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MiaoCOW lESOtUTON ItST CNAIT
'ANSI and ISO TEST CHART No. 2)
^ APPLIED IMj GFU
S^ ■.^^■' ^'^»' "Oin Streei
r^= "■achMter, New York U609 USA
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' V"- ,
•THE SIDE
THE ANGELS
•basil'king •
/■
"■>
J! , /
V
^
1 M CLAUDE. don't VOU REMEMBER ME?"
The Side
of the Angels
A Novel
By BASIL KING
AUTHOP. OF
"The W«y Home," Btc,
With Frontliplece
By ELIZABETH SHIPPEN GREEN
A. L. BURT COMPANY
Publishers New York
Publlihcd by Arrangement with Hakfer ^ Skothk&i
r ^jiu-i i
I5S5
259026
Tmb Sidb or m Amgki
Copyritht, 191S. 1016, bjr Harper ft Brotbwf
Priiit«d in tb* United StatM of Amria
PabliriHd Febrawy, 1914
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
"My lord, I am on a,e side of the angels."~Tnu^u.
CHAPTER I
would have been littw "* .7*°' <» even in i860, there
almost as good as f ho »* T ^ ""^ Thorleys, and
asi76o.thf^ysn2htW^2r- <^e ^^^ far
the Thorleys hS ™f ^^p ^ "^^dered better than
««nparison!wSetwSS„^°T''*^«^ "^^'^^^ °f
men- dergymen, and^unf,7^ f ^^ ^*^ as yeo-
conscience- sake which had Trl^^I t^^"* °* *""^ f«
leys out of the Zt^XI'^^^ 1^^-"°'' ^^'^ Thor-
and thirty years befOTT^ ^^^ "^ hxaOreO.
WilloughbyT. ^^SZlSt. r^^'- ^^^''•
«««n«nity of interests de vS t ° »1!?°"'" '^^ ^
«anied. If from thf^S^^tt^'^^- ^^**-
process Of intermamage the Pays
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
were, on the whole, excluded, the discrimination lay in
some obscure instinct for aflSnity of which no one at the
time was able to forecast the significance.
But by 1910 there was a difference, the difference
apparent when out of the flat fannlands seismic explosion
has thrown up a range of mountain peaks. For the ex-
pansion of the country whicn the middle nineteenth cen-
tury had wrought, the Thorleys, Mastermans, Willough-
bys, and Brands had been on the alert, with eyes watchful
and calculations timed. The Fays, on the other hand, had
gone on with the round of seed-time and harvest, contented
and almost somnolent, awakening to find that the ages
had been giving them the chances that would never
come again. It was across the wreck of those chances,
and across some other obstacles besides, that Thorley
Masterman, for the first time since childhood, looked into
the gray-green eyes of Rosie Fay and got the thrill of their
wide-open, earnest beauty.
He was then not far from thirty years of age, having
studied at a great American university, in Paris, Berlin,
and Vienna, and obtained other sorts of knowledge of
mankind. He knew Rosie Fay, in this secondary, grown-
up phase of their acquaintance, as the daughter of his
first patient, and he had obtained his first patient through
the kindly intervention of Uncle Sim. From February to
November, 1910, his "shingle" had hung in erne of the
two streets of the village without attracting a patient at
all. He had already begun to fed his position a trial
when his half-brother's daily jest turned it into a hu-
miliation.
^^ "Must be serious matter, Thor," Claude would say,
"to be responsible for so many valuable lives."
_ Mr. Leonard Willoughby, his father's partner in the old
banking-and-broking" house of Toogood & Masterman,
enjoyed the same sort of chaff. "Looking pale, Thor
Must be working too hard."
"Never mind, Thor," Mrs. Willoughby would en-
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
?^Z^." ""^ !•« ai y- shall get n.^b«t then
At such miimtes her dauehter Lni« <-r».M i -i
Ss^Thrj^""™^ ^^- ^ «-^ thi^
Nevertheless, he was puzzled. Havine disreMT,1«i ».,•.
future poMcssion of money and preSwS^
useful career with aU the'^th^^^he" Sm*
ffland. nobody seemed to want him iTwm nTSaf^I
vxUage was over-provided wiS^doctorelJ^ *^*
«^^ted tt.t it wasn't-^the^'^^;^<f ^,-«
settled m his native place. The viUage bein/^v a
township with a scattered population-^S ^ t h!
Village could scarcely be said to count No tte ^^t
actSn^^T"-- M^/^^owanL fj^th;
lact tnat a young physician must wait oatientlv ar,,! J;-
jUs position by degi«s, he had reason to f^T^^^"
He grew ashamed to pass the Uttle hoa^iT^CM
VOlage which he had fitted up as an X H^g^w
ashamed to go out in his runabout ^
The runabout had been worse than an extravapai,«.
«™g Mr. WiUoughby home from town when imfit t«
cLl ^ ^^!^' .^P«=l«^y ^ Claude were T^ht.
Uaude had envied hm, the runabout at firet. but soon
found a way to work his feeKng off
Anybody dying, old chap?" he would ask, with a
3
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
"Hope you'll get to him in
cud of his handsome lip.
time." ^
oa2 rfi^* "J!" 5™"^*. however, m the eariy
^^L^:"^ '"'^'^ that the young d^
one but Welf was ^<n^tZ ^'Z't£"C
guage of his neighbore, "a Httle off" 7/™= ^"t-
gtit^dt^^^^'ni^^^^^ - ^5""
gaunt, and so eager-eyed-and, except that there vras no
melancholy m his face, perhaps he did
or.j?'* ? ^"V°^ y°"" ""^e old man's voice was nasal
and harsh without being disagreeable ^°"^ "^ '"^
OTown sensitive, Thor was on his guard "Not nn«
^ s SiS^r ^' ^ '^'^^^ '^^^'^ 2 -^"
£^.3L^raSS'L^rr^[,tr2i-S
S^arS^t^^.'"^ ^'^ '""«' ingenuity-so I'^^l^
itS'SsS." ""^'^ '-'^ ^'^ -^« to «ive
" You'U wonder still less when you've seen the t«t,-«,f
C7™^''*''^"y\'^^- 'Membe- Jd^.S^O-
Theyoungmannodded. "UsedtobeOVknSalW
4
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
^^ i.^. ^t^f^~-.«-« - between
fi^K you the chance toS^- ^'^^ ^^' ^'^
you could thiTit^^.^^*'"8.«' ^^t he said if
case^nclesim-"he^«an,'c:^^r'' "^^°^ *''•'
can't i„; HcSl* 1^ i" «-J««tn>ent? No. I
«*« won't take ZT^J^, ^^ ^ood if I did. beca,U,
Perhaps I cotjd nmke her."
amused chuckling^'tK vSTIw? he continued his
'^'ty years, a so^etW iZtS^u, '^'^'^ T^ "^ his
would have plea^d FraLST^l'^^ST^^ ''^'
once been the SS^S^ofTf ' ""^^^ '° ^^^a* ^ad
half-dozen of tl^ t^^T^^ !f * ^^- All but a spa«e
houses. «m«,gh tht^itf tr^^^"" *° ^^ °^ ^oH
of vivid green Hp w= ^'''' ''^ "^d see oblonxs
paying hKt S^t to Ws'ST"'":^'' "^* ^''^ ^^^^
noti«> that the gi^ who oSiJ?I/^^°* «« «=^Iy to
almost ignored her °P*°*** <*« "^oor was pretty. He
"How do you do. Mi« Pay? I'm Dr. IT^orley Master-
5
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
mm I believe your mother would like to iee me. Mav
I go to her at onoe?" '
^^^ T \^ .T^ ''^'^y "d «t <*• foot of the
stauB when she said: "You can go right up. Butperhao.
I «.ght to tell you that she's St-^.'^she W v^
He looked at her inquiringly, getting the fim faint im-
pt««on of h« beauty. "Whafs the^tter. thenT
tebon she added. "Perhaps it's melancholy." Another
Mco^^passed before she said. "We've had a good deal
pe tone touched hfan. Her way of holding her head,
rathw meekly, rather proudly, sufficiently averted to
^Z^^u?V^'^*^'^^*°^^^^-^- "What
kmd of trouble?"
Ttv'°n T^ ^^\ ^"* ^*''" ^ y^ a»^t it herself.
It s all she'U talk about. That's why we can't ^T^l
thing for hei--and I don't believe you can."
"I'd better see."
FoUowing her directions given from the foot of the
f^^'J"* enter^ a barely furnished bedroom of which
two sides iMnedmward, to coiwspond to the mansard
gradmgoftheroof. One window looked out on the green-
houses. anoth«r toward Thorley's Pond. Be«<teX
IT^' " t?*?''' f Pljolstered annnchair, sat a tall woman.
faUy dressed m bUck. with a patchwork quilt of ^
S?r ^^ ^f ^I^- ^" ^^ °f B^y hair sMghtly
d^eveled ^i wfld gray eyes, she wa^ a handLne
woman who on a larger scale made him think of the girl
down-stiirs. '
burf^ of the situation to be on himself. "I'm Dr.
"If l^'?!I7^°»^ "t-r *^ """"^ '^'^' ""graciously.
^U you hadn t been a Masterman I shouldn't have sent
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
It^AS.So'i:^ ^ *« "-^ * t-o^ heart b, feeding
solid earth." There^ « w^i L 2° " '^°^ <»" the
^' rE^"^^^'-- heard that health is p«ttr
th^s'ScTTftu wS'' ""^« »-«-• ->«»
heaJth." "y°"^*8ot patience you can do without
Fay ••f L^S.""'" "«* - '^ 0^ a doctor. Mr..
•a^;;-* Z'lz of^;„rf,L ;-'i ""■ ^"- ^
for somethine else " ^h'^J^M u- -J^ ^^"^ *hem both
as she sLT-rd give S S.T''''"'^'^^y«y«'
better than I«tiencr::.d^tS't£ 3" JY^ad'
money I shouldn't care how sick T Zl iT" , "^^
there had beenTbof^f^' „"^ '^"^nbered now that
yeai.yrng«S4£sSf.*'"fj^^dxJS;X°'Kl'^
sympathetically. ^^ ^ <J^<ln t know- ' he began.
But you'd rather people didn't hear it, wouldn't you ?"
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
" I'd rather that they'd care whether I'm alive or dead,"
•he said, fiercely. " I've lived all my life in this village,
and my ancestors before me. Fay's family has done the
same. But we're pushed aside and forgotten. It's as
much as ever if some one will tell you that Jasper Fay
raises lettuce in the winter, and cucumbers in spring, and
f few flowers all the year round, and can't pay his rent.
I don't believe you've heard that much. Hav* you?"
He dodged the subject by asking the usual professional
questions and giving some elementary professional advice.
"I'm afraid, Mrs. Fay, you're taking a discouraged view
of life," he went on, by way of doing his duty.
She sat still more erect in her arm-chair, her eyes flash-
ing. "If you'd seen yourself driven to the wall for more'n
thirty year, and it when you got to the wall you were
crushed against it, and crushed again, wouldn't you take
a discouraged view of lite? I've lived on bread and water,
or pretty near it, ever since I was married, and what's
come of it? We're worse ofiE than we ever were. Fay's
put everything he could scrape together into this bit of
land, and now your father is shilly-shallying again about
renewing the lease."
"Oh, so that's it!"
"That's it— but it's only some of it. Look out there.
All Fay's sweat and blood and all of mine is in those
greoihouses and that ground. It's everything we've got
to live on, and God knows what kind of a living it is.
Your father has never given us more'n a three years'
lease, and every three years he's raised the rent on us.
He's had us in his power from the first — Oh, he's crafty,
getting us to rent the land from him instead of buying it,
and Fay that soft that he believed him to be his friend!—
he's had us in his power from the first, and he's never
spared us. No wonder he's rich! And you'i« coming
in for that Thoriey money, too. I know what your grand-
father Thorley's will was. Going to get it when you're
thirty. Must be pretty nigh th't now, ain't you?"
8
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
To humor h« Thor owned the date in the foUowing
Pebniary when he should reach the age fixed by hi* gnuid-
father for entenng on the inheritance.
"What -d I teU you? I remember you- grandfather
a. plain a. p^ain. Big. hard-faced man h. 'a,^^*
hteyou. My folks could remember him -.hen h^wH^d
garden-truck to back doors in the city. Nothing but a
XT'J^h '^- ^"'' "'"' ^^ "^^ o^ us-and he died
r^^ w vJ^^f f^' ^''^^ °° *° '•"^ ^'^ ««1 the Fays
didnt. N«ther did my folks, the Grimeses. If we'd been
crafty and hadn't sold till the city was ci^eping Z^
chimneys hke the Thorleys and the BrandsTwf should te
Zr^tT *"■ *^'i* 1°^ ^**«" ««t °^ W" will good
^ ^ ^°^ grandfather did. and now it '11 aU coi^e to
you. Why. there was a tmie when the Thorlevs hired
out to my folks, and so did the Willoughbys ! And now- 1"
She threw the quilt from off her knees and spread her
hfewatohing every one else go up and me and^e go
dowa-and I'm sick of it. I'm not sick any other way-"
^_ No I don't think you are." he said, gently.
COM ,~ *hat s bad enough, isn't it? If I had a fever or a
Mid jou could give me something to take it away. But
what can you do for the state of mind I'm in?"
He answered, slowly. "I can't do much just yet— though
I can do a httle-but by and by. perhaps-Jhen I Zw
more ejtactly what the trouble is— "
T.>e^°^ .^'* ^°'l '* ^^^ than I can ten you now
ll^T^'T"^^ ^ ^* all r can do to keep fixJ steXg
downtoThorley^ond, when no one's looldng, andth7ow!
mg myself in. What do you think of that?"
I thmk you won't do it," he smiled, "but I wouldn't
play with the idea if I were you." "»'i woman t
oulli^W^*^;" ff: ^'^' "^^"8 '^ ^y the arm and
EfeTJi *l°^ ^ *=^- " ^^ °"t °f that window."
He foUowed the pomtmg of her finger to a high bluff
2 9
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
*««*• WelTSMreW iS TEL**"/ Th«ftDndc
»"« but-deep." HS«L«h!i^K?^- After Uat aoth-
wJ'.rea*;ffi:;;i:SSi.^^-^^
•nd what I've wanted i.^^«^~*«^'t'«««»iiibowsr
t»«Nt. wd be soSg^StavJ II::?,*** to do «ne.
Med to hire out to my fX^H L^^* ''^ P~P^ "bo
J<Hlay. just because tteyWt^S^*^'^ "*" <««
I got it. too? I'm fiTK iTTU^y'*^'*
I-ouiaa Thorley— your Im ™!!u ?^ «°<»<* ichooling.
to .d.001 togeU.er'^^^rS"^^* ^-^^n- wJi
•he died when you wwTte™ S? "^^ with her and
old Miss Brand-iunt^n • t.^* "«*' to school to
WiIloughby^dl^Xht?:S''ir K *^r.*'' "^ ^
"fcetheywasinthos^lar^M: P**"**""*
poor. We was aU poor tSer-ll^r ""^^ "» *««
««ea«poo.ands^^^^^^y- And now
and lower dasses-and ev«^7^*?*"'"PP« »"««»«
«ick of it." ^^™" everything s got uneven— and I'm
sZ'tiS^f 'y^r^S* he ta^ to her with the in-
attention J^l SiX' tf*^ ^is «wa«Hn «
famestness was yotS^ " r SinV r"^ '^'^ that the
he finished when hT*!. r™* ^ ™"t nin off now "
"butruSd^^s^ettW '''' '^^''y ««^^
You'U take a -ble^STL^^TI S^Jt.:^^
zo
\ /*
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
fa^ ^ r'* «^««y-t«*. whew h. waTboS?
toapw. And «lo you know what auwh htai fuiTlt?
nSi but L^^^ ? <>«• wone thM that tWenty t^
^iJr. ™ • ™vuig round in nttomobilM. wWi«m-
poor bqy'i in Colecad."^ »»>«noouei, w&iie my
CHAPTER II
? I
■I
ill
R«=k 'rfth its SrS^t^ ^^ <^ neatness DuSc
change. ^ '^* °^ '^t* might be a welcome
"W'ff^^len^-h en he went ctside. he gazed
Pay-^slin:feUowS^^i°«=,^d- He^n^em^d
eyes. He had seeTm^ ^^ •' ^T^^ ^^ «d starry
«8ht«nyea«.th^ghZel^^:?"^•''^°StheS ,
P-eenhouses lay on that^i,; * I? '"^''er of fact, Fay's
Pondmostontof thewlyoaher.H'/-'^ °^ Thorley's
had new roads wormed W.^!», Pedestnan. Only of late
bank of the pond.^^ w'it"^.*' "^^ ""^h^
try-loving souls who dSr *^ "jy well-todo, coii-
a satisfaction to Thor'sfoft,^^ ^^ supshine. It was
only the best typ,oij£u'^'^^ Masterman. t^
among these sy^n riaX, ^ residence was goii^g „„
Jor^e^rt^^^SCJersUn^ that it should be so.
by a range of wo<Jded^ "t wS^'^ ^"^ the north
hdd out to the sunsCe Th^i^^- ^ ^^' 8^" cup
therefore, to the raising of earlv'^i^ ^^ favorable,
ever the frost was ouf of S'^J^^"-*?*-" When-
th igs growing in straiirht k ^^^'^- "Wongs of green
^the landsca^, wSSn'^y S the',:^^ '^^^
the township clambered Xt^ of „ Jfif' °^er which
Clusters of greenhouses glinted
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
like distant sheets of water nr,o », j
contest to the sparli„7uue e^'o^Aor./^*"^*" ^-
peroeive that they were not ti^y K W^ ' ^f"^. ^°'
a view, hemmed in by the wl^^^. • ** ^ Pleasmg
south, and a hint of the Ati^ °^ ^^ "^^ *^^^d the
every reason why fI/s pl^of ^^ i '^'' *^^ ^^
in value. '^ ^ P'°' °^ '^n^ should appreciate
th2"hl'rth^S/*r.^-: -"P-^ensible to Thor
instrument of oppf^^"^ t^" ^f* and stiU not be an
perceive this. It hS't„ liJ^ '*"?°'""2 t° him to
suspicions that had Si^hf Snd "" '^'^'^ble
and which wer^ not easy to^s^^ "^"^ "^^ '^°»«.
glass roof he could 2L^?r^'^-l°''T- ^'^^^ the
the crimson or white rf ^1? ^^^ °^ poinsettias and
other two house:Xltl'^t^^ri"L^^^'°°- The
green, representing lettuce T^U I^^^^^^ °^ tender
Abow-legged ItiaL wa? 1051%^*,^^°' *^^ '^^"P-
be«i opened for the milder paSh^^^^^''*' ^^^ had
replaced the covers on hoE llf ^V !"°*'' ^'^^
violets. From the high ft^^ v^""' '^^^^ ~«t^ed
yeUow-br<,wn smoke Se^Elv'^r ^- P^"«« °^
?dorof°S^eSS^^rhir.'^ ''^ --*■ --
mg. Pausing in her woriTthl „" f ,^?'"°« '"'^ '''°s«>m-
fength of thf greeS^o^^ks a h[L7^t^°^ '^' ^■
He went toward her Se^ wt,°' ^f 'V'" *° ^<^^^<*-
famations, on which thIwovS^'^^°fry-g^een
^ng their sheaths to Z'lav^heT^^''-'',"'^ ^^'^
Half covered up by a coar^infJ. ^^-P'nk within.
«t a high table, like a^teni?' f "'^°'""' '^^ ^'ood
poinsettias. counter, agamst a background of
hi;.'Sti°£Kv^t^^£ ?« -p^-d to
B ^ "^j^^'t^ directions concerning
THE SIDE OF THir axt^t,
^ ^ wr iHE ANGELS
"ise'STatiJ'.'^'* •* •'^ if we didn't by to
Tnor, whose ear xnw «».»■<.•
T*' pleasant toTsCtrTdl^J^^^i*^* "«* voice
an'Ple, unaflFected refin™ h ?**^ ""^^^ by a
was uitei^ted in h^^%, f^ "f ««fed because he
tion in watching her ^L ^J°^^ ? ^^ °f fasdna!
&om one end of th^t^ble tW •" °^ "^ Ao^t
farth from the heap S Se^I" !5 '^'^'^ « two of
ooked like a clust^ of %ow^'^ ^"^ « "^t that
then a little more earth iffi^ih^TT*^!^ <^<«^
«^ flower-pot as o^'tSt^on thtfl*^^.*° P'^
There was something rhythn^Tnu ^""^ '^^'^d her.
«fetail took the same aSZl n^ h«. movements. Each
»^ht have bete worlS^mi*^^ fj* *^«- She
f^^y the same g^^^^Tl^ ?* '^* '^d »ade
6«m the line in whidi ^yZvtS^ ^^^'^^ ^« took
P«ht hand described l^^l^^ ^gether. Her
«npa^«t petulant hanSf^^ "^« '^t^' every
Of sa^ S4* *^ «>-?" he asked, for the sake
5»^^?^^d:r^to;°v^ i^*^- «« -'t
tas mmd both ways at on^ n^' '^^' ^e makes up
a good thing out of i^ffloJSl.e'f.^\'^'« °^
And because othe«Xa bSr ^-1=^"'^ ''^'" ^^ ^'^t-
thinks he'll do that " ^ business m garden-stuff, he
''I^'not'^?*r"J-°'^Is. Isee."
^sdainfuUy tos^fh^ Str""^*/' ^« ^^ «>.
you;re a big martet^LS a^^^.?*^** P°*' """less
flonst unless you're a l^l^U.'^'l'* " »o use being a
^g nowadays to m^e it^^*' yS^T'^^ ''*' *° ''e
father IS that he does so ^ t^ ** *^"e with
l»«. ' she analvzed^nf? "^^ thmgs small. He sees
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
-^'gTen^^* ^ ^' -^^^ his fa«« on
nSrSS^-^ l^^ t? W lettuce and
whereas flowed were a iSS^'^^*«^^ happened,
scarce they didn't buy the^f i*^^''".'"°°«y ^
and funerals and CW^; "i'JT^^not for weddings
buythemataT SlTth^vi^*^ '""'y ^°^^t
and diffi-Jt. You S<^t tZ T^ ^^^^^ *» 'aise,
into the ground E^aL°l^''-'^''"^ ^"^"'^ ^d
gium; every Hly-b.Sb^,JJ^ -Po^ed f«>«n Bel-
were grown from slips but if hf '^i T' ^^'^ ^^aj^tions
they gavel Those a?'wEhhel?^T ^^"^ *^" *^°"ble
had the innocent air of sSn^anT^I^"^' f^ ^^'^^
accord, had been throJgS^tt^iT"! °l'^^ °^
esses since the slips werltaLiI^*,?*" four tedious proc-
First they had b^ pW^^ f ^e preceding February,
then tra^erre^r t S Sw tj5' "?' *° ^^^
bedded out in the ^d;n S w7°*jf*" ^^^- *«»
house. If he would^t^ioSd^^ ^^^' '"*° t'"'
aU that, to say nothiit n?T • ^ ^*^ involv.- ? in
watering, and 4pS'ehi^;rr^* T^« and
by night and by day-weU hTr^.M P'fP^^^^P^tote
He did see for W^tf hJ^a "^ ^^ ''^"^•
he was noting theSL ?Z ^ "" ^^^^y- because
of the pecZr ^^^S^^C^^T"^ *^^ ''^-
green- It was still absenSvTw f^]^ 7^' "^ <^aUed
have to work pretty h^^ *^* ^ ^^- "And you
She shrugged her shoulders. "Oh T ^r^'^ ■ ^ .
Anything to live." ' ^ °°n t aimd that.
"What are you doing there?"
reS "0h,Th^Tr^^.°°f ^...'>* -*- « she
begin on theni no^' ^ *^ ^^*«- l^*-- We have to
"And do yon do them aU?"
I i'
in ';!
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
"I don't blame them.
defiant if he hadn't found it frank.
Half the time they're not paid "
Would you hke doing what isn't of any use'-what
wiU never be of any use? Would voi. n^ t^T' i
nmmng as hard as ^ou can.T^t^^S S tfe^T
?W^1,,*° ?^*^u"- "^ *°^'J'>'t 1*6 it for long^-
gestS a£t? '^^S' '•'''' ^''^ ^ *°"gh he hfd sug-
gested a form of consolation. " It won't be fnr i«„„ t*
"Shf °^!ir"''^'* ^^""^ ^^ *°° ""=h alone." he advised
^He's off somewhere trying to engage a night fii^
••iSiSi^^KSelh^^SrsSe'Sd
Td^^Tit-^"^^- AndifweSrrx'
likf ^?thf,'° "u'' ""dtf^riously. "The thing she'd
happeS" Sl^.r •''°''^ ^° ^^' ^y e°^ when it
S "It'sV^^ i"? ^ ^'^'^ ^'h impetuous vehe-
Stti?co«,iof f ""^ ^t" °"* °^ 3"^1- He WiU be out
16
would]
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
«« Matt hanging about the house-for he'U never get
^He can help your father. He can be the night &«-
n^^HetLXXr.'SnS'^ the^talistlc .ove.
a night fireman by thfttC'^ Father won't need
bettS.iL^i:n't"£U'' T^' T^ •"°*''- --t
Duck Rock, now!,^3hS?..^°''^ *" "^"^ """^ ^
Idon't say allowed. But if she did-"
Well, what then'"
she asked, as if reaching a condS "K ^* ""'^^"
of It, it would be a gain aU^T " '''' ''^ °"*
wa^Sd^^B'^^t^--^ "^^V^ ^^ '^^' he
m^tbesomething^sS'e'J"""''"-''^-'^- 1^-
to v^ throwSg Sa c^Si^f '7'^^,^'^" ^P"'^^- ^^^d
mi-ion. "w'Jz:r:'f^:r^:^^.^'^^^^-
^^He_ spoke triumphantly. "Ah, there is one thing,
;; Yes but it may not happen."
a .?S^'r'^"»"r "^^ '- ''And ™,
17
$
! il
II i
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
" We should have to, because "—the svmf fi^-f ^ ^ v ■
He laughed as he held out his hand to L g^lbv
aS^Le"^. *«•--• And in any case it wc^'t"^.'^
o^^'2:3 ^t^" his hand on the ground that her
tMng ev» happenI*i^n^to'5^^ -J f ^|
you so. I can't play fair; but I'lJ S^ to m I aS"
Ilk
CHAPTER III
'THOR was deaf to these enigmatic words a the excite-
1 ment of perceiving that the girl had beauty. The
discovery gave him a new sort of pleasure as he turned his
runabout toward the town. Beauty had not hithert^
been a condition to which he attached great val le If
anything, he had held it in some scorn Now, for the
first time m his emotional life, he was stirred by a rirl's
iMre prettmess-a quite unusual prettiness, it had to be
admitted; a shghtly haggard prettiness, perhaps; a
prrttmess a httle worn by work, a K.tle coai^i^M bf^d
and weather; a prettiness too desperate for you4 and
tw tragic for coquetry, but for those very reasons doubt-
^aU the more haunting. He was obUged to remind
himself that it was nothing to him, since he had never
swerved from the intention to marry Lois Willoughby
as soon as he had made a start in practice and come into
the money he was to get at thirty; but he could see it was
the sort of thmg by which other men might be aflfected
andcame to a mental standstill ther».
Driving on into the city, he went straight to his father's
office m C«mnonwealth Row. It was ateady after four
dock, and except for two young men sorting checks and
putting away ledgers, the cagehke divisions of the banking
departaient were empty. One of the men was whistling;
iw ^?f '^^ ^ " '°"'^' eay voice, "Say, Cheever
what about to-mght?"-dgns that the enforced deconmi
01 tne day was past.
Claude was in the outer office reserved for customers.
He wore his overcoat, hat, and gloves. A stick hung over
19
^'i ' I
II i
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
fingets. P* fluttered between his gloved
Though his back was toward tl,» a ..
has half-brother's st^y^uJ^^T^' ^ ^cognized
imtation which Thc^s ^,2e^ f^*"^ °^ «"^y a^d
He was not without fraSSrl'''*'^' "'^^ '° ^■
Thor was away; wh^ K.1^™' "^^^^y ^hen
for Claude not to t^t the^ni """^ ' ^'^ ^^''"^t
caUeditsuperiority^w2toif>l.?'^°^'y- Claude
m^t no more th^ a c^Wi* ^ '^ '^"^- t»><««h he
self would have enjoyed ^''T °i ^^'^^'^^ he him-
njoney. his good sjirite „oS ST* ^°i'^ Prospective
Claude had not goS SaUrlwh'^''' ^1 8°°^ health,
ment, his lock ef good sS f^ ^."^- ^ Ws judg-
had Claude any L^SSdSifi'^^T'^- ^rith^
a/ear he earned in his faS offil^^l?" '""'^ doUa«
?f saying to himself, and iTc^n^''*- "^''^ ^ «>e haLit
it was "damned ha;dTck "Tw r^,.*° ?^' ^''■'°<^«' »»>«'
to Hve on a pittance itha^whf,"^^ ^ «»"P^"«d
months, would come into Tg^^ZV"^' '^'^^ * fe''
It was some consolation ^1^^^ thousand a year.
«f ed "an ugly beast "^ow^.Zt'''''-'^^""'^
along, narrow head thalCk^ ^«S?",J!!:^' "^"^
The eyes were not bad- that h,^* " had been sat on.
were as friendly as a weln^l?^ .^."^ admitted; they
was so big and ag^v??C"^ ^^'"J ^' *he mouth
was tryini to giow^In't^lr'"- ^^^ "^^^^ Thor
the nose and d^ ^y "^S-L^^ ^'*^^- As for
account-^ if the; had be^ Zi:^^''^* to Claude's
to a system of g^ot^ue^o^ft "Z^J ^^ ^»'i«oted
Claude could the morSlv^fu" ^'^ hardening,
ooks seeing that he WrSff w^L!?f \°^ "^ ^^t^er^
traits as regular as if th^h^t^**"^ handsome, with
so exact that it was fr^uentiv ^ T""*^' ^^ * P^file
wia-iows, to the envyTgentleme'Hf "" ^^^.^P^'
^ - tried to z^jr^rz^^ :z'a'Z
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
had been unsuccessful and had now disappeared Claude
wouldn't disfigure himself by a hair. He was as clean-
shaven as a marble ApoUo. and not less neatly limbed
"Gone." Claude raised his eyes just long enough'to
utter the word. '
Thor came to an abrupt stop. "Club'"
"Suppose so." He added, without raising his head.
Wish to God the drunken sot would stay there " He
?"'J"n^' 7^^ **"" apparenUy reading the tape in his
hand, "Fatliar wishes it. too." ^ t^ a
Thor was not altogether taken by surprise. Ever since
his return from Europe, a year earlier, he had wondered
how his fathers patience could hold out. He took it
that thoe was a reason for it, a reason he at once expressed
to Claude:
"Father can't wish it. He can't afford to."
Claude Ufted his handsome, rather insolent face
Why not?"
"For the simple reason that he's got his money "
'Much you know about it. Len Willoughby hasn't
enough money left in Toogood & Masterman's to take him
on a tnp to Europe."
Thor backed toward the receiving-teUer's wicket, where
he rested the tips of his elbows on the counter. He was
visibly perturbed. "What's become of it, then?"
Don't ask me. All I know is what I'm telline
you." *
"Did father say so himself?"
"Not in so many words. But I know it." He tossed
the tape from him and began to smooth his gloves,
i'ather means to ship him."
j|Shiphim? He can't do that."
"Can't? I should like to know why not "
;| Because he can't. That's why. Because he has— "
V^es? Cough it up. Speak as if you had something
up your sleeve."
Thor reflected as to the wisdom of saying more. "Well,
31
I
I : i!
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
I have, " he admitted. " It'« anm^k- t
tte time we were wi. Yw^*^ ^ '^'^ '^
But / noticed-«nd I hmWt^^ ^°^ *° "°««-
to Hve on." iSe dLTe? ^^^ ^^ -5", *"- «"°"«h
«««» than that of ^c^TT, ^."^ ^°^ °'> °^»
"Father persuaded \?r S^hb^^''';\,«^^'P«*'^°n-
by. money into the burinwTwh^^^ ^j ^"' ^"'°"8''-
"Ah. ahuclfsl" o.-.r^^ . "" ''® **» ' want to."
Paris, that fim time tl^took uHb^* "V'""' ^
only mne and I was twelve The^ th!^' r ^°",''««
>ng round one evening in that lit^ *?„r- ^ '^ •«»"«-
the rue de Ri,voli-the SX ' ''' '^^^ »* «
WiIloughbyrhadb^„h^'^iJ"'p'^„^'-^^^ The
and father got them to «L. I ." ** ■« years,
mother to t4 it u^ h ^wT^' J ^eani him ask
she didn't want to Tut faS'.^ r'^'^''^" ^°*''« ^^
agreed to try. She s^ tSf t?,fp '^f ^er. and she
because Len had «Sy ^^t ♦T^ '"'«'"** ^ "^8
-ts^of Sin^^. T'^'LZ^^^'' '^^ ^
to get into the consular smri^ tJld thf T^l^JT"**'' ^^'^
It wasn't his work tb^^^^^^V^ '?°'" ^^'^^- 1
when the TooponH «.♦.*- "io- was atter. It was just
«oney.andSirLS1ohaT^°''>^f;T«^<^»
SupS; r mtttlerad i'tw^ t^^ T *> *'^"«-
dxakes of U as S « hJ^^aX."?^"^. ''"'=^ »"'
tbegr^t hanker ^.f^^^:,---^^^^^^^
IliL-
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
el a fortune that he hadn't had a Kat cm the Stock Ex-
change yean before."
Claude miffed again. "You'd better carry your load
to father hiniself." '
•"•^ T^l^ ^ '^^^ ^•" ^^°^ Claude had found a
rejoinder, Thor w.nt on, changing the subject abrupUy
«o as not to be led into being indiscreet, "Say, Claude do
you remember Pay, the gardener?"
Claude was stiU smoothing liis gloves, but he stopped,
TOth the thumb and fingers of his right hand grasping the
middle finger of the left. More than ever his features
suggested a marble stoniness. "No."
"Oh. but you must. Used to be Grandpa Thorley's
gardenw. Has the greenhouses on father's land north of
tne pond.
^laude recovered himself slightly. " WeU, what about
" Been to see his wife. PaUent of Uncle Sim's. Turned
her on to me. They're having the deuce of a time."
Claude recovered himself still more. He looked at his
broAar cunonsly. " Well, what's it got to do with me?"
Nothing directly."
;|WeU. then-indirectly?" Claude asked, defiantly.
Only this, that it has to do with both of us, since it
concerns father."
Claude was by this time master of himself. "Look here,
Thor. Are you getting a bee in your bonnet about father?"
Good Lord! no. But father's immersed in business.
He can t be expected to know how all the details of his
policy work out. He's not young any longer, and he
isatm touch with modem social and economic ideas."
^ Oh, stow the modem social and economic ideas, and
let s get to business. What's up with this family— of—
of— What-d'you-call-'ems?"
With his feet planted firmly apart. Claude swung his
stack ainly back -id forth across the front of his pemn,
though he hstenwd with apparent attention.
»3
'■vrjL''"^ OF THE ANGELS
whenJhetalJ^ 2^!^ • •?5';t«^ '•«." ha explained,
.'•And what Jfd LTe^ J^^f.^eard father mention it."'
Poor old feUow-s a dSJrLt^'"^'*^ ^ » ^'"^^'^ •* "S
nutshell. Never <Jl^ J3e a Uv,?^' V«« it i, in i
member him?" "^'^ "^e a hvmg. Never wiU. R*.
■'wySien'irs''**".^^^<»-y«««"
old chap « e^^t::r'Sar'"""'^'"'-<'- Nice
Gentle as a sheep-^„d „« r^l ™Pf«ct'o^V d«ai,;,.
b>g. expensive pKiT a^t^e^T^'^M^ '^'^« «^t
than you thought. Y^lS^t T^^T."".?^ ^^x^t it
Again Claude ca.uz,hTi.- Z ' "'^^ >t."
•"l^tly. "OrnM^^'^^^Vhiftfaghisposit.^
say. When you s^e^f ■. at fiL''?.^' ^ ^^ ''^^^^ f^**
memory." **"* °' " at first the name slipped my
iaf'^d^^lto^f^^^th^ne. "^e son. in
^t Claude was again on his guard. "Oh. so there's a
Son about your age. Matt »,;»
must recall him. Us^ to r^nu °*?^ "*• Surely you
let us do it." ^'"P''^^ pease with us when Fay™
Claude shook his head
1 silently.
34
I
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
"And there's • gjri."
CUude's rtick hung limply before him. Hi. face and
figw^resumed their stony inanobiUty. "Oh. ii there?
"No; pretty. Very pretty. Very unusuaUy nrettv
Come to tUnk of it. I shouldn't mtad say^ T^^
w|U say Ul She's the prettiest girl I've iver seeii."
The eyes of the two brothers met. "Bar none "
The smile w Claude's lips might have passed for an
expression of brotherly chaff. "Go it, old dhap! Seem
■'Oh, it isn't that. Nothing of the sort at aU. I speak
of her only because I'm sorry for her. Brunt of whde
thing comes on her.
•'T?'' "1^' '^° ^°" '"■°POS« that we should do?"
... t.^'^*" ' K°' «s far as proposing. Haven't thought
the thing out at aU. But I think we ought to do Ze-
tning — you and I. '
"We Mn't do anything without father-and father
^^\^\^?^^ ^°°?- Fay '" l«ve to go. Good
tlung too; that s what I say. Get 'em all on a basis on
which they can manage. Fay '11 find a job with one of the
other growers—"
"Yes; but what's to become of the girP"
Claude stared with a kind of bravado. "How the
devtl do I faiow? She'U do the best she can. I supp,^
Go into a shop. Lots of girls go into shops."
Thor studied his brother with mild curiosity. " You're
a queer feUow, Claude. A minute ago you couldn't re-
member Fays name; and now you've got his whole
busmess at your fingers' ends."
But Claude repeated his explanation. "Got father's
l^Tw^ ""y. fingers' ends, if that's what you mean.
In su<^ big affairs chap hke Fay only a detail. Couldn't
rewll hun at first, but once I'd caught on to him-"
by movmg away toward the inner office, where Cheever
was still at work. Claude intimated that, as far as he was
3 as
THE SIDE OF Thp axt^^
^i* IHE ANGELS
^^^V^n^rS£i°^^^^^'^ He
ffnm-fool brother of X^^S^T ?-■ ^^ '«■ that
qu.ck. Awfully sonr£^V^'4:^.°"'--'^*,"
11 I
'I'M
m
m
1
I
CHAPTER IV
that had contained a cocktail ^vi-y g.ass
friendly covers of Vmustration and the IrT**^ h!
was safe. It was ndiculous that a man of his JrSl,^A
n» worid dKi not cease to be mean and spiteful
*7
m
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
Wl after he had had his cocktail u
change that took place tW-To. I' was wonderful th
sweet, slow, cheering iim^^^f''''"^^' ^^ "^^
fU'-ging, a glowing. ?„Sli^'r1r^«f- It was >
justment of the eyt of The J" r/' '^^ '"'^ the i^ad
as generous, kindly. It wlf^.« • "^"^^ *^« worlc
hhnself. with the happ7^nS°T"^f""~«^«>dkind]j
tobegotoutofh-fett^^heC- ™°'^ '^"^^
StiU. it was sometW to h ^^f'! w™ng from it.
couldn't be that Se Mtt'e™ ''r^' ^^^°"e
sessed a quirk eve «4,->„\ ■ ?"^ ^^'^ certainly^jos-
as the mal who^c^ul'^'pSi^S^ofT ^".^ °"^K
man on its feet. Three hur,H^/J^°°'^*^ Caster-
Bessie's money had gone into tWK°"'^^ ^°^' °f
jn time to profit by'rpanTc of ,« """T ™ '«9., just
had bought !-gilt-ed«d ffn^l ^ ^'^' ^'J- how they
how the^ haTtKtw yis S* *° nothing.-a:^
how much money they mTde H. ^" ""^^ ^new
either. There were v^I^ "e supposed Archie didn't
heen like a wheTfiJ^S^VtW^'M/^^''^^^ '^ad
and a hundredfold for e^e^s^^h;^^^"^'^ ^^ ^'yf°'<J
never attempted to keep 7tKn Iw'^ ""^^ ^e had
sufficient to know thZth^l°^J^^^ '^^ ha; it was
out. Besides, it had bee^r ^''^^^ P'^^'^ ^-^ take
first that Archie was toSthrdr^Hf'"*^^^ fr°« the
because it left him fre^f^fo^l"^- f^ hked this,
wmters in Egypt or aT^sSch " "" ^""^ ^^
AndVT^J-?--^t^ded toward somnolence,
sufficiently awake to put SwJ hanrf ""■ "^ ^^P*
and seize the tumbler hI ,^^ ^"^ *™« to time
another glass. If^brother^, k "^ ^^^" ^^'^ himself
to say. "HeUo. I^n i"o?^^^^^"^.f,'"'"ed near enough
^Pond with a 5S; "HeUo Tlr'"°"??Sy'" ^^ ««lcl
But he spoke as ou of a de^tl h °^', Hello. Jones!"
that weariness at beinl c^?£, k .* ^^^^ "^^ ««"= of
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
It was delicious to sink away from the prosaic and the bore-
some, to be so fuUy awake that he could follow the move-
ment in the street and the hopping of the sparrows in the
trees, and yet be, as it were, removed, enchanted, seeing
and hearing and thinking and even drinking through the
mediimi of a soothing, slumbrous spell.
It could hardly ever be said that he went '^jyond this
point. Though there were occasions on which he mis-
calculated his effects, they could generally be explained
as accidental. Above all, they didn't rise from an appe-
tite for drink. The phrase was one he was fond of; he
often used it in condemning a vice of which he disapproved.
He used it on this particular afternoon, when Thor
Masterman, who had come to drive him homeward in his
runabout, was sitting in the opposite arm-chair, waiting
to make the start.
"There's one thing about me, Thor— never had an
appetite for drink. Not to say drink. Thing I despise.
Your father's all wrong about me. Don't know what's
got into him. Thinks I take too much. Rot! That's
what it i.s— bally rot! You know that, Thor, don't you?
Appetite for drink something I despise."
^^ Thor considered the moment one to be made use of.
"Has father been saying anything about it?"
"No; but he looks it. Suppose I don't know what he
means? Sees double, your father does. Anybody'd
think, from the way he treats me, that I was a disgrace
to the firm. I'd like to know what that firm 'd be without
me."
Thor tried to frame his next question discreetly. "I
hope there's been no suggestion of the firm's doing without
you, Mr. Willoughby?"
To this Len gave but an indirect reply. "There'll be
one soon, if your father doesn't mind himself. I'll retire
—and take my money out. Where'U he be then?"
Thor felt his way. "You've taken out a good deal
already, haven't you?"
as
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
Yet can bet
I -^Vt^^^Zf^^t'^ *^.r . of course.
Which a:, pretty S^^^1j^,i_--al expenses
bety^LKrthaT"'^"^^'^*"--^"^- toucan
b J;w^CS^?^ir^;lr"^:,The H^ head of
swayed with a siow^ov^S^t^ l^."?^^"'^^^'''
was obvious that the tS« anf.^*^"^ •" * ^^^- ^^
Thor had been le^^gZ^re^t^t'Tf^ "^ "^'^^
were useless even who, a J^^J, , '^^ "^y- They
of the ruaaboiat and tTe keeSS V "k"?' T^^^''*
approached the viUage ro^d Z w ^^^ ^^'^ ^ * W
cursing of his ludT'^^^'^'^'g creature to a maudlin
wS:r£f ^hor'StSL'S-''^'^ P^^ °f t'^c task
became imminent It ^^If ^ .^^^ ^f X on him^tf
house, up to his room. ZTJ^tlbld' "^^^^'^ *e
bemg seen by Lois TW i,,? ^^ °° * couch without
out this duty Med She tlr'^/''"^^* ^^ carrying
father ia her m™?!;^,?^^^'^ ^^''cntly caUed for W
the village str^t le wt^E' ^1 ^J»>°r P^-ed down
figure toward the do(^ ThTLf J^^^^""^' ungainly
mnabout from the ea^e J^ T ^^ ^hor took h^ i
He was also more S^l ""l""- *^ «^<1 ^^
which the son^^bS^i^^^ ^ " ^"ding a way by
«rtage entS^^f ^eTci^J^T^^ ^^°°«- The
That it should be ^ wL % 3 ^Z^^^ *« "t^^et.
would have P«fe:^ThoSf sl^.'^"'""^^^^' ^^-
there never had been any hXfi^^^'^™'^'^' ^ufc
m It had been Len's d^~ f^ ^ I ^^ '"""ey came
old WiUoughby W Sr^^d^'' ^^ * Port.on'of the
-«onably be ^^iraJ.Sl «™ Vj""' '^«''*
there wa« nothing in the n«rkS ^f^i^.^JX'^S
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
I Street; and thcMgh he was satisfied with the site as en-
abhng hnn to display his prosperity to everv one wTo
sX'piir "^ -"'^ ^^«-"«^ ''^ ^^-- °f -
.. ^ ^f ^7°^*^"^ County street when he came out from town
dn i m.r^» ^"°"f '^' ^^"^^^"^ °^'' the low hills^e
t.ll It made a juncture with Willoughby's Lane, by de-
scending that anient cow-path and bringing Len to the
pnvacy of his side-door. Thor endeavored to keep hS
fath^s partner from becoming an object of pubU^
I SVe^hbr'^ " *^' '"* ^ °''^ *° «
, So far his methods had been successful. They failed
Ka^J^n^'T "-r '^^'^^ "^ ^* th« -de-"°-
t^^- ^^^^ ^-tee that grew over the pillars of
1 r^'^\^» '°^'* ^' ^ *« t"™«d roiSid^Th^t
she braced herself to meet the moment's humiliktir
spe_^ng on the mstant he drew up at the stepr^ '
s««. hi°^- 1°^ *^ ^'""S P^P^ ««* fr°« town! I'm
sure he s enjoyed the drive." Her hand was on the levS
Y^I^T* '^^ ^T. °^ '^^ "^l^^- "Poor pap^
M i™ " T "P- ,. ^ -^ ^y y°«'« not well. Be c^
feet. Thats a long step there. Take my Imd. I
know you must be as tired as can be"
1 1 self ^r^J^"" *^u^^^ complained, as he lowered h-m-
I self cautioudy. "Dog's life. Tha's wha' I lead No
' ^ ^"'J.*' ^*^^- ^»^'" ^e imprecation w^
^sUv "c,,^- ■^°"r.^"'f^**^''~'?"h«8«>^ed.
pee\^sMy. Stan m' nght in my Miray "
4,, -t >!f '^^"^ '^ *° ■"«•" Thor whiipered. " I know
JJ^whattodowithhim. One of the adages oSg
Willoughby had mind enough to dutch at this suews-
31 ^^
I' '
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
?do' Jo^S-utVoT?*' '^^ •* ^' Sick as a dog
good t4g abouTmeT^ ^^^'"^ ^" '^^- Tha's one
covered hinwithl^gleSinah.'^ ''r °" ^ ~"='>'
down the stairs ag^ It dW nn. ''^ 'I^P' ^"^ "«Pt
eaed by the nunu^^L t^l ! ^^%}'' eye. quick-
Lois ladced X For th^LT! ^."''>,?f '« Pay, that
observed the,differ«.°e ttt^nT ?•'"' ^'^^ ^^ ^^'^ly
pretty one. "'^^ ^ P'^ woman and a
doi;?Wto?t?t&' ''.'°°" ^ ^' '^^^ °"t. "I
How is TtoTo o„^^^°" ^^ y^"" ^"<^e^ to pWi
you're a d^tod TeU^e "w" '° '".^•. °'>- ^h^'
anything I can do?" ' ^°" ^^^- ^^ there
the'^^JSn'-.r^l^^^LT™ h'^ r ^^'''^ °- ^"<i on
was twenty-sevS' S 1°1 fV^'l^''^' ^^ ^L ^he
responsibilife ^'JSes whS \''''' P°^'°° °f «fe's
he rnea^t to sharlS W sl^ 1 1^^' ^^^' *° ^
like Rosie Pay. for Ltan^" J ^^^ "°* ^ °bliged.
And yet she diHn^ i i, ' ^.*^"^ ^^ '"^^ alone.
With th^t £ JrSt WeTr ''f """^'^ ^'^^ '^^ P^-
with the f^edcT^f ^ropjf S1;J: °"^r '"* ^'"""^
which was neverthelLTl^H^lw' *'^* P'^"'' ''^^
forward gaze, ^ ea^^f^ ""^^y- ^^ that straight-
meet anj^hiz^g TCfaSSrS"" °' "j^^^ '^^^^ ^
many of the tendt nrlf k„ ^ "^ irregular, lacking in
even'^t twe^ttSven^''"'^^'' ^' "^'"/^ *° °*'^e'- ^'s.
«>ulddenyits*^o3c^a2r''°^«^''^= ''"* °°^
I U teU you something you could rin •'»,«■, -j . ,
"You could see-or try to se^ttA ''^ «aid at ,ast.
too much." A sHght^us^T^il* \^ ^°^^ 'P^^
adding. "That noSlSsT^'muS.-- "^*^*'°° ^""^
3>
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
"You mean mamma and me?"
He smUed fainUy. "I mean whoever does the spend-
mg-but your father most of aU, because I'm afraid he's
rather rec^ess. He's spent a good deal during the last
twelve or fifteen years, hasn't he?"
spend ?'^^ ^"'^ ''"^''^' "^°''^ than he had a right to
"Well more than my father," he felt it safe to sav
^^^But he had more than your father to spend, hadn't
"Do you know that for a certainty?"
"I only kiww it from papa himself. But, oh, Thor
what IS It? Why are you asking?"
He ipiored th^ questions to say: "Couldn't your
mother teU us? After aU, it was her money, wasn't it?"
She shook her head. "Oh, mamma wouldn't know
If you re m any doubt about it, why don't you ask Mr.
Masterman? He could tell you better thL any on^
Besides, mamma isn't in."
"I suppose she's in
He spoke with a touch of scorn,
town."
v.oV't Tu T?^^ °" ^"'= P^ a little smile. They
SreSeS" °° *' "^^'^' ^""^^ '"^^''^ i'^^*
''That's just where she always is."
''Oh no; not always. Sometimes she stays at home
ajt she's th«^ pretty often, I admit. She has to Zee
calls, partly because I won't-when I can help it."
«J;! ^P°ke fpprovingly. "You, at any rate, don't fritter
away your tmie like other women."
"It depends on what other women ,ou mean I
Wt^-r!5[ ""^ ^^'^ ^^^ ^« ''°«e"- even though it
iM t hke the women who make calls. I play golf for
instance, and tennis; I even ride."
"AU the same, you don't like the silly thine caUed
society any more than I do." ^
There was dayUght enough to show him the blaze oi
33
rim
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
dare say I should have liked ^-.^ ^' ,/ ''°° * ^°^- I
had liked me. BuTIt <Md?t^ '^ '"'" '^°"8'> " "^^^y
a success." To comnel hi ,„'^.'"^a wys. I wasn't
of chann, she add^^th a n^"?*^ ^"^ m all her lack
that, don't your * P«««tent smile. "You know
year^ when Lois^ stSl n^tHni^ °'^''.'' *^« ^ the
at dances. Claude waf im^«f J -^ ""^'^ appearance
JSio^^ '^'^ -^^- ^- siioThrasi*
a r^T? -"STci S; t^i7. t^r^ast. after
Fellows afraid of her. E^^^l^' ^^ ^^oesn't take,
popular. Hasn't enough d^f°^£;!?'' °^u^ ^' ^^''^ ^'^
devd. hang it aU! D^TL^u ^^^^ ^° ^^""^ ^^
do-about th^e tim2Tye^*''i?!^."?>^f' ^eU, I
hands an hour at a time^»ii ^ ^^ '«^* on my
Think we have no cW^.^fCr"* ^'"''^ that",
youjelf. old Chap. Vou'dtagSS^.,Xe^ls1r^
could look back ovtthlSr or fiv^** ^^ *° ''^^e
her from the ordeal ^/^m Lf ^ ^^ *'^* ^^I^ted
taU. timid, furtive^' wTteWtl^ "" " *^« '^«°>P"-
"fniming brown or JofSs won^^^ ""f "^'^ ^hose
she should have a ^ner i,!!? ^^ '"'^^'her or not
often driving homU^ f'',^^^^« '^'^'^ her finery
^ strean^„g°S1^"<S'^-'Se^y '^""'^ ^^
about It as if he had beenw,>hw' ?r ^^'^ ^ «nuch
retrospectively. We^itT^ ' «« ^"ffered for her
fece sorrowful '^'^ " '^ * "^^S^ that made his long
The sorrow caused T^'= , .
caused Uas some impatience. "Por
w4
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
^h^\*^' ^°'' ^'^ '°** »* »• Jike that! It isn't
th.ful ', J^f **?'«^' '^th -ndignation. only to fed
that he was sl<Jwly coloring. / "^ icci
He colored because the statement brought him within
measumble distance of a declaration whi<i heTe^t to
m^e, but for which he was not ready. ™ °'"°**"» *«
rJht^'^ J2. ^"^^ ^^ embarrassment, speaking
TtLr^ ''«^^'^- ^P'«^ ^"^'^ waste youV^!
Tm LS^f'^-- " "^L"""'" *° '^ P'"^'' it's man^.
I m such a daappointment to her. Let's talk of some-
fJ^fh7f^°^ ^^^ *? ^"^ **^' ««"t«g 't t° her credit
g^i^er ' '"'* "^"^ """P"^ " *« '"'«'' P'^y. the
is *'^She*wt,f^"^i" "^^ •^°^- "I ^°^ ^^o he
teowSsS^^" ^ *° *"' ""^^ " "^'^«' "'
I'WeU, she's having a hard time."
Is she? I should think she might "
His face pew keener. " Why do you say that ?"
aJ^a'\, \*' '™<^- she's that sort. At least. I
^oi^d .judge she was that sort from the little I've s;en
''How much have you seen of her?"
it^lV!^°'* =othmg; but little as it was, it impressed
itsdfonmymind. I went to see her once at Mr Whit-
ney's suggestion." "^"^
WhaT^Ti. "/' *^t r^ ^* S*- J°hn's. isn't he?
What^hadhetodowithher? She doesn't belong to his
Ixns ^plained "It was when we established the
branch of the Girl's Friendly Society at St John's
"A^^^*^*'?"^'^* ^^ °^8^* eare to jl it."-^
And Old she?
"No; quite the other way. When I went to ask her
3S
TH£ SIDE OF THE ANGEIS
shen^sentedit She h . ^^^^^LS
That's the A-fficuS in^p!!'^- ^ ''^ P«'"«izi„« her
He looked at her V.^?S i^^.K ^iris like that." ^•
Wee what?" "'"'^'^enpng expression. "Girl,
, - " —f"=oaioa. "Girls
^v^r:: L^- ^^^ Who haven, „„,, ,,„,^
that reason t» ,'^^ themselves infenV». ♦ ""^
mjTco™,.. '"""' ""••»«»»»», to hCS
IS
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
"PffI The deuce you were I I know your friendly
•ocieties. Keep those who are down down. Help the
humble to be humbler by making them obsequious."
"You know nothing at all about it," she declared,
with spirit. "In trying to make things better you're
content to spin theories, while we put something into
practice."
He snapped the door of the second lamp with a little
bang. " Put something into practice, with the result that
people resent it."
"With the result that Rosie Fay resented it; but she's
not a fair example. She's proud and rebellious and in-
tense. I never saw any one just like her."
"You probably never saw any one who had to be like
her because they'd had her luck. Look here, Lois," he
said, with sudden earnestness, "I want you to be a friend
to that girl."
^ She opened her eyes in mild surprise at his intensity.
"There's nothing I should like better, if I knew how."
" But you do know how. It's easy enough. Treat her
as you would a girl in your own class— Elsie Darling, for
instance."
" It's not so simple as that. When Elsie Darling came
back after five or six years abroad mamma and I drove into
town and called on her. She wasn't in, and we left our
cards. Later, we invited her to lunch or to dinner. I
should be perfectly willing to go through the same formal-
ities with Miss Fay— only she'd think it queer. It would
be queer. It would be queer because she hasn't got —
what shall I say?— she hasn't got the social machinery
for that kind of ceremoniousness. The machinery means
the method of approach, and with people who have to
live as she does it's the method of approach that presents
the difficulty. It's not as easy as it looks."
"Very well, then; let us admit that it's hard. The
harder it is the more it's the job for you."
There was an illuminating quality in her smile that
37
; 1:
.1
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
"Oh, if you put it in th»t
•toned for lack of beftutv
way — " '■ .
a^somanythingi^^iTlSTh^t'"'*'- ."^^^
the one to help nie" ^ "^"'''P' Lo»-and you'm
want me to do wU ^^Tj^", *^" ""^''ot you
"Oh, there-U be a 10^072^!,^) *'."-«"d I'" try."
to puJl together," he ^daihe^i,",!;'^'^? '^l ^ have
you to imomb^r. if ^e^^v t^,M ^'^^ "^ ^"^^
hesitated for a word th«/^^ii^'''* **««• that "-he
moment-"t4 ru^?thr^<l" t '"^ *«> >»«* for the
Z'^hd^?"'; That's a gr-at comfort."
-ihr'S:^e'mov^tSt 0">etly,too.sheas.
not fail to force hSaJ^n^ p''^'"tP'• "^' =*« would
that other maVter^lT °° ^'^,"' ^^y- "And about
me more by and b^ w^^ry^^''^'*' "' ^-^'^ '^
P-mpJeSl^n:^ ttf Kh'- '•'^ --^tiousness
of him. " ru teU vou !^!^- t ^ '^^ ^^ 1"^^ «««
these days. L^ {'^^^71^' ^'^ T' '«<^°"«of
She mounted a st^^ d "^""^^T^y a lot mor«."
him. "Oh. w5l?"S^d^? J"^* ^"^S •''^^y f"»>
topic of no import^! ".rt^/ ^ *''°«eh dismissing a
But her Sw^ThJ^ " "^ P'"'*^ °f t™" "
«ni]ed m«^TtS^ fe\°"V° ^^f ^^^ *^* "e who
He could L«:elyStS=t5 SX*^' "^'^*-
pleasure was not in any E,^c^^*"' ?" ^^ *hat his
she might bring toTl^?f^5 ^^' ^^ '" the help
haunted him^^ the afSL?^*"j^ 7^°^ i°««e had
desperate floweT-like fS^T^"^ ^"^l '^^ whose
««««d of poiase^ ^^^ «P at him from a back-
I
CHAPTER V
ON coining to the table that evening Claude begged
hi« mother to excuse him for not having dressed for
dinner, on the ground that he had an engagement with
Billy Cheever. Mrs. Masterman pardoned him with a
gracious inclination of the head that made her diamond
ear-rings sparkle. No one in the room could be unaware
that she disapproved of Claude's informaUty. Not only
did it shock her personal deUcacy to dine with men who
concealed their shirt-bosoms under the waistcoats they
had worn all day, but it contravened the aims by which
during her entire married life she had endeavored to
elevate the society around her. She herself was one to
whom the refinements were as native as foliage to a tree.
" It's all right, Claudie dear; but you do know I like you
to dress for the evening, don't you?" Without waiting
for the younger son to speak, she continued graciously
to the elder: "And you, Thor. What have you been
doing with yourself to-day?"
Her polite inclusion of her stepson was meant to start
her men," as she called them, in the kind of conversation
m which men were most at ease, that which concerned
themselves. Thor replied while consuming his soup in
ttie manner acquired in Parisian and Viennese restaurants
frequented by young men:
"Got a patient."
Hastily Claude introduced a subject of his own. "Ought
to go and see * The Champion,' father. Hear it's awfuUy
good. Begins with a prize-fight—"
39
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
yoJS<tl'u?r'*'*^«---Pve„toThor. "Who've
^■2?r./'^-/"M«.Mastem^ begged. "Don, eat
said "knowit alw^Z" o !J^ *° ^"^"^ out of it " nt
cWdl,ke quality to his si^ ^^h^ch gave an appealing,
parents who are not ,0^0 p.y'^'^ '"^ - ^y taking
^owly and sit str^gh?^rtS"'V '?"^^ '^^ ^ eat
^^othe....i..J,--s^^e^^^,^J
j^g^te right the«... his father ag^ed. -He's done it
Thor considered t1i
^°^^g his appeal "r,™?'^* * favorable one f™-
him over-" ^^- ^'^"^^^ ^d I have been ^^
The devil we havo i" rii j
•'What's that?" MLS^"'^^.^?^«''»*gnantly
a^terUsday'sworkwa^S/^^J^'l^e fa^wWch
sh^ly interrogative S ^ ^ 8^^^ and lifeless, grew
cisiveness not ,w iune had chiseled it f« o„ •
h;„ t. • ' '"«>ngruous with o i.-_ • " to an m-
His hau-. mustache, andfanZii ^T"« ^ °f youth
Sray. His figure ^sti^?!?*' ''^ '^t touched wi^
custom to say of hi^h !^ ^.*''^ *°d spare. It was^h-
two st«ppinj i^^ *'"' ^« ^-J'^i but the bni4^ £3°
il
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
Claude emphasized his annoyance. " Talking him over!
I hke that ! You blow into the office just as I'm ready to
come home, and begin cross-questioning me about father's
affaais. I tell you I don't know anything about them. If
you call that talking him ovei^well, you're welcome to
your own tise of tenns."
The head of the house busied himself in carving the
joint which had been placed before him. "If you want
information, Thor, ask me."
"I don't want information, father; and I don't think
Claude is fair in saying I cross-questioned him. I only
said that I thought he and I ought to do what we could
to get you to renew Fay's lease."
"Oh, did you? Then I can save you the trouble, be-
cause I m not going to."
The declaration was so definite that it left Thor with
nothing to say. " Poor old Fay has worked pretty hard
hasn't he?" he ventured at last.
"Possibly. So have I."
"But with the difference that you've been prosperous,
and he hasn't."
Masterman laughed good-naturedly. "Which is the
Mference between me and a good many other people.
You don't blame me for that?"
"It's not a question of blaming any one, father. I
only supposed that among Americans it was the correct
thing for the lucky ones to come to the aid of the less
fortunate."
"Take it that I'm doing that for Pay when I get him
out of an impossible situation."
Thor smiled ruefully. "When you get him out of the
frymg-pan into the fire?"
.. 1^^',' ^^^"^^ chaUenged, coming to his father's aid,
the fire s no worse than the frying-pan, and may be a
little better."
" I've seen the girl," Mrs. Masterman contributed to the
discussion. "She's been in the greenhouse when I've Eone
* 4X
M
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
w««ne^^d1,S^*°'"''^^- Most of us
years ago. IvThe^-t^f "^^ "^ *° ^°rty <»• fifty
tion he had r^Zk^\T^ °°' "^°S the infonj
'■^; m"* ?°^'«ys'" M«- Mastennan smiled
The Mastermans didn't " AroW» . -j ."
won't foiget that, my bov' W^?^ ^'*' «^*'y- "You
other sidl, you Ce ^ J^**"^ you may be on any
Your gmndfaS^L?^ * ^'^ °^ gentlemen on mine
old-school pSCtr^ ^°'? ^^ *^* best-known
father befor^ C^ ^ctX^ p^ the counby. His
Derbyshire, ^boZ^ttS^^A° ^°^^'* clersyman in
come a Unitarian S^ of ^«fit*"^ '^"^ he'd be-
days. Time^aodte^li^i. ^t of 'em in those
repubUc, or a scLlled dSL't:^'!^^ r;?"«i
for one another, and thevlL^^^'* , , • P*°P'« hving
ber one like e^«,e Z "^i,""*! °°^« «»t for num-
me as far more impoi^t to te^^ ^ "Sv.^* '^^^
43
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
where every one's swimming for his own dear life th«»
whocaa't swim have gotto drown." * ""**
But every one is not swimming for his own dear life
Mrs MastCTmanialUed her stepson indulgently. "Oh
Thor. how ndiodous you are! How you tllk!"
Claude patted his mother's hand. He ^ still trv«,<,
wS^l?^°vi^''°^P''y- Beastly Lialist,tl5^'s
wnat ne is. Divide up all the money in the world so th ^
ev^body'U have thirty cents. aadShen t^ '1 to^o
ah^ and hve regardless. That 'd be his way rf ^oif g
Th^*s *So ^f.Sn T '""^ '■"^- "O^ ''°' it wouldn't,
inors no fool! Has some exceUent ideas. A Httle
S^^th^fe ^\ *^* -U cure i^ i^ C
S* 2 Kder^ ^^4'^ "l^";^^ affection-
boy, than with an empty h^ " ^°" *^* ^"^^ "^^
Thor feU silent, from a sense of the futility of talking.
CHAPTER VI
with relief tr/hi^^hlrl^^' ^?^' ^^y ^^ ''°«'=i^
sedative had^^Te^ i^^ . t!^"^- ^* "^t- Thorl
nick of time. H^^" ri^^l^" «^' considered the
patchwork quilt^^Shlt^^, f °"' ^^"«*«^ ^^e
on a chair at the foot of a^l3 ^^ ^^o^^ hand-lamp
sl^per-s eyes, shll^^^^^^t^^ ^^"^^ ^* ^ «"'
fl^?a:^^f^^;-gS;stSTha'rh't ^'^^^'-^
color. The lampli-rht or^f^^^"^^^^^"^
drew opalescent Ks iL^l ""^ ^^* °^ ^er own,
descend^. She t^noTn^ ^'"f "^"^^ ^^^ ^ *«
Httle Rode of L'^^t^oJ^^J'f^I^te petulant
an eager Hfe The diff^ , ^^ ^^ ^'o^ with
wiltmg for Lk o^ wtS^d thf '"^^ ^*^^ * ^'°^
In the ti^U,^!!15l*'^! ^« fl°^er fed by min.
father was eTti^rthe^pe £ £S*,°'.*' ^^ ''^^
It was a humble aTor^ T LS *^ '^^ °"* ^°' ^^■
covered witS^ L^J^^tton T^k"", *^" ^""^ "^ « t^^le
•nixture. Jasper plv T^ it °J ^ "^ ^d sky-blue
cold meat SiSiiirtSwtr;''''^''' """'*«* ««
with a book prepS a^ir.. ^,^ ^^ entertained himself
smaU keros^effilat^^f ^ ^?^.°^ ''^^- Another
pap and'^n'^t^i'^^-^^^t on the printed
She's asleep " Ro<:,rwV Tl' '^'ean-shaven face.
•■IfshewakesThile?mgontX^ "^ .*^' u^°°"'^y-
dose. I've left it oa'hewXS^""''''*^'^"**
44
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
The man lifted his (tany blue eyes. "You going
out?"
"I'm only going for a little while."
"Couldn't you have gone earlier?"
"How could I, when I had supper to get— and every-
thing?"
He looked uneasy. "I don't like you to be running
round these dark roads, my dsex. You've been doing it a
good deal lately. Where is it you go?"
"Why, father, what nonsense I Here I am cooped up
all day— "
He sighed. ' Very well, my dear. I know you haven't
much pleasure. But things will be different soon, I hope.
The new night fireman seems a good man, and I expect
we'll do better now. He'll be here at ten. Were you
going far?"
She answered promptly. "Only to Polly Wilson's.
She wants me to" — Rosie turned over in her mind
the various interests on which Polly Wilson might
desire to consult her — ^"she wants me to see her new
dress."
"Very well, my dear, but I hope after this evening
you'll be able to do your errands in the daytime. You
know how it was with Matt. If he hadn't gone roaming
the streets at night — "
Rosie came close to the table. Her face was resolute.
"Father, I'm not Matt. I know what I'm doing." She
added, with increased determination, "I'm acting for the
best."
He was mildly surprised. ' ' Acting for the best in going
to see Polly Wilson's new dress?"
She ignored this. "I'm twenty-three, father. I've got
to follow my own judgment. If I've a chance I must use
it."
"What sort of a chance, my dear?"
" There's nothing to hope for here," she went on, cruelly,
"eso^t from what I can do myself. Mother's no good;
45
THE SIDE OF THE AKnv
^ ""r *^ "^ ^^' K^ i^r r r"^-
«>« new fee„«„ ^ way^^t 'theX^..*^« *^ "^
Sh2Sfrf<wJ^dS^J>l>t. but not a cold on^
was about todo n ''^ * *°« of taroTat r^h! T
As she had alreadv sain t„T ,"^" *« keep this trJl
-"doto.. ^JStW^^^--hek„L*irhatre
»«^«. young nor so inexperienced
THE SIDE OP THE ANGELS
tng foreanned, she could run the risks R.inni.,^ lu
nt 1°JJ^ 7" "Mnanoe. romance of the sort she had dreamed
tt^.w!^'**^*- Somehow, she had alwa^^tao^
It would come. She could hardly go back o tiietiZ
wh«a she did not have this p.«nL^on^ /,„?« S
in^^^^-"^*- ««'«d««»e late on an afternoon
s^sss^ch^^rr^th^^-beS
:^°S?nhTs:^°""^^^-'^«^^-^t'>"S
or was It the sweet, wandering, summer air? Wasittha
^il1J^"''^r^^<^ ^^-''^ soft ioaTSltS
M She crept among the brambles, or was it the shimmw
of the wanmg sunUght or tte whir of the wta^T^
S^fev^ t,'StaTii'wr^t -^ ^^^
sweheart. that she sang to herself as her nimble fingers
secure thejmcy, dehcate red things and dropped th"^
a£ *^h If* ^^; °: ?>""• "^ '^y °^ woodland
S ^ iT"'*.."* '^ ^PP'^^' "^ «^«> that rf
^f^J^'T* ^T ■*" '^^ '•^^ «y« he was standinir
ma patch of bracken. She had beei stooping toS
47
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
ttejruit tiiat dtMtered on a long. low. spiny itani. Thi
words on her lips had been:
At least be pity to me ihown
If love it may na '
but her voice trailed away faintly on the last syllable
for on loofang up he was before her. He wore whit<l
flannels and a Panama hat of which the brim was roguishly
puUed down m front to shade his eyes.
He was smiling unabashed, and yet with a friendliness
ttat made it impossible for her to take offense. "Isn't it
KosieP he asked, withoutmoving from where he stood in
thepatchoftrampledbracken. "I'mClaude. Don'tvou
remember me?
A Delphic nymph who had been addressed by Ap<dlo.
m the sedusion of some sacred grove, could harfly hTv*!
felt mwejoyoiK or more dumb. Rosie Fay did not know
m what kmd of words to answer the glistening being who
had spoken to her with this fine famiKarity. Lato. in
tte siloice of the night, she blushed with shame to think
of the figure she must have cut. standing speechless before
mm. the pan of red raspberries in her hands, her raspberry-
red hps apart m amazement, and her eyes gleaming and
wide with awe.
She remained vague as to what she answered in the end.
ft^ confusedly to the effect that though she remem-
t)ered him weU enough, she supposed that he had long aco
fMgottm one so insignificant as herself. PresenUyhe^
oeside her. dropping raspberries into her pan, while they
laughed together as in those early days when they had
picked peas by her father's permission in Grandpa Thor-
ley's garden. ^
-iJ^wuT"'*,.?****"'^ "^ accidental— if it was acd-
d«ital that each had come to the same spot, at the same
ntw °%t \t^S^^ ^^' ^ ^^ ^°P^ °^ ^^f( the
other. The third meetmg was also on the same soot
48 ^'
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
but by appointment, in secret, and at night. Claude
had been careful to impress on her the disaster that would
ensue if their romance were discovered.
But Rosie Fay knew what she was doing. She re-
peated that statement often to herself. Had she really
been a Ddphic nymph, or even a young lady of the best
society, she might have given herself without reserve to
the rapture of her idyl; but her circumstances were
peculiar. Rosie was obliged to be practical, to look
ahead. A fairy prince was not only a romantic dream
in her dreary life, but an agency to be utilized. The least
self-seeking of drowning maids might expect the hero
on the bank to pull her out of the water. The very fact
that she recognized in Claude a tendency to dally with
her on the brink instead of landing lier in a place of safety
compelled her to be the more astute.
But she wns not so astute as to be inaccessible to the
sense of terror that assailed her every time she went to
meet him. It was the fright of one accustomed to walk
on earth when seized and borne into the air. Claude's
voice over the telephone, as she had heard it that after-
noon, was like the call to adventures at once enthralling
and appalling, in which she found it hard to keep her head.
She kept it only by saying to herself: " I know what I'm
doing. I know what I'm doing. My father is ruined;
my brother is in jail. But I love this man and he loves
me. If he marries me — "
But Rosie's thoughts broke off abruptly there. They
broke oS because they reached a point beyond which
imagination would not carry her. If he marries met
The supposition led her where all was blurred and roseate
and golden, Kke the mists around the Happy Isles. Rosie
could not forecast the conditions that would be hers as
the wife of Claude Masterman. She only knew that she
would be transported into an atmosphere of money, and
money she had learned by sore experience to be the sov-
ereign palliative of care. Love was much to poor Rosie,
49
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
<«atu« wUe C ^L^T^ btartag. to the ti«d
Claude Ma«t«m« .*Z!r ^ ^- I* *•• for rert that
'^•fuuo flia»tenn«n stood pmnarilv in Imp mJn/i ii
• fiury prince, of couwe: heWi Im,^ ^ • ."'.'^
satisfied any atVal!^r^^ V7T "'^ '"'«''* l»v»
^ he was'a So' ^t^ ^*J^'«7" ^y^ythinK
potentialities both ann-.i TJTt! ^^ "* "^Oie vast
^fugeandSd^aTSS "' '^'=^' '^^ ««" ^^
-^-n^- moon; ^e dSr^;^*«bS£'^r IS"
troag air; she aorvwl.^ ♦« -n^ oreams of the sweet,
knew anyihkK rff A ^ .^''l '"'PPOrting for«s she
th««ghfflLS; ^'^"*«'«t«^'*e was speeding
CHAPTER VII
BETWEEN the greenhouiei, of which the glaa*
gleamed dimly in the moonlight, Rosie followed a
path that straggled down the slope of her father's land
to the new boulevard round the pond. The boulevard
here swept inland about the base of Duck Rock, in order
to leave that wooded bluff an Inviolate feature of the
landscape. So inviolate had it been that during the
months since Rosie had picked wild raspberries in its
boskage the park commissioners had seized on it as a spot
to be subdued by winding paths and restful benches. To
make it the more civilized and inviting they had placed
one of the arc-lamps that now garlanded the circuit of the
pond just where it would guide the feet of lovers into the
alluring shade. Rosie was glad of this friendly light
before engaging on the rough path up the bluff under the
skeleton-like trees. She was not afraid; she was only
nervous, and the light gave her confidence.
But to-night, as she emerged on the broad boulevard
feom the weedy outskirts of her father's garden, the clatter
of horse-hoofs startled her into drawing back. She would
have got herself altogether out of sight had there been
anything at hand in the nature of a shrub high enough to
conceal her. As it was she could only shrink to the
extreme edge of the roadside, hoping that the rider, who-
ever he was, would pass without seeing her. This he
might have done had not the bay mare Delia, unaccus-
tomed to the sight of young ladies roaming alone at night,
thought it the part of propriety to shy.
"Whoa, Delia! whoal What's the matter? Steady,
SI
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
Junlt'Sluk'^'^'*- =^'«'Jy««.tobeout.
.hebith<^to„gueattheS?SU;^*' Oh P' though
Uncle Sun laughed merrilv 'WVn-*
frightened-pretty girl m^^C«„ ^ •,'^* y°"'«
Claude thhShe U sZJT' ^ "^ • feUow,
^ weU. that wS,^, .S^y SSe^r.*^^ ft
De«a'» bade, JrepSTS^L^tST*"' ^"f^^ *^
the girl on fit^m^^ toe mare and accompany
up ^ooi-iSe lZ 'FL'Z^^L'^' °"^ ym.J^l
•leep better^ir rJ? 7^ U do you good. You'U
•ee her? What Sd^ ri^ hS? ^S^*^' ^°'' «»»• »»
itmakehersleq,r *^ *^ Did «he take it? Did
^^m:^„r.sry-^..-
•tmightbl^SJX'Lra^^^ But if you'U go
y°«" He watchrf W Lv. ^"""y'»^<^"bout
night!" he caJted '^' "*" "^t«i- "Good
^^^ night." oune her voice 6om half-way up the
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
^ WM obliged to wait in the shadow of an outlyin*
hothouae tiU the sound of Delia's hoofs, clattering off
toward the Old Village, died away on the night. She
crept back again, cautiously. Cautiously, too, she stole
•cross the boulevard and into the wood. Once there, she
few up the path with the frantic eagerness of a hare.
She was afraid Claude might have come and gone. She
was afraid of the incident with old Sim. What did he
mean? Did he mean anything? If he betrayed Claude
«t h«ne, would it keep the latter from meeting her?
She had no great confidence in Claude's ability to with-
stand authority. She had no great confidence in any-
thmg, not even in his love, or in her own. The love was
true enough; it was ardently, desperately true; but would
It bear the strain that could so easily be put upon it?
She felt herself swept by an immense longing to be sure.
SIm had so many subjects to think of and to dread that
she forgot to be frightened as she sped up the bluff. It
jras only on reaching the summit and discovering that
Claude wasn't there that she was seized by fear. There
was a bench beside her— a round bench circling the trunk
of an oak-tree— and she sank upon it.
The crunching of footsteps told her some one was
coming up the slope. In aU probabiHty it was Claude;
but It might be a stranger, or even an animal. The
crunching continued, measured, slow. She would have
fled if there had been any way of fleeing without encounter-
mg the object of her alarm. The regular beat of the foot-
steps growing heavier and nearer through the darkness
rendered her ahnost hysterical. When at last Claude's
figure emerged into the moonlight, his erect slendemess
defined against the sky, she threw herself, sobbing, into
his arms.
It was not the least of Claude's attractions that he was
» tender with women swept by crises of emotion. Where
Thor would have stood helpless, or prescribed a mUd
53
ill
i
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
lJS,5:t tL'rSe"«^Sed"'ar^- '^"f^^ to
his meeting with Undf Si^ tT ^ '° *^^8 by
"Awful nuisance, he is. Regular Paul Prv r.„-*
know when you'll meet him " ^^ " '^^''^
hei'^c^ ^' *°°'" *°^« '«*<^' ««tti«g «»ne control of
"The deuce you did! Did he sneak tn v™, > tvj u
say anything about me?" ** """^P^^ *» you? D,d he
"He said he'd seen you "
"Is that aU?"
She weighed the possible disadvantages nf .<.,„•„ *
me against you " h -^ «u. ne seemed to— warn
^ Do you thmk he's up to anything?" P «"«'W■
^^ ,,What else did he say? TeU me all you can think
^he parrated the brief incident.
^ Will it make any diflference to us?" she ventured
oi'^7^' * *^^* to us if he blabs to father.
.','^t sort of diflference, Claude?"
to pay^'*^ °* *^*^* 't "^"^ ''•'«' there's the devU
^In** .w^ him to her the more closely. "Does that
m^^^that we shouldn't be able to see Lh olSS ^^
54
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
undOT a selection of those fond epithete in which W«
^b.^ was large. In the ve,?"p^VSyiS
them R<^e was rallying her strwigth. She was S
daspu^ him as she withdrw her h,^slighUy^lS;
up at him through the moonUght. ^
•Claude, I want to ask you something."
With his hand on the knot of her hair, he pressed her
face once more against his. "Yes. yes daruZ^Ari^
me anythmg. Yes. yes. yes. yes." ^ ^
engjedr"'^ ^ *» ^ P'^^K '^th the words. "Are we
The ^gming ceased. Without relaxing his embrace he
thl/relJ^i'^Stf^^^ ^ '^^^ they-re-^hen
Brudiing his Kps over the velvet of her cheeks he
b^antopurr^ .-No <«e was ever likeS^iing
w^r^o^^t^tS^."'^'* ""^ '^ ''^^ '^'^ ^^
wh'iS"*I L^^ '"***" ^ •"*• ^'*"''«- I ''^t to J°>o«r
thl^^gh^^r '"•■'^^- You're here with me. Isn't
"It's enough for now. Claude, but—"
^^d^isn't what's enough for now aU we've got to
"No. Claude dearest! A girl isn't like a man-"
Oh yes. she is. when she loves. And you love me
dont you. dearie? You love me just a Uttie. ZyZi,
love meHust a little-a verv Uttie-" *»/ you
J!,^\^'^%'^r ^^^' °y <Jarling. you know I love
you. You're aU I've got in the world-"
^,r^ 1°^'^. *" ^y^ ^' "y "**•« R«^e- Nothing else
counts when I'm with you—"
"But when you're not with me, Claude? What then?
55
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
mi*tobei^ ^""^^ '''**° ^^'"' *'^^ *™" "*^ ^'^'"*
"Be just as you are. Be just as you've always been
since the day I first saw you—"
"Yes, yes, Claude; but you don't understand. If any
^e^ere to find out that I came here to meet you like
"No one must find out, dear. We must keep that
mum. ^
t'^^"*^ ^^ ^^' ^^^^^' '* wouldn't matter to you
"Oh, wouldn't it, though? Pather'd make it matter,
1 can tell you.
"Yes, but you wouldn.'t be disgraced. I should be
Uon t you see? No one would ever believe—"
"Oh, what does it matter what any one believes. Let
them all go hang."
"We cMi't let them aU go hang. You can't let your
father go hang and I can't let mine. Do you know what
S^.i*,*!jf w°|^d do to me if he knew where I am now.
lie d kill me.
"Oh, rot, Rosiel"
" No, no, CUude; I'm telling you the truth. He's that
sort You wouldn't think it, but he is. He's one of those
auld, dreamy men who, when they're enraged-which
m t often— don t know where to stop. If he thought I'd
done wnmg he'd put a knife into me, just Uke that."
btie struck her clendied hand against his heert. " When
Matt was arrested—"
He tOTe himself from her suddenly. The sensitive part
of hmi had been touched. "Oh, Lord, Rosie, don't Irt's
go into that. I hate that business. I try to forget it "
_ No one can forget it who iwnembers me."
'■ Oh yes, they can. / can— when yon don't drag it up.
What s the use, Rosie? Why not be happy for the few
hours every now and then that we can get together?
What s got mto you.?" He changed his tone. "You hurt
S6
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
me, Rosie, you hurt me. You talk as if you didn't trust
me. You seem to have suspidons, to be making
schemes — "
"Oh, Claude! For God's sake!" Rosie, too, was
touched on the quick, perhaps by some truth in the ac-
cusation.
He kissed her ardently. "I know, dear; I know. I
know it's all right— that you don't mean anything. Kiss
me. Tell me you won't do it any more— that you won't
hurt the man who adores you. What does anjrthing else
matter? You and I are everything there is in the world.
Don't let us talk. When we've got each other—"
Rosie gave it up, for the present at any rate. She
began to perceive dimly that they had different concep-
tions of love. For her, love was engagement and mar-
riage, with the material concomitants the two states
implied. But for Claude love was something else. It
was something she didn't understand, except that it was
indifferent to the orderly procession by which her own
ambitions climbed. He loved her; of that she was sure.
But he loved her for her face, her mouth, her eyes, her hair,
the color of her skin, her roughened little hands, her hthe
little body. Of nothing else in her was he able to take
cognizance. Her hard life and her heart-breaking strug-
gles were conditions he hadn't the eyes to see. He was
aware of them, of course, but he could detach her fipom
them. He could detach her from them for the minutes
she spent with him, but he could see her go back to them
and make no attempt to follow her in sympathy.
But he loved her beauty. There was that palliating
fact. After all, Rosie was a woman, and here was the
supreme tribute to her womanhood. It was not every-
thing, and yet it was the thing enchanting. It was the
kind of tribute any woman in the world would have put
before social rescue or moral elevation, and Rosie was like
the rest. She could be lulled by Claude's endearments as
a child is lulled by a ciadle-song. With this music in her
B 57
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
Hi
CHAPTER VIII
r\RESSED for going out, Mrs. WiUouirhbv was h„ttr^
.«?^ ^Tf' ^ ^«^'*' ^^ «^t the hips, tapered tow
You re surely not going in that mgl"
There U be loads of men there-simply loads^ n^„!l
«U your advantages and doesn't m4 more^o^i 4^
I^^t^ ^1*^*^* ^ don't"^tt:Le^*
••vT.^ ^' "^t ^« '^ too frank for conceatoents
woKafter. He thmks I niay be able to help her "
59
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
The mother subsided. "Oh, well— if it's that!" She
added, so as not to seem to hint too much: "I always like
you to do what you can toward uplift. I'll take you as
far as the Old Village, if you're going that way."
There had been a time when such concessigns at the
mention of Thor Masterman would have irritated Lois
more than any violence of opposition; but that time was
passing. She could hardly complain if others saw what
was daily becoming more patent to herself. She could
complain of it the less since she found it difficult to
conceal her happiness. It was a happiness that softened
the pangs of care and removed to a distance the con-
ditions incidental to her father's habits and impending
financial ruin.
Nevertheless, the conditioas were there, and had to be
confronted. She made, in fact, a timid effort to confront
them as she sat beside her mother in the admirably fitted
limousine.
"Mother, what are we going to do about papa?"
Mrs. Willoughby's indignant rising to the occasion
could be felt like an dectric wave. "Do about him?
Do about what?"
"About the Tray he is."
"The way he is? What on earth are you tjiMni.
about?" ' ^^^
"I mean the way he comes home."
" He comes home very tired, if that's what you're trying
to say. Any man who works as they work him at that
office—"
" Do you think it's work?"
"No, I don't think it's work. I call it slavery. It's
enough to put a man in his grave. I've seen him come
home so that he could hardly speak; and if you've done
the same you may know that he's simply tired enough to
die."
Lois tried to come indirectly to her point by saying,
"Thor Mastennan has been bringing him home lately."
60
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
C bV'Si ioT^ '^ "^ "^ *»•«-■» ^ "y-
Th^ Zr^. *^1 ''^^ *° "^y- "Thor seons worried "
hir?^J^^* '. *'*^"«» "^ «>»* of a ruffled. WM^
fa^W iT^^'^^'^i^- "KThor's worried ab<xry^
latner, he can spare himself thn fmt.ki. »uuui your
These discreet aUusions, too. Lois thought it best to
R^If /^^- ^° *=*™= ^^°"s about mOTVy "
Bessie tossed her head. "That may eadh- 4 If
your father takes our moni.vniit„f*u.c casuy oe. l£
tr> wJft 1^ ^^" 't,"ght to go a Step further. " He seemed
lmn^»„,iS- ^^' "^^ °^*»" '«t either of the bova
^"^BTySTfSjLts'^^orSnST'* ^"^ '"
heSr^-''^ *^ *^«^ °^ *°«e' Lois began to take
6t
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
J^^ Ir*" *** Pl«»» him had never before th» inrtant
au«d him anything but satisfaction. It hadbeTb^t
Wmd to the goal to which this mutual go^^ woSS
5?^^^^-gi2r^rrriL.-Hr^^
s-a^u72re"cig^sf3^^
that he was not susceptible to fh^t Z^ «"="^"^
«« long-standing intention to marry Lois Waioi.ahK^
^ based on the fact that besideT^XS&c ^
toishewasplainandlonely., Ifthe^^S?SS
powB that made her a woman of distinction. *~'"™»
In his windng there was the sunmse of a man who in a
6a
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
obliged to mpl|y^!^&«""°^ Hewa.
^X^t^"^' "f^T^^. -^ the plea of
complete capitulation on thTwI » • ."^ •»**"
County Str^t to^. t£ St ^^^ ^'"Y^tftion to
»-^. but amuaing. J'a li^e Sl"^ '^'^^ ^
lisSSthtS'bS'he'CiS}* -/«f«^ ^^ could
fhould find anytWng £ W mSS?^* *!!** ^'"^
itself to humor. He kn^^w I * ^°^^ "^^ ^o*
we« ;ond of ind«g.g ^it^ tiT^ ^t '^^'^
fortunate. Even I^ ■traim.<r1,h?S J^'^°^ *^ *>"» '««
taint of dass. Fea^gtoS^^h °°* "^P** *^t
word he made zeal in'h^S oflSsT r^^^^f*
an abrupt good-by ^ *"* **cuse for
lcin^"L^t?Sr'an1tt^fr?«'*°?-'°^-ther
«P the hill. ^nC hTtn^^ "^^'^^ ^« h"^«*J
psychological t«at:^X4S^Fa^e,S^*?r« *°^ *^«
tolmow W the poor HL1"thS^Sl£°iSr^
beSrth^^isx^^^thn^*^? '^ "-*«^
He had been thinSm/^l • ^^""^ °^ * friendship,
concerti^to^ri^r f^^'^r tly that it was dit
thinking 'of hiSr^IS.^Het^^^. *« "T T' ^
no more. She cor.t;m,«^ * ? . °°*** to her, and
who v^o^nTTZ^ ^ f^ ^**«^''' the It^T
while she dltS^e25^yP^«d azalea-plants
Hermam,er^r5,?aSlL2i^1^.*'r°"''1^°'°ther.
questions brief and to "heST" " '^^'^ *° ^is
But professional duty bjg done, he endeavomi to
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
rai«e the personal iarae. "What did you mean yeMerday
when you said that you couldn't play fair, but that you'd
play as fair as you oo<Ud?"
She turned from her contemplation of the stooping
Antonio's back. "Did I say that?"
He hardly heeded the question in the pleasure he got
from this glimpse of her green eyes. " You said that— or
something very much like it."
His uncertainty gave her the chance to correct that
which, in the light of Claude's warning, might prove to
have been an indiscretion. "I'm sure I can't imagine.
You must Iiave — misunderstood me."
He pursued the topic not because he cared, but in order
to make her look at him again.^ "Oh no, I didn't. Don't
you remember? It was after you said that there was one
thmg that might happen—"
She was sure of her indiscretion now. He might even
be setting a snare for her. Dr. Sim Masterman might
have withdrawn from her mother's case in order to put
the one brother on the other's tracks. If Claude was right
m his suspicions, there was reasonable ground for alarm.
She said, with assumed indifference: "Oh, thati That
was nothing. Just a fancy."
He still talked for the sake of talking, attaching no
importance to her repHes. "Was it a fancy when you
said that I would be one of the people opposed to it—if it
happened?"
"Well, yes. But you'd only be one among a lot."
She shifted to firmer ground. " I wasn't thinking of you
in particulai>-or of any one in particular."
"Were you thinking of any thing in particular?"
The question threw her back on straight denial. "N-no-
not exactly; just a fancy." '
"But I shouldn't be opposed to it, whatever it is— if it
was to your advantage."
His persistence deepened her distrust. A man whom
she had seen only once before would hardly display such
64
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
•a 'nt«wgt in her and her affairs unlm he had a motive.
espeoaUy when that man was a Mastennan. She took
rsfuge m i^ task with the azaleas. "No. not there.
Antomo. Put them there-like thi*-ru show you ^^^
The necessity for giving Antonio practical demonstra-
bon tokmg her to the other side of the hothouse. Thar felt
hunsetfobhgedtogo. He went with the greater ««*t
of IxMS Willoughby's advances, though her skill in eludine
lum heightened his respect. His disdain for the smaU
arts of coquetry being as sin. ire as his scorn of snobbery
he counted It to her credit that she eluded him at aU
There would be plenty of opportunities for speech with
ner. Dunng them he hoped to win her confidence by
In the bedroom up-stairs, where the mother was again
seated m her upholstered arm-chair with the quUt ^oss
her knew, he endeavored to put into practice his idea of
mental therapeutics. He began by speaking of Matt
Mang the tenns that would most effectively chaUenxe he^
atteition. "Wha. he comes back, you faiow. we murt
m^ ban forget that he's ever worn stripes."
t,^^'^ ^ '^'^'y- '"*">** 'd be thf. good of his
foTj^tbngit? He'U have done it. just the same ••
_ Some of us have done worse than that, and yet—"
And yet we didn't get into Colcord for them. But
ttats what counts. You can do what you like as long as
you ain't put m jail. Look at your father— "
So when he comes home—" he interrupted, craftily.
..«i:l .f^J""^"*^' t'>«>wing the quilt ten her knees,
aee nere, she asked, confidentiaUy. " how would you feet
U you saw your son coming up out of heU?"
«„ -J?" ^"f^. I f««l ? I should be glad he was coming
up instead of gomg down. You would, too. wouldn't you ?
/^d now that he's coming up we must keep him up.
Thatsthe point. So many poor chaps that have been ki
his position fed.that because they've once been down
6$
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
ttey've got to tUy down. Wo mutt make him m
th*t het oame buck among frienda— and you must
teU ua wlut to do. You muit give your mind to it
and ttank it out. He'a your boy-w ifi your duty to
take the lead." '
Her ooid eye rerted on Wm as if the were giving hi*
wonla cooHderation. "Why don't you a«k your father to
take the lead? He sent him to Colcotd."
That got no further than thia during the hour he tpent
with her. aeeing thAt Uncle Sim had been right in detaih-
i^ the caie as one for ingenuity— and something more.
Questiomng himself as to what this something more could
be, he brought up the subject tentatively with Jasper
F«y, whom he met on leaving the house. Thor himself
stood on the door-step, while 'Fay, who wore gardening
overalls, confronted him from the withered gnss-plot
that ended in a leafless hedge of bridal-veil.
"She's never been a religious woman at all, has she?"
Pay answered with a distant smile. "She did go in
for Ttkpoa at one time, sir; but I guess she found it slim
diet. It got to seem to her like Thomas Carlyle's hunery
hon mvited to a feast of chickenweed. After that she
qmt."
"I had an idea that you belonged to the Pint Church
and were Dr. Hilary's parishioners."
Pay«plained. " Dr. Hilary married us, but we haven't
troubled the church much since. I never took any in-
terest in the Christian reKgion to befpn with; and when
I looked mto it I found it even more fallacious than I
suppoMd." To account for this advanced position on the
part of a simple market-gardener he added. " I've been a
good deal of a reader."
Thor spoke slowly and after meditation. "It isn't so
much a question of its being fallacious as of its capacity
for producing results."
Fay turned partiaUy round toward the south, where a
haze hung above the city. His tone was infused with a
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
mild UttemeH. "Don't w« mw the results it can pn>.
dues-over there?" *^
J*J^^'l!^^^Jl.*°!'" .■"** '~ *» «"«* « tympathy
with this point of view th»t he haitUy knew how to go on.
And yet some of us docton are beg^ming to suspect that
th«e may be a power in Christianity— « - . Ay psycho-
logical power, you understand— that harn i «u usH for
what it's worth."
Fay nodded. He had been foUow"; • r' ;. ,, t.-i ->f
contemporary thought. "Yes, Dr iho-. '>, i ] e^ir
Just as, I dare say, you haven't fouaJ om ill il,p tis^ f
opjum."
"Well, opium is good in its place, \ov k i.n '
'I suppose so." He lifted his stany . s ,ith their
mysfac, visionary rapture fully on the > Mir. - phy.i.at:
And yet I remember how George Eliot pr , : ';at w'-un
her troubles came she might get along wthout bring
drugged by that stuflE-meaning the Christian religion!
«i--and I guess I'd kind o' like that me and mine should
do the same."
^lor dropped the subject and went his way. As far
as he had opinions of his own, they would have been
imailM to Fay's had he not within a year or two heard
^ a^aenUy authenticated cases in which sick spirits or
dwwdered nerves had yielded to spiritual counsels after
the doctor had had no success. He had been so little im-
pressed with these instances that he might not have al-
lowed his speculations with regard to Mrs. Pay to go
beyond the fleeting thought, only for the fact that on
passmg through the Square he met Reuben Hilary. In
general he was content to touch his hat to the old gentie-
man and go on; but tonlay, urged by an impulse too
vague to take accurate account of, he stopped with re-
spectful greetings.
"I've just been to see an old parishioner of yours, ar,"
he said, when the preliminaries of neighboriy conversation
had received their due.
67
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
I
I
Have you, now?
delivered with
the
— non-committal
North-of-Ireland intonation.
. •i?;.^^""'^* <rf Pay, the gardener. I
response,
she's iU." Thor w^t '^^tl^l^'^^i^t ^'^
t^y upset." He d^dcT^pi^^^'i^^^^t™-
bddly, amUmg w.th that minglir^s of frankness and ^
plenty which people found appealing because of its ^-
scientiouaiess. "And I've been wo^derinri^ ^
if you couldn't help her." "uary.
miSdr?"^' "^^ ^""^ **"* would you be ranting
Thoi reflected as to the exact line to take, while the
fc«dty eyes covered hm with their shrewd, hum^
twinkle. 'You see," Thor tried to explain "that if d«
t^Jf * K^ 'It '*?* "^'^ -y oKtaad to t^:
tow^ trouble than that of Widdng against it, she might
^Z ^ ""^^^ ?* ^^^- A* P«««»t she's likl a
pnson«- who dashes his head against a stone waU, not
s«mg that there's a window by which he might make his
CSCapC.
5fI^*^-'^*'^*''^°'^8^t'«'n«Tyeyes. 'Out
If there s a window why don't you point it out to her?"
•^? ^T^L,?"^"^' ^' ^ ^'^ "*« it »y^-"
ifsw" ^^*y°"' *•»«»? And how do you know
T H^^.^*^^ *?«*'• "To be frank with you, sir.
Idon^tbeheveitMthere. Butif youcanmakeherbeiiev^
*'TJat is, you want me to deceive the poor creature."
^S u'T' Thor protested. "You wouldn't be de-
ceiving her because you do believe it "
I'mtSeLJmS,!" "^"^^ »>- to the extent that
JZTt'"^ *°° °^^ ^"^ '^•" Thor laughed again, pre-
PMmgtomoveon. "I didn't know but that ifyouw^
to what are called the consolations of ndigioi-tSt's
toe right phrase, isn't it—"
M
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
^Z^^*I!J*V?"**- But you can't pt» people the
c«osolations of rehgion; they've got to fcid^^for
themselves. If they won't do that, there's no iZJZ
heawn or earth that can force consolation upon them."
But rehgion undertakes to do something, doesn't it?"
The old man shook his head. "Nothing whatever-no
more than an- undertakes that you shall breathe it, or
Cei?:! rb^"*^ '*• «* ^ *^* ^- «^ -^
Thor mused. When he spoke it was as if summing up
t f^^^nS; Pa^"""* ''- «"■* ^^^^•
"Very weU, sir. Will you try that?"
to'I^ /.'" ^ '•: • ^'!" *~ P^** of the Word of God
tf v^ r T^ ** "f } wanted-marganto ante forces,
rf you ve Latm enough for that-but when any oneask^
for It as earnestly as you, me dear Thoi--"
wl^ r°,''^u>*' '^^' ^*»" ^«* tlie old man's
W and thanked Wm. after which he humed off to the
^ge to take out his runabout and brin£ Lois's father
Home from towa.
CHAPTER IX
AS November and December passed and the new year
|r\ came m, smaU happenings began to remind Thorley
Masterman that he was soon to inherit money. It was a
fact which he himself could scarcely credit. Perhaps
b«ause he was not imaginative the condition of being
thirty years of age continued to seem remote even when he
was wjthm six weeks of that goal.
He was first impressed with the rapidity of his approach
to It on a morning when he came late to breakfast finding
at his plate a long envelope, bearing in its upper left-hand
comer the request that in the event of non-deHvery it
should be returned to the omce of Darling & Darling at
a;. Commonwealth Row. A glance, which he couldn't
help reading, passed round the table as he took it up
It was not new to him that among the other members of
the household, closely as they were united, there was a
sense of vague injustice because he was coming into
money and they were not.
The communication was brief, stating no more than the
fact that m view of the transfer of the estate which would
take place a few weeks later, Mr. William Darling, the
sole toistee, would be glad to see the heir on a day in the
n^ future, to submit to him the list of investments and
oUier properties that were to make up his inheritance.
Thor saw his grandfather's money, so long a fairy pros-
pect, as likely to become a matter of solid cash. The
change in his position would be considerable.
As yet, however, his position remained that of a son
m his father's family, and, in obedience to what he knew
70
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
was expected of him, he read the note aloud
there was an absence of comment, his
Though
stepmother,
pwm^ him his coflfee, munnured, caressingly, "Dear
"Dear old Thor," Claude mimicked, "will soon be able
to do everything he pleases."
Mrs. Masterman smiled. It was her mission to con-
ciliate. "And what will that be?"
"T*^ ^^ ^^^ '* ''°°'* **•" ^^"<le said, scornfully.
It won t be anything that has to do with a pretty girl "
Thor flushed. It was one of the minutes at whidi
Oaude s taunts gave him aU he could do to contain him-
sdf. As far as his younger brother was concerned, he
meaitweUbyhim. It had always been his intention that
his first use of Grandpa Thorley's money should be in sup-
plementmg Claude's meager personal resources and help-
mg him to keep on his feet. He could be patient with
him too-patient under all sorts of stinging gibes and
double.«dged compliments— patient for weeks, for months
--patient right up to the minute when something touched
him too keenly on the quick, and his wrath broke out with
a fury he knew to be dangerous. It was so dangerous as
to make him afraid— afraid for Claude, and more afraid
for himself. There had been youthful quarrels between
them from which he had come away pale with tenor,
not at what he had done, but at what he might have done
had he not maintained some measure of self-control.
The memory of such occasions kept him quiet now
ftough the irony of Claude's speech cut so much deeper
Oian any one could suspect. "Won't be anything that
has to do with a pretty girl!" Oood God! When he was
b^inmng to feel his soul rent in the struggle between love
and honor! It was like something sprung on him— that
had caught him unawares. There were days when the
suffermg was so keen that he wondered if there was no
way oi lawfully giving in. After aU, he had never asked
Lois Willoughby to marry him. Thei« had never been
71
■M
•:i|
I \
a
,i"j
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
more between them than an unspoken intention in hii
mind which had somehow communicated itself to hen.
But that was not a pledge. If he were to many some
one dse, she couldn't reproach him by so much as a
syuatde.
It was not often that he was tempted to reason thus,
but Claudes sarcasm brought up the question mor^
squarely than it had ever raised itself before. It was
«acUy the sort of subject on which, had it concerned any
?^*' I^ ^^f^ ^"^ *^«^ ^"^ ^^i to Lois he.^.
r^^^Ti^S^ ^ ^** *'°^^' ^^ f«lt strangely at
aloss. WMe he said to himself that after all these TOars
th«ie was but one thing for him to do, he was cmi<^
to the view other people might take of such a situation.
It was bemuse of this need, and with Claude's sneer
nngmg m hw heart, that la^ in the day he sprang the
qurationonD^love. Dearlove was the derelict English
butler whom T^.-^ had picked out of the gutter and put in
^e of his office so that he might have another chance.
«lton the subsidence m the contents of a bottle of cognac
^^^y^^ *' ^ °®'* ^°^ emergency cases a^^
neglected to put under lock and key.
'■That was a full bottle a month ago," Thor declared.
hedj^g the accusmg object up to the light.
Was It, sir?" Dearlove asked, dismally. He stood
m hts habitual attitude, his anns crossed on his stomach
his hands thrust, monldike, into his sleeves.
'And I've only taken one glass out of it-^the day that
young feUowfeU off his bicycle." "»/ toai
De^love eyed the bottle piteously. '"Aven't you.
^? Perhaps you took more out that day than yoJ
But Thor broke in with what was leaUy on his mind
Look here, Dearlove! What would you say to a man who
wasm love with one woman if he married another?"
Deariove was so astonished as to be for a minute at a
72
(<^i/'!£<M^^il,
W^
^:i-^j^!^mmmMmm
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
loss for speech. "What 'd I say to him, sir? I'd sav
what did he do it for? If it was—"
"Yes, Dearlove?" Thor encouraged. "If it was for—
what?
"Well, sir, if he'd got money with her, like-^welL
that 'd be one thing."
"But if he didn't? If it was a case in which money
didn't matter?" ^^
Dearlove shook his head. "I never 'eard of no such
case as that, sir."
Thor grew interested in the sheerly human aspects of
thenibject. Romance was so novel to him that he won-
dered if every one came under its speU at some time—
If there was no exception, not even Dearlove. He leaned
across the desk, his hands clasped upon it.
''Now, Dearlove, suppose it was your own case, and—"
Oh, me, sir! I'm no example to no one— not with
Bnghtstone 'anging on to me the way she does. I can't
kxjk friendly at so much as a kitten without Brieht-
stone — " *
" Now here's the situation, Dearlove," Thor interrupted,
while the ex-butler listened, his head judicially inclined to
one side: "Suppose a man— a patient of mine, let us say-
meant to many one young lady, and let her see it. And
suppose, later, he fell very much in love with another
young lady — "
"He'd 'ave to ease the first one off a bit, wouldn't he
sir?"
"You think he ought to."
"I think he'd 'ave to, sir, unless he wanted to be sued
for breach."
.','^*.'*,*^® iwestion of duty I'm thinking of, Dearlove."
"Ain't it his dooty to marry the one he's in love with,
sir ? Doesn't the Good Book say as 'ow fallin' in love "—
Dearlove blushed becomingl/— "as 'ow fallin' in love is
the way God A'mighty means to fertffize the earth with
people? Doesn't the Good Book say that, sir?"
