"
She turned her head quickly to look at David Strong. A startled,
incredulous expression leaped into her eyes. He was not there.
By what magic had he vanished? She had felt his presence. He was
sitting there a moment ago, his tousled head bent down over the pad
of paper,--she was sure of it! Then she realized. A wave of relief
surged over her. He was not there to hear this man making love
to her in the room where he had poured out his soul to her. She
experienced a curious thrill of exultation. David could never take
back those unspoken words of love. She had them safely stored away
in that blessed drawer!
A flush of shame leaped to her cheeks. She could not banish the
notion that he,--honest, devoted David,--had seen her in this man's
arms, clinging to him, giving back his passionate kisses with all
the horrid rapture of a--She stiffened. Her head went up. She faced
the man who had robbed David.
"I cannot marry you," she said quietly. The spell was gone. She
was herself again. "I do not love you."
He stared, speechless, uncomprehending.
"You--you do not love me?" he gasped.
"I do not love you," she repeated deliberately.
"But, good God, you--you couldn't have kissed me as you--"
"Please!"
"--as you did just now," he went on, honestly bewildered. "You put
your arms around my neck,--you kissed me--"
"Stop! Yes, I know I did,--I know I did.
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