Come, Bess, I
see a path this way, and I fancy if we follow it we will find an end
to the path," she concluded.
"But may I not have the pleasure of your name?" the man called after
her. "Perhaps we might meet--"
"Don't," whispered Bess. "Pretend you did not hear him."
"Oh, just see those flag lilies!" Cora called to Bess, covering the
man's question without answering it. "Let us get some."
"Oh, aren't they beautiful!" replied Bess, in a strained voice. "I
certainly must secure some of those."
They hurried away from the dark-browed man. He took his hand out of
his pocket and upon the smallest finger his eyes rested. He sneered
as he looked at a diamond ring that glittered on that slim brown
finger.
"Foolish maid," he said aloud, and then the web of a strange force
threw its invisible yet unbreakable chains over the summer life of
Cora Kimball.
CHAPTER VII
DEEP IN THE DARK WOOD
"Cora, dear, please do not go any farther. Somehow I am afraid that
man will follow us."
"Why, Bess! I thought you were going to be interested in Mr.
Jones," and Cora stooped to pick up a wonderful clump of flag
lilies.
"Jones! How could he be a Jones? He's a Spaniard."
"I thought so myself, Bess. But we do not have to plant his family
tree. Now don't be a baby, girlie," and Cora squeezed the plump
hand that hung so close to her own. "Let us get to the shack, and
see if the boys' boat is about there.
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