"I remembered, of course," Rouletta said, faintly. "I—" She closed her eyes. "I couldn't believe it, however. At first I didn't understand where the strike had been made; then I couldn't credit it. I thought I was dreaming—"
"You dream as much as you can," 'Poleon said, warmly. "Dey all come true now. What? Everyt'ing come out nice, eh?"
Rouletta opened her eyes. They were shining; so, too, was her face.
"Yes, my dream has come true—that is, my biggest, finest dream.
I'm—the happiest girl in the world, 'Poleon."
"Ma soeur!" the man cried brokenly and with a depth of feeling that even Rouletta could not fathom. "I give my life to hear you say dose word', to see dat light in your eye. No price too high for dat."
A silence, throbbing, intense, fell between them, Rouletta felt her heart-beats swaying her. She opened her lips, but no sound issued. The figure before her was growing misty and she had to wink the tears back into place.
"'Ma soeur!'" she echoed, faintly. "I love to hear you say that, dear. It has grown to be a caress, a—kiss, when you say it. But I've something to tell you—"
"I know."
"Something you don't know and would never guess. I've found another brother." When he stared at her in open bewilderment she repeated: "Yes, another brother. I took him for something altogether different, but—" She laughed happily. "What do you think of a girl who doesn't know her own mind? Who lets the one man, the real man, go away? She doesn't deserve much, does she?"
"Ma soeur! Ma soeur!" the big fellow cried, hoarsely. He had fallen all atremble now; he could have believed himself demented only for something in Rouletta's face. "You mean—HIM? Wat's dis you sayin'?"
"I mean him—you. Who else could I mean? He doesn't care for me, but for another, and I'm—oh, so glad!"