a fool there was

8/13/2019 A Fool There Was

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A Fool There Was

Porter Emerson Browne

The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Fool There Was, by Porter Emerson Browne

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Ttle2 A Fool There Was

Author2 Porter Emerson Browne

+elease $ate2 August, 3445 6EBook 7894:;6'es, we are more than one year ahea" of sche"ule;6Ths fle was frst poste" on F TE P+>?ECT G@TE> A F>>= TE+E WA- (((

Pro"uce" by ?ason wong, ?ulet -utherlan", Charles Franksan" the >nlne $strbute" Proofrea"ng Team#

A F>>= TE+E WA-


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B'

P>+TE+ EE+->< B+>Wf Certan Gongs

>f Certan >ther Gongs# Two Boys an" a $octor A Proposal& A Foregn sson&& The Gong&)# Parmaleean" The Woman)# A Warnng) The Begnnng)& &n The


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)# The +eturn) The +e" +ose)& The +e" +oa")&& The Battle $efeat# An" &ts Conseuences That Whch en -a"

& &n the Gar"en&& Temptaton&)# The -hrou" of a -oul)# The Thng that was a an) Agan the Battle)& The Pty of &t All

&==@-T+AT&>F CE+TA&< PE>P=E#

To begn a story of ths kn" at the begnnng s har"J for when thebegnnng may ha!e been, no man knows# Perhaps t was a hun"re" yearsagoperhaps a thousan"perhaps ten thousan"J an" t may well be, yetlonger ago, e!en, than that# 'et t can be tol" that ?ohn -chuyler camefrom a long lne of cleanbo"e", cleansoule", cleareye", clearhea"e"ancestorsJ an" from these he ha" nherte" cleanness of bo"y an" of soul,

clearness of eye an" of hea"# They ha" g!en hm all that lay n therpower to g!e, ha" these honest, mpass!e $utchmen an"womenthesebroa"shoul"ere", narrowhppe" EnglshJ they ha" amalgamate" for hmther !rtues, an" they ha" era"cate" for hm ther !cesJ they ha"cult!ate" for hm those thngs of thers that t were well to cult!ateJan" they ha" plucke" ruthlessly from the gar"ens of here"ty the wee"san" tares that mght ha!e grown to check hs growth# An", "ong ths,they ha" "e", one after another, knowng not what they ha" "oneknowngnot why they ha" "one tknowng not what the result woul" be"ongthat whch they "" because t was n them to "o tJ an" for no otherreason sa!e that# For so t s of ths worl"#

Frst, then, t s for you to know these thngs that & ha!e tol"#-econ"ly, t s for you to realKe that there are thngs n ths worl" ofwhch we know but lttleJ that there are other thngs of whch we maysometme learnJ that there are nfntely more thngs that not e!en the


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wsest of us may e!er begn to un"erstan"# Go" chooses to tell us nothngof that whch comes afterJ an" of that whch comes theren e lets uslearn just enough that we may know how much more there s#

An" knowng an" realKng these thngs, we may but go back as far towar"the begnnng as t s n our power to see#

( ( ( ( (

Before the restless, ne!erebbng of the t"es of busness ha"o!erwhelme" t wth a seethng floo" of watere" stocks an" lu""ollars, there stoo" on a corner of Ffth A!enue an" one of ts lowertrbutares, a stern, hea!yportalle" manson of brownstone# &t was ahouse not forb""ng, but "gnfe"# &ts broa", plateglass wn"ows gaKe"out n slent, mpass!e tolerance upon the streams of socal lfe thatpasse" t of pleasant afternoons n -prng an" Fallon sleetsweptnghts of wnter when Hbus an" brougham brought from theatre an" operather lttle groups an" pars of furcla" women an" hghhatte" men# &twas a bg housebg n sKebg n atmospherebg n manner#

At ts left there was another bg house, much lke the one that & ha!ealrea"y "escrbe"# &t was possbly a bt more homelkea bt less"gnfe"J for, possbly, ts wn"ows were a trfle more narrow, an" tsportal a lttle less mposng# An" across from that there lay a smallerhousea house of brckJ an" ths was much more n!tng than ether ofthe othersJ for one mght step from the !ery s"ewalk wthn the broa"hall, hung wth two !ery, !ery ol" portrats an" lghte" warmly wthsha"es of "ull yellow, an" of pnk#

&n the frst of the bg houses there l!e" a boyJ an" n the secon" therel!e" another boyJ an" across, n the lttle house of brck, there l!e"

a grl# >f course, n these houses there "welt, as well, other people#

>f these was ?ohn -tuy!esant -chuyler, who, wth hs wfe Gretchen, l!e"n the bg house on the corner, was a man slent, serous# e l!e"ntent, honest, uprght# e sel"om laughe"J though when he "", therecame at the corners of mouth an" eye, tny, telltale lnes whch showe"that beneath serousness an" slence, lay a fun" of humor unharme" bycontnual "ran# e was a tall man, broa"shoul"ere", straghtbacke"#An" to that whch ha" been left hm, he a""e", n health, n mn", an" nmoney, an" he a""e" wsely an" well, an" ne!er at unjust e*pense toanyone#

s wfe was much as he n trat an" habt# -he, too, was slent,serous, ntent# >f her tme, of her effort, of herself, she ga!e freelywheren t were well to g!e# &n her youth, she ha" been a beautfulgrlJ as a woman, she was stll beautfulJ an" her husban" an" her sonwere !ery prou" of her, though the one was fftyf!e, an" the other buttwel!e#

&n the bg house ne*t "oor, there l!e" Thomas Cathcart Blake# e, too,ha" a wfe, an" one chl"a boy# An" of ?ohn -tuy!esant -chuyler he was!ery fon"e!en as rs# Thomas Cathcart Blake was fon" of rs# ?ohn-tuy!esant -chuylerJ an" e!en as Tom Blake, the son of the one, was fon"of ?ack -chuyler, the son of the other# Blake, the el"er, was a man

rotun" of fgure, ru""y of comple*on, great of heart# e laughe" muchJfor he enjoye" much# e ga!e away much more than he coul" makeJ an" helaughe" about t# s wfe laughe" wth hm# An" really t ma"e no"fferenceJ for they ha" more for themsel!es than they coul" e!er use# >f


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course, you know, t s true that many people ha!e more than they cane!er useJ but few e!er thnk so#

&n the lttle, warm house of re" brck, across the street, l!e" athrynBlar, an" wth her another athryn Blar, who was as much lke the otheras t s possble for s* to be lke thrty# They both ha" w"e, !oleteyes an" senst!e, re" lps, an" !ery whte teeth an" lthe, slen"er

bo"es# An" they were both lo!e" !ery much by e!eryoneJ an" e!eryone sa"what a shame t was that he or she ha"nHt put hs or her foot "ownLhar"L an" ma"e ?mmy Blar stay at home nstea" of lettng hm go"own nto that unpronounceable Central Amercan place an" get klle" nan opera bouffe re!oluton wth whch he ha" absolutely nothng to "oe*cept that he coul"nHt stan" "ly by an" see women an" lttle chl"renshot# -tll, t was such a blessng to ate that she ha" lttle ate tohelp her bear t all# An" she ha" enough money, tooJ no one seeme" toknow howJ for ?mmy Blar was a reckless g!er an" a poor busness men#But ?ohn -tuy!esant -chuyler an" Thomas Cathcart Blake ha" beene*ecutors# An" that e*plane" much to those who knewJ for once e!ery twoor three months, these two men, so "fferent an" yet so alke, woul"

stalk solemnly, s"e by s"e, across the street an", stll solemnly,stll s"e by s"e, woul" nform the !oleteye" w"ow of ?mmy Blarthat the n!estments that her husban" ha" ma"e for her ha" been !eryfortunate an" that there was n the bank for her the sum of many morehun"re"s of "ollars than poor ?mmy hmself coul" ha!e ma"e n as manyyears# An" she, "efyng the man who ha" been her husban", en"owng hmwth the abltes of a organ, a +oot an" a +othschl", woul" bele!eall that they sa"J an" she woul" tell the neghborsJ an" they, benggoo" neghbors, woul" no", serously, unsmlngly# %?mmy Blar was awon"erful, won"erful man,% they woul" say# An" the !olet eyes woul" growsoft an" "m, an" the senst!e lps tremble a lttle, an" the prettlypose" hea" woul" snk forwar" upon the roun"e" breast# An" she was less

unhappyJ for when others lo!e the one you lo!e, e!en though that one begone, t makes the pan far, far less# Also, t s a great blessng toha!e about one those who know enough not to know too much#

-o t was of the three houses, an" of those who l!e" theren#

6&llustraton;

CAPTE+ TW>#

>F CE+TA&< >TE+ PE>P=E#

&n the lttleness of thngs, t so happene" that at a tme when ?ohn-tuy!esant -chuyler an" Thomas Cathcart Blake, serous, solemn, s"ebys"e, were tellng the w"ow of ?mmy Blar that the T"ewater -outhern+alroa", n whch her husban" ha" largely ntereste" hmself before hs"eath, ha" "eclare" an e*tra "!"en" that ha" enable" them that "ay to"epost to her cre"t n the bank the sum of four thousan" two hun"re"an" eghtyone "ollars an" se!entythree cents, n a lttle hut on theblack Breton coast a woman lay "yng#

&t was a bare hut, an" nosome# &n t t were perhaps better to "e thanto l!eJ an" yet that one mght not say# From before t one mght gaKeupon league upon league of sullen sea, stretchng to where, far n the


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"m "stance, lay the cur!e of the horKon upbearng the gray "ome of thesky#

&ns"e the ho!el there was a smokestane" freplace bes"e whch wasstrewn an armful of faggots# There was before t a number of broken an"greasy "shes, flle" wth fragments of foo"# An" all about on the floorlay the ltter of the sckroom#

The "yng woman was stretche" nert, mo!eless, upon a rough be" of ropean" rush# Perhaps she ha" been pretty once, n an anmal way# -he was notnow# =ps that "oubtless ha" been re" were whte an" "rawn n panJ an"there was bloo" upon them, where whte, e!en teeth ha" btten n the waythat those who suffer ha!e of tryng to h"e a greater sufferng beneatha lesser# The eyes, "eep an" "ark, were "ull an" halfh""en by therblue, transparent l"s# An" the cheeks were sunken, an" ghastlytouche"by the han" of "eath#

A hea!y, coursefeature" woman, thn har streake" wth gray, flatbacke", flatbreaste", sat bes"e the ru"e be", slent, motonless,

awatng an en" that she ha" so often watche" n the sullen ferocty thats of beast rather than of man# An" on her lap lay a lttle, pnk, pulngthng that whmpere" an" twste" weaklya lttle, nake", thng halfco!ere" by roughlycast sackng#

The tny, twstng thng whmpere"# The woman bes"e the be" hel" t,watng# The woman on the be" moane" a lttle, an" the glaKe upon theeyes grew more thck# An" that was all#

There came to the ears that were not too new come or too far gone tohear, the soun" of hoof beats upon the turf# They came nearer#### Theystoppe"# Came the soun" of spurre" heels strkng upon the tro""en "rt

wthout the "oor#### There stoo" n the openng the fgure of a man# ewas tall, an" wellproportone", though f anythng a bt too slen"erabt too gracefulJ an" he was, f anythng, a bt too well groome"# e ha"lght har, an" moustache# e ha" col" eyes that smle"J col" lps thatsmle"# e stoo" n the "oorway, tryng to accustom hs eyes to the gloomwthn, the whle playng a "eft tattoo upon hs boote" calf wth lghtcrop that he carre" n hs rght han"#

