Part 26 (1/2)
”You dreamed of him!” Glen paused in her eating, while her face turned pale.
”There, now, I am sorry I mentioned it, Miss Weston. I knew it would worry you. But perhaps it is just as well for you to know.”
”Indeed it is, especially when it concerns that man. Oh, he is not a man, but a brute. Please tell me about your dream.”
In a few words Reynolds told her all, and when he had ended she sat for some time lost in thought. Her right arm rested upon the table, and her sunbrowned, shapely fingers lightly pressed her chin and cheek.
She was looking out of the window which fronted the lake, as if she saw something there. The young man, watching, thought he never saw her look more beautiful. Presently a tremor shook her body. Then she gave a little nervous laugh, and resumed her breakfast.
”I am afraid I am not altogether myself this morning,” she apologized.
”But how can I help feeling nervous so long as Curly is anywhere in this country?”
Reynolds was about to reply when Nannie entered and told him that the master of the house wished to see him. With a quick glance at Glen, and asking to be excused, he left the room, expecting that the storm which had been so mercifully delayed was now about to break.
CHAPTER XIX
THE TURN OF EVENTS
The master of Glen West was sitting at his desk as Reynolds entered.
He was smoking, and at the same time reading a newspaper in which he was deeply interested. The latter he at once laid aside, and motioned his visitor to a chair. He then picked up a box of cigars lying near.
”Do you smoke?” he asked. ”If so, you will enjoy these. They are a special brand.”
”Thanks,” Reynolds replied, as he lifted one from the box, and proceeded at once to light it. This reception was so different from what he had expected that he hardly knew what to think. Anyway, the first move was favorable, and that was a good token.
”You left me very abruptly last night,” Weston charged, looking keenly at the young man.
”I certainly did,” and Reynolds smiled. ”But sometimes there is a virtue in abruptness, especially----”
”Especially what?” Weston queried, as Reynolds hesitated. ”Go on.”
”When a situation becomes tense and awkward.”
”And you think it was so last night?”
”I am sure of it.”
”What is your reason?”
”My own common sense.”
Weston was silent for a few seconds, and puffed steadily at his cigar.
Reynolds watching him out of the corner of his eye, wondered what was pa.s.sing through his mind.
”Have the Indians been telling you anything?” Weston presently asked.
”About what?”