Suddenly leaving her chair, Amy threw herself on the floor and burying
her face in the older woman's lap, burst into tears. Anna's own eyes
were wet as she softly smoothed the brown hair of the girl she had
taken to her mother's heart. "You do love him, don't you dear?"
And Amy answered, between her sobs, "Because I love him so, I must
never see him again. He--he--is so strong and good and true --he must
not care for one who would only bring reproach upon his name."
"I know, dear girl, and that is why you must go home; take your own
place in the world again and then the way is clear."
Amy lifted her head. "Oh, if I only could--but you do not know--my
going home would only widen the distance between us. My father--" She
paused again, her quivering lips could not form the words.
"Amy, I am sure you are mistaken; you must be. When you meet your
father it will all come right, I know."
Again there seemed to be a hidden meaning in her words. "When I meet
my father?" Amy repeated slowly.
Anna grew confused. "Yes--I--we--you know John has been trying to sell
for a long time; we want to go back to Cleveland; and to-day he learned
that a buyer was coming from Boyd City to--"
Amy's face grew white as she rose, trembling, to her feet. "My father,"
she gasped--"coming here?"
Anna took the frightened girl in her arms--"There, there, dear, don't
be afraid. All will be for the best, I am sure. John and I will stand
by you and you shall go with us if you wish.
Pages:
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272