%WellI% he sa", at length, n the French that s of Pars# %WellI ###What s all thsI%

The tny thng whmpere"# The woman upon the be" moane" a lttle, weakly#

-he, who sat bes"e t, looke" up, eyes aflame# -he sa" no wor"#

The man n the "oorway took a step forwar", enterng# e was stllsmlng# e looke" about hmJ an" then he contnue"2

%-ck, ehI ### $yngI ### An" that thng that you ha!e n yourLafoL1 A baby, ehI% e laughe", alou"# The broken peals came back tohm from the so""en, smokestane" rafters# %-trange that & shoul" ha!ecome to"ay#### A baby1% e laughe" agan, mo"ulate"ly# An" then, wth anar of sympathetc commseraton he sa" to the grayhare" ol" womanwth the eyes of fre2

%Too ba" that your "aughter s not marre"snce she, & presume, s themother1 ### An" the happy fatherIhe sI% e stoppe", watng,smlngly#


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The ferce, blaKng eyes were set full upon hs own# -he sa", n thepatos that was of her an" hers2

%'ou ask thatI ### 'ouI%

e answere", e!enly#

%'es# & ask that# E!en %

Muckly, wth the aglty of the brute, she thrust towar" hm the lttle,pulng thng that lay upon her lap#

%=ook, then,% she sa", n "eep, gratng tones#

e leane" forwar", crossng hs han"s behn" hm, an" looke"# The crop,hel" n hs rght han", tappe" lghtly aganst hs boote" left leg# Thewoman wate"# At length he stoo" erect# e shook hs hea" an" smle"#

%Babes are all alke,% he remarke", easly# %+e", "rty, unforme", no

har#### Ths s a lttle re""er, a lttle more "rty, a lttle moreunforme"J t has a lttle less har#### Beyon" that, LuoLI%

The shrunken lps of the ol" woman set tghtlyJ the eyes flare"#

%'ou "are1% she began# An" then2 %&t s your mouthyour chn# The noses yours# The eyes they shall be hers#% -he no""e" her hea" n the"recton of the "yng mother upon the be"# %An" perhaps, some "ay% -he"" not fnsh# -he settle" the baby back agan upon her knees an" sat,watng#

The man, stll smlng, gaKe" up the woman on the be"#

%$ea"I% he uere", wth a lft of the brows#

-he "" not answer# e bent o!er the prostrate formJ then agan stoo"erect# e shrugge" hs shoul"ers#

e turne" agan to the shr!elle" woman on the char#

%'ou ha!e name" tI% he aske"# %'ou ha!e name"our chl"I%

-tll she "" not answer#

%&t were not mproper,% he contnue", smlngly, halfmusngly, %for afather to !enture a suggeston anent a name#### LEh benL, then# &shoul" wsh that the baby be known as% he stoppe" for a moment, thnkng,the whle lghtly tappng boote" leg wth the tp of hs crop# %& shoul"suggest,% he repeate", %callng her +en# &t s an approprate name,+en# &t s not a ba" nameJ n fact, t s rather a pretty name####+en#### +en#### +en####% e repeate" t se!eral tmes# %'es, t seemsto me that that s an e*cellent name#### We wll, then, cons"er her name+en#% e laughe" once more#

%Because of certan reasons,% he went on, %&Hm afra" that my paternal"utes must cease wth the namng of our chl"#%

e turne" to the "yng woman upon the be"#

%Bon !oyage, mamHselleeh, par"on, ma"ame,% he sa"# e lfte" hs hat,


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bowng# To the ol" woman he turne"#

%To you% he beganJ she nterrupte"#

%er eyes, they wll be her motherHs,% she mumble", sullenly#

%Whch wll be well,% he smle"# %er mother ha" beautful eyes

won"erful eyes#%

%ore won"erful than you knew,% muttere" the ol" woman# %a" you come a"ay sooner%

-tll he smle"#

%But & ""nHt,% he reple"J an" then no""ng towar" the whmperng thngthat the woman hel"2

%'ou shoul" guar" t well# There s of the best bloo" of France n ts!ens#% s lps curle", whmscally# %HTs strange, that, LnHesce

pasLI &n that small pece of carron whch you hol" there upon yourknees runs the bloo" of three kngs#% Agan he laughe", muscally# eturne"#

e ha" not seen her stoop# The longbla"e" knfe struck hm n the arm,percng flesh an" !en an" snew, stckng there# -lowly he plucke" tforth, an" turne" to her, stll smlng#

%'ou are ol", ma"ame# $o not apologKeJ t was not your fault#%

e took the knfe "elcately by the tp an" wth a lttle flp sent tspnnng through the ar an" o!er the e"ge of the clff# An" he was gone#

The woman, shr!elle", grayhare", snkng back n her char, satslent# The pulng thng upon her knees whmpere"# The "yng woman uponthe ru"e be" of rope an" rush moane"# An" that was all#

6&llustraton;

CAPTE+ T+EE#

TW> B>'- A


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earnest, serous eyes of grayblue, lke those of hs father# s mouthan" chn were "elcate, lke hs motherHs# An" he was thoughtful, ratherthan mpuls!e#

Tom Blake, on the other han", was mpuls!e rather than thoughtful# eha" "ark eyes an" ru""y cheeksJ an", at the age of nne, he ha" learne"to walk on hs han"s n a manner that cause" acute en!y to rankle n the

bosom of e!ery boy n the neghborhoo"# Also, as s most unusual amongboys of whate!er staton, color or nstnct, he was selfsacrfcng, an"more than generous, an" loyal to a fault#

athryn Blar was all that mght ha!e been e*pecte" of a "aughter of herfather an" mother# a" you known them, t were "ffcult to "escrbefurther# 'ou ha!e been tol" that she was lthe, an" "anty an" !erypretty# An" she was femnne, !ery, an" yet not unhoy"enshJ for sheplaye" much wth ?ack -chuyler an" Tom Blake# -he was natural, an"unaffecte", an" wholesoule" an" buoyant, uck to laughter, uck totears, wth an ne*haustble fun" of merrment, an" of sympathy#

>f an afternoon, n early $ecember, they lay, these three young anmals,sprawlng upon the great room n BlakeHs housethe room that ha" beenma"e for play# The gentle rays of the earlysettng sun streame" nthrough the broa" wn"ows upon a tumble" heap of "scar"e" playthngs,an" upon a floor strewn wth that whch mght ha!e appeare" to be"rftng snow but whch n realty was feathersJ for there ha" been aferce pllow fghtJ an" one of the pllows, un"er the pressure ofrollng lttle bo"es, ha" burst# &ts shrunken shape lay n a far cornerof the room, rumple", empty, a husk of the plump thng that t ha" beenbut a short tme before#

athryn Blar, wth slen"er, stocknge" legs thrust out before her, was

pckng from the tangle" masses of her gol"brown har lttle clngngbts of "own# Tom Blake, bes"e her lay flat upon hs backJ an" by hm,was ?ack -chuyler, hs hea" restng upon the hea!ng "aphragm of theother#

At length ?ack -chuyler sat up, lookng about hm#

%Phew1% he whstle"# %&t looks lke a snowsl"e#### WeHll catch t now1%

Tom Blake rolle" o!er on hs stomach# e shook hs hea"#

%$onHt worry about that,% he sa"# %$a" wonHt care, nor mother####

Bes"es, youHre my guests, you know#### What shall we "o nowI%

athryn Blar sa"2

%& want to get these feathers off frst# They stck terrbly#### E!erytme & thnk &H!e got hol" of one, & fn" tHs a har#% -he shfte", sothat her back was towar" Tom Blake# %elp me, Tom,% she comman"e"#

>be"ently he rose to hs knees# +estng hs left han" upon her shoul"er,he plucke", wth clumsy masculne fngers at the bts of whte thatnestle" n her har#### -he ga!e a lttle cry#

%>uch1 That hurts, Tom1 & guess &H" better wat untl & get home an" ha!earrs "o t# arrs snHt pretty, but sheHs awfully goo"J an" she"oesnHt fuss a bt% ### -he turne" aroun", su""enly, !olet eyes w"ewth e*ctement# %>h1 & forgot to tell you1% she cre"# %$octor $e=ancey


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sa" that maybe heH" brng me a baby brother to"ay1%

Tom Blake an" ?ack -chuyler both turne" to her#

%e ""1% they cre" almost together#

-he no""e", profoun"ly#

%'es,% she sa"# %ThatHs why they sent me o!er here to get all musse" upwth feathers# 'ou know baby brothers are bashful# $r# $e=ancey tol" meall about t# They lke to be all alone n the house wth ther mothers,so that they can get acuante"#%

?ack -chuyler rose up on hs elbows#

%& know a boy,% he sa", %that was promse" a baby brother an" all he gotwas a sster#### & "onHt thnk that was suare, "o youI%

Tom Blake looke" out the wn"ow, thoughtfully#

%& "onHt know,% he remarke" at length, ju"cally# %&t mght not ha!ebeen the "octorHs fault# -ometmes they get Hem m*e", & guess#### An"anyhow, ssters arenHt so ba"# & wsh & ha" one rght nowone lke you,athryn#% e turne" on her eyes n whch were the frank lkng an"a"mraton of boyhoo"#

-he tosse" the tumble" bra"s of her har back o!er her shoul"ers#

%&H" rather be a boy, myself,% she sa"# %They "onHt ha!e to wear "ressesan" thngs# An" people "onHt g!e them "olls when theyH" rather ha!erockng horses#### & wsh theyH" hurry an" brng that brother# &Hm just

wl" to see t1%

?ack -chuyler sat up#

%Well,% he assure" her, %TheyHll sen" o!er for you when t comes#### Whatshall we "o nowI%

e wate" patently for suggestons# Tom Blake an" athryn Blar sat,forehea"s groo!e" n thought# At length ?ack -chuyler cre" su""enly2

%& know1 =etHs play leopar" shootng1 & saw a pcture of one n thegeography# &t looke" just lke F""les#% F""les was the plethorc

altese member of the Blake famly# %WeH!e got those tn guns, an" we canstalk t# What "o you sayI%

That whch they sa" was later e!"ence"J for when Thomas Cathcart Blakeentere" the front "oor of hs res"ence that nght an" starte" up thestars, he was met by an e*cte" felne, followe" by three euallye*cte" chl"ren# An" the cat, on seeng hm, ts cosmogony "srupte" tosuch an e*tent that t felt tself no longer able to "stngush fren"from foe, tre" to turn back wth the result that ts frst pursuer fello!er t# There was the a""e" result that the ne*t two pursuers trppe"upon the sprawlng form of the frst# An" Thomas Cathcart Blake ha" great"ffculty n pre!entng hmself from jonng the sprawlng para"e that

tumble" past hm to the foot of the stars, an" lay at the bottom, a heapof tossng legs an" arms an" rbbons an" fur#


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6&llustraton;

CAPTE+ F>@+#

TE C&=$ An the bole of the oak was a surrel# &t was motonless, as thoughcar!e" out of the trunk tself# Beneath t lay cole" a snake# &ts eyeswere fastene" upon those of the surrel an" ts flat, ugly hea" wasmo!ng gently to an" froto an" frothe whle ts forke" tongue playe"back an" forth between ts fangs#

They wate" there, the stranger an" the nake" grl# They wate" for along, long tme####

By an" by the surrel mo!e" a lttle# >ne forefoot crept slowly "own the

bark of the oakan" then the otherthe one hn" footan" then tsmate#### An" the surrel was nearer to the snake#

