Jaquelina

“ Jaquelina turned her dark eyes on the masked face of the outlaw, and regarded him steadily as she said, firmly:
"A man quite your opposite in everything—an honest, honorable, noble man, brave and without reproach." ”

“ A duel?" asked the outlaw, laughing at her passionate vehemence.
"Yes, a duel," she answered, with unmoved gravity.
"You are a brave little girl, Miss Meredith," the outlaw answered, resting his white, well-formed hand on the back of a chair with easy grace, while he regarded her attentively. "You make me admire you more than ever."
"I am sorry for that," said Jaquelina, with spirit.
"Why?" he inquired, seeming to find pleasure in the very sound of her voice, although her words were so scornful. "Is admiration so distasteful to you?" ”

“ You are here to perform the ceremony of marriage. Proceed with it. To refuse, or even to hesitate, will be at your deadly peril!"
His white hand went into his breast, and the priest heard the click of a weapon. With a throbbing heart and faltering voice he began to mumble forth the words of the marriage service. Bowles and his master held Jaquelina firmly between them. Gerald Huntington made every response in a loud, clear, triumphant voice; but Jaquelina's head drooped on her breast, while her whole slight frame was benumbed by a sick and shuddering horror. ”

“ He looked at Jaquelina where she stood in the center of the apartment, the rain-drops falling from her drenched garments upon the rich crimson carpet in shining little pools, the wet curls clinging to her white brow; her face pale as death, her slight form trembling with cold and terror.
The laugh died suddenly on his lips, his dark eyes flashed through the openings in his mask.
"For shame, Bowles," he said, sharply. "How dared you assault a woman? We make no war upon such." ”

“ The second man flashed the light of the lantern into the pale, yet spirited face.
"By Jove," he said again, "what a pretty girl! Well, miss, we suffer neither man nor woman to pass without taking toll."
Jaquelina's heart sank. Would they take Black Bess, her uncle's favorite?
These were the horse thieves, of course. She could not repress the quiver in her voice as she asked faintly:
"What toll do you demand?"
"We usually take a horse, miss," said the last speaker, coolly, "but seeing that you're such an uncommon pretty girl, we'll take the mare, and you shall give us a kiss apiece, besides." ”

“ Jaquelina remembered the rude, officious Bowles, and accepted the outlaw's statement as true. She looked at him in surprise and disgust.
"Why do you who appear to have the instincts and the training of a gentleman, herd with such ruffians?" she asked.
"Promise to marry me, and I will tell you why," he replied. "I will give up this life and try to become that which you said just now I might have been. Miss Meredith, I am in serious earnest. Become my wife, and I swear to you that you shall not have one wish ungratified. I am wealthy. ”

“ The lovely color came surging up into Jaquelina's pale cheeks at her lover's words.
"Oh! you do not know how I dread the ordeal of to-morrow night," she whispered to him. "All the country people will be crowded into the little church, and—only think—I must walk up the aisle before them all to be—married!"
Ronald Valchester laughed at her pretty bashfulness.
"To-morrow night will be a slight ordeal to what you will have to encounter in the way of people when I take you home to Richmond," he replied. "I have never told you yet, my darling, that we are very wealthy. ”

“ Violet said that roses would have looked prettier. Then she gathered some dewy violets and pinned them on his coat with pretty, careless coquetry.
"Lina, we are going to have a dance on the lawn," said the latter. "Do you like to dance?"
"No," said Jaquelina, and the fitful color came and went in her cheeks.
"Why not?" Violet said, surprised.
"Because I do not know how to dance," Jaquelina said, so timidly and naively that Walter Earle and Ronald Valchester laughed. Then Walter said, good-naturedly:
"Oh, that is nothing. You must dance with me. ”

“ His splendid form was drawn haughtily erect, his head was raised, and his white hand pointed at the grave, noble face of Ronald Valchester.
Between the two figures was Jaquelina Meredith, lovely, frightened, half-defiant, yet hanging with her whole heart on Ronald Valchester's decision. He did not know how eagerly and fearfully she awaited his words.
Yet Gerald Huntington, as he looked at her, more than half guessed it. He remembered what they had said to each other last night.
"What manner of man might he be whose admiration would be acceptable to you?" ”

