds.
He had engaged board at the hotel—the very prettiest room in the house. He wished to shrine his jewel in the finest setting.