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Lyon come to me here within half an hour." He saw the man held a letter in his hand. "If you please, sir," said the man, "as I was coming to answer your bell I met John Brooks, your overseer, in the hall below. A stranger was with him, who requested me to give you this without delay." Basil Hurlhurst broke open the seal.
There was a short consultation with the housekeeper, and Basil Hurlhurst, tenderly lifting the slight burden in his strong, powerful arms, quickly bore his wife to the beautiful apartments that had been prepared for her.
Those were the happiest moments proud, peerless Pluma Hurlhurst was ever to know "before the hour should wane the fruition of all her hopes would be attained." No feeling of remorse stole over her to imbitter the sweets of her triumphant thoughts.
"Papa will see you later, Eve, dear," she said, with a baleful glitter in her sloe-black eyes; and as Daisy followed her she could not help but compare her with Pluma Hurlhurst, with that treacherous, mocking smile playing about her full, red lips and quite unconsciously poor little Daisy fell to thinking. "Rex will go back to Pluma Hurlhurst now," she thought, with a bitter sigh.
This accounts for my restlessness all these years, when I thought of my child my restless longing and fanciful dreams! I thought her quietly sleeping on Evalia's breast. God only knows what my tender little darling has suffered, or in what part of the world she lives, or if she lives at all!" It had been just one hour since Basil Hurlhurst had entered that room, a placid-faced, gray-haired man.
I hated him yes, hated him, for I had seen another young, gay and handsome whom I might have won had it not been for the chains which bound me. He was a handsome, debonair college fellow, as rich as he was handsome. This was Basil Hurlhurst, the planter's only son and heir. Our meeting was romantic. I had driven over to the village in which the college was situated, on an errand for Taiza.
One bright May morning some sixteen years later, the golden sunshine was just putting forth its first crimson rays, lighting up the ivy-grown turrets of Whitestone Hall, and shining upon a little white cottage nestling in a bower of green leaves far to the right of it, where dwelt John Brooks, the overseer of the Hurlhurst plantation.
"I have sent for him to break the startling news of Daisy's presence, and I expect him here every moment." "Pluma," cried Daisy, unclasping her arms from her father's neck, and swiftly crossing over to where her rival stood, beautifully, proudly defiant, "forgive me for the pain I have caused you unknowingly. I did not dream I was an an heiress or that Mr. Hurlhurst was my father.
Some day you will thank me for it, Rex." They were uttered! Oh, fatal words! Poor Rex, wedded and parted, his love-dream broken, how little he knew of the bitter grief which was to accrue from that promise wrung from his white lips. Like one in a dream he heard her murmur the name of Pluma Hurlhurst. The power of speech seemed denied him; he knew what she meant.
It will be a glorious revenge, also giving me a charming bride, and last, but not least, the possession at some future day of Whitestone Hall and the Hurlhurst Plantations. A pleasing picture, is it not, my dear?" Pluma Hurlhurst never quailed beneath the cold, mocking glance bent upon her.
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