“ Believe me, I should get well all the faster."
But Jaquelina had drawn back from his caress with a sudden cry of pain. He put out his hand with a smile to draw her back, and then he saw that her small, white hands were cut and bruised, and that a linen bandage was swathed about her right arm.
"Oh! my poor little Lina!" he cried, "your hands are cruelly bruised and torn! Who has done this wicked, brutal deed?"
Her lips quivered as he took her hands gently and pressed them to his lips; the large tears gathered in her eyes and brimmed over on her pale cheeks. ”

“ Jaquelina took the heavy child in her arms and went slowly back to the orchard.
[Pg 35]
"That inevitable Dollie," said Violet, warmly, as she saw her coming. "It's a shame that Mrs. Meredith does not hire a nurse for that great, fat child! I am sure if I were Jaquelina I would not be forced to carry it round."
"It is a shame," echoed Walter. "She is so slender she almost staggers beneath its weight." ”

“ Yet no smile curved the rich, red lips as she bent her graceful head, though the lashes swept low on the cheek that for a moment wore a crimson flush like the sunset glow.
There was no gladness on the beautiful face, and yet it was not cold or indifferent.
It was only touched on the fair, low brow, in "the dark—dark eyes," and on the arched, crimson lips with "the sadness of thought."
Walter Earle gazed on the singer, too, with his heart in his eyes. He believed that Madame Dolores was Jaquelina Meredith. The conviction grew upon him. ”

“ She had reached the thickest part of the woods in safety when suddenly Black Bess came to such a sudden stop that her rider came near being thrown over her head.
In the next moment a vivid flash of lightning showed Jaquelina a tall, masked outlaw clutching her bridle rein.
CHAPTER IV.
Before the lurid flash died away, Jaquelina saw a second masked figure emerge from behind a tree with a bull's-eye lantern. She heard a voice exclaim in profound surprise:
"By Jove, it's a woman!"
"Yes," cried the girl, bravely, "and if you are men you will suffer me to pass. Only cowards would molest a woman!" ”

“ Jaquelina answered with gentle sadness.
Violet bit her lip at the quiet rejoinder, but still she persevered.
"Let me give you another instance of his peculiarity," she said. "Are you aware that he entertains a most unwarrantable and ridiculous prejudice against a public life for a woman—such a life as you lead, for instance? ”

“ She looked at him with parted lips and dark eyes, but her angry beauty did not move him. His wrath was roused to its highest pitch against her. Passionate love and passionate hate struggled together in his breast.
The heavy curtains parted softly again, and Bowles entered, ushering in a small, frightened-looking priest. Gerald Huntington caught Jaquelina's hand forcibly in his and drew her forward.
"Come, priest, we are waiting," he said, with haughty impatience. "Make us man and wife as soon as you can." ”

“ Take a seat, Miss—Miss—I don't know what to call you," he said, as he pushed a large arm-chair toward her.
"My name is Meredith—Miss Meredith," Jaquelina said, but she did not take the offered chair. She lifted her dark, clear eyes appealingly to the masked face of the outlaw captain.
"Oh, sir," she cried, clasping her white hands in unconscious pathos, "do let me have Black Bess and go home! They tell me you only rob rich men who can afford to lose their horses. Uncle Charlie is poor. He has only his farm and the mare, and one horse besides. Would you rob him of his little all?" ”

“ At last, wearied by the duties of the day, the tired head drooped upon the window-sill, the long, black lashes lay upon the warm, [Pg 9] pink cheeks—Jaquelina slept and dreamed she had captured the dreaded outlaw chief, and bound him securely with a garland of roses.
Laughing at her ludicrous dream, the young girl woke—someone was shaking her roughly by the arm.
"Lina Meredith, for shame," said her aunt, towering above her, angular and slim, in a striped calico night-dress. "Sleeping in the window at midnight, and the lamp a-burnin' bright, too! Willful waste makes woful want! ”

“ Will crying get me two hundred dollars and send me to school, and deliver me from the jurisdiction of Aunt Meredith and her cross baby? Oh! that I might be a man for a few hours! I would sally forth and capture the robber-chief, and win the reward!"
Her thoughts having turned in this direction, Jaquelina forgot the lawn-party for awhile, and remained lost in thought, wishing over and over that she might capture the outlaw chief and claim the coveted reward that appeared so large in her longing eyes. ”

