Part 59 (1/2)
With a careless nod she picked her way toward the launch, where her friends were already a.s.sembling. She was angry and suspicious. Her pride was hurt because she had not been able to feel superior to the other woman. Instead, she had descended to the weak resource of innuendo, while Cherry had been simple and direct. She had expected to recognize instantly the type of person with whom she had to deal, but she found herself baffled. Who was this woman? What was she doing here? Why had Boyd never told her of this extraordinary intimacy? She remembered more than one occasion when he had defended the woman. She resolved to put an end to the affair at once; Boyd must either give up Cherry or--
During the talk between the two young women Constantine had kept at a respectful distance, but when Mildred had gone he came up to Cherry, with the question:
”Who is that?”
”That is Miss Wayland. That is the richest girl in the world, Constantine.”
”Humph!”
”And the pity of it is, she doesn't understand how very rich she is. Her father owns all these canneries and many more besides, and lots of railroads--but you don't know what a railroad is, do you?”
”Mebbe him rich as Mr. Marsh, eh?”
”A thousand time richer. Mr. Marsh works for him the way you work for me.”
Being too much a gentleman to dispute his mistress' word, Constantine merely shook his head and smiled broadly.
”She fine lady,” he acknowledged. ”She got plenty nice dress--silik.”
”Yes, silk.”
”She more han'somer than you be,” he added, with reluctant candor. ”Mebbe that's lie 'bout Mr. Marsh, eh? White men all work for Mr. Marsh. He no work for n.o.body.”
”No, it is true. Mr. Marsh knows how rich she is, and that is why he wants to marry her.”
The breed wheeled swiftly, his soft soles crunching the gravel.
”Mr. Marsh want _marry_ her?” he repeated, as if doubting his ears.
”Yes. That is why he has fought Mr. Emerson--they both want to marry her.
That is why Marsh broke Mr. Emerson's machinery, and hired his men away from him, and cut his nets. They hate each other--do you understand?”
”Me savvy!” said Constantine shortly, then strode on beside the girl. ”Me think all the time Mr. Emerson goin' marry you.”
Cherry gasped. ”No, no! Why, he is in love with Miss Wayland.”
”S'pose he don' marry her?”
”Than Mr. Marsh will get her, I dare say.”
After a moment Constantine announced, with conviction: ”I guess Mr. Marsh is d.a.m.n bad man.”
”I'm glad you have discovered that. He has even tried to kill Mr. Emerson; that shows the sort of man he is.”
”It's good thing--get marry!” said Constantine, vaguely. ”The Father say if woman don' marry she go to h.e.l.l.”
”I'd hate to think that,” laughed the girl.
”That's true,” the other affirmed, stoutly. ”The pries' he say so, and pries' don' lie. He say man takes a woman and don' get marry, they both go to h.e.l.l and burn forever. Bime'by little baby come, and he go to h.e.l.l, too.”