Part 90 (2/2)
”Then there is some one left to--My darling sis!” He began in a half-cynical way, but the genuine embrace was contagious, and clasping her to his breast, he had to fight hard to keep back his own tears and sobs as he returned her kisses.
Then the fugitive's dread of the law and of discovery rea.s.serted itself, and pus.h.i.+ng her back, he said quickly--
”Where is father?”
”At Mr Van Heldre's. Let me--”
”Hus.h.!.+ answer my questions. Where is Aunt Marguerite?”
”Gone to bed, dear.”
”And the servants?”
”In the kitchen. They will not come without I ring. But, Harry-- brother--we thought you dead--we thought you dead.”
”Hus.h.!.+ Louie, for Heaven's sake! You'll ruin me,” he whispered, as she burst into a fit of uncontrollable sobbing, so violent at times that he grew alarmed.
”We thought you dead--we thought you dead.”
It was all she could say as she clung to him, and looked wildly from door to window and back.
”Louie!” he whispered at last pa.s.sionately, ”I must escape. Be quiet, or you will be heard.”
By a tremendous effort she mastered her emotion, and tightening her grasp upon him, she set her teeth hard, compressed her lips, and stood with contracted brow gazing in his eyes.
”Now?” he said, ”can you listen?”
She nodded her head, and her wild eyes seemed so questioning, that he said quickly--
”I can't tell you much. You know I can swim well.”
She nodded silently.
”Well, I rose after my dive and let the current carry me away till I swam ash.o.r.e three miles away, and I've been in hiding in one of the zorns.”
”Oh, my brother!” she answered.
”Waiting till it was safe to come out.”
”But, Harry!” she paused; ”we--my father--we all believed you dead. How could you be so--”
She stopped.
”Cruel?” he said firmly. ”Wouldn't it have been more cruel to be dragged off to prison and disgrace you more?”
”But--”
”Hus.h.!.+ I tell you I have been in hiding. They think me dead?”
<script>