nnoitered, and soon, to my infinite joy, I saw the Jewish couple
come forth and make their way townward. The girl was alone.

How madly beat my heart! It was a glooming kind of a night, and the
cabin looked woefully bleak and solitary. No light came through the
windows, no sound through the moss-chinked walls. I drew near.

Why this wild commotion of my being? What was it? Anxiety, joy, dread? I
was poised on the pinnacle of hope that overhangs the abyss of despair.
Fearfully I paused. I was racked with suspense, conscious of a longing
so poignant that the thought of disappointment became insufferable pain.
So violent was my emotion that a feeling almost of nausea overcame me.

I knew now that I cared for this girl more than I had ever thought to
care for woman. I knew that she was dearer to me than all the world
else; I knew that my love for her would live as long as life is long.

I knocked at the door. No answer.

"Berna," I cried in a faltering whisper.

Came the reply: "Who is there?"

"Love, love, dear; love is waiting."

Then, at my words, the door was opened, and the girl was before me. I
think she had been lying down, for her soft hair was a little ruffled,
but her eyes were far too bright for sleep. She stood gazing at me, and
a little fluttering hand went up to her heart as if to still its
beating.

"Oh, my dear, I knew you were coming."

A great radiance of joy seemed to descend on her.

"You knew?"

"I knew, yes, I knew. Something told me you were come at last. And I've
waited--how I've waited! I've dreamed, but it's not a dream now, is it,
dear; it's you?"

"Yes, it's me. I've tried so hard to find you. Oh, my dear, my dear!"

I seized the sweet, soft hand and covered it with kisses. At that moment
I could have kissed the shadow of that little hand; I could have fallen
before her in speechless adoration; I could have made my heart a
footstool for her feet; I could have given her, O, so gladly, my paltry
life to save her from a moment's sorrow--I loved her so, I loved her so!

"High and low I've sought you, beloved. Morning, noon and night you've
been in my brain, my heart, my soul. I've loved you every moment of my
life. It's been desire feeding despair, and, O, the agony of it! Thank
God, I've found you, dear! thank God! thank God!"

O Love, look down on us and choir your harmonies! Transported was I,
speaking with whirling words of sweetest madness, tremulous, uplifted
with rapture, sc