“ When I am induced to play I never know when to stop."
No one could be induced to touch the piano after Ronald Valchester had played—his music was too superior to anyone else's. They all went out on the lawn again. Some danced—some wandered under the trees. Among these latter was Jaquelina.
She was walking with Walter Earle again, and Violet with Ronald Valchester.
It was growing far into the night. Some of the lights had burned low; the moon was about to go down. The trees grew thick where they were walking, and some sudden impulse made Jaquelina shiver and lift her eyes half nervously. ”

“ The soft sigh of the evening breeze, the rustling leaves seemed to whisper threateningly:
"In the moment that is the happiest of your whole life I shall take my revenge!"
"Lina, I do not believe you are well," cried Ronald Valchester, anxiously. "I saw you shivering that moment."
"The twilight is coming on, and these September evenings are chilly," she answered, rising. "Let us go to the house and sit on the porch. Uncle Charlie will be very glad to see you."
When they had crossed the purling brook and gone into the little vine-wreathed porch, Jaquelina felt easier. ”

“ It was Violet at last who brought it to an end by saying carelessly:
"Let us go back to the dancing now. We can have music every day, but dancing only now and then."
"Thank you," said a low voice over Jaquelina's shoulder as she was passing out of the door. She looked back and saw Ronald Valchester's face looking down at her with bright, shining eyes. "You have given me a great deal of pleasure," he said.
"I am very glad," she replied, and the next moment, she scarcely knew how it happened, he was walking by her side, and her hand was resting on his arm. ”

“ I consider myself a very fortunate girl," Jaquelina answered, with a movement of graceful pride.
"No doubt!" said Walter, so excited and pained by her refusal of his suit that he was not prepared to do her justice even in his thoughts. "Others will consider you a very fortunate person also. It is well known that Valchester's parents are exceedingly wealthy."
Jaquelina's pretty, proud face grew pale at his words.
"I—did not know that," she said.
"Did you not, really?" asked Walter.
"No, I did not," she replied; then with a crimson blush: "Did you think, Mr. Earle, that I accepted Mr. ”

“ I've not a word to say against her going, but she's nothing but calico dresses."
Lina glanced at Miss Earle's pretty blue-and-white lawn, and the deep color flushed into her face again. Even Violet looked disconcerted.
"Haven't you even a white?" she said, after a minute. "Almost any kind of a white would look well at a lawn-party at night, you know. You can wear natural flowers."
Jaquelina looked at her aunt with a sudden gleam in her eyes.
"Aunt Meredith, there's mamma's white dress in the chest up in the garret—her wedding-one, you know," she said. ”

“ Jaquelina repeated, half angrily. "It is mine—mine."
Then Gerald Huntington sprang to his feet, and towered above her in his princely hight and satanic beauty.
His face was livid, his eyes flashed fire. He threw the silken curl into her lap with a muttered curse.
"Take it," he cried, madly, "take it, and with my curse! I am baffled! baffled! In the moment of my revenge the golden wine of happiness has turned to poison on my lips! I have loved you madly, and made you my bride, but you can never, never be wife of mine! These arms may never hold you, these lips never press your own! Go, girl ”

“ Jaquelina did not know what dark, gleaming eyes watched her beauty, as she sat there with the light falling down on her girlish face and form.
She was looking at her companion, and recalling the words in which Walter Earle had praised him.
"He is handsome, too," she said to herself. "What a beautiful, high, white brow, and clear-cut face. Mr. Earle must be very proud to have him for his friend."
"Mr. Valchester, are you a poet?" she asked, suddenly.
[Pg 25]
"No one ever accused me of being one," he answered, laughing. "Why do you ask me, Miss Meredith?"
"You look like one," she said. ”

“ But aside from her poverty she ranks as high in the social scale as we do. Her father was an artist of no mean ability. He would have made his mark if he had not died young. I feel sorry for little Jaquelina."
"Was her mother a nice person, too, mamma?" Violet asked, interested.
"I did not know her mother very well," said Mrs. Earle. "She was Jaquelina Ardell, a young French girl whom Claude Meredith married while he was abroad. She did not live but a few months after they returned here. When her little girl was born she died." ”