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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/16502-8.txt b/16502-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..654adea --- /dev/null +++ b/16502-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11343 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Witness, by Grace Livingston Hill Lutz + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Witness + +Author: Grace Livingston Hill Lutz + +Release Date: August 9, 2005 [EBook #16502] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WITNESS *** + + + + +Produced by Janet Kegg, Emmy and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + + +THE +WITNESS + +A NOVEL + +BY +GRACE LIVINGSTON HILL LUTZ + +AUTHOR OF +A VOICE IN THE WILDERNESS, ETC. + +NEW YORK +GROSSET & DUNLAP +PUBLISHERS + + +Published by Arrangement with Harper & Brothers + +Made in the United States of America + +THE WITNESS + +Copyright, 1917, by Harper & Brothers +Printed in the United States of America + +TO MY MOTHER +MARCIA MACDONALD LIVINGSTON + +WHOSE HELPFUL CRITICISM AND LOVING ENCOURAGEMENT +HAVE BEEN WITH ME THROUGH THE YEARS + + + + + _"He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in + himself."_ + --I JOHN 5:10 + + + + +THE WITNESS + + + + +CHAPTER I + + +Like a sudden cloudburst the dormitory had gone into a frenzy of sound. +Doors slammed, feet trampled, hoarse voices reverberated, heavy bodies +flung themselves along the corridor, the very electrics trembled with +the cataclysm. One moment all was quiet with a contented +after-dinner-peace-before-study hours; the next it was as if all the +forces of the earth had broken forth. + +Paul Courtland stepped to his door and threw it back. + +"Come on, Court, see the fun!" called the football half-back, who was +slopping along with two dripping fire-buckets of water. + +"What's doing?" + +"Swearing-match! Going to make Little Stevie cuss! Better get in on it. +Some fight! Tennelly sent 'Whisk' for a whole basket of superannuated +cackle-berries"--he motioned back to a freshman bearing a basket of +ancient eggs--"we're going to blindfold Steve and put oysters down his +back, and then finish up with the fire-hose. Oh, the seven plagues of +Egypt aren't in it with what we're going to do; and when we get done if +Little Stevie don't let out a string of good, honest cuss-words like a +man then I'll eat my hat. Little Stevie's got good stuff in him if it +can only be brought out. We're a-going to bring it out. Then we're going +to celebrate by taking him over to the theater and making him see 'The +Scarlet Woman.' It'll be a little old miracle, all right, if he has any +of his whining Puritanical ideas left in him after we get through with +him. Come on! Get on the job!" + +Drifting along with the surging tide of students, Courtland sauntered +down the corridor to the door at the extreme end where roomed the +victim. + +He rather liked Stephen Marshall. There was good stuff in him; all the +fellows recognized that. Only he was woefully unsophisticated, +abnormally innocent, frankly religious, and a little too openly white in +his life. It seemed a rebuke to the other fellows, unconscious though it +might be. He felt with the rest that the fellow needed a lesson. +Especially since the bald way in which he had dared to stand up for the +old-fashioned view of miracles in biblical-lit. class that morning. Of +course an ignorance like that wouldn't go down, and it was best he +should learn it at once and get to be a good fellow without loss of +time. A little gentle rubbing off of the "mamma's-good-little-boy" +veneering would do him good. He wasn't sure but with such a course +Marshall might even be eligible for the frat. that year. He sauntered +along with his hands in his pockets; a handsome, capable, powerful +figure; not taking any part in the preparations, but mildly interested +in the plans. His presence lent enthusiasm to the gathering. He was high +in authority. A star athlete, an A student, president of his fraternity, +having made the Phi Beta Kappa in his junior year, and now in his senior +year being chairman of the student exec. There would be no trouble with +the authorities of the college if Court was along to give countenance. + +Courtland stood opposite the end door when it was unceremoniously thrust +open and the hilarious mob rushed in. From his position with his back +against the wall he could see Stephen lift his fine head from his book +and rise to greet them. There was surprise and a smile of welcome on his +face. Courtland thought it almost a pity to reward such open-heartedness +as they were about to do; but such things were necessary in the making +of men. He watched developments with interest. + +A couple of belated participants in the fray arrived breathlessly, +shedding their mackinaws as they ran, and casting them down at +Courtland's feet. + +"Look after those, will you, Court? We've got to get in on this," +shouted one as he thrust a noisy bit of flannel head-gear at Courtland. + +Courtland gave the garments a kick behind him and stood watching. + +There was a moment's tense silence while they told the victim what they +had come for, and while the light of welcome in Stephen Marshall's eyes +melted and changed into lightning. A dart of it went with a searching +gleam out into the hall, and seemed to recognize Courtland as he stood +idly smiling, watching the proceedings. Then the lightning was withheld +in the gray eyes, and Marshall seemed to conclude that, after all, the +affair must be a huge kind of joke, seeing Courtland was out there. +Courtland had been friendly. He must not let his temper rise. The kindly +light came into the eyes again, and for an instant Marshall almost +disarmed the boldest of them with his brilliant smile. He would be game +as far as he understood. That was plain. It was equally plain that he +did not understand yet what was expected of him. + +Pat McCluny, thick of neck, brutal of jaw, low-browed, red of face, +blunt of speech, the finest, most unmerciful tackler on the football +team, stepped up to Stephen and said a few words in a low tone. +Courtland could not hear what they were save that they ended with an +oath, the choicest of Pat Cluny's choice collection. + +Instantly Stephen Marshall drew himself back, and up to his great +height, lightning and thunder-clouds in his gray eyes, his powerful arms +folded, his fine head crowned with its wealth of beautiful gold hair +thrown a trifle back and up, his lips shut in a thin, firm line, his +whole attitude that of the fighter; but he did not speak. He only looked +from one to another of the wild young mob, searching for a friend; and, +finding none, he stood firm, defying them all. There was something +splendid in his bearing that sent a thrill of admiration down +Courtland's spine as he watched, his habitual half-cynical smile of +amusement still lying unconsciously about his lips, while a new respect +for the country student was being born in his heart. + +Pat, with a half-lowering of his bullet head, and a twisting of his ugly +jaw, came a step nearer and spoke again, a low word with a rumble like +the menace of a bull or a storm about to break. + +With a sudden unexpected movement Stephen's arm shot forth and struck +the fellow in the jaw, reeling him half across the room into the crowd. + +With a snarl like a stung animal Pat recovered himself and rushed at +Stephen, hurling himself with a stream of oaths, and calling curses down +upon himself if he did not make Stephen utter worse before he was done +with him. Pat was the "man" who was in college for football. It took the +united efforts of his classmates, his frat., and the faculty to keep his +studies within decent hailing distance of eligibility for playing. He +came from a race of bullies whose culture was all in their fists. + +Pat went straight for the throat of his victim. His fighting blood was +up and he was mad clear down to the bone. Nobody could give him a blow +like that in the presence of others and not suffer for it. What had +started as a joke had now become real with Pat; and the frenzy of his +own madness quickly spread to those daring spirits who were about him +and who disliked Stephen for his strength of character. + +They clinched, and Stephen, fresh from his father's remote Western farm, +matched his mighty, untaught strength against the trained bully of a +city street. + +For a moment there was dead silence while the crowd in breathless +astonishment watched and held in check their own eagerness. Then the mob +spirit broke forth as some one called out: + +"Pray for a miracle, Stevie! Pray for a miracle! You'll need it, old +boy!" + +The mad spirit which had incited them to the reckless fray broke forth +anew and a medley of shouts arose. + +"Jump in, boys! Now's the time!" + +"Give him a cowardly egg or two--the kind that hits and runs!" + +"Teach him that we will be obeyed!" + +The latter came as a sort of chant, and was reiterated at intervals +through the pandemonium of sound. + +The fight raged on for minutes more, and still Stephen stood with his +back against the wall, fighting, gasping, struggling, but bravely facing +them all; a disheveled object with rotten eggs streaming from his face +and hair, his clothes plastered with offensive yolks. Pat had him by the +throat, but still he stood and fought as best he could. + +Some one seized the bucket of water and deluged both. Some one else +shouted, "Get the hose!" and more fellows tore off their coats and threw +them down at Courtland's feet; some one tore Pat away, and the great +fire-hose was turned upon the victim. + +Gasping at last, and all but unconscious, he was set upon his feet, and +harried back to life again. Over-powered by numbers, he could do +nothing, and the petty torments that were applied amid a round of +ringing laughter seemed unlimited; but still he stood, a man among them, +his lips closed, a firm set about his jaw that showed their labor was in +vain so far as making him obey their command was concerned. Not one word +had he uttered since they entered his room. + +"You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink," shouted +one onlooker. "Cut it out, fellows! It's no use! You can't set him +cussing. He never learned how. He could easier lead in prayer. You have +to teach him how. Better cut it out!" + +More tortures were applied, but still the victim was silent. The hose +had washed him clean again, and his face shone white from the drenching. +Some one suggested it was getting late and the show would begin. Some +one else suggested they must dress up Little Stevie for his first play. +There was a mad rush for garments. Any garments, no matter whose. A pair +of sporty trousers, socks of brilliant colors--not mates, an old +football shoe on one foot, a dancing-pump on the other, a white vest and +a swallow-tail put on backward, collar and tie also backward, a large +pair of white-cotton gloves commonly used by workmen for rough +work--Johnson, who earned his way in college by tending furnaces, +furnished these. Stephen bore it all, grim, unflinching, until they set +him up before his mirror and let him see himself, completing the +costume by a high silk hat crammed down upon his wet curls. He looked at +the guy he was and suddenly he turned upon them and smiled, his broad, +merry smile! _After all that_ he could see the joke and smile! He never +opened his lips nor spoke--just smiled. + +"He's a pretty good guy! He's game, all right!" murmured some one in +Courtland's ear. And then, half shamedly, they caught him high upon +their shoulders and bore him down the stairs and out the door. + +The theater was some distance off. They bore down upon a trolley-car and +took a wild possession. They sang their songs and yelled themselves +hoarse. People turned and watched and smiled, setting this down as one +more prank of those university fellows. + +They swarmed into the theater, with Stephen in their midst, and took +noisy occupancy. Opera-glasses were turned their way, and the girls +nudged one another and talked about the man in the middle with the queer +garments. + +The persecutions had by no means ceased because they had landed their +victim in a public place. They made him ridiculous at every breath. They +took off his hat, arranged his collar, and smoothed his hair as if he +were a baby. They wiped his nose with many a flourishing handkerchief, +and pointed out objects of interest about the theater in open derision +of his supposed ignorance, to the growing amusement of those of the +audience who were their neighbors. And when the curtain rose on the most +notoriously flagrant play the city boasted, they added to its flagrance +by their whispered explanations and remarks. + +Stephen, in his ridiculous garb, sat in their midst, a prisoner, and +watched the play he would not have chosen to see; watched it with a face +of growing indignation; a face so speaking in its righteous wrath that +those about who saw him turned to look again, and somehow felt condemned +for being there. + +Sometimes a wave of anger would sweep over the young man, and he would +turn to look about him with an impulse to suddenly break away and +attempt to defy them all. But his every movement was anticipated, and he +had the whole football team about him! There was no chance to move. He +must stay it through, much as he disliked it. He must stand it in spite +of the tumult of rage in his heart. He was not smiling now. His face had +that set, grim look of the faithful soldier taken prisoner and tortured +to give information about his army's plans. Stephen's eyes shone true, +and his lips were set firmly together. + +"Just one nice little cuss-word and we'll take you home," whispered a +tormentor. "A single little word will do, just to show you are a man." + +Stephen's face was gray with determination. His yellow hair shone like a +halo about his head. They had taken off his hat and he sat with his arms +folded fiercely across the back of "Andy" Roberts's nifty evening coat. + +"Just one little real cuss to show you are a _man_," sneered the +freshman. + +But suddenly a smothered cry arose. A breath of fear stirred through the +house. The smell of smoke swept in from a sudden open door. The actors +paused, grew white, and swerved in their places; then one by one fled +out of the scene. The audience arose and turned to panic, even as a +flame swept up and licked the very curtain while it fell. + +All was confusion! + +The football team, trained to meet emergencies, forgot their cruel play +and scattered, over seats and railing, everywhere, to fire-escapes and +doorways, taking command of wild, stampeding people, showing their +training and their courage. + +Stephen, thus suddenly set free, glanced about him, and saw a few feet +away an open door, felt the fresh breeze of evening upon his hot +forehead, and knew the upper back fire-escape was close at hand. By some +strange whim of a panic-maddened crowd but few had discovered this exit, +high above the seats in the balcony; for all had rushed below and were +struggling in a wild, frantic mass, trampling one another underfoot in a +mad struggle to reach the doorways. The flames were sweeping over the +platform now, licking out into the very pit of the theater, and people +were terrified. Stephen saw in an instant that the upper door, being +farthest away from the center of the fire, was the place of greatest +safety. With one frantic leap he gained the aisle, strode up to the +doorway, glanced out into the night to take in the situation; cool, +calm, quiet, with the still stars overhead, down below the open iron +stairway of the fire-escape, and a darkened street with people like tiny +puppets moving on their way. Then turning back, he tore off the +grotesque coat and vest, the confining collar, and threw them from him. +He plunged down the steps of the aisle to the railing of the gallery, +and, leaning there in his shirt-sleeves and the queer striped trousers, +he put his hands like a megaphone about his lips and shouted: + +"Look up! Look up! There is a way to escape up here! Look up!" + +Some poor struggling ones heard him and looked up. A little girl was +held up by her father to the strong arms reached out from the low front +of the balcony. Stephen caught her and swung her up beside him, pointing +her up to the door, and shouting to her to go quickly down the +fire-escape, even while he reached out his other hand to catch a woman, +whom willing hands below were lifting up. Men climbed upon the seats and +vaulted up when they heard the cry and saw the way of safety; and some +stayed and worked bravely beside Stephen, wrenching up the seats and +piling them for a ladder to help the women up. More just clambered up +and fled to the fire-escape, out into the night and safety. + +But Stephen had no thought of flight. He stayed where he was, with +aching back, cracking muscles, sweat-grimed brow, and worked, his breath +coming in quick, sharp gasps as he frantically helped man, woman, child, +one after another, like sheep huddling over a flood. + +Courtland was there. + +He had lingered a moment behind the rest in the corner of the dormitory +corridor, glancing into the disfigured room; water, egg-shells, ruin, +disorder everywhere! A little object on the floor, a picture in a cheap +oval metal frame, caught his eye. Something told him it was the picture +of Stephen Marshall's mother that he had seen upon the student's desk a +few days before, when he had sauntered in to look the new man over. +Something unexplained made him step in across the water and debris and +pick it up. It was the picture, still unscarred, but with a great streak +of rotten egg across the plain, placid features. He recalled the tone in +which the son had pointed out the picture and said, "That's my mother!" +and again he followed an impulse and wiped off the smear, setting the +picture high on the shelf, where it looked down upon the depredation +like some hallowed saint above a carnage. + +Then Courtland sauntered on to his room, completed his toilet, and +followed to the theater. He had not wanted to get mixed up too much in +the affair. He thought the fellows were going a little too far with a +good thing, perhaps. He wanted to see it through, but still he would not +quite mix with it. He found a seat where he could watch what was going +on without being actually a part of it. If anything should come to the +ears of the faculty he wanted to be on the side of conservatism always. +That Pat McCluny was not just his sort, though he was good fun. But he +always put things on a lower level than college fellows should go. +Besides, if things went too far a word from himself would check them. + +Courtland was rather bored with the play, and was almost on the point of +going back to study when the cry arose and panic followed. + +Courtland was no coward. He tore off his handsome overcoat and rushed to +meet the emergency. On the opposite side of the gallery, high up by +another fire-escape he rendered efficient assistance to many. + +The fire was gaining in the pit; and still there were people down there, +swarms of them, struggling, crying, lifting piteous hands for +assistance. Still Stephen Marshall reached from the gallery and pulled +up, one after another, poor creatures, and still the helpless thronged +and cried for aid. + +Dizzy, blinded, his eyes filled with smoke, his muscles trembling with +the terrible strain, he stood at his post. The minutes seemed +interminable hours, and still he worked, with heart pumping painfully, +and mind that seemed to have no thought save to reach down for another +and another, and point up to safety. + +Then, into the midst of the confusion there arose an instant of great +and awful silence. One of those silences that come even into great sound +and claim attention from the most absorbed. + +Paul Courtland, high in his chosen station, working eagerly, +successfully, calmly, looked down to see the cause of this sudden +arresting of the universe; and there, below, was the pit full of flame, +with people struggling and disappearing into fiery depths below. Just +above the pit stood Stephen, lifting aloft a little child with +frightened eyes and long streaming curls. He swung him high and turned +to stoop again; then with his stooping came the crash; the rending, +grinding, groaning, twisting of all that held those great galleries in +place, as the fire licked hold of their supports and wrenched them out +of position. + +One instant Stephen was standing by that crimson-velvet railing, with +his lifted hand pointing the way to safety for the child, the flaming +fire lighting his face with glory, his hair a halo about his head, and +in the next instant, even as his hand was held out to save another, the +gallery fell, crashing into the fiery, burning furnace! And Stephen, +with his face shining like an angel's, went down and disappeared with +the rest, while the consuming fire swept up and covered them. + +Paul Courtland closed his eyes on the scene, and caught hold of the door +by which he stood. He did not realize that he was standing on a tiny +ledge, all that was left him of footing, high, alone, above that burning +pit where his fellow-student had gone down; nor that he had escaped as +by a miracle. There he stood and turned away his face, sick and dizzy +with the sight, blinded by the dazzling flames, shut in to that tiny +spot by a sudden wall of smoke that swept in about him. Yet in all the +danger and the horror the only thought that came was, "God! _That_ was a +_man_!" + + + + +CHAPTER II + + +Paul Courtland never knew how he had been saved from that perilous +position high up on a ledge in the top of the theater, with the burning, +fiery furnace below him. Whether his senses came back sufficiently to +guide him along the narrow footing that was left, to the door of the +fire-escape, where some one rescued him, or whether a friendly hand +risked all and reached out to draw him to safety. + +He only knew that back there in that blank daze of suspended time, +before he grew to recognize the whiteness of the hospital walls and the +rattle of the nurse's starched skirt along the corridor, there was a +long period when he was shut in with four high walls of smoke. Smoke +that reached to heaven, roofing him away from it, and had its +foundations down in the burning fiery pit of hell where he could hear +lost souls struggling with smothered cries for help. Smoke that filled +his throat, eyes, brain, soul. Terrible, enfolding, imprisoning smoke; +thick, yellow, gray, menacing! Smoke that shut his soul away from all +the universe, as if he had been suddenly blotted out, and made him feel +how stark alone he had been born, and always would be evermore. + +He seemed to have lain within those slowly approaching walls of smoke a +century or two ere he became aware that he was not alone, after all. +There was a Presence there beside him. Light, and a Presence! Blinding +light. He reasoned that other men, the men outside of the walls of +smoke, the firemen perhaps, and by-standers, might think that light came +from the fire down in the pit, but he knew it did not. It radiated from +the Presence beside him. And there was a Voice, calling his name. He +seemed to have heard the call years back in his life somewhere. There +was something about it, too, that made his heart leap in answer, and +brought that strange thrill he used to have as a boy in prep. school, +when his captain called him into the game, though he was only a +substitute. + +He could not look up, yet he could see the face of the Presence now. +What was there so strangely familiar, as if he had been looking upon +that face but a few moments before? He knew. It was that brave spirit +come back from the pit. Come, perhaps, to lead him out of this daze of +smoke and darkness. He spoke, and his own voice sounded glad and +ringing: + +"I know you now. You are Stephen Marshall. You were in college. You were +down there in the theater just now, saving men." + +"Yes, I was in college," the Voice spoke, "and I was down there just +now, saving men. But I am not Stephen Marshall. Look again." + +And suddenly he understood. + +"Then you are Stephen Marshall's Christ! The Christ he spoke of in the +class that day!" + +"Yes, I am Stephen Marshall's Christ. He let me live in Him. I am the +Christ you sneered at and disbelieved!" + +He looked and his heart was stricken with shame. + +"I did not understand. It was against reason. But had not seen you +then." + +"And now?" + +"Now? What do you want of me?" + +"You shall be shown." + +The smoke ebbed low and swung away his consciousness, and even the place +grew dim about him, but the Presence was there. Always through suspended +space as he was borne along, and after, when the smoke gave way, and +air, blessed air, was wafted in, there was the Presence. If it had not +been for that he could not have borne the awfulness of nothing that +surrounded him. Always there was the Presence! + +There was a bandage over his eyes for days; people speaking in whispers; +and when the bandage was taken away there were the white hospital walls, +so like the walls of smoke at first in the dim light, high above him. +When he had grown to understand it was but hospital walls, he looked +around for the Presence in alarm, crying out, "Where is He?" + +Bill Ward and Tennelly and Pat were there, huddled in a group by the +door, hoping he might recognize them. + +"He's calling for Steve!" whispered Pat, and turned with a gulp while +the tears rolled down his cheeks. "He must have seen him go!" + +The nurse laid him down on the pillow again, replacing the bandage. When +he closed his eyes the Presence came back, blessed, sweet--and he was at +peace. + +The days passed; strength crept back into his body, consciousness to his +brain. The bandage was taken off once more, and he saw the nurse and +other faces. He did not look again for the Presence. He had come to +understand he could not see it with his eyes; but always it was there, +waiting, something sweet and wonderful. Waiting to show him what to do +when he was well. + +The memorial services had been held for Stephen Marshall many days, the +university had been draped in black, with its flag at half-mast, the +proper time, and its mourning folded away, ere Paul Courtland was able +to return to his room and his classes. + +They welcomed him back with touching eagerness. They tried to hush their +voices and temper their noisiness to suit an invalid. They told him all +their news, what games had been won, who had made Phi Beta Kappa, and +what had happened at the frat. meetings. But they spoke not at all of +Stephen! + +Down the hall Stephen's door stood always open, and Courtland, walking +that way one day, found fresh flowers upon his desk and wreathed around +his mother's picture. A quaint little photograph of Stephen taken +several years back hung on one wall. It had been sent at the class's +request by Stephen's mother to honor her son's chosen college. + +The room was set in order, Stephen's books were on the shelves, his few +college treasures tacked up about the walls; and conspicuous between the +windows hung framed the resolutions concerning Stephen the hero-martyr +of the class, telling briefly how he had died, and giving him this +tribute, "He was a man!" + +Below the resolutions, on the little table covered with an old-fashioned +crocheted cotton table-cover, lay Stephen's Bible, worn, marked, soft +with use. His mother had wished it to remain. Only his clothes had been +sent back to her who had sent him forth to prepare for his life-work, +and received word in her distant home that his life-work had been +already swiftly accomplished. + +Courtland entered the room and looked around. + +There were no traces of the fray that had marred the place when last he +saw it. Everything was clean and fine and orderly. The simple saint-like +face of the plain farmer's-wife-mother looked down upon it all with +peace and resignation. This life was not all. There was another. Her +eyes said that. Paul Courtland stood a long time gazing into them. + +Then he closed the door and knelt by the little table, laying his +forehead reverently upon the Bible. + +Since he had returned to college and things of life had become more +real, Reason had returned to her throne and was crying out against his +"fancies." What was that experience in the hospital but the phantasy of +a sick brain? What was the Presence but a fevered imagination? He had +been growing ashamed of dwelling upon the thought, ashamed of liking to +feel that the Presence was near when he was falling asleep at night. +Most of all he had felt a shame and a land of perplexity in the +biblical-literature class where he faced "FACTS" as the professor called +them, spoken in capitals. SCIENCE was another force which +mocked his fancies. PHILOSOPHY cooled his mind and wakened him +from his dreams. In this atmosphere he was beginning to think that he +had been delirious, and was gradually returning to his normal state, +albeit with a restless dissatisfaction he had never known before. + +But now in this calm, rose-decked room, with the quiet eyes of the +simple mother looking down upon him, the resolutions in their +chaplet-of-palm framing, the age-old Bible thumbed and beloved, he knew +he had been wrong. He knew he would never be the same. That Presence, +Whoever, Whatever it was, had entered into his life. He could never +forget it; never be convinced that it was not; never be entirely +satisfied without it! He believed it was the Christ! Stephen Marshall's +Christ! + +By and by he lifted up his head and opened the little worn Bible, +reverently, curiously, just to touch it and think how the other boy had +done. The soft, much-turned leaves fell open of themselves to a heavily +marked verse. There were many marked verses all through the book. + +Courtland's eyes followed the words: + + He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in + himself. + +Could it be that this strange new sense of the Presence was "the +witness" here mentioned? He knew it like his sense of rhythm, or the +look of his mother's face, or the joy of a summer morning. It was not +anything he could analyze. One might argue that there was no such thing, +science might prove there was not, but he _knew_ it, had _seen_ it, +_felt_ it! He had the witness in himself. Was that what it meant? + +With troubled brow he turned over the leaves again: + + If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, + whether it be of God. + +Ah! There was an offer, why not close with it? + +He dropped his head on the open book with the old words of +self-surrender: + +"Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?" + +A moment later Pat McCluny opened the door, cautiously, quietly; then, +with a nod to Tennelly back of him, he entered with confidence. + +Courtland rose. His face was white, but there was a light of something +in his eyes they did not understand. + +They went over to him as if he had been a child who had been lost and +was found on some perilous height and needing to be coaxed gently away +from it. + +"Oh, so you're here, Court," said Tennelly, slapping his shoulder with +gentle roughness, "Great little old room, isn't it? The fellows' idea +to keep flowers here. Kind of a continual memorial." + +"Great fellow, that Steve!" said Pat, hoarsely. He could not yet speak +lightly of the hero-martyr whom he had helped to send to his fiery +grave. + +But Courtland stood calmly, almost as if he had not heard them. "Pat, +Nelly," he said, turning from one to the other gravely, "I want to tell +you fellows that I have met Steve's Christ and after this I stand for +Him!" + +They looked at him curiously, pityingly. They spoke with soothing words +and humored him. They led him away to his room and left him to rest. +Then they walked with solemn faces and dejected air into Bill Ward's +room and threw themselves down upon his couch. + +"Where's Court?" Bill looked up from the theme he was writing. + +"We found him in Steve's room," said Tennelly, gloomily, and shook his +head. + +"It's a deuced shame!" burst forth Pat. (He had cut out swearing for a +time.) "He's batty in the bean!" + +Tennelly answered the shocked question in the eyes of Bill with a nod. +"Yes, the brightest fellow in the class, but he sure is batty in the +bean! You ought to have heard him talk. Say! I don't believe it was all +the fire. Court's been studying too hard. He's been an awful shark for a +fellow that went in for athletics and everything else. He's studied too +hard and it's gone to his head!" + +Tennelly sat gloomily staring across the room. It was the old cry of the +man who cannot understand. + +"He needs a little change," said Bill, putting his feet up on the table +comfortably and lighting a cigarette. "Pity the frat. dance is over. He +needs to get him a girl. Be a great stunt if he'd fall for some jolly +girl. Say! I'll tell you what. I'll get Gila after him." + +"Who's Gila?" asked Tennelly, gloomily. "He won't notice her any more +than a fly on the wall. You know how he is about girls." + +"Gila's my cousin. Gila Dare. She's a good sport, and she's a winner +every time. We'll put Gila on the job. I've got a date with her +to-morrow night and I'll put her wise. She'll just enjoy that kind of +thing. He's met her, too, over at the Navy game. Leave it to Gila." + +"What style is she?" asked Tennelly, still skeptical. + +"Oh, tiny and stylish and striking, with big eyes. A perfect little +peach of an actress." + +"Court's too keen for acting. He'll see through her in half a second. +She can't put one over on Court." + +"She won't try," said the ardent cousin. "She'll just be as innocent. +They'll be chums in half an hour, or it'll be the first failure for +Gila." + +"Well, if any girl can put one over on Court, I'll eat my hat; but it's +worth trying, for if Court keeps on like this we'll all be buying +prayer-books and singing psalms before another semester." + +"You'll eat your hat, all right," said Bill Ward, rising in his wrath. +"Nelly, my infant, I tell you Gila never fails. If she gets on the job +Court'll be dead in love with her before the midwinter exams.!" + +"I'll believe it when I see it," said Tennelly, rising. + +"All right," said Bill. "Remember you're in for a banquet during +vacation. Fricaseed hat the _pièce de resistance_!" + + + + +CHAPTER III + + +It was a sumptuous library in which Gila Dare awaited the coming of Paul +Courtland. + +Great, deep, red-leather chairs stood everywhere invitingly, the floor +was spread with a magnificent specimen of Royal Bokhara, the rich +recesses of the noble walls were lined with books in rare editions, a +heavily carved table of dull black wood from some foreign land sprawled +in the center of the room and held a great bronze lamp of curious +pattern, bearing a ruby light. Ornate bronzes lurked on pedestals in +shadows, unexpectedly, and caught the eye alarmingly, like grim ones set +to watch. A throbbing fire like the heart of a lit ruby burned in a +massive fireplace of grotesque tiles, as though it were the opening into +great depths of unquenchable fire to which this room might be but an +approach. + +Gila herself, slight, dark-eyed, with pearl-white skin and dusky hair, +was dressed in crimson velvet, soft and clinging like chiffon, catching +the light and shimmering it with strange effect. The dark hair was +curiously arranged, and stabbed just above her ears with two dagger-like +combs flashing with jewels. A single jewel burned at her throat on an +invisible chain, and jewels flashed from the little pointed +crimson-satin slippers, setting off the slim ankles in their +crimson-silk covering. The whole effect was startling. One wondered why +she had chosen so elaborate a costume to waste upon a single college +student. + +She stood with one dainty foot poised on the brass trappings of the +hearth. In her short skirts she seemed almost a child; so sweet the +droop of the pretty lips; so innocent the dark eyes as they looked into +the fire; so soft the shadows that played in the dark hair! And yet, as +she turned to listen for a step in the hall, there was something +gleaming, sinister, in those dark eyes, something mocking in the red +lips. She might have been a daughter of Satan as she stood, the +firelight picking out those jeweled horns and slippers. + +"Leave him to me," she had said to her cousin when he told her how the +brilliant young athlete and intellectual star of the university had been +stung by the religious bug. "Send him to me. I'll take it out of him and +he'll never know it's gone." + +Paul Courtland entered, unsuspecting. He had met Gila a number of times +before, at college dances and the games. He was not exactly flattered, +but decidedly pleased that she had sent for him. Her brightness and +seeming innocence had attracted him strongly. + +The contrast from the hall with its blaze of electrics to the lurid +light of the library affected him strangely. He paused on the threshold +and passed his hand over his eyes. Gila stood where the ruby light of +hearth and lamp would set her vivid dress on fire and light the jewels +at her throat and hair. She knew her clear skin, dark hair, and eyes +would bear the startling contrast, and how her white shoulders gleamed +from the crimson velvet. She knew how to arrange the flaming scarf of +gauze deftly about those white shoulders so that it would reveal more +than it concealed. + +The young man lingered unaccountably. He had a sense of leaving +something behind him. Almost he hesitated as she came forward to greet +him, and looked back as if to rid himself of some obligation. Then she +put her bits of confiding hands out to him and smiled that wistful, +engaging smile that would have been worth a fortune on the screen. + +He thrilled with wonder over her delicate, dazzling beauty; and felt the +luxury of the room about him, responding to its lure. + +"So dandy of you to come to me when you are so busy after your long +illness." Her voice was soft and confiding, its cadences like soothing +music. She motioned him to a chair. "You see, I wanted to have you all +to myself for a little while, just to tell you how perfectly fine you +were at that awful fire." + +She dropped upon the couch drawn out at just the right angle from the +fire and settled among the cushions gracefully. The flicker of the +firelight played upon the jeweled combs and gleamed at her throat. The +little pointed slippers cozily crossed looked innocent enough to have +been meant for the golden street. Her eyes looked up into his with that +confiding lure that thrills and thrills again. + +Her voice dropped softer, and she turned half away and gazed pensively +into the fire on the hearth. "I wouldn't let them talk to me about it. +It seemed so awful. And you were so strong and great." + +"It was nothing!" He did not want to talk about the fire. There was +something incongruous, almost unholy, in having it discussed here. It +jangled on his nerves. For there in front of him in the fireplace burned +a mimic pit like the one into which the martyr Steve had fallen; and +there before him on the couch sat the girl! What was there so familiar +about her? Ah! now he knew. The Scarlet Woman! Her gown was an exact +reproduction of the one the great actress had worn on the stage that +night. He was conscious of wishing to sit beside her on that couch and +revel in the ravishing color of her. What was there about this room +that made all his pulses beat? + +Playfully, skilfully, she led him on. They talked of the dances and +games, little gossip of the university, with now and then a telling +personality, and a sweep of long lashes over pearly cheeks, or a lifting +of great, innocent eyes of admiration to his face. + +She offered wine in delicate gold-incrusted ruby glasses, but Courtland +did not drink. He scarcely noticed her veiled annoyance at his refusal. +He was drinking in the wine of her presence. She suggested that he +smoke, and would not have hesitated to join him, perhaps, but he told +her he was in training, and she cooed softly of his wonderful strength +of character in resisting. + +By this time he was in the coveted seat beside her on the couch, and the +fire burned low and red. They had ceased to talk of games and dances. +They were talking of each other, those intimate nothings that mean a +breaking down of distance and a rapidly growing familiarity. + +The young man was aware of the fascination of the small figure in her +crimson robings, sitting so demurely in the firelight, the gauzy scarf +dropped away from her white neck and shoulders, the lovely curve of her +baby cheek and tempting neck showing against the background of the +shadows behind her. He was aware of a distinct longing to take her in +his arms and crush her to him, as he would pluck a red berry from a +bank, and feel its stain upon his lips. Stain! A stain was a thing that +was hard to remove. There were blood-stains sometimes and agonies; and +yet men wanted to pluck the berries and feel the stain upon their lips! + +He was not under the hallucination that he was suddenly falling in love +with this girl. He did not name the passionate outcry in his soul love. +He knew she had been a charmer of many, and in yielding himself to her +recognized power he was for the moment playing with a force that was new +and interesting, with which he had felt altogether strong enough to +contend for an evening or he would not have come. That it should thrill +along all his senses with this unreasoning rapture was most astonishing. +He had never been a fellow to "fall" for every girl he met, and now he +felt himself gradually yielding to the beautiful spell about him with a +kind of wonder. + +The lights and coloring of the room that had smote his senses +unpleasantly when he first entered had thrown him now into a kind of +delicious fever. The neglected wine sparkling dimly in the costly +glasses seemed a part of it. He felt an impulse to reach out, seize a +glass, and drain it. What if he should? What if he flung away his ideas +and principles and let the moment sway him as it would, just for once? +Why should he not try life as it presented itself? + +These fancies fled through his brain like phantoms that did not dare to +linger. His was no callow mind, ignorant of the world. He had thought +and read and lived his ideas well for so young a man. He had vigorously +protested against weakness of every kind; yet here he was feeling the +drawing power of things he had always despised; reveling in the wine-red +color of the room, in the pit-like glow of the fire; watching the play +of smiles and wistfulness on the lovely face of the girl. He had often +wondered what others saw so attractive in her beyond a pretty face. But +now he understood. Her child-like speech and pretty little ways +fascinated him. Perhaps she was really innocent of her own charms. +Perhaps a man might lead her to give up certain of her ways that caused +her to be criticized. What a woman she would be then! What a friend to +have! + +This was the last sop he threw to his conscience before he consciously +began to yield to the spell that was upon him. + +She had been speaking of palmistry, and she took his hand in hers, +innocently, impersonally, with large eyes lifted inquiringly. Her breath +was on his face; her touch had stirred his senses with a madness he had +never felt nor measured in himself before. + +"The life-line is here," she said, coolly, and traced it delicately +along his palm with a sea-shell tinted finger. Like cool delicious fire +it spread from nerve to nerve and set aside his reason in a frenzy. He +would seize the berry and feel its stain upon his lips now no matter +what!-- + +"Paul!" + +It was as distinct upon his ear as if the words had been spoken; as +startling and calming as a cool hand upon his fevered brow; the sudden +entrance of a guest. He had seized her hands with sudden fervor, and +now, almost in the same moment, flung them from him and stood up, a man +in full possession of his senses. "Hark!" he said, and as he spoke a cry +broke faintly forth above them, and there was sound of rushing feet. A +frightened maid burst into the room unannounced. + +"Oh, Miss Gila, I beg yer pardon, but Master Harry's got his father's +razor, an' he's cut hisself something awful." + +The maid was weeping and wringing her hands helplessly, but Gila stood +frowning angrily. Courtland sprang up the stairs. In the tumult of his +mind he would have rejoiced if the house had been on fire, or a cyclone +had struck the place--anything so he could fling himself into service. +He drew in long, deep breaths. It was like mountain air to get away from +that lurid room into the light once more. A sense of lost power +returned, was over him. The spell was broken. + +He bent over the little boy alertly, grasped the wrist, and stopped the +spurt of blood. The frightened child looked up into his face and stopped +crying. + +"You should have telephoned for the doctor at once and not made all this +fuss in the presence of a guest," scolded Gila as she came up the +stairs. She looked garish and out of place with her red velvet and +jewels in the brilliant light of the white-tiled bathroom. She stood +helplessly by the door, making no move to help Courtland. The maid was +at the telephone, frantically calling for the family physician. + +"Hand me those towels," commanded Courtland, and saw the look of disgust +upon Gila's face as she reluctantly picked her way across the +blood-stains. It struck him that they were the color of her frock. The +stain of the crushed berry. He moistened his dry lips. At least the +stain was not upon his lips. He had escaped. Yet by how narrow a margin. + +The girl felt the man's changed attitude without in the least +understanding it. She thought it had been the cry of the child that made +him jump up and fling her hands from him with that sudden "Hark!" in the +moment when he had almost yielded. She did not know that an inner voice +had called him. She only knew that she had lost him for the time, and +her vanity was still panting like a wild thing that has lost its prey. + +He gathered the little boy into his arms when he had bound up the cut, +and talked to him cheerfully. The child's curly head rested trustfully +against the big shoulder. + +"Floor all bluggy!" he remarked, languidly. "Wall all bluggy!" Then his +eyes fell on his sister in her scarlet frock. "Gila all bluggy, too!" he +laughed, and pointed with his well hand. + +"Be still, Harry!" said Gila, sharply, and when Courtland looked up in +wonder he saw the delicate brows drawn blackly, and the mouth had lost +its innocent sweetness. The child shrank in his arms, and he put a +reassuring hand upon the little head that snuggled comfortedly against +his coat. It was one of Courtland's strong points, this love of little +children. He grew fine and gentle in their presence. It often drew +attention on the athletic field when some little fellow strayed his way +and Courtland would turn to talk to the child. People would stop their +conversation and look his way; and a whole grand stand would come to +silence just to see him walk across the diamond with a little +golden-haired kid upon his shoulder. There was something inexpressibly +beautiful about his attitude toward a child. + +Gila saw it now and wondered. What unexpected trait was this that sat +upon the young man like a crown? Here, indeed, was a man who was worth +cultivating, not merely for the caprice of the moment. There was +something in his face and attitude now that commanded her respect and +admiration; something that drew her as she had not been drawn before. +She would win him now for his own sake, not just to show how she could +charm away his morbid fancies. + +She continued to stare at the young man with eyes that saw new things in +him, while Courtland sat petting the child and telling him a story. He +paid no further attention to her. + +When Gila set her heart upon a thing she had always had it. This had +been her father's method of bringing her up. Her mother was too busy +with her clubs and her social functions to see the harm. And now Gila +suddenly became aware that she was setting her heart upon this young +man. The eternal feminine in her that was almost choked with selfishness +was crying out for a man like this one to comfort and pet her the way he +was comforting and petting her little brother. That he had not yielded +too easily to her charms made him all the more desirable. The +interruption had come so suddenly that she couldn't even be sure he had +been about to take her hands in his when he flung them from him. He had +sprung from the couch almost as if he had been under orders. She could +not understand it, only she knew she was drawn by it all. + +But he should yield! She had power and she would use it. She had beauty +and it should wound him. She would win that gentle deference and +attention for her own. In her jealous, spoiled, little heart she hated +the little brother for lying there in his arms so, interrupting their +evening just when she had him where she had wanted him. Whether she +wanted him for more than a plaything she did not know, but her plaything +he should be as long as she desired him--and more also if she chose. + +When Courtland lifted his head at the sound of the doctor's footsteps on +the stairs he saw the challenge in Gila's eyes. Drawn up against the +white enamel of the bathroom door, all her brilliant velvet and jewels +gleaming in the brightness of the room, her regal little head up, her +chin lifted half haughtily, her innocent mouth pursed softly with +determination, her eyes wide with an inscrutable look--something more +than challenge--something soft, appealing, alluring, that stirred him +and drew him and repelled him all in one. + +With a sense of something stronger than he was back of him, he lifted +his own chin and hardened his eyes in answering challenge. He did not +know it, of course, but he wore the look that he always had when about +to meet a foe in a game--a look of strength and concealed power that +nearly always made the coming foe quake when he saw it. + +He shrank from going back to that red room again, or from being alone +with her; and when she would have had him return to the library he +declined, urging studies and an examination on the morrow. She received +his somewhat brusque reply with a hurt look, her mouth drooped +grievedly, and her eyes took on a wide, child-like look of distress that +gave an impression of innocence. He went away wondering if, after all, +he had not misjudged her. Perhaps she was only an adorable child who had +no idea of the effect her artlessness had upon men. She certainly was +lovely--wonderful! And yet the last glimpse he had of her had left that +impression of jeweled horns and scarlet, pointed toes. He had to get +away and think it out calmly before he went again. Oh yes, he was going +_again_. He had promised her at the last moment. + +The sense of having escaped something fateful was passing already. The +coolness of the night and the quiet of the starlight had calmed him. He +thought he had been a fool not to have stayed a little longer when she +asked him so prettily; and he must go soon again. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + + +"I think I'll go to church this morning, Nelly. Do you want to go +along?" announced Courtland, the next morning. + +Tennelly looked up aghast from the sporting page of the morning paper he +was lazily reading. + +"Go with him, Nelly, that's a good boy!" put in Bill Ward, agreeably, +winking his off eye at Tennelly. "It'll do you good. I'd go with you, +only I've got to get that condition made up or they'll fire me off the +'varsity, and I only need this one more game to get my letter." + +"Go to thunder!" growled Tennelly. "What do you think I want to go to +church for a morning like this? Court, you're crazy! Let's go and get +two saddle-horses and ride in the park. It's a peach of a morning for a +ride." + +"I think I'll go to church," said Courtland, with his old voice of quiet +decision. "Do you want to go or not?" + +There was something about Courtland's voice, and the way Bill Ward kept +up winking his off eye, that subdued Tennelly. + +"Sure, I'll go," he growled, reluctantly. + +"You old crab, you," chirped Bill, cheerfully, when Courtland had gone +out. "Can't you see you've got to humor him? He needs homeopathic +treatment. 'Like cures like.' Give him a good dose of religion and he'll +get good and tired of it. Church won't hurt him any, just give him a +good, pious feeling so he'll feel free to do as he pleases during the +week. I had a 'phone from Gila this morning. She says he's made another +date with her after exams. He fell, all right, so go get your little lid +and toddle off to Sunday-school. Try to toll him into a big, stylish +church. They're safest; but 'most any of 'em are cold enough to freeze +the eye-teeth out of a stranger as far as my experience goes." + +"Well, this isn't my funeral," sulked Tennelly, going to his closet for +suitable raiment. "I s'pose you get your way, but Court's keen +intellectually, and if he happens to strike a good preacher he's liable +to fall for what he says, in the mood he's in now." + +"Well, he won't strike a good preacher. There isn't one nowadays. There +are orators in the pulpit, plenty of them, but they're all preaching +about politics these days, or raving about uplifting the masses, and +that sorta thing won't hurt Court. Most of 'em are dry as punk. If Court +keeps awake through the service he won't go again, mark my words." + +They chose a church at random, these two who had decided to go up to the +house of God. High-arched and Gothic were its massive walls, with intricate +carving like lace in the stonework. Softly swung leather doors shut the +sanctuary from the outer world. The fretted gold-and-blue-and-scarlet +ceiling stretched away miles, as it were, in the space above them, and +rich carvings in dark, costly wood met the wonderful frescoes at lofty +heights. The carpets were soft, and the pews were upholstered in tones +to match. A great silence brooded over the place, making itself felt +above and beneath the swelling tones of the wonderful organ. People trod +the aisles softly, like puppets playing each his part. They bent in form +of prayer for a moment and settled into silence. The minister came +stiffly into the pulpit, casting a furtive eye about his congregation. + +They noticed almost at once that the most unpopular professor in the +university was acting as usher on the other side of the church. Tennelly +frowned and looked at Courtland, who sat watching the aforesaid usher as +he showed people to their seats, wondering if that man had a thing he +called religion, and if he was in any way related to Stephen Marshall's +Christ. This was a voyage of discovery for Courtland, this visit to a +Christian church. He had scarcely been to religious services since he +entered the university. He had considered them a waste of time. Now he +had come to see if there was really anything in them. It did not occur +to him that they had a real connection with those verses he had read in +the Bible about "doing the will," or that the going or staying away from +them was in any wise obligatory upon one who had allied himself with +Christ. The church stood to him as to many other young pagans such as he +was, for a man-made institution, to be attended or not as one chose. + +The music was not uplifting. It was well done by a paid choir, who had +good voices and sang wonderful music, but they had no heart in their +singing. The congregation attempted no more than a murmur of the hymns. +There was not a large congregation. + +The sermon was a dissertation on the Book of Jonah, a sort of résumé of +all the argument, on both sides, that has torn the theological world in +these latter days. Not a word of Stephen Marshall's Christ, save a sort +of side reference to a verse about Jonah being three days and three +nights in the whale, and the Son of Man being three days in the heart of +the earth. Courtland wasn't even sure that this reference meant the +Christ, and it never entered his head that it touched at the heart of +the great doctrine of the resurrection of the dead. As far as he could +understand the reverend gentleman the arguments he quoted against the +Book of Jonah were far stronger and more plausible than those put forth +in its defense. What was it all about, anyway? What did it matter +whether Jonah was or was not, or whether anybody accepted the book? How +could a thing like that affect the life of a man? + +Tennelly watched the expressive face beside him and decided that perhaps +Bill Ward had been half right, after all. + +On their way back to the university they met Gila Dare. Gila all in gray +like a dove, gray suit of soft, rich cloth, gray furs of the depth and +richness of smoke, gray suède boots laced high to meet her brief gray +skirts, silver hat with a single velvet rose on the brim to match the +soft rose-bloom on her cheeks. Gila with eyes as wide and innocent as a +baby's, cupid mouth curved sweetly in a gracious, shy smile, and dainty +little prayer-book done in gray suède held devoutly in her little gloved +hand. + +"Who's that?" growled Tennelly, admiringly, when they had passed a +suitable distance. + +"Why, that's Bill Ward's cousin, Gila Dare," announced Courtland, +graciously. He was still basking in the pleasure of her smile, and +thinking how different she looked from last evening in this soft, gray, +silvery effect. Yes, he had misjudged her. A girl who could look like +that must be sweet and pure and unspoiled. It had been that unfortunate +dress last night that had reminded him unpleasantly of the scarlet woman +and the awful night of the fire. If he ever got well enough acquainted +he would ask her never to wear red again; it made her appear sensual; +and even she, delicate and sweet as she was, could not afford to cast a +thought like that into the minds of her beholders. It was then he began +to idealize Gila. + +"Gila Dare!" Tennelly straightened up and took notice. So that was the +invincible Gila! That little soft-eyed exquisite thing with the hair +like a midnight cloud. + +"Some looker!" he commented, approvingly, and wished he were in +Courtland's shoes. + +"She's got in her work all right," he commented to himself. "Old Court's +fallen already. Guess I'll have to buy a straw hat, it'll be more +edible." + +Courtland was like his gay old self when he got back to the dormitory. +He joked a great deal. His eyes were bright and his color better than it +had been since he was sick. He said nothing about the morning service, +and by and by Bill Ward ventured a question: "What kind of a harangue +did you hear this morning?" + +"Rotten!" he answered, promptly, and turned away. Somehow that question +recalled him to the uneasiness within his soul for which he had sought +solace in the church service. He became silent again, and, strolling +away into Stephen's room and closing the door, sat down. + +There was something strange about that room. The Presence seemed always +to be there. It hadn't made itself felt in the church at all, as he had +half hoped it would. He had taken Tennelly with him because he wanted +something tangible, friendly, sane, from the world he knew, to give him +ballast. If the Presence had been in the church, with Tennelly by his +side, he would have been sure it was not wholly a hallucination +connected with his memory of Stephen. + +It was strange, for now that he sat there in that quiet room that had +once witnessed the trying out of a manly soul, and saw the calm eyes of +the plain mother on the wall opposite, and the true eyes of the dowdy +school-boy on the other wall, he was feeling the Presence again! + +Why hadn't he felt its power in the church? Was it because of the +presence of such people in the temple as that little mean-souled +professor, whom everybody knew to be insincere from the crown of his +head to the soles of his sly little feet? Was it because the people were +cold and careless and didn't sing even with their lips, let alone their +hearts, but hired it all done for them? + +And then there had been that call of his name when he was with Gila +Dare, as clear and distinct, like a friend he had left outside who had +grown tired of waiting, and worried about him. Why hadn't the sense of +the Presence gone with him into the room? Would a Presence like that be +afraid of hostile influences? No. If it was real and a Presence at all +it would be more powerful than any other influence in the universe. Then +why? + +Could it be that he had gone deliberately into an influence that would +make it impossible for the Presence to guide? + +Or was it possible that his own attitude toward that girl had been at +fault? He had gone to see her regarding her somewhat lightly. As a +gentleman he should regard no woman with disrespect. Her womanhood +should be honored by him even if she chose to dishonor it herself. If he +had gone to see Gila with a different attitude toward her, expecting +high, fine things of her, rather than merely to be amused by one whom he +scarcely regarded seriously, perhaps all this strange mental phenomena +would not have come to pass. + +Finally he locked the door and knelt down with his head upon the worn +Bible. He had no idea of praying. Prayer meant to him but a repetition +of a form of words. There had been prayers in his childhood, brought +about by the maiden aunt who kept house for his father after his +mother's death, and assisted in bringing him up until he was old enough +to go away to boarding-school. They were a good deal of a bore, coming +as they did when he was sleepy. There was a long, vague one beginning, +"Our Father which art," in which he always had to be prompted. There +was, "Now I lay me," and "Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, bless the bed I +lie upon; Wish I may, wish I might, get the wish I wish to-night!" Or +_was_ that a prayer? He never could remember as he grew older. + +He did not know why he was drawn to kneel there with his eyes closed and +his cheek upon that Bible. Strange that when he was in that room all +doubt about the Presence vanished, all uneasiness about reconciling it +with realities, laws, and science fled away. + +Later he stood in his own room by the window, watching the great red sun +go down in the west and light a ruby fire behind the long line of tall +buildings that stretched beyond the campus. The glow in no wise +resembled, but yet reminded him, of the fire in the glowing grate of the +Dare library. Why had that room affected him so strangely? And Gila, +little Gila, how sweet and innocent she had looked when they met her +that morning with her prayer-book. How wrong he must have been to take +the idle talk that people chattered about her and let it influence his +thoughts of her. She could not be all that they said, and yet look so +sweet and innocent. What had she reminded him of in literature? Ah! he +had it. Solveig in _Peer Gynt_! + + How fair! Did ever you see the like? + Looked down at her shoes and her snow-white apron!-- + And then she held on to her mother's skirt-folds, + And carried a psalm-book wrapped up in a 'kerchief!-- + +That ample purple person by her side, with the dark eyes, the double +chin, and the hard lines in her painted face, must be Gila's mother! +Perhaps people talked about the daughter because of her mother, for +_she_ looked it fully! But then a girl couldn't help having a foolish +mother! She was to be pitied more than blamed if she seemed silly and +frivolous now and then. + +What a thing for a man to do, to teach her to trust him, and then guide +her and help her and uplift her till she had the highest standards +formed! She was so young and tiny, and so sweet at times! Yes, she was, +she must be, like Solveig. + +If a man with a good moral character, a tolerably decent reputation for +good taste and respectability, no fool at his studies, no stain on his +name, should go with her, help her, get her to give up certain daring +things she had the name of doing--if such a fellow should give her the +protection of his friendship and let the world see that he considered +her respectable--wouldn't it help a lot? Wouldn't it stop people's +mouths and make them see that Gila wasn't what they had been saying, +after all? + +It came to him that this would be a very pleasant mission, for his +leisure hours during the rest of that winter. All thought of any danger +to himself through such intercourse as he was suggesting to his thoughts +had departed from his mind. + +Half a mile away Gila was pouring tea for two extremely ardent youths +who scarcely occupied half of her mind. With the other half she was +planning a little note which should bring Courtland to her side early in +the week. She had no thoughts of God. She was never troubled with much +pondering. She knew exactly what she wanted without thinking any further +about it, and she meant to have it. + + + + +CHAPTER V + + +It was a great source of question with Courtland afterward, just why it +should have been he that happened to carry that telegram over to the +West Dormitory to Wittemore, instead of any one of a dozen other fellows +who were in the office when it arrived and might just as well have gone. +Did anything in this world _happen_, he wondered? + +He could not tell why he had held out his hand and offered to take the +message. + +It was not because he was not trying hard, and studying for all he was +worth, that "Witless Abner," as Wittemore had come to be called, had won +his nickname. He worked night and day, plunged in a maze of things he +did not quite understand until long after the rest of the class had +passed them. He was majoring in sociology through the advice of a +faddist uncle who had never seen him. He had told Abner's mother that +sociology was the coming science, and Abner was faithfully carrying out +the course of study he suggested. He was floundering through hours of +lectures on the theory of the subject, and conscientiously working in +the college settlement to get the practical side of things. He had the +distressed look of a person with very short legs who is trying to keep +up with a procession of six-footers, although there was nothing short +about Abner. His legs were long, and his body was long, his arms were +long, too long for most of his sleeves. His face was long, his nose and +chin were painfully long, and were accompanied by a sensitive mouth +that was always on the quiver with apprehension, like a rabbit's, and +little light eyes with whitish eyelashes. His hair was like licked hay. +There was absolutely nothing attractive about Wittemore except his +smile, and he so seldom smiled that few of the boys had ever seen it. He +had almost no friends. + +He had apparently just entered his room when Courtland reached his door, +and was stumbling about in a hurry to turn on the light. He stopped with +his lips aquiver and a dart of fear in his eyes when he saw the +telegram. Nobody but his mother would send him a telegram, and she would +never waste the money for it unless there was something dreadful the +matter. He looked at it fearfully, holding it in his hand and glancing +up again at Courtland half helplessly, as if he feared to open it. + +Then, with that set, stolid look of prodding ahead that characterized +all Abner's movements he clumsily tore open the envelope. + +"Your mother is dying. Come at once," were the terse, cruel words that +he read, signed with a neighbor's initials. + +The young man gave the gasp of a hurt thing and stood gaping up at +Courtland. + +"Nothing the matter, I hope," said Courtland, kindly, moved by the gray, +stricken look that had come over the poor fellow's face. + +"It's mother!" he gasped. "Read!" He thrust the telegram into +Courtland's hand and sank down on the side of his bed with his head in +his hands. + +"Tough luck, old man!" said Courtland, with a kindly hand on the bowed +shoulder. "But maybe it's only a scare. Sometimes people get better when +they're pretty sick, you know." + +Wittemore shook his head. "No. We've been expecting this, she and I. +She's been sick a long time. I didn't want to come back this year! I +thought she was failing! But she would have it! She'd got her heart so +set on my graduating!" + +"Well, cheer up!" said Courtland, breezily. "Very likely your coming +will help her to rally again! What train do you want to get? Can I help +you any?" + +Wittemore lifted his head and looked about his room helplessly. It was +plain he was dazed. + +Courtland looked up the train, 'phoned for a taxi, went around the room +gathering up what he thought would be necessities for the journey, while +Wittemore was inadequately trying to get himself dressed. Suddenly +Wittemore stopped short in the midst of his ineffective efforts and drew +something out of his pocket with an exclamation of dismay. + +"I forgot about this medicine!" he gasped. "I'll have to wait for the +next train! Never mind that suit-case. I haven't time to wait for it! +I'll go right up to the station as soon as I land this." + +He seized his hat and would have gone out the door, but Courtland +grabbed him by the arm. + +"Hold on, old fellow! What's up? Surely you won't let anything keep you +from your mother now." + +"I must!" The words came with a moan of agony from the sensitive lips. +"It's medicine for a poor old woman down in the settlement district. +She's suffering horribly, and the doctor said she ought to have it +to-night, but there was no one else to get it for her, so I promised. +She's lying there waiting for it now, listening to every sound till I +come. Mother wouldn't want me to come to her, leaving a woman suffering +like that when I'd promised. I only came up here to get car fare so I +could get there sooner than walking. It took all the change I had to +get the prescription filled." + +"Darn you, Wittemore! What do you think I am? I'll take the medicine to +the old lady--ten old ladies if necessary! You get your train! There's +your suit-case. Have you got plenty of money?" + +A blank look came over the poor fellow's face. "If I could find Dick +Folsom I would have about enough. He owes me something. I did some +copying for him." + +Courtland's hand was in his pocket. He always had plenty of money about +him. That had never been one of his troubles. He had been to the bank +that day, fortunately. Now he thrust a handful of bills into Wittemore's +astonished hands. + +"There's fifty! Will that see you through? And I can send you more if +you need it. Just wire me how much you want." + +Wittemore stood looking down at the bills, and tears began to run down +his cheeks and splash upon them. Courtland felt his own eyes filling. +What a pitiful, lonely life this had been! And the fellows had let him +live that way! To think that a few paltry greenbacks should bring +_tears_! + +A few minutes later he stood looking after the whirling taxi as it bore +away Wittemore into the darkness of the evening street, his heart +pounding with several new emotions. Witless Abner for one! What a +surprise he had been! Would everybody you didn't fancy turn out that way +if you once got hold of the key of their souls and opened the door? + +Then the little wrapped bottle he held in his hand reminded him that he +must hasten if he would perform the mission left for him and return in +time for supper. There was something in his soul that would not let him +wait until after supper. So he plunged forward into the dusk and swung +himself on board a down-town car. + +He had no small trouble in finding the street, or rather court, in which +the old woman lived. + +He stumbled up the narrow staircase, lighting matches as he went, for +the place was dark as midnight. By the time he had climbed four flights +he was wondering what in thunder Wittemore came to places like this for? +Just to major in sociology? Didn't the nut know that he would never make +a success in a thing like that? What was he doing it for, anyway? Did he +expect to teach it? Poor fellow, he would never get a job! His looks +were against him. + +He knocked, with no result, at several doors for his old woman, but at +last a feeble voice answered: "Come in," and he entered a room entirely +dark. There didn't even appear to be a window, though he afterward +discovered one opening into an air-shaft. He stood hesitating within the +room, blinking and trying to see what was about him. + +"Be that you, Mr. Widymer?" asked a feeble voice from the opposite +corner. + +"Wittemore couldn't come. He had a telegram that his mother is dying and +he had to get the train. He sent me with the medicine." + +"Oh, now ain't that too bad!" said the voice. "His mother dyin'! An' to +think he should remember me an' my medicine! Well, now, what d' ye think +o' that?" + +"If you'll tell me where your gas is located I'll make a light for you," +said Courtland, politely. + +"Gas!" The old lady laughed aloud. "You won't find no such thing as gas +around this part o' town. There's about an inch of candle up on that +shelf. The distric' nurse left it there. I was thinkin' mebbe I'd get +Mr. Widymer to light it fer me when he come, an' then the night +wouldn't seem so long. It's awful, when you're sufferin' to have the +nights long." + +He groped till he found the shelf and lit the candle. By degrees the +flickering light revealed to him a small bare room with no furniture +except a bed, a chair, a small stove, and a table. A box in the corner +apparently contained a few worn garments. Some dishes and provisions +were huddled on the table. The walls and floor were bare. The district +nurse had done her level best to clear up, perhaps, but there had been +no attempt at good cheer. A desolate place indeed to spend a weary night +of suffering, even with an inch of candle sending weird flickerings +across the dusky ceiling. + +His impulse was to flee, but somehow he couldn't. "Here's this +medicine," he said. "Where do you want me to put it?" + +The woman motioned with a bony hand toward the table. "There's a cup and +spoon over there somewhere," she said, weakly. "If you could go get me a +pitcher of water and set it here on a chair I could manage to take it +durin' the night." + +He could see her better now, for the candle was flaring bravely. She was +little and old. Her thin, white hair straggled pitifully about her +small, wrinkled face, her eyes looked as if they had been burned almost +out by suffering. He saw she was drawn and quivering with pain, even now +as she tried to speak cheerfully. A something rebellious in him yielded +to the nerve of the little old woman, and he put down his impatience. +Sure he would get her the water! + +She explained that the hydrant was down on the street. He took the +doubtful-looking pitcher and stumbled out upon those narrow, rickety +stairs again. + +Way down to the street and back in that inky blackness! "Gosh! Thunder! +The deuce!" (He didn't allow himself any stronger words these days.) +Was this the kind of thing one was up against when one majored in +sociology? + +"I be'n thinkin'," said the old lady, quaveringly, when he stumbled, +blinking, back into the room again with the water, "ef you wouldn't mind +jest stirrin' up the fire an' makin' me a sup o' tea it would be real +heartenin'. I 'ain't et nothin' all day 'cause the pain was so bad, but +I think it'll ease up when I git a dose of the medicine, and p'r'aps I +might eat a bite." + +Courtland was appalled, but he went vigorously to work at that fire, +although he had never laid eyes on anything so primitive as that stove +in all his life. Presently, by using common sense, he had the thing +going and a forlorn little kettle steaming away cheerfully. + +The old woman cautioned him against using too much tea. There must be at +least three drawings left, and it would be a long time, perhaps, before +she got any more. Yes, there was a little mite of sugar in a paper on +the table. + +"There's some bread there, too--half a loaf 'most--but I guess it's +pretty dry. You don't know how to make toast I 'spose," she added, +wistfully. + +Courtland had never made toast in his life. He abominated it. She told +him how to hold it up on a fork in front of the coals and he managed to +do two very creditable slices. He had forgotten his own supper now. +There was something quite fresh and original in the whole experience. It +would have been interesting to have told the boys, if there weren't some +features about it that were almost sacred. He wondered what the gang +would say when he told them about Wittemore! Poor Wittemore! He wasn't +as nutty as they had thought! He had good in his heart! Courtland poured +the tea, but the sugar-paper had proved quite empty when he found it; +likewise a plate that had once contained butter. + +The toast and tea, however, seemed to be quite acceptable without its +usual accessories. "Now," he said, with a long breath, "is there +anything else you'd like done before I go?--for I must be getting back +to college." + +"If you just wouldn't mind makin' a prayer before you go," responded the +little old woman, wistfully, her feeble chin trembling with her +boldness. "I be'n wantin' a prayer this long while, but I don't seem to +have good luck. The distric' nurse, she ain't the prayin' kind; an' Mr. +Widymer he says he don't pray no more since he's come to college. He +said it so kind of ashamed-like I didn't like to bother him again; and +there ain't anybody else come my way for three months back. You seem so +kind-spoken and pleasant-like as if you might be related to a preacher, +and I thought mebbe you wouldn't mind just makin' a little short prayer +'fore you go. I dunno how long it'll be 'fore I'll get a chancet of one +again." + +Courtland stood rooted to the floor in dismay. "Why,--I--" he began, +growing red enough to be apparent even by the flickering inch of candle. + +Suddenly the room which had been so empty seemed to grow hushed and full +of breathless spectators, and One, waiting to hear what he would +say--whether he would respond to the call. Before his alarmed vision +there came the memory of that wall of smoke which had shut him in, and +that Voice calling him by name and saying, "You shall be shown." Was +this what the Presence asked of him? Was this that mysterious "doing His +will" that the Book spoke about, which should presently give the +assurance? + +He saw the old woman's face glow with eagerness. It was as if the +Presence waited through her eyes to see what he would do. Something +leaped up in his heart in response and he took a step forward and +dropped upon his knees beside the old wooden chair. + +"I'm afraid I shall make a worse bungle of it than I did of the toast," +he said, as he saw her folding her hands with delight. She smiled with +serene assurance, and he closed his eyes and wondered where were words +to use in such a time as this. + +"Now I lay me" would not do for the poor creature who had been lying +down many days and might never rise again; "Matthew, Mark, Luke, and +John" was more appropriate, but there was that uncertainty about it +being a prayer at all. "Our Father"--Ah! He caught at the words and +spoke them. + +"Our Father which art"--but what came next? That was where he had always +had to be prompted, and now, in his confusion, all the rest had fled +from his mind. But now it seemed that with the words the Presence had +drawn near, was standing close by the chair. His mind leaped forth with +the consciousness that he might talk with this invisible Presence, +unfold his own perplexities and restlessness, and perhaps find out what +it all meant. With scarcely a hesitation his clear voice went on eagerly +now: + +"Our Father, which art in this room, show us how to find and know You." +He could not remember afterward what else he said. Something about his +own longing, and the old woman's pain and loneliness. He was not sure if +it was really a prayer at all, that halting petition. + +He got up from his knees greatly embarrassed; but more by the Presence +to whom he had dared to speak thus for the first time on his own +account, than by the little old woman, whose hands were still clasped in +reverence, and down whose withered cheeks the tears were coursing. The +smoky walls, the cracked stove, the stack of discouraged dishes, seemed +to fade away, and the room was somehow full of glory. He was choking +with the oppression of it, and with a kind of sinking at heart lest the +prayer had been only an outbreak of his own desire to know what this +Force or Presence was that seemed dominating him so fully these days. + +The old woman was blessing him. She held out her hands like a patriarch: +"Oh, that was such a beautiful prayer! I'll not forget the words all the +night through and for many a night. The Lord Himself bless ye! Are you a +preacher's son, perhaps?" + +He shook his head; but he had no smile upon his face at the thought, as +he might have had five minutes before. + +"Well, then, yer surely goin' to be a preacher yerself?" + +"No," he said; then added, thoughtfully, "not that I know of." The +suggestion struck him curiously as one who hears for the first time that +there is a possibility that he may be selected for some important +foreign embassy. + +"Well, then, yer surely a blessed child o' God Himself, anyhow, and this +is a great night fer this poor little room to be honored with a pretty +prayer like that!" + +Scarcely hearing her, he said good night and went thoughtfully down the +dark stairs, a strange sense of peace upon him. Curiously enough, while +he felt that he had left the Presence up in that little dismal room, it +yet seemed to be moving beside him, touching his soul, breathing upon +him! He was so engrossed with this thought that it never occurred to him +that he had given the old woman every cent he had in his pocket. He had +forgotten entirely that he had been hungry. A great world-wonder was +moving within his spirit. He could not understand himself. He went back +with awe over the last few minutes and the strange new world into which +he had been so suddenly plunged. + +Scarcely noticing how he went, he got himself out of the intricacies of +the court into a neighborhood a shade less poverty-stricken, and stood +upon the corner of a busy thoroughfare in an utterly unfamiliar +district, pausing to look about him and discover his whereabouts. + +A little child with long, fair hair rushed suddenly out of a door on the +side-street, eagerly pulling a ragged sweater about his small shoulders, +and stood upon the curbstone, breathlessly watching the coming trolley. +The car stopped, and a young girl in shabby clothes got out and came +toward him. + +"Bonnie! Bonnie! I've got supper all ready!" the child called in a +clear, bird-like voice, and darted from the curb across the narrow +side-street to meet her. + +Courtland, standing on the corner in front of the trolley, saw, too +late, the swift-coming automobile bearing down upon the child, its +head-lights flaring on the golden hair. With a cry the young man sprang +to the rescue, but the child was already crumpled up like a lily and the +relentless car speeding onward, its chauffeur darting frightened, +cowardly glances behind him as he plunged his machine forward over the +track, almost in the teeth of the up-trolley. When the trolley was +passed there was no sign of the car, even if any one had had time to +look for it. There in the road lay the little, broken child, the long +hair spilling like gold over the pavement, the little, still, white face +looking up like a flower that has suddenly been torn from the plant. + +The girl was beside the child almost instantly, dropping all her +parcels; gathering him into her slender arms, calling in frightened, +tender tones: + +"Aleck! Darling! My little darling!" + +The child was too heavy for her to lift, and she tottered as she tried +to rise, lifting a frightened face to Courtland. + +"Let me take him," said the young man, stooping and gathering him gently +from her. "Now show me where!" + + + + +CHAPTER VI + + +Into the narrow brick house from which he had run forth so joyously but +a few short minutes before, they carried him, up two flights of steep +stairs to a tiny room at the back of the hall. + +The gas was burning brightly at one side, and something that sent forth +a savory odor was bubbling on a little two-burner gas-stove. Courtland +was hungry, and it struck his nostrils pleasantly as the door swung +open, revealing a tiny table covered with a white cloth, set for two. +There was a window curtained with white, and a red geranium on the sill. + +The girl entered ahead of him, sweeping back a bright chintz curtain +that divided the tiny room, and drew forth a child's cot bed. Courtland +gently laid down the little inert figure. The girl was on her knees +beside the child at once, a bottle in her hand. She was dropping a few +drops in a teaspoon and forcing them between the child's lips. + +"Will you please get a doctor, quick," she said, in a strained, quiet +voice. "No, I don't know who; I've only been here two weeks. We're +strangers! Bring somebody! anybody! quick!" + +Courtland was back in a minute with a weary, seedy-looking doctor who +just fitted the street. All the way he was seeing the beautiful agony of +the girl's face. It was as if her suffering had been his own. Somehow he +could not bear to think what might be coming. The little form had lain +so limply in his arms! + +The girl had undressed the child and put him between the sheets. He was +more like a broken lily than ever. The long dark lashes lay still upon +the cheeks. + +Courtland stood back in the doorway, looking at the small table set for +two, and pushed to the wall now to make room for the cot. There was just +barely room to walk around between the things. He could almost hear the +echo of that happy, childish voice calling down in the street: "Bonnie! +Bonnie! I've got supper all ready!" + +He wondered if the girl had heard. And there was the supper! Two +blue-and-white bowls set daintily on two blue-and-white plates, +obviously for the something-hot that was cooking over the flame, two +bits of bread-and-butter plates to match; two glasses of milk; a plate +of bread, another of butter; and by way of dessert an apple cut in half, +the core dug out and the hollow filled with sugar. He took in the +details tenderly, as if they had been a word-picture by Wells or Shaw in +his contemporary-prose class at college. They seemed to burn themselves +into his memory. + +"Go over to my house and ask my wife to give you my battery!" commanded +the doctor in a low growl. + +Courtland was off again, glad of something to do. He carried the memory +of the doctor's grizzled face lying on the little bared breast of the +child, listening for the heart-beats, and the beautiful girl's anguish +as she stood above them. He pushed aside the curious throng that had +gathered around the door and were looking up the stairs, whispering +dolefully and shaking heads: + +"An' he was so purty, and so cheery, bless his heart!" wailed one woman. +"He always had his bit of a word an' a smile!" + +"Aw! Them ottymobbeels!" he heard another murmur. "Ridin' along in +their glory! They'll be a day o' reckonin' fer them rich folks what +rides in 'em! They'll hev to walk! They may even have to lie abed an' +hev their wages get behind!" + +The whole weight of the sorrow of the world seemed suddenly pressing +upon Courtland's heart. How had he been thus unexpectedly taken out of +the pleasant monotony of the university and whirled into this vortex of +anguish! Why had it been? Was it just happen that he should have been +the one to have gone to the old woman and made her toast, and then been +called upon to pray, instead of Tennelly or Bill Ward or any of the +other fellows? And after that was it again just coincidence that he +should have happened to stand at that corner at that particular moment +and been one to participate in this later tragedy? Oh, the beautiful +face of the suffering girl! Fear and sorrow and suffering and death +everywhere! Wittemore hurrying to his dying mother! The old woman lying +on her bed of pain! But there had been glory in that dark old room when +he left it, the glory of a Presence! Ah! Where was the Presence now? How +could _He_ bear all this? The Christ! And could He not change it if He +would--make the world a happy place instead of this dark and dreadful +thing that it was? For the first time the horror of war surged over his +soul in its blackness. Men dying in the trenches! Women weeping at home +for them! Others suffering and bleeding to death out in the open, the +cold or the storm! How could God let it all be? His wondering soul cried +out, "Lord, if Thou hadst been here!" + +It was the old question that used to come up in the class-room, yet now, +strangely enough, he began to feel there was an answer to it somewhere; +an answer wherewith he would be satisfied when he found it. + +It seemed an eternity of thought through which he passed as he crossed +and recrossed the street and was back in the tiny room where life waited +on death. It was another eternity while the doctor worked again over the +boy. But at last he stood back, shaking his head and blinking the tears +from his kind, tired, blue eyes. + +"It's no use," he said, gruffly, turning his head away. "He's gone!" + +It was then the girl brushed him aside and sank to her knees beside the +little cot. + +"Aleck! Aleck! Darling brother! Can't you speak to your Bonnie just once +more before you go?" she called, clearly, distinctly, as if to a child +who was far on his way hence. And then once again pitifully: + +"Oh, darling brother! You're all I had left! Let me hear you call me +Bonnie just once more before you go to mother!" + +But the childish lips lay still and white, and the lips of the girl +looking down upon the little quiet form grew whiter also as she looked. + +"Oh, my darling! You have gone! You will never call me any more! And you +were all I had! Good-by!" And she stooped and kissed the boy's lips with +a finality that wrung the hearts of the onlookers. They knew she had +forgotten their presence. + +The doctor stepped into the hall. The tears were rolling down his +cheeks. "It's tough luck!" he said in an undertone to Courtland. + +The young man turned away to hide the sudden convulsion that seemed +coming to his own face. Then he heard the girl's voice again, lower, as +if she were talking confidentially to one who stood close at hand. + +"Oh Christ, will You go with little Aleck and see that he is not afraid +till he gets safe home? And will You help me somehow to bear his leaving +me alone?" + +The doctor was wiping away the tears with a great, soiled handkerchief. +The girl rose calmly, white and controlled, facing them as if she +remembered them for the first time. + +"I want to thank you for all you've done!" she said. "I'm only a +stranger and you've been very kind. But now it's over and I will not +hinder you any longer." + +She wanted to be alone. They could see that. Yet it wrung their hearts +to leave her so. + +"You will want to make some arrangements," growled the doctor. + +"Oh! I had forgotten!" The girl's hand fluttered to her heart and her +breath gave a quick catch. "It will have to be very simple," she said, +looking from one to another of them anxiously. "I haven't much money +left. Perhaps I could sell something!" She looked desperately around on +her little possessions. "This little cot! It is new just two weeks ago +and he will not need it any more. It cost twenty dollars!" + +Courtland stepped gravely toward her. "Suppose you leave that to me," he +said, gently. "I think I know a place where they would look after the +matter for you reasonably and let you pay later or take the cot in +exchange, you know, anything you wish. Would you like me to arrange the +matter for you?" + +"Oh, if you would!" said the girl, wearily. "But it is asking a great +deal of a stranger." + +"It's nothing. I can look after it on my way home. Just tell me what you +wish." + +"Oh, the very simplest there is!"--she caught her breath--"white if +possible, unless it's more expensive. But it doesn't matter, anyway, +now. There'll have to be a _place_ somewhere, too. Some time I will take +him back and let him lie by father and mother. I can't now. It's two +hundred miles away. But there won't need to be but one carriage. There's +only me to go." + +He looked his compassion, but only asked, "Is there anything else?" + +"Any special clergyman?" asked the doctor, kindly. + +She shook her head sadly. "We hadn't been to church yet. I was too +tired. If you know of a minister who would come." + +"It's tough luck," said the doctor again as they went down-stairs +together, "to see a nice, likely little chap like that taken away so. +And I operated this afternoon on a hardened old reprobate around the +corner here, that's played the devil to everybody, and he's going to +pull through! It does seem strange. It ain't the way I should run the +universe, but I'm thundering glad I 'ain't got the job!" + +Courtland walked on through the busy streets, thinking that sentence +over. He had a dim current of inner perception that suggested there +might be another way of looking at the matter; a possibility that the +wicked old reprobate had yet something more to learn of life before he +went beyond its choices and opportunities; a conviction that if he were +called to go he had rather be the little child in his purity than the +old man in his deviltry. + +The sudden cutting down of this lovely child had startled and shocked +him. The bereavement of the girl cut him to the heart as if she had +belonged to him. It brought the other world so close. It made what had +hitherto seemed the big worth-while things of life look so small and +petty, so ephemeral! Had he always been giving himself utterly to things +that did not count, or was this a perspective all out of proportion, a +distorted brain again, through nervous strain and over-exertion? + +He came presently to a well-known undertaker's, and, stepping in, felt +more than ever the borderland-sense. In this silent house of sadness men +stepped quietly, gravely, decorously, and served you with courteous +sympathy. What was the name of the man who rowed his boat on the River +Styx? Yes! Charon! These wise-eyed grave men who continually plied their +oars between two worlds! How did they look on life? Were they hardened +to their task? Was their gentle gravity all acting? Did earthly things +appeal to them? How could they bear it all, this continual settled +sadness about the place! The awful hush! The tear-stained faces! The +heavy breath of flowers! Not all the lofty marble arches, and beauty of +surroundings, not all the soft music of hidden choirs and distant organ +up in one of the halls above where a service was even then in progress, +could take away the fact of death; the settled, final fact of death! One +moment here upon the curbstone, golden hair afloat, eyes alight with +joyous greeting, voice of laughter; the next gone, irrevocably gone, +"and the place thereof shall know it no more," Where had he heard those +words? Strange, sad house of death! Strange, uncertain life to live. +Resurrection! Where had he caught that word in carven letters twined +among lilies above the marble staircase? Resurrection! Yes, there would +need to be if there was to be any hope ever in this world! + +It was a strange duty he had to perform, strange indeed for a college +boy to whom death had never come very close since he had been old enough +to understand. It came to him to wonder what the fellows would say If +they could see him here. He felt half a grudge toward Wittemore for +having let him in for all this. Poor Wittemore! By this time to-morrow +night Wittemore might be doing this same service for his own mother! + +Death! Death! Death! Everywhere! It seemed as if everybody was dying! + +He made selections with a memory of the girl's beautiful, refined face. +He chose simple things and everything all white. He asked about details +and gave directions so that everything would move in an orderly manner, +with nothing to annoy. He even thought to order flowers, valley-lilies, +and some bright rosebuds, not too many to make her feel under +obligation. He took out his check-book and paid for the whole thing, +arranging that the girl should not know how much it all really cost, and +that a small sum might be paid by her as she was able, to be forwarded +by the firm to him; this to make her feel entirely comfortable about it +all. + +As he went out into the street again a great sense of weariness came +over him. He had lived--how many years had he lived!--in experience +since he left the university at half past five o'clock? How little his +past life looked to him as he surveyed it from the height he had just +climbed. Life! Life was not all basket-ball, and football, and dances, +and fellowships, and frats. and honors! Life was full of sorrow, and +bounded on every hand by death! The walk from where he was up to the +university looked like an impossibility. There was a store up in the +next block where he was known. He could get a check cashed and ride. + +He found himself studying the faces of the people in the car in a new +light. Were they all acquainted with sorrow? Yes, there were more or +less lines of hardship, or anxiety, or disappointment on all the older +faces. And the younger ones! Did all their bright smiles and eagerness +have to be frozen on their lips by grief some day? When you came to +think of it life was a terrible thing! Take that girl now, Miss +Brentwood--Miss R.B. Brentwood the address had been. The name her +brother had called her fitted better, "Bonnie." What would life mean to +her now? + +It occurred to him to wonder if there would be any such sorrow and +emptiness of life for any one if he were gone. The fellows would feel +badly, of course. There would be speeches and resolutions, a lot of +black drapery, and all that sort of thing in college, but what did that +amount to? His father? Oh yes, of course he would feel it some, but he +had been separated from his father for years, except for brief visits in +vacations. His father had married a young wife and there were three +young children. No, his father would not miss him much! + +He swung off the car in front of the university and entered the +dormitory at last, too engrossed in his strange new thoughts to remember +that he had had no supper. + +"Hello, Court! Where the deuce have you been? We've looked everywhere +for you. You didn't come to the dining-hall! What's wrong with you? Come +in here!" + +It was Tennelly who hauled him into Bill Ward's room and thumped him +into a big leather study-chair. + +"Why, man, you're all in! Give an account of yourself!" he said, tossing +his hat over to Bill Ward, and pulling away at his mackinaw. + +"P'raps he's in love!" suggested Pat from the couch where he was puffing +away at his pipe. + +"P'raps he's flunked his Greek exam.," suggested Bill Ward, with a grin. + +"He looks as if he'd seen a ghost!" said Tennelly, eying him critically. + +"Cut it out, boys," said Courtland, with a weary smile. "I've seen +enough. Wittemore's called home. His mother's dying. I went an errand +for him down in some of his slums and on the way back I just saw a +little kid get killed. Pretty little kid, too, with long curls!" + +"_Good night nurse!_" said Pat from his couch. "Say, that is going +some!" + +"Ferget it!" ejaculated Bill Ward, coming to his feet. "Had your supper +yet, Court?" + +Courtland shook his head. + +"Well, just you sit still there while I run down to the pie-shop and see +what I can get." + +Bill seized his cap and mackinaw and went roaring off down the hall. +Courtland's eyes were closed. He hadn't felt so tired since he left the +hospital. His mind was still grappling with the questions that his last +two hours had flung at him to be answered. + +Pat sat up and put away his pipe. He made silent motions to Tennelly, +and the two picked up the unresisting Courtland and laid him on the +couch. Pat's face was unusually sober as he gently put a pillow under +his friend's head. Courtland opened his eyes and smiled. + +"Thanks, old man," he said, and gripped his hand understandingly. There +was something in Pat's face he had never noticed there before. As he +dropped his eyelids shut he had an odd sense that Pat and Tennelly and +the Presence were all taking care of him. A sick fancy of worn-out +nerves, of course, but pleasant all the same. + +Down the hall a nasal voice twanged at the telephone, shouting each +answer as though to make the whole dormitory hear. Then loud steps, a +thump on the door as it was flung open: + +"Court here? A girl on the 'phone wants you, Court. Says her name is +Miss Gila Dare." + + + + +CHAPTER VII + + +The messenger had imitated Gila Dare's petulant childish accent to +perfection. At another time the three young men would have shouted over +it. Now they looked at one another in silence. + +"Sha'n't I go and get a message for you, Court?" asked Tennelly. For +Courtland's face was ashen gray, and the memory of it lying in the +hospital was too recent for him not to feel anxious about his friend. He +had only been permitted to return to college so quickly under strict +orders not to overdo. + +"No, I guess I'll go," said Courtland, indifferently, rising as he +spoke. + +They listened anxiously to his tones as he conversed over the 'phone. + +"Hello!... Yes!... Yes!... Oh! Good evening!... Yes.... Yes.... +No-o-o--it won't be possible!... No, I've just come in and I'm pretty +well 'all in.' I have a lot of studying yet to do to-night. This is +exam. week, you know.... No, I'm afraid not to-morrow night either.... +No, there wouldn't be a chance till the end of the week, anyway.... Why, +yes, I think I could by that time, perhaps--Friday night? I'll let you +know.... Thank you. Good-by!" + +The listeners looked from one to the other knowingly. This was not the +tone of one who had "fallen" very far for a girl. They knew the signs. +He had actually been indifferent! Gila Dare had not conquered him so +easily as Bill Ward had thought she would. And the strange thing about +it was that there was something in the atmosphere that night that made +them feel they weren't so very sorry. Somehow Courtland seemed unusually +close and dear to them just then. For the moment they seemed to have +perceived something fine and high in his mood that held them in awe. +They did not "kid" him when he came back to them, as they would +ordinarily have done. They received him gravely, talking together about +the examination on the morrow, as if they had scarcely noticed his +going. + +Bill Ward came back presently with his arms laden with bundles. He +looked keenly at the tired face on the couch, but whistled a merry tune +to let on he had not noticed anything amiss. + +"Got a great spread this time," he declared, setting forth his spoils on +two chairs alongside the couch. "Hot oyster stew! Sit by, fellows! Cooky +wrapped it up in newspapers to keep it from getting cold. There's bowls +and spoons in the basket. Nelly, get 'em out! Here, Pat, take that +bundle out from under my arm. That's celery and crackers. Here's a pail +of hot coffee with cream and sugar all mixed. Lookout, Pat! That's +jelly-roll and chocolate éclairs! Don't mash it, you chump! Why didn't +you come with me?" + +It was pleasant to lie there in that warm, comfortable room with the +familiar sights all around, the pennants, the pictures, the wild +arrangements of photographs and trophies, and hear the fellows talking +of homely things; to be fed with food that made him begin to feel like +himself again; to have their kindly fellowship all about him like a +protection. + +They were grand fellows, each one of them; full of faults, too, but true +at heart. Life-friends he knew, for there was a cord binding their four +hearts together with a little tenderer tie than bound them to any of +the other fellows. They had been together all the four years, and if all +went well, and Bill Ward didn't flunk anything more, they would all four +go out into the world as men together at the end of that year. + +He lay looking at them quietly as they talked, telling little foolish +jokes, laughing immoderately, asking one another anxiously about a tough +question in the exam. that morning, and what the prospects were for good +marks for them all. It was all so familiar and beloved! So different +from those last three hours amid suffering and sorrow! It was all so +natural and happy, as if there were no sorrow in the world. As if this +life would never end! But he hadn't yet got over that feeling of the +Presence in the room with them, standing somewhere behind Pat and +Tennelly. He liked to feel the consciousness of it in the back of his +mind. What would the fellows say if he should try to tell them about it? +They would think he was crazy. He had a feeling that he would like to be +the means of making them understand. + +He told them gradually about Wittemore; not as he might have told them +directly after seeing him off, nor quite as he had expected to tell +them. It was a little more full; it gave them a little kinder, keener +insight into a character that they had hitherto almost entirely +condemned and ignored. They did not laugh! It was a revelation to them. +They listened with respect for the student who had gone to his mother's +dying bed. They had all been long enough away from their own mothers to +have come to feel the worth of a mother quite touchingly. Moreover, they +perceived that Courtland had seen more in Wittemore than they had ever +seen. He had a side, it appeared, that was wholly unselfish, almost +heroic in a way. They had never suspected him of it before. His long, +horse-like face, with the little light china-blue eyes always anxious +and startled, appeared to their imaginations with a new appeal. When he +returned they would be kinder to him. + +"Poor old Abner!" said Tennelly, thoughtfully. "Who would have thought +it! Carrying medicine to an old bedridden crone! And was going to stick +to his job even when his mother was dying! He's got some stuff in him, +after all, if he hasn't much sense!" + +Courtland was led to go on talking about the old woman, picturing in a +few words the room where she lay, the pitifully few comforts, the inch +of candle, the tea without sugar or milk, the butterless toast! He told +it quite simply, utterly unaware, that he had told how he had made the +toast. They listened without comment as to one who had been set apart to +a duty undesirable but greatly to be admired. They listened as to one +who had passed through a great experience like being shut up in a mine +for days, or passing unharmed through a polar expedition or a lonely +desert wandering. + +Afterward he spoke again about the child, telling briefly how he was +killed. He barely mentioned the sister, and he told nothing whatever of +his own part in it all. They looked at him curiously, as if they would +read between the lines, for they saw he was deeply stirred, but they +asked nothing. Presently they all fell to studying, Courtland with the +rest, for the morrow's work was important. + +They made him stay on the couch and swung the light around where he +could see. They broke into song or jokes now and then as was their wont, +but over it all was a hush and a quiet sympathy that each one felt, and +none more deeply than Courtland. There had never been a time during his +college life when he had felt so keenly and so finely bound to his +companions as this night; when he went at last to his own room across +the hall, he looked about on its comforts and luxuries with a kind of +wonder that he had been selected for all this, while that poor woman +down in the tenement had to live with bare walls and not even a whole +candle! His pleasant room seemed so satisfying! And there was that girl +alone in her tiny room with so little about her to make life easy, and +her beautiful dead lying stricken before her eyes! He could not get away +from the thought of her when he lay down to rest, and in his dreams her +face of sorrow haunted him. + +It was not until after the examinations the next afternoon that he +realized that he was going to her again; had been going all the time, +indeed! Of course he had been but a passing stranger, but she had no +one, and he could not let her be in need of a friend. Perhaps--Why, he +surely _had_ a responsibility for her when he was the only one who had +happened by and there was no one else! + +She opened the door at his knock and he was startled by the look of her +face, so drawn and white, with great dark circles under her eyes. She +had not slept nor wept since he saw her, he felt sure. How long could +human frame endure like that? The strain was terrible for one so young +and frail. He found himself longing to take her away somewhere out of it +all. Yet, of course, there was nothing he could do. + +She was full of quiet gratitude for what he had done. She said she knew +that without his kind intercession she would have had to pay far more. +She had been through it too recently before and understood that such +things were expensive. He rejoiced that she judged only by the standards +of a small country place, and knew not city prices, and therefore little +suspected how very much he had done to smooth her way. He told her of +the preacher he had secured that afternoon by telephone--a plain, kindly +man who had been recommended by the undertaker. She thanked him again, +apathetically, as if she had not the heart to feel anything keenly, but +was grateful to him as could be. + +"Have you had anything to eat to-day?" he asked, suddenly. + +She shook her head. "I could not eat! It would choke me!" + +"But you must eat, you know," he said, gently, as if she were a little +child. "You cannot bear all this. You will break down." + +"Oh, what does that matter now?" she asked, pitifully, with her hand +fluttering to her heart again and a wave of anguish passing over her +white face. + +"But we must live, mustn't we, until we are called to come away?" + +He asked the question shyly. He did not understand where the thought or +words came from. He was not conscious of evolving them from his own +mind. + +She looked at him in sad acquiescence. "I know," she said, like a +submissive child; "and I'll try, pretty soon. But I can't just yet. It +would choke me!" + +Even while they were talking a door in the front of the hall opened, and +an untidy person with unkempt hair appeared, asking the girl to come +into her room and have a bite. When she shook her head the woman said: + +"Well, then, child, go out a few minutes and get something. You'll not +last the night through at this rate! Go, and I'll stay here until you +come back." + +Courtland persuaded her at last to come with him down to a little +restaurant around the corner and have a cup of tea--just a cup of +tea--and with a weary look, as if she thought it was the quickest way to +get rid of their kindness, she yielded. He thought he never would +forget the look she cast behind her at the little, white, sheet-covered +cot as she passed out the door. + +It was an odd experience, taking this stranger to supper. He had met all +sorts of girls during his young career and had many different +experiences, but none like this. Yet he was so filled with sympathy and +sorrow for her that it was not embarrassing. She did not seem like an +ordinary girl. She was set apart by her sorrow. He ordered the daintiest +and most attractive that the plain menu of the little restaurant +afforded, but he only succeeded in getting her to eat a few mouthfuls +and drink a cup of tea. Nevertheless it did her good. He could see a +faint color coming into her cheeks. He spoke of college and his +examinations, as if she knew all about him. He thought it might give her +a more secure feeling if she knew he was a student at the university. +But she took it all as a matter that concerned her not in the least, +with that air of aloofness of spirit that showed him he was not touching +more than the surface of her being. Her real self was just bearing it to +get rid of him and get back to her sorrow alone. + +Before he left her he was moved to tell her how he had seen the little +child coming out to greet her. He thought perhaps she had not heard +those last joyous words of greeting and would want to know. + +The light leaped up in her face in a vivid flame for the first time, her +eyes shone with the tears that sprang mercifully into them, and her lips +trembled. She put out a little cold hand and touched his coat-sleeve: + +"Oh, I thank you! That is precious," she said, and, turning aside her +head, she wept. It was a relief to see the strained look break and the +healing tears flow. He left her then, but he could not get away from the +thought of her all night with her sorrow alone. It was as if he had to +bear it with her because there was no one else to do so. + +When he left her he went and looked up the minister with whom he had +made brief arrangements over the telephone the night before. He had to +confess to himself that his real object in coming had been to make sure +the man was "good enough for the job." + +The Rev. John Burns was small, sandy, homely, with kind, twinkling +red-brown eyes, a wide mouth, an ugly nose, and freckles; but he had a +smile that was cordiality itself, and a great big paw that gripped a +real welcome. + +Courtland explained that he had come about the funeral. He felt +embarrassed because there really wasn't anything to say. He had given +all necessary details over the 'phone, but the kind, attentive eyes were +sympathetic, and he found himself telling the story of the tragedy. He +liked the way the minister received it. It was the way a minister should +be to people in their need. + +"You are a relative?" asked Burns as Courtland got up to go. + +"No." Then he hesitated. For some reason he could not bear to say he was +an utter stranger to the lonely girl. "No, only a friend," he finished. +"A--a--kind of neighbor!" he added, lamely, trying to explain the +situation to himself. + +"A sort of a Christ-friend, perhaps?" The kind, red-brown eyes seemed to +search into his soul and understand. The homely, freckled face lit with +a rare smile. + +Courtland gave the man a keen, hungry look. He felt strangely drawn to +him and a quick light of brotherhood darted into his eyes. His fingers +answered the friendly grasp of the other as they parted, and he went +out feeling that somehow _there_ was a man that was different; a man he +would like to know better and study carefully. That man must have had +some experience! He must know Christ! Had he ever felt the Presence? he +wondered. He would like to ask him, but then how would one go about it +to talk of a thing like that? + +He threw himself into his studies again when he got back to the +university, but in spite of himself his mind kept wandering back to +strange questions. He wished Wittemore would come back and say his +mother was better! It was Wittemore that had started all this queer +side-track of philanthropy; that had sent him off to make toast for old +women and manage funerals for strange young girls. If Wittemore would +get back to his classes and plod off to his slums every day, with his +long horse-like face and his scared little apologetic smile, why, +perhaps his own mind would assume its normal bent and let him get at his +work. And with that he sat down and wrote a letter to Wittemore, brief, +sympathetic, inquiring, offering any help that might be required. When +it was finished he felt better and studied half the night. + +He knew the next morning as soon as he woke up that he would have to go +to that funeral. He hated funerals, and this would be a terrible ordeal, +he was sure. Such a pitiful little funeral, and he an utter stranger, +too! But the necessity presented itself like a command from an unseen +force, and he knew that it was required of him--that he would never feel +quite satisfied with himself if he shirked it. + +Fortunately his examination began at eight o'clock. If he worked fast he +could get done in plenty of time, for the hour of the funeral had been +set for eleven o'clock. + +Tennelly and Pat stood and gazed after him aghast when, on coming out +of the class-room where he had taken his examination, he declined their +suggestion that they all go down to the river skating for an hour and +try to get their blood up after the strain so they could study better +after lunch. + +"I can't! I'm going to that kid's funeral!" he said, and strode up the +stairs with his arms full of books. + +"Good night!" said Pat, in dismay. + +"Morbid!" ejaculated Tennelly. "Say, Pat, I don't guess we better let +him go. He'll come home 'all in' again." + +But when they found Bill Ward and went up to try and stop Courtland he +had departed by the other door and was half-way down the campus. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + + +It was all very neat and beautiful in the little, third-story back room. +The gas-stove and other things had disappeared behind the calico +curtain. Before it stood the small white coffin, with the beautiful boy +lying as if he were asleep, the roses strewn about him, and a mass of +valley-lilies at his feet. The girl, white and calm, sat beside him, one +hand resting across the casket protectingly. + +Three or four women from the house had brought in chairs, and some of +the neighbors had slipped in shyly, half in sympathy, half in curiosity. +The minister was already there, talking in a low tone in the hall with +the undertaker. + +The girl looked up when Courtland entered and thanked him for the +flowers with her eyes. The women huddled in the back of the room watched +him curiously and let no flicker of an eyelash pass without notice. They +were like hungry birds ready to pounce on any scrap of sentiment or +suspicion that might be dropped in their sight. The doctor came stolidly +in and went and stood beside the coffin, looking down for a minute as if +he were burning remedial incense in his soul, and then turned away with +the frank tears running down his tired, honest face. He sat down beside +Courtland. The stillness and the strangeness in the bare room were +awful. It was only bearable to look toward the peace in the small, +white, dead face; for the calm on the face of the sister cut one to the +heart. + +The minister and the undertaker stepped into the room, and then it +seemed to Courtland as if One other entered also. He did not look up to +see. He merely had that sense of Another. It stayed with him and +relieved the tension in the room. + +Then the voice of the minister, clear, gentle, ringing, triumphant, +stole through the room, and out into the hall, even down through the +landings, where were huddled some of the neighbors come to listen: + +"And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me: Write--Blessed are the +dead which die in the Lord from henceforth ... But I would not have you +to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye +sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that +Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will +God bring with Him.... For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven +with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trump of God: +and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we which are alive and +remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the +Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore +comfort one another with these words." + +Courtland listened attentively. The words were utterly new to him. If he +had heard them before on the few occasions when he had perforce attended +funerals, they had never entered into his consciousness. They seemed +almost uncannily to answer the desolating questions of his heart. He +listened with painful attention. Most remarkable statements! + +"But now is Christ risen from the dead and become the first fruits of +them that slept!" + +He glanced instinctively around where it seemed that the Presence had +entered. He could not get away from the feeling that He stood just to +the left of the minister there, with bowed head, like a great one whose +errand and presence there were about to be explained. It was as if He +had come to take the little child away with Him. Courtland remembered +the girl's prayer the night the child died: "Go with little Aleck and +see that he is not afraid till he gets safe home." He glanced up at her +calm, tearless face. She was drinking in the words. They seemed to give +strength under her pitiless sorrow. + +"The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death!" + +Courtland heard the words with a shock of relief. Here had he been under +the depression of death--death everywhere and always! threatening every +life and every project of earth! And now this confident sentence looking +toward a time when death should be no more! It came as something utterly +new and original that there would be a time when no one should, ever +fear death again because death would be put out of existence! He had to +look at it and face it as something to be recognized and thought out, a +thing that was presenting itself for him to believe; as if the Christ +Himself were having it read just for him alone to hear; as if those +huddled curious women and the tearful doctor, and the calm-faced girl +were not there at all, only Christ and the little dead child waiting to +walk into another, realer life, and Courtland, there on the threshold of +another world to learn a great truth. + +"But some will say, How are the dead raised up? And with what body do +they come?" + +Courtland looked up, startled. The very thought that was dawning in his +mind! The child, presently to lie under the ground and return to dust! +How could there be a resurrection of that little body after years, +perhaps? How could there be hope for that wide-eyed sister with the +sorrowful soul? + +"Thou fool, that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall +be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain." + +He listened through the wonderful nature-picture, dimly understanding +the reasoning; on to the words: + +"So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption, it +is raised in incorruption; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in +glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a +natural body, it is raised a spiritual body." + +He looked at the child lying there among the lilies, those spirituelle +blossoms so ethereal and perfect that they almost seem to have a soul. +Was that the thought, then? The little child laid under the earth like +the bulb of the lily, to see corruption and decay, would come forth, +even as the spirit of the lilies came up out of the darkness and mold +and decay of their tomb under-ground, and burst into the glory of their +beautiful blossoms, the perfection of what the ugly brown bulb was meant +to be. All the possibilities come to perfection! no accident or stain of +sin to mar the glorified character! a perfect soul in a perfect, +glorified body! + +The wonder of the thought swelled within him, and sent a thrill through +him with the minister's voice as he read: + +"So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this +mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the +saying that is written: Death is swallowed up in victory. O death where +is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? Thanks be to God, which +giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!" + +If Courtland had been asked before he came there whether he believed in +a resurrection he might have given a doubtful answer. During the four +years of his college life he had passed through various stages of +unbelief along with a good many of his fellow-students. With them he had +made out a sort of philosophy of life which he supposed he believed. It +was founded partly upon what he _wanted_ to believe and partly upon what +he could _not_ believe, because he had never been able to reason it out. +Up to this time even his experience with the Presence had not touched +this philosophy of his which he had constructed like a fancy scaffolding +inside of which he expected to fashion his life. The Presence and his +partial surrender to its influence had been a matter of the heart, and +until now it had not occurred to him that his allegiance to the Christ +was incompatible with his former philosophy. The doctrine of the +resurrection suddenly stood before him as something that must be +accepted along with the Christ, or the Christ was not the Christ! Christ +_was_ the resurrection if He was at all! Christ _had_ to be that, _had_ +to have conquered death, or He would not have been the Christ; He would +not have been God humanized for the understanding of men unless He could +do God-like things. He was not God if He could not conquer death. He +would not be a man's Christ if He could not come to man in his darkest +hour and conquer his greatest enemy; put Himself up against death and +come out victorious! + +A great fact had been revealed to Courtland: There was a resurrection of +the dead, and Christ was the hope of that resurrection! It was as if he +had just met Christ face to face and heard Him say so; had it all +explained to him fully and satisfactorily. He doubted if he could tell +the professor in the Biblical Literature class how, because perhaps _he_ +hadn't seen the Christ that way; but others understood! That white, +strained face of the girl was not hopeless. There was the light of a +great hope in her eyes; they could see afar off over the loneliness of +the years that were to be, up to the time when she should meet the +little brother again, glorified, perfected, stainless! + +It suddenly came to Courtland to think how Stephen Marshall would look +with that glorified body. The last glimpse he had had of him standing +above the burning pit of the theater with the halo of flames about his +head had given him a vision. A great gladness came up within him that +some day he would surely see Stephen Marshall again, grasp his hand, +make him know how he repented his own negative part in the persecution +that had led him to his death; make him understand how in dying he had +left a path of glory behind and given life to Paul Courtland. + +In the prayer that followed the minister seemed as though he were +talking with dear familiarity to One whom he knew well. The young man, +listening, marveled that any dared come so near, and found himself +longing for such assurance and comradeship. + +They took the casket out to a quiet place beyond the city, where the +little body might rest until the sister wished to take it away. + +As they stood upon that bleak hillside, dotted over with white +tombstones, the looming city in the distance off at the right, Courtland +recognized the group of spreading buildings that belonged to-his +university. He marveled at the closeness of life and death in this +world. Out there the busy city, everybody tired and hustling to get, to +learn, to enjoy; out here everybody lying quiet, like the corn of wheat +in the ground, waiting for the resurrection time, the call of God to +come forth in beauty! What a difference it would make in the working, +and getting, and hustling, and learning, and enjoying if everybody +remembered how near the lying-quiet time might be! How unready some +might be to lie down and feel that it was all over! How much difference +it must make what one had done with the time over there in the city, +when the stopping time came! How much better it would be if one could +live remembering the Presence, always being aware of its nearness! To +live Christ! What would that mean? Was he ready to surrender a thought +like that? + +The minister, it appeared, had a very urgent call in another direction. +He must take a trolley that passed the gate of the cemetery and go off +at once. It fell to Courtland to look after the girl, for the doctor had +not been able to leave his practice to take the long ride to the +cemetery. She, it seemed, did not hear what they said, nor care who went +with her. + +Courtland led her to the carriage and put her in. "I suppose you will +want to go directly back to the house?" he said. + +She turned to him as if she were coming out of a trance. She caught her +breath and gave him one wild, beseeching look, crying out with something +like a sob: "Oh, how can I _ever_ go back to that room _now_?" And then +her breath seemed suddenly to leave her and she fell back against the +seat as if she were lifeless. + +He sprang in beside her, took her in his arms, resting her head against +his shoulder, loosened her coat about her throat, and chafed her cold +hands, drawing the robes closely about her slender shoulders, but she +lay there white and without a sign, of life. He thought he never had +seen anything so ghastly white as her face. + +The driver came around and offered a bottle of brandy. They forced a few +drops between her teeth, and after a moment there came a faint flutter +of her eyelids. She came to herself for just an instant, looked about +her, realized her sorrow once more, and dropped off into oblivion again. + +"She's in a bad way!" murmured the driver, looking worried. "I guess +we'd better get her somewheres. I don't want to have no responsibility. +My chief's gone back to the city, and the other man's gone across the to +West Side. I reckon we'd better go on and stop at some hospital if she +don't come to pretty soon." + +The driver vanished and the carriage started at a rapid pace. Courtland +sat supporting his silent charge in growing alarm, alternately chafing +her hands and trying to force more brandy between her set lips. He was +relieved when at last the carriage stopped again and he recognized the +stone buildings of one of the city's great hospitals. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + + +When Courtland got back to the university the afternoon examination had +been in progress almost half an hour. With a brief explanation to the +professor, he settled to his belated work regardless of Bill Ward's +anxious glances from the back of the room and Pat's lifted eyebrows from +the other side. He knew he had yet to meet those three beloved +antagonists. He seemed to have progressed through eons of experience +since he talked with them last night. The intricate questions of the +examination on political science over which he was trying faithfully to +work seemed paltry beside the great facts of life and death. + +He had remained at the hospital until the girl came out of her long +swoon and the doctor said she was better, but the thought of her white +face was continually before him. When he closed his eyes for a moment to +think how to phrase some answer in his paper he would see that still, +beautiful face as it lay on his shoulder in the carriage. It had filled +him with awe to think that he, a stranger, was her only friend in that +great city, and she might be dying! Somehow he could not cast her off as +a common stranger. + +He had arranged that she should be placed in a small private room at a +moderate cost, and paid for a week in advance. The cost was a mere +trifle to Courtland. The new overcoat he had meant to buy this week +would more than cover the cost. Besides, if he needed more than his +ample allowance his father was always quite ready to advance what he +wanted. But the strange thing about all this was that, having paid to +put the girl where she would be perfectly comfortable and be well taken +care of, he could not cast her off and forget her. His responsibility +seemed to be doubled with everything he did for her. Between the +problems of deep state perplexities and intrigues was ever the +perplexity about that girl and how she was going to live all alone with +her tragedy--or tragedies--for it was apparent from the little hints she +had dropped that the death of the small brother was only the climax of +quite a series of sorrows that had come to her young life. And yet she, +with all that sorrow compassing her about, could still believe in the +Christ and call upon Him in her trouble! There was a kind of triumphant +feeling in his heart when he reached that conclusion. + +He lay on the couch in Tennelly's room that night after supper and tried +to think it out, while the other three clattered away about their marks +and held an indignation meeting over the way Pat was getting +black-listed by all the professors just when he was trying so hard. He +didn't know the fellows were keeping it up to get his mind away from the +funeral. He was thinking about that girl. + +The doctor had told him that she was very much run down. It looked as if +the process had been going on for some time. Her heart action was not +all it should be, and there were symptoms of lack of nutrition. What she +needed was rest, utter rest. Sleep if possible most of the time for at +least a week, with, careful feeding every two or three hours, and after +that a quiet, cheerful place with plenty of fresh air and sunshine and +more sleep; no anxiety, and nothing to call on the exhausted energies +for action or hurry. + +Now how was a state of things like that to be brought about for a person +who had no home, no friends, no money, and no time to lie idle? +Moreover, how could there be any cheerful spot in the wide world for a +little girl who had passed through the fire as she had done? + +Presently he went out to the drug-store and telephoned to the hospital. +They said she had had only one more slight turn of unconsciousness, but +had rallied from it quickly and was resting quietly now. They hoped she +would have a good night. + +Then he went back to his room and thought about her some more. He had an +important English examination the next day, one in which he especially +wanted to do well; yet try as he would to concentrate on Wells and Shaw, +that girl and what was going to become of her would get in between him +and his book. + +It was after ten o'clock when he sauntered down the hall and stood in +Stephen Marshall's room for a few minutes, as he was getting the habit +of doing every night. The peace of it and the uplift that that room +always gave him were soothing to his soul. If he had known a little more +about the Christ to whose allegiance he had declared himself he might +have knelt and asked for guidance; but as yet he had not so much as +heard of a promise to the man who "abides," and "asks what he will." +Nevertheless, when he entered that room his mind took on the attitude of +prayer and he felt that somehow the Presence got close to him, so that +questions that had perplexed him were made clear. + +As he stood that night looking about the plain walls, his eyes fell upon +that picture of Stephen Marshall's mother. A mother! Ah! if there were a +mother somewhere to whom that girl could go! Some one who would +understand her; be gentle and tender with her; love her, as he should +think a real mother would do--what a difference that would make! + +He began to think over all the women he knew--all the mothers. There +were not so many of them. Some of the professors' wives who had sons and +daughters of their own? Well, they might be all well enough for their +own sons and daughters, but there wasn't one who seemed likely to want +to behave in a very motherly way to a stranger like his waif of a girl. +They were nice to the students, polite and kind to the extent of one tea +or reception apiece a year, but that was about the limit. + +Well, there was Tennelly's mother! Dignified, white-haired, beautiful, +dominant in her home and clubs, charming to her guests; but--he could +just fancy how she would raise her lorgnette and look "Bonnie" Brentwood +over. There would be no room in that grand house for a girl like Bonnie. +Bonnie! How the name suited her! He had a strange protective feeling +about that girl, not as if she were like the other girls he knew; +perhaps it was a sort of a "Christ-brother" feeling, as the minister had +suggested. But to go on with the list of mothers--wasn't there one +anywhere to whom he could appeal? Gila's mother? Pah! That painted, +purple image of a mother! Her own daughter needed to find a real mother +somewhere. She couldn't mother a stranger! Mothers! Why weren't there +enough real ones to go around? If he had only had a mother, a real one, +himself, who had lived, she would have been one to whom he could have +told Bonnie's story, and she would have understood! + +He looked into the pictured eyes on the wall and an idea came to him. It +was like an answer to prayer. Stephen Marshall's mother! Why hadn't he +thought of her before? She was that kind of a mother of course, or +Stephen Marshall would not have been the man he was! If the Bonnie girl +could only get to her for a little while! But would she take her? Would +she understand? Or might she be too overcome with her own loss to have +been able to rally to life again? He looked into the strong motherly +face and was sure _not_. + +He would write to her. He would put it to the test whether there was a +mother in the world or not. He went back to his room, and wrote her a +long letter, red-hot from the depths of his heart; a letter such as he +might have written to his own mother if he had ever known her, but such +as certainly he had never written to any woman before. He wrote: + + DEAR MOTHER OF STEPHEN MARSHALL: + + I know you are a real mother because Stephen was what he + was. And now I am going to let you prove it by coming to you + with something that needs a mother's help. + + There is a little girl--I should think she must be about + nineteen or twenty years old--lying in the hospital, worn + out with hard work and sorrow. She has recently lost her + father and mother, and had brought her little five-year-old + brother to the city a couple of weeks ago. They were living + in a very small room, boarding themselves, she working all + day somewhere down-town. Two days ago, as she was coming + home in the trolley, her little brother, crossing the street + to meet her, was knocked down and killed by a passing + automobile. We buried him to-day, and the girl fainted dead + away on the way back from the cemetery and only recovered + consciousness when we got her to the hospital. The doctor + says she has exhausted her vitality and needs to sleep for a + week and be fed up; and then she ought to go to some + cheerful place where she can just rest for a while and have + fresh air and sunshine and good, plain, nourishing food. + + Now she hasn't a friend in the city. I know from the few + little things she has told me that there isn't any one in + the world she will feel free to turn to. She isn't the kind + of girl who will accept charity. She's refined, reserved, + independent, and all that, you know. There's another thing, + too--she prays to your Stephen's Christ--that's why I dared + write to you about it. + + You see, I'm an entire stranger to her. I just happened + along when the kid was killed and had to stick around and + help; that's how I came to know. Of course she hasn't any + idea of all this, and I haven't any real business with it, + but I can't see leaving her in a hole this way; and there's + no one else to do anything. + + You wonder why I didn't find a mother nearer by, but I + haven't any living of my own, except a stepmother, who + wouldn't understand, and all the other mothers I know + wouldn't qualify for the job any better. I've been looking + at your picture and I think you would. + + What I thought of is this (if it doesn't strike you that way + maybe you can think of some other way): I'm pretty well + fixed for money, and I've got a lump that I've been + intending to use for a new automobile; but my old car is + plenty good enough for another year, and I'd like to pay + that girl's board awhile till she gets rested and strong and + sort of cheered up. I thought perhaps you'd see your way + clear to write a letter and say you'd like her to visit + you--you're lonesome or Something. I don't know how a real + mother would fix that up, but I guess you do. + + Of course the girl mustn't know I have a thing to do with it + except that I told you about her. She'd be up in the air in + a minute. She wouldn't stand for me doing anything for her. + She's that kind. + + I'm sending a check of two hundred dollars right now because + I thought, in case you see a way to take up with my + suggestion, you might send her money enough for the journey. + I don't believe she's got any. We can fix it up about the + board any way you say. Don't hesitate to tell me just how + much it is worth. I don't need the money for anything. But + whatever's done has got to be done mighty quick or she'll go + back to work again, and she won't last three days if she + does. She looks as if a breath would blow her away. I'm + sending this special delivery to hurry things. Her address + is Miss R.B. Brentwood, Good Samaritan Hospital. The kid + called her "Bonnie." I don't know what her whole name is. + + So now you have the whole story, and it's up to you to + decide. Maybe you think I've got a lot of crust to propose + this, and maybe you won't see it this way, but I've had the + nerve because Stephen Marshall's life and Stephen Marshall's + death have made me believe in Stephen Marshall's Christ and + Stephen Marshall's mother. + + I am, very respectfully, + PAUL COURTLAND. + + +He mailed the letter that night and then studied hard till three o'clock +in the morning. + +The next morning's mail brought him a dainty little note from Gila's +mother, inviting him to a quiet family dinner with them on Friday +evening. He frowned when he read it. He didn't care for the large, +painted person, but perhaps there was more good in her than he knew. He +would have to go and find out. It might even be that she would be a help +in case Stephen Marshall's mother did not pan out. + + + + +CHAPTER X + + +Mother Marshall stood by the kitchen window, with her cheek against a +boy's old soft felt hat, and she looked out into the gathering dusk for +Father. The hat was so old and worn that its original shape and color +were scarcely distinguishable, and there was one spot where Mother +Marshall's tears had washed some of the grime away into deeper stains +about it. It was only on days when Father was off to town on errands +that she allowed herself the momentary weakness of tears. + +So she had stood in former years looking out into the dusk for her son +to come whistling home from school. So she had stood the day the awful +news of his fiery death had come, while Father sat in his rush-bottomed +chair and groaned. She had laid her cheek against that old felt hat and +comforted herself with the thought of her boy, her splendid boy, who had +lived his short life so intensely and wonderfully. When she felt that +old scratchy felt against her cheek it somehow brought back the memory +of his strong young shoulder, where she used to lay her head sometimes +when she felt tired and he would fold her in his arms and brush her +forehead with his lips and pat her shoulder. The neighbors sometimes +wondered why she kept that old felt hat hanging there, just as when +Stephen was alive among them, but Mother Marshall never said anything +about it; she just kept it there, and it comforted her to feel it; one +of those little homely, tangible things that our poor souls have to +tether to sometimes when we lose the vision and get faint-hearted. +Mother Marshall wasn't morbid one bit. She always looked on the bright +side of everything; and she had had much joy in her son as he was +growing up. She had seen him strong of body, strong of soul, keen of +mind. He had won the scholarship of the whole Northwest to the big +Eastern university. It had been hard to pack him up and have him go away +so far, where she couldn't hope to see him soon, where she couldn't +listen for his whistle coming home at night, where he couldn't even come +back for Sunday and sit in the old pew in church with them. But those +things had to come. It was the only way he could grow and fulfil his +part of God's plan. And so she put away her tears till he was gone, and +kept them for the old felt hat when Father was out about the farm. And +then when the news came that Stephen had graduated so soon, gone up +higher to God's eternal university to live and work among the great, +even then her soul had been big enough to see the glory of it behind the +sorrow, and say with trembling, conquering lips: "I shall go to him, but +he shall not return to me. The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away. +Blessed be the name of the Lord!" + +That was the kind of nerve that blessed little Mother Marshall was built +with, and it was only in such times as these, when Father had gone to +town and stayed a little later than usual, that the tears in her heart +got the better of her and she laid her face against the old felt hat. + +Down the road in the gloom moved a dark speck. It couldn't be Father, +for he had gone in the machine--the nice, comfortable little car that +Stephen had made them get before he went away to college, because he +said that Father needed to have things easier now. Father would be in +the machine, and by this time the lights would be lit. Father was very +careful always about lighting up when it grew dusk. He had a great +horror of accidents to other people. Not that he was afraid for himself, +no indeed. Father was a _man_! The kind of a man to be the father of a +Stephen! + +The speck grew larger. It made a chugging noise. It was one of those +horrible motor-cycles. Mother Marshall hated them, though she had never +revealed the fact. Stephen had wanted one, had said he intended to get +one with the first money he earned after he came out of college, but she +had hoped in her heart they would go out of fashion by that time and +there would be something less fiendish-looking to take their place. They +always looked to her as if they were headed straight for destruction, +and the person on them seemed as if he were going to the devil and +didn't care. She secretly hated the idea of Stephen ever sitting upon +one of them, flying through space. But now he was gone beyond all such +fears. He had wings, and there were no dangers where he was. All danger +and fear was over for him. She had never wanted either of her men to +know the inward quakings of her soul over each new risk as Stephen began +to grow up. She wanted to be worthy to be the mother and wife of +noblemen, and fears were not for such; so she hid them and struggled +against them in secret. + +The motor-cycle came on like a comet now, and turned thundering in at +the big gate. A sudden alarm filled Mother Marshall's soul. Had +something happened to Father? That was the only terrible thing left in +life to happen now. An accident! And this boy had come to prepare her +for the worst? She had the kitchen door wide open even before the boy +had stopped his machine and set it on its mysterious feet. + +"Sp'c'l d'liv'ry!" fizzed the boy, handing her a fat envelope, a book, +and the stub of a pencil. "Si'n'eer!" indicating a line on the book. + +She managed to write her name in cramped characters, but her hand was +trembling so she could hardly form the letters. A wild idea that perhaps +they had discovered somehow that Stephen had escaped death in some +miraculous manner flitted through her brain and out again, controlled by +her strong common sense. Such notions always came to people after death +had taken their loved ones--frenzied hopes for miracles! Stephen had +been dead for four months now. There could be no such possibility, of +course. + +Just to calm herself she went and opened the slide of the range and +shoved the tea-kettle a little farther on so it would begin to boil, +before she opened that fat letter. She lit the lamp, too, put it on the +supper-table, and changed the position of the bread-plate, covering it +nicely with a fringed napkin so the bread wouldn't get dry. Everything +must be ready when Father got back. Then she went and sat down with her +gold spectacles and tore open that envelope. + +She was so absorbed in the letter that she failed for the first time +since they got the car to hear its pleasant purr as it came down the +road, and the big head-lights sent their rays out cheerfully without any +one at the kitchen window to see. Father was getting worried that the +kitchen door didn't fly open as he drew in beside the big flag-stone, +when Mother suddenly came flying out with her face all smiles and +eagerness. He hadn't seen her look that way since Stephen went away. + +She had left a trail of letter all the way from her big chair to the +door, and she held the envelope in her hand. She rushed out and buried +her face in his rough coat-collar: + +"Oh, Father! I've been so worried about you!" she declared, joyfully, +but she didn't look worried a bit. + +Father looked down at her tenderly and patted her plump shoulder. "Had a +flat tire and had to stop, and get her pumped up," he explained, "and +then the man found a place wanted patching. He took a little longer than +I expected. I was afraid you would worry." + +"Well, hurry in," she said, eagerly. "Supper's all ready and I've got a +letter to read to you." + +It went without saying that if Mother liked a thing in that home Father +would, too. His sun rose and set in Mother, and they had lived together +so long and harmoniously that the thoughts of one were the reflection of +the other. It didn't matter which, you asked about a thing, you were +sure to get the same opinion as if you had asked the other. It wasn't +that one gave way to the other; it was just that they had the same +habits of thought and decision, the same principles to go by. So when, +after she had passed the hot johnny-cake, seen to it that Father had the +biggest pork chop and the mealiest potato, and given him his cup of +coffee creamed and sugared just right, Mother got out the letter with +the university crest and began to read. She had no fears that Father +would not agree with her about it. She read eagerly, sure of his +sympathy in her pleasure; sure he would think it was nice of Stephen's +friend to write to her and pick her out as a real mother, saying all +those pleasant things about her; sure he would be proud that she, with +all the women they had in the East, should have so brought up a boy that +a stranger knew she was a real mother. She had no fear that Father would +frown and declare they couldn't be bothered with a stranger around, that +it would cost a lot and Mother needed to rest. She knew he would be +touched at once with the poor, lonely girl's position, and want to do +anything in his power to help her. She knew he would be ready to fall +right in with anything she should suggest. And, true to her conviction, +Father's eyes lighted with tenderness as she read, watched her proudly +and nodded in strong affirmation at the phrases touching her ability as +mother. + +"That's right, Mother, you'll qualify for a job as mother better 'n any +woman I ever saw!" said Father, heartily, as he reached for another +helping of butter. + +His face kindled with interest as the letter went on with its +proposition, but he shook his head when it came to the money part, +interrupting her: + +"I don't like that idea, Mother; we don't keep boarders, and we're +plenty able to invite company for as long as we like. Besides, it don't +seem just the right thing for that young feller to be paying her board. +She wouldn't like it if she knew it. If she was our daughter we wouldn't +want her to be put in that position, though it's very kind of him of +course--" + +"Of course!" said Mother, breathlessly. "He couldn't very well ask us, +you know, without saying something like that, especially as he doesn't +know us, except by hearsay, at all." + +"Of course," agreed Father; "but then, equally of course we won't let it +stand that way. You can send that young feller back his check, and tell +him to get his new ottymobeel. He won't be young but once, and I reckon +a young feller of that kind won't get any harm from his ottymobeels, no +matter how many he has of 'em. You can see by his letter he ain't +spoiled yet, and if he's got hold of Steve's idea of things he'll find +plenty of use for his money, doing good where there ain't a young woman +about that is bound to object to being took care of by a young man she +don't know and don't belong to. However, I guess you can say that, +Mother, without offending him. Tell him we'll take care of the money +part. Tell him we're real glad to get a daughter. You're sure, Mother, +it won't be hard for you to have a stranger around in Steve's place?" + +"No, I like it," said Mother, with a smile, brushing away a bright tear +that burst out unawares. "I like it '_hard_,' as Steve used to say! Do +you know, Father, what I've been thinking--what I thought right away +when I read that letter? I thought, suppose that girl was the one +Stephen would have loved and wanted to marry if he had lived. And +suppose he had brought her home here, what a fuss we would have made +about her, and all! And I'd just have loved to fix up the house and make +it look pleasant for her and love her as if she were my own daughter." + +Father's eyes were moist, too. "H'm! Yes!" he said, trying to clear his +throat. "I guess she'd be com'ny for you, too, Mother, when I have to go +to town, and she'd help around with the work some when she got better." + +"I've been thinking," said Mother. "I've always thought I'd like to fix +up the spare room. I read in my magazine how to fix up a young girl's +room when she comes home from college, and I'd like to fix it like that +if there's time. You paint the furniture white, and have two sets of +curtains, pink and white, and little shelves for her books. Do you think +we could do it?" + +"Why, sure!" said Father. He was so pleased to see Mother interested +like this that he was fairly trembling. She had been so still and quiet +and wistful ever since the news came about Stephen. "Why, sure! Get some +pretty wall-paper, too, while you're 'bout it. S'posen you and I take a +run to town again in the morning and pick it out. Then you can pick your +curtains and paint, too, and get Jed Lewis to come in the afternoon and +put on the first coat. How about calling him up on the 'phone right now +and asking him about it? I'm real glad we've got that 'phone. It'll come +in handy now." + +Mother's eyes glistened. The 'phone was another thing Stephen insisted +upon before he left home. They hadn't used it half a dozen times except +when the telegrams came, but they hadn't the heart to have it +disconnected, because Stephen had taken so much pride in having it put +in. He said he didn't like his mother left alone in the house without a +chance to call a neighbor or send for the doctor. + +"Come to think of it, hadn't you better send a telegram to that chap +to-night? You know we can 'phone it down to the town office. He'll maybe +be worried how you're going to take that letter. Tell him he's struck +the right party, all right, and you're on the job writing that little +girl a letter to-night that'll make her welcome and no mistake. But tell +him we'll finance this operation ourselves, and he can save the +ottymobeel for the next case that comes along--words to that effect you +know, Mother." + +The supper things were shoved back and the telephone brought into +requisition. They called up Jed Lewis first before he went to bed, and +got his reluctant promise that he would be on hand at two o'clock the +next afternoon. They had to tell him they were expecting company or he +might not have been there for a week in spite of his promise. + +It took nearly an hour to reduce the telegram to ten words, but at last +they settled on: + + Bonnie welcome. Am writing you both to-night. No money + necessary. + + (Signed) STEPHEN'S MOTHER AND FATHER. + +The letters were happy achievements of brevity, for it was getting late, +and Mother Marshall realized that they must be up early in the morning +to get all that shopping done before two o'clock. + +First the letter to Bonnie, written in a cramped, laborious hand: + + DEAR LITTLE GIRL: + + You don't know me, but I've heard about you from a sort of + neighbor of yours. I'm just a lonely mother whose only son + has gone home to heaven. I've heard all about your sorrow + and loneliness, and I've taken a notion that maybe you would + like to come and visit me for a little while and help cheer + me up. Maybe we can comfort each other a little bit, and, + anyhow, I want you to come. + + Father and I are fixing up your room for you, just as we + would if you were our own daughter coming home from college. + For you see we've quite made up our minds you will come, and + Father wants you just as much as I do. We are sending you + mileage, and a check to get any little things you may need + for the journey, because, of course, we wouldn't want to put + you to expense to come all this long way just to please two + lonely old people. It's enough for you that you are willing + to come, and we're so glad about it that it almost seems as + if the birds must be singing and the spring flowers going to + bloom for you, even though it is only the middle of winter. + + Don't wait to get any fixings. Just come as you are. We're + plain folks. + + Father says be sure you get a good, comfortable berth in the + sleeper, and have your trunk checked right through. If + you've got any other things besides your trunk, have them + sent right along by freight. It's better to have your things + here where you can look after them than stored away off + there. + + We're so happy about your coming we can't seem to wait till + we hear what time you start, so please send a telegram as + soon as you get this, saying when the doctor will let you + come, and don't disappoint us for anything. + + Lovingly, your friend, + RACHEL MARSHALL. + +The letter to Courtland was more brief, but just as expressive: + + MR. PAUL COURTLAND: + + DEAR FRIEND.--You're a dear boy and I'm proud that + my son had you for a friend. + +(When Courtland read that letter he winced at that sentence and saw +himself once more standing in the hall in front of Stephen Marshall's +room, holding the garments of those who persecuted him.) + + I have written Bonnie Brentwood, telling her how much we + want her, and I am going to town in the morning to get some + things to fix up a pretty room for her. I thank you for + thinking I was a good mother. Father and I are both quite + proud about it. We are very lonely and are glad to have a + daughter for as long as she will stay. But, anyway, if we + hadn't wanted her, we could not have said no when you asked + for Christ's sake. Father says we are returning the check + because we want to do this for Bonnie ourselves; then there + won't be anything to cover up. Father says if you have begun + this way you will find plenty of ways to spend that money + for Christ and let us look after this one little girl. We've + sent her mileage and some money, and we're going to try to + make her happy. And some day we would be very happy if you + would come out and visit us. I should like to know you for + my dear Stephen's sake. You are a dear boy, and I want to + know you better. I am glad you have found our Christ. Father + thinks so too. Thank you for thinking I would understand. + + Lovingly, + MOTHER MARSHALL. + +But after all that excitement Mother Marshall could not sleep. She lay +quietly beside Father in the old four-poster and planned all about that +room. She must get Sam Carpenter to put in some little shelves each side +of the windows, and a wide locker between for a window-seat, and she +would make some pillows like those in the magazine pictures. She +pictured how the girl would look, a dozen times, and what she would say, +and once her heart was seized with fear that she had not made her letter +cordial enough. She went over the words of the young man's letter as +well as she could remember them, and let her heart soar and be glad that +Stephen had touched one life and left it better for his being in the +university that little time. + +Once she stirred restlessly, and Father put out his hand and touched her +in alarm: + +"What's the matter, Rachel? Aren't you sleeping?" + +"Father, I believe we'll have to get a new rug for that room." + +"Sure!" said Father, relaxing sleepily. + +"Gray, with pink rosebuds, soft and thick," she whispered. + +"Sure! pink, with gray rosebuds," murmured Father as he dropped off +again. + +They made very little of breakfast the next morning; they were both too +excited about getting off early; and Mother Marshall forgot to caution +Father about going at too high speed. If she suspected that he was +running a little faster than usual she winked at it, for she was anxious +to get to the stores as soon as possible. She had arisen early to read +over the article in the magazine again, and she knew to a nicety just +how much pink and white she would need for the curtains and cushions. +She had it in the back of her mind that she meant to get little brass +handles and keyholes for the bureau also. She was like a child who was +getting ready for a new doll. + +It was not until they were on their way back home again, with packages +all about their feet, and an eager light in their faces, that an idea +suddenly came to both of them--an idea so chilling that the eagerness +went out of their eyes for a moment, and the old, patient, sweet look of +sorrow came back. It was Mother Marshall who put it into words: + +"You don't suppose, Seth," she appealed--she always called him Seth in +times of crisis--"you don't suppose that perhaps she mightn't _want_ to +come, after all!" + +"Well, I was thinking, Rachel," he said, tenderly, "we'd best not be +getting too set on it. But, anyhow, we'd be ready for some one else. You +know Stevie always wanted you to have things fixed nice and fancy. But +you fix it up. I guess she's coming. I really do think she must be +coming! We'll just pray about it and then we'll leave it there!" + +And so with peace in their faces they arrived at home, just five minutes +before the painter was due, and unloaded their packages. Father lifted +out the big roll of soft, velvety carpeting, gray as a cloud, with moss +roses scattered over it. He was proud to think he could buy things like +this for Mother. Of course now they had no need to save and scrimp for +Stephen the way they had done during the years; so it was well to make +the rest of the way as bright for Mother as he could. And this "Bonnie" +girl! If she would only come, what a bright, happy thing it would be in +their desolated home! + +But suppose she shouldn't come? + + + + +CHAPTER XI + + +The telegram reached Courtland Friday evening, just as he was going to +the Dare dinner, and filled him with an almost childish delight. Not for +a long time had he had anything as nice as that happen; not even when he +made Phi Beta Kappa in his junior year had he been so filled with +exultation. It was like having a fairy-tale come true. To think there +had really been a woman in the world who would respond in that cordial +way to a call from the great unknown! + +He presented himself in his most sparkling mood at the house where he +was to dine. There was nothing at all blue about him. His eyes fairly +danced with pleasure and his smile was rare. Gila looked and drooped her +eyes demurely. She thought the sparkle was all for her, and her little +wicked heart gave a throb of exultant joy. + +Mrs. Dare was no longer a large, purple person. She was in full evening +dress, explaining that she and her husband had an engagement at the +opera after dinner. She resembled the fat dough people that the cook +used to fashion for him in his youth. Her pudgy arms so reminded him of +those shapeless cooky arms that he found himself fascinated by the +thought as he watched her moving her bejeweled hands among the trinkets +at her end of the glittering table. Her gown, what there was of it, was +of black gauze emblazoned with dartling sequins of deep blue. An aigret +in her hair twinkled knowingly above her coarse, painted face. +Courtland, as he studied her more closely, rejoiced that the telegram +had arrived before he left the dormitory, for he never could have had +the courage to come to this plump-shouldered lady seeking refuge for his +refined little Bonnie girl. + +The father of the family was a little wisp of a man with a nervous laugh +and a high, thin voice. There were kind lines around his mouth and eyes, +indulgent lines--not self-indulgent, either, and insomuch they were +noble--but there was a weakness about the face that showed he was ruled +by others to a large extent. He said, "Yes, my dear!" quite obediently +when his wife ordered him affably around. There was a cunning look in +his eye that might explain the general impression current that he knew +how to turn a dollar to his own account. + +It occurred to Courtland to wonder what would happen if he should +suddenly ask Mr. Dare what he thought of Christ, or if he believed in +the resurrection. He could quite imagine they would look aghast as if he +had spoken of something impolite. One couldn't think of Mrs. Dare in a +resurrection, she would seem so out of place, so sort of unclothed for +the occasion, in those fat, doughy arms with her glittering jet +shoulder-straps. He realized that all these thoughts that raced through +his head were but fantasies occasioned no doubt by his own highly +wrought nervous condition, but they kept crowding in and bringing the +mirth to his eyes. How, for instance, would Mother Marshall and Mother +Dare hit it off if they should happen together in the same heaven? + +Gila was all in white, from the tip of her pearly shoulders down to the +tip of her pearl-beaded slippers--white and demure. Her skin looked even +more pearly than when she wore the brilliant red-velvet gown. It had a +pure, dazzling whiteness, different from most skins. It perplexed him. +It did not look like flesh, but more like some ethereal substance meant +for angels. He drew a breath of satisfaction that there was not even a +flush upon it to-night. No painting there at least! He was not master of +the rare arts that skins are subject to in these days. He knew +artificial whiteness only when it was glaring and floury. This pearly +paleness was exquisite, delicious; and in contrast the great dark eyes, +lifted pansy-like for an instant and then down-drooped beneath those +wonderful, long curling lashes, were almost startling in their beauty. +The hair was simply arranged with a plain narrow band of black velvet +around the white temples, and the soft loops of cloudy darkness drawn +out on her cheeks in her own fantastic way. There was an attempt at +demureness in the gown; soft folds of pure transparent nothing seemed to +shelter what they could not hide, and more such folds drooped over the +lovely arms to the elbows. Surely, surely, this was loveliness +undefiled. The words of Peer Gynt came floating back disconnectedly, +more as a puzzled question in his mind than as they stand in the story: + + "Is your psalm-book in your 'kerchief? + Do you glance adown your apron? + Do you hold your mother's skirt-fold? + Speak!" + +But he only looked at her admiringly, and talked on about the college +games, making himself agreeable to every one, and winning more and more +the lifted pansy-eyes. + +When dinner was over they drifted informally into a large +white-and-gold reception-room, with inhospitable chairs and settees +whose satin slipperiness offered no inducements to sit down. There were +gold-lacquered tables and a curious concert-grand piano, also gold +inlaid with mother-of-pearl cupids and flowers. Everything was most +elaborate. Gila, in her soft transparencies, looked like a wraith amid +it all. The young man chose to think she was too rare and fine for a +place so ornate. + +Presently the fat cooky arms of the mother were enfolded in a gorgeous +blue-plush evening cloak beloaded with handsome black fur; and with many +bows and kindly words the little husband toddled off beside her, +reminding Courtland of a big cinnamon bear and a little black-and-tan +dog he had once seen together in a show. + +Gila stood bewitchingly childish in the great gold room, and shyly asked +if he would like to go to the library, where it was cozier. The red +light glowed across the hall, and he turned from it with a shudder of +remembrance. The glow seemed to beat upon his nerves like something +striking his eyeballs. + +"I'd like to hear you play, if you will," he answered, wondering in his +heart if, after all, a dolled-up instrument like that was really meant +to be played upon. + +Gila pouted. She did not want to play, but she would not seem to refuse +the challenge. She went to the piano and rippled off a brilliant waltz +or two, just to show him she could do it, played Humoresque, and a few +little catchy melodies that were in the popular ear just then, and then, +whirling on the gilded stool, she lifted her big eyes to him: + +"I don't like it in here," she said, with a little shiver, as a child +might do; "let's go into the library by the fire. It's pleasanter there +to talk." + +Courtland hesitated. "Look here," said he, frankly, "Wouldn't you just +as soon sit somewhere else? I don't like that red light of yours. It +gets on my nerves. I don't like to see you in it. It makes you +look--well--something different from what I believe you really are. I +like a plain, honest white light." + +Gila gave him one swift, wondering glance and walked laughingly over to +the library door. "Oh, is that all?" she said, and, touching a button, +she switched off the big red table-lamp and switched on what seemed like +a thousand little tapers concealed softly about the ceiling. + +"There!" she cried, half mockingly. "You can have as much light as you +like, and when you get tired of that we can cut them all off and sit in +the firelight." She touched another button and let him see the room in +the soft dim shadows and rich glow of the fire. Then she turned the full +light on again and entered the room, dropping into one big leather chair +at the side of the fireplace and indicating another big chair on the +opposite side. She had no notion of sitting near him or of luring him to +her side to-night. She had read him aright. Hers was the demure part to +play, the reserved, shy maiden, the innocent, child-like, womanly woman. +She would play it, but she would humble him! So she had vowed with her +little white teeth set in her red lips as she stood before her +dressing-table mirror that night when he had fled from her red room and +her. + +Well pleased, with a sigh of relief he dropped into the chair and sat +watching her, talking idly, as one who is feeling his way to a pleasant +intimacy of whose nature he is not quite sure. She was very sweet and +sympathetic about the examinations, told how she hated them herself and +thought they ought to be abolished; said he was a wonder, that her +cousin had told her he was a regular shark, and yet he hadn't let +himself be spoiled by it, either. She flattered him gently with that +deference a girl can pay to a man which makes her appear like an angel +of light, and fixes him for any confidence in the world he has to give. +She sat so quietly, with big eyes lifted now and then, talking earnestly +and appreciatively of fine and noble things, that all his best thoughts +about her were confirmed. He watched her, thinking what a lovely, +lovable woman she was, what gentle sympathy and keen appreciation of +really fine qualities she showed, child even though she seemed to be! He +studied her, thinking what a friend she might be to that other poor girl +in her loneliness and sorrow if she only would. He didn't know that he +was yielding again to the lure that the red light had made the last time +he was there. He didn't realize that, red light or white light, he was +being led on. He only knew that it was a pleasure to talk to her, to be +near her, to feel her sympathy; and that something had unlocked the +innermost depths of his heart, the place he usually kept to himself, +even away from the fellows. He had never quite opened it to a human +being before. Tennelly had come nearer to getting a glimpse than any +one. But now he was really going to open it, for he had at last found +another human being who could understand and appreciate. + +"May I shut off the bright light and sit in the firelight?" he asked, +and Gila acquiesced sweetly. It was just what she had been leading up +to, but she did not move from her reticent yet sympathetic position in +the retired depths of the great chair, where she knew the shadows and +the glow of the fire would play on her face and show her sweet, serious +pose. + +"I want to tell you about a girl I have met this week." + +A chill fell upon Gila, but she did not show it, she never even +flickered those long lashes. Another girl! How dared he! The little +white teeth set down sharply on the little red tongue out of sight, but +the sweet, sympathetic mouth in the glow of the firelight remained +placid. + +"Yes?" The inflection, the lifted lashes, the whole attitude, was +perfect. He plunged ahead. + +"You are so very wonderful yourself that I am sure you will appreciate +and understand her, and I think you are just the friend she needs." + +Gila stiffened in her chair and turned her face nicely to the glow of +the fire, so he could just see her lovely profile. + +"She is all alone in the city--" + +"Oh!" broke forth Gila in almost childish dismay. "Not even a chaperon?" + +Courtland stopped, bewildered. Then he laughed indulgently. "She didn't +have any use for a chaperon, child," he said, as if he were a great deal +older than she. "She came here with her little brother to earn their +living." + +"Oh, she _had_ a brother, then!" sighed Gila with evident relief. + +It occurred to Courtland to be a bit pleased that Gila was so particular +about the conventionalities. He had heard it rumored more than once that +her own conduct overstepped the most lenient of rules. That must have +been a mistake. It was a relief to know it from her own lips. But he +explained, gently: + +"The little brother was killed on Monday night," he said, gravely. "Just +run down in cold blood by a passing automobile." + +"How perfectly dreadful!" shuddered Gila, shrinking back into the depths +of the chair. "But you know you mustn't believe a story like that! Poor +people are always getting up such tales about rich people's +automobiles. It isn't true at all. No chauffeur would do a thing like +that! The children just run out and get in the way of the cars to +tantalize the drivers. I've seen them myself. Why, our chauffeur has +been arrested three or four times and charged with running over children +and dogs, when it wasn't his fault at all; the people were just trying +to get some money out of us! I don't suppose the little child was run +over. It was probably his own fault." + +"Yes, he was run over," said Courtland, gently. "I saw it myself! I was +standing on the curbstone when the boy--he was a beautiful little fellow +with long golden curls--rushed out to meet his sister, calling out to +her, and the automobile came whirring by without a sign of a horn, and +crushed him down just like a broken lily. He never lifted his head nor +made a motion again, and the automobile never even slowed up to +see--just shot ahead and was gone." + +Gila was still for a minute. She had no words to meet a situation like +this. "Oh, well," she said, "I suppose he is better off, and the girl +is, too. How could she take care of a child in the city alone, and do +any work? Besides, children are an awful torment, and very likely he +would have turned out bad. Boys usually do. What did you want me to do +for her? Get her a position as a maid?" + +There was something almost flippant in her tone. Strange that Courtland +did not recognize it. But the firelight, the white gown, the pure +profile, the down-drooped lashes had done for him once more what the red +light had done before--taken him out of his normal senses and made him +see a Gila that was not really there: soft, sweet, tender, womanly. The +words, though they did not satisfy him, merely meant that she had not +yet understood what he wanted, and was striving hard to find out. + +"No," he said, gently. "I want you to go and see her. She is sick and in +the hospital. She needs a friend, a real girl friend, such as you could +be if you would." + +Gila answered in her slow, pretty drawl: "Why, I hate hospitals! I +wouldn't even go to see mama when she had an operation on her neck last +winter, because I hate the odors they have around. But I'll go if you +want me to. Of course I won't promise how much good I'll do. Girls of +that stamp don't want to be helped, you know. They think they know it +all, and they are usually most insulting. But I'll see what I can do. I +don't mind giving her something. I've three evening dresses that I +perfectly hate, and one of them I've never had on but once. She might +get a position to act somewhere or sing in a café if she had good +clothes." + +Courtland hastened earnestly to impress her with the fact that Miss +Brentwood was a refined girl of good family, and that it would be an +insult to offer her second-hand clothing; but when he gave it up and +yielded to Gila's plea that he drop these horrid, gloomy subjects and +talk about something cheerful, he had a feeling of failure. Perhaps he +ought not to have told Gila, after all. She simply couldn't understand +the other girl because she had never dreamed of such a situation. + +If he could have seen his gentle Gila a couple of hours later, standing +before her mirror again and setting those little sharp teeth into her +red lip, the ugly frown between her angry eyes; if he could have heard +her low-muttered words, and, worse still, guessed her thoughts about +himself and that other girl--he certainly would have gone out and +gnashed his teeth in despair. If he could have known what was to come +of his request to Gila Dare he would have rung up the hospital and had +Miss Brentwood moved to another one in hot haste, or, better still, have +taken strenuous measures to prevent that visit. But instead of that he +read Mother Marshall's telegram over again, and lay down to forget Gila +Dare utterly, and think pleasant thoughts about the Marshalls. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + + +Gila Dare, in her very most startling costume, lavishly plastered with +costly fur, and high-laced, French-heeled boots, came tripping down her +father's steps to the limousine. She carried a dangling little trick of +a hand-bag and a muff big enough for a rug. Her two eyes looked forth +from the rim of the low-squashed, bandage-like fur hat like the eyes of +a small, sly mouse that was about to nibble somebody else's cheese. + +By her side a logy youth, with small, blue fish-eyes fixed adoringly on +her, sauntered protectingly. She wore a large bunch of pale-yellow +orchids, evidently his gift, and was paying for them with her glances. +One knew by the excited flush on the young man's face that he had rarely +been paid so well. His eyes took on a glint of intelligence, one might +almost say of hope, and he smiled egregiously, egotistically. His +assurance grew with each step he took. As he opened the door of the +luxurious car for her he wore an attitude of one who might possibly be a +fiancé. Her little mouse-eyes--you wouldn't have dreamed they could ever +be large and wistful, nor innocent, either--twinkled pleasurably. She +was playing her usual game and playing it well. It was the game for +which she was rapidly becoming notorious, young as she was. + +"Oh, now, _Chaw_-! _Ree_-ally! Why, I never dreamed it was that bad! But +you mustn't, you know! I never gave you permission!" + +The chauffeur, sitting stolidly in his uniform, awaiting the word to +move, wondered idly what she was up to now. He was used to seeing the +game played all around him day after day, as if he were a stick or a +stone, or one of the metal trappings of the car. + +"Chawley" Hathaway looked unutterable things, and the little mouse-eyes +looked back unutterable things, with that lingering, +just-too-long-for-pardoning glance that a certain kind of men and women +employ when they want to loiter near the danger-line and toy with vital +things. An impressive hand-clasp, another long, languishing look, just a +shade longer this time; then he closed the door, lifted his hat at the +mouse-eyed goddess, and the limousine swept away. They had parted as if +something momentous had occurred, and both knew in their hearts that +neither had meant anything at all except to play with fire for an +instant, like children sporting at lighting a border of forest that has +a heart of true homes in its keeping. + +Gila swept on in her chariot. The young man with whom she had played was +well skilled in the game. He understood her perfectly, as she him. If he +got burned sometimes it was "up to him." She meant to take good care of +herself. + +Around another corner she spied another acquaintance. A word to the +automaton on the front seat and the limousine swept up to the curb where +he was passing. Gila leaned out with the sweetest bow. She was the +condescending lady now; no mouse-eyes in evidence this time; just a +beautiful, commanding presence to be obeyed. She would have him ride +with her, so he got in. + +He was a tall, serious youth with credulous eyes, and she swept his +soulful nature as one sweeps the keys of a familiar instrument, drawing +forth time-worn melodies that, nevertheless, were new to him. And just +because he thrilled under them, and looked in her eyes with startled +earnestness, did she like to play upon his soul. It would have been a +bore if he had understood, for he was a dull soul, and young--ages young +for Gila, though his years numbered two more than hers. She liked to see +his eyes kindle and his breath come quick. Some day he would tell her +with impassioned words how much he loved her, and she would turn him +neatly and comfortably down for a while, till he learned his place and +promised not to be troublesome. Then he might join the procession again +as long as he would behave. But at present she knew she could sway him +as she would, and she touched the orchids at her belt with tender little +caressing movements and melting looks. Even before she reached home she +knew he would have a box of something rarer or more costly waiting for +her, if the city afforded such. + +She set him down at his club, quite well satisfied with her few minutes. +She was glad it didn't last longer, for it would have grown tiresome; +she had had just enough, carried him just far enough on the wave of +emotion, to stimulate her own soul. + +Sweeping away from the curb again, bowing graciously to two or three +other acquaintances who were going in or out of the club building, she +gave an order for the hospital and set her face sternly to the duty +before her. + +A little breeze of expectation preceded her entrance into the hospital, +a stir among the attendants about the door. Passing nurses apprized her +furs and orchids; young interns took account of her eyes--the mouse-eyes +had returned, but they lured with something unspeakable and thrilling in +them. + +She waited with a nice little superb air that made everybody hurry to +serve her, and presently she was shown up to the door of Bonnie +Brentwood's room. Her chauffeur had followed, bearing a large pasteboard +suit-box which he set down at the door and departed. + +"Is this Miss Brentwood's room?" she asked of the nurse who opened the +door grudgingly. Her patient had just awakened from a refreshing sleep +and she had no notion that this lofty little person had really come to +see the quiet, sad-eyed girl who had come there in such shabby little +garments. The visitor had made a mistake, of course. The nurse +grudgingly admitted that Miss Brentwood roomed there. + +"Well, I've brought some things for her," said Gila, indicating the +large box at her feet. "You can take it inside and open it." + +The nurse opened the door a little wider, looked at the small, imperious +personage in fur trappings, and then down at the box. She hesitated a +moment in a kind of inward fury, then swung the door a little wider open +and stepped back: + +"You can set it inside if you wish, or wait till one of the men comes +by," she said, coolly, and deliberately walked back in the room and +busied herself with the medicine-glasses. + +Gila stared at her haughtily a moment, but there wasn't much +satisfaction in wasting her glares on that white-linen back, so she +stooped and dragged in the box. She came and stood by the bed, staring +down apprizingly at the sick girl. + +Bonnie Brentwood turned her head wearily and looked up at her with a +puzzled, half-annoyed expression. She had paid no heed to the little +altercation at the door. Her apathy toward life was great. She was lying +on the borderland, looking over and longing to go where all her dear +ones had gone. It wearied her inexpressibly that they all would insist +on doing things to call her back. + +"Is your name Brentwood?" asked Gila, in the sharp, high key so alien to +a hospital. + +Bonnie recalled her spirit to this world and focused her gaze on the +girl as if to try and recall where she had ever met her. Bonnie's +abundant hair was spread out over the pillow, as the nurse had just +prepared to brush it. It fell in long, rich waves of brightness and +fascinating little rings of gold about her face. Gila stared at it +jealously, as if it were something that had been stolen from her. Her +own hair, cloudy and dreamy, and made much of with all that skill and +care could do, was pitiful beside this wonderful gold mane with red and +purple shadows in its depths, and ripples and curls at the ends. +Wonderful hair! + +The face of the girl on the pillow was perfect in form and feature. +Regular, delicate, refined, and lovely! Gila knew it would be counted +rarely beautiful, and she was furious! How had that upstart of a college +boy dared to send her here to see a beauty! What had he meant by it? + +By this time the girl on the bed had summoned her soul back to earth for +the nonce, and answered in a cool, little tone of distance, as she might +have spoken to her employer, perhaps; or, in other circumstances, to the +stranger begging for work on her door-sill--Bonnie was a lady +anywhere--"Yes, I am Miss Brentwood." + +There was no noticeable emphasis on the "Miss," but Gila felt that the +pauper had arisen and put herself on the same level with her, and she +was furious. + +"Well, I've brought you a few things!" declared Gila, in a most +offensive tone. "Paul Courtland asked me to come and see what I could do +for you." She swung her moleskin trappings about and pointed to the +box. "I don't believe in giving money, not often," she declared, with a +tilt of her nasty little chin that suddenly seemed to curve out in a +hateful, Satanic point, "but I don't mind giving a little lift in other +ways to persons who are truly worthy, you know. I've brought you a few +evening dresses that I'm done with. It may help you to get a position +playing for the movies, perhaps; or if you don't know rag-time, perhaps +you might act--they'll take almost anybody, I understand, if they have +good clothes. Besides, I'm going to give you an introduction to a girls' +employment club. They have a hall and hold dances once a week and you +get acquainted. It only costs you ten cents a week and it will give you +a place to spend your evenings. If you join that you'll need evening +dresses for the dances. Of course I understand some of the girls just go +in their street suits, but you stand a great deal better chance of +having a good time if you are dressed attractively. And then they say +men often go in there evenings to look for a stenographer, or an actor, +or some kind of a worker, and they always pick out the prettiest. Dress +goes a great way if you use it rightly. Now there's a frock in here--" +Gila stooped and untied the cord on the box. "This frock cost a hundred +and fifty dollars, and I never wore it but once!" + +She held up a tattered blue net adorned with straggling, crushed, +artificial rosebuds, its sole pretension to a waist being a couple of +straps of silver tissue attached to a couple of rags of blue net. It +looked for all the world like a draggled butterfly. + +"It's torn in one or two places," pursued Gila's ready tongue, "but it's +easily mended. I wore it to a dance and somebody stepped on the hem. I +suppose you are good at mending. A girl in your position ought to know +how to sew. My maid usually mends things like this with a thread of +itself. You can pull one out along the hem, I should think. Then here is +a pink satin. It needs cleaning. They don't charge more than two or +three dollars--or perhaps you might use gasolene. I had slippers to +match, but I couldn't find but one. I brought that along. I thought you +might do something with it. They were horribly expensive--made to order, +you know. Then this cerise chiffon, all covered with sequins, is really +too showy for a girl in your station, but in case you get a chance to +act you might need it, and anyhow I never cared for it. It isn't +becoming to me. Here's an indigo charmeuse with silver trimmings. I got +horribly tired of it, but you will look stunning in it. It might even +help you catch a rich husband; who knows! There's half a dozen pairs of +white evening gloves! I might have had them cleaned, but if you can use +them I can get new ones. And there's a bundle of old silk stockings! +They haven't any toes or heels much, but I suppose you can darn them. +And of course you can't afford to buy expensive silk stockings!" + +One by one Gila had pulled the things out of the box, rattling on about +them as if she were selling corn-cure. She was a trifle excited, to be +sure, now that she was fairly launched on her philanthropic expedition; +also the fact that the two women in the room were absolutely silent and +gave no hint of how they were going to take this tide of insults was +somewhat disconcerting. However, Gila was not easily disconcerted. She +was very angry, and her anger had been growing in force all night. The +greatest insult that man could offer her had been heaped upon her by +Courtland, and there was no punishment too great to be meted out to the +unfortunate innocent who had been the occasion of it. Gila did not care +what she said, and she had no fear of any consequences whatever. There +had not, so far to her knowledge, lived the man who could not be called +back and humbled to her purpose after she had punished him sufficiently +for any offense he might knowingly or unknowingly have committed. That +she really had begun to admire Courtland, and to desire him in some +degree for her own, only added fuel to her fire. This girl whom he had +dared to pity should be burned and tortured; she should be insulted and +extinguished utterly, so that she would never dare to lift her head +again within recognizable distance of Paul Courtland, or she would know +the reason why. Paul Courtland was _hers_--if she chose to have him; let +no other girl dare to look at him! + +The nurse stood, starched and stern, with growing indignation at the +audacity of the stranger. Only the petrification of absolute +astonishment, and wonder as to what would happen next, took her off her +guard for the moment and prevented her from ousting the young lady from +the premises instantly. There was also the magic name of the handsome +young gentleman that had been used as password, and the very slight +possibility that this might be some rich relative of the lovely young +patient that she would not like to have put out. The nurse looked from +Bonnie to the visitor in growing wrath and perplexity. + +Bonnie lay wide-eyed and amazed, startled bewilderment and growing +dignity in her face. Two soft, pink spots of color began to bloom out in +her cheeks, and her eyes took on a twinkle of amusement. She was +watching the visitor as if she were a passing Punch-and-Judy show come +in to play for a moment for her entertainment. She lay and regarded her +and her tawdry display of finery with a quiet, disinterested aloofness +that was beginning to get on Gila's nerves. + +"You can have my flowers, too, if you want them," said Gila, excitedly, +seeing that her flood of insult had brought forth no answering word from +either listener. "They're very handsome, rare ones--orchids, you know. +Did you ever see any before? I don't mind leaving them with you because +I have a great many flowers, and these were given me by a young man I +don't care in the least about." + +She unpinned the flowers and held them out to Bonnie, but the sick girl +lay still and regarded her with that quiet, half-amused gravity and did +not offer to take them. + +"I presume you can find a waste-basket down in the office if you want to +get rid of them," said Bonnie, suddenly, in a clear, refined voice. "I +really shouldn't care for them. Isn't there a waste-basket somewhere +about?" she asked, turning toward the nurse. + +"Down in the hall by the front entrance," answered the nurse, grimly. +She was ready to play up to whatever cue Bonnie gave her. + +Gila stood haughtily holding her flowers and looking from one woman to +the other, unable to believe that any other woman had the insufferable +audacity to meet her on her own ground in this way. Were they actually +guying her, or were they innocents who really thought she did not want +the flowers, or who did not know enough to think orchids beautiful? +Before she could decide Bonnie was speaking again, still in that quiet, +superior tone of a lady that gave her the command of the situation: + +"I am sorry," she said, quite politely, as if she must let her visitor +down gently, "but I'm afraid you have made some mistake. I don't recall +ever having met you before. It must be some other Miss Brentwood for +whom you are looking." + +Gila stared, and her color suddenly began to rise even under the pearly +tint of her flesh. Had she possibly made some blunder? This certainly +was the voice of a lady. And the girl on the bed had the advantage of +absolute self-control. Somehow that angered Gila more than anything +else. + +"Don't you know Paul Courtland?" she demanded, imperiously. + +"I never heard the name before!" + +Bonnie's voice was steady, and her eyes looked coolly into the other +girl's. The nurse looked at Bonnie and marveled. She knew the name of +Paul Courtland well; she telephoned to that name every day. How was it +that the girl did not know it? She liked this girl and the man who had +brought her here and been so anxious about her. But who on earth was +this huzzy in fur? + +Gila looked at Bonnie madly. Her stare said as plainly as words could +have done: "You lie! You _do_ know him!" But Gila's lips said, +scornfully, "Aren't you the poor girl whose kid brother got killed by an +automobile in the street?" + +Across Bonnie's stricken face there flashed a spasm of pain and her very +lips grew white. + +"I thought so!" sneered Gila, rushing on with her insult. "And yet you +deny that you ever heard Paul Courtland's name! He picked up the kid and +carried it in the house and ran errands for you, but you don't know him! +That's gratitude for you! I told him the working-class were all like +that. I have no doubt he has paid for this very room that you are lying +in!" + +"Stop!" cried Bonnie, sitting up, her eyes like two stars, her face +white to the very lips. "You have no right to come here and talk like +that! I cannot understand who could have sent you! Certainly not the +courteous stranger who picked up my little brother. I do not know his +name, nor anything about him, but I can assure you that I shall not +allow him nor any one else to pay my bills. Now will you take your +things and leave my room? I am feeling very--tired!" + +The voice suddenly trailed off into silence and Bonnie dropped back +limply upon the pillow. + +The nurse sprang like an angry bear who has seen somebody troubling her +cubs. She touched vigorously a button in the wall as she passed and +swooped down upon the tawdry finery, stuffing it unceremoniously into +the box; then she turned upon the little fur-trimmed lady, placed a +capable arm about her slim waist, and scooped her out of the room. +Flinging the bulging box down at her feet, where it gaped widely, +gushing forth in pink, blue, cerise, and silver, she shut the door and +flew back to her charge. + +Down the hall hurried the emergency doctor, formidable in his +white-linen uniform. When Gila looked up from the confusion at her feet +she encountered the gaze of a pair of grave and disapproving eyes behind +a pair of fascinating tortoise-shell goggles. She was not accustomed to +disapproval in masculine eyes and it infuriated her. + +"What does all this mean?" His voice expressed a good many kinds of +disapproval. + +"It means that I have been insulted, sir, by one of your nurses!" +declared Gila, in her most haughty tone, with a tilt of her chin and a +flirt of her fur trappings. "I shall make it my business to see that she +is removed at once from her position." + +The doctor eyed her mildly, as though she were a small bat squeaking at +a mighty hawk. "Indeed! I fancy you will find that a rather difficult +matter!" he answered, contemptuously. "She is one of our best nurses! +James!" to a passing assistant, "escort this person and +her--belongings"--looking doubtfully at the mess on the floor--"down to +the street!" + +Then he swiftly entered Bonnie's room, closing and fastening the door +behind him. + +The said James, with an ill-concealed grin, stooped to his task; and +thus, in mortification, wrath, and ignominy, did Gila descend to her +waiting limousine. + +There were tears of anger on her cheeks as she sat back against her +cushions; more tears fell, which, regardless of her pearly complexion, +she wiped away with a cobweb of a handkerchief, while she sat and hated +Courtland, and the whole tribe of college men, her cousin Bill Ward +included, for getting her into a scrape like this. Defeat was a thing +she could not brook. She had never, since she came out of short frocks, +been so defeated in her life! But it should not be defeat! She would +take her full revenge for all that had happened! Courtland should bite +the dust! She would show him that he could not go around picking up +stray beauties and sending her after them to pet them for him. + +She did not watch for acquaintances during that ride home. She remained +behind drawn curtains. Arrived at home, she stormed up to her room, +giving orders to her maid not to disturb her, and sat down angrily to +indite an epistle to Courtland that should bring him to his knees. + +Meantime the doctor and nurse worked silently, skilfully over Bonnie +until the weary eyes opened once more, and a long-drawn sigh showed that +the girl had come back to the world. + +By and by, when the doctor had gone out of the room and the nurse had +finished giving her the beef-tea that had been ordered, Bonnie raised +her eyes. "Would you mind finding out for me just what this room costs?" +she asked, wearily. + +The nurse had been fixing it all up in her mind what she should say when +this question came. "Why, I'm under the impression you won't have to pay +anything," she said, pleasantly. "You see, sometimes patients, when they +go out, are kind of grateful and leave a sort of endowment of a bed for +a while, or something like that, for cases just like yours, where +strangers come in for a few days and need quiet--real quiet that they +can't get in the ward, you know. I believe some one paid something for +this room in some kind of a way like that. I guess the doctor thought +you would get well quicker if you had it quiet, so he put you in here. +You needn't worry a bit about it." + +Bonnie smiled. "Would you mind making sure?" she asked. "I'd like to +know just what I owe. I have a little money, you know." + +The nurse nodded and slipped away to whisper the story to the grave +doctor, who grew more indignant and contemptuous than he had been to +Gila, and sent her promptly back with an answer. + +"You don't have to pay a cent," she said, cheerfully, as she returned. +"This bed is endowed temporarily, the doctor says, to be used at his +discretion, and he wants to keep you here till some one comes who needs +this room more than you do. At present there isn't any one, so you +needn't worry. We are not going to let any more little feather-headed +spitfires in to see you, either. The doctor balled the office out like +everything for letting that girl up." + +Bonnie tried to smile again, but only ended in a sigh. "Oh, it doesn't +matter," she said, and then, after a minute, "You've been very good to +me. Some time I hope I can do something for you. Now I'm going to +sleep." + +The nurse went out to look after some of her duties. Half an hour later +she came back to Bonnie's room and entered softly, not to waken her. She +was worried lest she had left the window open too wide and the wind +might be blowing on her, for it had turned a good deal colder since the +sun went down. + +She tiptoed to the bed and bent over in the dim light to see if her +patient was all right. Then she drew back sharply. + +The bed was empty! + +She turned on the light and looked all around. There was no one else in +the room! Bonnie was gone! + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + + +Wildly the nurse searched the room, throwing open the wardrobe first! +Bonnie's shabby clothes were no longer hanging on the hooks! She rushed +to the window and looked helplessly along the fire-escape out into the +courtyard below, where the ambulance was just bringing in a fresh case. +There was no sign of her patient. Turning back, she saw on the table a +bit of paper from the daily record-sheet folded up and pinned together +with a quaint little circle of old-fashioned gold in which were set tiny +garnets and pearls. The note was addressed, "Miss Wright, Nurse." A +five-dollar bill fell from the paper. The nurse picked it up and read: + + DEAR NURSE,--I am leaving this little pin for you + because you have been so good to me. It isn't very valuable, + but it is all I have. The five dollars is for the room. I + know it is worth more, but I haven't any more just now. You + have all been very kind. Please give the money to the doctor + and thank him for me. Don't worry about me; I am all right. + I just need to get back to work. + + Good-by, and thank you again, + Sincerely, + ROSE BONNER BRENTWOOD. + +The nurse rushed down to the office. A search was instituted at once. +Every one in the office and halls was questioned. Only one elevator-man +remembered a person, dressed in black, going out of the nurses' side +door. He had thought it one of the probation nurses. + +They searched the streets for several blocks around. It had been only a +few minutes, and the girl was weak. She could not have gone far! But no +Bonnie was found! + +The evening mail came in and a letter with a Western postmark arrived +for Miss R.B. Brentwood. The nurse looked at it sadly. A letter for the +poor child! What hope and friendliness might it not contain! If it had +only come a couple of hours sooner! + +Later that evening, when it was finally settled that the patient had +really escaped, the nurse went to the telephone. + +Courtland was in Tennelly's room. They had been discussing woman +suffrage, some question that had come up in the political-science class +that day. Tennelly held that most women were too unbalanced to vote; you +never could tell what a woman would do next. She was swayed entirely by +her emotions, mainly two--love and hate; sometimes pride and +selfishness. _Always_ selfishness. Women were all selfish! + +Courtland thought of the calm, true eyes of Mother Marshall and the +telegram that had come the day before. He held that all women were not +selfish. He said he knew _one_ woman who was not. All women were not +flighty and unbalanced nor swayed by their emotions. He knew two girls +whom he thought were not swayed by their emotions. Just then he was +called to the telephone. + +The nurse's voice broke upon his absorption with a disturbing element: +"Mr. Courtland, this is the nurse from Good Samaritan Hospital. I +thought you ought to know that Miss Brentwood has disappeared! We have +searched everywhere, but can get no clue to her whereabouts. She wasn't +fit to go. She had fainted again--was unconscious a long time. She had a +very disturbing call from a young woman this afternoon, who mentioned +your name and got up to the room somehow without the usual formalities. +Of course I didn't know but she had the doctor's permission, and she +came right in. She brought a lot of dirty evening gowns and tried to +give them to my patient, and called her a working-girl; spoke of her +little dead brother as 'the kid,' and was very insulting. I thought +perhaps you would be able to give us a clue as to where the patient was. +She really was too weak to be out alone; and in this bitter cold! Her +jacket was very thin. She's just in the condition to get pneumonia. I'm +all broken up because I thought she was sound asleep. She left a little +note for me, with a pin she wanted me to keep, and five dollars to pay +for her room. You see she got the notion from what that girl said that +she was on charity in that room and she wouldn't stay. I thought you'd +want me to let you know!" + +There was almost a sob in the nurse's voice as she ended. Courtland's +heart sank. + +Poor Gila! She hadn't understood. She had meant well, but hadn't known +how! Poor fool he, that had asked her to go! She had never had +experience with sorrow and poverty. How could she be expected to +understand? + +His anger rose as he listened to a few more details concerning Gila's +remarks. Of course the nurse was exaggerating, but how crude of Gila! +Where were her woman's intuitions? Her finer sensibilities? Where +indeed? But, after all, perhaps the nurse had not understood fully. +Perhaps she had taken offense and misconstrued Gila's intended kindness! +Well, the main thing was that Bonnie was gone and must be hunted up. It +wouldn't do to leave her without friends, sick and weak, this cold +night. She had, of course, gone home to her room. He could easily find +her. He wouldn't mind going out, though he had intended doing other +things that evening; but he had undertaken this job and he must see it +through. Then there was that telegram from Mother Marshall! And her +letter on the way! Too bad! Of course he must make Bonnie go back to the +hospital. He would have no trouble in coaxing her back when she knew how +she had distressed them all. + +"I'll go right down to her old place and see if she's there," he told +the nurse. "She has probably gone back to her room. Certainly I will +insist that she return to the hospital to-night." + +As he hung up the receiver Pat touched his elbow and pointed to a +messenger-boy waiting for him with a note. + +It was Gila's violet-scented missive over which she had wept those angry +tears. He signed for the letter with a frown. Somehow the perfume +annoyed him. He put the thing in his pocket, having no patience to read +it at once, and went hurriedly down the hall. + +As he passed the office Courtland found a letter in his box, noting with +a sort of comfort that it bore a Western postmark. As he waited for his +trolley at the corner, he reflected how strange it was that this young +woman, whom he had never seen nor heard of before, should suddenly be +flung thus upon his horizon and seem, in a measure, his responsibility. +He had been shaking free from that sense of accountability since she had +been reported getting better; and especially since he had put her upon +the hearts of Mother Marshall and Gila. Gila! How the thought of her +annoyed just now! + +In the trolley he opened Mother Marshall's letter and read, marveling at +the revelation of motherhood it contained. Motherhood and fatherhood! +How beautiful! A sort of Christ-mother and Christ-father, these two who +had been bereft of their own, were willing to be! And Bonnie! How she +needed them--and had gone before she knew! He must persuade her to go to +Mother Marshall! For, after all, this whole bungle was his fault. If he +had never tried to tole Gila into it this wouldn't have happened. + +A factory-girl, belated, shivered into the car in a thin summer jacket +and stood beside a girl in furs and a handsome coat. Courtland thought +of Bonnie in her little shabby black suit--a summer suit, of course. He +remembered noticing how thin it looked as they stood beside the grave on +the bleak hillside, and wondering if she were not cold. But it was mild +that day compared to this, and the sun had been shining then. She must +have half frozen in that long, long ride! And had she money enough to +buy her something to eat? She had left a five-dollar bill at the +hospital. Some instinct taught him that it was the last she had! + +He grew more and more nervous and impatient as he neared his +destination. + +He sprang up the narrow stairs that had grown so familiar to him the +past week, watching anxiously the crack under the door to see if there +was a light. But it was all dark! He tapped at the door lightly. But of +course she would have gone to bed at once after the exertion of the +journey! He tapped louder, and held his breath to listen. But no answer +came! + +Then he tapped again, and called, in half-subdued tones: "Miss +Brentwood! Are you there?" + +A stir was heard at the other end of the hall, the sound of the +scratching of a match. A light appeared under the door of the front +room, the door opened a crack, and a frowsy head was thrust out, with a +candle held high above it, and eyes that were full of sleep peering +into the darkness of the hall. + +"Has Miss Brentwood returned? Have you seen her?" he asked. + +"Not as I knows on, she 'ain't come," said a woman's voice. "I went to +bed early. She might ov and I not hear her, she's so softly like." + +"I wonder if we could find out? Would you mind coming and trying?" + +The woman looked at him keenly. "Oh, you're the young feller what come +to the fun'rul, ain't you? Well, you jest wait a bit an' I'll throw +somethin' on an' come an' try." The woman came in an amazing costume of +many colors, and called and shook the door. She got her key and unlocked +the door, stepping cautiously inside and looking about. She advanced, +holding the candle high, Courtland waiting behind. He could see one +withered white rosebud on the floor. There was no sign of Bonnie! Her +room was just as she had left it on the day of the funeral! + +Where was Bonnie Brentwood? + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + + +Suddenly, as Courtland stood in the narrow, dark street alone and in +uncertainty, he was no longer alone. As clearly as if he felt a touch +upon his sleeve he knew that One was there beside him, and that this +errand he was upon had the sanction of that Presence which had met him +once in the fiery way and promised to show him what to do. + +"God, show me where to find her!" he ejaculated, and then, as if one had +said, "Come with me!" he turned as certainly as if a passer-by had +directed him where he had seen her, and walked up the street. That is, +_they_ walked up the street. + +Always in thinking of that walk afterward he thought of it as "they +walking up the street"--himself and the Presence. + +The first thing he remembered about it was that he had lost that sense +of uncertainty and anxiety. How long the route was or where it was to +end did not seem to matter. Every step of the way was companioned by One +who knew what He was about. It came to him that he would like to go +everywhere in such company; that no journey would be too far or arduous, +no duty too unpleasant if all could be as this. + +He stepped into the telephone-office and began calling up hospitals. +There were one or two that reported young women brought in, but the +description was not at all like the girl of whom he was in search. He +jotted them down in his note-book, however, with a feeling that they +might be a last resort. + +As he turned the pages of the 'phone-book his eye caught the name of the +city's morgue, and a sudden horror froze into his mind. What if +something had happened to her and she had been taken there? What if she +had ended the life which had looked so lonely and impossible to her? No, +she would never do that, not with her faith in the Christ! And yet, if +her vitality was low, and her heart was taxed with sorrow, she would +perhaps scarcely be responsible for what she did. + +He rang up the morgue sharply and put tense, eager questions. + +Yes, a young woman had been brought in about an hour ago.... Yes, +dressed in black--had long light hair and was slender. "_Some looker!_" +the man who answered the 'phone said. + +Courtland shuddered and hung up. He felt that he must go to the morgue. + +When they entered the gruesome place of the unknown dead, although the +Presence entered with him, yet he felt that it was there already, +standing close among the dead; had been there when they came in! + +Courtland's face was white, and set as he passed between the silent dead +laid out for identification. An inward shudder went through him as he +was led to the spot where lay the latest comer, a slim young girl with +long golden hair, sodden from the river where she had been found, her +pretty face sharpened and coarsened by sin. + +He drew a deep breath of relief and turned away quickly from the sight +of her poor drowned eyes, rejoicing that they had not been the eyes of +Bonnie. It was terrible to think of Bonnie lying so, all drenched and +her spirit put out. He was glad he might still think of her alive, and +go on searching for her. But a dart of pain went through his heart as he +looked again at this little wreck of womanhood, going out of a life that +had dealt hardly with her; where she had reached for brightness and +pleasure, and had found ashes and bitterness instead. Going into a +beyond of darkness, hoping, perhaps, for no kindlier hands to greet her +than those that had been withheld from her in this world! What would the +resurrection mean to a poor little soul like that? What could it mean? +Ah! Perhaps it had not all been her fault! Perhaps there were others who +had helped push her down, smug in self-righteousness, to whom the +resurrection would be more of a horror than to the pretty, ignorant +child whose untaught feet had strayed into forbidden paths! Who knew? He +was glad to look up and feel the Presence there! Who knew what might +have passed between the soul and God? It was safe to leave that little +sinful soul with Him who had died to save. It was good to go out from +there knowing that the pretty, sinful girl, the hardened, grizzled sot, +the poor old toothless crone, the little hunchback newsboy who lay in +the same row, were guarded alike and beloved by the same Presence that +would go with him. + +Around the little newsboy huddled a group of street gamins, counting out +their few pennies, and talking excitedly of how they would buy him some +flowers. There were tear-stains down their grimy cheeks and it was plain +they were pitying him, they who had perhaps yet to tread the paths of +sin and deprivation and sorrow for many long years. And the Presence +there! So near them, with the pitying eyes! The young man knew the eyes +were pitying! If the children could only see! He felt an impulse to turn +back and tell them as he passed out into the street, yet how could he +make them understand--he who understood so feebly and intermittently +himself? He felt a great ache in himself to go out and shout to all the +world to look up and see the Presence that was in their midst, and they +saw Him not! + +He was entirely aware that his present mental state would have seemed to +him little short of insanity twenty-four hours before; that it might +pass again as it had done before; and a kind of mental frenzy seized him +lest it would. He did not want to lose this assurance of One guiding +through a world that was so full of sorrow as this one had recently +revealed itself to him to be. And with the world-old anguished "Give me +a sign!" the cry of the soul reaching out to the unknown, he spoke aloud +once more: "God, if You are really there, let me find her!" + +And yet if any had asked him just then if he ever prayed he would have +told them no. Prayer was to him a thing utterly apart from this cry of +his soul, this longing for an understanding with God. + +He walked on through streets he did not know, passing men and women with +worn and haggard faces, tattered garments, and discouraged mien; and +always that cry came in his soul, "Oh, if they only knew!" There was the +Presence by his side, and men passed by and saw Him not! + +He was walking in the general direction of the Good Samaritan Hospital, +just as any one would walk with a friend through a strange place and +accommodate his going to the man who was guiding him. All the way there +seemed to be a sort of intercourse between himself and his Companion. +His soul was putting forth great questions that he would some day take +up in detail and go over little by little, as one will verify a problem +that one has worked out. But now he was working it out, becoming +satisfied in his soul that this was the only way to solve the great +otherwise unanswerable problems of the universe. + +They had gone for perhaps three miles or more from the morgue, traveling +for the most part through narrow streets crowded full of small +dwelling-houses interspersed by cheap stores and saloons. The night +lowered! the stars were not on duty. A cold wind from the river swept +around corners, reminding him of the dripping yellow hair of the girl in +the morgue. It cut like a knife through Courtland's heavy overcoat and +made him wish he had brought his muffler. He stuffed his gloved hands +into his pockets. Even in their fur linings they were stiff and cold. He +thought of the girl's little light serge jacket and shivered visibly as +they turned into another street where vacant lots on one side left a +wide sweep for the wind and sent it tempesting along freighted with dust +and stinging bits of sand. The clouds were heavy as with snow, only that +it was too cold to snow. One fancied only biting steel could fall from +clouds like that on a night so bitter. And any moment he might have +turned back, gone a block to one side, and caught the trolley across to +the university, where light and warmth and friends were waiting. And +what was this one little lost girl to him? A stranger? No, she was no +longer a stranger! She had become something infinitely precious to the +whole universe. God cared, and that was enough! He could not be a friend +of God unless he cared as God cared! He was demonstrating facts that he +had never apprehended before. + +The lights were out in most of the houses that they passed, for it was +growing late. There were not quite so many saloons. The streets loomed +wide ahead, the line of houses dark on the left, and the stretch of +vacant lots, with the river beyond on the right. Across the river a +line of dark buildings with occasional blink of lights blended into the +dark of the sky, and the wind merciless over all. + +On ahead a couple of blocks the light flung out on the pavement and +marked another saloon. Bright doors swung back and forth. The +intermittent throb of a piano and twang of a violin, making merry with +the misery of the world; voices brokenly above it all came at intervals, +loudly as the way drew nearer. + +The saloon doors swung again and four or five dark figures jostled +noisily out and came haltingly down the street. They walked crazily, +like ships without a rudder, veering from one side of the walk to the +other, shouting and singing uncouth, ribald songs, hoarse laughter +interspersed with scattered oaths. + +"O! Jesus Christ!" came distinctly through the quiet night. The young +man felt a distinct pain for the Christ by his side, like the pressing +of a thorn into the brow. He seemed to know the prick himself. For these +were some of those for whom He died! + +It occurred to Courtland that he was seeing everything on this walk +through the eyes of the Christ. He remembered Scrooge and his journey +with the Ghost of Christmas Past in Dickens's _Christmas Carol_. It was +like that. He was seeing the real soul of everybody! He was with the +architect of the universe, noting where the work had gone wrong from the +mighty plans. He suddenly knew that these creatures coming giddily +toward him were planned to mighty things! + +The figures paused before one of the dark houses, pointed and laughed; +went nearer to the steps and stooped. He could not hear what they were +saying; the voices were hushed in ugly whispers, broken by harsh +laughter. Only now and then he caught a syllable. + +"Wake up!" floated out into the silence once. And again, "No, you don't, +my pretty little chicken!" + +Then a girl's scream pierced the night and something darted out from the +darkness of the door-step, eluding the drunken men, but slipped and +fell! + +Courtland broke into a noiseless run. + +The men had scrambled tipsily after the girl and clutched her. They +lifted her unsteadily and surrounded her. She screamed again, and dashed +this way and that blindly, but they met her every time and held her. + +Courtland knew, as by a flash, that he had been brought here for this +crisis. It was as if he had heard the words spoken to him, "Now go!" He, +lowering his head and crouching, came swiftly forward, watching +carefully where he steered, and coming straight at two of the men with +his powerful shoulders. It was an old trick of the football field and it +bowled the two assailants on the right straight out into the gutter. The +other three made a dash at him, but he side-stepped one and tripped him; +a blow on the point of the chin sent another sprawling on the sidewalk; +but the last one, who was perhaps the most sober of them all, showed +fight and called to his comrades to come on and get this stranger who +was trying to steal their girl. The language he used made Courtland's +blood boil. He struck the fellow across his foul mouth, and then +clenching with him, went down upon the sidewalk. His antagonist was a +heavier man than he was, but the steady brain and the trained muscles +had the better of it from the first, and in a moment more the drunken +man was choking and limp. + +Courtland rose and looked about. The two fellows in the gutter were +struggling to their feet with loud threats, and the fellow on the +sidewalk was staggering toward him. They would be upon the girl again in +a moment. He looked toward her, as she stood trembling a few feet away +from him, too frightened to try to run, not daring to leave her +protector. A street light fell directly upon her white face. It was +Bonnie Brentwood! + +With a kick at the man on the ground who was trying to rise, and a lurch +at the man on the sidewalk who was coming toward him that sent him +spinning again, Courtland dived under the clutching hands of the two in +the gutter who couldn't quite make it to get upon the curb again. +Snatching up the girl like a baby, he fled up the street and around the +first corner, and all that cursing, drunken, reeling five came howling +after! + + + + +CHAPTER XV + + +Courtland had run three blocks and turned two corners before he dared +stop and set the girl upon her feet again. He looked anxiously at her +white face and great, frightened eyes. Her lips were trembling and she +was shivering. He tore his overcoat off, wrapped it about her, and +before she could protest caught her up again and ran on another block or +two. + +"Oh, you must not!" she cried. "I can walk perfectly well, and I don't +need your coat. Please, please put on your coat and let me walk! You +will take a terrible cold!" + +"I can run better without it," he explained, briefly, "and we can get +out of the way of those fellows quicker this way!" + +So she lay still in his arms till he put her down again. He looked up +and down either way, hoping to see the familiar red-and-green lights of +a drug-store open late; but none greeted him; all the buildings seemed +to be residences. + +Somewhere in the distance he heard the whir of a late trolley. He +glanced at his watch. It was half past one. If only a taxicab would come +along. But no taxi was in sight. The girl was begging him to put on his +overcoat. She had drawn it from her own shoulders and was holding it out +to him insistently. But with the rare smile that Courtland was noted for +he took the coat and wrapped it firmly about her shoulders again, this +time putting her arms in the sleeves and buttoning it up to the chin. + +"Now," said he, "you're not to take that off again until we get where it +is warm. You needn't worry about me. I'm quite used to going out in all +weathers without my coat as often as with it. Besides, I've been +exercising. When did you have something to eat?" + +"When I left the hospital this evening. I had some strong beef-tea," she +answered, airily, as if that had been only a few minutes before. + +"How did you happen to be where I found you?" he asked, looking at her +keenly. + +"Why, I must have missed my way, I think," she explained, "and I felt a +little weak from having been in bed so long. I just sat down on a +door-step to rest a minute before I went on, and I'm afraid I must have +fallen asleep." + +"You were _walking_?" His tone was stern. "Why were you walking?" + +A desperate look came into her face. "Well, I hadn't any car fare, if +you must know the reason." + +They were passing a street light as she said it, and he looked down at +her fine little white profile in wonder and awe. He felt a sudden +choking in his throat and a mist in his eyes. He had it on the tip of +his tongue to say, "You poor little girl!" but instead he said, in a +tone of intense admiration: + +"Well, you certainly are the pluckiest girl I ever saw! You have your +nerve with you all right! But you're not going to walk another step +to-night!" + +And with that he stooped, gathered her up again, and strode forward. He +could hear the distant whir of another trolley, and he determined to +take it, no matter which way it was going. It would take them somewhere +and he could telephone for an ambulance. So he sprinted forward, +regardless of her protests, and arrived at the next corner just in time +to catch the car going cityward. + +There was nobody else in the car and he made her keep the coat about +her. He couldn't help seeing how worn and thin her little shabby shoes +were, and how she shivered now even in the great coat. He saw she was +just keeping up her nerve, and he was filled with admiration. + +"Why did you run away from the hospital?" he asked, suddenly, looking +straight into her sad eyes. + +"I couldn't afford to stay any longer." + +"You made a big mistake. It wouldn't have cost you a cent. That room was +free. I made sure of that before I secured it for you." + +"But that was a private room!" + +"Just a little more private than the wards. That room was paid for and +put at the disposal of the doctor to use for whoever he thought needed +quiet. Now are you satisfied? And you are going straight back there till +you are well enough to go out again! You raised a big row in the +hospital, running away. They've had the whole force of assistants out +hunting you for hours, and your nurse is awfully upset about you. She +seems to be crazy over you, anyway. She nearly wept when she telephoned +me. And I've been out for hours hunting you, stirred up the old lady on +your floor at your home, and a lot of hospitals and other places, and +then just came on you in the nick of time. I hope you've learned your +lesson, to be a good little girl after this and not run away." + +He smiled indulgently, but the girl's eyes were full of tears. + +"I didn't mean to make all that trouble for people. Why should you all +care about a stranger? But, oh! I'm so thankful you came! Those men +were terrible!" She shuddered. "How did you happen to come there? I +think God must have led you." + +"He did!" said Courtland, with conviction. + +When they reached the big city station he stowed his patient into a taxi +and sent a messenger up to the restaurant for hot chicken broth, which +he administered himself. + +She lay back with her eyes closed after the broth was finished. He +realized that she had reached the full limit of her endurance. She had +forgotten even to protest against wearing his overcoat any longer. + +It was a strange ride. The silent girl sat closely wrapped in her +corner, fast asleep. The car bounded over obstacles now and then, or +swung around corners and threw her about like a ball, but she did not +waken; and finally Courtland drew her head down upon his shoulder and +put his arm about her to keep her from being thrown out of her seat; and +she settled down like a tired child. He could not help thinking of that +other girl lying stark and dead in the morgue, and being glad that this +one was safe. + +Nurse Wright was hovering about the hallway when the taxi drew up to the +entrance of the hospital, and Bonnie was tenderly cared for at once. + +Courtland began to realize that this great hospital was an evidence of +the Presence of Christ in the world! He was not the only one who had +felt the Presence. Some one moved as he had been to-night had +established this big house of healing. There on the opposite wall was a +great stained-glass window representing Christ blessing the little +children, and the people bringing the maimed and halt and lame and blind +to Him for healing. + +The quiet night routine went on about him; the strong, pervasive odor of +antiseptics; the padded tap of the nurses' rubber soles as they went +softly on their rounds; the occasional click of a glass and a spoon +somewhere; the piteous wail of a suffering child in a distant ward; the +sharp whir of an electric bell; the homely thud of the elevator on its +errands up and down; even the controlled yet ready spring to service of +all concerned when the ambulance rolled up and a man on a stretcher, +with a ghastly cut in his head and face, was brought in; all made him +feel how little and useless his life had been hitherto. How suddenly he +had been brought face to face with realities! + +He began to wonder if the Presence was everywhere, or if there were +places where His power was not manifest. There had been the red library! +There also had been that church last Sunday. + +The office clock chimed softly out the hour of three o'clock. It was +Sunday morning. Should he go to church again and search for the +Presence, or make up his mind that the churches were out of it entirely +and that it was only in places of need and sorrow and suffering that He +came? Still, that was not fair to the churches, perhaps, to judge all by +one. What an experience the night had been! Did Wittemore, majoring in +philanthropy, ever spend nights like this? If so, there must be depths +to Wittemore's nature that were worth sounding. + +He drew his handkerchief from his inner pocket, and as he did so a whiff +of violets came remindingly, but he paid no heed. Gila's letter lay in +his pocket, still unread. The antiseptics were at work upon his senses +and the violets could not reach him. + +There were dark circles under his eyes, and his hair was in a tumble, +but he looked good to Nurse Wright as she came down the hall at last to +give him her report. She almost thought he was good enough for her +Bonnie girl now. She wasn't given to romances, but she felt that Bonnie +needed one most mightily about now. + +"She didn't wake up except to open her eyes and smile once," she +reported, reassuringly. "She coughs a little now and then, with a nasty +sound in it, but I hope we can ward off pneumonia. It was great of you +to put your overcoat around her. That saved her, if anything can, I +guess. You look pretty well used up yourself. Wouldn't you like the +doctor to give you something before you go home?" + +"No, thank you. I'll be all right. I'm hard as nails. I'm only anxious +about her. You see, she's had a pretty tough pull of it. She started to +walk to the city! Did you know that? I fancy she'd gone about two miles. +It was somewhere along near the river I found her. It seems she got "all +in" and sat down on a door-step to rest. She must have fallen asleep. +Some tough fellows came out of a saloon--they were full, of course--and +they discovered her. I heard her scream, and we had quite a little +scuffle before we got away. She's a nervy little girl. Think of her +starting to walk to the city at that time of night, without a cent in +her pocket!" + +"The poor child!" said Nurse Wright, with tears in her kind, keen eyes. +"And she left her last cent here to pay for her room! My! When I think +of it I could choke that smart young snob that called on her in the +afternoon! You ought to have heard her sneers and her insinuations. +Women like that are a blight on womanhood! And she dared to mention your +name--said you had sent her!" + +The color heightened in Courtland's face. He felt uncomfortable. "Why, +I--didn't exactly send her," he began, uneasily. "I don't really know +her very well. You see, I'm just a student at the university and of +course I don't know a great many girls in the city. I thought it would +be nice if some girl would call on Miss Brentwood; she seemed so alone. +I thought another girl would understand and be able to comfort her." + +"She isn't a _girl_, that's what's the matter with her; she's a little +_demon_!" snapped the nurse. "You meant well, and I dare say she never +showed _you_ the demon side of her. Girls like that don't--to young +_men_. But if you take my advice you won't have anything more to do with +_her_! She isn't worth it! She may be rich and fashionable and all that, +but she can't hold a candle to Miss Brentwood! If you had just heard how +she went on, with her nasty little chin in the air and her nasty phrases +and insinuations, and her patronage! And then Miss Brentwood's gentle, +refined way of answering her! But never mind, I won't go into that! It +might take me all night, and I've got to go back to my patient. But you +are not to blame yourself one particle. I hope Miss Brentwood's going to +get through this all right in a few days, and she'll probably have +forgotten all about it, so don't you worry. I think it would be a good +thing if you were to come in and see her to-morrow afternoon a few +minutes. It might cheer her up. You really have been fine, you know! No +telling where she might have been by this time if you hadn't gone out +after her!" + +The young man shuddered involuntarily, and thought of the faces of the +five young fellows who had surrounded her. + +"I saw a little girl in the morgue to-night, drowned!" he said, +irrelevantly. "She wasn't any older than Miss Brentwood." + +The nurse gave an understanding look. On her way back to her rounds she +said to herself: "I believe he's a _real man_! If I hadn't thought so I +wouldn't have told him he might come and see her to-morrow!" + +Then she went into Bonnie's room, took the letter with the Western +postmark, and stood it up against a medicine-glass on the little table +beside the bed, where Bonnie could see it the first thing when she +opened her eyes. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + + +A little after four o'clock, when Courtland came plodding up the hall of +the dormitory to his room, a head was stuck out of Tennelly's door, +followed by Tennelly's shoulders attired in a bath-robe. The hair on the +head was much tumbled and the eyes were full of sleep. Moreover, there +was an anxious, relieved frown on the brows. + +"Where in thunder've you been, Court? We were thinking of dragging the +river for you. I must say you're the limit! Do you know what time it +is?" + +"Five minutes after four by the library clock as I came up," answered +Courtland, affably. "Say, Nelly, go to church with me again this +morning? I've found another preacher I want to sample." + +"Go to thunder!" growled Tennelly. "Not on your tin-type! I'm going to +get some sleep. What do you take me for? A night nurse? Go to church +when I've been up all night hunting for you?" + +"Sorry, Nelly," said Courtland, cheerfully, "but it was an emergency +call. Tell you about it on the way to church. Church don't begin till +somewhere round 'leven. You'll be calm by that time. So long! See you in +church!" + +Tennelly slammed his door hard, and Courtland went smiling to his room. +He knew that Tennelly would go with him to church. For Courtland had +seen among the advertisements in the trolley on his way back to the +university, the notice of a service to be held in a church away down in +the lower part of the city, to be addressed by the Rev. John Burns, and +he wanted to go. It might not be _the_ John Burns of course, but he +wanted to see. + +Worn out with the events of the night, he slept soundly until ten. Then, +as if he had been an alarm-clock set for a certain moment, he awoke. + +He lay there for a moment in the peace of the consciousness of something +good that had come to him. Then he knew that it was the Presence. It was +there, in his room. It would always be his. There might be laws +attending its coming and going--perhaps in some way concerned with his +own attitude--but he would learn them. It was enough to know the +possibility of that companionship all the days of one's life. + +He couldn't reason out why a thing like that should give him so much +joy. It didn't seem sensible in the old way of reasoning--and yet, +didn't it? If it could be proved to the fellows that there was really a +God like that, companionable, reasonable, just, loving, forgiving, ready +to give Himself, wouldn't every one of them jump at the chance of +knowing Him personally, provided there was a way for them to know Him? +They claimed it had never been proved, never could be. But he knew it +could. It had been proved to him! That was the difference. That was the +greatness of it! And now he was going to church again to find out if the +Presence was ever there! + +With a bound he was out of bed, shaved and dressed in an incredibly +short space of time, and, shouting to Tennelly, who took his feet +reluctantly from the window-seat, lowered the Sunday paper, and replied, +sulkily: + +"Thunder and blazes! Who waked you up, you nut! I thought you were good +for another two hours!" + +But they went to church. + +Tennelly sat down on the hard wooden bench and accepted the worn +hymn-book that a small urchin presented him, with an amused stare which +finally bloomed into a full grin at Courtland. + +"What's eating you, you blooming idiot! Where in thunder did you rake up +this dump, anyway? If you've got to go to church, why in the name of all +that's a bore can't you pick out a place where the congregation take a +bath once a month whether they need it or not?" he whispered, in a loud +growl. + +But Courtland's eyes were already fixed on the bright, intelligent face +and red hair of the man who stood behind the cheap little pulpit. He was +the same John Burns! A window just behind the platform, set with crude +red and blue and yellow lights of cheap glass, sent its radiance down, +upon his head, and the yellow bar lay across his hair like a halo; +behind him, in the colored lights, there seemed to stand the Presence. +It was so vivid to Courtland at first that he drew in his breath and +looked sharply at Tennelly, as if he, too, must see, though he knew +there was nothing visible, of course, but the lights, the glory, and the +little, freckled, earnest man giving out a hymn. + +And the singing! If one were looking for discord, well, it was there, +every shade of it that the world had ever known! There were quavering +old voices, and piping young ones; off the key and on the key, +squeaking, grating, screaming, howling, with all their earnest might, +but the melody lifted itself in a great voice on high and seemed to bear +along the spirit of the congregation. + + "I need Thee every hour. + Stay Thou near by; + Temptations lose their power + When Thou art nigh. + I need Thee, oh I, need Thee, + Every hour I need Thee; + O bless me now, my Saviour, + I come to Thee!" + +These people, then, knew about the Presence, loved it, longed for it, +understood its power! They sang of the Presence and were glad! There +were, then, others in the world who knew, besides himself and Stephen +and Stephen Marshall's mother! Without knowing what he was doing, +Courtland sang. He did not know the words, but he felt the spirit, and +he groped along in syllables as he caught them. + +Tennelly sat gazing around him, highly amused, not attempting to +suppress his mirth. His eyes fairly danced as he observed first one +absorbed worshiper, and then another, intent upon the song. He fancied +himself taking off the old elder on the other side of the aisle, and the +intense young woman with the large mouth and the feather in her hat. Her +voice was killing. He could make the fellows die laughing, singing as +she did, in a high falsetto. + +He looked at Courtland to enjoy it with him, and lo! Courtland was +singing with as much earnestness as the rest; and upon his face there +sat a high, exalted look that he had never seen there before. Was it +true that the fire and the sickness had really affected Court's mind, +after all? He had seemed so like his old self lately that they had all +hoped he was getting over it. + +During the prayer Courtland dropped his head and closed his eyes. +Tennelly glanced around and marveled amusedly at the serious attitude of +all. Even a row of tough-looking kids on the back seats had at least +one eye apiece squinted shut during the prayer, and almost an atmosphere +of reverence upon them. + +Tennelly prided himself upon being a student of human nature, and before +he knew it he was interested in this mass of common people about him. +But now and again his gaze went uneasily back to Courtland, whose eyes +were fixed intently upon the preacher, as if the words he spoke were of +real importance to him. + +Tennelly sat back in wonder and tried to listen. It was all about a +mysterious companionship with God, stuff that sounded like "rot" to him; +uncanny, unreal, mystical, impossible! Could it be true that Court, +their peach of a Court, whose sneer and criticism alike had been dreaded +by all who came beneath them--could it be that so sensible and scholarly +and sane a mind as Court's could take up with a superstition like that? +For it was to Tennelly foolishness. + +He owned to a certain amount of interest in the emotional side of the +sermon. It was true that the little man could sway that uncouth audience +mightily. He felt himself swayed in the tenderer side of his nature, but +of course his superior mind realized that it was all emotion; +interesting as a study, but not to be taken seriously for a moment. It +wasn't a healthy thing for Court to see much of this sort of thing. All +this talk of a cross, and one dying for all! Mere foolishness and +superstition! Very beautiful, and perhaps allegorical, but not at all +practical! + +The minister was down by the door before they got out, and grasped +Courtland's hand as if he were an old friend, and then turned and +grasped Tennelly's. There was something so genuine and sincere about his +face that Tennelly decided that he must really believe all that junk he +had been preaching, after all. He wasn't a fake, he was merely a good, +wholesome sort of a fanatic. He bowed pleasantly and said a few +commonplaces as he passed out. + +"Seems to be a good sort," he murmured to Courtland. "Pity he's tied +down to that sort of thing!" + +Courtland looked at him sharply. "Is that the way you feel about it, +Nelly?" There was something half wistful in his tone. + +Tennelly looked at him sharply. "Why, sure! I think he's a bigger man +than his job, don't you?" + +"Then you didn't feel it?" + +"Feel what?" + +"The Presence of God in that place!" + +There was something so simple and majestic about the way Courtland made +the extraordinary statement--not as a common fanatic would make it, nor +even as one who was testing and feeling around for confirmation of a +hope, but as one who knew it to be a fact beyond questioning, which the +other merely hadn't been able to see--that Tennelly was almost +embarrassed. + +"Why--I-- Why--no! I can't say that I noticed any particular +manifestation. I was entirely too much taken up by the smell to observe +the occult. Say, what's eating you, anyway, Court? Such foolishness +isn't like you. You ought to cut it out. You know a thing like this can +get on your nerves if you let it, just like anything else, and make you +a monomaniac. You ought to go in for more athletics and cut out some of +your psychology and philosophy. Suppose we go and take a ride in the +park this afternoon. It's a great day." + +"I don't mind riding in the park for a while after dinner. I've got a +date about four o'clock. But I'm not a monomaniac, Nelly, and nothing's +getting on my nerves. I never felt better or happier in my life. I feel +as if I'd been blind always, been sort of groping my way, and had just +got my eyes open to see what a wonderful thing life really is." + +"Do you mean you've got what they used to call 'religion,' Court? 'Hit +the trail,' as it were?" Tennelly asked as if he were delicately +inquiring about some insidious tubercular or cancerous trouble. He +seemed half ashamed to connect such a perilous possibility with his +honored friend. + +Courtland shook his head. "Not that I know of, Nelly. I never attended +one of those big evangelistic meetings in my life, and I don't know +exactly what 'religion,' as they call it, is, so I can't lay claim to +anything of that sort. What I mean is, simply, I've met God face to face +and found He's my friend. That's about the size of it, and it makes +things all look different. I'd like to tell you about it just as it +happened some time, Tennelly, when you're ready to hear." + +"Wait awhile, Court," said Tennelly, half shrinking. "Wait till you've +had a little more time to think it over. Then if you like I'll listen." + +"Very well," said Courtland, quietly. "But I want you to know it's +something real. It's no sick fancies." + +"All right!" said Tennelly. "I'll let you know when I'm ready to hear." + + * * * * * + +Late that afternoon, when Courtland entered the hospital, the sunshine +was flooding the great stained-glass window and glorifying the face of +the Christ with the outstretched hands. Off in a near-by ward some one +was singing to the patients, and the corridors seemed hushed to listen: + + The healing of the seamless dress + Is by our beds of pain. + We touch Him in life's throng and press + And we are whole again! + +All this recognition of the Christ in the world, and somehow it had +never come to his consciousness before! He felt abashed at his +blindness. And if he had been so long, surely there was hope for +Tennelly to see, too. Somehow, he wanted Tennelly to see! + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + + +Bonnie Brentwood was awake and expecting him, the nurse said. She lay +propped up by pillows, draped about with a dainty, frilly +dressing-sacque that looked too frivolous for Nurse Wright, yet could +surely have come from no other source. The golden hair was lying in two +long braids, one over each shoulder, and there was a faint flush of +expectancy on her pale cheeks. + +"You have been so good to me!" she said. "It has been wonderful for a +stranger to go out of his way so much." + +"Please don't let's talk about that!" said Courtland. "It's been only a +pleasure to be of service. Now I want to know how you are. I've been +expecting to hear that you had pneumonia or something dreadful after +that awful exposure." + +"Oh, I've been through a good deal more than that," said the girl, +trying to speak lightly. "Things don't seem to kill me. I've had quite a +lot of hard times." + +"I'm afraid you have," he said, gravely. "Somehow it doesn't seem fair +that you should have had such a rotten time of it, and I be lying around +enjoying myself. Shouldn't everybody be treated alike in this world? I +confess I don't understand it." + +Bonnie smiled feebly. "Oh, it's all right!" she said, with conviction. +"'In the world ye shall have tribulation, but fear not, I have overcome +the world,' you know. It's our testing-time, and this world isn't the +only part of life." + +"Well, but I don't see how that answers my point," said Courtland, +pleasantly. "What's the idea? Don't you think I am worth the testing?" + +"Oh, surely, but you may not need the same kind I did." + +"You don't appear to me to have needed any testing. So far as I can +judge, you've showed the finest kind of nerve on every occasion." + +"Oh, but I do," said Bonnie, earnestly. "I've needed it dreadfully! You +don't know how hard I was getting--sort of soured on the world! That was +the reason I came away from the old home where my father's church was +and where all the people I knew were. I couldn't bear to see them. They +had been so hard on my dear father that I thought they were the cause of +his death. I had begun to feel that there weren't any real Christians +left in the world. God had to bring me away off here into trouble again +to find out how good people are. He sent you to help me, and Nurse +Wright; and now to-day the most wonderful thing has happened! I've had a +letter from an utter stranger, asking me to come and visit. I want you +to read it, please." + +While Courtland read Mother Marshall's letter Bonnie lay studying him. +And truly he was a goodly sight. No girl in her senses could look a man +like that over and not know he was a _man_ and a fine one. But Bonnie +had no romantic thoughts. Life had dealt too hardly with her for her to +have any illusions left. She had no idea of her own charms, nor any +thought of making much of the situation. That was why Gila's +insinuations had cut so terribly deep. + +"She's a peach, isn't she?" he said, handing the letter back. "How soon +does the doctor think you'll be able to travel?" + +"Oh, I couldn't possibly _go_," said the girl, relapsing into sadness; +"but I think it was lovely of her." + +"Go? Of course you must go!" cried Courtland, springing to his feet, as +if he had been accustomed to manage this girl's affairs for years. "Why, +Mother Marshall would be just broken-hearted if you didn't!" + +"Mother Marshall!" exclaimed Bonnie, sitting up from her pillows in +astonishment. "You know her, then?" + +Courtland stopped suddenly in his excited march across the room and +laughed ruefully. "Well, I've let the cat out of the bag after all, +haven't I? Yes, then, I know her! It was I who told her about you. And I +had a letter from her two days ago, saying she was crazy to have you +come. Why, she's just counting the minutes till she gets your telegram! +You _haven't_ sent her word you aren't coming, have you?" + +"Not yet," said Bonnie. "I was going to ask you what would be the best +way to do. You see, I have to send back that money and the mileage. +Don't you think it would do to write? It costs a great deal to +telegraph, and sounds so abrupt when one has had such a royal +invitation. It was lovely of her, but of course you know I couldn't be +under obligation like that to entire strangers." + +There was a little stiffness in Bonnie's last words, and a cool +withdrawal in her eyes that brought Courtland to his senses and made him +remember Gila's insinuations. + +"Look here!" he said, calming down and taking his chair again. "You +don't understand, and I guess I ought to explain. In the first place get +it out of your head that I'm acting fresh or anything like that. I'm +only a kind of big brother that happened along two or three times when +you needed somebody--a--a kind of a Christ-brother, if you want to call +it that way," he added, snatching at the minister's phrase. "You believe +He sends help when it's needed, don't you?" + +Bonnie nodded. + +"Well, I hadn't an idea in the world of interfering with your affairs at +all, but when I heard you ought to rest, I began to wish I had a mother +of my own, or an aunt or something who would know what to advise. Then +all of a sudden I thought I'd just put the case up to Mother Marshall. +This is the result. Now wait till I tell you what Mother Marshall has +been through, and then if you don't decide that God sent that invitation +I've nothing else to say." + +Courtland had a reputation at college for eloquence. In rushing season +his frat. always counted on him to bowl over the doubtful and difficult +fellows, and he never failed. Neither did he fail now, although he found +Bonnie difficult enough. But he had her eyes full of tears of sympathy +before he was through with the story of Stephen. + +"Oh, I would love to see her and put my arms around her and try to +comfort her!" she exclaimed. "I know just how she must feel. But I +really couldn't use the money of a stranger, and I couldn't go away with +all this debt, the funeral, and everything!" + +Then he set carefully to work to plan for her. He read Mother Marshall's +letter over again, and asked what things she would need to take if she +should go. He wrote out a list of the things she would like to sell, and +promised to look after them. + +"Suppose you just leave that to me," he said, comfortingly. "I'll wager +I can get enough out of your furniture to pay all the bills, so you +won't leave any behind. Then if I were you I'd just use that check +they've sent for your expenses, and trust to getting a position, in +that neighborhood when you are strong enough. There are always openings +in the West, you know." + +"Do you really think I could do that?" asked Bonnie, excitedly. "I'm a +good stenographer, I've had a really fine musical education, and I could +teach a number of other things." + +"Oh, sure! You'd get more positions than you could fill at once!" he +declared, joyously. Somehow it gave him great pleasure to be succeeding +so well. + +"Then I could soon pay them back," said Bonnie, reflectively. + +"Sure! You could pay back in no time after you got strong. That would be +a cinch! It might even be that you could help Mother Marshall about +something in the house pretty soon. And I'm sure you'll find she just +needs you. Now suppose we write up that telegram. There's no need to +keep the dear lady waiting any longer." + +"He thinks I really ought to go," said Bonnie to the nurse, who had just +returned. + +"Didn't I tell you so, dear?" said the nurse. + +"How soon would the doctor let her travel?" asked Courtland. + +"Why, I'll go ask him. You want to put it in your message, don't you?" + +"She's a dear!" said Bonnie, with a tender look after her. + +"_Isn't_ she a peach!" seconded Courtland, enthusiastically. + +The nurse was back almost at once, reporting that Bonnie might travel by +the middle of the week if all went well. + +"But could I get ready to go so soon?" said the girl, a shade of trouble +coming into her eyes. "I must go back and pack up my things, you know, +and clean the room." + +Courtland and the nurse exchanged meaningful glances. + +"Now look here!" began Courtland, with his engaging smile. "Why couldn't +the nurse and I do all that's necessary? How about to-morrow afternoon? +Could you get off awhile, Miss Wright? I don't have any basket-ball +practice till Tuesday, and I could get off right after dinner. Miss +Brentwood, you could tell the nurse just what you want done with your +things, and I'll warrant she and I have sense enough to pack up one +little room." + +After some persuasion Bonnie half consented, and then they attended to +the telegram. + + Your wonderful invitation accepted with deep gratitude. Will + start as soon as able. Probably Wednesday night. Will write. + + ROSE BONNER BRENTWOOD. + +was what they finally evolved. Bonnie had been divided between a desire +to save words and a longing to show her appreciation of the kindness. + +But the strangest thing of all was that, in his eagerness, the paper +Courtland fumbled out from his pocket to write it upon was Gila Dare's +unopened letter, reeking with violets. He frowned as he realized it, and +stuffed it back in his pocket again. + +Courtland enjoyed sending that telegram. He enjoyed it so much that he +sent another along with it on his own account, which read: + + Three cheers for the best mother in the United States! She's + coming and you ought to see her eyes shine! + +It was on the way back to the university that he happened to remember +Gila's letter. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + + + MY DEAR MR. COURTLAND: + +The very first line translated Courtland into another world from the one +in which he had been living during the past three days. Its perfumed +breath struck harshly on his soul. + + I am writing to report on the case of the poor girl whom you + asked me to help. I was very anxious to please you and did + my best; but you remember that I warned you that persons of + that sort were likely to be most difficult and + ungrateful--indeed, quite impossible sometimes. And so, + perhaps, you will be somewhat prepared for the disappointing + report I have to give. + + I went to the hospital this afternoon, putting off several + engagements to do so. I was quite surprised to find the girl + in a private room, but of course your kindness made that + possible for her, which makes her utter ingratitude all the + more unpardonable. + + I took with me several very pretty frocks of my own, quite + good, some of them scarcely worn at all, for I know girls of + that sort care more for clothes than anything else. But I + found her quite sullen and disagreeable. She wouldn't look + at the things I had brought, although I suggested several + ways in which I intended to help her and make it possible + for her to have a few friends of her own class who would + make her forget her troubles. She just lay and stared at me + and said, quite impertinently, that she didn't remember ever + having met me. And when I mentioned your name she denied + ever having seen you. She even dared to ask me to leave the + room. And the nurse was most insulting. + + But don't worry about it in the least, for papa has promised + to have the nurse removed at once from her position, and + blacklisted, so that she can't ever get another place in a + decent hospital. + + I am afraid you will be disappointed in your protegée, and I + am awfully sorry, for I would have enjoyed doing her good; + but you see how impossible it was. + + You are not to feel put out that I was treated that way, for + I really enjoyed doing something for you; and you know it is + good for one to suffer sometimes. I'll be delighted to go + slumming for you any time again that you say, and please + don't mind asking me. It's much better for me to look after + any girls that need help than it is for you, because girls + of that sort are so likely to impose upon a young man's + sympathies. + + My cousin has been telling me how you have been looking + after some of the work of a student who is majoring in + sociology, so I'm beginning to understand why you took this + girl up. I do hope you'll let me help. Suppose you run over + this evening and we can talk it over. I'm giving up two + whole engagements to stay at home for you, so I hope you + will properly appreciate it, and if anything hinders your + coming, would you mind calling up and letting me know? + + Hoping to see you this evening, + Your true friend and fellow-worker, + GILA DARE. + +The letter struck a false note in the harmony of the day. It annoyed +Courtland beyond expression that he had made such a blunder as to send +Gila after Bonnie. He could not understand why Gila had not had better +discernment than to think Bonnie an object of charity. His indignation +was still burning over the trouble and peril her action had brought to +Bonnie. Yet he hated to have his opinion of Gila shaken. He had arranged +it in his mind that she was a sweet and lovely girl, one in every way +similar to Solveig the innocent, and he did not care to change it. He +tried to remember Gila's conventional upbringing, and realize that she +had no conception of a girl out of her own social circle other than as a +menial to whom to condescend. The vision of her loveliness in rose and +silver, with her prayer-book "in her 'kerchief" was still dimly forcing +him to be at least polite and accept her letter of apology for her +failure, as he could but suppose it was sincerely meant. + +Then all at once a new fact dawned upon him. The invitation had been for +Saturday evening! This was Sunday evening! And now what was he to do? He +might call her up and apologize, but what could he say. Bill Ward might +have told her by this time that he knew the letter had been received. A +blunt confession that he had forgotten to read it might offend, yet what +else could he do? It was most annoying! + +He went to the telephone as soon as he reached the college. The fellows +had already gone down to the evening meal. He could hear the clink of +china and silver in the distant dining-room. It was a good time to +'phone. + +A moment, and Gila's cool contralto answered: "_Hel_-lo-_oo_!" There was +something about the way that Gila said that word that conveyed a whole +lot of things, instantly putting the caller at his distance, but placing +the lady on a pedestal before which it became most desirable to bow. + +"This is Paul Courtland!" + +"Oh! Mr. Courtland!" Her voice was freezing. + +But Courtland was not used to being frozen out. "I owe you an apology, +Miss Dare," he said, with dignity. He didn't care how blunt he sounded +now. It always angered him to be frozen! "Your letter reached me just +as I was leaving here last evening on a very important errand. I put it +in my pocket, but I have been so occupied that it escaped my mind +utterly until just now. I hope I did not cause you much inconvenience." + +"Oh, it really didn't _mattah_ in the _least_!" answered Gila, +indifferently. Nothing could be colder or more distant than her voice, +and yet there was something in it this time, a subtle lure, that +exasperated. A teasing little something at his spirit demanded to be set +right in her eyes--to have her the suppliant rather than himself. + +"I really am awfully ashamed," he said, in quite a boyish, humble tone, +and then gasped at himself. What was there about Gila that always "got a +fellow's goat"? + +After that Gila had the conversation quite where she wanted it, and +finally she told him sweetly that he might come over this evening if he +chose. She had other engagements, but she would break them all for him. + +"Suppose you go to church with me this evening," he temporized. "I've +found a minister I'd like to have you hear. He's quite original!" + +There was a distinct pause at the other end of the 'phone, while Gila's +little white teeth came cruelly into her red under lip, and her pearly +forehead drew the straight, black, penciled brows naughtily. Then she +answered, in sweetly honeyed tones: + +"Why, that would be lovely! Perhaps I will. What time do we start?" + +Something in her tone annoyed him, despite his satisfaction at having +induced her to be friends again. Almost it sounded like a false note in +the day again. He hadn't expected her to go. Now she was going, he was +very sure he didn't want her. + +"I warn you that it is among very common people in the lower part of the +city," he said, almost severely. + +"Oh, that's all right!" she declared, graciously. "I'm sure it will be +dandy! I certainly do enjoy new experiences!" + +He hung up the 'phone with far greater misgivings than he had felt when +he asked her to call on Bonnie. + +Bill Ward was called out of the dining-room to the telephone almost as +soon as Courtland got down to the table. + +It was Gila on the phone: "Is that you Bill? Well, Bill, this is Gila. +Say, what in the name of peace have you let me in for now? I hope to +goodness mamma won't find it out. She'd have a pink fit! Say! is this a +joke, or what? I believe you're putting one over on me!" + +"Search me, Gila! I'm all in the dark! Give me a line on it and I'll +tell you." + +"Well, what do you think that crazy nut has pulled off now? Wants me to +go to church with him! Of all things! And down in some queer slum place, +too! If I get into a scrape you'll have to promise to help me out, or +mamma'll never let me free from a chaperon again. And I had to make +Artley Guelpin, and Turner Bailey sore, too, by telling them I was sick +and they couldn't come and try over those new dance-steps to-night as +I'd promised. If I get into the papers or anything I'll have a long +score to settle with you." + +"Oh, cut that out, Gila! You'll not get into any scrape with Court. He's +all right. He's only nuts about religion just now, and seems to be set +on sampling all kinds of churches. Say! that's a good one, though, for +you to go to church with him! I must tell the fellows. Keep it up, +Guile, old girl! You'll pull the fat out of the fire yet. You're just +the one to go along and counteract the pious line. You should worry +about Artley Guelpin and Turner Bailey! You can't keep either of them +sore; they haven't got back bone enough to stay so. If it's the same +dump Court took Tennelly to this morning you'll get your money's worth, +all right. Nelly said it was a scream." + +Bill Ward came back, grinning from ear to ear. Every few minutes during +the rest of the meal he broke out in a broad grin and looked at +Courtland, who was absorbed in his own thoughts; and then he would slap +Tennelly on the shoulder and say: "Ho! boy! It's a rare one!" But it was +not until Courtland had hurried away after his lady that Bill gave forth +his information. + +"Oh, Nelly!" he burst forth. "Court's going to take Gila to church! You +don't suppose he'll take her to that dump where he led you this morning, +do you? I can see her nose go up now. I thought I'd croak when she told +me! Wait till you hear her call me up on the 'phone when she gets home! +She'll give me the worst balling out I ever had! And Aunt Nina would +have apoplexy if she knew her 'darlin' pet' was going into that part of +town! Oh, boy! Set me on my feet or I'll die laughing!" + +Tennelly regarded Bill Ward with solemn consternation. "Do you mean to +tell me that Court has asked your cousin to go to that camp-meeting hole +where he took me this morning? Cut out the kidding and tell me straight! +Well, then, Bill, it's serious, and we've got to do something! We can't +have a fellow like Court spoiled for life. He's gone stale, that's +what's the matter; he's gone stale! He's got to have strenuous measures +to pull him up." + +"He sure has!" said Bill Ward, soberly, getting up from the couch where +he had been rolling in his mirth. "What can we do? What about these +business ambitions of his? Couldn't we work him that way? For Court's +got a great head on him, you know! I thought Gila would do the business, +but if he's rung in religion on her it's all up, I'm afraid. But +business is a different thing. Not even Court could mix business and +religion, for they won't fit together!" + +"That's the trouble," said Tennelly, thoughtfully. "If it gets out +what's the matter with Court he won't stand half a chance. I was +thinking of my uncle Ramsey, out in Chicago. He has large financial +interests in the West; he often wants promising men to take charge of +some big thing, and it means a dandy opening; big money and no end of +social and political pull to get into one of his berths. He's promised +me one when I'm done college, and I was going to talk to him about +Court. He's twice the man I am and just what Uncle Ramsey wants. He's +coming on East next week, and likely to stop over. I might see what I +can do." + +"That's just the thing, Nelly. Go to it, old man! Write unc. a letter +to-night. Nothing like giving a lot of dope beforehand." + +"That's an idea! I will!" and Tennelly went to his desk and began to +write. + +Meantime Gila awaited Courtland's coming, attired in a most startling +costume of blue velvet and ermine, with high laced white kid boots, and +a hat that resembled a fresh, white setting-hen, tied down to her pert +little face with a veil whose large-meshed surface was broken by a +single design, a large black butterfly anchored just across her dainty +little nose. A most astonishing costume in which to appear in the Rev. +John Burns's unpretentious little church crowded with the canaille of +the city! + +It was the first time that Courtland had ever felt that Gila was a +little loud in her dress! + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + + +Mother Marshall got strenuously to her feet from the low hassock on +which she had been sitting to sew the carpet, and trotted to the head of +the stairs. + +"Father!" she called, happily. "Oh, Father! It's all done! I just set +the last stitch. You can bring your hammer and tacks. Better bring your +rubbers, too. You'll need them when you come to stretch it." + +Father hurried up so quickly it was clear he had the hammer and rubbers +all ready. + +"You'll need a saucer to put the tacks in!" and Mother Marshall hustled +away to get it. When she came back the carpet was spread out smoothly +and Father stood surveying the effect. + +"Say, now, it looks real pretty, don't it?" he said, looking up at the +walls and down to the floor. + +"It certainly does!" declared Mother Marshall. "And I'm real glad the +man made us take this plain pink paper. It didn't look much to me when +he first brought it out, I must confess. I had set my heart on stripes +with pink roses in it. But when he said 'felt,' why that settled it +because that article in the magazine said felt papers were the best for +general wear and satisfaction. And then when he brought out that roll +with the cherry blossoms on it for a stripe around the top, I was just +all happy down my spine, it did look so kind of bridey and pretty, like +our cherry orchard on a spring evening when the pink is in the sky. And +that white molding between 'em is going to be real handy to hang the +pictures on. The man gave me some little brass picture-hooks. See, they +fit right over the molding. Of course, there isn't but one picture, but +she'll maybe have some of her own and like it all the better if the wall +isn't all cluttered full. You know the magazine said have 'a few good +pictures.' I mean to hang it up right now and see how it looks! There! +Doesn't that look pretty against the pink? I wasn't sure about the white +frame, it was so plain, but I like it. Those apple blossoms against that +blue piece of sky look real natural, don't they. You like it, don't you, +Father?" + +"Well, I should say I did," said Father, as he scuffed a corner of the +carpet into place with his rubbered feet. "Say, this carpet is some +thick, Mother, as I guess your fingers will testify, having sewed all +those long seams. 'Member how Stevie used to sit on the carpet ahead of +your seams when he was a baby, and laugh and clap his hands when you +couldn't sew any further because he was in the way?" + +"Yes, wasn't he the sweetest baby!" said Mother Marshall, with a bright +tear glinting suddenly down her cheek. "Why, Father, sometimes I can't +really make it seem true that he's all done with this life and gone +ahead of us into the next one. It won't be hard dying, for us, because +he's there, and we sha'n't have to think of leaving him behind to go +through a lot of trials and things." + +"Well, I guess he's pretty happy seeing you chirk up so, Mother. You +know what he'd have thought of all this! Why he'd have just rejoiced in +it! He hated so to have you left alone all day. Don't you mind how he +used to wish he had a sister? Say, Mother, you just stand on that +corner there till I get this tack in straight. This edge is so tremenjus +thick! I don't know as the tacks are long enough. What was you figuring +to do with the book-shelves, put books in, or leave 'em empty for her +things?" + +"Well, I thought about that, and I made out we'd better put in some +books so it wouldn't look so empty. We can take them out again if she +has a lot of her own!" + +"We could put in some of Stephen's that he set such store by. There's +all that set of Scott, and Dickens, and those other fellows that he +wanted us to start and read evenings this winter. By the way, Mother, +we'd ought to get at that! Perhaps she'll like to read aloud when she +comes! That would about suit us. We're rather old to begin loud reading, +Steve's always read to us so long. I don't know but I'd buy a few new +books, too. She's a girl you know, and you might find something lately +written that she'd like. It wouldn't do any harm to get a few. You could +ask the book-store man what to pick out--say a shelf or two." + +"Oh, I shouldn't need to do that!" said Mother, hurrying away to get her +magazine, which was never far away these last two or three days. +"There's a whole long list here of books 'your young people will want to +have in their library.' Wells and Shaw and Ibsen, and a lot of others I +never heard of, but these first three I remembered because Stephen spoke +of them in one of his first letters about college. Don't you know he was +studying a course with those men's books in it? He said he didn't know +as he was always going to agree with all they said, but they were big, +broad men, and had some fine thoughts. He thought sometimes they hadn't +just got the inner light about God and the Bible and all, but they were +the kind of men who were getting there, striving after truth, and would +likely find it and hand it out to the world again when they got it; like +the wise men hunting everywhere for a Saviour. Don't you remember, +Father?" + +"I remember!" Father tried to speak cheerily, but his breath ended in a +sigh, for the carpet was heavy. Mother looked at him sharply and changed +the subject. It wasn't always easy to keep Father cheerful about +Stephen's going. + +"You don't suppose we could get those curtains up to-night, too, do +you?" + +"Why, I reckon!" said Father, stopping for a puff of breath and looking +up to the white woodwork at the top of the windows. "You got 'em all +ready to put up, all sewed and everything? Why, I reckon I could put up +those rods after I get across this end, and then you could slip the +curtains on while I was doing the rest. You don't want to get too tired, +Mother. You know you been sewing a long time to-day." + +"Oh, I'm not tired! I'm just childish enough to want to see how it's all +going to look. Say, Father, that wasn't the telephone ringing, was it? +You don't think we might get a telegram yet to-night?" + +"Not scarcely!" said Father, with his mouth full of tacks. "You see, +it's been bad weather, and like as not your letter got storm-stayed a +day or so. You mustn't count on hearing 'fore Monday I guess." + +They both knew that that letter ought to have reached the hospital where +Bonnie Brentwood was supposed to be about six o'clock that evening, for +so they had calculated the time between Stephen's letters to a nicety; +but each was engaged in trying to keep the other from getting anxious +about the telegram that did not come. For it was now half past eight by +the kitchen clock, and both of them were as nervous as fleas listening +for that telephone to ring that would decide the fate of the pretty pink +room, whether it was to have an occupant or not. + +"These white madras curtains look like there's been a frost on a cobweb, +don't they?" said Mother Marshall, holding up a pair all arranged upon +the brass rod ready to hang. "And just see how pretty this pink stuff +looks against it. I declare it reminds me of the sunset light on the +snow in the orchard out the kitchen window evenings when I was watching +for Steve to come home from school. Say, Father, don't you think those +book-shelves look cozy each side of the bay window? And wasn't it clever +of Jed Lewis to think of putting hinges to the covers on that +window-seat? She can keep lots of things in there! Wait till I get those +two pink silk cushions you made me buy. My! Father, but you and I are +getting extravagant in our old age! and all for a girl that may never +even answer our letter!" + +There was a kind of sob in the end of Mother Marshall's words that she +tried to disguise, but Father caught it and flew to the rescue. + +"There now, Mother!" he said, getting laboriously up from the carpet, +hammer in hand, and putting his arms tenderly about her. "There now, +Mother! Don't you go fretting! You see, like as not she was asleep when +the letter got there, and they wouldn't wake her up, or mebbe it would +be too much excitement for her at night that way! And then, again, if +the mail-train was late it wouldn't get into the night deliv'ry. You +know that happened once for Steve and he was real worried about us! Then +they might not have deliv'ry at the hospital on Sunday, and she couldn't +_get_ it till Monday morning! See? And there's another thing you got to +calcl'ate on, too! You never thought of that! She might be too sick yet +to read a letter, or think what to say to it! So just you be patient, +Mother! We'll just have that much more time to fix things; for, so to +speak, now we haven't got any limitations on what we think she is. We +can just plan for her like she was perfect. When we get her telegram +we'll get some idea, and begin to know the real girl, but now we've just +got our own notion of her." + +"Why, of course!" choked Mother, smiling. "I'm just afraid, Seth, that +I'm getting set on her coming, and that isn't right at all, you know, +because she mightn't be coming." + +"Well, and then again she might. Howsomenever, we'll have this room +fixed up company fine, and if she don't come we'll just come here and +camp for a week, you and me, and pretend we're out visiting. How would +that do? Say, it's real pretty here, like spring in the orchard, ain't +it, Mother? Well, now, you figure out what you're going to have for +bureau fixings, and I'll get back to my tacking. I want to get done +to-night and get that pretty white furniture moved in. You're sure the +enamel is perfectly dry on that bed? That was the last piece he worked +on. I think Jed made a pretty good job of it, for such quick work. Don't +you? Got a clean counterpane, and one of your pink-and-white patchwork +quilts for in here, haven't you, and a posy pin-cushion? My! but I'd +like to know what she says when she sees it first!" + +And so the two old dears jollied each other along till far past their +bedtime; and when at last they lay quiet for the night Mother raised up +in the moonlight that was flooding her side of the room and looked +cautiously over to the other side of the bed: + +"Father! You awake yet?" + +"Yes!" sleepily. + +"What'll we do about going to church to-morrow? The telegram might come +while we're gone, and then we'd never know what she answered." + +"Oh, they'd call up again until they got us. And, anyhow, we'd call them +up when we got back and ask if any message had come yet?" + +"Oh! Would we?" and Mother Marshall lay down with a sigh of relief, +marveling, as she often had, at the superior knowledge in little +technical details that men so often displayed. Of course in the real +vital things of life women had to be on hand to make things move +smoothly, but just a little thing like that, now, that needed a bit of +what seemed almost superfluous information, a man always knew; and you +wondered how he knew, because nobody ever seemed to have taught him! So +at last Mother Marshall slept. + +Anxious inquiry of the telephone after church brought forth no telegram. +Dinner was a strained and artificial affair, preceded by a wistful but +submissive blessing on the meal. Then the couple settled down in their +comfortable chairs, one each side of the telephone, and tried to read, +but somehow the hours dragged slowly. + +"There's that pair of Grandmother Marshall's andirons up in the attic!" +said Mother Marshall, looking up suddenly over the top of the _Sunday +school Times_. + +"I'll bring them down the first thing in the morning!" said Father, with +his finger on a promise in the Psalms. Then there was silence for some +time. + +Mother Marshall's eyes suddenly lighted on an article headed, "My Class +of Boys." + +"Seth!" she said, with a beautiful light in her eyes. "You don't suppose +maybe she'd be willing to take Stephen's class of boys in Sunday-school +when she gets better? I can't bear to see them begin to stay away, and +Deacon Grigsby admits he don't know how to manage them." + +"Why, sure!" said Father, tenderly. "She'll take it, I've no doubt. +She's that kind, I should think. And if she isn't now, Mother, she will +be after she's been with you awhile!" + +"Oh, now, Father!" said Mother, turning pink with pleasure. "Come, let's +go up and see how the room looks at sunset!" + +So arm in arm they climbed the front stairs and stood looking about on +the glorified rosy background with its wilderness of cherry bloom about +the frieze. Such a transformation of the dingy old room in such a little +time! Arm in arm they went over to the window-seat and sat leaning +stiffly against the two pink silk cushions, and looking out across the +rosy sunset snow in the orchard, thinking wistfully of the boy that used +to come whistling up that way and would never come to them so again. +Then, just as Father drew a sigh, and a tear crept out on Mother's cheek +(the side next the window), a long-hoped-for, unaccustomed sound burst +out below-stairs! The telephone was ringing! It was Sunday evening at +sunset, and the telephone was ringing! + +Wildly they both sprang to their feet and clutched each other for a +moment. + +"I'll go, Mother," said Father, in an agitated voice. "You just sit +right here and rest till I get back!" + +"No! I'll go, too!" declared Mother, trotting after. "You might miss +something and we ought to write it down!" + +In breathless silence they listened for the magic words, Mother leaning +close to catch them and trying to scratch them down on a corner of the +telephone book with the stump of a pencil she kept for writing recipes: + +"Your wonderful invitation accepted with deep gratitude!" + +"What's that, Father? Make him say it over again!" cried Mother, +scribbling away. "'Your wonderful invitation--(Oh, she liked it, then!) +accepted'--She's coming, Father!" + +"Will start as soon as possible!" + +("Then she's really coming!") + +"Probably Wednesday night." + +("Then I'll have time to get some pink velvet and make a cushion for the +little rocker. They do have pink velvet, I'm sure!") + +"Will write." + +("Then we'll really know what she's like if she writes!") + +Mother Marshall's happy thoughts were in a tumult, but she had her head +about her yet. + +"Now, make him say it all over from the beginning again, Father, and see +if we've got it right. You speak the words out as he says 'em, and I'll +watch the writing." + +And so at last the message was verified and the receiver hung up. They +read the message over together, and they looked at each another with +glad eyes. + +"Now let us pray, Rachel!" said Father, with solemn, shaken voice of +joy. And the two lonely old people knelt down by the little table on +which stood the telephone and gave thanks to God for the child He was +about to send to their empty home. + +"Now," said Father Marshall, when they had risen, "I guess we better get +a bite to eat. Seems like a long time since dinner. Any of that cold +chicken left, Mother? And a few doughnuts and milk? And say, Mother, we +better get the chores done up and get to bed early. I don't think you +slept much last night, and we've got to get up early. There's a whole +lot to do before she comes. We need to chirk up the rest of the house a +bit. Somehow we've let things get down since Stephen went away." + +Said Mother, as she landed the platter of cold chicken on the table, +"How soon do you s'pose she'll write? I'm just aching to get that +letter!" + + + + +CHAPTER XX + + +Gila had counted on an easy victory that evening. She had furnished for +the occasion her keenest wit, her sweetest laughter, her finest +derision, her most sparkling sarcasm; and as she and her escort joined +the motley throng who were patiently making their way into the packed +doorway she whetted them forth eagerly. + +Even while they took their turn among the crowd she began to make keen +little remarks about the company they were keeping, drawing her velvet +robes away from contact with the throng. + +Courtland, standing head and shoulders above her, his fine profile +outlined against the brightness of the lighted doorway, was looking +about with keen interest on the faces of the people, and wondering why +they had come. Were they in search of the Presence? Had they, too, felt +it there within those dingy walls? He glanced down at Gila with a hope +that she, too, might see and understand to-night. What friends they +might be--how they might talk these things over together--if only Gila +would understand! + +He wished she had had better sense than to array herself in such +startling garments. He could see the curious glances turned her way; +glances that showed she was misunderstood. He did not like it, and he +reached down a protecting hand and took her arm, speaking to her +gravely, just to show the bold fellows behind her that she was under +capable escort. He did not hear her keen sallies at the expense of their +fellow-worshipers. He was annoyed and trying by his serious mien to +shelter her. + +The singing was already going on as they entered. Just plain old gospel +songs, sung just as badly, though with even more fervor, than in the +morning. Courtland accepted the tattered hymn-book and put Gila into the +seat the shabby usher indicated. He was wholly in the spirit of the +gathering, and anxious only to feel the spell once more that had been +about him in the morning. But Gila was so amused with her surroundings +that she could scarcely pay attention to where she was to sit, and +almost tripped over the end of the pew. She openly stared and laughed at +the people around her, as though that was what Courtland had brought her +there for, and kept nudging him and calling his attention to some +grotesque figure. + +Courtland was singing, joining his fine tenor in with the curious +assembly and enjoying it. Gila recalled him each time from a realm of +the spirit, and he would earnestly give attention to what she said, +bending his ear to listen, then look seriously at the person indicated, +try to appreciate her amusement with a nod and absent smile, and go on +singing again! He was so absorbed in the gathering that her talk +scarcely penetrated to his real soul. + +If he had been trying to baffle Gila he could have used no more +effective method, for the point of her jokes seemed blunted. She turned +her eyes at last to her escort and began to study him, astonishment and +chagrin in her countenance. Gradually both gave way to a kind of +admiration and curiosity. One could not look at Courtland and not +admire. The fine strength in his handsome young face and figure were +always noticeable among a company anywhere, and here among these +foreigners and wayfarers it was especially so. She was conscious of a +thrill of pleasure in his presence that was new to her. Usually her +attitude was to make others thrill at her presence! No man before had +caught her fancy and held it like this rare one. What secret lay behind +that grave strength of his that made him successfully resist those arts +of hers that had readily lured other victims? + +She watched him while he bowed his head in prayer, and noted how his +rich, close-cut hair waved and crept about his temples; noted the curve +of his chin and the curl of his lashes on his cheek. More and more she +coveted him. And she must set herself to find and break this other power +that had him in its clutches. She perfectly recognized the fact that it +was entirely possible that she would not care for him after the other +power was broken, and that she might have to toss him aside after he was +fully hers. But what of that? Had she not so tossed many a hapless soul +that had come like a moth to singe his wings in her candle-flame, then +laughed at him gaily as he lay writhing in his pain; and tossed after +him, torn and trampled, his own ideals of womanhood, too; so that all +other women might henceforth be blighted in his eyes. Ah! What of that, +so that unquenchable flame in her soul, that restlessly pursued and +conquered and cast aside, might be satisfied? Was that not what women +were made for, to conquer men and toss them away? If they did not would +not men conquer them and toss them away? She was but fulfilling her +womanhood as she had been taught to look upon it. + +But there was something puzzling about Courtland that interested her +deeply. She was not sure but it was half his charm. He really seemed to +_want_ to be good, to _desire_ to resist evil. Most of the other men +she knew had been all too ready to fall as lightly with as little +earnestness as she into whatever doubtful paths her dainty feet had +chanced to lead. Many of them would have led further than she would go, +for she had her own limitations and conventions, strange as it may seem. + +So Gila sat and meditated, with a strange, sweet thrill in the thought +of a new experience; for, young as she was, she had found the pleasures +of her existence pall upon her many times. + +Suddenly her ear was caught by the sermon. The ugly little man in the +pulpit, with the strange eyes that seemed to look through you, was +telling a story of a garden, with One calling, and a pair of naked souls +guilty and in fear before Him. It was as though she had been one of +them! What right had he to flaunt such truths before a congregation? + +She was not familiar enough with Bible truths to know where he got the +story. It did not seem a story. It was just her Eden where she walked +and ate what fruit she might desire every day without a thought of any +command that might have been issued. She recognized no commands. What +right had God to command her? The serpent had whispered early to her, +"Thou shalt not surely die." Her only question was ever whether the +fruit was pleasant to the eyes and a tree to be desired to make one +wise. Till now there had been no Lord God walking in her garden in the +cool of the day. Only her mother, and she was easy to evade. She had +never been really afraid, nor felt her little soul naked till now, with +the ugly little man's bright brown eyes upon her, and his words +shivering through her like winds about the unprotected. Hideous things +she had forgotten flung into view and challenged her; and somewhere in +the room there seemed to be One who dared to call her to account. She +looked fiercely back to the speaker, her delicate brows drawn darkly, +her great blue-black eyes fierce in their intensity, her whole face and +attitude a challenge to the sermon. Courtland, absorbed as he was in +what the speaker had to say, thrilling with the message that came to his +soul welcomely, became aware of the tense little figure by his side, +and, looking down, was pleased that she had forgotten her nonsense and +was listening, and somehow missed the defiance in her attitude. + +Gila did not smile when service was over. She went out haughtily, +impatiently, looking about on the throng contemptuously. When Courtland +asked her if she would like to stop a minute and meet the preacher she +threw up her chin with a toss and a "No, indeed!" that left no doubt for +lingering. + +Out in the street, away from the crowd somewhat, she suddenly stopped +and stamped her little foot: "I think that man is perfectly +_disgusting_!" she cried. "He ought to be _arrested_! I don't know why +such a man is allowed at large!" + +She was fairly panting in her anger. It was as if he had put her to +shame before an assembly. + +Courtland turned wonderingly toward her. + +"He is outrageous!" she went on. "He has no _right_! I _hate_ him!" + +Courtland watched her in amazement. "You can't mean the minister!" + +"Minister! He's no minister!" declared Gila. "He's a fanatic! One of the +worst kind. He's a fake! He's uncanny! The idea of daring to talk about +God that way as if He was always around every where! I think it's +_awful_! I should think he'd have everybody in hysterics!" + +Gila's voice sounded as if she were almost there herself. She flung +along by his side with a vindictive little click of her high-heeled +boots and a prance of her whole elaborate little person that showed she +was fairly bristling with wrath. + +But Courtland's voice was sad with disappointment. "Then you didn't feel +it, after all! I was hoping you did." + +"Feel what?" she asked, sharply. "I felt something, yes. What did you +mean?" Her voice had softened wonderfully, and she drew near to him and +slipped her hand again within his arm. There was an eagerness in her +voice that Courtland wholly misinterpreted. + +"Feel the Presence!" He said it gently, reverently, as if it were a +magic word, a password to a mutual understanding. + +"Presence?" she said, bewildered. "Yes, I felt a presence, but what +presence did you mean?" Her voice was soft with meaning. + +"The Presence of God." + +She turned upon him and jerked her arm away. "The Presence of God in +that place?" she demanded. "No! _Never!_ How perfectly dreadful! I think +that is irreverent!" + +"Irreverent?" + +"Yes! Very irreverent!" said Gila, piously. "And a man like that is +profaning holy things. If you really care for religious things you ought +to come to my church, where everything is quiet and orderly and where +there are decent people. Why, those people there to-night looked as if +they might all be thieves and murderers! And outlandish! My soul! I +never saw anything like it! Some of their things must have come out of +the Ark! Did you see that girl with the tight green skirt? Imagine it! A +whole year and a half out of date! I think it is immodest to wear +things when they get out of style like that! And the idea of that man +daring to talk to that kind of people about God coming down to live with +them! I think it was the limit! As if God cared anything about people of +that sort! I think that man ought to be arrested, putting notions into +poor people's heads! It's just such talk as that that makes riots and +things. My father says so! Getting common, stupid people all worked up +about things they can't understand. I think it's wicked!" + +Gila raved all the way home. Courtland, for the most part, let her talk +and was silent. + +Seated finally in the library, for he could not go away yet, somehow. +There was something he must ask her. He turned to her, calling her for +the first time by her name: + +"But, Gila, you said you felt a Presence. What did you mean?" + +Gila was silent. The tumult in her face subsided. + +She dropped her lashes and played with the frill on the wrist of the +long chiffon sleeve of her blouse. Her eyes beneath their concealing +lashes kindled. Her mouth grew sweet and sensitive, her whole attitude +became shy and alluring. She sat and drooped before the fire, casting +now and then a wide, shy, innocent look up, her face half turned away. + +"Does she look adown her apron!" floated the words through his brain. +Ah! Here at last was the Gila he had been seeking! The Gila who would +understand! + +"Tell me, Gila!" he said, in an eager, low appeal. + +She stirred softly, drooped a little more toward him, her face turned +away till only the charming profile showed against the rich darkness of +a crimson curtain. Now at last he was coming to it! + +"It was--_you_--I meant!" she breathed softly. + +He sat up sharply. There was subtle flattery in her tone. He could not +fail to be stirred by it. + +"Me!" he said, almost sternly. "I don't understand!" but his voice was +gentle, almost tender. She looked so small and scared and +"Solveig"-like. + +"You meant _me_!" he said, again. "Won't you please explain?" + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + + +Courtland went back to college that night in a tender and exalted mood. +He thought he was in love with Gila! + +That had been a wonderful little scene before the fire, with the soft, +hidden yellow lights above, and Gila with her delicate, fervid little +face, great, dark eyes, and shy looks. Gila had risked a tear upon her +pearly cheek and another to hang upon her long lashes, and he had had a +curious desire to kiss them away; but something held him from it. +Instead, he took his clean handkerchief, softly wiping them, and thought +that Gila was shy and modest when she shrank from his touch. + +He did not take her in his arms. Something held him from that, too. He +had a feeling that she was too sacred, and he must not lightly snatch +her for himself. Instead, he put her gently in the big chair by his +side, and they sat and talked together quietly. He did not realize that +he had done the most of the talking. He did not know what they had +talked about; only that reluctant whispered confession of hers had +somehow entered him into a close intimacy with her that pleased and half +awed him. But when he tried to tell her of a wonderful experience he had +had she lifted up her little hand and begged: "Please, not to-night! Let +us not think of anything but just each other to-night!" And so he had +let it pass, knowing she was all wrought up. + +He had not asked her to marry him, nor even told her he loved her. They +had talked in quiet, wondering ways of feeling drawn to each other; at +least _he_ had talked, and Gila had sat watching him with deep, +dissatisfied eyes. She had sense enough to see that she could not win +him with the arts that had won others. His was a nature deeper, +stronger. She must bide her time and be coy. But her spirit chafed +beneath delay, and dark passions lurked behind and brooded in her eyes. +Perhaps it was this that held him in a sort of uncertainty. It was as if +he waited permission from some unseen source to take what she was so +evidently ready to give. He thought it was the sacredness in which he +held her. Almost the sermon and the feeling of the Presence were out of +mind as he went home. There played around him now a little phantom joy +that hovered over like a will-o'-the-wisp above his heart, and danced, +giving him a strange, inexplicable exhilaration. Was this love? Was he +in love? + +He flung himself down on Tennelly's couch when he got back to the +dormitory. Bill Ward was deep in a book under the drop-light, and +Tennelly was supposed to be finishing a theme for the next day. + +"Nelly, what is love?" asked Courtland, suddenly, in the midst of the +silence. "How do you know when you are in love?" + +Tennelly dropped his fountain-pen in his surprise, and had to crawl +under the table after it. He and Bill Ward exchanged one lightning +glance of relief as he emerged from the table. + +"Search me!" said Tennelly, as he sat down again. "Love's an illusion, +they say. I never tried it, so I don't know." + +There was silence again in Tennelly's room. Presently Courtland got up +and said good-night. Over in his own room he stood by the window, +looking out into the moonlight. The preacher had said prayer was talking +with the Lord face to face. That was a new idea. Courtland dropped upon +his knees and talked aloud to God as he had never opened his heart to +living creature before. If prayer was that, why, prayer was good! + +Gila, standing bewildered, studying her pretty, discontented little face +in the mirror, with all its masks laid aside, would have shivered in +fear and been all the more uncertain of her success if she could have +known that the man she would have had for a lover was on his knees +talking about her to God. Her little naked soul in a garden all alone +with the Lord God, and a man who was set to follow Him! + +Tennelly looked up and raised his eyebrows as Courtland closed the door. +"Guess you needn't have written that letter, after all!" chuckled Bill +Ward. "I thought Gila would get in her little old work!" + +"Well, it's written and mailed, so that doesn't do any good now. And, +anyway, it's always well to have more than one string to your bow!" +growled Tennelly. Courtland in love! He wasn't exactly sure he liked it. +Courtland and Gila! What kind of a girl was Gila, anyway? Was she good +enough for Court? He must look into this. + +"Say, Bill, why don't you introduce me to your cousin? I think it's +about time I had a chance to judge for myself how things are getting +on," growled Tennelly, presently. + +"Sure!" said Bill. "Good idea! Why didn't you mention it before? How +about going now? It's only half past ten. Court didn't stay very late, +did he? No, it isn't too late for Gila. She never goes to bed till +midnight, not if there's anything interesting on. Wait. I'll call her up +and see. I'm privileged, anyway, you know. Cousins can do anything. I'll +tell her we're hungry." + +So it came about that an hour after Gila had sat in the firelight with +Courtland and listened, puzzled, to his reverent talk of a +soul-friendship, she ushered into the same room her cousin and Tennelly. +She met Tennelly with a challenge in her eye. + +Tennelly had one in his. Their glances lingered, sparred and lingered +again, and each knew that this was a notable meeting. + +For Tennelly was tall and strikingly handsome. He had those deep black +eyes that hold a maiden's gaze and dare a devil; yet there was behind +his look something strong, dashing, scholarly. Gila saw at once that he +was distinguished in his way, and though her thoughts were strangely +held by Courtland she could not let one like this go by unchallenged. If +Courtland did not prove corrigible, why, there was still as good fish in +the sea as ever was caught. It were well to have more than one hook +baited. So she received Tennelly graciously, boldly, impressively, and +in three minutes was talking with that daring intimacy that young people +of her style love to affect; and Tennelly, fascinated by her charms, yet +seeing through them and letting her know he saw through them, was +fencing with her delightfully. He told himself it was his duty for +Courtland's sake. Yet he was interested for his own sake and knew it. +But he did not like the idea of Court and this girl! They did not fit. +Court was too genuine! Too tender-hearted! Too idealistic about women! +With himself, now, it was different. He knew women! Understood this one +at a glance. She was "a peach" in her way, but not the "perfect little +peach" Court ought to have. She would flirt all her life and break old +Court's heart if he married her. + +So he laughed and joked with Gila, answering her challenging glances +with glances just as ardent, while Bill Ward sat and watched them both, +chuckling away to himself. + +And Courtland, on his knees, talked with God! + +The next morning Courtland awoke with a pleasant sensation of eagerness +to see what life had in store for him. Was this really the wonderful +experience of love into which he had begun to enter? He thought of Gila +all in halos now. The questionings and unpleasantnesses were forgotten. +He told himself that she would one day see and understand the wonderful +experience through which he had been passing. He would tell her just as +soon as possible. Not to-day, for he would be busy, and she had +engagements Tuesday evening and all day Wednesday. He had not noticed +the subtle withdrawing as she told him, the quick, furtive calculation +in her glance. She knew how to make coming to her a privilege. Just +because she had let him think he saw a bit of her heart that night, she +meant to hold him off. Not too long, for he was not sufficiently bound +to her to be safe from forgetting, but just long enough to whet his +eagerness. Her former experience in such matters had taught her to +expect that he would probably call her up and beg to see her sooner, +when she might relent if he was humble enough. And she had not misjudged +him. He was looking forward to Thursday as a bright, particular goal, +planning what he would say to her, wondering if his heart would bound as +it had when she looked at him Sunday night, and if the strange sweetness +that seemed about to be settling upon him would last. + +Before he left his room that morning he did something he had never done +before in college; he locked his door and knelt beside his bed to pray, +with a strong, sweet sense of the Presence standing beside him, and +breathing power into his soul. + +He had not much to ask for himself. He simply craved that Presence, and +it had never seemed so close. As he unlocked his door and hurried down +the hall to the dining-room he marveled that a thing so sweet had been +so long neglected from his life. Prayer! How he had sneered at it! Yet +it was a reasonable thing, after all, now that he had come believing. + +Nurse Wright was on hand promptly at the place appointed. She was armed +with a list of written instructions. They went to work at once, setting +aside the things to be sold; folding and packing the scanty wardrobe, +and putting by themselves the clothes and things that had belonged to +little Aleck. One incident brought tears to their eyes. In moving out +the trunk a large pasteboard box fell down, and the contents dropped +upon the floor. The nurse stooped to pick up the things, some pieces of +an old overcoat of fine, dark-blue material, cut into small garments, +basted, ready to be sewed; a tissue-paper pattern in a printed envelope +marked "Boy's suit." Courtland lifted up the cover to put it on again, +and there they saw, in a child's stiff little printing letters, the +inscription, "Aleck's new Sunday suit," and underneath, like a subtitle, +in smaller letters, "Made out of father's best overcoat." + +"Poor little kid!" said Courtland. "He never got to wear it!" + +"He's wearing something far better!" said the nurse, cheerfully; "and +think what he's been spared. He'll never know the lack of a new suit +again!" + +Courtland looked at her thoughtfully. "You believe in the resurrection, +don't you?" + +"I certainly do!" said the nurse. "If I didn't I'd get another job. I +couldn't see lives go out the way I do, and those left behind, +suffering, and not go crazy if I didn't believe in the resurrection. You +are a college student. I suppose you've got beyond believing things. It +isn't the fashion to believe in God and the Bible any more, I +understand, not if you're supposed to have any brains. But I thank God +He's left me the resurrection. And when you come to face the loss of +those you love you'll wish you believed in it, too." + +"But I do," said Courtland, quietly, making his second confession of +faith. "I never thought much about it till lately. It goes along with a +Christ, of course. There had to be a resurrection if there was a +Christ!" + +"Well, I certainly am glad there's one college student that has some +sense!" said the nurse, looking at him with admiration. "I guess you had +a good mother." + +"No," said Courtland, shaking his head. "I never knew my own mother. +That'll be one of the things for me to look forward to in the +resurrection. I was like all the rest of the fellows--thought I knew it +all, and didn't believe anything till something happened! I was in a +fire and one of the fellows died! He was a great Christian, and I saw +his face when he died! And then, afterward--maybe you'll think I'm nuts +when I tell you--but Christ came and stood by me in the smoke and talked +with me and I knew Him! He's been with me more or less ever since." + +The nurse looked at him curiously, a strange light in her eyes. Then she +turned suddenly and looked out of the little window to the vista of gray +roofs. + +"No! I don't think you're nuts!" she said, brusquely. "I think you're +the only sensible man I've met in a long time. It stands to reason if +there is a Christ He'd come to people that way sometimes. I never had +any vision, or anything that I know of, but I've always known in my +heart there was a Christ and He was helping me! I couldn't answer their +arguments, those smart-Aleck young doctors and the nurses that talked so +much, but I always felt nobody could upset my belief, even if the whole +world turned against Him, for I _knew_ there was a Christ! I don't know +_how_ I know it, but I _know_ it and that's enough for me! I don't boast +of being much of a Christian myself, but if I didn't know there was a +Christ I couldn't stand the life I have to live, nor the disappointments +that I've had." + +There were tears rolling down her cheeks, but her eyes were shining when +she turned around. + +"Say, I guess we're sort of relations, aren't we?" laughed Courtland, +holding out his hand. "You've described my feelings exactly." + +She took the offered hand and gripped it warmly. "I knew you must be +different, somehow, when you went out to hunt for my patient so late at +night that way," she said. + +Courtland went out presently, bringing back a second-hand man with whom +he made a quiet bargain that not even the nurse could hear, and the +surplus furniture was carted away. It was not long before the little +room was dismantled and empty. + +They went together to a department store and purchased a charming little +bag with a lot of traveling accessories in plain compact form, light +enough for an invalid to carry. Courtland begged to be let in on the +gift, but the nurse was firm: + +"This is my picnic, young man," she said. "You're doing enough! You +can't deny it! For pity's sake, wait till you know her better before +you try to do any more!" + +"Do you think I'll ever know her any better?" laughed Courtland. + +"If you have any sense you will!" snapped back the nurse, and waved a +grim but pleasant good-by as she took the trolley back to the hospital. + +Wednesday night Courtland was on hand with his car in plenty of time to +take Bonnie and the nurse down to the station. He was almost startled at +the beauty of the girl as she came slowly down the steps. There were +certain little details of her costume that showed the hand of the nurse: +a soft white collar; a floating, sheltering veil, gathered up now about +the black sailor-hat; well-fitting gloves; shoes polished like new. All +these things made a difference and set off the girl's lovely face in its +white resignation to an almost unearthly beauty. He found himself +wanting to turn back often and look again as he drove his car through +the crowded evening streets. She looked so frail and sweet he could not +help thinking of Mother Marshall and how she would feel when she saw +her. Surely she could not help but take her to her heart! He felt a +certain pride in her, as if she were his sister. He was half sorry she +was going away. He would like to know her better. The words of the +nurse, "until you know her better" floated through his mind. What a +strange thing that had been for her to say! It wasn't in the least +likely that he would ever see Bonnie again. + +They left her in the sleeper, with special instructions to the porter to +look after her, and surrounding her with magazines and fruit. + +"She looks as if a breath might blow her away!" said Courtland, speaking +out of a troubled thought, as he and the nurse stood on the platform +watching the train move off. "Do you think she'll get through the +journey all right?" + +"Sure!" said the nurse, wiping away a wistful tear furtively. "She's got +lots of pep. She'll rally and get strong pretty soon. She's had a pretty +tough time the last two years. Lost her mother, father, a sister, and +this little brother. Her father's heart was broken by being asked to +leave his church because he preached temperance too much. The martyrs in +this world didn't all die in the dark ages! They're having them yet!" + +"But she looks so ethereal!" pursued Courtland. "I wish I'd thought to +suggest you going along. We could have trumped up some reason why you +had to have a vacation." + +"Couldn't do it!" said the nurse, smiling and patting his arm. "I +thought of it, but it wouldn't work. I have to be at the hospital +to-morrow for a very important operation. There isn't anybody else in +the hospital could very well take my place. Besides, she's sharp as a +tack, and you needn't think she doesn't see through a lot of the things +you've done for her! Mark my words, you'll hear from her some day! She +means to know the truth about those bills and pay every cent back! But +don't you worry about her. She'll get through all right. She's got more +nerve than any dozen girls I know, and she doesn't go alone through this +world, either. She's had a vision, too, or you'd never see her wearing +that patient face with all she's had to bear!" + +"Did it ever seem strange to you that good people have so much trouble +in this world?" said Courtland, voicing his same old doubting thought. + +"Well, now _why_? What's _trouble_ going to be in the resurrection? We +won't mind then what we passed through, and this world isn't forever, +thank the Lord! If it's serving His plan any for me to get more than +what seems my share of trouble, why, I'm willing. Aren't you? The +trouble is we can't see the plan, and so we go fretting because it +doesn't fit our ideas. If it was our plan now we'd patiently bear +everything, I suppose, to make it come out right. We aren't up high +enough to get the whole view of the finished plan, so of course lots of +things look like mistakes. But if we trust Him at all, we know they +aren't. And some time, I suppose, we'll see the whole and then we'll +understand why it was. But I never was one to do much fretting because I +didn't understand. I always know what my job is, and that's enough. I'm +content to trust the rest to God. It's a God-size job to run the +universe, and I know I'm not equal to it." + +Her simple logic calmed his restless thoughts, but there was still a +strange wistfulness in his heart about Bonnie. She looked so white and +resigned and sad! He wished she hadn't gone quite so far out of his +life. + +Meantime, out in the darkness of the night Bonnie's train whirled along, +and some time during the long hours between midnight and dawning it +passed in a rush and a thunder of sound the express that was bearing +back to Courtland another menace to his peace of mind. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + + +Uncle Ramsey was large and imposing, with an effulgent complexion and a +prosperous presence. He wore a double-jeweled ring on his apoplectic +finger, and a scarab scarf-pin. His eyes were keen and shifty; his teeth +had acquired the habit of clutching his fat black cigar viciously while +he snarled his rather loose lips about them in conversation. Uncle +Ramsay never looked one in the face when he was talking. He looked off +into space, where he appeared to have the topic under discussion in +visible form before him. He never took up with the conversation his host +offered. He furnished the topics himself and pinned one down to them. It +really was of no use whatever to start any subject unless it had been +previously announced, because it never got further than the initiative. +Uncle Ramsey always went on with whatever he had in mind. Tennelly knew +this tendency, realized that in writing the letter he had taken the only +possible way of bringing Courtland to his uncle's notice. + +After an exceedingly good dinner at the frat. house, where Tennelly did +not usually dine, and being further reinforced by one of the aforesaid +fat black cigars, Uncle Ramsey leaned back in Tennelly's leather chair, +and began: + +"Now, Thomas!" + +Tennelly stirred uneasily. He despised that "Thomas." His full name was +Llewellyn Thomas Tennelly. At home they called him "Lew." Nobody but +Uncle Ramsey ever dared the hateful Thomas. He liked to air the fact +that his nephew was named after himself, the great Ramsey Thomas. + +"Suppose you tell me about this man you have for me? What kind of a +looking man is he?" + +Uncle Ramsey screwed up his eyes, looked to the middle distance where +the subject ought to be, and examined him critically. + +"Has--ah--he--ah--_personality_? Personality is a great factor in +success you know." + +Tennelly, in the brief space allowed him, declared that his friend would +pass this test. + +"Well--ah! And can he--ah!--can he _lead men_? Because that is a very +important point. The man I want must be a leader." + +"I think he is." + +"Um--ah! And does he--?" on down through a long list of questions. + +At last, after once more relighting his cigar, which had gone out +frequently during the conversation, he turned to his nephew and fixed +him sharply with a fat pale-blue eye. + +"Tell me the worst you know about him, Thomas! What are his faults?" he +snapped, and settled back to squint at his imaginary stage again. + +"Why--I--Why, I don't think he has any," declared Tennelly, shifting +uneasily in his chair. He had a feeling that Uncle Ramsey would get it +out of him yet. And he did. + +"Yes, I perceive that he has! Out with it!" snapped the keen old bird, +flinging his loose lips about restively. + +"It's only that he's got a religious twist lately, uncle. I don't think +it'll last. I really think he is getting over it!" + +"Religion! Um! Ah! Well, now that might not be so bad--not for my +purpose, you know. Religion really gives a confidence sometimes. +Religion! Um! Ah! Not a bad trait. Let me see him, Thomas! Let me see +him _at once_!" + +Tennelly had said nothing to Courtland about the approaching uncle, and +therefore it was wholly a surprise to Courtland when Tennelly knocked on +his door and dragged him from his books to meet a Chicago uncle. + +"He's come East looking for the right man to fill a very important +position. It is something along your line, I guess, so I spoke to him +about you," whispered Tennelly, hastily, as they crossed the hall +together. + +Face to face they stood, the financier and the young senior, and studied +each other keenly for the fraction of a second, Courtland no less cool +and impressive in his way than the older man. For Courtland was not +afraid of any man, and his natural attitude toward all men was challenge +till he knew them. He stood straight and tall and looked Uncle Ramsey in +the eye critically, questioningly, courteously, but with no attempt to +propitiate; and not the slightest apparent conception of the awesomeness +of the occasion or the condescension of the august personage whom he was +thus permitted to meet. + +And Uncle Ramsey liked it! + +True, he tried to fix the young man much as a cook fixes a roast with a +skewer, to be put over the fire; but Courtland didn't skew. He just sat +down indifferently and looked the man over; smiled pleasantly now and +then, and listened; but he didn't give an inch. Even when the marvelous +proposition was made to him which might change the whole course of his +future life and cover his name with glory (?) Courtland never flickered +an eyelash. + +"He took it as calmly as if I'd been offering him toast with his tea +when he already had bread and jam, the young whelp!" marveled Uncle +Ramsey, delightedly, after Courtland had thanked him, promised to think +it over, and gone back to his room. "He's got the personality, all +right! He'll do! But what's his idea in being so reluctant? Didn't the +offer strike him as big enough, or what's the matter? I must say I don't +like to wait. When I find a man I like to nail him. What's the idea, +Thomas? Has he got something else up his sleeve?" + +"Not that I know of," said Tennelly, looking troubled. "I guess he's +just got to think it over. That's Court. He never steps into a position +until he knows exactly what he thinks about it." + +"M-m-m! Another good trait! You're sure it isn't anything else?" + +"I don't know of anything unless some of his religious notions are +standing in his way. I'm sure I can't quite make him out lately. He had +a shock a few months ago--one of the fellows killed in a fire--and he +can't seem to get over it quite." + +"Oh, well, we'll fix him up all right!" said Uncle Ramsey, contentedly. +"We'll just send him down to our model factory here in the city and let +him see how things are run. Convince him he's doing good, and that'll +settle him! All white marble, with vines over the place, and a big +rest-room and reading-room for the hands, gymnasium on the roof, model +restaurant, all up to date. Cost a lot of money, too, but it pays! When +some whining idiot of a woman, that hasn't enough business of her own to +attend to, goes blabbing down there at Washington about the 'conditions' +in the factories, and all that rot, we just run a few senators up here +for the day and show 'em that model factory. Oh, it pays in the long +run. You take your man there and you'll land him all right! By the way, +there's a little rat of a preacher down around that factory that I'd +like to throttle! He's making us all sorts of trouble, stirring up the +folks to ask for all sorts of things! He's putting it in their heads to +demand an eight-hour day, and no telling how much more! He's undertaken +to tell us how we ought to run our business! Tell us which doors we +shall lock and which leave unlocked, how often we shall let our hands +sit down, and what kind of machines we shall get! He's a regular little +rat! Know him? His name's Burns. Insignificant little puppy! And he's +got a pull down there in Washington, somehow, that's making us a lot of +trouble, too! That's one thing I want this new man for. I want to train +him to spy on that sort of interference and by and by do some lobbying. +We must stop such business as that. What time is it? I guess perhaps I +better run down and hunt out that little rat and give him a good scare." + +Uncle Ramsey departed "rat-hunting," and Tennelly repaired to +Courtland's room. He sat down and began to tell what a wonderful +opportunity this was, and how unprecedented in Uncle Ramsey to have +offered such a thing to a young man still in college. It showed how +wonderfully he had been taken with Courtland. It was most flattering. + +Courtland admitted that it was and that he was grateful to his friend +for mentioning his name. He said it looked like a very good thing--like +the kind of thing he had been hoping would turn up when he got through +college, but he couldn't decide it immediately. + +Tennelly urged that Uncle Ramsey was insistent; that his business was +urgent, and he must know one way or the other immediately. He tried to +give Courtland an adequate idea of the greatness of Uncle Ramsey, and +the audacity of anybody, especially a little college upstart, attempting +to keep him waiting; but Courtland only shook his head and said it +wouldn't be possible for him to give his answer at once. If that was the +condition of the offer he would have to let it pass. + +Tennelly talked and talked, but finally went back to his room baffled. +He just couldn't understand what was the matter with Courtland! + +When Uncle Ramsey returned from a fruitless search for the "rat" he was +enraged to find that Courtland was not awaiting his coming in trembling +eagerness to accept his munificent offer. + +Another personal interview that evening brought nothing more +satisfactory than a promise to look into the matter carefully, and to +have another talk the next evening. Uncle Ramsey raged and swore. He +blamed the little rat of a preacher, and declared he must leave for +Boston that evening; but he finally sent a telegram instead and decided +to remain until the next night. There were matters in the city he was +intending to look after on his return, and of course he could do it now +instead. He felt it was important that that young man should be landed +before he had a chance to do too much thinking. Moreover, he was piqued +that a youngster like that should presume to consider turning down a job +like the one he was offering him. + +If Courtland had tried to explain to Tennelly and his uncle just why +this offer, which would have delighted him so much three months before, +was hanging in the balance of his mind, they would scarcely have +understood. He would have to tell them of the Presence which was by his +side, which had been very real to him as he stood in Tennelly's room +listening to Uncle Ramsey that afternoon, and which had hovered by him +since, so close, so strong, with that pervading, commanding nearness +that demanded his utmost attention. He would have had to tell them that +he was under orders now, being led, and that every step was new and +untried; he must look into the face of his Companion and Guide, and find +out if this was the way he was to go! + +Something, somewhere was holding him back. He did not know why, he did +not see for how long. He simply could not make that decision to-night! +He must await permission before moving. + +Possibly the trip to the factory the next day, which he had promised to +take, might give him some light in the matter. Possibly he would find +counsel somewhere. But where? He thought of Gila. He took out a lovely +photograph of her that she had given him before he left her Sunday +night--a charming, airy, idealistic thing of earth and fire that had +lain innocently open upon the library table where some one (?) had left +it earlier in the day. He stood it up on his desk and studied the +spirited will-o'-the-wisp face! Then he turned away sadly and shook his +head. She would not understand. Not yet! Some time, when he had told her +about the Presence--but not yet! She could not understand because she +had not seen for herself. + +Tennelly and his uncle went down-town in the morning and took lunch +together. Courtland was to meet them at the factory at three o'clock, +but somehow he missed them. Perhaps it was intention. Courtland went +early. He wanted to see things for himself; went alone first. Afterward +he could go the rounds to satisfy Mr. Thomas, but first he would see it +alone. + +Then, after all, it was the Rev. Robert Burns who met him at the door +and took him through the factory, bent on seeing some parishioner on an +errand of love. And there was that strange sense of the Presence having +been there before them, walking about among the machinery, looking at +the tired face of one, sorrowing over the wrinkles in another forehead, +pitying the weary hands that toiled, blessing the faithful! It reminded +him of the morgue in that. For a minute he began to think that if the +Presence was here in this peculiar sense, then, of course, it was an +indication that he was needed here to work for these people, as Uncle +Ramsey had tried with strange worldly wisdom to make him understand. But +then, suddenly, he caught a glimpse of the face of the little minister, +white under its freckles, with a righteous wrath as he fixed his gaze +sternly on the door at the end of the long room. He looked up quickly to +hear the click of a key in a lock as the foreman passed from one room to +another. + +He glanced down at the minister and their eyes met. + +"They lock them in here like sheep in a pen. If a fire should break out +they would all die!" said the minister under his breath. His lips were +trembling with the helplessness of himself against the power of a great +trust. + +"You don't say!" said Courtland, startled. It was his first view of +conditions of this sort. He looked about with eyes alive to things he +had not seen before. "But I thought this was a model factory! Isn't it +absolutely fire-proof?" + +"Somewhat so, on the _out_side!" shrugged Burns. "It's a whited +sepulcher, that's what it is. Beautiful marble and vines, beautiful +rest-room and library--for the _visitors_ to rest and read in--beautiful +restaurant where the girls must buy their meals at the company's prices +or go without; beautiful outside everywhere; but it's rotten, +_absolutely rotten_ all through! Look at the width of that staircase! +That's the one the employees use. The visitors only see the broad way by +which you came up. Look at those machines! All painted and gilded! They +are old models and twice as heavy to work as the new ones, but we can't +get them to make changes. Look at those seats, put there to impress the +visitors! The fact is not one of the hands dare use them, except a +minute now and then when the foreman happens to leave the room! They +know they will get docked in their pay if they are caught sitting down +at their work! And yet it is always flaunted before the visitors that +the workmen can sit down when they like. So they can, but they can go +home without a pay-envelope if they do, when Saturday night comes. Oh, +there is enough here to make one's blood boil! You're interested in +these things? I wish you'd let me tell you more some time. About the +long hours, the stifling air in some rooms, and the little children +working in spite of the law! I wish men like you would come down here +and help clean this section out and make conditions different! Why don't +you come and help me?" + +The minister laid his hand on Courtland's arm, and instantly it seemed +as if the Presence came and stood beside him and said: "Here! This is +your work!" + +With a great conviction in his heart Courtland turned and followed Burns +down the broad marble stairs out to the office, where he left word for +Tennelly and his uncle that he had been there and had to go, but would +see them again that evening, and then down the street to Burns's common +little boarding-house, where they sat down and talked the rest of the +afternoon. Burns opened Courtland's eyes to many things that he had not +known were in the world. It was as if he laid his hands upon him and +said, as of old: "Brother Saul, receive thy sight!" + +When Courtland went back to the university his decision was made. He +felt that he was under orders, and the Presence would not go with him in +any such commission as Uncle Ramsey had proposed. His only regret was +that Tennelly would not understand. Dear old Tennelly, who had tried to +do his best for him! + +The dénouement began in Tennelly's room after supper, when Courtland +courteously and firmly thanked Uncle Ramsey, but _declined_ the offer! + +Uncle Ramsey grew apoplectic in the face and glared at the young man, +finally bringing out an explosive: "What! You _decline_?" + +Uncle Ramsey spluttered and swore. He tore up and down the small +confines of the room like an angry bull, bellowing forth anathemas and +arguments in a confused jumble. He enlarged on the insult he had been +given, and the opportunity that was being lost never to be offered +again. He called Courtland a "trifling idiot," and a few other gentle +phrases, and demanded reasons for such an unprecedented decision. + +Courtland's only answer was: "I am afraid it isn't going to fit in with +my views of life, Mr. Thomas. I have thought it over carefully and I +cannot accept your offer." + +"Why not? Isn't it enough money?" roared the mad financier. "I'll double +your salary!" + +"Money has nothing to do with it," said Courtland, quietly. "That would +make no difference." He was sorry for this scene for Tennelly's sake. + +"Well, have you something else in view?" + +"No, not definitely." + +"Then you're a fool!" said Uncle Ramsey, and further stated what kind +of a fool he was, several times, _vigorously_. After which he mopped his +beaded brow with trembling, agitated hands, and sat down. The old bull +was baffled at last. + +Uncle Ramsey blustered all the way to the train with his nephew. "I've +got to have that young man, Thomas. There's no two ways about it. A +fellow that can stand out the way he did against Ramsey Thomas is just +the man I want. He's got personality. Why, a man like that at work for +us would be worth millions! He would give confidence to every one! Why, +we could make him a Senator in a few years, and there's no telling where +he wouldn't stop! He's the kind of a man who could be put in the White +House if things shaped themselves right. I've _got_ to have him, Thomas, +and no mistake! Now, I'm going to put it up to you to find out the +secret of this thing. You just get his number and we'll meet him on any +reasonable proposition he wants to put up. Say, Thomas, isn't there a +girl anywhere that could influence him?" + +"Yes, there's a girl!" + +"The very thing! You put her wise about it, and when I come back next +week I'll stop off again and see what I can do with her? You can take me +to call on her, you know. Can you work it, Thomas?" + +Tennelly said he'd try, and went around to see Gila on his way back to +the university. + +Gila listened to the story of Uncle Ramsey's offer with bated breath and +averted gaze. She would not show Tennelly how much this meant to her. +But in her eyes there grew a determination that was not to be denied. + +She planned a campaign with Tennelly, coolly, and with a light kind of +glee that fooled him completely. He saw that she was entering into the +spirit of the thing and had no idea she had any other interest than to +please her cousin, and achieve a kind of triumph herself in making +Courtland do the thing he had vowed not to do. + +But long after Tennelly had gone home she stood before her mirror, +looking with dreamy eyes into the pictures her imagination drew there +for her. She saw herself the bride of Courtland after he had succeeded +in the big business enterprise to which Uncle Ramsey had opened the +door; she saw Washington with its domes and Capitol looming ahead of her +ambition; Senators and great men bowing before her; even the White House +came like a fantasy of possibility. All this and more were hers if she +played her cards aright. Never fear! She would play them! Courtland +_must_ be made to accept Uncle Ramsey's proposition! + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + + +Bonnie's letter reached Mother Marshall Wednesday afternoon while Father +was off in the machine arranging for a man to do the spring plowing. She +knew it by heart before he got back, and stood at her trysting window +with her cheek against the old hat, watching the sunset and thinking it +over when the car came chugging contentedly down the road. + +Father waved his hand boyishly as he turned in at the big gate, and +Mother was out on the side door-step waiting as he came to a halt. + +"Heard anything yet?" he asked, eagerly. + +"Yes. A nice, dear letter!" Mother held it up, "Hurry up and come in and +I'll read it to you." + +But Father couldn't wait to put away the machine. He bounded out like a +four-year-old and came right in then, regardless of the fact that it was +getting dark and he might run into the door-jamb putting away the +machine later. + +He settled down, overcoat and all, into the big chair in the kitchen to +listen; and Mother put on her spectacles in such a hurry that she got +them upside down and had to begin over again. + + YOU DEAR MOTHER MARSHALL! [the letter began.] + AND DEAR FATHER MARSHALL, TOO! + + I think it is just the most wonderful thing that I ever + heard of that you are willing to invite a stranger like me + to visit you! At first I thought it wasn't right to accept + such great kindness from people I never saw, and who didn't + know whether they could even like me or not. But afterward + Mr. Courtland told me about your Stephen and that you had + suffered, too! And then I knew that I might take you at your + word and come for a little while to get the comfort I need + so much! Even then I couldn't have done it if Mr. Courtland + and my nurse hadn't told me they were sure I could get + something to do and so be able to repay you for all this + kindness. If I can really be of any comfort to you in your + loneliness I shall be so glad. But I'm afraid I could never + even half fill the place of so fine a son as you must have + had. Mr. Courtland has told me how grandly he died. He saw + him, you know, at the very last minute, and saw all he did + to save others. But if you will let me love you both I shall + be so grateful. All that I had on earth are gone home to God + now, and the world looks so long and hard and sad to me! I + do hope you can love me a little while I stay, and that you + will not let me make you any trouble. Please don't go to any + work to get ready for me. I will gladly do anything that is + necessary when I get there. I am quite able to work now; and + if I have a place where I can feel that somebody cares + whether I live or die it will not be so hard to face the + future. A great, strange city is an awful place for a girl + that has a heavy heart! + + I am so glad that you know Jesus Christ. It makes me feel at + home before I get there. My dear father was a minister. + + They wouldn't let me go and pack up, so I had to do the best + I could with directing the kind friends who did it for me. I + have taken you at your word and had mother's sewing-machine + and a box of my little brother's things sent with my trunk. + But if they are in the way I can sell them or give them + away. And I don't want you to feel that I am going to + presume upon your kindness and settle down on you + indefinitely. Just as soon as I get a chance to work I must + take it, and I shall want to repay you for all you have done + for me. You have sent me a great deal more money than I + need. + + I start Wednesday evening on the through express. I have + marked a time-table and am sending it because we are unable + to find out just what time I can make connections from + Grant's Junction, where they say I have to change. Perhaps + you will know. But don't worry about me; I'll find my way to + you as soon as I can get there. I am praying all the time + that I shall not disappoint you. And now till I see you, + + Sincerely and gratefully, + ROSE BONNER BRENTWOOD. + +"It couldn't be improved on," declared Mother, beamingly. "It's just +what I'd have wanted her to say if I'd been planning it all out, only +more so!" + +"It's all right!" said Father, excitedly, "but that's one thing we +forgot. We'd ought to have sent her word we would meet her at the +station, and what time the train left Grant's Junction, and all! Now +that's too bad!" + +"Now don't you worry, Father. She'll find her way. Like as not the +conductor will have a time-table and be able to tell her all about the +trains. But I certainly do wish we had let her know we would meet her." + +They were still worrying about it that night at nine o'clock while +Father wound the kitchen clock and Mother put a mackerel asoak for +breakfast. Suddenly the telephone in the next room gave a whir, and both +Father and Mother jumped as if they had been shot, looking at each other +in bewildered question as they hastened to the 'phone. + +It was Father who took down the receiver. "A telegram? For Mr. Seth +Marshall! Yes, I'm listening! Write it down, Mother! A telegram!" + +"Mercy! Perhaps she wasn't well enough to start!" gasped mother, putting +her pencil in place. + + Miss Brentwood left to-night at nine-fifteen on express + number ten, car Alicia lower berth number eight. Please let + me know if she arrives safely. + + PAUL COURTLAND. + +"Now isn't that thoughtful of him!" he said, as he hung up the receiver. +"He must have sensed we wanted to send her word, and now we can do it!" + +"Send her word!" said Mother, bewildered. + +"Why, surely! Haven't you read in the papers how they send messages to +trains that are moving? It's great, isn't it, Mother? To think this +little dinky telephone puts you and me out here on this farm in touch +with all the world." + +"Do you mean you can send a telegram to her on board the train, Seth?" +asked Mother, in astonishment. + +"Sure!" said Father. "We've got all the numbers of everything. Just send +to that express train that left to-night. What was it--Express number +ten, and so on, and it'll be sent along and get to her." + +"Well, I think I'd ask her to answer then, to make sure she got it. I +think that's a mighty uncertain way to send messages to people flying +along on an express train. If you don't get any word from her you'll +never know whether she got it or not, and then you won't know whether to +meet her at Sloan's or Maitland," said Mother, with a worried pucker on +her forehead. + +"Sure!" said Father, taking down the receiver. "I can do that." + +"It's just wonderful, Seth, how much you know about little important +things like that!" sighed Mother, when the telegram was sent. "Now, I +think we better go right to bed, for I've got to get to baking early in +the morning. I want to have bread and pies and doughnuts fresh when she +comes." + +It was while they were eating breakfast that the answer came: + + Telegram received. Will come to Sloan's Station. Having + comfortable journey. R.B.B. + +"Now isn't that just wonderful!" said Mother, sitting back weakly behind +the coffee-pot and wiping away an excited tear with the corner of her +apron. "To think that can be done! Now, wouldn't it be just beautiful if +we had telephones to heaven! Think, if we could get word from Stephen +to-day, how happy we'd be!" + +"Why, we have!" said Father. "Wait!" and he reached over to the little +stand by the window and grasped the worn old Bible. "Here! Listen to +this! + + "For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we + which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall + not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord Himself + shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of + the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in + Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain + shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet + the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. + Wherefore comfort one another with these words. + +"There, Mother! Ain't that just as good as any telegram from a moving +train? And it's signed with His own seal and signature! It means He's +heard our sorrow about Stephen's leaving us, and He heard it ages before +we felt it ourselves, and wrote this down for us! Sent us a telegram +this morning, just to comfort us! I reckon that meeting with Stephen and +the Lord in the air is going to knock the spots clean out of this little +old meeting to-morrow morning down at Sloan's Station. We won't need our +ottymobeel any more after that. We'll have _wings_, Mother! How'll you +like to fly?" + +Mother gave a little gasp of joy and smiled at Father like a rainbow +through her tears. "That's so, Father! We don't need telephones to +heaven, do we? I guess His words cover all our needs if we'd only +remember to look for them. Now, Father, I must get at those doughnuts! +Was you going to take the machine and run down to town and see if those +books have come yet? They surely ought to be here by this time. Then +don't forget to fix that fire up in the bedroom so it'll be all ready to +light when she gets here. Isn't it funny, Father, we don't know how she +looks! Not in the least. And if two girls should get off the train at +Sloan's Station we wouldn't know which was the right one!" + +"Well _I should_!" declared Father. "I'm dead certain there ain't two +girls in the whole universe could have written that letter, and if you'd +put any other one down with her, and I saw them side by side, I could +tell first off which she was!" + +So they helped each other through that last exciting day, finding +something to do up to the very last minute the next morning before it +was time to start to Sloan's Station to meet the train. + +Mother would go along, of course. She pictured herself standing for +hours beside that kitchen window with her cheek against the old hat, +waiting, and wondering what had happened that they hadn't come, and she +couldn't see it that way. So she left the dinner in such stages of +getting ready that it could be soon brought to completion, and wrapped +herself in her big gray cloak. + +Father went faster than he had ever been known to go since he got the +car, and Mother never even noticed. He got a panic lest his watch might +be out of the way and the train arrive before they got there. So they +arrived at the station almost an hour ahead of the train. + +"Oh, I'm so glad it's a pretty day!" said Mother Marshall, slipping her +gloved hands in her sleeves to keep from shivering with excitement. + +Mother Marshall sat quite decorously in the automobile till the train +drew up to the platform and people began to get out. But when Bonnie +stepped down from the car she forgot all about her doubts as to how they +would know her, and jumped right out on the platform without waiting to +be helped. She rushed up to Bonnie, saying, "This is our Bonnie, isn't +it?" and folded her arms about the girl, forgetting entirely that she +hadn't meant to use the name until the girl gave her permission; that +she had no right to know the name even, wasn't supposed to have heard of +it, and was sort of giving the young man away as it were. + +But it didn't matter! Bonnie was so glad to hear her own name called in +that endearing tone that she just put her face down in Mother Marshall's +comfortable neck and cried. She couldn't help it, right there while the +train was still at the station and the other travelers were peering +curiously out of the sleeper at the beautiful pale girl in black who was +being met by that nice old couple with the automobile. Somehow it made +them all feel glad, she had looked so sad and alone all the journey. + +What a ride that was home again to the farm, with Mother Marshall +cuddling and crooning to her: "Oh, my dear pretty child! To think you've +really come all this long way to comfort us!" and Father running the old +machine at an unheard of rate of speed, slamming along over the road as +if he had been sent for in great haste, and reaching his big fur glove +back now and then to pat the old buffalo robe that was tucked snugly +over Bonnie's lap. + +Bonnie herself was fairly overcome and couldn't get her equilibrium at +all. She had thought these must be wonderful people to be inviting a +stranger and doing all they were doing, but such a reception as this she +had never dreamed of. + +"Oh, you are so good to me!" sobbed Bonnie, with a smile through her +tears. "I know I'm acting like a baby, but I can't seem to help it. I've +had nobody so long, and now to be treated like this, I just can't stand +it! It seems as if I'd got home!" + +"Why, sure! That's what you have!" said Father, in his big, hearty +voice. + +"Put your head right down on my shoulder and cry if you want to, my +pretty!" said Mother Marshall, pulling her softly over toward her. "You +can't think how good it is to have you here! Father and I were so afraid +you wouldn't come! We thought you mightn't be willing to come so far to +utter strangers!" + +So it went on all the way, all of them so happy they didn't quite know +what they were saying. + +Then, when they got to the house even Father was so far gone that he +couldn't let them go up-stairs alone. He just had to leave the machine +standing by the kitchen door and carry that little hand-bag up as an +excuse to see how she would like the room. + +Bonnie, pulling off her gloves, entered the room when Mother opened the +door. She looked around bewildered a moment, as if she had stepped from +the middle of winter into a summer orchard. Then she cried out with +delight: + +"Oh! How perfectly beautiful! You don't mean me to have this lovely +room? It isn't right! A stranger and a pauper!" + +"Nothing of the kind!" growled Father, patting her on the shoulder. +"Just a daughter come home!" + +Then he beat a hasty retreat to the fireplace and touched a match to the +fire already laid, while Mother, purring like a contented old pussy, +pushed the bewildered girl into the big flowered chair in front of the +fire and began unfastening her coat and taking off her hat, reverently, +half in awe, for she was not used to girl's fixings, and they held +almost as much mystery for her as if she had been a man. + +In the midst of it all Mother remembered that dinner ought to be eaten +at once, and that Bonnie must have a chance to wash her face and +straighten her hair before dinner. + +So Father and Mother, with many a reluctant lingering and last word, as +if they were not going to see her for a month, finally bustled off +together. In just no time at all Bonnie was down there, too, begging to +be allowed to help, and declaring herself perfectly able, although her +white face and the dark rings under her tired eyes belied her. Mother +Marshall was not sure, after all, but she ought to have put Bonnie to +bed and fed her with chicken broth and toast instead of letting her come +down-stairs to eat stewed chicken, little fat biscuits with gravy, and +the most succulent apple pie in the world, with a creamy glass of milk +to make it go down. + +Father had just finished trying to make Bonnie take a second helping of +everything, when he suddenly dropped the carving-knife and fork with a +clatter and sprang up from his chair: + +"I declare to goodness, Mother, if I didn't forget!" he said, and rushed +over to the telephone. + +"Why, that's so!" cried Mother. "Don't forget to tell him how much we +love her!" + +Bonnie looked from one to the other of them in astonishment. + +"It's that young man!" explained Mother. "He wanted we should telegraph +if you got here all safe. You know he sent us a message after he put you +on the train." + +"How very thoughtful of him!" said Bonnie, earnestly. "He is the most +wonderful young man! I can't begin to tell you all he did for me, a mere +stranger! And so that explains how you knew where to send your message. +I puzzled a good deal over that." + +Four hours later Courtland, coming up to his room after basket-ball +practice, a hot shower, and a swim in the pool, found the telegram: + + Traveler arrived safely. Bore the journey well. Many thanks + for the introduction. Everybody happy; if you don't believe + it come and see for yourself. + + FATHER AND MOTHER MARSHALL. + +Courtland read it and looked dreamily out of the window, trying to fancy +Bonnie in her new home. Then he said aloud, with conviction, "Some time +I shall go out there and see!" + +Just then some one knocked at his door and handed in a note from Gila. + + DEAR PAUL,--Come over this evening, I want to see + you about something very special. + + Hastily, + GILA. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + + +Gila's note came to Courtland as a happy surprise. He had not expected +to see her until the next evening. Not that he had brooded much over the +matter. He was too busy and too sanely healthy to do that. Besides, he +was only as yet questioning within himself whether he was going to fall +in love. The sensation so far was exceedingly pleasurable, and he was +ready for the whole thing when it should arrive and prove itself; but at +present he was just in that quiescent stage when everything seemed +significant and delightfully interesting. + +He had firmly resolved that the next time he saw Gila he would tell her +of his own heart experience with regard to the Presence. He realized +that he must go carefully, and not shock her, for he had begun to see +that all her prejudices would be against taking any stock in such an +experience. He had only so shortly himself come from a like position +that he could well understand her extreme views; her what amounted +almost to repugnance, toward hearing anything about it. But he would +make her see the whole thing, just as he had seen it. + +Now Gila had no notion of allowing any such recital as Courtland was +planning. She had her stage all set for entirely another scene, and she +had on her most charming mood. She was wearing a little frock of +pale-blue wool, so simple that a child of ten might have worn it under +a white ruffled apron. The neck was decorated with a soft 'kerchief-like +collar. Not even a pin marred the simplicity of her costume. Her hair, +too, was simpler than usual, almost carrying out the childish idea with +its soft looping away from the face. Little heelless black-satin +slippers were tied with narrow black ribbons quaintly crossed and +recrossed over the slim, blue-silk ankles, carrying out the charming +idea of a modest, simple maiden. Nothing could be more coy and charming +than the way she swept her long black lashes down upon her pearly +cheeks. Her great eyes when they were lifted were clear and limpid as a +baby's. Courtland was fairly carried off his feet at sight of her, and +felt his heart bound in reassurance. This must be love! He had fallen in +love at last! He who had scorned the idea so long and laughed at the +other fellows, until he had really begun to have doubts in his own heart +whether the delightful illusion would ever come to him! The glamour was +about Gila to-night and no mistake! He looked at her with his heart in +his eyes, and she drooped her lashes to hide a glint of triumph, knowing +she had chosen her setting aright at last. Softly, dreamily, pleasantly, +in the back of her mind floated the Capitol of the nation, and herself +standing amid admiring throngs receiving homage. She was going to +succeed. She had achieved her first triumph with the look in Courtland's +eyes. She would be able to carry out Mr. Ramsey Thomas's commission and +win Courtland to anything that would forward ambitious hopes for him! +She was sure of it! + +The very important business about which she had wished to see Courtland +was to ask him if he would be her partner in a bazaar and pageant that +was shortly to be given for some charitable purpose by the society folks +with whom she companioned. She wanted Courtland to march with her, and +to consult him about the characters they should choose and the costumes +they should wear. + +As if she had been a child desiring him to play with her, he yielded to +her mood, watching her all the time with delighted eyes, that anything +so exquisite and lovely should stoop to sue for his favor. Of course he +would be her partner! He entered into the arrangements with a zest, +though he let her do all the planning, and heeded little what character +she had chosen for him, or what costume, so she was pleased. Indeed, his +part in the matter seemed of little moment so he might go with her--his +sweet, shy, lovely maiden! For so she seemed to him that night! A +perfect Solveig! + +The reason for the little slippers became apparent later, when she +insisted upon teaching him the dancing-steps that were to be used in a +final splendid assembly after the pageant. There was intoxication in the +delight of moving with her through the dreamy steps to the music of the +expensive Victrola she set going. Just to watch her little feet like +fairies for lightness and grace; to touch her small, warm hand; to be so +near those down-drooping lashes; to feel her breath on his hand; to +think of her as trusting her lovely little self to him--made him almost +deliriously happy. And she, with her drooping lashes, her delicate way +of barely touching his arm, her utter seeming unconsciousness of his +presence, was so exquisite and pure and lovely to-night! She did not +dream, of course, of how she made his pulses thrill and how he was +longing to gather her into his arms and tell her how lovely she was. +Afterward he was never quite sure what kept him from doing it. He +thought at the time it was herself, a sort of wall of purity and +loveliness that surrounded her and made her sacred, so that he felt he +must go slowly, must not startle her nor make her afraid of him. It +never occurred to him that the wall might be surrounding himself. He had +entirely forgotten that first visit to Gila in the Mephistophelian +garments, with the red light filling all the unholy atmosphere. There +had never been so much as a hint of a red light in the room since he +said he did not like it. The lamp-shade seemed to have disappeared. In +its place was a great wrought-metal thing of old silver jeweled with +opalescent medallions. + +But it was part of the deliberate intention of Gila to lead him on and +yet hold him at a distance. She had read him aright. He was a man with +an old-fashioned ideal of woman, and the citadel of his heart was only +to be taken by such a woman. Therefore, she would be such a woman until +she had won. After that? What mattered it? Let time plan the issue! She +would have attained her desire! + +But the down-drooping lashes hid no unconscious sweetness. There was +sinister gleam in those eyes as she looked at herself over his shoulder +when they passed the great mirror set in a cabinet door. There was +deliberate intention in the way the little hand lay lightly in the +strong one. There was not a movement of the dreamy dance she was +teaching him, not a touch of the little satin slipper, that did not have +its nicely calculated intention to draw him on. The sooner she could +make him yield and crush her to him, the sooner he declared his passion +for her, that much nearer would her ambitions be to their fulfilment. +Yet she must be very sure that she had him close in her toils before she +discovered to him her purpose. + +So the little blue Puritan-like spider threw her silver gossamer web +about him, tangling more and more his big, fine manly heart, and +flinging diamond dust, and powder made of charms and incantations, in +his eyes to blind him. But as yet she knew not of the Presence that was +now his constant companion. + +They had danced for some time, floating about in the pure delight of the +motion together, and the nearness of each another, when it seemed to +Courtland as if of a sudden a cooling hand was laid on his feverish brow +and a calm came to his spirit like a beloved voice calling his name with +the accent that is sure of quick response. + +It was so he remembered what he had come to tell Gila. Looking down to +that exquisite bit of humanity almost within his embrace, a great +tenderness for her, and longing, came over him, to make her know now all +that the Presence was becoming to him. + +"Gila," he whispered, and his voice was full of thrill. "Let's sit down +awhile! There is something I want to tell you!" + +Instantly she responded, lifting great innocent eyes, with one quick +sweep, to his face, so moved and tender; and gliding toward the couch +where they might sit together, settling down on it, almost nestling to +him, then remembering and drawing away shyly to more perfectly play her +part. She thought she knew what he was going to say. She thought she saw +the love-light in his eyes, and it was so dazzling it almost blinded +her. It frightened her a little, too, like the light in no lover's eyes +that had ever drawn her down to whisper love to her before. She wondered +if it was because she really cared herself so much now that it seemed so +different. + +But he did not take her in his arms as she had expected he would do; +though he sat quite near, and spoke in a low, privileged tone, as one +would do who had the right. His arm was across the back of the couch +behind her; he sat sideways, turned toward her, and he still touched +reverently the little hand he had been holding as they danced together. + +"Gila, I have a story to tell you," he said. "Until you know it you can +never understand me fully, and I want with all my heart to have you +understand me. It is something that has become a part of me." + +She sat quivering, wondering, half fearful. A gleam of jealousy came +into her averted face. Was he going to tell her about another girl? A +fierce, unreasoning anger shot across her face. She would not tolerate +the thought that any one had had him before her. Was it--? It couldn't +be that baby-faced pauper in the hospital? She drew her slim little body +up tensely and waited for the story. + +Courtland told the story of Stephen; told it well and briefly. He +pictured Stephen so that the girl must needs admire. No woman could have +heard that description of a man such as Stephen had been and not bow her +woman's heart and wish that she might have known him. + +Gila listened, fascinated, even up to the moment of the fire and the +tragedy when Stephen fell into the flames. She shuddered visibly several +times, but sat tense and still and listened. She even was unmoved when +Courtland went on to tell of finding himself on a ledge above the +burning mass, creeping somehow into a small haven, shut in by a wall of +smoke, and feeling that this was the end. But when he began to tell of +the Presence, the Light, the Voice, the girl gave a sudden start and +gripped her cold hands together. Almost imperceptibly she drew her tense +little body away from him, and turned slowly till she faced him, horror +and consternation in her eyes, utter unbelief and scorn on her lips. But +still she did not speak, still held her gaze on him and listened, while +he told of coming back to life, the hospital walls, the strange +emptiness, and the Presence; the recovery, and the Presence still with +him; the going here and there and finding the Presence always before him +and yet with him! + +"He is here in this room with us, Gila!" he said, simply, as if he had +been telling her that he had brought her some flowers and he hoped she +would like them. + +Then suddenly Gila gave a spring away from him to her feet, uttered a +wild scream of terror, and burst into angry tears! + +Courtland sprang to his feet in dismay and instant contrition. He had +made the horror of the fire too dramatic. He had not realized how +dreadful it would be to a woman's delicate sensibilities. This gentle, +loving girl had felt it all to her soul and her nerves had given way +before the reality of it. He had been an idiot to tell the story in that +bald way. He should have gone about it more gently. He was not used to +women. He must learn better. Would she forgive him? + +And now indeed he had her in his arms, although he was utterly unaware +of it. He was trying to comfort and soothe her, as he would soothe a +little child who had been frightened. Not only his handkerchief but his +hands were called into requisition to charm away those tears and comfort +the pitiful little face that looked so streaked and pink and helpless +there against his shoulder. He wanted to stoop and lay his lips on those +trembling ones. Perhaps Gila thought he would. But he would not take +advantage of her moment of helplessness. Not until she was herself and +could give him permission would he avail himself of that sacred +privilege. Now it was the part of a man to comfort her without any +element of self in the matter. + +When he had drawn her down upon the couch again, with the sobs still +shaking her soft blue-and-white frilly breast, her blue-black hair all +damp and tossed upon her temples, and tried to tell her how sorry he was +that he had put her through the horrors of that fire, she put in a +quivering protest. It was _not_ the fire. She shivered. It was not the +horror and the smoke! It was _not_ Stephen's death, nor the danger to +himself! It was not _any_ of those that had unnerved her! It was that +other awful thing he had said: that ghostly, ghastly, uncanny, dreadful +story of a Presence! She almost shrieked again as she said it, and she +shivered away from him, as if still there were something cold and clammy +in his touch that gave her the horrors. + +A cold disappointment settled down upon him. She had not understood. He +looked at her, troubled, disappointed, baffled. It was not possible, +then, for him to bring her this knowledge that he wished so much for her +to have. It was a thing that one could tell about to one's friends, but +could not give to them. It was something they must take for themselves, +must feel and see by themselves! With new illumination he turned to her +and said in a voice wonderfully tender for a man so young: + +"Listen, Gila! I have been clumsy in telling you! You cannot see it just +from my poor story. But He will come to _you_ and you shall see Him for +yourself! I will ask Him to come to you as He has to me!" + +Again that piercing scream, and with a quick, lithe movement, almost +like a serpent, she slid from his side and stood quivering in the middle +of the room, her eyes flashing, her body shrinking, both little hands +clenched at her throat. + +"Stop!" she cried. "Stop!" and screamed again, stamping her foot. "I +won't hear such horrible things! I _won't have_ any spirits coming +around me! I _won't see_ them! Do you understand? I _hate_ that +Presence, and _I hate you_ when you talk like that!" + +She had worked herself into a fine tantrum, but there was behind it all +a horrible fear and shrinking from the Christ he had described, the +shrinking of the naked soul in the garden from its God. The drooping, +child-like eyes were wide with horror now; the sweet, innocent mouth was +trembling with emotion. She was anything but Solveig-like. If Courtland +caught a glimpse of the real Gila through it all he laid it to his own +clumsy way of handling the delicate mystery of a girl's shy nature. He +saw she was wrought up beyond her own control, and he was so far under +the illusion that he blamed himself only, and set himself to calm her. + +He coaxed her to sit down again, put his strong hand on her quivering +one, marveling in tenderness at its smallness and softness. He talked to +her in quiet, soothing tones, grave and reassuring. He promised he would +talk no more about the Presence till she was ready to hear. He was +leaning toward her in his strength, his arm behind her, his hand on her +shoulder, with a sheltering, comforting touch when he told her this, as +one would treat a little child in trouble, and, suddenly, like the sun +flashing out from behind the clouds, she lifted up her teary face and +smiled, nestling toward him, her head falling down on his shoulder with +a sigh like a tired, satisfied child, her face lifted temptingly so +close, so very close to his. + +It was then that he did the thing that bound him to what followed. He +stooped and laid his lips upon her warm little trembling ones and kissed +her. The thrill that shot through him was like the click of shackles +snapping shut about one's wrist; like the turning of the key in a +prison-house; the shooting of the bolt to one's dark cell. He held her +there and touched her soft hair with his finger-tips; touched her cool +little forehead with his lips; touched her warm, soft lips again and +felt the thrill; but something was the matter. He felt the surging +forces within him rise and batter at the gate of his self-control. He +wanted to say, "Gila, I love you!" but the words stuck in his throat. + +What had he done? Whence came this sense of defeat and loss? The +Presence! Where was the Presence? Yes--there--but withdrawn, standing +apart in sadness, while he sat comforting and caressing one who had just +said she hated Him! But that was because she had not seen Him yet! She +was frightened because she did not understand! He would yet be able to +make her see! He would implore the Presence to come to her; to break +down her prejudice; to let her have the vision also! + +So he sat and comforted her, yet longed to get away and think it out. +This sense of depression and bitter disappointment hung about him like a +burden; now, of all times, when he should be happy if ever he was to be! + +But Gila was nestling close, patting his sleeve, talking little, sweet +nonsensical words as if she had really been the little child she seemed. +He looked down at her and smiled. How small she was, and child-like. He +must remember that she was very young, and probably had never had much +bringing-up. Serious things frightened her! He must go gently and lead +her! It made him feel old and responsible to look at her--tender, +beautiful girl!--enveloped as she was in the garment of his ideal of +womanhood. + +Yet there was something about it all that drove him from her. He must +think it out and come to some clear understanding with himself. As it +was, it seemed to him as if he were trying to take peace within himself +while before him lay a lot of his own broken vows. He had vowed to +himself to bring her to the Christ and he had not accomplished it. +Instead she had declared she hated him and the Presence both; yet here +he sat making love to her and ignoring it all! He felt a distinct +weakness in himself, but did not know how to remedy it. + +When he finally got away from Gila and walked feverishly toward the +university, he felt as if his soul was crying out within him for a +solution of the perplexities in which he was involved. By his side +walked a Friend, but there seemed to be a veil between them. Ever +mingling with his thoughts came the sweet, tear-wet face of Gila, with +its Solveig-look, pleading up at him from the mist of the evening, +luring him as it were to forget the Christ. He passed his hand wearily +over his eyes, told himself that he had been through a good deal that +evening and his nerves were not as strong as they used to be since the +fire. + +He was surprised to find that it was still early when he got back to his +room, barely half past nine. Yet it had seemed as if it must be near +midnight, so much had happened. + +What he would have thought if he could have known that at that very +minute Tennelly was seated in the chair in the library that he had so +lately vacated, and Gila, posing bewitchingly in the firelight, merrily +talking him over, is hard to say. + +Not that they were saying anything against him--of course not! Tennelly +would never have stood for that, and Gila knew better. But Gila had no +intention of giving Tennelly any idea how far matters had gone between +herself and Courtland. As for Tennelly, he would have been the most +amazed of the three if he could have known all. He had been Courtland's +intimate friend for so many years--years count like ages when one is in +college--that he thought he knew him perfectly. He would have sworn to +it that Courtland's friendship with Gila had not progressed further than +a mere first stage of friendship. He admitted that Gila had an influence +over his friend, but that it had really gone heart-deep seemed +impossible. Courtland was a man of too much force, even young as he was, +and too much maturity of thought, to be permanently entangled with a +girl like Gila. That was what Tennelly thought before Gila had turned +her eyes toward him and flung a few of her silver gossamer threads about +his soul. For always in those first days of his visits to Gila it had +been in Courtland's behalf; first, to see if she was good enough for a +friend of his friend, and next to get her partnership in the scheme of +turning Courtland's thoughts away from "morbid" things. + +But that night for the first time Tennelly saw the Solveig in Gila, and +was stirred on his own account. The childish blue frock and the simple +frilled 'kerchief did their work with his high soul as well; and he sat, +charmed, and watched her. After all, there was more to her than he had +thought, or else she was a consummate actress! So Tennelly sat late +before the fire, till Gila knew that he would turn aside again often to +see her for himself, and then she let him go. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + + +Gila took herself off to a house-party the very next day, with only a +tinted, perfumed note, like a flutter of painted wings, to explain that +the butterfly had melted into the pleasant sunshine to taste honey in +other flowers for a time. + +In a way her going was a relief to Courtland. He didn't understand +himself. There was something wrong, and he wanted to find out what +before he saw her again. + +It was while he was in this troubled state that he stumbled upon the +Bible as something that might possibly bring light. + +He had studied it before in his biblical literature classes, and found +it much like other books, a literary classic, a wonderful gem of beauty +in its way, a rare collection of legends, proverbs, allegories, and the +like. But looking at it now, with the possible hypothesis that it was +the Word of God, all was changed. + +He remembered once seeing a tray of gems in an exhibit, and among them +one that looked like a common pebble. The man who had charge of the +exhibit took the little pebble and held it in the palm of his hand for a +moment, when it suddenly began to glow and sparkle with all the colors +of the rainbow and rival all the other gems. The man explained that only +the warmth of the human hand could cause this marvelous change. You +might lay the stone under the direct rays of a summer sun, yet it would +have no effect until you took it in your hand, when it would give forth +its beauty once more. + +It was like this when he began to read the Bible with the idea that it +was the Word of God. Things flashed out at him that fairly dazzled his +thoughts; living, palpitating things, as if they were hidden of a +purpose to be discovered only by him who cared to search. Hidden truths +came to light that filled his soul with wonder. Gradually he understood +that Belief was the touchstone by which all these treasures were to be +revealed. Everywhere he found it, that belief in Christ was a condition +to all the blessings promised. He read of hearts hardened and eyes +blinded because of unbelief, and came to see that unbelief was something +a man was responsible for, not a condition which settled down upon him, +and he could not help. Belief was a deliberate act of the will. It was +not a theory, nor an intellectual affirmation; it was a position taken, +which necessarily must pass into action of some kind. He began to see +that without this deliberate belief it was impossible for man to know +the things which are purely spiritual. It was the condition necessary +for revelation. He was fascinated with the pursuit of this new study. + +Wittemore came to his room one evening, his face grayer, more strained +and horse-like than ever. Wittemore's mother had made another partial +recovery and insisted on his return to college. He was plodding +patiently, breathlessly along in his classes, trying to catch up again. +He had paid Courtland back part of the money he borrowed, and was +gradually paying the rest in small instalments. Courtland hated to take +it, but saw that it would hurt him to refuse it; so he had fallen into a +habit of stopping now and then to talk about his settlement work, just +to show a little friendly interest in him. Wittemore had responded with +a quiet wistfulness and a patient hovering in the background that +touched the other man's heart deeply. + +"I've just come from my rounds," said Wittemore, sitting down, +apologetically, on the edge of a chair. "That old lady you carried the +medicine to--she's been telling me how you made tea and toast!" He +paused and looked embarrassed. + +"Yes," smiled Courtland. "How's she getting on? Any better?" + +"No," said Wittemore, the hopeless gray look settling about his +sensitive mouth. "She'll never be any better. She's dying!" + +"Well," said Courtland, "that'll be a pleasant change for her, I guess." + +Wittemore winced. Death had no pleasant associations for him. "She told +me you prayed for her! She wants you to do it again!" + +It was plain he thought the praying had been a sort of joke with +Courtland. + +Courtland looked up, the color rising slowly in his face. He saw the +accusation in Wittemore's sad eyes. + +"Of course I know what you think of such things. I've heard you in the +class. I don't believe in them any more myself, either, now." +Wittemore's voice had a trail of hopelessness in it. "But somehow I +couldn't quite bring myself to make a mockery of prayer, even to please +that old woman. You see _my mother still believes in prayer_!" He spoke +apologetically, as of a dear one who had lacked advantages. + +"But _I do_ believe in prayer!" said Courtland, earnestly. "What you +heard me say in class was before I understood." + +"Before you understood?" Wittemore looked puzzled. + +"Listen, Wittemore. Things are all different now. I've met Jesus Christ +and I've got my eyes open. I was blind before, but since I've felt the +Presence everything has been different." + +And then he told the story of his experience. He did not make a long +story of it. He gave brief facts, and when it was finished Wittemore +dropped his face into his hands and groaned: + +"I'd give anything if I could believe all that again," came from between +his long bony fingers. "It's breaking my mother's heart to have me leave +the faith!" + +The slick hay-like hair fell in wisps over his hands, his high, bony +shoulders were hunched despairingly over Courtland's study table. He was +a great, pitiful object. + +"Why don't you, then?" said Courtland, getting up and going to the +closet for his overcoat. "It's up to you, you know. You _can_! God can't +do it for you, and of course there's nothing doing till you've taken +that step. I found that out!" + +"But how do you reconcile things, calamities, disasters, war, suffering, +that poor old woman lying on her attic bed alone? How do you reconcile +that with the goodness of God?" + +"I don't reconcile it. It isn't my business. I leave that to God. If I +understood all the whys and wherefores of how this universe is run I'd +be great enough to be a God myself." + +"But if God is omniscient I can't see how He can let some things go on! +He must be limited in power or He'd never let some things happen if He's +a good God!" Wittemore's voice had a plaintive sound. + +"Well, how do you know that? In the first place, how can you be sure +what is a calamity? And say, did it ever strike you that some of the +things we blame on God are really up to us? He's handed over His power +for us to do things, and we haven't seen it that way; so the things go +undone and God is charged with the consequences." + +"I wish I could believe that!" said Wittemore. + +"You can! When you really want to, enough, you will! Come on, let's get +that prayer down to the old lady! I'm sort of an amateur yet, but I'll +do my best." + +They went out into the mist and murk of a spring thaw. Wittemore never +forgot that night's experience--the prayer, and the walk home again +through the fog. The old woman died at dawning. + +Courtland spent much time thinking about Gila these days. His whole soul +was wrapped up in the desire that she might understand. He was longing +for her; idealizing her; thinking of her in her innocent beauty, her +charming ways; wondering how she would meet him the next time, what he +should say to her; living upon her brief, alluring notes that came to +him from time to time like fitful rose petals blown from a garden where +he longed to be; but yet in a way it was a relief to have her gone until +he could settle the great perplexity that was in his mind concerning +her. + +Gila prolonged her absence by a trip South with her father, and so it +was several weeks before Courtland saw her again. + +There seemed to be a settled sadness over his soul when he prayed about +her, and when at last she returned and summoned him to her he was no +nearer a solution of his difficulty than when he had last left her. + +The hour before he went to her he spent in Stephen's room, turning over +the leaves of Stephen's Bible. When he rose at last to go he turned +again to this verse which had caught his eye among the marked verses +that were always so interesting to him because they seemed to have been +landmarks in Stephen's life: + + My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest. + +It almost startled him, so well did it seem to suit his need. He read on +a few verses: + + And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry + us not up hence. For wherein shall it be known that I and my + people have found grace in thy sight? Is it not in that thou + goest with us? So shall we be separated, I and my people, + from all the people that are upon the face of the earth. + +Wonderful words those, implying a close relationship that shut out to a +certain extent all others who were not one with that Presence. He wished +he knew what it all meant! And in that moment was born within him a +desire to understand the Bible and know how believing scholars explained +everything. + +But as he went from the room and on his way, he felt that to some extent +he had a solution of his trouble. He was to be under the personal +conduct of the Presence of God wherever he went, whatever he did! This +was to make life less complex, and in some mysterious way the power of +the Christ with him was to be made manifest to others. Surely he might +trust this in the case of Gila, and feel sure that he would be guided +aright; that she would come to see for herself how there was with him +always this guiding power. Surely she would come to know it and love it +also. + +Gila met him with fluttering delight, poutingly reproaching him for not +writing oftener, calling him to order for looking solemn, adoringly +pretty herself in a little frilly pink frock that gave her the look of +a pale anemone, wind-blown and sweet and wild. + +She talked a good deal about the "dandy times" she had had and the +"perfectly peachy" men and girls she had met; flattered him by saying +she had seen none handsomer or more distinguished than he was. She +accepted as a matter of course the lover-like attitude he adopted, let +him tell her of his love as long as he was not too solemn about it, +teased and played with him, charmed him with every art she knew, dancing +from one mood to another like a sprite, winding her gossamer chains +about him more and more, until, when he went from her again, he was +fairly intoxicated with her beauty. + +He had lulled his anxiety with the thought that he must wait and be +patient until Gila saw. But more and more was it growing hard to +approach her about the things that were of most moment to him. Sometimes +when he was wearily trying to find a way back from the froth of her +conversation to the real things he hoped she would enjoy with him some +day, she would call him an old crab, and summon to her side other +willing youths to stimulate his jealousy; youths of sometimes unsavory +reputation whose presence gave him deep anxiety for her. Then he would +tell himself he must be more patient, that she was young and must learn +to understand little by little. + +Gila developed a great interest in Courtland's future, his plans for a +career, of which she chattered to him much and often, suggesting ways in +which her father might perhaps help him into a position of prominence +and power in the political world. But Courtland, with a shadow of +trouble in his eyes, always put her off. He admitted that he had thought +of politics, but was not ready yet to say what he would do. + +So spring came on, with its final examinations, and Commencement drawing +nearer every day. + +Through it all Courtland found much time to be with Gila; often in +company, or flashing through a crowded thoroughfare by her side; +following her fancy; excusing her follies; laying her mistakes and +indiscretions to her youth and innocence; always trying to lead up to +his great desire, that she might see his Christ. + +Tennelly watched the whole performance anxiously. He wanted Courtland to +be drawn out of what he considered his "morbid" state, but not at the +price of his peace of mind. He was very sure that Courtland ought not to +marry Gila. He was equally sure that she meant nothing serious in her +present relation to Courtland. He felt himself responsible in a way +because he had agreed in the plot with his uncle to start her on this +campaign. But if Courtland should come out of it with a broken heart, +what then? + +It was just a week before Commencement that the crisis came. + +Gila had summoned Courtland to her. + +Gila, in her most imperial mood, wearing a bewildering imported frock +whose simple intricacies and daring contrasts were well calculated to +upbear a determined spirit in a supreme combat, awaited his coming +impatiently. She knew that he had that day received another offer from +Ramsey Thomas, tempting in the extreme, and baited with alluring +possibilities that certainly were dazzling to her if they were not to +her lover. She meant to make him tell her of the offer, and she meant to +make him accept it that very afternoon and clinch the contract by +telephoning the acceptance to the telegraph-office before he left her +home. + +Courtland was tired. He had been through a hard week of examinations, +he had been on several committees, and had a number of important class +meetings, and the like. There had been functions galore to attend, and +late hours that were unavoidable. He had come to her hoping for a rest +and the joy of her society. Just to watch her dainty grace as she moved +about a room, handling the tea things and giving him a delicate sandwich +or a crisp cake, filled him with joy and soothed his troubled spirit; it +was so like his ideal of what a woman should be. + +But Gila was not handing out tea that afternoon. She had other fish to +fry, and she went at her business with a determination that very soon +showed him there was no rest to be had there. + +Very prettily, but quite efficiently, she bored him for information +about his plans. Had he no plans whatever about what he was going to do +as soon as he had finished college? Of course she knew he had money of +his own (he had never told her how much, and there hadn't really been +any way of asking a man like Courtland when he didn't choose to tell a +thing like that), but nowadays that was nothing. Even rich men all did +_something_. One wasn't anything unless one was in something big! Hadn't +he ever had any offers at all? It was queer, such a brilliant man as he +was. She knew lots of young fellows who had no end of chances to get +into big things as soon as they were done with their education. Didn't +his father know of something, or have something in mind for him? Hadn't +he ever been approached? + +Goaded at last by her delicate but determined insinuations, Courtland +told her. Yes, he had had offers; one in particular that was a fine +thing from a worldly point of view, but he didn't intend to take it. It +did not fit with his ideal of life. There were things about it that +were not square. He wasn't quite sure how his his own plans were going +to work out yet. He must have a talk with his father first. Possibly he +would study awhile longer somewhere. + +Gila frowned. She had no idea of letting him do that. She wanted him to +get into something big right away, so that she might begin her career. +So that was what had been standing in his way! Study! How stupid! No, +indeed! She wanted no scholar for a husband, who would bore her with +horrid old dull books and lectures and never want to go anywhere with +her! She must switch him away from this idea at once! She returned to +the rejected business proposition with zeal and avidity. What was it? +What did it involve? What were its future possibilities? Great! What on +earth could he find in that to object to? How ridiculous! How long ago +had that been offered to him? Was it too late to accept? What? He had +had the offer repeated even more flatteringly that very day? Where was +the letter? Would he let her see it? + +She bent over Uncle Ramsey's brusque sentences with a hidden smile of +triumph and pretended to be surprised. + +"How perfectly wonderful! All that responsibility and all those chances +to get to the top! Even a hint of Washington!" + +She dimpled and opened her great eyes imploringly at him. She pictured +herself in glowing terms going with him and holding court among the +great of the land! She wheedled and coaxed and all but commanded, while +he sat and watched her sadly, realizing how well fitted she was for the +things she was describing and how she loved them all! + + So shall we be separated, I and my people, from all the + people that are upon the face of the earth! + +He started upright! It was as if a Voice had spoken the words, those +strange words from the Bible! Was this then what they meant? Separation! +But Gila was "his people" now. Was she not one day to be his wife? He +must explain it all to her. He must let her know that he had chosen a +way of separation that forbade the paths wherein she was longing to +wander. Would she shrink and wish to turn back? Nevertheless, he must +make it plain to her. + +Gently, quietly, he tried to make her understand. He told her of the +visit of Ramsey Thomas and his own decision in the winter. He told her +of the factory that was built to blind the eyes of those who were trying +to uplift and help men. He tried to make conditions plain where girls as +young as she, and with just such hopes and fears and ambitions, perhaps +in some cases just as much sweetness and native beauty as she had, were +obliged to spend long hours of toil amid surroundings that must crush +the life out of any pure soul, and turn all the sweetness to bitterness, +the beauty to a peril! He hinted at things she did not know nor dream +of; dreadful things from which her life had always been safely guarded; +and how he could not, for the sake of those crushed souls, accept a +position that would close his mouth and tie his hands forever from doing +anything about it. He told her he could not accept honor that was +founded upon dishonor; that he had taken Christ for his pattern and +guide; that he could do nothing that would drive God's presence from +him. + +She had been sitting with her face averted, her clasped hands dropped +straight down at the side of her lap, the fingers interlaced and tense +in excitement; her bosom heaving with agitation under the Paris gown; +but when he reached this point in his argument she sprang to her feet +and away from him, standing with her shoulders drawn back, her head +thrown up, her chin out, her whole lithe body stiff and imperious. + +"It is time this stopped!" she said, and her voice was cold like a +frozen dagger and went straight through his heart. "It is time you put +away forever this ridiculous idea of a Presence, and of setting yourself +up to be better than any one else! This isn't religion, it is +fanaticism! And it has got to stop now and _forever_, or I will have +nothing whatever to do with you. Either you give up this idea of a ghost +following you around all the time and accept Mr. Ramsey Thomas's offer +this afternoon, or you and I part! You can choose, _now_, between me and +your Presence!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + + +Gila had never been more beautiful than when she stood and uttered her +terrible ultimatum to Courtland. Her little imperial head sat on her +lovely shoulders royally, her attitude was perfect grace. Her spirited +face with its dark eyes and lashes, its setting of blue-black hair, was +fascinating in its exquisite modeling. She looked like a proud young +cameo standing for her portrait. But her words shot through Courtland's +heart like icy swords dividing his soul from his body. + +He rose to his feet, gone suddenly white and stern, and stood looking at +her as if his own heart had turned traitor and slain him. A moment they +stood in battle array, two forces representing the two great powers of +the universe. Looking straight into each other's souls they stood, +plumbing the depths, seeing as in a revelation what each really was! + +To Courtland it was suddenly made plain that this girl had no part or +lot in the things that had become vital to him. She had not seen, she +_would_ not see! Her love was not great enough to carry her over the +bridge that separated them, and back over which he might not go after +her! + +Gila in her fierce haughtiness looked into her lover's eyes and saw, as +she had never seen before, the mighty strength of his character! Saw +that here was a man such as she would not likely meet again upon her +way, and she was about to lose him forever. Saw that he would never +give in about a matter of principle, and that his love was worth all the +more to any woman because he would not; knew which way he would choose, +from the first word of her challenge; yet the little fury within her +would not let her withdraw. She stood with haughty mien and cold, +flashing eyes, watching him suffer the blow she had dealt him; knew that +it was more than his love for her she was killing with that blow, yet +did not withdraw it while she might. + +"Gila! Do you mean that?" + +She looked him straight in the eye and thrust her sword in the deeper +with a steady hand. "I do!" + +He stood for a moment looking steadily at her with that cold, observant +glance, as if he would have this last picture of her this way to cut +away all tender memories that might cause pain in the future. Then he +turned as if to One who stood by his side. Not looking back again, he +said, clearly and distinctly: + +"I choose!" + +And with erect bearing he passed out of the door. + +Gila stood, white and furious, her little clenched fists down at her +sides, the sharp little teeth biting into the red underlip until the +blood came. She heard the front door shut in the distance, and her soul +cried out within her, yet she stood still and held her ground. She +turned her face toward the library window. Between the curtains she +could presently see his tall form walking down the street. He was not +drooping, nor disheartened. He held his head up and walked as if in +company with One whom he was proud to own. There was nothing dejected +about the determined young back. Fine, noble, handsome as a man could +be! She saw that one glimpse of his figure for a moment, then he passed +beyond her sight and she knew in her heart he would come to her no +more! She had sent him from her forever! + +She dashed up to her room in a fury and locked herself in. She wept and +stormed and denied herself to every one; she watched and waited for the +telephone to ring, yet she knew he would not call her up! + +Courtland never knew where he was walking as he went forth that day to +meet his sorrow and face it like a man. He passed some of his +professors, but did not see them. Pat McCluny came up and he looked him +in the eye with an unseeing stare, and walked on! + +Pat stood still and looked after him, puzzled! + +"Holy Mackinaw! What's eating the poor stew now!" he ejaculated. He +stood a moment looking back after Courtland as he walked straight ahead, +passing several more university fellows without so much as a nod of +recognition. Then he turned and slowly followed, on through the city +streets, out into the quieter suburbs, out farther into the real +country, mile after mile; out a by-path where grass grew thick and wild +flowers straggled under foot, where presently a stream wound soft and +deep between steep banks, and rocks loomed high on either hand; under a +railroad bridge, and up among the rocks, climbing and puffing till at +last they stood upon a great rock, McCluny just a little way behind and +out of sight. + +It was there in a sort of crevice, where the natural fall of the +crumbling rocks had formed a shelter, that Courtland dropped upon his +knees. Not as a spot he had been seeking for, but as a haven to which he +had been led. He knelt, and all that Pat, standing, awed and uncovered, +a few feet below, heard, was: + +"O God! O _God_!" + +He knelt there a long time, while Pat waited below, trying to think +what to do. The sun was beginning to sink, and a soft, pink summer light +was glinting over the brown rocks and bits of moss and grasses. The +young leaves waved lightly overhead like children dancing in the +morning, and something of the sweetness and beauty of the scene crept +into Pat McCluny's soul as he stood and waited before this Gethsemane +gate for a man he loved to come forth. + +At last he stepped up the rocks quietly and came and stood by Courtland, +laying a gentle hand upon his shoulder. "Come on, old man, it's getting +late. About time we were going back!" + +Courtland got up and looked at him in a dazed way, as if his soul had +been bruised and he was only just recovering consciousness. Without a +word he turned and followed Pat back again to the city. They did not +talk on the way back. Pat whistled a little, that was all. + +When they reached the gates of the university Courtland turned and put +out his hand, speaking in his own natural tone: "Thanks awfully, old +chap! Sorry to have made you all this trouble!" + +"That's all right, pard," said Pat, huskily, grasping the hand in his +big fist. "I saw you were up against it and I stuck around, that's all!" + +"I sha'n't forget it!" + +They parted to their rooms. It was long past suppertime. Pat went away +by himself to think. + +Over and over again to himself Courtland was saying, as he came to +himself and began to realize what had come to him: "It isn't so much +that I have lost her. It is that _she should have done it_!" + +Pat said nothing even to Tennelly about his walk with Courtland. He +figured that Courtland would rather they did not know. He simply hovered +near like a faithful dog, ready for whatever might turn up. He was +relieved to see that his friend came down to breakfast next morning, +with a white, resolute face, and went about the order of the day +quietly, as if everything were as usual. + +Tennelly and Bill Ward were on the alert. They had missed Courtland from +the festivities the night before, but were so thoroughly occupied with +their own part in the busy week that they had little time to question +him. Later in the day Tennelly began to wonder why Courtland had not +brought Gila, as he intended, for the class play, but a note from Gila +informed him that she was done with Paul Courtland forever, and that he +would have to get some one else to further his uncle's schemes, for she +would not. She intimated that she might explain further if he chose to +call, and Tennelly made a point of calling in between things, and found +Gila inscrutable. All he could gather was that she was very, very angry +with Courtland, hopelessly so, and that she considered him worth no more +effort on her part. She was languidly interested in Tennelly and +accepted his invitation to the dance that evening most graciously. She +had expected to go in Courtland's company, but now if he repented and +came to claim his right she would ignore it. + +But Courtland had taken Gila at her word. He had no idea of claiming any +former engagement with her. She had cut him off forever, and he must +abide by it. Courtland had spent the night upon his knees in the little +sacred room at the end of the hall. He was much stronger to face things +than he had been when he left her. So when he met Gila walking with +Tennelly he lifted his hat courteously and passed on, his face grave and +stern as when she had last seen him, but in no way showing other sign +that he had suffered or repented his choice. Pat, walking by his side, +looked furtively at Gila then keenly at his companion, and winked to his +inner consciousness. + +"She's the poor simp that did the business! And she looks her part, +_b'leeve me_!" he told himself. "But he'll get over that! He's too big +to miss _her_ long!" + +Although there was pain in these days that followed Courtland's choice, +there was also great peace in his heart. He seemed to have grown older, +counting days as years, and to have a wider vision on life. Love of +woman was gone out of his life, he thought, forever! Love wasn't an +illusion quite as he had thought. No! But Gila had not loved him, or she +never would have made him choose as she did! That was plain. If she had +not loved, then it was better he should go out of her life! He was glad +that the university days were over, and he might begin a new environment +somewhere. He felt something strong within his soul pushing him on to a +decision. Was it the Voice calling him again, leading up to what he was +to do? + +This thought was uppermost in his mind during the Commencement, which +beforehand had meant so much to him; which all the four years had been +the goal to which he had been urging forward. Now that it was here he +seemed to have gone beyond it, somehow, and found it to be but a little +detail by the way, a very small matter not worth stopping and making so +much fuss about. Of course, if Gila had loved him; if she had been going +to be there watching for him when he came forward to take his diploma; +if she were to be listening when he delivered that oration upon which he +had spent so much time and for which he received so much commendation, +that would have meant everything to him a few brief days ago--of course, +then it would have been different! But as it was he wondered that +everybody seemed so much interested in things and took so much trouble +for a lot of nonsense. + +Courtland was surprised to see his father come into the great hall just +as he went up on the platform with his class. He hadn't expected his +father. He was a busy man who did not get away from his office often. + +It touched him that his father cared to come. He changed his plans and +made it possible to take the train home with him after the exercises, +instead of waiting a day or two to pack up, as he had expected to do. +The packing could wait awhile. So he went home with his father. + +They had a long talk on the way, one of the most intimate that they had +ever had. It appeared during the course of conversation that Mr. +Courtland had heard of the offer made to his son by Ramsey Thomas, and +that he was not unfavorable to its acceptance. + +"Of course, you don't really need to do anything of the sort, you know, +Paul," he said, affably. "You've got what your mother left you now, and +on your twenty-fifth birthday there will be two hundred and fifty +thousand coming to you from your Grandfather Courtland's estate. You +could spend your life in travel and study if you cared to, but I fancy, +with your temperament, you wouldn't be quite satisfied with an idle life +like that. What's your objection to this job?" + +Courtland told the whole story carefully, omitting no detail of the +matter concerning conditions at the factory, and the matters at which he +was not only expected to wink, but also sometimes to help along by his +influence. He realized, as he told it, that his father would look at the +thing fairly, but very differently. + +"Well, after all," said the father, comfortably settling himself to +another cigar, "that's all a matter of sentiment. It doesn't do to be +too squeamish, you know, if you have ambitions. Besides, with your +income you would have been able to help out and do a lot of good. You +ought to have thought of that." + +"In other words, earn my salary by squeezing the life out of them and +then toss them a penny to buy medicine. I don't see it that way! No, +dad, if I can't work at something clean I'll go out and work in the +ground, or do _nothing_, but I _won't_ oppress the poor." + +"Oh, well, Paul, that's all right if you feel that way about of it, of +course. Ramsey Thomas wanted me to talk it over with you; promised to do +the square thing by you and all that; and he's a pretty good man to get +in with. Of course I won't urge you against your will. But what are you +going to do, son? Haven't you thought of anything?" + +"Yes," said Courtland, leaning back and looking steadily at his father. +"I've decided that I'd like to study theology." + +"Theology!" The father started and knocked an ash delicately from the +end of his cigar. "H'm! Well, that's not a bad idea! Rather odd, +perhaps, but still there's always dignity and distinction in it. Your +great grandfather on your mother's side was a clergyman in the Church of +England. Of course it's rather a surprise, but it's always respectable, +and with your money you would be independent. You wouldn't have any +trouble in getting a wealthy and influential church, either. I could +manage that, I think." + +"I'm not sure that I want to be a clergyman, father. I said _study_ +theology. I want to know what scholarly Christians think of the Bible. +I've studied it with a lot of scholarly heathen who couldn't see +anything in it but literary merit. Now I want to see what it is that has +made it a living power all through the ages. I've got to know what +saints and martyrs have founded their faith upon." + +"Well, Paul, I'm afraid you're something of an idealist and a dreamer +like your mother. Of course it's all right with your income, but, +generally speaking, it's as well to have an object in view when you take +up study. If I were you I would look into the matter most carefully +before I made any decisions. If you really think the ministry is what +you want, why, I'll just put a word in at our church for you. Our old +Doctor Bates is getting a little out of date and he'll be about ready to +be put on the retired list by the time you are done your theological +course. Let's see, how long is it, three years? Had you thought where +you will go? What seminary? Better make a careful selection; it has so +much to do with getting a good church afterward!" + +"Father! You don't _understand_!" said Courtland, desperately, and then +sat back and wondered how he should begin. His father had been a +prominent member of the board of trustees in his own church for years, +but had he ever felt the Presence? In the days when Courtland used to +sit and kick his heels in the old family pew and be reproved for it by +his aunt, he never remembered any Presence. Doctor Bates's admirable +sermons had droned on over his head like the dreamy humming of bees in a +summer day. He couldn't remember a single thought that ever entered his +mind from that source. Was that all that came of studying theology? +Well, he would find out, and if it was, he would _quit_ it! + +They were all comfortably glad to see him at home. His stepmother beamed +graciously upon him in between her social engagements, and his young +brothers swarmed over him, demanding all the athletic news. The house +was big, ornate, perfect in its way. It was good to eat such superior +cooking--that is, if he had been caring to eat anything just then; and +there was a certain freedom in life out of college that he knew he ought +to enjoy; but somehow he was restless. The girls he used to know +reminded him of Gila, or else had grown old and fat. The Country Club +didn't interest him in the least, nor did the family's plans for the +summer. It suited him not at all to be lionized on account of his +brilliant career at college. It bored him to go into society. + +Sometimes, when he was alone in his room, he would think of the +situation and try to puzzle it out. It seemed as if he and the Presence +were there on a visit which neither of them enjoyed very much, and which +they were enduring for the sake of his father, who seemed gratified to +have his eldest son at home once more. But all the time Courtland was +chafing at the delay. He felt there was something he ought to be about. +There wasn't anything here. Not even the young brothers presented a very +hopeful field, or perhaps he didn't know how to go about it. He tried +telling them stories one day when he wheedled them off in the car with +him, and they listened eagerly when he told them of the fire in the +theater, Stephen Marshall's wonderful part in the rescue of many, and +his death. But when he went on and tried to tell them in boy language of +his own experience he could see them look strangely, critically at him, +and finally the oldest one said: "Aw rats! What kinda rot are you giving +us, Paul? You were nutty then, o' course!" and he saw that, young as +they were, their eyes were holden like the rest. + +In the second week Courtland made his decision. He would go back to the +university and pack up. Gila would be away from the city by that time; +there would be no chance of meeting her and having his wound opened +afresh. The fellows would be all gone and he could do about as he +pleased. + +It was the second day after he went back that he met Pat on the street, +and it was from Pat that he learned that Tennelly and Bill Ward had gone +down to the shore to a house party given by "that fluffy-ruffles cousin +of Bill's." + +Pat drew his own conclusions from the white look on Courtland's face +when he told him. He would heartily have enjoyed throttling the girl if +he had had a chance just then, when he saw the look of suffering in +Courtland's eyes. + +Pat clung to Courtland all that week, helped him pack, and dogged his +steps. Except when he visited the little sacred room at the end of the +hall in the dormitory, Courtland was never sure of freedom from him. He +was always on hand to propose a hike or a trip to the movies when he saw +Courtland was tired. Courtland was grateful, and there was something so +loyal about him that he couldn't give him the slip. So when he went down +after Burns and whirled him away in his big gray car to the seashore +Friday morning to stay until Saturday evening, Pat went along. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + + +They certainly were a queer trio, the little Scotch preacher, the big +Irish athlete, and the cultured aristocrat! Yet they managed to have a +mighty good time of it those two days at the shore, and came back the +warmest of friends. Pat proved his devotion to Burns by attending church +the next day with Courtland, and listening attentively to every word +that was said. It is true he did it much in the same way the fellows +used to share one another's stunts in college, sticking by and helping +out when one of the gang had a hard task to perform. But it pleased both +Courtland and Burns that he came. Courtland wondered, as he shared the +hymn-book with him and heard him growl out a few bass notes to old "Rock +of Ages," why it was that it seemed to fill him with a kind of +exaltation to hear Pat sing. He hadn't yet recognized the call to go +a-fishing for men, nor knew that it was the divine angler's deep delight +in his employment that was filling him. It was while they were singing +that hymn that he stole a look at Pat, and felt a sudden wonder whether +he would understand about the Presence or not, a burning desire to tell +him about it some time if the right opportunity offered. + +The days down at the shore had done a lot for Courtland. He had taken +care that the spot he selected was many miles removed from the popular +resort where Mr. Dare had a magnificent cottage; and there had been +absolutely nothing in the whole two days to remind him of Gila. It was a +quiet place, with a far, smooth beach, and no board walks nor crowds to +shut out the vision of the sea. He leaped along the sand and dived into +the water with his old enthusiasm. He played like a fish in the ocean. +He taught Burns several things about swimming, and played pranks like a +school-boy. He basked in the sun and told jokes, laughing at Pat's +brilliant wit and Burns's dry humor. At night they took long walks upon +the sand and talked of deep things that Pat could scarcely understand. +He was satisfied to stride between them, listening to the vigorous ring +of Courtland's old natural voice again. He heard their converse high +above where he lived, and loved them for the way they searched into +things too deep for him. + +It was out in the wildest, loneliest part of the beach that night that +he heard the first hint of what had come to the soul of Courtland. Pat +had come of Catholic ancestry. He had an inheritance of reverence for +the unseen. He had never been troubled with doubts or sneers. He had let +religion go by and shed it like a shower, but he respected it. + +Courtland spent much time in the vicinity of the factory and of Robert +Burns's church during the next few weeks. He helped Burns a good deal, +for the man had heavily taxed himself with the burdens of the poor about +him. Courtland found ways to privately relieve necessity and put a poor +soul now and then on his feet and able to face the world again by the +loan of a few cents or dollars. It took so pitifully little to open the +gate of heaven to some lives! Courtland with his keen intellect and fine +perceptions was able sometimes to help the older man in his +perplexities; and once, when Burns was greatly worried over a bill that +was hanging fire during a prolonged session of congress, Courtland went +down to Washington for a week-end and hunted up some of his father's +Congressional friends. He told them a few facts concerning factories in +general, and a certain model, white-marble, much be-vined factory in +particular, that at least opened their eyes if it did not make much +difference in the general outcome. But though the bill failed to pass +that session, being skilfully side-tracked, Courtland had managed to +stir up a bit of trouble for Uncle Ramsey Thomas that made him storm +about his office wrathfully and wonder who that "darned little rat of a +preacher" had helping him now! + +It was late in September that Pat, with a manner of studied +indifference, told Courtland of a rumor that Tennelly was engaged to +Gila Dare. + +It was the very next Sunday night that Tennelly turned up at Courtland's +apartment after he and Pat had gone to the evening service, and followed +them to the church. He dropped into a seat beside Pat, amazed to find +him there. + +"You here!" he whispered, grasping Pat's hand with the old friendly +grip. "Where's Court?" + +Pat grinned and nodded up toward the pulpit. + +Tennelly looked forward and for a minute did not comprehend. Then he saw +Courtland sitting gravely in a pulpit chair by the little red-headed +Scotch preacher. + +"What in thunder!" he growled, almost out loud. "What's the joke?" + +Pat's face was on the defensive at once, though it was plain he was +enjoying Tennelly's perplexity. "Court's going to speak to-night!" It is +probable Pat never enjoyed giving any information so much as that +sentence in his life. + +"The deuce he is!" said Tennelly, out loud. "You're lying, man!" which, +considering that the Scotchman was praying, was slightly out of place. + +Pat frowned. "Shut up, Nelly. Can't you see the game's called? I'm +telling you straight. If you don't believe it wait and see." + +Tennelly looked again. That surely was Courtland sitting there. What +could be the meaning of it all? Had Courtland taken to itinerary +preaching? Consternation filled his soul. He loved Courtland as his own +brother. He would have done anything to save his brilliant career for +him. + +He hadn't intended staying to service. His plan had been to slip in, get +Courtland to come away with him, have a talk, and go back to the shore +on the late train. But the present situation altered his plans. There +was nothing for it now but to stay and see this thing through. Pat was a +whole lot deeper than the rest had ever given him credit for being. Pat +was enjoying the psychological effect of the service on Tennelly. He had +never been much of a student in the psychology class, but when it came +right down to plain looking into another man's soul and telling what he +was thinking about, and what he was going to do next, Pat was all there. +That was what made him such an excellent football-player. When he met +his opponent he could always size him up and tell just about what kind +of plays he was going to make, and know how to prepare for them. Pat was +no fool. + +That was a most unusual service. The minister read the story of the +martyr Stephen, and the conversion of Saul of Tarsus, taken from the +sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth chapters of Acts. It was brief and +dramatic in the reading. Even Tennelly was caught and held as Burns read +in his clear, direct way that made Scripture seem to live again in +modern times. + +"I have asked my friend Mr. Courtland to tell you the story of how he +met Jesus one day on the Damascus road," said Burns, as he closed the +Bible and turned to Courtland, sitting still with bowed head just behind +him. + +Courtland had made many speeches during his college days. He had been +the prince among his class for debate. He had been proud of his ability +as a speaker, and had delighted in being able to hold and sway an +audience. He had never known stage fright, nor dreaded appearing before +people. But ever since Burns had asked him if he would be willing to +tell the story of the Presence to his people in the church before he +left for his theological studies, Courtland had been just plain +frightened. He had consented. Somehow he couldn't do anything else, it +was so obviously to his mind a "call"; but if had been a coward in any +sense he would have run away that Saturday afternoon and got out of it +all. Only his horror of being "yellow" had kept him to his promise. + +Since ascending to the platform he had been overcome by the audacity of +the idea that he, a mere babe in knowledge, a recent scorner, should +attempt to get up and tell a roomful of people, who knew far more about +the Bible than he did, how he found Christ. There were no words in which +to tell anything! They had all fled from his mind and it was a blank! + +He dropped his head upon his hand in his weakness to pray for strength, +and a great calm came to his soul. The prayer and Bible-reading had +steadied him, and he had been able to get hold of what he had to say as +the story of the young man Saul progressed. But when he heard himself +being introduced so simply, and knew his time had come, he seemed to +hear the words he had read that afternoon: + + Fear not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy + God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I + will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. + +Courtland lifted up his head and arose. He faced the sea of faces that a +few moments before had swum before his gaze as if they had been a +million. Then all at once Tennelly's face stood out from all the rest, +intent, curious, wondering, and Courtland knew that his opportunity had +come to tell Tennelly about the Presence! + +Tennelly, the man whom he loved above all other men! Tennelly, the man +who perhaps loved Gila and was to be close to her through life! His +fears vanished. His soul burned within him. + +Fixing his eyes on that fine, vivid face, Courtland began his story; and +truly the words that he used must have been drawn red-hot from his +heart, for he spoke as one inspired. Simply, as if he were alone in the +room with Tennelly, he looked into his friend's eyes and told his story, +forgetting all others present, intent only on making Tennelly see what +Christ had been to him, what He was willing to be to Tennelly--and Gila! +If they would! + +Tennelly did not take his eyes from the speaker. It was curious to see +him so absorbed, Tennelly, who was so conventional, so careful what +people thought, so always conscious of all elements in his environment. +It was as if his soul were sitting frankly in his eyes for the first +time in his life, and things unsuspected, perhaps, even by himself, came +out and showed themselves: traits, weaknesses, possibilities; longings, +too, and pride. + +When Courtland had finished and sat down he did not drop his head upon +his hands again. He had spoken in the strength of the Lord. He had +nothing of which to be ashamed. He was looking now at the audience, no +longer at Tennelly. He began to realize that it had been given to him to +bear the message to all these other people also. He was filled with +humble exaltation that to him had been intrusted this great opportunity. + +The people, too, were hushed and filled with awe. They showed by the +quiet way they reached for the hymn-books, the reverent bowing of their +heads for the final prayer, that they had all felt the power of Christ +with the speaker. They lingered, many of them, and came up, pressing +about him, just to touch his hand and make mute appeal with their +troubled eyes. Some to ask him eagerly for reassurance of what he had +been saying; others to thank him for the story. They were so humble, so +sincere, so eager, these common people, like the ones of old who crowded +around the Master and heard him gladly. Paul Courtland was filled with +humility. He stood there half embarrassed as they pressed about him. He +took their hands and smiled his brotherhood, but scarcely knew what to +say to them. He felt an awkward boy who had made a great discovery about +which he was too shy to talk. + +Pat and Tennelly stood back against the wall and waited, saying not a +word. Tennelly watched the people curiously as they went out: humble, +common people, subdued, wistful, even tearful; some of them with +illumined faces as if they had seen a great light in their darkness. + +When at last Courtland drifted down to the back of the church and +reached Tennelly the two met with a look straight into each other's +soul, while their hands gripped in the old brotherhood clasp. Not a +smile nor a commonplace expression crossed either face--just that +strong, steady look of recognition and understanding. It was Tennelly +looking at Courtland, the new man in Christ Jesus; Courtland looking at +Tennelly after he had heard the story. + +They walked back to Courtland's apartments almost in silence, a kind of +holy embarrassment upon them all. Pat whistled "Rock of Ages" softly +under his breath most of the way. + +They sat for a time, talking, stiffly, as if they hardly knew one +another, telling the news. Bill Ward had gone to California to look into +a big land deal in which his father was interested. Wittemore's mother +had died and he wasn't coming back next year for his senior year. It was +all surface talk. Pat put in a little about football. He discussed which +of last year's scrubs were most hopeful candidates for the 'varsity team +this year. Not one of the three at that moment cared a rap whether the +university had any football team or not. Their thoughts were upon deeper +things. + +But the recent service was not mentioned, nor the extraordinary fact of +Courtland's having taken part in it. By common consent they shunned the +subject. It was too near the heart of each. + +Finally Pat discreetly took himself off, professedly in search of +ice-water, as the cooler in the hall had for some reason run dry. He was +gone some time. + +When he had left the room Tennelly sat up alertly. He had something to +say to Courtland alone. It must be said now before Pat returned. + +Courtland got up, crossed the room, and stood looking out of the window +on the myriad lights of the city. There was in his face a far yearning, +and something too deep for words. It was as if he were waiting for a +blow to fall. + +Tennelly looked at Courtland's back and gathered up his courage: +"Court," he said, hoarsely, trying to summon the nomenclature of the +dear old days; "there's something I wanted to ask you. Was there +anything--is there--between you and Gila Dare that makes it disloyal for +your friend to try and win her if he can?" + +It was very still in the room. The whir of the trolleys could be heard +below as if they were out in the hall. They grated harshly on the +silence. Courtland stood as if carved out of marble. It seemed ages to +Tennelly before he answered, with the sadness of the grave in his tone: + +"No, Nelly! It's all right! Gila and I didn't hit it off! It's all over +between us forever. Go ahead! I wish you luck!" + +There was an attempt at the old loving understanding in the answer, but +somehow the last words had almost the sound of a sob in them. Tennelly +had a feeling that he was wringing his own happiness out of his friend's +soul: + +"Thanks, awfully, Court! I didn't know," he said, awkwardly. "I think +she likes me a lot, but I couldn't do anything if you had the right of +way." + +When Pat came back with a tray of glasses clinking with ice, and the +smell of crushed lemons, they were talking of the new English professor +and the chances that he would be better than the last, who was "punk." +But Pat was not deceived. He looked from one to the other and knew the +blow had fallen. He might have prevented it, but what was the use? It +had to come sooner or later. They talked late. Finally, Tennelly rose +and came toward Courtland, with his hand outstretched, and they all knew +that the real moment of the evening had come at last: + +"That was a great old talk you gave us this evening, Court!" Tennelly's +voice was husky with feeling. One felt that he had been keeping the +feeling out of sight all the evening. He was holding Courtland's hand in +a painful grip, and looking again into his eyes as if he would search +his soul to the depths: "You sure have got hold of something there +that's worth looking into! You had a great hold on your audience, too! +Why, you almost persuaded me there was something in it!" + +Tennelly tried to finish his sentence in lighter vein, but the feeling +was in his voice yet. + +Courtland gripped his hand and looked his yearning with a sudden light +of joy and hope: "If you only would, Nelly! It's been the thing I've +longed for--!" + +"Not yet!" said Tennelly, almost pulling his hand away from the +detaining grasp. "Some time, perhaps, but not now! I've too much else on +hand! I must beat it now! Man alive! Do you know what time it is? See +you soon again!" Tennelly was off in a whirl of words. + +"Almost thou persuadest me!" Had some one whispered the words behind him +as he went? + +Courtland stood looking after him till the door closed, then he turned +and stepped to the window again. He was so long standing there, +motionless, that Pat went at last and touched him on the shoulder. + +"Say, pard," he said, in a low, gruff voice. "I'm nothing but a +roughneck, I know, and not worth much at that, but if it's any +satisfaction to you to know you've bowled a bum like me over to His +side, why _I'm with you_!" + +Courtland turned and grasped his hand, throwing the other arm about +Pat's shoulder. "It sure is, Pat, old boy," he said, eagerly. "It's the +greatest thing ever! Thanks! I needed that just now! I'm all in!" + +They stood so for some minutes with their arms across each other's +shoulders, looking out of the window to the city, lying sorrowful, +forgetful, sinful, before them; down to the street below, where Tennelly +hastened on to win his Gila; up to the quiet, wise old stars above. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + + +Tennelly did not come back as he had promised. Instead he wrote a gay +little note to tell of his engagement to Gila. He said it was not to be +announced publicly yet, as Gila was so young. They would wait a year +perhaps before announcing it to the world, but he wanted Courtland to +know. In an added line at the bottom he said: "That was a great old +speech you made the other night, Court. I haven't forgotten it yet. Your +reference to Marshall was a cracker-jack! The faculty ought to have +heard it." + +Courtland read it wearily, closed his eyes for a minute, passed his hand +over his brow, then he handed the note over to Pat. The understanding +between the two was very deep and tender now. + +Pat read without comment, but the frown on his brow matched the set of +his big jaw. When he spoke again it was to tell Courtland of the job he +had been offered as athletic coach in a preparatory school in the same +neighborhood with the theological seminary where Courtland had decided +to study. Courtland listened without hearing and smiled wearily. He was +entering his Gethsemane. Neither one of them slept much that night. + +In the early dawning Courtland arose, dressed, and silently stole out of +the room, down through the sleeping city, out to the country, where he +had gone once before when trouble struck him. It seemed to him he must +get away to breathe, he must go where he and God could be alone. + +Pat understood. He only waited till Courtland was gone to fling on his +clothes in a hurry and be after him. He had noted from the window the +direction taken, and guessed where he would be. + +On and on walked Courtland with the burning sorrow in his soul; out +through the heated city, over the miles of dusty road, his feet finding +their way without apparent direction from his mind; out to the stream, +and the path where wild flowers and grasses had strewn the ground in +springtime; gay now with white and purple asters. The rocks wore vines +of crimson, and goldenrod was full of bees and yellow butterflies. +Gnarled roots bore little creeping tufts of squawberry with bright, red +berries dotting thick between. But Courtland passed on and saw it not. + +Above, the sky was deepest blue and flecked with summer clouds. +Loud-voiced birds called gaily of the summer's ending, talked of travel +in a glad, gay lilt. The bees droned on; the bullfrogs gave forth a deep +wise thought or two; while softly, deeply, brownly, flowed the stream +beside the path, with only a far, still fisherman here and there who +noticed not. But Courtland heard nothing, saw nothing but the dark of +his Gethsemane. For every nodding goldenrod and saucy purple aster was +but a bright-winged thought to him to bring back the saucy, lovely face +of Gila. She belonged now to another. He had not realized before how +fully he had chosen, how lost she was to him, until another, and that +his best friend, had taken her for his own. Not that he repented his +decision or drew back. Oh no! He could not have chosen otherwise. Yet +now, face to face with the truth, he realized that he had always hoped, +even when he walked away from her, that she would find the Christ and +one day they would come together again. Now that hope was gone forever. +She might find the Christ, he hoped--yes, hoped and prayed she +would!--it was a wish apart from his personal loss, but she could never +summon him now, for she had given herself to another! + +He gained at last the rock-bound refuge where he knelt once before. Pat, +coming later from afar, saw his old Panama lying down on the moss and +knew that he was there. Creeping softly up, he assured himself that all +was well, then crept away to wait. Pat had brought a basket of grapes +and a great bag of luscious pears against the time when Courtland should +have fought his battle and come forth. What those hours of waiting meant +to Pat might perhaps be found written in the lives of some of the boys +in that school where he coached athletics the next winter. But what they +meant to Courtland will only be found written in the records on high. + +Some time a little after noon there came a peace to Courtland's troubled +soul. + + When thou passest through the waters I will be with thee, + and through the floods they shall not overflow thee! + +It was as near to him as whispers in his ear, and peace was all about +him. + +He stood up, looked abroad, saw the beauty of the day, heard the +dreaminess of the afternoon coming on, heard louder God's call to his +heart, and knew that there was strength for all his need. It was then +Pat came with his refreshment like a ministering angel. + +When they got back to the city that evening there was a note from +Bonnie, the first Courtland had received since the formal announcement +of her arrival and her gratitude to him for being the means of bringing +her to that dear home. + +This letter was almost as brief as the first, but it breathed a spirit +of peace and content. She enclosed a check on the funeral account. +Bonnie was well and happy. She was teaching the grammar-school where +Stephen Marshall used to study when he was a little boy, and giving +music lessons in the afternoons. She would soon be able to pay back +everything she owed and to do a daughter's share in the home where she +was treated like an own child. She closed by saying that the kindness he +had shown her would never be forgotten; that he had seemed to her, and +always would, like the messenger of the Lord sent to help her in her +despair. + +There was a ring so fresh and strong and true in this little letter, +that he could but recognize it. He sighed and thought how strange it was +that he should almost resent it, coming as it did in contrast with +Gila's falseness. Gila who had professed to love him so deeply, and then +had so easily laid that love aside and put on another. Perhaps all girls +were the same. Perhaps this Bonnie, too, would do the same if a man +turned out not to have her ideals. + +He answered Bonnie's note in a day or two with a cordial one, returning +her check, assuring her that everything was fully paid, and expressing +his pleasure that she had found a real home and congenial work. Then he +dismissed her from his mind. + +A week later he went to the seminary, and Pat accompanied him as far as +the preparatory school where he was to enter upon his duties as athletic +coach. + +Courtland found the atmosphere of the seminary quite different from +college. The men were older. They had chosen definitely their work in +the world. Their talk was of things ecclesiastical. The happenings of +the day were spoken of with reference to the religious world. It was a +new viewpoint in every sense of the word. And yet he was disappointed +that he did not find a more spiritual atmosphere among the young men who +were studying for the ministry. If anywhere in the world the Presence +might be expected to be moving and apparent it should be here, he +reasoned, where men had definitely given themselves to the study of the +Gospel of Christ, and where all were supposed to believe in Him and to +have acknowledged Him before the world. He found himself the only man in +the place who was not a member of any church, and yet there were but +three or four that he had the feeling he could speak to about the +Presence and not be looked upon as "queer." There was much worldly talk. +There was a great deal of church gossip about churches and ministers; +what this one was paid and what that one got; the chances of a man being +called to a city church when he was just out of the seminary. It was the +way his father had talked when he told him he wanted to study theology. +It turned him sick at heart to hear them. It seemed so far from the +attitude a servant of the Lord should have. He was in a fair way to lose +his ideal of ministers as well as of women. He mentioned it one day +bitterly to Pat when he came over to spend a spare evening, as he +frequently did. + +"I think you're wrong," said Pat, in his queer, abrupt way. "From what I +can figure there was only a few of those guys got around Christ and knew +what he really was! You didn't suppose it would be any different now, +did you? Guess you'll find it that way everywhere, only a few _real_ +folks in _any_ gang!" + +Courtland looked at Pat in wonder. He was a constant surprise to his +friend, in that he grew so fast in the Christian life. He had a little +Bible that he had bought before he left the city. It was small and fine +and expensive, utterly unlike Pat, and he carried it with him always, +apparently read it much. He hadn't been given to reading anything more +than was required at college, so it was the more surprising. He told +Courtland he wanted to know the rules of the game if he was going to get +in it. His sturdy common-sense often gave Courtland something to think +about. Pat was bringing his new religion to bear upon his work. He +already had a devoted bunch of boys to whom he was dealing out wholesome +truths beginning a new era in the school. The head-master looked on in +amazement, for morality hadn't been one of the chief recommendations +that the faculty of the university had given Pat. They had, in fact, +privately cautioned the school that they would have to watch out for +such things themselves. Instead, however, of finding a somewhat lawless +man in their new coach, the head-master was surprised to discover a +purity campaign on foot, a ban on swearing and cigarette-smoking such as +they had never been able to establish before. It came to their ears that +Pat had personally conducted an offender along these lines out to the +boundaries of the school grounds, well behind the gymnasium, where there +was utmost privacy, and administered a good thrashing on his own +account. The faculty watched anxiously to see the effect of such summary +treatment on the student body, but were relieved to find that the new +coach's following was in no wise diminished, and that better conduct +began presently to be the order of the day. + +Pat and Courtland were much together these days, and one Sunday +afternoon in late October, while the sun was still warm, they took the +athletic teams a long hike over the country. When they sat down to rest +Pat asked Courtland to tell the boys about Stephen, and the Presence. + +That was the real beginning of Courtland's ministry, those unexpected, +spontaneous talks with the boys, where he could speak his heart and not +be afraid of being misunderstood. + +There were two or three professors in the seminary who struck Courtland +as being profoundly spiritual and sincere in their lives. They were old +men, noted for their scholarship and their strong faith the world over. +They taught as Courtland imagined a prophet might have taught in the +days of the Old Testament, with their ears ever open to see what the +Lord would have them speak to the children of men. At their feet he sat +and drank in great draughts of knowledge, going away satisfied. There +were other professors, some of them brilliant in the extreme, whose +whole attitude toward the Bible and Christ seemed to have an undertone +of flippancy, and who fairly delighted to find an unauthentic portion +over which they might haggle away the precious hours of the class-room. +They lacked the reverent attitude toward their subject which only could +save the higher criticism from being destructive rather than +constructive. + +As the year went by he came to know his fellow-students better, and to +find among them a few earnest, thoroughly consecrated fellows, most of +them plain men like Burns, who had turned aside from the world's +allurements to prepare themselves to carry the gospel to those who were +in need. Most of them were poor men also, and of humble birth, with a +rare one now and then of brains and family and wealth, like Courtland, +to whom God had come in some peculiar way. These were a group apart from +others, whom the rest respected and admired, yet laughed at in a gentle, +humoring sort of way, as if they wasted more energy on their calling +than there was any real need to do. Some of them were going to foreign +lands when they were through, had already been assigned to their mission +stations, and were planning with a special view to the needs of the +locality. Courtland felt an idler and drone among them that he did not +yet know what he was to do. + +The men, as they came to know him better, predicted great things for +him: wealthy churches falling at his feet, brilliant openings at his +disposal; but Courtland took no part in any such discussions. He had the +attitude of heart that he was to be guided, when he was through his +studies, into the place where he was most needed; it mattered not where +so it was the place God would have him to be. + +In February Burns had a farewell service in his church. He had resigned +his pastorate and was going to China. Pat and Courtland went down to the +city to attend the service; and Monday saw him off to San Francisco for +his sea voyage to China. + +Courtland, as he stood on the platform watching the train move away with +his friend, wished he could be on that train going with Burns to China. +He was to take up Burns's work around the settlement and in the factory +section; to see some of his friend's plans through to completion. He was +almost sorry he had promised. He felt utterly inadequate to the +necessity! + +Spring came, and with it the formal announcement of Tennelly's and +Gila's engagement. Courtland and Pat each read it in the papers, but +said nothing of it to each other. Courtland worked the harder these +days. + +He tried to plunge into the work and forget self, and to a certain +extent was successful. He found plenty of distress and sorrow to stand +in contrast with his own; and his hands and heart were presently full +to overflowing. + +Like the faithful fellow-worker that he was, Pat stuck by him. Both +looked forward to the week that Tennelly had promised to spend with +them. But instead of Tennelly came a letter. Gila's plans interfered and +he could not come. He wrote joyously that he was sorry, but he couldn't +possibly make it. It shone between every line that Tennelly was +overwhelmingly happy. + +"Good old Nelly!" said Courtland, with a sigh, handing the letter over +to Pat, for these two shared everything these days. + +Courtland stood staring out of the window at the vista of roofs and tall +chimneys. The blistering summer sun simmered hot and sickening over the +city. Red brick and dust and grime were all around him. His soul was +weary of the sight and faltered in its way. What was the use of living? +What? + +Then suddenly he straightened up and leaned from the window alertly! The +fire alarm was sounding. Its sinister wheeze shrilled through the hot +air tauntingly! It sounded again. One! two! One! two! three! It was in +the neighborhood. + +Without waiting for a word, both men sprang out the door and down the +stairs. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX + + +"The Whited Sepulcher," as some of the bitterest of her poorly paid +slaves called the model factory, stood coolly, insolently, among her +dirty, red-brick, grime-stained neighbors; like some dainty lady +appareled in sheer muslins and jewels appearing on the threshold of the +hot kitchen where her servitors were sweating and toiling to prepare her +a feast. + +The luxuriant vines were green and abundant, creeping coolly about the +white walls, befringing the windows charmingly, laying delicate clinging +fingers even up to the very eaves, and straying out over the roof. No +matter how parched the ground in the little parks of the district, no +matter how yellow the leaves on the few stunted trees near by, no matter +how low the city's supply of water, nor how many public fountains had to +be temporarily shut off, that vine was always well watered. Its root lay +deep in soft, moist earth well fertilized and cared for; its leaves were +washed anew each evening with refreshing spray from the hose that played +over it. "Seems like I'd just like to lie down there and sleep with my +face clost up to it, all wet and cool-like, all night!" sighed one poor +little bony victim of a girl, scarcely more than a child, as the throng +pressed out the wide door at six o'clock and caught the moist fragrance +of the damp earth and growing vine. + +"You look all in, Susie!" said her neighbor, pausing in her interminable +gum-chewing to eye her friend keenly. "Say, you better go with me to +the movies to-night! I know a nice cool one fer a nickel!" + +"Can't!" sighed Susie. "'Ain't got ther nickel, and, besides, I gotta +stay with gran'mom while ma goes up with some vests she's been makin'. +Oh, I'm all right! I jus' was thinkin' about the vine; it looks so cool +and purty. Say, Katie, it's somepin' to b'long to a vine like that, even +if we do have it rotten sometimes! Don't you always feel kinda +proud-like when you come in the door, 'most as if it was a palace? I +like to pertend it's all a great big house where I live, and there's +carpets and lace curtings to the winders, and a real gold sofy with +pink-velvet cushings! And when I come down and see one of the company's +ottymobiles standin' by the curb waitin', I like to pertend it's mine, +only I don't ride 'cause I've been ridin' so much I'd _ruther_ walk! +Don't you ever do that, Katie?" + +"Not on yer _life_, I don't!" said Katie, with an ugly frown. "I hate +the old dump! I hate every stone in the whole pile! I could tear that +nasty green vine down an' stamp on it. I'd like to strip its leaves off +an' leave it bare. I'd like to turn the hose off and see it dry up an' +be all brown, an' ugly, an' dead. It's stealin' the water they oughtta +have over there in the fountain. It's stealin' the money they oughtta +pay us fer our work! It's creepin' round the winders an' eatin' up the +air. Didn't you never take notice to how they let it grow acrost the +winders to hide folks from lookin' in from the visitor's winders there +on the east side? They don't care how it shuts away the draught and +makes it hotter 'n a furnace where we work! No, you silly! I never was +proud to come in that old marble door! I was always mad, away down +inside, that I had to work here. I had to go crawlin' and askin' fer a +job, an' take all their insults, an' be locked in a trap. Take it from +me, there's goin' to be some awful accident happen here some day! If a +fire should break out how many d'you s'pose could get out before they +was burned to a crisp? Did you know them winders was nailed so they +wouldn't go up any higher 'n a foot? Did you know they 'ain't got 'nouf +fire-escapes to get half of us out ef anythin' happened? Did you never +take notice to the floor roun' them three biggest old machines they've +got up on the sixth? I stepped acrost there this mornin'--Mr. Brace sent +me up on a message to the forewoman--an' that floor shook under my feet +like a earthquake! Sam Warner says the building ain't half strong enough +fer them machines, anyway. He says they'd oughtta put 'em down on the +first floor; but they didn't want to 'cause they don't show off good to +visitors, so they stuck 'em up on the sixth, where they don't many see +'em. But Sam says some day they're goin' to bust right through the +floor, an' ef they do, they ain't gonta stop till they get clear down to +the cellar, an' they'll wipe out everythin' in their way when they go! +B'leeve me! I don't wantta be workin' here when that happens!" + +"_Good night!_" said Susie, turning pale. "Them big machines on the +sixth is right over where I work on the fifth! Say, Katie, le's ast Mr. +Brace to put us on the other side the room! Aw, gee! Katie! What's the +use o' livin'? I'd 'most be willin' to be dead jest to get cool! Seems +zif it's allus either awful hot er awful cold!" + +They went to their stifling tenements and their unattractive suppers. +They dragged their weary feet over the hot, dark pavements, laughing and +talking boisterously with their comrades, or crowded into places of +amusement to forget for a little while, then to creep back to toss the +night out on a hard cot in breathless air or to creep to fire-escape or +flat roof for a few brief hours of relief, till it was time to return to +the vine-clad factory and its hot, noisy slavery for another day. + +Three girls fainted on the fifth floor and two on the sixth next +morning. They were not carried to the cool and shaded rest-rooms to +revive, but lay on the floor with their heads huddled on a pile of +waste, and had a little warmish water from the rusty "cooler" in the +back stairway poured upon them as they lay. No white-clad nurse with +palm leaf and cooling drinks attended their unconscious state, although +there was one in attendance in the rest-room whose duty it was to look +after the comfort of any chance visitors. When any stooped to succor +here, she fanned her neighbor with her apron, casting an anxious eye on +her own silent machine and knowing she was losing "time." + +Susie fainted three times that morning, and Katie lost an hour in all, +bringing water and making a fan out of a newspaper. Also she had an +angry altercation with the foreman. He said if Susie "played up" this +way she'd have to quit; there were plenty of girls waiting to take her +place, and he hadn't time to fool with kids that wanted to lie around +and be fanned. It was his last few words as she was reviving that stung +Susie to life again and put her back at her machine for the last time in +nervous panic, with the thought of what would happen at home if she lost +her job. Up above her the great heavy machines thrashed on and the floor +trembled with their movement. Black and thick and hot was the air around +Susie and she scarcely could see, for dizziness, the machinery which she +worked from habit, as she stood swaying in her place, and wondering if +she could hold out till the noon whistle blew. + +Down in the basement, near one of the elevator shafts, a pile of waste +lay smoldering, out of sight. One of the boys from the lumber-yard down +the next block had stopped to light his cigarette as he passed out into +the street after bringing a bill to the head manager. He tossed his +match away, not seeing where it fell. The big factory thundered on in +full swing of a busy, driving morning, and the little match lay nursing +its flame and smoldering. + +How long it crept and smoldered no one knew. It seemed to come from +every floor at once, that smell of smoke and cry of fire! More smoke in +volumes pouring up suddenly through cracks and bursting from the +elevator shaft; a lick of flame darting out like a serpent ready to +strike, menacing against the heat of the big rooms. + +Panic and smoke and fire! Cries and clashing of machinery thundering on +like a storm above an angry sea! + +The girls rushed together in fear, or, screaming, ran desperately to +windows which they knew they could not raise! They pounded at the locked +doors and crowded in the narrow passages, frantically surging this way +and that. There was no one to quiet them or tell them what to do. If +some one would only stop that awful machinery! Was the engineer dead? + +Mockingly the little cool vines crept in about the window-sills and over +the imprisoning panes, as if to taunt the victims who were caught in the +death-trap. + +"At any rate, if we die you'll die too!" cried Katie Craigin, shaking +her fist at the long green tendrils that swept across the window nearest +her machine. "Oh, you! You'll burn to a crisp at the roots! You'll +wither up an' die. You'll be dead an' brown an' ugly! An' I'm glad! +_Glad!_ For I hate you. _I hate you!_ Do you hear?" And she grasped a +handful of leaves that edged the window-sill, spat upon them, and +stamped them under her foot, then turned to look for Susie. + +But Susie had fallen once more by her machine, leaving it unguarded +while it thrashed on uselessly. Her little pinched face looked up from +the dirty floor in pitiful unconsciousness amid the wild rush and whirl +of the fear-maddened company. If terror drove them they would pass over +her without knowing it. They were blind with desperation. + +The room seemed about to burst with the heat. Timbers were cracking. All +the stories they had heard of the frailty of the building came now to +goad them as they hurtled from one end of their pen to the other, while +intermittent clouds of smoke and darting flames conspired to bewilder +their senses. + +Katie sprang to seize her friend and draw her out of the path of the +stampede. As she lifted her a cry arose, like the wail of a lost world +facing the judgment. The floor swayed, the machines about seemed to +totter, and the floor above seemed bending down with some great weight. +There was a cracking, wrenching, twisting, as of the whole great +building in mortal pain, and just as Katie drew her unconscious friend +away to the window the floor above gave way and down crashed three awful +machines, like great devouring juggernauts, to crush and bear away +whatever came in their way. + +After that, hell itself could scarcely have presented a more terrible +spectacle of writhing, tortured souls, pinned anguishing amid the +flames; of white faces below looking up to ghastly ones above that gazed +down with horror into the awful cavern, closed their eyes, clung to +walls and windows, and knew not what to do! + +The fearful noise of machinery had suddenly ceased and been succeeded +by a calm in which the soft sound of rushing flames, the babble of the +crowd outside, the gong of fire-engines, and the cry of firemen seemed +balm of music in the ears. Water hissed on hot machinery and burning +walls. It splashed inside the window and on the white face of Susie. It +touched the hot hands of Katie as she lifted her friend nearer to the +blessed spray. A shadow of a ladder somewhere crossed the window. +Splintered glass fell all about her, and a hand reached in and crushed +the window frame. + +It was Pat who lifted out the limp Susie and handed her down to +Courtland, who was just below, while Katie turned and looked back at the +fearful pit of fire beneath her, knowing that in but a few more seconds, +if help came not, she, too, would be a part of that writhing, awful +heap! She saw the white face and staring eyes of the gray-haired woman +who ran the machine next to hers lying beneath a pile of dead. She +reeled and felt her senses going. Her hot hands clung to the hotter +window-ledge. The flames were leaping nearer! She could not hold out-- + +Then a strong hand grasped her and drew her out into the blessed air, +and she felt herself being carried down, down, safely, wondering, as she +went, if the vine was roasted yet, or if it still smirked greenly +outside this holocaust; wished she had strength to shake a mocking +finger at it; and then she knew no more. + +For three long hours Courtland and Pat worked side by side, bringing out +the living, searching for the dead and dying, carrying them to an +improvised hospital in an old warehouse in the next block. Grim and +soiled and gray, with singed hair, blistered hands and faces, and +sickened hearts, they toiled on. + +To Courtland the experience was like walking with God and being shown +the way he might have gone, and how he had been saved. If he had +accepted Ramsey Thomas's proposition he would have been a sharer in the +sin that caused this catastrophe. He would have been a murderer, almost +as much responsible for that charred body lying at his feet, for all +those dead and dying, as if he had owned the place. + +The whited sepulcher lay a heap of blackened ruins. Only one small +corner rose, of blackened marble, to which clung a fragment of brave +green to show what had been but a few short hours before. The morning's +sun would see it, too, withered and black like the rest. The model +factory was gone! But the money that had built it, the money that it had +made, was still in existence to build it over again, a perpetual blind +to the lawmakers who might have otherwise put a stop to its abuses! It +would undoubtedly be built again, more whited, more sepulchral than +before. + +As he looked upon the ruin a great resolve came to him. He would give +his life to fight the power that was setting its heel upon humanity and +putting a price upon its blood. He would devote all his powers to the +uplifting of people who had been downtrodden and oppressed in the simple +act of earning their daily bread! + +Ramsey Thomas, happening to be in a near-by city, and answering a +summons by telegraph, arrived at the scene in an automobile as Courtland +stood there, grimed and tattered from his fight with death. + +Ramsey Thomas, baffled, angry, distressed, wriggled out of his car to +the sidewalk and faced Courtland, curiously conspicuous and recognizable +with all his disarray. Courtland towered above the great man with +righteous wrath in his eyes. Ramsey Thomas cringed and looked +embarrassed. He had come to look over the ground to see how much trouble +they were going to have getting the insurance, and he hadn't expected +to be met by a giant Nemesis with blackened face and singed eyebrows. + +"Oh, why--I," he began, nervously. "It's Mr. Courtland, isn't it? They +tell me you've been very helpful during the fire! I'm sure we're much +obliged. We'll not forget this, I assure you--" + +"Mr. Thomas," broke in Courtland, in a clear, decisive voice, "you +wanted to know a year ago why I wouldn't accept your proposition, and +you couldn't understand my reason for refusing. There it is!" + +He pointed eloquently to the heap of ruins. + +"Go over to that warehouse and see the rows of charred bodies! Look at +the agonized faces of the dead, and hear the groans of the dying. See +the living who are scarred or crippled for life. You are responsible for +all that! If I had accepted your proposal I would have been responsible, +too. And now I mean to spend the rest of my life fighting the conditions +that make such a catastrophe as this possible!" + +Courtland turned, and in spite of his tatters and soil walked +majestically away from him down the street. + +Ramsey Thomas stood rooted to the ground, watching him, a strange +mingling of emotions chasing one another over his rugged old +countenance: astonishment, admiration, and fury in quick succession. + +"Drat him!" he said, under his breath. "Drat him! Now he'll be a worse +pest than that little rat of a preacher, for he's got twice as much +brains and education!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXX + + +The summer passed in hard, earnest work. + +Courtland had been back at his studies four weeks when there came +another letter from Tennelly. Gila had gone to her aunt's, down at +Beechwood, for a two weeks' stay. She was worn out with the various +functions of the summer and needed a complete rest. They were to be +married soon, perhaps in December, and there would be a lot to do to +prepare for that. She was going to rest absolutely, and had forbidden +him to follow her, so he had some leisure on his hands. Would Courtland +like to spend a week-end somewhere along the coast half-way between? +They could each take their cars and meet wherever Courtland said. + +It was Saturday morning when Courtland received the letter. Pat had gone +down to the city for over Sunday. An inexpressible longing filled him to +see Tennelly again, before his marriage completed the wall that was +between them. He wanted to have a real old-fashioned talk; to look into +the soul of his friend and see the old loyalty shining there. He wanted +more than all to come close to him once more, and, it might be, tell him +about the Christ. + +He took down his road-book, turned to the map, and let his finger fall +on the coast-line about midway between the city and the seminary. +Looking it up in the book, he found Shadow Beach described as a quiet +and exclusive resort with a good inn, excellent service, fine +sea-bathing, etc. Well, that would do as well as anywhere. He +telegraphed Tennelly: + + Meet me at Shadow Beach, Howland's Inlet, Elm Tree Inn, this + evening. + + COURT. + +It was dark when he reached Elm Tree Inn. The ocean rolled, a long black +line flecked with faint foam, along the shore, and luminous with a +coming moon. Two dim figures, like moving shadows, went down the sand +picked out against the path of the moon. Save for those all was lonely, +up and down. Courtland shivered slightly and almost wished he had +selected some more cheerful spot for the meeting. He had not realized +how desolate a sea can be when it is growing cold. Nevertheless, it was +majestic. It seemed like eternity in its limitless stretch. The lights +in far harbors glinted out in the distance down the coast. Somehow the +vast emptiness filled him with sadness. He felt as if he were entering +upon anything but a pleasant reunion, and half wished he had not come. + +Courtland ran his car up to the entrance and sprang out. He was glad to +get inside, where a log fire was crackling. The warmth and the light +dispelled his sadness. Things began to take on a cheerful aspect again. + +"I suppose you haven't many guests left," he said, pleasantly, as he +registered. + +"Only him, sir!" said the clerk, pointing to the entry just above +Courtland's. + +"James T. Aquilar and wife, Seattle, Washington," Courtland read, idly, +and turned away. + +"They been here two days. Come in a nerroplane!" went on the clerk, +communicatively. + +"Fly all the way from Seattle?" asked Courtland, idly. He was looking +at his watch and wondering if he should order supper or wait until +Tennelly arrived. + +"Well, I can't say for sure. He's mighty uncommunicative, but he's given +out he flies 'most anywhere the notion takes him. He's got his machine +out in the lot back o' the inn. You oughtta see it. It's a bird!" + +"H'm!" said Courtland. "I must have a look at it in daylight. I'm +looking for a friend up from the city pretty soon. Guess it would be +more convenient for you if we dined together. I'll wait a bit. Meantime, +let me see what rooms you have." + +When Courtland came back to the office and sat down before the fire to +wait, the spell of sadness seemed to have vanished. + +He sat for half an hour, with his head thrown back in the easy-chair, +watching the flames, thinking back over old college memories that the +thought of Tennelly made vivid again. In the midst of it he heard steps +on the veranda. Some one from outside unlatched the door and flung it +open. A wild, careless laugh floated in on the cold breath of the sea. +Courtland came to his feet as if he had been called! That laugh had gone +through his heart like a knife, with its heartless baby-like mirth. It +was Gila! Had Tennelly played him false, after all, and brought her +along? Was this some kind of a ruse to get them together? For he knew +that Tennelly was distressed over their alienation, and that he +understood to some extent that it was on account of Gila that he always +avoided accepting the many invitations which were continually pressed +upon him to come down to the city and be with his friends once more. + +The door swung wide on its hinges and Gila entered, trig and chic as +usual, in a stylish little coat-suit of homespun, leather-trimmed and +short-skirted, high boots, leather leggings, and a jaunty little +leather cap with a bridle under her chin. Only her petite figure and her +baby face saved her from being taken for a tough young sport. She +swaggered in, chewing gum, her gauntleted hands in her pockets, her +young voice flung almost coarsely into the room by the wind; the +innocent look gone from her face; the eyes wide and bold; the exquisite +mouth in a sensuous curve. + +Behind her lounged a man older than herself by many years, with silver +at his temples, daredevil eyes, and a handsome, voluptuous face. He +kicked the door shut behind him and lolled against it while he lit a +cigarette. + +Gila's laugh rang harshly in the room again, following some low-toned +remark, and the man laughed coarsely in reply. Then, suddenly, she +looked up and saw Courtland standing sternly there with folded arms, +regarding her steadily, and her eyes grew wide with horror. + +It was Courtland's great disillusionment. + +Never had he seen such fear in human face. + +Gila's skin grew gray beneath its pearly tint, her whole body shrank and +cringed, her eyes were fixed upon him with terror in their gaze. + +"Papers haven't come in yet, Mr. Aquilar," called the clerk, affably. +"Train's late to-night. Be in pretty soon, I reckon!" + +The man growled out an imprecation on a place where the papers didn't +come till that hour in the evening, and lounged on toward the elevator. +Gila slid along by his side, her eyes on Courtland, with the air of +hiding behind her companion. Her face was drooped, and when she turned +toward the elevator she drooped her eyes also, and a wave of shame +rolled up and covered her face and neck and ears with a dull red +beneath the pearl. Her last glance at Courtland was the look that Eve +must have had as she walked past the flaming swords, with Adam, out of +Eden. Her eyes, as she stood waiting for the boy to come to the +elevator, seemed fairly to grovel on the floor. + +Was this the sweet, wild, innocent flower that had held him in its +thrall all the sorrowful months, and separated him from his dearest +friend? + +Tennelly! Courtland had forgotten until that instant that Tennelly would +be there in a few minutes! Perhaps was even then at the door! + +He strode forward, and Gila quivered as she saw him coming; quivered and +looked up in terror, putting out a fearful hand to the arm of her +companion. + +The elevator-boy had arrived and was slamming back the steel grating. +The man stood back to let Gila enter, and she slunk past him, her gaze +still held in horror on Courtland. + +"Will you do me the favor to step into the little reception-room to the +right for a moment?" said Courtland, addressing the man, but looking at +Gila. + +"The devil we will!" said the man, glaring at him. "What right have you +to ask a favor like that?" + +But Courtland was looking at Gila, and there was command in his eyes. As +if she dared not disobey she stepped forth again from the elevator, her +eyes still upon him, her face gray with apprehension. Without further +word from him she walked before him, slowly, into the little room at the +right that he indicated. + +"You're a fool!" said Aquilar, regarding her contemptuously, but she +went as if she did not hear him. She entered the room, walked half-way +across, and turned about, facing the two who had followed. Courtland was +within the room, Aquilar lounging idly in the door, as if the matter +were of little moment to him. He had a smile of contempt still on his +handsome lips. + +Courtland's manner was grave and sad. He had the commanding presence and +beauty of an avenging angel. + +"Gila, are you married to this man?" he asked, looking sternly at her, +as though he would search her very soul. + +Gila kept her dark, horrified gaze on his face. She was beyond trying to +deceive now. She slowly gave one shake to her head, and her white lips +formed the syllable, "No!" though it was almost inaudible. + +"And yet you are registered here in this hotel as his wife?" + +Her eyes suddenly flamed with shame. She drooped them before his gaze +and seemed to try to assent, but her head was drooped too low to bow. +She lifted miserable pleading looks to his face twice, but could not +stand the clear rebuke of his gaze. It was like the whiteness of the +reproach of God, and her little sinful soul could not bear it. She +lifted a handkerchief and uttered something like a sob. It was as one +might think would be the sound of a lost soul looking back at what might +have been. + +"What the devil have you got to say about it? Who the devil _are_ you, +anyway?" roared the man from the doorway. + +The elevator-boy and clerk were all agog. The latter had come out of his +pen and was standing behind the boy, on tiptoe, where they could get a +good view of the scene. The room was tense with stillness. + +Aquilar's voice was not one to pass unnoticed when he spoke in anger, +but Courtland did not even lift an eyelid toward him. + +Perhaps Aquilar's words had given Gila courage, for she suddenly lifted +her eyes to Courtland's face again, a flash of vengeance in them: + +"I suppose you are going to tell Lew all about it?" she flung out, +bitterly. "I suppose you will make up a great story to go and tell Lew. +But you don't suppose he will believe _you_ against _me_, do you?" + +Her eyes were flashing fire now. Her old imperious manner was upon her. +She had driven him from her once! She would defeat him again! + +He watched her without a change of countenance. "No, I shall not tell +him," he said, quietly; "but _you will_!" + +"I?" Gila turned a glance of contemptuous amusement upon him. "Some +chance! And I warn you that if you attempt to tattle anything about it I +will turn, the tables against you in a way you little suspect." + +"Gila, you will tell Lew Tennelly _everything_, or you will never marry +him! It is his right to know! And now, sir"--Courtland turned to +Aquilar, lounging amusedly against the doorway--"if you will step +outside I will _settle with you_!" + +But suddenly Gila gave a scream and covered her face with her hands, for +there, just behind Aquilar, stood Tennelly, looking like a ghost. He had +heard it all! + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI + + +Tennelly stepped within the room, gave one keen, questioning look at +Aquilar as he passed him, searching straight into the depths of his +startled, shifty eyes, and came and stood before the crouching girl. She +had dropped into a chair and was sobbing as if her heart would break. + +"What does this mean, Gila?" + +Tennelly's voice was cold and stern. + +Courtland looked at his shocked face and turned away from the pain of +it. But when he looked for the man who had wrought this havoc he had +suddenly melted from the room! The front door was blowing back and forth +in the wind, and the clerk and bell-boy stood, open-mouthed, staring. +Courtland closed the door of the reception-room and hurried out on the +veranda, but saw no sign of any one in the wind-swept darkness. The moon +had risen enough to make a bright path over the sea, but the earth as +yet was wrapped in shadow. + +Down in the field, beyond the outbuildings, he heard a whirring sound, +and as he looked a dark thing rose like a great bird high above his +head. The bird had flown while the flying was good. The lady might face +her difficulties alone! + +Courtland stood below in the courtyard, while the moon arose and shed +its light through the sky, and the great black bird executed an +evolution or two and whirred off to the north, doubtless headed for +Seattle or some equally inaccessible point. A great helpless wrath was +upon him. Dolt that he had been to let this human leper escape from him +into the world again! A kind of divine frenzy seized him to capture him +yet and put him where he could work no further harm to other willing +victims. Yes, he thought of Gila as a willing victim! An hour before he +would have called her just plain innocent victim. Now something in her +face, her attitude, as she saw him and walked away with her guilty +partner, had made him know her at last for a sinful woman. The shackles +had burst from his heart and he was free from her allurements for +evermore! He understood now why she had bade him choose between herself +and Christ. She had no part nor lot in things pure and holy. She hated +holiness because she herself was sinful! + +It was midnight before Gila and Tennelly came forth, Tennelly grave and +sad, Gila tear-stained and subdued. + +Courtland was sitting in the big chair before the fireplace, though the +fire was smoldering low, and the elevator-boy had long ago retired to +slumbers on a bench in a hidden alcove. + +Tennelly came straight to Courtland, as though he had known he would be +waiting there for him. "I am going to take Gila down to Beechwood. You +will come with us?" There was entreaty in the tone, though it was very +quiet. + +"Shall I take my car?" + +"No. You will ride with me on the front seat. Is there a maid here that +I can hire to go with us? We can bring her back in the morning." + +"I'll find out." + +That was a silent ride through the late moonlight. The men spoke only +when it was necessary to keep the right road. Gila, huddled sullenly in +the back seat beside a dozing, gray-haired chambermaid, spoke not at +all. And who shall say what were her thoughts as hour after hour she sat +in her humiliation and watched the two men whom she had wronged so +deeply? Perhaps her spirit seethed the more violently within her silent, +angry body because she was not yet sure of Tennelly. Her tears and +explanations, her pleading little story of deceit and innocence, had not +wrought the charm upon him that they might had not Aquilar been known to +him for the past two weeks, a stranger who had been hanging about Gila, +and who had been encouraged against her lover's oft-repeated warnings. A +certain mysterious story of an unfaithful wife put an air of romance +about him that Tennelly had not liked. Gila had never seen him so +serious and hard to coax as he had been to-night. He had spoken to her +as if she were a naughty child; had commanded her to go at once to her +aunt in Beechwood and remain there the allotted time. She simply _had_ +to obey or lose him. There were things about Tennelly's fortune and +prospects that made him most desirable as a husband. Moreover, she felt +that through marrying Tennelly she could the better hurt Courtland, the +man whom she now hated with all her heart. + +They reached Beechwood at not too unearthly an hour. The aunt was +surprised, but not unduly so, for Gila was a girl of many whims, and +that she came at all to quiet Beechwood to rest was shock enough for one +day. She asked no troublesome questions. + +Tennelly would not remain for breakfast, even, but started on the return +trip at once, with only a brief stop at a wayside inn for something to +eat. The elderly attendant in the back seat was disappointed. She had +no chance to get a bit of gossip by the way with any one, but she got +good pay for the night's ride, and made up some thrilling stories to +tell when she got back that were really better than the truth might have +turned out to be, so there was nothing lost, after all. + +It was Tennelly who broke the silence between them when he and Courtland +were at last alone together. "She only went for a ride in his +aeroplane," he said, sadly. "She had no idea of staying more than an +afternoon. He had promised to set her down at the next station to +Beechwood, where her aunt was to meet her. She was filled with horror +and consternation when she found she must be away overnight. But even +then she had no idea of his purpose. She says that nobody ever told her +about such things, she was ignorant as a little child! She is full of +repentance, and feels that this will be a lesson for her. She says she +intends to devote her life to me if I will only forgive her." + +So that was what she had told Tennelly behind the closed doors! + +Before Courtland's eyes there floated a vision of Gila as she first +caught sight of him in the office of the inn. If ever soul was guilty in +full knowledge of her sin she had been! Again she passed before his +vision with shamed head down-drooped and all her proud, imperial manner +gone. The mask had fallen from Gila forever so far as Courtland was +concerned. Not even her little, pitiful, teary face that morning, when +she crept from the car at her aunt's door, could deceive him again. + +"And you _believe_ all that?" asked Courtland. He could not help it. His +dearest friend was in peril. What else could he do? + +"I--don't know!" said Tennelly, helplessly. + +There was silence in the room. Then Tennelly did realize a little! +Perhaps Tennelly had known all along, better than he! + +"And--you will forgive her?" + +"I _must_!" said Tennelly, in desperation. "Court, my life is bound up +in her!" + +"So I once thought!" Courtland was only musing out loud. + +Tennelly looked at him sadly. + +"She almost wrecked my soul!" went on Courtland. + +"I know," said Tennelly, in profound sorrow. "She told me." + +"She _told you_?" + +"Yes, before we were engaged. She told me that she had asked you to give +up preaching, that she could never bear to be a minister's wife. I had +begun to realize what that would mean to you then. I respected your +choice. It was great of you, Court! But you never really loved her, man, +or you could not have given her up!" + +Courtland was silent for a moment, then he burst out: "Nelly! It was not +that! You _shall_ know the truth! She asked me to give up _my God_ for +her!" + +"_I have no God_," said Tennelly, dully. + +A great yearning for his friend filled the heart of Courtland. "Listen, +old man, you _mustn't_ marry her!" he burst out again. "I believe she's +rotten all the way through. You didn't see and hear all last night. She +_can't be_ true! She hasn't it in her! She will be false to you whenever +she takes the whim! She will lead you through hell!" + +"You don't understand. I would _go_ through hell to be with her!" + +Tennelly's words rang through the room like a knell, and Courtland could +say no more. There was silence in the room. Courtland watched his +friend's haggard face anxiously. There were deep lines of agony about +his mouth and dark circles under his eyes. + +Suddenly Tennelly lifted his hand and laid it on his friend's. "Thanks, +Court. Thanks a lot. I appreciate it all more than you know. But this is +my job. I guess I've got to undertake it! And, _man_! can't you see I've +_got_ to believe her?" + +"I suppose you have, Nelly. God help you!" + +When Courtland got back to the seminary he found a letter from Mother +Marshall. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII + + +Courtland opened Mother Marshall's letter with a feeling of relief and +anticipation. Here at least would be a fresh, pure breath of sweetness. +His soul was worn and troubled with the experience of the past two days. +A great loneliness possessed him when he thought of Tennelly, or when he +looked forward to his future, for he truly was convinced that he never +should turn to the love of woman again; and so the dreams of home and +love and little children that had had their normal part in his thoughts +of the future were cut out, and the days stretched forward in one long +round of duty. + + DEAR PAUL [it began, familiarly]: + + This is Stephen Marshall's mother and I'm calling you by + your first name because it seems to bring my boy back again + to be writing so familiar-like to one of his comrades. + + We've been wondering, Father and I, since you said you + didn't have any real mother of your own, whether you + mightn't like to come home Christmas to us for a little + while and borrow Stephen's mother. I've got a wonderful + hungering in my heart to hear a little more about my boy's + death. I couldn't have borne it just at first, because it + was all so hard to give him up, and he just beginning to + live his earthly life. But now since I can realize him over + by the Father, I would like to know it all. Bonnie says that + you saw Stephen go, and I thought perhaps you could spare a + little time to run out West and tell me. + + Of course, if you are busy and have other plans you mustn't + let this bother you. I can wait till some time when you are + coming West and can stop over for a day. But if you care to + come home to Mother Marshall and let her play you are her + boy for a little while, you will make us all very happy. + +When Courtland had finished reading the letter he put his head down on +his desk and shed the first tears his eyes had known since he was a +little boy. To have a home and mother-heart open to him like that in the +midst of all his sorrow and perplexity fairly unmanned him. By and by he +lifted up his head and wrote a hearty acceptance of the invitation. + +That was in November. + +In the middle of December Tennelly and Gila were married. + +It was not any of Courtland's choosing that he was best man. He shrank +inexpressibly from even attending that wedding. He tried to arrange for +his Western trip so early as to avoid it. Not that he had any more +personal feeling about Gila, but because he dreaded to see his friend +tied up to such a future. It seemed as if the wedding was Tennelly's +funeral. + +But Tennelly had driven up to the seminary on three successive weeks and +begged that Courtland would stand by him. + +"You're the only one in the wide world who knows all about it, and +understands, Court," he pleaded, and Courtland, looking at his friend's +wistful face, feeling, as he did, that Tennelly was entering a living +purgatory, could not refuse him. + +It did not please Gila to have him take that place in the wedding party. +He knew her shame, and she could not trail her wedding robes as +guilelessly before him now, nor lift her imperious little head, with its +crown of costly blossoms, before the envious world, without realizing +that she was but a whited sepulcher, her little rotten heart all death +beneath the spotless robes. For she was keen enough to know that she was +defiled forever in Courtland's eyes. She might fool Tennelly by pleading +innocence and deceit, but never Courtland. For his eyes had pried into +her very soul that night he had discovered her in sin. She had a feeling +that he and his God were in league against her. No, Gila did not want +Courtland to be Tennelly's best man. But Tennelly had insisted. He had +given in about almost every other thing under heaven, and Gila had had +her way, but he would have Courtland for best man. + +She drooped her long lashes over her lovely cheeks, and trailed her +white robes up a long aisle of white lilies to the steps of the altar; +but when she lifted her miserable eyes in front of the altar she could +not help seeing the face of the man who had discovered her shame. It was +a case of her little naked, sinful soul walking in the Garden again, +with the Voice and the eyes of a God upon it. + +Lovely! Composed! Charming! Exquisite! All these and more they said she +was as she stood before the white-robed priest and went through the +ceremony, repeating, parrot-like, the words: "I, Gila, take thee, +Llewellyn--" But in her heart was wrath and hate, and no more repentance +than a fallen angel feels. + +When at last the agony was over and the bride and groom turned to walk +down the aisle, Gila lifted her pretty lips charmingly to Tennelly for +his kiss, and leaned lovingly upon his arm, smiling saucily at this one +and that as she pranced airily out into her future. Courtland, coming +just behind with the maid of honor, one of Gila's feather-brained +friends, lolling on his arm, felt that he ought to be inexpressibly +thankful to God that he was only best man in this procession, and not +bridegroom. + +When at last the bride and groom were departed, and Courtland had shaken +off the kind but curious attentions of Bill Ward, who persisted in +thinking that Tennelly had cut him out with Gila, he turned to Pat and +whispered, softly: + +"For the love of Mike, Pat, let's beat it before they start anything +else!" + +Pat, anxious and troubled, heaved a sigh of relief, and hustled his old +friend out under the stars with almost a shout of joy. Nelly was caught +and bound for a season. Poor old Nelly! But Court was free! Thank the +Lord! + +Courtland was almost glad that he went immediately back to hard work +again and should have little time to think. The past few days had +wearied him inexpressibly. He had come to look on life as a passing +show, and to feel almost too utterly left out of any pleasure in it. + +It was a cold, snowy night that Courtland came down to the city and took +the Western express for his holiday. + +There was snow, deep, vast, glistening, when he arrived at Sloan's +Station on the second morning, but the sun was out, and nothing could be +more dazzling than the scene that stretched on every side. They had come +through a blizzard and left it traveling eastward at a rapid rate. + +Courtland was surprised to find Father Marshall waiting for him on the +platform, in a great buffalo-skin overcoat, beaver cap, and gloves. He +carried a duplicate coat which he offered to Courtland as soon as the +greetings were over. + +"Here, put this on; you'll need it," he said, heartily, holding out the +coat. "It was Steve's. I guess it'll fit you. Mother and Bonnie's over +here, waiting. They couldn't stand it without coming along. I guess you +won't mind the ride, will you, after them stuffy cars? It's a beauty +day!" + +And there were Mother Marshall and Bonnie, swathed to the chin in rugs +and shawls and furs, looking like two red-cheeked cherubs! + +Bonnie was wearing a soft wool cap and scarf of knitted gray and white. +Her cheeks glowed like roses; her eyes were two stars for brightness. +Her gold hair rippled out beneath the cap and caught the sunshine all +around her face. + +Courtland stood still and gazed at her in wonder and admiration. Was +this the sad, pale girl he had sent West to save her life? Why, she was +a beauty, and she looked as if she had never been ill in her life! He +could scarcely bear to take his eyes from her face long enough to get +into the front seat with Father Marshall. + +As for Mother Marshall, nothing could be more satisfactory than the way +she looked like her picture, with those calm, peaceful eyes and that +tendency to a dimple in her cheek where a smile would naturally come. +Apple-cheeked, silver-haired, and plump. She was just ideal! + +That was a gay ride they had, all talking and laughing excitedly in +their happiness at being together. It was so good to Mother Marshall to +see another pair of strong young shoulders there beside Father on the +front seat again! + +It was Mother Marshall who took him up to Stephen's room herself when +they reached the nice old rambling farm-house set in the wide, white, +snowy landscape. Father Marshall had taken the car to the barn, and +Bonnie was hurrying the dinner on the table. + +Courtland entered the room as if it had been a sacred place, and looked +around on the plain comfort: the home-made rugs, the fat, worsted +pincushion, the quaint old pictures on the walls, the bookcase with its +rows of books; the big white bed with its quilted counterpane of +delicate needlework, the neat marble-topped washstand with its speckless +appointments and its wealth of large old-fashioned towels. + +"It isn't very fancy," said Mother Marshall, deprecatingly. "We fixed up +Bonnie's room as modern as we could when we knew she was coming"--she +waved an indicating hand toward the open door across the hall, where the +rosy glow of pink curtains and cherry-blossomed wall gave forth a +pleasant sense of light and joy--"and we had meant to fix this all over +for Steve the first Christmas when he came home, as a surprise; but now +that he has gone we sort of wanted to keep it just as he left it." + +"It is great!" said Courtland, simply. "I like it just like this. Don't +you? It is fine of you to put me in it. I feel as if it was almost a +desecration, because, you see, I didn't know him very well; I wasn't the +friend to him I might have been. I thought I ought to tell you that +right at the start. Perhaps you wouldn't want me if you knew all about +it." + +"You would have been his friend if you had had a chance to know him," +beamed the brave little mother. "He was a real brave boy always!" + +"He sure was!" said Courtland, deeply stirred. "But I did get to know +what a man he was. I saw him die, you know! But it was too late then!" + +"It is never too late!" said Mother Marshall, brushing away a bright +tear. "There is heaven, you know!" + +"Why, surely there is heaven! I hadn't thought of that! Won't that be +great?" Courtland spoke the words reverently. It came to him gladly +that he might make up in heaven for many things lost down here. He had +never thought of that before. + +"I wonder if you would mind," said Mother Marshall, wistfully, "if I was +to kiss you, the way I used to do Steve when he'd been away?" + +"I would mind very much," said Courtland, setting his suit-case down +suddenly and taking the plump little mother reverently into his big +arms. "It would be _great_, Mother Marshall," and he kissed her twice. + +Mother Marshall reached her short little arms up around his neck and +laid her gray head for just a minute on the tall shoulder, while a tear +hurried down and fitted itself invisibly into her dimple; then she ran +her fingers through his thick brown hair and patted his cheek. + +"Dear boy!" she breathed, contentedly, but suddenly roused herself. +"Here I'm keeping you, and that dinner'll spoil! Wash your hands and +come down quick! Bonnie will have everything ready!" + +Courtland first realized the deep, happy, spiritual life of the home +when he came down to the dining-room and Father Marshall bowed his head +to ask a blessing. Strange as it may seem, it was the first time in his +life that he had ever sat at a home table where a blessing was asked +upon the food. They had the custom in the seminary, of course, but it +was observed perfunctorily, the men taking it by turns. It had never +seemed the holy recognition of the Presence of the Master, as Father +Marshall made it seem. + +There was Bonnie, like a daughter of the house, getting up for a second +pitcher of cream, running to the kitchen for more gravy. It was so ideal +that Courtland felt like throwing his napkin up in the air and +cheering. + +It was all arranged by Mother Marshall that Bonnie and he should go to +the woods after dinner for greens and a Christmas tree. Bonnie looked at +Courtland almost apologetically, wondering if he were too tired for a +strenuous expedition like that. + +No. Courtland was not tired. He had never been so rested in his life. He +felt like hugging Mother Marshall for getting up the plan, for he could +see Bonnie never would have proposed it, she was too shy. He donned a +pair of Stephen's old leather leggings and a sweater, shouldered the ax +quite as if he had ever carried one before, and they started. + +He thought he never had seen anything quite so lovely as Bonnie in that +fuzzy little woolen cap, with the sunshine of her hair straying out and +the fine glow in her beautiful face. He knew he had never heard music +half so sweet as Bonnie's laugh as it rang through the woods when she +saw a squirrel sitting on a high limb scolding at their intrusion. He +never thought of Gila once the whole afternoon, nor even brought to mind +his lost ideals of womanhood. + +They found a tree just to their liking. Bonnie had it all picked out +weeks beforehand, but she did not tell him so, and he thought he had +discovered it for himself. They cut masses of laurel, and ground-pine, +and strung them on twine. They dragged the tree and greens home through +the snow, laughing and struggling with their fragrant burden, getting +wonderfully well acquainted, so that at the very door-step they had to +lay down their greens and have a snow-fight, with Father and Mother +Marshall standing delightedly at the kitchen window, watching them. +Mother's cheek was pressed softly against the old gray hat. She was +thinking how Stephen would have liked to be here with them; how glad he +would be if he could hear the happy shouts of young people ringing +around the lonely old house again! + +They set the tree up in the big parlor, and made a great log fire on the +hearth to give good cheer--for the house was warm as a pocket without +it. They colored and strung popcorn, gilded walnuts, cut silver-paper +stars and chains for the tree, and hung strings of cranberries, +bright-red apples, and oranges between. They trimmed the house from top +to bottom, even twining ground-pine on the stair rail. + +Those were the speediest two weeks that Courtland ever spent in his +life. He had thought to remain with the Marshalls perhaps three or four +days, but instead of that he delayed till the very last train that would +get him back to the seminary in time for work, and missed two classes at +that. For he had never had a comrade like Bonnie; and he knew, from the +first day almost, that he had never known a love like the love that +flamed up in his soul for this sweet, strong-spirited girl. The old +house rang with their laughter from morning to night as they chased each +other up-stairs and down, like two children. Hours they spent taking +long tramps through the woods or over the country roads; more hours they +spent reading aloud to each other, or rather, most of the time Bonnie +reading and Courtland devouring her lovely face with his eyes from +behind a sheltering hand, watching every varying expression, noting the +straight, delicate brows, the beautiful eyes filled with holy things as +they lifted now and then in the reading; marveling over the sweetness of +the voice. + +The second day of his visit Courtland had made an errand with Bonnie to +town to send off several telegrams. As a result a lot of things arrived +for him the day before Christmas, marked "Rush!" They were smuggled +into the parlor, behind the Christmas tree, with great secrecy after +dark by Bonnie and Courtland; and covered with the buffalo robes from +the car till morning. There was a big leather chair with air-cushions +for Father Marshall; its mate in lady's size for Mother; a set of +encyclopedias that he had heard Father say he wished he had; a lot of +silver forks and spoons for Mother, who had apologized for the silver +being rubbed off of some of hers. There were two sets of books in +wonderful leather bindings that he had heard Bonnie say she longed to +read, and there was the tiniest little gold watch, about which he had +been in terrible doubt ever since he had sent for it. Suppose Bonnie +should think it wrong to accept it when she had known him so short a +time! How was he going to make her see that it was all right? He +couldn't tell her she was a sort of a sister of his, for he didn't want +her for a sister. He puzzled over that question whenever he had time, +which wasn't often, because he was so busy and so happy every minute. + +Then there were great five-pound boxes of chocolates, glacéd nuts and +bonbons, and a crate of foreign fruits, with nuts, raisins, figs, and +dates. There was a long, deep box from the nearest city filled with the +most wonderful hothouse blossoms: roses, lilies, sweet peas, violets, +gardenias, and even orchids. Courtland had never enjoyed spending money +so much in all his life. He only wished he could get back to the city +for a couple of hours and buy a lot more things. + +To paint the picture of Mother Marshall when she sat on her new +air-cushions and counted her spoons and forks--real silver forks beyond +all her dreamings!--to show Father Marshall, as he wiped his spectacles +and bent, beaming, over the encyclopedias or rested his gray head back +against the cushions! Ah! That would be the work of an artist who could +catch the glory that shines deeper than faces and reaches souls! As for +Courtland, he was too much taken up watching Bonnie's face when she +opened her books, looking deep into her eyes as she looked up from the +little velvet case where the watch ticked softly into her wondering +ears; seeing the breathlessness with which she lifted the flowers from +their bed among the ferns and placed them reverently in jars and +pitchers around the room. + +It was a wonderful Christmas! The first real Christmas Courtland had +ever known. Sitting in the dim firelight between dusk and darkness, +watching Bonnie at the piano, listening to the tender Christmas music +she was playing, joining his sweet tenor in with her clear soprano now +and then, Courtland suddenly thought of Tennelly, off at Palm Beach, +doing the correct thing in wedding trips with Gila. Poor Tennelly! How +little he would be getting of the real joy of Christmas! How little he +would understand the wonderful peace that settled down in the heart of +his friend when, later, they all knelt in the firelight, and Father +Marshall prayed, as if he were talking to One who stood there close +beside him, whose companionship had been a life experience. + +There were so many pictures that Courtland had to carry back with him to +the seminary. Bonnie in the kitchen, with a long-sleeved, high-necked +gingham apron on, frying doughnuts or baking waffles. Bonnie at the +organ on Sunday in the little church in town, or sitting in a corner of +the Sunday-school room surrounded by her seventeen boys, with her Bible +open on her lap and in her face the light of heaven while the boys +watched and listened, too intent to know that they were doing it. Bonnie +throwing snowballs from behind the snow fort he built her. Bonnie with +the wonderful mystery upon her when they talked about the little watch +and whether she might keep it. Bonnie in her window-seat with one of the +books he had given her, the morning he started to go out with Father +Marshall and see what was the matter with the automobile, and then came +back to his room unexpectedly after his knife and caught a glimpse of +her through the open door. + +And that last one on the platform of Sloan's Station, waving him a +smiling good-by! + +Courtland had torn himself away at last, with a promise that he would +return the minute his work was over, and with the consolation that +Bonnie was going to write to him. They had arranged to pursue a course +of study together. The future opened up rosily before him. How was it +that skies had ever looked dark, that he had thought his ideals +vanished, and womanhood a lost art when the world held this one pearl of +a girl? Bonnie! Rose Bonnie! + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII + + +The rest of the winter sped away quickly. Courtland was very happy. Pat +looked at him enviously sometimes, yet he was content to have it so. His +old friend had not quite so much time to spend with him, but when he +came for a walk and a talk it was with a heartiness that satisfied. Pat +had long ago discovered that there was a girl at Stephen Marshall's old +home, and he sat wisely quiet and rejoiced. What kind of a girl he could +only imagine from Courtland's rapt look when he received a letter, and +from the exquisite photograph that presently took its place on +Courtland's desk. He hoped to have opportunity to judge more accurately +when the summer came, for Mother Marshall had invited Pat to come out +with Courtland in the spring and spend a week, and Pat was going. Pat +had something to confess to Mother Marshall. + +Courtland went out twice that summer, once for a week as soon as his +classes were over. It was then that Bonnie promised to marry him. + +Mother Marshall had a lot of sense and took a great liking to Pat. One +day she took him up in Stephen's room and told him all about Stephen's +boyhood. Pat, great big, baby giant that he was, knelt down beside her +chair, put his face in her lap, and blurted out the tale of how he had +led the mob against Stephen and been indirectly the cause of his death. + +Mother Marshall heard him through with tears of compassion running down +her cheeks. It was not quite news to her, for Courtland had told her +something of the tale, without any names, when he had confessed that he +held the garments of those who did the persecuting. + +"There, there!" said Mother Marshall, patting the big fellow's dark +head. "You never knew what you were doing, laddie! My Steve always +wanted a chance to prove that he was brave. When he was just a little +fellow and read about the martyrs, he used to say: 'Would I have that +much nerve, mother? A fellow never can _tell_ till he's been _tested_!' +And so I'm not sorry he had his chance to stand up before you all for +what he thought was right. Did you see my boy's face, too, when he +died?" + +"Yes," said Pat, lifting his head earnestly. "I'd just picked up a +little kid he sent up to the fire-escape, and saw his face all lit up by +the fire. It looked like the face of an angel! Then I saw him lift up +his hands and look up like he saw somebody above, and he called out +something with a sort of smile, as if he was saying he'd be up there +pretty soon! And then--he fell!" + +The tears were raining down Mother Marshall's cheeks by now, but there +was a smile of triumph in her eyes. + +"He wanted to be a missionary, my Stephen did, only he was afraid he +wouldn't be able to preach. He always was shy before folks. But I guess +he preached his sermon!" She sighed contentedly. + +"He sure did!" said Pat. "I never forgot that look on his face, nor the +way he took our roughneck insults. None of the fellows did. It made a +big impression on us all. And when Court began to change, came out +straight and said he believed in Christ, and all that, it knocked the +tar out of us all. Stephen hasn't got done preaching yet. You ought to +hear Court tell the story of his death. It bowled me over when I heard +it, and everywhere he tells it men believe! Wherever Paul Courtland +tells that story Stephen Marshall will be preaching." + +Mother Marshall stooped over and kissed Pat's astonished forehead. "You +have made me a proud and happy mother to-day, laddie! I'm glad you +came." + +Pat, suddenly conscious of himself, stumbled, blushing, to his feet. +"Thanks, Mother! It's been great! Believe me, I sha'n't ever forget it. +It's been like looking into heaven for this poor bum. If I'd had a home +like this I might have stood some chance of being like your Steve, +instead of just a roughneck athlete." + +"Yes, I know," smiled Mother Marshall. "A dear, splendid roughneck, +doing a big work with the boys! Paul has told me all about it. You're +preaching a lot of sermons yourself, you know, and going to preach some +more. Now shall we go down? It's time for evening prayers." + +So Pat put his strong arm around Mother Marshall's plump waist, drew one +of her hands in his, and together they walked down to the parlor, where +Bonnie was already playing "Rock of Ages." It seemed to Pat the kingdom +of heaven could be no sweeter, for this was the kingdom come on earth. +When he and Courtland were up-stairs in their room, and all the house +quiet for the night, Pat spoke: + +"I've sized it up this way, Court. There ain't any dying! That's only an +imaginary line like the equator on the map. It's heaven or hell, both +now and hereafter! We can begin heaven right now if we want to, and live +it on through; and that's what these folks have done. You don't hear +them sitting here fighting like the professors used to do, about whether +there's a heaven or a hell! They know there's both. They're living in +one and pulling folks out of the other, hard as they can; and they're +too blamed busy, following out the Bible and seeing it prove itself, to +listen to all the twaddle to prove that it ain't so! I sure am darned +glad you gave me the tip and I got a chance to get in on this little old +game, for it's the best game I know, and the best part about it is it +lasts forever!" + +Tennelly was away all that summer, doing the fashionable summer resorts +and taking a California trip. The next winter he spent in Washington. +Uncle Ramsey had him at work, and Courtland ran on him in his office +once, when he took a hurried trip down to see what he could do for the +eight-hour bill. Tennelly looked grave and sad. He was touchingly glad +to see Courtland. They did not speak of Gila once, but when Courtland +lay in his sleepless sleeper on the return trip that night Tennelly's +face haunted him, the wistfulness in it. + +A few months later Tennelly wrote a brief note announcing the birth of a +daughter, named Doris Ramsey after his grandmother. The tone of his +letter seemed more cheerful. + +Courtland was so happy that winter he could scarcely contain himself. +Pat had great times kidding him about the Western mail. Courtland was +supplying a vacant church down in the old factory district in the city, +and Pat often went along. On one of these Sunday afternoons late in the +spring they were walking down a street they did not often take, and +suddenly Courtland stopped with an exclamation of dismay and looked up +at a great blaring sign wired on a big old-fashioned church: + + CHURCH OF GOD + FOR SALE + +was the startling statement. + +Pat looked up at the sign and then at Courtland's face, figuring out, as +he usually could, what was the matter with Court. + +"Gosh! That's darned tough luck!" he said, sympathetically. + +"It's terrible!" said Courtland. + +"H'm!" said Pat, again. "Whose fault do you s'pose it is? Not God's. +Somebody fell down on his job, I reckon! Congregation gone to the devil, +very likely!" + +"Wait!" said Courtland, gravely. "I must find out." + +He stepped into a little cigar-store and asked some questions. "You were +right, Pat," he said, when he came out. "The congregation has gone to +the devil. They have moved up into the more fashionable part of town, +and the church is for sale. There's only one member of the old church +left down here. I'm going around to see him. Pat, that sign mustn't stay +up there! It's a disgrace to God." + +"What could you do about it?" Pat was puzzled. + +"Do about it? Why, man, I can buy it if there isn't any other way!" + +They went to see the church member, who proved to be a good old soul, +but deaf and old and very poor. He said they had to give the church up; +they couldn't make it pay. All the rich people had moved away. He shook +his head sadly and told how he and his wife were married there. He +hobbled over and showed them how to get in a side door. + +The yellow afternoon sun was sifting through windows of cheap stained +glass, and fell in mellow quiet upon the faded cushions and musty +ingrain carpet. The place had that deserted look of having been +abandoned, yet Courtland, as he stood in the shadow under the old +balcony, seemed to see the Presence of the eternal God standing up there +behind the pulpit, seemed to feel the hallowed memories of long ago, +and scent the lingering incense of all the prayers that had gone up from +all the souls who had worshiped there in the years that were past. + +"They think an iron-foundry's going to buy it, or else some one may make +a munition-factory out of it," the old man contributed. "This war's +bringing a big change over things." + +"Their plowshares into swords, their pruning-hooks into spears," chanted +an unseen voice, sadly, behind Courtland. His face set sternly. He +turned to Pat: + +"I can't let that happen, old man!" he said. "I'm going to buy it if I +can. Come, we'll go and look it up!" + +Pat looked at his companion with awe. He had always known he was rich, +but--to purchase a church as if it were a jack-knife! That sure was +going some! + +Courtland did not return to the seminary until Tuesday morning. By that +time he had bought his church. It didn't take him long to come to an +agreement. The Church of God was in a bad way and was willing to take up +with almost any offer that would cover their liabilities. + +"Well," said Pat, "that sure was some hustle! There's one thing, Court. +You won't have to candidate for any church like those other guys in your +little old seminary. You just went out and bought one; though I surmise +you and I'll have to do some scrubbing if you calculate to hold services +there very soon." + +"H'm!" said Courtland. "I hadn't thought of that, Pat! Maybe that would +be a good idea!" + +"Holy Mackinaw, man! What did you buy it for, then, if you didn't intend +to use it? Do it just to have the right to tear down that blooming sign, +did you?" + +"That's about the size of it," smiled Courtland as he halted in front +of his newly acquired church and looked up at it with interest. "But now +I've got it I might as well use it. Suppose we start a mission here, +Pat, you and I? Let's cut that sign down first, and then, Pat, I'm going +to hunt up a stone-cutter. This church has got to have a new name. +'Church of God for sale' has killed this one! A church that used to +belong to God and doesn't any more is what that means. They have sold +the Church of God, but His Presence is still here!" + +A few weeks later, when the two came down to look things over, the +granite arch over the old front doors bore the inscription in letters of +stone: + + CHURCH OF THE PRESENCE OF GOD + +Courtland stood looking for a moment, and then he turned to Pat eagerly. +"I'm going to get possession of the whole block if I can; maybe the +opposite one, too, for a park, and you've got to be physical director! +I'll turn the kids and the older boys over to you, old man!" + +Pat's eyes were full of tears. He had to turn away to hide them. "You're +a darned old dreamer!" he said, in a choking voice. + +So the rejuvenation of the old church went on from week to week. The men +at the seminary grew curious as to what took Pat and Courtland to the +city so much. Was it a girl? It finally got around that Courtland had a +rich and aristocratic church in view, and was soon to be married to the +daughter of one of its prominent members. But when they began to +congratulate him, Courtland grinned. + +"When I preach my first sermon you may all come down and see," he +replied, and that was all they could get out of him. + +Courtland found that a lot had to be done to that church. Plaster was +falling off in places, the pews were getting rickety. The pulpit needed +doing over, and the floor had to be recarpeted. But it was wonderful +what a difference it all made when it was done. Soft greens and browns +replaced the faded red. The carpet was thick and soft, the cushions +matched. Bonnie had given careful suggestions about it all. + +"You could have got along without cushions, you know," said Pat, +frugally, as he seated himself in appreciative comfort. + +"I know," said Courtland, "but I want this to look like a _church_! Some +day when we get the rest of the block and can tear down the buildings +and have a little sunlight and air, we'll have some _real windows_ with +wonderful gospel stories on them, but these will do for now. There's got +to be a pipe-organ some day, and Bonnie will play it!" + +Pat always glowed when Courtland spoke of Bonnie. He never had ceased to +be thankful that Courtland escaped from Gila's machinations. But that +very afternoon, as Courtland was preparing to hurry to the train, there +came a note from Pat, who had gone ahead, on an errand: + + DEAR COURT,--Tennelly's in trouble. He's up at his + old rooms. He wants you. I'll wait for you down in the + office. + + PAT. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV + + +Tennelly was pacing up and down the room. His face was white, his eyes +were wild. He had the haggard look of one who has come through a long +series of harrowing experiences up to the supreme torture where there is +nothing worse that can happen. + +Courtland's knock brought him at once to the door. With both hands they +gave the fellowship grip that had meant so much to each in college. + +A moment they stood so, looking into each other's eyes, Courtland, +wondering, startled, questioning. It was Gila, of course! Nothing else +could reach the man's soul and make him look like that! But what had +happened? Not death! No, not even death could bring that look of shame +and degradation to his high-minded friend's eyes. + +As if Tennelly had read his question he spoke in a voice so husky with +emotion that his words were scarcely audible: "Didn't Pat tell you?" + +Courtland shook his head. + +Tennelly's head went down, as if he were waiting for courage to speak. +Then, huskily: "She's gone, Court!" + +"Gone?" + +"Left me, Court! She sailed at daybreak for Italy with another man." + +Tennelly fumbled in his pocket and brought out a crumpled note, +blistered with tears. "Read it!" he muttered, and turned away to the +window. + +Courtland read: + + DEAR LEW,--I'm sure when you come to your senses + and get over some of your narrow ideas you'll be as much + relieved as I am over what I've decided to do. You and I + never were fitted for each other, and I can't stand this + life another day. I'm simply perishing! It's up to me to do + something, for I know, with your strait-laced notions, you + never will! So when you read this I shall be out of reach, + on my way to Italy with Count von Bremen. They say there's + going to be war in this country, anyway, and I hate such + things, so I had to get out of it. You won't have any + trouble in getting a divorce, and you'll soon be glad I did + it. + + As for the kid, if she lives she's much better off with you + than with me, for you know I never could stand children; + they get on my nerves. And, anyhow, I never could be all the + things you tried to make me, and it's better in the end this + way. So good-by, and don't try to come after me. I won't + come back, no matter what you do, for I'm bored to death + with the last two years and I've got to see some life! + + GILA + +Courtland read the flippant little note twice before he trusted himself +to speak, and then he walked over to the window, slowly smoothing and +folding the crumpled paper. A baby's cry in the next room pierced the +air, and the father gripped the window-seat and quivered as if a bullet +had struck him. + +Courtland put his hand lovingly within his friend's arm: "Nelly, old +fellow," he said, "you know that I feel with you--" + +"I know, Court!" with a weary sigh. "That's why I sent for you. I had to +have you, somehow!" + +"Nelly! There aren't any words made delicate enough to handle this thing +without hurting. It's raw flesh and full of nerves. There's just One +can do anything here! I wish you believed in God!" + +"I do!" said Tennelly, in a dreary tone. + +"He can come near you and give you strength to bear it. I know, for He +did it for me once!" + +Courtland felt as if his words were falling on deaf ears, but Tennelly, +after a pause, asked, bitterly: + +"Why did He do this to me, if He's what you say He is?" + +"I'm not sure that He did, old man! I think perhaps you and I had a hand +in it!" + +Tennelly looked at him keenly for an instant and turned away, silent. "I +know what you mean," he said. "You told me I'd go through hell, and I +have. I knew it in a way myself, but I'm afraid I'd do it again! I loved +her! God! I'm afraid--I _love her yet_! Man! You don't know what an ache +such love is." + +"Yes, I do," said Courtland, with a sudden light in his face, but +Tennelly was not heeding him. + +"It isn't entirely that I've lost her; that I've got to give up hoping +that she'll some time care and settle down to knowing she is gone +forever! It's the way she went! The--the--the _disgrace_! The +humiliation! The awfulness of the way she went! We've never had anything +like that in our family. And to think my baby has got to grow up to know +that shame! To know that her mother was a disgraceful woman! That I gave +her a mother like that!" + +"Now, look here, Tennelly! You didn't know! You thought she would be all +right when you were married!" + +"But I _did know_!" wailed Tennelly. "I knew in my soul! I think I knew +when I first saw her, and that was why I worried about you when you used +to go and see her. I knew she wasn't the woman for you. But, blamed fool +that I was! I thought I was more of a man of the world, and would be +able to hold her! No, I didn't, either, for I knew it was like trying to +enjoy a sound sleep in a powder-magazine with a pocketful of matches, to +trust my love to her! But I did it, anyway! I dared trouble! And my +little child has got to suffer for it!" + +"Your little child will perhaps be better for it!" + +"I can't see it that way!" + +"You don't have to. If God does, isn't that enough?" + +"I don't know! I can't see God now; it's too dark!" Tennelly put his +forehead against the window-pane and groaned. + +"But you have your little child," said Courtland, hesitating. "Isn't +that something to help?" + +"She breaks my heart," said the father. "To think of her worse than +motherless! That little bit of a helpless thing! And it's my fault that +she's here with a future of shame!" + +"Nothing of the sort! It'll be your fault if she has a future of shame, +but it's up to you. Her mother's shame can't hurt her if you bring her +up right. It's your job, and you can get a lot of comfort out of it if +you try!" + +"I don't see how," dully. + +"Listen, Tennelly. Does she look like her mother?" + +Tennelly's sensitive face quivered with pain. "Yes," he said, huskily. +"I'll send for her and you can see." He rang a bell. "I brought her and +the nurse up to town with me this morning." + +An elderly, kind-faced woman brought the baby in, laid it in a big chair +where they could see it, and then withdrew. + +Courtland drew near, half shyly, and looked in startled wonder. The baby +was strikingly like Gila, with all her grace, delicate features, wide +innocent eyes. The sweep of the long lashes on the little white cheeks, +that were all too white for baby flesh, seemed old and weird in the tiny +face. Yet when the baby looked up and recognized its father it crowed +and smiled, and the smile was wide and frank and lovable, like +Tennelly's. There was nothing artificial about it. Courtland drew a long +sigh of relief. For the moment he had been looking at the baby as if it +were Gila grown small again; now he suddenly realized it was a new +little soul with a life and a spirit of its own. + +"She will be a blessing to you, Nelly," he said, looking up hopefully. + +"I don't see it that way!" said the hopeless father, shaking his head. + +"Would you rather have her--taken away--as her mother suggested?" he +hazarded, suddenly. + +Tennelly gave him one quick, startled look. "God! No!" he said, and +staggered back into a chair. "Do you think she looks so sick as that? I +know she's not well. I know she's lost flesh! But she's been neglected. +Gila never cared for her and wouldn't be bothered looking after things. +She was angry because the baby came at all. She resented motherhood +because it put a limitation on her pleasures. My poor little girl!" + +Tennelly dropped upon his knees beside the baby and buried his face in +its soft little neck. + +The baby swept its dark lashes down with the old Gila trick, and looked +with a puzzled frown at the dark head so close to her face. Then she put +up her little hand and moved it over her father's hair with an awkward +attempt at comfort. The great big being with his head in her neck was in +trouble, and she was vaguely sympathetic. + +A wave of pity swept over Courtland. He dropped upon his knees beside +his friend and spoke aloud: + +"O Lord God, come near and let my friend feel Thy Presence now in his +terrible distress. Somehow speak peace to his soul and help him to know +Thee, for Thou art the only One that can help him. Help him to tell Thee +all his heart's bitterness now, alone with Thee and his little child, +and find relief." + +Softly Courtland arose and slipped from the room, leaving them alone +with the Presence. + + * * * * * + +Gila had been gone two months when the day was finally set for Bonnie's +wedding. + +There had been consultations long and many over what to do about telling +Tennelly, for even Bonnie saw that the event could not but be painful to +him, coming as it did on the heels of his own deep trouble. And Tennelly +had long been Courtland's best friend; at least until Pat grew so close +as to share that privilege with him. It was finally decided that +Courtland should tell Tennelly about the approaching wedding at his +first opportunity. + +Bonnie had long ago heard all about Gila, been through the bitter throes +of jealousy, and come out clear and trusting, with the whole thing +sanely and happily relegated to that place where all such troubles go +from the hearts of those who truly love each other and know there never +could be any one else in the universe who could take the place of the +beloved. + +Courtland had been preaching in the Church of the Presence of God for +four Sabbaths now, and the congregation had been growing steadily. There +had not been much advertising. He had told a few friends in the +factories near by that there was to be service. He had put up a notice +on the door saying that the church would be open for worship regularly +and every one was welcome. He did not wish to force anything. He was +following the leading of the Spirit. If God really meant this work for +him, He would show him. + +Courtland's preaching was not of the usual cut-and-dried order of the +young theologue. His theology had been studied to help him to understand +his God and his Bible, not to give him a set of rules for preaching. So +when he stood up in the pulpit it was not to follow any conventional +order of service, or to try to imitate the great preachers he had heard, +but to give the people who came something that would help them to live +during the week and enable them to realize the Presence of Christ in +their daily lives. + +The men at the seminary got wind of it somehow, and came down by twos +and threes, and finally dozens, as they could get away from their own +preaching, to see what the dickens that close-mouthed Courtland was +doing, and went away thoughtful. It was not what they had expected of +their brilliant classmate, ministering to these common working-people +right in the neighborhood where they lived and worked. + +At first they did not understand how he came to be in that church, and +asked what denomination it was, anyway. Courtland said he really didn't +know what it had been, but that he hoped it was the denomination of +Jesus Christ now. + +"But whose church is it?" they asked. + +"Mine," he said, simply. + +Then they turned to Pat for explanation. + +"That's straight," said Pat. "He bought it." + +"_Bought_ it! Oh!" They were silenced. Not one of them could have bought +a church, and wouldn't have if they could. They would have bought a good +mansion for themselves against their retiring-day. Few of them +understood it. Only the man who was going to darkest Africa to work in +the jungles, and a couple who were bound, one for the leper country, +and another for China, had a light of understanding in their eyes, and +gripped Courtland's hand with reverence and ecstatic awe. + +"But, man alive!" lingered one, unwilling to leave his brilliant friend +in such a hopeless hole. "Don't you realize if you don't hitch on to +some denomination, or board of trustees, or something, your work won't +count in the long run? Who's to carry on your work and keep up your name +and what you have done, after you are gone? You're foolish!" He had just +received a flattering call to a city church himself, and he knew he was +not half so well fitted for it as Courtland. + +But Courtland flung up his hat in a boyish way and laughed. "I should +worry about my name after I am gone," he said. "And as for the work, +it's for me to do, isn't it? Not for me to arrange for after I'm dead. +If my heavenly Father wants it to keep up after I'm gone He'll manage to +find a way, won't He? My job is to look after it while I'm here. Perhaps +it won't be needed any longer after I'm gone. God sent me here to buy +His church when it was for sale, didn't He? Well, then, if it is for +sale again he'll find somebody else to buy it, unless He is done with +it. The New Jerusalem may be here by that time and we won't have to have +any churches. God Himself shall be the tabernacle! So you see I'm just +going on running my own little old church the best I can with what God +gives me, and I won't trouble any boards at present, not so long as I +have money enough to keep the wheels moving." + +They went away then with doubtful looks, and Courtland heard one say to +another, shaking his head in a dubious way: + +"I don't like it. It's all very irregular!" + +And the other replied: "Yes! It's a pity about him! He might have done +something big if he hadn't been so impractical!" + +"The poor stews!" said Pat, dryly, looking after them. "They haven't got +religion enough to carry them over till next week, the most of them, and +what they'll do when they really see what kind the Lord is I can't +guess! I wonder what they think that rich young man that Jesus loved +would have been like, anyway, if he hadn't gone away sorrowful and kept +his vast possessions. Cut it out, Pat! You're letting the devil in again +and getting censorious! Just shut your mouth and saw wood! They'll find +out some little old day in the morning, I guess." + +Courtland wrote it all to Bonnie, all the happenings at seminary and +church, what the theologues had said about his being impractical and +irregular, and Bonnie, with a tender smile, leaned down and kissed the +words in the letter, and murmured, "Dear impractical beloved!" all +softly to herself. + +For Bonnie was very happy. The possession of great wealth that would +have to be spent in the usual way, surrounded by social distinction, +attended by functions and society duties, would have been an +inexpressible burden to her. But money to be used without limit in +helping other people was a miracle of joy. To think that it should have +come to her! + +Yet there was something greater than the money and the new interests +that were opening up before her, and that was the wonder of the man who +had chosen her to be his wife. That such a prince among men, such a +friend of God, should have passed by others of rank, of beauty and +attainments far greater than hers, and come away out West to take her, +fairly overwhelmed her with wonder when she had time to think about it. +For she was as busy as she was happy in these days. There was her +school work, her music, the little home duties, all she could make +Mother Marshall leave for her; the beautiful sewing she was doing on her +simple bridal garments; and stealing time from all to write the most +wonderful letters to the insatiable lover in the East. + +Softly Bonnie went through these days, tender, happy, blithe as a bird; +a song on her lips whenever she went about the house; a caress in her +very touch for the dear old people who had been father and mother to her +in her loneliness; realizing only vaguely what it was going to be to +them when she was gone and they were all alone again. For her heart was +so full of her own joy she could not think a sad thought. + +But one afternoon she came home from school a little earlier than usual. +Opening the door very softly that she might come on Mother Marshall and +surprise her, she heard voices in the dining-room, and paused to see if +there was company. + +"It's going to be mighty hard to have Bonnie leave us," said Father +Marshall, with a wistful quaver. + +There was a soft sigh over by the window, then Mother Marshall: "Yes, +Father, but we mustn't think about it, or the next thing we know we'll +let her see it. She's the kind of girl that would turn around and say +she couldn't get married, perhaps, if she got it in her head we needed +her. She's got a grand man, and I'm just as glad as I can be about +it"--there was a gulp like a sob over by the window.--"I wouldn't spoil +her happiness for anything in the world!" The voice took on a forced +cheerfulness. + +"Sure! We wouldn't want to do that!" + +"It's 'most as bad as when Stephen was going away, though. I have to +just shut my eyes when I go by her bedroom door and think about how we +fixed it up for her and counted on how she'd look, and all. I just +couldn't stand it. I had to shut the door and hurry down-stairs." + +"Well, now, Mother, you mustn't feel that way. You know the Lord sent +her first. Maybe He has some other plan." + +"Oh, I know!" said Mother, briskly. "I guess we can leave that to Him; +only seems like I can't bear to think of anybody else coming to be in +her room." + +"Oh no! no! We couldn't stand for that!" said Father, quickly. "We'd +have to keep it for her--for them--when they come home to visit! If any +other party comes along I reckon we'll just build out a bay window on +the kitchen chamber, and fix that up. Now don't you worry, Mother. You +know he promised to bring her home a lot, and it ain't as if he hadn't +got money enough to travel, let alone a nottymobeel. I shouldn't wonder +maybe if we could go see them, even, some time. We could get to see the +university then, too, and go look at Steve's room. You'd like that, +wouldn't you, Mother?" + +Bonnie did not go into the dining-room to surprise them. Instead, she +stole away down in the orchard to hide her tears. + +A little later she saw the postman ride up to the letter-box on the +gate-post and drop in a letter, and all else was forgotten. + +Yes, from Paul! A lovely, big, thick letter! + +Mother and Father Marshall and their sadness suddenly vanished from her +thoughts, and she hurried back to a big stump in the orchard, where she +often read her letters. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXV + + + DEAR BONNIE ROSE [she read, and smiled tenderly. He + was always getting her a new name]: + + "I've been to see Tennelly at last, and he's great! What do + you think? He's not only coming to the wedding, but he's + asked if I will let him be best man, unless I'd rather have + Pat! I told Pat, and you ought to have heard him roar. "Fat + chance! Me best man, with you two fellows around!" he said. + + Father and my stepmother will come; but please tell Mother + Marshall she needn't worry because they will only stay for + the ceremony. I know she was a little troubled about my + stepmother, lest things would seem plain to her; bless her + dear heart! But she needn't at all, for she's a kindly soul, + according to her lights. She's not to blame that they're + only candle-lights instead of sunlight. They will come in + their private car, which will be dropped off from the + morning train and picked up by the night express at the + Junction, so you see they'll have to leave for Sloan's + Station early in the afternoon. + + But the greatest news of all I heard to-night! Pat brought + it, as usual. It beats all how he finds out pleasant things. + You remember how we wished that Burns hadn't gone to China + yet, so he could marry us? Well, he's coming back. He's been + sent on some errand or other for the government, in company + with a Chinaman or two, and he's due in San Francisco a week + before the wedding. I've sent a wireless to ask him to stop + over and take part in the ceremony. I was sure this would + meet with your approval. Of course, we'll ask your minister + out there to assist. You don't know how this pleases me. + There's only one of the professors I'd have cared to ask, + and he's with his wife, who is very ill at a sanitarium. It + seems somehow as if Burns belonged to us, doesn't it, dear? + + I stood to-night on the steps of the church and looked at a + ray of the setting sun that was slanting between buildings + and laying a finger of gold on the old dirty windows across + the street till they blazed into sudden glory. As I looked + the houses faded away, as they do in a moving picture, and + gradually melted into a great open space that stretched a + whole big block, all clear and green with thick velvety + grass. There were trees in the space--a lot of them--and + hammocks under some of them, with little children playing + about. At the farthest end there were tennis-courts and a + baseball diamond; and who do you think I saw teaching some + boys to pitch, but Pat! On the other side of the street a + big, old warehouse had been converted into a gymnasium with + a swimming-pool. + + All around that block there were model tenements, with + thousands of windows; and light and air and cheerfulness. + There were flowers in little beds between the curbing and + the pavement, that the children could water and cultivate + and pick. There was a fountain of filtered water in the + center of the green, and a drinking-fountain at each corner + of the block, but there wasn't a saloon in sight! + + I looked around to my right, and the old stone house with + its grimy face that belonged there had changed into a + beautiful home with vines and flowers. There were windows + everywhere jutting out with delightful unexpectedness, and + just lovely green grass and more trees all the way to the + corner! On the left, the old foundry had been cleansed and + transformed, and had become a hospital belonging to the + church. I couldn't help thinking right then and there what a + grand doctor Tennelly would have made if he only hadn't been + an aristocrat. The hospital was all white, and there was an + ambulance belonging to it, and nurses who worked not only + for money, but for the love of Christ. There wasn't a doctor + in it who didn't know what the Presence of God meant, or + couldn't point the way to be saved to a dying sinner. + + Back of the church block, in place of the old shackly + factories, there was one great model factory with the best + modern equipment, and the eight-hour system in full swing. + No little children working for a scanty living! No tired + girls and women standing all day long! No foreman that did + not have a love for humanity in his soul and some kind of an + idea what it was to have the Presence of the living God in a + factory! + + I went back to the big stone house and discovered there was + a great big living-room with a grand piano at one end, and a + stone fireplace large enough for logs. A wide staircase led + up to a gallery where many rooms opened off, rooms enough + for every one we wanted, and a big special one for Father + and Mother Marshall, winters, opening off in a suite, so + that they could be to themselves when they got tired of us + all. Of course, in summers they might want to go home + sometimes and take us all with them; or maybe run down to + the shore with us in an off year now and then. Break the + news to them gently, darling, for I've set my heart on that + house just as I saw it, and I hope they won't object. + + There were other rooms, but they were vague, because I saw + that you must have the key to them all yet, and I must wait + till you come, to look into them. + + Then I heard sweet sounds from the church, and, turning, I + went in. Some one was playing the organ, high up in the + dusky shadows of the gallery, and I knew it was you, Bonnie + Rose, my darling! So I knelt in a pew and listened, with the + Presence standing there between us. And as I knelt another + vision came to me, a vision of the past! I remembered the + days when I did not know God; when I sneered and argued and + did all I could in my young and conceited way against Him. I + remembered, too, the time He came to me in my illness and I + began to believe; and the day I read that verse marked in + Stephen's Bible, "He that believeth on the Son of God hath + the witness in himself." I suddenly realized that that had + been made true to me. I have the witness in my own heart + that Christ is the Son of God, my Saviour! That His Presence + is on earth and manifest to me at many times. No seeming + variance of science, no quibble of the intellect, can ever + disturb this faith on which my soul rests. It is more than a + conviction; it is a perfect satisfaction! I KNOW! I + may not be able to explain all mysteries, but I can never + doubt again, because I know. The more I meet with modern + skepticism, the more I am convinced that that is the only + answer to it all: "He that doeth His will shall know of the + doctrine," and that promise is fulfilled to all who have the + will to believe. + + All this came to me quite clearly as I knelt in the church + in the sunset, while you were playing--was it "Rock of + Ages"?--and a ray of the setting sun stole through the old + yellow glass of the window in the organ-loft and lay on your + hair like a crown, my Bonnie darling! My heart overflowed + with gratitude at the great way life has opened up to me. + That I, the least of His servants, should be honored by the + love of this pearl of women!-- + +There was more of that letter, and Bonnie sat long on the stump reading +and re-reading, with her face a glow of wonder and joy. But at last she +got up and went to the house, bounding into the dining-room where Mother +and Father Marshall were pretending to be busy about a lamp that didn't +work right. + +Down she sat with her letter and read it--at least as much as we have +read--to the two sad old dears who were trying so hard to get ready for +loneliness. But after that there was no more sadness in that house! No +more tears nor wistful looks. Father whistled everywhere he went, till +Mother told him he was like a boy again. Mother sang about her work +whenever she was alone. For why should they be sad any more? There were +good times still going in the world, and _they were in them_! + +"Father!" whispered Mother, softly, that night, when she was supposed to +be well on her way toward slumber. "Do you suppose the Lord heard us +grumbling this afternoon, and sent that letter to make us ashamed of +ourselves?" + +"No," said Father, tenderly, "I think He just smiled to think what a big +surprise He had ready for us. It doesn't pay to doubt God; it really +doesn't!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI + + +Pat was out with the ambulance. He had been taking a convalescent from +the hospital down to the station and shipping him home to his good old +mother in the country, to be nursed back to health. Pat often did little +things like that that were utterly out of his province, just because he +liked to do them. + +Pat had seen his patient off and was threading his way through a crowded +thoroughfare, with eyes alert for everything, when a little bright-red +racer passed him at a furious rate, driven by a woman with a reckless +hand. She shot by the ambulance like a rocket, and at the next corner +came face to face with a great motor-truck that was thundering around +the corner at a tempestuous speed. From the first glance there was no +chance for the racer. It crumpled like a thing of paper and lay in +bright splinters on the street, the lady tossed aside and motionless, +with her head against the curbing. + +The crowd closed in about her, and some one sent a call for the police. +The crowd opened again as an officer signed to the ambulance to stand +by, and kindly hands put the lady inside. Pat put on all speed to the +home hospital, which was not far away, and was soon within its gates, +with the house doctor and a nurse rushing out in answer to his signal. + +There was a light in the church close at hand, although it was not yet +dark. Bonnie was playing softly on the organ. Pat knew the hymn she was +playing: + + At evening, ere the sun was set, + The sick, O Lord! around Thee lay; + Oh, with what divers ills they met, + Oh, with what joy they went away! + + Once more 'tis eventide, and we, + Oppressed with various ills, draw near-- + +Pat was following the melody in his mind with the words that were so +often sung in the Church of the Presence of God at evening service. He +jumped down from his driver's seat and went around to the back of the +ambulance, where they were preparing to carry the patient into the +building. He was wondering what sort it was this time that he had +brought to the House of Healing. Then suddenly he saw her face and +stopped short, with a suppressed exclamation. + +There, huddled on the stretcher, in her costly sporting garments, with +her long, dark lashes sweeping over her hard, little painted face, and a +pinched look of suffering about her loose-hung baby mouth, lay Gila! + +He knew her at once and drew back in horror. What had he done! Brought +her here, this viper of evil that had crept into the garden of his +friends and despoiled them of their joy! Why had he not looked at her +before they started? Fool that he was! He might easily have taken her to +another hospital instead of this one. He could do so yet. + +But Courtland was standing on the steps, looking down at the huddled +figure on the stretcher, with a strange expression of pity and +tenderness in his face. + +"I did not know! I did not see her before, Court!" stammered Pat. "I +will take her somewhere else now before she has been disturbed." + +"No, Pat, it's all right! It is fitting that she should come to us. I'm +glad you found her. You must have been led! Call Bonnie, please. And, +Pat, watch for Nelly and take him into my study. He was coming down on +the Boston express. Let me know as soon as he gets here." + +Courtland went swiftly into the hospital. Pat looked after him for a +moment with a great light of love in his eyes, and realized for the +first time what was meant by the expulsive power of a new affection. +Court hadn't minded seeing Gila in the least on his own account. He was +only thinking of Tennelly. Poor Nelly! What would he do? + +There was no hope for Gila from the first. There had been an injury to +the spine, and it was only a question of hours how long she had to stay. + +It was Bonnie's face upon which the great dark eyes first opened in +consciousness again. Bonnie in soft, white garments sitting beside the +bed, watching. A strange contraction of fear and hate passed over her +face as she looked, and she spoke in an insolent, sharp little voice, +weak as a sick bird's chirp. + +"Who sent you here?" she demanded. + +"God," said Bonnie, gently, without an instant's hesitation. + +A startled look came into Gila's eyes. "God! What does He want with me? +Has He sent you here to torment me? I know you, who you are! You are +that poor girl that Paul picked up in the street. You are come to pay me +back!" + +Bonnie's face was full of tenderness. "No, dear! That is all passed. +I've just come to bring you a message from God." + +"God! What have I to do with God?" A quiver of anguish passed over the +weird little face. "I hate God! He hates me! Am I dead, then, that He +sends me messages?" + +"No, you are not dead. And God does not hate you. Listen! He says, 'I +have loved you with an everlasting love.' That's the message that He +sends. He is here now. He wants you to give attention to Him!" + +The little blanched face on the pillow tightened and hardened in fear +once more. "That's that awful Presence again! The Presence! The +Presence! I've been trying to get away from it for three years, and it's +pursued me everywhere! Now I'm caught like a rat in a trap and can't get +away! If I'm not dead, then I must be dying, or you wouldn't dare talk +to me this awful way! _I am dying!_ And _you_ think _I'm going to +hell_!" Her shrill voice rose almost to a scream. + +Above the sound, Bonnie's calm, clear voice dominated with a sudden +quieting hush. Courtland, standing with the doctor and Tennelly just +outside the partly open door, was thrilled with the sweetness of it, as +if some supernatural power were given to her at this trying time. + +"Listen, Gila! This is what He says: 'God sent not His Son into the +world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be +saved.... God so loved the world that He gave His only Begotten Son, +that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting +life.' He wants you to _believe now_ that He loves you and wants to save +you." + +"But He couldn't!" said Gila, with the old petulant tone. "I've hated +Him all my life! I _hate Him now_! And I've never been good! I couldn't +be good! I don't _want_ to be good! I want to do just what I _please_! +And I _will_! I won't hear you talk this way! I want to get up! Why does +my body feel so queer and numb, as if it wasn't there? Am I dying now? +Answer me quick! Am I dying? _I know I am._ I'm dying and you won't tell +me! I'm dying and I'm afraid! I'M AFRAID!" + +One piercing scream after another rang out through the corridors. In +vain did Bonnie and the nurse seek to soothe her. The high, excited +voice raved on: + +"I'm afraid to die! I'm afraid of that Presence! Send for Paul +Courtland! He tried to tell me once, and I wouldn't hear! I made him +choose between me and God! And _now I'm going to be punished_!" + +"Listen, dear!" went on Bonnie's steady, tender voice. "God doesn't want +to punish. He wants to save. He is waiting to forgive you if you will +let Him!" + +Something in her low-spoken words caught and held the attention of the +soul in mortal anguish. Gila fixed her great, anguishing eyes on Bonnie. + +"Forgive! Forgive! How could anybody forgive all I've done! You don't +know anything about such things"--half contemptuously.--"You've always +been goody-good! I can see it in your look. You don't know what it is to +have men making fools of themselves over you! You don't know all I've +done! I've been what they call a sinner! I sent away the only man I ever +loved because I was _jealous of God_! I broke the heart of the man who +loved me because I got tired of him and his everlasting perfection! I +hated the idea of being a mother, and when my child came I deserted her! +I would have killed her if I had dared! I went away with a bad man! And +when I got tired of him I took the first way that opened to get away +from him! God doesn't forgive things like that! I didn't expect He would +when I did them. But it wasn't fair not to let me live out my life! I'm +too young to die! And I'm afraid! I'm AFRAID!" + +"Yes. God forgives all those things! There was a woman once who had been +like that, and Jesus forgave her. He will forgive you if you ask Him. +But He can't forgive you unless you are sorry and really want Him to. He +says, 'Though your sins be as scarlet they shall be as white as snow; +and though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool,' but you +have to be sorry first that you sinned. He can't forgive you if you +aren't sorry." + +"Sorry! _Sorry!_" Gila's laugh rang out mirthlessly and echoed in the +high, white room. "Oh, I'm _sorry_, all right! What do you think I am? +Do you think I've been _happy_? Don't you know that I've suffered +torments? Everything has turned to ashes that I've touched! I've gone +everywhere and done everything to try to forget myself, but always there +was that awful Presence chasing me! Standing in my way everywhere I +turned! Driving me! Always driving me toward hell! I've tried drowning +my thoughts with cocktails and dope, but always when it wore off there +would be the Presence of God pursuing me! Do you mean to tell me there +is forgiveness for me with Him?" + +Her breath was coming in painful gasps as she screamed out the words as +the nurse leaned over and gave her a quieting draught. + +Bonnie, in a low, clear voice, began to repeat Bible verses: + + "The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from _all_ + sin! + + "As far as the East is from the West, so far hath He removed + our transgressions from us. + + "I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for + mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins. + + "If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive + us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." + +Gila listened with wondering, incredulous eyes, like the eyes of a +frightened, naughty child who scarcely understood what was being said +and was in a frenzy of fear. + +"Oh, if Paul Courtland were here he would tell me if this is true!" Gila +cried at last. + +Instantly, from out the shadow of the doorway, stepped Courtland, and +stood at the foot of the bed where she could see him, looking steadily +at the dying girl for a moment, and then lifting his eyes, as if to One +who stood just beside her: + +"O Jesus Christ! who came to save, come close to this poor little +wandering child of Thine and show her that she is forgiven! Take her +gently by the hand and help her to see Thee, how loving Thou art! Help +her to understand how Thou didst come to earth and die to take her place +of punishment so that she might be forgiven! Open her eyes to comprehend +what love like that can be!" + +Gila turned startled eyes on Courtland as she heard his voice, strong, +beseeching, tender, intimate with God! She lay listening, watching his +illumined face as he prayed. Watched and listened as one who suddenly +sees a ray of light where all was darkness; till gradually the tenseness +and pain faded from her face and a surprised calm came to take its +place. + +The strong voice went on, talking with the Saviour about what He had +done for this poor erring one, till with a sigh, like a tired child, the +eyelids dropped over her frightened eyes and a look of peace began to +dawn. + +While the prayer had been going on, Tennelly, with his little girl in +his arms, had slipped silently into the room and stood with bowed head +looking with anguished eyes at the wreck of the beautiful girl who was +once his wife. + +Suddenly, as if alive to subtle influences, Gila opened her great eyes +again and looked straight at Tennelly and the baby! A dart of +consciousness came into her gaze and something like a wave of anguish +passed over her face. She made a piteous, helpless movement with the +little jeweled hands that lay limply on the coverlet, and murmured one +word, with pleading in her eyes: + +"Forgive!" + +Courtland had ceased praying and the room was very still till Bonnie, +just outside the door, began to sing, softly: + + "Rock of Ages, cleft for me, + Let me hide myself in Thee! + Let the water and the blood + From Thy riven side which flowed + Be of sin the double cure, + Save me from its guilt and power!" + +Suddenly little Doris, who had been looking down, with wondering baby +solemnity on the strange scene, leaned forward and pointed to the bed. + +"Pitty mamma dawn as'eep!" she said, softly; and with a groan Tennelly +sank with her to his knees beside the bed. Courtland, kneeling a little +way off, spoke out once more: + +"Lord Jesus, the Saviour of the world, we leave her with Thy tender +mercy!" + +As if a visible sign of assent had been asked, the setting sun suddenly +dropped lower, touching into blazing glory the golden cross on the +church, and threw its reflection upon the wall at the head of the bed +just over the white face of the dead. + +The baby saw and pointed once again. "Pitty! Pitty! Papa, see!" + +The sorrowing father lifted his eyes to the golden symbol of salvation, +and Courtland, standing at the foot of the bed, said, softly: + +"I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in me, though he +were dead, yet shall he live." + + +THE END + + + + +"_The Books You Like to Read at the Price You Like to Pay_" + + +_There Are Two Sides to Everything_-- + + --including the wrapper which covers every Grosset & Dunlap + book. When you feel in the mood for a good romance, refer to + the carefully selected list of modern fiction comprising + most of the successes by prominent writers of the day which + is printed on the back of every Grosset & Dunlap book + wrapper. + + You will find more than five hundred titles to choose + from--books for every mood and every taste and every + pocket-book. + + _Don't forget the other side, but in case the wrapper is + lost, write to the publishers for a complete catalog._ + + * * * * * + + _There is a Grosset & Dunlap Book for every mood and for + every taste_ + + + + +EDGAR RICE BURROUGH'S NOVELS + + May be had wherever books are sold. Ask for Grosset & Dunlap's list. + + +TARZAN THE UNTAMED + +Tells of Tarzan's return to the life of the ape-man in his search for +vengeance on those who took from him his wife and home. + + +JUNGLE TALES OF TARZAN + +Records the many wonderful exploits by which Tarzan proves his right to +ape kingship. + + +A PRINCESS OF MARS + +Forty-three million miles from the earth--a succession of the weirdest +and most astounding adventures in fiction. John Carter, American, finds +himself on the planet Mars, battling for a beautiful woman, with the +Green Men of Mars, terrible creatures fifteen feet high, mounted on +horses like dragons. + + +THE GODS OF MARS + +Continuing John Carter's adventures on the Planet Mars, in which he does +battle against the ferocious "plant men," creatures whose mighty tails +swished their victims to instant death, and defies Issus, the terrible +Goddess of Death, whom all Mars worships and reveres. + + +THE WARLORD OF MARS + +Old acquaintances, made in the two other stories, reappear, Tars Tarkas, +Tardos Mors and others. There is a happy ending to the story in the +union of the Warlord, the title conferred upon John Carter, with Dejah +Thoris. + + +THUVIA, MAID OF MARS + +The fourth volume of the series. The story centers around the adventures +of Carthoris, the son of John Carter and Thuvia, daughter of a Martian +Emperor. + +GROSSET & DUNLAP. PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK + + + + +JAMES OLIVER CURWOOD'S STORIES OF ADVENTURE + + May be had wherever books are sold. Ask for Grosset & Dunlap's list. + + +THE RIVER'S END + +A story of the Royal Mounted Police. + + +THE GOLDEN SNARE + +Thrilling adventures in the Far Northland. + + +NOMADS OF THE NORTH + +The story of a bear-cub and a dog. + + +KAZAN + +The tale of a "quarter-strain wolf and three-quarters husky" torn +between the call of the human and his wild mate. + + +BAREE, SON OF KAZAN + +The story of the son of the blind Grey Wolf and the gallant part he +played in the lives of a man and a woman. + + +THE COURAGE OF CAPTAIN PLUM + +The story of the King of Beaver Island, a Mormon colony, and his battle +with Captain Plum. + + +THE DANGER TRAIL + +A tale of love, Indian vengeance, and a mystery of the North. + + +THE HUNTED WOMAN + +A tale of a great fight in the "valley of gold" for a woman. + + +THE FLOWER OF THE NORTH + +The story of Fort o' God, where the wild flavor of the wilderness is +blended with the courtly atmosphere of France. + + +THE GRIZZLY KING + +The story of Thor, the big grizzly. + + +ISOBEL + +A love story of the Far North. + + +THE WOLF HUNTERS + +A thrilling tale of adventure in the Canadian wilderness. + + +THE GOLD HUNTERS + +The story of adventure in the Hudson Bay wilds. + + +THE COURAGE OF MARGE O'DOONE + +Filled with exciting incidents in the land of strong men and women. + + +BACK TO GOD'S COUNTRY + +A thrilling story of the Far North. The great Photoplay was made from +this book. + +GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK + + + + +ZANE GREY'S NOVELS + + May be had wherever books are sold. Ask for Grosset & Dunlap's list. + + + THE MAN OF THE FOREST + THE DESERT OF WHEAT + THE U.P. TRAIL + WILDFIRE + THE BORDER LEGION + THE RAINBOW TRAIL + THE HERITAGE OF THE DESERT + RIDERS OF THE PURPLE SAGE + THE LIGHT OF WESTERN STARS + THE LAST OF THE PLAINSMEN + THE LONE STAR RANGER + DESERT GOLD + BETTY ZANE + + * * * * * + +LAST OF THE GREAT SCOUTS + +The life story of "Buffalo Bill" by his sister Helen Cody Wetmore, with +Foreword and conclusion by Zane Grey. + + +ZANE GREY'S BOOKS FOR BOYS + + KEN WARD IN THE JUNGLE + THE YOUNG LION HUNTER + THE YOUNG FORESTER + THE YOUNG PITCHER + THE SHORT STOP + THE RED-HEADED OUTFIELD AND OTHER BASEBALL STORIES + +GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK + + + + +PETER B. KYNE'S NOVELS + + May be had wherever books are sold. Ask for Grosset & Dunlap's list. + + +THE PRIDE OF PALOMAR + +When two strong men clash and the under-dog has Irish blood in his +veins--there's a tale that Kyne can tell! And "the girl" is also very +much in evidence. + + +KINDRED OF THE DUST + +Donald McKay, son of Hector McKay, millionaire lumber king, falls in +love with "Nan of the Sawdust Pile," a charming girl who has been +ostracized by her townsfolk. + + +THE VALLEY OF THE GIANTS + +The fight of the Cardigans, father and son, to hold the Valley of the +Giants against treachery. The reader finishes with a sense of having +lived with big men and women in a big country. + + +CAPPY RICKS + +The story of old Cappy Ricks and of Matt Peasley, the boy he tried to +break because he knew the acid test was good for his soul. + + +WEBSTER: MAN'S MAN + +In a little Jim Crow Republic in Central America, a man and a woman, +hailing from the "States," met up with a revolution and for a while +adventures and excitement came so thick and fast that their love affair +had to wait for a lull in the game. + + +CAPTAIN SCRAGGS + +This sea yarn recounts the adventures of three rapscallion sea-faring +men--a Captain Scraggs, owner of the green vegetable freighter Maggie, +Gibney the mate and McGuffney the engineer. + + +THE LONG CHANCE + +A story fresh from the heart of the West, of San Pasqual, a sun-baked +desert town, of Harley P. Hennage, the best gambler, the best and worst +man of San Pasqual and of lovely Donna. + +GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK + + + + +RUBY M. AYRES' NOVELS + + May be had wherever books are sold. Ask for Grosset & Dunlap's list. + +RICHARD CHATTERTON + +A fascinating story in which love and jealousy play strange tricks with +women's souls. + + +A BACHELOR HUSBAND + +Can a woman love two men at the same time? + +In its solving of this particular variety of triangle "A Bachelor +Husband" will particularly interest, and strangely enough, without one +shock to the most conventional minded. + + +THE SCAR + +With fine comprehension and insight the author shows a terrific contrast +between the woman whose love was of the flesh and one whose love was of +the spirit. + + +THE MARRIAGE OF BARRY WICKLOW + +Here is a man and woman who, marrying for love, yet try to build their +wedded life upon a gospel of hate for each other and yet win back to a +greater love for each other in the end. + + +THE UPHILL ROAD + +The heroine of this story was a consort of thieves. The man was fine, +clean, fresh from the West. It is a story of strength and passion. + + +WINDS OF THE WORLD + +Jill, a poor little typist, marries the great Henry Sturgess and +inherits millions, but not happiness. Then at last--but we must leave +that to Ruby M. Ayres to tell you as only she can. + + +THE SECOND HONEYMOON + +In this story the author has produced a book which no one who has loved +or hopes to love can afford to miss. The story fairly leaps from climax +to climax. + + +THE PHANTOM LOVER + +Have you not often heard of someone being in love with love rather than +the person they believed the object of their affections? That was +Esther! But she passes through the crisis into a deep and profound love. + +GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK + + + + +FLORENCE L. BARCLAY'S NOVELS + + May be had wherever books are sold. Ask for Grosset & Dunlap's list. + + +THE WHITE LADIES OF WORCESTER + +A novel of the 12th Century. The heroine, believing she had lost her +lover, enters a convent. He returns, and interesting developments +follow. + + +THE UPAS TREE + +A love story of rare charm. It deals with a successful author and his +wife. + + +THROUGH THE POSTERN GATE + +The story of a seven day courtship, in which the discrepancy in ages +vanished into insignificance before the convincing demonstration of +abiding love. + + +THE ROSARY + +The story of a young artist who is reputed to love beauty above all else +in the world, but who, when blinded through an accident, gains life's +greatest happiness. A rare story of the great passion of two real people +superbly capable of love, its sacrifices and its exceeding reward. + + +THE MISTRESS OF SHENSTONE + +The lovely young Lady Ingleby, recently widowed by the death of a +husband who never understood her, meets a fine, clean young chap who is +ignorant of her title and they fall deeply in love with each other. When +he learns her real identity a situation of singular power is developed. + + +THE BROKEN HALO + +The story of a young man whose religious belief was shattered in +childhood and restored to him by the little white lady, many years older +than himself, to whom he is passionately devoted. + + +THE FOLLOWING OF THE STAR + +The story of a young missionary, who, about to start for Africa, marries +wealthy Diana Rivers, in order to help her fulfill the conditions of her +uncle's will, and how they finally come to love each other and are +reunited after experiences that soften and purify. + +GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK + + + + +ETHEL M. DELL'S NOVELS + + May be had wherever books are sold. Ask for Grosset & Dunlap's list. + + +THE LAMP IN THE DESERT + +The scene of this splendid story is laid in India and tells of the lamp +of love that continues to shine through all sorts of tribulations to +final happiness. + + +GREATHEART + +The story of a cripple whose deformed body conceals a noble soul. + + +THE HUNDREDTH CHANCE + +A hero who worked to win even when there was only "a hundredth chance." + + +THE SWINDLER + +The story of a "bad man's" soul revealed by woman's faith. + + +THE TIDAL WAVE + +Tales of love and of women who learned to know the true from the false. + + +THE SAFETY CURTAIN + +A very vivid love story of India. The volume also contains four other +long stories of equal interest. + +GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Witness, by Grace Livingston Hill Lutz + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WITNESS *** + +***** This file should be named 16502-8.txt or 16502-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/5/0/16502/ + +Produced by Janet Kegg, Emmy and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Witness + +Author: Grace Livingston Hill Lutz + +Release Date: August 9, 2005 [EBook #16502] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WITNESS *** + + + + +Produced by Janet Kegg, Emmy and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + + + +<h1>THE</h1> +<h1>WITNESS</h1> + +<p class="center">A NOVEL</p> + +<h3>BY</h3> +<h2>GRACE LIVINGSTON HILL LUTZ</h2> + +<div class="center">AUTHOR OF<br /> +A VOICE IN THE WILDERNESS, <span class="smcap">Etc.</span></div> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="./images/emblem.png" alt="Emblem" title="Emblem" /></div> + +<div class="center">NEW YORK<br /> +<big>GROSSET & DUNLAP</big><br /> +PUBLISHERS</div> + + +<div class="center">Published by Arrangement with Harper & Brothers</div> + +<div class="center"><small>Made in the United States of America</small></div> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<div class="center"><span class="smcap">The Witness</span></div> +<hr style='width: 15%;' /> +<div class="center">Copyright, 1917, by Harper & Brothers<br /> +Printed in the United States of America</div> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<div class="center">TO MY MOTHER<br /> +<span class="smcap"><big>Marcia Macdonald Livingston</big></span></div> + +<div class="center">WHOSE HELPFUL CRITICISM AND LOVING ENCOURAGEMENT<br /> +HAVE BEEN WITH ME THROUGH THE YEARS + <a name="Page_0" id="Page_0"></a></div> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<div class="blockquot"><i>"<big>H</big>e that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in +himself."</i> + +<p>—<span class="smcap">I John</span> 5:10</p></div><p><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1"></a></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h2>Contents</h2> + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="1" 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> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XIX"><b>CHAPTER XIX</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XX"><b>CHAPTER XX</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXI"><b>CHAPTER XXI</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXII"><b>CHAPTER XXII</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIII"><b>CHAPTER XXIII</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIV"><b>CHAPTER XXIV</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXV"><b>CHAPTER XXV</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVI"><b>CHAPTER XXVI</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVII"><b>CHAPTER XXVII</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVIII"><b>CHAPTER XXVIII</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIX"><b>CHAPTER XXIX</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXX"><b>CHAPTER XXX</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXI"><b>CHAPTER XXXI</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXII"><b>CHAPTER XXXII</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXIII"><b>CHAPTER XXXIII</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXIV"><b>CHAPTER XXXIV</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXV"><b>CHAPTER XXXV</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXVI"><b>CHAPTER XXXVI</b></a></td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>THE WITNESS</h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I</h2> + + +<p>Like a sudden cloudburst the dormitory had gone into a frenzy of sound. +Doors slammed, feet trampled, hoarse voices reverberated, heavy bodies +flung themselves along the corridor, the very electrics trembled with +the cataclysm. One moment all was quiet with a contented +after-dinner-peace-before-study hours; the next it was as if all the +forces of the earth had broken forth.</p> + +<p>Paul Courtland stepped to his door and threw it back.</p> + +<p>"Come on, Court, see the fun!" called the football half-back, who was +slopping along with two dripping fire-buckets of water.</p> + +<p>"What's doing?"</p> + +<p>"Swearing-match! Going to make Little Stevie cuss! Better get in on it. +Some fight! Tennelly sent 'Whisk' for a whole basket of superannuated +cackle-berries"—he motioned back to a freshman bearing a basket of +ancient eggs—"we're going to blindfold Steve and put oysters down his +back, and then finish up with the fire-hose. Oh, the seven plagues of +Egypt aren't in it with what we're going to do; and when we get done if +Little Stevie don't let out a string of good, <a name="Page_2" id="Page_2"></a>honest cuss-words like a +man then I'll eat my hat. Little Stevie's got good stuff in him if it +can only be brought out. We're a-going to bring it out. Then we're going +to celebrate by taking him over to the theater and making him see 'The +Scarlet Woman.' It'll be a little old miracle, all right, if he has any +of his whining Puritanical ideas left in him after we get through with +him. Come on! Get on the job!"</p> + +<p>Drifting along with the surging tide of students, Courtland sauntered +down the corridor to the door at the extreme end where roomed the +victim.</p> + +<p>He rather liked Stephen Marshall. There was good stuff in him; all the +fellows recognized that. Only he was woefully unsophisticated, +abnormally innocent, frankly religious, and a little too openly white in +his life. It seemed a rebuke to the other fellows, unconscious though it +might be. He felt with the rest that the fellow needed a lesson. +Especially since the bald way in which he had dared to stand up for the +old-fashioned view of miracles in biblical-lit. class that morning. Of +course an ignorance like that wouldn't go down, and it was best he +should learn it at once and get to be a good fellow without loss of +time. A little gentle rubbing off of the "mamma's-good-little-boy" +veneering would do him good. He wasn't sure but with such a course +Marshall might even be eligible for the frat. that year. He sauntered +along with his hands in his pockets; a handsome, capable, powerful +figure; not taking any part in the preparations, but mildly interested +in the plans. His presence lent enthusiasm to the gathering. He was high +in authority. A star athlete, an A student, president of his fraternity, +having made the Phi Beta Kappa in his junior year, and now in his senior +year being chairman of the student exec. There would be no trouble with +the <a name="Page_3" id="Page_3"></a>authorities of the college if Court was along to give countenance.</p> + +<p>Courtland stood opposite the end door when it was unceremoniously thrust +open and the hilarious mob rushed in. From his position with his back +against the wall he could see Stephen lift his fine head from his book +and rise to greet them. There was surprise and a smile of welcome on his +face. Courtland thought it almost a pity to reward such open-heartedness +as they were about to do; but such things were necessary in the making +of men. He watched developments with interest.</p> + +<p>A couple of belated participants in the fray arrived breathlessly, +shedding their mackinaws as they ran, and casting them down at +Courtland's feet.</p> + +<p>"Look after those, will you, Court? We've got to get in on this," +shouted one as he thrust a noisy bit of flannel head-gear at Courtland.</p> + +<p>Courtland gave the garments a kick behind him and stood watching.</p> + +<p>There was a moment's tense silence while they told the victim what they +had come for, and while the light of welcome in Stephen Marshall's eyes +melted and changed into lightning. A dart of it went with a searching +gleam out into the hall, and seemed to recognize Courtland as he stood +idly smiling, watching the proceedings. Then the lightning was withheld +in the gray eyes, and Marshall seemed to conclude that, after all, the +affair must be a huge kind of joke, seeing Courtland was out there. +Courtland had been friendly. He must not let his temper rise. The kindly +light came into the eyes again, and for an instant Marshall almost +disarmed the boldest of them with his brilliant smile. He would be game +as far as he understood. That was plain. It was equally plain that he +did not understand yet what was expected of him. <a name="Page_4" id="Page_4"></a></p> + +<p>Pat McCluny, thick of neck, brutal of jaw, low-browed, red of face, +blunt of speech, the finest, most unmerciful tackler on the football +team, stepped up to Stephen and said a few words in a low tone. +Courtland could not hear what they were save that they ended with an +oath, the choicest of Pat McCluny's choice collection.</p> + +<p>Instantly Stephen Marshall drew himself back, and up to his great +height, lightning and thunder-clouds in his gray eyes, his powerful arms +folded, his fine head crowned with its wealth of beautiful gold hair +thrown a trifle back and up, his lips shut in a thin, firm line, his +whole attitude that of the fighter; but he did not speak. He only looked +from one to another of the wild young mob, searching for a friend; and, +finding none, he stood firm, defying them all. There was something +splendid in his bearing that sent a thrill of admiration down +Courtland's spine as he watched, his habitual half-cynical smile of +amusement still lying unconsciously about his lips, while a new respect +for the country student was being born in his heart.</p> + +<p>Pat, with a half-lowering of his bullet head, and a twisting of his ugly +jaw, came a step nearer and spoke again, a low word with a rumble like +the menace of a bull or a storm about to break.</p> + +<p>With a sudden unexpected movement Stephen's arm shot forth and struck +the fellow in the jaw, reeling him half across the room into the crowd.</p> + +<p>With a snarl like a stung animal Pat recovered himself and rushed at +Stephen, hurling himself with a stream of oaths, and calling curses down +upon himself if he did not make Stephen utter worse before he was done +with him. Pat was the "man" who was in college for football. It took the +united efforts of his classmates, his frat., and the faculty to keep his +studies <a name="Page_5" id="Page_5"></a>within decent hailing distance of eligibility for playing. He +came from a race of bullies whose culture was all in their fists.</p> + +<p>Pat went straight for the throat of his victim. His fighting blood was +up and he was mad clear down to the bone. Nobody could give him a blow +like that in the presence of others and not suffer for it. What had +started as a joke had now become real with Pat; and the frenzy of his +own madness quickly spread to those daring spirits who were about him +and who disliked Stephen for his strength of character.</p> + +<p>They clinched, and Stephen, fresh from his father's remote Western farm, +matched his mighty, untaught strength against the trained bully of a +city street.</p> + +<p>For a moment there was dead silence while the crowd in breathless +astonishment watched and held in check their own eagerness. Then the mob +spirit broke forth as some one called out:</p> + +<p>"Pray for a miracle, Stevie! Pray for a miracle! You'll need it, old +boy!"</p> + +<p>The mad spirit which had incited them to the reckless fray broke forth +anew and a medley of shouts arose.</p> + +<p>"Jump in, boys! Now's the time!"</p> + +<p>"Give him a cowardly egg or two—the kind that hits and runs!"</p> + +<p>"Teach him that we will be obeyed!"</p> + +<p>The latter came as a sort of chant, and was reiterated at intervals +through the pandemonium of sound.</p> + +<p>The fight raged on for minutes more, and still Stephen stood with his +back against the wall, fighting, gasping, struggling, but bravely facing +them all; a disheveled object with rotten eggs streaming from his face +and hair, his clothes plastered with offensive yolks. Pat had him by the +throat, but still he stood and fought as best he could. <a name="Page_6" id="Page_6"></a></p> + +<p>Some one seized the bucket of water and deluged both. Some one else +shouted, "Get the hose!" and more fellows tore off their coats and threw +them down at Courtland's feet; some one tore Pat away, and the great +fire-hose was turned upon the victim.</p> + +<p>Gasping at last, and all but unconscious, he was set upon his feet, and +harried back to life again. Over-powered by numbers, he could do +nothing, and the petty torments that were applied amid a round of +ringing laughter seemed unlimited; but still he stood, a man among them, +his lips closed, a firm set about his jaw that showed their labor was in +vain so far as making him obey their command was concerned. Not one word +had he uttered since they entered his room.</p> + +<p>"You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink," shouted +one onlooker. "Cut it out, fellows! It's no use! You can't set him +cussing. He never learned how. He could easier lead in prayer. You have +to teach him how. Better cut it out!"</p> + +<p>More tortures were applied, but still the victim was silent. The hose +had washed him clean again, and his face shone white from the drenching. +Some one suggested it was getting late and the show would begin. Some +one else suggested they must dress up Little Stevie for his first play. +There was a mad rush for garments. Any garments, no matter whose. A pair +of sporty trousers, socks of brilliant colors—not mates, an old +football shoe on one foot, a dancing-pump on the other, a white vest and +a swallow-tail put on backward, collar and tie also backward, a large +pair of white-cotton gloves commonly used by workmen for rough +work—Johnson, who earned his way in college by tending furnaces, +furnished these. Stephen bore it all, grim, unflinching, until they set +him up before his mirror and let him see himself, completing <a name="Page_7" id="Page_7"></a>the +costume by a high silk hat crammed down upon his wet curls. He looked at +the guy he was and suddenly he turned upon them and smiled, his broad, +merry smile! <i>After all that</i> he could see the joke and smile! He never +opened his lips nor spoke—just smiled.</p> + +<p>"He's a pretty good guy! He's game, all right!" murmured some one in +Courtland's ear. And then, half shamedly, they caught him high upon +their shoulders and bore him down the stairs and out the door.</p> + +<p>The theater was some distance off. They bore down upon a trolley-car and +took a wild possession. They sang their songs and yelled themselves +hoarse. People turned and watched and smiled, setting this down as one +more prank of those university fellows.</p> + +<p>They swarmed into the theater, with Stephen in their midst, and took +noisy occupancy. Opera-glasses were turned their way, and the girls +nudged one another and talked about the man in the middle with the queer +garments.</p> + +<p>The persecutions had by no means ceased because they had landed their +victim in a public place. They made him ridiculous at every breath. They +took off his hat, arranged his collar, and smoothed his hair as if he +were a baby. They wiped his nose with many a flourishing handkerchief, +and pointed out objects of interest about the theater in open derision +of his supposed ignorance, to the growing amusement of those of the +audience who were their neighbors. And when the curtain rose on the most +notoriously flagrant play the city boasted, they added to its flagrance +by their whispered explanations and remarks.</p> + +<p>Stephen, in his ridiculous garb, sat in their midst, a prisoner, and +watched the play he would not have chosen to see; watched it with a face +of growing in<a name="Page_8" id="Page_8"></a>dignation; a face so speaking in its righteous wrath that +those about who saw him turned to look again, and somehow felt condemned +for being there.</p> + +<p>Sometimes a wave of anger would sweep over the young man, and he would +turn to look about him with an impulse to suddenly break away and +attempt to defy them all. But his every movement was anticipated, and he +had the whole football team about him! There was no chance to move. He +must stay it through, much as he disliked it. He must stand it in spite +of the tumult of rage in his heart. He was not smiling now. His face had +that set, grim look of the faithful soldier taken prisoner and tortured +to give information about his army's plans. Stephen's eyes shone true, +and his lips were set firmly together.</p> + +<p>"Just one nice little cuss-word and we'll take you home," whispered a +tormentor. "A single little word will do, just to show you are a man."</p> + +<p>Stephen's face was gray with determination. His yellow hair shone like a +halo about his head. They had taken off his hat and he sat with his arms +folded fiercely across the back of "Andy" Roberts's nifty evening coat.</p> + +<p>"Just one little real cuss to show you are a <i>man</i>," sneered the +freshman.</p> + +<p>But suddenly a smothered cry arose. A breath of fear stirred through the +house. The smell of smoke swept in from a sudden open door. The actors +paused, grew white, and swerved in their places; then one by one fled +out of the scene. The audience arose and turned to panic, even as a +flame swept up and licked the very curtain while it fell.</p> + +<p>All was confusion!</p> + +<p>The football team, trained to meet emergencies, forgot their cruel play +and scattered, over seats and <a name="Page_9" id="Page_9"></a>railing, everywhere, to fire-escapes and +doorways, taking command of wild, stampeding people, showing their +training and their courage.</p> + +<p>Stephen, thus suddenly set free, glanced about him, and saw a few feet +away an open door, felt the fresh breeze of evening upon his hot +forehead, and knew the upper back fire-escape was close at hand. By some +strange whim of a panic-maddened crowd but few had discovered this exit, +high above the seats in the balcony; for all had rushed below and were +struggling in a wild, frantic mass, trampling one another underfoot in a +mad struggle to reach the doorways. The flames were sweeping over the +platform now, licking out into the very pit of the theater, and people +were terrified. Stephen saw in an instant that the upper door, being +farthest away from the center of the fire, was the place of greatest +safety. With one frantic leap he gained the aisle, strode up to the +doorway, glanced out into the night to take in the situation; cool, +calm, quiet, with the still stars overhead, down below the open iron +stairway of the fire-escape, and a darkened street with people like tiny +puppets moving on their way. Then turning back, he tore off the +grotesque coat and vest, the confining collar, and threw them from him. +He plunged down the steps of the aisle to the railing of the gallery, +and, leaning there in his shirt-sleeves and the queer striped trousers, +he put his hands like a megaphone about his lips and shouted:</p> + +<p>"Look up! Look up! There is a way to escape up here! Look up!"</p> + +<p>Some poor struggling ones heard him and looked up. A little girl was +held up by her father to the strong arms reached out from the low front +of the balcony. Stephen caught her and swung her up beside him, pointing +her up to the door, and shouting to her to go <a name="Page_10" id="Page_10"></a>quickly down the +fire-escape, even while he reached out his other hand to catch a woman, +whom willing hands below were lifting up. Men climbed upon the seats and +vaulted up when they heard the cry and saw the way of safety; and some +stayed and worked bravely beside Stephen, wrenching up the seats and +piling them for a ladder to help the women up. More just clambered up +and fled to the fire-escape, out into the night and safety.</p> + +<p>But Stephen had no thought of flight. He stayed where he was, with +aching back, cracking muscles, sweat-grimed brow, and worked, his breath +coming in quick, sharp gasps as he frantically helped man, woman, child, +one after another, like sheep huddling over a flood.</p> + +<p>Courtland was there.</p> + +<p>He had lingered a moment behind the rest in the corner of the dormitory +corridor, glancing into the disfigured room; water, egg-shells, ruin, +disorder everywhere! A little object on the floor, a picture in a cheap +oval metal frame, caught his eye. Something told him it was the picture +of Stephen Marshall's mother that he had seen upon the student's desk a +few days before, when he had sauntered in to look the new man over. +Something unexplained made him step in across the water and debris and +pick it up. It was the picture, still unscarred, but with a great streak +of rotten egg across the plain, placid features. He recalled the tone in +which the son had pointed out the picture and said, "That's my mother!" +and again he followed an impulse and wiped off the smear, setting the +picture high on the shelf, where it looked down upon the depredation +like some hallowed saint above a carnage.</p> + +<p>Then Courtland sauntered on to his room, completed his toilet, and +followed to the theater. He had not <a name="Page_11" id="Page_11"></a>wanted to get mixed up too much in +the affair. He thought the fellows were going a little too far with a +good thing, perhaps. He wanted to see it through, but still he would not +quite mix with it. He found a seat where he could watch what was going +on without being actually a part of it. If anything should come to the +ears of the faculty he wanted to be on the side of conservatism always. +That Pat McCluny was not just his sort, though he was good fun. But he +always put things on a lower level than college fellows should go. +Besides, if things went too far a word from himself would check them.</p> + +<p>Courtland was rather bored with the play, and was almost on the point of +going back to study when the cry arose and panic followed.</p> + +<p>Courtland was no coward. He tore off his handsome overcoat and rushed to +meet the emergency. On the opposite side of the gallery, high up by +another fire-escape he rendered efficient assistance to many.</p> + +<p>The fire was gaining in the pit; and still there were people down there, +swarms of them, struggling, crying, lifting piteous hands for +assistance. Still Stephen Marshall reached from the gallery and pulled +up, one after another, poor creatures, and still the helpless thronged +and cried for aid.</p> + +<p>Dizzy, blinded, his eyes filled with smoke, his muscles trembling with +the terrible strain, he stood at his post. The minutes seemed +interminable hours, and still he worked, with heart pumping painfully, +and mind that seemed to have no thought save to reach down for another +and another, and point up to safety.</p> + +<p>Then, into the midst of the confusion there arose an instant of great +and awful silence. One of those silences that come even into great sound +and claim attention from the most absorbed. <a name="Page_12" id="Page_12"></a></p> + +<p>Paul Courtland, high in his chosen station, working eagerly, +successfully, calmly, looked down to see the cause of this sudden +arresting of the universe; and there, below, was the pit full of flame, +with people struggling and disappearing into fiery depths below. Just +above the pit stood Stephen, lifting aloft a little child with +frightened eyes and long streaming curls. He swung him high and turned +to stoop again; then with his stooping came the crash; the rending, +grinding, groaning, twisting of all that held those great galleries in +place, as the fire licked hold of their supports and wrenched them out +of position.</p> + +<p>One instant Stephen was standing by that crimson-velvet railing, with +his lifted hand pointing the way to safety for the child, the flaming +fire lighting his face with glory, his hair a halo about his head, and +in the next instant, even as his hand was held out to save another, the +gallery fell, crashing into the fiery, burning furnace! And Stephen, +with his face shining like an angel's, went down and disappeared with +the rest, while the consuming fire swept up and covered them.</p> + +<p>Paul Courtland closed his eyes on the scene, and caught hold of the door +by which he stood. He did not realize that he was standing on a tiny +ledge, all that was left him of footing, high, alone, above that burning +pit where his fellow-student had gone down; nor that he had escaped as +by a miracle. There he stood and turned away his face, sick and dizzy +with the sight, blinded by the dazzling flames, shut in to that tiny +spot by a sudden wall of smoke that swept in about him. Yet in all the +danger and the horror the only thought that came was, "God! <i>That</i> was a +<i>man</i>!" <a name="Page_13" id="Page_13"></a></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II</h2> + + +<p>Paul Courtland never knew how he had been saved from that perilous +position high up on a ledge in the top of the theater, with the burning, +fiery furnace below him. Whether his senses came back sufficiently to +guide him along the narrow footing that was left, to the door of the +fire-escape, where some one rescued him, or whether a friendly hand +risked all and reached out to draw him to safety.</p> + +<p>He only knew that back there in that blank daze of suspended time, +before he grew to recognize the whiteness of the hospital walls and the +rattle of the nurse's starched skirt along the corridor, there was a +long period when he was shut in with four high walls of smoke. Smoke +that reached to heaven, roofing him away from it, and had its +foundations down in the burning fiery pit of hell where he could hear +lost souls struggling with smothered cries for help. Smoke that filled +his throat, eyes, brain, soul. Terrible, enfolding, imprisoning smoke; +thick, yellow, gray, menacing! Smoke that shut his soul away from all +the universe, as if he had been suddenly blotted out, and made him feel +how stark alone he had been born, and always would be evermore.</p> + +<p>He seemed to have lain within those slowly approaching walls of smoke a +century or two ere he became aware that he was not alone, after all. +There was a Presence there beside him. Light, and a Presence! Blinding +<a name="Page_14" id="Page_14"></a>light. He reasoned that other men, the men outside of the walls of +smoke, the firemen perhaps, and by-standers, might think that light came +from the fire down in the pit, but he knew it did not. It radiated from +the Presence beside him. And there was a Voice, calling his name. He +seemed to have heard the call years back in his life somewhere. There +was something about it, too, that made his heart leap in answer, and +brought that strange thrill he used to have as a boy in prep. school, +when his captain called him into the game, though he was only a +substitute.</p> + +<p>He could not look up, yet he could see the face of the Presence now. +What was there so strangely familiar, as if he had been looking upon +that face but a few moments before? He knew. It was that brave spirit +come back from the pit. Come, perhaps, to lead him out of this daze of +smoke and darkness. He spoke, and his own voice sounded glad and +ringing:</p> + +<p>"I know you now. You are Stephen Marshall. You were in college. You were +down there in the theater just now, saving men."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I was in college," the Voice spoke, "and I was down there just +now, saving men. But I am not Stephen Marshall. Look again."</p> + +<p>And suddenly he understood.</p> + +<p>"Then you are Stephen Marshall's Christ! The Christ he spoke of in the +class that day!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I am Stephen Marshall's Christ. He let me live in Him. I am the +Christ you sneered at and disbelieved!"</p> + +<p>He looked and his heart was stricken with shame.</p> + +<p>"I did not understand. It was against reason. But had not seen you +then."</p> + +<p>"And now?"</p> + +<p>"Now? What do you want of me?" <a name="Page_15" id="Page_15"></a></p> + +<p>"You shall be shown."</p> + +<p>The smoke ebbed low and swung away his consciousness, and even the place +grew dim about him, but the Presence was there. Always through suspended +space as he was borne along, and after, when the smoke gave way, and +air, blessed air, was wafted in, there was the Presence. If it had not +been for that he could not have borne the awfulness of nothing that +surrounded him. Always there was the Presence!</p> + +<p>There was a bandage over his eyes for days; people speaking in whispers; +and when the bandage was taken away there were the white hospital walls, +so like the walls of smoke at first in the dim light, high above him. +When he had grown to understand it was but hospital walls, he looked +around for the Presence in alarm, crying out, "Where is He?"</p> + +<p>Bill Ward and Tennelly and Pat were there, huddled in a group by the +door, hoping he might recognize them.</p> + +<p>"He's calling for Steve!" whispered Pat, and turned with a gulp while +the tears rolled down his cheeks. "He must have seen him go!"</p> + +<p>The nurse laid him down on the pillow again, replacing the bandage. When +he closed his eyes the Presence came back, blessed, sweet—and he was at +peace.</p> + +<p>The days passed; strength crept back into his body, consciousness to his +brain. The bandage was taken off once more, and he saw the nurse and +other faces. He did not look again for the Presence. He had come to +understand he could not see it with his eyes; but always it was there, +waiting, something sweet and wonderful. Waiting to show him what to do +when he was well.</p> + +<p>The memorial services had been held for Stephen<a name="Page_16" id="Page_16"></a> Marshall many days, the +university had been draped in black, with its flag at half-mast, the +proper time, and its mourning folded away, ere Paul Courtland was able +to return to his room and his classes.</p> + +<p>They welcomed him back with touching eagerness. They tried to hush their +voices and temper their noisiness to suit an invalid. They told him all +their news, what games had been won, who had made Phi Beta Kappa, and +what had happened at the frat. meetings. But they spoke not at all of +Stephen!</p> + +<p>Down the hall Stephen's door stood always open, and Courtland, walking +that way one day, found fresh flowers upon his desk and wreathed around +his mother's picture. A quaint little photograph of Stephen taken +several years back hung on one wall. It had been sent at the class's +request by Stephen's mother to honor her son's chosen college.</p> + +<p>The room was set in order, Stephen's books were on the shelves, his few +college treasures tacked up about the walls; and conspicuous between the +windows hung framed the resolutions concerning Stephen the hero-martyr +of the class, telling briefly how he had died, and giving him this +tribute, "He was a man!"</p> + +<p>Below the resolutions, on the little table covered with an old-fashioned +crocheted cotton table-cover, lay Stephen's Bible, worn, marked, soft +with use. His mother had wished it to remain. Only his clothes had been +sent back to her who had sent him forth to prepare for his life-work, +and received word in her distant home that his life-work had been +already swiftly accomplished.</p> + +<p>Courtland entered the room and looked around.</p> + +<p>There were no traces of the fray that had marred the place when last he +saw it. Everything was clean and fine and orderly. The simple saint-like +face of the <a name="Page_17" id="Page_17"></a>plain farmer's-wife-mother looked down upon it all with +peace and resignation. This life was not all. There was another. Her +eyes said that. Paul Courtland stood a long time gazing into them.</p> + +<p>Then he closed the door and knelt by the little table, laying his +forehead reverently upon the Bible.</p> + +<p>Since he had returned to college and things of life had become more +real, Reason had returned to her throne and was crying out against his +"fancies." What was that experience in the hospital but the phantasy of +a sick brain? What was the Presence but a fevered imagination? He had +been growing ashamed of dwelling upon the thought, ashamed of liking to +feel that the Presence was near when he was falling asleep at night. +Most of all he had felt a shame and a land of perplexity in the +biblical-literature class where he faced "FACTS" as the professor called +them, spoken in capitals. <span class="smcap">Science</span> was another force which +mocked his fancies. <span class="smcap">Philosophy</span> cooled his mind and wakened him +from his dreams. In this atmosphere he was beginning to think that he +had been delirious, and was gradually returning to his normal state, +albeit with a restless dissatisfaction he had never known before.</p> + +<p>But now in this calm, rose-decked room, with the quiet eyes of the +simple mother looking down upon him, the resolutions in their +chaplet-of-palm framing, the age-old Bible thumbed and beloved, he knew +he had been wrong. He knew he would never be the same. That Presence, +Whoever, Whatever it was, had entered into his life. He could never +forget it; never be convinced that it was not; never be entirely +satisfied without it! He believed it was the Christ! Stephen Marshall's +Christ!</p> + +<p>By and by he lifted up his head and opened the little worn Bible, +reverently, curiously, just to touch it and <a name="Page_18" id="Page_18"></a>think how the other boy had +done. The soft, much-turned leaves fell open of themselves to a heavily +marked verse. There were many marked verses all through the book.</p> + +<p>Courtland's eyes followed the words:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in +himself.</p></div> + +<p>Could it be that this strange new sense of the Presence was "the +witness" here mentioned? He knew it like his sense of rhythm, or the +look of his mother's face, or the joy of a summer morning. It was not +anything he could analyze. One might argue that there was no such thing, +science might prove there was not, but he <i>knew</i> it, had <i>seen</i> it, +<i>felt</i> it! He had the witness in himself. Was that what it meant?</p> + +<p>With troubled brow he turned over the leaves again:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, +whether it be of God.</p></div> + +<p>Ah! There was an offer, why not close with it?</p> + +<p>He dropped his head on the open book with the old words of +self-surrender:</p> + +<p>"Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?"</p> + +<p>A moment later Pat McCluny opened the door, cautiously, quietly; then, +with a nod to Tennelly back of him, he entered with confidence.</p> + +<p>Courtland rose. His face was white, but there was a light of something +in his eyes they did not understand.</p> + +<p>They went over to him as if he had been a child who had been lost and +was found on some perilous height and needing to be coaxed gently away +from it.</p> + +<p>"Oh, so you're here, Court," said Tennelly, slapping his shoulder with +gentle roughness, "Great little old <a name="Page_19" id="Page_19"></a>room, isn't it? The fellows' idea +to keep flowers here. Kind of a continual memorial."</p> + +<p>"Great fellow, that Steve!" said Pat, hoarsely. He could not yet speak +lightly of the hero-martyr whom he had helped to send to his fiery +grave.</p> + +<p>But Courtland stood calmly, almost as if he had not heard them. "Pat, +Nelly," he said, turning from one to the other gravely, "I want to tell +you fellows that I have met Steve's Christ and after this I stand for +Him!"</p> + +<p>They looked at him curiously, pityingly. They spoke with soothing words +and humored him. They led him away to his room and left him to rest. +Then they walked with solemn faces and dejected air into Bill Ward's +room and threw themselves down upon his couch.</p> + +<p>"Where's Court?" Bill looked up from the theme he was writing.</p> + +<p>"We found him in Steve's room," said Tennelly, gloomily, and shook his +head.</p> + +<p>"It's a deuced shame!" burst forth Pat. (He had cut out swearing for a +time.) "He's batty in the bean!"</p> + +<p>Tennelly answered the shocked question in the eyes of Bill with a nod. +"Yes, the brightest fellow in the class, but he sure is batty in the +bean! You ought to have heard him talk. Say! I don't believe it was all +the fire. Court's been studying too hard. He's been an awful shark for a +fellow that went in for athletics and everything else. He's studied too +hard and it's gone to his head!"</p> + +<p>Tennelly sat gloomily staring across the room. It was the old cry of the +man who cannot understand.</p> + +<p>"He needs a little change," said Bill, putting his feet up on the table +comfortably and lighting a cigarette. "Pity the frat. dance is over. He +needs to get <a name="Page_20" id="Page_20"></a>him a girl. Be a great stunt if he'd fall for some jolly +girl. Say! I'll tell you what. I'll get Gila after him."</p> + +<p>"Who's Gila?" asked Tennelly, gloomily. "He won't notice her any more +than a fly on the wall. You know how he is about girls."</p> + +<p>"Gila's my cousin. Gila Dare. She's a good sport, and she's a winner +every time. We'll put Gila on the job. I've got a date with her +to-morrow night and I'll put her wise. She'll just enjoy that kind of +thing. He's met her, too, over at the Navy game. Leave it to Gila."</p> + +<p>"What style is she?" asked Tennelly, still skeptical.</p> + +<p>"Oh, tiny and stylish and striking, with big eyes. A perfect little +peach of an actress."</p> + +<p>"Court's too keen for acting. He'll see through her in half a second. +She can't put one over on Court."</p> + +<p>"She won't try," said the ardent cousin. "She'll just be as innocent. +They'll be chums in half an hour, or it'll be the first failure for +Gila."</p> + +<p>"Well, if any girl can put one over on Court, I'll eat my hat; but it's +worth trying, for if Court keeps on like this we'll all be buying +prayer-books and singing psalms before another semester."</p> + +<p>"You'll eat your hat, all right," said Bill Ward, rising in his wrath. +"Nelly, my infant, I tell you Gila never fails. If she gets on the job +Court'll be dead in love with her before the midwinter exams.!"</p> + +<p>"I'll believe it when I see it," said Tennelly, rising.</p> + +<p>"All right," said Bill. "Remember you're in for a banquet during +vacation. Fricaseed hat the <i>pièce de resistance</i>!" <a name="Page_21" id="Page_21"></a></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III</h2> + + +<p>It was a sumptuous library in which Gila Dare awaited the coming of Paul +Courtland.</p> + +<p>Great, deep, red-leather chairs stood everywhere invitingly, the floor +was spread with a magnificent specimen of Royal Bokhara, the rich +recesses of the noble walls were lined with books in rare editions, a +heavily carved table of dull black wood from some foreign land sprawled +in the center of the room and held a great bronze lamp of curious +pattern, bearing a ruby light. Ornate bronzes lurked on pedestals in +shadows, unexpectedly, and caught the eye alarmingly, like grim ones set +to watch. A throbbing fire like the heart of a lit ruby burned in a +massive fireplace of grotesque tiles, as though it were the opening into +great depths of unquenchable fire to which this room might be but an +approach.</p> + +<p>Gila herself, slight, dark-eyed, with pearl-white skin and dusky hair, +was dressed in crimson velvet, soft and clinging like chiffon, catching +the light and shimmering it with strange effect. The dark hair was +curiously arranged, and stabbed just above her ears with two dagger-like +combs flashing with jewels. A single jewel burned at her throat on an +invisible chain, and jewels flashed from the little pointed +crimson-satin slippers, setting off the slim ankles in their +crimson-silk covering. The whole effect was startling. One wondered why +she had chosen so elaborate a costume to waste upon a single college +student. <a name="Page_22" id="Page_22"></a></p> + +<p>She stood with one dainty foot poised on the brass trappings of the +hearth. In her short skirts she seemed almost a child; so sweet the +droop of the pretty lips; so innocent the dark eyes as they looked into +the fire; so soft the shadows that played in the dark hair! And yet, as +she turned to listen for a step in the hall, there was something +gleaming, sinister, in those dark eyes, something mocking in the red +lips. She might have been a daughter of Satan as she stood, the +firelight picking out those jeweled horns and slippers.</p> + +<p>"Leave him to me," she had said to her cousin when he told her how the +brilliant young athlete and intellectual star of the university had been +stung by the religious bug. "Send him to me. I'll take it out of him and +he'll never know it's gone."</p> + +<p>Paul Courtland entered, unsuspecting. He had met Gila a number of times +before, at college dances and the games. He was not exactly flattered, +but decidedly pleased that she had sent for him. Her brightness and +seeming innocence had attracted him strongly.</p> + +<p>The contrast from the hall with its blaze of electrics to the lurid +light of the library affected him strangely. He paused on the threshold +and passed his hand over his eyes. Gila stood where the ruby light of +hearth and lamp would set her vivid dress on fire and light the jewels +at her throat and hair. She knew her clear skin, dark hair, and eyes +would bear the startling contrast, and how her white shoulders gleamed +from the crimson velvet. She knew how to arrange the flaming scarf of +gauze deftly about those white shoulders so that it would reveal more +than it concealed.</p> + +<p>The young man lingered unaccountably. He had a sense of leaving +something behind him. Almost he hesitated as she came forward to greet +him, and looked back as if to rid himself of some obligation. Then she +<a name="Page_23" id="Page_23"></a>put her bits of confiding hands out to him and smiled that wistful, +engaging smile that would have been worth a fortune on the screen.</p> + +<p>He thrilled with wonder over her delicate, dazzling beauty; and felt the +luxury of the room about him, responding to its lure.</p> + +<p>"So dandy of you to come to me when you are so busy after your long +illness." Her voice was soft and confiding, its cadences like soothing +music. She motioned him to a chair. "You see, I wanted to have you all +to myself for a little while, just to tell you how perfectly fine you +were at that awful fire."</p> + +<p>She dropped upon the couch drawn out at just the right angle from the +fire and settled among the cushions gracefully. The flicker of the +firelight played upon the jeweled combs and gleamed at her throat. The +little pointed slippers cozily crossed looked innocent enough to have +been meant for the golden street. Her eyes looked up into his with that +confiding lure that thrills and thrills again.</p> + +<p>Her voice dropped softer, and she turned half away and gazed pensively +into the fire on the hearth. "I wouldn't let them talk to me about it. +It seemed so awful. And you were so strong and great."</p> + +<p>"It was nothing!" He did not want to talk about the fire. There was +something incongruous, almost unholy, in having it discussed here. It +jangled on his nerves. For there in front of him in the fireplace burned +a mimic pit like the one into which the martyr Steve had fallen; and +there before him on the couch sat the girl! What was there so familiar +about her? Ah! now he knew. The Scarlet Woman! Her gown was an exact +reproduction of the one the great actress had worn on the stage that +night. He was conscious of wishing to sit beside her on that couch and +revel in <a name="Page_24" id="Page_24"></a>the ravishing color of her. What was there about this room +that made all his pulses beat?</p> + +<p>Playfully, skilfully, she led him on. They talked of the dances and +games, little gossip of the university, with now and then a telling +personality, and a sweep of long lashes over pearly cheeks, or a lifting +of great, innocent eyes of admiration to his face.</p> + +<p>She offered wine in delicate gold-incrusted ruby glasses, but Courtland +did not drink. He scarcely noticed her veiled annoyance at his refusal. +He was drinking in the wine of her presence. She suggested that he +smoke, and would not have hesitated to join him, perhaps, but he told +her he was in training, and she cooed softly of his wonderful strength +of character in resisting.</p> + +<p>By this time he was in the coveted seat beside her on the couch, and the +fire burned low and red. They had ceased to talk of games and dances. +They were talking of each other, those intimate nothings that mean a +breaking down of distance and a rapidly growing familiarity.</p> + +<p>The young man was aware of the fascination of the small figure in her +crimson robings, sitting so demurely in the firelight, the gauzy scarf +dropped away from her white neck and shoulders, the lovely curve of her +baby cheek and tempting neck showing against the background of the +shadows behind her. He was aware of a distinct longing to take her in +his arms and crush her to him, as he would pluck a red berry from a +bank, and feel its stain upon his lips. Stain! A stain was a thing that +was hard to remove. There were blood-stains sometimes and agonies; and +yet men wanted to pluck the berries and feel the stain upon their lips!</p> + +<p>He was not under the hallucination that he was sud<a name="Page_25" id="Page_25"></a>denly falling in love +with this girl. He did not name the passionate outcry in his soul love. +He knew she had been a charmer of many, and in yielding himself to her +recognized power he was for the moment playing with a force that was new +and interesting, with which he had felt altogether strong enough to +contend for an evening or he would not have come. That it should thrill +along all his senses with this unreasoning rapture was most astonishing. +He had never been a fellow to "fall" for every girl he met, and now he +felt himself gradually yielding to the beautiful spell about him with a +kind of wonder.</p> + +<p>The lights and coloring of the room that had smote his senses +unpleasantly when he first entered had thrown him now into a kind of +delicious fever. The neglected wine sparkling dimly in the costly +glasses seemed a part of it. He felt an impulse to reach out, seize a +glass, and drain it. What if he should? What if he flung away his ideas +and principles and let the moment sway him as it would, just for once? +Why should he not try life as it presented itself?</p> + +<p>These fancies fled through his brain like phantoms that did not dare to +linger. His was no callow mind, ignorant of the world. He had thought +and read and lived his ideas well for so young a man. He had vigorously +protested against weakness of every kind; yet here he was feeling the +drawing power of things he had always despised; reveling in the wine-red +color of the room, in the pit-like glow of the fire; watching the play +of smiles and wistfulness on the lovely face of the girl. He had often +wondered what others saw so attractive in her beyond a pretty face. But +now he understood. Her child-like speech and pretty little ways +fascinated him. Perhaps she was really innocent of her own charms. +Perhaps a man might lead her to <a name="Page_26" id="Page_26"></a>give up certain of her ways that caused +her to be criticized. What a woman she would be then! What a friend to +have!</p> + +<p>This was the last sop he threw to his conscience before he consciously +began to yield to the spell that was upon him.</p> + +<p>She had been speaking of palmistry, and she took his hand in hers, +innocently, impersonally, with large eyes lifted inquiringly. Her breath +was on his face; her touch had stirred his senses with a madness he had +never felt nor measured in himself before.</p> + +<p>"The life-line is here," she said, coolly, and traced it delicately +along his palm with a sea-shell tinted finger. Like cool delicious fire +it spread from nerve to nerve and set aside his reason in a frenzy. He +would seize the berry and feel its stain upon his lips now no matter +what!—</p> + +<p>"Paul!"</p> + +<p>It was as distinct upon his ear as if the words had been spoken; as +startling and calming as a cool hand upon his fevered brow; the sudden +entrance of a guest. He had seized her hands with sudden fervor, and +now, almost in the same moment, flung them from him and stood up, a man +in full possession of his senses. "Hark!" he said, and as he spoke a cry +broke faintly forth above them, and there was sound of rushing feet. A +frightened maid burst into the room unannounced.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Miss Gila, I beg yer pardon, but Master Harry's got his father's +razor, an' he's cut hisself something awful."</p> + +<p>The maid was weeping and wringing her hands helplessly, but Gila stood +frowning angrily. Courtland sprang up the stairs. In the tumult of his +mind he would have rejoiced if the house had been on fire, or a cyclone +had struck the place—anything so he could <a name="Page_27" id="Page_27"></a>fling himself into service. +He drew in long, deep breaths. It was like mountain air to get away from +that lurid room into the light once more. A sense of lost power +returned, was over him. The spell was broken.</p> + +<p>He bent over the little boy alertly, grasped the wrist, and stopped the +spurt of blood. The frightened child looked up into his face and stopped +crying.</p> + +<p>"You should have telephoned for the doctor at once and not made all this +fuss in the presence of a guest," scolded Gila as she came up the +stairs. She looked garish and out of place with her red velvet and +jewels in the brilliant light of the white-tiled bathroom. She stood +helplessly by the door, making no move to help Courtland. The maid was +at the telephone, frantically calling for the family physician.</p> + +<p>"Hand me those towels," commanded Courtland, and saw the look of disgust +upon Gila's face as she reluctantly picked her way across the +blood-stains. It struck him that they were the color of her frock. The +stain of the crushed berry. He moistened his dry lips. At least the +stain was not upon his lips. He had escaped. Yet by how narrow a margin.</p> + +<p>The girl felt the man's changed attitude without in the least +understanding it. She thought it had been the cry of the child that made +him jump up and fling her hands from him with that sudden "Hark!" in the +moment when he had almost yielded. She did not know that an inner voice +had called him. She only knew that she had lost him for the time, and +her vanity was still panting like a wild thing that has lost its prey.</p> + +<p>He gathered the little boy into his arms when he had bound up the cut, +and talked to him cheerfully. The child's curly head rested trustfully +against the big shoulder.</p> + +<p>"Floor all bluggy!" he remarked, languidly. "Wall <a name="Page_28" id="Page_28"></a>all bluggy!" Then his +eyes fell on his sister in her scarlet frock. "Gila all bluggy, too!" he +laughed, and pointed with his well hand.</p> + +<p>"Be still, Harry!" said Gila, sharply, and when Courtland looked up in +wonder he saw the delicate brows drawn blackly, and the mouth had lost +its innocent sweetness. The child shrank in his arms, and he put a +reassuring hand upon the little head that snuggled comfortedly against +his coat. It was one of Courtland's strong points, this love of little +children. He grew fine and gentle in their presence. It often drew +attention on the athletic field when some little fellow strayed his way +and Courtland would turn to talk to the child. People would stop their +conversation and look his way; and a whole grand stand would come to +silence just to see him walk across the diamond with a little +golden-haired kid upon his shoulder. There was something inexpressibly +beautiful about his attitude toward a child.</p> + +<p>Gila saw it now and wondered. What unexpected trait was this that sat +upon the young man like a crown? Here, indeed, was a man who was worth +cultivating, not merely for the caprice of the moment. There was +something in his face and attitude now that commanded her respect and +admiration; something that drew her as she had not been drawn before. +She would win him now for his own sake, not just to show how she could +charm away his morbid fancies.</p> + +<p>She continued to stare at the young man with eyes that saw new things in +him, while Courtland sat petting the child and telling him a story. He +paid no further attention to her.</p> + +<p>When Gila set her heart upon a thing she had always had it. This had +been her father's method of bringing her up. Her mother was too busy +with her clubs and <a name="Page_29" id="Page_29"></a>her social functions to see the harm. And now Gila +suddenly became aware that she was setting her heart upon this young +man. The eternal feminine in her that was almost choked with selfishness +was crying out for a man like this one to comfort and pet her the way he +was comforting and petting her little brother. That he had not yielded +too easily to her charms made him all the more desirable. The +interruption had come so suddenly that she couldn't even be sure he had +been about to take her hands in his when he flung them from him. He had +sprung from the couch almost as if he had been under orders. She could +not understand it, only she knew she was drawn by it all.</p> + +<p>But he should yield! She had power and she would use it. She had beauty +and it should wound him. She would win that gentle deference and +attention for her own. In her jealous, spoiled, little heart she hated +the little brother for lying there in his arms so, interrupting their +evening just when she had him where she had wanted him. Whether she +wanted him for more than a plaything she did not know, but her plaything +he should be as long as she desired him—and more also if she chose.</p> + +<p>When Courtland lifted his head at the sound of the doctor's footsteps on +the stairs he saw the challenge in Gila's eyes. Drawn up against the +white enamel of the bathroom door, all her brilliant velvet and jewels +gleaming in the brightness of the room, her regal little head up, her +chin lifted half haughtily, her innocent mouth pursed softly with +determination, her eyes wide with an inscrutable look—something more +than challenge—something soft, appealing, alluring, that stirred him +and drew him and repelled him all in one.</p> + +<p>With a sense of something stronger than he was back of him, he lifted +his own chin and hardened his eyes in <a name="Page_30" id="Page_30"></a>answering challenge. He did not +know it, of course, but he wore the look that he always had when about +to meet a foe in a game—a look of strength and concealed power that +nearly always made the coming foe quake when he saw it.</p> + +<p>He shrank from going back to that red room again, or from being alone +with her; and when she would have had him return to the library he +declined, urging studies and an examination on the morrow. She received +his somewhat brusque reply with a hurt look, her mouth drooped +grievedly, and her eyes took on a wide, child-like look of distress that +gave an impression of innocence. He went away wondering if, after all, +he had not misjudged her. Perhaps she was only an adorable child who had +no idea of the effect her artlessness had upon men. She certainly was +lovely—wonderful! And yet the last glimpse he had of her had left that +impression of jeweled horns and scarlet, pointed toes. He had to get +away and think it out calmly before he went again. Oh yes, he was going +<i>again</i>. He had promised her at the last moment.</p> + +<p>The sense of having escaped something fateful was passing already. The +coolness of the night and the quiet of the starlight had calmed him. He +thought he had been a fool not to have stayed a little longer when she +asked him so prettily; and he must go soon again. <a name="Page_31" id="Page_31"></a></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV</h2> + + +<p>"I think I'll go to church this morning, Nelly. Do you want to go +along?" announced Courtland, the next morning.</p> + +<p>Tennelly looked up aghast from the sporting page of the morning paper he +was lazily reading.</p> + +<p>"Go with him, Nelly, that's a good boy!" put in Bill Ward, agreeably, +winking his off eye at Tennelly. "It'll do you good. I'd go with you, +only I've got to get that condition made up or they'll fire me off the +'varsity, and I only need this one more game to get my letter."</p> + +<p>"Go to thunder!" growled Tennelly. "What do you think I want to go to +church for a morning like this? Court, you're crazy! Let's go and get +two saddle-horses and ride in the park. It's a peach of a morning for a +ride."</p> + +<p>"I think I'll go to church," said Courtland, with his old voice of quiet +decision. "Do you want to go or not?"</p> + +<p>There was something about Courtland's voice, and the way Bill Ward kept +up winking his off eye, that subdued Tennelly.</p> + +<p>"Sure, I'll go," he growled, reluctantly.</p> + +<p>"You old crab, you," chirped Bill, cheerfully, when Courtland had gone +out. "Can't you see you've got to humor him? He needs homeopathic +treatment. 'Like cures like.' Give him a good dose of religion and he'll +<a name="Page_32" id="Page_32"></a>get good and tired of it. Church won't hurt him any, just give him a +good, pious feeling so he'll feel free to do as he pleases during the +week. I had a 'phone from Gila this morning. She says he's made another +date with her after exams. He fell, all right, so go get your little lid +and toddle off to Sunday-school. Try to toll him into a big, stylish +church. They're safest; but 'most any of 'em are cold enough to freeze +the eye-teeth out of a stranger as far as my experience goes."</p> + +<p>"Well, this isn't my funeral," sulked Tennelly, going to his closet for +suitable raiment. "I s'pose you get your way, but Court's keen +intellectually, and if he happens to strike a good preacher he's liable +to fall for what he says, in the mood he's in now."</p> + +<p>"Well, he won't strike a good preacher. There isn't one nowadays. There +are orators in the pulpit, plenty of them, but they're all preaching +about politics these days, or raving about uplifting the masses, and +that sorta thing won't hurt Court. Most of 'em are dry as punk. If Court +keeps awake through the service he won't go again, mark my words."</p> + +<p>They chose a church at random, these two who had decided to go up to the +house of God. High-arched and Gothic were its massive walls, with intricate +carving like lace in the stonework. Softly swung leather doors shut the +sanctuary from the outer world. The fretted gold-and-blue-and-scarlet +ceiling stretched away miles, as it were, in the space above them, and +rich carvings in dark, costly wood met the wonderful frescoes at lofty +heights. The carpets were soft, and the pews were upholstered in tones +to match. A great silence brooded over the place, making itself felt +above and beneath the swelling tones of the wonderful organ. People trod +the aisles softly, like puppets playing each his part. They bent in form +of prayer for a moment <a name="Page_33" id="Page_33"></a>and settled into silence. The minister came +stiffly into the pulpit, casting a furtive eye about his congregation.</p> + +<p>They noticed almost at once that the most unpopular professor in the +university was acting as usher on the other side of the church. Tennelly +frowned and looked at Courtland, who sat watching the aforesaid usher as +he showed people to their seats, wondering if that man had a thing he +called religion, and if he was in any way related to Stephen Marshall's +Christ. This was a voyage of discovery for Courtland, this visit to a +Christian church. He had scarcely been to religious services since he +entered the university. He had considered them a waste of time. Now he +had come to see if there was really anything in them. It did not occur +to him that they had a real connection with those verses he had read in +the Bible about "doing the will," or that the going or staying away from +them was in any wise obligatory upon one who had allied himself with +Christ. The church stood to him as to many other young pagans such as he +was, for a man-made institution, to be attended or not as one chose.</p> + +<p>The music was not uplifting. It was well done by a paid choir, who had +good voices and sang wonderful music, but they had no heart in their +singing. The congregation attempted no more than a murmur of the hymns. +There was not a large congregation.</p> + +<p>The sermon was a dissertation on the Book of Jonah, a sort of résumé of +all the argument, on both sides, that has torn the theological world in +these latter days. Not a word of Stephen Marshall's Christ, save a sort +of side reference to a verse about Jonah being three days and three +nights in the whale, and the Son of Man being three days in the heart of +the earth. Courtland wasn't even sure that this reference meant the +Christ, <a name="Page_34" id="Page_34"></a>and it never entered his head that it touched at the heart of +the great doctrine of the resurrection of the dead. As far as he could +understand the reverend gentleman the arguments he quoted against the +Book of Jonah were far stronger and more plausible than those put forth +in its defense. What was it all about, anyway? What did it matter +whether Jonah was or was not, or whether anybody accepted the book? How +could a thing like that affect the life of a man?</p> + +<p>Tennelly watched the expressive face beside him and decided that perhaps +Bill Ward had been half right, after all.</p> + +<p>On their way back to the university they met Gila Dare. Gila all in gray +like a dove, gray suit of soft, rich cloth, gray furs of the depth and +richness of smoke, gray suède boots laced high to meet her brief gray +skirts, silver hat with a single velvet rose on the brim to match the +soft rose-bloom on her cheeks. Gila with eyes as wide and innocent as a +baby's, cupid mouth curved sweetly in a gracious, shy smile, and dainty +little prayer-book done in gray suède held devoutly in her little gloved +hand.</p> + +<p>"Who's that?" growled Tennelly, admiringly, when they had passed a +suitable distance.</p> + +<p>"Why, that's Bill Ward's cousin, Gila Dare," announced Courtland, +graciously. He was still basking in the pleasure of her smile, and +thinking how different she looked from last evening in this soft, gray, +silvery effect. Yes, he had misjudged her. A girl who could look like +that must be sweet and pure and unspoiled. It had been that unfortunate +dress last night that had reminded him unpleasantly of the scarlet woman +and the awful night of the fire. If he ever got well enough acquainted +he would ask her never to wear red again; it made her appear sensual; +and even she, delicate <a name="Page_35" id="Page_35"></a>and sweet as she was, could not afford to cast a +thought like that into the minds of her beholders. It was then he began +to idealize Gila.</p> + +<p>"Gila Dare!" Tennelly straightened up and took notice. So that was the +invincible Gila! That little soft-eyed exquisite thing with the hair +like a midnight cloud.</p> + +<p>"Some looker!" he commented, approvingly, and wished he were in +Courtland's shoes.</p> + +<p>"She's got in her work all right," he commented to himself. "Old Court's +fallen already. Guess I'll have to buy a straw hat, it'll be more +edible."</p> + +<p>Courtland was like his gay old self when he got back to the dormitory. +He joked a great deal. His eyes were bright and his color better than it +had been since he was sick. He said nothing about the morning service, +and by and by Bill Ward ventured a question: "What kind of a harangue +did you hear this morning?"</p> + +<p>"Rotten!" he answered, promptly, and turned away. Somehow that question +recalled him to the uneasiness within his soul for which he had sought +solace in the church service. He became silent again, and, strolling +away into Stephen's room and closing the door, sat down.</p> + +<p>There was something strange about that room. The Presence seemed always +to be there. It hadn't made itself felt in the church at all, as he had +half hoped it would. He had taken Tennelly with him because he wanted +something tangible, friendly, sane, from the world he knew, to give him +ballast. If the Presence had been in the church, with Tennelly by his +side, he would have been sure it was not wholly a hallucination +connected with his memory of Stephen.</p> + +<p>It was strange, for now that he sat there in that <a name="Page_36" id="Page_36"></a>quiet room that had +once witnessed the trying out of a manly soul, and saw the calm eyes of +the plain mother on the wall opposite, and the true eyes of the dowdy +school-boy on the other wall, he was feeling the Presence again!</p> + +<p>Why hadn't he felt its power in the church? Was it because of the +presence of such people in the temple as that little mean-souled +professor, whom everybody knew to be insincere from the crown of his +head to the soles of his sly little feet? Was it because the people were +cold and careless and didn't sing even with their lips, let alone their +hearts, but hired it all done for them?</p> + +<p>And then there had been that call of his name when he was with Gila +Dare, as clear and distinct, like a friend he had left outside who had +grown tired of waiting, and worried about him. Why hadn't the sense of +the Presence gone with him into the room? Would a Presence like that be +afraid of hostile influences? No. If it was real and a Presence at all +it would be more powerful than any other influence in the universe. Then +why?</p> + +<p>Could it be that he had gone deliberately into an influence that would +make it impossible for the Presence to guide?</p> + +<p>Or was it possible that his own attitude toward that girl had been at +fault? He had gone to see her regarding her somewhat lightly. As a +gentleman he should regard no woman with disrespect. Her womanhood +should be honored by him even if she chose to dishonor it herself. If he +had gone to see Gila with a different attitude toward her, expecting +high, fine things of her, rather than merely to be amused by one whom he +scarcely regarded seriously, perhaps all this strange mental phenomena +would not have come to pass. <a name="Page_37" id="Page_37"></a></p> + +<p>Finally he locked the door and knelt down with his head upon the worn +Bible. He had no idea of praying. Prayer meant to him but a repetition +of a form of words. There had been prayers in his childhood, brought +about by the maiden aunt who kept house for his father after his +mother's death, and assisted in bringing him up until he was old enough +to go away to boarding-school. They were a good deal of a bore, coming +as they did when he was sleepy. There was a long, vague one beginning, +"Our Father which art," in which he always had to be prompted. There +was, "Now I lay me," and "Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, bless the bed I +lie upon; Wish I may, wish I might, get the wish I wish to-night!" Or +<i>was</i> that a prayer? He never could remember as he grew older.</p> + +<p>He did not know why he was drawn to kneel there with his eyes closed and +his cheek upon that Bible. Strange that when he was in that room all +doubt about the Presence vanished, all uneasiness about reconciling it +with realities, laws, and science fled away.</p> + +<p>Later he stood in his own room by the window, watching the great red sun +go down in the west and light a ruby fire behind the long line of tall +buildings that stretched beyond the campus. The glow in no wise +resembled, but yet reminded him, of the fire in the glowing grate of the +Dare library. Why had that room affected him so strangely? And Gila, +little Gila, how sweet and innocent she had looked when they met her +that morning with her prayer-book. How wrong he must have been to take +the idle talk that people chattered about her and let it influence his +thoughts of her. She could not be all that they said, and yet look so +sweet and innocent. What had she reminded him of in literature? Ah! he +had it. Solveig in <i>Peer Gynt</i>! <a name="Page_38" id="Page_38"></a></p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 3.5em;">How fair! Did ever you see the like?</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">Looked down at her shoes and her snow-white apron!—</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">And then she held on to her mother's skirt-folds,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">And carried a psalm-book wrapped up in a 'kerchief!—</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>That ample purple person by her side, with the dark eyes, the double +chin, and the hard lines in her painted face, must be Gila's mother! +Perhaps people talked about the daughter because of her mother, for +<i>she</i> looked it fully! But then a girl couldn't help having a foolish +mother! She was to be pitied more than blamed if she seemed silly and +frivolous now and then.</p> + +<p>What a thing for a man to do, to teach her to trust him, and then guide +her and help her and uplift her till she had the highest standards +formed! She was so young and tiny, and so sweet at times! Yes, she was, +she must be, like Solveig.</p> + +<p>If a man with a good moral character, a tolerably decent reputation for +good taste and respectability, no fool at his studies, no stain on his +name, should go with her, help her, get her to give up certain daring +things she had the name of doing—if such a fellow should give her the +protection of his friendship and let the world see that he considered +her respectable—wouldn't it help a lot? Wouldn't it stop people's +mouths and make them see that Gila wasn't what they had been saying, +after all?</p> + +<p>It came to him that this would be a very pleasant mission, for his +leisure hours during the rest of that winter. All thought of any danger +to himself through such intercourse as he was suggesting to his thoughts +had departed from his mind.</p> + +<p>Half a mile away Gila was pouring tea for two extremely ardent youths +who scarcely occupied half of <a name="Page_39" id="Page_39"></a>her mind. With the other half she was +planning a little note which should bring Courtland to her side early in +the week. She had no thoughts of God. She was never troubled with much +pondering. She knew exactly what she wanted without thinking any further +about it, and she meant to have it. <a name="Page_40" id="Page_40"></a></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V</h2> + + +<p>It was a great source of question with Courtland afterward, just why it +should have been he that happened to carry that telegram over to the +West Dormitory to Wittemore, instead of any one of a dozen other fellows +who were in the office when it arrived and might just as well have gone. +Did anything in this world <i>happen</i>, he wondered?</p> + +<p>He could not tell why he had held out his hand and offered to take the +message.</p> + +<p>It was not because he was not trying hard, and studying for all he was +worth, that "Witless Abner," as Wittemore had come to be called, had won +his nickname. He worked night and day, plunged in a maze of things he +did not quite understand until long after the rest of the class had +passed them. He was majoring in sociology through the advice of a +faddist uncle who had never seen him. He had told Abner's mother that +sociology was the coming science, and Abner was faithfully carrying out +the course of study he suggested. He was floundering through hours of +lectures on the theory of the subject, and conscientiously working in +the college settlement to get the practical side of things. He had the +distressed look of a person with very short legs who is trying to keep +up with a procession of six-footers, although there was nothing short +about Abner. His legs were long, and his body was long, his arms were +long, too long for most of his sleeves. His face was long, his nose and +chin were painfully long, and were <a name="Page_41" id="Page_41"></a>accompanied by a sensitive mouth +that was always on the quiver with apprehension, like a rabbit's, and +little light eyes with whitish eyelashes. His hair was like licked hay. +There was absolutely nothing attractive about Wittemore except his +smile, and he so seldom smiled that few of the boys had ever seen it. He +had almost no friends.</p> + +<p>He had apparently just entered his room when Courtland reached his door, +and was stumbling about in a hurry to turn on the light. He stopped with +his lips aquiver and a dart of fear in his eyes when he saw the +telegram. Nobody but his mother would send him a telegram, and she would +never waste the money for it unless there was something dreadful the +matter. He looked at it fearfully, holding it in his hand and glancing +up again at Courtland half helplessly, as if he feared to open it.</p> + +<p>Then, with that set, stolid look of prodding ahead that characterized +all Abner's movements he clumsily tore open the envelope.</p> + +<p>"Your mother is dying. Come at once," were the terse, cruel words that +he read, signed with a neighbor's initials.</p> + +<p>The young man gave the gasp of a hurt thing and stood gaping up at +Courtland.</p> + +<p>"Nothing the matter, I hope," said Courtland, kindly, moved by the gray, +stricken look that had come over the poor fellow's face.</p> + +<p>"It's mother!" he gasped. "Read!" He thrust the telegram into +Courtland's hand and sank down on the side of his bed with his head in +his hands.</p> + +<p>"Tough luck, old man!" said Courtland, with a kindly hand on the bowed +shoulder. "But maybe it's only a scare. Sometimes people get better when +they're pretty sick, you know." <a name="Page_42" id="Page_42"></a></p> + +<p>Wittemore shook his head. "No. We've been expecting this, she and I. +She's been sick a long time. I didn't want to come back this year! I +thought she was failing! But she would have it! She'd got her heart so +set on my graduating!"</p> + +<p>"Well, cheer up!" said Courtland, breezily. "Very likely your coming +will help her to rally again! What train do you want to get? Can I help +you any?"</p> + +<p>Wittemore lifted his head and looked about his room helplessly. It was +plain he was dazed.</p> + +<p>Courtland looked up the train, 'phoned for a taxi, went around the room +gathering up what he thought would be necessities for the journey, while +Wittemore was inadequately trying to get himself dressed. Suddenly +Wittemore stopped short in the midst of his ineffective efforts and drew +something out of his pocket with an exclamation of dismay.</p> + +<p>"I forgot about this medicine!" he gasped. "I'll have to wait for the +next train! Never mind that suit-case. I haven't time to wait for it! +I'll go right up to the station as soon as I land this."</p> + +<p>He seized his hat and would have gone out the door, but Courtland +grabbed him by the arm.</p> + +<p>"Hold on, old fellow! What's up? Surely you won't let anything keep you +from your mother now."</p> + +<p>"I must!" The words came with a moan of agony from the sensitive lips. +"It's medicine for a poor old woman down in the settlement district. +She's suffering horribly, and the doctor said she ought to have it +to-night, but there was no one else to get it for her, so I promised. +She's lying there waiting for it now, listening to every sound till I +come. Mother wouldn't want me to come to her, leaving a woman suffering +like that when I'd promised. I only came up here to get car fare so I +could get there sooner <a name="Page_43" id="Page_43"></a>than walking. It took all the change I had to +get the prescription filled."</p> + +<p>"Darn you, Wittemore! What do you think I am? I'll take the medicine to +the old lady—ten old ladies if necessary! You get your train! There's +your suit-case. Have you got plenty of money?"</p> + +<p>A blank look came over the poor fellow's face. "If I could find Dick +Folsom I would have about enough. He owes me something. I did some +copying for him."</p> + +<p>Courtland's hand was in his pocket. He always had plenty of money about +him. That had never been one of his troubles. He had been to the bank +that day, fortunately. Now he thrust a handful of bills into Wittemore's +astonished hands.</p> + +<p>"There's fifty! Will that see you through? And I can send you more if +you need it. Just wire me how much you want."</p> + +<p>Wittemore stood looking down at the bills, and tears began to run down +his cheeks and splash upon them. Courtland felt his own eyes filling. +What a pitiful, lonely life this had been! And the fellows had let him +live that way! To think that a few paltry greenbacks should bring +<i>tears</i>!</p> + +<p>A few minutes later he stood looking after the whirling taxi as it bore +away Wittemore into the darkness of the evening street, his heart +pounding with several new emotions. Witless Abner for one! What a +surprise he had been! Would everybody you didn't fancy turn out that way +if you once got hold of the key of their souls and opened the door?</p> + +<p>Then the little wrapped bottle he held in his hand reminded him that he +must hasten if he would perform the mission left for him and return in +time for supper. There was something in his soul that would not let him +wait until after supper. So he plunged forward <a name="Page_44" id="Page_44"></a>into the dusk and swung +himself on board a down-town car.</p> + +<p>He had no small trouble in finding the street, or rather court, in which +the old woman lived.</p> + +<p>He stumbled up the narrow staircase, lighting matches as he went, for +the place was dark as midnight. By the time he had climbed four flights +he was wondering what in thunder Wittemore came to places like this for? +Just to major in sociology? Didn't the nut know that he would never make +a success in a thing like that? What was he doing it for, anyway? Did he +expect to teach it? Poor fellow, he would never get a job! His looks +were against him.</p> + +<p>He knocked, with no result, at several doors for his old woman, but at +last a feeble voice answered: "Come in," and he entered a room entirely +dark. There didn't even appear to be a window, though he afterward +discovered one opening into an air-shaft. He stood hesitating within the +room, blinking and trying to see what was about him.</p> + +<p>"Be that you, Mr. Widymer?" asked a feeble voice from the opposite +corner.</p> + +<p>"Wittemore couldn't come. He had a telegram that his mother is dying and +he had to get the train. He sent me with the medicine."</p> + +<p>"Oh, now ain't that too bad!" said the voice. "His mother dyin'! An' to +think he should remember me an' my medicine! Well, now, what d' ye think +o' that?"</p> + +<p>"If you'll tell me where your gas is located I'll make a light for you," +said Courtland, politely.</p> + +<p>"Gas!" The old lady laughed aloud. "You won't find no such thing as gas +around this part o' town. There's about an inch of candle up on that +shelf. The distric' nurse left it there. I was thinkin' mebbe I'd get +Mr. Widymer to light it fer me when he come, an' then the <a name="Page_45" id="Page_45"></a>night +wouldn't seem so long. It's awful, when you're sufferin' to have the +nights long."</p> + +<p>He groped till he found the shelf and lit the candle. By degrees the +flickering light revealed to him a small bare room with no furniture +except a bed, a chair, a small stove, and a table. A box in the corner +apparently contained a few worn garments. Some dishes and provisions +were huddled on the table. The walls and floor were bare. The district +nurse had done her level best to clear up, perhaps, but there had been +no attempt at good cheer. A desolate place indeed to spend a weary night +of suffering, even with an inch of candle sending weird flickerings +across the dusky ceiling.</p> + +<p>His impulse was to flee, but somehow he couldn't. "Here's this +medicine," he said. "Where do you want me to put it?"</p> + +<p>The woman motioned with a bony hand toward the table. "There's a cup and +spoon over there somewhere," she said, weakly. "If you could go get me a +pitcher of water and set it here on a chair I could manage to take it +durin' the night."</p> + +<p>He could see her better now, for the candle was flaring bravely. She was +little and old. Her thin, white hair straggled pitifully about her +small, wrinkled face, her eyes looked as if they had been burned almost +out by suffering. He saw she was drawn and quivering with pain, even now +as she tried to speak cheerfully. A something rebellious in him yielded +to the nerve of the little old woman, and he put down his impatience. +Sure he would get her the water!</p> + +<p>She explained that the hydrant was down on the street. He took the +doubtful-looking pitcher and stumbled out upon those narrow, rickety +stairs again.</p> + +<p>Way down to the street and back in that inky blackness! "Gosh! Thunder! +The deuce!" (He <a name="Page_46" id="Page_46"></a>didn't allow himself any stronger words these days.) +Was this the kind of thing one was up against when one majored in +sociology?</p> + +<p>"I be'n thinkin'," said the old lady, quaveringly, when he stumbled, +blinking, back into the room again with the water, "ef you wouldn't mind +jest stirrin' up the fire an' makin' me a sup o' tea it would be real +heartenin'. I 'ain't et nothin' all day 'cause the pain was so bad, but +I think it'll ease up when I git a dose of the medicine, and p'r'aps I +might eat a bite."</p> + +<p>Courtland was appalled, but he went vigorously to work at that fire, +although he had never laid eyes on anything so primitive as that stove +in all his life. Presently, by using common sense, he had the thing +going and a forlorn little kettle steaming away cheerfully.</p> + +<p>The old woman cautioned him against using too much tea. There must be at +least three drawings left, and it would be a long time, perhaps, before +she got any more. Yes, there was a little mite of sugar in a paper on +the table.</p> + +<p>"There's some bread there, too—half a loaf 'most—but I guess it's +pretty dry. You don't know how to make toast I 'spose," she added, +wistfully.</p> + +<p>Courtland had never made toast in his life. He abominated it. She told +him how to hold it up on a fork in front of the coals and he managed to +do two very creditable slices. He had forgotten his own supper now. +There was something quite fresh and original in the whole experience. It +would have been interesting to have told the boys, if there weren't some +features about it that were almost sacred. He wondered what the gang +would say when he told them about Wittemore! Poor Wittemore! He wasn't +as nutty as they had thought! He had good in his heart! Courtland poured +the tea, but the sugar-paper had proved quite empty <a name="Page_47" id="Page_47"></a>when he found it; +likewise a plate that had once contained butter.</p> + +<p>The toast and tea, however, seemed to be quite acceptable without its +usual accessories. "Now," he said, with a long breath, "is there +anything else you'd like done before I go?—for I must be getting back +to college."</p> + +<p>"If you just wouldn't mind makin' a prayer before you go," responded the +little old woman, wistfully, her feeble chin trembling with her +boldness. "I be'n wantin' a prayer this long while, but I don't seem to +have good luck. The distric' nurse, she ain't the prayin' kind; an' Mr. +Widymer he says he don't pray no more since he's come to college. He +said it so kind of ashamed-like I didn't like to bother him again; and +there ain't anybody else come my way for three months back. You seem so +kind-spoken and pleasant-like as if you might be related to a preacher, +and I thought mebbe you wouldn't mind just makin' a little short prayer +'fore you go. I dunno how long it'll be 'fore I'll get a chancet of one +again."</p> + +<p>Courtland stood rooted to the floor in dismay. "Why,—I—" he began, +growing red enough to be apparent even by the flickering inch of candle.</p> + +<p>Suddenly the room which had been so empty seemed to grow hushed and full +of breathless spectators, and One, waiting to hear what he would +say—whether he would respond to the call. Before his alarmed vision +there came the memory of that wall of smoke which had shut him in, and +that Voice calling him by name and saying, "You shall be shown." Was +this what the Presence asked of him? Was this that mysterious "doing His +will" that the Book spoke about, which should presently give the +assurance?