HICKORY DOCK
Dock for you if it takes a thousand years,"—his voice choked, "but I wish to God I could mend my broken promise as easily!"
And Rosalie smiled through her tears and said,—
"Sweetheart-Man, you do love me?"
"With all my heart and soul and body and breath, and past and present and future I love you!" said the Man.
Then Rosalie kissed a little path to his ear, and whispered, oh, so softly,—
"Sweetheart-Man, I love you just that same way."
And Hickory Dock, the Angel, never ticked the passing of a single second, but lay on his back looking straight up to Heaven with his two little battered hands clasped eternally at Love's high noon.
54
