and I will get some lights and make a place for him.”
Carlos was soon deposited on a couch, with a rough man staring at him, and a young girl, not so rough, endeavoring to restore him.
The man was tall and dark, with a shaggy beard coveringnearly his whole face, and heavy eyebrows, overhanging a pair of deep-set, small, restless-looking eyes. He was large as well as tall, and his build betokened great strength. His position was not erect, but his gait was slouching, his look sullen, and his manner that of one at odds with all the world.
The daughter was also large of frame, but she did not share the devil-may-care look of her father. To be sure there was danger in those black eyes when her nature was once aroused, but there was the woman in them—womanly care, womanly softness, womanly passion.
As she bent over the form of Carlos, she overflowed with pity, and used gentle means to restore him.
And when her efforts were rewarded with success she stared at him eagerly, with a loud beating heart, and tears just ready to fall. Then for the first time her hand trembled and her steadiness of nerve forsook her.
Carlos slowly opened his eyes, pressed his hands to his forehead for a moment, and then looked his thanks at the being whose hands were deftly making him comfortable. Beneath his gaze she trembled violently and blushed a deep red. Her face was half averted, and she could find neither words nor voice to express her joy.
Her father saw that Carlos was returning to consciousness, and, going to a chair on the opposite side of the room, said, gruffly, as he sat down:
“He’ll do well enough now.”
At that Carlos sprang up suddenly, saying:
“Yes, I’m all right, and I must go. How far is it to Dalton?”
“Oh, sir,” said the girl, finding her voice, “you must not go to-night. You can’t.”
“Yes, I must,” said Carlos. “Can you tell me how far it is to Dalton?”
“A matter o’ four mile,” replied the man.
Prev.
Back
Top