Mary Imlay Taylor

“ It seemed only last week that he had brought Fanchon up the train platform to meet his father. He had been proud of her beauty then; he had thought her unique and fascinating, and he had even liked the sensation she made in the old humdrum town. Now, he could not think of her without a shudder. He felt as if she had pilloried him in the public square. He would never be able to endure the place again, nor the people in it. It was too small. Each man knew all about his neighbor’s business. He remembered hearing Judge Jessup say that he found it hard to live in such a “nosey” community. ”

“ The look in Virginia’s eyes, the look that had roused him, came back to him only dimly. It was obscured by the scene that haunted him—the scene in the court-room. He could see the crowd of staring faces again, the judge on the bench, judicial and disinterested, the flushed, scowling countenance of the prosecuting attorney, the jury—and Daniel! How coolly his brother had stood in that heated, tense atmosphere! How his eyes [335] had kindled and his voice pleaded for the boy’s life! For jail would have been a living death to one so young.
Leigh rose before him, too. ”

“ He was going in to see Daniel. He liked to talk to him. But, as he entered the wide, old hall, he heard the soft strains of Virginia’s music. He stopped involuntarily to listen. She was playing an old tune, a love-song that the colonel loved. Virginia’s grandmother had played it to him.
The old man stood listening, his eyes dreaming. Music is the most poignant of all reminders. The old hall was the same into which he had led his bride so many years ago. There was Grandfather Denbigh’s clock in the corner, with the sun and the moon and the stars inlaid on its dial. ”

“ He would, indeed, have loved to dwell upon it, but for that look of doubt and pain in her eyes when she first heard of [56] William’s marriage. Love’s vision is excruciatingly clear when it is looking at love revealed. He knew now! And he had found it too hard to go there; he felt as if he had, in some mysterious way, become heir to his brother’s falsehood. He was bearing a vicarious punishment by denying himself a sight of Virginia’s face; but he thought of her with a constancy that shut out his brother’s bride. ”

“ Row upon row of faces! He had never seen so many faces. He knew many of them. His old friends and his acquaintances were there, and strangers. Then he heard Daniel’s voice, and it cut like a knife-thrust:
“And your first meeting with this man Corwin?”
William turned and looked at her then. The light from the little lamp on the recorder’s desk was playing strange tricks. It caught Fanchon’s face now and illuminated it—a face small and pale and piquant, with the eyes of a wild fawn, the adorable face that William had seen first in Paris—only a few months ago! ”

“ Payson’s prize watermelon.
Virginia sat very still as the night deepened. The air was full of delicate fragrance from the flower-beds below her feet. Far off at first, and then nearer at hand, the insects began their incessant clamor, which seemed only to make the stillness more complete by contrast. Above, the pale sky began to darken, and one by one the stars came out, softly obscured by clouds and shining through them, as the candles at an altar sometimes shine through a fog of incense.
Time passed; the old clock in the hall chimed. ”

“ His eyes, traveling over Virginia’s bright head, rested suddenly on a little portrait of a baby boy that hung above her piano in an oval frame. He recognized it with a grim tightening of the lips. It was an old picture of William at the tender age of three. His mother had given it to Virginia when she thought Virginia was to be William’s wife. Doubtless it was an awkward thing to give back, and perhaps—Daniel did not finish the thought.
“I’m going into politics if I can,” he said dryly. “I’ve got to have some interest, Virginia. A cripple can’t sit still and think about being a cripple.” ”

“ Daniel, who was still standing, leaned against the mantel, supporting himself and watching her gravely, unsmilingly.
“Fanchon,” he said gently, “you don’t understand. It’s been your misfortune to come to us without knowing us. We’re just old-fashioned, stodgy people, and you amaze us. You’re like a bird of paradise in a chicken-yard. Give us a little time, Fanchon.” He paused and then added soberly: “My brother loves you.”
She tossed her head, her bosom rising and falling stormily.
“Leigh does!” she cried in a choked voice. “The boy—Leigh!”
“I mean William,” said Daniel. ”

“ Daniel perceived the curious faces, and was aware of the hush as he approached. Here and there a man took pains to speak to him in sign of open sympathy, but not often.
The long, pleasant street was rather dim under the arching trees, except where a lance of light shot across it from a street-lantern, or the headlight of a passing motor illuminated it broadly for a moment. The inn opposite his father’s office was still brilliant for some belated diners, and he was aware that two or three of the waiters came to the door to stare at him as he went by. ”

