Page:Randall Parrish--My Lady of the South.djvu/376



E bore the bodies out by the way of the cabin entrance, taking them both into the main house. Dunn remained with his mother, thoroughly broken down by this revelation, and Lucille joined him. Donald himself, forgetful of the feud, went to Maria with the news of her husband's death, and brought her and the eldest boy back with him to sit beside the body. There remained nothing for me to do, and, depressed and lonely, I returned to the deserted library, and waited.

I was still a prisoner, and although I might easily have escaped, a sense of honor held me more securely than bonds. I wondered what Donald intended to do with me. Without doubt he understood by now my connection with Jean, and he might not feel so lenient toward me. Where was Jean? Could she be avoiding me, ashamed of her avowal, and fearful lest I should have taken her hasty words seriously? This would not seem true to her nature, and surely she could not so misconstrue my character. Yet Donald might have convinced the girl it was better we should never meet again. The whole game came to me in a flash. Donald had reason to fear Dunn, and not me. My marriage to Jean [ 356 ]