He would be afraid to kiss her again--Nonsense! She couldn’t refuse her lips if she loved. He’d risk it again if he died for it. He delivered his orders and turned without delay for the Holland homestead. The flowers were in glorious bloom again. The sun was sinking behind the trees in scarlet and purple glory. His father strolled thoughtfully across the lawn with one arm around Zonia and Marya’s hand clasped in his. As the car turned into the drive and swept toward the house, the girls saw him and rushed with cries of joy to smother him with kisses. “Our men are ready?” his father asked gravely. “To die--yes--they are as ready as they can be without drill or quipment--or artillery to defend them.” The old man shook his head. “And the enemy--they are many?” “A hundred and sixty thousand hardened veterans and the most magnificent equipment of the modern world--” Old Andrew Vassar lifted his hands in a gesture of pain. “God help us!” “Only He can now. We’ve done our best--that’s all--” [Illustration: “‘It’s all love’s victory, dearest’”] He paused and turned to Zonia whispering softly: “Where is she?” The girl nodded toward the rose-embowered oak. “Waiting for you. Billy telephoned us. She’s been there ever since.” Vassar hurried across the lawn. The twilight was deepening and the new moon hung a half crescent in the evening sky. She rose as he passed the trellis and stood smiling tenderly until he came close. Her hands were clasped tightly. Neither was extended to greet him. She lifted her eyes to his in a long, tender gaze, deliberately slipped both arms around his neck and kissed his lips. He held her close in a moment of strangling joy. She lifted her lips to his again, and spoke in tones so low that only the heart of love could hear: “My darling--my own--my hero--my mate! I’ve loved you always from the first. I was too proud to surrender my will and mind, my body and soul to any man. I went away into the mountains to fight it out and love conquered, dear! I surrendered before I knew that your prophetic soul was right in sensing this black hour in life. I’m glad I gave up before I knew. It’s all love’s victory, dearest. I love you. I love you--I love you--and now Death is going to throw his shadow between us--” A sob caught her voice. “But I shall love you through all eternity and I thank God for this holy hour in which we meet and know, face to face--” For two glorious hours they sat and held each other’s hands in the soft light of the half-fledged moon. And then he rose, kissed her again and swiftly rode into the night toward the red dawn of Death. CHAPTER XXX The grim gray wave of destruction from the sand dunes had rolled into battleline and spread out over the green clothed hills and valleys of the Island--swiftly, remorselessly, with an uncanny precision that was marvelous. The scouts were soaring in the clear blue skies with keen eyes searching for the position of our guns.