Neither had known before how great and good she was, and from
this day neither would ever forget one shade of the goodness and the
greatness she had revealed to both.
A baser man than Rex would have suffered and would have foreseen
suffering throughout his coming days, in dwelling beside the woman who
could not be his. But he was made of better stuff than most men, and
his passion had received a stern and sudden check from the force of his
commanding will. It was as though Hilda had been deified before him,
and had been lifted to a sphere in which he could worship her as a
higher being and forget that she was a woman. He bowed his head in
thought, while Hilda and Greif stood before him. They saw the white
streaks in the soft hair that had been so brown and bright but
yesterday, and they glanced at each other, awestruck at the thought of
what he must have suffered.
'His hair is white--and it is for me!' Hilda whispered as she leaned
upon her husband's shoulder.
Rex's quick ear caught the words, though they were scarcely audible. He
looked up, and his stony eyes grew strangely soft and expressive.
'Yes,' he said. 'I know it--but it is not strange. I am glad it is
so, for it was in a good cause. You are right, Hilda, my sister--the
hour of destiny is passed. It has left its marks, but they are pledges
that it will not return. The new life begins to-day--give me your
hands, both of you--do mine tremble so? It is with happiness, not with
pain--oh, not with pain, do not think it! Give me a share in your
lives, since you will.
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