THE WOOD-WALK
The "Minotaur" did persist, you may be sure! A beautiful girl and a rich
inheritance were not to be given up by him for any scruples of conscience
or movements of pity.
He wooed Odalite in the face of her evident aversion, which soon grew to
detestation.
He followed her about, joined her in her walks, surprised her in her
solitude; he would take no hint from her avoidance, no offense at her
coldness, no rebuff from her rudeness; but would take her hand with such a
pressure, look at her with such a gaze, speak to her in such a tone as
would make the girl's blood run cold with a horrible abhorrence which she
could not comprehend.
This went on for a week before the affair came to a crisis.
She had stolen out of the house to avoid him. It was a splendid winter
day, and very mild for the season.
She resolved to take a long walk through the woods, even so far as
Chincapin Creek, a mile and a half away.
Calling the bulldog, Joshua, after her, she set out with a brisk step over
the frozen ground, dry with stubble and shining with frost, and through
the bare wood, still glittering with icicles, that were, however, fast
melting under the sun's rays.
When she reached Chincapin Creek she sat down on a large stone, over which
she had thrown an extra shawl, and she rested in the thought that there at
least she might remain for a little time without being disturbed either by
the intrusion of her "black beast" or by a summons to attend him.
But she was mistaken.
He, who had watched her every movement, and even by some devilish
inspiration seemed to know her every intention beforehand--he, lurking in
the shade of the curtain, and looking from his chamber window, had seen
her come out of the house, warmly dressed in her quaint walking suit of a
brown cloth winter cloak "all buttoned up before," and brown beaver poke
bonnet tied down under her chin, cross the lawn and pass out of the south
gate toward the woods beyond--followed by the faithful house dog.
He knew instinctively why she had left the house and where she was going.
He waited until she had entered the wood, and then he left his hiding
place, drew on his overcoat, took his hat and gloves, went downstairs and
left the house in pursuit of her.
He walked fast until he came into the woods, where he heard her voice a
few rods ahead of him talking to her dog.
Then he slackened his pace and walked softly behind her. The closeness of
the undergrowth prevented him from catching even a glimpse of her little
poke bonnet; but he still heard her talking to her dog.
Presently these sounds ceased, and he crept cautiously on and found her
sitting on a stone at the further end of the rustic bridge that crossed
Chincapin Creek, with the dog lying at her feet.
Joshua never could abide Anglesea, and his threatening growl was the first
warning that Odalite had of the approach of her natural enemy.
"You should not walk alone in these woods, my dear Miss Force," he said,
coming up to her side and leaning on the railing of the bridge as he bent
over her.
"I am not alone. The dog is with me, and he would not let any one injure
or even annoy me. See! if I had not now his head on my lap and my hands
around his neck, he would fly at you even. Easy--easy, Joshua, good
fellow!" she added, softly caressing the guardian who was showing his
teeth and muttering low thunder.
"I hope I do not annoy you. Miss Force," he pleaded, in a persuasive tone,
as he bent nearer to her.
"If I speak the truth, Col. Anglesea, I must say that you certainly do,"
replied the girl, drawing the short ears of her dog through her fingers
and watching the process as if it required care.
"In what way am I so unfortunate?"
"You know very well; you follow me wherever I go, and intrude on me when I
wish to be alone. I am sorry to speak so to my dear father's guest; but
you should remember that you are his guest and not his daughter's, and
should give him a little of your society, instead of pressing it all upon
me!"
"The steel must follow the magnet! The moth must fly to the flame! And I,
beautiful Odalite, must follow you! I have no choice."
"You are talking absurdities, quite unworthy of a man of your age, Col.
Anglesea," replied Odalite, without looking up, and unconsciously pulling
her dog's ears so hard that even Joshua's great patience gave way, first
in a deprecating whine that produced no effect; and then in a despairing
howl that quickly brought his mistress to a sense of her cruelty. She
apologized to the victim so earnestly and caressed him so tenderly that
Joshua grew ashamed of his want of doghood, and began to assure his
mistress, in eloquent dumb show, that it was all a misapprehension on her
part; that he wasn't hurt at all; that she never did hurt him and never
could; that, in face, he was howling at--well, at the squirrel over yonder
on the tree; or, yes, at the turkey buzzard flying overhead.
