“I WILL LOVE YOU MORE THAN LIFE!”
If Cecil could have seen that look of deadly hate in Amber’s eyes, and
read the wicked thoughts in her mind, he would have snatched Violet in
his strong arms, and fled away with her to some safe refuge from the
cloud of woe lowering darkly over that lovely golden head.
But Amber’s seeming kindness had lulled every suspicion in his mind to
rest. He believed that she was the only friend he and Violet had in
their love affair.
But he might have prayed in a new version of the litany:
“From all false friends and wicked schemers, good Lord, deliver us!”
Just now he could think of nothing clearly but the intoxicating bliss
of Violet’s nearness, and the shy gladness of her dark-blue eyes as
they dwelt on his, so dark, so true, so tender.
He placed his hand fondly over hers, thrilling with joy at the soft
contact, and poured out, in love’s tender phrases, low and deep, all
his joy at seeing her again.
But Violet, with a shy consciousness of Amber’s presence, rejoined,
softly and anxiously:
“Oh, Cecil, we have no time even to rejoice over this happy meeting,
for I want you to advise me how to escape from the perils that surround
me.”
And, clasping her white hands in piteous terror, she added:
“Oh, I am so frightened, Cecil, at the dark and cruel fate that seems
lowering over my head! I have no peace by day or night. Terrible dreams
startle me from sleep, and fill me with forebodings of evil!”
“My darling, you are weak and nervous, that is all. There is no real
danger, for, as I have written to you every day, they cannot force you
into an unwilling marriage. Only be courageous, and persist in refusing
Harold Castello’s suit, and all will be well. Judge Camden will give up
his plan when he finds you are determined not to yield.”
“Ah, you do not know grandpapa as well as I do, Cecil. I fear his
power, he is so harsh and cruel!”
“Not cruel to you, my little love, for no one could be that!” cried the
doting lover.
Suddenly Amber looked around at them, the angry frown all gone as if by
magic, from her dark and brilliant face.
“I beg pardon for interrupting,” she began, “but really I see that I
must speak a word for Violet.”
“A hundred if you wish!” he said, courteously.
“Cecil, you do not really comprehend the perils that environ poor
Violet, because we have kept back from you a startling fact.”
“Oh, Amber----” Violet began, piteously.
“Hush, dear; I will tell Cecil the truth! He ought to know the real
reason of your illness. I am ashamed of my grandfather, but he must
know that it was a cruel blow from that old man’s hand that struck you
senseless to the floor, and almost cost your life!”
How nobly indignant she looked as she uttered the words! Who could
guess that, deep in her heart, Amber was furious that the cruel blow
had not ended her rival’s innocent life.
“Oh!” breathed Cecil Grant, in deadly wrath and amazement, while
the veins stood out on his forehead like whip-cords, and his hands
involuntarily clinched themselves as though they were round the throat
of the dastard who had sunk so low to all gentlemanly instincts as to
strike a woman.
“Oh, Amber, I wished Cecil never to hear that!” cried Violet, in deep
distress.
“It was best that he should know it, Violet, so that he might be roused
to a sense of your danger. Grandpapa is a cruel, violent old man,
and almost loses his reason when thwarted in any darling plan. He is
determined that Violet shall marry this proud millionaire, and if she
continues to defy his commands, I tremble for her very life!” shuddered
Amber, acting her part so superbly that no one could doubt that she
loved and pitied Violet with real cousinly affection.
Ah, Heaven defend the noble heart from insidious foes, who work in the
dark--foes, who, in the guise of friendship, smile in the face, with
a hidden sword in the hand! Of all enemies these are the most to be
feared and scorned.
There is something brave at least in open defiance and enmity, but the
soul recoils from the foe in ambush, from lying lips and deceitful
hearts!
She, the beautiful traitress, watched Cecil’s bitter wrath with secret
satisfaction, knowing that it would bend him more easily to her plans.
“That old man, to dare to strike you, my Violet! It is incredible!
But he shall suffer for his villainy. I will challenge him to fight.
