Would to God little Sadie were here,
and your beautiful wife too! Oh, what shall I say? How can I, how
can I?"
"Miss Baron!" he exclaimed, looking at her in vague alarm.
"Oh, Captain Hanfield, you are a brave, unselfish man like Yarry.
Don't make it too hard for me. Oh, I feel as if I could scarcely
breathe."
As he saw her almost panting at his side and tears streaming from
her eyes, the truth began to dawn upon him. He looked at her
steadily and silently for a moment, then reached out his hand as he
said in an awed whisper, "Is it on account of me? Did Borden send
you here?"
She took his hand, bowed her forehead upon it and wept speechlessly.
She felt it tremble for a moment, then it was withdrawn and placed
on her bowed head. "So you are the angel of death to me?" the
officer faltered.
Her tears were her only, yet sufficient answer. Both were silent,
she not having the heart to look at him.
At last he said in deep tones, "I wasn't expecting this. It will
make a great change in"--and then he was silent again.
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