The first moment that Maybelle was alone with Otho she clung to his
arm, whispering, sorrowfully:
“Otho, I am wretched! Did you mean what you said this morning--that St.
George admired that girl?”
“Yes, I meant it, every word, Maybelle, for it is true, curse the luck!
and unless we carry things with a high hand, he is lost to you forever.
In fact, I never saw a fellow so hard hit in all my life. He actually
turned white to the lips with emotion, and his voice was hoarse and
strange as he demanded her name; and, of course, you noticed how
_distrait_ and half-hearted he has been all day?”
“Yes, I saw it too plainly; but, oh, I can not give him up! Oh, surely,
he would not stoop to _her_--so far beneath him socially! Besides, she
isn’t so pretty, either--only with a babyish kind of beauty.”
“Not so pretty, Maybelle! Why, now you make a fatal mistake,
underrating the girl’s charms. Half the fellows are raving over her
style; and she could have a dozen proposals to-morrow, only she laughs
them to scorn, the saucy little darling!”
“You are very enthusiastic, Otho!” she cried, suspiciously. “Perhaps
you are in love with her yourself. I wish you would marry her
to-morrow, and make it impossible for her to become my rival.”
He flushed, then laughed, answering, coolly:
“Thank you; but the plan isn’t feasible. I shouldn’t mind making love
to the pretty little thing, for she’s sweet enough to turn any man’s
head; but I intend, like yourself, to marry money when I sacrifice
myself on Hymen’s altar.”
“Oh, brother, I am wretched, wretched! It isn’t alone for the money I
want him. I have had other offers--rich ones, too; but I love _him_,
love him, love him! I must win him or die! All in a minute I feel
desperately wicked, and willing to do anything to win him for my own. I
hate that girl already, and wish her dead! Why does she not go and kill
herself like her mother?”
“Probably she will in the end; but she isn’t unhappy enough yet.”
“Then let us do something to drive her mad with despair at once!”
cried Maybelle, feverishly, recklessly, her dark eyes flashing with a
tigerish light not good to see.
Otho’s eyes flashed back the same spirit, for his heart was burning
with a cruel passion for bonny Floy. Stooping close to her ear, he
whispered, hoarsely:
“Suppose I could drive her mad with love for me?”
“Try it, Otho, try it! Begin at once, please!” she responded, eagerly,
hopefully.
“I will, for I fancy she admires me immensely already by her blushes
when I speak to her, and I’ll follow up the good impression at once,
storm the castle of her fancy, as it were, with ardent love-making,
persuade her to elope with me, perhaps--oh, a mock marriage, of course!
She is poor, and so she could not be taken _au serieux_.”
She listened without a protest to his diabolical scheme for wrecking
the life of a pure and lovely girl. Oh, a jealous woman can be so hard
and pitiless!
He continued:
“Of course you know she will be at the picnic we attend to-morrow?”
“No! Who dared invite the creature?” imperiously.
“Pshaw! Maybelle, that scorn was well acted before Beresford to-day;
but in private we know that the girl really has some rights and a sort
of footing in our set, so that we’re apt to meet her at less exclusive
functions, such as this picnic will be. We can not keep from meeting
her to-morrow, but we can forestall Beresford’s suit by plotting
beforehand.”
“Tell me how, Otho, and be sure I will act my part.”
“I am sure you will; but I must first think it over, and in the morning
I will confide my plans to you before we start for the picnic. And
I’ll call at the carpenter’s cottage this evening. She is always on
the porch with her guitar. I’ll get in her good graces so that I can
monopolize her company to-morrow, and make him think he has no show
with her at all. I’ll throw in some little fibs, too, that he’s
engaged to you, etc., so that she will shun him.”
“Yes, Otho, I see. That is a splendid idea, and easy to carry out. Oh,
how I thank you for your clever help all through!” she cried, in a
transport of joy and gratitude.
Otho accepted the praise complacently, but he knew he was working more
for himself than for her.
It would be a most delightful part to play, the making love to Floy,
and as for the rest, he was heart and soul in the scheme to win a
millionaire for his brother-in-law. He was selfish and extravagant,
and always in hot water with his father about money, so when Maybelle
secured her prize he would make her pay a heavy price for his help.