Paul Trent

“ Do you forget the Congo?—with its cruelty and torture?”
“I forget nothing. What I have promised I will endeavor to carry out,” Gaunt said quietly, but his face had grown very white.
“It may be your duty to use your millions to fight the rulers of the Congo—to compel them to make the iniquities cease? Do you realize that and can you carry it out?”
“Yes. To know me thoroughly, Drake, you must understand that I don’t value my wealth one jot, save for the power it gives me.”
“I believe the man is in earnest,” Drake muttered, and he gazed at Gaunt with something akin to admiration. ”

“ Gaunt, I like you and I like Lady Mildred. When two people are proud, misunderstandings arise easily, and I thought that I might be able to help you both,” Drake said gently.
“That’s all right. I shouldn’t have spoken quite so roughly, but I think you understand. We’ve just time for a smoke before we start. Come into the library,” Gaunt said and placed his hand on Drake’s shoulder with an affectionate touch.
Their characters were utterly different, and yet their mutual liking was increasing daily as their knowledge of one another grew. ”

“ The passion had vanished and a great anguish of mind had taken its place, for he had been thinking, and it seemed as though he had signed the death warrant of his happiness by refusing his wife’s request. Even the strongest men have moments of weakness and Gaunt lost grip of his purpose, revealing himself as he had never before done to human being.
“You, Drake, are a cold-blooded saint—a man untouched by thought of woman and you cannot imagine the awful longing which is in me. I worship my wife, and every fibre of my being longs for her. ”

“ Curiously enough he imagined that he could see in the brightly burning coals a face, and it was not that of Gaunt, but of Lady Ethel. A smile twitched at his mouth for it was pleasant to remember so radiant a young beauty. Of women Drake knew nothing, for as a youth he had been too shy to enjoy their company; and the shyness had only vanished after he had become acquainted with so many real tragedies of life. One who lives habitually in the midst of intense human suffering must naturally lose all consciousness of self. ”

“ Now there was only a great despair in Gaunt’s voice. The physician looked keenly at the famous millionaire; noted the lines of suffering on his strong face, and wondered. To the world, John Gaunt was a hard man, one whose only object in life was the attainment of wealth—one who would sacrifice ruthlessly to gain that end.
Twelve months ago he had surprised every one by marrying the beauty of the season—Lady Mildred Blythe—and the general comment was that the bridegroom was moved by social ambition; while the bride wished to exchange a life of aristocratic poverty for one of unlimited wealth. ”

“ I could only think of the millions who are in the Congo that even at the present moment some fresh outrage might be going on.”
She covered her face with her hands, and her body trembled slightly. Gaunt stared at her in amazement, for this was a humor of which he had not thought her capable. What was she going to say to him? Again fear held him in its grip.
“And then you rose from your seat. Like a flash it was revealed to me that you—that my husband was one of the criminals, who had coined gold by this devilish torturing of the natives.” ”

“ They are all in the library,” she said gently, and Lady Mildred did not resist.
They walked arm in arm down the broad staircase, and Lady Ethel whispered earnestly.
“Dearest, be yourself to John. Let him see what is in your heart and all will be right. I am much younger than you, but I think that I am wiser; for I have learned that there is only one thing in the world that matters—love,” she said softly.
“Do you care for Captain Drake?”
But Lady Ethel only smiled, yet there was a flush on her face when they entered the library.
“Where is Mr. Gaunt?” she asked quickly. ”

“ Yes, this land which stretched from the mouth of the Congo for miles was laid desolate; what had been once a densely populated country was deserted—the work of the white men.
And when he thought of Gaunt, a glad light came to his eyes, for he had grown to love the millionaire as a brother. And then like a fair picture Lady Ethel came to his mind, and he wondered if she ever thought of him. ”

“ Gaunt had been controlling himself by a great effort, but his passion cast off all bonds and he seized her in his arms. His lips sought hers and he kissed her passionately, not once but many times, in spite of her struggles to free herself from his embrace.
“You love me and I tell you that nothing else matters. I am not worse than other men,” he cried earnestly. ”

“ You have shown courage of a high order. You made a vow and you have carried it out in the spirit and the letter. Gaunt, you will not weaken, I implore you. Remember the good that you have already done. You are rousing England from its lethargy, and you only have to continue to win the battle. Think of it, Gaunt. You can save the natives from torture and make them free men. Could mortal man have a nobler task? ”

“ The nurse retired, and Lady Mildred watched her sister as she held the child in her arms, crooning the while a lullaby.
“Mildred, you ought to be the happiest woman in the world. You’ve a husband who adores you, and this mite of humanity. I would give my soul to have such a wee little thing clutching at me and knowing that it was mine,” Lady Ethel said impulsively. ”

“ Gaunt cried impatiently.
“I’ve not heard much to your credit. They say you aren’t too particular about the way you make money—so long as you make it. Then your connection with ‘red rubber’ does not predispose people in your favor.”
“Thank you.”
“But I’ve always heard that you are a man to be trusted. You hold a promise to be a sacred thing, and that is something nowadays. Since yesterday, I can place generosity to your credit, and now that I know you personally, I am inclined to think that you have not allowed the world to see your true character. ”

“ Yes, Lady Mildred was right, for it was impossible to mistake the look that was in his brother’s eyes—a look of simple adoration. Those who spend the greater part of their lives in savage countries, away from their kind, lose all sense of the conventionalities which bind those who stay at home. For twelve months Lindsay Drake had been surrounded by black faces and the mere sight of Lady Ethel’s fair beauty had sent him headlong to her feet. ”

“ I certainly should never think of accepting anything from a man who is being treated so badly by my sister.”
“Ethel, you are impertinent,” Lady Mildred replied angrily.
“Perhaps so, but I was only paying you back in your own coin. But don’t let us quarrel, dear. I can see that John is utterly miserable, and you don’t strike me as being a very happy woman. Ah, here is ‘King Baby.’ Give him to me, nurse,” Lady Ethel cried eagerly and held out her arms. ”

“ His wealth had been gathered by the use of his brains, and in that fact he took an intense pride. But one thing had been missing from his life—a friend. Acquaintances his check-book had brought, and he possessed the usual parasites that crowd the path of the millionaire. Life had been too strenuous to allow him to realize that he was losing a good deal of its sweetness, but latterly he had been conscious of a fierce longing to find some one who might become a second self—some one in whom he could confide, and whom he could trust with his inmost thoughts. ”

“ One only has to look at you to know that you appreciate yourself at your full value—and a little over. Forgive my plain speech, but you rather brought it upon yourself.”
Lord Lynton looked curiously at Gaunt, and knew not whether to resent this frankness; but he quickly remembered his mission, and forced a rather sickly smile to his face.
“It is a good thing to hear an opinion of oneself. But let us return to the Congo. I want you to promise to give up this crusade. It can’t really mean very much to you, and you will be doing me a great favor. ”

“ It is strange to me that the British people have not been fired by the hearing of such atrocities. I suppose the Congo is too remote a country,” Gaunt said reflectively.
Drake had risen and began to pace rapidly to and fro. His brow was puckered into a frown and it was evident that he was deeply moved.
“I don’t think that we have ever really realized it. These poor innocent natives, butchered in cold blood, and all for the sake of gold. And they are white people as ourselves who reap the profit from this slavery.” ”

“ To do him justice, it was with a good motive, that of thoroughly frightening his sister, so that she would compel Gaunt to give way.
“It cannot be more than manslaughter. I killed a man but it was in self-defense. Mildred, let me tell you the whole story,” said Gaunt, and his voice was low with a note of anguish.
“There is no time for that. I tell you that the warrant for your arrest may already be issued, but there is a way to prevent all this trouble. Give me your word that this Congo agitation shall end, and you will hear no more of it,” the Earl said slowly and emphatically. ”

“ Drake cried passionately.
There was no reply and there was something akin to contempt in the look that he gave Gaunt.
“You are a rich man, and you say that your wealth was founded on this base traffic. You are in the confidence of these monsters who are wringing gold by murder and torture—can you think of no remedy?” he cried vehemently.
“It is a difficult question. Europe is too busy with its own affairs to concern itself. Righteous England has only been able to talk and threaten and has been afraid of deeds. ”

