Part 2 Chapter 1 Pg 1

 

Five Years Passed. Again It Was Summer. Mostyn With His Wife And His

Only Child,  Richard,  Jr.,  Lived In The Mitchell Mansion,  Which,  Save

For A New Coat Of Paint,  Was Unchanged. Mostyn Himself Was

Considerably Altered In Appearance. There Were Deeper Lines In His

Face; He Was Thinner,  More Given To Nervousness And Loss Of Sleep; His

Hair Was Turning Gray; He Had Been Told By His Doctor That He Worried

Too Much And That He Must Check The Tendency.

 

Things Had Not Gone In His Married Life As The Financier Had Wished.

One Of The Most Objectionable Was The Unexpected Change In His Father-

In-Law,  Who Had Lapsed Quite Abruptly Into Troublesome Dotage. From A

Shrewd Business Man Old Mitchell Had Become A Querulous Child,  Subject

To Fits Of Suspicion And Violent Outbursts Of Anger. At The Most

Embarrassing Moments He Would Totter Into The Bank,  Approach His Son-

In-Law,  And Insist On Talking Over Matters Which He Was Quite

Incapable Of Seeing In A Rational Light. Mostyn Had Tried To Deal With

Him Firmly,  Only To Bring Down A Torrent Of Half-Wild Threats As To

What The Old Man Would Do In Regard To Certain Investments The Two

Held In Common. Indeed,  It Was Plain To Many That Mitchell Had Formed

An Intuitive Dislike For His Son-In-Law,  Which,  Somehow,  Was Not

Lessened By His Great Love For His Grandson.

 

Saunders Became A Genial Sort Of Escape-Valve For The Old Man's

Endless Chatter And Complaint,  Doing All In His Power To Pacify Him,

Though It Required No Little Time And Energy.

 

One Warm Day In The Present June Mitchell Came To The Bank,  And,

Frowning Angrily,  He Went Into Mostyn's Office,  Where His Son-In-Law

Sat Absorbed Over Some Intricate Calculations In Percentage.

 

"Huh!" He Sniffed. "Your Nigger Porter Told Me You Were Too Busy To

See Me. If He Hadn't Dodged I'd Have Hit The Whelp With This Cane,

Part 2 Chapter 1 Pg 2

Sir. Busy! I Say Busy! If It Hadn't Been For Me And My Money I'd Like

To Know Where You'd Be To-Day. I Guess You Wouldn't Run Long."

 

Flushing With Combined Anger And Sensitive Shame,  Mostyn Put His

Papers Aside And Rose.

 

"Sit Down,  And Rest," He Said. "Albert Meant No Harm. I Told Him That

I Had Some Important Work To Do And That I Did Not Want To Be

Disturbed Just Now; But,  Of Course,  I Had No Reference To _You._"

 

"Oh,  I Know You Didn't!" Mitchell Sneered,  His Chin And White Beard

Quivering. "I Know What Your Plan Is. I'm No Fool. You Are Handling My

Means,  And You Are Afraid I'll Want To Know What You Have Done With

Them. I'll Have A Statement By Law--That's What I'll Do."

 

"You Really _Must_ Be Reasonable," Mostyn Said,  Helplessly. "Only Last

Week I Explained It All In Detail In The Presence Of Saunders And

Wright,  And You Were Quite Satisfied. You Ought To Know That We Can't

Go Over Such Matters Every Day. I Assure You That Everything Is In

Good Shape."

 

"Are You _Sure?_ That's What I Want To Know." The Harsh Expression In

Mitchell's Face Was Softening. "I--I Get To Worrying--I Admit It. You

And I Used To Get Along All Right,  But You Never Consult Me Now As You

Used To Do. I'm Older Than You Are,  But My Judgment Is Sound. I'm Not

Dead Yet,  And I Won't Be Regarded That Way."

 

"I Know You Are All Right." Mostyn Smiled Pacifically. "Won't You Take

A Seat?"

 

"No,  I'm Going Back Home. I Don't Like The Way Things Are Running

There,  Either. Irene Is Never At Home,  It Seems To Me,  And My Grandson

Has Nobody To Look After Him But That Trifling Nurse. Irene Has Gone

To Some Fool Reception To-Day,  And Says She And Kitty Are Going To A

Dance At Buckton's Country House To-Night. You May Call That Right And

Proper,  Sir,  But I Don't. The Way Married Couples Live To-Day Is An

Outrage On Common Decency. If You Had Any Backbone You'd Make Your

Wife Behave Herself. She Is More Of A Belle,  Sir,  Right Now Than

Before You Married Her. She Is Crazy For Excitement,  And The Whole

Poker-Playing,  Wine-Drinking Set She Goes With Is On The Road To

Perdition."

 

Laying His Hand On The Old Man's Arm Gently,  Mostyn Led Him Toward The

Door. "Don't Let It Worry You," He Said. "The Boy Is Well And Sound,

And Irene Means No Harm. She Has Always Loved Society,  And When We

Were Married It Was With The Understanding That She Should Not Be

Hampered."

 

"And That Is Right Where You Made The Mistake Of Your Life." Mitchell

Pulled Back From The Door. "The Way You And She Live Is Not Natural.

The Lord Never Intended It To Be So. You Know As Well As I Do That

Irene Used To Have A Silly Sort Of Liking Or Fancy For Andy Buckton."

 

Mostyn Nodded,  His Eyes Averted. "Yes,  Yes,  Of Course," He Said,

Part 2 Chapter 1 Pg 3

Hesitatingly. "She Told Me All About It At The Time,  Quite Frankly."

 

"Well,  You Know,  I Presume,  That His Uncle Left Him A Lot Of Money

When He Died The Other Day?"

 

"I Heard Something About It." Mostyn Bit His Lip In Vexation,  As He

Reached Out For The Doorknob And Turned It Cautiously.

 

"Well,  It Is True,  And It Has Turned The Fool's Head; He Is Spending

It Like Water. He Is Giving A Big Blow-Out To-Night,  And It Is All For

Your Wife,  Sir--Your Wife."

 

Mostyn Made No Reply,  Though His Face Looked Graver; The Sharp-Drawn

Lines About His Mouth Deepened.

 

"You Heard What I Said,  Didn't You?" Mitchell Demanded.

 

"Yes,  Of Course."

 

"Well,  Let Me Tell You One Thing,  And Then You Can Do As You Please

About It. I Am Not Going To Take Any Hand In It. Irene Has No Respect

For Me Or My Opinion Here Lately. She Gets Mad The Minute I Say A Word

To Her. Andy Buckton Is As Big A Fool About Her As He Ever Was. I Got

It Straight,  From A Person Who Knows,  That He Makes No Secret Of It.

And That Isn't All,  Sir--That Isn't All. Irene Is Just Vain Enough Of

Her Good Looks To Like It. Le'me Tell You Something,  Sir. This Town Is

Not Paris,  And Our Country Is Not France,  But That Fast Set Irene Runs

With Is Trying To Think So. They Read About The Four Hundred In New

York,  Its Scandals And Divorces In High Life,  And Think It Is Smart To

Imitate It. You Seem To Stay Out Of It,  But What If You Do? Are You

Going To Sit Like A Knot On A Log And Have Them Say You Made A

Loveless Marriage For Money,  And--"

 

"Stop!" Mostyn Flared Out. "I Won't Stand It. You Are Going Too Far!"

 

"Ah,  I See You Can Be Touched," The Old Man Laughed,  Putting His Hand

On Mostyn's Arm In His Most Senile Mood. "I Just Wanted To Set You

Thinking,  That's All."

 

When Mitchell Was Gone The Banker Sat Down At His Work Again,  But He

Could Not Put His Mind On It. He Fumbled The Papers Nervously. His

Brows Met In A Troubled Frown. "I Can't Stand Any More Of This," He

Thought. "He Is Driving Me Insane--The Man Does Not Live Who Could Put

Up With It Day After Day."

 

Going To The Door,  He Asked One Of The Clerks To Send Saunders To Him

If He Was Quite Disengaged. A Moment Later His Partner Entered. The

Last Five Years Had Served Him Well. He Had Never Looked Better. His

Skin Was Clear,  His Eyes Bright,  His Movement Calm And Alert.

 

"Did You Want To See Me?" He Asked.

 

"If You Are Not Busy," Mostyn Replied.

 

Part 2 Chapter 1 Pg 4

"Nothing To Do Just Now," Saunders Said,  Sitting Down Near The Desk.

 

Mostyn Gave Him A Troubled Look. "The Old Man Has Just Left," He Said.

 

"I Thought I Recognized His Voice," Saunders Answered. "He Has A Way

Of Talking Quite Loud Of Late."

 

There Was A Pause,  During Which Mostyn Continued To Stare With

Fluttering Lashes; Then He Said:

 

"He Is Giving Me A Great Deal Of Trouble,  Saunders--A Great Deal."

 

"I See He Is; In Fact,  All Of Us Have Noticed It."

 

"It Is Getting More And More Serious," Mostyn Sighed,  Heavily. "You

See,  It Is Not Only Here That He Talks. He Goes To The Other Banks And

To The Offices Of The Brokers And Chatters Like A Child About Our

Confidential Affairs. I Am Afraid He Will Do Us Absolute Financial

Injury. He Is Insanely Suspicious,  And There Is No Telling What Report

He May Set Afloat."

 

"I Think Most Persons Understand His Condition," Saunders Returned.

"Delbridge Does,  I Know. He Goes To See Delbridge Often. I See Your

Predicament And Sympathize With You. The Old Man Has Lost All His

Discretion,  And You Really Cannot Afford To Confer With Him."

 

"The Trouble Is,  He Has His Legal Rights," Mostyn Said,  Tentatively,

"And The Slightest Thing May Turn Him Against Me. There Are Shyster

Lawyers Here Who Would Not Hesitate To Advise Him Wrongly. They Would

Get Their Fee,  And That Is All They Would Want. As I Look At It The

Situation Is Serious,  And Growing Worse."

 

"It Is Awkward,  To Say The Least," Saunders Admitted,  "And I Confess

That I Do Not Know What To Advise."

 

"Well,  That Is All," Mostyn Concluded. "I Wanted To Speak To You About

It. He Upsets Me Every Time He Comes In,  And He Is Quite As

Troublesome At Home,  I Assure You. I Envy You,  Old Chap,  With Your

Care-Free Life,  Spent Half In The Country. How Is Your Plantation?"

 

"Fine--Never Had Better Crops." Saunders's Eyes Kindled With Latent

Enthusiasm. "The Weather Has Been Just Right This Season. Run Up And

Spend Next Sunday With Me. It Will Do You Good. You Stay In Town Too

Much."

 

Mostyn Shrugged His Shoulders. He Sighed And Bowed His Head Over His

Papers. "Not This Season," He Said,  As If His Thoughts Were Far Away.

Suddenly He Cast A Wavering Glance At His Partner,  Hesitated,  And

Said:

 

"I Have Always Wanted To Go Back Up There,  Saunders. That Was One

Period Of My Life That Is Constantly Before Me. I May As Well Speak Of

It And Be Done With It. You Always Seemed To Shirk The Subject,  And I

Have Hesitated To Mention It,  But There Is No One Else I Could

Part 2 Chapter 1 Pg 5

Question. The Last Time I Heard Of Dolly Drake She Was Still

Unmarried. Is There Any Likelihood Of Her Marrying?"

 

Mostyn's Eyes Were Downcast,  And He Failed To See The Half-Angry Flush

Which Was Creeping Over Saunders's Face.

 

"I Really Can't Say," He Returned,  Coldly. "She Is Still Teaching

School,  And Is In The Best Of Health; But,  Mostyn,  You Have No Right

To Think--To Fancy That She Has Remained Single Because--"

 

"Oh,  I Don't!" The Other Sighed. "I'm Not Such A Fool. She Knows Me

Too Well By This Time For That."

 

There Was An Awkward Pause. Saunders,  With Eyes On The Door,  Was

Rising. With An Appealing Look Of Detention In His Worn Face Mostyn

Also Stood Up. "I'd Give A Great Deal To See Her. I'd Be Glad Even To

See A Picture Of Her. I Wonder What She Looks Like Now. She Was

Scarcely More Than A Child When She And I--When We Parted. I Don't

Think There Can Be Any Harm In My Being Frank In These Days When The

Wives Of Men Make A Jest Of Matrimonial Love,  And I Confess Freely

That I Have Never Been Able To Forget--"

 

"Don't Tell Me About It!" Saunders Interrupted. "You Have No Right,

Mostyn,  Even To Think Of Her After--After What Took Place. But You

Ought To Have Sense Enough,  At Any Rate,  To Know That She Wouldn't

Continue To Care For You All These Years. I See Her Now And Then And

Talk To Her. I Am Helping Her Build A New Schoolhouse Up There On Some

Land I Donated,  And Have Had To Consult Her Several Times Of Late

About The Building-Plans. She Is More Beautiful And Brilliant Than

Ever,  Though She Still Has Cares Enough. Her Father Doesn't Make Much

Of A Living,  And Her Brother George Is Engaged To One Of The Girls In

The Neighborhood And So Cannot Be Counted On For Help. Ann Is A Young

Lady Now,  And Dolly Dresses Her Nicely At Her Own Expense."

 

"Of Course,  I Know That She Has Forgotten Me," Mostyn Said,  With

Feeling. "I Made The One Great Mistake Of My Life When I--You Know

What I Mean,  Saunders?"

 

"Yes,  I Know," Saunders Answered,  Quickly,  "But That Is Past And Gone,

Mostyn. The Main Harm You Did Was,  Perhaps,  To Kill Her Faith In Men

In General. I Don't Really Think She Will Ever Give Her Heart To Any

One. She Seems Farther From That Sort Of Thing Than Any Woman I Ever

Met. She Has Had,  I Think,  Many Suitors."

 

"Then From What You Say I Gather That She Doesn't Mention Me?" Mostyn

Said,  Heavily. "She Has No Curiosity At All To Know How--How My

Marriage Terminated?" "How _Could_ She Have?" Saunders Asked,

Frigidly. "We'd Better Not Talk Of It,  Mostyn. I Am Sure She Would Not

Wholly Approve Of This Conversation. But In Justice To Her I Must

Insist That She Is _Not_ Broken-Hearted By Any Means. She Is As Brave

And Cheerful As She Ever Was. Her Character Seems To Have Deepened And

Sweetened Under The Knowledge Of The World Which She Acquired By Her

Unfortunate Experience With You."

 

Part 2 Chapter 1 Pg 6

When Saunders Had Left,  Mostyn Bowed His Head On His Desk.

 

"If I Had Been The Sort Of Man Saunders Is,  Dolly Would Have Been My

Wife," He Thought. "My Wife! My Wife! Actually My Wife!"

 

 

 

Part 2 Chapter 2 Pg 7

 

 

 

That Afternoon When The Bank Was Closed Mostyn Went Home. He Walked

For The Sake Of The Exercise And With The Hope Of Distracting His Mind

From The Many Matters Which Bore More Or Less Heavily On His Tired

Brain. As He Approached The Gate The Sight Of His Little Son Playing

On The Lawn With A Miniature Tennis Racket And Ball Gave Him A Thrill

Of Delight. The Boy Was Certainly Beautiful. He Had Great Brown Eyes,

Rich Golden Hair,  Was Sturdy,  Well Built,  And Active For A Child Of

Only Four Years.

 

The Father Opened The Gate Softly,  And When Within The Yard He Hid

Himself Behind The Trunk Of An Oak And Cautiously Peered Out,  Watching

The Little Fellow Toss The Ball And Make Ineffectual Efforts To Hit It

With The Racket. Then Mostyn Whistled Softly,  Saw The Boy Drop His

Racket And Look All Round,  His Sweet Face Alert With Eagerness. Mostyn

Whistled Again,  And Then The Child Espied Him And,  With Hands

Outstretched,  Came Running,  Laughing And Shouting Gleefully.

 

"I See You,  Daddy!" He Cried. Whereupon Mostyn Slipped Around The Tree

Out Of Sight,  Letting The Amused Child Follow Him. Round After Round

Was Made,  And Then,  Suddenly Stooping Down,  The Father Caught The Boy

In His Arms And Raised Him Up. Pressing Him Fondly To His Breast,  He

Kissed The Warm,  Flushed Cheeks.

 

Till Dusk He Played With The Child On The Grass,  Pitching The Ball And

Teaching The Little Fellow To Hit It. Then Hilda,  The Mulatto Nurse,

Came For Her Charge,  And Little Dick,  With Many Expostulations,  Was

Taken Away.

 

Going Into The House,  Mostyn Met His Father-In-Law In The Hall. The

Old Man Stopped Him Abruptly At The Foot Of The Stairs.

 

Part 2 Chapter 2 Pg 8

"Did Any Mail Come For Me On The Noon Train?" He Demanded,

Querulously,  A Light Of Suspicion In His Eyes.

 

"Not That I Know Of," Mostyn Answered. "It Was Not Put On My Desk,  I

Am Sure."

 

"Well,  Some Of It Goes _Somewhere,_" Mitchell Complained. "I Know I

Don't See It All. I've Written Letters That Would Have Been Answered

By This Time,  And It Wouldn't Surprise Me If Somebody Down There Was

Tampering With It."

 

Seeing The Utter Hopelessness Of Bringing His Father-In-Law To Reason

By Explanation Or Argument,  Mostyn Went On Up-Stairs. Noticing That

The Door Of His Wife's Chamber,  Adjoining His Own,  Was Ajar,  He Pushed

It Open And Went In. The Room Was Brightly Illuminated With Electric

Light,  And Standing Before A Tall Pier-Glass He Found His Wife. She

Wore A Costly Evening Gown Of Rare Old Lace And Was Trying On A Pretty

Diamond Necklace.

 

"Oh!" She Exclaimed,  Indifferently,  As She Caught Sight Of Him Over

Her Bare Powdered Shoulder. "I Thought It Was Cousin Kitty. She

Promised To Be Here Early. If She Is Late We'll Have To Go Without

Her. She Is Awfully Slow. I Saw You Playing With Dick On The Grass. He

Makes Too Much Noise,  Screaming Out Like That,  And You Only Make Him

Worse Cutting Up With Him As You Do. Between You And That Boy And

Father,  With His Constant,  Babyish Complaints,  I Am Driven To

Desperation."

 

Mostyn Shrugged His Shoulders Wearily,  And Sat Down In A Chair At Her

Quaint Mahogany Dressing-Table. Irene Had Not Changed Materially,

Though A Close Observer,  Had The Light Been That Of Day,  Might Have

Remarked That She Was Thinner And More Nervous. Her Eyes Held A

Shadowy,  Unsatisfied Expression,  And Her Voice Was Keyed Unnaturally

High.

 

Noticing His Unwonted Silence,  She Put Down Her Hand-Mirror And Eyed

Him With A Slow Look Of Irritation. "Of Course,  You Are Not Going To-

Night," She Said.

 

"Hardly," He Smiled,  Satirically,  "Being Quite Uninvited."

 

"Well,  You Needn't Say It In _That_ Tone," She Answered. "You Have

Only Yourself To Blame. You Never Accept Such Invitations,  So How

Could You Expect People To Run After You With Them?"

 

"I Don't Expect Them To," He Answered,  Tartly. "If They Asked Me I'd

Decline. I Simply Don't Enjoy That Sort Of Thing At All."

 

"Of Course You Don't," She Laughed. "The Last Time You Went To A Ball

You Looked Like An Insane Man Pacing Up And Down All By Yourself.

Kitty Said You Asked Her To Dance And Forgot All About It. Dick,  Your

Day Is Over."

 

"I Wonder If Yours Ever Will Be," He Sniffed. "I See No Prospect Of

Part 2 Chapter 2 Pg 9

It. You Are On The Go Night And Day. You Are Killing Yourself. It Is

As Bad As The Morphine Habit With You. You Love Admiration More Than

Any Woman I Ever Saw."

 

She Arched Her Neck Before The Glass And Turned To Him Wearily. "Do

You Know What You'll Do In Another Minute? You'll Talk Yourself Into

Another One Of Your Disgusting Rages Over My Own Private Affairs. You

Are A Business Man And Would Not Violate An Ordinary Business

Agreement,  But You Are Constantly Ignoring The Positive Compact

Between Us."

 

"I Didn't Expect At The Time To Have You Going So Constantly With A

Man That--"

 

"Oh,  You Didn't?" She Laughed,  Tantalizingly. "You Were To Have All

Sorts Of Outside Freedom,  But I Was Not. Well,  You Were Mistaken,

That's All. I Know Whom You Are Hinting At. You Mean Andy Buckton. I'm

Going With Him To-Night. Why Shouldn't I? He's Got Up The Party For

Me. Dick,  Don't Tell Me That You Are Actually Jealous. It Would Be Too

Delicious For Anything."

 

"I Can't Ask You Not To Go With The Fellow," Mostyn Answered,

"Considering The Well-Known Habits Of Your Limited Set To Lay Down New

Laws Of Conduct,  But You Nor No Other Woman Can Form The Slightest

Idea Of What It Costs A Man's Pride To Have People Say That His Wife

Is Constantly Seen With A Man Who Always Has Been In Love With Her."

 

An Almost Imperceptible Gleam Of Delight Flashed Into Irene's Eyes,

And A Tinge Of Real Color Struggled Beneath The Powder On Her Face.

 

"You Don't Mean,  Dick,  That He Really,  Really Loves Me?" She Said,

Lingeringly.

 

"I Think He Does," Mostyn Answered,  Bluntly. "He Never Got Over Your

Refusal To Marry Him. He Shows It On Every Occasion. Everybody Knows

It,  And That's What Makes It So Hard To--To Put Up With. I Think I

Really Have A Right To Ask The Mother Of My Child To--"

 

"Don't Begin That,  Dick!" Irene Commanded,  Sharply. "I Have My Rights,

And You Shall Respect Them. It Is Cowardly Of You To Always Mention

The Boy In That Way. I Am Not Crazy About Children,  And I Won't

Pretend To Be. You Know I Did Not Want A Child In The First Place. I

Am Not That Sort. I Want To Have A Good Time. I Like Admiration. I

Like Amusements. You Men Get The Keenest Sort Of Pleasure Out Of

Gambling In Stocks And Futures. All Day Long You Are In A Whirl Of

Excitement. But You Expect Us Women To Stay At Home And Be As Humdrum

As Hens In A Chicken-House. You Are To Have Your Fun And Come Home And

Have Us Wives Pet You And Pamper You Up For Another Day Of Delight.

Dick,  That May Go All Right With Farmers' Wives Who Haven't Shoes To

Wear Out To Meeting,  But It Won't Do For Women With Money Of _Their

Own_ To Spend."

 

"I Knew _That_ Would Come," He Flashed At Her. "It Always Does Crop Up

Sooner Or Later."

Part 2 Chapter 2 Pg 10

 

"You Are Out Of Temper To-Night,  Dick," She Retorted. "And It Is

Simply Because I Am Going With Andy Buckton. You Needn't Deny It."

 

"I Don't Like The Gossip That Is Going Around." Mostyn Frowned And Bit

His Mustache As He Said This. "The People Of Atlanta,  As A Whole,  Are

Moral,  Conservative Citizens,  And The Doings Of Your Small Set Are

Abhorrent To Them."

 

"_My_ Set!" Irene Forced A Harsh,  Mirthless Laugh. "And For Goodness'

Sake,  What Do They Think Of _Your_ Set? You Force Me To Say This,

Dick. There Is Not A Person In This City Who Has Not Heard Of You And

That Unspeakable Winship Woman."

 

Mostyn Flinched Beneath The Gaze She Bent On Him. "That Is A Thing Of

The Past,  Irene,  And You Know It," He Stammered,  Trying To Keep His

Temper.

 

"I Can Consider It A Thing Of The Past," She Returned,  Coldly,  "If I

Will Take Your Word For It,  Just As You May Or May Not Take My Word

For My Conduct With Andy Buckton. Oh,  I Suppose It Is Nothing For A

Wife To See The Knowing Smiles That Pass Around When The Gaudy

Creature Shows Up At The Theater Or Ball-Game Accompanied By Gamblers

And Bar-Keepers. The Brazen Thing Stares Straight At Me Whenever I Am

Near Her."

 

Mostyn Was Now White With Restrained Fury. He Stood Up. "I Will Not Go

Over All That Again," He Said. "The Mistake I Made Was In Ever Owning

Up To The Thing."

 

"You _Had_ To Own Up To It," Irene Answered,  Bluntly. "I Knew It When

We Were Married,  And I Would Not Mention It Now If You Were Not

Constantly Nagging Me About My Actions. Dick,  You Will Have To Let Me

Alone. I Won't Take Advice From You."

 

He Met Her Frank Eyes With A Shrinking Stare. "I Shall Let You Alone

In The Future," He Faltered. "I See I Have To. You Are Merciless. For

The Sake Of The Boy We Must Live In Harmony. God Knows We Must!"

 

"All Right," She Laughed,  Coldly,  "That Is Another Agreement. Harmony

Is The Word. Now,  Go Away. Kitty Is Not Coming. She May Be Going With

Some One Else."

 

Mostyn Went To His Room Across The Hall. He Bathed His Bloodless Face

And Hands And Automatically Brushed His Hair Before The Glass,  Eying

His Features Critically. "Can That Actually Be Me?" He Whispered To

The Grim Reflection. "I Look Like A Man Of Sixty. I'm As Old And

Decrepit As--Jeff Henderson. Why Did I Think Of Him? Why Am I

Constantly Thinking Of That Old Man,  Unless It Is Because He Has

Predicted My Ruin So Confidently? He Seems As Sure Of It As He Is Of

The Air He Breathes. If Evil Thought Bearing On A Man Can Hurt Him,  As

The Mental Scientists Believe,  Henderson's Will Eventually Get Me

Down. He Would Give His Life To Permanently Injure Me. So Would Marie.

She Can't Forgive Me For Ignoring Her. She Can't Understand Any More

Part 2 Chapter 2 Pg 11

Than I Do _Why_ I Ignore Her."

 

There Was A Rap On The Door. It Was A Servant To Ask If He Wanted His

Supper.

 

"Not Now," He Answered. "Keep It For Me. I'll Be In Later."

 

Part 2 Chapter 3 Pg 12

 

 

 

He Went Down To The Lawn,  Lighted A Cigar,  And Began To Smoke,

Striding Nervously Back And Forth. A Smart Pair Of Horses Hitched To A

Trap Whirled Into The Carriage-Drive And Stopped In The Porte-Cochere.

In The Rays From The Overhead Lamp Mostyn Saw Buckton Alight And

Ascend The Steps To The Veranda. A Half-Smoked Cigar Cast Into The

Shrubbery Emitted A Tiny Shower Of Sparks. Mostyn Saw The Young Man

Peering In At The Window Of The Lighted Drawing-Room. He Noted The

Spick-And-Span Appearance,  The Jaunty,  Satisfied Air Of Expectancy,

And His Blood Began To Boil With Rage.

 

"My God!" He Groaned. "She May Be Falling In Love With Him--If She Has

Not _Always_ Loved Him,  And He Now Knows It. She May Have Told Him So.

And When They Are Alone Together,  As They Will Be In A Few Minutes On

The Road,  What More Natural Than That He Should Caress Her? I Would

Have Done It With Any Man's Wife If I Had Felt An Inclination. I Am

The Joke Of The Town And Must Bear It. I Must Stand By And Let My

Wife And Another Man--"

 

Buckton Was At The Door Speaking To The Maid Who Had Answered His

Ring.

 

"No; Tell Her,  Please,  That I'll Wait Out Here On The Lawn." Mostyn

Remarked The Note Of Curbed Elation In The Voice,  And Saw Buckton Turn

Down The Steps.

 

A Match Flared In The Handsome Face As Another Cigar Was Lighted.

Fearing That He Might Have Been Seen From The Drive,  Mostyn Was

Compelled To Step Forward And Greet The Man With The Conventional

Unconcern He Had Been Able To Summon To His Aid On Former Occasions.

Part 2 Chapter 3 Pg 13

 

"Hello," He Heard Himself Saying,  Automatically,  As He Strode Across

The Grass To The Other Smoker. "Fine Evening For Your Shindig."

 

"Tiptop," Buckton Said,  With A Sort Of Restraint Mostyn Inwardly

Resented. "Couldn't Have Turned Out Better. Sorry You've Cut Out The

Giddy Whirl,  Old Man. As I Passed Your Bank This Morning I Thought Of

Asking You,  But You Have Refused So Many Times That--"

 

"Oh No." Mostyn Heartily Despised The Role He Was Playing. "I Am No

Longer Good At That Sort Of Thing."

 

"Had Your Day,  I See," Buckton Laughed,  Significantly. "You Certainly

Kept The Pace,  If All Tales Are True. The Sort Of Thing We Do These

Days Must Be Tame By Comparison."

 

"Oh,  I Don't Know," Mostyn Returned,  With Enforced Carelessness. "Men

Are The Same The World Over. I Have Not Yet Had A Chance To

Congratulate You On Your Recent Good Fortune."

 

"Thanks,  Old Man." Buckton Puffed His Smoke Into The Still Moonlight.

"It Certainly Was A Lift To Me. I Was Never Cut Out For Business,  And

I Was At The End Of My Row. I Confess I Am Not Complaining Now. I Am

Just At The Age To Know How To Spend Money."

 

The Talk Languished. Both Men Seemed Suddenly Burthened By Obtrusive

Self-Consciousness. Buckton Twisted His Mustache Nervously And Flicked

At The Ashless Tip Of His Cigar,  Glancing Toward The House. "Oh,  I

Quite Forgot To Deliver Miss Kitty's Message To Irene--To Mrs. Mostyn,

I Should Say. She Was To Drive Out With Us,  But At The Last Minute Dr.

Regan Found That He Could Get Off And Asked Her To Go In His Car."

 

"Arranged Between Them," Mostyn Thought,  Darkly. "I Know The Trick.

Regan Doesn't Care A Rap For Kitty. It Is Part Of The Game,  And I Am

The Tool."

 

"I Understand You Have A New Car Yourself," Mostyn Said,  Aloud.

 

"Yes,  And Experts Tell Me That It Is The Best In Town. I'll Run Around

And Take You Out Some Day. But I Really Care More For Horses. It May

Be Due To My Virginia Blood. I Wouldn't Swap This Pair For All The

Cars In Town. For A Trip Like This To-Night Horses Come Handy. There

Are Some Rough Places Between Here And My Home."

 

"It Does Away With The Chauffeur," Mostyn Said,  Inwardly,  As His

Tongue Lay Dead In His Mouth. He Glanced Toward The Open Doorway.

"Irene May Be Ready," He Remarked,  Moving Toward The House.

 

"Yes,  I See Her Coming Down The Stairs," Answered Buckton,  Dropping

His Cigar,  A Look Of Boyish Eagerness Capturing His Face. "I'll Run On

And Help Her With Her Wraps. So Long,  Old Man."

 

Mostyn Made Some Inarticulate Response Of No Import In Particular,  And

Dropped Back,  Allowing Buckton To Stride On To The Veranda,  His Hat

Part 2 Chapter 3 Pg 14

Jauntily Swinging At His Side. Irene Was Now In The Doorway,  Poised

Like A Picture In A Frame.

 

Slinking Farther Away Beneath The Trees And Behind Shrubbery,  Mostyn

Heard The Greetings Between The Two,  And Saw Them Shaking Hands,

Standing Face To Face. Irene Looked So Young,  So Different From The

Calculating Woman Who Had Just Asserted Her Financial And Marital

Rights In Her Chamber. No Wonder That Her Escort Was Fascinated When

She Had So Long Been Withheld From Him! Mostyn Told Himself That He

Well Knew The "Stolen-Sweets" Sensation. He Peered Above A Clump Of

Boxwood Like A Thief,  Upon Grounds To Which He Was Unaccustomed,  And

Watched Them As They Got Into The Trap. Irene's Rippling Laugh,  And

Buckton's Satisfied Response As He Tucked The Robes About Her,  Seemed

Things Of Satanic Design. They Were Off. The Restive Pair,  With High-

Reined,  Arching Necks,  Trotted Down The Drive To The Street,  And A

Moment Later Were Out Of Sight.

 

Mostyn Went Into The House,  Back To The Desolate Dining-Room,  And Sat

Down In His Chair At The Head Of The Table. The Maid Who Came To

Receive His Order And Turn On A Fuller Light Had A Look In Her Eyes

Which Indicated That She Was Aware Of His Mood. He Would Have Resented

It Had He Dared,  But It Was Only One Of Many Things Which Had Of Late

Grated On Him But Could Not Be Prevented.

 

"Has Mr. Mitchell Had His Supper?" Mostyn Asked,  Applying Himself

Reluctantly To The Simple Repast Before Him.

 

"Yes,  Sir,  And Gone Up To His Room," The Girl Answered. "He Is Out Of

Sorts To-Day. I Have Never Seen Him So Troublesome. He Has Threatened

To Discharge Us All."

 

"Don't Mind Him." Mostyn's Voice Sounded To Him As If Uttered By Some

Tongue Other Than His Own. He Half Fancied That The Maid,  For Reasons

Peculiar To Her Class,  Had A Sort Of Contempt For Him. She,  As Well As

The Other Servants,  No Doubt Thought Of Him As Having Married For

Money,  Mitchell's Fortune Being So Much Larger Than His Own Diminished

And Ever-Lessening Capital.

 

Supper Over,  He Went Back To The Veranda. Should He Go To The Club,  As

He Sometimes Did To Pass An Evening? He Had A Feeling Against It. He

Did Not Care For Cards Or Drinking,  And They Were The Chief Amusements

Indulged In By The Habitual Loungers About The Rooms. There Might Be

Some Summer Play On At One Of The Theaters,  But As A Rule They Were

Very Poor At That Season Of The Year,  And He Knew He Had A Frame Of

Mind Which Could Not Be Diverted. At This Juncture He Became Conscious

Of Something Of An Almost Startling Nature. It Was An Undefinable,

Even Maternal Feeling That He Ought To Stay With His Child. He

Shrugged His Shoulders And Smiled At The Sheer Absurdity Of The Idea,

Yet It Clung To Him Persistently. He Tried To Analyze It; It Eluded

Analysis. It Had Haunted Him Before,  And The Time Had Always Been When

Irene Was Away. Was It Some Strange Psychic Sympathy Or Bond Of Blood

Between His Motherless Offspring And Himself? Was His Guilty Soul

Whispering To Him That He Was Responsible For The Deserted Human Bud,

And That He,  Man Though He Was,  Should Give It The Care And Love

Part 2 Chapter 3 Pg 15

Denied It?

 

Obeying An Impulse He Could Not Put Down,  He Turned Into The House And

Softly Ascended The Stairs. The Door Of The Nursery Was Open. A Low-

Turned Light Was Burning In A Night-Lamp On The Bureau. The Nurse Was

Below Eating With The Other Servants. He Was Alone And Unobserved. The

Child Was Asleep In Its Little White Bed,  And He Crept Forward And

Looked Down Upon It. The Night Being Warm,  Little Richard Was Not

Covered,  And,  With His Shapely Legs And Fair Breast Exposed,  He Lay

Asleep. There Was A Suggestion Of A Smile On The Beautiful Face,  The

Pink Lips Were Parted,  The Dainty Fingers Were Clutched As If Holding

Some Dream-Object Tight In Their Clasp.

 

With A Sigh That Was Almost Audible The Father Turned Away. At The

Door He Glanced Back,  Having Noted The Intense Warmth Of The Room. The

Nurse,  As Many Of Her Tropical Race Are Apt To Do,  Had Forgotten To

Ventilate The Chamber. The Two Windows Were Closed. Angrily He Crept

Across The Carpeted Floor And Noiselessly Raised The Sashes As High As

They Would Go,  Feeling The Fresh Air Stream In. With A Parting Glance

At The Sleeper He Withdrew.

 

Descending The Stairs,  He Went Out On The Lawn Again. Even That Scrap

Of Nature's Realm Had A Tendency To Soothe His Snarled Sensibilities.

It Might Have Been The Dew Which Was Rising And Cooling His Feet,  Or

The Pale,  Blinking Stars,  The Sedative Rays Of Which Seemed To

Penetrate To His Seething Brain. He Remembered John Leach's Sermon

That Day In The Mountains At The Cross-Roads Store. The Fellow Had

Found Something. He Had Found The Way Of The Life Spiritual,  And It

Had Come To Him Through Sin,  Suffering,  Humiliation,  And Final Self-

Immolation. Mostyn Recalled The Resolutions He Had Made Under The

Influence Of The Man's Compelling Eloquence; He Recalled The Breaking

Of The Resolutions. He Thought Of Dolly Drake,  And Groaned In Actual

Pain Of Body And Soul. He Told Himself That He Had Then Deliberately

Trampled Under Foot His Last Spiritual Opportunity. "Dolly Drake,

Dolly Drake!" The Words,  Unuttered Though They Were By Lips Which He

Felt Were Too Profane For Such Use,  Seemed To Float Like Notes Of

Accusing Music. Saunders Had Said She Was More Beautiful Than Ever.

She Might Have Been His But For His Weakness. Perhaps She Still

Thought Of Him Now And Then. If She Could Know Of This Unconquerable

Despair,  She Would Pity Him. How Sweet Such Pity As Hers Would Be! A

Sob Struggled Up Within Him And Threatened To Burst; He Felt The Sharp

Pain Of Suppression In His Breast. It Was As If His Soul Was Urging

His Too-Callous Body To Weep. Dolly Was As Unobtainable As The Heaven

Of The Tramp Preacher's Vision. For Mostyn Only Protracted Evil Was

Now Available,  And That Was Sickening To His Very Thought.

 

He Wondered,  Seeing That It Was Now Ten O'clock,  If He Could Go To

Sleep. In Deep Sleep He Would Be Able To Forget. He Decided To Try. He

Went Up To His Room,  And,  Aided Only By The Moonlight,  Which Fell

Through The Windows,  He Undressed And Threw Himself Down On His Bed.

For An Hour He Was Wakeful. He Was Just Becoming Drowsy When He Heard

Voices In The Nursery Across The Hall. He Recognized The Sharp,

Scolding Voice Of The Nurse,  And The Timid Reply Of The Child. Rising,

Mostyn Went To The Open Door Of The Nursery And Looked In.

Part 2 Chapter 3 Pg 16

 

"What Is It?" He Asked.

 

"He Is Begging To Go To Your Bed," The Woman Answered,  Peevishly.

"You've Spoiled Him,  Mr. Mostyn. He Wants To Do It Every Night. He Is

Getting Worse And Worse."

 

A Thrill Of Delight,  Yearning Delight,  Passed Over The Father. He

Stood Silent For A Moment,  Ashamed To Have Even The Black Servant

Suspect What He So Keenly Desired.

 

"Daddy,  Dick Wants You," A Voice Soft,  Tremulous,  And Unspeakably

Appealing Came From The Little Bed.

 

"Hush,  And Go To Sleep!" The Nurse Called Out. "You Are A Bad Boy,

Keeping Us Awake Like This."

 

"No,  Let Him Come," Mostyn Said,  In A Voice Which Was Husky,  And Shook

Against His Will. "Come,  Dick!"

 

The Little White-Robed Form Slid Eagerly From The Bed And Fairly Ran

To The Arms Which Were Hungrily Outstretched. With The Soft Body

Against His Breast,  A Confident Arm About His Neck,  The Father Bore

Him To His Room And Put Him Down On The Back Side Of The Wide Bed.

 

"Now You Will Sleep,  Won't You?" He Said,  His Voice Exultantly Tender.

 

"Yes,  Daddy." Dick Stretched His Pretty Legs Out Straight. Silence

Filled The Room; The Mystic Rays Of Moonlight Falling In At The Window

Seemed To Bring With Them The Despondent Murmur Of The City Outside.

The Deep,  Fragrant Breathing Of The Child Soon Showed That He Was

Asleep. Cautiously Mostyn Propped Himself Up On His Elbow And Looked

Into The Placid Face. "He Has My Brow," He Mused,  Bitterly; "My Hands;

My Ears; My Long Ringers,  With Their Curving Nails; My Slender Ankles

And High-Instepped Feet; And,  My God! He Has My Telltale Sensual Lips.

Here Am I In The Throes Of A Hell Produced By Infinite Laws. What Is

To Prevent Him--The Helpless Replica Of Myself--From Taking The Way I

Took? The Edge Of The Alluring Abyss Will Crumble Under His Blind

Tread As It Crumbled Under Mine,  And This--This--This Cloying Horror

Which Is On Me To-Night May Be My Gift To Him--For Whose Sake I Would

Die--Yes,  Die!"

 

Silently Mostyn Left The Bed And Took A Seat On The Broad Sill Of One

Of The Windows Overlooking The Lawn.

 

"What Will Be The End?" He Asked Himself. "It Can't Go On Like This. I

Am Not Man Enough To Stand It. If I Were Not Afraid Of Death,  I Would

--No,  I Wouldn't"--He Glanced At The Bed--"I Am Responsible For His

Being Here. He Is The Flower Of My Corruption. God May Desert Him,  But

I Won't. I Will Protect Him,  Love Him,  Pity Him,  Care For Him To The

End."

 

A Cold Drop Fell On His Hand And Trickled Through His Fingers. He Was

Weeping.

Part 2 Chapter 4 Pg 17

 

 

Saunders Spent The End Of That Week On His Plantation In The

Mountains. On Saturday Morning He Dropped In At Drake's To See Dolly.

John Webb Came To The Door In Response To His Rap. He Was Quite

Unchanged. Even The Clothes He Was Wearing Had The Same Look As Those

He Wore Five Years Before.

 

"She Ain't Here," He Said. "I Seed 'Er,  With Some Books An' Papers

Under 'Er Arm,  Headed For The Schoolhouse Just After Breakfast. I

Reckon She's Got Some Examples To Work Or Compositions To Write. They

Are Fixin' For A' Exhibition Of Some Sort For The Last Friday In This

Month. Dolly Writes A Big Part O' The Stuff The Scholars Read In

Public,  An' You Bet Some Of It Is Tiptop. When She Is In A Good Humor

She Can Compose A' Article That Will Make A Dog Laugh. She Is Out O'

Sorts To-Day."

 

"Oh,  Is That So?" Saunders Was Moving Toward The Gate. "Has Anything

Gone Wrong?"

 

"She Is Bothered About George," Webb Answered. "It Is First One Thing

And Then Another With Her. George's Crop Is A Failure This Year And He

Is Up To His Neck In Debt. On Top O' That He Wants To Get Married. You

Know Him An' Ida Benson Are Crazy To Get Tied,  And It Was To Come Off

In The Fall,  But George Won't Be Able To Buy A New Shirt,  To Say

Nothin' Of A Whole Outfit. The Boy Is Awful Downhearted,  And So Is His

Gal. Dolly Busted Out An' Cried Last Night While George Was A-Talkin'.

She Says Ida Will Be The Makin' Of The Boy,  But They Can't Stir A Peg

As It Is,  For They Hain't Got A Dollar Betwixt 'Em."

 

"Well,  I'll Walk By The Schoolhouse And See If Dolly Is There,"

Saunders Remarked. "It Is On My Way Home."

 

As He Drew Near The Little Building At The Roadside He Noticed That

The Front Door Was Open,  And,  Peering In,  He Saw Dolly At Her Desk.

She Was Not At Work; Indeed,  She Seemed Quite Preoccupied With Her

Thoughts,  For She Was Staring Fixedly At An Open Window,  A Troubled

Part 2 Chapter 4 Pg 18

Frown On Her Sweet Face. She Heard Saunders's Step At The Door,  And,

Seeing Him Enter,  She Began To Smile.

 

"You Caught Me," She Laughed,  Impulsively. "I Was Having One Of My

Silly Fits Of Blues. I Am Glad You Came In. You Always Make Me Ashamed

Of My Despondency."

 

"You Are Freer From It Than Any Human Being I Ever Saw," He Declared,

As He Shook Hands With Her. "I Seldom Have The Blues; But If I Did,

One Thought Of Your Wonderful Patience Would Knock Them Higher Than A

Kite."

 

She Laughed Merrily,  Her Eyes Twinkling,  The Warm Color Flushing Her

Face,  As Was Always The Case When She Was Animated. "I Suppose It Is

Generally Due To One's Point Of View," She Said. "When It Concerns

Myself I Can Manage Very Well,  But If It Is Any One Else--"

 

"A Dear Brother,  For Instance," Saunders Put In,  Sympathetically,  "And

His Laudable Desire To Marry A Worthy Girl."

 

She Looked At Him Steadily In Mild Surprise. "I See You Know," She

Nodded. "I Suppose Half The County Are Sorry For That Pair. George

Does Try So Hard,  And Yet Everything The Poor Boy Touches Goes The

Wrong Way. It Is Not His Fault. He Is Young And Inexperienced And So

Full Of Hope. He Is So Downhearted To-Day That He Wouldn't Go To Work.

He Got A Letter From Cross & Mayhew Last Night. You Know They Advanced

Him His Supplies For This Season And Took A Mortgage On His Crop As

Security. It Seems That They Sent A Man Out Here The Other Day To See

How He Was Getting On. The Man Reported The Condition Of George's

Crop,  And They Wrote Him That They Would Not Credit Him For His

Supplies Next Season. That Was The Last Straw. I Found Him Actually

Crying Down At The Barn. He Had Gone Into The Stall Where His Horse

Was Feeding And Had His Arms Around The Animal's Neck. Mr. Saunders,

You Can't Imagine My Feelings. I Love My Brother With All My Heart. I

Offered To Help Him With Part Of My Wages,  But He Was Too Proud To

Accept A Cent. That Letter From Cross & Mayhew Humiliated Him Beyond

Description. It Bowed Him Down; Young As He Is,  He Is Actually

Crushed. He Is Coming Here This Morning To Talk To Me. He Wants To Go

West With The Hope That He May Get Started There And Come Back For

Ida. I Can't Bear To Have Him Go--I Simply Can't Stand It. I Want Him

To Stay Here At Home. It Is The Place For Them Both."

 

"I Think So,  Too," Saunders Said,  Sympathetically. "There Is No Better

Spot On Earth For A Young Farmer."

 

"I Am Glad You Agree With Me"--Dolly Brightened A Little--"And If You

Should Get A Chance I Wish You Would Advise Him To Stay. You Have

Wonderful Influence,  With Both Him And My Father."

 

"I Didn't Know That," Saunders Said,  Modestly.

 

Dolly Smiled,  A Far-Off Expression In Her Deep Eyes. "They Think You

Are The Best And Wisest Man In The World. And As For Ann,  Do You Know

You Did Me A Wonderful Favor In Regard To Her?"

Part 2 Chapter 4 Pg 19

 

"You Surprise Me." Saunders Flushed Red. "I Didn't Know That I Had

Ever--I Don't Remember-"

 

"No,  I'm Sure You Don't,  And I Didn't Mention It,  But I'm Going To

Tell You Now,  For I Am Very,  Very Grateful. You Know,  Perhaps,  That

Ann Used To Care A Good Deal For That Reckless Fellow Abe Westbrook?"

 

"Yes,  I Remember Seeing Them Together Frequently," Saunders Answered.

 

"Well,  He Became More And More Dissipated And So Bold And Ill-Bred

That He Even Came To See Her When He Was Intoxicated. I Was Afraid To

Call Father's Attention To It For Two Reasons--First,  Father's Temper,

And Then The Fear I Had That Ann Might Elope With The Fellow. So I Had

To Be Very,  Very Cautious. I Tried Talking To Ann,  But It Went In At

One Ear And Out At The Other. Nothing I Said Had The Slightest Effect

On Her. Then She Got To Meeting Him At Different Places Away From

Home,  And I Was Almost Crazy. Then You,  As You Always Have Done,  Came

To My Aid."

 

"I? Why,  Dolly,  I Am Sure That I Have Never--"

 

"You Don't Remember It"--Dolly's Voice Shook,  And A Delicate Glow

Suffused Her Face--"But I'll Remind You. You Recall The Picnic Over

The Mountain Last Spring?"

 

"The Day You Didn't Go," Saunders Nodded. "I Remember Looking For You

Everywhere."

 

"Well,  That Day,  When All The Girls Felt So Highly Honored By Your

Presence,  And You Were So Nice To Them,  You Paid A Good Deal Of

Attention To Ann,  Asking Her To Drive Home With You."

 

"Of Course I Remember That," Saunders Said; "I Enjoyed The Drive Very

Much."

 

"It Wasn't Anything You Said,  Exactly," Dolly Went On,  "But You May

Remember That Abe Was Drinking That Day And Misbehaved Badly Before

Every One,  Even When They Were All Eating Lunch Together. Ann Told Me

All About It. She Came To My Bed Away In The Night And Waked Me. She

Told Me She Had Made Up Her Mind Never To See Westbrook Again. In

Contrasting Him With You She Saw What A Failure He Was. She Said She

Had Never Before So Plainly Seen Her Danger. She Saw The Look Of

Disgust In Your Face While Abe Was Acting So Badly,  And Your Failure

To Refer To The Incident On The Way Home Impressed Her. That Happening

Completely Turned Her Round,  Opened Her Eyes,  And Already She Has

Stopped Thinking Of Him."

 

Saunders Was Modestly Trying To Formulate Some Protest When,  Looking

Toward The Door,  Dolly Suddenly Exclaimed: "Oh,  There Is George Now!

Don't Leave," For Saunders Was Rising. "I Can See Him At Home."

 

"I Must Be Going,  Anyway," Saunders Said,  Rather Nervously,  "But If

You Will Let Me I'd Like To Take You For A Drive This Afternoon. We

Part 2 Chapter 4 Pg 20

Could Pass The New Schoolhouse And See How It Is Coming On."

 

"I'll Be Glad To Go," Dolly Answered. "I Understand The Men Are Making

Fine Progress."

 

Seeing Saunders Coming Out,  George Stepped Aside Just Outside The Door

To Let Him Pass,  And They Met Face To Face. The Banker's Sympathies

Were Deeply Touched By The Dejected Mien Of The Courageous Young Man,

Whom He Had Always Liked.

 

"Hello,  George," He Greeted Him,  Cordially. "Your Sister Tells Me You

Are Thinking Of Pulling Up Stakes And Moving West."

 

"Yes,  I Think It Is About The Best Thing For Me,  Now,  Mr. Saunders,"

George Answered,  Gloomily. "I've Given This Thing A Fair Test. Perhaps

Out There Among Strangers I May Have A Change Of Luck. I Can't Make It

Go Here. I'm A Drawback To Myself And Everybody Else. Even Dolly Is

Upset By My Troubles,  And When She Gives Up Things Are Bad,  Sure

Enough. You Can't Imagine How A Fellow Feels In My Fix."

 

"I Think I Can,  George." Glancing Back,  Saunders Noted That Dolly Was

Looking Straight At Them. He Put His Hand On The Young Man's Shoulder

And Let It Rest There Gently While He Went On: "Still,  George,  I Would

Not Advise You To Leave Home. You See,  Here You Are Surrounded By Old

Friends And Relatives. Among Total Strangers The Fight For Success

Would Be Even Harder,  And I Am Afraid You'd Be Homesick For These Old

Mountains. I Have Met A Good Many Who Have Come Back After A Trial At

Farming Out There. They All Say This Country Is As Good As Any."

 

"But I Am Actually At The End Of My Rope." George's Voice Shook

Afresh,  And The Shadow About His Eyes Deepened. "Has Dolly Told You

About Cross & Mayhew?"

 

"Yes,  And I'm Sorry You Ever Got In With Them. George,  They Are

Nothing More Nor Less Than Licensed Thieves. Have You Ever Calculated

How Much They Make Out Of You?"

 

"Oh,  I Know Their Profit Is Big," George Sighed,  "But Men Of My Stamp

Have To Go To Them When They Need A Stake To Pull Through On."

 

"I Have Figured On Their Method," Saunders Said,  "And I Am Quite Sure

That They Get As Their Part Fully Half Of The Earnings Of Their

Customers. It May Interest You To Know,  George,  That Our Bank Lends

That Firm Money At Only Seven Or Eight Per Cent.,  Which They Turn Over

To You At No Less Than Fifty."

 

"I See," George Sighed; "The Poor Man Has The Bag To Hold. Money Makes

Money."

 

"I Have A Plan In My Head,  George"--Saunders Was Somewhat Embarrassed,

And Looked Away From The Dejected Face Before Him--"Which,  It Seems To

Me,  Might Help Both You And Me In A Certain Way."

 

"What Is That?" George Stared,  Wonderingly,  His Fine Lips Quivering.

Part 2 Chapter 4 Pg 21

 

"To Begin With,  George,  I Think That Your Bad Crop This Season Is Due

Largely To The Poor Land You Rented. I Noticed It Early In The Year

And Was Afraid You'd Not Accomplish Much."

 

"It Was All I Could Get," George Said. "I Tried All Around,  But Every

Other Small Farm Either Was To Be Worked By The Owner Or Was Rented

Already. It Was Root Hog Or Die With Me,  Mr. Saunders."

 

"You Have Seen The Warner Farm,  Haven't You?" The Banker Inquired.

 

"You Bet I Have!" George Responded. "It Is The Prettiest Small Place

In This Valley."

 

"Well,  I Bought It The Other Day For Two Thousand Dollars," Saunders

Said. "Warner Owed Me Some Money,  And I Had To Take The Farm To Secure

Myself. Things Like That Often Come Up In A Bank,  You Know."

 

"Well,  You Are Safe In It,  Mr. Saunders," George Said. "You Never

Could Lose In A Deal Like That. It Has A Good House On It,  And Every

Foot Of The Land Is Rich. It Has A Fine Strip Of Woodland,  Too."

 

"I Really Have No Use For The Place," Saunders Went On,  More

Awkwardly. "If It Adjoined My Plantation I Would Like It Better,  But

It Is Too Far Away For My Manager To See It Often. I Want To Sell It,

And It Struck Me That If You Could Be Persuaded To Give Up This

Western Idea Maybe You Could Take It Off My Hands At What It Cost Me."

 

"I? Huh! That _Is_ A Joke,  Mr. Saunders," George Laughed. "If Farms

Were Going At Ten Cents Apiece I Couldn't Buy A Pig-Track In A Free

Mud-Hole."

 

"I Wouldn't Require The Money Down," Saunders Went On,  Still Clumsily.

"In Fact,  I Could Give You All The Time You Wanted To Pay For It. I

Know You Are Going To Succeed--I Know It As Well As I Know Anything;

And You Ought To Own Your Own Place. I Am Willing To Advance Money For

Your Supplies--And Some To Get Married On,  Too. You And Your

Sweetheart Could Be Very Snug In That Little House."

 

George Stared Like A Man Waking From A Perplexing Dream. His Toil-

Hardened,  Sun-Browned Hands Were Visibly Quivering,  His Mouth Was

Open,  His Lower Lip Twitching.

 

"You _Can't_ Mean It--You _Can't_ Be In Earnest!" He Gasped,  Leaning

Heavily Against The Door-Jamb,  Actually Pale With Excitement.

 

"Yes,  I Mean It,  George." Saunders Put His Hand On The Broad Shoulder

Again. "And I Hope You Will Take Me Up. You Will Be Doing Me A Favor,

You See. I Lend Money Every Day To Men I Don't Trust Half As Much As I

Do You."

 

At This Juncture Dolly Hurried Down The Aisle,  A Look Of Fresh Anxiety

On Her Face. "What Is The Matter,  George?" She Asked,  Eying Her

Brother In Surprise. "What Has Happened?"

Part 2 Chapter 4 Pg 22

 

Falteringly And With All But Sobs Of Elation,  George Explained

Saunders's Proposition. "Did You Ever In Your Life Think Of Such A

Thing?" He Cried. "Dolly,  I'm Going To Take Him Up. If He Is Willing

To Risk Me I'll Take Him Up. I'll Work My Fingers To The Bone Rather

Than See Him Lose A Cent. I'm Going To Take Him Up--I Tell You,  Sis,

I'm Going To Take Him Up!"

 

Dolly Said Nothing. A Glow Of Boundless Delight Suffused Her Face,

Rendering Her Unspeakably Beautiful. Her Eyes Had A Depth Saunders Had

Never Beheld Before. He Saw Her Round Breast Quiver And Expand In

Tense Agitation. She Put Her Arm About Her Brother's Neck And Kissed

Him On The Cheek. Then,  Without A Word,  Her Hand On Her Lips As If To

Suppress A Rising Sob,  She Turned Back Into The Schoolhouse And,  With

Head Down,  Went To Her Desk,  Where She Sat With Her Back To The Door.

 

"She's Gone Off To Cry," George Chuckled. "She's That Way. She Never

Gives Up In Trouble,  But When She Is Plumb Happy Like She Is Now She

Can't Hold In. Look,  I Told You So--She's Wiping Her Eyes,  Dear,  Dear

Old Girl. Now,  I'm Going To Run Over And Tell Ida. Lord,  Lord,  Mr.

Saunders,  She'll Be Tickled To Death! Just This Morning I Told Her I

Was Going Away. Good-By; God Bless You!"

 

When George Was Gone Saunders Stood At The Door And Wistfully Looked

In At Dolly. An Impulse That Was Almost Overpowering Drew Him To Her,

But He Put It Aside.

 

"She Wants To Be Alone," He Reflected. "If I Went Now,  Feeling Like

This,  I'd Say Something I Ought Not To Say And Be Sorry I Imposed On

Her At Such A Time. No,  I Will Have To Wait. I Have Waited All These

Years,  And I Can Wait Longer. To Win I Could Wait To The End Of Time."

 

Turning,  He Strode Into The Wood. Deeper And Deeper He Plunged,  Headed

Toward The Mountain,  Feeling The Cooling Shade Of The Mighty Trees,

Whose Branches Met And Interlaced Overhead. Reaching A Mossy Bank Near

A Limpid Stream,  He Threw Himself Down And Gave Himself Up To

Reveries.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Part 2 Chapter 5 Pg 23

 

 

Mostyn Took Long Solitary Walks. His Habit Of Morbid Introspection Had

Grown And Become A Fixed Feature Of His Life. Even While Occupied With

Business His Secret Self Stood Invisible At His Elbow Whispering,  Ever

Whispering Things Alien From Material Holdings Or Profit--Matters

Unrelated To Speculative Skill Or Judgment.

 

He Had Wandered Into The Suburbs Of The City One Afternoon,  And,

Happening To Pass An Isolated Cottage At The Side Of The Road,  He Was

Surprised To See Marie Winship Coming Out. She Smiled Cordially,

Nodded,  Signaled With Her Sunshade,  And Hurried Through The Little

Gate Toward Him. He Paused,  Turned,  And Stood Waiting For Her. He Had

Not Seen Her,  Even At A Distance,  For Nearly A Year,  And Her Improved

Appearance Struck Him Forcibly. Her Color Was Splendid,  Her Eyes Were

Sparkling And Vivacious. She Was Perfectly Groomed And Stylishly

Attired.

 

"Why,  What Are You Doing Away Out Here?" He Asked,  Secretly And

Recklessly Soothed By The Sight Of Her,  For In Her Care-Free Way She,

At Least,  Was A Living Lesson Against The Folly Of Taking The Rebuffs

Of Life Too Seriously.

 

She Smiled,  Holding Out Her Gloved Hand In Quite The Old Way,  Which

Had Once So Fascinated His Grosser Senses. "Mary Long,  My Dressmaker,

Lives Here." She Glanced At Him Half Chidingly From Beneath Her Thick

Lashes. "I Come All The Way Out Here To Save Money. You Think I Am

Extravagant,  Dick,  But That Is The Sort Of Thing I Have To Do To Make

Ends Meet. Mary Is Making Me A Dream Of A Frock Now For One-Fourth Of

What Your High And Mighty _Frau_ Would Pay For It In New York."

 

"Always Hard Up," Mostyn Said. "You Never Get Enough To Satisfy You."

 

She Smiled Coquettishly. "I Was Born That Way," She Answered. "My

Brother Sends Me Money Often. He Has Never Forgotten How You And I Got

Him Out Of That Awful Hole. He Has Gone Into The Wholesale Whisky

Business And Is Doing Well. He Paid Me Back Long Ago."

 

"And You Blew It In,  Of Course?" Mostyn Said,  Lightly.

 

"Yes,  That's How I Got That Last New York Trip," She Nodded,  Merrily.

"Dick,  That Was One Month When I Really _Lived_. Gee! If Life Could

Only Be Like That I'd Ask Nothing More Of The Powers That Rule; I

Certainly Wouldn't."

 

"But Life Can't Possibly Be Like That," He Returned,  Gloomily. "Even

That Would Pall On You In Time. I Am Older Than You,  Marie,  And I Know

What I Am Talking About. We Can Go Just So Far And No Farther."

 

"Poof! Piffle!" It Was Her Old Irresponsible Ejaculation. "Life Is

What You Make It. 'Laugh,  And The World Laughs With You.' Eat,  Drink,

And Be Merry--That Is My Motto. But,  Say,  Dick"--She Was Eying His

Face With Slow Curiosity--"What Is The Matter? You Look Like A

Grandfather. You Are Thin And Peaked And Nervous-Looking. But I

Needn't Ask--I Know."

Part 2 Chapter 5 Pg 24

"You Know!" He Repeated,  Sensitively. "I Am Working Pretty Hard For

One Thing,  And--"

 

"Poof!" She Snapped Her Fingers. "You Used To Get Fat On Work. It

Isn't That,  Dick,  And You Needn't Try To Fool Me. I Know You From The

Soles Of Your Feet To The End Of The Longest Hair On Your Head."

 

He Avoided Her Fixed Stare. "I'm Not Making Money As I Did Once. Many

Of My Investments Have Turned Out Badly. I Seem To Have Lost My Old

Skill In Business Matters."

 

"I Was Sure You Would When You Married," The Woman Said,  Positively;

And He Flinched Under The Words As Under A Lash. "A Man Of Your

Independent Nature Can't Sell Himself And Ever Do Any Good Afterward.

You Lost Your Pride In That Deal,  Dick,  And Pride Was Your Motive

Power. You May Laugh At Me And Think I Am Silly,  But I Am Speaking

Truth."

 

"You Ought Not To Say Those Things," He Said,  Resentfully.

 

"I Will Say Exactly What I Like," She Retorted,  Cold Gleams Flashing

From Her Eyes. "You Never Cared A Straw For That Vain,  Stuck-Up Woman.

Dick,  I Hate Her--From The Bottom Of My Soul,  I Despise Her,  And She

Knows It. Whenever I Pass Her She Takes Pains To Sneer At Me. For One

Thing,  I Hate Her For The Way She Is Treating You And Your Child.

Dick,  That Boy Is The Sweetest,  Prettiest Creature I Ever Saw,  And Not

A Bit Like Her. One Day I Passed Your House When He Happened To Be

Playing Outside The Gate. His Nurse Neglects Him. Automobiles Were

Passing,  And I Was Afraid He Might Get Run Over. No One Was In Sight,

And So I Stopped And Warned Him. I Fell In Love With The Little

Darling. Oh,  He Is So Much Like You; Every Motion,  Every Look,  Every

Tone Of Voice Is Yours Over And Over! He Took My Hand And Thanked Me

Like A Little Gentleman. I Stooped Down And Kissed Him. I Couldn't

Help It,  Dick. I Have Always Loved Children. I Went Further--The Very

Devil Must Have Been In Me That Day. I Asked Him Which He Loved More,

You Or His Mother. He Looked At Me As If Surprised That Any One Should

Ask Such A Question,  And Do You Know What He Answered?"

 

"I Can't Imagine," Mostyn Replied. "He Is So Young That--"

 

"Dick,  He Said: 'Why,  Daddy,  Of Course. Daddy Is Good To Me.'"

 

A Subtle Force Rising From Within Seized Mostyn And Shook Him Sharply.

He Made An Effort To Meet The Frank Eyes Bent Upon Him,  But Failed. He

Started To Speak,  But Ended By Saying Nothing.

 

"Yes,  I Hate Her," Marie Went On. "I Hate Her For The Way She Is

Acting."

 

"The Way She Is Acting?" The Echo Was A Faint,  Undecided One,  And

Mostyn's Eyes Groped Back To The Wayward Face At His Side. "Yes,  And

It Is Town Talk," Marie Went On. "You Know People In The Lower And

Part 2 Chapter 5 Pg 25

Middle Classes Will Gossip About You Lucky High-Flyers. They Know

Every Bit As Much About What Is Going On In Your Set As You Do. They

Can't Have The Fun You Have,  So They Take Pleasure In Riddling Your

Characters Or Talking About Those Already Riddled. Dick,  Your Wife's

Affair With Andy Buckton Is Mentioned Oftener Than The Weather. People

Say He Always Loved Her And,  Now That He Is Rich And Rolling High,

That He Is Winning Out. Many Sporting People That I Know Glory In His

'Spunk,' As They Call It. They Are Counting On A Divorce As A Sure

Thing."

 

"Can They Actually Believe That--" Mostyn's Voice Failed Him; But The

Woman Must Have Read His Thought,  For She Said,  Quickly:

 

"Don't Ask Me What They Think. I Know What _I_ Think,  And I'll Bet I

Know Her Through And Through. She Is Reckless To The Point Of Doing

Anything On Earth That Will Amuse Her. She Is So Badly Spoiled She Is

Rotten. I Know How You Are Fixed--Oh,  I Know! You Can't Kill Him; You

Don't Love Her Enough For That; And Besides,  You Know You Can't Prove

Anything Serious Against Her. Her Married Women Friends Go About With

Men,  And For You To Object Would Only Make You Ridiculous. They Sneer

At Women Like Me,  I Know; But Lord,  They Can't Criticize Me! I Am

Myself,  That's All. I Can Be A Friend,  And I Can Be An Enemy. I Want

To Be Your Friend,  Dick."

 

"My Friend?" He Repeated,  With An Inaudible Sigh Drawn From The

Seething Reservoir Of His Gloom.

 

"Yes,  And Not Only That,  But I Want To Give You Some Good,  Solid

Advice."

 

"Oh,  You Do?" He Forced A Smile Of Bland Incredulity.

 

"I Will Tell You What Is The Matter With You,  And How To Get Out Of

It. Dick,  You Have Let This Thing Get On Your Nerves,  And It Is

Hurrying You To The Grave Or The Mad-House. I Know You Well Enough To

Know That It Is On Your Mind Day And Night. Now,  There Is One Royal

Road,  And If You'll Take It The Whole Dirty Business Will Slip Off Of

You Like Water Off A Duck's Back."

 

"What Is That Road,  Marie?" He Asked,  Affecting A Lighter Mood Than He

Felt.

 

"Why,  It Is Simply To Do As They Are Doing. Plunge In And Have A Good

Time. You Made All The Money You Ever Made When You Were Living The

Life Of A Red-Blooded,  Natural Man. Marrying That Woman Has Given You

Cold Feet,  And She Knows It. Forget It All. Sail In And Be Glad You

Are Alive. Look At Me. Things Have Happened To Me That Would Have

Finished Many A Woman,  But I Took A Cocktail,  Won A Game Of Poker,  And

Was As Chipper As If Nothing Out Of The Way Had Happened."

 

"You Don't Understand,  Marie," He Said,  With A Bare Touch Of His Old

Reckless Elation. "That May Be All Right For You,  But--"

 

"Piffle! Dick,  You Are The Limit. I Can Turn You Square About And Make

Part 2 Chapter 5 Pg 26

You See Straight. Think Things Are Bad,  And They Will Be So. Your Wife

And Her Fellow Are Having A Good Time; Why Shouldn't You? People Who

Used To Admire You Think You Are A Silly Chump,  But They Will Come

Back To You If You Show Them That You Are In The Game Yourself. I Like

You,  Dick--I Always Have,  Better Than Any Other Man I Know. Come To

See Me To-Night,  And Let's Talk It Over."

 

She Saw Him Wavering,  And Laid Her Hand On His Arm And Smiled Up At

Him In Her Old Bewitching Way. Some Impulse Surging Up From The

Primitive Depths Of Himself Swayed Him Like A Reed In A Blast Of Wind.

He Touched The Gloved Hand With The Tips Of His Fingers. The Look

Beneath Her Sweeping Lashes Drew His Own And Held It In An Invisible

Embrace. He Pressed Her Hand.

 

"You Are A Good Girl,  Marie," He Muttered,  Huskily. "I Know You Want

To Help Me,  But--"

 

"I Am Not Going To Take A Refusal,  Dick. I Want To See You. I Want You

To Take The Bit In Your Teeth Again. Come To See Me To-Night. I'll

Have One Of Our Old Spreads In My Little Dining-Room. I'll Sing And

Dance For You And Tell You The Funniest Story You Ever Heard. I Am

Going To Expect You."

 

There Was A Genuine Warmth Of Appeal In Her Face. In All His Knowledge

Of Her She Had Never Appeared To Such An Advantage. After All,  Her

Argument Was Reasonable And Rational. A Titillating Sensation Suffused

His Being. In Fancy He Saw The Little Dining-Room,  Which Adjoined Her

Boudoir; He Saw Her At The Piano,  Her White Fingers Tripping,  As In

The Old Days,  Over The Keyboard; He Heard Her Singing One Of Her Gay

And Reckless Songs; He Saw Her Dainty Feet Tripping Through The Dance

He So Much Admired.

 

"You Are Coming,  Dick," She Said,  Confidently,  Withdrawing Her Hand

And Raising Her Sunshade. "I Shall Expect You By Nine O'clock,  Sharp.

I Won't Listen To A Refusal Or Excuse. I Shall Have No Other

Engagement."

 

He Hesitated,  But She Laughed In His Face,  Her Red Lips Parted In An

Entrancing Smile. He Caught A Whiff Of Her Favorite Perfume,  And His

Hot Brain Absorbed It Like A Delicious Intoxicant.

 

"I Know You Of Old,  Dick Mostyn. You Used To Say Now And Then That You

Had Business That Would Keep You Away,  But You Never Failed To Come

When You Knew _Positively That I Was Waiting._ I Am Going To Wait To-

Night,  And If I Don't Make A New Man Of You I'll Confess That I Am

A Failure."

 

"I Really Can't Promise." He Was Looking Back Toward The Smoke-Clouded

City,  At The Gray Dome Of The State Capitol. "I May Come,  And I May

Not,  Marie. I Can't Tell. If I Shouldn't,  You Must Forgive Me. It Is

Kind Of You To Want To Help Me,  And I Appreciate It."

 

"You Are Coming,  Dick; That Settles It." She Smiled Confidently. "Huh!

As If I Didn't Know You! You Are The Same Dear,  Old Chap,  Ridden To

Part 2 Chapter 5 Pg 27

Death With Silly Fancies. Now,  I'm Going To Run Back And Speak To

Mary. I Forgot Something. She Is All Right. She Won't Talk Even If She

Recognized You,  Which Is Doubtful,  For She Is A Stranger Here."

 

Turning,  He Walked Back Toward The City. Already He Was In A Different

Mood; His Step Was More Active; All Of His Senses Were Alert; His

Blood Surged Through His Veins As If Propelled By A New Force. He Saw

Some Vacant Lots Across The Street Advertised For Sale By A Real

Estate-Agent,  And Found Himself Calculating On The City's Prospective

Growth In That Direction. It Might Be Worth His While To Inquire The

Price,  For He Had Made Money In Transactions Of That Sort.

 

Returning To The Bank,  He Found That The Activity Of The Clerks And

Typewriters Did Not Jar On Him As It Had Been Doing Of Late. He Paused

At Saunders's Desk And Made A Cheerful And Oddly Self-Confident

Inquiry As To The Disposition Of A Certain Customer's Account,

Surprising His Partner By His Altered Manner.

 

In His Office,  Smoking A Good Cigar,  He Found A New Interest In The

Letters And Documents Left There For His Consideration. After All,

Life _Was_ A Game. Even The Early Red Men Had Their Sport. Modern

Routine Work Without Diversion Was A Treadmill,  Prisonlike Existence.

Delbridge Was The Happy Medium. The Jovial Speculator Had Never Heard

Of Such A Fine-Spun Thing As A Conscience. What If Irene And Buckton

Were Having Their Fun; Could He Not Also Enjoy Himself? If The Worst

Came,  Surely A Man Of The World,  A Stoical Thoroughbred,  Who Was

Willing To Give And Take A Matrimonial Joke Would Appear Less

Ridiculous In The Public Eye Than An Overgrown Crier Over Spilt Milk.

How Queer That He Had Waited For Marie Winship To Open His Eyes To

Such A Patent Fact!

 

All The Remainder Of The Day He Was Buoyed Up By This Impulse. A Man

Came In To See Him About Buying A New Automobile,  And He Made An

Appointment With Him To Test The Machine The Next Morning. It Was Said

To Be Better And Higher-Priced Than Buckton's. He Might Buy It. He

Might Openly Ride Out With Marie. That Would Be Taking The Bull By The

Horns In Earnest. He Smiled As He Thought That Many Would Think His

Relations With Marie Had Never Been Broken,  But Had Only Been Adroitly

Concealed Out Of Respect For A Wife Who No Longer Deserved Such

Delicate Consideration. The Town Would Talk; Let Them--Let Them! Its

Tongue Was Already Active On One Side Of The Matter; It Should Be Fed

With A Morsel Or Two From The Other. Richard Mostyn Was Himself Again.

 

 

Part 2 Chapter 6 Pg 28

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mostyn Remained In His Office Till Eight O'clock That Evening,  Writing

Letters About An Investment In The West Which Had Been Threatening

Loss. Closing His Desk And Lowering The Lights,  He Decided To Walk

Home And Dress For His Visit To Marie. The Exercise In The Fresh Air

Made Him More Determined In His New Move. A Society Man He Knew Drove

Past In A Glittering Tally-Ho Filled With Young Ladies. One Of The Men

Recognized Him In The Arc Light Swinging Over The Street And Blew A

Playful Blast At Him From One Of The Long Horns. The Gay Party Whisked

Around A Corner And Disappeared.

 

Reaching Home And Entering The Gate,  He Saw His Father-In-Law Striding

Back And Forth On The Veranda,  And As He Came Up The Walk The Old Man

Turned,  Pausing At The Head Of The Steps.

 

"Do You Know Where Irene Is?" He Inquired,  Pettishly.

 

"I Haven't The Slightest Idea." Mostyn's Retort Was Full Of Almost

Genuine Indifference. "I Have Quit Keeping Track Of Her Ladyship."

 

His New Note Of Defiance Was Lost On Mitchell,  Who Seemed Quite

Disturbed. "I Haven't Seen Her Since Breakfast," He Said,

Complainingly. "I Thought She Had Gone To Some Morning Affair,  But

When Lunch Came And Passed And No Sign Of Her I Thought Surely She

Would Be Home To Supper; But That's Over,  And She Isn't Here. Have You

Happened To See Andy Buckton About Town To-Day?"

 

"No,  I Haven't," Mostyn Answered,  Sharply. "I See Your Drift,  Sir,  And

Your Point Is Well Taken. If You Want To Find Your Daughter,  Telephone

Around For Buckton. As For Me,  I Don't Care Enough About It To

Bother."

 

"You Needn't Sniff And Sneer," Mitchell Threw Back,  Sharply. "You Are

As Much To Blame For The Way Things Are Going As She Is. The Devil Is

In You Both As Big As A House. Old-Fashioned Southern Ways Are Not

Good Enough For You; Having A Little Money Has Driven You Crazy. Irene

Was All Right,  No New Toy To Play With Till Buckton Ran Into That

Fortune,  And Now Nothing Will Hold Her Down. She Used To Fancy She

Cared For Him,  And,  Now That He Has Plenty Of Funds,  She Is Sure Of

It. The Society Of This Town,  Sir,  Is Rotten To The Core. It Is Trying

To Be French,  Trying To Imitate Foreign Nobility And The New York Four

Hundred. I Am Not Pitying Myself; I'm Not Sorry For You,  For You Are A

Cold-Blooded Proposition That Nothing Can Touch; But I _Am_ Pitying

That Helpless Child Of Yours. I Reckon You Can Turn In And Sleep As

Sound As A Log To-Night,  Whether Your Wife Comes Home Or Not,  But I

Can't."

 

Part 2 Chapter 6 Pg 29

A Sudden Fear That Little Dick Might Hear The Rising Old Voice Came

Over Mostyn,  And He Restrained The Angry Retort That Throbbed On His

Lips. Ascending The Steps,  He Went Into His Room To Prepare For His

Visit. How Odd,  But The Vengeful Force Of His Contemplated Retaliation

Had Lessened! As He Stood At His Bureau Taking Out Some Necessary

Articles From A Drawer He Felt His Old Morbidness Roll Back Over Him

Like A Wave. Was It Mitchell's Petulant Complaints Of His Daughter's

Conduct,  Or Was It What He Had Said About His Grandchild? It Was The

Latter; Mostyn Was Sure Of It,  For All At Once He Had The Overpowering

Yearning For The Boy Which Had So Completely Dominated Him Of Late. He

Dropped The Articles Back Into The Drawer And Stood Listening. Dick

Must Be Asleep By This Time. But No,  That Was A Voice From The

Direction Of The Nursery. It Was The Low Tones Of Hilda The Nurse.

 

"Now,  Go To Sleep," She Was Saying. "You Must Stop Rollin' An'

Tumblin' An' Talkin'."

 

"I Know It _Is_ My Daddy," The Childish Voice Was Heard Saying. "He Is

In His Room,  And I Want To Sleep In His Bed."

 

"You _Can't_ Sleep In His Bed," The Nurse Scolded. "You Must Be Quiet

And Go To Sleep."

 

Mostyn Crept Across The Room To The Door And Stood Listening,  Holding

His Breath And Trying To Still The Audible Throbbing Of His Heart. He

Heard Dick Sobbing. Pushing The Door Open,  Mostyn Looked Into The

Room,  Feeling The Gas-Heated Air Beat Back Into His Face As He Did So.

In The Light At A Small Table The Nurse Sat Sewing,  And She Glanced

Up.

 

"What Is Dick Crying About?" He Demanded.

 

"Because He's Bad," Was The Reply. "He's Been Bad All Day. In All My

Born Days I've Never Seen Such A Bothersome Child. He Began Cryin' To

Go To The Bank Just After You Left This Mornin'. He Made Such A Fuss

That His Mother Had To Whip 'Im,  But It Didn't Do 'Im A Bit O' Good.

He Has Been Watchin' The Gate For You All Day,  Threatenin' To Tell

You. He Doesn't Care For Nobody In The World But You--Not Even His

Grandfather. I Reckon You've Spoiled 'Im,  Sir,  Pettin' 'Im Up So

Much."

 

Mostyn Crossed Over To Dick's Bed And Looked Down On The Tear-Marked

Face. The Child's Breast Was Spasmodically Quivering With Suppressed

Sobs. His Lips Were Swollen; There Was A Red Mark On The Broad White

Brow,  Against Which The Locks Lay Like Pliant Gold.

 

"What Caused This?" Mostyn Demanded,  Pointing To The Spot.

 

"It Is Where His Mother Slapped 'Im This Mornin'. She Had To Do It. He

Was Cryin' An' Kickin' An' Wouldn't Pay No 'Tention To 'Er. He Kept Up

Such A'sturbance That She Couldn't Dress To Go Out. He Said He Was

Goin' To The Bank To Tell You,  An' He Got Clean Down The Street 'Fore

I Saw 'Im."

 

Part 2 Chapter 6 Pg 30

The Child Was Looking Straight Into Mostyn's Eyes. To Him The

Expression Was Fathomless.

 

"What Is The Matter,  Dick?" He Asked.

 

"I Want My Daddy," The Boy Sobbed. "I Don't Like Hilda; I Don't Like

Mama; I Don't Like Grandpa; I Want To Sleep In Your Room."

 

"Not To-Night,  Dick." Mostyn Touched The Angry Spot On The Brow

Lightly And Bent Down Lower. "I Have To Go Out This Evening. I Have An

Engagement."

 

The Look Of Despair Darkening The Little Flushed Face Went Straight To

The Heart Of The Father,  And Yet He Said: "You Must Go To Sleep Now. I

Must Hurry. I Have To Dress. Good Night."

 

Mostyn Went Back To His Bureau. The Reflection Of His Face In The

Tilted Mirror Caught And Held His Attention. Could That Harsh

Semblance Of A Man Be Himself? Various Periods Of His Life Flashed In

Separate Pictures Before Him. Glimpses Of His College Days; This And

That Gay Prank Of Irresponsible Youth. Then Came Incidents Of His

First Business Ventures; His Dealings With Jefferson Henderson Stood

Out Sharply. The Old Man's First Intuitive Fears Of Coming Loss Rang

In His Ears,  Followed By Curses Of Helpless,  Astounded Despair. One

After Another These Things Piled Thick And Fast Upon Him. He Saw His

First Meeting With Marie; Then That Crisis,  The Transcendent Uplift In

The Mountains,  When For The First Time In His Life He Actually Reached

For Something Beyond And Above Himself Through The Mediumship Of Dolly

Drake,  That Wonderful Embodiment Of The,  For Him,  Unattainable. He Had

Lost Out There. He Had Slipped At The Foot Of The Heights Up Which She

Was Leading Him.

 

He Heard The Gate-Latch Click,  And Old Mitchell's Thumping Tread On

The Veranda Steps As He Descended To Meet Some One. Going To A Window

And Parting The Curtains Cautiously,  Mostyn Looked Down On The Walk.

It Was His Wife. He Saw Her Meet Her Father,  But She Did Not Slacken

Her Brisk Walk Toward The House.

 

"Where Have You Been All Day?" The Old Man Demanded,  Following Behind.

 

"I Don't Have To Tell You," Irene Answered. "You Are Driving Me Crazy

With Your Eternal Suspicions. If I Keep On Answering Your Questions

You Will Never Stop. Let Me Alone. You Needn't Watch Me Like A Hawk. I

Am Old Enough To Take Care Of Myself."

 

An Inarticulate Reply Came Up From The Old Man,  And The Next Moment

Mostyn Heard Irene Ascending The Stairs. The Door Of Her Room Opened

And Shut. Mostyn Distinctly Heard The Turning Of The Key. He Looked At

His Watch. It Was Half Past Eight. He Would Have To Hurry To Catch A

Car. He Went Back To The Bureau.

 

At This Instant Something Happened. Hearing A Low Sound And Looking In

The Glass,  He Saw A Little White-Robed Figure Creeping Stealthily

Across The Floor To His Bed. He Pretended Not To See,  And Watched Dick

Part 2 Chapter 6 Pg 31

As He Softly Crept Between The Sheets. Turning Round,  He Caught The

Boy's Sheepish Stare,  Which Suddenly Became A Look Of Grim,  Even

Defiant,  Determination.

 

"Why Did You Come,  Dick?" He Asked,  And As He Spoke He Crept Toward

The Bed Like A Man In A Dream Drawn To Some Ravishing Delight. He Sat

Down On The Edge Of The Bed. He Caught The Child's Little Hand In His

Own. The Nerves Of His Whole Yearning Soul Seemed Centered In His

Fingers.

 

"Daddy"--The Boy Hesitated; His Words Hung As If Entangled In A Fear

Of Refusal--"Let Me Stay In Your Bed Till You Come Home. I Am Not

Afraid. I Don't Want To Sleep In There With Hilda. I Don't Like Her."

 

Till He Came Home! The Words Seemed To Sink Into And Surge Back From

The Core Of His Accumulated Remorse. Till He Came Home,  Perhaps Near

Dawn,  Reeking With The Odor Of Licentiousness--The Very Licentiousness

He Was Praying That His Child Might Not Be Drawn Into.

 

He Put His Hand On The Little Brow. He Bent And Kissed It. He Felt His

Resistance Falling Away From Him Like The Severed Thongs Of A

Prisoner. A Force Was Entering Him Which Mere Flesh Could Not Combat.

He Slid His Hand Under The Child To Raise Him Up,  And Felt The Little

Body Bound In Surprised Delight Toward Him. He Pressed The Soft Form

To His Breast. He Felt The Keen Pain Of Restrained Emotion Within Him.

 

Taking The Boy In His Arms,  He Sat Down In A Rocking-Chair,  Holding

Him As A Mother Might An Adored Infant. "Do You Want Daddy To Rock You

To Sleep?" He Asked.

 

"Oh,  Will You,  Daddy,  Will You?"

 

"Yes." Mostyn Stroked The Soft Cool Legs Caressingly And Pressed The

Child's Brow Against His Cheek. The Boy Was Quiet For A Moment; Then

His Father Felt Him Stir Uneasily.

 

"What Is It Now?" He Inquired.

 

"When I Get To Sleep What Are You Going To Do With Me?"

 

Mostyn Thought Rapidly. "I'll Put You In My Bed," He Said,  Slowly.

Then He Added,  With Firmness: "I'll Go Down To The Library And Read

The Papers,  And Then I'll Come Back And Sleep With You. I Shall Not Go

Away To-Night."

 

The Child Said Nothing. He Simply Put Both His Arms About His Father's

Neck,  Kissed Him On The Cheek,  And Cuddled Up In His Arms.

 

 

 

 

Part 2 Chapter 7 Pg 32

 

One Morning,  During The Middle Of That Week,  As Saunders Was On His

Way To The Bank,  He Was Surprised To Meet Dolly Coming Out Of One Of

The Big Dry-Goods Shops. She Wore A New Hat And An Attractive Linen

Dress He Had Never Seen Her Wear Before. She Smiled And Flushed

Prettily As She Extended Her Hand.

 

"You Were Not Expecting To See This Mountain Greenhorn Down Here,  Were

You?" She Laughed. "As For Me,  I Hardly Know Which End Of Me Is Up. I

Don't See How You Can Live In All This Whizz,  Bustle,  Smoke,  And

Dust."

 

"I Am Wondering What Miracle Brought You," He Answered.

 

"Well,  I'll Tell You. It Is Simple Enough When You Know," Dolly

Smiled. "The Rural Schools Of The State Are Holding A Convention Of

Teachers Here. We Meet At The Capitol At Ten O'clock This Morning. I'm

A Delegate,  With All Expenses Paid. I Represent Our County. Isn't That

Nice? I Feel Like A Big Somebody. I Was Just Wondering If The Mayor

Will Call On Me. I Think He Ought To,  But I Really Couldn't See Him.

My Time Is All Occupied. They Have Asked Me To Make A Talk. They've

Got Me Down For A Few Minutes' Harangue,  And I Don't Know More Than A

Rat What I'll Say. We Are Going To Try For A State Appropriation In

Our Section,  Meet The Members Of The Legislature,  And Do Some Wire-

Pulling And Lobby Work."

 

"And Where Are You Going At This Minute?" Saunders Laughed,  Merrily.

 

"I Was Headed For The Capitol," She Smiled,  But I'm All Turned Around.

I Went In At The Front Of This Store,  But Feel As If I Had Come Out At

The Back."

 

"I Will Go With You If You Will Let Me," Saunders Ventured.

 

"But I'll Be Taking You From Your Business," She Protested. "You Must

Not Feel Called On To Show Me About. To Be Frank,  That Is The Reason I

Didn't Let You Know I Was Coming. You Can't Afford To Be Nice To All

Your Mountain Friends. They Would Keep You Busy Jerking Them From

Under Cars And Automobiles."

 

"I Have Absolutely Nothing To Do," Saunders Declared. "This Is The Way

To The Capitol. We Pass Right By Our Bank,  And I Can Show You Where We

Hold Forth."

Part 2 Chapter 7 Pg 33

 

He Saw A Cloud Fall Over Her Face. "I'd Rather Not--Not Meet--" She

Did Not Finish What She Started To Say And Bit Her Lip.

 

"I Understand," He Answered,  Quickly. "He Is Not In Town. He Is

Spending The Day In Augusta."

 

"Oh!" She Exclaimed,  In A Breath Of Relief. "You Will Think Me Silly,

But I Can't Help It. I Oughtn't To Be So,  But I Dread It Above All

Things. If I Were To Meet Him Face To Face I Wouldn't Know What To

Say. It Would Be Like Seeing Some One Actually Rise From The Dead. I

Wouldn't Think So Much Of My Own Feelings As--As His. Uncle John Saw

Him In Rome Not Long Ago. He Says He Has Changed In Looks--But Let Us

Not Talk About Him. It Can't Do A Bit Of Good. He Is Unhappy--I Know

He Is Unhappy. I Knew It Would Be So."

 

An Awkward Silence Fell Between Them. They Had To Cross A Crowded

Street,  And Saunders Took Her Arm To Protect Her. He Felt It

Quivering,  And His Heart Sank In Grave Misgivings. He Told Himself

That She Would Never Care For Any Other Man Than Mostyn. She Was The

Kind Of Woman Who Could Love And Trust But Once In Life,  And Was Not

Changed By Time Or The Weakness And Faults Of The Beloved One.

 

Saunders Indicated The Bank Among The Buildings Across The Street,  And

He Saw A Wistful Look Steal Into Her Grave Face As She Regarded It

Steadily.

 

"So That's The Place Where You Men Of Affairs Scheme,  Plan,  And

Execute," She Smiled. "It Looks Close And Hot. Well,  I Couldn't Stand

It. I Must Have Open Air,  Sunshine,  Mountains,  Streams,  And People--

Real,  Plain,  Honest,  Unpretending People."

 

"I Have Made Up My Mind To Quit," He Returned. "I Have Been Staying In

The Country So Much Of Late That I Cannot Do Without It. I Intend To

Sell My Interests Here,  And Settle Down On My Plantation."

 

"You Will Be Wise," She Said,  Philosophically. "Life Is Too Short To

Live Any Other Way Than As Close As Possible To Nature. All This"--She

Glanced Up The Busy Street--"Is Madness--Sheer Madness. In The Whole

Squirming Human Mass You Could Not Show Me One Really Contented

Person,  While I Can Point To Hundreds In The Mountains. You Are

Thinking About Leaving It While My Father Is Planning To Come Here. At

His Time Of Life,  Too. It Is Absurd,  But He Says It Is The Only Thing

Open To Him. I Didn't Tell You,  But He Came Down With Me. It Is

Pitiful,  For He Is Looking For Work."

 

"Oh,  Really,  Is It Possible?" Saunders Exclaimed,  In Surprise. "Why,  I

Thought He Was One Man Who Would Always Stay In The Country."

 

Dolly Sighed. "He Has Changed Remarkably," She Said,  Her Face Settling

Into Almost Pained Gravity. "All At Once He Has Become More Ashamed Of

His Condition Than He Ever Was In His Life. He Is In Debt To Personal

Friends And Has No Way Of Paying Them. He Used To Make Money

Part 2 Chapter 7 Pg 34

Moonshining,  But He Has Quit That,  And Doesn't Seem Able To Make Our

Poor Farm Pay At All. The Storekeepers Won't Credit Him,  And He Has

Become Desperate. He Is Trying To Get A Job At Carpenter Work,  But He

Will Fail,  For He Can't Do That Sort Of Thing. Indirectly,  George Is

The Cause Of His Sudden Determination."

 

"George? Why,  I Thought--"

 

"It Is This Way," Dolly Went On,  Quickly. "You See,  Through Your

Kindness George Is So Happy,  Is Doing So Well,  And There Is So Much

Talk About His Good Luck That It Has Made My Father Realize His Own

Shortcomings More Keenly. Don't You Bother; It Is A Good Lesson For

Him; He Has Not Been Doing Right,  And He Knows It. It Is Odd,  Isn't

It,  To See A Man Mortified By The Success Of His Own Son? In One Way I

Am Sorry For Father,  And In Another I Am Not. Ann Is Trying To Get A

Teacher's Place In A School,  And If She Does,  Between Us We May Be

Able,  For Mother's Sake,  To Keep Father At Home. Somehow,  It Makes Me

Sad To Think Of His Being In This Hot Town Tramping About Asking For

Work As A Day-Laborer,  And Yet I Know It Will Be Good For Him. Mother

Cried Pitifully When We Left This Morning,  And He Was The Most

Wretched-Looking Man I Ever Saw. I Don't Care If He Does Suffer--

_Some_--But I Don't Like To See My Mother Sad. Do You Know,  That Poor

Woman Has Had Nothing But Sorrow As Her Portion All Her Married Life?

First One Thing And Then Another Has Come Up To Depress And Dishearten

Her. At First It Was Father's Drinking; Then He Quit That,  And Became

A Moonshiner In Constant Danger Of Arrest; And Now He Has Left Home To

Try His Fortune Among Total Strangers."

 

"It Is Sad; Indeed,  It Is," Saunders Said,  Sympathetically. "And The

Worst Of It Is That It Troubles You,  Dolly. You Speak Of Your Mother's

Hard Lot. As I See It,  You,  Yourself,  Have Had Enough Trouble To Kill

A Dozen Girls Of Your Age."

 

"Oh,  I Am All Right! That Is The Capitol,  Isn't It?" She Added,  As In

Turning A Corner They Came In Sight Of The Vast Stone Building With

Its Graceful,  Gray Dome,  Standing On The Grassy,  Low-Walled Grounds.

 

He Nodded,  And She Ran On With A Rippling Laugh Of Self-Depreciation.

"Think Of This Silly Country Yap Making A Speech In That Big Building

Before The Governor,  State Senators,  Principals Of Schools,  And No

Telling Who Else! Why,  I'll Want To Sink Through The Floor Into The

Basement. Do You Know,  When I Was A Little Tiny Thing Playing With Rag

Dolls And Keeping House With Broken Bits Of China For Plates And

Stones For Tables And Chairs,  I Used To Fancy Myself Growing Up And

Being A Great Lady With Servants And Carriages; But That Was Crawling

On The Earth Compared To This Sky-Sweeping Stunt To-Day. But If They

Call On Me I'll Go Through With It In Some Shape Or Die."

 

"Is The Meeting To Be Public?" Saunders Asked. "Because If It Is I

Should Like To Be Present."

 

He Saw Her Start Suddenly. She Looked Down At The Pavement For A

Moment; Then She Gave Him A Glance Full Of Perturbation,  Laying Her

Hand On His Arm Impulsively. "Jarvis--Oh,  I Didn't Mean To Call You

Part 2 Chapter 7 Pg 35

That!" The Color Ran In A Flood To Her Face. "It Was A Slip Of The

Tongue. I _Do_ Call You That In My Thoughts,  For--For So Many At Home

Do,  You Know."

 

"I Should Like Nothing Better Than To Have You Do It Always," He Heard

Himself Saying; But The Sight Of Her Clouded Face Checked The Words

Which Packed Upon His Utterance.

 

"Oh,  I Could Never Be As Bold As That," She Put In Quickly. "You Said

You Would Like To Go To The Meeting. It _Is_ Public,  But I Am Going To

Ask You A Favor,  And I Never Was So Much In Earnest In My Life. Do You

Know,  I Think I Could Get Through That Speech Better If Not A Soul Was

In The Audience That I Ever Saw Before. I Would Rather Have You There

Than Any One Else,  For I Know You Would Be Sympathetic,  But I Want To

Face It Absolutely Alone. I Can't Tell Why I Feel So,  But It Is A

Fact."

 

"I Can Understand It," Saunders Answered. "I Had To Make A Speech At A

Convention Of Bankers Once,  And The Fact That I Was A Total Stranger

To Them All Made The Task Easier. But When Are You Going Back Home?"

 

"To-Morrow At Twelve," She Said.

 

"And This Evening?" He Inquired.

 

"There Is To Be A Reception Given Us At The Governor's Mansion." Dolly

Shrugged Her Shoulders. "Somebody Is To Take Us All From The Hotel In

A Bunch. I Have A New Dress For It. That Will Be Another Experience,

But,  As It Comes After My Speech,  I Am Not Even Thinking Of It."

 

"Then I'll See You At The Train In The Morning," Saunders Said. "I

Want To Get The News Of Your Speech. I Am Confident That You Will

Acquit Yourself Beautifully. You Can't Fail. It Isn't In You."

 

They Had Reached The Steps Of The Capitol. A Number Of Women And Men

Were Entering,  And Dolly Turned To Join Them.

 

"That's Some Of My Crowd," She Smiled. "Can't You Tell By The Way They

Stare And Blink,  Like Scared Rabbits? The Men's Clothes Look As If

They Still Had The Price-Tags On Them--Regular Hand-Me-Downs. Good-By;

I'll See You At The Train."

 

 

 

 

 

Part 2 Chapter 8 Pg 36

 

 

 

 

 

 

That Afternoon,  In Coming From A Lawyer's Office,  Saunders Saw Tom

Drake Standing In The Crowd Which Was Always Gathered At The

Intersection Of Whitehall And Marietta Streets. Falling Back

Unobserved Into A Tobacconist's Shop On The Corner,  The Young Man

Looked Out And Watched The Mountaineer. With Hands In His Pockets,

Drake Stood Eying The Jostling Human Current,  A Disconsolate Droop To

His Lank Form,  A Far-Off Stare In His Weary Eyes.

 

"He Has Tried And Given Up Already," Saunders Reflected. "Dolly Knows

Him Better Than He Knows Himself. This Is No Place For A Man Like Him.

He Is Homesick,  Poor Chap! He Counts Himself The Most Unfortunate Man

On Earth,  And Yet He Is The Most Blessed,  For He Is Her Father. How

Can He Look At Her,  Hear Her Voice,  And Not Burn With Triumphant

Pride? Her Father! If I Only Dared,  I'd Treat Him As I'd Treat My Own

Father,  But She Would Resent It. It Would Hurt Her Feelings. I Have To

Consider Her. She Didn't Quite Like What I Did For George; But,  No

Matter,  I'm Going To Speak To Him."

 

Therewith Saunders Skirted The Thickest Part Of The Surging Mass And

Suddenly Came Upon Drake,  Who,  In Order To Be Out Of The Way Of

Pedestrians With More Purpose Than Himself,  Had Stepped Back Against

The Wall Of The Building. Their Eyes Met. Drake's Wavered Sheepishly,

But He Took The Hand Cordially Extended,  And Made An Effort To Appear

At Ease.

 

"I Saw Dolly This Morning," Saunders Began. "She Told Me You Came Down

With Her."

 

"Yes,  I Thought--I Thought I Might As Well." Drake's Lips Quivered. "I

Reckon She Told You That I Am Sorter Strikin' Out On A New Line?"

 

"She Said Something About It." Saunders Felt That The Topic Was A

Delicate One. "I Hope You Are Finding An--An Opening To Your Liking."

 

Drake Was Chewing Tobacco,  And He Spat Awkwardly Down At His Side.

There Was A Certain Timidity In The Man For One So Bold As He Had Been

In His Own Field Of Life Among Rough Men Of Crude Acts And Habits.

 

"I've Looked About Some," He Said,  A Flush Creeping Into His Tanned

Cheeks. "I've Been To The Machine-Shops And To Two Or Three

Contractin' Carpenters. They All Said They Was Full Up With Hands--Men

Waitin' On Their Lists For Times To Improve. Buildin' Is Slow Right

Now,  An' Expert Hands Already On The Spot Get The Pick Of The Jobs.

Machinery Is Stealin' The Bread Out Of The Workin'-Man's Mouth. A

Machine Takes The Place Of Twenty Men In Many Cases."

 

"I See,  I See," Saunders Said. "The Country,  After All,  Is The Best

Place For A Man Brought Up On A Farm."

Part 2 Chapter 8 Pg 37

 

Drake,  Thrown Off His Guard,  Sighed Openly. "I Reckon You Are Right,"

He Agreed. "To Tell You The Truth,  Saunders,  I Don't Think I'm Goin'

To Land Anything On This Trip,  And It Makes A Feller Feel Sorter

Sneakin' To Go Back Empty-Handed. I Put My Judgment Up Against All The

Rest. George,  Dolly,  And Her Mother,  An' Even John Webb,  Tried To Get

Me To Listen To Their Advice,  But Not Me! Oh No,  I Was Runnin' It! I

Reckon I'm Bull-Headed. Le'me Tell You Some'n'. I'd Go Back An' Hire

Out To George As A Day-Laborer If I Didn't Have More Pride Than

Brains. He Needs Hands. He Told Me So. You Are Makin' A Man Out O'

Him,  Saunders,  An' I Want To Thank You."

 

"What Have You Got To Do Just Now?" Saunders Asked. "Couldn't You Go

To The Bank With Me?"

 

Drake Hesitated. His Color Deepened. He Avoided Saunders's Tentative

Gaze. "I Reckon I Won't,  To-Day,  Anyway," He Faltered. "I Never Was

Much Of A Hand To Hang About Big Places O' Business."

 

"Then Suppose We Step Into The Lobby Of The Kimball House; It Is Close

By," Saunders Suggested. "There Are Some Seats There,  And We Could Sit

Down For A Few Minutes. The Truth Is,  I Want To Ask Your Advice About

My Plantation. You Are Better Posted Up There Than I Can Be,  Staying

Here As Much As I Do."

 

"Oh,  That's Different!"

 

A Look Of Relief Swept Over The Rugged Face. "I Only Wish I Could Help

You Some,  No Matter How Little. You Did Me The Biggest Favor Once That

Ever One Man Did Another. When You Jerked Me Back From The Train That

Night And Forced Me To Behave Myself You Saved Me From No End O' Shame

An' Trouble. La,  Me! I've Thought Of That A Thousand Times."

 

"Don't Mention It." Saunders Was Touched By The Deep Surge Of

Gratitude In The Despondent Voice. "If I Had Not Been A Great Friend

Of Yours And Of Your Family,  I Would Not Have Dared To Act As I Did.

But That Is Past And Gone."

 

"Not With Me--A Thing Like That Never Passes With Me," Drake Answered,

As They Crossed The Street And Entered At The Side Door Of The Hotel.

 

They Found Some Unoccupied Chairs In A Quiet Part Of The Big Office.

The Clerks Behind The Counter Were Busy Assigning Rooms To A Throng Of

Passengers From An Incoming Train. A Dozen Negro Porters And Bell-Boys

Were Rushing To And Fro. The Elevators Were Busy. The Tiled Floor

Resounded With The Scurrying Of Active Feet. Saunders Saw The

Mountaineer Watching The Scene With The Lack-Luster Stare He Had

Caught In His Eyes A Few Minutes Before.

 

"You Said You Wanted To Ask Me Something About Your Place," Drake

Suddenly Bethought Himself To Say.

 

"Yes,  It Is Like This. You Know My Manager,  Hobson,  Of Course?"

 

Part 2 Chapter 8 Pg 38

"Yes,  Pretty Well," Drake Made Reply,  Slowly. "That Is,  As Well As Any

Of Us Mountain Men Do. He Never Has Been Much Of A Chap To Mix With

Other Folks. To Tell You The Truth,  Most Of Us Think He Is Stuck Up.

Well,  I Reckon He Has A Right To Be. He Gets Darn Good Wages. Nobody

Knows Exactly What He Makes,  But It Is Reported That You Give 'Im

Fifteen Hundred A Year. He Has Saved Most Of It,  And Has Turned His

Pile Over Till There Isn't Any Telling How Much The Feller Is Worth."

 

"Yes,  I Am Paying Him Fifteen Hundred," Saunders Said,  Lowering His

Voice Into One Of Confidential Disclosure. "I Want To Talk To You

About Him,  And I Know You Will Help Me If You Can. He Has,  As You Say,

Laid Up Money,  And He Has Recently Established A Warehouse Business At

Ridgeville. For The Last Month He Has Scarcely Been At My Plantation

Half A Dozen Times."

 

"I Noticed That," Drake Said,  "But He Told Me That He Had It Fixed So

That He Could Be At Both Places Often Enough To Keep Things In Shape.

He Is A Good Business Man,  And I Reckon He Will Do What He Contracts."

 

"But I Am Not At All Satisfied As It Is," Saunders Answered. "I Am

Thinking Of Disposing Of My Bank Interest And Settling Down Up There

For Good,  And I'd Like To Have A Manager With Whom I Can Be In Touch

Every Day. I Am Interested In Farming Myself,  And I Don't Want My

Manager To Have Too Many Irons In The Fire. The Trouble With Hobson Is

That He Is Now Giving His Best Thought And Energy To His Own

Business."

 

"I See," Drake Said. "Well,  That's Accordin' To Human Nature,  I

Reckon. They Say Hobson Speculates In Grain An' Cotton,  An' When A

Feller Gets To Playin' A Game As Excitin' As That It Is Hard For 'Im

To Get Down To Humdrum Matters."

 

Saunders Linked His Hands Across His Knee,  And Looked Down At The

Floor For A Moment In Silence. He Seemed To Be Trying To Formulate

Something More Difficult To Express Than What He Had Already Touched

Upon.

 

"The Truth Is," He Plunged,  Suddenly--"Just Between You And Me,  In

Confidence,  I Was Compelled To Speak To Him About The Matter The Other

Day; And,  To My Surprise,  He Told Me Bluntly That As He Was Now Placed

He Would Not Care To Give Full Time To The Management Of My Affairs.

He Has His Sights Pretty High. He Is Making Money Rapidly,  And He

Feels Independent."

 

"Good Lord! You Don't Mean That He Would Throw Up The Job?" Drake

Exclaimed,  In Astonishment. "He's A Fool,  A Stark,  Starin' Fool. Why,

I Never Heard O' The Like! It Is By All Odds The Best Berth In Our

County."

 

"He Is To Quit On The First Of Next Month," Saunders Said,  "And That

Is What I Want To See You About. The Truth Is That--Well,  I've Had

_You_ In Mind For Some Time,  And I Was Rather Disappointed When I

Heard You Were Thinking Of Getting Work Down Here. You Are The Very

Man I Want For The Place,  If You Will Do Me The Favor Of Accepting

Part 2 Chapter 8 Pg 39

It."

 

The Stare Of Astonishment In The Eyes Of The Mountaineer Became A

Fixed Glare Of Almost Childlike Incredulity. So Profound Was His

Surprise That He Was Unable To Utter A Word. His Hand,  Suddenly

Quivering As With Palsy,  Went To His Tobacco-Stained Lips And Stayed

There For A Moment. Then His Imprisoned Voice Broke Loose.

 

"You Can't Mean That,  Jarvis--You Can't,  Surely You Can't!"

 

"Yes,  I Do," Saunders Responded,  Drawn Into The Other's Emotional

Current. "I Want A Man Who Is Popular With The People,  And You Have

Hundreds Of Friends. If--If You Accept I'd Like For You To Remain Here

In Atlanta For A Week At Least,  To Help Me Buy Some Implements And

Supplies."

 

"_If_ I Accept--_If!_" Drake Laughed At The Sheer Absurdity Of The

Word. "Do I Look Like A Fool? Just Now I Was Ready To Go Back Home,

Ashamed To Look My Family In The Face Because I Couldn't Find Work At

A Dollar A Day,  And My Board To Pay Out Of It,  And Now--Now--" The

Voice Faltered And Broke.

 

"Well,  It Is Settled,  Then," Saunders Said,  In Relief.

 

"As Far As I Am Concerned,  It Is." Drake Cleared His Husky Throat. "I

Know The Sort Of Work You Want Done Up There,  And I Can Do It. I Can

Get As Much Out Of Hands As Anybody Else,  And You Sha'n't Lose By It;

By God,  You Sha'n't!"

 

"Well,  Come To See Me At The Bank In The Morning." Saunders Rose.

"You've Taken A Load Off My Shoulders. I Was Worried About It."

 

 

 

 

Part 2 Chapter 9 Pg 40

 

The Next Morning,  As Saunders Sat At Breakfast In The Cafe Of His Club

Scanning The Morning Paper,  His Attention Was Fixed By The Big-Typed

Head-Lines Of A Report Of The School Convention At The Capitol. The

Details And Object Of The Meeting Were Given In Only A Few Sentences,

Part 2 Chapter 9 Pg 41

The Main Feature Of The Article Being A Sensational Account Of The

Brilliant Speech Of A Young Woman Delegate In Support Of The Bill

Before The Legislature Favoring A Much-Needed Appropriation For

Schools Among The Poor Mountaineers.

 

The Paper Stated That The Youthful Beauty,  Vivacity,  And Eloquence Of

The Speaker,  The Daughter Of A Confederate Veteran,  Had Roused An

Enthusiasm Seldom Witnessed In The Old State House. She Was Introduced

By The Governor,  Who Was Chairman Of The Meeting,  And Fully Three-

Fourths Of The Members Of The Senate And The House Were Present. Miss

Drake's Speech Was A Rare Combination Of Originality,  Humor,  Arid

Pathos. Her Aptitude At Anecdote,  Her Gift For Description And Dialect

Had Fairly Astounded Her Audience. The Applause Was So Constant And

Persistent That The Brave Young Speaker Had Difficulty In Pursuing Her

Theme. And When It Was Over The Members Of The House And The Senate

Had Pressed Forward To Congratulate Her And Pledge Their Support To

The Bill In Question. Such A Complete Acceptance Of Any Single Measure

Had Never Been Known Before In The History Of Georgia Politics.

 

Following This Account Was The Report Of The Reception To The

Convention Of Teachers At The Executive Mansion,  Which Had Been

Largely Attended Owing To The Desire Of Many To See And Meet The Young

Heroine Of The Day. Saunders Read And Reread The Article,  In His

Excitement Neglecting His Breakfast And Forgetting His Morning Cigar.

 

"God Bless Her!" He Chuckled. "She Is A Brick. Put Her Anywhere On

Earth,  Against Any Odds,  And She Will Win!"

 

When The Hour Approached For Her Train To Leave He Went Down To The

Big Station To See Her Off,  Finding Her Alone In The Waiting-Room

Looking Quite As If Nothing Unusual Had Happened,  Though He Thought He

Noticed A Slight Shade Of Uneasiness On Her Face.

 

"Anything Gone Wrong?" He Inquired,  Anxious To Help Her If She Needed

Assistance.

 

"I Haven't Seen My Father," She Answered. "You See,  He Went To A

Boarding-House. Rooms Were In Such Demand That He Didn't Go With Me

And The Other Delegates To The Hotel. Then,  He Had Determined To

Economize As Much As Possible. I Thought He Would Come Around This

Morning,  Anyway. I Don't Want To Go Back Home Without Seeing Him; My

Mother Would Simply Be Wild With Uneasiness."

 

"You Have Several Minutes Yet," Saunders Answered. "He Will Be Apt To

Turn Up." Therewith Saunders Began To Smile. "Have You Read The

Morning Papers?"

 

"I Haven't Had Time To Read Them Carefully," Dolly Declared. "Several

Of The Men Teachers Sent Copies Up To My Room Before I Came Down For

Breakfast. The Teachers Had A Lot To Say About Me And My Talk. Really,

I Feel Like A Goose,  And Mean,  Too. It Looks As If I Thought I Was The

Whole Show. Why,  There Were Women In The Convention Old Enough To Be

The Mothers Of Girls Like Me,  And With A Hundred Times As Much Sense."

 

Part 2 Chapter 9 Pg 42

"But You Turned The Trick!" Saunders Cried,  Enthusiastically. "You Did

More With That Speech Than A Dozen Conventions Of Men And Women Could

Have Done. You Hit The Nail Square On The Head. You Won. The Bill Will

Pass Like A Flash. It Is A Foregone Conclusion."

 

"Oh,  I Wish I Could Think So," Dolly Cried,  Hopefully,  Her Fine Eyes

Beaming. Then She Began To Smile Reminiscently. "That Was The

Strangest Experience I Ever Had In All My Born Days. Talk About The

Debates We Used To Have In Our Club; They Were Simply Not In It! When

They Put Me Up There On That Platform,  Side By Side With The Governor

Of The State And Three Senators,  And They Were All So Nice And Polite,

I Was Scared To Death. My Tongue Was All In A Knot,  And I Was As Cold

As If I Had My Feet In Ice-Water. Then When The Governor Introduced Me

With All Those Compliments About My Looks,  And I Had To Stand Up And

Begin,  I Give You My Word,  Jarvis,  That Big Stone Building,  Solid As

It Was,  Was Rocking Like A Cradle. Every Seat,  From The Front To The

Back,  Had A Man Or A Woman In It,  But I Didn't See A Single Face. They

Were All Melted Together In One Solid Mass-And Quiet! Why,  It Was So

Still That I Heard My Mouth Click When I Opened It To Catch My Breath.

_It Was Simply Awful._ I Remember Thinking I Would Pray For Help If I

Had Time,  But I Didn't Have Time For Anything. It Was Lucky I Thought

About Beginning With A Funny Tale,  For When They All Laughed And

Clapped I Felt Better. Then I Forgot Where I Was. There Were Some

Young Men Reporters At A Table Right Under My Feet,  And They Kept

Laughing In Such A Friendly,  Good-Natured Way That I Found Myself

Talking To Them More Than Any Of The Rest. The Audience Really Made It

Easier For Me,  For While They Were Applauding I Had A Chance To Think

Of Something Else To Say. I Found Out The Sort Of Thing They Liked,

And Piled It On Thick And Heavy. And When I Sat Down And They All

Packed Round Me To Shake Hands,  I Was More Surprised Than I Ever Was

In My Life."

 

"It Was The Hit Of The Day," Saunders Replied. "It Was As Great A

Success In Its Way As The Speech Of Henry W. Grady At The New England

Banquet. I Am Proud Of You,  Dolly. You Will Let Me Say That,  Won't

You?"

 

"If You Really Mean It." She Raised Her Eyes Frankly To His,  And A

Flush Of Gratification Suffused Her Sweet Face. "I Would Not Like To

Be An Utter Failure On My First Visit To Your City. I Didn't Want You

To Hear My Speech,  But I Do Wish I Had Asked You To That Reception. It

Was Nice. I Can See Now What You All Find In Social Things. It Was

Like A Dream To Me--The Music,  The Lights,  The Jewels,  The Dresses,

The Flowers,  The Brilliant Talk,  The Courtesy Of Men,  And--Yes,  The

Congratulations And Compliments. I Did Like To Have So Many Say They

Liked My Speech--I Really Did. I Almost Cried Over It."

 

"You Shall Have Them All." Saunders Restrained The Words Which

Throbbed On His Lips. "Be My Wife,  Little Girl,  And I'll Gratify Your

Every Desire." She Was Looking Into His Eyes,  And He Glanced Aside,

Fearing That She Might Read His Thoughts.

 

"I Wish I Could Have Gone," Was All He Said. "I Should Have Enjoyed

Your Triumph Immensely."

Part 2 Chapter 9 Pg 43

 

"It Won't Spoil Me--Don't Think That." He Heard Her Sigh And Saw A

Slight Cloud Pass Over Her Face. "I Am Young In Years,  But I Have Had

My Share Of Suffering. You Are Almost The Only One Who Knows My Great

Secret. It Makes Me Feel Very Close To You,  Jarvis. You Made It Easier

For Me To Bear When You Helped Me Hide It On The Night You Prevented

My Father From Making My Humiliation Public. That Was Good Of You--

Good And Brave And Thoughtful."

 

"My God,  She Still Loves Him!" Saunders Thought,  With A Pang Which

Permeated His Whole Being. "His Very Weakness Has Made Him Dearer. She

Never Has A Word To Say Against Him."

 

Saunders Was Trying To Make Some Sort Of Outward Response When He Saw

Dolly Start Suddenly,  Her Eyes On The Doorway. "I See My Father. Oh,

I'm Glad,  For Now I Can Find Out What He Intends To Do. I See Him

Looking For Me. Wait; I'll Run Over To Him."

 

Saunders Watched Her Graceful Figure As It Glided Through The Crowd To

Drake's Side. He Saw The Mountaineer Turn A Face Full Of Pride And

Contentment Upon His Daughter; And Saunders Knew,  From Her Rapt

Expression,  That He Was Telling Her Of His Good Fortune. The Watcher

Saw Dolly Put Her Hand In A Gesture Of Tender Impulsiveness On Her

Father's Arm,  And Stand Eagerly Listening,  And Yet With A Frown On Her

Face. A Moment Later They Came Toward Him. Dolly Was Regarding Him

With A Steady,  Almost Cold Stare. Was It Vague Displeasure? Was It

Wounded Pride? Surely His Act Was Contrary To Her Wishes,  For She Made

No Immediate Reference To It.

 

"Well," Drake Said,  "If You Are Goin' To Put 'Er On The Train,  I'll

Tell 'Er Good-By Now. There's A Feller Waitin' For Me At The Front.

Tell Your Mother,  Daughter,  That I'll Be Up In A Week Or So. So Long."

 

Drake Was Not A Man Given To Embraces Of Any Sort,  And He Was Turning

Away When Dolly Stopped Him. "Kiss Me,  Father," She Said,  Raising Her

Face To His; And,  With A Sheepish Laugh,  The Mountaineer Complied.

 

"She's Like All The Balance,  Jarvis," He Said,  Lightly. "They Believe

In Things Bein' Done To The Letter. You Will Be At The Bank After A

While,  Won't You?"

 

"Yes,  As Soon As The Train Leaves," Saunders,  Answered. Then He Heard

The Porter Announcing Dolly's Train,  And He Took Up Her Bag. She Was

Silent As They Walked Along The Pavement And Down The Iron Stairs To

The Car,  Where He Found A Seat For Her. Only A Few Minutes Remained,

And The Feeling Was Growing On Him That She Was Quite Displeased With

The Arrangement He Had Made With Her Father. How Could He Part With

Her Like That? The Days Of Doubt And Worry Ahead Of Him As A

Consequence Of What He Had Done Seemed Unbearable.

 

"Did Your Father Mention The Plan He And I--"

 

"Yes," She Broke In,  Tremulously; "He Told Me All About It,  Jarvis,

And--And I Want To Ask You A Question. I Want You To Be Frank With Me.

Part 2 Chapter 9 Pg 44

I Don't Want The Slightest Evasion To--To Save Me From Pain. I Can't

Go Up Home Without Knowing The Full Truth. You Are So--So Kind And

Thoughtful,  Always Wanting To--To Do _Me_ Some Favor And Aid _Me_

That--Oh,  Jarvis,  I Want To Know This: Do You Think My Father Is

Capable Of Filling That Place As It Ought To Be Filled?"

 

Saunders Was Sitting On The Arm Of The Seat In Front Of Her. The Car

Was Almost Empty,  No One Being Near. He Bent Forward And Laid His Hand

On Her Arm. "He Is The Very Man I Want," He Declared. "The Work Is Not

Difficult; He Is So Popular With The Average Run Of Men That He Will

Make A Far Better Manager Than Hobson,  Or Any One Else I Could Get."

 

He Heard Her Catch Her Breath. He Saw A Light Of Joy Dawn In Her Eyes.

"If Only I Could Believe That,  Jarvis," She Said,  "I Would Be The

Happiest Girl In All The World. I Would--I Would--I Would."

 

"Then You May Be," He Answered,  Huskily,  His Emotions All But

Depriving Him Of Utterance. "He Is Doing _Me_ A Favor,  Dolly. Of

All Men He Is The First I Would Select."

 

The Bell Of The Locomotive Was Ringing. Saunders Stood Up,  Now

Clasping The Hand She Held Out. He Felt Her Timid Fingers Cling To

His. Her Blood And His Throbbed In Unison. Looking Into Her Eyes,  He

Saw That They Were Full Of Tears. He Remembered How She Had Kissed His

Hand On The Night He Had Prevented Her Father From Going To Atlanta,

And As He Hurried From The Slowly Moving Car He Was Like A Man Groping

Through A Maze Of Doubt And Bewildering Fears. She Could Feel And Show

Gratitude,  He Told Himself,  But A Heart Such As Hers Could Never Be

Won Twice To Actual Love. It Is Said That Suffering Deepens Character,

And It Was Perhaps The Fall Of Her Ideal Which Had Made Her The Heroic

Marvel She Was. Mostyn Still Loved Her In Secret; Of That Saunders Had

Little Doubt,  For How Could A Man Once Embraced By Such A Creature

Ever Forget It? And Dolly Suspected The Man's Constancy And Had No

Room For Aught But Secret Responsiveness. But No Matter,  He Would

Still Be Her Watchful And Attentive Friend. He Had Helped Her To-Day

In The Midst Of Her Triumph,  And He Would Help Her Again And Again. To

Serve Her Unrewarded Would Have To Suffice.

 

 

 

 

Part 2 Chapter 10 Pg 45

 

 

One Morning,  A Week Or So Later,  Mostyn Found A Note From Marie

Winship In His Mail. It Was Brief And To The Point. It Ran:

 

Dear Dick,-I Am Going To Leave Atlanta For Good And All,  Never To

Bother You Again (Believe Me,  This Is The Truth),  But I Want To See

You To Explain In Full. I Shall Be At My Dressmaker's In The Morning

After Ten. Please Walk Out That Way. I Shall See You From The Window,

And You Won't Have To Come In. Don't Refuse This Last Request. This Is

Not A "Hold-Up"; I Don't Intend To Ask For Money. I Only Want To Say

Good-By And Tell You Something. My Last Effort To Get You To Come To

See Me Proved To Me How Altered You Are. Marie.

 

Mostyn Turned The Matter Over In His Mind Deliberately,  And Finally

Decided That He Would Comply With The Request. It Rang True,  And There

Was Comfort In The Assurance That She Was About To Leave Atlanta,  For

Her Presence And Instability Of Mood Had Long Been A Menace To His

Peace Of Mind.

 

At The Hour Mentioned He Found Himself Somewhat Nervously Nearing The

Cottage In Question. She Was Prompt; He Saw Her Standing At A Window,

And A Moment Later She Came Out And Joined Him.

 

"Let's Walk Down Toward The Woods," She Suggested,  With A Smile Which

Lay Strangely On Her Piquant Features. "It Will Look Better Than

Standing Like Posts On The Sidewalk."

 

He Agreed,  Wondering Now,  More Than Ever,  What She Had To Say. She Had

Barely Touched His Hand In Salutation,  And Bore Herself In A Sedate

Manner That Was All But Awkward. They Soon Reached A Shaded Spot Quite

Out Of Sight Of Any Of The Scattered Residences In The Vicinity,  And

She Sat Down On The Grass,  Leaving Him The Option Of Standing Or

Seating Himself By Her.

 

"You Are Wondering What On Earth I've Got Up My Sleeve"--She Forced A

Little Laugh--"And Well You May Wonder,  Dick,  For I Am As Big A

Mystery To Myself As I Could Possibly Be To Any One Else."

 

"I Was Wondering If You Really Do Intend To Leave Atlanta," He

Answered,  Sitting Down Beside Her. "You Seemed Very Positive About It

In Your Note."

 

"Yes,  I Am Going,  Dick; But That Is Not The _Main_ Thing. Dick,  I'm

Going To Be Married."

 

"Married!" He Exclaimed. "Are You Joking?"

 

"I Suppose You Do Regard It As A Joke," She Said,  Listlessly,  And With

A Little Sigh. "Such A Serious Step Would Seem Funny In Me,  Wouldn't

It? But I Am Not What I Used To Be,  Dick. I Have Been Quite Upset For

A Long Time--In Fact,  Ever Since You Married. Then Again,  Your Life,

Your Ways,  Your Constant Brooding Has Had A Depressing Effect On Me.

Dick,  It Seems To Me That You Have Been Trying To--Well,  To Be Good

Part 2 Chapter 10 Pg 46

Ever Since You Married."

 

He Shrugged His Shoulders. "What Is The Use Of Talking About That,

Marie?" He Asked,  Avoiding Her Probing Stare.

 

"It Affected Me A Lot," She Returned,  Thoughtfully. "I Tried To Keep

Up The Old Pace And Care For The Old Things,  But Your Turn About Was

Always Before Me. Dick,  You Have Puzzled Me All Along. You Do Not Care

A Snap For Your Wife; What Is It That Makes You Look Like A Ghost Of

Your Old Jolly Self?"

 

He Shrank From Her Sensitively. "I Really Don't Like To Talk About

Such Things," He Faltered. "Tell Me About Your Marriage."

 

"Not Yet; One Thing At A Time." She Dropped Her Sunshade At Her Feet

And Locked Her White Hands Over Her Knee. "I Shall Never See You Again

After To-Day,  Dick,  And I _Do_ Want To Understand You A Little Better,

So That When I Look Back On Our Friendship You Won't Be Such A

Tantalizing Mystery. Dick,  You Never Loved Me; You Never Loved Your

Wife; But You _Have_ Loved Some One."

 

He Lowered His Startled Glance To The Ground. She Saw A Quiver Pass

Over Him And A Slow Flush Rise In His Face.

 

"What Are You Driving At?" He Suddenly Demanded. "All This Is Leading

Nowhere."

 

She Smiled In A Kindly,  Even Sympathetic Way. "It Can't Do Any Harm,

Dick,  For,  Really,  What I Have Found Out Has Made Me Sorry For You For

The First Time In My Life--Genuinely And Sincerely Sorry."

 

"What You Have Found Out?" He Faltered,  Half Fearfully.

 

"Yes,  And It Doesn't Matter How I Discovered It,  But I Did. I Happened

To Stay For A Week At A Little Hotel In Ridgeyille Last Month,  And A

Slight Thing I Picked Up About Your Stay Up There Five Years Ago

Gradually Led Me On To The Whole Thing. Dick,  I Saw Dolly Drake One

Day On One Of My Walks. One Look At Her And The Whole Thing Became

Plain. You Loved Her. You Came Back Here With The Intention Of

Marrying Her And Leading A Different Life. You Would Have Done It,

Too,  But For My Threats And Your Partial Engagement To Your Wife. You

Went Against Your True Self When You Married,  And You Have Never

Gotten Over It."

 

He Was Unable To Combat Her Assertions,  And Simply Sat In Silence,  An

Expression Of Keen Inner Pain Showing Itself In His Drawn Lips.

 

"See How Well I Have Read You!" She Sighed. "I Always Knew There Was

Something Unexplained. You Would Have Been More Congenial With Your

Wife But For That Experience. You Are To Blame For Her

Dissatisfaction.

 

Not Having Love From You,  She Is Leaning On The Love Of An Old

Sweetheart. Dick,  That Pretty Girl In The Mountains Would Have Made

Part 2 Chapter 10 Pg 47

You Happy. I Read The Article About Her In The Paper The Other Day.

From All Accounts,  She Is A Remarkable Woman,  And Genuine."

 

Mostyn Nodded. "She _Is_ Genuine," He Admitted. "Well,  Now You Know

The Truth. But All That Is Past And Gone. You Forget Something Else."

 

"No,  I Don't," She Took Him Up,  Confidently. "You Are Thinking Of Your

Boy."

 

Again He Nodded. "Love For A Woman Is One Thing,  Marie,  But The Love

For One's Own Child Passes Beyond Anything Else On Earth."

 

"Yes,  When The Child Is Loved As You Love Yours,  And When You Fancy

That He Is Being Neglected,  And That You Are Partly Responsible For

It. Oh,  Dick,  You And I Both Are Queer Mixtures! I May As Well Be

Frank. Your Struggles To Make Amends Have Had Their Effect On Me. For

A Long Time I Have Not Been Satisfied With Myself. I Used To Be Able

To Quiet My Conscience By Plunging Into Pleasure,  But The Old Things

No Longer Amuse. That Is Why I Am Turning Over A New Leaf. Dick,  The

Man I Am To Marry Knows My Life From Beginning To End. He Is A Good

Fellow--A Stranger Here,  And Well-To-Do. My Brother Sent Him To Me

With A Letter Of Introduction. He Has Had Trouble. He Was Suspected Of

Serious Defalcation,  And The Citizens Of His Native Town Turned

Against Him. All His Old Ties Are Cut. He Likes Me,  And I Like Him. I

Shall Make Him A True Wife,  And He Knows It. I Am Going To My Brother

In Texas And Will Be Married Out There. Dick,  I Shall,  Perhaps,  Never

See You Again,  But,  Frankly,  I Shall Not Care. I Want To Forget You As

Completely As You Will Forget Me. I Only Wish I Were Leaving You In A

Happier Frame Of Mind. You Are Miserable,  Dick,  And You Are So

Constituted That You Can't Throw It Off."

 

"No,  I Can't Throw It Off!" His Voice Was Low And Husky. "I Won't

Mince Words About It. Marie,  I Am In Hell. I Know How Men Feel Who

Kill Themselves. But I Shall Not Do That."

 

"No,  That Would Do No Good,  Dick. I Have Faced That Proposition

Several Times,  And Conquered It. The Only Thing To Do Is To Hope--And,

Dick,  I Sometimes Think There Is Something--A _Little_ Something,  You

Know--In Praying. I Believe There Is A God Over Us--A God Of _Some_

Sort,  Who Loves Even The Wrong-Doers He Has Created And Listens To

Their Cries For Help Now And Then. But I Don't Know; Half The Time I

Doubt Everything. There Is One Thing Certain. The Humdrum Church-

People,  Whom We Used To Laugh At For Their Long Faces And Childish

Faith,  Have The Best Of The Game Of Life In The Long Run. They Have--

They Really Have."

 

He Tried To Blend His Cold Smile With Hers,  But Failed. He Stood Up,

And,  Extending His Hand,  He Aided Her To Rise. "This Is Good-By,  Then,

Forever," He Said. "Marie,  I Think _You_ Are Going To Be Happy."

 

"I Don't Know,  But I Am Going To Try At Least For Contentment," She

Said,  Simply. "There Is Always Hope,  And You May See Some Way Out Of

Your Troubles."

 

Part 2 Chapter 10 Pg 48

Quite In Silence They Walked Back To The Cottage Gate,  And There,  With

A Hand-Shake That Was All But Awkward,  They Parted. He Tipped His Hat

Formally As He Turned Away. Ahead Of Him Lay The City,  A Dun Stretch

Of Roofs And Walls,  With Here And There A Splotch Of Green Beneath A

Blue Sky Strewn With Snowy Clouds.

 

He Had Gone Only A Few Paces When He Heard The Whirring Sound Of An

Automobile,  Which Was Approaching From The Direction Of The City. It

Was Driven By A Single Occupant. It Was Andrew Buckton. Mostyn Saw The

Expression Of Exultant Surprise That He Swept From Him To Marie,  And

Knew By Buckton's Raised Hat That He Had Seen Them Together. The Car

Sped On And Vanished Amid The Trees At The End Of The Road. Looking

Back,  Mostyn Saw That Marie Was Lingering At The Gate. He Knew From

The Regretful Look In Her Face That She Was Deploring The Incident;

But,  Simply Raising His Hat Again,  He Strode On.

 

All The Remainder Of The Morning He Worked At His Desk. He Tried To

Make Himself Feel That,  Now That Marie Was Leaving,  His Future Would

Be Less Clouded; But With All The Effort Made,  He Could Not Shake Off

A Certain Clinging Sense Of Approaching Disaster. Was He Afraid That

Buckton Would Gossip About What He Had Just Seen,  And That The Public

Would Brand Him Afresh With The Discarded Habits Of The Past? He Could

Not Have Answered The Question. He Was Sure Of Nothing. He Lunched At

His Club,  Smoked A Dismal Cigar With Delbridge And Some Other Men,  And

Heard Them Chatting About The Rise And Fall Of Stocks As If They And

He Were In A Turbulent Dream. They Appeared As Marvels To Him In Their

Unstumbling Blindness Under The Overbrooding Horrors Of Life,  In Their

Ignorance Of The Dark,  Psychic Current Against Which He Alone Was

Battling.

 

All The Afternoon He Toiled At The Bank,  And At Dusk He Walked Home.

No One Was About The Front Of The House,  And He Went Up To His Room.

He Had Bathed His Face And Hands,  Changed His Suit,  And Was About To

Descend The Stairs When His Father-In-Law Came Tottering Along The

Corridor And Paused At The Open Door Of The Room.

 

"This Is A Pretty Come-Off," He Scowled In At Mostyn. "Here You Come

Like This As If Nothing Out Of The Way Had Happened,  When Your Wife

Has Packed Up And Gone Off For Another Trip. She Said She Was Going To

Write You--Did You Get A Note?"

 

"No; Where Has She Gone?" Mostyn Inquired. "She Didn't Even Mention It

To Me."

 

"One Of Her Sudden Notions. The Hardys At Knoxville Are Having A Big

House-Party,  And Wrote Her To Come. I Tried To Get Her To Listen To

Reason,  But She Wouldn't Hear A Word. She Is Actually Crazy For

Excitement--Women All Get That Way If You Give Them Plenty Of Rein,

And Irene Has Been Spoiled To Death. I Have Never Seen Her Act As

Strange As She Did To-Day. She Cried When I Talked To Her,  And Almost

Went Into Hysterics. She Gave The Servants A Lot Of Her Clothes,  And

Kept Coming To Me And Throwing Her Arms Around Me And Telling Me To

Forgive Her For This And That Thing I Forgot Long Ago. When She

Started For The Train I Wanted To Go With Her Or Telephone You,  But

Part 2 Chapter 10 Pg 49

She Wouldn't Let Me Do Either--Said I Was Too Feeble,  And She Did Not

Want To Bother You. Say,  Do You Know I'm To Blame? I Had No Right To

Influence You And Her To Marry,  Nohow. You Have Never Suited Each

Other--You Don't Act Like Man And Wife. You Might As Well Be Two

Strangers Hitched Together. Something Is Wrong,  Awfully Wrong,  But I

Can't Tell What It Is."

 

Mostyn Made No Reply. He Heard Little Dick's Voice In The Hall Below,

And Had A Sudden Impulse To Take Him Up. Leaving Him,  Old Mitchell

Passed On To His Own Room,  And Mostyn Went Down The Stairs To The

Child,  Who Was Playing On The Veranda.

 

"Poor Child! Poor Child!" He Said To Himself.

 

 

 

Part 2 Chapter 11 Pg 50

 

 

 

The Next Morning At The Bank A Financial Disappointment Met Him. A

Telegram Informed Him Of The Sudden Slump In Some Stocks In Which He

Was Interested. The Loss Was Considerable,  And The Tendency Was Still

Downward. He Was Wondering If He Ought To Confide This To Saunders,

When His Partner,  Of His Own Accord,  Came Into His Office And Sat Down

By His Desk.

 

"Busy Just Now?" Saunders Inquired.

 

"No; What Is It?" Mostyn Returned. "Fire Away."

 

Saunders Seemed To Hesitate. Through The Partition Came The Clicking

Of A Typewriter And An Adding-Machine,  The Swinging Of The Screened

Door In Front. "It Is A Somewhat Personal Matter," Saunders Began,

Awkwardly. "I Have Been Wanting To Mention It For A Month,  But Hardly

Knew How To Bring It Up. You May Know,  Mostyn,  That I Have Been

Thinking Of Giving Up Business Here Altogether. I Have Become More And

More Interested In My Farming Ventures,  And My Life In The Country Has

Taken Such A Grip On Me That I Want To Quit Atlanta Altogether."

 

"Oh,  I See." Mostyn Forced A Smile. "I Thought You Would Get To That

Before Long. You Are Becoming A Regular Hayseed,  Saunders. You Are

Part 2 Chapter 11 Pg 51

Like A Fish Out Of Water Here In Town. Well,  I Suppose You Want To Put

A Man In Your Place So You Will Have Freer Rein In Every Way."

 

"Not That,  Exactly,  Mostyn. The Fact Is,  I Want To Realize On My Bank

Stock. There Are Other Things I'd Like To Invest In,  And I Need The

Money To Do It With. I Am Planning A Cotton-Mill In My Section To Give

Employment To A Worthy Class Of Poor People."

 

Mostyn Drew His Lips Tight. He Stabbed A Sheet Of Paper On The Green

Felt Before Him,  And There Was A Rebellious Flash From His Eyes.

 

"Come Right Out And Be Frank About It," He Said,  With A Touch Of

Anger. "Are You Afraid Your Investment In This Bank Is Not A Safe

One?"

 

Saunders Looked Steadily At Him. "That Certainly Is Not A Businesslike

Question,  Mostyn,  And You Know It."

 

"Perhaps It Isn't,  But What Does It Matter?" Mostyn Retorted. "At Any

Rate,  That Is A Shrewd Evasion Of The Point. Well,  Do You Want To Sell

_Me_ Your Stock?"

 

"I Would Naturally Give You The Preference,  And That Is Why I Am

Mentioning It To You."

 

Mostyn Sat Frowning Morbidly. There Was A Visible Droop To His

Shoulders. "There Is No Use Having Hard Feelings Over It," He Said,

Dejectedly. "You Have A Right To Do As You Please With Your Interests.

But The Truth Is,  I Am Not Financially Able To Take Over As Big A

Block Of Stock As You Hold."

 

Saunders Hesitated For A Moment,  Then Began: "I Was Wondering If Mr.

Mitchell--"

 

"Leave Him Out Of Consideration,  For God's Sake," Mostyn Broke In. "He

Has Grown Horribly Suspicious Of Me. He Would Have A Regular Spasm If

You Tried To Sell To Him. He Would Be Sure We Are On The Brink Of

Failure,  And Talk All Over Town. Don't Mention It To Him."

 

"And You Say You Are Not In A Position To--"

 

"No; Many Things Have Gone Against Me Recently,  But That Needn't

Bother You. You Can Find A Buyer."

 

"I Have Already Found One,  And The Offer Is Satisfactory." Saunders

Glued His Glance To The Rug At His Feet. "In Fact,  I Have Been

Approached More Than Once,  Delbridge Wants To Buy Me Out."

 

"Delbridge!" Mostyn Started. His Lips Parted And His Teeth Showed In A

Cold Grimace. "Ah,  I See His Game!"

 

"I Don't Understand," Saunders Said,  Wonderingly.

 

"Well,  I Do,  If You Don't. I Suspected Something Was In The Wind Last

Part 2 Chapter 11 Pg 52

Month When He Took Over Cartwright's Stock At Such A Good Figure. Do

You Know If He Gets Your Stock That He Will Hold A Larger Interest

Than Mine?"

 

"I Hadn't Thought Of It."

 

"I See His Plan Plainly. He Wants To Be The President Of This Bank,

And He Can Elect Himself If He Buys You Out. He Has Always Wanted

Exactly This Sort Of Thing To Back Up His Various Schemes. You Must

Give Me A Little While To Think It Over,  Saunders. I Don't Like To

Give In To Him. He Has Always Fought Me,  You Know,  And This Would Be A

Feather In His Cap. Perhaps I Can Induce Some One Else To Make The

Investment."

 

"Take All The Time You Want," Saunders Answered. "I Want You To Be

Satisfied."

 

"Well,  I'll Let You Know To-Day,  Or To-Morrow,  At Furthest," Mostyn

Said,  Wearily. "If I Can't Make Some Arrangement I'll Have To Give In,

That's All. My Affairs Are Getting Pretty Badly Tangled,  But I'll Come

Out All Right."

 

When Saunders Had Left Him And The Door Had Closed,  Mostyn Leaned His

Head On His Hand And Tried To Collect His Wits,  But To No Avail. What

Was The Intangible Thing Which Had Haunted Him Through The Night,

Causing Him To Lie Awake,  Reciting Over And Over Old Mitchell's

Account Of The Scene With His Daughter Just Before Her Departure? What

Was It That Kept Coupling This Hurried Trip Of Hers With Buckton? Was

Thought-Transference A Scientific Fact,  As Many Hold,  And Was The

Insistent Impression Due To The Bearing Of Culpable Minds Upon His? He

Might Telephone Here And There And Find Out If Buckton Was In Town--

But No,  No,  That Would Not Do.

 

The Porter Opened The Door And Came In With A Bundle Of Letters And

Papers Which He Put Down Before Him And Withdrew. A Grim Foreboding

Settled On Him. Something Seemed To Whisper From The Mute Heap That

Here Lay The Revelation--Here Was The Missing Communication From Irene

Of Which Her Father Had Spoken. A Bare Glance At The Bundle Was

Enough,  For He Recognized The Pale-Blue Envelope Belonging To Irene's

Favorite Stationery. With Bloodless Fingers,  Breathlessly,  He Drew It

Out. It Had Been Posted The Night Before. Surely,  He Told Himself,

There Was Meaning In This Slower Method Of Delivery,  For What Had

Prevented Her From Leaving It At Home In His Room Or In Her Father's

Care? Or,  For That Matter,  Why Had She Not Telephoned Him? He Laid The

Communication Down,  Unopened. He Was Afraid Of It. Had The Skies Been

Stone,  Their Supports Straws,  His Dread Could Not Have Been Greater.

He Went To The Door And Softly Turned The Key. There Should Be No Eye

Upon Him. He Came Back. Taking A Paper-Knife,  He Slit The Envelope And

Spread Out The Perfumed Sheet. It Read:

 

Dear Dick,--There Is No Use Keeping Up This Senseless Farce Any

Longer. I Am Sick To Death With My Very Existence. I Have Been Hungry

For Love All My Life,  And Never Had It. When I Married I Mistreated

The Only Man I Ever Cared For,  And I Have Resolved To Do So No Longer.

Part 2 Chapter 11 Pg 53

Andy And I Are Leaving Together. God Only Knows If We Shall Find The

Happiness We Are Seeking,  But We Are Going To Try. Father Thinks I

Have Gone To The Hardys'. Perhaps He May As Well Be Kept In Ignorance

For A Few Days Longer. The Truth Will Leak Out Soon Enough. Though You

May Do As You Like About This. As For Your Following Us And Making

Things Unpleasant,  I Have No Fears,  For,  As You Well Know,  I Am

Entitled To My Liberty In This Matter. You Have Certainly Not Been

Molested By Me In Your Own Private Life. I Now Know All About The

Cottage In The Outskirts Of Town,  But I Am Not Blaming You In The

Least. I Confess That I Thought You Had Ceased Your Attentions In That

Quarter,  But That Was Because I Attributed A Certain Spiritual And

Remorseful Quality To You Which You Do Not Possess. I Am Not Blaming

You At All--_At All_. In Fact,  Somehow The Discovery Has Had A

Soothing Effect On Me. It Has Confirmed The Feeling That Both You And

I Have Been And Are The Mere Playthings Of Fate. As I See It,  I Am

Doing My Duty. I Led Poor Andy On Before My Marriage. I Kissed Him--

I've Kissed Him A Thousand Times,  Both Before And Since My Marriage.

He Can't Live Without Me,  And I Can't Live Without His Love And Future

Companionship. Life Is Too Short To Spend It In The Sheer Misery I

Have Been In Of Late. He And I Are Going Out Into The Great World To

Live,  Enjoy,  And Die Together. People Will Talk,  But We Can't Help

That--The Truth Is,  We Don't Care. You Will Blame Me For Leaving The

Child,  For You Do Love Him,  But I Can't Help That. He Was Born Out Of

Love,  And Was Always A Reproach To Me. You Will Take Care Of Him; I

Know That,  And Better Than If I Were There.

 

Good-By.                                    Irene.

 

Mostyn Folded The Sheet And Thrust It Into His Pocket. Going To A

Window,  He Stood Looking Out On The Dusty Street. Drays And Cabs Were

Trundling By. Had His Back Been Bared To The Thonged Scourge Of The

Public Whipping-Post And The Blows Been Falling Under The Strokes Of A

Giant,  He Could Not Have Cringed More. He Saw Himself The Laughing-

Stock Of The Town,  The Fool Provider For Another Man's Passion. He Saw

His Adored Child,  Now Worse Than Motherless,  Growing Up Into Open-Eyed

Consciousness Of His Hereditary Shame. He Saw His Wreck Of A Father-

In-Law Glaring At Him In Senile Indignation. What Was To Be Done--What

_Could_ Be Done? Nothing--Simply Nothing. Men Of Honor In The Past Had

Been Able To Wipe Out Stains Like Those And Keep Their Heads Erect,

But To Assume That He Was "A Man Of Honor," As Matters Stood,  Would Be

The Height Of Absurdity. He Certainly Would Not Announce The News To

Mitchell. He Would Ward Off The Disclosure As Long As Possible,  And

Then--Well,  There Was No Knowing What Would Happen.

 

Going To The Door,  He Unlocked It And Peered Into The Busy Bank. His

Glance Fell On Saunders's Desk. Saunders Was Not There. He Had Decided

To Speak To Him With Finality In Regard To The Disposition Of His

Stock. What Mattered It Now Who Held The Office Of President? In Fact,

The Unsullied Name Of A Man Like Delbridge Might Rescue The

Institution From The Actual Ruin Which Was Apt To Follow Such A

Scandal And The Accompanying Report Of Old Mitchell's Financial

Estrangement From His Son-In-Law.

 

Mostyn Approached Wright,  The Cashier,  With The Intention Of Inquiring

Part 2 Chapter 11 Pg 54

Where Saunders Was When He Heard Wright Speaking To A Man Through The

Grating As He Turned A Check Over In His Hand. "I Am Sorry," He Was

Saying,  "But,  While It Is Small,  We Could Not Cash It Without

Identification."

 

"That's Why I Brought It To You," The Man Answered. "I Know Mr.

Saunders. I've Seen Him Several Times Up In The Mountains. He Cashed A

Check For Me Up There Once,  And Said If I Ever Happened To Be Down

Here To Drop In To See Him."

 

"He Is Out Just Now,  But Will Be In Very Soon," Wright Said. "Won't

You Come Into The Waiting-Room And Take A Seat?"

 

Stooping Down A Little,  Mostyn Was Enabled To See The Face Of The

Applicant. It Was That Of John Leach,  The Tramp Preacher. Their Eyes

Met. Mostyn Bowed And Smiled. Then He Touched Wright On The Arm Just

As He Was About To Shove The Check Back To Its Owner. "I Know Him," He

Said. "It Is All Right."

 

Mostyn Noticed A Look Of Astonishment Struggling On The Tanned

Features Of The Preacher,  But He Turned Away Just As Wright Was

Counting Out The Money. He Would Go Out And Find Saunders,  He Decided,

And Get The Detail Pertaining To The Sale Of Stock Off His Mind.

Outside He Looked Up The Street,  Seeing Saunders And Delbridge

Standing On The Corner In Conversation.

 

"Delbridge Is Crazy To Make The Deal," He Said,  Bitterly. "That Is

What He Is Talking About Now. Well,  He May Have It. I Am Down And Out.

I Am In No Shape To Attend To Business. Besides,  I'll Want To Hide

Myself From The Public Eye. Yes,  He Will Protect My Interest,  And I

Shall Need All The Funds I Can Rake Together. Great God! How Did This

Ever Come About? Only The Other Day I Had Some Hope,  But Now Not A

Shred Is Left. Delbridge Was My Financial Rival. Neck And Neck We Ran

Together,  The Talk Of The Town; But Now--Yes,  He Can Wipe His Feet On

Me. Look At Him--He's Grinning--He's Laughing--He Is Telling One Of

His Funny Yarns To Pretend To Saunders That He Is Indifferent About

The Stock. Huh! Well He May Laugh. Who Knows,  Perhaps _His_ Luck Will

Turn? The Man That Counts On Luck Is God's Fool."

 

Mostyn Took Out A Cigar As He Approached The Two Men. "Match?" He

Asked Delbridge. The Financier Gave Him One,  And Mostyn Struck It On

The Canvas Back Of A Small Check-Book And Applied It To The End Of His

Cigar. "Saunders Says You Have Made Him An Offer For His Block Of Bank

Stock," He Puffed,  Slowly.

 

"Yes,  I Made Him A Proposition." Delbridge's Face Fell Into Sudden

Shrewd Rigidity. "I Have About That Amount Of Money Idle Just Now.

Saunders Says He Feels That You Are Entitled To A Preference Of The

Stock,  And That Until You Decide What You Want To Do My Offer Must

Hang In The Air."

 

Mostyn Flicked At The Ashless Tip Of His Cigar. "I Have Thought It

Over," He Said,  "And,  On The Whole,  Delbridge,  I Am Sure Your Name

Will Help The Bank's Standing,  And I Hope You And Saunders Will Make

Part 2 Chapter 11 Pg 55

The Deal."

 

"Oh,  That's All Right,  Then," Delbridge Beamed. "Well,  Saunders,  I'll

Consider It Settled,  Then. I'll Walk Into The Bank With You Now. I May

Be Too Busy Later In The Day."

 

Mostyn Moved On. He Crossed The Viaduct Over The Railway Tracks And

Walked Aimlessly For Several Squares,  Bowing To Acquaintances On The

Way. Presently He Turned And Began To Retrace His Steps,  Without Any

Plan Of Action Other Than Keeping His Legs In Motion.

 

At The Corner Of The Street He Came Face To Face With Leach. The Man

Smiled Cordially And Brushed His Long Hair Back Over His Ear With His

Delicate Hand. "I Was Just Wondering Where I've Seen You Before." He

Extended His Hand. "You Certainly Surprised Me In The Bank Just Now

When You Stood For Me Like You Did."

 

Mostyn Explained That He Had Heard Him Preach At Wartrace's Store Five

Years Before.

 

"Say,  I Remember Now," Leach Cried. "Wasn't You Sitting On The Porch

Of The Store?"

 

Mostyn Nodded. "Yes,  And I Enjoyed Your Talk Very Much. I Have Thought

Of It A Good Many Times Since."

 

"I Remember You Now Powerful Well--Powerful Well. I Seldom Forget A

Face,  And If A Man Shows That He Is Listening Close,  As You Did That

Day,  It Helps Me Along. Do You Know,  I Put You Down As About The Best

Listener I Ever Had. I Saw It In Your Face And Eyes. You Got Up And

Left Before I Was Through,  Or I'd Have Spoken To You. It Seemed To Me

That You Was Bothered Powerful Over Something. Being In Prison As Long

As I Was Gave Me What You Might Call Second-Sight. You May Not Believe

It,  But I Can Actually Feel A Stream Of Thought Coming From Folks Now

And Then. I Can Detect Trouble Of Any Spiritual Sort In The Face Or In

The Touch Of A Hand. It Isn't Any Of My Affair,  But Right Now I Have A

Feeling That You Are Bothered. I Reckon You Business Men Have A Lot To

Trouble You In One Way And Another."

 

"Yes,  It Is Constant Worry," Mostyn Answered,  Evasively.

 

"This Ain't No Time To Preach," Leach Went On,  With His Characteristic

Laugh; "But I Feel Like Scolding Every Town Man I Meet. This Place Is

No Better Suited To Real Happiness Than A Foundry Is For Roses To

Bloom In. If You Want To Breathe God's Breath,  Smell The Sweet Perfume

Of His Presence,  And Walk In The Wonderful Light Of His Glory,  Throw

This Dusty Grind Off And Go Out Into Nature. Get Down On Your All-

Fours And Hug It. Stop Making Money. When You've Got A Pile Of It As

High As That Sky-Scraper There You Haven't Got As Much Actual Wealth

As A Honey-Bee Carries In One Single Flight Through The Sunlight. I

Never Saw Heaven's Blaze In The Eye Of A Money-Maker,  But I _Have_

Seen It In The Black Face Of A Shouting Nigger At A Knock-Down-And-

Drag-Out Revival. I Intimated That I Was Happy When You Heard Me Five

Years Ago,  I Reckon. Well,  Since Then I Have Become So Much More So

Part 2 Chapter 11 Pg 56

That That Time Seems Like Stumbling-Ground,  Full Of Ruts And Snags.

Oh,  I Could Tell You Wonders,  Wonders,  Wonders! There Never Was An

Emperor I'd Swap Places With. If You Ever Get In Trouble,  Come Talk

To Me. Hundreds Of Men And Women Have Opened Their Hearts To Me And

Cried Their Troubles Out Like Little Children. I Couldn't Tell You How

To Get The Best Of A Man In A Speculation Here In This Hell-Hole Of

Iniquity,  But I Can Show You How You Can Tie A Thousand Of God's

Spirit-Cords To You And Be Drawn So High Above All This That You Won't

Know It Is In Existence. Going To The Country This Summer? I Am. I'm

Headed For The Mountains Now. I Just Dropped In Here To Collect The

Little Money That Comes To Me Every Quarter. I See You Are In A Hurry;

Well,  So Long. God Be With You,  Friend. I'm Going To Pray For You. I

Don't Know Why,  But I Am. I'm Going To Pray For This Whole Rotten

Town,  But I'll Mention You Special. Good-By."

 

"He May Be Right," Mostyn Mused,  As He Strode On Toward The Bank. "He

_Is_ Right--He _Is_!"

 

 

Part 2 Chapter 12 Pg 57

 

Irene Was On The Train Bound For Charleston. She Was Seated In One Of

The Big Easy-Chairs In The Parlor-Car,  Idly Scanning A Magazine And

Looking Out At The Dingy And Sordid Outskirts Of Atlanta Through Which

The Train Was Moving With Increasing Speed. The Conductor Passed,

Punched Her Ticket,  And Went On. He Had Glanced At Her With Masculine

Interest,  For She Showed By Her Sedate Dignity,  Smallest Detail Of

Attire,  And Every Visible Possession,  That She Was A Passenger Of

Distinction.

 

Presently Buckton Came In At The Front Door And Approached Her. An

Exultant Smile Swept His Flushed Face As He Bent Down Over Her.

 

"Thank God,  We Are Off!" He Chuckled. "I Was Simply Crazy At The

Station--First With Fear That You Would Not Come,  And Next That We'd

Be Noticed,  But I Don't Believe A Soul Recognized Us. I Was Seated

Behind A Newspaper In The Waiting-Room Watching For You Like A Hawk. I

Saw You Get Out Of The Cab And Come In. God,  Darling,  You Don't Know

How Proud I Felt To Know That You Were Actually Coming To Me! At Last

Part 2 Chapter 12 Pg 58

You Are Mine--All Mine; After All These Years Of Agony You Are Mine!"

 

She Raised A Pair Of Eyes To His In Which A Haunting Dread Seemed To

Lie Like A Shadow. "Oh,  I Feel So Queer!" She Sighed. "I Realized That

We Had To Hide And Dodge,  But I Did Not Like The Role. For The First

Time In My Life I Felt Mean And Sneaking. Already I Am Worried About

Father And The Boy--Father,  In Particular. He Is Getting Old And

Feeble. Perhaps The Shock To Him May Seriously Harm Him."

 

Buckton Smiled,  But Less Freely. He Sat Down In The Chair In Front Of

Her And Turned It Till He Faced Her. "We Have No Time To Bother About

Them,  Dear," He Said,  Passionately. "We Deserve To Live In Happiness,

And We Are Going To Do It. I Am So Happy I Can Hardly Speak. Oh,  We

Are Going To Have A Glorious Time! You Should Have Been Mine Long Ago.

Nature Intended It. We Are Simply Getting Our Dues."

 

"I Am Doing It Solely For Your Sake," She Faltered. "Because You've

Suffered So On My Account."

 

"And Not For Your _Own_ Sake? Don't Put It That Way,  Sweetheart." He

Took Her Hand; But,  Casting A Furtive Glance At The Backs Of The Few

Other Passengers In The Car,  She Withdrew It.

 

"Don't," She Protested,  Smiling. "We Must Be Careful." She Dropped A

Penetrating Gaze Into His Amorous Eyes,  And Applied Her Handkerchief

To Her Drooping Lips. "I've Been Thinking,  Andy,  About A Certain Thing

More Seriously Since The Train Started Than I Ever Did Before. Do You

Know,  Many Persons Believe That If A Woman Acts--Acts--Well,  As I Am

Doing Now,  The Man To Whom She Gives In Will,  Down At The Bottom Of

His Heart,  Cease To Respect And Love Her--In Time--In Time,  I Mean?"

 

"Bosh And Tommyrot!" Buckton Fairly Glowed. "Never,  Never,  When The

Case Is Like Ours. We Are Simply Doing Our Duty To Ourselves. Love

You? Why,  I Adore You! You Have Saved My Life,  Darling. I Would Have

Killed Myself. I've Been On The Very Brink Of It More Than Once. I've

Suffered Agonies Ever Since You Married. The Birth Of Your Child

Fairly Drove Me Insane. I Groveled In Blackest Despair. It Made Me

Feel That--That You Were,  Or Had Been,  Actually His. Oh,  It Was Awful!

Don't Regret Our Step. Think Of What Is Before Us. We'll Stop In

Charleston,  See The Quaint Old Town,  Go On To Savannah,  Stop A Day Or

So,  And Then Sail For New York. The Ships Are Good,  And At This Season

The Sea Is As Smooth As Glass. When We Get To New York We Will Simply

Paint The Town Red,  And If You Wish,  Then,  We'll Go On To Europe. What

Could Be More Glorious? Why,  The Whole World Is Ours."

 

She Smiled,  Almost Sadly,  And Then,  As If To Avoid His Gaze,  She

Glanced Out Of The Window. He Saw Her Breast Heave. He Heard Her Sigh.

"You Are A Man And I Am A Woman," She Muttered. "I Suppose That Makes

A Difference. In A Case Like Ours A Man Never Is Blamed By Society,

But The Woman Is. They Class Her With The Lowest. Oh,  Won't They Talk

At Home? Nothing Else Will Be Thought Of For Months. Old-Fashioned

Persons Will Say It Was The Life We Led. Do You Suppose It Could

Possibly--In Any Way--Injure Dick's Business?"

Part 2 Chapter 12 Pg 59

"How Could It?" Buckton Said,  With Caustic Impatience. "What Has This

To Do With His Affairs?"

 

"Oh,  I Don't Know!" She Exhaled The Words,  Heavily. "I Have Heard My

Father Say That Depositors Sometimes Take Fright At The Slightest

Things Concerning The Private Lives Of Bankers. Andy,  I Would Not Like

For This To--Cost Dick A Cent. I Couldn't Bear That."

 

"Do You Think You Ought To Entertain Such Fine-Spun Ideas In Regard To

Him When--When He Is Living As He Is?"

 

"That Has Bothered Me,  Too," She Said,  Quickly. "Somehow I Can't

Believe That He Ever Really Went Back To That Woman--That Is,  To Live

With Her. I Met Her Only A Week Ago On The Street. She Looked Straight

At Me,  And,  Somehow,  I Was Sure That He And She Were Not As They Used

To Be. Call It Intuition If You Like,  But Intuition Is Sometimes

Reliable. It May Have Been By Accident That They Were Together When

You Saw Them Out There. He Takes Lonely Walks In All Sorts Of

Directions. He Is A Strange Combination. His Love For Little Dick,  His

Constant Worrying About Him Is Remarkable. It Used To Make Me Mad,  But

In A Way I Respected Him For It."

 

"Let's Not Talk About Him," Buckton Implored. "All This Rubbish Is

Giving You The Blues. They Have Called Dinner. Let's Go Back To The

Dining-Car. The Service Is Fairly Good On This Line."

 

"I Couldn't Eat A Bite," Irene Answered.

 

"Well,  Let Us Go In,  Anyway. It Will Be A Change," He Said,  "And Will

Take Your Mind Off This Gloomy Subject. Think Of What Is Ahead Of Us,

Darling,  Not Behind."

 

She Rose,  And,  With A Smile Of Resignation To His Will,  She Followed

Him Through The Vestibule Into The Dining-Car. As They Went In They

Met A Portly Man Who Stood Aside For Them To Pass.

 

"How Are You,  Mr. Buckton?" The Man Smiled,  Cordially.

 

"Oh,  How Are You?" Buckton Answered,  With A Start And A Rapid Scrutiny

Of The Passenger's Face. Moving On,  He Secured Seats At A Table For

Two. As They Sat Down Facing Each Other He Noticed That The Man,  Who

Had Paid The Cashier For His Meal And Was Waiting For His Change,  Was

Eying Him And Irene With A Curious,  Almost Bold Stare.

 

"Who Is That Man?" Irene Questioned,  Rather Coldly,  As She Spread Out

Her Napkin.

 

"His Name Is Hambright," Buckton Answered,  With Assumed Lightness. "He

Is A Whisky Salesman. Somebody Brought Him To The Club The Other

Night,  And He Told A Lot Of Funny Stories. He Seems To Have Plenty Of

Money; His House May Give It To Him For Advertising Purposes. He

Fairly Throws It About To Make Acquaintances."

 

"I Don't Like His Looks At All," Irene Said,  Her Lips Curled In

Part 2 Chapter 12 Pg 60

Contempt. "Just Then He Stared At Me In The Most Impertinent Way. His

Hideous Eyes Actually Twinkled. Do You Suppose He Could Possibly Know

Who I Am?"

 

The Compliment That Every Visitor To Atlanta Would Know Her,  At Least

By Sight,  Rose To His Lips,  But He Suppressed It As Decidedly

Inappropriate To Her Mood.

 

"It Isn't At All Likely," Buckton Answered,  Instead. "Besides,  Even If

He _Did_,  What Ground Would He Have For Thinking That Our Being

Together On A Train Like This--You Know What I Mean."

 

"I Know What You _Want_ To Mean," Irene Said,  Disconsolately. "I Also

Know What Such A Creature As That Would Go Out Of His Way To _Think._"

 

"There,  You Are Off Again!" Buckton Laughed In A Mechanical Tone,

Which Betrayed His Uneasiness. "You Are Going To Keep Me Busy Brushing

Away Your Fancies. I See That Now. Pretty Soon You Will Expect The

Engineer To Shut Off Steam And Come Back To Take A Peep At Us. Your

Imagination Is Getting The Upper Hand Of You. Stop Short Now And Smile

Like Your True,  Sweet Self. I Am Happy And Care-Free,  And I Want You

To Be So."

 

She Said Nothing,  But Gave Him A Faint,  Childlike Smile. "You Are A

Dear,  Good Boy,  Andy," She Faltered. "I Am Going To Try To Be

Sensible. It Isn't The First Time Persons Have Acted This Way And Come

Out All Right,  Is It? I Don't Want Anything But Tea. Get A Pot. I

Think It Will Do Me Good."

 

Half An Hour Later They Returned To Their Seats In The Other Car. The

Tea Seemed To Have Exhilarated Her,  For She Smiled More Freely. There

Was A Touch Of Rising Color In Her Cheeks,  A Faint,  Defiant Sparkle In

Her Eyes. In Passing From One Car To The Other She Had Allowed Him To

Take Her Hand,  And He Pressed It Ardently. He Was Swinging Back Into

His Joyous And Triumphant Mood.

 

They Had Not Been Seated Long When The Train Came To A Sudden Stop.

There Was No Station Near,  And Several Of The Passengers Looked Out Of

The Windows,  And One Or Two Left The Car To See What Had Happened.

 

"Wait,  And I'll See What Is The Matter," Buckton Said. "I Hope We

Won't Be Delayed. It Is My Luck To Be Behind On Every Trip. I'm A

Regular Jonah."

 

The Stop Had Been Made Evidently To Take On Passengers,  For A

Wretchedly Clad Woman And A Little Barefooted Girl In Ragged Clothing

Were Courteously Helped Into The Car By The Conductor. Both The Woman

And The Girl Were Weeping Violently,  Their Sobs And Wailings Being

Distinctly Heard As They Sat Locked In Each Other's Arms. The Sight

Was Indeed Pitiful. The Conductor Bent Over Them,  Said Something In A

Crude Effort At Comfort,  And Then Left Them Alone. Buckton Came Back,

A Look Of Annoyance On His Face.

 

"What Is Wrong?" Irene Questioned Him As He Sat Down By Her.

Part 2 Chapter 12 Pg 61

 

"It Seems That The Woman's Husband Was A Track-Hand," Buckton

Explained. "He Worked Down The Road A Few Miles From Here,  And Was Run

Over And Killed About An Hour Ago. They Nagged Our Train To Take Her

And His Daughter To Him."

 

"Oh,  How Awful--How Awful!" Irene Cried,  In Dismay. "You Can See She

Is Broken-Hearted."

 

"Yes,  They Both Take It Hard," Buckton Said,  Frowning. "I Wonder What

We'll Run Up Against Next. I Wouldn't Care For Myself,  But Such Things

Upset You. Don't Look At Them. What Is The Use?"

 

"I Can't Help It," Irene Answered. "She Is The Most Wretched-Looking

Woman I Ever Saw. I Am Going To--To Speak To Her."

 

He Put Out A Detaining Hand,  But She Rose,  A Firm Look Of Kindly

Determination On Her Face. Going To The Weeping Woman,  Irene Sat Down

In A Chair Opposite Her,  And As She Did So The Woman Raised Her

Anguish-Filled Eyes.

 

"I Am So Sorry To Hear Of Your Trouble," Irene Began. "Is There

Anything I Can Do To Help You?"

 

The Woman,  Who Was Thin,  Short,  And Of Colorless Complexion,  Wiped Her

Eyes On A Soiled Apron. The Scant Knot Of Brown Hair At The Back Of

Her Head Seemed A Pathetic Badge Of Feminine Destitution. The Eyes,

Peering From Their Red And Swollen Sockets,  Held An Appeal That Would

Have Shaken Sympathy From The Heart Of A Brute.

 

"Thar Is Nothing You Kin Do,  Miss." The Voice Was A Wail Which Rose,

Swelled Out,  And Cracked Like Floating Ice Against The Shore Of A

Mighty Stream. "Thar Ain't Nothin' Nobody Kin Do. My John Is Dead.

Even God Can't Do Nothin'. It's Over,  I Tell You. Dead,  Dead! I Can't

Believe It,  But They Say It Is So. He Wasn't Well When He Left The

House This Mornin',  But He Was Afeard He'd Lose His Job If He Didn't

Report For Work. He Was So Sick He Could Hardly Drag One Foot After

The Other. But He Just Would Go. We Had No Money. Thar Was Only A

Little Dab O' Meal In The Box,  And Just A Rind O' Hog Meat. Thar Is

Two More Littler Children Than This Un,  An' They Was Cryin' For

Some'n' To Eat. I Know How It Was; John Was Jest Too Weak To Git Out

O' The Way O' The Wheels. Oh,  Don't Mind Me,  Miss! He's Dead--He's

Dead--Dead--Dead! Oh,  God,  Have Mercy! Kill Me--Kill Us All An' Put Us

Out O' Pain."

 

Tears Stood In Irene's Eyes. Her Breast Shook And Ached With Sympathy.

She Was Trying To Think Of Something To Say When The Whistle Of The

Locomotive Sounded.

 

"Here's The Place Now!" The Woman Screamed. "Oh,  God! Oh,  God! Where

Have They Put 'Im--Where Have They Put 'Im? Maybe He Is Mashed So Bad

I Won't Know 'Im. Oh,  God! Oh,  God--Kill Me!"

 

Part 2 Chapter 12 Pg 62

The Conductor,  His Face Set And Pale With Pity,  Had Come To Aid Her To

Alight. Through The Window Irene Saw A Stretch Of Wheat-Fields,  A Red-

Clay Embankment,  A Wrecking-Car,  A Group Of Earth-Stained Laborers

Leaning On Their Picks And Shovels,  And Something Lying Beneath A

Sheet On Bare Ground. Hastily Opening Her Purse,  Irene Took Out A Roll

Of Bills Amounting To A Hundred Dollars And Pressed It Into The

Woman's Hand.

 

"Keep It," She Said,  Huskily.

 

"Thank You,  Miss," The Woman Said,  Without Looking At The Money Or

Seeming To Realize That She Had Taken It. She Dropped It To The Floor

As She Rose To Go,  And The Conductor Picked It Up And Gave It Back To

Her.

 

"Keep It," He Said; "You Will Need It."

 

Irene Watched The Three Pass Out At The Door Of The Car And Then

Turned Her Face From The Window. All Was Still Outside For A Moment,

And Then A Loud Scream,  Followed By A Fainter One,  Rent The Air. Irene

Covered Her Face With Her Hands And Remained In Darkness Till The

Train Moved On. Buckton Came And Sat Beside Her,  A Disturbed Look On

His Face. He Waited For Several Minutes. Then She Dropped Her Hands

And Sighed.

 

"I'm Sorry This Has Happened,  Darling," Buckton Said,  Softly. "You Are

So Sympathetic That Such Things Unstring You."

 

She Bent Toward Him. There Was A Haunted,  Groping Expression In Her

Eyes. "I'll Never Forget This As Long As I Live," She Half Sobbed. "It

Will Cling To Me Till I Die. The Very Pores Of My Soul Seemed To Open

To That Wretched Woman's Spirit. If She Had Been My Sister I Couldn't

Have Felt--"

 

A Welling Sob Checked Her Words. He Stared At Her Blankly. He Tried To

Formulate Some Helpful Response,  But Failed. It Was Growing Dark

Outside. The Porter Was Lighting The Overhead Lamps,  Using A Step-

Ladder To Reach Them And Moving It From Spot To Spot Between The

Chairs.

 

"I Want To--To Ask You Something--Something Serious," Irene Said,

Presently. "Do You Believe In Omens?"

 

He Saw Her Drift And Forced A Smile. "Yes,  In This Way," He Said,

Lightly. "Things Go By Opposites All Through Life. Something Good Or

Jolly Always Follows On The Heels Of Gloom. We Are Going To Be So

Happy That We Won't Have Time To Think Of Anything Disagreeable."

 

She Sighed Audibly. That Was All.

 

It Was Past Midnight When They Reached Charleston. He Led Her,  Still

Silent And Abstracted,  To A Cab And Helped Her In. He Then Gave The

Name Of Their Hotel To The Driver And Got In Beside Her. He Took Her

Gloved Hand And Held It Tenderly As The Cab Rumbled Over The Cobble-

Part 2 Chapter 12 Pg 63

Stones Through The Deserted Streets.

 

"It Is Too Warm For Gloves,  Dear," He Said,  His Hot Breath On Her

Cheek; And With Throbbing,  Eager Hands He Drew One Off. He Kissed The

Soft Fingers And Felt Them,  Flutter Like A Captured Bird. A Moment

Later He Put His Arm About Her And Drew Her Head Down To His Shoulder.

She Resisted Feebly,  Turning From Him Once Or Twice,  And Then Allowed

Him To Kiss Her On The Lips.

 

As They Were Nearing The Hotel He Suddenly Bethought Himself Of

Something He Had Intended To Say By Way Of Precaution.

 

"You Must Understand That I Sent Separate Telegrams For Rooms," He

Said. "I Took The Precaution For Absolute Safety. I Ordered Yours In

Your Name And Mine In My Name."

 

"I Understand," She Replied. His Arm Was Still About Her,  But She

Shook It Off. "Was It--Was It Wise For Us To Arrive Like This--In The

Same Cab?"

 

"Oh,  That Is All Right," He Answered,  Confidently. "I Am A Friend Of

Your Family,  You Know,  And I Have Often Traveled With Ladies. It Will

Not Excite Comment. Besides,  We Know No One Here."

 

Leaving Her At The Ladies' Entrance To Go Alone Up To The Parlor,  He

Went Into The Office. A Sleepy-Eyed Clerk Bowed,  Turned The Register

Around,  And,  Dipping A Pen,  Handed It To Him.

 

"Lady With You,  Sir?" He Inquired.

 

"In My Care,  Yes." Buckton Wrote The Two Names Rather Unsteadily. "She

And I Both Telegraphed For Your Best Rooms. Please Show Her To Hers At

Once. She Seems To Be Quite Tired."

 

"I Should Think So,  On A Stuffy Day Like This," Said The Clerk,

Affably,  "And Coming South,  Too. I See You Are From Atlanta. That Is A

Higher Altitude Than Ours."

 

"You Bet It Is." The Voice Was At Buckton's Elbow; And Turning,  He Saw

Hambright,  His Fellow-Passenger,  Smiling On Him Familiarly. "Well,  I

See You Got Through All Right."

 

Though Highly Displeased By Again Meeting The Man,  Buckton Nodded And

Forced A Casual Smile.

 

"It Was Pretty Dusty And Hot," He Said.

 

"Won't You Take A Smoke Before You Turn In?" The Drummer Asked,

Extending A Cigar.

 

"No,  Thanks; Not To-Night," Buckton Declined.

 

"Take A Drink? I've Got The Best Samples On Earth. My Customers Say I

Carry Better Samples Than Stock,  But That's A Joke. Name The Brand And

Part 2 Chapter 12 Pg 64

I'll Lay It Before You. I'm Some Drink-Mixer,  I Am."

 

"Not To-Night; Thank You,  All The Same."

 

"Show The Lady To Suite Seventy-Five," The Clerk Called Out To A Bell-

Boy. "The Gentleman Goes To Seventy-Four. See To The Ice-Water For

Both Parties."

 

"Dandy Rooms You Got," Hambright Said,  His Eyes Twinkling

Significantly. "I Know This House Like A Book. I Swear You Atlanta

Bloods Are Sports. You Certainly Keep The Old Fogies Of The Town

Wondering What Prank You Will Play Next."

 

Buckton Thought Rapidly. To A Certain Extent He Was A Judge Of Human

Nature,  And He Realized That No Explanation To Such A Man Was Safer

Than The Most Adroit And Elaborate One,  So He Elected To Ignore The

Obvious Innuendo. Chatting With Him A Few Minutes Longer,  He Turned

Away.

 

Half An Hour Later Buckton Was In His Little Sitting-Room,  Seated

Under A Drop-Light,  With A Newspaper Spread Out Before Him. Through

The Rather Thin Partition He Heard Irene Moving About The Adjoining

Chamber. He Sat For A Moment Longer; Then,  Rising,  He Went To The

Connecting Door. He Caught His Breath And Held It As He Rapped Softly,

Very Softly. The Sound Of Movement On The Part Of Irene Ceased. All

Was Quiet For A Moment; Then He Rapped Again. He Heard Her Coming. She

Unlocked The Door,  Turned The Bolt,  And Opened The Door The Width Of

Her Face. She Had Changed Her Dress. She Now Wore A Pretty Flowing

Kimono Which She Held Over Her White Neck With Her Jeweled Hand.

 

"What Is It?" She Asked.

 

He Leaned Against The Door-Jamb,  And Gazed Into Her Eyes. "I Must See

You," He Panted. "There Is--Is Something I Want To Tell You."

 

She Hesitated,  Holding The Door. "I'm Tired," She Faltered. "Besides--

Oh,  Andy,  I've Been Thinking That Perhaps I Ought To Take The First

Morning Train For The Hardys'! I Could Get There Soon Enough To--"

 

He Leaned His Flaming Face Closer To Hers. He Caught Her Hand And Drew

It Down From Her Fluttering Throat. "No,  It Is Too Late,  Sweetheart,"

He Said. "We Have Burnt Our Bridges Behind Us. We Can't Go Back Now.

We Don't _Want_ To. We Couldn't If We Tried. We Are Human. You Were

Cruel To Me Once; You Can't Be Cruel Enough To Close This Door To-

Night. _You Know You Can't,  Darling_."

 

He Saw Her Glance Waver. Her Hold On The Door Was Less Firm. He Pushed

Against It. She Fell Back,  And He Took Her Into His Arms And Pressed

His Lips To Hers.

 

 

Part 2 Chapter 13 Pg 65

 

With Irene's Farewell Note In His Pocket And Ever Present To His Mind,

Mostyn Spent The Remainder Of The Morning On Which It Was Received

Mechanically Instructing The Elated Delbridge In His Rival's New

Duties At The Bank As Its Future President. At Noon He Tore Himself

Away,  Plunging Again Into The Streets,  There Even More Fully To Face

Himself And His Coming Humiliation. The Hot,  Busy Thoroughfares,

Steaming Under The Water Sprayed Upon Them By Trundling Sprinkling-

Carts,  Were A Veritable Bedlam--Canons Of Baked Pavements And

Heartless Walls Of Brick And Mortar,  Plate Glass And Glaring Gilt

Signs. Cries Of Newsboys--And Cheerful,  Happy Cries They Were--Fell On

His Ears In Sounds So Incongruous To His Mood That They Pierced His

Soul Like Hurled Javelins Of Steel. The Affairs Of The World,  Once So

Fascinating,  Were Moving On; A Juggernaut Of A Thousand Wheels Was

Rumbling Toward Him. He Drew Near His Club. On The Wide Veranda,  In

Easy-Chairs,  Smoking And Reading Newspapers,  Sat Several Of His

Friends. He Started To Turn In On The Walk Which Bisected The

Beautiful Greensward,  But Quailed Under The Ordeal. How Could He

Exchange Platitudes,  Discuss Politics,  Market-Reports,  Or Listen To

New Jokes? He Walked On,  Catching The Eye Of A Friend And Saluting

With A Wave Of His Cane. He Decided That He Would Go To His Sister's

For Lunch,  But He Was Not Sure That He Would Reveal His Woe Even To

Her.

 

He Found Mrs. Moore In Her Cozy Library,  A Handkerchief Over Her Head,

Dusting The Furniture.

 

"Got Anything To Eat?" He Asked,  Seating Himself On A Divan And

Watching Her Movements With A Bland Stare.

 

"Will Have In A Few Minutes." She Turned On Him,  Laying Her Duster On

A Book-Case And Removing Her Handkerchief. "I Really Believe There Is

Something In Thought-Transference,  Dick,  For I Felt That You Were

Coming. But I Don't Know That This Is A Fair Test,  Either,  For It May

Have Been Because I Knew Irene Was Away."

 

"How Did You Happen To Know That?" He Asked,  In Dumb,  Creeping

Surprise. "She Left Rather--Suddenly." She Smiled Knowingly. "If You

Want Me To Be Frank,  I'll Say That It Is Because Your Doddering

Father-In-Law Is Getting To Be Worse Than A Gossipy Old Maid. He Was

Around Here An Hour Ago. He Tried To Be Sly And Throw Me Off,  But I

Part 2 Chapter 13 Pg 66

Saw Through Him. He Said Irene Had Left For Mrs. Hardy's House-Party.

There Wasn't Anything In That Alone,  You Know,  To Make Him Bother To

Come Around,  For She Certainly Goes When And Where She Likes,  But It

Was The Way The Silly Old Man Went About What He Was Trying To

Discover. He Asked Me If I Knew Who Had Gone From Here--The Men In

Particular; And Then I Saw His Hand. He Wanted To Find Out If Andy

Buckton Went. He Beat About The Bush For A Long Time With A Crazy,

Nervous Stare In His Eyes,  And As Soon As I Told Him I Did Not Know He

Rose To Leave. Irene Is No Doubt Acting Imprudently,  As Many Of Her

Set Do,  But If She Doesn't Look Out Her Own Father Will Start Talk

That Never Can Be Stopped."

 

Mostyn Suddenly Rose,  Walked To A Window,  And Looked Out.

 

"What Time Do You Have Luncheon?" He Glanced At His Watch. Mrs. Moore

Made No Reply. She Suddenly Fixed A Curious,  Groping Stare On Him And

Moved To His Side.

 

"Dick,  What Has Happened?" She Demanded,  Touching His Arm.

 

"Nothing," He Answered. "I've Been Busy; I'm Tired. I Thought A Cup Of

Strong Coffee Might--"

 

Her Fingers Clutched His Arm. "Out With It,  Dick. Something Has Gone

Wrong At The Bank. You Are In Trouble Again. You've Been Plunging. I

Feel It. I See It In Your Eyes. I Have Never Seen You Look Like This

Before. You Haven't A Bit Of Blood In Your Face." She Grasped His

Hand,  Stroking His Fingers. "Why,  You Are Actually Cold. What Is The

Matter? What Is The Matter,  Brother? You Can Trust Me."

 

He Avoided Her Eyes,  Going Back To The Divan And Sinking Upon It. "You

May As Well Know," He Blurted Out,  In Desperation. "Irene And Buckton

Have Gone Off Together."

 

"No,  No,  No! Don't Tell Me That!" The Woman Paled; Her Lower Lip Fell

And Hung Trembling. "You Have Heard Gossip,  As I Have,  And As Every

One Has,  And In Your Excited Frame Of Mind--"

 

He Told Her Of The Note From Irene. He Started To Take It From His

Pocket,  But Changed His Mind,  Recalling The Allusion To Marie Winship,

And Not Having Energy Enough To Explain It.

 

"Lord Have Mercy!" She Gasped. She Sat Down By Him,  Her Hand On His

Knee,  Her Horrified Eyes Glued To His. "It Is Awful! I Didn't Think

She Would Go That Far--Nobody Did,  Because She Refused Him When She

Married You. I Wish I Could Advise You,  But There Is Nothing To Be

Done Now. Of Course,  She Left The Child."

 

"Yes,  I'd Have Killed Her If She Had Taken Him. I Would,  By God! He's

All I've Got."

 

"And Worse Than Motherless," Mrs. Moore Sighed. "It Is Awful--Awful!

Irene Is Crazy For Excitement And Novelty. She Has Been Getting Worse

And Worse. She Thinks She Loves Andy Buckton,  But She Doesn't. She

Part 2 Chapter 13 Pg 67

Never Loved Any One But Herself In Her Life. Mark My Words,  She Will

Leave Him. She Will Tire Of Him. She Will Never Stand The Disgrace Of

The Thing,  Either. She Has Been Petted All Her Life By Society,  And

Its Cold Shoulder Will Kill Her. What A Tragedy! But She Brought It On

Herself."

 

"She Didn't!" He Said,  Grimly. "I Had A Hand In It. Her Father Had A

Hand In It. She Was A Straw In A Mad Stream. I Can't Blame Her. I

Can't Even Be Angry. I Pity Her. I'd Save Her If I Could,  But It Is

Too Late. The Insane Set That Helped To Wreck Her Life Will Chuckle

And Grin Now."

 

A Musical Gong In The Dining-Room Sounded Softly.

 

"That's Luncheon," Mrs. Moore Said. "Let's Go Out. Do You Want To Run

Up And Wash Your Hands?"

 

He Shook His Head Dumbly,  Looking At His Splayed Fingers With The

Vacant Stare Of An Invalid Just Recovering Consciousness. "I Want Only

The Coffee; Make It Strong,  Please. I Really Am Not Hungry. The

Thought Of Food,  Somehow,  Is Sickening. I've Worked Hard This

Morning."

 

Late That Afternoon,  Still Shrinking Under His Weighty Secret,  He Went

Home. The Slanting Rays Of The Setting Sun Lay Like Kindling Flames On

The Grass Of The Lawn. He Saw Little Dick And Hilda Seated On The

Lowest Step Of The Veranda; And,  Seeing Him Entering The Gate,  The

Child Rose And Slowly Limped Toward Him.

 

"Dick Got A Stomach-Ache," The Boy Said,  A Wry Look On His Rather

Sallow And Pinched Face.

 

Mostyn Paused And Bent Down. "Where Does It Hurt You?" He Asked,

Automatically,  For The Complaint Seemed A Slight Thing Compared To The

Tragedy Lowering Over Them Both.

 

"It's Here,  Daddy." Dick Put His Little Tapering Hand On His Right

Side.

 

"He Eats Too Many Sweet Things," The Nurse Said,  Coming Up. "He's Been

Complainin' Of His Stomach For The Last Week,  But He Will Eat What He

Oughtn't To. I've Got Some Good Stomach Medicine. I'm Goin' To Dose

'Im Well To-Night An' Make 'Im Stay Out O' The Kitchen. The Cook Lets

Him Have Everything He Wants."

 

"Give Him The Medicine,  And Tell The Cook She Must Stop Feeding Him."

Mostyn Took The Boy In His Arms And Started On To The House. "You Will

Stop Eating Trash,  Won't You,  Dick?" The Child Nodded,  Worming His

Fingers Through His Father's Hair. He Took Off Mostyn's Hat,  Put It On

His Bonny Head,  And Laughed Faintly. Reaching The Veranda,  Mostyn

Turned Him Over To Hilda,  Who Said She Was Going To Give Him A Bath

And Put Him To Bed. When They Had Gone Mostyn Went Into The Library.

The Great Portrait-Hung Room In The Shadows Seemed A Dreary,  Accusing

Place,  And He Was Turning To Leave When The Rustling Of A Newspaper

Part 2 Chapter 13 Pg 68

And A Little Nasal Snort Called His Attention To A High-Backed Chair

Of The Wing Type In Which His Father-In-Law Reclined And Was Just

Waking From A Nap.

 

"Oh,  Is That You?" Mitchell Yawned And Stretched His Arms. "I Was

Wondering When You'd Get Here. I've Been To The Gate Several Times."

 

"Anything You Want?" Mostyn Regretted The Impulsive Question The

Instant The Words Had Been Spoken.

 

The Old Man Put His Hands On The Arms Of The Chair And Stood Up,

Feebly. "Yes,  I Want To Know If Your Wife Has Written Or Telegraphed

You Since She Got To Knoxville?"

 

"No," Mostyn Thought Rapidly,  "But--But I Hardly Expected Her To. She

Doesn't Usually When She Is Away."

 

"It Is The Very Old Nick In You Both!" Mitchell Sniffed. "I Don't

Expect You To Know Or Care What She's Up To; But I'm Her Own Flesh And

Blood,  And Supposed To Be Interested More Or Less. Home Is Lonely

Enough When She Is Here In Town,  Without Her Being Off So Much.

Besides,  I Know Some Things--Humph! Well,  I'm No Fool,  If I _Am_ A

Back Number. To-Day I Made It My Business To Inquire If A Certain

Party--You Know Who I Mean--Was In Town. I Knew In Reason That He

Wouldn't Be,  But I Just Asked To Satisfy My Mind. Do You Get At My

Meaning,  Sir?"

 

"I Think I Do." Mostyn's Own Words Seemed To Him To Come From The

Heavy Folds Of The Portiere Hiding The Desolate Drawing-Room Beyond.

 

"I Thought You Would." The Retort Was All But A Snarl. "And,  Do You

Know,  When I Asked Some Of His Friends About The Club If They Knew,  I

Caught Them Looking At One Another In An Odd Sort Of Way With Twinkles

In Their Eyes? Oh No,  They Didn't Know Where He Was. But I Found Out,

All The Same. I Met His Mother Down-Town. She Said He Had Gone On A

Hurried Trip To Norfolk. You Can See Through That,  Can't You? I Can,

If You Can't. Knoxville Is On The Way To Norfolk. The Two Are At That

Party Together; And,  Not Only That,  I'll Bet This Whole Town Knows It.

That Ought To Be Stopped. I Know My Daughter,  If You Don't,  Sir. She

Is Not Acting Right. She Has Plunged Into Pleasure And Excitement Till

She Doesn't Know What She Wants. A New String Of Diamonds Wouldn't

Amuse Her A Minute. This Giddy,  Fast Life Has Actually Cursed Her. The

Other Night I Caught Her Taking Morphine Tablets To Make Her Sleep--

Said She'd Lie Awake And Think Till Morning If She Didn't. She Hasn't

Contracted The Habit Yet,  But She Can Easy Enough If She Keeps It Up.

She Takes A Bottle Of Them Wherever She Goes. When I Was Young,  A

Woman Who Was A Mother Of A Child Like Hers Loved It,  Nursed It,

Petted It,  Got Natural Joy Out Of It; But Irene Seldom Speaks To Dick,

And He Doesn't Care For Her Any More Than For A Stranger,  But He Loves

You--God Only Knows Why,  But He Does. It Is 'Daddy,  Daddy,  Daddy' With

Nearly Every Breath He Draws."

 

Mostyn Felt A Force Within Him Rising And Expanding. A Sob Lodged In

His Tight Throat And Pained Him. He Was Grateful For The Deepening

Part 2 Chapter 13 Pg 69

Shadows,  For The Droning Prattle From The Old Lips. He Sank Into A

Chair. The Droning Continued,  Sounding Far Off. A Thousand Incidents

And Faces (Smiling And Blending) Sprang Upon Him Out Of The Past--The

Happy,  Irresponsible Past,  The Seductive,  Confident,  Ambitious Past.

Surely Fate Was A Mental Entity,  Capable Of Crafty Design Against The

Heedless Young. He Remembered The Vows Of Chastity And Honor He Had

Made During A Revival In A Country Church Under A Blazing Faith. He

Recalled How Soon They Were Forgotten,  How Sure He Was,  Later On,  That

Nature's Physical Laws Were The Highest Known. Man Was Made To Live,

Enjoy,  And Conquer All If He Could. And He Had Succeeded. He Had

Become Rich And Prosperous. Next He Found His Memory Swimming Through

That Black Period Of Satiated Desire And Disgust Of Self.

 

"I Wish Folks Would Not Mix _Me_ Up With Your Private Matters." The

Words Rose Sharply From The Senile Prattle And Penetrated Mostyn's

Lethargy. "There's Old Jeff Henderson--He Had The Cheek To Come To Me

To-Day To Borrow Money. Said His Family Was In Rags And Starving. Said

You Euchred Him Out Of All He Had And Got Your Start On It. What In

The Name Of Common Sense Does He Come To _Me_ For? I Don't Own You,

And I Knew Nothing About That Transaction,  Either. I Reckon He's Going

Crazy,  But That Doesn't Keep Him From Bothering Me."

 

Seeing The Futility Of Explaining A Thing He Had Many Times Explained,

Mostyn Rose. Before Him The Open Doorway Framed An Oblong Patch Of

Calm Gray Sky,  And Toward It He Moved,  His Mental Hands Impotently

Outstretched,  A Soundless Cry Welling Up From The Depths Of Himself.

 

 

 

Part 2 Chapter 14 Pg 70

 

On The First Morning After His Permanent Removal To His Plantation

Jarvis Saunders Waked With A Boundless Sense Of Freedom From Care,

Which Had Not Been His Since His Boyhood. Through All His Short Visits

To The Spot Hitherto He Had Been Haunted With The Unpleasant Thought

Of Having To Return To The City And The Rigid Demands Of Business. But

It Was Different Now. He Lay In The Wide,  High-Posted Colonial Bed,

Stretched Himself,  Looked At The Sunlight On The Small-Paned Windows,

And Sighed With Complete Content. From The Outside Came The Chirping

Of Birds,  The Crowing Of Roosters,  The Cackle Of Hens,  The Quacking Of

Part 2 Chapter 14 Pg 71

Ducks,  The Scream Of Geese,  The Thwack Of An Ax At The Wood-Pile,  The

Mellow Song Of The Lank Negro Chopper,  Uncle Zeke,  One Of The Ex-

Slaves Of His Family.

 

Rising And Standing At A Window,  And Parting The Pink And Blue

Morning-Glories Which Overhung It In Dew-Dipped Freshness,  Saunders

Looked Down Into The Yard. He Saw Aunt Maria,  Zeke's Portly Wife,

Approach From The Kitchen Door And Begin To Fill Her Apron With The

Chips His Ax Had Strewn Upon The Ground.

 

"You Go On En Ring Dat Fus' Breakfus'-Bell,  Zeke," She Said,

Peremptorily. "De Fus' Litter O' Biscuits Is Raidy To Slide In De

Stove,  En De Chicken En Trout Is Fried Brown. Everthing Is Got Ter Be

Des Right Dis Fus' Mawnin' Dat Marse Jarvis Is Home Ter Stay. Fifteen

Minutes Is Long 'Nough Fer 'Im Ter Dress."

 

"Ring De Bell _Yo'se'f_,  'Ooman!" Zeke Laughed,  Loudly. "Yo' Gittin'

So Heavy En Waddly Yo' Don' Want Ter Turn Yo' Han's Over. Look Yer,

'Ooman,  Marse Jarvis Ain't Gwine Ter Let Yo' Cook Fer 'Im Regular,

Nohow. He Gwine Ter Fix De House Up Spank New,  Fum Top Ter Bottom,  En

Git De Ol' 'Fo'-De-Wah Style Back Ergin. He Gwine Ter Sen' Away Off

Som'er's Fer Er Spry Up-Date Cook. Yo' Know What,  'Ooman? I'm Gwine Be

His Head House-Servant,  I Is. My Place'll Be In De Front Hall Ter Mix

Mint-Juleps Fo' 'Im En His Frien's Fum De City When Dey Skeet By In

Deir Automobiles En Stop Over Fer Er Smoke En Er Howdy-Do. He Gwine

Ter Order Me Er Long-Tail,  Jimswingin' Blue Coat. He Done Say Dat

He'll Look Ter Me Ter Keep You-All's J'ints Oiled Up So Yo' Won't

Walk In Yo' Sleep So Much In De Day-Time."

 

"Go 'Long,  Yo' Fool Nigger!" Maria Sniffed,  As She Shook Her Chips

Down Into Her Apron. "When Marse Jarvis Stick Er Black Scarecrow Lak

Yo' In De Front Part De House He Shore Will Be Out His Senses. He

Gwine Ter Mek Yo' Haul Manure Wid Er Dump-Cart,  Dat What He Is."

 

Saunders Smiled As He Stepped Back And Began To Dress. "God Bless

Their Simple,  Loyal Souls!" He Said. "They Shall Never Suffer As Long

As I Live. My Parents Loved Them,  And So Do I."

 

At The Sound Of The Second Bell He Went Downstairs. How Cool,

Spacious,  And Inviting Everything Looked! The Oblong Drawing-Room,

Into Which He Glanced In Passing,  With Its White Wainscoting And

Beautiful Oriel Window At The End On The Left Of The Entrance-Hall,

Brought Back Many Memories Of His Childhood And Youth. He Recalled The

Gay Assemblages Of Summer Visitors To His Father And Mother From

Augusta And Charleston--The Dances,  The Horseback Rides,  The Hunting-

Parties,  The Music,  The Singing Of Hymns On Sundays.

 

"I Must Bring It All Back," He Mused. "That Was Normal Living."

 

These Memories Followed Him To The Great Dining-Room In The Rear Of

The House. As He Took His Usual Seat At The Head Of The Long Table The

Delicious Aroma Of Fine Coffee,  The Smell Of Frying Meats And Hot

Biscuits Came In From The Adjoining Kitchen. The Wide Fireplace Had

Been Freshly Whitewashed,  And Was Filled With The Resinous Boughs Of

Part 2 Chapter 14 Pg 72

Young Pines. The Several Windows Were Open,  And Through Them He Had

Glimpses Of His Verdant Lands And The Mountains Beyond. The Portraits

Of His Mother,  Father,  And Grandparents Seemed To Smile Down From

Their Massive Frames On The White Walls. The Same Silverware And Cut

Glass Which They Had Used Were Before Him On The Mahogany Sideboard;

The Same China.

 

Aunt Maria Had Put The Hot,  Tempting Dishes Before Him And Gone Away.

The Pot Of Coffee Was Steaming At His Side. Suddenly An Impulse,  Half

Sentimental,  Came Over Him Which He Could Not Resist. He Recalled How

His Father Had Always Said Grace; And,  Bowing His Head,  He Whispered

The Long-Silent Words Over His Unturned Plate And Folded Napkin. How

Odd! He Thought: It Was As If The Short Prayer Had Been Laid Upon His

Lips By The Spirit Of His Father; The Fervent "Amen" Seemed To Be

Echoed By His Mother's Voice From The Opposite End Of The Board.

Saunders's Soul Was Suddenly Filled With A Transcendent Ecstasy. His

Parents Seemed To Be Actually Present,  Invisible,  And Yet Flooding His

Being With Their Spiritual Essence.

 

"Surely," He Said,  The Wonder Of The Thing Bursting Upon Him Like

Ineffable Light,  "There Is 'A Peace Which Passeth Understanding.'"

 

After Breakfast He Went To The Front Veranda To Smoke. He Saw Tom

Drake Walking Across A Meadow To Some Drainage Ditches Which Were

Being Dug To Destroy Some Objectionable Marshes. The Results Of The

Man's Work As Manager Had Been More Than Satisfactory.

 

Presently Saunders Descried A Few Hundred Yards Down The Main Road A

Woman On A Horse. It Was Dolly Drake; And,  Throbbing With Delight,  He

Hastened Down To The Gate,  Thinking That She Might Be Coming To Speak

To Her Father,  And Would Need Assistance In Alighting. But She Had No

Intention Of Stopping,  And With A Merry Bow Was About To Ride By When

He Stepped Out And Playfully Held Up His Hands.

 

"Your Money Or Your Life!" He Cried.

 

She Reined The Spirited Young Black Horse In And Sat Jauntily On The

Side-Saddle. Her Color Was High; She Wore A Pretty Riding-Hat,  A

Close-Fitting Gray Habit,  And Her Eyes Were Sparkling From The

Exhilaration Of The Gallop Along The Level Road.

 

"Take My Life,  But For Heaven's Sake Spare My Money!" She Retorted,

With An Ironical Laugh.

 

"I Think I Have Some News For You," He Said,  Approaching And Testing

The Girth Of Her Saddle. "Sit Still And Let Me Draw It Tighter."

 

"News," She Said,  With The Eagerness Of A Child,  As He Pulled Upward

On The Strap,  "For Me?"

 

"Yes,  For You. I Knew You Would Be Interested In The Bill Before The

House And Senate,  And So I Asked The Governor To Write Me If It Went

Through."

 

Part 2 Chapter 14 Pg 73

"Oh,  Oh! And Did You Hear?" She Leaned Closer To Him,  Her Lips Rigid

With Expectation. "I'm Afraid There Was A Hitch After All. The

Taxpayers Are So Opposed To Spending Money."

 

"It Went Through Like Greased Lightning," He Smiled. "Your Name And

Suggestions Were Mentioned In Every Speech That Was Made In Both

Houses."

 

He Saw Her Face Fill With Delight. She Put The Butt Of Her Riding-Whip

To Her Lips,  And Her Breast Heaved High And Sank,  Quivering.

 

"Oh,  Isn't It Splendid--Splendid?" She Exclaimed.

 

"Thanks To You,  Dolly--You,  And No One Else."

 

"No,  No,  It Was Growing All Along. I Only Helped A Little,  Perhaps.

But It Doesn't Matter Who Did It; It Is Done. They Will Build The

Schools."

 

"And You And I Will Help With Suggestions,  Won't We?" He Looked At

Her,  Quite Timidly. "I Mean,  Of Course,  That We Have Learned Some

Lessons In The House We Are Now Building. We Have Made Mistakes Here

And There That May Be Avoided In The Future."

 

She Said Nothing,  And He Was Sure That She Purposely Avoided His

Tentative Stare. She Bent Over The Horse's Neck,  Ran The Thick Glossy

Mane Through Her Fingers,  And Gently Patted The Animal's Shoulder.

 

"Jarvis,  You Must Tell Me Something About This Horse," She Said,

Firmly. "I'm Going To Know The Truth,  The Whole Truth,  And Nothing But

The Truth."

 

"You Want To Know His Pedigree?" He Was Staring Sheepishly. "Well--"

 

"No,  I Don't,  And You Know I Don't. My Father Said That You Wanted The

Horse Kept In The Stable At Home In Case--In Case Any One Had To Ride

Over Here To Communicate With Him. But No One Uses Him But Me,  And He

Has To Have Exercise Or He Will Be Ruined. It Is Almost All That I Can

Do To Control Him Now. He Breaks Into A Run The Instant Another Horse

Passes Him. Father Said Yesterday That He Did Not Understand Why You

Wanted Us To Keep Him At Our House."

 

The Blood Mantled The Young Planter's Brow. "They Say An Honest

Confession Is Good For The Soul," He Stammered; "And,  Dolly,  The Truth

Is That I Sent The Horse There Simply For You To Ride. You Love Riding

And Need The Exercise. You Are So Peculiar About--Well,  About Some

Things--That I Was Afraid You Would Be Offended,  But I Hope You Won't

Refuse This. I Do Love To See You On A Horse. You Ride As If You Were

Born In The Saddle."

 

She Looked Down On The Farther Side Of Her Mount. "It Is Very,  Very

Sweet And Kind Of You," She Said,  Falteringly. "I Believe You Mean It,

Still--" She Broke Off And Failed To Finish What She Had Started To

Say.

Part 2 Chapter 14 Pg 74

 

"You Must Not Object," He Went On,  Urgently. "It Suits Your Father And

Me To Keep A Horse There,  And If You Are Good Enough To Exercise Him

For Us,  Well And Good. If Not,  We'll Send One Of The Negroes Over To

Take Him Out Once A Day."

 

He Saw Her Smile Faintly. "Nobody Could Get Around You," She Answered.

"Well,  It Really Would Break My Heart To Give Him Up Now,  And I Shall

Ride Him Whenever I Feel Like It."

 

There Was Silence For A Moment,  Which He Broke.

 

"I Am Arranging A Little Surprise For Your Father." He Nodded Toward

The Grounds Behind Him. "Won't You Get Down And Come In A Moment?"

 

"What Is It?" She Was Already Kicking The Stirrup From Her Eager Foot.

 

"Come In And See." He Held Out His Arms,  As If She Were A Child

Willing To Jump.

 

"You Know My Awful Curiosity," She Laughed,  Putting Her Hands On His

Shoulders And Leaning Downward. Her Face Sank Close To His--So Close

That Her Breath Fanned His Cheek. He Took Her Slight Weight On Himself

As He Helped Her Down. Throwing The Rein Over One Of The Palings,  He

Opened The Gate And Stood Aside For Her To Enter.

 

"What Is It? Why Are You So Awfully Mysterious?" She Asked.

 

"Because My Surprise May Not Come Up To Your Expectations," He Said.

"Come With Me."

 

He Led Her Across The Lawn To A Small One-Roomed Brick House At The

Side Of The Main Building,  Adjoining The White Glass-Roofed

Conservatory. Taking A Key From His Pocket,  He Unlocked The Door And

Pushed It Open And Invited Her To Go In. She Found Herself In A Well-

Lighted Room Comfortably Furnished With Easy-Chairs,  Rugs,  And A Fine

Roll-Top Desk,  Supplied With New Account-Books And Writing-Material Of

All Kinds.

 

"It Is To Be Your Father's Private Office," Saunders Explained. "But

He Doesn't Know It. It Struck Me That He Would Need A Place Like This

To Meet The Hands In On Pay-Days And To Do His Writing. The Furniture

Came Yesterday. He Superintended The Unloading Himself. He Thinks The

Office Is For Me."

 

Involuntarily Dolly Clasped Her Hands In Sheer Delight.

 

"Oh,  How Good You Are!" She Cried. "Nothing You Could Possibly Do

Would Please Him More. You Have Given Him His Old Pride Back,  Jarvis,

And This Will Add To It. I Have Been Wanting To Speak To You About

Him,  But I Hardly Knew How. He Is Absolutely A New Man In Every Way,

And It Is All Due To Your Confidence And Encouragement."

 

He Found Himself Without Available Response. She Sat Down In The

Part 2 Chapter 14 Pg 75

Revolving Desk-Chair And Picked Up A Pen And Pretended To Write. "It

Is Simply 'Scrumptious!'" She Laughed,  Merrily. "Oh,  I Should Like--"

She Stopped Abruptly,  Stood Up,  And Looked At The Door. "I Must Be

Going. Why,  You've Even Given Him A Clock. And The Maps On The Walls

Will Be Very Useful. That's Our County,  Isn't It?"

 

As He Nodded He Followed Her To The Grass Outside. "You Started To Say

That You Would Like Something," He Ventured. "What Was It,  Dolly?"

 

"I Should Really Like To Be Present When You Show It To Him And Tell

Him That It Is For Him. Jarvis,  I Almost Lost Respect For Him Once. I

Almost Ceased To Love Him,  But It Has All Come Back. I Am Proud Of Him

Again,  And You Are Responsible For It. Why Did You Do So Much For

Him?"

 

"Because He Is _Your_ Father!" He Nipped The Words As They Were

Forming On His Lips. Instead,  He Said Aloud: "He Is Just The Man I

Needed. We Are Working Finely Together. You Must Be Present When I

Tell Him About The Office; He Will Be Here This Afternoon. I Will

Detain Him With Some Pretext Or Other Till Three O'clock. Couldn't You

Be Here Then?"

 

"Oh Yes,  And I'd Like To Bring My Mother,  Uncle John,  And George."

 

"A Good Idea," Saunders Said. "We'll Have Some Fresh Cider And Cakes--

The Old-Fashioned Gingerbread Sort."

 

When They Had Reached Her Horse,  He Held Out His Hand For Her Foot.

She Placed It In It,  And He Lightly Lifted Her To The Saddle.

 

He Stood At The Gate And Saw Her Vanish Down The Road. "Why Didn't I

Say What I Want To Say? Why Didn't I Tell Her How I Feel And Throw

Myself On Her Mercy? What Is It That Always Checks Me? Is It Mostyn?

My God! Does She Still Love Him,  And Will He Always Stand Between Me

And My Happiness?"

 

 

 

Part 2 Chapter 15 Pg 76

For Mostyn The Week Which Ensued After His Wife's Secret Elopement Was

A Period Of Sheer Mental Torture. Every Minute He Expected The

Startling Tidings To Reach His Friends And Associates. Every Morning

At Breakfast He Studied The Crafty And Sullen Face Of Old Mitchell And

The Swarthy Visages Of The Servants To See If Suspicions Of The Truth

Were Dawning. At The Bank He Tried To Overhear The Conversations Of

The Bookkeepers,  Sometimes Fancying That A Burst Of Low Laughter Or A

Whispered Colloquy Had Him For Their Incentive. He Was Sure That It

Was Little Less Than A Miracle That The Matter Had Not Leaked Out.

With Delbridge Getting Into Harness At His Desk,  He Had Considerable

Time On His Hands,  Which He Spent In Long Nervous Walks,  Generally In

The Suburbs Of The City. For That Week He Wholly Neglected His Child.

There Was Something Unbearable In The Thought Of The Boy's Future

Social Status,  Left In The Care,  As He Was,  Of An All But Witless

Grandfather And A Father Upon Whom The Contempt Of The Public Was So

Soon To Fall. Infinitely Horrible Was The Reflection That Little Dick

Would Inevitably Grow Into A Comprehension Of The Family Calamity And

Inquire As To Its Causes. It Was Saturday Night,  Eight Days After The

Elopement. Mostyn Had That Day Been Irritated--That Is,  As Much As A

Man In His Plight Could Be Irritated By Any Extraneous Incident--By

Delbridge's Open Criticism Of The Negligent Condition Of Some Of His

Accounts. The Work Of Going Over The Books With His Successor In

Rectifying Really Glaring Mistakes Detained Him At The Bank Till Late

At Night. It Was Twelve O'clock When He Finally Reached Home,  Ascended

To His Room,  And Began To Undress. He Had Thrown Off His Coat,  When He

Heard Voices And Movements In The Nursery Adjoining His Room. At Once

He Was All Attention. He Had His Usual Overpowering Yearning To See

His Child. It Was As If The Touch Of The Boy's Little Hand Or A Glance

From His Innocent Young Eyes Might Mildly Soothe His Lacerated

Spirits. It Was The Cry Of Kindred Blood To Kindred Blood From The

Darkest Deeps Of Despair--The Incongruous Cry Of Parent To Offspring.

He Overheard The Impatient Tone Of The Drowsy Nurse,  And The Fainter,

Rather Rambling Accents Of The Child.

 

"You Go To Sleep!" Hilda Called Out. "You'll Disturb Yo' Pa. He Just

Come Home,  An' He Don't Want No Noise Fum Yo' This Time O' Night."

 

The Gas Was Burning In The Nursery,  As Was Shown By The Pencil Of

Light Beneath The Door. Mostyn Turned The Bolt And Looked Into The

Room. A Breath Of Warmer Air Told Him That The Servant Had Again

Neglected To Open The Windows Sufficiently. He Went To Dick's Little

Bed,  Turning The Overhead Gas Higher As He Did So. The Child Looked

Up,  Recognized Him,  And With A Cry Of Welcome Held Out His Arms.

Mostyn,  Bending Down,  Felt The Little Hands Clasp His Neck. They Were

Dry And Hot. Dick's Cheeks Were Flushed Red.

 

"What Ails Him?" Mostyn Cried,  Aghast,  Turning To Hilda,  Who Had

Risen,  Thrown On A Wrapper,  And Stood At The Table,  Where A Bottle And

A Spoon Lay.

 

"I Think He's Got Er Little Bit Er Fever,  Sir," She Said. "It Is His

Stomach Gone Wrong Ergin. I'm Givin' 'Im His Fever-Mixture Now."

 

"It Hurts Right Here,  Daddy." Dick Made A Wry Face As He Bravely

Part 2 Chapter 15 Pg 77

Pressed His Hand On The Lower Part Of His Right Side. "Dick Couldn't

Play To-Day."

 

"How Long Has He Had Fever?" Mostyn Demanded,  Sharply.

 

"Jes' To-Day,  I Think,  Sir. I Never Noticed It Till Dis Evenin' About

An Hour By Sun. He's Been Complainin' Of His Stomach Fer Mo'n A Week,

But Dat Is 'Cause He Eats--"

 

"It May Be Something Serious." The Words Shrank Back From Utterance.

"Why Didn't You Send For The Doctor?"

 

"Huh!" The Nurse Sniffed,  Resentfully. "Yo' All Expect Me Ter Ten' Ter

Everything. I _Did_ Tell His Grandpa,  But He Didn't Even Know What I

Was Talkin' About,  Jabberin' All De Time About Miss Irene Stayin' Off

So Long,  En--En I Don't Know What All--_You_ An' _Yo'_ Doin's 'Long

Wid De Rest."

 

The Woman Was Approaching With The Bottle And Spoon. "Don't Give Him

Any More Of That Stuff." He Waved It Away. "I'll Send For Dr. Loyd At

Once."

 

"Oh,  Daddy,  I Don't Want The Doctor!" Dick Began To Whimper And Cling

More Tightly Round His Father's Neck.

 

"He Won't Hurt You; He Is A Good Man," Mostyn Said,  Tenderly. "He Will

Give You Something To Make You Cool Off,  So You Can Sleep."

 

Mostyn Left The Room And Groped His Way Down To The Telephone In The

Lower Hall. A New Fear Had Clutched Him,  A Fear So Compelling That All

Else Was Forgotten. A Chill Of Grim,  Accusing Horror Was On Him. His

Brain Was In A Whirl As He Tried To Recall The Desired Number. Did

Providence,  Fate,  Or Whatever The Ruling Force Was,  Intend This As His

Crowning Punishment? Had The Impalpable Hand,  Reaching For Him,

Descended On His Offspring? He Finally Got The Doctor's Servant On The

'Phone,  Then Dr. Loyd Himself,  Who Had Just Arrived In His Automobile.

 

"Have You Taken His Temperature?" Was The Doctor's First Question.

 

"No,  We Haven't A Thermometer,  And Do Not Know How To Use One,

Anyway."

 

"Well,  I'll Be Out Immediately," Was The Brusque Answer. "I Must See

Him To-Night--Don't Exactly Like The Symptoms. I Saw Him In Driving

Past Your Home The Other Day,  And Did Not Quite Like His Looks."

 

Mostyn Dragged Himself Up The Stairs. Passing Mitchell's Room,  He Half

Paused At The Door. Should He Wake Him And Explain The Situation? He

Decided Against It. The Child's Condition Would Only Loosen The Man's

Pent-Up Wrath In The Presence Of The Physician And Perhaps Delay The

Examination. He Went Back To The Nursery,  And,  Lifting Dick In His

Arms,  He Bore Him Into His Own Room,  Which Was Cooler. He Dampened A

Towel In Ice-Water,  Folded It,  And Laid It On The Flushed Brow.

 

Part 2 Chapter 15 Pg 78

"That Feels Nice,  Daddy," Dick Smiled,  Grimly,  "But It Hurts Here,"

Putting His Hand Gingerly On His Side.

 

A Few Minutes Later The Doctor's Car Was Heard On The Drive. Mostyn

Descended To Meet Him. They Shook Hands Formally,  And Mostyn Led Him

Up The Stairs To The Patient. The Doctor Was Past Middle Age,  Iron-

Gray,  Full-Whiskered,  And Stockily Built. He Took The Child's

Temperature,  And Looked Grave As He Glanced At The Thermometer Under

The Drop-Light,  And Washed It In A Glass Of Water.

 

"One-Hundred And Five!" He Said,  Crisply. "Big Risks Have Been Taken,

Mostyn. I Only Hope My Fears Are Groundless."

 

"Your Fears?"

 

But The Doctor Seemed Not To Hear. He Raised The Child's Thin Night-

Shirt And Passed His Fingers Gently Over The Abdomen.

 

"Tell Me Where That Pain Is,  Dick," He Said,  Softly. "Where Does It

Hurt Most When I Press Down?"

 

"There! There!" Dick Cried Out In Sudden Agony.

 

"I See. That Will Do. I Sha'n't Hurt You Again." He Drew The Shirt

Down And Moved Back Toward The Lamp.

 

"I'm Sure You Will Give Him--Something To Reduce That Fever." Mostyn

Knew That The Remark Was A Mere Tentative Foil Against The Verdict

Stamped Upon The Bearded Face. The Doctor Slowly Wiped The Tiny Tube

And Restored It To Its Case.

 

"I Must Be Frank," He Said,  In A Low Tone. "My Opinion Is That He Must

Be Operated On At Once--Without Delay--Early In The Morning At The

Very Latest."

 

"Why--Why--Surely--" Mostyn Began,  But Went No Further. The Objects In

The Room Seemed To Swim About Him. He And The Doctor Were Buoys

Floating Face To Face.

 

"It Is Appendicitis," Loyd Said. "Of Course,  I'd Call Another Doctor

In Consultation Before Anything Is Done,  But I Am Sure I Am Not

Mistaken."

 

Mostyn's Soul Stared From A Dead Face With All But Glazed Eyes. He

Nodded Toward The Door Opening Into The Hall And Led The Doctor From

The Room. In The Hall He Put His Hand On Loyd's Shoulder.

 

"I Am Sure You Know Best," He Gasped. "What Do You Propose?"

 

"That I Take Him At Once To My Sanitarium In My Car. In Warm Weather

Like This You Won't Have To Wrap Him Much. You'd Better Get Him Ready

Now. I'll Telephone The Nurse To Have A Room Prepared."

 

"Very Well." Mostyn Was Stalking Back To The Child When The Doctor

Part 2 Chapter 15 Pg 79

Detained Him.

 

"And His Mother--I Don't See Her About; Is She At Home?"

 

"No,  She Is Out Of Town. Just Now She Is Away."

 

"Well,  You Had Better Telegraph Her."

 

"I--I Don't Exactly Know Where She Is." Mostyn Was Vaguely Thankful

For The Dimness Of The Hall Light.

 

"You Must Find Her--Locate Her At Once."

 

"Is It Really So--So Serious As That?"

 

"I May As Well Be Frank." The Doctor Cleared His Throat. "It Won't Do

Any Good To Mislead You. The Little Fellow Has A Weak Heart,  As I

Explained The Last Time He Was Ill,  And It Seems Worse Now. Then--

Then,  I Am Sorry To Say That I Detect Strong Symptoms Of Peritonitis.

If I Could Have Seen Him A Week Ago--I Presume The Fact Of Your Wife

Being Away,  And You Being Busy At The Bank--"

 

Mostyn's Head Rocked Like A Stone Balanced On A Pivot. "Yes," He Said.

"I Am Afraid We Were Not Attentive Enough. Will You Be Ready Soon?"

 

"Yes; Tell Dick It Is For A Ride In My Car. He Won't Mind It. He Is A

Plucky Little Fellow. He Has Fought That Pain For Several Days. We

Would Have Known It Earlier But For That."

 

Five Minutes Later Mostyn Sat On The Rear Seat Of The Automobile With

His Child In His Arms. The Doctor Sat In Front Beside The Colored

Chauffeur. Mostyn Chatted With Dick About The Ride,  About The "Nice,

Cool Room" He Was To Have At The "Good Doctor's House"; But,  To His

Growing Horror,  Dick Had Lost Interest In All Things. He Lay Passive

And Completely Relaxed,  A Lack-Luster Gleam In His Half-Closed Eyes.

 

"Am I Speeding Him To His Execution?" Mostyn's Very Dregs Whispered

The Query. "Is This My Last Word With Him?" Seeing The Faces Of The

Doctor And The Chauffeur Directed Ahead,  And Half Ashamed Of His

Tenderness,  He Bent Down And Kissed The Child's Forehead. In Vague

Response Dick Lifted His Little Hand To The Overbrooding Cheek,  But

Immediately Dropped It To His Side.

 

"Go Slowly Over This Rough Place," The Doctor Ordered; And The Speed

Lessened,  To Be Renewed A Little Farther On,  Where The Asphalt

Pavement Began Again.

 

Reaching The Sanitarium,  A Spacious White Building In Pleasant,  Shaded

Grounds,  They Alighted. Mostyn,  With His Boy In His Arms,  Stepped Out.

At The Door A Nurse Took Dick Into The House And Bore Him To A Room On

The Floor Above. She Spoke To Him In A Motherly Way. As She Vanished

Up The Stairs Mostyn Saw Dick's Small Limp Hand Hanging Down Her Side.

Was It,  He Asked Himself,  A Farewell Salute?

 

Part 2 Chapter 15 Pg 80

"You May Sit Here In The Waiting-Room If You Wish,  Or You May Return

Home In My Car," Loyd Suggested. "I Shall Send It At Once For The

Other Doctors. You Are Really Of No Service Here,  And,  Of Course,  I

Can Communicate With You By 'Phone As To Our Decision."

 

"I'll Be Here,  Or Close About On The Outside," Mostyn Answered. "I

Presume It Will Be Some Time Before The Consultation?"

 

"It Must Be Within Half An Hour. I Am Not Willing To Wait Longer."

 

Mostyn Sat Alone In The Sitting-Room. A Clock On The Wall Ticked

Sharply. He Heard The Wheels Of The Automobile Grind On The Pavement

As It Sped Away Under The Electric Lights. He Went Out On The Lawn. He

Felt In His Pocket For A Cigar,  But,  Finding None,  He Forgot It. The

Dew Of The Grass Penetrated To His Feet. It Seemed To Him That He Felt

Dick's Fever Coursing Through His Own Veins. He Was Still Outside Half

An Hour Later,  His Eyes Raised To The Windows Of The Lighted Room

Occupied By His Child,  When The Automobile Returned. Two Doctors Whom

He Knew Got Out And Sauntered Into The House. He Heard Them Laughing

Over The Mistake A So-Called Quack Had Made In The Case Of A Credulous

Patient,  Mostyn Lurked Back In The Shadows--He Would Not Detain Them

By A Useless Greeting. He Followed Them Into The House. The Nurse At

The Foot Of The Stairs Was Beckoning Them To Hasten. Mostyn Was Again

Alone In The Sitting-Room. Presently The Nurse Came In,  Evidently

Looking For Something. Mostyn Caught Her Eye,  And She Gave Him A

Hurried But Sympathetic Look. He Decided That He Would Sound Her.

 

"Do You Think An Operation Will Be Necessary?" He Asked.

 

Her Glance Fell. "I Have Only Dr. Loyd's Opinion. He Thinks So,  And I

Have Never Known Him To Be Wrong In Diagnosing A Case."

 

"He Thinks,  Also,  I Believe"--Mostyn's Voice Sounded As Hollow As A

Phonograph--" That The Child Has Hardly Strength Enough To Resist The

--The Ordeal?"

 

She Raised Her Eyes As If Doubting Her Right To Converse On The

Subject. "I Think He _Is_ Afraid Of That," She Admitted. "Your Child

Is Very,  Very Sick."

 

"And You--You,  _Yourself?_" Mostyn Now Fairly Implored. "According To

_Your_ Experience,  Do You Think There Is A Chance Of His Living

Through It?"

 

"I Really Can't Say--I _Mustn't_ Say," She Faltered. "I Am Only

Judging By Dr. Loyd's Actions. He Is Very Uneasy. Mr. Mostyn,  I Have

No Right To Speak Of It,  But Your Wife Ought To Be Here. The Doctor

Says She Is Out Of Town. She Ought To Get Here If Possible; She Will

Always Regret It If She Doesn't. I Am A Mother Myself,  And I Know How

She Will Feel."

 

Mostyn Stifled A Reply Which Rose To His Lips. He Heard,  Rather Than

Saw,  Her Leave The Room,  For A Mist Had Fallen On His Sight. In The

Patient's Chamber Above There Was The Grinding Of Feet On The Floor.

Part 2 Chapter 15 Pg 81

The Chandelier Overhead Shook. The Crystal Prisms Tinkled Like Little

Bells. Presently The Nurse Came To Him.

 

"Dr. Loyd Instructed Me To Say"--She Was Looking Down On His Clasped

Hands--"That They Have Agreed That The Operation Must Be Performed At

Once. They All Think It Is The Only Chance."

 

An Hour Later The Aiding Doctors Came Down The Stairs,  Glided Softly

Past The Sitting-Room Door,  And Passed Out. He Called To One Of Them.

 

"Is The Operation Over?" He Asked.

 

The Doctor Nodded Gravely. He Had Taken A Cigar From His Pocket,  And

Was Biting The Tip From The End. "It Was The Worst Appendix I Ever

Saw,  Fairly Rotten. Loyd Will Show It To You. It Is A Serious Case,

Mostyn. If Loyd Pulls Him Through It Will Be A Miracle. Peritonitis

Has Already Set In,  And There Is Very Little Heart-Action. He Is

Sleeping Now,  Of Course,  And Every Possible Thing Has Been Done And

Will Be Done. He Is In The Best Of Hands. We Can Do Nothing But Wait."

 

It Was Near Dawn. Mostyn Was Pacing Back And Forth On The Grass In

Front Of The House. The Dark Eastern Horizon Was Giving Way To A

Lengthening Flux Of Light. A Cab Drove Up To The Door,  And A Man And A

Woman Got Out. It Was Mrs. Moore And Old Mitchell. Mrs. Moore Reached

Her Brother First,  And Tenderly Clasped His Hands. As Well As He Could

He Explained The Situation.

 

"Hilda Telephoned Me," Mrs. Moore Went On,  In A Low,  Matter-Of-Fact

Tone. "She Was Almost In Hysterics,  And I Could Not Understand Her

Fully. I Thought The Operation Was To Be Done There,  And So I Dressed

And Went In A Cab. Then I Found That Mr. Mitchell Wanted To Come,  And

So I Brought Him On."

 

The Old Man Tottered Forward. For Once He Had No Comment To Make. He

Passed Them,  Slowly Ascended The Steps,  Went Into The Waiting-Room And

Sat Down,  Leaning Forward On His Stout Cane,  Which He Held Upright

Between His Knees.

 

"We'd Have Got Here Sooner,  But He Stopped At The Telegraph-Office.

Dick,  He Has Sent A Telegram To Irene In Care Of The Hardys. I Saw By

That That He Didn't Suspect The Truth. I Tried To Think Of Some Way To

Prevent It,  But Couldn't. I Told Him I Was In A Hurry,  But He Would

Stop. Now I Suppose The Truth Will Have To Come Out."

 

"It Makes No Difference," Mostyn Answered. "It Might As Well Come Now

As Later."

 

They Went In And Took Their Seats Against The Wall In The Waiting-

Room. Mitchell Stared At Them Half Drowsily,  Betraying The Usual

Complacency Of Old Age In Regard To Serious Illness Or Death.

 

"Are They Going To Operate?" He Asked.

 

Mrs. Moore Told Him That It Had Already Been Done.

Part 2 Chapter 15 Pg 82

 

"And Irene Wasn't Here," The Old Man Sniffed,  In Rising Ire. "It Is A

Shame! I Reckon She Will Have The Decency To Take The First Train Home

Now. This Will Be A Lesson To Her,  I Hope."

 

The Nurse Came Down The Stairs Hurriedly. Her Face Was Swept With

Well-Controlled Dismay. She Paused In The Doorway. Her Eyes Met Those

Of The Brother And Sister.

 

"Dr. Loyd Thinks You'd Better Come Up."

 

"Is The Boy--Is--He Worse?" Mrs. Moore Asked.

 

"You Had Better Hurry," The Nurse Answered. "There Is Only A Minute--

If That. He Is Dying."

 

A Few Minutes Later Mostyn And His Sister Came Down The Stairs.

 

"Try To Realize What The Poor Little Darling Has Escaped," She Said.

"It May Be The Merciful Hand Of God,  Dick. I Know It Is Killing You,

But That Ought To Be _Some_ Comfort."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Part 2 Chapter 16 Pg 83

 

 

Irene And Buckton Were Still At The Hotel In Charleston. On The Second

Morning Following The Happenings Of The Foregoing Chapter They Were

Having Breakfast Served In Irene's Little Sitting-Room. In The Light

From The Window He Was Struck,  As He Had Been Struck Before,  By Her

Listless Mien And The Thickening Shadows Of Disillusionment In Her

Eyes. He Had To Remind Her That The Coffee-Urn Was At Her Elbow,  And

That He Would Not Take His Coffee From Any Hand But Hers Before She

Filled His Cup. Her Eggs And Bacon She Had Barely Touched. He Saw Her

Hands Quiver As She Passed His Cup. He Tried To Enliven Her By His

Cheerful Talk,  Telling Her That She Was Getting Weary Of The Town And

That They Must Move On To Savannah To Take The Steamer.

 

"New York Is The Place For Us," He Said. "There We Will Have So Much

To Do And See That You Won't Have Time To Get Homesick. I Really

Part 2 Chapter 16 Pg 84

Believe You _Are_ Homesick,  Darling. You See,  You Are A Belle At Home,

A Favorite With Every One,  And Here You Have To Be Satisfied With Just

Me. I Know I Am A Poor Substitute,  But I Adore You,  While They--"

 

"Don't Speak Of Home!" She Suddenly Burst Out,  Almost At The Point Of

Tears. "One Never Knows What Home Is Till One Leaves It Forever. Just

Think Of It--Why,  It Is Forever--Forever! When We Left I Did Not

Consider That At All. I Want To Tell You Something Very Strange. I

Almost Feel--I Hardly Know How To Put It--But I Almost Feel That A--A

New Spiritual Nature Is Hovering About Me,  Trying To Force Itself Into

My Body. Why,  I Feel So Tenderly About My Father That It Seems To Me

That I'd Rather See Him At This Moment And Undo What I've Done Than To

Possess The World. Whenever I Start To--To Speak Affectionately To You

A Cold Hand Seems To Fall On My Lips. That Is Why--Why I Locked The

Door Last Night. It Was Not The Headache,  As I Claimed. I Had Been

Thinking Of Dick--My Husband. I Believe He Is Trying To Undo His Past.

I Don't Believe A Man Could Love A Child As He Loves Ours And Be Very

Bad At Heart. Something Tells Me That I Ought To Have Stayed By Him At

All Costs. We Were Wrong In Marrying,  No Doubt; But Once It Was Done,

Once A Helpless Little Child Was In Our Care--"

 

"Ah,  I See,  Irene,  It Is The Boy,  After All. You Don't Mention Him

Often,  But Little Things You Drop Now And Then Show Which Way The Wind

Blows. Your Eyes Are On Every Child We Pass In The Street. Without

Knowing It You Are A Motherly Woman."

 

"Ah,  If You Only Knew--If Only I Could Tell You _Something_--" She

Broke Off,  Lowered Her Head To Her Hand,  And He Saw Her Breast Rise On

A Billow Of Emotion.

 

"Something About Your Child?" Buckton Queried,  Jealously.

 

She Nodded Faintly. He Heard Her Sigh. She Remained Mute And Still For

A Moment; Then She Said,  Falteringly:

 

"I Have A Strange Conviction That There Is Truth In The Belief Of Some

Psychologists I've Read About Who Claim That In Sleep Our Souls Leave

The Body And See And Experience Things Far Away."

 

"I Don't Believe Such Rubbish," Buckton Said,  Uneasily. "Do You Know

That People Who Harbor Such Ideas Generally Go Insane?"

 

"I Had A Strange Experience Night Before Last." Irene Quite Ignored

His Protest. "It Was Something Too Vivid To Be A Mere Dream. You Know

There Is A Difference Between A Dream And A Real Experience. I Mean

That One Seems Able To Tell The Two Apart."

 

"Perhaps We Had Better Say No More About It," Buckton Suggested.

"Don't You Think A Drive In The Open Air Would Do You Good?"

 

But Irene Failed To Hear What He Was Saying,  Or Was Treating It As Of

Little Consequence.

 

"Listen," She Persisted. "It Was Between Midnight And Dawn. I Had Been

Part 2 Chapter 16 Pg 85

Brooding Morbidly,  And Sank Deep,  Deep Into Sleep,  So Deep That The

Darkness Seemed To Close In And Crush My Spirit Right Out Of My Body.

Then I Was Floating About,  Free To Go Where I Liked. I Felt Awfully

Lonely And Desolate. Presently I Found Myself On Our Lawn In Front Of

The House,  But Unable To Get In. I Heard Some One Crying Inside; It

Seemed To Be Hilda. I Couldn't Tell What She Was Crying About,  But I

Had The Feeling That It Was Because Something Was Happening To The

Boy. I Went To The Door And Tried To Ring,  But Had No Hands--Think Of

That,  I Had No Hands! Suddenly I Found Myself In The Hall,  But Unable

To Go Up The Stairs. Something Seemed To Clutch Me And Hold Me Back. I

Tried To Cry Out,  But Had No Voice. I Thought I Heard My Husband

Talking To The Child,  Tenderly--Oh,  So Tenderly! I Was Crying As I Had

Never Cried Before. I Wanted To See The Boy. It Was As If A New Heart

Had Been Born In Me Or An Old One Resurrected. Then I Heard The Door

Of My Husband's Room Open,  And I Shrank Back Afraid To Meet Him,  For I

Thought Of--Of You And Me Being Like This. Then I Waked And Found

Myself Here In Bed,  My Pillow Drenched With Tears. Oh,  I Wanted To

Die--I Wanted To Die Then!"

 

"It Was A Nightmare," Buckton Commented,  Uneasily. "It Has All The

Earmarks Of One. We Are Always,  In Such Dreams,  Trying To Get

Somewhere Or Away From Something Horrible."

 

"It Haunted Me All Day Yesterday," Irene Sighed. "And Last Night I Had

To Take One Of My Morphine Tablets To Get To Sleep."

 

"I Wish You'd Give That Up,  Darling," Buckton Said,  Reproachfully. "I

Saw Them On Your Bureau Yesterday And Started To Throw Them Out Of The

Window. Doctors Say It Easily Becomes A Habit,  And A Bad One."

 

"I Don't Take It Often,  I Really Don't," Irene Answered. "But I

Sometimes Wonder If It Would Make Any Difference. I Can Sympathize

With A Hopeless Drunkard,  Who,  In A Besotted Condition,  Is Able To

Forget Trouble And Sorrow."

 

"Finish Your Breakfast," Buckton Cried,  Forcing A Laugh. "We Are Going

To Take That Drive. The Fresh Air Will Knock All Those Ideas Out Of

Your Pretty Head."

 

They Spent The Day Driving About The Country. They Had Supped At A

Quaint And Picturesque Cafe,  And Returned To The Hotel. He Was In Her

Bedroom At Ten O'clock,  Still Active In His Efforts To Set Her Mind At

Ease,  When A Sharp Rapping Was Heard On The Door Of His Sitting-Room

Adjoining.

 

"It Is Something For Me," Buckton Said. "Wait,  And I'll See What It

Is."

 

Before He Had Finished Speaking There Was Another And A Louder

Rapping. Buckton Hastened Out,  Closing The Connecting Door Cautiously.

Irene Stood Up. She Had A Premonition That Something Disagreeable Was

About To Happen. She Heard Buckton Unlock His Door. Then She

Recognized The Voice Of The Proprietor Of The Hotel.

 

Part 2 Chapter 16 Pg 86

"I Want To See You Privately,  Mr. Buckton," The Voice Said.

 

"All Right; Won't You Come In?" Buckton Replied; And Immediately The

Latch Of The Door Clicked As It Was Closed.

 

There Was A Pause,  During Which Irene,  Holding Her Handkerchief To Her

Lips,  Crept To The Connecting Door And Stood With Her Ear Close To The

Keyhole. She Held Her Breath. The Pounding Of Her Heart Seemed To Fill

The Still Room With Obtrusive Sound.

 

"You Must Pardon Me,  But It Is My Duty"--The Proprietor's Voice Rose

With Sudden Sharpness--"To Speak Of Your Relations With The Woman You

Brought Here With You."

 

"My--My Relations?" Buckton's Voice Had Fallen Low,  And The Tone Was

Cautious. "Please Don't Talk So Loud. She Is Not Well And Might

Overhear. What Do You Mean,  Sir--Do You Mean To Insinuate--"

 

"You May Call It Anything You Like," The Proprietor Retorted,  In

Evident Anger. "I've Been In The Hotel Business For Twenty-Five Years,

And Have Never Been Charged With Keeping An Indecent House. When You

Arrived Here I Thought Your Companion Was All Right,  But I Now Know

Who And What She Is. I Can Rely On My Information,  So We Won't Argue

About That."

 

Irene Heard A Scuffing Of Feet Which Drew The Two Men Closer To The

Door At Which She Stood. The Truth Was That Buckton Had Drawn Back To

Strike The Man,  Who Caught His Hand And Held It.

 

"Don't Try That On Me!" The Proprietor Said,  Calmly. "Your Bluff Is

Weak. Now,  Let Me Give You A Piece Of Advice,  Young Man. I've Watched

This Thing With My Own Eyes And Ears,  And I Know Exactly What Is Going

On. This Is A Strict,  Law-Abiding,  Old-Fashioned Town. Decency Has

Been Reigning Here For Over Two Hundred Years. The Average Citizen Of

Charleston Has No Sympathy For The Sort Of Thing You Are Evidently

Trying To Foist On Us. You've Got Sense Enough To Know That All I Have

To Do Is To Telephone The Police To Take Charge Of This Matter And Air

It In Open Court. You Might Get It Whitewashed In _Your_ Town By Some

Pull Or Other,  But Not Here. I Think,  Since You Want To Be Insulting,

That I'd Better Send For An Officer."

 

Irene Heard The Proprietor Moving To The Outer Door; His Hand Touched

The Latch,  And It Rattled.

 

"Wait!" It Was Her Lover's Voice,  And It Was Contrite And Imploring.

"For God's Sake,  Don't Give Us Trouble! We Are Leaving For Savannah In

The Morning. Surely You Will Not Put Us Out To-Night?"

 

"No,  The Train Leaves At Ten. See That You Take It. I Am Not Any More

Anxious To Have This Dirty Thing Get Out Than You Are. Good Night."

 

"Good Night." The Door Closed. Receding Steps Sounded In The Corridor

Outside. Irene Reeled Back To Her Chair And Sat Down. A Moment Later

Buckton Appeared. He Was Ghastly Pale,  Trying To Recover Calmness And

Part 2 Chapter 16 Pg 87

Invent A Plausible Explanation As To Why He Had Been Called To The

Door. She Gazed At Him Steadily.

 

"You Needn't Make Up A Story," She Said. "I Overheard."

 

He Stood Looking Down On Her Helplessly. He Swayed To And Fro,  Resting

His Hand On The Back Of Her Chair.

 

"You Say--You--Heard?"

 

She Nodded. "He Told The Truth About Me. That's Actually What I Am,"

She Said,  Grimly. "That Is Exactly The Way The World Will Look At Me

When It Knows All. It Was Lucky That I Heard. As He Was Talking I Kept

Saying,  'That's So--That's So,' And I Wasn't A Bit Angry--Not A Bit. A

Bad Woman--A Bold,  Bad Woman Would Have Flared Up,  But I'm Not That--

God Knows I Am Not. I Have Been Tricked,  Blinded,  Led Along By My

Imagination And Ideals Ever Since I Was A Child. Now My Head Is On The

Block,  And The Puritan World Is Swinging The Ax. Oh,  How I Cringed

Just Now! I,  Who Have Heard Nothing But The Compliments Of Men All My

Life,  Heard The Truth At Last. I've Been Vain,  Silly,  Mad. I Could

Crawl In The Dust And Kiss The Feet Of An Unsullied Shop-Girl. Well,

Well,  What's To Be Done?"

 

"We Leave For Savannah In The Morning,  And From There Sail For New

York," He Answered. "I'm Going To Kill Your Despondency,  Dear. You

Must Sleep Now. Don't Pack To-Night. I'll Wake You Early In The

Morning,  And Will Help You Do It Then."

 

"Well,  Well,  Leave Me," She Sighed. "I'll Go To Bed. I'll Take A

Tablet. I Want To Forget. That Voice--Oh,  God! That Man's Voice! He

Was A Judge On The Bench--All Arguments In My Defense Had Been Set

Aside By A Jury Of Truthful Men. He Pronounced My Sentence. I'm To Be

Swept Out In The Morning Along With The Dirt From Men's Boots. I--I--

Irene Mostyn--No,  No,  Not _Mostyn_--Irene _Nobody_,  Will Not Dare To

Look Into The Faces Of Black Servants As I Slink Away In The Morning

With You--You,  My Choice,  A Man Whom--Before God I Swear It--I No More

Actually Love You Than--"

 

"Don't--Don't For God's Sake; I Can't Bear It!" He Was On The Verge Of

Tears. "I've Been Afraid Of That. I Thought You'd Be Happy With Me,

But So Far You Have Been Just The Reverse. But I Won't Give Up--I

Won't! You Are My Very Life."

 

"Well,  Go,  Go!" She Cried. "I Must Sleep. I Rolled And Tossed All

Night Last Night. I'll Go Mad If This Keeps Up. Get Me A Tablet From

The Bottle,  And A Glass Of Water--No,  I'll Take It Later. Oh,  Oh,  Oh!

I Am Sure Now That My Child Is Dead,  And That His Father Is Crazed

With Grief. That Was What My Strange Dream Meant. People Say Such

Things Are Prophetic,  And I Know It Is So--I Feel It Through And

Through. The Child Of My Breast Died While I Was Here Like This With

_You_--With _You Here In My Bedroom_."

 

"You Really Must Try To Be Calm," Buckton Urged. "Those Are Only

Morbid Fancies. The World Is Before Us,  Darling,  Just As It Was When

Part 2 Chapter 16 Pg 88

We Left Home. There Is Really No Change Except In Your Imagination."

 

A Shrewd Look Settled On Her Face. She Waved Her Hand Toward The Door.

"Well,  Leave Me Alone Then. Please Do."

 

"All Right,  I'll Go." He Bent To Kiss Her,  But With A Sharp Little

Scream That Was Half Hysterical She Raised Her Hands And Pushed Him

Back. "Don't Do That!" She Cried,  Almost In Alarm. "Don't Do It

Again!"

 

She Glanced Furtively About The Room--At The Closet Door,  Under The

Bed,  And,  Leaning To One Side,  Peered Behind The Bureau,  As If Her

Mind Was Wandering. "Don't Touch Me. Little Dick Will See You. He Is

Here--I Know It--I Feel It. I Can Almost See Him,  Like A Misty Cloud.

He Seems To Come Between You And Me,  As If Wondering Why You Are Here.

He Seems To Be Trying To Comfort Me. Lord,  Have Mercy On My Soul! Go,

Go! For God's Sake,  _Go!_"

 

"All Right,  Dear." Buckton Moved Away. His Feet Caught In A Rug And He

Stumbled Awkwardly. Passing Out At The Door,  He Softly Closed It.

 

Finding Herself Alone,  Irene Rose And Began To Walk The Floor. Back

And Forth She Strode,  Wringing Her Hands,  The Flare Of Insanity In Her

Eyes. She Unfastened Her Hair,  Shook It Down Her Back. Suddenly She

Fell On Her Knees By Her Bed,  Clasped Her Hands And Tried To Pray,  But

Words Failed To Come. Rising,  She Went To The Table And Filled A Glass

With Ice-Water; Then,  Going To The Bureau,  She Took Up The Small

Bottle Half Full Of Morphine Tablets And Held Them Between Her And The

Light.

 

"Ah!" She Cried. "I See The Way--The Only Way,  But I Must Be Quick,  Or

I'll Lose Courage! Quick,  Quick,  Quick!"

 

She Took A Tablet Into Her Mouth And Drank Some Water. She Took

Another,  And Another,  Then Two,  Then Three,  And So On,  Till The Bottle

Was Empty. She Walked To A Window And Threw The Bottle Away. She Heard

It Crash On The Pavement. She Went To Her Bed,  Lowered The Light,  And

Lay Down. Presently She Felt Drowsy; A Delicious Sense Of Restfulness

Stole Over Her.

 

Shortly Afterward Buckton,  Who Was Up Packing His Trunk,  Heard Her

Gleefully Laughing. Wondering Over The Cause,  And Vaguely Afraid,  He

Opened The Door And Went To Her. She Was Lying With Her Eyes Open,

Smiling Sweetly,  And Staring As If At Some Dream-Object Or Person

Across The Room.

 

"What Is It,  Dear?" He Asked,  Touching Her Forehead Gently. He Fancied

That She Was Slightly Delirious,  And That It Would Soon Pass Away.

 

A Sweet,  Girlish,  Rippling Laugh Escaped Her Lips. He Had Never Seen

Her Look So Beautiful. A Spiritual Radiance Had Transformed Her Face,

Which Was That Of A Young Girl. Her Eyes Had Lost Their Somber

Shadows. Ineffable Lights Danced In Their Depths.

Part 2 Chapter 16 Pg 89

 

"Little Dick And I Were Having So Much Fun. We Were Playing Hide And

Seek In The Clouds With Thousands And Thousands Of Angels Like

Himself. He Said That He Felt No Pain When He Died And Came Straight

To Me Because I Needed Him--Think Of That,  I,  A Grown Woman,  Needed A

Little Boy Like Him,  But That Is Because He Is Wise Now,  Wise And Old

In The Wisdom Of Eternity."

 

She Closed Her Eyes For A Moment,  Only To Open Them Again.

 

"Leave Me Quick! I Want To Sleep. Don't Disturb Me Again To-Night.

Shut The Door And Don't Open It. He Is Coming Back,  And--And He Must

Not See You Here. Oh,  I Love Him--I Love Him! He Is The Only One I

Ever Loved. We Understand Each Other Perfectly. He Is The Sweetest,

Dearest Thing In The World. I Had Him In My Arms Just Now,  And He

Seemed To Melt Into Me And Become Myself And Yet Remain Himself. He Is

Coming To Take Me Away. Go,  I Am Sleepy--So Sleepy And--Happy--Oh,  So

Happy! It Is All Peace And Bliss Out There,  And Endless Light And--

Love. Go,  Hurry! He Is Coming! I See My Mother,  Too. She Is Holding

Him By The Hand. They Are Beckoning To Me."

 

She Closed Her Eyes. Tints Of Dawn Were In Her Cheeks. He Bent To Kiss

Her,  But,  Fearing That He Might Wake Her,  He Refrained,  And Softly

Tiptoed From The Room.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Part 2 Chapter 17 Pg 90

 

Saunders Was Reading A Letter One Morning As He Walked Along The

Shaded Road From The Store To His House. It Was From James Wright,  The

Cashier Of The Bank,  Who Was Giving Him Some Of The Particulars In

Regard To The Double Tragedy In Mostyn's Life.

 

"The Whole City Is Shocked," The Letter Ran. "Nothing Else Is Spoken

Of. Mostyn Has The Sympathy Of All. He Is Bearing It Like A Man,  But

He Is Terribly Changed. He Seems More Dead Than Alive. You'd Hardly

Know Him Now. Of Course,  When Mitchell Was Unable To Locate His

Daughter,  To Inform Her Of The Death Of Her Child,  Everybody Began To

Suspect The Truth,  Especially As Buckton's Mother Was Almost

Part 2 Chapter 17 Pg 91

Prostrate,  And Made No Secret Of Her Fears.

 

"Mitchell Happened To Be At The Bank When The Telegram Came From

Buckton Announcing The Death Of Mrs. Mostyn. Buckton Called It Heart-

Failure,  But Everybody Knew From The Wording That It Was Suicide.

Mitchell Did,  I Am Sure. He Read The Telegram With Scarcely A Change

Of Face. I Happened To Be Close To Him At The Moment,  And Heard Him

Mutter:

 

"'It Is Better So!'

 

"He Sat Alone In Delbridge's Office--Seeming To Shun Mostyn--Without

Saying A Word For Half An Hour; Then He Asked Me To Telephone The

Facts To Mrs. Buckton. I Did So,  And She Drove Down To The Bank,  So

Weak That She Had To Be Helped From Her Carriage. She And The Old Man

Held A Consultation. They Agreed To Go Together To Charleston,  And

Thought For The Present,  At Least,  That It Would Be Better To Bury The

Poor Woman There,  So As To Avoid Further Publicity Here.

 

"Mitchell Returned To-Day. Nobody Knows Exactly What Took Place

Between Him And The Young Man,  But It Is Thought That Out Of

Consideration For Mrs. Buckton He Kept His Temper. It Is Rumored That

She And Her Son Have Left For New York,  And That They May Not Be Back

To Atlanta For A Long Time.

 

"Mitchell's Trouble Seems To Have Strengthened His Mind Rather Than

Weakened It. He Is Not So Flighty Or Talkative. He Is Offering His

Home For Sale,  And Has Ordered It To Be Closed At Once. He Says He Is

Going To Live With His Nieces In Virginia,  Who Will Now,  I Presume,

Inherit All His Property. He Is Not Likely To Leave A Penny To Mostyn,

Who,  To Do Him Justice,  Does Not Want Any Of It,  I'm Sure.

 

"Mostyn Is Staying At His Sister's. She Is Doing All She Can To Help

Him Bear Up. His Condition Is Truly Pitiful,  And It Is Made More

Unbearable By Old Henderson,  Who Has Made Many Bold Efforts To See

Him. Henderson Is Openly Gloating Over Mostyn's Misfortune. He Goes

About Chuckling,  Telling Everybody That The Retribution For Which He

Has Prayed So Long Has Come At Last. I Had To Drive Him Away

Yesterday. He Was Peering Through My Window With A Grin On His Face,

And Started To Shout In At Mostyn. Mostyn Saw Him,  I Think,  But Said

Nothing. The Poor Fellow Is Losing Flesh; His Eyes Have A Strange,

Far-Off Glare,  And His Hands And Knees Shake. I See Now That We Must

Persuade Him To Go Away For A While. A Man Of Iron Could Not Stand Up

Under Such Awful Trouble."

 

Saunders Folded The Letter,  And With A Profound Sigh Walked On. A Man

On A Wagon Loaded With Hay Passed. It Was Tobe Barnett,  Who Looked

Well And Prosperous. He Was Working On Saunders's Plantation,  And

Getting Good Wages Under The Friendly Direction Of Tom Drake.

 

Tobe Tipped His Hat,  As He Always Did To Saunders.

 

"Awful About Mr. Mostyn,  Ain't It?" He Said. "I Read It In The Paper

Yesterday."

Part 2 Chapter 17 Pg 92

 

Saunders Nodded. "Very Sad,  Tobe. He Is Having Hard Lines."

 

"I Never Had Nothin' Agin The Feller _Myself,_" Tobe Remarked. "He

Always Treated _Me_ Right. Some Folks Said He Was Sorter Wild In His

Ways,  But I Never Blamed Him Much. He Was Young An' Full O' Blood.

I've Knowed Fellers As Wild As Bucks To Settle Down In The End."

 

Tobe Drove On. Saunders Pursued His Way Along The Shaded Road. How

Peaceful The Landscape Looked In The Mellow Sunshine! How Firm And

Eternal Seemed The Mountains,  The Highest Peaks Of Which Pierced The

Snowy Clouds. Saunder's Heart Fairly Ached Under Its Load Of Sympathy.

"What Can Be Done? What Can Be Done?" He Thought. "I'd Like To Help

Him."

 

Presently Down The Road Near His Own House Saunders Saw A Trim Form On

A Black Horse. It Was Dolly. She Was Coming Toward Him. She Had Not

Seen Him,  And He Noted That She Was Constantly Reining Her Restive

Mount In While She Kept Her Eyes Fixed On The Ground As If In Deep

Thought.

 

In A Few Minutes They Met. She Looked Up,  Nodded,  And Bowed.

 

"I Rode Over To Take A Message To Father," She Announced. "He Was In

The Wheat-Field. I Didn't Want To Bother To Go Around To The Gate,  So

What Do You Think I Did? I Made My Horse Jump A Fence Eight Rails

High. Oh,  It Was Fine! I Rose Like An Arrow In The Breeze And Came

Down On The Other Side As Light As A Feather."

 

He Caught Her Bridle-Rein And Held It To Steady The Impatient Animal.

"You Really Mustn't Take Such Risks," He Said,  Firmly." If The Horse

Had Caught His Feet On The Top Rail He Would Have Thrown You. Don't,

Don't Do It Any More. Don't,  Please Don't!"

 

She Avoided His Burning Upward Glance. Suddenly A Shadow Swept Over

Her Face. "Of Course,  You've Heard About Mr. Mostyn?" She Said,

Softly. "Isn't It Simply Awful?"

 

He Nodded,  Telling Her About The Letter He Had Just Received. When He

Had Concluded She Sat In Silence For A Moment,  Then He Heard Her Sigh.

"I Thought I'd Had Trouble Myself,  But,  Really,  Jarvis,  If I Tried I

Could Not Imagine A More Horrible Situation. He Is Proud,  And His

Humiliation And Grief Combined Must Be Unbearable. Losing His Son Was

The Hardest Blow. I Think You Told Me He Loved The Boy Very Much."

 

"He Adored The Little Chap," Saunders Said. "And Well He Might,  For

The Boy Was Wonderfully Bright And Beautiful. He Doted On His Father."

 

Dolly Was Silent. Saunders Saw Her White Throat Throbbing. "It Is

Bound To Produce A Change In Him," She Said." It Will Either Kill Him

Or Regenerate Him. He Has A Queer Nature. He Is A Two-Sided Man. All

His Life He Has Been Tossed Back And Forth Between Good And Bad

Impulses. How Awful It Must Be For Him To Have To Remain In Atlanta

And Be Thrown With So Many Who Know What Has Happened! His Friends

Part 2 Chapter 17 Pg 93

Ought To Beg Him To Go Off Somewhere."

 

"I Am Going To Write Him A Letter To-Day," Saunders Said. "I Shall

Assure Him That My Home Is His,  And Beg Him To Come. Nature Is The

Best Balm For Keen Sorrow,  And Here In The Mountains--"

 

"Oh,  How Good And Sweet And Noble Of You!" Dolly Broke In,

Tremulously. "You Are Always Thinking Of Others. Yes,  That Would Do

Him Good. A City Is No Place For One In His Trouble. I Imagine That

Nothing Will Help Him Much,  But You Can Do More For Him Here Than Any

One Can Down There."

 

Saunders Tried To Meet Her Eyes,  But They Were Steadily Avoiding His.

 

"My God,  Does She Still Care For Him?" The Planter Thought. "Does She

Still Actually Love Him,  And Will Not This Trouble And His Presence

Here Unite Them Again? She Has Too Great A Heart To Harbor Resentment

At Such A Time,  And She May Suspect That He Still Loves Her. If That

Is So,  I Am Simply Joining Their Hands Together--I Who,  If I Lose Her,

Will Be As Miserable As He. Oh,  I Can't Give Her Up! I Simply Can't.

She Is My Very Life."

 

Dolly Seemed To Feel The Force Back Of His Agonized Stare,  For She

Kept Her Eyes Averted.

 

"He Will Come,  I'm Sure," She Said,  Musingly,  And,  As He Thought,

Eagerly. "When Will The Letter Reach Him?"

 

"To-Night," Saunders Said. "I'll Urge Him To Come At Once. I'll Make

The Invitation As Strong As I Can. Shall I--Mention You--That Is,

Would You Like For Me To Express Your--Sympathies?"

 

"Oh No,  I Have Already Written Him. I Wrote As Soon As I Heard. I

Couldn't Help It. I Cried Till The Paper Was Damp. Oh,  He Will Know

How Sorry I Am."

 

"You Have Written!" Saunders Formed The Words In His Brain,  But They

Were Not Uttered. A Storm Of Despair Swept Through Him. He Shook From

Head To Foot. She And The Horse Floated In A Swirling Mist Before Him.

 

"He Will Appreciate Your Letter," He Managed To Say,  Finally. "He Will

Value It Above All Else."

 

"Oh No,  I Don't Think That." She Gave Him Her Eyes In What Seemed To

Him To Be A Questioning Stare. "In A Deep,  Heartrending Sorrow Like

His He Will Scarcely Remember My Words From One Day To Another. Do You

Know What I Think,  Jarvis? Down Inside Of Him He Has A Deeply

Religious Nature,  And I Predict That He Will Now Simply Have To Turn

To God. After All,  God Is The Only Resort For A Man In His Plight."

 

"You May Be Right," Saunders Returned. "His Whole Spirit Is Broken.

But Hope Will Revive. In Fact,  All This,  Sad As It Is,  In The Long Run

May Be Good For Him."

 

Part 2 Chapter 17 Pg 94

Dolly Shook Her Rein Gently. "I Must Go," She Said,  Smiling Sadly.

"Good-By."

 

The Horse Galloped Down The Road. Like A Fair,  Winged Creature She

Floated Away In The Sunlight.

 

"Am I To Lose Her At Last?" He Groaned. "After All These Years Of

Patient Watching And Waiting Is She Going Back To The Man Who Could

Have Had Her But Would Not? God Knows That Is Not Fair. Surely I

Deserve Better Treatment--If--If I Deserve Anything. Can I Urge Him To

Come--Will It Be Possible For Me Sincerely To Pen The Words Which May

Seal My Doom? Yes,  I Must--If I Don't I Would Not Be Worthy Of Her

Respect,  And That I Must Have,  Even If I Lose Her."

Part 2 Chapter 18 Pg 95

 

 

 

The Letter Was Written. It Was Full Of Manly Sympathy And Friendly

Assurances. It Brought The Afflicted Banker Three Days Later To The

Plantation. A Delightful Cool And Airy Room Was Assigned To Him. The

Open Sympathy Of The Mountaineers And The Negroes About The Place Was

Vaguely Soothing. Looking Back Upon The City,  It Seemed A Jarring

Place Of Torture When Contrasted To The Eternal Peace Of This Remote

Spot. Free To Go When And Whither He Liked,  Mostyn Spent Whole Days

Rambling Alone Through The Narrow Roads And By-Paths Of The Mountains,

Often Reaching All But Inaccessible Nooks In Canons And Rocky Crevices

Where Dank Plants And Rare Flowers Budded And Bloomed,  Where Velvet

Mosses Were Spread Like Carpets,  And Ferns Stood Like Miniature Palms.

 

One Morning Mostyn Saw Saunders Hoeing Weeds Out Of The Corn-Rows In A

Field Back Of The House; And,  Taking Another Hoe,  He Joined Him,

Working Steadily By His Friend's Side Till Noon. And Here He Made A

Discovery. He Found That The Work Furnished A Sort Of Vent For The

Festering Agony Pent Up Within Him. It Seemed To Ooze Out With The

Sweat Which Dampened His Clothing,  To Be Absorbed In His Heated Blood,

And After A Cooling Bath He Slept More Profoundly Than He Had Slept

For Years. He Now Saw The Reason For Saunders's Partiality To Country

Life. It Was Nature's Balm For All Ills. In Fact,  He Was Sure Now That

He Could Not Do Without It. Nearly Every Morning After This He

Part 2 Chapter 18 Pg 96

Insisted On Working In The Fields. Sometimes It Was With A Plow,  Which

He Learned To Use Under The Advice Of Tobe Barnett,  A Scythe In The

Hay-Field,  Or A Woodman's Ax In The Depths Of The Forests. But Still

Sorrow And Shame Brooded Over Him Like A Material Pall That Refused To

Be Put Aside. As He Lay In His Bed At Night He Would Fancy That He

Heard Little Dick Calling To Him From The Nursery,  And The Thought

That The Voice And Love Of The Child Were Forever Dead To Him Was

Excruciating.

 

One Evening After Supper Saunders Informed Him That Dolly And Some Of

Her Literary Friends Were To Hold A Club-Meeting At The Schoolhouse To

Discuss Some Topic Of Current Interest,  And Asked Him If He Would Care

To Go Along With Him. Mostyn Was Seated At The End Of The Veranda

Smoking. He Hesitated,  It Seemed To Saunders,  Longer Than Was

Necessary Before He Answered:

 

"I Hope You Will Excuse Me,  But You Mustn't Let Me Keep You Away. I Am

Very Tired And Shall Go To Bed Early."

 

A Little Later Saunders Left For The Meeting. Mostyn Saw Him Pass Out

At The Gate Under The Starlight. The Bell Was Ringing. Mostyn Recalled

The Night He Had Gone With Dolly To A Meeting Of Like Nature,  And The

Impression Her Speech Had Made On Him.

 

"All That Is Past--Gone Like A Wonderful Dream," He Mused. "In Feeling

I Am An Old Man,  Bowed And Broken Under The Blind Errors Of Life.

Saunders And I Are Near The Same Age. Look At Him; Look At Me; He

Walks Like A Young Greek Athlete. I Have Nothing To Expect,  Nothing To

Hope For. My Wife Died Despising Me; My Friends Merely Bear With Me

Out Of Pity; My Boy Is Dead; I Have To Die--All Living Creatures Have

To Die. What Does The Whole Thing Mean? It Really Must Have A Meaning,

For Many Great Minds Have Seen Nothing But Beauty In It,  Not Even

Excluding Sorrow,  Pain,  And Death. There Must Be An Unpardonable Sin,

And I Have Committed It. Some Say That All Wrong-Doers May Get Right--

I Wonder If There Is A Chance For Me,  _A Single Chance?_ No,  No,  I Am

Sure There Is None--None Whatever. But,  Oh,  If Only I Could See My Boy

Alive Again! I Would Be Willing To Suffer Any Torment For That,  But

Better Still--If Only He Might Be Immortal--If Only He Could Live

Forever In Happiness On Some Other Plane,  As Good People Believe,  I'd

Ask Nothing For My Part--Absolutely Nothing! I Brought Him Into The

World. I Am Responsible For His Marvelous Being. I'd Give My Soul To

Save His--I Would--I Would--I Would!"

 

He Went To Bed. He Said No Prayer. He Accepted His Lot Without Any

Idea That It Might Be Otherwise. The Night Was Profoundly Still. He

Heard Singing. It Was At The Meeting-House. Softened By Distance,  The

Music Was Most Appealing. It Seemed To Float Above The Tree-Tops,

Touch The Clouds,  And Fall Lightly To Earth. His Mind,  Weighted Down

By Care,  Induced Slumber. Dream-Creatures Flocked About Him. He Was A

Child Romping In A Meadow Over New-Mown Hay. He Had A Playmate,  But He

Could Not See His Face; It Was Ever Eluding Him. Suddenly He Ran Upon

The Child,  And With Open Arms Clasped Him To His Breast. The Child

Laughed Gleefully,  As Children Do When Caught In Such Games. It Was

Little Dick. He Held Him Tightly,  Fearing That He Would Get Away. He

Part 2 Chapter 18 Pg 97

Spoke Soothingly And Yet Anxiously. Endearing Words Rippled From His

Lips. Presently His Arms Were Empty. Little Dick Was Gone,  And

Standing Near,  A Scowl Of Hate On His Face,  Was Old Henderson,  Who Was

Shaking Fierce Fingers At The Dreamer.

 

"Retribution!" He Cried. "Retribution! Now It Is Your Time--Your Time

To Suffer,  And I Am Appointed To Lay On The Lash!"

 

Mostyn Waked. The Moonlight Was Shining In At The Window. In The

Distance He Heard Voices. They Were Coming Nearer. Standing At A

Window,  Mostyn Saw Saunders And Tobe Barnett As They Were Parting At

The Gate.

 

"As Soon As Dolly Stood Up," Tobe Said,  With A Satisfied Laugh,  "I

Knew She Had It In For The Whole Dang Bunch From The Way She Looked.

An' When She Swatted 'Em Like She Did With Them Keen Points O' Hers I

Mighty Nigh Kicked The Bench In Front O' Me To Pieces. I Throwed My

Hat Agin The Ceilin' An' Yelled. She's A Corker,  Mr. Saunders."

 

Mostyn Could Not Hear Saunders's Reply. As He Came On To The House He

Began To Whistle Softly. Mostyn Saw Him Pause On The Grass,  Light A

Cigar,  And Begin To Smoke As He Strolled To And Fro.

 

"Happy Man!" Mostyn Said,  As He Went Back To His Bed. "He's Never Had

Anything To Bother Him. There Must Be A Correct Law Of Life,  And He

Seems To Understand And Obey It. He Used To Try To Get Me To Listen To

His Ideas,  But I Thought He Was A Fanatic. Lord,  Lord,  I Thought He

Was A Fool!"

 

 

 

 

Part 2 Chapter 19 Pg 98

 

The Next Morning,  Saunders Having Left Home On Some Business

Pertaining To The Building Of His New Cotton-Factory,  Mostyn Started

Out On One Of His All-Day Rambles In The Mountains. As He Was Passing

The Store Wartrace Called Out To Him Cordially.

 

"You Ought To Come Around About One O'clock,  Mr. Mostyn," He Said. "A

Big Crowd Will Be Here To Listen To John Leach,  The Tramp Preacher.

Part 2 Chapter 19 Pg 99

He's Billed For My Store,  An' He Never Fails To Be On Time."

 

Mostyn Passed On After Exchanging A Few Labored Platitudes With The

Storekeeper. He Shrank From The Thought Of Meeting A Crowd Even Of

Simple Mountain People. The High Open Spaces Above Silently Beckoned

To Him. Never Before Had Solitude In The Breast Of Nature Had Such

Appeal For Him. He Found Growing Interest In Plants,  Flowers,  Insects,

And Birds. He Wondered If They,  Too,  Suffered From Grief And Pain. At

Noon,  When The Day Was Warmest,  He Reclined On The Mossy Bank Of A

Clear Brook. He Took Off His Shoes And Bathed His Feet In The Cool,

Swift-Running Water,  Feeling The Chill Course Through His Veins. What

Was It That Kept Whispering Within Him That Here And Here Alone Was

The Balm For Such Wounds As His? Contrasting The Mystic Quiet Of His

Surroundings With The Snarling Jangle Of The Life He Had Led In Town,

A Faint Hope Of Eventual Peace Began To Spring Up Within Him. Once He

Raised His Hands To The Infinite Blue Above Him,  And His Thought,  If

Not His Words,  Was All But A Prayer For Mercy.

 

He Was Descending The Mountain Road Near Sunset. The Valley Into Which

He Was Going Was Already In Shadow. Suddenly He Heard A Mellow

Masculine Voice Singing A Hymn,  And,  Turning A Bend In The Road,  His

Body Bent Downward And Swinging His Hat In His Hand,  Was Leach,  The

Preacher.

 

"Well,  Well,  Well!" Leach Exclaimed,  Gladly,  When He Was Near Enough

To Recognize Him. "I Heard You Were In These Diggings,  And Was Sorry

Not To See You Out At My Meeting."

 

Leach Took His Hand,  Pressing His Fingers In A Tense And Sincere Clasp

While He Looked Into His Eyes Tenderly. His Strong Face Filled With

Emotion; His Big Lower Lip Actually Shook.

 

"You Needn't Tell Me About It,  Brother," He Said,  Huskily. "I've Heard

It All,  And I Never Was So Sorry For A Man In My Life. You Have Been

Sorely Stricken--You've Had As Much As You Can Stand Up Under And

Live. As Soon As I Heard It I Said To Myself: 'Here Is A Man That Has

To Suffer As Much As I Went Through.' Brother"--Leach Still Hung On To

His Hand--"You Can't See It As I Do Now,  And You Will Think I Am Crazy

For Saying It,  I Reckon,  But If Things Work Out Right,  You Will See

The Time That You Will Thank God For Giving You The Load That's On

You. Everything That Happens Under The Lord's Sun Is According To Law,

And Is Right--So Right That Average Human Beings Can't See It. You've

Heard Me Tell About What I Went Through In Prison,  And I Thank God For

Every Minute Of It. The Backbone Of My Pride Had To Be Broken,  And It

Took That To Do It. Are You In A Big Hurry?"

 

"No," Mostyn Faltered. "I Have Plenty Of Time."

 

"Well,  If You Don't Mind,  Let's Sit Here On The Rocks," Leach

Suggested. "I Want To See The Sun Set. I Never Miss A Sunset On A

Mountain If I Can Help It. That's Why I Walked Up Here. A Fellow Asked

Me To Spend The Night With Him On His Farm In The Valley,  But I

Refused. The Longer I Live The More I Want To Get Away From Houses,

Tables,  Beds,  And Chairs. They Are Just Babies' Rag Dolls And Playing-

Part 2 Chapter 19 Pg 100

Blocks. I'll Rake Up A Pile Of Pine-Needles At The Highest Point I Can

Reach On This Mountain To-Night And Lie With My Eyes On The Stars-Pin-

Hole Windows To God's Glory. Sometimes I Can't Sleep--I Get So Full Of

Worship. I Was Reading The Other Day That It Would Take A Fast Train

Forty Million Years To Get To The Nearest Fixed Star. Isn't That

Awful? And Think Of It,  When You Got There,  A Billion Times More Would

Lie Beyond--So Much More That You Wouldn't Even Then Have Touched The

Fringe Of The Wonderful Scheme. It Is Too Big For The Mind Of Man To

Grasp,  And So Is The Other,  The Realm Of Spirit,  Which Is,  After All,

The Main Thing--In Fact,  The _Only_ Thing."

 

They Sat In Silence For Several Minutes. The Sun Was Now A Great

Bleeding Ball Of Crimson. Leach's Big Hands Were Locked Over His Knee.

Now And Then His Lips Moved As If In Prayer. He Smiled; He Laughed; He

Chuckled. The Sun Sank Lower And Finally Went Out Of Sight. The Sky

Along The Horizon Was An Ocean Of Pink And Purple,  With Shores Of

Shimmering Opal.

 

"Forgive Me,  Brother." Leach Turned His Soft Glance On His Companion.

"You Don't Want To Talk,  I Reckon,  But The Lord Has Given Me The Power

To Sort O' Feel Human Trouble. I Can See It In Your Face And Feel It

Ooze Out Of Your Body Like A Sad,  Murky Stream. I Don't Want To Part

With You To-Night Without Helping You If I Can. I Wouldn't Talk This

Way If I Hadn't Helped Hundreds. I Never Have Failed Where They Would

Open Their Hearts Plumb Wide. All I'd Want To Know Would Be What

Particular Thing Was Standing In Your Way. Something Must Be In The

Way. You May Think It Strange,  But I Can Almost Feel It Hanging Over

You,  Like A Thing That Ought To Be Jerked Off."

 

Mostyn Was Tempted To Reply,  But He Said Nothing. Half An Hour Passed.

It Was Growing Cool,  Damp,  And Darker. He Rose To Go. The Preacher

Stood Up With Him,  And Grasped His Hand.

 

"I May Never See You Again,  Brother," He Said,  "And I'm Sorry,  For I

Feel Drawn Powerful Close To You Somehow. I'd Like Nothing Better Than

To Have You Along With Me. I'm Going To Leave This Part Of The Country

Pretty Soon. I Want To See More Of God's Beautiful World. I've Always

Wanted To Go To California,  And I'm Going To Do It Now."

 

"That Will Be Fine," Mostyn Remarked. "I Am Going Somewhere Soon

Myself. I Don't Know Where,  But Somewhere."

 

"You'd Better Come Along With Me," The Preacher Said,  Eagerly. "We

Could Pull Together All Right. I'd Do My Best To Make You Happy. I'd

Hammer At You Till You Saw The Truth That Has Lifted Me Out O' The

Mire. God Loves You,  Brother--He Really Does,  And You Will Find It Out

Some Day. The Worst Sin In The World Is Simply Not Knowing God's

Goodness. It Is As Plentiful As Rain And Air. What Do You Say?

Couldn't We Go Together?"

 

Mostyn Was Fairly Thrilled By The Idea. It Was A Strange Suggestion,

And Appealed To Him Strongly. There Was A Soothing Quality About The

Man That Attracted Him Beyond Anything Else. "When Do You Leave?" He

Asked.

Part 2 Chapter 19 Pg 101

 

"In A Couple Of Weeks. I Wish You Would Go--By Jacks,  I Do! I Know

When I Like A Man,  And I Like You. I Don't Want To Part From You Like

This. What Do You Say?"

 

"I'll Think Over It," Mostyn Promised. "Shall You Be In Atlanta Again

This Summer?"

 

"I'll Leave From There," Leach Answered. "I Have To Go There To Draw A

Little Money That Is Coming To Me."

 

"Well,  Look Me Up Down There," Mostyn Said. "I Shall Want To See You

Again,  Anyway."

 

They Parted. Mostyn Trudged Down Into The Deeper Shadows. He Heard

Leach Singing Along The Rocky Way As He Ascended Higher. How Odd! But

The Going Of The Man Left Him More Deeply Depressed Than Ever. He Felt

Like Running Back And Calling On Him To Wait A Moment. There Was

Something He Wanted To Tell Him. He Wanted To Tell Him About A Certain

Haunting Circumstance And Ask His Advice. He Wanted To Reveal The

Whole Story Of Henderson's Loss And His Gain--Of The Old Man's Fall

And His Rise On The Ruins Of That Wrecked Life. But What Was The Use?

He Knew What Leach Would Say. He Would Say: "Make Restitution,  And

Make It Quick,  For God's Eye Is On You--God's Wide Ear Is Bending Down

From That Sky Up There To Hear The Words You Speak."

 

Mostyn Stood Still In The Lonely Road. "Yes,  He'd Advise That," He

Muttered,  "But I Can't Do It. It Would Take Almost All I Have Left,

And I Must Live. Leach Can Talk,  But I Am Not In His Shoes. I Might Be

Better Off If I Were. I Know I Ought To Do It. I Ought To Have Done It

Years Ago. How Can I Refrain Now When I Have No One Depending On Me

And Henderson Has That Helpless Family Of His? I Robbed Them--Law Or

No Law To Back Me,  I Robbed Them. A Higher Law Than Man's Holds Me

Guilty. I Wonder What--" He Stumbled Along Through The Thickening

Shadows Beneath The Trees,  The Boughs Of Which Were Locked And

Interlaced Overhead. "I Wonder What Dolly Would Say. I Needn't

Wonder--I Know. Many Women Would Tell Me Not To Bother,  But She

Wouldn't. She Would Be Like Leach--So Would Saunders. Great God! I

Really _Am_ Vile. I Know What I Ought To Do,  But Can't. Then There

Is My Child. If I Have A Hope Left It Is That He Is Safe With--God.

Yes,  That's It--_With_ God. There Must Be A God--So Many Say So,  And

He Must Love My Little Boy,  And Both Of Them Would Want Me To Do My Duty.

 

"Oh,  Dick,  Dick! My Son,  My Son!" He Cried Aloud,  "Are You Close To Me

Now? Tell Me,  Tell Me What To Do. Take My Hand,  Little Boy. Lead Me. I

Need You. I Am Your Father,  And You Are Only A Child,  But You Can Take

Me Out Of This,  For You Are Stronger Than I Am Now."

 

The Echo Of His Voice Came Back From The Rocky Heights. A Cricket

Snarled In A Tree. A Nightingale's Song Came Up From The Valley. He

Heard Sheep-Bells,  The Mooing Of A Cow,  The Bleating Of A Calf,  A

Farmer Calling Up His Hogs. Groaning,  And Bowed Closer To The Earth,

He Continued His Way.

 

Part 2 Chapter 20 Pg 102

 

 

A Fortnight Later Mostyn Returned To Atlanta. He Spent The First Day

At His Sister's Home Trying To Pass The Time Reading In Her Library,

But The Whole Procedure Was A Hollow Makeshift. Had He Been A

Condemned Prisoner Awaiting Execution At Dawn,  He Could Not Have

Suffered More Mental Agony.

 

Unable To Sleep That Night,  He Rose Before Sun-Up On The Following

Morning And Walked Through The Quiet Streets For Two Hours. What A

Mad,  Futile Thing The Waking City Seemed! "What Are These People

Living For--What,  After All?" He Asked. "But They May Be Happy In A

Way," He Added. "The Fault Is In Me. I Am Seeing Them Through Self-

Stained Glasses. It Wasn't Like This In My Sight Once--The Town Was A

Sort Of Heaven When I First Entered It And Began To Attract Attention.

Yes,  I Am At Fault. I Have Disobeyed A Spiritual Law,  And Am Getting

My Dues. What Is The Use Of Holding Out Longer? I See Now That I Am

Beaten. I Have Got To Do This Thing,  And Be Done With It."

 

After Breakfast He Went Straight To The Bank. Wright,  Delbridge,  And

The Clerks And Stenographers Seemed Unreal Creatures,  With Flaccid,

Vacuous Faces,  As He Shook Hands With Them And Answered Their

Conventional Queries About His Vacation. "Vacation!" The Word Was Not

In His Vocabulary. "Business! "That,  Too,  Was A Corpse Of A Word

Floating On The Still Waters Of Past Usage. "Money,  Stocks,  Bonds,

Market-Reports!" They Seemed Like Forgotten Enemies Rising To Stop

Him. How Could Delbridge Smile In His Smug Way,  As He Chewed His Cigar

And Boasted Of A New Club Of Which He Was The President? How Could

Wright Put Up With His Moderate Salary And Stand All Day At That

Prison Window? What Could The Limp,  Pale-Faced Stenographers In Their

Simple Dresses Hope For? Did They Expect To Marry,  Bear Children,

Nurse Them At Their Thin Breasts--And Bury Them Like Close-Clipped

Flowers Of Heaven Just Opening To Fragrance?

 

Seated At His Desk,  He Asked A Clerk To Go To The Vault And Bring Him

His Certificates Of Bank Stock. Delbridge Was Passing,  And,  Seeing

Part 2 Chapter 20 Pg 103

Them In His Hands,  He Said,  With His Forced And Commercial Shrewdness:

 

"If You Have Any Idea Of Selling Out,  Mostyn,  I'm In A Shape Now To

Take That Stock Off Your Hands."

 

Mostyn's Stare Resolved Itself Into A Glare Of Indecision. "What Would

Be Your Price?" He Asked,  Under His Breath,  And Yet Audibly--"That Is,

In Case I--I Found Another Use For The Money?"

 

"The Same Price I Gave Saunders," Delbridge Answered. "You Couldn't

Expect To Make A Better Deal Than That Long-Headed Chap. If You Really

Want To Do This Thing You'd Better Act At Once. I Have Another Plan On

Hand."

 

"You Make It As An Offer?" Mostyn Asked.

 

"Yes."

 

"Then The Stock Is Yours," Mostyn Answered. "Figure It Up And Place

The Money To My Credit. I May Check It Out To-Day. I Am Thinking Of

Leaving Town."

 

Delbridge Suppressed A Glow Of Triumph In His Eyes As He Took The

Certificates Into His Hands. He Spread The Crisp Sheets Out On The

Desk. "Indorse Them While The Pen Is Handy," He Suggested.

 

Mostyn Dipped The Pen And Wrote Steadily On The Backs Of The

Certificates.

 

"That's O. K.," Delbridge Mumbled,  Dropping His Cigar Into A Cuspidor.

"Now I'll Credit Your Account With The Money. Check On It When You

Like."

 

When Delbridge's Back Was Turned Mostyn Drew A Blank Check From A

Pigeonhole And Began To Fill It In. The Amount Was For One Hundred

Thousand Dollars. He Made It Payable To Jefferson Henderson. He Was

About To Sign His Name When A Great Weakness Swept Over Him Like A

Flood From An Unexpected Source. How Could He Do A Thing As Silly As

That? A Gift Of One-Tenth Of The Amount Would Delight The Old Man And

Take Him Out Of Want--Perhaps Win His Gratitude For All Time. Mostyn

Started To Tear The Check Up,  But Paused. No,  No,  That Wouldn't Be In

Obedience To A Higher Idea Of Justice. If The Old Man Had Been Allowed

To Hold On To His Investment In That Early Enterprise His Earnings

Would Have Come To Fully As Much As The Written Amount. Suddenly

Mostyn Saw The Dead Face Of His Child As It Lay In The Coffin

Surrounded With Flowers,  And A Sob Struggled Up Within Him And Burst.

 

"For Your Sake,  Dick," He Whispered. "I Know You'd Want Me To Do It. I

Know It--I Know It."

 

Half An Hour Later He Was Out In The Open Air,  Walking With A Strange

New Activity. His Very Body Seemed Imponderable. He Crossed The

Railway Near The Kimball House And Went On To Decatur Street. Along

This Street He Walked For A Few Blocks And Then Turned Off. Before

Part 2 Chapter 20 Pg 104

Long He Was In The Most Dilapidated,  Sordid Part Of The City. He Knew

Where Henderson Lived. He Had Seen The Old Man Pottering About The

Narrow Front Yard Of The Grimy Little Cottage As He Drove Past It One

Morning With A Friend.

 

As He Drew Near The House To-Day Its Impoverished Appearance Was More

Noticeable Than Ever. It Was Out Of Repair. Shingles Had Fallen From

The Sagging Roof. It Had Not Been Painted For Years; The Slats And

Hinges Of The Outside Blinds Were Broken,  And They Hung Awry Across

The Cracked Window-Panes. There Was A Little Fence Around It From

Which Many Palings Were Missing,  As Was The Gate. On The Narrow Front

Porch A Ragged Hemp Hammock Hung By Knotted And Tied Ropes Between Two

Posts. There Was A Broken Baby-Carriage In The Yard,  A Child's

Playhouse At The Step,  A Little Toy Wagon,  A Headless Doll,  A Piece Of

Bread,  And Some Chicken-Bones.

 

Mostyn Went To The Open Door And Rang The Jangling Cast-Iron Bell. It

Brought A Young Woman From A Room On The Right Of The Bare Little

Hall. She Held A Baby In Her Arms As She Peered Questioningly At The

Visitor. Mostyn Knew Who She Was. She Was Henderson's Youngest

Daughter,  Who Had Married A Shiftless Carpenter And Been Deserted By

Him,  Leaving Two Children To Be Cared For By Their Grandfather. It Was

Evident By Her Blank Stare That She Did Not Recognize The Caller.

 

"I Want To See Your Father," Mostyn Said. "Is He At Home?"

 

"He's In The Back Yard," She Answered. "He Hasn't Been Feeling At All

Well To-Day,  And He Didn't Go To Town As Usual. Who May I Say It Is?"

 

"Tell Him It Is Mr. Mostyn," Was The Answer. "I Won't Keep Him But A

Moment."

 

"Mostyn--Dick Mostyn!" The Woman's Tired Eyes Flashed As She Jerked

Out The Name. "So You Have Come _Here_ To Devil Him,  Have You?" She

Shifted The Infant From Her Left To Her Right Hip And Sneered. "I

Don't Suppose He Cares To See You. I'll Tell You One Thing--He's My

Father And I Have A Right To Be Plain--You And Your Treatment Are

Driving Him Out Of His Senses. He Can't Think Of Anything Else Or Talk

Of Anything Else. Sometimes He Rages,  And Sometimes He Breaks Down And

Cries Like A Child. I Never Have Fully Understood What You Did To Him,

But I Know You Ruined Him. Come In. I'll Tell Him You Are Here. I Hope

To The Lord You Won't Hit Him Any Harder Than You Have Already. We Are

In Trouble Enough. Two Days Last Week We Went Without Anything To Eat

Except What A Neighbor Sent In,  And That Nearly Killed My Father,  For

He Is Proud. One Of My Sisters Is Sick And Lost Her Job At The

Factory. If I Thought You Was Any Sort Of A Man I'd Ask You To Have

Pity."

 

With Her Disengaged Hand The Woman Shoved A Door Open And Hastily

Retreated. He Went Into A Little Sitting-Room And Sat Down. There Were

Only A Few Pieces Of Furniture In The Room. A Worn Straw Mat Lay On

The Floor; Three Or Four Chairs,  All But Bottomless,  Stood Here And

There; A Small Square Table Holding A Lamp And A Family Photograph-

Album Bound In Red Plush Was In The Center Of The Room. Oil-Portraits

Part 2 Chapter 20 Pg 105

Of Henderson And His Dead Wife,  In Massive Frames,  Hung On The Walls.

Henderson's Wore The Prosperous Look Of The Time When His Means And

Good Will Had Been At Mostyn's Service.

 

Holding His Hat Between His Knees,  The Caller Leaned Forward Tensely,

Wondering Over The Present Spectacle Of Himself. He Heard Loud Words

In The Rear. "I Know What He Wants." Old Henderson's Voice Rose And

Cracked. "It Isn't The First Time He Has Tried To Browbeat Me Into

Holding My Tongue. He's Heard What I've Said,  And Wants To Threaten Me

With Prosecution. But That Won't Stop Me. I'll Tell Him What I Think

To His Teeth--The Low-Lived,  Thieving Dog! He _Did_ Steal My Money--He

_Did,_ He _Did!_"

 

Heavy Footfalls Rang On The Bare Floor Of The Hall; An Outer Door Was

Slammed. The Voice Of Henderson's Daughter,  Now Full Of Fright,  Was

Heard Admonishing Her Father To Be Calm. "You'll Drop Like The Doctor

Said You Would If You Don't Be Careful!" She Advised. "The Man Isn't

Worth It."

 

With Dragging Steps Old Henderson Advanced Till He Stood In The

Doorway. His Long White Hair Was Unkempt; He Wore No Collar Or Coat.

His Trousers Were Baggy,  Patched At The Knees,  And Frayed At The

Bottom Of The Legs,  Where They Scarcely Reached The Gaping Tops Of His

Stringless Shoes. Mostyn Had Risen And Now Stood Staring At His Former

Patron,  Unable To Formulate What He Had Come To Say.

 

"My Daughter Says You Want To See Me," Henderson Blurted Out. "Well,

You Are Welcome To The Sight. You've Dodged _Me_ Often Enough Lately.

Do You Know What I Tried To See You About The Other Day When I Was

There? It Wasn't To Get Money,  For I've Given That Up Long,  Long Ago.

I Wanted To Tell You That I Spend My Days Now Thanking Both God And

The Devil For The Plight You Are In At Last. I Believe Prayers Are

Answered--You Bet I Do--You Bet,  You Bet! I've Prayed To Have You Hit

Below The Belt,  And It Has Come In Good Measure. I See From The Way

You Look That You Feel It. Ah,  Ha! You Know Now,  Don't You,  How It

Feels To Squirm Under Public Scorn And Lose Something You Hold Dear?

They Tell Me Old Mitchell Sees Through You And Is Leaving All He's Got

To Virginia Kin. The Dying Of Your Child Knocked All That Into A

Cocked Hat--Your Own Child,  Think Of That! I've Laughed Till I Was

Sick Over It. First One Report Come,  Then Another,  Till Your Three

Staggering,  Knock-Out Blows Was Made Public. I Don't Know How True It

Is"--Henderson Wrung His Talon-Like Hands Together Tightly--"But

Business Men Say There Isn't Much Left Of Your Private Funds."

 

"Hardly Anything Now,  Mr. Henderson," Mostyn Answered. "Now That I

Have Decided To--"

 

"Ah! _That_ Is True,  Then!" Henderson Ran On,  With A Sly Chuckle. "It

Is Reported That Delbridge,  The Feller You Started Out To Race Against

So Big,  Has Swiped The Bank Presidency Right From Under Your Nose,

Nabbed The Cream Of The Business,  And Put It On A Respectable

Footing."

 

"That Is All True," Mostyn Admitted. Thrusting His Hand Into His

Part 2 Chapter 20 Pg 106

Pocket,  He Drew Out The Check He Had Written. It Fluttered In The Air,

For He Held It Unsteadily. "Here Is Something For You," He Said. "It

Is Late Coming,  Mr. Henderson,  But It Is Yours. You Will Find It All

Right."

 

"Mine?" The Old Man's Limp Hands Hung Down His Sides. He Saw The

Extended Check,  But Failed To Understand. He Gazed At The Quivering

Slip,  His Rigid Lips Dripping,  His Eyes Filled With Groping Suspicion.

 

"Yes,  It Is Yours," Mostyn Said. "I've Been Long Getting To It,  But I

Am Now Bent On Making Restitution As Far As Possible. I Can Never Wipe

Out The Trouble I've Put You To During All These Years,  But This May

Help. If You Had Held Your Interest In That Factory As I Held Mine It

Would Have Been Worth One Hundred Thousand Dollars To-Day."

 

"I Know It--I Know It--What The Hell--" Henderson Stared First At The

Check And Then At Mostyn. "What Do You Mean By Coming To Me At This

Late--"

 

"It Is My Check For A Hundred Thousand Dollars,  Payable To You,"

Mostyn Answered. "The Money Is Yours. You May Draw It Any Time You

Like."

 

Henderson's Hand Shot Out. The Long-Nailed Fingers Grasped The Slip Of

Paper And Bore It To His Eyes. He Stared; He Blinked; He Quivered. A

Light Flared Up In His Face And Died.

 

"You Don't Mean It; It Is Another One Of Your Damned Tricks," He

Gasped. "You Can't Mean That I Am To Have--"

 

"I Mean Nothing Else,  Mr. Henderson," Mostyn Faltered. He Moved

Forward And Laid His Hand On The Old Man's Shoulder. A Flood Of New-

Born Tenderness Rose Within Him And Surged Outward. "I Have Wronged

You Through The Best Part Of Your Life. This Is Your Money,  And I Am

Glad To Be Able To Return It."

 

"Mine? Oh,  God! Oh,  God! Oh,  God!" Mostyn's Hand Fell From The Sloping

Shoulder,  For Henderson Was Leaving The Room. "Wait,  Wait,  Wait!" He

Called Back,  Imploringly. "I Want My--My Daughter To Read It And See

If--If It Is Like You Say It Is. I Can't See Without My Glasses; The

Letters Run Together. I Don't Know What To Believe Or--Or What To

Doubt. Wait,  Wait,  Wait!"

 

Mostyn Heard Him Clattering Along The Hall,  Calling To His Daughter In

The Plaintive Voice Of An Excited Child. "Hettie,  Hettie,  Here! Come,

Daughter,  Come Look--Read This! Quick! Quick! What Does It Say?"

 

Mostyn Stood At The Little Window. He Heard The Infant Crying In The

Rear As If It Had Been Suddenly Neglected By Its Mother. He Heard The

Young Woman's Voice Reading The Words Written On The Check.

 

"He's Paying It Back!" Henderson's Voice Rose Almost To A Scream. "It

Is Twice As Much As I Put In,  Too. Oh,  Het,  We Are Rich! We Are Rich!

He Isn't So Bad,  After All! He's More Than Doing The Right Thing! Not

Part 2 Chapter 20 Pg 107

One Man In A Million Would Do It; He's White To The Bone! He's Had

Sorrow--Maybe That's It. They Say Trouble Will Turn A Man About. Oh,

Lord! Oh,  Lord!"

 

The Next Moment Henderson,  His Face Wet With Tears,  Stood In The

Narrow Doorway. He Held Out His Hand And Grasped Mostyn's. He Started

To Speak,  But Burst Into Violent Sobbing. Mostyn Was Shaken To The

Lowest Depths Of Himself. He Put His Arm About The Old Man's Shoulders

And Drew Him Against His Breast. A Thrill Of Strange,  Hitherto

Inexperienced Ecstasy Passed Through Him. He Thought Of His Dead

Child; He Thought Of His Dead Wife; He Thought Of The Mystic Preacher

Of The Mountains; He Thought Of Dolly Drake. The Whole World Was

Whirling Into New Expression. It Now Had Transcendent Meaning. At Last

He Understood. The Heights Could Not Be Seen Except From The Depths.

Joy Could Not Be Felt Till After Sorrow--Till After Total Renunciation

Of Self. What Need Had He Now Of Money? None,  That He Could See. The

World Was Full Of Glorious Things,  And The Old Man Weeping In His Arms

Was The Most Glorious Of All.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Part 2 Chapter 21 Pg 108

 

 

 

 

The Various Rural Sunday-Schools Were Holding An Annual Singing

Convention At Level Grove Within A Mile Of Saunders's Home. They Were

Held Once A Year And Were Largely Attended. Saunders Had Driven Over

With Mostyn,  Who Had Just Returned For A Short Visit. A Big Arbor Of

Tree-Branches Had Been Constructed,  Seated With Crude Benches Made Of

Undressed Planks. At One End There Was A Platform,  And On It A Cottage

Organ And A Speaker's Stand Holding A Pitcher Of Water And A Goblet.

 

Several Years Before Saunders Had Offered A Beautiful Banner As A

Prize To The Winning Sunday-School,  And Year After Year It Was Won And

Held For Twelve Months By The School Offering The Most Successful

Singers. To-Day It Leaned Against The Organ,  Its Beautiful Needlework

Glistening In The Sunlight. Wagons And Vehicles Of All Sorts Brought

Persons For Miles In Every Direction. The Weather Was Delightful,

Being Neither Warm Nor Cool. In The Edge Of The Crowd Were Lemonade

And Cider Stands,  Surrounded By Thirsty Customers. In The Edge Of The

Crowd A Confederate Veteran With An Empty Sleeve Had A Phonograph On

Part 2 Chapter 21 Pg 109

The End Of A Wagon,  Which,  Under His Proud Direction,  Was Turning Out

Selections Of The Most Modern Vocal And Instrumental Music. Another

Thing Which Was Attracting Attention Was Saunders's New Automobile,

Which Had Been Driven Up From Atlanta By The Agent Who Had Sold It. It

Stood In The Roadway Near The Arbor,  And Was Admired By All Who Passed

It. Saunders Himself Had Been Busy All Day Helping Place The Seats And

Arrange The Program. While He Was Thus Engaged Dolly And Her Mother

And Ann Arrived. He Saw Them Pause To Look At His Car,  And Then They

Came On To The Arbor. Dolly Was To Play The Organ,  And She Went On To

The Platform,  Some Music-Books Under Her Arm. She Had On A New Hat And

New Dress,  Which He Thought More Becoming To Her Than Any He Had Seen

Her Wear. Happening To Glance Across The Seated Crowd,  He Saw Mostyn

By Himself On The Outer Edge Of The Arbor,  His Eyes--Wistfully Fixed

On Dolly.

 

"He Still Loves Her; He Can't Help It," Saunders Groaned,  Inwardly. "I

Can See It In His Eyes And Face. Oh,  God,  Am I Really To Lose Her

After All? She Will Pity Him Now In His Loneliness And Grief And Turn

To Him. She Can't Help It. She Won't Harbor Resentment,  And Is Not A

Woman Who Could Love More Than Once. She Knows He Is Here,  And--And

That Accounts For The Glow On Her Face And Tense Look In Her Eyes. She

Knows He Was Weak,  But She Will Hear Of His Repentance And Atonement,

And Take Him Back. Well,  Well,  I Have No Right To Come Between Them,

And Yet--And Yet--Oh God,  I Can't Give Her To Him--I Can't--I Can't! I

Have Hoped And Waited! It Would Kill Me To Lose Her Now."

 

He Caught Dolly's Glance. She Smiled,  And He Went To Her At The Organ,

Where She Stood Opening Her Music.

 

"What Do You Think?" She Laughed,  Impulsively. "They Have Asked Me For

A Speech."

 

"Well,  You Must Make It," He Said,  A Catch Of Despair In His Throat,

For She Had Never Seemed So Unattainable As Now.

 

"I've Made Up My Mind," She Said,  Firmly. "I Sha'n't Do It. I'm In No

Mood For It. They Needn't Insist. I Shall Play The Organ,  And That Is

Enough For One Day."

 

"She's Thinking Of Mostyn," Saunders Reflected,  Bitterly. "She Knows

He Is Free Now. She Reads His Regret In His Face,  And,  Woman That She

Is,  She Pities Him--She Loves Him." To Her He Finally Managed To Say:

"I Saw You Looking At My New Car."

 

"Yes,  It Is Beautiful," She Answered. "And Are You Going To Take Me

Riding In It Some Day?"

 

"This Afternoon,  At The First Chance You Have To Get Away," He

Answered. "I Had It Brought Over For That Reason Alone. I Want You To

Be The First To Ride In It."

 

"Oh,  How Sweet Of You!" She Smiled. "Then Immediately After Lunch

We'll Go,  If You Say So,  Jarvis. I'm Nervous About This Dratted Music.

I've Been Practising It On The Piano,  And It Is Different To Have To

Part 2 Chapter 21 Pg 110

Work The Pedals Of This Thing And Keep Time With Singers,  Half Of Whom

Want To Go It Alone Because They Have Been Practising In The Woods

With The Hoot-Owls."

 

He Laughed With Her,  But His Laugh Died On His Lips,  For He Saw Her

Glance In Mostyn's Direction,  And Thought He Saw A Shadow Flit Across

Her Eyes. The Fact That She Did Not Mention Mostyn's Return Was In

Itself Significant,  He Decided,  And His Agony Became So Intense That

He Was Afraid She Would Read It In His Face. He Had Never Known Before

The Full Depth And Strength Of His Love. All Those Years He Had Waited

In Vain. Fate Was Shaping Things To Fit Another Plan Than His.

Morally,  He Had No Right To Come Between Those Two Lovers. Mostyn Had

Perhaps Been Unworthy,  But God Himself Forgave The Repentant,  And

Mostyn Showed Repentance In The Very Droop Of His Body. Dolly Would

Pity And Forgive. She Had Already Done So,  And That Was What Had

Kindled The Spiritual Glow In Her Face. It Was Said That Mostyn Had

Given Away Most Of His Fortune,  And Would Have But A Poor Home Now To

Offer A Wife,  But That Would Count For Naught In Dolly Drake's Eyes.

She Had Loved Mostyn,  And She Could Love But Once.

 

Just Then The Director Of The Singing Came Up; And Saunders,  After

Admonishing Her Not To Forget The Ride,  Left Her.

 

"I Must Be A Man," He Whispered To Himself. "I Have Had Few Trials,

And This Must Be Met Bravely. If She Is Not For Me,  She Is Not,  That

Is All; But Oh,  God,  It Is Awful--It Is Unbearable! There Was Hope

Till A Woman And A Child Died,  And Now There Seems To Be None. The

Angelic Pity For Another In Dolly's White Soul Means My Undoing."

 

Passing Out From Under The Arbor,  He Found Himself Alone Outside Among

The Tethered Horses And Mules. Looking Back,  He Saw Mostyn,  His Eyes

Still Fixed On Dolly As She Now Sat At The Organ Turning Over The

Music With Her Pretty White Hands.

 

"I Must Conquer Myself; I Simply Must," Saunders Said,  In His Throat.

"My Supreme Trial Has Come,  As It Must Come To All Men Sooner Or

Later. If She Still Loves Him,  Then Even To Be True To Her,  I Must

Wish Her Happiness--I Must Wish Them _Both_ Happiness."

 

At This Juncture He Saw John Leach,  The Roving Preacher,  Approaching,

Swinging His Hat In His Hand,  His Fine Brow Bared To The Sunlight.

 

"How Are You,  Brother?" He Greeted The Planter Warmly. "I Heard Over

The Mountain That You All Were Holding This Blow-Out To-Day,  And I

Struck A Lively Lick To Get Here Before The Music Commenced. Somebody

Told Me That Your Friend Mostyn Was Here."

 

"Yes,  He Is Staying With Me," Saunders Answered. "He Is Over There

Under The Arbor."

 

"Well,  I'll Look 'Im Up," Leach Answered. "Me 'N' Him Has Struck Up A

Sort Of Friendship. I Tie To A Fellow In Trouble Quicker Than At Any

Other Time,  And He Has Certainly Had His Share. He Wants To Make A

Change,  He Tells Me--Thinks Of Going Off Somewhere For A While. I've

Part 2 Chapter 21 Pg 111

Asked Him To Go To California With Me,  And He's Thinking It Over. Say,

You Know Him Pretty Well; Do You Reckon He Will Go?"

 

"I Hardly Think So--_Now_," Saunders Replied. "He May Have Thought Of

It At One Time,  But He Is Likely To Remain Here."

 

"Well,  I'll Talk To Him Anyway," Leach Said. "Ah,  I See A Fellow On

The Platform With A Cornet. I Reckon The Fun Is About To Begin. Do You

Know,  I Enjoy Outdoor Singing More Than Anything Else Under The Sun.

It Seems To Be The Way The Lord Has Of Giving Folks A Chance To Let

Themselves Out."

 

He Turned Away,  A Rapt Expression On His Poetic Face,  And Saunders

Moved Back Among The Horses. He Caught Sight Of Dolly's Profile

Against The Boughs Of The Arbor Beyond Her. Taking A Step To One Side,

He Brought Mostyn's Face Into View. Mostyn Was Now All Attention,

Sitting Erect And Peering Between Two Heads In Front Of Him,  Staring

At Dolly,  His Tense Lips Parted.

 

The First Contesting Choir Began Singing,  And The Stragglers About The

Grounds Drew To The Edge Of The Arbor And Stood Listening Attentively.

When It Was Over There Was Applause. Then A Young Man,  The

Superintendent Of A Sunday-School Beyond The Mountains,  Made A Brief

Address. After This There Was More Singing,  And So The Morning Passed.

 

At Noon It Was Announced From The Platform That,  As The Singing

Contest Was Over And The Award Of The Banner Would Not Be Made By The

Judges Till The Afternoon,  Lunch Would Now Be Served. Thereupon The

Audience Rose To Its Feet And Began To Surge Outward. There Was Much

Scrambling For Baskets And Hunts For Suitable Spots About The Grounds

For Spreading Table-Cloths. Saunders,  As Had Long Been His Custom,  Had

Prepared Food For All Who Could Be Induced To Accept His Hospitality,

And He Now Had His Hands Full Directing His Servants And Inviting

Friends To Join Him.

 

While He Was Thus Engaged He Happened To See Mostyn Alone In The Edge

Of The Bustling Crowd,  And He Strode Across To Him.

 

"Don't Forget You Are To Eat With Me," He Said. "They Will Have It

Ready In A Few Minutes."

 

He Thought That Mostyn's Eyes Wavered. He Was Sure His Lips Quivered

Slightly When He Answered.

 

"I Have Promised Some One Else." Saunders Failed To See The Call For

Such Slow Indirectness Of Response To An Ordinary Request. Indeed,  A

Touch Of Color Lay In Mostyn's Cheeks. "John Webb Came To Me Just Now

And Said That Dolly--Or Perhaps It May Have Been Her Mother--In Fact,

I'm Sure That It Must Have Been Mrs. Drake---"

 

"Oh,  I See,  _They've_ Asked You!" Saunders Broke In. "Well,  I'll Have

To Let You Off. You May Be Sure You'll Get Something Nice. They Can

Beat My Cook Getting Up A Spread. Well,  I'll Meet You Later. I See

Leach Over There By Himself. I'll Run Over And Get Him On My List."

Part 2 Chapter 21 Pg 112

Saunders Tried To Jest. "They Say He Lives On Wild Berries,  And Nuts,

And Anything Else He Can Pick Up. I Guess He Won't Find Fault With My

Lunch."

 

Saunders Was The Host Of Fifty Or More Men,  Women,  And Children. He

Was Doing His Best To See That All Were Provided For,  And Yet He Had

An Eye For A Certain Group Under A Beech On A Near-By Hillside. His

Heart Sank,  For He Saw Mostyn Seated On The Ground At Dolly's Side. He

Saw Something Later That Sent A Cold Shock Hurtling Through Him. He

Saw The Group After Lunch Rise From The Cloth And Gradually Scatter,

Leaving Dolly And Mostyn Standing At The Foot Of The Hill. A Moment

Later They Were Walking Off,  Side By Side,  Toward A Spring In A Shaded

Dell Not Far Away. The Drooping Boughs Of The Willow Trees Shut Them

Out Of Sight. Saunders,  With A Hopeless Griping Of The Heart,  Went

About Directing His Servants And Helping Some Belated Guests To Get

What They Wished To Eat. He Heard Himself Joking,  Replying To Jokes,

And Smiling With Lips Which Felt Stiff.

 

The Remains Of The Food Had Been Taken Up And Replaced In The Big

Baskets When He Saw Dolly And Mostyn Strolling Back From The Spring.

Mostyn Held Her Sunshade Over Her,  His Arm Touching Hers. The Distance

Was Too Great For Saunders To See Their Faces Distinctly,  But He Would

Have Sworn That Both Reflected Joy And Peace.

 

"Oh,  God,  Is It Actually To Be?" He Groaned,  Inwardly. "_Ought_ It To

Be? Here Am I,  Eager To Gratify Her Every Wish,  While He Can Give Her

Only The Dry,  Crushed Remains Of His Manhood,  A Bare Scrap Of His Past

Affluence. He Scorned The Sweetest Flower Of Womanhood That Ever

Bloomed,  And Now Crawls Through His Own Mire To Pluck It. It Isn't

Right--It Isn't Right! God Knows It Isn't Right To Her; Leaving Me And

My Hopes Out Altogether--It Isn't Right To _Her!_"

 

Cold From Head To Foot,  Saunders Retreated Out Of Sight Behind A Clump

Of Bushes. Figuratively,  He Raised His Hands To The Impotent Sky And

Dumbly Cried Within Himself:

 

"Oh,  God,  Give Me Strength To Bear It Like A Man! I Was Wrong In

Hoping. She Is His; She Loves Him. She Loves Him. I Am An Outsider. I

Now Know Why I Never Dared Tell Her Of My Love--My Adoration! It Was

The Still,  Inner Voice Of Warning Telling Me To Keep In My Proper

Place."

 

Presently He Saw Dolly Alone Near The Arbor,  And,  Remembering His

Engagement With Her,  He Went To Her.

 

"I Have Come To See If You Would Care To Go Now," He Began. "I Believe

There Is Only Some Irregular Singing And Speech-Making To Follow."

 

"I Am Free," She Said. "My Part Of The Work Is Over. I Refuse To Touch

The Stiff Keys Of That Organ Again To-Day. My Wrists Are Sore,  And My

Ankles Ache. But I've Been Thinking Over That Ride,  Jarvis. I Want To

Go,  Of Course,  But--Jarvis,  I Hope You Are Not Oversensitive. In Fact,

I Know You Are Not,  And Will Understand When I Say That Somehow--Don't

You Know?--Somehow,  I Don't Like To Leave This Particular Afternoon,

Part 2 Chapter 21 Pg 113

When There Is So Much To Be Done Here. There Are Several Boys And

Girls Who Are Anxious To Sing And Be Heard,  And Some Of My Young Men

Friends Are To Speak. We Might Take Our Ride Some Other Day."

 

"I Understand,  Dolly," He Said,  Forcing A Smile. He Told Himself That

This Last Hint Ended All. She And Mostyn Were Reconciled,  And She

Wanted Him To Understand The Situation. They Were Quite Alone. No One

Was Near Enough To Hear Their Voices. Suddenly An Overpowering Impulse

Possessed Him. Why Should He Beat About The Bush? All Was Lost,  But

She Should At Least Receive The Tribute Of His Love And Despair. There

Could Be No Harm In Telling Her How He Felt. His Forced Smile Died On

His Lips. His Eyes Met Hers.

 

"There Was Something I Was Going To Tell You," He Began,  Firmly. "All

These Years I've Been Holding It Back,  But I Can't Any Longer. Dolly,

You Must Have Known That--"

 

"Stop,  Jarvis!" She Broke In,  Laying Her Hand On His Arm. "I Know What

You Are Going To Say,  But Don't! Some Day I'll Explain,  But Not Now--

Not Now!"

 

"Well,  You Know What I Mean." He Gulped,  "And That Is Enough. You Must

Have Seen--Must Have Understood All Along."

 

"Don't--Don't Be Angry With Me," She Pleaded. "You Will Understand It

All Fully Some Day. I May Be An Odd Sort Of Girl,  But I Can't Help It-

-I

Am Simply What I Am."

 

"I Think I Understand Now," He Said,  "And I Wish You All Happiness In

The World."

 

The Singing Under The Arbor Had Begun,  And With A Helpless,  Even

Startled Look In Her Eyes She Moved Automatically In That Direction.

 

"I Don't Think You Do,  Fully," She Faltered. "I'm Sure You Don't. Men

Never Quite Understand Women In Such Delicate Matters."

 

She Left Him; And,  Finding Himself Alone,  He Crossed The Sward And Sat

Down In A Group Of Farmers Who Were Discussing Crops And Planting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Part 2 Chapter 22 Pg 114

 

 

 

 

 

That Evening After Supper Saunders And Mostyn Were On The Veranda

Smoking Together. The Exchange Of Remarks Was Formal,  Even Forced And

Awkward. Presently Saunders Said: "I Saw Leach Looking For You At The

Arbor. Did You Run Across Him?"

 

"Yes," Mostyn Puffed,  And Saunders Heard Him Heave A Sigh. "I Had

Quite A Talk With Him. I Can't Fully Account For It,  But I Like The

Man Very Much. It May Be His Optimism Or Wonderful Faith. I Know That

He Has A Very Soothing Effect On Me. The Truth Is,  I Have Promised To

Go To California With Him."

 

"Oh!" Saunders Leaned Against The Balustrade,  Steadily Scrutinizing

The Face Of His Guest. "He Told Me Something About His Proposition,

But I Thought That Perhaps You Would Not Be Likely To Go--Not Now,

Anyway."

 

"Oh Yes,  I Shall Go At Once. I Must Go Somewhere,  And With Him I'd

Have The Benefit Of A Companion."

 

"But,  Of Course," Saunders Flung Out,  Tentatively,  "You Will Not

Remain Away Long?"

 

"I Can't Say For Sure That I Shall _Ever_ Come Back," Mostyn Said,

Sadly. "Of Course,  I Can't Say Positively As To That,  But There

Is Nothing--Absolutely Nothing To Hold Me Here Now."

 

The Eyes Of The Two Met In A Steady Stare.

 

"You Can't Mean _That_--I'm Sure You Can't!" Saunders Faltered.

 

Mostyn Seemed About To Speak,  But A Tremor Of Rising Emotion Checked

Him. He Smoked For A Moment In Silence; Then,  With A Steadier Voice,

He Began:

 

"I Must Be More Frank With You,  Jarvis," He Said. "You Have Been A

True Friend To Me,  And I Don't Want To Keep Anything From You At All.

Besides,  This Concerns You Directly. To Tell You This I May Be

Betraying Confidence,  But Even That,  Somehow,  Seems Right. Saunders,

To-Day At That Meeting As I Sat There--" Mostyn's Voice Began To Shake

Again,  And He Cleared His Throat Before Going On. "As I Sat There

Looking At--At The Purest,  Sweetest Face God Ever Made I Began To

_Hope._ I Confess It. I Began To Hope That God Might Intend To Give Me

One Other Chance At Earthly Happiness. I Even Fancied That He Might

Purposely Have Led Me Back Here Out Of My Awful Darkness Into Light. I

Might Not Have Dared To Go So Far,  But She Had Her Uncle Invite Me To

Lunch,  And As I Sat By Her Side The Very Benediction Of Heaven Seemed

To Fall On Her And Me And All The Rest. It Made Me Bold. I Was Out Of

My Head. I Was Intoxicated By It All. Don't You See,  I Began To Think,

Late As It Is--Shamed As I Am Before The World--I Began To Think That

Part 2 Chapter 22 Pg 115

I Might Again Take Some Sort Of Root Among Men And Be Worthy Of--Of

The Only Woman I Ever Really Loved? She And I Walked Off Together. Her

Consenting To Go Gave Me Fresh Courage. I Determined To Speak. I

Determined To Throw My Soiled Soul At Her Spotless Feet. I Did."

 

"Don't Say Any More; I Know The Rest," Saunders Said,  Under His

Breath. "I Congratulate You. I Congratulate You With All My Heart." He

Held Out His Hand,  But Mostyn Warded It Off,  His Cigar Cutting Red

Zigzag Lines In The Darkness.

 

"Congratulate Me? My God,  _You_ Congratulate _Me_. Are You Blind? Have

You Been Blind All This Time? She Not Only Spurned My Love,  But In A

Blaze Of Righteous Indignation She Told Me She Loved You. She Said She

Loved,  Adored,  Reverenced--_Worshiped_ You. She Seemed To Look On My

Hopes As Some Sort Of Insult To Her Womanhood. She Didn't Want _You_

To Know Of Her Love,  She Said,  But She Wanted _Me_ To Know It. She

Seems To Feel--She Seems To Think That In All Your Kindness To Her And

Nobleness You Deserve A Wife Who Has Never Fancied Another,  Even In

Girlhood. She Told Me That Her Feeling For Me Was Only The Idle Whim

Of A Child,  And That She Pitied Me As A Weak And Stumbling Creature.

She Put It That Way,  With Blazing Eyes,  And She Put It Right. I _Am_

Weak--I've Always Been Weak; And To-Day,  In Trying To Win Her From

You,  I Did The Weakest Act Of My Life. I Confess It. You Have The

Right To Strike Me In The Face. I Knew You Loved Her. I Knew She Had

Become Your Very Life,  And Yet In My Despair And Damnable Vanity I

Wanted To Take Her From You. I Am Trying To Get Right,  But I Fell

Before That Dazzling Temptation. In Telling You Of Her Love Now I Am

Tearing My Soul From My Body,  But I Want To Atone--I Want To Atone--As

Far As Possible."

 

Saunders Turned His Transformed Face Away. He Said Nothing,  And The

Two Stood In Dead Silence For A Moment. Suddenly Saunders Put Out A

Throbbing Hand And Laid It On Mostyn's Shoulder.

 

"I Thank You; I Thank You," He Said,  Huskily. "You Must Excuse Me This

Evening. I Hope You Can Pass The Time Some Way. I Am Going To Her,

Mostyn. I Can't Wait Another Minute. I Must See Her To-Night!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Part 2 Chapter 23 Pg 116

Conclusion

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Six Years Passed. It Was Autumn In The Mountains. The Air Was Balmy

And Crisp. The Landscape Was Gloriously Tinted By Late Wild Flowers

And The Colors Of Dying Leaves. A Far-Off Peak,  Catching The Rays Of

The Afternoon Sun,  Rose Above The Dun Valley Like A Mound Of Delicate

Coral Dropped From The Cloud-Mottled Blue Overhead.

 

A Stranger,  Walking From The Station At Ridgeville,  Was Nearing The

Front Gate Of Saunders's Home. He Moved With A Slow,  Thoughtful Step.

He Was Gray,  Even To The Whiteness Of Snow. His Skin Was Clear And

Pink,  His Eyes Were Bright And Alert. As He Opened The Gate He Became

Aware Of The Nearness Of Two Children Playing In A Vine-Clad Summer-

House On The Right Of The Graveled Walk. The Older Was A Handsome Boy

Of Four Years; His Companion Was A Pretty Little Girl Of Two,  Whom The

Boy Held By The Hand Quite With The Air Of Manly Guardianship.

 

"Now,  See How You Have Soiled Your Dress," The Boy Said,  Brushing The

Child's Lap With His Little Hand. "Mama Wouldn't Like That."

 

The Clicking Of The Gate-Latch Attracted The Glance Of The Children;

And They Stood Staring Curiously At The Man Who,  With An Introductory

Smile,  Was Drawing Near. He Bent Down And Shook Hands With Them Both,

First With The Little Girl And Lastly With The Boy.

 

"I Have Come To See Your Papa And Mama," He Said. "Are They At Home? I

Think They Are Expecting Me."

 

"They Are Down In The Meadow Getting Flowers," The Boy Answered. "They

Are Coming Right Back. You Can See Them From Here. Look,  There By The

Spring!"

 

The Stranger Followed The Direction Indicated By The Little Hand,  And

His Eyes Took On A Wistful Stare As They Fixed Upon A Couple Strolling

Across The Meadow,  Holding Flowers And Ferns In Their Hands. They

Walked Quite Close Together,  Those Two,  And The Distance Seemed To

Enfold Them With Conscious Tenderness.

 

"They Are Both Well,  I Believe?" The Man Said To The Boy,  As The More

Timid Little Girl Turned And Toddled Away.

 

"Yes,  Thank You," The Boy Answered,  In Words Which Sounded Stilted In

One So Young. "They Got Your Letter. I Heard Papa Say So. You Are Mr.

Mostyn,  A Very Old Friend Of Theirs. They Said I Must Love You And Be

Good While You Are Here,  Because You Have No Little Boy Yourself."

 

"Yes,  Yes,  That's True," Mostyn Answered,,  Taking The Child's Hand In

His. "Now You Know My Name,  You Must Tell Me Yours."

 

"Richard," The Child Said. "I Was Named For Your Little Boy That Died

And Went Up To God. Papa Used To Love Him Long,  Long Ago In Atlanta."

 

Part 2 Chapter 23 Pg 117

Mostyn Drew The Child Along By The Hand. The Delicate Throbbing Of The

Boy's Pulse Thrilled Him Through And Through. Steps Sounded In The

Hall Of The House,  And John Webb,  Not Any Older In Appearance Than

When Last Seen,  Crossed The Veranda And Came Slowly Down The Steps.

 

"Well,  Well,  Well!" He Cried. "Here You Are At Last. It Must Be A

Powerful Long Trip From Californy. The Folks Didn't Seem To Think

You'd Git Here Till In The Morning. They 'Lowed You'd Stop For A While

In Atlanta."

 

"I Finished My Visit There Sooner Than I Expected." Mostyn Shook The

Thick Damp Hand Warmly. "I've Been Living Out In The Open So Much Of

Late Years That Atlanta Seemed Stuffy And Crowded; Besides,  My Sister

Has Moved Away,  And I Have No Blood-Kin There. I Wanted To Get Into

The Country As Soon As I Could,  And This Seems Like Home In A Way."

 

"That's What Dolly And Jarvis Are Goin' To Try To Make It For You,"

Webb Went On. "Lord,  They Have Been Countin' On This For A Long Time!

Seems Like They Don't Talk Of Much Else. I Heard 'Em Say They Was

Goin' To Try To Break You Of Your Rovin' Habit. They've Got Your Room

Fixed Up To A Gnat's Heel. It Is The Best One In The House--Plenty Of

Air And Light. That's What They Are Out Pickin' Flowers And Evergreens

For Now. They Want It To Look Cheerful."

 

"It Is Very Kind Of Them,  I Am Sure," Mostyn Answered,  "But I Wouldn't

Like To Be In The Way Very Long."

 

"You Won't Be In Nobody's Way Here," Webb Declared. "If This Ain't An

Open House There Never Was One Of The Old-Time Sort Before The War.

Jarvis Runs The Place Like His Pa And Grandpa Did. You Never Saw The

Like O' Visitors In Summer-Time. They Pile In From All Directions,

Close An' Far Off. Every Friend That Comes Anywhere Nigh Has To Put Up

Here. Them Two Live Happy,  I Tell You,  If Ever A Pair Did. They've Got

'Em A Fine Home In Atlanta,  Where They Spend The Winter,  But They Both

Love This Best. Jarvis Is Writin' A Book About Mountain Flowers,  An'

Dolly Helps Him. They Travel About A Lot; They Take In New York Nearly

Every Year,  But Love To Get Back Home Where They Say They Can Be

Comfortable."

 

"And The Rest Of The Family?" Mostyn Said. "Your Sister And Drake,  How

Are They?" "Fine,  First Rate. Tom Still Bosses The Plantation. Jarvis

Tried To Git 'Im To Quit When He Married In The Family--Said He Didn't

Want His Daddy-In-Law Drawin' Pay By The Month--But Tom Had Got

Interested In The Work And Hung On. He's Turned Out To Be An A1

Manager,  I Tell You. He Knows What's What In Plantin',  An' Makes His

Men Move Like Clockwork From Sun-Up To Sun-Down."

 

"And George And His Wife?" Mostyn Inquired. "Are They Doing Well?"

 

"Fine,  Fine. Got Four Likely Children--Three Boys And A Girl Baby That

Gave 'Er First Yell Just A Month Ago. That Pair Has Struck A Lively

Lick Hatchin' 'Em Out,  But It Is Exactly What They Like--They Say They

Want Just As Many Crawlers Under Foot As They Can Step Over Without

Stumblin'."

Part 2 Chapter 23 Pg 118

 

"And You,  Yourself--" Mostyn Hesitated. "Have You--"

 

"Oh,  Me?" Webb's Freckled Face Reddened. "Not On Your Life. I'll Stay

Like I Am Till I'm Under Ground. Not Any Of It For Me. Other Folks Can

Do As They Like,  But Not Me--No Siree! I Reckon You Hain't Never"--

Webb Hesitated--"Married A Second Time?"

 

"No," Mostyn Answered. "I Am Still Quite Alone In The World."

 

Webb Glanced Toward The Meadow. "I'll Walk Down There And Let 'Em Know

You Are Here," He Said. "They Would Dilly-Dally Like That Till After

Dark,  An' Then Come Home Swingin' Hands An' Gigglin' An' Sayin' Fool

Things To Each Other. They Make Me Sick Sometimes. I Believe In Love,

You Understand--I Think Married Folks Ought To Love Each Other,  In The

Bounds O' Reason,  But This Mushy Business--Well,  It Ain't In My Line,

That's All!"

 

He Passed Through The Gate And Started Toward The Meadow. Mostyn

Leaned On The Fence. He Saw The Couple Again. They Were Standing Face

To Face Arranging The Flowers.

 

"I Don't Think I'd Disturb Them If I Were You," He Called After The

Bachelor. "There Is No Hurry."

 

"Oh,  They Would Want To Know You Are Here," Webb Answered Over His

Shoulder,  As He Strode Away. "They Will Come In A Trot When They Know

About It."

 

Presently Mostyn Felt A Small Hand Creep Into His. It Was The Little

Boy.

 

"Do You See Them?" The Child Inquired. "I Can't Look Over The Fence."

 

"Yes,  Let Me Hold You Up." Mostyn Lifted The Boy In His Arms. "Now,

Now Can You See?" He Asked,  The Words Sweeping From Him In Suddenly

Released Tenderness.

 

"Yes,  Yes; And They Are Coming. Let's Go To Meet Them. Will You?"

 

"Yes,  And You Must Let Me Carry You. You Know I Used To Love To Carry

My _Own_ Little Boy Like This--Just Like This."

 

The Child's Arm,  Already On Mostyn's Shoulder,  Slid Closer To His Neck

Till It Quite Encircled It. The Soft,  Warm Hand Touched Mostyn's Chin.

 

"Mama And Papa Said I Must Call You 'Uncle Dick," But You Are Not My

Really,  _Really_ Uncle,  Are You?"

 

"No,  But I Want To Be. Will You--Would You Mind Giving Your Old Uncle

A Hug With--With _Both_ Your Arms?"

 

The Boy Complied.

Part 2 Chapter 23 Pg 119

"There,  There!" Mostyn Said. "Once More--Tight--Tight! Hug Me Tight!"

 

The Child Obeyed. "Oo-Ooh!" He Cried,  As He Relaxed His Tense

Pressure.

 

"Thank You--Thank You!" Mostyn Kissed Him; Then He Was Silent.

 

With One Hand On Mostyn's Cheek The Boy Leaned Forward And Peered Into

His Face Curiously.

 

"Why--Why," He Faltered,  His Little Lips Puckered Sympathetically,

"What Is The Matter?"

 

 

 

Impressum

Tag der Veröffentlichung: 20.05.2014

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