“Get up Reggie. You must not kneel to me; we are only friends hereafter. I can never be your wife now!”
He staggered to his feet, staring at her blankly.
“But you said that you forgave me, dear Eva!”
Eva stood up, facing him, with pity and sympathy in her eyes.
“I do forgive you freely, Reggie, dear, and I want you always for my friend. But I am going to free my mind and make a confession. I never really loved you as a girl should love the man she is to marry. My heart was desolated by a hopeless love for one I could never wed, and I turned to you for solace. My family wished it, society expected it, you urged it, and I yielded—and repented the moment after! I am grateful for my freedom. I thank Heaven that it came in time. Forgive my frankness, but it is best!”
She dropped back into her seat and hid her face on Ada’s shoulder.
Doctor Ludington started forward impetuously, but restrained himself. Where was the use?
He realized with rapture that she loved him still, but he knew she would never yield her prejudice, her blind following of what seemed her duty to the dead.
But the unbidden guest, emboldened by feeling that she had done something to redeem herself just now, came quickly forward to Eva’s side, saying curiously:
“Maybe tain’t none o’ my business, Eva, chile, but I want to know what’s your reasons for not marrying Doctor Ludington, who seems to be a pretty likely man! Seems to me it’s time for the two famblies to stop hating each other for nonsense past an’ gone!”