Henry C. Rowland

“ Dallas raised both arms, but before he could clasp her Thalia's own were about his neck and her face crushed to his. Her sobs broke out afresh.
"Thalia!" cried Dallas, crushing her to him. "My own darling! I love you more than anything in the world." He kissed the tears from the hot, flushed cheeks. "I shall tell James all about it, sweetheart. He is big and generous. He will understand. ”

“ And did I nurse him and feed him and——"
"Thalia, Thalia!" Dallas groaned. "Stop it! Oh, my dear, don't you see how hard you are making it for me?"
She turned her lurid eyes to his.
"And don't you suppose that you are making it hard for me, and have been right along, with your everlasting talk of James, James, James! Oh, Dallas, Dallas, it is you that I love! Just you, you, you! I have never loved anybody else! I shall never love any one else! Oh, my dear, my dear!" She began to sob, and her body swayed back and forth and threw dancing shadows on the cabin walls. ”

“ The minutes flew by, and still he held her close, talking to her soothingly until presently her sobs ceased and she looked up at him with a smile.
"Yes, dearest," she whispered; "I understand. I will help you. And you really love me—and don't love Paula?"
"Darling! I love only you!" ”