But--what if it is?...Go,
Dick, if not for poor Mercedes's sake, then for mine--to please
me. I'll--I'll...you won't lose anything by going. I think I know
how Mercedes feels. Just a word from Thorne or about him
would save her. Take Blanco Sol and go, Dick. What rebel outfit
could ever ride you down on that horse? Why, Dick, if I was up
on Sol I wouldn't be afraid of the whole rebel army."
"My dear girl, it's not a question of being afraid. It's my
word--my duty to Belding."
"You said you loved me. If you love me you will go...You don't
love me!"
Gale could only stare at this transformed girl.
"Dick, listen!...If you go--if you fetch some word of Thorne to
comfort Mercedes, you--well, you will have your reward."
"Nell!"
Her dangerous sweetness was as amazing as this newly revealed
character.
"Dick, will you go?"
"No-no!" cried Gale, in violence, struggling with himself. "Nell
Burton, I'll tell you this. To have the reward I want would mean
pretty near heaven for me. But not even for that will I break my
word to your father."
She seemed the incarnation of girlish scorn and wilful passion.
"Gracias, senor," she replied, mockingly. "Adios." Then she
flashed out of his sight.
Gale went to his room at once, disturbed and thrilling, and did
not soon recover from that encounter.
The following morning at the breakfast table Nell was not present.
Mrs. Belding evidently considered the fact somewhat unusual, for
she called out into the patio and then into the yard.
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