As the young man threaded his way through the trees, it was evident he was not straying. His face was continually in one direction; while his glance, directed forward, seemed to search for some object expected to appear before him.
All at once he made a stop, at sight of a break among the trees. It indicated a tract of open ground, or clearing, that extended athwart the path he was pursuing.
He seemed surprised at this, and glanced quickly to the right and left, as if to assure himself that he had been going right.
Yes, he muttered, apparently satisfied on this head. Right before me was the spot the creek and the cabin. I cant be mistaken. These old trees I remember well every one of them. But theres a clearing now perhaps a plantation, and the old shanty gone altogether.
Without finishing the reflection he kept onward, though slowly, and with greater caution, increasing as he drew nearer to the open ground. He appeared to approach it stealthily, step by step, as if stalking a herd of deer.
He was soon on the edge of the opening, though still under cover of thick woods.
A stream made the line of demarcation between them.
On its opposite side, about twenty yards from the bank, he saw a neat farm-house, with a spacious porch in front, and surrounded by fields. There were outbuildings at the back, with sheds and corn-cribs; while in front a fenced enclosure, half garden half orchard, extended down to the stream, which formed its bottom boundary.
Just opposite this enclosure the stranger had stopped, the moment he caught sight of the house.
As I anticipated; he muttered to himself.
Changed everything changed! the cabin cleared away, and the trees. Jerry Rook gone perhaps dead. Some stranger in his place; and she gone too grown up and and
A choking sigh forbade the pronunciation of some word that struggled for utterance the expression of some painful thought, made manifest by the dark shadow that swept across the countenance of the speaker.
Oh! what an unfortunate fate. Fool that I was to go away and leave her. Fool to have listened to the counsels of her wicked father. When I learnt what he had done I should have come back, if not for love, for revenge. It may not be too late for the last; but, for the first O God! the girl I have loved for long years, to come back and find her perhaps in the arms of another O God!
For some moments the young man stood with clouded, lace, his strong frame quivering under the shock of some painful emotion.
Shall I cross over and make inquiry? was the reflection that followed, as he became calmer.
The people can, no doubt, give me some information, whether he be dead, and if she be still in the neighbourhood. No no; I will not ask. I dread the answer to be given me.
But, why not? I may as well know now the worst, whatever it be. I must learn it in time. Why not at once?
There is no danger of my being recognised even she would not know me, and these people are, perhaps, strange to the settlement. The country shows a change clearings everywhere around, where I remember only trees. I wonder who they are? Some of them should, soon come out by that door. The day is inviting; I shall hold back awhile and see.
During all this time the young man had been standing among thick underwood that screened his person from view.
He only changed position so that his face should be also invisible to any one upon the other side of the creek, and thus stood with eyes fixed intently upon the house.
He had not been many minutes in this attitude of expectation, when the front door, which stood open, was filled by a form, the sight of which sent the blood in a lava current through his veins, and caused his heart to bound audibly in his breast.
The apparition that had produced this effect was a young girl a lady she might be called in light summer dress, with a white kerchief thrown loosely over her head, only partially concealing the thick coil of shining hair held by the tortoiseshell comb underneath it.
Standing on the step of the door, with the dark background behind her, she appeared like some fair portrait suddenly set in its frame.
Changed as she was since he had last seen her a young girl in coarse, copperas-dyed gown of homespun stuff, bareheaded, stockingless and shoeless he who stood among the trees might not so readily have recognised her had he met her elsewhere; but there, upon that spot where stood the old cabin, under whose roof
he had lived and loved loved her recognition came at the first glance. He knew that the fair vision before him was Lena Rook, still living, still lovely as ever.
Story 1-Chapter XV. Lenas Recognition
He was restrained by a crowd of thoughts that came surging up at the moment doubts and memories both painful. Her father might be still alive and inside the house. The stranger had serious reasons for not wishing to see him . Or he might be dead and she now under the control of another!
The last thought was agonising, and he gazed intently upon the girl as if searching for some sign that would release him from the torture of suspense. Scarce twenty yards from where she stood, he could see the sparkle of jewellery upon the fingers of her left hand. Did one of them carry that thin circlet of gold to show she was lost to him for ever?