TWIN FIRES
Douglas walked slowly toward the main highway, lost in thought. He was
much interested in the professor's comments about clergymen. He knew
it was a good tonic to hear such plain statements. But he thought
mostly about Nell. He had watched her during the time he had been at
the house and was more deeply impressed than ever. She was so quiet
and reserved. She had never seemed so beautiful as she sat by the
table with the light from the shaded lamp falling upon her face. He
thought about Ben, and a feeling of anger smote his heart. What right
had such a cad to have any claim over such a woman as that? he asked
himself. And how could she see anything in Ben to admire? Had they
met near the old tree since the night of the dance? he wondered.
Douglas was startled from his musings by a sudden noise to his left.
Then, in an instant, the forms of two men hurled themselves upon him.
A blow from a stick grazed his head and made him dizzy for a second.
In the twinkling of an eye he realised that this was some of Ben
Stubbles' mean, dirty work, and the thought maddened him. With the
pick-handle he struck vigorously out, and soon had the satisfaction of
knowing that he had settled one of his assailants, by the mournful
groans he heard. Only one man was now left to deal with, and it did
not take long to disarm him. Seeing that he was alone, with his cudgel
knocked spinning from his grasp, he started to run away. Douglas,
however, sprang after him and managed to seize him by the tail of his
coat. To this he held with a bulldog grip while the other struggled
frantically to get away. Finding that his efforts were in vain, and
that he was in danger of being caught, he slipped out of his coat,
leaving it in the hands of his conqueror, and disappeared in the
darkness.
"Come back and get your coat," Douglas shouted. "You might need it
before morning."
Receiving no answer, he began to grope around for the other assailant.
But no sign of him could he find. He had evidently been able to get
away, and Douglas was thankful that he had not killed him, no matter
how much he deserved it.
"Well, that was a surprise party," he muttered. "Luckily for me that
Nell gave me that pick-handle." Then a sudden thought struck him. Did
she suspect anything? Had she heard rumours as to what Ben might do,
and so had given him a weapon of defence? He wondered about this the
rest of the way home. In fact, it pleased him to feel that Nell was
interested in his welfare.
Having reached his own room, he examined his trophy of victory. It was
an old coat, partly covered with mud. He went through the pockets, and
what he found in one gave him much satisfaction. It was a piece of
paper with a few brief instructions scrawled upon it, as follows:
"Get Keezer and be on hand to-night. Bring your sticks with you. Meet
me at the bridge at eight sharp. Ben."
Douglas smiled grimly to himself as he read this brief note. He knew
now that Ben had been somewhere around. No doubt he had been peering
through the window and watching him talking to the professor and his
daughters. How he longed to get a rap at the cowardly cur. The
pick-handle would not be necessary; oh, no, his fists would be
sufficient. But Ben knew enough to keep out of the way and let others
do his dirty work.
Douglas said nothing about the night affair to the Jukes, as he was not
in a talkative mood. His head was quite sore where he had been struck,
and he wondered about the man who had received the force of the
pick-handle. But he could not remain silent long, for Jake was
bubbling over with excitement when he returned from the store whither
he had gone for a barrel of flour. Dinner was waiting him, and he had
no time to speak until he had stabled the horses and washed himself.
"Say, John," he began as soon as he had taken his seat at the table,
"what were ye up to last night?"
"So you have been hearing something, have you?" Douglas enquired.
"Sure I have. Why, the hull place is buzzin' with the news, an' Si's
as mad as blazes. Guess he's goin' to have ye arrested right off."
"Have me arrested!" Douglas exclaimed in surprise. "Why, what for?"
"Fer waylayin' Billy Keezer an' Tom Oakes last night, an' breakin'
their heads with a stick. They're all used up, an' Tom swears that you
stole his coat."
Douglas leaned back in his chair and laughed so heartily that Jake and
his wife looked at him in astonishment.
"So Billy and Tom are sick, are they?" he chuckled. "Well, I hope they
have learned a lesson and will mind their own affairs after this."
