CHAPTER XIII
"SHE LOVES ME; SHE LOVES ME NOT"
Unkind as the Fates had proved to Brant earlier in the day, theyrelented somewhat as the sun rose higher, and consented to lead him tofar happier scenes. There is a rare fortune which seems to pilotlovers aright, even when they are most blind to the road, and the youngsoldier was now most truly a lover groping through the mists of doubtand despair.
It was no claim of military duty which compelled him to relinquish MissSpencer so promptly at the hotel door, but rather a desire to escapeher ceaseless chatter and gain retirement where he could reflect inquiet over the revelations of Hampton. In this quest he rode slowly upthe valley of the Bear Water, through the bright sunshine, the rarebeauty of the scene scarcely leaving the slightest impress on his mind,so busy was it, and so preoccupied. He no longer had any doubt thatHampton had utilized his advantageous position, as well as hisremarkable powers of pleasing, to ensnare the susceptible heart of thisyoung, confiding girl. While the man had advanced no direct claim, hehad said enough to make perfectly clear the close intimacy of theirrelation and the existence of a definite understanding between them.With this recognized as a fact, was he justified in endeavoring to winNaida Gillis for himself? That the girl would find continued happinesswith such a man as Hampton he did not for a moment believe possible;that she had been deliberately deceived regarding his true character hefelt no doubt. The fellow had impressed her by means of hispicturesque personality, his cool, dominating manner, his veneer ofrefinement; he had presumed on her natural gratitude, her girlishsusceptibility, her slight knowledge of the world, to worm his way intoher confidence, perhaps even to inspire love. These probabilities, asBrant understood them, only served to render him more ardent in hisquest, more eager to test his strength in the contest for a prize sowell worth the winning. He acknowledged no right that such a man asHampton could justly hold over so innocent and trustful a heart. Thegirl was morally so far above him as to make his very touch aprofanation, and at the unbidden thought of it, the soldier vowed tooppose such an unholy consummation. Nor did he, even then, utterlydespair of winning, for he recalled afresh the intimacy of their fewpast meetings, his face brightening in memory of this and that briefword or shy glance. There is a voiceless language of love which alover alone can interpret, and Brant rode on slowly, deciphering itsmessages, and attaining new courage with every step of his horse.
All the world loves a lover, and all the fairies guide him. As theofficer's eyes, already smiling in anticipated victory, glanced up fromthe dusty road, he perceived just ahead the same steep bank down whichhe had plunged in his effort at capturing his fleeing tormentor. Withthe sight there came upon him a desire to loiter again in the littleglen where they had first met, and dream once more of her who had givento the shaded nook both life and beauty. Amid the sunshine and theshadow he could picture afresh that happy, piquant face, the dark coilsof hair, those tantalizing eyes. He swung himself from the saddle,tied a loose rein to a scrub oak, and clambered up the bank.
With the noiseless step of a plainsman he pushed in through thelabyrinths of bush, only to halt petrified upon the very edge of thatinner barrier. No figment of imagination, but the glowing reality offlesh and blood, awaited him. She had neither seen nor heard hisapproach, and he stopped in perplexity. He had framed a dozen speechesfor her ears, yet now he could do no more than stand and gaze, hisheart in his eyes. And it was a vision to enchain, to hold lipsspeechless. She was seated with unstudied grace on the edge of thebank, her hands clasped about one knee, her sweet face sobered bythought, her eyes downcast, the long lashes plainly outlined againstthe clear cheeks. He marked the graceful sweep of her dark,close-fitting dress, the white fringe of dainty underskirt, the smallfoot, neatly booted, peeping from beneath, and the glimpse of round,white throat, rendered even fairer by the creamy lace encircling it.Against the darker background of green shrubs she resembled a pictureentitled "Dreaming," which he dimly recalled lingering before in somefamous Eastern gallery, and his heart beat faster in wonderment at whatthe mystic dream might be. To draw back unobserved was impossible,even had he possessed strength of will sufficient to make the attempt,nor would words of easy greeting come to his relief. He could merelyworship silently as before a sacred shrine. It was thus she glanced upand saw him with startled eyes, her hands unclasping, her cheeksrose-colored.
"Lieutenant Brant, you here?" she exclaimed, speaking as if hispresence seemed unreal. "What strange miracles an idle thought canwork!"
"Thoughts, I have heard," he replied, coming toward her with headuncovered, "will sometimes awaken answers through vast distances oftime and space. As my thought was with you I may be altogether toblame for thus arousing your own. From the expression of your face Isupposed you dreaming."
