She put her arms about my neck and kissed me, almost fiercely, on the
lips--then, suddenly, drew back and, with both hands pressed against my
breast, she viewed me at arm's length.
"Believe it?" she said; "believe it? I never believed anything else."
I took her hands and reverently touched them to my forehead--then, held
them tight.
"After all these years, God would not send you to me just to mock my
prayers," she added.
"But the certificate!" I objected.
"A lie or a forgery," she said scornfully.
I drew her head upon my shoulder. "Sweetheart," I whispered; "may I
kiss you, now?"
She lifted her dear face and looked up into mine with glistening eyes,
her lips half parted. My own eyes, too, were wet, I think.
"Yes, Armand--now and always," she answered.
And, so I held her, for a moment; then, bent and kissed her. And that
kiss is on my lips this instant, and will be until they numb in death.
XV
HER WORD AND HER CERTIFICATE
If any man--having lived a bachelor to early middle life, has then found
his ideal, and has been, unexpectedly and undeservedly, favored with her
love, and then, within two hours thereafter and in her very presence, has
been claimed by another woman as her husband--that man will be able to
appreciate something of my state of mind.
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