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diff --git a/30759-h/30759-h.htm b/30759-h/30759-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..bf73245 --- /dev/null +++ b/30759-h/30759-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,7763 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" +"http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=utf-8" /> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Exit Betty, by Grace Livingston Hill</title> + +<style type="text/css"> + + p {margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + text-indent: 1.25em; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + img {border: 0;} + .tnote {border: dashed 1px; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em;} + ins {text-decoration:none; border-bottom: thin dotted gray;} + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + } /* page numbers */ + .copyright {text-align: center; font-size: 70%;} + .blockquot{margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%; text-align: justify;} + .bbox {border: solid 2px; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em;} + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + .right {text-align: right;} + .poem {margin-left: 30%; margin-right: 10%; text-align: left;} + + hr.full { width: 100%; + margin-top: 3em; + margin-bottom: 0em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + height: 4px; + border-width: 4px 0 0 0; /* remove all borders except the top one */ + border-style: solid; + border-color: #000000; + clear: both; } + pre {font-size: 85%;} + </style> +</head> +<body> +<h1>The Project Gutenberg eBook, Exit Betty, by Grace Livingston Hill</h1> +<pre> +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 <a href = "http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre> +<p>Title: Exit Betty</p> +<p>Author: Grace Livingston Hill</p> +<p>Release Date: December 25, 2009 [eBook #30759]</p> +<p>Language: English</p> +<p>Character set encoding: UTF-8</p> +<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK EXIT BETTY***</p> +<p> </p> +<h3>E-text prepared by Suzanne Shell, Emmy,<br /> + and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br /> + (http://www.pgdp.net)</h3> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p> </p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 345px;"> +<img src="images/cover01.jpg" width="345" height="500" alt="Exit Betty Cover" title="" /> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h2><span class="smcap">Books By</span><br /> + +GRACE LIVINGSTON HILL</h2> + + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Grace Livingston Hill Books"> +<tr><td align='left'>April Gold</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Happiness Hill</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Beloved Stranger</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Honor Girl</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Bright Arrows</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Kerry</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Christmas Bride</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Marigold</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Crimson Roses</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Miranda</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Duskin</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Mystery of Mary</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Found Treasure</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Partners</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>A Girl to Come Home To</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Rainbow Cottage</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Red Signal</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>White Orchids</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Silver Wings</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Tryst</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Strange Proposal</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Through These Fires</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Street of the City</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>All Through the Night</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Gold Shoe</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Astra</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Homing</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Blue Ruin</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Job's Niece</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Challengers</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Man of the Desert</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Coming Through the Rye</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>More Than Conqueror</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Daphne Deane</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>A New Name</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Enchanted Barn</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Patch of Blue</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Girl from Montana</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Ransom</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Rose Galbraith</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Witness</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Sound of the Trumpet</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Sunrise</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Tomorrow About This Time</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Amorelle</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Head of the House</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Ariel Custer</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>In Tune with Wedding Bells</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Chance of a Lifetime</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Maris</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Crimson Mountain</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Out of the Storm</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Exit Betty</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Mystery Flowers</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Prodigal Girl</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Girl of the Woods</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Re-Creations</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The White Flower</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Matched Pearls</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Time of the Singing of Birds</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Ladybird</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Substitute Guest</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Beauty for Ashes</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Stranger Within the Gates</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Best Man</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Spice Box</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>By Way of the Silverthorns</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Seventh Hour</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Dawn of the Morning</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Search</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Brentwood</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Cloudy Jewel</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Voice in the Wilderness</td></tr> +</table></div> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><div class='bbox'> +<h1>EXIT BETTY</h1> + +<h3>BY</h3> + +<h2>GRACE LIVINGSTON HILL</h2> + +<div class='center'>AUTHOR OF<br /> + +MARCIA SCHUYLER, THE SEARCH,<br /> +DAWN OF THE MORNING, <span class="smcap">Etc.</span><br /> + +<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><big>GROSSET & DUNLAP</big><br /> + +PUBLISHERS NEW YORK</div> +</div> + +<div class='copyright'><br />Made in the United States of America</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class='copyright'>COPYRIGHT, 1919, BY THE CHRISTIAN HERALD<br /> + +COPYRIGHT, 1920, BY J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>EXIT BETTY</h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h2>Contents</h2> +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Contents"> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_I"><b>CHAPTER I</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_II"><b>CHAPTER II</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_III"><b>CHAPTER III</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_IV"><b>CHAPTER IV</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_V"><b>CHAPTER V</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_VI"><b>CHAPTER VI</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_VII"><b>CHAPTER VII</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII"><b>CHAPTER VIII</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_IX"><b>CHAPTER IX</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_X"><b>CHAPTER X</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XI"><b>CHAPTER XI</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XII"><b>CHAPTER XII</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII"><b>CHAPTER XIII</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV"><b>CHAPTER XIV</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XV"><b>CHAPTER XV</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI"><b>CHAPTER XVI</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII"><b>CHAPTER XVII</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII"><b>CHAPTER XVIII</b></a></td></tr> +</table></div> + + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I</h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> crowd gave way and the car glided smoothly +up to the curb at the canopied entrance to the church. +The blackness of the wet November night was upon +the street. It had rained at intervals all day.</p> + +<p>The pavements shone wetly like new paint in +the glimmer of the street lights, and rude shadows +gloomed in every cranny of the great stone building.</p> + +<p>Betty, alone in the midst of her bridal finery, +shrank back from the gaze of the curious onlookers, +seeming very small like a thing of the air caught in +a mesh of the earth.</p> + +<p>She had longed all day for this brief respite from +everyone, but it had passed before she could concentrate +her thoughts. She started forward, a flame +of rose for an instant in her white cheeks, but gone as +quickly. Her eyes reminded one of the stars among +the far-away clouds on a night of fitful storm with +only glimpses of their beauty in breaks of the overcast +sky. Her small hands gripped one another excitedly, +and the sweet lips were quivering.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span></p> + +<p>A white-gloved hand reached out to open the car +door, and other hands caught and cared for the billow +of satin and costly lace with which she was surrounded, +as if it, and not she, were the important one.</p> + +<p>They led her up the curtained way, where envious +eyes peeped through a furtive rip in the canvas, or +craned around an opening to catch a better glimpse +of her loveliness, one little dark-eyed foreigner even +reached out a grimy, wondering finger to the silver +whiteness of her train; but she, all unknowing, trod +the carpeted path as in a dream.</p> + +<p>The wedding march was just beginning. She +caught the distant notes, felt the hush as she approached +the audience, and wondered why the ordeal +seemed so much greater now that she was actually +come to the moment. If she had known it would be +like this—! Oh, why had she given in!</p> + +<p>The guests had risen and were stretching their +necks for the first vision of her. The chaplet of +costly blossoms sat upon her brow and bound her +wedding veil floating mistily behind, but the lovely +head was bowed, not lifted proudly as a bride's +should be, and the little white glove that rested on +the arm of the large florid cousin trembled visibly. +The cousin was almost unknown until a few hours +before. His importance overpowered her. She<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span> +drooped her eyes and tried not to wish for the quiet, +gray-haired cousin of her own mother. It was so +strange for him to have failed her at the last moment, +when he had promised long ago to let nothing +hinder him from giving her away if she should ever +be married. His telegram, "Unavoidably detained," +had been received but an hour before. He seemed +the only one of her kind, and now she was all alone. +All the rest were like enemies, although they professed +deep concern for her welfare; for they were +leagued together against all her dearest wishes, until +she had grown weary in the combat.</p> + +<p>She gave a frightened glance behind as if some +intangible thing were following her. Was it a +hounding dread that after all she would not be free +after marriage?</p> + +<p>With measured tread she passed the long white-ribboned +way, under arches that she never noticed, +through a sea of faces that she never saw, to the +altar smothered in flowers and tropical ferns. It +seemed interminable. Would it never end? They +paused at last, and she lifted frightened eyes to the +florid cousin, and then to the face of her bridegroom!</p> + +<p>It was a breathless moment, and but for the deep +tones of the organ now hushing for the ceremony, +one of almost audible silence. No lovelier bride had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span> +trod those aisles in many a long year; so exquisite, +so small, so young—and so exceeding rich! The +guests were entranced, and every eye was greedily +upon her as the white-robed minister advanced with +his open book.</p> + +<p>"Beloved, we are met together to-night to join +this man——!"</p> + +<p>At that word they saw the bride suddenly, softly +sink before them, a little white heap at the altar, with +the white face turned upward, the white eyelids +closed, the long dark lashes sweeping the pretty +cheek, the wedding veil trailing mistily about her +down the aisle, and her big bouquet of white roses +and maiden-hair ferns clasped listlessly in the white-gloved +hands.</p> + +<p>For a moment no one stirred, so sudden, so unexpected +it was. It all seemed an astonishing part +of the charming spectacle. The gaping throng with +startled faces stood and stared. Above the huddled +little bride stood the bridegroom, tall and dark and +frowning, an angry red surging through his handsome +face. The white-haired minister, with two red +spots on his fine scholarly cheeks, stood grave with +troubled dignity, as though somehow he meant to +hold the little still bride responsible for this unseemly +break in his beautiful service. The organ died away<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span> +with a soft crash of the keys and pedals as if they +too leaped up to see; the scent of the lilies swept sickeningly +up in a great wave on the top of the silence.</p> + +<p>In a moment all was confusion. The minister +stooped, the best man sprang into the aisle and lifted +the flower-like head. Some one produced a fan, and +one of the ushers hurried for a glass of water. A +physician struggled from his pew across the sittings +of three stout dowagers, and knelt, with practiced +finger on the little fluttering pulse. The bride's stepmother +roused to solicitous and anxious attention. +The organ came smartly up again in a hopeless tangle +of chords and modulations, trying to get its poise +once more. People climbed upon their seats to see, +or crowded out in the aisle curiously and unwisely +kind, and in the way. Then the minister asked the +congregation to be seated; and amid the rustle of +wedding finery into seats suddenly grown too narrow +and too low, the ushers gathered up the little inert +bride and carried her behind the palms across a hall +and into the vestry room. The stepmother and a +group of friends hurried after, and the minister requested +the people to remain quietly seated for a few +minutes. The organ by this time had recovered its +poise and was playing soft tender melodies, but the +excited audience was not listening:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I thought she looked ghastly when she came +in," declared the mother of three frowsy daughters. +"It's strange she didn't put on some rouge."</p> + +<p>"Um-mm! What a pity! I suppose she isn't +strong! What did her own mother die of?" murmured +another speculatively, preparing to put forth +a theory before any one else got ahead of her.</p> + +<p>"Oh! The poor child!" sympathized a romantic +friend. "They've been letting her do too much! +Didn't they make a handsome couple? I'm crazy to +see them come marching down the aisle. They surely +wouldn't put off the wedding just for a faint, +would they?"</p> + +<p>And all over the church some woman began to tell +how her sister's child, or her brother's niece, or her +nephew's aunt had fainted just before her wedding +or during it, till it began to seem quite a common performance, +and one furnishing a unique and interesting +part of the program for a wedding ceremony.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile on a couch in the big gloomy vestry +room lay Betty with a group of attendants about her. +Her eyes were closed, and she made no move. She +swallowed the aromatic ammonia that some one produced, +and she drew her breath a little less feebly, +but she did not open her eyes, nor respond when +they spoke to her.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span></p> + +<p>Her stepmother stooped over finally and spoke +in her ear:</p> + +<p>"Elizabeth Stanhope! sit up and control yourself!" +she said sharply in a low tone. "You are +making a spectacle of yourself that you can never +get over. Your father would be ashamed of you if +he were here!"</p> + +<p>It was the one argument that had been held +a successful lash over her poor little quivering heart +for the last five years, and Betty flashed open her +sorrowful eyes and looked around on them with a +troubled concentration as if she were just taking in +what had happened:</p> + +<p>"I'm so tired!" she said in a little weary voice. +"Won't you just let me get my breath a minute?"</p> + +<p>The physician nodded emphatically toward the +door and motioned them out:</p> + +<p>"She'll be all right in just a minute. Step outside +and give her a chance to get calm. She's only +worn out with excitement."</p> + +<p>She opened her eyes and looked furtively about +the room. There was no one there, and the door was +closed. She could hear them murmuring in low +tones just beyond it. She looked wildly about her +with a frantic thought of escape. The two windows +were deeply curtained, giving a narrow glimpse of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span> +blank wall. She sprang softly to her feet and looked +out. There was a stone pavement far below. She +turned silently and tried a door. It opened into a +closet overflowing with musty hymn-books. She +closed it quickly and slipped back to her couch just +in time as the door opened and the doctor came back. +She could catch a glimpse of the others through the +half open door, anxiously peering in. She gathered +all her self-control and spoke:</p> + +<p>"I'm all right now, Doctor," she said quite +calmly. "Would you just ask them to send Bessemer +here a minute?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly." The doctor turned courteously and +went back to the door, half closing it and making +her request in a low tone. Then her stepmother's +excited sibilant whisper:</p> + +<p>"Bessemer! Why, he isn't here! He went +down to the shore last night."</p> + +<p>"Sh-h-h!" came another voice, and the door +was shut smartly.</p> + +<p>Betty's eyes grew wide with horror as she lay +staring at the closed door, and a cold numbness +seemed to envelop her, clutching at her throat, her +heart and threatening to overwhelm her.</p> + +<p>Bessemer not here! What could it mean? Her +mind seemed unable to grasp and analyze the nameless<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span> +fear that awaited her outside that door. In a +moment more they would all swarm in and surround +her, and begin to clamor for her to go back into that +awful church—and <i>she could not</i>—<span class="smcap">ever</span>! She would +far rather die!</p> + +<p>She sprang to her feet again and glided noiselessly +to the only remaining uninvestigated door in +the room. If this was another closet she would +shut herself inside and stay till she died. She had +read tales of people dying in a small space from +lack of air. At least, if she did not die she could +stay here till she had time to think. There was a +key in the lock. Her fingers closed around it and +drew it stealthily from the keyhole, as she slid +through the door, drawing her rich draperies ruthlessly +after. Her fingers were trembling so that she +scarcely could fit the key in the lock again and +turn it, and every click of the metal, every creak of +the door, sounded like a gong in her ears. Her heart +was fluttering wildly and the blood seemed to be +pouring in torrents behind her ear-drums. She could +not be sure whether there were noises in the room she +had just left or not. She put her hand over her +heart, turned with a sickening dread to look about her +prison, and behold, it was not a closet at all, but a +dark landing to a narrow flight of stone steps that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span> +wound down out of sight into the shadows. With +a shudder she gathered her white impediment about +her and crept down the murky way, frightened, yet +glad to creep within the friendly darkness.</p> + +<p>There were unmistakable sounds of footsteps +overhead now, and sharp exclamations. A hand +tried the door above and rattled it violently. For an +instant her heart beat frightfully in her throat at the +thought that perhaps after all she had not succeeded +in quite locking it, but the door held, and she flew on +blindly down the stairs, caring little where they led +only so that she might hide quickly before they found +the janitor and pried that door open.</p> + +<p>The stairs ended in a little hall and a glass door. +She fumbled wildly with the knob. It was locked, +but there was a key! It was a large one and stuck, +and gave a great deal of trouble in turning. Her +fingers seemed so weak!</p> + +<p>Above the noises grew louder. She fancied the +door was open and the whole churchful of people +were after her. She threw her full weight with fear +in the balance, and the key turned. She wrenched +it out of the rusty keyhole, slid out shutting the door +after her, and stooping, fitted in the key again. With +one more Herculean effort she locked it and +stood up, trembling so that she could scarcely keep<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span> +her balance. At least she was safe for a moment +and could get her breath. But where could she go? +She looked about her. High walls arose on either +hand, with a murky sky above. A stone walk filled +the space between and ran down the length of the +church to a big iron gate. The lights of the street +glistened fitfully on the puddles of wet in the depressions +of the paving-stones. The street looked quiet, +and only one or two people were passing. Was that +gate locked also, and if so could she ever climb it, +or break through? Somehow she must! She shuddered +at the thought of what would happen if she did +not get away at once. She strained at the buttons +on her soft white gloves and pulled the fingers off, +slipping her hands out and letting the glove hands +hang limp at her wrists. Then with a quick glance +backward at a flicker of light that appeared wavering +beyond the glass door, she gathered her draperies +again and fled down the long stone walk. Silently, +lightly as a ghost she passed, and crouched at the +gate as she heard footsteps, her heart beating so +loudly it seemed like a bell calling attention to her. +An old man was shuffling past, and she shrank +against the wall, yet mindful of the awful glass door +back at the end of the narrow passage. If they should +come now she could not hope to elude them!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span></p> + +<p>She stooped and studied the gate latch. Yes, it +was a spring lock, and had no key in it. Stealthily +she tried it and found to her relief that it swung open. +She stepped around it and peered out. The gateway +was not more than a hundred feet from the brightly +lighted corner of the main avenue where rows of +automobiles were lined up waiting for the wedding +ceremony to be over. She could see the chauffeurs +walking back and forth and chatting together. She +could hear the desultory wandering of the organ, +too, from the partly open window near by. A faint +sickening waft of lily sweetness swept out, mingled +with a dash of drops from the maple tree on the +sidewalk. In a panic she stepped forth and drew +back again, suddenly realizing for the first time what +it would be to go forth into the streets clad in her +wedding garments? How could she do it and get +away? It could not be done!</p> + +<p>Down the street, with a backward, wistful glance +at the church, hurried a large woman with a market +basket. Her curious eyes shone in the evening light +and darkness of the street. There was something +about her face that made Betty know instantly that +this woman would love to tell how she had seen her, +would gather a crowd in no time and pursue her. +She shrank farther back, and then waited in awful<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span> +fear and tried to listen again. Was that a rattling +at the glass door? She must get away no matter +what happened! Where? Was there an alleyway +or anything across the block? Could she hope to +cross the street between the shadows unnoticed?</p> + +<p>She looked out fearfully once more. A girl of +her own age was approaching around the corner, +paddling along in rubbers, and a long coat. She +was chewing gum. Betty could see the outline of a +strong good-natured jaw working contentedly as she +was silhouetted against the light. She had her hands +in her pockets, and a little dark hat worn boyishly +on the back of her head, and she was humming a +popular song. Betty had slipped behind the half +open gate again and was watching her approach, her +desperation driving her to thoughts that never would +have entered her mind at another time. Suddenly, +as the girl passed directly in front of the gate, Betty +leaned forward and plucked at her sleeve:</p> + +<p>"Wait!" she said sharply; and then, with a pitiful +pleading in her voice, "Won't you help me just +a minute, please?"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II</h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> girl came to a standstill abruptly and faced +about, drawing away just a hair's-breadth from the +detaining hand, and surveying her steadily, the boyish +expression in her eyes changing to an amused calculation +such as one would fancy a cowboy held +up on his native plains by a stray lamb might +have worn.</p> + +<p>"What's the little old idea!" asked the girl +coldly, her eyes narrowing as she studied the other +girl in detail and attempted to classify her into the +known and unknown quantities of her world. Her +face was absolutely expressionless as far as any sign +of interest or sympathy was concerned. It was like +a house with the door still closed and a well-trained +butler in attendance.</p> + +<p>"I've got to get away from here at once before +anybody sees me," whispered Betty excitedly, with a +fearful glance behind her.</p> + +<p>"Do you want me to call a cab for you?" +sneered the girl on the sidewalk, with an envious +glance at the white satin slippers.</p> + +<p>"Oh, no! Never!" cried Betty, wringing her +hands in desperation. "I want you to show me<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span> +somewhere to go out of sight, and if you will +I'd like you to walk a block or so with me so I +won't be so—so conspicuous! I'm so frightened +I don't know which way to go."</p> + +<p>"What do you want to go at all for?" asked +the girl bluntly, with the look of an inquisitor, and +the intolerance of the young for its contemporary +of another social class.</p> + +<p>"Because I <i>must!</i>" said Betty with terror in her +voice. "They're coming! Listen! Oh, help me +quick! I can't wait to explain!"</p> + +<p>Betty dashed out of the gate and would have +started up the street but that a strong young arm +came out like a flash and a firm young fist gripped her +arm like a vise. The girl's keen ears had caught +a sound of turning key and excited voices, and her +quick eyes pierced the darkness of the narrow court +and measured the distance back.</p> + +<p>"Here! You can't go togged out like that!" +she ordered in quite a different tone. She flung off +her own long coat and threw it around the shrinking +little white figure, then knelt and deftly turned up +the long satin draperies out of sight and fixed them +firmly with a pin extracted from somewhere about +her person. Quickly she stood up and pulled off her +rubbers, her eye on the long dark passageway whence<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span> +came now the decided sound of a forcibly opened +door and footsteps.</p> + +<p>"Put these on, quick!" she whispered, lifting +first one slippered foot and then the other and supporting +the trembling Betty in her strong young +arms, while she snapped on the rubbers.</p> + +<p>Lastly, she jerked the rakish hat from her own +head, crammed it down hard over the orange-wreathed +brow and gave her strange protégée a +hasty shove.</p> + +<p>"Now beat it around that corner and wait till I +come!" she whispered, and turning planted herself +in an idle attitude just under the church window, +craning her neck and apparently listening to the +music. A second later an excited usher, preceded by +the janitor, came clattering down the passageway.</p> + +<p>"Have you seen any one go out of this gate +recently?" asked the usher.</p> + +<p>The girl, hatless and coatless in the chill November +night, turned nonchalantly at the question, surveyed +the usher coolly from the point of his patent +leather shoes to the white gardenia in his buttonhole, +gave his features a cursory glance, and then shook +her head.</p> + +<p>"There might have been an old woman come out +a while back. Dressed in black, was she? I wasn't<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span> +paying much attention. I think she went down the +avenoo," she said, and stretched her neck again, +standing on her tiptoes to view the wedding guests. +Her interest suddenly became real, for she spied a +young man standing in the church, in full view of +the window, back against the wall with his arms +folded, a fine handsome young man with pleasant +eyes and a head like that of a young nobleman, and +she wanted to make sure of his identity. He looked +very much like the young lawyer whose office boy +was her "gentleman friend." Just to make sure she +gave a little spring from the sidewalk that brought +her eyes almost on a level with the window and gave +her a brief glimpse, enough to see his face quite +clearly; then she turned with satisfaction to see that +the janitor and the usher had gone back up the +passageway, having slammed the gate shut. Without +more ado the girl wheeled and hurried down +the street toward the corner where Betty crouched +behind a tree trunk, watching fearfully for +her coming.</p> + +<p>"Aw! You don't need to be that scared!" said +the girl, coming up. "They've gone back. I threw +'em off the scent. Come on! We'll go to my room +and see what to do. Don't talk! Somebody might +recognize your voice. Here, we'll cut through this<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span> +alley and get to the next block. It's further away +and not so many folks passing."</p> + +<p>Silently they hurried through the dark alley and +down the next street, Betty holding the long cloak +close that no gleam of her white satin might shine +out and give away her secret, her heart beating +like a trip hammer in her breast, her eyes filled with +unshed tears, the last words of her stepmother ringing +in her ears. Was she making her father +ashamed? Her dear dead father! Was she doing +the wrong thing? So long that thought had held +her! But she could not go back now. She had +taken an irrevocable step.</p> + +<p>Her guide turned another corner abruptly and +led her up some stone steps to the door of a tall, +dingy brick house, to which she applied a latchkey.</p> + +<p>The air of the gloomy hall was not pleasant. The +red wall-paper was soiled and torn, and weird +shadows flickered from the small gas taper that +blinked from the ceiling. There were suggestions +of old dinners, stale fried potatoes and pork in all +the corners, and one moving toward the stairs seemed +to stir them up and set them going again like +old memories.</p> + +<p>The stairs were bare and worn by many feet, +and not particularly clean. Betty paused in dismay<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span> +then hurried on after her hostess, who was mounting +up, one, two, three flights, to a tiny hall bedroom +at the back. A fleeting fear that perhaps the place +was not respectable shot through her heart, but her +other troubles were so great that it found no lodgment. +Panting and trembling she arrived at the top +and stood looking about her in the dark, while the +other girl found a match and lighted another wicked +little flickering gas-burner.</p> + +<p>Then her hostess drew her into the room and +closed and locked the door. As a further precaution +she climbed upon a chair and pushed the transom +shut.</p> + +<p>"Now," she said with a sigh of evident relief, +"we're safe! No one can hear you here, and you +can say what you please. But first we'll get this coat +and hat off and see what's the damage."</p> + +<p>As gently as if she were undressing a baby the +girl removed the hat and coat from her guest, and +shook out the wonderful shining folds of satin. It +would have been a study for an artist to have +watched her face as she worked, smoothing out +wrinkles, shaking the lace down and uncrushing it, +straightening a bruised orange-blossom, and putting +everything in place. It was as if she herself were an +artist restoring a great masterpiece, so silently and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span> +absorbedly she worked, her eyes full of a glad wonder +that it had come to her once to be near and +handle anything so rare and costly. The very touch +of the lace and satin evidently thrilled her; the breath +of the exotic blossoms was nectar as she drew it in.</p> + +<p>Betty was still panting from her climb, still +trembling from her flight, and she stood obedient and +meek while the other girl pulled and shook and +brushed and patted her into shape again. When +all was orderly and adjusted about the crumpled +bride, the girl stood back as far as the limits of the +tiny room allowed and surveyed the finished picture.</p> + +<p>"There now! You certainly do look great! +That there band of flowers round your forehead +makes you look like some queen. 'Coronet'—ain't +that what they call it? I read that once in a story +at the Public Library. Say! Just to think I should +pick that up in the street! Good night! I'm glad +I came along just then instead o' somebody else! +This certainly is some picnic! Well, now, give us +your dope. It must've been pretty stiff to make you +cut and run from a show like the one they got up for +you! Come, tune up and let's hear the tale. I rather +guess I'm entitled to know before the curtain goes up +again on this little old stage!"</p> + +<p>The two tears that had been struggling with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span> +Betty for a long time suddenly appeared in her eyes +and drowned them out, and in dismay she brought +out a faint little sorry giggle of apology and amusement +and dropped on the tiny bed, which filled up a +good two-thirds of the room.</p> + +<p>"Good night!" exclaimed the hostess in alarm, +springing to catch her. "Don't drop down that +way in those glad rags! You'll finish 'em! Come, +stand up and we'll get 'em off. You look all in. I'd +oughta known you would be!" She lifted Betty +tenderly and began to remove her veil and unfasten +the wonderful gown. It seemed to her much like +helping an angel remove her wings for a nap. Her +eyes shone with genuine pleasure as she handled the +hooks deftly.</p> + +<p>"But I've nothing else to put on!" gurgled +Betty helplessly.</p> + +<p>"I have!" said the other girl.</p> + +<p>"Oh!" said Betty with a sudden thought. "I +wonder! Would you be willing to exchange clothes? +Have you perhaps got some things you don't need +that I could have, and I'll give you mine for them? +I don't suppose perhaps a wedding dress would be +very useful unless you're thinking of getting married +soon, but you could make it over and use it for +the foundation of an evening dress——"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span></p> + +<p>The other girl was carefully folding the white +satin skirt at the moment, but she stopped with it +in her arms and sat down weakly on the foot of the +bed with it all spread out in her lap and looked at +her guest in wonder:</p> + +<p>"You don't mean you <i>wantta give it up!</i>" she +said in an awed tone. "You don't mean you would +be willing to take some of my old togs for it?"</p> + +<p>"I certainly would!" cried Betty eagerly. "I +never want to see these things again! <i>I hate</i> them! +And besides, I want to get away somewhere. I can't +go in white satin! You know that! But I don't like +to take anything of yours that you might need. Do +you think these things would be worth anything +to you? You weren't thinking of getting married +yourself some time soon, were you?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I might," said the other girl, looking self-conscious. +"I got a gentleman friend. But I wasn't +expectin' to get in on any trooso like this!" She +let her finger move softly over the satin hem as if +she had been offered a plume of the angel's wing. +"Sure, I'll take it off you if I've got anything you're +satisfied to have in exchange. I wouldn't mind +havin' it to keep jest to look at now and then and +know it's mine. It'd be somethin' to live for, jest to +know you had that dress in the house!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span></p> + +<p>Suddenly Betty, without any warning even to +herself, dropped upon her knees beside the diminutive +bed and began to weep. It seemed somehow +so touching that a thing like a mere dress could make +a girl glad like that. All the troubles of the days +that were past went over her in a great wave of +agony, and overwhelmed her soul. In soft silk and +lace petticoat and camisole with her pretty white arms +and shoulders shaking with great sobs she buried +her face in the old patchwork quilt that her hostess +had brought from her village home, and gave way +to a grief that had been long in growing. The other +girl now thoroughly alarmed, laid the satin on a chair +and went over to the little stranger, gathering her +up in a strong embrace, and gradually lifting her to +the bed.</p> + +<p>"You poor little Kid, you! I oughtta known +better! You're just all in! You ben gettin' ready +to be married, and something big's been troubling +you, and I bet they never gave you any lunch—er +else you wouldn't eat it,—and you're jest natcheraly +all in. Now you lie right here an' I'll make you +some supper. My name's Jane Carson, and I've got +a good mother out to Ohio, and a nice home if I'd +had sense enough to stay in it; only I got a chance +to make big money in a fact'ry. But I know what 'tis<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span> +to be lonesome, an' I ain't hard-hearted, if I do +know how to take care of misself. There! There!"</p> + +<p>She smoothed back the lovely hair that curled +in golden tendrils where the tears had wet it.</p> + +<p>"Say, now, you needn't be afraid! Nobody'll +getcha here! I know how to bluff 'em. Even if +a policeman should come after yeh, I'd get around +him somehow, and I don't care what you've done or +ain't done, I'll stand by yeh. I'm not one to turn +against anybody in distress. My mother always +taught me that. After you've et a bite and had a +cup of my nice tea with cream and sugar in it you'll +feel better, and we'll have a real chin-fest and hear +all about it. Now, you just shut your eyes and wait +till I make that tea."</p> + +<p>Jane Carson thumped up the pillow scientifically +to make as many of the feathers as <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'posible'">possible</ins> and +shifted the little flower-head upon it. Then she +hurried to her small washstand and took a little iron +contrivance from the drawer, fastening it on the +sickly gas-jet. She filled a tiny kettle with water +from a faucet in the hall and set it to boil. From +behind a curtain in a little box nailed to the wall she +drew a loaf of bread, a paper of tea and a sugar-bowl. +A cup and saucer and other dishes appeared from +a pasteboard box under the washstand. A small<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span> +shelf outside the tiny window yielded a plate of butter, +a pint bottle of milk, and two eggs. She drew +a chair up to the bed, put a clean handkerchief on it, +and spread forth her table. In a few minutes the +fragrance of tea and toast pervaded the room, +and water was bubbling happily for the eggs. As +cosily as if she had a chum to dine with her she sat +down on the edge of the bed and invited her guest to +supper. As she poured the tea she wondered what +her co-laborers at the factory would think if they +knew she had a real society lady visiting her. It +wasn't every working girl that had a white satin +bride thrust upon her suddenly this way. It was +like a fairy story, having a strange bride lying on +her bed, and everything a perfect mystery about her. +She eyed the white silk ankles and dainty slippers +with satisfaction. Think of wearing underclothes +made of silk and real lace!</p> + +<p>It seemed to Betty as if never before in all her +life had she tasted anything so delicious as that tea +and toast and soft boiled egg cooked by this wonderful +girl on a gaslight and served on a chair. She +wanted to cry again over her gladness at being here. +It didn't seem real after all the trouble she had +been through. It couldn't last! Oh, of course it +couldn't last!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span></p> + +<p>This thought came as she swallowed the last bite +of toast, and she sat up suddenly!</p> + +<p>"I ought to be doing something quick!" she +said in sudden panic. "It is getting late and I must +get away. They'll be watching the trains, perhaps. +I ought to have gone at once. But I don't know +where I can go. Give me some old things, please. +I must get dressed at once."</p> + +<p>"Lie down first and tell me who you are and +what it's all about. I can't do a thing for you till +I know. I've got to go into this with my eyes open or +I won't stir one step," she declared stubbornly.</p> + +<p>Betty looked at her with wide eyes of trouble +and doubt. Then the doubt suddenly cleared away, +and trust broke through.</p> + +<p>"I can trust you, I'm sure! You've been so +good to me! But it seems dreadful to tell things +about my family, even to one who has been so kind. +My father would be so hurt——"</p> + +<p>"Your father? Where is your father? Why +didn't he take care of you and keep you from getting +into such big trouble, I'd like to know?"</p> + +<p>The blue eyes clouded with tears again.</p> + +<p>"My father died five years ago," she said, "but +I've always tried to do as he would want to have +me do. Only—this—I <i>couldn't</i>."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span></p> + +<p>"H'm!" said Jane Carson. "Then he prob'ly +wouldn't of wanted you to. Suppose you take the +rest of those togs off. I'll find you a warm nightgown +and we'll get to bed. It's turning cold here. +They take the heat off somewhere about six o'clock in +the evening, and it gets like ice up here sometimes."</p> + +<p>Jane shivered and went to her small trunk, from +which she produced a coarse but clean flanellete nightgown, +and Betty, who had never worn anything +but a dainty lingerie one before in all her life, crept +into it thankfully and cuddled down with a warm +feeling that she had found a real friend. It was +curious why she did not shrink from this poor girl, +but she did not, and everything looked clean and nice. +Besides, this was a wonderful haven of refuge in her +dire necessity.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III</h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Meanwhile</span>, in the stately mansion that Betty +had called home, a small regiment of servants hastened +with the last tasks in preparation for the +guests that were soon expected to arrive. The great +rooms had become a dream of paradise, with silver +rain and white lilies in a mist of soft green depending +from the high ceilings. In the midst of all, a +fairy bower of roses and tropical ferns created a +nook of retirement where everyone might catch a +glimpse of the bride and groom from any angle in +any room. The spacious vistas stretched away from +an equally spacious hallway, where a wide and +graceful staircase curved up to a low gallery, smothered +in flowers and palms and vines; and even so +early the musicians were taking their places and tuning +their instruments. On the floor above, where +room after room shone in beauty, with costly furnishings, +and perfect harmonies, white-capped maids +flitted about, putting last touches to dressing tables +and pausing to gossip as they passed one another:</p> + +<p>"Well, 'twill all be over soon," sighed one, a +wan-faced girl with discontented eyes. "Ain't it +kind of a pity, all this fuss just for a few minutes?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes, an' glad I'll be!" declared another, a fresh +young Irish girl with a faint, pretty brogue. "I +don't like the look of my Lady Betty. A pretty fuss +Candace her old nurse would be makin' if she was +here the night! I guess the madam knew what she +was about when she give her her walkin' ticket! +Candace never could bear them two bys, and <i>him</i> was +the worse of the two, she always said."</p> + +<p>"Well, a sight of good it would do for old +Candace to make a fuss!" said the discontented one. +"And anyhow, he's as handsome as the devil, and +she's got money enough, so she oughtn't complain."</p> + +<p>"Money ain't everything!" sniffed Aileen. "I +wouldn't marry a king if I wasn't crazy about him!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, you're young!" sneered Marie with disdain. +"Wait till your looks go! You don't know +what you'd take up with!"</p> + +<p>"Well I'd never take up with the likes of <i>him!</i>" +returned the Irish girl grandly, "and what's more +he knows it!" She tossed her head meaningfully +and was about to sail away on her own business +when a stir below stairs attracted their attention. +A stout, elderly woman, dressed in a stiff new black +silk and an apoplectic hat, came panting up the +stairs looking furtively from side to side, as if she +wished to escape before anyone recognized her:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It's Candace!" exclaimed Aileen. "As I live! +Now what d'ye wantta know about that! Poor +soul! <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'Pood'">Poor</ins> soul! Candy! Oh!—Candy! What +iver brought ye here the night? This is no place for +the loikes of you. You better beat it while +the beatin' is good if ye know which side yer +bread's buthered!"</p> + +<p>But the old nurse came puffing on, her face +red and excited:</p> + +<p>"Is she here? Has she come, yet, my poor wee +Betty?" she besought them eagerly.</p> + +<p>"Miss Betty's at the church now gettin' married!" +announced Marie uppishly, "and you'd best +be gettin' out of here right away, for the wedding +party's due to arrive any minute now and madam'll +be very angry to have a servant as doesn't belong +snoopin' round at such a time!"</p> + +<p>"Be still, Marie! For shame!" cried Aileen. +"You've no need to talk like that to a self-respectin' +woman as has been in this house more years than +you have been weeks! Come along, Candace, and +I'll slip you in my room and tell you all about it +when I can get away long enough. You see, Miss +Betty's being married——"</p> + +<p>"But she's <i>not!</i>" cried Candace wildly. "I +was at the church myself. Miss Betty sent me the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span> +word to be sure and come, and where to sit and all, +so she'd see me; and I went, and she come up the +aisle as white as a lily and dropped right there +before the poolpit, just like a little white lamb that +couldn't move another step, all of a heap in her +pretty things! And they stopped the ceremony and +everybody got up, and they took her away, and we +waited till bime-by the minister said the bride +wasn't well enough to proceed with the ceremony +and would they all go home, and I just slipped out +before the folks got their wraps on and took a +side street with wings to my feet and got up here! +Haven't they brought her home yet, the poor wee +thing? I been thinkin' they might need me yet, +for many's the time I've brought her round by +my nursin'."</p> + +<p>The two maids looked wildly at one another, +their glances growing into incredulity, the eyebrows +of Marie moving toward her well-dressed hair with a +lofty disapproval.</p> + +<p>"Well, you'd better come with me, Candy," said +Aileen drawing the excited old servant along the +hall to the back corridor gently. "I guess there's +some mistake somewheres; anyway, you better stay +in my room till you see what happens. We haven't +heard anything yet, and they'd likely send word<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span> +pretty soon if there's to be any change in the program. +You say she fell——?"</p> + +<p>But just then sounds of excitement came distantly +up to them and Aileen hastened back to the +gallery to listen. It was the voice of Madam Stanhope +angrily speaking to her youngest son:</p> + +<p>"You must get Bessemer on the 'phone at once +and order him home! I told you it was a great mistake +sending him away. If he had been standing +there, where she could see him, everything would +have gone through just as we planned it——"</p> + +<p>"Aw! Rot! Mother. Can't you shut up? I +know what I'm about and I'm going to call up another +detective. Bessemer may go to the devil for +all I care! How do you know but he has, and taken +her with him? The first thing to do is to get that +girl back! You ought to have had more sense than to +show your whole hand to my brother. You might +have known he'd take advantage——"</p> + +<p>Herbert Hutton slammed into the telephone +booth under the stairs and Madam Stanhope was +almost immediately aware of the staring servants +who were trying not to seem to have listened.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Stanhope stood in the midst of the beautiful +empty rooms and suddenly realized her position. +Her face froze into the haughty lines with which her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span> +menage was familiar, and she was as coldly beautiful +in her exquisite heliotrope gown of brocaded velvet +and chiffon with the glitter of jewels about her +smooth plump neck, and in her carefully marcelled +black hair as if she were quietly awaiting the bridal +party instead of facing defeat and mortification:</p> + +<p>"Aileen, you may get Miss Betty's room ready +to receive her. She has been taken ill and will be +brought home as soon as she is able to be moved," +she announced, without turning an eyelash. "Put +away her things, and get the bed ready!" One could +see that she was thinking rapidly. She was a woman +who had all her life been equal to an emergency, but +never had quite such a tragic emergency been thrust +upon her to camouflage before.</p> + +<p>"James!" catching the eye of the butler, "there +will be no reception to-night, of course, and you +will see that the hired people take their things away +as soon as possible, and say that I will agree to +whatever arrangements they see fit to make, within +reason, of course. Just use your judgment, James, +and by the way, there will be telephone calls, of +course, from our friends. Say that Miss Betty is +somewhat better, and the doctor hopes to avert a +serious nervous breakdown, but that she needs entire +rest and absolute quiet for a few days. Say that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span> +and nothing more, do you understand, James?"</p> + +<p>The butler bowed his thorough understanding +and Madam Stanhope sailed nobly up the flower-garlanded +staircase, past the huddled musicians, to +her own apartment. Aileen, with a frightened +glance, scuttled past the door as she was closing it:</p> + +<p>"Aileen, ask Mr. Herbert to come to my room +at once when he has finished telephoning, and when +Mr. Bessemer arrives send him to me at once!" +Then the door closed and the woman was alone with +her defeat, and the placid enameled features melted +into an angry snarl like an animal at bay. In a +moment more Herbert stormed in.</p> + +<p>"It's all your fault, mother!" he began, with +an oath. "If you hadn't dragged Bessemer into +this thing I'd have had her fixed. I had her just +about where I wanted her, and another day would +have broken her in. She's scared to death of insane +asylums, and I told her long ago that it would be +dead easy to put a woman in one for life. If I had +just hinted at such a thing she'd have married me +as meek as a lamb!"</p> + +<p>"Now look here, Bertie," flared his mother +excitedly, "you've got to stop blaming me! Haven't +I given in to you all your life, and now you say +it's all my fault the least little thing that happens!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span> +It was for your sake that I stopped you; you know +it was. You couldn't carry out any such crazy +scheme. Betty's almost of age, and if those trustees +should find out what you had threatened, you would +be in jail for life, and goodness knows what would +become of me."</p> + +<p>"Trustees! How would the trustees find it out?"</p> + +<p>"Betty might tell them."</p> + +<p>"Betty might <i>not</i> tell them, not if she was <i>my +wife!</i>" He bawled out the words in a way that +boded no blissful future to the one who should +have the misfortune to become his wife. "I think +I'd have her better trained than that. As for you, +Mother, you're all off, as usual! What do you +think could possibly happen to <i>you?</i> You're always +saying you do everything for me, but when it comes +right down to brass tacks I notice you're pretty much +of a selfish coward on your own account."</p> + +<p>For a moment the baffled woman faced her angry +uncontrolled son in speechless rage, then gathered +command of the situation once more, an inscrutable +expression on her hard-lined face. Her voice took +on an almost pitiful reproach as she spoke in a +low, even tone that could hardly fail to bring the +instant attention of her spoiled son:</p> + +<p>"Bertie, you don't know what you're talking<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span> +about!" she said, and there was a strained white +look of fear about her mouth and eyes as she spoke. +"I'm going to tell you, in this great crisis, what I +did for you, what I risked that you might enjoy +the luxury which you have had for the last five years. +Listen! The day before Mr. Stanhope died he +wrote a letter to the trustees of Betty's fortune giving +very explicit directions about her money and +her guardianship, tying things up so that not one +cent belonging to her should pass through my hands, +which would have left us with just my income as +the will provided, and would have meant comparative +poverty for us all except as Betty chose to be +benevolent. I kept a strict watch on all his movements +those last few days, of course, and when I +found he had given Candace a letter to mail, I told +her I would look after it, and I brought it up to my +room and read it, for I suspected just some such +thing as he had done. He was very fussy about +Betty and her rights, you remember, and he had +always insisted that this was Betty's house, her +mother's wedding present from the grandfather, +and therefore not ours at all, except through Betty's +bounty. I was determined that we should not be +turned out of here, and that you should not have +to go without the things you wanted while that child<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span> +had everything and far more than she needed. So +I burned the letter! Now, do you see what the +mother you have been blaming has done for you?"</p> + +<p>But the son looked back with hard glittering eyes +and a sneer on his handsome lustful lips:</p> + +<p>"I guess you did it about as much for your +own sake as mine, didn't you?" he snarled. "And +I don't see what that's got to do with it, anyway. +Those trustees don't know what they missed if they +never got the letter, and you've always kept in with +them, you say, and made them think you were crazy +about the girl. They pay you Betty's allowance till +she's of age, don't they? They can't lay a finger +on you. You're a fool to waste my time talking +about a little thing like that when we ought to be +planning a way to get hold of that girl before the +trustees find out about it. If we don't get her fixed +before she's of age we shall be in the soup as far as +the property is concerned. Isn't that so? Well, then, +we've got to get her good and married——"</p> + +<p>"If you only had let her marry Bessemer +quietly," whimpered his mother, "and not have +brought in all this deception. It will look so terrible +if it ever comes out. I shall never be able to hold +up my head in society again——!"</p> + +<p>"There you are again! Thinking of yourself——!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span> +sneered the dutiful son, getting up and +stamping about her room like a wild man. "I tell +you, Mother, that girl is <i>mine</i>, and I won't have +Bessemer or anybody else putting in a finger. <i>She's +mine!</i> I told her so a long time ago, and she knows +it! She can't get away from me, and it's going to +go the harder with her because she's tried. I'm +never going to forgive her making a fool out of me +before all those people! I'll get her yet! Little fool!"</p> + +<p>Herbert was well on his way into one of those fits +of uncontrollable fury that had always held his +mother in obedience to his slightest whim since the +days when he used to lie on the floor and scream +himself black in the face and hold his breath till she +gave in; and the poor woman, wrought to the highest +pitch of excitement already by the tragic events +of the evening, which were only the climax of long +weeks of agitation, anxiety and plotting, dropped +suddenly into her boudoir chair and began to weep.</p> + +<p>But this new manifestation on the part of his +usually pliable mother only seemed to infuriate the +young man. He walked up to her, and seizing her +by the shoulder, shook her roughly:</p> + +<p>"Cut that out!" he said hoarsely. "This is no +time to cry. We've got to make some kind of a plan. +Don't you see we'll have the hounds of the press at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span> +our heels in a few hours? Don't you see we've got +to make a plan and stick to it?"</p> + +<p>His mother looked up, regardless for once of the +devastation those few tears had made of her carefully +groomed face, a new terror growing in +her eyes:</p> + +<p> +"I've told James to answer all telephone calls and say that Betty is doing as +well as could be expected, <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">but that the +doctor says she must have perfect</span> quiet to save her from a nervous +breakdown——" she answered him coldly. "I'm not quite a fool if you +do think so——" +</p> + +<p>"Well, that's all right for to-night, but what'll +we say to-morrow if we don't find her——"</p> + +<p>"Oh! She'll come back," said the stepmother +confidently. "She can't help it. Why, where would +she go? She hasn't a place on earth since she's lost +confidence in that cousin of her mother's because +he didn't come to her wedding. She hasn't an idea +that he never got her note asking him to give her +away. Thank heaven I got hold of that before it +reached the postman! If that old granny had been +here we should have had trouble indeed. I had an +experience with him once just before I married +Betty's father, and I never want to repeat it. But +we must look out what gets in the papers!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It's rather late for that, I suspect. The bloodhounds +'ill be around before many minutes and you +better think up what you want said. But I'm not so +sure she wouldn't go there, and we better tell the +detectives that. What's the old guy's address? I'll +call him up long distance and say she was on a motoring +trip and intended to stop there if she had time. +I'll ask if she's reached there yet."</p> + +<p>"That's a good idea, although I'm sure she was +too hurt about it to go to him. She cried all the +afternoon. It's a wonder she didn't look frightful! +But that's Betty! Cry all day and come out looking +like a star without any paint either. It's a pity somebody +that would have appreciated it couldn't have +had her complexion."</p> + +<p>"That's you all over, Mother, talking about +frivolous things when everything's happening at +once. You're the limit! I say, you'd better be getting +down to business! I've thought of another +thing. How about that old nurse, Candace? Betty +used to be crazy about her? What became of her?"</p> + +<p>Mrs. Stanhope's face hardened, and anxiety grew +in her eyes.</p> + +<p>"She might have gone to her, although I don't +believe she knows where she is. I'm sure I don't. +I sent her away just before we began to get ready for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span> +the wedding. I didn't dare have her here. She +knows too much and takes too much upon herself. +I wouldn't have kept her so long, only she knew I +took the trustee's letter, and she was very impudent +about it once or twice, so that I didn't really dare +to let her go until just a few days ago. I thought +things would all be over here before she could do any +harm, and Betty would be of age and have her money +in her own right, and being your wife, of course there +wouldn't be any more trouble about it."</p> + +<p>"Well, you better find out what's become of +her!" said the young man with darkening face. "<i>She</i> +ought to be locked up somewhere! She's liable to +make no end of trouble! You can't tell what she's +stirred up already! Ring for a servant and find out +if they know where she is. Ten to one that's where +Betty is."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Stanhope, with startled face, stepped to the +bell and summoned Aileen:</p> + +<p>"Aileen, have you any idea where we could find +Miss Betty's old nurse, Candace?" she asked in a +soothing tone, studying the maid's countenance. "I +think it might be well to send for her in case Miss +Betty needs her. She was so much attached to her!"</p> + +<p>Aileen lifted startled eyes to her mistress' face. +There was reserve and suspicion in her glance:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Why, she was here a few minutes ago," she +said guardedly. "It seems Miss Betty sent her an +invitation, and when Miss Betty took sick she was +that scared she ran out of the church and come here +to find out how she was. She might not have gone +yet. I could go see."</p> + +<p>"Here! Was she here?" Mrs. Stanhope turned +her head to her son and her eyes said: "That's +strange!" but she kept her face well under control.</p> + +<p>"Yes, you might go and see if you can find her, +Aileen, and if you do, tell her I would like to see +her a moment."</p> + +<p>Aileen went away on her errand and Mrs. Stanhope +turned to her son:</p> + +<p>"Betty can't have gone to her unless there was +some collusion. But in any case I think we had +better keep her here until we know something."</p> + +<p>Quick trotting steps were heard hurrying along +the hall and a little jerky knock announced unmistakably +the presence of Candace.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Stanhope surveyed the little red-faced +creature coolly and sharply:</p> + +<p>"Candace, you have broken one of my express +commands in returning here without permission from +me, but seeing it was done in kindness I will overlook +it this time and let you stay. You may be useful<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span> +if they bring my daughter home to-night and I +presume she will be very glad to see you. Just now +she is—umm——" she glanced furtively at her son, +and lifting her voice a trifle, as if to make her statement +more emphatic—"she is at a private hospital +near the church where they took her till she should +be able to come home. It will depend on her condition +whether they bring her to-night or to-morrow +or in a few days. Meantime, if you like you may go +up to your old room and wait until I send for you. +I shall have news soon and will let you know. Don't +go down to the servant's quarters, I wish to have you +where I can call you at a moment's notice."</p> + +<p>Candace gave her ex-mistress a long, keen suspicious +stare, pinned her with a glance as steely as +her own for an instant, in search of a possible ulterior +motive, and then turning on her little fat heel, +vanished like a small fast racer in the direction of +her old room.</p> + +<p>"Now," said Mrs. Stanhope, turning with a +sigh of relief, "she's safe! I'll set Marie to watch +her and if there's anything going on between those +two Marie will find it out."</p> + +<p>But Herbert Hutton was already sitting at his +mother's desk with the telephone book and calling +up Long Distance.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span></p> + +<p>All the long hours when he had expected to have +been standing under the rose bower downstairs in +triumph with his bride, Herbert Hutton sat at that +telephone in his mother's boudoir alternately raging +at his mother and shouting futile messages over the +'phone. The ancient cousin of Betty's mother was +discovered to be seriously ill in a hospital and unable +to converse even through the medium of his +nurse, so there was nothing to be gained there. +Messages to the public functionaries in his town +developed no news. Late into the night, or rather +far toward the morning, Bessemer was discovered +at a cabaret where his persistent mother and brother +had traced him, too much befuddled with his evening's +carouse to talk connectedly. He declared +Betty was a good old girl, but she might go to +thunder for all he cared; he knew a girl "worth +twice of her."</p> + +<p>His mother turned with disgust from his babbling +voice, convinced that he knew nothing of +Betty's whereabouts. Nevertheless, by means of a +financial system of threats and rewards which she +had used on him successfully for a number of years, +she succeeded in impressing upon him the necessity +of coming home at once, and just as the pink was +beginning to dawn in the gray of the morning, Bessemer<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span> +drove up in a hired car, and stumbled noisily +into the house, demanding to know where the wedding +was. He wanted to kiss the bride.</p> + +<p>Candace, still in her stiff black silk, stood in the +shadowy hall, as near as she dared venture, and +listened, with her head thoughtfully on one side. +Betty in her note about the wedding had said she was +going to be married to Bessemer. But Bessemer +didn't sound like a bridegroom. Had Bessemer run +away then, or what? But some things looked queer. +She remembered that Aileen had spoken as if Herbert +was the bridegroom, but she had taken it for a +mere slip of the tongue and thought nothing of it. +When Aileen next came that way, she asked her if +she happened to have got hold of one of the invitations, +and Aileen, with her finger on her lips, nodded, +and presently returned with something under +her apron:</p> + +<p>"I slipped it from the waste-basket," she said, +"and Miss Betty got a holt of it, and there was a +tremenjus fuss about something, I couldn't make +out what; but I heard the missus say it was all a mistake +as she gave the order over the 'phone, and she +must have misspoke herself, but anyhow she thought +she'd destroyed them all and given a rush order and +they would be all right and sent out in plenty of time.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span> +So she sticks this back in the waste-basket and orders +me to take the basket down and burn it, but I keeps +this out and hides it well. I couldn't see nothin' the +matter with it, can you?"</p> + +<p>"There's <i>all</i> the matter with it!" declared the +angry nurse as she glared at the name of Herbert +Hutton thoughtfully, and read between the lines +more than she cared to tell.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV</h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Not</span> two miles away, Betty lay safe and warm in +the flanellette nightgown, and watched Jane Carson +turn out the light and open the window. A light +leaped up from the street and made a friendly spot +of brightness on the opposite wall, and Betty had a +sense of cosiness that she had not felt since she was +in boarding school with a roommate.</p> + +<p>"Now," said Jane, climbing into bed and pulling +up the covers carefully lest she should let the cold in +on her guest, "let's hear!—You warm enough?"</p> + +<p>There was a curious tenderness in her voice as if +she had brought home a young princess and must +guard her carefully.</p> + +<p>"Oh, perfectly!" said Betty, giving a little nervous +shiver. "And I'm so glad to be here safe away +from them all! Oh, I've needed some one to advise +with <i>so</i> much! I haven't had a soul since they sent +my old nurse away because she dared to take my +part sometimes."</p> + +<p>Suddenly Betty buried her face in the pillow and +began to sob and Jane reached out quick gentle arms +and gathered her in a close comforting embrace.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span> +In a moment more Betty had gained control of herself +and began to explain:</p> + +<p>"You see," she said, catching her breath bravely, +"they were determined I should marry a man I +can't <i>endure</i>, and when I wouldn't they tried to <i>trick</i> +me into it anyway. I never suspected until I got +into the church and looked around and couldn't see +Bessemer anywhere; only the other one with his +evil eyes gloating over me, and then I knew! They +thought they would get me there before all that +church full of people and I wouldn't dare do anything. +But when I realized it, I just dropped right +down in the aisle. I couldn't stand up, I was +so frightened."</p> + +<p>"But I don't understand," said Jane. "Were +there <i>two</i> men?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes," sighed Betty, "there were two."</p> + +<p>"Well, where was the other one, the one you +<i>wanted</i> to marry?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know——" said Betty with a half sob +in her voice. "That's just what frightened me. +You see they were my stepmother's two sons, +and it was my father's dying wish that I should +marry one of them. I didn't really <i>want</i> to +marry Bessemer, but I simply <i>loathed</i> Herbert, +the younger one, who was so determined to marry<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span> +me. I was terribly afraid of him. He had been +frightfully cruel to me when I was a child and when +he grew up he was always tormenting me; and then +when he tried to make love to me he was so repulsive +that I couldn't bear to look at him. It really made +me sick to think of ever marrying him. Oh—I +<i>couldn't</i>—no matter who asked me. So Bessemer +and I decided to get married to stop the trouble. +They were always nagging him, too, and I was kind +of sorry for him."</p> + +<p>"But why should you marry anybody you didn't +want to, I'd like to know!" exclaimed Jane in horror. +"This is a free country and nobody ever makes +people marry anybody they don't like any more. +Why didn't you just beat it?"</p> + +<p>"I thought about that a good many times," said +Betty, pressing her tired eyes with her cold little +fingers, "but I couldn't quite bring myself to do it. +In the first place, I didn't know where to go, nor +what to do. They never would let me learn to do +anything useful, so I couldn't have got any work; +and anyhow I had a feeling that it wouldn't be possible +to get away where Herbert couldn't find me if +he wanted to. He's that way. He always gets what +he wants, no matter whom it hurts. He's <i>awful</i>—Jane—really!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span></p> + +<p>There was a pitiful note in her voice that appealed +to the mother in Jane, and she stooped over her guest +and patted her comfortingly on the shoulder:</p> + +<p>"You poor little kid," she said tenderly, "you +must have been worried something awful, but still I +don't get you; what was the idea in sticking around +and thinking you <i>had</i> to marry somebody you didn't +like? You coulda gone to some one and claimed +pertection. You could uv appealed to the p'lice if +worst came to worst——!"</p> + +<p>"Oh! But Jane I couldn't! That would have +brought our family into disgrace, and father would +have felt so <i>dreadfully</i> about it if he had been alive! +I couldn't quite bring myself, either, to go against +his dying request. We had always been so much +to each other, Daddy and I. Besides, I didn't mind +<i>Bessemer</i> so <i>much</i>—he was always kind—though we +never had much to do with each other——"</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't think I'd have stopped around +long to please a father that didn't care any more for +me than to want me to marry somebody I felt that +way about!" said Jane, indignantly. "I haven't +much use for a father like that!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, but he wasn't like that!" said Betty, rising +up in her eagerness and looking at Jane through +her shining curls that were falling all about her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span> +eager, troubled young face, "and he did love me, +Jane, he loved me better than anything else in the +whole world! That was why I was willing to sacrifice +almost anything to please him."</p> + +<p>"Well, I'll be darned!" said Jane Carson, sitting +up squarely in bed and staring at the spot of +light on the wall. "That gets my goat! How could +a man love you and yet want to torment you?"</p> + +<p>"Well, you see, Jane, he hadn't been very fond +of them when they were boys"—she spoke it with +dignity and a little gasp as if she were committing +a breach of loyalty to explain, but realized that it was +necessary—"and he felt when he was dying that +he wanted to make reparation, so he thought if +I should marry one of them it would show them that +he had forgiven them——"</p> + +<p>"It—may—be—so," drawled Jane slowly, nodding +her head deliberately with each word, "but—I +don't see it that <i>way!</i> What kind of a man was this +father of yours, anyway?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, a wonderful man, Jane!" Betty eagerly +hastened to explain. "He was all the world to me, +and he used to come up to school week-ends and +take me on beautiful trips and we had the best times +together, and he would tell me about my own +dear mother——"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span></p> + +<p>Betty's hand grasped Jane's convulsively and +her voice died out, in a sudden sob. Jane's hand +went quickly to the bright head on the pillow:</p> + +<p>"There! there!" she whispered tenderly, "don't +take on so, I didn't mean anything. I was just trying +to dope it out; get it through my bean what in +thunder——! Say! Did <i>he</i> <span class="smcap">tell</span> <i>you</i> he wanted +you to marry those guys?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, he left word—it was his dying +request."</p> + +<p>"Who'd he request it to?"</p> + +<p>"My stepmother."</p> + +<p>"H'm! I thought so! How'd you know he +did? How'd you know but she was lyin'?"</p> + +<p>"No," said Betty sorrowfully, "she wasn't lying, +she showed me the paper it was written on. There +couldn't be any mistake. And his name was signed +to it, his dear hand-writing, just as he always wrote +it with the little quirl to the S that wasn't like anybody +else. It went through me just like a knife +when I saw it, that my dear father should have asked +me to do what was so very very hard for me to think +of. It was so much harder to have it come that way. +If he had only asked me himself and we could have +talked it over, perhaps he would have helped me to +be strong enough to do it, but to have <i>her</i> have to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span> +<i>tell me!</i> She felt that herself. She tried to be kind, +I think. She said she wanted to have him wake me +up and tell me himself, but she saw his strength +was going and he was so anxious to have her write +it down quick and let him sign it that she did as +he asked——"</p> + +<p>"Well, you may depend on it he never wrote +it at all—or anyhow, never knew what he was signing. +Like as not she dragged it out of him some +way while he was out of his mind or so near dying +he didn't know what he was about. Besides, they +mightta some of 'em forged his name. It's easy to +copy signatures. Lotsa people do it real good. If +I was you I wouldn't think another mite about it. If +he was a man like you say he is, he couldn'ta done +a thing like that to his own little girl, not on his life! +It ain't like real fathers and mothers to. I know, fer +I've got a mother that's a peach and no mistake! +No, you may depend on it, he never knew a thing +about that, and marrying a guy like that is the last +thing on earth he'd want you to do."</p> + +<p>"Oh, do you really think so? Oh, are you +<i>sure?</i>" cried Betty, clinging to Jane eagerly, the +tears raining down her white cheeks. "I've thought +so a thousand times, but I didn't dare trust myself +to decide."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes, I'm sure!" said Jane, gathering her in her +arms and hugging her tight, just as she would have +done with a little sister who had waked up in the +night with a bad dream. "Now, look here, you +stop crying and don't you worry another bit. Just +tell me the rest if there's any rest, so I'll know what +to bank on. Who is the other guy, the one you didn't +mind marryin'? What became of him?"</p> + +<p>"Why, that's the queer part," said Betty, +troubled again. "He didn't seem to be anywhere, +and when they carried me into the room back of the +church and fanned me and got water to bathe my +face, a doctor came and gave me some medicine and +sent them all out, and I asked him to send Bessemer +to me. I wanted to find out why he hadn't been +standing up there by the minister the way I expected. +I heard the doctor go out and ask for Bessemer +and I heard my stepmother's voice say, 'Why Bessemer +isn't here! He's gone down to the shore!' +and then somebody said, 'Hush,' and they shut the +door, and I was so frightened that I got up and +tried all the doors till I found one that led down +some stairs, and I locked it behind me and ran and +found you!"</p> + +<p>"You poor little kid!" cried Jane, cuddling her +again. "I sure am glad I was on the job! But<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span> +now, tell me, what's your idea? Will they make a +big noise and come huntin' you?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes!" said Betty wearily. "I suppose they +will. I <i>know</i> they will, in fact. Herbert won't be +balked in anything he wants——Bessemer won't +count. He never counts. I'm sort of sorry for him, +though I don't like him much. You see they had +been making an awful fuss with him, too, about +some actress down at the shore that he was sending +flowers to, and I knew he didn't have a very easy +time. So when he came in one day and asked me +why I didn't marry <i>him</i> and settle the whole thing +that way, I was horrified at first, but I finally +thought perhaps that would be the best thing to do. +He said he wouldn't bother me any, if I wouldn't +bother him; and we thought perhaps the others would +let us alone then. But I might have known Herbert +wouldn't give in! Bessemer is easily led—Herbert +could have hired him to go away to-night—or they +may have <i>made</i> him ask me to marry him. He's +like that," sadly. "You can't depend on him. I +don't know. You see, it was kind of queer about +the invitations. They came with Herbert's name in +them first, and my stepmother tried to keep me +from seeing them. She said they were late and she +had them all sent off; but I found one, and when<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span> +I went to my stepmother with it she said it was a +mistake. She hadn't meant me to be annoyed by +seeing it; and she didn't know how it happened; she +must have misspoken herself—but it had been corrected +and they would rush it through and send them +right from the store this time so there wouldn't +be any delay. I tried to think it was all right, but +it troubled me, for I saw that Herbert hadn't given +up at all—though he pretended to go away, and I +hoped I wouldn't have any more trouble—but I +might have known! Herbert never gave up anything +in his life, not even when father was living. +He always managed to get his way, somehow——"</p> + +<p>"Did he love you so much?" Jane asked +awesomely.</p> + +<p>Betty shuddered:</p> + +<p>"Oh, I don't know whether it was love or hate! +It was all the same. I hate to think about him—he +is—<i>unbearable</i>, Jane! Why, Jane, once he told me +if he ever got me in his power he'd break my will +or kill me in the attempt!"</p> + +<p>"Well, now, there, Kid! Don't you think another +bit about him, the old brute! You just lie +down and sleep as easy as if you was miles away. +They won't any of 'em ever find you here with me, +and I've pulled the washstand in front of the door,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span> +so you needn't be dreaming of anybody coming in +and finding you. Now go to sleep, and to-morrow +I'll sneak you away to a place where they can't ever +find you. Good night, Kid!" and Jane leaned down +and kissed the soft hair on the pillow beside her. +Betty flung her arms about her new-found friend +and kissed her tenderly:</p> + +<p>"Oh, you've been so good to me! What should +I ever have done if I hadn't found you. You were +like an angel. I think surely God must have sent +you to help me."</p> + +<p>"I shouldn't wonder if he did!" said Jane +thoughtfully. "An angel in a mackintosh! +Some angel!"</p> + +<p>Jane Carson with her eyes wide open lay staring +into the darkness and thinking it all over. She did +not waste much time marvelling over the wonder that +it had all happened to her. That would do for +afterward when there was nothing else to be done +about it. Now there must be some plans made and +she was the one to make them. It was quite plain +that the wonderful and beautiful Elizabeth Stanhope, +the plans for whose wedding had been blazoned in +the papers for days beforehand, was not at present +capable of making or carrying out anything effective. +Jane was. She knew it. She was a born leader and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span> +promoter. She liked nothing better than to work +out a difficult situation. But this was the most difficult +proposition that she had ever come up against. +When her father died and her mother was left with +the little house and the three younger children to +support in a small country village, and only plain +sewing and now and then a boarder to eke out a living +for them all, she had sought and found, through +a summer visitor who had taught her Sunday school +class for a few weeks, a good position in this big +Eastern city. She had made good and been promoted +until her wages not only kept herself with strict +economy, but justified her in looking forward to the +time when she might send for her next younger sister. +Her deft fingers kept her meagre wardrobe in +neatness—and a tolerable deference to fashion, so +that she had been able to annex the "gentleman +friend" and take a little outing with him now and +then at a moving picture theatre or a Sunday evening +service. She had met and vanquished the devil on +more than one battlefield in the course of her experience +with different department heads; and she was +wise beyond her years in the ways of the world. +But this situation was different. Here was a girl +who had been brought up "by hand," as she would +have said with a sneer a few hours before, and she<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span> +would have despised her for it. She raised up on +one elbow and leaned over once more to watch the +delicate profile of this gentle maiden, in the dim fitful +light of the city night that came through the one little +window. There had been something appealing in the +beauty and frankness of the girl bride, something +appalling in the situation she had found herself in. +Jane Carson didn't know whether she was doing +right or not to help this stray bride. It made her +catch her breath to think how she might be bringing +all the power of the law and of money upon her reckless +young head, but she meant to do it, just the same.</p> + +<p>Elizabeth Stanhope! What a beautiful name! +It fitted right in with all the romance Jane had ever +dreamed. If she only could write scenarios, what a +thriller this would make!</p> + +<p>Then she lay down and fell to planning.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V</h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> morning dawned, and still no word from +the missing bride. But the brief guarded sentences +which Herbert Hutton had telephoned to the newspapers +had been somehow sidetracked, and in their +place a ghastly story had leaked out which some +poor, hard-pressed reporter had gleaned from the +gossip in the church and hurried off to put into type +before there was time for it to be denied. Hot foot +the story had run, and great headlines proclaimed +the escape of Betty even while the family were carefully +paving the way for the report of a protracted +illness and absence, if need be, till they could find +trace of her. The sun rose brightly and made weird +gleaming of the silver wire on which the dying roses +hung. The air was heavy with their breath, and the +rooms in the early garish light looked out of place as +if some fairy wand had failed to break the incantation +at the right hour and left a piece of Magicland +behind. The parlor maid went about uncertainly, +scarcely knowing what to do and what to leave +undone, and the milk cars, and newsboys, and early +laborers began to make a clatter of every day on the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span> +streets. The morning paper, flung across the steps +with Betty's picture, where Betty's reluctant feet +had gone a few hours before, seemed to mock at +life, and upstairs the man that Betty thought she +went out to marry, lay in a heavy stupor of sleep. +Happy Betty, to be resting beneath the coarse sheet +of the kindly working girl, sleeping the sleep of exhaustion +and youth in safety, two miles from the +rose-bowered rooms!</p> + +<p>Long before day had really started in the great +city Jane Carson was up and at work. She dressed +swiftly and silently, then went to her little trunk, +and from it selected a simple wardrobe of coarse +clean garments. One needed mending and two buttons +were off. She sat by the dingy window and +strained her eyes in the dawn to make the necessary +repairs. She hesitated long over the pasteboard +suit-box that she drew from under the bed. It +contained a new dark blue serge dress for which she +had saved a long time and in which she had intended +to appear at church next Sabbath. She was divided +between her desire to robe the exquisite little guest +in its pristine folds and her longing to wear it herself. +There was a sense of justice also which entered into +the matter. If that elegant wedding dress was to be +hers, and all those wonderful silk underclothes,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span> +which very likely she would never allow herself +to wear, for they would be out of place on a poor +working girl, it was not fair to repay their donor in +old clothes. She decided to give the runaway bride +her new blue serge. With just a regretful bit of a +sigh she laid it out on the foot of the bed, and +carefully spread out the tissue papers and folded the +white satin garments away out of sight, finishing the +bundle with a thick wrapping of old newspapers from +a pile behind the door and tying it securely. She +added a few pins to make the matter more sure, +and got out a stub of a pencil and labeled it in large +letters, "My summer dresses," then shoved it far +back under the bed. If any seeking detective came +he would not be likely to bother with that, and he +might search her trunk in vain for white satin +slippers and wedding veils.</p> + +<p>Breakfast was next, and she put on her cloak and +hurried out for supplies for the larder had been +heavily depleted the night before to provide for her +guest. With a tender glance toward the sleeper she +slipped the key from the lock and placed it in the +outside of the door, silently locking her guest within. +Now there would be no danger of any one spiriting +her away while she was gone, and no danger that the +girl might wake up and depart in her absence.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span></p> + +<p>She stopped a newsboy on his way to the subway +and bought a paper, thrilling at the thought that +there might be something in it about the girl who lay +asleep in her little hall bedroom.</p> + +<p>While she waited for her bundles she stole a +glance at her paper, and there on the front page in big +letters ran the heading:</p> + +<div class='center'> +<span class="smcap">Stanhope Wedding<br /> +Held Up at Altar by<br /> +Unconscious Bride</span><br /> +<br /> +<i>Relatives Seek Runaway Girl Who is<br /> +Thought to be Insane</i><br /> +</div> + +<p>She caught her breath and rolled the paper in a +little wad, stuffing it carelessly into her pocket. She +could not read any more of that in public. She +hastened back to her room.</p> + +<p>Betty was still sleeping. Jane stood watching +her for a full minute with awe in her face. She +could not but recognize the difference between herself +and this fine sweet product of civilization and +wealth. With the gold curls tossed back like a +ripple of sunshine, and a pathetic little droop at the +corners of her sweet mouth, nothing lovelier could +be. Jane hurried to the window and turned her +back on the bed while she perused the paper, her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span> +rage rising at the theories put forth. It was even +hinted that her mother had been insane. Jane turned +again and looked hard at the young sleeper, and the +idea crossed her mind that even she might be deceived. +Still, she was willing to trust her judgment +that this girl was entirely sane, and anyhow she +meant to help her! She stuffed the paper down +behind the trunk and began to get breakfast. When +it was almost ready she gently awoke the sleeper.</p> + +<p>Betty started at the light touch on her shoulder +and looked wildly around at the strange room and +stranger face of the other girl. In the dim light of +the evening she had scarcely got to know Jane's face. +But in a moment all the happenings of the day before +came back, and she sat up excitedly.</p> + +<p>"I ought to have got away before it was light," +she said gripping her hands together. "I wonder +where I could go, Jane?" It was pleasant to call +this girl by her first name. Betty felt that she was a +tower of strength, and so kind.</p> + +<p>"I have this ring," she said, slipping off an exquisite +diamond and holding it out. "Do you suppose +there would be any way I could get money +enough to travel somewhere with this? If I can't +I'll have to walk, and I can't get far in a day +that way."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span></p> + +<p>Betty was almost light-hearted, and smiling. The +night had passed and no one had come. Perhaps +after all she was going to get away without +being stopped.</p> + +<p>Jane's face set grimly.</p> + +<p>"I guess there won't be any walking for you. +You'll have to travel regular. It wouldn't be safe. +And you don't want no rich jewelry along either. +Was that your wedding ring?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no; father gave it to me. It was mother's, +but I guess they'd want me to use it now. I haven't +anything else."</p> + +<p>"Of course," said Jane shortly to hide the emotion +in her voice. "Now eat this while I talk," +thrusting a plate of buttered toast and a glass of +orange marmalade at her, and hastening to pour an +inviting cup of coffee.</p> + +<p>"Now, I been thinking," she said sitting down +on the edge of the bed and eating bits of the piece +of toast she had burned—Betty's was toasted beautifully—"I +got a plan. I think you <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'beter'">better</ins> go to Ma. +She's got room enough for you for a while, and I +want my sister to come over and take a place I can +get fer her. If you was there she could leave. Mebbe +you could help Ma with the kids. Of course we're +poor and you ain't used to common things like we<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span> +have them, but I guess you ain't got much +choice in your fix. I got a paper this morning. +They're huntin' fer you hot foot. They say you +was temperary insane, an' 'f I was you I'd keep out +o' their way a while. You lay low an' I'll keep my eye +out and let you know, I've got a little money under +the mattrass I can let you have till that ring gets sold. +You can leave it with me an' I'll do the best I can +if you think you can trust me. Of course I'm a +stranger, but then, land! So are you! We just +<i>gotta</i> trust each other. And I'm sending you to my +mother if you'll go!"</p> + +<p>"Oh!" said Betty, springing up and hugging her +impulsively, "you're so good! To think I should +find somebody just like that right in the street when +I needed you so. I almost think God did it!"</p> + +<p>"Well, mebbe!" said Jane, in her embarrassment +turning to hang up a skirt that had fallen from +its hook. "That's what they say sometimes in +Chrishun Deavor meetin'. Ever go to Chrishun +Deavor? Better go when you get out home. They +have awful good socials an' ice cream, and you'll +meet some real nice folks. We've got a peach of a +minister, and his wife is perfec'ly dandy. I tell you +I missed 'em when I came to the city! They was +always doing something nice fer the young folks."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span></p> + +<p>"How interesting!" said Betty, wondering if she +might really be going to live like other girls. Then +the shadow of her danger fell over her once more, +and her cheek paled.</p> + +<p>"If I can only get there safely," she shuddered. +"Oh, Jane! You can't understand what it would +be to have to go back!"</p> + +<p>"Well, you're not going back. You're going to +Tinsdale, and nobody's going to find you ever, unless +you want 'em to! See? Now, listen! We haven't +any time to waste. You oughtta get off on the ten +o'clock train. I put out some clothes there for yeh. +They ain't like yours, but it won't do fer you to go +dressed like a millionairess. Folks out to Tinsdale +would suspect yeh right off the bat. You gotta go +plain like me, and it's this way: You're a friend I +picked up in the city whose mother is dead and you +need country air a while, see? So I sent you home to +stay with Ma till you got strong again. I'm wirin' +Ma. She'll understand. She always does. I kinda +run Ma anyhow. She thinks the sun rises an' sets +in me, so she'll do just what I say."</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid I oughtn't to intrude," said Betty +soberly, taking up the coarse, elaborately trimmed +lingerie with a curious look, and trying not to seem +to notice that it was different from any she had +ever worn before.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Say! Looka here!" said Jane Carson, facing +round from her coffee cup on the washstand. "I'm +sorry to criticize, but if you could just talk a little +slang or something. Folks'll never think you belong +to me. <i>'Intrude!'</i> Now, that sounds stuck up! You +oughtta say 'be in the way,' or something natural +like that. See?"</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid I don't," said Betty dubiously, "but +I'll try."</p> + +<p>"You're all right, Kid," said Jane with compunction +in her voice. "Just let yourself down a little +like I do, and remember you don't wear silk onderclothes +now. I'm afraid those stockings won't feel +very good after yours, but you gotta be careful. An' +'f I was you I'd cut my hair off, I really would. It's +an awful pity, it's so pretty, but it'll grow again. +How old are you?"</p> + +<p>"Almost twenty-one," said Betty thoughtfully. +"Just three months more and I'll be twenty-one."</p> + +<p>"H'm! Of age!" said Jane with a sharp significant +look at her, as if a new thought had occurred. +"Well, you don't look it! You could pass for fifteen, +especially if you had your hair bobbed. I can +do it for you if you say so."</p> + +<p>"All right," said Betty promptly without a +qualm. "I always wanted it short. It's an awful +nuisance to comb."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span></p> + +<p>"That's the talk!" said Jane. "Say 'awful' a +lot, and you'll kinda get into the hang of it. It +sounds more—well, <i>natural</i>, you know; not like society +talk. Here, sit down and I'll do it quick before +you get cold feet. I sure do hate to drop them curls, +but I guess it's best."</p> + +<p>The scissors snipped, snipped, and the lovely +strands of bright hair fell on the paper Jane had +spread for them. Betty sat cropped like a sweet +young boy. Jane stood back and surveyed the effect +through her lashes approvingly. She knew the exact +angle at which the hair should splash out on the cheek +to be stylish. She had often contemplated cutting +her own, only that her mother had begged her not to, +and she realized that her hair was straight as a die +and would never submit to being tortured into that +alluring wave over the ear and out toward the cheekbone. +But this sweet young thing was a darling! +She felt that the daring deed had been a success.</p> + +<p>"I got a bottle of stuff to make your hair dark," +she remarked. "I guess we better put it on. That +hair of yours is kinda conspicuous, you know, even +when it's cut off. It won't do you any harm. It +washes off soon." And she dashed something on the +yellow hair. Betty sat with closed eyes and submitted. +Then her mentor burnt a cork and put a +touch to the eyebrows that made a different Betty<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span> +out of her. A soft smudge of dark under her eyes +and a touch of talcum powder gave her a sickly +complexion and when Betty stood up and looked in +the glass she did not know herself. Jane finished +the toilet by a smart though somewhat shabby black +hat pulled well down over Betty's eyes, and a pair +of gray cotton gloves, somewhat worn at the fingers. +The high-laced boots she put upon the girl's feet +were two sizes too large, and wobbled frightfully, +but they did well enough, and there seemed nothing +more to be desired.</p> + +<p>"Now," said Jane as she pinned on her own hat, +"you've gotta have a name to go by. I guess you +better be Lizzie Hope. It kinda belongs to yeh, and +yet nobody'd recognize it. You don't need to tell +Ma anything you don't want to, and you can tell +her I'll write a letter to-night all about it. Now come +on! We gotta go on the trolley a piece. I don't +see havin' you leave from the General Station. We'll +go up to the Junction and get the train there."</p> + +<p>With an odd feeling that she was bidding +good-by to herself forever and was about to become +somebody else, Betty gave one more glance at the +slim boylike creature in the little mirror over the +washstand and followed Jane out of the room, shuffling +along in the big high-heeled boots, quite unlike +the Betty that she was.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI</h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Warren Reyburn</span> laid down his pen and shoved +back his office chair impatiently, stretching out his +long muscular limbs nervously and rubbing his +hands over his eyes as if to clear them from annoying +visions.</p> + +<p>James Ryan, his office boy and stenographer, +watched him furtively from one corner of his eye, +while his fingers whirled the typewriter on through +the letter he was typing. James wanted to take +his girl to the movies that evening and he hadn't +had a chance to see her the day before. He was +wondering if Mr. Reyburn would go out in time for +him to call her up at her noon hour. He was a very +temperamental stenographer and understood the +moods and tenses of his most temperamental employer +fully. It was all in knowing how to manage +him. James was most deferential, and knew when +to keep still and not ask questions. This was one +of the mornings when he went to the dictionary +himself when he wasn't sure of a word rather than +break the <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'ominious'">ominous</ins> silence. Not that Mr. Reyburn +was a hard master, quite the contrary, but this was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span> +James's first place straight from his brief course at +business school, and he was making a big bluff of +being an old experienced hand.</p> + +<p>There was not much business to be done. This +was Warren Reyburn's "first place" also in the +world of business since finishing his law course, and +he was making a big bluff at being very busy, to cover +up a sore heart and an anxious mind. It was being +borne in upon him gradually that he was not a shouting +success in business so far. The rosy dreams that +had floated near all through his days of hard study +had one by one left him, until his path was now leading +through a murky gray way with little hope ahead. +Nothing but sheer grit kept him at it, and he began +to wonder how long he could stick it out if nothing +turned up.</p> + +<p>True, he might have accepted an offer that even +now lay open on his desk; a tempting offer, too, from +a big corporation who recognized the influence of his +old family upon their particular line of business; +but it was a line that his father and his grandfather +had scorned to touch, and he had grown up with +an honest contempt for it. He just could not bring +himself to wrest the living from the poor and needy, +and plunder the unsuspecting, and he knew that was +what it would be if he closed with this offer. Not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span> +yet had he been reduced to such depths, he told himself, +shutting his fine lips in a firm curve. "No, not +if he starved!"</p> + +<p>That was the legitimate worry that ruffled his +handsome brow as he sat before his desk frowning +at that letter. He meant to begin dictation on its +answer in another five minutes or so, but meantime +he was forcing himself to go over every point and +make it strong and clear to himself, so that he should +say, "No!" strongly and clearly to the corporation. +It might do harm to make his reason for declining +so plain, but he owed it to his self-respect to give +it nevertheless, and he meant to do so. After all, +he had no business so far to harm, so what did it +matter? If nothing turned up pretty soon to give +him a start he would have to change his whole plan +of life and take up something else where one did not +have to wait for a reputation before he could have +a chance to show what was in him.</p> + +<p>But underneath the legitimate reason for his +annoyance this morning there ran a most foolish little +fretting, a haunting discomfort.</p> + +<p>He had taken his cousin to a wedding the night +before because her husband had been called away +on business, and she had no one to escort her. They +had been late and the church was crowded. He had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span> +had to stand, and as he idly looked over the audience +he suddenly looked full into the great sad eyes of the +sweetest little bride he had ever seen. He had not +been a young man to spend his time over pretty faces, +although there were one or two nice girls in whom +he was mildly interested. He had even gone so far +as to wonder now and then which of them he would +be willing to see sitting at his table day after day +the rest of his life, and he had not yet come to a satisfactory +conclusion. His cousin often rallied him +about getting married, but he always told her it +would be time enough to think about that when he +had an income to offer her.</p> + +<p>But when he saw that flower-face, his attention +was held at once. Somehow he felt as if he had +not known there was a face like that in all the world, +so like a child's, with frank yet modest droop to the +head, and the simplicity of an angel, yet the sadness +of a sacrificial offering. Unbidden, a great desire +sprang up to lift for her whatever burden she was +bearing, and bring light into those sad eyes. Of +course it was a passing sensation, but his eyes had +traveled involuntarily to the front of the church to +inspect the handsome forbidding face of the bridegroom, +and with instant dissatisfaction he looked +back to the girl once more and watched her come up<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span> +to the altar, speculating as those who love to study +humanity are wont to do when they find an interesting +subject. How had those two types ever happened +to come together? The man's part in it was plain. +He was the kind who go about seeking whom they +may devour, thought Warren Reyburn. But the +woman! How could a wise-eyed child like that +have been deceived by a handsome face? Well, it +was all speculation of course, and he had nothing +to do with any of them. They were strangers to him +and probably always would be. But he had no conception +at that time what a small world he lived in, +nor how near the big experiences of life lie all +about us.</p> + +<p>He watched the lovely bride as all the audience +watched her until he saw her fall, and then he +started forward without in the least realizing what +he was doing. He found himself half way up the +side aisle to the altar before he came to himself and +forced his feet back to where his cousin was sitting. +Of course he had no right up there, and what could +he do when there were so many of her friends and +relatives about her?</p> + +<p>His position near the side door through which +they carried her made it quite possible for him to +look down into her still face as they took her to the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span> +vestry room, and he found a great satisfaction in +seeing that she was even more beautiful at close +hand than at a distance. He wondered afterward +why his mind had laid so much stress upon the fact +that her skin was lovely like a baby's without any +sign of cosmetics. He told himself that it was +merely his delight to learn that there was such a +type, and that it ran true.</p> + +<p>He was therefore not a little disappointed that +the minister, after the congregation had waited an +unconscionable time for the return of the bride, came +out and announced that owing to her continued collapse +the ceremony would have to be postponed. The +clatter of polite wonder and gossip annoyed him beyond +measure, and he was actually cross with his +cousin on the way home when she ranted on about +the way girls nowadays were brought up, coddled, +so that a breath would blow them away. Somehow +she had not looked like that kind of a girl.</p> + +<p>But when the morning papers came out with sensational +headlines proclaiming that the bride had +run away, and suggesting all sorts of unpleasant +things about her, he felt a secret exultation that she +had been brave enough to do so. It was as if he +had found that her spirit was as wise and beautiful +as her face had been. His interest in the matter<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span> +exceeded all common sense and he was annoyed and +impatient with himself more than he cared to own. +Never before had a face lured his thoughts like this +one. He told himself that his business was getting +on his nerves, and that as soon as he could be sure +about one or two little matters that he hoped would +fall into his hands to transact, he would take a few +days off and run down to the shore.</p> + +<p>Again and again the little white bride came +across his vision and thoughts, and hindered the +courteous but stinging phrases with which he had +intended to illumine his letter. At last he gave it +up and taking his hat went out in the keen November +air for a walk to clear his brain.</p> + +<p>This was James Ryan's opportunity. It was +almost twelve o'clock and no harm in calling the +"forelady" in the cotton blouse department of the +big factory. He swung to the telephone with alacrity.</p> + +<p>"I want to speak with Miss Carson, please. +Yes, Miss J. Carson. Is that Miss Carson? Oh, +hello, Jane, is that you?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, it is <i>Mister</i> Ryan," answered Jane sweetly.</p> + +<p>"Jane!"</p> + +<p>"Well, didn't you 'Miss Carson' me?"</p> + +<p>"Give it up, Jane. You win. Say, Jane!"</p> + +<p>"Well, Jimmie?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span></p> + +<p>"That's my girl, say how about that wedding +veil? Been thinking any more about it?"</p> + +<p>There was silence for a moment, then a conscious +giggle, the full significance of which James Ryan +was not in a position to figure out.</p> + +<p>"Say, Jimmie, quit your kiddin'! You mustn't +say things like that over the 'phone."</p> + +<p>"Why not?"</p> + +<p>"'Cause. Folks might listen."</p> + +<p>"I should worry! Well, since you say so. How +about seein' a show together to-night?"</p> + +<p>"Fine an' dandy, Jimmie! I'll be ready at the +usual time. I gotta go now, the boss is comin'. So +long, Jimmie!"</p> + +<p>"So long, darling!"</p> + +<p>But the receiver at the other end hung up with +a click, while Jane with a smile on her lips thought +of the pasteboard box under her bed and wondered +what Jimmie would say if he could know. For Jane +had fully made up her mind that Jimmie was not to +know. Not at present, anyhow. Some time she might +tell him if things turned out all right, but she knew +just what lordly masculine advice and criticism +would lie upon James Ryan's lips if she attempted +to tell him about her strange and wonderful guest +of the night before. Maybe she was a fool to have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span> +trusted a stranger that way. Maybe the girl would +turn out to be insane or wrong somehow, and trouble +come, but she didn't believe it; and anyhow, she +was going to wait, until she saw what happened next +before she got Jimmie mixed up in it. Besides, the +secret wasn't hers to tell. She had promised Betty, +and she always kept her promises. That was one +reason why she was so slow in promising to think +about a wedding veil in response to James Ryan's oft +repeated question.</p> + +<p>That evening on the way to the movies Jane +instituted an investigation.</p> + +<p>"Jimmie, what kind of a man is your boss?"</p> + +<p>"White man!" said Jimmie promptly.</p> + +<p>"Aw! Cut it out, James Ryan! I don't mean +how'd s'e look, or what color is he; I mean what +kind of a <i>man</i> is he?"</p> + +<p>"Well, that's the answer. White man! What's +the matter of that? I said it and I meant it. He's +white if there ever was one!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, that!" said Miss Carson in scorn. "Of +course I know he's a peach. If he wasn't you +wouldn't be workin' for him. What I mean, is he +a <i>snob?</i>"</p> + +<p>"No chance!"</p> + +<p>"Well, I saw him <i>with</i> 'em last night. I was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span> +passin' that big church up Spruce Street and I saw +him standin' with his arms folded so——" she paused +on the sidewalk and indicated his pose. "It was a +swell weddin' and the place was full up. He had a +big white front an' a clawhammer coat. I know +it was him 'cause I took a good look at him that +time you pointed him out at church that evenin'. I +wondered was he <i>in with</i> them swells?"</p> + +<p>Her tone expressed scorn and not a little anxiety, +as if she had asked whether he frequented places +of low reputation.</p> + +<p>"Oh, if you mean, <i>could</i> he be, why that's a diffrunt +thing!" said James the wise. "<i>Sure</i>, he could +be if he wanted, I guess. He's got a good family. +His uncle's some high muckymuck, and you often see +his aunts' and cousins' names in the paper giving teas +and receptions and going places. But he don't seem +to go much. I often hear folks ask him why he +wasn't some place last night, or 'phone to know if he +won't come, and he always says he can't spare the +time, or he can't afford it, or something like that."</p> + +<p>"Ain't he rich, Jimmie?"</p> + +<p>"Well, no, not exactly. He may have some +money put away, or left him by some one. If he +don't have I can't fer the life of me see how he lives. +But he certainly don't get it in fees. I often wonder<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span> +where my salary comes from, but it always does, +regular as the clock."</p> + +<p>"Jimmie, doesn't he have <i>any</i> business at all?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes he has business, but it ain't the paying +kind. Fer instance, there was a man in to-day +trying to get his house back that another man took +away from him, and my boss <i>took the case!</i> He +took it <i>right off the bat</i> without waiting to see +whether the man could pay him anything or not! +He can't! He's only a poor laboring man, and a rich +man stole his house. Just out an' out stole it, you +know. It's how he got rich. Like as not we'll lose +it, too, those rich men have so many ways of crawling +out of a thing and making it look nice to the world. +Oh, he'll get a fee, of course—twenty-five dollars, +perhaps—but what's twenty-five dollars, and like as +not never get even the whole of that, or have to wait +for it? Why, it wouldn't keep <i>me</i> in his office long! +Then there was a girl trying to get hold of the money +her own father left her, and her uncle frittered away +and pertends it cost him all that, and <i>he's</i> been supporting +<i>her!</i> Well, we took that, too, and we won't +get much out of that even if we do win. Then there +come along one of these here rich guys with a +pocket full of money and a nice slick tongue wanting +to be protected from the law in some devilment, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span> +<i>him we turned down flat!</i> That's how it goes in our +office. I can't just figger out how it's coming out! +But he's a good guy, a white man if there ever +was one!"</p> + +<p>"I should say!" responded Jane with shining +eyes. "Say, Jimmie, what's the matter of us throwin' +a little business in his way—real, payin' business, +I mean?"</p> + +<p>"Fat chance!" said Jimmie dryly.</p> + +<p>"You never can tell!" answered Jane dreamily. +"I'm goin' to think about it. Our fact'ry has lawyers +sometimes. I might speak to the boss."</p> + +<p>"Do!" said Jimmie sarcastically! "And have +yer labor for yer pains! We'll prob'ly turn <i>them</i> +down. Fact'ries are <i>always</i> doing things they hadn't +ought to."</p> + +<p>But Jane was silent and thoughtful, and they +were presently lost in the charms of Mary Pickford.</p> + +<p>The evening papers came out with pictures of +Elizabeth Stanhope and her bridegroom that was to +have been. Jane cut away the bridegroom and +pasted the bride's picture in the flyleaf of her Bible, +then hid it away in the bottom of her trunk.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII</h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">When</span> Betty found herself seated on the day +coach of a way train, jogging along toward a town +she had never seen and away from the scenes and +people of her childhood, she found herself trembling violently. +It was as if she had suddenly been +placed in an airplane all by herself and started +off to the moon without any knowledge of her motor +power or destination. It both frightened and exhilarated her. +She wanted to cry and she wanted to +laugh, but she did neither. Instead she sat demurely +for the first hour and a half looking out of the window like any +traveler, scarcely turning her head nor +looking at anything in the car. It seemed to her that +there might be a detective in every seat just waiting +for her to lift her eyes that he might recognize her. +But gradually as the time dragged by and the landscape +grew monotonous she began to feel a little more +at her ease. Furtively she studied her neighbors. +She had seldom traveled in a common car, and it was +new to her to study all types as she could see them +here. She smiled at a dirty baby and wished she had +something to give it. She studied the careworn man<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span> +and the woman in black who wept behind her veil and +would not smile no matter how hard the man tried +to make her. It was a revelation to her that any +man would try as hard as that to make a woman +smile. She watched the Italian family with five +children and nine bundles, and counted the colors on +a smart young woman who got in at a way station. +Every minute of the day was interesting. Every +mile of dreary November landscape that whirled +by gave her more freedom.</p> + +<p>She opened the little shabby handbag that Jane +had given her and got out the bit of mirror one +inch by <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'an an'">an</ins> inch and a half backed with pasteboard +on which lingered particles of the original +green taffeta lining and studied her own strange +face, trying to get used to her new self and her new +name. Jane had written it, Lizzie Hope, on the back +of the envelope containing the address of Mrs. Carson. +It seemed somehow an identification card. She +studied it curiously and wondered if Lizzie Hope +was going to be any happier than Betty Stanhope had +been. And then she fell to thinking over the strange +experiences of the last twenty-four hours and wondering +whether she had done right or not, and +whether her father would have been disappointed +in her, "ashamed of her," as her stepmother had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span> +said. Somehow Jane had made her feel that he +would not, and she was more light-hearted than she +had been for many a day.</p> + +<p>Late in the afternoon she began to wonder what +Tinsdale would be like. In the shabby handbag +was her ticket to Tinsdale and eight dollars and a +half in change. It made her feel richer than she +had ever felt in her life, although she had never +been stinted as to pocket money. But this was her +very own, for her needs, and nobody but herself to +say how she should spend either it or her time.</p> + +<p>Little towns came in sight and passed, each one +with one or two churches, a schoolhouse, a lot of +tiny houses. Would Tinsdale look this way? How +safe these places seemed, yet lonely, too! Still, no +one would ever think of looking for her in a lonely +little village.</p> + +<p>They passed a big brick institution, and she made +out the words, "State Asylum," and shuddered inwardly +as she thought of what Jane had told her +about the morning paper. Suppose they should hunt +her up and <i>put her in an insane asylum</i>, just to show +the world that it had not been their fault that she +had run away from her wedding! The thought was +appalling. She dropped her head on her hand with +her face toward the window and tried to pretend<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span> +she was asleep and hide the tears that would come, +but presently a boy came in at the station with a big +basket and she bought a ham sandwich and an apple. +It tasted good. She had not expected that it would. +She decided that she must have been pretty hungry +and then fell to counting her money, aghast that the +meager supper had made such a hole in her capital. +She must be very careful. This might be all the +money she would have for a very long time, and +there was no telling what kind of an impossible place +she was going to. She might have to get away as +eagerly as she had come. Jane was all right, but +that was not saying that her mother and sisters +would be.</p> + +<p>It was growing dark, and the lights were lit in the +car. All the little Italian babies had been given drinks +of water, and strange things to eat, and tumbled to +sleep across laps and on seats, anywhere they would +stick. They looked so funny and dirty and pitiful +with their faces all streaked with soot and molasses +candy that somebody had given them. The mother +looked tired and greasy and the father was fat and +dark, with unpleasant black eyes that seemed to roll +a great deal. Yet he was kind to the babies and his +wife seemed to like him. She wondered what kind +of a home they had, and what relation the young<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span> +fellow with the shiny dark curls bore to them. He +seemed to take as much care of the babies as did +their father and mother.</p> + +<p>The lights were flickering out in the villages now +and gave a friendly inhabited look to the houses. +Sometimes when the train paused at stations Betty +could see people moving back and forth at what +seemed to be kitchen tables and little children bringing +dishes out, all working together. It looked pleasant +and she wondered if it would be like that where +she was going. A big lump of loneliness was growing +in her throat. It was one thing to run away from +something that you hated, but it was another to jump +into a new life where one neither knew nor was +known. Betty began to shrink inexpressibly from +it all. Not that she wanted to go back! Oh, no; +far from it! But once when they passed a little +white cemetery with tall dark fir trees waving guardingly +above the white stones she looked out almost +wistfully. If she were lying in one of those beside +her father and mother how safe and rested she +would be. She wouldn't have to worry any more. +What was it like where father and mother had gone? +Was it a real place? Or was that just the end when +one died? Well, if she were sure it was all she +would not care. She would be willing to just go<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span> +out and not be. But somehow that didn't seem to +be the commonly accepted belief. There was always +a beyond in most people's minds, and a fear of just +what Betty didn't know. She was a good deal of +a heathen, though she did not know that either.</p> + +<p>Then, just as she was floundering into a lot of +theological mysteries of her own discovery the nasal +voice of the conductor called out: "Tinsdale! Tinsdale!" +and she hurried to her feet in something of a +panic, conscious of her short hair and queer clothes.</p> + +<p>Down on the platform she stood a minute trying +to get used to her feet, they felt so numb and empty +from long sitting. Her head swam just a little, too, +and the lights on the station and in the houses near +by seemed to dance around her weirdly. She had a +feeling that she would rather wait until the train was +gone before she began to search for her new home, +and then when the wheels ground and began to turn +and the conductor shouted "All aboard!" and swung +himself up the step as she had seen him do a hundred +times that afternoon, a queer sinking feeling of loneliness +possessed her, and she almost wanted to catch +the rail and swing back on again as the next pair +of car steps flung by her.</p> + +<p>Then a voice that sounded a little like Jane's +said pleasantly in her ear: "Is this Lizzie Hope?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span> +and Betty turned with a thrill of actual fright to +face Nellie Carson and her little sister Emily.</p> + +<p>"Bobbie'll be here in a minute to carry your +suitcase," said Nellie efficiently; "he just went over +to see if he could borrow Jake Peter's wheelbarrow +in case you had a trunk. You didn't bring your +trunk? O, but you're going to stay, aren't you? +I'm goin' up to the city to take a p'sition, and +Mother'd be awful lonesome. Sometime of course +we'll send fer them to come, but now the children's +little an' the country's better fer them. They gotta +go to school awhile. You'll stay, won't you?"</p> + +<p>"How do you know you'll want me?" laughed +Betty, at her ease in this unexpected air of welcome.</p> + +<p>"Why, of course we'd want you. Jane sent you. +Jane wouldn't of sent you if you hadn't been a good +scout. Jane knows. Besides, I've got two eyes, +haven't I? I guess I can tell right off."</p> + +<p>Emily's shy little hand stole into Betty's and the +little girl looked up:</p> + +<p>"I'm awful glad you come! I think you're +awful pretty!"</p> + +<p>"Thank you!" said Betty, warmly squeezing +the little confiding hand. It was the first time in her +life that a little child had come close to her in this +confiding way. Her life had not been among children.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span></p> + +<p>Then Bob whirled up, bareheaded, freckled, +whistling, efficient, and about twelve years old. He +grabbed the suitcase, eyed the stranger with a +pleasant grin, and stamped off into the darkness +ahead of them.</p> + +<p>It was a new experience to Betty to be walking +down a village street with little houses on each side +and lights and warmth and heads bobbing through +the windows. It stirred some memory of long ago, +before she could scarcely remember. She wondered, +had her own mother ever lived in a small village?</p> + +<p>"That's our church," confided Emily, as they +passed a large frame building with pointed steeple +and belfry. "They're goin' to have a entertainment +t'morra night, an' we're all goin' and Ma said you +cud go too."</p> + +<p>"Isn't that lovely!" said Betty, feeling a sudden +lump like tears in her throat. It was just like living +out a fairy story. She hadn't expected to be taken +right in to family life this way.</p> + +<p>"But how did you know I was coming on that +train?" she asked the older girl suddenly. "Jane +said she was going to telegraph, but I expected to +have to hunt around to find the house."</p> + +<p>"Oh, we just came down to every train after the +telegram came. This is the last train to-night, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span> +we were awful scared for fear you wouldn't come +till morning, an' have to stay on the train all night. +Ma says it isn't nice for a girl to have to travel +alone at night. Ma always makes Jane and me +go daytimes."</p> + +<p>"It was just lovely of you," said Betty, wondering +if she was talking "natural" enough to +please Jane.</p> + +<p>"Did you bob you hair 'cause you had a fever?" +asked Nellie enviously.</p> + +<p>"No," said Betty, "that is, I haven't been very +well, and I thought it might be good for me," she +finished, wondering how many questions like that it +was going to be hard for her to answer without telling +a lie. A lie was something that her father had +made her feel would hurt him more deeply than +anything else she could do.</p> + +<p>"I just love it," said Nellie enthusiastically. "I +wanted to cut mine, an' so did Jane, but Ma wouldn't +let us. She says God gave us our hair, an' we +oughtta take care of it."</p> + +<p>"That's true, too," said Betty. "I never thought +about that. But I guess mine will grow again after a +while. I think it will be less trouble this way. But +it's very dirty with traveling. I think I'll have to +wash it before I put it on a pillow."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span></p> + +<p>That had troubled Betty greatly. She didn't +know how to get rid of that hair dye before Jane's +family got used to having it dark.</p> + +<p>"Sure, you can wash it, if you ain't 'fraid of +takin' cold. There's lots of hot water. Ma thought +you'd maybe want to take a bath. We've got a big +tin bath-tub out in the back shed. Ma bought it off +the Joneses when they got their porcelain one put +into their house. We don't have no runnin' water +but we have an awful good well. Here's our house. +I guess Bob's got there first. See, Ma's out on the +steps waitin' fer us."</p> + +<p>The house was a square wooden affair, long +wanting paint, and trimmed with little scrollwork +around the diminutive front porch. The color was +indescribable, blending well into the surroundings +either day or night. It had a cheerful, decent look, +but very tiny. There was a small yard about it +with a picket fence, and a leafless lilac bush. A +cheerful barberry bush flanked the gate on either +side. The front door was open into a tiny hall and +beyond the light streamed forth from a glass lamp +set on a pleasant dining-room table covered with a +red cloth. Betty stepped inside the gate and found +herself enveloped in two motherly arms, and then +led into the light and warmth of the family +dining-room.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII</h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">There</span> was a kettle of stew on the stove in the +kitchen, kept hot from supper for Betty, with fresh +dumplings just mixed before the train came in, and +bread and butter with apple sauce and cookies. They +made her sit right down and eat, before she even +took her hat off, and they all sat around her and +talked while she ate. It made her feel very much +at home as if somehow she was a real relative.</p> + +<p>It came over her once how different all this was +from the house which she had called home all her +life. The fine napery, the cut glass and silver, the +stately butler! And here was she eating off a stone +china plate thick enough for a table top, with a steel +knife and fork and a spoon with the silver worn +off the bowl. She could not help wondering what +her stepmother would have said to the red and white +tablecloth, and the green shades at the windows. +There was an old sofa covered with carpet in the +room, with a flannel patchwork pillow, and a cat +cuddled up cosily beside it purring away like a tea-kettle +boiling. Somehow, poor as it was, it seemed +infinitely more attractive than any room she had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span> +ever seen before, and she was charmed with the +whole family. Bobbie sat at the other end of the +table with his elbows on the table and his round eyes +on her. When she smiled at him he winked one eye +and grinned and then wriggled down under the table +out of sight.</p> + +<p>The mother had tired kind eyes and a firm cheerful +mouth like Jane's. She took Betty right in as if +she had been her sister's child.</p> + +<p>"Come, now, get back there, Emily. Don't hang +on Lizzie. She'll be tired to death of you right at +the start. Give her a little peace while she eats +her supper. How long have you and Jane been +friends, Lizzie?" she asked, eager for news of her +own daughter.</p> + +<p>Betty's cheeks flushed and her eyes grew troubled. +She was very much afraid that being Lizzie was +going to be hard work:</p> + +<p>"Why, not so very long," she said hesitatingly.</p> + +<p>"Are you one of the girls in her factory?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no!" said Betty wildly, wondering what +would come next. "We—just met—that is—why—<i>out +one evening!</i>" she finished desperately.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I see!" said the mother. "Yes, she wrote +about going out sometimes, mostly to the movies. +And to church. My children always make it a point<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span> +to go to church wherever they are. I brought 'em +up that way. I hope you go to church."</p> + +<p>"I shall love to," said Betty eagerly.</p> + +<p>"Is your mother living?" was the next question.</p> + +<p>"No," answered Betty. "Mother and father +are both dead and I've been having rather a hard +time. Jane was kind to me when I was in trouble."</p> + +<p>"I'll warrant you! That's Jane!" beamed her +mother happily. "Jane always was a good girl, if +I do say so. I knew Jane was at her tricks again +when she sent me that telegram."</p> + +<p>"Ma's got you a place already!" burst out +Nellie eagerly.</p> + +<p>"Now, Nellie, you said you'd let Ma tell that!" +reproached Bob. "You never can keep your +mouth shut."</p> + +<p>"There! There! Bob, don't spoil the evening +with anything unkind," warned the mother. "Yes, +Lizzie, I got you a position. It just happened I had +the chance, and I took it, though I don't really +b'lieve that anythin' in this world just happens, of +course. But it did seem providential. Mrs. Hathaway +wanted somebody to look after her little girl. +She's only three years old and she is possessed to +run away every chance she gets. Course I s'pose +she's spoiled. Most rich children are. Now, my<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span> +children wouldn't have run away. They always +thought too much of what I said to make me trouble. +But that's neither here nor there. She does it, and +besides her Ma is an invalid. She had an operation, +so she has to lie still a good bit, and can't be +bothered. She wants somebody just to take the little +girl out walking and keep her happy in the house, +an' all."</p> + +<p>"How lovely!" exclaimed Betty. "I shall enjoy +it, I know."</p> + +<p>"She's awful pretty!" declared Emily eagerly. +"Got gold curls and blue eyes just like you, and she +has ever an' ever so many little dresses, and wears +pink shoes and blue shoes, an' rides a tricycle."</p> + +<p>"How interesting!" said Betty.</p> + +<p>"You'll get good wages," said the mother. "She +said she'd give you six dollars a week, an' mebbe +more, an' you'd get some of your meals."</p> + +<p>"Then I can pay my board to you," cried Betty.</p> + +<p>"Don't worry about that, child. We'll fix that up +somehow. We're awful glad to have you come, and +I guess we shall like each other real well. Now, +children, it's awful late. Get to bed. Scat! Lizzie +can have her bath an' get to bed, too. Come, mornin's +half way here already!"</p> + +<p>The children said good night and Betty was introduced<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span> +to the tin bath tub and improvised bathroom—a +neat little addition to the kitchen evidently intended +originally for a laundry. She wanted to +laugh when she saw the primitive makeshifts, but +instead the tears came into her eyes to think how +many luxuries she had taken all her life as a matter +of course and never realized how hard it was for +people who had none. In fact it had never really +entered her head before that there were people who +had no bathrooms.</p> + +<p>Betty was not exactly accustomed to washing +her own hair, and with the added problem of the dye +it was quite a task; but she managed it at last, using +all the hot water, to get it so that the rinsing water +was clear, and her hair felt soft. Then, attired in +the same warm nightgown she had worn the night +before, which Jane had thoughtfully put in the suitcase—otherwise +filled with old garments she wished +to send home—Betty pattered upstairs to the little +room with the sloping roof and the dormer window +and crept into bed with Nellie. That young woman +had purposely stayed awake, and kept Betty as long +as she could talk, telling all the wonderful things she +wanted to know about city life, and Betty found herself +in deep water sometimes because the city life +she knew about was so very different from the city<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span> +life that Jane would know. But at last sleep won, +and Nellie had to give up because her last question +was answered with silence. The guest was deep +in slumber.</p> + +<p>The next morning the children took her over the +house, out in the yard, showing her everything. Then +they had to take her down to the village and explain +all about the little town and its people. They were +crazy about Betty's beautiful hair and much disappointed +when she would insist on wearing her hat. +It was a bright sunny morning, not very cold, and +they told her that nobody wore a hat except to +church or to go on the train, but Betty had a feeling +that her hair might attract attention, and in her +first waking hours a great shadow of horror had +settled upon her when she realized that her people +would leave no stone unturned to find her. It was +most important that she should do or be nothing +whereby she might be recognized. She even thought +of getting a cap and apron to wear when attending +her small charge, but Nellie told her they didn't do +that in the country and she would be thought stuck +up, so she desisted. But she drew the blue serge +skirt up as high above her waistband as possible +when she dressed in the morning so that she might +look like a little girl and no one would suspect her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span> +of being a runaway bride. Also she had a consultation +with herself in the small hours of the morning +while Nellie was still fast asleep, and settled with +her conscience just what she would tell about her +past and what she would keep to herself. There was +a certain reserve that any one might have, and if +she was frank about a few facts no one would be +likely to question further.</p> + +<p>So next morning she told Mrs. Carson that since +her parents' death she had lived with a woman who +knew her father well, but lately things had been +growing very unpleasant and she found she had to +leave. She had left under such conditions that she +could not bring away anything that belonged to +her, so she would have to work and earn some +more clothes.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Carson looked into her sweet eyes and +agreed that it was the best thing she could do; they +might follow her up and make all sorts of trouble +for her in her new home if she wrote for her things; +and so the matter dropped. They were simple folks, +who took things at their face value and were not +over inquisitive.</p> + +<p>On the third day there arrived a long letter from +Jane in which she gave certain suggestions concerning +the new member of the family, and ended: "Ma,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span> +she's got a story, but don't make her tell any more +of it than she wants. She's awful sensitive about +it, and trust me, she's all right! She's been through +a lot. Just make her feel she's got some folks that +loves and trusts her."</p> + +<p>Ma, wise beyond her generation and experience, +said no more, and took the little new daughter into +her heart. She took the opportunity to inform the +village gossips that a friend of Jane's had come to +rest up and get a year's country air, boarding with +them; and so the amalgamation of Betty Stanhope +into the life of the little town began.</p> + +<p>The "job" proved to be for only part of the +day, so that Betty was free most of the mornings +to help around the house and take almost a daughter's +place. That she was a rare girl is proved by the +way she entered into her new life. It was almost as +if she had been born again, and entered into a new +universe, so widely was her path diverging from +everything which had been familiar in the old life. +So deep had been her distress before she came into it +that this new existence, despite its hard and unaccustomed +work, seemed almost like heaven.</p> + +<p>It is true there was much bad grammar and +slang, but that did not trouble Betty. She had been +brought up to speak correctly, and it was second<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span> +nature to her, but no one had ever drummed it into +her what a crime against culture an illiterate way +of speaking could be. She never got into the way of +speaking that way herself, but it seemed a part of +these people she had come to know and admire so +thoroughly, as much as for a rose to have thorns, +and so she did not mind it. Her other world had +been so all-wrong for years that the hardships of this +one were nothing. She watched them patch and +sacrifice cheerfully to buy their few little plain coarse +new things. She marveled at their sweetness and +content, where those of her world would have +thought they could not exist under the circumstances.</p> + +<p>She learned to make that good stew with carrots +and celery and parsley and potatoes and the smallest +possible amount of meat, that had tasted so delicious +the night she arrived. She learned the charms of the +common little bean, and was proud indeed the day +she set upon the table a luscious pan of her own baking, +rich and sweet and brown with their coating +of molasses well baked through them. She even +learned to make bread and never let any one +guess that she had always supposed it something +mysterious.</p> + +<p>During the week that Nellie was preparing to +go to the city, Betty had lessons in sewing. Nellie<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span> +would bring down an old garment, so faded and +worn that it would seem only fit for the rag-bag. +She would rip and wash, dye with a mysterious little +package of stuff, press, and behold, there would come +forth pretty breadths of cloth, blue or brown or +green, or whatever color was desired. It seemed like +magic. And then a box of paper-patterns would be +brought out, and the whole evening would be spent +in contriving how to get out a dress, with the help +of trimmings or sleeves of another material. Betty +would watch and gradually try to help, but she found +there were so many strange things to be considered. +There, for instance, was the up and down of a thing +and the right and wrong of it. It was exactly like +life. And one had to plan not to have both sleeves +for one arm, and to have the nap of the goods running +down always. It was as complicated as learning +a new language. But at the end of the week there +came forth two pretty dresses and a blouse. Betty, +as she sat sewing plain seams and trying to help all +she could, kept thinking of the many beautiful frocks +she had thrown aside in the years gone by, and of the +rich store of pretty things that she had left when she +fled. If only Nellie and Jane and little Emily could +have them! Ah, and if only she herself might have +them now! How she needed them! For a girl who<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span> +had always had all she wanted it was a great change +to get along with this one coarse serge and aprons.</p> + +<p>But the sewing and other work had not occupied +them so fully that they had not had time to introduce +Betty into their little world. The very next +evening after she arrived she had been taken to +that wonderful church entertainment that the girls +had told her about on the way from the station, and +there she had met the minister's wife and been invited +to her Sabbath school class.</p> + +<p>Betty would not have thought of going if Nellie +and her mother had not insisted. In fact, she shrank +unspeakably from going out into the little village +world. But it was plain that this was expected of +her, and if she remained here she must do as they +wanted her to do. It was the least return she could +make to these kind people.</p> + +<p>The question of whether or not she should remain +began to come to her insistently now. The children +clamored every day for her to bind herself for the +winter, and Jane's mother had made her most welcome. +She saw that they really wanted her; why +should she not stay? And yet it did seem queer +to arrange deliberately to spend a whole year in a +poor uncultured family. Still, where could she go +and hope to remain unknown if she attempted to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span> +get back into her own class? It was impossible. Her +mother had just the one elderly cousin whom she +had always secretly looked to to help her in any +time of need, but his failing her and sending that +telegram without even a good wish in it, just at the +last minute, too, made her feel it was of no use to +appeal to him. Besides, that was the first place her +stepmother would seek for her. She had many good +society friends, but none who would stand by her in +trouble. No one with whom she had ever been intimate +enough to confide in. She had been kept +strangely alone in her little world after all, hedged +in by servants everywhere. And now that she was +suddenly on her own responsibility, she felt a great +timidity in taking any step alone. Sometimes at +night when she thought what she had done she was +so frightened that her heart would beat wildly as if +she were running away from them all yet. It was +like a nightmare that pursued her.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Hathaway had sent for her and made +arrangements for her to begin her work with the +little Elise the following week when the present +governess should leave, and Betty felt that this might +prove a very pleasant way to earn her living. The +Hathaways lived in a great brick house away back +from the street in grounds that occupied what in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span> +city would have been a whole block. There was a +high hedge about the place so that one could not see +the road, and there were flower-beds, a great fountain, +and a rustic summerhouse. Betty did not see +why days passed in such a pleasant place would not +be delightful in summertime. She was not altogether +sure whether she would like to have to be a +sort of servant in the house—and of course these +cold fall days she would have to be much in the house—but +the nursery had a big fireplace in it, a long +chest under the window where toys were kept, and +many comfortable chairs. That ought to be pleasant, +too. Besides, she was not just out looking for pleasant +things on this trip. She was trying to get away +from unbearable ones, and she ought to be very +thankful indeed to have fallen on such comfort as +she had.</p> + +<p>There was another element in the Carson home +that drew her strongly, although she was shy about +even thinking of it, and that was the frank, outspoken +Christianity. "Ma" tempered all her talk +with it, adjusted all her life to God and what He +would think about her actions, spoke constantly of +what was right and wrong. Betty had never lived +in an atmosphere where right and wrong mattered. +Something sweet and pure like an instinct in her own<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span> +soul had held her always from many of the ways of +those about her, perhaps the spirit of her sweet +mother allowed to be one of those who "bear them +up, lest at any time they dash their feet against +a stone." Or it might have been some memory of +the teachings of her father, whom she adored, and +who in his last days often talked with her alone +about how he and her own mother would want her +to live. But now, safe and quiet in this shelter of a +real home, poor though it was, the God-instinct +stirred within her, caused her to wonder what He +was, why she was alive, and if He cared? One could +not live with Mrs. Carson without thinking something +about her God, for He was an ever-present +help in all her times of need, and she never hesitated +to give God the glory for all she had achieved, and +for all the blessings she had received.</p> + +<p>The very first Sabbath in the little white church +stirred still deeper her awakening interest in spiritual +things. The minister's wife was a sweet-faced +woman who called her "my dear" and invited her +to come and see her, and when she began to teach +the lesson Betty found to her amazement that it was +interesting. She spoke of God in much the same +familiar way that "Ma" had done, only with a +gentler refinement, and made the girls very sure that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span> +whatever anybody else believed, Mrs. Thornley was +a very intimate friend of Jesus Christ. Betty loved +her at once, but so shy was she that the minister's +wife never dreamed it, and remarked to her husband +Sunday night after church, when they were having +their little, quiet Sabbath talk together, that she was +afraid she was going to have a hard time winning +that little new girl that had come to live with +Mrs. Carson.</p> + +<p>"Somehow I can't get away from the thought +that she comes from aristocracy somewhere," she +added. "It's the way she turns her head, or lifts +her eyes or the quiet assurance with which she answers. +And she smiles, Charles, never grins like the +rest. She is delicious, but somehow I find myself +wondering if I have remembered to black my shoes +and whether my hat is on straight, when she looks +at me."</p> + +<p>"Well, maybe she's the daughter of some black +sheep who has gone down a peg, and our Father has +sent her here for you to help her back again," said +her husband with an adorable look at his helper. "If +anyone can do it you can."</p> + +<p>"I'm not so sure," she said, shaking her head. +"She maybe doesn't need me. She has Mrs. Carson, +remember, and she is a host in herself. If anybody<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span> +can lead her to Christ she can, plain as she is."</p> + +<p>"Undoubtedly you were meant to help, too, dear, +or she would not have been sent to you."</p> + +<p>His wife smiled brilliantly a look of thorough +understanding: "Oh, I know. I'm not going to shirk +any but I wish I knew more about her. She is so +sad and quiet, I can't seem to get at her."</p> + +<p>Even at that moment Betty lay in her little cot +bed under the roof thinking about the minister's wife +and what she had said about Christ being always +near, ready to show what to do, if one had the listening +heart and the ready spirit. Would Christ tell +her what to do, she wondered, now right here, if +she were to ask him? Would He show her whether +to stay in this place or seek further to hide herself +from the world? Would He show her how to earn +her living and make her life right and sweet as it +ought to be.</p> + +<p>Then she closed her eyes and whispered softly +under the sheltering bedclothes, "O Christ, if you +are here, please show me somehow and teach me +to understand."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX</h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">When</span> Betty had been in Tinsdale about a month +it was discovered that she could play the piano. It +happened on a rainy Sunday in Sunday school, and +the regular pianist was late. The superintendent +looked about helplessly and asked if there was anybody +present who could play, although he knew the +musical ability of everybody in the village. The minister's +wife had already pleaded a cut finger which +was well wrapped up in a bandage, and he was about +to ask some one to start the tune without the piano +when Mrs. Thornton leaned over with a sudden +inspiration to Betty and asked:</p> + +<p>"My dear, you couldn't play for us, could you?"</p> + +<p>Betty smiled assent, and without any ado went to +the instrument, not realizing until after she had done +so that it would have been better policy for her to +have remained as much in the background as possible, +and not to have shown any accomplishments +lest people should suspect her position. However, +she was too new at acting a part to always think +of these little things, and she played the hymns so +well that they gathered about her after the hour<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span> +was over and openly rejoiced that there was another +pianist in town. The leader of Christian Endeavor +asked her to play in their meeting sometimes, and +Betty found herself quite popular. The tallest girl +in their class, who had not noticed her before, smiled +at her and patronized her after she came back from +playing the first hymn, and asked her where she +learned to play so well.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I used to take lessons before my father +died," she said, realizing that she must be careful.</p> + +<p>Emily and Bob came home in high feather and +told their mother, who had not been able to get out +that morning, and she beamed on Betty with as warm +a smile as if she had been her own daughter:</p> + +<p>"Now, ain't that great!" she said, and her +voice sounded boyish just like Jane's. "Why, we'll +have to get a pianna. I heard you could get 'em +cheap in the cities sometimes—old-fashioned ones, +you know. I heard they have so many old-fashioned +ones that they have to burn 'em to get rid of 'em, +and they even give 'em away sometimes. I wonder, +could we find out and get hold of one?"</p> + +<p>"I guess 'twould cost too much to get it here," +said Bob practically. "My! I wisht we had one. +Say, Lizzie, 'f we had a pianna would you show me +how to read notes?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Of course," said Betty.</p> + +<p>"Well, we'll get one somehow! We always do +when we need anything awfully. Look at the bathtub! +Good-night! I'm goin' to earn one myself!" +declared Bob.</p> + +<p>"Mrs. Crosby's gotta get a new one. P'raps +she'll sell us her old one cheap."</p> + +<p>That was the way the music idea started, and +nothing else was talked of at the table for days but +how to get a piano. Then one day Emily came rushing +home from school all out of breath, her eyes as +bright as stars, and her cheeks like roses. "Mrs. +Barlow came to our school to-day and talked to the +teacher, and I heard her say she was going away for +the winter. She's going to store her goods in the +Service Company barn, but she wants to get somebody +to take care of her piano. I stepped right up +and told her my mother was looking for a piano, and +we'd be real careful of it, and she's just delighted; +and—it's coming to-morrow morning at nine o'clock! +The man's going to bring it!"</p> + +<p>She gasped it out so incoherently that they had +to make her tell it over twice to get any sense out of +it; but when Bob finally understood he caught his +little sister in his arms and hugged her with a +big smacking kiss:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You sure are a little peach, Em'ly!" he shouted. +"You're a pippin of the pippins! I didn't know you +had that much nerve, you kid, you! I sure am proud +of you! My! Think of havin' a pianna! Say, +Betty, I can play the base of chopsticks now!"</p> + +<p>The next evening when Betty got home from +the Hathaways there was the piano standing in +the big space opposite the windows in the dining-room. +Ma had elected to have it there rather than +in the front room, because it might often be too cold +in the front room for the children to practice, and +besides it wouldn't be good for the piano. So the +piano became a beloved member of the family, and +Betty began to give instructions in music, wondering +at herself that she knew how, for her own music had +been most desultory, and nobody had ever cared +whether she practiced or not. She had been allowed +to ramble among the great masters for the most +part unconducted, with the meagerest technique, and +her own interpretation. She could read well and +her sense of time and rhythm were natural, else she +would have made worse work of it than she did. +But she forthwith set herself to practicing, realizing +that it might yet stand her in good stead since she +had to earn her living.</p> + +<p>Little Emily and Bob stood one on either side and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span> +watched her as she played, with wondering admiration, +and when Betty went to help their mother Bob +would sit down and try to imitate what she had done. +Failing, he would fall headlong into the inevitable +chopsticks, beating it out with the air of a master.</p> + +<p>It was the piano that brought to Betty's realization +the first real meaning of the Sabbath day. Bob +came down early and went at the piano as usual +banging out chopsticks, and a one-fingered arrangement +of "The Long, Long Trail," while his mother +was getting breakfast. Betty was making the coffee, +proud of the fact that she had learned how. But +Bob had accomplished only a brief hint of his regular +program when the music stopped suddenly and Betty +glanced through the kitchen door to see Ma standing +with her hand on her son's shoulder and a look on +her face she had not seen before: It was quite gentle, +but it was decided:</p> + +<p>"No, Bob! We won't have that kinda music on +Sunday," she said. "This is God's day, an' we'll +have all we can rightly do to keep it holy without +luggin' in week-day music to make us forget it. +You just get t' work an' learn 'Safely Through Another +Week,' an' if you can't play it right you get +Lizzie to teach you."</p> + +<p>Bob pouted:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span></p> + +<p>"There ain't nothin' wrong with chopsticks, Ma. +'Tain't got words to it."</p> + +<p>"Don't make any diffrence. It b'longs to weekdays +an' fun, an' anyhow it makes you think of other +things, an' you can't keep your mind on God. That's +what Sunday was made fer, to kinda tone us up to +God, so's we won't get so far away in the week that +we won't be any kind of ready for heaven some time. +An' anyhow, 'tisn't seemly. You better go learn +your Golden Text, Bob. The minister'll be disappointed +if you don't have it fine."</p> + +<p>Betty stood by the window thoughtfully looking +out. Was that what Sunday was made for, or was it +only a quaint idea of this original woman? She +wished she knew. Perhaps some time she would +know the minister's wife well enough to ask. She +would have liked to ask Ma more about it, but somehow +felt shy. But Ma herself was started now, and +when she came back to the kitchen, as if she felt +some explanation was due the new inmate of the +family, she said:</p> + +<p>"I don't know how you feel about it. I know +city folks don't always hold to the old ways. But it +always seemed to me God meant us to stick to Sunday, +and make it diff'rent from other days. I never +would let my children go visitin', nor play ball an'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span> +we always tried to have something good for supper +fixed the night before. I heard somebody say a +long time ago that it says somewhere in the Bible that +Sunday was meant to be a sign forever between God +and folks. The ones that keeps it are his'n, an' them +as don't aren't. Anyhow, that's the only day we +have got to kinda find out what's wanted of us. You +wouldn't mind just playin' hymns and Sunday things +t'day, would you?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no," said Betty, interested. "I like it. It +sounds so kind of safe, and as if God cared. I never +thought much about it before. You think God really +thinks about us and knows what we're doing then, +don't you?"</p> + +<p>"Why, sure, child. I don't just think, I <i>know</i> He +does. Hadn't you never got onto that? Why, you +poor little ducky, you! O' course He does."</p> + +<p>"I'd like to feel sure that He was looking out for +me," breathed Betty wistfully.</p> + +<p>"Well, you can!" said Ma, <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'hrurrying'">hurrying</ins> back to +see that her bacon didn't burn. "It's easy as rollin' +off a log."</p> + +<p>"What would I have to do?"</p> + +<p>"Why, just b'lieve."</p> + +<p>"Believe?" asked Betty utterly puzzled. "Believe +what?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Why, believe that He'll do it. He said 'Come +unto me, an' I will give you rest,' an' He said, 'Cast +your burden on the Lord,' an' He said 'Castin' all +yer care 'pon Him, fer He careth fer you,' an' a +whole lot more such things, an' you just got to take +it fer straight, an' act on it."</p> + +<p>"But how could I?" asked Betty.</p> + +<p>"Just run right up to your room now, while +you're feelin' that way, an' kneel down by your bed +an' tell Him what you just told me," said Mrs. Carson, +stirring the fried potatoes with her knife to +keep them from burning. "It won't take you long, +an' I'll tend the coffee. Just you tell Him you want +Him to take care of you, an' you'll believe what I +told you He said. It's all in the Bible, an' you can +read it for yourself, but I wouldn't take the time now. +Just run along an' speak it out with Him, and, then +come down to breakfast."</p> + +<p>Betty was standing by the kitchen door, her hand +on her heart, as if about to do some great wonderful +thing that frightened her:</p> + +<p>"But, Mrs. Carson, suppose, maybe, He might +not be pleased with me. Suppose I've done something +that He doesn't like, something that makes +Him ashamed of me."</p> + +<p>"Oh, why, didn't you know He fixed for all that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span> +when He sent His Son to be the Saviour of the +world? We all do wrong things, an' everybody +has sinned. But ef we're rightly sorry, He'll fergive +us, and make us His children."</p> + +<p>Betty suddenly sat down in a chair near the door:</p> + +<p>"But, Mrs. Carson, I'm not sure I <i>am</i> sorry—at +least I know I'm <i>not</i>. I'm afraid I'd do it all over +again if I got in the same situation."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Carson stood back from the stove and surveyed +her thoughtfully a moment:</p> + +<p>"Well, then, like's not it wasn't wrong at all, +and if it wasn't He ain't displeased. You can bank +on that. You better go talk it out to Him. Just +get it off your mind. I'll hold up breakfast a minute +while you roll it on Him and depend on it he'll +show you in plenty of time for the next move."