• 73
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
saS&iLIrt tie't'^' ''" "" "^^ "^ '-^*'-
^hl'^-,?** *°T'* that to be thottght of, sir. They nv
He added, as he shuffled toward the door. "We neverW
that died a few hours after it was bom "
Thor was not convinced by this reasoning, but he was
^^^'^u^T: S«<=h^-7ressionsofo^.S
would probably be indorsee by nine peoplVout o7 tS^
I f7^'Ti''^*''«'»'8ht follow the ^goThishS
1'^ and yet not be a dastard. s s «* ma uearc
' wi^lV^^ °° ^"^"^ ^^°^^- «i"«fore. when he talked
« '^*^,^f;^o°e afternoon in the,weekfoUowing. "Supple
.j myfatter doesn't renew the lease-what ^uld^SS^
1 hi?n/^"°^'™°'*^*'^°^'^'^g«»'ethiagtoa
■n, head of lettuce which was unfolding its petals likeaWt
„i f^';S^ His eyes had the visic^^kth^mSS
»' .. his umbUity to come down to the^cal. "WdT^
I don't rightly know." «-"«u. weu, sir,
'■But you've thought of it, haven't you?"
twn^*..*^^ *?^''* '^ '*• ««'" «id he wouldnt
fi„».*f , • °/°" "»y good if he did? Aren't you
fighting a losmg battle, anyhow?" ^^
tJ^^^f^^- ^?^ '*°'^ *'''' '"^J °f «>" verdure
to tne aid of the greenhouse in which they stood "I
can see how that might be in one way, but-"
It s the way I mostly think of, sir. Every man has
his o^ habit of mind, hasn't he? I agree wi^ S^
prophet Thomas Carlyle when he saj^-he broSf^t
74
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
I*lt^ "1^ ", "^^ P«nPo«ity-"when he say. that
l^^ «*rt'culate selfK^MTiousness dwells inTwW^
oiUy our works can render articulate. He spwfa rf th.
•WwwT^* 'Know thyself- till ;:Ct^e1t
mS^^^ !!!"^- ** ^^'''"8 «^- I J"'"^ that
aal^both ends meet « an important part of it^^f
"But to you it isn't the mcst important part of it "
" A«:, •/ T^'^*- Its myself. And if-"
••^i TTn\*? '^°^'* "^"^ the l«se-?"
«.^* • i^^'^'^°"^^°'"- It won't be just Boine bank
blasted." He subjoined, dreamily "I dZJt^L^Ti
would happen to me aft;rl^'i-.d iSd S^^^
committing crimes." ^^"^ to
Thor couldn't remember evw havine seen tears on »„
ttS^^Mr^t'^- HetooL^^^XThS
the loigth of the greenhouse and back again. "W
here, Pay," he said, in the tone of one makinfaresolj^n
™^"ffl^ would give «, a lease It^S'
"Yes^e. Would you work it for me?"
^7'^u'^"^ long while Thor watched the play of lieht
«nd shadow over the mild, mobile face, "ft wouiTt
be my own place any mo«, would it,^" ^^ *
K. f ^ "f^J^ !'. ''°^dn't-not strictly. But it would
" U ""^l^ t^^- It would be be4r th^-" **
sJ^7^.r <^ than being turned out." He re-
^S^^r ^-y-«-^«°^takingitoverasan
fo/!^*ir"f '^''^^^^ this side of his idea, Thor sought
for a natural, spontaneous answer, and wa^ noTC^
7S ^
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
finding one. "I want to be identified with the village
industrieo, because I'm going into politics."
"Oh, arc yen, sir? I didn't know you was that way
inclined."
" I'm not," Thor explained, when they had moved £ram
the greenhouse into the yard. "I only feel that we
people of the old stock 7iang out of politics too much and
that I ought to pitch in and make one more. So you
get my idea, Fay. It 'i ive me standing to hold a bit
of pr(^)erty like this, t . : j it's only on lease."
Thae was no need i v further explanations. Fay con-
sented, not cheerfully, out with a certain saddened and yet
grateful resignation, of which the expression was cut short
by a cheery, ringing voice from the gateway:
"HeUo, Mr. Fay! HeUb, Dr. Thor! Whoa. Maud,
whoa! Stand, will you? What you thinking of?"
_ The response to this greeting came from both men
simultaneously, each making it according to his capacity
for heartiness. "Hello, Jim!" They emphasized the
welcome by unconsciously advancing to meet the tall,
stalwart young Irishman of the third generation on
American soil who came toward them with the long, loose
limbs and swinging stride inherited from an ancestry bred
to tramping the hills of Connemara. A pair of twinkling
eyes and a mouth that was always on the point of breaking
into a smile when it was not actually smiling tempered the
peasant shrewdness of a face that got further softening,
and a touch of superiority, from a carefully tended young
mustache.
Thor and Jim Breen had been on friendly terms ever
since they were boys; but the case was not exceptional,
since the latter was on similar terms with every one in the
village. From childhood upward he had been a local
character, chiefly because of a breezy self-respect that
was as free from self-consciousness as from self-importance.
There was no one to whom he wasn't polite, but there
had never been any one of whom he was afraid. "Hdlo,
76
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
^^If^'^^^iyr"^:^^^^' "H^no. Father
wyani otOo Dr. Sanl" had been hii fomi rd on^t
^•Twifte^ "^ ir- '-'^^^^^
jUage. with headup and face alert, at the age of five.
li^nJT' ^ ^^'^ ««ndline« was a prinuay fastinct.
«wer wthout speaking or nodding to every one he
«u^ on. or c^ling up, every one he could datm as an
•^uamtance He .as always on hand forfiL f"
SS.« 7 ^r '"^' '" ^"^^ ^ accidents. febX
theatacals and dances. There were rumors that hewis
WBebmee "wJd " but the wildness being corZed to to
Wjcrns mto the dty-^hich gener^yW pl^IfS
d«t-it was not sufficiently in evidence to shock the
^e«>^«nity. It was a matter of c«mnon Se£
_?L 1^^' "".^Se Ph™*. "to go with" Rode Pay
fa^^^^^^-'°'^«^°°- AsThorhadbe^nabs^t
^^ f,^ thw episode, and was without the native
w^on that wou^d have connected the two narn^
He took Jmj's arrival pleasantly '«-"«,
Ha^ finished his bit of business, which concerned an
^J?i «^««s too large for his father to meet, and to
7it^^^-^^^'^* find it to h« advantage ^^Q^,
^^tr^K*'^'^^- "Hear^uttheto^
^^^? ^'n*^* °^ ^5^ T*y'°^ "^d about t^
M Z^I 7^^° y°« think of that for nerve?
^2^^ what, there's some things in this town needs
The statement bringing out Thor's own intention to
™n^ «nd.date for office at the nert electicm Ji^
«Pt«8ed his mterest m the vernacular of the hour
77
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
"What do you knoir about th*t?" Further diwuMfam of
politics ending in Jim's pledging his support to hU boy.
hoods friend. Thor shook hands with an enooonging
sense of being embarked on a public career, and want
forward to visit his patient in the house.
His steps were arrested, however, by heating Jim say
M???*? '*''*"'*''**'°^ "^*«'« anywheiea about!
The old man having nodded in the direction of the hot-
houae, Jim advanced ahnost to the door, where Thor, on
looking over his shoulder, saw him pause.
It was a curious pause for one so self<onfident as the
young Irishman— a pause like that of a man grown sud-
denly doubtful, timid, distrustful. His hand was actuaUy
on the latch when, to Thor> surprise, he wheeled away
returning to his "team" with head bent and stride slack-
ened thoughtfully. By the time he had mounted the
wagon, however, and begun to tug at Maud he waa
whistling the popular air of the moment with no more
than a subdued note in his gaiety.
CHAPTER X
B^.i?^ T Pi!?*^ "^^ *^^ '<*<» «»t »>S« father
fart make it worth his whfle not to do so. RodePav
groiuul teneath their feet, and go oo workine ai^d if 3
mur^o.^* satisfaction to him to accomplish ^
W» fL^' *^* "? ^ Kitting his rewanl when, after
Jms departure. Rosie nodded through the glass of^
tottouse^ pvinghim what might ah^ost beT^ for 2
amile. He forbore to go to her at once, keeping that
iJeasure for the end of his visit. After sedngKti^
w.^'^^'^^ "^ "'^'^ *° giveaTd^ghte
Sklt^?^'^ pretexts for lingering in her com^y^
5K^\«Tr*^ '^'*^' "°' *^8h ministiS
bv R™^ but through some mysterious influence exerted
by Reuben HJary As a man of science and a skeptic.
S^Td'-ffierr-' °' "^ "'• -- ^^ ^^
in ^h-T '^J^^ «P the Stairs on his way to the bednxan
^^^;k^ "* ''^ ^y"«' '^th that inflection in
which thoie was no more than a hint of the brogue-
was hSL-?!.'J!^* ''\''"" i^"8 °f the last time I
T?.w fi; ; ^^^ "^ ^^: believe also in me.'
There s the two great plagues of human eristence-^ear
79
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THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
and trouble— staggered for you at a blow. And you do
believe in God, now, don't you?"
Thor had turned to tiptoe down again when he heard
the words, spoken in the rebellious tones with which he
was familiar, modulated now to an odd submissiveness:
"I don't know whether I do or not. Isn't there some^
thing in the Bible about, 'Lord, I believe, help thou mine
unbelief?"
"There is, and it's a good way to begin."
Thor was out in the yard before he could hear more.
Standing for a minute in the windy sunshine, he wondered
at the curious phenomenon presented by men in evident
possession of their faculties who relied for the dispersion
of human care on means invisible and mystic. The fact
that in this case he himself had appealed to the illusion
rendered the working of it none the less astonishing. His
own method for the dispersion of human care— and the
project was dear to him— was by dollars and cents. It
was, moreover, a method as to which there was no trouble
in proving the efficiency.
He took up the subject of her mother with Rosie, who,
with the help of Antonio, was rearranging the masses of
azaleas, carnations, and poinsettias after the depletion of
the Christmas sales. "She's really better, isn't she?"
Rosie pushed a white azalea to the place on the stand
that would best display its domelike regularity. "She
seems to be."
"What do you think has helped her?"
She gave him a queer Uttle sidelong smile. "You're
the doctor. I should think you'd know."
He adored those smiles— constrained, unwilling, dis-
trustful smiles that varied the occasional earnest looks
that he got from her green eyes. " But I don't know. It
isn't anjrthing I do for her."
She banked two or three azaleas together, so that their
shades of pink and pomegranate-red might blend. "I sun-
pose it's Dr. Hilary."
80
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
Suspecting aU his approaches, she confined herself to
saying, 'Tm sure I don't know " soeaW i;i,„ o u
witness under cross-examiTtton. n^Mt. S^^
t'afk V't\^T'-^^ ^*^ -'^'^ he tri:rtt"S;ire U^
Syi'^S^r,^r^^ - '- ^^ ^^^- ^
it ^h^Z^'^ ^^^ '^"^^ ""^ ^ ^'^^ chaim. He called
g^rl m her situation would have come haU-wav at°^
re^ to take hun into account. She made him feel
^e a n^ si^ahng m the dark or speaking acro^ a
^um through which his voice couldn^S She
at makmg the attempts to do either.
runaL'lif f^l^ ^'^'^ ^P'^ ^h«>' ^^r taking his
membered Dearlove's counsd^a f^dj^ SI'' L"^
i !J
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
mcmient smote him. The process of "easing the first one
oil would probably prove difficult. "I shall have to
explain to her that I was in a huny." he said, to comfort
mmself, as he flew onward to the town.
The explanation would have been not untrue, since he
was already overdue at his appointment with Mr. William
Darhng. his grandfather's executor.
It was the second of the meetings arranged for givine
ifiu^F"?^ *^^ °^ ^^^ ^^^ he was coming into
At the first he had gone over the lists of stocks, mortgages
and bonds. To-day, with a map of the city and the
suiToundmg country spread out, tially on the desk
and partially over Mr. Darling's . nees as he tilted back
m a revolving-chair, Thor learned the location of certain
bits of landed property which his grandfather, twenty or
aurty years before, had considered good investments.
The astuteness of this ancestral foresight was illustrated
by the fact that Thor was a richer man than he had sup-
posed While he would possess no enormous wealth
accorduig to the newer standards of the day. he would
have something between thirty and forty thousand dollars
of yearly income.
"And that," Mr. Darling explained with pride, "at a
very conservative rate of investment. You could easily
have more; but if you take my advice you'll not be in a
hurry to look for more tiU you need it. I don't want to
hitft any one's feeUngs. You surely understand that."
Thor was not sure that he did understand it. He was
not sure; and yet he hesitated to ask for the elucidation of
what was mtended perhaps to remain cryptic. In a small
chair drawn up beside Mr. Darling's revolving seat of
authonty, his elbow on his knee, his chin supported by his
fist, he studied the map.
"I don't want to hurt any one's feelings," the lawyer
declared again, "either before or after the fact."
TIi's time an intention of some sort was so evident that
82
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
TWfeltobliged to say. "Do you mean any one in par-
iJ^l^^T threw the map from off bis knees, and, ris-
uig, walked to the window. He was a smaU, nekt A^
^man of fresh, fn^ty complexion, his exq'uLt doSS
t^ung his head, with quick little jerks and perks, Z
Ws behmd his back, looking over the jumble of W
™"^s^ir''T"* °' ^'^^ ^ clonal .."C
SCTai^ ^othke a tower-to where a fringe of masts
and^funnels edged the bay. He spoke withlut t^
be'lnv°^* mean any one in particular unless there shorn.
De any one m particular to mean."
With this oracular explanation Thor was forced to be
content, and as the purpose of the meeting se«So W
been accompUshed, he rose to take his iL^
faitSuI^f .^ T T!^"^ ^ ^^°^S '^^If «°t only
•^^f^ ?f^- ^^ ^"^ ^ ^ ""^n °f the world
. My wife would hke you to come and see her " he said
« shakmg hands. "She asked me to say tS thlt^e
hopes you and your brother will come to^^^^e^Li^sh^
Slf ^" '°' 5^5 « *« oour^ of a month Z ^o
ifou U get your cards in time."
r.^iT^^ ^pressing the pleasure this entertainment
wou^d give hmi, while knowing in his heart thaTTe
wouldn't attend it. the young min took hislja^.
But no later than that evening he began to cerceive
why the omcle had spoken. Claude having ex<^^^!
setf from dressing for dimier on the ground of ano^
«,» TkI,™^"'' r°™' '" ''hich the bindings of long
rows of books, mosUy purchased by Grandpa ^orl^^
83
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
of that s ruggle havinrL,^ v "'^^'^ ^^- the end
never eager to LnLdn-LT-f'""^"'' '^^"^ ^e was
ning Hlhi^ Mt^hTt ^^ "*^ '"^ than its begin-
Won of the dtv huf™,V. . "^ suburban por-
ing of a verv niain mVi t, """'■ /t naa been the woo-
r^vJaXck whe^G^nS good-looking lad, and had
motives th^ Tovet, :,S^"??:rTh ' ""'^'"^ "''^^
Her suitor being fo°bE"4 fhoJ^^S ?>t? "t".
no resource but tr, r„=^t , . .""f^> «iiss Ihorlev had
Thor was b^m of tTe „?? nf pT''^'"''* P^'^S*-
foUowing. ^ dL iL^r Ji, ^^''^^ °f the year
TlwrleyVsor ^^ ""^ ^"^ ^"^^^8 Louisa
of Srtt ss^h^ zcr^ I' "°^ ^ '«-
put it in themMkS amf ^^ .f^^^^^^^^^'^^tors
Mo,«>ver. toS'nTvtr'^l «' "^l '' ^ "°^''-
never been a moment m Thor's life
84
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
«*«! he had been made to feel that his maintenance was a
oear it. For this consideration the son had bee,i grateful
^eX rt'r- ^'^ ^^-^- -^' - - C^
Fm- the minute he was moving restlessly about the room
fath^°^^ "^' *°.^^- ^^"-^ the way in wWcT^s
s^^^vrdr^rtt^erstiTo ri^^'
:L'«';Lrt2tt"'^ ^* ^^^ cigarS^r.^L^'rhrtTe
wT W^lf ^r f^^ ^=^°^* °f the interview be-
fatwJ^f^ ^"V^e trustee that afternoon. At^
father nught reasonably ;ook for such a confidence wMe
the conditions of aftecrionate intimacy in wlSh toe
Masterman famUy lived made it a mattL S c^ ^
The son was still marching ud and down tiTt;™^
^ofang cigarettes «pidly and thn,wing^ SttsTS
the fire when he had completed his Immar^ of Th^
^^ation received in his two m^s'ZS t
bui^^e^^re'^^ffi^/i-rr^rstrSTp:
pr^imate value of the whole esta J" ^ *^
Thor told him.
'And of the income?"
Thor repeated that also.
"Criminal."
^to ri^ th ^^ ?" "^P"^' ^"t he went on again
Tb^ti™ ^' """'"'"" °' °°* having heard thelst
in,iiStir^tW *"' '"*''? TJ"^""*' ^th repressed
Mm^tiou. that money should bring in so trifling a
*;He ^d it was very conservatively invested."
There was a long s-'ence before his
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
earn more for me than that-wcU, I'm afraid you wouldn't
have seen Vienna and Berlin " wouian t
■■f^tao^tW ^fTt^%T °P^'"^ ^^ ^^ Slad to seize.
I know that, father. 1 know how much you've spent
for me. ajid how generous you've always beenS cK
my own I want to repay you every—"
take^^'ri^rr- T^ ^^- .^°" ^'y '^°n'' think I'd
take compensation for bringing up my own vm Tf=
n^ th?tVhT:h^nv'" '-^^l^' ' '™P" -- tfa
now that the whole thing is coming into your own hands
irK:£,T-' - '^^ ^"er With i^thanlLtS
Thor said nothing,
father went on:
"Even if you didn't want me to have anything to do with
ILrid^^e^^ •" *°"^ ^^ ^"'"^ ^'^^'^ ^- y-
heS°' Cth""^''^'.?:? 'l^^'^^ *° '"^^'^^ his footfalls
h^d Something withm him seemed frozen, paralyzed
He was incapable of a response. ^
'Of course," the father continued, gently with his
^^rjeZ' 7 "" ''l^ -de^tand'thit >^u sfidS
want me to have anything to do with it. The new
generation is often distrustful of the old "
Thor beat his brains for something to say that would
meet the court^es of the occasion 'without ^l^Sng
him but his whole being had gro„ n dumb. hTwo^I
£ oSSr '"""^^^ '' ""^ ^^^^^^ ^ ^'^^^i
tinu^'^Jth n'lr^-' u°"^ "" ^^y" Mastennan con-
tinued, with pathos m his voice. "I had very httle to
begm with. When I first went into old TooS "offi^
I had nothing at all. I made my way by thrift foresTh?
^n^f T*^T.' i**""^ I can say as muJh as ihat vtr
s^irnJSTsXbi"^"^* " -• '^' '- —
86
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
It was a relief to Thor to be able to say with some
heartiness, "I know that, father." *
"Not that I didn't have some difficult situations to face
00 account o it. When the Toogood executors ^^^thdr^
a I hl^T^'""!;,'^ '* """^^ ^^''^ S°"« hard with me
lit, f ^"."^'^ to-to"-Thor paused in his walk,
waiting for what was coming-" if I hadn't been able t<^
command confidence in other directions," the father
finished, quietly.
Thor hastened to divert the conversation from his own
affairs. "Mr. Willoughby put his money in then. dkWt
"That was one thing," Masterman admitted, coldly
Thor oould speak the more daringly because his march
up and down kept him behind his father's back. "And
now, I understand, you think of dropping him "
I Si.ouldn't be dropping hjn. That's not the way to
put It. He drops himself— automatically." The clock
on themantelpiece ticked a few times before he added
1 can t go on supporting him."
^j;po yoir mean that he's used up all the capital he put
Af'Jt^X^^^ " "™'' *°- "^'^ 'P^n* enormous sums.
At times It s been near to cnppling me. But I can't keep
It up. He s got to go. Besides, the big, drunken oaf is a
disgrace to me. I can't afford to be associated with him
any longer.
Thor came round to the fireplace, where he stood on the
hearth-rug, his arm on the mantelpiece. "But, father,
what II he do?
.'m V * ^^* ^ °^ '*' ^y ^y means."
No; but if you've got most of it—"
Masterman shot out of his seat. "Take care Thor
I object to your way of expressing yourself. It's offensive "
I only mean, father, that if Mr. Willoughby saved the
ousiness —
87
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
shSv'"'^N„'^° ""^'"^ °l ^^^ ^'"^■" Mastemian said.
But Thor ventured to sneak un "m^^u „
rnother one night in Paris. £ ll^J^t^ TJ^
that h.s money might as weU come to you m go to the
deuce? Mother said she hated business and1i<L'twISt
WiSr.1?^'''"/ *u° .^° "■"> '*• She hoped y^y eUhe
WJoughbys and their money alone. Didn^tSappln!
JIJ^"^- Tu*''P^'"S ^ ^**er to blanch and betrav a
^iLdhr"^-''' ^^ '^^'^ disappointed anS r^S
^^1^Ser;h;^"usir-l^-^mJ^-^t^
a,'^S'" *"^.t° '"fuse his words with a special intensity
i S ^f LL^f.*^' ''''''''' eyes.'^'id "si:
^„I-I remember the way things happened kt th^
yoii to^'SL^^Th"'?^ ^^, ''''^* y°" ■"«"°ries lead
Sg^ • ^'^'^^^ ^^^y '^ y°" to infer some-
^c?Si*Th:r?s;^staS„\-^^^^^^
HTsSrrr^^t, «^ '^ff' * -nt toIL^^hi^fX"'
n. sJirank from the knowledge that would have iustified
^m w doing so. To express himself with as httle stSs
a^ possible he said, "They lead me to infS that we^
^rXI 'T^'^^'y. toward Mr. Willough^* "' "'
Thor flushed, but he accepted the diversion. He even
88
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
Besides, as he ssid to himself h#. h»^ »,;„
"OLord!" ^ "" ""^ ''^^Se- -lingomg into politics."
T^or hurried on. "Yes, I knwT how you feel R„t f
me It seems a duty." ' °"* *<»
"Secans a— it/Aa<f"
The son felt obliged to be apologetic. " You see fatW
^£„"^Xs-"^"^ ^^^ stocI^S^fi-
"Well, why should they?"
_'The ccwntry has to be governed."
^_ That isn't the way I look at it."
It s the way you wiU look at it when you know a Kttle
* 89
l\
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
more about it than you evidentiv rfr, „«„, ru
with your money you'U have a^eht to Mu ^ '°""*'
time in anything you pW but L 7 T"^ ^"^
that I ought to pVe y^; word n^™" '""'^ ' ^'^
-;jd„-t be a M.L„^°1} y^Sn-f n:^;-„ J^
"What score?"
sol?4 «SLt-^"^ •""«"' "^ -"-y humbugging
"I'm not a socialist, father "
•■r^Z^'- "° T^ ^ *''°"8ht you were."
_ I m not now IVe passed that phase."
That s something to the good, at any rate."
With pohtics m this country as they 7u^-^r,A „
many alien peoples to be lick«1 Jnf^ .u ^^^"'1 »
looking for tl^Lte to undtSl^e ° JSiT" ' "° "^
for another two hundred ^^^ ^^"^^ progressive
•'w=Lf^^\'?'"^"''"S """^ rapid-firing."
Want something immediate."
And you've found it?"
"Only in the conviction that whatever'* t« k- j
must be done by the individu^. rvr^o t^ ""^
longer. I've finished with th«« .11 t" *°?°"es any
process in one's own smaU sph^ If 1^ 1 *°''^^
Put what into practice?"
■'Thor. you should have been God "
1 don t know anything about God father Hi.t if r
rdL°en"r ' ^- ' "^^ -^ ^^ ^<^-
go
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
lease. You're t^ntTotricr" '"I '^"^ °^«* P"/^
know I won't do of Jv oT ^^ '1?'° '^""8 ^^at you
do with the iZoC'u-Ta^oT^roJf^^ "^'^^ ^
Fay? PoUtics be hanged c^P'"^'"^ " ^ <>W
me." nangeai Come, now. Be frank with
Thor threw back hi? hoo/< ni
"iu. j~. i.th«rL in si , ' r ', '• '">■ '""J-
going to seli the place ■' ^ ^ ' '^^' ">« '«««• I'm
of 'f!;?^/^*'"''^'" "'^ y^'-S -an cried, "what's to become
this w^ld^o aZevZ^"^/ ^' ^°^- Am I in
-itSd-S^--£»S'::o:d
-;2°:SnX' tlhStV^"'"' P'-^ to eali a
..S?*'V*; ^^?h^-P"t mildly."
what's moref^I-^ ^^Tto""^ IT^^''^^'^^ -''^'
stand?" ^ ^ '° °*ar it. Do you under-
tha^^ttSeJ'^rof^^r:^ Jil^' '^^ ^'-^ -'^t--
clenched his fists hI h^ ^^ ''^''^ °^ ^rath. He
hin^selffromSng qS"r.i:- =".' '^^ ««^da't keep
cause of his ver^^^^ ^ kL^ffi* ^™f*.'^' '*«>'' ^
K you don't bear™, I wSl .^P '* "^^ ^ right, father.
91
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
He was moving toward the door when Archie called
after him, "Thor, for God's sake, don't be a fool I"
He answered from the threshold, over his shoulder,
" It's no use asking me not to do as I've said, father, be-
cause I can't help it." He was in the hall when he added,
"And if I could. I shouldn't try."
CHAPTER XI
D Y the time his anger had cooled down, Thor regretted
LJ the words with which he had left his father's pres-
ence, and continued to regret them. They were braggart
and useless. Whatever he might feel impelled to do
for either Leonard Willoughby or Jasper Fay, he could do
^tter without announcing his intentions beforehand
He expenenced a sense of guUt when, on the next day
and for many days afterward, his father showed by te
manner that he had been wounded.
Lois Willoughby shewed that she, too, had been
wound^. The process of "easing the first one off," be-
sides affording him side-lights on a woman's heart, in-
volved him in an erratic course of blowing hot and cold
that defeated his own ends. When he blew cold the chill
was such that he blew hotter than ever to disperse it He
could see for himself that this seeming capriciousness
made it difficult for Lois to preserve the equal tenor of
her beanng, though she did her best.
He had kept away from her for a week or more, and
would have <»ntinued to do so longer had he not been
haunted by the look his imagination conjured up in her
eyes. He knew its trouble, its bewilderment, its reflected
heartache. 'I'm a damned cad." he said to himself-
and whenevCT he worked himself up to that point remote
couldn t send him quickly enough to pay her a visit of
atonement.
He Imew she was at home because he met one or two
of the County Street ladies coming away from the house.
With knowmg looks they told him he should find her.
93
I
I
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
Thqr did not, however, teU him that she had another
viator, whose voice he recognized while depositing his
hat and overcoat on one of the Regency chairs in the
tapestned square hall.
"Oh, don't go yet," Lois was saying. " Here's Dr. Thor
Masterman. He'll want to see you."
But Rosie msisted on taking her departure, making
pohte excuses for the length of her call.
She was delidously pretty; he saw that at once on
entmng. Weanng the new winter suit for which she had
lynched and sav«l, and a hat of the moment's fashion,
she easily dazzled Thor, though Lois could perceive, i:^
details of material, the "cheapness" that in American
eyes is the most damning of all qualities. Rosie's face
was bright with the flush ,of social triumph, for the
County Street ladies had been kind to her, and she had
had tea with all the ceremony of which she read in the
accredited amials of good society. If she had not been
wondering whether or not the Cdunty Street ladies knew
her brother was in jail, she could have suppressed aU other
CMses for amaety and given herself freely to the hour's
But she would not be persuaded to remain, taking her
leave with a full command of graceful niceties. Thor
could hardly believe she was his fairy of the hothouse.
She was a princess, a marvel. " Beats them aU," he said,
1,!^^' ]° }^^^- "^f^Ting to the ladies of County
otreet, and ahnost mcluding Lois Willoughby
J^^ v^ "°* T^ ^*='"'^*' ^"- He perceived that he
oouldn t do so when, after having bowed Rosie to the door
he retimied to take his seat in the drawing-room. There
was a distmction about Lois, he admitted to himself, that
nather prettiness nor fine clothes nor graceful nrceties
could nval. he wondered if she wasn't even more dis-
tmgmshed smce this new something had come into her
^^^ "* J°y <»■ grief ?— which he himself had brought
94
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
something rehearJXd exC^ C^'" .^'^^^
she had given him wT te^ !^h 1, J^^'°"- '"^hen
he«elf. they ta^ of R^e ^""^ *°°"'«- "^P f°«-
the S;.''5?tu^°£/Lli2 1?"^'^' ••' ^^
afternoon?" ^ ^^ ^J°yed being here this
;'Why shouldn't she?"
yes, but why should she? Anart-f„^*i-
novelty of the thing-whidi tT^f^.*** ^^ry slight
^ novelty, after i-7 dS't^ JJ^T"^ ^iri is no
cares so much about?" understand what it is she
Heweighed the question seriously "ShAfi„^
of certam-what shaU I sav?-of '.^^ • ^"^ * ''°'"'<J
which she's equal-^yone^lfrjfn a^e^ties to
ha^ t got. That's sLeS ^itS T'^ ''^f'' ^°
unagmation." ^ itself— to a gu-1 with
Who on ^h coulJshe £VL?^S" ^^« -•* »-•
"■St^^--:£^Hnt^^^^^^
Sett^arss^sfe-wr::'^^^^^^
men. except the Italians who^'«.^ *^\°^y ^°
"Oh. you don't know '^xLtf -^^P^ ?° ** P^ace."
Uke that often have wS th^' T*^' .^^X^^" "C^'s
a feUow." ^* **^y *=^' rather picturesquely,
nenS; JS'" £'%^I?'^^*^tly foUowed by a
95
[ atonement
i^f-l
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
had become impossible. That must be put oflE for another
day— perhaps for ever. He wasn't sure. He couldn't
tell. For the minute his head was in a whirl. He
hardly knew what he was saying, except that his rejoindera
to Lois s remarks were more or less at random Vital
questions were pounding through his brain and demanding
an answer. Who knew bu. that with regard to Rosie she
was right— and yet wrong? Women, with their remark-
able powers of divination, didn't always hit the nail
direcUy on the head. It might be the case with Lois now
She might be right in her surmise that Rosie was in love
and mistaken in those light and cruel words: "Oh not
with you!" He didn't suppose it was with him. 'And
yet . . . and yet ... !
I
He got away at last, and tore through the winter
twilight toward the old appleKM-chard above the pond
He knew what he would say. "Rosie, are you in love
With any one? If so, for God's sake, tell me." What
he would do when she answered him was matter outside
his present capacity for thought.
It had begun to snow. By the time he reached the
house on the hill his shoulders were white. The necessity
for shaking himself in the Kttle entry gave the first prosaic
chill to his ardor.
Rosie had returned and was preparing supper. The
pnncess and marvel had resolved herself again into the
feiry of the hothouse. Not that Thor minded that
What disconcerted him was her dry little manner of sur-
pnse. She had not expected him. There was nothing
m. her mother's condition to demand his call. She herself
was busy. She had come from the kitchen to answer the
door. A smell of cooking filled the house.
No one of these details could have kept him from
carrymg out his purpose; but together they were unro-
mantic. How could he adjure her to teU him for God's
»ke whether or not she was in love with any one when he
96
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
come. Inventine oTL t^ °^* T?^ ^"^ ^'^
tions for the S^t o1 M^ P^: ^"^.T.^.^* "^
ag^, not without htLliftSa^*^' '"'' ^^ ^un^ "way
het^worir^^'So". '' "^^^^ '°^ «"« hill,
o-ren^gavf SS^fhi^^rStSoT """^^
the center of a tAnl^ wt^ ^. '*" parsonage in
as Thor Mastennln^pS^Sl^- at thl H ""'"^ ^»^
ter s day, with the erit^f7fl»ti ,? • *^°^ °^ ^ ^»in-
on roof and oZ C^^Slhe'^hof *rf ^"^^
the c^^enTLrtLt Sec^' '^""^Jin °"« Pl«<=^-on
'J^dSlL^pI^'-J^'^^S^^,^-*. but befon,
were be^g^tT^f h^,.'"^^ his guess. Patients
noons 1^1^^. s^d^ wW ™'u T"^^"^ his after-
had happeneT' Mr Will^hbTfl'^^" "^ «P«=t«l
homeward by the elertri;°T k .^ "^^^ *« «»ne
^^^^ y me electnc car, but was unable to go any
Nevertheless, Thor was <!tj.rH->j u'
way to hear ; ^^t^^^^^ he^^oss«l the road-
was huddled somehow on^f ^.- u.^h^ .l»g .creature
somehow on the seat; b^t^SffSr
97
and
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
imns turned to the trunk of the tree, against whose cold
bark he wept. He wept shamdessly aloud, with broken
wclamations of which "0 my God! O my GodI" was aU
that Thor could hear distinctly.
"JK^.^ff^'^ ^^ *■«>«• ^"T sure," he said to himself,
as he laid his hand on the great snow-heaped shoulder
He changed his mind on that score as soon as Mr
WiUoughby was able to speak coherenUy. "I'm heart-
bS^^°^' ..***''^'* t"""**! a thing to-day-«carcely.
More sobs foUowed. It was with difficulty that Thor
could get the lumbering body on its feet. "You mustn't
stay here, Mr. Willoughby. You'll catch cold. Come
along home with me."
';i do' wMi' to go home,, Thor. Got no home now.
Rumed— thaswhatlam. Ruined. Your father's kicked
me out. AU my money gone. No' a cent left in the
world.
Thor dragged him onward. "But you must come home
]JMt the same, Mr. Willoughby. You can't stay out here
The next car will be along in a minute, and every one
will see you."
"I do' care who sees me, Thor. I'm ruined. Father
n^.^'^rJ"^- Got all the papers ready. O my
God! what '11 Bessie say?" '
■ As they stumbled forward through the snow Thor tried
to learn what had happened.
"Got all my money and then kicked me out." was the
wily explanation. "No' a cent in the world. What 'U
Bessie s..y? Oh, what '11 Bessie say? All her money.
Hasnt got a hundred thousand dollars left out of tha'
grea big estate. Make away with myself. Tha's what
1 11 do. O my God! my God!"
On arriving in front of the house Thor saw Ughts in the
drawmg-room. Lois was probably still there. It was no
more than a half-hour since he had left her, and other
caUers might have succeeded him. He tried to steer his
98
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
But Len grew querulous. "I do' want to go in the side
door. Go in the front door, hang it aUI Father can't
turn me out of my own house, the infernal hound "
TTie door op«ied. and Lois stood in the oblong of light.
'rZ^\ "L'" '^^ '^^' P««^8 outward. "Is it
you. Thor? What's the matter?"
SIl.Ti^" ^ * servant." Willoughby complained,
as, wjth Thor supportmg him. he stumbled up the steps.
X do want to go m the side door. Front door good enoush
for me. No confounded kitchen-boy, if I am ruin^.
i^u « 'i^f' ^^ "^"^ °"' ""^^ ^^ had got into
the hall and Thor was helping him to take off his over-
wat- look here Lois; we haven't got a cent in the
r m' T J 'J? "^^ ^""^'^ got-not a cent in the
world. Archie Masterman's got my money, and your
money, ajid your mother's money, and the whole damned
money of aU of us. Kicked me out now. No good to
him any more." ^
With some difficulty Thor got him to his room, where
♦ ♦r'^^ i^ ^"^ P"* "^ '^ *«^- On his return
to the hall he found Lois seated in one of the ann-chairs
her face pale.
"Oh, "Thor, is this what you meant a few weeks ago'"
..T ! , , "^^ *° ^^P"^ <*« situation to her gently
I dont Imow just what's happened, but I'm afraid
there's trouble ahead."
She nodded. "Yes; I've been expecting it, and now
I suppose It s come."
"I diouldn't wonder if it had. But you must be
brave, Ix)is, and not think matters worse than they are "
Oh, I sha n t do that," she said, with a hint of haughti-
ness at his soHcitude. "Don't worry about me I'm
quite capable of bearing whatever's to be borne. Please
go on.
"If anything has happened," he said, speaking from
99
U I
II
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
wh«e he stood in the middle of the floor "it's th.t * .i.
wants to dissolve the partnership " ' * ' "** ^""'«"
•'aZ ^ ^°°J^}- ^" ^^*- So has mamma "
Willoughby." " f* ^«y I'We money coming to Mr.
•'Whose fault would that be?"
my Sff^ o^ouLl"^' '°"^- '' '^^^ ^ that of
"And I shouldn't think you'd want to find out "
♦u .? '??''^ ^°'^ at her curiously " TO^„ ^„
that? Shouldn't you?" "'""*'/• Why do you say
She seemed to shiver. "Whv should T? Tf*i.
gone, it's gone. Whether Ty fltW hL " *" "l"^^'^
or your father has-" She Zi I.^ ''*' squandered it
the staire. where, with a f^t^ ««i crossed the haU to
she leaned on^e^SLti of ^. K "T"'* °^ *« '^'
want to know." she'STwrit'eiS'^'the"' '°":*
gone, they've shuffled ii away S^een i """"^ '
don't see that it would help d^er y^"^ *1!=. ^<^ '
who's to blame." you or me to find out
It was a minute at w'-ieh Th™. ~«.i j -i .
out the words whichToJ™ ^^^1"^"'' "^'^
he would one day speak to h^ HWf ^ supposed
it would have b4VWy to tS hS-T T ""•* ^''^^
material part of her ca^ W « f ^ '^'^ '^ t^"
that mucTwithours^rJS'h. I ."f^"^ "^^^ "^
hesitation. But the^^ Xa^^^'Al '^ T
'ove. It was*SSdi°^rC',^-^.J^was young
was on it. and the freshness of sunr,^ ?! ^ T°™°8
renounce it, even to^Thf.T.^ ^* J^" ^^ t°
ah.£gu"S2£ir^,l^--4^ethatwe.
Has your mother any idea of what's ^ on?"
lOO
THE SIDE OF THE ANG
ELS
knowing something, ^pj^le^l^^ '^'^^ ^^P
that she's been mLn^^'^^tSS'I " '^' ^'^
I suppose it wiU be very hard for W^'
She paused, confronting hto ^i,\,, .,
But she'U rise to it <?h. j-^',. . . '^ be at fi«t.
don't kno,r^ott« V^'^'^'f"l°^*Wng- You
«dor«.papa. Ifs^thl^ M SS'Ll^ f^^^P'^
^'-so-^he won't VecoenL ^^ *™f ^we that he's been
'^"^d-or let ttie aS^i«t f •" won't adnut for .
or ai. It's splendid-^dU*^*^? ' ^'^^^ ^^ *^
that atoost brSS m^^Jf m " ^««»i°K about it
you toow Youl„STLiJ^r^ "^ '°^ °f pluck.
Uh, I know it."
Of w'bKrrSe rS'^? «^i- <»-y one .de
rreat Zx i^ her fhat-Jnev^^l^SS " ''' I^^'^ *
this trouble WiU bring it^?' °°' '*'' P^^^^P^
^He^spoke admiringly. "It will bring out a g«at deal
youknow.attimr^tSr iw^ '''?£,*" ^y°°«- Do
Pay?" ^''***^'y' I ^°«»vied that little Rosie
"Why.?"
^^_^d make <^. '^^^^ ^^e-^rdtpS
"She's splendid, isn't she?"
away
' appeal of her distress, he
lOI
fdt
H
a pang of
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
^m^tion in the promptnes. with which she foUowed
But he couldn't go on with the discussion. It was too
odcening. Every mflection of her voice implied that with
ho- own need he had no longer anything to do-that it
was aU ovei-that she recognised the fact-that she wm
IT^^ ?".f *° '"^ ^^ °^ *^"y- Th** ''he should
si'spect the truth, or connect the change with Rosie Pay.
which her mind would work. If she accounted for the
s.tt«t.on at all it would probably beTTttl Z^d
that when it came to the point he had found thThe
didn t care for her. The promises he had tacitly made
and^she had tadUy understood she was ready to^ve
He was quite alive to the fkct that her generosity made
^ "^^^"^ i\" .'"°'* P**^"«- That hTSd Stand
tongu^tied and helpless before the woman whom he tad
aUowed to Uunk that she «ndd count on him was gaZg
Zt^X-^J^°?^' ^* t° «U those primary inftincti
that sent him to the aid of weakness. There was a minute
m which It seemed to him that if he did not on the instant
^^tT^n h.l^T'^/* ^°^^ be lost to him for ever.
After all. he did care for hei— in a way. There was no
woman m the world toward whom he felt an equal deeree
wnll^T'*- J^'^,^ that, there was no w^an i^
world whom he could admit so naturaUy to share his life
whose hfe he himself could so natuiaUy share. If Rosie
were to marry him, the whole process would be dififerent
noth^! W *^^^°1^<^ he no sharing; the«! would be
nothing but a wdd. gipsy joy. His delight would be to
=TfU ''^°*f VP°" ^^' ~"tent with her acceptance
and tiie very httle which was all he could expecther to
give hmi m return. With Lois Willoughby itwould be
quality, partnership, companionship, and a life of mutual
comprehension and respect. That would be much of
course; it was what a few months ago he would have
1 02
THE SIDE OF THE
ANGELS
hers to dispose of as she\^d^!!^ a^rl loyalty were
tingly balked the inifX ^ "'"" "^ herself unwit-
shi^rS t'sSi^'^^ «- *"« -/ Of -pe that
I di;^ £? s^ytZTatjt vrtvr ^"^-^'^
hears in the village Anv nnJtC^ ^ ""^ gossip one
the working p5f'sh^sLrid5°h^.V?.'^^ "^
He was still incredulmic -^ j ^ '' *"•
•Tve hea:!i"h^^ji„^^^'-heard-^., ..•
she wouldn't look at him •'^,''*°t~ to marry her— and
a great dS haSe^L^, J:* " " P^^^' ^ think. She'd be
put it," she addeTwiS a ^„r. ^^ ?"^^ ^ «^y
sttL"t-s^-'^--^-^e;^^^^^^^^^^^
^-S:irth^isr^*^£^ i-.^y trust hims^
t,on of-of a:jy oneTS^Tt^io„ i?& ""^ *'"«^
only^.:ilnfatr? SLJ J '^^/^^ -- ^'n,
some o- of that fctad." ""^ "^^^ to be with
again decla«f ff it'T^^^P^^H^y .*"' ''^ ^«
>«-i. « was^not with han he could have
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
Th^JuTlt ^"'?»*»'i?«» it *«n't with Dr. HilMy.
^.!T,*'^ **"'*• Were there «,.y other riviThe
couldn't helptaowing it He h«l ^w^etoTLSurf-
K-ta^iL^*^'? ««piciont-he haJSSe.
vet^.^1 ^ ^ '^^y **""«'' f<"- hope(-*nd
^ii.T^^ "•??. "** «''^« "^ that dim/ridelong
mh« greemah eye., he h*l thought that poSw^'^t
JJfrw'^A !^T ""^^ """^ ''• ""^ to her further
remarks. A faint memory remmed with him of talkine
mcoh««,tlya«air«t reason, against «mtiment, S
^LTr: ^u^ ""^^"'y "^^ ""tine "Pon Wrn^
he swung on his overcoat and hurried to taJ« his leave^
\ ^
CHAPTER XII
because he knew VdSsi^o!,^ .u""^ ^^ '>"^«»
come impemtive. ^d t= hS V^^ °^^ ^ ^
convinced him that sTloneast^ ^^"^ ^'' ^""'"^
Rosie car«l for him^l hi f^ T."^ " P^^^-aity that
for Lois WiUoua^v^Srhl<S, "^."^ "'^«" 'J" anything
the woman-fnr^ X ^^Z ^' ^"^"^^ '^'^
the str«« of a love of w&,e'.T ""^ '^'^ ^^'^ ^y
might be over-abrup^^emiStSirh^'^'*- "'^
worst he should eacaije fm^^ tV f ^^'' ^* "* «»
inactivity. '^ ^^ ""« unbearable sta c of
-^nttPi.X'^^'l^^'-^n,; the evemng
father would probaWy have ^1, ""^'^ ^ '>'«='°ck. his
Wm first an offer of n^7-^ T*" "^ '"w^d make
afterwart Hrexi«TJr™'' '"''u''^ ""^^ «« R<«ie
could neither^t nS- 2r\jJir* '^' he knew he
were answered ^ "^^ questions in his heart
up to the door. It was nof tw?^ driveway and roU
« her paying hf mX fcL^^r^tS^^i^g stmnge
stances were unusual. Anvthi^;,, ^.,fl '^ ^''^ °^<^-
might have happened Si ^^'''^PPf- ^nytlung
he let himself in'^^JS ^ ^^«=^g ^he door
He recngaized the visitor's voice i
"S
t once, but there was
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
n^rJd^L^r^X'^.'^- It was a plaintive
Oh, Ena, vMt's become of my money?"
His moaier s inflections were as childlike as the other',
JJ.^7^^-^ I've just come from there. I can't
S X^'r^ '" r^ ^''' "^ '^^ to telf^e
TT,^ w^ it-when I know we haven't spent it."
There were teare m Ena's voice as she said: ^eU I
can t explam at. Bessie. / don't know anything att
h/^J'}^''J^ '*°°^' "^^^ ^^ h^d on the knob as
he closed the door behind him, Thor could s^^tr. t^
S b'th':1'°""'' ^«-»^ --rS-'thTcSl*!
pece m the drawmg-room. The two women were^d
W T^" His stei»nother, in a soft, trailing house^owT
th^n^"^ ^^'^ ^"^ ^^- "^^ taUerind S^
JZiT V ~"*^* *° ^'^^ WiUoughby's d,mS^
dwarfed as »t was by an enormous muff and encumCg
cnangea. You do know something about business
Ena You knew enough about it to drag iT^dVS;
''I.' Why, Bessie, you must be crazy "
me so"" T^^=^^°"«^ °*^ '^"''^ ■'■« «"°"Eh to niake
^aSte^ooT'"""" "^"^^^ ^ " •* had'happened
Er^^'^^JS :f„i^' .«=i«taiation in the diamonds in
vn^ll^ ear-nngs as she tossed her head. "If
you^tiat you must recaU that I was afraid of it from
.h^T"" '?^,<J"i<=k to detect the admission. "Whv?"
she demanded. "If you were afi^d of it, «*y w^^^i
io6
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
tobe'aU°:,.r--'t a^d Without seein, so^ethin,
Mrs Masterman nearly wenf "tj .
about business at aU. B^^^'" ^ *'°« * ^now anything
'■V^icnt^lSCbo^iil^^^ '-^ -. fi«^,
our«oneyin ,8^^" ^"' 't to see that Archie w3
"Hl't'"^3JCr'J^,*<"^°withit."
JJo w^ it sulSfedVL^L'^L""'- -ho had?
- -eSnTSl^^S^j^ - «^t I hat«, h^,,
'^ady that your Lhl^^t^J^ T"^ y°" ^^ S-
now.Ena! Didn't y^-^ ^« *° "^ «s. Come
an^SS.g'SSrroS^^^ "Ididn'tW
3^,and your money aS^".^ «?at Archie woulX
Very well, then!" B^^" / ^^ 't still."
^.tward A^Sy. °'^%"^!f; ^^^^ her hands
Ybu knew something You l<i,„^*. ^^^ ^'^ saying'
^ead. You not only let^„J°r,'i ^'^ ^"^ '«» "^^
You could see almdy thaT^^r^' ^^ y«" '^d us i^
hke a spider, and that he'd cS^^7^«-P*°^« his Cb
you? Tell the truth, Erl S"t jf*'^- ^^^ didn't
Afdiie. that I don't suppoTte ..^f' ^" ^^y that for
wh^le you knew he J'^hat's^/.T"' *° ""« «•
a man and his wife. The m^ ' , ^^f"^** between
^ears ahead what he'sdXgt'' ^*'' '^* «>« wife
When his stepmother bowS^hi ,, ^?"^''it,Ena-"
handkerchief Thor ventuS 2 ^J^ *° ^^ ^"to her
of .the women noticed WnT ^ ^'^ *he room. Neither
"^"^•""^•"^-ir^-ed. "that seems tome
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
frightful. I don't know what you can be made of that
you've lived cheerfully through these last eighteen years
when you knew what was conung. If it had been coming
to yourself— well, that might be borne. But to stand by
and watch for it to overtake some one else — some one
who'd always been your friend — some one you liked, for
I do believe jrou've liked me, in your way and my way —
that, I must say, is the limit — cela passe Us homes. Now,
doesn't it?"
Mrs. Masterman struggled to speak, but her sobs
prevented her.
"In a way it's funny," Bessie continued, philosoph-
ically, "how bad a good woman can be. You're a good
woman, Ena, of a kind. That is, you're good in as far
as you're not bad; and I suppose that for a woman that's
a very fair average. But I can tell you that there are
sinners whom the world has scourged to the bone who
haven't bigun to do what you've been doing these past
eighteen years— who wouldn't have had the nerve for it.
No, Ena," she continued, with another sweeping gesture.
"'Pon my soul, I don't know what you're made of. I
almost think I admire you. I couldn't have done it;
I'll be hanged if I could. There are women who've com-
mitted murder and who haven't been as cool as you.
They've committed murder in a frantic fit of passion that
went as quick as it came, and they've swung for it, or
done time for it. But they'd never have had the pluck
to sit and smile and wait for this minute as you've waited
for it — when you saw it from such a long way off."
It was the crushed attitude in which his stepmother
sank weeping into a chair that broke the spell by which
Thor had been held paralyzed; but before he could speak
Bessie turned and saw him.
"Oh, so it's you, Thor. Well, I wish you could have
come a minute ago to hear what I've been saying."
"I've heard it, Mrs. Willoughby— "
"Then I am sure you must agree with me. Or rather,
io8
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
you would if you knew how things had been m=„,»»j •
Pans eighteen years ago. rve^Ttr^i^* T^*^ "
done her justice. We'v^ ♦»in.,„i,* t l . ® '>aven t
cotossal, and Lady Macbeth. aTLte^S^ Z"^
I don-t believe either of them^.M ^ ^}^'' ^"*
sword of Damocles^no^^i^ ^''^ watched the
and, t Ww^„^f*^*^*°^^°"a«end
fnshase^/' ^"^ Prostrabon-while she's as
He laid his hand on her arm. "You'll rrvm» =„
Wt you. Mn,. Willoughg?' he^ed ''"^ °°'''
She adjusted her furs hurriedlv^'Ail ri^hf tu
' ''rno^tLr " -^ -w --' """•
ro^.t^^j*i;.?rE^^^ n'.^>" ^ ^h-*
?5H^€i-i-^i^£Sd-.-
JSy^Tt S°ar f£j::^ ^ r^?r«-t we sha'a't
«m'/ We slLt^" ^ '°'°'' ''^ ^^"^ * ^P«>t it- We
toS* ]?n^J^°'«*''"^ ^ -^y °"« thing for him
nothing^ ^o^lS; ^ :;^^r rf y- he could say
But Bessie was not convinced. "I don't see ho^ that's
109
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
going to be. If your father says the money is gone, it is
gone— whether we've spent it or not. Trust him'"
Nevertheless, she kissed him, saying: "But I don't
blame you, Thor. If there were two like you in the
world it would be too good a place to live in, and Len
and Lois think the same."
He got her into the motor and closed the door upon her
Standing on the door-stop, he watched it crawl down the
avenue, like a great black beeUe on the snow. As it passed
the gateway his father appeared, coming on foot from
the electric car.
CHAPTER Xin
OV^S'^l^J^ ^^"^ ^«- ^ father
inferring that his mS^hS'^r^T?" ""P^^' «°d
to say nothing of th^Z^f^l^V^^' ^^ ^^<i^
°"«hby. For the tof^^ wf° ^^ ^^ ^«- ^iU-
right of way. NotW ^^ '^i JT °*«^ demanded
th^ had ^ J'SS«,^-^~uId be attended to tiU
atlast! Hew^Lrf^,f°:fl*°fP^°f^n::
to name it again he wouM ^ .!^ K he was never
outlet for hJ^onT^/^t? ^ °°«'- 8^««« »me
He both strainK^L?' ^* ^ ^T*^ '"'I *^^-
drunk with a ^e tt^^ln'^^^- r^^^^^ ^« f*'*
ardently as it fi«d the ^^'ix*l"°''«- «»°tions as
the pmport of his feth^s^ J!** "^J* f^^ ^^ m
the .^w^ ^ b^tl^St^^^^ Sd^ ^^P^i
^^£^tJn;rsrSy,t7.A---
a^^^niTtfelj^-^^o^e. He was in
continued, while hanLTST^vJ^ "° f ^g- Archie
at the foot of the sS * "^^ *"* « *^« closet
thlTnS:^!'"^;*^"".'*?-''- ^— like
St?^et^r-^---'-Sc?rs
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
had been lad for some weeks past— sad and detached—
ever since the night when he had made his ineflfectual
bid for the caie of Thor's proFr)ective money. He had
betrayed no hint of resentment towaid his son— nothing
but this dignified lassitude, this reserved, high-bred
speechless expression of failure that smote Thor to the
heart. But this evening he looked worn as weU, worn
and old, though brave and patient and able to command
a weary, flickering smile.
"But I'm glad it's come. It will be a reUef to have it
wrer. Seen it coming so long that it's been like a nightmare.
Rather have come to grief myself— assure you I would."
'Father, could I speak to you for a few minutes?"
"About this?"
"No, not about this; about something else— somethine
rather nnportaat." '
There was a sudden gleam in the father's eyes which
gave Thor a second pang. He had seen it once or twice
ahieady during these weeks of partial estrangement.
Uwaa the gleam of hope— of hope that Thor might have
grown repentant. It had the sparkle of fire in it when
seated in a business attitude at the desk which held the
center of the library, he looked up expectantly at his son.
Well, my boy?"
Thor remained standing. "It's about that prooertv
trf Fay's, father." »~ i~- j
"Oh, again?" The light in the eyes went out witli the
suddenness of an electric lamp.
"I only want to say this, father," Thor hurried on, so
as to get the interview over, "that if you want to seU the
place, I'll take it. I'll take it on your own terms. You
can make them what you like."
Archie leaned on the desk, passing his hand over his
brow. "I'm sorry, Thor. I can't."
Thor had the curious reminiscent sensation of being
once more a litUe boy, with soma pleasure forbidden him.
Oh, father, why? I want it awfully."
THE SIDE OF THr a xr
..e-T ^ ^' IHE ANGELS
Rid of the lotf Tho ~
father's nund the is^:.l^^^alanni„g. I„ his
°?Jy personal, but it W^fadlve'^.'^- ^* '^^^ "^
She was rated in-the lot. Oe^i^lu ^* ?«='"d«l Rosie.
at which to speak plai4 ""^^ ^^'^ °>^"te had come
U you want to set rid ,^f *t.
I May as weU teU y^J!" °^ ""^ «> «y accornt. father
the blotting-paper on^ de^'^^ A^^^ downwarf^
^^. started baclc. "0^. ^^ft^t to do
^Ihadn-tmadeup my ^d whether to teU you or not.
Oh no, he doesn't."
,Jfoud better ask him"
..ihave asked him."
«- «irl for the P^oJIT/^^* ^au^e has known
"3
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
"Oh no, not That's aU wrong. It isn't three mootha
■mce I talked to CUude about her. Claude didn't even
remember they had a girl. He'd forgotten it."
"I know what I'm talking about, Thor. Don't con-
tradict. Seems your uncle Sim has had his eye on them aU
along."
Thor smote his side with his clenched fist. "There's
some mistake, father. It can't be."
"I wish there was a mistake, Thor. But there isn't
If I could afford it I should send Claude abroad Send
him round the world. But I cau't just now, with this
niK-up m the business. There's no doubt but that the
gu-1 is bad — "
"Father!"
If Masterman had been looking up he would have seen
the convulsion of pain on his son's face, and got some
mkling of his state of mind.
'As bad as they make "em—" he went or tran-
quilly.
I' No, no, father. You mustn't say that."
"I can't help saying it, Thor. I know how you feel
about Claude. You feel as I do myself. But you and I
must take hold of him and save him. We must get rid
of this girl — "
"But she's not bad, fathei^-"
Masterman raised himself and leaned back in his chair.
He saw that Thor was white, with curious black streaks
and shadows in his long, gaunt face. "Oh, I know how
you feel," he said, again. "It does seem monstrous that
the thing should have happened to Claude; but, after all
he's young, and with a Httle tact we can pull him out.'
I ve said nothing to your mother, and don't mean to.
No use alarming her needlessly. I've not said anything
to Claude, either. Only known the thing for four or five
days. Don't want to make him restive, or drive him to
take the bit between his teeth. High-spirited young
feUow, Claude is. Needs to be dealt with tactfully.
114
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
;'0h. but she WtSf^""^ '"«''* '^^ °'8hV-?"
;;Wh«e?" Thor demanded, hoarsely
g^S^iJ^stSlS^^^JSdea^ie''^;' ^^
cJ^^aZ?*" °"^ ^-^ -»^-*y « Thor's abrupt
wS'l i<5d mS.^l.JJ, J-'^ «th. trust hi™,
mustn't be too ^ on him ^ ^'n,«°>ng on. We
steering is w^t Wa^ ^Art3 T' Sympathetic
of the world and ^^t^^^^^ ^"^ ^^ ««»
tanical hypocrisies H^f!^ I^^lf *'°° "^^ '>° P"ri-
gotintotEtT^oSh^^,?fi«ty<«-K fellow who's
Thor7t*°ou'^f^tS"l«"««.^^ father down that
«d; ^d across th?red^w<^*r-'w*?V'''' '^^'^ ^
of fire. It mighSbeLr^-^"'"f'''^«^« letters
Outside it m^iSt7^^^\ r? '^^ frightening,
white of the e^^S l^iK'^^ ^^-^^^ The
spangled with lights. Low o^T^ tJ^^ ^ T^ ^^
was a glorious goM«, ^ °° *^" ^""^ the full n:ooa
The air was sweet and cold Ac t,« „* , ^
avenue, of which the snow was brok^ «tn.ck down the
and his father's footst^Ldl^hrl , "^J^^ ^'^ °^
heba^hisheadtoSis^iltrShlot"'"'^ ^i
his hair. He breathed hard lh» „ ^° the hot masses of
was Kke that oTSg^SLJ f^f^i"?!,'^^ ^'''^
^- He^notylt^nSTofV^^SuS^^I
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
ewae out, except j«t he
•ouwJy knew why he had
couldn't stay within.
On nearing the street the boning of an electric car ».
At Willoughby's Lane he turaed uo the hin n«f t
any particular purpose, but because the t^^T' i "^
would be a Uttle hai^ H-!TZf!. t>«nping there
the dull acheSf^-inSd^S. SrWJ* '^
Wthere was no light «cept i^e ^"^^^^^K
^rooin Mother and daughter had doubtless^L
"How can I blame Claude?"
Below the ridge of the long, wooded hill tf,»«. „
«-i running pa:^H to County sS 'Se^SeTSto*
no
,^/"^ '^''^ 0"HE ANGELS
It w„ a. if hi. feet hXcSd 7^^ "^"-ly; ud yet
^guiding i„,pulse ^ ?Kbd ^Zf T^' '^«'^
««n * banner of smoke &^tt u ' '""«• •*«i«'it
" to wh'e^^*i^f-J- he .ot ^' «n<«tain
ftunt light in the motW's tZl^ ^^ ''*• Thetewwa
^- The moon w« by^£.\°T '''^''«» « the
a band of radiance ^iZ^^, P^/"""/'" *° "^-^
the^Sll^fri^ tr ^^^-house
^ a desk near this s^Tat ^JZT^^- "^* "'exe
She was writing there^^^^^^ ^«tiffles wrote.
But she was not writinV^Ti "^^ Cltaxde.
out bills. Asbooli^^^,^*'.:,*e was making
«Wity woman in gene^ ^ *« !?*"«*?ent, as weU af
when she had lei^e^' tte^^'' 2?« h"?^" the day
^d^thelong.dim^^.^t'XS.S
of&:L^^--jhtr5^- ^—
was what she had \^ 2^' ^''^ ^°^^ out." ft
begun to see that hislto.S'f^,'"*^-. •^^'^ '^ W ago
mother's account. Het^'i^^^^'?*^ 7«* "»* - hS
than as a detective. Veiywdn^TfT^l'^ ^ * ^°rtor
succ«sful. so much the tetr^ s!i^\^**f*'°^ '^^'^ been
fought some time, it c^^bJ^Z^^ ^^t^^ had to be
She remained ^te^Sl '?egJn too soon.
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
.^Z^^^^^'^i^fiia^dMtat. She wm not to
oe aeceived by thi» wounded, tinluoDv tone. "Wnil—
whatrri,e«ked.gu«dedirtoddn;Tp«t^.
He stooped. Hia face wa* curioiuly convulied It
frightened her. "Do you fotw him?" ^^
iMtinctively the took an attitude of defenw. ridog and
Sfif iS'^* *** ***^ '*'*" '*""'' i'^^And
"Then, Rode, you should have tdd me."
Again the heartbroken cry seemed to her a bit of
trickery to get her confidence. "Told you? How could
I tell you? What should I teU you for?"
"How long have you loved him?"
Her fa« was set TTie shifting opal lights in her eyes
w«« the fires of her will. She would speak. She would
hide nothing Let the responsibility be on Claude. Her
avowal was hke that of a calamity or a crime. "I've loved
him ever since I knew him."
"And how long is that?"
.'.'i* ^^ ^ ^^ months the day after to-morrjw "
TeU me. Rode. How did it come about?"
She was still defiant. She put it briefly. "I was in
to mT^ ^ ^'^ ^°^' "° **"* ^y- "« spoJ'e
"And you loved him from the first?"
She nodded, with the desperate little air he had lone
ago learned to recognize.
"Oh, Rode, tell me this. Do you love him-much?"
*u A, ''^ '''"'* "^y '"^ ^«" answer. It was as well
the Mastermans should know. "I'd die for him "
"Would you. Rode? And what about him?" '
Herhpqmvered. "Oh, men are not so ready to die for
love as women are."
He leaned toward her, supporting himself with his
hands on the desk. "And you are ready, Rodet You
really — would ?"
She thought he looked wild. He terrified her. She
ii8
THE SIDE OF THE ANOEIS
WMoiu why I want to know " There are
reassured in spite of h«2^ "^^„*^* '^" «^
to say?" ^^' ""** ™ you want me
^^I^want you to «,y fet of aU that you know rm your
to a friend who tried to p^ •- ^^"'''^ '^°^'>'' * °^
yoillSlr* *" '^ ^'^^ ^«^''- r want to bring
The asswtion was too much for cr-drr .. «!,. _„
"Except— who?"
»cBpi you, Rose. You re most to me in the world "
119
.n(i
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
«ther never have Ci it ^n ^'"^- She would
understand how utterly S turS' r'^T ^^^ *°
n^oret^ to he aUow^ ^^^y^ZdS^^
^'?t?d1rt-^r*^^''-P-P<«terous. "You-™
Of yJi" '^at^lKThaSt^S^ «« 'T"'- *° '-'^
saidwiUbeadeadsecretbTw^t, ^- And what IVe
have told you. butS^t^p^,^' ^^l''''''°^^-'
me, Rosie. Those tUnJ^jL^^^^^^'Sertban
secret now, dead and bSed tI^ •^- .^"' ''"« »
^d, isn't it? And if iXdd J«^^ '^ '* '^'^ l^"
This was too much It w.f t^ T^ °"« «I«^"
fromheratthenTutsh^hrit'SthSw"'" slipping
hcMTor was not only in her eve^ a!!i her grasp. The
■^5f ""«^ a sort of wail. "Oht"
.,But I am." she cried, despemteir^
-S:;\re'^*„^r^^r'^- ^i^-^«
?a>d. But that's a sec^t^tJ*^ "^"r ^"^^ ^^""^
>sn't it? And if I do Wv-S!^ ' "".^ ^<^ '^O'*.
-If compeUed to^ S^^^a^r^^^^^i^-
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
^^'i^trL.'L^ ;r ^"^''"^ ^ ^
It wi\S"' Ir^ r,.^t ^ ["-f <Jn;t have told y«,.
how you «,uld tnJt :rtt ' £,d ,' '' *°.^°-^
that some other wav Yc«7'a\i j "^^^ ^o^ed you
between you and cLd J^5 f^^^ '"'^ ""^ ''°w it w^
But I never d-an>eS of Trying t'^^t^ *° '^•
Believe me, I didn't. I swearT^, ?^? between you.
She broke in, panti^%^ ^°^ 1°^^ ^'^^~"
«udely or abruptly if "here Jld''^'^" * ^"^" ^P»''«'
But the chance was there In a^t,,"-^^ "^''^ ^«y-
too late. '• Yes: b„ w^en I laS tw '1™"'^'' ""'ght be
She didn't know h^w to gTon H.^* ^'^''''"-''
Yes. Rosie?" ^ °°- "« encouraged her.
She wrung her hands "nh a^'4.
said that about Claude^l cMn't ? ^^"^ "'''' ^«> I
He hastened to reHe^Tw ^"^ ''.•^?^* ^^JT"
I cared for you.?" «=raistress. You didn't know
^^No!" The word came out with another long
do'Sitr '* '" *^°^y- "B"t What's that got to
P^"ofre£j^tfct^'7!!^« *« •-» the
terrible that he coSf ^' itf^ °1 *^" °*«^- It was
moments sHpping away) ^* "^^ meant-and the
woid'd hr ""'* "^"^ "^^ y°« I°ve Claude any the less.
neJi^u^erSnT ^oS' ".'*'' '^'^'^ ^e would
haft^*;.'^^«'«-»^-nther. "But Claude
"And I have. Is that it.'-
It^was no use to deny it ^She nodded dumbly. Be-
V .
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
f^'ah^y- ""^^ * ^ possession of common sense
though hjs use of it was slow ^"^aa sense,
ugni tan too fully on his face. "Is it tt,;= d__: » v
^d. WeU, I «„'t marry Claude twrtwri monev He
^ t marry me, " A ray was thrown into h^^^tie soul
whm she gasped in addition. "And theteWaJw ^
mother and Matt I" *°^ """^
if Ji'*'^ ^P'-ession lost someof its bewilderment because
you'rSther^^- "But Claude m.^L'^
£ ip.°-.^^e?d^^ ^zir s^^ha^ 5:^
relation to each other ?" "™--wnai s your
"I don't know that, either. Claude won't Mi Tn» "
Ste cro^ her hands on her bosom ^sKd^^-r.
ately, I sometm.es think he doesn't mean any^Ht
R^e.'^JtXi^'"'^ "Oh yes. he does.
"Do you mean that you'U make him many me?"
He smded pitifuUy "ThereTi be no iS Rede.'
You leave it to me." "«uuag, Kosie.
hn^ti!!^^ from her not merely because the last word
Sl^ "^ w- ^^ "^^'^ f^ '«* somettLiSrS
X^LThtT''^- On regaining the whi!e3
hZe^^fj! saw Jasper Pay in the shadow of the
nouse, but he was too deeply stricken to speak to him
He went up the hill and Kr fctan the vC It^
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
which was aU that to ««. *'°°'' "^ "">* ^''^tude
gardens; his back was tow^^. ^* snow^vered
above the city. The pi^^ ^* ""T ^^ ^^ ^W
gave something for hL^^^K^ T***"^ *^« ^^^it
The ridge, whe^h^gft'^fj'^^ ^f^ ^"--d to.
and moon-swept. It was a ~J ,^^' '^d^-'ept,
andb^. HlfeltS^tirwS*'!^*"'^'^^
bodJy and mental, to si^TnhJ. ^" ^* "^ * "^ef.
his length. He ^«s^1^W^ taees-to fall-to lie at
whiteatss, as a S^i^.,i^t^'°'°*^«««'- consoling
His arms ^^^^^^ ^'^/'^ "^ * ^^^
fingers pierced ben^^hT ^"^^ ^ J»«ad. His
tender. nestSfg ^^ ^ ^, ^ th«y touched S^
r*}
CHAPTER XIV
plainfist of dweUintr.! tm,;,,*^ u ■ r^' " ^^ *«
dovelike Jlv™f ' »lf ^ tT"? ^"^ ^^"^^^ ^ a
HeUo, Uncle Sim!"
"Hello, Thor!"
mg me about Claude a„dTc2 ?ay " *" ' ^ *^-
IJnde Smi turned the key in the loot v^tv. i j
gating -Father had to d^it c«d he^ T^^X °"'*
,.^« y°" Imow it then?— already '"
^a^tWit. Couldn't help-putting two aadt^c*
l»4
THE SIDE OF Tuv axt^
"v™,^ "*• ANGELS
What do X think now? i I^ ,1,° ^"^ th«fc now?"
oth^ people's busine^!^. ^ '^°" ' "'"^ any thing-abo«t
i tmnk we oinrhi- + j
"Yes, and susT %T'^^^ '^^■"
•;^ you naeanTo JfS t^'' ^"^ any one "
"That little baggage R.- ^ ° get them
"Sheif^ v^,""*^' diplomatic in ^hf -^ ^"^^^ he
Thor considered it prudent ^ ^"^«g her ends."
'■or -r" "^ ^'^^^ that I cjfill^^ ^"'^ I '^^
"Then that's all ritrhf- /t_. .
11 ..
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
one rwilt-not that of getting people out of trouble but
of gettmg oneself in. But every one to his taste TW
i^^^tT^Zr^^ of being in a hurry when things
"All right. Thor. You know better than I. I'm one
of those slowpokes who look on the fancy for taking a h^d
smade-there's always time. If you don't do it toX
J^^can^to-morrow-which is a reason for puttl^gT^^;
he^Sd ^u^w"^ impatience in Thor's pK,test as
ne cned, But how can you put it off when thwe's some
one-some one who's-who-fe unhappy?" ™ "'^^ « ^ome
anll"^ Comes back to that. But I don't mind some
Do em good. I've seen more people unhappv tlWl
««dd teU you about in a year; aSS^Le^ofte^^
^e^«j and women by it who before that h^ ^
^rm afraid I can't accept that cheerful doctrine. Uncle
Jf^^^^'J^""- Don't want you to. Wouldn't in-
twfere with you any more than with any one else Free
country Got your own rcw to hoe If ^ ^
yom^f ^^able m the process, why, it 'U ZyTZ
much good as rt does all the rest. Nothing Ute h
Wouldn't save you from it for anything. bS th^'s a
verse of an old song that you miKm ovL SH;^
mmd-^ld song written about two or three thou^
y^ ago: 'Oh. tarry thou the Lord's leisuJ^-' ^"^
T^or tossed his head impatiently. "Oh. pshaw!"
But rt goes on: 'And be strong.' You can be awful
strong when you're tarrying the Lord's leisure T^or b^
Sk2^ '~ "^ ^°"''* »°* makinn^'.^lfSS
136
THE SIDE OF THF Axr^
_» '^ I tiE ANGET q
Thor spoke up p^^ ^^-^S
^TW°*^«- '"^ '*«"«• '«<^' mistakes-
approve of it a Jte r V ^'*"*'d spirit Dm,-* j-
The old * '*• ^"cle
1?n "f"^""^ *° the same d^°^ w iis lif e hadhe
No r^erence was «^ by^^tepmot.
i/y stepmother or himself
.Mil'
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
to the scene with Mrs. WiUoughby in the afternoon but it
w^ not hard for hi« to pe««ve that in son^Sge way
L7Tu 'l'"?"^ »»>« ^-^t^ °f it to newness of life. Itl^
not that she adnutted the appUcation of Bessie's cha^«
to herself; they only starUed her to the kWw™X
there wer« hdghts and depths in human exis^« |^ch «
h«_^m,ag.nation had never plumbed. Her aa^ w"
^hJ^\"^Tu '^'^P^^- «« the petaU Ta ^
that has been kept hard and compact by a backward
sprmg may unfold to the heat of s^er "^^'^
u^S^ ^^ '^'^^ ^ '^ty meal, Thor rose and
name that had not been on his lips since diildho^ She
d^w his face downward vfith a sudden sob. a^" qSe
inexplicable except on the ground that her tv^ Zitu^
strangled Uttle soul was at CS?to iL'!^' '"'^^"^•
Having gone up-staiis to his room, Thor shut the door
To^JlTt^""'^ fS''^^^ "'^^ '^^'^ had done^ty
as couch at the foot of his bed ever since he was a bov
KiT.*^^. t"'*"*^^ « '^^'^ he had always te^ ^t
able to "think things out." ^ ^*
Now that he had eaten a sufficient dinner he felt
phMy less bruised, though mentaUy Z^ ^aJV^
H w^ i^; "^ '^^^ having seen ur^eSte
He hated the alternative of letting t4gs alone ThS^
was a sej.se m wUch action would have Sen^anoS
to suffenng. and had it not been for Uncle Sim hTS
have had no scruple in making use of it ™ «« ^°^<1
o£^- Z^^^ '°}fi°^ '""'"S P^-P'^ ^ttle their
own affairs, but how could they settle them, in these oar-
bcukr cases, without his intervention? As f^ as^^
went he was hke a fairy prince who had only tTw^I a
•skad Uncle Sim s advice he would be already waving it
128 '
T^^E SIDE OF THr ^x,
^shbnor^''>',*°«^eson-!"Lf'yy^' Those
«»d Lois miri^t in ^ ^^«- But c^uaT 'i'*"""?
that PosSy.'^ifZ:^'^' *he slz^J^'^" ^T.^ R°sie
ha^<Mdr^'S"rn' "'^^ ^uS^ollJ?" "■'^ht
atizens; buT vW ""^ '^em up ^nnv-^^ " y^'
«n^i^3*'?' "J'Sht live dolS, is "5'«^«Jforboth
best and brav«+ i^ '° ^ndumnce anrii I^ ^^ and
t,^ .. ... . '^mian, didn't t«, ^^ candle; buf *,«
It w^^'pi't d^^'L^'^'hed it ^ ~"'*™«1. himself
felt TZX^"^ "' he bSd^*°",^°^d begin;
could be s^^..^* ""J vigorous If >f /eet. He
'»°'^owlhe^^^ ^<^ thef-!^^«J^. ftain details
sleep. ^ ^" ^h^-^ht that. in spiteo?SS,i ^f "" *he
He had heart Claud. ^^'^^^. he should
---"S^St-ls-Ss^X-rs
umu iess than a minut. i.-
lag
minut* he
I! i.\
I :|'
THE SIDE O^ THE ANGELS
had ooased the passage, entered Claude's bedroom and
turned on the electric light.
Claude's profile sunk into the middle of the pillow
might have been carved in ivoty. His dark wavy hair
fdl back picturesquely from temple and bow. Under
the coverings his slim form made a light, graceful line
The room vas at once dainty and severe. A striped
paper, bnghtoied by a design of garlands, knots, and
flowers d la Mane Ati'oitutte, made a background for
white furmture in the style of Louis XVI., modem and
inexpensive, but carefuUy selected by Mrs. Masterman
The walls were further lightened by colored reprints of old
French scenes, discreeUy amorous, collected by Claude
himself.
tu'^u'* ?°*^ '''■' ^°^^ seconds in front of the bed before
the brother opnod his eyes. More seconds passed while
the younger gazed up at the elder. "What the dev— i"
Claude began, sleepily.
But Thor broke in, promptly, "Claude, why didn't you
ever tell me you knew Rosie Fay?"
Claude closed his eyes again. The expected had hap-
pened. Like Rosie, he resolved to meet the moment
cautiously creatmg no more opposition than he could
help Why should I ?" he parried, without hostility
Because I asked you, for one thing."
He opened his eyes. "When did you ever ask me?"
At the bank; one day when I found you there It
must have been two months ago."
Claude stirred slightly under the bedclothes. "Oh
then. *
" Yes, then. Why didn't you tell me ?"
"I didn't see how I could. What good would it have
done, anyhow?
It was on Thor's tongue to say. "It would have done
the good of not telhng lies." but he suppressed that. One
of his objects was to be conciliating. He had other
objects, which he believed would be best served by taking
130
Macomedian. ^**" '^ *''«k highly of hiin«Sf
Claude lay still H).
Jne-how?" •"« eyes grew brilliant. "Helped
«^d2:'Sirit:^-'ji.,o„-«t^„,todo." He
thmg, arni-t y<^?" ' ^°" *« '^^ to do sonTe!
Claude endeavored tr. „-• *•
to_do ,vhat?" ^^ *° «^" t™e by saying, "Trying
« i^vT^L?"^ ^'^'^'^' ^t dashed in. "Yo^.^
yoi*t]^^ *° «^ *^« that Claude «phed, "What do
S^drUTottr.:^ S « -t hope, perhaps
noticeably moved as yet In tf. "« had not been
P^ble-bai^y possibl^tha^aS^p"^ i* "^S''*^
her disappointment there n^ht^ ^°^* *^ °"thved
But he dared not spe<S^^^''^,^,* ."^ance that he .
however, to keep o^L ^u T^ ^^- He ma^^
"lS.''£d"V^ w^?te;^^. ^-''^ ^Si
y°«'« going to be nJS'lZ^^^'"
131
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
Claude lifted himself on hi. elbow. "Manied o«
fifteen hundred a year?" He wpt.» r-Tw-JnS^™ **"
-ffiSf;;;i^:?h»r£^^^^
..What do I m^? What can I mean?"
You^io^^r^ell tSa^rof h""^ ^'. '°"''^-
Claude lurched forward in the bed. " Look here Thn,.
i':rrdr<Sr''i:^*'>^^- ^'-tried'^L'vTih?"^
Thor answered, wearilv "TVb roti,~. j .
whj* is one Of the reS whj H^^^ rcTt^'Se
1 JJ I ^ .*^'' *° her-truer than I oueht to be If T „o=
l^^true .t would be better for us boS* Ih":^ H^Z^
^ato Thor was aware of an up-leaping hope. "And
*3»
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
OM«ippo6eso-intime."
res, but ywg'd suffer."
?^'?XS^-?J-«^ ^ the bed. ..I
utter exasperation. ^' ^^« tone was one of
Thor persisted. "If gh- i,„j , .
_^WeU, she has."
"Has what?"
l^^rsh^i]rhlJrir«^i°«-,\y- of her own
of Gnmdpa Thoriey's Tonly^Lrif""' "^t" ' «°* '^"'^
that way." "^^^ *od, tf you hke, I'll do it
"Do it what way.?"
^^yTll th^dry^'A°± «^ ^'^' »he
From you.>" '^ ^ "^"^ own."
Thor nodded.
1.1
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
like your equal. You know as weU as I do that feth«-
^d^mother wiU Hck like blazes; "buti tL?*£
wh^^'Se™'^^^^'^ ^°^ *« ««t^ '* ^^ some-
Wa." ^ won t thank rt comes down to her out of
thl7?T«^ *^- '''^* *^^ ^- They needn't know
that I have anything to do with it. They know vou
there U be the sohd cash to convince them. TteXfe
thing ^ be a pill for them; but if it's Swed^^'
L-laudes knees were drawn up in the berf h,<, h,r,A^
SSXfr -^--tic^the^^liS
«pr^on. but he was unprepared for his words when
Sxrjou;^' ''''^- ''-'^ "°* - •- -^*^ '^-
Owing to what he beHeved to be the perfection of his
^g. It was the question Thor had leasH^S tote
called on to answer. He knew he was tutnfa^te ot
E rif"* "^ ^^ "'^^ he forJT^'otog
but a ghastly movement of the mouth. It was his turn
ttan. What makes you ask me that?"
Because it looks so funny-so damned funny."
ihere s nothmg funny in my trying to rive a lift to
my own brother, is there?" ^ ^« ^ P^« a Mt to
"N-no; perhaps not. But, see here, Thor—" He
TJ°r^.^ "You're not in love with ^XyJ-
*l,.Vr ^^J^^ ^^'^^ """^^"t °f his life had come
ttat he should never reach another like it. It XS
bs power to seize the cup and drain it-^ thnTitlSde
^^^P*f.*^°°" ?" had ever had to meet none h«S
so ^g as this It was the stronger for his knowTg t^
tf It was conquered now it would pix)bably never iltum
fcding the temptation there, as a thing to be daUied with
134
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
?^^f ^?i*3^-, «^^^^th U to the e^t
;WeU what if I was i^ZfX'Z'^ *° ^'^^^-=
iSSTLSI^cS'S'J-'-^ -to flame. "Then
her touch i^f:oZ'uiZr'^:^'^ /t ^ff' '^*
her on my own-I'U be hanged ? I woul^t TM ""^
Wto-morxow. I'd ««t out oTbed and'^^h J^™^
-S"iSo?hS2°4S::^f ^-' ^"^°^
right hand holdine hT't^rl It ^ ^?°^ *^^ ''^'*' Ws
wouldn't let me WhS?'^^ ^^ ^^ ^''^- "So you
Claude lashed across the bed "TM .^
&st. I'd see you damned I^'see H T ^ ^^'^
She's mine, I teU you^ r' 1°, ^. y°" damned to hell.
any one^d to ^ ^ ^*r°^n*° ^^' '^^^ ''^ *"
Now you know." ^^ '^^ « all. Do you get that?
"AU right. Claude. Now I know"
of tTfbS^i^s* t":^ S';:^^? '^^ *« «^e side
without geitS^ ^'I^-fv^' ''"'i?^ ^ '•^ «»Jd
question,%;d y.^ havi'f ^l^" •. ^ ^f ^«J V^ a
you've got to ZZ^'i^^t^-,^-^- ^^ °°^'
aflSnned that it wJlJif .*^J '^ "^^'^y ^^
Pate was upon hi^ ^fT ^ ^8e'« against Pate,
elude her, bTsHad ™tTn,'* 1°^' u "^ '^^'^ "^^ *»
She a<«er^ hm^Xb Iw o "^ ""t "^^'^ «ove.
of bed, his mo^ fe^I T- ^'^"<^\hanging half out
-Peri<;usly, ^^^yZ^^. ^y^ '"-i-g. i-isted.
tionraTthough b^t t^n., tl^^L^*""* premedita:
put into hisTou^^C^ZSL^^"^ ^'^^ ^-^''^ "-^
I3S
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
M
I'm — ^I'm going
'•It's aU right. Claude. Calm down,
to be mamed to Lois Willoughby "
But Claude was not yet oonvini*d. "When?"
,Jp^£ rj'^^/' •»-«»-.*«
wittts XSS '— ""'■■ °-^ *~»«.
^^laude let himself drop back again among the pil-
I-^^d you and Rode. And ttTmoneJ^Slt ^.^«^
his proffle upturned. Thor was sw^nf Kr^Il °°?^'
SaSe'f r^^ P-t^ thllSJ^^tTS^
But in the passage he heard the pad of bare fei^ »v.w„^
hm Claude stood there in his paSw.^^^^**
oay, Thor, he whispered, hoarsolv "•.»—•_- * v .
don't care anything about R(Se nf^ "'^ ^°^
Bnf f™ ~,t ». • *"*"' Kosie. Of course you don't
J^^«.e"^SLJXbJ:-m^^5ha^.^ S
'•^Sf.. S"* with you to back mTu^» ««* I m on
I-U back you up an right. Claude. Just wade in and
136
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
With another tufat M^^ti, J^ " ^"""^ °* *°^*^"
articukte thanks Claud«^.-^ u ^, "™' «'«J «»«« in-
„Tlior cl.^^ZS'^^.tfok to his „x«> again.
He was too far Wfor^ '2*^ " ''^^d him-
theenc^toth^offMsd^™?- He had hardly
Within five minutes of hk fi^ L^ ^'^ *"™ ""* ««» light,
deeping profoundj ^^ assurance to Claude he wu
10 ^
i
#s
CHAPTER XV
UAVING slept soundly till after eight in the momine.
i *Thor woke with an odd sense of pleasure Chi
regaining his faculties he was able to anal^-ze it as the
pleasure he had experienced in having Claude tugging at
his arm. It meant that Claude was happy, and. Claude
being happy, Rosie would be happy. Claude and Rosie
were taken care of. '
Consequently Lois would be taken cai« of. Thor
turned tile i(Mom over with a vast content. It was the tune
to which he batiied and dressed. They would all tiiree be
takm care of. Those who were taken care of were as
folded sheep. His mind could be at rest conceming tiiem
of W^e *° ^"^ ^^ "'"^ »t f^t even at tiie cost
There was, of course, one intention that before aU
others must be carried out. He would have to clinch
the statement he had made, for tiie sake of appea^ne
and convmcmg Claude, concerning Lois WiUoughby It
was something to be signed and sealed beiote okude
could see her or betray tiie daring assertion to his patents
Fortunately, tiie younger brotiier's duties at tiie bank
woudd deprive him of any such opportunity earKer tiian
mghtfaU, so tiiat Thor himself was free for tiie r^ular
tasks of tiie day. He kept, tiierefore, his office hours
durmg tiie forenoon, and visited his few patients after a
has^ luncheon. There was one patient whom he omitted
—whom he would leave henceforth to Dr. Hiliuy
It was but httie after four when he arrived at tiie house
at tiie comer of Willoughby's Lane and County Street
138
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
^ as curiously businis-S ^ he hT"' """^ f ""^
«een her share in househoM ta^ h^^ "*^*' ^"^
•eenied to denote a change of h«^' ^ P'*^* «P«=t
you-?5'c^' Go^^Lte^^'f"^- "^'» 'Tlad
Passed. You'UcheS^hta" '^^^ He's so dt^
••terS'^.f^'^'^ "r- going to die ganae."
ttat. Besides. I r;StVrtw^l'^^*^'^°*
he savs weVp «n<»<. ~ ="""Ba « would be no use Tf
i;m not going ^'^^XLT^ji "^ ^ No.
I'm going to say wh^ I a^,~^..^^^ y°^ father,
you can Lnp it I^n^i^^^ ** ^^ don't like it
of it if I did. But nei£ ^r^^Jt:::: I'd T ^ the woi^t
inor tookno notipp nf +t,»t •< » ,'v^'^^
to law, wou:d i?te^^^t to ^^i^^'"' °°* going
^^.. ''*'°'''*'*«'ttoaskwhatyouaregoiigto
JS5? ^I'mti? '^;^'»^ again, with a flash in
what I'm S to do ^ffi^ ^^T*^" ^««°«.- that's
left. I didn't let A^e^^^* ^^ ^> ^^^ »°»ey
of it-not me. I'y^t Z^T^ »^ his hands on aU
thi. house. I'm g^nfto^Sin^'^*'*"*! we've got
— if I get ^ ^^yx^f^^j-/^
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
^ thm we're going abroad. Oh. I know lots of places
where we can hve-^to hous fas chtrs; dear little
pto^._too-^here LenTl have a chanc^ to-to S
T^or made -x big resolution. "If you're going to let
the house, why not let it to me.?" « "8 " let
She knew what was coming, but it made her fed faint
Backmg to one of the Regency chairs, she sank into it'
It was m mere pretense that she said, "What do you wani
"I want it because I want to marry Lois." He added
with an anxiety that sprang of his declaration to Claude'
" Do you think she'U take me?" '-""uae,
Bessie spoke with conviction. "She'll take you unless
^•s.noreofafoolthaaI,think. Of course ^iTS
you. Any woman m her senses would jump at vou I
know I would." She dashed away a tiar. ''B^look
here, Thor,'' she hurried on. "if youLtr?^ ^^\
have the whole famUy on your ba^Tou kn^X
^t be marrying Len and me. I teU you right now
b^use you're the sort that 11 think he ^ght L do^^
WeU, you won't have to. I mean what I say when I tell
you we re ^g to Uve on our income-what's left of it
We can, and we wiU, and we're going to "
'^dn't we talk about all that when— ?"
* j!?,^y??''*??^«* to Lois and have more of a right
to^cak? No. We'll talk about it now-^d nev^ S
more. Len and I are going to have plenty— plenty.
y.Z. ^ ^ *^ * manage-weU, you'U see."
Oh, J know you've got lots of pluck," Mrs. Will-
1^^- ^^ °^ '"^ "P^- ^* ^°°^^ like some po<»
htfle soubrette, grown middle-aged, stout, and rath^
^^*^ «> a Manvaux play. She acted her part weU.
-h-ri T? ■ ^ ^ K°t «°re than that. I've got some
abihty. If you never knew it before, you'll see it now.
140
THE SIDE OF THF am^^
rvem«,f , ^' iHE ANGELS
^■'^nl^'Z^TL'^''^'^ * 'ot-r thought I
"A^^if "S ^\^ ^'^ '«=«*. «»d yet-"
05. ; W Zt'^^^^- ^ ^ »o„ey bade
snould get it back, beea«« , ^j" ^ I got home. W.
«M I hope to the Loirf ch7 . ' "* ^^^^ marry vou—
^m«« than thit yml^^''^^' °« our han<fa?
^f-^wM-tS''- ;^ «"« -e. X hke
J»ve gone to law I JT* "^ y°» hadn't said it I shouM
2^ W nice ^ wi^L""^* to; but It^J
^rtSr* ""* *on^ddeSf^.^T^7*y ""°*^ ^
«he hadn't saidtJSia^* *«> the best of his knowledge
i>essie chuckled " r %j >
IL f •^' J'"* ^"^ to ini Sri"" """^ to «y. did
rt out with her." '^ ""« opportunity of talking
*'SK'S*t3?°"*r^*^t'«thewo„,"
w
■if
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
III go 'round and make it up. Now go and tee Len.
He'U want to talk to you."
Tbor intimated that he would be glad of a minute with
Lois, to which Mrs. Willoughby replied that Lda was
having one of her fits of bird-craze, ^e was in the kitchen
at that minute getting suet with which to go up into the
woods and feed the chickadees. Good Lordt there had
been chickadees since the world b^na, and they had lived
through the \, inter somehow. Bessie had no patience
with what she called "nature-fads," but it was as easy
to talk sense into a chickadee itself as to keep Lois from
going into the woods with two or three pounds of suet
after every snow-storm. She undertook, however, to de-
lay her daughter's departure on this errand till warning
had been given to Thor. i
Up-staiis Thor found Len sitting in his big aim-chair,
dad in a gorgeous dressing-gown. He was idle, stupefied,
and woebegone. With his bushy, snow-white hidr and
beard, his pufiy cheeks, his sagging mouth, and his
dumsy bulk he produced an effect half spectral and half
fleshly, but quite pathetically ludicrous. His hand
trembled violently as he hdd it toward his visitor.
"Not well to^y, Thor," he complained. "Ought to
be back in bed. Any other man wouldn't have got up.
Always had too much energy. Awful blow, Thor, awful
blow. Never a <jld have believed it of your father. But
I'm not downed yet. Go to work and make another
fortune. That's what I'll do."
Thor sympathized with his friend's intentions, and,
having slipped down-stairs again, found Lois in the hall,
a basket containing a varied assortment of bird-foods on
her arm.
When she had given bim permission to accompany her,
they took their way up Willoughby's Lane, whence it was
possible to pass into the woodland stretches of the hillside.
The day was dear and cold, with just enough wind to
wake the eeolian harp of the forest into sound. Once in
14a
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
"lirten to the wd-
^P«W<1 with a sort oV liquiS nMe^^^ ^'^^^' ^^
a bunch of millet stalksftvl v ,1 ^^''^ ^^ ««■• Taldiuf
T^ile he tied thl^oj^i? S'S' *\*«^^
Wer branches to the snc^ K ?h^ ?^* *«aed its
they perceived, on looW aZS ^^^^ «°°« '«"««»
twenty of the crimson-S J^ V**** *»»« d<«n or
& they went^'^t.^f 3S2'<^'T''. *•* f°°^
"Pots. and fixing massesoTLItf ^ •'"^ ^" ^'^t^^d
?? approving chirrup of l^ ,h^^^T ^^^- ^
«^^r^"jth^^ --^^^ri^ii
«f the cold, they were bT^?ft°,^*T ^*'- I" ''Pite
back sufficiently to disDlaHU ^.°^ *« "^^ faffing
"Lois, when L^wT^tSe??^**"^ '°^«J ^■
that hJ^C^sSp^fit^ i*^ .«»• ->- 't wa,
of their task. Sa'^^^^.^^^deft rapidT?
theff work, though, it sLr^'^'^ ^^^^ ^"^ «««ned
a the supple mov4ienT^?^»^ ^' '^^ '«« ^"^'ess
^° ? ^£ ^j^„-- . H. U^,
from that which Rosie Pav^ J^ , *° *^°*'°" d^erxait
In that case the ^^"^^^J^'^^J? «»^ in him.
««ldn't have said TXZ Pnmardy physical. He
perhaps mental, ^^^^«J»^«rily« this. It was
't-anemotion. ^ S ^'S^^-'KS^,^ J-
If
-I
'0
i
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
lev sure that it had the nature of love. As for love, since
yesterday the word sickened him. Its association had
become, for the present, at any rate, both sacred and
appaUmg. He couldn't have used it, even if he had been
more positive concerning the blends that made up his
present sentiment.
It was to postpone as long as possible the moment
for turmng around that Lois worked unnecessarily at the
fastening of her millet stalks. They were not yet secured
to her satisfaction when, urged by a sudden impulse, he
bent forward and kissed her wrist. She allowed him to
do this without protest, while she knotted the ends of her
Strmg; but she was obliged to turn at last.
"I didn't know y9u wanted to be married," she said
with shy frankness.
He responded as simply ^ she. "But now that you
do know It — ^how soon can it be.'"
. "Why are you asking me?" Before he had time to
rqply she went on, "Is it because papa has got into
trouDler
• ."* ''"^ feady with his answer. " It's because he's got
mto trouble that I'm asking you to-day; but I've been
meanmg to ask you for years and years."
She uttered something like a Uttle cry. "Oh Thor
IS that true?" '
m fact that he must make so many reservations im-
peued him to be the more ardent in what he could affinn
without putting a strain on his conscience. " I can swear
It to you Lois, if you want me to. It began as kwg ago
as when I was a youngster and you were a Httlegirl."
She clasped her hands tightly. "Oh, Thor!"
" Since that '-"me there hasn't been a—" He was going
to say a day, „ut he made a rapid correction— "there
hwn t been a year when I haven't looked forward to your
bang my wife." He allowed a few seconds to pass before
addmg, ' I should think you'd have seen it."
She answered as well as a joyous distress would let her.
144
THE SIDE OF Thp axt^^
... , _ ' Z^'- ANGELS
Only
l.itSt!!?^'^— thou^htldid-forawhile Onl;
Nothing would C eiS hf.\'^*'*"
'h^ to hav« pou«d out SS SL !tf7 ?°« •ff««tively
fidence. It was what he^a2^,T!l'L^'^ "^ W« <^-
heart than he had ev^^^J° !^ "^^ wore open
It would have beer, T^^^Sw .^^.*° *"y ^
Roae Pay; and if he ref^n^^ * "'^ "■'"'e story of
Jt wa, only be«,use heSSS CJ?^."^ this^Z^
sa^w., ^* obviously wSt "d?^'^*'^* " ''°^''»'t
*w I'y " wcwldn't "do'-^rJ; .?* ''" 'wable to
that there were things Tm.^^^ ^ ^^ ^"^^ ground
Hecurbed. ther^foS S:^"!^*^,^^^ t° Sf
I can't-because thereaS^i^ n^'^*°^"=»' ^ say •
to t^ about. If I S^"S J,^ »«^^ be abte
w«Ud be to you." ^ "P*^ °^ them to any one it
U,T:Silt'r'^'^y- "Ifsnothingthatlhave
canS«e"'"'"^'^'«*o*> with eveo^ that
« my own nTdfit l^-S^^^^^^^^te..
"?h^?t1S'rr?u^jLi-;^-;f half tearfully.
»|.rti;"Jr.'?*6h^^-j^^aHng'^^
He was glad she cnnl^' "^ >^ «"» we do?" *^'^
amplified ^iTtSS'en'SS^^r^ ^^ ""t only
^ that in his «;« way S^J,^^ be sincere. The
145^ "J^** ^<*re rendered
'■i
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
Wm the mora cntelul to her for twt fordnc hfan, or trying
toforoeliJin,toa(prMihimieIfintinoerely. Itwasalmoit
u if the (liviiwd hi* lUte of mind.
"Words •rm't of much uae between tu," he declared,
in Us appreciation of this attittide on her part. "We're
more or lev independent of them, don't you tWnk?"
She nodded her approval of thi« sentiment as her
eyea followed the action of her fingers in buttoning her
gloves.
"But 111 tdl you what I feel as exactly as I can put it,"
he went on. "It's that you're essential to me, and I'm
essential to you. At least," he subjomed, humbly, "I
hope I'm essential to you."
Hie nodded again, her face averted, her eyes still fol-
lowing the movements of her fingers at her wrist.
" I can't express it in language very different from that,"
he stammered, "because— well, because I'm not— not very
happy; and the chief thing I feel about you is that you're
a land of— of shelter."
He had found the word that explained his state of mind.
It was as a shelter that he was seeking her. If there were
points of view from which his object was to protect her,
there were others from which he needed protection for
himself. In desiring her as his wife he was, as it were,
fleeing to a refuge. He did desire her as his wife, even
though but yesterday he had more violently desired
Rosie Fay. The violence was perhaps the secret of his
reaction— not that it was reaction so much as the turning
of his footsteps toward home. He was homing to her.
He was homing to her by an instinct beyond his skill to
analyze, though he knew it to be as straight and sure
as that of the pigeon to the cote.
There was a silence following his use of the word shelter
—a silence in which she seemed to envelop him with her
deep, luminous regard. The still, remote beauty of the
winter woods, the notes of friendly birds, the sweet, wild
music of the wind in the treetops, accompanied that look,
146
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
«wl«l be 0* «(WMeL^, ^?* m^ me fed •• tf j
y«n when I've felt •oumSSm •.•**" *^ "^ ■" fw
on the mow, over which Uie WhL i^** *^°y«"* »»«?
is?^ --• -ve r'nSr s^rthLtr^
•unk face downward tetKowT^*^ *^J*' '^ '«<'
•gain over his footorinta .n^^^ ^? *"°^ *^ drifted
was drifting itiil^S^^ '"' "^"^ °^ J^" '"nn. It
that caughf Ss of SLCtj; ''l^!*' T^ « "^"^^
angry sunset, ft W^l^ W ^'^^^ ^^ '^ ^«» «>
hJm. facing the northJ,rfi^ • ^^ *« ^tood above
her and was standing bVw^„ ^""^ "'^'^ ''« "bached
outward across ttle „nH„w- *' ^^ ««tinued to gaze
mthefoi<n^hSriS^^r"^ «^^
hke a pale twilight star ^^""^ fann-house lamp shone
J-i^drd £'4^p.r'"..taT.«'- ^.K*""^'' **-
to get back to my ^1^ cJn^^ ^"T"*^ y°" I «««
which I can live^d^ ^at^ftl'i* ~"'^«'«= «
-of JfTe Snf^S-hFf" =^' -
147
if i
I i;
^JHE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
too mud. about wor? ^i. ,^ we St*^' ^
we live in 8 country in tl»i n,=w- ' ^* ««* forget that
if. a world in thHo^ "&^*!^ ''«:>* way.
aadlwanttobedojT^eofJT • ^fS^« to do-
a little outburst. TcS hdo jt t' ^ **"^' '^*
He turned to her eagerly ••Yfn,•rJ^*^^^
who knows what I mEwho^^l'^^ f""' ^'
You want to be usefoTto^ ° «« «5)eaJc my language.
','^<1 1 never have been." i
^IX>n.t y^^^wXt^lJrCdtrwa?
nine had S^I^^^^d*^ "'^.if need of the femi!
•he bring him ^^^'li' 3*^ ^ that? or did
one woman in toe^5? u ^ ^ °ff«ed by but
knew that he hJJhSLSn^^^A.*^- ^' ^i
and that he wm««LT H«^' '^«' ^is lips on hers.
of fulfflment and ^rSLf f T '*°**"*' '^'^ » "^^^
•*«i°^ for a ^^^^iJiT "^"l'* had been
moment when ^ad^^t ^ second-but at a
happiness in it ^f1^^^ "'?'*** «"• There was
148
her
alk
ay.
ith
>le
a
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
was, nevertheless « w^ ^ ^ allowed to enter, there
his feaaS^*^*'^°'«^«>d drawing
1
CHAPTER XVI
(^N leaving Lois and returning homeward, Thor met
^ his brother at the entrance to the avenue. Thev
had not spoken since the preceding night. On purpose to
av(Md a meetaig. Claude had breakfasted early and w^Ld
to town before Thor had come down-stairs. In i^e
glimpse ThOT had caught of his younger brother as the
latter left the house he saw ,that he looked white and
womea.
He looked white and worried still under the glare of
sb*et dectnaty As they walked up the drive^y to-
gether T^or took the opportunity to put himself right in
the matter that Uy most urgently on his mind. "Lois
and I are to be married on one of the last days of Pebru-
aiy, he said, with his best attempt to speak casually
She wants to work it in before Lent, which begins on the
first day of March. Have scruples about marrying in
Lent m their church. Quiet afiair. No one but the
two famihes.
Claude asked the question as to which he felt most
curiosity. "Gomg to tell father?"
»t.'7t!l^*^ ?° "* shaiy-shallying about things of
that sort. Father mayn't like it; but he can't kick "
Claude spoke moodily: "He can't kick in your case "
We re^wn men, Claude. We're the only judges of
what's nght for us. I don't mean any di^ip^to
father; but we ve got to be free. Best way, as ^as I
aee, is to be open and aboveboard and firm. Then every-
body knows where you are."
Caaade made no response till they reached the door-
15P
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
■tep, where he lingered. "Lodkhoi« Ti,™."t. j .
•"S?", ^^'K^, to be told what this thing was
.JhatsaUnght, Claude. I've got nothing R ^^
thZ™Zf ^1 *?"etWn|r to do with it when you put up
"^^^^' /tf ^^^ ^ *^'" ''» '^^- complaiCghf
h aU?;^™ «^n''" • Tfapr made a great effort, "fc
L3LrSidSr4::^,i-TgJS^^^^
Srora£s:^^^,-S^r-ti?,«--£4
but^te «peated, tenaciously. "IVe got toTit in Ty
"G«)d LordI old chap, I don't care how you do it "
Sld"^' *^^' y '°"e «= >*'« done. "Tis? bide
Its^^sort of Uung you've got to puU off m^Sy-^
he hesitated before announcing so bdd a ^JtZ^
"and sol'm going to take her ab^." ?«««»-
to l«vi p'"'°'" ^''^ * '^^^'^ 8^- He had not expected
^ he should remain near her. watch ovTh^ W
what she was domg and what was being done to W SI
wasbusy trying to readjust his mind wMTckuSTstaS!
a^^-i^f-^-^^^^'^-^e^^s
ThOT was irritated by the repetition. "Let's drop that
Cbude .f you don't mind. Be satisfied once t^^^i
»f you and Ro«e accept the money it will be as a favwto
How did you suppose I knew any-
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
me. I'm so built that I can't be happy in my own mar.
«mmg to me, and that I've never done any Z^to
d««ve than you have, what Tm setting asidJ^^*^
tafle. As to the payments, ru do just as you aav Tn,«
first quarts- wiU be paid to Rode on thTd^^'yoJS
marnect-when th«*>U be a little check for yojfor^
uck. So go ahead and make your plans. g4S«?»^
If you want to Da«> say it's thrS^ttgySTc^:
. To escape Ms brother's shamefac^ tS^.^,^
mto the p«xa. -I'm not going to teuT?o^^C^
tdl I m ready," Claude warned as he follow^ '*
toUffwStsin^,.'*^ ^°" ^°^ «-* '»«'«■« <»
"The deuce he is!"
"Father told me.
thing about it?"
"So that's it! Been wondering aH day who could
ttol^^l-L^reyJ^*'^ ''-'' ^^■'' ^^ ^
Sritw* *?, '^^ Z"?^ ^ *° a^ttTtLrcSicSS
S^eSS?'- ^*^°^''*I'dt«"yousothatyou^
"Take what line?"
Wilis o^iJT''? That's «P to you. The line that
wm best protect Rosie, I suppose. Remember that that's
sCdSt'^"'"f;^"?"L I only want ^ to ^'
stand that you can't keep father in the dark. I should mv
itwasmore dignified, andperhaps better poKcy.nS to Jj"
di^^u^.^\ Masterman was commenting at the
Anner-table on tile pleasing cii«mistance tiiat in^tetiras
to Miss Ekie Darling's party had come for tiie^^
famJy. There were cards not only for ti« tw^y^^^
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
dear that the t^cti^mZ^ TSsT ^'^^^' '* ^
dance and become a baU. '^ ^ lanitations of a
fomTof ^JSS^ if'^ST™'^ ^^"^ *° tt^
that reminded them that 4jr b£,^^%*'^'^. »" """"^
higher sense. They dined^t ^^^^ *° *««*y "> the
with tolerable fre^enS- thrir ^"'.^^''^'''^ ftequency-
Asfortheaftem^^to^^^f^ ^^J^^ th^:
«»«e of a season, J^ mS^!^^ "1? '^'^'l*" « the
«?«nt of them. B„t ^s^^J^^ """^y ^^
winter, and not alwaj^^ ^ only once or twice in a
Wfflmunity event, hl^^^ ^ ^^- A ball was a
the fact that the neigSfa^"^?' ™ -^ich to displaj
mcwesociaUysignific^tth^rSr '^'^ ""'te m a gathering
Pris. Moi4vfnwL^^n!^^"'"'=^Kofboys^|
^e higher dx^es'of 17^^"^'^^ P-^"^ that
^ ^Tc^r^Sd roTS^brr"^ - ^'-^
young man mumbled wom! tw ^"' °^ «««se, the
n>ine." The S2 SsS^ T'"* ^•'' "^ot fo^
youtom'^^^rihi?:^^- ^* '"•««>«« for
h- yea« abroad." 'arc2S?^l,*^^^y. after
ofherprettybrow. "rtae«JcT„ • '"*'>« wrinUing
reaUy nice girls." ^"' *° '"•' y°» d°»'t know many
Je,*£'cSe"Sis'e;° ^^,"r, ^ »°«>-'^ -lici-
his father was probablylo^w^,^- P^*^ "''^e^ that
«ying. "Now's yo^ d,3^ !i^' ^"^ ^hat Thor was
you know the ml^^^J^^.^P^T^ declare that
«?>f We of the op^Sty td^ ''/u S°°' Claude was
^th regard to^S^^^ ^fj^ilt^!^ "^^^
II IS3 P^y ^« «»uld only
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
"iis lae pages ot a new magazine. Thor aA-mr,^ *.
dwcreet distance behind lS&«,«.Wi, • ?^ *° *
P««ed and said, q^ ^*^'*'' **«"• '''«« he
at onoe-toward the enTj nei!I*«l^'^ '^'^ •^•«*
still stooped over the naeesrf Lr^f^'^' ^* "^ '^^
to be more bitter tha;.^. """^^ "'Mfer^nce meant
noble girlAwtteb^ ^' '"""P'^y- ^he is .
heSti^'^thelit^ °^ '^'''^' ''^^ "^ "^
fath<.-s i^. SLgSSy""' CSerT: ^Tl ^
mairied, too." "^""X- i-ataer, I m gomg to be
tuSSS^. "**^ '^ '^"^''^ "y- **«*«--
1S4
"the side of the angels
"Who? You?"
- -S*^^"^. ^ t.*^ *«• P«t Claude on his mettle.
Scr^-rteS:,*^^,^rl^^^^^
Pay." *' ^o— to— to Miss Rosanaa
nothing to say to me. father?" CWe ri^-^ " '^
curiously pitTOus «-'«»<le pleaded, m a tone
'•^tr^ou'Sit't '^'^ °^ "^ '^^^•
fool? 'nie^::;is"w^/b::L^^r*o <-« y- a d«nn
"i^ X"ltTtt?Sr ".^?'' began to pn,test.
ocably chosen as^ \^ l^' • ^°" ^^^ * '^^•
"BitUIA^'^t^^^^^*^ time-to reconsider."
"^ rtL ■ */!2^<J«. father?-if I can't?"
P™«/*«'* w between her aad-us "
■»«1 by y™. whom, Mk" nJ^S'Siiii.'^
XS5 '
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
ttoaier dew " she ■obbed. trwnhlmriy; "aad if d»>. .
good gu-1. and love, you, ru-m ac4pt her^ ^"
P^^STotTS^ ""^^ i^ out. « though
wsponsible for this, father " ■"y™8. I m
8uS^r°''***°^^*^«^''«>'=''««ttit"de. "Sol
h J J"i^^ ^ * ^ ^'' •«'* I ««l«J«"t 'et Claude break
•'You found it easier to break mine."
1 don t mean that, father—"
youptL^SX?^'?^"'""*^^-'-*
I don't understand."
you don't. She's aC^^%i^J^^^°2l^y-l^
acter which Claude needs to gi^C£2^f°°4.'^"-
w«ddn t be decent on his part or honoiable on om»l"
The father mterrupted wearilv "vZ^i ^^ ,
s«>^entaUties. J^et^T^^J'^l^^^l
WMt mstrucbons in decency and J.onor I^ ««,«?
"^i:!tr ^*^«««^timeiv:Li!!x^j^
But. father, we mwt talk about it-" ^^ ^
"Tto^^r T^ ^"^"^ in his chair and tmred.
e£t°'^'"'hrSuS'^^'^./^^**7 ^^
yom; presence is to ^^y^d ^-^ ^"^ ^ ^"^
tu^"';^?^- he"^ T "°*^^ '^* for him but to
tra-*r«^ra w'Sn"" "'''^ fling the paper to
iS6
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
fn« that his sons were Sti^^j *".!? **" mortifyiag
h« return and i^^oS^SSjl l'^*'**"^!
have done the latter hS iTnot £?°"A' "« '««J«»
you knew how painful ywtf ^«e!^- ^""^ *« ''°«1». "K
heard them. ThevTcut hL^^^ *° '"•' He still
heart. Hewentc^5!sS^'«=™«t»'«'^«*-«««S2
he hea^'Sde^'L^.'^Oh^^^rth^r?"'"'''--
knew her, you'd feel ab^t W • ^^f *^'^?- " you
^^^^ up as a ^y ^eV'^.J'^ " ^ *'°- When sh^
fhade. You 'U see^* ^ " ^^^ °«|«- K^rl i„ the
in Paris— •' ™wui. After she s had a year or two
Hcj^areyou going S^fcS^cT Ss^"^'''^*^
That's all right, mother D^-f f^f r
"oney. I'ni not a f;>i f^ h«?' . '^L J •'^^ ^et
fidenbal tone, winking at 7W ^' ^ "*^*'^' '" « «»-
. teU you somUto^^it^ V^l^" her shoulder. 'TU
'«>rd to father! Tm all rfeht ^' """"^ y°"- ^ot a
She could only Z^t il I ?*^ "^•"
right for mon^'iiJ^*' "*»»«"' ^^ mystification. "All
^^^^de made an inarticulate sound of assent. "Got it
"Oh. but how?"
I said it was a snm+ " tt
«8ain- "Isho^l^t^^env™r,''^''*'""'''«'ther
« spanking good motto rSC^T ''?;! ^%1««> such
ease your mind." "" ^ °»« «« up that I want to
^^^Jl^^'^^ '-^at h. stepson, though she
tWng 'rong. have vm.'?-?^?^ '^'^' '^""e any-
whatever it ^ th^doK^^T^'"^ embezded?-4r
No. mother: it's all /». It.
Thor's presence 'he JdS'^*«'Jr^." because of
««>ea. ^^if ,t will make you any the
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
^ed-you can put father w« to that; ^irTt'l,:;::^
;^^^.poor. AndshehSTrSo^'^ho*'^';
thi. is just betweTS - "nT^iry^^'hadnrCSS
^s^nkmg good mother I shoul^'t C^d J^^
"Yes, but, Claude t Think! What anrt ^t . t^ :,
Now you leave it to me, mumphy dear. I know
158
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
PS. m^yi^,% l^l^^. But ni teU
that it's aU on my account ^ "?"*' ''«•*« ««•/-
•noney." He ga^ Ws^th * ^e**"'" ^ have ttT
"Z' m'^ "' don't thLX woiJn;^;.«'''«''
hi« '^y up the .eoo;.r2SrJJ^ ^''* '* P™'^-* *o 80 oi
CHAPTER XVII
T'S^wl!^ ^ -nwenient and tenor in Rosie'i
X face when, at dusk nert day, Oaude stroUeH H™»,
the flowery path of the hothouse Since 11,^^=^*.^
^L.JT^ i*"* *«*fvemng,tmie she had Uved in m
anguish of wonder. What was happening? W^^J^
Sa^^ «t^? Would anything h^^^t 7^ H^
Oaude discovered the astoundine factthat ^. -m
S"'^rdire'rr/?,r-^ y^^'^^tZ£t
oof Would he go wild with jealousy? Or would he nmn*
POBMble, and the latter more than possible if h« w
-«ved^a Mot Of the degi«, in whi«n:'L"b:S.^
As to that she didn't know whether she was glad or
ffi, J .. r ^'Z!^'^^ had been her self^revdaSoT
«id how shodcing; but the memory of it ROTehar a
^T^°l"f^- . ^* ""^ ^'^ » g^^confCon 1L^
the open declaration of what had been tnn i^T'i™^
bj^^ in the heart. It had bS a^.^'^^n Jt
own that, lovmg one man, she would have m^JZ^u„
rnan for money; but a worse shame toy HLl^v™
totha pass. Por this she felt herself 4 p^y^±r
^le^rf responsible at all. What did she. R^aT^
for m^ey m itedf ? Put sucdnrtly, he; fim n^' ^
of bread, of bread for herself and for iw »^
^tuatlydepend^t on her^^^'b^S^t^^J^^
•ad pleasure and action and admiration aaH^ti^
i6o
^ THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS J
r«fd We have meanTT h , - V "' "' ■^' ty' Wl«t
Mce he fe« began to u-.v ^h^'n'ST: '«' « *J
•tune when she had ever b^t^ f . '''"'t «memb«;
« • P«r of boots without hi ' , ''""-' * ""^ d«»
On the other hand. she^Z^L^"'^"^ befo«l«^
ttepmched food couldJtS^^ "^^ » time^„
2'wKStK^^-"a,"'ssrE
^l^tiu n,^';X"'%rS'J ^-^^
-^riet5c£SB---s
^dbehappinesstrallg^'''^ "ffP^^^^t t
•ad the more satisfying wdi. ^* ^'^'d be the deepei
to yews of suppresicS*' '^^ «>«• aware of it,2?to
i6i
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
a wl'^^ «Peri«« » denial Rosie could only oppose
it waTcapable ^^^^ .JT^^ ^^^ ^ whatever
what she asked fnTT!™: t^ . "^"^ neither forego
fuses good-fortune and ill-forhTe ScJ^^ J^?^'
wiU. He had his aSt^ tl^,^h ^^ *^l^ *° ^
things material aTl^SiTSanrthS"'? ^
measured them. The matta^anJ h« ^ * ^°^^
she knew. They m^nT^^^t.^^ -«-%^
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
Thor and his daily to3T^°°*^«L'^<J«. ''Wle ^ ith
ty for life. SbeLSSZZ^\^^^^^^-
ination, of him. mTe^ ^^^a"^^ ^«^ '*- « in^-
She had spentX, Kg'^SSfc'!**'^^^?
while she was cooking inSS^^i!Sr^.?*y^- A" the
dishes, or making b4 ^^^^ **"*'' ** '^^^^
watering or ad*e^g Z^ ?°^^' "^ P™>i««. o?
her soul had been «gini ^S^» -^^ '"°°*'^y bills,
^e would have to^^j^ff *5^^^^ ^« by which
Claude would judge her. tf fe knJ^^ °^'^ ""^^e her;
would judge her, and w4« S^'fi*"^.""" ''''° knew
what did they kiow awf^? ^ ^^^ °f «"• But
twentyKxld ^o75S'^^* *'* "^"^ ^^ °f
th^ know of the tetrofS^LSl * ^''- "^^ did
and being withouTTp^S? ™IV^^''^°'^«d.
wouldn't suffer in gi^g^^L f"^ J^X '"PP°«' she
would suffer! The ^LlJ^f '??• Of coui^ she
P^ve the ertrejty'^f'^^^'b^ suffering would
defended he^elf ag^t heTi^^n, ^^'''""^^y Rosie
unconsciously she ^^l^^"^ « -■"^. because
^SSI^of^a;-^- ^^-n« s^ed her.
Steps, and the mSf tts'^L^'^ "^^^"^ "^ble
things to which daily b^ "^ '^'l"^*^ °i' ambn«ial
brought them with UbT^Z^ ^ °°*biag. Claude
that glorious life fa S S^ZiT^^^ ~"*«°n« of
^econditionsinwhich^etf^tiir,^- ?'^ "^
she came within his sphere ^' *°°' *« °>in»te
*° give a new mea^to^t^^^ ^er '''^'.''^ ^
he renounced her it wi^d^^ ™^!J?^^:'«1 that if
,^ the one thing she couldn't
THE SIDE OF THE ANGEIS
««^tobeadiyad^r^°^.f'n«se. If she had
;^da of an enchLted g^^V** ^^"^ b«»me the
fthe figure she pn«enK a ^V^*^ "^^ "° '^ea
frwn a backgrWd of ^ %!°°°^^ « Pris as
^^sre„t:r^'-^-SpsU^
P^. Claude smiled c^S^ui°^Pfr« »* «>e
fe*. Rosie," he said, in aSSsper SV*f ^ ^ *»
«. weVe nothing to be afraidTa^ j^^^ ^ '«^:
. it was some minutes »»f™« u '°°8er-
««nificance to these w^^'^ f ««^<i Pve concrete
pied herself with assuringWm ttJ^h"^ *""^ *« °««-
hothouse but herself, and SK^ '^f no one in the
not be seen fn»n ou^de She^J^f^'^^T'^ *^^ «^d
of low staging fh»n which folll^ T^ * "P"*"^ kind
b«n moved away-^wS St '^'f^ ^ ««°«y
Ad so, dinging to each Sr^~5^d^^ They
*^ working-diess-she wm s^/^~*°?«=^°« °f h^
of moongruity in Wn^ I^ ^* ^l * "^^neftil sense
attirrf man/ She^| w^t^l'^V' *^ ^^"l"«sly
blot hen«lf out in to 5,rS Lt™^i"™ '^«'''' ^
the very roughness. and^e^tTZ^"^!^' ^'^"•^»
ha a savage, earthy charm *^^^ "^8^- «ave
heteStlt^^^ti^^t-.-dbyword. When
^e hid her face .T C^St''^^"'?' *° his father.
describe how resobte Zh^tJ^Z^" T^* °° ^
™^Deen m takmg the bull by
^^ JHE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
''hat a good mother M«T^fL" ''"f • 0» hearing
«^«s. which welled upou^^Sr ^^ ^' "^
heen crying, were like h^„hL^ ^ff* as if she had
matter of fact, she IrSv'^^^ '^''^S- As a
teffing her^lf how maTshXl^ ?*T"8- ^he was
mstant that she cotJJevS W ^""^ ^^'^J^K f<»- an
could ever have manSd^v ™? ""^"^ Thor-that she
?«d or how iirnn^C^'^"!?*** how great the
fr°pted the peril. ^^^ nT'^T'T. "*^« «»-
hitherto, that her heart bd^!l, * fu^ °°' '^o'^ it
her in his anns for CTtoT^Sht *^u'^ "^^ held
"Mght treasure it. orhe mi^ht^i ^l"** P'«=*d. He
»«eak it. It was a^one nt^It^ ^f ''• '^ he might
was his-to shatt^ToTtte HXt . ^* ''f^ «« «d ^e
3ft as he was inclined 11^^*^*", ^T^^* « ">« mire,
she wondered she hadn't seJ^Zu^ *? ^^ """^ that
days when she was^^^^^* ^1*^ «3ual foree in those
what she was doing." declaring that she "knew
it was' Ts^er* ^^^J^J ^« ^7 how difficult
•*^^ She was stiU&t^ T^ '^' '^^''"t re-
"cognized plainly enXhS^, ,^* ^T^^^- She
were precisely those whiS ft *f *^8s he was saying
her soul with satisfactioT V^T^^T ^°^^ have filled
obstacles aside. TW w^ t^ L °^ '™"*P^8 «"
P«-ible-just as ^ rie ccSd"^"" *= """^ ««
Thor and his mother were ^>^ ^^^^^ things."
conversion would be o^ra^tt^^' ?°^ "^ *^*^*^
«>^ces, by which aH tte ^iSdl^n ^*- ^«« «*
•fowned, found her odcUy aSS^.V rf ^" y°"* ''^re
^e had lost the Wtedee^l^ri ^* ''^ "°* •^u*
ttey had become Sw to^^^^.'^t °"ly that
that she was his-^wi^™,* ""^ P^t central fact
-d no matt,, at^f ^ ^h^- Price on his si^
ifiS
i
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
It was only when he began to munnm- semi-coherent
P^s for the future, in which she detected the word Paris
that she was frightened.
"Oh, but. Claude darling, how could I go tc Paris when
there s so much for me to do here?"
It could not be said that he took offense, but he hinted
at reproval. "Here, dearest? Where?"
"Here whwe we are. I don't see how I could go away."
^ But yoad hem to go away-if we were married."
Would It be necessary to go so far?"
"Wouldn't it be the farther the better?"
•■For some things. But, oh. Claude. I have so many
things to consider!" ^^'
leftf "' ^ ^"^^^^ ^^ ^^^ * """"^ "n^ried she
"Her father and mother and everything. Yes. I know.
But how ^ I leave min^when I'm the only one who
has any head? Mother's getting better, but father's
not much good except for mooning over books. And
then -^e heatated. but whipped herself on— "then
tT " ^T;. .?"'" ^ °"* ^"^ J°"8- Some one must
be here to tell them what to do."
He withdrew his arms from about her. "Of ccaree
II you re gomg to raise so many difficulties—"
"I'm not raising difficulties. Claude darling. I'm onlv
telhng you what difficulties there are. God knows I wish
there weren t any; but what can I do? If it were just
gomg to Pans and back—"
^I'WeU, why not go-and come back when we're obliged
In the aid they compromised on that, each considerine
It enough for the present. Rosie was unwilling to damped
his ardor when for the first time he seemed able to enter
mto her needs as a human being with cares and ties. He
discussed them all. displaying a wonderful disposition
to rfioulder and share them. He went so far as to develop
a philanthropic mterest in Matt. Rosie had never known
i66
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
to^^Lt" TW ■ ,? ^^ «^°"^y distasteful for her
apply to Ihor. She felt Builtv toward hi™ it u
~uld do as she chose, she w^d^wliT^ L^**
She said nothing, however, while cLd^weTo-f-Xv '
S^XS'^lJuorSin^TsJ^'^^^'^'-tSe'o?
He addi^.- vn^^f iSg utS>Y' "Hl?t *°rr
Lois WiUoughby " ^^ "* * engaged to
" nn.*"^. *° ^«»Pt^ her position.
Why, abeady— right after us."
h^5! '^*^- ^T"^- S««ing possession of one of his
hMds^ To this tenderness he made no resoonse wf
seemed to rumnate "Sav p„„.. „ " "sponse. He
narace imtil their plans were more fully matured " Thor'=
smTed h^fu °PP°rtuiuty of slipping away unob-
"You been in the hothouse, Mr. Claude?"
167
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
«ny American beautieT^ *« m to see if you had
A:^^lfLS-= *• *"'* ^ «>««: '>" ^"-^ of
to feel that Pay's sUence stru^Es h^r ft Zl^
hin, as hostile with a touch of un^^*^^!'^*^^
back over his shoulder he saW ^Tpff '^^ /^*^«
CHAPTER XVm
THE provision that for the „,«_— ^ i.
customary lifelnd R^,"^""*^* ^e was to lead his
Claude toattSd t^elSl b^hi^rir"^* '* P««*"« f°r
notice of the world to^ ISto^ He^1^""« ^ *«
itabons compunctions, reluct^^and^*** so with hes-
w no wise diminished his d^^'i^ repugnances which
It took place in the g^t^^bSr°* ''*,*^" ^*-
aewest and most splenlThoS^et I^" °^ ^^ ^'^'^
white^d-gold and Ixniis (SLT a ^-""^ '*«^ ''as
ground a tasteful dec^t^S^' JP'°^ this back-
Claude arrived lfll/> w«. a-j
with his compunctio^'and p^v'to^.*" compromise
In gatiaerings at which^^Se^w^*^**-'^' ^««-
premium none knew bettoT«nT^ Z^ sometimes at a
of one who saunt^'^fa^^'"^ *!« ''^ghtened worth
for. and who earned him»lf^>i?i^!^ were to be looked
at any time. cSe C^SvT^, '*"'.'*^°?- Handsome
in evening dress. Hk1™~ !, ' °'? ^^^^ "h"* he was
coat. hisfiT^'dan^f?^^^ Z"^' ^°' ^ "^"^ '^'^
toenteratoom^^t^Sv^MT"''''"'"^^'"^
to be encouraging. ^ he ,^ ^'? "^P*^ * hostess
doorway.longfft^tif/jj*/^ "''^'' ^<^y in the
up. Mn>. Darling^d to W^.T! ^°? ^ '^ken
n,^ attiactive ^oun, ^^^^ ^^^ -- -en a
Shj was gUd afterward that she had m^' this ,,^.
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
Hot. for without it she might have been prejudiced aninst
ifiwJrTcL^^L^VTthtSoSr.^^
cjOmepxKf . oks. particularly when' they weTaSZ::
^d oft^r ' ""^'^y hesitation which on the thresh-
¥ u '*' " "'" *•«« "o «Jandified airs of seeminetri.
i^'i ^^•^' '''^«8^« * '°"K' pink train andwa^
dauS^fslnX.^ '"^ ^.«* ^' ^'^ ^<^ S
There was something in her manner that told him sh«
Jir'Uri'* wa^-^ething that 'JZ STcS!
bmed^With pohte welcome only by one bom to tea
Claude had that ready perception of his r61e which
mak« for social success. He bowed with the rig^ i^
chnation. and spoke with a gravity dictated by SeS
I m afraid I must introduce myself Mrs Darlinrr^"
so late, rm Claude Masterman'MyfathSrS.' '"
p»,« ;». J'"' ''"'' ^ '°^«iy y«^ mother looks!
R^y there's not a young girl in the'^^xan cantoucA^S
Won t you find some one and dance? I'm s3 ,^
S***;: S"*'^*^'-!'^ find her and 4So^W^/
A mOTe important guest than himself beini? m^tt^
^ude felt at liberty to move on a paTor^^J^S
^ the scene It was easy to do t^ for the (X^
^^.T.rrth^ittrrve'^^ ^- ^'^«-
170
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
^^''rJ^"'Tt%t'lr£?^ ^« -^o-X of
*nd gentle as the b«atW ofa^l T -? ^ "'^^
m balance and smoothness fa SiSlff; I" l''''*' '^ t^.
mot on. there was thTs^^^*)^^ '''"'='' ''«» «carcei;
pa^ion lulled, which ^^Z^^'^ ^^^ed. J
heave of a slumberinH^^^^ "l« barely perceptible
charm; it was graceftdtolT-. • ^* "'^ *«amy to a
begins to sicken S^Sefl^" H* "* '''^''' *« '^e
the for«, . , a necSS^l^u T "°"°*°°«« witt
fIsothr«.ahintofmelan^oS-tof*J:r?°°*!^"«: '*
to be gay. It was as though Si th«f ^^ '"**»"'«J
woitaUy lovely in the essM~ tZh • "^ """^ ^ti-
had concentrated its st^^, *k! "««t<*nth century
of the twentieth, tiSfJ ^^Z"^ ^^ "^
however, that the decade w^^lt ^ ^"^- Now,
of revolt. On the ^ ^^^2 ^^ ^'^ indication^
eye of the hostess a^d^S^ ^', "°^ "^^"^ ^^ the
bizarre little dips andSlnTSl^ ^^ ^"^^ ^"^ to
landish names.^„g„,SgTn^SSr"^ ''^^*-
Claude stood alone h«,«.n, "^om.
floral archer SaS wJo w«°^ ^%^''«' «»«««*«
observed. In reXh^„° ^ ""l*. "^^"^ °^ ^>^8
to which he had pa«L teZd th *^ *° i^'*^ ^^ d«g«l
impulse. In R^f^rSe^ T^'^uP''*^""'^*^
beauties. He was raSier r^% ^ *^ ^ c«ne tf
the young men and Z^g^l^^'^.,. ^'^ ^^ to
gated whirlpool, as w^^toToS X^^ "?J"^ ^"^^
dance, were sitting or recliSna^ Tu ' ''*^«' '^th the
and cushions had'bl^l^^^ ^^i^^. ''here rugs
felt a distinct superioritv^S^v „Jr^.,l^''^'«'<». he
stage, while he ^ p^ ^Z Z '^ '" ^^ ^^^dish
girls. w,-th their Par^Tfr^^ ?',^-. ^o the pretty
hves, Rosie. with Wp^CS ^t,^^ "^^^^^^^^ idle
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
^HaZ: .^*^T?^. *>****»»>• «wt«ia pity for tho* to
whom this wrt of thing WM reaUy . partime; he ^^
it as one for whom pwtmies had lost their meaning aad
who would be m some sense taking a farewell
.l'"*.."!"*'' breathed out its last drowsy cadence and
^J'Jr^^J^^^^ it«W into a series ofSm;^^
«b«dianr eddies. There was a decentralizing movS
toward the rugs «»d cushions on the steps, or to the seclu-
«on of seats skilfuUy emboweml amid^Ups of S
tf.7h«J^ r^- ' ^i""^ ^"^ white-gloved hands at
the base of their spinal columns, bent in graceful con-
. versational postures. A few, pairs of atti^ti^^„
people contmu,^ to pa<* th^s floor. Claude rLS
wha* he was He remained where he was parUybe«^!e
he Imdn't dedded what else to do. and partJyb^u^hi^
•J^^fy? had i^sJed out the one girl hTthe^ who
^Stw. "^"^^ *^* ^ not'^smbodiedTe^
When first he saw her she was standing beside the
Gjmrdon ounUun in conve«ation with a ^yCg „C
The fact that the young man was his friiid Ch^^
taought her directly within CUude's dnde and ^
that ^t of emulation which five minutes earh^w^
bought he had outlived. The girl was adjust^ ^e!
or coquettishly, but with a perfecUy straightfomird
J„-m't!"*ti!°'7 <*t'''^^ ""^^^ ^t ^W* She noticed
^ by the fact that she glanced toward him twio^ln
rapid successwn, after which Cheever glanced toward Wi^
^ck bvTil'''.'^ J1'" '^' she had been suffidenti;
^d tLfS- . ''" "^*' ^^ judged that BiUy
^^^••^"J° Tf ""I* P^o«able epithet i
awful ass, m order to keep her attention on himself.
172
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
J« tUt •ppwently he didn't !■»«««« /^
S^S^^ in CUude..*rS/*XK^
young lady's intewst. Wthw ™".P'»««ly rouaed the
«valier she «t«n^ CJ^ S °" "*? '™ °^ »•«
•auntewd by. She saunte^' ^.J '™'«"''"8 slightly,
««rio»ty thit s^ed to^^."""^ • KnRering look rf
«WsKfe had SeJ^S^JT*,'*f *=»«*• Never
hai« the cI««ct«Sc^"of tt?rir "^hh^"" P"^'
cwtury. It was neither JvJ^hI ? °^ ^^ twentieth
but it was unwn^^r SZ ""'^ ""^ ^"-assertive.
Claude it was a ^^i^^K'^^ unabashed. Po;
regp^^^ now expenence. calhng out in him a new
they hved in the d^ S hLrL*^°^u'''"^'*«««e
themselves geograpWc^^\?; ''*^'" ^ tillage-felt
wise policy to^ to te J^ht ^°'!- "« ^°"nd it
toward his host^ »4fh J^^r *' ^""^ therefore feU back
•tecomti^ ^ot^T^T"^ ^°' "er schemed
Darhng «lled XtuK';^;,°!-^ '^ ^^^ Mr..
MaJ^T'^*"'"- I -^t to induce Mr. Claude
PuSng teliS^^'r^teenth century was
of the ban,UeSrjhf ^*^'*? fwooningX^^
to the Boston. cSef^i^i^'^Hoffmam,,'- adapted
twentieth. ^^'^ '""'^ swaying with the
They had not much to sav wk-*
in each other was giS^ Li^^**^'"*«^ ""ey felt
,. Ves; for the last five years "
Do you like being back?"
Theanswerwasdoubtful. "Rather. Porsomet
173
s things."
MICROCOPY >ESOLUTION lESI CHAUT
(ANSI ond ISO TEST CHART No. 2)
1.0 [rl^ 1^
I ^ m
m
6
_^ APPLIED INA^GE In,
— ^j 1653 Eost Moin Street
S"-!^ Rochester. N-* yo.k 1*609 i;SA
r.^Si (7'6) 482 - 0300 - Phone
^= (7;6) 288 - 59B9 - Fa»
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
Then, as though to explain this kck of enthusiasm,
Everybody looks alike." She qualified this by adding
You don t. ^'
•'Neither do you," he stated, in the matter-of-fact tone
which he felt to be suited to the piquanUy matter-of-fact
m her style.
^ It was a minute or two before either of them spoke again
You ve got a brother, haven't you? My father's his
guardian or something." "
^Assenting to these statements, Claude said further
He couldn't come to-night because he's goine to be
mamed on Thursday."
"To that Miss WiUoughby, isn't it?" A jerky pause
was followed by a jerky addition: "I think she's niw "
Yes, she is; top-hole. So's my brother."
She threw back her head to fling him up a smile that
struck him as adorably straightforward. "I like to hear
one brother speak of another like that. You don't often "
'Oh, weU, every brother couldn't, you know."
They had circled and reversed more than once before
she sighed: ' I wish I had a brother— or a sister. It's an
awful bore being the only one."
"Better to be the only one than one of too many "
More nJinutes had gone by in the suave swinging of
their steps to Offenbach's somnolent measures when she
asked, abruptly, "Do you skate?"
"Sometimes. Do you?"
"I go to the Cohseum."
Claude's next question sKpped out with the daring
simplicity he knew how to employ. "Do you go on
particular days?"
" I generaUy go on Tuesdays." If she was moved by an
afterthought it was without flurry or apparent sense of
having committed an indiscretion. "Not every Tues-
day, ' she said, quietly, and dropped the subject there.
When a few minutes later, she was resting on a rug
thrown down on the steps, with Claude posed gracefully by
174
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
Do you see Claude?" ^ ° ^ undertone.
buf"atrr^[ rhTeyXS^s^ffi'""? °^ ^'^^ ^^««<^«.
summing up of siPT,ifinnl^ sufficient to take in the
husbandMaL ^^<=^t' "autteiable things i„ w
I <
* I
I
CHAPTER XIX
D Y the time Thor and Lois had returned from their
be w. fightin, haSru,i:r£'bet?;o?t'^ir4'o^
^. It was. nevertheless, the Claude who w^tlmt
^^n/tTT !? "^^ ''^'' b"'^^^'^ timid faqSry
ooncenung the situation as it affected Rosie Pay. Ha^r
a^3,y°" *° ^^ ^ -i"-*^-' Th- ^S^t
"Done anything yet?"
In the Uttle smoking-room that had been Len's and
was now Thor-s-Mr. and Mrs. Willoughby^vW^^tS
ah^y to their petit trou pas cW-they p„5^!,rtW
agar, m silence. It had been the wish Jf bZbridet^d
tadegroom hat Claude should dine with th™ tS
second evening at home. Thor had manoeav^ f^
these few imnutes alone with his brother in ordw^ ^et
the information he was now seeking. PcJ^ Ss o;^ !!*
wanted to feel convinced that he hadn't acted Ltihr
that m m^ng he had made no mistake. There would
ft^Sr?h2 W '"• '^ ": *^^* C^"^^ andXilS
round theu-happmess m each other, and that in what hp
^^ had don^there had been no otter wIvMHe
^ed that Unde Sim's pietistic reft^in Jo^d^tlL^
Stn,-^^ ^' ^^*^^ ^ *^ ^'d's leisure; but
nather did he want to be afraid of his o»m haste. He^
176
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
"Isn't it getting to be about time?"
through in my craTay?" ^ ^ was to put this thing
"Oh, quite so; quite so."
;;Because I thought you were."
^Wdl. even J I am. I don't see any ^.ason for nuiing
;:N^any oftLer^^^/i^^^ darlings',"
"i^^- ttv ^ r r*^°^'-' -^-'t theyr
wt|^tJnS.,;i?^-,f- ^<^^- I
,No; butldaresayRosiehas."
DarL"g^.?*^'°°''T^-- I don't talk to Rosie about the
Ati^.i^s2:o?^?troS.'^dbo'^*'^ -""^ ^*-
It's no more unjust W R^^. i'^^,*''^™P°rtant-
thuik I'm up to?" ""s urepiace. What do you
dJt W.'"^"^- "^^ ^^* I'« «^<1 of is that ,<«,
•'•I d^t"^ ^ ""^ *° '"^^ R<^« in the lurch-"
Idon t thmk you mean it-no!" ^^^
..i?*°' "^ y°" think I'd do it—"
The surest way not to do^it is to-^o the other thing. "
ik:\,
'%:
S
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
.'.' Ji" ''° }:^^ °^" ^'^K when I'm ready-not bofore.-
.. A "?1- "^^^^'^ ^'"** ^^^ ^ thought would happen "
And this IS just what I thought would happen— that
bee use you'd put up that confounded money you'd trv
to make me feel I was bought. WeU, I m not bought.
See, Rather than be bribed into doing what I mean to
do anyhow I'll not Jo it at all."
"Oh, if you mean to do it anyhow—"
Claude rounded on his brother indignantly. "Say
ThOT. do you think I'm going to be a damn scoundrel?''
Do you think you'd be a damn scoundrel i^' vou didn't
put It through?"
"I should be worse. Even a damn scoundrel can be
caUed a man, and I should have forfeited the name
1 here ! Does that satisfy you ?' '
"Up to a point— yes."
Claude sniffed. " You're such a queer chap, Thor, that
..Xt ^}'^^ y°" "P t° a point I ought to be content."
Oh, I m all right, Claude. I only hoped that you'd be
able to go on with it for some better reason than just—
just not to be a scoundrel."
"Oxxi Lord, old chap! I'm crazy about it. If Rosie
^'i!7S!\'i'"™ ^^ ^^ ^'^ ^ ^^ happiest man aUve "
Oh? So Rosie hums and haws, does she? Whatabout?"
.,.• ■7 . ^^^^ confounded family of hers. Must do
this for the father, and that for the mother, and something
else for the beastly cub that's in jail. You can see the
position that puts me in."
"But if you're really in love with her—"
"I'm really in love with her. I'm not with them I
never pretended to be. But if I have to marry the bunch
the cub and all — " '
Thor oMldn't help thinking of the opening he would
have had here for his own favorite kinds of activity.
Inen that 11 give you a chance to help them."
"Not so stuck on helping people as you, old chap.
Want help myself."
178
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
"But you've got help, whereas they've got no one.
You'U be a godsend to them." B >• no one.
S'^^'! ^"^^ "^^^ ^'"^ "^"^ °f- Who wants to be a
godsend to people? ' «*^ uc »
"I should think any one would."
'.' ?/'? u BPdsend to them, it shows what ihey must be "•
»h,^r "n<^fv^ue yourself. Besides, you knew
what they were when you began— "
pen2t''^^'*^'^^°'' ^'^'^'t'^P"- It-it hap-
Thor's eyes foUowed his brother as the latter bega i
moving restlessly about the room. "WeU, you're^jd
It happened, aren't you?" '<= B^a
Claude stopped abruptly. "Of course I am. But
what stumps me is why you should be. See here; would
you^be as keen on It if I were going to many s<ine one
^,ort°^"fJ^^ * question Thor had to choose his
words. I d be ]ust as keen on it; only if you were going
to marry some one else, some one in circumstances more
hkj your own you wouldn't require so much of my-of
my sympathy." •*
^J1^^"t", ^^ '°°'" ^^""^^ admitted, starting for the
„?^ , u 7 Z*? ^^ * ^°°^ '^^P at heart-top-hole,
of awse -but I shouldn't have supposed you w^ «
good as all that. I'll be darned if I shcmldi"
Thor thought it best not to inquire too precisely into
tte suggestions miphed by "all that." contenting 4iself
with asking, "When may I tell Lois?" b ^^xa
thS^ r^^f^^ °^^ Ws ^<«lder as he passed into
the haU. TeU her myself— perhaps now."
he7iJ^^f^!'u ^^^Z-^-^^^ « the drawing-room, though
i ^ w f ■ ?'r^ °° ^^^ P°^* °^ doing so once
or twice, but sheered off to something else
"Awful queer feUow. Thor. Can you make him out?"
Lms was domg something with white silk or thread
which she hooked m and cut with a crocheting implement.
179
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
idioms may bothi- yr- ** ""^ '''^'' ««»
his^K; mXa i3 '^?:^.''"'''^' ''^ ''^^ -
neck and head l^th^iX'- P'^J^'^K movement of his
ably^ "Weth?srj!iri:.?*^^-<-f°n-
.^ ,,But they say Greek richly repays those who study
wrh?i.;s,« "^Kir ?^k™°° ^-
He was o.nm,; L a oee in his bonnet about—?"
noSic^" f'abc^t Fa; 'th '^^ *° '^ "P to his an-
The words ;oSc^eoT^f= l'"' he <x«ildn^
have done it if Thor haxt^t h»»^ V^- Iv- ^°^^ ^'^
mader^ron'TdSe.'* ^V^Z'l^^
H^'S'ti'^i^ytL'Telt ^ '"""'^*- ^*'^ '-*-''^-
«"h ScS'^; "^"^P^ ^« <'°-'t help them as
'■w:iiX';;;"""'='"''''"*^*°- i^-owthat.-
toS^ti'SnJILni^^^tP -f loolced vaguely
I»se. 1 dont know. Son.etimes I think he do^t
I So
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
gotiie right way to work. And yet it can hardly be that
Cmam^ no one could go to work with a better h^'.*'
Claude was referring inwardly to Rosie's five thousand
a year and perceiving that it created as many dSS
She received this pensively. "Perhaps."
♦»,w1/^- '^°I'^ "^^"^S sent Claude to see Rosie on
timfoUowing afternoon. It was not his repdar dTy f™
commg so that his appearance was a matto of hLn^
terror t«np^ed only by the fact that he otught ft^
Sed the^f «^^-t™^ t° town. Fay rardy
returned then before six or seven, so thtr with the earlv
twihghts th«-e was time for an enchanted hour in tte
^r^^u ^^^ f '°^'"2 ^d the blossoms anTthe Ian!
IwJ T'Z ^ %'°^^PWlter might in his veins.
It was the kind of meeting to be clandestine. Secrecy
was a necessary ingredient in its deliciousness. The^^
Tosa was the term. It should remain under the rose where
man s life and not a daily staple. That was somltWne
2V£ T"^ '"v""-'^''- '"^^ ^ "^^'^ lifers f
bi whlh ^J,^''-.'* P"'!^^'^^- ^^"= ''^ a kind of
exqiasite. Mysteries were seductive because thev wer^
SSr in'tl •^T/^ "^ P-clai:red'':nVe"!
P^ded m the market-place. Rode in her workine-
^^T •''" '""-'^ ^"^ ">« «™-t whitrs
of ritS^h.rt ^ ^ S^^fy- ^ * '''^^- It was the pity
m the state in which she met so beautifuUv all the r,^
sXS^s^/'n" Todragherout^rpufh^'into
sphere she wasn't meant for, and endow h^ with fiv^
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
thousand dollars a year was lilro »,~„-
glory of her own ^Zt^^TJZJrl^^'!- '"^
He grew conscious of this aTh^ =k from the water,
they touched on the r^actic^l L f ^^^ t"^ ^^^ "*"""'
practical in order to^S Jthin tC^"^ he avoided the
which his love was not^^I* But at Z^if '°'"'" °^
sary to speak of the futu«. »n-f I ^^ " ^^ "<«»-
™aidXwe^Ter%'r'a^''tS"£^ ''f/'' P°°^
walk nor dance nor flv =),«^ ij " , '*"''' "either
was no den^n"^ thjfact ftf ^^°"^ ''°^'^'"-- There
She floundi^ed^l^?s^^tl.^;; '"*'« Rosif «°^<^««J.
on a scale of which=hr>,!^ "'^''"^ *° ^^ "^th life
Claude hL kl^^y dtel'ril^'^'^""'^' ^"' ^ *" ^Wch
she was pretSsf S°SS ^y wTarh"'''*;?;. ''°' "'^^
them, when they've no one elL?'' ""'^ «« I leave
weSdlP "'' ""^^'' "'^^^ ^- y- P-Pose that
bef^^.trith'LnL!: "'^^•"^ - '''-"y defeite
always lo^ngL^'oS.L'^'r f. ^'J "'^'* ^^
sense results, Rosie tSS »„ '^'* ^'^ *" common-
that she had Jven ^ aU^t^^nTr'^- ^heshowed
she expressed herself^^hhe^^"",^ 't'"""^^- *°"«h
in the most embowered «cSTh' hot J ^^ were sitting
-in a little shrine she kenT^ . hothouse could afford
of their meetings i!h?l^-''^V^"'''f°''th^P"nwse
though heS^dilfV'™ '^"'^ ^'^ her hakds.
him as she Skr^hf3^^'^^;,?^^-"-e- averted from'
see that in marTyinBh J^„ t . ^^'^ *° '«* him
down too low!^^^ ^^ ^^ ''°^'^" ' be letting himself
183
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
faltJi'"'''Thfr"">.'"^!!.'" Schoolhouse Lane," she
••Wrfii"' ^'PP»*^ «sed to live in it."
ss itt^ """"^ «.. ■■ w. codd g„ i
He let her go on.
wouldnt mind! — and keeo an eJZ iT !^-^ T*^
Mot... ever so much^XS/^Ur t'S Sd
;'Then why couldn't we go and settle in Paris'"
thin?^TWs°flr "".• ^.^-l^^-'hafs not the only
n.usf JoSa^/Sr, -ip^^^^-f the business, 'l
I ^PPOse If we were married he wouldn't do ihatf"
Though he kept silence, his nervous, fastidious sutv-r
SwS'toTeerr"^: Why couldn't heTa^C
S^TwnJ K '^ -5 P°'E"^t joy Of touching her, of
on hun by the brx>ther who wished him well. It was stm
Srir^^nltttrca?^ "'''-^ - ^°---"
^^i5!£S^t^:ie?t;^^
"^ChSf^ould?- ^/i««»^d have been Strephon to
S^wf. '* ''°'^'^, i-^^e been perfect. But he couldn't be
Strephon; he could be nothing but a neurotic tw^feth!
183
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
^vuhout quite knowingX"l5fdTr'^"'^ '"'^ t° "^X.
and me being married ?••' ^ ^°' '=^«* «Peak of y^
--'-ghhiso^ashe'^'SeJrJr^p,;' seemed to
?he felt his arm rel« hs emh '"^ t«^-strick« as
TW should have ZXl^^^-^'^^^ >«"
don't rcrilS'4':^St"^*«^- "^^'Claude.
^ trae you wer* m«s-S wJ '''^^ ^"^ "^d the
<»«e back again. If you^diJ^u'***^r^''^y ^d "ever
couldn't live. I should S^mtilf*^* ^ '^°^'' 'J^^" I
There fo lowed oob nfTiT ™J^^-
Claude was spS^'S^t^ ^^'.^'.^^^^^ ^ -Wch
joyed. The pleasure ^t, ^ ^P"^ ^^ specially e^
\'- «> that by ^i^^^h^^^^te that he prx.^^^
^bJ-iC^^rsS^'.aaudeendeavo^
silence, but not in bein? nnl^T^ ?* succeeded in the
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
"nest's SS^.U%"t« " •'»»"' " i-~ i"
emotions it had been delidrs. wonLuI {t ^1^
him. It was a sensation in itself to be loved like that rt
m^TurbJ S r^^cSent-^Srstl-O.:
nies swept through the ^lian haip Tf h r^wTa^
=n2e%-h^ri-£^-^;^
13
i^
CHAPTER XX
Phisticated MenZrhTiriJt^^^ and their so-
ticated than Claude htoLf ^fl^r ^^ ""^ "^P^^-
had traveled more LdL^p;,^^-^!'^ "^ »°™ "oney.
But Claude ta^Ci^^CSJlT? "" " ^"''^ '^^rf^'
^s and go beyond tha^ VZ JS? "'^ ^*^<J-
Portunity; and opporS to^ tZ^ ^"^ ^^e op-
Ifn of good antS^lke wSf ^^ ''f^^ ^mer-
He never t<x,. in that f^ S dSS^ ^"^^'^ -^ *^«-
He was glad that ho hoj ^<=ariy as on th:s night,
at Ub|e^ J,t *^i«if -^^b^la^ nexti Elsie
m his being there at aU Conv^lr^ treachery to Rosie
judgment, he felt l^e t^hf^/' S *** "s'^* °f Thor's
«»»e to her with ^A^LVf' "^t* "e should
owed her any exn WhW r °" '"^ ''P^- Not that he
Considering LAtZ^^'^f °"" ^' °f view
drawal aUowed to^S^J^V ^PP"^ and with-
PossibiUty of playa^r't'^y"^? ^people, and the
mutual comp4S^t ^ti'T r*^ T' ?"""«' "*
ever; but the fact remSn^ tw ^^^^^^'"'^'^hat-
measur^of wiffi„g„es^^fj^J^Je was expressing a
the mute antagonism thatlri^^,!llf '^'° "^ '"^^ing
families. As far as that w^t^ t T ^^ '^spective
to the Darlings- but J^' ^^ ^^"^ ^« ^as unwelcome
<=^edoverhef^*ts'he5sTh;*°°\*f ^'^^'« ^^
fing. ItwascSlSat^Se'Zhf'''"^'"^'"''
h^ a point more impoiWt s^ :? i^""* ""^ °^^ *«^
ro the Claude who ^^^^^ t^^^lleTatte
I 1
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
couldn't m^ge her; but to the Claude who might be there
v^h^her thrr.^ than the gzatification <rf fastidi^
sooal tastes, and for the moment that Claude had some
^ °f .the ascendant. It was that Claude who spoke
whra, after dmner. the men bad rejoined the ladies
Your mother doesn't like my coming here."
Elsie tew hm, one of her frank, flying glances. "WeU,
she s asked you, hasn't she?"
He smiled. "She only asked me at the last minute
I can see some other fellow must have dropped out " '
You can see it because it's a dinner-party of elderly
wW^^*^''P'?'**°^- That constantly happens
whai people entertain as much as we do. But it iai't
a shght to be asked to come to the rescue. It's a Z!
^r<^«. "Tf ■ ^ ^^^ *° ^° ^^ "^^ you
count them as real fnends."
He insisted on his point "I don't suppose it was her
♦J^°" "!?" '* ^^ "^^'^ ^^ ^^ ^ >t '^. it comes to
tte same thing. She asked you. She needn't have don^
1^^!a^ ^^^ i^^'' ^^ •*• "=«* *« didn't want to."
He^added, lowermg his voice significantly, "And she was
w™ tf^ u™!^ ^ "^^^ ^^ eaze. which rested on
m^W^'^i^^ '^''^- Everything about her was
miatedied. She was free from the conventional manners
of maidendom, not as one who has been emancipated from
aem, but as one who has never had them. She might
have belonged to a generation that had outgrown the
need for them, as perhaps she did. Shyness, coyness, and
D'^ T^u ^T^t^ "° P^ °^ he' e^uipiient;
but, <m the other hand, she was cleai-<Jear with a kind
of CTystalhne clearness, in eyes, in complexion, and in the
staccato quahty of her voice.
"She's right— how?"
187
. t
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
I'm— I'm not
ir^T^!^"^ ' °^^*-'t to come.
Do you mean ?*' cu
embarrassed, but only to fodT^' T ^"^ *« ^«
her eyes on his ^th a cZor he ^dT'' ^^' ^^'
reciprocate. "Do you mew that ■ '^° "°*ing but
where?" ^ ™*®° **at you're bound— eke-
^Q^^^- "That's it."
wander vaSy'^oJ^S;'" S? ^*' ^"'"^ ^^ ^
other guests w^ Lted "^f^""^- about which the
settees against the white PrlrffnT^T i^"^ °" g^^ed
young man played C^Xlt^^Rf^f"- ^^^ -
piano m the far comer NntTf "^ ''^ &* on a grand
itself, but in the l^lqu^ L^ -^ '^^ »"sic-1Z.
people could talH. iT^n^^^''^^' ^^e two young
nervousness with which Se ta^w h ^^ "'^7 m the
the palm of her left h^A ^^^^^ "^"^l^ against
face. "I^ g,^ y„„,^^ ^j^ Her.eyes came back to his
^^^t^'^A'tZ.Z^^ "^- «^^ -ght
h^V^S-^^-o^^^i^-that I wouldn't have
terofa-well.ofama::retiSi'r She's the daugh-
But^rTa^:^-^-^---
quickly: "No; I
saw in his face she went
HUK^y: "xvo; I won't aot , iT ""^ went on
Ofcour^you'^i„,::°;iS>e^7^H•^,°?"'* ^--
a man with your"-^han^ IT./ *'''"I' " " splendid-
itself. but she madTIV^^S^. ^'^ ^°'^.'^^' ^^^ested
to fall in love with a gll iftTat^' "^ ^'^ ^"^ ^"^"^
a bnght glow inner face to which
i88
he tried
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
world, but could say to iS h^ ^ "Z"?* «^' ^ the
centuxy freedom C^eSifi^'^.^^'^' *-«ti«th-
I shouldn't come." "'maai. Now you see why
She gave a little assentinif nod "V«. u
better not-for a whae-not ^ J^fJ ^^^^ y^'^
By and by, I dare s'y\^2T^ "" °^' «* any rate,
-mother basis-^dth^3!^ ^ everything on another
his'S:r'.^Nne^isrs"^'''f= ^*^«^-^
basis." .wesnant. There won't be any other
She took this with Jim- i,c.„i •
not. Idon^^ewe^ r*^;. "W«". Perhaps
change of tone, as Z 2ved aty'f^',^*^. f^^ »
-d talk to M.. Boy.. st^S I'^^.tt; ;t^ --
He thoughMt spl^^d Ci H^/*'^ ^P'^'*''-"
thatifhehadpi^hTs^rn;- «« ^It positive now
it-he might o^y W wi^'^i.^f^^toP'^
floor not as guest, bJtTmS ^""^ '^' '^^^'^
culties in the way that <^&?^«7^ ^^ "° ^-
and Elsie had bwTof fZ^J^ ^^ ^ overcome, if he
We a good fiftXla^aTji;^ "^^ilT' ^^ "°^'^
there was no other word for ,> 'u ' '^^ splendid;
brilliant future fS ^^'*„f ^t,'' o ^-^"^ "P *"«
counting the world wdlLt ^ ^°^^ Fay-and
he^vrj^hlt^Tt- -^-. '- ^ ^^^^ as
come. He must k»>n I,;; !1L ! ^^^^^ moment to have
He was flaS''^ £^„*' Tl* "^ * ««"««^
Darling-sheared yeuleteti'l''^'? ^"* °^ ^J^"
to love him acted onL^r^iXtSl^r^^^^
1^^^'^
p
m ^
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
she had married some on^Jl1^''f^;<^<i even wh^
fbmiastbe m^gniSc^T'^ ^2^<1 ^eep her dream
tie wmmng of her w^^h^^. ^nr^^^ *°<^ «" "-at
the way he thriUed wblnT T^^l^' "" ^e'' i* by
^bling against his,^l? td^tL°l^°^''' ^y
2ui^ '* •'>' *he wild tiaS^^'^ *^* '^*«™«»>
She had shuddered; but of co,,^^' u^* "*■ ^e thought
she to shudder at? He^^^'^^^^^'tJ What C
qu^on ev«y time tS CL^^''* "P against tS
ever possible it might be t^^ ^ unreasoning. Hc^
was always ^ad^fo s^St^r* ^°^^^d a C
^,TT'°r was "acting queSir-^j." "^"^ "^ R°sie's
^ of that queenaess ibi^iL,fT u^ ^ ^P^^"
that no one who knew Thwa^^ ° ^ <=^t. Of
«t the same time keep hT^''^ ""^ ''"«'i°n and
~u^^'t deny that he ^jSo^°'>,«e°se. Qaude
analyze his passion in that tS^I ^* "^^^ he came to
a dread lest his own^s^*!?^^ ^e found it nothing but
»atch«l away H '^"'^ ^"t^^w Rosie"'^^
ova- what he shouiu ha^difljT^ ^ diUy-daUying
of the sacrifice he wouM te^'finJ?* ^ad been aiZd
■ ^^e. as he x«Uized ^Sl'^.^^^^e, without
wwthit. NolaterttaTt^!^ • ^* ^°^e would be
and a wedding-^jT ^^S'^^'T J?* would buy a h^
PJ^. Befo«i;S^2^,^'!'r^herin^
God knew there were a ^ofS?!?'^ dfficulties-^d
selves away. '*hemt-would smooth them-
Asheleftthetramsaratthevillaeete^,- u
igo vuiage temunus he was
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
«5o excited to im hn^^ .»
•^d went on tt^^^lT' f he passed his own gate
«^d hear Thor's^^^^' 7^/°* yet late. He
«>tted hta, and couW foU^! ^^Z^ «1 "^e maid ad!
bs overcoat ^d silk ha Wwd tl^.'^'l't he took off
the tapestried chairs. He^ f!? '^tJ^^J' <» one of
straightened his cravat befL^.f"'^^ *hem as he
wh;te^t«,at. and s^^^'e^ SfiT' ^^ '^"^ ^^
notto!;^:;'^^-; S-f-.'" Thor «ad c. "Vas
doawaywithirn^^y^l^Si^77,-thit. lUasto
clear that to Christ Lv^t!' **"* ^^ evolution. It is
smptom-asynSl'S^rSSc^ ".Sir "^^ ^"^ "
the symptom without und^teW ^if^ '""• ^° ^PP^e*
^y^ould have he. f^^i.''^^,^^^^^^
^^^^ude appeared on the threshold. Lois smiled. Thor
Hello, ClaudAf n
Reading Vibart's aS^^^"?; J"f -f a minute,
more to the end of theT».f ^^n ^^^ « few lines
Christ.- Thor conL^:i^t^^J° "^J! *««*ing o1
the causes of poverty ^ ec^S^ ^^^ ^''^ that
place, and moral in thrLT^?^ °^^ ^ *he second
shiftmg, changing vitaUv w^hin ,^«'°°™<= conditions are
Nothing is P^Lnt burtSl^r^ °^ * generation.
t«al. Thou Shalt love the r!^°^' ^°°thing is effec-
h^..ndwithaUthyLulL^.,,^r, ^ '^th aU thy
nf ghbor as thyselff ^Sh^^ Z *" '^^ '^^- ^^ thy
all the law and the p^phe^ ^ ??">°^<hnents hang
ments hangs also the sSution of ^» ^. *''° °««>and-
^e that a race that oS^ t^l?! ^"^ "^ Poverty,
confronting it. I„ p^Stio^^^.'^""'^'* P^'WenS
obedience these probSZdtn^- * ^^"^ *>* ^""^
f-verso^earto'^disa^^^^t^PI^- They were
as now, when the moral
"~ "^^«ne aiive to them "'
Claude smoked a dgarwl^'they
191
■ sat and talked. It
1M!
