Part 21 (1/2)
”Since you seem to desire it so earnestly, I am sure I have no wish to object,” she answered, trembling in spite of her efforts to appear unconcerned under the fire of his keen, ardent gaze.
”You are an angel,” he cried, seating himself in a chair so near her that he could still hold the little fluttering hands, which she fain would have drawn from his clasp, for, although she had never before had a proposal of marriage, she guessed intuitively what was coming.
”Since I have but a few minutes alone with you, Claire, what I have to say must be said quickly,” he began.
For the first time in her life Claire was at a loss for an answer.
”I am sure you have guessed my secret, sweetest of all sweet girls,” he murmured. ”Every glance of my eyes, every touch of my hand, must have told it to you from the first moment we met. Did it--not?”
”No,” faltered Claire, her eyes drooping like a flower under the sun's piercing rays.
”Then my lips shall tell you,” he cried. ”It is this--I love you, little Claire--love you with all my heart, all my soul. You are the light of my life, the suns.h.i.+ne of my existence, my lode-star, my hope--all that a young girl is to a man who idolizes her as the one supreme being on earth who can make him happy. Oh, Claire, I wors.h.i.+p you as man never wors.h.i.+ped woman before, and I want you for my wife.”
She opened her lips to speak, but he went on rapidly, hoa.r.s.ely:
”Do not refuse me, for it would be my death warrant if you did. I tell you I cannot brook a refusal from those dear lips of yours. If you do not consent I shall make away with myself in your presence here and now with a revolver which lies in my breast pocket.”
A scream of terror broke from Claire's terrified lips.
”Oh, do not make away with yourself, Mr; Armstrong!” ”I--I will promise--anything you--you want me to! Only don't shoot yourself--don't!”
”Then you accept me?” queried Kendale in a very businesslike manner.
”Ye-es--if mamma does not--object,” she answered in a stifling manner.
”There must be no ifs,” he declared. ”You must take me, no matter who objects. If we cannot bring your mamma around to an amicable way of thinking, we must elope--that is all there is about it.”
”Elope!” gasped Claire in affright.
”Why, what else would there be left to do?” he asked, with asperity. ”I love you and I must have you, Claire, and if you are willing to take me, why, we will marry in spite of anything and everything that opposes.
”Of course, if your mamma sees things as we do, all well and good; but I say now to you, her objections must make no difference whatever in our plans.”
”Oh, Mr. Armstrong!” gasped Claire, not knowing what in the world to say to this ardent lover, who was so impetuous in his wooing.
Before he could add a word Mrs. Fairfax came down the grand stairway, her silken gown making a rustling frou-frou upon the velvet carpet.
She looked much surprised at finding him there, as she had not been apprised of his coming.
Kendale arose to greet her in his usual impressive, languid, courteous fas.h.i.+on, managing to whisper in Claire's ear hastily:
”Make some excuse to leave the drawing-room for a few minutes, dear, and while you are gone I will broach the all-important subject to your mother.”
Mrs. Fairfax greeted the handsome young man cordially, pretending not to have noticed how near to each other they had been sitting upon her entrance to the drawing-room, and how suddenly they had sprung apart.
Her daughter's blus.h.i.+ng face and confused manner told her that the propitious moment had arrived--the handsome heir to the Marsh millions had proposed.
And underneath her calm exterior Mrs. Fairfax's heart beat high with exultation. Her quick ear had also caught that rapidly whispered last remark to Claire, and, realizing that her daughter was too much fl.u.s.tered to act upon it, gave the young man the opportunity to be alone with her which he seemed to desire by remarking: