E-text prepared by Roger Frank
and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team
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Daisy Brooks;
OR,
A PERILOUS LOVE.
BY
LAURA JEAN LIBBEY,
AUTHOR OF
“Parted on Her Bridal Tour,” or “Miss Middleton’s Lover,”
“When His Love Grew Cold,” “He Loved, But Was
Lured Away,” “When Lovely Maiden Stoops
to Folly,” “The Crime of Hallow E’en,”
“Lovers Once, But Strangers
Now,” Etc., Etc.
Copyright 1883, by George Munro.
Copyright 1911, by
J. S. Ogilvie Publishing Company.
Dramatic Rights Reserved by
Laura Jean Libbey-Stillwell.
New York:
J. S. OGILVIE PUBLISHING COMPANY,
57 Rose Street.
DAISY BROOKS.
A warm day in the southern part of West Virginia was fastdrawing to a close; the heat during the day had been almostintolerable under the rays of the piercing sun, and the nightwas coming on in sullen sultriness. No breath of cooling airstirred the leafy branches of the trees; the stillness was brokenonly by the chirping of the crickets, and the fire-flies twinkledfor a moment, and were then lost to sight in the long grasses.
On one of the most prosperous plantations in that section ofthe country there was a great stir of excitement; the master,Basil Hurlhurst, was momentarily expected home with hisbride. The negroes in their best attire were scattered in anxiousgroups here and there, watching eagerly for the first approachof their master’s carriage on the white pebbled road.
The curtains of Whitestone Hall were looped back, and acheerful flood of light shone out on the waving cotton fieldsthat stretched out as far as the eye could reach, like a field ofsnow. The last touches had been given to the pillars of rosesthat filled every available nook and corner, making the summerair redolent with their odorous perfumes. Mrs. Corliss,who had maintained the position of housekeeper for a score ofyears or more, stood at the window twisting the telegram sheheld in her hand with ill-concealed impatience. The announcementof this home-coming had been as unexpected as the newsof his marriage had been quite a year before.
“Let there be no guests assembled––my reasons will bemade apparent to you later on,” so read the telegram, whichpuzzled the housekeeper more than she cared to admit to theinquisitive maid, who stood near her, curiously watching herthoughtful face.
“’Pears to me it will rain afore they get here, Hagar,” shesaid, nervously, and, as if in confirmation of her words, a fewrain-drops splashed against the window-pane.
Both stood gazing intently out into the darkness. The