United States or Gibraltar ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
"'Erbe't, who is this woman?" she said quite simply at last. "What is that to you?" he blustered roughly, thinking to beat her down; perhaps to kill her outright with cruelty. "This is my wife!" "Oh, no! no!" whispered Natalie, sick with the sight of so much misery. It is doubtful if the girl heard her. She tottered forward; and seized and clung to Mabyn's arm.
He glad I die!" Garth's desperate need brought craft to his aid. "Very well," he said coolly. "I shoot him on sight! Mabyn goes first!" Rina, touched home, raised an agitated face. "No! No!" she said tremblingly. "Grylls, him took her not 'Erbe't!" "No matter!" he said, feigning to leave her. "Mabyn dies like a dog unless you come with me." Rina struggled to her knees, and clutched at him.
"What does this mean?" he demanded, surprised and frowning. Rina met his eyes. "Nobody but me can mak' her well," she said boldly. "I mak' her well if you not 'urt 'Erbe't. If you go after 'Erbe't, she can die. I not look at her no more!" This at least was honest; and Garth could respect such an opponent. "He's safe!" he said coolly. "Provided he keeps away from here." Rina vouchsafed no comment.
The girl apparently was sensible of no lack but the breeds do not bring up their daughters to expect tenderness. Her eyes sparkled. "How pretty it is, 'Erbe't!" she breathed. "Ver' moch good land!" She spoke the pretty, clipped English of the convent school. At their feet lay a shallow valley, hidden close until the very moment of stumbling upon it.
Mary Co-que-wasa, her go down and watch your house all the time, for good chance to tak' her. When you go out she mak' little fire under the bank for signal; and Nick Grylls and 'Erbe't and Xavier, them all go down. They not tak' me." Garth cursed himself to think how he had played directly into their hands. "I wait, and bam-by they bring her back," continued Rina in her toneless voice.
The man took his pipe out of his mouth, and uttered his brief, jeering cackle of laughter. "That wasn't altogether a matter of choice, my girl," he said. "It was a little preliminary insisted on by your father and mother." Rina hardly took the sense of this. "But you do love me, 'Erbe't? jus' a little?" she pleaded. "You're all right, Rina," he said patronizingly.
We could stay in the Settlement all summer; and I would cook meals for the freighters and the travellers and mak' more money. I am a good worker, 'Erbe't. Everybody say so!" Mabyn partly roused himself. "That's not a bad idea," he said. "Under cover of the restaurant, it would be dead easy to run in a little whiskey over the Berry Mountain trail, and make a pot of money.
I shall have no thought all day, but of you! Up to now you have done all the loving; I will repay it twice over! You shall be loved as no red woman was ever loved before!" "'Erbe't! 'Erbe't! Don't mak' me do it!" she whispered terror-stricken. Garth could stand no more. Springing to his feet, he strode forward, grasping the barrel of his rifle to use it for a club.
"I never was one to make much of a fuss about a woman." Little by little gathering courage, she began to pour out her soul for the man she loved. "I never love any man but you, 'Erbe't," so ran the naïve confession; "the breed boys, they always come aroun' and show off. I not lak them. They foolish and dirty; they eat same lak cocouche; and they know not'ing; but they think themself so fine.
"I believe this smooth-faced young whelp has cast an eye on you too," he snarled. "You're false to me!" A low cry was forced from Rina's lips; she made a rapid move; and Garth understood that she had thrown herself at the man's feet. "'Erbe't, you know you don' speak true," she whispered painfully. "You my 'osban'! All men I hate, but you!" "Then do what I tell you," snarled Mabyn.
Word Of The Day