Who
has been telling you otherwise?"
"No one. Indeed, indeed, I alone am to blame. You will be angry with
me, but I could not help it."
She could say no more. If she had uttered another syllable just then
she would have broken down completely. Joey did not seem to need any
further fondling; hence, having a hand at liberty, so to speak,
Courtenay placed it under her chin, and lifted her unresisting lips to
his. He kissed her twice, and laughed softly, with a glad confidence
that sent a wave of delight coursing through Elsie's veins.
"Sweetheart," he whispered, "I am sure you would not have allowed me to
speak so plainly if you were going to send me away. Now, I don't want
you to bind yourself irrevocably to-night. That would certainly not be
fair. I don't know why I am to be angry, or what it was you couldn't
help, and I don't care a red cent. All I want to know is this--if the
_Kansas_ brings us both back to the outer world once more, have I as
good a chance of winning your love as any other man?"
"But I must tell you. I could not look you in the face again if you
did not hear it.
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