Part 59 (1/2)
”How I love and honor you!” she whispered.
”We will never speak about this again, if you please, dear,” said Isabel Stewart, in a slightly tremulous tone. ”I wished you to know the truth, but I cannot talk about it. I do not deny the affection; that is something over which I have no control; but I can at least say 'thus far and no farther,' for the sake of conscience and self-respect. Now, about that letter which was handed to you to-day,”
she continued, suddenly changing the subject. ”Suppose we look it over again, and then I think it should go directly into the hands of Mr.
Bryant.”
She had hardly finished speaking when there came a knock upon her door.
Rising, she opened it, to find a servant standing without and waiting to deliver a card that lay upon a silver salver.
Mrs. Stewart took it and read the name of Royal Bryant, together with the following lines, written in pencil:
”Will Mrs. Stewart kindly excuse this seeming intrusion of a stranger? but I understand that Miss Allandale is with you, and it is necessary that I have a few moments' conversation with her.
R. B.”
”Show the gentleman up,” the lady quietly remarked to the servant, then stepped back into the room and pa.s.sed the card to Edith.
The young girl's eyes lighted with sudden joy, and the quick color flushed her cheeks, betraying how even the sight of Roy's name and handwriting had power to move her.
A few moments later there came another tap to tell her that her dear one was awaiting admittance, and she herself went to receive him.
”Roy! I am so glad you have come!” she exclaimed, holding out both hands to him, her face radiant with happiness.
CHAPTER x.x.xVII.
”MY DARLING, YOU ARE FREE!”
The young man regarded her with astonishment, for she had never greeted him so warmly before.
Edith saw his look and met it with a blush. She took his hat, then led him directly to Mrs. Stewart.
”Roy, you will be astonished,” she remarked, ”but my first duty is to introduce you to--my mother.”
With a look of blank amazement, the young man mechanically put out his hand to greet the beautiful woman who approached and graciously welcomed him.
”That was rather an abrupt and startling announcement, Mr. Bryant,”
she smilingly remarked, to cover his confusion; ”but pray be seated and we will soon explain the mysterious situation.”
”Pardon my bewilderment,” said the young man, as he bowed over her extended hand; ”but really, ladies, I am free to confess that you have almost taken my breath away.”
”Then you will know how to sympathize with us,” cried Edith, with a silvery little laugh, ”for we have both been in the same condition during the last few hours.”
”Indeed! Then I must say you look very bright for a person who has not breathed for 'hours,'” he retorted, as he began to recover himself.
”Well, figuratively speaking, our respiration has been r.e.t.a.r.ded many times, during a short interval, by the strangest developments imaginable,” Edith explained. ”But how did you trace me to the Waldorf?”
”I had something important to tell you, so ran up to Nellie's to see you, but was told that you had accompanied Mrs. Stewart thither,” Roy explained. ”I hope, however, I shall be pardoned for interrupting your interview,” he concluded with an apologetic glance at the elder lady.
”Certainly; and, strange to say, we were speaking of you almost at the moment that your card was brought to us,” she returned. ”Edith has had an important communication handed her to-day, which I thought you ought to have, since you are her attorney, without any unnecessary delay.”