Soon she was kneeling by his cot, her lips against his cheek, sobbing:
“Ray, do you know me—your little Annette? My hero, will you forgive me?”
“Oh, my darling, how noble of you to come to me before—I died! I have done all I could to atone. It is for you to forgive,” the weak voice murmured.
“Oh, Ray, you will not die. I will pray, pray, pray, as you did when you brought Royall through the fire to safety. God will let you live for me, my own love, and we will forgive each other everything and be happy at last.”
Oh, the strength of Love! It fought with death and came out triumphant.
There were long and weary weeks of patient suffering, but love and care brought him back at last from the dark borders of the grave to life and happiness.
Annette’s precipitate flight created such consternation in the minds of the doctor and Mrs. Bell that Royall felt called on to explain.
“Poor fellow! He was Annette’s sweetheart, and I would give half my fortune to save his life as he so nobly saved mine. But they said at Bellevue that it was impossible for him to live.”
Then his thoughts flew back to Daisie, and he cried pleadingly: