第39章

"Where do you suppose he is? He could not have been far away when you met him.""He was not.And I know he intended to come back at once.""You don't suppose Caesar--the horse--ran away again? When that second crack came?"I was wondering that very thing.That particular thunder clap was louder and more terrifying than those preceding it.However, there was no use in alarming her.

"I guess not," I answered."He'll be here soon, I am sure."But he did not come.The storm seemed to be passing over.The flashes were just as frequent, but there was a longer interval between each flash and its thunder peal.The rain was still a steady downpour.

Miss Colton was plainly growing more anxious.

"Where can he be?" she murmured.

"Don't be frightened," I urged."He is all right.I'll go and look him up, if you don't mind being left alone.""Can't--can't we go together?"

"We could, of course, but there is no use in your getting wetter than you are.If you are willing to stay here I will run up the road and see if I can find him.""Thank you.But you will get wet yourself.""Oh, I am wet already.Take the umbrella.I'll be back in a minute."I pressed the handle of the umbrella into her hand--it was as steady as mine--and darted out into the flood.I think she called me to come back, but I did not obey.I ran up the road until I was some distance beyond the point where I had stopped the runaway, but there were no signs of horse, carriage or coachman.I called repeatedly, but got no reply.Then, reluctantly, I gave it up and returned to the porch.

She gave a little gasp of relief when I reached her side.

"Oh!" she exclaimed, "did you find him?"

"No," I answered."He seems to have gone on.He cannot have gone far.It is only a little way to the Corners.""Is--isn't there a house, a house with people living in it, near this place?""No nearer than your house, Miss Colton.We seem to have chosen the most forsaken spot in Denboro to be cast away in.I am very sorry.""I am not frightened for myself.But I know my father and mother will be alarmed if I don't come soon.I am sure Caesar must have run away again, and I am afraid Jenkins must be hurt."I had thought of that, too.Only an accident could explain the coachman's non-appearance or, at least, his not sending help to his mistress.

"If you are really not afraid to remain here, Miss Colton," I said, "I will go to your house myself.""Oh no! Some one will come soon.I can't understand where Victor--Mr.Carver--can be.He was to have joined me at the church."I did not answer.Knowing Mr.Carver's associates and the errand upon which he had gone, I imagined I could guess the cause of his delay.But I did not speak my guess.

"The storm is not as severe just now," I said."I can get to your house in a little while, if you are willing I should leave you."She put her hand on my arm."Come," she said."Shall we start now?""But you must not go.You couldn't get there on foot, such a night as this.""Yes, I can.I mean to.Please come."

I still hesitated.She took her hand from my arm and stepped out into the rain."Are you coming?" she said.

I joined her, still protesting.We splashed on through the mud and water, she clinging lightly to my arm and I holding the perfectly useless umbrella over her head.The rain was descending steadily and the sky overhead was just black, but along the western horizon, as I caught a glimpse of it between the trees, I fancied the blackness was a little less opaque.The storm was passing over, sure enough.

But before it passed it gave us one goodby salute.We had about reached the point on the Shore Lane where I first met her and Carver in the auto.The shaky bridge over Mullet's cranberry brook was just ahead.Then, without warning, the black night split wide open, a jagged streak of fire shot from heaven to earth and seemed to explode almost in our faces.I was almost knocked off my feet and my fingers tingled as if I had been holding the handles of an electric battery.The umbrella flew out of my hands and, so far as I was concerned, vanished utterly.I believe Elnathan picked up the ruin next day, but just then I neither knew nor cared what had become of it.I had other things to think of.

But for a moment I could not think at all.I was conscious of a great crashing and rustling and splintering directly in front of me and then I realized that the young lady was no longer clinging to my arm.I looked about and up through the darkness.Then down.

She was lying at my feet.

I bent over her.

"Miss Colton!" I cried."Miss Colton! Are you hurt?"She neither answered nor moved.My brain was still numb from the electric shock and I had a dazed fear that she might be dead.Ishook her gently and she moaned.I spoke again and again, but she did not answer, nor try to rise.The rain was pouring down upon us and I knew she must not lie there.So once more, just as I had done in the dingy, but now under quite different circumstances and with entirely different feelings, I stooped and lifted her in my arms.