“I told you I would leave you to yourself. I meant to. I intended to let you be frightened, harassed, driven to the wall; but I can’t,” he said in a low, choked voice. “I—love you! I love you! Do you hear me?”
She shrank back trembling before the man’s white face and blazing eyes.
“I never knew before what it was like to—to love,” he stammered. “But I do now. What did you mean by saying that you would not—sell yourself for a worn-out farm? Sell yourself—to me? Why, girl, I’d give you all that I have—and my soul to the devil for—— I’ll do anything you say, if you’ll only marry me! I’ll give you a dozen farms. I’ll——”
“Stop!” cried Barbara, her face slowly whitening. “I—I am sorry I said that. I didn’t mean——”
“Do you mean that you’ll marry me, Barbara—Barbara!”
His eyes devoured her.
“Listen,” he went on. “I’ve put in ten such days and nights as I never expected to spend in this or any other world.”
He gripped her by the arm.
“You—must love me,” he stormed. “I—I can’t give you up!”