Part 22 (1/2)
”Faugh! I'm as well at the plant as here, and there I am going. You let me alone to evade the Carters.”
”But why in thunder are you so determined to make this change?” demanded Venner.
An amorous fire came stealing into the woman's resolute eyes, and she shrugged her shapely shoulders significantly.
”You should know why without asking,” she slowly answered, with her gaze fixed upon his changing countenance. ”It is because I love you, Rufe, and wish to be where you spend so much of your time.”
”So much of my time?” echoed Venner, inquiringly.
”So at least you tell me.”
”Do you doubt it?”
”I know that five days and nights have pa.s.sed since you came here to see me,” cried Cervera, bitterly. ”I have only your own word in explanation of your neglect.”
”That should be enough,” said Venner, curtly.
”Yet a man after a new love does not shrink from lying to an old,”
retorted Cervera.
”Pshaw! You are jealous again.”
”A woman who loves as I love is always jealous.”
”Of whom now?”
”You know of whom.”
”I tell you I have not seen Violet Page since the theater closed.”
”I have only your word for it,” repeated Cervera, with incredulity bright in her sensuous eyes. ”You know what I told you, Rufe. I'll not tamely permit that pale-faced nightingale to come between you and me.
You know what I told you. I would kill her as I would a--a snake!”
Despite his own stiff nerves, Venner recoiled from the look on the woman's desperate face. Her voice had fallen to a hiss like that of the reptile mentioned.
”You are mad, Sanetta,” he cried, irritably. ”You have no occasion for this jealousy and hatred.”
”I have had! You know that I have had--and your face shows it!”
”You have none now--absolutely none now!”
His emphatic declaration fell upon Cervera with an effect which Venner did not at first understand.
She sprang quickly toward him, gripping him hard by the wrist, while her every nerve seemed stimulated with sudden agitation.
”None now? None now--now?” she fiercely reiterated, in inquiring whispers. ”Do you mean that--that it is done? that it is done?”
”Done?” gasped Venner, amazedly. ”Is what done? What the devil are you driving at?”