I--I--will kill him!” raved Cecil, in sudden, deadly anger, his eyes
flashing luridly.
“Oh, no, no, no, dear Cecil, you must not harm that old man--you shall
not! I forgive him freely!” cried Violet in terror.
“No, you must not harm him,” added Amber, “you must not wreak revenge
on our grandfather; you must simply take measures to remove Violet
beyond reach of his fatal anger.”
His face paled with despair, and he cried, wretchedly:
“Ah, Heaven, what can I do? Judge Camden will not give his consent to
our marriage, and as she is his ward still, she could not marry me
without.”
“But you can elope with Violet,” cried Amber, boldly.
There was a start from Cecil, a little shriek from Violet, and Amber
continued:
“Washington is but an hour’s ride from here, and you could marry
Violet there, you know, in defiance of the whole world. I can plan the
elopement for you if you will trust to my judgment. In fact, I have
been thinking it over some time, for I knew it was the only way to save
Violet from Judge Camden’s fury.”
Cecil looked at Violet with dark, eager eyes.
“Would you be willing, my darling?” he breathed, tenderly.
Sweet Violet shrank and trembled.
“Oh, I had hoped never to be forced to this!” she murmured. “You know,
Amber, how my poor mother brought reproach upon herself by her runaway
marriage with my father.”
“Yes, I have heard all about it, and I never blamed poor Marie Camden
in the least. Her father almost forced her to it, just as he is now
forcing you, Violet,” replied Amber, instantly.
Cecil took his little love’s hand in his and pressed it warmly, as he
murmured:
“I have but a poor home to offer you, my darling, in exchange for all
the luxury of Golden Willows; but if you will come to me, I will love
you more than life.”
“Like the Lord of Burleigh,” laughed Amber, repeating:
“I can make no marriage present,
Little can I give my wife:
Love will make our cottage pleasant,
And I love you more than life.”
Violet’s eyes were shining through a mist of tender tears, her cheeks
flushed rosily, and she returned the tender pressure of her lover’s
hand.
“Cecil, I am not afraid of poverty with you,” she cried, bravely.
“I only dreaded the world’s reproach. But why should I care for
that, since we shall be all the world to each other? I am afraid of
grandpapa, I love you, and I should be charmed to live at picturesque
Bonnycastle, with that sweet lady, your beautiful mother. So I will
run away with you at any time you say so. And Amber, you must be the
bridesmaid, dear.”
“I will,” was the gay reply, and Amber said to herself that she would
not miss being the bridesmaid for anything, but her smile just then was
not good to see.
“Now that we have decided on the elopement, I had better take Violet
home, for if we stay too long, Judge Camden may come out to look for
us,” she added.
“Will you bring Violet out again to-morrow?” Cecil asked, anxiously.
“I will try, and, unless grandpapa is in a bad humor, I may succeed.
But, at any rate, I will be here, and will decide on our plans for the
elopement,” declared Amber.
He kissed Violet’s little hand with tender passion, then they drove
away, leaving him alone in the quiet road, watching them and praying
and hoping that Violet would come again, to-morrow.
An impulse came over him to go and tell his mother that he would soon
bring bonny Violet home to her for a daughter, to live in the old ruin
of a place, and shed brightness over it, after the manner of all young,
joyous things.
But half-way home he changed his mind.
“It is better she should not know. Then no one can say that she aided
and abetted me in eloping with the granddaughter of the rich Judge
Camden.”
He knew that Violet would be sure of a welcome from his stately mother,
and he decided not to tell her anything, but to take her by surprise
with his bonny bride.
He turned back toward his office, dizzy with joy, and revolving plans
for fitting up the prettiest rooms at Bonnycastle for his darling’s
use. He was sure that he could afford some pretty, simple, new
furniture, and the blue and white hangings to brighten up the place.
And, as for flowers, there were loads of them at home, and Violet
delighted in them. Besides, he would love her so dearly, he would pet
her so much that she should be too happy to miss the splendors she had
enjoyed at Golden Willows.