</p> + +<p>He saw the old woman's face glow with eagerness.<a name="Page_48" id="Page_48"></a> It was as if the +Presence waited through her eyes to see what he would do. Something +leaped up in his heart in response and he took a step forward and +dropped upon his knees beside the old wooden chair.</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid I shall make a worse bungle of it than I did of the toast," +he said, as he saw her folding her hands with delight. She smiled with +serene assurance, and he closed his eyes and wondered where were words +to use in such a time as this.</p> + +<p>"Now I lay me" would not do for the poor creature who had been lying +down many days and might never rise again; "Matthew, Mark, Luke, and +John" was more appropriate, but there was that uncertainty about it +being a prayer at all. "Our Father"—Ah! He caught at the words and +spoke them.</p> + +<p>"Our Father which art"—but what came next? That was where he had always +had to be prompted, and now, in his confusion, all the rest had fled +from his mind. But now it seemed that with the words the Presence had +drawn near, was standing close by the chair. His mind leaped forth with +the consciousness that he might talk with this invisible Presence, +unfold his own perplexities and restlessness, and perhaps find out what +it all meant. With scarcely a hesitation his clear voice went on eagerly +now:</p> + +<p>"Our Father, which art in this room, show us how to find and know You." +He could not remember afterward what else he said. Something about his +own longing, and the old woman's pain and loneliness. He was not sure if +it was really a prayer at all, that halting petition.</p> + +<p>He got up from his knees greatly embarrassed; but more by the Presence +to whom he had dared to speak thus for the first time on his own +account, than by the little old woman, whose hands were still clasped in +<a name="Page_49" id="Page_49"></a>reverence, and down whose withered cheeks the tears were coursing. The +smoky walls, the cracked stove, the stack of discouraged dishes, seemed +to fade away, and the room was somehow full of glory. He was choking +with the oppression of it, and with a kind of sinking at heart lest the +prayer had been only an outbreak of his own desire to know what this +Force or Presence was that seemed dominating him so fully these days.</p> + +<p>The old woman was blessing him. She held out her hands like a patriarch: +"Oh, that was such a beautiful prayer! I'll not forget the words all the +night through and for many a night. The Lord Himself bless ye! Are you a +preacher's son, perhaps?"</p> + +<p>He shook his head; but he had no smile upon his face at the thought, as +he might have had five minutes before.</p> + +<p>"Well, then, yer surely goin' to be a preacher yerself?"</p> + +<p>"No," he said; then added, thoughtfully, "not that I know of." The +suggestion struck him curiously as one who hears for the first time that +there is a possibility that he may be selected for some important +foreign embassy.</p> + +<p>"Well, then, yer surely a blessed child o' God Himself, anyhow, and this +is a great night fer this poor little room to be honored with a pretty +prayer like that!"</p> + +<p>Scarcely hearing her, he said good night and went thoughtfully down the +dark stairs, a strange sense of peace upon him. Curiously enough, while +he felt that he had left the Presence up in that little dismal room, it +yet seemed to be moving beside him, touching his soul, breathing upon +him! He was so engrossed with this thought that it never occurred to him +that he had given the old woman every cent he had in his pocket.<a name="Page_50" id="Page_50"></a> He had +forgotten entirely that he had been hungry. A great world-wonder was +moving within his spirit. He could not understand himself. He went back +with awe over the last few minutes and the strange new world into which +he had been so suddenly plunged.</p> + +<p>Scarcely noticing how he went, he got himself out of the intricacies of +the court into a neighborhood a shade less poverty-stricken, and stood +upon the corner of a busy thoroughfare in an utterly unfamiliar +district, pausing to look about him and discover his whereabouts.</p> + +<p>A little child with long, fair hair rushed suddenly out of a door on the +side-street, eagerly pulling a ragged sweater about his small shoulders, +and stood upon the curbstone, breathlessly watching the coming trolley. +The car stopped, and a young girl in shabby clothes got out and came +toward him.</p> + +<p>"Bonnie! Bonnie! I've got supper all ready!" the child called in a +clear, bird-like voice, and darted from the curb across the narrow +side-street to meet her.</p> + +<p>Courtland, standing on the corner in front of the trolley, saw, too +late, the swift-coming automobile bearing down upon the child, its +head-lights flaring on the golden hair. With a cry the young man sprang +to the rescue, but the child was already crumpled up like a lily and the +relentless car speeding onward, its chauffeur darting frightened, +cowardly glances behind him as he plunged his machine forward over the +track, almost in the teeth of the up-trolley. When the trolley was +passed there was no sign of the car, even if any one had had time to +look for it. There in the road lay the little, broken child, the long +hair spilling like gold over the pavement, the little, still, white face +looking up like a flower that has suddenly been torn from the plant.</p> + +<p>The girl was beside the child almost instantly, drop<a name="Page_51" id="Page_51"></a>ping all her +parcels; gathering him into her slender arms, calling in frightened, +tender tones:</p> + +<p>"Aleck! Darling! My little darling!"</p> + +<p>The child was too heavy for her to lift, and she tottered as she tried +to rise, lifting a frightened face to Courtland.</p> + +<p>"Let me take him," said the young man, stooping and gathering him gently +from her. "Now show me where!" <a name="Page_52" id="Page_52"></a></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI</h2> + + +<p>Into the narrow brick house from which he had run forth so joyously but +a few short minutes before, they carried him, up two flights of steep +stairs to a tiny room at the back of the hall.</p> + +<p>The gas was burning brightly at one side, and something that sent forth +a savory odor was bubbling on a little two-burner gas-stove. Courtland +was hungry, and it struck his nostrils pleasantly as the door swung +open, revealing a tiny table covered with a white cloth, set for two. +There was a window curtained with white, and a red geranium on the sill.</p> + +<p>The girl entered ahead of him, sweeping back a bright chintz curtain +that divided the tiny room, and drew forth a child's cot bed. Courtland +gently laid down the little inert figure. The girl was on her knees +beside the child at once, a bottle in her hand. She was dropping a few +drops in a teaspoon and forcing them between the child's lips.</p> + +<p>"Will you please get a doctor, quick," she said, in a strained, quiet +voice. "No, I don't know who; I've only been here two weeks. We're +strangers! Bring somebody! anybody! quick!"</p> + +<p>Courtland was back in a minute with a weary, seedy-looking doctor who +just fitted the street. All the way he was seeing the beautiful agony of +the girl's face. It was as if her suffering had been his own. Somehow he +could not bear to think what might be coming. The little form had lain +so limply in his arms! <a name="Page_53" id="Page_53"></a></p> + +<p>The girl had undressed the child and put him between the sheets. He was +more like a broken lily than ever. The long dark lashes lay still upon +the cheeks.</p> + +<p>Courtland stood back in the doorway, looking at the small table set for +two, and pushed to the wall now to make room for the cot. There was just +barely room to walk around between the things. He could almost hear the +echo of that happy, childish voice calling down in the street: "Bonnie! +Bonnie! I've got supper all ready!"</p> + +<p>He wondered if the girl had heard. And there was the supper! Two +blue-and-white bowls set daintily on two blue-and-white plates, +obviously for the something-hot that was cooking over the flame, two +bits of bread-and-butter plates to match; two glasses of milk; a plate +of bread, another of butter; and by way of dessert an apple cut in half, +the core dug out and the hollow filled with sugar. He took in the +details tenderly, as if they had been a word-picture by Wells or Shaw in +his contemporary-prose class at college. They seemed to burn themselves +into his memory.</p> + +<p>"Go over to my house and ask my wife to give you my battery!" commanded +the doctor in a low growl.</p> + +<p>Courtland was off again, glad of something to do. He carried the memory +of the doctor's grizzled face lying on the little bared breast of the +child, listening for the heart-beats, and the beautiful girl's anguish +as she stood above them. He pushed aside the curious throng that had +gathered around the door and were looking up the stairs, whispering +dolefully and shaking heads:</p> + +<p>"An' he was so purty, and so cheery, bless his heart!" wailed one woman. +"He always had his bit of a word an' a smile!"</p> + +<p>"Aw! Them ottymobbeels!" he heard another mur<a name="Page_54" id="Page_54"></a>mur. "Ridin' along in +their glory! They'll be a day o' reckonin' fer them rich folks what +rides in 'em! They'll hev to walk! They may even have to lie abed an' +hev their wages get behind!"</p> + +<p>The whole weight of the sorrow of the world seemed suddenly pressing +upon Courtland's heart. How had he been thus unexpectedly taken out of +the pleasant monotony of the university and whirled into this vortex of +anguish! Why had it been? Was it just happen that he should have been +the one to have gone to the old woman and made her toast, and then been +called upon to pray, instead of Tennelly or Bill Ward or any of the +other fellows? And after that was it again just coincidence that he +should have happened to stand at that corner at that particular moment +and been one to participate in this later tragedy? Oh, the beautiful +face of the suffering girl! Fear and sorrow and suffering and death +everywhere! Wittemore hurrying to his dying mother! The old woman lying +on her bed of pain! But there had been glory in that dark old room when +he left it, the glory of a Presence! Ah! Where was the Presence now? How +could <i>He</i> bear all this? The Christ! And could He not change it if He +would—make the world a happy place instead of this dark and dreadful +thing that it was? For the first time the horror of war surged over his +soul in its blackness. Men dying in the trenches! Women weeping at home +for them! Others suffering and bleeding to death out in the open, the +cold or the storm! How could God let it all be? His wondering soul cried +out, "Lord, if Thou hadst been here!"</p> + +<p>It was the old question that used to come up in the class-room, yet now, +strangely enough, he began to feel there was an answer to it somewhere; +an answer wherewith he would be satisfied when he found it. <a name="Page_55" id="Page_55"></a></p> + +<p>It seemed an eternity of thought through which he passed as he crossed +and recrossed the street and was back in the tiny room where life waited +on death. It was another eternity while the doctor worked again over the +boy. But at last he stood back, shaking his head and blinking the tears +from his kind, tired, blue eyes.</p> + +<p>"It's no use," he said, gruffly, turning his head away. "He's gone!"</p> + +<p>It was then the girl brushed him aside and sank to her knees beside the +little cot.</p> + +<p>"Aleck! Aleck! Darling brother! Can't you speak to your Bonnie just once +more before you go?" she called, clearly, distinctly, as if to a child +who was far on his way hence. And then once again pitifully:</p> + +<p>"Oh, darling brother! You're all I had left! Let me hear you call me +Bonnie just once more before you go to mother!"</p> + +<p>But the childish lips lay still and white, and the lips of the girl +looking down upon the little quiet form grew whiter also as she looked.</p> + +<p>"Oh, my darling! You have gone! You will never call me any more! And you +were all I had! Good-by!" And she stooped and kissed the boy's lips with +a finality that wrung the hearts of the onlookers. They knew she had +forgotten their presence.</p> + +<p>The doctor stepped into the hall. The tears were rolling down his +cheeks. "It's tough luck!" he said in an undertone to Courtland.</p> + +<p>The young man turned away to hide the sudden convulsion that seemed +coming to his own face. Then he heard the girl's voice again, lower, as +if she were talking confidentially to one who stood close at hand.</p> + +<p>"Oh Christ, will You go with little Aleck and see <a name="Page_56" id="Page_56"></a>that he is not afraid +till he gets safe home? And will You help me somehow to bear his leaving +me alone?"</p> + +<p>The doctor was wiping away the tears with a great, soiled handkerchief. +The girl rose calmly, white and controlled, facing them as if she +remembered them for the first time.</p> + +<p>"I want to thank you for all you've done!" she said. "I'm only a +stranger and you've been very kind. But now it's over and I will not +hinder you any longer."</p> + +<p>She wanted to be alone. They could see that. Yet it wrung their hearts +to leave her so.</p> + +<p>"You will want to make some arrangements," growled the doctor.</p> + +<p>"Oh! I had forgotten!" The girl's hand fluttered to her heart and her +breath gave a quick catch. "It will have to be very simple," she said, +looking from one to another of them anxiously. "I haven't much money +left. Perhaps I could sell something!" She looked desperately around on +her little possessions. "This little cot! It is new just two weeks ago +and he will not need it any more. It cost twenty dollars!"</p> + +<p>Courtland stepped gravely toward her. "Suppose you leave that to me," he +said, gently. "I think I know a place where they would look after the +matter for you reasonably and let you pay later or take the cot in +exchange, you know, anything you wish. Would you like me to arrange the +matter for you?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, if you would!" said the girl, wearily. "But it is asking a great +deal of a stranger."</p> + +<p>"It's nothing. I can look after it on my way home. Just tell me what you +wish."</p> + +<p>"Oh, the very simplest there is!"—she caught her breath—"white if +possible, unless it's more expensive. But it doesn't matter, anyway, +now. There'll have to be a <i>place</i> somewhere, too. Some time I will take +him <a name="Page_57" id="Page_57"></a>back and let him lie by father and mother. I can't now. It's two +hundred miles away. But there won't need to be but one carriage. There's +only me to go."</p> + +<p>He looked his compassion, but only asked, "Is there anything else?"</p> + +<p>"Any special clergyman?" asked the doctor, kindly.</p> + +<p>She shook her head sadly. "We hadn't been to church yet. I was too +tired. If you know of a minister who would come."</p> + +<p>"It's tough luck," said the doctor again as they went down-stairs +together, "to see a nice, likely little chap like that taken away so. +And I operated this afternoon on a hardened old reprobate around the +corner here, that's played the devil to everybody, and he's going to +pull through! It does seem strange. It ain't the way I should run the +universe, but I'm thundering glad I 'ain't got the job!"</p> + +<p>Courtland walked on through the busy streets, thinking that sentence +over. He had a dim current of inner perception that suggested there +might be another way of looking at the matter; a possibility that the +wicked old reprobate had yet something more to learn of life before he +went beyond its choices and opportunities; a conviction that if he were +called to go he had rather be the little child in his purity than the +old man in his deviltry.</p> + +<p>The sudden cutting down of this lovely child had startled and shocked +him. The bereavement of the girl cut him to the heart as if she had +belonged to him. It brought the other world so close. It made what had +hitherto seemed the big worth-while things of life look so small and +petty, so ephemeral! Had he always been giving himself utterly to things +that did not count, or was this a perspective all out of proportion, a +distorted brain again, through nervous strain and over-exertion? <a name="Page_58" id="Page_58"></a></p> + +<p>He came presently to a well-known undertaker's, and, stepping in, felt +more than ever the borderland-sense. In this silent house of sadness men +stepped quietly, gravely, decorously, and served you with courteous +sympathy. What was the name of the man who rowed his boat on the River +Styx? Yes! Charon! These wise-eyed grave men who continually plied their +oars between two worlds! How did they look on life? Were they hardened +to their task? Was their gentle gravity all acting? Did earthly things +appeal to them? How could they bear it all, this continual settled +sadness about the place! The awful hush! The tear-stained faces! The +heavy breath of flowers! Not all the lofty marble arches, and beauty of +surroundings, not all the soft music of hidden choirs and distant organ +up in one of the halls above where a service was even then in progress, +could take away the fact of death; the settled, final fact of death! One +moment here upon the curbstone, golden hair afloat, eyes alight with +joyous greeting, voice of laughter; the next gone, irrevocably gone, +"and the place thereof shall know it no more," Where had he heard those +words? Strange, sad house of death! Strange, uncertain life to live. +Resurrection! Where had he caught that word in carven letters twined +among lilies above the marble staircase? Resurrection! Yes, there would +need to be if there was to be any hope ever in this world!</p> + +<p>It was a strange duty he had to perform, strange indeed for a college +boy to whom death had never come very close since he had been old enough +to understand. It came to him to wonder what the fellows would say If +they could see him here. He felt half a grudge toward Wittemore for +having let him in for all this. Poor Wittemore! By this time to-morrow +night Wittemore might be doing this same service for his own mother! <a name="Page_59" id="Page_59"></a></p> + +<p>Death! Death! Death! Everywhere! It seemed as if everybody was dying!</p> + +<p>He made selections with a memory of the girl's beautiful, refined face. +He chose simple things and everything all white. He asked about details +and gave directions so that everything would move in an orderly manner, +with nothing to annoy. He even thought to order flowers, valley-lilies, +and some bright rosebuds, not too many to make her feel under +obligation. He took out his check-book and paid for the whole thing, +arranging that the girl should not know how much it all really cost, and +that a small sum might be paid by her as she was able, to be forwarded +by the firm to him; this to make her feel entirely comfortable about it +all.</p> + +<p>As he went out into the street again a great sense of weariness came +over him. He had lived—how many years had he lived!—in experience +since he left the university at half past five o'clock? How little his +past life looked to him as he surveyed it from the height he had just +climbed. Life! Life was not all basket-ball, and football, and dances, +and fellowships, and frats. and honors! Life was full of sorrow, and +bounded on every hand by death! The walk from where he was up to the +university looked like an impossibility. There was a store up in the +next block where he was known. He could get a check cashed and ride.</p> + +<p>He found himself studying the faces of the people in the car in a new +light. Were they all acquainted with sorrow? Yes, there were more or +less lines of hardship, or anxiety, or disappointment on all the older +faces. And the younger ones! Did all their bright smiles and eagerness +have to be frozen on their lips by grief some day? When you came to +think of it life was a terrible thing! Take that girl now, Miss +Brentwood—Miss R.B. Brentwood the address had been. The <a name="Page_60" id="Page_60"></a>name her +brother had called her fitted better, "Bonnie." What would life mean to +her now?</p> + +<p>It occurred to him to wonder if there would be any such sorrow and +emptiness of life for any one if he were gone. The fellows would feel +badly, of course. There would be speeches and resolutions, a lot of +black drapery, and all that sort of thing in college, but what did that +amount to? His father? Oh yes, of course he would feel it some, but he +had been separated from his father for years, except for brief visits in +vacations. His father had married a young wife and there were three +young children. No, his father would not miss him much!</p> + +<p>He swung off the car in front of the university and entered the +dormitory at last, too engrossed in his strange new thoughts to remember +that he had had no supper.</p> + +<p>"Hello, Court! Where the deuce have you been? We've looked everywhere +for you. You didn't come to the dining-hall! What's wrong with you? Come +in here!"</p> + +<p>It was Tennelly who hauled him into Bill Ward's room and thumped him +into a big leather study-chair.</p> + +<p>"Why, man, you're all in! Give an account of yourself!" he said, tossing +his hat over to Bill Ward, and pulling away at his mackinaw.</p> + +<p>"P'raps he's in love!" suggested Pat from the couch where he was puffing +away at his pipe.</p> + +<p>"P'raps he's flunked his Greek exam.," suggested Bill Ward, with a grin.</p> + +<p>"He looks as if he'd seen a ghost!" said Tennelly, eying him critically.</p> + +<p>"Cut it out, boys," said Courtland, with a weary smile. "I've seen +enough. Wittemore's called home. His mother's dying. I went an errand +for him down <a name="Page_61" id="Page_61"></a>in some of his slums and on the way back I just saw a +little kid get killed. Pretty little kid, too, with long curls!"</p> + +<p>"<i>Good night nurse!</i>" said Pat from his couch. "Say, that is going +some!"</p> + +<p>"Ferget it!" ejaculated Bill Ward, coming to his feet. "Had your supper +yet, Court?"</p> + +<p>Courtland shook his head.</p> + +<p>"Well, just you sit still there while I run down to the pie-shop and see +what I can get."</p> + +<p>Bill seized his cap and mackinaw and went roaring off down the hall. +Courtland's eyes were closed. He hadn't felt so tired since he left the +hospital. His mind was still grappling with the questions that his last +two hours had flung at him to be answered.</p> + +<p>Pat sat up and put away his pipe. He made silent motions to Tennelly, +and the two picked up the unresisting Courtland and laid him on the +couch. Pat's face was unusually sober as he gently put a pillow under +his friend's head. Courtland opened his eyes and smiled.</p> + +<p>"Thanks, old man," he said, and gripped his hand understandingly. There +was something in Pat's face he had never noticed there before. As he +dropped his eyelids shut he had an odd sense that Pat and Tennelly and +the Presence were all taking care of him. A sick fancy of worn-out +nerves, of course, but pleasant all the same.</p> + +<p>Down the hall a nasal voice twanged at the telephone, shouting each +answer as though to make the whole dormitory hear. Then loud steps, a +thump on the door as it was flung open:</p> + +<p>"Court here? A girl on the 'phone wants you, Court. Says her name is +Miss Gila Dare." <a name="Page_62" id="Page_62"></a></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII</h2> + + +<p>The messenger had imitated Gila Dare's petulant childish accent to +perfection. At another time the three young men would have shouted over +it. Now they looked at one another in silence.</p> + +<p>"Sha'n't I go and get a message for you, Court?" asked Tennelly. For +Courtland's face was ashen gray, and the memory of it lying in the +hospital was too recent for him not to feel anxious about his friend. He +had only been permitted to return to college so quickly under strict +orders not to overdo.</p> + +<p>"No, I guess I'll go," said Courtland, indifferently, rising as he +spoke.</p> + +<p>They listened anxiously to his tones as he conversed over the 'phone.</p> + +<p>"Hello!... Yes!... Yes!... Oh! Good evening!... Yes.... Yes.... +No-o-o—it won't be possible!... No, I've just come in and I'm pretty +well 'all in.' I have a lot of studying yet to do to-night. This is +exam. week, you know.... No, I'm afraid not to-morrow night either.... +No, there wouldn't be a chance till the end of the week, anyway.... Why, +yes, I think I could by that time, perhaps—Friday night? I'll let you +know.... Thank you. Good-by!"</p> + +<p>The listeners looked from one to the other knowingly. This was not the +tone of one who had "fallen" very far for a girl. They knew the signs. +He had actually been indifferent! Gila Dare had not conquered him so +<a name="Page_63" id="Page_63"></a>easily as Bill Ward had thought she would. And the strange thing about +it was that there was something in the atmosphere that night that made +them feel they weren't so very sorry. Somehow Courtland seemed unusually +close and dear to them just then. For the moment they seemed to have +perceived something fine and high in his mood that held them in awe. +They did not "kid" him when he came back to them, as they would +ordinarily have done. They received him gravely, talking together about +the examination on the morrow, as if they had scarcely noticed his +going.</p> + +<p>Bill Ward came back presently with his arms laden with bundles. He +looked keenly at the tired face on the couch, but whistled a merry tune +to let on he had not noticed anything amiss.</p> + +<p>"Got a great spread this time," he declared, setting forth his spoils on +two chairs alongside the couch. "Hot oyster stew! Sit by, fellows! Cooky +wrapped it up in newspapers to keep it from getting cold. There's bowls +and spoons in the basket. Nelly, get 'em out! Here, Pat, take that +bundle out from under my arm. That's celery and crackers. Here's a pail +of hot coffee with cream and sugar all mixed. Lookout, Pat! That's +jelly-roll and chocolate éclairs! Don't mash it, you chump! Why didn't +you come with me?"</p> + +<p>It was pleasant to lie there in that warm, comfortable room with the +familiar sights all around, the pennants, the pictures, the wild +arrangements of photographs and trophies, and hear the fellows talking +of homely things; to be fed with food that made him begin to feel like +himself again; to have their kindly fellowship all about him like a +protection.</p> + +<p>They were grand fellows, each one of them; full of faults, too, but true +at heart. Life-friends he knew, for there was a cord binding their four +hearts together <a name="Page_64" id="Page_64"></a>with a little tenderer tie than bound them to any of +the other fellows. They had been together all the four years, and if all +went well, and Bill Ward didn't flunk anything more, they would all four +go out into the world as men together at the end of that year.</p> + +<p>He lay looking at them quietly as they talked, telling little foolish +jokes, laughing immoderately, asking one another anxiously about a tough +question in the exam. that morning, and what the prospects were for good +marks for them all. It was all so familiar and beloved! So different +from those last three hours amid suffering and sorrow! It was all so +natural and happy, as if there were no sorrow in the world. As if this +life would never end! But he hadn't yet got over that feeling of the +Presence in the room with them, standing somewhere behind Pat and +Tennelly. He liked to feel the consciousness of it in the back of his +mind. What would the fellows say if he should try to tell them about it? +They would think he was crazy. He had a feeling that he would like to be +the means of making them understand.</p> + +<p>He told them gradually about Wittemore; not as he might have told them +directly after seeing him off, nor quite as he had expected to tell +them. It was a little more full; it gave them a little kinder, keener +insight into a character that they had hitherto almost entirely +condemned and ignored. They did not laugh! It was a revelation to them. +They listened with respect for the student who had gone to his mother's +dying bed. They had all been long enough away from their own mothers to +have come to feel the worth of a mother quite touchingly. Moreover, they +perceived that Courtland had seen more in Wittemore than they had ever +seen. He had a side, it appeared, that was wholly unselfish, almost +heroic in a way. They had never suspected him of it <a name="Page_65" id="Page_65"></a>before. His long, +horse-like face, with the little light china-blue eyes always anxious +and startled, appeared to their imaginations with a new appeal. When he +returned they would be kinder to him.</p> + +<p>"Poor old Abner!" said Tennelly, thoughtfully. "Who would have thought +it! Carrying medicine to an old bedridden crone! And was going to stick +to his job even when his mother was dying! He's got some stuff in him, +after all, if he hasn't much sense!"</p> + +<p>Courtland was led to go on talking about the old woman, picturing in a +few words the room where she lay, the pitifully few comforts, the inch +of candle, the tea without sugar or milk, the butterless toast! He told +it quite simply, utterly unaware, that he had told how he had made the +toast. They listened without comment as to one who had been set apart to +a duty undesirable but greatly to be admired. They listened as to one +who had passed through a great experience like being shut up in a mine +for days, or passing unharmed through a polar expedition or a lonely +desert wandering.</p> + +<p>Afterward he spoke again about the child, telling briefly how he was +killed. He barely mentioned the sister, and he told nothing whatever of +his own part in it all. They looked at him curiously, as if they would +read between the lines, for they saw he was deeply stirred, but they +asked nothing. Presently they all fell to studying, Courtland with the +rest, for the morrow's work was important.</p> + +<p>They made him stay on the couch and swung the light around where he +could see. They broke into song or jokes now and then as was their wont, +but over it all was a hush and a quiet sympathy that each one felt, and +none more deeply than Courtland. There had never been a time during his +college life when he had felt so keenly and so finely bound to his +companions <a name="Page_66" id="Page_66"></a>as this night; when he went at last to his own room across +the hall, he looked about on its comforts and luxuries with a kind of +wonder that he had been selected for all this, while that poor woman +down in the tenement had to live with bare walls and not even a whole +candle! His pleasant room seemed so satisfying! And there was that girl +alone in her tiny room with so little about her to make life easy, and +her beautiful dead lying stricken before her eyes! He could not get away +from the thought of her when he lay down to rest, and in his dreams her +face of sorrow haunted him.</p> + +<p>It was not until after the examinations the next afternoon that he +realized that he was going to her again; had been going all the time, +indeed! Of course he had been but a passing stranger, but she had no +one, and he could not let her be in need of a friend. Perhaps—Why, he +surely <i>had</i> a responsibility for her when he was the only one who had +happened by and there was no one else!</p> + +<p>She opened the door at his knock and he was startled by the look of her +face, so drawn and white, with great dark circles under her eyes. She +had not slept nor wept since he saw her, he felt sure. How long could +human frame endure like that? The strain was terrible for one so young +and frail. He found himself longing to take her away somewhere out of it +all. Yet, of course, there was nothing he could do.</p> + +<p>She was full of quiet gratitude for what he had done. She said she knew +that without his kind intercession she would have had to pay far more. +She had been through it too recently before and understood that such +things were expensive. He rejoiced that she judged only by the standards +of a small country place, and knew not city prices, and therefore little +suspected how very much he had done to smooth her way. He <a name="Page_67" id="Page_67"></a>told her of +the preacher he had secured that afternoon by telephone—a plain, kindly +man who had been recommended by the undertaker. She thanked him again, +apathetically, as if she had not the heart to feel anything keenly, but +was grateful to him as could be.</p> + +<p>"Have you had anything to eat to-day?" he asked, suddenly.</p> + +<p>She shook her head. "I could not eat! It would choke me!"</p> + +<p>"But you must eat, you know," he said, gently, as if she were a little +child. "You cannot bear all this. You will break down."</p> + +<p>"Oh, what does that matter now?" she asked, pitifully, with her hand +fluttering to her heart again and a wave of anguish passing over her +white face.</p> + +<p>"But we must live, mustn't we, until we are called to come away?"</p> + +<p>He asked the question shyly. He did not understand where the thought or +words came from. He was not conscious of evolving them from his own +mind.</p> + +<p>She looked at him in sad acquiescence. "I know," she said, like a +submissive child; "and I'll try, pretty soon. But I can't just yet. It +would choke me!"</p> + +<p>Even while they were talking a door in the front of the hall opened, and +an untidy person with unkempt hair appeared, asking the girl to come +into her room and have a bite. When she shook her head the woman said:</p> + +<p>"Well, then, child, go out a few minutes and get something. You'll not +last the night through at this rate! Go, and I'll stay here until you +come back."</p> + +<p>Courtland persuaded her at last to come with him down to a little +restaurant around the corner and have a cup of tea—just a cup of +tea—and with a weary look, as if she thought it was the quickest way to +get <a name="Page_68" id="Page_68"></a>rid of their kindness, she yielded. He thought he never would +forget the look she cast behind her at the little, white, sheet-covered +cot as she passed out the door.</p> + +<p>It was an odd experience, taking this stranger to supper. He had met all +sorts of girls during his young career and had many different +experiences, but none like this. Yet he was so filled with sympathy and +sorrow for her that it was not embarrassing. She did not seem like an +ordinary girl. She was set apart by her sorrow. He ordered the daintiest +and most attractive that the plain menu of the little restaurant +afforded, but he only succeeded in getting her to eat a few mouthfuls +and drink a cup of tea. Nevertheless it did her good. He could see a +faint color coming into her cheeks. He spoke of college and his +examinations, as if she knew all about him. He thought it might give her +a more secure feeling if she knew he was a student at the university. +But she took it all as a matter that concerned her not in the least, +with that air of aloofness of spirit that showed him he was not touching +more than the surface of her being. Her real self was just bearing it to +get rid of him and get back to her sorrow alone.</p> + +<p>Before he left her he was moved to tell her how he had seen the little +child coming out to greet her. He thought perhaps she had not heard +those last joyous words of greeting and would want to know.</p> + +<p>The light leaped up in her face in a vivid flame for the first time, her +eyes shone with the tears that sprang mercifully into them, and her lips +trembled. She put out a little cold hand and touched his coat-sleeve:</p> + +<p>"Oh, I thank you! That is precious," she said, and, turning aside her +head, she wept. It was a relief to see the strained look break and the +healing tears flow. He left her then, but he could not get away from the +<a name="Page_69" id="Page_69"></a>thought of her all night with her sorrow alone. It was as if he had to +bear it with her because there was no one else to do so.</p> + +<p>When he left her he went and looked up the minister with whom he had +made brief arrangements over the telephone the night before. He had to +confess to himself that his real object in coming had been to make sure +the man was "good enough for the job."</p> + +<p>The Rev. John Burns was small, sandy, homely, with kind, twinkling +red-brown eyes, a wide mouth, an ugly nose, and freckles; but he had a +smile that was cordiality itself, and a great big paw that gripped a +real welcome.</p> + +<p>Courtland explained that he had come about the funeral. He felt +embarrassed because there really wasn't anything to say. He had given +all necessary details over the 'phone, but the kind, attentive eyes were +sympathetic, and he found himself telling the story of the tragedy. He +liked the way the minister received it. It was the way a minister should +be to people in their need.</p> + +<p>"You are a relative?" asked Burns as Courtland got up to go.</p> + +<p>"No." Then he hesitated. For some reason he could not bear to say he was +an utter stranger to the lonely girl. "No, only a friend," he finished. +"A—a—kind of neighbor!" he added, lamely, trying to explain the +situation to himself.</p> + +<p>"A sort of a Christ-friend, perhaps?" The kind, red-brown eyes seemed to +search into his soul and understand. The homely, freckled face lit with +a rare smile.</p> + +<p>Courtland gave the man a keen, hungry look. He felt strangely drawn to +him and a quick light of brotherhood darted into his eyes. His fingers +answered the friendly grasp of the other as they parted, and he went +<a name="Page_70" id="Page_70"></a>out feeling that somehow <i>there</i> was a man that was different; a man he +would like to know better and study carefully. That man must have had +some experience! He must know Christ! Had he ever felt the Presence? he +wondered. He would like to ask him, but then how would one go about it +to talk of a thing like that?</p> + +<p>He threw himself into his studies again when he got back to the +university, but in spite of himself his mind kept wandering back to +strange questions. He wished Wittemore would come back and say his +mother was better! It was Wittemore that had started all this queer +side-track of philanthropy; that had sent him off to make toast for old +women and manage funerals for strange young girls. If Wittemore would +get back to his classes and plod off to his slums every day, with his +long horse-like face and his scared little apologetic smile, why, +perhaps his own mind would assume its normal bent and let him get at his +work. And with that he sat down and wrote a letter to Wittemore, brief, +sympathetic, inquiring, offering any help that might be required. When +it was finished he felt better and studied half the night.</p> + +<p>He knew the next morning as soon as he woke up that he would have to go +to that funeral. He hated funerals, and this would be a terrible ordeal, +he was sure. Such a pitiful little funeral, and he an utter stranger, +too! But the necessity presented itself like a command from an unseen +force, and he knew that it was required of him—that he would never feel +quite satisfied with himself if he shirked it.</p> + +<p>Fortunately his examination began at eight o'clock. If he worked fast he +could get done in plenty of time, for the hour of the funeral had been +set for eleven o'clock.</p> + +<p>Tennelly and Pat stood and gazed after him aghast <a name="Page_71" id="Page_71"></a>when, on coming out +of the class-room where he had taken his examination, he declined their +suggestion that they all go down to the river skating for an hour and +try to get their blood up after the strain so they could study better +after lunch.</p> + +<p>"I can't! I'm going to that kid's funeral!" he said, and strode up the +stairs with his arms full of books.</p> + +<p>"Good night!" said Pat, in dismay.</p> + +<p>"Morbid!" ejaculated Tennelly. "Say, Pat, I don't guess we better let +him go. He'll come home 'all in' again."</p> + +<p>But when they found Bill Ward and went up to try and stop Courtland he +had departed by the other door and was half-way down the campus. <a name="Page_72" id="Page_72"></a></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII</h2> + + +<p>It was all very neat and beautiful in the little, third-story back room. +The gas-stove and other things had disappeared behind the calico +curtain. Before it stood the small white coffin, with the beautiful boy +lying as if he were asleep, the roses strewn about him, and a mass of +valley-lilies at his feet. The girl, white and calm, sat beside him, one +hand resting across the casket protectingly.</p> + +<p>Three or four women from the house had brought in chairs, and some of +the neighbors had slipped in shyly, half in sympathy, half in curiosity. +The minister was already there, talking in a low tone in the hall with +the undertaker.</p> + +<p>The girl looked up when Courtland entered and thanked him for the +flowers with her eyes. The women huddled in the back of the room watched +him curiously and let no flicker of an eyelash pass without notice. They +were like hungry birds ready to pounce on any scrap of sentiment or +suspicion that might be dropped in their sight. The doctor came stolidly +in and went and stood beside the coffin, looking down for a minute as if +he were burning remedial incense in his soul, and then turned away with +the frank tears running down his tired, honest face. He sat down beside +Courtland. The stillness and the strangeness in the bare room were +awful. It was only bearable to look toward the peace in the small, +white, dead face; for the calm on the face of the sister cut one to the +heart. <a name="Page_73" id="Page_73"></a></p> + +<p>The minister and the undertaker stepped into the room, and then it +seemed to Courtland as if One other entered also. He did not look up to +see. He merely had that sense of Another. It stayed with him and +relieved the tension in the room.</p> + +<p>Then the voice of the minister, clear, gentle, ringing, triumphant, +stole through the room, and out into the hall, even down through the +landings, where were huddled some of the neighbors come to listen:</p> + +<p>"And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me: Write—Blessed are the +dead which die in the Lord from henceforth ... But I would not have you +to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye +sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that +Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will +God bring with Him.... For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven +with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trump of God: +and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we which are alive and +remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the +Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore +comfort one another with these words."</p> + +<p>Courtland listened attentively. The words were utterly new to him. If he +had heard them before on the few occasions when he had perforce attended +funerals, they had never entered into his consciousness. They seemed +almost uncannily to answer the desolating questions of his heart. He +listened with painful attention. Most remarkable statements!</p> + +<p>"But now is Christ risen from the dead and become the first fruits of +them that slept!"</p> + +<p>He glanced instinctively around where it seemed that the Presence had +entered. He could not get away from <a name="Page_74" id="Page_74"></a>the feeling that He stood just to +the left of the minister there, with bowed head, like a great one whose +errand and presence there were about to be explained. It was as if He +had come to take the little child away with Him. Courtland remembered +the girl's prayer the night the child died: "Go with little Aleck and +see that he is not afraid till he gets safe home." He glanced up at her +calm, tearless face. She was drinking in the words. They seemed to give +strength under her pitiless sorrow.</p> + +<p>"The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death!"</p> + +<p>Courtland heard the words with a shock of relief. Here had he been under +the depression of death—death everywhere and always! threatening every +life and every project of earth! And now this confident sentence looking +toward a time when death should be no more! It came as something utterly +new and original that there would be a time when no one should, ever +fear death again because death would be put out of existence! He had to +look at it and face it as something to be recognized and thought out, a +thing that was presenting itself for him to believe; as if the Christ +Himself were having it read just for him alone to hear; as if those +huddled curious women and the tearful doctor, and the calm-faced girl +were not there at all, only Christ and the little dead child waiting to +walk into another, realer life, and Courtland, there on the threshold of +another world to learn a great truth.</p> + +<p>"But some will say, How are the dead raised up? And with what body do +they come?"</p> + +<p>Courtland looked up, startled. The very thought that was dawning in his +mind! The child, presently to lie under the ground and return to dust! +How could there be a resurrection of that little body after years, +<a name="Page_75" id="Page_75"></a>perhaps? How could there be hope for that wide-eyed sister with the +sorrowful soul?</p> + +<p>"Thou fool, that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall +be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain."</p> + +<p>He listened through the wonderful nature-picture, dimly understanding +the reasoning; on to the words:</p> + +<p>"So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption, it +is raised in incorruption; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in +glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a +natural body, it is raised a spiritual body."</p> + +<p>He looked at the child lying there among the lilies, those spirituelle +blossoms so ethereal and perfect that they almost seem to have a soul. +Was that the thought, then? The little child laid under the earth like +the bulb of the lily, to see corruption and decay, would come forth, +even as the spirit of the lilies came up out of the darkness and mold +and decay of their tomb under-ground, and burst into the glory of their +beautiful blossoms, the perfection of what the ugly brown bulb was meant +to be. All the possibilities come to perfection! no accident or stain of +sin to mar the glorified character! a perfect soul in a perfect, +glorified body!</p> + +<p>The wonder of the thought swelled within him, and sent a thrill through +him with the minister's voice as he read:</p> + +<p>"So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this +mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the +saying that is written: Death is swallowed up in victory. O death where +is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? Thanks be to God, which +giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!"</p> + +<p>If Courtland had been asked before he came there <a name="Page_76" id="Page_76"></a>whether he believed in +a resurrection he might have given a doubtful answer. During the four +years of his college life he had passed through various stages of +unbelief along with a good many of his fellow-students. With them he had +made out a sort of philosophy of life which he supposed he believed. It +was founded partly upon what he <i>wanted</i> to believe and partly upon what +he could <i>not</i> believe, because he had never been able to reason it out. +Up to this time even his experience with the Presence had not touched +this philosophy of his which he had constructed like a fancy scaffolding +inside of which he expected to fashion his life. The Presence and his +partial surrender to its influence had been a matter of the heart, and +until now it had not occurred to him that his allegiance to the Christ +was incompatible with his former philosophy. The doctrine of the +resurrection suddenly stood before him as something that must be +accepted along with the Christ, or the Christ was not the Christ! Christ +<i>was</i> the resurrection if He was at all! Christ <i>had</i> to be that, <i>had</i> +to have conquered death, or He would not have been the Christ; He would +not have been God humanized for the understanding of men unless He could +do God-like things. He was not God if He could not conquer death. He +would not be a man's Christ if He could not come to man in his darkest +hour and conquer his greatest enemy; put Himself up against death and +come out victorious!</p> + +<p>A great fact had been revealed to Courtland: There was a resurrection of +the dead, and Christ was the hope of that resurrection! It was as if he +had just met Christ face to face and heard Him say so; had it all +explained to him fully and satisfactorily. He doubted if he could tell +the professor in the Biblical Literature class how, because perhaps <i>he</i> +hadn't seen the Christ that way; <a name="Page_77" id="Page_77"></a>but others understood! That white, +strained face of the girl was not hopeless. There was the light of a +great hope in her eyes; they could see afar off over the loneliness of +the years that were to be, up to the time when she should meet the +little brother again, glorified, perfected, stainless!</p> + +<p>It suddenly came to Courtland to think how Stephen Marshall would look +with that glorified body. The last glimpse he had had of him standing +above the burning pit of the theater with the halo of flames about his +head had given him a vision. A great gladness came up within him that +some day he would surely see Stephen Marshall again, grasp his hand, +make him know how he repented his own negative part in the persecution +that had led him to his death; make him understand how in dying he had +left a path of glory behind and given life to Paul Courtland.</p> + +<p>In the prayer that followed the minister seemed as though he were +talking with dear familiarity to One whom he knew well. The young man, +listening, marveled that any dared come so near, and found himself +longing for such assurance and comradeship.</p> + +<p>They took the casket out to a quiet place beyond the city, where the +little body might rest until the sister wished to take it away.</p> + +<p>As they stood upon that bleak hillside, dotted over with white +tombstones, the looming city in the distance off at the right, Courtland +recognized the group of spreading buildings that belonged to-his +university. He marveled at the closeness of life and death in this +world. Out there the busy city, everybody tired and hustling to get, to +learn, to enjoy; out here everybody lying quiet, like the corn of wheat +in the ground, waiting for the resurrection time, the call of God to +come forth in beauty! What a difference it would make in the <a name="Page_78" id="Page_78"></a>working, +and getting, and hustling, and learning, and enjoying if everybody +remembered how near the lying-quiet time might be! How unready some +might be to lie down and feel that it was all over! How much difference +it must make what one had done with the time over there in the city, +when the stopping time came! How much better it would be if one could +live remembering the Presence, always being aware of its nearness! To +live Christ! What would that mean? Was he ready to surrender a thought +like that?</p> + +<p>The minister, it appeared, had a very urgent call in another direction. +He must take a trolley that passed the gate of the cemetery and go off +at once. It fell to Courtland to look after the girl, for the doctor had +not been able to leave his practice to take the long ride to the +cemetery. She, it seemed, did not hear what they said, nor care who went +with her.</p> + +<p>Courtland led her to the carriage and put her in. "I suppose you will +want to go directly back to the house?" he said.</p> + +<p>She turned to him as if she were coming out of a trance. She caught her +breath and gave him one wild, beseeching look, crying out with something +like a sob: "Oh, how can I <i>ever</i> go back to that room <i>now</i>?" And then +her breath seemed suddenly to leave her and she fell back against the +seat as if she were lifeless.</p> + +<p>He sprang in beside her, took her in his arms, resting her head against +his shoulder, loosened her coat about her throat, and chafed her cold +hands, drawing the robes closely about her slender shoulders, but she +lay there white and without a sign, of life. He thought he never had +seen anything so ghastly white as her face.</p> + +<p>The driver came around and offered a bottle of brandy. They forced a few +drops between her teeth, and after a moment there came a faint flutter +of her <a name="Page_79" id="Page_79"></a>eyelids. She came to herself for just an instant, looked about +her, realized her sorrow once more, and dropped off into oblivion again.</p> + +<p>"She's in a bad way!" murmured the driver, looking worried. "I guess +we'd better get her somewheres. I don't want to have no responsibility. +My chief's gone back to the city, and the other man's gone across the to +West Side. I reckon we'd better go on and stop at some hospital if she +don't come to pretty soon."</p> + +<p>The driver vanished and the carriage started at a rapid pace. Courtland +sat supporting his silent charge in growing alarm, alternately chafing +her hands and trying to force more brandy between her set lips. He was +relieved when at last the carriage stopped again and he recognized the +stone buildings of one of the city's great hospitals. <a name="Page_80" id="Page_80"></a></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX</h2> + + +<p>When Courtland got back to the university the afternoon examination had +been in progress almost half an hour. With a brief explanation to the +professor, he settled to his belated work regardless of Bill Ward's +anxious glances from the back of the room and Pat's lifted eyebrows from +the other side. He knew he had yet to meet those three beloved +antagonists. He seemed to have progressed through eons of experience +since he talked with them last night. The intricate questions of the +examination on political science over which he was trying faithfully to +work seemed paltry beside the great facts of life and death.</p> + +<p>He had remained at the hospital until the girl came out of her long +swoon and the doctor said she was better, but the thought of her white +face was continually before him. When he closed his eyes for a moment to +think how to phrase some answer in his paper he would see that still, +beautiful face as it lay on his shoulder in the carriage. It had filled +him with awe to think that he, a stranger, was her only friend in that +great city, and she might be dying! Somehow he could not cast her off as +a common stranger.</p> + +<p>He had arranged that she should be placed in a small private room at a +moderate cost, and paid for a week in advance. The cost was a mere +trifle to Courtland. The new overcoat he had meant to buy this week +would more than cover the cost. Besides, if he needed <a name="Page_81" id="Page_81"></a>more than his +ample allowance his father was always quite ready to advance what he +wanted. But the strange thing about all this was that, having paid to +put the girl where she would be perfectly comfortable and be well taken +care of, he could not cast her off and forget her. His responsibility +seemed to be doubled with everything he did for her. Between the +problems of deep state perplexities and intrigues was ever the +perplexity about that girl and how she was going to live all alone with +her tragedy—or tragedies—for it was apparent from the little hints she +had dropped that the death of the small brother was only the climax of +quite a series of sorrows that had come to her young life. And yet she, +with all that sorrow compassing her about, could still believe in the +Christ and call upon Him in her trouble! There was a kind of triumphant +feeling in his heart when he reached that conclusion.</p> + +<p>He lay on the couch in Tennelly's room that night after supper and tried +to think it out, while the other three clattered away about their marks +and held an indignation meeting over the way Pat was getting +black-listed by all the professors just when he was trying so hard. He +didn't know the fellows were keeping it up to get his mind away from the +funeral. He was thinking about that girl.</p> + +<p>The doctor had told him that she was very much run down. It looked as if +the process had been going on for some time. Her heart action was not +all it should be, and there were symptoms of lack of nutrition. What she +needed was rest, utter rest. Sleep if possible most of the time for at +least a week, with, careful feeding every two or three hours, and after +that a quiet, cheerful place with plenty of fresh air and sunshine and +more sleep; no anxiety, and nothing to call on the exhausted energies +for action or hurry. <a name="Page_82" id="Page_82"></a></p> + +<p>Now how was a state of things like that to be brought about for a person +who had no home, no friends, no money, and no time to lie idle? +Moreover, how could there be any cheerful spot in the wide world for a +little girl who had passed through the fire as she had done?</p> + +<p>Presently he went out to the drug-store and telephoned to the hospital. +They said she had had only one more slight turn of unconsciousness, but +had rallied from it quickly and was resting quietly now. They hoped she +would have a good night.</p> + +<p>Then he went back to his room and thought about her some more. He had an +important English examination the next day, one in which he especially +wanted to do well; yet try as he would to concentrate on Wells and Shaw, +that girl and what was going to become of her would get in between him +and his book.</p> + +<p>It was after ten o'clock when he sauntered down the hall and stood in +Stephen Marshall's room for a few minutes, as he was getting the habit +of doing every night. The peace of it and the uplift that that room +always gave him were soothing to his soul. If he had known a little more +about the Christ to whose allegiance he had declared himself he might +have knelt and asked for guidance; but as yet he had not so much as +heard of a promise to the man who "abides," and "asks what he will." +Nevertheless, when he entered that room his mind took on the attitude of +prayer and he felt that somehow the Presence got close to him, so that +questions that had perplexed him were made clear.</p> + +<p>As he stood that night looking about the plain walls, his eyes fell upon +that picture of Stephen Marshall's mother. A mother! Ah! if there were a +mother somewhere to whom that girl could go! Some one who would +understand her; be gentle and tender with her; <a name="Page_83" id="Page_83"></a>love her, as he should +think a real mother would do—what a difference that would make!</p> + +<p>He began to think over all the women he knew—all the mothers. There +were not so many of them. Some of the professors' wives who had sons and +daughters of their own? Well, they might be all well enough for their +own sons and daughters, but there wasn't one who seemed likely to want +to behave in a very motherly way to a stranger like his waif of a girl. +They were nice to the students, polite and kind to the extent of one tea +or reception apiece a year, but that was about the limit.</p> + +<p>Well, there was Tennelly's mother! Dignified, white-haired, beautiful, +dominant in her home and clubs, charming to her guests; but—he could +just fancy how she would raise her lorgnette and look "Bonnie" Brentwood +over. There would be no room in that grand house for a girl like Bonnie. +Bonnie! How the name suited her! He had a strange protective feeling +about that girl, not as if she were like the other girls he knew; +perhaps it was a sort of a "Christ-brother" feeling, as the minister had +suggested. But to go on with the list of mothers—wasn't there one +anywhere to whom he could appeal? Gila's mother? Pah! That painted, +purple image of a mother! Her own daughter needed to find a real mother +somewhere. She couldn't mother a stranger! Mothers! Why weren't there +enough real ones to go around? If he had only had a mother, a real one, +himself, who had lived, she would have been one to whom he could have +told Bonnie's story, and she would have understood!</p> + +<p>He looked into the pictured eyes on the wall and an idea came to him. It +was like an answer to prayer. Stephen Marshall's mother! Why hadn't he +thought of her before? She was that kind of a mother of course, <a name="Page_84" id="Page_84"></a>or +Stephen Marshall would not have been the man he was! If the Bonnie girl +could only get to her for a little while! But would she take her? Would +she understand? Or might she be too overcome with her own loss to have +been able to rally to life again? He looked into the strong motherly +face and was sure <i>not</i>.</p> + +<p>He would write to her. He would put it to the test whether there was a +mother in the world or not. He went back to his room, and wrote her a +long letter, red-hot from the depths of his heart; a letter such as he +might have written to his own mother if he had ever known her, but such +as certainly he had never written to any woman before. He wrote:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<span class="smcap">Dear Mother of Stephen Marshall</span>:<br /> + + +<p>I know you are a real mother because Stephen was what he +was. And now I am going to let you prove it by coming to you +with something that needs a mother's help.</p> + +<p>There is a little girl—I should think she must be about +nineteen or twenty years old—lying in the hospital, worn +out with hard work and sorrow. She has recently lost her +father and mother, and had brought her little five-year-old +brother to the city a couple of weeks ago. They were living +in a very small room, boarding themselves, she working all +day somewhere down-town. Two days ago, as she was coming +home in the trolley, her little brother, crossing the street +to meet her, was knocked down and killed by a passing +automobile. We buried him to-day, and the girl fainted dead +away on the way back from the cemetery and only recovered +consciousness when we got her to the hospital. The doctor +says she has exhausted her vitality and needs to sleep for a +week and be fed up; and then she ought to go to some +cheerful place where she can just rest for a while and have +fresh air and sunshine and good, plain, nourishing food.</p> + +<p>Now she hasn't a friend in the city. I know from the few +little things she has told me that there isn't any one in +the world she will feel free to turn to. She isn't the kind +of girl <a name="Page_85" id="Page_85"></a>who will accept charity. She's refined, reserved, +independent, and all that, you know. There's another thing, +too—she prays to your Stephen's Christ—that's why I dared +write to you about it.</p> + +<p>You see, I'm an entire stranger to her. I just happened +along when the kid was killed and had to stick around and +help; that's how I came to know. Of course she hasn't any +idea of all this, and I haven't any real business with it, +but I can't see leaving her in a hole this way; and there's +no one else to do anything.</p> + +<p>You wonder why I didn't find a mother nearer by, but I +haven't any living of my own, except a stepmother, who +wouldn't understand, and all the other mothers I know +wouldn't qualify for the job any better. I've been looking +at your picture and I think you would.</p> + +<p>What I thought of is this (if it doesn't strike you that way +maybe you can think of some other way): I'm pretty well +fixed for money, and I've got a lump that I've been +intending to use for a new automobile; but my old car is +plenty good enough for another year, and I'd like to pay +that girl's board awhile till she gets rested and strong and +sort of cheered up. I thought perhaps you'd see your way +clear to write a letter and say you'd like her to visit +you—you're lonesome or Something. I don't know how a real +mother would fix that up, but I guess you do.</p> + +<p>Of course the girl mustn't know I have a thing to do with it +except that I told you about her. She'd be up in the air in +a minute. She wouldn't stand for me doing anything for her. +She's that kind.</p> + +<p>I'm sending a check of two hundred dollars right now because +I thought, in case you see a way to take up with my +suggestion, you might send her money enough for the journey. +I don't believe she's got any. We can fix it up about the +board any way you say. Don't hesitate to tell me just how +much it is worth. I don't need the money for anything. But +whatever's done has got to be done mighty quick or she'll go +back to work again, and she won't last three days if she +does. She looks as if a breath would blow her away.<a name="Page_86" id="Page_86"></a> I'm +sending this special delivery to hurry things. Her address +is Miss R.B. Brentwood, Good Samaritan Hospital. The kid +called her "Bonnie." I don't know what her whole name is.</p> + +<p>So now you have the whole story, and it's up to you to +decide. Maybe you think I've got a lot of crust to propose +this, and maybe you won't see it this way, but I've had the +nerve because Stephen Marshall's life and Stephen Marshall's +death have made me believe in Stephen Marshall's Christ and +Stephen Marshall's mother.</p></div> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 22em;">I am, very respectfully,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 28em;">P</span><span class="smcap">aul Courtland.</span><br /> +</p> + + +<p>He mailed the letter that night and then studied hard till three o'clock +in the morning.</p> + +<p>The next morning's mail brought him a dainty little note from Gila's +mother, inviting him to a quiet family dinner with them on Friday +evening. He frowned when he read it. He didn't care for the large, +painted person, but perhaps there was more good in her than he knew. He +would have to go and find out. It might even be that she would be a help +in case Stephen Marshall's mother did not pan out. <a name="Page_87" id="Page_87"></a></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X</h2> + + +<p>Mother Marshall stood by the kitchen window, with her cheek against a +boy's old soft felt hat, and she looked out into the gathering dusk for +Father. The hat was so old and worn that its original shape and color +were scarcely distinguishable, and there was one spot where Mother +Marshall's tears had washed some of the grime away into deeper stains +about it. It was only on days when Father was off to town on errands +that she allowed herself the momentary weakness of tears.</p> + +<p>So she had stood in former years looking out into the dusk for her son +to come whistling home from school. So she had stood the day the awful +news of his fiery death had come, while Father sat in his rush-bottomed +chair and groaned. She had laid her cheek against that old felt hat and +comforted herself with the thought of her boy, her splendid boy, who had +lived his short life so intensely and wonderfully. When she felt that +old scratchy felt against her cheek it somehow brought back the memory +of his strong young shoulder, where she used to lay her head sometimes +when she felt tired and he would fold her in his arms and brush her +forehead with his lips and pat her shoulder. The neighbors sometimes +wondered why she kept that old felt hat hanging there, just as when +Stephen was alive among them, but Mother Marshall never said anything +about it; she just kept it there, and it comforted her <a name="Page_88" id="Page_88"></a>to feel it; one +of those little homely, tangible things that our poor souls have to +tether to sometimes when we lose the vision and get faint-hearted. +Mother Marshall wasn't morbid one bit. She always looked on the bright +side of everything; and she had had much joy in her son as he was +growing up. She had seen him strong of body, strong of soul, keen of +mind. He had won the scholarship of the whole Northwest to the big +Eastern university. It had been hard to pack him up and have him go away +so far, where she couldn't hope to see him soon, where she couldn't +listen for his whistle coming home at night, where he couldn't even come +back for Sunday and sit in the old pew in church with them. But those +things had to come. It was the only way he could grow and fulfil his +part of God's plan. And so she put away her tears till he was gone, and +kept them for the old felt hat when Father was out about the farm. And +then when the news came that Stephen had graduated so soon, gone up +higher to God's eternal university to live and work among the great, +even then her soul had been big enough to see the glory of it behind the +sorrow, and say with trembling, conquering lips: "I shall go to him, but +he shall not return to me. The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away. +Blessed be the name of the Lord!"</p> + +<p>That was the kind of nerve that blessed little Mother Marshall was built +with, and it was only in such times as these, when Father had gone to +town and stayed a little later than usual, that the tears in her heart +got the better of her and she laid her face against the old felt hat.</p> + +<p>Down the road in the gloom moved a dark speck. It couldn't be Father, +for he had gone in the machine—the nice, comfortable little car that +Stephen had made <a name="Page_89" id="Page_89"></a>them get before he went away to college, because he +said that Father needed to have things easier now. Father would be in +the machine, and by this time the lights would be lit. Father was very +careful always about lighting up when it grew dusk. He had a great +horror of accidents to other people. Not that he was afraid for himself, +no indeed. Father was a <i>man</i>! The kind of a man to be the father of a +Stephen!</p> + +<p>The speck grew larger. It made a chugging noise. It was one of those +horrible motor-cycles. Mother Marshall hated them, though she had never +revealed the fact. Stephen had wanted one, had said he intended to get +one with the first money he earned after he came out of college, but she +had hoped in her heart they would go out of fashion by that time and +there would be something less fiendish-looking to take their place. They +always looked to her as if they were headed straight for destruction, +and the person on them seemed as if he were going to the devil and +didn't care. She secretly hated the idea of Stephen ever sitting upon +one of them, flying through space. But now he was gone beyond all such +fears. He had wings, and there were no dangers where he was. All danger +and fear was over for him. She had never wanted either of her men to +know the inward quakings of her soul over each new risk as Stephen began +to grow up. She wanted to be worthy to be the mother and wife of +noblemen, and fears were not for such; so she hid them and struggled +against them in secret.</p> + +<p>The motor-cycle came on like a comet now, and turned thundering in at +the big gate. A sudden alarm filled Mother Marshall's soul. Had +something happened to Father? That was the only terrible thing left in +life to happen now. An accident! And this boy had come to prepare her +for the worst? She had the <a name="Page_90" id="Page_90"></a>kitchen door wide open even before the boy +had stopped his machine and set it on its mysterious feet.</p> + +<p>"Sp'c'l d'liv'ry!" fizzed the boy, handing her a fat envelope, a book, +and the stub of a pencil. "Si'n'eer!" indicating a line on the book.</p> + +<p>She managed to write her name in cramped characters, but her hand was +trembling so she could hardly form the letters. A wild idea that perhaps +they had discovered somehow that Stephen had escaped death in some +miraculous manner flitted through her brain and out again, controlled by +her strong common sense. Such notions always came to people after death +had taken their loved ones—frenzied hopes for miracles! Stephen had +been dead for four months now. There could be no such possibility, of +course.</p> + +<p>Just to calm herself she went and opened the slide of the range and +shoved the tea-kettle a little farther on so it would begin to boil, +before she opened that fat letter. She lit the lamp, too, put it on the +supper-table, and changed the position of the bread-plate, covering it +nicely with a fringed napkin so the bread wouldn't get dry. Everything +must be ready when Father got back. Then she went and sat down with her +gold spectacles and tore open that envelope.</p> + +<p>She was so absorbed in the letter that she failed for the first time +since they got the car to hear its pleasant purr as it came down the +road, and the big head-lights sent their rays out cheerfully without any +one at the kitchen window to see. Father was getting worried that the +kitchen door didn't fly open as he drew in beside the big flag-stone, +when Mother suddenly came flying out with her face all smiles and +eagerness. He hadn't seen her look that way since Stephen went away.</p> + +<p>She had left a trail of letter all the way from her big chair to the +door, and she held the envelope in her hand.<a name="Page_91" id="Page_91"></a> She rushed out and buried +her face in his rough coat-collar:</p> + +<p>"Oh, Father! I've been so worried about you!" she declared, joyfully, +but she didn't look worried a bit.</p> + +<p>Father looked down at her tenderly and patted her plump shoulder. "Had a +flat tire and had to stop, and get her pumped up," he explained, "and +then the man found a place wanted patching. He took a little longer than +I expected. I was afraid you would worry."</p> + +<p>"Well, hurry in," she said, eagerly. "Supper's all ready and I've got a +letter to read to you."</p> + +<p>It went without saying that if Mother liked a thing in that home Father +would, too. His sun rose and set in Mother, and they had lived together +so long and harmoniously that the thoughts of one were the reflection of +the other. It didn't matter which, you asked about a thing, you were +sure to get the same opinion as if you had asked the other. It wasn't +that one gave way to the other; it was just that they had the same +habits of thought and decision, the same principles to go by. So when, +after she had passed the hot johnny-cake, seen to it that Father had the +biggest pork chop and the mealiest potato, and given him his cup of +coffee creamed and sugared just right, Mother got out the letter with +the university crest and began to read. She had no fears that Father +would not agree with her about it. She read eagerly, sure of his +sympathy in her pleasure; sure he would think it was nice of Stephen's +friend to write to her and pick her out as a real mother, saying all +those pleasant things about her; sure he would be proud that she, with +all the women they had in the East, should have so brought up a boy that +a stranger knew she was a real mother. She had no fear that Father would +frown and declare they couldn't be bothered with a stranger around, that +it would cost <a name="Page_92" id="Page_92"></a>a lot and Mother needed to rest. She knew he would be +touched at once with the poor, lonely girl's position, and want to do +anything in his power to help her. She knew he would be ready to fall +right in with anything she should suggest. And, true to her conviction, +Father's eyes lighted with tenderness as she read, watched her proudly +and nodded in strong affirmation at the phrases touching her ability as +mother.</p> + +<p>"That's right, Mother, you'll qualify for a job as mother better 'n any +woman I ever saw!" said Father, heartily, as he reached for another +helping of butter.</p> + +<p>His face kindled with interest as the letter went on with its +proposition, but he shook his head when it came to the money part, +interrupting her:</p> + +<p>"I don't like that idea, Mother; we don't keep boarders, and we're +plenty able to invite company for as long as we like. Besides, it don't +seem just the right thing for that young feller to be paying her board. +She wouldn't like it if she knew it. If she was our daughter we wouldn't +want her to be put in that position, though it's very kind of him of +course—"</p> + +<p>"Of course!" said Mother, breathlessly. "He couldn't very well ask us, +you know, without saying something like that, especially as he doesn't +know us, except by hearsay, at all."</p> + +<p>"Of course," agreed Father; "but then, equally of course we won't let it +stand that way. You can send that young feller back his check, and tell +him to get his new ottymobeel. He won't be young but once, and I reckon +a young feller of that kind won't get any harm from his ottymobeels, no +matter how many he has of 'em. You can see by his letter he ain't +spoiled yet, and if he's got hold of Steve's idea of things he'll find +plenty of use for his money, doing good where there ain't a young woman +about that is bound to object to being <a name="Page_93" id="Page_93"></a>took care of by a young man she +don't know and don't belong to. However, I guess you can say that, +Mother, without offending him. Tell him we'll take care of the money +part. Tell him we're real glad to get a daughter. You're sure, Mother, +it won't be hard for you to have a stranger around in Steve's place?"</p> + +<p>"No, I like it," said Mother, with a smile, brushing away a bright tear +that burst out unawares. "I like it '<i>hard</i>,' as Steve used to say! Do +you know, Father, what I've been thinking—what I thought right away +when I read that letter? I thought, suppose that girl was the one +Stephen would have loved and wanted to marry if he had lived. And +suppose he had brought her home here, what a fuss we would have made +about her, and all! And I'd just have loved to fix up the house and make +it look pleasant for her and love her as if she were my own daughter."</p> + +<p>Father's eyes were moist, too. "H'm! Yes!" he said, trying to clear his +throat. "I guess she'd be com'ny for you, too, Mother, when I have to go +to town, and she'd help around with the work some when she got better."</p> + +<p>"I've been thinking," said Mother. "I've always thought I'd like to fix +up the spare room. I read in my magazine how to fix up a young girl's +room when she comes home from college, and I'd like to fix it like that +if there's time. You paint the furniture white, and have two sets of +curtains, pink and white, and little shelves for her books. Do you think +we could do it?"</p> + +<p>"Why, sure!" said Father. He was so pleased to see Mother interested +like this that he was fairly trembling. She had been so still and quiet +and wistful ever since the news came about Stephen. "Why, sure! Get some +pretty wall-paper, too, while you're 'bout it. S'posen you and I take a +run to town again in the morning and pick it out. Then you can pick your +curtains <a name="Page_94" id="Page_94"></a>and paint, too, and get Jed Lewis to come in the afternoon and +put on the first coat. How about calling him up on the 'phone right now +and asking him about it? I'm real glad we've got that 'phone. It'll come +in handy now."</p> + +<p>Mother's eyes glistened. The 'phone was another thing Stephen insisted +upon before he left home. They hadn't used it half a dozen times except +when the telegrams came, but they hadn't the heart to have it +disconnected, because Stephen had taken so much pride in having it put +in. He said he didn't like his mother left alone in the house without a +chance to call a neighbor or send for the doctor.</p> + +<p>"Come to think of it, hadn't you better send a telegram to that chap +to-night? You know we can 'phone it down to the town office. He'll maybe +be worried how you're going to take that letter. Tell him he's struck +the right party, all right, and you're on the job writing that little +girl a letter to-night that'll make her welcome and no mistake. But tell +him we'll finance this operation ourselves, and he can save the +ottymobeel for the next case that comes along—words to that effect you +know, Mother."</p> + +<p>The supper things were shoved back and the telephone brought into +requisition. They called up Jed Lewis first before he went to bed, and +got his reluctant promise that he would be on hand at two o'clock the +next afternoon. They had to tell him they were expecting company or he +might not have been there for a week in spite of his promise.</p> + +<p>It took nearly an hour to reduce the telegram to ten words, but at last +they settled on:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Bonnie welcome. Am writing you both to-night. No money +necessary.</p></div> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">(Signed) </span><span class="smcap">Stephen's Mother and Father.</span><br /> +<a name="Page_95" id="Page_95"></a></p> + +<p>The letters were happy achievements of brevity, for it was getting late, +and Mother Marshall realized that they must be up early in the morning +to get all that shopping done before two o'clock.</p> + +<p>First the letter to Bonnie, written in a cramped, laborious hand:</p> + + +<div class="blockquot"><p><span class="smcap">Dear Little Girl:</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>You don't know me, but I've heard about you from a sort of +neighbor of yours. I'm just a lonely mother whose only son +has gone home to heaven. I've heard all about your sorrow +and loneliness, and I've taken a notion that maybe you would +like to come and visit me for a little while and help cheer +me up. Maybe we can comfort each other a little bit, and, +anyhow, I want you to come.</p> + +<p>Father and I are fixing up your room for you, just as we +would if you were our own daughter coming home from college. +For you see we've quite made up our minds you will come, and +Father wants you just as much as I do. We are sending you +mileage, and a check to get any little things you may need +for the journey, because, of course, we wouldn't want to put +you to expense to come all this long way just to please two +lonely old people. It's enough for you that you are willing +to come, and we're so glad about it that it almost seems as +if the birds must be singing and the spring flowers going to +bloom for you, even though it is only the middle of winter.</p> + +<p>Don't wait to get any fixings. Just come as you are. We're +plain folks.</p> + +<p>Father says be sure you get a good, comfortable berth in the +sleeper, and have your trunk checked right through. If +you've got any other things besides your trunk, have them +sent right along by freight. It's better to have your things +here where you can look after them than stored away off +there.</p> + +<p>We're so happy about your coming we can't seem to wait till +we hear what time you start, so please send a telegram <a name="Page_96" id="Page_96"></a>as +soon as you get this, saying when the doctor will let you +come, and don't disappoint us for anything.</p></div> + +<div> +<span style="margin-left: 22em;">Lovingly, your friend,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 28em;">R</span><span class="smcap">achel Marshall.</span><br /> +</div> + +<p>The letter to Courtland was more brief, but just as expressive:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p> +<span class="smcap">Mr. Paul Courtland:</span><br /> +</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Dear Friend.</span>—You're a dear boy and I'm proud that +my son had you for a friend.</p></div> + +<p>(When Courtland read that letter he winced at that sentence and saw +himself once more standing in the hall in front of Stephen Marshall's +room, holding the garments of those who persecuted him.)</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I have written Bonnie Brentwood, telling her how much we +want her, and I am going to town in the morning to get some +things to fix up a pretty room for her. I thank you for +thinking I was a good mother. Father and I are both quite +proud about it. We are very lonely and are glad to have a +daughter for as long as she will stay. But, anyway, if we +hadn't wanted her, we could not have said no when you asked +for Christ's sake. Father says we are returning the check +because we want to do this for Bonnie ourselves; then there +won't be anything to cover up. Father says if you have begun +this way you will find plenty of ways to spend that money +for Christ and let us look after this one little girl. We've +sent her mileage and some money, and we're going to try to +make her happy. And some day we would be very happy if you +would come out and visit us. I should like to know you for +my dear Stephen's sake. You are a dear boy, and I want to +know you better. I am glad you have found our Christ. Father +thinks so too. Thank you for thinking I would understand.</p></div> + +<div> +<span style="margin-left: 22em;">Lovingly,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 28em;">M</span><span class="smcap">other Marshall.</span><br /> +<a name="Page_97" id="Page_97"></a></div> + +<p>But after all that excitement Mother Marshall could not sleep. She lay +quietly beside Father in the old four-poster and planned all about that +room. She must get Sam Carpenter to put in some little shelves each side +of the windows, and a wide locker between for a window-seat, and she +would make some pillows like those in the magazine pictures. She +pictured how the girl would look, a dozen times, and what she would say, +and once her heart was seized with fear that she had not made her letter +cordial enough. She went over the words of the young man's letter as +well as she could remember them, and let her heart soar and be glad that +Stephen had touched one life and left it better for his being in the +university that little time.</p> + +<p>Once she stirred restlessly, and Father put out his hand and touched her +in alarm:</p> + +<p>"What's the matter, Rachel? Aren't you sleeping?"</p> + +<p>"Father, I believe we'll have to get a new rug for that room."</p> + +<p>"Sure!" said Father, relaxing sleepily.</p> + +<p>"Gray, with pink rosebuds, soft and thick," she whispered.</p> + +<p>"Sure! pink, with gray rosebuds," murmured Father as he dropped off +again.</p> + +<p>They made very little of breakfast the next morning; they were both too +excited about getting off early; and Mother Marshall forgot to caution +Father about going at too high speed. If she suspected that he was +running a little faster than usual she winked at it, for she was anxious +to get to the stores as soon as possible. She had arisen early to read +over the article in the magazine again, and she knew to a nicety just +how much pink and white she would need for the curtains and cushions. +She had it in the back of her mind that she meant to get little brass +handles and keyholes <a name="Page_98" id="Page_98"></a>for the bureau also. She was like a child who was +getting ready for a new doll.</p> + +<p>It was not until they were on their way back home again, with packages +all about their feet, and an eager light in their faces, that an idea +suddenly came to both of them—an idea so chilling that the eagerness +went out of their eyes for a moment, and the old, patient, sweet look of +sorrow came back. It was Mother Marshall who put it into words:</p> + +<p>"You don't suppose, Seth," she appealed—she always called him Seth in +times of crisis—"you don't suppose that perhaps she mightn't <i>want</i> to +come, after all!"</p> + +<p>"Well, I was thinking, Rachel," he said, tenderly, "we'd best not be +getting too set on it. But, anyhow, we'd be ready for some one else. You +know Stevie always wanted you to have things fixed nice and fancy. But +you fix it up. I guess she's coming. I really do think she must be +coming! We'll just pray about it and then we'll leave it there!"</p> + +<p>And so with peace in their faces they arrived at home, just five minutes +before the painter was due, and unloaded their packages. Father lifted +out the big roll of soft, velvety carpeting, gray as a cloud, with moss +roses scattered over it. He was proud to think he could buy things like +this for Mother. Of course now they had no need to save and scrimp for +Stephen the way they had done during the years; so it was well to make +the rest of the way as bright for Mother as he could. And this "Bonnie" +girl! If she would only come, what a bright, happy thing it would be in +their desolated home!</p> + +<p>But suppose she shouldn't come? <a name="Page_99" id="Page_99"></a></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI</h2> + + +<p>The telegram reached Courtland Friday evening, just as he was going to +the Dare dinner, and filled him with an almost childish delight. Not for +a long time had he had anything as nice as that happen; not even when he +made Phi Beta Kappa in his junior year had he been so filled with +exultation. It was like having a fairy-tale come true. To think there +had really been a woman in the world who would respond in that cordial +way to a call from the great unknown!</p> + +<p>He presented himself in his most sparkling mood at the house where he +was to dine. There was nothing at all blue about him. His eyes fairly +danced with pleasure and his smile was rare. Gila looked and drooped her +eyes demurely. She thought the sparkle was all for her, and her little +wicked heart gave a throb of exultant joy.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dare was no longer a large, purple person. She was in full evening +dress, explaining that she and her husband had an engagement at the +opera after dinner. She resembled the fat dough people that the cook +used to fashion for him in his youth. Her pudgy arms so reminded him of +those shapeless cooky arms that he found himself fascinated by the +thought as he watched her moving her bejeweled hands among the trinkets +at her end of the glittering table. Her gown, what there was of it, was +of black gauze emblazoned with dartling sequins of deep blue. An aigret +in her hair <a name="Page_100" id="Page_100"></a>twinkled knowingly above her coarse, painted face. +Courtland, as he studied her more closely, rejoiced that the telegram +had arrived before he left the dormitory, for he never could have had +the courage to come to this plump-shouldered lady seeking refuge for his +refined little Bonnie girl.</p> + +<p>The father of the family was a little wisp of a man with a nervous laugh +and a high, thin voice. There were kind lines around his mouth and eyes, +indulgent lines—not self-indulgent, either, and insomuch they were +noble—but there was a weakness about the face that showed he was ruled +by others to a large extent. He said, "Yes, my dear!" quite obediently +when his wife ordered him affably around. There was a cunning look in +his eye that might explain the general impression current that he knew +how to turn a dollar to his own account.</p> + +<p>It occurred to Courtland to wonder what would happen if he should +suddenly ask Mr. Dare what he thought of Christ, or if he believed in +the resurrection. He could quite imagine they would look aghast as if he +had spoken of something impolite. One couldn't think of Mrs. Dare in a +resurrection, she would seem so out of place, so sort of unclothed for +the occasion, in those fat, doughy arms with her glittering jet +shoulder-straps. He realized that all these thoughts that raced through +his head were but fantasies occasioned no doubt by his own highly +wrought nervous condition, but they kept crowding in and bringing the +mirth to his eyes. How, for instance, would Mother Marshall and Mother +Dare hit it off if they should happen together in the same heaven?</p> + +<p>Gila was all in white, from the tip of her pearly shoulders down to the +tip of her pearl-beaded slippers—white and demure. Her skin looked even +more <a name="Page_101" id="Page_101"></a>pearly than when she wore the brilliant red-velvet gown. It had a +pure, dazzling whiteness, different from most skins. It perplexed him. +It did not look like flesh, but more like some ethereal substance meant +for angels. He drew a breath of satisfaction that there was not even a +flush upon it to-night. No painting there at least! He was not master of +the rare arts that skins are subject to in these days. He knew +artificial whiteness only when it was glaring and floury. This pearly +paleness was exquisite, delicious; and in contrast the great dark eyes, +lifted pansy-like for an instant and then down-drooped beneath those +wonderful, long curling lashes, were almost startling in their beauty. +The hair was simply arranged with a plain narrow band of black velvet +around the white temples, and the soft loops of cloudy darkness drawn +out on her cheeks in her own fantastic way. There was an attempt at +demureness in the gown; soft folds of pure transparent nothing seemed to +shelter what they could not hide, and more such folds drooped over the +lovely arms to the elbows. Surely, surely, this was loveliness +undefiled. The words of Peer Gynt came floating back disconnectedly, +more as a puzzled question in his mind than as they stand in the story:</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">"Is your psalm-book in your 'kerchief?</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3.5em;">Do you glance adown your apron?</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 4.5em;">Do you hold your mother's skirt-fold?</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 5.5em;">Speak!"</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>But he only looked at her admiringly, and talked on about the college +games, making himself agreeable to every one, and winning more and more +the lifted pansy-eyes.</p> + +<p>When dinner was over they drifted informally into <a name="Page_102" id="Page_102"></a>a large +white-and-gold reception-room, with inhospitable chairs and settees +whose satin slipperiness offered no inducements to sit down. There were +gold-lacquered tables and a curious concert-grand piano, also gold +inlaid with mother-of-pearl cupids and flowers. Everything was most +elaborate. Gila, in her soft transparencies, looked like a wraith amid +it all. The young man chose to think she was too rare and fine for a +place so ornate.</p> + +<p>Presently the fat cooky arms of the mother were enfolded in a gorgeous +blue-plush evening cloak beloaded with handsome black fur; and with many +bows and kindly words the little husband toddled off beside her, +reminding Courtland of a big cinnamon bear and a little black-and-tan +dog he had once seen together in a show.</p> + +<p>Gila stood bewitchingly childish in the great gold room, and shyly asked +if he would like to go to the library, where it was cozier. The red +light glowed across the hall, and he turned from it with a shudder of +remembrance. The glow seemed to beat upon his nerves like something +striking his eyeballs.</p> + +<p>"I'd like to hear you play, if you will," he answered, wondering in his +heart if, after all, a dolled-up instrument like that was really meant +to be played upon.</p> + +<p>Gila pouted. She did not want to play, but she would not seem to refuse +the challenge. She went to the piano and rippled off a brilliant waltz +or two, just to show him she could do it, played Humoresque, and a few +little catchy melodies that were in the popular ear just then, and then, +whirling on the gilded stool, she lifted her big eyes to him:</p> + +<p>"I don't like it in here," she said, with a little shiver, as a child +might do; "let's go into the library by the fire. It's pleasanter there +to talk."</p> + +<p>Courtland hesitated. "Look here," said he, frankly,<a name="Page_103" id="Page_103"></a> "Wouldn't you just +as soon sit somewhere else? I don't like that red light of yours. It +gets on my nerves. I don't like to see you in it. It makes you +look—well—something different from what I believe you really are. I +like a plain, honest white light."</p> + +<p>Gila gave him one swift, wondering glance and walked laughingly over to +the library door. "Oh, is that all?" she said, and, touching a button, +she switched off the big red table-lamp and switched on what seemed like +a thousand little tapers concealed softly about the ceiling.</p> + +<p>"There!" she cried, half mockingly. "You can have as much light as you +like, and when you get tired of that we can cut them all off and sit in +the firelight." She touched another button and let him see the room in +the soft dim shadows and rich glow of the fire. Then she turned the full +light on again and entered the room, dropping into one big leather chair +at the side of the fireplace and indicating another big chair on the +opposite side. She had no notion of sitting near him or of luring him to +her side to-night. She had read him aright. Hers was the demure part to +play, the reserved, shy maiden, the innocent, child-like, womanly woman. +She would play it, but she would humble him! So she had vowed with her +little white teeth set in her red lips as she stood before her +dressing-table mirror that night when he had fled from her red room and +her.</p> + +<p>Well pleased, with a sigh of relief he dropped into the chair and sat +watching her, talking idly, as one who is feeling his way to a pleasant +intimacy of whose nature he is not quite sure. She was very sweet and +sympathetic about the examinations, told how she hated them herself and +thought they ought to be abolished; said he was a wonder, that her +cousin had told her he was a regular shark, and yet he hadn't let +<a name="Page_104" id="Page_104"></a>himself be spoiled by it, either. She flattered him gently with that +deference a girl can pay to a man which makes her appear like an angel +of light, and fixes him for any confidence in the world he has to give. +She sat so quietly, with big eyes lifted now and then, talking earnestly +and appreciatively of fine and noble things, that all his best thoughts +about her were confirmed. He watched her, thinking what a lovely, +lovable woman she was, what gentle sympathy and keen appreciation of +really fine qualities she showed, child even though she seemed to be! He +studied her, thinking what a friend she might be to that other poor girl +in her loneliness and sorrow if she only would. He didn't know that he +was yielding again to the lure that the red light had made the last time +he was there. He didn't realize that, red light or white light, he was +being led on. He only knew that it was a pleasure to talk to her, to be +near her, to feel her sympathy; and that something had unlocked the +innermost depths of his heart, the place he usually kept to himself, +even away from the fellows. He had never quite opened it to a human +being before. Tennelly had come nearer to getting a glimpse than any +one. But now he was really going to open it, for he had at last found +another human being who could understand and appreciate.</p> + +<p>"May I shut off the bright light and sit in the firelight?" he asked, +and Gila acquiesced sweetly. It was just what she had been leading up +to, but she did not move from her reticent yet sympathetic position in +the retired depths of the great chair, where she knew the shadows and +the glow of the fire would play on her face and show her sweet, serious +pose.</p> + +<p>"I want to tell you about a girl I have met this week."</p> + +<p>A chill fell upon Gila, but she did not show it, she <a name="Page_105" id="Page_105"></a>never even +flickered those long lashes. Another girl! How dared he! The little +white teeth set down sharply on the little red tongue out of sight, but +the sweet, sympathetic mouth in the glow of the firelight remained +placid.</p> + +<p>"Yes?" The inflection, the lifted lashes, the whole attitude, was +perfect. He plunged ahead.</p> + +<p>"You are so very wonderful yourself that I am sure you will appreciate +and understand her, and I think you are just the friend she needs."</p> + +<p>Gila stiffened in her chair and turned her face nicely to the glow of +the fire, so he could just see her lovely profile.</p> + +<p>"She is all alone in the city—"</p> + +<p>"Oh!" broke forth Gila in almost childish dismay. "Not even a chaperon?"</p> + +<p>Courtland stopped, bewildered. Then he laughed indulgently. "She didn't +have any use for a chaperon, child," he said, as if he were a great deal +older than she. "She came here with her little brother to earn their +living."</p> + +<p>"Oh, she <i>had</i> a brother, then!" sighed Gila with evident relief.</p> + +<p>It occurred to Courtland to be a bit pleased that Gila was so particular +about the conventionalities. He had heard it rumored more than once that +her own conduct overstepped the most lenient of rules. That must have +been a mistake. It was a relief to know it from her own lips. But he +explained, gently:</p> + +<p>"The little brother was killed on Monday night," he said, gravely. "Just +run down in cold blood by a passing automobile."</p> + +<p>"How perfectly dreadful!" shuddered Gila, shrinking back into the depths +of the chair. "But you know you mustn't believe a story like that! Poor +people <a name="Page_106" id="Page_106"></a>are always getting up such tales about rich people's +automobiles. It isn't true at all. No chauffeur would do a thing like +that! The children just run out and get in the way of the cars to +tantalize the drivers. I've seen them myself. Why, our chauffeur has +been arrested three or four times and charged with running over children +and dogs, when it wasn't his fault at all; the people were just trying +to get some money out of us! I don't suppose the little child was run +over. It was probably his own fault."</p> + +<p>"Yes, he was run over," said Courtland, gently. "I saw it myself! I was +standing on the curbstone when the boy—he was a beautiful little fellow +with long golden curls—rushed out to meet his sister, calling out to +her, and the automobile came whirring by without a sign of a horn, and +crushed him down just like a broken lily. He never lifted his head nor +made a motion again, and the automobile never even slowed up to +see—just shot ahead and was gone."</p> + +<p>Gila was still for a minute. She had no words to meet a situation like +this. "Oh, well," she said, "I suppose he is better off, and the girl +is, too. How could she take care of a child in the city alone, and do +any work? Besides, children are an awful torment, and very likely he +would have turned out bad. Boys usually do. What did you want me to do +for her? Get her a position as a maid?"</p> + +<p>There was something almost flippant in her tone. Strange that Courtland +did not recognize it. But the firelight, the white gown, the pure +profile, the down-drooped lashes had done for him once more what the red +light had done before—taken him out of his normal senses and made him +see a Gila that was not really there: soft, sweet, tender, womanly. The +words, though they did not satisfy him, merely meant that <a name="Page_107" id="Page_107"></a>she had not +yet understood what he wanted, and was striving hard to find out.</p> + +<p>"No," he said, gently. "I want you to go and see her. She is sick and in +the hospital. She needs a friend, a real girl friend, such as you could +be if you would."</p> + +<p>Gila answered in her slow, pretty drawl: "Why, I hate hospitals! I +wouldn't even go to see mama when she had an operation on her neck last +winter, because I hate the odors they have around. But I'll go if you +want me to. Of course I won't promise how much good I'll do. Girls of +that stamp don't want to be helped, you know. They think they know it +all, and they are usually most insulting. But I'll see what I can do. I +don't mind giving her something. I've three evening dresses that I +perfectly hate, and one of them I've never had on but once. She might +get a position to act somewhere or sing in a café if she had good +clothes."</p> + +<p>Courtland hastened earnestly to impress her with the fact that Miss +Brentwood was a refined girl of good family, and that it would be an +insult to offer her second-hand clothing; but when he gave it up and +yielded to Gila's plea that he drop these horrid, gloomy subjects and +talk about something cheerful, he had a feeling of failure. Perhaps he +ought not to have told Gila, after all. She simply couldn't understand +the other girl because she had never dreamed of such a situation.</p> + +<p>If he could have seen his gentle Gila a couple of hours later, standing +before her mirror again and setting those little sharp teeth into her +red lip, the ugly frown between her angry eyes; if he could have heard +her low-muttered words, and, worse still, guessed her thoughts about +himself and that other girl—he certainly would have gone out and +gnashed his teeth in despair.<a name="Page_108" id="Page_108"></a> If he could have known what was to come +of his request to Gila Dare he would have rung up the hospital and had +Miss Brentwood moved to another one in hot haste, or, better still, have +taken strenuous measures to prevent that visit. But instead of that he +read Mother Marshall's telegram over again, and lay down to forget Gila +Dare utterly, and think pleasant thoughts about the Marshalls. <a name="Page_109" id="Page_109"></a></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII</h2> + + +<p>Gila Dare, in her very most startling costume, lavishly plastered with +costly fur, and high-laced, French-heeled boots, came tripping down her +father's steps to the limousine. She carried a dangling little trick of +a hand-bag and a muff big enough for a rug. Her two eyes looked forth +from the rim of the low-squashed, bandage-like fur hat like the eyes of +a small, sly mouse that was about to nibble somebody else's cheese.</p> + +<p>By her side a logy youth, with small, blue fish-eyes fixed adoringly on +her, sauntered protectingly. She wore a large bunch of pale-yellow +orchids, evidently his gift, and was paying for them with her glances. +One knew by the excited flush on the young man's face that he had rarely +been paid so well. His eyes took on a glint of intelligence, one might +almost say of hope, and he smiled egregiously, egotistically. His +assurance grew with each step he took. As he opened the door of the +luxurious car for her he wore an attitude of one who might possibly be a +fiancé. Her little mouse-eyes—you wouldn't have dreamed they could ever +be large and wistful, nor innocent, either—twinkled pleasurably. She +was playing her usual game and playing it well. It was the game for +which she was rapidly becoming notorious, young as she was.</p> + +<p>"Oh, now, <i>Chaw</i>-! <i>Ree</i>-ally! Why, I never dreamed it was that bad! But +you mustn't, you know! I never gave you permission!" <a name="Page_110" id="Page_110"></a></p> + +<p>The chauffeur, sitting stolidly in his uniform, awaiting the word to +move, wondered idly what she was up to now. He was used to seeing the +game played all around him day after day, as if he were a stick or a +stone, or one of the metal trappings of the car.</p> + +<p>"Chawley" Hathaway looked unutterable things, and the little mouse-eyes +looked back unutterable things, with that lingering, +just-too-long-for-pardoning glance that a certain kind of men and women +employ when they want to loiter near the danger-line and toy with vital +things. An impressive hand-clasp, another long, languishing look, just a +shade longer this time; then he closed the door, lifted his hat at the +mouse-eyed goddess, and the limousine swept away. They had parted as if +something momentous had occurred, and both knew in their hearts that +neither had meant anything at all except to play with fire for an +instant, like children sporting at lighting a border of forest that has +a heart of true homes in its keeping.</p> + +<p>Gila swept on in her chariot. The young man with whom she had played was +well skilled in the game. He understood her perfectly, as she him. If he +got burned sometimes it was "up to him." She meant to take good care of +herself.</p> + +<p>Around another corner she spied another acquaintance. A word to the +automaton on the front seat and the limousine swept up to the curb where +he was passing. Gila leaned out with the sweetest bow. She was the +condescending lady now; no mouse-eyes in evidence this time; just a +beautiful, commanding presence to be obeyed. She would have him ride +with her, so he got in.</p> + +<p>He was a tall, serious youth with credulous eyes, and she swept his +soulful nature as one sweeps the keys of a familiar instrument, drawing +forth time-worn melo<a name="Page_111" id="Page_111"></a>dies that, nevertheless, were new to him. And just +because he thrilled under them, and looked in her eyes with startled +earnestness, did she like to play upon his soul. It would have been a +bore if he had understood, for he was a dull soul, and young—ages young +for Gila, though his years numbered two more than hers. She liked to see +his eyes kindle and his breath come quick. Some day he would tell her +with impassioned words how much he loved her, and she would turn him +neatly and comfortably down for a while, till he learned his place and +promised not to be troublesome. Then he might join the procession again +as long as he would behave. But at present she knew she could sway him +as she would, and she touched the orchids at her belt with tender little +caressing movements and melting looks. Even before she reached home she +knew he would have a box of something rarer or more costly waiting for +her, if the city afforded such.</p> + +<p>She set him down at his club, quite well satisfied with her few minutes. +She was glad it didn't last longer, for it would have grown tiresome; +she had had just enough, carried him just far enough on the wave of +emotion, to stimulate her own soul.</p> + +<p>Sweeping away from the curb again, bowing graciously to two or three +other acquaintances who were going in or out of the club building, she +gave an order for the hospital and set her face sternly to the duty +before her.</p> + +<p>A little breeze of expectation preceded her entrance into the hospital, +a stir among the attendants about the door. Passing nurses apprized her +furs and orchids; young interns took account of her eyes—the mouse-eyes +had returned, but they lured with something unspeakable and thrilling in +them.</p> + +<p>She waited with a nice little superb air that made <a name="Page_112" id="Page_112"></a>everybody hurry to +serve her, and presently she was shown up to the door of Bonnie +Brentwood's room. Her chauffeur had followed, bearing a large pasteboard +suit-box which he set down at the door and departed.</p> + +<p>"Is this Miss Brentwood's room?" she asked of the nurse who opened the +door grudgingly. Her patient had just awakened from a refreshing sleep +and she had no notion that this lofty little person had really come to +see the quiet, sad-eyed girl who had come there in such shabby little +garments. The visitor had made a mistake, of course. The nurse +grudgingly admitted that Miss Brentwood roomed there.</p> + +<p>"Well, I've brought some things for her," said Gila, indicating the +large box at her feet. "You can take it inside and open it."</p> + +<p>The nurse opened the door a little wider, looked at the small, imperious +personage in fur trappings, and then down at the box. She hesitated a +moment in a kind of inward fury, then swung the door a little wider open +and stepped back:</p> + +<p>"You can set it inside if you wish, or wait till one of the men comes +by," she said, coolly, and deliberately walked back in the room and +busied herself with the medicine-glasses.</p> + +<p>Gila stared at her haughtily a moment, but there wasn't much +satisfaction in wasting her glares on that white-linen back, so she +stooped and dragged in the box. She came and stood by the bed, staring +down apprizingly at the sick girl.</p> + +<p>Bonnie Brentwood turned her head wearily and looked up at her with a +puzzled, half-annoyed expression. She had paid no heed to the little +altercation at the door. Her apathy toward life was great. She was lying +on the borderland, looking over and longing to go where all her dear +ones had gone. It wearied her in<a name="Page_113" id="Page_113"></a>expressibly that they all would insist +on doing things to call her back.</p> + +<p>"Is your name Brentwood?" asked Gila, in the sharp, high key so alien to +a hospital.</p> + +<p>Bonnie recalled her spirit to this world and focused her gaze on the +girl as if to try and recall where she had ever met her. Bonnie's +abundant hair was spread out over the pillow, as the nurse had just +prepared to brush it. It fell in long, rich waves of brightness and +fascinating little rings of gold about her face. Gila stared at it +jealously, as if it were something that had been stolen from her. Her +own hair, cloudy and dreamy, and made much of with all that skill and +care could do, was pitiful beside this wonderful gold mane with red and +purple shadows in its depths, and ripples and curls at the ends. +Wonderful hair!</p> + +<p>The face of the girl on the pillow was perfect in form and feature. +Regular, delicate, refined, and lovely! Gila knew it would be counted +rarely beautiful, and she was furious! How had that upstart of a college +boy dared to send her here to see a beauty! What had he meant by it?</p> + +<p>By this time the girl on the bed had summoned her soul back to earth for +the nonce, and answered in a cool, little tone of distance, as she might +have spoken to her employer, perhaps; or, in other circumstances, to the +stranger begging for work on her door-sill—Bonnie was a lady +anywhere—"Yes, I am Miss Brentwood."</p> + +<p>There was no noticeable emphasis on the "Miss," but Gila felt that the +pauper had arisen and put herself on the same level with her, and she +was furious.</p> + +<p>"Well, I've brought you a few things!" declared Gila, in a most +offensive tone. "Paul Courtland asked me to come and see what I could do +for you." She swung her <a name="Page_114" id="Page_114"></a>moleskin trappings about and pointed to the +box. "I don't believe in giving money, not often," she declared, with a +tilt of her nasty little chin that suddenly seemed to curve out in a +hateful, Satanic point, "but I don't mind giving a little lift in other +ways to persons who are truly worthy, you know. I've brought you a few +evening dresses that I'm done with. It may help you to get a position +playing for the movies, perhaps; or if you don't know rag-time, perhaps +you might act—they'll take almost anybody, I understand, if they have +good clothes. Besides, I'm going to give you an introduction to a girls' +employment club. They have a hall and hold dances once a week and you +get acquainted. It only costs you ten cents a week and it will give you +a place to spend your evenings. If you join that you'll need evening +dresses for the dances. Of course I understand some of the girls just go +in their street suits, but you stand a great deal better chance of +having a good time if you are dressed attractively. And then they say +men often go in there evenings to look for a stenographer, or an actor, +or some kind of a worker, and they always pick out the prettiest. Dress +goes a great way if you use it rightly. Now there's a frock in here—" +Gila stooped and untied the cord on the box. "This frock cost a hundred +and fifty dollars, and I never wore it but once!"</p> + +<p>She held up a tattered blue net adorned with straggling, crushed, +artificial rosebuds, its sole pretension to a waist being a couple of +straps of silver tissue attached to a couple of rags of blue net. It +looked for all the world like a draggled butterfly.</p> + +<p>"It's torn in one or two places," pursued Gila's ready tongue, "but it's +easily mended. I wore it to a dance and somebody stepped on the hem. I +suppose you are good at mending. A girl in your position <a name="Page_115" id="Page_115"></a>ought to know +how to sew. My maid usually mends things like this with a thread of +itself. You can pull one out along the hem, I should think. Then here is +a pink satin. It needs cleaning. They don't charge more than two or +three dollars—or perhaps you might use gasolene. I had slippers to +match, but I couldn't find but one. I brought that along. I thought you +might do something with it. They were horribly expensive—made to order, +you know. Then this cerise chiffon, all covered with sequins, is really +too showy for a girl in your station, but in case you get a chance to +act you might need it, and anyhow I never cared for it. It isn't +becoming to me. Here's an indigo charmeuse with silver trimmings. I got +horribly tired of it, but you will look stunning in it. It might even +help you catch a rich husband; who knows! There's half a dozen pairs of +white evening gloves! I might have had them cleaned, but if you can use +them I can get new ones. And there's a bundle of old silk stockings! +They haven't any toes or heels much, but I suppose you can darn them. +And of course you can't afford to buy expensive silk stockings!"</p> + +<p>One by one Gila had pulled the things out of the box, rattling on about +them as if she were selling corn-cure. She was a trifle excited, to be +sure, now that she was fairly launched on her philanthropic expedition; +also the fact that the two women in the room were absolutely silent and +gave no hint of how they were going to take this tide of insults was +somewhat disconcerting. However, Gila was not easily disconcerted. She +was very angry, and her anger had been growing in force all night. The +greatest insult that man could offer her had been heaped upon her by +Courtland, and there was no punishment too great to be meted out to the +unfortunate innocent who had been the occasion of it.<a name="Page_116" id="Page_116"></a> Gila did not care +what she said, and she had no fear of any consequences whatever. There +had not, so far to her knowledge, lived the man who could not be called +back and humbled to her purpose after she had punished him sufficiently +for any offense he might knowingly or unknowingly have committed. That +she really had begun to admire Courtland, and to desire him in some +degree for her own, only added fuel to her fire. This girl whom he had +dared to pity should be burned and tortured; she should be insulted and +extinguished utterly, so that she would never dare to lift her head +again within recognizable distance of Paul Courtland, or she would know +the reason why. Paul Courtland was <i>hers</i>—if she chose to have him; let +no other girl dare to look at him!</p> + +<p>The nurse stood, starched and stern, with growing indignation at the +audacity of the stranger. Only the petrification of absolute +astonishment, and wonder as to what would happen next, took her off her +guard for the moment and prevented her from ousting the young lady from +the premises instantly. There was also the magic name of the handsome +young gentleman that had been used as password, and the very slight +possibility that this might be some rich relative of the lovely young +patient that she would not like to have put out. The nurse looked from +Bonnie to the visitor in growing wrath and perplexity.</p> + +<p>Bonnie lay wide-eyed and amazed, startled bewilderment and growing +dignity in her face. Two soft, pink spots of color began to bloom out in +her cheeks, and her eyes took on a twinkle of amusement. She was +watching the visitor as if she were a passing Punch-and-Judy show come +in to play for a moment for her entertainment. She lay and regarded her +and her tawdry display of finery with a quiet, disinter<a name="Page_117" id="Page_117"></a>ested aloofness +that was beginning to get on Gila's nerves.</p> + +<p>"You can have my flowers, too, if you want them," said Gila, excitedly, +seeing that her flood of insult had brought forth no answering word from +either listener. "They're very handsome, rare ones—orchids, you know. +Did you ever see any before? I don't mind leaving them with you because +I have a great many flowers, and these were given me by a young man I +don't care in the least about."</p> + +<p>She unpinned the flowers and held them out to Bonnie, but the sick girl +lay still and regarded her with that quiet, half-amused gravity and did +not offer to take them.</p> + +<p>"I presume you can find a waste-basket down in the office if you want to +get rid of them," said Bonnie, suddenly, in a clear, refined voice. "I +really shouldn't care for them. Isn't there a waste-basket somewhere +about?" she asked, turning toward the nurse.</p> + +<p>"Down in the hall by the front entrance," answered the nurse, grimly. +She was ready to play up to whatever cue Bonnie gave her.</p> + +<p>Gila stood haughtily holding her flowers and looking from one woman to +the other, unable to believe that any other woman had the insufferable +audacity to meet her on her own ground in this way. Were they actually +guying her, or were they innocents who really thought she did not want +the flowers, or who did not know enough to think orchids beautiful? +Before she could decide Bonnie was speaking again, still in that quiet, +superior tone of a lady that gave her the command of the situation:</p> + +<p>"I am sorry," she said, quite politely, as if she must let her visitor +down gently, "but I'm afraid you have made some mistake. I don't recall +ever having met <a name="Page_118" id="Page_118"></a>you before. It must be some other Miss Brentwood for +whom you are looking."</p> + +<p>Gila stared, and her color suddenly began to rise even under the pearly +tint of her flesh. Had she possibly made some blunder? This certainly +was the voice of a lady. And the girl on the bed had the advantage of +absolute self-control. Somehow that angered Gila more than anything +else.</p> + +<p>"Don't you know Paul Courtland?" she demanded, imperiously.</p> + +<p>"I never heard the name before!"</p> + +<p>Bonnie's voice was steady, and her eyes looked coolly into the other +girl's. The nurse looked at Bonnie and marveled. She knew the name of +Paul Courtland well; she telephoned to that name every day. How was it +that the girl did not know it? She liked this girl and the man who had +brought her here and been so anxious about her. But who on earth was +this huzzy in fur?</p> + +<p>Gila looked at Bonnie madly. Her stare said as plainly as words could +have done: "You lie! You <i>do</i> know him!" But Gila's lips said, +scornfully, "Aren't you the poor girl whose kid brother got killed by an +automobile in the street?"</p> + +<p>Across Bonnie's stricken face there flashed a spasm of pain and her very +lips grew white.</p> + +<p>"I thought so!" sneered Gila, rushing on with her insult. "And yet you +deny that you ever heard Paul Courtland's name! He picked up the kid and +carried it in the house and ran errands for you, but you don't know him! +That's gratitude for you! I told him the working-class were all like +that. I have no doubt he has paid for this very room that you are lying +in!"</p> + +<p>"Stop!" cried Bonnie, sitting up, her eyes like two stars, her face +white to the very lips. "You have <a name="Page_119" id="Page_119"></a>no right to come here and talk like +that! I cannot understand who could have sent you! Certainly not the +courteous stranger who picked up my little brother. I do not know his +name, nor anything about him, but I can assure you that I shall not +allow him nor any one else to pay my bills. Now will you take your +things and leave my room? I am feeling very—tired!"</p> + +<p>The voice suddenly trailed off into silence and Bonnie dropped back +limply upon the pillow.</p> + +<p>The nurse sprang like an angry bear who has seen somebody troubling her +cubs. She touched vigorously a button in the wall as she passed and +swooped down upon the tawdry finery, stuffing it unceremoniously into +the box; then she turned upon the little fur-trimmed lady, placed a +capable arm about her slim waist, and scooped her out of the room. +Flinging the bulging box down at her feet, where it gaped widely, +gushing forth in pink, blue, cerise, and silver, she shut the door and +flew back to her charge.</p> + +<p>Down the hall hurried the emergency doctor, formidable in his +white-linen uniform. When Gila looked up from the confusion at her feet +she encountered the gaze of a pair of grave and disapproving eyes behind +a pair of fascinating tortoise-shell goggles. She was not accustomed to +disapproval in masculine eyes and it infuriated her.</p> + +<p>"What does all this mean?" His voice expressed a good many kinds of +disapproval.</p> + +<p>"It means that I have been insulted, sir, by one of your nurses!" +declared Gila, in her most haughty tone, with a tilt of her chin and a +flirt of her fur trappings. "I shall make it my business to see that she +is removed at once from her position."</p> + +<p>The doctor eyed her mildly, as though she were a small bat squeaking at +a mighty hawk. "Indeed! I <a name="Page_120" id="Page_120"></a>fancy you will find that a rather difficult +matter!" he answered, contemptuously. "She is one of our best nurses! +James!" to a passing assistant, "escort this person and +her—belongings"—looking doubtfully at the mess on the floor—"down to +the street!"</p> + +<p>Then he swiftly entered Bonnie's room, closing and fastening the door +behind him.</p> + +<p>The said James, with an ill-concealed grin, stooped to his task; and +thus, in mortification, wrath, and ignominy, did Gila descend to her +waiting limousine.</p> + +<p>There were tears of anger on her cheeks as she sat back against her +cushions; more tears fell, which, regardless of her pearly complexion, +she wiped away with a cobweb of a handkerchief, while she sat and hated +Courtland, and the whole tribe of college men, her cousin Bill Ward +included, for getting her into a scrape like this. Defeat was a thing +she could not brook. She had never, since she came out of short frocks, +been so defeated in her life! But it should not be defeat! She would +take her full revenge for all that had happened! Courtland should bite +the dust! She would show him that he could not go around picking up +stray beauties and sending her after them to pet them for him.</p> + +<p>She did not watch for acquaintances during that ride home. She remained +behind drawn curtains. Arrived at home, she stormed up to her room, +giving orders to her maid not to disturb her, and sat down angrily to +indite an epistle to Courtland that should bring him to his knees.</p> + +<p>Meantime the doctor and nurse worked silently, skilfully over Bonnie +until the weary eyes opened once more, and a long-drawn sigh showed that +the girl had come back to the world.</p> + +<p>By and by, when the doctor had gone out of the room and the nurse had +finished giving her the beef-<a name="Page_121" id="Page_121"></a>tea that had been ordered, Bonnie raised +her eyes. "Would you mind finding out for me just what this room costs?" +she asked, wearily.</p> + +<p>The nurse had been fixing it all up in her mind what she should say when +this question came. "Why, I'm under the impression you won't have to pay +anything," she said, pleasantly. "You see, sometimes patients, when they +go out, are kind of grateful and leave a sort of endowment of a bed for +a while, or something like that, for cases just like yours, where +strangers come in for a few days and need quiet—real quiet that they +can't get in the ward, you know. I believe some one paid something for +this room in some kind of a way like that. I guess the doctor thought +you would get well quicker if you had it quiet, so he put you in here. +You needn't worry a bit about it."</p> + +<p>Bonnie smiled. "Would you mind making sure?" she asked. "I'd like to +know just what I owe. I have a little money, you know."</p> + +<p>The nurse nodded and slipped away to whisper the story to the grave +doctor, who grew more indignant and contemptuous than he had been to +Gila, and sent her promptly back with an answer.</p> + +<p>"You don't have to pay a cent," she said, cheerfully, as she returned. +"This bed is endowed temporarily, the doctor says, to be used at his +discretion, and he wants to keep you here till some one comes who needs +this room more than you do. At present there isn't any one, so you +needn't worry. We are not going to let any more little feather-headed +spitfires in to see you, either. The doctor balled the office out like +everything for letting that girl up."</p> + +<p>Bonnie tried to smile again, but only ended in a sigh. "Oh, it doesn't +matter," she said, and then, after a minute, "You've been very good to +me. Some time I <a name="Page_122" id="Page_122"></a>hope I can do something for you. Now I'm going to +sleep."</p> + +<p>The nurse went out to look after some of her duties. Half an hour later +she came back to Bonnie's room and entered softly, not to waken her. She +was worried lest she had left the window open too wide and the wind +might be blowing on her, for it had turned a good deal colder since the +sun went down.</p> + +<p>She tiptoed to the bed and bent over in the dim light to see if her +patient was all right. Then she drew back sharply.</p> + +<p>The bed was empty!</p> + +<p>She turned on the light and looked all around. There was no one else in +the room! Bonnie was gone! <a name="Page_123" id="Page_123"></a></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII</h2> + + +<p>Wildly the nurse searched the room, throwing open the wardrobe first! +Bonnie's shabby clothes were no longer hanging on the hooks! She rushed +to the window and looked helplessly along the fire-escape out into the +courtyard below, where the ambulance was just bringing in a fresh case. +There was no sign of her patient. Turning back, she saw on the table a +bit of paper from the daily record-sheet folded up and pinned together +with a quaint little circle of old-fashioned gold in which were set tiny +garnets and pearls. The note was addressed, "Miss Wright, Nurse." A +five-dollar bill fell from the paper. The nurse picked it up and read:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><span class="smcap">Dear Nurse</span>,—I am leaving this little pin for you +because you have been so good to me. It isn't very valuable, +but it is all I have. The five dollars is for the room. I +know it is worth more, but I haven't any more just now. You +have all been very kind. Please give the money to the doctor +and thank him for me. Don't worry about me; I am all right. +I just need to get back to work.</p></div> + +<div> +<span style="margin-left: 22em;">Good-by, and thank you again,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 25em;">Sincerely,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 28em;">R</span><span class="smcap">ose Bonner Brentwood.</span><br /> +</div> + +<p>The nurse rushed down to the office. A search was instituted at once. +Every one in the office and halls was questioned. Only one elevator-man +remembered a person, dressed in black, going out of the nurses' side +door. He had thought it one of the probation nurses. <a name="Page_124" id="Page_124"></a></p> + +<p>They searched the streets for several blocks around. It had been only a +few minutes, and the girl was weak. She could not have gone far! But no +Bonnie was found!</p> + +<p>The evening mail came in and a letter with a Western postmark arrived +for Miss R.B. Brentwood. The nurse looked at it sadly. A letter for the +poor child! What hope and friendliness might it not contain! If it had +only come a couple of hours sooner!</p> + +<p>Later that evening, when it was finally settled that the patient had +really escaped, the nurse went to the telephone.</p> + +<p>Courtland was in Tennelly's room. They had been discussing woman +suffrage, some question that had come up in the political-science class +that day. Tennelly held that most women were too unbalanced to vote; you +never could tell what a woman would do next. She was swayed entirely by +her emotions, mainly two—love and hate; sometimes pride and +selfishness. <i>Always</i> selfishness. Women were all selfish!</p> + +<p>Courtland thought of the calm, true eyes of Mother Marshall and the +telegram that had come the day before. He held that all women were not +selfish. He said he knew <i>one</i> woman who was not. All women were not +flighty and unbalanced nor swayed by their emotions. He knew two girls +whom he thought were not swayed by their emotions. Just then he was +called to the telephone.</p> + +<p>The nurse's voice broke upon his absorption with a disturbing element: +"Mr. Courtland, this is the nurse from Good Samaritan Hospital. I +thought you ought to know that Miss Brentwood has disappeared! We have +searched everywhere, but can get no clue to her whereabouts. She wasn't +fit to go. She had fainted again—was unconscious a long time. She had a +very disturbing <a name="Page_125" id="Page_125"></a>call from a young woman this afternoon, who mentioned +your name and got up to the room somehow without the usual formalities. +Of course I didn't know but she had the doctor's permission, and she +came right in. She brought a lot of dirty evening gowns and tried to +give them to my patient, and called her a working-girl; spoke of her +little dead brother as 'the kid,' and was very insulting. I thought +perhaps you would be able to give us a clue as to where the patient was. +She really was too weak to be out alone; and in this bitter cold! Her +jacket was very thin. She's just in the condition to get pneumonia. I'm +all broken up because I thought she was sound asleep. She left a little +note for me, with a pin she wanted me to keep, and five dollars to pay +for her room. You see she got the notion from what that girl said that +she was on charity in that room and she wouldn't stay. I thought you'd +want me to let you know!"</p> + +<p>There was almost a sob in the nurse's voice as she ended. Courtland's +heart sank.</p> + +<p>Poor Gila! She hadn't understood. She had meant well, but hadn't known +how! Poor fool he, that had asked her to go! She had never had +experience with sorrow and poverty. How could she be expected to +understand?</p> + +<p>His anger rose as he listened to a few more details concerning Gila's +remarks. Of course the nurse was exaggerating, but how crude of Gila! +Where were her woman's intuitions? Her finer sensibilities? Where +indeed? But, after all, perhaps the nurse had not understood fully. +Perhaps she had taken offense and misconstrued Gila's intended kindness! +Well, the main thing was that Bonnie was gone and must be hunted up. It +wouldn't do to leave her without friends, sick and weak, this cold +night. She had, of course, gone home <a name="Page_126" id="Page_126"></a>to her room. He could easily find +her. He wouldn't mind going out, though he had intended doing other +things that evening; but he had undertaken this job and he must see it +through. Then there was that telegram from Mother Marshall! And her +letter on the way! Too bad! Of course he must make Bonnie go back to the +hospital. He would have no trouble in coaxing her back when she knew how +she had distressed them all.</p> + +<p>"I'll go right down to her old place and see if she's there," he told +the nurse. "She has probably gone back to her room. Certainly I will +insist that she return to the hospital to-night."</p> + +<p>As he hung up the receiver Pat touched his elbow and pointed to a +messenger-boy waiting for him with a note.</p> + +<p>It was Gila's violet-scented missive over which she had wept those angry +tears. He signed for the letter with a frown. Somehow the perfume +annoyed him. He put the thing in his pocket, having no patience to read +it at once, and went hurriedly down the hall.</p> + +<p>As he passed the office Courtland found a letter in his box, noting with +a sort of comfort that it bore a Western postmark. As he waited for his +trolley at the corner, he reflected how strange it was that this young +woman, whom he had never seen nor heard of before, should suddenly be +flung thus upon his horizon and seem, in a measure, his responsibility. +He had been shaking free from that sense of accountability since she had +been reported getting better; and especially since he had put her upon +the hearts of Mother Marshall and Gila. Gila! How the thought of her +annoyed just now!</p> + +<p>In the trolley he opened Mother Marshall's letter and read, marveling at +the revelation of motherhood <a name="Page_127" id="Page_127"></a>it contained. Motherhood and fatherhood! +How beautiful! A sort of Christ-mother and Christ-father, these two who +had been bereft of their own, were willing to be! And Bonnie! How she +needed them—and had gone before she knew! He must persuade her to go to +Mother Marshall! For, after all, this whole bungle was his fault. If he +had never tried to tole Gila into it this wouldn't have happened.</p> + +<p>A factory-girl, belated, shivered into the car in a thin summer jacket +and stood beside a girl in furs and a handsome coat. Courtland thought +of Bonnie in her little shabby black suit—a summer suit, of course. He +remembered noticing how thin it looked as they stood beside the grave on +the bleak hillside, and wondering if she were not cold. But it was mild +that day compared to this, and the sun had been shining then. She must +have half frozen in that long, long ride! And had she money enough to +buy her something to eat? She had left a five-dollar bill at the +hospital. Some instinct taught him that it was the last she had!</p> + +<p>He grew more and more nervous and impatient as he neared his +destination.</p> + +<p>He sprang up the narrow stairs that had grown so familiar to him the +past week, watching anxiously the crack under the door to see if there +was a light. But it was all dark! He tapped at the door lightly. But of +course she would have gone to bed at once after the exertion of the +journey! He tapped louder, and held his breath to listen. But no answer +came!</p> + +<p>Then he tapped again, and called, in half-subdued tones: "Miss +Brentwood! Are you there?"</p> + +<p>A stir was heard at the other end of the hall, the sound of the +scratching of a match. A light appeared under the door of the front +room, the door opened a crack, and a frowsy head was thrust out, with a +candle held high <a name="Page_128" id="Page_128"></a>above it, and eyes that were full of sleep peering +into the darkness of the hall.</p> + +<p>"Has Miss Brentwood returned? Have you seen her?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Not as I knows on, she 'ain't come," said a woman's voice. "I went to +bed early. She might ov and I not hear her, she's so softly like."</p> + +<p>"I wonder if we could find out? Would you mind coming and trying?"</p> + +<p>The woman looked at him keenly. "Oh, you're the young feller what come +to the fun'rul, ain't you? Well, you jest wait a bit an' I'll throw +somethin' on an' come an' try." The woman came in an amazing costume of +many colors, and called and shook the door. She got her key and unlocked +the door, stepping cautiously inside and looking about. She advanced, +holding the candle high, Courtland waiting behind. He could see one +withered white rosebud on the floor. There was no sign of Bonnie! Her +room was just as she had left it on the day of the funeral!</p> + +<p>Where was Bonnie Brentwood? <a name="Page_129" id="Page_129"></a></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV</h2> + + +<p>Suddenly, as Courtland stood in the narrow, dark street alone and in +uncertainty, he was no longer alone. As clearly as if he felt a touch +upon his sleeve he knew that One was there beside him, and that this +errand he was upon had the sanction of that Presence which had met him +once in the fiery way and promised to show him what to do.</p> + +<p>"God, show me where to find her!" he ejaculated, and then, as if one had +said, "Come with me!" he turned as certainly as if a passer-by had +directed him where he had seen her, and walked up the street. That is, +<i>they</i> walked up the street.</p> + +<p>Always in thinking of that walk afterward he thought of it as "they +walking up the street"—himself and the Presence.</p> + +<p>The first thing he remembered about it was that he had lost that sense +of uncertainty and anxiety. How long the route was or where it was to +end did not seem to matter. Every step of the way was companioned by One +who knew what He was about. It came to him that he would like to go +everywhere in such company; that no journey would be too far or arduous, +no duty too unpleasant if all could be as this.</p> + +<p>He stepped into the telephone-office and began calling up hospitals. +There were one or two that reported young women brought in, but the +description was not at all like the girl of whom he was in search. He +jotted <a name="Page_130" id="Page_130"></a>them down in his note-book, however, with a feeling that they +might be a last resort.</p> + +<p>As he turned the pages of the 'phone-book his eye caught the name of the +city's morgue, and a sudden horror froze into his mind. What if +something had happened to her and she had been taken there? What if she +had ended the life which had looked so lonely and impossible to her? No, +she would never do that, not with her faith in the Christ! And yet, if +her vitality was low, and her heart was taxed with sorrow, she would +perhaps scarcely be responsible for what she did.</p> + +<p>He rang up the morgue sharply and put tense, eager questions.</p> + +<p>Yes, a young woman had been brought in about an hour ago.... Yes, +dressed in black—had long light hair and was slender. "<i>Some looker!</i>" +the man who answered the 'phone said.</p> + +<p>Courtland shuddered and hung up. He felt that he must go to the morgue.</p> + +<p>When they entered the gruesome place of the unknown dead, although the +Presence entered with him, yet he felt that it was there already, +standing close among the dead; had been there when they came in!</p> + +<p>Courtland's face was white, and set as he passed between the silent dead +laid out for identification. An inward shudder went through him as he +was led to the spot where lay the latest comer, a slim young girl with +long golden hair, sodden from the river where she had been found, her +pretty face sharpened and coarsened by sin.</p> + +<p>He drew a deep breath of relief and turned away quickly from the sight +of her poor drowned eyes, rejoicing that they had not been the eyes of +Bonnie. It was terrible to think of Bonnie lying so, all drenched <a name="Page_131" id="Page_131"></a>and +her spirit put out. He was glad he might still think of her alive, and +go on searching for her. But a dart of pain went through his heart as he +looked again at this little wreck of womanhood, going out of a life that +had dealt hardly with her; where she had reached for brightness and +pleasure, and had found ashes and bitterness instead. Going into a +beyond of darkness, hoping, perhaps, for no kindlier hands to greet her +than those that had been withheld from her in this world! What would the +resurrection mean to a poor little soul like that? What could it mean? +Ah! Perhaps it had not all been her fault! Perhaps there were others who +had helped push her down, smug in self-righteousness, to whom the +resurrection would be more of a horror than to the pretty, ignorant +child whose untaught feet had strayed into forbidden paths! Who knew? He +was glad to look up and feel the Presence there! Who knew what might +have passed between the soul and God? It was safe to leave that little +sinful soul with Him who had died to save. It was good to go out from +there knowing that the pretty, sinful girl, the hardened, grizzled sot, +the poor old toothless crone, the little hunchback newsboy who lay in +the same row, were guarded alike and beloved by the same Presence that +would go with him.</p> + +<p>Around the little newsboy huddled a group of street gamins, counting out +their few pennies, and talking excitedly of how they would buy him some +flowers. There were tear-stains down their grimy cheeks and it was plain +they were pitying him, they who had perhaps yet to tread the paths of +sin and deprivation and sorrow for many long years. And the Presence +there! So near them, with the pitying eyes! The young man knew the eyes +were pitying! If the children could only see! He felt an impulse to turn +back and tell <a name="Page_132" id="Page_132"></a>them as he passed out into the street, yet how could he +make them understand—he who understood so feebly and intermittently +himself? He felt a great ache in himself to go out and shout to all the +world to look up and see the Presence that was in their midst, and they +saw Him not!</p> + +<p>He was entirely aware that his present mental state would have seemed to +him little short of insanity twenty-four hours before; that it might +pass again as it had done before; and a kind of mental frenzy seized him +lest it would. He did not want to lose this assurance of One guiding +through a world that was so full of sorrow as this one had recently +revealed itself to him to be. And with the world-old anguished "Give me +a sign!" the cry of the soul reaching out to the unknown, he spoke aloud +once more: "God, if You are really there, let me find her!"</p> + +<p>And yet if any had asked him just then if he ever prayed he would have +told them no. Prayer was to him a thing utterly apart from this cry of +his soul, this longing for an understanding with God.</p> + +<p>He walked on through streets he did not know, passing men and women with +worn and haggard faces, tattered garments, and discouraged mien; and +always that cry came in his soul, "Oh, if they only knew!" There was the +Presence by his side, and men passed by and saw Him not!</p> + +<p>He was walking in the general direction of the Good Samaritan Hospital, +just as any one would walk with a friend through a strange place and +accommodate his going to the man who was guiding him. All the way there +seemed to be a sort of intercourse between himself and his Companion. +His soul was putting forth great questions that he would some day take +up in detail and go over little by little, as one will verify a <a name="Page_133" id="Page_133"></a>problem +that one has worked out. But now he was working it out, becoming +satisfied in his soul that this was the only way to solve the great +otherwise unanswerable problems of the universe.</p> + +<p>They had gone for perhaps three miles or more from the morgue, traveling +for the most part through narrow streets crowded full of small +dwelling-houses interspersed by cheap stores and saloons. The night +lowered! the stars were not on duty. A cold wind from the river swept +around corners, reminding him of the dripping yellow hair of the girl in +the morgue. It cut like a knife through Courtland's heavy overcoat and +made him wish he had brought his muffler. He stuffed his gloved hands +into his pockets. Even in their fur linings they were stiff and cold. He +thought of the girl's little light serge jacket and shivered visibly as +they turned into another street where vacant lots on one side left a +wide sweep for the wind and sent it tempesting along freighted with dust +and stinging bits of sand. The clouds were heavy as with snow, only that +it was too cold to snow. One fancied only biting steel could fall from +clouds like that on a night so bitter. And any moment he might have +turned back, gone a block to one side, and caught the trolley across to +the university, where light and warmth and friends were waiting. And +what was this one little lost girl to him? A stranger? No, she was no +longer a stranger! She had become something infinitely precious to the +whole universe. God cared, and that was enough! He could not be a friend +of God unless he cared as God cared! He was demonstrating facts that he +had never apprehended before.</p> + +<p>The lights were out in most of the houses that they passed, for it was +growing late. There were not quite so many saloons. The streets loomed +wide ahead, the line of houses dark on the left, and the stretch of +<a name="Page_134" id="Page_134"></a>vacant lots, with the river beyond on the right. Across the river a +line of dark buildings with occasional blink of lights blended into the +dark of the sky, and the wind merciless over all.</p> + +<p>On ahead a couple of blocks the light flung out on the pavement and +marked another saloon. Bright doors swung back and forth. The +intermittent throb of a piano and twang of a violin, making merry with +the misery of the world; voices brokenly above it all came at intervals, +loudly as the way drew nearer.</p> + +<p>The saloon doors swung again and four or five dark figures jostled +noisily out and came haltingly down the street. They walked crazily, +like ships without a rudder, veering from one side of the walk to the +other, shouting and singing uncouth, ribald songs, hoarse laughter +interspersed with scattered oaths.</p> + +<p>"O! Jesus Christ!" came distinctly through the quiet night. The young +man felt a distinct pain for the Christ by his side, like the pressing +of a thorn into the brow. He seemed to know the prick himself. For these +were some of those for whom He died!</p> + +<p>It occurred to Courtland that he was seeing everything on this walk +through the eyes of the Christ. He remembered Scrooge and his journey +with the Ghost of Christmas Past in Dickens's <i>Christmas Carol</i>. It was +like that. He was seeing the real soul of everybody! He was with the +architect of the universe, noting where the work had gone wrong from the +mighty plans. He suddenly knew that these creatures coming giddily +toward him were planned to mighty things!</p> + +<p>The figures paused before one of the dark houses, pointed and laughed; +went nearer to the steps and stooped. He could not hear what they were +saying; the voices were hushed in ugly whispers, broken by <a name="Page_135" id="Page_135"></a>harsh +laughter. Only now and then he caught a syllable.</p> + +<p>"Wake up!" floated out into the silence once. And again, "No, you don't, +my pretty little chicken!"</p> + +<p>Then a girl's scream pierced the night and something darted out from the +darkness of the door-step, eluding the drunken men, but slipped and +fell!</p> + +<p>Courtland broke into a noiseless run.</p> + +<p>The men had scrambled tipsily after the girl and clutched her. They +lifted her unsteadily and surrounded her. She screamed again, and dashed +this way and that blindly, but they met her every time and held her.</p> + +<p>Courtland knew, as by a flash, that he had been brought here for this +crisis. It was as if he had heard the words spoken to him, "Now go!" He, +lowering his head and crouching, came swiftly forward, watching +carefully where he steered, and coming straight at two of the men with +his powerful shoulders. It was an old trick of the football field and it +bowled the two assailants on the right straight out into the gutter. The +other three made a dash at him, but he side-stepped one and tripped him; +a blow on the point of the chin sent another sprawling on the sidewalk; +but the last one, who was perhaps the most sober of them all, showed +fight and called to his comrades to come on and get this stranger who +was trying to steal their girl. The language he used made Courtland's +blood boil. He struck the fellow across his foul mouth, and then +clenching with him, went down upon the sidewalk. His antagonist was a +heavier man than he was, but the steady brain and the trained muscles +had the better of it from the first, and in a moment more the drunken +man was choking and limp.</p> + +<p>Courtland rose and looked about. The two fellows in the gutter were +struggling to their feet with loud <a name="Page_136" id="Page_136"></a>threats, and the fellow on the +sidewalk was staggering toward him. They would be upon the girl again in +a moment. He looked toward her, as she stood trembling a few feet away +from him, too frightened to try to run, not daring to leave her +protector. A street light fell directly upon her white face. It was +Bonnie Brentwood!</p> + +<p>With a kick at the man on the ground who was trying to rise, and a lurch +at the man on the sidewalk who was coming toward him that sent him +spinning again, Courtland dived under the clutching hands of the two in +the gutter who couldn't quite make it to get upon the curb again. +Snatching up the girl like a baby, he fled up the street and around the +first corner, and all that cursing, drunken, reeling five came howling +after! <a name="Page_137" id="Page_137"></a></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV</h2> + + +<p>Courtland had run three blocks and turned two corners before he dared +stop and set the girl upon her feet again. He looked anxiously at her +white face and great, frightened eyes. Her lips were trembling and she +was shivering. He tore his overcoat off, wrapped it about her, and +before she could protest caught her up again and ran on another block or +two.</p> + +<p>"Oh, you must not!" she cried. "I can walk perfectly well, and I don't +need your coat. Please, please put on your coat and let me walk! You +will take a terrible cold!"</p> + +<p>"I can run better without it," he explained, briefly, "and we can get +out of the way of those fellows quicker this way!"</p> + +<p>So she lay still in his arms till he put her down again. He looked up +and down either way, hoping to see the familiar red-and-green lights of +a drug-store open late; but none greeted him; all the buildings seemed +to be residences.</p> + +<p>Somewhere in the distance he heard the whir of a late trolley. He +glanced at his watch. It was half past one. If only a taxicab would come +along. But no taxi was in sight. The girl was begging him to put on his +overcoat. She had drawn it from her own shoulders and was holding it out +to him insistently. But with the rare smile that Courtland was noted for +he took the coat and wrapped it firmly about her shoulders <a name="Page_138" id="Page_138"></a>again, this +time putting her arms in the sleeves and buttoning it up to the chin.</p> + +<p>"Now," said he, "you're not to take that off again until we get where it +is warm. You needn't worry about me. I'm quite used to going out in all +weathers without my coat as often as with it. Besides, I've been +exercising. When did you have something to eat?"</p> + +<p>"When I left the hospital this evening. I had some strong beef-tea," she +answered, airily, as if that had been only a few minutes before.</p> + +<p>"How did you happen to be where I found you?" he asked, looking at her +keenly.</p> + +<p>"Why, I must have missed my way, I think," she explained, "and I felt a +little weak from having been in bed so long. I just sat down on a +door-step to rest a minute before I went on, and I'm afraid I must have +fallen asleep."</p> + +<p>"You were <i>walking</i>?" His tone was stern. "Why were you walking?"</p> + +<p>A desperate look came into her face. "Well, I hadn't any car fare, if +you must know the reason."</p> + +<p>They were passing a street light as she said it, and he looked down at +her fine little white profile in wonder and awe. He felt a sudden +choking in his throat and a mist in his eyes. He had it on the tip of +his tongue to say, "You poor little girl!" but instead he said, in a +tone of intense admiration:</p> + +<p>"Well, you certainly are the pluckiest girl I ever saw! You have your +nerve with you all right! But you're not going to walk another step +to-night!"</p> + +<p>And with that he stooped, gathered her up again, and strode forward. He +could hear the distant whir of another trolley, and he determined to +take it, no matter which way it was going. It would take them somewhere +and he could telephone for an ambulance. So he <a name="Page_139" id="Page_139"></a>sprinted forward, +regardless of her protests, and arrived at the next corner just in time +to catch the car going cityward.</p> + +<p>There was nobody else in the car and he made her keep the coat about +her. He couldn't help seeing how worn and thin her little shabby shoes +were, and how she shivered now even in the great coat. He saw she was +just keeping up her nerve, and he was filled with admiration.</p> + +<p>"Why did you run away from the hospital?" he asked, suddenly, looking +straight into her sad eyes.</p> + +<p>"I couldn't afford to stay any longer."</p> + +<p>"You made a big mistake. It wouldn't have cost you a cent. That room was +free. I made sure of that before I secured it for you."</p> + +<p>"But that was a private room!"</p> + +<p>"Just a little more private than the wards. That room was paid for and +put at the disposal of the doctor to use for whoever he thought needed +quiet. Now are you satisfied? And you are going straight back there till +you are well enough to go out again! You raised a big row in the +hospital, running away. They've had the whole force of assistants out +hunting you for hours, and your nurse is awfully upset about you. She +seems to be crazy over you, anyway. She nearly wept when she telephoned +me. And I've been out for hours hunting you, stirred up the old lady on +your floor at your home, and a lot of hospitals and other places, and +then just came on you in the nick of time. I hope you've learned your +lesson, to be a good little girl after this and not run away."</p> + +<p>He smiled indulgently, but the girl's eyes were full of tears.</p> + +<p>"I didn't mean to make all that trouble for people. Why should you all +care about a stranger? But, oh!<a name="Page_140" id="Page_140"></a> I'm so thankful you came! Those men +were terrible!" She shuddered. "How did you happen to come there? I +think God must have led you."</p> + +<p>"He did!" said Courtland, with conviction.</p> + +<p>When they reached the big city station he stowed his patient into a taxi +and sent a messenger up to the restaurant for hot chicken broth, which +he administered himself.</p> + +<p>She lay back with her eyes closed after the broth was finished. He +realized that she had reached the full limit of her endurance. She had +forgotten even to protest against wearing his overcoat any longer.</p> + +<p>It was a strange ride. The silent girl sat closely wrapped in her +corner, fast asleep. The car bounded over obstacles now and then, or +swung around corners and threw her about like a ball, but she did not +waken; and finally Courtland drew her head down upon his shoulder and +put his arm about her to keep her from being thrown out of her seat; and +she settled down like a tired child. He could not help thinking of that +other girl lying stark and dead in the morgue, and being glad that this +one was safe.</p> + +<p>Nurse Wright was hovering about the hallway when the taxi drew up to the +entrance of the hospital, and Bonnie was tenderly cared for at once.</p> + +<p>Courtland began to realize that this great hospital was an evidence of +the Presence of Christ in the world! He was not the only one who had +felt the Presence. Some one moved as he had been to-night had +established this big house of healing. There on the opposite wall was a +great stained-glass window representing Christ blessing the little +children, and the people bringing the maimed and halt and lame and blind +to Him for healing.</p> + +<p>The quiet night routine went on about him; the strong, pervasive odor of +antiseptics; the padded tap <a name="Page_141" id="Page_141"></a>of the nurses' rubber soles as they went +softly on their rounds; the occasional click of a glass and a spoon +somewhere; the piteous wail of a suffering child in a distant ward; the +sharp whir of an electric bell; the homely thud of the elevator on its +errands up and down; even the controlled yet ready spring to service of +all concerned when the ambulance rolled up and a man on a stretcher, +with a ghastly cut in his head and face, was brought in; all made him +feel how little and useless his life had been hitherto. How suddenly he +had been brought face to face with realities!</p> + +<p>He began to wonder if the Presence was everywhere, or if there were +places where His power was not manifest. There had been the red library! +There also had been that church last Sunday.</p> + +<p>The office clock chimed softly out the hour of three o'clock. It was +Sunday morning. Should he go to church again and search for the +Presence, or make up his mind that the churches were out of it entirely +and that it was only in places of need and sorrow and suffering that He +came? Still, that was not fair to the churches, perhaps, to judge all by +one. What an experience the night had been! Did Wittemore, majoring in +philanthropy, ever spend nights like this? If so, there must be depths +to Wittemore's nature that were worth sounding.</p> + +<p>He drew his handkerchief from his inner pocket, and as he did so a whiff +of violets came remindingly, but he paid no heed. Gila's letter lay in +his pocket, still unread. The antiseptics were at work upon his senses +and the violets could not reach him.</p> + +<p>There were dark circles under his eyes, and his hair was in a tumble, +but he looked good to Nurse Wright as she came down the hall at last to +give him her report. She almost thought he was good enough for <a name="Page_142" id="Page_142"></a>her +Bonnie girl now. She wasn't given to romances, but she felt that Bonnie +needed one most mightily about now.</p> + +<p>"She didn't wake up except to open her eyes and smile once," she +reported, reassuringly. "She coughs a little now and then, with a nasty +sound in it, but I hope we can ward off pneumonia. It was great of you +to put your overcoat around her. That saved her, if anything can, I +guess. You look pretty well used up yourself. Wouldn't you like the +doctor to give you something before you go home?"</p> + +<p>"No, thank you. I'll be all right. I'm hard as nails. I'm only anxious +about her. You see, she's had a pretty tough pull of it. She started to +walk to the city! Did you know that? I fancy she'd gone about two miles. +It was somewhere along near the river I found her. It seems she got "all +in" and sat down on a door-step to rest. She must have fallen asleep. +Some tough fellows came out of a saloon—they were full, of course—and +they discovered her. I heard her scream, and we had quite a little +scuffle before we got away. She's a nervy little girl. Think of her +starting to walk to the city at that time of night, without a cent in +her pocket!"</p> + +<p>"The poor child!" said Nurse Wright, with tears in her kind, keen eyes. +"And she left her last cent here to pay for her room! My! When I think +of it I could choke that smart young snob that called on her in the +afternoon! You ought to have heard her sneers and her insinuations. +Women like that are a blight on womanhood! And she dared to mention your +name—said you had sent her!"</p> + +<p>The color heightened in Courtland's face. He felt uncomfortable. "Why, +I—didn't exactly send her," he began, uneasily. "I don't really know +her very well.<a name="Page_143" id="Page_143"></a> You see, I'm just a student at the university and of +course I don't know a great many girls in the city. I thought it would +be nice if some girl would call on Miss Brentwood; she seemed so alone. +I thought another girl would understand and be able to comfort her."</p> + +<p>"She isn't a <i>girl</i>, that's what's the matter with her; she's a little +<i>demon</i>!" snapped the nurse. "You meant well, and I dare say she never +showed <i>you</i> the demon side of her. Girls like that don't—to young +<i>men</i>. But if you take my advice you won't have anything more to do with +<i>her</i>! She isn't worth it! She may be rich and fashionable and all that, +but she can't hold a candle to Miss Brentwood! If you had just heard how +she went on, with her nasty little chin in the air and her nasty phrases +and insinuations, and her patronage! And then Miss Brentwood's gentle, +refined way of answering her! But never mind, I won't go into that! It +might take me all night, and I've got to go back to my patient. But you +are not to blame yourself one particle. I hope Miss Brentwood's going to +get through this all right in a few days, and she'll probably have +forgotten all about it, so don't you worry. I think it would be a good +thing if you were to come in and see her to-morrow afternoon a few +minutes. It might cheer her up. You really have been fine, you know! No +telling where she might have been by this time if you hadn't gone out +after her!"</p> + +<p>The young man shuddered involuntarily, and thought of the faces of the +five young fellows who had surrounded her.</p> + +<p>"I saw a little girl in the morgue to-night, drowned!" he said, +irrelevantly. "She wasn't any older than Miss Brentwood."</p> + +<p>The nurse gave an understanding look. On her way back to her rounds she +said to herself: "I believe he's <a name="Page_144" id="Page_144"></a>a <i>real man</i>! If I hadn't thought so I +wouldn't have told him he might come and see her to-morrow!"</p> + +<p>Then she went into Bonnie's room, took the letter with the Western +postmark, and stood it up against a medicine-glass on the little table +beside the bed, where Bonnie could see it the first thing when she +opened her eyes. <a name="Page_145" id="Page_145"></a></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI</h2> + + +<p>A little after four o'clock, when Courtland came plodding up the hall of +the dormitory to his room, a head was stuck out of Tennelly's door, +followed by Tennelly's shoulders attired in a bath-robe. The hair on the +head was much tumbled and the eyes were full of sleep. Moreover, there +was an anxious, relieved frown on the brows.</p> + +<p>"Where in thunder've you been, Court? We were thinking of dragging the +river for you. I must say you're the limit! Do you know what time it +is?"</p> + +<p>"Five minutes after four by the library clock as I came up," answered +Courtland, affably. "Say, Nelly, go to church with me again this +morning? I've found another preacher I want to sample."</p> + +<p>"Go to thunder!" growled Tennelly. "Not on your tin-type! I'm going to +get some sleep. What do you take me for? A night nurse? Go to church +when I've been up all night hunting for you?"</p> + +<p>"Sorry, Nelly," said Courtland, cheerfully, "but it was an emergency +call. Tell you about it on the way to church. Church don't begin till +somewhere round 'leven. You'll be calm by that time. So long! See you in +church!"</p> + +<p>Tennelly slammed his door hard, and Courtland went smiling to his room. +He knew that Tennelly would go with him to church. For Courtland had +seen among the advertisements in the trolley on his way back <a name="Page_146" id="Page_146"></a>to the +university, the notice of a service to be held in a church away down in +the lower part of the city, to be addressed by the Rev. John Burns, and +he wanted to go. It might not be <i>the</i> John Burns of course, but he +wanted to see.</p> + +<p>Worn out with the events of the night, he slept soundly until ten. Then, +as if he had been an alarm-clock set for a certain moment, he awoke.</p> + +<p>He lay there for a moment in the peace of the consciousness of something +good that had come to him. Then he knew that it was the Presence. It was +there, in his room. It would always be his. There might be laws +attending its coming and going—perhaps in some way concerned with his +own attitude—but he would learn them. It was enough to know the +possibility of that companionship all the days of one's life.</p> + +<p>He couldn't reason out why a thing like that should give him so much +joy. It didn't seem sensible in the old way of reasoning—and yet, +didn't it? If it could be proved to the fellows that there was really a +God like that, companionable, reasonable, just, loving, forgiving, ready +to give Himself, wouldn't every one of them jump at the chance of +knowing Him personally, provided there was a way for them to know Him? +They claimed it had never been proved, never could be. But he knew it +could. It had been proved to him! That was the difference. That was the +greatness of it! And now he was going to church again to find out if the +Presence was ever there!</p> + +<p>With a bound he was out of bed, shaved and dressed in an incredibly +short space of time, and, shouting to Tennelly, who took his feet +reluctantly from the window-seat, lowered the Sunday paper, and replied, +sulkily: <a name="Page_147" id="Page_147"></a></p> + +<p>"Thunder and blazes! Who waked you up, you nut! I thought you were good +for another two hours!"</p> + +<p>But they went to church.</p> + +<p>Tennelly sat down on the hard wooden bench and accepted the worn +hymn-book that a small urchin presented him, with an amused stare which +finally bloomed into a full grin at Courtland.</p> + +<p>"What's eating you, you blooming idiot! Where in thunder did you rake up +this dump, anyway? If you've got to go to church, why in the name of all +that's a bore can't you pick out a place where the congregation take a +bath once a month whether they need it or not?" he whispered, in a loud +growl.</p> + +<p>But Courtland's eyes were already fixed on the bright, intelligent face +and red hair of the man who stood behind the cheap little pulpit. He was +the same John Burns! A window just behind the platform, set with crude +red and blue and yellow lights of cheap glass, sent its radiance down, +upon his head, and the yellow bar lay across his hair like a halo; +behind him, in the colored lights, there seemed to stand the Presence. +It was so vivid to Courtland at first that he drew in his breath and +looked sharply at Tennelly, as if he, too, must see, though he knew +there was nothing visible, of course, but the lights, the glory, and the +little, freckled, earnest man giving out a hymn.</p> + +<p>And the singing! If one were looking for discord, well, it was there, +every shade of it that the world had ever known! There were quavering +old voices, and piping young ones; off the key and on the key, +squeaking, grating, screaming, howling, with all their earnest might, +but the melody lifted itself in a great voice on high and seemed to bear +along the spirit of the congregation. <a name="Page_148" id="Page_148"></a></p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">"I need Thee every hour.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3.5em;">Stay Thou near by;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">Temptations lose their power</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3.5em;">When Thou art nigh.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">I need Thee, oh I, need Thee,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3.5em;">Every hour I need Thee;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">O bless me now, my Saviour,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3.5em;">I come to Thee!"</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>These people, then, knew about the Presence, loved it, longed for it, +understood its power! They sang of the Presence and were glad! There +were, then, others in the world who knew, besides himself and Stephen +and Stephen Marshall's mother! Without knowing what he was doing, +Courtland sang. He did not know the words, but he felt the spirit, and +he groped along in syllables as he caught them.</p> + +<p>Tennelly sat gazing around him, highly amused, not attempting to +suppress his mirth. His eyes fairly danced as he observed first one +absorbed worshiper, and then another, intent upon the song. He fancied +himself taking off the old elder on the other side of the aisle, and the +intense young woman with the large mouth and the feather in her hat. Her +voice was killing. He could make the fellows die laughing, singing as +she did, in a high falsetto.</p> + +<p>He looked at Courtland to enjoy it with him, and lo! Courtland was +singing with as much earnestness as the rest; and upon his face there +sat a high, exalted look that he had never seen there before. Was it +true that the fire and the sickness had really affected Court's mind, +after all? He had seemed so like his old self lately that they had all +hoped he was getting over it.</p> + +<p>During the prayer Courtland dropped his head and closed his eyes. +Tennelly glanced around and marveled amusedly at the serious attitude of +all. Even a row <a name="Page_149" id="Page_149"></a>of tough-looking kids on the back seats had at least +one eye apiece squinted shut during the prayer, and almost an atmosphere +of reverence upon them.</p> + +<p>Tennelly prided himself upon being a student of human nature, and before +he knew it he was interested in this mass of common people about him. +But now and again his gaze went uneasily back to Courtland, whose eyes +were fixed intently upon the preacher, as if the words he spoke were of +real importance to him.</p> + +<p>Tennelly sat back in wonder and tried to listen. It was all about a +mysterious companionship with God, stuff that sounded like "rot" to him; +uncanny, unreal, mystical, impossible! Could it be true that Court, +their peach of a Court, whose sneer and criticism alike had been dreaded +by all who came beneath them—could it be that so sensible and scholarly +and sane a mind as Court's could take up with a superstition like that? +For it was to Tennelly foolishness.</p> + +<p>He owned to a certain amount of interest in the emotional side of the +sermon. It was true that the little man could sway that uncouth audience +mightily. He felt himself swayed in the tenderer side of his nature, but +of course his superior mind realized that it was all emotion; +interesting as a study, but not to be taken seriously for a moment. It +wasn't a healthy thing for Court to see much of this sort of thing. All +this talk of a cross, and one dying for all! Mere foolishness and +superstition! Very beautiful, and perhaps allegorical, but not at all +practical!</p> + +<p>The minister was down by the door before they got out, and grasped +Courtland's hand as if he were an old friend, and then turned and +grasped Tennelly's. There was something so genuine and sincere about his +<a name="Page_150" id="Page_150"></a>face that Tennelly decided that he must really believe all that junk he +had been preaching, after all. He wasn't a fake, he was merely a good, +wholesome sort of a fanatic. He bowed pleasantly and said a few +commonplaces as he passed out.</p> + +<p>"Seems to be a good sort," he murmured to Courtland. "Pity he's tied +down to that sort of thing!"</p> + +<p>Courtland looked at him sharply. "Is that the way you feel about it, +Nelly?" There was something half wistful in his tone.</p> + +<p>Tennelly looked at him sharply. "Why, sure! I think he's a bigger man +than his job, don't you?"</p> + +<p>"Then you didn't feel it?"</p> + +<p>"Feel what?"</p> + +<p>"The Presence of God in that place!"</p> + +<p>There was something so simple and majestic about the way Courtland made +the extraordinary statement—not as a common fanatic would make it, nor +even as one who was testing and feeling around for confirmation of a +hope, but as one who knew it to be a fact beyond questioning, which the +other merely hadn't been able to see—that Tennelly was almost +embarrassed.</p> + +<p>"Why—I— Why—no! I can't say that I noticed any particular +manifestation. I was entirely too much taken up by the smell to observe +the occult. Say, what's eating you, anyway, Court? Such foolishness +isn't like you. You ought to cut it out. You know a thing like this can +get on your nerves if you let it, just like anything else, and make you +a monomaniac. You ought to go in for more athletics and cut out some of +your psychology and philosophy. Suppose we go and take a ride in the +park this afternoon. It's a great day."</p> + +<p>"I don't mind riding in the park for a while after dinner. I've got a +date about four o'clock. But I'm <a name="Page_151" id="Page_151"></a>not a monomaniac, Nelly, and nothing's +getting on my nerves. I never felt better or happier in my life. I feel +as if I'd been blind always, been sort of groping my way, and had just +got my eyes open to see what a wonderful thing life really is."</p> + +<p>"Do you mean you've got what they used to call 'religion,' Court? 'Hit +the trail,' as it were?" Tennelly asked as if he were delicately +inquiring about some insidious tubercular or cancerous trouble. He +seemed half ashamed to connect such a perilous possibility with his +honored friend.</p> + +<p>Courtland shook his head. "Not that I know of, Nelly. I never attended +one of those big evangelistic meetings in my life, and I don't know +exactly what 'religion,' as they call it, is, so I can't lay claim to +anything of that sort. What I mean is, simply, I've met God face to face +and found He's my friend. That's about the size of it, and it makes +things all look different. I'd like to tell you about it just as it +happened some time, Tennelly, when you're ready to hear."</p> + +<p>"Wait awhile, Court," said Tennelly, half shrinking. "Wait till you've +had a little more time to think it over. Then if you like I'll listen."</p> + +<p>"Very well," said Courtland, quietly. "But I want you to know it's +something real. It's no sick fancies."</p> + +<p>"All right!" said Tennelly. "I'll let you know when I'm ready to hear."</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Late that afternoon, when Courtland entered the hospital, the sunshine +was flooding the great stained-glass window and glorifying the face of +the Christ with the outstretched hands. Off in a near-by ward some one +was singing to the patients, and the corridors seemed hushed to listen: <a name="Page_152" id="Page_152"></a></p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">The healing of the seamless dress</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3.5em;">Is by our beds of pain.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">We touch Him in life's throng and press</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3.5em;">And we are whole again!</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>All this recognition of the Christ in the world, and somehow it had +never come to his consciousness before! He felt abashed at his +blindness. And if he had been so long, surely there was hope for +Tennelly to see, too. Somehow, he wanted Tennelly to see! <a name="Page_153" id="Page_153"></a></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII</h2> + + +<p>Bonnie Brentwood was awake and expecting him, the nurse said. She lay +propped up by pillows, draped about with a dainty, frilly +dressing-sacque that looked too frivolous for Nurse Wright, yet could +surely have come from no other source. The golden hair was lying in two +long braids, one over each shoulder, and there was a faint flush of +expectancy on her pale cheeks.</p> + +<p>"You have been so good to me!" she said. "It has been wonderful for a +stranger to go out of his way so much."</p> + +<p>"Please don't let's talk about that!" said Courtland. "It's been only a +pleasure to be of service. Now I want to know how you are. I've been +expecting to hear that you had pneumonia or something dreadful after +that awful exposure."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I've been through a good deal more than that," said the girl, +trying to speak lightly. "Things don't seem to kill me. I've had quite a +lot of hard times."</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid you have," he said, gravely. "Somehow it doesn't seem fair +that you should have had such a rotten time of it, and I be lying around +enjoying myself. Shouldn't everybody be treated alike in this world? I +confess I don't understand it."</p> + +<p>Bonnie smiled feebly. "Oh, it's all right!" she said, with conviction. +"'In the world ye shall have tribulation, but fear not, I have overcome +the world,' you <a name="Page_154" id="Page_154"></a>know. It's our testing-time, and this world isn't the +only part of life."</p> + +<p>"Well, but I don't see how that answers my point," said Courtland, +pleasantly. "What's the idea? Don't you think I am worth the testing?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, surely, but you may not need the same kind I did."</p> + +<p>"You don't appear to me to have needed any testing. So far as I can +judge, you've showed the finest kind of nerve on every occasion."</p> + +<p>"Oh, but I do," said Bonnie, earnestly. "I've needed it dreadfully! You +don't know how hard I was getting—sort of soured on the world! That was +the reason I came away from the old home where my father's church was +and where all the people I knew were. I couldn't bear to see them. They +had been so hard on my dear father that I thought they were the cause of +his death. I had begun to feel that there weren't any real Christians +left in the world. God had to bring me away off here into trouble again +to find out how good people are. He sent you to help me, and Nurse +Wright; and now to-day the most wonderful thing has happened! I've had a +letter from an utter stranger, asking me to come and visit. I want you +to read it, please."</p> + +<p>While Courtland read Mother Marshall's letter Bonnie lay studying him. +And truly he was a goodly sight. No girl in her senses could look a man +like that over and not know he was a <i>man</i> and a fine one. But Bonnie +had no romantic thoughts. Life had dealt too hardly with her for her to +have any illusions left. She had no idea of her own charms, nor any +thought of making much of the situation. That was why Gila's +insinuations had cut so terribly deep.</p> + +<p>"She's a peach, isn't she?" he said, handing the <a name="Page_155" id="Page_155"></a>letter back. "How soon +does the doctor think you'll be able to travel?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I couldn't possibly <i>go</i>," said the girl, relapsing into sadness; +"but I think it was lovely of her."</p> + +<p>"Go? Of course you must go!" cried Courtland, springing to his feet, as +if he had been accustomed to manage this girl's affairs for years. "Why, +Mother Marshall would be just broken-hearted if you didn't!"</p> + +<p>"Mother Marshall!" exclaimed Bonnie, sitting up from her pillows in +astonishment. "You know her, then?"</p> + +<p>Courtland stopped suddenly in his excited march across the room and +laughed ruefully. "Well, I've let the cat out of the bag after all, +haven't I? Yes, then, I know her! It was I who told her about you. And I +had a letter from her two days ago, saying she was crazy to have you +come. Why, she's just counting the minutes till she gets your telegram! +You <i>haven't</i> sent her word you aren't coming, have you?"</p> + +<p>"Not yet," said Bonnie. "I was going to ask you what would be the best +way to do. You see, I have to send back that money and the mileage. +Don't you think it would do to write? It costs a great deal to +telegraph, and sounds so abrupt when one has had such a royal +invitation. It was lovely of her, but of course you know I couldn't be +under obligation like that to entire strangers."</p> + +<p>There was a little stiffness in Bonnie's last words, and a cool +withdrawal in her eyes that brought Courtland to his senses and made him +remember Gila's insinuations.</p> + +<p>"Look here!" he said, calming down and taking his chair again. "You +don't understand, and I guess I ought to explain. In the first place get +it out of your head that I'm acting fresh or anything like that. I'm +only a kind of big brother that happened along two <a name="Page_156" id="Page_156"></a>or three times when +you needed somebody—a—a kind of a Christ-brother, if you want to call +it that way," he added, snatching at the minister's phrase. "You believe +He sends help when it's needed, don't you?"</p> + +<p>Bonnie nodded.</p> + +<p>"Well, I hadn't an idea in the world of interfering with your affairs at +all, but when I heard you ought to rest, I began to wish I had a mother +of my own, or an aunt or something who would know what to advise. Then +all of a sudden I thought I'd just put the case up to Mother Marshall. +This is the result. Now wait till I tell you what Mother Marshall has +been through, and then if you don't decide that God sent that invitation +I've nothing else to say."</p> + +<p>Courtland had a reputation at college for eloquence. In rushing season +his frat. always counted on him to bowl over the doubtful and difficult +fellows, and he never failed. Neither did he fail now, although he found +Bonnie difficult enough. But he had her eyes full of tears of sympathy +before he was through with the story of Stephen.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I would love to see her and put my arms around her and try to +comfort her!" she exclaimed. "I know just how she must feel. But I +really couldn't use the money of a stranger, and I couldn't go away with +all this debt, the funeral, and everything!"</p> + +<p>Then he set carefully to work to plan for her. He read Mother Marshall's +letter over again, and asked what things she would need to take if she +should go. He wrote out a list of the things she would like to sell, and +promised to look after them.</p> + +<p>"Suppose you just leave that to me," he said, comfortingly. "I'll wager +I can get enough out of your furniture to pay all the bills, so you +won't leave any behind. Then if I were you I'd just use that check +they've <a name="Page_157" id="Page_157"></a>sent for your expenses, and trust to getting a position, in +that neighborhood when you are strong enough. There are always openings +in the West, you know."</p> + +<p>"Do you really think I could do that?" asked Bonnie, excitedly. "I'm a +good stenographer, I've had a really fine musical education, and I could +teach a number of other things."</p> + +<p>"Oh, sure! You'd get more positions than you could fill at once!" he +declared, joyously. Somehow it gave him great pleasure to be succeeding +so well.</p> + +<p>"Then I could soon pay them back," said Bonnie, reflectively.</p> + +<p>"Sure! You could pay back in no time after you got strong. That would be +a cinch! It might even be that you could help Mother Marshall about +something in the house pretty soon. And I'm sure you'll find she just +needs you. Now suppose we write up that telegram. There's no need to +keep the dear lady waiting any longer."</p> + +<p>"He thinks I really ought to go," said Bonnie to the nurse, who had just +returned.</p> + +<p>"Didn't I tell you so, dear?" said the nurse.</p> + +<p>"How soon would the doctor let her travel?" asked Courtland.</p> + +<p>"Why, I'll go ask him. You want to put it in your message, don't you?"</p> + +<p>"She's a dear!" said Bonnie, with a tender look after her.</p> + +<p>"<i>Isn't</i> she a peach!" seconded Courtland, enthusiastically.</p> + +<p>The nurse was back almost at once, reporting that Bonnie might travel by +the middle of the week if all went well.</p> + +<p>"But could I get ready to go so soon?" said the girl, a shade of trouble +coming into her eyes. "I must go <a name="Page_158" id="Page_158"></a>back and pack up my things, you know, +and clean the room."</p> + +<p>Courtland and the nurse exchanged meaningful glances.</p> + +<p>"Now look here!" began Courtland, with his engaging smile. "Why couldn't +the nurse and I do all that's necessary? How about to-morrow afternoon? +Could you get off awhile, Miss Wright? I don't have any basket-ball +practice till Tuesday, and I could get off right after dinner. Miss +Brentwood, you could tell the nurse just what you want done with your +things, and I'll warrant she and I have sense enough to pack up one +little room."</p> + +<p>After some persuasion Bonnie half consented, and then they attended to +the telegram.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Your wonderful invitation accepted with deep gratitude. Will +start as soon as able. Probably Wednesday night. Will write.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Rose Bonner Brentwood</span>.</p></div> + +<p>was what they finally evolved. Bonnie had been divided between a desire +to save words and a longing to show her appreciation of the kindness.</p> + +<p>But the strangest thing of all was that, in his eagerness, the paper +Courtland fumbled out from his pocket to write it upon was Gila Dare's +unopened letter, reeking with violets. He frowned as he realized it, and +stuffed it back in his pocket again.</p> + +<p>Courtland enjoyed sending that telegram. He enjoyed it so much that he +sent another along with it on his own account, which read:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Three cheers for the best mother in the United States! She's +coming and you ought to see her eyes shine!</p></div> + +<p>It was on the way back to the university that he happened to remember +Gila's letter. <a name="Page_159" id="Page_159"></a></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a>CHAPTER XVIII</h2> + + +<div class="blockquot"><p> +<span class="smcap">My dear Mr. Courtland</span>:<br /> +</p></div> + +<p>The very first line translated Courtland into another world from the one +in which he had been living during the past three days. Its perfumed +breath struck harshly on his soul.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I am writing to report on the case of the poor girl whom you +asked me to help. I was very anxious to please you and did +my best; but you remember that I warned you that persons of +that sort were likely to be most difficult and +ungrateful—indeed, quite impossible sometimes. And so, +perhaps, you will be somewhat prepared for the disappointing +report I have to give.</p> + +<p>I went to the hospital this afternoon, putting off several +engagements to do so. I was quite surprised to find the girl +in a private room, but of course your kindness made that +possible for her, which makes her utter ingratitude all the +more unpardonable.</p> + +<p>I took with me several very pretty frocks of my own, quite +good, some of them scarcely worn at all, for I know girls of +that sort care more for clothes than anything else. But I +found her quite sullen and disagreeable. She wouldn't look +at the things I had brought, although I suggested several +ways in which I intended to help her and make it possible +for her to have a few friends of her own class who would +make her forget her troubles. She just lay and stared at me +and said, quite impertinently, that she didn't remember ever +having met me. And when I mentioned your name <a name="Page_160" id="Page_160"></a>she denied +ever having seen you. She even dared to ask me to leave the +room. And the nurse was most insulting.</p> + +<p>But don't worry about it in the least, for papa has promised +to have the nurse removed at once from her position, and +blacklisted, so that she can't ever get another place in a +decent hospital.</p> + +<p>I am afraid you will be disappointed in your protegée, and I +am awfully sorry, for I would have enjoyed doing her good; +but you see how impossible it was.</p> + +<p>You are not to feel put out that I was treated that way, for +I really enjoyed doing something for you; and you know it is +good for one to suffer sometimes. I'll be delighted to go +slumming for you any time again that you say, and please +don't mind asking me. It's much better for me to look after +any girls that need help than it is for you, because girls +of that sort are so likely to impose upon a young man's +sympathies.</p> + +<p>My cousin has been telling me how you have been looking +after some of the work of a student who is majoring in +sociology, so I'm beginning to understand why you took this +girl up. I do hope you'll let me help. Suppose you run over +this evening and we can talk it over. I'm giving up two +whole engagements to stay at home for you, so I hope you +will properly appreciate it, and if anything hinders your +coming, would you mind calling up and letting me know?</p> + +<p>Hoping to see you this evening,</p></div> + +<div> +<span style="margin-left: 22em;">Your true friend and fellow-worker,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 28em;">G</span><span class="smcap">Gila Dare</span>.<br /> +</div> + +<p>The letter struck a false note in the harmony of the day. It annoyed +Courtland beyond expression that he had made such a blunder as to send +Gila after Bonnie. He could not understand why Gila had not had better +discernment than to think Bonnie an object of charity. His indignation +was still burning over the trouble and peril her action had brought to +Bonnie. Yet he hated to have his opinion of Gila shaken. He had arranged +it in his mind that she was a sweet and lovely girl, <a name="Page_161" id="Page_161"></a>one in every way +similar to Solveig the innocent, and he did not care to change it. He +tried to remember Gila's conventional upbringing, and realize that she +had no conception of a girl out of her own social circle other than as a +menial to whom to condescend. The vision of her loveliness in rose and +silver, with her prayer-book "in her 'kerchief" was still dimly forcing +him to be at least polite and accept her letter of apology for her +failure, as he could but suppose it was sincerely meant.</p> + +<p>Then all at once a new fact dawned upon him. The invitation had been for +Saturday evening! This was Sunday evening! And now what was he to do? He +might call her up and apologize, but what could he say. Bill Ward might +have told her by this time that he knew the letter had been received. A +blunt confession that he had forgotten to read it might offend, yet what +else could he do? It was most annoying!</p> + +<p>He went to the telephone as soon as he reached the college. The fellows +had already gone down to the evening meal. He could hear the clink of +china and silver in the distant dining-room. It was a good time to +'phone.</p> + +<p>A moment, and Gila's cool contralto answered: "<i>Hel</i>-lo-<i>oo</i>!" There was +something about the way that Gila said that word that conveyed a whole +lot of things, instantly putting the caller at his distance, but placing +the lady on a pedestal before which it became most desirable to bow.</p> + +<p>"This is Paul Courtland!"</p> + +<p>"Oh! Mr. Courtland!" Her voice was freezing.</p> + +<p>But Courtland was not used to being frozen out. "I owe you an apology, +Miss Dare," he said, with dignity. He didn't care how blunt he sounded +now. It always angered him to be frozen! "Your letter reached <a name="Page_162" id="Page_162"></a>me just +as I was leaving here last evening on a very important errand. I put it +in my pocket, but I have been so occupied that it escaped my mind +utterly until just now. I hope I did not cause you much inconvenience."</p> + +<p>"Oh, it really didn't <i>mattah</i> in the <i>least</i>!" answered Gila, +indifferently. Nothing could be colder or more distant than her voice, +and yet there was something in it this time, a subtle lure, that +exasperated. A teasing little something at his spirit demanded to be set +right in her eyes—to have her the suppliant rather than himself.</p> + +<p>"I really am awfully ashamed," he said, in quite a boyish, humble tone, +and then gasped at himself. What was there about Gila that always "got a +fellow's goat"?</p> + +<p>After that Gila had the conversation quite where she wanted it, and +finally she told him sweetly that he might come over this evening if he +chose. She had other engagements, but she would break them all for him.</p> + +<p>"Suppose you go to church with me this evening," he temporized. "I've +found a minister I'd like to have you hear. He's quite original!"</p> + +<p>There was a distinct pause at the other end of the 'phone, while Gila's +little white teeth came cruelly into her red under lip, and her pearly +forehead drew the straight, black, penciled brows naughtily. Then she +answered, in sweetly honeyed tones:</p> + +<p>"Why, that would be lovely! Perhaps I will. What time do we start?"</p> + +<p>Something in her tone annoyed him, despite his satisfaction at having +induced her to be friends again. Almost it sounded like a false note in +the day again. He hadn't expected her to go. Now she was going, he was +very sure he didn't want her. <a name="Page_163" id="Page_163"></a></p> + +<p>"I warn you that it is among very common people in the lower part of the +city," he said, almost severely.</p> + +<p>"Oh, that's all right!" she declared, graciously. "I'm sure it will be +dandy! I certainly do enjoy new experiences!"</p> + +<p>He hung up the 'phone with far greater misgivings than he had felt when +he asked her to call on Bonnie.</p> + +<p>Bill Ward was called out of the dining-room to the telephone almost as +soon as Courtland got down to the table.</p> + +<p>It was Gila on the phone: "Is that you Bill? Well, Bill, this is Gila. +Say, what in the name of peace have you let me in for now? I hope to +goodness mamma won't find it out. She'd have a pink fit! Say! is this a +joke, or what? I believe you're putting one over on me!"</p> + +<p>"Search me, Gila! I'm all in the dark! Give me a line on it and I'll +tell you."</p> + +<p>"Well, what do you think that crazy nut has pulled off now? Wants me to +go to church with him! Of all things! And down in some queer slum place, +too! If I get into a scrape you'll have to promise to help me out, or +mamma'll never let me free from a chaperon again. And I had to make +Artley Guelpin, and Turner Bailey sore, too, by telling them I was sick +and they couldn't come and try over those new dance-steps to-night as +I'd promised. If I get into the papers or anything I'll have a long +score to settle with you."</p> + +<p>"Oh, cut that out, Gila! You'll not get into any scrape with Court. He's +all right. He's only nuts about religion just now, and seems to be set +on sampling all kinds of churches. Say! that's a good one, though, for +you to go to church with him! I must tell the fellows. Keep it up, +Guile, old girl! You'll pull the fat out of the fire yet. You're just +the one to go along and <a name="Page_164" id="Page_164"></a>counteract the pious line. You should worry +about Artley Guelpin and Turner Bailey! You can't keep either of them +sore; they haven't got back bone enough to stay so. If it's the same +dump Court took Tennelly to this morning you'll get your money's worth, +all right. Nelly said it was a scream."</p> + +<p>Bill Ward came back, grinning from ear to ear. Every few minutes during +the rest of the meal he broke out in a broad grin and looked at +Courtland, who was absorbed in his own thoughts; and then he would slap +Tennelly on the shoulder and say: "Ho! boy! It's a rare one!" But it was +not until Courtland had hurried away after his lady that Bill gave forth +his information.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Nelly!" he burst forth. "Court's going to take Gila to church! You +don't suppose he'll take her to that dump where he led you this morning, +do you? I can see her nose go up now. I thought I'd croak when she told +me! Wait till you hear her call me up on the 'phone when she gets home! +She'll give me the worst balling out I ever had! And Aunt Nina would +have apoplexy if she knew her 'darlin' pet' was going into that part of +town! Oh, boy! Set me on my feet or I'll die laughing!"</p> + +<p>Tennelly regarded Bill Ward with solemn consternation. "Do you mean to +tell me that Court has asked your cousin to go to that camp-meeting hole +where he took me this morning? Cut out the kidding and tell me straight! +Well, then, Bill, it's serious, and we've got to do something! We can't +have a fellow like Court spoiled for life. He's gone stale, that's +what's the matter; he's gone stale! He's got to have strenuous measures +to pull him up."</p> + +<p>"He sure has!" said Bill Ward, soberly, getting up from the couch where +he had been rolling in his mirth. "What can we do? What about these +business am<a name="Page_165" id="Page_165"></a>bitions of his? Couldn't we work him that way? For Court's +got a great head on him, you know! I thought Gila would do the business, +but if he's rung in religion on her it's all up, I'm afraid. But +business is a different thing. Not even Court could mix business and +religion, for they won't fit together!"</p> + +<p>"That's the trouble," said Tennelly, thoughtfully. "If it gets out +what's the matter with Court he won't stand half a chance. I was +thinking of my uncle Ramsey, out in Chicago. He has large financial +interests in the West; he often wants promising men to take charge of +some big thing, and it means a dandy opening; big money and no end of +social and political pull to get into one of his berths. He's promised +me one when I'm done college, and I was going to talk to him about +Court. He's twice the man I am and just what Uncle Ramsey wants. He's +coming on East next week, and likely to stop over. I might see what I +can do."</p> + +<p>"That's just the thing, Nelly. Go to it, old man! Write unc. a letter +to-night. Nothing like giving a lot of dope beforehand."</p> + +<p>"That's an idea! I will!" and Tennelly went to his desk and began to +write.</p> + +<p>Meantime Gila awaited Courtland's coming, attired in a most startling +costume of blue velvet and ermine, with high laced white kid boots, and +a hat that resembled a fresh, white setting-hen, tied down to her pert +little face with a veil whose large-meshed surface was broken by a +single design, a large black butterfly anchored just across her dainty +little nose. A most astonishing costume in which to appear in the Rev. +John Burns's unpretentious little church crowded with the canaille of +the city!</p> + +<p>It was the first time that Courtland had ever felt that Gila was a +little loud in her dress! <a name="Page_166" id="Page_166"></a></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX"></a>CHAPTER XIX</h2> + + +<p>Mother Marshall got strenuously to her feet from the low hassock on +which she had been sitting to sew the carpet, and trotted to the head of +the stairs.</p> + +<p>"Father!" she called, happily. "Oh, Father! It's all done! I just set +the last stitch. You can bring your hammer and tacks. Better bring your +rubbers, too. You'll need them when you come to stretch it."</p> + +<p>Father hurried up so quickly it was clear he had the hammer and rubbers +all ready.</p> + +<p>"You'll need a saucer to put the tacks in!" and Mother Marshall hustled +away to get it. When she came back the carpet was spread out smoothly +and Father stood surveying the effect.</p> + +<p>"Say, now, it looks real pretty, don't it?" he said, looking up at the +walls and down to the floor.</p> + +<p>"It certainly does!" declared Mother Marshall. "And I'm real glad the +man made us take this plain pink paper. It didn't look much to me when +he first brought it out, I must confess. I had set my heart on stripes +with pink roses in it. But when he said 'felt,' why that settled it +because that article in the magazine said felt papers were the best for +general wear and satisfaction. And then when he brought out that roll +with the cherry blossoms on it for a stripe around the top, I was just +all happy down my spine, it did look so kind of bridey and pretty, like +our cherry orchard on <a name="Page_167" id="Page_167"></a>a spring evening when the pink is in the sky. And +that white molding between 'em is going to be real handy to hang the +pictures on. The man gave me some little brass picture-hooks. See, they +fit right over the molding. Of course, there isn't but one picture, but +she'll maybe have some of her own and like it all the better if the wall +isn't all cluttered full. You know the magazine said have 'a few good +pictures.' I mean to hang it up right now and see how it looks! There! +Doesn't that look pretty against the pink? I wasn't sure about the white +frame, it was so plain, but I like it. Those apple blossoms against that +blue piece of sky look real natural, don't they. You like it, don't you, +Father?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I should say I did," said Father, as he scuffed a corner of the +carpet into place with his rubbered feet. "Say, this carpet is some +thick, Mother, as I guess your fingers will testify, having sewed all +those long seams. 'Member how Stevie used to sit on the carpet ahead of +your seams when he was a baby, and laugh and clap his hands when you +couldn't sew any further because he was in the way?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, wasn't he the sweetest baby!" said Mother Marshall, with a bright +tear glinting suddenly down her cheek. "Why, Father, sometimes I can't +really make it seem true that he's all done with this life and gone +ahead of us into the next one. It won't be hard dying, for us, because +he's there, and we sha'n't have to think of leaving him behind to go +through a lot of trials and things."</p> + +<p>"Well, I guess he's pretty happy seeing you chirk up so, Mother. You +know what he'd have thought of all this! Why he'd have just rejoiced in +it! He hated so to have you left alone all day. Don't you mind how he +used to wish he had a sister? Say, Mother, you <a name="Page_168" id="Page_168"></a>just stand on that +corner there till I get this tack in straight. This edge is so tremenjus +thick! I don't know as the tacks are long enough. What was you figuring +to do with the book-shelves, put books in, or leave 'em empty for her +things?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I thought about that, and I made out we'd better put in some +books so it wouldn't look so empty. We can take them out again if she +has a lot of her own!"</p> + +<p>"We could put in some of Stephen's that he set such store by. There's +all that set of Scott, and Dickens, and those other fellows that he +wanted us to start and read evenings this winter. By the way, Mother, +we'd ought to get at that! Perhaps she'll like to read aloud when she +comes! That would about suit us. We're rather old to begin loud reading, +Steve's always read to us so long. I don't know but I'd buy a few new +books, too. She's a girl you know, and you might find something lately +written that she'd like. It wouldn't do any harm to get a few. You could +ask the book-store man what to pick out—say a shelf or two."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I shouldn't need to do that!" said Mother, hurrying away to get her +magazine, which was never far away these last two or three days. +"There's a whole long list here of books 'your young people will want to +have in their library.' Wells and Shaw and Ibsen, and a lot of others I +never heard of, but these first three I remembered because Stephen spoke +of them in one of his first letters about college. Don't you know he was +studying a course with those men's books in it? He said he didn't know +as he was always going to agree with all they said, but they were big, +broad men, and had some fine thoughts. He thought sometimes they hadn't +just got the inner light about God and the Bible and all, but they were +the kind of <a name="Page_169" id="Page_169"></a>men who were getting there, striving after truth, and would +likely find it and hand it out to the world again when they got it; like +the wise men hunting everywhere for a Saviour. Don't you remember, +Father?"</p> + +<p>"I remember!" Father tried to speak cheerily, but his breath ended in a +sigh, for the carpet was heavy. Mother looked at him sharply and changed +the subject. It wasn't always easy to keep Father cheerful about +Stephen's going.</p> + +<p>"You don't suppose we could get those curtains up to-night, too, do +you?"</p> + +<p>"Why, I reckon!" said Father, stopping for a puff of breath and looking +up to the white woodwork at the top of the windows. "You got 'em all +ready to put up, all sewed and everything? Why, I reckon I could put up +those rods after I get across this end, and then you could slip the +curtains on while I was doing the rest. You don't want to get too tired, +Mother. You know you been sewing a long time to-day."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'm not tired! I'm just childish enough to want to see how it's all +going to look. Say, Father, that wasn't the telephone ringing, was it? +You don't think we might get a telegram yet to-night?"</p> + +<p>"Not scarcely!" said Father, with his mouth full of tacks. "You see, +it's been bad weather, and like as not your letter got storm-stayed a +day or so. You mustn't count on hearing 'fore Monday I guess."</p> + +<p>They both knew that that letter ought to have reached the hospital where +Bonnie Brentwood was supposed to be about six o'clock that evening, for +so they had calculated the time between Stephen's letters to a nicety; +but each was engaged in trying to keep the other from getting anxious +about the telegram that did not come. For it was now half past eight by +the kitchen clock, and both of them were as nervous as <a name="Page_170" id="Page_170"></a>fleas listening +for that telephone to ring that would decide the fate of the pretty pink +room, whether it was to have an occupant or not.</p> + +<p>"These white madras curtains look like there's been a frost on a cobweb, +don't they?" said Mother Marshall, holding up a pair all arranged upon +the brass rod ready to hang. "And just see how pretty this pink stuff +looks against it. I declare it reminds me of the sunset light on the +snow in the orchard out the kitchen window evenings when I was watching +for Steve to come home from school. Say, Father, don't you think those +book-shelves look cozy each side of the bay window? And wasn't it clever +of Jed Lewis to think of putting hinges to the covers on that +window-seat? She can keep lots of things in there! Wait till I get those +two pink silk cushions you made me buy. My! Father, but you and I are +getting extravagant in our old age! and all for a girl that may never +even answer our letter!"</p> + +<p>There was a kind of sob in the end of Mother Marshall's words that she +tried to disguise, but Father caught it and flew to the rescue.</p> + +<p>"There now, Mother!" he said, getting laboriously up from the carpet, +hammer in hand, and putting his arms tenderly about her. "There now, +Mother! Don't you go fretting! You see, like as not she was asleep when +the letter got there, and they wouldn't wake her up, or mebbe it would +be too much excitement for her at night that way! And then, again, if +the mail-train was late it wouldn't get into the night deliv'ry. You +know that happened once for Steve and he was real worried about us! Then +they might not have deliv'ry at the hospital on Sunday, and she couldn't +<i>get</i> it till Monday morning! See? And there's another thing you got to +calcl'ate on, too! You never thought of that! She might be too sick yet +to read a letter, or <a name="Page_171" id="Page_171"></a>think what to say to it! So just you be patient, +Mother! We'll just have that much more time to fix things; for, so to +speak, now we haven't got any limitations on what we think she is. We +can just plan for her like she was perfect. When we get her telegram +we'll get some idea, and begin to know the real girl, but now we've just +got our own notion of her."</p> + +<p>"Why, of course!" choked Mother, smiling. "I'm just afraid, Seth, that +I'm getting set on her coming, and that isn't right at all, you know, +because she mightn't be coming."</p> + +<p>"Well, and then again she might. Howsomenever, we'll have this room +fixed up company fine, and if she don't come we'll just come here and +camp for a week, you and me, and pretend we're out visiting. How would +that do? Say, it's real pretty here, like spring in the orchard, ain't +it, Mother? Well, now, you figure out what you're going to have for +bureau fixings, and I'll get back to my tacking. I want to get done +to-night and get that pretty white furniture moved in. You're sure the +enamel is perfectly dry on that bed? That was the last piece he worked +on. I think Jed made a pretty good job of it, for such quick work. Don't +you? Got a clean counterpane, and one of your pink-and-white patchwork +quilts for in here, haven't you, and a posy pin-cushion? My! but I'd +like to know what she says when she sees it first!"</p> + +<p>And so the two old dears jollied each other along till far past their +bedtime; and when at last they lay quiet for the night Mother raised up +in the moonlight that was flooding her side of the room and looked +cautiously over to the other side of the bed:</p> + +<p>"Father! You awake yet?"</p> + +<p>"Yes!" sleepily.</p> + +<p>"What'll we do about going to church to-morrow?<a name="Page_172" id="Page_172"></a> The telegram might come +while we're gone, and then we'd never know what she answered."</p> + +<p>"Oh, they'd call up again until they got us. And, anyhow, we'd call them +up when we got back and ask if any message had come yet?"</p> + +<p>"Oh! Would we?" and Mother Marshall lay down with a sigh of relief, +marveling, as she often had, at the superior knowledge in little +technical details that men so often displayed. Of course in the real +vital things of life women had to be on hand to make things move +smoothly, but just a little thing like that, now, that needed a bit of +what seemed almost superfluous information, a man always knew; and you +wondered how he knew, because nobody ever seemed to have taught him! So +at last Mother Marshall slept.</p> + +<p>Anxious inquiry of the telephone after church brought forth no telegram. +Dinner was a strained and artificial affair, preceded by a wistful but +submissive blessing on the meal. Then the couple settled down in their +comfortable chairs, one each side of the telephone, and tried to read, +but somehow the hours dragged slowly.</p> + +<p>"There's that pair of Grandmother Marshall's andirons up in the attic!" +said Mother Marshall, looking up suddenly over the top of the <i>Sunday +school Times</i>.</p> + +<p>"I'll bring them down the first thing in the morning!" said Father, with +his finger on a promise in the Psalms. Then there was silence for some +time.</p> + +<p>Mother Marshall's eyes suddenly lighted on an article headed, "My Class +of Boys."