Bearing his head to the falling rain, which seemed to cool his burning
brow, he said aloud:
"Darling Bessie, can you see me now? Do you know that I am here,
standing by your grave, and do you know how much I love you? Surely it
is no wrong to Neil for me to whisper to your dead ears the story of my
love. Oh, Bessie, I have come to say good-by, and my heart is breaking
as I say it. If you could only answer me--could give me some token that
you know, it would be some comfort to me when I am far away, for I am
going home, Bessie, to the home over the sea, where I once hoped I
might take you as my wife, before I knew of Neil's prior claim, but so
long as life lasts I shall remember the dear little girl who was so much
to me; and here I pledge my word that no other love shall ever come
between us. I have loved you; I have lost you; but thank God, I have not
lost your memory. Good-by, darling; good-by."
He stooped and kissed the rain-wet sod above the grave, then walked
swiftly away in the direction of Bangor, and took the first through
train to Liverpool.
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