Part 41 (2/2)

Before you opened the portals that you had meant for my tomb you made me swear never to reveal where I had pa.s.sed those hours. Never, no matter what the provocation, was I to utter one word to implicate you in the tragedy that had ruined two households. _You_ were the one to be protected--_I_ the one to suffer! Had it not been for the sacrifice to my reputation in being found there with you dead--no explanation being possible from my closed lips--I would have accepted the alternative and swallowed the poison rather than live to bear what I do to-day!”

Weil closed his eyes again. His brain was swimming.

”And you are sure,” asked the negro, after a pause, ”that you have not violated that promise? You can still swear that you have never, even by a hint, given the least cause of suspicion against me?”

”Never!” said the girl. ”I consider my oath binding, notwithstanding the manner in which it was obtained. You may live in what peace your conscience allows you, free at least from that fear.”

The negro evidently believed her, for he heaved a sigh of relief.

”Well, good-by,” he said.

”Good-by,” she replied. ”And--you are not to come again, remember. There is nothing to be gained from another meeting between us. If--if you want money--I can send it to you.”

He lifted his head rather proudly at the last suggestion.

”I do not want any,” he said. ”I am not low enough for that. I took the sum from you to go to France, because I hoped--in my infatuation--that I could make myself something that you would not despise. If I had wanted money I could have got thousands out of your father, and I could still, notwithstanding the pretence of those men that they wrote the signatures I saw him forge. No, I mean to give you back what I had from you, if ever I can compose my mind enough to go to work and earn it. I have no ambition. I stay in my mother's cabin, day after day, unable to make the least effort. Perhaps I can do something--in time.”

The negro took a step away, and then turned, as if unable to go so abruptly.

”Good-by,” he said, again.

”Good-by,” answered Daisy, impa.s.sively. ”I want to tell you, now I think of it, where I got that $1,000 I gave you. It was lent to me by the man you hated so, Mr. Roseleaf.”

Hannibal did not seem to care for this information.

”He did not lend it for any good-will to me,” he replied. ”I have heard, by-the-way, that he did not mind losing you--this man for whom you spurned a heart that wors.h.i.+ped your very footprints. I believe some day I'll take a shot at him.”

The girl shuddered.

”It would be like you,” she said, ”if no one was looking, and he did not know of your presence. I don't believe, with all your claims, there is a manly trait in you.”

The tall form drew itself up and the athletic arms were folded firmly.

”Take care!” said the red lips, sharply, and the ivory white teeth gleamed.

”Oh, I am not afraid,” replied Daisy. ”My maid is watching us from behind the blinds of my room. I told her my own story about why I was to meet you, but should harm happen to me the alarm bell would ring out.”

Startled visibly at this information, Hannibal glanced in the direction indicated, and then began to take his departure in earnest.

”All right,” he said, as he mounted the fence. ”Keep your word and I'll keep mine. But if you play any tricks, remember that's a game for two.”

The men could not arise without startling Daisy, who would undoubtedly have uttered a loud scream had they suddenly appeared before her vision.

They saw her stand there for at least ten minutes, before she went into the house. When she was out of sight, Weil crawled into a safer place and rose to his feet.

”I am going to follow that cur!” he muttered, between his teeth.

”To-morrow is soon enough,” was the calm reply of his friend. ”I know where he lives.”

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