“Be serious a moment, Bess, and come out; I have something very important to tell you.”
“Oh! I can’t come out with this rig on. Really, I can’t,” answered the girl.
“I am in a hurry, but must talk with you while we are alone.”
“Then tell me here. I can hear it—anything—begin,” humorously replied Bess, splashing vigorously.
He deliberately stepped upon a large boulder which projected out of the water not far from the air-bed boat.
“Bess,” he began seriously; and then added slowly as he held her eyes firmly with his own, “you and I are to be married next month—the fifteenth!”
“Wh—,” came in a gasp to the girl’s parted lips; but no further sound could she utter. For a full moment she stared at the man standing so resolutely, as if he were a part of the very rock itself, his large, splendid form drawn to its full height, till he seemed like a giant towering above her. His eyes were intense with passion, and his voice trembled with emotion when he again repeated: “We are to be married in a month, dear. I am going away from this place, and you are going with me.”
The astonished girl gave a nervous gasp as she cleared her throat, trying to make her words audible.
“I do not seem to—to understand! I—am—to—go—away—go—with you?” she asked, as her face grew pale and her lips became almost blue.