The girl flushed to the temples at the words of Murdock. She had suspected that he sought her, but had carefully avoided leading him to think that she favored his suit. For, to tell the truth, the young girl did not love but rather feared him. There was a bad look in the fierce black eyes, and ugly lines about the sensual mouth, and these things she had noticed. In her heart Virginia thought that Murdock was far from being a good man.
“I am sorry, Mr. Murdock, that you have spoken in this way to me,” said the girl, slowly, and with evident embarrassment. “It grieves me that I must pain you with a refusal. I can not accept the love that you offer.”
Murdock started in anger, and the frown that knit his brows showed plainly his deep displeasure.
“Are you in earnest?” he asked, in amazement.
“Surely I am,” replied the girl. She did not like the tone in which the question was put.
“Had you not better take time to think over the matter?” he said. “You may change your mind.”
“That is not likely,” she answered, coldly. “I can decide now as well as any time in the future. I feel that I can not love you.”
“Do you love any one else?” he asked, quickly.
A faint flush came to the cheeks of the girl, which did not escape the jealous eyes of the rejected lover.
“You have no right to ask that question,” she cried.