CHAPTER XXVI.
Rex and Pluma talked for some time out in the moonlight, then Rexexcused himself, and on the plea of having important business lettersto write retired to the library.
For some minutes Pluma leaned thoughtfully against the railing. Thenight was still and clear; the moon hung over the dark trees; floodsof silvery light bathed the waters of the glittering sea, the sleepingflowers and the grass, and on the snowy orange-blossoms and goldenfruit amid the green foliage.
"I shall always love this fair southern home," she thought, a brightlight creeping into her dark, dazzling eyes. "I am Fortune'sfavorite," she said, slowly. "I shall have the one great prize I covetmost on earth. I shall win Rex at last. I wonder at the change in him.There was a time when I believed he loved me. Could it be handsome,refined, courteous Rex had more than a passing fancy for DaisyBrooks--simple, unpretentious Daisy Brooks? Thank God she is dead!"she cried, vehemently. "I would have periled my very soul to have wonhim."
Even as the thought shaped itself in her mind, a dark form steppedcautiously forward.
She was not startled; a passing wonder as to who it might be struckher. She did not think much about it; a shadow in the moonlight didnot frighten her.
"Pluma!" called a low, cautious voice, "come down into the garden; Imust speak with you. It is I, Lester Stanwick."
In a single instant the soft love-light had faded from her face,leaving it cold, proud, and pitiless. A vague, nameless dread seizedher. She was a courageous girl; she would not let him know it.
"The mad fool!" she cried, clinching her white jeweled hands together."Why does he follow me here? What shall I do? I must buy him off atany cost. I dare not defy him. Better temporize with him." Shemuttered the words aloud, and she was shocked to see how changed andhoarse her own voice sounded. "Women have faced more deadly peril thanthis," she muttered, "and cleverly outwitted ingenious foes. I _must_win by stratagem."
She quickly followed the tall figure down the path that divided thelittle garden from the shrubbery.
"I knew you would not refuse me, Pluma," he said, clasping her handsand kissing her cold lips. He noticed the glance she gave him hadnothing in it but coldness and annoyance. "You do not tell me you arepleased to see me, Pluma, and yet you have promised to be my wife."She stood perfectly still leaning against an oleander-tree. "Why don'tyou speak to me, Pluma?" he cried. "By Heaven! I am almost beginningto mistrust you. You remember your promise," he said, hurriedly--"if Iremoved the overseer's niece from your path you were to reward mewith your heart and hand." She would have interrupted him, but hesilenced her with a gesture. "You said your love for Rex had turned tobitter hatred. You found he loved the girl, and that would be aglorious revenge. I did not have to resort to abducting her from theseminary as we had planned. The bird flew into my grasp. I would haveplaced her in the asylum you selected, but she eluded me by leapinginto the pit. I have been haunted by her face night and day eversince. I see her face in crowds, in the depths of the silent forest,her specter appears before me until I fly from it like one accursed."
She could not stay the passionate torrent of his words.
"Lester, this is all a mistake," she said; "you have not given me achance to speak." Her hands dropped nervously by her side. There werefierce, rebellious thoughts in her heart, but she dare not give themutterance. "What have I done to deserve all this?" she asked, tryingto assume a tender tone she was far from feeling.
"What have you done?" he cried, hoarsely. "Why, I left you atWhitestone Hall, feeling secure in the belief that I had won you.Returning suddenly and unexpectedly, I found you had gone to Florida,to the home of Rex Lyon. Do you know what I would have done, Pluma, ifI had found you his wife and false to your trust?"
"You forget yourself, Lester," she said; "gentlemen never threatenwomen."
He bit his lip angrily.
"There are extreme cases of desperation," he made reply. "You mustkeep your promise," he said, determinedly. "No other man must darespeak to you of love."
She saw the angry light flame into his eyes, and trembled under herstudied composure; yet not the quiver of an eyelid betrayed heremotion. She had not meant to quarrel with him; for once in her lifeshe forgot her prudence.
"Suppose that, by exercise of any power you think you possess, youcould really compel me to be your wife, do you think it would benefityou? I would learn to despise you. What would you gain by it?"
The answer sprung quickly to his lips: "The one great point for whichI am striving--possession of Whitestone Hall;" but he was toodiplomatic to utter the words. She saw a lurid light in his eyes.
"You shall be my wife," he said, gloomily. "If you have beencherishing any hope of winning Rex Lyon, abandon it at once. As alast resort, I would explain to him how cleverly you removed thepretty little girl he loved from his path."
"You dare not!" she cried, white to the very lips. "You have forgottenyour own share in that little affair. Who would believe you acted upona woman's bidding? You would soon be called to account for it. Youforget that little circumstance, Lester; you dare not go to Rex!" Heknew what she said was perfectly true. He had not intended going toRex; he knew it would be as much as his life was worth to encounterhim. He was aware his name had been coupled with Daisy's in thejournals which had described her tragic death. He knew Rex had fallenmadly, desperately in love with little Daisy Brooks, but he did notdream he had made her his wife. "You have not given me time to explainwhy I am here."
