"There, there! I'm not to be taken in with such chaff. Try something better. If you had such a paper it wouldn't be kept back from a true sweetheart one minute. You've got a man of sense to deal with."
"I haven't got it, have I? Look here!" cried Judith, drawing back, and unfolding a paper she took from her bosom. "The letters are large enough. You can read from here. Is that Jessup's name or not?"
Storms did read enough to see how important the paper might become. He glanced from it to the firmly set and triumphant features of the girl.
"You brought it for me. You will give it to me!"
"No!" answered Judith, folding the paper. "Not till we come from the church."
With the leap of a tiger Storms sprang upon the girl, and snatched at the paper; but she, wary and agile as himself, leaped aside, and fled like a deer down the declivity, sending a ringing laugh, full of mockery, back to the baffled man.
In an instant, he was flying after her, his teeth set hard, his eyes gleaming, and every leap bringing him nearer to her, and her nearer to the lake.
CHAPTER XLIV.
THE HOUSEKEEPER'S VISIT.