Rocky Ford enterprise., 1896-08-13
CHAPTER xI.-coxrrsuED.'


morning or later on, when the power
Of the sun began to wane. l wondereu
that Grant had not suggested the iat-
ter course.
That wonder came coupled with an
pther thought, thought which made
my heart beat. 1 remembered now
anxious he had been that l should
make the journey to-day and con-
trasted that anxiety with the impor-
tance of the errand. Could 1t be that
he was for some purpose sending me
out of the way? l role slowly on, CIV
ing this question full consideration
and the more considered 1t the more
I became convinced that my errand 10
L'Orient was ruse. Having deter
mined this, my mind was at once maze
up. / halted at the next farmhouse
and stating that the horse was lame
left him in charge of the good people
until l could send for him. Then rap
idly l retraced my steps until reacheu
the top Of the cliff from which once
before l had gazed at the house which
held the man on whom I had come
to wreak vengeance. ! threw myseit
on the turf. and for hours Kept my
nyes on the house or on the road which
led to 1t.
II saw nothing to confirm my sus-
y;cions / could regain my horse ana
r,de to L'Orient after nightfall. There
would be a moon and l could no doubt
fad my way.
SO, with eager eyes. l watched and
watched, until at last saw, struggling
us the hill opposite to me, carriage.
~alch must have passed through st.
ceurin. saw 1t appear and disap-
pear, according to the bends OF the
road; then emerge on to the table-land.
and, finally, stop in front OF the farm
house. My heart leaped with delight.
l saw Grant come out and assist
some dark figures to alight. saw them
enter the house. l saw the carriage
and horses taken to the stables at the
back OF the farm. Then | rose and
went to meet what fate had in store
for me.
l descended the one hill, climbed the
other, and walked briskly toward the
farm. l felt sure that the carriage
seen by me had brought Viola to my
temporary home. Grant knew that she
was coming: hence the errand on
which I had been sent. I chafed at
the thought Of how nearly had fallen
into the trap.
About n hundred yards from the
house saw on my left hand. seated
on stone on the edge Of the cliff.
the form of n woman. My heart beat
30 violently that for moment Was
! forced to stand still.
Changed as was her dress, unfamil-
lar her attitude, I should have known
her among a thousand. At last, after
an interval of two years, saw Viola!
She was clothed in black-she. who
formerly detested the somber hue! She
| was sitting with her hands clasped
round her knee. her head bent for
ward, In n sad, thoughtful attitude.
She seemed to be gazing at the sea be-
low, yet seeing or hearing nothing.
Noiselessly I crept over the soft turf
until was close to her.
Now that the moment for which
had longed had come. what should I
! do? Cover her with reproaches? Cold
ly demand an explanation? Insist upon
her returning at once to her duty?
No; none OF these. My only thought
was to throw myself at her feet, to
clasp her In my arms. to cover her
face with kisses. to swear that, not
withstanding all the past. loved her
as of old. In another second I should
have done all this.
But suddenly she turned her head
and saw me. She started to her feet,
and with low cry which told OF pain.
even horror, turned and fed toward
the house.
I followed. overlook her, and seized
her hands. viola! my love! my wifer
cried. "why do you fly from me?'
She made no reply. but struggled to
free herself.
Speak! look at me. dearestw I
! pleaded Tell me ALL can forgive!
Tell me nothing save that you love
met
She looked at me, her eyes full Of
"or shall die"
"Never!' said. until you have told
me all. What does 1t mean? What
am l to think
She laughed wildly. Think? Think
that am false to you-that love an
other-that hate you! But let me go.
, Julian. let me go!"
Her voice sank to piteous entreaty
AZ she spoke the last words.
"Never!" I repeated. wound my
arms round her and kissed her pas
s,onately. She trembled in every fiber
OF her body and when once more her
eYes met mine the look in them posi-
Suddenly. by supreme effort, she
tore herself from my arms and fed
rapidly toward the farm. I was on the
point Of pursuing her when great re-
v.Asion Of feeling came to me. What
had | done that this woman should
shrink from my touch-should regard
mo with dread and horror? l had Law
ished love upon her; l was willing to
take her to my arms without word
OF explanation or an entreaty for par
don for the misery she had caused me.
Yet she fed from me as II were some
noxious reptile. However deeply and
biindly man may love, there must
be limit to his self-abasement; 80 as
l strobe into the house, to find, not
her, but Eustace Grant, my heart was
full Of black and bitter thoughts