She smiled, her eyes uplifted for a single instant to his own. "It wasrather thought just merging into dream, and there are few things inlife more sweet. I know not whether it is the common gift of allminds, but my day-dreams are almost more to me than my realities."
"First it was moods, and now dreams." He seated himself comfortably ather feet. "You would cause me to believe you a most impracticalperson, Miss Naida."
She laughed frankly, that rippling peal of unaffected merriment whichsounded so like music to his ears. "If that were only true, I am sureI should be most happy, for it has been my fortune so far to conjure uponly pleasure through day-dreaming--the things I like and long forbecome my very own then. But if you mean, as I suspect, that I do notenjoy the dirt and drudgery of life, then my plea will have to beguilty. I, of course, grant their necessity, yet apparently there areplenty who find them well worth while, and there should be other workfor those who aspire. Back of what you term practical some one hassaid there is always a dream, a first conception. In that sense Ichoose to be a dreamer."
"And not so unwise a choice, if your dreams only tend toward results."He sat looking into her animated face, deeply puzzled by both words andactions. "I cannot help noticing that you avoid all reference to mymeeting with Mr. Hampton. Is this another sign of your impracticalmind?"
"I should say rather the opposite, for I had not even supposed itconcerned me."
"Indeed! That presents a vastly different view from the one given usan hour since. The distinct impression was then conveyed to both ourminds that you were greatly distressed regarding the matter. Is itpossible you can have been acting again?"
"I? Certainly not!" and she made no attempt to hide her indignation."What can you mean?"
He hesitated an instant in his reply, feeling that possibly he wastreading upon thin ice. But her eyes commanded a direct answer, and heyielded to them.
"We were informed that you experienced great anxiety for fear we mightquarrel,--so great, indeed, that you had confided your troubles toanother."
"To whom?"
"Miss Spencer. She came to us ostensibly in your name, and as apeacemaker."
A moment she sat gazing directly at him, then she laughed softly.
"Why, how supremely ridiculous; I can hardly believe it true, only yourface tells me you certainly are not in play. Lieutenant Brant, I havenever even dreamed of such a thing. You had informed me that yourmission was one of peace, and he pledged me his word not to permit anyquarrel. I had the utmost confidence in you both."
"How, then, did she even know of our meeting?"
"I am entirely in the dark, as mystified as you," she acknowledged,frankly, "for it has certainly never been a habit with me to betray theconfidence of my friends, and I learned long since not to confidesecrets to Miss Spencer."
Apparently neither cared to discuss the problem longer, yet he remainedsilent considering whether to venture the asking of those questionswhich might decide his fate. He was uncertain of the ground heoccupied, while Miss Naida, with all her frankness, was not one toapproach thoughtlessly, nor was the sword of her tongue without sharppoint.
"You speak of your confidence in us both," he
said, slowly. "To me thecomplete trust you repose in Mr. Hampton is scarcely comprehensible.Do you truly believe in his reform?"
"Certainly. Don't you?"
The direct return question served to nettle and confuse him. "It is,perhaps, not my place to say, as my future happiness does not directlydepend on the permanence of his reformation. But if his word can bedepended upon, your happiness to a very large extent does."
She bowed. "I have no doubt you can safely repose confidence inwhatever he may have told you regarding me."
"You indorse, then, the claims he advances?"
"You are very insistent; yet I know of no good reason why I should notanswer. Without at all knowing the nature of those claims to which yourefer, I have no hesitancy in saying that I possess such completeconfidence in Bob Hampton as to reply unreservedly yes. But really,Lieutenant Brant, I should prefer talking upon some other topic. It isevident that you two gentlemen are not friendly, yet there is no reasonwhy any misunderstanding between you should interfere with ourfriendship, is there?"
She asked this question with such perfect innocence that Brant believedshe failed to comprehend Hampton's claims.
"I have been informed that it must," he explained. "I have been toldthat I was no longer to force my attentions upon Miss Gillis."
"By Bob Hampton?"
"Yes. Those were, I believe, his exact words. Can you wonder that Ihardly know how I stand in your sight?"
"I do not at all understand," she faltered. "Truly, Lieutenant Brant,I do not. I feel that Mr. Hampton would not say that without a goodand sufficient reason. He is not a man to be swayed by prejudice; yet,whatever the reason may be, I know nothing about it."
"But you do not answer my last query."
"Perhaps I did not hear it."
"It was, How do I stand in your sight? That is of far more importanceto me now than any unauthorized command from Mr. Hampton."