</p> + +<p>"Seth!" she said, with a beautiful light in her eyes. "You don't suppose +maybe she'd be willing to take Stephen's class of boys in Sunday-school +when she gets better? I can't bear to see them begin to stay away, and +Deacon Grigsby admits he don't know how to manage them." <a name="Page_173" id="Page_173"></a></p> + +<p>"Why, sure!" said Father, tenderly. "She'll take it, I've no doubt. +She's that kind, I should think. And if she isn't now, Mother, she will +be after she's been with you awhile!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, now, Father!" said Mother, turning pink with pleasure. "Come, let's +go up and see how the room looks at sunset!"</p> + +<p>So arm in arm they climbed the front stairs and stood looking about on +the glorified rosy background with its wilderness of cherry bloom about +the frieze. Such a transformation of the dingy old room in such a little +time! Arm in arm they went over to the window-seat and sat leaning +stiffly against the two pink silk cushions, and looking out across the +rosy sunset snow in the orchard, thinking wistfully of the boy that used +to come whistling up that way and would never come to them so again. +Then, just as Father drew a sigh, and a tear crept out on Mother's cheek +(the side next the window), a long-hoped-for, unaccustomed sound burst +out below-stairs! The telephone was ringing! It was Sunday evening at +sunset, and the telephone was ringing!</p> + +<p>Wildly they both sprang to their feet and clutched each other for a +moment.</p> + +<p>"I'll go, Mother," said Father, in an agitated voice. "You just sit +right here and rest till I get back!"</p> + +<p>"No! I'll go, too!" declared Mother, trotting after. "You might miss +something and we ought to write it down!"</p> + +<p>In breathless silence they listened for the magic words, Mother leaning +close to catch them and trying to scratch them down on a corner of the +telephone book with the stump of a pencil she kept for writing recipes:</p> + +<p>"Your wonderful invitation accepted with deep gratitude!" <a name="Page_174" id="Page_174"></a></p> + +<p>"What's that, Father? Make him say it over again!" cried Mother, +scribbling away. "'Your wonderful invitation—(Oh, she liked it, then!) +accepted'—She's coming, Father!"</p> + +<p>"Will start as soon as possible!"</p> + +<p>("Then she's really coming!")</p> + +<p>"Probably Wednesday night."</p> + +<p>("Then I'll have time to get some pink velvet and make a cushion for the +little rocker. They do have pink velvet, I'm sure!")</p> + +<p>"Will write."</p> + +<p>("Then we'll really know what she's like if she writes!")</p> + +<p>Mother Marshall's happy thoughts were in a tumult, but she had her head +about her yet.</p> + +<p>"Now, make him say it all over from the beginning again, Father, and see +if we've got it right. You speak the words out as he says 'em, and I'll +watch the writing."</p> + +<p>And so at last the message was verified and the receiver hung up. They +read the message over together, and they looked at each another with +glad eyes.</p> + +<p>"Now let us pray, Rachel!" said Father, with solemn, shaken voice of +joy. And the two lonely old people knelt down by the little table on +which stood the telephone and gave thanks to God for the child He was +about to send to their empty home.</p> + +<p>"Now," said Father Marshall, when they had risen, "I guess we better get +a bite to eat. Seems like a long time since dinner. Any of that cold +chicken left, Mother? And a few doughnuts and milk? And say, Mother, we +better get the chores done up and get to bed early. I don't think you +slept much last night, and we've got to get up early. There's a whole +lot to do before she comes. We need to chirk up the rest of <a name="Page_175" id="Page_175"></a>the house a +bit. Somehow we've let things get down since Stephen went away."</p> + +<p>Said Mother, as she landed the platter of cold chicken on the table, +"How soon do you s'pose she'll write? I'm just aching to get that +letter!" <a name="Page_176" id="Page_176"></a></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX"></a>CHAPTER XX</h2> + + +<p>Gila had counted on an easy victory that evening. She had furnished for +the occasion her keenest wit, her sweetest laughter, her finest +derision, her most sparkling sarcasm; and as she and her escort joined +the motley throng who were patiently making their way into the packed +doorway she whetted them forth eagerly.</p> + +<p>Even while they took their turn among the crowd she began to make keen +little remarks about the company they were keeping, drawing her velvet +robes away from contact with the throng.</p> + +<p>Courtland, standing head and shoulders above her, his fine profile +outlined against the brightness of the lighted doorway, was looking +about with keen interest on the faces of the people, and wondering why +they had come. Were they in search of the Presence? Had they, too, felt +it there within those dingy walls? He glanced down at Gila with a hope +that she, too, might see and understand to-night. What friends they +might be—how they might talk these things over together—if only Gila +would understand!</p> + +<p>He wished she had had better sense than to array herself in such +startling garments. He could see the curious glances turned her way; +glances that showed she was misunderstood. He did not like it, and he +reached down a protecting hand and took her arm, speaking to her +gravely, just to show the bold fellows <a name="Page_177" id="Page_177"></a>behind her that she was under +capable escort. He did not hear her keen sallies at the expense of their +fellow-worshipers. He was annoyed and trying by his serious mien to +shelter her.</p> + +<p>The singing was already going on as they entered. Just plain old gospel +songs, sung just as badly, though with even more fervor, than in the +morning. Courtland accepted the tattered hymn-book and put Gila into the +seat the shabby usher indicated. He was wholly in the spirit of the +gathering, and anxious only to feel the spell once more that had been +about him in the morning. But Gila was so amused with her surroundings +that she could scarcely pay attention to where she was to sit, and +almost tripped over the end of the pew. She openly stared and laughed at +the people around her, as though that was what Courtland had brought her +there for, and kept nudging him and calling his attention to some +grotesque figure.</p> + +<p>Courtland was singing, joining his fine tenor in with the curious +assembly and enjoying it. Gila recalled him each time from a realm of +the spirit, and he would earnestly give attention to what she said, +bending his ear to listen, then look seriously at the person indicated, +try to appreciate her amusement with a nod and absent smile, and go on +singing again! He was so absorbed in the gathering that her talk +scarcely penetrated to his real soul.</p> + +<p>If he had been trying to baffle Gila he could have used no more +effective method, for the point of her jokes seemed blunted. She turned +her eyes at last to her escort and began to study him, astonishment and +chagrin in her countenance. Gradually both gave way to a kind of +admiration and curiosity. One could not look at Courtland and not +admire. The fine strength in his handsome young face and figure were +always <a name="Page_178" id="Page_178"></a>noticeable among a company anywhere, and here among these +foreigners and wayfarers it was especially so. She was conscious of a +thrill of pleasure in his presence that was new to her. Usually her +attitude was to make others thrill at her presence! No man before had +caught her fancy and held it like this rare one. What secret lay behind +that grave strength of his that made him successfully resist those arts +of hers that had readily lured other victims?</p> + +<p>She watched him while he bowed his head in prayer, and noted how his +rich, close-cut hair waved and crept about his temples; noted the curve +of his chin and the curl of his lashes on his cheek. More and more she +coveted him. And she must set herself to find and break this other power +that had him in its clutches. She perfectly recognized the fact that it +was entirely possible that she would not care for him after the other +power was broken, and that she might have to toss him aside after he was +fully hers. But what of that? Had she not so tossed many a hapless soul +that had come like a moth to singe his wings in her candle-flame, then +laughed at him gaily as he lay writhing in his pain; and tossed after +him, torn and trampled, his own ideals of womanhood, too; so that all +other women might henceforth be blighted in his eyes. Ah! What of that, +so that unquenchable flame in her soul, that restlessly pursued and +conquered and cast aside, might be satisfied? Was that not what women +were made for, to conquer men and toss them away? If they did not would +not men conquer them and toss them away? She was but fulfilling her +womanhood as she had been taught to look upon it.</p> + +<p>But there was something puzzling about Courtland that interested her +deeply. She was not sure but it was half his charm. He really seemed to +<i>want</i> to be <a name="Page_179" id="Page_179"></a>good, to <i>desire</i> to resist evil. Most of the other men +she knew had been all too ready to fall as lightly with as little +earnestness as she into whatever doubtful paths her dainty feet had +chanced to lead. Many of them would have led further than she would go, +for she had her own limitations and conventions, strange as it may seem.</p> + +<p>So Gila sat and meditated, with a strange, sweet thrill in the thought +of a new experience; for, young as she was, she had found the pleasures +of her existence pall upon her many times.</p> + +<p>Suddenly her ear was caught by the sermon. The ugly little man in the +pulpit, with the strange eyes that seemed to look through you, was +telling a story of a garden, with One calling, and a pair of naked souls +guilty and in fear before Him. It was as though she had been one of +them! What right had he to flaunt such truths before a congregation?</p> + +<p>She was not familiar enough with Bible truths to know where he got the +story. It did not seem a story. It was just her Eden where she walked +and ate what fruit she might desire every day without a thought of any +command that might have been issued. She recognized no commands. What +right had God to command her? The serpent had whispered early to her, +"Thou shalt not surely die." Her only question was ever whether the +fruit was pleasant to the eyes and a tree to be desired to make one +wise. Till now there had been no Lord God walking in her garden in the +cool of the day. Only her mother, and she was easy to evade. She had +never been really afraid, nor felt her little soul naked till now, with +the ugly little man's bright brown eyes upon her, and his words +shivering through her like winds about the unprotected. Hideous things +she had forgotten flung into view and <a name="Page_180" id="Page_180"></a>challenged her; and somewhere in +the room there seemed to be One who dared to call her to account. She +looked fiercely back to the speaker, her delicate brows drawn darkly, +her great blue-black eyes fierce in their intensity, her whole face and +attitude a challenge to the sermon. Courtland, absorbed as he was in +what the speaker had to say, thrilling with the message that came to his +soul welcomely, became aware of the tense little figure by his side, +and, looking down, was pleased that she had forgotten her nonsense and +was listening, and somehow missed the defiance in her attitude.</p> + +<p>Gila did not smile when service was over. She went out haughtily, +impatiently, looking about on the throng contemptuously. When Courtland +asked her if she would like to stop a minute and meet the preacher she +threw up her chin with a toss and a "No, indeed!" that left no doubt for +lingering.</p> + +<p>Out in the street, away from the crowd somewhat, she suddenly stopped +and stamped her little foot: "I think that man is perfectly +<i>disgusting</i>!" she cried. "He ought to be <i>arrested</i>! I don't know why +such a man is allowed at large!"</p> + +<p>She was fairly panting in her anger. It was as if he had put her to +shame before an assembly.</p> + +<p>Courtland turned wonderingly toward her.</p> + +<p>"He is outrageous!" she went on. "He has no <i>right</i>! I <i>hate</i> him!"</p> + +<p>Courtland watched her in amazement. "You can't mean the minister!"</p> + +<p>"Minister! He's no minister!" declared Gila. "He's a fanatic! One of the +worst kind. He's a fake! He's uncanny! The idea of daring to talk about +God that way as if He was always around every where! I think it's +<i>awful</i>! I should think he'd have everybody in hysterics!" <a name="Page_181" id="Page_181"></a></p> + +<p>Gila's voice sounded as if she were almost there herself. She flung +along by his side with a vindictive little click of her high-heeled +boots and a prance of her whole elaborate little person that showed she +was fairly bristling with wrath.</p> + +<p>But Courtland's voice was sad with disappointment. "Then you didn't feel +it, after all! I was hoping you did."</p> + +<p>"Feel what?" she asked, sharply. "I felt something, yes. What did you +mean?" Her voice had softened wonderfully, and she drew near to him and +slipped her hand again within his arm. There was an eagerness in her +voice that Courtland wholly misinterpreted.</p> + +<p>"Feel the Presence!" He said it gently, reverently, as if it were a +magic word, a password to a mutual understanding.</p> + +<p>"Presence?" she said, bewildered. "Yes, I felt a presence, but what +presence did you mean?" Her voice was soft with meaning.</p> + +<p>"The Presence of God."</p> + +<p>She turned upon him and jerked her arm away. "The Presence of God in +that place?" she demanded. "No! <i>Never!</i> How perfectly dreadful! I think +that is irreverent!"</p> + +<p>"Irreverent?"</p> + +<p>"Yes! Very irreverent!" said Gila, piously. "And a man like that is +profaning holy things. If you really care for religious things you ought +to come to my church, where everything is quiet and orderly and where +there are decent people. Why, those people there to-night looked as if +they might all be thieves and murderers! And outlandish! My soul! I +never saw anything like it! Some of their things must have come out of +the Ark! Did you see that girl with the tight green skirt? Imagine it! A +whole year and a half out of date! I <a name="Page_182" id="Page_182"></a>think it is immodest to wear +things when they get out of style like that! And the idea of that man +daring to talk to that kind of people about God coming down to live with +them! I think it was the limit! As if God cared anything about people of +that sort! I think that man ought to be arrested, putting notions into +poor people's heads! It's just such talk as that that makes riots and +things. My father says so! Getting common, stupid people all worked up +about things they can't understand. I think it's wicked!"</p> + +<p>Gila raved all the way home. Courtland, for the most part, let her talk +and was silent.</p> + +<p>Seated finally in the library, for he could not go away yet, somehow. +There was something he must ask her. He turned to her, calling her for +the first time by her name:</p> + +<p>"But, Gila, you said you felt a Presence. What did you mean?"</p> + +<p>Gila was silent. The tumult in her face subsided.</p> + +<p>She dropped her lashes and played with the frill on the wrist of the +long chiffon sleeve of her blouse. Her eyes beneath their concealing +lashes kindled. Her mouth grew sweet and sensitive, her whole attitude +became shy and alluring. She sat and drooped before the fire, casting +now and then a wide, shy, innocent look up, her face half turned away.</p> + +<p>"Does she look adown her apron!" floated the words through his brain. +Ah! Here at last was the Gila he had been seeking! The Gila who would +understand!</p> + +<p>"Tell me, Gila!" he said, in an eager, low appeal.</p> + +<p>She stirred softly, drooped a little more toward him, her face turned +away till only the charming profile showed against the rich darkness of +a crimson curtain. Now at last he was coming to it!</p> + +<p>"It was—<i>you</i>—I meant!" she breathed softly. <a name="Page_183" id="Page_183"></a></p> + +<p>He sat up sharply. There was subtle flattery in her tone. He could not +fail to be stirred by it.</p> + +<p>"Me!" he said, almost sternly. "I don't understand!" but his voice was +gentle, almost tender. She looked so small and scared and +"Solveig"-like.</p> + +<p>"You meant <i>me</i>!" he said, again. "Won't you please explain?" <a name="Page_184" id="Page_184"></a></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXI" id="CHAPTER_XXI"></a>CHAPTER XXI</h2> + + +<p>Courtland went back to college that night in a tender and exalted mood. +He thought he was in love with Gila!</p> + +<p>That had been a wonderful little scene before the fire, with the soft, +hidden yellow lights above, and Gila with her delicate, fervid little +face, great, dark eyes, and shy looks. Gila had risked a tear upon her +pearly cheek and another to hang upon her long lashes, and he had had a +curious desire to kiss them away; but something held him from it. +Instead, he took his clean handkerchief, softly wiping them, and thought +that Gila was shy and modest when she shrank from his touch.</p> + +<p>He did not take her in his arms. Something held him from that, too. He +had a feeling that she was too sacred, and he must not lightly snatch +her for himself. Instead, he put her gently in the big chair by his +side, and they sat and talked together quietly. He did not realize that +he had done the most of the talking. He did not know what they had +talked about; only that reluctant whispered confession of hers had +somehow entered him into a close intimacy with her that pleased and half +awed him. But when he tried to tell her of a wonderful experience he had +had she lifted up her little hand and begged: "Please, not to-night! Let +us not think of anything but just each other to-night!" And so he had +let it pass, knowing she was all wrought up. <a name="Page_185" id="Page_185"></a></p> + +<p>He had not asked her to marry him, nor even told her he loved her. They +had talked in quiet, wondering ways of feeling drawn to each other; at +least <i>he</i> had talked, and Gila had sat watching him with deep, +dissatisfied eyes. She had sense enough to see that she could not win +him with the arts that had won others. His was a nature deeper, +stronger. She must bide her time and be coy. But her spirit chafed +beneath delay, and dark passions lurked behind and brooded in her eyes. +Perhaps it was this that held him in a sort of uncertainty. It was as if +he waited permission from some unseen source to take what she was so +evidently ready to give. He thought it was the sacredness in which he +held her. Almost the sermon and the feeling of the Presence were out of +mind as he went home. There played around him now a little phantom joy +that hovered over like a will-o'-the-wisp above his heart, and danced, +giving him a strange, inexplicable exhilaration. Was this love? Was he +in love?</p> + +<p>He flung himself down on Tennelly's couch when he got back to the +dormitory. Bill Ward was deep in a book under the drop-light, and +Tennelly was supposed to be finishing a theme for the next day.</p> + +<p>"Nelly, what is love?" asked Courtland, suddenly, in the midst of the +silence. "How do you know when you are in love?"</p> + +<p>Tennelly dropped his fountain-pen in his surprise, and had to crawl +under the table after it. He and Bill Ward exchanged one lightning +glance of relief as he emerged from the table.</p> + +<p>"Search me!" said Tennelly, as he sat down again. "Love's an illusion, +they say. I never tried it, so I don't know."</p> + +<p>There was silence again in Tennelly's room. Pres<a name="Page_186" id="Page_186"></a>ently Courtland got up +and said good-night. Over in his own room he stood by the window, +looking out into the moonlight. The preacher had said prayer was talking +with the Lord face to face. That was a new idea. Courtland dropped upon +his knees and talked aloud to God as he had never opened his heart to +living creature before. If prayer was that, why, prayer was good!</p> + +<p>Gila, standing bewildered, studying her pretty, discontented little face +in the mirror, with all its masks laid aside, would have shivered in +fear and been all the more uncertain of her success if she could have +known that the man she would have had for a lover was on his knees +talking about her to God. Her little naked soul in a garden all alone +with the Lord God, and a man who was set to follow Him!</p> + +<p>Tennelly looked up and raised his eyebrows as Courtland closed the door. +"Guess you needn't have written that letter, after all!" chuckled Bill +Ward. "I thought Gila would get in her little old work!"</p> + +<p>"Well, it's written and mailed, so that doesn't do any good now. And, +anyway, it's always well to have more than one string to your bow!" +growled Tennelly. Courtland in love! He wasn't exactly sure he liked it. +Courtland and Gila! What kind of a girl was Gila, anyway? Was she good +enough for Court? He must look into this.</p> + +<p>"Say, Bill, why don't you introduce me to your cousin? I think it's +about time I had a chance to judge for myself how things are getting +on," growled Tennelly, presently.</p> + +<p>"Sure!" said Bill. "Good idea! Why didn't you mention it before? How +about going now? It's only half past ten. Court didn't stay very late, +did he? No, it isn't too late for Gila. She never goes to bed <a name="Page_187" id="Page_187"></a>till +midnight, not if there's anything interesting on. Wait. I'll call her up +and see. I'm privileged, anyway, you know. Cousins can do anything. I'll +tell her we're hungry."</p> + +<p>So it came about that an hour after Gila had sat in the firelight with +Courtland and listened, puzzled, to his reverent talk of a +soul-friendship, she ushered into the same room her cousin and Tennelly. +She met Tennelly with a challenge in her eye.</p> + +<p>Tennelly had one in his. Their glances lingered, sparred and lingered +again, and each knew that this was a notable meeting.</p> + +<p>For Tennelly was tall and strikingly handsome. He had those deep black +eyes that hold a maiden's gaze and dare a devil; yet there was behind +his look something strong, dashing, scholarly. Gila saw at once that he +was distinguished in his way, and though her thoughts were strangely +held by Courtland she could not let one like this go by unchallenged. If +Courtland did not prove corrigible, why, there was still as good fish in +the sea as ever was caught. It were well to have more than one hook +baited. So she received Tennelly graciously, boldly, impressively, and +in three minutes was talking with that daring intimacy that young people +of her style love to affect; and Tennelly, fascinated by her charms, yet +seeing through them and letting her know he saw through them, was +fencing with her delightfully. He told himself it was his duty for +Courtland's sake. Yet he was interested for his own sake and knew it. +But he did not like the idea of Court and this girl! They did not fit. +Court was too genuine! Too tender-hearted! Too idealistic about women! +With himself, now, it was different. He knew women! Understood this one +at a glance. She was "a peach" in her way, but not the "perfect little +<a name="Page_188" id="Page_188"></a>peach" Court ought to have. She would flirt all her life and break old +Court's heart if he married her.</p> + +<p>So he laughed and joked with Gila, answering her challenging glances +with glances just as ardent, while Bill Ward sat and watched them both, +chuckling away to himself.</p> + +<p>And Courtland, on his knees, talked with God!</p> + +<p>The next morning Courtland awoke with a pleasant sensation of eagerness +to see what life had in store for him. Was this really the wonderful +experience of love into which he had begun to enter? He thought of Gila +all in halos now. The questionings and unpleasantnesses were forgotten. +He told himself that she would one day see and understand the wonderful +experience through which he had been passing. He would tell her just as +soon as possible. Not to-day, for he would be busy, and she had +engagements Tuesday evening and all day Wednesday. He had not noticed +the subtle withdrawing as she told him, the quick, furtive calculation +in her glance. She knew how to make coming to her a privilege. Just +because she had let him think he saw a bit of her heart that night, she +meant to hold him off. Not too long, for he was not sufficiently bound +to her to be safe from forgetting, but just long enough to whet his +eagerness. Her former experience in such matters had taught her to +expect that he would probably call her up and beg to see her sooner, +when she might relent if he was humble enough. And she had not misjudged +him. He was looking forward to Thursday as a bright, particular goal, +planning what he would say to her, wondering if his heart would bound as +it had when she looked at him Sunday night, and if the strange sweetness +that seemed about to be settling upon him would last. <a name="Page_189" id="Page_189"></a></p> + +<p>Before he left his room that morning he did something he had never done +before in college; he locked his door and knelt beside his bed to pray, +with a strong, sweet sense of the Presence standing beside him, and +breathing power into his soul.</p> + +<p>He had not much to ask for himself. He simply craved that Presence, and +it had never seemed so close. As he unlocked his door and hurried down +the hall to the dining-room he marveled that a thing so sweet had been +so long neglected from his life. Prayer! How he had sneered at it! Yet +it was a reasonable thing, after all, now that he had come believing.</p> + +<p>Nurse Wright was on hand promptly at the place appointed. She was armed +with a list of written instructions. They went to work at once, setting +aside the things to be sold; folding and packing the scanty wardrobe, +and putting by themselves the clothes and things that had belonged to +little Aleck. One incident brought tears to their eyes. In moving out +the trunk a large pasteboard box fell down, and the contents dropped +upon the floor. The nurse stooped to pick up the things, some pieces of +an old overcoat of fine, dark-blue material, cut into small garments, +basted, ready to be sewed; a tissue-paper pattern in a printed envelope +marked "Boy's suit." Courtland lifted up the cover to put it on again, +and there they saw, in a child's stiff little printing letters, the +inscription, "Aleck's new Sunday suit," and underneath, like a subtitle, +in smaller letters, "Made out of father's best overcoat."</p> + +<p>"Poor little kid!" said Courtland. "He never got to wear it!"</p> + +<p>"He's wearing something far better!" said the nurse, cheerfully; "and +think what he's been spared. He'll never know the lack of a new suit +again!" <a name="Page_190" id="Page_190"></a></p> + +<p>Courtland looked at her thoughtfully. "You believe in the resurrection, +don't you?"</p> + +<p>"I certainly do!" said the nurse. "If I didn't I'd get another job. I +couldn't see lives go out the way I do, and those left behind, +suffering, and not go crazy if I didn't believe in the resurrection. You +are a college student. I suppose you've got beyond believing things. It +isn't the fashion to believe in God and the Bible any more, I +understand, not if you're supposed to have any brains. But I thank God +He's left me the resurrection. And when you come to face the loss of +those you love you'll wish you believed in it, too."</p> + +<p>"But I do," said Courtland, quietly, making his second confession of +faith. "I never thought much about it till lately. It goes along with a +Christ, of course. There had to be a resurrection if there was a +Christ!"</p> + +<p>"Well, I certainly am glad there's one college student that has some +sense!" said the nurse, looking at him with admiration. "I guess you had +a good mother."</p> + +<p>"No," said Courtland, shaking his head. "I never knew my own mother. +That'll be one of the things for me to look forward to in the +resurrection. I was like all the rest of the fellows—thought I knew it +all, and didn't believe anything till something happened! I was in a +fire and one of the fellows died! He was a great Christian, and I saw +his face when he died! And then, afterward—maybe you'll think I'm nuts +when I tell you—but Christ came and stood by me in the smoke and talked +with me and I knew Him! He's been with me more or less ever since."</p> + +<p>The nurse looked at him curiously, a strange light in her eyes. Then she +turned suddenly and looked out of the little window to the vista of gray +roofs.</p> + +<p>"No! I don't think you're nuts!" she said, brusquely.<a name="Page_191" id="Page_191"></a> "I think you're +the only sensible man I've met in a long time. It stands to reason if +there is a Christ He'd come to people that way sometimes. I never had +any vision, or anything that I know of, but I've always known in my +heart there was a Christ and He was helping me! I couldn't answer their +arguments, those smart-Aleck young doctors and the nurses that talked so +much, but I always felt nobody could upset my belief, even if the whole +world turned against Him, for I <i>knew</i> there was a Christ! I don't know +<i>how</i> I know it, but I <i>know</i> it and that's enough for me! I don't boast +of being much of a Christian myself, but if I didn't know there was a +Christ I couldn't stand the life I have to live, nor the disappointments +that I've had."</p> + +<p>There were tears rolling down her cheeks, but her eyes were shining when +she turned around.</p> + +<p>"Say, I guess we're sort of relations, aren't we?" laughed Courtland, +holding out his hand. "You've described my feelings exactly."</p> + +<p>She took the offered hand and gripped it warmly. "I knew you must be +different, somehow, when you went out to hunt for my patient so late at +night that way," she said.</p> + +<p>Courtland went out presently, bringing back a second-hand man with whom +he made a quiet bargain that not even the nurse could hear, and the +surplus furniture was carted away. It was not long before the little +room was dismantled and empty.</p> + +<p>They went together to a department store and purchased a charming little +bag with a lot of traveling accessories in plain compact form, light +enough for an invalid to carry. Courtland begged to be let in on the +gift, but the nurse was firm:</p> + +<p>"This is my picnic, young man," she said. "You're doing enough! You +can't deny it! For pity's sake, <a name="Page_192" id="Page_192"></a>wait till you know her better before +you try to do any more!"</p> + +<p>"Do you think I'll ever know her any better?" laughed Courtland.</p> + +<p>"If you have any sense you will!" snapped back the nurse, and waved a +grim but pleasant good-by as she took the trolley back to the hospital.</p> + +<p>Wednesday night Courtland was on hand with his car in plenty of time to +take Bonnie and the nurse down to the station. He was almost startled at +the beauty of the girl as she came slowly down the steps. There were +certain little details of her costume that showed the hand of the nurse: +a soft white collar; a floating, sheltering veil, gathered up now about +the black sailor-hat; well-fitting gloves; shoes polished like new. All +these things made a difference and set off the girl's lovely face in its +white resignation to an almost unearthly beauty. He found himself +wanting to turn back often and look again as he drove his car through +the crowded evening streets. She looked so frail and sweet he could not +help thinking of Mother Marshall and how she would feel when she saw +her. Surely she could not help but take her to her heart! He felt a +certain pride in her, as if she were his sister. He was half sorry she +was going away. He would like to know her better. The words of the +nurse, "until you know her better" floated through his mind. What a +strange thing that had been for her to say! It wasn't in the least +likely that he would ever see Bonnie again.</p> + +<p>They left her in the sleeper, with special instructions to the porter to +look after her, and surrounding her with magazines and fruit.</p> + +<p>"She looks as if a breath might blow her away!" said Courtland, speaking +out of a troubled thought, as he and the nurse stood on the platform +watching the <a name="Page_193" id="Page_193"></a>train move off. "Do you think she'll get through the +journey all right?"</p> + +<p>"Sure!" said the nurse, wiping away a wistful tear furtively. "She's got +lots of pep. She'll rally and get strong pretty soon. She's had a pretty +tough time the last two years. Lost her mother, father, a sister, and +this little brother. Her father's heart was broken by being asked to +leave his church because he preached temperance too much. The martyrs in +this world didn't all die in the dark ages! They're having them yet!"</p> + +<p>"But she looks so ethereal!" pursued Courtland. "I wish I'd thought to +suggest you going along. We could have trumped up some reason why you +had to have a vacation."</p> + +<p>"Couldn't do it!" said the nurse, smiling and patting his arm. "I +thought of it, but it wouldn't work. I have to be at the hospital +to-morrow for a very important operation. There isn't anybody else in +the hospital could very well take my place. Besides, she's sharp as a +tack, and you needn't think she doesn't see through a lot of the things +you've done for her! Mark my words, you'll hear from her some day! She +means to know the truth about those bills and pay every cent back! But +don't you worry about her. She'll get through all right. She's got more +nerve than any dozen girls I know, and she doesn't go alone through this +world, either. She's had a vision, too, or you'd never see her wearing +that patient face with all she's had to bear!"</p> + +<p>"Did it ever seem strange to you that good people have so much trouble +in this world?" said Courtland, voicing his same old doubting thought.</p> + +<p>"Well, now <i>why</i>? What's <i>trouble</i> going to be in the resurrection? We +won't mind then what we passed <a name="Page_194" id="Page_194"></a>through, and this world isn't forever, +thank the Lord! If it's serving His plan any for me to get more than +what seems my share of trouble, why, I'm willing. Aren't you? The +trouble is we can't see the plan, and so we go fretting because it +doesn't fit our ideas. If it was our plan now we'd patiently bear +everything, I suppose, to make it come out right. We aren't up high +enough to get the whole view of the finished plan, so of course lots of +things look like mistakes. But if we trust Him at all, we know they +aren't. And some time, I suppose, we'll see the whole and then we'll +understand why it was. But I never was one to do much fretting because I +didn't understand. I always know what my job is, and that's enough. I'm +content to trust the rest to God. It's a God-size job to run the +universe, and I know I'm not equal to it."</p> + +<p>Her simple logic calmed his restless thoughts, but there was still a +strange wistfulness in his heart about Bonnie. She looked so white and +resigned and sad! He wished she hadn't gone quite so far out of his +life.</p> + +<p>Meantime, out in the darkness of the night Bonnie's train whirled along, +and some time during the long hours between midnight and dawning it +passed in a rush and a thunder of sound the express that was bearing +back to Courtland another menace to his peace of mind. <a name="Page_195" id="Page_195"></a></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXII" id="CHAPTER_XXII"></a>CHAPTER XXII</h2> + + +<p>Uncle Ramsey was large and imposing, with an effulgent complexion and a +prosperous presence. He wore a double-jeweled ring on his apoplectic +finger, and a scarab scarf-pin. His eyes were keen and shifty; his teeth +had acquired the habit of clutching his fat black cigar viciously while +he snarled his rather loose lips about them in conversation. Uncle +Ramsay never looked one in the face when he was talking. He looked off +into space, where he appeared to have the topic under discussion in +visible form before him. He never took up with the conversation his host +offered. He furnished the topics himself and pinned one down to them. It +really was of no use whatever to start any subject unless it had been +previously announced, because it never got further than the initiative. +Uncle Ramsey always went on with whatever he had in mind. Tennelly knew +this tendency, realized that in writing the letter he had taken the only +possible way of bringing Courtland to his uncle's notice.</p> + +<p>After an exceedingly good dinner at the frat. house, where Tennelly did +not usually dine, and being further reinforced by one of the aforesaid +fat black cigars, Uncle Ramsey leaned back in Tennelly's leather chair, +and began:</p> + +<p>"Now, Thomas!"</p> + +<p>Tennelly stirred uneasily. He despised that "Thomas." His full name was +Llewellyn Thomas<a name="Page_196" id="Page_196"></a> Tennelly. At home they called him "Lew." Nobody but +Uncle Ramsey ever dared the hateful Thomas. He liked to air the fact +that his nephew was named after himself, the great Ramsey Thomas.</p> + +<p>"Suppose you tell me about this man you have for me? What kind of a +looking man is he?"</p> + +<p>Uncle Ramsey screwed up his eyes, looked to the middle distance where +the subject ought to be, and examined him critically.</p> + +<p>"Has—ah—he—ah—<i>personality</i>? Personality is a great factor in +success you know."</p> + +<p>Tennelly, in the brief space allowed him, declared that his friend would +pass this test.</p> + +<p>"Well—ah! And can he—ah!—can he <i>lead men</i>? Because that is a very +important point. The man I want must be a leader."</p> + +<p>"I think he is."</p> + +<p>"Um—ah! And does he—?" on down through a long list of questions.</p> + +<p>At last, after once more relighting his cigar, which had gone out +frequently during the conversation, he turned to his nephew and fixed +him sharply with a fat pale-blue eye.</p> + +<p>"Tell me the worst you know about him, Thomas! What are his faults?" he +snapped, and settled back to squint at his imaginary stage again.</p> + +<p>"Why—I—Why, I don't think he has any," declared Tennelly, shifting +uneasily in his chair. He had a feeling that Uncle Ramsey would get it +out of him yet. And he did.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I perceive that he has! Out with it!" snapped the keen old bird, +flinging his loose lips about restively.</p> + +<p>"It's only that he's got a religious twist lately, uncle. I don't think +it'll last. I really think he is getting over it!" <a name="Page_197" id="Page_197"></a></p> + +<p>"Religion! Um! Ah! Well, now that might not be so bad—not for my +purpose, you know. Religion really gives a confidence sometimes. +Religion! Um! Ah! Not a bad trait. Let me see him, Thomas! Let me see +him <i>at once</i>!"</p> + +<p>Tennelly had said nothing to Courtland about the approaching uncle, and +therefore it was wholly a surprise to Courtland when Tennelly knocked on +his door and dragged him from his books to meet a Chicago uncle.</p> + +<p>"He's come East looking for the right man to fill a very important +position. It is something along your line, I guess, so I spoke to him +about you," whispered Tennelly, hastily, as they crossed the hall +together.</p> + +<p>Face to face they stood, the financier and the young senior, and studied +each other keenly for the fraction of a second, Courtland no less cool +and impressive in his way than the older man. For Courtland was not +afraid of any man, and his natural attitude toward all men was challenge +till he knew them. He stood straight and tall and looked Uncle Ramsey in +the eye critically, questioningly, courteously, but with no attempt to +propitiate; and not the slightest apparent conception of the awesomeness +of the occasion or the condescension of the august personage whom he was +thus permitted to meet.</p> + +<p>And Uncle Ramsey liked it!</p> + +<p>True, he tried to fix the young man much as a cook fixes a roast with a +skewer, to be put over the fire; but Courtland didn't skew. He just sat +down indifferently and looked the man over; smiled pleasantly now and +then, and listened; but he didn't give an inch. Even when the marvelous +proposition was made to him which might change the whole course of his +future life <a name="Page_198" id="Page_198"></a>and cover his name with glory (?) Courtland never flickered +an eyelash.</p> + +<p>"He took it as calmly as if I'd been offering him toast with his tea +when he already had bread and jam, the young whelp!" marveled Uncle +Ramsey, delightedly, after Courtland had thanked him, promised to think +it over, and gone back to his room. "He's got the personality, all +right! He'll do! But what's his idea in being so reluctant? Didn't the +offer strike him as big enough, or what's the matter? I must say I don't +like to wait. When I find a man I like to nail him. What's the idea, +Thomas? Has he got something else up his sleeve?"</p> + +<p>"Not that I know of," said Tennelly, looking troubled. "I guess he's +just got to think it over. That's Court. He never steps into a position +until he knows exactly what he thinks about it."</p> + +<p>"M-m-m! Another good trait! You're sure it isn't anything else?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know of anything unless some of his religious notions are +standing in his way. I'm sure I can't quite make him out lately. He had +a shock a few months ago—one of the fellows killed in a fire—and he +can't seem to get over it quite."</p> + +<p>"Oh, well, we'll fix him up all right!" said Uncle Ramsey, contentedly. +"We'll just send him down to our model factory here in the city and let +him see how things are run. Convince him he's doing good, and that'll +settle him! All white marble, with vines over the place, and a big +rest-room and reading-room for the hands, gymnasium on the roof, model +restaurant, all up to date. Cost a lot of money, too, but it pays! When +some whining idiot of a woman, that hasn't enough business of her own to +attend to, goes blabbing down there at Washington about the 'conditions' +in <a name="Page_199" id="Page_199"></a>the factories, and all that rot, we just run a few senators up here +for the day and show 'em that model factory. Oh, it pays in the long +run. You take your man there and you'll land him all right! By the way, +there's a little rat of a preacher down around that factory that I'd +like to throttle! He's making us all sorts of trouble, stirring up the +folks to ask for all sorts of things! He's putting it in their heads to +demand an eight-hour day, and no telling how much more! He's undertaken +to tell us how we ought to run our business! Tell us which doors we +shall lock and which leave unlocked, how often we shall let our hands +sit down, and what kind of machines we shall get! He's a regular little +rat! Know him? His name's Burns. Insignificant little puppy! And he's +got a pull down there in Washington, somehow, that's making us a lot of +trouble, too! That's one thing I want this new man for. I want to train +him to spy on that sort of interference and by and by do some lobbying. +We must stop such business as that. What time is it? I guess perhaps I +better run down and hunt out that little rat and give him a good scare."</p> + +<p>Uncle Ramsey departed "rat-hunting," and Tennelly repaired to +Courtland's room. He sat down and began to tell what a wonderful +opportunity this was, and how unprecedented in Uncle Ramsey to have +offered such a thing to a young man still in college. It showed how +wonderfully he had been taken with Courtland. It was most flattering.</p> + +<p>Courtland admitted that it was and that he was grateful to his friend +for mentioning his name. He said it looked like a very good thing—like +the kind of thing he had been hoping would turn up when he got through +college, but he couldn't decide it immediately.</p> + +<p>Tennelly urged that Uncle Ramsey was insistent; <a name="Page_200" id="Page_200"></a>that his business was +urgent, and he must know one way or the other immediately. He tried to +give Courtland an adequate idea of the greatness of Uncle Ramsey, and +the audacity of anybody, especially a little college upstart, attempting +to keep him waiting; but Courtland only shook his head and said it +wouldn't be possible for him to give his answer at once. If that was the +condition of the offer he would have to let it pass.</p> + +<p>Tennelly talked and talked, but finally went back to his room baffled. +He just couldn't understand what was the matter with Courtland!</p> + +<p>When Uncle Ramsey returned from a fruitless search for the "rat" he was +enraged to find that Courtland was not awaiting his coming in trembling +eagerness to accept his munificent offer.</p> + +<p>Another personal interview that evening brought nothing more +satisfactory than a promise to look into the matter carefully, and to +have another talk the next evening. Uncle Ramsey raged and swore. He +blamed the little rat of a preacher, and declared he must leave for +Boston that evening; but he finally sent a telegram instead and decided +to remain until the next night. There were matters in the city he was +intending to look after on his return, and of course he could do it now +instead. He felt it was important that that young man should be landed +before he had a chance to do too much thinking. Moreover, he was piqued +that a youngster like that should presume to consider turning down a job +like the one he was offering him.</p> + +<p>If Courtland had tried to explain to Tennelly and his uncle just why +this offer, which would have delighted him so much three months before, +was hanging in the balance of his mind, they would scarcely have +understood. He would have to tell them of the Pres<a name="Page_201" id="Page_201"></a>ence which was by his +side, which had been very real to him as he stood in Tennelly's room +listening to Uncle Ramsey that afternoon, and which had hovered by him +since, so close, so strong, with that pervading, commanding nearness +that demanded his utmost attention. He would have had to tell them that +he was under orders now, being led, and that every step was new and +untried; he must look into the face of his Companion and Guide, and find +out if this was the way he was to go!</p> + +<p>Something, somewhere was holding him back. He did not know why, he did +not see for how long. He simply could not make that decision to-night! +He must await permission before moving.</p> + +<p>Possibly the trip to the factory the next day, which he had promised to +take, might give him some light in the matter. Possibly he would find +counsel somewhere. But where? He thought of Gila. He took out a lovely +photograph of her that she had given him before he left her Sunday +night—a charming, airy, idealistic thing of earth and fire that had +lain innocently open upon the library table where some one (?) had left +it earlier in the day. He stood it up on his desk and studied the +spirited will-o'-the-wisp face! Then he turned away sadly and shook his +head. She would not understand. Not yet! Some time, when he had told her +about the Presence—but not yet! She could not understand because she +had not seen for herself.</p> + +<p>Tennelly and his uncle went down-town in the morning and took lunch +together. Courtland was to meet them at the factory at three o'clock, +but somehow he missed them. Perhaps it was intention. Courtland went +early. He wanted to see things for himself; went alone first. Afterward +he could go the rounds to satisfy Mr. Thomas, but first he would see it +alone. <a name="Page_202" id="Page_202"></a></p> + +<p>Then, after all, it was the Rev. Robert Burns who met him at the door +and took him through the factory, bent on seeing some parishioner on an +errand of love. And there was that strange sense of the Presence having +been there before them, walking about among the machinery, looking at +the tired face of one, sorrowing over the wrinkles in another forehead, +pitying the weary hands that toiled, blessing the faithful! It reminded +him of the morgue in that. For a minute he began to think that if the +Presence was here in this peculiar sense, then, of course, it was an +indication that he was needed here to work for these people, as Uncle +Ramsey had tried with strange worldly wisdom to make him understand. But +then, suddenly, he caught a glimpse of the face of the little minister, +white under its freckles, with a righteous wrath as he fixed his gaze +sternly on the door at the end of the long room. He looked up quickly to +hear the click of a key in a lock as the foreman passed from one room to +another.</p> + +<p>He glanced down at the minister and their eyes met.</p> + +<p>"They lock them in here like sheep in a pen. If a fire should break out +they would all die!" said the minister under his breath. His lips were +trembling with the helplessness of himself against the power of a great +trust.</p> + +<p>"You don't say!" said Courtland, startled. It was his first view of +conditions of this sort. He looked about with eyes alive to things he +had not seen before. "But I thought this was a model factory! Isn't it +absolutely fire-proof?"</p> + +<p>"Somewhat so, on the <i>out</i>side!" shrugged Burns. "It's a whited +sepulcher, that's what it is. Beautiful marble and vines, beautiful +rest-room and library—for the <i>visitors</i> to rest and read in—beautiful +restaurant where the girls must buy their meals at the company's <a name="Page_203" id="Page_203"></a>prices +or go without; beautiful outside everywhere; but it's rotten, +<i>absolutely rotten</i> all through! Look at the width of that staircase! +That's the one the employees use. The visitors only see the broad way by +which you came up. Look at those machines! All painted and gilded! They +are old models and twice as heavy to work as the new ones, but we can't +get them to make changes. Look at those seats, put there to impress the +visitors! The fact is not one of the hands dare use them, except a +minute now and then when the foreman happens to leave the room! They +know they will get docked in their pay if they are caught sitting down +at their work! And yet it is always flaunted before the visitors that +the workmen can sit down when they like. So they can, but they can go +home without a pay-envelope if they do, when Saturday night comes. Oh, +there is enough here to make one's blood boil! You're interested in +these things? I wish you'd let me tell you more some time. About the +long hours, the stifling air in some rooms, and the little children +working in spite of the law! I wish men like you would come down here +and help clean this section out and make conditions different! Why don't +you come and help me?"</p> + +<p>The minister laid his hand on Courtland's arm, and instantly it seemed +as if the Presence came and stood beside him and said: "Here! This is +your work!"</p> + +<p>With a great conviction in his heart Courtland turned and followed Burns +down the broad marble stairs out to the office, where he left word for +Tennelly and his uncle that he had been there and had to go, but would +see them again that evening, and then down the street to Burns's common +little boarding-house, where they sat down and talked the rest of the +afternoon. Burns opened Courtland's eyes to many things that he had <a name="Page_204" id="Page_204"></a>not +known were in the world. It was as if he laid his hands upon him and +said, as of old: "Brother Saul, receive thy sight!"</p> + +<p>When Courtland went back to the university his decision was made. He +felt that he was under orders, and the Presence would not go with him in +any such commission as Uncle Ramsey had proposed. His only regret was +that Tennelly would not understand. Dear old Tennelly, who had tried to +do his best for him!</p> + +<p>The dénouement began in Tennelly's room after supper, when Courtland +courteously and firmly thanked Uncle Ramsey, but <i>declined</i> the offer!</p> + +<p>Uncle Ramsey grew apoplectic in the face and glared at the young man, +finally bringing out an explosive: "What! You <i>decline</i>?"</p> + +<p>Uncle Ramsey spluttered and swore. He tore up and down the small +confines of the room like an angry bull, bellowing forth anathemas and +arguments in a confused jumble. He enlarged on the insult he had been +given, and the opportunity that was being lost never to be offered +again. He called Courtland a "trifling idiot," and a few other gentle +phrases, and demanded reasons for such an unprecedented decision.</p> + +<p>Courtland's only answer was: "I am afraid it isn't going to fit in with +my views of life, Mr. Thomas. I have thought it over carefully and I +cannot accept your offer."</p> + +<p>"Why not? Isn't it enough money?" roared the mad financier. "I'll double +your salary!"</p> + +<p>"Money has nothing to do with it," said Courtland, quietly. "That would +make no difference." He was sorry for this scene for Tennelly's sake.</p> + +<p>"Well, have you something else in view?"</p> + +<p>"No, not definitely."</p> + +<p>"Then you're a fool!" said Uncle Ramsey, and further <a name="Page_205" id="Page_205"></a>stated what kind +of a fool he was, several times, <i>vigorously</i>. After which he mopped his +beaded brow with trembling, agitated hands, and sat down. The old bull +was baffled at last.</p> + +<p>Uncle Ramsey blustered all the way to the train with his nephew. "I've +got to have that young man, Thomas. There's no two ways about it. A +fellow that can stand out the way he did against Ramsey Thomas is just +the man I want. He's got personality. Why, a man like that at work for +us would be worth millions! He would give confidence to every one! Why, +we could make him a Senator in a few years, and there's no telling where +he wouldn't stop! He's the kind of a man who could be put in the White +House if things shaped themselves right. I've <i>got</i> to have him, Thomas, +and no mistake! Now, I'm going to put it up to you to find out the +secret of this thing. You just get his number and we'll meet him on any +reasonable proposition he wants to put up. Say, Thomas, isn't there a +girl anywhere that could influence him?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, there's a girl!"</p> + +<p>"The very thing! You put her wise about it, and when I come back next +week I'll stop off again and see what I can do with her? You can take me +to call on her, you know. Can you work it, Thomas?"</p> + +<p>Tennelly said he'd try, and went around to see Gila on his way back to +the university.</p> + +<p>Gila listened to the story of Uncle Ramsey's offer with bated breath and +averted gaze. She would not show Tennelly how much this meant to her. +But in her eyes there grew a determination that was not to be denied.</p> + +<p>She planned a campaign with Tennelly, coolly, and with a light kind of +glee that fooled him completely. He saw that she was entering into the +spirit of the thing <a name="Page_206" id="Page_206"></a>and had no idea she had any other interest than to +please her cousin, and achieve a kind of triumph herself in making +Courtland do the thing he had vowed not to do.</p> + +<p>But long after Tennelly had gone home she stood before her mirror, +looking with dreamy eyes into the pictures her imagination drew there +for her. She saw herself the bride of Courtland after he had succeeded +in the big business enterprise to which Uncle Ramsey had opened the +door; she saw Washington with its domes and Capitol looming ahead of her +ambition; Senators and great men bowing before her; even the White House +came like a fantasy of possibility. All this and more were hers if she +played her cards aright. Never fear! She would play them! Courtland +<i>must</i> be made to accept Uncle Ramsey's proposition! <a name="Page_207" id="Page_207"></a></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIII" id="CHAPTER_XXIII"></a>CHAPTER XXIII</h2> + + +<p>Bonnie's letter reached Mother Marshall Wednesday afternoon while Father +was off in the machine arranging for a man to do the spring plowing. She +knew it by heart before he got back, and stood at her trysting window +with her cheek against the old hat, watching the sunset and thinking it +over when the car came chugging contentedly down the road.</p> + +<p>Father waved his hand boyishly as he turned in at the big gate, and +Mother was out on the side door-step waiting as he came to a halt.</p> + +<p>"Heard anything yet?" he asked, eagerly.</p> + +<p>"Yes. A nice, dear letter!" Mother held it up, "Hurry up and come in and +I'll read it to you."</p> + +<p>But Father couldn't wait to put away the machine. He bounded out like a +four-year-old and came right in then, regardless of the fact that it was +getting dark and he might run into the door-jamb putting away the +machine later.</p> + +<p>He settled down, overcoat and all, into the big chair in the kitchen to +listen; and Mother put on her spectacles in such a hurry that she got +them upside down and had to begin over again.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">Y</span><span class="smcap">ou Dear Mother Marshall</span>! [the letter began.]<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">A</span><span class="smcap">nd Dear Father Marshall, too</span>!<br /><br /> + +<p>I think it is just the most wonderful thing that I ever +heard of that you are willing to invite a stranger like me +to <a name="Page_208" id="Page_208"></a>visit you! At first I thought it wasn't right to accept +such great kindness from people I never saw, and who didn't +know whether they could even like me or not. But afterward +Mr. Courtland told me about your Stephen and that you had +suffered, too! And then I knew that I might take you at your +word and come for a little while to get the comfort I need +so much! Even then I couldn't have done it if Mr. Courtland +and my nurse hadn't told me they were sure I could get +something to do and so be able to repay you for all this +kindness. If I can really be of any comfort to you in your +loneliness I shall be so glad. But I'm afraid I could never +even half fill the place of so fine a son as you must have +had. Mr. Courtland has told me how grandly he died. He saw +him, you know, at the very last minute, and saw all he did +to save others. But if you will let me love you both I shall +be so grateful. All that I had on earth are gone home to God +now, and the world looks so long and hard and sad to me! I +do hope you can love me a little while I stay, and that you +will not let me make you any trouble. Please don't go to any +work to get ready for me. I will gladly do anything that is +necessary when I get there. I am quite able to work now; and +if I have a place where I can feel that somebody cares +whether I live or die it will not be so hard to face the +future. A great, strange city is an awful place for a girl +that has a heavy heart!</p> + +<p>I am so glad that you know Jesus Christ. It makes me feel at +home before I get there. My dear father was a minister.</p> + +<p>They wouldn't let me go and pack up, so I had to do the best +I could with directing the kind friends who did it for me. I +have taken you at your word and had mother's sewing-machine +and a box of my little brother's things sent with my trunk. +But if they are in the way I can sell them or give them +away. And I don't want you to feel that I am going to +presume upon your kindness and settle down on you +indefinitely. Just as soon as I get a chance to work I must +take it, and I shall want to repay you for all you have done +for me. You have sent me a great deal more money than I +need. <a name="Page_209" id="Page_209"></a></p> + +<p>I start Wednesday evening on the through express. I have +marked a time-table and am sending it because we are unable +to find out just what time I can make connections from +Grant's Junction, where they say I have to change. Perhaps +you will know. But don't worry about me; I'll find my way to +you as soon as I can get there. I am praying all the time +that I shall not disappoint you. And now till I see you,</p></div> + +<div> +<span style="margin-left: 22em;">Sincerely and gratefully,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 28em;">R</span><span class="smcap">ose Bonner Brentwood</span>.<br /> +</div> + +<p>"It couldn't be improved on," declared Mother, beamingly. "It's just +what I'd have wanted her to say if I'd been planning it all out, only +more so!"</p> + +<p>"It's all right!" said Father, excitedly, "but that's one thing we +forgot. We'd ought to have sent her word we would meet her at the +station, and what time the train left Grant's Junction, and all! Now +that's too bad!"</p> + +<p>"Now don't you worry, Father. She'll find her way. Like as not the +conductor will have a time-table and be able to tell her all about the +trains. But I certainly do wish we had let her know we would meet her."</p> + +<p>They were still worrying about it that night at nine o'clock while +Father wound the kitchen clock and Mother put a mackerel asoak for +breakfast. Suddenly the telephone in the next room gave a whir, and both +Father and Mother jumped as if they had been shot, looking at each other +in bewildered question as they hastened to the 'phone.</p> + +<p>It was Father who took down the receiver. "A telegram? For Mr. Seth +Marshall! Yes, I'm listening! Write it down, Mother! A telegram!"</p> + +<p>"Mercy! Perhaps she wasn't well enough to start!" gasped mother, putting +her pencil in place. <a name="Page_210" id="Page_210"></a></p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Miss Brentwood left to-night at nine-fifteen on express +number ten, car Alicia lower berth number eight. Please let +me know if she arrives safely.</p></div> + +<div> +<span style="margin-left: 28em;">P</span><span class="smcap">aul Courtland</span>.<br /> +</div> + +<p>"Now isn't that thoughtful of him!" he said, as he hung up the receiver. +"He must have sensed we wanted to send her word, and now we can do it!"</p> + +<p>"Send her word!" said Mother, bewildered.</p> + +<p>"Why, surely! Haven't you read in the papers how they send messages to +trains that are moving? It's great, isn't it, Mother? To think this +little dinky telephone puts you and me out here on this farm in touch +with all the world."</p> + +<p>"Do you mean you can send a telegram to her on board the train, Seth?" +asked Mother, in astonishment.</p> + +<p>"Sure!" said Father. "We've got all the numbers of everything. Just send +to that express train that left to-night. What was it—Express number +ten, and so on, and it'll be sent along and get to her."</p> + +<p>"Well, I think I'd ask her to answer then, to make sure she got it. I +think that's a mighty uncertain way to send messages to people flying +along on an express train. If you don't get any word from her you'll +never know whether she got it or not, and then you won't know whether to +meet her at Sloan's or Maitland," said Mother, with a worried pucker on +her forehead.</p> + +<p>"Sure!" said Father, taking down the receiver. "I can do that."</p> + +<p>"It's just wonderful, Seth, how much you know about little important +things like that!" sighed Mother, when the telegram was sent. "Now, I +think we better go right to bed, for I've got to get to baking early in +the morning. I want to have bread and pies and doughnuts fresh when she +comes." <a name="Page_211" id="Page_211"></a></p> + +<p>It was while they were eating breakfast that the answer came:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Telegram received. Will come to Sloan's Station. Having +comfortable journey. R.B.B.</p></div> + +<p>"Now isn't that just wonderful!" said Mother, sitting back weakly behind +the coffee-pot and wiping away an excited tear with the corner of her +apron. "To think that can be done! Now, wouldn't it be just beautiful if +we had telephones to heaven! Think, if we could get word from Stephen +to-day, how happy we'd be!"</p> + +<p>"Why, we have!" said Father. "Wait!" and he reached over to the little +stand by the window and grasped the worn old Bible. "Here! Listen to +this!</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we +which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall +not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord Himself +shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of +the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in +Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain +shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet +the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. +Wherefore comfort one another with these words.</p></div> + +<p>"There, Mother! Ain't that just as good as any telegram from a moving +train? And it's signed with His own seal and signature! It means He's +heard our sorrow about Stephen's leaving us, and He heard it ages before +we felt it ourselves, and wrote this down for us! Sent us a telegram +this morning, just to comfort us! I reckon that meeting with Stephen and +the Lord in the air is going to knock the spots clean out of this little +old meeting to-morrow morning down at Sloan's Station. We won't need our +ottymobeel any <a name="Page_212" id="Page_212"></a>more after that. We'll have <i>wings</i>, Mother! How'll you +like to fly?"</p> + +<p>Mother gave a little gasp of joy and smiled at Father like a rainbow +through her tears. "That's so, Father! We don't need telephones to +heaven, do we? I guess His words cover all our needs if we'd only +remember to look for them. Now, Father, I must get at those doughnuts! +Was you going to take the machine and run down to town and see if those +books have come yet? They surely ought to be here by this time. Then +don't forget to fix that fire up in the bedroom so it'll be all ready to +light when she gets here. Isn't it funny, Father, we don't know how she +looks! Not in the least. And if two girls should get off the train at +Sloan's Station we wouldn't know which was the right one!"</p> + +<p>"Well <i>I should</i>!" declared Father. "I'm dead certain there ain't two +girls in the whole universe could have written that letter, and if you'd +put any other one down with her, and I saw them side by side, I could +tell first off which she was!"</p> + +<p>So they helped each other through that last exciting day, finding +something to do up to the very last minute the next morning before it +was time to start to Sloan's Station to meet the train.</p> + +<p>Mother would go along, of course. She pictured herself standing for +hours beside that kitchen window with her cheek against the old hat, +waiting, and wondering what had happened that they hadn't come, and she +couldn't see it that way. So she left the dinner in such stages of +getting ready that it could be soon brought to completion, and wrapped +herself in her big gray cloak.</p> + +<p>Father went faster than he had ever been known to go since he got the +car, and Mother never even noticed. He got a panic lest his watch might +be out of the way <a name="Page_213" id="Page_213"></a>and the train arrive before they got there. So they +arrived at the station almost an hour ahead of the train.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'm so glad it's a pretty day!" said Mother Marshall, slipping her +gloved hands in her sleeves to keep from shivering with excitement.</p> + +<p>Mother Marshall sat quite decorously in the automobile till the train +drew up to the platform and people began to get out. But when Bonnie +stepped down from the car she forgot all about her doubts as to how they +would know her, and jumped right out on the platform without waiting to +be helped. She rushed up to Bonnie, saying, "This is our Bonnie, isn't +it?" and folded her arms about the girl, forgetting entirely that she +hadn't meant to use the name until the girl gave her permission; that +she had no right to know the name even, wasn't supposed to have heard of +it, and was sort of giving the young man away as it were.</p> + +<p>But it didn't matter! Bonnie was so glad to hear her own name called in +that endearing tone that she just put her face down in Mother Marshall's +comfortable neck and cried. She couldn't help it, right there while the +train was still at the station and the other travelers were peering +curiously out of the sleeper at the beautiful pale girl in black who was +being met by that nice old couple with the automobile. Somehow it made +them all feel glad, she had looked so sad and alone all the journey.</p> + +<p>What a ride that was home again to the farm, with Mother Marshall +cuddling and crooning to her: "Oh, my dear pretty child! To think you've +really come all this long way to comfort us!" and Father running the old +machine at an unheard of rate of speed, slamming along over the road as +if he had been sent for in great haste, and reaching his big fur glove +back now and then <a name="Page_214" id="Page_214"></a>to pat the old buffalo robe that was tucked snugly +over Bonnie's lap.</p> + +<p>Bonnie herself was fairly overcome and couldn't get her equilibrium at +all. She had thought these must be wonderful people to be inviting a +stranger and doing all they were doing, but such a reception as this she +had never dreamed of.</p> + +<p>"Oh, you are so good to me!" sobbed Bonnie, with a smile through her +tears. "I know I'm acting like a baby, but I can't seem to help it. I've +had nobody so long, and now to be treated like this, I just can't stand +it! It seems as if I'd got home!"</p> + +<p>"Why, sure! That's what you have!" said Father, in his big, hearty +voice.</p> + +<p>"Put your head right down on my shoulder and cry if you want to, my +pretty!" said Mother Marshall, pulling her softly over toward her. "You +can't think how good it is to have you here! Father and I were so afraid +you wouldn't come! We thought you mightn't be willing to come so far to +utter strangers!"</p> + +<p>So it went on all the way, all of them so happy they didn't quite know +what they were saying.</p> + +<p>Then, when they got to the house even Father was so far gone that he +couldn't let them go up-stairs alone. He just had to leave the machine +standing by the kitchen door and carry that little hand-bag up as an +excuse to see how she would like the room.</p> + +<p>Bonnie, pulling off her gloves, entered the room when Mother opened the +door. She looked around bewildered a moment, as if she had stepped from +the middle of winter into a summer orchard. Then she cried out with +delight:</p> + +<p>"Oh! How perfectly beautiful! You don't mean me to have this lovely +room? It isn't right! A stranger and a pauper!" <a name="Page_215" id="Page_215"></a></p> + +<p>"Nothing of the kind!" growled Father, patting her on the shoulder. +"Just a daughter come home!"</p> + +<p>Then he beat a hasty retreat to the fireplace and touched a match to the +fire already laid, while Mother, purring like a contented old pussy, +pushed the bewildered girl into the big flowered chair in front of the +fire and began unfastening her coat and taking off her hat, reverently, +half in awe, for she was not used to girl's fixings, and they held +almost as much mystery for her as if she had been a man.</p> + +<p>In the midst of it all Mother remembered that dinner ought to be eaten +at once, and that Bonnie must have a chance to wash her face and +straighten her hair before dinner.</p> + +<p>So Father and Mother, with many a reluctant lingering and last word, as +if they were not going to see her for a month, finally bustled off +together. In just no time at all Bonnie was down there, too, begging to +be allowed to help, and declaring herself perfectly able, although her +white face and the dark rings under her tired eyes belied her. Mother +Marshall was not sure, after all, but she ought to have put Bonnie to +bed and fed her with chicken broth and toast instead of letting her come +down-stairs to eat stewed chicken, little fat biscuits with gravy, and +the most succulent apple pie in the world, with a creamy glass of milk +to make it go down.</p> + +<p>Father had just finished trying to make Bonnie take a second helping of +everything, when he suddenly dropped the carving-knife and fork with a +clatter and sprang up from his chair:</p> + +<p>"I declare to goodness, Mother, if I didn't forget!" he said, and rushed +over to the telephone.</p> + +<p>"Why, that's so!" cried Mother. "Don't forget to tell him how much we +love her!" <a name="Page_216" id="Page_216"></a></p> + +<p>Bonnie looked from one to the other of them in astonishment.</p> + +<p>"It's that young man!" explained Mother. "He wanted we should telegraph +if you got here all safe. You know he sent us a message after he put you +on the train."</p> + +<p>"How very thoughtful of him!" said Bonnie, earnestly. "He is the most +wonderful young man! I can't begin to tell you all he did for me, a mere +stranger! And so that explains how you knew where to send your message. +I puzzled a good deal over that."</p> + +<p>Four hours later Courtland, coming up to his room after basket-ball +practice, a hot shower, and a swim in the pool, found the telegram:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Traveler arrived safely. Bore the journey well. Many thanks +for the introduction. Everybody happy; if you don't believe +it come and see for yourself.</p></div> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 28em;">F</span><span class="smcap">ather and Mother Marshall</span>.<br /> +</p> + +<p>Courtland read it and looked dreamily out of the window, trying to fancy +Bonnie in her new home. Then he said aloud, with conviction, "Some time +I shall go out there and see!"</p> + +<p>Just then some one knocked at his door and handed in a note from Gila.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><span class="smcap">Dear Paul</span>,—Come over this evening, I want to see +you about something very special.</p></div> + +<div> +<span style="margin-left: 22em;">Hastily,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 28em;">G</span><span class="smcap">Gila.</span><br /> +</div><p><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217"></a></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIV" id="CHAPTER_XXIV"></a>CHAPTER XXIV</h2> + + +<p>Gila's note came to Courtland as a happy surprise. He had not expected +to see her until the next evening. Not that he had brooded much over the +matter. He was too busy and too sanely healthy to do that. Besides, he +was only as yet questioning within himself whether he was going to fall +in love. The sensation so far was exceedingly pleasurable, and he was +ready for the whole thing when it should arrive and prove itself; but at +present he was just in that quiescent stage when everything seemed +significant and delightfully interesting.</p> + +<p>He had firmly resolved that the next time he saw Gila he would tell her +of his own heart experience with regard to the Presence. He realized +that he must go carefully, and not shock her, for he had begun to see +that all her prejudices would be against taking any stock in such an +experience. He had only so shortly himself come from a like position +that he could well understand her extreme views; her what amounted +almost to repugnance, toward hearing anything about it. But he would +make her see the whole thing, just as he had seen it.</p> + +<p>Now Gila had no notion of allowing any such recital as Courtland was +planning. She had her stage all set for entirely another scene, and she +had on her most charming mood. She was wearing a little frock of +pale-blue wool, so simple that a child of ten might have worn <a name="Page_218" id="Page_218"></a>it under +a white ruffled apron. The neck was decorated with a soft 'kerchief-like +collar. Not even a pin marred the simplicity of her costume. Her hair, +too, was simpler than usual, almost carrying out the childish idea with +its soft looping away from the face. Little heelless black-satin +slippers were tied with narrow black ribbons quaintly crossed and +recrossed over the slim, blue-silk ankles, carrying out the charming +idea of a modest, simple maiden. Nothing could be more coy and charming +than the way she swept her long black lashes down upon her pearly +cheeks. Her great eyes when they were lifted were clear and limpid as a +baby's. Courtland was fairly carried off his feet at sight of her, and +felt his heart bound in reassurance. This must be love! He had fallen in +love at last! He who had scorned the idea so long and laughed at the +other fellows, until he had really begun to have doubts in his own heart +whether the delightful illusion would ever come to him! The glamour was +about Gila to-night and no mistake! He looked at her with his heart in +his eyes, and she drooped her lashes to hide a glint of triumph, knowing +she had chosen her setting aright at last. Softly, dreamily, pleasantly, +in the back of her mind floated the Capitol of the nation, and herself +standing amid admiring throngs receiving homage. She was going to +succeed. She had achieved her first triumph with the look in Courtland's +eyes. She would be able to carry out Mr. Ramsey Thomas's commission and +win Courtland to anything that would forward ambitious hopes for him! +She was sure of it!</p> + +<p>The very important business about which she had wished to see Courtland +was to ask him if he would be her partner in a bazaar and pageant that +was shortly to be given for some charitable purpose by the society folks +with whom she companioned. She wanted Court<a name="Page_219" id="Page_219"></a>land to march with her, and +to consult him about the characters they should choose and the costumes +they should wear.</p> + +<p>As if she had been a child desiring him to play with her, he yielded to +her mood, watching her all the time with delighted eyes, that anything +so exquisite and lovely should stoop to sue for his favor. Of course he +would be her partner! He entered into the arrangements with a zest, +though he let her do all the planning, and heeded little what character +she had chosen for him, or what costume, so she was pleased. Indeed, his +part in the matter seemed of little moment so he might go with her—his +sweet, shy, lovely maiden! For so she seemed to him that night! A +perfect Solveig!</p> + +<p>The reason for the little slippers became apparent later, when she +insisted upon teaching him the dancing-steps that were to be used in a +final splendid assembly after the pageant. There was intoxication in the +delight of moving with her through the dreamy steps to the music of the +expensive Victrola she set going. Just to watch her little feet like +fairies for lightness and grace; to touch her small, warm hand; to be so +near those down-drooping lashes; to feel her breath on his hand; to +think of her as trusting her lovely little self to him—made him almost +deliriously happy. And she, with her drooping lashes, her delicate way +of barely touching his arm, her utter seeming unconsciousness of his +presence, was so exquisite and pure and lovely to-night! She did not +dream, of course, of how she made his pulses thrill and how he was +longing to gather her into his arms and tell her how lovely she was. +Afterward he was never quite sure what kept him from doing it. He +thought at the time it was herself, a sort of wall of purity and +loveliness that surrounded her and made her sacred, so that he felt he +must go slowly, must not <a name="Page_220" id="Page_220"></a>startle her nor make her afraid of him. It +never occurred to him that the wall might be surrounding himself. He had +entirely forgotten that first visit to Gila in the Mephistophelian +garments, with the red light filling all the unholy atmosphere. There +had never been so much as a hint of a red light in the room since he +said he did not like it. The lamp-shade seemed to have disappeared. In +its place was a great wrought-metal thing of old silver jeweled with +opalescent medallions.</p> + +<p>But it was part of the deliberate intention of Gila to lead him on and +yet hold him at a distance. She had read him aright. He was a man with +an old-fashioned ideal of woman, and the citadel of his heart was only +to be taken by such a woman. Therefore, she would be such a woman until +she had won. After that? What mattered it? Let time plan the issue! She +would have attained her desire!</p> + +<p>But the down-drooping lashes hid no unconscious sweetness. There was +sinister gleam in those eyes as she looked at herself over his shoulder +when they passed the great mirror set in a cabinet door. There was +deliberate intention in the way the little hand lay lightly in the +strong one. There was not a movement of the dreamy dance she was +teaching him, not a touch of the little satin slipper, that did not have +its nicely calculated intention to draw him on. The sooner she could +make him yield and crush her to him, the sooner he declared his passion +for her, that much nearer would her ambitions be to their fulfilment. +Yet she must be very sure that she had him close in her toils before she +discovered to him her purpose.</p> + +<p>So the little blue Puritan-like spider threw her silver gossamer web +about him, tangling more and more his big, fine manly heart, and +flinging diamond dust, and <a name="Page_221" id="Page_221"></a>powder made of charms and incantations, in +his eyes to blind him. But as yet she knew not of the Presence that was +now his constant companion.</p> + +<p>They had danced for some time, floating about in the pure delight of the +motion together, and the nearness of each another, when it seemed to +Courtland as if of a sudden a cooling hand was laid on his feverish brow +and a calm came to his spirit like a beloved voice calling his name with +the accent that is sure of quick response.</p> + +<p>It was so he remembered what he had come to tell Gila. Looking down to +that exquisite bit of humanity almost within his embrace, a great +tenderness for her, and longing, came over him, to make her know now all +that the Presence was becoming to him.</p> + +<p>"Gila," he whispered, and his voice was full of thrill. "Let's sit down +awhile! There is something I want to tell you!"</p> + +<p>Instantly she responded, lifting great innocent eyes, with one quick +sweep, to his face, so moved and tender; and gliding toward the couch +where they might sit together, settling down on it, almost nestling to +him, then remembering and drawing away shyly to more perfectly play her +part. She thought she knew what he was going to say. She thought she saw +the love-light in his eyes, and it was so dazzling it almost blinded +her. It frightened her a little, too, like the light in no lover's eyes +that had ever drawn her down to whisper love to her before. She wondered +if it was because she really cared herself so much now that it seemed so +different.</p> + +<p>But he did not take her in his arms as she had expected he would do; +though he sat quite near, and spoke in a low, privileged tone, as one +would do who had the right. His arm was across the back of the <a name="Page_222" id="Page_222"></a>couch +behind her; he sat sideways, turned toward her, and he still touched +reverently the little hand he had been holding as they danced together.</p> + +<p>"Gila, I have a story to tell you," he said. "Until you know it you can +never understand me fully, and I want with all my heart to have you +understand me. It is something that has become a part of me."</p> + +<p>She sat quivering, wondering, half fearful. A gleam of jealousy came +into her averted face. Was he going to tell her about another girl? A +fierce, unreasoning anger shot across her face. She would not tolerate +the thought that any one had had him before her. Was it—? It couldn't +be that baby-faced pauper in the hospital? She drew her slim little body +up tensely and waited for the story.</p> + +<p>Courtland told the story of Stephen; told it well and briefly. He +pictured Stephen so that the girl must needs admire. No woman could have +heard that description of a man such as Stephen had been and not bow her +woman's heart and wish that she might have known him.</p> + +<p>Gila listened, fascinated, even up to the moment of the fire and the +tragedy when Stephen fell into the flames. She shuddered visibly several +times, but sat tense and still and listened. She even was unmoved when +Courtland went on to tell of finding himself on a ledge above the +burning mass, creeping somehow into a small haven, shut in by a wall of +smoke, and feeling that this was the end. But when he began to tell of +the Presence, the Light, the Voice, the girl gave a sudden start and +gripped her cold hands together. Almost imperceptibly she drew her tense +little body away from him, and turned slowly till she faced him, horror +and consternation in her eyes, utter unbelief and scorn on her lips. But +still she did not speak, still held her gaze <a name="Page_223" id="Page_223"></a>on him and listened, while +he told of coming back to life, the hospital walls, the strange +emptiness, and the Presence; the recovery, and the Presence still with +him; the going here and there and finding the Presence always before him +and yet with him!</p> + +<p>"He is here in this room with us, Gila!" he said, simply, as if he had +been telling her that he had brought her some flowers and he hoped she +would like them.</p> + +<p>Then suddenly Gila gave a spring away from him to her feet, uttered a +wild scream of terror, and burst into angry tears!</p> + +<p>Courtland sprang to his feet in dismay and instant contrition. He had +made the horror of the fire too dramatic. He had not realized how +dreadful it would be to a woman's delicate sensibilities. This gentle, +loving girl had felt it all to her soul and her nerves had given way +before the reality of it. He had been an idiot to tell the story in that +bald way. He should have gone about it more gently. He was not used to +women. He must learn better. Would she forgive him?</p> + +<p>And now indeed he had her in his arms, although he was utterly unaware +of it. He was trying to comfort and soothe her, as he would soothe a +little child who had been frightened. Not only his handkerchief but his +hands were called into requisition to charm away those tears and comfort +the pitiful little face that looked so streaked and pink and helpless +there against his shoulder. He wanted to stoop and lay his lips on those +trembling ones. Perhaps Gila thought he would. But he would not take +advantage of her moment of helplessness. Not until she was herself and +could give him permission would he avail himself of that sacred +privilege. Now it was the part of a man to comfort her without any +element of self in the matter.</p> + +<p>When he had drawn her down upon the couch again, <a name="Page_224" id="Page_224"></a>with the sobs still +shaking her soft blue-and-white frilly breast, her blue-black hair all +damp and tossed upon her temples, and tried to tell her how sorry he was +that he had put her through the horrors of that fire, she put in a +quivering protest. It was <i>not</i> the fire. She shivered. It was not the +horror and the smoke! It was <i>not</i> Stephen's death, nor the danger to +himself! It was not <i>any</i> of those that had unnerved her! It was that +other awful thing he had said: that ghostly, ghastly, uncanny, dreadful +story of a Presence! She almost shrieked again as she said it, and she +shivered away from him, as if still there were something cold and clammy +in his touch that gave her the horrors.</p> + +<p>A cold disappointment settled down upon him. She had not understood. He +looked at her, troubled, disappointed, baffled. It was not possible, +then, for him to bring her this knowledge that he wished so much for her +to have. It was a thing that one could tell about to one's friends, but +could not give to them. It was something they must take for themselves, +must feel and see by themselves! With new illumination he turned to her +and said in a voice wonderfully tender for a man so young:</p> + +<p>"Listen, Gila! I have been clumsy in telling you! You cannot see it just +from my poor story. But He will come to <i>you</i> and you shall see Him for +yourself! I will ask Him to come to you as He has to me!"</p> + +<p>Again that piercing scream, and with a quick, lithe movement, almost +like a serpent, she slid from his side and stood quivering in the middle +of the room, her eyes flashing, her body shrinking, both little hands +clenched at her throat.</p> + +<p>"Stop!" she cried. "Stop!" and screamed again, stamping her foot. "I +won't hear such horrible things! I <i>won't have</i> any spirits coming +around me! I <i>won't<a name="Page_225" id="Page_225"></a> see</i> them! Do you understand? I <i>hate</i> that +Presence, and <i>I hate you</i> when you talk like that!"</p> + +<p>She had worked herself into a fine tantrum, but there was behind it all +a horrible fear and shrinking from the Christ he had described, the +shrinking of the naked soul in the garden from its God. The drooping, +child-like eyes were wide with horror now; the sweet, innocent mouth was +trembling with emotion. She was anything but Solveig-like. If Courtland +caught a glimpse of the real Gila through it all he laid it to his own +clumsy way of handling the delicate mystery of a girl's shy nature. He +saw she was wrought up beyond her own control, and he was so far under +the illusion that he blamed himself only, and set himself to calm her.</p> + +<p>He coaxed her to sit down again, put his strong hand on her quivering +one, marveling in tenderness at its smallness and softness. He talked to +her in quiet, soothing tones, grave and reassuring. He promised he would +talk no more about the Presence till she was ready to hear. He was +leaning toward her in his strength, his arm behind her, his hand on her +shoulder, with a sheltering, comforting touch when he told her this, as +one would treat a little child in trouble, and, suddenly, like the sun +flashing out from behind the clouds, she lifted up her teary face and +smiled, nestling toward him, her head falling down on his shoulder with +a sigh like a tired, satisfied child, her face lifted temptingly so +close, so very close to his.</p> + +<p>It was then that he did the thing that bound him to what followed. He +stooped and laid his lips upon her warm little trembling ones and kissed +her. The thrill that shot through him was like the click of shackles +snapping shut about one's wrist; like the turning of the key in a +prison-house; the shooting of the <a name="Page_226" id="Page_226"></a>bolt to one's dark cell. He held her +there and touched her soft hair with his finger-tips; touched her cool +little forehead with his lips; touched her warm, soft lips again and +felt the thrill; but something was the matter. He felt the surging +forces within him rise and batter at the gate of his self-control. He +wanted to say, "Gila, I love you!" but the words stuck in his throat.</p> + +<p>What had he done? Whence came this sense of defeat and loss? The +Presence! Where was the Presence? Yes—there—but withdrawn, standing +apart in sadness, while he sat comforting and caressing one who had just +said she hated Him! But that was because she had not seen Him yet! She +was frightened because she did not understand! He would yet be able to +make her see! He would implore the Presence to come to her; to break +down her prejudice; to let her have the vision also!</p> + +<p>So he sat and comforted her, yet longed to get away and think it out. +This sense of depression and bitter disappointment hung about him like a +burden; now, of all times, when he should be happy if ever he was to be!</p> + +<p>But Gila was nestling close, patting his sleeve, talking little, sweet +nonsensical words as if she had really been the little child she seemed. +He looked down at her and smiled. How small she was, and child-like. He +must remember that she was very young, and probably had never had much +bringing-up. Serious things frightened her! He must go gently and lead +her! It made him feel old and responsible to look at her—tender, +beautiful girl!—enveloped as she was in the garment of his ideal of +womanhood.</p> + +<p>Yet there was something about it all that drove him from her. He must +think it out and come to some clear understanding with himself. As it +was, it seemed <a name="Page_227" id="Page_227"></a>to him as if he were trying to take peace within himself +while before him lay a lot of his own broken vows. He had vowed to +himself to bring her to the Christ and he had not accomplished it. +Instead she had declared she hated him and the Presence both; yet here +he sat making love to her and ignoring it all! He felt a distinct +weakness in himself, but did not know how to remedy it.</p> + +<p>When he finally got away from Gila and walked feverishly toward the +university, he felt as if his soul was crying out within him for a +solution of the perplexities in which he was involved. By his side +walked a Friend, but there seemed to be a veil between them. Ever +mingling with his thoughts came the sweet, tear-wet face of Gila, with +its Solveig-look, pleading up at him from the mist of the evening, +luring him as it were to forget the Christ. He passed his hand wearily +over his eyes, told himself that he had been through a good deal that +evening and his nerves were not as strong as they used to be since the +fire.</p> + +<p>He was surprised to find that it was still early when he got back to his +room, barely half past nine. Yet it had seemed as if it must be near +midnight, so much had happened.</p> + +<p>What he would have thought if he could have known that at that very +minute Tennelly was seated in the chair in the library that he had so +lately vacated, and Gila, posing bewitchingly in the firelight, merrily +talking him over, is hard to say.</p> + +<p>Not that they were saying anything against him—of course not! Tennelly +would never have stood for that, and Gila knew better. But Gila had no +intention of giving Tennelly any idea how far matters had gone between +herself and Courtland. As for Tennelly, he would have been the most +amazed of the three if he could have known all. He had been Courtland's +in<a name="Page_228" id="Page_228"></a>timate friend for so many years—years count like ages when one is in +college—that he thought he knew him perfectly. He would have sworn to +it that Courtland's friendship with Gila had not progressed further than +a mere first stage of friendship. He admitted that Gila had an influence +over his friend, but that it had really gone heart-deep seemed +impossible. Courtland was a man of too much force, even young as he was, +and too much maturity of thought, to be permanently entangled with a +girl like Gila. That was what Tennelly thought before Gila had turned +her eyes toward him and flung a few of her silver gossamer threads about +his soul. For always in those first days of his visits to Gila it had +been in Courtland's behalf; first, to see if she was good enough for a +friend of his friend, and next to get her partnership in the scheme of +turning Courtland's thoughts away from "morbid" things.</p> + +<p>But that night for the first time Tennelly saw the Solveig in Gila, and +was stirred on his own account. The childish blue frock and the simple +frilled 'kerchief did their work with his high soul as well; and he sat, +charmed, and watched her. After all, there was more to her than he had +thought, or else she was a consummate actress! So Tennelly sat late +before the fire, till Gila knew that he would turn aside again often to +see her for himself, and then she let him go. <a name="Page_229" id="Page_229"></a></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXV" id="CHAPTER_XXV"></a>CHAPTER XXV</h2> + + +<p>Gila took herself off to a house-party the very next day, with only a +tinted, perfumed note, like a flutter of painted wings, to explain that +the butterfly had melted into the pleasant sunshine to taste honey in +other flowers for a time.</p> + +<p>In a way her going was a relief to Courtland. He didn't understand +himself. There was something wrong, and he wanted to find out what +before he saw her again.</p> + +<p>It was while he was in this troubled state that he stumbled upon the +Bible as something that might possibly bring light.</p> + +<p>He had studied it before in his biblical literature classes, and found +it much like other books, a literary classic, a wonderful gem of beauty +in its way, a rare collection of legends, proverbs, allegories, and the +like. But looking at it now, with the possible hypothesis that it was +the Word of God, all was changed.</p> + +<p>He remembered once seeing a tray of gems in an exhibit, and among them +one that looked like a common pebble. The man who had charge of the +exhibit took the little pebble and held it in the palm of his hand for a +moment, when it suddenly began to glow and sparkle with all the colors +of the rainbow and rival all the other gems. The man explained that only +the warmth of the human hand could cause this marvelous change. You +might lay the stone under the direct rays of a <a name="Page_230" id="Page_230"></a>summer sun, yet it would +have no effect until you took it in your hand, when it would give forth +its beauty once more.</p> + +<p>It was like this when he began to read the Bible with the idea that it +was the Word of God. Things flashed out at him that fairly dazzled his +thoughts; living, palpitating things, as if they were hidden of a +purpose to be discovered only by him who cared to search. Hidden truths +came to light that filled his soul with wonder. Gradually he understood +that Belief was the touchstone by which all these treasures were to be +revealed. Everywhere he found it, that belief in Christ was a condition +to all the blessings promised. He read of hearts hardened and eyes +blinded because of unbelief, and came to see that unbelief was something +a man was responsible for, not a condition which settled down upon him, +and he could not help. Belief was a deliberate act of the will. It was +not a theory, nor an intellectual affirmation; it was a position taken, +which necessarily must pass into action of some kind. He began to see +that without this deliberate belief it was impossible for man to know +the things which are purely spiritual. It was the condition necessary +for revelation. He was fascinated with the pursuit of this new study.</p> + +<p>Wittemore came to his room one evening, his face grayer, more strained +and horse-like than ever. Wittemore's mother had made another partial +recovery and insisted on his return to college. He was plodding +patiently, breathlessly along in his classes, trying to catch up again. +He had paid Courtland back part of the money he borrowed, and was +gradually paying the rest in small instalments. Courtland hated to take +it, but saw that it would hurt him to refuse it; so he had fallen into a +habit of stopping now and then to talk about his settlement work, just +to show a little friendly <a name="Page_231" id="Page_231"></a>interest in him. Wittemore had responded with +a quiet wistfulness and a patient hovering in the background that +touched the other man's heart deeply.</p> + +<p>"I've just come from my rounds," said Wittemore, sitting down, +apologetically, on the edge of a chair. "That old lady you carried the +medicine to—she's been telling me how you made tea and toast!" He +paused and looked embarrassed.</p> + +<p>"Yes," smiled Courtland. "How's she getting on? Any better?"</p> + +<p>"No," said Wittemore, the hopeless gray look settling about his +sensitive mouth. "She'll never be any better. She's dying!"</p> + +<p>"Well," said Courtland, "that'll be a pleasant change for her, I guess."</p> + +<p>Wittemore winced. Death had no pleasant associations for him. "She told +me you prayed for her! She wants you to do it again!"</p> + +<p>It was plain he thought the praying had been a sort of joke with +Courtland.</p> + +<p>Courtland looked up, the color rising slowly in his face. He saw the +accusation in Wittemore's sad eyes.</p> + +<p>"Of course I know what you think of such things. I've heard you in the +class. I don't believe in them any more myself, either, now." +Wittemore's voice had a trail of hopelessness in it. "But somehow I +couldn't quite bring myself to make a mockery of prayer, even to please +that old woman. You see <i>my mother still believes in prayer</i>!" He spoke +apologetically, as of a dear one who had lacked advantages.</p> + +<p>"But <i>I do</i> believe in prayer!" said Courtland, earnestly. "What you +heard me say in class was before I understood."</p> + +<p>"Before you understood?" Wittemore looked puzzled. <a name="Page_232" id="Page_232"></a></p> + +<p>"Listen, Wittemore. Things are all different now. I've met Jesus Christ +and I've got my eyes open. I was blind before, but since I've felt the +Presence everything has been different."</p> + +<p>And then he told the story of his experience. He did not make a long +story of it. He gave brief facts, and when it was finished Wittemore +dropped his face into his hands and groaned:</p> + +<p>"I'd give anything if I could believe all that again," came from between +his long bony fingers. "It's breaking my mother's heart to have me leave +the faith!"</p> + +<p>The slick hay-like hair fell in wisps over his hands, his high, bony +shoulders were hunched despairingly over Courtland's study table. He was +a great, pitiful object.</p> + +<p>"Why don't you, then?" said Courtland, getting up and going to the +closet for his overcoat. "It's up to you, you know. You <i>can</i>! God can't +do it for you, and of course there's nothing doing till you've taken +that step. I found that out!"</p> + +<p>"But how do you reconcile things, calamities, disasters, war, suffering, +that poor old woman lying on her attic bed alone? How do you reconcile +that with the goodness of God?"</p> + +<p>"I don't reconcile it. It isn't my business. I leave that to God. If I +understood all the whys and wherefores of how this universe is run I'd +be great enough to be a God myself."</p> + +<p>"But if God is omniscient I can't see how He can let some things go on! +He must be limited in power or He'd never let some things happen if He's +a good God!" Wittemore's voice had a plaintive sound.</p> + +<p>"Well, how do you know that? In the first place, how can you be sure +what is a calamity? And say, did it ever strike you that some of the +things we blame <a name="Page_233" id="Page_233"></a>on God are really up to us? He's handed over His power +for us to do things, and we haven't seen it that way; so the things go +undone and God is charged with the consequences."</p> + +<p>"I wish I could believe that!" said Wittemore.</p> + +<p>"You can! When you really want to, enough, you will! Come on, let's get +that prayer down to the old lady! I'm sort of an amateur yet, but I'll +do my best."</p> + +<p>They went out into the mist and murk of a spring thaw. Wittemore never +forgot that night's experience—the prayer, and the walk home again +through the fog. The old woman died at dawning.</p> + +<p>Courtland spent much time thinking about Gila these days. His whole soul +was wrapped up in the desire that she might understand. He was longing +for her; idealizing her; thinking of her in her innocent beauty, her +charming ways; wondering how she would meet him the next time, what he +should say to her; living upon her brief, alluring notes that came to +him from time to time like fitful rose petals blown from a garden where +he longed to be; but yet in a way it was a relief to have her gone until +he could settle the great perplexity that was in his mind concerning +her.</p> + +<p>Gila prolonged her absence by a trip South with her father, and so it +was several weeks before Courtland saw her again.</p> + +<p>There seemed to be a settled sadness over his soul when he prayed about +her, and when at last she returned and summoned him to her he was no +nearer a solution of his difficulty than when he had last left her.</p> + +<p>The hour before he went to her he spent in Stephen's room, turning over +the leaves of Stephen's Bible. When he rose at last to go he turned +again to this verse which had caught his eye among the marked verses +that were <a name="Page_234" id="Page_234"></a>always so interesting to him because they seemed to have been +landmarks in Stephen's life:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.</p></div> + +<p>It almost startled him, so well did it seem to suit his need. He read on +a few verses:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry +us not up hence. For wherein shall it be known that I and my +people have found grace in thy sight? Is it not in that thou +goest with us? So shall we be separated, I and my people, +from all the people that are upon the face of the earth.</p></div> + +<p>Wonderful words those, implying a close relationship that shut out to a +certain extent all others who were not one with that Presence. He wished +he knew what it all meant! And in that moment was born within him a +desire to understand the Bible and know how believing scholars explained +everything.</p> + +<p>But as he went from the room and on his way, he felt that to some extent +he had a solution of his trouble. He was to be under the personal +conduct of the Presence of God wherever he went, whatever he did! This +was to make life less complex, and in some mysterious way the power of +the Christ with him was to be made manifest to others. Surely he might +trust this in the case of Gila, and feel sure that he would be guided +aright; that she would come to see for herself how there was with him +always this guiding power. Surely she would come to know it and love it +also.</p> + +<p>Gila met him with fluttering delight, poutingly reproaching him for not +writing oftener, calling him to order for looking solemn, adoringly +pretty herself in a <a name="Page_235" id="Page_235"></a>little frilly pink frock that gave her the look of +a pale anemone, wind-blown and sweet and wild.</p> + +<p>She talked a good deal about the "dandy times" she had had and the +"perfectly peachy" men and girls she had met; flattered him by saying +she had seen none handsomer or more distinguished than he was. She +accepted as a matter of course the lover-like attitude he adopted, let +him tell her of his love as long as he was not too solemn about it, +teased and played with him, charmed him with every art she knew, dancing +from one mood to another like a sprite, winding her gossamer chains +about him more and more, until, when he went from her again, he was +fairly intoxicated with her beauty.</p> + +<p>He had lulled his anxiety with the thought that he must wait and be +patient until Gila saw. But more and more was it growing hard to +approach her about the things that were of most moment to him. Sometimes +when he was wearily trying to find a way back from the froth of her +conversation to the real things he hoped she would enjoy with him some +day, she would call him an old crab, and summon to her side other +willing youths to stimulate his jealousy; youths of sometimes unsavory +reputation whose presence gave him deep anxiety for her. Then he would +tell himself he must be more patient, that she was young and must learn +to understand little by little.</p> + +<p>Gila developed a great interest in Courtland's future, his plans for a +career, of which she chattered to him much and often, suggesting ways in +which her father might perhaps help him into a position of prominence +and power in the political world. But Courtland, with a shadow of +trouble in his eyes, always put her off. He admitted that he had thought +of politics, but was not ready yet to say what he would do. <a name="Page_236" id="Page_236"></a></p> + +<p>So spring came on, with its final examinations, and Commencement drawing +nearer every day.</p> + +<p>Through it all Courtland found much time to be with Gila; often in +company, or flashing through a crowded thoroughfare by her side; +following her fancy; excusing her follies; laying her mistakes and +indiscretions to her youth and innocence; always trying to lead up to +his great desire, that she might see his Christ.</p> + +<p>Tennelly watched the whole performance anxiously. He wanted Courtland to +be drawn out of what he considered his "morbid" state, but not at the +price of his peace of mind. He was very sure that Courtland ought not to +marry Gila. He was equally sure that she meant nothing serious in her +present relation to Courtland. He felt himself responsible in a way +because he had agreed in the plot with his uncle to start her on this +campaign. But if Courtland should come out of it with a broken heart, +what then?</p> + +<p>It was just a week before Commencement that the crisis came.</p> + +<p>Gila had summoned Courtland to her.</p> + +<p>Gila, in her most imperial mood, wearing a bewildering imported frock +whose simple intricacies and daring contrasts were well calculated to +upbear a determined spirit in a supreme combat, awaited his coming +impatiently. She knew that he had that day received another offer from +Ramsey Thomas, tempting in the extreme, and baited with alluring +possibilities that certainly were dazzling to her if they were not to +her lover. She meant to make him tell her of the offer, and she meant to +make him accept it that very afternoon and clinch the contract by +telephoning the acceptance to the telegraph-office before he left her +home.</p> + +<p>Courtland was tired. He had been through a hard <a name="Page_237" id="Page_237"></a>week of examinations, +he had been on several committees, and had a number of important class +meetings, and the like. There had been functions galore to attend, and +late hours that were unavoidable. He had come to her hoping for a rest +and the joy of her society. Just to watch her dainty grace as she moved +about a room, handling the tea things and giving him a delicate sandwich +or a crisp cake, filled him with joy and soothed his troubled spirit; it +was so like his ideal of what a woman should be.</p> + +<p>But Gila was not handing out tea that afternoon. She had other fish to +fry, and she went at her business with a determination that very soon +showed him there was no rest to be had there.</p> + +<p>Very prettily, but quite efficiently, she bored him for information +about his plans. Had he no plans whatever about what he was going to do +as soon as he had finished college? Of course she knew he had money of +his own (he had never told her how much, and there hadn't really been +any way of asking a man like Courtland when he didn't choose to tell a +thing like that), but nowadays that was nothing. Even rich men all did +<i>something</i>. One wasn't anything unless one was in something big! Hadn't +he ever had any offers at all? It was queer, such a brilliant man as he +was. She knew lots of young fellows who had no end of chances to get +into big things as soon as they were done with their education. Didn't +his father know of something, or have something in mind for him? Hadn't +he ever been approached?</p> + +<p>Goaded at last by her delicate but determined insinuations, Courtland +told her. Yes, he had had offers; one in particular that was a fine +thing from a worldly point of view, but he didn't intend to take it. It +did not fit with his ideal of life. There were things about <a name="Page_238" id="Page_238"></a>it that +were not square. He wasn't quite sure how his his own plans were going +to work out yet. He must have a talk with his father first. Possibly he +would study awhile longer somewhere.</p> + +<p>Gila frowned. She had no idea of letting him do that. She wanted him to +get into something big right away, so that she might begin her career. +So that was what had been standing in his way! Study! How stupid! No, +indeed! She wanted no scholar for a husband, who would bore her with +horrid old dull books and lectures and never want to go anywhere with +her! She must switch him away from this idea at once! She returned to +the rejected business proposition with zeal and avidity. What was it? +What did it involve? What were its future possibilities? Great! What on +earth could he find in that to object to? How ridiculous! How long ago +had that been offered to him? Was it too late to accept? What? He had +had the offer repeated even more flatteringly that very day? Where was +the letter? Would he let her see it?</p> + +<p>She bent over Uncle Ramsey's brusque sentences with a hidden smile of +triumph and pretended to be surprised.</p> + +<p>"How perfectly wonderful! All that responsibility and all those chances +to get to the top! Even a hint of Washington!"</p> + +<p>She dimpled and opened her great eyes imploringly at him. She pictured +herself in glowing terms going with him and holding court among the +great of the land! She wheedled and coaxed and all but commanded, while +he sat and watched her sadly, realizing how well fitted she was for the +things she was describing and how she loved them all!</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>So shall we be separated, I and my people, from all the +people that are upon the face of the earth!</p></div><p><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239"></a></p> + +<p>He started upright! It was as if a Voice had spoken the words, those +strange words from the Bible! Was this then what they meant? Separation! +But Gila was "his people" now. Was she not one day to be his wife? He +must explain it all to her. He must let her know that he had chosen a +way of separation that forbade the paths wherein she was longing to +wander. Would she shrink and wish to turn back? Nevertheless, he must +make it plain to her.</p> + +<p>Gently, quietly, he tried to make her understand. He told her of the +visit of Ramsey Thomas and his own decision in the winter. He told her +of the factory that was built to blind the eyes of those who were trying +to uplift and help men. He tried to make conditions plain where girls as +young as she, and with just such hopes and fears and ambitions, perhaps +in some cases just as much sweetness and native beauty as she had, were +obliged to spend long hours of toil amid surroundings that must crush +the life out of any pure soul, and turn all the sweetness to bitterness, +the beauty to a peril! He hinted at things she did not know nor dream +of; dreadful things from which her life had always been safely guarded; +and how he could not, for the sake of those crushed souls, accept a +position that would close his mouth and tie his hands forever from doing +anything about it. He told her he could not accept honor that was +founded upon dishonor; that he had taken Christ for his pattern and +guide; that he could do nothing that would drive God's presence from +him.</p> + +<p>She had been sitting with her face averted, her clasped hands dropped +straight down at the side of her lap, the fingers interlaced and tense +in excitement; her bosom heaving with agitation under the Paris gown; +but when he reached this point in his argument she <a name="Page_240" id="Page_240"></a>sprang to her feet +and away from him, standing with her shoulders drawn back, her head +thrown up, her chin out, her whole lithe body stiff and imperious.</p> + +<p>"It is time this stopped!" she said, and her voice was cold like a +frozen dagger and went straight through his heart. "It is time you put +away forever this ridiculous idea of a Presence, and of setting yourself +up to be better than any one else! This isn't religion, it is +fanaticism! And it has got to stop now and <i>forever</i>, or I will have +nothing whatever to do with you. Either you give up this idea of a ghost +following you around all the time and accept Mr. Ramsey Thomas's offer +this afternoon, or you and I part! You can choose, <i>now</i>, between me and +your Presence!" <a name="Page_241" id="Page_241"></a></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVI" id="CHAPTER_XXVI"></a>CHAPTER XXVI</h2> + + +<p>Gila had never been more beautiful than when she stood and uttered her +terrible ultimatum to Courtland. Her little imperial head sat on her +lovely shoulders royally, her attitude was perfect grace. Her spirited +face with its dark eyes and lashes, its setting of blue-black hair, was +fascinating in its exquisite modeling. She looked like a proud young +cameo standing for her portrait. But her words shot through Courtland's +heart like icy swords dividing his soul from his body.</p> + +<p>He rose to his feet, gone suddenly white and stern, and stood looking at +her as if his own heart had turned traitor and slain him. A moment they +stood in battle array, two forces representing the two great powers of +the universe. Looking straight into each other's souls they stood, +plumbing the depths, seeing as in a revelation what each really was!</p> + +<p>To Courtland it was suddenly made plain that this girl had no part or +lot in the things that had become vital to him. She had not seen, she +<i>would</i> not see! Her love was not great enough to carry her over the +bridge that separated them, and back over which he might not go after +her!</p> + +<p>Gila in her fierce haughtiness looked into her lover's eyes and saw, as +she had never seen before, the mighty strength of his character! Saw +that here was a man such as she would not likely meet again upon her +way, <a name="Page_242" id="Page_242"></a>and she was about to lose him forever. Saw that he would never +give in about a matter of principle, and that his love was worth all the +more to any woman because he would not; knew which way he would choose, +from the first word of her challenge; yet the little fury within her +would not let her withdraw. She stood with haughty mien and cold, +flashing eyes, watching him suffer the blow she had dealt him; knew that +it was more than his love for her she was killing with that blow, yet +did not withdraw it while she might.</p> + +<p>"Gila! Do you mean that?"</p> + +<p>She looked him straight in the eye and thrust her sword in the deeper +with a steady hand. "I do!"</p> + +<p>He stood for a moment looking steadily at her with that cold, observant +glance, as if he would have this last picture of her this way to cut +away all tender memories that might cause pain in the future. Then he +turned as if to One who stood by his side. Not looking back again, he +said, clearly and distinctly:</p> + +<p>"I choose!"</p> + +<p>And with erect bearing he passed out of the door.</p> + +<p>Gila stood, white and furious, her little clenched fists down at her +sides, the sharp little teeth biting into the red underlip until the +blood came. She heard the front door shut in the distance, and her soul +cried out within her, yet she stood still and held her ground. She +turned her face toward the library window. Between the curtains she +could presently see his tall form walking down the street. He was not +drooping, nor disheartened. He held his head up and walked as if in +company with One whom he was proud to own. There was nothing dejected +about the determined young back. Fine, noble, handsome as a man could +be! She saw that one glimpse of his figure for a moment, then he passed +beyond her sight and she knew in her <a name="Page_243" id="Page_243"></a>heart he would come to her no +more! She had sent him from her forever!</p> + +<p>She dashed up to her room in a fury and locked herself in. She wept and +stormed and denied herself to every one; she watched and waited for the +telephone to ring, yet she knew he would not call her up!</p> + +<p>Courtland never knew where he was walking as he went forth that day to +meet his sorrow and face it like a man. He passed some of his +professors, but did not see them. Pat McCluny came up and he looked him +in the eye with an unseeing stare, and walked on!</p> + +<p>Pat stood still and looked after him, puzzled!</p> + +<p>"Holy Mackinaw! What's eating the poor stew now!" he ejaculated. He +stood a moment looking back after Courtland as he walked straight ahead, +passing several more university fellows without so much as a nod of +recognition. Then he turned and slowly followed, on through the city +streets, out into the quieter suburbs, out farther into the real +country, mile after mile; out a by-path where grass grew thick and wild +flowers straggled under foot, where presently a stream wound soft and +deep between steep banks, and rocks loomed high on either hand; under a +railroad bridge, and up among the rocks, climbing and puffing till at +last they stood upon a great rock, McCluny just a little way behind and +out of sight.</p> + +<p>It was there in a sort of crevice, where the natural fall of the +crumbling rocks had formed a shelter, that Courtland dropped upon his +knees. Not as a spot he had been seeking for, but as a haven to which he +had been led. He knelt, and all that Pat, standing, awed and uncovered, +a few feet below, heard, was:</p> + +<p>"O God! O <i>God</i>!"</p> + +<p>He knelt there a long time, while Pat waited below, <a name="Page_244" id="Page_244"></a>trying to think +what to do. The sun was beginning to sink, and a soft, pink summer light +was glinting over the brown rocks and bits of moss and grasses. The +young leaves waved lightly overhead like children dancing in the +morning, and something of the sweetness and beauty of the scene crept +into Pat McCluny's soul as he stood and waited before this Gethsemane +gate for a man he loved to come forth.</p> + +<p>At last he stepped up the rocks quietly and came and stood by Courtland, +laying a gentle hand upon his shoulder. "Come on, old man, it's getting +late. About time we were going back!"</p> + +<p>Courtland got up and looked at him in a dazed way, as if his soul had +been bruised and he was only just recovering consciousness. Without a +word he turned and followed Pat back again to the city. They did not +talk on the way back. Pat whistled a little, that was all.</p> + +<p>When they reached the gates of the university Courtland turned and put +out his hand, speaking in his own natural tone: "Thanks awfully, old +chap! Sorry to have made you all this trouble!"</p> + +<p>"That's all right, pard," said Pat, huskily, grasping the hand in his +big fist. "I saw you were up against it and I stuck around, that's all!"</p> + +<p>"I sha'n't forget it!"</p> + +<p>They parted to their rooms. It was long past suppertime. Pat went away +by himself to think.</p> + +<p>Over and over again to himself Courtland was saying, as he came to +himself and began to realize what had come to him: "It isn't so much +that I have lost her. It is that <i>she should have done it</i>!"</p> + +<p>Pat said nothing even to Tennelly about his walk with Courtland. He +figured that Courtland would rather they did not know. He simply hovered +near <a name="Page_245" id="Page_245"></a>like a faithful dog, ready for whatever might turn up. He was +relieved to see that his friend came down to breakfast next morning, +with a white, resolute face, and went about the order of the day +quietly, as if everything were as usual.</p> + +<p>Tennelly and Bill Ward were on the alert. They had missed Courtland from +the festivities the night before, but were so thoroughly occupied with +their own part in the busy week that they had little time to question +him. Later in the day Tennelly began to wonder why Courtland had not +brought Gila, as he intended, for the class play, but a note from Gila +informed him that she was done with Paul Courtland forever, and that he +would have to get some one else to further his uncle's schemes, for she +would not. She intimated that she might explain further if he chose to +call, and Tennelly made a point of calling in between things, and found +Gila inscrutable. All he could gather was that she was very, very angry +with Courtland, hopelessly so, and that she considered him worth no more +effort on her part. She was languidly interested in Tennelly and +accepted his invitation to the dance that evening most graciously. She +had expected to go in Courtland's company, but now if he repented and +came to claim his right she would ignore it.</p> + +<p>But Courtland had taken Gila at her word. He had no idea of claiming any +former engagement with her. She had cut him off forever, and he must +abide by it. Courtland had spent the night upon his knees in the little +sacred room at the end of the hall. He was much stronger to face things +than he had been when he left her. So when he met Gila walking with +Tennelly he lifted his hat courteously and passed on, his face grave and +stern as when she had last seen him, but in no way showing other sign +that he had suffered or repented <a name="Page_246" id="Page_246"></a>his choice. Pat, walking by his side, +looked furtively at Gila then keenly at his companion, and winked to his +inner consciousness.</p> + +<p>"She's the poor simp that did the business! And she looks her part, +<i>b'leeve me</i>!" he told himself. "But he'll get over that! He's too big +to miss <i>her</i> long!"</p> + +<p>Although there was pain in these days that followed Courtland's choice, +there was also great peace in his heart. He seemed to have grown older, +counting days as years, and to have a wider vision on life. Love of +woman was gone out of his life, he thought, forever! Love wasn't an +illusion quite as he had thought. No! But Gila had not loved him, or she +never would have made him choose as she did! That was plain. If she had +not loved, then it was better he should go out of her life! He was glad +that the university days were over, and he might begin a new environment +somewhere. He felt something strong within his soul pushing him on to a +decision. Was it the Voice calling him again, leading up to what he was +to do?</p> + +<p>This thought was uppermost in his mind during the Commencement, which +beforehand had meant so much to him; which all the four years had been +the goal to which he had been urging forward. Now that it was here he +seemed to have gone beyond it, somehow, and found it to be but a little +detail by the way, a very small matter not worth stopping and making so +much fuss about. Of course, if Gila had loved him; if she had been going +to be there watching for him when he came forward to take his diploma; +if she were to be listening when he delivered that oration upon which he +had spent so much time and for which he received so much commendation, +that would have meant everything to him a few brief days ago—of course, +then it would have been different! But as it was he wondered <a name="Page_247" id="Page_247"></a>that +everybody seemed so much interested in things and took so much trouble +for a lot of nonsense.</p> + +<p>Courtland was surprised to see his father come into the great hall just +as he went up on the platform with his class. He hadn't expected his +father. He was a busy man who did not get away from his office often.</p> + +<p>It touched him that his father cared to come. He changed his plans and +made it possible to take the train home with him after the exercises, +instead of waiting a day or two to pack up, as he had expected to do. +The packing could wait awhile. So he went home with his father.</p> + +<p>They had a long talk on the way, one of the most intimate that they had +ever had. It appeared during the course of conversation that Mr. +Courtland had heard of the offer made to his son by Ramsey Thomas, and +that he was not unfavorable to its acceptance.</p> + +<p>"Of course, you don't really need to do anything of the sort, you know, +Paul," he said, affably. "You've got what your mother left you now, and +on your twenty-fifth birthday there will be two hundred and fifty +thousand coming to you from your Grandfather Courtland's estate. You +could spend your life in travel and study if you cared to, but I fancy, +with your temperament, you wouldn't be quite satisfied with an idle life +like that. What's your objection to this job?"</p> + +<p>Courtland told the whole story carefully, omitting no detail of the +matter concerning conditions at the factory, and the matters at which he +was not only expected to wink, but also sometimes to help along by his +influence. He realized, as he told it, that his father would look at the +thing fairly, but very differently.</p> + +<p>"Well, after all," said the father, comfortably settling himself to +another cigar, "that's all a matter of sentiment. It doesn't do to be +too squeamish, you know, if <a name="Page_248" id="Page_248"></a>you have ambitions. Besides, with your +income you would have been able to help out and do a lot of good. You +ought to have thought of that."</p> + +<p>"In other words, earn my salary by squeezing the life out of them and +then toss them a penny to buy medicine. I don't see it that way! No, +dad, if I can't work at something clean I'll go out and work in the +ground, or do <i>nothing</i>, but I <i>won't</i> oppress the poor."</p> + +<p>"Oh, well, Paul, that's all right if you feel that way about of it, of +course. Ramsey Thomas wanted me to talk it over with you; promised to do +the square thing by you and all that; and he's a pretty good man to get +in with. Of course I won't urge you against your will. But what are you +going to do, son? Haven't you thought of anything?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Courtland, leaning back and looking steadily at his father. +"I've decided that I'd like to study theology."</p> + +<p>"Theology!" The father started and knocked an ash delicately from the +end of his cigar. "H'm! Well, that's not a bad idea! Rather odd, +perhaps, but still there's always dignity and distinction in it. Your +great grandfather on your mother's side was a clergyman in the Church of +England. Of course it's rather a surprise, but it's always respectable, +and with your money you would be independent. You wouldn't have any +trouble in getting a wealthy and influential church, either. I could +manage that, I think."</p> + +<p>"I'm not sure that I want to be a clergyman, father. I said <i>study</i> +theology. I want to know what scholarly Christians think of the Bible. +I've studied it with a lot of scholarly heathen who couldn't see +anything in it but literary merit. Now I want to see what it is that has +made it a living power all through the ages.<a name="Page_249" id="Page_249"></a> I've got to know what +saints and martyrs have founded their faith upon."</p> + +<p>"Well, Paul, I'm afraid you're something of an idealist and a dreamer +like your mother. Of course it's all right with your income, but, +generally speaking, it's as well to have an object in view when you take +up study. If I were you I would look into the matter most carefully +before I made any decisions. If you really think the ministry is what +you want, why, I'll just put a word in at our church for you. Our old +Doctor Bates is getting a little out of date and he'll be about ready to +be put on the retired list by the time you are done your theological +course. Let's see, how long is it, three years? Had you thought where +you will go? What seminary? Better make a careful selection; it has so +much to do with getting a good church afterward!"</p> + +<p>"Father! You don't <i>understand</i>!" said Courtland, desperately, and then +sat back and wondered how he should begin. His father had been a +prominent member of the board of trustees in his own church for years, +but had he ever felt the Presence? In the days when Courtland used to +sit and kick his heels in the old family pew and be reproved for it by +his aunt, he never remembered any Presence. Doctor Bates's admirable +sermons had droned on over his head like the dreamy humming of bees in a +summer day. He couldn't remember a single thought that ever entered his +mind from that source. Was that all that came of studying theology? +Well, he would find out, and if it was, he would <i>quit</i> it!</p> + +<p>They were all comfortably glad to see him at home. His stepmother beamed +graciously upon him in between her social engagements, and his young +brothers swarmed over him, demanding all the athletic news.<a name="Page_250" id="Page_250"></a> The house +was big, ornate, perfect in its way. It was good to eat such superior +cooking—that is, if he had been caring to eat anything just then; and +there was a certain freedom in life out of college that he knew he ought +to enjoy; but somehow he was restless. The girls he used to know +reminded him of Gila, or else had grown old and fat. The Country Club +didn't interest him in the least, nor did the family's plans for the +summer. It suited him not at all to be lionized on account of his +brilliant career at college. It bored him to go into society.</p> + +<p>Sometimes, when he was alone in his room, he would think of the +situation and try to puzzle it out. It seemed as if he and the Presence +were there on a visit which neither of them enjoyed very much, and which +they were enduring for the sake of his father, who seemed gratified to +have his eldest son at home once more. But all the time Courtland was +chafing at the delay. He felt there was something he ought to be about. +There wasn't anything here. Not even the young brothers presented a very +hopeful field, or perhaps he didn't know how to go about it. He tried +telling them stories one day when he wheedled them off in the car with +him, and they listened eagerly when he told them of the fire in the +theater, Stephen Marshall's wonderful part in the rescue of many, and +his death. But when he went on and tried to tell them in boy language of +his own experience he could see them look strangely, critically at him, +and finally the oldest one said: "Aw rats! What kinda rot are you giving +us, Paul? You were nutty then, o' course!" and he saw that, young as +they were, their eyes were holden like the rest.</p> + +<p>In the second week Courtland made his decision. He would go back to the +university and pack up. Gila would be away from the city by that time; +there <a name="Page_251" id="Page_251"></a>would be no chance of meeting her and having his wound opened +afresh. The fellows would be all gone and he could do about as he +pleased.</p> + +<p>It was the second day after he went back that he met Pat on the street, +and it was from Pat that he learned that Tennelly and Bill Ward had gone +down to the shore to a house party given by "that fluffy-ruffles cousin +of Bill's."</p> + +<p>Pat drew his own conclusions from the white look on Courtland's face +when he told him. He would heartily have enjoyed throttling the girl if +he had had a chance just then, when he saw the look of suffering in +Courtland's eyes.</p> + +<p>Pat clung to Courtland all that week, helped him pack, and dogged his +steps. Except when he visited the little sacred room at the end of the +hall in the dormitory, Courtland was never sure of freedom from him. He +was always on hand to propose a hike or a trip to the movies when he saw +Courtland was tired. Courtland was grateful, and there was something so +loyal about him that he couldn't give him the slip. So when he went down +after Burns and whirled him away in his big gray car to the seashore +Friday morning to stay until Saturday evening, Pat went along. <a name="Page_252" id="Page_252"></a></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVII" id="CHAPTER_XXVII"></a>CHAPTER XXVII</h2> + + +<p>They certainly were a queer trio, the little Scotch preacher, the big +Irish athlete, and the cultured aristocrat! Yet they managed to have a +mighty good time of it those two days at the shore, and came back the +warmest of friends. Pat proved his devotion to Burns by attending church +the next day with Courtland, and listening attentively to every word +that was said. It is true he did it much in the same way the fellows +used to share one another's stunts in college, sticking by and helping +out when one of the gang had a hard task to perform. But it pleased both +Courtland and Burns that he came. Courtland wondered, as he shared the +hymn-book with him and heard him growl out a few bass notes to old "Rock +of Ages," why it was that it seemed to fill him with a kind of +exaltation to hear Pat sing. He hadn't yet recognized the call to go +a-fishing for men, nor knew that it was the divine angler's deep delight +in his employment that was filling him. It was while they were singing +that hymn that he stole a look at Pat, and felt a sudden wonder whether +he would understand about the Presence or not, a burning desire to tell +him about it some time if the right opportunity offered.</p> + +<p>The days down at the shore had done a lot for Courtland. He had taken +care that the spot he selected was many miles removed from the popular +resort where Mr. Dare had a magnificent cottage; and there had <a name="Page_253" id="Page_253"></a>been +absolutely nothing in the whole two days to remind him of Gila. It was a +quiet place, with a far, smooth beach, and no board walks nor crowds to +shut out the vision of the sea. He leaped along the sand and dived into +the water with his old enthusiasm. He played like a fish in the ocean. +He taught Burns several things about swimming, and played pranks like a +school-boy. He basked in the sun and told jokes, laughing at Pat's +brilliant wit and Burns's dry humor. At night they took long walks upon +the sand and talked of deep things that Pat could scarcely understand. +He was satisfied to stride between them, listening to the vigorous ring +of Courtland's old natural voice again. He heard their converse high +above where he lived, and loved them for the way they searched into +things too deep for him.</p> + +<p>It was out in the wildest, loneliest part of the beach that night that +he heard the first hint of what had come to the soul of Courtland. Pat +had come of Catholic ancestry. He had an inheritance of reverence for +the unseen. He had never been troubled with doubts or sneers. He had let +religion go by and shed it like a shower, but he respected it.</p> + +<p>Courtland spent much time in the vicinity of the factory and of Robert +Burns's church during the next few weeks. He helped Burns a good deal, +for the man had heavily taxed himself with the burdens of the poor about +him. Courtland found ways to privately relieve necessity and put a poor +soul now and then on his feet and able to face the world again by the +loan of a few cents or dollars. It took so pitifully little to open the +gate of heaven to some lives! Courtland with his keen intellect and fine +perceptions was able sometimes to help the older man in his +perplexities; and once, when Burns was greatly worried over a bill <a name="Page_254" id="Page_254"></a>that +was hanging fire during a prolonged session of congress, Courtland went +down to Washington for a week-end and hunted up some of his father's +Congressional friends. He told them a few facts concerning factories in +general, and a certain model, white-marble, much be-vined factory in +particular, that at least opened their eyes if it did not make much +difference in the general outcome. But though the bill failed to pass +that session, being skilfully side-tracked, Courtland had managed to +stir up a bit of trouble for Uncle Ramsey Thomas that made him storm +about his office wrathfully and wonder who that "darned little rat of a +preacher" had helping him now!</p> + +<p>It was late in September that Pat, with a manner of studied +indifference, told Courtland of a rumor that Tennelly was engaged to +Gila Dare.</p> + +<p>It was the very next Sunday night that Tennelly turned up at Courtland's +apartment after he and Pat had gone to the evening service, and followed +them to the church. He dropped into a seat beside Pat, amazed to find +him there.</p> + +<p>"You here!" he whispered, grasping Pat's hand with the old friendly +grip. "Where's Court?"</p> + +<p>Pat grinned and nodded up toward the pulpit.</p> + +<p>Tennelly looked forward and for a minute did not comprehend. Then he saw +Courtland sitting gravely in a pulpit chair by the little red-headed +Scotch preacher.</p> + +<p>"What in thunder!" he growled, almost out loud. "What's the joke?"</p> + +<p>Pat's face was on the defensive at once, though it was plain he was +enjoying Tennelly's perplexity. "Court's going to speak to-night!" It is +probable Pat never enjoyed giving any information so much as that +sentence in his life.</p> + +<p>"The deuce he is!" said Tennelly, out loud. "You're <a name="Page_255" id="Page_255"></a>lying, man!" which, +considering that the Scotchman was praying, was slightly out of place.</p> + +<p>Pat frowned. "Shut up, Nelly. Can't you see the game's called? I'm +telling you straight. If you don't believe it wait and see."</p> + +<p>Tennelly looked again. That surely was Courtland sitting there. What +could be the meaning of it all? Had Courtland taken to itinerary +preaching? Consternation filled his soul. He loved Courtland as his own +brother. He would have done anything to save his brilliant career for +him.</p> + +<p>He hadn't intended staying to service. His plan had been to slip in, get +Courtland to come away with him, have a talk, and go back to the shore +on the late train. But the present situation altered his plans. There +was nothing for it now but to stay and see this thing through. Pat was a +whole lot deeper than the rest had ever given him credit for being. Pat +was enjoying the psychological effect of the service on Tennelly. He had +never been much of a student in the psychology class, but when it came +right down to plain looking into another man's soul and telling what he +was thinking about, and what he was going to do next, Pat was all there. +That was what made him such an excellent football-player. When he met +his opponent he could always size him up and tell just about what kind +of plays he was going to make, and know how to prepare for them. Pat was +no fool.</p> + +<p>That was a most unusual service. The minister read the story of the +martyr Stephen, and the conversion of Saul of Tarsus, taken from the +sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth chapters of Acts. It was brief and +dramatic in the reading. Even Tennelly was caught and held as Burns read +in his clear, direct way that made Scripture seem to live again in +modern times. <a name="Page_256" id="Page_256"></a></p> + +<p>"I have asked my friend Mr. Courtland to tell you the story of how he +met Jesus one day on the Damascus road," said Burns, as he closed the +Bible and turned to Courtland, sitting still with bowed head just behind +him.</p> + +<p>Courtland had made many speeches during his college days. He had been +the prince among his class for debate. He had been proud of his ability +as a speaker, and had delighted in being able to hold and sway an +audience. He had never known stage fright, nor dreaded appearing before +people. But ever since Burns had asked him if he would be willing to +tell the story of the Presence to his people in the church before he +left for his theological studies, Courtland had been just plain +frightened. He had consented. Somehow he couldn't do anything else, it +was so obviously to his mind a "call"; but if had been a coward in any +sense he would have run away that Saturday afternoon and got out of it +all. Only his horror of being "yellow" had kept him to his promise.</p> + +<p>Since ascending to the platform he had been overcome by the audacity of +the idea that he, a mere babe in knowledge, a recent scorner, should +attempt to get up and tell a roomful of people, who knew far more about +the Bible than he did, how he found Christ. There were no words in which +to tell anything! They had all fled from his mind and it was a blank!</p> + +<p>He dropped his head upon his hand in his weakness to pray for strength, +and a great calm came to his soul. The prayer and Bible-reading had +steadied him, and he had been able to get hold of what he had to say as +the story of the young man Saul progressed. But when he heard himself +being introduced so simply, and knew his time had come, he seemed to +hear the words he had read that afternoon: <a name="Page_257" id="Page_257"></a></p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Fear not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy +God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I +will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.</p></div> + +<p>Courtland lifted up his head and arose. He faced the sea of faces that a +few moments before had swum before his gaze as if they had been a +million. Then all at once Tennelly's face stood out from all the rest, +intent, curious, wondering, and Courtland knew that his opportunity had +come to tell Tennelly about the Presence!</p> + +<p>Tennelly, the man whom he loved above all other men! Tennelly, the man +who perhaps loved Gila and was to be close to her through life! His +fears vanished. His soul burned within him.</p> + +<p>Fixing his eyes on that fine, vivid face, Courtland began his story; and +truly the words that he used must have been drawn red-hot from his +heart, for he spoke as one inspired. Simply, as if he were alone in the +room with Tennelly, he looked into his friend's eyes and told his story, +forgetting all others present, intent only on making Tennelly see what +Christ had been to him, what He was willing to be to Tennelly—and Gila! +If they would!</p> + +<p>Tennelly did not take his eyes from the speaker. It was curious to see +him so absorbed, Tennelly, who was so conventional, so careful what +people thought, so always conscious of all elements in his environment. +It was as if his soul were sitting frankly in his eyes for the first +time in his life, and things unsuspected, perhaps, even by himself, came +out and showed themselves: traits, weaknesses, possibilities; longings, +too, and pride.</p> + +<p>When Courtland had finished and sat down he did not drop his head upon +his hands again. He had spoken <a name="Page_258" id="Page_258"></a>in the strength of the Lord. He had +nothing of which to be ashamed. He was looking now at the audience, no +longer at Tennelly. He began to realize that it had been given to him to +bear the message to all these other people also. He was filled with +humble exaltation that to him had been intrusted this great opportunity.</p> + +<p>The people, too, were hushed and filled with awe. They showed by the +quiet way they reached for the hymn-books, the reverent bowing of their +heads for the final prayer, that they had all felt the power of Christ +with the speaker. They lingered, many of them, and came up, pressing +about him, just to touch his hand and make mute appeal with their +troubled eyes. Some to ask him eagerly for reassurance of what he had +been saying; others to thank him for the story. They were so humble, so +sincere, so eager, these common people, like the ones of old who crowded +around the Master and heard him gladly. Paul Courtland was filled with +humility. He stood there half embarrassed as they pressed about him. He +took their hands and smiled his brotherhood, but scarcely knew what to +say to them. He felt an awkward boy who had made a great discovery about +which he was too shy to talk.</p> + +<p>Pat and Tennelly stood back against the wall and waited, saying not a +word. Tennelly watched the people curiously as they went out: humble, +common people, subdued, wistful, even tearful; some of them with +illumined faces as if they had seen a great light in their darkness.</p> + +<p>When at last Courtland drifted down to the back of the church and +reached Tennelly the two met with a look straight into each other's +soul, while their hands gripped in the old brotherhood clasp. Not a +smile nor a commonplace expression crossed either face—just that +<a name="Page_259" id="Page_259"></a>strong, steady look of recognition and understanding. It was Tennelly +looking at Courtland, the new man in Christ Jesus; Courtland looking at +Tennelly after he had heard the story.</p> + +<p>They walked back to Courtland's apartments almost in silence, a kind of +holy embarrassment upon them all. Pat whistled "Rock of Ages" softly +under his breath most of the way.</p> + +<p>They sat for a time, talking, stiffly, as if they hardly knew one +another, telling the news. Bill Ward had gone to California to look into +a big land deal in which his father was interested. Wittemore's mother +had died and he wasn't coming back next year for his senior year. It was +all surface talk. Pat put in a little about football. He discussed which +of last year's scrubs were most hopeful candidates for the 'varsity team +this year. Not one of the three at that moment cared a rap whether the +university had any football team or not. Their thoughts were upon deeper +things.</p> + +<p>But the recent service was not mentioned, nor the extraordinary fact of +Courtland's having taken part in it. By common consent they shunned the +subject. It was too near the heart of each.</p> + +<p>Finally Pat discreetly took himself off, professedly in search of +ice-water, as the cooler in the hall had for some reason run dry. He was +gone some time.</p> + +<p>When he had left the room Tennelly sat up alertly. He had something to +say to Courtland alone. It must be said now before Pat returned.</p> + +<p>Courtland got up, crossed the room, and stood looking out of the window +on the myriad lights of the city. There was in his face a far yearning, +and something too deep for words. It was as if he were waiting for a +blow to fall. <a name="Page_260" id="Page_260"></a></p> + +<p>Tennelly looked at Courtland's back and gathered up his courage: +"Court," he said, hoarsely, trying to summon the nomenclature of the +dear old days; "there's something I wanted to ask you. Was there +anything—is there—between you and Gila Dare that makes it disloyal for +your friend to try and win her if he can?"</p> + +<p>It was very still in the room. The whir of the trolleys could be heard +below as if they were out in the hall. They grated harshly on the +silence. Courtland stood as if carved out of marble. It seemed ages to +Tennelly before he answered, with the sadness of the grave in his tone:</p> + +<p>"No, Nelly! It's all right! Gila and I didn't hit it off! It's all over +between us forever. Go ahead! I wish you luck!"</p> + +<p>There was an attempt at the old loving understanding in the answer, but +somehow the last words had almost the sound of a sob in them. Tennelly +had a feeling that he was wringing his own happiness out of his friend's +soul:</p> + +<p>"Thanks, awfully, Court! I didn't know," he said, awkwardly. "I think +she likes me a lot, but I couldn't do anything if you had the right of +way."</p> + +<p>When Pat came back with a tray of glasses clinking with ice, and the +smell of crushed lemons, they were talking of the new English professor +and the chances that he would be better than the last, who was "punk." +But Pat was not deceived. He looked from one to the other and knew the +blow had fallen. He might have prevented it, but what was the use? It +had to come sooner or later. They talked late. Finally, Tennelly rose +and came toward Courtland, with his hand outstretched, and they all knew +that the real moment of the evening had come at last: <a name="Page_261" id="Page_261"></a></p> + +<p>"That was a great old talk you gave us this evening, Court!" Tennelly's +voice was husky with feeling. One felt that he had been keeping the +feeling out of sight all the evening. He was holding Courtland's hand in +a painful grip, and looking again into his eyes as if he would search +his soul to the depths: "You sure have got hold of something there +that's worth looking into! You had a great hold on your audience, too! +Why, you almost persuaded me there was something in it!"</p> + +<p>Tennelly tried to finish his sentence in lighter vein, but the feeling +was in his voice yet.</p> + +<p>Courtland gripped his hand and looked his yearning with a sudden light +of joy and hope: "If you only would, Nelly! It's been the thing I've +longed for—!"</p> + +<p>"Not yet!" said Tennelly, almost pulling his hand away from the +detaining grasp. "Some time, perhaps, but not now! I've too much else on +hand! I must beat it now! Man alive! Do you know what time it is? See +you soon again!" Tennelly was off in a whirl of words.</p> + +<p>"Almost thou persuadest me!" Had some one whispered the words behind him +as he went?</p> + +<p>Courtland stood looking after him till the door closed, then he turned +and stepped to the window again. He was so long standing there, +motionless, that Pat went at last and touched him on the shoulder.</p> + +<p>"Say, pard," he said, in a low, gruff voice. "I'm nothing but a +roughneck, I know, and not worth much at that, but if it's any +satisfaction to you to know you've bowled a bum like me over to His +side, why <i>I'm with you</i>!"</p> + +<p>Courtland turned and grasped his hand, throwing the other arm about +Pat's shoulder. "It sure is, Pat, old boy," he said, eagerly. "It's the +greatest thing ever! Thanks! I needed that just now! I'm all in!" <a name="Page_262" id="Page_262"></a></p> + +<p>They stood so for some minutes with their arms across each other's +shoulders, looking out of the window to the city, lying sorrowful, +forgetful, sinful, before them; down to the street below, where Tennelly +hastened on to win his Gila; up to the quiet, wise old stars above. <a name="Page_263" id="Page_263"></a></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVIII" id="CHAPTER_XXVIII"></a>CHAPTER XXVIII</h2> + + +<p>Tennelly did not come back as he had promised. Instead he wrote a gay +little note to tell of his engagement to Gila. He said it was not to be +announced publicly yet, as Gila was so young. They would wait a year +perhaps before announcing it to the world, but he wanted Courtland to +know. In an added line at the bottom he said: "That was a great old +speech you made the other night, Court. I haven't forgotten it yet. Your +reference to Marshall was a cracker-jack! The faculty ought to have +heard it."</p> + +<p>Courtland read it wearily, closed his eyes for a minute, passed his hand +over his brow, then he handed the note over to Pat. The understanding +between the two was very deep and tender now.</p> + +<p>Pat read without comment, but the frown on his brow matched the set of +his big jaw. When he spoke again it was to tell Courtland of the job he +had been offered as athletic coach in a preparatory school in the same +neighborhood with the theological seminary where Courtland had decided +to study. Courtland listened without hearing and smiled wearily. He was +entering his Gethsemane. Neither one of them slept much that night.</p> + +<p>In the early dawning Courtland arose, dressed, and silently stole out of +the room, down through the sleeping city, out to the country, where he +had gone once before when trouble struck him. It seemed to him he <a name="Page_264" id="Page_264"></a>must +get away to breathe, he must go where he and God could be alone.</p> + +<p>Pat understood. He only waited till Courtland was gone to fling on his +clothes in a hurry and be after him. He had noted from the window the +direction taken, and guessed where he would be.</p> + +<p>On and on walked Courtland with the burning sorrow in his soul; out +through the heated city, over the miles of dusty road, his feet finding +their way without apparent direction from his mind; out to the stream, +and the path where wild flowers and grasses had strewn the ground in +springtime; gay now with white and purple asters. The rocks wore vines +of crimson, and goldenrod was full of bees and yellow butterflies. +Gnarled roots bore little creeping tufts of squawberry with bright, red +berries dotting thick between. But Courtland passed on and saw it not.</p> + +<p>Above, the sky was deepest blue and flecked with summer clouds. +Loud-voiced birds called gaily of the summer's ending, talked of travel +in a glad, gay lilt. The bees droned on; the bullfrogs gave forth a deep +wise thought or two; while softly, deeply, brownly, flowed the stream +beside the path, with only a far, still fisherman here and there who +noticed not. But Courtland heard nothing, saw nothing but the dark of +his Gethsemane. For every nodding goldenrod and saucy purple aster was +but a bright-winged thought to him to bring back the saucy, lovely face +of Gila. She belonged now to another. He had not realized before how +fully he had chosen, how lost she was to him, until another, and that +his best friend, had taken her for his own. Not that he repented his +decision or drew back. Oh no! He could not have chosen otherwise. Yet +now, face to face with the truth, he realized that he had always hoped, +even when he walked away <a name="Page_265" id="Page_265"></a>from her, that she would find the Christ and +one day they would come together again. Now that hope was gone forever. +She might find the Christ, he hoped—yes, hoped and prayed she +would!—it was a wish apart from his personal loss, but she could never +summon him now, for she had given herself to another!</p> + +<p>He gained at last the rock-bound refuge where he knelt once before. Pat, +coming later from afar, saw his old Panama lying down on the moss and +knew that he was there. Creeping softly up, he assured himself that all +was well, then crept away to wait. Pat had brought a basket of grapes +and a great bag of luscious pears against the time when Courtland should +have fought his battle and come forth. What those hours of waiting meant +to Pat might perhaps be found written in the lives of some of the boys +in that school where he coached athletics the next winter. But what they +meant to Courtland will only be found written in the records on high.</p> + +<p>Some time a little after noon there came a peace to Courtland's troubled +soul.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>When thou passest through the waters I will be with thee, +and through the floods they shall not overflow thee!</p></div> + +<p>It was as near to him as whispers in his ear, and peace was all about +him.</p> + +<p>He stood up, looked abroad, saw the beauty of the day, heard the +dreaminess of the afternoon coming on, heard louder God's call to his +heart, and knew that there was strength for all his need. It was then +Pat came with his refreshment like a ministering angel.</p> + +<p>When they got back to the city that evening there was a note from +Bonnie, the first Courtland had received since the formal announcement +of her arrival <a name="Page_266" id="Page_266"></a>and her gratitude to him for being the means of bringing +her to that dear home.</p> + +<p>This letter was almost as brief as the first, but it breathed a spirit +of peace and content. She enclosed a check on the funeral account. +Bonnie was well and happy. She was teaching the grammar-school where +Stephen Marshall used to study when he was a little boy, and giving +music lessons in the afternoons. She would soon be able to pay back +everything she owed and to do a daughter's share in the home where she +was treated like an own child. She closed by saying that the kindness he +had shown her would never be forgotten; that he had seemed to her, and +always would, like the messenger of the Lord sent to help her in her +despair.</p> + +<p>There was a ring so fresh and strong and true in this little letter, +that he could but recognize it. He sighed and thought how strange it was +that he should almost resent it, coming as it did in contrast with +Gila's falseness. Gila who had professed to love him so deeply, and then +had so easily laid that love aside and put on another. Perhaps all girls +were the same. Perhaps this Bonnie, too, would do the same if a man +turned out not to have her ideals.</p> + +<p>He answered Bonnie's note in a day or two with a cordial one, returning +her check, assuring her that everything was fully paid, and expressing +his pleasure that she had found a real home and congenial work. Then he +dismissed her from his mind.</p> + +<p>A week later he went to the seminary, and Pat accompanied him as far as +the preparatory school where he was to enter upon his duties as athletic +coach.</p> + +<p>Courtland found the atmosphere of the seminary quite different from +college. The men were older. They had chosen definitely their work in +the world.<a name="Page_267" id="Page_267"></a> Their talk was of things ecclesiastical. The happenings of +the day were spoken of with reference to the religious world. It was a +new viewpoint in every sense of the word. And yet he was disappointed +that he did not find a more spiritual atmosphere among the young men who +were studying for the ministry. If anywhere in the world the Presence +might be expected to be moving and apparent it should be here, he +reasoned, where men had definitely given themselves to the study of the +Gospel of Christ, and where all were supposed to believe in Him and to +have acknowledged Him before the world. He found himself the only man in +the place who was not a member of any church, and yet there were but +three or four that he had the feeling he could speak to about the +Presence and not be looked upon as "queer." There was much worldly talk. +There was a great deal of church gossip about churches and ministers; +what this one was paid and what that one got; the chances of a man being +called to a city church when he was just out of the seminary. It was the +way his father had talked when he told him he wanted to study theology. +It turned him sick at heart to hear them. It seemed so far from the +attitude a servant of the Lord should have. He was in a fair way to lose +his ideal of ministers as well as of women. He mentioned it one day +bitterly to Pat when he came over to spend a spare evening, as he +frequently did.</p> + +<p>"I think you're wrong," said Pat, in his queer, abrupt way. "From what I +can figure there was only a few of those guys got around Christ and knew +what he really was! You didn't suppose it would be any different now, +did you? Guess you'll find it that way everywhere, only a few <i>real</i> +folks in <i>any</i> gang!"</p> + +<p>Courtland looked at Pat in wonder. He was a constant surprise to his +friend, in that he grew so fast in <a name="Page_268" id="Page_268"></a>the Christian life. He had a little +Bible that he had bought before he left the city. It was small and fine +and expensive, utterly unlike Pat, and he carried it with him always, +apparently read it much. He hadn't been given to reading anything more +than was required at college, so it was the more surprising. He told +Courtland he wanted to know the rules of the game if he was going to get +in it. His sturdy common-sense often gave Courtland something to think +about. Pat was bringing his new religion to bear upon his work. He +already had a devoted bunch of boys to whom he was dealing out wholesome +truths beginning a new era in the school. The head-master looked on in +amazement, for morality hadn't been one of the chief recommendations +that the faculty of the university had given Pat. They had, in fact, +privately cautioned the school that they would have to watch out for +such things themselves. Instead, however, of finding a somewhat lawless +man in their new coach, the head-master was surprised to discover a +purity campaign on foot, a ban on swearing and cigarette-smoking such as +they had never been able to establish before. It came to their ears that +Pat had personally conducted an offender along these lines out to the +boundaries of the school grounds, well behind the gymnasium, where there +was utmost privacy, and administered a good thrashing on his own +account. The faculty watched anxiously to see the effect of such summary +treatment on the student body, but were relieved to find that the new +coach's following was in no wise diminished, and that better conduct +began presently to be the order of the day.</p> + +<p>Pat and Courtland were much together these days, and one Sunday +afternoon in late October, while the sun was still warm, they took the +athletic teams a long hike over the country. When they sat down to rest<a name="Page_269" id="Page_269"></a> +Pat asked Courtland to tell the boys about Stephen, and the Presence.</p> + +<p>That was the real beginning of Courtland's ministry, those unexpected, +spontaneous talks with the boys, where he could speak his heart and not +be afraid of being misunderstood.</p> + +<p>There were two or three professors in the seminary who struck Courtland +as being profoundly spiritual and sincere in their lives. They were old +men, noted for their scholarship and their strong faith the world over. +They taught as Courtland imagined a prophet might have taught in the +days of the Old Testament, with their ears ever open to see what the +Lord would have them speak to the children of men. At their feet he sat +and drank in great draughts of knowledge, going away satisfied. There +were other professors, some of them brilliant in the extreme, whose +whole attitude toward the Bible and Christ seemed to have an undertone +of flippancy, and who fairly delighted to find an unauthentic portion +over which they might haggle away the precious hours of the class-room. +They lacked the reverent attitude toward their subject which only could +save the higher criticism from being destructive rather than +constructive.</p> + +<p>As the year went by he came to know his fellow-students better, and to +find among them a few earnest, thoroughly consecrated fellows, most of +them plain men like Burns, who had turned aside from the world's +allurements to prepare themselves to carry the gospel to those who were +in need. Most of them were poor men also, and of humble birth, with a +rare one now and then of brains and family and wealth, like Courtland, +to whom God had come in some peculiar way. These were a group apart from +others, whom the rest respected and admired, yet laughed at in a gentle, +humoring <a name="Page_270" id="Page_270"></a>sort of way, as if they wasted more energy on their calling +than there was any real need to do. Some of them were going to foreign +lands when they were through, had already been assigned to their mission +stations, and were planning with a special view to the needs of the +locality. Courtland felt an idler and drone among them that he did not +yet know what he was to do.</p> + +<p>The men, as they came to know him better, predicted great things for +him: wealthy churches falling at his feet, brilliant openings at his +disposal; but Courtland took no part in any such discussions. He had the +attitude of heart that he was to be guided, when he was through his +studies, into the place where he was most needed; it mattered not where +so it was the place God would have him to be.</p> + +<p>In February Burns had a farewell service in his church. He had resigned +his pastorate and was going to China. Pat and Courtland went down to the +city to attend the service; and Monday saw him off to San Francisco for +his sea voyage to China.</p> + +<p>Courtland, as he stood on the platform watching the train move away with +his friend, wished he could be on that train going with Burns to China. +He was to take up Burns's work around the settlement and in the factory +section; to see some of his friend's plans through to completion. He was +almost sorry he had promised. He felt utterly inadequate to the +necessity!</p> + +<p>Spring came, and with it the formal announcement of Tennelly's and +Gila's engagement. Courtland and Pat each read it in the papers, but +said nothing of it to each other. Courtland worked the harder these +days.</p> + +<p>He tried to plunge into the work and forget self, and to a certain +extent was successful. He found plenty of distress and sorrow to stand +in contrast with his <a name="Page_271" id="Page_271"></a>own; and his hands and heart were presently full +to overflowing.</p> + +<p>Like the faithful fellow-worker that he was, Pat stuck by him. Both +looked forward to the week that Tennelly had promised to spend with +them. But instead of Tennelly came a letter. Gila's plans interfered and +he could not come. He wrote joyously that he was sorry, but he couldn't +possibly make it. It shone between every line that Tennelly was +overwhelmingly happy.</p> + +<p>"Good old Nelly!" said Courtland, with a sigh, handing the letter over +to Pat, for these two shared everything these days.</p> + +<p>Courtland stood staring out of the window at the vista of roofs and tall +chimneys. The blistering summer sun simmered hot and sickening over the +city. Red brick and dust and grime were all around him. His soul was +weary of the sight and faltered in its way. What was the use of living? +What?</p> + +<p>Then suddenly he straightened up and leaned from the window alertly! The +fire alarm was sounding. Its sinister wheeze shrilled through the hot +air tauntingly! It sounded again. One! two! One! two! three! It was in +the neighborhood.</p> + +<p>Without waiting for a word, both men sprang out the door and down the +stairs. <a name="Page_272" id="Page_272"></a></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIX" id="CHAPTER_XXIX"></a>CHAPTER XXIX</h2> + + +<p>"The Whited Sepulcher," as some of the bitterest of her poorly paid +slaves called the model factory, stood coolly, insolently, among her +dirty, red-brick, grime-stained neighbors; like some dainty lady +appareled in sheer muslins and jewels appearing on the threshold of the +hot kitchen where her servitors were sweating and toiling to prepare her +a feast.</p> + +<p>The luxuriant vines were green and abundant, creeping coolly about the +white walls, befringing the windows charmingly, laying delicate clinging +fingers even up to the very eaves, and straying out over the roof. No +matter how parched the ground in the little parks of the district, no +matter how yellow the leaves on the few stunted trees near by, no matter +how low the city's supply of water, nor how many public fountains had to +be temporarily shut off, that vine was always well watered. Its root lay +deep in soft, moist earth well fertilized and cared for; its leaves were +washed anew each evening with refreshing spray from the hose that played +over it. "Seems like I'd just like to lie down there and sleep with my +face clost up to it, all wet and cool-like, all night!" sighed one poor +little bony victim of a girl, scarcely more than a child, as the throng +pressed out the wide door at six o'clock and caught the moist fragrance +of the damp earth and growing vine.</p> + +<p>"You look all in, Susie!" said her neighbor, pausing in her interminable +gum-chewing to eye her friend <a name="Page_273" id="Page_273"></a>keenly. "Say, you better go with me to +the movies to-night! I know a nice cool one fer a nickel!"</p> + +<p>"Can't!" sighed Susie. "'Ain't got ther nickel, and, besides, I gotta +stay with gran'mom while ma goes up with some vests she's been makin'. +Oh, I'm all right! I jus' was thinkin' about the vine; it looks so cool +and purty. Say, Katie, it's somepin' to b'long to a vine like that, even +if we do have it rotten sometimes! Don't you always feel kinda +proud-like when you come in the door, 'most as if it was a palace? I +like to pertend it's all a great big house where I live, and there's +carpets and lace curtings to the winders, and a real gold sofy with +pink-velvet cushings! And when I come down and see one of the company's +ottymobiles standin' by the curb waitin', I like to pertend it's mine, +only I don't ride 'cause I've been ridin' so much I'd <i>ruther</i> walk! +Don't you ever do that, Katie?"</p> + +<p>"Not on yer <i>life</i>, I don't!" said Katie, with an ugly frown. "I hate +the old dump! I hate every stone in the whole pile! I could tear that +nasty green vine down an' stamp on it. I'd like to strip its leaves off +an' leave it bare. I'd like to turn the hose off and see it dry up an' +be all brown, an' ugly, an' dead. It's stealin' the water they oughtta +have over there in the fountain. It's stealin' the money they oughtta +pay us fer our work! It's creepin' round the winders an' eatin' up the +air. Didn't you never take notice to how they let it grow acrost the +winders to hide folks from lookin' in from the visitor's winders there +on the east side? They don't care how it shuts away the draught and +makes it hotter 'n a furnace where we work! No, you silly! I never was +proud to come in that old marble door! I was always mad, away down +inside, that I had to work here. I had to go crawlin' and askin' fer a +job, an' take all their insults, an' be locked in a <a name="Page_274" id="Page_274"></a>trap. Take it from +me, there's goin' to be some awful accident happen here some day! If a +fire should break out how many d'you s'pose could get out before they +was burned to a crisp? Did you know them winders was nailed so they +wouldn't go up any higher 'n a foot? Did you know they 'ain't got 'nouf +fire-escapes to get half of us out ef anythin' happened? Did you never +take notice to the floor roun' them three biggest old machines they've +got up on the sixth? I stepped acrost there this mornin'—Mr. Brace sent +me up on a message to the forewoman—an' that floor shook under my feet +like a earthquake! Sam Warner says the building ain't half strong enough +fer them machines, anyway. He says they'd oughtta put 'em down on the +first floor; but they didn't want to 'cause they don't show off good to +visitors, so they stuck 'em up on the sixth, where they don't many see +'em. But Sam says some day they're goin' to bust right through the +floor, an' ef they do, they ain't gonta stop till they get clear down to +the cellar, an' they'll wipe out everythin' in their way when they go! +B'leeve me! I don't wantta be workin' here when that happens!"</p> + +<p>"<i>Good night!</i>" said Susie, turning pale. "Them big machines on the +sixth is right over where I work on the fifth! Say, Katie, le's ast Mr. +Brace to put us on the other side the room! Aw, gee! Katie! What's the +use o' livin'? I'd 'most be willin' to be dead jest to get cool! Seems +zif it's allus either awful hot er awful cold!"</p> + +<p>They went to their stifling tenements and their unattractive suppers. +They dragged their weary feet over the hot, dark pavements, laughing and +talking boisterously with their comrades, or crowded into places of +amusement to forget for a little while, then to creep back to toss the +night out on a hard cot in <a name="Page_275" id="Page_275"></a>breathless air or to creep to fire-escape or +flat roof for a few brief hours of relief, till it was time to return to +the vine-clad factory and its hot, noisy slavery for another day.</p> + +<p>Three girls fainted on the fifth floor and two on the sixth next +morning. They were not carried to the cool and shaded rest-rooms to +revive, but lay on the floor with their heads huddled on a pile of +waste, and had a little warmish water from the rusty "cooler" in the +back stairway poured upon them as they lay. No white-clad nurse with +palm leaf and cooling drinks attended their unconscious state, although +there was one in attendance in the rest-room whose duty it was to look +after the comfort of any chance visitors. When any stooped to succor +here, she fanned her neighbor with her apron, casting an anxious eye on +her own silent machine and knowing she was losing "time."</p> + +<p>Susie fainted three times that morning, and Katie lost an hour in all, +bringing water and making a fan out of a newspaper. Also she had an +angry altercation with the foreman. He said if Susie "played up" this +way she'd have to quit; there were plenty of girls waiting to take her +place, and he hadn't time to fool with kids that wanted to lie around +and be fanned. It was his last few words as she was reviving that stung +Susie to life again and put her back at her machine for the last time in +nervous panic, with the thought of what would happen at home if she lost +her job. Up above her the great heavy machines thrashed on and the floor +trembled with their movement. Black and thick and hot was the air around +Susie and she scarcely could see, for dizziness, the machinery which she +worked from habit, as she stood swaying in her place, and wondering if +she could hold out till the noon whistle blew. <a name="Page_276" id="Page_276"></a></p> + +<p>Down in the basement, near one of the elevator shafts, a pile of waste +lay smoldering, out of sight. One of the boys from the lumber-yard down +the next block had stopped to light his cigarette as he passed out into +the street after bringing a bill to the head manager. He tossed his +match away, not seeing where it fell. The big factory thundered on in +full swing of a busy, driving morning, and the little match lay nursing +its flame and smoldering.</p> + +<p>How long it crept and smoldered no one knew. It seemed to come from +every floor at once, that smell of smoke and cry of fire! More smoke in +volumes pouring up suddenly through cracks and bursting from the +elevator shaft; a lick of flame darting out like a serpent ready to +strike, menacing against the heat of the big rooms.</p> + +<p>Panic and smoke and fire! Cries and clashing of machinery thundering on +like a storm above an angry sea!</p> + +<p>The girls rushed together in fear, or, screaming, ran desperately to +windows which they knew they could not raise! They pounded at the locked +doors and crowded in the narrow passages, frantically surging this way +and that. There was no one to quiet them or tell them what to do. If +some one would only stop that awful machinery! Was the engineer dead?</p> + +<p>Mockingly the little cool vines crept in about the window-sills and over +the imprisoning panes, as if to taunt the victims who were caught in the +death-trap.</p> + +<p>"At any rate, if we die you'll die too!" cried Katie Craigin, shaking +her fist at the long green tendrils that swept across the window nearest +her machine. "Oh, you! You'll burn to a crisp at the roots! You'll +wither up an' die. You'll be dead an' brown an' ugly! An' I'm glad! +<i>Glad!</i> For I hate you. <i>I hate you!</i><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277"></a> Do you hear?" And she grasped a +handful of leaves that edged the window-sill, spat upon them, and +stamped them under her foot, then turned to look for Susie.</p> + +<p>But Susie had fallen once more by her machine, leaving it unguarded +while it thrashed on uselessly. Her little pinched face looked up from +the dirty floor in pitiful unconsciousness amid the wild rush and whirl +of the fear-maddened company. If terror drove them they would pass over +her without knowing it. They were blind with desperation.</p> + +<p>The room seemed about to burst with the heat. Timbers were cracking. All +the stories they had heard of the frailty of the building came now to +goad them as they hurtled from one end of their pen to the other, while +intermittent clouds of smoke and darting flames conspired to bewilder +their senses.</p> + +<p>Katie sprang to seize her friend and draw her out of the path of the +stampede. As she lifted her a cry arose, like the wail of a lost world +facing the judgment. The floor swayed, the machines about seemed to +totter, and the floor above seemed bending down with some great weight. +There was a cracking, wrenching, twisting, as of the whole great +building in mortal pain, and just as Katie drew her unconscious friend +away to the window the floor above gave way and down crashed three awful +machines, like great devouring juggernauts, to crush and bear away +whatever came in their way.</p> + +<p>After that, hell itself could scarcely have presented a more terrible +spectacle of writhing, tortured souls, pinned anguishing amid the +flames; of white faces below looking up to ghastly ones above that gazed +down with horror into the awful cavern, closed their eyes, clung to +walls and windows, and knew not what to do!</p> + +<p>The fearful noise of machinery had suddenly ceased <a name="Page_278" id="Page_278"></a>and been succeeded +by a calm in which the soft sound of rushing flames, the babble of the +crowd outside, the gong of fire-engines, and the cry of firemen seemed +balm of music in the ears. Water hissed on hot machinery and burning +walls. It splashed inside the window and on the white face of Susie. It +touched the hot hands of Katie as she lifted her friend nearer to the +blessed spray. A shadow of a ladder somewhere crossed the window. +Splintered glass fell all about her, and a hand reached in and crushed +the window frame.</p> + +<p>It was Pat who lifted out the limp Susie and handed her down to +Courtland, who was just below, while Katie turned and looked back at the +fearful pit of fire beneath her, knowing that in but a few more seconds, +if help came not, she, too, would be a part of that writhing, awful +heap! She saw the white face and staring eyes of the gray-haired woman +who ran the machine next to hers lying beneath a pile of dead. She +reeled and felt her senses going. Her hot hands clung to the hotter +window-ledge. The flames were leaping nearer! She could not hold out—</p> + +<p>Then a strong hand grasped her and drew her out into the blessed air, +and she felt herself being carried down, down, safely, wondering, as she +went, if the vine was roasted yet, or if it still smirked greenly +outside this holocaust; wished she had strength to shake a mocking +finger at it; and then she knew no more.</p> + +<p>For three long hours Courtland and Pat worked side by side, bringing out +the living, searching for the dead and dying, carrying them to an +improvised hospital in an old warehouse in the next block. Grim and +soiled and gray, with singed hair, blistered hands and faces, and +sickened hearts, they toiled on.</p> + +<p>To Courtland the experience was like walking with God and being shown +the way he might have gone, <a name="Page_279" id="Page_279"></a>and how he had been saved. If he had +accepted Ramsey Thomas's proposition he would have been a sharer in the +sin that caused this catastrophe. He would have been a murderer, almost +as much responsible for that charred body lying at his feet, for all +those dead and dying, as if he had owned the place.</p> + +<p>The whited sepulcher lay a heap of blackened ruins. Only one small +corner rose, of blackened marble, to which clung a fragment of brave +green to show what had been but a few short hours before. The morning's +sun would see it, too, withered and black like the rest. The model +factory was gone! But the money that had built it, the money that it had +made, was still in existence to build it over again, a perpetual blind +to the lawmakers who might have otherwise put a stop to its abuses! It +would undoubtedly be built again, more whited, more sepulchral than +before.</p> + +<p>As he looked upon the ruin a great resolve came to him. He would give +his life to fight the power that was setting its heel upon humanity and +putting a price upon its blood. He would devote all his powers to the +uplifting of people who had been downtrodden and oppressed in the simple +act of earning their daily bread!</p> + +<p>Ramsey Thomas, happening to be in a near-by city, and answering a +summons by telegraph, arrived at the scene in an automobile as Courtland +stood there, grimed and tattered from his fight with death.</p> + +<p>Ramsey Thomas, baffled, angry, distressed, wriggled out of his car to +the sidewalk and faced Courtland, curiously conspicuous and recognizable +with all his disarray. Courtland towered above the great man with +righteous wrath in his eyes. Ramsey Thomas cringed and looked +embarrassed. He had come to look over the ground to see how much trouble +they were going to have getting the insurance, and he hadn't expected +<a name="Page_280" id="Page_280"></a>to be met by a giant Nemesis with blackened face and singed eyebrows.</p> + +<p>"Oh, why—I," he began, nervously. "It's Mr. Courtland, isn't it? They +tell me you've been very helpful during the fire! I'm sure we're much +obliged. We'll not forget this, I assure you—"</p> + +<p>"Mr. Thomas," broke in Courtland, in a clear, decisive voice, "you +wanted to know a year ago why I wouldn't accept your proposition, and +you couldn't understand my reason for refusing. There it is!"</p> + +<p>He pointed eloquently to the heap of ruins.</p> + +<p>"Go over to that warehouse and see the rows of charred bodies! Look at +the agonized faces of the dead, and hear the groans of the dying. See +the living who are scarred or crippled for life. You are responsible for +all that! If I had accepted your proposal I would have been responsible, +too. And now I mean to spend the rest of my life fighting the conditions +that make such a catastrophe as this possible!"</p> + +<p>Courtland turned, and in spite of his tatters and soil walked +majestically away from him down the street.</p> + +<p>Ramsey Thomas stood rooted to the ground, watching him, a strange +mingling of emotions chasing one another over his rugged old +countenance: astonishment, admiration, and fury in quick succession.</p> + +<p>"Drat him!" he said, under his breath. "Drat him! Now he'll be a worse +pest than that little rat of a preacher, for he's got twice as much +brains and education!" <a name="Page_281" id="Page_281"></a></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXX" id="CHAPTER_XXX"></a>CHAPTER XXX</h2> + + +<p>The summer passed in hard, earnest work.</p> + +<p>Courtland had been back at his studies four weeks when there came +another letter from Tennelly. Gila had gone to her aunt's, down at +Beechwood, for a two weeks' stay. She was worn out with the various +functions of the summer and needed a complete rest. They were to be +married soon, perhaps in December, and there would be a lot to do to +prepare for that. She was going to rest absolutely, and had forbidden +him to follow her, so he had some leisure on his hands. Would Courtland +like to spend a week-end somewhere along the coast half-way between? +They could each take their cars and meet wherever Courtland said.</p> + +<p>It was Saturday morning when Courtland received the letter. Pat had gone +down to the city for over Sunday. An inexpressible longing filled him to +see Tennelly again, before his marriage completed the wall that was +between them. He wanted to have a real old-fashioned talk; to look into +the soul of his friend and see the old loyalty shining there. He wanted +more than all to come close to him once more, and, it might be, tell him +about the Christ.</p> + +<p>He took down his road-book, turned to the map, and let his finger fall +on the coast-line about midway between the city and the seminary. +Looking it up in the book, he found Shadow Beach described as a quiet +and exclusive resort with a good inn, excellent service, <a name="Page_282" id="Page_282"></a>fine +sea-bathing, etc. Well, that would do as well as anywhere. He +telegraphed Tennelly:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Meet me at Shadow Beach, Howland's Inlet, Elm Tree Inn, this +evening.</p></div> + +<div> +<span style="margin-left: 28em;">C</span><span class="smcap">ourt.</span><br /> +</div> + +<p>It was dark when he reached Elm Tree Inn. The ocean rolled, a long black +line flecked with faint foam, along the shore, and luminous with a +coming moon. Two dim figures, like moving shadows, went down the sand +picked out against the path of the moon. Save for those all was lonely, +up and down. Courtland shivered slightly and almost wished he had +selected some more cheerful spot for the meeting. He had not realized +how desolate a sea can be when it is growing cold. Nevertheless, it was +majestic. It seemed like eternity in its limitless stretch. The lights +in far harbors glinted out in the distance down the coast. Somehow the +vast emptiness filled him with sadness. He felt as if he were entering +upon anything but a pleasant reunion, and half wished he had not come.</p> + +<p>Courtland ran his car up to the entrance and sprang out. He was glad to +get inside, where a log fire was crackling. The warmth and the light +dispelled his sadness. Things began to take on a cheerful aspect again.</p> + +<p>"I suppose you haven't many guests left," he said, pleasantly, as he +registered.</p> + +<p>"Only him, sir!" said the clerk, pointing to the entry just above +Courtland's.</p> + +<p>"James T. Aquilar and wife, Seattle, Washington," Courtland read, idly, +and turned away.</p> + +<p>"They been here two days. Come in a nerroplane!" went on the clerk, +communicatively.</p> + +<p>"Fly all the way from Seattle?" asked Courtland, <a name="Page_283" id="Page_283"></a>idly. He was looking +at his watch and wondering if he should order supper or wait until +Tennelly arrived.</p> + +<p>"Well, I can't say for sure. He's mighty uncommunicative, but he's given +out he flies 'most anywhere the notion takes him. He's got his machine +out in the lot back o' the inn. You oughtta see it. It's a bird!"</p> + +<p>"H'm!" said Courtland. "I must have a look at it in daylight. I'm +looking for a friend up from the city pretty soon. Guess it would be +more convenient for you if we dined together. I'll wait a bit. Meantime, +let me see what rooms you have."</p> + +<p>When Courtland came back to the office and sat down before the fire to +wait, the spell of sadness seemed to have vanished.</p> + +<p>He sat for half an hour, with his head thrown back in the easy-chair, +watching the flames, thinking back over old college memories that the +thought of Tennelly made vivid again. In the midst of it he heard steps +on the veranda. Some one from outside unlatched the door and flung it +open. A wild, careless laugh floated in on the cold breath of the sea. +Courtland came to his feet as if he had been called! That laugh had gone +through his heart like a knife, with its heartless baby-like mirth. It +was Gila! Had Tennelly played him false, after all, and brought her +along? Was this some kind of a ruse to get them together? For he knew +that Tennelly was distressed over their alienation, and that he +understood to some extent that it was on account of Gila that he always +avoided accepting the many invitations which were continually pressed +upon him to come down to the city and be with his friends once more.</p> + +<p>The door swung wide on its hinges and Gila entered, trig and chic as +usual, in a stylish little coat-suit of homespun, leather-trimmed and +short-skirted, high <a name="Page_284" id="Page_284"></a>boots, leather leggings, and a jaunty little +leather cap with a bridle under her chin. Only her petite figure and her +baby face saved her from being taken for a tough young sport. She +swaggered in, chewing gum, her gauntleted hands in her pockets, her +young voice flung almost coarsely into the room by the wind; the +innocent look gone from her face; the eyes wide and bold; the exquisite +mouth in a sensuous curve.</p> + +<p>Behind her lounged a man older than herself by many years, with silver +at his temples, daredevil eyes, and a handsome, voluptuous face. He +kicked the door shut behind him and lolled against it while he lit a +cigarette.</p> + +<p>Gila's laugh rang harshly in the room again, following some low-toned +remark, and the man laughed coarsely in reply. Then, suddenly, she +looked up and saw Courtland standing sternly there with folded arms, +regarding her steadily, and her eyes grew wide with horror.</p> + +<p>It was Courtland's great disillusionment.</p> + +<p>Never had he seen such fear in human face.</p> + +<p>Gila's skin grew gray beneath its pearly tint, her whole body shrank and +cringed, her eyes were fixed upon him with terror in their gaze.</p> + +<p>"Papers haven't come in yet, Mr. Aquilar," called the clerk, affably. +"Train's late to-night. Be in pretty soon, I reckon!"</p> + +<p>The man growled out an imprecation on a place where the papers didn't +come till that hour in the evening, and lounged on toward the elevator. +Gila slid along by his side, her eyes on Courtland, with the air of +hiding behind her companion. Her face was drooped, and when she turned +toward the elevator she drooped her eyes also, and a wave of shame +rolled up and covered her face and neck and ears with a dull red +<a name="Page_285" id="Page_285"></a>beneath the pearl. Her last glance at Courtland was the look that Eve +must have had as she walked past the flaming swords, with Adam, out of +Eden. Her eyes, as she stood waiting for the boy to come to the +elevator, seemed fairly to grovel on the floor.</p> + +<p>Was this the sweet, wild, innocent flower that had held him in its +thrall all the sorrowful months, and separated him from his dearest +friend?</p> + +<p>Tennelly! Courtland had forgotten until that instant that Tennelly would +be there in a few minutes! Perhaps was even then at the door!</p> + +<p>He strode forward, and Gila quivered as she saw him coming; quivered and +looked up in terror, putting out a fearful hand to the arm of her +companion.</p> + +<p>The elevator-boy had arrived and was slamming back the steel grating. +The man stood back to let Gila enter, and she slunk past him, her gaze +still held in horror on Courtland.</p> + +<p>"Will you do me the favor to step into the little reception-room to the +right for a moment?" said Courtland, addressing the man, but looking at +Gila.</p> + +<p>"The devil we will!" said the man, glaring at him. "What right have you +to ask a favor like that?"</p> + +<p>But Courtland was looking at Gila, and there was command in his eyes. As +if she dared not disobey she stepped forth again from the elevator, her +eyes still upon him, her face gray with apprehension. Without further +word from him she walked before him, slowly, into the little room at the +right that he indicated.</p> + +<p>"You're a fool!" said Aquilar, regarding her contemptuously, but she +went as if she did not hear him. She entered the room, walked half-way +across, and turned about, facing the two who had followed. Courtland was +within the room, Aquilar lounging idly in the door, as if the matter +were of little moment to him.<a name="Page_286" id="Page_286"></a> He had a smile of contempt still on his +handsome lips.</p> + +<p>Courtland's manner was grave and sad. He had the commanding presence and +beauty of an avenging angel.</p> + +<p>"Gila, are you married to this man?" he asked, looking sternly at her, +as though he would search her very soul.</p> + +<p>Gila kept her dark, horrified gaze on his face. She was beyond trying to +deceive now. She slowly gave one shake to her head, and her white lips +formed the syllable, "No!" though it was almost inaudible.</p> + +<p>"And yet you are registered here in this hotel as his wife?"</p> + +<p>Her eyes suddenly flamed with shame. She drooped them before his gaze +and seemed to try to assent, but her head was drooped too low to bow. +She lifted miserable pleading looks to his face twice, but could not +stand the clear rebuke of his gaze. It was like the whiteness of the +reproach of God, and her little sinful soul could not bear it. She +lifted a handkerchief and uttered something like a sob. It was as one +might think would be the sound of a lost soul looking back at what might +have been.</p> + +<p>"What the devil have you got to say about it? Who the devil <i>are</i> you, +anyway?" roared the man from the doorway.</p> + +<p>The elevator-boy and clerk were all agog. The latter had come out of his +pen and was standing behind the boy, on tiptoe, where they could get a +good view of the scene. The room was tense with stillness.</p> + +<p>Aquilar's voice was not one to pass unnoticed when he spoke in anger, +but Courtland did not even lift an eyelid toward him.</p> + +<p>Perhaps Aquilar's words had given Gila courage, for <a name="Page_287" id="Page_287"></a>she suddenly lifted +her eyes to Courtland's face again, a flash of vengeance in them:</p> + +<p>"I suppose you are going to tell Lew all about it?" she flung out, +bitterly. "I suppose you will make up a great story to go and tell Lew. +But you don't suppose he will believe <i>you</i> against <i>me</i>, do you?"</p> + +<p>Her eyes were flashing fire now. Her old imperious manner was upon her. +She had driven him from her once! She would defeat him again!</p> + +<p>He watched her without a change of countenance. "No, I shall not tell +him," he said, quietly; "but <i>you will</i>!"</p> + +<p>"I?" Gila turned a glance of contemptuous amusement upon him. "Some +chance! And I warn you that if you attempt to tattle anything about it I +will turn, the tables against you in a way you little suspect."</p> + +<p>"Gila, you will tell Lew Tennelly <i>everything</i>, or you will never marry +him! It is his right to know! And now, sir"—Courtland turned to +Aquilar, lounging amusedly against the doorway—"if you will step +outside I will <i>settle with you</i>!"</p> + +<p>But suddenly Gila gave a scream and covered her face with her hands, for +there, just behind Aquilar, stood Tennelly, looking like a ghost. He had +heard it all! <a name="Page_288" id="Page_288"></a></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXI" id="CHAPTER_XXXI"></a>CHAPTER XXXI</h2> + + +<p>Tennelly stepped within the room, gave one keen, questioning look at +Aquilar as he passed him, searching straight into the depths of his +startled, shifty eyes, and came and stood before the crouching girl. She +had dropped into a chair and was sobbing as if her heart would break.</p> + +<p>"What does this mean, Gila?"</p> + +<p>Tennelly's voice was cold and stern.</p> + +<p>Courtland looked at his shocked face and turned away from the pain of +it. But when he looked for the man who had wrought this havoc he had +suddenly melted from the room! The front door was blowing back and forth +in the wind, and the clerk and bell-boy stood, open-mouthed, staring. +Courtland closed the door of the reception-room and hurried out on the +veranda, but saw no sign of any one in the wind-swept darkness. The moon +had risen enough to make a bright path over the sea, but the earth as +yet was wrapped in shadow.</p> + +<p>Down in the field, beyond the outbuildings, he heard a whirring sound, +and as he looked a dark thing rose like a great bird high above his +head. The bird had flown while the flying was good. The lady might face +her difficulties alone!</p> + +<p>Courtland stood below in the courtyard, while the moon arose and shed +its light through the sky, and the great black bird executed an +evolution or two and <a name="Page_289" id="Page_289"></a>whirred off to the north, doubtless headed for +Seattle or some equally inaccessible point. A great helpless wrath was +upon him. Dolt that he had been to let this human leper escape from him +into the world again! A kind of divine frenzy seized him to capture him +yet and put him where he could work no further harm to other willing +victims. Yes, he thought of Gila as a willing victim! An hour before he +would have called her just plain innocent victim. Now something in her +face, her attitude, as she saw him and walked away with her guilty +partner, had made him know her at last for a sinful woman. The shackles +had burst from his heart and he was free from her allurements for +evermore! He understood now why she had bade him choose between herself +and Christ. She had no part nor lot in things pure and holy. She hated +holiness because she herself was sinful!</p> + +<p>It was midnight before Gila and Tennelly came forth, Tennelly grave and +sad, Gila tear-stained and subdued.</p> + +<p>Courtland was sitting in the big chair before the fireplace, though the +fire was smoldering low, and the elevator-boy had long ago retired to +slumbers on a bench in a hidden alcove.</p> + +<p>Tennelly came straight to Courtland, as though he had known he would be +waiting there for him. "I am going to take Gila down to Beechwood. You +will come with us?" There was entreaty in the tone, though it was very +quiet.</p> + +<p>"Shall I take my car?"</p> + +<p>"No. You will ride with me on the front seat. Is there a maid here that +I can hire to go with us? We can bring her back in the morning."</p> + +<p>"I'll find out."</p> + +<p>That was a silent ride through the late moonlight.<a name="Page_290" id="Page_290"></a> The men spoke only +when it was necessary to keep the right road. Gila, huddled sullenly in +the back seat beside a dozing, gray-haired chambermaid, spoke not at +all. And who shall say what were her thoughts as hour after hour she sat +in her humiliation and watched the two men whom she had wronged so +deeply? Perhaps her spirit seethed the more violently within her silent, +angry body because she was not yet sure of Tennelly. Her tears and +explanations, her pleading little story of deceit and innocence, had not +wrought the charm upon him that they might had not Aquilar been known to +him for the past two weeks, a stranger who had been hanging about Gila, +and who had been encouraged against her lover's oft-repeated warnings. A +certain mysterious story of an unfaithful wife put an air of romance +about him that Tennelly had not liked. Gila had never seen him so +serious and hard to coax as he had been to-night. He had spoken to her +as if she were a naughty child; had commanded her to go at once to her +aunt in Beechwood and remain there the allotted time. She simply <i>had</i> +to obey or lose him. There were things about Tennelly's fortune and +prospects that made him most desirable as a husband. Moreover, she felt +that through marrying Tennelly she could the better hurt Courtland, the +man whom she now hated with all her heart.</p> + +<p>They reached Beechwood at not too unearthly an hour. The aunt was +surprised, but not unduly so, for Gila was a girl of many whims, and +that she came at all to quiet Beechwood to rest was shock enough for one +day. She asked no troublesome questions.</p> + +<p>Tennelly would not remain for breakfast, even, but started on the return +trip at once, with only a brief stop at a wayside inn for something to +eat. The elderly attendant in the back seat was disappointed. She had +<a name="Page_291" id="Page_291"></a>no chance to get a bit of gossip by the way with any one, but she got +good pay for the night's ride, and made up some thrilling stories to +tell when she got back that were really better than the truth might have +turned out to be, so there was nothing lost, after all.</p> + +<p>It was Tennelly who broke the silence between them when he and Courtland +were at last alone together. "She only went for a ride in his +aeroplane," he said, sadly. "She had no idea of staying more than an +afternoon. He had promised to set her down at the next station to +Beechwood, where her aunt was to meet her. She was filled with horror +and consternation when she found she must be away overnight. But even +then she had no idea of his purpose. She says that nobody ever told her +about such things, she was ignorant as a little child! She is full of +repentance, and feels that this will be a lesson for her. She says she +intends to devote her life to me if I will only forgive her."</p> + +<p>So that was what she had told Tennelly behind the closed doors!</p> + +<p>Before Courtland's eyes there floated a vision of Gila as she first +caught sight of him in the office of the inn. If ever soul was guilty in +full knowledge of her sin she had been! Again she passed before his +vision with shamed head down-drooped and all her proud, imperial manner +gone. The mask had fallen from Gila forever so far as Courtland was +concerned. Not even her little, pitiful, teary face that morning, when +she crept from the car at her aunt's door, could deceive him again.</p> + +<p>"And you <i>believe</i> all that?" asked Courtland. He could not help it. His +dearest friend was in peril. What else could he do?</p> + +<p>"I—don't know!" said Tennelly, helplessly.</p> + +<p>There was silence in the room. Then Tennelly did <a name="Page_292" id="Page_292"></a>realize a little! +Perhaps Tennelly had known all along, better than he!</p> + +<p>"And—you will forgive her?"</p> + +<p>"I <i>must</i>!" said Tennelly, in desperation. "Court, my life is bound up +in her!"</p> + +<p>"So I once thought!" Courtland was only musing out loud.</p> + +<p>Tennelly looked at him sadly.</p> + +<p>"She almost wrecked my soul!" went on Courtland.</p> + +<p>"I know," said Tennelly, in profound sorrow. "She told me."</p> + +<p>"She <i>told you</i>?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, before we were engaged. She told me that she had asked you to give +up preaching, that she could never bear to be a minister's wife. I had +begun to realize what that would mean to you then. I respected your +choice. It was great of you, Court! But you never really loved her, man, +or you could not have given her up!"</p> + +<p>Courtland was silent for a moment, then he burst out: "Nelly! It was not +that! You <i>shall</i> know the truth! She asked me to give up <i>my God</i> for +her!"</p> + +<p>"<i>I have no God</i>," said Tennelly, dully.</p> + +<p>A great yearning for his friend filled the heart of Courtland. "Listen, +old man, you <i>mustn't</i> marry her!" he burst out again. "I believe she's +rotten all the way through. You didn't see and hear all last night. She +<i>can't be</i> true! She hasn't it in her! She will be false to you whenever +she takes the whim! She will lead you through hell!"</p> + +<p>"You don't understand. I would <i>go</i> through hell to be with her!"</p> + +<p>Tennelly's words rang through the room like a knell, and Courtland could +say no more. There was silence in the room. Courtland watched his +friend's haggard <a name="Page_293" id="Page_293"></a>face anxiously. There were deep lines of agony about +his mouth and dark circles under his eyes.</p> + +<p>Suddenly Tennelly lifted his hand and laid it on his friend's. "Thanks, +Court. Thanks a lot. I appreciate it all more than you know. But this is +my job. I guess I've got to undertake it! And, <i>man</i>! can't you see I've +<i>got</i> to believe her?"</p> + +<p>"I suppose you have, Nelly. God help you!"</p> + +<p>When Courtland got back to the seminary he found a letter from Mother +Marshall. <a name="Page_294" id="Page_294"></a></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXII" id="CHAPTER_XXXII"></a>CHAPTER XXXII</h2> + + +<p>Courtland opened Mother Marshall's letter with a feeling of relief and +anticipation. Here at least would be a fresh, pure breath of sweetness. +His soul was worn and troubled with the experience of the past two days. +A great loneliness possessed him when he thought of Tennelly, or when he +looked forward to his future, for he truly was convinced that he never +should turn to the love of woman again; and so the dreams of home and +love and little children that had had their normal part in his thoughts +of the future were cut out, and the days stretched forward in one long +round of duty.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><span class="smcap">Dear Paul</span> [it began, familiarly]:</p> + +<p>This is Stephen Marshall's mother and I'm calling you by +your first name because it seems to bring my boy back again +to be writing so familiar-like to one of his comrades.</p> + +<p>We've been wondering, Father and I, since you said you +didn't have any real mother of your own, whether you +mightn't like to come home Christmas to us for a little +while and borrow Stephen's mother. I've got a wonderful +hungering in my heart to hear a little more about my boy's +death. I couldn't have borne it just at first, because it +was all so hard to give him up, and he just beginning to +live his earthly life. But now since I can realize him over +by the Father, I would like to know it all. Bonnie says that +you saw Stephen go, and I thought perhaps you could spare a +little time to run out West and tell me. <a name="Page_295" id="Page_295"></a></p> + +<p>Of course, if you are busy and have other plans you mustn't +let this bother you. I can wait till some time when you are +coming West and can stop over for a day. But if you care to +come home to Mother Marshall and let her play you are her +boy for a little while, you will make us all very happy.</p></div> + +<p>When Courtland had finished reading the letter he put his head down on +his desk and shed the first tears his eyes had known since he was a +little boy. To have a home and mother-heart open to him like that in the +midst of all his sorrow and perplexity fairly unmanned him. By and by he +lifted up his head and wrote a hearty acceptance of the invitation.</p> + +<p>That was in November.</p> + +<p>In the middle of December Tennelly and Gila were married.</p> + +<p>It was not any of Courtland's choosing that he was best man. He shrank +inexpressibly from even attending that wedding. He tried to arrange for +his Western trip so early as to avoid it. Not that he had any more +personal feeling about Gila, but because he dreaded to see his friend +tied up to such a future. It seemed as if the wedding was Tennelly's +funeral.</p> + +<p>But Tennelly had driven up to the seminary on three successive weeks and +begged that Courtland would stand by him.</p> + +<p>"You're the only one in the wide world who knows all about it, and +understands, Court," he pleaded, and Courtland, looking at his friend's +wistful face, feeling, as he did, that Tennelly was entering a living +purgatory, could not refuse him.</p> + +<p>It did not please Gila to have him take that place in the wedding party. +He knew her shame, and she could not trail her wedding robes as +guilelessly before him now, nor lift her imperious little head, with its +<a name="Page_296" id="Page_296"></a>crown of costly blossoms, before the envious world, without realizing +that she was but a whited sepulcher, her little rotten heart all death +beneath the spotless robes. For she was keen enough to know that she was +defiled forever in Courtland's eyes. She might fool Tennelly by pleading +innocence and deceit, but never Courtland. For his eyes had pried into +her very soul that night he had discovered her in sin. She had a feeling +that he and his God were in league against her. No, Gila did not want +Courtland to be Tennelly's best man. But Tennelly had insisted. He had +given in about almost every other thing under heaven, and Gila had had +her way, but he would have Courtland for best man.</p> + +<p>She drooped her long lashes over her lovely cheeks, and trailed her +white robes up a long aisle of white lilies to the steps of the altar; +but when she lifted her miserable eyes in front of the altar she could +not help seeing the face of the man who had discovered her shame. It was +a case of her little naked, sinful soul walking in the Garden again, +with the Voice and the eyes of a God upon it.</p> + +<p>Lovely! Composed! Charming! Exquisite! All these and more they said she +was as she stood before the white-robed priest and went through the +ceremony, repeating, parrot-like, the words: "I, Gila, take thee, +Llewellyn—" But in her heart was wrath and hate, and no more repentance +than a fallen angel feels.</p> + +<p>When at last the agony was over and the bride and groom turned to walk +down the aisle, Gila lifted her pretty lips charmingly to Tennelly for +his kiss, and leaned lovingly upon his arm, smiling saucily at this one +and that as she pranced airily out into her future. Courtland, coming +just behind with the maid of honor, one of Gila's feather-brained +friends, lolling on his <a name="Page_297" id="Page_297"></a>arm, felt that he ought to be inexpressibly +thankful to God that he was only best man in this procession, and not +bridegroom.</p> + +<p>When at last the bride and groom were departed, and Courtland had shaken +off the kind but curious attentions of Bill Ward, who persisted in +thinking that Tennelly had cut him out with Gila, he turned to Pat and +whispered, softly:</p> + +<p>"For the love of Mike, Pat, let's beat it before they start anything +else!"</p> + +<p>Pat, anxious and troubled, heaved a sigh of relief, and hustled his old +friend out under the stars with almost a shout of joy. Nelly was caught +and bound for a season. Poor old Nelly! But Court was free! Thank the +Lord!</p> + +<p>Courtland was almost glad that he went immediately back to hard work +again and should have little time to think. The past few days had +wearied him inexpressibly. He had come to look on life as a passing +show, and to feel almost too utterly left out of any pleasure in it.</p> + +<p>It was a cold, snowy night that Courtland came down to the city and took +the Western express for his holiday.</p> + +<p>There was snow, deep, vast, glistening, when he arrived at Sloan's +Station on the second morning, but the sun was out, and nothing could be +more dazzling than the scene that stretched on every side. They had come +through a blizzard and left it traveling eastward at a rapid rate.</p> + +<p>Courtland was surprised to find Father Marshall waiting for him on the +platform, in a great buffalo-skin overcoat, beaver cap, and gloves. He +carried a duplicate coat which he offered to Courtland as soon as the +greetings were over.</p> + +<p>"Here, put this on; you'll need it," he said, heartily, <a name="Page_298" id="Page_298"></a>holding out the +coat. "It was Steve's. I guess it'll fit you. Mother and Bonnie's over +here, waiting. They couldn't stand it without coming along. I guess you +won't mind the ride, will you, after them stuffy cars? It's a beauty +day!"</p> + +<p>And there were Mother Marshall and Bonnie, swathed to the chin in rugs +and shawls and furs, looking like two red-cheeked cherubs!</p> + +<p>Bonnie was wearing a soft wool cap and scarf of knitted gray and white. +Her cheeks glowed like roses; her eyes were two stars for brightness. +Her gold hair rippled out beneath the cap and caught the sunshine all +around her face.</p> + +<p>Courtland stood still and gazed at her in wonder and admiration. Was +this the sad, pale girl he had sent West to save her life? Why, she was +a beauty, and she looked as if she had never been ill in her life! He +could scarcely bear to take his eyes from her face long enough to get +into the front seat with Father Marshall.</p> + +<p>As for Mother Marshall, nothing could be more satisfactory than the way +she looked like her picture, with those calm, peaceful eyes and that +tendency to a dimple in her cheek where a smile would naturally come. +Apple-cheeked, silver-haired, and plump. She was just ideal!</p> + +<p>That was a gay ride they had, all talking and laughing excitedly in +their happiness at being together. It was so good to Mother Marshall to +see another pair of strong young shoulders there beside Father on the +front seat again!