</p> + +<p>Betty with her cheeks very red and her eyes shining +went up to her little cot, and with locked door +knelt and tried to talk to God for the first time in +her life. It seemed queer to her, but when she arose +and hurried back to her duties she had a sense of +having a real Friend who knew all about her and +could look after things a great deal better than +she could.</p> + +<p>That night she went with Bob and Emily to the +young people's meeting and heard them talk about<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span> +Christ familiarly as if they knew Him. It was all +strange and new and wonderful to Betty, and she sat +listening and wondering. The old question of +whether she was pleasing her earthly father was +merging itself into the desire to please her Heavenly +Father.</p> + +<p>There were of course many hard and unpleasant +things about her new life. There were so many +things to learn, and she was so awkward at work +of all kinds! Her hands seemed so small and inadequate +when she tried to wring clothes or scrub a dirty +step. Then, too, her young charge, Elise Hathaway, +was spoiled and hard to please, and she was daily +tried by the necessity of inventing ways of discipline +for the poor little neglected girl which yet would +not bring down a protest from her even more undisciplined +mother. If she had been independent she +would not have remained with Mrs. Hathaway, for +sometimes the child was unbearable in her naughty +tantrums, and it took all her nerve and strength +to control her. She would come back to the little +gray house too weary even to smile, and the keen eye +of Ma would look at her wisely and wonder if something +ought not to be done about it.</p> + +<p>Betty felt that she must keep this place, of course, +because it was necessary for her to be able to pay<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span> +some board. She could not be beholden to the Carsons. +And they had been so kind, and were teaching +her so many things, that it seemed the best and safest +place she could be in. So the days settled down +into weeks, and a pleasant life grew up about her, +so different from the old one that more and more +the hallucination was with her that she had +become another creature, and the old life had gone +out forever.</p> + +<p>Of course as striking-looking a girl as Betty could +not enter into the life of a little town even as humbly +as through the Carson home, without causing some +comment and speculation. People began to notice +her. The church ladies looked after her and remarked +on her hair, her complexion, and her graceful +carriage, and some shook their heads and said +they should think Mrs. Hathaway would want to +know a little more about her before she put her only +child in her entire charge; and they told weird +stories about girls they had known or heard of.</p> + +<p>Down at the fire-house, which was the real clearing-house +of Tinsdale for all the gossip that came +along and went the rounds, they took up the matter +in full session several evenings in succession. Some +of the younger members made crude remarks about +Betty's looks, and some of the older ones allowed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span> +that she was entirely too pretty to be without a history. +They took great liberties with their surmises. +The only two, the youngest of them all, who might +have defended her, had been unconsciously snubbed +by her when they tried to be what Bobbie called +"fresh" with her, and so she was at their mercy. +But if she had known it she probably would have been +little disturbed. They seemed so far removed from +her two worlds, so utterly apart from herself. It +would not have occurred to her that they could do her +any harm.</p> + +<p>One night the fire-house gang had all assembled +save one, a little shrimp of a good-for-nothing, +nearly hairless, toothless, cunning-eyed, and given to +drink when he could lay lips on any. He had a wide +loose mouth with a tendency to droop crookedly, +and his hands were always clammy and limp. He +ordinarily sat tilted back against the wall to the right +of the engine, sucking an old clay pipe. He had a +way of often turning the conversation to imply some +deep mystery known only to himself behind the life +of almost any one discussed. He often added choice +embellishments to whatever tale went forth as authentic +to go the rounds of the village, and he acted +the part of a collector of themes and details for the +evening conversations.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span></p> + +<p>His name was Abijah Gage.</p> + +<p>"Bi not come yet?" asked the fire chief settling +a straw comfortably between his teeth and looking +around on the group. "Must be somepin' doin'. +Don't know when Bi's been away."</p> + +<p>"He went up to town this mornin' early," volunteered +Dunc Withers. "Reckon he was thirsty. +Guess he'll be back on the evenin' train. That's her +comin' in now."</p> + +<p>"Bars all closed in the city," chuckled the chief. +"Won't get much comfort there."</p> + +<p>"You bet Bi knows some place to get it. He +won't come home thirsty, that's sure."</p> + +<p>"I donno, they say the lid's down pretty tight."</p> + +<p>"Aw, shucks!" sneered Dunc. "Bet I could +get all I wanted."</p> + +<p>Just then the door opened and Abijah Gage +walked in, with a toothless grin all around.</p> + +<p>"Hello, Bi, get tanked up, did yeh?" greeted +the chief.</p> + +<p>"Well, naow, an' ef I did, what's that to you?" +responded Bi, slapping the chief's broad shoulder +with a folded newspaper he carried. "You don't +'spose I'm goin' to tell, an' get my frien's in trouble?"</p> + +<p>"Le's see yer paper, Bi," said Dunc, snatching +at it as Bi passed to his regular seat.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span></p> + +<p>Bi surrendered his paper with the air of one granting +a high favor and sank to his chair and his pipe.</p> + +<p>"How's crops in the city?" asked Hank Fielder, +and Bi's tale was set a-going. Bi could talk; that was +one thing that always made him welcome.</p> + +<p>Dunc was deep in the paper. Presently he turned +it over:</p> + +<p>"Whew!" he said speculatively. "If that don't +look like that little lollypop over to Carson's I'll eat +my hat! What's her name?"</p> + +<p>They all drew around the paper and leaned over +Dunc's shoulder squinting at the picture, all but Bi, +who was lighting his pipe:</p> + +<p>"They're as like as two peas!" said one.</p> + +<p>"It sure must be her sister!" declared another.</p> + +<p>"Don't see no resemblance 'tall," declared the +chief, flinging back to his comfortable chair. "She's +got short hair, an she's only a kid. This one's +growed up!"</p> + +<p>"She might a cut her hair," suggested one.</p> + +<p>Bi pricked up his ears, narrowed his cunning +eyes, and slouched over to the paper, looking at the +picture keenly:</p> + +<p>"Read it out, Dunc!" he commanded.</p> + +<p>"Five thousand dollars reward for information +concerning Elizabeth Stanhope!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span></p> + +<p>There followed a description in detail of her size, +height, coloring, etc.</p> + +<p>An inscrutable look overspread Bi's face and hid +the cunning in his eyes. He slouched to his seat during +the reading and tilted back comfortably smoking, +but he narrowed his eyes to a slit and spoke +little during the remainder of the evening. They +discussed the picture and the possibility of the girl in +the paper being a relative of the girl at Carson's, +but as Bi did not come forward with information the +subject languished. Some one said he had heard +the Carson kid call her Lizzie, he thought, but he +wasn't sure. Ordinarily Bi would have known the +full name, but Bi seemed to be dozing, and so the +matter was finally dropped. But the hounds were +out and on the scent, and it was well for Betty +sleeping quietly in her little cot beneath the roof of +the humble Carson home, that she had committed her +all to her heavenly Father before she slept.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X</h2> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Well</span>, he gave me notice t'day," said James +Ryan sadly as Jane and he rounded the corner from +her boarding-house and turned toward their favorite +movie theater. "I been expectin' it, an' now +it's come!"</p> + +<p>Jane stopped short on the sidewalk appalled:</p> + +<p>"He gave you notice!" she exclaimed, as if +she could not believe it was true. "Now, Jimmie! +You don't mean it? Did he find any fault? He'd +better not! B'leeve me, if he did he gets a piece of +<i>my</i> mind, even if I am a poor workin' girl!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, he didn't find any fault," said Jimmie +cheerfully. "He was awful nice! He said he'd +recommend me away up high. He's gonta give me +time every day to hunt a new place, an' he's gonta +recommend me to some of his rich friends."</p> + +<p>"But what's the matter of him keepin' you? +Did you ast him that?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, he told me right out that things wasn't +working the way he hoped when he started; the war +and all had upset his prospects, and he couldn't afford +to keep me. He's gonta take an office way down<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span> +town and do his own letters. He says if he ever +succeeds in business and I'm free to come to him +he'll take me back. Oh, he's pleased with me all +right! He's a peach! He certainly is."</p> + +<p>"Jimmie, what d'you tell him?"</p> + +<p>"Tell him? There wasn't much for me to tell +him, only I was sorry, and I thanked him, and I told +him I was gonta stick by him as long as I didn't have +a place. Of course I can't live on air, but seeing he's +willing I should go out and hunt a place every day, +why I ain't that mean that I can't write a few letters +for him now and then. He don't have that many, +and it keeps me in practice. I s'pose I've got to get +another place but I haven't tried yet. I can't somehow +bring myself to give him up. I kind of <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'wante '">wanted</ins> +to stick in my first place a long time. It doesn't <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'l '">look</ins> +well to be changing."</p> + +<p>"Well, if it ain't your fault, you know, <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'wh '">when you</ins> +can't help it," advised Jane.</p> + +<p>They were seated in the theater by this time, and +the screen claimed their attention. It was just at the +end of the funny reel, and both forgot more serious +matters in following the adventures of a dog and a +bear who were chasing each other through endless +halls and rooms, to say nothing of bathtubs, and +wash boilers, and dining tables, and anything that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span> +came in their way, with a shock to the people who +happened to be around when they passed. But +suddenly the film ended and the announcements for +the next week began to flash on the screen.</p> + +<p>"We must go to that, sure!" said Jimmie, +nudging Jane, as the Mary Pickford announcement +was put on.</p> + +<p>Then immediately afterward came the photograph +of a beautiful girl, and underneath in +great letters:</p> + +<div class='center'> +<span class="smcap">Five Thousand Dollars' Reward for Accurate<br /> +Information as to the Present Whereabouts<br /> +of Elizabeth Stanhope</span><br /> +</div> + +<p>There followed further particulars and an address +and the showing stayed on the screen for a +full minute.</p> + +<p>Jane sat gripping the arms of the seat and trying +to still the wild excitement that possessed her, while +her eyes looked straight into the eyes of the little +bride whom she had helped to escape on the night +of her wedding.</p> + +<p>Jimmie took out his pencil and wrote down the +address in shorthand, but Jane did not notice. She +was busy thinking what she ought to do.</p> + +<p>"What do you s'pose they want her for?" she<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span> +asked in a breathless whisper, as a new feature film +began to dawn on the screen.</p> + +<p>"Oh, she's mebbe eloped," said the wise young +man, "or there might be some trouble about property. +There mostly is."</p> + +<p>Jane said no more, and the pictures began again, +but her mind was not following them. She was very +quiet on the way home, and when Jimmie asked her +if she had a grouch on she shivered and said, no, she +guessed she was tired. Then she suddenly asked him +what time he was going out to hunt for another job. +He told her he couldn't be sure. He would call her +up about noon and let her know. Could she manage +to get out a while and meet him? She wasn't sure +either, but would see when he called her up. And +so they parted for the night.</p> + +<p>The next morning when Reyburn entered his +office Jimmie was already seated at his typewriter. +On Reyburn's desk lay a neatly typed copy of the +announcement that had been put on the screen the +night before.</p> + +<p>"What's this, Ryan?" he questioned as he took +his seat and drew the paper toward him.</p> + +<p>"Something I saw last night on the screen at +the movies, sir. I thought it might be of interest."</p> + +<p>"Were you thinking of trying for the reward?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span> +asked Reyburn with a comical smile. "What is it, +anyway?" And he began to read.</p> + +<p>"Oh, no sir!" said Jimmie. "<i>I</i> couldn't, of +course; but I thought mebbe <i>you'd</i> be able to find out +something about her and get all that money. That +would help you through until you got started in your +own business."</p> + +<p>"H'm! That's kind of you, Ryan," said the +young lawyer, reading the paper with a troubled +frown. "I'm afraid it's hardly in my line, however. +I'm not a detective, you know." He laid the paper +down and looked thoughtfully out of the window.</p> + +<p>"Oh, of course not, sir!" Jimmie hastened to +apologize. "Only you know a lot of society folks +in the city, and I thought you might think of some +way of finding out where she is. I know it isn't up +to what you ought to be doing, sir, but it wouldn't +do any harm. You could work it through me, you +know, and nobody need ever know 'twas you got +the reward. I'd be glad to help you out doing all I +could, but of course it would take your brains to get +the information, sir. You see, it would be to my +interest, because then you could afford to keep me, +and—I like you, Mr. Reyburn, I certainly do. I +would hate to leave you."</p> + +<p>"Well, now, I appreciate that, Ryan. It's very<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span> +thoughtful of you. I scarcely think there would be +any possibility of my finding out anything about this +girl, but I certainly appreciate your thoughtfulness. +I'll make a note of it, and if anything turns up I'll +let you know. I don't believe, however, that I would +care to go after a reward even through someone else. +You know, I was at that wedding, Ryan!" His eyes +were dreamily watching the smoke from a distant +funnel over the roof-tops in line with his desk.</p> + +<p>"You were!" said Jimmie, watching his employer +with rapt admiration. He had no higher ambition +than to look like Warren Reyburn and have +an office of his own.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I was there," said Reyburn again, but his +tone was so far off that Jimmie dared approach no +nearer, and resumed the letter he was typing.</p> + +<p>About noon Jimmie called up the factory while +Reyburn was out to lunch and told Jane that he expected +to go out at two o'clock. Could she meet him +and walk a little way with him? Jane said no, she +couldn't, but she would try and see him the next +day, then he could tell her how he had "made out."</p> + +<p>At exactly five minutes after two, Jane, having +watched from a telephone booth in a drug store +until Jimmie went by, hurried up to Reyburn's office +and tapped on the door, her heart in her mouth lest<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span> +he should be occupied with some one else and not be +able to see her before her few minutes of leave +which she had obtained from the factory should +have expired.</p> + +<p>Reyburn himself opened the door to her, and +treated her as if she had been a lady every inch, handing +her a chair and speaking quite as if she were +attired in sealskin and diamonds.</p> + +<p>She looked him over with bright eyes of approval. +Jane was a born sentimentalist, fed on the movies. +Not for anything would she have had a knight rescue +her lady fair who did not look the part. She +was entirely satisfied with this one. In fact, she was +almost tongue-tied with admiration for the moment.</p> + +<p>Then she rallied to the speech she had prepared:</p> + +<p>"Mr. Reyburn," she said, "I came to see you +about a matter of very great importance. I heard +you was a great lawyer, and I've got a friend that's +in trouble. I thought mebbe you could do something +about it. But first, I want to ast you a question, an' +I want you to consider it perfectly confidential!"</p> + +<p>Jane took great credit to herself that she had +assembled all these words and memorized them +so perfectly.</p> + +<p>"Certainly!" said Reyburn gravely, wondering +what kind of a customer he had now.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I don't want you to think I can't pay for it," +said Jane, laying down a five-dollar bill grandly. +"I know you can't afford to waste your valuable +time even to answer a question."</p> + +<p>"Oh, that's all right," said Reyburn heartily. +"Let me hear what the question is first. There may +be no charge."</p> + +<p>"No," said Jane hastily, laying the bill firmly +on the desk before him. "I shan't feel right astin' +unless I know it's to be paid for."</p> + +<p>"Oh, very well," said Reyburn, taking the bill +and laying it to one side. "Now, what is +the question?"</p> + +<p>"Well, Mr. Reyburn, will you please tell me +what would anybody want to offer a reward, a big +reward, like a thousand dollars—or several of them,—for +information about any one? Could you think +of any reason?"</p> + +<p>Reyburn started. Reward again! This was uncanny. +Probably this girl had been to the movies +and seen the same picture that Ryan had told him +about. But he smiled gravely and answered, watching +her quizzically the while:</p> + +<p>"Well, they might love the person that had +disappeared," he suggested at random.</p> + +<p>"Oh, no!" said Jane decidedly. "They didn't!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span> +I know that fer a fac'! What else could it be?"</p> + +<p>"Well, they might have a responsibility!" he +said thoughtfully.</p> + +<p>"No chance!" said Jane scornfully.</p> + +<p>"Couldn't they be anxious, don't you think?"</p> + +<p>"Not so's you'd notice it."</p> + +<p>"Well, there might be some property to be +divided, perhaps."</p> + +<p>"I'd thought of that," said Jane, her face growing +practical. "It would have to be a good deal of +property to make them offer a big reward, +wouldn't it?"</p> + +<p>"I should think so," answered Reyburn politely, +watching her plain eager face amusedly. He could +not quite get at her idea in coming to him.</p> + +<p>"Would her coming of age have anything to do +with it?" put Jane, referring to a much folded paper +she carried in her hand, as if she had a written catechism +which she must go through.</p> + +<p>"It might." Reyburn was growing interested. +This queer visitor evidently had thought something +out, and was being very cautious.</p> + +<p>"I really can't answer very definitely without +knowing more of the circumstances," he said with +sudden alarm lest the girl might take some random +answer and let serious matters hinge on his word.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well, there's just one more," she said, looking +down at her paper. "If a man was trying to make a +girl marry him when she just hated him, could anybody +make her do it, and would anybody have a right +to put her in an insane 'sylum or anythin' ef +she wouldn't?"</p> + +<p>"Why, no, of course not! Where did you ever +get such a ridiculous idea?" He sat up suddenly, +annoyed beyond expression over disturbing suggestions +that seemed to rise like a bevy of black bats all +around the borders of his mind.</p> + +<p>"See here," he said, sitting up very straight. "I +really can't answer any more blind questions. I've +got to know what I'm talking about. Why, I may +be saying the most impossible things without knowing +it."</p> + +<p>"I know," said Jane, looking at him gravely. +"I've thought of that, but you've said just the things +I thought you would. Well, say, if I tell you about +it can you promise on yer honor you won't ever +breathe a word of it? Not to nobody? Whether +you take the case or not?"</p> + +<p>"Why, certainly, you can trust me to look out +for any confidence you may put in me. If you +can't I should prefer that you say nothing more."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I c'n trust you all right," said Jane smiling.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span> +"I just mean, would you be 'lowed to keep it under +yer hat?"</p> + +<p>"Would I be allowed? What do you mean?"</p> + +<p>"I mean would the law let you? You wouldn't +<i>have</i> to go an' tell where she was or nothin' an' give +her away? You'd be 'lowed to keep it on the q. t. an' +take care of her?"</p> + +<p>"You mean would it be right and honorable for +me to protect my client? Why, certainly."</p> + +<p>"Well, I mean you wouldn't get into no trouble +if you did."</p> + +<p>"Of course not."</p> + +<p>"Well, then I'll tell you."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI</h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Jane</span> opened a small shabby handbag, and took +out a folded newspaper, opening it up and spreading +it on the desk before him. "There!" she said, and +then watched his face critically.</p> + +<p>Reyburn looked, and found himself looking into +Betty's eyes. Only a newspaper cut, and poor at +that, but wonderfully real and mournful, as they +had struck him when she lifted them for that swift +glance before she sank in the church aisle.</p> + +<p>"Where did you get this?" he asked, his voice +suddenly husky.</p> + +<p>"Out o' the mornin' paper." Her tone was low +and excited. "Were you wanting to try for the +reward?" Reyburn asked.</p> + +<p>There was a covert sneer in the question from +which the girl shrank perceptibly. She sprang to +her feet, her eyes flashing:</p> + +<p>"If that's what you take me for, I better be +goin'!" she snapped and reached out her hand for +the paper. But Reyburn's hand covered the paper, +and his tone was respectful and apologetic as he said:</p> + +<p>"Excuse me, I didn't quite understand, I see.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span> +Sit down, please. You and I must understand each +other or there is no use in our talking. You can +trust me to keep this conversation entirely to myself, +whatever the outcome. Will you tell me what it is +you want of me?"</p> + +<p>Jane subsided into a chair, tears of excitement +springing into her eyes.</p> + +<p>"Well, you see, it's pretty serious business," she +said, making a dab at the corner of one eye. "I +thought I could trust you, or I wouldn't a come. +But you gotta take me on trust, too."</p> + +<p>"Of course," said Reyburn. "Now, what have +you to do with this girl? Do you know where +she is?"</p> + +<p>"I certainly do!" said Jane, "but I ain't a-goin' +ta tell until you say if there's anything you can +do fer her. 'Cause you see, if you can't find a way +to help her, I've gotta do it myself, an' it might get +you into trouble somehow fer you to know what you +ain't supposed to know."</p> + +<p>"I see," said Reyburn, meekly. "Well, what are +you going to tell me? Am I allowed to ask that?"</p> + +<p>Jane grinned.</p> + +<p>"Say, you're kiddin' me! I guess you are all +right. Well, I'll just tell you all about it. One +night last November,—you can see the date there in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span> +the paper, I was goin' home to my boardin' house +in Camac Street, an' I was passin' the side of that +church on 18th an' Spruce, where the weddin' was—you +know, fer you was there!"</p> + +<p>Reyburn looked at her astonished.</p> + +<p>"How did you know I was there?"</p> + +<p>"I saw you through the window, over against +the wall to the street side of the altar," said +Jane calmly.</p> + +<p>"How did you know me?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, somebody I know pointed you out once an' +said you was goin' to be one of the risin' lawyers of +the day," she answered nonchalantly, her face +quite serious.</p> + +<p>A flicker of amusement passed like a ray of light +through his eyes, but his face was entirely grave as +he ignored the compliment.</p> + +<p>"Go on!"</p> + +<p>"I saw there was a weddin' an' I stopped to +watch a minute, 'cause I expect to get married myself +some day, an' I wanted to see how they did things. +But I couldn't get near the door, an' the windows +were all high up. I could only see folks who were +standing up like you were. So I thought I'd go on. +I turned the corner and went long-side the church +listenin' to the music, an' just as I passed a big<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span> +iron gate at the back end of the church somebody +grabbed me an' begged me to help 'em. I looked +round, an' there was the bride, all in her white togs, +with the prettiest white satin slippers, in the wet an' +mud! I tried to get her line, but she cried out +somebody was comin' back in the passageway, so I +slipped off my coat an' hat and whisked her into 'em +an' clapped my rubbers over her satin shoes, and we +beat it round the corner. I took her to my room, an' +gave her some supper. She was all in. Then I put +her to bed, an' she told me a little bit about it. She +didn't tell me much. Only that they had been tryin' +fer a long time back to make her marry a man she +hated, an' now they'd almost tricked her into it, an' +she'd die if she had to do it. She wanted to exchange +clothes with me, cause, of course, she couldn't +get anywhere togged out that way, so we changed +things, an' I fixed her up. In the mornin' I ran out +an' got a paper, an' found they was sayin' she was +temporary insane, an' stuff like that, an' so I saw +their game was tryin' to get her in a 'sylum till +they could make her do what they wanted. I fixed +her up an' got her off to a place I know where she'd +be safe. An' she's got a job an' doin' real well. +But now they've got this here reward business out +everywhere in the papers an' the movies, she ain't<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span> +safe nowhere. An' I want somebody that's wiser'n +me to take a holt an' do somethin'. I can't pay much, +but I'll pay a little every month as long's I live ef +it takes that long to pay yer bill, an' I have a notion +she may have some money herself, though she didn't +say nothin' about it. But there's a ring she left +with me to sell, to pay fer what I gave her. It +oughtta be worth somethin'. It looks real. I ain't +sold it. I couldn't. I thought she might want +it sometime——"</p> + +<p>But Reyburn interrupted her excitedly.</p> + +<p>"Do you mean to say that Miss Stanhope is in +the city and you know where she is?"</p> + +<p>"Now, don't get excited," warned Jane coolly. +"I didn't say she was in this city, did I? I didn't +say where she was, did I? I said she was safe."</p> + +<p>"But are you aware that you have told me a very +strange story? What proof can you give me that it +is true?"</p> + +<p>Jane looked at him indignantly.</p> + +<p>"Say, I thought you was goin' to trust me? I +have to trust you, don't I? Course you don't know +who I am, an' I haven't told you, but I've got a good +p'sition myself, an' I don't go round tellin' privarications! +An' there's the weddin' dress, an' veil and +fixin's! I got them. You can see 'em if you like,—that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span> +is pervided I know what you're up to! I ain't +taking any chances till I see what you mean to do."</p> + +<p>"I beg your pardon," said Reyburn, trying to +smile assurance once more. "You certainly must +own this whole thing is enough to make anybody +doubt."</p> + +<p>"Yes, it is," said Jane. "I was some upset +myself, havin' a thing like that happen to me, a real +millionairess bride drop herself down on my hands +just like that, an' I 'spose it <i>is</i> hard to b'lieve. But +I can't waste much more time now. I gotta get back +to my job. Is there anything can be done to keep +'em from gettin' her again?"</p> + +<p>"I should most certainly think so," said Reyburn, +"but I would have to know her side of the +story, the whole of it, before I could say just what!"</p> + +<p>"Well, s'pose you found there wasn't anythin' +you could do to help her, would you go an' tell +on her?"</p> + +<p>Reyburn leaned back in his chair and smiled at his +unique client:</p> + +<p>"I shall have to quote your own language. 'What +do you take me for?'"</p> + +<p>"A white man!" said Jane suddenly, and showed +all her fine teeth in an engaging smile. "Say, you're +all right. Now, I gotta go. When will you tell me<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span> +what you can do?" She glanced anxiously at her +little leather-bound wrist watch. It was almost +time for Jimmie to return. Jimmie mustn't find her +here. He wouldn't understand, and what Jimmie +didn't know wouldn't hurt him.</p> + +<p>"Well, this ought to be attended to, at once, +if anything is to be done," he said eagerly. "Let +me see. I have an engagement at five. How would +seven o'clock do? Could I call at your boarding-house? +Would there be any place where we could +talk uninterrupted?"</p> + +<p>"Sure," said Jane, rising. "I'll get my landlady +to let me have her settin' room fer an hour."</p> + +<p>"Meantime, I'll think it over and try to plan +something."</p> + +<p>Jane started down the long flights of stairs, not +daring to trust to the elevator, lest she should come +face to face with Jimmie and have to explain.</p> + +<p>Reyburn stood with his back to the room, his +hands in his pockets, frowning and looking out the +window, when Jimmie entered a moment later.</p> + +<p>"I hope I'm not late, sir?" he said anxiously, +as he hung up his hat and sat down at his typewriter. +"I had to wait. The man was out."</p> + +<p>"Oh, that's all right, Ryan," said his employer, +obviously not listening to his explanation. "I'm<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span> +going out now, Ryan. I may not be back this afternoon. +Just see that everything is all right."</p> + +<p>"Very well, sir."</p> + +<p>Reyburn went out, then opened the door and put +his head back in the room.</p> + +<p>"I may have to go out of town to-night, Ryan. +I'm not sure. Something has come up. If I'm not in +to-morrow, could you—would you mind just staying +here all day and looking after things? I may need +you. Of course you'll lock up and leave the card +out when you go to lunch."</p> + +<p>"Very well, sir."</p> + +<p>"I'll keep in touch with you in case I'm delayed," +and Reyburn was off again. When the elevator had +clanked down to the next floor Jimmie went to the +window and looked dreamily out over the roofs of +the city:</p> + +<p>"Aw!" he breathed joyously. "Now I'll bet +he's going to do something about that reward!"</p> + +<p>Reyburn hurried down the street to the office +of an old friend where he had a bit of business +as an excuse, and asked a few casual questions when +he was done. Then he went on to a telephone booth +and called up a friend of his mother's, with whom +he had a brief gossip, ostensibly to give a message +from his mother, contained in her last letter to him.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span> +None of the questions that he asked were noticeable. +He merely led the conversation into certain grooves. +The lady was an old resident and well known in the +higher social circles. She knew all there was to +know about everybody and she loved to tell it. She +never dreamed that he had any motive in leading +her on.</p> + +<p>He dropped into a bank and asked a few questions, +called up an address they gave him and made +another inquiry, then dropped around to his cousin's +home for a few minutes, where he allowed her to tell +all she knew about the Stanhope wedding they had +attended together, and the different theories concerning +the escaped bride. Quite casually he asked +if she knew whether the bride had property of her +own, if so who were her guardians. His cousin +thought she knew a lot, but, sifting it down, he discovered +that it was nearly all hearsay or surmise.</p> + +<p>When he reached Jane Carson's boarding house +he found that young woman ensconced in a tiny +room, nine by twelve, a faded ingrain carpet on +the floor, a depressed looking bed lounge against the +bleary wall-paper, beneath crayon portraits of the +landlady's dead husband and sons. There was a +rocking-chair, a trunk, a cane-seat chair, and an oil +stove turned up to smoking point in honor of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span> +caller, but there was little room left for the caller. +On the top of the trunk reposed a large pasteboard +box securely tied.</p> + +<p>Jane, after a shy greeting, untied the strings and +opened the cover, having first carefully slipped the +bolt of the door.</p> + +<p>"You can't be too careful," she said. "You +never can tell."</p> + +<p>Reyburn stood beside her and looked in a kind +of awe at the glistening white, recognized the thick +texture of the satin, the rare quality of the rose-point +lace with which it was adorned, caught the +faint fragrance of faded orange blossoms wafting +from the filmy mist of the veil as Jane lifted it +tenderly; then leaned over and touched a finger to +the pile of whiteness, reverently, as though he were +paying a tribute at a lovely shrine.</p> + +<p>Jane even unwrapped the little slippers, one at a +time, and folded them away again, and they said no +word until it was all tied back in its papers, Reyburn +assisting with the strings.</p> + +<p>"Now, ef you don't mind waitin' a minute I +guess it would be safer to put it away now," she said +as she slipped the bolt and ran upstairs.</p> + +<p>She was back in a minute and sat down opposite +to him, drawing out from the neck of her blouse a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span> +ribbon with a heavy glittering circlet at its end.</p> + +<p>"Here's the ring." She laid it in his palm. He +took it, wondering, a kind of awe still upon him that +he should be thus handling the intimate belongings +of that little unknown bride whom he had seen lying +unconscious in a strange church a few short months +before. How strange that all this should have come +to him when many wiser, more nearly related, were +trying their best to get some clue to the mystery!</p> + +<p>He lifted the ring toward the insufficient gas jet +to make out the initials inside, and copied them down +in his note-book.</p> + +<p>"Take good care of that. It is valuable," he +said as he handed it back to her.</p> + +<p>"Mebbe I better give it to you," she half +hesitated.</p> + +<p>"You've taken pretty good care of it so far," +he said. "I guess you've a better right to it than +I. Only don't let anybody know you've got it. Now, +I've been making inquiries, and I've found out a +few things, but I've about come to the conclusion +that I can't do much without seeing the lady. Do +you suppose she would see me? Is she very +far away?"</p> + +<p>"When do you want to go?" asked Jane.</p> + +<p>"At once," he answered decidedly. "There's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span> +no time to waste if she is really in danger, as +you think."</p> + +<p>Jane's eyes glittered with satisfaction.</p> + +<p>"There's a train at ten-thirty. You'll get there +in the morning. I've written it all down here on a +paper so you can't make any mistakes. I've written +her a letter so she'll understand and tell you everythin'. +I'll wire Ma, too, so she'll let you see her. +Ma might not size you up right."</p> + +<p>Reyburn wondered at the way he accepted his +orders from this coolly impudent girl, but he liked +her in spite of himself.</p> + +<p>In a few minutes more he was out in the street +again, hurrying to his own apartment, where he put +together a few necessities in a bag and went to +the train.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII</h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">It</span> was one of those little ironies of fate that are +spoken about so much, that when Warren Reyburn +alighted from the train in Tinsdale Abijah Gage +should be supporting one corner of the station, and +contributing a quid now and then to the accumulations +of the week scattered all about his feet.</p> + +<p>He spotted the stranger at once and turned his +cunning little eyes upon him, making it obvious that +he was bulging with information. It was, therefore, +quite natural, when Reyburn paused to take his bearings, +that Bi should speak up and inquire if he was +looking for some one. Reyburn shook his head and +passed on, but Bi was not to be headed off so easily +as that. He shuffled after him:</p> + +<p>"Say!" he said, pointing to a shackley horse and +buckboard that stood near, belonging to a pal over +at the freight house. "Ef you want a lift I'll take +you along."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, no," said Reyburn, smiling; "I'm +not going far."</p> + +<p>"Say!" said Bi again as he saw his quarry about +to disappear. "You name ain't Bains, is it?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span></p> + +<p>"No!" said Reyburn, quite annoyed by the persistent +old fellow.</p> + +<p>"From New York?" he hazarded cheerfully.</p> + +<p>"No," answered Reyburn, turning to go. "You +must excuse me. I'm in a hurry."</p> + +<p>"That's all right," said Bi contentedly. "I'll +walk a piece with you. I was lookin' fer a doctor +to take down to see a sick child. A doctor from New +York. You ain't by any chance a doctor, are you?" +Bi eyed the big leather bag inquiringly.</p> + +<p>"No," said Reyburn, laughing in spite of his +annoyance. "I'm only a lawyer." And with a +bound he cleared the curb and hurried off down +the street, having now recognized the direction described +in Jane's diagram of Tinsdale.</p> + +<p>Abijah Gage looked after him with twinkling +eyes of dry mirth, and slowly sauntered after him, +watching him until he entered the little unpainted +gate of the Carson house and tapped at the old gray +door. Then Bi lunged across the street and entered +a path that ran along the railroad track for a few +rods, curving suddenly into a stretch of vacant lots. +On a convenient fence rail with a good outlook +toward the west end of the village he ensconced himself +and set about whittling a whistle from some +willow stalks. He waited until he saw Bobbie Carson<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span> +hurry off toward Hathaway's house and return +with Lizzie Hope; waited hopefully until the stranger +finally came out of the house again, touching his hat +gracefully to the girl as she stood at the open door. +Then he hurried back to the station again, and +was comfortably settled on a tub of butter just +arrived by freight, when Reyburn reached there. +He was much occupied with his whistle, and never +seemed to notice, but not a movement of the stranger +escaped him, and when the Philadelphia express came +by, and the stranger got aboard the parlor car, old +Bi Gage swung his lumbering length up on the back +platform of the last car. The hounds were hot on +the trail now.</p> + +<p>It was several years since Bi Gage had been on so +long a journey, but he managed to enjoy the trip, +and kept in pretty good touch with the parlor car, +although he was never in evidence. If anybody had +told Warren Reyburn as he let himself into his apartment +late that night that he was being followed, he +would have laughed and told them it was an impossibility. +When he came out to the street the next +morning and swung himself into a car that would +land him at his office, he did not see the lank flabby +figure of the toothless Bi standing just across the +block, and keeping tab on him from the back platform,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span> +nor notice that he slid into the office building +behind him and took the same elevator up, crowding +in behind two fat men and effacing himself against +the wall of the cage. Reyburn was reading his paper, +and did not look up. The figure slid out of the elevator +after him and slithered into a shadow, watching +him, slipping softly after, until sure which door he +took, then waited silently until sure that the door +was shut. No one heard the slouching footsteps +come down the marble hall. Bi Gage always wore +rubbers when he went anywhere in particular. He +had them on that morning. He took careful note +of the name on the door: "<i>Warren Reyburn</i>, Attorney-at-Law," +and the number. Then he slid down +the stairs as unobserved as he had come, and made +his way to a name and number on a bit of paper +from his pocket which he consulted in the shelter +of a doorway.</p> + +<p>When Warren Reyburn started on his first trip +to Tinsdale his mind was filled with varying emotions. +He had never been able to quite get away from +the impression made upon him by that little white +bride lying so still amid her bridal finery, and the +glowering bridegroom above her. It epitomized for +him all the unhappy marriages of the world, and he +felt like starting out somehow in hot pursuit of that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span> +bridegroom and making him answer for the sadness +of his bride. Whenever the matter had been brought +to his memory he had always been conscious of the +first gladness he had felt when he knew she had +escaped. It could not seem to him anything but a +happy escape, little as he knew about any of the +people who played the principal parts in the little +tragedy he had witnessed.</p> + +<p>Hour after hour as he sat in the train and tried +to sleep or tried to think he kept wondering at himself +that he was going on this "wild goose chase," +as he called it in his innermost thoughts. Yet he +knew he had to go. In fact, he had known it +from the moment James Ryan had shown him the +advertisement. Not that he had ever had any idea +of trying for that horrible reward. Simply that +his soul had been stirred to its most knightly depths +to try somehow to protect her in her hiding. Of +course, it had been a mere crazy thought then, with +no way of fulfilment, but when the chance had +offered of really finding her and asking if there was +anything she would like done, he knew from the +instant it was suggested that he was going to do it, +even if he lost every other business chance he ever +had or expected to have, even if it took all his time +and every cent he could borrow. He knew he had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span> +to try to find that girl! The thought that the only +shelter between her and the great awful world lay +in the word of an untaught girl like Jane Carson +filled him with terror for her. If that was true, the +sooner some one of responsibility and sense got to +her the better. The questions he had asked of +various people that afternoon had revealed more +than he had already guessed of the character of the +bridegroom to whom he had taken such a strong +dislike on first sight.</p> + +<p>Thus he argued the long night through between +the fitful naps he caught when he was not wondering +if he should find her, and whether he would +know her from that one brief sight of her in church. +How did he know but this was some game put up +on him to get him into a mix-up? He must go cautiously, +and on no account do anything rash or +make any promises until he had first found out all +about her.</p> + +<p>When morning dawned he was in a state of perturbation +quite unusual for the son and grandson +of renowned lawyers noted for their calmness and +poise under all circumstances. This perhaps was +why the little incident with Abijah Gage at the station +annoyed him so extremely. He felt he was doing +a questionable thing in taking this journey at all.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span> +He certainly did not intend to reveal his identity or +business to this curious old man.</p> + +<p>The little gray house looked exactly as Jane +had described it, and as he opened the gate and heard +the rusty chain that held it clank he had a sense +of having been there before.</p> + +<p>He was pleasantly surprised, however, when the +door was opened by Emily, who smiled at him out +of shy blue eyes, and stood waiting to see what he +wanted. It was like expecting a viper and finding +a flower. Somehow he had not anticipated anything +flower-like in Jane's family. The mother, too, was +a surprise when she came from her ironing, and, +pushing her wavy gray hair back from a furrowed +brow lifted intelligent eyes that reminded him of +Jane, to search his face. Ma did not appear flustered. +She seemed to be taking account of him and +deciding whether or not she would be cordial to him.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I had a telegram from Jane this morning," +she was scanning his eyes once more to +see whether there was a shadow of what she +called "shiftiness" in them. "Come in," she +added grudgingly.</p> + +<p>He was not led into the dining-room, but seated +on one of the best varnished chairs in the "parlor," +as they called the little unused front room. He felt<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span> +strangely ill at ease and began to be convinced that +he was on the very wildest of wild goose chases. To +think of expecting to find Elizabeth Stanhope in a +place like this! If she ever had been here she certainly +must have flown faster than she had from the +church on her wedding night.</p> + +<p>So, instead of beginning as he had planned, to +put a list of logically prepared keen questions to a +floundering and suspecting victim, he found the clear +eyes of Ma looking into his unwaveringly and the +wise tongue of Ma putting him through a regular +orgy of catechism before she would so much as admit +that she had ever heard of a girl named Lizzie Hope. +Then he bethought him of her daughter's letter and +handed it over for her to read.</p> + +<p>"Well," she admitted at last, half satisfied, "she +isn't here at present. I sent her away when I found +you was comin'. I wasn't sure I'd let you see her at +all if I didn't like your looks."</p> + +<p>"That's right, Mrs. Carson," he said heartily, +with real admiration in his voice. "I'm glad she has +some one so careful to look out for her. Your +daughter said she was in a good safe place, and I +begin to see she knew what she was talking about."</p> + +<p>Then the strong look around Ma's lips settled +into the sweeter one, and she sent Bob after the girl.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Are you a friend of hers?" she asked, watching +him keenly.</p> + +<p>"No," said Reyburn. "I've never seen her but +once. She doesn't know me at all."</p> + +<p>"Are you a friend of her—family?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no!"</p> + +<p>"Or any of her friends or relations?" Ma meant +to be comprehensive.</p> + +<p>"No. I'm sorry I am not. I am a rather +recent comer to the city where she made her home, +I understand."</p> + +<p>Ma looked at him thoughtfully for a moment. +It wouldn't have been called a stare, it was too +kindly for that, but Reyburn thought to himself +that he would not have liked to have borne her +scrutiny if he had anything to conceal, for he felt +as if she might read the truth in his eyes.</p> + +<p>"Are you—please excuse me for askin'—but are +you a member of any church?"</p> + +<p>Reyburn flushed, and wanted to laugh, but was +embarrassed in spite of himself:</p> + +<p>"Why, yes—I'm a member," he said slowly, +then with a frank lifting of his eyes to her troubled +gaze, "I united with the church when I was a mere +kid, but I'm afraid I'm not much of a member. I +really am not what you'd call 'working' at it much<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span> +nowadays. I go to morning service sometimes, but +that's about all. I don't want to be a hypocrite."</p> + +<p>He wondered as he spoke why he took the trouble +to answer the woman so fully. Her question was in +a way impertinent, much like the way her daughter +talked. Yet she seemed wholly unconscious of it.</p> + +<p>"I know," she assented sorrowfully. "There's +lots of them in the church. We have 'em, too, even +in our little village. But still, after all, you can't +help havin' confidence more in them that has 'named +the name' than in them that has not."</p> + +<p>Reyburn looked at her curiously and felt a sudden +infusion of respect for her. She was putting the test +of her faith to him, and he knew by the little stifled +sigh that he had been found wanting.</p> + +<p>"I s'pose lawyers don't have much time to think +about being Christians," she apologized for him.</p> + +<p>He felt impelled to be frank with her:</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid I can't urge that excuse. Unfortunately +I have a good deal of time on my hands now. +I've just opened my office and I'm waiting for clients."</p> + +<p>"Where were you before that? You did not +just get through studying?"</p> + +<p>He saw she was wondering whether he was wise +enough to help her protege.</p> + +<p>"No, I spent the last three years in France."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Up at the front?" The pupils of her eyes +dilated eagerly.</p> + +<p>"Yes, in every drive," he answered, wondering +that a woman of this sort should be so interested +now that the war was over.</p> + +<p>"And you came back safe!" she said slowly, +looking at him with a kind of wistful sorrow in her +eyes. "My boy was shot the first day he went over +the top."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'm sorry," said Reyburn gently, a sudden +tightness in his throat.</p> + +<p>"But it was all right." She flashed a dazzling +smile at him through the tears that came into her +eyes. "It wasn't as if he wasn't ready. Johnny +was always a good boy, an' he joined church when he +was fourteen, an' always kep' his promises. He used +to pray every night just as faithful, an' read his +Bible. I've got the little Testament he carried all +through. His chaplain sent it to me. It's got a bullet +hole through it, and blood-marks, but it's good to me +to look at, 'cause I know Johnny's with his Saviour. +He wasn't afraid to die. He said to me before he +left, he says: 'Ma, if anythin' happens to me it's all +right. You know, Ma, I ain't forgettin' what you +taught me, an' I ain't forgettin' Christ is with me.'"</p> + +<p>Mrs. Carson wiped her eyes furtively, and tried<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span> +to look cheerful. Reyburn wished he knew how to +comfort her.</p> + +<p>"It makes a man feel mean," he said at last, trying +to fit his toe into the pattern of the ingrain carpet, +"to come home alive and whole when so many +poor fellows had to give their lives. I've often wondered +how I happened to get through."</p> + +<p>She looked at him tenderly:</p> + +<p>"Perhaps your Heavenly Father brought you +back to give you more chance to do things for Him, +an' get ready to die when your time comes."</p> + +<p>There was something startling to this self-composed +city chap in hearing a thing like this from the +lips of the mother whose beloved son was gone forever +beyond her teaching but had "been ready." +Reyburn looked at her steadily, soberly, and then +with a queer constriction in his throat he looked +down at the floor thoughtfully and said:</p> + +<p>"Perhaps He did."</p> + +<p>"Well, I can't help bein' glad you're a church +member, anyhow," said Mrs. Carson, rising to look +out of the window. "She needs a Christian to help +her, an' I'd sooner trust a Christian. If you really +meant it when you joined church you've got somethin' +to fall back on anyhow. Here she comes. I'll +just go an' tell her you're in here."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII</h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Betty</span>, her eyes wide with fear, her face white +as a lily, appeared like a wraith at the parlor door and +looked at him. It gave Reyburn a queer sensation, +as if a picture one had been looking at in a story +book should suddenly become alive and move and +stare at one. As he rose and came forward he still +seemed to see like a dissolving view between them the +little huddled bride on the floor of the church. Then +he suddenly realized that she was trembling.</p> + +<p>"Please don't be afraid of me, Miss Stanhope," +he said gently. "I have only come to help you, and +if after you have talked with me you feel that you +would rather I should have nothing to do with your +affairs I will go away and no one in the world shall +be the wiser for it. I give you my word of honor."</p> + +<p>"Oh!" said Betty, toppling into a chair near +by. "I—guess—I'm not afraid of you. I just +didn't know who you might be——!" She stopped, +caught her breath and tried to laugh, but it ended +sorrily, almost in a sob.</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't wonder," said Reyburn, trying to +find something reassuring to say. "The truth is,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span> +I was rather upset about you. I didn't quite know +who you might turn out to be, you see!"</p> + +<p>"Oh!" Betty's hand slipped up to her throat, +and her lips quivered as she tried to smile.</p> + +<p>"Please don't feel that way," he said, "or I'll +go away at once." He was summoning all his courage +and hoping she wasn't going to break down and +cry. How little she was, and sweet! Her eyes +pleaded, just as they did in that one look in the +church. How could anybody be unkind to her?</p> + +<p>"I'm quite all right," said Betty with a forced +smile, siting up very straight.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps I'd better introduce myself," he said, +trying to speak in a very commonplace tone. "I'm +just a lawyer that your friend Miss Jane Carson sent +out to see if I could be of any service to you. It +may possibly make things a little easier for you if +I explain that while I never had heard of you before, +and have no possible connection with your family or +friends, I happened to be at your wedding!"</p> + +<p>"Oh!" said Betty with a little agonized breath.</p> + +<p>"Do you know Mrs. Bryce Cochrane?" he +asked.</p> + +<p>Betty could not have got any whiter, but her +eyes seemed to blanch a trifle.</p> + +<p>"A little," she said in a very small voice.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well, she is my cousin."</p> + +<p>"Oh!" said Betty again.</p> + +<p>"Her husband was unable to accompany her to +the wedding, and so I went in his place to escort +Isabel. I knew nothing of your affairs either before +or after the wedding, until this announcement was +brought to my notice, and Miss Carson called on me."</p> + +<p>Betty took the paper in her trembling fingers, +and looked into her own pictured eyes. Then everything +seemed to swim before her for a moment. She +pressed her hand against her throat and set her white +lips firmly, looking up at the stranger with a sudden +terror and comprehension.</p> + +<p>"You want to get that five thousand dollars!" +she said, speaking the words in a daze of trouble. +"Oh, I haven't got five thousand dollars! Not +now! But perhaps I could manage to get it if you +would be good enough to wait just a little, till I can +find a way. Oh, if you knew what it means to me!"</p> + +<p>Warren Reyburn sprang to his feet in horror, a +flame of anger leaping into his eyes.</p> + +<p>"Five thousand dollars be hanged!" he said +fiercely. "Do I look like that kind of a fellow? It +may seem awfully queer to you for an utter stranger +to be butting into your affairs like this unless I did +have some ulterior motive, but I swear to you that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span> +I have none. I came out here solely because I +saw that you were in great likelihood of being found +by the people from whom you had evidently run +away. Miss Stanhope, I stood where I could watch +your face when you came up the aisle at your wedding, +and something in your eyes just before you +dropped made me wish I could knock that bridegroom +down and take care of you somehow until +you got that hurt look out of your face. I know it +was rather ridiculous for an utter stranger to presume +so far, but when I saw that the sleuths were +out after you, and when the knowledge of your +whereabouts was put into my hands without the +seeking, I wouldn't have been a man if I hadn't +come and offered my services. I'm not a very great +lawyer, nor even a very rising one, as your Miss Carson +seems to think, but I'm a man with a soul to +protect a woman who is in danger, and if that's you, +I'm at your service. If not, you've only to say so +and I'll take the next train home and keep my +mouth shut!"</p> + +<p>He took his watch out and looked at it hastily, +although he had not the slightest idea what it registered, +nor what time the next train for home left. +He looked very tall and strong and commanding as +he stood in his dignity waiting for her answer, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span> +Betty looked up like a little child and trusted him.</p> + +<p>"Oh! Please forgive me!" she cried. "I've +been so frightened ever since Bob came after me. I +couldn't think you had come for any good, because +I didn't know any one in the world who would want +to help me."</p> + +<p>"Certainly!" said Warren Reyburn with a lump +in his throat, sitting down quickly to hide his emotion. +"Please consider me a friend, and command +me."</p> + +<p>"Thank you," said Betty taking a deep breath +and trying to crowd back the tears. "I'm afraid +there isn't any way to help me, but I'm glad to have +a friend, and I'm sorry I was so rude."</p> + +<p>"You weren't rude, and that was a perfectly +natural conclusion from my blundering beginning," +he protested, looking at the adorable waves of hair +that framed her soft cheeks. "But there is always +a way to help people when they are in trouble, and +I'm here to find out what it is. Do you think you +could trust me enough to tell me what it's all about? +Miss Carson didn't seem to know much or else she +didn't feel free to say."</p> + +<p>"I didn't tell her much," said Betty, lifting her +sea-blue eyes. "She was a stranger, too, you know."</p> + +<p>"Well, she's a mighty good friend of yours, I'll<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span> +say, and she's acted in a very wise manner. She +took more precautions than an old detective would +have done. She told me only that some one was +trying to make you marry a man you did not wish to +marry. Is that correct?"</p> + +<p>Betty shivered involuntarily and a wave of color +went over her white face.</p> + +<p>"It sounds queer," she said, "as if I hadn't any +character or force myself, but you don't understand. +No one would understand unless they knew it all, +and had been through it for years. At first I didn't +quite understand it myself. I'd better tell you the +story. I thought I never could tell any one, because +they were my father's family, and I know he would +shrink so from having it known, but I'm sure he +wouldn't blame me now."</p> + +<p>"He certainly would not blame you, Miss Stanhope. +I have heard that your father was a wonderful +man, with high principles. I feel sure he would +justify you in appealing to some one who was willing +to advise you in a strait like this. You know no +woman need ever marry any man against her will."</p> + +<p>"Not if it were her father's dying wish?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly not. Miss Stanhope, did your father +love you?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'm sure he did. He was the most wonderful<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span> +father! I've often thought that he would never +have asked it of me if he had realized——"</p> + +<p>"Did he ever during his lifetime seem to wish +you to be unhappy?"</p> + +<p>"Never! That was the strange part of it. But +you see he didn't know how I felt. I think I'd better +tell you all about it."</p> + +<p>"That would be the better way, if it won't be +too hard for you."</p> + +<p>Betty clasped her small hands together tightly +and began:</p> + +<p>"My own mother died when I was quite a little +girl, so father and I were a great deal to each other. +He used to look after my lessons himself, and was +always very careful what kind of teachers I had. He +was mother and father both to me. When I was +ten years old my governess died suddenly while +father was away on a business trip, and one of our +neighbors was very kind to me, coming in and looking +after the servants and everything and keeping +me over at her house for a few days till father got +back. She had a widowed sister visiting her, a +rather young woman who was very beautiful. At +least I thought she was beautiful then, and she made +a great pet of me, so that I grew fond of her, although +I had not liked her at first.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span></p> + +<p>"After father came home she used to slip over +every day to see me while he was at his business, and +he was grateful to her for making me happy. Then +he found out that she was in trouble, had lost her +money or something, and wanted to get a position +teaching. He arranged to have her teach me, and so +she came to our house to stay.</p> + +<p>"Somehow after that I never seemed to see so +much of my father as I used to do, for she was always +there, but at first I didn't care, because she was nice +to me, and always getting up things to keep me busy +and happy. She would make my father buy expensive +toys and books and games for me, and fine +clothes, and so of course I was pleased. In about +a year my father married her, and at first it seemed +very beautiful to me to have a real mother, but little +by little I began to see that she preferred to be alone +with my father and did not want me around so much. +It was very hard to give up the companionship of +my father, but my stepmother kept me busy with +other things, so that I really didn't think much about +it while it was first happening.</p> + +<p>"But one day there came a letter. I remember +it came while we were at breakfast, and my father got +very white and stern when he read it, and handed it +over to my mother and asked whether it was true,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span> +and then she began to cry and sent me from the table. +I found out a few days after that that my stepmother +had two sons, both older than myself, and that she +had not told my father. It was through some +trouble they had got into at school which required +quite a large sum of money to cover damages that +my father discovered it, and he was terribly hurt +that she should have concealed it from him. I +learned all this from the servants, who talked when +they thought I was not within hearing. There were +days and days when my father scarcely spoke at the +table, and when he looked at me it made a pain go +through my heart, he looked so stern and sad. My +stepmother stayed a great deal in her room and +looked as if she had been crying. But after a few +weeks things settled down a good deal as they had +been, only that my father never lost that sad troubled +look. There was some trouble about my stepmother's +sons, too, for there was a great deal of argument +between her and my father, of which I only heard +snatches, and then one day they came home to stay +with us. Something had happened at the school +where they were that they could not stay any longer. +I can remember distinctly the first night they ate +dinner with us. It seemed to me that it was like a +terrific thunderstorm that never quite broke. Everybody<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span> +was trying to be nice and polite, but underneath +it all there was a kind of lightning of all kinds +of feelings, hurt feelings and wrong ones and right +ones all mixed up.</p> + +<p>"Only the two boys didn't seem to feel it much. +They sort of took things for granted, as if that had +always been their home, and they didn't act very +polite. It seemed to trouble my father, who looked +at them so severely that it almost choked me, and I +couldn't go on eating my dinner. He didn't seem +like my dear father when he looked like that. I +always used to watch my father, and he seemed to +make the day for me. If he was sad, then I was sad; +and if he was glad then I was happy all over, until +one day my stepmother noticed me and said: 'See, +dear little Elizabeth is trembling. You ought not to +speak that way before her, Charles.' And then father +looked at me, and all suddenly I learned to smile +when I didn't feel like it. I smiled back to him just +to let him know it didn't matter what he did, I +would love him anyhow!"</p> + +<p>During the recital Reyburn had sat with courteous +averted gaze as though he would not trouble +her with more of his presence than was absolutely +necessary. Now he gave her a swift glance.</p> + +<p>Betty's eyes were off on distance, and she was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span> +talking from the depths of her heart, great tears +welling into her eyes. All at once she remembered +the stranger:</p> + +<p>"I beg your pardon," she said, and brushed her +hand across her eyes. "I haven't gone over it to +any one ever, and I forgot you would not be interested +in details."</p> + +<p>"Please don't mind me. I am interested in every +detail you are good enough to give me. It all makes +the background of the truth, you know, and that is +what I am after," said Reyburn, deeply touched. +"I think you are wonderful to tell me all this. I +shall regard it most sacredly."</p> + +<p>Betty flashed a look of gratitude at him, and +noticed the sympathy in his face. It almost unnerved +her, but she went on:</p> + +<p>"The oldest boy was named Bessemer, and he +wasn't very good-looking. He was very tall and +awkward, and always falling over things. He had +little pale eyes, and hardly any chin. His teeth +projected, too, and his hair was light and very +straight and thin. His mother didn't seem to love +him very much, even when he was a little boy. She +bullied him and found fault with him continually, +and quite often I felt very sorry for him, although I +wasn't naturally attracted to him. He wasn't really<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span> +unpleasant to me. We got along very nicely, +although I never had much to do with him. There +wasn't much to him.</p> + +<p>"The other brother, Herbert, was handsome like +his mother, only dark, with black curly hair, black +wicked eyes, and a big, loose, cruel mouth. His +mother just idolized him, and he knew it. He could +make her do anything on earth. He used to force +Bessemer into doing wrong things, too, things that +he was afraid to do himself, because he knew father +would not be so hard on Bessemer as on him. For +father had taken a great dislike to Herbert, and it +was no wonder. He seemed to have no idea at all +that he was not owner of the house. He took anything +he pleased for his own use, even father's most +sacred possessions, and broke them in a fit of anger, +too, sometimes, without ever saying he was sorry. +He talked very disrespectfully of father and to him, +and acted so to the servants that they gave notice +and left. Every few days there would be a terrible +time over something Herbert had done. Once I remember +he went to the safe and got some money out +that belonged to father and went off and spent it in +some dreadful way that made father very angry. Of +course I was still only a little girl, and I did not know +all that went on. Father was very careful that I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span> +should not know. He guarded me more than ever, +but he always looked sad when he came to kiss +me good-night.</p> + +<p>"Herbert took especial delight in tormenting +me," she went on with a sad far-away look in her +eyes as if she were recalling unpleasant memories. +She did not see the set look on Reyburn's face nor +notice his low exclamation of anger. She went +steadily on: "He found out that I did not like June-bugs, +and once he caught hundreds of them and +locked me into a room with them with all the lights +turned on. I was almost frightened to death, but it +cured me of being afraid of June-bugs." A little +smile trembled out on Betty's lips. "Just because +I wouldn't give him the satisfaction of letting him +hear me scream." She finished. "Then he caught a +snake and put it in my room, and he put a lot of +burdocks in my hat so they would get in my hair. +Foolish things those were, of course, but he was a +constant nightmare to me. Sometimes he would tie +a wire across the passages in the upper hall where I +had to pass to my room, and when I fell my hands +went down against a lot of slimy toads in the dark, +for he always somehow managed to have the light go +out just as I fell. There were hundreds of things +like that, but I needn't multiply them. That's the +kind of boy he was. And because he discovered that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span> +my father loved me very much, and because he knew +my father disliked him, he spent much time in trying +to torment me in secret. I couldn't tell my father, +because he always looked so sad whenever there was +trouble, and there was sure to be trouble between him +and my stepmother if my father found out that Herbert +had done anything wrong. One day my father +came upon us just as Herbert had caught me and +was trying to cut my curls off. I didn't care about +the curls, but I knew my father did. I began to +scream. Herbert gripped me so I thought I would +die with the pain, putting his big strong fingers +around my throat and choking me so I could not +make any noise."</p> + +<p>Reyburn clenched his hands until the knuckles +went white and uttered an exclamation, but Betty +did not notice:</p> + +<p>"There was a terrible time then, and I was sent +away to a school, a good many miles from home, +where I stayed for several years. Father always +came up to see me every week end, for a few hours at +least, and we had wonderful times together. Sometimes +in vacation he would bring my stepmother +along and she would bring me beautiful presents and +smile and pet me, and say she missed me so much +and she wished I would ask my father to let me come +back and go to school in the city. But I never did,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span> +because I was afraid of Herbert. As I grew older +I used to have an awful horror of him. But finally +one vacation father and mother both came up and +said they wanted me at home. My stepmother went +to my room with me and told me I needn't be afraid +of Herbert any more, that he was quite grown up and +changed and would be good to me, and that it would +please my father to have all his family together happily +again. I believed her and I told father I would +like to go. He looked very happy, and so I went +home. Herbert had been away at school himself +most of the time, and so had Bessemer, although they +had been in trouble a good many times, so the servants +told me, and had to change to new schools. +They were both away when I got home. I had +a very happy time for three weeks, only that I never +saw father alone once. My stepmother was always +there. But she was kind and I tried not to mind. +Then all of a sudden one night I woke up and heard +voices, and I knew that the boys were back from +the camp to which they had been sent. I didn't sleep +much the rest of the night, but in the morning I made +up my mind that it was only a little while before I +could go back to school, and I would be nice to the +boys and maybe they wouldn't trouble me.</p> + +<p>"I found that it was quite true that Herbert had +grown up and changed. He didn't want to torment<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span> +me any more, he wanted to make love to me, and I +was only a child yet. I wasn't quite fifteen. It filled +me with horror, and after he had caught me in the +dark—he always loved to get people in the dark—and +tried to kiss me, I asked father to let me go +back to school at once. I can remember how sad he +looked at me as if I had cut him to the heart when +I asked him."</p> + +<p>During this part of the tale Reyburn sat with +stern countenance, his fingers clenched around the +arms of the chair in which he sat, but he held himself +quiet and listened with compressed lips, watching +every expression that flitted across the sweet +pale face.</p> + +<p>"That was the last time I was at home with my +father," she said, trying to control her quivering +lips. "He took me back to school, and he came three +times to see me, though not so often as before. The +last time he said beautiful things to me about trying +to live a right life and being kind to those about me, +and he asked me to forgive him if he had ever done +anything to hurt me in any way. Of course I said he +hadn't. And then he said he hoped I wouldn't feel +too hard at him for marrying again and bringing +those boys into my life. I told him it was all +right, that some day they would grow up and go +away and he and I would live together again! And<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span> +he said some awful words about them under his +breath. But he asked me to forgive him again and +kissed me and went away.</p> + +<p>"He was taken very sick when he got home, and +they never let me know until he was dead. Of +course I went home to the funeral, but I didn't stay; +I couldn't. I went back to school alone. My stepmother +had been very kind, but she said she knew +it was my father's wish that I should finish my +school year. When vacation came she was traveling +for her health. She wrote me a beautiful letter +telling me how she missed me, and how much she +needed me now in her bereavement, and how she +hoped another summer would see us together; but +she stayed abroad two years and the third year she +went to California. I was sent to another school, +and because I was not asked about it and there didn't +seem anything else to do, I went. Every time I +would suggest doing something else my stepmother +would write and say how sorry she was she could +not give her consent, but my father had left very +explicit directions about me and she was only trying +to carry out his wishes. She knew me well enough +to be sure I would want to do anything he wished +for me. And I did, of course."</p> + +<p>Reyburn gave her a look of sympathy and getting +up began to pace the little room.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV</h2> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">It</span> was not until last spring that she sent for me +to come home," went on Betty, "and was very effusive +about how much she needed me and how she +was so much better, and meant to be a real mother +to me now, helping me see the world and have a +good time. She took me from one summer resort +to another. Of course it was pleasant after having +been shut up in school all those years, but she kept me +close with her all the time, and I met only the people +she chose to have me meet. All the time she kept +talking about 'dear Herbert' and telling how wonderful +he was and how he had grown to be 'such a +dear boy.' Finally he arrived and began the very +first evening he was with us to coax me to marry him. +At first he was very courteous and waited upon +me whenever I stirred, and I almost thought his +mother was right about his being changed. But when +I told him that I did not love him and could not ever +marry him I caught a look on his face like an angry +snarl, and I heard him tell his mother I was a crazy +little fool, and that he would break my neck for me +after he got me good and married. Then his mother<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span> +began to come to me and cry and tell me how dear +Herbert was almost heart-broken, that he would +never lift up his head again, and that I would send +him to ruin. It was simply awful, and I didn't know +how to endure it. I began to wonder where I could +go. Of course I had never been brought up to do +anything, so I could not very well expect to go out +into the world and make my living."</p> + +<p>"Didn't you have any money at all?" interrupted +Reyburn suddenly.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes," she said, looking up as if she had just +remembered his presence. "I had always plenty of +spending money, but if I went away where they +couldn't find me, why, of course, I would have to +give that up."</p> + +<p>"Why, where did your money come from? Was +it an allowance from your stepmother, or did your +father leave it to you, or what?"</p> + +<p>"I'm not just sure," said Betty, with troubled +brow. "I never really knew much about the money +affairs. When I asked, they always put me off and +said that I was too young to be bothered with business +yet, I would be told all about it when I came +of age. My stepmother harped a great deal on keeping +me young as long as possible. She said it was +my father's wish that I should be relieved of all<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span> +care until I came of age. But there were some trustees +in Boston. I know that, because I had to write +to them, about once or twice a year. My stepmother +was most particular about that. I think they were old +friends of my own mother, though I don't know +when I learned that. Father told me once that +mother had left me enough to keep me comfortably +even without what he would leave me, so I'm sure +I shall have enough to repay you if I could once +get it."</p> + +<p>"Don't worry about me!" he exclaimed. "It +seems so terrible for you to have been alone in a +situation like that! Wasn't there any one you could +appeal to for help?"</p> + +<p>"No, not any one whom I thought it would be +right to tell. You see, in a way it was my father's +honor. She was his wife, and I'm sure he loved her—at +least at first—and she really was very good to +me, except when it was a question of her son."</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid I can't agree with you there!" he +said sternly. "I think she was a clever actress. But +excuse me. Go on, please."</p> + +<p>"At last, when things had got so bad that I thought +I must run away somewhere, my stepmother came +into my room one morning and locked the door. She +had been weeping, and she looked very sweet and pitiful.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span> +She said she had something to tell me. She +had tried not to have to do it, for she was afraid it +would grieve me and might make me have hard +feelings against my father. I told her that was impossible. +Then she told me that my father on his +deathbed had called her to him and told her that +it was his wish that I should marry one of her sons, +and he wanted her to tell me. He felt that he had +wronged them by hating them for my sake and he +felt that I could make it all right by marrying one of +them. My stepmother said that when she saw how +infatuated dear Herbert was with me she hoped that +she would be spared having to tell me, but now that I +was treating him so she felt bound to deliver the +message. Then she handed me a paper which said +virtually the same thing which she had told me, +and was signed by my father in his own +handwriting."</p> + +<p>"Was the paper written or printed?" interrupted +Reyburn.</p> + +<p>"I think it was typewritten, but the signature +was papa's. There could be no mistake about that, +and he wouldn't have signed something he didn't +mean." Betty sighed as if it were a subject she had +worn into her heart by much sorrowful thought.</p> + +<p>"It might be quite possible for him to have done<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span> +that under influence or delirium, or when he was +too sick to realize."</p> + +<p>"Oh, do you think so?" Betty caught at the hope. +"It seems so awful to go against papa's last request."</p> + +<p>"There is nothing awful but the idea of your +being tied to that—beast!" said Reyburn with unexpected +fervor. Betty looked at him gratefully and +went on:</p> + +<p>"I was simply appalled. I couldn't think, and I +made my stepmother go away and leave me for a +little while, but things got blacker and blacker and +I thought I was going crazy. I couldn't marry Herbert +even to please my father. The next day +Bessemer arrived. He had been worrying his mother +a lot about money, and when he arrived I couldn't +help hearing what they said to him. They charged +him with all sort of dreadful things. They called +him a disgrace, and threatened to let him be arrested, +and a great many more such things. Finally his +mother ended up by telling him she never had loved +him and that if he made any more trouble about +money she would cut him off without a cent. I was +sitting upstairs in my room with my windows open, +and all their talk floated right up to me. It made +me feel sick, and yet I felt sorry for Bessemer, for +lately whenever he had been around he had been<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span> +kind to me, and sometimes I had stayed near him +to get rid of Herbert. We often talked over our +troubles together and sympathized with one another. +He felt sorry for me, but he was weak himself and +couldn't see any way out for either of us.</p> + +<p>"They had pretty stormy times all that day. +Late in the afternoon Herbert and Bessemer went to +their mother's room and were closeted with her for +two hours, after which Herbert went away in the car +with his suitcase and bags as if he were not coming +back soon. I watched him from my window, and in +great relief went down to take a little walk, for I had +stayed closely in my room all day trying to plan +what to do. One thing that held me from running +away was that it would be such a disgrace to the +family, and I knew my father would have felt it so +keenly. That was always the great trouble when the +boys got into scrapes at college, my father would +groan and say he felt disgraced to be so conspicuous +before the world. So I hesitated to do what would +have been a sorrow to him had he been alive.</p> + +<p>"Half an hour later I was sitting alone in the +twilight on one of the porches, and Bessemer came +out and sat down beside me.</p> + +<p>"He looked so sort of homely and lonesome that +I put my hand on his arm and told him I was awfully<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span> +sorry for him, and suddenly he turned around +and said:</p> + +<p>"'Say, Betty, why don't you marry <i>me?</i> Then +they can't say a word to either of us. Your father's +wishes will be carried out and Herb'll have to whistle.'</p> + +<p>"At first I was horrified, but we talked a long +time about it, and he told me how lonely he had +always been, and how nobody had ever loved him, +and he knew he wasn't attractive, and all that; and +then he said that if I married him we would go away +and live by ourselves and he would let me do just +as I wanted to. He wouldn't bother me about anything. +If I didn't love him he would keep out of my +sight, and things like that, till I got very sorry for +him, and began to think that perhaps after all it was +the best thing that would ever come for either of +us. So I said I would.</p> + +<p>"It surprised me a little that my stepmother took +it so calmly when we told her. She cried a little, but +did it very prettily, and kissed Bessemer, and told +him he was fortunate. Then she kissed me and said +I was a darling, and that she would be so happy +if it only weren't for poor dear Herbert.</p> + +<p>"But after that they began to rush things for a +grand wedding, and I let them do it because I didn't +see anything else in the world for me."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[189]</a></span></p> + +<p>Betty raised her eyes and encountered the clear +grave gaze of Reyburn fixed on her, and the color +flew into her cheeks:</p> + +<p>"I know you think I'm dreadful," she said, +shrinking. "I've thought so myself a thousand +times, but truly I didn't realize then what an awful +thing it would be to marry a man I didn't love. I +only wanted to hurry up and get it done before Herbert +came home. They said he had been called away +by important business and might be at home any +day. I gave my consent to everything they wanted +to do, and they fixed it all just as they pleased. One +thing that happened upset me terribly. When the +wedding invitations came home my stepmother carried +them off to her room. I was too sad to pay +much attention anyway. But the next morning I +happened to be down in the kitchen looking over the +papers that the maid had taken down from the waste +baskets to search for a missing letter and there in +the pile I found one of the invitations partly addressed +and flung aside, and the invitation was still +in the envelope. I pulled it out with a ghastly kind +of curiosity to see how I looked on paper, and there +it read, Mrs. Charles Garland Stanhope invites you +to be present at the marriage of her daughter Elizabeth +to <i>Mr. Herbert Hutton<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[190]</a></span>!</i></p> + +<p>"My heart just stood still. With the paper in +my hand I rushed up to my stepmother's room and +demanded to know what that meant. She smiled +and said she was so sorry I had been annoyed that +way, that that was a mistake, the invitations had +come wrongly engraved and she had had to send +them back and have them done over again. She +was afraid I might be superstitious about it, so she +hadn't told me. She was very gentle and sweet and +tried to soothe me, and called me 'Betty,' the name +my father always had for me, and at last I went back +to my room feeling quite comfortable. She had said +she always felt troubled for poor Bessemer, that nobody +could love him right, he was so homely, and +now I was going to make everything right by marrying +him. She was going to try to forget what I +had done to poor dear Herbert, and just be happy +about Bessemer. She talked so nicely that I kissed +her, a thing I hadn't done in years, not since she was +first married to father. But somehow the shock of +seeing Herbert's name on the invitation stayed with +me, and I began to feel gloomier about it all and +to wonder if perhaps I had done right. The last +day I was terribly depressed and when I got to the +church that night it suddenly came to me that perhaps +after all I was not going to be free at all as I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[191]</a></span> +had hoped, but was just tying myself up to them all +for life. I was thinking that as I walked up the +aisle, and my throat had a big lump in it the way it +always does when I am frightened, and then I looked +up hoping a glimpse of poor Bessemer's face would +steady me and he wasn't there at all! And right +over me, waiting beside the minister, to marry me +stood <i>Herbert!</i> My knees just gave way under me, +and everything got black so I couldn't go on another +step, nor even stand up. I had to drop. I wasn't +unconscious as you all thought—I heard everything +that went on, but I couldn't do anything about it.</p> + +<p>"After they had carried me into the other room +and given me things to drink, and I could get my +breath again I saw it all clearly. Herbert hadn't +given up at all. He meant to marry me anyway. He +had had the invitations printed with his name on +purpose and they probably hadn't been changed at +all. Everybody in that great church out there was +<i>expecting</i> me to marry Herbert Hutton, and I <i>was +not going to do it!</i> I didn't quite know how I was +going to stop it, but I knew I had to! You see I was +brought up to think a great deal about what people +would think of me if I did anything out of the +usual, and it seemed to me I had disgraced myself +forever by dropping down in the aisle. I knew<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[192]</a></span> +Herbert well enough to be sure he would carry that +wedding through now if he had to hold me up in +his arms till the ceremony was over, and I was +desperate. I would have given everything I had in +the world if the floor had opened and swallowed +me up then, but of course I knew wild thoughts +like that wouldn't get me anywhere, so I just shut +my eyes and tried to think of a way; and then I +asked them all to go out a minute and let me be quiet. +The doctor who had come out of the church told +them to go. I shall always bless that man, whoever +he was! Then when they were gone I opened a door +that had a key in it, and I locked it behind me and +ran away down some stairs and out a passage that led +to the street. That girl, Jane Carson, was passing +and she put her own coat on me and took me to her +room and sent me here. Oh, it's been so good to get +here! Do you think they can take me away against +my will?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly not!" said the young man. "Not +without some foul play, but I don't intend to give +them any chance for that. By the way, when do you +come of age?"</p> + +<p>"In three weeks," said Betty, looking troubled. +"Why, would I be safe after I was of age?"</p> + +<p>"You certainly would not be under their guardianship<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[193]</a></span> +any longer," said the young lawyer, "and +they would have no right to control your actions, unless +of course you were incapacitated somehow and +unfit to manage your own affairs."</p> + +<p>Betty looked troubled.</p> + +<p>"I've thought sometimes, ever since I saw that +paper in which they hinted that I was temporarily +insane, that they might try to shut me up in an insane +asylum. Herbert wouldn't stop at anything. Could +he do that?"</p> + +<p>"They would have to get a doctor to swear that +you were mentally unsound," said Reyburn, looking +troubled. "Does he really love you, do you think +or does he only want to get you in his power for +some reason?"</p> + +<p>"It is more like that," said Betty sorrowfully, +"he couldn't really love anybody but himself."</p> + +<p>"Well, don't you worry. I'm going at the case +at once, and I'll put those people where they'll have +to walk a chalk line before many hours are over. The +first thing I must do is to see those trustees of yours. +Can you give me the names and addresses?"</p> + +<p>He got out his fountain pen, and Betty told him +all he wanted to know, that is, all she knew herself, +and then suddenly it was train time and he hurried +away. On the steps he paused and said in a low tone:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[194]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Are you perfectly comfortable with these people +for a few days until I can get you better accommodations +where you will be safe?"</p> + +<p>"Entirely," said Betty eagerly. "I wouldn't +want to go elsewhere."</p> + +<p>"But it must be very hard for one like you to be +thrown constantly with illiterate, uncultured people."</p> + +<p>Betty smiled dreamily:</p> + +<p>"I don't think they are exactly uncultured," she +said slowly. "They—well, you see, they make a +friend of God, and somehow I think that makes a +difference. Don't you think it would?"</p> + +<p>"I should think it would," said Warren Reyburn +reverently with a light in his eyes. "I think, perhaps, +if you don't mind my saying it, that you, too, have +been making a friend of God."</p> + +<p>"I've been trying to," said Betty softly, with a +shy glow on her face that he remembered all the way +back to the city.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[195]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV</h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Candace Cameron</span> paced her little gabled room +restively, with face growing redder and more excited +at every step. For several weeks now she had +been virtually a prisoner—albeit a willing enough +one—in the house of Stanhope. But the time had +come when she felt that she must do something.</p> + +<p>She had gone quietly enough about a proscribed +part of the house, doing little helpful things, making +herself most useful to the madam, slipping here +and there with incredible catlike tread for so plump +a body, managing to overhear important conversations, +and melting away like a wraith before her +presence was discovered. She had made herself so +unobtrusive as to be almost forgotten by all save +the maid Marie, who had been set to watch her; +and she had learned that if she went to bed quite +early in the evening, Marie relaxed her watch and +went down to the servants' quarters, or even sometimes +went out with a lover for a while, that is, if the +madam herself happened to be out also. On several +such occasions she had made valuable tours of +investigation through the madam's desk and private +papers.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[196]</a></span></p> + +<p>That she was overstepping her privileges as a +servant in the house went without saying, but she +silenced her Scotch conscience, which until this +period of her existence had always kept her strictly +from meddling with other people's affairs, by declaring +over and over again to herself that she was +doing perfectly right because she was doing it for +the sake of "that poor wee thing that was being +cheated of her rights."</p> + +<p>Several weeks had passed since her sudden re-establishment +in the family, and the reports of Betty, +so hastily readjusted and refurbished to harmonize +with the newspaper reports, had not been any more +satisfying. Mrs. Stanhope had explained to the +servants the day after the excitement that Miss +Betty had become temporarily deranged, and later +that she had escaped from the private hospital where +she had been taken, and they were doing all in their +power to find her. In reply to Candace's gimlet-like +questions she had given the name of a hospital where +she said Betty had been taken at first, and everything +seemed altogether plausible. But as the days +went by and the horror of her absence grew into the +soul of the lonely woman whose care Betty had been +for years, Candace became more and more restive +and suspicious. It was these <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'suspicians'">suspicions</ins> which sent<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[197]</a></span> +her on her investigations, and made her uncannily +wise to pry open secret locks and cover all trace of her +absence after she had gleaned what knowledge +she sought.</p> + +<p>On this particular evening her excitement was +due to having come across some correspondence +bearing the signature of a man to whom a certain +letter had been addressed, which had been entrusted +to her charge by Betty's dying father and taken from +her by his wife. For years she had been worried +about that, and yet she had no absolute reason to +doubt that the madam had not sent it to its destination, +except as she knew its contents and read Mrs. +Stanhope's character beneath the excellent camouflage. +But to-night, even the briefest glance through +the bundle of letters showed plainly that those men +in Boston never knew the master's wishes, or at least, +if they knew them, they were utterly disregarding +them.</p> + +<p>Aroused on one point, her suspicions began to +extend further. Where was Betty? Did her stepmother +know, and was she somewhere suffering, +alone, perhaps being neglected because she had not +done as they wanted her to do? If the stepmother +was capable of destroying a letter, was she perhaps +not also capable of putting Betty out of the way?<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[198]</a></span> +There were points of detail which of course did not +harmonize with any such theory as this. Candace +was no logician, but she was keen enough to feel +that something was wrong. As for that theory of +Betty's insanity she scouted it with a harsh laugh +whenever it was mentioned in her hearing. Betty—keen, +sweet, trusting little Betty <i>insane!</i> Nonsense! +It was unthinkable. If she was in an asylum anywhere +she was there without warrant, and it behoved +her faithful old nurse to find a way out for her. +This she meant to do against all odds, for she was +thoroughly aroused now.</p> + +<p>She went to the window and looked down into the +lighted street. Over there not four blocks away +rose the steeple of the church where Betty had gone +to be married! Around the corner was the great +brick pile of the hospital where her stepmother said +she had been taken from the church, and from +which she was believed by the other servants to +have escaped.</p> + +<p>Standing thus looking out into the light-starred +city, Candace began to form a plan, her plump +tightly garmented chest rising and falling excitedly +as she thought it all out. It was up to her to find +out what had become of Betty. But how was she +to get away without being suspected? Somehow she<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[199]</a></span> +must do it. She knew perfectly the address that +had been on that letter. She had written it down +carefully from memory as soon as it had been taken +away from her. She must go to Boston and find that +man to whom it had been written, and discover +whether he had ever received it. But she could not +go until she found out certainly whether or not Betty +had ever really escaped from the hospital. Who +knew but that she was shut up there yet, and the +madam telling this tale all about and advertising with +a five thousand dollar reward! In the movies, too! +Such a disgrace on the family! How the master +would have writhed at the publicity of his beloved +daughter—"poor wee thing!"</p> + +<p>Candace turned from the window with her lips +set, and <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'tiptoing'">tiptoeing</ins> to the door, listened. Yes, it was +Aileen who was coming lightly up the stairs, singing +in a low tone. It was Aileen's evening out. That +meant that Marie would be more than usually active +on the upper floor. She must manage it before +Aileen left and Marie was called upstairs, or there +would be no opportunity to get away without Marie +seeing her.</p> + +<p>Hastily she gathered her silk dress, her cloak and +her apoplectic hat into a bundle with her purse and +her gloves, and tied them into an old apron, with the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[200]</a></span> +strings hanging free. Then stealthily opening the +window, she dropped them out into the kitchen +area below, close to the region of the ash cans. It +was a risk, of course, but one must take some chances, +and the servants would all be in the kitchen just now, +laughing and talking. They would scarcely have +heard it fall.</p> + +<p>She listened a tense instant, then closed the window, +and possessing herself of a few little things, +gathered hastily about the room, which she could +stuff in her pockets, she opened her door softly, +closed it behind her, and trotted off down the stairs +just as if she were going about her ordinary duty. +Listening a minute outside the kitchen door she +slipped stealthily down the cellar stairs, and tiptoed +over to the area door where the ashman took out +the ashes. Softly slipping the bolt she opened the +door and drew in her bundle. Then standing within, +she quickly slipped the black silk over her housemaid's +gown, donned her coat and hat and gloves, +and sallied forth. A moment more and she was in +the next street with the consciousness that she +"might have done the like any time sooner, if she'd +wanted, in spite of that little spy-cat Marie."</p> + +<p>"If I want to go back I'll just say I went after +my insurance book," she chuckled to herself as she<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[201]</a></span> +sped down the street in the direction of the hospital.</p> + +<p>Arrived at the big building she asked to see the +list of patients taken in on the day of Betty's wedding, +and succeeded in getting a pretty accurate +description of each one, sufficient at least to satisfy +her that Betty was not among them. Then she asked +a few more bold questions, and came away fully convinced +that Betty had never been in that hospital.</p> + +<p>By this time it was nine o'clock, and she meant to +take the evening train for Boston, which left, she was +sure, somewhere near midnight. She took a trolley +to her old lodgings where she had been since Mrs. +Stanhope had sent her away the first time, and +hastily packed a small hand bag with a few necessities, +made a few changes in her garments, then went +to see a fellow lodger whom she knew well, and +where she felt sure she could easily get a check +cashed, for she had a tidy little bank account of her +own, and was well known to be reliable.</p> + +<p>Having procured the necessary funds, she made +her way to the station and found that she had still +an hour to spare before the Boston train left.</p> + +<p>Settled down at last in the back seat of a common +car, she made herself as comfortable as her surroundings +would allow, and gave herself up to planning +the campaign that was before her.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[202]</a></span></p> + +<p>Canny Candace did not go at once to the office +of the brothers, James and George McIntyre, though +she looked them up in the telephone book the very +first thing when the train arrived in Boston even +before she had had a bite to eat, and her cup of tea +which meant more to her than the "bite." She +reasoned that they would be busy in the early hours +and not be able to give her their undivided attention. +She had not lived out all her life for nothing. She +knew the ways of the world, and she had very +strict ideas about the best ways of doing everything. +So it happened that when she was at last shown +into the office of the McIntyres, Warren Reyburn +who had traveled to Boston on the sleeper of the +same train that she had taken the night before, was +just arising from an earnest conference with the +two men. With her first glance, as the three emerged +from the inner office, Candace saw that the two elder +gentlemen were much disturbed and it flitted through +her mind that she had come at an inopportune moment. +Then her quick eye took in the younger man +and her little alert head cocked to one side with a +questioning attitude. Where had she seen him before? +Candace had the kind of a mind that kept +people and events card-indexed even to the minutest +detail, and it didn't take many seconds for her to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[203]</a></span> +place Warren Reyburn back in the church at the +wedding, standing against the wall with his arms +folded. She had noticed him particularly because +he was so courteous to a little old lady who came +in too late to get a seat. She had studied him as he +stood there, waiting for the wedding march, and +she had thought how handsome he looked and how +fine it would have been if her wee Betty had been +getting a man like that in place of the weak-faced +Bessemer Hutton. She had watched to see who +he was with, and felt deep satisfaction when she +noticed him lean over and speak to Mrs. Bryce +Cochrane as if he belonged to her. He wasn't her +husband, because she knew Mr. Cochrane, who had +been a favorite with Mr. Stanhope and much at the +house. This man might be Mrs. Cochrane's brother +"or the likes," and she had pleased herself watching +him till Betty arrived and took all her thoughts. So +now she stood with her little round head in its hectic +hat tilted interestedly to one side, watching, ears on +the keen to catch any word, for all the world like +a "bit brown sparrow" saucily perched on another +man's window, where it really had no right to be.</p> + +<p>At last one of the McIntyre's shook hands gravely +with the younger man, and the other one attended +him to the door, talking in low tones. The McIntyre<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[204]</a></span> +thus set at liberty, turned questioningly toward +the stranger, who was not slow in getting to +her feet and coming forward.</p> + +<p>"You will maybe be Mr. James McIntyre?" she +asked, lifting her sea-blue eyes set in her apple-red +face, and fixing her firm little lips in dignity. Candace +was a servant and knew her place, but she felt +the importance of her mission, and meant to have +no disrespect done to it.</p> + +<p>"I am Mr. George McIntyre," the gentleman +replied, and, indicating the man at the door, "Mr. +James McIntyre will be at liberty in a moment, but +perhaps I will do as well?"</p> + +<p>Candace cocked a glance toward the elderly back +at the door; and then returned her look to +Mr. George:</p> + +<p>"You'll maybe be knowing Mr. Charles Stanhope?" +she propounded, as if she were giving +him a riddle, and her blue eyes looked him through +and through:</p> + +<p>"Oh, surely, surely! He was a very close friend! +You—knew him?"</p> + +<p>"I was Miss Betty's nurse who cooked the griddle +cakes for you the morning after the funeral——" +she said, and waited with breathless dignity to see +how he would take it.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[205]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh! Is that so!" He beamed on her kindly. +"Yes, yes, I remember those cakes. They were delicious! +And what can I do for you? Just sit +down. Why, bless me, I don't know but that your +coming may be very opportune! Can you tell me +anything of Miss Betty?"</p> + +<p>Candace pressed her lips together with a knowing +smile as much as to say she might tell volumes if it +were wise, and she cast a glance at the other brother +who was shaking hands now with his visitor and +promising to meet him a little later:</p> + +<p>"Yon man'll be knowing a bit, too, I'll be thinking," +she hazarded nodding toward Reyburn as he +left. "He was at the wedding, I'm most sure——!"</p> + +<p>The elder McIntyre gave her a quick glance and +signalled to his brother to come near:</p> + +<p>"This is Miss Stanhope's nurse, the one who +cooked breakfast for us at the time of the +funeral," he said, and to Candace, "This is +Mr. James McIntyre."</p> + +<p>Candace fixed him with another of her inquisitive +little glances:</p> + +<p>"I've some bit papers put by that I thought ye +might like to see," she said with a cautious air. "I've +kept them fer long because I thought they might be +wanted sometime, yet I've never dared bring them<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[206]</a></span> +to your notice before lest I would be considered +meddlin', and indeed I wasn't sure but you had them +already. Will you please to look over them papers +and see if you've ever seen them before?" She drew +forth an envelope from her bag and handed it to +them. "It's a bit letter that Mr. Stanhope wrote the +day he was dyin' an' then copied and give to me to +mail, and his lady took it away, sayin' she would +attend to it. What I want to know is, did ye ever +get the letter? If ye did it's all right and none of +my business further, an' I'll go on my way back home +again and think no more about it; but if ye didn't +then there it is, an' you ought to see it, that's sure!"</p> + +<p>The two men drew eagerly together and studied +the trembling lines:</p> + +<p>"It's his writing all right," murmured one, +under his breath, and the brother nodded gravely:</p> + +<p>"You say that this was the original of a letter +that was given to you to mail to us?"</p> + +<p>Candace nodded.</p> + +<p>"It's what he wrote first, and got ink on it, an' +then wrote it over. I can't say what changes he +made, as I didn't read it, but this he gave to me to +burn, and before I gets it burned my lady comes in +and takes the letter from me while he was sleepin'; +and so I hid the bit papers, thinkin' they might<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[207]</a></span> +be a help to wee Betty sometime. And oh, can ye +tell me anything of my little Lady Betty? Is she +safe? Did she come to you for refuge? You needn't +be afraid to tell me. I'll never breathe a word——!"</p> + +<p>The two brothers exchanged quick glances of +warning and the elder man spoke:</p> + +<p>"My good woman, we appreciate your coming, +and these papers may prove very useful to us. We +hope to be able to clear up this matter of Miss Stanhope's +disappearance very soon. She did not come +to us, however, and she is not here. But if you will +step into the room just beyond and wait for a little +while we may be able to talk this matter over +with you."</p> + +<p>Very courteously he ushered the plump, apprehensive +little woman into the next room and established +her in an easy leather chair with a quantity +of magazines and newspapers about her, but she kept +her little head cocked anxiously on one side, and +watched the door like a dog whose master has gone +in and shut the way behind him; and she never sat +back in her chair nor relaxed one iota during the +whole of the two hours that she had to wait before +she was called at last to the inner office where she +found the handsome young man whom she remembered +seeing at the wedding.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[208]</a></span></p> + +<p>She presently found that Reyburn was as keen as +he was handsome, but if she hadn't remembered him +at the wedding as a friend of that nice Mrs. Cochrane, +she never would have made it as easy as she did +for him to find out things from her, for she could +be canny herself on occasion if she tried, and she did +not trust everybody.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[209]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI</h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> mysterious disappearance of Candace from +the Stanhope house caused nothing short of a panic. +Herbert and his mother held hourly wrangles, +and frantically tried one thing and then another. +Day after day the responses came in from the advertisements +they had caused to be put forth. Everyone +was hot-foot for the reward, but so far little of +encouragement had been brought out. More and +more the young man was fixing his mind on the idea +that Candace had something to do with Betty's disappearance, +so he was leaving no stone unturned +to find the nurse as well as the girl. To this end +he insisted on seeing personally and cross-examining +every person who came claiming to have a clue to +the lost girl.</p> + +<p>That morning, at about the same hour when Candace +walked into the office of the McIntyre Brothers +in Boston, James, the butler, much against his dignity, +was ushering a curious person into the presence +of the son of the house. James showed by every line +of his noble figure that he considered this duty beneath +his dignity, and that it was only because the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[210]</a></span> +occasion was unusual that he tolerated it for a moment, +but the man who ambled observantly behind +him, stretching his neck to see everything that was to +be seen in this part of the great house, that he might +tell about it at the fire-house, failed to get the effect. +He was wondering why in thunder such rich people +as these seemed to be, couldn't afford carpets big +enough to cover their whole floors, instead of just +having skimpy little bits of pieces dropped around +here and there, that made you liable to skid all over +the place if you stepped on one of them biasly.</p> + +<p>Herbert Hutton lifted his head and watched +Abijah Gage slouch into the room. He measured +him keenly and remained silent while Abijah opened +up. There had been many other applicants for that +reward that day, with stories cunningly woven, and +facts, substantiated by witnesses, in one case a whole +family brought along to swear to the fabrication; +but as yet Herbert had not found a promising clue +to his missing bride, and the time was going by. +In a few days it would be too late, and his undisciplined +spirit raged within him. It was not only his +bride he wanted, it was her fortune, which was worth +any trouble he might take; and every day, every +hour, every minute now, it was slipping, slipping, +slipping from his eager grasp.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[211]</a></span></p> + +<p>Abijah was a little overawed in the presence of +this insolent man of the world, but he felt he had, +for almost the first time in his life, Truth on his side, +and he was strong in the power of it. With a cunning +equal to the one that matched him he dealt +out his information bit by bit, giving only enough at +a time to make his victim sure it was the real thing +this time; and then he halted stubbornly and would +say no more until that five thousand dollars was +signed and sealed over to him. They had a long +argument, but in the end Bi won, and was given +certain documents which he was satisfied would stand +in court. A little later the telephone in Reyburn's +office rang sharply, and when Jimmie Ryan responded +a voice that he had never heard before asked +for Mr. Warren Reyburn.</p> + +<p>"He's out of town," Jimmie replied.</p> + +<p>"How soon will he be back?" The voice was +like a snarl.</p> + +<p>"I'm not quite sure. He's called to Boston on +business," swelled Jimmie loyally.</p> + +<p>An oath ripped over the wire, and Jimmie raged +within and quailed. Was his idol then losing a +great case?</p> + +<p>"He might be back in a few hours," insinuated +Jimmie. "Who shall I say called up if he should +have me over long distance?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[212]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You needn't say anybody! I'll call up again," +growled the voice, and the man hung up.</p> + +<p>Jimmie sat for a long time in blissful reverie. +"He's getting there!" he whispered to himself. +"He'll get the big cases yet, and I can keep my first +place. I must see Jane to-night and tell her."</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, back at Tinsdale improvements had +been going on at the Carsons'. Bob, always handy +with tools, had been putting in a tank over the bathtub. +They had one at the house on the hill, only it +was run by a windmill. Bob had a friend who was +a plumber's son, and from him had obtained some +lengths of second-hand water-pipe and an old faucet. +He had conceived the idea of a tank on the roof, and +his first plan had been only a rainwater tank, but +gradually as his vision widened he included a force +pump in the outfit of desires. He hung around the +plumber's until they unearthed an old force pump +somewhat out of repair, and for a few days' assisting +the plumber Bob acquired it, together with after-hour +help to put it into operation. The next object +was a tank, which seemed at first to represent the +impossible; but the grocer at last offered a suggestion +in the shape of several large empty hogsheads +which he readily accepted at the price of four Saturdays' +work in the store.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[213]</a></span></p> + +<p>All Bob's extra time was put into these improvements, +and he was as excited every night when it +grew dark and he was forced to come to supper +because he couldn't see any longer to work, as if he +had been building an airship.</p> + +<p>The day the hogsheads were marshaled and connected +and the force pump sent its first stream into +them was a great occasion. The family assembled in +the yard, with Elise Hathaway, who had been +allowed to come over for a few minutes with Betty. +Bob and his plumber friend pumped, and Emily +climbed to the attic window, which overlooked the +row of hogsheads, ranged so that the water would +flow from one to the other, and acted as pilot to the +new enterprise. As the first stream from the force +pump, which Bob had lavishly painted red, crept +its way up the pipes and began to wet the bottom of +the first and highest hogshead Emily gave a little +squeal of delight and shouted "It's come! It's come! +The water's come!" and the family below fairly held +their breath with the wonder of it. Not that such a +thing could be, but that their own freckled, grinning +Bob should have been able to achieve it.</p> + +<p>There was an elaborate system of tin conductors +which conveyed the waste water from the bathtub +out through a hole in the wall of the little laundry<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[214]</a></span> +bathroom, and distributed it along the garden beds +wherever its controller desired to irrigate. Thus the +system became practical as well as a luxury. There +was also an arrangement of gutter pipes for carrying +off any surplus water from the hogsheads, so saving +the Carson house from possible inundation at any +time of heavy storms.</p> + +<p>After the plumbing was finished Bob painted the +laundry neatly inside with beautiful white paint and +robin's-egg blue for the ceiling, and Betty told him it +almost made one think of going swimming in the +ocean. Next he began to talk about a shower bath. +Betty told him what one was like and he began to +spend more days down at the plumber's asking questions +and picking up odd bits of pipe, making measurements, +and doing queer things to an old colander +for experiment's sake. The day that Warren Reyburn +came for the first time Bob had the shower +part finished and ready to erect, and the next day +saw it complete with a rod for the rubber curtain +that Betty had promised to make for him. He and +she were planning how they would make further +improvements on the house before Jane and Nellie +should come home for their summer vacation week. +Betty had thoroughly entered into the life of the +little household now, and was a part of it. She<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[215]</a></span> +saved her own small wages, and grudged all she +had to spend for necessary clothes, that she might +contribute further to the comfort and beauty of +the general home.</p> + +<p>After Warren Reyburn's visit the last barrier between +Betty and Ma seemed to be broken down. As +soon as she had closed the door she flew into the other +room and flung her arms around Ma's neck, bursting +into soft weeping on her motherly shoulder. Ma had +done a rapid turning act when she heard her coming, +for in truth she had been peeping behind the green +window-shade to watch the handsome stranger go +down the street, but she would have dropped the iron +on her foot and pretended to be picking it up rather +than let Betty suspect her interest in the visitor.</p> + +<p>"Oh, mother," she murmured in Mrs. Carson's +willing ear, "I have been so frightened——"</p> + +<p>"I know, dearie!" soothed the mother, quite as +if she had been her own. "I know!"</p> + +<p>"But he was very kind," she said lifting her head +with an April effect of tears. "He's going to try to +fix things for me so that I don't need ever to be +afraid of any one making trouble for me any more. +You see, I sort of ran away. There was somebody I +was afraid of who troubled me a great deal."</p> + +<p>"Yes, dearie, I thought as much," said Ma. +"Jane kind of gave me to understand there was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[216]</a></span> +something like that. I'm real glad there's somebody +goin' to look into your affairs an' fix things right +for you. I knew you was restless an' worried. Now +it'll get all straightened out. He's got a nice face. +I trusted him first off. He's a church member, an' +that's somethin'. They ain't all spiritual, but they're +mostly clean an' just an' kindly, when they're anythin' +at all but just plain hypocrites, which, thank +the Lord, there ain't so many as some would have us +believe. Now wash your face, dearie, an' run back +to your place so you can come home early, for we're +goin' to have the old hen with dumplin's for supper +to celebrate."</p> + +<p>That was one charming thing about that household: +they celebrated every blessed little trifle that +came into their lives, so that living with them was +like a procession of beautiful thanksgivings.</p> + +<p>It was while Betty was eating the gala "hen," +delicious in its festive gravy and dumplings, that she +looked off across the little dining-room to the dark +window with its twinkling village lights in the distance +and thought of the stranger. A dark fear +flashed across her sweet face and sparkled in the +depths of her eyes for just an instant. Was it perhaps +the distant bay of the hounds on her trail, coming +nearer every moment? Then she remembered +the heavenly Father and her new-found faith, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[217]</a></span> +turned back to the cheery little room and the children's +pleasant clatter, resolved to forget the fear +and to trust all to Him who cared for her. Perhaps +he had sent the pleasant stranger, and the thought +brought a quiet little smile to settle about her lips. +She laughed with Bob and Emily at how they had got +wet with a sudden unexpected shower from the new +bath while they were arranging the curtain on the rod, +and Emily had turned the faucet on without knowing +it. The patient-eyed mother watched them all and +was satisfied.