Part 35 (2/2)

The tall trees whispered above their heads, and the birds looked down and dropped wonderful melodies about them, and Leslie stormily drove her car back and forth on the pike and sounded her klaxon loud and long, but it was almost an hour later that it suddenly occurred to Allison that Leslie was waiting for them, and still later before the two with blissful lingering finally wended their way out to the road and were taken up by the subdued and weary Leslie, who greeted them with relief and fell upon her new sister with eager enthusiasm and genuine delight.

An hour later Allison, after committing his future bride to the tender ministries of Julia Cloud, who had received her as a daughter, took his way collegeward. He sent up his card to Miss Frazer and Miss Brice and requested that he might see them both as soon as possible, and in a flutter of expectancy the two presently entered the reception-room.

They were hoping he had come to take them out in his car, although each was disappointed to find that she was not the only one summoned.

Allison in that few minutes of waiting for them, seemed to have lost his care-free boyish air and have grown to man's estate. He greeted the two young women with utmost courtesy and gravity and proceeded at once to business:

”I have come to inform you,” he said with a bow that might almost be called stately, so much had the tall, slender figure lost its boyishness, ”that Miss Bristol is my fiancee, and as such it is my business to protect her. I must ask you both to publicly apologize before your sorority for what happened this morning.”

Eunice Brice grew white and frightened, but Eugenia Frazer's face flamed angrily.

”Indeed, Allison Cloud, I'll do nothing of the kind. What in the world did you suppose I had to do with what happened this morning?”

”You had all to do with it. Miss Frazer, I happen to know all about the matter.”

”Well, you certainly don't,” flamed Eugenia, ”or you wouldn't be engaged to that little Bristol hypocrite. Her father was a common----”

Allison took a step toward her, his face stern but controlled.

”Her father was _not_ a _forger_, Miss Frazer, and I have reason to believe that you know that the report you are spreading about college is not true. But however that may be, Miss Frazer, if I should say that your father was a forger would that change _you_ any? I have asked Miss Bristol to marry me because of what _she is herself_, and not because of what her father was. But there is ample evidence that her father was a n.o.ble and an upright man and so recognized by the law and by his fellow-townsmen, and I demand that you take back your words publicly, both of you, and that you, Miss Frazer, take upon yourself publicly the responsibility for starting this whole trouble. I fancy it may be rather unpleasant for you to remain in this college longer unless this matter is adjusted satisfactorily.”

”Well, I certainly do not intend to be bullied into any such thing!”

said Eugenia angrily. ”I'll leave college first!”

Eunice Brice began to cry. She was the protegee of a rich woman and could not afford to be disgraced.

”I shall tell them all that you asked me to make that motion for you and promised to give me your pink evening dress if I did,” reproached Eunice tearfully.

”Tell what you like,” returned Eugenia grandly, ”it will only prove you what you are, a little fool! I'm going up to pack. You needn't think you can hush me up, Allison Cloud, if you _are_ rich. Money won't cover up the truth----”

”No,” said Allison looking at her steadily, controlledly, with a memory of his promise to Jane. ”No, but _Christianity_ will--sometimes.”

”Oh, yes, everybody knows you're a fanatic!” sneered Eugenia, and swept herself out of the room with high head, knowing that the wisest thing she could do was to depart while the going was good.

When Allison reached home a few minutes later Julia Cloud put into his hand a letter which his guardian had written her soon after his first visit, in which he stated that he had made it a point to look up both the young people with whom his wards were intimate, and he found their records and their family irreproachable. He especially went into details concerning Jane's father and the n.o.ble way in which he had acted, and the completeness with which his name had been cleared. He uncovered one or two facts which Jane apparently did not know, and which proved that time had revealed the true criminal to those most concerned and that only pity for his family, and the expressed wish of the man who had borne for a time his shame, had caused the matter to be hushed up.

Allison, after he had read it, went to find Jane and drew her into the little sun-parlor to read it with him, and together they rejoiced quietly.

Jane lifted a s.h.i.+ning face to Allison after the reading.

”Then I'm glad we never said anything to Eugenia! Poor Eugenia! She is greatly to be pitied!”

Allison, a little shamefacedly, agreed, and then owned up that he had ”fired” Eugenia, as he expressed it, from the college.

”O, Allison!” said Jane, half troubled, though laughing in spite of herself at the vision of Eugenia trying to be lofty in the face of the facts. ”You ought not to have done it, dear. I have stood it so long, it didn't matter! Only for your sake--and Leslie's----!”

”For our sakes, nothing!” said Allison. ”That girl needed somebody to tell her where to get off, and only a man could do it. She'll be more polite to people hereafter, I'm thinking. It won't do her any harm.

Now, Jane darling, forget it, and let's be happy!”

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