Part 28 (1/2)
”No other man can give you the love I feel for you, and you shall respond to it.”
”It is impossible, Mr. Williams,” she said pleadingly. ”You do not know all. I am sorry, so sorry, to give you pain.” Her ever ready tears began to flow. ”But I do not feel toward you as you wish. I--there is another.
He is--has been very near to me since I was a child, and I have promised to be his wife this long time.”
Her words were almost maddening to Williams, and he retorted as if he were, in truth, mad.
”That country fellow? You shall never marry him! I swear it! He is a poor, supercilious fool and doesn't know it! He has nothing in this world, and has never seen anything beyond the limits of his father's farm.”
”He has been to New York,” interrupted Rita, in all seriousness.
Williams laughed. ”I tell you he is a boor. He is a--”
”He is to be my husband, Mr. Williams, and I hope you will not speak ill of him,” said Rita, with cold dignity.
”He is not to be your husband,” cried Williams, angrily. ”You shall be mine--mine; do you hear? Mine! I will have you, if I must--” he caught the girl in his arms, and pressing her head back upon the bend of his elbow, kissed her lips to his heart's content and to his own everlasting undoing. When he released her she started from the room, but he, grasping her arm, detained her, saying:--
”Rita, I beg your pardon. I lost my head. I am sorry. Forgive me.”
”There can be no forgiveness for you,” she said, speaking slowly, ”and I wish you to let me leave the room.”
”Rita, forgive me,” he pleaded. ”I tell you I was insane when I--I did that. You have almost driven me mad. You can surely forgive me when you know that my act was prompted by my love. Your heart is ready with forgiveness and love for every one but me, and I, more than all others, love you. I beg you to forgive me, and if I cannot have your love, forget what I have done this night and again be my friend.”
After a long, painful pause, she spoke deliberately: ”I would not marry you, Mr. Williams, if you were a king, or if I should die by reason of refusing you. I cannot now be even your friend. I shall tell my father and brother what you have done, and they will order you out of this house. I will tell Dic, and he will kill you!” Her eyes, usually so gentle, were hard and cold, as she continued: ”There is the door. I hope you will never darken it again.”
She again started to leave the room, and he again detained her. He knew that disgrace would follow exposure, and, being determined to silence her at any cost, said angrily:--
”If you tell your father, I will take from him his store, his home, his farm. He owes me more than all combined are worth. If you will not listen to me through love, you shall do so from fear. I am sorry, very sorry, for what happened. I know the consequences if you speak of it. No one can be made to understand exactly how it happened, and I will protect myself; of that you may be sure. If you speak of what I did, driven to it by my love for you, I say I will turn your father and mother into the street. They will be penniless in their old age. Your brother Tom is a thief. He has been stealing from me ever since he came to my office. Only last night I laid a trap for him and caught him in the act of stealing fifty dollars. He took the money and lost it at Welch's gambling saloon. He has taken, in all, nearly a thousand dollars. I have submitted to his thefts on your account. I have extended your father's notes because he is your father. But if you tell any one that I--I kissed you to-night, or if you repeat what I have told concerning your father and brother, your parents go to the street, and Tom to the penitentiary. Now, do you understand me?”
”Yes.”
”Will you remain silent?”
”Yes.”
Then he took his hat, saying, ”I have been beside myself to-night, but it was through love for you, and you will forgive me, won't you?”
”Yes.”
”And I may come again?” he asked.
”Yes.”
”And we will forget all that has happened this evening and you will be my friend?”
”Yes.”
”If you will forgive me,” he continued, recovering his senses, ”and will allow me the sweet privilege of your friends.h.i.+p, I promise never again to speak of my love until you have given me permission. Shall it be a compact?”
”Yes,” murmured the girl.
”Will you give me your hand?” he asked. She offered the hand, and he clasping it, said:--