Part 20 (1/2)

”You'd better ask G.o.d to give you the dollars--you'll want them badly, if I mistake not,” said Lamport as he seated himself in a chair.

”How much do you want?” asked Halsa in a faint voice. What she desired was to gain a little time. All this had happened with such awful suddenness. If she could persuade this man to go away with all she had, even for a day, she could decide on some course of action. At present, beyond the one idea of getting rid of Lamport, nothing else crossed her mind.

”Oh, a thousand will see me!” said Lamport. ”I suppose you can give me a hundred now--take it out of the poor-box--and the rest I must have in three days, or I blow the whole gaff. I will tell you where to send it.”

Halsa stood before him lacing and interlacing her fingers. While Lamport was speaking she was thinking: money--there was no use in giving this man money, even if she could lay her hands on the impossible sum he named. She had never deceived John; she would not do so now, come what may. She was a brave woman, and rose to her trouble.

”Stephen Lamport,” she said slowly, ”listen to me: you shall not have one penny from me--you can do your worst. G.o.d will help me.”

Lamport looked at her in amazement. ”You d.a.m.ned fool!” he said; ”do you know what the consequences of this will be?”

”Go!” said his wife, pointing to the door; ”I shall tell John Galbraith all myself--he is a good man--he will know. Ah!” and she sprang past Lamport, ”John, you have come back--save me.” She looked at Galbraith's face, and the glance showed that he knew all. She slid down and knelt at his feet. ”Forgive me,” she said; ”G.o.d knows that I was innocent.”

As Galbraith entered the room Lamport retreated toward the corner, and, laying his hand on the back of the chair, waited for what he fully expected would happen. He was no coward, and was quite prepared for a physical struggle. Galbraith had heard all. In their excitement neither Halsa nor Lamport were aware that he had been in the pa.s.sage almost as soon as they entered the study. The first few words that reached him rooted him to the spot, and he heard everything that followed. For the first time in his life he felt the wild beast within him awake. His breath came thick and fast, and then through it all a voice seemed to shout in his ears that he had no claim--that they who were before him were husband and wife, and he the outsider. The man lived a lifetime standing there. At last he could bear it no longer, and stepped into' the room. Gently, very gently, he lifted the woman whom he loved, and supported her with his arm.

”I believe every word you have said; as for that man----” his voice failed him. He stood before Lamport with an ashy face that quivered with anguish.

But Lamport was not going to give up the struggle. He had wandered here in a half-drunken state, bent on extorting money; if this could not be done he was in the humour for any mischief. He was almost sobered by what had happened, and his malice was ready to suggest the means of inflicting further misery. There seemed no chance of the physical struggle he expected. Well, he could wound in other ways than with the blade of Bill's knife, over the haft of which he had gently slipped his hand.

”Look here,” he said; ”that woman there is my wife--she dare not deny it--I claim her.”

Galbraith's hold tightened round Halsa's waist, but she drew herself from him.

”It is true; every word he has spoken is true; but he has forgotten the whole story--the ill-treatment, the wilful desertion, the devilish malignity of his last action. Oh, G.o.d is very merciful, is he not?”

she cried hysterically; ”and yet you,” and she pointed to Lamport, ”are my husband, and I suppose the law gives you the right to claim me. I am ready to go.”

Galbraith walked to the table and sank into a chair. He buried his face in his arms, and sat there silently. While Halsa spoke there had been a short but mighty struggle in his heart between the man and the priest, and as her voice ceased the priest had triumphed. The woman looked at him as he sat there, motionless and silent. ”Come,” she said to Lamport, ”let us go--but first this----” She suddenly knelt at Galbraith's side, and, taking his hand in both of hers, kissed it pa.s.sionately, and then rising walked out of the room into the night, her companion following closely behind.

How long Galbraith stayed thus he never knew, but the gray light of the morning was streaming into the room when he lifted his head and looked around him. With a shudder he covered his face again with his hands. A wild thought struck him that after all it might have been a hideous dream, and he rose from his chair, but only to sink down again in despair as the horrible reality of it all forced itself upon him.

He remembered it was Sunday, that in a few hours it would be time for him to be in church. Of course this was impossible. He felt that he could endure being in the house no longer, and, taking his soft felt hat, walked out into the garden. Which way had she gone? A sob rose to his throat as he thought of this--was he right? He began to doubt, and then it struck him that he would see Bunny. He would tell Bunny all, and act upon his advice; but as for the church, he felt he could never enter one again. What had he done that this awful misfortune should have come upon him? He bent his steps toward the road leading to Bunny's house. Although the sun was barely up, he found the old man in his garden, and he came forward cheerily to meet Galbraith. One look at his face, however, told him that something dreadful had occurred.

”Come into my office,” he said, and led John to the back of the house.

CHAPTER XIII.

HUSBAND AND WIFE.

On leaving the house Halsa and her companion walked toward the gate.

She had s.n.a.t.c.hed up a hat from the stand in the pa.s.sage as she pa.s.sed through, but had not thought of taking a cloak, and even by the time they reached the gate the steady drizzle had drenched her light dress.

She stopped here for a moment, and, turning, looked back at the house.

Through the mist of rain she saw the windows of the study and the lamp burning brightly. Within the study was--as she thought of him, an uncontrollable sob burst from her.

”Are you going to stay here all night?” asked Lamport roughly.

”Which way are we going?” she replied.