</p> + +<p>It was Mother Marshall who took him up to Stephen's room herself when +they reached the nice old rambling farm-house set in the wide, white, +snowy landscape. Father Marshall had taken the car to the barn, and +Bonnie was hurrying the dinner on the table. <a name="Page_299" id="Page_299"></a></p> + +<p>Courtland entered the room as if it had been a sacred place, and looked +around on the plain comfort: the home-made rugs, the fat, worsted +pincushion, the quaint old pictures on the walls, the bookcase with its +rows of books; the big white bed with its quilted counterpane of +delicate needlework, the neat marble-topped washstand with its speckless +appointments and its wealth of large old-fashioned towels.</p> + +<p>"It isn't very fancy," said Mother Marshall, deprecatingly. "We fixed up +Bonnie's room as modern as we could when we knew she was coming"—she +waved an indicating hand toward the open door across the hall, where the +rosy glow of pink curtains and cherry-blossomed wall gave forth a +pleasant sense of light and joy—"and we had meant to fix this all over +for Steve the first Christmas when he came home, as a surprise; but now +that he has gone we sort of wanted to keep it just as he left it."</p> + +<p>"It is great!" said Courtland, simply. "I like it just like this. Don't +you? It is fine of you to put me in it. I feel as if it was almost a +desecration, because, you see, I didn't know him very well; I wasn't the +friend to him I might have been. I thought I ought to tell you that +right at the start. Perhaps you wouldn't want me if you knew all about +it."</p> + +<p>"You would have been his friend if you had had a chance to know him," +beamed the brave little mother. "He was a real brave boy always!"</p> + +<p>"He sure was!" said Courtland, deeply stirred. "But I did get to know +what a man he was. I saw him die, you know! But it was too late then!"</p> + +<p>"It is never too late!" said Mother Marshall, brushing away a bright +tear. "There is heaven, you know!"</p> + +<p>"Why, surely there is heaven! I hadn't thought of that! Won't that be +great?" Courtland spoke the <a name="Page_300" id="Page_300"></a>words reverently. It came to him gladly +that he might make up in heaven for many things lost down here. He had +never thought of that before.</p> + +<p>"I wonder if you would mind," said Mother Marshall, wistfully, "if I was +to kiss you, the way I used to do Steve when he'd been away?"</p> + +<p>"I would mind very much," said Courtland, setting his suit-case down +suddenly and taking the plump little mother reverently into his big +arms. "It would be <i>great</i>, Mother Marshall," and he kissed her twice.</p> + +<p>Mother Marshall reached her short little arms up around his neck and +laid her gray head for just a minute on the tall shoulder, while a tear +hurried down and fitted itself invisibly into her dimple; then she ran +her fingers through his thick brown hair and patted his cheek.</p> + +<p>"Dear boy!" she breathed, contentedly, but suddenly roused herself. +"Here I'm keeping you, and that dinner'll spoil! Wash your hands and +come down quick! Bonnie will have everything ready!"</p> + +<p>Courtland first realized the deep, happy, spiritual life of the home +when he came down to the dining-room and Father Marshall bowed his head +to ask a blessing. Strange as it may seem, it was the first time in his +life that he had ever sat at a home table where a blessing was asked +upon the food. They had the custom in the seminary, of course, but it +was observed perfunctorily, the men taking it by turns. It had never +seemed the holy recognition of the Presence of the Master, as Father +Marshall made it seem.</p> + +<p>There was Bonnie, like a daughter of the house, getting up for a second +pitcher of cream, running to the kitchen for more gravy. It was so ideal +that Courtland felt like throwing his napkin up in the air and +cheering. <a name="Page_301" id="Page_301"></a></p> + +<p>It was all arranged by Mother Marshall that Bonnie and he should go to +the woods after dinner for greens and a Christmas tree. Bonnie looked at +Courtland almost apologetically, wondering if he were too tired for a +strenuous expedition like that.</p> + +<p>No. Courtland was not tired. He had never been so rested in his life. He +felt like hugging Mother Marshall for getting up the plan, for he could +see Bonnie never would have proposed it, she was too shy. He donned a +pair of Stephen's old leather leggings and a sweater, shouldered the ax +quite as if he had ever carried one before, and they started.</p> + +<p>He thought he never had seen anything quite so lovely as Bonnie in that +fuzzy little woolen cap, with the sunshine of her hair straying out and +the fine glow in her beautiful face. He knew he had never heard music +half so sweet as Bonnie's laugh as it rang through the woods when she +saw a squirrel sitting on a high limb scolding at their intrusion. He +never thought of Gila once the whole afternoon, nor even brought to mind +his lost ideals of womanhood.</p> + +<p>They found a tree just to their liking. Bonnie had it all picked out +weeks beforehand, but she did not tell him so, and he thought he had +discovered it for himself. They cut masses of laurel, and ground-pine, +and strung them on twine. They dragged the tree and greens home through +the snow, laughing and struggling with their fragrant burden, getting +wonderfully well acquainted, so that at the very door-step they had to +lay down their greens and have a snow-fight, with Father and Mother +Marshall standing delightedly at the kitchen window, watching them. +Mother's cheek was pressed softly against the old gray hat. She was +thinking how Stephen would have liked to be here with them; how glad he +would be if he could hear the happy <a name="Page_302" id="Page_302"></a>shouts of young people ringing +around the lonely old house again!</p> + +<p>They set the tree up in the big parlor, and made a great log fire on the +hearth to give good cheer—for the house was warm as a pocket without +it. They colored and strung popcorn, gilded walnuts, cut silver-paper +stars and chains for the tree, and hung strings of cranberries, +bright-red apples, and oranges between. They trimmed the house from top +to bottom, even twining ground-pine on the stair rail.</p> + +<p>Those were the speediest two weeks that Courtland ever spent in his +life. He had thought to remain with the Marshalls perhaps three or four +days, but instead of that he delayed till the very last train that would +get him back to the seminary in time for work, and missed two classes at +that. For he had never had a comrade like Bonnie; and he knew, from the +first day almost, that he had never known a love like the love that +flamed up in his soul for this sweet, strong-spirited girl. The old +house rang with their laughter from morning to night as they chased each +other up-stairs and down, like two children. Hours they spent taking +long tramps through the woods or over the country roads; more hours they +spent reading aloud to each other, or rather, most of the time Bonnie +reading and Courtland devouring her lovely face with his eyes from +behind a sheltering hand, watching every varying expression, noting the +straight, delicate brows, the beautiful eyes filled with holy things as +they lifted now and then in the reading; marveling over the sweetness of +the voice.</p> + +<p>The second day of his visit Courtland had made an errand with Bonnie to +town to send off several telegrams. As a result a lot of things arrived +for him the day before Christmas, marked "Rush!" They were <a name="Page_303" id="Page_303"></a>smuggled +into the parlor, behind the Christmas tree, with great secrecy after +dark by Bonnie and Courtland; and covered with the buffalo robes from +the car till morning. There was a big leather chair with air-cushions +for Father Marshall; its mate in lady's size for Mother; a set of +encyclopedias that he had heard Father say he wished he had; a lot of +silver forks and spoons for Mother, who had apologized for the silver +being rubbed off of some of hers. There were two sets of books in +wonderful leather bindings that he had heard Bonnie say she longed to +read, and there was the tiniest little gold watch, about which he had +been in terrible doubt ever since he had sent for it. Suppose Bonnie +should think it wrong to accept it when she had known him so short a +time! How was he going to make her see that it was all right? He +couldn't tell her she was a sort of a sister of his, for he didn't want +her for a sister. He puzzled over that question whenever he had time, +which wasn't often, because he was so busy and so happy every minute.</p> + +<p>Then there were great five-pound boxes of chocolates, glacéd nuts and +bonbons, and a crate of foreign fruits, with nuts, raisins, figs, and +dates. There was a long, deep box from the nearest city filled with the +most wonderful hothouse blossoms: roses, lilies, sweet peas, violets, +gardenias, and even orchids. Courtland had never enjoyed spending money +so much in all his life. He only wished he could get back to the city +for a couple of hours and buy a lot more things.</p> + +<p>To paint the picture of Mother Marshall when she sat on her new +air-cushions and counted her spoons and forks—real silver forks beyond +all her dreamings!—to show Father Marshall, as he wiped his spectacles +and bent, beaming, over the encyclopedias or rested his gray head back +against the cushions! Ah! That <a name="Page_304" id="Page_304"></a>would be the work of an artist who could +catch the glory that shines deeper than faces and reaches souls! As for +Courtland, he was too much taken up watching Bonnie's face when she +opened her books, looking deep into her eyes as she looked up from the +little velvet case where the watch ticked softly into her wondering +ears; seeing the breathlessness with which she lifted the flowers from +their bed among the ferns and placed them reverently in jars and +pitchers around the room.</p> + +<p>It was a wonderful Christmas! The first real Christmas Courtland had +ever known. Sitting in the dim firelight between dusk and darkness, +watching Bonnie at the piano, listening to the tender Christmas music +she was playing, joining his sweet tenor in with her clear soprano now +and then, Courtland suddenly thought of Tennelly, off at Palm Beach, +doing the correct thing in wedding trips with Gila. Poor Tennelly! How +little he would be getting of the real joy of Christmas! How little he +would understand the wonderful peace that settled down in the heart of +his friend when, later, they all knelt in the firelight, and Father +Marshall prayed, as if he were talking to One who stood there close +beside him, whose companionship had been a life experience.</p> + +<p>There were so many pictures that Courtland had to carry back with him to +the seminary. Bonnie in the kitchen, with a long-sleeved, high-necked +gingham apron on, frying doughnuts or baking waffles. Bonnie at the +organ on Sunday in the little church in town, or sitting in a corner of +the Sunday-school room surrounded by her seventeen boys, with her Bible +open on her lap and in her face the light of heaven while the boys +watched and listened, too intent to know that they were doing it. Bonnie +throwing snowballs from behind the snow fort he built her. Bonnie with +the <a name="Page_305" id="Page_305"></a>wonderful mystery upon her when they talked about the little watch +and whether she might keep it. Bonnie in her window-seat with one of the +books he had given her, the morning he started to go out with Father +Marshall and see what was the matter with the automobile, and then came +back to his room unexpectedly after his knife and caught a glimpse of +her through the open door.</p> + +<p>And that last one on the platform of Sloan's Station, waving him a +smiling good-by!</p> + +<p>Courtland had torn himself away at last, with a promise that he would +return the minute his work was over, and with the consolation that +Bonnie was going to write to him. They had arranged to pursue a course +of study together. The future opened up rosily before him. How was it +that skies had ever looked dark, that he had thought his ideals +vanished, and womanhood a lost art when the world held this one pearl of +a girl? Bonnie! Rose Bonnie! <a name="Page_306" id="Page_306"></a></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXIII" id="CHAPTER_XXXIII"></a>CHAPTER XXXIII</h2> + + +<p>The rest of the winter sped away quickly. Courtland was very happy. Pat +looked at him enviously sometimes, yet he was content to have it so. His +old friend had not quite so much time to spend with him, but when he +came for a walk and a talk it was with a heartiness that satisfied. Pat +had long ago discovered that there was a girl at Stephen Marshall's old +home, and he sat wisely quiet and rejoiced. What kind of a girl he could +only imagine from Courtland's rapt look when he received a letter, and +from the exquisite photograph that presently took its place on +Courtland's desk. He hoped to have opportunity to judge more accurately +when the summer came, for Mother Marshall had invited Pat to come out +with Courtland in the spring and spend a week, and Pat was going. Pat +had something to confess to Mother Marshall.</p> + +<p>Courtland went out twice that summer, once for a week as soon as his +classes were over. It was then that Bonnie promised to marry him.</p> + +<p>Mother Marshall had a lot of sense and took a great liking to Pat. One +day she took him up in Stephen's room and told him all about Stephen's +boyhood. Pat, great big, baby giant that he was, knelt down beside her +chair, put his face in her lap, and blurted out the tale of how he had +led the mob against Stephen and been indirectly the cause of his death.</p> + +<p>Mother Marshall heard him through with tears of <a name="Page_307" id="Page_307"></a>compassion running down +her cheeks. It was not quite news to her, for Courtland had told her +something of the tale, without any names, when he had confessed that he +held the garments of those who did the persecuting.</p> + +<p>"There, there!" said Mother Marshall, patting the big fellow's dark +head. "You never knew what you were doing, laddie! My Steve always +wanted a chance to prove that he was brave. When he was just a little +fellow and read about the martyrs, he used to say: 'Would I have that +much nerve, mother? A fellow never can <i>tell</i> till he's been <i>tested</i>!' +And so I'm not sorry he had his chance to stand up before you all for +what he thought was right. Did you see my boy's face, too, when he +died?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Pat, lifting his head earnestly. "I'd just picked up a +little kid he sent up to the fire-escape, and saw his face all lit up by +the fire. It looked like the face of an angel! Then I saw him lift up +his hands and look up like he saw somebody above, and he called out +something with a sort of smile, as if he was saying he'd be up there +pretty soon! And then—he fell!"</p> + +<p>The tears were raining down Mother Marshall's cheeks by now, but there +was a smile of triumph in her eyes.</p> + +<p>"He wanted to be a missionary, my Stephen did, only he was afraid he +wouldn't be able to preach. He always was shy before folks. But I guess +he preached his sermon!" She sighed contentedly.</p> + +<p>"He sure did!" said Pat. "I never forgot that look on his face, nor the +way he took our roughneck insults. None of the fellows did. It made a +big impression on us all. And when Court began to change, came out +straight and said he believed in Christ, and all that, it knocked the +tar out of us all. Stephen hasn't got done preaching yet. You ought to +hear Court tell the story of his death. It bowled me over when I <a name="Page_308" id="Page_308"></a>heard +it, and everywhere he tells it men believe! Wherever Paul Courtland +tells that story Stephen Marshall will be preaching."</p> + +<p>Mother Marshall stooped over and kissed Pat's astonished forehead. "You +have made me a proud and happy mother to-day, laddie! I'm glad you +came."</p> + +<p>Pat, suddenly conscious of himself, stumbled, blushing, to his feet. +"Thanks, Mother! It's been great! Believe me, I sha'n't ever forget it. +It's been like looking into heaven for this poor bum. If I'd had a home +like this I might have stood some chance of being like your Steve, +instead of just a roughneck athlete."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I know," smiled Mother Marshall. "A dear, splendid roughneck, +doing a big work with the boys! Paul has told me all about it. You're +preaching a lot of sermons yourself, you know, and going to preach some +more. Now shall we go down? It's time for evening prayers."</p> + +<p>So Pat put his strong arm around Mother Marshall's plump waist, drew one +of her hands in his, and together they walked down to the parlor, where +Bonnie was already playing "Rock of Ages." It seemed to Pat the kingdom +of heaven could be no sweeter, for this was the kingdom come on earth. +When he and Courtland were up-stairs in their room, and all the house +quiet for the night, Pat spoke:</p> + +<p>"I've sized it up this way, Court. There ain't any dying! That's only an +imaginary line like the equator on the map. It's heaven or hell, both +now and hereafter! We can begin heaven right now if we want to, and live +it on through; and that's what these folks have done. You don't hear +them sitting here fighting like the professors used to do, about whether +there's a heaven or a hell! They know there's both. They're living in +one and pulling folks out of the other, hard as they can; <a name="Page_309" id="Page_309"></a>and they're +too blamed busy, following out the Bible and seeing it prove itself, to +listen to all the twaddle to prove that it ain't so! I sure am darned +glad you gave me the tip and I got a chance to get in on this little old +game, for it's the best game I know, and the best part about it is it +lasts forever!"</p> + +<p>Tennelly was away all that summer, doing the fashionable summer resorts +and taking a California trip. The next winter he spent in Washington. +Uncle Ramsey had him at work, and Courtland ran on him in his office +once, when he took a hurried trip down to see what he could do for the +eight-hour bill. Tennelly looked grave and sad. He was touchingly glad +to see Courtland. They did not speak of Gila once, but when Courtland +lay in his sleepless sleeper on the return trip that night Tennelly's +face haunted him, the wistfulness in it.</p> + +<p>A few months later Tennelly wrote a brief note announcing the birth of a +daughter, named Doris Ramsey after his grandmother. The tone of his +letter seemed more cheerful.</p> + +<p>Courtland was so happy that winter he could scarcely contain himself. +Pat had great times kidding him about the Western mail. Courtland was +supplying a vacant church down in the old factory district in the city, +and Pat often went along. On one of these Sunday afternoons late in the +spring they were walking down a street they did not often take, and +suddenly Courtland stopped with an exclamation of dismay and looked up +at a great blaring sign wired on a big old-fashioned church:</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">CHURCH OF GOD</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3.5em;">FOR SALE</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>was the startling statement. <a name="Page_310" id="Page_310"></a></p> + +<p>Pat looked up at the sign and then at Courtland's face, figuring out, as +he usually could, what was the matter with Court.</p> + +<p>"Gosh! That's darned tough luck!" he said, sympathetically.</p> + +<p>"It's terrible!" said Courtland.</p> + +<p>"H'm!" said Pat, again. "Whose fault do you s'pose it is? Not God's. +Somebody fell down on his job, I reckon! Congregation gone to the devil, +very likely!"</p> + +<p>"Wait!" said Courtland, gravely. "I must find out."</p> + +<p>He stepped into a little cigar-store and asked some questions. "You were +right, Pat," he said, when he came out. "The congregation has gone to +the devil. They have moved up into the more fashionable part of town, +and the church is for sale. There's only one member of the old church +left down here. I'm going around to see him. Pat, that sign mustn't stay +up there! It's a disgrace to God."</p> + +<p>"What could you do about it?" Pat was puzzled.</p> + +<p>"Do about it? Why, man, I can buy it if there isn't any other way!"</p> + +<p>They went to see the church member, who proved to be a good old soul, +but deaf and old and very poor. He said they had to give the church up; +they couldn't make it pay. All the rich people had moved away. He shook +his head sadly and told how he and his wife were married there. He +hobbled over and showed them how to get in a side door.</p> + +<p>The yellow afternoon sun was sifting through windows of cheap stained +glass, and fell in mellow quiet upon the faded cushions and musty +ingrain carpet. The place had that deserted look of having been +abandoned, yet Courtland, as he stood in the shadow under the old +balcony, seemed to see the Presence of the eternal God standing up there +behind the pulpit, seemed to <a name="Page_311" id="Page_311"></a>feel the hallowed memories of long ago, +and scent the lingering incense of all the prayers that had gone up from +all the souls who had worshiped there in the years that were past.</p> + +<p>"They think an iron-foundry's going to buy it, or else some one may make +a munition-factory out of it," the old man contributed. "This war's +bringing a big change over things."</p> + +<p>"Their plowshares into swords, their pruning-hooks into spears," chanted +an unseen voice, sadly, behind Courtland. His face set sternly. He +turned to Pat:</p> + +<p>"I can't let that happen, old man!" he said. "I'm going to buy it if I +can. Come, we'll go and look it up!"</p> + +<p>Pat looked at his companion with awe. He had always known he was rich, +but—to purchase a church as if it were a jack-knife! That sure was +going some!</p> + +<p>Courtland did not return to the seminary until Tuesday morning. By that +time he had bought his church. It didn't take him long to come to an +agreement. The Church of God was in a bad way and was willing to take up +with almost any offer that would cover their liabilities.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Pat, "that sure was some hustle! There's one thing, Court. +You won't have to candidate for any church like those other guys in your +little old seminary. You just went out and bought one; though I surmise +you and I'll have to do some scrubbing if you calculate to hold services +there very soon."</p> + +<p>"H'm!" said Courtland. "I hadn't thought of that, Pat! Maybe that would +be a good idea!"</p> + +<p>"Holy Mackinaw, man! What did you buy it for, then, if you didn't intend +to use it? Do it just to have the right to tear down that blooming sign, +did you?"</p> + +<p>"That's about the size of it," smiled Courtland as <a name="Page_312" id="Page_312"></a>he halted in front +of his newly acquired church and looked up at it with interest. "But now +I've got it I might as well use it. Suppose we start a mission here, +Pat, you and I? Let's cut that sign down first, and then, Pat, I'm going +to hunt up a stone-cutter. This church has got to have a new name. +'Church of God for sale' has killed this one! A church that used to +belong to God and doesn't any more is what that means. They have sold +the Church of God, but His Presence is still here!"</p> + +<p>A few weeks later, when the two came down to look things over, the +granite arch over the old front doors bore the inscription in letters of +stone:</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">CHURCH OF THE PRESENCE OF GOD</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>Courtland stood looking for a moment, and then he turned to Pat eagerly. +"I'm going to get possession of the whole block if I can; maybe the +opposite one, too, for a park, and you've got to be physical director! +I'll turn the kids and the older boys over to you, old man!"</p> + +<p>Pat's eyes were full of tears. He had to turn away to hide them. "You're +a darned old dreamer!" he said, in a choking voice.</p> + +<p>So the rejuvenation of the old church went on from week to week. The men +at the seminary grew curious as to what took Pat and Courtland to the +city so much. Was it a girl? It finally got around that Courtland had a +rich and aristocratic church in view, and was soon to be married to the +daughter of one of its prominent members. But when they began to +congratulate him, Courtland grinned.</p> + +<p>"When I preach my first sermon you may all come down and see," he +replied, and that was all they could get out of him. <a name="Page_313" id="Page_313"></a></p> + +<p>Courtland found that a lot had to be done to that church. Plaster was +falling off in places, the pews were getting rickety. The pulpit needed +doing over, and the floor had to be recarpeted. But it was wonderful +what a difference it all made when it was done. Soft greens and browns +replaced the faded red. The carpet was thick and soft, the cushions +matched. Bonnie had given careful suggestions about it all.</p> + +<p>"You could have got along without cushions, you know," said Pat, +frugally, as he seated himself in appreciative comfort.</p> + +<p>"I know," said Courtland, "but I want this to look like a <i>church</i>! Some +day when we get the rest of the block and can tear down the buildings +and have a little sunlight and air, we'll have some <i>real windows</i> with +wonderful gospel stories on them, but these will do for now. There's got +to be a pipe-organ some day, and Bonnie will play it!"</p> + +<p>Pat always glowed when Courtland spoke of Bonnie. He never had ceased to +be thankful that Courtland escaped from Gila's machinations. But that +very afternoon, as Courtland was preparing to hurry to the train, there +came a note from Pat, who had gone ahead, on an errand:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><span class="smcap">Dear Court</span>,—Tennelly's in trouble. He's up at his +old rooms. He wants you. I'll wait for you down in the +office.</p></div> + +<div> +<span style="margin-left: 22em;">P</span><span class="smcap">at</span>.<br /> +</div><p><a name="Page_314" id="Page_314"></a></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXIV" id="CHAPTER_XXXIV"></a>CHAPTER XXXIV</h2> + + +<p>Tennelly was pacing up and down the room. His face was white, his eyes +were wild. He had the haggard look of one who has come through a long +series of harrowing experiences up to the supreme torture where there is +nothing worse that can happen.</p> + +<p>Courtland's knock brought him at once to the door. With both hands they +gave the fellowship grip that had meant so much to each in college.</p> + +<p>A moment they stood so, looking into each other's eyes, Courtland, +wondering, startled, questioning. It was Gila, of course! Nothing else +could reach the man's soul and make him look like that! But what had +happened? Not death! No, not even death could bring that look of shame +and degradation to his high-minded friend's eyes.</p> + +<p>As if Tennelly had read his question he spoke in a voice so husky with +emotion that his words were scarcely audible: "Didn't Pat tell you?"</p> + +<p>Courtland shook his head.</p> + +<p>Tennelly's head went down, as if he were waiting for courage to speak. +Then, huskily: "She's gone, Court!"</p> + +<p>"Gone?"</p> + +<p>"Left me, Court! She sailed at daybreak for Italy with another man."</p> + +<p>Tennelly fumbled in his pocket and brought out a <a name="Page_315" id="Page_315"></a>crumpled note, +blistered with tears. "Read it!" he muttered, and turned away to the +window.</p> + +<p>Courtland read:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><span class="smcap">Dear Lew</span>,—I'm sure when you come to your senses +and get over some of your narrow ideas you'll be as much +relieved as I am over what I've decided to do. You and I +never were fitted for each other, and I can't stand this +life another day. I'm simply perishing! It's up to me to do +something, for I know, with your strait-laced notions, you +never will! So when you read this I shall be out of reach, +on my way to Italy with Count von Bremen. They say there's +going to be war in this country, anyway, and I hate such +things, so I had to get out of it. You won't have any +trouble in getting a divorce, and you'll soon be glad I did +it.</p> + +<p>As for the kid, if she lives she's much better off with you +than with me, for you know I never could stand children; +they get on my nerves. And, anyhow, I never could be all the +things you tried to make me, and it's better in the end this +way. So good-by, and don't try to come after me. I won't +come back, no matter what you do, for I'm bored to death +with the last two years and I've got to see some life!</p></div> + +<div> +<span style="margin-left: 28em;">G</span><span class="smcap">ila</span><br /> +</div> + +<p>Courtland read the flippant little note twice before he trusted himself +to speak, and then he walked over to the window, slowly smoothing and +folding the crumpled paper. A baby's cry in the next room pierced the +air, and the father gripped the window-seat and quivered as if a bullet +had struck him.</p> + +<p>Courtland put his hand lovingly within his friend's arm: "Nelly, old +fellow," he said, "you know that I feel with you—"</p> + +<p>"I know, Court!" with a weary sigh. "That's why I sent for you. I had to +have you, somehow!"</p> + +<p>"Nelly! There aren't any words made delicate enough to handle this thing +without hurting. It's raw <a name="Page_316" id="Page_316"></a>flesh and full of nerves. There's just One +can do anything here! I wish you believed in God!"</p> + +<p>"I do!" said Tennelly, in a dreary tone.</p> + +<p>"He can come near you and give you strength to bear it. I know, for He +did it for me once!"</p> + +<p>Courtland felt as if his words were falling on deaf ears, but Tennelly, +after a pause, asked, bitterly:</p> + +<p>"Why did He do this to me, if He's what you say He is?"</p> + +<p>"I'm not sure that He did, old man! I think perhaps you and I had a hand +in it!"</p> + +<p>Tennelly looked at him keenly for an instant and turned away, silent. "I +know what you mean," he said. "You told me I'd go through hell, and I +have. I knew it in a way myself, but I'm afraid I'd do it again! I loved +her! God! I'm afraid—I <i>love her yet</i>! Man! You don't know what an ache +such love is."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I do," said Courtland, with a sudden light in his face, but +Tennelly was not heeding him.</p> + +<p>"It isn't entirely that I've lost her; that I've got to give up hoping +that she'll some time care and settle down to knowing she is gone +forever! It's the way she went! The—the—the <i>disgrace</i>! The +humiliation! The awfulness of the way she went! We've never had anything +like that in our family. And to think my baby has got to grow up to know +that shame! To know that her mother was a disgraceful woman! That I gave +her a mother like that!"</p> + +<p>"Now, look here, Tennelly! You didn't know! You thought she would be all +right when you were married!"</p> + +<p>"But I <i>did know</i>!" wailed Tennelly. "I knew in my soul! I think I knew +when I first saw her, and that was why I worried about you when you used +to go and see her. I knew she wasn't the woman for you. But, blamed fool +that I was! I thought I was more of a <a name="Page_317" id="Page_317"></a>man of the world, and would be +able to hold her! No, I didn't, either, for I knew it was like trying to +enjoy a sound sleep in a powder-magazine with a pocketful of matches, to +trust my love to her! But I did it, anyway! I dared trouble! And my +little child has got to suffer for it!"</p> + +<p>"Your little child will perhaps be better for it!"</p> + +<p>"I can't see it that way!"</p> + +<p>"You don't have to. If God does, isn't that enough?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know! I can't see God now; it's too dark!" Tennelly put his +forehead against the window-pane and groaned.</p> + +<p>"But you have your little child," said Courtland, hesitating. "Isn't +that something to help?"</p> + +<p>"She breaks my heart," said the father. "To think of her worse than +motherless! That little bit of a helpless thing! And it's my fault that +she's here with a future of shame!"</p> + +<p>"Nothing of the sort! It'll be your fault if she has a future of shame, +but it's up to you. Her mother's shame can't hurt her if you bring her +up right. It's your job, and you can get a lot of comfort out of it if +you try!"</p> + +<p>"I don't see how," dully.</p> + +<p>"Listen, Tennelly. Does she look like her mother?"</p> + +<p>Tennelly's sensitive face quivered with pain. "Yes," he said, huskily. +"I'll send for her and you can see." He rang a bell. "I brought her and +the nurse up to town with me this morning."</p> + +<p>An elderly, kind-faced woman brought the baby in, laid it in a big chair +where they could see it, and then withdrew.</p> + +<p>Courtland drew near, half shyly, and looked in startled wonder. The baby +was strikingly like Gila, with all her grace, delicate features, wide +innocent <a name="Page_318" id="Page_318"></a>eyes. The sweep of the long lashes on the little white cheeks, +that were all too white for baby flesh, seemed old and weird in the tiny +face. Yet when the baby looked up and recognized its father it crowed +and smiled, and the smile was wide and frank and lovable, like +Tennelly's. There was nothing artificial about it. Courtland drew a long +sigh of relief. For the moment he had been looking at the baby as if it +were Gila grown small again; now he suddenly realized it was a new +little soul with a life and a spirit of its own.</p> + +<p>"She will be a blessing to you, Nelly," he said, looking up hopefully.</p> + +<p>"I don't see it that way!" said the hopeless father, shaking his head.</p> + +<p>"Would you rather have her—taken away—as her mother suggested?" he +hazarded, suddenly.</p> + +<p>Tennelly gave him one quick, startled look. "God! No!" he said, and +staggered back into a chair. "Do you think she looks so sick as that? I +know she's not well. I know she's lost flesh! But she's been neglected. +Gila never cared for her and wouldn't be bothered looking after things. +She was angry because the baby came at all. She resented motherhood +because it put a limitation on her pleasures. My poor little girl!"</p> + +<p>Tennelly dropped upon his knees beside the baby and buried his face in +its soft little neck.</p> + +<p>The baby swept its dark lashes down with the old Gila trick, and looked +with a puzzled frown at the dark head so close to her face. Then she put +up her little hand and moved it over her father's hair with an awkward +attempt at comfort. The great big being with his head in her neck was in +trouble, and she was vaguely sympathetic.</p> + +<p>A wave of pity swept over Courtland. He dropped upon his knees beside +his friend and spoke aloud: <a name="Page_319" id="Page_319"></a></p> + +<p>"O Lord God, come near and let my friend feel Thy Presence now in his +terrible distress. Somehow speak peace to his soul and help him to know +Thee, for Thou art the only One that can help him. Help him to tell Thee +all his heart's bitterness now, alone with Thee and his little child, +and find relief."</p> + +<p>Softly Courtland arose and slipped from the room, leaving them alone +with the Presence.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Gila had been gone two months when the day was finally set for Bonnie's +wedding.</p> + +<p>There had been consultations long and many over what to do about telling +Tennelly, for even Bonnie saw that the event could not but be painful to +him, coming as it did on the heels of his own deep trouble. And Tennelly +had long been Courtland's best friend; at least until Pat grew so close +as to share that privilege with him. It was finally decided that +Courtland should tell Tennelly about the approaching wedding at his +first opportunity.</p> + +<p>Bonnie had long ago heard all about Gila, been through the bitter throes +of jealousy, and come out clear and trusting, with the whole thing +sanely and happily relegated to that place where all such troubles go +from the hearts of those who truly love each other and know there never +could be any one else in the universe who could take the place of the +beloved.</p> + +<p>Courtland had been preaching in the Church of the Presence of God for +four Sabbaths now, and the congregation had been growing steadily. There +had not been much advertising. He had told a few friends in the +factories near by that there was to be service. He had put up a notice +on the door saying that the church would be open for worship regularly +and every one was welcome. He did not wish to force anything. He was +<a name="Page_320" id="Page_320"></a>following the leading of the Spirit. If God really meant this work for +him, He would show him.</p> + +<p>Courtland's preaching was not of the usual cut-and-dried order of the +young theologue. His theology had been studied to help him to understand +his God and his Bible, not to give him a set of rules for preaching. So +when he stood up in the pulpit it was not to follow any conventional +order of service, or to try to imitate the great preachers he had heard, +but to give the people who came something that would help them to live +during the week and enable them to realize the Presence of Christ in +their daily lives.</p> + +<p>The men at the seminary got wind of it somehow, and came down by twos +and threes, and finally dozens, as they could get away from their own +preaching, to see what the dickens that close-mouthed Courtland was +doing, and went away thoughtful. It was not what they had expected of +their brilliant classmate, ministering to these common working-people +right in the neighborhood where they lived and worked.</p> + +<p>At first they did not understand how he came to be in that church, and +asked what denomination it was, anyway. Courtland said he really didn't +know what it had been, but that he hoped it was the denomination of +Jesus Christ now.</p> + +<p>"But whose church is it?" they asked.</p> + +<p>"Mine," he said, simply.</p> + +<p>Then they turned to Pat for explanation.</p> + +<p>"That's straight," said Pat. "He bought it."</p> + +<p>"<i>Bought</i> it! Oh!" They were silenced. Not one of them could have bought +a church, and wouldn't have if they could. They would have bought a good +mansion for themselves against their retiring-day. Few of them +understood it. Only the man who was going to darkest Africa to work in +the jungles, and a couple who <a name="Page_321" id="Page_321"></a>were bound, one for the leper country, +and another for China, had a light of understanding in their eyes, and +gripped Courtland's hand with reverence and ecstatic awe.</p> + +<p>"But, man alive!" lingered one, unwilling to leave his brilliant friend +in such a hopeless hole. "Don't you realize if you don't hitch on to +some denomination, or board of trustees, or something, your work won't +count in the long run? Who's to carry on your work and keep up your name +and what you have done, after you are gone? You're foolish!" He had just +received a flattering call to a city church himself, and he knew he was +not half so well fitted for it as Courtland.</p> + +<p>But Courtland flung up his hat in a boyish way and laughed. "I should +worry about my name after I am gone," he said. "And as for the work, +it's for me to do, isn't it? Not for me to arrange for after I'm dead. +If my heavenly Father wants it to keep up after I'm gone He'll manage to +find a way, won't He? My job is to look after it while I'm here. Perhaps +it won't be needed any longer after I'm gone. God sent me here to buy +His church when it was for sale, didn't He? Well, then, if it is for +sale again he'll find somebody else to buy it, unless He is done with +it. The New Jerusalem may be here by that time and we won't have to have +any churches. God Himself shall be the tabernacle! So you see I'm just +going on running my own little old church the best I can with what God +gives me, and I won't trouble any boards at present, not so long as I +have money enough to keep the wheels moving."</p> + +<p>They went away then with doubtful looks, and Courtland heard one say to +another, shaking his head in a dubious way:</p> + +<p>"I don't like it. It's all very irregular!"</p> + +<p>And the other replied: "Yes! It's a pity about him!<a name="Page_322" id="Page_322"></a> He might have done +something big if he hadn't been so impractical!"</p> + +<p>"The poor stews!" said Pat, dryly, looking after them. "They haven't got +religion enough to carry them over till next week, the most of them, and +what they'll do when they really see what kind the Lord is I can't +guess! I wonder what they think that rich young man that Jesus loved +would have been like, anyway, if he hadn't gone away sorrowful and kept +his vast possessions. Cut it out, Pat! You're letting the devil in again +and getting censorious! Just shut your mouth and saw wood! They'll find +out some little old day in the morning, I guess."</p> + +<p>Courtland wrote it all to Bonnie, all the happenings at seminary and +church, what the theologues had said about his being impractical and +irregular, and Bonnie, with a tender smile, leaned down and kissed the +words in the letter, and murmured, "Dear impractical beloved!" all +softly to herself.</p> + +<p>For Bonnie was very happy. The possession of great wealth that would +have to be spent in the usual way, surrounded by social distinction, +attended by functions and society duties, would have been an +inexpressible burden to her. But money to be used without limit in +helping other people was a miracle of joy. To think that it should have +come to her!</p> + +<p>Yet there was something greater than the money and the new interests +that were opening up before her, and that was the wonder of the man who +had chosen her to be his wife. That such a prince among men, such a +friend of God, should have passed by others of rank, of beauty and +attainments far greater than hers, and come away out West to take her, +fairly overwhelmed her with wonder when she had time to think about it. +For she was as busy as she was happy in <a name="Page_323" id="Page_323"></a>these days. There was her +school work, her music, the little home duties, all she could make +Mother Marshall leave for her; the beautiful sewing she was doing on her +simple bridal garments; and stealing time from all to write the most +wonderful letters to the insatiable lover in the East.</p> + +<p>Softly Bonnie went through these days, tender, happy, blithe as a bird; +a song on her lips whenever she went about the house; a caress in her +very touch for the dear old people who had been father and mother to her +in her loneliness; realizing only vaguely what it was going to be to +them when she was gone and they were all alone again. For her heart was +so full of her own joy she could not think a sad thought.</p> + +<p>But one afternoon she came home from school a little earlier than usual. +Opening the door very softly that she might come on Mother Marshall and +surprise her, she heard voices in the dining-room, and paused to see if +there was company.</p> + +<p>"It's going to be mighty hard to have Bonnie leave us," said Father +Marshall, with a wistful quaver.</p> + +<p>There was a soft sigh over by the window, then Mother Marshall: "Yes, +Father, but we mustn't think about it, or the next thing we know we'll +let her see it. She's the kind of girl that would turn around and say +she couldn't get married, perhaps, if she got it in her head we needed +her. She's got a grand man, and I'm just as glad as I can be about +it"—there was a gulp like a sob over by the window.—"I wouldn't spoil +her happiness for anything in the world!" The voice took on a forced +cheerfulness.</p> + +<p>"Sure! We wouldn't want to do that!"</p> + +<p>"It's 'most as bad as when Stephen was going away, though. I have to +just shut my eyes when I go by her bedroom door and think about how we +fixed it up for <a name="Page_324" id="Page_324"></a>her and counted on how she'd look, and all. I just +couldn't stand it. I had to shut the door and hurry down-stairs."</p> + +<p>"Well, now, Mother, you mustn't feel that way. You know the Lord sent +her first. Maybe He has some other plan."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I know!" said Mother, briskly. "I guess we can leave that to Him; +only seems like I can't bear to think of anybody else coming to be in +her room."</p> + +<p>"Oh no! no! We couldn't stand for that!" said Father, quickly. "We'd +have to keep it for her—for them—when they come home to visit! If any +other party comes along I reckon we'll just build out a bay window on +the kitchen chamber, and fix that up. Now don't you worry, Mother. You +know he promised to bring her home a lot, and it ain't as if he hadn't +got money enough to travel, let alone a nottymobeel. I shouldn't wonder +maybe if we could go see them, even, some time. We could get to see the +university then, too, and go look at Steve's room. You'd like that, +wouldn't you, Mother?"</p> + +<p>Bonnie did not go into the dining-room to surprise them. Instead, she +stole away down in the orchard to hide her tears.</p> + +<p>A little later she saw the postman ride up to the letter-box on the +gate-post and drop in a letter, and all else was forgotten.</p> + +<p>Yes, from Paul! A lovely, big, thick letter!</p> + +<p>Mother and Father Marshall and their sadness suddenly vanished from her +thoughts, and she hurried back to a big stump in the orchard, where she +often read her letters. <a name="Page_325" id="Page_325"></a></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXV" id="CHAPTER_XXXV"></a>CHAPTER XXXV</h2> + + +<div class="blockquot"><p><span class="smcap">Dear Bonnie Rose</span> [she read, and smiled tenderly. He +was always getting her a new name]:</p> + +<p>"I've been to see Tennelly at last, and he's great! What do +you think? He's not only coming to the wedding, but he's +asked if I will let him be best man, unless I'd rather have +Pat! I told Pat, and you ought to have heard him roar. "Fat +chance! Me best man, with you two fellows around!" he said.</p> + +<p>Father and my stepmother will come; but please tell Mother +Marshall she needn't worry because they will only stay for +the ceremony. I know she was a little troubled about my +stepmother, lest things would seem plain to her; bless her +dear heart! But she needn't at all, for she's a kindly soul, +according to her lights. She's not to blame that they're +only candle-lights instead of sunlight. They will come in +their private car, which will be dropped off from the +morning train and picked up by the night express at the +Junction, so you see they'll have to leave for Sloan's +Station early in the afternoon.</p> + +<p>But the greatest news of all I heard to-night! Pat brought +it, as usual. It beats all how he finds out pleasant things. +You remember how we wished that Burns hadn't gone to China +yet, so he could marry us? Well, he's coming back. He's been +sent on some errand or other for the government, in company +with a Chinaman or two, and he's due in San Francisco a week +before the wedding. I've sent a wireless to ask him to stop +over and take part in the ceremony. I was sure this would +meet with your approval. Of course, we'll ask your minister +out there to assist. You don't know how this pleases me. +There's only one of the professors I'd have <a name="Page_326" id="Page_326"></a>cared to ask, +and he's with his wife, who is very ill at a sanitarium. It +seems somehow as if Burns belonged to us, doesn't it, dear?</p> + +<p>I stood to-night on the steps of the church and looked at a +ray of the setting sun that was slanting between buildings +and laying a finger of gold on the old dirty windows across +the street till they blazed into sudden glory. As I looked +the houses faded away, as they do in a moving picture, and +gradually melted into a great open space that stretched a +whole big block, all clear and green with thick velvety +grass. There were trees in the space—a lot of them—and +hammocks under some of them, with little children playing +about. At the farthest end there were tennis-courts and a +baseball diamond; and who do you think I saw teaching some +boys to pitch, but Pat! On the other side of the street a +big, old warehouse had been converted into a gymnasium with +a swimming-pool.</p> + +<p>All around that block there were model tenements, with +thousands of windows; and light and air and cheerfulness. +There were flowers in little beds between the curbing and +the pavement, that the children could water and cultivate +and pick. There was a fountain of filtered water in the +center of the green, and a drinking-fountain at each corner +of the block, but there wasn't a saloon in sight!</p> + +<p>I looked around to my right, and the old stone house with +its grimy face that belonged there had changed into a +beautiful home with vines and flowers. There were windows +everywhere jutting out with delightful unexpectedness, and +just lovely green grass and more trees all the way to the +corner! On the left, the old foundry had been cleansed and +transformed, and had become a hospital belonging to the +church. I couldn't help thinking right then and there what a +grand doctor Tennelly would have made if he only hadn't been +an aristocrat. The hospital was all white, and there was an +ambulance belonging to it, and nurses who worked not only +for money, but for the love of Christ. There wasn't a doctor +in it who didn't know what the Presence of God meant, or +couldn't point the way to be saved to a dying sinner. <a name="Page_327" id="Page_327"></a></p> + +<p>Back of the church block, in place of the old shackly +factories, there was one great model factory with the best +modern equipment, and the eight-hour system in full swing. +No little children working for a scanty living! No tired +girls and women standing all day long! No foreman that did +not have a love for humanity in his soul and some kind of an +idea what it was to have the Presence of the living God in a +factory!</p> + +<p>I went back to the big stone house and discovered there was +a great big living-room with a grand piano at one end, and a +stone fireplace large enough for logs. A wide staircase led +up to a gallery where many rooms opened off, rooms enough +for every one we wanted, and a big special one for Father +and Mother Marshall, winters, opening off in a suite, so +that they could be to themselves when they got tired of us +all. Of course, in summers they might want to go home +sometimes and take us all with them; or maybe run down to +the shore with us in an off year now and then. Break the +news to them gently, darling, for I've set my heart on that +house just as I saw it, and I hope they won't object.</p> + +<p>There were other rooms, but they were vague, because I saw +that you must have the key to them all yet, and I must wait +till you come, to look into them.</p> + +<p>Then I heard sweet sounds from the church, and, turning, I +went in. Some one was playing the organ, high up in the +dusky shadows of the gallery, and I knew it was you, Bonnie +Rose, my darling! So I knelt in a pew and listened, with the +Presence standing there between us. And as I knelt another +vision came to me, a vision of the past! I remembered the +days when I did not know God; when I sneered and argued and +did all I could in my young and conceited way against Him. I +remembered, too, the time He came to me in my illness and I +began to believe; and the day I read that verse marked in +Stephen's Bible, "He that believeth on the Son of God hath +the witness in himself." I suddenly realized that that had +been made true to me. I have the witness in my own heart +that Christ is the Son of God, my Saviour! That His Presence +is on earth and manifest to me at many times.<a name="Page_328" id="Page_328"></a> No seeming +variance of science, no quibble of the intellect, can ever +disturb this faith on which my soul rests. It is more than a +conviction; it is a perfect satisfaction! I <span class="smcap">know</span>! I +may not be able to explain all mysteries, but I can never +doubt again, because I know. The more I meet with modern +skepticism, the more I am convinced that that is the only +answer to it all: "He that doeth His will shall know of the +doctrine," and that promise is fulfilled to all who have the +will to believe.</p> + +<p>All this came to me quite clearly as I knelt in the church +in the sunset, while you were playing—was it "Rock of +Ages"?—and a ray of the setting sun stole through the old +yellow glass of the window in the organ-loft and lay on your +hair like a crown, my Bonnie darling! My heart overflowed +with gratitude at the great way life has opened up to me. +That I, the least of His servants, should be honored by the +love of this pearl of women!—</p></div> + +<p>There was more of that letter, and Bonnie sat long on the stump reading +and re-reading, with her face a glow of wonder and joy. But at last she +got up and went to the house, bounding into the dining-room where Mother +and Father Marshall were pretending to be busy about a lamp that didn't +work right.</p> + +<p>Down she sat with her letter and read it—at least as much as we have +read—to the two sad old dears who were trying so hard to get ready for +loneliness. But after that there was no more sadness in that house! No +more tears nor wistful looks. Father whistled everywhere he went, till +Mother told him he was like a boy again. Mother sang about her work +whenever she was alone. For why should they be sad any more? There were +good times still going in the world, and <i>they were in them</i>!</p> + +<p>"Father!" whispered Mother, softly, that night, when she was supposed to +be well on her way toward slumber. "Do you suppose the Lord heard us +grum<a name="Page_329" id="Page_329"></a>bling this afternoon, and sent that letter to make us ashamed of +ourselves?"</p> + +<p>"No," said Father, tenderly, "I think He just smiled to think what a big +surprise He had ready for us. It doesn't pay to doubt God; it really +doesn't!" <a name="Page_330" id="Page_330"></a></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXVI" id="CHAPTER_XXXVI"></a>CHAPTER XXXVI</h2> + + +<p>Pat was out with the ambulance. He had been taking a convalescent from +the hospital down to the station and shipping him home to his good old +mother in the country, to be nursed back to health. Pat often did little +things like that that were utterly out of his province, just because he +liked to do them.</p> + +<p>Pat had seen his patient off and was threading his way through a crowded +thoroughfare, with eyes alert for everything, when a little bright-red +racer passed him at a furious rate, driven by a woman with a reckless +hand. She shot by the ambulance like a rocket, and at the next corner +came face to face with a great motor-truck that was thundering around +the corner at a tempestuous speed. From the first glance there was no +chance for the racer. It crumpled like a thing of paper and lay in +bright splinters on the street, the lady tossed aside and motionless, +with her head against the curbing.</p> + +<p>The crowd closed in about her, and some one sent a call for the police. +The crowd opened again as an officer signed to the ambulance to stand +by, and kindly hands put the lady inside. Pat put on all speed to the +home hospital, which was not far away, and was soon within its gates, +with the house doctor and a nurse rushing out in answer to his signal.</p> + +<p>There was a light in the church close at hand, although it was not yet +dark. Bonnie was playing <a name="Page_331" id="Page_331"></a>softly on the organ. Pat knew the hymn she was +playing:</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">At evening, ere the sun was set,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3.5em;">The sick, O Lord! around Thee lay;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">Oh, with what divers ills they met,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3.5em;">Oh, with what joy they went away!</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">Once more 'tis eventide, and we,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3.5em;">Oppressed with various ills, draw near—</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>Pat was following the melody in his mind with the words that were so +often sung in the Church of the Presence of God at evening service. He +jumped down from his driver's seat and went around to the back of the +ambulance, where they were preparing to carry the patient into the +building. He was wondering what sort it was this time that he had +brought to the House of Healing. Then suddenly he saw her face and +stopped short, with a suppressed exclamation.</p> + +<p>There, huddled on the stretcher, in her costly sporting garments, with +her long, dark lashes sweeping over her hard, little painted face, and a +pinched look of suffering about her loose-hung baby mouth, lay Gila!</p> + +<p>He knew her at once and drew back in horror. What had he done! Brought +her here, this viper of evil that had crept into the garden of his +friends and despoiled them of their joy! Why had he not looked at her +before they started? Fool that he was! He might easily have taken her to +another hospital instead of this one. He could do so yet.</p> + +<p>But Courtland was standing on the steps, looking down at the huddled +figure on the stretcher, with a strange expression of pity and +tenderness in his face.</p> + +<p>"I did not know! I did not see her before, Court!"<a name="Page_332" id="Page_332"></a> stammered Pat. "I +will take her somewhere else now before she has been disturbed."</p> + +<p>"No, Pat, it's all right! It is fitting that she should come to us. I'm +glad you found her. You must have been led! Call Bonnie, please. And, +Pat, watch for Nelly and take him into my study. He was coming down on +the Boston express. Let me know as soon as he gets here."</p> + +<p>Courtland went swiftly into the hospital. Pat looked after him for a +moment with a great light of love in his eyes, and realized for the +first time what was meant by the expulsive power of a new affection. +Court hadn't minded seeing Gila in the least on his own account. He was +only thinking of Tennelly. Poor Nelly! What would he do?</p> + +<p>There was no hope for Gila from the first. There had been an injury to +the spine, and it was only a question of hours how long she had to stay.</p> + +<p>It was Bonnie's face upon which the great dark eyes first opened in +consciousness again. Bonnie in soft, white garments sitting beside the +bed, watching. A strange contraction of fear and hate passed over her +face as she looked, and she spoke in an insolent, sharp little voice, +weak as a sick bird's chirp.</p> + +<p>"Who sent you here?" she demanded.</p> + +<p>"God," said Bonnie, gently, without an instant's hesitation.</p> + +<p>A startled look came into Gila's eyes. "God! What does He want with me? +Has He sent you here to torment me? I know you, who you are! You are +that poor girl that Paul picked up in the street. You are come to pay me +back!"</p> + +<p>Bonnie's face was full of tenderness. "No, dear! That is all passed. +I've just come to bring you a message from God." <a name="Page_333" id="Page_333"></a></p> + +<p>"God! What have I to do with God?" A quiver of anguish passed over the +weird little face. "I hate God! He hates me! Am I dead, then, that He +sends me messages?"</p> + +<p>"No, you are not dead. And God does not hate you. Listen! He says, 'I +have loved you with an everlasting love.' That's the message that He +sends. He is here now. He wants you to give attention to Him!"</p> + +<p>The little blanched face on the pillow tightened and hardened in fear +once more. "That's that awful Presence again! The Presence! The +Presence! I've been trying to get away from it for three years, and it's +pursued me everywhere! Now I'm caught like a rat in a trap and can't get +away! If I'm not dead, then I must be dying, or you wouldn't dare talk +to me this awful way! <i>I am dying!</i> And <i>you</i> think <i>I'm going to +hell</i>!" Her shrill voice rose almost to a scream.</p> + +<p>Above the sound, Bonnie's calm, clear voice dominated with a sudden +quieting hush. Courtland, standing with the doctor and Tennelly just +outside the partly open door, was thrilled with the sweetness of it, as +if some supernatural power were given to her at this trying time.</p> + +<p>"Listen, Gila! This is what He says: 'God sent not His Son into the +world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be +saved.... God so loved the world that He gave His only Begotten Son, +that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting +life.' He wants you to <i>believe now</i> that He loves you and wants to save +you."</p> + +<p>"But He couldn't!" said Gila, with the old petulant tone. "I've hated +Him all my life! I <i>hate Him now</i>! And I've never been good! I couldn't +be good! I don't <i>want</i> to be good! I want to do just what I<a name="Page_334" id="Page_334"></a> <i>please</i>! +And I <i>will</i>! I won't hear you talk this way! I want to get up! Why does +my body feel so queer and numb, as if it wasn't there? Am I dying now? +Answer me quick! Am I dying? <i>I know I am.</i> I'm dying and you won't tell +me! I'm dying and I'm afraid! <span class="smcap">I'm afraid</span>!"</p> + +<p>One piercing scream after another rang out through the corridors. In +vain did Bonnie and the nurse seek to soothe her. The high, excited +voice raved on:</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid to die! I'm afraid of that Presence! Send for Paul +Courtland! He tried to tell me once, and I wouldn't hear! I made him +choose between me and God! And <i>now I'm going to be punished</i>!"</p> + +<p>"Listen, dear!" went on Bonnie's steady, tender voice. "God doesn't want +to punish. He wants to save. He is waiting to forgive you if you will +let Him!"</p> + +<p>Something in her low-spoken words caught and held the attention of the +soul in mortal anguish. Gila fixed her great, anguishing eyes on Bonnie.</p> + +<p>"Forgive! Forgive! How could anybody forgive all I've done! You don't +know anything about such things"—half contemptuously.—"You've always +been goody-good! I can see it in your look. You don't know what it is to +have men making fools of themselves over you! You don't know all I've +done! I've been what they call a sinner! I sent away the only man I ever +loved because I was <i>jealous of God</i>! I broke the heart of the man who +loved me because I got tired of him and his everlasting perfection! I +hated the idea of being a mother, and when my child came I deserted her! +I would have killed her if I had dared! I went away with a bad man! And +when I got tired of him I took the first way that opened to get away +from him! God doesn't forgive things like that! I didn't expect He would +when I did them. But it wasn't fair not to let <a name="Page_335" id="Page_335"></a>me live out my life! I'm +too young to die! And I'm afraid! I'm <span class="smcap">afraid</span>!"</p> + +<p>"Yes. God forgives all those things! There was a woman once who had been +like that, and Jesus forgave her. He will forgive you if you ask Him. +But He can't forgive you unless you are sorry and really want Him to. He +says, 'Though your sins be as scarlet they shall be as white as snow; +and though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool,' but you +have to be sorry first that you sinned. He can't forgive you if you +aren't sorry."</p> + +<p>"Sorry! <i>Sorry!</i>" Gila's laugh rang out mirthlessly and echoed in the +high, white room. "Oh, I'm <i>sorry</i>, all right! What do you think I am? +Do you think I've been <i>happy</i>? Don't you know that I've suffered +torments? Everything has turned to ashes that I've touched! I've gone +everywhere and done everything to try to forget myself, but always there +was that awful Presence chasing me! Standing in my way everywhere I +turned! Driving me! Always driving me toward hell! I've tried drowning +my thoughts with cocktails and dope, but always when it wore off there +would be the Presence of God pursuing me! Do you mean to tell me there +is forgiveness for me with Him?"</p> + +<p>Her breath was coming in painful gasps as she screamed out the words as +the nurse leaned over and gave her a quieting draught.</p> + +<p>Bonnie, in a low, clear voice, began to repeat Bible verses:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from <i>all</i> +sin!</p> + +<p>"As far as the East is from the West, so far hath He removed +our transgressions from us. <a name="Page_336" id="Page_336"></a></p> + +<p>"I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for +mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.</p> + +<p>"If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive +us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."</p></div> + +<p>Gila listened with wondering, incredulous eyes, like the eyes of a +frightened, naughty child who scarcely understood what was being said +and was in a frenzy of fear.</p> + +<p>"Oh, if Paul Courtland were here he would tell me if this is true!" Gila +cried at last.</p> + +<p>Instantly, from out the shadow of the doorway, stepped Courtland, and +stood at the foot of the bed where she could see him, looking steadily +at the dying girl for a moment, and then lifting his eyes, as if to One +who stood just beside her:</p> + +<p>"O Jesus Christ! who came to save, come close to this poor little +wandering child of Thine and show her that she is forgiven! Take her +gently by the hand and help her to see Thee, how loving Thou art! Help +her to understand how Thou didst come to earth and die to take her place +of punishment so that she might be forgiven! Open her eyes to comprehend +what love like that can be!"</p> + +<p>Gila turned startled eyes on Courtland as she heard his voice, strong, +beseeching, tender, intimate with God! She lay listening, watching his +illumined face as he prayed. Watched and listened as one who suddenly +sees a ray of light where all was darkness; till gradually the tenseness +and pain faded from her face and a surprised calm came to take its +place.</p> + +<p>The strong voice went on, talking with the Saviour about what He had +done for this poor erring one, till with a sigh, like a tired child, the +eyelids dropped over her frightened eyes and a look of peace began to +dawn. <a name="Page_337" id="Page_337"></a></p> + +<p>While the prayer had been going on, Tennelly, with his little girl in +his arms, had slipped silently into the room and stood with bowed head +looking with anguished eyes at the wreck of the beautiful girl who was +once his wife.</p> + +<p>Suddenly, as if alive to subtle influences, Gila opened her great eyes +again and looked straight at Tennelly and the baby! A dart of +consciousness came into her gaze and something like a wave of anguish +passed over her face. She made a piteous, helpless movement with the +little jeweled hands that lay limply on the coverlet, and murmured one +word, with pleading in her eyes:</p> + +<p>"Forgive!"</p> + +<p>Courtland had ceased praying and the room was very still till Bonnie, +just outside the door, began to sing, softly:</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">"Rock of Ages, cleft for me,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Let me hide myself in Thee!</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Let the water and the blood</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">From Thy riven side which flowed</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Be of sin the double cure,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Save me from its guilt and power!"</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>Suddenly little Doris, who had been looking down, with wondering baby +solemnity on the strange scene, leaned forward and pointed to the bed.</p> + +<p>"Pitty mamma dawn as'eep!" she said, softly; and with a groan Tennelly +sank with her to his knees beside the bed. Courtland, kneeling a little +way off, spoke out once more:</p> + +<p>"Lord Jesus, the Saviour of the world, we leave her with Thy tender +mercy!"</p> + +<p>As if a visible sign of assent had been asked, the <a name="Page_338" id="Page_338"></a>setting sun suddenly +dropped lower, touching into blazing glory the golden cross on the +church, and threw its reflection upon the wall at the head of the bed +just over the white face of the dead.</p> + +<p>The baby saw and pointed once again. "Pitty! Pitty! Papa, see!"</p> + +<p>The sorrowing father lifted his eyes to the golden symbol of salvation, +and Courtland, standing at the foot of the bed, said, softly:</p> + +<p>"I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in me, though he +were dead, yet shall he live."<br /><br /></p> + + +<h2>THE END</h2> + +<p><a name="Page_339" id="Page_339"></a></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class='center'>"<i>The Books You Like to Read at the Price You Like to Pay</i>"</div> + +<hr style="width: 25%;" /> + + +<h2><i>There Are Two Sides to Everything</i>—</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>—including the wrapper which covers every Grosset & Dunlap +book. When you feel in the mood for a good romance, refer to +the carefully selected list of modern fiction comprising +most of the successes by prominent writers of the day which +is printed on the back of every Grosset & Dunlap book +wrapper.</p> + +<p>You will find more than five hundred titles to choose +from—books for every mood and every taste and every +pocket-book.</p> + +<p><i>Don't forget the other side, but in case the wrapper is +lost, write to the publishers for a complete catalog.</i></p></div> + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<div class="center"><i>There is a Grosset & Dunlap Book for every mood and for +every taste</i></div><p><a name="Page_340" id="Page_340"></a></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>EDGAR RICE BURROUGH'S NOVELS</h2> + + +<div class='center'><b>May be had wherever books are sold. Ask for Grosset & Dunlap's list.</b><br /></div> + + + +<p><span class="u">TARZAN THE UNTAMED</span></p> + +<p>Tells of Tarzan's return to the life of the ape-man in his search for +vengeance on those who took from him his wife and home.</p> + + +<p><span class="u">JUNGLE TALES OF TARZAN</span></p> + +<p>Records the many wonderful exploits by which Tarzan proves his right to +ape kingship.</p> + + +<p><span class="u">A PRINCESS OF MARS</span></p> + +<p>Forty-three million miles from the earth—a succession of the weirdest +and most astounding adventures in fiction. John Carter, American, finds +himself on the planet Mars, battling for a beautiful woman, with the +Green Men of Mars, terrible creatures fifteen feet high, mounted on +horses like dragons.</p> + + +<p><span class="u">THE GODS OF MARS</span></p> + +<p>Continuing John Carter's adventures on the Planet Mars, in which he does +battle against the ferocious "plant men," creatures whose mighty tails +swished their victims to instant death, and defies Issus, the terrible +Goddess of Death, whom all Mars worships and reveres.</p> + + +<p><span class="u">THE WARLORD OF MARS</span></p> + +<p>Old acquaintances, made in the two other stories, reappear, Tars Tarkas, +Tardos Mors and others. There is a happy ending to the story in the +union of the Warlord, the title conferred upon John Carter, with Dejah +Thoris.</p> + + +<p><span class="u">THUVIA, MAID OF MARS</span></p> + +<p>The fourth volume of the series. The story centers around the adventures +of Carthoris, the son of John Carter and Thuvia, daughter of a Martian +Emperor.</p> + +<div class='center'>GROSSET & DUNLAP. <span class="smcap">Publishers</span>, NEW YORK</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><a name="Page_341" id="Page_341"></a></p> +<h2>JAMES OLIVER CURWOOD'S STORIES OF ADVENTURE</h2> + + +<div class='center'><b>May be had wherever books are sold. Ask for Grosset & Dunlap's list.</b><br /></div> + + + +<p><span class="u">THE RIVER'S END</span></p> + +<p>A story of the Royal Mounted Police.</p> + + +<p><span class="u">THE GOLDEN SNARE</span></p> + +<p>Thrilling adventures in the Far Northland.</p> + + +<p><span class="u">NOMADS OF THE NORTH</span></p> + +<p>The story of a bear-cub and a dog.</p> + + +<p><span class="u">KAZAN</span></p> + +<p>The tale of a "quarter-strain wolf and three-quarters husky" torn +between the call of the human and his wild mate.</p> + + +<p><span class="u">BAREE, SON OF KAZAN</span></p> + +<p>The story of the son of the blind Grey Wolf and the gallant part he +played in the lives of a man and a woman.</p> + + +<p><span class="u">THE COURAGE OF CAPTAIN PLUM</span></p> + +<p>The story of the King of Beaver Island, a Mormon colony, and his battle +with Captain Plum.</p> + + +<p><span class="u">THE DANGER TRAIL</span></p> + +<p>A tale of love, Indian vengeance, and a mystery of the North.</p> + + +<p><span class="u">THE HUNTED WOMAN</span></p> + +<p>A tale of a great fight in the "valley of gold" for a woman.</p> + + +<p><span class="u">THE FLOWER OF THE NORTH</span></p> + +<p>The story of Fort o' God, where the wild flavor of the wilderness is +blended with the courtly atmosphere of France.</p> + + +<p><span class="u">THE GRIZZLY KING</span></p> + +<p>The story of Thor, the big grizzly.</p> + + +<p><span class="u">ISOBEL</span></p> + +<p>A love story of the Far North.</p> + + +<p><span class="u">THE WOLF HUNTERS</span></p> + +<p>A thrilling tale of adventure in the Canadian wilderness.</p> + + +<p><span class="u">THE GOLD HUNTERS</span></p> + +<p>The story of adventure in the Hudson Bay wilds.</p> + + +<p><span class="u">THE COURAGE OF MARGE O'DOONE</span></p> + +<p>Filled with exciting incidents in the land of strong men and women.</p> + + +<p><span class="u">BACK TO GOD'S COUNTRY</span></p> + +<p>A thrilling story of the Far North. The great Photoplay was made from +this book.</p> + +<div class='center'><span class="smcap"><a name="Page_342" id="Page_342"></a>Grosset & Dunlap, Publishers, New York</span></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>ZANE GREY'S NOVELS</h2> + + +<div class='center'><b>May be had wherever books are sold. Ask for Grosset & Dunlap's list.</b><br /></div> + +<div> +<span class="book">THE MAN OF THE FOREST</span><br /> +<span class="book">THE DESERT OF WHEAT</span><br /> +<span class="book">THE U.P. TRAIL</span><br /> +<span class="book">WILDFIRE</span><br /> +<span class="book">THE BORDER LEGION</span><br /> +<span class="book">THE RAINBOW TRAIL</span><br /> +<span class="book">THE HERITAGE OF THE DESERT</span><br /> +<span class="book">RIDERS OF THE PURPLE SAGE</span><br /> +<span class="book">THE LIGHT OF WESTERN STARS</span><br /> +<span class="book">THE LAST OF THE PLAINSMEN</span><br /> +<span class="book">THE LONE STAR RANGER</span><br /> +<span class="book">DESERT GOLD</span><br /> +<span class="book">BETTY ZANE</span><br /> +</div> + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<div><span class="book">LAST OF THE GREAT SCOUTS</span></div> + +<p>The life story of "Buffalo Bill" by his sister Helen Cody Wetmore, with +Foreword and conclusion by Zane Grey.</p> + + +<h3>ZANE GREY'S BOOKS FOR BOYS</h3> + +<div> +<span class="book">KEN WARD IN THE JUNGLE</span><br /> +<span class="book">THE YOUNG LION HUNTER</span><br /> +<span class="book">THE YOUNG FORESTER</span><br /> +<span class="book">THE YOUNG PITCHER</span><br /> +<span class="book">THE SHORT STOP</span><br /> +<span class="book">THE RED-HEADED OUTFIELD AND OTHER BASEBALL STORIES</span><br /> +<a name="Page_343" id="Page_343"></a></div> + +<div class='center'><span class="smcap">Grosset & Dunlap, Publishers, New York</span></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>PETER B. KYNE'S NOVELS</h2> + +<div class='center'><b>May be had wherever books are sold. Ask for Grosset & Dunlap's list.</b><br /><br /></div> + + +<p><span class="u">THE PRIDE OF PALOMAR</span></p> + +<p>When two strong men clash and the under-dog has Irish blood in his +veins—there's a tale that Kyne can tell! And "the girl" is also very +much in evidence.</p> + + +<p><span class="u">KINDRED OF THE DUST</span></p> + +<p>Donald McKay, son of Hector McKay, millionaire lumber king, falls in +love with "Nan of the Sawdust Pile," a charming girl who has been +ostracized by her townsfolk.</p> + + +<p><span class="u">THE VALLEY OF THE GIANTS</span></p> + +<p>The fight of the Cardigans, father and son, to hold the Valley of the +Giants against treachery. The reader finishes with a sense of having +lived with big men and women in a big country.</p> + + +<p><span class="u">CAPPY RICKS</span></p> + +<p>The story of old Cappy Ricks and of Matt Peasley, the boy he tried to +break because he knew the acid test was good for his soul.</p> + + +<p><span class="u">WEBSTER: MAN'S MAN</span></p> + +<p>In a little Jim Crow Republic in Central America, a man and a woman, +hailing from the "States," met up with a revolution and for a while +adventures and excitement came so thick and fast that their love affair +had to wait for a lull in the game.</p> + + +<p><span class="u">CAPTAIN SCRAGGS</span></p> + +<p>This sea yarn recounts the adventures of three rapscallion sea-faring +men—a Captain Scraggs, owner of the green vegetable freighter Maggie, +Gibney the mate and McGuffney the engineer.</p> + + +<p><span class="u">THE LONG CHANCE</span></p> + +<p>A story fresh from the heart of the West, of San Pasqual, a sun-baked +desert town, of Harley P. Hennage, the best gambler, the best and worst +man of San Pasqual and of lovely Donna.</p> + +<div class='center'><span class="smcap"><a name="Page_344" id="Page_344"></a>Grosset & Dunlap, Publishers, New York</span></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>RUBY M. AYRES' NOVELS</h2> + + +<div class='center'><b>May be had wherever books are sold. Ask for Grosset & Dunlap's list.</b><br /><br /></div> + + +<p><span class="u">RICHARD CHATTERTON</span></p> + +<p>A fascinating story in which love and jealousy play strange tricks with +women's souls.</p> + + +<p><span class="u">A BACHELOR HUSBAND</span></p> + +<p>Can a woman love two men at the same time?</p> + +<p>In its solving of this particular variety of triangle "A Bachelor +Husband" will particularly interest, and strangely enough, without one +shock to the most conventional minded.</p> + + +<p><span class="u">THE SCAR</span></p> + +<p>With fine comprehension and insight the author shows a terrific contrast +between the woman whose love was of the flesh and one whose love was of +the spirit.</p> + + +<p><span class="u">THE MARRIAGE OF BARRY WICKLOW</span></p> + +<p>Here is a man and woman who, marrying for love, yet try to build their +wedded life upon a gospel of hate for each other and yet win back to a +greater love for each other in the end.</p> + + +<p><span class="u">THE UPHILL ROAD</span></p> + +<p>The heroine of this story was a consort of thieves. The man was fine, +clean, fresh from the West. It is a story of strength and passion.</p> + + +<p><span class="u">WINDS OF THE WORLD</span></p> + +<p>Jill, a poor little typist, marries the great Henry Sturgess and +inherits millions, but not happiness. Then at last—but we must leave +that to Ruby M. Ayres to tell you as only she can.</p> + + +<p><span class="u">THE SECOND HONEYMOON</span></p> + +<p>In this story the author has produced a book which no one who has loved +or hopes to love can afford to miss. The story fairly leaps from climax +to climax.</p> + + +<p><span class="u">THE PHANTOM LOVER</span></p> + +<p>Have you not often heard of someone being in love with love rather than +the person they believed the object of their affections? That was +Esther! But she passes through the crisis into a deep and profound love.</p> + +<div class='center'><span class="smcap"><a name="Page_345" id="Page_345"></a>Grosset & Dunlap, Publishers, New York</span></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>FLORENCE L. BARCLAY'S NOVELS</h2> + + +<div class='center'><b>May be had wherever books are sold. Ask for Grosset & Dunlap's list.</b><br /><br /></div> + + + +<p><span class="u">THE WHITE LADIES OF WORCESTER</span></p> + +<p>A novel of the 12th Century. The heroine, believing she had lost her +lover, enters a convent. He returns, and interesting developments +follow.</p> + + +<p><span class="u">THE UPAS TREE</span></p> + +<p>A love story of rare charm. It deals with a successful author and his +wife.</p> + + +<p><span class="u">THROUGH THE POSTERN GATE</span></p> + +<p>The story of a seven day courtship, in which the discrepancy in ages +vanished into insignificance before the convincing demonstration of +abiding love.</p> + + +<p><span class="u">THE ROSARY</span></p> + +<p>The story of a young artist who is reputed to love beauty above all else +in the world, but who, when blinded through an accident, gains life's +greatest happiness. A rare story of the great passion of two real people +superbly capable of love, its sacrifices and its exceeding reward.</p> + + +<p><span class="u">THE MISTRESS OF SHENSTONE</span></p> + +<p>The lovely young Lady Ingleby, recently widowed by the death of a +husband who never understood her, meets a fine, clean young chap who is +ignorant of her title and they fall deeply in love with each other. When +he learns her real identity a situation of singular power is developed.</p> + + +<p><span class="u">THE BROKEN HALO</span></p> + +<p>The story of a young man whose religious belief was shattered in +childhood and restored to him by the little white lady, many years older +than himself, to whom he is passionately devoted.</p> + + +<p><span class="u">THE FOLLOWING OF THE STAR</span></p> + +<p>The story of a young missionary, who, about to start for Africa, marries +wealthy Diana Rivers, in order to help her fulfill the conditions of her +uncle's will, and how they finally come to love each other and are +reunited after experiences that soften and purify.</p> + +<div class='center'><span class="smcap"><a name="Page_346" id="Page_346"></a>Grosset & Dunlap, Publishers, New York</span></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>ETHEL M. DELL'S NOVELS</h2> + + +<div class='center'><b>May be had wherever books are sold. Ask for Grosset & Dunlap's list.</b><br /><br /></div> + + + +<p><span class="u">THE LAMP IN THE DESERT</span></p> + +<p>The scene of this splendid story is laid in India and tells of the lamp +of love that continues to shine through all sorts of tribulations to +final happiness.</p> + + +<p><span class="u">GREATHEART</span></p> + +<p>The story of a cripple whose deformed body conceals a noble soul.</p> + + +<p><span class="u">THE HUNDREDTH CHANCE</span></p> + +<p>A hero who worked to win even when there was only "a hundredth chance."</p> + + +<p><span class="u">THE SWINDLER</span></p> + +<p>The story of a "bad man's" soul revealed by woman's faith.</p> + + +<p><span class="u">THE TIDAL WAVE</span></p> + +<p>Tales of love and of women who learned to know the true from the false.</p> + + +<p><span class="u">THE SAFETY CURTAIN</span></p> + +<p>A very vivid love story of India. The volume also contains four other +long stories of equal interest.</p> + +<div class='center'><span class="smcap">Grosset & Dunlap, Publishers, New York</span><br /><br /></div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Witness, by Grace Livingston Hill Lutz + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WITNESS *** + +***** This file should be named 16502-h.htm or 16502-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/5/0/16502/ + +Produced by Janet Kegg, Emmy and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + + +</pre> + +</body> +</html> diff --git a/16502-h/images/emblem.png b/16502-h/images/emblem.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..dcea725 --- /dev/null +++ b/16502-h/images/emblem.png diff --git a/16502.txt b/16502.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ee9921a --- /dev/null +++ b/16502.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11343 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Witness, by Grace Livingston Hill Lutz + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Witness + +Author: Grace Livingston Hill Lutz + +Release Date: August 9, 2005 [EBook #16502] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WITNESS *** + + + + +Produced by Janet Kegg, Emmy and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + + +THE +WITNESS + +A NOVEL + +BY +GRACE LIVINGSTON HILL LUTZ + +AUTHOR OF +A VOICE IN THE WILDERNESS, ETC. + +NEW YORK +GROSSET & DUNLAP +PUBLISHERS + + +Published by Arrangement with Harper & Brothers + +Made in the United States of America + +THE WITNESS + +Copyright, 1917, by Harper & Brothers +Printed in the United States of America + +TO MY MOTHER +MARCIA MACDONALD LIVINGSTON + +WHOSE HELPFUL CRITICISM AND LOVING ENCOURAGEMENT +HAVE BEEN WITH ME THROUGH THE YEARS + + + + + _"He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in + himself."_ + --I JOHN 5:10 + + + + +THE WITNESS + + + + +CHAPTER I + + +Like a sudden cloudburst the dormitory had gone into a frenzy of sound. +Doors slammed, feet trampled, hoarse voices reverberated, heavy bodies +flung themselves along the corridor, the very electrics trembled with +the cataclysm. One moment all was quiet with a contented +after-dinner-peace-before-study hours; the next it was as if all the +forces of the earth had broken forth. + +Paul Courtland stepped to his door and threw it back. + +"Come on, Court, see the fun!" called the football half-back, who was +slopping along with two dripping fire-buckets of water. + +"What's doing?" + +"Swearing-match! Going to make Little Stevie cuss! Better get in on it. +Some fight! Tennelly sent 'Whisk' for a whole basket of superannuated +cackle-berries"--he motioned back to a freshman bearing a basket of +ancient eggs--"we're going to blindfold Steve and put oysters down his +back, and then finish up with the fire-hose. Oh, the seven plagues of +Egypt aren't in it with what we're going to do; and when we get done if +Little Stevie don't let out a string of good, honest cuss-words like a +man then I'll eat my hat. Little Stevie's got good stuff in him if it +can only be brought out. We're a-going to bring it out. Then we're going +to celebrate by taking him over to the theater and making him see 'The +Scarlet Woman.' It'll be a little old miracle, all right, if he has any +of his whining Puritanical ideas left in him after we get through with +him. Come on! Get on the job!" + +Drifting along with the surging tide of students, Courtland sauntered +down the corridor to the door at the extreme end where roomed the +victim. + +He rather liked Stephen Marshall. There was good stuff in him; all the +fellows recognized that. Only he was woefully unsophisticated, +abnormally innocent, frankly religious, and a little too openly white in +his life. It seemed a rebuke to the other fellows, unconscious though it +might be. He felt with the rest that the fellow needed a lesson. +Especially since the bald way in which he had dared to stand up for the +old-fashioned view of miracles in biblical-lit. class that morning. Of +course an ignorance like that wouldn't go down, and it was best he +should learn it at once and get to be a good fellow without loss of +time. A little gentle rubbing off of the "mamma's-good-little-boy" +veneering would do him good. He wasn't sure but with such a course +Marshall might even be eligible for the frat. that year. He sauntered +along with his hands in his pockets; a handsome, capable, powerful +figure; not taking any part in the preparations, but mildly interested +in the plans. His presence lent enthusiasm to the gathering. He was high +in authority. A star athlete, an A student, president of his fraternity, +having made the Phi Beta Kappa in his junior year, and now in his senior +year being chairman of the student exec. There would be no trouble with +the authorities of the college if Court was along to give countenance. + +Courtland stood opposite the end door when it was unceremoniously thrust +open and the hilarious mob rushed in. From his position with his back +against the wall he could see Stephen lift his fine head from his book +and rise to greet them. There was surprise and a smile of welcome on his +face. Courtland thought it almost a pity to reward such open-heartedness +as they were about to do; but such things were necessary in the making +of men. He watched developments with interest. + +A couple of belated participants in the fray arrived breathlessly, +shedding their mackinaws as they ran, and casting them down at +Courtland's feet. + +"Look after those, will you, Court? We've got to get in on this," +shouted one as he thrust a noisy bit of flannel head-gear at Courtland. + +Courtland gave the garments a kick behind him and stood watching. + +There was a moment's tense silence while they told the victim what they +had come for, and while the light of welcome in Stephen Marshall's eyes +melted and changed into lightning. A dart of it went with a searching +gleam out into the hall, and seemed to recognize Courtland as he stood +idly smiling, watching the proceedings. Then the lightning was withheld +in the gray eyes, and Marshall seemed to conclude that, after all, the +affair must be a huge kind of joke, seeing Courtland was out there. +Courtland had been friendly. He must not let his temper rise. The kindly +light came into the eyes again, and for an instant Marshall almost +disarmed the boldest of them with his brilliant smile. He would be game +as far as he understood. That was plain. It was equally plain that he +did not understand yet what was expected of him. + +Pat McCluny, thick of neck, brutal of jaw, low-browed, red of face, +blunt of speech, the finest, most unmerciful tackler on the football +team, stepped up to Stephen and said a few words in a low tone. +Courtland could not hear what they were save that they ended with an +oath, the choicest of Pat Cluny's choice collection. + +Instantly Stephen Marshall drew himself back, and up to his great +height, lightning and thunder-clouds in his gray eyes, his powerful arms +folded, his fine head crowned with its wealth of beautiful gold hair +thrown a trifle back and up, his lips shut in a thin, firm line, his +whole attitude that of the fighter; but he did not speak. He only looked +from one to another of the wild young mob, searching for a friend; and, +finding none, he stood firm, defying them all. There was something +splendid in his bearing that sent a thrill of admiration down +Courtland's spine as he watched, his habitual half-cynical smile of +amusement still lying unconsciously about his lips, while a new respect +for the country student was being born in his heart. + +Pat, with a half-lowering of his bullet head, and a twisting of his ugly +jaw, came a step nearer and spoke again, a low word with a rumble like +the menace of a bull or a storm about to break. + +With a sudden unexpected movement Stephen's arm shot forth and struck +the fellow in the jaw, reeling him half across the room into the crowd. + +With a snarl like a stung animal Pat recovered himself and rushed at +Stephen, hurling himself with a stream of oaths, and calling curses down +upon himself if he did not make Stephen utter worse before he was done +with him. Pat was the "man" who was in college for football. It took the +united efforts of his classmates, his frat., and the faculty to keep his +studies within decent hailing distance of eligibility for playing. He +came from a race of bullies whose culture was all in their fists. + +Pat went straight for the throat of his victim. His fighting blood was +up and he was mad clear down to the bone. Nobody could give him a blow +like that in the presence of others and not suffer for it. What had +started as a joke had now become real with Pat; and the frenzy of his +own madness quickly spread to those daring spirits who were about him +and who disliked Stephen for his strength of character. + +They clinched, and Stephen, fresh from his father's remote Western farm, +matched his mighty, untaught strength against the trained bully of a +city street. + +For a moment there was dead silence while the crowd in breathless +astonishment watched and held in check their own eagerness. Then the mob +spirit broke forth as some one called out: + +"Pray for a miracle, Stevie! Pray for a miracle! You'll need it, old +boy!" + +The mad spirit which had incited them to the reckless fray broke forth +anew and a medley of shouts arose. + +"Jump in, boys! Now's the time!" + +"Give him a cowardly egg or two--the kind that hits and runs!" + +"Teach him that we will be obeyed!" + +The latter came as a sort of chant, and was reiterated at intervals +through the pandemonium of sound. + +The fight raged on for minutes more, and still Stephen stood with his +back against the wall, fighting, gasping, struggling, but bravely facing +them all; a disheveled object with rotten eggs streaming from his face +and hair, his clothes plastered with offensive yolks. Pat had him by the +throat, but still he stood and fought as best he could. + +Some one seized the bucket of water and deluged both. Some one else +shouted, "Get the hose!" and more fellows tore off their coats and threw +them down at Courtland's feet; some one tore Pat away, and the great +fire-hose was turned upon the victim. + +Gasping at last, and all but unconscious, he was set upon his feet, and +harried back to life again. Over-powered by numbers, he could do +nothing, and the petty torments that were applied amid a round of +ringing laughter seemed unlimited; but still he stood, a man among them, +his lips closed, a firm set about his jaw that showed their labor was in +vain so far as making him obey their command was concerned. Not one word +had he uttered since they entered his room. + +"You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink," shouted +one onlooker. "Cut it out, fellows! It's no use! You can't set him +cussing. He never learned how. He could easier lead in prayer. You have +to teach him how. Better cut it out!" + +More tortures were applied, but still the victim was silent. The hose +had washed him clean again, and his face shone white from the drenching. +Some one suggested it was getting late and the show would begin. Some +one else suggested they must dress up Little Stevie for his first play. +There was a mad rush for garments. Any garments, no matter whose. A pair +of sporty trousers, socks of brilliant colors--not mates, an old +football shoe on one foot, a dancing-pump on the other, a white vest and +a swallow-tail put on backward, collar and tie also backward, a large +pair of white-cotton gloves commonly used by workmen for rough +work--Johnson, who earned his way in college by tending furnaces, +furnished these. Stephen bore it all, grim, unflinching, until they set +him up before his mirror and let him see himself, completing the +costume by a high silk hat crammed down upon his wet curls. He looked at +the guy he was and suddenly he turned upon them and smiled, his broad, +merry smile! _After all that_ he could see the joke and smile! He never +opened his lips nor spoke--just smiled. + +"He's a pretty good guy! He's game, all right!" murmured some one in +Courtland's ear. And then, half shamedly, they caught him high upon +their shoulders and bore him down the stairs and out the door. + +The theater was some distance off. They bore down upon a trolley-car and +took a wild possession. They sang their songs and yelled themselves +hoarse. People turned and watched and smiled, setting this down as one +more prank of those university fellows. + +They swarmed into the theater, with Stephen in their midst, and took +noisy occupancy. Opera-glasses were turned their way, and the girls +nudged one another and talked about the man in the middle with the queer +garments. + +The persecutions had by no means ceased because they had landed their +victim in a public place. They made him ridiculous at every breath. They +took off his hat, arranged his collar, and smoothed his hair as if he +were a baby. They wiped his nose with many a flourishing handkerchief, +and pointed out objects of interest about the theater in open derision +of his supposed ignorance, to the growing amusement of those of the +audience who were their neighbors. And when the curtain rose on the most +notoriously flagrant play the city boasted, they added to its flagrance +by their whispered explanations and remarks. + +Stephen, in his ridiculous garb, sat in their midst, a prisoner, and +watched the play he would not have chosen to see; watched it with a face +of growing indignation; a face so speaking in its righteous wrath that +those about who saw him turned to look again, and somehow felt condemned +for being there. + +Sometimes a wave of anger would sweep over the young man, and he would +turn to look about him with an impulse to suddenly break away and +attempt to defy them all. But his every movement was anticipated, and he +had the whole football team about him! There was no chance to move. He +must stay it through, much as he disliked it. He must stand it in spite +of the tumult of rage in his heart. He was not smiling now. His face had +that set, grim look of the faithful soldier taken prisoner and tortured +to give information about his army's plans. Stephen's eyes shone true, +and his lips were set firmly together. + +"Just one nice little cuss-word and we'll take you home," whispered a +tormentor. "A single little word will do, just to show you are a man." + +Stephen's face was gray with determination. His yellow hair shone like a +halo about his head. They had taken off his hat and he sat with his arms +folded fiercely across the back of "Andy" Roberts's nifty evening coat. + +"Just one little real cuss to show you are a _man_," sneered the +freshman. + +But suddenly a smothered cry arose. A breath of fear stirred through the +house. The smell of smoke swept in from a sudden open door. The actors +paused, grew white, and swerved in their places; then one by one fled +out of the scene. The audience arose and turned to panic, even as a +flame swept up and licked the very curtain while it fell. + +All was confusion! + +The football team, trained to meet emergencies, forgot their cruel play +and scattered, over seats and railing, everywhere, to fire-escapes and +doorways, taking command of wild, stampeding people, showing their +training and their courage. + +Stephen, thus suddenly set free, glanced about him, and saw a few feet +away an open door, felt the fresh breeze of evening upon his hot +forehead, and knew the upper back fire-escape was close at hand. By some +strange whim of a panic-maddened crowd but few had discovered this exit, +high above the seats in the balcony; for all had rushed below and were +struggling in a wild, frantic mass, trampling one another underfoot in a +mad struggle to reach the doorways. The flames were sweeping over the +platform now, licking out into the very pit of the theater, and people +were terrified. Stephen saw in an instant that the upper door, being +farthest away from the center of the fire, was the place of greatest +safety. With one frantic leap he gained the aisle, strode up to the +doorway, glanced out into the night to take in the situation; cool, +calm, quiet, with the still stars overhead, down below the open iron +stairway of the fire-escape, and a darkened street with people like tiny +puppets moving on their way. Then turning back, he tore off the +grotesque coat and vest, the confining collar, and threw them from him. +He plunged down the steps of the aisle to the railing of the gallery, +and, leaning there in his shirt-sleeves and the queer striped trousers, +he put his hands like a megaphone about his lips and shouted: + +"Look up! Look up! There is a way to escape up here! Look up!" + +Some poor struggling ones heard him and looked up. A little girl was +held up by her father to the strong arms reached out from the low front +of the balcony. Stephen caught her and swung her up beside him, pointing +her up to the door, and shouting to her to go quickly down the +fire-escape, even while he reached out his other hand to catch a woman, +whom willing hands below were lifting up. Men climbed upon the seats and +vaulted up when they heard the cry and saw the way of safety; and some +stayed and worked bravely beside Stephen, wrenching up the seats and +piling them for a ladder to help the women up. More just clambered up +and fled to the fire-escape, out into the night and safety. + +But Stephen had no thought of flight. He stayed where he was, with +aching back, cracking muscles, sweat-grimed brow, and worked, his breath +coming in quick, sharp gasps as he frantically helped man, woman, child, +one after another, like sheep huddling over a flood. + +Courtland was there. + +He had lingered a moment behind the rest in the corner of the dormitory +corridor, glancing into the disfigured room; water, egg-shells, ruin, +disorder everywhere! A little object on the floor, a picture in a cheap +oval metal frame, caught his eye. Something told him it was the picture +of Stephen Marshall's mother that he had seen upon the student's desk a +few days before, when he had sauntered in to look the new man over. +Something unexplained made him step in across the water and debris and +pick it up. It was the picture, still unscarred, but with a great streak +of rotten egg across the plain, placid features. He recalled the tone in +which the son had pointed out the picture and said, "That's my mother!" +and again he followed an impulse and wiped off the smear, setting the +picture high on the shelf, where it looked down upon the depredation +like some hallowed saint above a carnage. + +Then Courtland sauntered on to his room, completed his toilet, and +followed to the theater. He had not wanted to get mixed up too much in +the affair. He thought the fellows were going a little too far with a +good thing, perhaps. He wanted to see it through, but still he would not +quite mix with it. He found a seat where he could watch what was going +on without being actually a part of it. If anything should come to the +ears of the faculty he wanted to be on the side of conservatism always. +That Pat McCluny was not just his sort, though he was good fun. But he +always put things on a lower level than college fellows should go. +Besides, if things went too far a word from himself would check them. + +Courtland was rather bored with the play, and was almost on the point of +going back to study when the cry arose and panic followed. + +Courtland was no coward. He tore off his handsome overcoat and rushed to +meet the emergency. On the opposite side of the gallery, high up by +another fire-escape he rendered efficient assistance to many. + +The fire was gaining in the pit; and still there were people down there, +swarms of them, struggling, crying, lifting piteous hands for +assistance. Still Stephen Marshall reached from the gallery and pulled +up, one after another, poor creatures, and still the helpless thronged +and cried for aid. + +Dizzy, blinded, his eyes filled with smoke, his muscles trembling with +the terrible strain, he stood at his post. The minutes seemed +interminable hours, and still he worked, with heart pumping painfully, +and mind that seemed to have no thought save to reach down for another +and another, and point up to safety. + +Then, into the midst of the confusion there arose an instant of great +and awful silence. One of those silences that come even into great sound +and claim attention from the most absorbed. + +Paul Courtland, high in his chosen station, working eagerly, +successfully, calmly, looked down to see the cause of this sudden +arresting of the universe; and there, below, was the pit full of flame, +with people struggling and disappearing into fiery depths below. Just +above the pit stood Stephen, lifting aloft a little child with +frightened eyes and long streaming curls. He swung him high and turned +to stoop again; then with his stooping came the crash; the rending, +grinding, groaning, twisting of all that held those great galleries in +place, as the fire licked hold of their supports and wrenched them out +of position. + +One instant Stephen was standing by that crimson-velvet railing, with +his lifted hand pointing the way to safety for the child, the flaming +fire lighting his face with glory, his hair a halo about his head, and +in the next instant, even as his hand was held out to save another, the +gallery fell, crashing into the fiery, burning furnace! And Stephen, +with his face shining like an angel's, went down and disappeared with +the rest, while the consuming fire swept up and covered them. + +Paul Courtland closed his eyes on the scene, and caught hold of the door +by which he stood. He did not realize that he was standing on a tiny +ledge, all that was left him of footing, high, alone, above that burning +pit where his fellow-student had gone down; nor that he had escaped as +by a miracle. There he stood and turned away his face, sick and dizzy +with the sight, blinded by the dazzling flames, shut in to that tiny +spot by a sudden wall of smoke that swept in about him. Yet in all the +danger and the horror the only thought that came was, "God! _That_ was a +_man_!" + + + + +CHAPTER II + + +Paul Courtland never knew how he had been saved from that perilous +position high up on a ledge in the top of the theater, with the burning, +fiery furnace below him. Whether his senses came back sufficiently to +guide him along the narrow footing that was left, to the door of the +fire-escape, where some one rescued him, or whether a friendly hand +risked all and reached out to draw him to safety. + +He only knew that back there in that blank daze of suspended time, +before he grew to recognize the whiteness of the hospital walls and the +rattle of the nurse's starched skirt along the corridor, there was a +long period when he was shut in with four high walls of smoke. Smoke +that reached to heaven, roofing him away from it, and had its +foundations down in the burning fiery pit of hell where he could hear +lost souls struggling with smothered cries for help. Smoke that filled +his throat, eyes, brain, soul. Terrible, enfolding, imprisoning smoke; +thick, yellow, gray, menacing! Smoke that shut his soul away from all +the universe, as if he had been suddenly blotted out, and made him feel +how stark alone he had been born, and always would be evermore. + +He seemed to have lain within those slowly approaching walls of smoke a +century or two ere he became aware that he was not alone, after all. +There was a Presence there beside him. Light, and a Presence! Blinding +light. He reasoned that other men, the men outside of the walls of +smoke, the firemen perhaps, and by-standers, might think that light came +from the fire down in the pit, but he knew it did not. It radiated from +the Presence beside him. And there was a Voice, calling his name. He +seemed to have heard the call years back in his life somewhere. There +was something about it, too, that made his heart leap in answer, and +brought that strange thrill he used to have as a boy in prep. school, +when his captain called him into the game, though he was only a +substitute. + +He could not look up, yet he could see the face of the Presence now. +What was there so strangely familiar, as if he had been looking upon +that face but a few moments before? He knew. It was that brave spirit +come back from the pit. Come, perhaps, to lead him out of this daze of +smoke and darkness. He spoke, and his own voice sounded glad and +ringing: + +"I know you now. You are Stephen Marshall. You were in college. You were +down there in the theater just now, saving men." + +"Yes, I was in college," the Voice spoke, "and I was down there just +now, saving men. But I am not Stephen Marshall. Look again." + +And suddenly he understood. + +"Then you are Stephen Marshall's Christ! The Christ he spoke of in the +class that day!" + +"Yes, I am Stephen Marshall's Christ. He let me live in Him. I am the +Christ you sneered at and disbelieved!" + +He looked and his heart was stricken with shame. + +"I did not understand. It was against reason. But had not seen you +then." + +"And now?" + +"Now? What do you want of me?" + +"You shall be shown." + +The smoke ebbed low and swung away his consciousness, and even the place +grew dim about him, but the Presence was there. Always through suspended +space as he was borne along, and after, when the smoke gave way, and +air, blessed air, was wafted in, there was the Presence. If it had not +been for that he could not have borne the awfulness of nothing that +surrounded him. Always there was the Presence! + +There was a bandage over his eyes for days; people speaking in whispers; +and when the bandage was taken away there were the white hospital walls, +so like the walls of smoke at first in the dim light, high above him. +When he had grown to understand it was but hospital walls, he looked +around for the Presence in alarm, crying out, "Where is He?" + +Bill Ward and Tennelly and Pat were there, huddled in a group by the +door, hoping he might recognize them. + +"He's calling for Steve!" whispered Pat, and turned with a gulp while +the tears rolled down his cheeks. "He must have seen him go!" + +The nurse laid him down on the pillow again, replacing the bandage. When +he closed his eyes the Presence came back, blessed, sweet--and he was at +peace. + +The days passed; strength crept back into his body, consciousness to his +brain. The bandage was taken off once more, and he saw the nurse and +other faces. He did not look again for the Presence. He had come to +understand he could not see it with his eyes; but always it was there, +waiting, something sweet and wonderful. Waiting to show him what to do +when he was well. + +The memorial services had been held for Stephen Marshall many days, the +university had been draped in black, with its flag at half-mast, the +proper time, and its mourning folded away, ere Paul Courtland was able +to return to his room and his classes. + +They welcomed him back with touching eagerness. They tried to hush their +voices and temper their noisiness to suit an invalid. They told him all +their news, what games had been won, who had made Phi Beta Kappa, and +what had happened at the frat. meetings. But they spoke not at all of +Stephen! + +Down the hall Stephen's door stood always open, and Courtland, walking +that way one day, found fresh flowers upon his desk and wreathed around +his mother's picture. A quaint little photograph of Stephen taken +several years back hung on one wall. It had been sent at the class's +request by Stephen's mother to honor her son's chosen college. + +The room was set in order, Stephen's books were on the shelves, his few +college treasures tacked up about the walls; and conspicuous between the +windows hung framed the resolutions concerning Stephen the hero-martyr +of the class, telling briefly how he had died, and giving him this +tribute, "He was a man!" + +Below the resolutions, on the little table covered with an old-fashioned +crocheted cotton table-cover, lay Stephen's Bible, worn, marked, soft +with use. His mother had wished it to remain. Only his clothes had been +sent back to her who had sent him forth to prepare for his life-work, +and received word in her distant home that his life-work had been +already swiftly accomplished. + +Courtland entered the room and looked around. + +There were no traces of the fray that had marred the place when last he +saw it. Everything was clean and fine and orderly. The simple saint-like +face of the plain farmer's-wife-mother looked down upon it all with +peace and resignation. This life was not all. There was another. Her +eyes said that. Paul Courtland stood a long time gazing into them. + +Then he closed the door and knelt by the little table, laying his +forehead reverently upon the Bible. + +Since he had returned to college and things of life had become more +real, Reason had returned to her throne and was crying out against his +"fancies." What was that experience in the hospital but the phantasy of +a sick brain? What was the Presence but a fevered imagination? He had +been growing ashamed of dwelling upon the thought, ashamed of liking to +feel that the Presence was near when he was falling asleep at night. +Most of all he had felt a shame and a land of perplexity in the +biblical-literature class where he faced "FACTS" as the professor called +them, spoken in capitals. SCIENCE was another force which +mocked his fancies. PHILOSOPHY cooled his mind and wakened him +from his dreams. In this atmosphere he was beginning to think that he +had been delirious, and was gradually returning to his normal state, +albeit with a restless dissatisfaction he had never known before. + +But now in this calm, rose-decked room, with the quiet eyes of the +simple mother looking down upon him, the resolutions in their +chaplet-of-palm framing, the age-old Bible thumbed and beloved, he knew +he had been wrong. He knew he would never be the same. That Presence, +Whoever, Whatever it was, had entered into his life. He could never +forget it; never be convinced that it was not; never be entirely +satisfied without it! He believed it was the Christ! Stephen Marshall's +Christ! + +By and by he lifted up his head and opened the little worn Bible, +reverently, curiously, just to touch it and think how the other boy had +done. The soft, much-turned leaves fell open of themselves to a heavily +marked verse. There were many marked verses all through the book. + +Courtland's eyes followed the words: + + He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in + himself. + +Could it be that this strange new sense of the Presence was "the +witness" here mentioned? He knew it like his sense of rhythm, or the +look of his mother's face, or the joy of a summer morning. It was not +anything he could analyze. One might argue that there was no such thing, +science might prove there was not, but he _knew_ it, had _seen_ it, +_felt_ it! He had the witness in himself. Was that what it meant? + +With troubled brow he turned over the leaves again: + + If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, + whether it be of God. + +Ah! There was an offer, why not close with it? + +He dropped his head on the open book with the old words of +self-surrender: + +"Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?" + +A moment later Pat McCluny opened the door, cautiously, quietly; then, +with a nod to Tennelly back of him, he entered with confidence. + +Courtland rose. His face was white, but there was a light of something +in his eyes they did not understand. + +They went over to him as if he had been a child who had been lost and +was found on some perilous height and needing to be coaxed gently away +from it. + +"Oh, so you're here, Court," said Tennelly, slapping his shoulder with +gentle roughness, "Great little old room, isn't it? The fellows' idea +to keep flowers here. Kind of a continual memorial." + +"Great fellow, that Steve!" said Pat, hoarsely. He could not yet speak +lightly of the hero-martyr whom he had helped to send to his fiery +grave. + +But Courtland stood calmly, almost as if he had not heard them. "Pat, +Nelly," he said, turning from one to the other gravely, "I want to tell +you fellows that I have met Steve's Christ and after this I stand for +Him!" + +They looked at him curiously, pityingly. They spoke with soothing words +and humored him. They led him away to his room and left him to rest. +Then they walked with solemn faces and dejected air into Bill Ward's +room and threw themselves down upon his couch. + +"Where's Court?" Bill looked up from the theme he was writing. + +"We found him in Steve's room," said Tennelly, gloomily, and shook his +head. + +"It's a deuced shame!" burst forth Pat. (He had cut out swearing for a +time.) "He's batty in the bean!" + +Tennelly answered the shocked question in the eyes of Bill with a nod. +"Yes, the brightest fellow in the class, but he sure is batty in the +bean! You ought to have heard him talk. Say! I don't believe it was all +the fire. Court's been studying too hard. He's been an awful shark for a +fellow that went in for athletics and everything else. He's studied too +hard and it's gone to his head!" + +Tennelly sat gloomily staring across the room. It was the old cry of the +man who cannot understand. + +"He needs a little change," said Bill, putting his feet up on the table +comfortably and lighting a cigarette. "Pity the frat. dance is over. He +needs to get him a girl. Be a great stunt if he'd fall for some jolly +girl. Say! I'll tell you what. I'll get Gila after him." + +"Who's Gila?" asked Tennelly, gloomily. "He won't notice her any more +than a fly on the wall. You know how he is about girls." + +"Gila's my cousin. Gila Dare. She's a good sport, and she's a winner +every time. We'll put Gila on the job. I've got a date with her +to-morrow night and I'll put her wise. She'll just enjoy that kind of +thing. He's met her, too, over at the Navy game. Leave it to Gila." + +"What style is she?" asked Tennelly, still skeptical. + +"Oh, tiny and stylish and striking, with big eyes. A perfect little +peach of an actress." + +"Court's too keen for acting. He'll see through her in half a second. +She can't put one over on Court." + +"She won't try," said the ardent cousin. "She'll just be as innocent. +They'll be chums in half an hour, or it'll be the first failure for +Gila." + +"Well, if any girl can put one over on Court, I'll eat my hat; but it's +worth trying, for if Court keeps on like this we'll all be buying +prayer-books and singing psalms before another semester." + +"You'll eat your hat, all right," said Bill Ward, rising in his wrath. +"Nelly, my infant, I tell you Gila never fails. If she gets on the job +Court'll be dead in love with her before the midwinter exams.!" + +"I'll believe it when I see it," said Tennelly, rising. + +"All right," said Bill. "Remember you're in for a banquet during +vacation. Fricaseed hat the _piece de resistance_!" + + + + +CHAPTER III + + +It was a sumptuous library in which Gila Dare awaited the coming of Paul +Courtland. + +Great, deep, red-leather chairs stood everywhere invitingly, the floor +was spread with a magnificent specimen of Royal Bokhara, the rich +recesses of the noble walls were lined with books in rare editions, a +heavily carved table of dull black wood from some foreign land sprawled +in the center of the room and held a great bronze lamp of curious +pattern, bearing a ruby light. Ornate bronzes lurked on pedestals in +shadows, unexpectedly, and caught the eye alarmingly, like grim ones set +to watch. A throbbing fire like the heart of a lit ruby burned in a +massive fireplace of grotesque tiles, as though it were the opening into +great depths of unquenchable fire to which this room might be but an +approach. + +Gila herself, slight, dark-eyed, with pearl-white skin and dusky hair, +was dressed in crimson velvet, soft and clinging like chiffon, catching +the light and shimmering it with strange effect. The dark hair was +curiously arranged, and stabbed just above her ears with two dagger-like +combs flashing with jewels. A single jewel burned at her throat on an +invisible chain, and jewels flashed from the little pointed +crimson-satin slippers, setting off the slim ankles in their +crimson-silk covering. The whole effect was startling. One wondered why +she had chosen so elaborate a costume to waste upon a single college +student. + +She stood with one dainty foot poised on the brass trappings of the +hearth. In her short skirts she seemed almost a child; so sweet the +droop of the pretty lips; so innocent the dark eyes as they looked into +the fire; so soft the shadows that played in the dark hair! And yet, as +she turned to listen for a step in the hall, there was something +gleaming, sinister, in those dark eyes, something mocking in the red +lips. She might have been a daughter of Satan as she stood, the +firelight picking out those jeweled horns and slippers. + +"Leave him to me," she had said to her cousin when he told her how the +brilliant young athlete and intellectual star of the university had been +stung by the religious bug. "Send him to me. I'll take it out of him and +he'll never know it's gone." + +Paul Courtland entered, unsuspecting. He had met Gila a number of times +before, at college dances and the games. He was not exactly flattered, +but decidedly pleased that she had sent for him. Her brightness and +seeming innocence had attracted him strongly. + +The contrast from the hall with its blaze of electrics to the lurid +light of the library affected him strangely. He paused on the threshold +and passed his hand over his eyes. Gila stood where the ruby light of +hearth and lamp would set her vivid dress on fire and light the jewels +at her throat and hair. She knew her clear skin, dark hair, and eyes +would bear the startling contrast, and how her white shoulders gleamed +from the crimson velvet. She knew how to arrange the flaming scarf of +gauze deftly about those white shoulders so that it would reveal more +than it concealed. + +The young man lingered unaccountably. He had a sense of leaving +something behind him. Almost he hesitated as she came forward to greet +him, and looked back as if to rid himself of some obligation. Then she +put her bits of confiding hands out to him and smiled that wistful, +engaging smile that would have been worth a fortune on the screen. + +He thrilled with wonder over her delicate, dazzling beauty; and felt the +luxury of the room about him, responding to its lure. + +"So dandy of you to come to me when you are so busy after your long +illness." Her voice was soft and confiding, its cadences like soothing +music. She motioned him to a chair. "You see, I wanted to have you all +to myself for a little while, just to tell you how perfectly fine you +were at that awful fire." + +She dropped upon the couch drawn out at just the right angle from the +fire and settled among the cushions gracefully. The flicker of the +firelight played upon the jeweled combs and gleamed at her throat. The +little pointed slippers cozily crossed looked innocent enough to have +been meant for the golden street. Her eyes looked up into his with that +confiding lure that thrills and thrills again. + +Her voice dropped softer, and she turned half away and gazed pensively +into the fire on the hearth. "I wouldn't let them talk to me about it. +It seemed so awful. And you were so strong and great." + +"It was nothing!" He did not want to talk about the fire. There was +something incongruous, almost unholy, in having it discussed here. It +jangled on his nerves. For there in front of him in the fireplace burned +a mimic pit like the one into which the martyr Steve had fallen; and +there before him on the couch sat the girl! What was there so familiar +about her? Ah! now he knew. The Scarlet Woman! Her gown was an exact +reproduction of the one the great actress had worn on the stage that +night. He was conscious of wishing to sit beside her on that couch and +revel in the ravishing color of her. What was there about this room +that made all his pulses beat? + +Playfully, skilfully, she led him on. They talked of the dances and +games, little gossip of the university, with now and then a telling +personality, and a sweep of long lashes over pearly cheeks, or a lifting +of great, innocent eyes of admiration to his face. + +She offered wine in delicate gold-incrusted ruby glasses, but Courtland +did not drink. He scarcely noticed her veiled annoyance at his refusal. +He was drinking in the wine of her presence. She suggested that he +smoke, and would not have hesitated to join him, perhaps, but he told +her he was in training, and she cooed softly of his wonderful strength +of character in resisting. + +By this time he was in the coveted seat beside her on the couch, and the +fire burned low and red. They had ceased to talk of games and dances. +They were talking of each other, those intimate nothings that mean a +breaking down of distance and a rapidly growing familiarity. + +The young man was aware of the fascination of the small figure in her +crimson robings, sitting so demurely in the firelight, the gauzy scarf +dropped away from her white neck and shoulders, the lovely curve of her +baby cheek and tempting neck showing against the background of the +shadows behind her. He was aware of a distinct longing to take her in +his arms and crush her to him, as he would pluck a red berry from a +bank, and feel its stain upon his lips. Stain! A stain was a thing that +was hard to remove. There were blood-stains sometimes and agonies; and +yet men wanted to pluck the berries and feel the stain upon their lips! + +He was not under the hallucination that he was suddenly falling in love +with this girl. He did not name the passionate outcry in his soul love. +He knew she had been a charmer of many, and in yielding himself to her +recognized power he was for the moment playing with a force that was new +and interesting, with which he had felt altogether strong enough to +contend for an evening or he would not have come. That it should thrill +along all his senses with this unreasoning rapture was most astonishing. +He had never been a fellow to "fall" for every girl he met, and now he +felt himself gradually yielding to the beautiful spell about him with a +kind of wonder. + +The lights and coloring of the room that had smote his senses +unpleasantly when he first entered had thrown him now into a kind of +delicious fever. The neglected wine sparkling dimly in the costly +glasses seemed a part of it. He felt an impulse to reach out, seize a +glass, and drain it. What if he should? What if he flung away his ideas +and principles and let the moment sway him as it would, just for once? +Why should he not try life as it presented itself? + +These fancies fled through his brain like phantoms that did not dare to +linger. His was no callow mind, ignorant of the world. He had thought +and read and lived his ideas well for so young a man. He had vigorously +protested against weakness of every kind; yet here he was feeling the +drawing power of things he had always despised; reveling in the wine-red +color of the room, in the pit-like glow of the fire; watching the play +of smiles and wistfulness on the lovely face of the girl. He had often +wondered what others saw so attractive in her beyond a pretty face. But +now he understood. Her child-like speech and pretty little ways +fascinated him. Perhaps she was really innocent of her own charms. +Perhaps a man might lead her to give up certain of her ways that caused +her to be criticized. What a woman she would be then! What a friend to +have! + +This was the last sop he threw to his conscience before he consciously +began to yield to the spell that was upon him. + +She had been speaking of palmistry, and she took his hand in hers, +innocently, impersonally, with large eyes lifted inquiringly. Her breath +was on his face; her touch had stirred his senses with a madness he had +never felt nor measured in himself before. + +"The life-line is here," she said, coolly, and traced it delicately +along his palm with a sea-shell tinted finger. Like cool delicious fire +it spread from nerve to nerve and set aside his reason in a frenzy. He +would seize the berry and feel its stain upon his lips now no matter +what!-- + +"Paul!" + +It was as distinct upon his ear as if the words had been spoken; as +startling and calming as a cool hand upon his fevered brow; the sudden +entrance of a guest. He had seized her hands with sudden fervor, and +now, almost in the same moment, flung them from him and stood up, a man +in full possession of his senses. "Hark!" he said, and as he spoke a cry +broke faintly forth above them, and there was sound of rushing feet. A +frightened maid burst into the room unannounced. + +"Oh, Miss Gila, I beg yer pardon, but Master Harry's got his father's +razor, an' he's cut hisself something awful." + +The maid was weeping and wringing her hands helplessly, but Gila stood +frowning angrily. Courtland sprang up the stairs. In the tumult of his +mind he would have rejoiced if the house had been on fire, or a cyclone +had struck the place--anything so he could fling himself into service. +He drew in long, deep breaths. It was like mountain air to get away from +that lurid room into the light once more. A sense of lost power +returned, was over him. The spell was broken. + +He bent over the little boy alertly, grasped the wrist, and stopped the +spurt of blood. The frightened child looked up into his face and stopped +crying. + +"You should have telephoned for the doctor at once and not made all this +fuss in the presence of a guest," scolded Gila as she came up the +stairs. She looked garish and out of place with her red velvet and +jewels in the brilliant light of the white-tiled bathroom. She stood +helplessly by the door, making no move to help Courtland. The maid was +at the telephone, frantically calling for the family physician. + +"Hand me those towels," commanded Courtland, and saw the look of disgust +upon Gila's face as she reluctantly picked her way across the +blood-stains. It struck him that they were the color of her frock. The +stain of the crushed berry. He moistened his dry lips. At least the +stain was not upon his lips. He had escaped. Yet by how narrow a margin. + +The girl felt the man's changed attitude without in the least +understanding it. She thought it had been the cry of the child that made +him jump up and fling her hands from him with that sudden "Hark!" in the +moment when he had almost yielded. She did not know that an inner voice +had called him. She only knew that she had lost him for the time, and +her vanity was still panting like a wild thing that has lost its prey. + +He gathered the little boy into his arms when he had bound up the cut, +and talked to him cheerfully. The child's curly head rested trustfully +against the big shoulder. + +"Floor all bluggy!" he remarked, languidly. "Wall all bluggy!" Then his +eyes fell on his sister in her scarlet frock. "Gila all bluggy, too!" he +laughed, and pointed with his well hand. + +"Be still, Harry!" said Gila, sharply, and when Courtland looked up in +wonder he saw the delicate brows drawn blackly, and the mouth had lost +its innocent sweetness. The child shrank in his arms, and he put a +reassuring hand upon the little head that snuggled comfortedly against +his coat. It was one of Courtland's strong points, this love of little +children. He grew fine and gentle in their presence. It often drew +attention on the athletic field when some little fellow strayed his way +and Courtland would turn to talk to the child. People would stop their +conversation and look his way; and a whole grand stand would come to +silence just to see him walk across the diamond with a little +golden-haired kid upon his shoulder. There was something inexpressibly +beautiful about his attitude toward a child. + +Gila saw it now and wondered. What unexpected trait was this that sat +upon the young man like a crown? Here, indeed, was a man who was worth +cultivating, not merely for the caprice of the moment. There was +something in his face and attitude now that commanded her respect and +admiration; something that drew her as she had not been drawn before. +She would win him now for his own sake, not just to show how she could +charm away his morbid fancies. + +She continued to stare at the young man with eyes that saw new things in +him, while Courtland sat petting the child and telling him a story. He +paid no further attention to her. + +When Gila set her heart upon a thing she had always had it. This had +been her father's method of bringing her up. Her mother was too busy +with her clubs and her social functions to see the harm. And now Gila +suddenly became aware that she was setting her heart upon this young +man. The eternal feminine in her that was almost choked with selfishness +was crying out for a man like this one to comfort and pet her the way he +was comforting and petting her little brother. That he had not yielded +too easily to her charms made him all the more desirable. The +interruption had come so suddenly that she couldn't even be sure he had +been about to take her hands in his when he flung them from him. He had +sprung from the couch almost as if he had been under orders. She could +not understand it, only she knew she was drawn by it all. + +But he should yield! She had power and she would use it. She had beauty +and it should wound him. She would win that gentle deference and +attention for her own. In her jealous, spoiled, little heart she hated +the little brother for lying there in his arms so, interrupting their +evening just when she had him where she had wanted him. Whether she +wanted him for more than a plaything she did not know, but her plaything +he should be as long as she desired him--and more also if she chose. + +When Courtland lifted his head at the sound of the doctor's footsteps on +the stairs he saw the challenge in Gila's eyes. Drawn up against the +white enamel of the bathroom door, all her brilliant velvet and jewels +gleaming in the brightness of the room, her regal little head up, her +chin lifted half haughtily, her innocent mouth pursed softly with +determination, her eyes wide with an inscrutable look--something more +than challenge--something soft, appealing, alluring, that stirred him +and drew him and repelled him all in one. + +With a sense of something stronger than he was back of him, he lifted +his own chin and hardened his eyes in answering challenge. He did not +know it, of course, but he wore the look that he always had when about +to meet a foe in a game--a look of strength and concealed power that +nearly always made the coming foe quake when he saw it. + +He shrank from going back to that red room again, or from being alone +with her; and when she would have had him return to the library he +declined, urging studies and an examination on the morrow. She received +his somewhat brusque reply with a hurt look, her mouth drooped +grievedly, and her eyes took on a wide, child-like look of distress that +gave an impression of innocence. He went away wondering if, after all, +he had not misjudged her. Perhaps she was only an adorable child who had +no idea of the effect her artlessness had upon men. She certainly was +lovely--wonderful! And yet the last glimpse he had of her had left that +impression of jeweled horns and scarlet, pointed toes. He had to get +away and think it out calmly before he went again. Oh yes, he was going +_again_. He had promised her at the last moment. + +The sense of having escaped something fateful was passing already. The +coolness of the night and the quiet of the starlight had calmed him. He +thought he had been a fool not to have stayed a little longer when she +asked him so prettily; and he must go soon again. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + + +"I think I'll go to church this morning, Nelly. Do you want to go +along?" announced Courtland, the next morning. + +Tennelly looked up aghast from the sporting page of the morning paper he +was lazily reading. + +"Go with him, Nelly, that's a good boy!" put in Bill Ward, agreeably, +winking his off eye at Tennelly. "It'll do you good. I'd go with you, +only I've got to get that condition made up or they'll fire me off the +'varsity, and I only need this one more game to get my letter." + +"Go to thunder!" growled Tennelly. "What do you think I want to go to +church for a morning like this? Court, you're crazy! Let's go and get +two saddle-horses and ride in the park. It's a peach of a morning for a +ride." + +"I think I'll go to church," said Courtland, with his old voice of quiet +decision. "Do you want to go or not?" + +There was something about Courtland's voice, and the way Bill Ward kept +up winking his off eye, that subdued Tennelly. + +"Sure, I'll go," he growled, reluctantly. + +"You old crab, you," chirped Bill, cheerfully, when Courtland had gone +out. "Can't you see you've got to humor him? He needs homeopathic +treatment. 'Like cures like.' Give him a good dose of religion and he'll +get good and tired of it. Church won't hurt him any, just give him a +good, pious feeling so he'll feel free to do as he pleases during the +week. I had a 'phone from Gila this morning. She says he's made another +date with her after exams. He fell, all right, so go get your little lid +and toddle off to Sunday-school. Try to toll him into a big, stylish +church. They're safest; but 'most any of 'em are cold enough to freeze +the eye-teeth out of a stranger as far as my experience goes." + +"Well, this isn't my funeral," sulked Tennelly, going to his closet for +suitable raiment. "I s'pose you get your way, but Court's keen +intellectually, and if he happens to strike a good preacher he's liable +to fall for what he says, in the mood he's in now." + +"Well, he won't strike a good preacher. There isn't one nowadays. There +are orators in the pulpit, plenty of them, but they're all preaching +about politics these days, or raving about uplifting the masses, and +that sorta thing won't hurt Court. Most of 'em are dry as punk. If Court +keeps awake through the service he won't go again, mark my words." + +They chose a church at random, these two who had decided to go up to the +house of God. High-arched and Gothic were its massive walls, with intricate +carving like lace in the stonework. Softly swung leather doors shut the +sanctuary from the outer world. The fretted gold-and-blue-and-scarlet +ceiling stretched away miles, as it were, in the space above them, and +rich carvings in dark, costly wood met the wonderful frescoes at lofty +heights. The carpets were soft, and the pews were upholstered in tones +to match. A great silence brooded over the place, making itself felt +above and beneath the swelling tones of the wonderful organ. People trod +the aisles softly, like puppets playing each his part. They bent in form +of prayer for a moment and settled into silence. The minister came +stiffly into the pulpit, casting a furtive eye about his congregation. + +They noticed almost at once that the most unpopular professor in the +university was acting as usher on the other side of the church. Tennelly +frowned and looked at Courtland, who sat watching the aforesaid usher as +he showed people to their seats, wondering if that man had a thing he +called religion, and if he was in any way related to Stephen Marshall's +Christ. This was a voyage of discovery for Courtland, this visit to a +Christian church. He had scarcely been to religious services since he +entered the university. He had considered them a waste of time. Now he +had come to see if there was really anything in them. It did not occur +to him that they had a real connection with those verses he had read in +the Bible about "doing the will," or that the going or staying away from +them was in any wise obligatory upon one who had allied himself with +Christ. The church stood to him as to many other young pagans such as he +was, for a man-made institution, to be attended or not as one chose. + +The music was not uplifting. It was well done by a paid choir, who had +good voices and sang wonderful music, but they had no heart in their +singing. The congregation attempted no more than a murmur of the hymns. +There was not a large congregation. + +The sermon was a dissertation on the Book of Jonah, a sort of resume of +all the argument, on both sides, that has torn the theological world in +these latter days. Not a word of Stephen Marshall's Christ, save a sort +of side reference to a verse about Jonah being three days and three +nights in the whale, and the Son of Man being three days in the heart of +the earth. Courtland wasn't even sure that this reference meant the +Christ, and it never entered his head that it touched at the heart of +the great doctrine of the resurrection of the dead. As far as he could +understand the reverend gentleman the arguments he quoted against the +Book of Jonah were far stronger and more plausible than those put forth +in its defense. What was it all about, anyway? What did it matter +whether Jonah was or was not, or whether anybody accepted the book? How +could a thing like that affect the life of a man? + +Tennelly watched the expressive face beside him and decided that perhaps +Bill Ward had been half right, after all. + +On their way back to the university they met Gila Dare. Gila all in gray +like a dove, gray suit of soft, rich cloth, gray furs of the depth and +richness of smoke, gray suede boots laced high to meet her brief gray +skirts, silver hat with a single velvet rose on the brim to match the +soft rose-bloom on her cheeks. Gila with eyes as wide and innocent as a +baby's, cupid mouth curved sweetly in a gracious, shy smile, and dainty +little prayer-book done in gray suede held devoutly in her little gloved +hand. + +"Who's that?" growled Tennelly, admiringly, when they had passed a +suitable distance. + +"Why, that's Bill Ward's cousin, Gila Dare," announced Courtland, +graciously. He was still basking in the pleasure of her smile, and +thinking how different she looked from last evening in this soft, gray, +silvery effect. Yes, he had misjudged her. A girl who could look like +that must be sweet and pure and unspoiled. It had been that unfortunate +dress last night that had reminded him unpleasantly of the scarlet woman +and the awful night of the fire. If he ever got well enough acquainted +he would ask her never to wear red again; it made her appear sensual; +and even she, delicate and sweet as she was, could not afford to cast a +thought like that into the minds of her beholders. It was then he began +to idealize Gila. + +"Gila Dare!" Tennelly straightened up and took notice. So that was the +invincible Gila! That little soft-eyed exquisite thing with the hair +like a midnight cloud. + +"Some looker!" he commented, approvingly, and wished he were in +Courtland's shoes. + +"She's got in her work all right," he commented to himself. "Old Court's +fallen already. Guess I'll have to buy a straw hat, it'll be more +edible." + +Courtland was like his gay old self when he got back to the dormitory. +He joked a great deal. His eyes were bright and his color better than it +had been since he was sick. He said nothing about the morning service, +and by and by Bill Ward ventured a question: "What kind of a harangue +did you hear this morning?" + +"Rotten!" he answered, promptly, and turned away. Somehow that question +recalled him to the uneasiness within his soul for which he had sought +solace in the church service. He became silent again, and, strolling +away into Stephen's room and closing the door, sat down. + +There was something strange about that room. The Presence seemed always +to be there. It hadn't made itself felt in the church at all, as he had +half hoped it would. He had taken Tennelly with him because he wanted +something tangible, friendly, sane, from the world he knew, to give him +ballast. If the Presence had been in the church, with Tennelly by his +side, he would have been sure it was not wholly a hallucination +connected with his memory of Stephen. + +It was strange, for now that he sat there in that quiet room that had +once witnessed the trying out of a manly soul, and saw the calm eyes of +the plain mother on the wall opposite, and the true eyes of the dowdy +school-boy on the other wall, he was feeling the Presence again! + +Why hadn't he felt its power in the church? Was it because of the +presence of such people in the temple as that little mean-souled +professor, whom everybody knew to be insincere from the crown of his +head to the soles of his sly little feet? Was it because the people were +cold and careless and didn't sing even with their lips, let alone their +hearts, but hired it all done for them? + +And then there had been that call of his name when he was with Gila +Dare, as clear and distinct, like a friend he had left outside who had +grown tired of waiting, and worried about him. Why hadn't the sense of +the Presence gone with him into the room? Would a Presence like that be +afraid of hostile influences? No. If it was real and a Presence at all +it would be more powerful than any other influence in the universe. Then +why? + +Could it be that he had gone deliberately into an influence that would +make it impossible for the Presence to guide? + +Or was it possible that his own attitude toward that girl had been at +fault? He had gone to see her regarding her somewhat lightly. As a +gentleman he should regard no woman with disrespect. Her womanhood +should be honored by him even if she chose to dishonor it herself. If he +had gone to see Gila with a different attitude toward her, expecting +high, fine things of her, rather than merely to be amused by one whom he +scarcely regarded seriously, perhaps all this strange mental phenomena +would not have come to pass. + +Finally he locked the door and knelt down with his head upon the worn +Bible. He had no idea of praying. Prayer meant to him but a repetition +of a form of words. There had been prayers in his childhood, brought +about by the maiden aunt who kept house for his father after his +mother's death, and assisted in bringing him up until he was old enough +to go away to boarding-school. They were a good deal of a bore, coming +as they did when he was sleepy. There was a long, vague one beginning, +"Our Father which art," in which he always had to be prompted. There +was, "Now I lay me," and "Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, bless the bed I +lie upon; Wish I may, wish I might, get the wish I wish to-night!" Or +_was_ that a prayer? He never could remember as he grew older. + +He did not know why he was drawn to kneel there with his eyes closed and +his cheek upon that Bible. Strange that when he was in that room all +doubt about the Presence vanished, all uneasiness about reconciling it +with realities, laws, and science fled away. + +Later he stood in his own room by the window, watching the great red sun +go down in the west and light a ruby fire behind the long line of tall +buildings that stretched beyond the campus. The glow in no wise +resembled, but yet reminded him, of the fire in the glowing grate of the +Dare library. Why had that room affected him so strangely? And Gila, +little Gila, how sweet and innocent she had looked when they met her +that morning with her prayer-book. How wrong he must have been to take +the idle talk that people chattered about her and let it influence his +thoughts of her. She could not be all that they said, and yet look so +sweet and innocent. What had she reminded him of in literature? Ah! he +had it. Solveig in _Peer Gynt_! + + How fair! Did ever you see the like? + Looked down at her shoes and her snow-white apron!-- + And then she held on to her mother's skirt-folds, + And carried a psalm-book wrapped up in a 'kerchief!-- + +That ample purple person by her side, with the dark eyes, the double +chin, and the hard lines in her painted face, must be Gila's mother! +Perhaps people talked about the daughter because of her mother, for +_she_ looked it fully! But then a girl couldn't help having a foolish +mother! She was to be pitied more than blamed if she seemed silly and +frivolous now and then. + +What a thing for a man to do, to teach her to trust him, and then guide +her and help her and uplift her till she had the highest standards +formed! She was so young and tiny, and so sweet at times! Yes, she was, +she must be, like Solveig. + +If a man with a good moral character, a tolerably decent reputation for +good taste and respectability, no fool at his studies, no stain on his +name, should go with her, help her, get her to give up certain daring +things she had the name of doing--if such a fellow should give her the +protection of his friendship and let the world see that he considered +her respectable--wouldn't it help a lot? Wouldn't it stop people's +mouths and make them see that Gila wasn't what they had been saying, +after all? + +It came to him that this would be a very pleasant mission, for his +leisure hours during the rest of that winter. All thought of any danger +to himself through such intercourse as he was suggesting to his thoughts +had departed from his mind. + +Half a mile away Gila was pouring tea for two extremely ardent youths +who scarcely occupied half of her mind. With the other half she was +planning a little note which should bring Courtland to her side early in +the week. She had no thoughts of God. She was never troubled with much +pondering. She knew exactly what she wanted without thinking any further +about it, and she meant to have it. + + + + +CHAPTER V + + +It was a great source of question with Courtland afterward, just why it +should have been he that happened to carry that telegram over to the +West Dormitory to Wittemore, instead of any one of a dozen other fellows +who were in the office when it arrived and might just as well have gone. +Did anything in this world _happen_, he wondered? + +He could not tell why he had held out his hand and offered to take the +message. + +It was not because he was not trying hard, and studying for all he was +worth, that "Witless Abner," as Wittemore had come to be called, had won +his nickname. He worked night and day, plunged in a maze of things he +did not quite understand until long after the rest of the class had +passed them. He was majoring in sociology through the advice of a +faddist uncle who had never seen him. He had told Abner's mother that +sociology was the coming science, and Abner was faithfully carrying out +the course of study he suggested. He was floundering through hours of +lectures on the theory of the subject, and conscientiously working in +the college settlement to get the practical side of things. He had the +distressed look of a person with very short legs who is trying to keep +up with a procession of six-footers, although there was nothing short +about Abner. His legs were long, and his body was long, his arms were +long, too long for most of his sleeves. His face was long, his nose and +chin were painfully long, and were accompanied by a sensitive mouth +that was always on the quiver with apprehension, like a rabbit's, and +little light eyes with whitish eyelashes. His hair was like licked hay. +There was absolutely nothing attractive about Wittemore except his +smile, and he so seldom smiled that few of the boys had ever seen it. He +had almost no friends. + +He had apparently just entered his room when Courtland reached his door, +and was stumbling about in a hurry to turn on the light. He stopped with +his lips aquiver and a dart of fear in his eyes when he saw the +telegram. Nobody but his mother would send him a telegram, and she would +never waste the money for it unless there was something dreadful the +matter. He looked at it fearfully, holding it in his hand and glancing +up again at Courtland half helplessly, as if he feared to open it. + +Then, with that set, stolid look of prodding ahead that characterized +all Abner's movements he clumsily tore open the envelope. + +"Your mother is dying. Come at once," were the terse, cruel words that +he read, signed with a neighbor's initials. + +The young man gave the gasp of a hurt thing and stood gaping up at +Courtland. + +"Nothing the matter, I hope," said Courtland, kindly, moved by the gray, +stricken look that had come over the poor fellow's face. + +"It's mother!" he gasped. "Read!" He thrust the telegram into +Courtland's hand and sank down on the side of his bed with his head in +his hands. + +"Tough luck, old man!" said Courtland, with a kindly hand on the bowed +shoulder. "But maybe it's only a scare. Sometimes people get better when +they're pretty sick, you know." + +Wittemore shook his head. "No. We've been expecting this, she and I. +She's been sick a long time. I didn't want to come back this year! I +thought she was failing! But she would have it! She'd got her heart so +set on my graduating!" + +"Well, cheer up!" said Courtland, breezily. "Very likely your coming +will help her to rally again! What train do you want to get? Can I help +you any?" + +Wittemore lifted his head and looked about his room helplessly. It was +plain he was dazed. + +Courtland looked up the train, 'phoned for a taxi, went around the room +gathering up what he thought would be necessities for the journey, while +Wittemore was inadequately trying to get himself dressed. Suddenly +Wittemore stopped short in the midst of his ineffective efforts and drew +something out of his pocket with an exclamation of dismay. + +"I forgot about this medicine!" he gasped. "I'll have to wait for the +next train! Never mind that suit-case. I haven't time to wait for it! +I'll go right up to the station as soon as I land this." + +He seized his hat and would have gone out the door, but Courtland +grabbed him by the arm. + +"Hold on, old fellow! What's up? Surely you won't let anything keep you +from your mother now." + +"I must!" The words came with a moan of agony from the sensitive lips. +"It's medicine for a poor old woman down in the settlement district. +She's suffering horribly, and the doctor said she ought to have it +to-night, but there was no one else to get it for her, so I promised. +She's lying there waiting for it now, listening to every sound till I +come. Mother wouldn't want me to come to her, leaving a woman suffering +like that when I'd promised. I only came up here to get car fare so I +could get there sooner than walking. It took all the change I had to +get the prescription filled." + +"Darn you, Wittemore! What do you think I am? I'll take the medicine to +the old lady--ten old ladies if necessary! You get your train! There's +your suit-case. Have you got plenty of money?" + +A blank look came over the poor fellow's face. "If I could find Dick +Folsom I would have about enough. He owes me something. I did some +copying for him." + +Courtland's hand was in his pocket. He always had plenty of money about +him. That had never been one of his troubles. He had been to the bank +that day, fortunately. Now he thrust a handful of bills into Wittemore's +astonished hands. + +"There's fifty! Will that see you through? And I can send you more if +you need it. Just wire me how much you want." + +Wittemore stood looking down at the bills, and tears began to run down +his cheeks and splash upon them. Courtland felt his own eyes filling. +What a pitiful, lonely life this had been! And the fellows had let him +live that way! To think that a few paltry greenbacks should bring +_tears_! + +A few minutes later he stood looking after the whirling taxi as it bore +away Wittemore into the darkness of the evening street, his heart +pounding with several new emotions. Witless Abner for one! What a +surprise he had been! Would everybody you didn't fancy turn out that way +if you once got hold of the key of their souls and opened the door? + +Then the little wrapped bottle he held in his hand reminded him that he +must hasten if he would perform the mission left for him and return in +time for supper. There was something in his soul that would not let him +wait until after supper. So he plunged forward into the dusk and swung +himself on board a down-town car. + +He had no small trouble in finding the street, or rather court, in which +the old woman lived. + +He stumbled up the narrow staircase, lighting matches as he went, for +the place was dark as midnight. By the time he had climbed four flights +he was wondering what in thunder Wittemore came to places like this for? +Just to major in sociology? Didn't the nut know that he would never make +a success in a thing like that? What was he doing it for, anyway? Did he +expect to teach it? Poor fellow, he would never get a job! His looks +were against him. + +He knocked, with no result, at several doors for his old woman, but at +last a feeble voice answered: "Come in," and he entered a room entirely +dark. There didn't even appear to be a window, though he afterward +discovered one opening into an air-shaft. He stood hesitating within the +room, blinking and trying to see what was about him. + +"Be that you, Mr. Widymer?" asked a feeble voice from the opposite +corner. + +"Wittemore couldn't come. He had a telegram that his mother is dying and +he had to get the train. He sent me with the medicine." + +"Oh, now ain't that too bad!" said the voice. "His mother dyin'! An' to +think he should remember me an' my medicine! Well, now, what d' ye think +o' that?" + +"If you'll tell me where your gas is located I'll make a light for you," +said Courtland, politely. + +"Gas!" The old lady laughed aloud. "You won't find no such thing as gas +around this part o' town. There's about an inch of candle up on that +shelf. The distric' nurse left it there. I was thinkin' mebbe I'd get +Mr. Widymer to light it fer me when he come, an' then the night +wouldn't seem so long. It's awful, when you're sufferin' to have the +nights long." + +He groped till he found the shelf and lit the candle. By degrees the +flickering light revealed to him a small bare room with no furniture +except a bed, a chair, a small stove, and a table. A box in the corner +apparently contained a few worn garments. Some dishes and provisions +were huddled on the table. The walls and floor were bare. The district +nurse had done her level best to clear up, perhaps, but there had been +no attempt at good cheer. A desolate place indeed to spend a weary night +of suffering, even with an inch of candle sending weird flickerings +across the dusky ceiling. + +His impulse was to flee, but somehow he couldn't. "Here's this +medicine," he said. "Where do you want me to put it?" + +The woman motioned with a bony hand toward the table. "There's a cup and +spoon over there somewhere," she said, weakly. "If you could go get me a +pitcher of water and set it here on a chair I could manage to take it +durin' the night." + +He could see her better now, for the candle was flaring bravely. She was +little and old. Her thin, white hair straggled pitifully about her +small, wrinkled face, her eyes looked as if they had been burned almost +out by suffering. He saw she was drawn and quivering with pain, even now +as she tried to speak cheerfully. A something rebellious in him yielded +to the nerve of the little old woman, and he put down his impatience. +Sure he would get her the water! + +She explained that the hydrant was down on the street. He took the +doubtful-looking pitcher and stumbled out upon those narrow, rickety +stairs again. + +Way down to the street and back in that inky blackness! "Gosh! Thunder! +The deuce!" (He didn't allow himself any stronger words these days.) +Was this the kind of thing one was up against when one majored in +sociology? + +"I be'n thinkin'," said the old lady, quaveringly, when he stumbled, +blinking, back into the room again with the water, "ef you wouldn't mind +jest stirrin' up the fire an' makin' me a sup o' tea it would be real +heartenin'. I 'ain't et nothin' all day 'cause the pain was so bad, but +I think it'll ease up when I git a dose of the medicine, and p'r'aps I +might eat a bite." + +Courtland was appalled, but he went vigorously to work at that fire, +although he had never laid eyes on anything so primitive as that stove +in all his life. Presently, by using common sense, he had the thing +going and a forlorn little kettle steaming away cheerfully. + +The old woman cautioned him against using too much tea. There must be at +least three drawings left, and it would be a long time, perhaps, before +she got any more. Yes, there was a little mite of sugar in a paper on +the table. + +"There's some bread there, too--half a loaf 'most--but I guess it's +pretty dry. You don't know how to make toast I 'spose," she added, +wistfully. + +Courtland had never made toast in his life. He abominated it. She told +him how to hold it up on a fork in front of the coals and he managed to +do two very creditable slices. He had forgotten his own supper now. +There was something quite fresh and original in the whole experience. It +would have been interesting to have told the boys, if there weren't some +features about it that were almost sacred. He wondered what the gang +would say when he told them about Wittemore! Poor Wittemore! He wasn't +as nutty as they had thought! He had good in his heart! Courtland poured +the tea, but the sugar-paper had proved quite empty when he found it; +likewise a plate that had once contained butter. + +The toast and tea, however, seemed to be quite acceptable without its +usual accessories. "Now," he said, with a long breath, "is there +anything else you'd like done before I go?--for I must be getting back +to college." + +"If you just wouldn't mind makin' a prayer before you go," responded the +little old woman, wistfully, her feeble chin trembling with her +boldness. "I be'n wantin' a prayer this long while, but I don't seem to +have good luck. The distric' nurse, she ain't the prayin' kind; an' Mr. +Widymer he says he don't pray no more since he's come to college. He +said it so kind of ashamed-like I didn't like to bother him again; and +there ain't anybody else come my way for three months back. You seem so +kind-spoken and pleasant-like as if you might be related to a preacher, +and I thought mebbe you wouldn't mind just makin' a little short prayer +'fore you go. I dunno how long it'll be 'fore I'll get a chancet of one +again." + +Courtland stood rooted to the floor in dismay. "Why,--I--" he began, +growing red enough to be apparent even by the flickering inch of candle. + +Suddenly the room which had been so empty seemed to grow hushed and full +of breathless spectators, and One, waiting to hear what he would +say--whether he would respond to the call. Before his alarmed vision +there came the memory of that wall of smoke which had shut him in, and +that Voice calling him by name and saying, "You shall be shown." Was +this what the Presence asked of him? Was this that mysterious "doing His +will" that the Book spoke about, which should presently give the +assurance? + +He saw the old woman's face glow with eagerness. It was as if the +Presence waited through her eyes to see what he would do. Something +leaped up in his heart in response and he took a step forward and +dropped upon his knees beside the old wooden chair. + +"I'm afraid I shall make a worse bungle of it than I did of the toast," +he said, as he saw her folding her hands with delight. She smiled with +serene assurance, and he closed his eyes and wondered where were words +to use in such a time as this. + +"Now I lay me" would not do for the poor creature who had been lying +down many days and might never rise again; "Matthew, Mark, Luke, and +John" was more appropriate, but there was that uncertainty about it +being a prayer at all. "Our Father"--Ah! He caught at the words and +spoke them. + +"Our Father which art"--but what came next? That was where he had always +had to be prompted, and now, in his confusion, all the rest had fled +from his mind. But now it seemed that with the words the Presence had +drawn near, was standing close by the chair. His mind leaped forth with +the consciousness that he might talk with this invisible Presence, +unfold his own perplexities and restlessness, and perhaps find out what +it all meant. With scarcely a hesitation his clear voice went on eagerly +now: + +"Our Father, which art in this room, show us how to find and know You." +He could not remember afterward what else he said. Something about his +own longing, and the old woman's pain and loneliness. He was not sure if +it was really a prayer at all, that halting petition. + +He got up from his knees greatly embarrassed; but more by the Presence +to whom he had dared to speak thus for the first time on his own +account, than by the little old woman, whose hands were still clasped in +reverence, and down whose withered cheeks the tears were coursing. The +smoky walls, the cracked stove, the stack of discouraged dishes, seemed +to fade away, and the room was somehow full of glory. He was choking +with the oppression of it, and with a kind of sinking at heart lest the +prayer had been only an outbreak of his own desire to know what this +Force or Presence was that seemed dominating him so fully these days. + +The old woman was blessing him. She held out her hands like a patriarch: +"Oh, that was such a beautiful prayer! I'll not forget the words all the +night through and for many a night. The Lord Himself bless ye! Are you a +preacher's son, perhaps?" + +He shook his head; but he had no smile upon his face at the thought, as +he might have had five minutes before. + +"Well, then, yer surely goin' to be a preacher yerself?" + +"No," he said; then added, thoughtfully, "not that I know of." The +suggestion struck him curiously as one who hears for the first time that +there is a possibility that he may be selected for some important +foreign embassy. + +"Well, then, yer surely a blessed child o' God Himself, anyhow, and this +is a great night fer this poor little room to be honored with a pretty +prayer like that!" + +Scarcely hearing her, he said good night and went thoughtfully down the +dark stairs, a strange sense of peace upon him. Curiously enough, while +he felt that he had left the Presence up in that little dismal room, it +yet seemed to be moving beside him, touching his soul, breathing upon +him! He was so engrossed with this thought that it never occurred to him +that he had given the old woman every cent he had in his pocket. He had +forgotten entirely that he had been hungry. A great world-wonder was +moving within his spirit. He could not understand himself. He went back +with awe over the last few minutes and the strange new world into which +he had been so suddenly plunged. + +Scarcely noticing how he went, he got himself out of the intricacies of +the court into a neighborhood a shade less poverty-stricken, and stood +upon the corner of a busy thoroughfare in an utterly unfamiliar +district, pausing to look about him and discover his whereabouts. + +A little child with long, fair hair rushed suddenly out of a door on the +side-street, eagerly pulling a ragged sweater about his small shoulders, +and stood upon the curbstone, breathlessly watching the coming trolley. +The car stopped, and a young girl in shabby clothes got out and came +toward him. + +"Bonnie! Bonnie! I've got supper all ready!" the child called in a +clear, bird-like voice, and darted from the curb across the narrow +side-street to meet her. + +Courtland, standing on the corner in front of the trolley, saw, too +late, the swift-coming automobile bearing down upon the child, its +head-lights flaring on the golden hair. With a cry the young man sprang +to the rescue, but the child was already crumpled up like a lily and the +relentless car speeding onward, its chauffeur darting frightened, +cowardly glances behind him as he plunged his machine forward over the +track, almost in the teeth of the up-trolley. When the trolley was +passed there was no sign of the car, even if any one had had time to +look for it. There in the road lay the little, broken child, the long +hair spilling like gold over the pavement, the little, still, white face +looking up like a flower that has suddenly been torn from the plant. + +The girl was beside the child almost instantly, dropping all her +parcels; gathering him into her slender arms, calling in frightened, +tender tones: + +"Aleck! Darling! My little darling!" + +The child was too heavy for her to lift, and she tottered as she tried +to rise, lifting a frightened face to Courtland. + +"Let me take him," said the young man, stooping and gathering him gently +from her. "Now show me where!" + + + + +CHAPTER VI + + +Into the narrow brick house from which he had run forth so joyously but +a few short minutes before, they carried him, up two flights of steep +stairs to a tiny room at the back of the hall. + +The gas was burning brightly at one side, and something that sent forth +a savory odor was bubbling on a little two-burner gas-stove. Courtland +was hungry, and it struck his nostrils pleasantly as the door swung +open, revealing a tiny table covered with a white cloth, set for two. +There was a window curtained with white, and a red geranium on the sill. + +The girl entered ahead of him, sweeping back a bright chintz curtain +that divided the tiny room, and drew forth a child's cot bed. Courtland +gently laid down the little inert figure. The girl was on her knees +beside the child at once, a bottle in her hand. She was dropping a few +drops in a teaspoon and forcing them between the child's lips. + +"Will you please get a doctor, quick," she said, in a strained, quiet +voice. "No, I don't know who; I've only been here two weeks. We're +strangers! Bring somebody! anybody! quick!" + +Courtland was back in a minute with a weary, seedy-looking doctor who +just fitted the street. All the way he was seeing the beautiful agony of +the girl's face. It was as if her suffering had been his own. Somehow he +could not bear to think what might be coming. The little form had lain +so limply in his arms! + +The girl had undressed the child and put him between the sheets. He was +more like a broken lily than ever. The long dark lashes lay still upon +the cheeks. + +Courtland stood back in the doorway, looking at the small table set for +two, and pushed to the wall now to make room for the cot. There was just +barely room to walk around between the things. He could almost hear the +echo of that happy, childish voice calling down in the street: "Bonnie! +Bonnie! I've got supper all ready!" + +He wondered if the girl had heard. And there was the supper! Two +blue-and-white bowls set daintily on two blue-and-white plates, +obviously for the something-hot that was cooking over the flame, two +bits of bread-and-butter plates to match; two glasses of milk; a plate +of bread, another of butter; and by way of dessert an apple cut in half, +the core dug out and the hollow filled with sugar. He took in the +details tenderly, as if they had been a word-picture by Wells or Shaw in +his contemporary-prose class at college. They seemed to burn themselves +into his memory. + +"Go over to my house and ask my wife to give you my battery!" commanded +the doctor in a low growl. + +Courtland was off again, glad of something to do. He carried the memory +of the doctor's grizzled face lying on the little bared breast of the +child, listening for the heart-beats, and the beautiful girl's anguish +as she stood above them. He pushed aside the curious throng that had +gathered around the door and were looking up the stairs, whispering +dolefully and shaking heads: + +"An' he was so purty, and so cheery, bless his heart!" wailed one woman. +"He always had his bit of a word an' a smile!" + +"Aw! Them ottymobbeels!" he heard another murmur. "Ridin' along in +their glory! They'll be a day o' reckonin' fer them rich folks what +rides in 'em! They'll hev to walk! They may even have to lie abed an' +hev their wages get behind!" + +The whole weight of the sorrow of the world seemed suddenly pressing +upon Courtland's heart. How had he been thus unexpectedly taken out of +the pleasant monotony of the university and whirled into this vortex of +anguish! Why had it been? Was it just happen that he should have been +the one to have gone to the old woman and made her toast, and then been +called upon to pray, instead of Tennelly or Bill Ward or any of the +other fellows? And after that was it again just coincidence that he +should have happened to stand at that corner at that particular moment +and been one to participate in this later tragedy? Oh, the beautiful +face of the suffering girl! Fear and sorrow and suffering and death +everywhere! Wittemore hurrying to his dying mother! The old woman lying +on her bed of pain! But there had been glory in that dark old room when +he left it, the glory of a Presence! Ah! Where was the Presence now? How +could _He_ bear all this? The Christ! And could He not change it if He +would--make the world a happy place instead of this dark and dreadful +thing that it was? For the first time the horror of war surged over his +soul in its blackness. Men dying in the trenches! Women weeping at home +for them! Others suffering and bleeding to death out in the open, the +cold or the storm! How could God let it all be? His wondering soul cried +out, "Lord, if Thou hadst been here!" + +It was the old question that used to come up in the class-room, yet now, +strangely enough, he began to feel there was an answer to it somewhere; +an answer wherewith he would be satisfied when he found it. + +It seemed an eternity of thought through which he passed as he crossed +and recrossed the street and was back in the tiny room where life waited +on death. It was another eternity while the doctor worked again over the +boy. But at last he stood back, shaking his head and blinking the tears +from his kind, tired, blue eyes. + +"It's no use," he said, gruffly, turning his head away. "He's gone!" + +It was then the girl brushed him aside and sank to her knees beside the +little cot. + +"Aleck! Aleck! Darling brother! Can't you speak to your Bonnie just once +more before you go?" she called, clearly, distinctly, as if to a child +who was far on his way hence. And then once again pitifully: + +"Oh, darling brother! You're all I had left! Let me hear you call me +Bonnie just once more before you go to mother!" + +But the childish lips lay still and white, and the lips of the girl +looking down upon the little quiet form grew whiter also as she looked. + +"Oh, my darling! You have gone! You will never call me any more! And you +were all I had! Good-by!" And she stooped and kissed the boy's lips with +a finality that wrung the hearts of the onlookers. They knew she had +forgotten their presence. + +The doctor stepped into the hall. The tears were rolling down his +cheeks. "It's tough luck!" he said in an undertone to Courtland. + +The young man turned away to hide the sudden convulsion that seemed +coming to his own face. Then he heard the girl's voice again, lower, as +if she were talking confidentially to one who stood close at hand. + +"Oh Christ, will You go with little Aleck and see that he is not afraid +till he gets safe home? And will You help me somehow to bear his leaving +me alone?" + +The doctor was wiping away the tears with a great, soiled handkerchief. +The girl rose calmly, white and controlled, facing them as if she +remembered them for the first time. + +"I want to thank you for all you've done!" she said. "I'm only a +stranger and you've been very kind. But now it's over and I will not +hinder you any longer." + +She wanted to be alone. They could see that. Yet it wrung their hearts +to leave her so. + +"You will want to make some arrangements," growled the doctor. + +"Oh! I had forgotten!" The girl's hand fluttered to her heart and her +breath gave a quick catch. "It will have to be very simple," she said, +looking from one to another of them anxiously. "I haven't much money +left. Perhaps I could sell something!" She looked desperately around on +her little possessions. "This little cot! It is new just two weeks ago +and he will not need it any more. It cost twenty dollars!" + +Courtland stepped gravely toward her. "Suppose you leave that to me," he +said, gently. "I think I know a place where they would look after the +matter for you reasonably and let you pay later or take the cot in +exchange, you know, anything you wish. Would you like me to arrange the +matter for you?" + +"Oh, if you would!" said the girl, wearily. "But it is asking a great +deal of a stranger." + +"It's nothing. I can look after it on my way home. Just tell me what you +wish." + +"Oh, the very simplest there is!"--she caught her breath--"white if +possible, unless it's more expensive. But it doesn't matter, anyway, +now. There'll have to be a _place_ somewhere, too. Some time I will take +him back and let him lie by father and mother. I can't now. It's two +hundred miles away. But there won't need to be but one carriage. There's +only me to go." + +He looked his compassion, but only asked, "Is there anything else?" + +"Any special clergyman?" asked the doctor, kindly. + +She shook her head sadly. "We hadn't been to church yet. I was too +tired. If you know of a minister who would come." + +"It's tough luck," said the doctor again as they went down-stairs +together, "to see a nice, likely little chap like that taken away so. +And I operated this afternoon on a hardened old reprobate around the +corner here, that's played the devil to everybody, and he's going to +pull through! It does seem strange. It ain't the way I should run the +universe, but I'm thundering glad I 'ain't got the job!" + +Courtland walked on through the busy streets, thinking that sentence +over. He had a dim current of inner perception that suggested there +might be another way of looking at the matter; a possibility that the +wicked old reprobate had yet something more to learn of life before he +went beyond its choices and opportunities; a conviction that if he were +called to go he had rather be the little child in his purity than the +old man in his deviltry. + +The sudden cutting down of this lovely child had startled and shocked +him. The bereavement of the girl cut him to the heart as if she had +belonged to him. It brought the other world so close. It made what had +hitherto seemed the big worth-while things of life look so small and +petty, so ephemeral! Had he always been giving himself utterly to things +that did not count, or was this a perspective all out of proportion, a +distorted brain again, through nervous strain and over-exertion? + +He came presently to a well-known undertaker's, and, stepping in, felt +more than ever the borderland-sense. In this silent house of sadness men +stepped quietly, gravely, decorously, and served you with courteous +sympathy. What was the name of the man who rowed his boat on the River +Styx? Yes! Charon! These wise-eyed grave men who continually plied their +oars between two worlds! How did they look on life? Were they hardened +to their task? Was their gentle gravity all acting? Did earthly things +appeal to them? How could they bear it all, this continual settled +sadness about the place! The awful hush! The tear-stained faces! The +heavy breath of flowers! Not all the lofty marble arches, and beauty of +surroundings, not all the soft music of hidden choirs and distant organ +up in one of the halls above where a service was even then in progress, +could take away the fact of death; the settled, final fact of death! One +moment here upon the curbstone, golden hair afloat, eyes alight with +joyous greeting, voice of laughter; the next gone, irrevocably gone, +"and the place thereof shall know it no more," Where had he heard those +words? Strange, sad house of death! Strange, uncertain life to live. +Resurrection! Where had he caught that word in carven letters twined +among lilies above the marble staircase? Resurrection! Yes, there would +need to be if there was to be any hope ever in this world! + +It was a strange duty he had to perform, strange indeed for a college +boy to whom death had never come very close since he had been old enough +to understand. It came to him to wonder what the fellows would say If +they could see him here. He felt half a grudge toward Wittemore for +having let him in for all this. Poor Wittemore! By this time to-morrow +night Wittemore might be doing this same service for his own mother! + +Death! Death! Death! Everywhere! It seemed as if everybody was dying! + +He made selections with a memory of the girl's beautiful, refined face. +He chose simple things and everything all white. He asked about details +and gave directions so that everything would move in an orderly manner, +with nothing to annoy. He even thought to order flowers, valley-lilies, +and some bright rosebuds, not too many to make her feel under +obligation. He took out his check-book and paid for the whole thing, +arranging that the girl should not know how much it all really cost, and +that a small sum might be paid by her as she was able, to be forwarded +by the firm to him; this to make her feel entirely comfortable about it +all. + +As he went out into the street again a great sense of weariness came +over him. He had lived--how many years had he lived!--in experience +since he left the university at half past five o'clock? How little his +past life looked to him as he surveyed it from the height he had just +climbed. Life! Life was not all basket-ball, and football, and dances, +and fellowships, and frats. and honors! Life was full of sorrow, and +bounded on every hand by death! The walk from where he was up to the +university looked like an impossibility. There was a store up in the +next block where he was known. He could get a check cashed and ride. + +He found himself studying the faces of the people in the car in a new +light. Were they all acquainted with sorrow? Yes, there were more or +less lines of hardship, or anxiety, or disappointment on all the older +faces. And the younger ones! Did all their bright smiles and eagerness +have to be frozen on their lips by grief some day? When you came to +think of it life was a terrible thing! Take that girl now, Miss +Brentwood--Miss R.B. Brentwood the address had been. The name her +brother had called her fitted better, "Bonnie." What would life mean to +her now? + +It occurred to him to wonder if there would be any such sorrow and +emptiness of life for any one if he were gone. The fellows would feel +badly, of course. There would be speeches and resolutions, a lot of +black drapery, and all that sort of thing in college, but what did that +amount to? His father? Oh yes, of course he would feel it some, but he +had been separated from his father for years, except for brief visits in +vacations. His father had married a young wife and there were three +young children. No, his father would not miss him much! + +He swung off the car in front of the university and entered the +dormitory at last, too engrossed in his strange new thoughts to remember +that he had had no supper. + +"Hello, Court! Where the deuce have you been? We've looked everywhere +for you. You didn't come to the dining-hall! What's wrong with you? Come +in here!" + +It was Tennelly who hauled him into Bill Ward's room and thumped him +into a big leather study-chair. + +"Why, man, you're all in! Give an account of yourself!" he said, tossing +his hat over to Bill Ward, and pulling away at his mackinaw. + +"P'raps he's in love!" suggested Pat from the couch where he was puffing +away at his pipe. + +"P'raps he's flunked his Greek exam.," suggested Bill Ward, with a grin. + +"He looks as if he'd seen a ghost!" said Tennelly, eying him critically. + +"Cut it out, boys," said Courtland, with a weary smile. "I've seen +enough. Wittemore's called home. His mother's dying. I went an errand +for him down in some of his slums and on the way back I just saw a +little kid get killed. Pretty little kid, too, with long curls!" + +"_Good night nurse!_" said Pat from his couch. "Say, that is going +some!" + +"Ferget it!" ejaculated Bill Ward, coming to his feet. "Had your supper +yet, Court?" + +Courtland shook his head. + +"Well, just you sit still there while I run down to the pie-shop and see +what I can get." + +Bill seized his cap and mackinaw and went roaring off down the hall. +Courtland's eyes were closed. He hadn't felt so tired since he left the +hospital. His mind was still grappling with the questions that his last +two hours had flung at him to be answered. + +Pat sat up and put away his pipe. He made silent motions to Tennelly, +and the two picked up the unresisting Courtland and laid him on the +couch. Pat's face was unusually sober as he gently put a pillow under +his friend's head. Courtland opened his eyes and smiled. + +"Thanks, old man," he said, and gripped his hand understandingly. There +was something in Pat's face he had never noticed there before. As he +dropped his eyelids shut he had an odd sense that Pat and Tennelly and +the Presence were all taking care of him. A sick fancy of worn-out +nerves, of course, but pleasant all the same. + +Down the hall a nasal voice twanged at the telephone, shouting each +answer as though to make the whole dormitory hear. Then loud steps, a +thump on the door as it was flung open: + +"Court here? A girl on the 'phone wants you, Court. Says her name is +Miss Gila Dare." + + + + +CHAPTER VII + + +The messenger had imitated Gila Dare's petulant childish accent to +perfection. At another time the three young men would have shouted over +it. Now they looked at one another in silence. + +"Sha'n't I go and get a message for you, Court?" asked Tennelly. For +Courtland's face was ashen gray, and the memory of it lying in the +hospital was too recent for him not to feel anxious about his friend. He +had only been permitted to return to college so quickly under strict +orders not to overdo. + +"No, I guess I'll go," said Courtland, indifferently, rising as he +spoke. + +They listened anxiously to his tones as he conversed over the 'phone. + +"Hello!... Yes!... Yes!... Oh! Good evening!... Yes.... Yes.... +No-o-o--it won't be possible!... No, I've just come in and I'm pretty +well 'all in.' I have a lot of studying yet to do to-night. This is +exam. week, you know.... No, I'm afraid not to-morrow night either.... +No, there wouldn't be a chance till the end of the week, anyway.... Why, +yes, I think I could by that time, perhaps--Friday night? I'll let you +know.... Thank you. Good-by!" + +The listeners looked from one to the other knowingly. This was not the +tone of one who had "fallen" very far for a girl. They knew the signs. +He had actually been indifferent! Gila Dare had not conquered him so +easily as Bill Ward had thought she would. And the strange thing about +it was that there was something in the atmosphere that night that made +them feel they weren't so very sorry. Somehow Courtland seemed unusually +close and dear to them just then. For the moment they seemed to have +perceived something fine and high in his mood that held them in awe. +They did not "kid" him when he came back to them, as they would +ordinarily have done. They received him gravely, talking together about +the examination on the morrow, as if they had scarcely noticed his +going. + +Bill Ward came back presently with his arms laden with bundles. He +looked keenly at the tired face on the couch, but whistled a merry tune +to let on he had not noticed anything amiss. + +"Got a great spread this time," he declared, setting forth his spoils on +two chairs alongside the couch. "Hot oyster stew! Sit by, fellows! Cooky +wrapped it up in newspapers to keep it from getting cold. There's bowls +and spoons in the basket. Nelly, get 'em out! Here, Pat, take that +bundle out from under my arm. That's celery and crackers. Here's a pail +of hot coffee with cream and sugar all mixed. Lookout, Pat! That's +jelly-roll and chocolate eclairs! Don't mash it, you chump! Why didn't +you come with me?" + +It was pleasant to lie there in that warm, comfortable room with the +familiar sights all around, the pennants, the pictures, the wild +arrangements of photographs and trophies, and hear the fellows talking +of homely things; to be fed with food that made him begin to feel like +himself again; to have their kindly fellowship all about him like a +protection. + +They were grand fellows, each one of them; full of faults, too, but true +at heart. Life-friends he knew, for there was a cord binding their four +hearts together with a little tenderer tie than bound them to any of +the other fellows. They had been together all the four years, and if all +went well, and Bill Ward didn't flunk anything more, they would all four +go out into the world as men together at the end of that year. + +He lay looking at them quietly as they talked, telling little foolish +jokes, laughing immoderately, asking one another anxiously about a tough +question in the exam. that morning, and what the prospects were for good +marks for them all. It was all so familiar and beloved! So different +from those last three hours amid suffering and sorrow! It was all so +natural and happy, as if there were no sorrow in the world. As if this +life would never end! But he hadn't yet got over that feeling of the +Presence in the room with them, standing somewhere behind Pat and +Tennelly. He liked to feel the consciousness of it in the back of his +mind. What would the fellows say if he should try to tell them about it? +They would think he was crazy. He had a feeling that he would like to be +the means of making them understand. + +He told them gradually about Wittemore; not as he might have told them +directly after seeing him off, nor quite as he had expected to tell +them. It was a little more full; it gave them a little kinder, keener +insight into a character that they had hitherto almost entirely +condemned and ignored. They did not laugh! It was a revelation to them. +They listened with respect for the student who had gone to his mother's +dying bed. They had all been long enough away from their own mothers to +have come to feel the worth of a mother quite touchingly. Moreover, they +perceived that Courtland had seen more in Wittemore than they had ever +seen. He had a side, it appeared, that was wholly unselfish, almost +heroic in a way. They had never suspected him of it before. His long, +horse-like face, with the little light china-blue eyes always anxious +and startled, appeared to their imaginations with a new appeal. When he +returned they would be kinder to him. + +"Poor old Abner!" said Tennelly, thoughtfully. "Who would have thought +it! Carrying medicine to an old bedridden crone! And was going to stick +to his job even when his mother was dying! He's got some stuff in him, +after all, if he hasn't much sense!" + +Courtland was led to go on talking about the old woman, picturing in a +few words the room where she lay, the pitifully few comforts, the inch +of candle, the tea without sugar or milk, the butterless toast! He told +it quite simply, utterly unaware, that he had told how he had made the +toast. They listened without comment as to one who had been set apart to +a duty undesirable but greatly to be admired. They listened as to one +who had passed through a great experience like being shut up in a mine +for days, or passing unharmed through a polar expedition or a lonely +desert wandering. + +Afterward he spoke again about the child, telling briefly how he was +killed. He barely mentioned the sister, and he told nothing whatever of +his own part in it all. They looked at him curiously, as if they would +read between the lines, for they saw he was deeply stirred, but they +asked nothing. Presently they all fell to studying, Courtland with the +rest, for the morrow's work was important. + +They made him stay on the couch and swung the light around where he +could see. They broke into song or jokes now and then as was their wont, +but over it all was a hush and a quiet sympathy that each one felt, and +none more deeply than Courtland. There had never been a time during his +college life when he had felt so keenly and so finely bound to his +companions as this night; when he went at last to his own room across +the hall, he looked about on its comforts and luxuries with a kind of +wonder that he had been selected for all this, while that poor woman +down in the tenement had to live with bare walls and not even a whole +candle! His pleasant room seemed so satisfying! And there was that girl +alone in her tiny room with so little about her to make life easy, and +her beautiful dead lying stricken before her eyes! He could not get away +from the thought of her when he lay down to rest, and in his dreams her +face of sorrow haunted him. + +It was not until after the examinations the next afternoon that he +realized that he was going to her again; had been going all the time, +indeed! Of course he had been but a passing stranger, but she had no +one, and he could not let her be in need of a friend. Perhaps--Why, he +surely _had_ a responsibility for her when he was the only one who had +happened by and there was no one else! + +She opened the door at his knock and he was startled by the look of her +face, so drawn and white, with great dark circles under her eyes. She +had not slept nor wept since he saw her, he felt sure. How long could +human frame endure like that? The strain was terrible for one so young +and frail. He found himself longing to take her away somewhere out of it +all. Yet, of course, there was nothing he could do. + +She was full of quiet gratitude for what he had done. She said she knew +that without his kind intercession she would have had to pay far more. +She had been through it too recently before and understood that such +things were expensive. He rejoiced that she judged only by the standards +of a small country place, and knew not city prices, and therefore little +suspected how very much he had done to smooth her way. He told her of +the preacher he had secured that afternoon by telephone--a plain, kindly +man who had been recommended by the undertaker. She thanked him again, +apathetically, as if she had not the heart to feel anything keenly, but +was grateful to him as could be. + +"Have you had anything to eat to-day?" he asked, suddenly. + +She shook her head. "I could not eat! It would choke me!" + +"But you must eat, you know," he said, gently, as if she were a little +child. "You cannot bear all this. You will break down." + +"Oh, what does that matter now?" she asked, pitifully, with her hand +fluttering to her heart again and a wave of anguish passing over her +white face. + +"But we must live, mustn't we, until we are called to come away?" + +He asked the question shyly. He did not understand where the thought or +words came from. He was not conscious of evolving them from his own +mind. + +She looked at him in sad acquiescence. "I know," she said, like a +submissive child; "and I'll try, pretty soon. But I can't just yet. It +would choke me!" + +Even while they were talking a door in the front of the hall opened, and +an untidy person with unkempt hair appeared, asking the girl to come +into her room and have a bite. When she shook her head the woman said: + +"Well, then, child, go out a few minutes and get something. You'll not +last the night through at this rate! Go, and I'll stay here until you +come back." + +Courtland persuaded her at last to come with him down to a little +restaurant around the corner and have a cup of tea--just a cup of +tea--and with a weary look, as if she thought it was the quickest way to +get rid of their kindness, she yielded. He thought he never would +forget the look she cast behind her at the little, white, sheet-covered +cot as she passed out the door. + +It was an odd experience, taking this stranger to supper. He had met all +sorts of girls during his young career and had many different +experiences, but none like this. Yet he was so filled with sympathy and +sorrow for her that it was not embarrassing. She did not seem like an +ordinary girl. She was set apart by her sorrow. He ordered the daintiest +and most attractive that the plain menu of the little restaurant +afforded, but he only succeeded in getting her to eat a few mouthfuls +and drink a cup of tea. Nevertheless it did her good. He could see a +faint color coming into her cheeks. He spoke of college and his +examinations, as if she knew all about him. He thought it might give her +a more secure feeling if she knew he was a student at the university. +But she took it all as a matter that concerned her not in the least, +with that air of aloofness of spirit that showed him he was not touching +more than the surface of her being. Her real self was just bearing it to +get rid of him and get back to her sorrow alone. + +Before he left her he was moved to tell her how he had seen the little +child coming out to greet her. He thought perhaps she had not heard +those last joyous words of greeting and would want to know. + +The light leaped up in her face in a vivid flame for the first time, her +eyes shone with the tears that sprang mercifully into them, and her lips +trembled. She put out a little cold hand and touched his coat-sleeve: + +"Oh, I thank you! That is precious," she said, and, turning aside her +head, she wept. It was a relief to see the strained look break and the +healing tears flow. He left her then, but he could not get away from the +thought of her all night with her sorrow alone. It was as if he had to +bear it with her because there was no one else to do so. + +When he left her he went and looked up the minister with whom he had +made brief arrangements over the telephone the night before. He had to +confess to himself that his real object in coming had been to make sure +the man was "good enough for the job." + +The Rev. John Burns was small, sandy, homely, with kind, twinkling +red-brown eyes, a wide mouth, an ugly nose, and freckles; but he had a +smile that was cordiality itself, and a great big paw that gripped a +real welcome. + +Courtland explained that he had come about the funeral. He felt +embarrassed because there really wasn't anything to say. He had given +all necessary details over the 'phone, but the kind, attentive eyes were +sympathetic, and he found himself telling the story of the tragedy. He +liked the way the minister received it. It was the way a minister should +be to people in their need. + +"You are a relative?" asked Burns as Courtland got up to go. + +"No." Then he hesitated. For some reason he could not bear to say he was +an utter stranger to the lonely girl. "No, only a friend," he finished. +"A--a--kind of neighbor!" he added, lamely, trying to explain the +situation to himself. + +"A sort of a Christ-friend, perhaps?" The kind, red-brown eyes seemed to +search into his soul and understand. The homely, freckled face lit with +a rare smile. + +Courtland gave the man a keen, hungry look. He felt strangely drawn to +him and a quick light of brotherhood darted into his eyes. His fingers +answered the friendly grasp of the other as they parted, and he went +out feeling that somehow _there_ was a man that was different; a man he +would like to know better and study carefully. That man must have had +some experience! He must know Christ! Had he ever felt the Presence? he +wondered. He would like to ask him, but then how would one go about it +to talk of a thing like that? + +He threw himself into his studies again when he got back to the +university, but in spite of himself his mind kept wandering back to +strange questions. He wished Wittemore would come back and say his +mother was better! It was Wittemore that had started all this queer +side-track of philanthropy; that had sent him off to make toast for old +women and manage funerals for strange young girls. If Wittemore would +get back to his classes and plod off to his slums every day, with his +long horse-like face and his scared little apologetic smile, why, +perhaps his own mind would assume its normal bent and let him get at his +work. And with that he sat down and wrote a letter to Wittemore, brief, +sympathetic, inquiring, offering any help that might be required. When +it was finished he felt better and studied half the night. + +He knew the next morning as soon as he woke up that he would have to go +to that funeral. He hated funerals, and this would be a terrible ordeal, +he was sure. Such a pitiful little funeral, and he an utter stranger, +too! But the necessity presented itself like a command from an unseen +force, and he knew that it was required of him--that he would never feel +quite satisfied with himself if he shirked it. + +Fortunately his examination began at eight o'clock. If he worked fast he +could get done in plenty of time, for the hour of the funeral had been +set for eleven o'clock. + +Tennelly and Pat stood and gazed after him aghast when, on coming out +of the class-room where he had taken his examination, he declined their +suggestion that they all go down to the river skating for an hour and +try to get their blood up after the strain so they could study better +after lunch. + +"I can't! I'm going to that kid's funeral!" he said, and strode up the +stairs with his arms full of books. + +"Good night!" said Pat, in dismay. + +"Morbid!" ejaculated Tennelly. "Say, Pat, I don't guess we better let +him go. He'll come home 'all in' again." + +But when they found Bill Ward and went up to try and stop Courtland he +had departed by the other door and was half-way down the campus. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + + +It was all very neat and beautiful in the little, third-story back room. +The gas-stove and other things had disappeared behind the calico +curtain. Before it stood the small white coffin, with the beautiful boy +lying as if he were asleep, the roses strewn about him, and a mass of +valley-lilies at his feet. The girl, white and calm, sat beside him, one +hand resting across the casket protectingly. + +Three or four women from the house had brought in chairs, and some of +the neighbors had slipped in shyly, half in sympathy, half in curiosity. +The minister was already there, talking in a low tone in the hall with +the undertaker. + +The girl looked up when Courtland entered and thanked him for the +flowers with her eyes. The women huddled in the back of the room watched +him curiously and let no flicker of an eyelash pass without notice. They +were like hungry birds ready to pounce on any scrap of sentiment or +suspicion that might be dropped in their sight. The doctor came stolidly +in and went and stood beside the coffin, looking down for a minute as if +he were burning remedial incense in his soul, and then turned away with +the frank tears running down his tired, honest face. He sat down beside +Courtland. The stillness and the strangeness in the bare room were +awful. It was only bearable to look toward the peace in the small, +white, dead face; for the calm on the face of the sister cut one to the +heart. + +The minister and the undertaker stepped into the room, and then it +seemed to Courtland as if One other entered also. He did not look up to +see. He merely had that sense of Another. It stayed with him and +relieved the tension in the room. + +Then the voice of the minister, clear, gentle, ringing, triumphant, +stole through the room, and out into the hall, even down through the +landings, where were huddled some of the neighbors come to listen: + +"And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me: Write--Blessed are the +dead which die in the Lord from henceforth ... But I would not have you +to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye +sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that +Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will +God bring with Him.... For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven +with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trump of God: +and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we which are alive and +remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the +Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore +comfort one another with these words." + +Courtland listened attentively. The words were utterly new to him. If he +had heard them before on the few occasions when he had perforce attended +funerals, they had never entered into his consciousness. They seemed +almost uncannily to answer the desolating questions of his heart. He +listened with painful attention. Most remarkable statements! + +"But now is Christ risen from the dead and become the first fruits of +them that slept!" + +He glanced instinctively around where it seemed that the Presence had +entered. He could not get away from the feeling that He stood just to +the left of the minister there, with bowed head, like a great one whose +errand and presence there were about to be explained. It was as if He +had come to take the little child away with Him. Courtland remembered +the girl's prayer the night the child died: "Go with little Aleck and +see that he is not afraid till he gets safe home." He glanced up at her +calm, tearless face. She was drinking in the words. They seemed to give +strength under her pitiless sorrow. + +"The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death!" + +Courtland heard the words with a shock of relief. Here had he been under +the depression of death--death everywhere and always! threatening every +life and every project of earth! And now this confident sentence looking +toward a time when death should be no more! It came as something utterly +new and original that there would be a time when no one should, ever +fear death again because death would be put out of existence! He had to +look at it and face it as something to be recognized and thought out, a +thing that was presenting itself for him to believe; as if the Christ +Himself were having it read just for him alone to hear; as if those +huddled curious women and the tearful doctor, and the calm-faced girl +were not there at all, only Christ and the little dead child waiting to +walk into another, realer life, and Courtland, there on the threshold of +another world to learn a great truth. + +"But some will say, How are the dead raised up? And with what body do +they come?" + +Courtland looked up, startled. The very thought that was dawning in his +mind! The child, presently to lie under the ground and return to dust! +How could there be a resurrection of that little body after years, +perhaps? How could there be hope for that wide-eyed sister with the +sorrowful soul? + +"Thou fool, that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall +be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain." + +He listened through the wonderful nature-picture, dimly understanding +the reasoning; on to the words: + +"So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption, it +is raised in incorruption; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in +glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a +natural body, it is raised a spiritual body." + +He looked at the child lying there among the lilies, those spirituelle +blossoms so ethereal and perfect that they almost seem to have a soul. +Was that the thought, then? The little child laid under the earth like +the bulb of the lily, to see corruption and decay, would come forth, +even as the spirit of the lilies came up out of the darkness and mold +and decay of their tomb under-ground, and burst into the glory of their +beautiful blossoms, the perfection of what the ugly brown bulb was meant +to be. All the possibilities come to perfection! no accident or stain of +sin to mar the glorified character! a perfect soul in a perfect, +glorified body! + +The wonder of the thought swelled within him, and sent a thrill through +him with the minister's voice as he read: + +"So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this +mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the +saying that is written: Death is swallowed up in victory. O death where +is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? Thanks be to God, which +giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!" + +If Courtland had been asked before he came there whether he believed in +a resurrection he might have given a doubtful answer. During the four +years of his college life he had passed through various stages of +unbelief along with a good many of his fellow-students. With them he had +made out a sort of philosophy of life which he supposed he believed. It +was founded partly upon what he _wanted_ to believe and partly upon what +he could _not_ believe, because he had never been able to reason it out. +Up to this time even his experience with the Presence had not touched +this philosophy of his which he had constructed like a fancy scaffolding +inside of which he expected to fashion his life. The Presence and his +partial surrender to its influence had been a matter of the heart, and +until now it had not occurred to him that his allegiance to the Christ +was incompatible with his former philosophy. The doctrine of the +resurrection suddenly stood before him as something that must be +accepted along with the Christ, or the Christ was not the Christ! Christ +_was_ the resurrection if He was at all! Christ _had_ to be that, _had_ +to have conquered death, or He would not have been the Christ; He would +not have been God humanized for the understanding of men unless He could +do God-like things. He was not God if He could not conquer death. He +would not be a man's Christ if He could not come to man in his darkest +hour and conquer his greatest enemy; put Himself up against death and +come out victorious! + +A great fact had been revealed to Courtland: There was a resurrection of +the dead, and Christ was the hope of that resurrection! It was as if he +had just met Christ face to face and heard Him say so; had it all +explained to him fully and satisfactorily. He doubted if he could tell +the professor in the Biblical Literature class how, because perhaps _he_ +hadn't seen the Christ that way; but others understood! That white, +strained face of the girl was not hopeless. There was the light of a +great hope in her eyes; they could see afar off over the loneliness of +the years that were to be, up to the time when she should meet the +little brother again, glorified, perfected, stainless! + +It suddenly came to Courtland to think how Stephen Marshall would look +with that glorified body. The last glimpse he had had of him standing +above the burning pit of the theater with the halo of flames about his +head had given him a vision. A great gladness came up within him that +some day he would surely see Stephen Marshall again, grasp his hand, +make him know how he repented his own negative part in the persecution +that had led him to his death; make him understand how in dying he had +left a path of glory behind and given life to Paul Courtland. + +In the prayer that followed the minister seemed as though he were +talking with dear familiarity to One whom he knew well. The young man, +listening, marveled that any dared come so near, and found himself +longing for such assurance and comradeship. + +They took the casket out to a quiet place beyond the city, where the +little body might rest until the sister wished to take it away. + +As they stood upon that bleak hillside, dotted over with white +tombstones, the looming city in the distance off at the right, Courtland +recognized the group of spreading buildings that belonged to-his +university. He marveled at the closeness of life and death in this +world. Out there the busy city, everybody tired and hustling to get, to +learn, to enjoy; out here everybody lying quiet, like the corn of wheat +in the ground, waiting for the resurrection time, the call of God to +come forth in beauty! What a difference it would make in the working, +and getting, and hustling, and learning, and enjoying if everybody +remembered how near the lying-quiet time might be! How unready some +might be to lie down and feel that it was all over! How much difference +it must make what one had done with the time over there in the city, +when the stopping time came! How much better it would be if one could +live remembering the Presence, always being aware of its nearness! To +live Christ! What would that mean? Was he ready to surrender a thought +like that? + +The minister, it appeared, had a very urgent call in another direction. +He must take a trolley that passed the gate of the cemetery and go off +at once. It fell to Courtland to look after the girl, for the doctor had +not been able to leave his practice to take the long ride to the +cemetery. She, it seemed, did not hear what they said, nor care who went +with her. + +Courtland led her to the carriage and put her in. "I suppose you will +want to go directly back to the house?" he said. + +She turned to him as if she were coming out of a trance. She caught her +breath and gave him one wild, beseeching look, crying out with something +like a sob: "Oh, how can I _ever_ go back to that room _now_?" And then +her breath seemed suddenly to leave her and she fell back against the +seat as if she were lifeless. + +He sprang in beside her, took her in his arms, resting her head against +his shoulder, loosened her coat about her throat, and chafed her cold +hands, drawing the robes closely about her slender shoulders, but she +lay there white and without a sign, of life. He thought he never had +seen anything so ghastly white as her face. + +The driver came around and offered a bottle of brandy. They forced a few +drops between her teeth, and after a moment there came a faint flutter +of her eyelids. She came to herself for just an instant, looked about +her, realized her sorrow once more, and dropped off into oblivion again. + +"She's in a bad way!" murmured the driver, looking worried. "I guess +we'd better get her somewheres. I don't want to have no responsibility. +My chief's gone back to the city, and the other man's gone across the to +West Side. I reckon we'd better go on and stop at some hospital if she +don't come to pretty soon." + +The driver vanished and the carriage started at a rapid pace. Courtland +sat supporting his silent charge in growing alarm, alternately chafing +her hands and trying to force more brandy between her set lips. He was +relieved when at last the carriage stopped again and he recognized the +stone buildings of one of the city's great hospitals. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + + +When Courtland got back to the university the afternoon examination had +been in progress almost half an hour. With a brief explanation to the +professor, he settled to his belated work regardless of Bill Ward's +anxious glances from the back of the room and Pat's lifted eyebrows from +the other side. He knew he had yet to meet those three beloved +antagonists. He seemed to have progressed through eons of experience +since he talked with them last night. The intricate questions of the +examination on political science over which he was trying faithfully to +work seemed paltry beside the great facts of life and death. + +He had remained at the hospital until the girl came out of her long +swoon and the doctor said she was better, but the thought of her white +face was continually before him. When he closed his eyes for a moment to +think how to phrase some answer in his paper he would see that still, +beautiful face as it lay on his shoulder in the carriage. It had filled +him with awe to think that he, a stranger, was her only friend in that +great city, and she might be dying! Somehow he could not cast her off as +a common stranger. + +He had arranged that she should be placed in a small private room at a +moderate cost, and paid for a week in advance. The cost was a mere +trifle to Courtland. The new overcoat he had meant to buy this week +would more than cover the cost. Besides, if he needed more than his +ample allowance his father was always quite ready to advance what he +wanted. But the strange thing about all this was that, having paid to +put the girl where she would be perfectly comfortable and be well taken +care of, he could not cast her off and forget her. His responsibility +seemed to be doubled with everything he did for her. Between the +problems of deep state perplexities and intrigues was ever the +perplexity about that girl and how she was going to live all alone with +her tragedy--or tragedies--for it was apparent from the little hints she +had dropped that the death of the small brother was only the climax of +quite a series of sorrows that had come to her young life. And yet she, +with all that sorrow compassing her about, could still believe in the +Christ and call upon Him in her trouble! There was a kind of triumphant +feeling in his heart when he reached that conclusion. + +He lay on the couch in Tennelly's room that night after supper and tried +to think it out, while the other three clattered away about their marks +and held an indignation meeting over the way Pat was getting +black-listed by all the professors just when he was trying so hard. He +didn't know the fellows were keeping it up to get his mind away from the +funeral. He was thinking about that girl. + +The doctor had told him that she was very much run down. It looked as if +the process had been going on for some time. Her heart action was not +all it should be, and there were symptoms of lack of nutrition. What she +needed was rest, utter rest. Sleep if possible most of the time for at +least a week, with, careful feeding every two or three hours, and after +that a quiet, cheerful place with plenty of fresh air and sunshine and +more sleep; no anxiety, and nothing to call on the exhausted energies +for action or hurry. + +Now how was a state of things like that to be brought about for a person +who had no home, no friends, no money, and no time to lie idle? +Moreover, how could there be any cheerful spot in the wide world for a +little girl who had passed through the fire as she had done? + +Presently he went out to the drug-store and telephoned to the hospital. +They said she had had only one more slight turn of unconsciousness, but +had rallied from it quickly and was resting quietly now. They hoped she +would have a good night. + +Then he went back to his room and thought about her some more. He had an +important English examination the next day, one in which he especially +wanted to do well; yet try as he would to concentrate on Wells and Shaw, +that girl and what was going to become of her would get in between him +and his book. + +It was after ten o'clock when he sauntered down the hall and stood in +Stephen Marshall's room for a few minutes, as he was getting the habit +of doing every night. The peace of it and the uplift that that room +always gave him were soothing to his soul. If he had known a little more +about the Christ to whose allegiance he had declared himself he might +have knelt and asked for guidance; but as yet he had not so much as +heard of a promise to the man who "abides," and "asks what he will." +Nevertheless, when he entered that room his mind took on the attitude of +prayer and he felt that somehow the Presence got close to him, so that +questions that had perplexed him were made clear. + +As he stood that night looking about the plain walls, his eyes fell upon +that picture of Stephen Marshall's mother. A mother! Ah! if there were a +mother somewhere to whom that girl could go! Some one who would +understand her; be gentle and tender with her; love her, as he should +think a real mother would do--what a difference that would make! + +He began to think over all the women he knew--all the mothers. There +were not so many of them. Some of the professors' wives who had sons and +daughters of their own? Well, they might be all well enough for their +own sons and daughters, but there wasn't one who seemed likely to want +to behave in a very motherly way to a stranger like his waif of a girl. +They were nice to the students, polite and kind to the extent of one tea +or reception apiece a year, but that was about the limit. + +Well, there was Tennelly's mother! Dignified, white-haired, beautiful, +dominant in her home and clubs, charming to her guests; but--he could +just fancy how she would raise her lorgnette and look "Bonnie" Brentwood +over. There would be no room in that grand house for a girl like Bonnie. +Bonnie! How the name suited her! He had a strange protective feeling +about that girl, not as if she were like the other girls he knew; +perhaps it was a sort of a "Christ-brother" feeling, as the minister had +suggested. But to go on with the list of mothers--wasn't there one +anywhere to whom he could appeal? Gila's mother? Pah! That painted, +purple image of a mother! Her own daughter needed to find a real mother +somewhere. She couldn't mother a stranger! Mothers! Why weren't there +enough real ones to go around? If he had only had a mother, a real one, +himself, who had lived, she would have been one to whom he could have +told Bonnie's story, and she would have understood! + +He looked into the pictured eyes on the wall and an idea came to him. It +was like an answer to prayer. Stephen Marshall's mother! Why hadn't he +thought of her before? She was that kind of a mother of course, or +Stephen Marshall would not have been the man he was! If the Bonnie girl +could only get to her for a little while! But would she take her? Would +she understand? Or might she be too overcome with her own loss to have +been able to rally to life again? He looked into the strong motherly +face and was sure _not_. + +He would write to her. He would put it to the test whether there was a +mother in the world or not. He went back to his room, and wrote her a +long letter, red-hot from the depths of his heart; a letter such as he +might have written to his own mother if he had ever known her, but such +as certainly he had never written to any woman before. He wrote: + + DEAR MOTHER OF STEPHEN MARSHALL: + + I know you are a real mother because Stephen was what he + was. And now I am going to let you prove it by coming to you + with something that needs a mother's help. + + There is a little girl--I should think she must be about + nineteen or twenty years old--lying in the hospital, worn + out with hard work and sorrow. She has recently lost her + father and mother, and had brought her little five-year-old + brother to the city a couple of weeks ago. They were living + in a very small room, boarding themselves, she working all + day somewhere down-town. Two days ago, as she was coming + home in the trolley, her little brother, crossing the street + to meet her, was knocked down and killed by a passing + automobile. We buried him to-day, and the girl fainted dead + away on the way back from the cemetery and only recovered + consciousness when we got her to the hospital. The doctor + says she has exhausted her vitality and needs to sleep for a + week and be fed up; and then she ought to go to some + cheerful place where she can just rest for a while and have + fresh air and sunshine and good, plain, nourishing food. + + Now she hasn't a friend in the city. I know from the few + little things she has told me that there isn't any one in + the world she will feel free to turn to. She isn't the kind + of girl who will accept charity. She's refined, reserved, + independent, and all that, you know. There's another thing, + too--she prays to your Stephen's Christ--that's why I dared + write to you about it. + + You see, I'm an entire stranger to her. I just happened + along when the kid was killed and had to stick around and + help; that's how I came to know. Of course she hasn't any + idea of all this, and I haven't any real business with it, + but I can't see leaving her in a hole this way; and there's + no one else to do anything. + + You wonder why I didn't find a mother nearer by, but I + haven't any living of my own, except a stepmother, who + wouldn't understand, and all the other mothers I know + wouldn't qualify for the job any better. I've been looking + at your picture and I think you would. + + What I thought of is this (if it doesn't strike you that way + maybe you can think of some other way): I'm pretty well + fixed for money, and I've got a lump that I've been + intending to use for a new automobile; but my old car is + plenty good enough for another year, and I'd like to pay + that girl's board awhile till she gets rested and strong and + sort of cheered up. I thought perhaps you'd see your way + clear to write a letter and say you'd like her to visit + you--you're lonesome or Something. I don't know how a real + mother would fix that up, but I guess you do. + + Of course the girl mustn't know I have a thing to do with it + except that I told you about her. She'd be up in the air in + a minute. She wouldn't stand for me doing anything for her. + She's that kind. + + I'm sending a check of two hundred dollars right now because + I thought, in case you see a way to take up with my + suggestion, you might send her money enough for the journey. + I don't believe she's got any. We can fix it up about the + board any way you say. Don't hesitate to tell me just how + much it is worth. I don't need the money for anything. But + whatever's done has got to be done mighty quick or she'll go + back to work again, and she won't last three days if she + does. She looks as if a breath would blow her away. I'm + sending this special delivery to hurry things. Her address + is Miss R.B. Brentwood, Good Samaritan Hospital. The kid + called her "Bonnie." I don't know what her whole name is. + + So now you have the whole story, and it's up to you to + decide. Maybe you think I've got a lot of crust to propose + this, and maybe you won't see it this way, but I've had the + nerve because Stephen Marshall's life and Stephen Marshall's + death have made me believe in Stephen Marshall's Christ and + Stephen Marshall's mother. + + I am, very respectfully, + PAUL COURTLAND. + + +He mailed the letter that night and then studied hard till three o'clock +in the morning. + +The next morning's mail brought him a dainty little note from Gila's +mother, inviting him to a quiet family dinner with them on Friday +evening. He frowned when he read it. He didn't care for the large, +painted person, but perhaps there was more good in her than he knew. He +would have to go and find out. It might even be that she would be a help +in case Stephen Marshall's mother did not pan out. + + + + +CHAPTER X + + +Mother Marshall stood by the kitchen window, with her cheek against a +boy's old soft felt hat, and she looked out into the gathering dusk for +Father. The hat was so old and worn that its original shape and color +were scarcely distinguishable, and there was one spot where Mother +Marshall's tears had washed some of the grime away into deeper stains +about it. It was only on days when Father was off to town on errands +that she allowed herself the momentary weakness of tears. + +So she had stood in former years looking out into the dusk for her son +to come whistling home from school. So she had stood the day the awful +news of his fiery death had come, while Father sat in his rush-bottomed +chair and groaned. She had laid her cheek against that old felt hat and +comforted herself with the thought of her boy, her splendid boy, who had +lived his short life so intensely and wonderfully. When she felt that +old scratchy felt against her cheek it somehow brought back the memory +of his strong young shoulder, where she used to lay her head sometimes +when she felt tired and he would fold her in his arms and brush her +forehead with his lips and pat her shoulder. The neighbors sometimes +wondered why she kept that old felt hat hanging there, just as when +Stephen was alive among them, but Mother Marshall never said anything +about it; she just kept it there, and it comforted her to feel it; one +of those little homely, tangible things that our poor souls have to +tether to sometimes when we lose the vision and get faint-hearted. +Mother Marshall wasn't morbid one bit. She always looked on the bright +side of everything; and she had had much joy in her son as he was +growing up. She had seen him strong of body, strong of soul, keen of +mind. He had won the scholarship of the whole Northwest to the big +Eastern university. It had been hard to pack him up and have him go away +so far, where she couldn't hope to see him soon, where she couldn't +listen for his whistle coming home at night, where he couldn't even come +back for Sunday and sit in the old pew in church with them. But those +things had to come. It was the only way he could grow and fulfil his +part of God's plan. And so she put away her tears till he was gone, and +kept them for the old felt hat when Father was out about the farm. And +then when the news came that Stephen had graduated so soon, gone up +higher to God's eternal university to live and work among the great, +even then her soul had been big enough to see the glory of it behind the +sorrow, and say with trembling, conquering lips: "I shall go to him, but +he shall not return to me. The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away. +Blessed be the name of the Lord!" + +That was the kind of nerve that blessed little Mother Marshall was built +with, and it was only in such times as these, when Father had gone to +town and stayed a little later than usual, that the tears in her heart +got the better of her and she laid her face against the old felt hat. + +Down the road in the gloom moved a dark speck. It couldn't be Father, +for he had gone in the machine--the nice, comfortable little car that +Stephen had made them get before he went away to college, because he +said that Father needed to have things easier now. Father would be in +the machine, and by this time the lights would be lit. Father was very +careful always about lighting up when it grew dusk. He had a great +horror of accidents to other people. Not that he was afraid for himself, +no indeed. Father was a _man_! The kind of a man to be the father of a +Stephen! + +The speck grew larger. It made a chugging noise. It was one of those +horrible motor-cycles. Mother Marshall hated them, though she had never +revealed the fact. Stephen had wanted one, had said he intended to get +one with the first money he earned after he came out of college, but she +had hoped in her heart they would go out of fashion by that time and +there would be something less fiendish-looking to take their place. They +always looked to her as if they were headed straight for destruction, +and the person on them seemed as if he were going to the devil and +didn't care. She secretly hated the idea of Stephen ever sitting upon +one of them, flying through space. But now he was gone beyond all such +fears. He had wings, and there were no dangers where he was. All danger +and fear was over for him. She had never wanted either of her men to +know the inward quakings of her soul over each new risk as Stephen began +to grow up. She wanted to be worthy to be the mother and wife of +noblemen, and fears were not for such; so she hid them and struggled +against them in secret. + +The motor-cycle came on like a comet now, and turned thundering in at +the big gate. A sudden alarm filled Mother Marshall's soul. Had +something happened to Father? That was the only terrible thing left in +life to happen now. An accident! And this boy had come to prepare her +for the worst? She had the kitchen door wide open even before the boy +had stopped his machine and set it on its mysterious feet. + +"Sp'c'l d'liv'ry!" fizzed the boy, handing her a fat envelope, a book, +and the stub of a pencil. "Si'n'eer!" indicating a line on the book. + +She managed to write her name in cramped characters, but her hand was +trembling so she could hardly form the letters. A wild idea that perhaps +they had discovered somehow that Stephen had escaped death in some +miraculous manner flitted through her brain and out again, controlled by +her strong common sense. Such notions always came to people after death +had taken their loved ones--frenzied hopes for miracles! Stephen had +been dead for four months now. There could be no such possibility, of +course. + +Just to calm herself she went and opened the slide of the range and +shoved the tea-kettle a little farther on so it would begin to boil, +before she opened that fat letter. She lit the lamp, too, put it on the +supper-table, and changed the position of the bread-plate, covering it +nicely with a fringed napkin so the bread wouldn't get dry. Everything +must be ready when Father got back. Then she went and sat down with her +gold spectacles and tore open that envelope. + +She was so absorbed in the letter that she failed for the first time +since they got the car to hear its pleasant purr as it came down the +road, and the big head-lights sent their rays out cheerfully without any +one at the kitchen window to see. Father was getting worried that the +kitchen door didn't fly open as he drew in beside the big flag-stone, +when Mother suddenly came flying out with her face all smiles and +eagerness. He hadn't seen her look that way since Stephen went away. + +She had left a trail of letter all the way from her big chair to the +door, and she held the envelope in her hand. She rushed out and buried +her face in his rough coat-collar: + +"Oh, Father! I've been so worried about you!" she declared, joyfully, +but she didn't look worried a bit. + +Father looked down at her tenderly and patted her plump shoulder. "Had a +flat tire and had to stop, and get her pumped up," he explained, "and +then the man found a place wanted patching. He took a little longer than +I expected. I was afraid you would worry." + +"Well, hurry in," she said, eagerly. "Supper's all ready and I've got a +letter to read to you." + +It went without saying that if Mother liked a thing in that home Father +would, too. His sun rose and set in Mother, and they had lived together +so long and harmoniously that the thoughts of one were the reflection of +the other. It didn't matter which, you asked about a thing, you were +sure to get the same opinion as if you had asked the other. It wasn't +that one gave way to the other; it was just that they had the same +habits of thought and decision, the same principles to go by. So when, +after she had passed the hot johnny-cake, seen to it that Father had the +biggest pork chop and the mealiest potato, and given him his cup of +coffee creamed and sugared just right, Mother got out the letter with +the university crest and began to read. She had no fears that Father +would not agree with her about it. She read eagerly, sure of his +sympathy in her pleasure; sure he would think it was nice of Stephen's +friend to write to her and pick her out as a real mother, saying all +those pleasant things about her; sure he would be proud that she, with +all the women they had in the East, should have so brought up a boy that +a stranger knew she was a real mother. She had no fear that Father would +frown and declare they couldn't be bothered with a stranger around, that +it would cost a lot and Mother needed to rest. She knew he would be +touched at once with the poor, lonely girl's position, and want to do +anything in his power to help her. She knew he would be ready to fall +right in with anything she should suggest. And, true to her conviction, +Father's eyes lighted with tenderness as she read, watched her proudly +and nodded in strong affirmation at the phrases touching her ability as +mother. + +"That's right, Mother, you'll qualify for a job as mother better 'n any +woman I ever saw!" said Father, heartily, as he reached for another +helping of butter. + +His face kindled with interest as the letter went on with its +proposition, but he shook his head when it came to the money part, +interrupting her: + +"I don't like that idea, Mother; we don't keep boarders, and we're +plenty able to invite company for as long as we like. Besides, it don't +seem just the right thing for that young feller to be paying her board. +She wouldn't like it if she knew it. If she was our daughter we wouldn't +want her to be put in that position, though it's very kind of him of +course--" + +"Of course!" said Mother, breathlessly. "He couldn't very well ask us, +you know, without saying something like that, especially as he doesn't +know us, except by hearsay, at all." + +"Of course," agreed Father; "but then, equally of course we won't let it +stand that way. You can send that young feller back his check, and tell +him to get his new ottymobeel. He won't be young but once, and I reckon +a young feller of that kind won't get any harm from his ottymobeels, no +matter how many he has of 'em. You can see by his letter he ain't +spoiled yet, and if he's got hold of Steve's idea of things he'll find +plenty of use for his money, doing good where there ain't a young woman +about that is bound to object to being took care of by a young man she +don't know and don't belong to. However, I guess you can say that, +Mother, without offending him. Tell him we'll take care of the money +part. Tell him we're real glad to get a daughter. You're sure, Mother, +it won't be hard for you to have a stranger around in Steve's place?" + +"No, I like it," said Mother, with a smile, brushing away a bright tear +that burst out unawares. "I like it '_hard_,' as Steve used to say! Do +you know, Father, what I've been thinking--what I thought right away +when I read that letter? I thought, suppose that girl was the one +Stephen would have loved and wanted to marry if he had lived. And +suppose he had brought her home here, what a fuss we would have made +about her, and all! And I'd just have loved to fix up the house and make +it look pleasant for her and love her as if she were my own daughter." + +Father's eyes were moist, too. "H'm! Yes!" he said, trying to clear his +throat. "I guess she'd be com'ny for you, too, Mother, when I have to go +to town, and she'd help around with the work some when she got better." + +"I've been thinking," said Mother. "I've always thought I'd like to fix +up the spare room. I read in my magazine how to fix up a young girl's +room when she comes home from college, and I'd like to fix it like that +if there's time. You paint the furniture white, and have two sets of +curtains, pink and white, and little shelves for her books. Do you think +we could do it?" + +"Why, sure!" said Father. He was so pleased to see Mother interested +like this that he was fairly trembling. She had been so still and quiet +and wistful ever since the news came about Stephen. "Why, sure! Get some +pretty wall-paper, too, while you're 'bout it. S'posen you and I take a +run to town again in the morning and pick it out. Then you can pick your +curtains and paint, too, and get Jed Lewis to come in the afternoon and +put on the first coat. How about calling him up on the 'phone right now +and asking him about it? I'm real glad we've got that 'phone. It'll come +in handy now." + +Mother's eyes glistened. The 'phone was another thing Stephen insisted +upon before he left home. They hadn't used it half a dozen times except +when the telegrams came, but they hadn't the heart to have it +disconnected, because Stephen had taken so much pride in having it put +in. He said he didn't like his mother left alone in the house without a +chance to call a neighbor or send for the doctor. + +"Come to think of it, hadn't you better send a telegram to that chap +to-night? You know we can 'phone it down to the town office. He'll maybe +be worried how you're going to take that letter. Tell him he's struck +the right party, all right, and you're on the job writing that little +girl a letter to-night that'll make her welcome and no mistake. But tell +him we'll finance this operation ourselves, and he can save the +ottymobeel for the next case that comes along--words to that effect you +know, Mother." + +The supper things were shoved back and the telephone brought into +requisition. They called up Jed Lewis first before he went to bed, and +got his reluctant promise that he would be on hand at two o'clock the +next afternoon. They had to tell him they were expecting company or he +might not have been there for a week in spite of his promise. + +It took nearly an hour to reduce the telegram to ten words, but at last +they settled on: + + Bonnie welcome. Am writing you both to-night. No money + necessary. + + (Signed) STEPHEN'S MOTHER AND FATHER. + +The letters were happy achievements of brevity, for it was getting late, +and Mother Marshall realized that they must be up early in the morning +to get all that shopping done before two o'clock. + +First the letter to Bonnie, written in a cramped, laborious hand: + + DEAR LITTLE GIRL: + + You don't know me, but I've heard about you from a sort of + neighbor of yours. I'm just a lonely mother whose only son + has gone home to heaven. I've heard all about your sorrow + and loneliness, and I've taken a notion that maybe you would + like to come and visit me for a little while and help cheer + me up. Maybe we can comfort each other a little bit, and, + anyhow, I want you to come. + + Father and I are fixing up your room for you, just as we + would if you were our own daughter coming home from college. + For you see we've quite made up our minds you will come, and + Father wants you just as much as I do. We are sending you + mileage, and a check to get any little things you may need + for the journey, because, of course, we wouldn't want to put + you to expense to come all this long way just to please two + lonely old people. It's enough for you that you are willing + to come, and we're so glad about it that it almost seems as + if the birds must be singing and the spring flowers going to + bloom for you, even though it is only the middle of winter. + + Don't wait to get any fixings. Just come as you are. We're + plain folks. + + Father says be sure you get a good, comfortable berth in the + sleeper, and have your trunk checked right through. If + you've got any other things besides your trunk, have them + sent right along by freight. It's better to have your things + here where you can look after them than stored away off + there. + + We're so happy about your coming we can't seem to wait till + we hear what time you start, so please send a telegram as + soon as you get this, saying when the doctor will let you + come, and don't disappoint us for anything. + + Lovingly, your friend, + RACHEL MARSHALL. + +The letter to Courtland was more brief, but just as expressive: + + MR. PAUL COURTLAND: + + DEAR FRIEND.--You're a dear boy and I'm proud that + my son had you for a friend. + +(When Courtland read that letter he winced at that sentence and saw +himself once more standing in the hall in front of Stephen Marshall's +room, holding the garments of those who persecuted him.) + + I have written Bonnie Brentwood, telling her how much we + want her, and I am going to town in the morning to get some + things to fix up a pretty room for her. I thank you for + thinking I was a good mother. Father and I are both quite + proud about it. We are very lonely and are glad to have a + daughter for as long as she will stay. But, anyway, if we + hadn't wanted her, we could not have said no when you asked + for Christ's sake. Father says we are returning the check + because we want to do this for Bonnie ourselves; then there + won't be anything to cover up. Father says if you have begun + this way you will find plenty of ways to spend that money + for Christ and let us look after this one little girl. We've + sent her mileage and some money, and we're going to try to + make her happy. And some day we would be very happy if you + would come out and visit us. I should like to know you for + my dear Stephen's sake. You are a dear boy, and I want to + know you better. I am glad you have found our Christ. Father + thinks so too. Thank you for thinking I would understand. + + Lovingly, + MOTHER MARSHALL. + +But after all that excitement Mother Marshall could not sleep. She lay +quietly beside Father in the old four-poster and planned all about that +room. She must get Sam Carpenter to put in some little shelves each side +of the windows, and a wide locker between for a window-seat, and she +would make some pillows like those in the magazine pictures. She +pictured how the girl would look, a dozen times, and what she would say, +and once her heart was seized with fear that she had not made her letter +cordial enough. She went over the words of the young man's letter as +well as she could remember them, and let her heart soar and be glad that +Stephen had touched one life and left it better for his being in the +university that little time. + +Once she stirred restlessly, and Father put out his hand and touched her +in alarm: + +"What's the matter, Rachel? Aren't you sleeping?" + +"Father, I believe we'll have to get a new rug for that room." + +"Sure!" said Father, relaxing sleepily. + +"Gray, with pink rosebuds, soft and thick," she whispered. + +"Sure! pink, with gray rosebuds," murmured Father as he dropped off +again. + +They made very little of breakfast the next morning; they were both too +excited about getting off early; and Mother Marshall forgot to caution +Father about going at too high speed. If she suspected that he was +running a little faster than usual she winked at it, for she was anxious +to get to the stores as soon as possible. She had arisen early to read +over the article in the magazine again, and she knew to a nicety just +how much pink and white she would need for the curtains and cushions. +She had it in the back of her mind that she meant to get little brass +handles and keyholes for the bureau also. She was like a child who was +getting ready for a new doll. + +It was not until they were on their way back home again, with packages +all about their feet, and an eager light in their faces, that an idea +suddenly came to both of them--an idea so chilling that the eagerness +went out of their eyes for a moment, and the old, patient, sweet look of +sorrow came back. It was Mother Marshall who put it into words: + +"You don't suppose, Seth," she appealed--she always called him Seth in +times of crisis--"you don't suppose that perhaps she mightn't _want_ to +come, after all!" + +"Well, I was thinking, Rachel," he said, tenderly, "we'd best not be +getting too set on it. But, anyhow, we'd be ready for some one else. You +know Stevie always wanted you to have things fixed nice and fancy. But +you fix it up. I guess she's coming. I really do think she must be +coming! We'll just pray about it and then we'll leave it there!" + +And so with peace in their faces they arrived at home, just five minutes +before the painter was due, and unloaded their packages. Father lifted +out the big roll of soft, velvety carpeting, gray as a cloud, with moss +roses scattered over it. He was proud to think he could buy things like +this for Mother. Of course now they had no need to save and scrimp for +Stephen the way they had done during the years; so it was well to make +the rest of the way as bright for Mother as he could. And this "Bonnie" +girl! If she would only come, what a bright, happy thing it would be in +their desolated home! + +But suppose she shouldn't come? + + + + +CHAPTER XI + + +The telegram reached Courtland Friday evening, just as he was going to +the Dare dinner, and filled him with an almost childish delight. Not for +a long time had he had anything as nice as that happen; not even when he +made Phi Beta Kappa in his junior year had he been so filled with +exultation. It was like having a fairy-tale come true. To think there +had really been a woman in the world who would respond in that cordial +way to a call from the great unknown! + +He presented himself in his most sparkling mood at the house where he +was to dine. There was nothing at all blue about him. His eyes fairly +danced with pleasure and his smile was rare. Gila looked and drooped her +eyes demurely. She thought the sparkle was all for her, and her little +wicked heart gave a throb of exultant joy. + +Mrs. Dare was no longer a large, purple person. She was in full evening +dress, explaining that she and her husband had an engagement at the +opera after dinner. She resembled the fat dough people that the cook +used to fashion for him in his youth. Her pudgy arms so reminded him of +those shapeless cooky arms that he found himself fascinated by the +thought as he watched her moving her bejeweled hands among the trinkets +at her end of the glittering table. Her gown, what there was of it, was +of black gauze emblazoned with dartling sequins of deep blue. An aigret +in her hair twinkled knowingly above her coarse, painted face. +Courtland, as he studied her more closely, rejoiced that the telegram +had arrived before he left the dormitory, for he never could have had +the courage to come to this plump-shouldered lady seeking refuge for his +refined little Bonnie girl. + +The father of the family was a little wisp of a man with a nervous laugh +and a high, thin voice. There were kind lines around his mouth and eyes, +indulgent lines--not self-indulgent, either, and insomuch they were +noble--but there was a weakness about the face that showed he was ruled +by others to a large extent. He said, "Yes, my dear!" quite obediently +when his wife ordered him affably around. There was a cunning look in +his eye that might explain the general impression current that he knew +how to turn a dollar to his own account. + +It occurred to Courtland to wonder what would happen if he should +suddenly ask Mr. Dare what he thought of Christ, or if he believed in +the resurrection. He could quite imagine they would look aghast as if he +had spoken of something impolite. One couldn't think of Mrs. Dare in a +resurrection, she would seem so out of place, so sort of unclothed for +the occasion, in those fat, doughy arms with her glittering jet +shoulder-straps. He realized that all these thoughts that raced through +his head were but fantasies occasioned no doubt by his own highly +wrought nervous condition, but they kept crowding in and bringing the +mirth to his eyes. How, for instance, would Mother Marshall and Mother +Dare hit it off if they should happen together in the same heaven? + +Gila was all in white, from the tip of her pearly shoulders down to the +tip of her pearl-beaded slippers--white and demure. Her skin looked even +more pearly than when she wore the brilliant red-velvet gown. It had a +pure, dazzling whiteness, different from most skins. It perplexed him. +It did not look like flesh, but more like some ethereal substance meant +for angels. He drew a breath of satisfaction that there was not even a +flush upon it to-night. No painting there at least! He was not master of +the rare arts that skins are subject to in these days. He knew +artificial whiteness only when it was glaring and floury. This pearly +paleness was exquisite, delicious; and in contrast the great dark eyes, +lifted pansy-like for an instant and then down-drooped beneath those +wonderful, long curling lashes, were almost startling in their beauty. +The hair was simply arranged with a plain narrow band of black velvet +around the white temples, and the soft loops of cloudy darkness drawn +out on her cheeks in her own fantastic way. There was an attempt at +demureness in the gown; soft folds of pure transparent nothing seemed to +shelter what they could not hide, and more such folds drooped over the +lovely arms to the elbows. Surely, surely, this was loveliness +undefiled. The words of Peer Gynt came floating back disconnectedly, +more as a puzzled question in his mind than as they stand in the story: + + "Is your psalm-book in your 'kerchief? + Do you glance adown your apron? + Do you hold your mother's skirt-fold? + Speak!" + +But he only looked at her admiringly, and talked on about the college +games, making himself agreeable to every one, and winning more and more +the lifted pansy-eyes. + +When dinner was over they drifted informally into a large +white-and-gold reception-room, with inhospitable chairs and settees +whose satin slipperiness offered no inducements to sit down. There were +gold-lacquered tables and a curious concert-grand piano, also gold +inlaid with mother-of-pearl cupids and flowers. Everything was most +elaborate. Gila, in her soft transparencies, looked like a wraith amid +it all. The young man chose to think she was too rare and fine for a +place so ornate. + +Presently the fat cooky arms of the mother were enfolded in a gorgeous +blue-plush evening cloak beloaded with handsome black fur; and with many +bows and kindly words the little husband toddled off beside her, +reminding Courtland of a big cinnamon bear and a little black-and-tan +dog he had once seen together in a show. + +Gila stood bewitchingly childish in the great gold room, and shyly asked +if he would like to go to the library, where it was cozier. The red +light glowed across the hall, and he turned from it with a shudder of +remembrance. The glow seemed to beat upon his nerves like something +striking his eyeballs. + +"I'd like to hear you play, if you will," he answered, wondering in his +heart if, after all, a dolled-up instrument like that was really meant +to be played upon. + +Gila pouted. She did not want to play, but she would not seem to refuse +the challenge. She went to the piano and rippled off a brilliant waltz +or two, just to show him she could do it, played Humoresque, and a few +little catchy melodies that were in the popular ear just then, and then, +whirling on the gilded stool, she lifted her big eyes to him: + +"I don't like it in here," she said, with a little shiver, as a child +might do; "let's go into the library by the fire. It's pleasanter there +to talk." + +Courtland hesitated. "Look here," said he, frankly, "Wouldn't you just +as soon sit somewhere else? I don't like that red light of yours. It +gets on my nerves. I don't like to see you in it. It makes you +look--well--something different from what I believe you really are. I +like a plain, honest white light." + +Gila gave him one swift, wondering glance and walked laughingly over to +the library door. "Oh, is that all?" she said, and, touching a button, +she switched off the big red table-lamp and switched on what seemed like +a thousand little tapers concealed softly about the ceiling. + +"There!" she cried, half mockingly. "You can have as much light as you +like, and when you get tired of that we can cut them all off and sit in +the firelight." She touched another button and let him see the room in +the soft dim shadows and rich glow of the fire. Then she turned the full +light on again and entered the room, dropping into one big leather chair +at the side of the fireplace and indicating another big chair on the +opposite side. She had no notion of sitting near him or of luring him to +her side to-night. She had read him aright. Hers was the demure part to +play, the reserved, shy maiden, the innocent, child-like, womanly woman. +She would play it, but she would humble him! So she had vowed with her +little white teeth set in her red lips as she stood before her +dressing-table mirror that night when he had fled from her red room and +her. + +Well pleased, with a sigh of relief he dropped into the chair and sat +watching her, talking idly, as one who is feeling his way to a pleasant +intimacy of whose nature he is not quite sure. She was very sweet and +sympathetic about the examinations, told how she hated them herself and +thought they ought to be abolished; said he was a wonder, that her +cousin had told her he was a regular shark, and yet he hadn't let +himself be spoiled by it, either. She flattered him gently with that +deference a girl can pay to a man which makes her appear like an angel +of light, and fixes him for any confidence in the world he has to give. +She sat so quietly, with big eyes lifted now and then, talking earnestly +and appreciatively of fine and noble things, that all his best thoughts +about her were confirmed. He watched her, thinking what a lovely, +lovable woman she was, what gentle sympathy and keen appreciation of +really fine qualities she showed, child even though she seemed to be! He +studied her, thinking what a friend she might be to that other poor girl +in her loneliness and sorrow if she only would. He didn't know that he +was yielding again to the lure that the red light had made the last time +he was there. He didn't realize that, red light or white light, he was +being led on. He only knew that it was a pleasure to talk to her, to be +near her, to feel her sympathy; and that something had unlocked the +innermost depths of his heart, the place he usually kept to himself, +even away from the fellows. He had never quite opened it to a human +being before. Tennelly had come nearer to getting a glimpse than any +one. But now he was really going to open it, for he had at last found +another human being who could understand and appreciate. + +"May I shut off the bright light and sit in the firelight?" he asked, +and Gila acquiesced sweetly. It was just what she had been leading up +to, but she did not move from her reticent yet sympathetic position in +the retired depths of the great chair, where she knew the shadows and +the glow of the fire would play on her face and show her sweet, serious +pose. + +"I want to tell you about a girl I have met this week." + +A chill fell upon Gila, but she did not show it, she never even +flickered those long lashes. Another girl! How dared he! The little +white teeth set down sharply on the little red tongue out of sight, but +the sweet, sympathetic mouth in the glow of the firelight remained +placid. + +"Yes?" The inflection, the lifted lashes, the whole attitude, was +perfect. He plunged ahead. + +"You are so very wonderful yourself that I am sure you will appreciate +and understand her, and I think you are just the friend she needs." + +Gila stiffened in her chair and turned her face nicely to the glow of +the fire, so he could just see her lovely profile. + +"She is all alone in the city--" + +"Oh!" broke forth Gila in almost childish dismay. "Not even a chaperon?" + +Courtland stopped, bewildered. Then he laughed indulgently. "She didn't +have any use for a chaperon, child," he said, as if he were a great deal +older than she. "She came here with her little brother to earn their +living." + +"Oh, she _had_ a brother, then!" sighed Gila with evident relief. + +It occurred to Courtland to be a bit pleased that Gila was so particular +about the conventionalities. He had heard it rumored more than once that +her own conduct overstepped the most lenient of rules. That must have +been a mistake. It was a relief to know it from her own lips. But he +explained, gently: + +"The little brother was killed on Monday night," he said, gravely. "Just +run down in cold blood by a passing automobile." + +"How perfectly dreadful!" shuddered Gila, shrinking back into the depths +of the chair. "But you know you mustn't believe a story like that! Poor +people are always getting up such tales about rich people's +automobiles. It isn't true at all. No chauffeur would do a thing like +that! The children just run out and get in the way of the cars to +tantalize the drivers. I've seen them myself. Why, our chauffeur has +been arrested three or four times and charged with running over children +and dogs, when it wasn't his fault at all; the people were just trying +to get some money out of us! I don't suppose the little child was run +over. It was probably his own fault." + +"Yes, he was run over," said Courtland, gently. "I saw it myself! I was +standing on the curbstone when the boy--he was a beautiful little fellow +with long golden curls--rushed out to meet his sister, calling out to +her, and the automobile came whirring by without a sign of a horn, and +crushed him down just like a broken lily. He never lifted his head nor +made a motion again, and the automobile never even slowed up to +see--just shot ahead and was gone." + +Gila was still for a minute. She had no words to meet a situation like +this. "Oh, well," she said, "I suppose he is better off, and the girl +is, too. How could she take care of a child in the city alone, and do +any work? Besides, children are an awful torment, and very likely he +would have turned out bad. Boys usually do. What did you want me to do +for her? Get her a position as a maid?" + +There was something almost flippant in her tone. Strange that Courtland +did not recognize it. But the firelight, the white gown, the pure +profile, the down-drooped lashes had done for him once more what the red +light had done before--taken him out of his normal senses and made him +see a Gila that was not really there: soft, sweet, tender, womanly. The +words, though they did not satisfy him, merely meant that she had not +yet understood what he wanted, and was striving hard to find out. + +"No," he said, gently. "I want you to go and see her. She is sick and in +the hospital. She needs a friend, a real girl friend, such as you could +be if you would." + +Gila answered in her slow, pretty drawl: "Why, I hate hospitals! I +wouldn't even go to see mama when she had an operation on her neck last +winter, because I hate the odors they have around. But I'll go if you +want me to. Of course I won't promise how much good I'll do. Girls of +that stamp don't want to be helped, you know. They think they know it +all, and they are usually most insulting. But I'll see what I can do. I +don't mind giving her something. I've three evening dresses that I +perfectly hate, and one of them I've never had on but once. She might +get a position to act somewhere or sing in a cafe if she had good +clothes." + +Courtland hastened earnestly to impress her with the fact that Miss +Brentwood was a refined girl of good family, and that it would be an +insult to offer her second-hand clothing; but when he gave it up and +yielded to Gila's plea that he drop these horrid, gloomy subjects and +talk about something cheerful, he had a feeling of failure. Perhaps he +ought not to have told Gila, after all. She simply couldn't understand +the other girl because she had never dreamed of such a situation. + +If he could have seen his gentle Gila a couple of hours later, standing +before her mirror again and setting those little sharp teeth into her +red lip, the ugly frown between her angry eyes; if he could have heard +her low-muttered words, and, worse still, guessed her thoughts about +himself and that other girl--he certainly would have gone out and +gnashed his teeth in despair. If he could have known what was to come +of his request to Gila Dare he would have rung up the hospital and had +Miss Brentwood moved to another one in hot haste, or, better still, have +taken strenuous measures to prevent that visit. But instead of that he +read Mother Marshall's telegram over again, and lay down to forget Gila +Dare utterly, and think pleasant thoughts about the Marshalls. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + + +Gila Dare, in her very most startling costume, lavishly plastered with +costly fur, and high-laced, French-heeled boots, came tripping down her +father's steps to the limousine. She carried a dangling little trick of +a hand-bag and a muff big enough for a rug. Her two eyes looked forth +from the rim of the low-squashed, bandage-like fur hat like the eyes of +a small, sly mouse that was about to nibble somebody else's cheese. + +By her side a logy youth, with small, blue fish-eyes fixed adoringly on +her, sauntered protectingly. She wore a large bunch of pale-yellow +orchids, evidently his gift, and was paying for them with her glances. +One knew by the excited flush on the young man's face that he had rarely +been paid so well. His eyes took on a glint of intelligence, one might +almost say of hope, and he smiled egregiously, egotistically. His +assurance grew with each step he took. As he opened the door of the +luxurious car for her he wore an attitude of one who might possibly be a +fiance. Her little mouse-eyes--you wouldn't have dreamed they could ever +be large and wistful, nor innocent, either--twinkled pleasurably. She +was playing her usual game and playing it well. It was the game for +which she was rapidly becoming notorious, young as she was. + +"Oh, now, _Chaw_-! _Ree_-ally! Why, I never dreamed it was that bad! But +you mustn't, you know! I never gave you permission!" + +The chauffeur, sitting stolidly in his uniform, awaiting the word to +move, wondered idly what she was up to now. He was used to seeing the +game played all around him day after day, as if he were a stick or a +stone, or one of the metal trappings of the car. + +"Chawley" Hathaway looked unutterable things, and the little mouse-eyes +looked back unutterable things, with that lingering, +just-too-long-for-pardoning glance that a certain kind of men and women +employ when they want to loiter near the danger-line and toy with vital +things. An impressive hand-clasp, another long, languishing look, just a +shade longer this time; then he closed the door, lifted his hat at the +mouse-eyed goddess, and the limousine swept away. They had parted as if +something momentous had occurred, and both knew in their hearts that +neither had meant anything at all except to play with fire for an +instant, like children sporting at lighting a border of forest that has +a heart of true homes in its keeping. + +Gila swept on in her chariot. The young man with whom she had played was +well skilled in the game. He understood her perfectly, as she him. If he +got burned sometimes it was "up to him." She meant to take good care of +herself. + +Around another corner she spied another acquaintance. A word to the +automaton on the front seat and the limousine swept up to the curb where +he was passing. Gila leaned out with the sweetest bow. She was the +condescending lady now; no mouse-eyes in evidence this time; just a +beautiful, commanding presence to be obeyed. She would have him ride +with her, so he got in. + +He was a tall, serious youth with credulous eyes, and she swept his +soulful nature as one sweeps the keys of a familiar instrument, drawing +forth time-worn melodies that, nevertheless, were new to him. And just +because he thrilled under them, and looked in her eyes with startled +earnestness, did she like to play upon his soul. It would have been a +bore if he had understood, for he was a dull soul, and young--ages young +for Gila, though his years numbered two more than hers. She liked to see +his eyes kindle and his breath come quick. Some day he would tell her +with impassioned words how much he loved her, and she would turn him +neatly and comfortably down for a while, till he learned his place and +promised not to be troublesome. Then he might join the procession again +as long as he would behave. But at present she knew she could sway him +as she would, and she touched the orchids at her belt with tender little +caressing movements and melting looks. Even before she reached home she +knew he would have a box of something rarer or more costly waiting for +her, if the city afforded such. + +She set him down at his club, quite well satisfied with her few minutes. +She was glad it didn't last longer, for it would have grown tiresome; +she had had just enough, carried him just far enough on the wave of +emotion, to stimulate her own soul. + +Sweeping away from the curb again, bowing graciously to two or three +other acquaintances who were going in or out of the club building, she +gave an order for the hospital and set her face sternly to the duty +before her. + +A little breeze of expectation preceded her entrance into the hospital, +a stir among the attendants about the door. Passing nurses apprized her +furs and orchids; young interns took account of her eyes--the mouse-eyes +had returned, but they lured with something unspeakable and thrilling in +them. + +She waited with a nice little superb air that made everybody hurry to +serve her, and presently she was shown up to the door of Bonnie +Brentwood's room. Her chauffeur had followed, bearing a large pasteboard +suit-box which he set down at the door and departed. + +"Is this Miss Brentwood's room?" she asked of the nurse who opened the +door grudgingly. Her patient had just awakened from a refreshing sleep +and she had no notion that this lofty little person had really come to +see the quiet, sad-eyed girl who had come there in such shabby little +garments. The visitor had made a mistake, of course. The nurse +grudgingly admitted that Miss Brentwood roomed there. + +"Well, I've brought some things for her," said Gila, indicating the +large box at her feet. "You can take it inside and open it." + +The nurse opened the door a little wider, looked at the small, imperious +personage in fur trappings, and then down at the box. She hesitated a +moment in a kind of inward fury, then swung the door a little wider open +and stepped back: + +"You can set it inside if you wish, or wait till one of the men comes +by," she said, coolly, and deliberately walked back in the room and +busied herself with the medicine-glasses. + +Gila stared at her haughtily a moment, but there wasn't much +satisfaction in wasting her glares on that white-linen back, so she +stooped and dragged in the box. She came and stood by the bed, staring +down apprizingly at the sick girl. + +Bonnie Brentwood turned her head wearily and looked up at her with a +puzzled, half-annoyed expression. She had paid no heed to the little +altercation at the door. Her apathy toward life was great. She was lying +on the borderland, looking over and longing to go where all her dear +ones had gone. It wearied her inexpressibly that they all would insist +on doing things to call her back. + +"Is your name Brentwood?" asked Gila, in the sharp, high key so alien to +a hospital. + +Bonnie recalled her spirit to this world and focused her gaze on the +girl as if to try and recall where she had ever met her. Bonnie's +abundant hair was spread out over the pillow, as the nurse had just +prepared to brush it. It fell in long, rich waves of brightness and +fascinating little rings of gold about her face. Gila stared at it +jealously, as if it were something that had been stolen from her. Her +own hair, cloudy and dreamy, and made much of with all that skill and +care could do, was pitiful beside this wonderful gold mane with red and +purple shadows in its depths, and ripples and curls at the ends. +Wonderful hair! + +The face of the girl on the pillow was perfect in form and feature. +Regular, delicate, refined, and lovely! Gila knew it would be counted +rarely beautiful, and she was furious! How had that upstart of a college +boy dared to send her here to see a beauty! What had he meant by it? + +By this time the girl on the bed had summoned her soul back to earth for +the nonce, and answered in a cool, little tone of distance, as she might +have spoken to her employer, perhaps; or, in other circumstances, to the +stranger begging for work on her door-sill--Bonnie was a lady +anywhere--"Yes, I am Miss Brentwood." + +There was no noticeable emphasis on the "Miss," but Gila felt that the +pauper had arisen and put herself on the same level with her, and she +was furious. + +"Well, I've brought you a few things!" declared Gila, in a most +offensive tone. "Paul Courtland asked me to come and see what I could do +for you." She swung her moleskin trappings about and pointed to the +box. "I don't believe in giving money, not often," she declared, with a +tilt of her nasty little chin that suddenly seemed to curve out in a +hateful, Satanic point, "but I don't mind giving a little lift in other +ways to persons who are truly worthy, you know. I've brought you a few +evening dresses that I'm done with. It may help you to get a position +playing for the movies, perhaps; or if you don't know rag-time, perhaps +you might act--they'll take almost anybody, I understand, if they have +good clothes. Besides, I'm going to give you an introduction to a girls' +employment club. They have a hall and hold dances once a week and you +get acquainted. It only costs you ten cents a week and it will give you +a place to spend your evenings. If you join that you'll need evening +dresses for the dances. Of course I understand some of the girls just go +in their street suits, but you stand a great deal better chance of +having a good time if you are dressed attractively. And then they say +men often go in there evenings to look for a stenographer, or an actor, +or some kind of a worker, and they always pick out the prettiest. Dress +goes a great way if you use it rightly. Now there's a frock in here--" +Gila stooped and untied the cord on the box. "This frock cost a hundred +and fifty dollars, and I never wore it but once!" + +She held up a tattered blue net adorned with straggling, crushed, +artificial rosebuds, its sole pretension to a waist being a couple of +straps of silver tissue attached to a couple of rags of blue net. It +looked for all the world like a draggled butterfly. + +"It's torn in one or two places," pursued Gila's ready tongue, "but it's +easily mended. I wore it to a dance and somebody stepped on the hem. I +suppose you are good at mending. A girl in your position ought to know +how to sew. My maid usually mends things like this with a thread of +itself. You can pull one out along the hem, I should think. Then here is +a pink satin. It needs cleaning. They don't charge more than two or +three dollars--or perhaps you might use gasolene. I had slippers to +match, but I couldn't find but one. I brought that along. I thought you +might do something with it. They were horribly expensive--made to order, +you know. Then this cerise chiffon, all covered with sequins, is really +too showy for a girl in your station, but in case you get a chance to +act you might need it, and anyhow I never cared for it. It isn't +becoming to me. Here's an indigo charmeuse with silver trimmings. I got +horribly tired of it, but you will look stunning in it. It might even +help you catch a rich husband; who knows! There's half a dozen pairs of +white evening gloves! I might have had them cleaned, but if you can use +them I can get new ones. And there's a bundle of old silk stockings! +They haven't any toes or heels much, but I suppose you can darn them. +And of course you can't afford to buy expensive silk stockings!" + +One by one Gila had pulled the things out of the box, rattling on about +them as if she were selling corn-cure. She was a trifle excited, to be +sure, now that she was fairly launched on her philanthropic expedition; +also the fact that the two women in the room were absolutely silent and +gave no hint of how they were going to take this tide of insults was +somewhat disconcerting. However, Gila was not easily disconcerted. She +was very angry, and her anger had been growing in force all night. The +greatest insult that man could offer her had been heaped upon her by +Courtland, and there was no punishment too great to be meted out to the +unfortunate innocent who had been the occasion of it. Gila did not care +what she said, and she had no fear of any consequences whatever. There +had not, so far to her knowledge, lived the man who could not be called +back and humbled to her purpose after she had punished him sufficiently +for any offense he might knowingly or unknowingly have committed. That +she really had begun to admire Courtland, and to desire him in some +degree for her own, only added fuel to her fire. This girl whom he had +dared to pity should be burned and tortured; she should be insulted and +extinguished utterly, so that she would never dare to lift her head +again within recognizable distance of Paul Courtland, or she would know +the reason why. Paul Courtland was _hers_--if she chose to have him; let +no other girl dare to look at him! + +The nurse stood, starched and stern, with growing indignation at the +audacity of the stranger. Only the petrification of absolute +astonishment, and wonder as to what would happen next, took her off her +guard for the moment and prevented her from ousting the young lady from +the premises instantly. There was also the magic name of the handsome +young gentleman that had been used as password, and the very slight +possibility that this might be some rich relative of the lovely young +patient that she would not like to have put out. The nurse looked from +Bonnie to the visitor in growing wrath and perplexity. + +Bonnie lay wide-eyed and amazed, startled bewilderment and growing +dignity in her face. Two soft, pink spots of color began to bloom out in +her cheeks, and her eyes took on a twinkle of amusement. She was +watching the visitor as if she were a passing Punch-and-Judy show come +in to play for a moment for her entertainment. She lay and regarded her +and her tawdry display of finery with a quiet, disinterested aloofness +that was beginning to get on Gila's nerves. + +"You can have my flowers, too, if you want them," said Gila, excitedly, +seeing that her flood of insult had brought forth no answering word from +either listener. "They're very handsome, rare ones--orchids, you know. +Did you ever see any before? I don't mind leaving them with you because +I have a great many flowers, and these were given me by a young man I +don't care in the least about." + +She unpinned the flowers and held them out to Bonnie, but the sick girl +lay still and regarded her with that quiet, half-amused gravity and did +not offer to take them. + +"I presume you can find a waste-basket down in the office if you want to +get rid of them," said Bonnie, suddenly, in a clear, refined voice. "I +really shouldn't care for them. Isn't there a waste-basket somewhere +about?" she asked, turning toward the nurse. + +"Down in the hall by the front entrance," answered the nurse, grimly. +She was ready to play up to whatever cue Bonnie gave her. + +Gila stood haughtily holding her flowers and looking from one woman to +the other, unable to believe that any other woman had the insufferable +audacity to meet her on her own ground in this way. Were they actually +guying her, or were they innocents who really thought she did not want +the flowers, or who did not know enough to think orchids beautiful? +Before she could decide Bonnie was speaking again, still in that quiet, +superior tone of a lady that gave her the command of the situation: + +"I am sorry," she said, quite politely, as if she must let her visitor +down gently, "but I'm afraid you have made some mistake. I don't recall +ever having met you before. It must be some other Miss Brentwood for +whom you are looking." + +Gila stared, and her color suddenly began to rise even under the pearly +tint of her flesh. Had she possibly made some blunder? This certainly +was the voice of a lady. And the girl on the bed had the advantage of +absolute self-control. Somehow that angered Gila more than anything +else. + +"Don't you know Paul Courtland?" she demanded, imperiously. + +"I never heard the name before!" + +Bonnie's voice was steady, and her eyes looked coolly into the other +girl's. The nurse looked at Bonnie and marveled. She knew the name of +Paul Courtland well; she telephoned to that name every day. How was it +that the girl did not know it? She liked this girl and the man who had +brought her here and been so anxious about her. But who on earth was +this huzzy in fur? + +Gila looked at Bonnie madly. Her stare said as plainly as words could +have done: "You lie! You _do_ know him!" But Gila's lips said, +scornfully, "Aren't you the poor girl whose kid brother got killed by an +automobile in the street?" + +Across Bonnie's stricken face there flashed a spasm of pain and her very +lips grew white. + +"I thought so!" sneered Gila, rushing on with her insult. "And yet you +deny that you ever heard Paul Courtland's name! He picked up the kid and +carried it in the house and ran errands for you, but you don't know him! +That's gratitude for you! I told him the working-class were all like +that. I have no doubt he has paid for this very room that you are lying +in!" + +"Stop!" cried Bonnie, sitting up, her eyes like two stars, her face +white to the very lips. "You have no right to come here and talk like +that! I cannot understand who could have sent you! Certainly not the +courteous stranger who picked up my little brother. I do not know his +name, nor anything about him, but I can assure you that I shall not +allow him nor any one else to pay my bills. Now will you take your +things and leave my room? I am feeling very--tired!" + +The voice suddenly trailed off into silence and Bonnie dropped back +limply upon the pillow. + +The nurse sprang like an angry bear who has seen somebody troubling her +cubs. She touched vigorously a button in the wall as she passed and +swooped down upon the tawdry finery, stuffing it unceremoniously into +the box; then she turned upon the little fur-trimmed lady, placed a +capable arm about her slim waist, and scooped her out of the room. +Flinging the bulging box down at her feet, where it gaped widely, +gushing forth in pink, blue, cerise, and silver, she shut the door and +flew back to her charge. + +Down the hall hurried the emergency doctor, formidable in his +white-linen uniform. When Gila looked up from the confusion at her feet +she encountered the gaze of a pair of grave and disapproving eyes behind +a pair of fascinating tortoise-shell goggles. She was not accustomed to +disapproval in masculine eyes and it infuriated her. + +"What does all this mean?" His voice expressed a good many kinds of +disapproval. + +"It means that I have been insulted, sir, by one of your nurses!" +declared Gila, in her most haughty tone, with a tilt of her chin and a +flirt of her fur trappings. "I shall make it my business to see that she +is removed at once from her position." + +The doctor eyed her mildly, as though she were a small bat squeaking at +a mighty hawk. "Indeed! I fancy you will find that a rather difficult +matter!" he answered, contemptuously. "She is one of our best nurses! +James!" to a passing assistant, "escort this person and +her--belongings"--looking doubtfully at the mess on the floor--"down to +the street!" + +Then he swiftly entered Bonnie's room, closing and fastening the door +behind him. + +The said James, with an ill-concealed grin, stooped to his task; and +thus, in mortification, wrath, and ignominy, did Gila descend to her +waiting limousine. + +There were tears of anger on her cheeks as she sat back against her +cushions; more tears fell, which, regardless of her pearly complexion, +she wiped away with a cobweb of a handkerchief, while she sat and hated +Courtland, and the whole tribe of college men, her cousin Bill Ward +included, for getting her into a scrape like this. Defeat was a thing +she could not brook. She had never, since she came out of short frocks, +been so defeated in her life! But it should not be defeat! She would +take her full revenge for all that had happened! Courtland should bite +the dust! She would show him that he could not go around picking up +stray beauties and sending her after them to pet them for him. + +She did not watch for acquaintances during that ride home. She remained +behind drawn curtains. Arrived at home, she stormed up to her room, +giving orders to her maid not to disturb her, and sat down angrily to +indite an epistle to Courtland that should bring him to his knees. + +Meantime the doctor and nurse worked silently, skilfully over Bonnie +until the weary eyes opened once more, and a long-drawn sigh showed that +the girl had come back to the world. + +By and by, when the doctor had gone out of the room and the nurse had +finished giving her the beef-tea that had been ordered, Bonnie raised +her eyes. "Would you mind finding out for me just what this room costs?" +she asked, wearily. + +The nurse had been fixing it all up in her mind what she should say when +this question came. "Why, I'm under the impression you won't have to pay +anything," she said, pleasantly. "You see, sometimes patients, when they +go out, are kind of grateful and leave a sort of endowment of a bed for +a while, or something like that, for cases just like yours, where +strangers come in for a few days and need quiet--real quiet that they +can't get in the ward, you know. I believe some one paid something for +this room in some kind of a way like that. I guess the doctor thought +you would get well quicker if you had it quiet, so he put you in here. +You needn't worry a bit about it." + +Bonnie smiled. "Would you mind making sure?" she asked. "I'd like to +know just what I owe. I have a little money, you know." + +The nurse nodded and slipped away to whisper the story to the grave +doctor, who grew more indignant and contemptuous than he had been to +Gila, and sent her promptly back with an answer. + +"You don't have to pay a cent," she said, cheerfully, as she returned. +"This bed is endowed temporarily, the doctor says, to be used at his +discretion, and he wants to keep you here till some one comes who needs +this room more than you do. At present there isn't any one, so you +needn't worry. We are not going to let any more little feather-headed +spitfires in to see you, either. The doctor balled the office out like +everything for letting that girl up." + +Bonnie tried to smile again, but only ended in a sigh. "Oh, it doesn't +matter," she said, and then, after a minute, "You've been very good to +me. Some time I hope I can do something for you. Now I'm going to +sleep." + +The nurse went out to look after some of her duties. Half an hour later +she came back to Bonnie's room and entered softly, not to waken her. She +was worried lest she had left the window open too wide and the wind +might be blowing on her, for it had turned a good deal colder since the +sun went down. + +She tiptoed to the bed and bent over in the dim light to see if her +patient was all right. Then she drew back sharply. + +The bed was empty! + +She turned on the light and looked all around. There was no one else in +the room! Bonnie was gone! + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + + +Wildly the nurse searched the room, throwing open the wardrobe first! +Bonnie's shabby clothes were no longer hanging on the hooks! She rushed +to the window and looked helplessly along the fire-escape out into the +courtyard below, where the ambulance was just bringing in a fresh case. +There was no sign of her patient. Turning back, she saw on the table a +bit of paper from the daily record-sheet folded up and pinned together +with a quaint little circle of old-fashioned gold in which were set tiny +garnets and pearls. The note was addressed, "Miss Wright, Nurse." A +five-dollar bill fell from the paper. The nurse picked it up and read: + + DEAR NURSE,--I am leaving this little pin for you + because you have been so good to me. It isn't very valuable, + but it is all I have. The five dollars is for the room. I + know it is worth more, but I haven't any more just now. You + have all been very kind. Please give the money to the doctor + and thank him for me. Don't worry about me; I am all right. + I just need to get back to work. + + Good-by, and thank you again, + Sincerely, + ROSE BONNER BRENTWOOD. + +The nurse rushed down to the office. A search was instituted at once. +Every one in the office and halls was questioned. Only one elevator-man +remembered a person, dressed in black, going out of the nurses' side +door. He had thought it one of the probation nurses. + +They searched the streets for several blocks around. It had been only a +few minutes, and the girl was weak. She could not have gone far! But no +Bonnie was found! + +The evening mail came in and a letter with a Western postmark arrived +for Miss R.B. Brentwood. The nurse looked at it sadly. A letter for the +poor child! What hope and friendliness might it not contain! If it had +only come a couple of hours sooner! + +Later that evening, when it was finally settled that the patient had +really escaped, the nurse went to the telephone. + +Courtland was in Tennelly's room. They had been discussing woman +suffrage, some question that had come up in the political-science class +that day. Tennelly held that most women were too unbalanced to vote; you +never could tell what a woman would do next. She was swayed entirely by +her emotions, mainly two--love and hate; sometimes pride and +selfishness. _Always_ selfishness. Women were all selfish! + +Courtland thought of the calm, true eyes of Mother Marshall and the +telegram that had come the day before. He held that all women were not +selfish. He said he knew _one_ woman who was not. All women were not +flighty and unbalanced nor swayed by their emotions. He knew two girls +whom he thought were not swayed by their emotions. Just then he was +called to the telephone. + +The nurse's voice broke upon his absorption with a disturbing element: +"Mr. Courtland, this is the nurse from Good Samaritan Hospital. I +thought you ought to know that Miss Brentwood has disappeared! We have +searched everywhere, but can get no clue to her whereabouts. She wasn't +fit to go. She had fainted again--was unconscious a long time. She had a +very disturbing call from a young woman this afternoon, who mentioned +your name and got up to the room somehow without the usual formalities. +Of course I didn't know but she had the doctor's permission, and she +came right in. She brought a lot of dirty evening gowns and tried to +give them to my patient, and called her a working-girl; spoke of her +little dead brother as 'the kid,' and was very insulting. I thought +perhaps you would be able to give us a clue as to where the patient was. +She really was too weak to be out alone; and in this bitter cold! Her +jacket was very thin. She's just in the condition to get pneumonia. I'm +all broken up because I thought she was sound asleep. She left a little +note for me, with a pin she wanted me to keep, and five dollars to pay +for her room. You see she got the notion from what that girl said that +she was on charity in that room and she wouldn't stay. I thought you'd +want me to let you know!" + +There was almost a sob in the nurse's voice as she ended. Courtland's +heart sank. + +Poor Gila! She hadn't understood. She had meant well, but hadn't known +how! Poor fool he, that had asked her to go! She had never had +experience with sorrow and poverty. How could she be expected to +understand? + +His anger rose as he listened to a few more details concerning Gila's +remarks. Of course the nurse was exaggerating, but how crude of Gila! +Where were her woman's intuitions? Her finer sensibilities? Where +indeed? But, after all, perhaps the nurse had not understood fully. +Perhaps she had taken offense and misconstrued Gila's intended kindness! +Well, the main thing was that Bonnie was gone and must be hunted up. It +wouldn't do to leave her without friends, sick and weak, this cold +night. She had, of course, gone home to her room. He could easily find +her. He wouldn't mind going out, though he had intended doing other +things that evening; but he had undertaken this job and he must see it +through. Then there was that telegram from Mother Marshall! And her +letter on the way! Too bad! Of course he must make Bonnie go back to the +hospital. He would have no trouble in coaxing her back when she knew how +she had distressed them all. + +"I'll go right down to her old place and see if she's there," he told +the nurse. "She has probably gone back to her room. Certainly I will +insist that she return to the hospital to-night." + +As he hung up the receiver Pat touched his elbow and pointed to a +messenger-boy waiting for him with a note. + +It was Gila's violet-scented missive over which she had wept those angry +tears. He signed for the letter with a frown. Somehow the perfume +annoyed him. He put the thing in his pocket, having no patience to read +it at once, and went hurriedly down the hall. + +As he passed the office Courtland found a letter in his box, noting with +a sort of comfort that it bore a Western postmark. As he waited for his +trolley at the corner, he reflected how strange it was that this young +woman, whom he had never seen nor heard of before, should suddenly be +flung thus upon his horizon and seem, in a measure, his responsibility. +He had been shaking free from that sense of accountability since she had +been reported getting better; and especially since he had put her upon +the hearts of Mother Marshall and Gila. Gila! How the thought of her +annoyed just now! + +In the trolley he opened Mother Marshall's letter and read, marveling at +the revelation of motherhood it contained. Motherhood and fatherhood! +How beautiful! A sort of Christ-mother and Christ-father, these two who +had been bereft of their own, were willing to be! And Bonnie! How she +needed them--and had gone before she knew! He must persuade her to go to +Mother Marshall! For, after all, this whole bungle was his fault. If he +had never tried to tole Gila into it this wouldn't have happened. + +A factory-girl, belated, shivered into the car in a thin summer jacket +and stood beside a girl in furs and a handsome coat. Courtland thought +of Bonnie in her little shabby black suit--a summer suit, of course. He +remembered noticing how thin it looked as they stood beside the grave on +the bleak hillside, and wondering if she were not cold. But it was mild +that day compared to this, and the sun had been shining then. She must +have half frozen in that long, long ride! And had she money enough to +buy her something to eat? She had left a five-dollar bill at the +hospital. Some instinct taught him that it was the last she had! + +He grew more and more nervous and impatient as he neared his +destination. + +He sprang up the narrow stairs that had grown so familiar to him the +past week, watching anxiously the crack under the door to see if there +was a light. But it was all dark! He tapped at the door lightly. But of +course she would have gone to bed at once after the exertion of the +journey! He tapped louder, and held his breath to listen. But no answer +came! + +Then he tapped again, and called, in half-subdued tones: "Miss +Brentwood! Are you there?" + +A stir was heard at the other end of the hall, the sound of the +scratching of a match. A light appeared under the door of the front +room, the door opened a crack, and a frowsy head was thrust out, with a +candle held high above it, and eyes that were full of sleep peering +into the darkness of the hall. + +"Has Miss Brentwood returned? Have you seen her?" he asked. + +"Not as I knows on, she 'ain't come," said a woman's voice. "I went to +bed early. She might ov and I not hear her, she's so softly like." + +"I wonder if we could find out? Would you mind coming and trying?" + +The woman looked at him keenly. "Oh, you're the young feller what come +to the fun'rul, ain't you? Well, you jest wait a bit an' I'll throw +somethin' on an' come an' try." The woman came in an amazing costume of +many colors, and called and shook the door. She got her key and unlocked +the door, stepping cautiously inside and looking about. She advanced, +holding the candle high, Courtland waiting behind. He could see one +withered white rosebud on the floor. There was no sign of Bonnie! Her +room was just as she had left it on the day of the funeral! + +Where was Bonnie Brentwood? + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + + +Suddenly, as Courtland stood in the narrow, dark street alone and in +uncertainty, he was no longer alone. As clearly as if he felt a touch +upon his sleeve he knew that One was there beside him, and that this +errand he was upon had the sanction of that Presence which had met him +once in the fiery way and promised to show him what to do. + +"God, show me where to find her!" he ejaculated, and then, as if one had +said, "Come with me!" he turned as certainly as if a passer-by had +directed him where he had seen her, and walked up the street. That is, +_they_ walked up the street. + +Always in thinking of that walk afterward he thought of it as "they +walking up the street"--himself and the Presence. + +The first thing he remembered about it was that he had lost that sense +of uncertainty and anxiety. How long the route was or where it was to +end did not seem to matter. Every step of the way was companioned by One +who knew what He was about. It came to him that he would like to go +everywhere in such company; that no journey would be too far or arduous, +no duty too unpleasant if all could be as this. + +He stepped into the telephone-office and began calling up hospitals. +There were one or two that reported young women brought in, but the +description was not at all like the girl of whom he was in search. He +jotted them down in his note-book, however, with a feeling that they +might be a last resort. + +As he turned the pages of the 'phone-book his eye caught the name of the +city's morgue, and a sudden horror froze into his mind. What if +something had happened to her and she had been taken there? What if she +had ended the life which had looked so lonely and impossible to her? No, +she would never do that, not with her faith in the Christ! And yet, if +her vitality was low, and her heart was taxed with sorrow, she would +perhaps scarcely be responsible for what she did. + +He rang up the morgue sharply and put tense, eager questions. + +Yes, a young woman had been brought in about an hour ago.... Yes, +dressed in black--had long light hair and was slender. "_Some looker!_" +the man who answered the 'phone said. + +Courtland shuddered and hung up. He felt that he must go to the morgue. + +When they entered the gruesome place of the unknown dead, although the +Presence entered with him, yet he felt that it was there already, +standing close among the dead; had been there when they came in! + +Courtland's face was white, and set as he passed between the silent dead +laid out for identification. An inward shudder went through him as he +was led to the spot where lay the latest comer, a slim young girl with +long golden hair, sodden from the river where she had been found, her +pretty face sharpened and coarsened by sin. + +He drew a deep breath of relief and turned away quickly from the sight +of her poor drowned eyes, rejoicing that they had not been the eyes of +Bonnie. It was terrible to think of Bonnie lying so, all drenched and +her spirit put out. He was glad he might still think of her alive, and +go on searching for her. But a dart of pain went through his heart as he +looked again at this little wreck of womanhood, going out of a life that +had dealt hardly with her; where she had reached for brightness and +pleasure, and had found ashes and bitterness instead. Going into a +beyond of darkness, hoping, perhaps, for no kindlier hands to greet her +than those that had been withheld from her in this world! What would the +resurrection mean to a poor little soul like that? What could it mean? +Ah! Perhaps it had not all been her fault! Perhaps there were others who +had helped push her down, smug in self-righteousness, to whom the +resurrection would be more of a horror than to the pretty, ignorant +child whose untaught feet had strayed into forbidden paths! Who knew? He +was glad to look up and feel the Presence there! Who knew what might +have passed between the soul and God? It was safe to leave that little +sinful soul with Him who had died to save. It was good to go out from +there knowing that the pretty, sinful girl, the hardened, grizzled sot, +the poor old toothless crone, the little hunchback newsboy who lay in +the same row, were guarded alike and beloved by the same Presence that +would go with him. + +Around the little newsboy huddled a group of street gamins, counting out +their few pennies, and talking excitedly of how they would buy him some +flowers. There were tear-stains down their grimy cheeks and it was plain +they were pitying him, they who had perhaps yet to tread the paths of +sin and deprivation and sorrow for many long years. And the Presence +there! So near them, with the pitying eyes! The young man knew the eyes +were pitying! If the children could only see! He felt an impulse to turn +back and tell them as he passed out into the street, yet how could he +make them understand--he who understood so feebly and intermittently +himself? He felt a great ache in himself to go out and shout to all the +world to look up and see the Presence that was in their midst, and they +saw Him not! + +He was entirely aware that his present mental state would have seemed to +him little short of insanity twenty-four hours before; that it might +pass again as it had done before; and a kind of mental frenzy seized him +lest it would. He did not want to lose this assurance of One guiding +through a world that was so full of sorrow as this one had recently +revealed itself to him to be. And with the world-old anguished "Give me +a sign!" the cry of the soul reaching out to the unknown, he spoke aloud +once more: "God, if You are really there, let me find her!" + +And yet if any had asked him just then if he ever prayed he would have +told them no. Prayer was to him a thing utterly apart from this cry of +his soul, this longing for an understanding with God. + +He walked on through streets he did not know, passing men and women with +worn and haggard faces, tattered garments, and discouraged mien; and +always that cry came in his soul, "Oh, if they only knew!" There was the +Presence by his side, and men passed by and saw Him not! + +He was walking in the general direction of the Good Samaritan Hospital, +just as any one would walk with a friend through a strange place and +accommodate his going to the man who was guiding him. All the way there +seemed to be a sort of intercourse between himself and his Companion. +His soul was putting forth great questions that he would some day take +up in detail and go over little by little, as one will verify a problem +that one has worked out. But now he was working it out, becoming +satisfied in his soul that this was the only way to solve the great +otherwise unanswerable problems of the universe. + +They had gone for perhaps three miles or more from the morgue, traveling +for the most part through narrow streets crowded full of small +dwelling-houses interspersed by cheap stores and saloons. The night +lowered! the stars were not on duty. A cold wind from the river swept +around corners, reminding him of the dripping yellow hair of the girl in +the morgue. It cut like a knife through Courtland's heavy overcoat and +made him wish he had brought his muffler. He stuffed his gloved hands +into his pockets. Even in their fur linings they were stiff and cold. He +thought of the girl's little light serge jacket and shivered visibly as +they turned into another street where vacant lots on one side left a +wide sweep for the wind and sent it tempesting along freighted with dust +and stinging bits of sand. The clouds were heavy as with snow, only that +it was too cold to snow. One fancied only biting steel could fall from +clouds like that on a night so bitter. And any moment he might have +turned back, gone a block to one side, and caught the trolley across to +the university, where light and warmth and friends were waiting. And +what was this one little lost girl to him? A stranger? No, she was no +longer a stranger! She had become something infinitely precious to the +whole universe. God cared, and that was enough! He could not be a friend +of God unless he cared as God cared! He was demonstrating facts that he +had never apprehended before. + +The lights were out in most of the houses that they passed, for it was +growing late. There were not quite so many saloons. The streets loomed +wide ahead, the line of houses dark on the left, and the stretch of +vacant lots, with the river beyond on the right. Across the river a +line of dark buildings with occasional blink of lights blended into the +dark of the sky, and the wind merciless over all. + +On ahead a couple of blocks the light flung out on the pavement and +marked another saloon. Bright doors swung back and forth. The +intermittent throb of a piano and twang of a violin, making merry with +the misery of the world; voices brokenly above it all came at intervals, +loudly as the way drew nearer. + +The saloon doors swung again and four or five dark figures jostled +noisily out and came haltingly down the street. They walked crazily, +like ships without a rudder, veering from one side of the walk to the +other, shouting and singing uncouth, ribald songs, hoarse laughter +interspersed with scattered oaths. + +"O! Jesus Christ!" came distinctly through the quiet night. The young +man felt a distinct pain for the Christ by his side, like the pressing +of a thorn into the brow. He seemed to know the prick himself. For these +were some of those for whom He died! + +It occurred to Courtland that he was seeing everything on this walk +through the eyes of the Christ. He remembered Scrooge and his journey +with the Ghost of Christmas Past in Dickens's _Christmas Carol_. It was +like that. He was seeing the real soul of everybody! He was with the +architect of the universe, noting where the work had gone wrong from the +mighty plans. He suddenly knew that these creatures coming giddily +toward him were planned to mighty things! + +The figures paused before one of the dark houses, pointed and laughed; +went nearer to the steps and stooped. He could not hear what they were +saying; the voices were hushed in ugly whispers, broken by harsh +laughter. Only now and then he caught a syllable. + +"Wake up!" floated out into the silence once. And again, "No, you don't, +my pretty little chicken!" + +Then a girl's scream pierced the night and something darted out from the +darkness of the door-step, eluding the drunken men, but slipped and +fell! + +Courtland broke into a noiseless run. + +The men had scrambled tipsily after the girl and clutched her. They +lifted her unsteadily and surrounded her. She screamed again, and dashed +this way and that blindly, but they met her every time and held her. + +Courtland knew, as by a flash, that he had been brought here for this +crisis. It was as if he had heard the words spoken to him, "Now go!" He, +lowering his head and crouching, came swiftly forward, watching +carefully where he steered, and coming straight at two of the men with +his powerful shoulders. It was an old trick of the football field and it +bowled the two assailants on the right straight out into the gutter. The +other three made a dash at him, but he side-stepped one and tripped him; +a blow on the point of the chin sent another sprawling on the sidewalk; +but the last one, who was perhaps the most sober of them all, showed +fight and called to his comrades to come on and get this stranger who +was trying to steal their girl. The language he used made Courtland's +blood boil. He struck the fellow across his foul mouth, and then +clenching with him, went down upon the sidewalk. His antagonist was a +heavier man than he was, but the steady brain and the trained muscles +had the better of it from the first, and in a moment more the drunken +man was choking and limp. + +Courtland rose and looked about. The two fellows in the gutter were +struggling to their feet with loud threats, and the fellow on the +sidewalk was staggering toward him. They would be upon the girl again in +a moment. He looked toward her, as she stood trembling a few feet away +from him, too frightened to try to run, not daring to leave her +protector. A street light fell directly upon her white face. It was +Bonnie Brentwood! + +With a kick at the man on the ground who was trying to rise, and a lurch +at the man on the sidewalk who was coming toward him that sent him +spinning again, Courtland dived under the clutching hands of the two in +the gutter who couldn't quite make it to get upon the curb again. +Snatching up the girl like a baby, he fled up the street and around the +first corner, and all that cursing, drunken, reeling five came howling +after! + + + + +CHAPTER XV + + +Courtland had run three blocks and turned two corners before he dared +stop and set the girl upon her feet again. He looked anxiously at her +white face and great, frightened eyes. Her lips were trembling and she +was shivering. He tore his overcoat off, wrapped it about her, and +before she could protest caught her up again and ran on another block or +two. + +"Oh, you must not!" she cried. "I can walk perfectly well, and I don't +need your coat. Please, please put on your coat and let me walk! You +will take a terrible cold!" + +"I can run better without it," he explained, briefly, "and we can get +out of the way of those fellows quicker this way!" + +So she lay still in his arms till he put her down again. He looked up +and down either way, hoping to see the familiar red-and-green lights of +a drug-store open late; but none greeted him; all the buildings seemed +to be residences. + +Somewhere in the distance he heard the whir of a late trolley. He +glanced at his watch. It was half past one. If only a taxicab would come +along. But no taxi was in sight. The girl was begging him to put on his +overcoat. She had drawn it from her own shoulders and was holding it out +to him insistently. But with the rare smile that Courtland was noted for +he took the coat and wrapped it firmly about her shoulders again, this +time putting her arms in the sleeves and buttoning it up to the chin. + +"Now," said he, "you're not to take that off again until we get where it +is warm. You needn't worry about me. I'm quite used to going out in all +weathers without my coat as often as with it. Besides, I've been +exercising. When did you have something to eat?" + +"When I left the hospital this evening. I had some strong beef-tea," she +answered, airily, as if that had been only a few minutes before. + +"How did you happen to be where I found you?" he asked, looking at her +keenly. + +"Why, I must have missed my way, I think," she explained, "and I felt a +little weak from having been in bed so long. I just sat down on a +door-step to rest a minute before I went on, and I'm afraid I must have +fallen asleep." + +"You were _walking_?" His tone was stern. "Why were you walking?" + +A desperate look came into her face. "Well, I hadn't any car fare, if +you must know the reason." + +They were passing a street light as she said it, and he looked down at +her fine little white profile in wonder and awe. He felt a sudden +choking in his throat and a mist in his eyes. He had it on the tip of +his tongue to say, "You poor little girl!" but instead he said, in a +tone of intense admiration: + +"Well, you certainly are the pluckiest girl I ever saw! You have your +nerve with you all right! But you're not going to walk another step +to-night!" + +And with that he stooped, gathered her up again, and strode forward. He +could hear the distant whir of another trolley, and he determined to +take it, no matter which way it was going. It would take them somewhere +and he could telephone for an ambulance. So he sprinted forward, +regardless of her protests, and arrived at the next corner just in time +to catch the car going cityward. + +There was nobody else in the car and he made her keep the coat about +her. He couldn't help seeing how worn and thin her little shabby shoes +were, and how she shivered now even in the great coat. He saw she was +just keeping up her nerve, and he was filled with admiration. + +"Why did you run away from the hospital?" he asked, suddenly, looking +straight into her sad eyes. + +"I couldn't afford to stay any longer." + +"You made a big mistake. It wouldn't have cost you a cent. That room was +free. I made sure of that before I secured it for you." + +"But that was a private room!" + +"Just a little more private than the wards. That room was paid for and +put at the disposal of the doctor to use for whoever he thought needed +quiet. Now are you satisfied? And you are going straight back there till +you are well enough to go out again! You raised a big row in the +hospital, running away. They've had the whole force of assistants out +hunting you for hours, and your nurse is awfully upset about you. She +seems to be crazy over you, anyway. She nearly wept when she telephoned +me. And I've been out for hours hunting you, stirred up the old lady on +your floor at your home, and a lot of hospitals and other places, and +then just came on you in the nick of time. I hope you've learned your +lesson, to be a good little girl after this and not run away." + +He smiled indulgently, but the girl's eyes were full of tears. + +"I didn't mean to make all that trouble for people. Why should you all +care about a stranger? But, oh! I'm so thankful you came! Those men +were terrible!" She shuddered. "How did you happen to come there? I +think God must have led you." + +"He did!" said Courtland, with conviction. + +When they reached the big city station he stowed his patient into a taxi +and sent a messenger up to the restaurant for hot chicken broth, which +he administered himself. + +She lay back with her eyes closed after the broth was finished. He +realized that she had reached the full limit of her endurance. She had +forgotten even to protest against wearing his overcoat any longer. + +It was a strange ride. The silent girl sat closely wrapped in her +corner, fast asleep. The car bounded over obstacles now and then, or +swung around corners and threw her about like a ball, but she did not +waken; and finally Courtland drew her head down upon his shoulder and +put his arm about her to keep her from being thrown out of her seat; and +she settled down like a tired child. He could not help thinking of that +other girl lying stark and dead in the morgue, and being glad that this +one was safe. + +Nurse Wright was hovering about the hallway when the taxi drew up to the +entrance of the hospital, and Bonnie was tenderly cared for at once. + +Courtland began to realize that this great hospital was an evidence of +the Presence of Christ in the world! He was not the only one who had +felt the Presence. Some one moved as he had been to-night had +established this big house of healing. There on the opposite wall was a +great stained-glass window representing Christ blessing the little +children, and the people bringing the maimed and halt and lame and blind +to Him for healing. + +The quiet night routine went on about him; the strong, pervasive odor of +antiseptics; the padded tap of the nurses' rubber soles as they went +softly on their rounds; the occasional click of a glass and a spoon +somewhere; the piteous wail of a suffering child in a distant ward; the +sharp whir of an electric bell; the homely thud of the elevator on its +errands up and down; even the controlled yet ready spring to service of +all concerned when the ambulance rolled up and a man on a stretcher, +with a ghastly cut in his head and face, was brought in; all made him +feel how little and useless his life had been hitherto. How suddenly he +had been brought face to face with realities! + +He began to wonder if the Presence was everywhere, or if there were +places where His power was not manifest. There had been the red library! +There also had been that church last Sunday. + +The office clock chimed softly out the hour of three o'clock. It was +Sunday morning. Should he go to church again and search for the +Presence, or make up his mind that the churches were out of it entirely +and that it was only in places of need and sorrow and suffering that He +came? Still, that was not fair to the churches, perhaps, to judge all by +one. What an experience the night had been! Did Wittemore, majoring in +philanthropy, ever spend nights like this? If so, there must be depths +to Wittemore's nature that were worth sounding. + +He drew his handkerchief from his inner pocket, and as he did so a whiff +of violets came remindingly, but he paid no heed. Gila's letter lay in +his pocket, still unread. The antiseptics were at work upon his senses +and the violets could not reach him. + +There were dark circles under his eyes, and his hair was in a tumble, +but he looked good to Nurse Wright as she came down the hall at last to +give him her report. She almost thought he was good enough for her +Bonnie girl now. She wasn't given to romances, but she felt that Bonnie +needed one most mightily about now. + +"She didn't wake up except to open her eyes and smile once," she +reported, reassuringly. "She coughs a little now and then, with a nasty +sound in it, but I hope we can ward off pneumonia. It was great of you +to put your overcoat around her. That saved her, if anything can, I +guess. You look pretty well used up yourself. Wouldn't you like the +doctor to give you something before you go home?" + +"No, thank you. I'll be all right. I'm hard as nails. I'm only anxious +about her. You see, she's had a pretty tough pull of it. She started to +walk to the city! Did you know that? I fancy she'd gone about two miles. +It was somewhere along near the river I found her. It seems she got "all +in" and sat down on a door-step to rest. She must have fallen asleep. +Some tough fellows came out of a saloon--they were full, of course--and +they discovered her. I heard her scream, and we had quite a little +scuffle before we got away. She's a nervy little girl. Think of her +starting to walk to the city at that time of night, without a cent in +her pocket!" + +"The poor child!" said Nurse Wright, with tears in her kind, keen eyes. +"And she left her last cent here to pay for her room! My! When I think +of it I could choke that smart young snob that called on her in the +afternoon! You ought to have heard her sneers and her insinuations. +Women like that are a blight on womanhood! And she dared to mention your +name--said you had sent her!" + +The color heightened in Courtland's face. He felt uncomfortable. "Why, +I--didn't exactly send her," he began, uneasily. "I don't really know +her very well. You see, I'm just a student at the university and of +course I don't know a great many girls in the city. I thought it would +be nice if some girl would call on Miss Brentwood; she seemed so alone. +I thought another girl would understand and be able to comfort her." + +"She isn't a _girl_, that's what's the matter with her; she's a little +_demon_!" snapped the nurse. "You meant well, and I dare say she never +showed _you_ the demon side of her. Girls like that don't--to young +_men_. But if you take my advice you won't have anything more to do with +_her_! She isn't worth it! She may be rich and fashionable and all that, +but she can't hold a candle to Miss Brentwood! If you had just heard how +she went on, with her nasty little chin in the air and her nasty phrases +and insinuations, and her patronage! And then Miss Brentwood's gentle, +refined way of answering her! But never mind, I won't go into that! It +might take me all night, and I've got to go back to my patient. But you +are not to blame yourself one particle. I hope Miss Brentwood's going to +get through this all right in a few days, and she'll probably have +forgotten all about it, so don't you worry. I think it would be a good +thing if you were to come in and see her to-morrow afternoon a few +minutes. It might cheer her up. You really have been fine, you know! No +telling where she might have been by this time if you hadn't gone out +after her!" + +The young man shuddered involuntarily, and thought of the faces of the +five young fellows who had surrounded her. + +"I saw a little girl in the morgue to-night, drowned!" he said, +irrelevantly. "She wasn't any older than Miss Brentwood." + +The nurse gave an understanding look. On her way back to her rounds she +said to herself: "I believe he's a _real man_! If I hadn't thought so I +wouldn't have told him he might come and see her to-morrow!" + +Then she went into Bonnie's room, took the letter with the Western +postmark, and stood it up against a medicine-glass on the little table +beside the bed, where Bonnie could see it the first thing when she +opened her eyes. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + + +A little after four o'clock, when Courtland came plodding up the hall of +the dormitory to his room, a head was stuck out of Tennelly's door, +followed by Tennelly's shoulders attired in a bath-robe. The hair on the +head was much tumbled and the eyes were full of sleep. Moreover, there +was an anxious, relieved frown on the brows. + +"Where in thunder've you been, Court? We were thinking of dragging the +river for you. I must say you're the limit! Do you know what time it +is?" + +"Five minutes after four by the library clock as I came up," answered +Courtland, affably. "Say, Nelly, go to church with me again this +morning? I've found another preacher I want to sample." + +"Go to thunder!" growled Tennelly. "Not on your tin-type! I'm going to +get some sleep. What do you take me for? A night nurse? Go to church +when I've been up all night hunting for you?" + +"Sorry, Nelly," said Courtland, cheerfully, "but it was an emergency +call. Tell you about it on the way to church. Church don't begin till +somewhere round 'leven. You'll be calm by that time. So long! See you in +church!" + +Tennelly slammed his door hard, and Courtland went smiling to his room. +He knew that Tennelly would go with him to church. For Courtland had +seen among the advertisements in the trolley on his way back to the +university, the notice of a service to be held in a church away down in +the lower part of the city, to be addressed by the Rev. John Burns, and +he wanted to go. It might not be _the_ John Burns of course, but he +wanted to see. + +Worn out with the events of the night, he slept soundly until ten. Then, +as if he had been an alarm-clock set for a certain moment, he awoke. + +He lay there for a moment in the peace of the consciousness of something +good that had come to him. Then he knew that it was the Presence. It was +there, in his room. It would always be his. There might be laws +attending its coming and going--perhaps in some way concerned with his +own attitude--but he would learn them. It was enough to know the +possibility of that companionship all the days of one's life. + +He couldn't reason out why a thing like that should give him so much +joy. It didn't seem sensible in the old way of reasoning--and yet, +didn't it? If it could be proved to the fellows that there was really a +God like that, companionable, reasonable, just, loving, forgiving, ready +to give Himself, wouldn't every one of them jump at the chance of +knowing Him personally, provided there was a way for them to know Him? +They claimed it had never been proved, never could be. But he knew it +could. It had been proved to him! That was the difference. That was the +greatness of it! And now he was going to church again to find out if the +Presence was ever there! + +With a bound he was out of bed, shaved and dressed in an incredibly +short space of time, and, shouting to Tennelly, who took his feet +reluctantly from the window-seat, lowered the Sunday paper, and replied, +sulkily: + +"Thunder and blazes! Who waked you up, you nut! I thought you were good +for another two hours!" + +But they went to church. + +Tennelly sat down on the hard wooden bench and accepted the worn +hymn-book that a small urchin presented him, with an amused stare which +finally bloomed into a full grin at Courtland. + +"What's eating you, you blooming idiot! Where in thunder did you rake up +this dump, anyway? If you've got to go to church, why in the name of all +that's a bore can't you pick out a place where the congregation take a +bath once a month whether they need it or not?" he whispered, in a loud +growl. + +But Courtland's eyes were already fixed on the bright, intelligent face +and red hair of the man who stood behind the cheap little pulpit. He was +the same John Burns! A window just behind the platform, set with crude +red and blue and yellow lights of cheap glass, sent its radiance down, +upon his head, and the yellow bar lay across his hair like a halo; +behind him, in the colored lights, there seemed to stand the Presence. +It was so vivid to Courtland at first that he drew in his breath and +looked sharply at Tennelly, as if he, too, must see, though he knew +there was nothing visible, of course, but the lights, the glory, and the +little, freckled, earnest man giving out a hymn. + +And the singing! If one were looking for discord, well, it was there, +every shade of it that the world had ever known! There were quavering +old voices, and piping young ones; off the key and on the key, +squeaking, grating, screaming, howling, with all their earnest might, +but the melody lifted itself in a great voice on high and seemed to bear +along the spirit of the congregation. + + "I need Thee every hour. + Stay Thou near by; + Temptations lose their power + When Thou art nigh. + I need Thee, oh I, need Thee, + Every hour I need Thee; + O bless me now, my Saviour, + I come to Thee!" + +These people, then, knew about the Presence, loved it, longed for it, +understood its power! They sang of the Presence and were glad! There +were, then, others in the world who knew, besides himself and Stephen +and Stephen Marshall's mother! Without knowing what he was doing, +Courtland sang. He did not know the words, but he felt the spirit, and +he groped along in syllables as he caught them. + +Tennelly sat gazing around him, highly amused, not attempting to +suppress his mirth. His eyes fairly danced as he observed first one +absorbed worshiper, and then another, intent upon the song. He fancied +himself taking off the old elder on the other side of the aisle, and the +intense young woman with the large mouth and the feather in her hat. Her +voice was killing. He could make the fellows die laughing, singing as +she did, in a high falsetto. + +He looked at Courtland to enjoy it with him, and lo! Courtland was +singing with as much earnestness as the rest; and upon his face there +sat a high, exalted look that he had never seen there before. Was it +true that the fire and the sickness had really affected Court's mind, +after all? He had seemed so like his old self lately that they had all +hoped he was getting over it. + +During the prayer Courtland dropped his head and closed his eyes. +Tennelly glanced around and marveled amusedly at the serious attitude of +all. Even a row of tough-looking kids on the back seats had at least +one eye apiece squinted shut during the prayer, and almost an atmosphere +of reverence upon them. + +Tennelly prided himself upon being a student of human nature, and before +he knew it he was interested in this mass of common people about him. +But now and again his gaze went uneasily back to Courtland, whose eyes +were fixed intently upon the preacher, as if the words he spoke were of +real importance to him. + +Tennelly sat back in wonder and tried to listen. It was all about a +mysterious companionship with God, stuff that sounded like "rot" to him; +uncanny, unreal, mystical, impossible! Could it be true that Court, +their peach of a Court, whose sneer and criticism alike had been dreaded +by all who came beneath them--could it be that so sensible and scholarly +and sane a mind as Court's could take up with a superstition like that? +For it was to Tennelly foolishness. + +He owned to a certain amount of interest in the emotional side of the +sermon. It was true that the little man could sway that uncouth audience +mightily. He felt himself swayed in the tenderer side of his nature, but +of course his superior mind realized that it was all emotion; +interesting as a study, but not to be taken seriously for a moment. It +wasn't a healthy thing for Court to see much of this sort of thing. All +this talk of a cross, and one dying for all! Mere foolishness and +superstition! Very beautiful, and perhaps allegorical, but not at all +practical! + +The minister was down by the door before they got out, and grasped +Courtland's hand as if he were an old friend, and then turned and +grasped Tennelly's. There was something so genuine and sincere about his +face that Tennelly decided that he must really believe all that junk he +had been preaching, after all. He wasn't a fake, he was merely a good, +wholesome sort of a fanatic. He bowed pleasantly and said a few +commonplaces as he passed out. + +"Seems to be a good sort," he murmured to Courtland. "Pity he's tied +down to that sort of thing!" + +Courtland looked at him sharply. "Is that the way you feel about it, +Nelly?" There was something half wistful in his tone. + +Tennelly looked at him sharply. "Why, sure! I think he's a bigger man +than his job, don't you?" + +"Then you didn't feel it?" + +"Feel what?" + +"The Presence of God in that place!" + +There was something so simple and majestic about the way Courtland made +the extraordinary statement--not as a common fanatic would make it, nor +even as one who was testing and feeling around for confirmation of a +hope, but as one who knew it to be a fact beyond questioning, which the +other merely hadn't been able to see--that Tennelly was almost +embarrassed. + +"Why--I-- Why--no! I can't say that I noticed any particular +manifestation. I was entirely too much taken up by the smell to observe +the occult. Say, what's eating you, anyway, Court? Such foolishness +isn't like you. You ought to cut it out. You know a thing like this can +get on your nerves if you let it, just like anything else, and make you +a monomaniac. You ought to go in for more athletics and cut out some of +your psychology and philosophy. Suppose we go and take a ride in the +park this afternoon. It's a great day." + +"I don't mind riding in the park for a while after dinner. I've got a +date about four o'clock. But I'm not a monomaniac, Nelly, and nothing's +getting on my nerves. I never felt better or happier in my life. I feel +as if I'd been blind always, been sort of groping my way, and had just +got my eyes open to see what a wonderful thing life really is." + +"Do you mean you've got what they used to call 'religion,' Court? 'Hit +the trail,' as it were?" Tennelly asked as if he were delicately +inquiring about some insidious tubercular or cancerous trouble. He +seemed half ashamed to connect such a perilous possibility with his +honored friend. + +Courtland shook his head. "Not that I know of, Nelly. I never attended +one of those big evangelistic meetings in my life, and I don't know +exactly what 'religion,' as they call it, is, so I can't lay claim to +anything of that sort. What I mean is, simply, I've met God face to face +and found He's my friend. That's about the size of it, and it makes +things all look different. I'd like to tell you about it just as it +happened some time, Tennelly, when you're ready to hear." + +"Wait awhile, Court," said Tennelly, half shrinking. "Wait till you've +had a little more time to think it over. Then if you like I'll listen." + +"Very well," said Courtland, quietly. "But I want you to know it's +something real. It's no sick fancies." + +"All right!" said Tennelly. "I'll let you know when I'm ready to hear." + + * * * * * + +Late that afternoon, when Courtland entered the hospital, the sunshine +was flooding the great stained-glass window and glorifying the face of +the Christ with the outstretched hands. Off in a near-by ward some one +was singing to the patients, and the corridors seemed hushed to listen: + + The healing of the seamless dress + Is by our beds of pain. + We touch Him in life's throng and press + And we are whole again! + +All this recognition of the Christ in the world, and somehow it had +never come to his consciousness before! He felt abashed at his +blindness. And if he had been so long, surely there was hope for +Tennelly to see, too. Somehow, he wanted Tennelly to see! + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + + +Bonnie Brentwood was awake and expecting him, the nurse said. She lay +propped up by pillows, draped about with a dainty, frilly +dressing-sacque that looked too frivolous for Nurse Wright, yet could +surely have come from no other source. The golden hair was lying in two +long braids, one over each shoulder, and there was a faint flush of +expectancy on her pale cheeks. + +"You have been so good to me!" she said. "It has been wonderful for a +stranger to go out of his way so much." + +"Please don't let's talk about that!" said Courtland. "It's been only a +pleasure to be of service. Now I want to know how you are. I've been +expecting to hear that you had pneumonia or something dreadful after +that awful exposure." + +"Oh, I've been through a good deal more than that," said the girl, +trying to speak lightly. "Things don't seem to kill me. I've had quite a +lot of hard times." + +"I'm afraid you have," he said, gravely. "Somehow it doesn't seem fair +that you should have had such a rotten time of it, and I be lying around +enjoying myself. Shouldn't everybody be treated alike in this world? I +confess I don't understand it." + +Bonnie smiled feebly. "Oh, it's all right!" she said, with conviction. +"'In the world ye shall have tribulation, but fear not, I have overcome +the world,' you know. It's our testing-time, and this world isn't the +only part of life." + +"Well, but I don't see how that answers my point," said Courtland, +pleasantly. "What's the idea? Don't you think I am worth the testing?" + +"Oh, surely, but you may not need the same kind I did." + +"You don't appear to me to have needed any testing. So far as I can +judge, you've showed the finest kind of nerve on every occasion." + +"Oh, but I do," said Bonnie, earnestly. "I've needed it dreadfully! You +don't know how hard I was getting--sort of soured on the world! That was +the reason I came away from the old home where my father's church was +and where all the people I knew were. I couldn't bear to see them. They +had been so hard on my dear father that I thought they were the cause of +his death. I had begun to feel that there weren't any real Christians +left in the world. God had to bring me away off here into trouble again +to find out how good people are. He sent you to help me, and Nurse +Wright; and now to-day the most wonderful thing has happened! I've had a +letter from an utter stranger, asking me to come and visit. I want you +to read it, please." + +While Courtland read Mother Marshall's letter Bonnie lay studying him. +And truly he was a goodly sight. No girl in her senses could look a man +like that over and not know he was a _man_ and a fine one. But Bonnie +had no romantic thoughts. Life had dealt too hardly with her for her to +have any illusions left. She had no idea of her own charms, nor any +thought of making much of the situation. That was why Gila's +insinuations had cut so terribly deep. + +"She's a peach, isn't she?" he said, handing the letter back. "How soon +does the doctor think you'll be able to travel?" + +"Oh, I couldn't possibly _go_," said the girl, relapsing into sadness; +"but I think it was lovely of her." + +"Go? Of course you must go!" cried Courtland, springing to his feet, as +if he had been accustomed to manage this girl's affairs for years. "Why, +Mother Marshall would be just broken-hearted if you didn't!" + +"Mother Marshall!" exclaimed Bonnie, sitting up from her pillows in +astonishment. "You know her, then?" + +Courtland stopped suddenly in his excited march across the room and +laughed ruefully. "Well, I've let the cat out of the bag after all, +haven't I? Yes, then, I know her! It was I who told her about you. And I +had a letter from her two days ago, saying she was crazy to have you +come. Why, she's just counting the minutes till she gets your telegram! +You _haven't_ sent her word you aren't coming, have you?" + +"Not yet," said Bonnie. "I was going to ask you what would be the best +way to do. You see, I have to send back that money and the mileage. +Don't you think it would do to write? It costs a great deal to +telegraph, and sounds so abrupt when one has had such a royal +invitation. It was lovely of her, but of course you know I couldn't be +under obligation like that to entire strangers." + +There was a little stiffness in Bonnie's last words, and a cool +withdrawal in her eyes that brought Courtland to his senses and made him +remember Gila's insinuations. + +"Look here!" he said, calming down and taking his chair again. "You +don't understand, and I guess I ought to explain. In the first place get +it out of your head that I'm acting fresh or anything like that. I'm +only a kind of big brother that happened along two or three times when +you needed somebody--a--a kind of a Christ-brother, if you want to call +it that way," he added, snatching at the minister's phrase. "You believe +He sends help when it's needed, don't you?" + +Bonnie nodded. + +"Well, I hadn't an idea in the world of interfering with your affairs at +all, but when I heard you ought to rest, I began to wish I had a mother +of my own, or an aunt or something who would know what to advise. Then +all of a sudden I thought I'd just put the case up to Mother Marshall. +This is the result. Now wait till I tell you what Mother Marshall has +been through, and then if you don't decide that God sent that invitation +I've nothing else to say." + +Courtland had a reputation at college for eloquence. In rushing season +his frat. always counted on him to bowl over the doubtful and difficult +fellows, and he never failed. Neither did he fail now, although he found +Bonnie difficult enough. But he had her eyes full of tears of sympathy +before he was through with the story of Stephen. + +"Oh, I would love to see her and put my arms around her and try to +comfort her!" she exclaimed. "I know just how she must feel. But I +really couldn't use the money of a stranger, and I couldn't go away with +all this debt, the funeral, and everything!" + +Then he set carefully to work to plan for her. He read Mother Marshall's +letter over again, and asked what things she would need to take if she +should go. He wrote out a list of the things she would like to sell, and +promised to look after them. + +"Suppose you just leave that to me," he said, comfortingly. "I'll wager +I can get enough out of your furniture to pay all the bills, so you +won't leave any behind. Then if I were you I'd just use that check +they've sent for your expenses, and trust to getting a position, in +that neighborhood when you are strong enough. There are always openings +in the West, you know." + +"Do you really think I could do that?" asked Bonnie, excitedly. "I'm a +good stenographer, I've had a really fine musical education, and I could +teach a number of other things." + +"Oh, sure! You'd get more positions than you could fill at once!" he +declared, joyously. Somehow it gave him great pleasure to be succeeding +so well. + +"Then I could soon pay them back," said Bonnie, reflectively. + +"Sure! You could pay back in no time after you got strong. That would be +a cinch! It might even be that you could help Mother Marshall about +something in the house pretty soon. And I'm sure you'll find she just +needs you. Now suppose we write up that telegram. There's no need to +keep the dear lady waiting any longer." + +"He thinks I really ought to go," said Bonnie to the nurse, who had just +returned. + +"Didn't I tell you so, dear?" said the nurse. + +"How soon would the doctor let her travel?" asked Courtland. + +"Why, I'll go ask him. You want to put it in your message, don't you?" + +"She's a dear!" said Bonnie, with a tender look after her. + +"_Isn't_ she a peach!" seconded Courtland, enthusiastically. + +The nurse was back almost at once, reporting that Bonnie might travel by +the middle of the week if all went well. + +"But could I get ready to go so soon?" said the girl, a shade of trouble +coming into her eyes. "I must go back and pack up my things, you know, +and clean the room." + +Courtland and the nurse exchanged meaningful glances. + +"Now look here!" began Courtland, with his engaging smile. "Why couldn't +the nurse and I do all that's necessary? How about to-morrow afternoon? +Could you get off awhile, Miss Wright? I don't have any basket-ball +practice till Tuesday, and I could get off right after dinner. Miss +Brentwood, you could tell the nurse just what you want done with your +things, and I'll warrant she and I have sense enough to pack up one +little room." + +After some persuasion Bonnie half consented, and then they attended to +the telegram. + + Your wonderful invitation accepted with deep gratitude. Will + start as soon as able. Probably Wednesday night. Will write. + + ROSE BONNER BRENTWOOD. + +was what they finally evolved. Bonnie had been divided between a desire +to save words and a longing to show her appreciation of the kindness. + +But the strangest thing of all was that, in his eagerness, the paper +Courtland fumbled out from his pocket to write it upon was Gila Dare's +unopened letter, reeking with violets. He frowned as he realized it, and +stuffed it back in his pocket again. + +Courtland enjoyed sending that telegram. He enjoyed it so much that he +sent another along with it on his own account, which read: + + Three cheers for the best mother in the United States! She's + coming and you ought to see her eyes shine! + +It was on the way back to the university that he happened to remember +Gila's letter. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + + + MY DEAR MR. COURTLAND: + +The very first line translated Courtland into another world from the one +in which he had been living during the past three days. Its perfumed +breath struck harshly on his soul. + + I am writing to report on the case of the poor girl whom you + asked me to help. I was very anxious to please you and did + my best; but you remember that I warned you that persons of + that sort were likely to be most difficult and + ungrateful--indeed, quite impossible sometimes. And so, + perhaps, you will be somewhat prepared for the disappointing + report I have to give. + + I went to the hospital this afternoon, putting off several + engagements to do so. I was quite surprised to find the girl + in a private room, but of course your kindness made that + possible for her, which makes her utter ingratitude all the + more unpardonable. + + I took with me several very pretty frocks of my own, quite + good, some of them scarcely worn at all, for I know girls of + that sort care more for clothes than anything else. But I + found her quite sullen and disagreeable. She wouldn't look + at the things I had brought, although I suggested several + ways in which I intended to help her and make it possible + for her to have a few friends of her own class who would + make her forget her troubles. She just lay and stared at me + and said, quite impertinently, that she didn't remember ever + having met me. And when I mentioned your name she denied + ever having seen you. She even dared to ask me to leave the + room. And the nurse was most insulting. + + But don't worry about it in the least, for papa has promised + to have the nurse removed at once from her position, and + blacklisted, so that she can't ever get another place in a + decent hospital. + + I am afraid you will be disappointed in your protegee, and I + am awfully sorry, for I would have enjoyed doing her good; + but you see how impossible it was. + + You are not to feel put out that I was treated that way, for + I really enjoyed doing something for you; and you know it is + good for one to suffer sometimes. I'll be delighted to go + slumming for you any time again that you say, and please + don't mind asking me. It's much better for me to look after + any girls that need help than it is for you, because girls + of that sort are so likely to impose upon a young man's + sympathies. + + My cousin has been telling me how you have been looking + after some of the work of a student who is majoring in + sociology, so I'm beginning to understand why you took this + girl up. I do hope you'll let me help. Suppose you run over + this evening and we can talk it over. I'm giving up two + whole engagements to stay at home for you, so I hope you + will properly appreciate it, and if anything hinders your + coming, would you mind calling up and letting me know? + + Hoping to see you this evening, + Your true friend and fellow-worker, + GILA DARE. + +The letter struck a false note in the harmony of the day. It annoyed +Courtland beyond expression that he had made such a blunder as to send +Gila after Bonnie. He could not understand why Gila had not had better +discernment than to think Bonnie an object of charity. His indignation +was still burning over the trouble and peril her action had brought to +Bonnie. Yet he hated to have his opinion of Gila shaken. He had arranged +it in his mind that she was a sweet and lovely girl, one in every way +similar to Solveig the innocent, and he did not care to change it. He +tried to remember Gila's conventional upbringing, and realize that she +had no conception of a girl out of her own social circle other than as a +menial to whom to condescend. The vision of her loveliness in rose and +silver, with her prayer-book "in her 'kerchief" was still dimly forcing +him to be at least polite and accept her letter of apology for her +failure, as he could but suppose it was sincerely meant. + +Then all at once a new fact dawned upon him. The invitation had been for +Saturday evening! This was Sunday evening! And now what was he to do? He +might call her up and apologize, but what could he say. Bill Ward might +have told her by this time that he knew the letter had been received. A +blunt confession that he had forgotten to read it might offend, yet what +else could he do? It was most annoying! + +He went to the telephone as soon as he reached the college. The fellows +had already gone down to the evening meal. He could hear the clink of +china and silver in the distant dining-room. It was a good time to +'phone. + +A moment, and Gila's cool contralto answered: "_Hel_-lo-_oo_!" There was +something about the way that Gila said that word that conveyed a whole +lot of things, instantly putting the caller at his distance, but placing +the lady on a pedestal before which it became most desirable to bow. + +"This is Paul Courtland!" + +"Oh! Mr. Courtland!" Her voice was freezing. + +But Courtland was not used to being frozen out. "I owe you an apology, +Miss Dare," he said, with dignity. He didn't care how blunt he sounded +now. It always angered him to be frozen! "Your letter reached me just +as I was leaving here last evening on a very important errand. I put it +in my pocket, but I have been so occupied that it escaped my mind +utterly until just now. I hope I did not cause you much inconvenience." + +"Oh, it really didn't _mattah_ in the _least_!" answered Gila, +indifferently. Nothing could be colder or more distant than her voice, +and yet there was something in it this time, a subtle lure, that +exasperated. A teasing little something at his spirit demanded to be set +right in her eyes--to have her the suppliant rather than himself. + +"I really am awfully ashamed," he said, in quite a boyish, humble tone, +and then gasped at himself. What was there about Gila that always "got a +fellow's goat"? + +After that Gila had the conversation quite where she wanted it, and +finally she told him sweetly that he might come over this evening if he +chose. She had other engagements, but she would break them all for him. + +"Suppose you go to church with me this evening," he temporized. "I've +found a minister I'd like to have you hear. He's quite original!" + +There was a distinct pause at the other end of the 'phone, while Gila's +little white teeth came cruelly into her red under lip, and her pearly +forehead drew the straight, black, penciled brows naughtily. Then she +answered, in sweetly honeyed tones: + +"Why, that would be lovely! Perhaps I will. What time do we start?" + +Something in her tone annoyed him, despite his satisfaction at having +induced her to be friends again. Almost it sounded like a false note in +the day again. He hadn't expected her to go. Now she was going, he was +very sure he didn't want her. + +"I warn you that it is among very common people in the lower part of the +city," he said, almost severely. + +"Oh, that's all right!" she declared, graciously. "I'm sure it will be +dandy! I certainly do enjoy new experiences!" + +He hung up the 'phone with far greater misgivings than he had felt when +he asked her to call on Bonnie. + +Bill Ward was called out of the dining-room to the telephone almost as +soon as Courtland got down to the table. + +It was Gila on the phone: "Is that you Bill? Well, Bill, this is Gila. +Say, what in the name of peace have you let me in for now? I hope to +goodness mamma won't find it out. She'd have a pink fit! Say! is this a +joke, or what? I believe you're putting one over on me!" + +"Search me, Gila! I'm all in the dark! Give me a line on it and I'll +tell you." + +"Well, what do you think that crazy nut has pulled off now? Wants me to +go to church with him! Of all things! And down in some queer slum place, +too! If I get into a scrape you'll have to promise to help me out, or +mamma'll never let me free from a chaperon again. And I had to make +Artley Guelpin, and Turner Bailey sore, too, by telling them I was sick +and they couldn't come and try over those new dance-steps to-night as +I'd promised. If I get into the papers or anything I'll have a long +score to settle with you." + +"Oh, cut that out, Gila! You'll not get into any scrape with Court. He's +all right. He's only nuts about religion just now, and seems to be set +on sampling all kinds of churches. Say! that's a good one, though, for +you to go to church with him! I must tell the fellows. Keep it up, +Guile, old girl! You'll pull the fat out of the fire yet. You're just +the one to go along and counteract the pious line. You should worry +about Artley Guelpin and Turner Bailey! You can't keep either of them +sore; they haven't got back bone enough to stay so. If it's the same +dump Court took Tennelly to this morning you'll get your money's worth, +all right. Nelly said it was a scream." + +Bill Ward came back, grinning from ear to ear. Every few minutes during +the rest of the meal he broke out in a broad grin and looked at +Courtland, who was absorbed in his own thoughts; and then he would slap +Tennelly on the shoulder and say: "Ho! boy! It's a rare one!" But it was +not until Courtland had hurried away after his lady that Bill gave forth +his information. + +"Oh, Nelly!" he burst forth. "Court's going to take Gila to church! You +don't suppose he'll take her to that dump where he led you this morning, +do you? I can see her nose go up now. I thought I'd croak when she told +me! Wait till you hear her call me up on the 'phone when she gets home! +She'll give me the worst balling out I ever had! And Aunt Nina would +have apoplexy if she knew her 'darlin' pet' was going into that part of +town! Oh, boy! Set me on my feet or I'll die laughing!" + +Tennelly regarded Bill Ward with solemn consternation. "Do you mean to +tell me that Court has asked your cousin to go to that camp-meeting hole +where he took me this morning? Cut out the kidding and tell me straight! +Well, then, Bill, it's serious, and we've got to do something! We can't +have a fellow like Court spoiled for life. He's gone stale, that's +what's the matter; he's gone stale! He's got to have strenuous measures +to pull him up." + +"He sure has!" said Bill Ward, soberly, getting up from the couch where +he had been rolling in his mirth. "What can we do? What about these +business ambitions of his? Couldn't we work him that way? For Court's +got a great head on him, you know! I thought Gila would do the business, +but if he's rung in religion on her it's all up, I'm afraid. But +business is a different thing. Not even Court could mix business and +religion, for they won't fit together!" + +"That's the trouble," said Tennelly, thoughtfully. "If it gets out +what's the matter with Court he won't stand half a chance. I was +thinking of my uncle Ramsey, out in Chicago. He has large financial +interests in the West; he often wants promising men to take charge of +some big thing, and it means a dandy opening; big money and no end of +social and political pull to get into one of his berths. He's promised +me one when I'm done college, and I was going to talk to him about +Court. He's twice the man I am and just what Uncle Ramsey wants. He's +coming on East next week, and likely to stop over. I might see what I +can do." + +"That's just the thing, Nelly. Go to it, old man! Write unc. a letter +to-night. Nothing like giving a lot of dope beforehand." + +"That's an idea! I will!" and Tennelly went to his desk and began to +write. + +Meantime Gila awaited Courtland's coming, attired in a most startling +costume of blue velvet and ermine, with high laced white kid boots, and +a hat that resembled a fresh, white setting-hen, tied down to her pert +little face with a veil whose large-meshed surface was broken by a +single design, a large black butterfly anchored just across her dainty +little nose. A most astonishing costume in which to appear in the Rev. +John Burns's unpretentious little church crowded with the canaille of +the city! + +It was the first time that Courtland had ever felt that Gila was a +little loud in her dress! + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + + +Mother Marshall got strenuously to her feet from the low hassock on +which she had been sitting to sew the carpet, and trotted to the head of +the stairs. + +"Father!" she called, happily. "Oh, Father! It's all done! I just set +the last stitch. You can bring your hammer and tacks. Better bring your +rubbers, too. You'll need them when you come to stretch it." + +Father hurried up so quickly it was clear he had the hammer and rubbers +all ready. + +"You'll need a saucer to put the tacks in!" and Mother Marshall hustled +away to get it. When she came back the carpet was spread out smoothly +and Father stood surveying the effect. + +"Say, now, it looks real pretty, don't it?" he said, looking up at the +walls and down to the floor. + +"It certainly does!" declared Mother Marshall. "And I'm real glad the +man made us take this plain pink paper. It didn't look much to me when +he first brought it out, I must confess. I had set my heart on stripes +with pink roses in it. But when he said 'felt,' why that settled it +because that article in the magazine said felt papers were the best for +general wear and satisfaction. And then when he brought out that roll +with the cherry blossoms on it for a stripe around the top, I was just +all happy down my spine, it did look so kind of bridey and pretty, like +our cherry orchard on a spring evening when the pink is in the sky. And +that white molding between 'em is going to be real handy to hang the +pictures on. The man gave me some little brass picture-hooks. See, they +fit right over the molding. Of course, there isn't but one picture, but +she'll maybe have some of her own and like it all the better if the wall +isn't all cluttered full. You know the magazine said have 'a few good +pictures.' I mean to hang it up right now and see how it looks! There! +Doesn't that look pretty against the pink? I wasn't sure about the white +frame, it was so plain, but I like it. Those apple blossoms against that +blue piece of sky look real natural, don't they. You like it, don't you, +Father?" + +"Well, I should say I did," said Father, as he scuffed a corner of the +carpet into place with his rubbered feet. "Say, this carpet is some +thick, Mother, as I guess your fingers will testify, having sewed all +those long seams. 'Member how Stevie used to sit on the carpet ahead of +your seams when he was a baby, and laugh and clap his hands when you +couldn't sew any further because he was in the way?" + +"Yes, wasn't he the sweetest baby!" said Mother Marshall, with a bright +tear glinting suddenly down her cheek. "Why, Father, sometimes I can't +really make it seem true that he's all done with this life and gone +ahead of us into the next one. It won't be hard dying, for us, because +he's there, and we sha'n't have to think of leaving him behind to go +through a lot of trials and things." + +"Well, I guess he's pretty happy seeing you chirk up so, Mother. You +know what he'd have thought of all this! Why he'd have just rejoiced in +it! He hated so to have you left alone all day. Don't you mind how he +used to wish he had a sister? Say, Mother, you just stand on that +corner there till I get this tack in straight. This edge is so tremenjus +thick! I don't know as the tacks are long enough. What was you figuring +to do with the book-shelves, put books in, or leave 'em empty for her +things?" + +"Well, I thought about that, and I made out we'd better put in some +books so it wouldn't look so empty. We can take them out again if she +has a lot of her own!" + +"We could put in some of Stephen's that he set such store by. There's +all that set of Scott, and Dickens, and those other fellows that he +wanted us to start and read evenings this winter. By the way, Mother, +we'd ought to get at that! Perhaps she'll like to read aloud when she +comes! That would about suit us. We're rather old to begin loud reading, +Steve's always read to us so long. I don't know but I'd buy a few new +books, too. She's a girl you know, and you might find something lately +written that she'd like. It wouldn't do any harm to get a few. You could +ask the book-store man what to pick out--say a shelf or two." + +"Oh, I shouldn't need to do that!" said Mother, hurrying away to get her +magazine, which was never far away these last two or three days. +"There's a whole long list here of books 'your young people will want to +have in their library.' Wells and Shaw and Ibsen, and a lot of others I +never heard of, but these first three I remembered because Stephen spoke +of them in one of his first letters about college. Don't you know he was +studying a course with those men's books in it? He said he didn't know +as he was always going to agree with all they said, but they were big, +broad men, and had some fine thoughts. He thought sometimes they hadn't +just got the inner light about God and the Bible and all, but they were +the kind of men who were getting there, striving after truth, and would +likely find it and hand it out to the world again when they got it; like +the wise men hunting everywhere for a Saviour. Don't you remember, +Father?" + +"I remember!" Father tried to speak cheerily, but his breath ended in a +sigh, for the carpet was heavy. Mother looked at him sharply and changed +the subject. It wasn't always easy to keep Father cheerful about +Stephen's going. + +"You don't suppose we could get those curtains up to-night, too, do +you?" + +"Why, I reckon!" said Father, stopping for a puff of breath and looking +up to the white woodwork at the top of the windows. "You got 'em all +ready to put up, all sewed and everything? Why, I reckon I could put up +those rods after I get across this end, and then you could slip the +curtains on while I was doing the rest. You don't want to get too tired, +Mother. You know you been sewing a long time to-day." + +"Oh, I'm not tired! I'm just childish enough to want to see how it's all +going to look. Say, Father, that wasn't the telephone ringing, was it? +You don't think we might get a telegram yet to-night?" + +"Not scarcely!" said Father, with his mouth full of tacks. "You see, +it's been bad weather, and like as not your letter got storm-stayed a +day or so. You mustn't count on hearing 'fore Monday I guess." + +They both knew that that letter ought to have reached the hospital where +Bonnie Brentwood was supposed to be about six o'clock that evening, for +so they had calculated the time between Stephen's letters to a nicety; +but each was engaged in trying to keep the other from getting anxious +about the telegram that did not come. For it was now half past eight by +the kitchen clock, and both of them were as nervous as fleas listening +for that telephone to ring that would decide the fate of the pretty pink +room, whether it was to have an occupant or not. + +"These white madras curtains look like there's been a frost on a cobweb, +don't they?" said Mother Marshall, holding up a pair all arranged upon +the brass rod ready to hang. "And just see how pretty this pink stuff +looks against it. I declare it reminds me of the sunset light on the +snow in the orchard out the kitchen window evenings when I was watching +for Steve to come home from school. Say, Father, don't you think those +book-shelves look cozy each side of the bay window? And wasn't it clever +of Jed Lewis to think of putting hinges to the covers on that +window-seat? She can keep lots of things in there! Wait till I get those +two pink silk cushions you made me buy. My! Father, but you and I are +getting extravagant in our old age! and all for a girl that may never +even answer our letter!" + +There was a kind of sob in the end of Mother Marshall's words that she +tried to disguise, but Father caught it and flew to the rescue. + +"There now, Mother!" he said, getting laboriously up from the carpet, +hammer in hand, and putting his arms tenderly about her. "There now, +Mother! Don't you go fretting! You see, like as not she was asleep when +the letter got there, and they wouldn't wake her up, or mebbe it would +be too much excitement for her at night that way! And then, again, if +the mail-train was late it wouldn't get into the night deliv'ry. You +know that happened once for Steve and he was real worried about us! Then +they might not have deliv'ry at the hospital on Sunday, and she couldn't +_get_ it till Monday morning! See? And there's another thing you got to +calcl'ate on, too! You never thought of that! She might be too sick yet +to read a letter, or think what to say to it! So just you be patient, +Mother! We'll just have that much more time to fix things; for, so to +speak, now we haven't got any limitations on what we think she is. We +can just plan for her like she was perfect. When we get her telegram +we'll get some idea, and begin to know the real girl, but now we've just +got our own notion of her." + +"Why, of course!" choked Mother, smiling. "I'm just afraid, Seth, that +I'm getting set on her coming, and that isn't right at all, you know, +because she mightn't be coming." + +"Well, and then again she might. Howsomenever, we'll have this room +fixed up company fine, and if she don't come we'll just come here and +camp for a week, you and me, and pretend we're out visiting. How would +that do? Say, it's real pretty here, like spring in the orchard, ain't +it, Mother? Well, now, you figure out what you're going to have for +bureau fixings, and I'll get back to my tacking. I want to get done +to-night and get that pretty white furniture moved in. You're sure the +enamel is perfectly dry on that bed? That was the last piece he worked +on. I think Jed made a pretty good job of it, for such quick work. Don't +you? Got a clean counterpane, and one of your pink-and-white patchwork +quilts for in here, haven't you, and a posy pin-cushion? My! but I'd +like to know what she says when she sees it first!" + +And so the two old dears jollied each other along till far past their +bedtime; and when at last they lay quiet for the night Mother raised up +in the moonlight that was flooding her side of the room and looked +cautiously over to the other side of the bed: + +"Father! You awake yet?" + +"Yes!" sleepily. + +"What'll we do about going to church to-morrow? The telegram might come +while we're gone, and then we'd never know what she answered." + +"Oh, they'd call up again until they got us. And, anyhow, we'd call them +up when we got back and ask if any message had come yet?" + +"Oh! Would we?" and Mother Marshall lay down with a sigh of relief, +marveling, as she often had, at the superior knowledge in little +technical details that men so often displayed. Of course in the real +vital things of life women had to be on hand to make things move +smoothly, but just a little thing like that, now, that needed a bit of +what seemed almost superfluous information, a man always knew; and you +wondered how he knew, because nobody ever seemed to have taught him! So +at last Mother Marshall slept. + +Anxious inquiry of the telephone after church brought forth no telegram. +Dinner was a strained and artificial affair, preceded by a wistful but +submissive blessing on the meal. Then the couple settled down in their +comfortable chairs, one each side of the telephone, and tried to read, +but somehow the hours dragged slowly. + +"There's that pair of Grandmother Marshall's andirons up in the attic!" +said Mother Marshall, looking up suddenly over the top of the _Sunday +school Times_. + +"I'll bring them down the first thing in the morning!" said Father, with +his finger on a promise in the Psalms. Then there was silence for some +time. + +Mother Marshall's eyes suddenly lighted on an article headed, "My Class +of Boys." + +"Seth!" she said, with a beautiful light in her eyes. "You don't suppose +maybe she'd be willing to take Stephen's class of boys in Sunday-school +when she gets better? I can't bear to see them begin to stay away, and +Deacon Grigsby admits he don't know how to manage them." + +"Why, sure!" said Father, tenderly. "She'll take it, I've no doubt. +She's that kind, I should think. And if she isn't now, Mother, she will +be after she's been with you awhile!" + +"Oh, now, Father!" said Mother, turning pink with pleasure. "Come, let's +go up and see how the room looks at sunset!" + +So arm in arm they climbed the front stairs and stood looking about on +the glorified rosy background with its wilderness of cherry bloom about +the frieze. Such a transformation of the dingy old room in such a little +time! Arm in arm they went over to the window-seat and sat leaning +stiffly against the two pink silk cushions, and looking out across the +rosy sunset snow in the orchard, thinking wistfully of the boy that used +to come whistling up that way and would never come to them so again. +Then, just as Father drew a sigh, and a tear crept out on Mother's cheek +(the side next the window), a long-hoped-for, unaccustomed sound burst +out below-stairs! The telephone was ringing! It was Sunday evening at +sunset, and the telephone was ringing! + +Wildly they both sprang to their feet and clutched each other for a +moment. + +"I'll go, Mother," said Father, in an agitated voice. "You just sit +right here and rest till I get back!" + +"No! I'll go, too!" declared Mother, trotting after. "You might miss +something and we ought to write it down!" + +In breathless silence they listened for the magic words, Mother leaning +close to catch them and trying to scratch them down on a corner of the +telephone book with the stump of a pencil she kept for writing recipes: + +"Your wonderful invitation accepted with deep gratitude!" + +"What's that, Father? Make him say it over again!" cried Mother, +scribbling away. "'Your wonderful invitation--(Oh, she liked it, then!) +accepted'--She's coming, Father!" + +"Will start as soon as possible!" + +("Then she's really coming!") + +"Probably Wednesday night." + +("Then I'll have time to get some pink velvet and make a cushion for the +little rocker. They do have pink velvet, I'm sure!") + +"Will write." + +("Then we'll really know what she's like if she writes!") + +Mother Marshall's happy thoughts were in a tumult, but she had her head +about her yet. + +"Now, make him say it all over from the beginning again, Father, and see +if we've got it right. You speak the words out as he says 'em, and I'll +watch the writing." + +And so at last the message was verified and the receiver hung up. They +read the message over together, and they looked at each another with +glad eyes. + +"Now let us pray, Rachel!" said Father, with solemn, shaken voice of +joy. And the two lonely old people knelt down by the little table on +which stood the telephone and gave thanks to God for the child He was +about to send to their empty home. + +"Now," said Father Marshall, when they had risen, "I guess we better get +a bite to eat. Seems like a long time since dinner. Any of that cold +chicken left, Mother? And a few doughnuts and milk? And say, Mother, we +better get the chores done up and get to bed early. I don't think you +slept much last night, and we've got to get up early. There's a whole +lot to do before she comes. We need to chirk up the rest of the house a +bit. Somehow we've let things get down since Stephen went away." + +Said Mother, as she landed the platter of cold chicken on the table, +"How soon do you s'pose she'll write? I'm just aching to get that +letter!" + + + + +CHAPTER XX + + +Gila had counted on an easy victory that evening. She had furnished for +the occasion her keenest wit, her sweetest laughter, her finest +derision, her most sparkling sarcasm; and as she and her escort joined +the motley throng who were patiently making their way into the packed +doorway she whetted them forth eagerly. + +Even while they took their turn among the crowd she began to make keen +little remarks about the company they were keeping, drawing her velvet +robes away from contact with the throng. + +Courtland, standing head and shoulders above her, his fine profile +outlined against the brightness of the lighted doorway, was looking +about with keen interest on the faces of the people, and wondering why +they had come. Were they in search of the Presence? Had they, too, felt +it there within those dingy walls? He glanced down at Gila with a hope +that she, too, might see and understand to-night. What friends they +might be--how they might talk these things over together--if only Gila +would understand! + +He wished she had had better sense than to array herself in such +startling garments. He could see the curious glances turned her way; +glances that showed she was misunderstood. He did not like it, and he +reached down a protecting hand and took her arm, speaking to her +gravely, just to show the bold fellows behind her that she was under +capable escort. He did not hear her keen sallies at the expense of their +fellow-worshipers. He was annoyed and trying by his serious mien to +shelter her. + +The singing was already going on as they entered. Just plain old gospel +songs, sung just as badly, though with even more fervor, than in the +morning. Courtland accepted the tattered hymn-book and put Gila into the +seat the shabby usher indicated. He was wholly in the spirit of the +gathering, and anxious only to feel the spell once more that had been +about him in the morning. But Gila was so amused with her surroundings +that she could scarcely pay attention to where she was to sit, and +almost tripped over the end of the pew. She openly stared and laughed at +the people around her, as though that was what Courtland had brought her +there for, and kept nudging him and calling his attention to some +grotesque figure. + +Courtland was singing, joining his fine tenor in with the curious +assembly and enjoying it. Gila recalled him each time from a realm of +the spirit, and he would earnestly give attention to what she said, +bending his ear to listen, then look seriously at the person indicated, +try to appreciate her amusement with a nod and absent smile, and go on +singing again! He was so absorbed in the gathering that her talk +scarcely penetrated to his real soul. + +If he had been trying to baffle Gila he could have used no more +effective method, for the point of her jokes seemed blunted. She turned +her eyes at last to her escort and began to study him, astonishment and +chagrin in her countenance. Gradually both gave way to a kind of +admiration and curiosity. One could not look at Courtland and not +admire. The fine strength in his handsome young face and figure were +always noticeable among a company anywhere, and here among these +foreigners and wayfarers it was especially so. She was conscious of a +thrill of pleasure in his presence that was new to her. Usually her +attitude was to make others thrill at her presence! No man before had +caught her fancy and held it like this rare one. What secret lay behind +that grave strength of his that made him successfully resist those arts +of hers that had readily lured other victims? + +She watched him while he bowed his head in prayer, and noted how his +rich, close-cut hair waved and crept about his temples; noted the curve +of his chin and the curl of his lashes on his cheek. More and more she +coveted him. And she must set herself to find and break this other power +that had him in its clutches. She perfectly recognized the fact that it +was entirely possible that she would not care for him after the other +power was broken, and that she might have to toss him aside after he was +fully hers. But what of that? Had she not so tossed many a hapless soul +that had come like a moth to singe his wings in her candle-flame, then +laughed at him gaily as he lay writhing in his pain; and tossed after +him, torn and trampled, his own ideals of womanhood, too; so that all +other women might henceforth be blighted in his eyes. Ah! What of that, +so that unquenchable flame in her soul, that restlessly pursued and +conquered and cast aside, might be satisfied? Was that not what women +were made for, to conquer men and toss them away? If they did not would +not men conquer them and toss them away? She was but fulfilling her +womanhood as she had been taught to look upon it. + +But there was something puzzling about Courtland that interested her +deeply. She was not sure but it was half his charm. He really seemed to +_want_ to be good, to _desire_ to resist evil. Most of the other men +she knew had been all too ready to fall as lightly with as little +earnestness as she into whatever doubtful paths her dainty feet had +chanced to lead. Many of them would have led further than she would go, +for she had her own limitations and conventions, strange as it may seem. + +So Gila sat and meditated, with a strange, sweet thrill in the thought +of a new experience; for, young as she was, she had found the pleasures +of her existence pall upon her many times. + +Suddenly her ear was caught by the sermon. The ugly little man in the +pulpit, with the strange eyes that seemed to look through you, was +telling a story of a garden, with One calling, and a pair of naked souls +guilty and in fear before Him. It was as though she had been one of +them! What right had he to flaunt such truths before a congregation? + +She was not familiar enough with Bible truths to know where he got the +story. It did not seem a story. It was just her Eden where she walked +and ate what fruit she might desire every day without a thought of any +command that might have been issued. She recognized no commands. What +right had God to command her? The serpent had whispered early to her, +"Thou shalt not surely die." Her only question was ever whether the +fruit was pleasant to the eyes and a tree to be desired to make one +wise. Till now there had been no Lord God walking in her garden in the +cool of the day. Only her mother, and she was easy to evade. She had +never been really afraid, nor felt her little soul naked till now, with +the ugly little man's bright brown eyes upon her, and his words +shivering through her like winds about the unprotected. Hideous things +she had forgotten flung into view and challenged her; and somewhere in +the room there seemed to be One who dared to call her to account. She +looked fiercely back to the speaker, her delicate brows drawn darkly, +her great blue-black eyes fierce in their intensity, her whole face and +attitude a challenge to the sermon. Courtland, absorbed as he was in +what the speaker had to say, thrilling with the message that came to his +soul welcomely, became aware of the tense little figure by his side, +and, looking down, was pleased that she had forgotten her nonsense and +was listening, and somehow missed the defiance in her attitude. + +Gila did not smile when service was over. She went out haughtily, +impatiently, looking about on the throng contemptuously. When Courtland +asked her if she would like to stop a minute and meet the preacher she +threw up her chin with a toss and a "No, indeed!" that left no doubt for +lingering. + +Out in the street, away from the crowd somewhat, she suddenly stopped +and stamped her little foot: "I think that man is perfectly +_disgusting_!" she cried. "He ought to be _arrested_! I don't know why +such a man is allowed at large!" + +She was fairly panting in her anger. It was as if he had put her to +shame before an assembly. + +Courtland turned wonderingly toward her. + +"He is outrageous!" she went on. "He has no _right_! I _hate_ him!" + +Courtland watched her in amazement. "You can't mean the minister!" + +"Minister! He's no minister!" declared Gila. "He's a fanatic! One of the +worst kind. He's a fake! He's uncanny! The idea of daring to talk about +God that way as if He was always around every where! I think it's +_awful_! I should think he'd have everybody in hysterics!" + +Gila's voice sounded as if she were almost there herself. She flung +along by his side with a vindictive little click of her high-heeled +boots and a prance of her whole elaborate little person that showed she +was fairly bristling with wrath. + +But Courtland's voice was sad with disappointment. "Then you didn't feel +it, after all! I was hoping you did." + +"Feel what?" she asked, sharply. "I felt something, yes. What did you +mean?" Her voice had softened wonderfully, and she drew near to him and +slipped her hand again within his arm. There was an eagerness in her +voice that Courtland wholly misinterpreted. + +"Feel the Presence!" He said it gently, reverently, as if it were a +magic word, a password to a mutual understanding. + +"Presence?" she said, bewildered. "Yes, I felt a presence, but what +presence did you mean?" Her voice was soft with meaning. + +"The Presence of God." + +She turned upon him and jerked her arm away. "The Presence of God in +that place?" she demanded. "No! _Never!_ How perfectly dreadful! I think +that is irreverent!" + +"Irreverent?" + +"Yes! Very irreverent!" said Gila, piously. "And a man like that is +profaning holy things. If you really care for religious things you ought +to come to my church, where everything is quiet and orderly and where +there are decent people. Why, those people there to-night looked as if +they might all be thieves and murderers! And outlandish! My soul! I +never saw anything like it! Some of their things must have come out of +the Ark! Did you see that girl with the tight green skirt? Imagine it! A +whole year and a half out of date! I think it is immodest to wear +things when they get out of style like that! And the idea of that man +daring to talk to that kind of people about God coming down to live with +them! I think it was the limit! As if God cared anything about people of +that sort! I think that man ought to be arrested, putting notions into +poor people's heads! It's just such talk as that that makes riots and +things. My father says so! Getting common, stupid people all worked up +about things they can't understand. I think it's wicked!" + +Gila raved all the way home. Courtland, for the most part, let her talk +and was silent. + +Seated finally in the library, for he could not go away yet, somehow. +There was something he must ask her. He turned to her, calling her for +the first time by her name: + +"But, Gila, you said you felt a Presence. What did you mean?" + +Gila was silent. The tumult in her face subsided. + +She dropped her lashes and played with the frill on the wrist of the +long chiffon sleeve of her blouse. Her eyes beneath their concealing +lashes kindled. Her mouth grew sweet and sensitive, her whole attitude +became shy and alluring. She sat and drooped before the fire, casting +now and then a wide, shy, innocent look up, her face half turned away. + +"Does she look adown her apron!" floated the words through his brain. +Ah! Here at last was the Gila he had been seeking! The Gila who would +understand! + +"Tell me, Gila!" he said, in an eager, low appeal. + +She stirred softly, drooped a little more toward him, her face turned +away till only the charming profile showed against the rich darkness of +a crimson curtain. Now at last he was coming to it! + +"It was--_you_--I meant!" she breathed softly. + +He sat up sharply. There was subtle flattery in her tone. He could not +fail to be stirred by it. + +"Me!" he said, almost sternly. "I don't understand!" but his voice was +gentle, almost tender. She looked so small and scared and +"Solveig"-like. + +"You meant _me_!" he said, again. "Won't you please explain?" + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + + +Courtland went back to college that night in a tender and exalted mood. +He thought he was in love with Gila! + +That had been a wonderful little scene before the fire, with the soft, +hidden yellow lights above, and Gila with her delicate, fervid little +face, great, dark eyes, and shy looks. Gila had risked a tear upon her +pearly cheek and another to hang upon her long lashes, and he had had a +curious desire to kiss them away; but something held him from it. +Instead, he took his clean handkerchief, softly wiping them, and thought +that Gila was shy and modest when she shrank from his touch. + +He did not take her in his arms. Something held him from that, too. He +had a feeling that she was too sacred, and he must not lightly snatch +her for himself. Instead, he put her gently in the big chair by his +side, and they sat and talked together quietly. He did not realize that +he had done the most of the talking. He did not know what they had +talked about; only that reluctant whispered confession of hers had +somehow entered him into a close intimacy with her that pleased and half +awed him. But when he tried to tell her of a wonderful experience he had +had she lifted up her little hand and begged: "Please, not to-night! Let +us not think of anything but just each other to-night!" And so he had +let it pass, knowing she was all wrought up. + +He had not asked her to marry him, nor even told her he loved her. They +had talked in quiet, wondering ways of feeling drawn to each other; at +least _he_ had talked, and Gila had sat watching him with deep, +dissatisfied eyes. She had sense enough to see that she could not win +him with the arts that had won others. His was a nature deeper, +stronger. She must bide her time and be coy. But her spirit chafed +beneath delay, and dark passions lurked behind and brooded in her eyes. +Perhaps it was this that held him in a sort of uncertainty. It was as if +he waited permission from some unseen source to take what she was so +evidently ready to give. He thought it was the sacredness in which he +held her. Almost the sermon and the feeling of the Presence were out of +mind as he went home. There played around him now a little phantom joy +that hovered over like a will-o'-the-wisp above his heart, and danced, +giving him a strange, inexplicable exhilaration. Was this love? Was he +in love? + +He flung himself down on Tennelly's couch when he got back to the +dormitory. Bill Ward was deep in a book under the drop-light, and +Tennelly was supposed to be finishing a theme for the next day. + +"Nelly, what is love?" asked Courtland, suddenly, in the midst of the +silence. "How do you know when you are in love?" + +Tennelly dropped his fountain-pen in his surprise, and had to crawl +under the table after it. He and Bill Ward exchanged one lightning +glance of relief as he emerged from the table. + +"Search me!" said Tennelly, as he sat down again. "Love's an illusion, +they say. I never tried it, so I don't know." + +There was silence again in Tennelly's room. Presently Courtland got up +and said good-night. Over in his own room he stood by the window, +looking out into the moonlight. The preacher had said prayer was talking +with the Lord face to face. That was a new idea. Courtland dropped upon +his knees and talked aloud to God as he had never opened his heart to +living creature before. If prayer was that, why, prayer was good! + +Gila, standing bewildered, studying her pretty, discontented little face +in the mirror, with all its masks laid aside, would have shivered in +fear and been all the more uncertain of her success if she could have +known that the man she would have had for a lover was on his knees +talking about her to God. Her little naked soul in a garden all alone +with the Lord God, and a man who was set to follow Him! + +Tennelly looked up and raised his eyebrows as Courtland closed the door. +"Guess you needn't have written that letter, after all!" chuckled Bill +Ward. "I thought Gila would get in her little old work!" + +"Well, it's written and mailed, so that doesn't do any good now. And, +anyway, it's always well to have more than one string to your bow!" +growled Tennelly. Courtland in love! He wasn't exactly sure he liked it. +Courtland and Gila! What kind of a girl was Gila, anyway? Was she good +enough for Court? He must look into this. + +"Say, Bill, why don't you introduce me to your cousin? I think it's +about time I had a chance to judge for myself how things are getting +on," growled Tennelly, presently. + +"Sure!" said Bill. "Good idea! Why didn't you mention it before? How +about going now? It's only half past ten. Court didn't stay very late, +did he? No, it isn't too late for Gila. She never goes to bed till +midnight, not if there's anything interesting on. Wait. I'll call her up +and see. I'm privileged, anyway, you know. Cousins can do anything. I'll +tell her we're hungry." + +So it came about that an hour after Gila had sat in the firelight with +Courtland and listened, puzzled, to his reverent talk of a +soul-friendship, she ushered into the same room her cousin and Tennelly. +She met Tennelly with a challenge in her eye. + +Tennelly had one in his. Their glances lingered, sparred and lingered +again, and each knew that this was a notable meeting. + +For Tennelly was tall and strikingly handsome. He had those deep black +eyes that hold a maiden's gaze and dare a devil; yet there was behind +his look something strong, dashing, scholarly. Gila saw at once that he +was distinguished in his way, and though her thoughts were strangely +held by Courtland she could not let one like this go by unchallenged. If +Courtland did not prove corrigible, why, there was still as good fish in +the sea as ever was caught. It were well to have more than one hook +baited. So she received Tennelly graciously, boldly, impressively, and +in three minutes was talking with that daring intimacy that young people +of her style love to affect; and Tennelly, fascinated by her charms, yet +seeing through them and letting her know he saw through them, was +fencing with her delightfully. He told himself it was his duty for +Courtland's sake. Yet he was interested for his own sake and knew it. +But he did not like the idea of Court and this girl! They did not fit. +Court was too genuine! Too tender-hearted! Too idealistic about women! +With himself, now, it was different. He knew women! Understood this one +at a glance. She was "a peach" in her way, but not the "perfect little +peach" Court ought to have. She would flirt all her life and break old +Court's heart if he married her. + +So he laughed and joked with Gila, answering her challenging glances +with glances just as ardent, while Bill Ward sat and watched them both, +chuckling away to himself. + +And Courtland, on his knees, talked with God! + +The next morning Courtland awoke with a pleasant sensation of eagerness +to see what life had in store for him. Was this really the wonderful +experience of love into which he had begun to enter? He thought of Gila +all in halos now. The questionings and unpleasantnesses were forgotten. +He told himself that she would one day see and understand the wonderful +experience through which he had been passing. He would tell her just as +soon as possible. Not to-day, for he would be busy, and she had +engagements Tuesday evening and all day Wednesday. He had not noticed +the subtle withdrawing as she told him, the quick, furtive calculation +in her glance. She knew how to make coming to her a privilege. Just +because she had let him think he saw a bit of her heart that night, she +meant to hold him off. Not too long, for he was not sufficiently bound +to her to be safe from forgetting, but just long enough to whet his +eagerness. Her former experience in such matters had taught her to +expect that he would probably call her up and beg to see her sooner, +when she might relent if he was humble enough. And she had not misjudged +him. He was looking forward to Thursday as a bright, particular goal, +planning what he would say to her, wondering if his heart would bound as +it had when she looked at him Sunday night, and if the strange sweetness +that seemed about to be settling upon him would last. + +Before he left his room that morning he did something he had never done +before in college; he locked his door and knelt beside his bed to pray, +with a strong, sweet sense of the Presence standing beside him, and +breathing power into his soul. + +He had not much to ask for himself. He simply craved that Presence, and +it had never seemed so close. As he unlocked his door and hurried down +the hall to the dining-room he marveled that a thing so sweet had been +so long neglected from his life. Prayer! How he had sneered at it! Yet +it was a reasonable thing, after all, now that he had come believing. + +Nurse Wright was on hand promptly at the place appointed. She was armed +with a list of written instructions. They went to work at once, setting +aside the things to be sold; folding and packing the scanty wardrobe, +and putting by themselves the clothes and things that had belonged to +little Aleck. One incident brought tears to their eyes. In moving out +the trunk a large pasteboard box fell down, and the contents dropped +upon the floor. The nurse stooped to pick up the things, some pieces of +an old overcoat of fine, dark-blue material, cut into small garments, +basted, ready to be sewed; a tissue-paper pattern in a printed envelope +marked "Boy's suit." Courtland lifted up the cover to put it on again, +and there they saw, in a child's stiff little printing letters, the +inscription, "Aleck's new Sunday suit," and underneath, like a subtitle, +in smaller letters, "Made out of father's best overcoat." + +"Poor little kid!" said Courtland. "He never got to wear it!" + +"He's wearing something far better!" said the nurse, cheerfully; "and +think what he's been spared. He'll never know the lack of a new suit +again!" + +Courtland looked at her thoughtfully. "You believe in the resurrection, +don't you?" + +"I certainly do!" said the nurse. "If I didn't I'd get another job. I +couldn't see lives go out the way I do, and those left behind, +suffering, and not go crazy if I didn't believe in the resurrection. You +are a college student. I suppose you've got beyond believing things. It +isn't the fashion to believe in God and the Bible any more, I +understand, not if you're supposed to have any brains. But I thank God +He's left me the resurrection. And when you come to face the loss of +those you love you'll wish you believed in it, too." + +"But I do," said Courtland, quietly, making his second confession of +faith. "I never thought much about it till lately. It goes along with a +Christ, of course. There had to be a resurrection if there was a +Christ!" + +"Well, I certainly am glad there's one college student that has some +sense!" said the nurse, looking at him with admiration. "I guess you had +a good mother." + +"No," said Courtland, shaking his head. "I never knew my own mother. +That'll be one of the things for me to look forward to in the +resurrection. I was like all the rest of the fellows--thought I knew it +all, and didn't believe anything till something happened! I was in a +fire and one of the fellows died! He was a great Christian, and I saw +his face when he died! And then, afterward--maybe you'll think I'm nuts +when I tell you--but Christ came and stood by me in the smoke and talked +with me and I knew Him! He's been with me more or less ever since." + +The nurse looked at him curiously, a strange light in her eyes. Then she +turned suddenly and looked out of the little window to the vista of gray +roofs. + +"No! I don't think you're nuts!" she said, brusquely. "I think you're +the only sensible man I've met in a long time. It stands to reason if +there is a Christ He'd come to people that way sometimes. I never had +any vision, or anything that I know of, but I've always known in my +heart there was a Christ and He was helping me! I couldn't answer their +arguments, those smart-Aleck young doctors and the nurses that talked so +much, but I always felt nobody could upset my belief, even if the whole +world turned against Him, for I _knew_ there was a Christ! I don't know +_how_ I know it, but I _know_ it and that's enough for me! I don't boast +of being much of a Christian myself, but if I didn't know there was a +Christ I couldn't stand the life I have to live, nor the disappointments +that I've had." + +There were tears rolling down her cheeks, but her eyes were shining when +she turned around. + +"Say, I guess we're sort of relations, aren't we?" laughed Courtland, +holding out his hand. "You've described my feelings exactly." + +She took the offered hand and gripped it warmly. "I knew you must be +different, somehow, when you went out to hunt for my patient so late at +night that way," she said. + +Courtland went out presently, bringing back a second-hand man with whom +he made a quiet bargain that not even the nurse could hear, and the +surplus furniture was carted away. It was not long before the little +room was dismantled and empty. + +They went together to a department store and purchased a charming little +bag with a lot of traveling accessories in plain compact form, light +enough for an invalid to carry. Courtland begged to be let in on the +gift, but the nurse was firm: + +"This is my picnic, young man," she said. "You're doing enough! You +can't deny it! For pity's sake, wait till you know her better before +you try to do any more!" + +"Do you think I'll ever know her any better?" laughed Courtland. + +"If you have any sense you will!" snapped back the nurse, and waved a +grim but pleasant good-by as she took the trolley back to the hospital. + +Wednesday night Courtland was on hand with his car in plenty of time to +take Bonnie and the nurse down to the station. He was almost startled at +the beauty of the girl as she came slowly down the steps. There were +certain little details of her costume that showed the hand of the nurse: +a soft white collar; a floating, sheltering veil, gathered up now about +the black sailor-hat; well-fitting gloves; shoes polished like new. All +these things made a difference and set off the girl's lovely face in its +white resignation to an almost unearthly beauty. He found himself +wanting to turn back often and look again as he drove his car through +the crowded evening streets. She looked so frail and sweet he could not +help thinking of Mother Marshall and how she would feel when she saw +her. Surely she could not help but take her to her heart! He felt a +certain pride in her, as if she were his sister. He was half sorry she +was going away. He would like to know her better. The words of the +nurse, "until you know her better" floated through his mind. What a +strange thing that had been for her to say! It wasn't in the least +likely that he would ever see Bonnie again. + +They left her in the sleeper, with special instructions to the porter to +look after her, and surrounding her with magazines and fruit. + +"She looks as if a breath might blow her away!" said Courtland, speaking +out of a troubled thought, as he and the nurse stood on the platform +watching the train move off. "Do you think she'll get through the +journey all right?" + +"Sure!" said the nurse, wiping away a wistful tear furtively. "She's got +lots of pep. She'll rally and get strong pretty soon. She's had a pretty +tough time the last two years. Lost her mother, father, a sister, and +this little brother. Her father's heart was broken by being asked to +leave his church because he preached temperance too much. The martyrs in +this world didn't all die in the dark ages! They're having them yet!" + +"But she looks so ethereal!" pursued Courtland. "I wish I'd thought to +suggest you going along. We could have trumped up some reason why you +had to have a vacation." + +"Couldn't do it!" said the nurse, smiling and patting his arm. "I +thought of it, but it wouldn't work. I have to be at the hospital +to-morrow for a very important operation. There isn't anybody else in +the hospital could very well take my place. Besides, she's sharp as a +tack, and you needn't think she doesn't see through a lot of the things +you've done for her! Mark my words, you'll hear from her some day! She +means to know the truth about those bills and pay every cent back! But +don't you worry about her. She'll get through all right. She's got more +nerve than any dozen girls I know, and she doesn't go alone through this +world, either. She's had a vision, too, or you'd never see her wearing +that patient face with all she's had to bear!" + +"Did it ever seem strange to you that good people have so much trouble +in this world?" said Courtland, voicing his same old doubting thought. + +"Well, now _why_? What's _trouble_ going to be in the resurrection? We +won't mind then what we passed through, and this world isn't forever, +thank the Lord! If it's serving His plan any for me to get more than +what seems my share of trouble, why, I'm willing. Aren't you? The +trouble is we can't see the plan, and so we go fretting because it +doesn't fit our ideas. If it was our plan now we'd patiently bear +everything, I suppose, to make it come out right. We aren't up high +enough to get the whole view of the finished plan, so of course lots of +things look like mistakes. But if we trust Him at all, we know they +aren't. And some time, I suppose, we'll see the whole and then we'll +understand why it was. But I never was one to do much fretting because I +didn't understand. I always know what my job is, and that's enough. I'm +content to trust the rest to God. It's a God-size job to run the +universe, and I know I'm not equal to it." + +Her simple logic calmed his restless thoughts, but there was still a +strange wistfulness in his heart about Bonnie. She looked so white and +resigned and sad! He wished she hadn't gone quite so far out of his +life. + +Meantime, out in the darkness of the night Bonnie's train whirled along, +and some time during the long hours between midnight and dawning it +passed in a rush and a thunder of sound the express that was bearing +back to Courtland another menace to his peace of mind. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + + +Uncle Ramsey was large and imposing, with an effulgent complexion and a +prosperous presence. He wore a double-jeweled ring on his apoplectic +finger, and a scarab scarf-pin. His eyes were keen and shifty; his teeth +had acquired the habit of clutching his fat black cigar viciously while +he snarled his rather loose lips about them in conversation. Uncle +Ramsay never looked one in the face when he was talking. He looked off +into space, where he appeared to have the topic under discussion in +visible form before him. He never took up with the conversation his host +offered. He furnished the topics himself and pinned one down to them. It +really was of no use whatever to start any subject unless it had been +previously announced, because it never got further than the initiative. +Uncle Ramsey always went on with whatever he had in mind. Tennelly knew +this tendency, realized that in writing the letter he had taken the only +possible way of bringing Courtland to his uncle's notice. + +After an exceedingly good dinner at the frat. house, where Tennelly did +not usually dine, and being further reinforced by one of the aforesaid +fat black cigars, Uncle Ramsey leaned back in Tennelly's leather chair, +and began: + +"Now, Thomas!" + +Tennelly stirred uneasily. He despised that "Thomas." His full name was +Llewellyn Thomas Tennelly. At home they called him "Lew." Nobody but +Uncle Ramsey ever dared the hateful Thomas. He liked to air the fact +that his nephew was named after himself, the great Ramsey Thomas. + +"Suppose you tell me about this man you have for me? What kind of a +looking man is he?" + +Uncle Ramsey screwed up his eyes, looked to the middle distance where +the subject ought to be, and examined him critically. + +"Has--ah--he--ah--_personality_? Personality is a great factor in +success you know." + +Tennelly, in the brief space allowed him, declared that his friend would +pass this test. + +"Well--ah! And can he--ah!--can he _lead men_? Because that is a very +important point. The man I want must be a leader." + +"I think he is." + +"Um--ah! And does he--?" on down through a long list of questions. + +At last, after once more relighting his cigar, which had gone out +frequently during the conversation, he turned to his nephew and fixed +him sharply with a fat pale-blue eye. + +"Tell me the worst you know about him, Thomas! What are his faults?" he +snapped, and settled back to squint at his imaginary stage again. + +"Why--I--Why, I don't think he has any," declared Tennelly, shifting +uneasily in his chair. He had a feeling that Uncle Ramsey would get it +out of him yet. And he did. + +"Yes, I perceive that he has! Out with it!" snapped the keen old bird, +flinging his loose lips about restively. + +"It's only that he's got a religious twist lately, uncle. I don't think +it'll last. I really think he is getting over it!" + +"Religion! Um! Ah! Well, now that might not be so bad--not for my +purpose, you know. Religion really gives a confidence sometimes. +Religion! Um! Ah! Not a bad trait. Let me see him, Thomas! Let me see +him _at once_!" + +Tennelly had said nothing to Courtland about the approaching uncle, and +therefore it was wholly a surprise to Courtland when Tennelly knocked on +his door and dragged him from his books to meet a Chicago uncle. + +"He's come East looking for the right man to fill a very important +position. It is something along your line, I guess, so I spoke to him +about you," whispered Tennelly, hastily, as they crossed the hall +together. + +Face to face they stood, the financier and the young senior, and studied +each other keenly for the fraction of a second, Courtland no less cool +and impressive in his way than the older man. For Courtland was not +afraid of any man, and his natural attitude toward all men was challenge +till he knew them. He stood straight and tall and looked Uncle Ramsey in +the eye critically, questioningly, courteously, but with no attempt to +propitiate; and not the slightest apparent conception of the awesomeness +of the occasion or the condescension of the august personage whom he was +thus permitted to meet. + +And Uncle Ramsey liked it! + +True, he tried to fix the young man much as a cook fixes a roast with a +skewer, to be put over the fire; but Courtland didn't skew. He just sat +down indifferently and looked the man over; smiled pleasantly now and +then, and listened; but he didn't give an inch. Even when the marvelous +proposition was made to him which might change the whole course of his +future life and cover his name with glory (?) Courtland never flickered +an eyelash. + +"He took it as calmly as if I'd been offering him toast with his tea +when he already had bread and jam, the young whelp!" marveled Uncle +Ramsey, delightedly, after Courtland had thanked him, promised to think +it over, and gone back to his room. "He's got the personality, all +right! He'll do! But what's his idea in being so reluctant? Didn't the +offer strike him as big enough, or what's the matter? I must say I don't +like to wait. When I find a man I like to nail him. What's the idea, +Thomas? Has he got something else up his sleeve?" + +"Not that I know of," said Tennelly, looking troubled. "I guess he's +just got to think it over. That's Court. He never steps into a position +until he knows exactly what he thinks about it." + +"M-m-m! Another good trait! You're sure it isn't anything else?" + +"I don't know of anything unless some of his religious notions are +standing in his way. I'm sure I can't quite make him out lately. He had +a shock a few months ago--one of the fellows killed in a fire--and he +can't seem to get over it quite." + +"Oh, well, we'll fix him up all right!" said Uncle Ramsey, contentedly. +"We'll just send him down to our model factory here in the city and let +him see how things are run. Convince him he's doing good, and that'll +settle him! All white marble, with vines over the place, and a big +rest-room and reading-room for the hands, gymnasium on the roof, model +restaurant, all up to date. Cost a lot of money, too, but it pays! When +some whining idiot of a woman, that hasn't enough business of her own to +attend to, goes blabbing down there at Washington about the 'conditions' +in the factories, and all that rot, we just run a few senators up here +for the day and show 'em that model factory. Oh, it pays in the long +run. You take your man there and you'll land him all right! By the way, +there's a little rat of a preacher down around that factory that I'd +like to throttle! He's making us all sorts of trouble, stirring up the +folks to ask for all sorts of things! He's putting it in their heads to +demand an eight-hour day, and no telling how much more! He's undertaken +to tell us how we ought to run our business! Tell us which doors we +shall lock and which leave unlocked, how often we shall let our hands +sit down, and what kind of machines we shall get! He's a regular little +rat! Know him? His name's Burns. Insignificant little puppy! And he's +got a pull down there in Washington, somehow, that's making us a lot of +trouble, too! That's one thing I want this new man for. I want to train +him to spy on that sort of interference and by and by do some lobbying. +We must stop such business as that. What time is it? I guess perhaps I +better run down and hunt out that little rat and give him a good scare." + +Uncle Ramsey departed "rat-hunting," and Tennelly repaired to +Courtland's room. He sat down and began to tell what a wonderful +opportunity this was, and how unprecedented in Uncle Ramsey to have +offered such a thing to a young man still in college. It showed how +wonderfully he had been taken with Courtland. It was most flattering. + +Courtland admitted that it was and that he was grateful to his friend +for mentioning his name. He said it looked like a very good thing--like +the kind of thing he had been hoping would turn up when he got through +college, but he couldn't decide it immediately. + +Tennelly urged that Uncle Ramsey was insistent; that his business was +urgent, and he must know one way or the other immediately. He tried to +give Courtland an adequate idea of the greatness of Uncle Ramsey, and +the audacity of anybody, especially a little college upstart, attempting +to keep him waiting; but Courtland only shook his head and said it +wouldn't be possible for him to give his answer at once. If that was the +condition of the offer he would have to let it pass. + +Tennelly talked and talked, but finally went back to his room baffled. +He just couldn't understand what was the matter with Courtland! + +When Uncle Ramsey returned from a fruitless search for the "rat" he was +enraged to find that Courtland was not awaiting his coming in trembling +eagerness to accept his munificent offer. + +Another personal interview that evening brought nothing more +satisfactory than a promise to look into the matter carefully, and to +have another talk the next evening. Uncle Ramsey raged and swore. He +blamed the little rat of a preacher, and declared he must leave for +Boston that evening; but he finally sent a telegram instead and decided +to remain until the next night. There were matters in the city he was +intending to look after on his return, and of course he could do it now +instead. He felt it was important that that young man should be landed +before he had a chance to do too much thinking. Moreover, he was piqued +that a youngster like that should presume to consider turning down a job +like the one he was offering him. + +If Courtland had tried to explain to Tennelly and his uncle just why +this offer, which would have delighted him so much three months before, +was hanging in the balance of his mind, they would scarcely have +understood. He would have to tell them of the Presence which was by his +side, which had been very real to him as he stood in Tennelly's room +listening to Uncle Ramsey that afternoon, and which had hovered by him +since, so close, so strong, with that pervading, commanding nearness +that demanded his utmost attention. He would have had to tell them that +he was under orders now, being led, and that every step was new and +untried; he must look into the face of his Companion and Guide, and find +out if this was the way he was to go! + +Something, somewhere was holding him back. He did not know why, he did +not see for how long. He simply could not make that decision to-night! +He must await permission before moving. + +Possibly the trip to the factory the next day, which he had promised to +take, might give him some light in the matter. Possibly he would find +counsel somewhere. But where? He thought of Gila. He took out a lovely +photograph of her that she had given him before he left her Sunday +night--a charming, airy, idealistic thing of earth and fire that had +lain innocently open upon the library table where some one (?) had left +it earlier in the day. He stood it up on his desk and studied the +spirited will-o'-the-wisp face! Then he turned away sadly and shook his +head. She would not understand. Not yet! Some time, when he had told her +about the Presence--but not yet! She could not understand because she +had not seen for herself. + +Tennelly and his uncle went down-town in the morning and took lunch +together. Courtland was to meet them at the factory at three o'clock, +but somehow he missed them. Perhaps it was intention. Courtland went +early. He wanted to see things for himself; went alone first. Afterward +he could go the rounds to satisfy Mr. Thomas, but first he would see it +alone. + +Then, after all, it was the Rev. Robert Burns who met him at the door +and took him through the factory, bent on seeing some parishioner on an +errand of love. And there was that strange sense of the Presence having +been there before them, walking about among the machinery, looking at +the tired face of one, sorrowing over the wrinkles in another forehead, +pitying the weary hands that toiled, blessing the faithful! It reminded +him of the morgue in that. For a minute he began to think that if the +Presence was here in this peculiar sense, then, of course, it was an +indication that he was needed here to work for these people, as Uncle +Ramsey had tried with strange worldly wisdom to make him understand. But +then, suddenly, he caught a glimpse of the face of the little minister, +white under its freckles, with a righteous wrath as he fixed his gaze +sternly on the door at the end of the long room. He looked up quickly to +hear the click of a key in a lock as the foreman passed from one room to +another. + +He glanced down at the minister and their eyes met. + +"They lock them in here like sheep in a pen. If a fire should break out +they would all die!" said the minister under his breath. His lips were +trembling with the helplessness of himself against the power of a great +trust. + +"You don't say!" said Courtland, startled. It was his first view of +conditions of this sort. He looked about with eyes alive to things he +had not seen before. "But I thought this was a model factory! Isn't it +absolutely fire-proof?" + +"Somewhat so, on the _out_side!" shrugged Burns. "It's a whited +sepulcher, that's what it is. Beautiful marble and vines, beautiful +rest-room and library--for the _visitors_ to rest and read in--beautiful +restaurant where the girls must buy their meals at the company's prices +or go without; beautiful outside everywhere; but it's rotten, +_absolutely rotten_ all through! Look at the width of that staircase! +That's the one the employees use. The visitors only see the broad way by +which you came up. Look at those machines! All painted and gilded! They +are old models and twice as heavy to work as the new ones, but we can't +get them to make changes. Look at those seats, put there to impress the +visitors! The fact is not one of the hands dare use them, except a +minute now and then when the foreman happens to leave the room! They +know they will get docked in their pay if they are caught sitting down +at their work! And yet it is always flaunted before the visitors that +the workmen can sit down when they like. So they can, but they can go +home without a pay-envelope if they do, when Saturday night comes. Oh, +there is enough here to make one's blood boil! You're interested in +these things? I wish you'd let me tell you more some time. About the +long hours, the stifling air in some rooms, and the little children +working in spite of the law! I wish men like you would come down here +and help clean this section out and make conditions different! Why don't +you come and help me?" + +The minister laid his hand on Courtland's arm, and instantly it seemed +as if the Presence came and stood beside him and said: "Here! This is +your work!" + +With a great conviction in his heart Courtland turned and followed Burns +down the broad marble stairs out to the office, where he left word for +Tennelly and his uncle that he had been there and had to go, but would +see them again that evening, and then down the street to Burns's common +little boarding-house, where they sat down and talked the rest of the +afternoon. Burns opened Courtland's eyes to many things that he had not +known were in the world. It was as if he laid his hands upon him and +said, as of old: "Brother Saul, receive thy sight!" + +When Courtland went back to the university his decision was made. He +felt that he was under orders, and the Presence would not go with him in +any such commission as Uncle Ramsey had proposed. His only regret was +that Tennelly would not understand. Dear old Tennelly, who had tried to +do his best for him! + +The denouement began in Tennelly's room after supper, when Courtland +courteously and firmly thanked Uncle Ramsey, but _declined_ the offer! + +Uncle Ramsey grew apoplectic in the face and glared at the young man, +finally bringing out an explosive: "What! You _decline_?" + +Uncle Ramsey spluttered and swore. He tore up and down the small +confines of the room like an angry bull, bellowing forth anathemas and +arguments in a confused jumble. He enlarged on the insult he had been +given, and the opportunity that was being lost never to be offered +again. He called Courtland a "trifling idiot," and a few other gentle +phrases, and demanded reasons for such an unprecedented decision. + +Courtland's only answer was: "I am afraid it isn't going to fit in with +my views of life, Mr. Thomas. I have thought it over carefully and I +cannot accept your offer." + +"Why not? Isn't it enough money?" roared the mad financier. "I'll double +your salary!" + +"Money has nothing to do with it," said Courtland, quietly. "That would +make no difference." He was sorry for this scene for Tennelly's sake. + +"Well, have you something else in view?" + +"No, not definitely." + +"Then you're a fool!" said Uncle Ramsey, and further stated what kind +of a fool he was, several times, _vigorously_. After which he mopped his +beaded brow with trembling, agitated hands, and sat down. The old bull +was baffled at last. + +Uncle Ramsey blustered all the way to the train with his nephew. "I've +got to have that young man, Thomas. There's no two ways about it. A +fellow that can stand out the way he did against Ramsey Thomas is just +the man I want. He's got personality. Why, a man like that at work for +us would be worth millions! He would give confidence to every one! Why, +we could make him a Senator in a few years, and there's no telling where +he wouldn't stop! He's the kind of a man who could be put in the White +House if things shaped themselves right. I've _got_ to have him, Thomas, +and no mistake! Now, I'm going to put it up to you to find out the +secret of this thing. You just get his number and we'll meet him on any +reasonable proposition he wants to put up. Say, Thomas, isn't there a +girl anywhere that could influence him?" + +"Yes, there's a girl!" + +"The very thing! You put her wise about it, and when I come back next +week I'll stop off again and see what I can do with her? You can take me +to call on her, you know. Can you work it, Thomas?" + +Tennelly said he'd try, and went around to see Gila on his way back to +the university. + +Gila listened to the story of Uncle Ramsey's offer with bated breath and +averted gaze. She would not show Tennelly how much this meant to her. +But in her eyes there grew a determination that was not to be denied. + +She planned a campaign with Tennelly, coolly, and with a light kind of +glee that fooled him completely. He saw that she was entering into the +spirit of the thing and had no idea she had any other interest than to +please her cousin, and achieve a kind of triumph herself in making +Courtland do the thing he had vowed not to do. + +But long after Tennelly had gone home she stood before her mirror, +looking with dreamy eyes into the pictures her imagination drew there +for her. She saw herself the bride of Courtland after he had succeeded +in the big business enterprise to which Uncle Ramsey had opened the +door; she saw Washington with its domes and Capitol looming ahead of her +ambition; Senators and great men bowing before her; even the White House +came like a fantasy of possibility. All this and more were hers if she +played her cards aright. Never fear! She would play them! Courtland +_must_ be made to accept Uncle Ramsey's proposition! + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + + +Bonnie's letter reached Mother Marshall Wednesday afternoon while Father +was off in the machine arranging for a man to do the spring plowing. She +knew it by heart before he got back, and stood at her trysting window +with her cheek against the old hat, watching the sunset and thinking it +over when the car came chugging contentedly down the road. + +Father waved his hand boyishly as he turned in at the big gate, and +Mother was out on the side door-step waiting as he came to a halt. + +"Heard anything yet?" he asked, eagerly. + +"Yes. A nice, dear letter!" Mother held it up, "Hurry up and come in and +I'll read it to you." + +But Father couldn't wait to put away the machine. He bounded out like a +four-year-old and came right in then, regardless of the fact that it was +getting dark and he might run into the door-jamb putting away the +machine later. + +He settled down, overcoat and all, into the big chair in the kitchen to +listen; and Mother put on her spectacles in such a hurry that she got +them upside down and had to begin over again. + + YOU DEAR MOTHER MARSHALL! [the letter began.] + AND DEAR FATHER MARSHALL, TOO! + + I think it is just the most wonderful thing that I ever + heard of that you are willing to invite a stranger like me + to visit you! At first I thought it wasn't right to accept + such great kindness from people I never saw, and who didn't + know whether they could even like me or not. But afterward + Mr. Courtland told me about your Stephen and that you had + suffered, too! And then I knew that I might take you at your + word and come for a little while to get the comfort I need + so much! Even then I couldn't have done it if Mr. Courtland + and my nurse hadn't told me they were sure I could get + something to do and so be able to repay you for all this + kindness. If I can really be of any comfort to you in your + loneliness I shall be so glad. But I'm afraid I could never + even half fill the place of so fine a son as you must have + had. Mr. Courtland has told me how grandly he died. He saw + him, you know, at the very last minute, and saw all he did + to save others. But if you will let me love you both I shall + be so grateful. All that I had on earth are gone home to God + now, and the world looks so long and hard and sad to me! I + do hope you can love me a little while I stay, and that you + will not let me make you any trouble. Please don't go to any + work to get ready for me. I will gladly do anything that is + necessary when I get there. I am quite able to work now; and + if I have a place where I can feel that somebody cares + whether I live or die it will not be so hard to face the + future. A great, strange city is an awful place for a girl + that has a heavy heart! + + I am so glad that you know Jesus Christ. It makes me feel at + home before I get there. My dear father was a minister. + + They wouldn't let me go and pack up, so I had to do the best + I could with directing the kind friends who did it for me. I + have taken you at your word and had mother's sewing-machine + and a box of my little brother's things sent with my trunk. + But if they are in the way I can sell them or give them + away. And I don't want you to feel that I am going to + presume upon your kindness and settle down on you + indefinitely. Just as soon as I get a chance to work I must + take it, and I shall want to repay you for all you have done + for me. You have sent me a great deal more money than I + need. + + I start Wednesday evening on the through express. I have + marked a time-table and am sending it because we are unable + to find out just what time I can make connections from + Grant's Junction, where they say I have to change. Perhaps + you will know. But don't worry about me; I'll find my way to + you as soon as I can get there. I am praying all the time + that I shall not disappoint you. And now till I see you, + + Sincerely and gratefully, + ROSE BONNER BRENTWOOD. + +"It couldn't be improved on," declared Mother, beamingly. "It's just +what I'd have wanted her to say if I'd been planning it all out, only +more so!" + +"It's all right!" said Father, excitedly, "but that's one thing we +forgot. We'd ought to have sent her word we would meet her at the +station, and what time the train left Grant's Junction, and all! Now +that's too bad!" + +"Now don't you worry, Father. She'll find her way. Like as not the +conductor will have a time-table and be able to tell her all about the +trains. But I certainly do wish we had let her know we would meet her." + +They were still worrying about it that night at nine o'clock while +Father wound the kitchen clock and Mother put a mackerel asoak for +breakfast. Suddenly the telephone in the next room gave a whir, and both +Father and Mother jumped as if they had been shot, looking at each other +in bewildered question as they hastened to the 'phone. + +It was Father who took down the receiver. "A telegram? For Mr. Seth +Marshall! Yes, I'm listening! Write it down, Mother! A telegram!" + +"Mercy! Perhaps she wasn't well enough to start!" gasped mother, putting +her pencil in place. + + Miss Brentwood left to-night at nine-fifteen on express + number ten, car Alicia lower berth number eight. Please let + me know if she arrives safely. + + PAUL COURTLAND. + +"Now isn't that thoughtful of him!" he said, as he hung up the receiver. +"He must have sensed we wanted to send her word, and now we can do it!" + +"Send her word!" said Mother, bewildered. + +"Why, surely! Haven't you read in the papers how they send messages to +trains that are moving? It's great, isn't it, Mother? To think this +little dinky telephone puts you and me out here on this farm in touch +with all the world." + +"Do you mean you can send a telegram to her on board the train, Seth?" +asked Mother, in astonishment. + +"Sure!" said Father. "We've got all the numbers of everything. Just send +to that express train that left to-night. What was it--Express number +ten, and so on, and it'll be sent along and get to her." + +"Well, I think I'd ask her to answer then, to make sure she got it. I +think that's a mighty uncertain way to send messages to people flying +along on an express train. If you don't get any word from her you'll +never know whether she got it or not, and then you won't know whether to +meet her at Sloan's or Maitland," said Mother, with a worried pucker on +her forehead. + +"Sure!" said Father, taking down the receiver. "I can do that." + +"It's just wonderful, Seth, how much you know about little important +things like that!" sighed Mother, when the telegram was sent. "Now, I +think we better go right to bed, for I've got to get to baking early in +the morning. I want to have bread and pies and doughnuts fresh when she +comes." + +It was while they were eating breakfast that the answer came: + + Telegram received. Will come to Sloan's Station. Having + comfortable journey. R.B.B. + +"Now isn't that just wonderful!" said Mother, sitting back weakly behind +the coffee-pot and wiping away an excited tear with the corner of her +apron. "To think that can be done! Now, wouldn't it be just beautiful if +we had telephones to heaven! Think, if we could get word from Stephen +to-day, how happy we'd be!" + +"Why, we have!" said Father. "Wait!" and he reached over to the little +stand by the window and grasped the worn old Bible. "Here! Listen to +this! + + "For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we + which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall + not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord Himself + shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of + the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in + Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain + shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet + the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. + Wherefore comfort one another with these words. + +"There, Mother! Ain't that just as good as any telegram from a moving +train? And it's signed with His own seal and signature! It means He's +heard our sorrow about Stephen's leaving us, and He heard it ages before +we felt it ourselves, and wrote this down for us! Sent us a telegram +this morning, just to comfort us! I reckon that meeting with Stephen and +the Lord in the air is going to knock the spots clean out of this little +old meeting to-morrow morning down at Sloan's Station. We won't need our +ottymobeel any more after that. We'll have _wings_, Mother! How'll you +like to fly?" + +Mother gave a little gasp of joy and smiled at Father like a rainbow +through her tears. "That's so, Father! We don't need telephones to +heaven, do we? I guess His words cover all our needs if we'd only +remember to look for them. Now, Father, I must get at those doughnuts! +Was you going to take the machine and run down to town and see if those +books have come yet? They surely ought to be here by this time. Then +don't forget to fix that fire up in the bedroom so it'll be all ready to +light when she gets here. Isn't it funny, Father, we don't know how she +looks! Not in the least. And if two girls should get off the train at +Sloan's Station we wouldn't know which was the right one!" + +"Well _I should_!" declared Father. "I'm dead certain there ain't two +girls in the whole universe could have written that letter, and if you'd +put any other one down with her, and I saw them side by side, I could +tell first off which she was!" + +So they helped each other through that last exciting day, finding +something to do up to the very last minute the next morning before it +was time to start to Sloan's Station to meet the train. + +Mother would go along, of course. She pictured herself standing for +hours beside that kitchen window with her cheek against the old hat, +waiting, and wondering what had happened that they hadn't come, and she +couldn't see it that way. So she left the dinner in such stages of +getting ready that it could be soon brought to completion, and wrapped +herself in her big gray cloak. + +Father went faster than he had ever been known to go since he got the +car, and Mother never even noticed. He got a panic lest his watch might +be out of the way and the train arrive before they got there. So they +arrived at the station almost an hour ahead of the train. + +"Oh, I'm so glad it's a pretty day!" said Mother Marshall, slipping her +gloved hands in her sleeves to keep from shivering with excitement. + +Mother Marshall sat quite decorously in the automobile till the train +drew up to the platform and people began to get out. But when Bonnie +stepped down from the car she forgot all about her doubts as to how they +would know her, and jumped right out on the platform without waiting to +be helped. She rushed up to Bonnie, saying, "This is our Bonnie, isn't +it?" and folded her arms about the girl, forgetting entirely that she +hadn't meant to use the name until the girl gave her permission; that +she had no right to know the name even, wasn't supposed to have heard of +it, and was sort of giving the young man away as it were. + +But it didn't matter! Bonnie was so glad to hear her own name called in +that endearing tone that she just put her face down in Mother Marshall's +comfortable neck and cried. She couldn't help it, right there while the +train was still at the station and the other travelers were peering +curiously out of the sleeper at the beautiful pale girl in black who was +being met by that nice old couple with the automobile. Somehow it made +them all feel glad, she had looked so sad and alone all the journey. + +What a ride that was home again to the farm, with Mother Marshall +cuddling and crooning to her: "Oh, my dear pretty child! To think you've +really come all this long way to comfort us!" and Father running the old +machine at an unheard of rate of speed, slamming along over the road as +if he had been sent for in great haste, and reaching his big fur glove +back now and then to pat the old buffalo robe that was tucked snugly +over Bonnie's lap. + +Bonnie herself was fairly overcome and couldn't get her equilibrium at +all. She had thought these must be wonderful people to be inviting a +stranger and doing all they were doing, but such a reception as this she +had never dreamed of. + +"Oh, you are so good to me!" sobbed Bonnie, with a smile through her +tears. "I know I'm acting like a baby, but I can't seem to help it. I've +had nobody so long, and now to be treated like this, I just can't stand +it! It seems as if I'd got home!" + +"Why, sure! That's what you have!" said Father, in his big, hearty +voice. + +"Put your head right down on my shoulder and cry if you want to, my +pretty!" said Mother Marshall, pulling her softly over toward her. "You +can't think how good it is to have you here! Father and I were so afraid +you wouldn't come! We thought you mightn't be willing to come so far to +utter strangers!" + +So it went on all the way, all of them so happy they didn't quite know +what they were saying. + +Then, when they got to the house even Father was so far gone that he +couldn't let them go up-stairs alone. He just had to leave the machine +standing by the kitchen door and carry that little hand-bag up as an +excuse to see how she would like the room. + +Bonnie, pulling off her gloves, entered the room when Mother opened the +door. She looked around bewildered a moment, as if she had stepped from +the middle of winter into a summer orchard. Then she cried out with +delight: + +"Oh! How perfectly beautiful! You don't mean me to have this lovely +room? It isn't right! A stranger and a pauper!" + +"Nothing of the kind!" growled Father, patting her on the shoulder. +"Just a daughter come home!" + +Then he beat a hasty retreat to the fireplace and touched a match to the +fire already laid, while Mother, purring like a contented old pussy, +pushed the bewildered girl into the big flowered chair in front of the +fire and began unfastening her coat and taking off her hat, reverently, +half in awe, for she was not used to girl's fixings, and they held +almost as much mystery for her as if she had been a man. + +In the midst of it all Mother remembered that dinner ought to be eaten +at once, and that Bonnie must have a chance to wash her face and +straighten her hair before dinner. + +So Father and Mother, with many a reluctant lingering and last word, as +if they were not going to see her for a month, finally bustled off +together. In just no time at all Bonnie was down there, too, begging to +be allowed to help, and declaring herself perfectly able, although her +white face and the dark rings under her tired eyes belied her. Mother +Marshall was not sure, after all, but she ought to have put Bonnie to +bed and fed her with chicken broth and toast instead of letting her come +down-stairs to eat stewed chicken, little fat biscuits with gravy, and +the most succulent apple pie in the world, with a creamy glass of milk +to make it go down. + +Father had just finished trying to make Bonnie take a second helping of +everything, when he suddenly dropped the carving-knife and fork with a +clatter and sprang up from his chair: + +"I declare to goodness, Mother, if I didn't forget!" he said, and rushed +over to the telephone. + +"Why, that's so!" cried Mother. "Don't forget to tell him how much we +love her!" + +Bonnie looked from one to the other of them in astonishment. + +"It's that young man!" explained Mother. "He wanted we should telegraph +if you got here all safe. You know he sent us a message after he put you +on the train." + +"How very thoughtful of him!" said Bonnie, earnestly. "He is the most +wonderful young man! I can't begin to tell you all he did for me, a mere +stranger! And so that explains how you knew where to send your message. +I puzzled a good deal over that." + +Four hours later Courtland, coming up to his room after basket-ball +practice, a hot shower, and a swim in the pool, found the telegram: + + Traveler arrived safely. Bore the journey well. Many thanks + for the introduction. Everybody happy; if you don't believe + it come and see for yourself. + + FATHER AND MOTHER MARSHALL. + +Courtland read it and looked dreamily out of the window, trying to fancy +Bonnie in her new home. Then he said aloud, with conviction, "Some time +I shall go out there and see!" + +Just then some one knocked at his door and handed in a note from Gila. + + DEAR PAUL,--Come over this evening, I want to see + you about something very special. + + Hastily, + GILA. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + + +Gila's note came to Courtland as a happy surprise. He had not expected +to see her until the next evening. Not that he had brooded much over the +matter. He was too busy and too sanely healthy to do that. Besides, he +was only as yet questioning within himself whether he was going to fall +in love. The sensation so far was exceedingly pleasurable, and he was +ready for the whole thing when it should arrive and prove itself; but at +present he was just in that quiescent stage when everything seemed +significant and delightfully interesting. + +He had firmly resolved that the next time he saw Gila he would tell her +of his own heart experience with regard to the Presence. He realized +that he must go carefully, and not shock her, for he had begun to see +that all her prejudices would be against taking any stock in such an +experience. He had only so shortly himself come from a like position +that he could well understand her extreme views; her what amounted +almost to repugnance, toward hearing anything about it. But he would +make her see the whole thing, just as he had seen it. + +Now Gila had no notion of allowing any such recital as Courtland was +planning. She had her stage all set for entirely another scene, and she +had on her most charming mood. She was wearing a little frock of +pale-blue wool, so simple that a child of ten might have worn it under +a white ruffled apron. The neck was decorated with a soft 'kerchief-like +collar. Not even a pin marred the simplicity of her costume. Her hair, +too, was simpler than usual, almost carrying out the childish idea with +its soft looping away from the face. Little heelless black-satin +slippers were tied with narrow black ribbons quaintly crossed and +recrossed over the slim, blue-silk ankles, carrying out the charming +idea of a modest, simple maiden. Nothing could be more coy and charming +than the way she swept her long black lashes down upon her pearly +cheeks. Her great eyes when they were lifted were clear and limpid as a +baby's. Courtland was fairly carried off his feet at sight of her, and +felt his heart bound in reassurance. This must be love! He had fallen in +love at last! He who had scorned the idea so long and laughed at the +other fellows, until he had really begun to have doubts in his own heart +whether the delightful illusion would ever come to him! The glamour was +about Gila to-night and no mistake! He looked at her with his heart in +his eyes, and she drooped her lashes to hide a glint of triumph, knowing +she had chosen her setting aright at last. Softly, dreamily, pleasantly, +in the back of her mind floated the Capitol of the nation, and herself +standing amid admiring throngs receiving homage. She was going to +succeed. She had achieved her first triumph with the look in Courtland's +eyes. She would be able to carry out Mr. Ramsey Thomas's commission and +win Courtland to anything that would forward ambitious hopes for him! +She was sure of it! + +The very important business about which she had wished to see Courtland +was to ask him if he would be her partner in a bazaar and pageant that +was shortly to be given for some charitable purpose by the society folks +with whom she companioned. She wanted Courtland to march with her, and +to consult him about the characters they should choose and the costumes +they should wear. + +As if she had been a child desiring him to play with her, he yielded to +her mood, watching her all the time with delighted eyes, that anything +so exquisite and lovely should stoop to sue for his favor. Of course he +would be her partner! He entered into the arrangements with a zest, +though he let her do all the planning, and heeded little what character +she had chosen for him, or what costume, so she was pleased. Indeed, his +part in the matter seemed of little moment so he might go with her--his +sweet, shy, lovely maiden! For so she seemed to him that night! A +perfect Solveig! + +The reason for the little slippers became apparent later, when she +insisted upon teaching him the dancing-steps that were to be used in a +final splendid assembly after the pageant. There was intoxication in the +delight of moving with her through the dreamy steps to the music of the +expensive Victrola she set going. Just to watch her little feet like +fairies for lightness and grace; to touch her small, warm hand; to be so +near those down-drooping lashes; to feel her breath on his hand; to +think of her as trusting her lovely little self to him--made him almost +deliriously happy. And she, with her drooping lashes, her delicate way +of barely touching his arm, her utter seeming unconsciousness of his +presence, was so exquisite and pure and lovely to-night! She did not +dream, of course, of how she made his pulses thrill and how he was +longing to gather her into his arms and tell her how lovely she was. +Afterward he was never quite sure what kept him from doing it. He +thought at the time it was herself, a sort of wall of purity and +loveliness that surrounded her and made her sacred, so that he felt he +must go slowly, must not startle her nor make her afraid of him. It +never occurred to him that the wall might be surrounding himself. He had +entirely forgotten that first visit to Gila in the Mephistophelian +garments, with the red light filling all the unholy atmosphere. There +had never been so much as a hint of a red light in the room since he +said he did not like it. The lamp-shade seemed to have disappeared. In +its place was a great wrought-metal thing of old silver jeweled with +opalescent medallions. + +But it was part of the deliberate intention of Gila to lead him on and +yet hold him at a distance. She had read him aright. He was a man with +an old-fashioned ideal of woman, and the citadel of his heart was only +to be taken by such a woman. Therefore, she would be such a woman until +she had won. After that? What mattered it? Let time plan the issue! She +would have attained her desire! + +But the down-drooping lashes hid no unconscious sweetness. There was +sinister gleam in those eyes as she looked at herself over his shoulder +when they passed the great mirror set in a cabinet door. There was +deliberate intention in the way the little hand lay lightly in the +strong one. There was not a movement of the dreamy dance she was +teaching him, not a touch of the little satin slipper, that did not have +its nicely calculated intention to draw him on. The sooner she could +make him yield and crush her to him, the sooner he declared his passion +for her, that much nearer would her ambitions be to their fulfilment. +Yet she must be very sure that she had him close in her toils before she +discovered to him her purpose. + +So the little blue Puritan-like spider threw her silver gossamer web +about him, tangling more and more his big, fine manly heart, and +flinging diamond dust, and powder made of charms and incantations, in +his eyes to blind him. But as yet she knew not of the Presence that was +now his constant companion. + +They had danced for some time, floating about in the pure delight of the +motion together, and the nearness of each another, when it seemed to +Courtland as if of a sudden a cooling hand was laid on his feverish brow +and a calm came to his spirit like a beloved voice calling his name with +the accent that is sure of quick response. + +It was so he remembered what he had come to tell Gila. Looking down to +that exquisite bit of humanity almost within his embrace, a great +tenderness for her, and longing, came over him, to make her know now all +that the Presence was becoming to him. + +"Gila," he whispered, and his voice was full of thrill. "Let's sit down +awhile! There is something I want to tell you!" + +Instantly she responded, lifting great innocent eyes, with one quick +sweep, to his face, so moved and tender; and gliding toward the couch +where they might sit together, settling down on it, almost nestling to +him, then remembering and drawing away shyly to more perfectly play her +part. She thought she knew what he was going to say. She thought she saw +the love-light in his eyes, and it was so dazzling it almost blinded +her. It frightened her a little, too, like the light in no lover's eyes +that had ever drawn her down to whisper love to her before. She wondered +if it was because she really cared herself so much now that it seemed so +different. + +But he did not take her in his arms as she had expected he would do; +though he sat quite near, and spoke in a low, privileged tone, as one +would do who had the right. His arm was across the back of the couch +behind her; he sat sideways, turned toward her, and he still touched +reverently the little hand he had been holding as they danced together. + +"Gila, I have a story to tell you," he said. "Until you know it you can +never understand me fully, and I want with all my heart to have you +understand me. It is something that has become a part of me." + +She sat quivering, wondering, half fearful. A gleam of jealousy came +into her averted face. Was he going to tell her about another girl? A +fierce, unreasoning anger shot across her face. She would not tolerate +the thought that any one had had him before her. Was it--? It couldn't +be that baby-faced pauper in the hospital? She drew her slim little body +up tensely and waited for the story. + +Courtland told the story of Stephen; told it well and briefly. He +pictured Stephen so that the girl must needs admire. No woman could have +heard that description of a man such as Stephen had been and not bow her +woman's heart and wish that she might have known him. + +Gila listened, fascinated, even up to the moment of the fire and the +tragedy when Stephen fell into the flames. She shuddered visibly several +times, but sat tense and still and listened. She even was unmoved when +Courtland went on to tell of finding himself on a ledge above the +burning mass, creeping somehow into a small haven, shut in by a wall of +smoke, and feeling that this was the end. But when he began to tell of +the Presence, the Light, the Voice, the girl gave a sudden start and +gripped her cold hands together. Almost imperceptibly she drew her tense +little body away from him, and turned slowly till she faced him, horror +and consternation in her eyes, utter unbelief and scorn on her lips. But +still she did not speak, still held her gaze on him and listened, while +he told of coming back to life, the hospital walls, the strange +emptiness, and the Presence; the recovery, and the Presence still with +him; the going here and there and finding the Presence always before him +and yet with him! + +"He is here in this room with us, Gila!" he said, simply, as if he had +been telling her that he had brought her some flowers and he hoped she +would like them. + +Then suddenly Gila gave a spring away from him to her feet, uttered a +wild scream of terror, and burst into angry tears! + +Courtland sprang to his feet in dismay and instant contrition. He had +made the horror of the fire too dramatic. He had not realized how +dreadful it would be to a woman's delicate sensibilities. This gentle, +loving girl had felt it all to her soul and her nerves had given way +before the reality of it. He had been an idiot to tell the story in that +bald way. He should have gone about it more gently. He was not used to +women. He must learn better. Would she forgive him? + +And now indeed he had her in his arms, although he was utterly unaware +of it. He was trying to comfort and soothe her, as he would soothe a +little child who had been frightened. Not only his handkerchief but his +hands were called into requisition to charm away those tears and comfort +the pitiful little face that looked so streaked and pink and helpless +there against his shoulder. He wanted to stoop and lay his lips on those +trembling ones. Perhaps Gila thought he would. But he would not take +advantage of her moment of helplessness. Not until she was herself and +could give him permission would he avail himself of that sacred +privilege. Now it was the part of a man to comfort her without any +element of self in the matter. + +When he had drawn her down upon the couch again, with the sobs still +shaking her soft blue-and-white frilly breast, her blue-black hair all +damp and tossed upon her temples, and tried to tell her how sorry he was +that he had put her through the horrors of that fire, she put in a +quivering protest. It was _not_ the fire. She shivered. It was not the +horror and the smoke! It was _not_ Stephen's death, nor the danger to +himself! It was not _any_ of those that had unnerved her! It was that +other awful thing he had said: that ghostly, ghastly, uncanny, dreadful +story of a Presence! She almost shrieked again as she said it, and she +shivered away from him, as if still there were something cold and clammy +in his touch that gave her the horrors. + +A cold disappointment settled down upon him. She had not understood. He +looked at her, troubled, disappointed, baffled. It was not possible, +then, for him to bring her this knowledge that he wished so much for her +to have. It was a thing that one could tell about to one's friends, but +could not give to them. It was something they must take for themselves, +must feel and see by themselves! With new illumination he turned to her +and said in a voice wonderfully tender for a man so young: + +"Listen, Gila! I have been clumsy in telling you! You cannot see it just +from my poor story. But He will come to _you_ and you shall see Him for +yourself! I will ask Him to come to you as He has to me!" + +Again that piercing scream, and with a quick, lithe movement, almost +like a serpent, she slid from his side and stood quivering in the middle +of the room, her eyes flashing, her body shrinking, both little hands +clenched at her throat. + +"Stop!" she cried. "Stop!" and screamed again, stamping her foot. "I +won't hear such horrible things! I _won't have_ any spirits coming +around me! I _won't see_ them! Do you understand? I _hate_ that +Presence, and _I hate you_ when you talk like that!" + +She had worked herself into a fine tantrum, but there was behind it all +a horrible fear and shrinking from the Christ he had described, the +shrinking of the naked soul in the garden from its God. The drooping, +child-like eyes were wide with horror now; the sweet, innocent mouth was +trembling with emotion. She was anything but Solveig-like. If Courtland +caught a glimpse of the real Gila through it all he laid it to his own +clumsy way of handling the delicate mystery of a girl's shy nature. He +saw she was wrought up beyond her own control, and he was so far under +the illusion that he blamed himself only, and set himself to calm her. + +He coaxed her to sit down again, put his strong hand on her quivering +one, marveling in tenderness at its smallness and softness. He talked to +her in quiet, soothing tones, grave and reassuring. He promised he would +talk no more about the Presence till she was ready to hear. He was +leaning toward her in his strength, his arm behind her, his hand on her +shoulder, with a sheltering, comforting touch when he told her this, as +one would treat a little child in trouble, and, suddenly, like the sun +flashing out from behind the clouds, she lifted up her teary face and +smiled, nestling toward him, her head falling down on his shoulder with +a sigh like a tired, satisfied child, her face lifted temptingly so +close, so very close to his. + +It was then that he did the thing that bound him to what followed. He +stooped and laid his lips upon her warm little trembling ones and kissed +her. The thrill that shot through him was like the click of shackles +snapping shut about one's wrist; like the turning of the key in a +prison-house; the shooting of the bolt to one's dark cell. He held her +there and touched her soft hair with his finger-tips; touched her cool +little forehead with his lips; touched her warm, soft lips again and +felt the thrill; but something was the matter. He felt the surging +forces within him rise and batter at the gate of his self-control. He +wanted to say, "Gila, I love you!" but the words stuck in his throat. + +What had he done? Whence came this sense of defeat and loss? The +Presence! Where was the Presence? Yes--there--but withdrawn, standing +apart in sadness, while he sat comforting and caressing one who had just +said she hated Him! But that was because she had not seen Him yet! She +was frightened because she did not understand! He would yet be able to +make her see! He would implore the Presence to come to her; to break +down her prejudice; to let her have the vision also! + +So he sat and comforted her, yet longed to get away and think it out. +This sense of depression and bitter disappointment hung about him like a +burden; now, of all times, when he should be happy if ever he was to be! + +But Gila was nestling close, patting his sleeve, talking little, sweet +nonsensical words as if she had really been the little child she seemed. +He looked down at her and smiled. How small she was, and child-like. He +must remember that she was very young, and probably had never had much +bringing-up. Serious things frightened her! He must go gently and lead +her! It made him feel old and responsible to look at her--tender, +beautiful girl!--enveloped as she was in the garment of his ideal of +womanhood. + +Yet there was something about it all that drove him from her. He must +think it out and come to some clear understanding with himself. As it +was, it seemed to him as if he were trying to take peace within himself +while before him lay a lot of his own broken vows. He had vowed to +himself to bring her to the Christ and he had not accomplished it. +Instead she had declared she hated him and the Presence both; yet here +he sat making love to her and ignoring it all! He felt a distinct +weakness in himself, but did not know how to remedy it. + +When he finally got away from Gila and walked feverishly toward the +university, he felt as if his soul was crying out within him for a +solution of the perplexities in which he was involved. By his side +walked a Friend, but there seemed to be a veil between them. Ever +mingling with his thoughts came the sweet, tear-wet face of Gila, with +its Solveig-look, pleading up at him from the mist of the evening, +luring him as it were to forget the Christ. He passed his hand wearily +over his eyes, told himself that he had been through a good deal that +evening and his nerves were not as strong as they used to be since the +fire. + +He was surprised to find that it was still early when he got back to his +room, barely half past nine. Yet it had seemed as if it must be near +midnight, so much had happened. + +What he would have thought if he could have known that at that very +minute Tennelly was seated in the chair in the library that he had so +lately vacated, and Gila, posing bewitchingly in the firelight, merrily +talking him over, is hard to say. + +Not that they were saying anything against him--of course not! Tennelly +would never have stood for that, and Gila knew better. But Gila had no +intention of giving Tennelly any idea how far matters had gone between +herself and Courtland. As for Tennelly, he would have been the most +amazed of the three if he could have known all. He had been Courtland's +intimate friend for so many years--years count like ages when one is in +college--that he thought he knew him perfectly. He would have sworn to +it that Courtland's friendship with Gila had not progressed further than +a mere first stage of friendship. He admitted that Gila had an influence +over his friend, but that it had really gone heart-deep seemed +impossible. Courtland was a man of too much force, even young as he was, +and too much maturity of thought, to be permanently entangled with a +girl like Gila. That was what Tennelly thought before Gila had turned +her eyes toward him and flung a few of her silver gossamer threads about +his soul. For always in those first days of his visits to Gila it had +been in Courtland's behalf; first, to see if she was good enough for a +friend of his friend, and next to get her partnership in the scheme of +turning Courtland's thoughts away from "morbid" things. + +But that night for the first time Tennelly saw the Solveig in Gila, and +was stirred on his own account. The childish blue frock and the simple +frilled 'kerchief did their work with his high soul as well; and he sat, +charmed, and watched her. After all, there was more to her than he had +thought, or else she was a consummate actress! So Tennelly sat late +before the fire, till Gila knew that he would turn aside again often to +see her for himself, and then she let him go. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + + +Gila took herself off to a house-party the very next day, with only a +tinted, perfumed note, like a flutter of painted wings, to explain that +the butterfly had melted into the pleasant sunshine to taste honey in +other flowers for a time. + +In a way her going was a relief to Courtland. He didn't understand +himself. There was something wrong, and he wanted to find out what +before he saw her again. + +It was while he was in this troubled state that he stumbled upon the +Bible as something that might possibly bring light. + +He had studied it before in his biblical literature classes, and found +it much like other books, a literary classic, a wonderful gem of beauty +in its way, a rare collection of legends, proverbs, allegories, and the +like. But looking at it now, with the possible hypothesis that it was +the Word of God, all was changed. + +He remembered once seeing a tray of gems in an exhibit, and among them +one that looked like a common pebble. The man who had charge of the +exhibit took the little pebble and held it in the palm of his hand for a +moment, when it suddenly began to glow and sparkle with all the colors +of the rainbow and rival all the other gems. The man explained that only +the warmth of the human hand could cause this marvelous change. You +might lay the stone under the direct rays of a summer sun, yet it would +have no effect until you took it in your hand, when it would give forth +its beauty once more. + +It was like this when he began to read the Bible with the idea that it +was the Word of God. Things flashed out at him that fairly dazzled his +thoughts; living, palpitating things, as if they were hidden of a +purpose to be discovered only by him who cared to search. Hidden truths +came to light that filled his soul with wonder. Gradually he understood +that Belief was the touchstone by which all these treasures were to be +revealed. Everywhere he found it, that belief in Christ was a condition +to all the blessings promised. He read of hearts hardened and eyes +blinded because of unbelief, and came to see that unbelief was something +a man was responsible for, not a condition which settled down upon him, +and he could not help. Belief was a deliberate act of the will. It was +not a theory, nor an intellectual affirmation; it was a position taken, +which necessarily must pass into action of some kind. He began to see +that without this deliberate belief it was impossible for man to know +the things which are purely spiritual. It was the condition necessary +for revelation. He was fascinated with the pursuit of this new study. + +Wittemore came to his room one evening, his face grayer, more strained +and horse-like than ever. Wittemore's mother had made another partial +recovery and insisted on his return to college. He was plodding +patiently, breathlessly along in his classes, trying to catch up again. +He had paid Courtland back part of the money he borrowed, and was +gradually paying the rest in small instalments. Courtland hated to take +it, but saw that it would hurt him to refuse it; so he had fallen into a +habit of stopping now and then to talk about his settlement work, just +to show a little friendly interest in him. Wittemore had responded with +a quiet wistfulness and a patient hovering in the background that +touched the other man's heart deeply. + +"I've just come from my rounds," said Wittemore, sitting down, +apologetically, on the edge of a chair. "That old lady you carried the +medicine to--she's been telling me how you made tea and toast!" He +paused and looked embarrassed. + +"Yes," smiled Courtland. "How's she getting on? Any better?" + +"No," said Wittemore, the hopeless gray look settling about his +sensitive mouth. "She'll never be any better. She's dying!" + +"Well," said Courtland, "that'll be a pleasant change for her, I guess." + +Wittemore winced. Death had no pleasant associations for him. "She told +me you prayed for her! She wants you to do it again!" + +It was plain he thought the praying had been a sort of joke with +Courtland. + +Courtland looked up, the color rising slowly in his face. He saw the +accusation in Wittemore's sad eyes. + +"Of course I know what you think of such things. I've heard you in the +class. I don't believe in them any more myself, either, now." +Wittemore's voice had a trail of hopelessness in it. "But somehow I +couldn't quite bring myself to make a mockery of prayer, even to please +that old woman. You see _my mother still believes in prayer_!" He spoke +apologetically, as of a dear one who had lacked advantages. + +"But _I do_ believe in prayer!" said Courtland, earnestly. "What you +heard me say in class was before I understood." + +"Before you understood?" Wittemore looked puzzled. + +"Listen, Wittemore. Things are all different now. I've met Jesus Christ +and I've got my eyes open. I was blind before, but since I've felt the +Presence everything has been different." + +And then he told the story of his experience. He did not make a long +story of it. He gave brief facts, and when it was finished Wittemore +dropped his face into his hands and groaned: + +"I'd give anything if I could believe all that again," came from between +his long bony fingers. "It's breaking my mother's heart to have me leave +the faith!" + +The slick hay-like hair fell in wisps over his hands, his high, bony +shoulders were hunched despairingly over Courtland's study table. He was +a great, pitiful object. + +"Why don't you, then?" said Courtland, getting up and going to the +closet for his overcoat. "It's up to you, you know. You _can_! God can't +do it for you, and of course there's nothing doing till you've taken +that step. I found that out!" + +"But how do you reconcile things, calamities, disasters, war, suffering, +that poor old woman lying on her attic bed alone? How do you reconcile +that with the goodness of God?" + +"I don't reconcile it. It isn't my business. I leave that to God. If I +understood all the whys and wherefores of how this universe is run I'd +be great enough to be a God myself." + +"But if God is omniscient I can't see how He can let some things go on! +He must be limited in power or He'd never let some things happen if He's +a good God!" Wittemore's voice had a plaintive sound. + +"Well, how do you know that? In the first place, how can you be sure +what is a calamity? And say, did it ever strike you that some of the +things we blame on God are really up to us? He's handed over His power +for us to do things, and we haven't seen it that way; so the things go +undone and God is charged with the consequences." + +"I wish I could believe that!" said Wittemore. + +"You can! When you really want to, enough, you will! Come on, let's get +that prayer down to the old lady! I'm sort of an amateur yet, but I'll +do my best." + +They went out into the mist and murk of a spring thaw. Wittemore never +forgot that night's experience--the prayer, and the walk home again +through the fog. The old woman died at dawning. + +Courtland spent much time thinking about Gila these days. His whole soul +was wrapped up in the desire that she might understand. He was longing +for her; idealizing her; thinking of her in her innocent beauty, her +charming ways; wondering how she would meet him the next time, what he +should say to her; living upon her brief, alluring notes that came to +him from time to time like fitful rose petals blown from a garden where +he longed to be; but yet in a way it was a relief to have her gone until +he could settle the great perplexity that was in his mind concerning +her. + +Gila prolonged her absence by a trip South with her father, and so it +was several weeks before Courtland saw her again. + +There seemed to be a settled sadness over his soul when he prayed about +her, and when at last she returned and summoned him to her he was no +nearer a solution of his difficulty than when he had last left her. + +The hour before he went to her he spent in Stephen's room, turning over +the leaves of Stephen's Bible. When he rose at last to go he turned +again to this verse which had caught his eye among the marked verses +that were always so interesting to him because they seemed to have been +landmarks in Stephen's life: + + My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest. + +It almost startled him, so well did it seem to suit his need. He read on +a few verses: + + And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry + us not up hence. For wherein shall it be known that I and my + people have found grace in thy sight? Is it not in that thou + goest with us? So shall we be separated, I and my people, + from all the people that are upon the face of the earth. + +Wonderful words those, implying a close relationship that shut out to a +certain extent all others who were not one with that Presence. He wished +he knew what it all meant! And in that moment was born within him a +desire to understand the Bible and know how believing scholars explained +everything. + +But as he went from the room and on his way, he felt that to some extent +he had a solution of his trouble. He was to be under the personal +conduct of the Presence of God wherever he went, whatever he did! This +was to make life less complex, and in some mysterious way the power of +the Christ with him was to be made manifest to others. Surely he might +trust this in the case of Gila, and feel sure that he would be guided +aright; that she would come to see for herself how there was with him +always this guiding power. Surely she would come to know it and love it +also. + +Gila met him with fluttering delight, poutingly reproaching him for not +writing oftener, calling him to order for looking solemn, adoringly +pretty herself in a little frilly pink frock that gave her the look of +a pale anemone, wind-blown and sweet and wild. + +She talked a good deal about the "dandy times" she had had and the +"perfectly peachy" men and girls she had met; flattered him by saying +she had seen none handsomer or more distinguished than he was. She +accepted as a matter of course the lover-like attitude he adopted, let +him tell her of his love as long as he was not too solemn about it, +teased and played with him, charmed him with every art she knew, dancing +from one mood to another like a sprite, winding her gossamer chains +about him more and more, until, when he went from her again, he was +fairly intoxicated with her beauty. + +He had lulled his anxiety with the thought that he must wait and be +patient until Gila saw. But more and more was it growing hard to +approach her about the things that were of most moment to him. Sometimes +when he was wearily trying to find a way back from the froth of her +conversation to the real things he hoped she would enjoy with him some +day, she would call him an old crab, and summon to her side other +willing youths to stimulate his jealousy; youths of sometimes unsavory +reputation whose presence gave him deep anxiety for her. Then he would +tell himself he must be more patient, that she was young and must learn +to understand little by little. + +Gila developed a great interest in Courtland's future, his plans for a +career, of which she chattered to him much and often, suggesting ways in +which her father might perhaps help him into a position of prominence +and power in the political world. But Courtland, with a shadow of +trouble in his eyes, always put her off. He admitted that he had thought +of politics, but was not ready yet to say what he would do. + +So spring came on, with its final examinations, and Commencement drawing +nearer every day. + +Through it all Courtland found much time to be with Gila; often in +company, or flashing through a crowded thoroughfare by her side; +following her fancy; excusing her follies; laying her mistakes and +indiscretions to her youth and innocence; always trying to lead up to +his great desire, that she might see his Christ. + +Tennelly watched the whole performance anxiously. He wanted Courtland to +be drawn out of what he considered his "morbid" state, but not at the +price of his peace of mind. He was very sure that Courtland ought not to +marry Gila. He was equally sure that she meant nothing serious in her +present relation to Courtland. He felt himself responsible in a way +because he had agreed in the plot with his uncle to start her on this +campaign. But if Courtland should come out of it with a broken heart, +what then? + +It was just a week before Commencement that the crisis came. + +Gila had summoned Courtland to her. + +Gila, in her most imperial mood, wearing a bewildering imported frock +whose simple intricacies and daring contrasts were well calculated to +upbear a determined spirit in a supreme combat, awaited his coming +impatiently. She knew that he had that day received another offer from +Ramsey Thomas, tempting in the extreme, and baited with alluring +possibilities that certainly were dazzling to her if they were not to +her lover. She meant to make him tell her of the offer, and she meant to +make him accept it that very afternoon and clinch the contract by +telephoning the acceptance to the telegraph-office before he left her +home. + +Courtland was tired. He had been through a hard week of examinations, +he had been on several committees, and had a number of important class +meetings, and the like. There had been functions galore to attend, and +late hours that were unavoidable. He had come to her hoping for a rest +and the joy of her society. Just to watch her dainty grace as she moved +about a room, handling the tea things and giving him a delicate sandwich +or a crisp cake, filled him with joy and soothed his troubled spirit; it +was so like his ideal of what a woman should be. + +But Gila was not handing out tea that afternoon. She had other fish to +fry, and she went at her business with a determination that very soon +showed him there was no rest to be had there. + +Very prettily, but quite efficiently, she bored him for information +about his plans. Had he no plans whatever about what he was going to do +as soon as he had finished college? Of course she knew he had money of +his own (he had never told her how much, and there hadn't really been +any way of asking a man like Courtland when he didn't choose to tell a +thing like that), but nowadays that was nothing. Even rich men all did +_something_. One wasn't anything unless one was in something big! Hadn't +he ever had any offers at all? It was queer, such a brilliant man as he +was. She knew lots of young fellows who had no end of chances to get +into big things as soon as they were done with their education. Didn't +his father know of something, or have something in mind for him? Hadn't +he ever been approached? + +Goaded at last by her delicate but determined insinuations, Courtland +told her. Yes, he had had offers; one in particular that was a fine +thing from a worldly point of view, but he didn't intend to take it. It +did not fit with his ideal of life. There were things about it that +were not square. He wasn't quite sure how his his own plans were going +to work out yet. He must have a talk with his father first. Possibly he +would study awhile longer somewhere. + +Gila frowned. She had no idea of letting him do that. She wanted him to +get into something big right away, so that she might begin her career. +So that was what had been standing in his way! Study! How stupid! No, +indeed! She wanted no scholar for a husband, who would bore her with +horrid old dull books and lectures and never want to go anywhere with +her! She must switch him away from this idea at once! She returned to +the rejected business proposition with zeal and avidity. What was it? +What did it involve? What were its future possibilities? Great! What on +earth could he find in that to object to? How ridiculous! How long ago +had that been offered to him? Was it too late to accept? What? He had +had the offer repeated even more flatteringly that very day? Where was +the letter? Would he let her see it? + +She bent over Uncle Ramsey's brusque sentences with a hidden smile of +triumph and pretended to be surprised. + +"How perfectly wonderful! All that responsibility and all those chances +to get to the top! Even a hint of Washington!" + +She dimpled and opened her great eyes imploringly at him. She pictured +herself in glowing terms going with him and holding court among the +great of the land! She wheedled and coaxed and all but commanded, while +he sat and watched her sadly, realizing how well fitted she was for the +things she was describing and how she loved them all! + + So shall we be separated, I and my people, from all the + people that are upon the face of the earth! + +He started upright! It was as if a Voice had spoken the words, those +strange words from the Bible! Was this then what they meant? Separation! +But Gila was "his people" now. Was she not one day to be his wife? He +must explain it all to her. He must let her know that he had chosen a +way of separation that forbade the paths wherein she was longing to +wander. Would she shrink and wish to turn back? Nevertheless, he must +make it plain to her. + +Gently, quietly, he tried to make her understand. He told her of the +visit of Ramsey Thomas and his own decision in the winter. He told her +of the factory that was built to blind the eyes of those who were trying +to uplift and help men. He tried to make conditions plain where girls as +young as she, and with just such hopes and fears and ambitions, perhaps +in some cases just as much sweetness and native beauty as she had, were +obliged to spend long hours of toil amid surroundings that must crush +the life out of any pure soul, and turn all the sweetness to bitterness, +the beauty to a peril! He hinted at things she did not know nor dream +of; dreadful things from which her life had always been safely guarded; +and how he could not, for the sake of those crushed souls, accept a +position that would close his mouth and tie his hands forever from doing +anything about it. He told her he could not accept honor that was +founded upon dishonor; that he had taken Christ for his pattern and +guide; that he could do nothing that would drive God's presence from +him. + +She had been sitting with her face averted, her clasped hands dropped +straight down at the side of her lap, the fingers interlaced and tense +in excitement; her bosom heaving with agitation under the Paris gown; +but when he reached this point in his argument she sprang to her feet +and away from him, standing with her shoulders drawn back, her head +thrown up, her chin out, her whole lithe body stiff and imperious. + +"It is time this stopped!" she said, and her voice was cold like a +frozen dagger and went straight through his heart. "It is time you put +away forever this ridiculous idea of a Presence, and of setting yourself +up to be better than any one else! This isn't religion, it is +fanaticism! And it has got to stop now and _forever_, or I will have +nothing whatever to do with you. Either you give up this idea of a ghost +following you around all the time and accept Mr. Ramsey Thomas's offer +this afternoon, or you and I part! You can choose, _now_, between me and +your Presence!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + + +Gila had never been more beautiful than when she stood and uttered her +terrible ultimatum to Courtland. Her little imperial head sat on her +lovely shoulders royally, her attitude was perfect grace. Her spirited +face with its dark eyes and lashes, its setting of blue-black hair, was +fascinating in its exquisite modeling. She looked like a proud young +cameo standing for her portrait. But her words shot through Courtland's +heart like icy swords dividing his soul from his body. + +He rose to his feet, gone suddenly white and stern, and stood looking at +her as if his own heart had turned traitor and slain him. A moment they +stood in battle array, two forces representing the two great powers of +the universe. Looking straight into each other's souls they stood, +plumbing the depths, seeing as in a revelation what each really was! + +To Courtland it was suddenly made plain that this girl had no part or +lot in the things that had become vital to him. She had not seen, she +_would_ not see! Her love was not great enough to carry her over the +bridge that separated them, and back over which he might not go after +her! + +Gila in her fierce haughtiness looked into her lover's eyes and saw, as +she had never seen before, the mighty strength of his character! Saw +that here was a man such as she would not likely meet again upon her +way, and she was about to lose him forever. Saw that he would never +give in about a matter of principle, and that his love was worth all the +more to any woman because he would not; knew which way he would choose, +from the first word of her challenge; yet the little fury within her +would not let her withdraw. She stood with haughty mien and cold, +flashing eyes, watching him suffer the blow she had dealt him; knew that +it was more than his love for her she was killing with that blow, yet +did not withdraw it while she might. + +"Gila! Do you mean that?" + +She looked him straight in the eye and thrust her sword in the deeper +with a steady hand. "I do!" + +He stood for a moment looking steadily at her with that cold, observant +glance, as if he would have this last picture of her this way to cut +away all tender memories that might cause pain in the future. Then he +turned as if to One who stood by his side. Not looking back again, he +said, clearly and distinctly: + +"I choose!" + +And with erect bearing he passed out of the door. + +Gila stood, white and furious, her little clenched fists down at her +sides, the sharp little teeth biting into the red underlip until the +blood came. She heard the front door shut in the distance, and her soul +cried out within her, yet she stood still and held her ground. She +turned her face toward the library window. Between the curtains she +could presently see his tall form walking down the street. He was not +drooping, nor disheartened. He held his head up and walked as if in +company with One whom he was proud to own. There was nothing dejected +about the determined young back. Fine, noble, handsome as a man could +be! She saw that one glimpse of his figure for a moment, then he passed +beyond her sight and she knew in her heart he would come to her no +more! She had sent him from her forever! + +She dashed up to her room in a fury and locked herself in. She wept and +stormed and denied herself to every one; she watched and waited for the +telephone to ring, yet she knew he would not call her up! + +Courtland never knew where he was walking as he went forth that day to +meet his sorrow and face it like a man. He passed some of his +professors, but did not see them. Pat McCluny came up and he looked him +in the eye with an unseeing stare, and walked on! + +Pat stood still and looked after him, puzzled! + +"Holy Mackinaw! What's eating the poor stew now!" he ejaculated. He +stood a moment looking back after Courtland as he walked straight ahead, +passing several more university fellows without so much as a nod of +recognition. Then he turned and slowly followed, on through the city +streets, out into the quieter suburbs, out farther into the real +country, mile after mile; out a by-path where grass grew thick and wild +flowers straggled under foot, where presently a stream wound soft and +deep between steep banks, and rocks loomed high on either hand; under a +railroad bridge, and up among the rocks, climbing and puffing till at +last they stood upon a great rock, McCluny just a little way behind and +out of sight. + +It was there in a sort of crevice, where the natural fall of the +crumbling rocks had formed a shelter, that Courtland dropped upon his +knees. Not as a spot he had been seeking for, but as a haven to which he +had been led. He knelt, and all that Pat, standing, awed and uncovered, +a few feet below, heard, was: + +"O God! O _God_!" + +He knelt there a long time, while Pat waited below, trying to think +what to do. The sun was beginning to sink, and a soft, pink summer light +was glinting over the brown rocks and bits of moss and grasses. The +young leaves waved lightly overhead like children dancing in the +morning, and something of the sweetness and beauty of the scene crept +into Pat McCluny's soul as he stood and waited before this Gethsemane +gate for a man he loved to come forth. + +At last he stepped up the rocks quietly and came and stood by Courtland, +laying a gentle hand upon his shoulder. "Come on, old man, it's getting +late. About time we were going back!" + +Courtland got up and looked at him in a dazed way, as if his soul had +been bruised and he was only just recovering consciousness. Without a +word he turned and followed Pat back again to the city. They did not +talk on the way back. Pat whistled a little, that was all. + +When they reached the gates of the university Courtland turned and put +out his hand, speaking in his own natural tone: "Thanks awfully, old +chap! Sorry to have made you all this trouble!" + +"That's all right, pard," said Pat, huskily, grasping the hand in his +big fist. "I saw you were up against it and I stuck around, that's all!" + +"I sha'n't forget it!" + +They parted to their rooms. It was long past suppertime. Pat went away +by himself to think. + +Over and over again to himself Courtland was saying, as he came to +himself and began to realize what had come to him: "It isn't so much +that I have lost her. It is that _she should have done it_!" + +Pat said nothing even to Tennelly about his walk with Courtland. He +figured that Courtland would rather they did not know. He simply hovered +near like a faithful dog, ready for whatever might turn up. He was +relieved to see that his friend came down to breakfast next morning, +with a white, resolute face, and went about the order of the day +quietly, as if everything were as usual. + +Tennelly and Bill Ward were on the alert. They had missed Courtland from +the festivities the night before, but were so thoroughly occupied with +their own part in the busy week that they had little time to question +him. Later in the day Tennelly began to wonder why Courtland had not +brought Gila, as he intended, for the class play, but a note from Gila +informed him that she was done with Paul Courtland forever, and that he +would have to get some one else to further his uncle's schemes, for she +would not. She intimated that she might explain further if he chose to +call, and Tennelly made a point of calling in between things, and found +Gila inscrutable. All he could gather was that she was very, very angry +with Courtland, hopelessly so, and that she considered him worth no more +effort on her part. She was languidly interested in Tennelly and +accepted his invitation to the dance that evening most graciously. She +had expected to go in Courtland's company, but now if he repented and +came to claim his right she would ignore it. + +But Courtland had taken Gila at her word. He had no idea of claiming any +former engagement with her. She had cut him off forever, and he must +abide by it. Courtland had spent the night upon his knees in the little +sacred room at the end of the hall. He was much stronger to face things +than he had been when he left her. So when he met Gila walking with +Tennelly he lifted his hat courteously and passed on, his face grave and +stern as when she had last seen him, but in no way showing other sign +that he had suffered or repented his choice. Pat, walking by his side, +looked furtively at Gila then keenly at his companion, and winked to his +inner consciousness. + +"She's the poor simp that did the business! And she looks her part, +_b'leeve me_!" he told himself. "But he'll get over that! He's too big +to miss _her_ long!" + +Although there was pain in these days that followed Courtland's choice, +there was also great peace in his heart. He seemed to have grown older, +counting days as years, and to have a wider vision on life. Love of +woman was gone out of his life, he thought, forever! Love wasn't an +illusion quite as he had thought. No! But Gila had not loved him, or she +never would have made him choose as she did! That was plain. If she had +not loved, then it was better he should go out of her life! He was glad +that the university days were over, and he might begin a new environment +somewhere. He felt something strong within his soul pushing him on to a +decision. Was it the Voice calling him again, leading up to what he was +to do? + +This thought was uppermost in his mind during the Commencement, which +beforehand had meant so much to him; which all the four years had been +the goal to which he had been urging forward. Now that it was here he +seemed to have gone beyond it, somehow, and found it to be but a little +detail by the way, a very small matter not worth stopping and making so +much fuss about. Of course, if Gila had loved him; if she had been going +to be there watching for him when he came forward to take his diploma; +if she were to be listening when he delivered that oration upon which he +had spent so much time and for which he received so much commendation, +that would have meant everything to him a few brief days ago--of course, +then it would have been different! But as it was he wondered that +everybody seemed so much interested in things and took so much trouble +for a lot of nonsense. + +Courtland was surprised to see his father come into the great hall just +as he went up on the platform with his class. He hadn't expected his +father. He was a busy man who did not get away from his office often. + +It touched him that his father cared to come. He changed his plans and +made it possible to take the train home with him after the exercises, +instead of waiting a day or two to pack up, as he had expected to do. +The packing could wait awhile. So he went home with his father. + +They had a long talk on the way, one of the most intimate that they had +ever had. It appeared during the course of conversation that Mr. +Courtland had heard of the offer made to his son by Ramsey Thomas, and +that he was not unfavorable to its acceptance. + +"Of course, you don't really need to do anything of the sort, you know, +Paul," he said, affably. "You've got what your mother left you now, and +on your twenty-fifth birthday there will be two hundred and fifty +thousand coming to you from your Grandfather Courtland's estate. You +could spend your life in travel and study if you cared to, but I fancy, +with your temperament, you wouldn't be quite satisfied with an idle life +like that. What's your objection to this job?" + +Courtland told the whole story carefully, omitting no detail of the +matter concerning conditions at the factory, and the matters at which he +was not only expected to wink, but also sometimes to help along by his +influence. He realized, as he told it, that his father would look at the +thing fairly, but very differently. + +"Well, after all," said the father, comfortably settling himself to +another cigar, "that's all a matter of sentiment. It doesn't do to be +too squeamish, you know, if you have ambitions. Besides, with your +income you would have been able to help out and do a lot of good. You +ought to have thought of that." + +"In other words, earn my salary by squeezing the life out of them and +then toss them a penny to buy medicine. I don't see it that way! No, +dad, if I can't work at something clean I'll go out and work in the +ground, or do _nothing_, but I _won't_ oppress the poor." + +"Oh, well, Paul, that's all right if you feel that way about of it, of +course. Ramsey Thomas wanted me to talk it over with you; promised to do +the square thing by you and all that; and he's a pretty good man to get +in with. Of course I won't urge you against your will. But what are you +going to do, son? Haven't you thought of anything?" + +"Yes," said Courtland, leaning back and looking steadily at his father. +"I've decided that I'd like to study theology." + +"Theology!" The father started and knocked an ash delicately from the +end of his cigar. "H'm! Well, that's not a bad idea! Rather odd, +perhaps, but still there's always dignity and distinction in it. Your +great grandfather on your mother's side was a clergyman in the Church of +England. Of course it's rather a surprise, but it's always respectable, +and with your money you would be independent. You wouldn't have any +trouble in getting a wealthy and influential church, either. I could +manage that, I think." + +"I'm not sure that I want to be a clergyman, father. I said _study_ +theology. I want to know what scholarly Christians think of the Bible. +I've studied it with a lot of scholarly heathen who couldn't see +anything in it but literary merit. Now I want to see what it is that has +made it a living power all through the ages. I've got to know what +saints and martyrs have founded their faith upon." + +"Well, Paul, I'm afraid you're something of an idealist and a dreamer +like your mother. Of course it's all right with your income, but, +generally speaking, it's as well to have an object in view when you take +up study. If I were you I would look into the matter most carefully +before I made any decisions. If you really think the ministry is what +you want, why, I'll just put a word in at our church for you. Our old +Doctor Bates is getting a little out of date and he'll be about ready to +be put on the retired list by the time you are done your theological +course. Let's see, how long is it, three years? Had you thought where +you will go? What seminary? Better make a careful selection; it has so +much to do with getting a good church afterward!" + +"Father! You don't _understand_!" said Courtland, desperately, and then +sat back and wondered how he should begin. His father had been a +prominent member of the board of trustees in his own church for years, +but had he ever felt the Presence? In the days when Courtland used to +sit and kick his heels in the old family pew and be reproved for it by +his aunt, he never remembered any Presence. Doctor Bates's admirable +sermons had droned on over his head like the dreamy humming of bees in a +summer day. He couldn't remember a single thought that ever entered his +mind from that source. Was that all that came of studying theology? +Well, he would find out, and if it was, he would _quit_ it! + +They were all comfortably glad to see him at home. His stepmother beamed +graciously upon him in between her social engagements, and his young +brothers swarmed over him, demanding all the athletic news. The house +was big, ornate, perfect in its way. It was good to eat such superior +cooking--that is, if he had been caring to eat anything just then; and +there was a certain freedom in life out of college that he knew he ought +to enjoy; but somehow he was restless. The girls he used to know +reminded him of Gila, or else had grown old and fat. The Country Club +didn't interest him in the least, nor did the family's plans for the +summer. It suited him not at all to be lionized on account of his +brilliant career at college. It bored him to go into society. + +Sometimes, when he was alone in his room, he would think of the +situation and try to puzzle it out. It seemed as if he and the Presence +were there on a visit which neither of them enjoyed very much, and which +they were enduring for the sake of his father, who seemed gratified to +have his eldest son at home once more. But all the time Courtland was +chafing at the delay. He felt there was something he ought to be about. +There wasn't anything here. Not even the young brothers presented a very +hopeful field, or perhaps he didn't know how to go about it. He tried +telling them stories one day when he wheedled them off in the car with +him, and they listened eagerly when he told them of the fire in the +theater, Stephen Marshall's wonderful part in the rescue of many, and +his death. But when he went on and tried to tell them in boy language of +his own experience he could see them look strangely, critically at him, +and finally the oldest one said: "Aw rats! What kinda rot are you giving +us, Paul? You were nutty then, o' course!" and he saw that, young as +they were, their eyes were holden like the rest. + +In the second week Courtland made his decision. He would go back to the +university and pack up. Gila would be away from the city by that time; +there would be no chance of meeting her and having his wound opened +afresh. The fellows would be all gone and he could do about as he +pleased. + +It was the second day after he went back that he met Pat on the street, +and it was from Pat that he learned that Tennelly and Bill Ward had gone +down to the shore to a house party given by "that fluffy-ruffles cousin +of Bill's." + +Pat drew his own conclusions from the white look on Courtland's face +when he told him. He would heartily have enjoyed throttling the girl if +he had had a chance just then, when he saw the look of suffering in +Courtland's eyes. + +Pat clung to Courtland all that week, helped him pack, and dogged his +steps. Except when he visited the little sacred room at the end of the +hall in the dormitory, Courtland was never sure of freedom from him. He +was always on hand to propose a hike or a trip to the movies when he saw +Courtland was tired. Courtland was grateful, and there was something so +loyal about him that he couldn't give him the slip. So when he went down +after Burns and whirled him away in his big gray car to the seashore +Friday morning to stay until Saturday evening, Pat went along. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + + +They certainly were a queer trio, the little Scotch preacher, the big +Irish athlete, and the cultured aristocrat! Yet they managed to have a +mighty good time of it those two days at the shore, and came back the +warmest of friends. Pat proved his devotion to Burns by attending church +the next day with Courtland, and listening attentively to every word +that was said. It is true he did it much in the same way the fellows +used to share one another's stunts in college, sticking by and helping +out when one of the gang had a hard task to perform. But it pleased both +Courtland and Burns that he came. Courtland wondered, as he shared the +hymn-book with him and heard him growl out a few bass notes to old "Rock +of Ages," why it was that it seemed to fill him with a kind of +exaltation to hear Pat sing. He hadn't yet recognized the call to go +a-fishing for men, nor knew that it was the divine angler's deep delight +in his employment that was filling him. It was while they were singing +that hymn that he stole a look at Pat, and felt a sudden wonder whether +he would understand about the Presence or not, a burning desire to tell +him about it some time if the right opportunity offered. + +The days down at the shore had done a lot for Courtland. He had taken +care that the spot he selected was many miles removed from the popular +resort where Mr. Dare had a magnificent cottage; and there had been +absolutely nothing in the whole two days to remind him of Gila. It was a +quiet place, with a far, smooth beach, and no board walks nor crowds to +shut out the vision of the sea. He leaped along the sand and dived into +the water with his old enthusiasm. He played like a fish in the ocean. +He taught Burns several things about swimming, and played pranks like a +school-boy. He basked in the sun and told jokes, laughing at Pat's +brilliant wit and Burns's dry humor. At night they took long walks upon +the sand and talked of deep things that Pat could scarcely understand. +He was satisfied to stride between them, listening to the vigorous ring +of Courtland's old natural voice again. He heard their converse high +above where he lived, and loved them for the way they searched into +things too deep for him. + +It was out in the wildest, loneliest part of the beach that night that +he heard the first hint of what had come to the soul of Courtland. Pat +had come of Catholic ancestry. He had an inheritance of reverence for +the unseen. He had never been troubled with doubts or sneers. He had let +religion go by and shed it like a shower, but he respected it. + +Courtland spent much time in the vicinity of the factory and of Robert +Burns's church during the next few weeks. He helped Burns a good deal, +for the man had heavily taxed himself with the burdens of the poor about +him. Courtland found ways to privately relieve necessity and put a poor +soul now and then on his feet and able to face the world again by the +loan of a few cents or dollars. It took so pitifully little to open the +gate of heaven to some lives! Courtland with his keen intellect and fine +perceptions was able sometimes to help the older man in his +perplexities; and once, when Burns was greatly worried over a bill that +was hanging fire during a prolonged session of congress, Courtland went +down to Washington for a week-end and hunted up some of his father's +Congressional friends. He told them a few facts concerning factories in +general, and a certain model, white-marble, much be-vined factory in +particular, that at least opened their eyes if it did not make much +difference in the general outcome. But though the bill failed to pass +that session, being skilfully side-tracked, Courtland had managed to +stir up a bit of trouble for Uncle Ramsey Thomas that made him storm +about his office wrathfully and wonder who that "darned little rat of a +preacher" had helping him now! + +It was late in September that Pat, with a manner of studied +indifference, told Courtland of a rumor that Tennelly was engaged to +Gila Dare. + +It was the very next Sunday night that Tennelly turned up at Courtland's +apartment after he and Pat had gone to the evening service, and followed +them to the church. He dropped into a seat beside Pat, amazed to find +him there. + +"You here!" he whispered, grasping Pat's hand with the old friendly +grip. "Where's Court?" + +Pat grinned and nodded up toward the pulpit. + +Tennelly looked forward and for a minute did not comprehend. Then he saw +Courtland sitting gravely in a pulpit chair by the little red-headed +Scotch preacher. + +"What in thunder!" he growled, almost out loud. "What's the joke?" + +Pat's face was on the defensive at once, though it was plain he was +enjoying Tennelly's perplexity. "Court's going to speak to-night!" It is +probable Pat never enjoyed giving any information so much as that +sentence in his life. + +"The deuce he is!" said Tennelly, out loud. "You're lying, man!" which, +considering that the Scotchman was praying, was slightly out of place. + +Pat frowned. "Shut up, Nelly. Can't you see the game's called? I'm +telling you straight. If you don't believe it wait and see." + +Tennelly looked again. That surely was Courtland sitting there. What +could be the meaning of it all? Had Courtland taken to itinerary +preaching? Consternation filled his soul. He loved Courtland as his own +brother. He would have done anything to save his brilliant career for +him. + +He hadn't intended staying to service. His plan had been to slip in, get +Courtland to come away with him, have a talk, and go back to the shore +on the late train. But the present situation altered his plans. There +was nothing for it now but to stay and see this thing through. Pat was a +whole lot deeper than the rest had ever given him credit for being. Pat +was enjoying the psychological effect of the service on Tennelly. He had +never been much of a student in the psychology class, but when it came +right down to plain looking into another man's soul and telling what he +was thinking about, and what he was going to do next, Pat was all there. +That was what made him such an excellent football-player. When he met +his opponent he could always size him up and tell just about what kind +of plays he was going to make, and know how to prepare for them. Pat was +no fool. + +That was a most unusual service. The minister read the story of the +martyr Stephen, and the conversion of Saul of Tarsus, taken from the +sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth chapters of Acts. It was brief and +dramatic in the reading. Even Tennelly was caught and held as Burns read +in his clear, direct way that made Scripture seem to live again in +modern times. + +"I have asked my friend Mr. Courtland to tell you the story of how he +met Jesus one day on the Damascus road," said Burns, as he closed the +Bible and turned to Courtland, sitting still with bowed head just behind +him. + +Courtland had made many speeches during his college days. He had been +the prince among his class for debate. He had been proud of his ability +as a speaker, and had delighted in being able to hold and sway an +audience. He had never known stage fright, nor dreaded appearing before +people. But ever since Burns had asked him if he would be willing to +tell the story of the Presence to his people in the church before he +left for his theological studies, Courtland had been just plain +frightened. He had consented. Somehow he couldn't do anything else, it +was so obviously to his mind a "call"; but if had been a coward in any +sense he would have run away that Saturday afternoon and got out of it +all. Only his horror of being "yellow" had kept him to his promise. + +Since ascending to the platform he had been overcome by the audacity of +the idea that he, a mere babe in knowledge, a recent scorner, should +attempt to get up and tell a roomful of people, who knew far more about +the Bible than he did, how he found Christ. There were no words in which +to tell anything! They had all fled from his mind and it was a blank! + +He dropped his head upon his hand in his weakness to pray for strength, +and a great calm came to his soul. The prayer and Bible-reading had +steadied him, and he had been able to get hold of what he had to say as +the story of the young man Saul progressed. But when he heard himself +being introduced so simply, and knew his time had come, he seemed to +hear the words he had read that afternoon: + + Fear not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy + God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I + will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. + +Courtland lifted up his head and arose. He faced the sea of faces that a +few moments before had swum before his gaze as if they had been a +million. Then all at once Tennelly's face stood out from all the rest, +intent, curious, wondering, and Courtland knew that his opportunity had +come to tell Tennelly about the Presence! + +Tennelly, the man whom he loved above all other men! Tennelly, the man +who perhaps loved Gila and was to be close to her through life! His +fears vanished. His soul burned within him. + +Fixing his eyes on that fine, vivid face, Courtland began his story; and +truly the words that he used must have been drawn red-hot from his +heart, for he spoke as one inspired. Simply, as if he were alone in the +room with Tennelly, he looked into his friend's eyes and told his story, +forgetting all others present, intent only on making Tennelly see what +Christ had been to him, what He was willing to be to Tennelly--and Gila! +If they would! + +Tennelly did not take his eyes from the speaker. It was curious to see +him so absorbed, Tennelly, who was so conventional, so careful what +people thought, so always conscious of all elements in his environment. +It was as if his soul were sitting frankly in his eyes for the first +time in his life, and things unsuspected, perhaps, even by himself, came +out and showed themselves: traits, weaknesses, possibilities; longings, +too, and pride. + +When Courtland had finished and sat down he did not drop his head upon +his hands again. He had spoken in the strength of the Lord. He had +nothing of which to be ashamed. He was looking now at the audience, no +longer at Tennelly. He began to realize that it had been given to him to +bear the message to all these other people also. He was filled with +humble exaltation that to him had been intrusted this great opportunity. + +The people, too, were hushed and filled with awe. They showed by the +quiet way they reached for the hymn-books, the reverent bowing of their +heads for the final prayer, that they had all felt the power of Christ +with the speaker. They lingered, many of them, and came up, pressing +about him, just to touch his hand and make mute appeal with their +troubled eyes. Some to ask him eagerly for reassurance of what he had +been saying; others to thank him for the story. They were so humble, so +sincere, so eager, these common people, like the ones of old who crowded +around the Master and heard him gladly. Paul Courtland was filled with +humility. He stood there half embarrassed as they pressed about him. He +took their hands and smiled his brotherhood, but scarcely knew what to +say to them. He felt an awkward boy who had made a great discovery about +which he was too shy to talk. + +Pat and Tennelly stood back against the wall and waited, saying not a +word. Tennelly watched the people curiously as they went out: humble, +common people, subdued, wistful, even tearful; some of them with +illumined faces as if they had seen a great light in their darkness. + +When at last Courtland drifted down to the back of the church and +reached Tennelly the two met with a look straight into each other's +soul, while their hands gripped in the old brotherhood clasp. Not a +smile nor a commonplace expression crossed either face--just that +strong, steady look of recognition and understanding. It was Tennelly +looking at Courtland, the new man in Christ Jesus; Courtland looking at +Tennelly after he had heard the story. + +They walked back to Courtland's apartments almost in silence, a kind of +holy embarrassment upon them all. Pat whistled "Rock of Ages" softly +under his breath most of the way. + +They sat for a time, talking, stiffly, as if they hardly knew one +another, telling the news. Bill Ward had gone to California to look into +a big land deal in which his father was interested. Wittemore's mother +had died and he wasn't coming back next year for his senior year. It was +all surface talk. Pat put in a little about football. He discussed which +of last year's scrubs were most hopeful candidates for the 'varsity team +this year. Not one of the three at that moment cared a rap whether the +university had any football team or not. Their thoughts were upon deeper +things. + +But the recent service was not mentioned, nor the extraordinary fact of +Courtland's having taken part in it. By common consent they shunned the +subject. It was too near the heart of each. + +Finally Pat discreetly took himself off, professedly in search of +ice-water, as the cooler in the hall had for some reason run dry. He was +gone some time. + +When he had left the room Tennelly sat up alertly. He had something to +say to Courtland alone. It must be said now before Pat returned. + +Courtland got up, crossed the room, and stood looking out of the window +on the myriad lights of the city. There was in his face a far yearning, +and something too deep for words. It was as if he were waiting for a +blow to fall. + +Tennelly looked at Courtland's back and gathered up his courage: +"Court," he said, hoarsely, trying to summon the nomenclature of the +dear old days; "there's something I wanted to ask you. Was there +anything--is there--between you and Gila Dare that makes it disloyal for +your friend to try and win her if he can?" + +It was very still in the room. The whir of the trolleys could be heard +below as if they were out in the hall. They grated harshly on the +silence. Courtland stood as if carved out of marble. It seemed ages to +Tennelly before he answered, with the sadness of the grave in his tone: + +"No, Nelly! It's all right! Gila and I didn't hit it off! It's all over +between us forever. Go ahead! I wish you luck!" + +There was an attempt at the old loving understanding in the answer, but +somehow the last words had almost the sound of a sob in them. Tennelly +had a feeling that he was wringing his own happiness out of his friend's +soul: + +"Thanks, awfully, Court! I didn't know," he said, awkwardly. "I think +she likes me a lot, but I couldn't do anything if you had the right of +way." + +When Pat came back with a tray of glasses clinking with ice, and the +smell of crushed lemons, they were talking of the new English professor +and the chances that he would be better than the last, who was "punk." +But Pat was not deceived. He looked from one to the other and knew the +blow had fallen. He might have prevented it, but what was the use? It +had to come sooner or later. They talked late. Finally, Tennelly rose +and came toward Courtland, with his hand outstretched, and they all knew +that the real moment of the evening had come at last: + +"That was a great old talk you gave us this evening, Court!" Tennelly's +voice was husky with feeling. One felt that he had been keeping the +feeling out of sight all the evening. He was holding Courtland's hand in +a painful grip, and looking again into his eyes as if he would search +his soul to the depths: "You sure have got hold of something there +that's worth looking into! You had a great hold on your audience, too! +Why, you almost persuaded me there was something in it!" + +Tennelly tried to finish his sentence in lighter vein, but the feeling +was in his voice yet. + +Courtland gripped his hand and looked his yearning with a sudden light +of joy and hope: "If you only would, Nelly! It's been the thing I've +longed for--!" + +"Not yet!" said Tennelly, almost pulling his hand away from the +detaining grasp. "Some time, perhaps, but not now! I've too much else on +hand! I must beat it now! Man alive! Do you know what time it is? See +you soon again!" Tennelly was off in a whirl of words. + +"Almost thou persuadest me!" Had some one whispered the words behind him +as he went? + +Courtland stood looking after him till the door closed, then he turned +and stepped to the window again. He was so long standing there, +motionless, that Pat went at last and touched him on the shoulder. + +"Say, pard," he said, in a low, gruff voice. "I'm nothing but a +roughneck, I know, and not worth much at that, but if it's any +satisfaction to you to know you've bowled a bum like me over to His +side, why _I'm with you_!" + +Courtland turned and grasped his hand, throwing the other arm about +Pat's shoulder. "It sure is, Pat, old boy," he said, eagerly. "It's the +greatest thing ever! Thanks! I needed that just now! I'm all in!" + +They stood so for some minutes with their arms across each other's +shoulders, looking out of the window to the city, lying sorrowful, +forgetful, sinful, before them; down to the street below, where Tennelly +hastened on to win his Gila; up to the quiet, wise old stars above. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + + +Tennelly did not come back as he had promised. Instead he wrote a gay +little note to tell of his engagement to Gila. He said it was not to be +announced publicly yet, as Gila was so young. They would wait a year +perhaps before announcing it to the world, but he wanted Courtland to +know. In an added line at the bottom he said: "That was a great old +speech you made the other night, Court. I haven't forgotten it yet. Your +reference to Marshall was a cracker-jack! The faculty ought to have +heard it." + +Courtland read it wearily, closed his eyes for a minute, passed his hand +over his brow, then he handed the note over to Pat. The understanding +between the two was very deep and tender now. + +Pat read without comment, but the frown on his brow matched the set of +his big jaw. When he spoke again it was to tell Courtland of the job he +had been offered as athletic coach in a preparatory school in the same +neighborhood with the theological seminary where Courtland had decided +to study. Courtland listened without hearing and smiled wearily. He was +entering his Gethsemane. Neither one of them slept much that night. + +In the early dawning Courtland arose, dressed, and silently stole out of +the room, down through the sleeping city, out to the country, where he +had gone once before when trouble struck him. It seemed to him he must +get away to breathe, he must go where he and God could be alone. + +Pat understood. He only waited till Courtland was gone to fling on his +clothes in a hurry and be after him. He had noted from the window the +direction taken, and guessed where he would be. + +On and on walked Courtland with the burning sorrow in his soul; out +through the heated city, over the miles of dusty road, his feet finding +their way without apparent direction from his mind; out to the stream, +and the path where wild flowers and grasses had strewn the ground in +springtime; gay now with white and purple asters. The rocks wore vines +of crimson, and goldenrod was full of bees and yellow butterflies. +Gnarled roots bore little creeping tufts of squawberry with bright, red +berries dotting thick between. But Courtland passed on and saw it not. + +Above, the sky was deepest blue and flecked with summer clouds. +Loud-voiced birds called gaily of the summer's ending, talked of travel +in a glad, gay lilt. The bees droned on; the bullfrogs gave forth a deep +wise thought or two; while softly, deeply, brownly, flowed the stream +beside the path, with only a far, still fisherman here and there who +noticed not. But Courtland heard nothing, saw nothing but the dark of +his Gethsemane. For every nodding goldenrod and saucy purple aster was +but a bright-winged thought to him to bring back the saucy, lovely face +of Gila. She belonged now to another. He had not realized before how +fully he had chosen, how lost she was to him, until another, and that +his best friend, had taken her for his own. Not that he repented his +decision or drew back. Oh no! He could not have chosen otherwise. Yet +now, face to face with the truth, he realized that he had always hoped, +even when he walked away from her, that she would find the Christ and +one day they would come together again. Now that hope was gone forever. +She might find the Christ, he hoped--yes, hoped and prayed she +would!--it was a wish apart from his personal loss, but she could never +summon him now, for she had given herself to another! + +He gained at last the rock-bound refuge where he knelt once before. Pat, +coming later from afar, saw his old Panama lying down on the moss and +knew that he was there. Creeping softly up, he assured himself that all +was well, then crept away to wait. Pat had brought a basket of grapes +and a great bag of luscious pears against the time when Courtland should +have fought his battle and come forth. What those hours of waiting meant +to Pat might perhaps be found written in the lives of some of the boys +in that school where he coached athletics the next winter. But what they +meant to Courtland will only be found written in the records on high. + +Some time a little after noon there came a peace to Courtland's troubled +soul. + + When thou passest through the waters I will be with thee, + and through the floods they shall not overflow thee! + +It was as near to him as whispers in his ear, and peace was all about +him. + +He stood up, looked abroad, saw the beauty of the day, heard the +dreaminess of the afternoon coming on, heard louder God's call to his +heart, and knew that there was strength for all his need. It was then +Pat came with his refreshment like a ministering angel. + +When they got back to the city that evening there was a note from +Bonnie, the first Courtland had received since the formal announcement +of her arrival and her gratitude to him for being the means of bringing +her to that dear home. + +This letter was almost as brief as the first, but it breathed a spirit +of peace and content. She enclosed a check on the funeral account. +Bonnie was well and happy. She was teaching the grammar-school where +Stephen Marshall used to study when he was a little boy, and giving +music lessons in the afternoons. She would soon be able to pay back +everything she owed and to do a daughter's share in the home where she +was treated like an own child. She closed by saying that the kindness he +had shown her would never be forgotten; that he had seemed to her, and +always would, like the messenger of the Lord sent to help her in her +despair. + +There was a ring so fresh and strong and true in this little letter, +that he could but recognize it. He sighed and thought how strange it was +that he should almost resent it, coming as it did in contrast with +Gila's falseness. Gila who had professed to love him so deeply, and then +had so easily laid that love aside and put on another. Perhaps all girls +were the same. Perhaps this Bonnie, too, would do the same if a man +turned out not to have her ideals. + +He answered Bonnie's note in a day or two with a cordial one, returning +her check, assuring her that everything was fully paid, and expressing +his pleasure that she had found a real home and congenial work. Then he +dismissed her from his mind. + +A week later he went to the seminary, and Pat accompanied him as far as +the preparatory school where he was to enter upon his duties as athletic +coach. + +Courtland found the atmosphere of the seminary quite different from +college. The men were older. They had chosen definitely their work in +the world. Their talk was of things ecclesiastical. The happenings of +the day were spoken of with reference to the religious world. It was a +new viewpoint in every sense of the word. And yet he was disappointed +that he did not find a more spiritual atmosphere among the young men who +were studying for the ministry. If anywhere in the world the Presence +might be expected to be moving and apparent it should be here, he +reasoned, where men had definitely given themselves to the study of the +Gospel of Christ, and where all were supposed to believe in Him and to +have acknowledged Him before the world. He found himself the only man in +the place who was not a member of any church, and yet there were but +three or four that he had the feeling he could speak to about the +Presence and not be looked upon as "queer." There was much worldly talk. +There was a great deal of church gossip about churches and ministers; +what this one was paid and what that one got; the chances of a man being +called to a city church when he was just out of the seminary. It was the +way his father had talked when he told him he wanted to study theology. +It turned him sick at heart to hear them. It seemed so far from the +attitude a servant of the Lord should have. He was in a fair way to lose +his ideal of ministers as well as of women. He mentioned it one day +bitterly to Pat when he came over to spend a spare evening, as he +frequently did. + +"I think you're wrong," said Pat, in his queer, abrupt way. "From what I +can figure there was only a few of those guys got around Christ and knew +what he really was! You didn't suppose it would be any different now, +did you? Guess you'll find it that way everywhere, only a few _real_ +folks in _any_ gang!" + +Courtland looked at Pat in wonder. He was a constant surprise to his +friend, in that he grew so fast in the Christian life. He had a little +Bible that he had bought before he left the city. It was small and fine +and expensive, utterly unlike Pat, and he carried it with him always, +apparently read it much. He hadn't been given to reading anything more +than was required at college, so it was the more surprising. He told +Courtland he wanted to know the rules of the game if he was going to get +in it. His sturdy common-sense often gave Courtland something to think +about. Pat was bringing his new religion to bear upon his work. He +already had a devoted bunch of boys to whom he was dealing out wholesome +truths beginning a new era in the school. The head-master looked on in +amazement, for morality hadn't been one of the chief recommendations +that the faculty of the university had given Pat. They had, in fact, +privately cautioned the school that they would have to watch out for +such things themselves. Instead, however, of finding a somewhat lawless +man in their new coach, the head-master was surprised to discover a +purity campaign on foot, a ban on swearing and cigarette-smoking such as +they had never been able to establish before. It came to their ears that +Pat had personally conducted an offender along these lines out to the +boundaries of the school grounds, well behind the gymnasium, where there +was utmost privacy, and administered a good thrashing on his own +account. The faculty watched anxiously to see the effect of such summary +treatment on the student body, but were relieved to find that the new +coach's following was in no wise diminished, and that better conduct +began presently to be the order of the day. + +Pat and Courtland were much together these days, and one Sunday +afternoon in late October, while the sun was still warm, they took the +athletic teams a long hike over the country. When they sat down to rest +Pat asked Courtland to tell the boys about Stephen, and the Presence. + +That was the real beginning of Courtland's ministry, those unexpected, +spontaneous talks with the boys, where he could speak his heart and not +be afraid of being misunderstood. + +There were two or three professors in the seminary who struck Courtland +as being profoundly spiritual and sincere in their lives. They were old +men, noted for their scholarship and their strong faith the world over. +They taught as Courtland imagined a prophet might have taught in the +days of the Old Testament, with their ears ever open to see what the +Lord would have them speak to the children of men. At their feet he sat +and drank in great draughts of knowledge, going away satisfied. There +were other professors, some of them brilliant in the extreme, whose +whole attitude toward the Bible and Christ seemed to have an undertone +of flippancy, and who fairly delighted to find an unauthentic portion +over which they might haggle away the precious hours of the class-room. +They lacked the reverent attitude toward their subject which only could +save the higher criticism from being destructive rather than +constructive. + +As the year went by he came to know his fellow-students better, and to +find among them a few earnest, thoroughly consecrated fellows, most of +them plain men like Burns, who had turned aside from the world's +allurements to prepare themselves to carry the gospel to those who were +in need. Most of them were poor men also, and of humble birth, with a +rare one now and then of brains and family and wealth, like Courtland, +to whom God had come in some peculiar way. These were a group apart from +others, whom the rest respected and admired, yet laughed at in a gentle, +humoring sort of way, as if they wasted more energy on their calling +than there was any real need to do. Some of them were going to foreign +lands when they were through, had already been assigned to their mission +stations, and were planning with a special view to the needs of the +locality. Courtland felt an idler and drone among them that he did not +yet know what he was to do. + +The men, as they came to know him better, predicted great things for +him: wealthy churches falling at his feet, brilliant openings at his +disposal; but Courtland took no part in any such discussions. He had the +attitude of heart that he was to be guided, when he was through his +studies, into the place where he was most needed; it mattered not where +so it was the place God would have him to be. + +In February Burns had a farewell service in his church. He had resigned +his pastorate and was going to China. Pat and Courtland went down to the +city to attend the service; and Monday saw him off to San Francisco for +his sea voyage to China. + +Courtland, as he stood on the platform watching the train move away with +his friend, wished he could be on that train going with Burns to China. +He was to take up Burns's work around the settlement and in the factory +section; to see some of his friend's plans through to completion. He was +almost sorry he had promised. He felt utterly inadequate to the +necessity! + +Spring came, and with it the formal announcement of Tennelly's and +Gila's engagement. Courtland and Pat each read it in the papers, but +said nothing of it to each other. Courtland worked the harder these +days. + +He tried to plunge into the work and forget self, and to a certain +extent was successful. He found plenty of distress and sorrow to stand +in contrast with his own; and his hands and heart were presently full +to overflowing. + +Like the faithful fellow-worker that he was, Pat stuck by him. Both +looked forward to the week that Tennelly had promised to spend with +them. But instead of Tennelly came a letter. Gila's plans interfered and +he could not come. He wrote joyously that he was sorry, but he couldn't +possibly make it. It shone between every line that Tennelly was +overwhelmingly happy. + +"Good old Nelly!" said Courtland, with a sigh, handing the letter over +to Pat, for these two shared everything these days. + +Courtland stood staring out of the window at the vista of roofs and tall +chimneys. The blistering summer sun simmered hot and sickening over the +city. Red brick and dust and grime were all around him. His soul was +weary of the sight and faltered in its way. What was the use of living? +What? + +Then suddenly he straightened up and leaned from the window alertly! The +fire alarm was sounding. Its sinister wheeze shrilled through the hot +air tauntingly! It sounded again. One! two! One! two! three! It was in +the neighborhood. + +Without waiting for a word, both men sprang out the door and down the +stairs. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX + + +"The Whited Sepulcher," as some of the bitterest of her poorly paid +slaves called the model factory, stood coolly, insolently, among her +dirty, red-brick, grime-stained neighbors; like some dainty lady +appareled in sheer muslins and jewels appearing on the threshold of the +hot kitchen where her servitors were sweating and toiling to prepare her +a feast. + +The luxuriant vines were green and abundant, creeping coolly about the +white walls, befringing the windows charmingly, laying delicate clinging +fingers even up to the very eaves, and straying out over the roof. No +matter how parched the ground in the little parks of the district, no +matter how yellow the leaves on the few stunted trees near by, no matter +how low the city's supply of water, nor how many public fountains had to +be temporarily shut off, that vine was always well watered. Its root lay +deep in soft, moist earth well fertilized and cared for; its leaves were +washed anew each evening with refreshing spray from the hose that played +over it. "Seems like I'd just like to lie down there and sleep with my +face clost up to it, all wet and cool-like, all night!" sighed one poor +little bony victim of a girl, scarcely more than a child, as the throng +pressed out the wide door at six o'clock and caught the moist fragrance +of the damp earth and growing vine. + +"You look all in, Susie!" said her neighbor, pausing in her interminable +gum-chewing to eye her friend keenly. "Say, you better go with me to +the movies to-night! I know a nice cool one fer a nickel!" + +"Can't!" sighed Susie. "'Ain't got ther nickel, and, besides, I gotta +stay with gran'mom while ma goes up with some vests she's been makin'. +Oh, I'm all right! I jus' was thinkin' about the vine; it looks so cool +and purty. Say, Katie, it's somepin' to b'long to a vine like that, even +if we do have it rotten sometimes! Don't you always feel kinda +proud-like when you come in the door, 'most as if it was a palace? I +like to pertend it's all a great big house where I live, and there's +carpets and lace curtings to the winders, and a real gold sofy with +pink-velvet cushings! And when I come down and see one of the company's +ottymobiles standin' by the curb waitin', I like to pertend it's mine, +only I don't ride 'cause I've been ridin' so much I'd _ruther_ walk! +Don't you ever do that, Katie?" + +"Not on yer _life_, I don't!" said Katie, with an ugly frown. "I hate +the old dump! I hate every stone in the whole pile! I could tear that +nasty green vine down an' stamp on it. I'd like to strip its leaves off +an' leave it bare. I'd like to turn the hose off and see it dry up an' +be all brown, an' ugly, an' dead. It's stealin' the water they oughtta +have over there in the fountain. It's stealin' the money they oughtta +pay us fer our work! It's creepin' round the winders an' eatin' up the +air. Didn't you never take notice to how they let it grow acrost the +winders to hide folks from lookin' in from the visitor's winders there +on the east side? They don't care how it shuts away the draught and +makes it hotter 'n a furnace where we work! No, you silly! I never was +proud to come in that old marble door! I was always mad, away down +inside, that I had to work here. I had to go crawlin' and askin' fer a +job, an' take all their insults, an' be locked in a trap. Take it from +me, there's goin' to be some awful accident happen here some day! If a +fire should break out how many d'you s'pose could get out before they +was burned to a crisp? Did you know them winders was nailed so they +wouldn't go up any higher 'n a foot? Did you know they 'ain't got 'nouf +fire-escapes to get half of us out ef anythin' happened? Did you never +take notice to the floor roun' them three biggest old machines they've +got up on the sixth? I stepped acrost there this mornin'--Mr. Brace sent +me up on a message to the forewoman--an' that floor shook under my feet +like a earthquake! Sam Warner says the building ain't half strong enough +fer them machines, anyway. He says they'd oughtta put 'em down on the +first floor; but they didn't want to 'cause they don't show off good to +visitors, so they stuck 'em up on the sixth, where they don't many see +'em. But Sam says some day they're goin' to bust right through the +floor, an' ef they do, they ain't gonta stop till they get clear down to +the cellar, an' they'll wipe out everythin' in their way when they go! +B'leeve me! I don't wantta be workin' here when that happens!" + +"_Good night!_" said Susie, turning pale. "Them big machines on the +sixth is right over where I work on the fifth! Say, Katie, le's ast Mr. +Brace to put us on the other side the room! Aw, gee! Katie! What's the +use o' livin'? I'd 'most be willin' to be dead jest to get cool! Seems +zif it's allus either awful hot er awful cold!" + +They went to their stifling tenements and their unattractive suppers. +They dragged their weary feet over the hot, dark pavements, laughing and +talking boisterously with their comrades, or crowded into places of +amusement to forget for a little while, then to creep back to toss the +night out on a hard cot in breathless air or to creep to fire-escape or +flat roof for a few brief hours of relief, till it was time to return to +the vine-clad factory and its hot, noisy slavery for another day. + +Three girls fainted on the fifth floor and two on the sixth next +morning. They were not carried to the cool and shaded rest-rooms to +revive, but lay on the floor with their heads huddled on a pile of +waste, and had a little warmish water from the rusty "cooler" in the +back stairway poured upon them as they lay. No white-clad nurse with +palm leaf and cooling drinks attended their unconscious state, although +there was one in attendance in the rest-room whose duty it was to look +after the comfort of any chance visitors. When any stooped to succor +here, she fanned her neighbor with her apron, casting an anxious eye on +her own silent machine and knowing she was losing "time." + +Susie fainted three times that morning, and Katie lost an hour in all, +bringing water and making a fan out of a newspaper. Also she had an +angry altercation with the foreman. He said if Susie "played up" this +way she'd have to quit; there were plenty of girls waiting to take her +place, and he hadn't time to fool with kids that wanted to lie around +and be fanned. It was his last few words as she was reviving that stung +Susie to life again and put her back at her machine for the last time in +nervous panic, with the thought of what would happen at home if she lost +her job. Up above her the great heavy machines thrashed on and the floor +trembled with their movement. Black and thick and hot was the air around +Susie and she scarcely could see, for dizziness, the machinery which she +worked from habit, as she stood swaying in her place, and wondering if +she could hold out till the noon whistle blew. + +Down in the basement, near one of the elevator shafts, a pile of waste +lay smoldering, out of sight. One of the boys from the lumber-yard down +the next block had stopped to light his cigarette as he passed out into +the street after bringing a bill to the head manager. He tossed his +match away, not seeing where it fell. The big factory thundered on in +full swing of a busy, driving morning, and the little match lay nursing +its flame and smoldering. + +How long it crept and smoldered no one knew. It seemed to come from +every floor at once, that smell of smoke and cry of fire! More smoke in +volumes pouring up suddenly through cracks and bursting from the +elevator shaft; a lick of flame darting out like a serpent ready to +strike, menacing against the heat of the big rooms. + +Panic and smoke and fire! Cries and clashing of machinery thundering on +like a storm above an angry sea! + +The girls rushed together in fear, or, screaming, ran desperately to +windows which they knew they could not raise! They pounded at the locked +doors and crowded in the narrow passages, frantically surging this way +and that. There was no one to quiet them or tell them what to do. If +some one would only stop that awful machinery! Was the engineer dead? + +Mockingly the little cool vines crept in about the window-sills and over +the imprisoning panes, as if to taunt the victims who were caught in the +death-trap. + +"At any rate, if we die you'll die too!" cried Katie Craigin, shaking +her fist at the long green tendrils that swept across the window nearest +her machine. "Oh, you! You'll burn to a crisp at the roots! You'll +wither up an' die. You'll be dead an' brown an' ugly! An' I'm glad! +_Glad!_ For I hate you. _I hate you!_ Do you hear?" And she grasped a +handful of leaves that edged the window-sill, spat upon them, and +stamped them under her foot, then turned to look for Susie. + +But Susie had fallen once more by her machine, leaving it unguarded +while it thrashed on uselessly. Her little pinched face looked up from +the dirty floor in pitiful unconsciousness amid the wild rush and whirl +of the fear-maddened company. If terror drove them they would pass over +her without knowing it. They were blind with desperation. + +The room seemed about to burst with the heat. Timbers were cracking. All +the stories they had heard of the frailty of the building came now to +goad them as they hurtled from one end of their pen to the other, while +intermittent clouds of smoke and darting flames conspired to bewilder +their senses. + +Katie sprang to seize her friend and draw her out of the path of the +stampede. As she lifted her a cry arose, like the wail of a lost world +facing the judgment. The floor swayed, the machines about seemed to +totter, and the floor above seemed bending down with some great weight. +There was a cracking, wrenching, twisting, as of the whole great +building in mortal pain, and just as Katie drew her unconscious friend +away to the window the floor above gave way and down crashed three awful +machines, like great devouring juggernauts, to crush and bear away +whatever came in their way. + +After that, hell itself could scarcely have presented a more terrible +spectacle of writhing, tortured souls, pinned anguishing amid the +flames; of white faces below looking up to ghastly ones above that gazed +down with horror into the awful cavern, closed their eyes, clung to +walls and windows, and knew not what to do! + +The fearful noise of machinery had suddenly ceased and been succeeded +by a calm in which the soft sound of rushing flames, the babble of the +crowd outside, the gong of fire-engines, and the cry of firemen seemed +balm of music in the ears. Water hissed on hot machinery and burning +walls. It splashed inside the window and on the white face of Susie. It +touched the hot hands of Katie as she lifted her friend nearer to the +blessed spray. A shadow of a ladder somewhere crossed the window. +Splintered glass fell all about her, and a hand reached in and crushed +the window frame. + +It was Pat who lifted out the limp Susie and handed her down to +Courtland, who was just below, while Katie turned and looked back at the +fearful pit of fire beneath her, knowing that in but a few more seconds, +if help came not, she, too, would be a part of that writhing, awful +heap! She saw the white face and staring eyes of the gray-haired woman +who ran the machine next to hers lying beneath a pile of dead. She +reeled and felt her senses going. Her hot hands clung to the hotter +window-ledge. The flames were leaping nearer! She could not hold out-- + +Then a strong hand grasped her and drew her out into the blessed air, +and she felt herself being carried down, down, safely, wondering, as she +went, if the vine was roasted yet, or if it still smirked greenly +outside this holocaust; wished she had strength to shake a mocking +finger at it; and then she knew no more. + +For three long hours Courtland and Pat worked side by side, bringing out +the living, searching for the dead and dying, carrying them to an +improvised hospital in an old warehouse in the next block. Grim and +soiled and gray, with singed hair, blistered hands and faces, and +sickened hearts, they toiled on. + +To Courtland the experience was like walking with God and being shown +the way he might have gone, and how he had been saved. If he had +accepted Ramsey Thomas's proposition he would have been a sharer in the +sin that caused this catastrophe. He would have been a murderer, almost +as much responsible for that charred body lying at his feet, for all +those dead and dying, as if he had owned the place. + +The whited sepulcher lay a heap of blackened ruins. Only one small +corner rose, of blackened marble, to which clung a fragment of brave +green to show what had been but a few short hours before. The morning's +sun would see it, too, withered and black like the rest. The model +factory was gone! But the money that had built it, the money that it had +made, was still in existence to build it over again, a perpetual blind +to the lawmakers who might have otherwise put a stop to its abuses! It +would undoubtedly be built again, more whited, more sepulchral than +before. + +As he looked upon the ruin a great resolve came to him. He would give +his life to fight the power that was setting its heel upon humanity and +putting a price upon its blood. He would devote all his powers to the +uplifting of people who had been downtrodden and oppressed in the simple +act of earning their daily bread! + +Ramsey Thomas, happening to be in a near-by city, and answering a +summons by telegraph, arrived at the scene in an automobile as Courtland +stood there, grimed and tattered from his fight with death. + +Ramsey Thomas, baffled, angry, distressed, wriggled out of his car to +the sidewalk and faced Courtland, curiously conspicuous and recognizable +with all his disarray. Courtland towered above the great man with +righteous wrath in his eyes. Ramsey Thomas cringed and looked +embarrassed. He had come to look over the ground to see how much trouble +they were going to have getting the insurance, and he hadn't expected +to be met by a giant Nemesis with blackened face and singed eyebrows. + +"Oh, why--I," he began, nervously. "It's Mr. Courtland, isn't it? They +tell me you've been very helpful during the fire! I'm sure we're much +obliged. We'll not forget this, I assure you--" + +"Mr. Thomas," broke in Courtland, in a clear, decisive voice, "you +wanted to know a year ago why I wouldn't accept your proposition, and +you couldn't understand my reason for refusing. There it is!" + +He pointed eloquently to the heap of ruins. + +"Go over to that warehouse and see the rows of charred bodies! Look at +the agonized faces of the dead, and hear the groans of the dying. See +the living who are scarred or crippled for life. You are responsible for +all that! If I had accepted your proposal I would have been responsible, +too. And now I mean to spend the rest of my life fighting the conditions +that make such a catastrophe as this possible!" + +Courtland turned, and in spite of his tatters and soil walked +majestically away from him down the street. + +Ramsey Thomas stood rooted to the ground, watching him, a strange +mingling of emotions chasing one another over his rugged old +countenance: astonishment, admiration, and fury in quick succession. + +"Drat him!" he said, under his breath. "Drat him! Now he'll be a worse +pest than that little rat of a preacher, for he's got twice as much +brains and education!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXX + + +The summer passed in hard, earnest work. + +Courtland had been back at his studies four weeks when there came +another letter from Tennelly. Gila had gone to her aunt's, down at +Beechwood, for a two weeks' stay. She was worn out with the various +functions of the summer and needed a complete rest. They were to be +married soon, perhaps in December, and there would be a lot to do to +prepare for that. She was going to rest absolutely, and had forbidden +him to follow her, so he had some leisure on his hands. Would Courtland +like to spend a week-end somewhere along the coast half-way between? +They could each take their cars and meet wherever Courtland said. + +It was Saturday morning when Courtland received the letter. Pat had gone +down to the city for over Sunday. An inexpressible longing filled him to +see Tennelly again, before his marriage completed the wall that was +between them. He wanted to have a real old-fashioned talk; to look into +the soul of his friend and see the old loyalty shining there. He wanted +more than all to come close to him once more, and, it might be, tell him +about the Christ. + +He took down his road-book, turned to the map, and let his finger fall +on the coast-line about midway between the city and the seminary. +Looking it up in the book, he found Shadow Beach described as a quiet +and exclusive resort with a good inn, excellent service, fine +sea-bathing, etc. Well, that would do as well as anywhere. He +telegraphed Tennelly: + + Meet me at Shadow Beach, Howland's Inlet, Elm Tree Inn, this + evening. + + COURT. + +It was dark when he reached Elm Tree Inn. The ocean rolled, a long black +line flecked with faint foam, along the shore, and luminous with a +coming moon. Two dim figures, like moving shadows, went down the sand +picked out against the path of the moon. Save for those all was lonely, +up and down. Courtland shivered slightly and almost wished he had +selected some more cheerful spot for the meeting. He had not realized +how desolate a sea can be when it is growing cold. Nevertheless, it was +majestic. It seemed like eternity in its limitless stretch. The lights +in far harbors glinted out in the distance down the coast. Somehow the +vast emptiness filled him with sadness. He felt as if he were entering +upon anything but a pleasant reunion, and half wished he had not come. + +Courtland ran his car up to the entrance and sprang out. He was glad to +get inside, where a log fire was crackling. The warmth and the light +dispelled his sadness. Things began to take on a cheerful aspect again. + +"I suppose you haven't many guests left," he said, pleasantly, as he +registered. + +"Only him, sir!" said the clerk, pointing to the entry just above +Courtland's. + +"James T. Aquilar and wife, Seattle, Washington," Courtland read, idly, +and turned away. + +"They been here two days. Come in a nerroplane!" went on the clerk, +communicatively. + +"Fly all the way from Seattle?" asked Courtland, idly. He was looking +at his watch and wondering if he should order supper or wait until +Tennelly arrived. + +"Well, I can't say for sure. He's mighty uncommunicative, but he's given +out he flies 'most anywhere the notion takes him. He's got his machine +out in the lot back o' the inn. You oughtta see it. It's a bird!" + +"H'm!" said Courtland. "I must have a look at it in daylight. I'm +looking for a friend up from the city pretty soon. Guess it would be +more convenient for you if we dined together. I'll wait a bit. Meantime, +let me see what rooms you have." + +When Courtland came back to the office and sat down before the fire to +wait, the spell of sadness seemed to have vanished. + +He sat for half an hour, with his head thrown back in the easy-chair, +watching the flames, thinking back over old college memories that the +thought of Tennelly made vivid again. In the midst of it he heard steps +on the veranda. Some one from outside unlatched the door and flung it +open. A wild, careless laugh floated in on the cold breath of the sea. +Courtland came to his feet as if he had been called! That laugh had gone +through his heart like a knife, with its heartless baby-like mirth. It +was Gila! Had Tennelly played him false, after all, and brought her +along? Was this some kind of a ruse to get them together? For he knew +that Tennelly was distressed over their alienation, and that he +understood to some extent that it was on account of Gila that he always +avoided accepting the many invitations which were continually pressed +upon him to come down to the city and be with his friends once more. + +The door swung wide on its hinges and Gila entered, trig and chic as +usual, in a stylish little coat-suit of homespun, leather-trimmed and +short-skirted, high boots, leather leggings, and a jaunty little +leather cap with a bridle under her chin. Only her petite figure and her +baby face saved her from being taken for a tough young sport. She +swaggered in, chewing gum, her gauntleted hands in her pockets, her +young voice flung almost coarsely into the room by the wind; the +innocent look gone from her face; the eyes wide and bold; the exquisite +mouth in a sensuous curve. + +Behind her lounged a man older than herself by many years, with silver +at his temples, daredevil eyes, and a handsome, voluptuous face. He +kicked the door shut behind him and lolled against it while he lit a +cigarette. + +Gila's laugh rang harshly in the room again, following some low-toned +remark, and the man laughed coarsely in reply. Then, suddenly, she +looked up and saw Courtland standing sternly there with folded arms, +regarding her steadily, and her eyes grew wide with horror. + +It was Courtland's great disillusionment. + +Never had he seen such fear in human face. + +Gila's skin grew gray beneath its pearly tint, her whole body shrank and +cringed, her eyes were fixed upon him with terror in their gaze. + +"Papers haven't come in yet, Mr. Aquilar," called the clerk, affably. +"Train's late to-night. Be in pretty soon, I reckon!" + +The man growled out an imprecation on a place where the papers didn't +come till that hour in the evening, and lounged on toward the elevator. +Gila slid along by his side, her eyes on Courtland, with the air of +hiding behind her companion. Her face was drooped, and when she turned +toward the elevator she drooped her eyes also, and a wave of shame +rolled up and covered her face and neck and ears with a dull red +beneath the pearl. Her last glance at Courtland was the look that Eve +must have had as she walked past the flaming swords, with Adam, out of +Eden. Her eyes, as she stood waiting for the boy to come to the +elevator, seemed fairly to grovel on the floor. + +Was this the sweet, wild, innocent flower that had held him in its +thrall all the sorrowful months, and separated him from his dearest +friend? + +Tennelly! Courtland had forgotten until that instant that Tennelly would +be there in a few minutes! Perhaps was even then at the door! + +He strode forward, and Gila quivered as she saw him coming; quivered and +looked up in terror, putting out a fearful hand to the arm of her +companion. + +The elevator-boy had arrived and was slamming back the steel grating. +The man stood back to let Gila enter, and she slunk past him, her gaze +still held in horror on Courtland. + +"Will you do me the favor to step into the little reception-room to the +right for a moment?" said Courtland, addressing the man, but looking at +Gila. + +"The devil we will!" said the man, glaring at him. "What right have you +to ask a favor like that?" + +But Courtland was looking at Gila, and there was command in his eyes. As +if she dared not disobey she stepped forth again from the elevator, her +eyes still upon him, her face gray with apprehension. Without further +word from him she walked before him, slowly, into the little room at the +right that he indicated. + +"You're a fool!" said Aquilar, regarding her contemptuously, but she +went as if she did not hear him. She entered the room, walked half-way +across, and turned about, facing the two who had followed. Courtland was +within the room, Aquilar lounging idly in the door, as if the matter +were of little moment to him. He had a smile of contempt still on his +handsome lips. + +Courtland's manner was grave and sad. He had the commanding presence and +beauty of an avenging angel. + +"Gila, are you married to this man?" he asked, looking sternly at her, +as though he would search her very soul. + +Gila kept her dark, horrified gaze on his face. She was beyond trying to +deceive now. She slowly gave one shake to her head, and her white lips +formed the syllable, "No!" though it was almost inaudible. + +"And yet you are registered here in this hotel as his wife?" + +Her eyes suddenly flamed with shame. She drooped them before his gaze +and seemed to try to assent, but her head was drooped too low to bow. +She lifted miserable pleading looks to his face twice, but could not +stand the clear rebuke of his gaze. It was like the whiteness of the +reproach of God, and her little sinful soul could not bear it. She +lifted a handkerchief and uttered something like a sob. It was as one +might think would be the sound of a lost soul looking back at what might +have been. + +"What the devil have you got to say about it? Who the devil _are_ you, +anyway?" roared the man from the doorway. + +The elevator-boy and clerk were all agog. The latter had come out of his +pen and was standing behind the boy, on tiptoe, where they could get a +good view of the scene. The room was tense with stillness. + +Aquilar's voice was not one to pass unnoticed when he spoke in anger, +but Courtland did not even lift an eyelid toward him. + +Perhaps Aquilar's words had given Gila courage, for she suddenly lifted +her eyes to Courtland's face again, a flash of vengeance in them: + +"I suppose you are going to tell Lew all about it?" she flung out, +bitterly. "I suppose you will make up a great story to go and tell Lew. +But you don't suppose he will believe _you_ against _me_, do you?" + +Her eyes were flashing fire now. Her old imperious manner was upon her. +She had driven him from her once! She would defeat him again! + +He watched her without a change of countenance. "No, I shall not tell +him," he said, quietly; "but _you will_!" + +"I?" Gila turned a glance of contemptuous amusement upon him. "Some +chance! And I warn you that if you attempt to tattle anything about it I +will turn, the tables against you in a way you little suspect." + +"Gila, you will tell Lew Tennelly _everything_, or you will never marry +him! It is his right to know! And now, sir"--Courtland turned to +Aquilar, lounging amusedly against the doorway--"if you will step +outside I will _settle with you_!" + +But suddenly Gila gave a scream and covered her face with her hands, for +there, just behind Aquilar, stood Tennelly, looking like a ghost. He had +heard it all! + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI + + +Tennelly stepped within the room, gave one keen, questioning look at +Aquilar as he passed him, searching straight into the depths of his +startled, shifty eyes, and came and stood before the crouching girl. She +had dropped into a chair and was sobbing as if her heart would break. + +"What does this mean, Gila?" + +Tennelly's voice was cold and stern. + +Courtland looked at his shocked face and turned away from the pain of +it. But when he looked for the man who had wrought this havoc he had +suddenly melted from the room! The front door was blowing back and forth +in the wind, and the clerk and bell-boy stood, open-mouthed, staring. +Courtland closed the door of the reception-room and hurried out on the +veranda, but saw no sign of any one in the wind-swept darkness. The moon +had risen enough to make a bright path over the sea, but the earth as +yet was wrapped in shadow. + +Down in the field, beyond the outbuildings, he heard a whirring sound, +and as he looked a dark thing rose like a great bird high above his +head. The bird had flown while the flying was good. The lady might face +her difficulties alone! + +Courtland stood below in the courtyard, while the moon arose and shed +its light through the sky, and the great black bird executed an +evolution or two and whirred off to the north, doubtless headed for +Seattle or some equally inaccessible point. A great helpless wrath was +upon him. Dolt that he had been to let this human leper escape from him +into the world again! A kind of divine frenzy seized him to capture him +yet and put him where he could work no further harm to other willing +victims. Yes, he thought of Gila as a willing victim! An hour before he +would have called her just plain innocent victim. Now something in her +face, her attitude, as she saw him and walked away with her guilty +partner, had made him know her at last for a sinful woman. The shackles +had burst from his heart and he was free from her allurements for +evermore! He understood now why she had bade him choose between herself +and Christ. She had no part nor lot in things pure and holy. She hated +holiness because she herself was sinful! + +It was midnight before Gila and Tennelly came forth, Tennelly grave and +sad, Gila tear-stained and subdued. + +Courtland was sitting in the big chair before the fireplace, though the +fire was smoldering low, and the elevator-boy had long ago retired to +slumbers on a bench in a hidden alcove. + +Tennelly came straight to Courtland, as though he had known he would be +waiting there for him. "I am going to take Gila down to Beechwood. You +will come with us?" There was entreaty in the tone, though it was very +quiet. + +"Shall I take my car?" + +"No. You will ride with me on the front seat. Is there a maid here that +I can hire to go with us? We can bring her back in the morning." + +"I'll find out." + +That was a silent ride through the late moonlight. The men spoke only +when it was necessary to keep the right road. Gila, huddled sullenly in +the back seat beside a dozing, gray-haired chambermaid, spoke not at +all. And who shall say what were her thoughts as hour after hour she sat +in her humiliation and watched the two men whom she had wronged so +deeply? Perhaps her spirit seethed the more violently within her silent, +angry body because she was not yet sure of Tennelly. Her tears and +explanations, her pleading little story of deceit and innocence, had not +wrought the charm upon him that they might had not Aquilar been known to +him for the past two weeks, a stranger who had been hanging about Gila, +and who had been encouraged against her lover's oft-repeated warnings. A +certain mysterious story of an unfaithful wife put an air of romance +about him that Tennelly had not liked. Gila had never seen him so +serious and hard to coax as he had been to-night. He had spoken to her +as if she were a naughty child; had commanded her to go at once to her +aunt in Beechwood and remain there the allotted time. She simply _had_ +to obey or lose him. There were things about Tennelly's fortune and +prospects that made him most desirable as a husband. Moreover, she felt +that through marrying Tennelly she could the better hurt Courtland, the +man whom she now hated with all her heart. + +They reached Beechwood at not too unearthly an hour. The aunt was +surprised, but not unduly so, for Gila was a girl of many whims, and +that she came at all to quiet Beechwood to rest was shock enough for one +day. She asked no troublesome questions. + +Tennelly would not remain for breakfast, even, but started on the return +trip at once, with only a brief stop at a wayside inn for something to +eat. The elderly attendant in the back seat was disappointed. She had +no chance to get a bit of gossip by the way with any one, but she got +good pay for the night's ride, and made up some thrilling stories to +tell when she got back that were really better than the truth might have +turned out to be, so there was nothing lost, after all. + +It was Tennelly who broke the silence between them when he and Courtland +were at last alone together. "She only went for a ride in his +aeroplane," he said, sadly. "She had no idea of staying more than an +afternoon. He had promised to set her down at the next station to +Beechwood, where her aunt was to meet her. She was filled with horror +and consternation when she found she must be away overnight. But even +then she had no idea of his purpose. She says that nobody ever told her +about such things, she was ignorant as a little child! She is full of +repentance, and feels that this will be a lesson for her. She says she +intends to devote her life to me if I will only forgive her." + +So that was what she had told Tennelly behind the closed doors! + +Before Courtland's eyes there floated a vision of Gila as she first +caught sight of him in the office of the inn. If ever soul was guilty in +full knowledge of her sin she had been! Again she passed before his +vision with shamed head down-drooped and all her proud, imperial manner +gone. The mask had fallen from Gila forever so far as Courtland was +concerned. Not even her little, pitiful, teary face that morning, when +she crept from the car at her aunt's door, could deceive him again. + +"And you _believe_ all that?" asked Courtland. He could not help it. His +dearest friend was in peril. What else could he do? + +"I--don't know!" said Tennelly, helplessly. + +There was silence in the room. Then Tennelly did realize a little! +Perhaps Tennelly had known all along, better than he! + +"And--you will forgive her?" + +"I _must_!" said Tennelly, in desperation. "Court, my life is bound up +in her!" + +"So I once thought!" Courtland was only musing out loud. + +Tennelly looked at him sadly. + +"She almost wrecked my soul!" went on Courtland. + +"I know," said Tennelly, in profound sorrow. "She told me." + +"She _told you_?" + +"Yes, before we were engaged. She told me that she had asked you to give +up preaching, that she could never bear to be a minister's wife. I had +begun to realize what that would mean to you then. I respected your +choice. It was great of you, Court! But you never really loved her, man, +or you could not have given her up!" + +Courtland was silent for a moment, then he burst out: "Nelly! It was not +that! You _shall_ know the truth! She asked me to give up _my God_ for +her!" + +"_I have no God_," said Tennelly, dully. + +A great yearning for his friend filled the heart of Courtland. "Listen, +old man, you _mustn't_ marry her!" he burst out again. "I believe she's +rotten all the way through. You didn't see and hear all last night. She +_can't be_ true! She hasn't it in her! She will be false to you whenever +she takes the whim! She will lead you through hell!" + +"You don't understand. I would _go_ through hell to be with her!" + +Tennelly's words rang through the room like a knell, and Courtland could +say no more. There was silence in the room. Courtland watched his +friend's haggard face anxiously. There were deep lines of agony about +his mouth and dark circles under his eyes. + +Suddenly Tennelly lifted his hand and laid it on his friend's. "Thanks, +Court. Thanks a lot. I appreciate it all more than you know. But this is +my job. I guess I've got to undertake it! And, _man_! can't you see I've +_got_ to believe her?" + +"I suppose you have, Nelly. God help you!" + +When Courtland got back to the seminary he found a letter from Mother +Marshall. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII + + +Courtland opened Mother Marshall's letter with a feeling of relief and +anticipation. Here at least would be a fresh, pure breath of sweetness. +His soul was worn and troubled with the experience of the past two days. +A great loneliness possessed him when he thought of Tennelly, or when he +looked forward to his future, for he truly was convinced that he never +should turn to the love of woman again; and so the dreams of home and +love and little children that had had their normal part in his thoughts +of the future were cut out, and the days stretched forward in one long +round of duty. + + DEAR PAUL [it began, familiarly]: + + This is Stephen Marshall's mother and I'm calling you by + your first name because it seems to bring my boy back again + to be writing so familiar-like to one of his comrades. + + We've been wondering, Father and I, since you said you + didn't have any real mother of your own, whether you + mightn't like to come home Christmas to us for a little + while and borrow Stephen's mother. I've got a wonderful + hungering in my heart to hear a little more about my boy's + death. I couldn't have borne it just at first, because it + was all so hard to give him up, and he just beginning to + live his earthly life. But now since I can realize him over + by the Father, I would like to know it all. Bonnie says that + you saw Stephen go, and I thought perhaps you could spare a + little time to run out West and tell me. + + Of course, if you are busy and have other plans you mustn't + let this bother you. I can wait till some time when you are + coming West and can stop over for a day. But if you care to + come home to Mother Marshall and let her play you are her + boy for a little while, you will make us all very happy. + +When Courtland had finished reading the letter he put his head down on +his desk and shed the first tears his eyes had known since he was a +little boy. To have a home and mother-heart open to him like that in the +midst of all his sorrow and perplexity fairly unmanned him. By and by he +lifted up his head and wrote a hearty acceptance of the invitation. + +That was in November. + +In the middle of December Tennelly and Gila were married. + +It was not any of Courtland's choosing that he was best man. He shrank +inexpressibly from even attending that wedding. He tried to arrange for +his Western trip so early as to avoid it. Not that he had any more +personal feeling about Gila, but because he dreaded to see his friend +tied up to such a future. It seemed as if the wedding was Tennelly's +funeral. + +But Tennelly had driven up to the seminary on three successive weeks and +begged that Courtland would stand by him. + +"You're the only one in the wide world who knows all about it, and +understands, Court," he pleaded, and Courtland, looking at his friend's +wistful face, feeling, as he did, that Tennelly was entering a living +purgatory, could not refuse him. + +It did not please Gila to have him take that place in the wedding party. +He knew her shame, and she could not trail her wedding robes as +guilelessly before him now, nor lift her imperious little head, with its +crown of costly blossoms, before the envious world, without realizing +that she was but a whited sepulcher, her little rotten heart all death +beneath the spotless robes. For she was keen enough to know that she was +defiled forever in Courtland's eyes. She might fool Tennelly by pleading +innocence and deceit, but never Courtland. For his eyes had pried into +her very soul that night he had discovered her in sin. She had a feeling +that he and his God were in league against her. No, Gila did not want +Courtland to be Tennelly's best man. But Tennelly had insisted. He had +given in about almost every other thing under heaven, and Gila had had +her way, but he would have Courtland for best man. + +She drooped her long lashes over her lovely cheeks, and trailed her +white robes up a long aisle of white lilies to the steps of the altar; +but when she lifted her miserable eyes in front of the altar she could +not help seeing the face of the man who had discovered her shame. It was +a case of her little naked, sinful soul walking in the Garden again, +with the Voice and the eyes of a God upon it. + +Lovely! Composed! Charming! Exquisite! All these and more they said she +was as she stood before the white-robed priest and went through the +ceremony, repeating, parrot-like, the words: "I, Gila, take thee, +Llewellyn--" But in her heart was wrath and hate, and no more repentance +than a fallen angel feels. + +When at last the agony was over and the bride and groom turned to walk +down the aisle, Gila lifted her pretty lips charmingly to Tennelly for +his kiss, and leaned lovingly upon his arm, smiling saucily at this one +and that as she pranced airily out into her future. Courtland, coming +just behind with the maid of honor, one of Gila's feather-brained +friends, lolling on his arm, felt that he ought to be inexpressibly +thankful to God that he was only best man in this procession, and not +bridegroom. + +When at last the bride and groom were departed, and Courtland had shaken +off the kind but curious attentions of Bill Ward, who persisted in +thinking that Tennelly had cut him out with Gila, he turned to Pat and +whispered, softly: + +"For the love of Mike, Pat, let's beat it before they start anything +else!" + +Pat, anxious and troubled, heaved a sigh of relief, and hustled his old +friend out under the stars with almost a shout of joy. Nelly was caught +and bound for a season. Poor old Nelly! But Court was free! Thank the +Lord! + +Courtland was almost glad that he went immediately back to hard work +again and should have little time to think. The past few days had +wearied him inexpressibly. He had come to look on life as a passing +show, and to feel almost too utterly left out of any pleasure in it. + +It was a cold, snowy night that Courtland came down to the city and took +the Western express for his holiday. + +There was snow, deep, vast, glistening, when he arrived at Sloan's +Station on the second morning, but the sun was out, and nothing could be +more dazzling than the scene that stretched on every side. They had come +through a blizzard and left it traveling eastward at a rapid rate. + +Courtland was surprised to find Father Marshall waiting for him on the +platform, in a great buffalo-skin overcoat, beaver cap, and gloves. He +carried a duplicate coat which he offered to Courtland as soon as the +greetings were over. + +"Here, put this on; you'll need it," he said, heartily, holding out the +coat. "It was Steve's. I guess it'll fit you. Mother and Bonnie's over +here, waiting. They couldn't stand it without coming along. I guess you +won't mind the ride, will you, after them stuffy cars? It's a beauty +day!" + +And there were Mother Marshall and Bonnie, swathed to the chin in rugs +and shawls and furs, looking like two red-cheeked cherubs! + +Bonnie was wearing a soft wool cap and scarf of knitted gray and white. +Her cheeks glowed like roses; her eyes were two stars for brightness. +Her gold hair rippled out beneath the cap and caught the sunshine all +around her face. + +Courtland stood still and gazed at her in wonder and admiration. Was +this the sad, pale girl he had sent West to save her life? Why, she was +a beauty, and she looked as if she had never been ill in her life! He +could scarcely bear to take his eyes from her face long enough to get +into the front seat with Father Marshall. + +As for Mother Marshall, nothing could be more satisfactory than the way +she looked like her picture, with those calm, peaceful eyes and that +tendency to a dimple in her cheek where a smile would naturally come. +Apple-cheeked, silver-haired, and plump. She was just ideal! + +That was a gay ride they had, all talking and laughing excitedly in +their happiness at being together. It was so good to Mother Marshall to +see another pair of strong young shoulders there beside Father on the +front seat again! + +It was Mother Marshall who took him up to Stephen's room herself when +they reached the nice old rambling farm-house set in the wide, white, +snowy landscape. Father Marshall had taken the car to the barn, and +Bonnie was hurrying the dinner on the table. + +Courtland entered the room as if it had been a sacred place, and looked +around on the plain comfort: the home-made rugs, the fat, worsted +pincushion, the quaint old pictures on the walls, the bookcase with its +rows of books; the big white bed with its quilted counterpane of +delicate needlework, the neat marble-topped washstand with its speckless +appointments and its wealth of large old-fashioned towels. + +"It isn't very fancy," said Mother Marshall, deprecatingly. "We fixed up +Bonnie's room as modern as we could when we knew she was coming"--she +waved an indicating hand toward the open door across the hall, where the +rosy glow of pink curtains and cherry-blossomed wall gave forth a +pleasant sense of light and joy--"and we had meant to fix this all over +for Steve the first Christmas when he came home, as a surprise; but now +that he has gone we sort of wanted to keep it just as he left it." + +"It is great!" said Courtland, simply. "I like it just like this. Don't +you? It is fine of you to put me in it. I feel as if it was almost a +desecration, because, you see, I didn't know him very well; I wasn't the +friend to him I might have been. I thought I ought to tell you that +right at the start. Perhaps you wouldn't want me if you knew all about +it." + +"You would have been his friend if you had had a chance to know him," +beamed the brave little mother. "He was a real brave boy always!" + +"He sure was!" said Courtland, deeply stirred. "But I did get to know +what a man he was. I saw him die, you know! But it was too late then!" + +"It is never too late!" said Mother Marshall, brushing away a bright +tear. "There is heaven, you know!" + +"Why, surely there is heaven! I hadn't thought of that! Won't that be +great?" Courtland spoke the words reverently. It came to him gladly +that he might make up in heaven for many things lost down here. He had +never thought of that before. + +"I wonder if you would mind," said Mother Marshall, wistfully, "if I was +to kiss you, the way I used to do Steve when he'd been away?" + +"I would mind very much," said Courtland, setting his suit-case down +suddenly and taking the plump little mother reverently into his big +arms. "It would be _great_, Mother Marshall," and he kissed her twice. + +Mother Marshall reached her short little arms up around his neck and +laid her gray head for just a minute on the tall shoulder, while a tear +hurried down and fitted itself invisibly into her dimple; then she ran +her fingers through his thick brown hair and patted his cheek. + +"Dear boy!" she breathed, contentedly, but suddenly roused herself. +"Here I'm keeping you, and that dinner'll spoil! Wash your hands and +come down quick! Bonnie will have everything ready!" + +Courtland first realized the deep, happy, spiritual life of the home +when he came down to the dining-room and Father Marshall bowed his head +to ask a blessing. Strange as it may seem, it was the first time in his +life that he had ever sat at a home table where a blessing was asked +upon the food. They had the custom in the seminary, of course, but it +was observed perfunctorily, the men taking it by turns. It had never +seemed the holy recognition of the Presence of the Master, as Father +Marshall made it seem. + +There was Bonnie, like a daughter of the house, getting up for a second +pitcher of cream, running to the kitchen for more gravy. It was so ideal +that Courtland felt like throwing his napkin up in the air and +cheering. + +It was all arranged by Mother Marshall that Bonnie and he should go to +the woods after dinner for greens and a Christmas tree. Bonnie looked at +Courtland almost apologetically, wondering if he were too tired for a +strenuous expedition like that. + +No. Courtland was not tired. He had never been so rested in his life. He +felt like hugging Mother Marshall for getting up the plan, for he could +see Bonnie never would have proposed it, she was too shy. He donned a +pair of Stephen's old leather leggings and a sweater, shouldered the ax +quite as if he had ever carried one before, and they started. + +He thought he never had seen anything quite so lovely as Bonnie in that +fuzzy little woolen cap, with the sunshine of her hair straying out and +the fine glow in her beautiful face. He knew he had never heard music +half so sweet as Bonnie's laugh as it rang through the woods when she +saw a squirrel sitting on a high limb scolding at their intrusion. He +never thought of Gila once the whole afternoon, nor even brought to mind +his lost ideals of womanhood. + +They found a tree just to their liking. Bonnie had it all picked out +weeks beforehand, but she did not tell him so, and he thought he had +discovered it for himself. They cut masses of laurel, and ground-pine, +and strung them on twine. They dragged the tree and greens home through +the snow, laughing and struggling with their fragrant burden, getting +wonderfully well acquainted, so that at the very door-step they had to +lay down their greens and have a snow-fight, with Father and Mother +Marshall standing delightedly at the kitchen window, watching them. +Mother's cheek was pressed softly against the old gray hat. She was +thinking how Stephen would have liked to be here with them; how glad he +would be if he could hear the happy shouts of young people ringing +around the lonely old house again! + +They set the tree up in the big parlor, and made a great log fire on the +hearth to give good cheer--for the house was warm as a pocket without +it. They colored and strung popcorn, gilded walnuts, cut silver-paper +stars and chains for the tree, and hung strings of cranberries, +bright-red apples, and oranges between. They trimmed the house from top +to bottom, even twining ground-pine on the stair rail. + +Those were the speediest two weeks that Courtland ever spent in his +life. He had thought to remain with the Marshalls perhaps three or four +days, but instead of that he delayed till the very last train that would +get him back to the seminary in time for work, and missed two classes at +that. For he had never had a comrade like Bonnie; and he knew, from the +first day almost, that he had never known a love like the love that +flamed up in his soul for this sweet, strong-spirited girl. The old +house rang with their laughter from morning to night as they chased each +other up-stairs and down, like two children. Hours they spent taking +long tramps through the woods or over the country roads; more hours they +spent reading aloud to each other, or rather, most of the time Bonnie +reading and Courtland devouring her lovely face with his eyes from +behind a sheltering hand, watching every varying expression, noting the +straight, delicate brows, the beautiful eyes filled with holy things as +they lifted now and then in the reading; marveling over the sweetness of +the voice. + +The second day of his visit Courtland had made an errand with Bonnie to +town to send off several telegrams. As a result a lot of things arrived +for him the day before Christmas, marked "Rush!" They were smuggled +into the parlor, behind the Christmas tree, with great secrecy after +dark by Bonnie and Courtland; and covered with the buffalo robes from +the car till morning. There was a big leather chair with air-cushions +for Father Marshall; its mate in lady's size for Mother; a set of +encyclopedias that he had heard Father say he wished he had; a lot of +silver forks and spoons for Mother, who had apologized for the silver +being rubbed off of some of hers. There were two sets of books in +wonderful leather bindings that he had heard Bonnie say she longed to +read, and there was the tiniest little gold watch, about which he had +been in terrible doubt ever since he had sent for it. Suppose Bonnie +should think it wrong to accept it when she had known him so short a +time! How was he going to make her see that it was all right? He +couldn't tell her she was a sort of a sister of his, for he didn't want +her for a sister. He puzzled over that question whenever he had time, +which wasn't often, because he was so busy and so happy every minute. + +Then there were great five-pound boxes of chocolates, glaced nuts and +bonbons, and a crate of foreign fruits, with nuts, raisins, figs, and +dates. There was a long, deep box from the nearest city filled with the +most wonderful hothouse blossoms: roses, lilies, sweet peas, violets, +gardenias, and even orchids. Courtland had never enjoyed spending money +so much in all his life. He only wished he could get back to the city +for a couple of hours and buy a lot more things. + +To paint the picture of Mother Marshall when she sat on her new +air-cushions and counted her spoons and forks--real silver forks beyond +all her dreamings!--to show Father Marshall, as he wiped his spectacles +and bent, beaming, over the encyclopedias or rested his gray head back +against the cushions! Ah! That would be the work of an artist who could +catch the glory that shines deeper than faces and reaches souls! As for +Courtland, he was too much taken up watching Bonnie's face when she +opened her books, looking deep into her eyes as she looked up from the +little velvet case where the watch ticked softly into her wondering +ears; seeing the breathlessness with which she lifted the flowers from +their bed among the ferns and placed them reverently in jars and +pitchers around the room. + +It was a wonderful Christmas! The first real Christmas Courtland had +ever known. Sitting in the dim firelight between dusk and darkness, +watching Bonnie at the piano, listening to the tender Christmas music +she was playing, joining his sweet tenor in with her clear soprano now +and then, Courtland suddenly thought of Tennelly, off at Palm Beach, +doing the correct thing in wedding trips with Gila. Poor Tennelly! How +little he would be getting of the real joy of Christmas! How little he +would understand the wonderful peace that settled down in the heart of +his friend when, later, they all knelt in the firelight, and Father +Marshall prayed, as if he were talking to One who stood there close +beside him, whose companionship had been a life experience. + +There were so many pictures that Courtland had to carry back with him to +the seminary. Bonnie in the kitchen, with a long-sleeved, high-necked +gingham apron on, frying doughnuts or baking waffles. Bonnie at the +organ on Sunday in the little church in town, or sitting in a corner of +the Sunday-school room surrounded by her seventeen boys, with her Bible +open on her lap and in her face the light of heaven while the boys +watched and listened, too intent to know that they were doing it. Bonnie +throwing snowballs from behind the snow fort he built her. Bonnie with +the wonderful mystery upon her when they talked about the little watch +and whether she might keep it. Bonnie in her window-seat with one of the +books he had given her, the morning he started to go out with Father +Marshall and see what was the matter with the automobile, and then came +back to his room unexpectedly after his knife and caught a glimpse of +her through the open door. + +And that last one on the platform of Sloan's Station, waving him a +smiling good-by! + +Courtland had torn himself away at last, with a promise that he would +return the minute his work was over, and with the consolation that +Bonnie was going to write to him. They had arranged to pursue a course +of study together. The future opened up rosily before him. How was it +that skies had ever looked dark, that he had thought his ideals +vanished, and womanhood a lost art when the world held this one pearl of +a girl? Bonnie! Rose Bonnie! + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII + + +The rest of the winter sped away quickly. Courtland was very happy. Pat +looked at him enviously sometimes, yet he was content to have it so. His +old friend had not quite so much time to spend with him, but when he +came for a walk and a talk it was with a heartiness that satisfied. Pat +had long ago discovered that there was a girl at Stephen Marshall's old +home, and he sat wisely quiet and rejoiced. What kind of a girl he could +only imagine from Courtland's rapt look when he received a letter, and +from the exquisite photograph that presently took its place on +Courtland's desk. He hoped to have opportunity to judge more accurately +when the summer came, for Mother Marshall had invited Pat to come out +with Courtland in the spring and spend a week, and Pat was going. Pat +had something to confess to Mother Marshall. + +Courtland went out twice that summer, once for a week as soon as his +classes were over. It was then that Bonnie promised to marry him. + +Mother Marshall had a lot of sense and took a great liking to Pat. One +day she took him up in Stephen's room and told him all about Stephen's +boyhood. Pat, great big, baby giant that he was, knelt down beside her +chair, put his face in her lap, and blurted out the tale of how he had +led the mob against Stephen and been indirectly the cause of his death. + +Mother Marshall heard him through with tears of compassion running down +her cheeks. It was not quite news to her, for Courtland had told her +something of the tale, without any names, when he had confessed that he +held the garments of those who did the persecuting. + +"There, there!" said Mother Marshall, patting the big fellow's dark +head. "You never knew what you were doing, laddie! My Steve always +wanted a chance to prove that he was brave. When he was just a little +fellow and read about the martyrs, he used to say: 'Would I have that +much nerve, mother? A fellow never can _tell_ till he's been _tested_!' +And so I'm not sorry he had his chance to stand up before you all for +what he thought was right. Did you see my boy's face, too, when he +died?" + +"Yes," said Pat, lifting his head earnestly. "I'd just picked up a +little kid he sent up to the fire-escape, and saw his face all lit up by +the fire. It looked like the face of an angel! Then I saw him lift up +his hands and look up like he saw somebody above, and he called out +something with a sort of smile, as if he was saying he'd be up there +pretty soon! And then--he fell!" + +The tears were raining down Mother Marshall's cheeks by now, but there +was a smile of triumph in her eyes. + +"He wanted to be a missionary, my Stephen did, only he was afraid he +wouldn't be able to preach. He always was shy before folks. But I guess +he preached his sermon!" She sighed contentedly. + +"He sure did!" said Pat. "I never forgot that look on his face, nor the +way he took our roughneck insults. None of the fellows did. It made a +big impression on us all. And when Court began to change, came out +straight and said he believed in Christ, and all that, it knocked the +tar out of us all. Stephen hasn't got done preaching yet. You ought to +hear Court tell the story of his death. It bowled me over when I heard +it, and everywhere he tells it men believe! Wherever Paul Courtland +tells that story Stephen Marshall will be preaching." + +Mother Marshall stooped over and kissed Pat's astonished forehead. "You +have made me a proud and happy mother to-day, laddie! I'm glad you +came." + +Pat, suddenly conscious of himself, stumbled, blushing, to his feet. +"Thanks, Mother! It's been great! Believe me, I sha'n't ever forget it. +It's been like looking into heaven for this poor bum. If I'd had a home +like this I might have stood some chance of being like your Steve, +instead of just a roughneck athlete." + +"Yes, I know," smiled Mother Marshall. "A dear, splendid roughneck, +doing a big work with the boys! Paul has told me all about it. You're +preaching a lot of sermons yourself, you know, and going to preach some +more. Now shall we go down? It's time for evening prayers." + +So Pat put his strong arm around Mother Marshall's plump waist, drew one +of her hands in his, and together they walked down to the parlor, where +Bonnie was already playing "Rock of Ages." It seemed to Pat the kingdom +of heaven could be no sweeter, for this was the kingdom come on earth. +When he and Courtland were up-stairs in their room, and all the house +quiet for the night, Pat spoke: + +"I've sized it up this way, Court. There ain't any dying! That's only an +imaginary line like the equator on the map. It's heaven or hell, both +now and hereafter! We can begin heaven right now if we want to, and live +it on through; and that's what these folks have done. You don't hear +them sitting here fighting like the professors used to do, about whether +there's a heaven or a hell! They know there's both. They're living in +one and pulling folks out of the other, hard as they can; and they're +too blamed busy, following out the Bible and seeing it prove itself, to +listen to all the twaddle to prove that it ain't so! I sure am darned +glad you gave me the tip and I got a chance to get in on this little old +game, for it's the best game I know, and the best part about it is it +lasts forever!" + +Tennelly was away all that summer, doing the fashionable summer resorts +and taking a California trip. The next winter he spent in Washington. +Uncle Ramsey had him at work, and Courtland ran on him in his office +once, when he took a hurried trip down to see what he could do for the +eight-hour bill. Tennelly looked grave and sad. He was touchingly glad +to see Courtland. They did not speak of Gila once, but when Courtland +lay in his sleepless sleeper on the return trip that night Tennelly's +face haunted him, the wistfulness in it. + +A few months later Tennelly wrote a brief note announcing the birth of a +daughter, named Doris Ramsey after his grandmother. The tone of his +letter seemed more cheerful. + +Courtland was so happy that winter he could scarcely contain himself. +Pat had great times kidding him about the Western mail. Courtland was +supplying a vacant church down in the old factory district in the city, +and Pat often went along. On one of these Sunday afternoons late in the +spring they were walking down a street they did not often take, and +suddenly Courtland stopped with an exclamation of dismay and looked up +at a great blaring sign wired on a big old-fashioned church: + + CHURCH OF GOD + FOR SALE + +was the startling statement. + +Pat looked up at the sign and then at Courtland's face, figuring out, as +he usually could, what was the matter with Court. + +"Gosh! That's darned tough luck!" he said, sympathetically. + +"It's terrible!" said Courtland. + +"H'm!" said Pat, again. "Whose fault do you s'pose it is? Not God's. +Somebody fell down on his job, I reckon! Congregation gone to the devil, +very likely!" + +"Wait!" said Courtland, gravely. "I must find out." + +He stepped into a little cigar-store and asked some questions. "You were +right, Pat," he said, when he came out. "The congregation has gone to +the devil. They have moved up into the more fashionable part of town, +and the church is for sale. There's only one member of the old church +left down here. I'm going around to see him. Pat, that sign mustn't stay +up there! It's a disgrace to God." + +"What could you do about it?" Pat was puzzled. + +"Do about it? Why, man, I can buy it if there isn't any other way!" + +They went to see the church member, who proved to be a good old soul, +but deaf and old and very poor. He said they had to give the church up; +they couldn't make it pay. All the rich people had moved away. He shook +his head sadly and told how he and his wife were married there. He +hobbled over and showed them how to get in a side door. + +The yellow afternoon sun was sifting through windows of cheap stained +glass, and fell in mellow quiet upon the faded cushions and musty +ingrain carpet. The place had that deserted look of having been +abandoned, yet Courtland, as he stood in the shadow under the old +balcony, seemed to see the Presence of the eternal God standing up there +behind the pulpit, seemed to feel the hallowed memories of long ago, +and scent the lingering incense of all the prayers that had gone up from +all the souls who had worshiped there in the years that were past. + +"They think an iron-foundry's going to buy it, or else some one may make +a munition-factory out of it," the old man contributed. "This war's +bringing a big change over things." + +"Their plowshares into swords, their pruning-hooks into spears," chanted +an unseen voice, sadly, behind Courtland. His face set sternly. He +turned to Pat: + +"I can't let that happen, old man!" he said. "I'm going to buy it if I +can. Come, we'll go and look it up!" + +Pat looked at his companion with awe. He had always known he was rich, +but--to purchase a church as if it were a jack-knife! That sure was +going some! + +Courtland did not return to the seminary until Tuesday morning. By that +time he had bought his church. It didn't take him long to come to an +agreement. The Church of God was in a bad way and was willing to take up +with almost any offer that would cover their liabilities. + +"Well," said Pat, "that sure was some hustle! There's one thing, Court. +You won't have to candidate for any church like those other guys in your +little old seminary. You just went out and bought one; though I surmise +you and I'll have to do some scrubbing if you calculate to hold services +there very soon." + +"H'm!" said Courtland. "I hadn't thought of that, Pat! Maybe that would +be a good idea!" + +"Holy Mackinaw, man! What did you buy it for, then, if you didn't intend +to use it? Do it just to have the right to tear down that blooming sign, +did you?" + +"That's about the size of it," smiled Courtland as he halted in front +of his newly acquired church and looked up at it with interest. "But now +I've got it I might as well use it. Suppose we start a mission here, +Pat, you and I? Let's cut that sign down first, and then, Pat, I'm going +to hunt up a stone-cutter. This church has got to have a new name. +'Church of God for sale' has killed this one! A church that used to +belong to God and doesn't any more is what that means. They have sold +the Church of God, but His Presence is still here!" + +A few weeks later, when the two came down to look things over, the +granite arch over the old front doors bore the inscription in letters of +stone: + + CHURCH OF THE PRESENCE OF GOD + +Courtland stood looking for a moment, and then he turned to Pat eagerly. +"I'm going to get possession of the whole block if I can; maybe the +opposite one, too, for a park, and you've got to be physical director! +I'll turn the kids and the older boys over to you, old man!" + +Pat's eyes were full of tears. He had to turn away to hide them. "You're +a darned old dreamer!" he said, in a choking voice. + +So the rejuvenation of the old church went on from week to week. The men +at the seminary grew curious as to what took Pat and Courtland to the +city so much. Was it a girl? It finally got around that Courtland had a +rich and aristocratic church in view, and was soon to be married to the +daughter of one of its prominent members. But when they began to +congratulate him, Courtland grinned. + +"When I preach my first sermon you may all come down and see," he +replied, and that was all they could get out of him. + +Courtland found that a lot had to be done to that church. Plaster was +falling off in places, the pews were getting rickety. The pulpit needed +doing over, and the floor had to be recarpeted. But it was wonderful +what a difference it all made when it was done. Soft greens and browns +replaced the faded red. The carpet was thick and soft, the cushions +matched. Bonnie had given careful suggestions about it all. + +"You could have got along without cushions, you know," said Pat, +frugally, as he seated himself in appreciative comfort. + +"I know," said Courtland, "but I want this to look like a _church_! Some +day when we get the rest of the block and can tear down the buildings +and have a little sunlight and air, we'll have some _real windows_ with +wonderful gospel stories on them, but these will do for now. There's got +to be a pipe-organ some day, and Bonnie will play it!" + +Pat always glowed when Courtland spoke of Bonnie. He never had ceased to +be thankful that Courtland escaped from Gila's machinations. But that +very afternoon, as Courtland was preparing to hurry to the train, there +came a note from Pat, who had gone ahead, on an errand: + + DEAR COURT,--Tennelly's in trouble. He's up at his + old rooms. He wants you. I'll wait for you down in the + office. + + PAT. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV + + +Tennelly was pacing up and down the room. His face was white, his eyes +were wild. He had the haggard look of one who has come through a long +series of harrowing experiences up to the supreme torture where there is +nothing worse that can happen. + +Courtland's knock brought him at once to the door. With both hands they +gave the fellowship grip that had meant so much to each in college. + +A moment they stood so, looking into each other's eyes, Courtland, +wondering, startled, questioning. It was Gila, of course! Nothing else +could reach the man's soul and make him look like that! But what had +happened? Not death! No, not even death could bring that look of shame +and degradation to his high-minded friend's eyes. + +As if Tennelly had read his question he spoke in a voice so husky with +emotion that his words were scarcely audible: "Didn't Pat tell you?" + +Courtland shook his head. + +Tennelly's head went down, as if he were waiting for courage to speak. +Then, huskily: "She's gone, Court!" + +"Gone?" + +"Left me, Court! She sailed at daybreak for Italy with another man." + +Tennelly fumbled in his pocket and brought out a crumpled note, +blistered with tears. "Read it!" he muttered, and turned away to the +window. + +Courtland read: + + DEAR LEW,--I'm sure when you come to your senses + and get over some of your narrow ideas you'll be as much + relieved as I am over what I've decided to do. You and I + never were fitted for each other, and I can't stand this + life another day. I'm simply perishing! It's up to me to do + something, for I know, with your strait-laced notions, you + never will! So when you read this I shall be out of reach, + on my way to Italy with Count von Bremen. They say there's + going to be war in this country, anyway, and I hate such + things, so I had to get out of it. You won't have any + trouble in getting a divorce, and you'll soon be glad I did + it. + + As for the kid, if she lives she's much better off with you + than with me, for you know I never could stand children; + they get on my nerves. And, anyhow, I never could be all the + things you tried to make me, and it's better in the end this + way. So good-by, and don't try to come after me. I won't + come back, no matter what you do, for I'm bored to death + with the last two years and I've got to see some life! + + GILA + +Courtland read the flippant little note twice before he trusted himself +to speak, and then he walked over to the window, slowly smoothing and +folding the crumpled paper. A baby's cry in the next room pierced the +air, and the father gripped the window-seat and quivered as if a bullet +had struck him. + +Courtland put his hand lovingly within his friend's arm: "Nelly, old +fellow," he said, "you know that I feel with you--" + +"I know, Court!" with a weary sigh. "That's why I sent for you. I had to +have you, somehow!" + +"Nelly! There aren't any words made delicate enough to handle this thing +without hurting. It's raw flesh and full of nerves. There's just One +can do anything here! I wish you believed in God!" + +"I do!" said Tennelly, in a dreary tone. + +"He can come near you and give you strength to bear it. I know, for He +did it for me once!" + +Courtland felt as if his words were falling on deaf ears, but Tennelly, +after a pause, asked, bitterly: + +"Why did He do this to me, if He's what you say He is?" + +"I'm not sure that He did, old man! I think perhaps you and I had a hand +in it!" + +Tennelly looked at him keenly for an instant and turned away, silent. "I +know what you mean," he said. "You told me I'd go through hell, and I +have. I knew it in a way myself, but I'm afraid I'd do it again! I loved +her! God! I'm afraid--I _love her yet_! Man! You don't know what an ache +such love is." + +"Yes, I do," said Courtland, with a sudden light in his face, but +Tennelly was not heeding him. + +"It isn't entirely that I've lost her; that I've got to give up hoping +that she'll some time care and settle down to knowing she is gone +forever! It's the way she went! The--the--the _disgrace_! The +humiliation! The awfulness of the way she went! We've never had anything +like that in our family. And to think my baby has got to grow up to know +that shame! To know that her mother was a disgraceful woman! That I gave +her a mother like that!" + +"Now, look here, Tennelly! You didn't know! You thought she would be all +right when you were married!" + +"But I _did know_!" wailed Tennelly. "I knew in my soul! I think I knew +when I first saw her, and that was why I worried about you when you used +to go and see her. I knew she wasn't the woman for you. But, blamed fool +that I was! I thought I was more of a man of the world, and would be +able to hold her! No, I didn't, either, for I knew it was like trying to +enjoy a sound sleep in a powder-magazine with a pocketful of matches, to +trust my love to her! But I did it, anyway! I dared trouble! And my +little child has got to suffer for it!" + +"Your little child will perhaps be better for it!" + +"I can't see it that way!" + +"You don't have to. If God does, isn't that enough?" + +"I don't know! I can't see God now; it's too dark!" Tennelly put his +forehead against the window-pane and groaned. + +"But you have your little child," said Courtland, hesitating. "Isn't +that something to help?" + +"She breaks my heart," said the father. "To think of her worse than +motherless! That little bit of a helpless thing! And it's my fault that +she's here with a future of shame!" + +"Nothing of the sort! It'll be your fault if she has a future of shame, +but it's up to you. Her mother's shame can't hurt her if you bring her +up right. It's your job, and you can get a lot of comfort out of it if +you try!" + +"I don't see how," dully. + +"Listen, Tennelly. Does she look like her mother?" + +Tennelly's sensitive face quivered with pain. "Yes," he said, huskily. +"I'll send for her and you can see." He rang a bell. "I brought her and +the nurse up to town with me this morning." + +An elderly, kind-faced woman brought the baby in, laid it in a big chair +where they could see it, and then withdrew. + +Courtland drew near, half shyly, and looked in startled wonder. The baby +was strikingly like Gila, with all her grace, delicate features, wide +innocent eyes. The sweep of the long lashes on the little white cheeks, +that were all too white for baby flesh, seemed old and weird in the tiny +face. Yet when the baby looked up and recognized its father it crowed +and smiled, and the smile was wide and frank and lovable, like +Tennelly's. There was nothing artificial about it. Courtland drew a long +sigh of relief. For the moment he had been looking at the baby as if it +were Gila grown small again; now he suddenly realized it was a new +little soul with a life and a spirit of its own. + +"She will be a blessing to you, Nelly," he said, looking up hopefully. + +"I don't see it that way!" said the hopeless father, shaking his head. + +"Would you rather have her--taken away--as her mother suggested?" he +hazarded, suddenly. + +Tennelly gave him one quick, startled look. "God! No!" he said, and +staggered back into a chair. "Do you think she looks so sick as that? I +know she's not well. I know she's lost flesh! But she's been neglected. +Gila never cared for her and wouldn't be bothered looking after things. +She was angry because the baby came at all. She resented motherhood +because it put a limitation on her pleasures. My poor little girl!" + +Tennelly dropped upon his knees beside the baby and buried his face in +its soft little neck. + +The baby swept its dark lashes down with the old Gila trick, and looked +with a puzzled frown at the dark head so close to her face. Then she put +up her little hand and moved it over her father's hair with an awkward +attempt at comfort. The great big being with his head in her neck was in +trouble, and she was vaguely sympathetic. + +A wave of pity swept over Courtland. He dropped upon his knees beside +his friend and spoke aloud: + +"O Lord God, come near and let my friend feel Thy Presence now in his +terrible distress. Somehow speak peace to his soul and help him to know +Thee, for Thou art the only One that can help him. Help him to tell Thee +all his heart's bitterness now, alone with Thee and his little child, +and find relief." + +Softly Courtland arose and slipped from the room, leaving them alone +with the Presence. + + * * * * * + +Gila had been gone two months when the day was finally set for Bonnie's +wedding. + +There had been consultations long and many over what to do about telling +Tennelly, for even Bonnie saw that the event could not but be painful to +him, coming as it did on the heels of his own deep trouble. And Tennelly +had long been Courtland's best friend; at least until Pat grew so close +as to share that privilege with him. It was finally decided that +Courtland should tell Tennelly about the approaching wedding at his +first opportunity. + +Bonnie had long ago heard all about Gila, been through the bitter throes +of jealousy, and come out clear and trusting, with the whole thing +sanely and happily relegated to that place where all such troubles go +from the hearts of those who truly love each other and know there never +could be any one else in the universe who could take the place of the +beloved. + +Courtland had been preaching in the Church of the Presence of God for +four Sabbaths now, and the congregation had been growing steadily. There +had not been much advertising. He had told a few friends in the +factories near by that there was to be service. He had put up a notice +on the door saying that the church would be open for worship regularly +and every one was welcome. He did not wish to force anything. He was +following the leading of the Spirit. If God really meant this work for +him, He would show him. + +Courtland's preaching was not of the usual cut-and-dried order of the +young theologue. His theology had been studied to help him to understand +his God and his Bible, not to give him a set of rules for preaching. So +when he stood up in the pulpit it was not to follow any conventional +order of service, or to try to imitate the great preachers he had heard, +but to give the people who came something that would help them to live +during the week and enable them to realize the Presence of Christ in +their daily lives. + +The men at the seminary got wind of it somehow, and came down by twos +and threes, and finally dozens, as they could get away from their own +preaching, to see what the dickens that close-mouthed Courtland was +doing, and went away thoughtful. It was not what they had expected of +their brilliant classmate, ministering to these common working-people +right in the neighborhood where they lived and worked. + +At first they did not understand how he came to be in that church, and +asked what denomination it was, anyway. Courtland said he really didn't +know what it had been, but that he hoped it was the denomination of +Jesus Christ now. + +"But whose church is it?" they asked. + +"Mine," he said, simply. + +Then they turned to Pat for explanation. + +"That's straight," said Pat. "He bought it." + +"_Bought_ it! Oh!" They were silenced. Not one of them could have bought +a church, and wouldn't have if they could. They would have bought a good +mansion for themselves against their retiring-day. Few of them +understood it. Only the man who was going to darkest Africa to work in +the jungles, and a couple who were bound, one for the leper country, +and another for China, had a light of understanding in their eyes, and +gripped Courtland's hand with reverence and ecstatic awe. + +"But, man alive!" lingered one, unwilling to leave his brilliant friend +in such a hopeless hole. "Don't you realize if you don't hitch on to +some denomination, or board of trustees, or something, your work won't +count in the long run? Who's to carry on your work and keep up your name +and what you have done, after you are gone? You're foolish!" He had just +received a flattering call to a city church himself, and he knew he was +not half so well fitted for it as Courtland. + +But Courtland flung up his hat in a boyish way and laughed. "I should +worry about my name after I am gone," he said. "And as for the work, +it's for me to do, isn't it? Not for me to arrange for after I'm dead. +If my heavenly Father wants it to keep up after I'm gone He'll manage to +find a way, won't He? My job is to look after it while I'm here. Perhaps +it won't be needed any longer after I'm gone. God sent me here to buy +His church when it was for sale, didn't He? Well, then, if it is for +sale again he'll find somebody else to buy it, unless He is done with +it. The New Jerusalem may be here by that time and we won't have to have +any churches. God Himself shall be the tabernacle! So you see I'm just +going on running my own little old church the best I can with what God +gives me, and I won't trouble any boards at present, not so long as I +have money enough to keep the wheels moving." + +They went away then with doubtful looks, and Courtland heard one say to +another, shaking his head in a dubious way: + +"I don't like it. It's all very irregular!" + +And the other replied: "Yes! It's a pity about him! He might have done +something big if he hadn't been so impractical!" + +"The poor stews!" said Pat, dryly, looking after them. "They haven't got +religion enough to carry them over till next week, the most of them, and +what they'll do when they really see what kind the Lord is I can't +guess! I wonder what they think that rich young man that Jesus loved +would have been like, anyway, if he hadn't gone away sorrowful and kept +his vast possessions. Cut it out, Pat! You're letting the devil in again +and getting censorious! Just shut your mouth and saw wood! They'll find +out some little old day in the morning, I guess." + +Courtland wrote it all to Bonnie, all the happenings at seminary and +church, what the theologues had said about his being impractical and +irregular, and Bonnie, with a tender smile, leaned down and kissed the +words in the letter, and murmured, "Dear impractical beloved!" all +softly to herself. + +For Bonnie was very happy. The possession of great wealth that would +have to be spent in the usual way, surrounded by social distinction, +attended by functions and society duties, would have been an +inexpressible burden to her. But money to be used without limit in +helping other people was a miracle of joy. To think that it should have +come to her! + +Yet there was something greater than the money and the new interests +that were opening up before her, and that was the wonder of the man who +had chosen her to be his wife. That such a prince among men, such a +friend of God, should have passed by others of rank, of beauty and +attainments far greater than hers, and come away out West to take her, +fairly overwhelmed her with wonder when she had time to think about it. +For she was as busy as she was happy in these days. There was her +school work, her music, the little home duties, all she could make +Mother Marshall leave for her; the beautiful sewing she was doing on her +simple bridal garments; and stealing time from all to write the most +wonderful letters to the insatiable lover in the East. + +Softly Bonnie went through these days, tender, happy, blithe as a bird; +a song on her lips whenever she went about the house; a caress in her +very touch for the dear old people who had been father and mother to her +in her loneliness; realizing only vaguely what it was going to be to +them when she was gone and they were all alone again. For her heart was +so full of her own joy she could not think a sad thought. + +But one afternoon she came home from school a little earlier than usual. +Opening the door very softly that she might come on Mother Marshall and +surprise her, she heard voices in the dining-room, and paused to see if +there was company. + +"It's going to be mighty hard to have Bonnie leave us," said Father +Marshall, with a wistful quaver. + +There was a soft sigh over by the window, then Mother Marshall: "Yes, +Father, but we mustn't think about it, or the next thing we know we'll +let her see it. She's the kind of girl that would turn around and say +she couldn't get married, perhaps, if she got it in her head we needed +her. She's got a grand man, and I'm just as glad as I can be about +it"--there was a gulp like a sob over by the window.--"I wouldn't spoil +her happiness for anything in the world!" The voice took on a forced +cheerfulness. + +"Sure! We wouldn't want to do that!" + +"It's 'most as bad as when Stephen was going away, though. I have to +just shut my eyes when I go by her bedroom door and think about how we +fixed it up for her and counted on how she'd look, and all. I just +couldn't stand it. I had to shut the door and hurry down-stairs." + +"Well, now, Mother, you mustn't feel that way. You know the Lord sent +her first. Maybe He has some other plan." + +"Oh, I know!" said Mother, briskly. "I guess we can leave that to Him; +only seems like I can't bear to think of anybody else coming to be in +her room." + +"Oh no! no! We couldn't stand for that!" said Father, quickly. "We'd +have to keep it for her--for them--when they come home to visit! If any +other party comes along I reckon we'll just build out a bay window on +the kitchen chamber, and fix that up. Now don't you worry, Mother. You +know he promised to bring her home a lot, and it ain't as if he hadn't +got money enough to travel, let alone a nottymobeel. I shouldn't wonder +maybe if we could go see them, even, some time. We could get to see the +university then, too, and go look at Steve's room. You'd like that, +wouldn't you, Mother?" + +Bonnie did not go into the dining-room to surprise them. Instead, she +stole away down in the orchard to hide her tears. + +A little later she saw the postman ride up to the letter-box on the +gate-post and drop in a letter, and all else was forgotten. + +Yes, from Paul! A lovely, big, thick letter! + +Mother and Father Marshall and their sadness suddenly vanished from her +thoughts, and she hurried back to a big stump in the orchard, where she +often read her letters. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXV + + + DEAR BONNIE ROSE [she read, and smiled tenderly. He + was always getting her a new name]: + + "I've been to see Tennelly at last, and he's great! What do + you think? He's not only coming to the wedding, but he's + asked if I will let him be best man, unless I'd rather have + Pat! I told Pat, and you ought to have heard him roar. "Fat + chance! Me best man, with you two fellows around!" he said. + + Father and my stepmother will come; but please tell Mother + Marshall she needn't worry because they will only stay for + the ceremony. I know she was a little troubled about my + stepmother, lest things would seem plain to her; bless her + dear heart! But she needn't at all, for she's a kindly soul, + according to her lights. She's not to blame that they're + only candle-lights instead of sunlight. They will come in + their private car, which will be dropped off from the + morning train and picked up by the night express at the + Junction, so you see they'll have to leave for Sloan's + Station early in the afternoon. + + But the greatest news of all I heard to-night! Pat brought + it, as usual. It beats all how he finds out pleasant things. + You remember how we wished that Burns hadn't gone to China + yet, so he could marry us? Well, he's coming back. He's been + sent on some errand or other for the government, in company + with a Chinaman or two, and he's due in San Francisco a week + before the wedding. I've sent a wireless to ask him to stop + over and take part in the ceremony. I was sure this would + meet with your approval. Of course, we'll ask your minister + out there to assist. You don't know how this pleases me. + There's only one of the professors I'd have cared to ask, + and he's with his wife, who is very ill at a sanitarium. It + seems somehow as if Burns belonged to us, doesn't it, dear? + + I stood to-night on the steps of the church and looked at a + ray of the setting sun that was slanting between buildings + and laying a finger of gold on the old dirty windows across + the street till they blazed into sudden glory. As I looked + the houses faded away, as they do in a moving picture, and + gradually melted into a great open space that stretched a + whole big block, all clear and green with thick velvety + grass. There were trees in the space--a lot of them--and + hammocks under some of them, with little children playing + about. At the farthest end there were tennis-courts and a + baseball diamond; and who do you think I saw teaching some + boys to pitch, but Pat! On the other side of the street a + big, old warehouse had been converted into a gymnasium with + a swimming-pool. + + All around that block there were model tenements, with + thousands of windows; and light and air and cheerfulness. + There were flowers in little beds between the curbing and + the pavement, that the children could water and cultivate + and pick. There was a fountain of filtered water in the + center of the green, and a drinking-fountain at each corner + of the block, but there wasn't a saloon in sight! + + I looked around to my right, and the old stone house with + its grimy face that belonged there had changed into a + beautiful home with vines and flowers. There were windows + everywhere jutting out with delightful unexpectedness, and + just lovely green grass and more trees all the way to the + corner! On the left, the old foundry had been cleansed and + transformed, and had become a hospital belonging to the + church. I couldn't help thinking right then and there what a + grand doctor Tennelly would have made if he only hadn't been + an aristocrat. The hospital was all white, and there was an + ambulance belonging to it, and nurses who worked not only + for money, but for the love of Christ. There wasn't a doctor + in it who didn't know what the Presence of God meant, or + couldn't point the way to be saved to a dying sinner. + + Back of the church block, in place of the old shackly + factories, there was one great model factory with the best + modern equipment, and the eight-hour system in full swing. + No little children working for a scanty living! No tired + girls and women standing all day long! No foreman that did + not have a love for humanity in his soul and some kind of an + idea what it was to have the Presence of the living God in a + factory! + + I went back to the big stone house and discovered there was + a great big living-room with a grand piano at one end, and a + stone fireplace large enough for logs. A wide staircase led + up to a gallery where many rooms opened off, rooms enough + for every one we wanted, and a big special one for Father + and Mother Marshall, winters, opening off in a suite, so + that they could be to themselves when they got tired of us + all. Of course, in summers they might want to go home + sometimes and take us all with them; or maybe run down to + the shore with us in an off year now and then. Break the + news to them gently, darling, for I've set my heart on that + house just as I saw it, and I hope they won't object. + + There were other rooms, but they were vague, because I saw + that you must have the key to them all yet, and I must wait + till you come, to look into them. + + Then I heard sweet sounds from the church, and, turning, I + went in. Some one was playing the organ, high up in the + dusky shadows of the gallery, and I knew it was you, Bonnie + Rose, my darling! So I knelt in a pew and listened, with the + Presence standing there between us. And as I knelt another + vision came to me, a vision of the past! I remembered the + days when I did not know God; when I sneered and argued and + did all I could in my young and conceited way against Him. I + remembered, too, the time He came to me in my illness and I + began to believe; and the day I read that verse marked in + Stephen's Bible, "He that believeth on the Son of God hath + the witness in himself." I suddenly realized that that had + been made true to me. I have the witness in my own heart + that Christ is the Son of God, my Saviour! That His Presence + is on earth and manifest to me at many times. No seeming + variance of science, no quibble of the intellect, can ever + disturb this faith on which my soul rests. It is more than a + conviction; it is a perfect satisfaction! I KNOW! I + may not be able to explain all mysteries, but I can never + doubt again, because I know. The more I meet with modern + skepticism, the more I am convinced that that is the only + answer to it all: "He that doeth His will shall know of the + doctrine," and that promise is fulfilled to all who have the + will to believe. + + All this came to me quite clearly as I knelt in the church + in the sunset, while you were playing--was it "Rock of + Ages"?--and a ray of the setting sun stole through the old + yellow glass of the window in the organ-loft and lay on your + hair like a crown, my Bonnie darling! My heart overflowed + with gratitude at the great way life has opened up to me. + That I, the least of His servants, should be honored by the + love of this pearl of women!-- + +There was more of that letter, and Bonnie sat long on the stump reading +and re-reading, with her face a glow of wonder and joy. But at last she +got up and went to the house, bounding into the dining-room where Mother +and Father Marshall were pretending to be busy about a lamp that didn't +work right. + +Down she sat with her letter and read it--at least as much as we have +read--to the two sad old dears who were trying so hard to get ready for +loneliness. But after that there was no more sadness in that house! No +more tears nor wistful looks. Father whistled everywhere he went, till +Mother told him he was like a boy again. Mother sang about her work +whenever she was alone. For why should they be sad any more? There were +good times still going in the world, and _they were in them_! + +"Father!" whispered Mother, softly, that night, when she was supposed to +be well on her way toward slumber. "Do you suppose the Lord heard us +grumbling this afternoon, and sent that letter to make us ashamed of +ourselves?" + +"No," said Father, tenderly, "I think He just smiled to think what a big +surprise He had ready for us. It doesn't pay to doubt God; it really +doesn't!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI + + +Pat was out with the ambulance. He had been taking a convalescent from +the hospital down to the station and shipping him home to his good old +mother in the country, to be nursed back to health. Pat often did little +things like that that were utterly out of his province, just because he +liked to do them. + +Pat had seen his patient off and was threading his way through a crowded +thoroughfare, with eyes alert for everything, when a little bright-red +racer passed him at a furious rate, driven by a woman with a reckless +hand. She shot by the ambulance like a rocket, and at the next corner +came face to face with a great motor-truck that was thundering around +the corner at a tempestuous speed. From the first glance there was no +chance for the racer. It crumpled like a thing of paper and lay in +bright splinters on the street, the lady tossed aside and motionless, +with her head against the curbing. + +The crowd closed in about her, and some one sent a call for the police. +The crowd opened again as an officer signed to the ambulance to stand +by, and kindly hands put the lady inside. Pat put on all speed to the +home hospital, which was not far away, and was soon within its gates, +with the house doctor and a nurse rushing out in answer to his signal. + +There was a light in the church close at hand, although it was not yet +dark. Bonnie was playing softly on the organ. Pat knew the hymn she was +playing: + + At evening, ere the sun was set, + The sick, O Lord! around Thee lay; + Oh, with what divers ills they met, + Oh, with what joy they went away! + + Once more 'tis eventide, and we, + Oppressed with various ills, draw near-- + +Pat was following the melody in his mind with the words that were so +often sung in the Church of the Presence of God at evening service. He +jumped down from his driver's seat and went around to the back of the +ambulance, where they were preparing to carry the patient into the +building. He was wondering what sort it was this time that he had +brought to the House of Healing. Then suddenly he saw her face and +stopped short, with a suppressed exclamation. + +There, huddled on the stretcher, in her costly sporting garments, with +her long, dark lashes sweeping over her hard, little painted face, and a +pinched look of suffering about her loose-hung baby mouth, lay Gila! + +He knew her at once and drew back in horror. What had he done! Brought +her here, this viper of evil that had crept into the garden of his +friends and despoiled them of their joy! Why had he not looked at her +before they started? Fool that he was! He might easily have taken her to +another hospital instead of this one. He could do so yet. + +But Courtland was standing on the steps, looking down at the huddled +figure on the stretcher, with a strange expression of pity and +tenderness in his face. + +"I did not know! I did not see her before, Court!" stammered Pat. "I +will take her somewhere else now before she has been disturbed." + +"No, Pat, it's all right! It is fitting that she should come to us. I'm +glad you found her. You must have been led! Call Bonnie, please. And, +Pat, watch for Nelly and take him into my study. He was coming down on +the Boston express. Let me know as soon as he gets here." + +Courtland went swiftly into the hospital. Pat looked after him for a +moment with a great light of love in his eyes, and realized for the +first time what was meant by the expulsive power of a new affection. +Court hadn't minded seeing Gila in the least on his own account. He was +only thinking of Tennelly. Poor Nelly! What would he do? + +There was no hope for Gila from the first. There had been an injury to +the spine, and it was only a question of hours how long she had to stay. + +It was Bonnie's face upon which the great dark eyes first opened in +consciousness again. Bonnie in soft, white garments sitting beside the +bed, watching. A strange contraction of fear and hate passed over her +face as she looked, and she spoke in an insolent, sharp little voice, +weak as a sick bird's chirp. + +"Who sent you here?" she demanded. + +"God," said Bonnie, gently, without an instant's hesitation. + +A startled look came into Gila's eyes. "God! What does He want with me? +Has He sent you here to torment me? I know you, who you are! You are +that poor girl that Paul picked up in the street. You are come to pay me +back!" + +Bonnie's face was full of tenderness. "No, dear! That is all passed. +I've just come to bring you a message from God." + +"God! What have I to do with God?" A quiver of anguish passed over the +weird little face. "I hate God! He hates me! Am I dead, then, that He +sends me messages?" + +"No, you are not dead. And God does not hate you. Listen! He says, 'I +have loved you with an everlasting love.' That's the message that He +sends. He is here now. He wants you to give attention to Him!" + +The little blanched face on the pillow tightened and hardened in fear +once more. "That's that awful Presence again! The Presence! The +Presence! I've been trying to get away from it for three years, and it's +pursued me everywhere! Now I'm caught like a rat in a trap and can't get +away! If I'm not dead, then I must be dying, or you wouldn't dare talk +to me this awful way! _I am dying!_ And _you_ think _I'm going to +hell_!" Her shrill voice rose almost to a scream. + +Above the sound, Bonnie's calm, clear voice dominated with a sudden +quieting hush. Courtland, standing with the doctor and Tennelly just +outside the partly open door, was thrilled with the sweetness of it, as +if some supernatural power were given to her at this trying time. + +"Listen, Gila! This is what He says: 'God sent not His Son into the +world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be +saved.... God so loved the world that He gave His only Begotten Son, +that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting +life.' He wants you to _believe now_ that He loves you and wants to save +you." + +"But He couldn't!" said Gila, with the old petulant tone. "I've hated +Him all my life! I _hate Him now_! And I've never been good! I couldn't +be good! I don't _want_ to be good! I want to do just what I _please_! +And I _will_! I won't hear you talk this way! I want to get up! Why does +my body feel so queer and numb, as if it wasn't there? Am I dying now? +Answer me quick! Am I dying? _I know I am._ I'm dying and you won't tell +me! I'm dying and I'm afraid! I'M AFRAID!" + +One piercing scream after another rang out through the corridors. In +vain did Bonnie and the nurse seek to soothe her. The high, excited +voice raved on: + +"I'm afraid to die! I'm afraid of that Presence! Send for Paul +Courtland! He tried to tell me once, and I wouldn't hear! I made him +choose between me and God! And _now I'm going to be punished_!" + +"Listen, dear!" went on Bonnie's steady, tender voice. "God doesn't want +to punish. He wants to save. He is waiting to forgive you if you will +let Him!" + +Something in her low-spoken words caught and held the attention of the +soul in mortal anguish. Gila fixed her great, anguishing eyes on Bonnie. + +"Forgive! Forgive! How could anybody forgive all I've done! You don't +know anything about such things"--half contemptuously.--"You've always +been goody-good! I can see it in your look. You don't know what it is to +have men making fools of themselves over you! You don't know all I've +done! I've been what they call a sinner! I sent away the only man I ever +loved because I was _jealous of God_! I broke the heart of the man who +loved me because I got tired of him and his everlasting perfection! I +hated the idea of being a mother, and when my child came I deserted her! +I would have killed her if I had dared! I went away with a bad man! And +when I got tired of him I took the first way that opened to get away +from him! God doesn't forgive things like that! I didn't expect He would +when I did them. But it wasn't fair not to let me live out my life! I'm +too young to die! And I'm afraid! I'm AFRAID!" + +"Yes. God forgives all those things! There was a woman once who had been +like that, and Jesus forgave her. He will forgive you if you ask Him. +But He can't forgive you unless you are sorry and really want Him to. He +says, 'Though your sins be as scarlet they shall be as white as snow; +and though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool,' but you +have to be sorry first that you sinned. He can't forgive you if you +aren't sorry." + +"Sorry! _Sorry!_" Gila's laugh rang out mirthlessly and echoed in the +high, white room. "Oh, I'm _sorry_, all right! What do you think I am? +Do you think I've been _happy_? Don't you know that I've suffered +torments? Everything has turned to ashes that I've touched! I've gone +everywhere and done everything to try to forget myself, but always there +was that awful Presence chasing me! Standing in my way everywhere I +turned! Driving me! Always driving me toward hell! I've tried drowning +my thoughts with cocktails and dope, but always when it wore off there +would be the Presence of God pursuing me! Do you mean to tell me there +is forgiveness for me with Him?" + +Her breath was coming in painful gasps as she screamed out the words as +the nurse leaned over and gave her a quieting draught. + +Bonnie, in a low, clear voice, began to repeat Bible verses: + + "The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from _all_ + sin! + + "As far as the East is from the West, so far hath He removed + our transgressions from us. + + "I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for + mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins. + + "If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive + us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." + +Gila listened with wondering, incredulous eyes, like the eyes of a +frightened, naughty child who scarcely understood what was being said +and was in a frenzy of fear. + +"Oh, if Paul Courtland were here he would tell me if this is true!" Gila +cried at last. + +Instantly, from out the shadow of the doorway, stepped Courtland, and +stood at the foot of the bed where she could see him, looking steadily +at the dying girl for a moment, and then lifting his eyes, as if to One +who stood just beside her: + +"O Jesus Christ! who came to save, come close to this poor little +wandering child of Thine and show her that she is forgiven! Take her +gently by the hand and help her to see Thee, how loving Thou art! Help +her to understand how Thou didst come to earth and die to take her place +of punishment so that she might be forgiven! Open her eyes to comprehend +what love like that can be!" + +Gila turned startled eyes on Courtland as she heard his voice, strong, +beseeching, tender, intimate with God! She lay listening, watching his +illumined face as he prayed. Watched and listened as one who suddenly +sees a ray of light where all was darkness; till gradually the tenseness +and pain faded from her face and a surprised calm came to take its +place. + +The strong voice went on, talking with the Saviour about what He had +done for this poor erring one, till with a sigh, like a tired child, the +eyelids dropped over her frightened eyes and a look of peace began to +dawn. + +While the prayer had been going on, Tennelly, with his little girl in +his arms, had slipped silently into the room and stood with bowed head +looking with anguished eyes at the wreck of the beautiful girl who was +once his wife. + +Suddenly, as if alive to subtle influences, Gila opened her great eyes +again and looked straight at Tennelly and the baby! A dart of +consciousness came into her gaze and something like a wave of anguish +passed over her face. She made a piteous, helpless movement with the +little jeweled hands that lay limply on the coverlet, and murmured one +word, with pleading in her eyes: + +"Forgive!" + +Courtland had ceased praying and the room was very still till Bonnie, +just outside the door, began to sing, softly: + + "Rock of Ages, cleft for me, + Let me hide myself in Thee! + Let the water and the blood + From Thy riven side which flowed + Be of sin the double cure, + Save me from its guilt and power!" + +Suddenly little Doris, who had been looking down, with wondering baby +solemnity on the strange scene, leaned forward and pointed to the bed. + +"Pitty mamma dawn as'eep!" she said, softly; and with a groan Tennelly +sank with her to his knees beside the bed. Courtland, kneeling a little +way off, spoke out once more: + +"Lord Jesus, the Saviour of the world, we leave her with Thy tender +mercy!" + +As if a visible sign of assent had been asked, the setting sun suddenly +dropped lower, touching into blazing glory the golden cross on the +church, and threw its reflection upon the wall at the head of the bed +just over the white face of the dead. + +The baby saw and pointed once again. "Pitty! Pitty! Papa, see!" + +The sorrowing father lifted his eyes to the golden symbol of salvation, +and Courtland, standing at the foot of the bed, said, softly: + +"I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in me, though he +were dead, yet shall he live." + + +THE END + + + + +"_The Books You Like to Read at the Price You Like to Pay_" + + +_There Are Two Sides to Everything_-- + + --including the wrapper which covers every Grosset & Dunlap + book. When you feel in the mood for a good romance, refer to + the carefully selected list of modern fiction comprising + most of the successes by prominent writers of the day which + is printed on the back of every Grosset & Dunlap book + wrapper. + + You will find more than five hundred titles to choose + from--books for every mood and every taste and every + pocket-book. + + _Don't forget the other side, but in case the wrapper is + lost, write to the publishers for a complete catalog._ + + * * * * * + + _There is a Grosset & Dunlap Book for every mood and for + every taste_ + + + + +EDGAR RICE BURROUGH'S NOVELS + + May be had wherever books are sold. Ask for Grosset & Dunlap's list. + + +TARZAN THE UNTAMED + +Tells of Tarzan's return to the life of the ape-man in his search for +vengeance on those who took from him his wife and home. + + +JUNGLE TALES OF TARZAN + +Records the many wonderful exploits by which Tarzan proves his right to +ape kingship. + + +A PRINCESS OF MARS + +Forty-three million miles from the earth--a succession of the weirdest +and most astounding adventures in fiction. John Carter, American, finds +himself on the planet Mars, battling for a beautiful woman, with the +Green Men of Mars, terrible creatures fifteen feet high, mounted on +horses like dragons. + + +THE GODS OF MARS + +Continuing John Carter's adventures on the Planet Mars, in which he does +battle against the ferocious "plant men," creatures whose mighty tails +swished their victims to instant death, and defies Issus, the terrible +Goddess of Death, whom all Mars worships and reveres. + + +THE WARLORD OF MARS + +Old acquaintances, made in the two other stories, reappear, Tars Tarkas, +Tardos Mors and others. There is a happy ending to the story in the +union of the Warlord, the title conferred upon John Carter, with Dejah +Thoris. + + +THUVIA, MAID OF MARS + +The fourth volume of the series. The story centers around the adventures +of Carthoris, the son of John Carter and Thuvia, daughter of a Martian +Emperor. + +GROSSET & DUNLAP. PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK + + + + +JAMES OLIVER CURWOOD'S STORIES OF ADVENTURE + + May be had wherever books are sold. Ask for Grosset & Dunlap's list. + + +THE RIVER'S END + +A story of the Royal Mounted Police. + + +THE GOLDEN SNARE + +Thrilling adventures in the Far Northland. + + +NOMADS OF THE NORTH + +The story of a bear-cub and a dog. + + +KAZAN + +The tale of a "quarter-strain wolf and three-quarters husky" torn +between the call of the human and his wild mate. + + +BAREE, SON OF KAZAN + +The story of the son of the blind Grey Wolf and the gallant part he +played in the lives of a man and a woman. + + +THE COURAGE OF CAPTAIN PLUM + +The story of the King of Beaver Island, a Mormon colony, and his battle +with Captain Plum. + + +THE DANGER TRAIL + +A tale of love, Indian vengeance, and a mystery of the North. + + +THE HUNTED WOMAN + +A tale of a great fight in the "valley of gold" for a woman. + + +THE FLOWER OF THE NORTH + +The story of Fort o' God, where the wild flavor of the wilderness is +blended with the courtly atmosphere of France. + + +THE GRIZZLY KING + +The story of Thor, the big grizzly. + + +ISOBEL + +A love story of the Far North. + + +THE WOLF HUNTERS + +A thrilling tale of adventure in the Canadian wilderness. + + +THE GOLD HUNTERS + +The story of adventure in the Hudson Bay wilds. + + +THE COURAGE OF MARGE O'DOONE + +Filled with exciting incidents in the land of strong men and women. + + +BACK TO GOD'S COUNTRY + +A thrilling story of the Far North. The great Photoplay was made from +this book. + +GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK + + + + +ZANE GREY'S NOVELS + + May be had wherever books are sold. Ask for Grosset & Dunlap's list. + + + THE MAN OF THE FOREST + THE DESERT OF WHEAT + THE U.P. TRAIL + WILDFIRE + THE BORDER LEGION + THE RAINBOW TRAIL + THE HERITAGE OF THE DESERT + RIDERS OF THE PURPLE SAGE + THE LIGHT OF WESTERN STARS + THE LAST OF THE PLAINSMEN + THE LONE STAR RANGER + DESERT GOLD + BETTY ZANE + + * * * * * + +LAST OF THE GREAT SCOUTS + +The life story of "Buffalo Bill" by his sister Helen Cody Wetmore, with +Foreword and conclusion by Zane Grey. + + +ZANE GREY'S BOOKS FOR BOYS + + KEN WARD IN THE JUNGLE + THE YOUNG LION HUNTER + THE YOUNG FORESTER + THE YOUNG PITCHER + THE SHORT STOP + THE RED-HEADED OUTFIELD AND OTHER BASEBALL STORIES + +GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK + + + + +PETER B. KYNE'S NOVELS + + May be had wherever books are sold. Ask for Grosset & Dunlap's list. + + +THE PRIDE OF PALOMAR + +When two strong men clash and the under-dog has Irish blood in his +veins--there's a tale that Kyne can tell! And "the girl" is also very +much in evidence. + + +KINDRED OF THE DUST + +Donald McKay, son of Hector McKay, millionaire lumber king, falls in +love with "Nan of the Sawdust Pile," a charming girl who has been +ostracized by her townsfolk. + + +THE VALLEY OF THE GIANTS + +The fight of the Cardigans, father and son, to hold the Valley of the +Giants against treachery. The reader finishes with a sense of having +lived with big men and women in a big country. + + +CAPPY RICKS + +The story of old Cappy Ricks and of Matt Peasley, the boy he tried to +break because he knew the acid test was good for his soul. + + +WEBSTER: MAN'S MAN + +In a little Jim Crow Republic in Central America, a man and a woman, +hailing from the "States," met up with a revolution and for a while +adventures and excitement came so thick and fast that their love affair +had to wait for a lull in the game. + + +CAPTAIN SCRAGGS + +This sea yarn recounts the adventures of three rapscallion sea-faring +men--a Captain Scraggs, owner of the green vegetable freighter Maggie, +Gibney the mate and McGuffney the engineer. + + +THE LONG CHANCE + +A story fresh from the heart of the West, of San Pasqual, a sun-baked +desert town, of Harley P. Hennage, the best gambler, the best and worst +man of San Pasqual and of lovely Donna. + +GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK + + + + +RUBY M. AYRES' NOVELS + + May be had wherever books are sold. Ask for Grosset & Dunlap's list. + +RICHARD CHATTERTON + +A fascinating story in which love and jealousy play strange tricks with +women's souls. + + +A BACHELOR HUSBAND + +Can a woman love two men at the same time? + +In its solving of this particular variety of triangle "A Bachelor +Husband" will particularly interest, and strangely enough, without one +shock to the most conventional minded. + + +THE SCAR + +With fine comprehension and insight the author shows a terrific contrast +between the woman whose love was of the flesh and one whose love was of +the spirit. + + +THE MARRIAGE OF BARRY WICKLOW + +Here is a man and woman who, marrying for love, yet try to build their +wedded life upon a gospel of hate for each other and yet win back to a +greater love for each other in the end. + + +THE UPHILL ROAD + +The heroine of this story was a consort of thieves. The man was fine, +clean, fresh from the West. It is a story of strength and passion. + + +WINDS OF THE WORLD + +Jill, a poor little typist, marries the great Henry Sturgess and +inherits millions, but not happiness. Then at last--but we must leave +that to Ruby M. Ayres to tell you as only she can. + + +THE SECOND HONEYMOON + +In this story the author has produced a book which no one who has loved +or hopes to love can afford to miss. The story fairly leaps from climax +to climax. + + +THE PHANTOM LOVER + +Have you not often heard of someone being in love with love rather than +the person they believed the object of their affections? That was +Esther! But she passes through the crisis into a deep and profound love. + +GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK + + + + +FLORENCE L. BARCLAY'S NOVELS + + May be had wherever books are sold. Ask for Grosset & Dunlap's list. + + +THE WHITE LADIES OF WORCESTER + +A novel of the 12th Century. The heroine, believing she had lost her +lover, enters a convent. He returns, and interesting developments +follow. + + +THE UPAS TREE + +A love story of rare charm. It deals with a successful author and his +wife. + + +THROUGH THE POSTERN GATE + +The story of a seven day courtship, in which the discrepancy in ages +vanished into insignificance before the convincing demonstration of +abiding love. + + +THE ROSARY + +The story of a young artist who is reputed to love beauty above all else +in the world, but who, when blinded through an accident, gains life's +greatest happiness. A rare story of the great passion of two real people +superbly capable of love, its sacrifices and its exceeding reward. + + +THE MISTRESS OF SHENSTONE + +The lovely young Lady Ingleby, recently widowed by the death of a +husband who never understood her, meets a fine, clean young chap who is +ignorant of her title and they fall deeply in love with each other. When +he learns her real identity a situation of singular power is developed. + + +THE BROKEN HALO + +The story of a young man whose religious belief was shattered in +childhood and restored to him by the little white lady, many years older +than himself, to whom he is passionately devoted. + + +THE FOLLOWING OF THE STAR + +The story of a young missionary, who, about to start for Africa, marries +wealthy Diana Rivers, in order to help her fulfill the conditions of her +uncle's will, and how they finally come to love each other and are +reunited after experiences that soften and purify. + +GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK + + + + +ETHEL M. DELL'S NOVELS + + May be had wherever books are sold. Ask for Grosset & Dunlap's list. + + +THE LAMP IN THE DESERT + +The scene of this splendid story is laid in India and tells of the lamp +of love that continues to shine through all sorts of tribulations to +final happiness. + + +GREATHEART + +The story of a cripple whose deformed body conceals a noble soul. + + +THE HUNDREDTH CHANCE + +A hero who worked to win even when there was only "a hundredth chance." + + +THE SWINDLER + +The story of a "bad man's" soul revealed by woman's faith. + + +THE TIDAL WAVE + +Tales of love and of women who learned to know the true from the false. + + +THE SAFETY CURTAIN + +A very vivid love story of India. The volume also contains four other +long stories of equal interest. + +GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Witness, by Grace Livingston Hill Lutz + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WITNESS *** + +***** This file should be named 16502.txt or 16502.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/5/0/16502/ + +Produced by Janet Kegg, Emmy and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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