Read Ebook: Cato the creeper; or The demon of Dead-Man's Forest by Dewey Frederick H

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Ebook has 967 lines and 31477 words, and 20 pages

"I've the nicest farm in the settlement for you, my darling. I have worked hard, it is true; but even when toil was the hardest and most trying to my patience, I have dissipated all discontent by thinking whom I was working for. You don't know how your love has soothed me, my darling."

"Oh, you are too flattering, Walter; too kind and noble. It is sweet to be loved as I am sure you love me, and I have tried very hard to please you; but you are too extravagant. 'Praise to the face,' you know, dear."

"I cannot praise you, my own. It is impossible. That is, I cannot overrate you. Why, you innocent dear, you don't know how lovable and good you are."

"Now, Walter, really you must not talk so. I am very happy in the thought you care so for me, but it is wrong--real wrong to talk so to me. The truth is not to be spoken at all times, you know."

"Well, then, if you wish it I will not. What do you think of the new young man that has come among us--Charles Danforth?"

"He is very pleasant and agreeable, but I do not like him. He looks cunning and cruel. Besides, I like to see men grand, powerful, and hardy--he looks too much like a girl. What is his occupation?"

"I don't know. He does nothing but wander away into the forest, where he spends nearly two-thirds of his time. Dutch Joe said he saw him in company with another man in a dug-out on Shadow Pond, yesterday, but I believe it was only his imagination. He is not very smart and clever you know--he is simple."

"Walter!" and Katie lowered her voice, and nestling closer to her lover, glanced nervously around in the twilight. "I am afraid of him. Father distrusts him. He fears the existence of a band of robbers in that dreadful forest. You know men have gone in there and have never come out."

"Besides that rich man, that trapper that found the treasure somewhere in Mexico. You know the day he left us to go to St. Louis, screams were heard coming from the woods, and the people on the other side did not see him come out. Then father found blood and marks of violence in a small glade. Oh, Walter, I am afraid something is wrong."

"Nonsense, Katie dear! every thing is quiet. There are no Indians here now, at least in the neighborhood, and even if danger did come, am I not here, my own?"

"Hush, Walter! some one is coming; see!" and she pointed to an approaching shadow. Walter Ridgely withdrew his embrace and sat in a more decorous attitude. Katie's face expressed discontent at the interruption. The form approached; it was a man.

"Why Walter! it is Charles Danforth!" she whispered.

Walter arose to go. She caught him and begged him to stay--she was afraid to be alone with him, she said. So he again sat down.

It was Danforth approaching quite near, humming a jaunty tune.

"Good-evening, Miss Jeffries," he said, bowing. "And you, Ridgely; how is your health?"

He extended his hand to Katie, who took it reluctantly. Ditto Walter.

Then he seated himself on the doorstep and at once began a lively, rattling conversation. He was a versatile, vivacious conversationalist, and had been educated well. To the backwoods girl, though she had lived at one time in a civilized community, he seemed a paragon of learning, wit and beauty.

But then she mentally compared him to Walter. He had not the frank, honest gaze of the latter; and what women care more for, he did not have the powerful frame and strength of young Ridgely.

Her eyes were partial, it is true, but she found by comparison that Walter was his superior in morals, earnestness, strength and hardihood. But, she could not deny Danforth was gifted with rare beauty. Still she did not like him--she feared him.

After some time spent in conversation, which Katie sustained by monosyllables, and in which Walter did not join, Danforth arose.

"May I see you aside a moment, Miss Jeffries?" he asked. "I have something to say to you."

She acquiesced, looking disappointedly at Walter, who watched them retire to a little distance. He did not like it.

When they had gone a short distance, Danforth proposed a stroll down the hill. She refused, abruptly. He stared; he had expected a glad affirmative answer. He looked at Walter, and Captain Downing smiled.

"Miss Jeffries, how long has that young man been in the settlement?"

"You mean Walt--Mr. Ridgely? He came with us from New York."

"Do you know his character?"

"Perfectly; it is above reproach."

The captain smiled and talked.

"Miss Jeffries, I am the owner of one of the finest farms in the State of Ohio. I am alone in the world--friendless. Will you grace that home?--will you make me happy by being my wife? I love you fondly."

He spoke this in his sweetest tone, and with his most tender glance, encircling her waist with his arm. She drew away abruptly, and stammered:

"Oh, sir, you can not, you must not talk so to me! You must not--it is wrong for me to listen to you. Please let me go."

She was flushed and irresistibly lovely. He looked at her quietly for a moment, then caught her in his arms passionately and kissed her hotly.

"My darling!" he passionately cried.

She struggled, ashamed, insulted, shocked at his tones and gestures. He held her tightly, and pressed another kiss upon her.

Walter, watching them jealously from the doorstep, saw the disturbance, and, mad with jealousy and rage, rushed toward them. She escaped from Downing's arms just as he reached them, and glided to her lover's side.

"What do you mean, you rascal?" huskily growled Walter, through his clenched teeth.

"Rascal? Take care, young whipper-snapper!"

"Yes, rascal--poltroon--villain! What do you mean? What was he doing, pet?"

"Yes, I kissed her, whipper-snapper. I asked for her hand, like a man. She did not choose to smile on me. I have no ill-will about it. I take it you are the favored one. Well, if you had behaved yourself, I would not have borne you any dislike; but you took offense, called me names I never before took, and now you stand sneering at me. Whipper-snapper, you are a scoundrel!"

Walter boiled over and sprung toward him with danger in his eyes. Katie as quickly interposed, holding him tightly, between him and Downing, so if he clenched with him he must run over her body.

"Let me go, Kate! I command you to let me go immediately."

He was thoroughly aroused, the more so at seeing Downing's face wear a provoking smile. He endeavored to elude her, but she still kept him closely clasped.

"Yes; calm yourself, whipper-snapper. Keep your temper, bantam."

The exasperating smile with which Downing accompanied these provoking words maddened Ridgely. He took Katie by sheer force from around his waist, and eluding her, darted toward the robber. He was close upon him, with his sturdy arm upraised, ready to fell the other to the ground, when she caught him.

He was off his guard; the wily captain saw it, and dealt him a lightning blow from the arm-pit. The blow struck Walter squarely between the eyes, and he dropped like a bullock, with the blood spirting from his nose.

For a few seconds he was stunned, and sat vacantly on the ground. Then he aroused himself and crawled to his feet.

His adversary had vanished, and was nowhere to be seen. Burning with chagrin, pain and rage, he commenced wandering about vacantly in pursuit. But he was too dizzy and stunned to see plainly, and before he had been on his feet two minutes he fell again; the girlish fist of effeminate Captain Downing was hard as a rock, and was backed by the arm of a blacksmith.

Katie sunk down beside her lover, astounded at the sudden change in affairs. Shocked at the captain's ungentlemanly conduct to her, burning with sorrow at her lover's harsh action in putting her aside--these were but trifles compared with the intense shame at seeing him whipped and vanquished. She was as much ashamed as her champion, though dimly conscious that she had caused the disaster by unguarding Walter.

She raised him to a sitting posture, and pillowing his head on her breast, wiped the blood from his face with her handkerchief. The moon had just risen, and by its strong light she saw he had received a herculean blow, as his eyes were red and swollen, his nose was bruised and bleeding, and he was weak and stunned--scarcely more than conscious.

She began to cry piteously and stroke his forehead, when a harsh voice behind her growled:

"What in thunder air ye doin' thar, gal?"

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