Part 32 (1/2)

Tell me, dear Mr. Weil, is there anything you can do?”

He had the greatest struggle of his life to keep from bending over that trembling mouth and pressing upon it the kiss he knew she would not refuse; that mouth he had coveted so long and which must never be touched by his lips!

”Can I do anything?” he repeated. ”Certainly. I can stop that fellow so quickly he won't know what ails him. Have no fear Miss Daisy. Go home and rest in peace. Before the sun sets I will remove the last particle of danger from your father's path.”

The girl sprang to her feet and would have thrown her arms around his neck had he not prevented her.

”You are certain you can do this?” she cried, beaming with happy eyes upon him.

”There is not the least question of it. But--I must demand payment for my trouble. I shall not do this work for nothing.”

With a hot blush Daisy lowered her eyes to the carpet.

”I have already told you what I will do,” she said, trembling. ”If you accomplish what you say, have no fear but I shall keep my word.”

There was an element of pride and truth in the way she spoke that struck the hearer strongly. The reverent smile on his face grew yet deeper.

”I am placed in a peculiar situation,” he said, after a slight pause.

”Your sister has, unintentionally, no doubt, misrepresented matters in a way that may be embarra.s.sing for us both. When I have removed the troubles that stand in your way, I will talk this over with you.”

Daisy looked up quickly. What could he mean?

”I beg you to explain,” she stammered. ”If there has been any mistake no time can be better to set it right than now.”

The man toyed with the lace of the window curtain. He had no intention of evading his duty, and yet he did not find it agreeable as he proceeded.

”Your sister told me,” he said, finally, ”that--you loved me. She was wrong. I knew all the time she was wrong. You have just offered to give yourself to me in marriage in exchange for the efforts that I am to make on your father's behalf. But I would not marry a woman who did not love me--who only became mine from grat.i.tude. No, I could not accept you under such circ.u.mstances.”

The young girl glanced at him timidly.

”I wish you knew how much I liked you,” she said. ”I never knew a man I respected more.”

”That is most gratifying,” he answered, ”for I hold your good opinion very highly. You must think I speak in riddles, for I have said that I demand payment for my services, and yet that I would not accept the greatest gift it is in your power to bestow upon me. Let me wait no longer in my explanation. When I have put your father out of all danger from this blackmailer--and I can easily do it, never fear--you must do justice to s.h.i.+rley Roseleaf.”

She s.h.i.+vered at the name, as if the east wind blew upon her.

”He is not a true man,” she replied, in a whisper. ”He has forfeited all claim to my consideration.”

”Why do you say that? I am afraid there is another misunderstanding here, my child.”

Then he drew out of her, slowly at first, the revelations that Millicent had made. And he disposed of the charges, one by one, until there was nothing left of them.

”Could you--would you--only go with me to his rooms,” he added, ”and see him lying there, wan and pale, disheartened at the present, hopeless for the future, you would change your mind. He has never in his life loved but one woman, and that one is yourself. I will not undertake to say why you have been told differently, though I could guess. s.h.i.+rley Roseleaf loves you, Miss Daisy, and you love him. When I have made good my promise, I shall ask you to come to my friend's side and bring him back to health with the suns.h.i.+ne of your presence.”

Daisy was more than half convinced, for the strong affection she had had for the young man plead for him in every drop of her blood.

”Is he so very ill?” she asked, dreamily.

”He has not left his room for a week,” was the answer. ”Nothing his friends can say will move him. He is in such a state of mind that he even refuses to have me with him; me, until very lately, his closest friend. But if I tell him you have relented, there is no medicine on earth will have such an instant effect.”

The girl thought for some moments without speaking.