EAGLE'S SHADOW (continued 4)

She stood over him, sharply outlined against the darkness, clasping

her hands tightly just under her chin, ludicrously suggestive of a

pre-Raphaelitish saint. In the firelight her hair was an aureole; and

her gown, yellow with multitudinous tiny arabesques of black velvet,

echoed the glow of her hair to a shade. The dancing flames made of her

a flickering little yellow wraith. And oh, the quaint tenderness of

her eyes!--oh, the hint of faint, nameless perfume she diffused! thus

ran the meditations of Billy's dizzied brain.

"Listen! I told you I burned the other will. I started to burn it. But

I was afraid to, because I didn't know what they could do to me if I

did. So I put it away in my little handkerchief-box--and if you'd had

a

grain

of sense you'd have noticed the orris on it. And you made me

promise not to take any steps in the matter till you got well. I knew

you would. So I had already sent that second will--sent it before I

promised you--to Hunston Wyke--he's my lawyer now, you know--and I've

heard from him, and he has probated it."

Billy was making various irrelevant sounds.

"And I brought that other will to you, and if you didn't choose to

examine it more carefully I'm sure it wasn't my fault. I kept my word

like a perfect gentleman and took no step

whatever

in the matter.

I didn't say a word when before my eyes you stripped me of my entire

worldly possessions--you know I didn't. You burned it up yourself,

Billy Woods--of your own free will and accord--and now Selwoode and

all that detestable money belongs to

you

, and I'm sure I'd like to

know what you are going to do about it. So

there

!"

Margaret faced him defiantly. Billy was in a state of considerable

perturbation.

"Why have you done this?" he asked, slowly. But a lucent

something--half fear, half gladness--was wakening in Billy's eyes.

And her eyes answered him. But her tongue was far less veracious.

"Because you thought I was a

pig

! Because you couldn't make

allowances for a girl who for four years has seen nothing but money

and money-worshippers and the power of money! Because I wanted

your--your respect, Billy. And you thought I couldn't give it up! Very

well!" Miss Hugonin waved her hand airily toward the hearth. "Now I

hope you know better.

Don't you dare get up, Billy Woods

!"

But I think nothing short of brute force could have kept Mr. Woods

from her.

"Peggy," he babbled--"ah, forgive me if I'm a presumptuous ass--but

was it because you knew I couldn't ask you to marry me so long as you

had the money?"

She dallied with her bliss. Margaret was on the other side of the

table.

"Why--why, of course it wasn't!" she panted. "What nonsense!"

"Look at me, Peggy!"

"I don't want to! You look like a fright with your head all tied up."

"Peggy ... this exercise is bad for an invalid."

"I--oh, please sit down!

Please

, Billy! It is bad for you."

"Not until you tell me----"

"But I

don't

!... Oh, you make me

awfully

tired."

"Peggy, don't you dare stamp your foot at me!... Peggy!"

"

Please

sit down! Now ... well, there's my hand, stupid, if you

will

be silly. Now sit down here--so, with your head leaned back on

this nice little cushion because it's good for your poor head--and

I'll sit on this nice little footstool and be quite, quite honest. No,

you must lean back--I don't care if you can't see me, I'd much rather

you couldn't. Well, the truth is--no, you

must

lean back--the truth

is--I've loved you all my life, Billy Woods, and--no, not

yet

,

Billy--and if you hadn't been the stupidest beautiful in the universe

you'd have seen it long ago. You--you needn't--lean back--any longer,

Billy ... Oh, Billy, why

didn't

you shave?"

"She

is

skinny, isn't she, Billy?"

"Now, Peggy, you mustn't abuse Kathleen. She's a friend of mine."

"Well, I know she's a friend of yours, but that doesn't prevent her

being skinny, does it?"

"Now, Peggy--"

"Please, Billy!

Please

say she's skinny!"

"Er--well, she's a bit thin, perhaps."

"You angel!"

"And you're quite sure you've forgiven me for doubting you?"

"And you've forgiven

me

?"

"Bless you, Peggy, I never doubted you! I've been too busy loving

you."

"It seems to me as if it had been--

always

."

"Why, didn't we love one another in Carthage, Peggy?"

"I think it was in Babylon, Billy."

"And will love one another----?"

"Forever and ever, dear. You've been to seek a wife, Billy boy."

"And oh, the dimple in her chin..."

* * * * *

Ah, well! There was a deal of foolish prattle there in the

firelight--delectable prattle, irresponsible as the chattering of

birds after a storm. And I fancy that the Eagle's shadow is lifted

from Selwoode, now that Love has taken up his abode there.

THE END