She glanced up into his serious face shyly, with a little dimple ofreturning laughter. "Indeed; but perhaps he might not care to have mesay. However, as I once informed you that you were very far from beingmy ideal, possibly it may now be my duty to qualify that harshstatement somewhat."
"By confessing that I am your ideal?"
"Oh, indeed, no! We never realize our ideals, you know, or else theywould entirely cease to be ideals. My confession is limited to a mereadmission that I now consider you a very pleasant young man."
"You offer me a stone when I cry unto you for bread," he exclaimed."The world is filled with pleasant young men. They are a drug on themarket. I beg some special distinction, some different classificationin your eyes."
"You are becoming quite hard to please," her face turned partiallyaway, her look meditative, "and--and dictatorial; but I will try. Youare intelligent, a splendid dancer, fairly good-looking, rather brightat times, and, no doubt, would prove venturesome if not held strictlyto your proper place. Take it all in all, you are even interesting,and--I admit--I am inclined to like you."
The tantalizing tone and manner nerved him; he grasped the white handresting invitingly on the grass, and held it firmly within his own."You only make sport as you did once before. I must have the wholetruth."
"Oh, no; to make sport at such a time would be sheerest mockery, and Iwould never dare to be so free. Why, remember we are scarcely morethan strangers. How rude you are! only our third time of meeting, andyou will not release my hand."
"Not unless I must, Naida," and the deep ringing soberness of his voicestartled the girl into suddenly uplifting her eyes to his face. Whatshe read there instantly changed her mood from playfulness to earnestgravity.
"Oh, please do not--do not say what you are tempted to," her voicealmost pleading. "I cannot listen; truly I cannot; I must not. Itwould make us both very unhappy, and you would be sure to regret suchhasty words."
"Regret!" and he yet clung to the hand which she scarcely endeavored torelease, bending forward, hoping to read in her hidden eyes the secrether lips guarded. "Am I, then, not old enough to know my own mind?"
"Yes--yes; I hope so, yes; but it is not for me; it can never be forme--I am no more than a child, a homeless waif, a nobody. You forgetthat I do not even know who I am, or the name I ought rightfully tobear. I will not have it so."
"Naida, sweetheart!" and he burst impetuously through all bonds ofrestraint, her flushed cheeks the inspiration to his daring. "I willspeak, for I care nothing for all this. It is you I love--loveforever. Do you understand me, darling? I love you! I love you!"
For an instant,--one glad, weak, helpless, forgetful instant,--she didnot see him, did not even know herself; the very world was lost. Thenshe awoke as if from a dream, his strong arms clasped about her, hislips upon hers.
"You must not," she sobbed. "I tell you no! I will not consent; Iwill not be false to myself. You have no right; I gave you no right."
He permitted her to draw away, and they stood facing each other, heeager, mystified, thrilling with passion almost beyond mastery, shetrembling and unstrung, her cheeks crimson, her eyes filled with muteappeal.
"I read it in your face," he insisted. "It told of love."
"Then my face must have lied," she answered, her soft voice tremulous,"or else you read the message wrongly. It is from my lips you musttake the answer."
"And they kissed me."
"If so, I knew it not. It was by no volition of mine. LieutenantBrant, I have trusted you so completely; that was not right."
"My heart exonerates me."
"I cannot accept that guidance."
"Then you do not love me."
She paused, afraid of the impulse that swept her on. "Perhaps," thelow voice scarcely audible, "I may love you too well."
"You mean there is something--some person, perhaps--standing between?"
She looked frankly at him. "I do mean just that. I am not heartless,and I sincerely wish we had never met; but this must be the end."
"The end? And with no explanation?"
"There is no other way." He could perceive tears in her eyes, althoughshe spoke bravely. "Nor can I explain, for all is not clear even tome. But this I know, there is a barrier between us insurmountable; noteven the power of love can overcome it; and I appeal to you to ask meno more."
It was impossible for him to doubt her sober earnestness, or the depthof her feelings; the full truth in her words was pictured upon herface, and in the pathetic appeal of her eyes. She extended both hands.
"You will forgive me? Truly, this barrier has not been raised by me."
He bowed low, until his lips pressed the white fingers, but before hecould master himself to utter a word in reply, a distant voice calledhis name, and both glanced hastily around.
"That cry came from the valley," he said. "I left my horse tied there.I will go and learn what it means."
She followed him part of the way through the labyrinth of underbrush,hardly knowing why she did so. He stood alone upon the summit of thehigh bluff whence he could look across the stream. Miss Spencer stoodbelow waving her parasol frantically, and even as he gazed at her, hisears caught the sound of heavy firing down the valley.