“ Gaunt remarked musingly. “I always have loved to overcome obstacles and the greater the odds, the keener I was. I believe there is some truth in your suggestion. You evidently know me better than I do myself.”
“I believe that there is more good in you than you will allow people to see. The apparent hardness has been a pose that you have produced so long that it has become almost second nature.”
“You flatter me, Drake. By the bye, I’ve something amusing to tell you. You remember the deal in Amantis with Weiss and his crowd. ”

“ Now there was Captain Drake’s hurried departure and when she saw his hesitation her conjecture seemed to be verified.
“So Mr. Gaunt is going with you to the Congo?” she insisted.
“I wish you would not ask me these questions, Lady Ethel. I hate to refuse you but already I have been indiscreet. I would willingly tell you everything but in honor I am bound to silence,” he said earnestly.
“You have answered me, and I wish to know what it means. You must be aware that my sister and Mr. Gaunt have quarreled, and if he goes away for a long time, their estrangement may be forever. ”

“ Now that his was relieved of immediate anxiety about Lady Mildred, he had time to think what it really meant.
He had promised that every action of his life should be in keeping with the teachings of Christ. There could be no shuffling from the issue, for a solemn bargain had been made. God had fulfilled His part, and the rest remained with himself. A grim smile twitched at his mouth as he began to understand the revolution to which he was bound. Slowly memory was returning and his thoughts went back to his boyhood.
The teaching of one’s youth is never really forgotten. ”

“ It was with some interest that Gaunt examined the clergyman’s face, and he was not disappointed. Clean-cut features, noble in outline, steady eyes that regarded one frankly. The lips firm, but rather full; and the expression of the mouth was winning.
“What do you want? Money?” Gaunt demanded bluntly.
“You have guessed it, Mr. Gaunt. I see you have the Times there. If you have read my article, there is no need to say a word. I know you are a busy man,” Mr. Drake said with a smile. ”

“ Ever since the previous afternoon when her sister had told her what she had overheard in the library, her mind had been strangely perturbed. Her first impulse had been to run to her husband and ask if it were true that he was going to the Congo, but an unwonted feeling of shyness stayed her.
“Surely you cannot object to Mr. Gaunt’s wish to help the natives? His purpose is a noble one and worthy of the admiration of all good women,” he answered simply.
“I have never pretended to be a good woman, Mr. Drake. ”

“ It was true that marriage with the woman he had chosen, Lady Mildred Blythe, would increase his social prestige, but it was not for that reason that he was about to offer her his hand and a share of his wealth. During his early years—that grim time spent on the Congo—he had not spoken to a white woman, the amassing of wealth had kept him too busy to think of love. ”

“ The former was silent for a while, for he was trying to devise a means of reconciling Lady Mildred to her husband, while Gaunt was thinking of his wife.
“I am sure that Lady Ethel will be your friend. She will do all that she can to bring her sister back,” Drake said suddenly.
“You believe that?” Gaunt answered incredulously.
“Yes, for she will know that Lady Mildred’s happiness will lie in you. I sometimes think that you do not do justice to your sister-in-law. She is not the frivolous woman you imagine her to be.” ”

“ I will be quite frank with you, Gaunt. I was sent for by the foreign secretary, and he wishes me to tell you that your present action of fanning this Congo agitation is causing him serious embarrassment,” Lord Lynton said slowly and impressively.
“I can quite understand that he does not like it,” Gaunt answered with a faint smile.
“The present moment is inopportune for the raising of any international question. It is impossible for us to do anything without Germany, and she thinks us incapable of any action for philanthropic motives. ”

“ No brain was as keen as his when the result of a scheme meant money, and he was not the man to allow any delicate scruple to interfere with his plans. One principle he had—one that had helped him enormously, for John Gaunt’s word was his bond, and if a bargain were once made, it would be fulfilled relentlessly, even should it result in loss. ”