She went on. "When I promised him six months ago it was all so vague,
so far off, and I was so miserable, Jack--so homeless and badgered, and
dependent, it was all so far off, I thought--waiting for his brother to
die, and now! You know how these English are, they take these things so
seriously, their marriages and promises, they are so matter-of-fact
about it, and so consistent: why, Jack, he looks on me already as his
bride. He is just as busy planning for our future, arranging how the
estate is to be remodeled, what home we are to have, I couldn't get out
of it honorably even--Jack, even if--"
"Even if you should happen to love me?" I said, looking very earnestly
into her eyes.
She nodded, her head dropped low. For the first time in her life I saw
tears in her eyes.
"Oh, Jack, I am miserable! It was all so far off once,--now--only next
month,--and you know I'd die before I'd deceive him--big boy that he is,
and trusting and worshipping me, Jack. Yes, that is what hurts
me--worshipping me as he does--I couldn't. I couldn't, Jack! If I have
any one strong thing in me, you know it is--"
"Keeping your faith with your friends," said I. She nodded. "Do you
think I am wicked to marry him this way? Won't you come, in after
years, to despise me?"
For answer I stooped and kissed her. She put both her arms around my
neck. "Please stay with me," she cried, "I do so need you. I just
heard it to-day. It was why he came and stayed so long. Please stay
and be with me till he leaves. Just stay with me, Little Brother, this
time."
"Why," I said, "this time? Surely he will resent it. Any man would
want this night of all others to be with you."
"Jack, you don't understand. I am miserable. That is why I rode Satan
as I did. When I put him at that fence I hoped--it is wicked I
know--but I hoped that he would kill me."
She was sobbing in my arms.
"Eloise, don't," I said; "let me go. Don't you know that it is harder
on me than it is on you? Do you think I am made of stone--of wood--to
come home expecting sweetness and find it all rue--my dreams about
you--"
"Just to-night, Jack. You'll--you'll laugh at me when I say why, but,
but, you know how punctilious these Englishmen are, and he thinks I must
kiss him to-night when he goes."
I felt the hot blood rush to my heart. It was instinct, the reversion
of a past ancestor who fought another man for kissing his wilderness
bride.
"Eloise, you wouldn't?"
"If you'll kiss me again, Jack, as you did just now. I never felt so
before--until--but it you'll kiss me again--that way, I'll never kiss
him--never!"
I held her in my arms. I kissed her eyes, which were moist. I kissed
her mouth, and it seemed as though my soul went into hers; for when, in
desperation, in an exhilaration which was all but madness I broke away I
heard her cry faintly, "_Jack, Jack!_" ...