THE UNSEEN LOVER.
Shortly after Frank and Inza departed Fred Fillmore left the house.
Elsie watched him run down the white steps and hurry away along the
street.
“He means to make trouble for Frank, Bart,” she said, turning to Hodge.
“He’s a desperate fellow.”
“What’s the matter with him?” asked Bart. “Is he crazy?”
“He’s quite lost his head over Inza.”
“I thought that was about the size of it.”
“That was the cause of all the trouble in the first place. He fell to
hovering round Inza, and paying her attention. She never encouraged him
in the least, for she is no flirt. Of course she treated him well, for
we are in his sister’s home. When Frank appeared he was jealous. That’s
what led on to that affair at the road house.”
“Well, he’d better not fool with Frank Merriwell, for he’ll regret it
if he does. Frank will not harm him unless forced into it. What has he
been doing lately?”
“Just watching constantly to get a look at Inza. He’s quite lost his
senses over her. And he drinks, too, Bart. He seems to be full almost
all the time. He actually proposed to Inza the night he returned here,
forcing her to listen to him.”
“Oh, he did, eh?”
“Yes.”
“She wrote Frank nothing of it.”
“No, for she knew it would do no good, and she did not wish to make
trouble. She has been thinking he might get over his unreasoning
infatuation, but I think he grows worse and worse every day.”
“Inza will soon be Mrs. Merriwell, and that will settle Mr. Fillmore.”
He led Elsie back to her seat amid the pillows, taking care to see that
she was perfectly comfortable.
“There, little girl!” he laughed, his eyes shining as he looked at her;
“there you are. I’ve been a scoundrel! What you need is the right kind
of a doctor, and I’m the doctor! You never let me know you were more
than a trifle indisposed. Why should you be ill? It’s all nonsense!
Sweetheart, we’ll have the color back to your cheeks in short order.
Oh, yes we will!”
She smiled on him.
“You’re so encouraging, Bart, dear!” she breathed. “Truly you make me
feel better.”
“I hope to make you feel so well that you’ll agree to carry out the
plan we have spoken of so many times. Are you willing to see Frank and
Inza reach the consummation of their happiness and leave us behind?”
“I have to be willing,” she said. “We must wait, Bart, dear.”
“I’ve waited so long, Elsie—so long!” he exclaimed, in a low tone that
was deep with feeling. “And now the time has come. Elsie, my own, why
do you put it off?”
“Because I feel that it is right.”
He had her hand imprisoned in his. She was leaning against one of his
strong arms and looking up into his dark eyes, where she saw a world
of tenderness and devotion.
“Don’t you love me the same as you did?” he asked anxiously.
“What a foolish question, you big, silly boy! I love you more than ever
before. You don’t understand—you don’t know how much I love you!”
He thrilled as he heard her speak these words with lips that knew not
insincerity or deceit. He had trusted her fully, completely, and he was
certain she trusted him in the same degree. Between them there was no
shadow of doubt, for “love cannot dwell with suspicion.”
“Elsie,” he urged, all palpitant with the intensity of his yearning
for her, “be mine—my own little wife—and I’ll guard you and tenderly
care for you until you are well and strong again. My strength shall
be yours. I’ll bear you over all the rough places in life’s pathway.
I’ll shield you from every chill breath of the world. You shall be,
as you have been, the star of my ambition. With you near me, I’ll
be encouraged and spurred on to do great things in the world. The
knowledge that you trust me fully will forever guard me from my weaker
self and keep me strong and true.”
Young though he was, he instinctively knew that the greatest evil that
can befall a man is to be doubted or distrusted by one he deeply loves.
The knowledge that a beloved one is absolute in her faith and trust in
him has kept many a man true and faithful and exalted, even above his
natural self; while doubt, suspicion, and distrust has ruined thousands
who were naturally upright and honorable. A man with a conscience
that makes him worthy to be called a man is repelled at the thought of
betraying one who has proved that she loves and trusts him fully.
Bart Hodge had once been wayward and willful—even weak at times; but
the friendship and trust of Frank and Elsie had fortified him against
temptation and made him strong and manly in every way. He was worthy of
Elsie’s love, even though she was a girl among ten thousand.
“Bart, dear,” said Elsie gently, “I have thought it all over, and I
know it would be a mistake for me to attempt to pass through the strain
and excitement at this time. I beg you not to urge me. As you love me,
do not insist. I hope the time will come very soon when I shall feel
ready to take your name. When that time comes I’ll be the happiest and
proudest girl the sun ever shone on.”
A sigh of disappointment and resignation came from his fluttering heart.
“Man proposes and woman disposes, to alter an old saying,” he smiled
regretfully. “I’ve waited, and I can wait longer. It seems that I’ll
have to.”
He kissed her as he spoke these words.
“You dear, good boy!”
“You’ll find me ready when you are, sweetheart,” he declared. “I shall
not go to Mexico with Frank.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t prevent that for anything!” she cried. “If you have
planned——”
“My plans must be altered, that is all. I’m going to be near you until
you are yourself again, little girl.”
“And then——”
“And then I’ll positively decline to be put off any longer, Miss
Perversity.”
“I hope you do not think I am perverse.”
“I think you are the most bewitchingly perverse little body in all
creation; but your very perverseness charms and fascinates me. Girl,
you were bewitching in health and strength; but by my life, you’re a
hundred times more so now! Why, I just long to do something to shield
and protect you. It makes me feel a hundred times stronger than usual
to see you pale and weak. You had the face of a flower, but now you
have the face of an angel!”
“Oh, Bart, you’re too extravagant in your flattery!”
“It’s no flattery, Elsie, dear.”
But of a sudden she saw a cloud stealing over his face as he gazed upon
her.
“What is it?” she asked, quick to feel every changing mood of his.
“Oh, nothing—nothing,” he answered; but after a moment he embraced her
and held her as if fearful that she would slip away from him.
It was in truth this fear which had found lodgment in his heart. For
the first time he had been seized by a feeling of apprehension lest
he might lose her ere she could become wholly his. What was this
strange weakness that had come upon her and clung to her in spite of
everything? Always she had seemed a bit ethereal, as if not wholly of
this world; and now a singular, terrifying fancy took hold of Bart.
It seemed to him that some envious lover of the spirit world had laid
claim to her and was seeking to win her from him. His active fancy
pictured this unseen lover slowly but surely drawing her to him.
As this fancy ran through his mind Bart was silent, but of a sudden he
hoarsely cried:
“He shall not have you!”
Elsie was startled.
“Bart!” she exclaimed.
“He shall not have you!” repeated Bart. “You are mine! I’ll not let him
take you from me!”
“Are you losing your reason?” she asked.
“No, no, Elsie! You are mine! Look, sweetheart, I seem to see a demon,
a spirit, or something that is striving to wrest you from me. That is
why you are weak and you do not grow stronger. Elsie, you love me!
Fight against this unseen power that is seeking to part us—fight it
with all your remaining strength! Will that you shall grow strong. If
you do not, dearest girl, I’m afraid the monster may conquer! Fight,
Elsie—fight for your life and for my love!”
Never had she seen Bart in such a mood. He clung to her as if fearing
he would lose her at once if he relaxed his hold.
“Bart—dear Bart, it is a silly fear. Shake it off.”
“Promise me you will fight against him!” urged Hodge huskily.
“I promise.”
“Then make up your mind to get well and strong as soon as you can. It’s
the only way. Throw off this weakness. You must, dear Elsie—you must!”
She repeated her promise, but still he could not get over the feeling
of apprehension and dread that had assailed him.