“Remember you!” she wailed. “How can I ever forget?”
“No, dear heart,” he whispered. “Do not forget, remember—remember that we love each other—that I shall love you always—always. Farewell!”
Again he bent and kissed her lips. They were cold. She stood immovable. The blow of parting had entirely paralysed her senses.
Once more he pressed his hot lips to hers.
“May Providence protect and help us both, my beloved,” he whispered, and then with a last, long, yearning look upon the sad white countenance that had held him in such fascination, he slowly released her.
He caught up her soft white hand, kissing it reverently, as had been his habit ever since he had known her.
Then he turned, hard-faced and determined, struggling within himself, and next second the door had closed upon him, and she was left alone.
“Jack! My Jack!” she gasped. “Gone!” and grasping the edge of the table to steady herself, she stood staring straight before her.
Her future, she knew, was only a blank grey sea of despair.
Jack, the man whom she worshipped, the man whom she believed was honest, and for whom her pure affection was boundless, had gone out of her young life for ever.