Agan they wate", the stranger an" the nake" grl#### The surrel crept


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yet further "own the trunk, towar" the slowshftng !enomous hea"####

The horse snorte"#### The surrel rase" ts hea"J an" "arte" up thetree trunk# &t was gone# An" the snake sl" noselessly off nto theun"erbrush#### The nake" grl turne" "ark, "eep eyes upon the stranger#-he seeme" not to mn" her nake"ness# An" to hm t seeme" not strangethat she shoul" not# The horror of t all was "eep wthn hm# e

murmure", beneath hs breath2

%Goo" Go"1%

Then he spoke to her, a muttere" wor", a meanngless wor"# -he swung herbo"y o!er, snuously, so that she face" hm, slen"er legs half stretche"#The "ea" black har rpple" o!er bu""ng breasts# -he "" not answer# -hemerely looke" at hm#

The stranger sat there# s eyes blnke" a lttleJ he brushe" hs han"across them, weakly# Then he looke" at her agan#

Came a su""en rustlng n the brush, bes"e hm# s horse leape"forwar", almost unseatng hm#### e ha" gone far "own the tral beforehe rene" t n# Then he crosse" hmself# s eyes showe" that he wasfrghtene"#

There was a turnng n the path, a turnng that le" to the man roa"# Thestranger swung hs horse nto ths turnng# e knew that t a""e" to thelength of hs journey by a goo" league an" a half# An" yet he took thatturnng#

An", later, as he turne" nto the tra!elle" roa", he breathe" a "eep,"eep sghJ an" agan he crosse" hmself#

6&llustraton;

CAPTE+ F&)E#

A- T&E PA--E-#

Tme passe" on o!er the hea"s of young ?ack -chuyler an" young Tom Blake

an" the "aughter of ?mmy Blar# They grew n stature, an" n ntellect#They grew through the gra"es of school that le between nne an" ffteenJan" then they separate" to go to boar"ng school#

?ack -chuyler an" Tom Blake went to oneJ the "aughter of ?mmy Blar an"athryn Blar to another# An" the baby brother that ha" turne" out to bea sster, an" who ha" been name" Elnor, staye" at home wth the w"ow of?mmy BlarJ an" the w"ow of ?mmy Blar was now har"ly as lonely aswere the parents of ?ack -chuyler an" Tom Blake#

?ohn -tuy!esant -chuyler ha" bult for hmself a place at =archmont, onthe -oun"# %Grey +ocks,% he calle" t# &t was a long, low ramblng house,

bult of stone an" of "arkene" woo"# &t sat ensconce" n a "eep phalan*of great, green trees at the hea" of a great, green lawn# &t was not abg house, of pretenson, of arrogant wealth, of many ser!antsofcloselysha!en shrubbery an" woo"eny lan"scape gar"enng# &t was, rather,


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a house that was a homean" there s a "stnctona !ast "stnctonJfor there s many a house that s not a home e!en as there s many a homethat s not a house#

Thomas Cathcart Blake bult for hmself another house, ne*t to t# Thatalso was a ramblng, homelke place, wth broa" halls an" "eep wn"ows,an" w"e "oors# An" the "oors he kept open most of the tmeJ for he lke"

goo" people, an" goo" people lke" hm# s bg yacht lay "urng most ofthe summer a uarter of a mle from the en" of hs per# e l!e" on tpart of the tme, wth rs# Thomas Cathcart Blake, an" ther guestsJ partof the tme he l!e" on the shore, n the house that he ha" bult# $r#$e=ancey once aske" hm f he e!er mo!e" the yacht from ts moorngs, an"wante" to bet that the sal co!ers were stuffe" wth hay# Thomas CathcartBlake grnne" an" sa" that, as for takng the yacht out to sea, he wasafra" of gettng t wetJ an" he woul"nHt want to bet as to what the salco!ers were stuffe" wth because t mght be e*celsor, or cotton, or anyone of a number of thngs#

They always ha" much company at %The =awns,% whch was the name of the

house, an" on the %&"lesse,% whch was the name of the yacht that sel"omsale"J although $r# $e=ancey begge" them to rechrsten t %The $ock,% or%The -take Boat,% or somethng of the sort, whch he thought woul" bemuch more approprate# An" among ths company, was a great "eal, thew"ow of ?mmy Blar, an" her "aughter#

'oung ?ack -chuyler an" young Tom Blake got home from college that yearabout the m""le of ?une# athryn Blar was a few "ays later, owng tocertan nonaca"emc fest!tes whch she ""nHt want to mss# 'ou canknow, how popular an" attract!e an" altogether charmng she was when &tell you that she was lke her mother at her ageJ an" all


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laughe"# An" from then on, they were themsel!es#

They were met by her mother at %The =awns,% an" by $r# $e=ancey# $r#$e=ancey was not bashful# e pnche" her glowng cheek an" looke" hero!er, crtcally#

%A post!e symposum of pulchrtu"e,% he "eclare"# %& wsh & were ffty

or se!entyf!e years younger, by ?o!e1 &f you two boys let any rankouts"er take her out of the famly, youHll ha!e me to reckon wth# 'es,by ?o!e, you wll1 An" youHll fn" that whle & may be a poor fencer, an"a worse bo*er, &Hm stll a goo" spanker1%

6&llustraton;

CAPTE+ -

A< ACC&$E


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lthely aganst the weather ral, lttle, whtecan!assho" feet brace",skrts whppng about her slen"er bo"y, roun"e" arms grppng the wete"ge of the cockpt ral# The gol"brown har, n loosene" stran"s,whppe" across her tanne" cheekJ her gown, open at the throat, re!eale" aglmpse of straght, perfectlypose" throatJ her lps were parte" an"her breath came fast n the e*ctement of t#

Blake hel" the knockabout to ts course, wth the conf"ence of youth nhs prowess, aganst them# The lttle boat leape" forwar" from crest tocrest, stoppng between to shake the water from ts "eck# Abo!e was theblue skyall about them the blue water, whte creste"#

The grl, bracng herself aganst a partcularly har" ptch of the boat,balancng herself lghtly, as the craft reco!ere" an" agan leape"forwar", cre"2

%&snHt ths fne1%

Blake no""e"# -chuyler, wast "eep n a swoopng sea, "" not hear### The

=ong &slan" shore was close at han" now#

-u""enly Blake shoute"2 %ar" a lee1% an" jamme" the tller o!erJ-chuyler, on the after o!erhang, scramble" fast to take n the slack ofthe sheet# athryn Blar bent, to a!o" the swngng boom#

The lttle boat swung about as though on a p!ot# The wn" flle" thesalJ she spe" forwar" lke a hawk unhoo"e"#

Then somethng happene"# A stay parte"J there was a great, grn"ngcrack, followe" by the snappng an" whppng of can!as# An" the mastfell#

-chuyler was knocke" o!er nto the water by the boom# &t struck hm farupon the brow# athryn, sprngng to catch hm, was ht by the flappngcan!as# -he went o!erboar", too, an" un"er the sal#

Blake, on the weather s"e, was free from the wreck# Wthout e!enstoppng to turn, he "o!e backwar" from the cockpt# @n"er the col",green water he went# e struck out, bln"ly, frenKe"ly# s han" feltsomethng that was not can!as an" yet was clothstruck, an" grppe"#Then, hol"ng hs breath stll untl he thought hs lungs woul" burst, hefelt hs way out from un"er the sal# The ral of the boat was at han"Jhe grppe" t# An" he "ragge" athryn to t#

%ol" on1% he cre" n her ear# %?ackHs gone1%

Though but half conscous, she un"erstoo"# er frm, whte fngersgrppe" the cuttng e"ge of the cockpt ralJ she no""e"#

Blake struck out agan# e ha" tre" to remember where he ha" seen-chuyler "sappear# Four strokes brought hm to the spotJ an" then he"o!e#

Agan hs han" struck somethng# Agan he pulle", an" tugge", an" fought#At length he was at the surface# &t was -chuyler# s eyes were close"#

The t"e, settng "own the soun", was carryng the boat from hmJ he seths teeth# e caught -chuyler by the neck of hs jersey, o!er hs ownshoul"er, brngng hs hea" out of water#


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An" he struck out, wth hs free arm, "esperately#

&t seeme" as though he woul" ne!er make progress# A "ea" weght, n thewater, s har" to "rag# E!ery ounce of strength that was n hs strong,young bo"y he threw nto those long, u!erng strokes# e must get tothe boat1 e LmustL1 The shore was too far away#### e stoppe" for a

mnute, trea"ng water# There was no sal n sght# e flattene" out nthe water agan, breastng t wth all hs power#

-troke after stroke he tookstroke after strokereachng wth strongrght arm, thrustng wth strong legs# The boat was no nearer#### e kepton, "ogge"ly#### e coul" feel that hs strokes were gettng weakerJ hsmouth was un"er water more than half the tmeJ he ha" to rase up tobreathe#### But he fought on#### e began to grow "KKythere was arngng n hs ears####

-u""enly he thought he saw, rght before hm, the face of athryn Blar#e knew that he "" notJ he thought he ""J that was all# Then, su""enly,

hs fngers caught a ropeJ the face was stll thereJ an" the rope that hehel" le" to where t was caught between whte, e!en teeth#

A great wa!e ht hm a buffet, full n the faceJ t cleare" hs senses,for a momentJ yet perhaps t was more "ue to the feel of the rope n hsfngers#### Then he knew that t was shethat the face was real, an" therope#### Went surgng through hs mn" that she, takng the en" of thesheet n her teeth, ha" swum to hm, an" to -chuyleran" that to herthey both owe" ther l!es#

-he was bes"e hm, now, swmmng strongly# -he grppe" an arm of theunconscous -chuyler#### Together, she an" Blake, "!"ng the weght,

slowly, nch by nch, fought ther way along the rope# At length theyreache" the s"e of the swampe" knockabout#### Blake crawle" upon tsslppery "eck# e lay for a moment, helplessJ she supporte" -chuyler#Then he essaye" to a" her aganJ an" together they began to lft hm outof the water, an" to safety#

$r# $e=ancey, from the after "eck of %The &"lesse,% ha" seen theacc"ent# A mnute later, he, ?ohn -tuy!esant -chuyler, Thomas CathcartBlake, the captan of %The &"lesse,% an" two salors were n thelaunch#### They reache" the s"e of the knockabout as Blake an" athrynwere "raggng ?ack -chuyler from the waterJ an" they took hm nto theother boat# Blake, n hs fatherHs clutch, followe"# At the same tme,

$r# $e=ancey leane" o!er to grasp athryn# But she shook her hea", an"smle", weakly2

%


17/106

A< &r was t a sonI LafoL1 &t were "ffcultah, yes1 & remember now1 A "aughter# Alttle, re", harless, "rty thng she was# & ha!e a great curostythe bloo" of three kngs, you knowJ surely that woul" o!ercome the bloo"


18/106

of the goo" Go" knows how many peasant swne# -he s not re", an"harless, an" "rty now, n fath1 -he s cleanlmbe", an" straght, an"whte# A thousan" lous to a sou, that she s1% ### s brow was crease"n the tra!al or retrospecton#

%& ga!e her a name, "" & notI% he aske"# %&t seems to meah, yes# +en,t was# A !ery pretty nameyes, an e*cellent namemeanng much an"

lttlee!erythng, an" yet nothng#% e laughe" at hs own concet,softly# %Tell me, where s she nowI &t mght be that she s "ea", ehI% eeye" the ol" woman, closelyJ then he shook hs hea"# %


