“Yis, it’s me,” he said at last; “an’ what have ye to say fer yersilf, false, desateful, treacherous crayther that ye are?”
“They told me ye was killed,” she answered, in a shaking voice, staggering back and dropping into a chair, but never taking her eyes from his face; “shot down dead in one o’ them awful battles; and I thought it must be your ghost.”
“I’m a livin’ man an’ no ghost,” he returned, with a mocking laugh. “An’ ye soon comforted yersilf wid ould Himes and his house an’ farm, did ye?”
“What could I do? When you was gone, the rest was all alike to me. I’d no home, nobody in the wide world to care for me,” she sobbed, covering her face with her hands; “and he said he’d be so good to me—I should have everything I wanted. But it isn’t so; he’s an awful man to live with; and I’m just heart broke, that I am!”
“An’ if ’twas all to do over agin, ye wadn’t give me up fer the likes o’ him—house an’ farm an’ all?” he queried, drawing a step nearer and bending toward her with an eager look in his eyes, while his tones softened till they were almost affectionate.
“Never!” she cried, passionately. “I’d take you without a penny sooner than him with all the gold of Californy.” And her face, lifted to his, was full of yearning love and entreaty.
“I knowed it, me own darlint, jewel o’ me heart!” he cried, clasping her in his arms and heaping fond caresses upon her. “It’s an evil fate that’s come atween us; but him that’s robbed me’s an ould man, an’ I’m young, an’ mabbe my turn’ll come when he’s took out o’ the way.”
“Go! go! run! he’ll be here in a minute, maybe, and kill you if he finds you here!” she cried, hastily releasing herself and pushing him from her.
“Kill me! ha! ha! that wake ould man! Do yees think I’d come off second best in a foight wid the loikes o’ him?” he asked, with a scornful laugh. “But yees needn’t be afeard, B’lindy; I’m the chap as he’s hired to help him chop down his trees.”
“Oh!” she exclaimed, with a look of relief. “But we must behave cautious, Phelim—mustn’t let him suspect as we’ve ever set eyes on each other till now.”