Page:Randall Parrish--My Lady of the South.djvu/326

MY LADY OF THE SOUTH with inexpressible horror. Never before had I realized the depth of dread and hatred engendered by this death war. To her mind this man was a fiend, a murderer, a devil incarnate, from whom she shrank in unutterable horror. But I held her close to me, determined she should remain and listen, confident her woman's heart would respond to the human plea.

"Miss Denslow, wait," I urged eagerly, "wait and listen to my explanation. Daniels is not here to do injury. No doubt you have been taught to consider him as a deadly enemy, cruel and vindictive, but he is only a man who has been driven to acts of violence by the conditions of birth. He possesses all the feelings natural to humanity, and is here now in peace. Will you listen to me? Will you hear the story?"

She clung to me closely, still shrinking back from him, her eyes leaving his face to study mine, and as instantly softening in expression. That she trusted me was apparent, and my heart leaped to the knowledge with a fresh courage.

"Yes," slowly, almost reluctantly. "I will listen, but—but make him stand where he is."

"He shall not move until I am done. Miss Jean, and I can explain all in few words. You had scarcely left me alone, when this door was pushed open and I saw, reflected in the mirror there, the awful face of that woman who seems to haunt this house. I sprang toward her, but tripped and fell, so that when I reached the hall she had vanished. I searched every room on the floor vainly. Although my own escape depended on my getting away [ 308 ]