19/106


20/106

Before he went, he calle" to hm hs son, an" to that son he sa" manythngs# ost of the thngs that he sa" are nether your busness normne# But of the thngs that he sa", we may know one# e wante" hs sonto marry the "aughter of the w"ow of ?mmy Blar#

'oung Tom Blake, between the sobs that are becomng a man, answere"2

%& want to, "a"# &H!e always wante" to# An" & wll, f & can#%

s father counselle", weakly2

%Get her honestly, boy, or not at all# &f you get her, chersh herg!eher e!erythng that there s n you to g!efor thereHs nothng that aman can g!e that a goo" woman "oesnHt "eser!e# &


21/106

&t was goo" ol" $r# $e=ancey who repeate" hs offces n ths case, as nthe otherJ an" he repeate" them n the same way, pattng the broa",throbbng young shoul"ersreteratng wth twtchng lps, hs %There,there, boy1 There, there, there1%reteratng t uselesslyan" knowngthat t was uselessly that he reterate"an" yet helpless n the !astprofun"ty of helplessness that was hs#

An" that same year "" $r# $e=ancey lose yet another fren" that was apatenta patent that was a fren"# &t was the !oleteye" w"ow of?mmy Blar# An" all nght long, from gray "usk untl crmson "awn, $r#$e=ancey ha" sat n the "arkene" parlor of the warm lttle house of re"brckJ he ha" sat n a rockng char, an" on ether ol" knee he ha" hel"a sobwracke", greftorn, motherless grl, the one herself almost ol"enough to be a mother# An" agan he ha" cre"# -ome "octors may losethrough oftrecurrence !sualKe" ther susceptblty to sufferngJ but$r# $e=ancey was not of them# An" when he stumble" on stffene" legs outof the "arkene" parlor an" nto the ncongruous mellow ra"ance of thesprng sunshne, hs eyes were stll wet, an" he ""nHt care who knew t#

6&llustraton;

CAPTE+ TE B>'- ACT>+#

'oung ?ack -chuyler an" young Blake, a week later, went to see the"octor n hs offce# e looke" up from hs paper#

%WellI% he sa"#

Tom Blake cleare" hs throat#

%We wante" to ask you, $octor,% he began, %f%

%Eh,% assste" ?ack -chuylerJ %that s, we wante" to know%

%you see, that s&%

%yes, we thought%

%you know, rs# Blar%

The "octor roseJ he stoo" between the two broa"shoul"ere", erect youngmen, placng a han" on the arm of each#

%&tHs all rght,% he assure" them# %$onHt you worry#%

%But,% proteste" Tom Blake, %weH!e got so much money, an" they&snHtthere some way that you can f* t, "octorI 'ou know how to "o thesethngsJ an" weHre so helpless#%

%An",% elaborate" ?ack -chuyler, %theyH" ne!er suspect you, you know#%

%& tell you tHs all f*e",% returne" the "octor, wth testness thatfrom hm was cor"alty rampant# %?mmy Blar left a !ery comfortable


22/106

estate, n trust# TheyHll ha!e all they want as long as they l!e#%

e ""nHt tell themthat s, not then, though later he ""that one ofthe last acts of ?ohn -tuy!esant -chuyler an" Thomas Cathcart Blake ha"been to walk solemnly, s"e by s"e, across the street an" tell the w"owof ?mmy Blar, that, n accor"ance wth the antemortem "esres of herlate husban", they ha" "e!ote" a certan porton of the fortune that he

ha" left to the establshment of a trust fun" that woul" yel" her anannual ncome of N.3,444# e ""nHt tell them, then# =ater he ""# ecoul"nHt help t# But at that tme

e slappe" them both on the back, an" sent them from the room# e stoo",on the top step of the flght that le" from s"ewalk to front "oor, an"watche" them swng, broa"shoul"ere", supple, erect, "own the brghtA!enue#

%-A=#

Blake wate" n the embrasure of the wn"ow, gaKng "own upon the A!enue

below, wth ts confuson of mo!ng !ehcles an" pe"estrans# The ?unesun was o!erhea", warmng the earth wth gentle, kn"ly glow# The breathof summer was n the arJ t came to hm, brushng the curtans agansthm, coolng hs brow# &t was grateful to hs nostrls, an" to hs lungsJan" he took of t a great, "eep breath# s broa" shoul"ers suare"J hs"eep, full chest hea!e"#

An omnbus stoppe" on the corner# e watche" the horses throw themsel!esaganst ther collarsJ he watche" the bulky !ehcle gather hea"way, an"mo!e on, wth e!er ncreasng momentum, through the maKe of brougham an"cab an" coach an" lan"au#

As the coach was lost to !ew there came steps, lght an" uck, upon thestarsJ the "oor opene" an" there stoo" before hm the "aughter of ?mmyBlar# -he ha" been abroa", un"er chaperonage, for a year####

e "" not know that she coul" be so beautfulhe "" not know thatanyone coul" e!er hope to be as beautful as was she who stoo" beforehm# )olet eyes were no "eeperlps no more re"teeth no whternorwas the perfect o!al of her sunksse" cheek any the more perfect# 'et,there was somethngthe n"efnable somethng that marks the transtonof a beautful grl from beautful grlhoo" to glorous womanhoo"#### efelt a strange emptness wthn hmJ t was almost as though he wereappalle" by so much beautyso much glory#

There was a gla"nessa natural, unaffecte", real gla"ness n her !oleteyes that glowe" n greetng# -he thrust forth a tny whte han"#### eha" been wont to kss her, on meetng an" on partng#


23/106

occurre" to hm#

%Tom1% she cre"# %&Hm so, so gla" to see you agan# &tHs been terrblylonely# As fast as &H" begn to learn one language, theyH" mo!e mesomewhere else an" &H" ha!e to start all o!er agan1 An" now & har"lyknow whether or not & know any language at all1 ### WhereHs ?ackI &e*pecte" that, of course, he woul" come wth you#%

%eHll be here byean"bye, ate####% Blake reple"#

-he seate" herself, crossng one knee abo!e the o!er, nterlockng aboutt slen"er, whte fngers#

%'ou must ha!e so much to tell me, Tom1% she bubble", all anmaton,gla"ness, eagerness# %Begn1 Please, begn1 An" then &Hll tell youe!erythng# >h, snHt t e*ctng to go away an" come back agan1%

%& ha!e a lot to tell you,% he sa", slowly#

%Why, you speak so serously, Tom# ArenHt you gla" to see meI%

%&Hm afra" nobo"y but myself knows how gla"#### ate, & har"ly know howto begn what & want to say# &tHs har"J not ha!ng seen you so long,makes t har"er# &%

-he cre", n pretty amaKement2 %But what n the worl" s tI Tom1 'oualmost frghten me1 & ha!enHt "one anythng wrong, ha!e &I -hall & be putto be" wthout my supperI ### $o speak, Tom# Tell me what all ths mysterys#%

-tll slowly, han"s fol"ng an" unfol"ng, "ark eyes upon hers of !olet,

he contnue"2

%ate, ?ack -chuyler lo!es youJ an" & lo%

e ha" nten"e" to say moreJ an" what that more was one woul" but ha!eha" to look nto hs eyes to tellJ but he ha" been lookng nto hersJ heha" seen the gleam that ha" leape" there at hs wor"sJ an" that s why he"" not fnsh#

%Tom1% she e*clame", softly#### An" then, %$" ?ack tell you thathmselfI%

e no""e"#

%e was afra" to tell me hmselfI%

Agan he no""e"# &t was not so# But he le"J as woul" you, or &, ha" webeen as goo" a man as he# e ha" come there knowng that a woman lo!esbut one man# e ha" come there knowng that, f -chuyler were not the manshe lo!e", thereby he woul" be sa!e", an" she woul" be sa!e", muchunpleasantness# e ha" hope" that t was he hmself that she lo!e"# 'ethe ha" feare" that t was not# An" he ha" known that whether t were hewho aske", or -chuyler, or any man, t woul" make no "fferenceJ for whena woman lke that lo!es a man, t s that man alone she lo!esJ an" the

rest means nothng#


24/106

unhappness that mght le there for hm# For he was a fren" such as fewmen may e!er ha!e an", ha!ng, may pray to keep#

An" now he knew the answer# &t was n the "epths of the !olet eyesnthe eagerness of lps an" lthe, supple bo"yt was of herabout her#BlakeHs lps became thnJ hs jaws setJ hs eyes half shut# To ha!e losta father, an" a mother, an" such a grl as was she, an" all wthn an

eghteen month, was btter, n"ee"#

e hear" her say, as from a great "stance2

%&t was fne of you to come lke ths, Tom#### & "o lo!e ?ackJ & thoughtonce, that & lo!e" you, Tom#### That was strange, wasnHt tI &tHs strangeto st here now, wth you, tellng you of t#### Though, of course, you"onHt care#### e wll come soon, wonHt heI 'ou "onHt know how &H!emsse" hm, Tom#### &t woul" be a strange stuaton, woul"nHt t, f weha"nHt known one another so well, an" care" for one another, so "eeply nsuch a fren"ly, brotheran"ssterly sort of way#### & thnk, n someways, & ought to be angry wth ?ack for not comng hmself#### But tHs

as though you were my bg brother, Tom#### 'ou know how ?ack feels towar"meJ an" so you are an*ous to act as sort of a buffer, n case e!erythngsnHtehas t shoul" be#### &t was fne of you, TomJ an" you know how& apprecate t1 ###%

What else she sa", he "" not know# &t seeme" a thousan", thousan" yearsere he rose to hs feet# e was sufferngWhen a woman lo!es, herntuton s "ea"####

At length he foun" hmself on the street# But the sunshne was gone, an"the ar was "ea"####

e foun" -chuyler, an" tol" hm#### e watche" hm leap through the "oor,forgettng hs hathear" hm poun"ng "own the hallhear" the street"oor as t slamme" behn" hm# An" then

&tHs pretty har", you know, to lose a father, an" a mother, an" such agrl as the "aughter of ?mmy BlarJ an" all wthn an eghteen month#

6&llustraton;

CAPTE+ TWE=)E#

A F>+E&G< &--&>h, & "onHt know# &%

Blake wate"# But she "" not go on# At length he spoke2

%ow long wll he be goneI%

%aybe two months,% she returne"#### %&t wll be the frst tme thatweH!e been apart for more than a "ay or two snce we were marre"#### && suppose thatHs slly, snHt tI

%&f thatHs slly, tHs too ba" anyone e!er gets sensble,% was hsassurng reply#

-he ha" rsen# -lowly she went aroun" behn" the lttle hgh char#

=eanng lthely o!er, she la" her cheek aganst that of her chl", soft,roun"e" arms pressng her close# An" then she looke" at Blake, eyes toeyes#


28/106

%& "onHt lke t, Tom,% she sa", !ery slowly#

%But,% he proteste", %tHs a bg honora great honoran appontmentlke ths, from the Pres"ent#%

%'es,% she answere", thoughtfully# %&t s a bg honor# An" & suppose that& shoul" be !ery, !ery happy>f course, n a way, & am#% Then, su""enly2

%But &Hm not# & "onHt lke t, Tom# & try to lke t# & tell myself that& ought to lke t# An" yet & canHt# appness s more than honorsJ an"we are happy hereas happy as t s possble for two people% her eyes,la"en of the mother lo!e, fell upon the chl" that was hers, %for threepeople,% she correcte", %to be# We ha!e e!erythng we nee"e!erythng weought to want# &H" rather ha!e just peace, an" uet an" contentment,than all the honors there are#%

