Page 194 - The snake's pass

182 — " THE snake's pass. —
—
both risen " I am conscious of your good intention
of the honour you do me—but I must have time to
think. Good-bye !
She held out her hand. I pressed it gently—I dared
not do more—true love is very timid at times —She
!
bowed to me, and moved off.
A sudden flood of despair rushed over me—the pain
of the days when I thought I had lost her could not
be soon forgotten, and I feared that I might lose her
again.
"Stay, Norah!—stay one moment!" She stopped and
turned round. "I may see you again, may I not? Do
"
!
not be cruel —may I not see you again ?
A sweet smile lit up the perplexed sadness of her
face :
"You may meet me here to-morrow evening, if you
will," and she was gone.
To-morrow evening ! Then there was hope ; and with
gladdened heart I watched her pass across the pasture
and ascend a path over the rocks. Her movements
were incarnate grace ; her beauty and her sweet pre-
sence filled the earth and air. When she passed from
my sight, the sunlight seemed to pale and the warm
air to grow chill.
For a long while I sat on that table-rock, and my
thoughts were of heavenly sweetness — all, save one
which was of earth—one brooding fear that all might
not be well—some danger I did not understand.
And then I too arose, and took my way across the