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diff --git a/25892-8.txt b/25892-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d25d209 --- /dev/null +++ b/25892-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7819 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, Eve to the Rescue, by Ethel Hueston, +Illustrated by Dudley Gloyme Summers + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: Eve to the Rescue + + +Author: Ethel Hueston + + + +Release Date: June 24, 2008 [eBook #25892] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK EVE TO THE RESCUE*** + + +E-text prepared by Roger Frank and the Project Gutenberg Online +Distributed Proofreading Team (https://www.pgdp.net) + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 25892-h.htm or 25892-h.zip: + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/5/8/9/25892/25892-h/25892-h.htm) + or + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/5/8/9/25892/25892-h.zip) + + + + + +EVE TO THE RESCUE + +by + +ETHEL HUESTON + +Author of +Prudence of the Parsonage, +Prudence Says So, +Leave It to Doris, Etc. + +Illustrated by Dudley Gloyme Summers + + + + + + + +[Illustration: "You get nicer every day of your life."] + + + +Grosset & Dunlap +Publishers New York + +Made in the United States of America + +Copyright 1920 +The Bobbs-Merrill Company + +Printed in the United States of America + + + + +To Carol + +Who came to us in the form of Duty, +but who has brought us only Pleasure + + + + +CONTENTS + +CHAPTER PAGE + I In Defiance of Duty 11 + II The Cote in the Clouds 21 + III Everybody's Duty 30 + IV The Irish-American League 40 + V Her Inheritance 59 + VI A Wrong Adjustment 84 + VII Painful Duty 98 + VIII She Meets a Demonstrator 112 + IX Admitting Defeat 124 + X The Original Fixer 137 + XI The Germ Of Duty 156 + XII The Revolt Of The Seventh Step 175 + XIII She Finds A Foreigner 195 + XIV New Light On Loyalty 214 + XV Service Of Joy 226 + XVI Marie Encounters The Secret Service 248 + XVII Spontaneous Combustion 266 + XVIII Converts Of Love 282 + XIX She Doubts Her Theory 301 + XX She Proves Her Principle 312 + XXI Her One Exception 332 + + + + EVE TO THE RESCUE + + + + + + +EVE TO THE RESCUE + +CHAPTER I + +IN DEFIANCE OF DUTY + + +"To-morrow being Saturday afternoon," began Eveley, deftly slipping a +dish of sweet pickles beyond the reach of the covetous fat fingers of +little niece Nathalie,--"to-morrow being Saturday afternoon--" + +"Doesn't to-morrow start at sunrise as usual?" queried her brother-in-law +curiously. + +"As every laborer knows," said Eveley firmly, "Saturday begins with the +afternoon off. And I am a laborer. Therefore, to-morrow being +Saturday-afternoon-off, and since I have trespassed on your hospitality +for a period of two months, it behooves me to find me a home and settle +down." + +"Oh, Eveley," protested her sister in a soft troubled voice, "don't be +disagreeable. You talk as if we were strangers. Aren't we the only folks +you have? And aren't you my own and only baby sister? If you can't live +with us, where can you live?" + +"As it says in the Bible," explained Eveley, truthfully if unscripturally, +"no two families are small enough for one house." + +"But who calls you a family?" interrupted the brother-in-law. + +"I do. And nice and sweet as you all are, and adorable as I am well aware +am I, all of you and all of me can not be confined to one house." + +"But we have counted on it," persisted Winifred earnestly. "We have +looked forward to it. We have always said that you would come to us when +Aunt Eloise died,--and she did--and you must. We--we expect it." + +"'England expects every man to do his duty,'" quoted Burton in a +sepulchral voice. + +Then Eveley rose in her place, tall and formidable. "That is it,--duty. +Then let me announce right now, once and for all, Burton Raines and +Winifred, eternally and everlastingly, I do not believe in duty. No one +shall do his duty by me. I publicly protest against it. I won't have it. +I have had my sneaking suspicions of duty for a long time, and lately I +have been utterly convinced of the folly and the sin of it. Whenever any +one has anything hateful or disagreeable to do, he draws a long voice and +says it is his duty. It seems that every mean thing in the world is +somebody's duty. Duty has been the curse of civilization for lo, these +many years!" Then she sat down. "Please pass the jam." + +"Oh, all right, all right," said Burton amiably, "have it your own way, +by all means. Henceforth and forever after, we positively decline to do +our duty by you. But what is our duty to you? Answer me that, and then I +guarantee not to do it." + +"It is our duty to keep Eveley right here with us and take care of her," +said Winifred, with as much firmness as her soft voice could master. "She +is ours, and we are hers, and it is our duty to stand between her and a +hard world." + +"You can't. In the first place I am awfully stuck on the world, and want +to get real chummy with it. Any one who tries to stand between it and me, +shall be fired out bodily, head first." + +"Oh, Eveley," came a sudden wail from Winifred, "you can't go off and +live by yourself. What will people think? They will say we could not get +along together." + +"That is it,--just that and nothing more. It isn't duty that bothers +you--it is What-will-people-think? An exploded theory, nothing more." +Then she smiled at her sister winsomely. "You positively are the sweetest +thing, Winnie. And your Burton I absolutely love. And your babies are the +most irresistible angels that ever came to bless and--enliven--a sordid +world. But you are a family by yourselves. You are used to doing what you +want, and when you want, and how you want. I would be an awful nuisance. +When Burton would incline to a quiet evening, I should have a party. When +you and he would like to slip off to a movie, you would have to be polite +and invite me. Nobody could be crazier about nieces and nephews than I +am, but sometimes if I were tired from my work their chatter might make +me peevish. And you would punish them when I thought you shouldn't, and +wouldn't do it when I thought you should, and think of the arguments +there would be. And so we all agree, don't we, that it would be more fun +for me to move off by myself and then come to see you and be +company,--rather than stick around under your feet until you grow deadly +tired of me?" + +"I do not agree," said Winifred. + +"I do," said Burton. + +"Then we are a majority, and it is all settled." + +"But where in the world will you live, dear? You could not stand a +boarding-house." + +"I could if I had to, but I don't have to. I have been favored with an +inspiration. I can't imagine how it ever happened, but perhaps it was a +special dispensation to save you from me. I am going to live in my own +house on Thorn Street. Of course it will be lonely there at first, since +Aunt Eloise is gone--but just listen to this. I shall rent the +down-stairs part to a small family and I shall live up-stairs. Part of +the furniture I am going to sell, use what I want to furnish my dove cote +in the clouds, and the rest that is too nice to sell but can't be used I +shall store in the east bedroom, which I won't use. That will leave me +three rooms and a bath--bedroom, sitting-room and dining-room. I can fix +up a corner of the dining-room into a kitchen with my electric percolator +and grills and things. Isn't it a glorious idea? And aren't you surprised +that I thought of anything so clever by myself?" + +"Not half bad," said Burton approvingly,--for Burton had long since +learned that the pleasantest way of keeping friends with in-laws is by +perpetual approval. + +"But you can never find a small family to take the down-stairs part of +the house," came pessimistically from Winifred. + +"Oh, but I have found it, and they are in the house already. A bride and +groom. The cunningest things! She calls him Dody, and they hold hands. +And I sold part of the furniture yesterday, and had the rest moved +up-stairs. But there is one thing more." + +"I thought so," said Burton grimly. "I remember the Saturday-afternoon-off. +I thought perhaps you had me in mind for your furniture-heaver. But since +that is done it is evident you have something far more deadly in store for +me. Let me know the worst, quickly." + +"Well, you know, dearie," said Eveley in most seductively sweet tones, +"you know how the house is built. There is only one stairway, and it +rises directly from the west room down-stairs. Unfortunately, my bride +and groom wish to use that room for a bedroom. Now you can readily +perceive that a young and unattached female could not in conscience--not +even in my conscience--utilize a stairway emanating from the boudoir of a +bridal party. And there you are!" + +"I am no carpenter," Burton shouted quickly, when Eveley's voice drifted +away into an apologetic murmur. "Get that idea out of your head right +away. I don't know a nail from a hammer." + +"No, Burtie, of course you don't," she said soothingly. "But this will be +very simple. I thought of a rambling, rustic stairway outside the house, +in the back yard. You know the sun parlor was an afterthought, only one +story high with a flat roof. So the rustic stairway could go up to the +roof of the sun parlor, and I could make that up into a sort of roof +garden. Wouldn't it be picturesque and pretty?" + +"But there is no door from your room to the roof of the sun parlor," +objected Burton. + +"No, but the window is very wide. I will just cover it with portières +and things, and I am quite active so I can get in and out very nicely. +And when I get around to it, and have the money, I may have a French +window put in." + +"But, Eveley, I can't build a stairway. I don't know how to build +anything. I couldn't build a box." + +"But you do not have to do this alone, Burtie. Just the foundation, that +is all I expect of you. You will have lots of assistance. Not experienced +help perhaps, but enthusiastic, and 'love goes in with every nail,'--that +sort of thing. I have sent invitations to all of my friends of the +masculine persuasion, and we have started a competition. Each admirer is +to build two steps according to his own design and plan, and the one who +builds most artistically is to receive, not my hand and heart, but a +lovely dinner cooked on my grill in my private dining-room. I have the +list here. I figured that twelve steps will be enough. Nolan Inglish, +two. Lieutenant Ames, two. Captain Hardin, two. Jimmy Weaver, two. Dick +Fairwether, two. Arnold Bender, two. Arnold is Kitty's beau, but she +guaranteed two steps for him. Won't it be lovely?" + +"To-morrow being Saturday afternoon," said Burton bitterly. + +"I ordered the rustic lumber last night, and it was delivered to-day." + +"And you consider it my duty as the luckless husband of your +long-suffering sister, to lay the foundation for the wabbly, rattly +ramshackle stairs your pet assortment of moonstruck admirers will build +for you?" + +"Not your duty, Burtie, certainly not your duty. But your pleasure and +your great joy. For without the stairway, I can not live there. And if I +do not live there, I must live here. And remember. When you want +vaudeville, I will incline to grand opera. When you would enjoy a movie, +I shall have a musicale here at home. When you are in the midst of a +novel, I shall insist on a three-handed game of bridge. When you are +ready to shave, I shall need the hot water. When your appetite calls for +corned beef and cabbage, my soul shall require lettuce sandwiches and +iced tea. Not your duty, dear, by any means. I do not believe in duty." + +"Quite right, sweet sister," he said pleasantly. "It shall afford me +infinite pleasure, I assure you. And to-morrow being Saturday afternoon, +you shall have your stairway." + + + + +CHAPTER II + +THE COTE IN THE CLOUDS + + +As Eveley had prophesied, what her carpenters lacked in experience and +skill was more than compensated by their ambition and their eagerness to +please. On Saturday afternoon her back yard was a veritable bee-hive of +industry. The foundation was in readiness for the handiwork of love, for +Burton Raines, feeling that he could not concentrate on business in such +sentimental environs, explained patiently that he was only an ordinary +married man and that love rhapsodies to the tune of temperamental +hammering upset him. So he had taken the morning off from his own +business, to lay the foundation for the rustic stairway. + +Nolan Inglish, listed first because he was always listed first with +Eveley, appeared at eleven o'clock, having explained to the lofty members +of the law firm of which he was a junior assistant, that serious family +matters required his attention. This enabled him to have the two +bottom-most steps of the stairway, comprising his portion, erected and +ready for inspection by the time Eveley arrived home from her work. He +said he had felt it would be lonely for her to sit around by herself +while everybody else worked for her, and having provided against that +exigency by doing his labor in advance, he claimed the privilege of +officiating as entertainer-in-chief for the entire afternoon. + +Arnold Bender appeared next, accompanied by Kitty Lampton, one of +Eveley's pet and particular friends. Although Kitty was extremely +generous in proffering the services of her friend in behalf of Eveley's +stairway, she frankly stated that she was not willing to expose any +innocent young man of her possession to the wiles and smiles of her +attractive friend, without herself on hand to counteract any untoward +influence. + +Captain Hardin and Lieutenant Ames came together with striking military +éclat, accompanied, as became their rank, by two alert enlisted men. +After introducing their enlisted men in the curt official manner of the +army and having set them grandly to work on the rustic stairway, Captain +Hardin and Lieutenant Ames immediately took up a social position in the +tiny rose-bowered pergola, with Eveley and Kitty and Nolan and the +lemonade. + +A little later, Jimmy Weaver rattled up in his small striped gaudy car, +followed presently by Dick Fairwether on a noisy motorcycle. They took +out their personal sets of tools from private recesses of their machines +and plunged eagerly into the contest. + +So the afternoon started most auspiciously and all would doubtless have +gone well and peacefully, had not Captain Hardin most unfortunately +selected an exceptionally good-looking young soldier for his service,--a +tall, slender, dark-skinned youth, with merry melting eyes. Eveley never +attempted to deny that she could not resist merry melting eyes. So she +left the young officers and Kitty and Nolan and the lemonade in the +rose-bowered pergola on the edge of the canyon which sloped down abruptly +on the east side, and herself went up to superintend the building of her +stairway. + +The handsome one required an inordinate amount of superintending. The +other soldier detailed by Lieutenant Ames, an ordinary young man with a +sensible face and eyes that saw only hammer and nails, got along very +well by himself. But the handsome youth, called Buddy Gillian, required +supervision on every point. He first consulted Eveley about the design of +the two steps entrusted to him for construction. He could think of as +many as two dozen different styles of rustic steps, and he explained and +illustrated them all to Eveley in great detail, drawing plans in the +gravel path. It took the two of them nearly an hour to make a selection, +and then it seemed the style they had chosen was the most difficult of +the entire assortment, and was practically impossible for any one to +construct alone. So Eveley perforce assisted, holding the rustic boughs +while he hammered, carrying the saw, and carefully picking out the proper +size of nails as he required them. + +"Didn't you have more sense than to bring a good-looker?" Nolan asked +Captain Hardin in a fretful voice. "Don't you know that Eveley can't +resist good looks?" + +"I told him he had no business to bring Gillian," put in the lieutenant. +"Look at Muggs, whom I brought. Nobody notices that Muggs needs any help. +See there now, he has finished and is ready to go. Can't you do something +to stop this, Miss Lampton?" he pleaded, turning to Kitty. + +"As long as she leaves my Arnold alone, I shall mind my own business," +said Kitty decidedly. "If I cut in on her affair with your Buddy, she +will try her hand on Arnold to get even. Captain Hardin got you into +this, it is up to him to get you out." + +And Kitty heartlessly left the pergola and went up to the rustic steps to +hold the hammer for Arnold. + +Then Captain Hardin, after rapidly drinking three glasses of iced +lemonade to drown his chagrin and to strengthen his flagging courage, +left the cozy pergola which had no attraction for any of them with Eveley +out at work on the rustic stairway, and went up to the corner where she +and Buddy Gillian were carefully and conscientiously matching bits of +rustic lumber. + +"I do not think I should keep you any longer, Gillian, since Muggs is +ready to go," he said kindly. "I can finish this myself now, thank you." + +"Yes, sir," said Buddy Gillian courteously, and stood up. Then to Eveley, +"Shall I gather up the scraps, Miss Ainsworth, and tidy the lawn for you? +It is pretty badly littered. Only too glad to be of service, if I may." + +"Oh, thank you, Mr. Gillian, that is sweet of you," said Eveley +gratefully. "Suppose we begin down in that corner by the rose pergola, +and gather up the scraps as we come this way. I'll carry this basket, and +you can do the picking." + +But even this humble field of usefulness was denied Private Gillian, for +Lieutenant Ames came out from the pergola and said with official +briskness, "Oh, never mind that, Gillian. I can help Miss Ainsworth with +it. You'd better run along with Muggs and enjoy your liberty period. Much +obliged to you, I am sure." + +So the handsome Buddy looked deep into Eveley's eyes, and sighed. Eveley +held out her hand. + +"You have done just beautifully," she said, "and helped me so much. And +when are you coming to tell me the rest of that thrilling story of your +life in the trenches?" + +"The question is, when may I?" + +"Well, Tuesday evening? Or can you get off on Tuesday?" + +"Oh, yes, since the war is over we can get off any night. Tuesday will +suit me fine." + +"Sorry, Gillian," put in Captain Hardin grimly. "But unfortunately I have +arranged for a company school on Tuesday night--to be conducted by +Lieutenant Carston." + +Gillian turned his beautiful eyes on Eveley, eyes no longer merry but sad +and wistful. + +"Let me see," puzzled Eveley promptly. "Could you come to-morrow night +then, Mr. Gillian? Captain won't mind changing with you, I know, and he +can come on Tuesday. Captains can always get away, can't they? Is that +all right?--Then to-morrow evening, about eight. And I will have a little +evening supper all ready for you. Good-by." + +After he had gone she said to the captain apologetically, "Hasn't he +wonderful eyes? And I knew he must be quite all right for me to know, or +you would never have introduced him." + +Taken all in all, only Kitty Lampton and Eveley considered the raising of +the rustic stairway an entire success, although there was much light talk +and laughter as they ate the dainty supper the girls had prepared for +them in the Cloud Cote, as Eveley had already christened her home above +the earth. But the men, with the exception of Nolan, were doomed to +disappointment. + +When Dick Fairwether asked her to go to a movie with him in the evening, +and when Jimmy Weaver invited her to go for a night drive with him along +the beach, and when Captain Hardin suggested that she accompany him to +the Columbine dance at the San Diego, and when Lieutenant Ames wanted to +make a foursome with Kitty and Arnold to go boating, she said most +regretfully to each,--"Isn't it a shame? But my sister is having some +kind of a silly club there to-night, and I promised to go." + +But to Nolan, very secretly she whispered: "Now you trot along to the +office and work and when I am ready to come home I will phone you to come +and get me. And we will initiate the Cloud Cote all by ourselves." + +So the little party broke up almost immediately after supper, with deep +avowals of gratitude on the part of Eveley, and equally deep assurances +of pleasure and good will on the part of the others. After they had gone, +as Eveley inspected her stairway alone, she was comforted by the thought +that she could fairly smother it with vines and all sorts of creeping and +climbing things, and the casual comer would not notice how funny and +wabbly it was. But as she went gingerly down, clinging desperately to the +rail on both sides, she determined to take out an accident policy +immediately, with a special clause governing rustic stairways. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +EVERYBODY'S DUTY + + +Due to the old-fashioned, rambling style of the house, the rustic +stairway did not really detract from its beauty. And as there were +already clambering vines and roses in profusion, an extra arbor more or +less, could, as Eveley claimed, pass without serious comment. Although +the house was old, it was still exquisitely beautiful, with its cream +white pillars and columns showing behind the mass of green. And the lawn, +which was no lawn but only a natural park running riot with foliage +coaxed into endless lovers' nooks and corners, was a fitting and +marvelously beautiful setting for it. + +The gardens were in the shape of a triangle, with conventional paved +streets on the north and west, but on the east and south they drifted +away into the shadowy canyon which stretched down almost to the bay, and +came out on the lower streets of the water-front. + +Eveley stood on her rustic stairway and gloated over it lovingly,--the +rambling house, the rambling gardens, the beautiful rambling canyon, and +then on below to the lights on the bay, clustered together in +companionable groups. + +"Loma Portal, Fort Rosecranz, North Island, Coronado, and the boats in +the bay," she whispered softly, pointing slowly to the separate groups. +And her eyes were very warm, for she loved each separate light in every +cluster, and she was happy that she was at home again, in the place that +had been home to her since the days of her early memory. + +Eveley's mother had been born in the house on Thorn Street, as had her +sister, Eloise, the aunt with whom the girls had lived for many years. +And after the death of her husband, when Eveley was a tiny baby, Emily +Ainsworth had taken her two girls and gone back to live with her sister +in the family home. There a few years later she too had passed away, +leaving her children in the tender, loving hands of Aunt Eloise. And the +years had passed until there came a time when Winifred was married, and +Eveley and her aunt lived on alone, though always happily. + +But investments had gone badly, and returns went down as expenses went +up. So Eveley studied stenography, and took genuine pleasure in her +career as a business girl. With her salary, and their modest income, the +two had managed nicely. Then when Aunt Eloise went out to join her +sister, the Thorn Street house was left to Eveley, and other property +given to Winifred to compensate. So that to Eveley it was only coming +home to return to the big house and the rambling gardens. But to meet the +expenses of maintenance it was necessary that part of the large house +should be rented. + +Eveley, always adaptable, moved serenely into her cote at the head of the +stairs, and felt that life was still kind and God was good, for this was +home, and it was hers, and she had come to stay. + +She almost regretted the impulsive promise to her sister that drew her +out of her dwelling on the first night of her tenancy. Not only did she +begrudge the precious first-night hours away from her pretty cote in the +clouds, but she was not charmed with the arrangement for the evening. She +was an ardent devotee of clubs of action, rowing, tennis, country, +dancing and golf, but for that other type of club, which she described as +"where a lot of women sit around with their hats on, and drink tea, and +have somebody make speeches about things," she felt no innate tenderness. + +It was really a trick on the part of Winifred that procured the promise +of attendance. For Eveley had been allowed to believe they were going to +play cards and that there would be regular refreshments of substance, and +perhaps a little dancing later on. All this had been submitted to by +inference, without a word of direct confirmation from Winifred, who had a +conscience. + +So it was that Eveley Ainsworth, irreproachably attired in a new +georgette blouse and satin skirt, betook herself to her sister's home for +an evening meeting of the Current Club. And it was a decided shock to +find that neither a social game nor a soul-restoring midnight supper were +in store for her, but the proverbial tea and speeches. She resigned +herself, however, to the inevitable, and shrank back as obscurely as +possible into a dark corner where she might muse on the charms of Nolan, +the beauties of the new Buddy Gillian, the martial dignity of Captain +Hardin, and the appeals of all the rest, to her frivolous heart's +content. + +In this manner, she passed through the first part of the evening very +comfortably, only dimly aware that she was floundering in the outskirts +of a perfect maze of big words dealing with Americanization, which Eveley +vaguely understood to be something on the order of standing up to _The +Star Spangled Banner_, and marching in parades with a flag and shouting +"Hurrah for the President," in the presence of foreigners. + +The third speaker was a minister, and ministers are accustomed to +penetrating the blue mazes of mental abstraction. This minister did. He +began by telling three funny stories, and Eveley, who loved to exercise +her sense of humor, came back to the Current Club and joined their +laughter. + +In the very same breath with which he ended the last funny story, he +began breezily discoursing on everybody's duty as a loyal American. +Eveley, to whom the word "duty" was the original red rag, sniffed +inaudibly but indignantly to herself. And while she was still sniffing +the speaker left "duty as American citizens" far behind, and was deep in +the intricacies of Americanization. Eveley found to her surprise that +this was something more than saluting the flag and shouting. She grew +quite interested. It seemed that ordinary, regular people were +definitely, determinedly working with little scraps of the foreign +elements, Chinese, Mexican, Russian, Italian, yes, even German,--though +Eveley considered it asking entirely too much, even of Heaven, to elevate +shreds of German infamy to American standards. At any rate, people were +doing this thing, taking the pliant, trusting mind of the foreigner, +petting it, training it, coaxing it,--until presently the flotsam and +jetsam of the Orient, of war-torn Europe, of the islands of the sea, of +all the world, should be Americanized into union, and strength, and +loyalty, and love. + +It fascinated Eveley. She forgot that it was her duty as a patriotic +American. She forgot that nobody had any business doing anything but +minding one's own business. She fairly burned to have a part in the work +of assimilation. Her eyes glowed with eagerness, her cheeks flushed a +vivid scarlet, her lips trembled with the ecstatic passion of loyalty. + +In the open discussion that followed after the last address, Eveley +suddenly, quite to her own surprise, found that she had something to say. + +"But--isn't it mostly talk?" she asked, half shyly, anxious not to +offend, but unable to repress the doubt in her mind. "It does not seem +practical. You say we must assimilate the foreign element. But can one +assimilate a foreign element? Doesn't the fact that it is foreign--make +it impossible of assimilation? Oh, I know we have to do something, but as +long as we are foreigners, we to them, and they to us,--what can we do?" + +The deadly silence that greeted her words frightened her, yet somehow +gave her courage to go on. She must be saying something rather sensible, +or they would not pay attention. + +"We can not assimilate food elements that are foreign to the digestive +organs," she said. "Labor and capital have warred for years, and neither +can assimilate the other. Look at domestic conditions here,--in the home, +you know. People get married,--men and women, of opposing types and +interests and standards. And they can not assimilate each other, and the +divorce courts are running rampant. It does no good to say assimilation +is a duty, if it is impossible. And it seems to be." + +"Your criticism is destructive, Miss Ainsworth," said a learned professor +who had spoken first, and Eveley was sorry now that she had not listened +to him. "Destructive criticism is never helpful. Have you anything +constructive to offer?" + +"Well, maybe it is theoretic, also," said Eveley smiling faintly, and +although the smile was faint, it was Eveley's own, which could not be +resisted. "But duty isn't big enough, nor adaptable enough, nor winning +enough. There must be some stronger force to set in action. Nobody could +ever win me by doing his duty by me. It takes something very intimate, +very direct, and very personal really to get me. But if one says a word, +or gives me a look,--just because he understands me, and likes me,--well, +I am his friend for life. It takes a personal touch, a touch that is +guided not by duty but by love. So I think maybe the foreign element is +the same way. We've got to sort of chum up with it, and find out the nice +things in it first. They will find the nice things in us afterward." + +"But as you say, Miss Ainsworth, isn't this only talk? How would you go +about chumming up with the foreign element?" + +"I do not know, Professor," she said brightly. "But I think it can be +done. And I think it has to be done, or there can not be any +Americanization." + +"Well, are you willing to try your own plan? We are conducting classes, +games, studies, among the foreigners, working with them, teaching them, +studying them. We call this our duty as loyal Americans. You say duty is +not enough, and you want to get chummy with them. Will you try getting +chummy and see where you come out?" + +Eveley looked fearfully about the room, at the friendly earnest faces. +"I--I feel awfully quivery in my backbone," she faltered. "But I will try +it. You get me the foreigners, and I will practise on them. And if I +can't get chummy with them, and like them, why, I shall admit you are +right and I will help to teach them spelling, and things." + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +THE IRISH-AMERICAN LEAGUE + + +Several days passed quietly. Eveley went serenely about her work, and +from her merry manner one would never have suspected the fires of +Americanization smoldering in her heart ready for any straying breeze of +opportunity to fan them into service. + +She was finding it deliciously pleasant to live in a Cloud Cote above a +bride and groom. Mrs. Bride, as Eveley fondly called her, was the dainty, +flowery, fluttery creature that every bride should be. And Mr. Groom was +the soul of devotion and the spirit of tenderness. To the world in +general, they were known as Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Severs, but to Eveley, +they were Mrs. Bride and Mr. Groom. It served to keep their new and +shining matrimonial halo in mind. + +She was newly glad every morning that the young husband had to start to +his work before she left home for hers. When she heard the front door +open down-stairs, she ran to her window, often with a roll or her coffee +cup in her hand, to witness the departure, which to her romantic young +eyes was a real event. Mrs. Bride always stood on the porch to watch him +on his way to the car until he was out of sight. Sometimes she ran with +him to the corner, and always before he made the turn he waved her a +final good-by. + +It was very peaceful and serene. It seemed hard to believe that recently +there had been a tremendous war, and that even now the world was writhing +in the throes of political and social upheaval and change. In every +country, men and women were grappling with great industrial problems, and +there were ominous rumblings and threatening murmurs from society in +revolution. But in the rambling white house in the great green gardens at +the top of the canyon, one only knew that it was springtime in southern +California, that the world was full of gladness and peace and joy, and +that love was paramount. + +Several days,--and then one evening there came the call of the +telephone--the reveille of Americanization in the person of Eveley +Ainsworth. A class of young foreign lads had been gathered and would meet +Eveley at the Service League that evening. No instructions were given, no +suggestions were forthcoming. Eveley had asked for foreigners with whom +she could get chummy and call it love. Here were the foreigners. The rest +of the plan was Eveley's own. + +She was proud of her mature comprehension of the needs of reconstruction, +and of her utter gladness to assist. She felt that it signified something +rather fine and worth while in her character, and she took no little +pleasure in the prospect of active service. She went about her work that +day wrapped in a veil of mystery, her mind delving deep into the ideals +of American life. She carefully elaborated several short and spicy +stories, of strong moral and patriotic tone, emphasizing the nobility of +love of country. And that evening she stood before her mirror for a long +time, practising pretty flowery phrases to be spoken with a most winsome +smile. Remembering that her subjects were boys, and that boys are young +men in the making, she donned her daintiest, shimmeriest gown, and +carefully coaxed the enticing little curls into prominence. Then with a +final patriotic smile at herself in the mirror, she carefully climbed +through the window and crossed the roof garden to the rustic stairway. + +As she walked briskly up Albatross to Walnut, then to Fourth where she +took the car, and all the way down-town she was carefully rehearsing her +stories and the most effective modes of presenting them. She knew the +rooms of the Service League well, having been there on many occasions +while there was still war and there were service men by the hundreds to +be danced with. Half a dozen men and boys were lounging at the curbstone, +and they eyed her curiously, grimly, Eveley thought. She wondered if they +knew she had come there to inspire them with love of the great America +which they must learn to call home. She straightened her slim shoulders +at the thought, and walked into the building with quite a martial air, as +became one on this high mission bent. + +A keen-eyed, quick-speaking woman met her at the elevator, and led her back +into what she called "your corner" of the room. Evidently the room was +divided into countless corners, for several groups were clustered together +in different sections. But Eveley gave them only a fleeting glance. Her +heart and soul were centered on the group before her, eight boys, +dark-eyed, dark-skinned, of fourteen years or thereabouts. They looked at +Eveley appraisingly, as we always look on those who come to do us good. +Eveley looked upon them with tender solicitude, as philanthropists have +looked on their subjects since the world was born. + +The introductions over, the keen-eyed one hurried away and Eveley faced +her sub-Americans. + +Then she smiled, a winsome smile before which stronger men than they have +fallen. But they were curiously unsmiling in response. Their eyes +remained appraising almost to the point of open suspicion. Perhaps her +very prettiness aroused the inherent opposition of the male creature to +female uplift. + +Eveley began, however, bravely enough, and told them her first and +prettiest story of sacrifice and country love. They listened gravely, but +they were not thrilled. Struggling against a growing sense of +incompetence, Eveley talked on and on, one story after another, pretty +word following pretty word. But each word fell alike on stony ground. +They sat like graven images, except for the bright suspicious gleam of +the dark eyes. + +Finally Eveley stopped, and turned to them. "What do you think about it?" +she demanded. "You want to be Americans, don't you? You want to learn +what being an American means, don't you?" Her eyes were fastened +appealingly on a slender Russian lad, slouching in his chair at the end +of the row. "You want to be an American, I know." + +Suddenly the slim lithe figure straightened, and the dark brows drew +together in a frown. "What are you getting at?" came in a sharp tone. +"I'm an American, ain't I? You don't take me for no German, do you?" + +"No, no, of course not," she apologized placatingly. "Oh, certainly not. +I mean, you want to learn the things of America, so you can love this +country, and make it yours. Then you will forget that other land from +which you came, and know this for your own, now and forever." + +Eveley was arrested by the steady gleam of a pair of eyes in the middle +of the row. There was open denial and disbelief written in every feature +and line of his face. + +"Why?" came the terse query, as Eveley paused. + +Eveley gazed upon him in wonderment. "Wh-what did you say?" + +"I said, why?" + +"Well, why not?" she countered nervously. "This is your country now. You +must love it best in all the world, and must grow to be like us,--one of +us,--America for Americans only, you know." + +"You tell us to forget the land we came from," he said in an even +impersonal voice. "Is that patriotism,--to forget the land of your birth? +I thought patriotism was to remember your home-land,--holding it in your +heart,--hoping to return to it again,--and make it better." + +"But--but that is not patriotism to this country," protested Eveley, +aghast. "That is--disloyalty. If you wish to be always of your own land, +and to love it best, you should stay there. If you come here, to get our +training, our education, our development, our riches,--then this must be +your country, and no other." + +"Why?" he asked again. "Why should we not come here and get all the good +things you can give us, and learn what you can teach us, and take what +money we can earn, and then go back with all these good things to make +our own land bigger and better and richer? That is patriotism, I think." + +"No, no," protested Eveley again. "That is not loyalty. If you choose +this country for your home, it must be first in your heart, and last +also. This is your home-land now,--the land you believe in, the land of +your love, America first." + +"But America was not first. The home-land was first." + +"Yes, it was first," she admitted pacifically. "But America is last. +America is the final touch. And so now you will learn our language, our +games, our business, our way of life. You will live here, work here, and +if war comes again you will die for America." + +Then she went on very quickly, fearful of interruptions that were proving +so disastrous. "That is why we are organizing this little club, you boys +and I. We are going to talk together. We are going to play together. We +are going to study together. So you can learn American ways in all +things. Now what kind of club shall we have? That is the American way of +doing things. It is not my club, but yours. You are the people, and so +you must decide." + +A long and profound silence followed, evidently indicative of deep +thought. + +"A baseball club," at last suggested a small Jap with a bashful smile. + +"That is a splendid idea," cried Eveley brightly. "Baseball is a good +American sport, a clean, lively game. Now what shall we call our baseball +club?" + +Again deep thought, but in a moment from an earnest Jewish boy came the +suggestion, "The Irish-American Baseball League." + +Eveley searched his face carefully, looking for traces of irony. But the +pinched thin features were earnest, the eyes alight with pleased +gratification at his readiness of retort. + +A hum of approval indicated that the Irish-American League had met with +favor. But Eveley wavered. + +"Why?" she asked in puzzled tone. "There is not an Irish boy here. You +are Italians, and Spanish, and Jewish, and Russian, so why call it +Irish-American?" + +"My stepfather is an Irishman, his name is Mike O'Malley," said a small +Mexican. "So I'll be the captain." + +"G'wan, ain't it enough to get the club named for you?" came the angry +retort. "What you know about baseball, anyhow?" + +Eveley silenced them quickly. "Let's just call it the American League," +she pleaded. + +"The Irish-American League is well known, and gets its name in the +paper," was the ready argument in its favor. + +And this fact, together with the strong appeal the words had made to +their sense of dignity, proved irresistible. They refused to give it up. +And when Eveley tried to reason with them, they told her slyly that the +proper way to decide was by putting it to vote. + +Eveley swallowed hard, but conscientiously admitted the justice of this, +and put the question to vote. And as the club was unanimously in favor of +it, and only Eveley was opposed, her Americanization baseball club of +Italians and Mexicans and Orientals went down into history as the +Irish-American League. + +When it came to voting for officers, she again met with scant success. +They flatly refused to have a president, stating that a captain could do +all the bossing necessary, and that baseball clubs always had a captain. +In the vote that followed the result was curiously impartial. Every boy +in the club voted for himself. Eveley, who had been won by the bright +face of a young Jewish boy sitting near her with keen eyes intent upon +her, voted for him, which gave him a fifty per cent. majority over the +nearest competitor, and Eveley declared him the captain. + +A few moments later, Eveley was called away to the telephone by Nolan, +wishing to know what time he should call for her and the moment she was +out of hearing, the club went into noisy conference. Upon her return, the +argumentative Russian announced that the vote had been changed, and he +was unanimously elected captain. + +"But how did that happen?" Eveley demanded doubtfully. "Did the rest of +you change your votes, and decide he should be captain?" + +There was a rustle of hesitation, almost a dissenting murmur. + +The newly elected captain lowered his brows ominously. "You did, didn't +you?" he asked, glaring around on his fellow members. + +"Yes," came feebly though unanimously. + +"Did--did you vote?" questioned Eveley tremulously. + +"Sure, we voted," said the captain amiably. "We decided that I know the +game better than the rest of the guys, and I can lick any kid in this +gang with one hand, and we decided that I ought to be the captain. Ain't +that right?" Again he turned lowering brows on the Irish-American League. + +No denial was forthcoming, and although Eveley felt assured that in some +way the American ideal of popular selection had been violently outraged, +it seemed the part of policy to overlook what might have occurred. Some +minor rules were agreed upon, and the club decided to meet for practise +every evening after school. Eveley could not attend except on Saturdays, +and a boy near her, whose features had seemed vaguely and bewilderingly +familiar, announced that he must withdraw as he worked and had no time +for baseball. The captain professed his ability to fill up the club to +the required number with exceptional baseball material, and the meeting +adjourned without further parley. + +This one meeting sufficed unalterably to convince Eveley that she was +totally and helplessly out of her element. She was not altogether sure +those quick-witted boys needed Americanizing, but she was sure that she +was not the one to do it if they did require it. She realized that she +had absolutely no idea how to go about instilling principles of freedom +and loyalty in the hearts of young foreigners. + +It was with great sadness that she began adjusting her hat and collar +ready to go home, leaving defeat and failure behind her, when a blithe +voice at her elbow broke into her despair. + +"So long, Miss Ainsworth; see you in the morning." + +Eveley whirled about and stared into the face of the small lad whose +features had seemed so curiously familiar. + +"To-morrow?" she repeated. + +"Surest thing you know, at the office," he said, grinning impishly at her +evident inability to place him. "I knew all the time you didn't know me. +I am Angelo Moreno, the Number Three elevator boy at the Rollo Building." + +"Do--do you know who I am?" + +"Sure, you're Miss Ainsworth, old Jim Hodgin's private secretary." + +"How long have you been there?" + +"About a year and a half." + +"I never noticed," she said, and there was pain in her voice. + +"Oh, well," he said soothingly, "there's always a jam going up and down +when you do, and you are tired evenings." + +"But you are in the jam, too, and you are tired as well as I, but you +have seen." + +"That's my job," he said complacently. "I got to know the folks in our +building." + +"How much do you know about me?" she pursued with morbid curiosity. + +He grinned at her again, companionably. "You're twenty-five years old, +and you're stuck on that fellow Inglish, with Morrow and Mayne over at +the Holland Building. You used to live with your aunt up on Thorn Street, +but she died and you got the house. B. T. Raines is your brother-in-law, +and he's got two kids, but his wife is not as good-looking as you are. +You stayed with them two months after your aunt died, but last week you +got a bunch of your beaux, soldiers and things, to build you some steps +up the outside of your house and now you live up there by yourself. Gee, +I'd think you'd be afraid of pirates and Greasers and things coming up +that canyon from the bay to rob you--you being just a woman alone up +there." + +Eveley gazed upon him in blank astonishment. "Do--do you know that much +about everybody in our building?" she asked. + +"Well, I know plenty about most of 'em, and some things that some of 'em +don't know I know, and wouldn't be keen on having talked around among +strangers. But of course I pays the most attention to the good-lookers," +he admitted frankly. + +"Thank you," said Eveley, with a faint smile. Then she flushed. "What +nerve for me to talk of assimilation," she said. "We don't know how to go +about it. We have been asleep and blind and careless and stupid, but +you--why, you will assimilate us, if we don't look out. You are a born +assimilator, Angelo, do you know that?" + +"I guess so," came the answer vaguely, but politely. "I live about half a +mile below you, Miss Ainsworth, at the foot of the canyon on the bay +front. That's all the diff there is between us and you highbrows in +Mission Hills--about half a mile of canyon." He smiled broadly, pleased +with his fancy. + +"That isn't much, is it, Angelo? And it will be less pretty soon, now +that we are trying to open our eyes. Good night, Angelo. I will see you +to-morrow--really see you, I mean. And please don't assimilate me quite +so fast--you must give me time. I--I am new to this business and progress +very slowly." + +Then she said good night again, and went away. And Angelo swaggered back +to his companions. "Gee, ain't she a beaut?" he gloated. "All the swells +in our building is nuts on that dame. But she gives 'em all the go-by." + +Then the Irish-American League, without the assimilator, went into a +private session with cigarettes and near-beer in a small dingy room far +down on Fifth Street--a session that lasted far into the night. + +But Eveley Ainsworth did not know that. She was sitting in the dark +beside her window, staring out at the lights that circled the bay. But +she did not see them. + +"Assimilate the foreign element," she whispered in a frightened voice. "I +am afraid we can't. It is too late. They got started first--and they are +so shrewd. But we've got to do something, and quickly, or--they will +assimilate us, beyond a doubt. And weren't they right about it, after +all? Isn't it patriotism and loyalty for them to go out to foreign +countries to pick up the finest and best of our civilization and take it +back to enrich their native land? It is almost--blasphemous--to teach +them a new patriotism to a new country. And yet we have to do it, to make +our country safe for us. But who has brains enough and heart enough to do +it? Oh, dear! And they do not call it duty that brings them here to take +what we can give them--they call it love--not love of us and of America, +but love of the little Wops and the little Greasers and the little Polaks +in their own home-land. Oh, dear, such a frightful mess we have got +ourselves into. And what a dunce I was to go to that silly meeting and +get myself mixed up in it." + + + + +CHAPTER V + +HER INHERITANCE + + +The worries of the night never lived over into the sunny day with Eveley, +and when she arose the next morning and saw the amethyst mist lifting +into sunshine, when she heard the sweet ecstatic chirping of little Mrs. +Bride beneath, she smiled contentedly. The world was still beautiful, and +love remained upon its throne. + +She started a little early for her work as she was curious to see Angelo +in the broad light of day. It seemed so unbelievable that those bright +eyes and smiling lips had been in the elevator with her many times a week +for many months, and that she had never even seen them. + +So on the morning after her initiation into the intricacies of +Americanization, she beamed upon him with almost sisterly affection. + +"Good morning, Angelo. Isn't this a wonderful day? Whose secrets have you +ferreted out in the night while I was asleep?" + +Angelo flushed with pleasure, and shoved some earlier passengers back +into the car to make room for her beside him. + +"I thought you'd be too sick to come this morning," he said, with his +wide smile that displayed two rows of white and even teeth. "I thought it +would take you twenty-four hours to get over us." + +"Oh, not a bit of it," she laughed. "And I am equally glad to see that +you are recovering from your attack of me." + +This while the elevator rose, stopping at each floor to discharge +passengers. + +At the fifth floor Eveley passed out with a final smile and a light +friendly touch of her hand on Angelo's arm. + +This was the beginning of their strange friendship, which ripened +rapidly. Her memory of that night in the Service League with the +Irish-American Club was very hazy and dim. Except for the tangible +presence and person of Angelo, she might easily have believed it was all +a dream. + +In spite of her deep conviction that she was not destined to any slight +degree of success as an Americanizer, Eveley conscientiously studied +books and magazines and attended lectures on the subject, only to +experience deep grief as she realized that every additional book, and +article, and lecture, only added to her disbelief in her powers of +assimilation. + +So deep and absolute was her absorption, that for some days she denied +herself to her friends, and remained wrapped in principles of +Americanization, which naturally caused them no pleasure. And when a +morning came and she called a hasty meeting of her four closest comrades, +voicing imperative needs and fervent appeals for help, she readily +secured four promises of attendance in the Cloude Cote that evening at +exactly seven-thirty. + +At seven-forty-five Eveley sat on the floor beside the window impatiently +tapping with the absurd tip of an absurd little slipper. Nolan had not +come. + +Kitty Lampton was there, balancing herself dangerously with two cushions +on the arm of a big rocker. Eveley called Kitty the one drone in her +circle of friendship, for Kitty was born to golden spoons and lived a +life of comfort and ease and freedom from responsibility in a great home +with a doting father, and two attentive maids. Eileen Trevis was there, +too, having arrived promptly on the stroke of seven-thirty. Eileen Trevis +always arrived promptly on the stroke of the moment she was expected. She +was known about town as a successful business woman, though still in the +early thirties. The third of the group was Miriam Landis, whose +inexcusable marriage to her handsome husband had seriously deranged the +morale of the little quartet of comrades. + +Eveley looked around upon them. "It is a funny thing, a most remarkably +funny thing!" she said indignantly. "Every one says that girls are always +late, and you three, except Eileen, are usually later than the average +late ones. Yet here you are. And every one says that men are always +prompt, and Nolan is certainly worse than the average man in every +conceivable way. But Nolan, where is he?" + +"Well, go ahead and tell us the news anyhow," said Kitty, hugging the +back of the chair to keep from falling while she talked. "But if it is +anything about that funny Americanization stuff, you needn't tell it. I +asked father about it, and he explained it fully, only he lost me in the +first half of the first sentence. So I don't want to hear anything more +about it. And you don't need to tell me any more ways of not doing my +duty, either, for I am not doing it now as hard as I can." + +Miriam Landis leaned forward from the couch where she was lounging idly. +"What is this peculiar little notion of yours about duty, Eveley?" she +asked, smiling. "My poor child, all over town they are exploiting you and +your silly notions. Even my dear Lem uses your disbelief in duty to +excuse himself for being out five nights a week." + +"That is absurd," said Eveley, flushing. "And they may laugh all they +like. I do believe that duty has wrecked more homes and ruined more lives +than--than vampires." + +Miriam smiled tolerantly. "Wait till you get married, sweetest," she said +softly. "If married women did not believe in duty, and do it, no marriage +would last more than six months." + +"Well, I qualify myself, you know," said Eveley excusingly. "I do think +everybody has one duty--but only one--and it isn't the one most people +think it is." + +"For the sake of my immortal soul, tell me," pleaded Kitty. "It was you +who led me into the dutiless paths. Now lead me back." + +"Get up, Kitty, and don't be silly," said Eveley loftily. "This is not a +driven duty, but a spontaneous one. And you don't need to know what it +is, for it comes naturally, or it doesn't come at all. Isn't that Nolan +the most aggravating thing that ever lived? Eight o'clock. And he +promised for seven-thirty." + +"Go on and tell us, Eveley," said Eileen Trevis. "Maybe somebody is sick, +and has to make a will, and he won't be here all night." + +"Oh, I can't tell it twice. You know how many questions Nolan always +asks, and besides I want to surprise you all in a bunch. Look, did I show +you the new blouse I got to-day? I needed a new one to Americanize my +Irish-Americans Saturday. It cost ten dollars, and perfectly plain--but I +look like a sad sweet dream in it." + +Then the girls were absorbed in a discussion of the utter impossibility +of bringing next month's allowance or salary within speaking distance of +last month's bills, a subject which admitted of no argument but which +interested them deeply. So after all they did not hear the rumble and +creak of the rustic stairway, nor the quick steps crossing the garden on +the roof of the sun parlor for Nolan was forgotten until his sharp tap on +the glass was followed by the instant appearance of his head, and his +pleasant voice said in tones of friendly raillery: + +"Every time I climb those wabbly rattly-bangs that you call rustic +stairs, I wonder that you have a friend to your name. Hello, Eveley." + +"Inasmuch as you made the wabbliest pair of all, and since you climb them +more than anybody else, you haven't much room to talk," returned Eveley +tartly, drawing back the portières to admit his entrance, which was no +laughing matter for a large man. + +"You positively are the latest thing that ever was," she went on, as he +landed with a heavy thud. + +"Me? Why, I am the soul of punctuality." + +"You may be the soul of it, but punctuality does not get far with a soul +minus willing feet." + +"Anyhow, I am here, and that is something," he said, making the rounds of +the room to shake hands cordially with the other girls. + +Eveley hopped up quickly on to the small desk--shoving the telephone off, +knowing Nolan would catch it, as indeed he did with great skill, having +been catching telephones and vases and books for Eveley for five full +years. She clasped her hands together, glowing, and her friends leaned +toward her expectantly. + +"I have called you together," she began in a high, slightly imperious +voice, "my four best friends, counting Nolan, because I need advice." + +"Do you wish to retain me as counsellor?" asked Nolan, with a strong +legal accent "My fee--" + +"I do not wish to retain you in any capacity," Eveley interrupted +quickly. "My chief worry is how to dispose of you satisfactorily. And as +for fees--Pouf! Anyhow, I need advice, good advice, deep advice, loving +advice. So I have called you into solemn conclave, and because it is a +most exceptional occasion I have prepared refreshments, good ones, +sandwiches and coffee and cake--Did you bring the cake, Kit? And +ice-cream--the drug-store is going to deliver it at ten, only the boy +won't climb the stairs; you'll have to meet him at the bottom, Nolan. So +I hope you realize that it is an affair of some moment, and not--Miriam +Landis, are you asleep?" + +Miriam flashed her eyes wide open, denial on her lips, but Kitty +forestalled her. "That is a pose," she explained. "Billy Ferris said, and +I told Miriam he said it, that with her eyes closed, she is the loveliest +thing in the world. And since then she walks around in her sleep half the +time." + +Miriam turned toward her, still more indignant denial clamoring for +utterance, but Eveley, accepting the explanation as reasonable, went +quickly on. + +"Now I want you to be very serious and thoughtful--can you concentrate +better in the dark, Kit? Because I know at seances and things they turn +off the lights, and--" + +"Oh, let's do. And we'll all hold hands, and concentrate, and maybe we'll +scare up a ghost or something." Then she looked around the room--four +girls and Nolan--Nolan, who had edged with alacrity toward Eveley on the +telephone desk--and Kitty shrugged her shoulders. "Oh, what's the use? +Never mind. Go on with the gossip, Eveley. I can think with the lights +on." + +"The ice-cream will be here before we get started," said Eileen Trevis +suddenly. + +Eveley clasped her hands again and smiled. "I have received a fortune. +Somebody died--you needn't advise me to wear mourning, either, Miriam. I +never saw him in my life, and never even heard of him, and honestly I +think he got me mixed up with somebody else and left the fortune to the +wrong grand-niece, but anyhow it is none of my business, and since he is +dead and the money is here, I suppose there is no chance of his +discovering the mistake and making me refund it after it is spent." + +"A fortune," gasped Kitty, tumbling off the arm of the chair and rushing +to fling herself on the floor beside Eveley, warm arms embracing her +knees. + +"Root of all evil," murmured Miriam, gazing into space through +half-closed lids, and seeing wonderful visions of complexions and +permanent curls and a manicure every day. + +"How fortunate," said Eileen in a voice pleased though still unruffled +and even. "A fortune means safety and protection and--" + +"Who the dickens has been butting into your affairs now?" demanded Nolan +peevishly, and though the girls laughed, there was no laughter in his +eyes and no smile on his lips. + +"Well, since he calls me his great-niece, I suppose he is my +grand-uncle." + +"How much, lovey, how much?" gurgled Kitty, at her side. + +"Twenty-five hundred dollars," announced Eveley ecstatically. + +Nolan breathed again. "Oh, that isn't so bad. I thought maybe some simp +had left you a couple of millions or so." + +Eveley fairly glared upon him. "What do you mean by that? Why a simp? Why +shouldn't I be left a couple of millions as well as anybody else? Maybe +you think I haven't sense enough to spend a couple of millions." + +"And why did you require advice?" Eileen queried. + +"Oh, yes." Eveley smiled again. "Yes, of course. Now you must all think +desperately for a while--I hate to ask so much of you, Nolan--but perhaps +this once you won't mind--I want you to tell me what to do with the +money." + +This was indeed a serious responsibility. What to do with twenty-five +hundred dollars? + +"You do not feel it is your duty to spend the twenty-five hundred +pounding Americanism into your Irish-American Wops?" asked Nolan +facetiously. + +Eveley took this good-naturedly. "Oh, I got off from work at four-thirty +and went down to their field, and we had a celebration. We had ice-cream +and candy and chewing gum, and I spent twenty-five dollars equipping them +with balls and bats and since I was with them an hour and a quarter, I +feel that I am entitled to the rest of the fortune myself." + +"Well, dearie," said Eileen, "it is really very simple. Put it in a +savings account, of course. Keep it for a rainy day. You may be ill. You +may get married--" + +"Can't she get married without twenty-five hundred dollars?" asked Nolan, +with great indignation. "She doesn't expect to buy her own groceries when +she gets married, does she?" + +"She may have to, Nolan," said Eileen gently. "One never knows what may +happen after marriage. Getting married is no laughing matter, and Eveley +should be prepared for any exigency." + +"But, Eileen, she won't need her twenty-five hundred to get married. No +decent fellow would marry a girl unless he could support her, and do it +well, even luxuriously. You don't suppose I would let my wife spend her +twenty-five hundred--" + +"If you mean me, I shall do whatever I like with my own money when I get +married," said Eveley quickly. "My husband will have nothing to say about +it. You needn't think for one minute--" + +"I am not your husband, am I? I haven't exactly proposed to you yet, have +I?" + +Eveley swallowed hard. "Certainly not. And probably never will. By the +time you get around to it, getting married will be out of date, and none +of the best people doing it any more." + +"You may not have asked her, Nolan," said Eileen evenly. "And that is +your business, of course. She will probably turn you down when you do ask +her, just as she does everybody else. But--" + +"Who has been asking her now?" he cried, with jealous interest. + +"But while we are on the subject, I hope you will permit me to say that I +think your principles are all wrong, and even dangerous. You think a man +should wait a thousand years until he can keep a wife like a pet dog, on +a cushion with a pink ribbon around her neck--" + +"The dog's neck, or the wife's?" + +"The dog's--no, the wife's--both of them," she decided at last, with +never a ruffle. "You want to wait until she is tired of loving, and too +old to have a good time, and worn out with work. It isn't right. It is +not fair. It is unjust both to yourself, and to Eve--to the girl." + +"But, my dear child," he said. Eileen was three years older than Nolan; +but being a lawyer he called all women "child." "My dear child, do you +realize that my salary is eighteen hundred a year, and I get only a few +hundred dollars in fees. Think of the cost of food these days, and of +clothes, and amusements, to say nothing of rent! Do you think I would +allow Eve--my wife, to go without the sweet things of--" + +"You needn't bring me in," said Eveley loftily. "I have never accepted +you, have I?" + +"No, not exactly, I suppose, but--" + +"Eveley," said Miriam, suddenly sitting erect on the couch. "I have it." + +"Sounds like the measles," said Kitty. + +"I mean I know what to do with the money. Listen, dear. You do not want +to go on slaving in an office until you are old and ugly. And Nolan is +quite right, you certainly can not marry a grubby clerk in a law office." + +Nolan laughed at that, but Eveley sat up very straight indeed and fairly +glowered at her unconscious friend on the couch. + +"You must have the soft and lovely things of life, and the way to get +them is to marry them. Now, sweet, you take your twenty-five hundred, be +manicured and massaged and shampooed until you are glowing with beauty, +buy a lot of lovely clothes, trip around like a lady, dance and play, and +meet men--men with money--and there you are. You can look like a million +dollars on your twenty-five hundred--and your looks will get you the +million by marriage." + +"Miriam Landis, that is shameful," said Nolan in a voice of horror. "It +is disgraceful. I never thought to hear a woman, a married woman, a nice +woman, utter such low and grimy thoughts. Could any such marriage be +happy?" + +"Well, Nolan," said Miriam sadly, "I am not sure that any marriage can be +happy, or was ever supposed to be. But women are such that they have to +try it once. Eveley will be like all the rest. And if she has to try it, +she had better try it with a million, than with eighteen hundred a year." + +"There is something in that, Miriam, certainly," said Eveley +thoughtfully. "What do you think, Eileen?" + +"I think it is absurd. The notion that woman was born for marriage died +long ago. Ridiculous! Woman is born for life, for service, for action, +just as man is. Look at the married people you know. How many of them are +happy? I do not wish to be personal, but I know very few married people, +either men or women, who would not be glad to undo the marriage knot if +it could be done easily and quietly without notoriety. They are not +happy. But we are happy. Why? Because we work, we think, we feel, we +live. We are not slaves to the contentment of man. Go on working, my +dear. Keep your independence. But play safe. Put your money in the bank, +or in some good investment, and let it safeguard your future. Then you +can go your way serene." + +"That is certainly sound. Marriage isn't the most successful thing in the +world." + +"I should say not," chimed Kitty. "Husbands are always tired of wives, +their own, I mean, inside of five years." + +"Well, if it comes to that," said Eveley honestly, "I suppose wives are +tired of their own husbands, too. But they are so stubborn they won't +admit it. In their hearts I suppose they are quite as sick of their +husbands as their husbands are of them." + +"Eve," said Nolan anxiously, "where are you getting all these wicked +notions? Marriage is the most sacred--" + +"Institution. I know it. Every one says marriage is a sacred institution, +and so is a church. But nobody wants to live with one permanently." + +"But, Eveley, the sanctity of the--" + +"Home. Sure, we know it is sanctified. But monotonous. Deadly +monotonous." + +"Eve," and his voice was quite tragic, "don't you feel that the divine +sphere of--" + +"Woman. You needn't finish it, Nolan; we know it as well as you do. The +divine sphere of woman is in the sanctified home keeping up the sacred +institution of marriage while her husband--oh, tralalalalalala." + +"Yes, sir, I'll go you," cried Kitty suddenly, leaping up from the floor, +and waving her hand. "Europe! You and I together." + +"She has come to," said Eileen resignedly. "There's an end of sensible +talk for this evening." + +"Yes, Kit, what is it? I knew you would think of something good." + +"We'll go to Europe, you and I. I think I can work dad to let me go. I +can pretend to fall in love with the plumber, or somebody, and he'll be +glad to trot me off for a while. And he likes you, Eveley. He thinks you +are so sensible." + +"Why, he hardly knows me," cried Eveley, astonished. + +"Yes, that is why. I tell him how sensible you are when you are not +there, and when he gets home I hustle you out of his sight in a hurry. He +likes me to have sensible friends." + +"And what shall we do with the money?" + +"Travel, travel, travel, and have a gay good time," said Kitty blithely. +"All over Europe. We'll get some handsome clothes, and have the time of +our lives as long as the money lasts, and then marry dukes or princes or +something like that." + +"Two of you," shouted Nolan furiously. "Well, Eve, it is a good thing you +have one friend to give you really decent advice. Of all idiotic ideas. +Buy fine clothes and marry a millionaire. Save it to pay for potatoes +when you get a husband that can't support you. Travel to Europe and marry +some purple prince." + +"Why purple?" asked Eveley curiously. + +"Do you mean clothed in purple and fine linen?" + +"If you mean blood, it is blue," said Kitty. "Blue-blooded princes. +Whoever heard of a purple-blooded prince?" + +"What did you mean anyhow, Nolan?" asked Eileen. + +Driven into a corner, Nolan hesitated. He had said purple on the spur of +the moment, chiefly because it sounded derogatory and went well with +prince. + +"What I really mean," he began in a dispassionate legislative voice, +"what I really mean is--purple in the face. You know, purple, splotchy +skin, caused by eating too much rich food, drinking too much strong wine, +playing cards and dancing and flirting." + +"Does flirting make you purple?" gasped Miriam. "It does not show on Lem +yet." And then she subsided quickly, hoping they had not noticed. + +"Why, Nolan, I have danced for weeks and weeks at a stretch, evenings, I +mean, when the service men were here," said Kitty, "and I am not purple +yet." + +"Oh, rats," said Nolan. Then he brightened. "You have never seen a +prince, so of course you do not understand. Wait till you see one. Then a +purple prince will mean something in your young life." + +"I should not like to marry a purple creature," said Eveley, wrinkling +her nose distastefully. "I am too pink. And my blue eyes would clash with +a purple husband, too. But maybe the dukes and lords are a different +shade," she finished hopefully. + +Nolan turned his back, and lit a cigarette. + +"Yes, you may smoke, Nolan, by all means. I always like my guests to be +comfortable." + +"What is your advice then, Nolan? You are so scornful about our +suggestions," said Eileen quietly. + +"I know what Nolan would like," said Kitty spitefully. "He would advise +Eveley to give him the money and make him her executor and appoint him +her guardian. That would suit him to a T." + +"My poor infant, Eveley can not use an executor and a guardian at the +same time. One comes in early youth, or old age, the other after death. +An executor--" he began, clearing his throat as for a prolonged technical +explanation. + +Kitty plunged her fingers into her ears. "You stop that right now, Nolan +Inglish. We came here to advise Eveley, not for you to practise on. If +you begin that I shall go straight home--no, I mean I shall go out on the +steps and wait for the ice-cream." + +"What do you advise, Nolan?" persisted Eileen. + +"Well, my personal advice is, and I strongly urge it, and plead it, and +it will make me very happy, and--?" + +"He wants to borrow it," gasped Kitty. + +"Go on, Nolan," urged Eveley eagerly. + +"Put it in the bank on your checking account." + +"Put it--" + +"Checking account?" + +"Yes, indeed, right in your checking account." + +A slow scornful light dawned in Eileen's eyes. "I see," she said coldly. +"Very selfish, very unprofessional, very unfriendly. He would have his +lady love absolutely bankrupt, that he may endow her with all the goods +of life." + +"Why, Nolan," said Eveley weakly, lacking Eileen's sharper perception, +"don't you know me well enough to realize that if I put it into my +checking account it will be gone, absolutely and everlastingly gone, +inside of six months, and not a thing to show for it?" + +"Yes, I know it," he admitted humbly. + +"And still you advise it?" + +"I do not advise it--I just want it," he admitted plaintively. + +Eveley sat quietly for a while, counting her fingers, her lips moving +once in a while, forming such words as marriage, travel, princes and +banks. Then she clapped her hands and beamed upon them. + +"Lovely," she cried. "Exquisite! Just what I wanted to do myself! You are +dear good faithful friends, and wise, too, and you will never know how +much your advice has helped me. Then it is all settled, isn't it? And I +shall buy an automobile." + +In a flash, she caught up a pillow, holding it out sharply in front of +her, whirling it around like a steering wheel, while she pushed with both +feet on imaginary clutches and brakes, and honked shrilly. + +But her friends leaned weakly back in their chairs and stared. Then they +laughed, and admitted it was what they had expected all the time. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +A WRONG ADJUSTMENT + + +Eveley's resolve to spend her fortune for an auto met with less +resistance than she had anticipated. It seemed that every one had known +all along that she would fool the money away on something, and a motor +was far more reasonable than some things. + +"I said travel," said Kitty. "And we can travel in a car as well as on a +train--more fun, too. And though it may cut us off from meeting a purple +prince--a pretty girl with a car of her own is a combination no man can +resist. And maybe if we are very patient and have good luck, we may save +a millionaire from bandits, or rescue a daring aviator from capture by +Mexicans." + +Miriam nodded, also, her eyes cloudy behind the dark lashes. "Very nice, +dear. Get a lot of stunning motor things and--irresistible, simply +irresistible. You must have a red leather motor coat. You will be +adorable in one. But you'll have to shake Nolan, dear. You stand no +chance in the world if you are constantly herded by a disagreeable young +lawyer, guardianing you from every truant glance." + +"It isn't at all bad," quickly interposed Eileen. "I believe that more +than anything else in the world, a motor-car reconciles a woman to life +without a husband. She gets thrills in plenty, and retains her +independence at the same time." + +"Eileen," put in Nolan sternly, "I am disappointed in you. A woman of +your ability and experience trying to prejudice a young and innocent girl +against marriage is--is--" + +"You are awfully hard to suit, Nolan," complained Eveley gently. "You +shouted at Miriam and Kitty for advising a husband, and now you roar at +Eileen for advising against one." + +"It isn't the husband I object to--it is their cold-blooded scheme to go +out and pick one up. Woman should be sought--" + +"Well, when Eveley gets a car she'll be sought fast enough," said Kitty +shrewdly. "She hasn't suffered from any lack of admirers as it is, but +when she goes motoring on her own--_ach_, Louie." + +"Then you approve of the car, do you, Nolan?" + +"Well, since I can not think of any quicker or pleasanter way of spending +the money," he said slowly, "I may say that I do, unequivocally." + +"Why unequivocally?" + +"What's it mean, anyhow?" demanded Kitty. + +"Can't you talk English, Nolan?" asked Eveley, in some exasperation. "You +started off as if you were in favor, but now heaven only knows what you +mean." + +"Get your car, my poor child, by all means. Get your car. But a +dictionary is what you really need." + +The rest of the evening they were enthusiastic almost to the point of +incoherency. Kitty was in raptures over an exquisite red racer she had +seen on the street. Miriam described Mary Pickford's rose-upholstered +car, and applied it to Eveley's features. Nolan developed a surprisingly +intimate knowledge of carburetors, horse-powers and cylinders. + +When at last they braved the rustic stairway, homeward bound, with +exclamatory gasps and squeals, gradually drifting away into silence, +Eveley sat down on the floor to take off her shoes--a most childish habit +carried over into the years of age and wisdom--and was immediately +wrapped in happy thoughts where stunning motor clothes and whirring +engines and Nolan's pleasant eyes were harmoniously mingled. And when at +last she started up into active consciousness again, and rushed pellmell +to bed, mindful of her responsibility as a business girl, sleep came very +slowly. And when it came at last, it was a chaotic jumble of excited +dreams and tossings. + +The life of the bride and groom in the nest beneath Eveley's Cloud Cote +had progressed so sweetly and smoothly that Eveley had come to feel it +was quite a friendly dispensation of Providence that permitted her to +live one story up from Honeymooning. So the next morning, in the midst of +the confusion that came from dressing and getting her breakfast and +reading motor ads in the morning paper at the same time, she was utterly +electrified to hear a sudden sharp cry of anguish from little Mrs. Bride +beneath--a cry accompanied by sounds caused by nothing in the world but a +passionate and hysterical pounding of small but violent feet upon the +floor. + +"Oooooh, oooooh, don't talk to me, Dody, I can't bear it. I can't, I +can't. Ooooh, I wish I were dead. Go away, go away this instant and let +me die. Oh, I shall run away, I shall kill myself! Oooooh!" + +"Dearie, sweetie, don't," begged Mr. Groom distractedly. "Lovie, +precious, please." And his voice faded off into tender inarticulate +whispers. + +For a long second Eveley was speechless. Then she said aloud, very +grimly, "Hum. It has begun. I suppose I may look for flat-irons and +rolling-pins next. Hereafter they are Mr. and Mrs. Ordinary Married +People." + +After long and patient, demonstrative pleading on his part, Mrs. Severs +was evidently restored to a semblance of reason and content, and quiet +reigned for a while until the slam of the door indicated that Mr. Severs +had heeded the call of business. + +Almost immediately there came a quick creaking of the rustic stairs and a +light tap on Eveley's window. + +"Come in," she called pleasantly. "I sort of expected you. You will +excuse me, won't you, for not getting up, but I have only fifteen minutes +to finish my breakfast and catch the car." + +"You are awfully businesslike, aren't you?" asked Mrs. Severs admiringly. +"Yes, I will have a cup of coffee, thanks. I need all the stimulation I +can get." + +She was pale, and her eyes were red-rimmed, Eveley noted commiseratingly. + +"We are expecting an addition to our family this afternoon, Miss +Ainsworth," she began, her chin quivering childishly. + +"Mercy!" gasped Eveley. + +"Our father-in-law," added Mrs. Severs quickly. "Dody's father. He is +coming to live with us." + +"Oh!" breathed Eveley. "Won't that be lovely?" + +Mrs. Severs burst into passionate weeping. "It won't be lovely," she +sobbed. "It will be ghastly." She sat up abruptly and wiped her eyes. "He +is the most heart-breaking thing you ever saw, and he doesn't like me. He +doesn't approve of dimples, and he says I am soft. And he has the most +desperate old chum you ever saw, a perfect wreck with red whiskers, and +they get together every night and play pinochle and smoke smelly old +pipes, and he won't have curtains in his bedroom, and he is crazy about a +phonograph, and he won't eat my cooking." + +"I should think you would like that," said Eveley. "Maybe he will cook +for himself." + +"That is just it," wailed Mrs. Severs. "He does. He cooks the smelliest +kind of corn beef and cabbage, and eats liver by the--by the cow, and has +raw onions with every meal. And he drinks tea by the gallon. And he cooks +everything himself and piles it on his plate like a mountain and carries +it to the table and sits there and eats it right before company and +everybody." + +"I don't see how Mr. Severs ever came to have a father like that," said +Eveley in open surprise. + +"Well, the funny thing about it is that he would really be very nice if +he wasn't so outrageous. And he swears terribly. He says 'Holy Mackinaw' +at everything. But he loves Dody. They lived together for years, and it +nearly killed him when Dody got married. And Dody said, 'You will live +with us of course, father,' and so we expected it. But he went off for a +visit after we were married--he and the red-whiskered friend, and we sort +of thought--we kind of hoped--miracles do happen, you know--and so I just +kept believing that something would turn up to save us. But it didn't. +Dody got a letter this morning, and he will be here this afternoon. Oh, I +wish I were dead." + +"Is he terribly poor?" + +"Mercy, no! He's got plenty of money. Lots more than we have. Enough to +live anywhere he pleases." + +"I see it all," said Eveley ominously. "You won't be happy with him, and +he won't be happy with you, but you are all putting up with it because it +is your--duty." + +"Yes, that is it, of course." + +Eveley poured herself another cup of coffee and drank it rapidly, without +cream, and only one lump of sugar. "I am upset," she said at last. "This +has simply shattered the day for me. Excuse me, you'll have to hurry, I +only have five minutes left. I haven't explained my belief and principles +to you--you being young and newly married and needing all the illusions +possible--but I do not believe in duty." + +"Gracious," gasped the bride. "You don't?" + +"Absolutely not. No human being should do his duty under any conceivable +circumstances. You see, there are two kinds, the pleasurable ones, and +the painful ones. Pleasurable duties are done, not because they are +duties, but because they are pleasurable. So they do not count. And a +painful duty can not be a duty or it would not be painful. My idea is, +that there must be a happy adjustment of every necessity, so when a duty +is painful, it is the wrong adjustment. You and your father-in-law are +giving yourselves pain because it is the wrong adjustment." + +"It sounds very clever." + +"It is the only beautiful plan of life," said Eveley modestly. + +"And then we would not have to live with father at all?" + +"Most certainly not." + +"It certainly is a glorious theory," said the bride enthusiastically. +"You explain it to Dody, will you? He is positively death on duty, +especially when it is painful. He'd do his duty if it killed him and me, +burned the house down and started a revolution." + +"I have to go now," said Eveley. "Excuse me for rushing you off, but I am +late already. I'll explain it to you another time." + +Very skilfully she piloted her caller out the window and down the rustic +steps. + +"Remember this," she said as they reached the bottom. "As long as duty is +painful, it is not a duty and can not be. Now find another adjustment. +That is the end of it." And she started on a quick trot for the corner. + +"But father will be here this afternoon just the same," called Mrs. +Severs after her in mournful tones. + +Being very businesslike, Eveley made a set of notes about the case on her +way down-town. + +Liver and cabbage. + +Raw onions. + +Smelly pipe. + +Red-whiskered friend. + +Pinochle. + +Hates dimples. (I'll keep my left side turned his way.) + +Money enough to live on. + +Crazy about Dody--christened Andrew. + +Dody believes in duty. + +"Of course it is up to me to save them," she decided cheerfully, and was +quite happy at the prospect of an engagement in her campaign. "But I +can't neglect getting my car, even to save human nature from its duty," +she added. And then her mind wandered from the duties of brides, to the +pleasures of young motorists. + +Her plan of expenditure was most lucid. She would invest eighteen hundred +dollars in a car, and spend two hundred for clothes "to sustain the +illusion." Nolan did not understand exactly what she meant by that, but +on general principles was convinced it was something reprehensible and +sneered at it. The other five hundred was to be deposited in the bank as +a guarantee for future tires and gasoline and repairs. Nolan said that +according to his information it would be wiser to buy a second-hand car +for five hundred, and keep the eighteen hundred for tires and gas and +repairs. + +But Nolan was a struggling young lawyer--even more struggling than +young--and the girls were accustomed to his pessimistic murmurs, and gave +them no heed at all. + +Although Eveley had determined to confine herself to eighteen hundred +dollars for the car, she was not morally above accepting demonstrations +of cars entailing twice, and even thrice, that expenditure. "For," she +said, "for all I know somebody else may die and leave me some more, and +then I can get an expensive one. And besides, I feel it is my duty--oh, +no, I mean I feel it would be lots of fun, as a conscientious and +enthusiastic motorist to know the good points of every car." + +So Nolan assured her of his complete support and assistance in her +search, even to the detriment of his labors at the law office, where he +hoped one day to be a member of considerable standing. Nolan had two fond +dreams--to become a regular member of the firm, and to marry Eveley. They +were closely related, one to the other. If he could not marry Eveley, he +had no desire for a partnership nor anything else but speedy death. But +until he had the partnership, he felt himself morally obligated to deny +himself Eveley in the flesh. For he was one of those unique, +old-fashioned creatures who feels that man must offer position and +affluence as well as love to the lady of his choice. So it was no mere +mercenary madness on his own account that kept Nolan living a life of +gentle and economic obscurity, patient struggling for a foothold on the +ladder of fame in his profession. + +He knew better than to propose to Eveley. He realized that if they were +once formally and blissfully engaged, he, being only mortal man with +human frailties, could never resist the charm of complete possession, and +he foresaw that betrothal would end in speedy marriage to the death of +his determination to bring his goddess glory. + +Thus Nolan's lips were sealed--on the subject of marriage. "Though +goodness knows, he has plenty to say about everything else," Eveley +sometimes complained rather plaintively. And his attentions took the form +of a more or less pleasant watch-dog constancy, and an always more and +never less persistence in warding off other suitors not handicapped by +his own scruples in regard to matrimony. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +PAINFUL DUTY + + +When Eveley arrived home late that night she smiled to observe that all +the down-stairs windows were wide open to the breeze, and in the corner +bedroom, apportioned to Father-in-law, the curtains were down. At the +back of the house she found Father-in-law himself, with the proverbial +whiskered friend, critically inspecting her rustic steps through the +clouds of smoke from their pipes which they removed to facilitate their +interested stares as she approached. + +"How do you do?" she cried brightly. "You are Mr. Severs, Senior, aren't +you? Welcome home! And this is your friend, I know." She shook hands with +them both, with great cordiality. She must disarm them, before she could +begin working them into a proper adjustment with life. "I am Eveley +Ainsworth. Are you admiring my steps? I am very eccentric and +temperamental and all that, and I have to live alone. I do not like being +crowded in with other folks. I like to do as I please, and not bother +with anybody else." + +"Very sensible, I'm sure," said Father-in-law. + +"Sure," echoed the whiskered one breezily. + +"That was the first little seed," she chuckled to herself, as she ran +blithely up the stairs. Later, when she heard Mrs. Severs in the room +beneath, she went to the head of the inner stairway and called down to +her. + +"Come up a minute. I want to see you." + +Mrs. Severs lost no time. "My husband says it is simply absurd," she +began breathlessly. "He says people have to do their duty. He says a +thing is right or wrong, and that settles it. We are all father has in +the world, and Dody says it is plainly our duty to keep him with us. He +says a fellow would be taking an awful chance to marry you, if that is a +sample of your principles. Don't you believe in any duty, Miss +Ainsworth?" + +"Only one," said Eveley with great firmness. + +"Oh, what is that?" came the eager query. + +"That," was the dignified reply, "is something that doesn't enter into +this case at all, and doesn't need to be discussed." + +"Well, Dody says--" + +"Dody may be a very sweet husband, but he is not progressive. His idea is +old, outworn and antedeluvian. Simply musty. Now, this is my plan--the +plan of progress according to new ideas which means happiness for all. +Father-in-law and the whiskered friend are born for each other. They are +affinities, and soul-mates, and everything. I saw it at the first glance. +We'll get them a little cottage off somewhere beyond the odor of onions, +and they can revel in liver and pipes to their hearts' content." + +"Impossible! Whiskers has a wife of his own." + +"What?" Eveley was much disconcerted. "Well, maybe she will get a divorce +so her husband can marry your father--I mean--maybe it won't stick, you +know." + +"It's been sticking for forty years, and I suppose it will go on forever. +You see she doesn't have him around much and so she probably forgets how +he is. He is always out with father, and she is asleep when he gets +home." + +"Well, don't worry about it. He had no business being married, for it was +a lovely plan--but it can't be helped now. Never mind." + +"Listen," said Mrs. Severs suddenly. "Hear the sizzling. That's onions. +Didn't I tell you? I was going to have chicken croquettes and creamed +peas, with lettuce salad and fruit jello. But how can Dody and I sit down +to a decent meal with the whole house reeking with tobacco and onions?" + +"Never mind, dear. We'll find the adjustment in time. Just try to be +patient." + +For another night, and another day, Eveley puzzled and pondered--during +intervals of studying motor folders and reading advertisements. And the +next evening she found Mrs. Severs wringing her hands on the front porch. + +"What is it?" she asked anxiously. "Did he kill himself?" + +"No such luck," wailed Mrs. Severs. "He won't sleep in the bedroom +because he says it is too shady under all those vines, and he has moved +himself out into the living-room on the couch. He says there is no sense +having a house all cluttered up with rooms anyhow, he doesn't believe in +it. He says two rooms are enough for anybody. You can cook and eat in the +kitchen, and sit and sleep in the other room, and anything more is just +plain tony." + +"I tell you what," suggested Eveley brightly. "Be mean to him. Be real +snippy and bossy. Don't let him have his own way. You just fire him right +back into the bedroom. Tell him you are head of this house, and he's got +to mind. Then he'll be only too glad to move out and then you'll have +some peace." + +"I can't," moaned Mrs. Severs. "He's really kind of nice if he wasn't so +awful. I couldn't be mean to Dody's father. And Dody would not let me if +I wanted to." + +"Well, don't worry," said Eveley automatically. "I am still working. We +will try every different adjustment, and in time we shall hit the right +one. Just keep happy and--" + +"Keep happy," wailed Mrs. Severs. "Don't be sarcastic, Miss Ainsworth, +please. I never expect to be happy again." + +Then she went home, and Eveley called Nolan on the telephone. + +"You must come immediately and have supper with me. And stop on the way +and get a small steak, and ask the drug-store to deliver a pint of +ice-cream at six-thirty sharp. And you might bring a nice tomato if you +can remember, and I shall have everything else ready. We won't have much +to-night, just steak and salad and ice-cream. I need professional +advice." + +Nolan never dreamed of refusing an invitation of any sort whatever from +Eveley, and he started immediately, gathering up the dinner on his way. +As he put his foot on the lowest step of the rustic stair, Eveley's head +thrust itself suddenly from between the curtains. + +"There is a proper adjustment," she said, in a stern voice. "Just keep +your mind on that. Painful duty is no duty, and can not be. There is a +right adjustment--and we must find it." + +Nolan continued warily up the rickety stair, greeting her at the top +cordially. + +"Hello, Eveley. My, the coffee smells good. I am hungry as a bear, too. I +saw you out last night with that sad-eyed Buddy soldier, and I do not +approve of it. I shall deem it my duty to administer a proper adjustment +of his facial characteristics if he doesn't mind his own business. The +ice-cream will be here at six-thirty sharp. How is Kitty? You have flour +on your ears. Shall I fix the tomatoes?" + +"I did not bring you here in a social capacity to discuss personal +matters," said Eveley coldly. "I told you yesterday that my home is +saddened by the grotesque figure of maladjustment stalking in our midst +under his usual guise of Duty. As I have explained so many times, there +is bound to be a happy adjustment. But this time I can not figure it out. +Now I call on you." + +"Retainer's fee, one hundreds dollars. Payable, of course, in advance." + +"Oh, well, it is not strictly legal. Let's just talk it over nicely as +dear good friends, and if you have an idea I can absorb it. Nolan, Eileen +said she saw you at lunch to-day with a woman." + +"Eileen? How is Eileen? I haven't seen her for days. Let's have a party +soon, and invite Kitty and Eileen and Miriam and me, and you give us a +midnight supper here in the Cote, will you?" + +"It was at the Grant." + +"I did not see Eileen, but of course I was busy. Was she alone? We had a +nice luncheon--grilled pork chops and country gravy. The gravy was +good--no lumps. It made me think of yours." + +"My gravy is not always lumpy," she said with a frown. "It just happened +that way the last two times because I was called to the telephone while I +was making it." + +"Oh, sure, that's all right." + +He carefully adjusted her chair at the table, and drew his own close +beside it, pulling his plate and silverware half-way around the table +from where Eveley had placed them. + +"You look sweeter than ever, to-night, Eve. But I hope the gravy is not +lumpy." + +"She wore a black dress and white gloves, and a black hat." + +"Eileen did? Was it a new dress?" + +"No, the one with you." + +"Sure enough, I believe she did. A georgette dress, beaded in front. +Quite pretty. But there was a rip in her glove. She showed it to me +herself. She said she did it on the car, but it looked like an old rip to +me." + +"And after luncheon you went away in her car, didn't you?" + +"Her uncle's car. Just for a short run through the park, and then she +dropped me at the office. Quite a pleasant woman. She was so polite to +me, and treated me with such gentle deference. It was quite a change. It +made me think of you." + +Eveley put down her fork. "Who was it?" + +"Bartlett's niece from San Francisco. Visiting here. He had promised to +take her for luncheon, but at the last minute Graves came in and they +were busy, so he turned her over to me." + +"I do not see why you are always the one to take their nieces and +daughters out for luncheon. This is the fourth time in two months. I +believe you do it on purpose. Why should they always pick on you?" + +"Partly because of my beauty, perhaps, and my charming manners as well as +my generally winsome demeanor in the presence of ladies. I suppose Eileen +also informed you that this niece is Mrs. Harmon Delavan, and has three +children in addition to a husband." + +"Oh, Nolan, how you do burble along. I didn't bring you here to discuss +Bartlett's relatives. Now get down to business. How can we adjust the +honeymooners and the father-in-law--though honestly I think he is great +fun myself, and would a whole lot rather live with him than with Dody. +Only he does not fit in with the honeymoon scheme of life." + +"Well," said Nolan dreamily, "why don't you marry him, and bring him up +here?" + +"Oh, Nolan, you are clever. I never thought of that." + +At the evident delight in her voice, Nolan stared. + +"Not to me, goosey, he would never consent, for I have a dimple and he +does not approve of them. So far I have kept it on the off side, and he +has not noticed, but I couldn't always turn the left side to a husband, +could I?" + +"Well, then--" + +"Marry him to somebody else, of course. I can't just decide who--but +there will be some one. You are such a help, Nolan. Now let's not bother +with the duties of our neighbors, but have a good time. To-morrow I shall +find him a wife." Then she leaned toward Nolan, refilling his cup, and +said gurglingly, "Was he working awfully hard at the stupid old office?" + +"Eveley, just one thing, while we are on our duties," he said, catching +her hand. "You have made one exception, always, but you have never told +me what it is. And it is so unlike you to except anything when you get +started. What is the one duty that is justified and necessary?" + +Eveley promptly pulled her hand away. "That," she said, "is purely +personal. It will not do any one any good to talk about it. So it is all +sealed up on the inside." + +"And I shall never know what your one duty in life is?" he asked, with +mock pleading, but real curiosity. + +"It may hit you sometime--harder than anybody else," she said, laughing. +"But in the meantime let's talk of other things." + +As soon as Mr. Severs had started to work the next morning, without the +tender farewells, for the presence of Father-in-law placed an instinctive +veto on such demonstrations--Eveley kicked briskly on the floor as a +summons, and Mrs. Severs answered. + +"Eveley?" she called up to the ceiling. + +And Eveley shouted down to the floor of her room, "Come up--I've got it." + +At that Mrs. Severs fairly flew up the stairs. + +Eveley caught her on the landing, and whirled her around the room in a +triumphant dance, stopping at last so abruptly that Mrs. Severs was +almost precipitated to the floor. + +"Now listen. I've got it. The proper adjustment, that will make you all +happy and prove my theory." + +"Yes, yes, yes," chanted Mrs. Severs ecstatically. + +"He must get married." + +"But--" + +"Now don't interrupt. Let me finish. Of course he has no notion of such a +thing, but leave it to me. We shall marry him off before he knows it. We +must find the woman first. Out at Chula Vista there are a lot of +beautiful elderly ladies in the Home who are all alone and would be only +too glad to have a cozy home and a--a--pleasant husband and--all that. So +we'll go out on Saturday afternoon and look them over and pick out a good +one. Then I'll invite her to visit me for a week, and you and I will both +be busy so Father-in-law will have to entertain her, and she'll cut out +old Whiskers in no time at all." + +Eveley flung out her hands jubilantly. + +Mrs. Severs showed no enthusiasm. "That is what I wanted to tell you. He +can't. He is already married." + +Eveley dropped into a chair. "Married!" she stammered. "You told me +Dody's mother was dead." + +"She is, of course. But what I did not tell you is this. Three years ago +while Dody was in France, father must have sort of lost his mind or +something, for without a minute's warning, he up and married somebody--a +woman, of course. When Dody got home from the war she was not there, and +when he asked about her, father just sort of laughed and looked sheepish, +and said, 'Oh, she's gone on a visit.' 'Where to?' Dody asked. 'Oh, +somewhere around,' said father. 'Is she coming back?' asked Dody. 'Holy +Mackinaw, I hope not,' said father, and that is the last we ever heard of +her. But of course he is still married." + +It was a hard blow, but Eveley rallied at last, though slowly. "Don't +worry," she said monotonously. "There is another adjustment. Just keep +happy--and give me time." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +SHE MEETS A DEMONSTRATOR + + +"You've simply got to sneak off on some pretext or another, and meet me +at the Doric agency at three o'clock for a demonstration. They say it is +perfectly wonderful--why, it hardly takes a look of gas to go a thousand +miles, and its tires are literally cast iron." + +This was her summons by telephone. And Nolan, determined not to desert +trusting little Eveley to the tender mercies of motor sharks, went to the +Middle Member, whose position he confidently expected one day to possess, +and announced that important business of a personal nature required his +presence that afternoon. And because Nolan never abused privileges--or if +he did was never detected in the act--and because his firm was composed +of human beings and not the granite machines common to fiction, Nolan +encountered no difficulty. + +And Eveley went to her own employer, and smiling seductively upon him, +said vaguely that some awfully important and unexpected things had come +up, and could she please get off at three, if she would work particularly +hard in the meantime to make up? + +And because Eveley was very pretty, and withal very businesslike, and +pleasant about trifles like working after hours and special grinds and +such things, and because her employer was acutely conscious of her soft +voice and bright eyes, he smiled in return and said: + +"Yes, indeed, Miss Ainsworth, I heard you phoning about it. Go, by all +means, but I do not think you will like the Doric. The tires are all +right, but the cylinders are under size, and this causes a constant +friction with the magneto which impairs the efficiency and makes the car +a poor climber and weak on endurance runs." + +That is probably not what he said at all, but it is what Eveley +understood him to say, and from it she gathered that she might go at +three, but that there was something perfectly terrible about the Doric +that made it impossible for her to buy it, but of course she could not +disappoint the salesman with the deep blue eyes, and so she would have +the demonstration anyhow. + +From three o'clock on, the afternoon was a perfect daze of magnetos and +batteries and gas feeders and real leather upholstery. But Eveley +interrupted once, to run into a drug-store to the public telephone, to +call Kitty, and when she had her friend on the wire she said eagerly: + +"Oh, Kit, we are trying out the Doric. It is awfully good some ways, and +rotten some ways, and so of course I can't buy it, but the salesman has +the most irresistible eyes you ever saw in your life, and so I am wearing +my new blue veil, and I look a dream in it. Now you scoot up to the Cote, +will you, and have supper ready for us at six--Nolan and me. If Nolan +were not along I might bring the blue-eyed Doric man, but he is so +overbearing about those things--Nolan, I mean. Get a nice juicy steak, he +needs nourishment. I think if I could feed him constantly for a month and +save him from the restaurants he might develop enough animal magnetism +to--anyhow, he needs the steak, so get a good one at Hardy's and charge +it to me. And will you go by the cleaners, and get my motor gloves--they +said it would only be a quarter for the cleaning, so don't pay them a +cent more. Will you? That's a nice girl." + +At six o'clock, wearily, happily, still discoursing earnestly of magnetos +and batteries, Eveley and Nolan climbed the rickety rustic steps, +brightening visibly as the odor of broiling steak and frying potatoes was +wafted out to them. Nolan went in first, carefully stepping out of the +way before he reached a hand to assist Eveley, for he knew that she would +fall headlong among the cushions she kept conveniently placed for that +purpose. "It is easy enough getting in, if you take your time," she +always said defensively to criticizing friends. "But I am usually in a +hurry myself, so I keep the cushions handy." + +On this evening, being tired, she remained on the floor where she had +comfortably landed, and lazily removed her hat and veil, tossing them +lightly into a distant corner. + +"If it wasn't for the carburetor rubbing on the spark plugs," she said +plaintively, "I'd get the Doric in spite of everything. Did you ever see +such blue eyes in your life, Nolan?" + +"The Mason is a better car in every way," he said flatly. "Strongly +built, low hung, smart-looking, and the engine perfect." + +Eveley frowned. "Isn't that like a man? The Mason! I wish you could have +seen him, Kitty. Fifty years old if he was a day, and bald, and two +double chins. And talked through his nose. And what do you suppose he +talked about? His wife--and how she loves the Mason. What do I care what +his wife thinks about the Mason? I wouldn't have the Mason if he offered +me one. I'll bet it is so easy riding that it fairly sprouts double +chins--on the drivers." + +"You are buying a car, Eveley--not a driver," Nolan explained. + +"But the Doric is rather light in weight, and very high in price. How I +wish you could have heard him tell about it, Kitty. When he said +carburetor it was just like running up a scale of music. And his +fingernails were manicured as nicely as my own." + +"Is dinner ready?" Nolan interrupted furiously. "Come and eat. Great +Scott! That girl would buy a bum car and a costly one, because the +demonstrator has shined his nails." + +"And, Kitty, he said if we could go to-morrow evening at five-thirty he +would take us to La Jolla to show us how she climbs the grades. She will +go up on high." + +"When did he say that?" interrupted Nolan. "I can not go with you +to-morrow night. Don't you remember I told you we had a meeting--" + +"I know, dear. I am so sorry. But Kitty will go with us, won't you?" + +"Will I?" echoed Kitty ecstatically. "Won't I? Do you suppose they have +another one, with brown eyes, to go along to--to change tires, or +anything?" + +"I don't know, but we can ask. He is going to phone me at the office +to-morrow to find out where to call for us. He is very respectable. He +goes to the Methodist Church, and his uncle is a banker in Philadelphia." + +"Pass the potatoes, for heaven's sake," urged Nolan. "I feel sick." And +after a while he went on, persuasively: "There is no use to try that car +out again, Eveley. It is no good. Or if you insist on it put it off until +the next night, and I will go with you. We'll all three go. Make a +foursome if you like, with Kitty and the blue-eyed mutt." + +"Kitty does not like blue eyes. And besides, I am the one to be +demonstrated to. And besides," she winked at Kitty drolly, "I am sure he +will be busy the rest of the week. For when I mentioned that you had an +appointment to-morrow he said most particularly that to-morrow was the +only free evening he had for weeks to come. And that reminds me, Nolan, +that your advice about Father-in-law was no good. He is married already, +and it is your fault, getting me buoyed up with hope, all to no purpose." + +Nolan was properly regretful. + +"Do you think the old man likes to live with them?" he asked. + +"No, of course not. He hates it. He almost shudders when I tell him how +lovely it is to have a son and daughter to live with. But I suppose he +thinks it is his duty to stick, just as they think it is theirs to make +him stick. People are so absurd, aren't they?" + +"Yes, very," he said soberly, his eyes intent on Eveley's hair curling so +tenderly about her ears. And he was really thinking how very absurd it +was that a rising young lawyer should find it so tempting to touch that +bit of curl, and to kiss it. Very absurd indeed! + +"Are you thinking of something?" she asked hopefully, looking into his +earnest eyes. + +"Yes, indeed." And he forced his eyes away from the distracting curls. +"Yes, indeed I am." + +"What is it?" she begged, leaning toward him and slipping her fingers +with childish eagerness into his hand. + +"Why--just tempt him," he stammered. + +"Tempt him, Nolan. 'Holy Mackinaw,' as Father-in-law says, what do you +mean, tempt him?" + +In this predicament, Nolan was forced to concentrate. Why in the world +had he said, "Tempt him?" The temptation of Eveley had nothing whatever +to do with father-in-laws and the adjustment of duty. But Eveley expected +him to produce a tangible and reasonable explanation. + +"Why, just tempt him, Eveley. You know what temptation is, don't you? +Then do it." This was merely playing for time, seeking for illumination. +"Just--keep it always before him, you know--how nice it would be to get +off alone and be independent." Nolan was a lawyer, and having forced a +foothold, he made it secure. "Tempt him with freedom, talk to him about +the joys of privacy, unrestrained intercourse with his whiskered crony, +the delights of unlimited liver and onions, a bed in the sitting-room, +meals by the kitchen fire, and a jar of tobacco on every chair. See? +Tempt him until he can't stand it." + +Eveley looked at him appraisingly. "Nolan Inglish, you are a whole lot +cleverer than I ever thought you were. That is real talent. You have +found the adjustment this time. I feel it." + +Nolan, intoxicated with the warmth of her voice, the subtle flattery of +word and tone, rushed on. + +"Let's find him a house, just a bit of a shack with a little garden and a +mangy dog, and then razzle him with the vision of independence, and show +him the house." + +Then Eveley stood up. "Will you help me do this, Nolan? You get nicer +every day of your life." + +And Nolan, except for the presence of Kitty, would surely have said what +he had no earthly business to say to Eveley yet--until circumstances and +the Senior Member made it justifiable. + +He sat glowering and grim at the Important Meeting the next evening, when +he should have been gratified that his presence was desired--for Maley +wasn't there, nor Garland, nor Alverson. But in spite of the Honor, and +the Significance, Nolan's mind was wandering. He lost sight of the Truly +Greats, and saw only a cloudy picture of Eveley, soft, sweet and dimply, +sitting rapt by the side of the Darned Blue Eyes. And that night, at +eleven o'clock, on his way to his modest room, he suddenly started. +Coming demurely out of the Grant, he saw Eveley and the blue-eyed one, +and laughing beside them, Kitty and some other equally reprehensible +being. Nolan could hardly believe the evidence of his own eyes. + +He fumed openly while he allowed them a decent interval for reaching +home, and then called Eveley by telephone. + +"Eveley, I thought I saw you and Kitty coming out of the Grant with some +men a little while ago." + +"Oh, did you?" Eveley's voice was vibrant with surprise. + +"Yes." + +"Isn't that funny?" she laughed a little, softly. + +"Well, were you?" + +"Were we what?" + +"Were you there?" + +"Why, yes, of course. We stopped for a sandwich. We missed our dinner. +The engine broke down on the Biological Grade, and held us up for quite a +while." + +"Eveley--" + +"Oh, it was perfectly all right. He found out to-day that he had a friend +who is a life-long friend of Kitty's and he brought him along, and we +were all nicely introduced and everything was as proper as you please." + +"Did you buy the car?" he asked witheringly. + +"Oh, no, he advised me, confidentially, not to. He is going to change to +the Bemis agency to-morrow, and he thinks he will find it much more +satisfactory. Wasn't it a lovely night? Did you have a nice time with the +High and Mighties? Kitty is going to stay all night with me, and we are +just making some hot chocolate. Won't you come for a cup?--Oh, just Kitty +and I, and it is quite early. Come along, and we'll tell you all the bad +points about the Doric. But they say the Bemis is a wonder." + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +ADMITTING DEFEAT + + +The first Saturday after the organization of the Irish-American League +brought a blessed spring rain, especially heaven-sent on her account, +Eveley felt quite sure, for she was greatly worn from coping with motor +salesmen and the father-in-law situation. And this was a rain that not +even boys could stand, so she had a blissful afternoon alone, purring and +puttering about contentedly in her Cloud Cote. + +But on the second Saturday, according to agreement, the League met in the +appointed field for a game. This was Eveley's first opportunity to +witness the development of American principles in her chosen flotsam. The +meeting had been called for one-thirty, and although Eveley arrived +fifteen minutes early she found the field occupied by fully twenty youths +of varying sizes, colors and brogues. She gazed upon the motley array in +helpless horror. + +"Ern Swanson is going to be the captain," said John Hop, with his +ingratiating Oriental smile. "We just had an election and elected him." + +"But we already have a captain," protested Eveley, looking not without +sympathy to the corner where Ivan Kerensky nursed his humiliation. + +"We didn't know Ern was coming in," said Alfredo Masseno, who had hurried +up with half a dozen others to greet her. "Ern, he ought to be the +captain. He's awful rough; and baseball, why, he eats baseball alive! And +he won't come in unless he is the captain, and if he don't come with us +he'll join the Red Dogs on National Avenue, and we want him with us +because we have challenged them to a game and if they get Ern they'll +lick us." + +Then the newly elected captain sauntered up, his good-natured face +reflecting the glory of his new command as well as his natural Swedish +temperament. + +"He doesn't look rough," said Eveley critically. + +"No'm, not when things suits him, but you ought to see him when he is +mad. Golly! Why, even the cops lets that kid alone." + +"But it isn't parliamentary--I mean, it isn't proper to have one election +after another like this. We chose one captain, and we ought to stand by +him." + +"That wasn't no quorum what elected him, ma'm," said Ern Swanson, smiling +broadly. "They was only eight in the club then, and now we got +twenty-three. That little bunch o' Greasers couldn't represent us. No, +ma'm. We want regular Americans at the head of this club, and so we had a +regular election." + +Eveley knew this was dead against American principles, and she looked +once more toward the sulking ex-captain. Then she remembered that he had +won his own election in her absence by plain coercion, and decided to +pass this one irregularity, but never again. + +"Very well, then," she said weakly, "have it your own way this time. But +there must be no more elections until the right time. Now, what are you +going to do? Have a practise game? Then suppose we let Ivan be captain of +the second team, anyhow, and you can pick your men and have a good game." + +This seemed a simple proposition to Eveley in her innocence, but on a +sudden, pandemonium reigned. The whole crowd of boys propelled itself +violently into the air, and there was a shrieking of voices and a tossing +of bats and gloves, and a seemingly endless number of arms flying about. +From out the clamor Eveley could distinguish repeated hoarse roars of +"Pi-i-i-i-tcher," "Pi-i-i-i-tcher," "Ca-a-a-a-a-atcher," "Ca-a-a-a-atcher," +and she retired to a remote spot to await the proper moment for gathering +up the remains. Being a lady, she could make no sense at all of the deadly +uproar, and she was quite thrilled and charmed when of a sudden the tumult +subsided, and she found that out of that apparently aimless clamor, two +teams had been selected and the players assigned to their various positions +on the field. It was black magic to her. + +Eveley thought she knew baseball. She knew what a "foul" was, and she +knew what happened when one passed four balls, and she knew when one was +out. And she had often said fatuously that she loved baseball, because +she understood it. But she did not understand it. She understood a mild +respectable game that was played by scholarly young men in college. +Baseball as played by the wild creatures on that Saturday afternoon was a +sealed book to her. And she devoutly hoped and prayed it would remain +sealed. She felt that death would be preferable to a full working +knowledge of what went on in the Irish-American Club that afternoon. + +For an interval of perhaps three minutes the thing progressed with some +degree of reason. Then issued a sudden roar from a dozen throats, every +one came tearing in from his proper location on the field, and there was +a yelling, huddled group in the center. Then Eveley crept timidly from +the corner where she was engaging in prayer for the safety of herself and +her club, and advanced cautiously toward the swaying pile of shrieking +boys. + +She placed soft entreating hands on the outside layer, she even jumped up +and down and yelled "Boys," at the top of her healthy voice. But she was +only an atom in a world gone upside down. Presently, however, and from no +reason she could determine, the mob disentangled itself into distinct +entities, the roar subsided into a few threatening growls and murmurs, +and Captain Swanson hitched up his trousers and yelled "Play ball" +triumphantly. Then the game went on. This identical thing occurred at +intervals of about eight minutes during the entire afternoon. + +Eveley hoped devoutly that she was by her very presence helping to +Americanize these particular bits of flotsam and jetsam--she trusted so. +She was quite confident that so much personal agonizing on her part ought +to be doing something to the wild beings. But there was no apparent +development. + +She stood her ground bravely until four o'clock, and then, thanks to the +merciful Providence who protects the fools gone in where angels would not +dare, it seemed the whole club had to set about delivering papers. But as +there were important details to be attended to, such details as arranging +for a permanent place to play, and providing protection for the balls and +bats bought from Eveley's inheritance, and paying dues, it was decided to +have a meeting in the Service Hall that evening at seven. + +Eveley went home, and to bed. + +At six-thirty she got up, made a percolator full of strong coffee and +drank it all. + +Then she went to the Service Hall to meet the Irish-American Bloodhounds, +as she irreverently called them in her inner heart. + +Eveley was out of her element, and she knew it. + +She was bent on Americanization, but not this kind. She would be glad to +assist in the development of quick and kind-eyed Angelo at the office, or +the courteous Jap in the tea garden, but for a baseball club she had no +talent. She explained her needs and her deficiencies to the manager of +the Recreation Center, and he finally agreed that the Bloodhounds needed +a young virile athlete as their director. "And for his own sake," said +Eveley almost tearfully, "he ought to be a pugilist. I say this for his +good. We need all our assimilators and should not expose them to sudden +and violent death." + +Then Eveley talked to the boys, and told them how she had enjoyed and +liked them, but explained that being only a woman she was terribly +handicapped, and so would leave them to the discretion of one yet to be +selected. She hoped they would remember they were good Americans, that +they stood for honor and loyalty and right. Then she thanked God she was +free, took her coat and hat and went out. + +"Why, Miss Ainsworth! Is it really you? What in the world are you doing +here?" + +Eveley, startled on the threshold of the Service Club, looked up into the +face of the blue-eyed Bemis salesman. + +"Oh, Mr. Hiltze," she said mysteriously. "It is a deadly secret. You must +never breathe a word of it. But since you have caught me in the act, I +may as well confess. I am an Americanizer." + +"Great Scott!" + +"You know what that is, don't you? Helping to sort out and assimilate the +flotsam and jetsam of the foreign element, and imbue it with sturdy +American principles, and all that." + +Mr. Hiltze laughed. + +"Perhaps you do not understand the new great movement of Americanization," +she said with dignity. "It is the one immense fine movement of the day. It +is to effect the amalgamation of all the riff-raff of humanity into a new +America." Eveley did not mention the quotation marks which circled her +words. + +"That is wonderful," he said warmly. "It is a great surprise and a great +pleasure, to find women of your type taking an interest in this +progressive movement." + +Eveley leaned excitedly toward him. "Oh, Mr. Hiltze, are you interested +in it, too?" + +"None more so, though like yourself I feel the best work is done silently +and unobtrusively, and I prefer not to be exploited from the housetops." + +"Oh, this gives me courage again--and I had nearly lost it. Have you been +working to-night? Are you through for the evening?" + +"Yes, and if your labors have been as exhaustive and soul-wracking as +mine, perhaps you can spare an hour for nourishment with me at the Grant. +Of all the jobs in the world! Selling motors is a game beside it." + +"We agree again. I think it was rather foolish of me to tackle it in the +beginning. I haven't brains enough. Those boys may be flotsam and jetsam +and all that, but they know more about patriotism than I do. Why, one +little Italian, the cutest thing, with dimples and curly hair, told me +more about country-love than I could have thought up in a month. He says, +isn't it patriotic for them to come here and pick up all the good they +can, and take it back to enrich their own country? And when you come +right down to it, isn't it? Anyhow, the little Italians and Mexicans and +Jews and I have organized an Irish-American Baseball Team, and I suppose +we are amalgamating something into something. I think they are +amalgamating me. I feel terribly amalgamated right now." + +"I am not in sympathy with the club idea," said Hiltze thoughtfully, as +they turned down Broadway toward the Grant. "It is such a treat to find +your kind of woman in this--I mean, the womanly kind--I abhor the +high-brow women that are so full of forward movement they can't settle +down to pal around comfortably and be human." + +Eveley, too, was kindling with the charm of a common interest and +enthusiasm. Nolan took a very masculine stand on the subject. He said +bruskly that the growth of Americanization must come from Americans. He +said you couldn't cram American ideals into the foreign-born until the +home-born lived them. And he said the way to "teach Americanization was +by being a darned good American yourself inside and outside and all the +way through." Which may have been good sense, but was no help in the +forward movement. + +So Eveley looked upon Mr. Hiltze with great friendliness and sympathy, +though she did glance up at the National Building as they went by, +noticing the light in Nolan's window, wondering if he was working +hard--and if the work necessitated the presence of the new, good-looking +stenographer the firm had lately acquired. + +"Now, my idea of Americanization," Mr. Hiltze was saying when she finally +tore her thoughts away from the National Building, "is pure personal +effort. You take a club, and mix a lot of nationalities, and types, and +interests up together--they work upon one another, and work upon you, and +you get nowhere. But take an individual. Get chummy with him. Be with +him. Study him. Make him like you--interest him in your work, and your +sport, and your life--and there you have an American pretty soon. Club +work is not definite, not decisive. It is the personal touch that counts. +You could fritter away hours with a baseball club, and end at last just +where you began. But you put the same time into definite personal contact +with one individual foreigner--a girl, of course it would be in your +case--it is young men in mine. You take a girl--a foreigner--win her +confidence, then her interest, then her love--and you've made an +American. That is the only Americanization that will stick. Suppose in a +whole year you have won only one--still see what you have done. That one +will go out among her friends, her relatives, she will marry and have +children--and your Americanization is sown and re-sown, and goes on +multiplying itself--yes, forever." + +"You are right," said Eveley. "And you find me a girl, and I will do it." + +"It is a bargain," he said quickly, stopping in the street to grasp her +hand. "You are a little thoroughbred, aren't you? It may take time, but +as I go about among the young men I work with--well, I am pretty sure to +find a girl among them." + + + + +CHAPTER X + +THE ORIGINAL FIXER + + +"Oh, Nolan," came Eveley's voice over the telephone, in its most +wheedling accent, "I am so sorry to spoil our little party for to-night, +but it is absolutely necessary just this once. The most utterly absurd +case of painful duty you ever heard of. And although you do not exactly +approve of my campaign, you would simply have to agree with me this time. +And--" + +"Well, since I can't help it, I can stand it," he said patiently. "What +is it this time? Some silly woman finding it her duty to house and home +all straying and wounded cats, or a young girl determined to devote her +life to the salvation of blue-eyed plumbers, or--" + +"It is a man," she interrupted, rather acidly. + +"Ah," came in guarded accents. + +There was silence for a tune. + +"A man," he repeated encouragingly, though not at all approvingly. + +"Yes. A long time ago he very carelessly engaged himself to a giddy +little butterfly in Salt Lake City, and he doesn't want to marry her at +all, but he feels it is his duty because they have been engaged for so +many years. Isn't it pitiful?" + +"But it is none of your business," he began sternly. + +"It is another engagement with the enemy in my campaign," she insisted. +"Oh, just think of it--the insult to love, the profanation of the +sacrament of marriage--the--the--the insult to womanhood--" + +"You said insult before." + +"Yes, but just think of it. I feel it is my duty to save him." + +"Where did you come across him?" + +"He is the new member of our firm. I told you about him long ago. The +good-looking one. He has been with us six months, but I am just getting +acquainted with him. We had luncheon together to-day, and he told me +about it. He doesn't like social butterflies at all, he likes clever, +practical girls, with high ideals, and--" + +"Like you, of course." + +"Yes, of course. I explained my theory to him, and he was perfectly +enchanted with it. But he could not quite grasp it all in those few +minutes--it is rather deep, you know--and so he is coming up to dinner +to-night to make a thorough study of it. He feels it is his one last +hope, and if it fails him, he is lost in the sea of a loveless marriage." + +"I do not object to your fishing him out of the loveless sea," Nolan said +plaintively. "But I do object to his eating the steak you promised me." + +"Think of the cause," she begged. "Think of the glory of winning another +duty-bound soul to the boundless principles of freedom. Think of--" + +"I can't think of anything, Eveley," he said sadly, "except that +good-looking fellow eating my steak, cooked by the hands of my er--girl." + +As a matter of fact, he took it very seriously. For while he was still +firmly wedded to his ideal of fame and fortune, he was unceasingly +haunted by the fearful nightmare of some interloper "beating his time," +as he crudely but patently expressed it. + +He spent a long and dreary evening, followed by other evenings equally +long and dreary, for the Good-Looking Young Member found great difficulty +in mastering the intricacies of a Dutiless Life, and Eveley continued his +education with the greatest patience, and some degree of pleasure. + +Her interest in the pursuit of motors did not wane, however, and after +trying every known make of car, and investigating the advance reports of +all cars designed for manufacture in the early future, she blithely +invested her fortune in a sturdy blue Rollsmobile, and was immediately +enraptured with the sensation of absolute control of a throbbing engine. + +She found it no trifling matter to attend to her regular duties as +private secretary, to keep her Cloud Cote dainty and sweet as of yore, to +be out in her little blue car on every possible occasion, and still not +neglect the Good-Looking Member and the Father-in-law in her campaign +against duty. + +First of all, she invited the elder Mr. Severs to dinner, and forestalled +his refusal by saying: "Please. I have a perfectly wonderful calf's +liver, and I want you to cook it for me. The odor that comes up from the +kitchen below is irresistible." + +No father-in-law who loved calf's liver and a kitchen could withstand +that invitation and he found he had accepted before he knew it. To his +boundless delight, the dinner was as though designed in Heaven, for his +delectation. Clam chowder, calves' liver and sliced onions, watermelon +preserves, and home made apple pie--made by Kitty, who had received rigid +orders to provide the richest and juiciest confection possible, +overflowing with apples and spice. + +As they sat chummily together over a red table-cloth, which Eveley had +bought especially for this occasion, she said thoughtfully: + +"I believe I am the only really happy person in the world. Do you know +why? It is because I am free. I am not dependent on the whims or fancies +of any one. I eat what I like, go where I like, sleep when I like. It is +the only life. I often think how remarkable it is that you can be so +happy living down there with those honeymooners, doing everything to +please them, eating what they like, going to bed when they get sleepy. It +is wonderfully unselfish of you--but I couldn't. I have to be free." + +"You are a sensible girl," he said thoughtfully. "I never saw any one +more sensible. Don't you ever get married. You stay like you are. Holy +Mackinaw! Don't this liver melt in your mouth?" + +"I do not really care for an apartment like this," Eveley went on. "I +prefer a cottage, off by itself, with a little garden, and a few chickens +in the back yard, just a tiny shack in a eucalyptus grove, a couple of +rooms where I can eat in the kitchen and sleep in the living-room." + +"Oh, mama, it sounds like Heaven," and he rolled his eyes to the ceiling. + +"I am looking for a cottage now. If I find exactly what I want, I may +move. I should think you would prefer something like that yourself--a +little rusty cot and a garden and a dog, where you could smoke all over +the house, and have your friend come in for pinochle every night. I do +not see how you can live as you do cooped up with a bride and groom." + +He sighed dolorously. + +"But I suppose some people like it. It wouldn't do for me. That is why I +am looking for a cottage. Do you drive a car?" + +"A Ford. I wanted to buy a Ford, but daughter said no, they would not +have a Ford. They would wait till they could afford an electric. She +wouldn't let me buy a Ford for myself either. Said it looked too poor." + +"Did you ever have one?" + +"Me? Sure I did. But I accidentally drove off the road into the sand when +I was fishing once, and the tide was coming in and it washed the car +down. And when I got back with another car to tow mine out, it was gone. +Some said the tide carried it out to sea, and some said a thief stole it, +but it was gone, so it didn't matter how it went." + +Then Eveley was content to talk of other things. + +The next day she called up from the office, and asked to speak to +Father-in-law. + +"I am going up to see a little cottage to-night," she said excitedly. +"And my car is in the garage for adjustment. I unfortunately hit a curb +and banged my fender. So I have rented a Ford for an hour or so, and want +you to come along and drive it for me. Will you? Good! I will be there at +five o'clock." + +"She is a sensible girl," he said to his son's wife as he hung up the +receiver. "A nice sensible girl. She ought to help you a good lot." + +Mrs. Severs only sniffed. She knew this was the working out of Eveley's +plot, though Eveley had not confided in her, knowing instinctively that +the bride would tell the groom, and that the groom would be sure to stop +it. So Mrs. Severs saw her father-in-law clamber into the little car at +five o'clock, with something like hope in her breast. + +For a time, he was intensely absorbed in the manipulation of the gears, +and the brakes, his lower lip clutched tightly between his teeth, +breathing in full short gusts like a war horse champing for battle. But +when at last they were fully started and running with reasonable +smoothness, he said: + +"Who says this isn't a car? You talk to daughter about it, will you? You +explain to her that this is a regular car like anything else." + +"Some people are so funny, aren't they? How well you drive it! It is lots +of sport, isn't it? I should think it would be fine for you to have a car +to run around in. Then you and your friend could go to Ocean Beach, and +fish, and up to the mountains and shoot, and have a wonderful time." + +"I hadn't thought of that. I--you talk to daughter, will you? Tell her +she won't have to ride in it." + +"Turn to the right here," said Eveley suddenly. "The cottage is the +cunningest thing you ever saw, just two rooms, high on the hill +overlooking the bay. I am so tired of being cooped up in a house with a +whole crowd. I want to be absolutely free to do as I please." + +He sighed heavily again. "It is the only life. The only way to live. But +shucks, folks can't always have what they want." + +"There it is, that little white house, third from the corner," she said, +pointing eagerly, as he drew up the car to a spasmodic halt. + +He looked critically at the small lawn and the tiny cottage. "Those +rose-bushes need trimming," he said, frowning. "There's a loose corner on +the porch, too. Bet that grass hasn't been watered for three weeks. Why +folks don't keep up their property is more than I can see." + +"Look at the view," said Eveley suddenly. "See the ships out in the bay, +and the aeroplanes over North Island. Isn't it beautiful? If we had +field-glasses we could see the people walking around in Tent City, and +the lemon in the tea on the veranda at Coronado." + +"I've got field-glasses at home," he said wistfully. "In my suit-case. +But I didn't unpack. Daughter does not like a lot of trash around the +house. I'll bet we could see the gobs on that battle-ship if we had the +glasses." He turned again to the yard. "It'll take a lot of work keeping +up this place. And you busy every day wouldn't have much time for it. I +reckon you'd be afraid alone nights, too. An apartment is better for a +woman by herself." + +"But the freedom--" + +"Women hadn't ought to have too much freedom. It spoils 'em. This is the +born place for a man--and a dog--and field-glasses--and a Ford." + +"Let's go inside and look it over," said Eveley. "Did you ever see such a +place for chickens? Nice clean little coops all ready for them. Wouldn't +it be a paradise for half a dozen hens?" + +"It's a lot of work raising chickens," said the old man. "It's a job for +a man, really. You wouldn't like it." Then, thoughtfully: "Half a day's +work would make that place fit for the king's pullets." + +"And look at the cunning little garden," urged Eveley. + +"Needs hoeing. All run over with weeds. Whole place going to rack and +ruin. Needs a man around here, anybody can see that." + +"Come in, come in," cried Eveley, unlocking the kitchen door. "See the +little gas stove, and the tiny table--and the cooler. Isn't it fun? +Couldn't you have the time of your life here, reveling in liver and +cabbage and pinochle? Wouldn't your friend be crazy about it?" + +The old man squirmed restlessly, and passed into the next room. Eveley +dropped down on the side of the bed, and set the springs bounding. + +"It is a good bed. That table seems made for pinochle, doesn't it? I can +just see this place, with you and your friend, the room thick with +smoke--and no one to say, 'Oh, father, it's terribly late.'" Eveley put +up a very fair imitation of Mrs. Severs' ripply, bridal voice. + +"A phonograph--there ought to be a phonograph, to play _Bonnie Sweet +Bessie_, and _Nelly Gray_." + +"Just the thing. A phonograph. That is the one thing lacking. I knew +there was something needed." + +Father-in-law was quiet after that. He walked about slowly, peering into +every nook and corner. But finally he went out to the car, and climbed +in. Eveley followed silently. He started the car with a bang and a tug, +and drove home swiftly, speaking not one word on the way. But Eveley was +content. + +Quite late that evening he came up the rustic stairs and knocked on her +window. + +"Say, Miss Ainsworth," he asked anxiously, "did you decide to take that +cottage and live alone? Pretty risky business, I'm afraid. And it's a +sight of work keeping up a garden like that--and chickens are a dickens +of a lot of trouble." + +"I am afraid so," said Eveley wistfully. "I believe your advice is good. +It is a darling little place, but I suspect I'd better give up the idea +entirely." + +"That's right. You're a sensible girl. Very sensible." + +And he turned abruptly and went creaking down the stairs once more. + +The next evening as she swung her car up to the curb, Eveley found him +waiting. + +"I'm afraid I'll have to give it up," he said, and added apologetically, +"I thought since you didn't want it, I might take it myself. But if I +went away they'd think I was dissatisfied, and maybe they hadn't been +good to me or something. I wouldn't like to hurt their feelings." + +"Can't you pretend you hate to leave, but you feel it is your duty?" +Eveley almost choked on the word, but she knew it would be only folly to +explain her advanced ideas to this kindly conscientious soul. "You tell +them that you think it is your solemn duty to go and leave them alone, +and that you can't be happy unless you are doing your duty. Tell them +that honeymooners need to be alone." + +"That's a good idea. I'll try it on them right away." + +When he timidly, then enthusiastically pressed his case, Mrs. Severs, +seeing in his sudden determination to do his duty the happy fruition of +Eveley's plan, voiced only a few polite words of mild protest, but her +husband was flat-footed and vociferous in his objections. + +"Just cut out the nonsense, dad, and behave yourself. It is your duty to +stay here where you belong, and you can stick around and get used to it. +You can't go off by yourself, and that settles it." + +"I wouldn't be lonesome," said his father meekly. "I could get along. And +I could come and visit you. I think--maybe--I'd like it pretty good." + +"Oh, I'm on to you, dad. You just say that because you think it would be +better for us. Why, you'd be lonely as the deuce." And he went off into +the other room and considered the subject closed. + +Late that night, Mrs. Severs ran up the stairs. + +"Eveley, he really asked to go, but Dody wouldn't hear of it. And I do +feel ashamed of myself. We can't turn the poor old fellow out. It would +not be right. Just let it go, and I'll try to get used to it. He really +is a dear old thing." + +"Listen here, Mrs. Severs, do you mean that you are selfish enough to +keep that poor old man here with you spooners when he really wants to be +off alone where he can fish and cook and roam around to his heart's +content? Can't you see it is your plain duty to make him go where he can +live his own life? I--I am surprised at you." + +"Oh! You think--you mean--maybe he would be happier?" + +"Why, of course he would. And it is your duty to deny yourselves in order +to make him happy." + +"Oh, I see." Mrs. Severs was quite radiant. "Talk to Dody about it, will +you? He wants to do his duty, but he sees it the other way round." + +"Leave him to me." + +Some time later, Father-in-law himself crept softly up the stairway and +tapped on the window. + +"Hist," he whispered. "It's no good. Andy won't hear of it. Can't you +think of something?" + +"Leave him to me," she said again. "I am the original little fixer, and +I'll attend to Andrew Dody." + +The next morning, quite willing to sacrifice her last nap in her desire +to crush all duty, she started for work half an hour earlier than usual, +and invited Mr. Severs to ride down-town with her. And as they started +off, Father and Daughter-in-law from separate windows of the house +watched their departure, and prayed that success might crown her efforts. + +"I want to talk to you confidentially, Mr. Severs," she said softly. +"I--I think you misunderstand some things. I have been with your father +such a lot, and I have discovered that he really wants to live alone. He +likes to be free to do things when he likes, and how." + +"He can do that in our home, Miss Ainsworth," Andy said stiffly. + +"Of course he can, but he thinks he can't. He wants to do as Mrs. Severs +likes. He is only pretending it is his duty to go, because he thought it +would hurt your feelings if _you_ knew he wanted to leave you. He is just +crazy about both of you, but he is so used to doing every little thing in +his own sweet way. It almost seems your duty fairly to make him go, +because he would be happier." + +"I am not one to shirk my duty, Miss Ainsworth. I will sacrifice anything +for my father." + +"Of course it will be lonely for you when he goes, but think how happy he +will be following his every desire. I should think you would fairly force +him to be selfish enough to leave you." + +"You may be right. He does not care for our way of living, I know, and he +does like messing around. And then, too, it upsets our plans a lot having +him there, but whatever is right for dad, is right for us." + +"Then he must certainly have the little shack we saw the other day--he +adored it. You just tell him how lonely you will be, and how you will +miss him, Mr. Severs, and then make him take the little cottage." + +Talking it over afterward with Nolan, Eveley admitted regretfully that +she could hardly call this a victory--because Father-in-law only moved to +do his duty, and the children only allowed him to go for the sake of +doing theirs--but since everything worked out right, she was satisfied, +though she alone knew that happiness came to the three because each one +followed his own desire to the exclusion of other considerations. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +THE GERM OF DUTY + + +The case of the Good-Looking Member strained Nolan's patience almost to +the breaking point, but after many days of fruitless chafing, his +forbearance was rewarded. + +Eveley invited him to dinner. + +"Have you rescued the good-looking one from the loveless sea?" he asked +sarcastically. + +"I have sown the good seed," she said amiably. + +"I never heard of sowing seeds in a loveless sea," he sneered. + +"I have thought up a wonderful scheme. But you will have to help me out. +I always fall back on you in an emergency, don't I?" Eveley's voice was +sweetest honey. "So you must come to dinner." + +"Is the Handsome Member to be among those present?" + +"Oh, Nolan, this is our party--to talk things over all by ourselves. It +seems such ages since I saw you, and I've been so lonesome." + +Nolan was fully aware that this was fabrication, but being totally male, +he found himself unable to resist. + +"You do not know what lonesomeness is, Eveley. I nearly died. I almost +wished I would die. I shall come early, and please wear the blue dress, +and be good to me." + +That evening, after a long and satisfying preamble, they sat before her +tiny grate with their coffee, and she broached the wonderful plan. + +"He is the most utterly married-to-duty thing you ever saw. He says he +can not in common decency refuse to marry a girl who has been engaged to +him for five years. He hasn't even seen her for three, and isn't a bit +interested in her. Why, they only write once a month, or so. That's no +love-affair, anybody can see that. But he won't ask her to let him off, +and so we have thought up the most scientific scheme to work it. He is +inviting her to come here for a visit, and she is to stay with me. She +hates sensible businesslike men, and she adores scatter-brain, fussy +ones. So when she comes, he is going to be as poky as duty itself, and +wear old grimy clothes, and work day and night, and you are going to don +your sunshine apparel and blossom out like a rose, and beau her around in +great style. Result, she will fire him, hoping to ensnare you--but don't +you make any mistake and get yourself ensnared for keeps, will you?" + +"He is going to work evenings, is he?" + +"Yes, day times and night times and all times." + +"And I am to cavalier the lady?" + +"Not the lady," she denied indignantly. "Both of us. You shan't go out +with her alone. She is a terrible flirt, and very pretty. Where you and +she goeth, I shall goeth also." + +"Well, I can stand it. But what is to become of my own future? Why should +I neglect my legal interests to beau another fellow's sweetheart about +the town?" + +"Because you always help me out of a tight place," she said wheedlingly. +"And because you do not approve of my campaign. But if you are nice and +help me this time, I think I can everlastingly prove that I am right." + +"If I do the work, seems to me I do the proving." + +"Yes, but it is my theory, so I get the credit. Of course you must be +very gay and make quite a fuss over Miss Weldon, but don't you carry it +too far, or you'll be in bad with me." + +Anything that meant the eclipse of the Handsome Member could not be other +than satisfactory to Nolan. He agreed with a great deal of enthusiasm, +only stipulating that all evenings previous to the arrival of the pretty +fiancée should be devoted to private rehearsal of his part under the +personal direction of the Dutiless Theorist. + +So it was Nolan and Eveley who met Miss Weldon at the station upon her +arrival. They stood together beside the white columns, searching the +faces of the passengers as they alighted. When a slender, fair-haired +girl swung lightly down, they hurried to greet her. + +"Miss Weldon?" asked Eveley, with her friendly smile. "I am Eveley +Ainsworth, and this is my friend, Mr. Inglish. Mr. Baldwin could not get +away to-night--'way up to his ears in work. But he is coming up to see +you later this evening." + +If Miss Weldon was disappointed she gave no sign. Instead she turned to +Nolan with frankly approving eyes, remarking his tall slim build, his +thin clever face, his bright keen eyes. + +"Are you so devoted to business, Mr. Inglish?" she asked, as she opened +her small bag and took out a solitaire, which she placed on the third +finger of her left hand. At the smiles in the eyes of Eveley and Nolan, +she only laughed. "Why flaunt your badge of servitude? But don't tell +Timmy, will you?" + +She was indeed very pretty, with warm shining eyes, and a quick pleasant +voice. She was full of a bright wit, too, and the drive to Eveley's Cote +in the Clouds was only marred for Eveley by the fact that she, being +driver, had to sit in front alone. + +"We shall not do much cavaliering in the car," she thought grimly. "Not +when there are only three of us. We'll walk--three abreast." + +Miss Weldon was enchanted with the rustic steps, but a little fearful of +them as well, and appropriated Nolan as her personal bodyguard and +support. She squealed prettily at every creak and rumble. + +"I shall never try these steps alone, Mr. Inglish," she said, clinging to +his not-unwilling hand. "I shall always wait for you." + +"I'll roll her down, if she begins that," thought Eveley. + +But in spite of her disapproval, even to her there was something very +attractive in the pretty girlish merriment and interest of her young +guest. + +"I do not see why Nolan had to squeeze in on this," she said to herself +most unfairly. + +Miss Weldon was charmed with the dainty apartment, and loved the cunning +electric fixtures in the tiny dining-room. She tucked an apron under her +belt, and appointed Nolan her assistant in making toast, while Eveley +finished the light details of serving dinner. + +"It certainly is a silly business all the way around," Eveley decided. + +After their coffee, and after Nolan had finished his second cigar, Miss +Weldon said, "Now since Miss Ainsworth got dinner, we must do the dishes. +I shall wash, and you must dry them, Mr. Inglish, and be sure you make +them shine, for I am very fussy about my dishes." + +And Eveley had to sit down in a big chair and rest, though she did not +feel like sitting down and hated resting--and look quietly on while Miss +Weldon fished each separate dish from the hot suds and held it out +playfully for Nolan to wipe. It made a long and laborious task of the +dish washing for Eveley, and she was quite worn out at its conclusion. + +"Funny that some people can't do their plain duty without getting the +whole neighborhood mixed up in it," she thought resentfully. + +At nine o'clock, came Timothy Baldwin. Miss Weldon met him at the window, +looked at him, half curiously, half fearfully, and after lifting her lips +for a fleeting kiss, backed quickly away from him into a remote corner. + +Then Nolan, according to prearranged plan, suggested that he and Eveley +run down and put the car in the garage. "And if there is a moon, we may +go for a joy-ride, so don't expect us back too soon." + +And as they rode he spoke so unconcernedly of Sally's smiles and curls +and pretty hands, that Eveley was restored to her original enthusiasm for +the campaign. + +"Won't she be wild?" she chuckled, snuggling close against Nolan's side, +but never forgetting that she was mistress of the wheel. "Tim is going to +talk business all the time, and at ten-thirty he is going to say he must +hurry home to rest up for a hard day's work to-morrow. We are not to get +in until eleven, so she will be utterly bored to distraction. Isn't it +fun?" + +They drove slowly, happily around the park, over the bridge and under the +bridge, around the eucalyptus knoll above the lights on the bay, and then +went down-town for ice-cream. At exactly eleven o'clock, Nolan took her +hands as she stood on the bottom step of the rustic stair. + +"I can't say it is your duty to--be good to me--but I hope it will make +you happy. And by the rules of your own game, I have a right selfishly to +insist on your being always sweet and wonderful to me, and to me alone." + +"Just what do you mean by that, Nolan?" + +"Nothing, of course, but can't you use your imagination?" + +"No, I can't. That is for brides and fiancées, not for unattached +working girls like me." + +Then she ran on up the stairs, and Nolan went home. + +True to arrangement, Tim had gone at ten-thirty, and Miss Weldon in a +soft negligee was sitting alone pensively, before the fire. + +"Tim has changed," she said briefly. "I think he has more sense, but a +little less--er--warmth, I might say." + +"Do you think so? He works very hard. He is fearfully ambitious and they +think everything of him at the office." + +"Yes? Then he must certainly have changed. He was not keen on business at +Salt Lake. He lost three jobs in eight weeks. That is why he came west. +And his father has financed half a dozen ventures for him. But perhaps he +has settled down, and will do all right. I love your little apartment, +and it is dear to call it a Cloud Cote, and Mr. Nolan is perfectly +charming. Timmy asked us to meet him at Rudder's for luncheon, you and me +and your Mr. Nolan, also." + +"Oh, that is nice," said Eveley. "I'll come up for you in the car a few +minutes earlier. You won't mind being alone most of the day, will you? I +work, you know." + +"No, I rather like being alone. I sew some, and I shall read, and there +are letters to write. I do not mind being alone." + +Eveley found her really very agreeable, quite pleasant to entertain. And +after all Nolan had only done as she requested, and there was nothing +personal in it. It was lots of fun, but it must stop before Miss Weldon +had time to grow really fond of Nolan, for of course she could not have +him under any circumstances. Eveley absolutely disbelieved in any form of +duty, still she would not feel justified in carrying her animosity to the +point of wilfully breaking innocent hearts. + +At twelve-thirty the next day, Eveley and Miss Weldon entered the small +waiting-room of Rudder's café. Nolan was already there. They waited +fifteen minutes for Timothy, and then a messenger came down to them with +a note. Mr. Baldwin was so sorry, but business was urgent, and they must +go right ahead and have luncheon without him. He would telephone them +later in the evening if he could come up. + +Sally Weldon pursed her lips a little, but she smiled at Nolan. "Can you +beau us both, Mr. Inglish? We think we are mighty lucky to have half a +beau a piece on working days. Are you the only man in this whole town who +does not work like a slave?" + +So they found a pleasant table in the café, and dawdled long over their +luncheon, laughing and chatting. Then they took Nolan back to his office, +and Eveley and Sally went for a drive on the beach to La Jolla. + +"But don't you have to work?" asked Sally, observing that it was long +after two when they finally turned back toward the office. + +Eveley shrugged her shoulders prettily. + +"Oh, nobody works much but Mr. Baldwin," she said. "He does the grinding +for the whole force." + +Miss Weldon frowned a little, but said nothing. + +That evening she had the dinner nicely started when Eveley reached home, +and Eveley was loud in praise of her guest's skill and cleverness. + +"It is just lovely, but you must not work. You are company." + +"I rather like to cook. I took a long course in it four years ago when +Timmy and I were first engaged, and I have done all the housekeeping at +home since then. Daddy pays me double the salary we used to pay the cook, +and I provide better meals and more cheaply than she did. Daddy says so +himself." + +"Why, Sally," cried Eveley warmly, "I think that is wonderful. I am +surprised. I thought--I supposed--" + +"Oh, I know what you thought," laughed Sally brightly. "Everybody thinks +so, and it is true. I am very gay and frivolous. I love to dance and sing +and play. And I abhor solemn ugly grimy things, and I think the only +Christian duty in the world is being happy." + +Eveley flushed at that, and turned quickly away. + +Later Nolan joined them for dinner, and the little party was waxing very +gay long before Tim called. Then it was only to say that he would be +working late, but was sending them tickets for the theater and would join +them afterward for supper at the Grant. + +"Does he always work as hard as this?" asked Sally, looking steadily into +Eveley's face. + +"He always works pretty hard," said Eveley truthfully, "but he does seem +busier than usual right now." + +Miss Weldon only laughed, and they talked of other things. Nolan went +down with them in the car, Eveley driving alone in front, but somehow she +felt her pretty guest to be less of a menace since she was guilty of +sensible things like cooking and sewing. + +[Illustration: "Just what do you mean by that?"] + +Eveley did not explain that Timothy had felt inclined to join them for +dinner and the show that night after disappointing them at luncheon, but +she had been firm with him. + +"Not to-day," she insisted. "You can only have one hour with us to-night. +To-morrow you can join us for luncheon and a short drive afterward, if +you will fix it so I can get off." + +He was at the Grant waiting when they arrived, and rather impatient. + +"Did you have a pleasant time?" he asked, looking into Sally's bright +face. + +"Lovely. And did you hurry terribly to meet us? We don't want to +interfere with your work, or bother you." + +He searched her face for signs of guile, but her eyes were unclouded, and +her manner indicated only a friendly concern for his interests. + +It was a very happy party that night. Both girls were merry, and Nolan +was really more solicitously attentive to Sally than was quite necessary +even in the interests of a campaign directed against her. When at a late +hour, they trooped out to the car, it was he who helped her carefully +into the machine, though, with seeming reluctance, he permitted Timothy +to sit with her while he joined Eveley in the front seat. + +"Timmy is good-looking, don't you think?" Sally asked that night, as they +were preparing for bed. + +"Yes, if he did not work so hard. Young men should not kill themselves +with labor." + +"Your Nolan is handsomer, perhaps," said Sally pleasantly. + +The next day Timothy did meet them for luncheon, after keeping them +waiting for twenty minutes, and later they went for a fast ride out Point +Loma. But that night he did not see them at all, though he told Eveley he +thought she was rather rubbing it in, cheating him out of so many +pleasant parties and good times. + +"I may not want to marry her, but it is good sport chasing around," he +protested. + +But Eveley was very stern. He had put himself in her hands, and he must +obey without argument, and that settled it. And when he suggested that it +would look better if he and Sally had one party by themselves without +Nolan tagging at their heels, she frowned it down. + +"One private party can spoil a whole week of hard work," she decreed. + +So the week passed. Once even Eveley pretended business, and Sally and +Nolan had luncheon together, and a drive later in Eveley's car. But +Timothy put a stop to that. + +"She is my fiancée. And I may have to marry her after all. And if I do, +hanged if I want everybody in town thinking she was Nolan's sweetheart to +begin with." + +So Eveley waived that part of her plan, and the parties were always of +three, and sometimes, but infrequently, of four. That Sally accepted +their arrangements so easily, and took so much pleasure in their +entertainment, argued well. One night she said: + +"Of course, men have to work, but I shouldn't like my husband to dig away +like a servant, should you, Eveley?" + +And Eveley felt the time was ripe. The next day she told Timothy he might +take Sally out alone in the car for a drive, and ask her if they should +not be married right away. Eveley was willing to wager that she would +reject him. Timothy consented with alacrity, seeming to feel the burden +of his semi-attached state. + +That evening at six-thirty, when Nolan came up for dinner, Eveley met him +on the roof garden over the sun parlor. + +"Nolan, something has happened. They went at two o'clock, and they aren't +home yet. What do you suppose is the matter? Maybe they had an accident. +Maybe she got mad and wouldn't ride home with him. He wouldn't put her +out, would he? Shall we notify the police?" + +"I should say not. Don't worry. Let's have our dinner. They can eat the +leavings when they come. He has probably learned, as other and wiser men +have learned, that a pretty and pleasant girl is not half bad company. +I'll bet he is having the time of his life. My, it is nice to have you +alone again. She is very sweet, and it's been lots of fun, but after all +I am used to you, and this is nicer." + +Nolan's prediction proved far from wrong. At ten-thirty, a messenger boy +shouted up from below, and Nolan ran down. When he came back he carried a +small yellow slip addressed to Eveley, which he promptly opened. And as +she peered over his shoulder, they read it aloud, together, in solemn +chorus. + + "Three cheers and a tiger. She has accepted me, and we were married + at Oceanside this afternoon. On our way to Yosemite for honeymoon. + I am the happiest man on earth. Tell Nolan to go to the dickens. + Love from Sally and Timothy Baldwin." + +Nolan lit a cigar and blew reflective rings into the air. "When a man is +bitten with the germ of duty," he began somberly. + +For a moment Eveley was crushed. Then she rallied. "Just as I told you, +Nolan. As long as it was a painful duty, marriage between them was +impossible, and would have wrecked both their lives. But our campaign +brought about the proper adjustment and tuned them to love again. So it +was not duty, but love, and marriage is a joy. Now I hope you are +convinced that I am right, and won't argue with me any more. And if I +ever had any doubts about that one exception I make in regard to duty, +they are all gone now. I am dead sure of my one exception." + +But when Nolan pressed her for an explanation, she begged him to smoke +again, and let her think. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +THE REVOLT OF THE SEVENTH STEP + + +The sharp tap on Eveley's window was followed by an impatient brushing +aside of the curtains, and Miriam Landis swung gracefully over the sill +in a cloud of chiffon and silk. + +"Lem is waiting in the car," she began quickly, "but I came up to show +you my new gown. Are you nearly ready? Lem is so impatient, you know." +Fumbling with the fasteners of her wide cape she drew it back and +revealed a bewilderingly beautiful creation beneath. + +Eveley went into instant and honest raptures. + +"Do you like it, Eveley? Am I beautiful in it?" There was a curious +wistfulness in her voice, and Eveley studied her closely. + +"Of course you are beautiful in it. You are a dream. You are irresistibly +heavenly." + +"I wonder if Lem thinks so," said Miriam, half breathlessly. + +"Why, you little goose," cried Eveley, forcing the laughter. "How could +he think anything else? There, he is honking for us already. We must +hurry--Why, Miriam, you silly, how could any one think you anything in +the world but matchlessly wonderful in anything--especially in a dream +like that?" + +Miriam fastened her wrap again silently, and got carefully out through +the window. + +"Twelve steps," cautioned Eveley. "You'd better count them, it is so +dark, or you may stumble at the bottom." + +Miriam, clinging to the railing on one side, passed slowly down. "One, +two, three, four, five, six." Then she stopped and turned. + +"Seven." Looking somberly up to Eveley, standing above her, her face +showing pale and sorry in the dim light, she said, "I have been married +five years, Eve. You do not know what it is to spend five years +struggling to maintain your charm for your husband. And never knowing +whether you have failed or won. Always wondering why he finds more +attraction in other women less beautiful and less clever. Always +wondering, always afraid, trying to cling to what ought to be yours +without effort. It isn't funny, Eveley." She turned slowly, to go on +down, but Eveley laid a restraining hand on her arm. + +"Five years? That is a long time," she said in a tender voice. "It must +almost be his turn now. Five years seems very long to me." + +Miriam passed on down the stairs, counting aloud, eight, nine, ten, and +on to the last. At the last step she turned again. + +"He is my husband, Eveley. One must do what is right." + +"Yes? Yet five years of duty does not seem to have brought you much +happiness. At least you should not be selfish. You ought not to deny him +the pleasure of doing his by you for the next five." Then she added +apologetically: "Forgive me, Miriam. You know I should never have +mentioned this if you hadn't spoken." + +Miriam clung to her hand as they felt their way carefully around the +house, Lem in the machine still honking for them to hurry. + +At the corner she paused again. "You are very clever, aren't you, +Eveley?" + +"Well, yes, I rather think I am," admitted Eveley. + +"How would you go about it?" + +"The way Lem does," came the quick retort, and Miriam laughed, suddenly +and lightly. + +She was very quiet as they drove down Fifth Street. Only once she spoke. + +"It was the seventh step, wasn't it, Eveley?" + +"Yes, the seventh." + +"The Revolution of the Seventh Step," she said, laughing again. + +This was nonsense to Lem Landis, but he did not ask questions. Women +always talked such rot to each other. And he was wondering if Mrs. Cartle +would surely be at the ball? + +"The way Lem does." + +The words were startlingly sufficient. From five years of painful +experience, Mrs. Landis knew how Lem did it. And so on this evening, as +she stood beside him in a corner of the ballroom after their first +greetings, and looked as he did with eager speculative eyes about the +wide room, seeking, seeking, she felt a curious sympathy and harmony +between herself and her husband. She knew without turning her head when +the sudden brightening in his eyes came; and then he slowly made his way +to the dim corner where Mrs. Cartle sat waiting. + +But Miriam was not so quickly satisfied. There was Dan O'Falley, but his +was such fulsome effrontery. There was Clifford Eggleton, but he had been +a sweetheart of Miriam's in the old days before Lem came, and that seemed +hardly fair. There was Hal Jervis, but he was too utterly wax in woman's +hands to give her any semblance of thrill. Then her eyes rested on a +profile in another corner of the room--a dark sleek head, a dark thin +face, and the clear outline of one merry eye. Miriam appraised the head +speculatively. Who in the world could it be? That merry eye looked very +enticing. Ah, now she could see better--he was talking to the Merediths. +Then the merry-eyed one was a stranger--so much the better, the +uncertainty of him pleased her. She was very weary of those she knew so +well. She moved happily that way, suddenly surprised to know that she was +not at all concerned because her husband sat in the distant corner with +Mrs. Cartle. She felt for him to-night only a whimsical comradeship. +Stopping many times on her way to exchange a word and a smile, she +finally drew near the corner where the sleek dark head and the merry eye +had drawn her. Mrs. Meredith, seeing her, came to meet her, and drew her +forward impulsively. + +"Oh, Miriam, you must meet our friend, Mr. Cameron. He has only just come +here to be with my husband in business, and we are going to love him, I +know." And so immediately Miriam found herself looking directly, and with +great pleasure, full into the merry eyes. The gown was beautiful upon +her, she knew it positively, whether Lem had been stirred by the vision +or not. + +"Oh, she is lovely enough," said Billy Meredith plaintively. "But don't +be lured by her, Cameron. She is still in love with her husband." + +Miriam smiled at her victim with disarming friendliness. "But I like to +be amused," she said. "And I have been married long enough now to feel +like playing again." + +Cameron laughed at that, and the laughter fulfilled the promise of the +merry eye. Miriam was quite intoxicated with the game her husband had +taught her. That Eveley was a clever little thing, wasn't she? + +"Suppose we dance then," Cameron suggested eagerly. "It is the approved +method of beginning to play." + +"We resign you to your fate," sighed Billy Meredith once more. "I warned +you, you laughed me to scorn. Now plunge and die." + +"He seems to think I am dangerous," said Miriam, as they stepped lightly +away to the call of the music. + +"Well, far be it from me to say he is wrong. But I am sure you will prove +a charming playfellow. You seem fairly to match my own mood. I suppose we +can not climb trees and go nutting and fishing and wade in the creek as +we might have done together years ago, but if you will be patient and +teach me your way of playing in your ladyhood, I think you will find me +an apt, and certainly a willing playmate." + +"Then let's begin to-morrow night. Come to my house, and let's play pool. +It is the most reckless thing we can do. I have a sweet little friend and +she has a deadly admirer, and they will come with us. She is very clever, +too, and full of fun. See, that is she there, dancing--the one with the +golden frock. Her name is Eveley Ainsworth and the solemn young man is +Nolan Inglish, and they are unannounced but accepted sweethearts. You are +not afraid of Friend Husband, then?" + +"Not until Friend Husband gets afraid of me," he said. + +Later in the evening, as they were having ices in a wonderful nook in the +ballroom, he said seriously, and with no laughter in the merry eyes: + +"Are you trying to make a truant husband jealous? Just be frank with me, +and I will do my best. I know you wanted a pal to-night. Do you mind +telling me why?" + +For a moment she hesitated. Then she smiled. "If my frankness loses me a +pleasant comrade I shall regret my candor. But I do want to play fairly +with you. So hear then the bitter truth. I have been married five years, +and I have worked like a common slave to make myself beautiful and +winsome and irresistible to my husband. And you know that a wife can't do +it, if the husband isn't in the mind for it. And so to-night I am +starting a revolution. I do not want to struggle forever. I want to play +and be happy. I have no notion of making my husband jealous. That has not +even occurred to me. I just want to be joyful--to learn to be +joyful--regardless of him." + +"Then may I be a disagreeable old preacher, and say one thing? You know +this may be fun, but sometimes it is dangerous. Human beings are not +machines, and often they make mistakes and fall in love, when they had +only meant to play. You would not find it at all pleasant to be married +to one man, and in love with another. And maybe you would not enjoy +having a husband and a lover in two persons, I am not trying to foretell +the future, or make unpleasant predictions--I am only sounding the +warning note." + +Miriam considered this very solemnly. Then she said: "Well, I think I +should not mind. It does not seem to bother Lem to be married to me, and +at the same time be involved in stirring friendships with other people." + +"Just one more sermon then, and I am through," he said, laughing. "It is +this. Men and women are very different. A man can play his head off with +a dozen women, and still stay in love with his wife, and want no one but +her. But a really nice woman, and you are awfully nice, can not have +love-affairs without love. When she loves a man, she wants him, and will +not have any one else. Your husband can have a dozen affairs, and still +want you. But if you have a pleasant affair--you may not want your +husband." + +"Well, of course, Mr. Preacher, one must take a chance. And it is to be +only play, you know. That must be understood right in the start. I am +really not a bit advanced nor modern, nor anything. I have no forward +ideas in my head. I am just tired of trying to please my husband; I want +some one to please me. It does not seem to offer you much for your pains, +does it? But you may find me fairly amusing." + +"I am sure of it," he agreed warmly. "And it is all settled, and we are +going to play together. And if sometimes you get tired of me, and fire me +off, I shall bob up serenely the next day and start over, just as we +might have done when we were little children." + +When Miriam reported her progress in revolution to Eveley the next day, +Eveley was greatly perturbed. + +"You went too fast," she said with a frown. "And besides--it is not fair. +He isn't married. He will fall in love with you." + +"Oh, no, we have a regular understanding," said Miriam confidently. "It +is all settled according to rules, and we are only going to play. Lem +goes to his club to-night, and you and Nolan are to come and play pool +with us. Doesn't it sound emancipated and free?" + +"Almost bolshevistic," said Eveley grimly. "I do not approve of it--not +exactly--though I do think you are justified. But it is so risky--and +people talk--" + +"Well, Eveley, I think it is better to have people say, 'What do you +think of the way Miriam Landis is carrying on?' than 'Isn't Miriam Landis +a little fool not to get next to her husband in all these years?' +Shouldn't you?" + +"Well, we'll be there," said Eveley evasively. "We'll be right there. If +he just wasn't so good-looking, and sort of--decent? Why didn't you pick +out a roue? They are lots safer than these decent young chaps." + +Nolan, always a willing sacrifice when Eveley bade, joined them without +demur, and a more rollickingly gay time they had never had. Even Eveley +admitted that things seemed innocent and harmless enough, but she shook +her head. + +"He is too good," she whispered to Miriam. "When he falls, he will fall +hard. And if he is once in love, I have a feeling he will work like--like +the dickens--and you haven't much spinal column yourself, you know. And I +do not believe in home wreckers, and things." + +Nolan, also, frankly disapproved. + +"It doesn't make any difference what kind of husband she's got," he said +decidedly. "As long as he is her husband, it is her duty to stick to him +and leave other men alone." + +"Don't say duty to me," said Eveley crossly. "Five years is long enough +for any woman to do her duty. I think she is quite justified in giving +Lem a good scare. Maybe he will wake up, and behave himself. But this +Gordon is too good-looking, and too desperately nice. How can they play +together like two children? You know what will happen." + +"I think it has already happened. He is head over heels right now, and +she is not breaking her heart over Lem, either. I give them two weeks to +develop a first-rate rash." + +"But Miriam believes in duty," said Eveley hopefully. "Maybe that will +save them. She would never elope with him, and I do not think he would +even ask her, he is so sort of respectable and set." + +But Nolan was pessimistic. "Folks talk about duty until they fall in +love, and then they forget it and everything else. And Lem has acted +abominably. I thought she did not know it." + +"So did I. But--" + +"Well, no use to worry. We'll stick around with them and sort of boss the +job. I am glad you invited them to the Cote to-morrow night." + +"And for supper, too. When Lem finds she is coming here for a supper +party and he is left out, he may begin to think." + +"The trouble with Lem is, he can't help himself. He loves Miriam all +right, but women go to his head. He may get jealous and promise +everything on heaven and earth, but he can't keep his word." + +"Then he shouldn't have married." + +"She should never have married him. When women understand that a man who +can not look at a woman before marriage without making love to her--can't +do it afterward--they will save themselves a lot of trouble." + +"Well," said Eveley hopefully. "No one can say you hurt yourself making +love." + +So the playing went on, Nolan and Eveley acting as constant and merry +chaperons, and the little grouping grew more and more congenial. Lem +realized that a convulsion was going on in his home, and reformed +desperately for days at a time, but a secluded corner and a lovely woman +invariably set him pleading for forgiveness. Miriam always forgave him +promptly and said it did not bother her; and was at first frightened, and +then delighted, to know that it truly did not bother her any more. + +Then one evening, Eveley had a mad telephone call from Lem, quickly +followed by a flying rush to her little Cote. + +"See what you've done," he shouted, half-way through the window. "That is +what comes of your interference. Miriam was the most contented woman on +earth till you began feeding her up on this notion of revenge." + +"You sit down and talk sense, Lem Landis, or get out," said Eveley. +"Contented! She hasn't known a contented day since she married you. You +have had five years of jollying with other women. Now because another man +smiles on her, you go into a rage and tear your hair. You make me sick." + +"Look here, Eveley, you got me into this, and you've got to get me out. I +didn't care how much they smiled. I thought at first it was a put-up job +to make me jealous, and I laughed at it. But it has gone too far." + +"Everything is all right," said Eveley soothingly. "They are just +playing. Nolan and I are with them all the time. There is nothing serious +between them." + +"Don't be a fool," he said rudely. "You know that men and women can't +play like kids. Miriam wants a divorce." + +Eveley sat down and swallowed hard. + +"A divorce," he raged, champing wildly up and down the small room. "She +says there is nothing between them, and she does not love him, but she +can't stand me any more. Why can't she stand me? She stood me for five +years. What's come over her all of a sudden that she says it makes her +sick to kiss me? She won't even let me hold her hand. She says it is +blasphemous. Blasphemy to touch my own wife's hand! You know what that +means, don't you? She is in love with that--that--" + +"You can't swear here," Eveley broke in quickly. "I won't have it. I +think you are mistaken, Lem. She doesn't want a divorce. Not really. She +wouldn't, you know." + +"But she does, I tell you. She says it is sacrilege to live with me, and +so she is going off by herself to desert me, and says I've got to get a +divorce on those grounds when the time is up, or heaven only knows what +she'll do. Now, you got us into this mess, and you've got to stop it." + +"I'll do what I can, Lem," she promised. "And so will Nolan. But between +you and me, I do not blame her. I wouldn't have lived with you two +months, myself." + +"I have never wanted another woman in my life," he said brokenly. "It has +always been Miriam with me from the very minute I saw her. I have fooled +around a lot, I know, but it's always been Miriam for serious." + +"Yes," she said bitterly. "That is it. It is just as Gordon says. A man +can fool around and still love his wife. But a nice woman can't. She is +strong for one man--at a time. When she falls for a new one, it is all +off with the last. You could love a dozen at a time, but Miriam is too +nice for that." + +"But you promised--" + +"Oh, yes, I'll do what I can, and I will advise her to stick it out, but +I think she will be very foolish if she takes my advice." + +Nolan was immediately summoned, and a desperate struggle began with +Miriam. But it was really no struggle. + +"Why, Eveley," she said reproachfully, "I am surprised at you. Can't you +see that a woman can not live with a man she dislikes? It makes the +shivers run down my back when he touches me. It--isn't nice. It--makes me +feel like--well, not at all right. You can see that, can't you, Nolan?" + +"I am afraid I can." + +"But he is your husband," protested Eveley. "Isn't it your place as his +wife to--to--" + +"Do you mean my duty, dear?" asked Miriam, smiling faintly. "I am surprised +at you, Eve. No dear, it isn't. Your theory that duty is happiness is half +right. But a woman has one other duty also--self-respect. I am all packed +up, dear, and going to-morrow. You do not mind my not leaving my address, +do you? I want to go off very quietly by myself. I do not want Gordon to +know. I am afraid he will blame himself for it. You will make him see that +it was not he, at all, won't you? And after it is all over, I shall write, +or maybe come to see you. You will ask him not to look for me, won't you? +There has not been a thing serious between us, Eveley, you believe that, +don't you?" + +"Of course I do. I know it. I've chaperoned you two till I am fairly sick +of it." + +Miriam smiled again. "Be sure to tell him everything I said, will you?" + +Nolan and Eveley were very quiet after she had gone. And Eveley cried a +little. + +"I hope she will be happy," she said tearfully. + +"She will be. Gordon will wait for her, and not crowd her. He is like me. +He can talk to a woman without loving her." + +"You can, at least." + +"At least, I do not talk about it all the time," he amended. "What I mean +is that his affection is for the one, and not for the sex." + +"Do you think she did right, Nolan?" + +"I do not think it is my duty to judge," he evaded cleverly. "She had one +chance for happiness, and she lost. Now she is to have one more. We are +her friends, and we love her. We can not begrudge her one more +opportunity, can we?" + +"No indeed, and you put it very nicely," she said more comfortably. +"Isn't it nice that we do not believe in duty? But we shall miss them. +They were very nice playmates for us, as well as for each other--Nolan, +there was something sort of sweet about Lem, after all? Something very +human and lovable and--but of course it was Miriam's duty to be happy." + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +SHE FINDS A FOREIGNER + + +Eveley had very nearly lost faith in assimilation. She had thought it +over carefully, attempted it conscientiously and decided it could not be +done. + +"One individuality can not be absorbed by another," she would say very +sagely. "Whether it is husbands and wives, or whether it is nations. The +theorists are right in stating that America is for Americans only, and +that it is the patriotic duty of those who come here to be Americanized +as rapidly as possible, and the duty of the regular Americans to +Americanize everybody else at top speed--but it can not be done. They are +they, and we are we. It may be our duty, but we are not big enough." + +She did not call her friendship with Angelo Moreno by any such big and +formal term as assimilation. They had just grown to be enormously good +friends. She had forgotten about Americanizing him, but she found him +charming, with the fresh frank abandon of the unspoiled south-European. +She liked his open admiration, she enjoyed his mature cynicism, she +reveled in his buoyant enthusiasm. She had not believed that such +opposing elements could dwell in one small person. In Angelo, she found +them, and she found the combination good. + +He was helpful to Eveley, as well as pleasing. He did endless small jobs +for her about the car and upon the lawn of her home. And when she noticed +that he quickly adopted some of her own little customs of speech and +manner, she was freshly pleased and interested. + +Still she could not harden her heart to the clamorous call of the world +struggle. She lived so happily and so securely in her Cloud Cote, going +to business by day, doing her small bits of housework in between whiles, +frolicking with her friends, chumming with Angelo, playing with her +sister's babies, running about in her pretty car. It was like living in +the clouds indeed, with the world of chaos beneath. For there was the +struggle of reconstruction going on, the tremendous heave and pull of +masses seeking to dominate, the subtle writhe and twist of politics, a +whole world straining and sinewing to rise dominant out of the molten bed +of human lava left from the volcanic eruption of war. + +And although Eveley still lived serene in her Cloud Cote, it was like +living on the edge of the crater of a volcano. The eruption would come, +must come. And when it came, her pretty Cloud Cote might be caught in the +upheaval. Sometimes in the evening she stood breathless in the little +pavilion on the edge of the canyon stretching down below her home, and +looked far into the shadows. Being a vivid imaginer, down in the darkness +she seemed to see the world in turmoil, and although she stood above it +on the heights, she knew that when the final reckoning came, there would +be no heights and no canyon. + +"And the only thing that can stop it is Americanization, and it is +impossible," she would say helplessly. "And there you are." + +But being of a light and happy heart, she tried to forget, and plunged +into her work and her play once more. The consciousness, however, of a +world in travail was always with her. + +This was why, when Amos Hiltze came to her with an appeal for help in a +new phase of Americanization, he found such prompt and eager interest. + +"It is not much, Miss Ainsworth," he said earnestly, "and to you it may +seem very aimless and trifling indeed. But it is something definite at +least, a real tangible piece of Americanization, and you are the only +woman I know who can help us out." + +"Yes, yes, yes," she cried eagerly. "I will, of course. What is it?" + +"It is a girl, a Spanish girl from Mexico. Her relatives joined the +revolutionists, and pouf,--were blown out. By rare good fortune she +escaped across the border. But what chance has she? No friends,--no +training. She has never learned to meet and mingle with people. And now +after the years of horror, she is afraid. She has lost her nerve. She +needs a place where she can be alone, and quiet, with no one to observe +or criticize. I can vouch for the girl, that she is all right. And I +wondered if your spirit of Americanization would carry you to the point +of temporarily adopting her." + +"Oh, mercy!" gasped Eveley, thinking with great tenderness of her cozy +little Cloud Cote, her home, and hers alone. + +"I know it is asking a great deal, but it will only be for a few weeks. +Just until some proper arrangements can be made for her. Unless she is +taken care of, and quickly, she will fall a prey to some anarchistic +Bolshevik, or something worse. She is living with a bunch of low Mexicans +away out in the country, and the Greasers come there from all +around,--and I am afraid for the girl. If she can be taken now, treated +kindly, shown the charm and wholesomeness of American customs and +principles, she will be won for America. A beautiful girl, educated, +talented, charming. Think what a power she can be in the Americanization +of her people, when she herself has been given love and tenderness and +confidence." + +Eveley decided instantly. "Very well, bring her. I can move the extra +furniture out of the east bedroom, and store it in the garage, and she +may have that room. She will be alone and quiet all day. But I hardly +know a word of Spanish--" + +"Oh, she speaks English perfectly. You are a wonderful girl, Miss +Ainsworth. Not one in a thousand would have risen to such a sacrifice. +If American women were all like you, there would be no need of +Americanization. A country stands or falls by its women-kind. And you +will not find her burdensome. She does not wish to meet people, her only +desire is to be quiet, and let alone. She will keep your little home tidy +for you, and she likes to cook and sew. She will not bother you much. How +soon can you have her come?" + +"It will take about two hours to get ready. Can you come and help me +to-night? Angelo will help, too. We must move the furniture and boxes +out, and then the room will be ready for her." + +"Then suppose we go for her to-night? She is about forty miles out in the +back country in a little shack a mile off the Viejas grade. If we could +leave about supper-time, we'd get there a little after dark. She wants to +slip away without attracting attention. She is a nervous wreck, literally +scared to death. It will take a long time to give her confidence again, +but if any one can do it, it is you. Her faith in humankind has been +bitterly shattered." + +Eveley was fairly quivering with excitement and delight. Her faith in +herself had gone leaping skyward. She was not a slacker, not a quitter. +She was a regular American after all, making a real sacrifice for a +principle she believed in,--and oh, how she was going to assimilate this +pretty little Mexican! Poor child! Of course she was shattered and +stunned and shocked. Who wouldn't be? Things must have been ghastly in +Mexico. Eveley herself was rather vague on the subject, because her +philosophy was one of peace and joy, and she found that reading of +affairs in Mexico did not tend to increase either peace or joy. But she +was dimly aware that the spirit of unrest prevailing in all the world had +risen to open and bloody warfare across the Rio Grande. + +Her work suffered very sadly that afternoon, and long before the +appointed hour she was ringing furiously for the elevator. From her +incoherent chatter on the way down, Angelo gathered that he was literally +to fly to her the very minute he was off duty, and then she was +clambering blindly into the car and rushing around for Mr. Hiltze. + +She was quite in an ecstasy as they set about moving out the pieces of +furniture to be stored in the back of the big garage, and fitting up an +attractive home for the wounded little Mexican who was to be her +guest,--and her food for assimilation. + +Amos Hiltze was a great help, and worked with enthusiasm. + +"I do what I can, but men are helpless when it comes to women. And when I +knew of this child,--well, I thought of you. If you refused, I had no +notion where to turn. But you did not refuse." + +"No, indeed," chirped Eveley. "I am only too happy. I want to do things, +real things, and be of use. It--it is right, I suppose, and lots of fun +besides." + +At six o'clock Angelo came, and looked for a moment with speculative eyes +upon Mr. Hiltze. He was not enthusiastic,--rather he was frankly +pessimistic. + +"Why don't you send her to a hotel?" he demanded aggressively. "You don't +want a dirty Greaser in here, messing things all up." + +"Oh, Angelo, you mustn't," protested Eveley, deeply shocked. "She isn't a +Greaser. She is a high caste Mexican girl." + +"There ain't no such thing," he said gloomily. "You'll see. She'll litter +the whole place up with a lot of smelly bandits, and they'll cut your +throat, and steal your money, and then where'll you be?" + +Then Amos Hiltze turned on him, with something compelling in his eyes. +"Cut out that nonsense, and mind your own business. This is not your +affair." + +So Angelo resigned himself to the inevitable, and fell to work, not with +good will, but with efficiency. And when the room was ready, while the +man and boy were carrying the extra furniture out to the garage for +storage, Eveley hastily prepared a light supper for the three of them. It +was eaten in utter silence. Eveley was excited almost to the point of +suffocation, and the others were immersed in their own thoughts. She +hastily cleared the dishes from the table, and put on her heavy coat and +a small hat. + +"Where do you go to get your Spanish queen?" demanded Angelo. + +"Oh, a long way out in the country," said Eveley nervously. "We must +hurry, Angelo. It is getting late." + +"Are you going in your car?" he persisted. + +"Yes. Now, please, Angelo, I hate to rush you off, but we must go." + +"Take me along, Miss Eveley. Please--you've got plenty of room. Won't you +take me?" + +"Nothing doing," cut in Amos Hiltze shortly. "We've got to keep the girl +quiet, and you would let out some rudeness that would spoil everything." + +"Honest I won't, Miss Eveley. G'wan, be a sport. You promised to take me +for a night ride, and you never have. I won't say a word to the +Grea--lady, honest I won't. Be a sport, Miss Eveley, sure I can go +along." + +"Let's take him," said Eveley. "He can sit in front with me coming back, +and you can ride with Marie. He won't say a word, will you, Angelo?" + +Mr. Hiltze seemed not altogether satisfied, but Angelo was already +half-way down the rustic stairs and headed for the garage, so he +contented himself with one final word of warning. + +"Just keep quiet," he said to Angelo. "Do not even look at her. There +must be no fuss or confusion, or she will be afraid to come." + +There was a heavy fog rolling up through the canyons, and Eveley, in her +state of excitement, found the car prone to leap wildly through the misty +white darkness. There was a great ringing in her ears, and her pulses +were pounding. Hiltze at her side was silent and preoccupied, and Angelo +in the rear sat huddled in a corner, in the rug which Eveley had tucked +about him. + +"We do not want any frozen passengers to bring home," she had said, with +a smile. + +They spun swiftly along University, slowing for East San Diego where +there were officers with bad reputations among speeders, through La Mesa, +the cross on Mt. Helix showing faintly in the pale moonlight, through El +Capon, out beyond Flynn Springs where the pavement left off. + +"Are you tired?" asked the man, stirring closer to Eveley's side. + +"No," she said, with a laugh that was really a sob. "But I am so out of +breath, and thrilled, and--all stirred up, like a silly little +schoolgirl. I believe I am frightened." + +"Do not be frightened, Miss Eveley," said Angelo suddenly, reassuringly. +"I'll look after you. If we do not like the little Greaser, we'll just +ditch her." + +"You must not be afraid," said Hiltze, pressing his arm companionably +against her elbow. "You know I will take care of you. And you will like +the girl. She is just a timid, nerve-racked child. You will love her in +time. But this is not a question of love, only of service,--one phase of +the scheme of Americanization that is sweeping the country. It has to +come through the women, Eveley, you know that. It has to be born into the +babies of the next generation." + +An audible sniff came from the back seat, but Angelo was lustily clearing +his throat. + +"You sound like a stump speaker," he said critically. "Did you get that +way selling autos, or did you used to be an agitator or something?" + +Mr. Hiltze made no reply. He was leaning forward now, anxiously scanning +the road. "We turn soon. Drive slowly, please. I do not know the road +very well. Oh,--there it is,--I see it now. Just beyond the little clump +of trees, this side of the big rock. Turn to the right,--the road is safe +enough, but a little rough. We only go a little farther,--yes, to the +right a little more,--down-grade, but it is not very steep. Now, pull off +a little and stop. Yes, you wait here now, will you, while I go on to the +shack? The road does not lead up to it. You need not be afraid, you are +close to the main road though you can not see it for the shrubs and +rocks. She does not want the Mexicans to know where nor how she goes." + +"Will you be gone long?" asked Eveley, gazing somewhat fearfully into the +black shadows about her. + +"Oh, just a few minutes. It is only a little bit of a way, and Marie is +ready to come at once." + +"How does she know you are coming after her?" asked Angelo. + +"I told her I would come to-night if I could make arrangements for her, +and she said she would be ready. She has only a small bag, so her +preparations are simple. Now, don't be frightened, Eveley. You know I +would not leave you if there were any danger. Angelo will be with you." + +"You bet I will. Beat it, Mister, and cop the lady." + +Eveley and Angelo listened in silence, as Hiltze strode quickly away. +When the last sound had echoed to silence, Angelo leaned over the seat, +his thin dark face close to Eveley's. + +"Say, Miss Eveley, where did you pick up that guy?" + +"He was the salesman who sold me my car, but he has many friends who are +my friends also, so I have met him often. He was only selling autos +temporarily, and is making plans now to go into business for himself." + +"I'll bet your friend Inglish ain't stuck on him." + +"Not unnaturally," admitted Eveley, laughing. "He is not." + +"Well, he's a smart guy, Inglish is," said Angelo shrewdly. "You can +pretty well put it down he's on the level about folks." + +"You do not seem partial to Mr. Hiltze, Angelo. But he is most kind and +sympathetic, and no one works harder for the Americanization of the +foreign element than he does." + +"Lots of folks work hard for something to keep the real things dark. I +guess he's got a mash on this dame." + +Eveley was silent. + +"Don't you think so?" + +"No, I hardly think so." + +"Oh, you can't tell. Some guys can have mashes on two or three at a time, +you know." + +"Angelo, please, let's not talk this way. I do not like it. And I do not +wish my friends to criticize my other friends. I know you like Mr. +Inglish best of all, and that is why you try to underrate the others--but +please don't." + +"Oh, I think he is smart enough," said Angelo ingratiatingly. "It ain't +that. I just don't like his wishing foreign dames off on to you because +you are easy and will stand for it." + +"Listen--they are coming." + +Angelo got out then and clambered in beside her, and they both peered +into the darkness whence footsteps came. The two were walking slowly, +Hiltze leading the girl carefully. She walked shrinkingly, her face +showing deathly pale in the shadowy night. + +Eveley got out at once and went to meet them, surprised at the great wave +of tenderness sweeping over her. She felt somehow that it was a daughter +of hers, coming back to her out of suffering and sorrow. She put her arms +protectingly about the girl, and kissed her cheek. + +"Marie," she said softly, "you are going to be my sister. I--I think I +love you already. I felt it when I saw you come out of the darkness." + +The girl did not speak, but her slender fingers closed convulsively about +Eveley's, and there was a catch like a little sob in her throat. + +Eveley herself helped her into the car, and pulled the rugs and blankets +about her. + +"It is very foggy, and the air is cold. We do not want a little sick girl +on our hands. Pull them close about you. Oh, your cape is very light--you +must take my furs. It is much warmer in front, and I do not need them. +Now, are you all ready? This is my little pal Angelo Moreno with me, but +don't pay any attention to him to-night. You will see him again. Now, all +ready and off we go." + +Angelo sat silently musing in his corner during the long ride back to +town, and Eveley sang softly almost beneath her breath. In the back seat +there was silence, too. Only once Eveley turned to call to them blithely: + +"I was frightened and anxious at first, but now I feel happy and full of +hope. I think you are going to bring me great good fortune, Sister +Marie." + +"You are--most heavenly kind," said Marie, in slow soft English, with the +exquisite toning of her Spanish tongue. + +"Oh, Marie," cried Eveley rapturously. "Those are the first words I ever +heard you say--such kind and loving words. I shall never forget them." + +The rest of the ride was taken in absolute silence, and at the door of +her cottage when she ran the car into the garage, Angelo carried Marie's +bag up the steps silently, and Hiltze helped her, while Eveley ran +hospitably in front to have the window open and the lights on. She thrust +out an eager hand to help Marie through the window, and then she gaily +faced their escorts. + +"Not to-night," she cried. "You can not come in even for a minute. Sister +Marie and I are going to have hot chocolate all by ourselves, and--and +find out how we like each other's looks. Many thanks--good night." + +Then she closed the window and turned to the slender shrinking figure at +her side, drawing back the heavy hood that shielded the girl's face to +look into the features of the little foreign waif she had taken to her +heart. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +NEW LIGHT ON LOYALTY + + +A quick thrill of pleasure swept over Eveley as she looked into the face +of her young guest. + +"Duty?" No, it would be a joy to teach this soft and lovely creature the +glorious principles of freedom, justice and equality. This was Eveley's +sphere--she felt it--she knew it. She took Marie's slender hands in both +of hers, and squeezed them rapturously. + +"Oh, I am so happy," she cried ecstatically. "I think you are adorable." + +For Marie's soft dark eyes, the soft waves of dark hair drooping over the +low forehead, the slender oval of the olive tinted face, the crimson +curving lips, the shrinking figure presented such a picture of exquisite +helplessness that Eveley's brave and buoyant soul rose leaping to the +appeal. + +She removed the dark cape from Marie's shoulders, and took her bag, +leading her into the small east bedroom which had been so charmingly +dressed for her. + +"This is your home now, Marie, I hope for a long, long time. It is your +home, and you are as free as a bird. You are not my servant, but my +sister and my friend. I want you to be happy. You are to think as you +like, do as you like, go or stay as you like. You are mistress of your +own life, now and all the time." + +"It is very lovely," said Marie softly. "And you are an angel from +Heaven." + +"Not a bit of it," laughed Eveley. "You do not know me. I am the humanest +thing you ever saw in your life." She lifted Marie's bag lightly to a low +table. "Now, this door opens to the bath--my bedroom door leads into it +from the opposite side. And this is your closet, and these drawers are +all empty, so use them as you wish. Why don't you put on a negligee, now, +and rest? And while you are alone for a minute, to collect yourself and +unpack your bag, I shall run out and put on the chocolate. We must have a +hot luncheon after our cold ride. Are you very cold? I think I'd better +light the fire in your grate--it is all ready. There, that is better now. +If I ever do get married I must certainly have wonderful luck, if there +is any faith in signs, for I do build the fieriest fires. Now, do not +hurry, I'll come back in a few minutes. I think I shall put on a negligee +too," she added, as Marie drew a silk gown from her bag. "And then we'll +be surely settled down and right at home together." + +With a warm and dazzling smile, she ran out to put the chocolate on the +grill, and arrange the sandwiches and fruit and cake on the table around +the bowl of drooping roses, and then, humming blithely, hurried into her +own room to change from her heavy dress to a soft house gown. + +When, a few moments later, she returned to Marie, she found her standing +pensively in the center of the room, the heavy folds of a dark red gown +falling about her graceful figure, her head sunk on her breast in +reverie. Eveley put her arms around her tenderly. + +"You are beautiful," she said. "Don't worry, dear. You are going to be +very happy, even yet. Just trust me--and--do you know the song of the +Belgian girl--Well, we shall make an American Beauty of you, sure enough. +Just try to be happy, and have confidence in me, Marie. I shall never go +back on you. My, how quick you were! Your bag is all unpacked, isn't it?" +She glanced with quickly appraising eyes at the heavy silver articles of +toilet laid out on the dressing-table, and at the gowns swinging from the +pole in the closet. + +"Come along, baby sister," she said affectionately, "or the chocolate +will run all over the grill." + +There was deep if unvoiced appreciation in Marie's eyes as she observed +the fine heavy furniture of the little dining-room, the lace doilies on +the mahogany table, the fine pieces of china, and the drooping roses. +Eveley led her gaily to her place at the table, and sat down beside her. + +"We really ought to ask a blessing," she said. "I feel such a fountain of +gratitude inside of me. My own sister was ten years older than I, and +there were no babies afterward for me to make a fuss over. This is a +brand-new experience, and I am just bubbling over." + +"But I am no baby," said Marie, smiling the wistful smile that suggested +tears and heartaches. "I think I am quite as old as you." + +"Oh, impossible," gasped Eveley. "Why, I am twenty-five years old." + +"Really!" mocked Marie, and she laughed--and Eveley realized it was the +first time Marie had laughed. "Well, I am twenty-three and a half." + +"Oh, you can't be. Mr. Hiltze said you were a child, and you are so +little and slim and young." + +"You have been a woman, living a woman's life, with all a woman's +interests. But our women are sheltered, kept away from life, and that is +why I am like a child in facing the world--because I have never faced it. +I look young, and act young, because--well, with us, our women marry +early. If they do not, they must retain the charm of youth until they do. +That is what we are taught, it is our business as women to be young and +lovely until we marry." + +"I love to hear you talk," said Eveley irrelevantly. "You are just like a +chapter out of a new and thrilling story--See, I have let my chocolate +grow cold just looking at you, and listening. I am very glad you are +nearly as old as I--we can not only be sisters, but twins if you like." + +Marie sipped her chocolate, daintily, dreamily. Then she looked at Eveley +searchingly. + +"Is this your patriotism?" she asked at last. "To throw open your home on +a moment's notice, to a stranger from a strange land?" + +"We call it Americanization," said Eveley. "We call it the assimilation +of--of--" She hesitated, not wishing to speak of "flotsam and jetsam" to +this soft and pliant creature. "We call it the assimilation of the whole +world into American ideals." + +"Then," said Marie slowly, dark eyes still searching Eveley's face, "I +suppose, having this vision of patriotism yourself, you can understand +patriotism of others from other lands? You can understand why people +plot, and steal, and kill--for love of country? My own land, for +instance--so many call us bloody butchers because we fight for our +country and for freedom. But you--you know what patriotism is. And you +can understand, can you not?" + +"Of course I understand," said Eveley rather confusedly, for the Mexican +business was a terrible muddle to her. "I understand that your men must +fight to save their country from the rebels and anarchists who would +wreck and ruin her." + +"Yes, but--it is the rebels and anarchists who would save her," said +Marie, with childish earnestness. "I--we--I am of the revolutionists. My +father was killed. My brothers were killed. My sisters were made captive. +But still the struggle goes on. The best of our men must fight and die. +Poor Mexico must struggle and blunder on from one disaster to another, +until at last she rises triumphant and free among the nations of the +world. It is those in power in her own land from whom Mexico has most to +fear--those who would sell her, body and soul, land and loyalty, to +foreign devils for gold. It is not against the outside world we fight--it +is the vile, the treacherous ones inside our borders." + +"But how can you tell who is for, and who against?" asked Eveley +bewildered. "They all promise so much--and peace is assured--but there is +no peace. And who can tell where freedom really lies?" + +"Alas, it is true," said Marie sadly. "But those with eyes that see and +hearts that love, know that Mexico is still in the hands of traitors, and +that the spirit of revolution must live." + +"Of course you know more about it than I do," admitted Eveley. "We--we do +not understand the situation at all. I--think perhaps they are too shrewd +for us. Let's not talk of it--it excites you, dear. I want you to rest +and be quiet. I did not know that any one could love--Mexico--like that." + +"Have you seen Mexico? Oh, not the dry, barren border country, but my +Mexico, rich with jewels and gold, studded with magnificent cities, +flowering with rare fruits and spices, a mellow, golden, matchless land, +peopled by those who are skilled in arts and science, lovers of beauty, +and--Ah, you do not know Mexico. You know only the half-breed savages who +run the borderland, preying on Mexican and American alike. You do not +know the real Mexico of beautiful women, and brave and gallant men. How +could you know?" + +Then her voice became soft and dreamy again. "I visited here long years +ago. I was out in your Old Town, where the Indian maid Ramona lived. I +stood in the square there. Do you know the story, Eveley, of the early +days when your Captain Fremont and his band of soldiers stood there, +ready to lower the flag of Mexico and to raise in its place your Stars +and Stripes? As your soldier stepped forward to tear down our flag, a +little girl of Mexico, another Marie like me, who was watching with +aching heart from the window of the 'dobe house on the other side, +shocked at the outrage, leaped from the casement forgetting her fear of +the foreign soldiers, and with one tug of her sharp knife cut the rope. +As the flag of Mexico fell, she caught it in her bare hands, and pressed +it against her lips, her little form shaken with sobs. 'Forgive me,' she +said to the soldiers, but it is the flag of my country, I could not see +it dragged in the dust.'" + +Eveley leaned over and put her hand on Marie's arm. "I have heard the +story many times, but I never caught the glory of it before. It was the +feeling in her that is in me now--that is in all America--only ours is +for America, and hers was for Mexico--as yours is." + +"When I look at you, and know the tenderness of you, and the great heart +of you, I feel that America must be the heaven of all the world, and +Americans the angels." Then Marie's face darkened, and her lips became a +scarlet line. "But who then has stood heartlessly by, and watched the +writhing and anguish of my Mexico, withholding the hand of power that +could bring peace? Who has stood by and smiled while Mexico lay crushed +and bleeding beneath the heel of despotism and treachery?" + +"We haven't understood, Marie," begged Eveley. "We could not understand. +We--we naturally trust people, we are like that, you know, and--" + +"And whom can one trust? My faith has been as my faith in God--yet when +so many falter, and then turn back in betrayal--how can one trust? +Perhaps we are all deceived--perhaps every faction in my country is +seeking only to despoil and enslave." Then her face grew bright and +luminous as she said, "But there are those who are princes of sacrifice +and love, risking all their world, their lives, their honor, for my +Mexico. If there be any faith, it is in them. You call them bandits--Yes? +I call them sons of God." + +Eveley changed the subject as quickly as she could. The bandits who had +been driven desperately from crag to cranny, berated in the press, +denounced in the pulpit, deprecated on the platform--were these the +princes of Marie's Mexico, the idols of their women's hearts, the saviors +of their faith, their hope of freedom? It was very confusing. + +She told Marie how she worked every day down-town, and how the little +Cloud Cote would be her own all day, how she had friends coming often in +the evening, friends who would love Marie, but whom she never need to see +except when her heart desired. And she told of the lovely lawn, with its +pavilions and pergolas and crevices and vines, and of the canyon drifting +away down to the bay. + +And Marie sat with her chin in her hands, her eyes soft and humble, +dog-like, on Eveley's face. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +SERVICE OF JOY + + +It was not often that Eileen Trevis, who was manifestly born for +business, waxed hysterically enthusiastic. And so one morning a few days +later, when an incoherent summons came from her over the telephone, +Eveley was astonished almost to the point of speechlessness. + +"What is it?" she gasped. "What has happened? Is it bad news?" + +"Good, good, good," exulted Eileen. "Wonderful, delicious, thrilling. +Please hurry. It is nearly lunch-time, isn't it? I have been trying to +get you all morning,--come quickly.--Never mind about your luncheon.--Are +you coming?" + +"I am on the way," shouted Eveley, crashing the receiver on to its hook, +and flying with scant ceremony from the office, hoping it was truly the +luncheon hour, but scorning to waste the time to look. + +"She is in love," she said aloud as she ran down the stairs, spurning a +tardy elevator. "She is in love, and she is engaged, or maybe she has +eloped and is already married. Eileen Trevis,--of all people in the +world. Whoever would have thought it?" + +Only the absence of traffic officers in that part of the city kept Eveley +from arrest that day, and only the protection of Heaven itself saved her +from total wreckage, for she spun around corners, and dodged traffic +warts at a rate that was positively neck-breaking. The last block before +she reached Eileen's home was one long coast, and she drew up sharply +with a triumphant honk. + +Eileen was on the steps before she had time to turn off the engine. + +"Is it a husband?" cried Eveley. + +"No, babies," chortled Eileen. + +Eveley put her fingers over her lips, and swallowed painfully. + +"It isn't your turn," she said disapprovingly. "You have to do these +things in proper order. You can't run backward. It isn't being done." + +"Don't be silly," said Eileen. "Hop out, and come in. I am having a +nursery made out of the maid's bedroom that has never been used. It is +perfectly dear, with blue Red-Riding-Hoods, and blue wolves and blue +Jacks-and-Jills on a white background." + +"There is something wrong about this," said Eveley solemnly, as she +followed Eileen into the house, and up the two flights of stairs to her +apartment. + +"It is Ida's babies, stupid," explained Eileen at last. "I am to have +them after all. Poor Jim's sister is ill, and I must say, it almost +serves her right,--she was so snippy about the children." + +"Oh, Ida's babies! And has the Aunt-on-the-Other-Side-of-the-House had a +change of heart?" + +"Yes, a regular one. Heart failure, they call it. I tried so hard to get +them when Ida died, but Agnes flatly refused to give them up and since +her brother was their daddy and he was alive, I could not do much. I +asked for them again, you know, when Jim died, and she was ruder than +ever. But since the dispensation of heart failure, she can not keep them. +I got a letter this morning, and wired for them to start immediately and +I just got an answer that they will be here to-morrow afternoon. Then I +sent for the decorators." + +"You aren't any mother for small children," protested Eveley, with an +argumentative wave of her hand. "You are born for business. Everybody +says so. You do not know anything about babies." + +"Oh, yes I do," cried Eileen ecstatically. "They have fat legs and +dimples, and Betty sucks her thumb and has to be scolded, and Billy +shouts 'More jam' and smudges it on his knees." + +"Are you giving up your position?" + +"Oh, mercy, no. We have to live. Poor Jim only left them insurance and +nothing else, and that did not last very long. I sent the other aunt a +small check every month to help along and sort of heap coals of fire on +her head at the same time. No, I shall have to work harder than ever now. +But I get one seventy-five a month now,--and lots of families live on +less." + +"Who will keep house then--Betty?" + +"Don't ask silly questions, Eveley, I am so nervous anyhow I hardly know +what I am saying. You remember my laundress, don't you? She is so nice +and motherly and a Methodist and respectable and all that,--only old and +hard up. She is coming to live with us,--she will have the den for her +room, and is closing her cottage. She is to keep house and look after the +babies while I am at work. She only charges twenty-five a month, so I can +manage. The rent does seem high, fifty dollars,--but we need the room, +though you all thought it was so extravagant for me to have such a large +apartment to myself. But you know how I am, Eveley,--I like lots of +space,--a place for everything, and everything where it belongs. So I was +willing to stand the expense, and now it is a good thing I did. Come and +see the baby room." + +Eveley duly admired the blue Red-Riding-Hoods and Jacks-and-Jills, +exclaimed over the tiny white beds, and tiny white tables and chairs, and +then said: + +"You seem to be enjoying this experience, so I suppose you do not feel it +is your duty, nor anything sordid like that?" + +"Oh, no," laughed Eileen. "I am doing it because I am just crazy about +those babies, and I am sort of lonely, Eveley, though I have never +realized it before. And when I think of coming home to a frolic with fat +little babies in white dresses and blue ribbons,--well, I am so happy I +could fairly cry." + +So Eveley put her arms around her, and kissed her, and offered a few +suggestions about appropriate food for angel babies,--feeling very wise +from her recent experience with Nathalie and Dan, and invited them all to +go driving with her on Saturday afternoon, and mentally planned to send +them an enormous box of candy in the morning after their arrival, and +then said she must hurry back to work. + +"Oh, you poor thing," cried Eileen in contrition. "You did not have any +luncheon at all, did you? Wait until I fix a sandwich and you can slip +into the dressing-room and eat it. It will only take a minute. You may +have some of these animal cookies too,--I got a dollar's worth,--I knew +the babies would love them. Now, Eveley, won't you come to dinner +to-morrow night and meet my little blesseds? The train comes at six-ten, +and Mrs. Allis, I mean, Aunt Martha,--we have decided to call her Aunt +Martha,--will have dinner all ready for us." + +"Certainly I'll come," said Eveley promptly. "I shall love it. And I'll +come for you in the car and take you to the station." + +After work that night, Eveley went into the ten-cent store, and bought a +startling array of drums and horns and small shovels, and sent them out +to Eileen's for the babies. And that night she insisted that Nolan must +come to dinner with her to hear the great good news. + +"It is just because she wants to do it," she said happily. "That is why +she is so full of joy. It is plain selfishness,--she has no thought of +doing her Christian duty nor any such nonsense. And--well, you would +hardly know Eileen. Her eyes are like stars, and her voice runs up and +down stairs in beautiful trills, and she forgot to wear her hair net." + +"Wait till Billy gets jam on her lace bedspread, and Betty cuts up her +new bonnet to get the pretty flowers, and wait till they both get mad and +yowl at once,--she'll be lucky if she remembers her Christian duty then." + +"Isn't he crabbish, Marie?" asked Eveley plaintively. "He doesn't like to +see people happy and thrilled and throbbing." + +"Oh, yes, I do. I am thrilled and happy and throbbing myself right now. +There is something about this Cote in the Clouds that--" + +"And dear Eileen has lived alone so long, poor thing." + +"I can sympathize with her all right. I have, too." + +"And now she will have a home, a real home--" + +"My own dream for years." + +"Sweet companionship--" + +"Heaven on earth, Eveley, heaven on earth." + +"Something to live for--" + +"Alas, how I envy her." + +"Nolan, if you do not keep still and pay attention, I shall stop talking +and let you propose,--right before Marie,--and then where will you be?" + +"Married, I hope." + +So Eveley decided there was no use to try to talk sense with Nolan, but +she arranged to call for him at eight o'clock the next morning to take +him to Eileen's and show him the blue Red-Riding-Hoods and the toys. + +As she left the house to keep her engagement with Nolan, she was +surprised to see Mrs. Severs starting out, for Mrs. Severs was not used +to being out so early. + +"Why, little Bride, whither away?" laughed Eveley. + +Mrs. Severs flushed. "I am going to spend the day with father," she +admitted, rather shyly. "It is sort of lonesome here alone all the +time,--and we have lots of fun in the little cottage on the hill. And +sometimes we go out on the beach and lie on the sand,--he takes me in his +jitney. He thinks I need more sunshine and fresh air." + +"He is great, isn't he?" said Eveley warmly. + +"He is dear," cried Mrs. Severs, the quick color surging her face. "I am +not very well, and he is so gentle and sweet to me. I--wish I had been +more patient,--I am very lonely now. But we are great chums. He has +taught me to play pinochle, and I fill his pipe for him. And onions +aren't so bad." + +"Hum," thought Eveley, as she drove down-town. "You can't suit some +people, no matter how finely you adjust their difficulties." Then she +brightened. "Still, it is better to love each other in two houses, than +to be bad friends in one,--as they were." + +That evening, she and Eileen stood at the station impatiently +waiting,--having arrived at five-thirty, fearing the train might come +ahead of time. + +"Oh, Eveley," Eileen wailed. "Suppose they should not like me?" + +Eveley laughed at that. "Suppose you do not like them?" she parried. + +"I do. I haven't seen them for over two years, but they are adorable. +They are seven now. The prettiest things,--long yellow curls, and--" + +"Billy will probably be shaved by this time,--I mean barbered." + +"Oh, never. No one would cut off curls like his. Their hair will be +longer I suppose, probably darker,--and Betty lisps and swallows while +she is talking,--" + +"Oh, she will be over that now." + +"In two years? Why, certainly not. They will be just the same, only more +so." + +Eveley began to experience a curious internal sinking. Eileen was too +deliriously optimistic about those children. They were angel babies, of +course, for Eileen said so, but Eveley remembered Nathalie and Dan, +angels, too,--but how they shouted and tore through the house. And they +were always exhibiting fresh cuts and bruises, and Dan had insisted on +the confiscation of his curls at four years. If Billy was still wearing +curls at seven, he needed a tonic for he was not regular. + +"Eileen," she began very gently, "you--you mustn't expect too many +dimples and curls. Children are angels,--but they are funny, too. They +are always bleeding, you know, and--" + +"Bleeding!" gasped Eileen. "Agnes never mentioned bleeding! Do they +always do it?" + +"Always. They are always getting themselves smashed and scratched, and +blood runs all over them, and gets matted in their hair, and their hands +are constitutionally dirty, and--they always have at least one finger +totally and irrevocably smashed. Some times it is two fingers, and once +in a while a whole hand, but the average is one finger." + +Eileen looked at her friend in a most professional manner. + +"I do not know if you are trying to be insulting, or just amusing, but I +saw those children. I was right there for three weeks only two years ago, +and they were always clean, they had curls, and they were certainly not +smashed or I should have noticed it." + +"They shout, too, Eileen," Eveley went on wretchedly, determined to +prepare Eileen for the shock that was sure to follow. "They--they just +whoop. And--" + +"If you can not be a little pleasanter, dear, suppose you go and wait for +me in the car. I am too nervous. I simply can not stand it." + +"I do not want to be unpleasant, and I shall not say another word. I just +wanted to remind you of--of the shouting--and the blood." + +"One would think they were savages, Eveley, instead of my own sister's +little babies." + +"Here comes the train," cried Eveley, and added in a soft whisper that +Eileen could not hear, "Oh, please, for Eileen's sake, let 'em have +dimples and curls, and don't get 'em smashed before the train stops." + +Hand in hand, with eager shining eyes, the girls ran along the platform, +and when the porter put down his stool beneath the steps, the first thing +that appeared was a small dimpled girl with golden curls, and a +flower-like face beneath a flower-laden bonnet. + +Eileen leaped upon her, catching her in her arms, and in her rapturous +delight, she did not hear a small brusk voice exclaiming, "Oh, pooh, I +don't need your old stool." + +And she did not notice Eveley's gasp,--for Eveley had seen a small +sailor-clad form hurtle itself from the step and fall flat upon the +gravel platform. It was not until a sudden lusty roar went up that Eileen +remembered she had two babies en route. She dropped Betty like a flash, +and turned. + +The porter very grimly picked up the child, and held him out, and Eileen +saw with horror that his face was fairly sandpapered from the fall, and +blood was starting from a dozen tiny pricks. + +"If this is yourn, for Gawd's sake, take 'im," begged the porter. "He's +fell off'n everything and into everything between here and Seattle." + +Eileen clung desperately to Betty's moist hand. + +"Don't get scared, Auntie," chirped the small bright voice. "Billy always +falls into things, and he ain't never broke anything yet,--himself, I +mean, arms or legs or necks,--he breaks lots of dishes and vases and +things like that." + +Eileen was stricken dumb, but Eveley took the writhing roaring boy from +the porter's hand, and dusted him lightly with her handkerchief. + +"Why, where are your curls, Billy?" she demanded, hoping to distract his +attention. And she succeeded only too well, for he stopped so suddenly in +the midst of a loud wail that he almost choked. When he finally recovered +his breath, he snorted derisively. + +"Curls! Huh! I ain't no girl. I ain't got any curls. I never did have +curls." + +"Oh, yes, you did," she argued. "Two years ago you had beautiful, long +golden curls just like Betty's." + +Billy hunched up his shoulders and clenched a small brown fist. + +"You got to say, 'Excuse me for them words,'" he said belligerently. +"Ain't so, and you got to say it." + +Scenting battle, Eveley hastily muttered the desired words, and passed +him over to Eileen. + +Billy thrust out a sturdy hand, but to Eileen's evident delight he +refused to be kissed. + +"Betty's got to be whipped, Aunt Eileen," he announced. "Aunt Agnes told +me to tell you all she did on the train, and you would whip her. She +stuck a pin in a fat man that was asleep,--that's the man right +there,--Say, didn't Betty stick a pin in you?" + +But the fat man gave them a venomous glare, and hurried away. "And she +pulled the beads off of that blonde lady's coat,--and if you don't +believe it, you can look in her pocket 'cause she's got 'em yet. And she +swiped a box of candy from that lady in the yellow suit, and the lady +said the porter did it, and they had an awful fight. And she sang _The +Yanks Are Coming_ in the middle of the night and everybody swore +something awful. And she wouldn't eat anything but ice-cream at the +table, and one meal she had five dishes." + +Eveley and Eileen had listened in fascinated silence during this recital +of his sister's wrongdoing. But Betty stuck a fat thumb between rosy +lips, and drooped her eyes demurely behind her curling lashes. + +"Did--you do all that, Betty?" demanded Eileen at last, very faintly. + +"I did more than that," she said proudly. "I put the pink lady's bedroom +slippers in a man's traveling bag, and they haven't found it out yet. And +I slipped Billy's wriggly lizard down the black lady's neck, and she said +a naughty word. And--" + +"And what did Billy do?" + +Betty's lips curled with scorn. "Billy? He didn't do anything. He's too +good. He don't ever do anything." + +Billy advanced with the threatening hunch of his shoulders and clench of +the brown fists. + +"You say, 'Excuse me for them words,'" he said in a low voice. "And say +it quick." + +Betty jerked her finger from her mouth and mumbled rapidly in a voice of +frightened nervousness, "Excuse me for them words, please excuse me for +them words." And then, as her brother's shoulders relaxed, she sidled up +to him, rubbing herself affectionately against his arm, and whispered, +"Aw, Billy, I was only joking. You ain't mad at me, are you?" + +"Let's go," said Eileen. "I feel--faint." + +"Sticking pins is good for faintness," said Betty hopefully. "I did it to +Aunt Agnes twice when she nearly fainted, and she came to right away." + +"And she gave Betty a good whipping." + +"Yes, she did, and I only did it to cure her," said Betty in an aggrieved +voice. + +"Let's go fast," begged Eileen. "Take your handkerchief, Billy, and see +if you can wipe a little of the dirt and blood off your face." + +"He mustn't do that," interrupted Betty promptly. "Handkerchiefs is full +of germs, and if he gets the germs in his scratches he gets blood poison +and dies. You got to wait till you get home, Billy, and then lie on your +back on Aunt Eileen's bed, and she'll take clean gauze and soak 'em off +in cold water. If you haven't got any gauze handy you can use mine, but +you'd better buy some. Billy uses as much as a dollar's worth of gauze in +no time." + +Eileen put her hand over her face, and turned away. The children +followed, looking about them in frank interest and pleasure. + +"Is that a palm tree?" asked Betty. "Billy says God never made 'em grow +like that. He says men just tie those fins on top to make 'em look funny. +Did God do it, Aunt Eileen? What did He do it for?--Oh, is this your car, +Aunt Eileen? Billy knows how to start a car so you better not let him in +it by himself." Then as the small boyish shoulders assumed the dreadful +hunch, she cried excitedly, "Oh, no, he can't either, honest he can't. He +doesn't know what to turn, nor anything. I was joking. You ain't mad at +me, are you, Billy?" + +Eveley slipped silently into her place behind the wheel, and Billy opened +the door for his aunt and sister, banged it smartly after their entrance, +and climbed in front with Eveley. + +"They oughtn't to let women drive cars," he said in a judicial tone. +"Women is too nervous. There ought to be a law against it." + +Eveley laughed. "I think so, too," she agreed pleasantly. "But until +there is such a law, I think I shall keep on driving." + +Billy stared at her suspiciously. "You don't need to agree with me to be +polite," he said. "It won't hurt my feelings any. I ain't used to it, +anyhow." + +Betty, in the rear seat, cuddled cozily against her rigid aunt and kept +up a constant flow of conversation in her pretty chirpy voice. + +"Are you an old maid? Aunt Agnes said you were. Did you do it on purpose, +or couldn't you help yourself? I am not going to be an old maid. I am +engaged now. Billy tried to be engaged, too, but Freckle Harvey cut him +out." + +Billy suddenly squared about in his seat, and Betty shivered into a small +and terrified heap. "Aw, no, he didn't either. Billy didn't like her +worth a cent. He thinks she is just hideous, don't you, Billy? You ain't +mad at me, are you, Billy?" + +When Eveley drew the car up before the big apartment-house on Sixth +Street, Billy forgot his temporary burst of manners. With a hoarse shout +he slid deftly over the door and dashed up the steps. Shrieking +gleefully, Betty followed swiftly in his wake. + +"Oh, Eveley," faltered Eileen, "I am afraid they scratched the car." She +got out hastily, and caught her lips between her teeth as she saw the +long jagged scratch on the door where Betty's sharp heel had passed. + +"Never mind," said Eveley bravely. "It doesn't make a bit of difference. +We all know how children are." + +"I--I didn't," said Eileen weakly. "I--guess I am an old maid. I hadn't +realized it." + +In Betty's extravagant delight over the new room, and Billy's quiet but +equally sincere pleasure, something of Eileen's own enthusiasm returned, +and although her ministrations upon Billy's marred countenance, performed +under the critical and painstaking eye of Sister Betty, left her +weak-kneed and pale, she took her place at the table with something very +much akin to pleasure, if it were not the jubilant delight she had +anticipated. + +Eveley went home immediately after dinner, stopping on her way for Nolan. +They spent an uproarious hour over her account of the twins and their +reception. And at last, weak with laughter, Eveley wiped her eyes, and +said with deep sympathy: + +"Poor Eileen! And the twins are adorable. But I believe one needs to be +born with children and grow up with them gradually. For when they spring +upon you full grown they are--well, they are certainly a shock." + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +MARIE ENCOUNTERS THE SECRET SERVICE + + +In the beginning Eveley had hesitated to leave her newly adopted sister +alone in the Cloud Cote in the evening, but as Marie seemed absolutely to +know no fear, and as time did not hang at all heavily upon her hands, +Eveley was soon running about among her friends as she had always done. +But with this change: there was always a light in the window at the top +of the rustic stairs when she came home, and a warm and tender welcome +awaiting her. + +Marie had come to be charmingly useful in the Cloud Cote. She prepared +breakfast while Eveley dressed, and did the light bit of housework nicely +and without effort. Eveley usually had her luncheon down-town, but in the +evening dinner was well started before she reached home. Her mending was +always exquisitely done, even before she knew that mending was necessary, +and among her lingerie she often came upon fine bits of lace she had not +seen before. + +After long and loving persuasion, Marie had consented to meet Eveley's +sister and brother-in-law, and Eveley had them in for dinner. Marie was +quiet that night, scarcely speaking except now and then to the babies. +The next week, however, when Winifred asked both girls to dinner, Marie +went without argument, and seemed to take a great deal of quiet +satisfaction in the visit. + +Kitty and Eileen she met often in the Cloud Cote, but always withdrew as +quickly as possible to her own room to leave Eveley alone with her +friends. With Nolan, Eveley openly insisted that Marie should develop a +friendship. + +"Why, he will very likely be my husband one of these days, when he gets +around to it," she explained frankly. + +"Your husband," echoed Marie. "I thought Mr. Hiltze--" + +"Oh, no," denied Eveley, flushing a little. "He is just a pleasant +in-between-whiles. We are fellow-Americanizers, that is all." + +"Does Mr. Hiltze know that?" queried Marie. + +"Oh, everybody knows that I belong to Nolan when the time comes," said +Eveley, laughing. + +Nolan, urgently warned by Eveley, met Marie with friendly ease and asked +no questions. He took her hand cordially and said in his pleasant voice. +"Well, if you are Eveley's sister, I have a half-way claim upon you +myself, and you must count me in." And then he promptly began mashing +potatoes for their dinner, and Marie did not mind him at all. + +When Amos Hiltze came to the Cloud Cote she joined serenely with them, +very easy and comfortable, always careful to go to her room before he +left, that he might have a little while alone with Eveley. For she saw +plainly that while he interested Eveley only in his enthusiasm for +Americanization, for him Eveley had a deeper and sweeter charm. + +One Saturday afternoon when Nolan was busy, the two girls went out for a +picnic on the beach, a well-filled basket in the car for their dinner. On +a sudden impulse, Eveley turned to Marie and cried: + +"Oh, little sister, how would you like to learn to drive? Then you can +take me to the office and have the car yourself to play with while I am +busy." + +"Eveley," came the ecstatic gasp, "would you--let me?" + +"Would I let you?" laughed Eveley. "Should you like it? Why, you have +been wanting to, haven't you? Why didn't you ask me, Marie?" + +"Oh, I couldn't." + +"Yes, you should have," said Eveley gravely. "I would have told you +honestly if I did not wish it. I said you must feel free to ask me for +anything, didn't I. And don't I always mean what I say--to you, at +least?" + +"Does your love for Americanization carry you so far?" asked Marie +curiously. + +Eveley was silent a moment. "I can not exactly count you Americanization," +she said honestly. "I do not believe Americanizing you could add anything +to your sweetness, anyhow. You are just fun, and--You may not believe it, +Marie," she added rather shyly, for she was not a demonstrative girl, "but +I--really I love you." + +Quick tears leaped to Marie's dark eyes, and she placed her head softly +against Eveley's shoulder, though she did not speak. Almost instantly +Eveley brushed away the wave of sentiment and gave her quick bright +laugh. + +"Now listen, sweetness," she said. "It is like this. This is the clutch +that controls the gears. When it wabbles like this it is in neutral and +the car will not run. When you shove down with your left foot, and pull +the clutch to the left and backward, it is in low gear, and the car will +go forward when you let your foot back. You must do it very slowly, so +there will be no pull nor jerk. Like this." + +So the afternoon wore away, the two girls laughing gaily as Marie made +her first bungling attempts to drive; but later, Marie was aglow with +exultation and Eveley with deep pride, because the little foreigner +showed real aptitude for handling the car. + +Then in a lovely quiet part of the beach a little beyond La Jolla, they +had an early supper and drove home, Eveley at the wheel, singing love +songs, Marie humming softly with her. + +"This is almost like sweethearting, isn't it?" asked Eveley turning to +look into the dark eyes fixed adoringly upon her. "Next to Nolan you +satisfy me more than anything else in the world. But don't tell Nolan. He +is jealous of you,--he thinks I like you better than I do him." + +"You say you love me, Eveley. But do you? Is it the kind of love that can +understand and sympathize and forgive--yes, and keep on loving even +when--things are wrong?" + +"Nothing could change my feeling for you, Marie," said Eveley positively. + +"But if things were wrong?" came the insistent query. + +"Well, I am no angel myself," answered Eveley, laughing again. "If you +are a naughty girl, I shall say, 'I will forgive you if you will forgive +me,' and there you are." She stopped again, to laugh. "But I can't think +of any wrong you could do, Marie. You just naturally do not associate +with wrong things." + +"And you will always remember, won't you, what you have said about love +of one's country? That it excuses and glorifies everything in the world?" + +But Eveley was singing again. + +Eveley had made an arrangement to call for Nolan at the office at eight, +as they were going to Kitty's for a late supper with her and Arnold +Bender, so she kissed Marie good night when they reached home, and said: + +"Will you be lonesome without your big sister, and boss?" + +"I think I shall go down and watch the dark shadows in your beautiful +canyon," said Marie, clinging to Eveley's hand, and looking deeply into +her eyes. + +"Aren't you afraid down there at night?" wondered Eveley. "I have lived +on top of the canyon all my life, and we played hide-and-seek there when +we were children, and I love it,--and yet when night comes, I do not even +go so far as the rose pergola unless Nolan is there to hold my hand and +shoo away the ghosts and things." + +"That is our difference. You are afraid of the world and the night, I am +afraid only of men and women. I have lived alone, and have had wide dark +gardens to wander in. They have never harmed me. Only men have injured +me, and my family. So I love to slip down into the soft fragrant darkness +of the canyon and sit on the big stones or on the velvet grass, and see +my future in the shadows." + +"But do not stay long. The whole canyon is yours to dream in, if it makes +you happy. But wear a heavy wrap and do not get chilled." + +Then with a hasty kiss she ran down the steps to the car. + +Eveley was tired that night. The first lesson in driving, the lazy supper +on the beach, and the long ride, left her listless and indolent. So after +their merry dinner, and a dance or two around the Victrola, she said she +had a headache and wanted to go home. + +They drove very slowly along the winding road, and were quietly content. +Nolan opened the doors of the garage and Eveley ran the car into place; +then, as she was really tired, at the foot of the rustic stairs he said +good night, while she crept slowly up the steps. + +For the first time, there was no Marie to welcome her. The room, though +lighted, looked dreary and forlorn without the pretty adopted girl. + +"The little goosie," said Eveley, with a tender smile. "I suppose she is +still dreaming down in that spooky canyon. Maybe she has fallen asleep. I +shall have to go after her." + +She took a small flash-light, and hurried down the rustic stairs and the +well-known path beyond the rose pergola, where she hoped to find Marie. + +But Marie was not there. + +Eveley knew every foot of the canyon by heart; she went surely and +without hesitation along the twisting, winding, rocky path, half-way down +the narrow slope. + +"Marie," she called softly, "Marie." + +But there was no answer. + +"Maybe she is behind the live oak in the Rambler's Retreat," she thought, +and climbed up the steep bank from the path, clinging to bits of +shrubbery and foliage. But Marie was not there. And then as Eveley +turned, she heard quick running steps in the pathway under the swinging +bridge that spanned the canyon lower down. + +Eveley sighed aloud in her relief,--then her breath caught in her +throat,--a gasp of fear. + +For sounding clear and distinct above the light steps came a pounding of +heavier feet. Some one was following Marie up the path,--no, there were +two for there was another pounding a little fainter, farther away. Now +Eveley could hear the frightened intake of Marie's breath as she ran. Two +girls alone in the dark canyon. + +Eveley clung desperately to the heavy shrubbery among which she was +crouching. She was about three feet above the path on the steep bank. +Clinging for support with one hand, she reached noiselessly about for a +stone, but there was nothing upon which she could lay her hand. + +Below the path, the canyon dropped sharply for a long way, fifty or sixty +feet perhaps, not a precipice, but with a decided drop that could only be +descended with care. If Marie would only lie down and roll, she might be +able to hide among the bushes at the bottom. But Marie did not think of +that. Her one idea was to run faster and faster, in the hope of escaping +her pursuers. + +"Marie," whispered Eveley sharply as the girl came up the path near her, +and Marie, hearing the faint sound, stopped suddenly in her tracks, +swaying, more frightened than ever. + +"Lie down, lie down," urged Eveley, but Marie did not hear, and before +she could gather her wits to run on, a man leaped toward her, both arms +outstretched. + +"I got you," he panted. + +Marie, following the terrified instinct of every hunted animal, swung her +lithe body and ducked beneath his arm. And at that moment, Eveley, +tightening her hold upon the branches of the bush, drew up her feet, +braced herself against the bank for a moment, and then sprang heavily +against the man with both feet and sent him reeling head-first down the +canyon. + +[Illustration: "Marie," whispered Eveley sharply.] + +Like a flash, Marie flattened herself against the bank--one more dark +shadow among the others--and none too soon, for the second man was close +upon them, so close they could hear the heavy rasp of his breathing. +Eveley had not time to raise herself for another spring, so she crouched +against the bank in terror, hoping in his haste that he might pass them +by. But as he came near he paused suddenly, his attention attracted by +the sound of tearing brush, and the incoherent cries of his companion as +he rolled down the canyon. Taking it as an indication that the chase was +in that direction, he turned blindly to follow, and not knowing the lay +of the land, lost his footing at once and fell headlong. + +Eveley was upon her feet in an instant. + +"Run, Marie," she whispered, and in less than a moment they were hurrying +up the path behind the rose pergola under the magnolias and beneath the +light from their Cloud Cote. + +"Wait," whispered Marie. "Let's hide a moment. They might see us going up +the stairs. Wait beneath the roses until they are gone." + +Only faint sounds came up to them as the two men, bruised and sore, +painfully picked themselves up from the rocks and the prickly shrubs. +Evidently they realized there was no hope of further pursuit, for in a +short while the girls could hear the faint echo of their heavy footsteps +as they retraced their way down the canyon. + +Eveley held Marie in her arms until the last sound had echoed away, and +then silently they climbed the stairs, crossed the little garden on the +roof, and crawled through the window into the safety of the Cote. + +"Are you hurt, Marie?" asked Eveley, the first to break the tense silence +that fell upon them when they were conscious of shelter and security. + +Marie shook her head. Then she moved one step toward Eveley, and asked in +a pleading whisper: "Are you angry with me? Do you hate me?" + +"Oh, Marie, don't talk so," cried Eveley, nervous tears springing to her +eyes. "How could I be angry with you? But I was so frightened and +shocked. I did not know how very much I loved you. You must never go into +the canyon again at night. Never once,--for one minute. Will you promise +me?" + +"I will promise whatever you wish, Eveley, you know." + +Eveley smiled at her weakly, and turning to take off her wraps saw with +surprise that the sleeves were torn almost from her coat. + +"I must have come down with quite a bang," she said faintly, suddenly +aware that her shoulders were quivering with pain. + +With a little cry of pity, Marie ran to her, and tenderly helped to +remove her blouse. The tears ran down her face when she saw the red and +swollen shoulders beneath. + +"Oh, my poor angel," she mourned. "All bruised and sore like that. For +me. You never should have done it." + +Very sweetly she bathed the shoulders, and when Eveley crept painfully +into bed, she arranged soft compresses of cotton and oil for her to lie +upon. And she asked, shyly, if she might sit by the bed. + +"Until you fall asleep," she pleaded. "I can not leave you like this, +when you are in such pain,--for me." + +"Come and sleep with me, then," said Eveley. "I do not want to let you go +off alone, either, when--something so terrible might have happened to +you." + +Eagerly and with great joy Marie availed herself of the privilege, and +slipped into her place beside Eveley. + +"If you suffer in the night, please ask me to help you," she begged. "I +will not sleep, but I do not wish to speak until I know you are awake." + +"You must sleep," said Eveley. + +But Marie did not sleep. Sometimes Eveley would moan a little, turning +heavily, and then, without a sound, Marie was out of bed, replacing the +bandages with fresh ones, crooning softly over Eveley as a mother over a +suffering child. + +Fortunately the next day was Sunday, and Eveley remained quietly on a +couch, with Marie waiting upon her like a tender Madonna. Nolan came up, +too, and insisted upon the full story of what had happened. + +"I fell," said Eveley positively. + +"You did not fall on your shoulder-blades," he said. "You girls have been +up to some monkey business, and I want to know." + +After long insistence, Eveley told him of the night's adventure, Marie +sitting erect and rigid during the recital. + +"Where did you go, Marie?" he asked, in deep concern. + +"I went too far," she confessed regretfully. "But it was an exquisite +night, and I was happy. I went down farther and farther, and did not +realize it. Suddenly I looked up, and knew I was far, far down. I turned +at once.--Then some one called. A man's voice. I ran, and the steps came +pounding after me." + +"You must not go into the canyon at night again, please, Marie. You are +too young. And--the canyon goes away down to the water-front where there +are a lot of Greasers and--I mean, half-breeds," he stammered quickly, +"all kinds of foreigners along the road down there! You must stay on top +of your canyon and be good." + +The next morning, although Eveley knew her arms were too stiff and sore +for work, she decided to go to the office anyhow to see the day well +started. + +"They will send me home, and I shall be here for luncheon with you. I can +not drive yet, so I'll just cross the bridge and go on the street-car." + +As she stood on the swinging bridge, looking down into the lovely canyon, +it seemed impossible that there in the friendly shadows such horrible +dangers had menaced them. Of a sudden impulse, she ran back, and climbed +carefully down to where she had clung so grimly to the tangled vines and +had knocked Marie's assailant from the path. + +No, it was no dream. The vines were torn and mangled and on the path were +the marks of trampling feet, and peering down the canyon she could +discern two distinct trails where the men had tumbled and reeled. She +slowly followed the trails, picking her way carefully, clinging to bits +of shrub. Her lips curved into a grim smile as she pictured their +surprise and pain. At the foot of the canyon she saw something shining +among the rocks. + +She lifted it curiously, and turned it in her hand. It was clean and +shining,--a small steel badge marked Secret Service. + +Eveley's eyes clouded, and her brows took on a troubled frown, as she put +the badge carefully into her purse. + +"I shall never tell Marie," she said. "It would not help much with the +Americanization of a sweet and trusting foreign girl to know she had been +followed at night by a steel badge marked Secret Service." + +And Eveley followed the path back to the bridge again with a grieved and +troubled air. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION + + +As the weeks passed, Eveley noticed a change in the conduct of the +honeymoon home beneath her. Many times in the early morning, she saw Mrs. +Severs going out with a covered basket and wearing an old long coat and a +tight-fitting small hat. And sometimes she met her in the evening, coming +home, dusty, tired and happy. + +"I am going to father's," she would explain lightly. Or, "I have been out +with father to-day." + +And at the quizzical laughter in Eveley's eyes, she would add defiantly: +"He is a darling, Eveley, and I was very silly. Why didn't you bring me +to my senses?" + +For Mrs. Severs was feeling less well than usual, and in the long absence +of her husband every day, she was learning to depend on the brusk, +kindly, capable father-in-law. And many days, when she was not well +enough to leave home, he came himself, and the girls up-stairs could hear +him in the kitchen below, preparing dinner for Andy and his ailing bride. + +"Whatever should I do without him, Miss Ainsworth?" she sometimes asked. +"He does everything for me. And I think he likes me pretty well, now he +is getting used to me. He is good to me,--his little funny ways are not +really funny any more, but rather sweet. I spoiled everything with my +selfishness, and he will never try to live with us again." + +One evening, when Father-in-law had been particularly tender and helpful, +she looked at Eveley with brooding eyes, and said, "You are such a nice +girl, but I sort of blame you because father is not with us. You are so +much cleverer than I,--couldn't you have opened my eyes before it was too +late?" + +And Eveley ran up the stairs shaking her slender fists in the air. +"Deliver me from brides," she said devoutly to the rose in the corner of +her roof garden. "Grooms are bad enough, but brides are utterly +impossible. I would not live with one for anything on earth. To think of +the wretched life they were living until I helped them to a proper +adjustment,--and now she holds me responsible. I always said +Father-in-law was the most desirable member of the family." + +But even he disappointed her. + +"Well, are you getting enough freedom?" she asked him pleasantly one +evening as she met him coming in. + +He looked about cautiously before he answered. "Excuse me, miss," he said +apologetically, "but you are away off on some things. Freedom is all +right, but a little of it goes a long ways. Sometimes folks like company. +She," he said, with an explanatory wave of his thumb toward the house, +"she is a pretty fair sort. I've got so danged sick of having my own way +that, Holy Mackinaw, I'd try living with an orphan asylum for a change. +You see, I was just getting used to her, and so I kind of miss her +cluttering around under foot." + +Eveley was quite annoyed at this turn of events, and her feeling of +perturbation lasted fully half-way up the rustic stairs. But by the time +she had crossed the roof garden and swung through the window she was +herself again. She caught Marie about the shoulders and danced her +through the room with a spinning whirl. + +"Such a lark," she cried. "The most fun we are going to have. Listen, +sweetest thing in the world, we are going to have a party to-night, you +and I, and Nolan and Jimmy Ames. They are coming here, Jimmy for you of +course, for I always get Nolan if he is in the party." + +"Oh, Eveley," gasped Marie, paling a little. "I can't. I--Mr. Hiltze said +I should not meet men, you know." + +"Well, he is not the head of our family. And besides, he will not know a +thing about this. You will love Jimmy Ames. I nearly do myself. He is so +big and blond and boyish,--you know, the slow, good, lovey kind." + +"But he'll ask--" + +"Don't worry. I know Jimmy Ames. After one look at you, he will not be +able to ask questions for a month. Come, let's hurry. You must wear that +exquisite little yellow thing, and I'll wear black to bring you out +nicely." + +"Oh, Eveley, you mustn't--" + +"Well, Nolan likes me in black, anyhow. He says it makes me look +heavenly, and of course one ought to sustain an illusion like that if +possible. Now do not argue, Marie. We are going to have a perfectly +wonderful time, and you will be as happy as a lark." + +For a moment longer Marie hesitated, frowning into space. Then she +suddenly brightened, and a wistful eagerness came into her eyes. + +"Eveley, I am going to do whatever you tell me. If you wish me to be of +your party, I will. And if you say, 'Do not tell Mr. Hiltze,' I shall +never tell him. And if you say, 'Like Mr. Ames,' I shall adore him." + +"That's a nice girl," cried Eveley, happily whirling into her chair at +the table and dropping her hat upon the floor at her side. "I couldn't +have planned anything nicer than this. Kitty and Arnold often have +parties with us, but it will be much better having you and Jimmy. He +looks very smart in his uniform." + +"Uniform," faltered Marie suddenly. + +"Yes,--Lieutenant Ames, you know,--Jimmy Ames." + +"Lieutenant? Oh, Eveley, please, let's not. I--am not fond of the +military. I am afraid of soldiers. Let me--Have some one else dear, +please. Get Kitty this time, won't you? I am afraid." + +"Wait till you see Jimmy. He isn't the snoopy overbearing kind that you +are used to. Can't you trust me yet, Marie? I wouldn't have you meet any +one who would be unpleasant or suspicious. You have found the rest of my +friends all right, haven't you?" + +"Well, never mind," Marie decided suddenly. "I will come to the party, +but do not ever let Mr. Hiltze know, will you? He would be raging." + +"Marie, do you love Amos Hiltze?" + +"Love him! I hate him." + +"Hate him? Then why in the world are you so afraid of him? You obey every +word he says, and follow every suggestion he makes. I thought you were +great friends." + +Marie flushed and paled swiftly. "It is because I am grateful to him," +she said at last, not meeting Eveley's eyes. "He brought me to you,--and +he helps me,--and I am, willing to do whatever he tells me except when +you wish something else. But I do not like him personally by any means, +and I wish he did not come here so much." + +"I thought you were friends," Eveley repeated confusedly. + +"He is in love with you--don't you know that?" + +"Yes,--perhaps so. But Angelo says men can love two women simultaneously. +Angelo says there is something strange about his bringing--I mean," she +interrupted herself quickly, "Angelo wondered where he found you, or--or +something." + +"Angelo is a good friend to you, Eveley. You might pay better heed to his +suggestions, to your own good," said Marie faintly. + +"I thought,--oh, I do not know what I thought. Well, we can shunt Mr. +Hiltze off a little, if you wish. But you should not dislike him. He is +greatly interested in you, and so full of enthusiasm and eagerness for +this Americanization idea. He has been a great help to me, and he is very +clever. And since he brought us together we should love him a little. Any +one who struggles with Americanization deserves my patriotic and +sympathetic interest, at least." + +"Yes, I know." And she added slowly: "One can show enthusiasm for the +things one hates worst in the world,--if there is a secret reason." + +"You do not mean Mr. Hiltze, do you?" asked Eveley, with quiet loyalty. + +"No, to be sure not. I only said one could." + +"Mr. Hiltze is nothing to us. Toss him away. Come now, let's doll up for +our party." + +They were two radiantly lovely girls who stood in the little garden on +the roof of the sun parlor, waiting for the men who ran up the wavering +rustic stairs to join them. + +"Oh, girls," cried Nolan plaintively, as he saw them in their beauty. "It +is not fair of you to look like this. Marie, you are exquisite. Eveley, +you ought to be ashamed of yourself." + +"Yes, we are," said Eveley pleasantly. "Jimmy, I want you to meet my +darling and adorable little friend, Marie Ledesma. This is Lieutenant +Ames, Marie." + +Lieutenant Ames stood very tall and slim and straight as he looked into +Marie's face. Then he saw the soft appeal in her eyes. + +"Be good to me," they seemed to beg, "be generous, and kind." + +It was in answer to this plea of the limpid eyes that he held out his +hand with sudden impulse, and said: + +"Miss Ledesma, when Eveley speaks like that, I know your friendship is a +priceless boon, and I want my share of it. I am receiving a sort of +psychic message that you and I are destined to be good comrades." + +A sudden wave of light swept over her lovely face, and her lips parted in +a happy smile. + +"Lieutenant Ames," she whispered in her soft voice, "do you really feel +so? And then you also are my friend?" + +"Jimmy Ames, you stop that," cried Eveley. "Marie belongs to me, and you +must not even try to supplant me. I won't have it. Come on in, everybody, +and let's play, play, play to our heart's content." + +Marie went through the window first, with a light slender swing of her +feet. But Eveley, as always plunging impulsively, lost her balance and +fell among the cushions. Nolan and the lieutenant followed laughing. + +"We must take a day off and teach Eveley the approved method of making +entrance to a social gathering," said Nolan. "Are you all black and blue, +you poor child?" he asked, helping her up, for she had waited patiently +for his assistance. + +It was a wonderfully happy party. They played the Victrola, and danced +merrily through the two rooms, around the reading table, through the +archway, winding among the chairs in the dining-room. When they were +tired, Marie brought her mandolin,--for having remarked once idly that +she could play it, Eveley that night had brought her one as a little gift +of love. And she played soft Spanish love-songs, singing in her pretty +lilting voice. Then altogether they prepared their supper and because the +night was still young and lovely, and they were happy and free from +pressing care, they decided suddenly for a drive. They crossed the bay on +the ferry to Coronado, and went down on the sands of the beach for a +while, standing quietly to watch the silver tips of the waves shining in +the pale moonlight. Then they drove out the Silver Strand and so home +once more. + +Before they parted, they arranged for another party, two nights later, +and after long discussion agreed that it should be an evening swimming +party in the bay at Coronado, with a hot supper afterward in the Cloud +Cote. + +"How did you like our Lieutenant Jimmy?" Eveley demanded, as soon as they +were alone. + +"He is incomparable," said Marie simply. + +"I knew it," cried Eveley ecstatically. "Nolan and I both said so. +Spontaneous combustion, that is what it was. Come and sleep with me again +to-night. It is such fun to go to bed and turn out the light and talk. +Did you ever do it?" + +"No, my life has not been of that kind." + +"But you will learn. I never saw any one learn as quickly as you +do,--especially things about men.--Now I shall begin by telling you how +adorable Nolan is, and you must interrupt me to say how wonderful Jimmy +is.--Did you ever have a sweetheart, Marie?" + +Then she added quickly: "Wait, wait. I--I did not mean to ask +questions,--Excuse me, I am sorry. Let's talk of something else." + +"No, let's talk of lovers," said Marie, snuggling close to Eveley, her +head lying against her shoulder. "I have never had the regular kind of a +lover,--your kind,--the kind that women want. My life was full of war and +horrors, and I had not time for the thrills of love. And the men I knew +were not the men that one would wish to love one." + +"Then, this is your chance," said Eveley happily. "Now I am positively +sure that one of these days you will be a matchless American woman. You +are just ripe and ready for love. You can't escape it, you sweet thing, +even if you could wish. War and horrors were left behind in your old +home. Here in your new home you will know only peace and contentment and +love. Aren't you glad I adopted you? We must give Mr. Hiltze credit for +that anyhow, mustn't we?" + +There was a sudden tension in the slender figure at her side. "Eveley, +are you so innocent? Do you never attribute evil motives to any one? Do +you always believe only good and beautiful and lovely things of those you +meet?" + +"Well, I have no real reason for thinking mean or ugly things of any +one--not really. I never had any horrors in my life until the war came. I +have just lived along serenely and contentedly, and being fairly nice and +kind, I have no guilty conscience to trouble me, and no one has ever been +hateful or mean to me--not in anything that really counted." + +Both were silent a moment, thinking, each in her different way, of the +contrast in their lives. Then Eveley went on, more slowly: + +"I feel sometimes that we are living on the crest of a terrible +upheaval--that we are on the edge of a seething volcano which is +threatening and rumbling beneath us, each day growing fiercer and more +ominous, and that presently may come chaos, and we on the crater of life +will be dragged down into the furnace with the rest. I suppose," she +added apologetically, "it is because of the conditions that always follow +a war, the political unrest, the social chaos, the anarchistic tendencies +of every one. I am not in the midst of things enough to understand them, +but even up here on the top of our canyon, we sometimes get a blast of +the hot air from below, and it troubles us. Then we try to forget, and go +on with our playing. But the volcano still rumbles beneath." + +Eveley slipped her hand out to take Marie's and found it icy cold. + +"Did--did you ever feel so before?" asked Marie in a low strange voice. +"That you were living on the rim of a volcano, ready to catch and crush +you?" + +"No, not before. It is just now--after the war. Conditions were never the +same before." + +Then Marie burst into a passion of tears. "It is my fault," she sobbed. +"It is because I am here. All my life I have lived in the crater of a +volcano, and I have brought it upon you. It is a curse I carry with me. +It is the chaos from which I have come, and to which I must go again when +I leave you--it is that which destroys your peace." + +Frightened and astonished, Eveley soothed her, cradling her in her arms. +"You little silly," she said tenderly. "You dear little goose. Don't you +believe any such nonsense as that. We are in a condition of turmoil, our +United States and all the rest of the world. It is not the affairs of +your Mexico that worry me--it is the tempest in my own country. And don't +you ever talk any more about going back. You shall never go back. You are +to stay here with me forever and ever, world without end, amen. You will, +won't you?" + +Marie only stirred a little, and did not answer. + +"Marie," cried Eveley, her voice sharp with fear. "Do you ever think +really of going back to--that? Answer me." And she gripped Marie's soft +shoulder with strong fingers. + +"I do not think any more," said Marie gently. "But one always has a +feeling that one must return whence one has come, do you not think? It is +only that. It seems incredible that I, alone out of our struggling +thousands, should be let to come away and live serenely in a cloud cote, +does it not? And the struggle in Mexico goes on." + +"The same kind of peace and contentment will come to all your country +when the world is settled down to law and order once more," said Eveley, +with the sublime faith of the young and the unsuffering. "It just takes +time. And God was good enough to carry you away before the end of the +conflict. Just wait. When our country is thoroughly Americanized, and +returns to joyful work and love and life again, the contagion will spread +to your people, and peace will reign there also. So do not talk any more +nonsense about leaving me. Now let's go back to the beginning, and talk +about--the men." + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +CONVERTS OF LOVE + + +A very warm intimacy developed rapidly between the four friends, and +every evening for nearly two weeks found them joyfully, even riotously, +making merry together in the Cloud Cote. As Eveley had prophesied, +Lieutenant Ames was hopelessly lost from the first, and Marie yielded +herself very readily to the charm of an ardent wooing. + +But with Eveley, Marie was different, more quiet, less demonstrative, +sometimes plainly listless and absent-minded. Eveley ascribed the change +to her newly developed interest in Lieutenant Ames, and patiently awaited +the outcome of the ripening romance. For Eveley had a deep-seated +sympathy with every appeal of love. + +For many weeks she had received no word from Miriam Landis. Although she +had passed in an hour from all connection with their daily plans, yet she +was never far from their thought. Even without their tender and +sympathetic memories, they could not have forgotten her, for her husband +was a frequent and always tumultuous visitor in the Cote. + +He invariably began talking before he was through the window, and his +first words were unfailingly the same. + +"I can't stand it, Eveley, I simply can't stand it. You've got to do +something about it." + +Again and again he came with this appeal, always overlooking the fact +that Eveley had no faintest idea of Miriam's whereabouts, for, true to +her word, she had kept her hiding-place unknown to them all. + +Then for several weeks he did not come, and Eveley felt that perhaps he +was reconciled, and had returned to his old pursuit of secluded ballroom +corners. But Nolan assured her of the injustice of this. Lem had forsaken +all his former haunts, and had become a recluse, brooding alone in his +deserted home. + +"It will do him good, even if it does not last," Nolan said. "Almost any +one would grieve for a woman like Miriam for a few months." + +"Perhaps it is permanent this time, and there will be a reconciliation, +and both live happily ever after," said Eveley, with her usual buoyant +faith in the cheerful outcome. + +Gordon Cameron she had seen only once since Miriam's departure, and that +was when he came at her request to receive Miriam's message. He had +listened quietly, while she repeated the words of her friend. + +"I expected it, of course," he said at last gravely. "The pity of it is +that her little revolution was so hopeless from the beginning. As long as +a woman loves her husband, she can not hope for happiness, nor even for +forgetfulness." + +"Oh, she does not love her husband any more," said Eveley confidently. +"Not a bit. She is over that long ago." + +"That was the whole trouble," he insisted. "If she had not loved him, she +could have stood it and gone her way. But loving him, the situation was +impossible for a woman of spirit and pride. Well, there is always one to +pay in every triangle, and this time the bill comes to me. But I had +anticipated that from the beginning. She is a wonderful woman." + +"Do you think she will go back to her husband?" asked Eveley +breathlessly. + +"I hardly think so. She might as well, though; perhaps it would be +better. She can not be happy without him, and she was certainly not happy +with him. It is only a choice of miseries. As long as she loves him, she +will suffer for it. I begin to think that one who loves can not be +happy." + +"Oh, yes, one can. One is," asserted Eveley positively. + +"Perhaps I should say, when one is married to it," he added, with a sober +smile for her assurance. + +Then he had gone away, and when Lem's pleadings had suddenly ceased, +Eveley felt that the little tempest would live its life, and die its +death, and perhaps Miriam at least would find happiness in the lull that +followed. + +So it was something of a shock to have her pleasant Sunday morning nap +disturbed by Lem pounding briskly upon her window. + +"Get up, immediately," he said in an assertive voice quite different from +his futile and inane pleadings of a short while before. "Hurry, Eveley, I +want you. Dress for motoring, my car is here. I shall wait in the +garden--give you ten minutes." + +"He must want me for a bridesmaid for his second wedding," thought Eveley +resentfully, as she hurriedly dressed. But accustomed to obey the calls +of friendship, she put on a heavy sport skirt and sweater, and had even +pulled her soft hat over her curls before she went to the window. + +"I am ready, but I do not approve of it," she began rather unpleasantly. + +"You'd better take a doughnut, or a roll, or an orange, or something, for +we have no time for breakfast," he said in the same assertive voice. "She +will not be back until afternoon, Miss Ledesma. Sorry if it interferes +with any of your plans, but it can not be helped. Get your coat, quickly, +Eveley." + +"It does interfere with our plans," she said crossly. "We were going up +to the mountains for a beefsteak fry with Jimmy and Nolan." + +"Never mind," said Marie softly. "It may come another Sunday. Mr. Landis +seems to need you." + +"All ready, Eveley? Let me help you. Good-by, Miss Ledesma." + +And Eveley found herself marching briskly down the rustic steps away from +her own plan and her own desire, and with no knowledge of what lay before +her. + +"You might at least tell me where we are going," she said at last, after +he had hurried her into the car and started away. + +"To see Miriam," he answered. + +"Oh!" Eveley's voice was a long gasp. She was content to wait after that +for his explanation, although it was very slow in coming. + +"She is at a ranch up in the mountains," he said finally. "About fifty +miles. We just located her last night. I have been looking, for her all +the time. You are going to talk to her for me." + +"Oh, am I?" + +"Yes. I was afraid to come alone for fear she would not see me. She will +not refuse to see you." + +"Do you mind telling me what I am going to say to her?" + +He was silent a while, thinking. "She refused to take any money from me," +he said, presently. "And she has very little. If she persists in this, +she will have to work for her living. Miriam can not do that." + +"No," said Eveley softly. + +"She does not want me for a husband yet," he said humbly. "And that is +right. But I must have Miriam, and she shall never have any one else but +me--not that I think she would ever want anybody else. You are to tell +Miriam she must come home, and live her life just as she wishes and do as +she pleases in everything, and allow me to be a servant for her, to +provide what she wants and needs, to take care of her if she is sick. +Tell her she may have any friends she likes, lovers even if she wishes, +but that she must let me work for her." + +Eveley laid her hand affectionately upon his arm. "I have never done you +justice, Lem; forgive me. I think Miriam will come home. I hope she +will." + +"She has to. And after a while, when she sees in me what she used to +think was there, she will love me again. But in the meantime, I shall ask +nothing and expect nothing. But Miriam has got to be in the house." + +Eveley only spoke once after that. + +"If she will not come?" + +He turned upon her then, a sudden grim smile lighting his face. "I know +what I shall do then," he said. "But you will think it is madness. If she +refuses to come, I shall make the necessary arrangements, and kidnap her. +She's got to come." + +Eveley burst into quick laughter at the picture that came to her--a +picture of the old-time, immaculate Lem of the ballrooms, carrying his +wife away into the mountains to live a cave-man life. + +He laughed with her, but the dead-set of his face remained. "It sounds +like a joke," he admitted. "But I have made up my mind. Miriam is mine, +and I am going to have her. We'll just go up into the mountains for a few +months, and she will see that I am cured." + +Mile after mile they drove in silence up the steep mountain grades, and +after a long time he drew the car off beside the road under a cluster of +trees. + +"That is the ranch, but I will not drive in. If she saw us coming she +would not talk to us, so you must catch her unawares. I shall wait here +for you. You'd better not tell her I am going to kidnap her, I think I +would rather take her by surprise. She has to come, Eve, now make her see +it. Just a servant that is all I want to be to her for a while. But she +did love me, and she will again." + +So Eveley walked swiftly up the drive to the house, keeping in the shadow +as much as possible, surprised to know that after all the years of her +disgust for the husband of her friend, her sympathies now were all with +him. + +At the kitchen door she assumed her most winsome and disarming smile and +asked for Mrs. Landis. + +"She does not wish to see any one," said the woman quickly. "She said +particularly that she would not see any callers." + +"But she will see me, I am sure," said Eveley coaxingly. "You ask her. +Tell her it is Eveley Ainsworth. She always sees me." + +"But she told me particularly," repeated the woman. "And she is not here +anyhow. She has gone over the hill. She likes to be among the pines. She +is not well, either. I am sorry, miss, but she is not here, and she would +not see you if she were." + +"How far is it to the hill? And does she stay long?" + +"It is not far," said the woman, with a wave of her hand toward the east. +"But she will not come home for luncheon. She has no appetite. And the +boys are out, so I have no one to send for her. I am sorry, miss." + +"You think there is no use to wait, then?" + +"Oh, no use at all, miss. She will be gone for hours, and she would not +see you if she were here." + +"Tell her I came, won't you? Eveley Ainsworth. Thank you." + +And with another disarming smile Eveley turned back to the path. But as +soon as she was out of sight of the house, she slipped off through the +trees, and started on a light run for the pine grove on the hill to the +east. + +"As Lem says, poor thing, she has to," she said to herself, with a smile. +And very soon she was among the big pines, looking eagerly back and +forth, quite determined not to return to Lem until she had seen Miriam +and talked her into reason. And so at last she came upon her, sitting +somberly under the big trees, her back against a huge boulder, staring +away down the mountains into the haze of the sea in the west, where her +husband lived in the city by the bay. + +"Miriam," Eveley called in a ringing voice, and ran joyously down the +path. + +Miriam sprang up to meet her. "Eveley!" she cried, catching her hands +eagerly. And then, "Have you seen--Lem? Is he--all right?" + +Eveley held her hands a moment, looking searchingly into the thin face +and the shadowy eyes. + +"Revolutions are hard work, aren't they?" she asked with deep sympathy. + +"Oh, Eveley, they are killing, heart-breaking, soul-wracking," she cried. +"And yet of course it was right and best for me to come," she added +gravely. "Does Lem seem to--miss me?" And there was wistfulness in her +voice. + +"He is out there now," said Eveley, waving her hand toward the road. "He +brought me up." + +At the first word, Miriam had turned quickly, ready to run down--not to +the house for shelter, but to the car for comfort. But she stopped in a +moment, and came back. + +"I shall not see him, of course," she said quietly. + +"I brought a message from him. He says you must come home, Miriam, he +says his madness is all purged away, and that you are his and he must +have you. But he wants you to come and live your own life and do as you +wish, only allowing him, to stay in the home not as your husband, but as +your servant until you learn to love and trust him again. He says you +must come, and let him work for you, and take care of you." + +Miriam's face was very white, and her eyes deep wells of pain. + +"Poor Lem!" she said tenderly. "So sweet--and so weak." + +"I think he is finding strength," said Eveley. + +For a long time, the two girls stood there, side by side, Eveley looking +into the haze of the sea miles below, Miriam staring down through the +pines to where she knew a car might be waiting in the shadows. + +"We must not keep him waiting," she said at last. + +Without a word, they turned, hand in hand and started down to the road +again. When she saw the little, well-known car beneath the trees, and Lem +standing rigid beside it, she caught her breath suddenly. Eveley would +have hung back, to let her greet her husband alone, but Miriam clung to +her hand and pulled her forward. + +He came to meet them, awkwardly, a gleam of hope in his eyes, but +meekness in his manner. He held out his hand, and Miriam with a little +flutter dropped her own into it, pulling it quickly away again. + +"Are you--all right, Lem? You look--thin," she said with shy solicitude. + +"I feel thin," he replied grimly. "Are--you coming with us?" + +"Yes, of course," said Eveley. + +"Yes, of course," Miriam echoed faintly. + +"Shall I drive?" suggested Eveley, anticipating complete reconciliation +for the two in their first moment of privacy. + +"I will drive," said Lem. "You girls sit in the back. Did Eveley explain +that I only expect to be--your driver, and your valet, and your +servant--for a while." + +Tears brightened in Miriam's eyes. "Oh, Lem," she cried, holding out her +hands. "How can people talk of servants who have loved--as we have +loved?" + +Eveley immediately went into a deep and concentrated study of the rear +tires, for Miriam was close in her husband's arms, and his tears were +falling upon her fragrant curls. + +After a while, he held her away from him and looked into her tender face. + +"It isn't--you aren't coming, then, just because it is your duty to give +me every chance," he whispered. + +"Oh, no, dear, just because I love you." + +Eveley was still utterly immersed in the condition of the tires. + +"We'll try it again, Lem--" + +"Oh, Miriam," he broke in, "it isn't any trial this time. This is +marriage." + +Eventually they got started toward home and had driven many miles before +Miriam noticed that her uncovered hair was blowing in the wind, and +remembered that she had left the ranch without notice and that all her +things were there. But what were simple things and formal notices when +human hearts were finding happiness and faith? + +In the Cloud Cote, Eve's friends were patiently awaiting her return. +Nolan was reading poetry aloud to himself in the roof garden, and +Lieutenant Ames was laboriously picking chords on the piano, with Marie +near him strumming on the mandolin. + +The first creak of the rustic stair brought them all to the landing to +greet her. + +"Reconciliation," shouted Nolan, before she was half-way up. "Miriam is +home, and they have already lived happily ever after." + +Eveley began immediately to give an account of the day's happenings +standing motionless on the third step from the top until she finished her +recital. + +Then she went back down, and gave an impatient tap on the seventh stair. + +"Well, you started something," she said to it solemnly. "And you ought to +be satisfied now, if anybody is. To-morrow I shall crown you with a +wreath of laurel." + +Then she went up again. "Does this do anything to your theory about +duty?" asked Nolan. "Does it prove it, or disprove it, or what? I can not +seem to get any connection." + +"But there is a connection," she said, with a smile. "It absolutely and +everlastingly proves the Exception." + +"Eveley Ainsworth, don't ever say exception again until you can explain +it," cried Nolan. "I dream of exceptions by night, and I legalize them by +day. Be a nice girl, and do a good deed this Sabbath Day by expounding +the virtues of the One Exception." + +But Eveley was hungry, and said she could not expound anything when her +system clamored for tea. + +Eveley's Sabbath, however, was not yet ended. While she was blissfully +sipping her tea, the three she loved best in the world about her, there +came a gentle tap upon her window, and Mrs. Severs walked in. + +"So sorry to bother you, Miss Ainsworth," she began apologetically, "but +I want to ask a favor. Father is moving back with us to-day, and--" + +"What!" + +"Yes, indeed he is," she cried blithely. "I was so lonesome, and some +days I am so ill, that I asked him as a personal favor if he wouldn't +come and try me just once more, and he said, Holy Mackinaw! he had been +aching to do that very thing." + +"Well," Eveley said judiciously, "I suppose you will all be satisfied now +that you are back in your old rut wretchedly doing your duty by each +other." + +"I should say not," denied Mrs. Severs promptly. "I asked father to come +because I--like him awfully much, and it is so lonely without him, and he +is coming because he missed us and is fond of us, and there isn't any +duty about it. You have converted us. We do not believe in duty." + +"And the favor?" + +"Yes--father is bringing the flivver of course--and the garage is so big. +Do you mind if we keep it there with your car? We will pay any extra +rent, of course." + +"Keep it there by all means," said Eveley generously. "And there is no +rent. And when I get stuck anywhere I shall expect you to tow me home for +love." And when Mrs. Severs had gone, Eveley said: "Make another pot of +tea, please, Marie. Make two pots--three if you like." + +"Pretty hard to keep some people properly adjusted, isn't it?" asked +Nolan soberly, but with laughter in his eyes. + +"What is proved by the case of Father-in-law and the Bride, Eveley?" +asked Marie with a soft teasing smile as she refilled Eveley's cup. + +But Eveley went into a remote corner of the room, and brandished the +bread knife for protection, before she cried triumphantly: + +"The Exception. It is another positive proof of the utter efficacy of my +One Exception." + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +SHE DOUBTS HER THEORY + + +One morning Eveley telephoned from the office to Marie that she would not +be home for dinner that night, as she was going with Kitty to hear the +minute details of her engagement, and the plans of her coming marriage +with Arnold. She assured Marie that she would be home early, begged her +not to be lonesome, cautioned her once more not to venture into the +canyon after nightfall, and went serenely on her way. + +At ten o'clock that night she guided her car into the garage whistling +boyishly, and ran up the rustic stairs, stopping with painful suddenness +on the landing as she observed there was no light in the Cote. + +"Marie," she called, "Marie!" + +She looked anxiously over the little roof garden, and peered down to the +canyon. Twice she went up to the window, and each time drew back again, +afraid to enter. + +She leaned over the railing on the roof, calling aimlessly and +hopelessly. + +"Marie, Marie!" + +A moment later she heard a light step below, "Oh, Marie," she cried and +her voice was a sob. + +"It's me, Miss Eveley, what's the matter?" + +It was only Angelo running up the steps to her. + +"Angelo, what are you doing here?" she demanded sharply, her nerves on +edge. + +"Oh, I was just fooling around," he said evasively. "I thought I heard +you calling." + +But Eveley's nerves were too highly strung this night to brook an idle +answer. She caught him by the shoulder. + +"Tell me where you have been and what you were doing," and there was +something like suspicion in her voice. + +And then suddenly the little bit of foreign flotsam became a man, to give +her courage. + +"Come inside and sit down," he said authoritatively. "I'll tell you what +I've been doing, but don't stand out here like this and get yourself all +worked up for nothing." + +He threw up the window, and went in first, turning on the light, and +Eveley followed him numbly. + +"Now sit down and I'll tell you. I have been sleeping in the garage ever +since you got mixed up with that bunch of Bolshevists and--er Greasers. I +thought something might happen and I've sort of stuck around. I had a key +made to the garage, and I've got a nice bed fixed up in the attic." + +Eveley held out her hand with a faint smile. "You are a good friend, +Angelo, sure enough. But there was no danger. And oh, where can my Marie +have gone?" + +"Are her things here?" + +Acting instantly upon the suggestion, Eveley ran into the other room +followed closely by Angelo. Every slightest scrap and shred that had been +Marie's had disappeared. + +"Maybe she left a note somewhere," said Angelo. + +Frantically Eveley flashed through the small rooms, searching eagerly for +some final word or token. But there was nothing to be found. + +"Some one has kidnapped her," she cried, wringing her hands. "We must +phone the police." + +"I wouldn't do that--not yet. I'd phone for Mr. Nolan first. Let me do +it. And why don't you go down-stairs and ask them if they saw any one +around here to-day, or saw her leaving?" + +"Oh, Angelo, that is fine," she cried. "I'll go--and you phone Nolan +quickly." + +By the time she returned, Nolan was on his way to the Cote. + +"She--she left herself--just walked away with her bag--alone," said +Eveley faintly. "I am afraid she did not--care for me." And there was +sorrow in her voice. + +"Oh, sure she did," said Angela reassuringly. "That's why she left I +guess. She may be in bad in some way, and so she went off not to get you +mixed up in it." + +"Do you think that, Angelo? Do you really? But she should not have gone +for that. I would have stood by Marie through any kind of trouble." + +Angelo walked impatiently about the room, fingering endless little +objects, puzzling in his mind what to say and what to do. + +"He could be here if he had taken a taxi," he said restlessly. "I told +him to beat it." + +"We might phone Mr. Hiltze," said Eveley suddenly. "He may know where to +find her." + +Angelo smiled scornfully at that. "Aw gee, Miss Eveley, ain't you on to +them yet? Sure they are working in cahoots." + +Eveley sat down at once and folded her hands. "Now, Angelo, tell me +everything you know, or suspect about them. Begin at the beginning. You +may be wrong, but let me hear it." + +But before Angelo could begin his little story, Nolan came springing up +the steps, and knew in a word all they had to tell. + +"Sit down now, Nolan, and listen. Angelo thinks he knows something." + +"Well, when Carranza got in, a lot of Mexicans had to get out. Political +refugees they call them. Marie is one of them." + +"That is no secret," said Eveley. "She told me that herself. And it is +nothing to her discredit--rather the opposite I should think." + +"Yes, but they are looking ahead to the next election. That guy Obregon +has promised to let all the refugees come back free and easy if he is +elected, and no questions asked. But they've got such a lot running for +president, that maybe they won't elect anybody and then Carranza will +stick on himself. And so the refugees on this side are working up a new +little revolution of their own, to spring on Carranza the day after the +election. And that is against the law, and the Secret Service is on to +it, and after them hot and heavy." + +"The Secret Service," said Eveley slowly. "The Secret Service." + +She crossed the room, and from her bag took out a small bit of steel +which she had carried there for weeks. + +"The Secret Service," she said again, and held the badge tightly in her +hand. + +"What have you there, Eveley?" asked Nolan. + +"Nothing," she said, gripping it so tightly the sharp edges cut into her +hand. "Just a little souvenir--of Marie. That is all." + +"Well, is there anything else, Angelo?" + +"That guy Hiltze is a crook, too. He's what you call a Red. He's mixed up +with all the funny business going on." + +"Are you sure, Angelo? You must only tell us what you really know." + +"Well, they've got a lot of crazy shacks around town, and they hold +meetings. My dad goes to 'em. So a few times I went, too. This guy Hiltze +does the talking. He's got enough money. He don't have to sell autos for +a living, he does that for a blind, just like he strings Miss Eveley on +the Americanization hot-air stuff." + +"Did you ever hear him speak?" asked Nolan. + +"Sure. He says they are chasing him from cellar to garret, from mountain +to desert. He says they are the damned rich, and they got to keep him +harried to earth so they can grind the laborers under their heel. He +gives 'em all money for doing things, and hauling stuff, and getting +things across the border. I was there. He says they must pray God to +strengthen them to fight to the last ditch. He says the army and navy are +the slaves of the God of Money." + +"I know he had rather--advanced ideas," said Eveley gravely. "But these +are such troublous times. Every one feels the lack, and the need in the +social life. He may have gone too far--but these are the days that try +one's soul. If it was only talk--" + +"Aw gee," interrupted Angelo. "They ain't got no room to talk. I know all +about that stuff. I was over there with the rest of 'em, and I know. We +slept on straw, and dressed in rags, and lived like dogs. And they come +to a decent country, and get soured because they ain't fed up on chicken +and wine like a lord. It's a darn' sight more than they ever had before, +and the Secret Service needs to watch 'em. For they're the ones that did +for Russia--yes, and they're doing it for Germany now, and trying it on +Italy." + +The Secret Service--the diagnostician of social unrest, with professional +finger on the pulse of the foreign element--had that finger touched the +wrist of Marie? + +"But this isn't finding my Marie," said Eveley. "I want her." + +"Let's call Lieutenant Ames," said Nolan suddenly. "I rather imagine this +will hit him." + +"Oh, poor Jimmy," cried Eveley. "He told me he wanted to marry her." + +Far into the night, they puzzled and pondered, not knowing which way to +turn, but all in their love of Marie resolved that she must be found and +saved again from the chaos. The next day, against the advice of all the +others, Eveley sent word to Amos Hiltze and seemed to feel some comfort +in his evident surprise and perturbation. + +"I can not understand it," he said. "She was so happy, and loved you so +much. I will look for her. She may have taken fright at something--but +what could it possibly have been?" + +"Tell her I do not care what has happened, nor what she fears. She must +come to me and I will help her." + +In spite of the insistence of Nolan, Angelo and Jimmy Ames, Eveley would +have given the matter into the hands of the police, trusting to her own +promises and her own standing to save Marie from whatever they held +against her. But at her first suggestion of this to Amos Hiltze, he took +a most positive stand against it. + +"If you do that, you have lost her forever. It is the police she fears. +She would never forgive you for putting her into their hands, even if you +could afterward extricate her. You must not dream of such a thing." + +So Eveley gave it up and tried to reconcile herself to patient waiting, +and to prayers of faith, determined to believe that the persistent search +going on in all sections of the town would be effective, and believing +still more fervently that God must return to her again the sister she had +learned to love. + +This time, because Eveley was suffering no one connected the +disappearance of Marie with Eveley's theory of duty. And to herself +Eveley made no claims, not even for her favorite Exception. + +For if Marie had loved her, would she not have left at least one word of +sympathy, and affection, in farewell? Indeed, if she had loved her, would +she not have preferred the investigation of the Secret Service to +separation? For Eveley would have braved every court in the country for +her little foreign sister. + +She tried to interest herself in the affairs of her friends, as of old. +She tried to return to her old whimsical routine of living alone in her +Cloud Cote, but from being a little nook of laughter and love, it became +ineffably dreary and dull. And Eveley was suffering not only because her +love had been slighted and her hospitality abused, but because everything +she had undertaken had failed. Americanization--what was it? For to Marie +she had given every good thing in her power--and Marie had used her as +long as she could be of service, and then had gone back to her own life, +to her own people. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +SHE PROVES HER PRINCIPLE + + +All of Eveley's friends, realizing the loneliness and the sickness of +heart which possessed her, united to plan little entertainments and bits +of amusement for her. And Eveley accepted their plans gratefully, and +acted upon their suggestions gladly, but the bitterness remained in her +heart. + +"I loved that girl," she would say to herself. "How could she do such a +thing to any one who loved her? It isn't as if I had only tried to do +what was right and kind by her. She owed me something for all that love." + +One evening she went to Eileen's for a rollicking dinner with the twins +in clamorous evidence. Eileen's home was a new creation; every day, she +said frankly, was a new cycle of life. Her years of sober, studied +business had not at all prepared her for the raptures and the +uncertainties and the annoyances and the thrills of a household that had +young twins in it. + +"Billy bosses Betty unmercifully, and I do not believe in the dominance +of men," she told Eveley. "And Betty charms Billy into submission, and I +do not approve of the blandishments of woman upon man. And yet my +sympathies are with both of them, and I adore them both. And I can never +find anything when I want it, and when I do find it there is something +wrong with it, and they both talk at once and I have to talk at the same +time or I never get anything said, and yet we have wonderful times." + +"You are certainly doing your duty by those babies," said Eveley +tentatively. + +Eileen took it quickly. "Um, not a bit of it. I am just fulfilling the +desire of my heart. So you may take it that I am proving your theory if +you like." + +"At least you are proving my exception," said Eveley, with a smile. + +"What is the exception?" Eileen questioned eagerly. "It seems to get all +the proving, doesn't it?" + +"It used to," said Eveley gravely. "But I have lost faith in it for +myself. It worked for everybody else, but it failed for me. Now let's +talk of something else." + +They were in the midst of a merry game with the children, when the bell +rang, and Eveley was called to the door, to look into the face of Amos +Hiltze. + +"You have found Marie," she cried out at once. + +"Yes. She is at the ranch in the mountains where we found her first. She +is in trouble, and sick. I told her I would come for you, but I suppose +you can not leave yet?" + +"Not leave--when Marie is sick and wants me? Wait until I get my wraps. +Shall we go in my car?" + +"Yes, please. I was up at the Cote for you, and Mrs. Severs said you were +here. I let the taxi go." + +Eveley's face was alight with joy, and her heart sang with happiness. +Marie had been sick--it had not been cold neglect that kept her away and +silent. And she had sent for Eveley. + +"You are certainly a wonder," said Amos Hiltze, as she slipped into her +place behind the wheel, and he took his seat at her side. + +"You do not know how happy I am," she cried, turning the car toward the +country. "You--do get so awfully fond of a girl like Marie, don't you?" + +"Yes, of course." + +"Is she very sick?" + +"Not very. She will be better when she sees you." + +"Why did she really leave me?" + +"Oh, she was afraid the Secret Service would locate her, and it would get +you into trouble." + +"I might have known it was her duty. Wait till I get my hands on that +girl. I'll tell her a few things about duty that will astonish her." + +Already they were wheeling rapidly through East San Diego, and when a +motorcycle pulled up beside them, Eveley stopped with a gasp. Of course +she had been speeding--a thousand miles an hour, probably, though it had +seemed like crawling. + +"I am so sorry, Officer," she began quickly. "But I have to hurry. I have +a little friend in the country who is sick and needs me." + +"Oh, is it you, Miss Ainsworth?" And the officer smiled. "I did not +recognize you. That is all right. Your car is a Rolls, isn't it? We are +looking for a man in a Rolls--but I can hardly hold you." He turned his +pocket flash upon Amos Hiltze. + +"This is my friend, Mr. Hiltze," she explained. "I think you do not want +him, either." + +"No, I think not. Yet our man is supposed to have come this way. If you +see any men on foot, or any one in trouble, better not stop. We'll have a +man out that way pretty soon." + +"Thank you," said Eveley. "Good night." And again they were on their way. + +"Poor Mr. Man in the Rolls," she said after a while. "I wonder what +mischief he has been into." + +"I wonder." + +"I hope he gets away. Perhaps he is not so bad as they think, and may do +better next time. Or maybe he had a reason." + +"I am sure of that," said Hiltze with some earnestness. "There is always +a reason, I think." + +Through La Mesa, through El Cajon, they drove in silence as they had +driven once before, when they went for Marie the first time. Only then +Eveley had been quivering with anxiety and nervousness--and now it was +only hope and joy. But was it only hope and joy? For she realized +suddenly that her hands were gripping the wheel with nervous intensity, +and that she was shivering. + +"Are you cold?" + +"I do not know," she faltered. + +He turned slightly in his seat, and reached for a rug. + +"A disorderly pile on the floor as usual," he said with a slight smile. +"Don't your friends ever put the rugs back on the rack, Eveley?" + +"No, never," she replied, smiling, too, but gravely. + +He tucked the rug closely about her, but she still shivered, and a sense +of dread was heavy upon her. + +When they came at last to the branch in the road, he looked carefully +about in every direction, and then told her to drive quickly. Under his +direction she took the car far back from the road in a sheltered place, +and stopped the engine. + +"Please hurry, will you? I have not Angelo with me this time, and I am +afraid." + +"Eveley, I must talk to you first. You know I love you, you must know it. +You have tried to discourage me, but I will not take discouragement. I +shall never go away without you." + +"Are you going away?" + +"Yes, to-night. Business takes me away. I am going to South America. I +have money--lots of money, and we can start afresh and do well. But I can +not go without you." + +"Mr. Hiltze, it is impossible. I do not love you. I told you that +before." + +"But you will love me. If you come away with me, and take time, you can +love me. I will be good to you, and not hurry you. You must let yourself +go, and try." + +"But I do not wish to. Love should not be forced. It ought to come +spontaneously of itself. And I love Nolan." + +"Damn Nolan! Oh, I don't mean that, but--Eveley, you will forget him. +Just come with me, and give yourself time. Marie will go with us--" + +"Marie." + +"Yes, she has promised to go with us, to help make you happy." + +"Then she is not sick?" + +"No, not sick." + +"You only brought me here to--" + +"Yes, Eveley. I am sorry, but I had to. We are going out by aeroplane +to-night, and there is a fishing fleet at sea waiting to pick us up. I +hated to trick you, but it was my love that forced it. I can not give you +up. I will not. Did you think I was a fool to be with you, and know your +loving lovely ways, and--and--" + +Suddenly he crushed her in his arms, and for a moment she was helpless. +Then he released her. + +"Your bag is here--yes, in the back of the car." + +"My bag?" + +"Yes, I took Marie to the Cote this afternoon and she packed it for +you--things necessary until you can shop again." + +"Marie did that?" + +"Oh, I told her to. I told her you wished it. Oh, yes, I lied, but I +would do worse than that for you, yes, I would kill for you. Now be +reasonable, Eveley, and come with us nicely. You shall have all the time +you wish. I know you will love me." + +"Love you. Love you after this! I hate you, I despise you. Do not say you +love me." + +"Eveley, be quiet, this will do no possible good." + +"Then it was you they were looking for, in the car? You are a common +criminal." + +"Not a criminal, no," he cried furiously. "Yes, they wanted me, of +course. You should have known there was a reason why a man like myself +should live as I have done here. But we are not criminals--we are advance +agents of freedom." + +"Anarchists," she interrupted, in a cutting voice. + +"Some time there must be justice and equality in the world--" + +"And you have got rich by preaching lawlessness." + +"Eveley, do not talk like that. I--I lose my head--and I do not wish to +frighten you. Sit quietly, and let me tell you. Peace can come only +through warfare--and out of the death throes of an old world, a new world +of peace will--" + +"You are traitors." + +"Eveley, you know I was in the service, but there must be a union of the +free men of the world against oppression--" + +"Do not make stump speeches to me. I will not stand for it. Justice and +freedom will come to the world, but not through lying and trickery and +bloodshed. Justice must come through sympathy and love and comradeship." + +"It did not get you far with Marie, though, did it?" + +"Marie." + +"Certainly. That was my interest in her. Marie was working with us, doing +what she could for us, for what we could do for her in Mexico. She is a +regular traitor if you like, putting things over in great style, on you +and Nolan and Ames--the whole bunch of you. She is a slick little devil. +But I fell--because I loved you." + +Sudden illumination came to Eveley. "Then that is why she left me. When +she learned to love me, she would not profane our friendship. That is why +she left." + +"She left because the cops were getting wise, and she had to get out in a +hurry or get pinched." + +"And she is going with you--" + +"Sure. She will be the idol of the revolutionists for what she has +done--they will carry her about on a tin platter." + +"You will let me go now, Mr. Hiltze, please. But tell Marie that I +understand everything, and when she wishes to come back to me, the Cote +is open. It was only a mistaken loyalty to a wrong principle. Please go, +I want to hurry home." + +He laughed a little. "Eveley, you are going to South America with me." + +In a sudden panic she turned, flinging open the door of the car, hoping +to rush away into the darkness, but his arm held her. + +"You will love me. I may not care for your Americanization, but I love +you. I am going to be good to you. Don't be a fool, Eveley, it will do +you no good. You've got to go." + +Struggling was in vain, as Eveley realized at once, and she subsided +quickly, trying to think. The thing was impossible. It could not be. Such +things did not happen any more--not in real life in the United States. It +was cruel, preposterous, unbelievable. + +"Please let me go," she pleaded. "I shall not try to report you, you can +get away without trouble. But let me go home, please. I could never +change toward you--I am not the kind that changes." + +"I shall have to tie you for a few minutes. I am sorry, but I do not wish +you to go to the shack. I have wasted a lot of time trying to reason with +you. Put out your hands--yes yes, that way, and let me tie them to the +wheel. I hate to do this--there is no use for you to yell, Eveley, for no +one can hear, so I shall not gag you. Let me wrap the blanket about you; +it is very cold. Sit still, dear, and do not shake it off. I love you +very much. We are going to start the world afresh with a clean slate, and +leave the past behind. The future shall be of your choosing, only it must +be with me." + +Then he went away, and Eveley began a valiant tugging on the straps that +bound her. + +"Wait a minute, Eveley, I'll cut them," came a friendly whisper, and +Eveley with a cry turned to look into Angelo's face. + +"Sure, I come along," he said. "I saw him up at the house, and when he +came down for you, I followed his taxi on my bike. And when he went in to +get you, I got into the back under the rugs. Lucky he only took one rug +for you, or he'd got hold of my legs. Gee, he uses good straps." + +All this, while Angelo was sawing on the straps with his rusty knife, and +almost before he finished talking, Eveley was free. + +Like a flash she was starting the engine. + +"Suppose you get out and hide a while, and let me scout around," he said. +"I hate to leave a decent sort like your Marie with those cutthroats. +Maybe I can get hold of her." + +"Yes, do try. I'll hide among the bushes for fear they come while you are +gone. Be careful, Angelo. We are going to need you." + +Eveley waited what seemed an endless length of time, crouching almost +breathless under the shrubs. But finally she heard light running steps, +and in a moment Marie was in her arms. + +"Oh, my poor child, they told me you wanted to go. And did they tie +you--the cruel straps? You are free now, and you will go back to your +Cote and be happy. But do not forget your poor Marie. And never play with +fire again, sweet; in the end it always burns. American women never know +what a tempest love can be. Now, kiss Marie, and say your forgive her, +and then go quickly." + +"Marie, come with me," begged Eveley, clinging to her. "You must not go +with them. They are treacherous, selling their honor for money. Do not +trust them. Come with me. Nolan and I will take care of you, and Nolan +will straighten out your tangles with the law. And Jimmy is wild for you, +raging all over town trying to find you. Please, dear, let all the ugly +past lie dead, and live a new life with us here. Oh, I can not let you +go." + +"For them I care nothing," Marie cried, with a smart snap of her fingers. +"They are dogs. They only help us for money, and they wish only to +embroil the world in war. It is no love for us--but they are cheap--we +buy them. When the time comes, we tramp them under our feet. Eveley, if +you wish me, I will come." + +Then in a moment they were away, the car swinging dizzily down the steep +grade rocking from side to side. + +"How did you get Marie, Angelo--you angel?" asked Eveley, after a while. + +"They were all running around moving things, and Marie was helping. So I +pitched in and helped too. When I walked by Marie she understood and +came. And they did not notice. There isn't much difference between a Wop +and a Greaser." + +"And you will never leave me again, Marie?" + +"I am all through with hatred and strife, now. I want only a home, where +I can be happy, and live as you and I have lived. That is the only +Americanization. Talk is nothing. Social service is a game. But when one +makes living so fine that every one in the world wants to live that +way--then it is Americanization. I am satisfied now." + +"Say, you'd better cut the talk and watch the road," said Angelo +suddenly. "You've been half over the grade a dozen times." + +"Yes, I will," promised Eveley. "But I must hurry. They will follow +us--will they follow us, Marie?" + +"Oh, surely, when they miss us. They have motorcycles. Listen. Hear them +far back? Of course they would follow." + +"Sit tight, Marie, and do not worry. I know this road all right." + +"They are gaining on us, dear. Can you do better?" + +But Eveley was afraid to go faster on those sharp curves, though she +strained her eyes to see the road before them. + +"We are nearly to Flynn Springs," she said. "We must be. We can stop +there." + +"They will soon be up with us," said Angelo, looking back. + +"We must leave the car, and hide in the woods," said Marie. + +"Oh, I am afraid to leave the car." + +"The woods will not hurt us. It is only men who harm. Come, we must. If +they catch us, we are lost. Pull out here to the left, and turn off the +lights. They may pass us in the darkness. Take the key with you. And +hurry." + +Acting upon this plan, they were soon slipping over the small stones and +pebbles down a shallow gully and up among the rocks and shrubs of a +little cliff. + +Already the tremendous roar of the motorcycles was close upon them. + +"Quick, Eveley, behind this bush.--Lie down flat. Yes, all right, Angelo. +Sh, quiet now." + +[Illustration: "Please let me go," she pleaded.] + +At that instant the motorcycles whirled past--a sudden call from the +familiar voice of Amos Hiltze, and with a great tearing and crashing of +brakes, the cycles stopped and the men ran back to the car. + +"It is her car," cried Amos Hiltze. "They have deserted it. They must be +very close, we shall find them quickly. You go--" + +"We can not find them," said a new authoritative voice. "The cops may be +here any moment. We've got to get away to-night, or it is everlastingly +too late. You have lost the girl--lost them both. Now make the best of +it." + +And one motorcycle was started again. + +"I'll slash their tires for luck," said Amos Hiltze. "And we can send a +couple of men to look for them. Then we can send back for them later on +if they find them." + +Eveley ground her teeth at the ripping of the tires, for the rubber is to +a motorist as a baby to a loving mother. But in a moment came the sputter +and roar of the motors, and the men had gone again back the road they had +come. + +"We'll just have to crawl into Flynn Springs on the rims, and phone for +Nolan. It can not be far." + +But even that was impossible, for with devilish foresight, Amos Hiltze +had taken the timer from the carburetor, and the little Rolls was +powerless. + +"We'll walk then," said Eveley bravely, and hand in hand, the three of +them set out on the rocky winding road to Flynn Springs. + +"Nolan will not waste any time coming for us," said Eveley confidently. + +"And perhaps Lieutenant Ames is in town and can come also," suggested +Marie softly. + +Some time later, wearily, weakly, they limped into Flynn Springs, and +Eveley hurriedly put in her call. + +"Nolan? It is Eveley. I am at Flynn Springs. You must come for me, and +bring Jimmy Ames. Yes, Marie is with me, and Angelo.--Yes, we are all +right. And have a man from the garage with extra tires and a timer for +the carburetor. No, we do not need the police. No guns either. Nolan, +your voice is sweeter than any angel's." + +Then they went into a small room where there was a bed, and Eveley took +off her ruined pumps, and bathed her burning feet, and they fixed their +hair, and had hot coffee, always looking at each other with tender eyes. + +"Will you never go back on me again, little sister?" + +And Marie kissed her in answer. + +So they waited patiently for the men breaking all known speed laws to +come to them, and the time did not seem long, for they lay on the bed +together, each with an arm across the other's shoulder. And in the small +dark hallway outside, Angelo sat before their door, his arms clasped +around his knees, his head sunk upon his breast, sound asleep. But even +in his sleep keeping guard over his Americanizer and the "little +Greaser." + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +HER ONE EXCEPTION + + +All evening Kitty had been trying to get Nolan by telephone, always being +told that he was not at the hotel and had gone to the office, and then +hearing that the office line was busy. It was after eight when she +finally got him on the wire. + +"Nolan, whoever have you been talking to? If it was anybody else besides +Eveley, I am going to tell. I have been trying to get you all evening. I +want you to come over here immediately. Something terrible is about to +happen, and you must stop it." + +Nolan hesitated. "I am to be at Eveley's at nine, but if you promise to +talk fast I will come." + +Receiving her fervent assurance, he immediately closed his desk, and in +ten minutes Kitty was drawing him feverishly into her favorite corner of +the living-room. + +"Nolan, you could never guess what is going on." + +"No," he admitted, with a reminiscent smile. "So many odd things have +been going on lately that I confess my inability as a guesser." + +"Listen to this. Eveley's sister has fallen in love with some crazy +aviator, and is going to elope with him. And she wants Burton to get a +divorce so she can marry him." + +Nolan was plainly dumfounded at this revelation. + +"And that is not the worst. She is going to desert those two children, +and Eveley--You know Eve. She says she will be the willing sacrifice to +save the honor of the family, and has decided to marry Burton herself, to +be a mother to Winifred's children." + +"Preposterous!" gasped Nolan, looking into her flushed face for symptoms +of delirium. + +"True," came the grim answer. "But we must never allow such a +bloodcurdling thing to happen. It wouldn't be right. I want you to go +right over to Eveley's as fast as you can, and make her marry you. You +can pretend you do not know anything about this, and sweep her right off +her feet. Get her promise before she knows what is going on, and marry +her before she realizes it. Then perhaps Winifred will come to her senses +and not do this outrageous thing." + +"But, Kitty--" + +"You love Eveley, don't you?" + +"Yes, of course, but--" + +"Then do you call yourself a man, and yet stand idly by and see the woman +you love sacrifice her life for her sister's honor--and--er babies--and--" + +"And husband," he said gloomily. "I could stand the honor and the babies, +but I object to the husband." + +"Of course you do. I have my car here, and I will take you right over to +Eveley's and you can settle it immediately." + +"I do not believe I could propose before you, Kitty," he objected shyly. +"I could not think of the words." + +"I shall wait in the car until it is over. Then I shall come sauntering +up later on and wish you joy, etc., and Eveley need not know I had a +thing to do with it. Just you get her promise, and I shall be witness for +you. If she tries to back out we shall sue her for breach of promise." + +"All right," he decided suddenly. "We certainly can not submit to any +such nonsense as this. Let's go." + +All the way to the Cloud Cote they kept up hearty agreement that the idea +was utterly wild and preposterous, and that Nolan should never stand for +it. As she stopped the car, two doors down where Eveley could not see +from her window, Kitty said: + +"Arnold and I want to take a honeymoon trip to Yosemite after we are +married, and we want you and Eveley to get married in time to go along. +It is so much more fun when everybody's married." + +"Now, you fix it up with Eveley, and when you are through pull back the +shade in the living-room, and I'll take it for a sign and come up to make +my call." + +So Nolan went up the rustic steps to Eveley, and Kitty settled down in a +corner of the car. For thirty minutes she chuckled gleefully to herself, +but after half an hour she began to feel that he was decidedly slow. + +"I could be engaged to a dozen people in that time," she thought +impatiently, "Oh, the poky thing. But I suppose they are waxing +demonstrative, and he has forgotten me." + +She toyed restlessly with the keys and screws on the car, still watching +the black window in the Cloud Cote with only the faint gleam of light +from behind. + +"An hour," she cried at last furiously. "If that isn't the limit! I have +a notion to go right home, and let him settle it as best he can--but I do +want to see how Eveley takes it. Oh, well, I shall give him fifteen +minutes more, and then if he has not signaled I'll go up and see for +myself." + +So she waited another uneasy quarter of an hour, and then banged stormily +out of the car and up the rustic steps. Her sharp tap brought a sudden +scurry and scramble from within, but Kitty did not wait for a summons. +She drew back the portières and climbed in, uninvited. + +Eveley was standing flushed and brilliant in the center of the room, +trying to tuck up badly straying curls, and Nolan was adjusting himself +to the davenport with an air of studied ease. + +"Well, Kitty," cried Eveley nervously. "Why didn't you phone you were +coming over?" + +"You do not seem any too glad to see me," said Kitty rather peevishly, +and then at their flushed and shining faces, she laughed. "My, how happy +you look! Just like newlyweds--or something." + +"Yes--something," said Eveley. She flashed a questioning look at Nolan, +and received a reassuring nod. "Nolan and I are engaged, Kitty." + +"Really," cried Kitty. "After all these years. How surprising." She put +her arms around Eveley lovingly. "When did all this happen?" + +"Last night, coming down from Flynn Springs," said Eveley. "We--we had a +whole car full of it." + +"Last night!" Kitty quickly disengaged herself from Eveley's arm and +looked sharply at Nolan, smiling in great contentment on the davenport. +"Last night?" + +"Yes, last night. It was an awfully big night all around, wasn't it, +Nolan?" + +"It was for me," he said, coming over and taking Eveley's hand in his. + +"Last night," Kitty repeated again, glaring intently at Nolan. + +He nodded. + +"Then you knew I was lying all the time." + +"Well, since Eveley and I had luncheon with Winifred and Burton to-day to +announce our engagement,--yes, I may say that I was fairly well assured +you were lying. They seemed on their usual tender terms at noon." + +"What are you two talking about?" wondered Eveley. + +Kitty drew her small hat over her ears with a vicious tug. + +"But we shall be glad to motor to Yosemite with you and Arnold this +summer," Nolan went on pacifically, "we think it will be great sport. We +asked Marie and Jimmy Ames to go along. They are going to be married +to-morrow. They are in Marie's room now, so go in and congratulate them +if you like. But do not bring them out here, because we are a crowd +already." + +"I am going home, anyhow, if you mean me," she said pettishly. She looked +at Eveley. "I suppose you think it is very clever for you to be engaged +to Nolan twenty-four hours without notifying me, after all the trouble I +have taken in the last five years to bring it about. And as for you, +Nolan, I think you have a lot of courage to marry a woman who openly and +notoriously refuses to do her duty in any shape, size or form. I call it +a pretty big risk, myself." She clambered crossly through the window. +"Congratulations," she called back snappily. And again, from half-way +down the stairs: "And we shall hold you to the Yosemite bargain, too." + +Then Nolan took Eveley in his arms again and kissed her. "It may be +pretty risky," he said tenderly. "A wife who steels her heart against her +duty--" + +Eveley smiled into his eyes. "Don't worry. The One Exception will save +you. I still claim that duty isn't the biggest thing in the world. And +hasn't my theory held good? Patriotic duty could not Americanize Angelo +nor Marie, nor anybody else. And filial duty could not make the Severs +live happily with the Father-in-law. And domestic duty could not bring +Miriam and Lem Landis into harmony. But there was something else big +enough to work all the miracles, and it was the Big Exception." + +"Yes, tell me, Eveley--the Big Exception that is Everybody's Duty--what +is it?" + +"Well," she said, snuggling a little closer into his arms, "I believe it +is everybody's duty to love somebody else with all his heart and mind and +soul and body. And that is what has worked all the transformations for +our friends. And it will protect you, Nolan--for I do." + +Nolan kissed her again. "Then it is no risk at all," he whispered, +laughing tenderly. "Don't try to do your duty by me--just go on loving me +like this." + +THE END + + + * * * * * * + + + FLORENCE L. BARCLAY'S NOVELS + May be had wherever books are sold. Ask for Grosset & Dunlap's list. + +THE WHITE LADIES OF WORCESTER + +A novel of the 12th Century. The heroine, believing she had lost her +lover, enters a convent. He returns, and interesting developments follow. + +THE UPAS TREE + +A love story of rare charm. It deals with a successful author and his +wife. + +THROUGH THE POSTERN GATE + +The story of a seven day courtship, in which the discrepancy in ages +vanished into insignificance before the convincing demonstration of +abiding love. + +THE ROSARY + +The story of a young artist who is reputed to love beauty above all else +in the world, but who, when blinded through an accident, gains life's +greatest happiness. A rare story of the great passion of two real people +superbly capable of love, its sacrifices and its exceeding reward. + +THE MISTRESS OF SHENSTONE + +The lovely young Lady Ingleby, recently widowed by the death of a husband +who never understood her, meets a fine, clean young chap who is ignorant +of her title and they fall deeply in love with each other. When he learns +her real identity a situation of singular power is developed. + +THE BROKEN HALO + +The story of a young man whose religious belief was shattered in +childhood and restored to him by the little white lady, many years older +than himself, to whom he is passionately devoted. + +THE FOLLOWING OF THE STAR + +The story of a young missionary, who, about to start for Africa, marries +wealthy Diana Rivers, in order to help her fulfill the conditions of her +uncle's will, and how they finally come to love each other and are +reunited after experiences that soften and purify. + + Grosset & Dunlap, Publishers, New York + + * * * * * * + + ETHEL M. DELL'S NOVELS + May be had wherever books are sold. Ask for Grosset & Dunlap's list. + +THE LAMP IN THE DESERT + +The scene of this splendid story is laid in India and tells of the lamp +of love that continues to shine through all sorts of tribulations to +final happiness. + +GREATHEART + +The story of a cripple whose deformed body conceals a noble soul. + +THE HUNDREDTH CHANCE + +A hero who worked to win even when there was only "a hundredth chance." + +THE SWINDLER + +The story of a "bad man's" soul revealed by a woman's faith. + +THE TIDAL WAVE + +Tales of love and of women who learned to know the true from the false. + +THE SAFETY CURTAIN + +A very vivid love story of India. The volume also contains four other +long stories of equal interest. + + Grosset & Dunlap, Publishers, New York + + * * * * * * + + ELEANOR H. PORTER'S NOVELS + May be had wherever books are sold. Ask for Grosset & Dunlap's list. + +JUST DAVID + +The tale of a loveable boy and the place he comes to fill in the hearts +of the gruff farmer folk to whose care he is left. + +THE ROAD TO UNDERSTANDING + +A compelling romance of love and marriage. + +OH, MONEY! MONEY! + +Stanley Fulton, a wealthy bachelor, to test the dispositions of his +relatives, sends them each a check for $100,000, and then as plain John +Smith comes among them to watch the result of his experiment. + +SIX STAR RANCH + +A wholesome story of a club of six girls and their summer on Six Star +Ranch. + +DAWN + +The story of a blind boy whose courage leads him through the gulf of +despair into a final victory gained by dedicating his life to the service +of blind soldiers. + +ACROSS THE YEARS + +Short stories of our own kind and of our own people. Contains some of the +best writing Mrs. Porter has done. + +THE TANGLED THREADS + +In these stories we find the concentrated charm and tenderness of all her +other books. + +THE TIE THAT BINDS + +Intensely human stories told with Mrs. Porter's wonderful talent for warm +and vivid character drawing. + + Grosset & Dunlap, Publishers, New York + + * * * * * * + + THE NOVELS OF GRACE LIVINGSTON HILL LUTZ + May be had wherever books are sold. Ask for Grosset & Dunlap's list. + +THE BEST MAN + +Through a strange series of adventures a young man finds himself +propelled up the aisle of a church and married to a strange girl. + +A VOICE IN THE WILDERNESS + +On her way West the heroine steps off by mistake at a lonely watertank +into a maze of thrilling events. + +THE ENCHANTED BARN + +Every member of the family will enjoy this spirited chronicle of a young +girl's resourcefulness and pluck, and the secret of the "enchanted" barn. + +THE WITNESS + +The fascinating story of the enormous change an incident wrought in a +man's life. + +MARCIA SCHUYLER + +A picture of ideal girlhood set in the time of full skirts and poke +bonnets. + +LO, MICHAEL! + +A story of unfailing appeal to all who love and understand boys. + +THE MAN OF THE DESERT + +An intensely moving love story of a man of the desert and a girl of the +East pictured against the background of the Far West. + +PHOEBE DEANE + +A tense and charming love story, told with a grace and a fervor with +which only Mrs. Lutz could tell it. + +DAWN OF THE MORNING + +A romance of the last century with all of its old-fashioned charm. A +companion volume to "Marcia Schuyler" and "Phoebe Deane." + + Ask for Complete free list of G. & D. Popular Copyrighted Fiction + Grosset & Dunlap, Publishers, New York + + * * * * * * + + JAMES OLIVER CURWOOD'S STORIES OF ADVENTURE + May be had wherever books are sold. Ask for Grosset & Dunlap's list. + +THE RIVER'S END + +A story of the Royal Mounted Police. + +THE GOLDEN SNARE + +Thrilling adventures in the Far Northland. + +NOMADS OF THE NORTH + +The story of a bear-cub and a dog. + +KAZAN + +The tale of a "quarter-strain wolf and three-quarters husky" torn between +the call of the human and his wild mate. + +BAREE, SON OF KAZAN + +The story of the son of the blind Grey Wolf and the gallant part he +played in the lives of a man and a woman. + +THE COURAGE OF CAPTAIN PLUM + +The story of the King of Beaver Island, a Mormon colony, and his battle +with Captain Plum. + +THE DANGER TRAIL + +A tale of love, Indian vengeance, and a mystery of the North. + +THE HUNTED WOMAN + +A tale of a great fight in the "valley of gold" for a woman. + +THE FLOWER OF THE NORTH + +The story of Fort o' God, where the wild flavor of the wilderness is +blended with the courtly atmosphere of France. + +THE GRIZZLY KING + +The story of Thor, the big grizzly. + +ISOBEL + +A love story of the Far North. + +THE WOLF HUNTERS + +A thrilling tale of adventure in the Canadian wilderness. + +THE GOLD HUNTERS + +The story of adventure in the Hudson Bay wilds. + +THE COURAGE OF MARGE O'DOONE + +Filled with exciting incidents in the land of strong men and women. + +BACK TO GOD'S COUNTRY + +A thrilling story of the Far North. The great Photoplay was made from +this book. + + Grosset & Dunlap, Publishers, New York + + * * * * * * + + KATHLEEN NORRIS' STORIES + May be had wherever books are sold. Ask for Grosset & Dunlap's list. + +SISTERS. Frontispiece by Frank Street. + +The California Redwoods furnish the background for this beautiful story +of sisterly devotion and sacrifice. + +POOR, DEAR, MARGARET KIRBY. Frontispiece by George Gibbs. + +A collection of delightful stories, including "Bridging the Years" and +"The Tide-Marsh." This story is now shown in moving pictures. + +JOSSELYN'S Wife. Frontispiece by C. Allan Gilbert. + +The story of a beautiful women who fought a bitter fight for happiness +and love. + +MARTIE, THE UNCONQUERED. Illustrated by Charles K. Chambers. + +The triumph of a dauntless spirit over adverse conditions. + +THE HEART OF RACHAEL. Frontispiece by Charles E. Chambers. + +An interesting story of divorce and the problems that come with a second +marriage. + +THE STORY OF JULIA PAGE. Frontispiece by C. Allan Gilbert. + +A sympathetic portrayal of the quest of a normal girl, obscure and +lonely, for the happiness of life. + +SATURDAY'S CHILD. Frontispiece by F. Graham Cootes. + +Can a girl, born in rather sordid conditions, lift herself through sheer +determination to the better things for which her soul hungered? + +MOTHER. Illustrated by F. C. Yohn. + +A story of the big mother heart that beats in the background of every +girl's life, and some dreams which came true. + + Ask for Complete free list of G. & D. Popular Copyrighted Fiction + Grosset & Dunlap, Publishers, New York + + * * * * * * + + BOOTH TARKINGTON'S NOVELS + May be had wherever books are sold. Ask for Grosset & Dunlap's list. + +SEVENTEEN. Illustrated by Arthur William Brown. + +No one but the creator of Penrod could have portrayed the immortal young +people of this story. Its humor is irresistible and reminiscent of the +time when the reader was Seventeen. + +PENROD. Illustrated by Gordon Grant. + +This is a picture of a boy's heart, full of the lovable, humorous, tragic +things which are locked secrets to most older folks. It is a finished, +exquisite work. + +PENROD AND SAM. Illustrated by Worth Brehm. + +Like "Penrod" and "Seventeen," this book contains some remarkable phases +of real boyhood and some of the best stories of juvenile prankishness +that have ever been written. + +THE TURMOIL. Illustrated by G. E. Chambers. + +Bibbs Sheridan is a dreamy, imaginative youth, who revolts against his +father's plans for him to be a servitor of big business. The love of a +fine girl turns Bibb's life from failure to success. + +THE GENTLEMAN FROM INDIANA. Frontispiece. + +A story of love and politics,--more especially a picture of a country +editor's life in Indiana, but the charm of the book lies in the love +interest. + +THE FLIRT. Illustrated by Clarence F. Underwood. + +The "Flirt," the younger of two sisters, breaks one girl's engagement, +drives one man to suicide, causes the murder of another, leads another to +lose his fortune, and in the end marries a stupid and unpromising suitor, +leaving the really worthy one to marry her sister. + + Ask for Complete free list of G. & D. Popular Copyrighted Fiction + Grosset & Dunlap, Publishers, New York + + * * * * * * + + THE NOVELS OF MARY ROBERTS RINEHART + May be had wherever books are sold. Ask for Grosset & Dunlap's list. + +DANGEROUS DAYS. + +A brilliant story of married life. A romance of fine purpose and stirring +appeal. + +THE AMAZING INTERLUDE. Illustrations by The Kinneys. + +The story of a great love which cannot be pictured--an interlude--amazing, +romantic. + +LOVE STORIES. + +This book is exactly what Its title indicates, a collection of love +affairs--sparkling with humor, tenderness and sweetness. + +"K." Illustrated. + +K. LeMoyne, famous surgeon, goes to live in a little town where beautiful +Sidney Page lives. She is in training to become a nurse. The joys and +troubles of their young love are told with keen and sympathetic +appreciation. + +THE MAN IN LOWER TEN. Illustrated by Howard Chandler Christy. + +An absorbing detective story woven around the mysterious death of the +"Man in Lower Ten." + +WHEN A MAN MARRIES. Illustrated by Harrison Fisher and Mayo Bunker. + +A young artist, whose wife had recently divorced him, finds that his aunt +is soon to visit him. The aunt, who contributes to the family income, +knows nothing of the domestic upheaval. How the young man met the +situation is entertainingly told. + +THE CIRCULAR STAIRCASE. Illustrated by Lester Ralph. + +The occupants of "Sunnyside" find the dead body of Arnold Armstrong on +the circular staircase. Following the murder a bank failure is announced. +Around these two events is woven a plot of absorbing interest. + +THE STREET OF SEVEN STARS. (Photoplay Edition.) + +Harmony Wells, studying in Vienna to be a great violinist, suddenly +realizes that her money is almost gone. She meets a young ambitious +doctor who offers her chivalry and sympathy, and together with world-worn +Dr. Anna and Jimmie, the waif, they share their love and slender means. + + Grosset & Dunlap, Publishers, New York + + * * * * * * + + ZANE GREY'S NOVELS + May be had wherever books are sold. Ask for Grosset & Dunlap's list. + +THE MAN OF THE FOREST +THE DESERT OF WHEAT +THE U. P. TRAIL +WILDFIRE +THE BORDER LEGION +THE RAIBOW TRAIL +THE HERITAGE OF THE DESERT +RIDERS OF THE PURPLE SAGE +THE LIGHT OF WESTERN STARS +THE LAST OF THE PLAINSMEN +THE LONE STAR RANGER +DESERT GOLD +BETTY ZANE + +LAST OF THE GREAT SCOUTS + +The life story of "Buffalo Bill" by his sister Helen Cody Wetmore, with +Foreword and conclusion by Zane Grey. + + ZANE GREY'S BOOKS FOR BOYS + +KEN WARD IN THE JUNGLE +THE YOUNG LION HUNTER +THE YOUNG FORESTER +THE YOUNG PITCHER +THE SHORT STOP +THE RED-HEADED OUTFIELD AND OTHER BASEBALL STORIES + + Grosset & Dunlap, Publishers, New York + + * * * * * * + + STORIES OF RARE CHARM BY GENE STRATTON-PORTER + May be had wherever books are sold. Ask for Grosset & Dunlap's list. + +MICHAEL O'HALLORAN. Illustrated by Frances Rogers. + +Michael is a quick-witted little Irish newsboy, living in Northern +Indiana. He adopts a deserted little girl, a cripple. He also assumes the +responsibility of leading the entire rural community upward and onward. + +LADDIE. Illustrated by Herman Pfeifer. + +This is a bright, cheery tale with the scenes laid in Indiana. The story +is told by Little Sister, the youngest member of a large family, but it +is concerned not so much with childish doings as with the love affairs of +older members of the family. Chief among them is that of Laddie and the +Princess, an English girl who has come to live in the neighborhood and +about whose family there hangs a mystery. + +THE HARVESTER. Illustrated by W. L. Jacobs. + +"The Harvester," is a man of the woods and fields, and if the book had +nothing in it but the splendid figure of this man it would be notable. +But when the Girl comes to his "Medicine Woods," there begins a romance +of the rarest idyllic quality. + +FRECKLES. Illustrated. + +Freckles is a nameless waif when the tale opens, but the way in which he +takes hold of life; the nature friendships he forms in the great +Limberlost Swamp; the manner in which everyone who meets him succumbs to +the charm of his engaging personality; and his love-story with "The +Angel" are full of real sentiment. + +A GIRL OF THE LIMBERLOST. Illustrated. + +The story of a girl of the Michigan woods; a buoyant, loveable type of +the self-reliant American. Her philosophy is one of love and kindness +towards all things; her hope is never dimmed. And by the sheer beauty of +her soul, and the purity of her vision, she wins from barren and +unpromising surroundings those rewards of high courage. + +AT THE FOOT OF THE RAINBOW. Illustrations in colors. + +The scene of this charming love story is laid in Central Indiana. The +story is one of devoted friendship, and tender self-sacrificing love. The +novel is brimful of the most beautiful word painting of nature, and its +pathos and tender sentiment will endear it to all. + +THE SONG OF THE CARDINAL. Profusely illustrated. + +A love ideal of the Cardinal bird and his mate, told with delicacy and +humor. + + Grosset & Dunlap, Publishers, New York + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK EVE TO THE RESCUE*** + + +******* This file should be named 25892-8.txt or 25892-8.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/5/8/9/25892 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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