Part 13 (1/2)
”I think I'll ask you to excuse me, Mr. Morton,” she said, making as if to rise. ”This interview is not a pleasant one. You are not kind, or considerate.”
He did not move from his position, as he replied, as calmly as she had spoken:
”I shall not go until I have finished. I came here to-night to tell you, again, that I love you. You need not resent the telling of it, for it can in no way offend you, or, at least, it should not. You told me, yesterday, that you had agreed to some sort of business transaction, as you called it, with some man whom you did not name, by which you are to become his wife. I told you then, and I repeat now, that, if you will but say you love this man, whoever he is, I'll hit the trail for Montana without a moment's delay, and you shall never be annoyed again by my Western training; so, answer me.”
”I will not answer you.” She looked him steadily in the eyes, and, all unconsciously to herself, she could not avoid giving expression to some small part of the admiration she felt for this daring, intrepid ranchman, who defied her so openly, in the library of her own home.
”Who is the man?” he demanded, sharply.
”Again, I will not answer you.”
”I shall find it out, then, and, when I have discovered who he is, I shall go to him. Maybe, he will be able to answer the questions. If he refuses, by G.o.d, I'll make him answer!”
She started from her chair, appalled by the implied threat. She did not doubt that he meant every word of it.
”You would not dare do that!” she exclaimed. It was beyond her knowledge that any man should have the courage so far to transgress conventional usages. But he heard the word ”dare,” and applied to it the only meaning he had ever known it to possess. He laughed outright.
”Not dare?” he exclaimed; and he laughed again. ”I would dare anything, and all things, in the mood I am in, just now.”
Looking upon him, she believed what he said; and, strange to say, she was more pleased than outraged by his determined demeanor.
Nevertheless, she realized that she was face to face with an emergency which must be met promptly and finally, and so she left her chair, and drew herself to her full height, directly in front of him.
”Mr. Morton,” she said, slowly, and coldly, ”I have had occasion, once before, to refer to your training and to mine. We are as far apart as if we belonged to different races of mankind. If you have really loved me, which I doubt, I am sorry because of it, for I tell you, plainly and truly, that I do not, and cannot, respond to you. I have given my promise to another, and very shortly I shall be married. This sudden pa.s.sion for me that has come upon you, is an affair of the moment, which you will soon forget when you become convinced that it is impossible of fruition. I am the promised wife of another man, and even your Western training, which you have chosen sarcastically to refer to since I made my unfortunate remark about it, will tell you that, no matter what rights you believe you possess, you certainly have none whatever to compel me to listen to your declaration of love.” Her manner underwent a sudden and marked change, as she continued rapidly, with a suggestion of moisture in her eyes: ”Believe me, I am intensely sorry for the necessity of this scene between us. I do not, and I cannot, return the affection you so generously offer me; and, whether I love another, or do not--whether I have ever loved another, or have not--it would be the same, so far as you are concerned. I am not for you, and I can never be for you, no matter what may happen.” She took a step nearer to him, and reached out her hand, while she added, with her brightest smile: ”But I like you, very much, indeed. I should like to have you for a true, good friend. It would be one of the proud moments of my life, if I could know that I might rely upon you as such, and that you would not again transgress in the way you have done to-night. Will you take my hand and be my friend. Will you try and seek farther for someone who can appreciate the love you have offered to me? I need a friend just now, Richard Morton. Will you be that friend?”
For a time, he did not answer her. He stood quite still, staring into her eyes, and through them and seemingly beyond them, while his own face was hard, and set, and paler than she had ever seen it, before.
Presently, his lips relaxed their tension; the expression of his eyes softened, and he drew his right hand across his brow.
He took the hand that was extended toward him, and held it between both his own, and, for a full minute after that, he stood before her in silence, while he fought the hardest battle of his life. When he did speak, it was in an easy, careless drawl.
”I reckon you roped and tied me that time, Patricia,” he said, smilingly. ”You've got your brand on me, all right, but maybe the iron hasn't burnt quite as deep as it does sometimes; and, as you say, possibly there will come a day when we can burn another brand on top of it, so that the first one will never be recognized. Will I be your friend? Indeed, I will, and I'll ask you, if you please, to forgive and forget all my bad manners, and the harsh things I've said.”
”It is not necessary to ask me that, Mr. Morton.”
”Patricia, if you'll just call me d.i.c.k, like all the boys do, out on the ranch, and if you'll grant me the permission which I have never asked before, of addressing you as I have just now, it will make the whole thing a heap-sight easier. Will you do it?
”I'd much rather call you d.i.c.k than anything else,” she told him, still permitting him to hold her hand clasped between his own.
He bent forward, nearer to her; and, although she perfectly understood what he intended to do, she did not flinch, or falter.
He touched his lips lightly to her forehead, and then, with a muttered, ”G.o.d bless you, girl!” he turned quickly, and went out of the room, leaving Patricia Langdon once again alone with her thoughts.
CHAPTER X
MONDAY, THE THIRTEENTH
The monotonous, but not unpleasing voice of Malcolm Melvin began the reading of the stipulations in the contract to the three persons who were seated before him around the table in the lawyer's private office. The time was Monday morning, shortly after ten o'clock.
”This agreement, hereinafter made, between Roderick Duncan, of the City, County, and State of New York, party of the first part; Stephen Langdon, of the same place, party of the second part; and Patricia Langdon of the same place, party of the third part, as follows: First, the party of the first part--”