Part 43 (2/2)
He meant every word that he said. She tried to cry out to Heaven to help her in this, her hour of need, but her white lips could form no word.
Suddenly she felt herself lifted in a pair of strong arms, a hand fell swiftly over her mouth, and she knew no more. Sky, trees, the dark, handsome, swarthy face above her and the earth beneath her seemed to rock and reel.
Carrying his burden swiftly along a path almost covered by tangled underbrush, the man struck at length into a little clearing at one side of the main road. Here, as he had said, a horse and buggy were in waiting.
A lighted lantern was in the bottom of the vehicle. He swung this into the unconscious girl's face as he thrust her upon the seat. He had expected to see one of the servants of the mansion--a seamstress, or one of the maids, perhaps--but he was totally unprepared for the vision of girlish loveliness that met his gaze.
While he had gazed with fascinated eyes at the faultlessly beautiful face of Bernardine, his heart had gone from him in one great, mad throb of pa.s.sionate love.
”This lovely bird has walked directly into my drag-net,” he muttered.
”Why should she not be mine, whether she loves or _hates_ me?”
CHAPTER LIV.
On and on the dark-browed stranger urges the almost thoroughly exhausted horse, until after an hour's hard driving he comes upon a small farm-house standing in the midst of a clearing in the dense wood.
Here he drew rein, uttering a loud ”Halloo!”
In answer to his summons, two men and a woman came hurrying forward, one of the men going toward the horse.
”Mercy on us!” exclaimed the woman, amazedly, ”Victor Lament has brought the young woman with him.”
”No comments!” exclaimed Lamont, harshly, as he lifted his unconscious burden out of the buggy.
”And why not, pray?” demanded the woman, impudently. ”Why should I not make comments when my husband is your pal in all your schemes; that is, he does the work while you play the fine gentleman, and he doesn't get half of the money by a long shot?”
”But I insist upon knowing now,” declared the woman. ”Who is the girl you are carrying in your arms, and why have you brought her here--of all places in the world?”
By this time they had reached the house, and Lamont strode in and laid his unconscious burden upon a wooden settee, which was the only article of furniture the apartment possessed.
”Why don't you answer, Victor Lamont?” cried the woman, shrilly. ”Ten to one it's some girl whose puny, pretty face has fascinated you, and you're in love with her.”
”Well, supposing that is the case,” he replied, coolly; ”what then?”
”I would say your fool-hardiness had got the better of your reason,” she replied.
”That is the case with most men who do so foolish a thing as to fall in love,” he answered, carelessly.
”Keep an eye on the girl, and do not let her leave this farm-house until after our work around here is done.”
”I will promise under one condition,” replied his companion; ”and that is that you will not attempt to see the girl, or speak to her.”
”Do you think I am a fool?” retorted Lamont.
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