through her mind, but now,--she started at the sound of a heavy
foot-fall on the planking of the bridge, behind her, and--in that same
instant, she was encircled by a powerful arm, caught up in a strong
embrace,--swung from her feet, and borne away through the shadows of the
little copse.

It was very dark in the wood, but she knew, instinctively, whose arms
these were that held her so close, and carried her so easily--away
through the shadows of the wood,--away from the haunting, hopeless dread
of the future from which there had seemed no chance, or hope of escape.

And, knowing all this, she made no struggle, and uttered no word. And
now the trees thinned out, and, from under her lashes she saw the face
above her; the thick, black brows drawn together,--the close set of the
lips,--the grim prominence of the strong, square chin.

And now, they were in the road; and now he had lifted her into an
automobile, had sprung in beside her, and--they were off, gliding swift,
and ever swifter, under the shadows of the trees.

And still neither spoke, nor looked at each other; only she leaned away
from him, against the cushions, while he kept his frowning eyes fixed
upon the road a-head; and ever the great car flew onward faster, and
faster; yet not so fast as the beating of her heart, wherein shame, and
anger, and fear, and--another feeling strove and fought for mastery.

But at last, finding him so silent, and impassive, she must needs steal
a look at him, beneath her lashes.

He wore no hat, and as she looked upon him,--with his yellow hair, his
length of limb, and his massive shoulders, he might have been some
fierce Viking, and she, his captive, taken by strength of arm--borne
away by force.--By force!

And, hereupon, as the car hummed over the smooth road, it seemed to find
a voice,--a subtle, mocking voice, very like the voice of the
brook,--that murmured to her over and over again:

"By force ye shall be wooed, and by force ye shall be wed."

The very trees whispered it as they passed, and her heart throbbed in
time to it:

"By force ye shall be wooed, and by force ye shall be wed!" So, she
leaned as far from him as she might, watching him with frightened eyes
while he frowned ever upon the road in front, and the car rocked, and
swayed with their going, as they whirled onward through moonlight and
through shadow, faster, and faster,--yet not so fast as the beating of
her heart wherein was fear, and shame, and