Leonie of the Jungle

by Joan Conquest

  CHAPTER XVIII

  "Why fret about them if to-day be sweet!"--_Omar Khayyam_.

  The great grey breakers heaved themselves skywards, paused for half asecond, split and crashed down upon the rocks the next morning asLeonie and Jan Cuxson sat on the sands under the lowering sky.

  They had argued, analysed, plotted, and planned, only to find that eachroad they launched out upon full of hope, terminated in the blind alleyof the old man's power over the girl.

  "I've just got to go through with it," said Leonie, "there is simply noway out."

  The man caught both hands in his.

  "Dear heaven, how I love you, child! How I long to pick you up, as Idid all those years ago, and carry you out of all this to happiness.Leonie! Leonie! You must marry me, I love you so."

  And she had sat quite still, not daring to move for fear of the mightypassion which surged about her.

  Yes! Quite true! They had only met twice; but there is a certain kindof love, exceeding rare it's true in Europe, which from aninfinitesimal seed is capable in one second of blossoming into a tree,fruit and all, in the shade of which you can sit content until yourlife's end.

  It simply sprouts all over the East.

  Wishing to prevent a conflagration Leonie spoke quite calmly as shewithdrew her hands.

  "And I couldn't marry you, even if I were free, because--at times--as Ihave just told you--they say that I--I--am not responsible for myactions? I'm--I'm supposed to be----"

  "Be quiet!"

  Cuxson pulled her fiercely into his arms, crushing her cheek againsthis.

  "Tell me all, every detail."

  They sat there as the tide went out, and the man registered the factsof the tragic tale in his mind, eager to be out on the trail of themystery overshadowing the girl he loved.

  "Mad!" he laughed when she had finished, "_mad_!--no more than I am,and I'm sane enough in all conscience except in my love for you. Ishall go to India, and wring or bribe the truth out of that ayah. Butwe needn't worry about the date of starting yet a while, and betweenthen and now we shall have found a way out of this seeming impasse.What is it?"

  Leonie had twisted herself suddenly out of his arms, looked over hershoulders and shivered.

  "It is what I was telling you about, a sensation of someone standingclose behind me."

  "It's nothing, Leonie, just imagination," said Jan Cuxson.

  For how could he see a certain high caste native of India walkingslowly down the gangway from the great ship just docked at Tilbury, andsmiling inscrutably as he placed his foot in the country which held thewhite woman he sought?

  Leonie turned her head quickly, and shivered again, violently.

  "It was just as though someone had called me," she said, speaking justabove a whisper.

  "Look at me, dear!"

  Leonie looked straight into the honest grey eyes, and the fear died outof her own as she met the steady gaze.

  "I'm slow, dear, dead slow, plodding I suppose they'd call me, but onceI'm on to something I never let go until I've won. Things are black,sweetheart, but something is telling me that I shall find a way out.When--when is----"

  Leonie lied.

  It was beyond her power of will to place a limit to her sudden newbornhappiness; she would not give a definite date, and relying on thecertainty that the man would never allow anyone to gossip to him aboutthe wedding, she lied--deliberately.

  "Oh! there's _plenty_ of time, don't let's talk about it."

  She sprang to her feet and flung out her arms to the sea.

  "Let's forget, Jan, let's forget! Let's steal something from Fate andbe happy. Let's be friends, pals; we can't be anything else, because Iam in honour bound. And--and--I'm _so_ hungry "--she turned herradiant, laughing face to him--"I'll race you to Barricane for tea."

  She was off as she spoke, with Cuxson close behind. They jumped fromrock to rock, they slipped, they slithered, they splashed up to theirknees in pools and out again.

  The man did not break the compact when he caught her in the shadow ofthe wreck and drew her into the shelter of his arms.

  "Pal!" he whispered. "Little pal!"

  And she lay quite still until the thud of their hearts, caused by thestrenuous exercise, had given place to the stronger, steadier beat ofsteadfast love; then she slipped down, ducked under his arms and wasaway, and her laugh was caught by the wind and blown back to him as heran in hot pursuit.