He then told the story of the fight the night before, and when he had
finished he went to his room and brought down the captured coat, and
read the note he had found in the pocket.
"Great punkins!" Jake exclaimed, as he hit the table with his fist and
made the dishes rattle. "I'm mighty glad ye've got that letter. It's
sure proof that Ben was back of the hull affair. And so ye knocked 'em
both out with the pick-handle, did ye? Bully fer you! I wish ye'd got
a tap at Ben while ye was about it."
"Did you see Billy and Tom?" Douglas asked.
"No. They're in bed. The doctor's been to see 'em, so I learned."
"And Si is going to have me arrested, eh?"
"So I heard. He was rampin' around like a lion."
"I wish he would," Douglas quietly remarked. "It would clear the air
somewhat, and give me a chance to say something. But Si will never
come out in the open like that, mark my word. He and Ben are back of
that attack last night, if I'm not greatly mistaken, and they would not
dare to face an investigation."
"You're right there," Mrs. Jukes replied. "They'll do nothing now but
just wait for another chance. You had better be careful how you wander
around alone at night, especially near the professor's place."
"Why?" Douglas asked, noting the twinkle in her eyes.
"Ben'll be getting jealous, that's all. He'll have another grudge
against you, if you're not careful."
Douglas realised that what Mrs. Jukes said was quite true. Ben must
have been watching through the window the night he was at the
professor's house, and no doubt jealousy had been added to his hatred.
But he did not care, for a new feeling had now taken possession of him.
His heart burned within him when he thought of Ben meeting Nell and
making love to her. He brooded over this all the afternoon as he
worked in the field. Nell, with her simplicity and charm of manner,
was ever before him. He could not get her out of his mind, and at
times he found himself looking across the field in the direction of her
home.
Suddenly there came to him the realisation that Nell Strong was the one
woman in the whole world he wanted. His heart cried out for her, and
the idea of her becoming the wife of Ben Stubbles was almost more than
he could endure. For the first time in his life he was in love, and
with a beautiful woman, who in some unaccountable manner was bound to a
man who was his most bitter enemy. Ben must not have her, he told
himself over and over again that afternoon. But what was he to do? He
himself was merely a farmhand in Nell's eyes, and he had not the least
reason to believe that she cared anything for him. Ben, on the other
hand, was the son of the most influential man in the parish, and had
been making love to her for come time.
Had any one told Douglas a month ago that he would be deep in love
after he had been in Rixton a couple of weeks, he would have laughed
him to scorn. His idea of wandering from place to place and living
just for self had suddenly taken flight. To him life seemed desolate
apart from Nell Strong. He could not understand the feeling, and he
did not try to analyse it. It was something he had never before
experienced. He knew that it had come mysteriously and subtly, and was
now possessing his entire being.
Jake noted how absent minded his assistant was that afternoon, and
jokingly told him to look out for the constable.
"He may be along any minute now," he bantered.
Douglas laughed and went on with his work. He was glad that Jake
imagined it was the thought of arrest which was occupying his mind. He
did not wish any one to have the least idea of the secret thoughts
which were agitating his heart.
After the chores had been done, Douglas strolled down to the shore. He
wished to be alone that he might think. It was a beautiful evening,
and the river stretched out before him like a great mirror, with not a
ripple disturbing its surface. It was a scene of peace, and it brought
a quietness to his soul. A swim in a secluded place had refreshed him,
and after he had dressed, he sat for a time upon the sandy beach. He
looked up and down the shore, but no sign of life could he behold. The
only familiar thing he saw was the old tree where he had sat that
evening when he had first seen Nell. He wondered if she would be at
the same place again this evening, and if Ben would meet her there. He
did not relish the idea of spying, but so much was at stake now, and he
must find out if they kept their tryst as formerly. If so, then it
would be no use for him to cherish any hope. He might as well banish
Nell from his mind first as last.
Walking slowly along the shore, he at length reached the old tree and
sat down upon the ground by its side with his eyes turned upstream.
From here he could see all that might take place before him, while he
himself would remain unobserved.
