"And you won't turn me down because I don't know
who my father and mother was?"

"No--my heart goes out to you in a great pity for
your lonely, wretched boyhood."

"I couldn't help that--now could I?"

"Of course not. It's wonderful that you've made
your way alone and won the fight of life."

He gripped her hands and held her at arms' length,
devouring her with his deep, slumbering eyes.

"Gee, but you're a brick, little girl! I thought
you were an angel when I first saw you. Now I know it.
Just watch me work for you! I'll show you a thing or
two. You'll marry me right away, won't you?"

He bent close, his breath on her lips.

Her eyes drooped under his passionate gaze, and the
tears slowly stole down her cheeks. Her hour of life
had struck! So suddenly, so utterly unexpectedly, it
rang a thunderbolt from the clear sky.

"You will, won't you?" he pleaded.

She smiled at him through her tears and slowly
said: