The night was still and calm, and suddenly the dip of oars in the water came to her ears. She looked, and saw a little boat headed for the beach, with a single occupant.
The keel grated on the shore, the man sprang out, and came directly toward her, pausing with hat in hand--a tall fellow, dark and bewhiskered, with somber, dark eyes.
"Ah, good evening, my pretty maid. Taking a stroll all alone, eh? Won't you have a moonlight row with me?"
"No, thank you, sir; I am in a hurry to get home. Please stand aside," for he had placed himself in her way.
"Not so fast, pretty maid. It is good manners, I trow, to answer a stranger's courteous questions, is it not?" still barring her way. "Well, show me the way to Cliffdene."
The trembling girl pointed mutely back the way she had come.
"Thank you--and again: Do you know Miss Roma Clarke?"
"I have just seen her at Cliffdene," she answered.
"Oh, no," Liane answered, trying to pass, but he caught her hand, exclaiming mockingly:
"Not married yet? Well, that is very good news to me. I will give you a kiss, pretty one, for that information."
"You shall not! Release me at once, you hound!" cried the girl, struggling to free herself.
But the insolent stranger only clasped her closer and drew her to him, the fumes of his liquor-laden breath floating over her pure brow as he struggled to kiss her shrieking lips.
And, absorbed in the conflict, neither one noticed a third person coming toward them from the town--an exceedingly handsome young man, who hurried his steps in time to comprehend the meaning of the scene before him, and then shot out an athletic arm, and promptly bowled the wretch over upon the wet sands.
"Lie there, you cur, till I give you leave to rise!" he thundered, planting his foot on the fellow's chest while he turned toward the young lady.
"Why, good heavens! Is it you, Miss Lester?" he cried, in wonder.
"Yes, Mr. Devereaux. I was hurrying home from an errand to Cliffdene when this man jumped out of his boat, and threatened to kiss me."
"Apologize to the lady on your knees, cur!" cried Jesse Devereaux, helping him with a hand on his coat collar.
"Now tell me where you came from in the boat."
"Then get into that boat and go back to it as fast as you can row, and if you are ever caught in Stonecliff again, I promise to thrash you within an inch of your life."