</p> + +<p>How good it is that we cannot hear all the noises +of the earth at the same time, nor know of every +danger that lurks near as we are passing by! We +grumble a great deal that God does not send us as +much as we think he might, but we give scarce a +thought to our escape from the many perils, lying +close as our very breath, of which we never +even dream.</p> + +<p>At that moment, as they sat quietly eating their +happy meal, a deadly particular peril was headed +straight for Tinsdale.</p> + +<p>Abijah Gage and Herbert Hutton boarded the +evening train for Tinsdale together and entered the +sleeper. Abijah shuffled behind, carrying the bags, +a most extraordinary and humiliating position for +him. He had never been known to carry anything,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[218]</a></span> +not even himself if he could help it, since the day +his mother died and ceased to force him to carry +in wood and water for her at the end of a hickory +switch. He glanced uneasily round with a slight +cackle of dismay as he arrived in the unaccustomed +plush surroundings and tried to find some place to +dump his load. But the well-groomed Herbert strode +down the long aisle unnoticing and took possession +of the section he had secured as if he owned the road.</p> + +<p>"You can sit there!" he ordered Bi with a +condescending motion, dropping into his own seat +and opening a newspaper.</p> + +<p>Bi sat down on the edge of the seat, and held on +to the arm in a gingerly way as if he were afraid +to trust himself to anything so different. He looked +furtively up and down the car, eyed the porter, who +ignored him contemptuously and finally came back +and demanded his sleeper ticket with a lordliness +that Bi did not feel he could take from a negro. But +somehow the ticket got tangled in his pocket, and Bi +had a hard time finding it, which deepened his indignation +at the porter.</p> + +<p>"I ain't takin' no sass from no one. My seat's +paid fer all right," he said distinctly for the enlightenment +of the other passengers, and Herbert Hutton +reached out a discreet arm and dropped something in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[219]</a></span> +the porter's hand which sent him on his way and +left Bi snorting audibly after him.</p> + +<p>"You'd better shut up!" growled the dictator to +Bi. "We don't want to be conspicuous, you know. +If you can't hold your tongue and act as if you had +ever traveled before, I'll get off this train at the next +station and you can whistle for your reward. Do +you understand?"</p> + +<p>Bi dropped his toothless lower jaw a trifle and +his little eyes grew narrow. This was no way to +manage affable Bi. He loved a good visit, and he had +counted on one all the way to Tinsdale. He had no +idea of sitting silent.</p> + +<p>"I understand," he drawled, "an' I'll be gormed +ef I'll agree. I ain't told you yet where we get off, +an' I don't have to ef I don't wantta. Ef you can't +treat me like a gen'l'man you know where you can +get off, an' I ain't havin' to state it."</p> + +<p>Herbert Hutton drew his arrogant brows in a +frown of annoyance, and whirled around to placate +his guide:</p> + +<p>"Now see here, you old popinjay, what's got +into you?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir, I ain't nobody's papa," babbled Bi, +seeing he had scored a point. "I have enough to do +to support myself without any family."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[220]</a></span></p> + +<p>"That's all right, have it your own way, only +shut up or we'll have somebody listening. Have a +cigar. Take two. But you can't smoke 'em in here, +you'll have to go to the smoking-room. Wait! I'll +see if we can get the drawing-room."</p> + +<p>The porter appeared and the change was effected, +to the great <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'disapointment'">disappointment</ins> of Bi, who kept continually +poking his head out to get a glimpse of the fine +ladies. He would much have preferred staying out +in the main car and getting acquainted with people. +His cunning had departed with the need. He had +put things in the hands of this surly companion, and +now he meant to have a good time and something to +tell the gang about when he got home.</p> + +<p>About midnight the train drew into a station and +Herbert Hutton roused himself and looked out of +the window. Bi, whose cunning had returned, followed +his example. Suddenly he leaned forward +excitedly and tapped the glass with a long finger:</p> + +<p>"That's him! That's the guy," he whispered excitedly +as another train drew in and passengers +began to hurry down the platform and across to the +waiting sleeper.</p> + +<p>"Are you sure?"</p> + +<p>"Sartin!"</p> + +<p>"You mean the one with the coat over his arm,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[221]</a></span> +and the two men behind?" He stopped short with +an exclamation.</p> + +<p>Bi looked up cunningly. Now what was up? He +saw a thunder-cloud on the face of his companion.</p> + +<p>With embellishments Herbert Hutton asked if Bi +had ever seen the two tall gray-haired men who were +walking with their prey.</p> + +<p>Bi narrowed his eyes and denied any knowledge, +but perceived there were more sides than two to the +enigma. Now, what could he figure out of those +two guys? Were there more rewards to be offered? +If so, he was a candidate. He wondered what chance +there was of getting away from H. H. and sauntering +through the train. He found, however, a sudden +willingness on the part of his companion to vanish +and let him do the scout work for the rest of +the night.</p> + +<p>With a sense of being on a vacation and a chance +at catching big fish Bi swung out through the train. +Bumping down among the now curtained berths, +adjusting his long form to the motion of the express, +lurching to right and to left as they went round a +curve, falling over an occasional pair of shoes and +bringing down lofty reproaches from the sleepy +porter, he penetrated to the day coaches and at last +located his quarry.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[222]</a></span></p> + +<p>They were sitting in a double seat, the younger +man facing the two older ones, and had evidently been +unable to get sleepers. Bi hung around the water-cooler +at the far end of the car until he had laid out +his plans; then he sauntered up to the vacant seat +behind the three men and dropped noiselessly into its +depths, drawing his hat down well over his face, +and apparently falling into instant slumber, with +a fair sample of Tinsdale snoring brought in at moderate +distances.</p> + +<p>The conversation was earnest, in well-modulated +voices, and hard to follow connectedly, for the men +knew how to talk without seeming to the outside +world to be saying anything intelligible. Occasionally +a sentence would come out clear cut in an +interval of the rhythm of the train, but for the +most part Bi could make little or nothing of it.</p> + +<p>"In all the years we've been trustees of that +estate we haven't seen her but twice," said one of +the older men; "once at her father's second marriage, +and again at his funeral. Then we only saw +her at a distance. Her stepmother said she was too +grief-stricken to speak with any one, and it was by +the utmost effort she could be present at the service."</p> + +<p>"She looked very frail and young," said the other +old man; "and her hair—I remember her hair!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[223]</a></span></p> + +<p>Bi changed his position cautiously and tried to +peer over the back of his seat, but the voices were +crowded together now, and the younger man was +talking earnestly. He could not catch a syllable. +"Trustees!" That word stayed with him. "Estate" +was another promising one, and the fact that +her hair had been remembered. He nodded his old +head sagaciously, and later when the three men settled +back in their seats more comfortably with their +eyes closed he slid back to the water-cooler and so on +through the sleeper to the drawing-room.</p> + +<p>Hutton was sleeping the sleep of the unjust, +which means that he woke at the slightest breath, and +Bi's breath was something to wake a heavier sleeper. +So they sat and planned as the train rushed on +through the night. Now and again Bi took a pilgrimage +up to the day coach and back to report the +three travelers still asleep.</p> + +<p>About six o'clock in the morning the train slowed +down, and finally came to a thrashing halt, waking +the sleepers uncomfortably and making them conscious +of crunching feet in the cinders outside, and +consulting voices of trainmen busy with a hammer +underneath the car somewhere. Then they drowsed +off to sleep again and the voices and hammering +blended comfortably into their dreams.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[224]</a></span></p> + +<p>The passengers in the day coach roused, looked +at their watches, stretched their cramped limbs, +squinted out to see if anything serious was the matter, +and settled into a new position to sleep once more.</p> + +<p>Bi, stretched for the nonce upon the long couch +of the drawing-room while his superior occupied the +more comfortable berth, roused to instant action, +slipped out to the platform and took his bearings. +He had lived in that part of the country all his life +and he knew where they ought to be by that +time. Yes, there was the old saw mill down by +Hague's Crossing, and the steeple over by the soft +maple grove just beyond Fox Glove. It would not +be a long walk, and they had a garage at Fox Glove!</p> + +<p>He sauntered along the cinder path; discovered +that the trouble with the engine was somewhat +serious, requiring to wait for help, took a glimpse +into the day coach ahead to assure himself that the +three men were still safely asleep, and sauntered +back to the drawing-room.</p> + +<p>His entrance roused the sleeper, who was on the +alert instantly.</p> + +<p>"Say, we got a hot box an' a broken engyne!" +Bi announced. "It'll take us some time. We ain't +fur from Fox Glove. We could santer over an' git +a car an' beat 'em to it!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[225]</a></span></p> + +<p>"We could?" said Hutton. "You sure? No +chances, mind you!"</p> + +<p>"Do it easy. Those guys are asleep. They +won't get to the Junction 'fore ten o'clock, mebbe +later, an' they can't possibly get to our place +'fore 'leven."</p> + +<p>"Lead the way!" ordered Hutton, cramming +himself into his coat and hat.</p> + +<p>"Better slide down on the other side," whispered +Bi as they reached the platform. "We kin +go back round the train an' nobody'll notice."</p> + +<p>As if they were only come out to see what was the +matter they idled along the length of the train +around out of sight, slid down the bank, took a shortcut +across a meadow to a road, and were soon well on +their way to Fox Glove in the early cool of the spring +morning, a strangely mated couple bent on mischief.</p> + +<p>Back on the cinder track the express waited, +dreamily indifferent, with a flagman ahead and behind +to guard its safety, and while men slept the +enemy took wings and flew down the white morning +road to Tinsdale, but no one ran ahead with a little +red flag to the gray cottage where slept Betty, to +warn her, though perchance an angel with a flaming +sword stood invisibly to guard the way.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[226]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII</h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Bob</span> had just finished feeding the chickens when +the automobile drew up at the door, and he hurried +around the house to see who it might be. He was +rather looking for the return of that nice lawyer +again. He felt the family expected him some time +soon. Perhaps he would be to breakfast and mother +would want some fresh eggs.</p> + +<p>They had dropped Bi at the edge of the village +and there were only Hutton and the driver who had +brought them. Bi had no mind to get mixed up in +this affair too openly. He valued his standing in his +home town, and did not wish to lose it. He had an +instinct that what he was doing might make him +unpopular if it became known. Besides, he had another +ax to grind.</p> + +<p>Bob did not like the looks of the strange dark +man who got out of the car and came into the yard +with the air of a thrashing machine bolting into whatever +came in his way. He stood sturdily and waited +until he was asked who lived there, and admitted with +a stingy "yes" that it was Mrs. Carson's house. A +thundering knock on the front door followed, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[227]</a></span> +the other man in the car got out and came into the +yard behind the first.</p> + +<p>"Well, you needn't take the door down," snapped +Bob, and scuttled around the house to warn his +mother, aware that he had been rude, and glad of it.</p> + +<p>It was Betty who came to the door, for Ma was +frying bacon and eggs for breakfast, and Bob hadn't +been quite soon enough. She started back with a +scream, and eluding the hand that reached for her +arm, fairly flew back to the kitchen, taking refuge +behind Mrs. Carson, with her eyes wild with fear and +her hand on her heart, while Hutton strode after her.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Carson wheeled around with her knife in +her hand and faced him:</p> + +<p>"What do you mean by coming into my house +this way, I'd like to know?" she demanded angrily, +putting her arm around Betty.</p> + +<p>"I beg your pardon," said Hutton, a poor apology +for courtesy slipping into his manner. "I don't +suppose you know it, but that is my wife you are +harboring there, and she ran away from home several +months ago! I have just discovered her whereabouts +and have come to take her away!"</p> + +<p>Ma straightened up with the air of a queen and +a judge, while Betty stifled a scream and in a small +voice full of terror cried: "It isn't true, Mrs. Carson,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[228]</a></span> +it isn't true! Oh, <i>mother</i>, don't let him take me!"</p> + +<p>Mrs. Carson pushed Betty behind her, the knife +still in her other hand, and answered with dignity:</p> + +<p>"You've made a big mistake, Mr. Herbert +Hutton; this isn't your wife at all. I know all +about you."</p> + +<p>Hutton put on a look of instant suavity.</p> + +<p>"Oh, of course, madam, she has told you that, +but I'm sorry to have to tell you that she is not +in her right mind. She made her escape from the +insane asylum."</p> + +<p>"Oh, rats!" shouted Bob, and vanished out the +kitchen door, slamming it behind him.</p> + +<p>Emily, frightened and white, stood just outside, +and he nearly knocked her over in his flight. He +pulled her along with him, whispering in her +ear excitedly:</p> + +<p>"You beat it down to the fire gong and hit it +for all you're worth! Quick!"</p> + +<p>Emily gave him one frightened look and sprang +to action. Her little feet sped down the path to +the lot where hung the big fire gong, like two wild +rabbits running for their life, and in a moment more +the loud whang of alarm rang through the little town, +arousing the "gang" and greatly disconcerting Bi, +who was craning his neck at the station and watching<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[229]</a></span> +the fast-growing speck down the railroad track. +That sure was the train coming already. How had +they made it so soon?</p> + +<p>But Bob was on his stomach in the road scuttling +the ship that was to have carried away the princess. +The chauffeur was fully occupied in the house, for he +had been ordered to follow and be ready to assist in +carrying away an insane person, and he had no +thought for his car at present. It was an ugly job, +and one that he didn't like, but he was getting big +pay, and such things had to be done.</p> + +<p>Bob's knife was sharp. He always kept it in good +condition. It did many of the chores about the +house, and was cunning in its skill. It cut beautiful +long punctures in the four tires, until there was +no chance at all of that car's going on its way +for some time to come. Then he squirmed his way +out on the opposite side from the house, slid along +by the fence to the side door, around to the back +like a flash and without an instant's hesitation hauled +up his elaborate system of drainage. He stuck the +longest conductor pipe through the open window of +the old laundry, clutched at the sill and swung inside, +drawing the pipe in after him.</p> + +<p>The altercation in the kitchen had reached white +heat. Hutton's suavity was fast disappearing behind<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[230]</a></span> +a loud angry tone. He had about sized up Ma +and decided to use force.</p> + +<p> +It was a tense moment when Bob, his hasty arrangements made, silently swung +open the laundry door in full range of the uninvited guests and waited for the +psychological moment. Mrs. Carson had dropped her knife and seized the smoking +hot frying-pan <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">of bacon as a weapon. She was +cool and collected,</span> but one could see in her eyes the little devil of +battle that sometimes sat in Bob's eyes as she swung the frying-pan back for a +blow. Suddenly out flashed a cold steel eye, menacing, unanswerable, looking +straight into her own. +</p> + +<p>At that instant, unannounced and unobserved, +through the laundry door lumbered a long ugly tin +conductor pipe, and the deluge began. Straight into +the eyes of the would-be husband it gushed, battering +swashingly down on the cocked revolver, sending it +harmlessly to the floor, where it added to the confusion +by going off with a loud report, and sending +the chauffeur to the shelter of the parlor. Bob never +knew how near he came to killing some one by his +hasty service, and Ma never had the heart to suggest +it. Instead she acted promptly and secured the +weapon before the enemy had time to recover from +his shock.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[231]</a></span></p> + +<p>Bob, in the laundry, standing on a chair mounted +on a board across the bathtub, sturdily held his +wobbling conductor pipe and aimed it straight to the +mark. Of course he knew that even a well-filled +phalanx of hogsheads could not hold the enemy forever, +but he was counting on the fire company to +arrive in time to save the day.</p> + +<p>Gasping, clawing the air, ducking, diving here +and there to escape the stream, Herbert Hutton presented +a spectacle most amusing and satisfying to +Bob's boy mind.</p> + +<p>"Beat it, Lizzie, beat it! Beat it!" he shouted +above the noise of the pouring waters. But Betty, +white with horror, seemed to have frozen to the spot. +She could not have moved if she had tried, and +her brain refused to order her to try. She felt +as if the end of everything had come and she +were paralyzed.</p> + +<p>Down the street with dash and flourish, licking +up excitement like a good meal, dashed the gang, +the fire chief ostentatiously arraying himself in rubber +coat and helmet as he stood on the side of the +engine, while the hysterical little engine bell banged +away, blending with the sound of the bell of the +incoming train at the station. Bi, with his mouth +stretched wide, and one foot holding him for the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[232]</a></span> +train while the other urged toward the fire and +excitement, vibrated on the platform, a wild figure +of uncertainty. Where Duty and Inclination both +called, Cupidity still had the upper hand.</p> + +<p>For once Bi did not have to act a part as he stood +watching the three travelers descend from the train. +The excitement in his face was real and his gestures +were quite natural, even the ones made by his one +and only long waving top-lock of gray hair that +escaped all bounds as his hat blew off with the +suction of the train. Bi rushed up to the three +men wildly:</p> + +<p>"Say, was you goin' down to Carson's house +after that Hope girl?" he demanded loudly.</p> + +<p>The three men surveyed him coldly, and the +young one gave him a decided shove:</p> + +<p>"That will do, my friend," he said firmly. "We +don't need any of your assistance."</p> + +<p>"But I got a line on this thing you'll want to +know," he insisted, hurrying alongside. "There's a +guy down there in a car goin' to take her away. He +ain't been gone long, but you won't find her 'thout +my help. He's goin' to take her to a insane institution. +I let on I was helpin' him an' I found out +all about it."</p> + +<p>"What's all this?" said Reyburn, wheeling about<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[233]</a></span> +and fixing the old fellow with a muscular young +shake that made his toothless jaws chatter. "How +long ago did he go? What kind of a looking man +was he?"</p> + +<p>"Lemme go!" whined Bi, playing to make time, +one cunning eye down the road. "I ain't as young +as I used to be, an' I can't stand gettin' excited. I +got a rig here a purpose, an' I'll take you all right +down, an' then ef he's gone, an' I s'pose he must be, +'cause your train was late, why, we'll foller."</p> + +<p>"Well, quick, then!" said Reyburn, climbing +into the shackley spring wagon that Bi indicated, the +only vehicle in view. The two trustees climbed +stiffly and uncertainly into the back seat as if they +felt they were risking their lives, and Bi lumbered +rheumatically into the driver's place and took up the +lines. It appeared that the only living thing in Tinsdale +that wasn't awake and keen to go to the fire was +that horse, and Bi had to do quite a little urging +with the stump of an old whip. So, reluctantly, they +joined the procession toward the Carson house.</p> + +<p>As the stream from the hogshead gurgled smaller, +and the victim writhed out of its reach and began to +get his bearings, suddenly the outside kitchen door +burst open and a crew of rubber-coated citizens +sprang in, preceded by a generous stream of chemicals +which an ardent young member of the company<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[234]</a></span> +set free indiscriminately in his excitement. It struck +the right man squarely in the middle and sent him +sprawling on the floor.</p> + +<p>Bob dropped the conductor pipe in exhausted +relief and flew to the scene of action. It had been +fearful to be held from more active service so long. +Emily, outside, could be seen dancing up and down +excitedly and directing the procession, with frightened +shouts, "In there! In the kitchen! Quick!" +as the neighbors and townsmen crowded in and filled +the little kitchen demanding to know where the +fire was.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Carson with dignity stepped forward to +explain:</p> + +<p>"There ain't any fire, friends, an' I don't know +how you all come to get here, but I reckon the Lord +sent you. You couldn't a-come at a better moment. +We certainly was in some trouble, an' I'll be obliged +to you all if you'll just fasten that man up so't he +can't do any more harm. He came walkin' in here +tryin' to take away a member of my family by force, +an' he pointed this at me!"</p> + +<p>She lifted the incriminating weapon high where +they could all see.</p> + +<p>Herbert Hutton, struggling to his feet in the +crowd, began to understand that this was no place +for him, and looked about for an exit, but none presented<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[235]</a></span> +itself. The chauffeur had vanished and was +trying to make out what had happened to his car.</p> + +<p>Hutton, brought to bay, turned on the crowd like +a snarling animal, although the effect was slightly +spoiled by his drabbled appearance, and roared +out insolently:</p> + +<p>"The woman doesn't know what she's talking +about, men; she's only frightened. I came here after +my wife, and I intend to take her away with me! +She escaped from an insane asylum some time ago, +and we've been looking for her ever since. This +woman is doing a very foolish and useless thing +in resisting me, for the law can take hold of +her, of course."</p> + +<p>The crowd wavered and looked uncertainly at +Mrs. Carson and at Betty cowering horrified behind +her, and Hutton saw his advantage:</p> + +<p>"Men," he went on, "there is one of your own +townsmen who knows me and can vouch for me. +A Mr. Gage. Abijah Gage. If you will just look +him up—he was down at the station a few minutes +ago. He knows that all I am saying is true!"</p> + +<p>A low sound like a rumble went over the little +audience and they seemed to bunch together and +look at one another while some kind of an understanding +traveled from eye to eye. An articulate syllable, +"Bi!" breathed in astonishment, and then<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[236]</a></span> +again "Bi!" in contempt. Public opinion, like a +panther crouching, was forming itself ready to +spring, when suddenly a new presence was felt in the +room. Three strangers had appeared and somehow +quietly gotten into the doorway. Behind them, +stretching his neck and unable to be cautious any +longer, appeared Bi's slouching form. Crouching +Public Opinion caught sight of him and showed its +teeth, but was diverted by the strangers.</p> + +<p>Then suddenly, from the corner behind Ma, +slipped Betty with outstretched hands, like a lost +thing flying to its refuge, straight to the side of +the handsome young stranger.</p> + +<p>He put out his hands and drew her to his side +with a protecting motion, and she whispered:</p> + +<p>"Tell, them, please; oh, make them understand."</p> + +<p>Then Reyburn, with her hand still protectingly +in his, spoke:</p> + +<p>"What that man has just said is a lie!"</p> + +<p>Hutton looked up, went deadly white and reeled +as he saw the two elderly men.</p> + +<p>The crowd drew a united breath and stood +straighter, looking relieved. Bi blanched, but did +not budge. Whatever happened he was in with both +crowds. Reyburn continued:</p> + +<p>"I carry papers in my pocket which give authority<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[237]</a></span> +to arrest him. If the sheriff is present will he +please take charge of him. His name is Herbert +Hutton, and he is charged with trying to make this +lady marry him under false pretenses in order to get +control of her property. She is not his wife, for she +escaped before the ceremony was performed. I +know, for I was present. These two gentlemen with +me are the trustees of her estate."</p> + +<p>Estate!</p> + +<p>The neighbors looked at Betty respectfully.</p> + +<p>Bi dropped his jaw perceptibly and tried to +figure out how that would affect him. The sheriff +stepped forward to magnify his office, and the silence +was impressive, almost reverent. In the midst of it +broke Bob's practical suggestion:</p> + +<p>"Shut him in the coal shed. It's got a padlock an' +is good an' strong. He can't kick it down."</p> + +<p>Then the law began to take its course, the fire +gang stepped out, and Mrs. Carson set to work +to clean up. In the midst of it all Reyburn looked +down at Betty, and Betty looked up at Reyburn, +and they discovered in some happy confusion that +they still had hold of hands. They tried to cover +their embarrassment by laughing, but something +had been established between them that neither +could forget.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[238]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a>CHAPTER XVIII</h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> days that followed were full of bliss and +peace to Betty. With Hutton safely confined in the +distant city, and a comfortable sum of her accumulated +allowance in the Tinsdale bank, with a thorough +understanding between herself and her trustees +and the knowledge that her estate was large +enough to do almost anything in reason that she +wished to do with it, and would be hers in three +weeks, life began to take on a different look to the +poor storm-tossed child. The days in the Carson +home were all Thanksgivings now, and every member +of the family was as excited and happy as every +other member. There were arguments long and +earnest between Betty and her benefactor as to how +much she might in reason be allowed to do for the +family now that she had plenty of money, but in the +end Betty won out, declaring that she had wished +herself on this family in her distress, and they took +her as a man does when he marries, for better +for worse. Now that the worse had passed by she +was theirs for the better, and she intended to exercise<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[239]</a></span> +the privilege of a daughter of the house for the +rest of her natural life.</p> + +<p>Bi Gage was worried. He was still trying to +get something out of the estate for his part in the +exercises, and he vibrated between Tinsdale and +Warren Reyburn's office working up his case. The +five-thousand-dollar reward was as yet unpaid, and +the papers he held didn't seem to impress the functionaries +nearly so much as he had expected. It +began to look as though Bi had missed his chances +in life once more, and when he took his old seat in the +fire-house and smoked, he said very little. Popular +Opinion was still crouching with her eye in his +direction and it behooved him to walk cautiously +and do nothing to offend. So while he smoked he +cogitated in his cunning little brain, and hatched +out a plan by which he might get in with the heiress +later, perhaps, when things had quieted down a little +and she had her money.</p> + +<p>Betty received a pitiful letter from her stepmother, +trying to explain away her part in the affair +and professing to be so relieved at the news that +Betty was still alive and well that she cared nothing +about anything else, not even the fact that poor dear +Herbert was landed in jail, or that the fortune which +she had schemed so long to keep in her own power<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[240]</a></span> +was wrested from her so ignominiously. She begged +Betty to come back to their home and "be happy +again together."</p> + +<p>But Betty was so happy where she was that she +could afford to be generous and try to forget her +wrongs. She wrote a decent little note gently but +firmly declining to come "home" ever again, making +it quite plain that she was no longer deceived by +honeyed phrases, and closing with a request that +if in future any communication might be necessary +it should be made through her lawyer, Mr. +Warren Reyburn.</p> + +<p>This same Warren Reyburn had returned to his +city office in a very much exalted state of mind. +He could not get away from that little hand of +Betty's that had been laid so tremblingly and confidingly +in his; and yet how could he, a poverty-stricken +lawyer with absolutely no prospects at all, +ever dare to think of her, a lady of vast estates. Still, +there was some comfort in the fact that he had still +some business to transact for her, and would have +to return to Tinsdale again. He might at least see +her once more. So he solaced himself on his return +trip, feeling that he had done some good work, and +that he would have a pleasant report to give to Jane +Carson when he called upon her, as he meant to do +the next day.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[241]</a></span></p> + +<p>He arrived at home to find James Ryan in a great +state of excitement. A pile of mail had arrived, +and he had memorized the return addresses on the +outside of all the envelopes. One was from a big +corporation, and another bore a name widely spoken +of in the circles of the world of finance, Jimmie in +close council with Jane Carson, had decided that it +must be from that person who called up twice on the +'phone and swore such terrible oaths when he found +that Reyburn was away.</p> + +<p>Jimmie hovered nervously about, putting things +to rights, while Reyburn read his mail. He had come +to the smallest envelope of all, a plain government +envelope now, and nothing had developed. Jimmie +saw his first place fast slipping away from him and +his heart grew heavy with fear. Perhaps after all +nothing good had turned up yet.</p> + +<p>Suddenly Reyburn sprang up and came toward +him with an open letter, holding out his hand in a +joyous greeting:</p> + +<p>"Read that, Ryan! We're made at last, and I +shan't have to let you go after all!"</p> + +<p>Ryan read, the letters dancing before his delighted +eyes, every one wearing an orange blossom on +its brow. It was from an old established and influential +firm, asking Reyburn to take full charge of all<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[242]</a></span> +their law business, and saying they had been referred +to him by two old friends in Boston, who by the +way were Betty's two trustees.</p> + +<p>"Come on, Ryan, come out to lunch with me! +We've got to celebrate," said Reyburn. "I have a +hunch somehow that you have been the one that +brought me this good luck. You and a Miss Jane +Carson. You both share alike, I guess, but you +were the first with your five-thousand-dollar +reward story."</p> + +<p>"Jane Carson!" said Jimmie mystified. "Why, +<i>she's</i> my <i>girl!</i>"</p> + +<p>"Your girl?" said Reyburn, a queer look coming +in his eyes. "You don't say! Well, you're in +some luck, boy, with a girl like that! And, by the +way, next time you see her, ask her to show you +her wedding dress!"</p> + +<p>And not another word would Reyburn tell him, +though he recurred frequently to the subject during +the very excellent lunch which they had together in +friendly companionship.</p> + +<p>They spent the afternoon composing the brief +and comprehensive letter in response to the momentous +one of the morning, and in the evening together +they sought out Jane Carson, Reyburn staying only +long enough to outline the ending of the Elizabeth<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[243]</a></span> +Stanhope story, while Jimmie remained to hear the +beginning, and get a glimpse of the wedding gown, +which Reyburn assured Jane he was sure she need +never return. He said he thought if the owner of it +was married ever in the future she would be likely +to want a gown that had no unpleasant associations.</p> + +<p>Great excitement prevailed in Tinsdale as the +weeks went by. Betty had bought the lots either side +of the Carson house, and wonderful improvements +were in progress. A windmill was being erected and +water pipes laid scientifically. Workmen arrived, +some of them from the village, some from the city. +Extensive excavations went on about the old house, +and stone arrived. It began to be whispered about +that "Miss Stanhope," as Betty was now called, was +going to build the house all over and all of stone.</p> + +<p>The work went forward rapidly as work can go +when there is money enough behind it, and the family, +living in the little old part of the house, and still +using the faithful tin bath-tub and shower of Bob's +manufacture, now looked forward to real bathrooms +on the bedroom floor, with tiled floors and +porcelain fittings. Large windows cropped out on +the new walls that were going up, a wide stone chimney +and porches. A charming little stone affair in +the back yard that went up so quietly it was hardly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[244]</a></span> +noticed until it was done suddenly became the home +of a big gray car that arrived in town one morning. +Betty gave up her position at the Hathaways so +that she could have more time to superintend the +work and see that it was just as she wanted it, and +she and Bob spent hours going over the plans together, +he making many wise suggestions. Mrs. +Hathaway called her "Miss Stanhope" with elaborate +ceremony, and made Elise kiss her whenever +she met her.</p> + +<p>Betty went to a near-by town and bought some +pretty clothes, and a lot of things for Ma and Emily +and Bob. A beautiful new piano came by express +and took the place of Mrs. Barlow's tinpanny one.</p> + +<p>Then Betty went up to the city and bought more +things, furniture and silver and curtains and rugs, +and brought Jane back with her to take a rest and +see the little old house once more before it became +the big new house, and stay until she was ready to +be married; for Betty was determined to have the +house ready for Jane's wedding.</p> + +<p>When all the new beautiful things began to arrive +Betty told Ma that she had taken her in when she +was poor and homeless and absolutely penniless, and +now all these things were her reward, and Betty +couldn't do enough ever to thank her for what she<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[245]</a></span> +had done for her. They had offered a five-thousand-dollar +reward for news of her, and Ma had done +more than ten thousand and thousands of thousands +of dollars' worth of holding back news about her, +and she was never going to get done giving her +her reward.</p> + +<p>Of course Betty brought Nellie home, too, and +established her in a lovely new room just fit for a +young girl, and began to pet her and fix her up with +pretty things as any loving sister might do if she +had money of her own.</p> + +<p>All this time Reyburn had much business to transact +in Tinsdale, for Betty had asked him to look +after all the little details about the building for her, +and he had to come down every week-end and look +things over to see that she was not being cheated. +And once he brought Jimmie down with him for +Ma to look over and approve and they had a wonderful +time with the two best hens in the hen-coop for +dinner. Ryan incidentally gave his approval +to Betty.</p> + +<p>During these visits Reyburn was making great +strides in the wisdom and the knowledge of the love +of God. One could not be in that family over Sunday +and not feel the atmosphere of a Christian +home. Even Jimmie felt it and said he liked it;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[246]</a></span> +that he wanted his house to be that way when he +had one. He went obediently to church with Jane, +and marveled at the way social classes were getting +all muddled up in his world.</p> + +<p>The Christmas time was coming on when the +house finally got itself completed and was ready for +living, and with holly and mistletoe and laurel they +made it gay for the wedding. Betty spent several +days with Jane in New York picking out Jane's +"trooso" things, and then a few more days doing +some shopping of her own, and at last the wedding +day arrived.</p> + +<p>Nobody thought it queer, though Jimmie felt +just the least bit shy when the two trustees of Betty's +estate arrived the night before from Boston and +incorporated themselves into the wedding party. Ma +seemed to think it was all right, so nobody said anything +about it.</p> + +<p>But after the ceremony when Jane and Jimmie +were happily married, Jane looking very young and +pretty indeed in Betty's old wedding gown, veil and +slippers and all, and standing under the holly bell in +the laurel arch to be congratulated just as it had been +arranged, there suddenly came a hush over everybody. +Jane noticed for the first time that Betty +was not anywhere in the room. Then everybody's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[247]</a></span> +eyes went to the wide staircase, and here came Betty +trailing down the stairs on the arm of Reyburn, +wearing still the little white organdie she had worn a +few minutes before as a bridesmaid, only she had +thrown aside the rose-colored sash and put over her +brow a simple tulle veil, and her arms were full of +little pink rosebuds and lilies of the valley.</p> + +<p>Up they walked in front of the minister just +where the others had stood, and were married with +the same sweet simple service, and everybody was so +surprised and delighted and excited and breathless +that Bob simply couldn't stand it. He slipped into +the little music room where the piano had been installed, +turned a handspring on the floor, and then +sat down and played chopsticks on the piano with +all the pedals on, till Ma had to send Emily in to +stop him.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class='tnote'><h3>Transcriber's Notes:</h3> +<p>Duplicate title pages were removed.</p> +<p>The original text did not contain a table of contents. A hyperlinked version +was created for this HTML edition to aid the reader.</p> +<p>Obvious punctuation errors have been corrected.</p> + +<p>The remaining corrections made are indicated by dotted lines under the corrections. 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