ith honest, unwavering eye; and if by any chance
your heart is in the woods, and you prefer me and the cabin to what they
have to offer----to all eternity your place here is vacant, Ruth. My
love is waiting for you; and if you come under those conditions, I never
can have any regret. A clear conscience is worth restraining passion a
few months to gain, and besides, I always have got the fact to face that
when you say 'I love,' and when I say 'I love,' it means two entirely
different things. When you realize that the love of man for woman, and
woman for man, is a thing that floods the heart, brain, soul, and body
with a wonderful and all-pervading ecstasy, and if I happen to be the
man who makes you realize it, then come tell me, and we will show
God and His holy angels what earth means by the Heaven inspired word,
'radiance.'"

"David, there never will be any other man like you."

"The exigencies of life must develop many a finer and better."

"You still refuse me? You yet believe I do not love you?"

"Not with the love I ask, my girl. But if I did not believe it was
germinating in your heart, and that it would come pouring over me in a
torrent some glad day, I doubt if I could allow you to go, Ruth! I am
like any other man in selfishness and in the passions of the body."

"Selfishness! You haven't an idea what it means," said the Girl. "And
what you call love----there I haven't. But I know how to appreciate you,
and you may be positively sure that it will be only a few days until I
will come back to you."

"But I don't want you until you can bring the love I crave. I am sending
you to remain until that time, Ruth."

"But it may be months, Man!"

"Then stay months."

"But it may be----"

"It may be never! Then remain forever. That will be proof positive that
your happiness does not lie in my hands."

"Why should I not consider you as you do me?"

"Because I love you, and you do not love me."

"You are cruel to yourself and to me. You talk about the pain in the
world. What about the pain in my heart right now? And if I know you in
the least, one degree more would make you cry aloud for mercy. Oh David,
are we of no consideration at all?"

The muscles of the Harvester's face twisted an instant.

"This is where we lop off the small branches to grow perfect fruit
later. This is where we do evil that good may result. This is where
we suffer to-night in order we may appreciate fully the joy of love's
dawnin