FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142  
143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   153   154   155   156   157   158   159   160   161   162   163   164   165   166   167   >>   >|  
er strength could not still the wild fluttering of her nerves through the long-drawn-out suspense of that dreadful day. At every sound she hastened to the door to look for Beelzebub, long before he could possibly return. At the striking of every hour she strained her ears to listen. But when at last she heard the hoof-beats that told of the negro's approach she felt that she could not go again; she lacked the physical strength to seek him and hear the truth. For a time she sat quite still, gathering all her forces for the ordeal. Then at length she compelled herself, and rose. Beelzebub was grooming his horse. He looked up at her approach and grinned. "Well, Beelzebub," she said through her white lips, "have you seen Mr. Curtis?" "Yes, missis." Beelzebub rolled his eyes intelligently. He seemed unaware of the tragedy in the English girl's drawn face. "And the white man?" she said. "Mr. Curtis think the white man die soon," said Beelzebub. "Ah!" She pressed her hand tightly against her heart. She felt as if its throbbing would choke her. "And--his name?" she said. Beelzebub paused and opened his eyes to their widest extent. He was making a supreme effort, and the result was monstrous. But Sybil did not quail; she scarcely saw him. "His name?" she said; and again, raising her voice, "His name?" The whole world seemed to rock while she waited, but she stood firm in the midst of chaos. Her whole soul was concentrated upon Beelzebub's reply. It came at last with the effect of something uttered from an immense distance that was yet piercingly distinct. "Went--" said Beelzebub, and paused; then, with renewed effort, "Wentworth." And Sybil turned from him, shrinking as though something evil had touched her, and walked stiffly back into the house. She had known it all day long! XIII She never knew afterwards how long a time elapsed between the confirmation of her doubts and the sudden starting to life of a new resolution within her. It came upon her unexpectedly, striking through the numbness of her despair, nerving her to action--the memory of her dream and whence that dream had sprung. Robin Wentworth still lived. It might be he would know her. It might even be that he was wanting her. She would go to him. It was the only thing left for her to do. Of the risk to herself she did not think, nor would it have deterred her had it presented itself to her mind. She felt as though he had
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142  
143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   153   154   155   156   157   158   159   160   161   162   163   164   165   166   167   >>   >|  



Top keywords:
Beelzebub
 

Curtis

 

Wentworth

 

striking

 

approach

 
effort
 
paused
 

strength

 
renewed
 

waited


shrinking

 

turned

 
immense
 

concentrated

 
uttered
 

effect

 
distance
 
piercingly
 

distinct

 

elapsed


sprung

 

despair

 

nerving

 

action

 

memory

 

wanting

 

deterred

 

presented

 

numbness

 

unexpectedly


touched

 
walked
 

stiffly

 

resolution

 

starting

 
sudden
 

confirmation

 
doubts
 

physical

 
lacked

compelled
 

grooming

 
length
 
gathering
 

forces

 

ordeal

 
suspense
 

dreadful

 
hastened
 

nerves