Wells was about to depart in silence, but Miss Hayward for the first time raised her face, and her tearful eyes met his own. He sprung forward, and kneeling before her, pressed his lips to her white forehead, and said:
“That look is worth to me years of happiness. But, you can read my heart _now_. When I am _proved_ innocent, then I will speak the words which must not, till then, pass my lips. God bless you!”
He arose to depart, but was met by Captain Walker, who had just entered the tent.
Walker cast a rapid glance around him, and placing his finger upon his lips, enjoined silence upon all. Wells stood, with arms folded, sternly and suspiciously gazing upon him, while Alibamo asked:
“To serve you and your friend,” was the reply, spoken in a low voice, and with apparent hesitation.
“It must be an important service which could render pardonable the fact, sir, of you having, unannounced, and so rudely, intruded upon our privacy,” said Mrs. Hinton.
“It _is_ an important service. No less than the rescue of——will you be seated?”
The parties seated themselves in silence, when Walker continued:
“You must pardon me if I speak plainly, and directly to the point. It is necessary that I should be brief.”
“Miss Hayward,” continued Walker, turning toward the lady, “I must give a few words of explanation to you. I _did_ love—_do_ love you now. You need not shrink from me. You will, upon hearing my words, understand me better. No man loves without hope, until there arises between him and the one beloved some impassable barrier. The barrier which arose to blast _my_ hopes was, your previous love, and the unfortunate circumstance which has made me an unwilling witness against one to whom, as I think, your heart still clings.”
“You will please be brief in comment, and come as quickly as possible to the point in question,” replied Mrs. Hinton, as she observed the agitation of Miss Hayward.
“I come to the point now. I know Miss Hayward is very unhappy, and I would not add to it. I would save her lover.”
“To whom do you refer?” asked Wells, coldly.
“I can not claim the title you honor me with, in connection with that lady. Besides, she might not thank _you_ for such a service.”
“Oh, yes! yes!” eagerly replied Miss Hayward, as she gazed upon the speaker.