THE SURRENDER AT DISCRETION. 423 



was it thrown back to her in scorn ? His humble devo- 

 tion rebuked the thought. A moment of sinking horror, 

 an upstart of wild hope, and Lou, wrapping a dressing- 

 gown about her, was fleeing down the path he went. 

 The cockspurs stung her feet, but she did not feel them, 

 the dank smell of the salt grass recalled the Drowned 

 Lands of Ouithlacouchee, and its memory of pleasure, 

 but like a wraith she fled onward between the low 

 drooping moss that overhung the path down to the 

 Altamaha and came out on the open glade that 

 margined the river. The moonlight stared her out 

 of countenance wdth the boldness of her act, and 

 she halted and turned back to the shadoAV. Suppose 

 he should look coldly on her — w^hat scorn would there 

 be like that ? She looked at her naked feet, and re- 

 treated into the obscurity. The glow-worm turned his 

 eye on her, the palmetto pointed its long finger at her. 

 Custom, instinct, and doubt, blew in her face with the 

 salt air, and made lier shiver. They tied her there as to 

 a stake, while she knew he was being banished forever. 

 A chain clanked on the shore. She knew it was the 

 boat's chain he had unfastened. 



" One word, oh ! one word — I would die for one word. 

 I love him so I will take shame for him, scorn from him, 

 anything but this doubt," she said, half aloud, and again 

 hurried toward the beach. Mike stood with his foot on 

 his boat, wherein were lying his gun and his dog. 



He started as the hound challenged the comer Avith a 

 growl, and the girl placed her hand on his shoulder, 



