In a corner Judith turned from the window whence she had been watching the finish of the race . She was pale and tense from excitement . In those few gasping moments she had looked on her heart as on an open book ; she knew at last that she loved Bruce Marshall and her eyes met his fiery gray ones as he sprang over the threshold . `` Judith , will you marry me ? '' gasped Bruce , before Eben , who had first looked at Mrs. Theodora and the squirming Potter , had located the girl . `` Yes , '' said Judith . She burst into hysterical tears as she said it and sat limply down in a chair . Mrs. Theodora loosed her grip on Potter . `` You can go back to your work , '' she said dully . She followed him out and Eben King followed her . On the step she reached behind him and closed the door . `` Trust a King for being too late ! '' she said bitterly and unjustly . Eben went home with Bay Billy . Potter gazed after him until Mrs. Theodora ordered him to put Marshall 's mare in the stable and rub her down . `` Anyway , Judith wo n't be an old maid , '' she comforted herself . The Promise of Lucy Ellen Cecily Foster came down the sloping , fir-fringed road from the village at a leisurely pace . Usually she walked with a long , determined stride , but to-day the drowsy , mellowing influence of the Autumn afternoon was strong upon her and filled her with placid content . Without being actively conscious of it , she was satisfied with the existing circumstances of her life . It was half over now .
The half of it yet to be lived stretched before her , tranquil , pleasant and uneventful , like the XXXXX , filled with unhurried duties and calmly interesting days , Cecily liked the prospect .
Billy Bruce Eben Foster Judith King Marshall Potter Theodora afternoon