Meanwhile Col Anglesea looked on in disgust.
"And do you think, my dear young lady, that this childish play is quite
worthy of your years?" he inquired.
"Yes! quite!" she answered, gravely.
"Will you listen to me for a moment?"
"I would rather not, Col. Anglesea; but perhaps, after all, I had better
hear what you have to say and get it over. Then, probably, I shall have
some peace."
He seated himself on the railing of the bridge, above and a little behind
her. And then he made an ardent declaration of his love and an offer of
his hand.
Odalite grew pale and cold as she listened to him, not in fear, but in
wrath, disgust and abhorrence.
"Has my father authorized you to speak to me on this subject, Col.
Anglesea?" she inquired, in a freezing tone, without looking at him.
"No, my dearest one; but your mother has."
Odalite shook her head with derisive incredulity. Col. Anglesea continued
as if he had not seen her gesture:
"And I want your authority to speak to your father of these my most
cherished hopes."
"Then, sir, you need not trouble him on the subject. I suppose, sir, that
I ought to thank you for the honor you have done me by this offer, but I
have to assure you that it is utterly impossible for me to accept it," she
said, in the same icy tone, and without glancing toward him.
"Oh, why, my dear Miss Force?" he inquired, with an insinuating smile, as
he bent down to look in her face.
But she kept her eyes averted, as she answered, coldly:
"Because I have long been engaged to my cousin, Mr. Leonidas Force, who is
coming home at Christmas, when we shall be married and go to live at
Greenbushes, as you know very well, Col. Anglesea, for you have heard the
whole matter freely discussed. You know this so well that I am surprised
at the inconsistency of your action in offering me your hand."
"That childish engagement, made so long ago--if it was ever formally made
at all, which is doubtful--really amounts to nothing whatever! It could
form no obstacle to your union with me."
"You mistake, sir. Although the engagement was not formal, it was so well
understood that all the preparations have been ordered and begun by both
parties. But that you may clearly understand me, Col. Anglesea, and that
you may drop this matter at once and forever, I must assure you that if I
were entirely free I could never accept your offer, because I could never
like you well enough."
Notwithstanding her decided refusal and frank explanation, Anglesea would
take no denial, but continued to press his odious suit, until at length
Joshua, seeing his mistress' distress, and knowing who caused it, started
up and made a spring at the man's throat. Quick as lightning Odalite
seized the dog by the collar and drew him down.
"You see," she said, "if you continue to persecute me, I shall not be able
to keep the dog off you. I think you had better go home."
"And I think you had better quiet that brute! For if he should attack me
again, I shall shoot him dead," exclaimed Anglesea, savagely, drawing a
small revolver from his pocket and holding it in his hand.
The girl looked up at the man for the first time since they had met in the
wood, but it was with a gaze so fearless, so full of scorn, that the
ruffian's eyes fell beneath it.
"Come, Joshua, good dog, let us go home. We have 'fallen among thieves'
this morning. Our woods are no longer safe for you and me. They are
infested with brigands! Do you know what a brigand is, Joshua? A brigand
is a fine, brave, terrible soldier, who is not afraid of anything! Not
even afraid of insulting young ladies and shooting their faithful dogs.
When armed to the teeth, he is the terror of little boys and baby girls.
Come, Joshua!"
She arose, and keeping her hand on the dog's collar, recrossed the bridge,
and walked leisurely along the woodland path.
Col. Anglesea left his perch on the railing, and, with a mocking smile,
sauntered after her.
She turned upon him with flashing eyes.
"Keep your distance, sir! If you presume to come near me, as I live, I
will go to my father as soon as I get home, and appeal to him for
protection from you!" she said, still holding a firm grip upon the collar
of Joshua, who was grimly showing his teeth and growling
"Full defiance, hate and scorn"
of the intruder on his mistress' company.
Now that Mr. Force should hear of Angus Anglesea's suit to his daughter
from herself, and at this stage of the proceedings, was a misfortune that
Col. Anglesea would most earnestly have deprecated. So he bowed with mock
submission and replied:
"Pardon me, I will say no more. Your mother must be my advocate with you.
I must send her to you to plead my cause."
And with another and a deeper bow he stepped to the side of the path and
let the girl and her dog pass on before him.