Part 69 (1/2)
He groaned and leaned forward upon the desk, with his face buried in his arms.
Genevieve came out from her hiding place very quietly, and stood gazing at Blake. It was the first time that she had ever seen him give way to grief or suffering. Always he had stood before her firm and unyielding, even when most certain of defeat. It had never occurred to her that he could be other than hard and defiant over his own struggles and sorrows.
All the mother-love of her woman's nature welled up from her heart in a wave of tenderness and compa.s.sion. She went to him and laid her hand softly on his dishevelled head.
”Tom!” she soothed. ”Tom! You poor boy!”
The touch of her hand had stricken his body rigid with suspense. But at the sound of her voice he slowly raised his head and fixed his eyes upon her in an incredulous stare.
”It is I, Tom. Don't you know me?” she half whispered, shrinking back a little way before the wildness of his look.
”_You_!” he gasped. He rose heavily. ”Excuse me. I thought you were with them--on the car.”
”Did not papa tell you?”
”He said something. I thought I had mistaken him. But you _are_ here.”
”Yes. I--I waited to speak with you--to tell you--”
”You told me that night all that's necessary,” he said, averting his head to hide the look of pain that he could not repress.
”I was beside myself!” she replied. ”You should have known that, Tom.
How else could I have told you--told you--”
”The truth!” he broke in. ”Don't think I blame you, Miss Jenny. Don't blame yourself.”
”No, no, you do not understand!” she insisted. ”Wait--what did you and papa do?”
”Made it up. So that's one thing less to worry you. He did it handsomely. Cracked me up for saving his bridge.”
”Your bridge, too!”
”What! You know that?”
”Yes, and that you're to be partner with Mr. Griffith--finish your bridge, and build that great dam you invented, and--and if you wish, be partner in some of papa's business.”
”That's too much. I told him I'd be satisfied with the credit for my bridge truss.”
”Only that? Surely you'll not give up the bridge?”
”Well, 't isn't fair to kick a man when he's down. Ashton will have a tough enough time of it, I guess, from what your father said. He's to be allowed to resign, on condition that he acknowledges that he borrowed my bridge truss.”
”Borrowed?”
”Yes. It seems that his father is one of your father's particular friends. So that's all settled.”
She looked at him with radiant eyes. ”Tom! You're even bigger--more generous--than I had thought!”