Part 42 (1/2)

”Thank you,” muttered he. ”Come, Lady Huntingford, we will go to a hotel.” She arose and silently followed him to the door. The men in the office glanced at each other, completely mystified, Captain Hildebrand as much so as any one.

For a long time the occupants of a certain carriage looked straight before them as if bereft of the power of speech or comprehension. A great abyss of thought confronted them; they were apparently struggling on the edge, utterly unable to grasp a single inspiration or idea.

”She's been waiting a year, Tennys. Do you know what that means?”

”Yes, Hugh; I know too well. She has prayed and hoped and loved, and now you are come to her. It means that she will be happy--oh, so happy!”

murmured his white-lipped companion, cold as ice.

”But I can't go to her and tell her what we know. It would kill her. I can't go to her--it is impossible! I'd die if she looked at me,”

he groaned.

”You must go to her,” she said intensely. ”She will know you have been rescued. She will thank G.o.d and wait for you to come to her. Think of that poor girl waiting, waiting, waiting for you, filled with a joy that we can never know. Oh, I will not have you break her heart. You shall go to her!”

”I cannot, I tell you! I cannot tell her that I love you! That would be worse than any cruelty I can imagine.”

”You are not to tell her that you love me. I release you, Hugh. You were hers first; you are hers now. I would kill myself rather than lake you from her. Go to her--go to her at once. You must!” She was nervous, half-crazed, yet true n.o.bility shone above all like a gem of purest ray.

”Don't force me to go, Tennys,” he pleaded, as she left him to go to her room.

”Go now, Hugh--go if you love me,” she said, turning her miserable face from him.

”But what is to become of you--of me?” he protested.

”We must think only of her. Go! and bring her to see me here! I want to tell her how happy I am that she has found you again;” and then she was gone.

The dominant impulse was to rush after her, grasp her and carry her back to the waves from which he had unwittingly saved her. Then the strong influence that she had exerted over him, together with the spark of fair-mindedness that remained, forced him to obey the dictates of honor.

He slowly, determinedly, dejectedly re-entered the carriage and started toward the end.

CHAPTER x.x.xIV

_THE COURSE OF TRUE LOVE_

Ridgeway had been directed to the home of Mr. Henry Coleman. He was never able to describe his emotions as he drove through the streets toward that most important place in all the world at that hour. The cab drew up in front of the rather pretentious home and he stepped forth, dazed and uncertain, his knees stiff, his eyes set. Had some one shouted ”Run!” he would have fled with his resolution.

Every window in the home seemed to present Grace Vernon's glad face to his misty eyes; she was in there somewhere, he knew, waiting as she had been waiting for a whole year.

Slowly he mounted the steps and stood before the screen door. After what seemed an hour of deliberation, during which he sought to resurrect the courage that had died, he timidly tapped on the cas.e.m.e.nt with his knuckles. The sound could not have been heard ten feet, yet to him it was loud enough to wake people blocks away. There was no response and his heart, in its cowardice, took a hopeful bound. No one at home! He turned to leave the place, fearing that some one might appear to admit him before he could retreat. At the top of the steps he paused, reasoning that if no one was at home he could at least rap again. His conscience would be easier for the extra effort. He rapped once more, quite boldly. A man appeared in the doorway so suddenly that he caught his breath and put out his hand to steady himself.

The screen flew open and Henry Veath grasped him by the arms, fairly dragging him into the hallway.

”Hugh! Hugh! Is it really you?” For a moment he stood like one suddenly gone mad.

”Henry, I can't believe it!” gasped Ridgeway. Both of them stood looking at one another for more than a full minute. ”What a wonderful escape!”

fell hazily from the newcomer's stiff lips.

”How did you escape?” cried the other in the same breath. Pale as ghosts they wrung each other's hands spasmodically, dazed and bewildered.

”Where is Grace?” demanded Hugh.