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
was talk in which he personaUy took Httlecho™ k ..
which he sought to le^mwSrTnot Th^' ^VTI
with what he had done If thZ„ „ ^ "^ satisfied
he thought he nngSrdetec" tZx^Cr^^'^'''
does no good to^;ta^';o"1:S:rS:'^"^^- "
another thousand yeMTrr^ iii. u ^ ^"'^ *** ^
P^ples .c. Christ'^rt rt S £^b!Ssh^r^ *^
tha'^d^fo^fo^th^^i T--^^'?-weUsay
or travel by tSUd moSTfaow I^ ^ walk to^y^
yeare the common metC^;,i«- \*^** "" ^ '''"*«<1
be by flyine Thi<:^> . ^. i"^ ^*^* '^ probably
^^. man to get on Cj^^h^^^;,^-
po;Lt 'go'To^^irc s^*" f^ "^^ »- *«
going." ^ *°* him to go faster than he's
•irSTp^^S'^S'Sri-thT^ ^'i^ r^ «^«.
necks were broken?" **^ "^* *^t legs or
nor at the ^ pS^ 71^"'^ °^^^ '" "'^ ™ddle
imagined theVX to^*^^^/"''^ ^"^ -h- they
S^veT'm^irn'^iTali^'^'*/"^^
at the beginning, as I u^ldttLThS ^^ ^ ^^^t
THE SIDE OF THr axt^,,
^r itiE ANGELS
set at themselves with a new nnint„» ■
of action toward one anott^^f '^'^' '^^ « "e* Kne
t^ method which thS Sver W^ ^ *^ **«' Chril
poverty and other inej^fe*^..^ ?l',°' P«t «P with
do away with them bylhTinSn, ll ^^^ *° «P«« to
that." she added, in ^defo^Ttu'^ '!.'^°« "««': "d
deavoringtosumup '•«^* *^* *"*''°' she was en-
Without following ■theTeofjl" ^^y *™«- "
no mterest, Claudf sj^KtT^-'^L'" ^^'^ ^^ took
b«>ther. "Trouble J^T^ ^\t, ^o^}^ ^ ^is
of a hurry. Won't l^ZyZgJt]u ' ^ *°° ""><*
,':«>«nberthat Vi^'S^fji^^^^^aiy. .-you've got to
^e of ardent. The evoE*^ ft T" *= * '^■<=«1
merely a matter of folloprin„ ^* ^^ ^"^^^ «« isn't
depends on the deere^ ^T^*' °"* «*rtain principles- it
divine energy. iJ^ Z^Tj^."^^^^-^^
association the faster to-^ZZ ^ ^''^ <='°s«- the
such association pi^ if^^ ^«* there's no
nanember, Thor. ^ft^ IfT^. ** ^*°PP«1- You
with God.'" «s m the chapter. 'Pellow-workei^
"I couldn't make it out " Tt,™ -^
patience. '"PeUow-work^ ^^^ T^' '^* some im-
that means." ^"^^"^k^swthGodl' I don't see wC
"Then, until you do see-"
-y^aT 2;SS"f "^ i -^^ ^e was about to
^te subjects, while cSe ^'^*'°° ^^^ ^
«^er- He wanted to be^I.J'**^^ "^^V an ob-
w^ happy. That i;r°swas'^!f/.«»jvinj»d that
««^ was appar«,t in eve,? h^kJ^.'^^T' H^ppi-
aad every movement of h^j^n*''^^^ "^ *«• featur^
w^an. All that used tTj^^J^. ^ ^^ another
^"ed had «soiv«i its^ in'^Sr^^^rt
ill'
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
owdteg to Claude, you could see it with half an eye
She had gained in authority and looks, while she had
developed a power of holding her own against her husband
that would probably do him good.
As to Thor he was less sure. He looked older than one
might have expected him to look. There was an expres-
sion m his face that was hardly to be explained by marriage
and a two months' visit to Europe. Claude was not
analytical, but he found himself saying, "Looks like a
chap who'd been through something. What?" Being
"through something" meant more than the experience
incidental to a wedding and a honeymoon. With that
aiought torture began to gnaw at Claude's soul again, so
that when his brother was caUed to the telephone to
answer a lady who was asking what her little boy should
take for a certain pain, he sprang the question on Lois-
'What do you really think of Thor? You don't sup-
pose he has anything on his mind, do you?"
Lois was startled. " Do you ?"
"I asked first."
"Well, what made you?"
" Oh, I don't know. Two or three things. I just won-
dered if you'd noticed it."
Her face clouded. "I haven't noticed that he had
anything on his mind. I knew already— he told me before
we were married— that there was something about which
he wasn't— wasn't quite happy. I dare say you know
what it is—"
He shook his head.
"Don't you? WeU, neither do I. He may tell me
some day; and till then— But I've thought he was
better lately— more cheerful."
"Hasn't he been cheerful?'
"Oh yes — quite— as a rule. But of course I've
seen — "
They were interrupted by Thor's return, after which
Claude took his de arture.
194
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
He woke in the morning with a frenzy that astonished
tanself to put into execution what he had resolved.
With hia nervous volatility he had half expected to feel
less intensely on the subject after having slept on if
but everything that could be called desire in his nature had
T^J^^'7 «*°.^^ P^°" *° '"^e R°sie his own.
That first ^-and all else afterward. That first !-but he
could neither see beyond it nor did he want to see
The exatement he had been tempted to ascribe on the
previous evemng tc his talk with Elsie Darling, and per-
haps m some degree to a glass or two of champagro
havmg berame mtensified, it was a proof of its bcinr-'the
rwl thing. He was sure now that it was not only the
real thing but that it would be lasting. This was no
spasmodic Iweeze through his aeoUan harp, but the breath
and hfe of his being. He came to this conclusion as he
patted a bag that he could send for toward evening and
made a few othw pr^iparations for a temporary absence
from his father s house. Putting one thing with another,
he had reason to feel sure that he and Rode would b^
back there together before long, forgiven and received,
so that he was reheved of the necessity of taking a farewell.
X think It s splendid," rang in his heart like a cheer
Any one would think it splendid who knew what he was
gomg to do— and what he was renouncing !
It wasannoying that on reaching the spot where he took
the dectnc car to go to town old Jasper Fay should be
watmg there. It was still more annoying that among the
other mtendmg passengers there should be no one whom
CUude knew. To drop into conversation with a friend
would have kept Pay at a distance. Just now his appear-
ance-neat, shabby, pathetic, the superior workingman in
his long-pr^erved, threadbare Sunday clothe^-intro-
duc^ disturbing notes into the sweUing hymeneal chant
to which Qaude felt himself to be marching. There were
practical reasons, too, why he should have preferred to hold
no mtercourse with Fay till after he had crossed his
195
: ii
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
wouid quicken * SjS^lt^ J"*' ""'^'^ "^^ ««'<«
turning, or recognizi^ay's ^t^^'^^^"* '^thout
rescue, till he hear^ a n^rl^cLrr^'j;."'' *^" ^« ^°'
''"rS&.^« wo^r^^?';^ »— ««gh
•bSXySTllt'Se^r .?«* ^ -ethin^
apologetic. He S^pSe"" '"'f^''' '""^"'t and
ofy inthegl^^fS:'^^;^'* y** '^th a kind
»-yto^ tkl:^/Z""^'^'' ^^ ^^ »y place
weighing the itf!^y°°«'>^ye«xl." Claude^
eoceofwhat^d?^ **'^'^*^«- "One experi-
bi^t^s^'^-rdon'^ttsry .a^v '.^^ J-^'
father's sons." ^ y°"- ^O" »« both your
you coming Liy more^' "°*"^y' ^ <l°n * want either of
think you'd obi^Tm/S^S^T^r.'""' ' '*°^'^'*
:;S;^.S?h?£e?-'-^^-^-e,w
A* -y HtUe girl. No.^you needn't ask her. She
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
She won't tdl me. All I know is
wouldn't tell you.
what I've seen."
-kerfitS?'.?'m7^L?l'"' "-*r«y?" Claude
what th^L up^r t you 80 « after him and see
aJ^L^A "^'^ ^^ expressed the helplessness of the
l*gpn' you to keep away. No kxxT U !;J^^f
Httle bamer. Claude^^up ^ter h^ he founded a
^ piece of mon^^"S^f in;1rci^
iiii
il
Chapter xxi
often to the Darlinw' '^ Hah ^*" ^°"K «»
home. Better drop ta on iW T ' ""^ "^y- °° 8°
put you to rights" • G'^« you something to
was mo:. f-iCtlJ^'gllSTTn'Se "'''*■''"
sunlight he hardiv Teenor^i,3ll^^' *"* morning
he know wh^to I,^"j^^ surroundings, nor m
day. He was .^T to '^"^'i^^* 21'^'^*^''°^
whi,A he was accustomed to finft, =P°««^atory in
with beady ev«andTS„ • .''*^' ''''*" «« Italian
bed thThad'^ °i^8 «^' ''''° ^^ «ldng a
to the last hoSriTS'r^ter;,^-^
man for divining what he wlZ; b^SJ^S^ "'"
It was a cucumber-house. That iTwhZ!. » ^' .
»« of (JZeT SS2?K.'^ "■?*"«»" H» , .did
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
d^«d J£,*^h1V.*1!* ^ *^* ""P^ "«"'<««<» that
awarted wm. and which wm climbing, climbine .till It
»« prodapou.. In it. way it wa. p4Ce. It wi" lii*
ment o( cheerful little plant, that at a distW^lS
U» jade or miUachite. Now. all of a sudden aTitwe^
there wa. this forest of rank verfure, «prunT^"h ataTd
rf hideou. rapidity. rtifii„g. overpowWing^ ^'S2
rf o^., ^"J^-P^ f-^t. 8«cn with the faintest tip
of gold hung heavy, indolent, luscious, derisivdTeaS
to toach and taste in this semi-tropical Ct T?e
gherkm a few inches above it defied the eyTto d^^*
^^^L":f ••^'gthening that were takLg pSTas a
mM looked on. Tendrils crept and curled andLSled
«d mt«locked fn«. vine t vine like queer, blindSg
things feehng after one another. Pale blc4soms rf^!
wlule bew boomed from flower to flower. beaiZlhe
to the females growmg daintily from the end of ^
embryo cucumber as from a pixiched, wizened stem
fom,7^r^ a f«^ pa«» into this gigantic vinery. Claude
^hli K-^ T*"^ ^°^« ™Kbt be working. He
pushed his way slowly, parUy because a,e wann Sr
heavy with poUen made him faint, and S^^,^'
th« close pressure of facile, triumphint nat3Ll^^
nerv^ a suggestion of *he menacing. On the^Awav
°^i?ft' dark loam his .^s feU noi^lessly ^ ^
When he came upon Rode she was buried in the deoths
of an atoost imperceptible cross-aisle and at the^T^
S.?iin?t*^**t- Asherbackwastowam'C^
mfn,^- °^ ^^^^ approach, he watched her for a
S^J^"^^**- "'«'l'^<=k eye noticed that she wore a
blue^reen cotton stuff, with leaf-green belt and^
199
ntt'
i
mr '
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
^t W L;:j^i^/--t of her Uekgn^,, and
display the ex^dt^lS K'^^'^gS^ «>« ^'^ ^^
dehcately the pale Uttle bl(S«^ f^^," J''* "^"^ P^ckuiK
to the pcuad. Her wi^^' ^'^ '«««S them flutt^
yeUow things already SnJ^ f^'^ ^^^^ the fnul
^dingthdr^SSirTt^^^- ->d ^-^.
to hfe unto life with thH^t^.^-' *° ^ t^asmuted
"Rosie, what are ySd^* ??*"*''» ^ ^^^Z-
i^^T^t^^^^ but he was not prepared
pentrated on him. nor ^'^t^htZ^,^^^^ ^^ ««"
mg nunutes wa^ a^jS^^J[^'* ^"f her wak-
startled if he had c^T^^ „f ^. ^°^d have been
toward night; but itT^ t d«th L^ customary hou„
hke this in the middiroT «,? f„^^ heart to see him
was the greater on Ci ^2 h^°°?; ?he emotion
P«spective focused thee^^f^^^ ^V^^' ""^w
other, with no pos^Mtrof „^ ?* *^" ^"^ °^ the
fflained where he%^ r Jl nusreadmg. Claude re-
feeble aid of the n^t ^" "'""^ ^"^ «"??<« to the
he w^&^S SS^-tf^ ^« thought
something to say. It waTEvr^^*^ " gave her
.^P'^^about befoJ; Sg^;S l^i^ ''^ ."P I'y
the superfluous female flow Js.^' .fhf was picking off
!trength of the pla^ SnottTth."' '^^.*''^* "«'
One had to do that, otheSl "anaming ones.
TW nt^^ «f ™S^ ilr''^*^ ^- ^ -
ned ?" «iyimug about ynu and me being mar-
''Oh what's he been sayine?" «?»,« i
only a matter of what you^ IL ^ ^^^^^ It's
«e Why he's paying ralZZn^iZ^' ^ *<> teU
aoo
■r. -'i
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
^l ^'^l^!^.*S>:. »°* «Jy because his
nerves
• wringing
" R,^^ S^ '^ ?^ ''^ *^°^8 that." ' •
It's SLtZffcr.^^^*^^-"
now; she cauW^y in^ h^^ *° ^"^ ^V^g back
^e-itrjC^^^-r^th^ffi J
it to^do SS' '•' "^ "^^^ ^* ^? What had
neverthoughtof^SS^S^.^l'^f'^r^^- ^
Claude drew a biHf fvSe "V^ ^"^' ^
~uld get ^fZ^lt^^Ct'ZT^'^' "^"^ '•^
with you." '^^ ''^ ^"^ be was in love
I was ^wJj^aLd^/CBut /-^"I ""''^ *^ y°"
bufL'S?"Lrto^-C3h1^''f ^-^ '"-°*'
and you would. You'^ J^^? ''"^ '^""^ '»• R°^e.
If you knew what^ t is to 'be S Evr-f ^^^ ^ '"^•
it wouldn't have bJn JvJT t , ®" "^ ^ bad done it.
It wouM hav^ iLoT^or^r ^ ^r^ y^ ^y tbe less
and-andev^X^ °'°*'' ^'^ ^^"-
rent him, too. ''TSfdr,^.** ?°™ ""^' because they
You wou^d have done it ^.V""^^ ^^ diffe,«>ce. Rode,
felse to ml^^ '* ^"^ *^^ "^^^ As it is, you were
II I
I
If./!. I J
111"
f
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
"^^y.that once, CUude!"
worst." everytlung that happened— the very
;ips?^-tr.x«.es..
HeScte-^Tn^-^t^:^ -^ -S at aU.
whaSa&nSnSrilte ~1^°'>^^ »^«^«
and scrimp and savSd n^ib^ uT *° ''''^ ^"^ ^8^'
and no one to hdohM^r^Ti^^""^ °"*' daude!-
VThat-s got nX^i^^^le^..^— '"
have said that I'd m^S^.'' ^ ^^^ *^^ ^t I'd
as yl:rJS:,SSroT,j'° ^T '^^'' '^ ^°*- ««*
"I think I woul^^wSld r^r^ "' ^''^ ""^^"y^
the ^e time, and X<^inXJ^'^Z°^^ ''
htm." ^ ' "-^""lef Can t you seef It wasn't
it ^^s itry^tS" "^ "'°"^*'- ^"* <I° you think
I'd J^^^Idl^^ " ^ »-- -""Id '-ve done it unless
I'But you'd have do«« it— "
poin?" *^'"'^' ^ -'-ldn't--ot when it came to the
303
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
Oh, Claude!"
And I want to see if wn,,Mi * n
I say?" «> oe a he, Claude; but what could
teUrrnxST"'""'* --- - thin, to be a lie. Rosie. we
_Buthowco«Wl?"
"Well, perhaps you couldn't- u, 4.
happen, since you vrerelrim^ZT^ "^^y more didn't
She began ^th m^ll^'- " *<^d."
was last January-llSSc^t'wr^^"^ ^"^ hands. "It
one evening-I was iT^i Tf Jf""ary-yes, it was-
Ml^^dhecam^^^fjl^?^ hothouse making^
asked me-" *-*™^ *" °t a sudden-and he asked me-ie
^"Yes, yes; go on."
ask^rSw'^Jci^-lSrC.I'^^*^- ^''he
die for you-^d so I wIm^??' ^^ ^ '^'^-I said I'd
Y-Jl^^^^^beHeve m^or n^^^: ^'^"'*^- ^'^ '^^ >* .My
happiSX^r. "^^ ^ '^^t to know is what
hoit m^t t h?p Sif^tl^. .' '^^•* -•'-^'i
You see. Claude, ev^ Tb^^ ^ **^ * ^^^te believe him
liked him-^r S^ hi™ ^^ hrother, I never r^y
^ways something abStiT:i*u^y- Th«« waT
now I see what it\. I She'^^\"fL" °"*-^d
promise r wouldn't " '''"^hedteU. And he made me
•'S^aTS's^rto'r'- r-Jr^*^"* ^^"-hatr
some one else-and Zm ^^t^^. ™«''* «° ^^ ""any
to.'ne to 1^^^^ £^« .^"jJdn't want what he Sd
;;But what did hJ^^ * ''°^'^ ""^ trouble."
"Don't you *wa/ what he said?"
'03
m
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
She ^ed with herself. "Oh, Claude, I don't want
to.^ I wish you wouldn't make me."
"Go on, Rosie; go on."
hJ^f ,!!J^ ^^,'^^ ^ '""^ '^^ "^e himself-and that if I
hadn t been m love with you— " >•"»■. u i
^e was able to help her out. "That he'd have mamed
She nodded, piteously.
"And you said — ?"
to^L'^^^^t^^^'' *" "!!r ^^' 8^*er«l her forces
-Qgetfter. i didn t say anything— not then."
to J?»1,T *°lf .i!^ ^^^^ that you wer* willing
to marry fern whether you werts in love with me or not.''
at £r ^' '^'- ^-^ "^y ^^'' ^y '^y^^s
"You just let him see it "
-he^cou^d see how I fdt-that it was like a temptation to
me-that It was hke bread and water held out to a starving
"That is, that the money was?"
She beat one hand against the other as she pressed
them agamst her breast. "Don't you see? It h^te^
that way. I couldn't see aU that money comeright-
^tt"te^^'*^''*T^l°''* wish-just for that ninute
—that I could have it. Could I, now?"
are R, J *^°°'* ™P?°f ^ "^*^' Rosi^being what you
are. But, yo-, see I thought you were somethLg else "
along-"""' * ^°" ^^'^- "^°"'^e ^°^ aU
'. thought I kne
didn't. I find that
along!
find I
cause Thor wouldn't take
"He couldn
How could hei
you're only willing to marry me be-
you
take me after I said I'd die for you.
304
THE SIDE OF THp axt
"Andhtw ANGELS
He thx«wout^i;^3^'v««id you wen, willing^,.
."Because he'd make-"
Wo. he didn't say that t , .
y^^6 he said he wUSt hlv^S^bS' ^ '^^''' "^^
wiietaer or no. or sr^^tu- .? "■ ^^cause you'd Ho ,>
'em^nberwhat:- **""*^« ^^^ that-I Z'? ^st
?sr-"-^"?S"-" - ■■"■
. ^«. Claude. wha+ j„
eojng to do?" ""^^ <^° y°" 'nean? "(Vhat are yo«
fap ? S-^T';£rrwi*i?- '^ - ^<^- of the
I was talking to a2lj^„^^J° ^'x^oe for y^
was all ready to n,^ ^ ^ ;j:ho,Iet me ste thlt'^e
1 '^
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
jHiat ytni'd can an heirws— and she', a pretty girl.
''And what did you say to her, Claude?"
"I told her I couldn't. I told her about you "
JAboutme? Oh. Claude! And what did she say?"
She said it was splendid for a chap with my future to
fan in love with a girl like you and be true to her. But
you see, Rosie. I thought you were true to me "
"Oh. butlam. Qaude!"
He laughed "True? Why, Rosie, you don't know
the meanmg of the word ! When Thor whistles for you-
as he will-you 11 go after him like that." He snapped his
nngers. ' He 11 only have to name your price "
She paid no attention to these words, nor to the insult
tney contamed. Her arms jvere crossed on her breast
her face was turned to him earnestly. "Yes: but what
about this other girl, Claude?"
He spoke with apparent carelessness. "Oh, about
cL ™ °<^<*«1 "1 <*e direction of the door at the end
of the hothouse and of the world that lay beyond it
I m going to marry her."
She looked puzzled. Her air was that of a person who
had neva- heard similar words before. "You're goine to
— ^what? ' 6 ""6 vu
" I'm going to marry her, Rosie."
For a few seconds there was no change in her attitude
Wie seemed to be taking his statement in. When the
meanuig came to her she withdrew her eyes from his face
and dropped her arms heavUy. More seconds passed
while she stood hke that, meek, crushed, sentenced, her
head parfaally averted, her eyes downcast. Presently
she moved but it was only to begin again, absently,
mechamcaUy, to pick the superfluous female blossoms
from the nearest vine, letting the delicate, pale-gold
things flutter to the ground. It was long before she
spoke m a childish, unresentful voice-
"Are you, Claude?"
2o6
THS SIDE OF THP 4x,„
S^^-'Sr^^ "■■■■
She wentT^tt h*?^ 1* '"^"t »y fault ••
motion of thTlSs ^^^« "^^ntly, b«rU , ^^
to°kh^y"li^P°"«- The picking of the M
effort tn i^tu ^™ ''™- step bv st«, ti Wossoms
^•-J^lor doing a ttS^St^^*' ''"^^ «^e. to be
Evt°?^^ ^ '^^ g'4 tootle ir*" •" p^^^t S
picked and drotSdtS:i?*««d its te^T ^1^ ?„*•*'•
theend of her",^^ *^^ ^'°-«»s slowly till S^r^^
^-^^r^d^P^Syti^r^-^ot- Ifsb
■I;!
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
had flung him one piteous backward look, or held out her
hands, or sobbed, he might have melted. But she did
nothing. She only disappeared. She was lying like a
stricken animal behind the thick screen of leaves, but he
didn't know it. In any case, he gave her the option of
coming back.
He gave her the option and waited. He waited in the
overpowering heat, amid the low humming of bees. The
minutes passed; there was neither sound among the vines
nor footstep beside him; and so, with head bent and eyes
streaming and head aching and nerves unstnmg and con-
science clamoring reproachfully, he turned and went his
way.
He surprised his father by going back to the bank.
"Look here, father," he confessed, "I'm not ill. I'm
only terribly ui)set about— about something. Can't you
send me to New York ? Isn't there any business—?"
Masterman looked at him gruvdy and kindly. He
divined what was happening. "There's nothing in New
York," he said, after a minute's thinking, "but there's
the Routh matter in Chicago. Why shouldn't jrou go
there? Mr. Wright was taking it up himself. Was
leaving by the four-o'clock train this afternoon. Go and
tell him I want you to take his place. He'll explain the
thing to you and supply you with funds. And," he
added, after another minute's thought, "since you're
going that far, why shouldn't you run on to the Pacific
coast? Do you good. I've thought for some time past
that you needed a little change. Take your own time—
and all the money you want."
Claude was trying to articulate his thanks when h's
father cut him short. "All right, my boy. I know how
you fed. If you're going to take the four-o'clock you've
no time to lose. Good-by." he continued, holding out his
hand heartily. "Good luck. God bless you !"
The young man got himself out of his father's room in
order to keq> from bursting into tears.
^^^^^A^T^R XXII
?^'y «^ed people to ^^Si" T "''^ ""^^
J AU nght, I'll go." *^'™* complwnce which ensued
of n«W to'w°i2S '^* ^°"°^«1 on an to K,'
yielding th^rl !^^^ yielding on secn7^t2™.^*«
wg to make up to her f^ sotn^^h^T ^°^eti he were" try-
« was her turn to f«.i /v,™/^ "°<^ enough
rather not ivT i **°'P"»'ctJon. "rwf .,
^ut he persisted. "Oh Tti
««"'• Top-hat. of coui2V^«°- Must put on another
309
! |i
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
♦„!!?* t^ woman'! Mtiafaction in getting her husband
to chureh. tf only for once, she said no more in the way ot
diMuaaon. Besidt*. she hoped that, should he go. he
might h«^ -nnething" that would comfort this hidden
pef of which she no longer had a doubt, since CUude
too. was aware of it. It was curious how it betrayed it-
self-iieither by act nor word nor manner, nor so much as
a sigh and yet by a something indefinable beyond aU his
watchfulness to conceal from her. She couldn't guess at
his trouble, even when she tried; but she tried only from
madyertence. When she caught herself doing so she
KlTaxned. respecting his secret tiU he thought it well to
tell her.
She said no more till he again dropped the paper to
give his attention to his coffee.' "Have you been to see
the Fays yet?"
He put the cup down without tasting it. He sat quite
upn^t and looked at her strangely. He even flush«i
Why, no."
The tone appealed to her ear and remained in her
memory, though for the moment she had no reason to
conader it significant. She merely answered, " I thought
1 might walk up the hiU and see Rosie this afternoon "
leavmg the subject there.
Thor found the service novel, and impressive from its
novelty. Except for the few weddings and funerals he had
attended, and the service on the day he married Lois, he
could hardly remember when he had been present as a
fomal participant at a religious ceremony. He had
therrfore, no preconceived ideas concerning Christiaii
worship, and not much in the way of prejudice. He had
dropp^ m occasionaUy on the services of foreign cathe-
dr^s, but purely as a tourist who made no attempt to
undersfana what was taking place. On this particular
morning, however, the pressure of needs and emotions
withm his soul induced an inquiring frame of mind.
On leachmg the pew to which Lois led him he sat dovm
THE SIDE OF THi.^NO£LS
J^^Sti^j; t'^'/'Tj P j^ in Which to benow W. t^
kn«« in pr^^^^l^^Zc hi^K""^ fell « ft
Pnvmte, «,d h*d a vagu'^ ^»1 '^'' «^<' P«ye« m
but thi, public. unSed dL^J*' ""P"^ »' the rite;
*;^ till ha «iwZ^t,t^e"S fr "^ « «t3e'
They entered and knelt. notlTn.^^'' ""^^K*^ « It.
«»<Wted cwmony. Ct ^ ^"k*^"* to any p,^
««^ looking «. it^rf'^T^*'" O'^ topulse. ^
That wa, his nsHSiSawlr*™^ ""^ stilled-
There wa. a serenity ^T^^ZVT^'^' «^««-
^?n to T^cogniL ^p2r oMif^ T"^ '^'^ had
<« hushed, tranquaXSl^T^*^* '" the village
««ed to a level hieh«tS!r ''^ their orfinary state
by their own attaSS^^ts^^ that '^^ be^S
h«> that he had come toto^S^''"'- ^t seemed to
values. Lois hereelf, « she ^f "f standards, new
bes.de him. gained in ToS^t^uTu''** ^^ ««d Z
to gauge. * "J^ty which he had no capaa^
anfcisrff K r;y"jrS'= -"-' -^ch studio
Stall of denials. "Nev^^° affirmations, and chari^
'^"-had been one^ ttj^!^^'!!?^-*' «'« icT^
P^. of old Hervieu. tf^ ^^« '"t^ ?f advi« on Z
Institut Pasteur. H- t^ whom he had worked at the
hostile attitude towS^S'^J^^. therefore. « a n^!
but a hazy idea as to Chris«^S, w ^/^«"«- He had
Senfal way that tL^Z^^f'' ^' ^' ^^ ^
^^ they might be, it^^ Ws'^^'r"'" P^^P^^n^s
phenomena, and. now that h. h»?' *^' *° "^-^^^
so, he observed them. ^'^ ^ opportunity to do
How did you like if?" T •
"Why?" ■
311
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
it. to appeal to the ifflagiaaSr ^' * •«t»^. i«'t
Oh. lot.-Bace imagination «!« the world."
family, the father S^tSZ 77<^Z^°'^^'^ » **«
week. It wa. his w^J^T ^'^ "?"'°" "«* •
^der the blow IW Sad ^^^ forbearance
WUoughby. ' '^ "> marrying Loi,
"Where's Claude?"
f^Sri^a^rS^er!"wMr.r"-- «^
consdousness: «pued, with aome self-
..5." *~''®'* gone West."
"West? Where?"
"To Chicago first, isn't it. Archie?"
toUeS :S*S^'* -^^ Chicago fim. and
that Lots looked afM?^' ^"^ « •'"""'y was such
^t «f eren<!:1an" utLce"to'Zr-a:„> 3^°^'
travel alone, isn't he?" ^ Claude's able to
-T^fS'^li^Ld'^S.S'Z^t.^ to cany off the
Claude'sdepirturelhrri^K. • * *^'^ '^^ """^ «
«plain. BSforei<^„t?'^^«««- pleasure would
«^. he c^adTl^flT^ °°* y^ i" the family
that teth CithS^d S?^ '• ^} '* '«=°'«» *« ^
in their faces hT^m K ^^^ ^ uneasiness written
only to PutlL^ff Si^^T^*„,,? »-''«? "s f<JS
which he was seekii,^ J»^ "''^ *"™"^t in his soul
to break out aS^^in^^fT *° ^ '^^ "^""^
up RCe Pay I cJ^:^f^Z^^^i^^P^_
THE SIDE OP THE ANGELS
^. a««le w« tn*« .0 .Undo. her. then, br
•f«ted odd to wth.Tcu^dr.7oi?r ■"!!•*'«"*• ^t
•hould vex him so. PojS K"« ^^^^ ^"^ « holiday
J«d hung about the hStogrt^ "^''*'* '^'^«* ^
Sh« r!!"^"'^"^ '^'^"'l this, i, there?"
one averted her head "H^ j t .
h««l nothing to do ,H^t AuTif ^ •'°!*^' ^^^ '
P«ed. Claude <»ml n.Jhf u '"T' " J"** ^'hat hap.
•aid he ha^.0 n^KK^"'^ Wedne«3ay. aiS
..^y didn't any one teU me?"
•eemS^„S.::J,^«t*eho««. And it didn't
^^..B"* »t is important, isn't it? Doe«'t father tUnk
She tried to look at him franklv " V™„ * *i. ^
know any more abou . it tl^n^'n-JL^ '?*''" ''°«»'t
•t aU. Claude came trWm^^r^^'**i"'*''°°*^«
oughtn't to tell ^ T^or Yo^^ ^^^* ^ ^
noyed with me " °" ^*^^ ^°<^^ be an-
We didn't try to^^it w*?"^ f!"' ^^^^^'^ ««et.
Iwishyou^uldK^Jj^e^J^"^ *^''' "T^**'
would be best" '" "^8* *«ke their course. I'm sure it
if
It 111
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
aZ: /">"*'« that man who's giving her money-and
But Thor nwhed away. Having learned aU he needed
™ ^Z..T ^t''i\^l ""^ ^^ ''^^ was to be said
«i the other. He had hoped never again to be brought
fa^ to face with Rosie tiU she was his brother's wtfe
mt condition would have dug such a gulf between them
l^}J';^'f^:^'^^b^ changed. But if she was .^
L .P^"1f ' "^^-^ ^^^^ ''^ ^^«g a bnate to
hCT-then she must see that at least she had a friend
ft, f1 * ^^^^ ^^ '^**^° ton as he climbed the hiU
that he forgot that Lois would probably be there before
^. As a matter of fact, she. was talking to Pay in a
corner of the yard, standing in the shade of aVeat ma^<^
Ua that was a pyramid of bloom. All around it thegrc^d
w^ strewn in a circle with its dead-white petals, each
with Its flush of red. Near the house there w^ y^w
clumps of forsythia, while the hedge of bridal-v^ to the
rf low ^^'■^^P'"* ^"^^ t° have just received a fall
Fay confronted him as, slackening his pace, he went
toward them; but Lois turned only at his ap^ X
expression was troubled. Hi""<«^. tier
..'^^""'J ^ ^°^'^ ^P'^n t° ine what Mr. Pay is
^yng- He doesn't want me to see Rosie "
Why, what's up?"
un^?£'>^''^° ^^^r ^ ^^ something serious was
up for It was ashen. It had grown old and sunken, and '
2lSy "^""^ "^"^ '"^ ^^^""•^ *° - d^
toJrfht l*? r** ""■ ^- '^°''' ^^y ^d- « that
tone of his which was at once mild and hostile, "that I
don t want any Masterman to have anything tc^ do with
me or mme. j t, ^■^ m^^i
notr*"^ tried to control the sharpness of his cry. "Why
314
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
^mJ "^ ""^^t.*" ^°°^ «* '"y little girl. Oh wlr
•ouldnt you leave her alone >" ^
J^is spoke anxious^. "Is anything the matter with
"Only that you've killed her between you."
^^^owedL«s to question him. "Why, what can
Tir/lT''*^* ^ ^^- °^'^-^t she's done for."
fo^W^'^r*'""*- "But I don't understand. Done
see her and find out what's the matter " '
tooo^Jr^'S'"''''"^'''^'^- "H«'«-n her once
Better ask Wm, ma'am."
J^TcruJ' "^^g "le," Thor declared, "for I've not
the shghtest Idea of what you're driving ^t."
butii'ci T '"^ "^^ P'^y t'^^ innocent, Dr. Thor-
b^it s no use keepmg up the game. You t^k me in^t
?SLd?'°°^^%\"^'''^°"^- You were^dng tote
wS^tt^d^"'^ ^"^ *?' Place.--and keepmeLTtS
:?o^yr ^^ITturgiS'-?^^^" ^^ '^*'-'^'^- ^
Mr^F^vTJ^r''- I* '^^ Lois who protested. "Oh,
"It^;vfI^uTT.'"'''*'^'°^? It's wicked."
1 can say them. All I know is what I've seen If voii
was gang to many this lady," he went on, ^g"^
1M?^",> v^ *^^* y°" ^''^ ^^^ away fi4i^
ml^lZn^:' '° ^"^^ -^ «°<^' ^^ ^u
thf^r'^ to '-'<ne to Thor's aid as he stood speechless
S^r'^f^'^r""'^^ "But I had nothing ^XS
that, Mr. Fay. I never wanted anything of Rosie but
' friend.'
»iS
I
f
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
"You. ma'am? You're »U of a piece. You're aU
^^tennans together. What hi«l you ^^ do with bSig a
farad to her?-«ettmg her to caU!-and have tea^-^d
^ttang notions mto her head! The rich and the poor
cant be fnends any longer. If the poor think they ^
thmkmg because we were Americans we h^ S
TTiere s no nghte any more, except the right of the rtmne
to trample on the weak-tiU some one tLaples 4 ttT
And some one always does. There's that. We're Zm
to^y. but you'll be down to^om^w. DonTf^lT
any other-that it makes everybody take their turn
L^f^^^Ii ^'J^'^ ^""^ y'^ ^^^ as life is h^;
mi^?'' ^* ^^°'- "^ y°" °^« °"t ^hat he
"I can make out that he's very much mistaken-"
Mistaken, Dr. Thor? I don't see how you can say
nto thltT^* mistaken the night I saw /ou ^l
gm was at work. I wasn't mistaken when I saw you
creep away. Still less was I mistaken when I stole ™
fifr; ^,r ^ « i?''^ ^°^ °° them, and she crying
fit to kill herself. That was just a few days before^
bem the same child since. Always troubled-alwa^
»Mnethmgonh«mind. Not one* dncel^^^^^e
h^.'^velcSTow'r- ^"^'^ '-'' ^ ^^^^^
"I didn't come," Thor stammered "becai.<» TV
nei^^f ^ didn't come •' Fay went on, with the mild-
wnrttw V ■ ^*^ substitute. He's finished the
work that you began. He was here with her an h<^ 1m?
3l6
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
Wednesday momingHust after I'd warned him off fo»
good and all." '"•
Thor started. "Let me go to her "
J^mZY^-'^uJ" ^ T*y- "N°. sir. To see yo«
would be the fimshmg touch. She can't hear your n^
^thout a skver going through her from head to foot
We ve tned it on her. Between the two of you— your
brother and you— it's you she's nlost afraid of " There
was silence for a second, while he turned his gray face
fint to the one and thra to the other of his two listeners.
Why couldnt you all have let her be? What were
you__after? What have you got out of it? / c^
SG6.
"Pay, I ^e^to you that we never wanted anything
but her good,"Thor cried, with a passion that made Loil
turn her troubled eyes on him searchingly. "If mv
toother hasn't told you what he meant, I'U do it now
He wanted to many Rosie. He a«j to have married her'
If there s trouble between them, it's all a mistake. lust
let me see her — " •"
But Fay dismissed this as idle talk. "No Dr Thor
Stones of that kind don't do any good. YcJur brother
never wanted to marry her, or meant to, eithei--not any
more than you. What you did want and what you did
mean God only ku^ws. It's mystery to me. But what
lai t mystery to me is that we're all done for. Now that
^e s gone, we're aU gone-the lot of us. I've kept uo
tm now — '^
"If money will do any good, Faj^" Thor began, with
a catch m his voice.
J'^°' ^'7^°^-- ■°°* °°^- ^°°«y '^^eht have helped
us once but I am't gomg to take a price for my Uttle
girl's unhappiness." ^
"But what would do good, Mr. Pay?" Lois asked "If
you d only tell us—"
"Then, ma'an. I will. It's to let us be. Don't come
near me nor mme any more-none o' you."
II
Wii
Mi I
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
"Thor, is it trae that Claude
I ve never hearu of it."
She turned to Thor.
wanted to marry Rosie? . ,. „„„ „^^ ^, „ -
"W?™ ^'if^^i-T ^'"''" ^"y ^^"^ ^- -"^th irony,
men and women on the earth. But it don't go down with
r;.^'i "f I,fi|><i that my little girl has beef takriX
d^J.'^""' *" *° '"^^ ^-^ "^^ -« sets wC he
shJfflL r^ ^^ ""^ m tones so mild that, as he
Ruffled away, leavmg them staring at each othe^, they
scarcely knew that there had been a threat in thetA
CHAPTER XXIII
iTjf «« «i«>h««it tale thet Thor sts^mm^ out to
to teU Claude's story without including his oJn be^
makmg a dehberate attempt at prevarication ^f^,^
^;essed <main facts, and over^phas^°othi" He
tLhTt," T" °^ ^""^aiation which bec^'acS
^rw^fv^^ ^ "^'P^ *^* ^« ^^ '»°t deceiving h^
She walked on. saymg nothing at all. Now Md th^'
when he ventured to glance at her in pmfiT^ t.^^'
1^^ ^JL^'^- "^ ^« that s^S 'tf ^S
sweetoess from the futiKty of his efforts. "mT^
J^^Z^^^"*" *^' ^°rt ^t^y - his mind whilVte
And yet, except for those smiles of an elusiveness bevm„1
^' ^-^^^y^*^" ^' °f being strides LX winJ
^Ke, to be givmg her mmd entirely to the course of
Caudes romance. "He won't marry her HeT^™
Elsie Darling." "wy ner. neu marry
An hour ago the assertion would have aneered hir.:
SjtSksJl^""'*^'^*"*^'^**"'"^ "What mis
319
^ih
n
'i
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
"Would you make hin marry her?"
"I'd make him do his duty."
She gave him another of those faint smiles of which the
real meaning bafBed him. " I wouldn't lay too much stress
on that, if I were you. To marry for the sake of doing
one's duty is" — she faltered an instant, but recovered
herself — "is as likely as not to defeat its own ends."
He was afraid to ptirsue the topic lest she should speak
more plainly. On arriving home he was glad to see her
go to her room and shut the door. It grieved him to
tliink that she might be brooding in silence, but even that
was better than speech. As Uncle Sim and Cousin Amy
Dawes were coming to Sunday-night supper, the evening
would be safe; and to avoid being face to face with her
in the meanwhile he went out again.
Having passed an hour in his office, he strolled up into
the wood above the village, his refuge from boyhood
onward in any hour of trouble. There was space here,
and air, and wlitude. It was a diversion that was
almost a form of consolation to be in touch with the
wood's teeming life. Moreover, the trees, with their
stately aloofness from mortal cares, their strifelessness
and strength, shed on him a kind of benediction. From
long association, from days of bird's-nesting in spring,
and camping in summer, and nutting in autumn, and
snow-shoeing in winter, he knew them almost as
individual personalities — the great white oaks, the
paper birches, the white pines with knots that were
masses of dry resin, the Canada balsams with odorous
boughs, the sugar-maples, the silver maples, the beeches,
the junipers, the hemlocks, the hackmatacks, with the
low-growing hickories, witch-hazels, and slippery-elms.
Their green was the green of early May — yellow-green,
red-green, bronze-green, brown-green, but nowhere as yet
the full, rich hue of summer. Here and there a choke-
cherry in full Uoam swayed and shivered like a wraith.
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
painted trUliu^ Ttef^' *^ ^y' ^slipper. . and the
cinquefoil, crowfoot Zr^ Mw^^ f ^'"°"-
of gold-colored violets ' ^"^ ^^ P*t^«»
an?bSt?rdLpT^or„fr^ "•' ^ ^^
andgetting'LS'whSe^^^^^^M^two centuries
There were few if BnTc^M^t^i^^ '^ rieces^ty.
subtleties to consid^^ Tfil f^^' ^T' ,"°' ''^ ^^
and their simples, their dves and th^; ■ , ^^^ "*^
tion . It wa^Tr^nft^ffl^"* *• «t°n"<enter of emo-
sound Of the SX:.S ^-S -^V^J2?^the
331
if*
1 1
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
of seeing a black-and-white back, with a red band across
the busily bobbing head. He stopped again to watch a
chipmunk who was more sharply watching him. The
little fellow, red-brown and striped, sat cocked on a stone,
his fore paws crossed on his white breast like the hands of
a meek saint at prayer. Strolling on again, he paused
from time to time — to listen to a robin singing right over-
head, or to catch the liquid, spiritual chant of a hermit-
thrush in some stiller thicket of the wood, or to watch
a bluebird fly directly into its nest, probably an abandoned
woodpecker's hole, in a decaying Norway pine. These
small happenings soothed him. Sauntering and pausing,
he came up to the high, treeless ridge he had last visited
on the day he asked Lois to marry him.
The ridge broke sharply downward to a stretch of
undulating farms. Patches of green meadowland wer«
intersprrsed with the broad, red fields in which as yet
nothing had begun to grow. Had it not been Sunday
the farmers would have been at work, plowing, sowing,
harrowing. As it was, the landscape enjoyed a rich
Sabbath peace, broken only by the swooping of birds, out
of the invisible, across the line of sight, and on into the
invisible again. It was all beauty and promise of beauty,
wealth and promise of wealth. The cherry-trees were in
bloom; the pear and the apple and the quince would fol-
low soon. Above the farm-houses tall ehns rose, fan-
shaped and garlanded.
The very charm of the prospect called up those questions
he had been trying for a minute to shelve. How was it
that in a land of milk and honey men were finding it so
hard to live? How was it that with conditions in which
every ms i might have enough and to spare, making it his
aim to see that his fellow had the same, there could be
greed and ingenious oppression and social crime, with the
menace of things graver still? What's the matter with
us? he asked, helplessly. Was it something wrong with
the American people? or was it something wrong with the
333
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
pSrrheT„L;^'^^^4^7^^tion of ^r.^,
Was man a being SleThi^ ■ ^^'^ '«»P« ^^ ?
he had heart in SfSl tt^"*"^ attainment, as
no better than the ruSc^t "°™f «^ ** ^^"^ he
where the weasJw^^ ^^u^ °^ ">" woodlari.
on the Phoebe and theZ^^^T^^'' ^^ '^' "^^
nmd of ferocity? Had m«^ ^ i"***' '" ^ «idless
or was it as fooS ^Z^hiT^'^ ^"^^^ *''■'' ^t^^f
as to ask a hawk to° p^ £ "^^ ^ brother-man
Claude and iSs Tl^^^t '!^''°^' ^^ his father ^
found himself^^olvUZvb^r! '"'i^ ^'^ '° ''"^ he
the social web they wt£^o^'" °S ^"^^ ^ay; and from
in which he longi to sTl^.^- ^^^* "^*'°"^ 'deals
mankind. But^uld ,^^ m ^"^ ^^^ * sanctuary for
taowhowtomrilTon^'ArT'rl ^*^^ "«
man, but repeating the ^^ ^/. w ^^ ''^^ ^™" faster-
had tuniedVS^I^th *^*8^?*t-g^andfatherwho
^ hroken-he^e^^^^^'^^V"" °' '""^ "^- ^^
out for number one? ^^'^ ''^ °°^y booking
him'^TeJ^rdSg^irrsl^rr^-^ ^-
with lobst;r al N^lSJ ""^^ ^^ Amy Dawe,
.'.'gjy°"';<?"« from Uncle Sim.
youwer^TdisciS^frm^-ll-^ there? ^-^''t
rhat was the reason. Hilary's idea r,„'* .
S^^Sy^a^rLtSy^/^^? ^^^^
tablespo<mfuls instead <rf^^' ^ ^et she s put m two
IN
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
Being rtone-deaf , Cousin Amy Dawes took nc port in
conversation except what she herself could contribute.
She was a dignified woman who had the air of being hewn
in granite. There was nothing soft about her but three
. detachable corkscrew curls on each side of an immobile
face and a heart that every one knew to be as maternal
OS milk. Dressed in stiff black silk, a heavy gold chain
around her neck, and a huge gold brooch at her throat,
and wearing fingerless black-silk mittens, she might have
walked out of an old daguerreotype.
"I should think," Thor observed, dryly, "that you'd
find your religion growing rather composite."
"No. T'other way "round. Grows simpler. Get their
co-ordinating principle — ^the opmmon denominator that
goes into 'em sJl."
"That is," Lois said, in the endeavor to be free to think
her own thoughts by keeping him on a hobby, "you look
for their points of contact rather than their differences."
"Oh, you get beyond the differences. 'Beyond these
voices there is peace.' Doesn't some one say that ? Well,
you get there. If you can s^ind the clamor of the voices
for a while you emerge into a kind of still place where they
blend into one. Then you find that they're all trying to
say the same thing, which is also the thing you're trying
to say yourself."
As he sat back in his chair twisting his wiry mustache
with a handsome, sun-burnt hand, Thor felt that he had
him where he had been hoping to get him. "But what
do we want to say, Unde Sim ? What do you want to say ?
And what do I?"
The old man held his sharp-pointed beard by the tip,
ying his nephew ob"
Thor. We're all like 1
eying his nephew obliquely. "That's the great secret!
ike little babies, who from the time they
begin to hear language are bursting with the desire to say
something; only they don't know what it is till they learn
to speak. Then it comes to 'em."
"Yes, but what comes to them?"
334
THE S,„ „^ ^^^ ^^^^^^
-the instinct to ««y.
?«''«^ding'voS^^u^v?^'?««^«'««J. '" ''''loud,
for old SaUy Gibbs. ItThT! ""^ °' ^ ^Id du<±
I'll take it to her m we «,l'fh.*t^ .^ ^^ the poor ^
your cook?" Without wwU,!?';'^- What do you pTy
tmuedlikeanomde-Id^W"" "^ "^"^ ^^ cot-
Thor leaned ^^ the tab l '•' m*f' ! --th it." ~"
« «us: suppose the inst.W 1 "^** ^ '^'^t to know
<fne to usrisTh^ aLX' h J:^ ^**<'-'^a'W d^
stow us a better way!!SLlt?i° "^^^ ^^* ^
than the rather poor^^^^^^ "f °"^y. I-ean.
Can't give you any gvJ^tZT^ ^°^ ourselves?"
you're after. Just eot t^^^!?' ^'^. « that's what
yourself. I^otCgb^t^//^'"'~F''ther. and LTf^
;t comes to the P^nal K'J"^i'' ^^ «°°d ''h™
there was a manZce who wTt ^JS" *''\"ational-weU. )
cO^ng. 'O Israel, tumTeeT tf^"5 "^^^ the land
guess he knew whaThe was a^^'f, *hy God.' and I
turn yel Why will ye Jk^ ''^*- ^t was. 'Turn ye.'
they died. InevitahC ~!. ^^^^ '^^'i turn and «.'
P-Pfej.an/X^^pri^-J- ^« - "«^'
the Urd its God it '11 hve and ii^!S**'°" ^ "* ^^s to
•^ahn with regard to whi^i, u . ^« ^*^n. lay in a
•fdeties. H^C^s^^« h^ few misgivia'^'^o^
^e was doing i„ thou^S^f sh^£,°5 ^^^^ «-W^
afternoon she had go4 to hS ^^ *»^ ^hen in the
She was standing beW h-. • ^^ ^^ shut the door
r^ there ^th't^" 'pa^s^I^^TS'"^ *"" ^^^
How awesome, how -.^birSiaf^^ ^^^^W
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
noble Thor ghould have let his heart go-oerha™ th.
ve^t of hi, heart-to anything sol^SSSTt t
unformed so unequal to himself! It was t^v«L^
ne«, h.s mcredibility, that overwhelmed h^ Sr^nd
&ted Itself on it. for the time being, to the exdiSrof
other considerations. Thor was liki m^ J^!!fi t?
could be caught by a pretty f^! He ^T^ZtbSy
and soul that she had thought him f«e f^ pSt fS
It. It weakened him. it lowered him ^^
hi.hl^^ f? V'°^ ^^^ ""'""to '^hen he began to tell
his haltmg tale about Claude. It wa* nitJf,.iVk ■
which he had betrayed himsdf. 'VZ'Cshe^If ' "
Zr^ 1^ *,A'"'-^ ^"' ■*« had been Juick to Sufte
W shfv ^"ri^'K* of «»"e secret grief on Thor's pj^
^^P rZ' ''"'! 'V ^^* Thor should be trying to
r fir^h^sf:;:^- KpeiJ^' %^:^^^
even though there was scathing aZTZ^'uZ^d
^l^^ Ph^ in him that she despised.
c«^^^n^^^°i.' J'" ^"^"^^ ''^ that when the guests
STlnH -^^ ^ *° ^^' *''^ her attention. Wheft^
feft. and Thor was seeing them to the door, she t^k th^
opportunity to slip up to her nx>m again She locted tte
door behind her. and locked the doof that ^mSlt^
Something had come to her; she was sure of it n
h^ come almost since that ^ftemooT uVl^ „„
s^t'"; LT£a?^r °' "° -'-^- I^ w^a*
•Fuit. a nre. tnat made her a woman who couM t» t«^,a
a woman a man might be proud of. She l^^e^l
336
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
which it w^d have £, t^V • r"""' "" ''««^'»
she was the true^JTthe^l'^u ^ *'^''*- ^^at
be. She had kZm °t brfoTJ^J^.'^''^" '^°' to
course, in a manner thit rfj/i » ^' • . ^ " "latter of
for shrinking nS^eJS^^awl"'"'^ ""^ "^^ "<=-^*y
ing-table. In TSri ^TT!:!*''?" °" ""« d™^'
feeling of helplessn^ It wL " ^ ,f f '^'^ '^"^ «
ought to do Wh^ wal ™^-, ,, . ™'' '° "^ '^''"t she
whohadpracticXtoWh^l^Lt*^ ^^^^^ * ''"''band
because he couldn't Zn^ o ''^'^ "^"^^ *'=' only
Other questi^SinTJs^^S^n"".'' '°'"^. "^'"^^
protests and flashw of^d^I?- J""' ?"'=stions and
baclctandingT^aVtitud^^S' ^' ^^ ^' "^en,
discern the ^ ^ITtl^y"^^:'^" '.f "« *°
ought to do <i:S!>g"^L ttlKo^r"^^ ^ '^ ^"-^ ■*«
«t i^^.r^Sft""' "i-fJ ^"^« Sin, had said
She sh^er hL^°' 1° ^J^^^"^^- "nd see."
P«sent. Shf S^t ^nT^'^S * T ^**''-^'«A^ at
Whatever the pSwiSTher^'iC'"' ^' "^<^"'t-
bring befon. ^^^7T^'' T ''°'^'^^ ^"^^
side. ^ '"Xument, but it drew her toward her bed-
33 7
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
petitions would Jiave Sd nom«„^^ "^^ Conventional
she had no otheiTto oto «^ ^^' ^^ ^'^ ^ '»<»»«>*
that she S h^"L^I^^*^,'»°«=i<«dy
CHAPTER XXIV
"^^ the warning of herslu' , ^°* y«'-' Not yet^
"wl^h'T^^-'f «-"-"-^ ^'-
With Thor she kept to ^t^T !? *^P* control.
5^g. clearly to hfe r^^fel^* *«» no pe«o„al
^e Mexican rising under Madm.^^^* ^^ talked of
the papers of that morning ^•,!^^<* ''^ discussed in
"n his mind was, " Doe^/" ,7 . ^^ that the auesH^
went to^see Dr. hil^' °° « ^* ^d, taking a paS^i^
^ds'inTlii^tiS^^ ti^e o,d«,t in the village
jf°« enter the Squa,^ ''S^ two of the rambling^e
•ts upper and lowTr^ oTtl^^*^,'^-'^^ naye!^^'
*«=«etly within a groTe of^ " °^^« '^dows, reti^
f°!^ slimmer throS dSi^h' ""^^ * *^' ^ S
STplit "-^^ ^S-^-S-wJS-.?
