Part 16 (1/2)
Again the temptation was a.s.sailing the architect's mind to accept this proffered help and s.h.i.+ft his burden to the shoulders of this little but puissant man of healing. Perhaps those tapping fingers could make him whole again. But as he faced avowal of the truth his whole soul drew back. It was impossible--the one thing he could not do. Then came another idea, perhaps a way out.
”Suppose--I do not admit it, but suppose, for the sake of your argument, that your hypothesis should be true. What then--Mildred--what about----”
Dr. Annister sprang to his feet and broke in upon the other's stumbling words in a voice whose low-toned intensity gave his listener an uncomfortable thrill: ”Nothing could make me happier than to see my child the happy wife of the man she loves, if he deserves her love.
But I'd rather see her dead than married to a man of gross and unclean life, who has made himself a slave to seasons of secret debauch!”
There was silence for a moment while Brand looked away, unwilling to meet the physician's eyes. His face was pale and he breathed as if there were a weight upon his chest. Again he was considering open confession. But when he spoke he said:
”Dr. Annister, you are most unjust. I told you the truth about my absence. On that question there is nothing more to be said. But it is my right to know, and I insist upon knowing, whether or not you have any basis whatever for these insinuations you have been making, except your own suspicions.”
Mildred's father gazed thoughtfully at her betrothed for a moment before he replied. He was saying to himself that the man's words were candid enough in their import, but that, somehow, the speech had not rung true. There was no spark of indignation in those brown eyes, that seemed to have some difficulty in meeting his. Nor was there any quiver of that honest resentfulness he longed to see. Beneath Brand's habitual manner of slightly ceremonious politeness and deference he discerned uncertainty of thought and purpose.
”There's something wrong here,” the physician was thinking, ”something woefully wrong. He doesn't seem to feel the monstrosity of what I've almost been charging him with.” Unconsciously he shook his head sadly as he began to speak aloud:
”As I told you before, Felix, with the knowledge I have spent a lifetime of hard work gaining, I don't need any better evidence than my own eyes can give. I consider it as worthy of confidence as any information I might have from another. That and my own intelligence are the sole ground of my fears. These did have, however, some slight corroboration in the rather mysterious manner and a.s.surances of your friend, Mr. Hugh Gordon.”
At the sound of that name Brand faced sharply round upon the astonished doctor, anger flaming in his face and eyes.
”That man!” he cried. ”Are you taking his word against mine? He is my worst enemy, and he will stop at nothing to injure me. He is a thief, a murderer, or would be if he dared. I demand that you tell me what he has been charging me with!”
Dr. Annister stared in amazement at this flare of hostility and wrath.
”You mistake me, Felix,” he said quietly, although inwardly he was wondering much as to the cause of the outburst. ”I did not say he charged you with anything, nor did he. On the contrary, he seemed to me to be doing his best to execute a friendly office toward you. I thought it strange that he should be so positive you were in no danger of any sort and yet should not know where you were. He seemed sincere and straightforward and the only hypothesis upon which I could reconcile his two statements was one that strengthened what you call my suspicions.”
While the doctor spoke Brand had been moving about with quick steps and sharp turns, scowling and muttering. ”Oh, I know the fellow goes about making this pretense of friends.h.i.+p,” he said sullenly, ”but there's no trust to be put in him. He is bent on my ruin. But I'll get even with him, I'll down him yet!”
He took another turn or two, apparently endeavoring to get himself under control again, while Dr. Annister regarded him with gray brows wrinkled thoughtfully. He began to feel, uneasily, that there was more underneath this situation than he had guessed.
”Well, Felix,” he said at last, ”I am sorry that our conversation has had no better result. I hoped you would clear this matter up and, if you need help, would let me give you whatever advice and aid I could.
Think the matter over more carefully and if you should see it in a different light come to me at any time and let me see what I can do for you.”
”I thank you, Dr. Annister. I shall keep your kindness in mind, although I do not suppose I shall have any more occasion to make use of it in the future than I have now. But Mildred--” he hesitated as he turned an anxious countenance upon his companion. ”You are not going to forbid our marriage on account of these baseless and unjust notions of yours?”
Down in his heart Dr. Annister was at that moment deciding that his daughter should never become this man's wife unless all his apprehensions and fears were first cleared away. But he feared the effect upon Mildred, especially at this juncture, of a forced breaking of the engagement. So he temporized.
”No, I shall not forbid it, or at least, not now. But I can not consent to a marriage in the early future, as you have both begged me to do. You will have to wait a while longer, Felix, and prove yourself worthy. I don't like these mysterious disappearances.”
After Brand had gone the little doctor dropped down into his favorite arm-chair in his usual att.i.tude of profound thought. ”Poor Mildred!
Poor little girl!” he was thinking. ”I guess her mother had better take her abroad this summer and let us see if change and travel and absence won't have some effect on her devotion. It would be awfully lonely for me here, Mildred would be wretchedly unhappy and Margaret would have a devil of a time. Still, the experiment will be worth trying.”
CHAPTER XVI
MRS. FENLOW IS ANGRY
”Harry, dear, do please conceal the newspaper in your handbag and carry it off with you,” said Isabella Marne as her sister entered the dining room. The sun shone in upon a window full of blooming plants, a bowl of daffodils glowed upon the table and the whole room looked as cheerful and buoyant, as dainty and pleasing as did the little lady in a pink and white muslin gown who was putting the last touches to the breakfast table. ”Mother is coming down this morning,” she went on, ”and I don't want her to see it.”
”O, dear!” exclaimed Henrietta as she glanced at the head lines. ”No, indeed, mother mustn't see this. It would worry her too much. Have you read it, Bella? Was he hurt?”
”The account says Mr. Brand wasn't hurt at all. But some of the others were--one rather badly, and Miss Andrews had her scalp cut. I hope it won't spoil her beauty.”