_Alene and Ramon._
Alene Daleman and Ramon Mansford stood within the vestibule of the
former's home. Ramon's arm was around Alene's waist and her beautiful
black eyes were upturned to his, as if to say, "Fathom the love we tell
of, if you can." Down stoops Ramon and plants a fervent, lingering kiss
upon the lips of the girl he loves, saying, as he stroked her hair,
"The last token of love until the minister has his say."
"Let me have a last, too," said Alene, tiptoeing to plant a kiss upon
Ramon's lips, and thus the two parted.
Light of heart, Alene went tripping to Foresta's room and said:
"Foresta, as you know, the house is full of people who have come from a
distance to attend my wedding. You need not stay here to-night. I will
occupy your room."
Foresta was very glad indeed, as an early release enabled her to carry
out some plans of her own.
* * * * *
"Mama," said Foresta, her face buried in her mother's lap, "I have
something which I wish to tell you."
Her mother stroked her hair, and said, "Tell me, dear."
"You know Mr. Arthur Daleman, Jr., threatened you with the penitentiary,
but compromised the matter on the condition that I should work for him."
"Yes, dear," said Mrs. Crump, beginning to breathe fast through the
force of increased excitement.
"He pretended that he would not cancel the matter, in order that he
might be sure to hold me as a servant," said the girl.
Foresta paused and her mother said, "Go on; I am listening."
"He had dark purposes, mama," said Foresta.
"Yes," said Mrs. Crump, rather feebly, fearful of what was to come.
Foresta, detecting considerable anxiety in her mother's voice, looked up
quickly.
"Now, mama, don't look so scared and troubled; it isn't anything awful,
now." So saying, she buried her face again and continued her recital.
"He pretends to love me, mama. He has tried many times to kiss me. I
knew what kind of a sword he held over you, and while I resented his
advances, I sought not to enrage him for your sake."
"Well!" said Mrs. Crump, thoroughly alarmed.
"I kept him in his place by threatening to tell Miss Alene. He thinks
lots of her and that scared him. He wouldn't care about anybody else."
Foresta took another look into her mother's face, then resumed her
former attitude. Continuing, she said:
"Miss Alene leaves to-morrow, and I am afraid to stay there with him.
You know a colored girl has no protection. If a white girl is insulted
her insulter is shot down and the one who kills him is highly honored.
If a colored girl is insulted by a white man and a colored man resents
it, the colored man is lynched."
Mrs. Crump let a tear drop and it fell on Foresta's cheek. Foresta felt
the tear and raised herself and said.
"Now, you bad mama, you! What's the use crying? I'll take care of
myself," a fierce gleam coming into her pretty eyes.
Having wiped her mother's cheeks free from tears, Foresta buried her
face again.
"I am not going back any more. I am going to get married to-night. Bud
and I are going to get married. And Bud has saved up enough money to pay
us out of debt."
Mrs. Crump now understood why Foresta was hiding her face. She
remembered her own feelings when the question of marriage had to be
broached to her mother. She bent over and kissed Foresta.
"Bud and I are going to run away and get married. Run away from you,"
said Foresta laughingly. "And you must be awfully surprised when we come
back. We are going to do this to avoid a lot of useless expense in
getting up a big wedding. That money can go to help us get rid of those
eating cancers, those old loan men."
Mrs. Crump knew how much Foresta's heart had always been set on a fine
wedding, and she knew that Foresta was making that sacrifice for her
sake.
"My sweet Foresta, you have been such a dear child--God will reward
you," said Mrs. Crump, burying her head on Foresta's shoulder. "This is
not what I had planned for my darling; but God knows what's best. His
will be done."
At the appointed hour Bud Harper was standing at Foresta's gate. Foresta
soon joined him and they took a train for a nearby town where they were
made man and wife.
In the meantime some awful things were happening at the Daleman
residence. Leroy Crutcher, of whom we caught a glimpse or so in an
earlier chapter, happened to be passing along the sidewalk that ran
parallel with the side of the Daleman residence. As he reached the alley
at the rear of the yard, he saw a man standing on a rock looking over
the back fence. The two men glared at each other. The moon was shining
brightly and they could see each other well.
Leroy turned away and walked along the street, saying to himself, "I
ought to have shot that scoundrel, Bud Harper, then and there."
Reflecting a little he said, "No, I must get him without hurting
myself."
The man about whom Leroy had thus spoken climbed over the fence and
crouched in the shadow of the coalhouse. His eyes were fixed on
Foresta's room and his vigil was ceaseless. At about eleven o'clock
Arthur Daleman, Jr., emerged from the hallway of the second story,
paused a few moments and crept toward Foresta's room.
"Yes, its true," muttered the Negro, between gritted teeth, the look of
a savage overspreading his face. He clambered over the fence saying,
"Wait a few minutes, happy couple."
In the meantime Arthur Daleman, Jr., had unlocked the door to Foresta's
room and stood as if rooted to the spot. There upon the bed lay Alene
instead of Foresta, as he could plainly see by the dimly burning light.
Fearing that Alene might awaken and see him, he quickly turned out the
light and stepped from the room. In his haste he left the door slightly
ajar. What took place thereafter the morning revealed.