The Danger Mark eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 508 pages of information about The Danger Mark.

The Danger Mark eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 508 pages of information about The Danger Mark.

“Very—­much?”

“Very much, Duane.  Has she said nothing about it to you in her letters?”

“Nothing since she went to town that time.  Every letter flies the red cross.  Does she still suffer?”

“I don’t think so.  She seems so wonderfully happy—­so vigorous, in such superb physical condition.  For a month I have not seen that pitiful, haunted expression come into her eyes.  And it is not mere restlessness that drives her into perpetual motion now; it’s a new delight in living hard and with all her might every moment of the day!...  She overdoes it; you will turn her energy into other channels.  She’s ready for you, I think.”

They drove on in silence for a few minutes, then swung into a broader avenue of pines.  Straight ahead glimmered the lights of Roya-Neh.

Duane said naively:  “I don’t suppose I could get up to Lynx Peak camp to-night, could I?”

Kathleen threw back her head, making no effort to control her laughter.

“It isn’t necessary,” she managed to explain; “I sent a messenger up the mountain with a note to her saying that matters of importance required her immediate return.  She’ll come down to-night by sleigh from The Green Pass and Westgate Centre.”

“Won’t she be furious?” he inquired, with a hypocritical side glance at Kathleen, who laughed derisively and drew in the horses under the porte-cochere.  A groom took their heads; Duane swung Kathleen clear to the steps just as Scott Seagrave, hearing sleigh-bells, came out, bareheaded, his dinner-jacket wide open, as though he luxuriated in the bitter air.

“Good work!” he said.  “How are you, Duane?  Geraldine arrived from The Green Pass about five minutes ago.  She thinks you’re sleighing, Kathleen, and she’s tremendously curious to know why you want her.”

“She probably suspects,” said Kathleen, disappointed.

“No, she doesn’t.  I began to talk business immediately, and I know she thinks that some of Mr. Tappan’s lawyers are coming.  So they are—­next month,” he added with a grin, and, turning on Duane: 

“I think I’ll begin festivities by washing your face in the snow.”

“You’re not man enough,” remarked the other; and the next moment they had clinched and were swaying and struggling all over the terrace, to the scandal of the servants peering from the door.

“He’s tired and half frozen!” exclaimed Kathleen; “what a brute you are to bully him, Scott!”

“I’ll include you in a moment,” he panted, loosing Duane and snatching a handful of snow.  Whereupon she caught up sufficient snow to fill the hollow of her driving glove, powdered his face thoroughly with the feathery flakes, picked up her skirt and ran for it, knowing full well she could expect no mercy.

Duane watched their reckless flight through the hall and upstairs, then walked in, dropped his coat, and advanced across the heavy rugs toward the fireplace.

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Project Gutenberg
The Danger Mark from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.