%An" yet%

%& mustnHt stan" n the way of hs a"!ancement, you mean# & know thatJan" & ha!enHt#### 'ou know he left t all to meJ an" & sa", HGo#H &t

hurt, too, Tom#### & ""nHt want that he shoul" go# & "onHt know why####&% she stoppe"# The chl" ha" fnshe" her oatmeal# =thely, themother, stoopng, lfte" her from the char, hel" her close for a tnymnute an" then, kssng her, set her "own upon the floor#

%+un along, "eare,% she "recte"# %Tell awkns to get you "resse"#%

-he watche" the graceful, pretty chl" untl she !anshe" through the"oor# -lowly she walke" to the wn"ow# an"s claspe" behn" her shestoo", gaKng across the sunlt lawnacross the "ancng, flashng watersof the -oun"# A bg, black schooner, a mountan of bellyng whtenesssupermpose" upon a tny streak of hull, was stan"ng off for the =ong

&slan" shore# er eyes followe" t#

Blake, l"s half close", as a man who seeks wthn the "enseness ofmasculne bran for somethng that leth not theren, cons"ere" for along moment, eyes upon the perfect fgure of perfect womanhoo" beforehm# At length he spoke#

%&t "oesnHt seem to me,% he began, %that t means ether !ery much or!ery lttle#% e went on, more lghtly2 %Two months snHt such a longtme, you know, after all# eHll soon be back, la"en wth honors# An"then, because he was rase" on the seacoast an" "oesnHt know the"fference between a =ma bean an" a bole wee!l, theyHll probably make

hm -ecretary of Agrculture#%

-he was stll gaKng at the !anshng salJ she ha" not hear" hs wor"s#

e leane" back n hs char, a lttle, watchng her# At length he sghe",an" murmure" to hmself2

%To hm that hath, shall be g!en all they can take away from hm thathathnHt#%

6&llustraton;

CAPTE+ T&+TEE


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TE G>&


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of the populace# &Hm ambtous, n a wayJ but when that way reures meto lea!e the peoplethe thngsthat & lo!e, then ambton chameleonKesan" & become ambtous antthetcally# Furthermore, & loathe the clmateof WashngtonJ an" all the socety & want, & can fn" rght n my homewth the e*cepton of yourself#%

%Whch s not so much of an e*cepton, after all,% commente" BlakeJ

%because, when t comes to stckng aroun", &Hm the orgnal young r#Glue#%

%'ou know, Tom,% went on -chuyler, %& "onHt lke to take any chances wtha happness such as mne#### & won"er, sometmes, f & really know howhappy & am# >ne can get use" to happness, you know, just as to otherthngse*cept unhappness#%

%um,% snorte" Blake# %&H!e got use" to that, e!en# $a"burn t all,nothng e!er goes rght wth mee*cept moneyJ an" thatHs no goo" wthoutthe rest# oney s merely an agreeable accessory# To ha!e money an"nothng wth t s lke ha!ng an ol!e an" no cocktal to put t n# &f

& eat what & lke, & get sck# &Hm always ether forty poun"s too hea!yor twenty poun"s too lght# &Hm contnually "etng or tranng an"won"erng why n -am ll &Hm "ong ether# & ha!e to l!e alonetospen" my e!enng at theatres or clubs& am a man who woul" wllnglyg!e up all hs clubs for one large par of pnk carpet slppers, an" thetheatres for a corpulent, arstocratc altese cat, wth a bartonepurr#%

-chuyler, mmerse" n hs own thoughts, ha" not been lstenng#

Blake eye" hm, whmscally#

%AnHt & the gabby thng, thoughI% he remarke", at length# An" then2

%A couple of mllon "ollars for your thoughts, sweet chuck#%

%& was thnkng how near & came to turnng ths all "ownan" how &Hmsort of sorry that & ""nHt#%

%


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To hm -chuyler turne"#

%&s e!erythng rea"y, ParksI% he aske"#

%E!erythng,% was the reply# %An" the car s watng#%

%rs# -chuylerI%

%&s n the hall#%

%'ou ha!e the "ocuments that we selecte"I%

%ere, sr#% Parks touche" wth the fngers of hs rght han" the lttlesatchel of black seal that he carre" beneath hs left arm#

%ow much tme ha!e weI%

%We shoul" lea!e wthn a !ery few mnutes now#%

%)ery well# WeHll be rght there#%

As Parks left the room, Blake turne" to hs fren"#

%?ack,% he e*clame", %t makes me sore e!ery tme & look at you# Why nthun"er canHt & get n once n a whleI


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6&llustraton2 %B'E, =&TT=E -WEETEA+T%;

The room ha" become su""enly "ark# Came almost wthout the warnng ofprelmnary rumblealmost wthout the precursor of sullen flashngagreat peal of hea!y thun"er# -chuyler turne"# Blake sprang to hs feet#

Through the bow wn"ow, the lawn lay "un an" "ark# Beyon", the -oun",flat an" hea!y, seeme" as gray ol# The =ong &slan" shore ha" beenswallowe" n the gloom# Abo!e all was a great, black clou", rmme" ofsl!er an" of gol", a low clou", thck an" threatenng# An" yet to ones"e an" the othern fact sa!e rght n ts omnous path, one coul" seethe sunlght on water an" on lan"# Then came the ran, an" the wn", an"wth them ncessant flashngs, ncessant bellowngs, wl" protests of theoutrage" Go" of storms# Trees bent an" groane"# Flowers, torn from therten"er stalks, lay prostrate n pulng pu""les# An" uckborn wa!eslashe" themsel!es sptefully aganst the per an" breakwater "own beyon"the lawn, unseen n the swrlng, screamng wl"ness of t all#

@pon one another -chuyler an" Blake turne" won"erng, amaKe" eyes# &n tssu""enness, the storm was unbele!able# They stoo", s"e by s"e, gaKngout nto the storm#

-u""enly, nto the han" of -chuyler stole tny, frghtene" fngers# &twas urel#

%&Hm frghtene", "a""y "ear,% she cre"#

-chuyler gathere" her nto hs arms#

%$onHt be frghtene", lttle sweetheart,% he sa", soothngly# %&tHs just

a summer storm#### WhereHs motherI%

%ere, ?ack#% er !oce came from at hs !ery s"e# %&snHt t terrble1We canHt go n ths#%

ol"ng hs chl" close aganst hs breast, her cheeks aganst hs, hergol"brown har m*ng wth the gray of hs temples, he sa"2

%


33/106

-he clung to hm, lttle han"s about hs neck#### e set her "own aganupon the floor# -he ran to Blake, watng#

The "eep l"s of athryn were half !elng the !olet eyeseyes most,an" !ery soft# There was a lttle tremor of the senst!e lps# -chuyler"rew her to hm, so that she face" hm, an" whspere"2

%Au re!or, bg sweetheart#### $onHt you "are to cry#### & know how thurtsJ but be a bra!e lttle woman#### &Hll make my stay just as short aspossble#%

%'ouHll cableI% she aske", tremulously#

%CableI% he repeate"# %&Hll keep that wreless snappng all the wayacross####


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from the scum#

e was tall, an" wellsetup# s clothes hung well about hs bo"yJ theywere of fne te*ture an" make, yet unpresse", uncare" for# e ha" beenhan"someJ but he was no longerJ for the eyes looke" forth from hollows nhs face# s cheeks were sunken# s lps were lea"en# e was unsha!en,ungroome", unkempt#

=ookng ner!ously, ths way an" that, he ma"e hs way among the jostlngthrongs to one of the passages# -earchng wth sunken eyes for a numbere""oor, he knocke" upon t wth the knuckles of hs left han"J hs rghtreste" at hs s"e, co!ere" wth a han"kerchef of whte slk#### eknocke"J an" steppe" back, uckly# There was no answerJ the "oorremane" shut# e steppe" forwar" agan, thrustng the "oor w"e open#The stateroom was empty# e turne"# >ut upon the "eck he stro"eJ then,startng back, he conceale" hmself n the passageway that he ha" justleft#

Comng "own the "eck was a woman, a woman "arkly beautful, tall, lthe,

snuous# Great masses of "ea" black har were cole" about her hea"# ercheeks were whteJ her lps !ery re"# Eyes hea!y l""e" looke" out ncol", nscrutable hauteur upon the confuson about her# -he wore a gownthat clung to her perfectlymo"elle" fgurethat seeme" almost a part ofher beng# -he carre", n her left arm, a great cluster of crmsonroses#

$own the "eck she came, slowly, as a ueen gong to her throne# -heturne"####

The man h"ng n the passageway confronte" her# s eyes were burnng asof a fe!erJ hs whole bo"y shook#### -he remane" calm, col", unmo!e"#

At length, the woman spoke, half smlng2

%'ouI ### & thought that we were through#%

s !oce was tense, strane", unnaturally ptche"# The wor"s camebetween clenche" teeth#

%'ou "", ehI 'ou thought youH" throw me o!er, as you "" +ogers, an" )an$am, an" the rest of them#### But t wonHt workyou )ampre1%

-wftly, he tore from hs rght han", the han"kerchef that co!ere" t#

There was n t a re!ol!er# The brght mouth of the weapon sprang to thewhte forehea" of The Woman#

'et she "" not startshe ma"e no soun", no mo!ement# The smle stll"welt upon her lps# &t was only n the eyes that a "fference camenthe black, nscrutable eyes# They gleame" now, hea!yl""e" as before#Ther gaKe was f*e" straght nto the sunken, hatelt eyes of the manbefore her, a man who, but for her, mght stll ha!e been a boy# -he bentforwar" a lttle#### er forehea", between the eyes, was now touchng thebrght muKKle of the weapon# The fnger on the trgger tremble"tremble" but "" not pull#

Came slowly, sbllantly, from between the smlng re" lps2

%ss me, y Fool1%


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er eyes stll f*e" hm#### The han" hol"ng the re!ol!er tremble" more!olently# -lowly the mouth of the weapon sank to lpsto chntobreast#### &t ho!ere" there a moment, just o!er the heartthe fngertwtche" a lttletwtche" but "" not pull# &t was a fnger go!erne" bya !anshe" wll n a shr!elle" bran#

Then, su""enly, the re!ol!er leape"the fnger pulle"# Wth a shrll

screech of hopeless, h"eous mprecaton, a shrek that "e" stllborn,the bullet perce" flesh an" bone an" branJ an" that whch ha" been aman that shoul" ha!e been a boy, lurche" "runkenly an" lay a crumple"nothng upon the "eck# There was bloo" upon the "eckbes"e the hem ofthe crmson gown, near to the crmson heel of her shoe# An" the gown wascaught beneath the bo"y of the boy that was#

-he looke" "own upon hm# The smle not e!en yet ha" left her lps# Wtha lthe mo!ement, nfntely graceful, she "rew away, "sengagng the hemof her crmson garment#### A crmson petal from the great cluster n herarms fell upon t, to le upon the hollow whteness of the upturne"cheek#### An" that was all#

A mana man that shoul" ha!e been a boywas gone#### urryng, horrorr""en passengers foun" hm there, alone# The "octor came, an" stewar"s,an" the captan# They lfte" hm, an" bore hm away# >f those who l!e nthe froth of thngsthe froth that s often the scumthere werese!eral# >ne of these knew hm#

%&tHs 'oung Parmalee,% he nforme" them#

An" that was all he knewJ that, an" possbly some other thngs that arelttle# But of the great thngs, he knew nothng# For of these greatthngs, Go" has tol" us but lttle#

6&llustraton;