“ The look of a man—a man who has killed—was in those young eyes!
William drew his breath hard. Her work, he thought bitterly! And yet how she haunted him! He could see more plainly than anything else her small, white face with its pointed chin and its fawn-like eyes. He could hear her voice, sweet and hurrying and light, with the spell of sex in it—how it haunted him, too! But he was done with her. He set his teeth hard and clenched his hand, walking on.
He walked blindly. A taxi passed, but he was unaware of it. ”

“ Pain forges a tie deeper than the ties of joy. Dan loved the town.
As he walked down the old street to-day its familiarity eased the pang at his heart. His pain was vicarious, he imagined how Virginia Denbigh would suffer when she knew. He raged, too, against his brother—the brother whom he had always loved and trusted! For there had been a bond between the two elder Carter boys, cemented by the death of the two children who came between Daniel and Leigh. Now, a reflection of his [20] father’s anger at William sent the blood up to Daniel’s pale forehead. ”

“ Poor Daniel cared for her! She was afraid that he cared more than she had dreamed. It touched her so much that her eyes misted.
“Nightmare? Not a bit of it. I tell you what to do, Virginia—when you’re through with it let me have it. I’ll hang it up over my desk when I [193] want an inspiration. A poor lawyer needs an inspiration. The law’s as dry as dust.”
She lifted her eyes reluctantly but smilingly to him. She had almost been afraid to meet them, but she was not now. Dan’s look was just the same look he had always given her—and she had never understood! ”

“ Fanchon turned, caught at a chair-back, and clung to it, laughing wildly.
“You’re so sorry for me—and he loves you!”
“No,” said Virginia, “he shan’t! If he did, it would make no difference. Fanchon, I want you to leave this place and come with me. Let me take care of you. You’re too ill to stand up.”
“To stand up? Why, I’m going to dance for the pictures. You call me ill? I can dance. Attendez!”
She let go of the chair to which she had been clinging, and seemed to listen, her head bent and her brown eyes brilliant, her whole small figure quivering and tense.
“Mon Dieu—I hear it—the music!” ”

“ Virginia would have been less than human if she had not thrilled at the thought that he must regret it. She felt that he did. He had already [281] almost said so. He had been caught; she knew it! What woman, placed as Virginia was, would not have felt that! In the rush of sympathy for him she blamed only Fanchon.
She remembered the night at the Sunday-school hall and Fanchon’s blanched face at the sight of Corwin. Corwin had made Virginia shudder; but such men as this had been Fanchon’s associates, such men as Corwin had been part of her life, and William Carter had unwittingly married her! ”

“ Daniel laughed softly. “You should always smoke, Fanchon. Without it you’re a prey to sadness, to memories, to imagination. With a cigarette you’re happy!”
[63] “Mais non, I’m not happy!” She lifted her lashes and gave him a fleeting glance. “But it soothes me. I’m not happy, because”—she rose and stood looking at him, the cigarette in her fingers—“because I know you all wanted William to marry her!”
With one of her sudden, birdlike dives, she touched the picture of Virginia Denbigh on the mantel. In spite of himself, Daniel started violently and colored. ”

“ Leigh was aflame now, and Daniel was silent. Like a flash arose the picture of William and Virginia. He had felt sure for a long time that William had repented in dust and ashes. The boy was right; no man who loved a woman would have sat there and waited that night.
“Corwin was insulting my sister-in-law,” Leigh [233] went on. “He was lying about her and blackening her. I wouldn’t stand for it. I didn’t wait to tell father. Father has never been just to her. I went home and got his pistol. I was going to hold it to Corwin’s head and make him write a retraction—that’s what I went there to do!” ”

“ Mr. Carter laughed.
“Mama can just about say, ‘oui, oui,’ like a pig,” he said bluntly. “You women hurry up; I want my supper.”
Fanchon, with one foot on the stairs, turned and kissed her hand to him.
“I’m coming,” she declared. “I’m starving, too. I won’t be ten minutes!”
“She means two hours,” said William, his eyes following the small figure with a look that did not escape either his father or Daniel.
“She’s turned his head,” the latter thought moodily, not unaware of the charm of the light, hurrying voice and the accent, delicate and sweet, that made her English so exotic. ”

