"T-take me to him."
A spasm stirred Vittoria's tired features; she petted the girl with a
comforting hand, while Mayor Wright said, gently:
"It must have been a great shock to you, Myra Nell, as it was to all of
us, but you may thank God he has been spared to you."
The reporter made a note upon his pad, and began framing the heart
interest of his story. Here was a new and interesting aspect of an
event worth many columns.
Vittoria led the girl toward her room, but outside the door Myra Nell
paused, shaking in every limb.
"You--you love him?" asked the other woman.
The look which Miss Warren gave her stabbed like a knife, and when the
girl had sunk to her knees beside the bed, with Blake's name upon her
lips, Vittoria stood for a long moment gazing down upon her dazedly.
Later, when she had sent Myra Nell home and silence lay over the city,
Norvin's nurse stole into the great front room where she had
experienced so much of gladness and horror that night, and made her way
wearily to the little image of the Virgin. She noted with a start that
the candle was gone, so she lit a new one and, kneeling for many
minutes, prayed earnestly for strength to do the right and to quench
the leaping, dazzling flame which had been kindled in her heart.