And so, penniless and a stranger, under an assumed
name, I sought useful, necessary work that called for the highest
quality of manhood. And I have won, Helen; I know that I have won.
To-day Patches, the cowboy, can look any man in the face. He can take
his place and hold his own among men of any class anywhere. I have
regained that of which the circumstances of birth and inheritance and
training robbed me. I have won the right of a man to come to you again.
I claim that right now, Helen. I tell you again that I love you. I love
you as--"
"Larry! Larry!" she cried, springing to her feet, and drawing away from
him, as though suddenly awakened from some strange spell. "Larry, you
must not! What do you mean? How can you say such things to me?"
He answered her with reckless passion. "I say such things because I am a
man, and because you are the woman I love and want; because--"
She cried out again in protest. "Oh, stop, stop! Please stop! Don't you
know?"
"Know what?" he demanded.
"My--my husband!" she gasped. "Stanford Manning--we are here on our
honeymoon."
She saw him flinch as though from a heavy blow, and put out his hand to
the trunk of a tree near which they stood, to steady himself.
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