Part 36 (1/2)
Of course s.h.i.+rley Roseleaf was almost too happy to breathe. But even the happiest of lovers somehow manage to inhale a sufficiency of oxygen to keep life in them, though they have no knowledge of the process by which this is accomplished. He had seen several of his productions in type, some in the leading magazines, and he had a permanent position now on the staff of a great periodical. When the month he had allowed himself as necessary for a wedding journey was ended, he would settle down to work, and he knew no reason why he might not make a success in his chosen field. And there was Daisy--always Daisy--he would never again be separated from Daisy! Who that has loved and been loved can doubt the perfect content of this young man?
The saddest face at Midlands was that of Mr. Fern, who failed in his best attempts to appear cheerful. He was not sorry that his daughter was to be married, he would not have put a single obstacle in her way; but she was going from him, and the very, very dear relations they had so long sustained would never be exactly the same again. It was the destiny of a woman to cleave to her husband. He found no fault with the law of nature, but he had clung to Daisy so devotedly that he could not welcome very sincerely the hour that was to take her away.
The marriage was to be early in the evening. Everything was ready, even to the trunks, filled with traveling and other dresses. The night was to be pa.s.sed at the Imperial Hotel in the city, and the journey proper to be begun some time on the following day.
On the most momentous morning of her life, Daisy Fern announced that she had an errand to do in the city and would return shortly after twelve o'clock. As she was so thoroughly her own mistress n.o.body thought of questioning her more particularly. But twelve o'clock came, and one o'clock, and three, and five, and she neither was seen at Midlands nor was any message received from her.
By the latter hour Mr. Fern was in a state of excitement. The entire house was in an uproar. The servants were catechised, one by one, to see if perchance any of them could guess the young lady's destination. Word was sent by telephone to various places in the city, asking information, but none was received. She had left the house, ostensibly to go to New York, and nothing could be learned of her from that moment.
As Mr. Roseleaf was not expected until some time later, Mr. Fern went at last to the city and sought the young man at his rooms. He found him in the company of Lawrence Gouger, dressed for the ceremony, and impatient for the arrival of the hour when he should start for his bride's abode.
It may be conceived that the news Mr. Fern brought was not the pleasantest for him.
”You--you have not seen Daisy?” came the stammering question, as the father paused on the threshold of Roseleaf's room.
”To-day? Why, certainly not!” was the stupefied answer. ”I was just about to start for your house.”
Mr. Fern sank upon a sofa just inside the door.
”Something--has--happened!” he groaned. ”Ah, my boy, something has happened to my child!”
Roseleaf looked at Mr. Gouger, who in turn looked at Mr. Fern.
”She--went away--this morning--on an errand,” enunciated the father, slowly, ”saying--she would return--at noon. And--that is the last we--have seen--of her. Oh, it seems as if I should go mad!”
It seemed as if s.h.i.+rley Roseleaf would go mad, too. He looked like one bereft of sense, as he stood there without uttering a word.
”Perhaps she has returned since you left home,” suggested Mr. Gouger, on the spur of the instant. ”Don't lose heart yet. Let me send to a telephone office and have them inquire. You have a 'phone in your house, have you not, Mr. Fern?”
The father bowed in reply. He was too crushed to say anything unnecessary. Touching a b.u.t.ton, Mr. Gouger soon had a messenger dispatched for the information desired, and in the meantime he tried, by suggesting possibilities, to soothe the two men.
”You shouldn't get so excited,” he protested. ”There are a hundred slight accidents that might be responsible for Miss Daisy's delay.
Perhaps she has met with an insignificant accident, and the word she has sent to her father has gone astray--as happens very often in these days. That would account for everything. Or she may have taken the wrong train--an express--that did not stop this side of Bridgeport, and hesitated to telegraph for fear of alarming you. 'Don't cry till you're hurt' is an old proverb. Why, neither of you act much better than as if her dead body had been brought home!”
They heard him, but neither replied. They waited--it seemed an hour--for an answer to the telephonic message, and it came, simply this: ”Nothing has been heard as yet of Miss Fern.”
The thoroughly distressed and disheartened father shrank before the gaze of the lover, when this news was promulgated by Mr. Gouger.
”What swindle is this?” were the bitter words he heard. ”Have you decided on another husband for your daughter, and come to break the news to me in this fas.h.i.+on?”
Mr. Gouger interfered, to protect the old man whose suffering was evidently already too acute.
”Hus.h.!.+” he exclaimed. ”Can't you see that you are killing him? Be careful!”
Roseleaf waved him back with a sweep of his arm.
”Your advice has not been asked,” he replied, gutturally. ”I can see some things, if I _am_ blind. That girl has gone to the man she loves--the man he,” indicating the father, ”wanted her to marry. He is rich, and I am poor, and he has won! It is plain enough! And he pretended, day by day, to my face, that he had given her up for my sake; and she put her arms around me, and beguiled me into confidence, in order to strike me the harder at the end. Well, let him have her! I wouldn't take her from him. But there's an account between us that he may not like to settle. When you see your friend, tell him that!”
Mr. Fern heard these terrible sentences like a man in a dream. It could not be Roseleaf that was uttering them--the man to whom his young daughter had given the full affection of her innocent heart! He was mad to talk that way. Mad! mad!