Part 67 (2/2)
”I lived with them a long time before I saw any of you folks,” she said bitterly.
The girl did not reason now. She knew that she must send him back, that this was her only way to repay the woman who had saved her brother. So she went up to Brimbecomb appealingly, her eager eyes gleaming into his.
”I want you to go back to Tarrytown,” she said, ”and go to Sh.e.l.lingtons', and see Sister Ann. She's dying to have you back. And you belong to her, because you promised her, and she promised you. Will you go back?”
”When I wish to, I will; but not yet,” muttered Everett. He had been taken aback at her words, and at that moment could think of no way to compromise with her. She was so near that he threw out his hands and caught her. Forcibly he drew her face close to his, his lips whitening under the spell of her nearness.
”Never, never will I let you go away from me again!” he was saying pa.s.sionately, when Cronk opened the door and stepped in.
The squatter gave no evidence that he had seen Everett's action. He left the door open, through which the breeze flung the dust and the dead leaves.
”Lem'll see ye in the scow,” he said. ”I ain't got nothin' to say 'bout this--only as how Flea goes to one or the other of ye.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
Not more than half an hour after Everett had reached Sherwoods Lane, Governor Vandecar's train came to a halt at the same place, and the party, consisting of the governor, Ann Sh.e.l.lington, and Katherine Vandecar, made ready to step out into the night.
”Please draw up to the switch,” the governor instructed the conductor, ”and I'll hail you as soon as we return. Keep an ear out for my call.”
”Yes, Sir,” replied the conductor; ”but you'd better take this lantern--it's sure dark down by that lake, Sir. And you can signal me with the light.”
Ann and Katherine clasped hands, and, aided by the light which Vandecar held high, slowly followed him. So stern did the tall man seem in the deep gloom that neither girl spoke to him as they stumbled down the hill. They halted with thumping hearts in sight of the dark lake. All three noticed a small light twinkling through the Cronk window, and, without knocking, Governor Vandecar flung wide the door of Lon's hut and stepped in.
The squatter sat on the floor, whittling a stick; Fledra crouched by the window. As the door opened, she raised her eyes wonderingly; but when she saw a tall stranger she dropped them again--someone had lost his way and needed Pappy Lon. Cronk looked up and, recognizing Vandecar, suddenly slid like a serpent around the hut wall until he was in touching distance of the girl.
”Ye'd better not come any closer, Mister,” he said darkly. ”I has this, ye see--and Flea's meat's as soft as a chicken's!” He raised his knife menacingly; but dropped it slowly at sight of Ann and Katherine.
”Sister Ann!” breathed Fledra.
Ann's fingers grasped Vandecar's arm spasmodically; but, without glancing back at her, he shook them off. His brow had gathered deep lines at Lon's words, and now his unswerving gray eyes bent low to the squatter. Under the steady gaze Cronk looked down and began to whittle.
In after days Ann could always conjure up the picture before her. Fledra looked so infinitely young and melancholy, as her eyes fixed themselves in wide terror upon Cronk. Out of the ragged blouse rose the proud, dark head, and the lovely face was almost overshadowed by two tightly clenched fists. Instead of falling into her arms, as Ann had imagined she would, the girl only sank lower to the floor, her face ghastly in a new horror. Miss Sh.e.l.lington's patience gave way as she stared at Vandecar--his delay was imperiling Fledra's life; for, if ever a wicked face expressed hate and murder, the squatter's did now. She turned appealing eyes to Katherine, and took a step forward; but the latter held her and whispered:
”Wait, wait a moment, Ann! Wait until Uncle has spoken!”
The whisper broke the silence, and Fledra turned her eyes from Lon. She wondered dazedly who the stranger was, and why he had come with Ann. She thought of Horace, and a pain shot through her heart. She was aware that his sister had come for her; but no thought entered her mind to give up the yoke that would soon be too heavy to bear. Then Governor Vandecar began to speak, and Fledra looked at him.
”I have come to take back my own, Lon Cronk,” said he, ”that of which you robbed me many years ago.”
”I ain't nothin' that belongs to ye, and ye'd better go back where ye comed from, Mister--and don't--come no nearer!”
As the squatter spoke, his lips spread wide over his teeth, and he began picking up and laying down the bits of white wood. He did it deliberately, and no one present imagined how the sight of Vandecar tore at his heartstrings. Cronk could tolerate no robbing him of his revenge, no taking away his chance of soothing the haunting spirit of his dead woman.
Again Ann touched the governor's arm.
”Don't, Dear!” he said, pus.h.i.+ng her back a little. ”Lon Cronk--I want to tell you--a story.”
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