The Missing Bride | Page 8

the young man's eyes added to Edith--only to her.
"But oh! perdition! while I am talking here that serpent! that copperhead! that cobra capella! is coming round again! How astonishingly tenacious of life all foul, venomous creatures are!" exclaimed Cloudesley, as he happened to espy Throg moving slightly where he lay, and rushed out to dispatch him.
The other two young people were left alone in the hall.
"I am afraid you have placed yourself in a very, very dangerous situation, by what you did to save me."
"But do you know--oh, do you know how happy it has made me? Can you divine how my heart--yes, my soul--burns with the joy it has given me? When I saw you standing there before your enemies so beautiful! so calm! so constant--I felt that I could die for you--that I would die for you. And when I sprang between you and your pursuers, I had resolved to die for you. But first to set your soul free. Edith, you should not have fallen into the hands of the soldiers! Yes! I had determined to die for and with you! You are safe. And whatever befalls me, Edith, will you remember that?"
"You are faint! You are wounded! Indeed you are wounded! Oh, where! Oh! did any of our people strike you?"
"No--it was one of our men, Edith! I do not know your other name, sweet lady!"
"Never mind my name--it is Edith--that will do; but your wound--your wound--oh! you are very pale--here! lie down upon this settee. Oh, it is too hard!--come into my room, it opens here upon the hall--there is a comfortable lounge there--come in and lie down--let me get you something?"
"Thanks--thanks, dearest lady, but I must get upon my horse and go!"
"Go?"
"Yes, Edith--don't you understand, that after what I have done--after what I have had the joy of doing--the only honorable course left open to me, is to go and give myself up to answer the charges that may be brought against me?"
"Oh, heaven! I know! I know what you have incurred by defending me! I know the awful penalty laid upon a military officer who lifts his hand against his superior. Don't go! oh, don't go!"
"And do you really take so much interest in my fate, sweetest lady?" said the youth, gazing at her with the deepest and most delightful emotions.
"'Take an interest' in my generous protector! How should I help it? Oh! don't go! Don't think of going. You will not--will you? Say that you will not!"
"You will not advise me to anything dishonorable, I am sure."
"No--no--but oh! at such a fearful cost you have saved me. Oh! when I think of it, I wish you had not interfered to defend me. I wish it had not been done!"
"And I would not for the whole world that it had not been done! Do not fear for me, sweetest Edith! I run little risk in voluntarily placing myself in the hands of a court-martial--for British officers are gentlemen, Edith!--you must not judge them by those you have seen--and when they hear all the circumstances, I have little doubt that my act will be justified--besides, my fate will rest with Ross, General Ross--one of the most gallant and noble spirits ever created, Edith! And now you must let me go, fairest lady." And he raised her hand respectfully to his lips, bowed reverently, and left the hall to find his horse.
Just then Cloudesley was seen approaching, crying out that they had escaped.
"You are not going to leave us, sir?" he asked Cloudesley, catching sight of the ensign.
"I am under the necessity of doing so."
"But you are not able to travel--you can scarcely sit your horse. Pray do not think of leaving us."
"You are a soldier--at least an amateur one, and you will understand that after what has occurred, I must not seem to hide myself like a fugitive from justice! In short, I must go and answer for that which I have done."
"I understand, but really, sir, you look very ill--you--"
But here the young officer held out his hand smilingly, took leave of Cloudesley, and bowing low to Edith, rode off.
Cloudesley and Edith followed the gallant fellow with their eyes. He had nearly reached the gate, the old green gate at the farthest end of the semi-circular avenue, when the horse stopped, the rider reeled and fell from his saddle. Cloudesley and Edith ran toward him--reached him. Cloudesley disentangled his foot from the stirrup, and raised him in his arms. Edith stood pale and breathless by.
"He has fainted! I knew he was suffering extreme pain. Edith! fly and get some water! Or rather here! sit down and hold up his head while I go."
Edith was quickly down by the side of her preserver, supporting his head upon her breast. Cloudesley sped toward the house