Partners (30 page)

It was while he was feeding the soup to Gillian that their glances met, hers with a shy, sweet smile in it, his glance very tender.

Suddenly he lay down the spoon and bowl on the table by the bed, and bringing his face down very close to hers he said tenderly, "Oh, my dear! My precious love! Thank God you are safe!" And then suddenly he laid his face against hers and kissed her reverently.

"Gillian, I love you, dear! I think I've loved you ever since I first saw you. But I never had thought much about it until I went away from you out to that wedding. Then I understood. It was while the "Wedding March" was being played I saw the bride coming slowly up the aisle, and I suddenly saw your face, and I knew that you were the one I love. There could never be anyone else for me. There were bells in the music, bells on the church organ, wedding bells, and I felt as if they were ringing in my heart! And then I came rushing home to tell you, and I found you gone! Oh, my darling! I shall never cease to thank God that you are alive!"

His face went down to hers, and her hands came up shyly, hesitantly to touch it. Then she put her arms close about his neck and drew him to her.

"Oh," she breathed softly, "this is wonderful! To think that you should love me!"

Their lips met in a long, sweet kiss.

Then Reuben lifted his head and looked into her eyes.

"Do you think that Noel will be glad about it?" he asked shyly. "Will he want me for a real brother and be happy in our home?"

"Oh, he will!" said Gillian. "It will make him happier than anything else on the earth could do. He loves you intensely."

"And I love him," said Reuben fervently. "He is the dearest child I ever knew. He has done me good."

"And you won't feel that he is in the way?" said Gillian hesitantly. "You know, I must care for him."

"Of course," said Reuben with a ring of joy in his voice. "And it shall be my dearest joy, next to caring for you, to look out in every way for the dear boy. It is as if he were my own, both for your sake and for his own. I love him, too."

"Oh, Reuben! There is no one like you! I never thought such joy could ever come to me!" And Gillian suddenly drew him down and held him close for a long moment.

Then all at once a calm sarcastic voice broke in upon their ecstasy:

"Well, if you two can stop mooning long enough, perhaps you could spare time to tell that poor sleepy boy good night! He wants to see you, Reuben, so you'd better hurry up, or he'll fall asleep before you get there. But it's just what I expected. I never thought you were a liar, Reuben Remington, but it's turned out exactly like I knew it would. You said she wasn't your girl, but it certainly doesn't look that way now, not as far as I can see! But it's all right with me, Reubie! You've gotta have a girl sometime, I suppose, and I like her a lot, so go ahead. Only say good night to Noel, or he'll be padding in here in his bare feet an' catching his death o' cold, so hurry up."

"That's the talk, Aunt Ettie! I thought you'd come around. All right, I'll go!"

"But I am coming, too!" said Gillian, springing up.

"Oh, but you shouldn't!" said Reuben, putting out a protesting hand.

"I'm quite all right, and it won't hurt me a bit," she said, slipping her feet into the slippers that were beside the bed.

Reuben's arm was about her, supporting her, and they walked in the other room to Noel, their faces serenely happy.

"Shall we tell Noel tonight?" he asked, stooping down to say it in a low tone.

"Yes," she said with shining eyes. "He will be so very happy!"

Aunt Ettie stood beaming on the sidelines, watching them and rejoicing.

So they marched together to Noel's bedside, and he looked at them with a startled wonder at the glory look in their faces.

"Well, fella," said Reuben, "I'm taking you over for good. We're going to have a wedding. You're going to be my family after this. How'll you like that?" asked Reuben, as they stopped at the child's bedside.

"Oh, truly? And you won't have to go away anymore? Oh, goody, goody, goody! We have a good God, haven't we, Gillian?"

He climbed out of his cot and flung himself into their arms.

Then after he had hugged and kissed them, he was tucked under his blanket again.

"Will there be wedding bells?" he asked eagerly from his pillow.

"Yes, wedding bells," said Reuben. "Wedding bells, and you may ring them. I'm not so sure but you started them ringing long ago. Wedding bells in all our hearts! What do you say, Gillian, may it be soon?"

"Soon as you please," said Gillian, smiling.

"Well, how about tomorrow morning?" said Reuben, grinning. "Aunt Ettie, do you think you could get up a wedding breakfast in time?"

"Well, it's a little soon, but I guess I could scrape something together. I wouldn't want ta be the one ta delay things."

"We'll have to take time to get the bells!" shouted Noel joyously. "Aunt Ettie, I'm going to ring the bells!"

"Ain't that grand!" said Aunt Ettie, beaming.

"Yes," said Reuben, laying a loving hand on the boy's head. "I guess you're in tune all right." And then he gathered the child close. "Little brother!" he murmured and kissed him softly.

GRACE LIVINGSTON HILL (1865–1947) is known as the pioneer of Christian romance. Grace wrote over one hundred faith-inspired books during her lifetime. When her first husband died, leaving her with two daughters to raise, writing became a way to make a living, but she always recognized storytelling as a way to share her faith in God. She has touched countless lives through the years and continues to touch lives today. Her books feature moving stories, delightful characters, and love in its purest form.