frances waldeaux-第18章

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hat's　all。〃


In　spite　of　his　ill　temper　George　threw　himself　into　his　work　with　zeal。　　After　a　couple　of　months　he　came　home　for　a　day。　　He　was　dressed　with　the　quiet　elegance　which　once　had　been　so　important　in　his　eyes。

His　mother　noted　it　shrewdly。　　〃A　man　has　more　courage　to　face　life；　decently　clothed；〃　she　said　to　herself。

He　did　not　come　again　until　winter。　　Lucy　happened　to　be　spending　the　day　with　Mrs。　Waldeaux。　　There　were　no　liveried　servants；　no　priceless　rings；　no　Worth　gown　in　sight。　　She　was　just　the　shy；　foolish　girl　whom　he　had　once　for　an　hour　looked　upon　as　his　wife。　　George　talked　about　Wall　Street　to　her；　being　now　wise　as　to　stocks；　took　her　out　sleighing；　and　when　in　the　evening　she　took　Jack　in　her　arms　and　sang　him　to　sleep；　sat　listening　with　his　head　buried　in　his　hands。　　Mrs。　Waldeaux　carried　the　boy　up　to　bed；　and　Lucy　and　George　were　left　alone。　　They　talked　long　and　earnestly。

〃She　consulted　me　about　her　affairs；〃　he　said；　after　she　was　gone；　his　eyes　shining。

〃I　am　afraid　she　does　not　understand　business！〃　Mrs。　Waldeaux　replied　anxiously。

〃Oh；　like　a　woman！　　That　is；　not　at　all。　　Her　whole　property　is　in　the　hands　of　The　Consolidated　Good　Faith　Companies。　　I　reminded　her　of　the　old　adage；　‘Never　put　all　of　your　eggs　into　one　basket。'〃

〃But　that　is　so　sound　a　basket；　George！〃　〃Yes。　　It　is　thought　so；〃　with　a　shrug。

〃Poor　child！　　She　needs　a　guardian　to　advise　her。〃

Waldeaux's　countenance　grew　black。　　〃She　should　employ　an　attorney。　　It　certainly　will　never　be　my　duty　to　advise　Miss　Dunbar；〃　he　retorted　irritably。


George　showed　himself　shrewd　and　able　in　his　work。　　Mr。　Hoyle　was　a　powerful　backer。　　Before　spring　his　salary　was　doubled。　　But　what　was　that？　　The　gulf　between　him　and　the　great　heiress　gaped；　impassable。

Lucy　spent　much　time　with　her　old　friend；　and　Frances　at　last　broke　the　silence　concerning　him。

〃The　boy　never　before　knew　what　love　was。　　And　it　is　you　that　he　loves；　child。〃

〃He　has　not　told　me　so；〃　said　Lucy　coldly。

〃No。　　And　never　will。　　It　is　your　wealth　that　makes　him　dumb。　　I　wish　it　was　gone；〃　said　Frances　earnestly。　　〃Gone。　　You　would　be　so　happy。　　What　is　money　compared　to　being〃

〃George's　wife？〃　Lucy　laughed。

〃Yes。　　George's　wife。　　I　know　what　he　is　worth；〃　his　mother　said　boldly。　　〃You　might　give　it　away？〃　looking　eagerly　in　the　girl's　face。　　〃In　charity。〃

〃I　might　do　so；〃　said　Miss　Dunbar　tranquilly。


One　morning　in　April　Mrs。　Waldeaux　saw　George　coming　up　from　the　station。　　She　ran　to　meet　him。

He　was　pale　and　breathless　with　excitement。　　〃What　is　it？　　What　has　happened？〃　she　cried。

〃Hushh！　　Come　in。　　Shut　the　door。　　No　one　must　hear。　　The　Consolidated　Companies　have　failed。　　They　have　robbed　their　depositors。〃

〃Well；　George？　　What　have　we　Oh；　Lucy！〃

〃Yes；　Lucy！　　She　is　ruined！　　She　has　nothing。　　It　was　all　there。〃　　He　paced　up　and　down；　hoarse　with　agitation　and　triumph。　　〃She　mustn't　know　it；　mother；　until　she　is　safe　in　another　home。〃

〃Another　home？〃　〃Oh；　surely　you　understand！　　Hereif　she　will　come。　　Poor　little　girl！　　She　has　not　a　dollar！　　I　am　getting　a　big　salary。　　I　can　work　for　you　all。　　My　God！　　I　will　have　her　at　last！　　Unless　　　Perhaps　she　won't　come！　　Mother；　do　you　think　she　will　come？〃　　He　caught　her　arm；　his　jaws　twitched；　the　tears　stood　in　his　eyes；　as　when　he　used　to　come　to　her　with　his　boyish　troubles。

〃How　can　I　tell？〃　said　Frances。　　〃Go　and　ask　her。〃



CHAPTER　XX

In　July　Miss　Vance　returned　unexpectedly。　　Her　charges　had　tired　of　travel；　and　turned　their　backs　upon　India。　　She　dropped　them　in　Chicago；　and　came　to　Weir　for　rest。　　The　evening　of　her　arrival　she　strolled　with　Frances　through　the　park；　listening　to　the　story　of　George's　sudden　wooing；　and　the　quiet；　hurried　wedding。

〃It　had　to　be　quiet　and　hurried；〃　said　Mrs。　Waldeaux；　〃in　order　to　keep　her　ignorant　of　her　change　of　fortune。　　He　took　her　to　the　Virginia　mountains；　so　that　no　newspapers　could　reach　her。　　They　are　coming　to…morrow。　　It　won't　trouble　her　to　hear　that　her　money　is　gone　when　she　is　here　with　us　all；　at　home。　　As　for　me；〃　she　went　on　excitedly；　〃I　am　beginning　to　advertise　the　summer　resort。　　I　must　put　my　hand　to　the　plough。　　I　don't　mean　that　she　shall　miss　any　comfort　or　luxury　as　George's　wife。〃

Miss　Vance　looked　at　her。　　〃Frances；　give　up　your　planning　and　working。　　Let　George　work　for　you　and　his　wife；〃　she　said　curtly。　〃It　is　time　for　you　to　stop　and　rest。〃

〃And　why　should　I　stop　and　rest；　Clara？〃　said　Frances；　amazed。

〃Surely　you　know；　dear。　　You　are　not　as　young　as　you　once　were。　　Your　eyes　are　weak；　and　your　hearing　is　a　little　dulled；　and〃

Frances　threw　out　her　hand　eagerly。　　〃You　think　I　am　growing　old！　　It　is　only　my　eyes　and　ears　that　are　wearing　out。　　_I_　am　not　deaf　nor　blind；〃　she　said　earnestly。　　〃_I_　am　not　old。　　I　find　more　fun　and　flavor　in　life　now　than　I　did　at　sixteen。　　If　I　live　to　be　seventy；　or　a　hundred；　I　shall　be　the　same　Frances　Wal…　deaux　still。〃

Clara　gave　an　annoyed　shrug。　　〃But　really；　_I_　make　the　thought　of　death　my　constant　companion。　　And　you　are　older　than　I。〃


　　〃‘After　the　busy　day　　　Comes　the　calm　sleep　of　night；'〃


she　quoted；　with　a　sententious　sigh。

〃Calm　and　sleep　do　not　appear　to　me　to　be　the　highest　conditions　of　life。　　No！　　I　will　not　be　set　aside；　even　when　I　am　dead；　like　a　burned…out　candle！〃　　The　indignant　tears　stood　in　her　eyes。　　〃Why；　even　in　that　other　world　I　shall　not　be　a　barren　stock；　thank　God！　　I　have　given　a　family　to　mankind。　　To　watch　a　long　line　of　your　descendants　at　work；　to　see　in　them　your　own　thoughts　and　your　own　soul　reaching　out；　live　powers　through　all　eternityI　often　think　of　it。　　That　will　benot　calm　nor　sleep。〃

Miss　Vance　touched　Mrs。　Waldeaux's　arm　affectionately。　　〃What　a　queer　idea；　Frances。　　Well；　I　never　argue；　you　know。　　Drop　in　the　harness；　if　you　choose。　　Let　us　go　in　now。　　It　is　chilly。〃

The　older　woman　looked　after　her；　and　smiled　good…humoredly。　　After　a　moment　she　raised　her　hand；　examining　it　attentively。　　Her　hand　had　been　very　beautiful　in　shape；　white　and　dimpled；　and　she　had　been　vain　enough　to　wear　fine　rings。　　Now　it　was　yellow　and　wrinkled。　　The　great　emerald　looked　like　a　bit　of　glass　upon　it。

