sold like a horse!" and her eyes flashed
indignantly, "and I have nothing to say in the matter whatever! How much
was I considered worth?" Then overcome by her feelings she sank down on the
sofa, and hiding her face in the cushion burst into tears.

Guy was kneeling beside her in a moment, and with one arm thrown around her
said tenderly,

"Dexie, you know better. You know your father loves you and would keep you
beside him always if he could. But he knows that I love you dearly, and he
would give me your hand if you gave me your heart. Do not try to hide it
from me any longer, love. Do you not love me already?" and he bent his head
beside her own. "Lift up your face and tell me, dearest."

But Dexie could not raise her eyes; she was afraid to believe the sweet
words she heard. Did he really love her, after all!

"Think how long I have loved you, Dexie," he added, tenderly, "and yet you
have never given me one word to encourage me, but have been so cruel--so
cruel! Dexie, have you nothing to say to me after all this waiting?" and he
lifted her head to his arm, saying softly, "If I wounded you to-night by my
abrupt announcement, it was unintentionally. I thought you would guess my
meaning; but you would not even look at me. You will believe me, Dexie, for
I did not mean to vex you," he pleaded earnestly.

Still no answer; but Guy seemed to know intuitively what was in her
thoughts, and she no longer shrank from him when he stroked her soft hair
and drew her closer to his breast.

"Uncover your face and look at me, dearest. Did you not know that I cared
for you? Tell me, Dexie."

"I did think so sometimes," was the low reply.

"Then what was the reason you were so cool with me?" smiling down into her
blushing face. "Tell me, or I shall believe I know the reason already."

"If you know, why do you ask?" was the shy reply.

"Because I would like to hear you say it yourself. Confess it, now, or must
I say it myself?"

She endeavored to release herself from his encircling arm, but he held her
close as he whispered:

"You love me already. You know you do; so own it now."

A pair of eyes, glorious with the love-light that shone in them, were
raised to his, and as he read his answer in their depths, the happy lover
whispered,

"Kiss me, Dexie."

A blushing face was lifted to his, and an arm was raised till it encircled
his neck, as Dexie gave her first kiss of love to the man who had won her
heart.

"How coul