She knew what was in his heart! His soul exulted as the certainty rushed upon him. She knew what he was going to say; words were needless between them. And the colour merely deepened in her cheeks while she hid her eyes from him.
He came to her swiftly. She rose as swiftly to her feet. He saw that a tremor shook her. He saw that she did not draw back from him; her eyes at last lifted to meet his own. They baffled him; he could not read their meaning. But they shone on him softly; they were the eyes of her whom he loved. Like magnet and steel they were swept together. He had her in his arms; he felt against his breast the wild flutter of her heart, against his face the soft brushing of her hair. He felt her body tense but unresisting in his arms; suddenly she relaxed, her head was against his breast. Gloria in his arms--Gloria's sweet face hidden from him against his rough shirt---"Gloria!" he cried again. "Gloria!"
"The--the bacon!" gasped Gloria. "It's burning----"
She freed herself, and while he let her go he stood watching her with the new look in his eyes. Scarlet-faced she flashed her look at him from across the table. Then she fled to the stove and retrieved the burning bacon as though here were the one matter of transcendent importance. King began to laugh, his laughter as joyous as a boy's.
"Gloria----"
"That's five times you've said 'Gloria,'" she informed him hurriedly. "And----Please, Mark," as he moved toward her. "And you haven't read papa's letter yet. And--and I'm dying to know what is in that funny package. Aren't you?"
"If I'm dying at all," he told her gravely, though he found a smile to answer her own--and two very serious smiles they were--"it is of quite another complaint. And this time----"
"But please, Mark! I am here all alone--with you--and----"
"I know. I haven't forgotten. But, Gloria----"
They both started to a sudden sound outside, a scuffling on the porch. Involuntarily Gloria, prone to nervous alarm in her overwrought condition, moved hastily back toward him from whom just now she had escaped. They glanced toward the sound; they saw at the window the puckered and perplexed face of the "judge"; they were just in time to see a big hand grasp him by the shoulder and yank him out of sight. They heard Summerling expostulate; they heard Jim Spalding's far from gentle voice cursing him.