Mrs. Burnham

“ Burnham’s animosity is suppressed it is all the more dangerous. Take a friendly tip from me; do not trust him, and remember, he has great influence over his wife.”
“If Evelyn will but marry me, we need not heed Burnham,” exclaimed La Montagne.
“And what have you to live on if you married without Mrs. Burnham’s consent?” asked Marian dryly. “Ah! forgive me,” as La Montagne colored hotly under his tan. “By the terms of her father’s will Evelyn can only inherit her fortune by marrying to suit her mother. If Mrs. Burnham disapproves, the fortune goes to her instead of to Evelyn.” ”

“ Marian’s low “Thank God!” reached only Mrs. Burnham, and that astute dame, catching her expression, acted with promptness.
“It’s been a horrible six days,” she confessed, “with every one suspecting every one else. Evelyn, if you hurry, you can catch the Society Editors at their office. Tell them to put in the morning newspapers that Mr. and Mrs. Peter Burnham announce your engagement to Captain René La Montagne and that the marriage will take place next month.” ”

“ When it is once done no one can prevent you from taking the name and the property to which you are entitled and using them as you see fit."
"But my mother!" said Ralph, anxiously, "my mother; she's all I care about; I don't want the property if I can't have her."
"And you shall have her, my boy. Mrs. Burnham said to me this morning, that, until your claim was duly proved in a court of law, she would have no legal right to accept you as her son; but that, when your identity is once established in that way, she will receive you into her home and her heart with much joy." ”

“ Burnham, who was not noted for early rising, flushed at the housekeeper’s insolent air; she was a woman, however, who carried the war into Africa when occasion arose, and discourtesy from a subordinate or servant instantly aroused her resentment.
“I expected to find you up, Matilda,” she said. “Dr. Hayden told me last evening that he had crossed you off his list of sick patients.”
“I know how I feel better than Dr. Hayden,” responded Mrs. Ward sullenly. “I am not able to work; I am as weak as a kitten.”
“Staying in bed won’t strengthen you,” answered Mrs. Burnham practically. ”

“ She approached eagerly. King, glancing around at a sound, suddenly saw beside him a blue-clothed figure with long, white, pipe-stem legs, and white sneakers. The newcomer's red braided hair glinting in the sun was surmounted by a voluminous blue bow.
As he turned his head, the better to see his visitor, she burst forth in one breath: "I'm Miss Belinda Barry's help, Blanche Aurora Martin, Blanche Aurora for short, and I've brought you a snack, O King."
The invalid turned, chrysalis and all, the better to view the bowl being extended to him. ”

“ Mrs. Ward shook her head. “I can’t help you there,” she replied. “I’m plain puzzled myself.”
“There is always a solution to a puzzle,” responded Mrs. Burnham. “Answer my questions and we will find it. At what hour did you reach this house?”
“Tuesday afternoon, just after Miss Evelyn found the dead man.”
[117] “And where did you spend Monday night?” Mrs. Ward’s eyelids flickered and Mrs. Burnham continued tranquilly: “I am quite aware you left Chelsea Monday afternoon, Matilda.”
Mrs. Ward made no response and after a lengthened pause Mrs. Burnham spoke again. ”

“ Craft," said Sharpman, "stand up right where you are. I want to ask you one question. Did the child whom you rescued from the wreck have on, when you found him, this cap, cloak, and locket?"
"He did."
"And is the child whom you rescued that night from the burning car this boy who is sitting beside you here to-day?"
"They are one and the same."
Mrs. Burnham threw back her veil, looked steadily across at Ralph, then started to her feet, and moved slightly toward him as if to clasp him in her arms. For a moment it seemed as though there was to be a scene. ”

“ Burnham was announced, but there are always kind friends;” she laughed mirthlessly. “Women do not spare their own sex, doctor; even my daughter’s intimate friend, Marian Van Ness, stated I only married Peter to get rid of him.”
The frantic ringing of the telephone bell interrupted her, and with a hasty apology Hayden crossed the room to the instrument. Mrs. Burnham seized the opportunity to relax in her chair; the interview had taxed her strength. Happening to glance in the direction of the door she saw the [271] Japanese servant pass down the hall, long wall brush and dust pan in hand ”

