CHAPTER XXXVII — THE KISS OF THE BRIDE

For a quarter of an hour the Governor sat and talked with Lucy, waiting the arrival of Gordon and Ruth. The warden¹ arranged that they should meet in the adjoining room alone.

No eye save God’s saw their meeting. Those who waited only heard through the heavy curtains half articulate cries like the soft crooning of a mother over her babe.

When they entered the room and Lucy had clung passionately² for a moment to the neck of the tall, gaunt figure, the Governor took his hand.

“I have accepted Ruth’s word and yours for the truth in this case, Frank Gordon. I have grown to know that she is the soul of truth. I heard you preach once from the text, ‘He saved others, himself he could not save.’ I did not know then what you were talking about. I know now—”

“Oh, Morris,” Ruth broke in, “we will always love you as the nearest and dearest friend on earth.”

“As for you, Frank Gordon,” he went on. “I could no longer hate you if I tried. In the presence of a love so pure, so divine as that which hallows your life, I uncover my head. I am on holy ground—I am in the presence of the living God.”

He turned away, and Ruth broke into a sob³, while the man by her side hung his head and sat down as though too weak to stand.

The Governor lifted Gordon from the seat, seized Ruth’s hand and placed it in his.

“I know your heart’s desire, Ruth,” he said, slowly, “I have an officer of the law here to perform a marriage ceremony. Holding your first marriage a divine sacrament, you once planned a civil one in this grim prison. No matter how I learned this: it shall be so to-day.”

The magistrate⁴ advanced and pronounced them husband and wife, sat down by a desk, and made out the record.

The Governor rose and handed the official pardon to Gordon.

“To you I give life.”

He tore the other paper into two parts by its dotted lines, handed Ruth one half and held the other in his trembling fingers.

“This, Ruth, is your marriage certificate”—he paused—“and my death warrant. Frank Gordon, we have changed places.”

Again the woman sobbed⁵.

“You have forgotten something, Morris,” she answered, wistfully.

“Yes, I know: myself.”

“It is your right to kiss the bride,” she said, softly, “and I wish it.”

He stooped and reverently⁶ touched her forehead. And when he turned away Lucy stood before him, her soft young bosom⁷, neck and face crimson⁸, her eyes dancing, and the sweet little mouth quivering.

“May I kiss you, Governor?” she cried, tremblingly. “You are my hero!”

Her bare arms flashed around his neck, and her warm lips met his.

In the mansion⁹ on the hill at Albany, the Governor sat that night in his magnificent room alone until the dawn of day, holding in his hand an old battered¹⁰ tintype picture of a laughing girl standing¹¹ beside a poor young lawyer.

THE END

1 warden   

n.监察员，监狱长，看守人，监护人

参考例句：

• He is the warden of an old people's home.他是一家养老院的管理员。
• The warden of the prison signed the release.监狱长签发释放令。

2 passionately   

ad.热烈地，激烈地

参考例句：

• She could hate as passionately as she could love. 她能恨得咬牙切齿，也能爱得一往情深。
• He was passionately addicted to pop music. 他酷爱流行音乐。

3 sob   

n.空间轨道的轰炸机；呜咽，哭泣

参考例句：

• The child started to sob when he couldn't find his mother.孩子因找不到他妈妈哭了起来。
• The girl didn't answer,but continued to sob with her head on the table.那个女孩不回答，也不抬起头来。她只顾低声哭着。

4 magistrate   

n.地方行政官，地方法官，治安官

参考例句：

• The magistrate committed him to prison for a month.法官判处他一个月监禁。
• John was fined 1000 dollars by the magistrate.约翰被地方法官罚款1000美元。

5 sobbed   

哭泣，啜泣( sob的过去式和过去分词 )； 哭诉，呜咽地说

参考例句：

• She sobbed out the story of her son's death. 她哭诉着她儿子的死。
• She sobbed out the sad story of her son's death. 她哽咽着诉说她儿子死去的悲惨经过。

6 reverently   

adv.虔诚地

参考例句：

• He gazed reverently at the handiwork. 他满怀敬意地凝视着这件手工艺品。
• Pork gazed at it reverently and slowly delight spread over his face. 波克怀着愉快的心情看着这只表，脸上慢慢显出十分崇敬的神色。

7 bosom   

n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的

参考例句：

• She drew a little book from her bosom.她从怀里取出一本小册子。
• A dark jealousy stirred in his bosom.他内心生出一阵恶毒的嫉妒。

8 crimson   

n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色

参考例句：

• She went crimson with embarrassment.她羞得满脸通红。
• Maple leaves have turned crimson.枫叶已经红了。

9 mansion   

n.大厦，大楼；宅第

参考例句：

• The old mansion was built in 1850.这座古宅建于1850年。
• The mansion has extensive grounds.这大厦四周的庭园广阔。

10 battered   

adj.磨损的；v.连续猛击；磨损

参考例句：

• He drove up in a battered old car.他开着一辆又老又破的旧车。
• The world was brutally battered but it survived.这个世界遭受了惨重的创伤,但它还是生存下来了。

11 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。