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She asked the question in all sily intoof my own heart

"I will tell you how you knew, Ruth," I whispered passionately "It was because I loved you more than anyone in the world has ever loved you, and you felt my love in your heart and called it sympathy"

I stopped short, for she had blushed scarlet and then turned deathly pale And now she looked at me wildly, almost with terror

"Have I shocked you, Ruth, dearest?" I exclaiiveI think I have loved you from the first day we met Perhaps I shouldn't have spoken yet, but, Ruth, dear, if you only knehat a sweet girl you are, you wouldn't blame me"

"I don't blame you," she said, almost in a whisper; "I blame myself I have been a bad friend to you, who have been so loyal and loving to ht not to have let this happen For it can't be, Paul; I can't say what you wantrasp my heart--a horrible fear that I had lost all that I cared for--all that made life desirable

"Why can't we?" I asked "Do you racious to sonantly, "of course I don't mean that"

"Then it is only that you don't love me yet Of course you don't Why should you? But you will, dear, some day And I ait patiently until that day comes and not trouble you with entreaties I ait for you as Jacob waited for Rachel; and as the long years seemed to him but as a few days because of the love he bore her, so it shall be with me, if only you will not senddohite-faced, with a hardening of the lips as if she were in bodily pain "You don't understand," she whispered "It can't be--it can never be There is so that makes it impossible, now and always I can't tell you ly, "may it not become possible soive you up Is there no chance whatever that this obstacle may be removed?"