“ Geraldine was exquisite to look at now as she faced her jailer. That ethereal quality which was hers gave her spirituelle face a wonderful appeal.
"Ben was right," thought Mrs. Barry with a thrill of pride. "She is a thoroughbred."
"Mr. Carder," she said, approaching still nearer, her peremptory tone forcing him to turn his long, twitching face toward her, "Miss Melody is about to marry my son. He will attend to any business you may have with her."
"Huh! That's it, is it? You don't look like the kind of woman who will enjoy having a forger in the family."
The girl's eyes closed under the stab. ”

“ Mrs. Burnham straightened up and her indignation was plainly manifest. “You must be out of your head; don’t utter any more such remarks in my presence.”
“Well, why don’t you order that taxi-cab?”
“Because Dr. Hayden said you were to—What is it, Jones?” she broke off to ask as the butler came into the room.
“Mr. Palmer, ma’am.”
“Ask him up.” Burnham half rose, then sank back and his wife observed his sudden pallor with concern. “Would you mind leaving us together, Lillian? I want to speak to Palmer confidentially about my—my affairs.”
“Are you strong enough? Better wait, Peter,” she coaxed ”

“ His offer to take part in the tableaux had been eagerly accepted and a telephone call before he left the Burnhams’ had apprised him that his presence was very much needed at the theater. He had hoped to find Evelyn and Marian rehearsing their rôles, but neither had turned up, although he had waited long after his tableau had been tried out and thereby missed his luncheon at the Burnhams’! The thought of luncheon reminded him that he had been exceedingly rude to Mrs. Burnham, having, in his absent-mindedness, forgotten to telephone her that he would not be there for that meal. ”

“ Jane Foster regarded him calmly. "'T ain't habitable," she said.
"I'll make it so," he returned forcefully.
"I can't imagine—" she began slowly.
"You don't have to," he interrupted ar [382] dently. "Imagining is my business." He beamed upon her with a smile that warmed her through and through from the chill of the boat. "If you haven't any other use for it just now—"
"Oh, 'tain't any use," she said slowly.
"Then I may?" Phil embarrassed Miss Foster terribly by seizing her hand.
Violet observed them from a window. "Is Mr. Sidney proposing to Miss Foster?" she laughed, turning to Eliza. ”

“ The lady leaned back wearily in her chair.
"Then I fear you have come upon a futile errand, Mr. Sharpman," she said.
But, from the lawyer's stand-point, it began to look as if the errand was to be successful. He felt that he could speak a little more strongly now of Ralph's identity with Mrs. Burnham's son without endangering his cause.
"Can you remember," he said, "nothing about the lad's appearance that impressed you—now that you know the claim set up for hi—that impressed you with a sense of his relationship to you?"
"Nothing, sir, nothing whatever. The boy is a bright, frank, manly fellow ”

“ The memory seemed to make the small piquant nose tingle, for Blanche Aurora wiggled it and snapped the china-blue eyes.
"She cries a good deal, I suppose."
"She never cries," declared the small maid indignantly. "Why should anybody that can have anythin' in the world and do anythin' in the world cry? I didn't know Miss Linda could cry; but her beau came over—"
The gray eyes lifted again, for a moment, but the convalescent's appetite appeared to be still ravenous. ”

“ He struck the floor viciously with his cane.
"Easy," said the lawyer, soothingly, "easy; I fear the boy has been his own master too long to be bullied. We shall have to work him in a different way now. I think I can manage it, though. I'll have him come down here some day, after we get Mrs. Burnham's refusal to acknowledge him, and I'll explain matters to him, and show him why it's necessary that you should take hold of the case. I'll use logic with him, and I'll wager that he'll come around all right. You must treat boys as though they were men, Craft. ”

“ Ralph went to a small closet built into the wall over the chimney, and took from it a little box.
That box contained his accumulated savings. With a large portion of the money he had thought to buy new clothing for himself. He had determined that he would not go to live with Mrs. Burnham, dressed like a beggar. He would have clothes befitting his station in life. Indeed, he and Uncle Billy were to have gone out the day before to make the necessary purchases; but since the change came the matter had not been thought of. Now he should pay it to Simon Craft as the price of his freedom. ”