"I have heard all about it," he answered, impatiently; "but I do notunderstand why they sent for you."
"Mrs. Lyon requested it," she replied, quietly. "Rex simply obeyed herwishes."
"Perhaps she looked upon you as her future daughter-in-law," sneeredLester, covertly. "I have followed you to Florida to prevent it; Iwould follow you to the ends of the earth to prevent it! A promise tome can not be lightly broken."
Not a feature of that proud face quivered to betray the sharp spasm offear that darted through her heart.
"You should have waited until you had cause to reproach me, Lester,"she said, drawing her wrap closer about her and shivering as if withcold. "I must go back to the house now; some one might miss me."
He made no reply. The wind bent the reeds, and the waves of the seadashed up on the distant beach with a long, low wash. He was wonderinghow far she was to be trusted.
"You may have perfect confidence in me, Lester," she said; "my wordought to be sufficient," as if quite divining his thoughts. "You needhave no fear; I will be true to you."
"I shall remain away until this affair has blown over," he replied. "Ican live as well in one part of the country as another, thanks to theincome my father left me." He laid great stress on the last sentence;he wanted to impress her with the fact that he had plenty of money."She must never know," he told himself, "that he had so riotouslysquandered the vast inheritance that had been left him, and he wasstanding on the verge of ruin." A marriage with the wealthy heiresswould save him at the eleventh hour. "I will trust you, Pluma," hecontinued. "I know, you will keep your vow."
The false ring of apparent candor did not deceive her; she knew itwould be a case of diamond cut diamond.
"That is spoken like your own generous self, Lester," she said,softly, clasping his hands in her own white, jeweled ones. "You painedme by your distrust."
He saw she was anxious to get away from him, and he bit his lip withvexation; her pretty, coaxing manner did not deceive him one whit, yethe clasped his arms in a very lover-like fashion around her as hereplied:
"Forget that it ever existed, my darling. Where there is such ardent,passionate love, there is always more or less jealousy and fear. Doyou realize I am making an alien of myself for your sweet sake? Icould never refuse you a request. Your slightest will has been my law.Be kind to me, Pluma."
She did try to be more than agreeable and fascinating.
"I must remove all doubts from his mind," she thought. "I shallprobably be Rex's wife when we meet again. Then h
is threats will beuseless; I will scornfully deny it. He has no proofs."
She talked to him so gracefully, so tenderly, at times, he was almosttempted to believe she actually cared for him more than she wouldadmit. Still he allowed it would do no harm to keep a strict watch ofher movements.
"Good-bye, Pluma, dearest," he said, "I shall keep you constantlyadvised of my whereabouts. As soon as matters can be arrangedsatisfactorily, I am coming back to claim you."
Another moment and she was alone, walking slowly back to the house, avery torrent of anger in her proud, defiant heart.
"I must hurry matters up, delays are dangerous," she thought, walkingslowly up the broad path toward the house.
* * * * *
Slowly the long hours of the night dragged themselves by, yet Daisydid not return to Glengrove. The hours lengthened into days, and daysinto weeks, still there was no trace of her to be found. Gertie'sexplanation readily accounted for her absence.
"She preferred to leave us rather than deliver my note," she said,angrily; "and I for one am not sorry she has gone."
"Rex did not mention having received it," said Bess, "when he camewith Birdie to bid us good-bye."
"She probably read it and destroyed it," said Gertie, "Well, there wasnothing in it very particular. Toward the last of it I mentioned Iwould send the note over by Daisy Brooks, my mother's companion. Morethan likely she took umbrage at that."
"That was a very unkind remark," asserted Eve. "You had no business tomention it at all; it was uncalled for."
"Well, she would not have known it if she had not read it," repliedGertie. "You must admit that."
Mrs. Glenn felt sorely troubled. In the short time Daisy had been withher she had put unlimited confidence in her.
No one thought of searching for her; they all accepted the facts asthe case presented itself to them. Daisy had certainly left them ofher own free will.
Eve alone felt distressed.
"I know everything looks that way, but I shall never believe it," shecried.
She remembered the conversation she had so lately had with Daisy. Howshe had clasped her loving little arms about her neck, crying out:
"Pray for me, Eve. I am sorely tried. My feet are on the edge of aprecipice. No matter what I may be tempted to do, do not lose faith inme, Eve; always believe in me."
Poor little Daisy! what was the secret sorrow that was goading her onto madness? Would she ever know?
Where was she now? Ah, who could tell?
A curious change seemed to come over romping, mischievous, merry Eve;she had grown silent and thoughtful.
"I could never believe any one in this world was true or pure again ifI thought for one moment deceit lay brooding in a face so fair aslittle Daisy Brooks's."