"If I could be sure!"

"Of me, Jeff?"

"That I can make you happy. After all it's a chance."

"We all live on a chance. I'll take mine beside the man I love.
There is one way under heaven by which men may be saved. I'm going
to walk that way with you, dear."

Jeff threw away the reins of a worldly wise prudence.

"For ever and ever, Alice," he cried softly, shaken to his soul.

As their lips met the lark throbbed a betrothal song.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

They went slowly through the wet ferns, hand in hand. It was
amazingly true that he had won her, but Jeff could scarce believe
the miracle. More than once he recurred to it.

"You saw what no other young woman of your set in Verden did, the
human in me through my vagabondage. But why? There's nothing in my
appearance to attract."

"Valiant in velvet, light in ragged luck," she laughed. "And I
won't have you questioning my taste, sir. I've always thought you
very good-looking, if you must have it."