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He took her face in his hands and turned it up to him, but paused as her

lips nearly met his

"Do you? Why, don't you know, dearest?" he asked tenderly

"Yes, ah! yes, I do," she said, and the tears sprang to her eyes as

their lips met "It was because I loved you that I was so sorry when you

went; that every hour and day was a

like lead; it was because I loved you that I could not think of anything

else, and--and all the world became black and dark, and--and--I hated to

be alive It was because--because of that, was it not?"

He answered with the lover's e

"And--and you loveat

him with her eyes, now deep as violets and deith her tears "So

wonderful! Why--why do you?"

He laughed--the laugh that for the first tilass in your rooel! But not only because you are the loveliest----"

She put her hand to his lips, her face criainst his cheek

--"You are not only the loveliest woman I know, but the sweetest, Nell,"