He took her in his arms and
strained her to him as if with the strength of his muscles and his
will he would defy the blundering fates.
Madeleine made no resistance. She was oblivious of everything but
the ecstasy of the moment. When he kissed her she clung to him as
ardently, and felt as mortals may, when, in dissolution, they have
the vision of unmortal bliss. She had the genius for completion and
neither the past nor the future intruded upon the perfect moment when
love was all.
But the moment was brief. A priest entered and knelt before the
altar. She disengaged herself and adjusted her hat with hands that
trembled violently, then almost ran out of the church. Masters
followed her. As they descended the steps Travers and his companion
passed again, after their short canter down the peninsula. He stared
so hard at Madeleine's revealing face that he almost forgot to take
off his hat, and half reined in as if he would pause and gratify his
curiosity; but thought better of it and rode on.
Masters and Madeleine did not exchange a word until they had walked
nearly a mile. But his brain was working as clearly as if passion had
never clouded it, and although he could see no hope for the future he
was determined to gain time and sacrifice anything rather than lose
what little he might still have of her.
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