CAPTE+ F&FTEE


36/106

from wealth to po!erty, from respectablty to lcense, from well"ongto ll"ong, an" through all that les between#

The "ock, bes"e whch lay tuggng at her cables the huge lner, wasconfuson thrce confuse"# ?oltng cabs, rattlng ta*s, smoothrunnngpr!ate cars, "rays an" !ans, a""e" to the tumult cause" by the hun"re"the thousan"sof hurryng, scurryng humanty# Came the calls of e*cte"

passengers, the rumblng of trucks, the Babellke !oces of emgrantsJan", beyon", the noses of the Great +!er#

Alghtng from the car at the gangway, they boar"e" the shp, wth tscrow"e" "ecks# -chuylerHs stateroom was aft, n the center of the shp#&t lay the frst "oor to the rght, as one enters the narrow passageway#To t the lttle party ma"e ts way#

The "oor of the room opposte was ajar# Blake notce" that there laytheren a great mass of crmson rosesJ scattere" am" the tolet artclesan" accessores of a woman# Passng through the crow"s of the "eck, heha" hear", also, The an Who new tellng another man, who "" not know

of 'oung Parmalee# &t ha" been but a wor"# But t ha" been a wor" thatha" foun" fructfcaton an" meanng n the sght of a "eck stewar", wtha bucket, moppng up somethng from the "eck, just outs"e the lttlepassageway#

athryn an" urel, seen safely to the room that -chuyler was to occupy,Blake returne" an" ma"e hs way out upon the "eck# e stoo" for a momentby the stewar", watchng hm#

Then !ery uetly nure"2

%Where "" t happen, -tewar"I%

The stewar", wrngng out the mop nto the "ark water of hs bucket,looke" up# There were bea"s of sweat upon hs bronKe", wrnkle" brow# 'etthe "ay was not warm#

%Wot, srI% he uere"#

%Where "" t happenI%

%Wot happen srI%

%'oung ParmaleeHs suc"e#% Blake spoke uetly, calmly#

The stewar"Hs eyes shfte"#

%-uc"e, srI% he sa"# %$onHt know nothnk about t, go!Hner#%

Blake ponte" to the spot upon the "eck#

%WhatHs that, thenI% he "eman"e"#

The stewar" mo!e", uneasly#

%A spot & just beHn acleannH of, go!Hner#%

Blake ponte" to the bucket#

%An" thatI% he persste"#


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%&H!e some bully news for you, ate, "ear1 The Pres"ent has so arrange"that & can complete my work an" get back to you n less than a month#&snHt that splen""I ?ust one lttle month an" &Hll be back agan wthyou an" baby#%

The chl" rase" her hea" n protest#

%But &Hm not a baby, now# &Hm s* years ol"# other has to pay full farefor me on the cars# $onHt you, motherI%

-chuyler pcke" her up from the "eck, tossng her n the ar#

%h, yes,% he assente"# An" thenJ %& "onHt un"erstan"# &but you wlltake goo" care of them, wonHt you, ol" manI TheyHre all & ha!eJ an" more,theyHre all & want# Guar" them, Tom, for me as though they were yourown#%

( ( ( ( (

Watng to take farewell of those one lo!es s n"ee" a sweetness tnge"


40/106

wth btterness# An" f one lo!es !ery, !ery much, t s sometmes abtterness tnge" wth sweetness# athryn, lower lp clenche" betweenwhte teeth, herself unhappy woul" ha!e kept that unhappness as far aspossble hers alone# There were those on boar" that she knew# To them shewentJ for there was stll, snce tme was short, too much of t# urelshe took wth her#

-chuyler, n hs eyes all the !rle lo!e that such as he feel forthers, watche" her !ansh am" the throngs# Then, saunterng to theral, leane" aganst t#### There came nto hs eyes a look ofabstracton, of aberraton, of puKKlement# Blake stoo" watchng hmstoo" for a long tme, slent, unmo!ng#### At length he mo!e" to-chuylerHs s"e#

%>l" man,% he sa", !ery slowly, !ery uetly, !ery earnestlyJ %ol" man,whatHs upI%

-chuyler turne", uckly

%WhatHs upI% he repeate"# %What "o you meanI%

Blake sa", stll slowly2

%ThereHs somethng happene" to you#%

%appene",% cre" -chuyler# %-omethng happene"I% e laughe"# %What coul"ha!e happene"I%

%$amne" f & know# But somethng has# &H!e got a hunch#%

-chuyler answere", lghtly2

%Well, youH" better take t to a "octor an" ha!e t "agnose"#% e halfturne"# %&tHs only my natural ner!ousness at lea!ng athryn an" urelan" the mportance of my msson# By the way,% he aske", abruptly, %whatwas that crow" "ong on the "ock as & came upI%

Blake, selectng a cgarette, lghte" t#

%-uc"e,% he sa", curtly#

-chuyler starte"#

%'ou say t mghty col"bloo"e"ly,% he asserte"# %Where "" t happenI%

%ere, & bele!e# Almost where we are stan"ng#%

%Goo" Go"1 Who was tI%

%'oung chap, name" Parmalee#%

%WhatI The boy whoHs been n the papers so much latelywho "sgrace"hmself, an" hs people, for a womanI%

Blake no""e", an" contnue"2

%$" you happen to notce the woman who passe" a moment agoIthe onecarryng the re" rosesI%


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-chuyler bent hs hea"#

%& notce" her,% he reple", slowly# %What of herI%

%The woman#%

%'ou "onHt mean ParmaleeI%

%'es, & "o#%

%Because hs lo!e was not returne"I%

%Because,% reple" Blake, smlng mrthlessly %t LwasL returne"####$" you e!er rea" that1 thng of plngHs, LThe )ampreLI%

%Why, yes, of course,% returne" -chuyler# %Almost e!eryoneHs rea" that#%

%$o you remember how t goesI% persste" Blake#

-chuyler thought a moment# Then, slowly, he recte"2

%A fool there was, an" he ma"e hs prayer, DE!en as you an" & To a rag an" a bone an" a hank of har# We calle" her the woman who "" not care# But the fool, he calle" her hs =a"y Far%

e broke off, abruptly# %A wer" thng,% he sa", as though to hmself#%& ne!er thought much about what t meant before####% e turne",abruptly# %Why "" you ask me f &H" rea" tI% he "eman"e"#

%Well,% sa" Blake, flckng the ashes from hs cgarette, %thereHs thefool,% he no""e" towar" the "ryng spot upon the "eck# %An" there,% hen"cate", wth a backwar" toss of hs wellshape" hea", the corr"or"own whch ha" passe" the woman, %s hs la"y far# &H!e e!en hear",% hewent on, %that she use" to call hm her Hfool,H uotng the poem# Prettylttle concet, ehI% s jaw, frm, suare, set tght# Then, wth a touchof "eeper feelng# %-he mur"ere" that boy just as surely as f she ha"cut hs throatJ an" the worst of t s that she canHt be hel" legallygultymorally, yes, gulty as snJ but legally% e shook hs hea"#%The laws that man makes for mankn" are a joke#%

%As sometmes seem,% a""e" -chuyler, slowly, %the laws that Go" makes for

mankn"#### &f what you say about that woman be true, she ought to betaken by the har of the hea" an" "ragge" through the hell she has bultfor others#% s brows were kntte"J he was gaKng wth unseeng eyesupon the bustle an" confuson of the "ock below#

Blake, eyeng hm, remarke" uetly, but n tones more lght2

%owe!er, thatHs not your job, nor mne, thank Go"# &t woul" be anemnently sutable recreaton for a "ebonar young man wth a shattere"reputaton, a cast ron stomach, se!eral mllons of "ollars an" noobjectons to stayng up by the year#% e turne" a lttle, towar"-chuyler# %What are you thnkng aboutI% he uere"#

%>nly the fool#%

%The generc fool of plng, or 'oung ParmaleeI%


42/106

%& was thnkng of 'oung Parmalee, then#%

%An" the womanI%

-chuyler uote", slowly2

%A fool there was%

%>h, but,% Blake proteste", %& woul"nHt call hm a fool#%

%Why notI% "eman"e" -chuyler# %e was a fool#%

%'es,% returne" Blake# %But heHs "ea", now#%

%Bosh,% retorte" -chuyler, mpatently# %&H!e no sympathy wth that falsesentment that forb"s one to speak the unpleasant truth of a "ea"person# &f a man were a fool whle al!e, hs "yng "oesnHt absol!e hmof hs folly# 'oung ParmaleeHs "eath was a mtgatng crcumstance,

howe!er# e klle" hmselfJ whch shows that he ha" some manhoo" left#But he shoul" ha!e ha" the "ecency to choose another place for hs self"estructon#% e was slent for a momentJ at length he went on2 %A man swhat he s, an" he was what he was# s "yng can change nothng of hsl!ng#%

e looke" up# s wfe an" chl" were comng towar" hm#

%-ay nothng to them about all ths, Tom,% he urge"#

%Certanly not,% acuesce" Blake#

A stewar" came "own the "eck, callng raucously2

%All ashore thatHs gong ashore1%

athryn turne" to -chuyler#

%An" now that the tme has really come to say goo"bye,% she sa",brokenly, %hereHs somethng & brought you, ?ack#%

-he han"e" hm a lttle bo* of glaKe" car"boar"# Won"erngly he took t#

%For meI% he cre", wth smulate" gaety# %ThatHs sweet of you, "ear

heartsweeter, e!en than are these#% For he ha" opene" t, an" takenforth the tny bouuet of forgetmenots that ha" nestle" n the "epthsof the most cotton, %an" these are sweetness tself# But why forgetmenots1 As though & coul" e!er forget you, e!en for one lttle mnute1%

There came agan the str"ent call2

%All ashore thatHs gong ashorrrrrrrrre111%)olet eyes suffuse", athryn was clngng to hm#

%?ack,% she whspere"# %?ack, &Hm afra" &Hmgongtocry#%

Wth nfnte ten"erness he hel" her to hm#

%There, there, sweetheart mne,% he sa", soothngly# %$onHt be aslly####


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are#### Then &Hll rush back here an" we can wa!e one another goo"bye an"try to magne &Hm gong only o!er to -taten &slan" for the afternoon#%

Came farewells at the gangwayfarewells of tears, of heartaches, ofu!erng lps an" most l"sof laughter ua!erng an" smles unrealof the goo" han" clasp that goo" men knowthe touch of wet, clngnglps#

-chuyler came rushng "own the "eck, keepng to that part of the shpthat lay nearest to the "ock# From the bouuet that ha" been g!en hm,he plucke" tny, fragrant blossoms, castng them to those that ha" g!en,an" wth them sen"ng cheery wor" of hope, ten"er wor" of partng#

e coul" see them there, far below, stranng aganst the ropes, wa!ngto hm# e coul" see the !olet eyes, tear la"en, the lthe, slen"er,fgure of hs wfe n the glory of her perfect womanhoo"the stur"ylttle bo"y of hs chl", barelegge", browne", har tumble", wa!ngfrantcally a tny lttle suare of musln an" shoutng farewells at thehghest ptch of chl"sh treble# e coul" see hs fren"the fren"

such as few men may e!er ha!e, an", ha!ng, may pray to hol"broa"shoul"ers protectng wfe an" chl" from the pressng throngshe coul"hear hs !oce boomng through all the heterogeneous me"ley of soun"#

s !oce choke"# Wor"s that he was cryngwor"s lost n all theconfuson of soun" an" mo!ementstuck n hs throat# osture came tohs eyes#### e turne" a lttle#### Came nto range of hs !son a tnystreak of shftng crmson# e looke"#