The sun had now gone down beyond the tree tops, and the shades of night
were stealing slowly over land and river. The air was clear, and
objects were easily discerned some distance away. Douglas had not sat
there more than a quarter of an hour when Nell appeared and stopped
close to the big tree. She stood quietly there, with her right arm
resting upon the bent and twisted trunk. Her eyes were fixed upon the
ground, and she seemed to be in deep thought. Douglas shrank back lest
he might be observed. A feeling of compunction smote his heart, and he
was tempted to slip away among the bushes. What would Nell think if
she knew that he was spying upon her? he asked himself. Would it not
be more manly for him to go forward and speak to her?
As he was thinking of these things, a man suddenly appeared from the
thick bushes and advanced toward the waiting woman. That it was Ben,
Douglas had not the least doubt, and his heart beat fast as he watched
the two standing together. His hands clenched and the blood coursed
madly through his veins. So she was expecting Ben, then, he told
himself, and no doubt was pleased at his arrival. What use for him to
consider her any longer? She had given her heart and hand to that
rascal, so that ended it. Surely she must know that he was a downright
villain. Was she playing a double game? Why had she told him only
last night, standing at the door of her house, that she was glad of the
part he had taken at the hall? And yet here she was talking to the
very man he had opposed, and perhaps enjoying a lovers' chat.
Douglas was sorely puzzled. He knew that he should go home, and yet
the two standing near the tree fascinated him. The man seemed to be
doing most of the talking, and Nell was plucking at the bark on the
tree with nervous fingers, so Douglas thought. He tried to picture the
expression on her face and the look in her eyes. He could not
associate Nell with anything that was mean and unwomanly. There must
be some reason for her presence there with Ben. The thought gave him
some comfort, and he breathed a sigh of relief. He must not judge her
too harshly until he knew more. Perhaps she was suffering keenly, and
would need his assistance. He felt that she was a woman who would
greatly endure and remain silent, even though her heart were breaking.
He must stand by and do what he could to help her. Even though she
might never be his, yet he would be her friend to the last if she would
only give him the opportunity.
A slight noise to the left caused Douglas to turn his head, and as he
did so he caught a fleeting glimpse of some one moving swiftly yet
cautiously among the bushes. It was a woman, and he recognised her at
once as Jean Benton. She looked neither to the right nor to the left,
but kept her eyes fixed upon the couple standing by the old tree. She
leaned forward as she walked and seemed to Douglas like a panther
stealing upon its prey. He could not see her face, but from her
intensity of action he could easily imagine the passion depicted there,
and the fiery gleam in her eyes. A sudden thrill shot through his body
as he realised the purpose of her presence. It was mad jealousy, there
could be no doubt of it, and the object was Nell. She had alienated
her lover's affections, and Jean's passionate nature had been aroused.
What would she do? he asked himself. What could not a woman do when
crazed with intense fury?
Douglas expected that Jean would spring suddenly from among the bushes
and confront Ben and Nell face to face. She did nothing of the kind,
however, but, stopped when a short distance away, crouched low to the
ground, and watched. Douglas remained where he was, spell-bound.
There was nothing he could do, and it was not his business to
interfere. If he went forward now, it would show that he had been
spying. No, he would wait and see what the outcome of it all would be.
He did not have to wait long, for in a few minutes Ben and Nell left
the tree and walked slowly along the path leading to the house. And
after them crept Jean, keeping well within the deep shadows of the
thick bushes. Soon all had disappeared and Douglas was left alone with
his thoughts. He did not at once leave the shore, but sat there
thinking over what he had just witnessed. Jean was jealous of Nell,
and blamed her for stealing her lover. And what of himself? Was he
not jealous of Ben? Did he not want that beautiful woman for himself?
Yes, there were twin fires burning in their breasts. But, oh, how
different were their natures. Jean's was like a fiery volcano, ready
to burst forth in fury and destruction. His was more moderate, he
reasoned, righteous, temperate, and he must see to it that it should be
kept under control.