it!

He could not understand. Not yet. All that he could do was stare at her
and wonder and grope confusedly for the explanation. It was clear that
something was wrong with Gloria; she dropped down by the fire, she
slumped forward, she lay her face upon her crossed arms. He could see
the frail body shaking--he could hear her sudden wild sobbing.

The truth came upon him at last, dawning slowly, slowly.

"Gloria!" It was a gasp of more than amazement; consternation was in his
heart. "_Gloria_!"

She lifted her head and sat up. He saw her great wide-open eyes and the
tears gushing from them. She fought to control herself, a sob in her
throat. She rose and came toward him in strange, wildly uncertain steps.

"Gloria! You----"

"Sh, Mark; you mustn't----"

But he couldn't lie still. He lifted himself upon his elbow and looked
at her with wondering eyes. She stood over him, looking on the verge of
collapse. Slowly she came down to him, half kneeling, half falling.

"My God," he cried hoarsely. "You went for my bear? _You did it_."

She tried to smile at him, and into his own eyes there broke a sudden
gush of tears.

"You wonderful, wonderful, wonderful Gloria!" he cried out. "There is no
girl in all the world could have done that--there is no girl like you."

Her hand was questing his; he caught it and gripped it with all the
strength in him; he hurt her, and at last, with the pain, her smile
broke through.

"Gloria----"

"Mark?"

"Can you--not so soon, but some day--forgive me?"

She found only a faint whisper with which to answer him; her eyes were
as hungry as his.

"Can you forgive, Mark?"

And now, when their eyes clung together as their hands were already
clinging, each was marvelling that the other could forgive and love one
who had erred so.

THE END

End of Project Gutenberg's The Everlasting Whisper, by Jackson Gregory

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