-'ptlS.?r.;ti-^d-^- '>' «>« delta'
'^hich nothingbutX T ^ ^""ttouse Lane W
Jtwasthetimeforbulbstobeiaflower and .^ •
ajj *" "°''w. and the spring
i ,1 1
^
1 111
\'
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
perennials. Tulips in a wide, dense mass bordered the
brick pavement that led from the gate to the front door.
Elsewhere could be seen daffodils, irises, peonies just
bursting into bloom, and long, drooping curves of bleeding-
heart hung with rose-and-white pendents. By a comer
of the house the ground was indigo-dark with a thick
little patch of squills.
It was a relief to Lois to find the old man himself,
bareheaded and in an alpaca house-jacket, rooting out
weeds on the lawn, his thin, gray locks tossed in the
breeze. On seeing her pause and look over the clump of
wiegelia, which at this point smothered the rail, he raised
himself, dusted the earth from his hands, and went for-
ward. They talked at first jjist as they stood, with the
budding shrubs between them.
"Oh, Dr. Hilary, I'm so anxious about Rosie Fay."
"Are you now?" As neither age nor gravity could sub-
due the twinkle in his eyes, so sympathy couldn't quench
it. "WeU, lammeself."
" I think if I could see her I might be able to help her.
Or, rather," she went on, nervously, "I think I ought to
see her, whether I can help her or not. Have you seen
her?"
"I have not," he declared, with Irish emphasis. "The
puss takes very good care that I sha'n't, so she does.
She's only got to see me coming in the gate to fly off to
Duck Rock; and that, so her mother tells me, is all they
see of her till nightfall. It's three days now that she's
been struck with a fit of melancholy, or maybe four."
"Do you know what the trouble is?"
He evaded the question. " Do you ?"
"I do — partly."
" Then you'll be the one to tackle her. As yet I haven't
asked. I prefer to know no more about people than what
they tell me themselves."
She found it possible to secure his aid on the unexplained
ground that there had been a misunderstanding between
230
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
^"tJrS."^^ArrCJ^« -5 -de. and Ja^ Pay
.... T „-,i „ ^ ""^ * *«««' that I can heic hw t a^Z.
say I can't. But if
can heip her. I dare
"W«ii 4.1. ^ **"''* "'"y sec ner—
Ld anarch. ^H?clr^t*^r"^r^"°'"«°«'^'-
thwarted, aTyou mLhTTv ^r, ^^ T'^'^. '^'^^ "^^^s
even. He didn^ S St' ^ detamnmation to get
because they ne^^^t" at Vr^ "T ^ "" '""'^ """nV
He took i7L„ • ^°^®' ^<^ °ther people had it
ne took It more in protest than in ereed Jf «,=*.
excuse for him." ^^ greea. it that s any
'•The mother is better, isn't she?"
that wav ISr^ "^^'^ '^^ "Sht mind, if she'U only stay
S Zl £. 'Z rm r hi '".f tantrums'e^S^
trouble will ^d th^ •' ^'^ *** *h« daughter's
coSS^yin'^St*^ "f ^^y ^«i « the wel-
Ive reaUy only come to see Rosie Mrs Pa„» t •
«plamed,nof without nervousnesT when thl'i!^'^' ^^
were alone on the door^sten "^' t ^ ■? ^ ?"™
1;.^ you u get It. It s more n her father and I can do."
p»,t,-„ u .J .. "^ " "e'^ tattler
Pjhaps she'd talk to me. Girls often
to a stranger, when they won't to one of
aji
will talk to a—
their own."
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
"Wen, you can try." Ih spite of the coldness of the
handsome features, somethipg in the nature of a new life,
a new softening humanity, was struggling to assert ^tself'
"We can't get a word out of her. She'll neither roeak
nor sleep, nor eat, nor do a hand's turn. It's the work
that bothers me most— not so much that it needs to be
done as because it 'd be a reUef to her." She added, with
a shy wistfulness that contrasted oddly with the hard
glint in her eyes, "I've found that out myself."
"Have you any idea where she is?"
She pointed toward Duck Rock. "Oh, I suppose she's
over there. She was to have picked the cucumbers this
mommg, but I see she hasn't done it."
"Has Mr. Fay told you whht the trouble is?"
"Wdl, he has. But then he's so romantic. Always
was. Lands sake! I don't pay any attention to young
peoples gomgs-on. Seen too much of it in my own
day. I don't say that the young fellow hasn't been fooHsh
7-and I don t say— you'U excuse me!— that Rode ain't
]ust as good as he is, even if he ti Archie Masterman's
son —
*'0h no, nor I," Lois hastened to interpose.
"But there's nothing wrong. I've asked her— and I
know. I'm sure of it."
Lois spoke eagerly. "Oh yes; so am L"
t. "^J'^^ ^^^^'^ *'^*" ^« ^™t on '«tl> a touch of
her old haughtiness of spirit: "And she's every mite as
good as he is. It's all nonsense. Pay's talking as if it
was some young lord who'd jilted a girl beneath him.
Young lord, mdeed! I'll young loixl him, if he ever comes
my way. I teU Rosie not to demean herself to grieve
for them that are no better than herself. It's nothing but
romantics," she explained further. "I've no patience
with Fay— talking as if some one ought to shoot some one
or commit murder. That's the way Matt b^an. Pay
ought to know better at his time of life. I declare he has
no more sense than Rosie."
333
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
^tl^^.^^^ J» '^«1 «Po„ to defend Pa,,
whenheseesl" ^^^ ^^ "**»«"/ feels indignJt
^.likeco^g JS^^J^^e«ung lacking in"^
, plain, though I can't get Pav t^ ^- * "°'' as plain as
« -!" talk to a sto^*^^ ^ ^-r,-;, You „,ight'
got his nose stuck into a bool r w J^-' ^^'^ he's
*at Carlyie; and th^t Sn 1^^ ^\^'^ "«»« of
Ins Bible. I ten him. and Z^.t^t!,^"?^- ^^y'"*
they mean. It's D„dc r^Z ,?°? * '^^ understand what
of her fine lips, wMTh^^ds " 7^* °°' "^"^ ^ "^^^^
~ni^ of her apron-'^t^Ip "1 ""T^^y at the
af'^dof. Itkindo'ha,mLm?„,f.'^'' ^^^^ ^'"" ""ost
and it kind o' haunts R^e " ^U the time I was sick;
t«™3T^y. Kg^el^?- ■• ^'-^ ^^. as she
w-th eyes that might wfS^tt ^ fare after her
hv^ from the s^ d^^ ^°^ °^ *« ''on'an de-
tt^oraS^^^^f^g'Jr e^t'^V^.''^'' among
^^'^ or two on tte ^S^rt-n**"?"^ ^ oarly
Now. and thence to L^^'"''^^' *« boulevard
T^oughshehadnotbLhJ^c.^h"'^ "P *''« "«fi-
of childhood, she knew7h»^?^ ^^ beny-picking days
to be found.' LTZ^t^Zl^1,'^^°^'^--V
path that ran beneath^^°il^' ^^K limbed the
spleenwort. and ^*fS "f ^^'^ ^^'^^ °f b'ak^!
f^t. plaintive ^nZ^k Son^ f *?"''^^ *° J'^'- a
*as poignantly thira^d^e^f!S^J^''f^- The voice
sound she had heard fi^i^J^* **^ f"^^- melancholy
Swit^erland. H^e^t ''^^^,^'''^^' P-'P^ in
the words: '**° unable to detect
*33
I
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
"Ah, dinna ye mind, Lord Gregory,
By bonnie Irvinside,
Where first I owned the virgin love
I long, long had denied?"
Though the singer was invisible, Lois knew she could
not be far away, since the voice was too weak to carry.
She was about to go forward when the faint melody began
again:
"An exile from my father's ha'
And a' for loving thee;
At least be pity to me shown,
If love it may na' be."
Placing the voice now as near the great oak-tree circled
by a seat, just below the point where the ascending
bluff broke fifty feet to the pond beneath, Lois went
rapidly up the last few yards of the ascent.
Rosie was seated with her back to the gnarled trunk,
while she looked out over the half-mile of dancing blue
wavelets to where, on the other side, the brown, wooden
houses of the Thorley estate swept down to the shore.
She rose on seeing the visitor apprtKich, showing a startled
disposition to run away. This she might have done had
not Lois caught her by the hand and detained her.
"I know all about everything, Rosie — about every-
thing."
She meant that she understood the situation not only
as regarding one brother, but as regarding both. Rosie's
response was without interest or curiosity. " Do you?"
"Yes, Rosie; and I want to talk to you about it. Let
us sit down."
Still holding the girl's hands in a manner that compelled
her to reseat herself, she examined the little face for the
charm that had thrown such a spell on Thor. With a
pang she owned to herself that she found it. No one
could look at Thor with that expression of entreaty with-
out reaching all that was most tender in his soul.
»34
THE SIDE OF Tup *m^„
PnrtJ,. ANGELS
i'or the moment, however tv,.* •
*° pass- "Not yeil N^ *^* P°«t ««t be allowed
^onthatwasSngtoUSatT^f^^ "''^^ t°S
!!^*'y' ^«rt 4S5y .^i°^*«r; She went o^
Pened Rosie dear. MdW W i^^ ^ ^^at hap-
Iw^yautoletmehdpyo!^'^**^'^f°ryou: and
H^^^'^was^S^^j^'-^--^ ^es
Put to her in t),,* • . '^° you do?"
^«tion mcStXj^S'^ "^^- ^^ fo-d the
With you, Rosie W» 1 u ."^^ answer: "T can k!
. "Ther^ w^^-t^^^ ^^de by side." ^ *=^ '^
""^n.". '""•^^'^"^"-t- I'dmtherbeleft
h^ b4°S{lKa?pSu:edt T't -•«> ^ -*^ -
I teow he woa-t." ^ ^^ * ^'dden, darting paiT
"iSiL^ie'XtS^ifhedid...
.. '""''''""''^^ I Chappy or not-if he'd
; T^-.^^'^i^Srl etS;- - ^°« - no hope
face^itwith-" ^ ^°^°°t«»ie. isn't it bett^ -
^- pSLt Tfa^^itTh^ IS^^ Y?' ^Sbt as weU
tWn out into the sun. "^^^l "P ''^ *« «»ts and
But you're not p^ed t^T \'?°^^S 'eft to face "
«>ote are still in Z Si Z' '^ ^^ '^' Ro^e.^our
. Rosie made a HtSeTestu^ •fuP^'P'* '^^^ need yo;!^
ey«i them all I ^ ^'^' ,?"> P^tas outwarf. ^r^^
'■v«.yauf.^sonoi!--i:;^f;;];"
335
natural. We do feel
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
empty of anything tnire to give when there's been a great
drain on us. But somehow it's the people who've given
most who always have the power to go on giving— after a
little while. With time—"
The girl interrupted, not impatiently, but with vacant
indifference. "What's the good of time — ^when it's going
to be always the same?"
"The good of time is that it brings comfort — "
"I don't want comfort. I'd rather be as I am."
"That's perfectly natural— for now. But time passes
whether we will or r.o; and whether we will or no, it
softens—"
"Time can't pass if you won't let it."
"Why — why, what do you mean?"
"I mean— just that."
Lois clasped the girl's hands desperately. " But, Rosie,
jrou must live. Life has a great deal in store for you still —
perhaps a great deal of happiness. They say that life
never takes anjrthing from us for which it isn't prepared
to give us compensation, if we'll only accept it in the right
way."
Roae shook her head. " I don't want it."
Lois tried to reach the dulled spirit by another channel.
"But we aU have disappointments and sorrows, Rosie.
I have mine. I've great ones."
The aloofness in Rosie's gaze seemed to put miles between
them. "That doesn't make any difference to me. If
you want me to be sorry for them — I'm not. I can't be
sorry for any one."
In her desire to touch the frozen springs of the girl's
emotions, Lois said what she would have supposed herself
incapable of saying. "Not when you know what they
are? — ^when you know what one of them is, at any rate! —
when you know what one of them must be I You're the
only person in the world except myself who can know."
Rosie's vcrice was as lifeless as before. "I can't be
sorry. I don't know why— but I can't be."
336
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
"S!,r"v •" *^t y«>'« glad I have to suffer?"
Lois was baffled. The impenetrable idness wm^«L
difficult to deal with than i^ve (Sef ^^ ZZ^
^^e appeal. "And then. RoJe.'S. th'^.^l^Jt"^
H^L^ ZS^^ ^^v*^" "^^ "»«» «^<i nothing,
to^i^f u ^u™ .^ything. it was on the quivering
S^^nHW^***"^*^"'^- When with ^flaTrf
Su^rthf^iLt^i^X'i^rai^^^
^^er e^ wande«d rS^bL^V^^Ton^
^^e «.other attempt. "You believe in God.
^There was a second's hesitation. "I don't know as I
^^^^ ^ "^^ ^ hesitation. "I don't cam
whether there is or not." ^ aon t care
l^^,b^ '^^ 8^ °° further, it hurt her to see the
I will J.^iZJ^^^ ^.^ «° "^y- 'wouldn't you? Then
L^S -^;<^\t^^/ba?i T^
rat^^S^tS/JS-J^-tiencewirhi^'
tolff^°^h^.''°'^-"*''^^'='P'^y- In sheer incapacity
wfiii*! ^/°"*°"*'-*^e? I'm gome your wav
We could go along together." ^^ ^'
"I don't want any dinner. Ill go home-by and by."
337
r
V|
-rt--
J
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
Lois fdt herself diamiMed. " Very well, Rode. I'll My
good-by for now. But it will only be for a little while.
You understand that, don't you? I'm not going to let
you throw me off. I'm going to ding to you. I've got
the right to do it, because— because the very thing that
makes you tmhappy — makes me."
In the eyes that Rosie lifted obliquely Lois read such
unutterable things that she turned away. She carried
that look with her as she went down the hill beneath the
oaks and between the sunlit patches of brakes, spleenwort,
and lady-ferns. What scenes, what memories, had called
it up? What part in those scenes and memories had
been played by Thor? What had been the actual experi-
ence between this girl and him? Would she ever know?
Had she better know? What should she do if she were
to know? Once more the questions she had been trying
to repress urged themselves for answer; but once more sh«
controlled herself through the counsel of the inner voice:
"Not yetl Not yetl"
CHAPTER XXV
her out of them. Her^^ I^fl Vu*^^'. ^* "««?*
"umrng as a sickness unto death '""""'**^e« « ««-
bis^^rof^^^trSr^ii-jir'*^'^
strained, she perceived bv^lZ^'J^^ *" ^'^ "^^e*
that Claude ^^^gSs^^d^f, 1 "^^ '^^
aisle. She knew th^Xt if Z^^.Z^J^ '°"8. green
been no other ^^^S^l^Z.^'^ f.^"T 'fl
topt ten or twdve servanlToS^eSt;^rt'"k:S°
knew enoueh of rifl»/4o ♦« »,. . ^^naiea it. Kosie
bear dov^fte s2f"t^s?lTL*^V°"* «^*» °°'
There would he^LSf pnncehness of Kving.
part as T^^^^^'TS''^ "^^,^ ^
gone, he was gone. It was the «^. ' 0°« l'^ »«
439
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
It wu when ihe had oome to the end of her tUrd row
and waa about to turn into the fourth that the aenae of
the impoHibility of going on iwept over her. "Oh, I
caa'tl" She dropped her arms to her aide. "I can't.
I can't." She meant only that she couldn't go on just
then; but in the back of her mind there was the oooviction
that she would never go on again.
She continued to stand with arms hanging and head
drooped to one side, closed in by vines, with flowers of the
hue of light around her like a halo, and bees murmuring
among them. It was not merely that she was listlen and
incapable; the world seemed to have dropped away.
She wiis marooned on a rock, with an ocean of nothingness
about her. Everything sha wanted had gone — sunk,
vani^ied. It had come within sight, like mirage to the
shipwrecked, only to torture her with what she couldn't
have. It was worse than if it had never shown itself at
all. Love had appeared with one man, money with the
other. Love and money were two of the three things she
cared for; the poor, shiftless family was the third. Since
the first two had gone, the last must follow them. Quite
consciously and delibeimtely Rosie lifted her hands with a
little lamentable effort, letting them drop again, and so
renounced her burden.
She crept back to the spot whence she had risen, and
lay down. There was a khid of ritual in the act. It was
not now a mere stricken, physical crouching as when she
had turned away from Claude. It was something more
agnificant. It was withdrawal from work, from life, from
all the demands she had put forth so fiercely.
Renouncing these, Rosie also renounced Claude. It
was a proof of the degree to which she had dismissed him
that when, a half-hour later, she heard a rustling in the
vines behind her it never occurred to her that he might
have come back. She knew alrenciy that he would never
come back. The fatalism of her little soul left her none
of those uncertainties which are saf^uards against de*
S40
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
2^ She raued Im bmi ud ioolnd: but the mr
•Mctly the person ihe knew the would ^ "" "^ -^
Antonio grinned, and announced dinner The m^ht «/
Wi young mistress half littinc halflvSiT™. VL * .
■truck him as droll. "°°«' '^^ 'J^ on the ground
Ro^e got up and bmihed herself again She lm». it
^bedmner-time The f«rt had b^t thelLjThi
mmdaU through thew minute, of comforting^^oT
year, that d,e had rebeUrf^Li^ . d^' ^ *«« «
wan that. She reahzed it as she stood where she waT
Nevetttel«s. she emerged slowly from the iunX of
VMe. and followed Antonio down the long. mtC^df
There was a compulsion in the day's routine to whfdTS;
length of the greenhouse before it came tn h», »i!.* •!
was precisely to the day's nmtST^tXc^dn^t ^L
Anything was better than that. Any fate^^^:
T^J^' ** ^^^- ^^ ^ P^^b^y by this time
returned from town, would be sitting down to t^e
fro between the table and the pantry or the rto4 ae
»4i
THE SIDE OF THE ANGEL?
would snatch a bite for herself in the intervals of attend
< .{ ance.
Rosie revolted. She revolted not against the drudgery,
which was part of the matter-of-course of living unless one
"kept a girl"; she revolted against the living itself. It
was all over for her. In proof that it was she turned her
back on it.
Her moving away was at first without purpose. If her
feet strayed into the familiar path that ran down the hill
between the hothouses and the apple-trees it was because
there was no other direction to take. She hadn't meant to
go up through the wood to Duck Rock before she found
herself doing it. The newly leafing oaks were a shimmer of
bronze-green above her, while she trod on young ferns
that formed a carpet such as was never woven by hands.
Into it were worked white star-flowers without number,
with an occasional nodding trillitmi. The faint, bitter
scent of green things too tender as yet to be pungent rose
from everything she crushed. She was not soothed by
nature, like Tbor Masterman. She had too much to do
with the raising of plants for sale to take much interest
in what the earth produced without money and without
price. If it had not been that her mind was as nearly
as possible empty of thought, she wouldn't have paused
to watch an indigo-bunting, whose little brown mate was
probably near by, hop upward from branch to branch of a
solitary juniper, his body like a blue flower in the dark
boughs, while he poured forth a song that waxed louder
as he mounted. She observed him idly and passed
onward because there was nothing but that to do.
Her heart was too dead to fed much emotion when she
emerged on the spot where she had been accustomed to
keep her trysts with Claude. Her bysts with Claude
had been at night; she had other sorts of association with
this sunwiit in the daytime. AU her life she had been
used to come here berrying. Here she came, too, with
PoUy Wilson and other girl-friends— when she had any —
343
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
spot bemgiherefore not ^r^!2°^*^*«'''^- The
Claude, ie ^JjSf if ^,"^ *° --°^- "^
was only an upwai^SSfh,^ ^ ''°°^- ^^y°"'' '* th««
daquef^l^d ;S^^,^8« of f^. «tan«i with
ItwasbutamiZfu;*'^SS"Z''b2^t^^ ^''"'•
sea. but it gave an imoiS^n ^ !r\? ^ *° ^ """Mature
bench, with o^e^L^T^^^^' ^^"^^^ °« ^^
chose, see nothing Wci!?!^* ""^ °^> °°« ^°uld, if one
but sky and Ser aLJ^T i^"^. There was nothing
was not even a boat ™ Zi uu "°°" ^^^'-"^ there
The only sounds wl'^thS^rh"' ^ ^ '^ *« ^ing.
the Thoriey estate ttTe wll Ifnmienng far over on
at this distill wS ^rnTT^'^u- ^ ^^*"'= ^- '^Wch
a bee. andX s^^ of 2T disturbmg than the n,unnur of
the t;ee-tor ^R^^ft ^^°-^'^e' ^^ted now fixa„
««. but without nS^" r r^' ?^^ ^*°"t Pleas-
tio.; into nSlnT^^r'ly ^ ""'Eht be that absorp-
dl^t seeks abtSZirSS ^^ ^^^ ^ *^^^
thS?^'Sdd°L"^Si'wf ,l"^r ^^"^ -'y-
thing she was noJty,S\rth^Clf f " /'^ '^^
S^'SetSSVS^^^--^eai"be£^ ^'^a:
memory of 7t"fvS^h°^,ff TT'^'' *°"eh the
never found anv onrvTrh^; /J^ ** P""^"' ^he had
«neeting^S,Wa^r^*y°'^°*"^. *••*'• ^"» «<*
she had the iZZ .^ soul-6U,ng m itself. Now that
aftem^ wU oT' ^ ^'^'^ """^ using it as the
a43
i
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
Being on the spot where she had first met him, she could
re-enact the scene. She knew the very raspberry-bine
at which she had been at work. She went to it and lifted
it up. It was a spiny, red-brown, sprawling thing just
beginning to clothe itself with leaves. It had been
breast-high when she had picked the fruit from it, and
Claude had stood over there, in that patch of common
brakes which then rose above his knees, but was now a
bed of delicate, elongated sprays leaning backward with
incomparable grace. She found the heart to sing^-her
voice, which ustd to be strong enough, yielding her but
the ghost of song, as the notes of an old spinnet give
back the ghost of music long ago dead:
"Oh, mirk, mirk is the midnight hour,
And loud the tempest's roar;
A waeful wanderer seeks thy tower.
Lord Gregory ope thy door."
_ She could not remember having so much as hummed this
air since the day Claude had interrupted it ; but she went
on, unfalteringly, to the lines at which he had broken in:
"At least be pity to me shown.
If love it may na' be — "
She didn't falter even here; she only allowed her voice
to trail away in the awed pianissimo into which he had
frightened her. She stopped then and went through the
conversation that ensued on the memorable day, and of
which the very words were imprinted on her heart:
"Isn't it Rosie? I'm Claude." She hadn't smiled on that
occasion, but she smiled to herself now— a ghost of a smile
to match her ghost of a voice — ^because his tone had been
so sweet. She had never heard anything like it before —
and since, only in his moments of endearment.
But she went home at last. She went home because the
May afternoon grew chilly, and in the gathering of shadows
344
THE SIDE OF THE
beneath the oaks there
was
seme or a sodding, she was
ANGELS
eery. Expectine a
surpnsedtofindboihZh.^
something
and mother cahn." They ^Z^X^,,'" °°5 '^^ &ther
«»cennng her. d^^g ^ Z^^IZ"^^ ^ews
whims. When she refiidt2t^v^"!f?'^"'8«''«^
protest, and only once A/nW^ Mfy made littie or no
cross the passage to^ fr^n ^t '"!.''* ^'^ ^" mother
Onthefod'd^y^^'^^y-hyshedidn'tgotober
ment of her right toXTto w^T^^^^r^r'^^"
to absent herself. Rosie waTo^^ T °^ ^* ^'^^om
t^en place. AntomT^t^^'^^ ^J^ ^'^^ ^^
^^sit. and her parents ^ Z^T ^° ^^ °' Claude's
Rosie was inSS „f7*«' a hopeless love.afiair.
btisiness; she W^eitW '°T^^f^ were her own
any one.' So^^ls her^g^*^ J- ^"^
«»ne and go. to nibbiriKlh^?^'** ^^ "^^^ ^
^ when spoken to. L^^'^t^ '^'^ '^^ "°* *°
srth^c;^r?aLSM^F^*^^^
was as &«e as wind^ W^d^ ^^""^ '^°°«- She
Saturday, and Sunday ^^'^V- Thursday. Prfday,
tic^L^'^d'^^S r^"f . *° «ve in the exulta-
The wo.^ had iapSS to h"Sf ^ /^^ '"^ «'°--
so, in a manner of s^n^ ^ ^* "^^ **PP«>. and
shehadbeguntoSia^le^'S^'J^f^"'^ ^"-
and foreboding as to X,r u ^^ ^"^^ misgiving
forth. nTZv ^d ^.Itu^ ^y would bring
could hurt h™^ "^^ *°^ ^^ytbing now that
In thinking of ClaudT .nfi- «*?™»e *« activity,
jneetings 4th hL "hL^liTl'^??' '^ "^
longing, of passion, of d^^"^^*" Hke pangs, of
^t„^y^ ,,,^^ %S^tS:S Sg£
i
' 'i '*''
ii
J
(ft'
i I
1 11
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
her. If they were premonitions of a stote of anguish-
why, there had been so mudi anguish in her ejrisode with
Claude that there couldn't be much more now. If any-
thing, she welcomed it. It would be more as if he was
back with her. The void was peaceful. But the void
filled with suffering on his account would be better still.
Anything!— anything but to be forced to go back!
But on Monday it was the urgency of going back that
confronted her. She had come down in the morning to
find her breakfast laid in just the way she liked it— tea,
a soft-boiled egg, buttered toast, and, as a special tempta-
tion to a capricious appetite, a dab of marmalade. She
sat down to the table unwillingly, sipping at the tea ar.d
nibbling at the toast, but leaving the egg and the mar-
malade untouched. In her m'other's bustling to and fro
she felt the long-delayed protest in the atmosphere. It
came while her mother was crossing the room to replace
some dishes on the dresser.
"Now, my girl, buck up. Just eat your breakfast and
set to work and stop yoi-r foolish fancies. If you don't
look out you'll get yourself where I was, and I guess it '11
take more than Dr. Hilary to pull you out." She added,
as she returned to the kitchen: " Vour father told me to
tell you to get busy on the cucumbers. There's a lot to
be picked. He's been spannin' them and finds them
ready."
Rosie made use of her privilege of not answering. When
she had eaten all she could she took a basket and made Ler
way toward the cucumber-house she had not entered since
she had left it with the words, "I've quit." It was
like going to the scaffold to drag her feet across the yard;
It was like mounting it to lift the latch of the paintless
door and fed the stifling, pollen-laden air in her face.
Nevertheless, habit took her in. Habit sent her eyes
searching among the lowest stretches of the vines, where
the cool, green things were hanging. HaWt caused her
to stoop and span them with her rough little hand. When
346
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
c«ne witWa an feSlfdoiljL""* "^^ ""^ '"=' °^
hundreds in her tmp- ShT ? j • ?^*- ^''^ ^^ P"cked
couldn't l4i„ a^"' ^th^.'^w^ *°"^'^^- She
the yoke ofa,e S wcS te^^,, °°* ?" ^^"'««'
She couldn't b^it"T^^T^^^"''^°^'^"'°^-
wordsonhe;h^sI^BslipL^tJ.r>" ^"'^ ">«*
end of the hoth^Ld sS tol^ ^^^ ''?* ** "^« ^'«'
Rock. ^^ *^^^ ^^ refuge on Duck
words she would^Sif^i«^°^^^fi^ T"'-* '^°' '^d
them. She wouldTiJ S of V ^^ c'T'* *° ^^^
his father and mot^l ^T m^' .^''^ ''"^^ ^n^
would discover^eriri ^l T^'^ ^^^^ *° ^hor! She
^d '^backrShtTLI'cSS.r k? ?h? ^ ,!?
m him, she SaI^IiTI,'^ ^' " *« «»Jdn't
hen;elfshewJdS^,f„„'^^^ Perhaps if she killed
She thought abTt tW A^ V- ^^^ "^ ^^
most practical tC\X: • f ^' '* ^'^ the thing
to the dust wi^o?t ^^g S:. "Sp t5ri?iT^
not wanted him to suff«" t^iTZT ^P ^c *o-day she had
herself, he wZil^ ' ^1^ ,'^^ ^•^- " ^« ^^^J
ever many sa^SXi »^ T" '™« '^^ "^^J- °^ how-
™»ny servants the woman he manied would be able
247
If
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
to .eep, his life would be poisoned by the memory erf
what he had done to her.
Her imagination reveled in the scenes it was now Me
to depict. Leaning back with her head resting againsv the
trunk of the old oak, she closed her eyes and viewed the
dramatic procession of events that might follow on that
morning and haunt Claude Masterman tc his grave.
She saw herself leaping from the rock; she saw her body
washed ashore, her head and hands hanging limp, her
long, wet hair streaming; she saw her parents mourning,
and Thor remorseful, and Claude absolutely stricken.
Her efforts rested there. Everything was subordinate
to the one great fact that by doing this she could make the
sword go through his heart, i She went to the edge of the
diff and peered over. Though it was a sheer fifty feet, it
didn't seem so very far down. The water was blue and
lapping and inviting. It looked as if it would be easy.
She returned to her seat. She knew she was only play-
ing. It relieved the tumult within her to pretend that
she could do as desperately as she felt. It quieted her.
Once she saw that she had it in her power to make Claude
unhappy, something in her spirit was appeased.
She began the little comedy all over again, from the
mmute when she started forth from home on the mo-
mentous day to fill her pan with raspberries. She traced
her steps down the hill and up through the glades of the
bluff wherever the ripe raspberries were hanging. She
<ame to the minute when her stage directions called for
"Lord Gregory," and she sang it with the same thin,
silvery piping which was all she could contribute now to
the demand of drama. It was both an annoyance and a
surprise to hear a footfall and the swish of lobes and to
turn and see Lois Willoughby.
Beyond the fact that she couldn't help it, she didn't
know why she became at once so tadtum and repellent.
"Oh, she'll come again," she said in self-excuse, and with
vague ideas of atonement, after Lois had gone away.
!»48
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
Brides, the things that Lois had
wid in the
soKdtude, sympathy,
l^^l ^ it was from obscure motives' of comi;^'
aon, smce thw woman, too. had missed what wj^„
ae would have returned to her dream had her dream
returned to her; but Um had broken the speU. R^
could no longer get the ecstasies of re^aSt R^
enactmentiteelf became a fooUsh thing, the SS^f wS;
had once be« fruit. It was a new phL of loss Ev^l
thmg went but her misery and h^ desire to strikTIr
^ude-that and the sense that whatever she did^^d nl
matter how dt^ve she made hereelf , she would haveto to
bade to the old life at last. She struggled ae^stth^
conviction, but it settled on her likermkt fhTl^
T^J:^ '''' raspberry-bine, she sang^Ld Gr^*^
she peered over the brink of the toy predpice-to^e
d^ as she dared, whipping and lashing and taunting he?
^tXo^^^*^''^'^°^*^«^*- NothinTimI
tte W^"iT^* ™88«ti«» tl«t even if she feH
the boat whidi had appeared on the lake, and from whiS
two men were fehing. would rescue her. The^^lS
3ird;;r "^ " ^^^ '-' ^^^ ^ «"^st
he^^°^.?J?,.*°°'' P°^°^ of her. The thing for
her to do^it toM her crudly. was to go back and pick the
^^^w^^ "^^ ^^ '°^d be somrotE^
In ttemarke^gardea business jobs were endless, es^y
msprmg^ She could set about them with a betto^b^
wul&it refuse now to renew the lease. He wouldn't have
the face to refuse it-so common sense expressed its^-
whenhissonhaddonehersudiawrong. kSi^
pother victory, her suffering would ft least WsS
It was an argument of which she couldn't but fed the
17 141)
\ )<l
.': n
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
wdght. There would be three more yean of ju«t manag-
ing to Bve-H;hree more years of sowing and planting and
watering and watching, at the end of which they would
not quite have starved, while Matt would have had a hole
in which to hide himself on coming out of jail. Decidedly
it was an argument She had aJready shown her willing-
ness to sell herself; and this would apparently pnjve to be
her price.
Wearily, when noon had passed and afteraoon set in,
she got herself to her feet. Wearily she b^an to descend
the hill. She would go back again to the cucumbers.
She would take up again the burden she had thrxjwn down.
She would bring her wild heart into harness and tame it to
hopelessness. Common sen^ could suggest nothing else.
She went now by the path, because it was tortuous and
less direct than the bee-line over fern. She paused at
every excuse— now to watch a robin hopping, now to look
at a pink lady's-sUpper abloom in a bed of spleenwort,
now for no reason at all. Each step cost her a separate
act of renunciation; each act of renunciation was harder
than the other. But successive steps and successive acts
brought her down the hill at last.
"I can't. I can't."
She dragged herself a few paces farther still.
"Ican'tl I can't!"
She was in sight of the boulevard, where a gang of Finns
were working, and beyond which lay the ragg«l, uncul-
tivated outskirts of her father's land. Up through a
tangle of nettles and yarrow she could see the zigzag
path which had been the rainbow bridge of her happiness.
She came to a dead stop, the back of her hand pressed
against her mouth fearfully. " If I go up therr " she said
to herself, " I shall never come down again." She meant
tiiat she would never come down again in the same spirit.
That spirit would be captured and slain. She herself would
be captured and slain. Nothing would live of her but a
body to drudge in the hothouse to earn a few cents a day.
350
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
ai^denly, without forming a retolutioii or directinK
•a intention she turned and sped up the hill. At first
^e on^y walked rapidly; but the waUc broke into a SS
^^.T.""^ * "^ 'drains along through tto
trees hke that of a roused partridge 6" •*«
&^li^ "^^^^^ ^"^ *'^* *• ^" «««^8 from-
Whmg withm her, a power of guardedness ot that
mT^^T ^,r**^' "PP" '^*'' '"'J •»^«' down.
S^ L^.^* "^^ ■^P°°<1 1° "" the foiw Swt iew
fciiZ^A ''^ the words with which she met her own
M^ to resist. If her confused thought could have
beoomeetplanatory it would have said: "I must eet
i:^ S.^^e"!" ''"%'"'^' ^ "^^ ««*-^ *«
hope, from the love. I must do something that will
^ Claude suffer: I must frighten him; I must woZ
^; I must strike at the girl who has won him away
^_her ten or twelve servants. And there's no way but
Even so the way was obscure to her. She was taking it
mthout seemg whither it was to lead. If one impidse
^ed her to stop, another whipped her onward "I
^fSU. "" * ^'' "^ '^'^ °"*' -''- -^«
For flight gave impetus to itself. It was like release-
Lr't!^",!"^ T^^ ^'*"- ^'''' v'as as a birf whose S
have been bound, and who has worked them free agaii
There was a frenzy in sheer speed.
The path was steep, but she was hardly aware of so
w'l^J^'*^f '*• ^^ ^^^ ^<1 ^e^ within
IZ ^^^ Z ^'^^- ^* *=^^y l«ew that she was
running br^thl^y. that she panted, that once or t^
she sttmibled and feU. Something was beckoning to h«
fr^ the great, safe, empty void-something that waa
nothmg. unless it was peace and sleep-something that
'SI
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
had its abode in the free tpmoet of the wind and the blue
cayenu of the sky and the kindly lapping water— some-
thing infinite and eternal and restful, in whose embrace
she was due.
At the edge of the wood she had a last terrifying moment.
The raspberry-bine was there, and the great oak with the
seat around it, and the carpet of dnquefoil and wild
strawberry. She gave them a quick, frightened look, like
an appeal to impede her. If she was to stop she must
stop now. " But I can't stop," she seemed to fling to them,
over her shoulder, as she kept on to whet*, beyond the
highest tip of greensward, the blue level of the lake
appeared.
The boat with the two fishermen was neai«r the shoi«
than when she had observed it last. "They'll save me!
Oh, they'U save me!" she had time to whisper to herself,
at the supreme moment when she left everything behind.
There followed a space which in Rosie's consciousness
was long. She felt that she was leaping, flying, out into
the welcoming void, and that the promise of rest and
peace had not deceived her.
But it was in the shock of falling that sanity returned;
and all that the tense little creature had been, and tried'
to be, and couldn't be, and longed to be, and feared to be,
and failed to be broke into a cry at which the fishermen
dropped their rods.
CHAPTER XXVI
T"m;?^'' you mind if I went away for . ;;ttb
wii'<l^t;;*''^^^«'"»?h-n-table. but her ey,
non-comnu^ at&S,f^r^r°^ t° ""^tain Z
couldn't meet Us g^ ^ ^ "^^ "P « breakfast, she
yoJiaT"''''^'"^''^*-^''^^- "Whyshould
noiiiSg'^e "L^-T^b^^ * "^S^ty » ?«"
«thet— upset." ^ve been to see Rosie. She's
Js^Ss^t'^^'S'Zj i-.'^^he betrayed his self.
Iconic forni of spee^ iT^ *,„ ,f " ^^^ ^ *« most
Penetnition. '^^ " °^* *<> '<«^e no opening to her
vc.£%r?^r ^,^;ht2s;*hrT. ^'^ ^^-
so long a»—" ""satinterest her. But anywhere,
tain ItwaswiSX^arhTt^^'^.!,*"--
was leaving the room • ^ ** '^ t^^* she said, as he
«>^2-?„;'!SX'^jf-^*-- ^^-y*ewon-t
Between three and fom- that afternoon she
aS3
il- :
entered her
i
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
taiAttd'f office hurriedly. It wm Mn. DMriove wbo
wcBlvadher. "Do you know whew Dr. MMtemam i«f
IJo you know where he expected to call thii afternoon?"
Brightetone coneulted a card hanj^ on the wall
He wa« to 'ave aeen Mrs. Gibbe, 'm— Number lo s^i win
Btreet— some time through the day."
Low made no aecret at her agitation. "Have they a
telephone? '
"S*' '^' '™' '"*y- ^^y • P««" cl«nroman."
Was he going anywhere at aU whew they cokU have a
tdephone?"
Mw. Deailove having mentioned the poMibiUtiee, Loie
rang up houw after house. She left the lame meiMge
ewywhere: Thor wae to be asked to come djieetiy to hi»
office, where she was awaiting him. It was after four when
be appeared.
She met him in the Uttie entry and, taking Wm by the
arm, drew him into the waiting-room. "Comein, Thor
dear, come in." She knew by his eyee tiiat he suspected
•omethingolwhatshehadtoteU. <»p«««
"Caught me at the Longyears'." he tried to say in a
mtmal voice, but he could hardly fbree the words liyond
"It's Roeie, Thor," she said, instantiy. "She's all
He dropped into a chair, supporting himself on the
round table strewn with illustrated papen and magacines
for the entertainment of waiting patients. His lips
inovBd, but no sound passed them. Long, daric shadom
•treaked the paUor of his face. ""wows
She Mt down beside him. covering his hands with her
own. She saU right, Thor dear... now... and I don't
ttmkshellbeany the worseforitintheend. . . . She may
be the better. ... We can't tdl yet But-but you
naven t heard it in the village, have you?"
He shook his head, perhaps because he was dazed, pep.
haps because he didn't trust hwn tri f to gi— ir
*S4
^HE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
no «Maa for . A^:^ Tor* '^.- ' ' "^^
onJy . . . jurt what I w« ^d rf!lv ; i* ' '«'J^t'«
lunch . . Shi^-.h— d,"^^,.*^-*'»t I Voke of .t
HefoundituBngthtotoe^ •'«. ^.^
h«.df into the ^r^* B^~uT*y„ "She threw
J«m Breea and RobWe Wiiw * *'■ "" "K^t
fijWng. ... They «w her ^^^ '^^ « • »^t-
SLT *TJ^« «econd"to?^ '"L^B*"' ^ «-
•«« l>«r *ad brought her w iiT °"*° ^^"^
•aota very long . JTfr!^' W ^^ ''«" t uncon-
bj-at old M^. Vukes^1i°^*?^y Dr. HiU waa doSe
fhe'. home now ZJl l^f^f^ !««.... ^
j;«t M they were briariaX^!!!^- ' ' " ^ '^^
b«athing then. . . rweat J?^' • ' • She wat
*'°^- • • • I told M„ ?^ *" '^«* them to the
«w them put hTto^"^"^ •si,eri,*f,'/«y- • • ^
a«de -gain iTlril te,^ "^ *^* ^ 1 "ver «:
of command. "You m^„'.. .T' ^ '^' «'n a tone
mustn't make thinw w^h ^ '* ^^ «»»• T^
«ougha.it^s."^^"^fcJ7,,"^ ^«y'"bS
for some of u*-that%ve mu^f^ at least so hard fo,^
n^e it possible totlTth^. ^ "^"y*^ we can to
<=H«1 her own «?S S^ T^ ^ '«»<J«- Shf
«t looking at his st^g & 'liTV ?«* »' *«
*»rk hair that feU over t£ W.!f ^ *u**** '^'^^ "^
dug into his forehead She M?^*"!* •'''^ «» nails
She Mt a great pity far him; b«t
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
a pity that permitted her to sit there, watchful, detached,
not as If It was Thoi--but some one else.
There would be an end now to silences and conceal-
ments. She saw that already. He was makJng no
further attempt to keep her in the dark. In t).e shock
of the moment aU the barricades he bad built around his
secret hfe had faUen like the walls of Jericho. She had
nothmg to do but walk upward and inward and take
possession. AU was open. There was neither shrine nor
sanctuary any longer. It was no privilege to be admitted
thus; anybody would have been admitted who sat beside
him as she was sitting now.
But in the end the paroxysm passed and his hands came
down. I
"I know it's hard for you, Thoi— " The eyes he
turned on her were full of such unspeakable things that
she stopped. She was obliged to wait till he looked away
^am brfore she could go on. "I know it's hard for you
Thor. Itshardfor-forusall. But my point is that
bittemess or violence will only make it worse. You must
remember-I feel that I must remind you of it— that
you re not the— not the only sufferer."
He bowed his head into his hands again, but without
the mad anguish of a few minutes earlier.
"Where so much is intolerable," she pureued, "what
we have to d<>-each one of us— is to see how tolerable we
can make thmgs for every one else."
He raised his head fo.- one quick, reproachful glance.
Do you mean tolerable foi^for Claude?"
ish^'"^ ^° "*°° ^" ^'*"''®" ^' ^'°'* ^''^ *° P^-
^He gave her another look. "Then what have we got to
"Nothing that isn't kind-and well thought out before-
hand. That s really the importar.t thing. When one
^ t move without hurting some one, isn't it better not
to move at all ?"
356
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
It was the old doctrine of tarrvine the r.nrH'. i ■
«M which his instincts w^^Vrev^'^T
Jgnab<» was such that he could p^^^^ ^^^
J^lJS!.'^"-'*°-y«-twesho„ldLhimZ.d^
She laid her hand on his arm "Oh Tt.^, -»„ -.
He shook his head blanklv "T j™>4. j
What good would tCdo?^^" ^°^ * -ffldetstand.
it ^'t'fry;^'"^"'*'^' "I ^ h-ve to let you think
she^l^SSd^^; "^Str^m^rTf '
=.-h.1S^-.5Lt^;ilB^^
understood that before—" If we d only
"Youmean, if Ihad."
and lem^ " qi,T^i , *^ "^* them-and suffei-
anaieam She bent doser to his ear. "And if- -.^
we must do, Thor dear, you and T W»?2 ^ ^*
j^e brushed her lips hghtly ac««s his hair and left
3S7
-
3 f
ilii.
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
Othe team-lme. and on into the beginnine of Comifr^
Street, she was obKrad tn V«»r. «»,«„*: iT^* »-ounty
"Nothina twTv.r^"'***^^ her own words—
J,i!^n^^* isnt kind and weU thoiight out before-
hand. Havmg counseled him against bitt^e^r^
S^^d'^vT "^^ , Bitterness was beyond s.^^^
MOB. and violence would have been so easv! "W^
^ ^be/orehandr she emphasized '^tevS^'?
^must keep to that. If / don't. God knav^Twe
to puwuanoe of this principle she turned in at her
tet^ed^'^P^*^- ^f^'JMrs.Mastem^mu^J^
tifJf^ .^^^ '^ ^ '^°^d touch them so clcX
up the steps. "Saw you coming," he emIain«H " t *
^I'Z.^ Er^sbeen^^^^tetostS
thJ.^°^J'^\.^'°^- I've been th««. I was
ttere when tl,ey brought her ashore. It may hu/e b^
You wiU when you know. Ena," he called im f»,«
a ^^ey had ent««, the hall^^'Sf ^"^h^^
wiSSo^rruSed""^ .?rmv^ r "^•^*-
^^^iytlusisr ItrSfoften^LTer^akntt!
If tt s about Claude and Rosie Fav " T^^ =oJJ i,
they had got seated. "I know^^aSSi. '^or^'toid'S!
3C8
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
He told me yesterday, because— weU, because I'd been
t»lmg an interest in Rosie for some months past, and
wirn I w«mt to see her yesterday afternoon old Mr. Pay
wouHnt let me. He said there'd been trouble-^
•omethmg--between Claude and Rosie—"
"l^^:^f^ ^^ romantic, poor boy." Ena interrupted,
and so loyal. You'd hardly beUeve. He's been SlS
m completely. He did want to marry her. That's true
There s no use denying it. He told his father and he told
Sn,n^\^7''°?;'^- We've been .0 worried. But
he must have found her <mt—simply found her out"
Leas weighed the wisdom of asking questions or of
learning more than Thor chose to tell her, but in the end it
sewied reasonable to ask, "Found her out— how?"
Ena threw up her pretty hands. "Oh, well, with a girl
of that sort what could you expect? Claude's been cwn-
getely taken m-or he was. He's so innocent, poor boy.
He woiddn t beheve-not even when 1 told him. I tried
to stand by him-I really did. Didn't I. Archie? When
hcMid he TOnted to marry her I said, said I. 'If she's a
good ^1. Claude, and loves yon. I'll accept her.' I
really did, Lois-and you can imagine what it cost me.
But I CCTild see at once. Any one who wasn't infatuated
as Claude was would have seen at a glance. The eirl
must be— weU. something awful."
Lois spoke warmly. " Oh. I don't think that "
My dear Lois, I know. What's more. Thor knows,
too. And I must say I can't help blaming Thor. He's
backed CUude up-and backed him up when aU the while
he s known what she was. "
Las fdt obUged to speak. " I don't think he's known
anythmg— anything to her discredit."
"Oh. but he has. I assure you he has. And what
amazes me about Thor-simply amazes me-is that he
shCTilAit see It m the right light. Archie did, as soon as I
told him. Didn't you, Archie? And I didn't teU him "
Ena ran on, excitedly. "tiU I saw what trouble de^
»S9
^4 .
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
father, but not befo™. ?ou «Sd S^^ S,^, £
«mcaddyou?-his own father. And wh«^',S^
Andbe-why.,t was so plain thatachildcould^te^dS
The question, "What was olain?" /«,.ij -^ i.
^^iri'^-with^-^Ts'Sw^^^^^
:^tfto-h^so£^--^--""-r?.^
knowhowtoteS^e^tt^,""*^- ^""'^ l^"' ^hat never
her right to be1^oJ?'^lS^^^'« defense of
I know he did AnHIT^/^ w 1^ beheved jt, too.
in his senses would settle ™^» • . ^^^ °° ^^
there'd beS I^e^-^^T^ o° a prl like that unless
of the world as if he wks t^ yea^^<j S, rLtf '^°^*
took him in completely" He really is. She
p^rorrSiVchS--^ -- -- ^.<^
himself already MTtermAn^ • ^^''f ''^P*™»"«d
^^wife a<^m^pS^tnrd1." ^A^tSL^S
^d good-by and was descending t^ stS JS^^
cnedoutmatonethatwaslikeacLifesd^ ^°*
36o
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
spans for S^nl^-f ^ .^ ^""^ ^^ attenti.^to
heard the tZi^'t .Zt^^j\,'Z:- k"^^«
knows it.'-' ' ''^ ^«^ h«^ motha-and she says she
bufws^^^,^"^ "!^« some expression of ^ef .
nxJmfoTMlyX^^"?, T- I", her heart there wa^
shewassaStoh^^°°- ^°"«y' Money!"
place, was meditating moodily °^ *° ^^e empty fire-
<^J^iSJSS:tn::Zfi^ ^ «-* ^in was
"^^ l^o^^o::?^ '^ '^ ^-^^ P--e.y.
J^ Wed to speak with conviction. "Oh y«; of-^
ch^ta^Sytterrl^te'Z^t^ ^" ''^
reach Claude. That w^h^T' sensabon would
Dare say it was a ni^^ her game -quite evidently.
have -em 'longside." ^ ^' ** ^^ «*<«, to
'•But if Claude should hear of it— "
Must see that he dnom'f tit- •
■^ontojapan^^tohe'^rj?^? ^ ^"-'^ght to
"hk^-^,^^^^^"™"*- I^ him go to
- likes-round the world. Anything to keep
India,
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
him away— «iid you and I," he added, "had better hoek it
till the whole th^g blows over."
She looked distressed.' "Hook it, Archie?"
"Caoee the house up and go abroad. Haven't been
abroad for three years now. Little motor trip throu^
England— «nd back toward the end of the summer.
F«jrtunately I've sold that confounded property. Good
price, too. Hobson, of Hobeon & Davies. Ooing to
build for residence. Takes it from the expiration of the
lease, which is up in July. Hell clear out the whole gang
then, so that by the time we come back they'll be gone.
What do you think ? Might do Devonshire and Cornwall
— «lways wanted to take that trip— with a few weeks in
Paris before we come home.'"
The suggestion of going abroad came as such a pleasing
surprise that Mrs. Masterman slipped into a chair to turn
it over in her mind. "Then Claude couldn't come back,
could he?" expressed the first of the advantages she fore-
saw. "He'd have nowhere to go."
"Oh, he'll not be in a hurry to do that," Archie said,
confidently.
"And I do want some things," she mused further. "I
had nothing to wear for the Darlings' ball— nothing— and
you know how long I've worn the dinner-drtsses I have.
I really couldn't put on the green again. " She was silent
for some minutes, when another of those queer little cries
escaped her such as had broken from her lips when she
stood at the door with Lois: "But, oh, Archie, I want to
do what's right!— what's right, Archie!"
He looked at her from under his brows as his head again
drooped moodily. "'WhcLt's—uMatt"
"What's right, Archie. Latterly— Oh, I don't know!
—but latterly—" She passed her hand across her brow.
. . . "Sometimes I feel— I get to be afraid, Archie— as if
we weren't— as if we hadn't— as if something were going
to happen — ^to overtake us — "
Crossing the room, he bent back her pretty head and
36a
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
ki«edh«. "Nonaense," he smfled, unsteadily "N-™-
dear. I>«'t wonder at H-with aU weV^b^' thm^
erne way and another. But that's wlLrJ^d^^^^
diS^T ?^I S^ '''"' "1!** '"^*^ ^«=°"fort was in-
fo^ bL ^^' "" "^^ ^* ^°°^e at him distress-
riSTt and^!!^"^ ^ ^PP^« ^"» Stave queS^
Ste w^deZ «; '*\^°™<* *^« P™**^' difficult. It was
1
■A r#
(■f
CHAPTER XXVII
F^kJT.°°* **? ^^* *** ''eU enough ':> <-. listlesdv
lb«^ to work, and the Mastermanf L v1 L>iw 2?
Lois found her own emotions ripe for soeech n«rinJ^.
n^^^: h»V" ' '?^^J''^<* each knew to be^^
raiy. While he kept his office 'houra in the mominra ^
^^„ r^*^ *»■ '^P^tetended the g^S^l^
ev«^ and Hstenedt ^r^^^:'J^^ ^
balcony, or talked about the stars, each knewlftat U^
mner tension would never be r^ei tiU it w^bSL^
K there was any doubt of that it was on Th^^fSde.
B««sr. she said nothing, there were mi^t« whin to
hoped she had nothmg to sav Unaw=™ „f » .
capadty for keeping L S^'^^XltwI'^'
t^' S^'h!^'^'^^^'^'''^- He wanted to
h^\u i ^''^^^ prayer to put up on the subject
n w^d have be«i that she would allo^ him to^Srt"
^^u^^ ""r^ ^y- "^^^^y- peacefully. w^tTS;
tef™r,.°"v^ ^ ^"^ comm^rtl^^^gi^
tan pam he began to indulge the hop^-a hc«e wWdb
to S^rbi!^ '^ *° '^ basele^-tha^STnil
When he was caUed on at last to face the reaHties of the
264
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
ticulur evening 4r ^'^^^''^ «P on that pa^
««« she waa uno«W« tH^* L^''"^™'*-""* ^
to her without wanune amrri^TT" ff "* ^'^ '* cwno
"Thor. were yS.nSlr^»'"°J«« *^ ^^
which she waifed fS^sTsl^:^^'' ^^"^ »
heavy with the scents of Kl!J^T^' ™f *"» air was
As they stood by^^S'tS^fl^' ' '"\""' -^Ka.
the exterior of tt^ t^o^^^t'^^"^.*^* connected
wa«i with an am X^ V"^* fH"^/ ^^ '«^8 out-
white lilac. wh^T^^Zl ^T^ *^<» sky. a great
to their feet. ThehThte of t^ ^, °^ ^^^"^ "^"^
under verd^. the ey^^hl tJe^^^^ *^« ""^
;s^d»es-jd?-"jX^T/^^^
on his inward way. J^ow S^^;/!^'^ ^ '^^
was tracing for his wife's T^Ifir^ r^^ °^ " P"''^- »»«
figure, wmged, noblelJSt^^ ^^^'' "^cuaibent
sweet, sil,^^' St aS^.« • ^t«™ h°ri«»>. Spica's
actualIythi:^gf.owwSSal "" q*^*^- ^^ '^^
when the words^JlS^t^l^^i^^Spica's radiance.
give money to Rosie Fay r ^'^^ '"«* yo« going to
could, "If-^f Claud^C^^ Sf-r "^"^^^ ^ ''''
to help them out" ^" °'"™«1 "^er I was gomg to-
.^^. Even so. it ten you what you want to know. Doesn't
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
"Not emything I want to know."