〃Yes；　I　see；〃　she　said；　with　a　miserable　little　laugh；　and　then　stood　looking　out　into　the　far　distance。　　〃But　_I_　am　not　growing　old。〃　　She　spoke　aloud；　as　if　to　one　who　stood　apart　with　her　and　could　understand。　　〃Even　out　in　that　other　world　I　shall　not　be　only　a　mother。　　I　shall　be　me。　　ME！〃　touching　her　breast。　　〃After　a　million　of　yearsit　will　still　be　me。〃

There　stirred　within　the　lean　body　and　rheumatic　limbs　depths　of　unused　power；　of　thought；　of　love　and　passion；　and；　deeper　than　all；　awful　possibilities　of　change。

〃I　have　it　in　me　still　to　be　worse　than　a　murderer；〃　she　thought；　with　whitening　face。

She　stood　a　long　time；　alone。　　A　strange　content　and　light　came　slowly　into　her　face。　　〃Come　what　will；　I　shall　never　be　left　to　myself　again；〃　she　said　at　last；　speaking　to　a　Friend　whom　she　had　found　long　ago。

Then　she　went　in　search　of　the　boy。　　〃Come；　Jack；〃　she　said　cheerfully；　〃there　are　busy　days　before　us。〃


George　and　Lucy　that　evening　reached　Dover；　prettiest　of　American　towns。　　They　strolled　down　the　shaded　street　out　into　a　quiet　country　lane。　　Lucy　sat　down　upon　a　fallen　tree；　and　George　threw　himself　upon　the　grass　beside　her。

〃To…morrow　we　shall　be　at　home；〃　she　said；　pushing　his　hair　back。　　〃Do　you　know　that　your　profile　is　absolutely　Greek？〃　　Her　eyes　half　closed　critically。　　〃Yes；　we　shall　be　at　home　about　eleven　o'clock。　　I　wrote　to　Stephen　to　order　all　the　dishes　that　you　like　for　luncheon。　　Your　mother　and　Jack　are　coming。　　It　will　be　such　a　gay；　happy　day！〃

He　took　her　hand。　　He　would　tell　her　now。　　It　would　not　distress　her。　　The　money　weighed　for　nothing　in　her　life。　　He　was　her　world；　he　knew　that。

〃Lucy！〃　he　said。

She　turned；　startled　at　his　grave　tone。　　The　color　rose　in　her　delicate　little　face；　and　there　was　a　keen　flash　of　intelligence　in　her　blue　eyes。　　It　vanished；　and　they　were　only　blue　and　innocent。

〃Lucy；　would　you　be　willing　to　come　to　my　house？　　To　take　it　for　home？　　To　be　a　poor　man's　wife；　there？　　God　knows　I'll　try　to　make　you　happy　in　it。〃

〃No；〃　she　said　gently。　　〃That　is　your　mother's　home。　　She　has　made　it。　　It　is　not　fair　to　bring　young　queen　bees　into　the　old　queen's　hive。　　We　will　live　at　your　house；　Dunbar　Place；　George。〃

〃It　is　not　mine　nor　yours！〃　George　broke　out。　　〃Oh；　my　darling；　I　have　hidden　something　from　you。　　It　is　all　gone。　　Your　property；　income；　every　thing！　　The　Consolidated　Consolidated　Companies　failed。　　Their　depositors　are　ruined。〃

〃Yes；　I　know；〃　said　Lucy；　brushing　a　fallen　leaf　from　her　gown。　　〃But　they　had　no　control　over　my　affairs。　　I　withdrew　them　from　their　management　in　February。〃

George　started　up。　　〃Then　youyou　are　a　great　heiress　still？〃

〃No。〃　　She　rose；　holding　out　her　hands；　laughing。　　〃My　husband；　I　believe；　is　a　rich　man；　and　I　shall　have　what　he　gives　me。〃

But　he　did　not　hear　her。　　He　walked　away　down　the　road；　shaken　by　a　dumb　fury。　　He　had　been　tricked！　　Who　had　tricked　him？

Then　he　heard　a　miserable　sob　and　turned。　　Great　God！　　Was　any　thing　on　earth　so　dear　as　that　little　woman　standing　there？　　She　was　crying！　　Had　he　struck　her？　　He　was　a　brute。　　What　had　he　done？

He　ran　to　her；　and　taking　her　outstretched　hands；　kissed　them　passionately。

〃They　are　minemine！〃　he　whispered；　and　knew　nothing　beyond。


They　walked　together　like　two　happy　children　down　the　shady　lane　toward　the　golden　sunset。　　The　money　was　forgotten。





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