Victor from Vanquz'xhed Issues 
     
    
   
   
    
     perfect lines of her lithe, slender figure. 
     
     Her glossy black hair was wound about 
     
     her head in a braided coronet, against 
     
     which a spray of wild asters shone like 
     
     pale purple stars. Her face was flushed 
     
     delicately with excitement. She looked 
     
     like a' young princess, crowned with a 
     
     ruddy splash of sunlight that fell through 
     
     the old trees. 
     
    

    
     “ Father, this is Kilmeny,” said Eric 
     
     proudly. 
     
    

    
     Kilmeny held out her hand with a shyly 
     
     murmured greeting. Mr. Marshall took it 
     
     and held it in his, looking so steadily and 
     
     piercingly into her face that even her 
     
     frank gaze wavered before the intensity 
     
     of his keen old eyes. Then he drew her to 
     
     him and kissed her gravely and gently on 
     
     her White forehead. 
     
    

    
     “ My dear,” he said, “ I am glad and 
     
     proud that you have consented to be my 
     
     son’s wife—and my very dear and hon- 
     
     oured daughter.” 
     
    

    
     Eric turned abruptly away to hide his 
     
    
   
   
    
     255