"Miss Olden," he said severely, coming over to my side of the table,
"have you the heart to harm a generous soul like that?"
"He--he's very prompt, isn't he, and most--"
And then we laughed together.
"You notice the letter was marked personal?" Obermuller said. He was
still standing beside me.
"No--was it?" I got up, too, and began to pull on my gloves; but my
fingers shook so I couldn't do a thing with them.
"Oh, yes, it was. That's why I showed it to you. Nance--Nance, don't
you see that there's only one way out of this? There's only one woman
in the world that would do this for me and that I could take it from."
I clasped my hands helplessly. Oh, what could I do, Maggie, with him
there and his arms ready for me!
"I--I should think you'd be afraid," I whispered. I didn't dare look
at him.
He caught me to him then.
"Afraid you wouldn't care for an old fellow like me?" he laughed.
"Yes, that's the only fear I had. But I lost it, Nancy, Nancy
Obermuller, when you flung that paper down before me. That's quite two
hours ago--haven't I waited long enough?"
* * * * * * * * * * *
Oh, Mag--Mag, how can I tell him? Do you think he knows that I am
going to be good--good! that I can be as good for a good man who loves
me, as I was bad for a bad man I loved!