ome back, Ban?" she asked.

He shook his head. "If they did, I couldn't hear them."

"But they sang to you," she insisted gently. "They never stopped
singing, did they?"

"No. No. They never stopped singing."

"Ah; then you ought to have known, Ban. And I ought to have known that
you couldn't have done what I believed you had. Are you sure you forgive
me, Ban?"

She told him of what she had discovered, of the talk with Russell
Edmonds ("I've a letter from him for you, dearest one; he loves you,
too. But not as I do. Nobody could!" interjected Io jealously), of the
clue of the telegram. And he told her of Camilla Van Arsdale and the
long deception; and at that, for the first time since he knew her, she
broke down and gave herself up utterly to tears, as much for him as for
the friend whom he had so loyally loved and served. When it was over and
she had regained command of herself, she said:

"Now you must take me to her."

So once more they rode together into the murmurous peace of the forest.
Io leaned in her saddle as they drew near the cabin, to lay a hand on
her lover's shoulder.

"Once, a thousand years ago, Ban," she said, "when love came to me, I
was a wicked little infidel and would not believe. Not in the Enchanted
Canyon, nor in the Mountains of Fulfillment, nor in the Fadeless Gardens
where the Undying Voices sing. Do you remember?"

"Do I not!" whispered Ban, turning to kiss the fingers that tightened on
his shoulder.

"And--and I blasphemed and said there was always a serpent in every
Paradise, and that Experience was a horrid hag, with a bony finger
pointing to the snake.... This is my recantation, Ban. I know now that
you were the true Prophet; that Experience has shining wings and eyes
that can lock to the future as well as the past, and immortal Hope for a
lover. And that only they two can guide to the Mountains of Fulfillment.
Is it enough, Ban?"

"It is enough," he answered with grave happiness.

"Listen!" exclaimed Io.

The sound of song, tender and passionate and triumphant, came pulsing
through the silence to meet them as they rode on.

THE END

End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Success, by Samuel Hopkins Adams

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