Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1894-05-02
THE OVERTON CLAIM.
By MARTHA NOULLoCH WILLIAMS
Copyright. 1894, by American Press Associs
finr
CHAPTER XIX

I Side by side, with set faces, with
burning eyes, neither speaking word,
| those two rode for hours through the
heart of the wilderness, threading dark
| hollows where the fern either side of the
| single track brushed the saddle skirts
with rank green fronds; skirting perilous
killsides, where single misstep might
send you instantly to rocky deeps below.
a cloud had risen and yelled the sun.
Low mutterings of thunder came up
from the south. The wind sank to fitful
| gasps sobbing through the tree tops. Not
a bird sang. A curious resonant stiffness
lay over and possessed the world.
At length Dare stopped her horse
short, saying:
Surely, Mr.. Cleve, you have missed
the way! You said we could easily get
to the old forge by ~ O'Clock. 1t must
be near now, and see no sign of it. -
Don't you? Look ahead there to the
| left, Cleve said, indicating with his
whip AN opening at one side of the road.
Dare was inexpressibly relieved to see
the looming outlines of a big weather.
| stained building. Springing down before
Cleve could swing himself from the sad
dle, she flung the reins loose upon her
tired horses neck and ran forward, call
ing eagerly:
Aunt Mel, Aunt Mel, did you think
we were lost? I am sure we have been,
though Mr.. Cleve would not say So. D."
The noise of hoofs made her turn sud-
denly to sec Cleve lash both horses 50
sharply that at once they dashed away
into the dim woods beyond
why did you do that? What do you
mean?' cried Dare, now thoroughly
aroused. Cleve stood with folded arms,
looking at her from under darkling
Brows.
"Oh, nothingr" he said quietly.
Come, let US look for our friends"
Dare darted before him into the open
door, to find herself facing vacancy in a
huge dCsolate room, where for more than
20 years the spiders had been spinning
undisturbed their tapestry of ruin.
Why, they have gone and left us
We must follow them at once, " she said,
standing up very tall and straight, hel
eyes full of contemptuous light. Royal
Cleve came close and said in repressed
voice:
That will not be easy, for they have
not been here. -
Where are they? Take me to them
at once!" Dare said, with little stamp
of her foot Cleve smiled family, saying:
AS nearly as l can estimate it, they
are about leaving the old forge, 10 miles
Us the crow flies from where we stand.
and so at least if you count hills and
windingS Of the road -
Dare's heart gave wild leap, but her
blood, neither the brave Overton strain
nor the hot tide o. the Dares, had nc
faint of cowardice. Unquailing, she look
ed at the man who held her so entirely
i'll his power and said, low and hard:
80 it is as feared. You purposel5
misled me. May ask what you hope OF
expect to gain by it,
The thing 1 care most for in all the
world-yourself,' ~ Cleve said, drawing a
pace away and continuing: 81 do not
say fear not l see there is no need fo1
it. Upon my life, Dare, never loved
you so well as now, when l see of what
superb mettle you are. Any other wom-
an SO placed would be vixenish or hys-
terical. You only look at me with the
eyes of an insulted goddess. am sorry,
more than sorry, that you forced me tc
this extremity. You might have escaped
it had you given me the merest shred Of
hope''-
Excuse me 1 must be going. can
not listen longer" Dare said, making as
if to pass him where he stood
At once he stepped into the door,
spread his arm across its space and said,
with an undertone of thick tremor:
Go back, Dare. Don't force me tc
touch you. Even if let you pass, you
would but go to your death. This place
is the farthest of the outlying works. In
the broadcast daylight you would starve
before you could find your way out.
With night and storm approaching, you
would indeed have small chance. Be as
sured, when we do not return, they will
seek for Us and find Us tomorrow"
when, 1 suppose, you think 1 will
marry you?" Dare said, with cheeks
aglow.
You must. Your family will de
mand it, Cleve said, looking at he1
with kindling eyes.
For a minute Dare faced him in 81
lence, then came close to where he stood
and said, looking up at him with fear
less eyes:
MIR. Cleve, 1 never thought you a
ruffian. Please show me that was not
mistaken by letting me pass"
Cleve caught his breath and said hur.
riedly:
Il cannot. dare not. Don't you see
it is too late? 1t would be madness to
venture together even. 1 could not find
the way back on foot. We must wait for