Prove your love to me, mother, by cheering, comforting, and
sustaining that poor girl. I haven't as much hope of success as I
tried to give her, but she needs hope now; she must have it, or
there is no assurance against disastrous effects on her health and
mind. I couldn't bear that."
"Well, Hobart, if he is dead, she certainly ought to reward you
some day."
"We must not think of that. The future is not in our hands. We can
only do what is duty now."
Noble, generous purposes give their impress to that index of
character, the human face. When Martine came to say good-by to
Helen, she saw the quiet, patient cripple in a new light. He no
longer secured her strong affection chiefly on the basis of
gentle, womanly commiseration. He was proving the possession of
those qualities which appeal strongly to the feminine nature; he
was showing himself capable of prompt, courageous action, and his
plain face, revealing the spirit which animated him, became that
of a hero in her eyes. She divined the truth--the love so strong
and unselfish that it would sacrifice itself utterly for her.
Pages:
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131