doubt that
Hampton had utilized his advantageous position, as well as his
remarkable powers of pleasing, to ensnare the susceptible heart of this
young, confiding girl. While the man had advanced no direct claim, he
had said enough to make perfectly clear the close intimacy of their
relation and the existence of a definite understanding between them.
With this recognized as a fact, was he justified in endeavoring to win
Naida Gillis for himself? That the girl would find continued happiness
with such a man as Hampton he did not for a moment believe possible;
that she had been deliberately deceived regarding his true character he
felt no doubt. The fellow had impressed her by means of his
picturesque personality, his cool, dominating manner, his veneer of
refinement; he had presumed on her natural gratitude, her girlish
susceptibility, her slight knowledge of the world, to worm his way into
her confidence, perhaps even to inspire love. These probabilities, as
Brant understood them, only served to render him more ardent in his
quest, more eager to test his strength in the contest for a prize so
well worth the winning. He acknowledged no right that such a man as
Hampton could justly hold over so innocent and trustful a heart. The
girl was morally so far above him as to make his very touch a
profanation, and at the unbidden thought of it, the soldier vowed to
oppose such an unholy consummation. Nor did he, even then, utterly
despair of winning, for he recalled afresh the intimacy of their few
past meetings, his face brightening in memory of this and that brief
word or shy glance. There is a voiceless language of love which a
lover alone can interpret, and Brant rode on slowly, deciphering its
messages, and attaining new courage with every step of his horse.

All the world loves a lover, and all the fairies guide him. As the
officer's eyes, already smiling in anticipated victory, glanced up from
the dusty road, he perceived just ahead the same steep bank down which
he had plunged in his effort at capturing his fleeing tormentor. With
the sight there came upon him a desire to loiter again in the little
glen where they had first met, and dream once more of her who had given
to the shaded nook both life and beauty. Amid the sunshine and the
shadow he could picture afresh that happy, piquant face, the dark coils
of hair, those tantalizing eyes. He swung himself from the saddle,
tied a loose rein to a scrub oak, and cl