Part 24 (1/2)
A day or two after the departure of Rutherford, Miss Gladden, having learned from Lyle at what hour Jack usually completed his day's work, set forth upon her visit to the cabin. She felt that her errand might prove embarra.s.sing both to Jack and herself; she wished to obtain some clue regarding Lyle's parentage; at least, to learn what his suspicions, or possible knowledge might be concerning the matter, and taking into consideration the contingency that she might be his own child, whose existence he had kept secret for reasons of his own, it was a subject which would require very delicate handling.
She found Jack at the cabin, and alone, and his courteous greeting, containing less formality and more cordiality and friendliness than on the former occasion, made her task seem far less difficult. He ushered her into the pleasant little sitting-room, and she noted even more particularly than on her former visit, the exquisite taste betrayed, not only in the furnis.h.i.+ngs of the room, but in their very arrangement.
After chatting a few moments regarding the little circle of friends at the house, in whom he seemed to take more interest than she would have expected from a man of his secluded life, the conversation naturally turned to Lyle, and Miss Gladden said:
”I have wished to see you regarding her because you seem to be the only one among those living here who appreciates her ability, or cares for her welfare; and you have known her and her surroundings so long, I believed you could give me some suggestions and advice regarding what is best to be done for her, even now, while she remains here.”
”I have taken a great interest in the child ever since I have known her,” Jack replied, ”and I am only too glad that she has found another friend, and that friend a lady; and if I can a.s.sist, by suggestion or otherwise, I shall be most happy to do so.”
”I asked your opinion the other evening,” continued Miss Gladden, ”as to taking her east with me, but there were other matters pertaining to her welfare, on which I wished your opinion and advice, but I could not so well speak of them before her, so I asked for this interview.”
Miss Gladden hesitated a moment, almost hoping that Jack might make some remark which would give her a cue as to the best method for her to pursue in seeking the information she desired, but his att.i.tude was that of respectful attention, and he was evidently waiting for her to proceed.
”I have felt attracted toward Lyle from the first,” she began slowly, ”not alone by her wondrous beauty and grace of manner, but even more by her intelligence and intellectual ability, her natural refinement and delicacy, which, considering her surroundings, seemed to me simply inexplicable. From the very first, she has been to me a mystery, and as I become better acquainted with her, the mystery, instead of being lessened, is only deepened.”
She paused, but he offered no comment, only bowed gravely for her to continue.
”I could not, and I cannot yet, understand how one like her could ever have been born, or could exist in such surroundings as hers; and the fact that she has existed here, her beautiful nature untainted, unsullied by the coa.r.s.eness, the vulgarity and the immorality about her, to me seemed an indication that she was of an altogether different type, born in another and far higher sphere. I saw she was unhappy, and I determined to win her confidence, and in so doing, from a vague suspicion I have gradually arrived at a firm conviction that Lyle is not the child of those whom she calls her parents.”
Jack manifested no surprise, neither was there anything in his manner to indicate that this was a subject upon which he had any knowledge.
He simply asked very calmly,--almost indifferently it seemed to Miss Gladden,--
”Have you discovered any direct evidence in support of this conviction that she is not their child?”
”No tangible evidence,” replied Miss Gladden, ”nothing, of course, that could be called proof, but there are what I consider very strong indications.”
”Are the indications on Lyle's part, or on the part of Mr. and Mrs.
Maverick?” inquired Jack.
”On both sides,” replied Miss Gladden, ”I have very little to say regarding Mrs. Maverick; she is a kind-hearted woman, and seems to treat Lyle with consideration and some degree of affection; there is very little of the latter, but perhaps it is all of which she is capable, for I should think life with that brute would quickly crush out all the affection, if not all the intelligence, in a woman's nature; but the neglect and ill treatment of Maverick himself towards Lyle surely indicate that she is no child of his.”
”Your remark regarding Mrs. Maverick might be still more applicable to him, that he is incapable of anything like affection or kindness.”
”Of course he is,” replied Miss Gladden quickly, ”but I can not conceive of a man being quite so low as to be without even animal instincts; I cannot believe that a father would insult and degrade his own daughter as he has Lyle, and as he would continue to do, if he were not restrained through fear of his wife.”
For the first time, Jack started. ”Fear of his wife, did you say, Miss Gladden? Pardon me, but I think that brute fears neither G.o.d, man nor devil, and how you can a.s.sert that he is in fear of his wife, whom he has always abused mercilessly, I cannot imagine.”
”It is a fact, nevertheless; for one morning after he had been exceedingly abusive and insulting in his language toward Lyle, Mrs.
Maverick told her that he was, in some way, in her power, and that it should never occur again; and it never has.”
Jack rose, and began to pace the room.
”Did you hear her say that, Miss Gladden?”
”No, Lyle told me of it.”
”Had Lyle any idea of what she meant by it?”
”She did not seem to have; nothing was ever said regarding that phase of the subject; she only seemed relieved that Mrs. Maverick promised to prevent a repet.i.tion of her father's abuse of her.”