“ They had been noble-minded—as noble-minded as her grandfather was to-day. In his simple, kindly old-fashioned way, Colonel Denbigh was a gentleman, and Virginia knew it.
She clung to the window-sill, her hands trembling. She had a woman’s heart, she was very human—William had come back! How some women would have triumphed in a rival’s misfortune! ”

“ She came in and flung her hat down on the table, uncovering her lovely, spirited head. She was dressed in a pale-yellow, clinging garment that seemed to reveal every line of her small figure, and certainly displayed her ankles, in silk stockings as amazing as Emily’s.
“You’re awfully good people,” she said bitterly. “Mon Dieu! I’d rather meet some bad ones—who’d let me alone. You’re helping to make my husband hate me!”
[155] Daniel’s face sobered.
“You’re doing William an injustice,” he said quietly. “I’m sure he doesn’t hate you. I’m very sure, too, that I’m not trying to make him.” ”

“ Virginia hung up the telephone receiver with an expression of keen relief. She had just heard of Leigh’s acquittal.
“Dan got him off!” the colonel told her jubilantly. “I knew he would! Say, Jinny, I shan’t be home for lunch; going over to the club with Payson and Jessup.”
Virginia smiled to herself. She knew how the old man would enjoy it, and she did not care for any luncheon herself. She told Plato so, half an hour later. The old man retired grumbling.
“’Deed, Miss Jinny, yo’ be sick. I’m gwine to tell de col’nel!” But she only laughed at him. She was, in fact, too nervous to eat. ”

“ It’s your pity, Virginia—that’s what I’m trading on—when I talk of my lameness.”
Virginia rose suddenly from the piano and came over to his side. Before he knew what she was going to do, she had laid one of her firm young hands on his shoulder.
“Hush!” she said sternly. “You’re getting embittered; you’re losing the proportion of things, Daniel. If you talk like that I shall not pity you; [226] I shall not even be your friend. Remember the gifts you’ve got, the brains God has given you. Aren’t you ashamed of yourself, Daniel Carter?” ”

“ Carter, following his look, suddenly noticed her daughter’s eyelashes and nose. In an illuminating flash she remembered that first night in Emily’s room.
“Oh, Emmy!” she gasped. “You’ve painted your eyelashes!”
Emily clung to the back of her chair.
“I had to, mama. They’re horrid and white.”
“Good Lord, that minx is teaching my daughter to paint her face! Mama, you ought to be ashamed of yourself. Can’t you watch your own children?” bellowed Mr. Carter, beside himself.
“Emmy, I’m ashamed!” Poor Mrs. Carter sat gasping, her mouth open. ”

“ For William Carter’s sudden marriage abroad had aroused no small amount of gossip.
The hall began to fill early. Virginia Denbigh, who had come down with her grandfather, glanced over it with a thrill of pleasure.
“We’re going to make it,” she said softly, “every cent! Look, grandpa, they’re selling the last seats for five dollars—away back, too!”
“Scandalous!” retorted the colonel. “Can’t see a thing there but the top of Mrs. Payson’s bonnet, and there’ll be a draft from the door. You’ve got no conscience, Jinny. Make them sell those for a dollar.” ”

“ Mrs. Carter’s mind dwelt upon this with a feeling of maternal pride, still tempered with anxiety, when she became aware that Emily and Leigh were quarreling openly because of the latter’s unfeeling remark that a girl with a snub nose and freckles should never do her hair in a Greek knot.
“It’s enough to make a cat laugh,” said Leigh. “What have you got to balance that knob on the back of your head?”
“Leigh, dear, don’t plague sister so,” Mrs. Carter remonstrated mildly.
“As if a boy like Leigh knew anything about a girl’s hair!” cried Emily indignantly. “It’s a psyche-knot.” ”

“ Emily flared up. “Willie was engaged to Virginia Denbigh up to last week—and I know it!”
But, to her surprise, it was Leigh who broke out suddenly.
“What does it matter?” he cried. “If William’s fallen in love at first sight, he can’t help it, can he? It’s too much for a fellow, isn’t it? When a man sees a woman he loves at first sight—it’s—it’s like a tornado, it bowls him over!”
“Eh?”
Mr. Carter turned and stared at his youngest son. So did his mother. Leigh was a high-school boy preparing for college. ”