Part 30 (1/2)
His narrowed eyes held a cold glitter. ”Why?”
”You must know he is innocent. You must--”
”I know only what the evidence shows,” he cut in, warily on his guard.
”He may or may not have been one of my attackers. From the first blow I was dazed. But everything points to it that he hired--”
”Oh, no!” interrupted the Irish girl, her dark eyes s.h.i.+ning softly. ”The way of it is that he saved your life, that he fought for you, and that he is in prison because of it.”
”If that is true, why doesn't he bring some proof of it?”
”Proof!” she cried scornfully. ”Between friends--”
”He's no friend of mine. The man is a meddler. I despise him.”
The scarlet flooded her cheeks. ”And I am liking him very, very much,”
she flung back stanchly.
Macdonald looked up at the vivid, flushed face and found it wholly charming. He liked her none the less because her fine eyes were hot and defiant in behalf of his rival.
”Very well,” he smiled. ”I'll get him out if you'll do me a good turn too.”
”Thank you. It's a bargain.”
”Then sing to me.”
She moved to the piano. ”What shall I sing?”
”Sing 'Divided.'”
The long lashes veiled her soft eyes while she considered. In a way he had tricked her into singing for him a love-song she did not want to sing. But she made no protest. Swiftly she turned and slid along the bench. Her fingers touched the keys and she began.
He watched the beauty and warmth of her dainty youth with eyes that mirrored the hunger of his heart. How buoyantly she carried her dusky little head! With what a gallant spirit she did all things! He was usually a frank pagan, but when he was with her it seemed to him that G.o.d spoke through her personality all sorts of brave, fine promises.
Sheba paid her pledge in full. After the first two stanzas were finished she sang the last ones as well:--
”An' what about the wather when I'd have ould Paddy's boat, Is it me that would be feared to grip the oars an' go afloat?
Oh, I could find him by the light of sun or moon or star: But there's caulder things than salt waves between us, so they are.
Och anee!
”Sure well I know he'll never have the heart to come to me, An' love is wild as any wave that wanders on the sea, 'Tis the same if he is near me, 'tis the same if he is far: His thoughts are hard an' ever hard between us, so they are.
Och anee!”
Her hands dropped from the keys and she turned slowly on the end of the seat. The dark lashes fell to her hot cheeks. He did not speak, but she felt the steady insistence of his gaze. In self-defense she looked at him.
The pallor of his face lent accent to the fire that smouldered in his eyes.
”I'm going to marry you, Sheba. Make up your mind to that, girl,” he said harshly.