-he was sttng there, on the "ecksheThe Woman# -he lay back n herchar, long, lthe lmbs co!ere" wth a rug of crmson an" black an""ull, "ull green# -he was "anglng gently, sensuously, the great cluster

of scarlet roses that she hel", now an" agan brngng them to wherether fragrance woul" reach her "elcatelychsele" nose, mperous,haughty#### They looke" startlngly re" aganst her cheeklke bloo"upon the snow#### -he was lookng at hm#### There was no mo!ement, sa!ethe e!en, languorous swng of the crmson blossoms# =ps, !!" re", weremotonless, half parte" n a lttle, nscrutable smle#### -he waslookng at hm#### e forgot#### The whstle ha" been blowng, soun"ng"eparture# e ha" not hear"# There was a lull# From afar, shrll,chl"sh !oce brought a "rftng, %Bye, bye, "a""y, "ear1% ### e ""not hear#### er eyes were on hs# s eyes were on hers#### An" seeme"to be nothng else####

6&llustraton;

CAPTE+ -E)E


44/106

from a hea!y sleep, -chuyler ha" gone wth hm to hs room#

e ha" tre" to "ctate hs correspon"enceJ ha" tre", an" fale"# Therewere many mstakes# s thoughts woul" not seem to coalesce# s mn" wasnot upon what he was "ong, nor coul" he place t there# An" -chuylerHswas a bran that ha" always been to hm an a"mrably trane" ser!ant,comng when he wlle" t, "ong what he wlle" an" n the way he

wlle"#### But to"ay t was a ser!ant sullen, rebellous, recalctrant#### The letters remane" unwrtten#


45/106

-* bells ha" struck ere he went to hs room# Then, scourge" of bo"y,scourge" of soul, wracke", harasse", torn, he sought hs berth# But he"" not sleep# e thought of Parmalee, the boy who was a man# e thoughtof The Woman# e thought of hmself# e thought of the wfe that helo!e"# e thought of the chl" that he lo!e"the chl" that ha" come tohm through that wfe# e thought of all these thngs, an" of many moreJ

an" he "" not un"erstan"J he "" not know# For Go" has shown e!en thewsest of us but lttle of ths worl" n whch we l!e#

6&llustraton;

CAPTE+ E&GTEE-E-#

&t was two months later# &n the lttle gar"en that lay on the s"e ofthe bg, ramblng house at =archmont where the sun best lo!e" to "well,roses were n bloomJ an" roses, e!en as the sun, seeme" to lo!e thatgar"en# They clustere", great masses of glowng whte, aganst thelattce" arborthey caught playfully at oneHs hat as one woul" walkthrough the gate that le" to the broa" green lawn, an" to the -oun"beyon"they snatche" at oneHs clothng as one woul" walk past thelargest bushthe one that stretche" ts branches across the Frenchwn"ow# &t was a real gar"enan outof"oor homea gar"en n whch onemght l!e, an" n whch one mght be gla" that one was al!e#

At one s"e of a tny wrtng table set upon the thck, carpetlkeswar", sat the mother, pen n han", before her a halffnshe" letter#Across from her the chl" presse" strong whte teeth nto the yel"ngwoo" of her penclJ an" before her, too, was a halfwrtten letterasprawlng, uncertan letter of chl"hoo"#

At length the chl" looke" up# -he coul" see that her mother was notwrtngJ so f she spoke, she woul" not be nterruptng#

%other, "earI%

%'es, honeyI%

%ow "o you spell lo!eI%

%$onHt you know, "eareI%

The chl" shook her hea"#

%=,% prompte" the mother#

urel !enture", "ubously2

%=aI%

er mother shook her hea"# The chl" !enture" agan2

%=I%


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%h, yes1 & Hmember now#### other, "earI%

%'es, lttle sweetheartI%

%When s a "a""y comng homeI &tHs awfully har" to wrte letters# eHsbeen gone a long tme now, hasnHt he, mother "earI%

%'es, "eare#### A long, long tme#% The !olet eyes were sa"#

%Host a yearI% persste" the lttle one#

er mother smle" a lttle, wanly#

%&t seems lke t, "oesnHt tI% she sa"# %But tHs only two monthsnotonly two months,% she correcte"J %but two months#%

Came a lttle pause# &t was broken agan by urel#

%other, "ear#%

%'esI%

%CanHt & make the rest just kssesI%

Wth a smlea smle of nfnte lo!e an" ten"erness, the mother leane"across an" ksse" the chl" that was hers#

%>f course you may, "eare,% she assente", softly#

%Why "onHt you wrte ksses, too, mother, "earI% uere" the lttle one#%&tHs lots easer#### >h, mother, "ear1 &Hll tell you what & wrote fyouHll tell me what you wrote# Wll youI%

)olet eyes ga!e lo!ng assent#

%>h, goo"y1 We wonHt tell anyone else, wll weI%

%


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-he eye" her mother an*ously#

%$o you thnk "a""y wll lke that letterI% she aske"#

er motherHs !oce was a bt une!en as she answere"#

%&Hm sure he wll, lttle sweetheart &Hm LsureL he wll#%

%


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%'es,% she reple"# %Thanks to you#%

%'ou were !ery ll#%

%>ne more "octor woul" ha!e fnshe" me#%

>f a su""en, there came from the "r!e the uck honkng of an automoble

horn, together wth the soft purrng of an engne# urel leape" to herfeetJ brown lttle legs flashe" as she ma"e her way across the gar"en#

athryn an" Elnor watche" her gong# They hear" her cry, %>h, r# Tom1%Another moment an" Blake, carryng the chl" n hs arms, thrust as"ethe ben"ng hea"s of the whte roses an" ma"e hs way nto the gar"en#

%ello, folks,% was hs greetng# %&s Go" nI%

%WhoI% "eman"e" Elnor#

%Go",% he returne"# %Ths s hea!en, snHt tI &t certanly "oes seem

lke t to anyone who has just come from the freless cooker thatsometmes rejoces un"er the name of anhattan# y ol" Aunt ara1 But ts hot there, though#%

%WeHre !ery gla" to see you, Tom,% athryn beganJ %although we "o owe youa scol"ng#%

%What forI% he "eman"e", settng the chl" to the swar" an" takng offhs hat#

%'ou ha!enHt been near us for a fortnght#%

e seate" hmself, moppng hs forehea"#

%Busness, ate# Busness,% he "eclare", mportantly#

Elnor laughe" n pleasant rony#

%Busness1% she repeate"#

%& sa", Hbusness,H% he retorte"#

%'es,% she rejone"J %but you canHt pro!e t#%

%CanHt ehI% he nure"# %Well, you go back to the wcke" metropols an"youHll fn" that my rent s pa" an" that a couponHs been cut from one ofmy bon"s# An" who "" t, &H" lke to knowI%

%>h, your secretary, or the jantor, or somebo"y,% returne" Elnor,easly# %


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e grnne" at her, fren"lly#

%Feelng better, arenHt youI%

%& feel so well,% she returne", %that f ths "octor of mne werenHt sucha -mon =egree, & coul" play you eghteen holes of golf for a bo* ofglo!es aganst a bo* of cgars#%

%Gambler1% he scoffe"# %An" f & shoul" wn, & suppose &H" ha!e to smokethe cgars#%

%Certanly,% she countere", easly, %f & shoul" ha!e to wear theglo!es#%

e sank back n the bg char#

%Well,% he asserte", %t were useless to speculate on that whch mayne!er be# & am at present n that nterestng state of a manHs careerwhere golf "oesnHt belong# A man who s beyon" the frst flush of

a"olescence an" not yet n the last pallor of senlty, has no busness"allyng wth golf# eHs lable to get sunstruck#%

urel, who ha" been lstenng wth roun", won"erng eyes, ran to hermother#

%What "oes he mean, mother "earI% she aske"#

Elnor reple" nstea", laughng#

%


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knew# -he ha" few fren"sJ for there were but few people for whom shereally care"# -he ha" known Blake for many, many yearsknown hm an"lke" hm, an" lkng, ha" respecte"# e was of the few men whom money,an" bachelorhoo", ha!e no power to spol# An" they are few n"ee"# Theone has power to spol, you know, e!en as has the otherJ an" bothtogetherunusual n"ee" s the man who can resst#

%&tHs goo" to see you agan, Tom,% she "eclare"# %&tHs been lonelyhere#### An" & ne!er thought that woul" happen#%

%&tHs goo" to be here,% he returne", lookng stea"ly upon her# %&tHsgoo" to be here, ate# &tHs a perfect place, thsperfect#%

Elnor ha" rsenJ pluckng a ben"ng blossom, nhalng of ts "elcatefragrance, she ha" wan"ere" through the broa" archway of the arbor,towar" the -oun"#

There was a moment of slence# There came from between BlakeHs lps a"eep sgh#

athryn looke" up, uckly#

%WhatHs the matter, TomI%

e shook hs hea" agan#

%& "onHt know# -ometmes thngs go all wrong"ea" wrongan" no one cantell why, or how, or what to "o#%

%Why, Tom1% she cre"# %What "o you meanI as anythng%

%eanI% he nterrupte"# %>h, nothng#


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Towar" the chl" of hs fren", an" of hs fren"Hs wfe, Blake felt notas men n hs place woul" ha!e felt# The lo!e that he ha" for the "antylttle thng of gol"brown har, an" gol"brown cheeks, an" straght,stur"y lttle legs was the lo!e of a man for hs own# &t seeme" to hm,almost, that she was flesh of hs flesh, bloo" of hs bloo", bone of hsbone# &t was the %almost% that hurtJ for she was the chl" of the womanhe lo!e", an" of another man####

To lo!e the wfe of another man s a btter thnga btter thng# Tolo!e wth "shonor s not har"J but to lo!e wth honor were har" n"ee"#To go away, so lo!ng, were to ren"er more easy to bear the thng thatmust be borne# To stayto see "ay by "ay the happness that leth beyon"hope, were to stan" n hell an" gaKe at hea!en# An" ths were mostbtter, most har", of all# 'et ths was what Blake ha" "one# Ths waswhat Blake woul" "oJ an" t was what he e*pecte" to keep on "ong untlthere was no such thng as tme an" the souls of all men were "ea"# e"" t because all that lay for hm n lfe lay there, e!en though notthe tnest bt of t coul" he clam for hs own# An" he was a man ofheart, as well as of hea", an" honor#

Perhaps t was because he ha" lo!e" the woman who was the wfe of hsfren", snce the "ay when she was as her "aughter was nowJ that hs lo!efor the lttle one that was of her transcen"e" all else n hs bengallelse sa!e the one thng that he ne!er mentone", not e!en to hmself# -Eha" been lke thatJ a "anty, pretty, lo!ng, smple, na!e, stur"y,rugge" lttle thng, wth wn"blown har, an" suntanne" cheeks an"legssoft, gentle, nfntely appealng, generous, lo!ng# &n the lttleone that was of her, he saw her agan, !oleteye", glowng wth theglorous abun"ance of !gor, bul"ng won"rous castles of blue beachclay, countng the soarng gulls aganst the soft blue of summer skes,wan"erng, laughngly, through "asy fel"s, rollng, a whrlng lttle

tumult of lace an" rbbons an" wl"lywa!ng bare legs "own the stacks offragrant hay# -he ha" been lke that# -mall won"er that on her chl" hela!she" all the choke" ten"erness that cre", sometmes, so, sopteously for outlet#

