At this time the stranger came. She saw him but for a day,
for an hour, then he passed away. Time went on again, and the two men
met in battle--men now, not boys; once more the stranger was the victor.
She married the defeated man. Perhaps she did not love him as much as he
loved her, but she knew that the other love, the love of the stranger,
was impossible--impossible. She came to care for her husband more and
more--she came to love him. She might have loved the stranger--who can
tell? But a woman's heart cannot be seized as a ship or a town. Believe
me, monsieur, I speak the truth. Years again passed: her husband's life
was in the stranger's hand. Through great danger she travelled to plead
for her husband's life. Monsieur, she does not plead for an unworthy
cause. She pleads for justice, in the name of honourable warfare, for
the sake of all good manhood. Will--will you refuse her?"
She paused. Gering's eyes were glistening. Her honesty, fine eloquence,
and simple sincerity, showed her to him in a new, strong light. Upon
Iberville, the greater of the two, it had a greater effect. He sat still
for a moment, looking at the woman with the profound gaze of one moved to
the soul.
Pages:
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62