Zula Part 39

One day Miss Elsworth had seated herself in the kitchen doorway to have a little talk with Mrs. Morris while she was doing up the supper work.

"Ha, ha, ha, ha," burst upon the air, and the rocky hills sent back rolling waves of wild, musical laughter.

Miss Elsworth listened, looking around to see from whence came the sound. "Oh, I see you," called out a sweet, clear voice. "You cannot see me though, for I'm too far away."

Blanche Elsworth looked up at the ledge of rocks on the opposite side of the ravine, and there, swinging almost in mid air, up and down on a slender bough, was a fair young girl. She was dressed in a loose white wrapper, and without shoes or stockings. A ma.s.s of raven hair floated about her shoulders, and fell in a half tangled fas.h.i.+on to her waist.

Miss Elsworth arose and regardless of the entreaties of Mrs. Morris, started toward the spot where the young girl sat.

"Oh, you need not come," she called out, "you cannot reach me."

"I will not harm you. Will you not come down and talk to me?"

"Oh, no, you want to catch me and shut me up."

"Indeed, I will not; I only want to talk to you."

"Will you promise not to touch me?"

"Yes, I will promise."

"Well, stand away then, and I will jump."

"Oh, please do not jump; you will hurt yourself. Climb down the rocks."

"Will I hurt myself? I guess not. I do not think I'll take the trouble to climb down, I can jump."

"Go back," said Blanche, but before she had uttered the words, the light form swayed back upon the air, and grasping the end of the bough came floating down at her feet.

Blanche Elsworth's heart almost stood still, for she expected to see the girl arise from the ground bruised and bleeding, but instead she stood before her quite unharmed, and stepping back she said:

"Now, remember what you promised; for if you try to catch me I'll go right back to the tree tops. I am away from everything up there, and if you should touch me----"

"Oh, I will not catch you," Blanche said, as the girl shrank away from her, "but will you not come to the house with me?"

"Oh, no, you will lock me up. No, I'll never go to the house with you.

I would not dare."

"But you see I promised you I would not harm you if you would come down, and I did not, did I?"

"So you did as you promised," she said, coming nearer to Blanche, and looking straight in her face.

Blanche noticed the strange expression in the lovely eyes, and she knew that the burning light which she saw there was that of insanity, though the face was one of childish beauty and innocence.

"Will you not come in?" Blanche asked again.

"If you will promise sure that you will not lock me up."

"I will promise."

"Well, then, I will come, and if you do try to lock me up I'll take this," she said, putting her hand in her pocket, and drawing forth a tiny pistol, which she pointed straight at Blanche's head. "I'll take this and shoot anybody who tries to lock me up."

Blanche's face grew slightly pale, for it certainly was not a very desirable position which she held at that moment, but her presence of mind did not forsake her, and in a coaxing way she said:

"What a pretty little pistol; will you let me see it?"

"Will you promise to give it back to me?"

"Yes, I will."

"Let me shoot the head off that little bird first."

"Please do not, some one might hear you."

"Oh-h-h, yes, and then they would come after me. What is your name,"

she asked, looking quickly around, "isn't it----"

"What?" asked Blanche.

"Oh, I don't dare to say; some other time maybe I will ask you about it."

"My name is Blanche Elsworth. You may call me Blanche."

"Oh."

"Come with me. I want to show you something real pretty."

"What is it?"

"Views. Just look," she said, giving the young girl a stereoscope, and a basket full of views. "Cover your eyes with this, and you will see the most beautiful places."

"You can't make me believe that; you want to cover my eyes so that you can tie me up."

"No, truly, I will not harm you."

"Let me look into your eyes and see. I can tell by your eyes whether you speak the truth or not."

Miss Elsworth allowed the girl to step close to her, and standing there her wild eyes were fastened on her with a deep and searching gaze.

"No," she said as she turned away, while her head dropped, "no, I know you won't tell a lie. I can see it in your eyes."

"And now you will look at the pretty pictures; there it is, all ready.

Now, look, there is a beautiful picture."

The girl did as requested, and at least three minutes elapsed before she lowered the stereoscope. During that time Blanche had turned the pistol around, and taken each cartridge from its pocket; and quickly springing it back to place, she laid it upon the table, saying:

"There, you see I have not harmed your pistol at all, and when you have looked at the pictures you may have it."

"Give it to me," said the girl, as she grasped it and placed it in her pocket. "I would not lose it for the world. You see I must use it as sure as can be. I'd tell you, but I am afraid you would tell."