"I can not do it--I can not, Bruce!" she panted.
"Dear--dear--don't tempt me!" He held himself in check.
"I am going to tell you--just this once, BruceI love you--you are
my own for this one moment out of my life!" and she abandoned
herself to the passionate caressing with which he answered her.
"How can I give you up?" he said, his voice hoarse with emotion.
He put her from him almost roughly, and leaning against the trunk
of a tree buried his face in his hands. Betty watched him for a
moment in wretched silence.
"Don't feel so bad, Bruce," she said brokenly. "I am not worth
it. I tried not to love you--I didn't want to." She raised a
white face to his.
"I am going now, Betty. You--you shouldn't stay here any longer
with me." He spoke with sudden resolution.
"And I shall not see you again?" she asked, in a low, stifled
voice.
"It's good-by--" he muttered.
"Not yet--oh, not yet, Bruce--" she implored. "I can not--"
"Yes--now, dear. I don't dare stay--I may forget--" but he
turned again to her in entreaty. "Give me something to remember
in all the years that are coming when I shall be alone--let me
kiss you on the lips--let me--just this once--it's good-by we're
saying--it's good-by, Betty!"
She went to him, and, as he bent above her, slipped her arms
about his neck.
"Kiss me--" she breathed.
He kissed her hair, her soft cheek, then their lips met.
He helped her as she stumbled blindly along the path to the
house, and half lifted her up the steps to the door.
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