Something crashed in every vein in Andrew Sevier's body, lilted in his

heart, beat in his throat and sparkled in his eyes. He sprang to his feet

and held out his hand to her.

"Then come on and be adopted," he said. "I shall order the electric, and

you get into your hat and coat. We can skirt the park and come in at the

side of the Temple back of the platform so that you can slip into place

before one-half of the sky-rockets of oratory have been exploded. Will

you come?"

"Will you stay with me--right by me?" she asked, timidity and courage at

war in her voice.

"Yes," he answered slowly, "I'll stay by you as long as you want me--if I

can."

"And that," said Caroline Darrah Brown as she turned at the door and

looked straight at him with a heavenly blush mounting in her cheeks, the

tenderness of the ages curling her lips and the innocence of all of six

years in her eyes, "will be always!" With which she disappeared

instantly beyond the rose damask hangings.

And so when the ceremonies in the park were over and Caroline stood to

clasp hands with each of the clamorous gray squad, Andrew Sevier waited

just behind her and he met one after another of the sharp glances shot at

him from under grizzled brows with a dignity that quieted even the

grimmest old fire-eater.

And there are strange wild things that take hold on the lives of

men--vital forces against which one can but beat helpless wings of mortal

spirit.




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