Part 26 (1/2)

”Nella-Rose” (and now Marg fell on her knees beside her sister), ”tell me where he is. Tell me and as sure as G.o.d lives I'll bring him back!

I'll make him own you and--and the baby or he'll--he'll--”

And then Nella-Rose laughed the laugh that drove Lois Ann to distraction.

”Send Marg away, Miss Lois Ann,” Nella-Rose turned to her only friend, ”she makes me so--so tired and--I do not want any one but you.”

Marg got upon her feet, all the tenderness and compa.s.sion gone.

”You are--” she began, but Lois Ann was between her and Nella-Rose.

”Go!” she commanded with terrible scorn. ”Go! You are not fit to touch them. Go! Dying or mad--the girl belongs to me and not to such as has viper blood in their veins. Go!” And Marg went with the sound of Nella-Rose's crooning to her child ringing in her ears.

Things happened dramatically after that in the deep woods. Marg kept the secret of the Hollow cabin in her seething heart. She was frightened, fearing her father or Jed might discover Nella-Rose. But she was, at times, filled with a strange longing to see her sister and touch that wonderful thing that lay on the guilty mother-breast.

Was Nella-Rose forever to have the glory even in her shame, while she, Marg, with all the rights of womanhood, could hold no hope of maternity?

For one reason or another Marg often stole to the woods as near the Hollow as she dared to go. She hoped for news but none came; and it was late August when, one sunny noon, she confronted Burke Lawson!

Lawson's face was strange and awful to look on. Marg drew away from him in fear. She could not know but Burke had had a terrific experience that day and he was on the path for revenge and any one in his way must suffer. Freed at last from his captivity, he had travelled across the range and straight to Jim White. And the sheriff, ready for the recreant, greeted him without mercy, judging him guilty until he proved himself otherwise.

”What you done with Nella-Rose?” he asked, standing before Burke with slow fire in his deep eyes.

Lawson could never have been the man he was if he were not capable of holding his own council and warding off attack.

”What makes you think I've done anything with her?” he asked.

”None o' that, Burke Lawson,” Jim warned. ”I've been yo' friend, but I swear I'll toss yo' ter the dogs, as is after you, with as little feelin' as I would if yo' were a chunk o' dead meat--if you've harmed that lil' gal.”

”Well, I ain't harmed her, Jim. And now let's set down and talk it over. I want to--to bring her home; I want ter live a decent life 'mong yo'-all. Jim, don't shoot 'til yo' make sure yo' ought ter shoot.”

Thus brought to reason Jim sat down, shared his meal with his reinstated friend, and gave him the gossip of the hills. Lawson ate because he was well-nigh starved and he knew he had some rough work ahead; he listened because he needed all the guiding possible and he s.h.i.+elded the name and reputation of Nella-Rose with the splendid courage that filled his young heart and mind. And then he set forth upon his quest with these words:

”As Gawd A'mighty hears me, Jim White, I'll fetch that lil' Nella-Rose home and live like a man from now on. Wipe off my sins, Jim; make a place for me, old man, and I'll never shame it--or G.o.d blast me!”

White took the strong young hand and felt his eyes grow misty.

”Yo' place is here, Burke,” he said, and then Lawson was on his way.

A half hour later he encountered Marg. In his own mind Burke had a pretty clear idea of what had occurred. Not having heard any suggestion of Truedale, he was as ignorant of him as though Truedale had never existed. Jed, then, was the only man to hold guilty. Jed had, in pa.s.sion and revenge, wronged Nella-Rose and had after, like the sneak and coward he was, sought to secure his own safety by marrying Marg. But what had they done with Nella-Rose? She had, according to White, disappeared the night that Jed had been tied in the cave. Well, Jed must confess and pay!--pay to the uttermost. But between him and Jed Marg now stood!

”You!” cried Marg. ”You! What yo' mean coming brazen to us-all?”

”Get out of my way!” commanded Burke, ”Where's Jed?”

”What's that to you?”

”You'll find out soon enough. Let me by.”

But Marg held her ground and Lawson waited. The look in his eyes awed Marg, but his presence enraged her.