“No, no; and yet for the moment my brain almost reeled—it did not seem possible that such joy could be really meant for me, after what I have suffered,” he returned, with a deep breath of thankfulness that was almost a sob, as he drew her tenderly into his arms and laid the golden head upon his breast.
“It was cruel, so cruel,” she murmured, with trembling lips; “I know I shall never be able to realize all you have suffered, Earle, but not a day passed that my heart did not cry out in rebellion against your fate.”
“It is all past now, my own; let us not live it over again; and the joy you have given me to-day will brighten all the future,” he said, laying his lips reverently against the shining hair that crowned the head upon his breast. “Can it be possible,” he added, after a few moments of silence, “that you would have pledged yourself to me last Christmas—to me only a few hours out of prison, after serving a convict’s sentence?”
She laid her hand upon his lips as if to stay the hateful words.
“The fact of your having suffered unjustly for the crime of another only made me love you the more tenderly—I regarded you just as worthy of my affection then as you will ever be,” Editha returned, gravely.
“God ever bless you for those words, my darling! And you will be my wife, Editha, some time when——”
“I will be your wife, Earle,” she interrupted, not allowing him to finish his sentence, for she knew what he was about to add.
“But suppose I should never succeed in finding those rascals who committed the robbery—suppose the doubt must ever rest upon me?” he persisted.
“It will make no difference, Earle. You know you are innocent; I know it! why then need we make ourselves miserable over what the world may say or think?”
“And you do not care—you will never be troubled or ashamed if others scorn me and give me the cold shoulder?” he asked, astonished.