Part 20 (2/2)
She took out the letter and gave it to Ben and he read it in silence.
”Probably it was a lie also about the checks,” he said when he had finished.
”No, oh, no,” she replied earnestly. ”He showed me those. He said that my father was held in affectionate remembrance at his clubs and among his friends, and that he could ruin all that and hold him up to contempt as a criminal, unless--unless I married him.” Geraldine's bosom heaved convulsively. ”I have been wild with joy ever since you came,” she declared. ”If I ever go to heaven I can't be happier than I was flying up from that meadow where there seemed a curse even on the poor little wild flowers but you can see how it is going to keep coming over me in waves that perhaps I have done wrong. You see, Daddy tells me not to consider him; but should I not guard his name in spite of that? That is the question that will keep coming up to me. Nevertheless”--she made a gesture of despair--”if I went through with it--if I married Mr. Carder, I'm sure I should lose all control and kill myself. I'm sure of it.”
Here Ben gave rein to the dastardly instinct which occasionally causes a poor mortal to fling all conscience to the winds when he sees an unexpected opportunity to attain a longed-for prize.
”For you to become his wife cannot be right,” declared Ben, endeavoring to speak with mature and legal poise; ”but as you say, that heartrending doubt of your duty may attack you at times. How would it be to put it beyond your power to yield to his wishes by marrying some one else--me, for instance?”
Geraldine regarded the speaker with grief and reproach. ”Can you joke about my trouble?” She turned away and he suspected hurt tears.
”Miss Melody--Geraldine.” What Ben had fondly hoped was the judicial manner disappeared in a whirlwind of words. ”I'm in earnest! I've thought of nothing but you since the day I saw you with that cut-throat.
It's my highest desire to guard you, to make you happy. Give me the right, and every day of my life will prove it. Of course, I saw that Carder had some hold over you. I've spent all my time ever since that day trying to ferret out facts that could give me some hold on him. I haven't found them. The fox has always left himself a loophole. Marry me to-day: now: before we go home. I'm well known in the town yonder. I can arrange it. Marry me, and whatever comes you will be safe from him.
Geraldine!”
The girl's gaze was fixed on the flushed face and glowing eyes beside her and she leaned as far away from him as possible.
”You really mean it?” she said when he paused.
”As I never meant anything before in my life.”
”Have you a mother?”
”The best on earth.”
”And yet you would do this to her, just because I have nice eyes.”
It was a frigid bucket of water, but Ben stood up under it.
”Yes, I could give her nothing better.”
”You don't even know me,” said Geraldine. ”How strange men are.”
”Yes, those you hate; but how about me? You said you liked me.”
At this the girl did smile, and the effect was so wonderful that it knocked what little sense Ben Barry had left into oblivion.
”Love at first sight is a fact,” he declared. ”No one believes it till he's. .h.i.t, but then there's no questioning. You looked that day as if you would have liked to speak to me--yes”--boldly--”as if to escape Carder you would have mounted that motor-cycle with me and we should have done that Tennyson act, you know--'beyond the earth's remotest rim the happy princess followed him'--or something like that. I don't know it exactly but I'm going to learn it from start to finish and read law afterward.
I've dreamed of you all night and worked for you all day ever since and yet I haven't accomplished anything!”
”Haven't!” exclaimed Geraldine. ”You've done the most wonderful thing in the world.”
”Oh, well, _Cher Ami_ did that. Tell me you'll let me take care of you always, and knock Carder's few remaining teeth down his throat if he ever comes in sight. Tell me you do--you like me a little.”
Geraldine's entrancing smile was still lighting her pensive eyes.
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