Part 54 (1/2)
”A relative of yours?”
”Yes.”
Across her brain there flashed a fugitive memory of three words Jeff had spoken to his cousin the day of the accident. ”It's your father.”
But how could that be? She had always understood that both the parents of James were dead. The lawyer had denied knowing the man whose life he had saved. And yet she had been sure of the words and of a furtive, frightened look on the face of James. According to the story of the _Herald_ the father of Jefferson, a former convict, was named Robert.
But once, when she had made some allusion to it Captain Chunn had exploded into vigorous denial. It was a puzzle the meaning of which she could not guess.
”He has several times mentioned his wish to thank you for your kindness,” Jeff mentioned.
”I'll be glad to meet him.” Swiftly she flashed a question at him. ”Is he James Farnum's father?”
”Haven't you read the papers? He is said to be mine.”
”But he isn't. He isn't. I see it now. James was ashamed to acknowledge a father who had been in prison. Your enemies made a mistake and you let it go.”
”It's all long since past. I wouldn't say anything about it to anybody.”
”Of course you wouldn't,” she scoffed. Her eyes were very bright. She wanted to laugh and to weep at her discovery.
”You see it didn't matter with my friends. And my reputation was beyond hope anyhow. It was different with James.”
She nodded. ”Yes. It wouldn't have improved his chances with Valencia,”
her cousin admitted.
Jeff permitted himself a smile. ”My impression was that he did not have Mrs. Van Tyle in mind at the time.”
They had waded through the wet ferns to the edge of the woods. As her eyes swept the russet valley through which they had pa.s.sed Alice drew a deep breath of pleasure. How good it was to be alive in such a world of beauty! A meadow lark throbbed its three notes at her joyfully to emphasize their kins.h.i.+p. An English pheasant strutted across the path and disappeared into the ferns. Neither the man nor the woman spoke. All the glad day called them to the emotional climax toward which they were racing.
Womanlike, Alice attempted to evade what she most desired. He was to be her mate. She knew it now. But the fear of him was in her heart.
”Were you so fond of him? Is that why you did it for him?” she asked.
”I didn't do it for him.”
”For whom then?”
He did not answer. Nor did his eyes meet hers. They were fixed on the moving ferns where the pheasant had disappeared.
Alice guessed. He had done it for the girl because he thought her in love with his cousin. A warm glow suffused her. No man made such a sacrifice for a woman unless he cared for her.
The meadow lark flung out another carefree ecstasy. The theme of it was the triumphant certainty that love is the greatest thing in the world.
Jeff felt that it was now or never.
”I love you. It's been hidden in my heart more than eight years, but I find I must tell you. All the arguments against it I've rehea.r.s.ed a thousand times. The world is at your feet. You could never love a man like me. To your friends I'm a bad lot. They never would consider me a moment.”