dark, shadowy
fear--like the premonition of coming evil, Rex made his way rapidly
through the tangled underbrush, cutting across lots to John Brooks'
cottage.

He had determined to call for Daisy upon some pretext. It was rather a
bold undertaking and might cause comment, still Rex was reckless of
all consequences; he _must_ see Daisy at all hazards; and when Rex
made up his mind to do anything he usually succeeded; he was as daring
and courageous as he was reckless and handsome.

Once, twice, thrice he knocked, receiving no answer to his summons.

"That's strange," he mused, "exceedingly strange."

Hardly knowing what prompted him to do it, Rex turned the knob; it
yielded to the touch, swinging slowly back on its creaking hinges.

"Good heavens!" he ejaculated, gazing wildly about him and as pale as
death, "Daisy is gone and the cottage is empty!"

He leaned against the door-way, putting his hand to his brow like one
who had received a heavy blow; and the bare walls seemed to take up
the cry and echo, mockingly, "Gone!"

The blow was so sudden and unexpected he was completely bewildered;
his brain was in a whirl.

He saw a laborer crossing the cotton-fields and called to him.

"I was looking for John Brooks," said Rex. "I find the cottage empty.
Can you tell me where they have gone?"

"Gone!" echoed the man, surprisedly. "I don't understand it; I was
passing the door a few hours since, just as the stage drove off with
John Brooks and Daisy. 'Good-bye, neighbor,' he called out to me, 'I
am off on an extended business trip. You must bring your wife over to
see Septima; she will be lonely, I'll warrant.' There was no sign of
him moving then. I--I don't understand it."

"You say he took Daisy with him," asked Rex, with painful eagerness.
"Can you tell me where they went?"

The man shook his head and passed on. Rex was more mystified than
ever.

"What can it all mean?" he asked himself. "Surely," he cried,
"Daisy--dear little innocent blue-eyed Daisy--could not have meant to
deceive me; yet why has she not told me?"

The hot blood mounted to his temples. Perhaps Daisy regretted having
married him and had fled from him. The thought was so bitter it almost
took his breath away. Rex loved her so madly, so passionately, so
blindly, he vowed to himself he would search heaven and earth to find
her. And in that terrible hour the young husband tasted the first
draught of the cup of bitterness which he was to drai