To thank you--"
"Please say nothing at all--but go! Your enemies must not find you here
again--you must leave the valley!"
"I have a work to do! But it must not touch your life. Your happiness is
too much, too sweet to me."
"You must leave the bungalow--I found out to-day where you are staying.
There is a new danger there--the mountain people think you are a revenue
officer. I told one of them--"
"Yes?"
"--that you are not! That is enough. Now hurry away. You must find your
horse and go."
He bent and kissed her hand.
"You trust me; that is the dearest thing in the world." His voice
faltered and broke in a sob, for he was worn and weak, and the mystery of
the night and the dark silent garden wove a spell upon him and his heart
leaped at the touch of his lips upon her fingers. Their figures were only
blurs in the dark, and their low tones died instantly, muffled by the
night. She opened the gate as he began to promise not to appear before
her again in any way to bring her trouble; but her low whisper arrested
him.
"Do not let them hurt you again--" she said; and he felt her hand seek
his, felt its cool furtive pressure for a moment; and then she was gone.
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