39/39 Were they rubies, or were they drops of blood linked together by a thread of gold? "Oh, beautiful! beautiful! And I _knew_ it was true! I knew it all the time." The old man fixed a strange look, solemn and tender, on the girl as she stood at his side, radiant and glowing with happiness. "She said--" his voice trembled as he spoke, "that furrin woman--she said it was her heart's blood as father had saved. And now it's still blood, Hildy, my gal, our heart's blood, that goes out to you, and loves and blesses you as if you were our own child come back from the dead." And drawing her to him, he clasped the ruby chain round Hilda's neck.. |