An" as for the chl"Hway, "own "eep n her lttle heart, she ha"bul"e" of the nfnty of her lo!e, three skyreachng heaps, each onebgger, an" more won"erful than the other# >ne of these she ga!e to hermotherJ one to her "a""yJ an" one to %r# Tom#% An" she "eeme" herselfnot un"utful, nor lackng n flal amty, for so "ong#

athryn ha" followe" her sster nto the house# =eft alone wth Blake,

urel ran swftly to hm, boun"ng to hs knee, an" claspng aroun" hsneck strong lttle arms#

%r# Tom,% she cre", %you ha!enHt tol" me a story for most a year1%

e hel" her to hm#

%a!enHt &, lttle partnerI% he nure", wth nfnte ten"erness#%Well, thatHs a gra!e omsson, snHt tI &Hll tell you one now#% As shesank "own contente"ly n hs lap, an" settle" her outsprea"ng lttleskrt prmly about her2 %What shall t be aboutI%

%A fary story,% she suggeste"# %A fary story about a lttle grl#%

e sat for a moment, n thoughtJ at length he began2


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%Well, once upon a tme, there was a lttle grla fary prncess#%

%Was she prettyI%

%Beautful# Beautful as she was goo", goo" as she was beautful# -he wasa won"erful, won"erful prncess# There was a fary prnce, too,% he wenton, %a han"some, "ashnga prnce that e!eryone lo!e" an" a"mre" an"

honore"#%

-he no""e", serously#

%'es,% she sa"# %Go on#%

%


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%'esJ he use" to come out sometmes to tell fary stores to lttlegrls# But he ha" to go back agan, all alone#%

-he sghe" most "smally an" sa"2

%Poor, ol" gnome#%

%Poor, ol" gnome,% he repeate"#

%An" thenI% she prompte"#

%ThatHs all#%

%&snHt there any moreI%

%!er the frst of the letter, he skppe" cursorly#### At length he foun"?ohn -chuylerHs name# The passage relat!e to the name was bref# e rea"


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t, slowly, wor" by wor"# Then he han"e" back the letter to Elnor#

-he ha" seate" herself, watng# >ne knee was crosse" o!er the otherJ an"o!er the upper, her han"s were claspe"# -he was eyeng hm keenly,closely, eyes half close", brows contracte"#

To her Blake turne"#

%WellI% he nterrogate"#

%&H!e known artha $ale for s*teen years# -he, athryn, an" & werechl"ren together#### & thnk you knew her, too#### -heHs not the womanto make a charge lke that unless tHs true#%

Blake shrugge" hs shoul"ers# A great pan shot through hs heartJ agreat numbness clampe" hs bran# e ha" hear" thngs hmself# e ha"seen people who themsel!es ha" seen, or thought that they ha" seen# >neman he ha" knocke" "own# Wth two more, hs goo" fren"s, he ha"uarrele" rre!ocably# An" n hs own soul, somethng ha" tol" hm that

t was he who was wrong#

e sa" to ElnorJ e!en as o!er an" o!er an" o!er he ha" sa" to hmself2

%ThereHs some mstake# There must be some mstake# &tHs mpossble#%

-he eye" hm shrew"ly#

%ThereHs no mstake% she returne"# %-he talke" wth hm# -he saw hm wthths woman# They were at the same hotel where artha staye"# An" themornng after she came, they left#### ThereHs no mstake#%

%But ?ack woul"nHt "o a thng lke that,% he proteste"#

%'ouHre a ba" lar, Tom# 'ou knew#%

%


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%


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%ate,% she began# %ate, "ear# & ha!e somethng to tell you#%

6&llustraton;

CAPTE+ TWE+'#

athryn, busy at her postscrpt, "" not hear# Blake steppe" swftlyforwar"#

%be"ently, she came runnng to hm# e seate" hmself, an" took her uponhs lap#

%$o you remember the story that & tol" you a lttle whle agoI% he aske"#

-he no""e"#

%Well, thereHs more to that story# Woul" you lke to hear tI% e "" notwat for her answerJ he spoke swftly, surely# Elnor, across the table,eye" hm curously# athryn, stll wrtng, was obl!ous ute to allthat was gong on aroun" her#

Blake contnue"2

%Well, there came a tme when the prnce ha" to go a long, long way off#The prncess was !ery sorry to see hm go, an" so was the lttleprncessJ an" they cre"J but they were bra!e prncesses, so they ""nHt

cry muchJ they staye" at home an" wrote hm letters wth ksses n them#

%An" then,well, the fary prnce met a wtcha wcke", wcke" wtchan" she charme" hm, an" took hm away wth her#


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ntuton%

%WhatHs that wor" you just sa", r# TomI%

%&ntutonI%

-he no""e"#

%Ehah,% he hestate", then, %why, ntuton s a thng that women usefor a bran# An",% he contnue", %bye an" bye the fary prnce manage" toget away from the wcke" wtch that ha" charme" hm, an" he came backagan to the fary prncess, an" the lttle fary prncessJ an" though ofcourse he ha" been !ery, !ery ba"!ery, !ery wcke"he was forg!enJan" they were almost as happy as they ha" been before he went away#### $oyou lke that story any better, lttle partnerI%

-he was all smles now# -he no""e", brghtly#

%eaps, an" heaps, an" heaps1% she cre"#

%ThatHs goo",% he sa", as he set her "own#

athryn ha" rase" her hea" from her wrtng#

%Fary story, TomI% she uere", n the halfattenton of preoccupaton#

%'es,% he reple"#

%$oes t en" happlyI%

Ere he coul" ha!e reple", her thoughts were agan of her letter#

Blake walke" slowly to where stoo" Elnor# -he was toyng wth a hangngblossom of whte, fragrant, sprea"ng# er eyes were mostJ her han"tremble"#

e aske", !ery softly2

%$oes t en" happly,


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lke wake sprea"ng huge rollers from her trm stern#

-he anchore" off ThrtyFourth -treet# The launch was rea"y almost as thechan rattle"# BlakeHs bg French car was watng for hm at the perJan", wth scant regar" for the spee" or"nances, t bore hm swftlythrough the traffcthronge" streets to lower Ffth A!enue, an" to thehouse of $r# $e=ancey#

The passng of the years ha" ma"e but lttle change n ether the goo""octor or hs abo"e# s offce looke" the same"ry an" musty# e looke"the sameshrew" an" kn"ly#

%Come n,% he sa", wth the testness that n hm was cor"altyconcentrate"# %Come n# $onHt stan" there lke a gump stretchng my bellwre all out of shape# Come n# Come n#%

Blake entere"#

%Well,% sa" the "octor, lea"ng the way nto hs offce# %WhatHs the

matter now# -ckI 'ou "onHt look t# &f all my patents were lke you an"the -chuylers, &H" star!e to "eath#% e fumble" wth an ol"fashone"ce"ar cgar chest# %-mokeI%

Blake took the cgar, an" lghte" t#

%Well,% sa" the "octor, agan# %For hea!enHs sake, whatHs the matter1a!e you become su""enly "umbI 'ou ha!e a tongue, ha!enHt youI &f youha!e, for goo"nessH sake, use t#%

Blake answere", slowly2

%$octor, tHs about ?ack -chuyler#%

The su""en lttle look of an*ety that sprang to the goo" ol" manHs eyesshowe" how much the statement meant to hm#

%About ?ack -chuyler1% he e*clame"# %What about ?ack -chuylerI


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%But ?ack -chuyler1% proteste" the "octor, ncre"ulously# %Why, &H!eknown hm snce he was born# An" & knew hs father, an" hs mother, an"hs gran"father an" hs gran"mother before hm1 $amme, & "onHt bele!et# & wonHt bele!e t1%

%@+#

+E-C@E#

Blake wate" on the yacht, n the harbor of =!erpool# &t was har" forhm to st "ly by at such a tmeJ but he felt that t was best# Therewas n hs soul a great pty, to be surea great grefa great horroryet there was there too a great, "eep anger, an" a wl" resentmentJ forhe lo!e" the "aughter of ?mmy Blar, you knowJ an" t was not alone that

?ack -chuyler was hs fren"J t was as well that he was her husban", an"the father of her chl"# -o he "" not trust hmself to go, thenJ for heknew that all that he mght "o, $r# $e=ancey coul" "o, an" more#


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$r# $e=ancey went, then, alone# &n =on"on he foun" ?ohn -chuyler# e ""not announce hmselfJ he bulle" an" storme" an" fnally persua"e" thosewho stoo" between hm an" hs uarry, to let hm go unannounce"#

e "" not knock# &nstea" he thrust open the "oor an" entere"# -chuylerwas stan"ng before the grate wth ts bur"en of glowng coals# e looke"up# e starte", rubbng hs eyes as one who sees but "oesnHt bele!e that

whch hs gaKe tells hm to be so#

%&tHs you1% he cre"#

$r# $e=ancey no""e"#

%'es,% he sa", smply# %?ack, &H!e come to take you home# The yachtHswatng at =!erpool# TomHs boat, you know# -teamHs up# -o get your hat#%

-chuyler rase" hs han", protestngly#

%But,% he began, %&%

The "octor cre", e*plos!ely2

%$onHt you try to argue wth me, young man# &H!e neglecte" my practcean" let e!erythng go to the "e!l to come o!er here, an" & "onHt wantany of your "ashe" LbutsL thrown at me# 'ou get your hat an" coat an"you come wth me# $Hye hear meI%

%& canHt go,% sa" -chuyler#

The "octor brought hs flat fst "own upon the center table#

%CanHt go1% he howle"# %&n about a splt secon" &Hll show you whether youcanHt or not# 'ou get your hat an" coat1 >r,% he went on, %come wthoutHem# &tHs all the same to me# Parks can pack up your thngs, an" come onthe HTranstana,H tomorrow# 'ouHre comng now# $Hye hear meI 'ouHrecomng nowths "ashe" nstant1%

e a"!ance" upon -chuyler, grppng hm by the arm# -chuyler stoo" for abref moment, "ogge"ly# Then su""enly hs hea" "roppe" forwar" upon hsbreast#

%)ery well,% he acuesce", slowly# -u""enly hs !oce broke# e almostwhspere"2

%&Hm gla" youH!e come, "octor#### & was helplessutterly helpless#%

They took the tran wthn the hour# An" the followng mornng foun" the%)agrant% at sea, wth ?ohn -chuyler on boar"# 'et t was a "fferent?ohn -chuyler from the one they ha" known# e ha" refuse" to shake han"swth ether Blake, or the "octor# e "" not menton the womanJ nor ""they# They tre" to be towar" hm as they ha" always beenas though allthat ha" happene" alone n magnaton#### e "" not sleepJ he ate butlttleJ an" he "rank, some#

Blake was heartscksoulsck# To see the man that he ha" known an"

lo!e" as that man was1 But $r# $e=ancey assure" hm2

%&tHll take a year or two# But heHll be all rght n the en"#%


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An" yet e!en $r# $e=ancey "" not feel certan that t was the truth thathe spoke#

&n crossng, -chuyler spent much tme on a long, long lettera letterthat reure" much rewrtng# >n lan"ng, he male" that letter to the"aughter of ?mmy Blar#

As, on the per, he separate" from Blake an" $r# $e=ancey, n spte ofthe nsstent pleas of the one, an" the testy comman"s of the other, thathe come to l!e wth them# e sa", only2

%& shall go to a hotel# & shall stay there a fortnght# $onHt come to seeme# $onHt let anyone come to see me# $onHt e!en try to fn" out where &am# ThereHs one thng, an" only one, for me to "o# &Hm gong to try to "ot#### -ometme, & hope that & may shake han"s wth you, Tom# -ometme &want to

a fool there was

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