“ I don't have anybody to play wiv me half the time, 'cept Towser; an' yeste'day I asked Towser if he wanted you, an' Towser said 'bow,' an' that means 'yes.'"
"There! you see we all want you, Ralph," said Mrs. Burnham, smiling; "the entire family wants you. Now, you will come, won't you?"
The boy had looked across to the little girl, over to Bachelor Billy, who stood leaning against the mantel, and then down again into the lady's eyes. ”

“ Eliza caught sight of the table, and suddenly threw up both hands with an exclamation.
"Mr. Sidney!" she cried. "I've given you the wrong barrel!"
"What? What's happened?" inquired Phil, halted by her tragic tone.
"All Mrs. Ballard's best things are in that barrel; the old china that was her mother's, and the solid silver, and everything; and I've gone and sent yours with the substantial crockery and the beddin' to the island!"
Edgar Fabian regarded Eliza as inimically as his stepmother might have done. So this old servant had been carrying off the heirlooms and been discovered. ”

“ Evringham quickly. “I'm sure Dr. Ballard will be here soon. You would have to come right down again.”
“That is not the reason I don't go,” returned the girl. “It is because I am not an Evringham, and I have determined not to arrive at friendly relations with any one of the name. When I once escape from here, they will have seen the last of me.”
“The way of escape lies open,” returned her mother soothingly. “I'm glad you have on that gown. If a man cares for a woman, he always loves to see her in white.”
As soon as dinner was over, Mrs. Forbes ascended the stairs to see her prisoner. ”

“ I asked to have this cottage, and he gave it to me, and I have come now to give it to you, Mother Lemon."
"My lad!" exclaimed the amazed woman, and her eyes swam with sudden tears.
"You will have no more rent to pay," said Gabriel, stroking the cat.
"And what is to become of you?" asked the woman, much moved.
"I cannot go home," replied the boy quietly; "and in any case I have to give Topaz, the dog, back to his owner. Why do you weep, Mother Lemon? Haven't I God to take care of me, and isn't He greater than all men?" ”

“ Finding effort to free herself futile, she set her tea down on the arm of her chair, and quickly taking up the cup, deliberately poured the hot, creamy liquid over as much of her captor's cuff as was visible. The cuff collapsed, the tea was hot. King abruptly dropped the girl's hand, and set himself to wiping his own with his handkerchief.
"Now, will you be good?" laughed Henry; but Harriet fixed anxious eyes on the arm of the chair, hoping that Bertram's hand and cuff had received the whole of the baptism, and groaned within herself over the talents of her young sister as a trouble-maker. ”

“ As if in the long run it mattered if Mrs. Barry was a little cantankerous. She's run everything around here so long that she forgets her boy's a man with a mind of his own. It's awful narrow of you, Geraldine, awful narrow!"
Upon this the girl lifted her head and smiled faintly into the accusing face.
"Won't it be nice to have Pete help us move," she said innocently.
Miss Upton's lips tightened. She dropped her arm, moved away, and put the droopy hat back in its box.
"You're heartless!" she exclaimed. There was such a peachy bloom on the girl's face. "I won't waste my breath." ”

“ Just at present you're my guest."
"Oh, am I really, Cousin Thinkright?" cried the girl eagerly.
"Surely you are."
"Then I can begin to have a good time right off," she exclaimed, her white cheeks flushing as she took his arm in her relief.
He smiled as they walked slowly up the incline. "Always have a good time," he said. "The daughter of a great King should hide her head in shame if she admits any other thought."
CHAPTER VIII
IN HARBOR
As Cap'n Lem's team drew deliberately up the hill to the house, his daughter-in-law and grandchild came out on the doorstep. "Hello, Lucil ”

“ Burnham should know it, Mr. Goodlaw should know it, Mr. Sharpman should not conceal it, Rhyming Joe must not be allowed to depart until he had told it on the witness-stand, in open court. He must see him, Ralph thought; he must find him, he must, in some way, compel him to remain. The sound of the man's footsteps had not yet died away as the boy ran after him along the street, but half-way down the block his breath grew short, his heart began to pound against his breast, he pressed his hand to his side as if in pain, and staggered up to a lamp-post for support. ”