Why should you want to know-evwythine?"
Becaiw*-" ft .truck her that wi^ L,m k-
beat apreaMd by OaHmg her grouaA ^^7^ ^
•cUy why did you want tSZ,5^r ^^*«'«-
y^H^^.I^"'^'^^ "IthinkltoM
"Sd « ITk^ «ffl« to me aa to a--to a d«lt«r."
..And as to a home. I said that, too, Lois."
I»dtoX-^ffii?"^*- '«>«'<lonlysay-^hatI
tniuSt '^J ^^i^^V ^*'-'t''' i-t the
ft.,....!.* *"u see, inor, she went on. unsteadilv "T
::Se^^^^^*"^^"^-'r^^^
"But so long as he escapes from it—"
trouble outside the re^.'STrin^,:^' ^^ ^
"£k^*l^'T *^ "P -^d d°wn the balcony
C.^-"^* ^^^- but ui^ed heiself o^ I wanJ
you— to let ms go away." o«i uu x ^g^
a66
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
vwu I "night ffl«te-«-^d fox J^ «• one or two
it doesn't inatt«!^^^'^™***P'«»- Th*tparto«
<''?f''l!'''!"^'^*«dtogoawav.f«,„ u
« was to—to take lur t Z L . "^ "***» ago—"
«<m, because she's bStT' In "^'^ * '«*«' *« <Kt
right, only changed"^" ^ * "^^ <*<»'»•« right-^S
what she tried to doSwiS^LS^'"""^ «^^«J of
less foolish basis So^-.T^ **'.'*P°"8aJnona— ona '
'«ner pointT^y Sng1^taTS?'.r^« ^«
t»>»g to do with hefTt Sr^i" * "°'' '"'ve any.
I want to-to think" ^^ ^^ ** °° «y own account
wy^, chiefly about you."
"''t-^ove you? Is that V ^*'^^'''"**»«* or
befonsTrtiii'lB^y^l'^go^ second to pas,
"The other way—howr' ^^^^ <*«> other way."
."oinii^ri ;^*?-*-^'o.e^."
, "Yes. I thou^t inoo-ii 2?,^'!* 5'o» «Jid"
do. e,jennow:id,^;t*^-f lately. P^-*"!* I
away fop-to think-to seer'^uj*"* I want to get
k-
MICROCOPY RESOIUTION TBI CH«IIT
(ANSI ond ISO TEST CHART No. 2|
A APPLIED IN/MGE In
^as *^ 1653 East Main 5(rt«t
^'■^ Rochester. New York 1*609 le;*
^■S (?'6) *82 - 0300 - Phone '^^
^^S. (^'6) 288 - 5969 - Fa«
ii: I I
m
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
voice she hardly recognized because of the new thrill in it,
"I've done nothing to deserve the withdrawal of — of your
affection."
She answered while still keeping her eyes absently on
Spica's while effulgence. "I know you haven't, Thor
dear. But that's not the point. It's rather that I have
to go back and — and revise everything — form new con-
ceptions."
He paused, standing behind her. "I don't think I get
your idea."
"No, probably not. You couldn't without knowing
what it all used to mean to me."
" Used to mean?"
"Yes, Thor; used to mean in a way that it doesn't
now, and never can any more."
There was pain in his voice as he said, "That's hard,
Lois — damnably hard."
"I know, Thor dear. I wouldn't say it if I hadn't
made up my mind that I must— that I ought to. I've
had a great shock — which has been in its way a great
humiliation — but I could go on keeping it to myself if I
hadn't come to the conclusion that it's best for you to
know. Men are so slow to fathom what their wives are
thinking of — "
"Well, then, tell me."
She turned slowly round from her contemplation of the
stars, a hand on each side grasping the low rail against
which she leaned. The spangles on a scarf over her bare
shoulders glittered iridescently in the light streaming
from her room. Of Thor she could discern little more
than the whiteness of his face and of his evening shirt-
front from the obscurity in which he kept himself. A
minute or more elapsed before she went on.
" You see, Thor, I didn't fall in love with you first of all
for your own sake; it was because — because I thought
you'd fallen in love with me. That's a sort of confession,
isn't it? It may be something I ought to be ashamed of,
268
t I
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
Md perhaps I am-a Httle. But you'd understand how
It could happen if you were to realize whTifw^ to "T
that a man should fall in love with me It ^1" ' "^ '"^
He tned to interrupt her, but she insisted' on going on
in her own way. "I wasn't attractive. Ineverhadte,
Dunng the years when I was going out I ne^ ^cS
wha people caU attentions-not fram any onT TdoS
say that I d.dn^ suffer on account of it. I did-but T'd
begun to take the suffering philosophically. Vd made uo
my mmd that no one would ever cai e for mp »^ r ^
getting used to the idea-when-wT^n yL^T^ ' ""
chSraTnstUf' *''."^^'^ '^' ^''''"^ ^^ i'^dker-
^ f fTf ^i'P'- ""^'^^ ^^°'^ st°°d silent in the dark-
ness of the far end of the balcony
seJnf^^^th'^"" did come, Thor dear, it couldn't but
Sat inTseW-" "' "^^ °^ "^^ ^"^"^^ y°" ^°P^ t° d°-
She broke off again, losing something of her self-corn
spMgled serf over her shoulders and stepped forward
musf lov^,^'^' ?°'',i ?^^ *° *« conclusion that you
must love me. I couldn't explain your kindness in LZ
tmts^edrh'"^ "^' \''^'' --Pt that "tiT
till It seemed the only one, but when I did, well it wasn't
merely pnde and happiness that I felt-it w^m^ng
^ Th^H *^ '^°^°S °^ ^'■°g^ continued. "And
so, Thor dear love came to me, too. It came because I
thought you brought it; but now that llS yoT^^'t
Lt",li,r f^" ""'^e^^'and why I should be in doubt
asto— as to whether ornot— it reaUy did come."
269.
I!
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
i i
n
Since he recognized the futility of making an immediate
response, they stood confronting each other in silence.
She took another step nearer him. " But what I'm not
in any doubt about at all is the scorn I feel for myself for
ever having cherished the delusion. If I'd been a woman
with — ^with more claim, let us say, to being loved — "
"Lois, for God's sake, don't say that!"
" But I must say it, Thor. It's at the bottom of all I
mean. I was weak and foolish enough to think that in
spite of the things I lacked a > ..ui had given me his heart
— whpn he hadn't."
"I I can't stand this. Please don't go on."
"t at I have to stand it, Thor. I have to stand it day
and night, without ever getting away from the thought of
it. I have to go back and puzzle and wonder and speculate
as to why you did what you've done to me. I see things
this way, 'Thor: There was a time when you thought you
might come to care for me. You really thought it. And
then — something happened — and you were not so sure.
Later, you felt that you couldn't — that you never would.
But the something that happened happened the wrong way
for you — and papa broke down as he did — and I was in
danger of being poor — and you were kind and generous —
and — you weren't very happy as things were — you told
me so, didn't you? And — and — in short — you thought
you might as well. You knew I expected it — or had
expected it once — and so — so you did it. Tell me, Thor
dear; am I so very far wrong? Wasn't it like that?"
He raised his head defiantly. "And if I admitted that
it was like that, what then?"
"Oh, nothing. I should merely ask you the same
thing — ^to let me go away."
"Away for how long?"
She reflected. "Till I could establish a new basis on
which to come back."
"I don't know what you mean by a new basis."
"I dare say I don't mean anything very different from
370
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
SerTaSr Zr'tO'' '^"^ *° ^^ «ttle while
not the man I thouS ;^' w^ ' T '^ f°* *''« '^-
while to get used to tC " ^ '""'* ^^^ « ^tUe
Jie stirred uneasily. "youfi„drn.-r„.not sogooda
iu;;°a; g^°:^X*J:L^ Ji-:^-3. t^^^^ at «.. VOU-.
laying her hands on L sToJ^dl- s-4h T"*^ "^^ *° '^™-
stand. IlovedtheothCTTW %• °^- y°" don't under-
this one. I don't Low - ^™/°' ^^ '^^' ^ '°ve
get away from you. Lein rt ° ^ ^an t teU til] I
She stepped back from hi,. . ^l "°* ^ ^°' '°ng- "
The pose s^t off^v t? ^ ^°^ °^ *^ "I^ window-door
d-ss'^e wL l^he hawf „f ^ °' *'' "'^ ^'"'^^ ^«^«
alone. disp.ayed'hfi'^^'^S Jh^ ^^ --
& r*^* ''^ l^ad never ob^fv^brfol pf™ *° "
bered afterward thaf .^^^t-u- \~^ oerore. He remem-
he stammerli .m-'-oUTI^l" ?™°'^'"- ^y""
the country by yom^// ^v ^T, /°" '° «° ^°^«S
go away for I w^and^^ coid Z ^°J ' .'°^'^
warmed to the idea L^J i, u ^^^^ ^^'^" He
271
I
I.:
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THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
go. I'll go — and I'll not come back till you tell me.
There. Will that do?"
The advantages of the arrangement were evident. She
answered slowly. "It — it might. But what about your
patients?"
"Oh, Hill would look after them. He said he would
if I wanted to attend the medical congress at Minneapolis.
I told him I didn't, but — but" — he tapped the rail to em-
phasize the timeliness of the idea — "but, by George!
I'll do it. You'd have three weeks at least — and as many
more as you ask for."
She gave the suggestion a minute's thought. "Very
well, Thor. Since the congress is going on — and your
time wouldn't be altogether thrown away — You see,
all I want is a little quiet — a little solitude, perhaps — ^just
to realize where I am— and to see how — to begin again —
if we ever can."
She closed one side of the window, softly and slowly.
Her hands were on the other battant when he uttered a
little throaty crj'. "Aren't you going to say good night?"
Standing on the low step of the window, she was suf-
ficiently above '^im tc be able to fold his head in her arms,
to pillow it on her breast, while she imprinted £ long kiss
on the thick, dark mass of his hair. Having released him,
she withdrew, closing the window gently and pulling down
the blinds.
Outside in the darkness Thor turned once more to where
the Virgin, recumbent, noble, outlined and crowned with
stars, Spica the wheat-ear in the hand hanging by her side,
rose slowly toward mid-heaven. Irrelevantly there came
back to his memory something said months before by
his uncle Sim, but which he had not recalled since the night
he heard it. "You may make an awful fool of yourself,
Thor, but you'll be on the side of the angels — and the
angels will be on yours."
"Humph!" he snorted to himself. "That's all very fine.
But — ^where aietheangels?" Andagainhe sought the stars.
CHAPTER XXVIII
iTenrc/SFtheTndtortlr'of^' '""'^ ^^^^ ^^y^
ended. ''Want al^ci. Tt\ *'lt ^^ ^^ definitely
had asked briskly ■■'1^™;^^ ^1: ^^*^™«n?" he
Mr. Fay's place Look^X- .T ^^"*'"' ^"^ ^'« ^'
Beat pL^nd ^^Xl.'^^^^^^^^^^fl'Z-
Get a nice one cheap at Mr. Fay's '' '^'"•
Wondered. "Is Mr. Pay seuing off ?"
wanf fo Z Te'r to ™'*^'^ "^^« "^^^ ^e don't
whL first taXl^to'ive t'^T.^ ^°"f • ^'^^ """^^
anything for t ^res Xl^^tSf %*^ *° ^*
to the infomiation j,tst recdvS T^^-^ ^° ^^'°°^
■' Why, Jiffl, tell me about ^.''' ^ '^'^' «=»°«dy.
He drew from the wagon a wooden •'*?,+ » en j • .
zinnia plantlings, like so \; J^^, * ^^ '^th
'Mti
'ti
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THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
, dandy place there. Had architects and landscape-
gardeners prowling 'round for the last two weeks, and old
man Fay won't allow one of them on the grounds. You'd
die laughing to see him chasing them off with a spade or
a rake or whatever he has in his hand. His property till
July ninth, he says, and he wouldn't let so much as a crow
fly over it if it belonged to Hadley B. Hobson. You'd die
laughing."
"I don't see how you can laugh when he's in such
trouble, poor man."
"Oh, well," Jim drawled, optimistically, "he won't do
so bad. He can always have a job w'th father Father's
mingled with him ever since the two of them were young.
If Mr. Fay hadn't been so moonstruck he'd have had just
the same chance as father had."
Lois chose a moment which seemed to be discreet in
order to say: " I know Rosie quite well. I've seeL. a good
deal of her during the past few months."
"Rosie's all right, Mrs. Masterman," Jim answered,
suddenly and a trifle aggressively. "I don't care what
any one says — she's all right."
" I know she's all right, Jim. She's one of the most re-
markable characters I've ever met. I often wish she'd let
me help her more."
"Well, you hold on to her, Mrs. Masterman," he ad-
vised, with a curious, pleading quality in his voice.
" You'll find she'll be worth it. And if ever a girl was up
against it — she is."
" I will hold on to her, Jim."
"It's all rot what people are saying that she'd gone
melancholy because she took that fool jump into the
pond. I know how she did it. She'd got to the point
where she couldn't help it, where she just couldn't stand
any more — ^with the business all gone to pieces and Matt
coming out of jail, and everything else. Who wouldn't
have done it? I'd have done it myself, if I'd been a girl.
She'd got worked up, Mrs. Masterman, and when girls
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THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
get worked up, why, they'll do anything. I believe thff
shock's done her good. Sort of cleared her mind like."
Lois tried to be tactful. "Then you see her.>"
*'We-lI— on and off." He grew appealing and confi-
dential. "I don't mind telling you, Mrs. Masterman,"
he began, as if acknowledging an indiscretion, "I we it
with Rosie once. Went with her for over a year."
"Did you, Jim?"
He leaned nonchalantly against Maud's barrel-shaped
body, his face taking on an expressoin of boyish regret.
"And I'd have gone on going with her if— if Rosie hadn't
— ^hadn't kind of droppt. J me."
"Oh, but, Jim, why should she?"
"We-11, I can understand it. Rasie's high-toned, you
faiow, Mrs. Masterman, and she's got a magnificent educa-
tion. I guess you wouldn't come across them more re-
fined, not in the most tip-top families. Pretty I My
Lord ! pretty isn't the word for it. And I think she grows
prettier. And work! Why, Mrs. Masterman, if that girl
was at the head of a plant like oiu^ there wouldn't be any-
thing for father and me to do but sit in a chair and rock."
"I'm glad she's willing to see yon," Lois ventured.
He sprang to his seat behind Maud. " Well, I guess she
needs all the friends she's got."
Lois ventured still further. " I'm sure she needs friends
like you, Jim."
There was a flare in his eye as he fumbled for the reins.
"Well, she's only got to stoop and pick me up. Git
along, Maud. Gee!" In obedience to his pull Maud
arched her heavy neck and executed a sidewise movement
uncertainly. "She knows I'm there," he continued, as
the wagon creaked round. "Been there ever since she
capped me. Gee! Maud, gee! What you thinking of?
I've never gone with any one else, Mrs. Masterman — not
really gone with them. Rosie's been the only one so far.
Well, good-by. And you ivill hold on to her, Mrs. Mas-
terman, now, won't you?"
ays
m'
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THE SIDE OF THE A. GELS
"Indeed I will, Jim-and-and you must do the same."
r^^ . J'^ * ™*^ ^°°^ °^« ^ shoulder, as Maud
paced toward the gate. -Oh. I'm on the job ev^ry tin^ "
ntV^i.^ gave her a number of themes for thought,
of which the most msistent was the power some women had
of drawing out the love of men. For the rt«t of the d^
l^^fw^E- "^^ "° """"^ '•^ « mechanical direct-
h! n M "^"i"^ °"' °^ "^^^Ks. while she meditated on
the problem of attractiveness.
How was it that women of small endowments cou'd
S^S.v'" ^' ''«'''• ^^ '''^' "'"'^ °f inexl^us^i^
potentmht.es-s.ie was not afraid to rank hei^lf among
them-went unrecognized and undesired? If Rosie Fav
had been content with the honors of a local belle she
could have had her choice among half the „ mVVn
thL'lT • 7^' r^ ^"^ ^'^ What wL tlfe^ft of
that great sisterhood, comprising perhaps a third of the
S^tlve^ ""''•' *° ^""^ '''' "^^""'y °' -- °^^
mshnctively, ignoring, or partially ignoring, the rest?
was It mere sheep-stupidity in men themselves that sent
one where the other, went, without capacity for indfvid^
4scermnent?-or was there a secret call that women hke
tw'J^^v' "f 1^"' ^"'"^ ^^^' '"^^ t°° ">"ch of
tnat for which other women were left famishing?
She put the question that evening to Dr. Sim Master-
»an who had dropped in to see her, L he not i^ri« S
did after his supper, now that Thor was away. Indid
his vjsits were so regular as to make her afraid that v^th
more^ Th^f' k' '""^'"f ^'=°"'^ ^'Sht he suspected
medicine. ^'° *^ ^ ^"^ ^^ ^°'^<* °^
"Why do men fall in love with inferior women?—
become infatuated with them?"
He answered while sprawling before the Ubrary fire
^s long legs apart, his fingers interlocked over Ws old
bhe can t get hold of it by the right end."
376
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
out of ten." ''^^"K end first— nine women
-whlr^Si'^i-^^"^- "^^"-^y-dtei,
to W"«re7ne elt'lj Jnll'^ ^I^ ^'^^^^ '"« -«nct
desitetobelovedin^'tZ T^n? '^' T""^ P'^™ ^^e
the cart before the ho,^' shr", ?v ",!• '^^ ^°™^" P"ts
befo,^ she's done ^Sg to g'e l^^' f ^"^"^ -'"™
We half . .„,, ^>:„ J,^J- -^ ^IffiVdsT^ll^,"
asked, "Pipds h^Sft ?: it'°wa"^./""''- '''^' ^^
"InS^itSr^^^-'f • •'^.^b.ed on.
em hann. Sets •emtnJf u ^^P^^sion, and it does
rteThJro^ri'°i^ rather important."
whichthatcan^I°d-and2^ "w ''' ""'^ '"^'"^ °^
was. Make their lives depend ™ ,7^";^ °" ^^ '^ '*
cangetit,weUandgoodMf„orfi .^'''^*- " y°«
. She lifted her held not C'lfr' "^'^^"°"-"
indignation. " Compaiation^r^ aamement than in
lo^gr- '-ompensation for having to do without
"Heaps."
"And may I ask what'"
te4°."^^SoVfond S'""-' '"l?^-'^ -- Be like
weU off JwTtS." °^ ^ "^^ '^^ I'^'d be just as
«77
s^^^K
j'
-l?9^I^^H
f
- ^''-ll^i^^H
1
' /^M
1
'^M
ti
- 'i^L
J
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THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
She said, musingly, "Yes; love t: the wine of lite, isn't
it?"
"Wine that maketh glad the heart o£ man — and can
also play the deuce with it."
She sat for some time smiling to herself with faint
amusement. "Do you really disapprove of love. Uncle
Sim?" she asked, at last.
He yawned loudly and stretched himself. "What 'd
be the good of that? Don't disapprove of it any more
than I disapprove of the circulation of the blood. Force
in life — of course! Treasure to be valued and peril to be
controlled. To play with it requires skill; to utilize it
calls for wisdom."
She had again been smilinj; gently to herself when she
said, " I doubt if you can ever have been in love."
"Got nothing to do with it. Not obliged to have been
insane to understand insanity. As a matter of fact,
best brain specialists have always kept their senses."
"Oh, then, you rate love with insanity."
"Depends on the kind. Some sorts not far from
it. Obsession, Brain-storm. Supernormal excitement.
Passing commotion of the senses. Comes as suddenly
as a summer tempest — thunder and lightning and rain —
and goes the same way."
"Oh, but would you call that love?"
"You bet I'd call it love. Love the poets write about.
Grand passion. Whirls along like a tornado — makes a
noise and kicks up dust — and all over in an afternoon.
That's the real thing. If you can't love like that, you
can't love at all — not in the grand manner. The going
just as vital as the coming. Very essence of it that it
shouldn't last. That's why Shakespeare kills his Romeo
and his Juliet at the end of the play — and Wagner his
Tristan and his Isolde. Nothing else to do with 'em.
People of that kind go through just the same set of high
jinks six or eight months later with some one else; and .
in poetry that wouldn't do. Romantic lovers love by
378
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
crises and never pass twice the same way. People who
"But surely there is a love—"
aIIPI \^^ "^"Z' ^^"^ f'0"^-'<ecP>ng variety. Of course'
And , bears the same relation to the other kind as a e^
of m,lk to a bottle of champagne. Mind you I lIL mU?
A^v^Z:- u ^." '^' '°"« ~" •' '" ^>^='t'cha;npaBne any
day-<^pcci:Jly where you expect babies. I'm only sav-
mg that It doesn't come of the san.e vintage L V^v^^
Clujuot. Women often wish it did; and when it dX^t
they make thmgs uncomfortable. No uso. Can't m^e
a Tristan out of good, hone.st, faithful William Dobbi^
ecc^r/nV-n;:; '"^"^ 1° "'^"'^?^ *''^'* vaporings as those of an
eccontnc old man v/ho could know little or nothing on the
Sh v^^'l"^^^*^ ' *^ ^P«^t °f the question which
stmwJ.^""'"'^/ 1 she started the ?hcmo. "Y^
stil haven t answered ^ it I asked-as to why men fall
m love w,th inferior women, and often with a^ind o
infatuation they hardly ever fed for the good ones ''
He took longer than usual to reflect. "Pare of man's
dual nature. Paul knew a good deal about that Ats
the new man m contrast to the old mai.-the imier man
trast to the carnal. The old, outer, carnal man falls in
tove with one kind of pei^on. and the new, inner, spWtul"
man with another. Depends on which element is the
stn,nger. The higher faUs in love with the higher tyS
the lower with the lower." '^
"But suppose neither is stronger than the other?-that
they re equally balanced— and— ?"
"And in conflict. One of the commonest sights in life
K^own feUows m love with two women at the sLe time^
with a good wife at home, mother of the children, and all
279
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
that— and another kind of woman somewhere eke. True
m a way, to 'em both. Struggle of the two natures " '
Lois was distressed. "Oh, but that kind of thine can't
be love.
"Can't be? 'Tis. Ask any one who's ever felt it—
whos been dragged by it both ways at once. He'll teU
you whether it's love or not— and each kind the real
thing- while it lasts."
It was the expression "while it lasts" that Lois most
resented. It reduced love to a phase— to a passing experi-
ence that might be repeated on au indefinite number of
occasions. It was more than a depreciation; it had the
nature of a sacrilege. And yet no later than the following
d-.y she received a shock that showed her there was some-
thing to be said in its favor.
She had gone nominaUy to see Rosie, but really to
verify for herself Jim Breen's report of the coUapse of
Jasper Fay s Uttle industry. She found it hard to beKeve
that after Claude's conduct toward Rosie her father-in-
law could have the heart to bring further Troe upon a
family that had ah-eady had enough. Nothing but seeing
tor herself could coerce her incredulity.
She had seen for herself. Over the little place which
had always been neat even when it was forlorn there was
now the stamp of desolation. The beds which had been
seeded or planted a month before, and which should now
have been weeded, trimmed, and hoed, were growing with
an untended recklessness that had all the proverbial
resemblance to moral breakdown. In the cucumber-
house the vines had become rusty and limp, sagging
frmn the twines on which they climbed in debauched in-
difference to sightliness. The roof of the hothouse that
had contamed the flowers had a deep gash in the glass
which It was no longer worth while to mend. There was
no yellow-brown plume from the furnace chimney, and
the very wmdows of the old house with the mansard roof
280
! 5
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
eyes
say at aU. L<as had accosted him. and thouXf^ t,o^
to look back and see that the very thing that ^ed ™^f
n^wiSm^Scery;.^^ "°*^«^ «-*"-
she ^Srri^W ^' ^^"^S •" P-««><=« till
worhariXr^'r ^r^° ^^rs^rr^:
=^w£itStoner!^S.i£FS
^ mysticism had vanished from the^ri^'be^
^ the mouths, o^ oil mS^^ome'^rSrofr^r
°letd&IF--s^-xr
m ™w-^^ to tan tor «»i» mmtt, bet„„ i.'^JX
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
With a hoe in his hand he crept forward, taking his place
behind a clump of syringa that grew near the gate, liady
to stnke If either of the lads ventured to put foot S
H^^^Ui^T^^T,*^** ^*^*^°° ** ^'^<*- according to
light-hearted Jun Breen, you would have died laugWne-
but Lois had difficulty in keeping back her tea«!^ ^'
.^^ fo^d Rode in the ht: house, of which the interior
corr^ponded to the gash in the roof. All the smSl«
ri^^ T^ ^° removed, disclosing the empty, ugly,
earth -stained, water - stained wooden stagings (My
s^^e ^half-dozen feni-tr«es remained of ^ the fonnar
dei"*wh^/T ^°^^ "T. ** ^°'^- ^«^« at ^<^ old
TCL- ?• depnved of its sheltering greenery was
shabbier than ever, making out bills. There wm still
money owmg to her father, and it was important that it
Sf "^r"''^^'';.-f "^ °"^ again'^r^te h^
neat Acct. rendered," while she added as a postscriot
"I^TVr^'^*- Going out of buS^'^*
T^T^tJk f ^ T^ anything on the dilapidated
E^. ^f "^"^ '*^.°' ^'^"^e^ ^t was Rosie.
With the r,iforced rest and seclusion foUowing on her
faaU^ dash to escape, her pi^ttiness had bedrmo^
dehcate, less worn. Shame at her folly had put into her
greenish eyes a pleading timidity which became a quiv^
mg babyish tremble when it reached the lips The
contrast which the girl thus presented to her^te!
Ter^^M Jr-'^r^ *^* ''^ ^'''y developing^i,^
^;T^ ^" *° ^^^ *** ^'^'^h hitherto she had
^Al^ or suspected, that the wild leap into the
praid had worked some mysterious good
hike her father and mother, Rosie had little to say
It^f^^^T^ embarrassing. There were too many
unuttered and unutterable thoughts on both sides to
make mtercourse easy or agreeable. All they could
achieve was to be sorry for each other, in a mSsi^to
respect each other, and to make up by «n^^^
282 ^^
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
the^in^?RS^5"iiS^«S^^ -ted at
staging. It fumshedlhriXtith^^../- %*"P*y
to be ^le to teU the new'pC^lf S^^'^i fath'^:
nad taken a iob with Mr Rr<u>„ tx rr^r . latner
Having given sympathetic views on these t«,Wc »=
I^ turned in surprise. "Yes, Rosie.? -What?"
Ix>« wondered. "What do you mean by that. Rode?"
a83
i
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THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
"Only that-that he needn't. I-I don't care whether
he stays away or not.
Lois took a step back toward the girl. "You mean
Hiat It doesnt make any difference to you what he
ooesr
She shook her head. "No; not now; not— not any
more. '
"That is, you've given him up?"
Rosie sought for an e.xplanation. "I haven't riven
mm up. I oidy—see."
"You see what, Rosie?"
" Oh, I don't know. It's— it's like having had a dream
—a strange, awful dreamT— and waking from it "
"Waking from it?"
.. ,^°^« nodded. She made a further effort to explain
After I— I did— what I did— that day at Duck Rock—
everything was different. I can't describe it. It was
hke dymg^-and coming back. It was like— like waking "
Do you mean that what happened before seemed—
unreal?
She nodded again. "Yes, that's it. It was hke a
play. But she corrected herself quickiv. "No- it
TOsn't like a play. It was more than that. It was' like
a dream— an awful dream— but a dream you like— a dream
you d go through again. No; you wouldn't go through
It agam— It would kill you." "She grew incoherent. "Oh
I don t know— I don't know. It's gone— iust gone. I
dOT t say It wasn't real. It was real. It ./as a kind of
frenzy. It got hold of me. It got hold of me body and
soul. I couldn't think of anything else— while it lasted "
Lois was pained. "Oh, but, Rosie, love can't come
and go like that."
"Can't it? Then it wasn't love." But she contradicted
r^..^^^" "Yes, it iwis love. It was love-while it
While it lasted! Whilfe it lasted! The phrase seemed
to be on every one's Hps. There was distress in Lois's
284
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
it ought to
voice as she said "Huf it ;«• »~ i ^
have lasted." »f >» was love. Rosie,
^"1 Rosie seemed to aeree with tier "v ..
have. But it didn't. if^cTt^ff- J"*: '* °"«ht to
away; it just-it just-^V' a^' J?°' 'l*^<^'* «»
struggling with the diSTshe f^nH T^8 ^«* h«4».
self. "After that da^t mrt R^l"* ^P'^^ng her-
It was on behalf of love that T.™'= r^u j •
»Sr"Si"i?i5^;r:sS'^ ■■'*»■'•«'
but I sha'n't see torTif tI T^^°*°°'"y *^«»«t-
^d of me; and wT^LiS^n^L'?^"' i"-."^'* »«
WMit to-to forget thetHl^' * ^ «^d of me. I
That love could bTlS tot^^^P* '°^^-
the tornado whose rare rfi« ~ oram-stonn- ssion—
wound to her t^d^t tlfe* "^Tt t^""'--^^ *
must be taken intn ^«^ t- ^^* *® natural man
also did .^S^^ to X^^"°",f.'^ « *- ^-tual
serene, smoo^lh^^'^f g^ ^^1^" ^ ^kf . to make a
the girl, studying Kb«^«^™^, '*?°f ^"""^K J°°« at
to say. calmir- wSuTl^^^ '^°'^.^" ^^ «We
taow I-.etSS.iTi.i?:^te o'^?'^""^
ne^leX'^TeS^JTh \ T^^^^^^^ was
awa.thatHoJ:rafS^p— -tn^e
' 1
■'J
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
gasping cry cs before. "Mrs. Mastennan! I want to
^iJZ'"^'''^'"''' ^' "^ "^y lookedTLd
mother. They think the world of you-mnther especiaUy
Do you suppose they'd mind very much if i-if 1 iJuwd?"
Lois was puzzled "If you did what. Rosier
_IfItumed; if I turned Catholic."
"Oh!"
n JIit^^f"^i ^^'?^ ^ Strong in Lois. She was
prepared to defend it by argument and with affection
For a minute she was almost on the point of stating the
S^^ Protestant position when sWas deterrJd by
R^i^ I?' °^ ^u^^ '^^ ^•°^<1 »>« h^ve said t^
^r^V ^^^.'^""beied suddenly something that he once
^■Z' ^ "/°? "TuT" ^y '^ ^^P^ °^ the Christian
rehgion, do it-for the least of them aU will save you "
Remembermg this. Lois withheld her arguments, asldng
Sig ThST" ''"'^''°^' "^y ^°^<^ y^ "^^^
Rode flushed. "Oh. I don't know. I've been "-she
hung her he«i-" I've been pretty bad. you W 7v2
tdd h^-^d I-I tried to kill m^-^ev^ihing^
^^^d you thrnk you'd get more help that way Uii^y
J!^^'l^^'t^°J- I'^nttwicelately-nothere-ia
town. It frightened me. I— I liked it "
. ^f^}^. <Jared she would have asked if Jim Breen had
"^Pired this sudden change, but she said, merdr^'^
I don tbeheye your father and mother would feel badly i^
Is rt that you want me to talk to them?-to help you
^^e nodded silently, and with face averted in a kind of
•' V«y well, thai, I will." She felt it due to her own
o^TCbo^toadd: "PerhapsIcandoitaUthebetIS
"•ecause-because my personal opinions are the other way.
386
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
you'U be happy, aftera^4S tli- ^' ""f ' ^ "J" ^ope
Rosie was too strone^d «.f ^"^ '^ ^«- you^
J^^tlS^.^:!;?,?- 5«^^-- :Vou a^ .,
I do. I begin. howe;«rfL^^„^^*?J^f can't ^V that
f°r my remaining puzd^ IlS , *''*^ '« not a reason
begin to ask if l^Cf^C^t^ }^% « the daiT^i
what it is. Do you? V^ T! '.'~^ anybody knows
Is >t a temporary thmgT-^l^'^ Tt «dividuak?
U matter? Is it one of thTSgh^S^TV^'^S^-^ d««
or.one of the lowest.'-or t j. 1 r^?'"'^^ we have?-
«"^natenature which^d^L^P"?*^ ™P^se of
t°God? Is there a%S^*'!r!i°Pi«<J Perfected leads
Is the one man on the^Tort^^ ^^"^ °^ <*« "ther?
would say. and the ottl'^^'L^f?^^ 1. ^^"^^'^ Sin,
stronger gains the victcj^r^l t *^^^• *^ *''«
ofthenatureofobsesS? liL^ v *^ """^^mg in love
ton^dc^ "ioIenTTSpa^ iT' ^''.«° '*« *«
Thor. darling, I begin to teSS;> . ,"^ '^'^y Passed?
^t^^gainlwanuTtTbeon^^.l^"- " '"^ «« to
f««Kl-a ground we don/t h,f^ ^^'^ g«>und-a new
but which SpsZZi^^J^^ «•«"* «s yet.
CHAPTER XXIX
THOKLBY MASTERMAN pondered on the word*
Lots had written him as he tramped along the bluffs
above the Mississippi, with the towers and spires of
Minneapolis looming like battlements through tiie haze
of an afternoon at the end of June. He had left the con-
ference on new methods of treating the thyroid gland
which was being held in St. Paul in order to think his
position out. Having motored over from his hotel in
Minneapolis, he preferred to "tramp it" back. The
glorious wooded way on the St. Paul side of the river was in
itself an invitation to his strong, striding limbs, while
the wine of Western air and the stimulus of Western
energy quickened the savage outdoor impulse so ready to
leap in his blood. The song of mating birds quickened it,
too, and the romance of the river gliding through the gorge
below, and the beauty of the cities eying each other like
embattled queens from headland across to headland and
through the splendor of the promise of a gold-and-purple
sunset.
It was a great setting for great thoughts, inspiring ideas
80 large that when he reached his hotel he found them too
big to reduce easily to paper.
"You ask me what love is, and say you don't know.
I'm more daring than you in that I think I do know. I
know two or three things about it, even if I don't know all.
"For one thing, I know that no one can do more than
say what love is for himself. You can't say what it is
for me, or isn't, or must be, or ought to be. That's my
secret. I can't always share it, or at any rate share it all,
388
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
Since love u the flnor-T^ '^ T »orrow from loving,
mfinite ^et^^^^^^J^^^ ^^*f^
arise W Se f^^t C^vS.^Tlr " '^"^'^
the same thing back wST^T. ^f ""* ^^P*"* '^^ «**
that special |uiuS to ^^? -^TT no one else haa
according to tSe pI^t*S«f ^u^^^ '"m« tf "^^
tree loved the oalm ft<»~ JT "" "• ""en the pine-
^^ -e-a'^tSTto'^eX.*^ ^« ^- ->
very blossom of one's soul ft m^t T I'^'-the
ance of the hibis<^ JT. » °T ^^''^ ^^ ^ l««uri-
it is w,^ n^cWlilt^J"' """^ *" Mn-itations; but
infinite Pn>S^ t^^^^d ST^ !° ^*'''
particular end T»,. •!„ t j ^** ■*"'* >t to that
^e^SsS totte ^ l««ls son^ething to the hibiscus
it gives rSbe oS^ Perf^? if-"^ ^'^^ ^^ what
eachofiFerswhatr^ "°° "" accomplished when
l<>^tarin^o£S°^^t1le'f-about
little mor* Vtte UtS^^.^ "" yard-stick for the
P-sible and "^Z^'J^ TcTT^^^
essence that makes it ft^l^ i '°^^tlie extraordmary
measures and kS^tsL^LTv.'''**^.** "^^^ '^
It is in the facr^^^t^I,*t^ty °f ^^ '«tum.
its own -pen.tion^'lil-^^ri -- -£
389
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
The one point on wUch I can fully accept your Christian
theology i» that your God is love. Given a God who is
Love and a Love that is God, I can see Him as worthy to
be worshiped. Call Him, then, by any name you please—
Jehovah, Allah. Krishna, Christ— you still have the
Essence, the Thing. Love to be love must fed itself
infinite, or as nearly infinite as anything human can be.
When I can't pour it out in that way— ^hen I pause to
reflect how far I can go, or reach a point beyond which
I see that 1 cannot go any further— I do not truly love."
Having written this much, he laid down his pen and
considered. He had said nothing personal, unless it was
by implication. It was only after long meditation that
he decided to leave the matter there. The prime question
was no longer as to whether or not he loved her, but as to
whether or not she loved him. That was for her to dedde.
It was for her to decide without his urging or tormenting.
He began to feel not only too sensitive on the subject,
bu*. too proud to make appeals to which she would prob-
ably listen out of generosity. Since he had been in the
wrong, it was for her to make the advances; and so he
ended his letter and posted it.
The discussion continued throughout the correspcndence
that ensued while he migrated from Minneapolis to
Milwaukee, from Milwaukee to Denver, and from Denver
to Colorado Springs. It was partly from curiosity of
travel that he zigzagged in this way across i.he cowntry,
and partly to make it plain to Lois without saying it that
he awaited her permission to come home. That he should
be obliged to return one day, without her permission if not
with it, was a matter of course, but it would make the
meeting easier if she summoned him. As a hint that she
could do so and have no fear, he asked her in a postscript
to one of his letters to tell him, when she next wrote, what
was happening to Rosie Fay.
To this she replied as simply and straighticrwardly as
he had put the question, imparting all that Jim Breen
390
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
had told her and whatever she had gleaned for herself,
adding ai a seeming afterthought in the letter she wrote
next day:
"If Rone eoHld bring herself to marry Jim it would be
the happiest of all solutions, and make things easier for
Claude. I think she will. If so, it won't be so much
because her hi«rt will have been caught in the rebound as
that the y e Uttle thing is mentally and emotionally
exhausted, i^ glad to creep into the arms of any strong,
good man who will love her and take care of her. Just
to be able to do that much wiU be enough for Jim. I see
a good deal of him; so I know. Every time he brings
an <wder of new plants we have a Uttie talk— always about
Roaie. His love is of the kind you wrote about the other
day; it has no yard-stick for the little more or the little
less in the return. Perhaps men can love like that morr
easily than women do. Uncle Sim seemed to hint ore
evening that there is generally a selfish strain in a woriian's
love, in that what it gets is more precious to it than what
it gives. I wonder."
Thor received these two letters together on returning
to Cdorado Springs from a day's visit to that high wilder-
ness in which John Hay sought freedom from interruption
in writing his Life of Lincoln. He understood fully that
Lois was deliberately being cruel in order to be kind. The
very spacing out of her information over two separate
days was meant to imprtss him and at the same time to
spare. Things would be easier for Claude, she said, when
she meant that they would be easier for him.
But for him it was a matter of indifference. That is,
it was the same kind of matter of indifference that pain
becomes in a limb that has grown benumbed. For reasons
he could hardly explain, that part of his being to which
Rosie Fay had made her pathetic appeal couldn't feel
any more. It was like something atrophied from over-
strain. There was the impulse to suffer, but no suffering.
Moreover, he was sure that though these nerves might
391
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
^knowledge „ iJZ, It Si^^^^SI-^i'''" "2
Mvebeen. A« an inddent m hb life it h^ l««»»i.. J^
;^ty Of «p«i«L .hi^^is ru^cSi^s
open on the Uttle table he had SST'un^J^^v'^^
Other tourists bore him compw? J^L^l^ '*^-
groups, smoking and driS^' TS„^.* "J
Europe, a suarestion ofr^ xTl- ^ ««K«tion of
blocted by ti^?K ^f^l^t^ " "^ <^'™««' '^s
interplay of rSiSTK^hL^h^l?*^ """^ ^^ * •Wft^*
1 A^the b3! ists re<.'sr«r^^^
a shr«l of miJt wilS«,rr^';r^ Perspective, without
thine to setTe .Tn^? ^* .°^ mystery, without any-
or l^y^d t£,^^'?^'2.^'^* '^ ''bove theL
began'^to thJ^r;p*?,JS^„:'ri,«rf J"** afternoon
by valleys, glens and^^^ t;?! ^'' ""8^' P^««=<J
with thri^^lt^^^^ *?" *15^ '^ '"^'d
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
«!<»>« "nd iwathed the piljMcle. and ftiftn—^ .u j
pa«e. «id put the horiKTto&Swy^r^.^ "^
•"wned for aoc« to he harK.^. .«— t ""'"" nenelt
man. painted *th Chev^» ^' ''"^"' ^ "^"^^^
of color into cSter wf^S^tn L!l * "^ ^'° s'**^-
melting. fading ri^^d^„T '°™.' "^«' ""'"sling.
f^^pRSJ^ti^l"? -Jta." melting agai^l.
could ever happen to hi^ to^" J*"^ •» «-<»
trut^ullr^^^ - SlTSl^lj,' *^* ^ «"
phaticallv be«>i.« t ^ "". "t^ """^ the more em-
them r haven't nX Ef^ "/«^«-h«l a doubt about
enabled me^ L" *;m'T^,.'"^ ^^ "Ef I h""^^
given you my best; and the second T^i u ^*'"
t without any restricti^*^* S j ^l'^\^
rat"t:s.pi^Lrr£S ^- ^^^-
ever it wL. I ^ -SStX^K!^ "^i d^!*
-thin, of a J^ r ir n^tSafS'^^tln
«93
i
I
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
«mnot enter into your analysis; but I do know that there
we higher and lower promptings in the human heart and
ttat in my case the higher turn to you. As compared with
iZLZ Ti^ "\*^* ship compared to the haveSTwScS
t:^::^^^''- ^«^P-«<-iforsomething.but
-n^^*^ ^u ^^'^'^ *° '^''^ *"■* «PI^ suspended here.
^1 ?i ^ n««t ""on^g began his preparations te
gradually tummg homeward. *- i— ux
CHAPTER XXX
IT was Wmiam Sweetapple, the gardener's boy, who in-'
1 formed Lois that Claude had come back, throwing the in-
f oimation casuaUy over his shoulder as he watered the lawn
Seen Mr. Claude to-day, 'm."
'.Z°\''°-J'^.^'^'^' Sweetapple." Lois contradicted.
Mr. Claude is m the West."
"He may be in the West now. 'm, but he wasn't at
twenty-five mmutes past two this afternoon."
Sudden fear brought Lois down a step or two of the
portico, over the Corinthian pillars of which roses clam-
bCTed in early July profusion. In white, with a broad-
bnmmed Wmterhalter hat from which a floating green
veU hung over her shoulders and down her back her
stoong. dim figure seemed to have gained in fulfihnent
of herself even in the weeks that Thor had been away.
Where did you see him, Sweetapple ?-<)r think you
saw him?
Sweetapple turned the nozzle of the hose so as to de-
velop a crown of spray with which he bedewed the roses
of all colors grouped in a great central bed. "I didn't
think, 'm. It was him."
"WeU, where?"
"See him first going into the woods leading up to Duck
Rock. That was when I was on my way to Lawyer
Petleys.
"Did you see him twice?"
"See him again as I comeback. He was down in the
road by that time— looking up toward old man Fay's—
Hadley B. Hobson's place that is to be. Old man Fay's
»9S
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
KyS'mV^" "°^ '^y- ^- ^ that.
apple!" ' ^°" '"'"* ^^« *«=« "Mistaken. Sweet-
hJXZ'Z ^'- '"•" '"^^^PP^" o^: "^t I see
she had been ym^^l^^'^J'^''^^^'^^^
way. a high growth If'^^f^^X^r'af,: ^°f^-
P^'^rs up and down WmoughwTw 7^,^ ^'^ *^!
year thev were rplati™i„ f ^ *^' ■'^t t'"^ ^^e of
County St^^ThaS^S^;- rrif^ ^^-f^^ °^
mountains. Lois eninv«l mT/ 8°"«.t° *« seaside or the
and thTTranqSui^^ ^-^^ **!f '"^°° ""^"^ "^""^^ her.
hors gave ^St to ^l^"^ f ^ '^^ P°<^ ""g^:
in thi ^h^rS the r^^^/^^P'^yr^^tivity, wMe
created by the^ab^S ofTthTwi5?ou^^ J^^^ 1?"^ ^
mans something within her J,ri3^^^^, , ^^*^-
r canno h^'it itTriJ"^ ""^ '^ '""* *^-
Now I feel-"S; ly IZd f ^pTit^ ^7"-" "°'^-
dispelled can i^ty be bn^ughTCc c^ 1-^°° °"''
replace it by realitv Who* ^^' . '®^ ^an you
stitute for k.^^o„ ^' T "? '"""^^ ^"^ '= » ^b"
396
gone dry. I hay.
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
^^^.,^r^^J understand what Rosie Pay said
"" n'^f.''?„:^J talked to her on Duck ^rS
I m empty; I've given aU I had to
give.' It was less
j,.j, , ^ vc jjivBu au 1 nad to give.' It wai
httle thing, had given so much and I so little. Ai^d%^
my supply seems to be exhausted
It
And yet
; have
"'"i^"-'. -— ~~ "~ "c cuutusiea. u must
thm and shaUow to begin with. As I feel atTi^^'iT
WJUM take a new creation to replenSh it ^ *
dear Tw!^,*° ""^ "'^^ ^°^ what is best in you,
oear Thor-well, any one would do that or anvtWn,.
You're one of thc»e who have nothing but thrff^
Z,l^». i' "'''?^ °° *^« ^^« °f the ang^nd
-mu dear mr; I'm sure of it. They may rescue ib
botii-«ven If at present I don't see how."
Having written this much, she paused to ask what she
M say fimher. Should she speak of Us ^^
?wl °- ^"l^ '^ ^*^ ^ ^ ^y^ her inSd
that he was on his way, it was best that he shouldl^
the r^ponsibihty of his own return. Should sIk^
him that Sweetap;. . thought he had seen Saude^ S
It would alarm him without doing any eood If PlniV*:
was back, he was badc-besides S^ l^^^tapJle^St
te wrong. So she signed her name with her usS^ 3:
l,owT». w^''°" ^^ ^ P"**^e °n the stamp. S^l
to be^ h"" T^^^°° «>" to send. She didn't^^
wJTc 'i^-y^y to be sincere. Sincerity during tt^
^l^fT^^' ^ ^T°^' ^ «>« °^ "hsession. Ste
^ta Jm- ^*^\*\'^'^ ^"^ei^"^ him as long a^
resentment hngered m her heart, and yet she was anxi™^
not to wound him more than she could hdp W<Se
hmi she wounded hei^lf more deeply, f^ in s^ of
everythmg his pain was hers. ^ y' "^ ^ spite of
Slowly she tore the letter open again to a sunset
chorus of birds of whose song diell^' £t b^^
30
397
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
flowers and ^Zs^d ^a^ "T** ''^^ world of
-1. deep sS-r rrXg sJ "'"S rr^' r
the voice that had aavYm™.!,- 1 1^ ." "* it was also
^d on that vSLT^nhen'^hrhS'^*^**^
wrist. The dav seemwl^^™ • ^ *^ ^^sed her
«me and ^L^^ZdZT^^t t^Tu ^
but the voice was still the^ &^LTTv- ^^^ ^^•
-treating, with an in^^^' t^fZ^2ke^^-
She wrote hurriedly in postscriDt^^^f T^ ''^P"
anything 1 could do for y^ dSfTho. f '^ *^"
used to feel would come Ck to J?°'^;.^'^f '^'^t I
but will it Tj^Jr^"" ^"^ '^^^y ^d restoratioi-
thiJ'tSnn^^^^.^^J-no-oresatisfiedwith
aU she could altow h^f^ SI "^""^v^* '' ^P'^^
have pennitted iL^tf^ ^^ Anything more would
flitted her to infeTan^dLT^^. ^. as he had per-
son. She ended thrn^dSn,>Y '""^t.ha^e "o repeti-
the post. ^ definitely, getting it ready for
of tts^'SL^n^ ^iJSlr^^eL^-;*^^ ^^"^
Having come 3 to ^^-a ^^' *^ ^'^ Claude
Willia^ ^ta^ h^sSll"« aSfd-S' * "^^ ^°«
He was smiling, but asT^.; distance, smiling,
oould neither L nLlpL^^flT" ™«^*. "^^^ ^
could neither speak ^K;,i%?S^^<^« ""^
-but a specter^o hasS^Li, ^ ^^ * "P^^t**
that of thTspecS TrfS h!f ^^- ^ ^ety smile wts
«id yet has^^ "^ "° "^^^ *° «»n« <«t of heU.
•98
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
it would have b4« tte Z^Z't^!' '^ ^o^ard
dumb. But he did notto., w \ ^"^^ ^ ^'^ and
that awful smile wWche^LJS ^^^ '*°«* ^^ smiled-
nctusofpain. iTst^^, ri^^^V^'* ^^-n -y
turmng the comer ofTe h^ ^4^?^" ""t" ^«ht. on
of the rose-bed at his left S ^^ "^^ ^'''"s
this, she had alwaj^ i,S!i„^'Lj*7« ««<=Uy like
-^ astr^ ^"-^^S'ar^SS'^ta
Shf^ij^^T^Tp^^f^^-ltiesatlast. .-ciaudei"
^teS; rtTvL^^nSmttrs tlr-^ *^
he ^d. in a voic« which mt^l^*^^ ^^ ^« that
She remembered afterward fh=f «.^ .
hands nor exchanged WTtu^^* f f^ '^"ther shook
but at the rrSTAt^\T^,^T^ °^ ««««"«.
Her own tone was S stS ^^T" ^^l**"^ *°"ld:
-^SSd^^o^S^^S'^IS^Sr^yinto
head and look at h^i<^k ^^f . ^,7°"ld «ise his
'^as to open his ey«shi^tT\^* "*• "^ ^e did
yesterday/^ ^ ^"^y- ^ ^e replied. "Got back
399
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
J^i, T'ul'^,^ "y *"** so much she was afaad
to say that she hardly knew with what to begin. " W^-t
y«. • ^she ventured, timidly-" wenm't you^ving a^
. ^ ««7«- M he lay b, Jc with eyes closed again was
H^l^ ««^« only dimm^now witSTf^
bitter-sweetness. She knew it was like asking a man if
^l^l^"^'^''"^^'^^- Nevertheless, the
ground of COTunon, practical things was the only one to
ti« house every mght-with no one in it. D^t^^
want to come here.?" ^
He shook his head. "No, thanks. Mrs. Mages wiU
make my bed and give me breakfast. That's all I ne^
Get the rest of my meals in town."
"But you'U-stay to dinner now, won't you?"
He Mted hmiself up in his chair at last, his face taking
on_.te first look of life. "Thor be there'" ^^^^^
know?'^' °°" ^"'^ ^^y~^ t^e West. Didn't you
1oo^;K?""^^- "^^' ^ ** ^-*? Not
thfZ^^^^^''■ :'Of«»««not. He went to attend
hte^w^~°^"^^'"P°^- He's on his ^y
"When do you expect him?"
histtae/"'**""'*' I 'J""'* know when. He's taking
frJ°CorraSs'^n?- ' "^•^- ^^ '"* '^'^^ ^^
He dropped back into the chair with a tired sigh of
it l^^i^^- Il^taytodinner. Thanks."
^fZ.^7f *-,f J° '*'*• ^^8 °° °^°^ q««»ti°ns than
she comd help till dinner was over and they had corned
agam on the portico, so that he might ha^e his^^
300
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
the cool, scented evening air. She was more at ease
with him. too, now that she could no longer see thp T(
fering in his pinched, emaciated face '^'
"Claude, why did you come home?"
sav "STt*^" ?I^ fr°« his lips just long enough to
say. Because I couldn't stay awav " -o s <«
"Why couldn't you?"
"Because I couldn't."
^^•t you think it would have been well to make the
cojiXl^it up?'?""" °' "^« ^' ^°^ -^- I
" But you kept it up for a while."
"Not aftei^-a:ter I heard."
"Heard about Rosie?"
He made an inarticulate sound of assent
What did you hear?"
"I heard— what she did."
"How? Who told you?"
;'^t chump Billy Cheever. Wrote me."
How did he know it had anything to do with you?"
Oh. I was fool enough to teU him about her once—
and so he caught on to it. Put two andl^^o tSethn
suppose, when he heard that-that-" '"S^'^er- I
hra?d\Z^Ht Sr'il^' ^* J^ =^- ^^^ ^
He'Sd^lTtha^"^*'^- "«^ ^' ^^ °- ^^■
"It was Jim. He saved her." As the statement
^^ \"^^T%:.^^ continued, "Claude, what did
you come home /or f"
attnit^-^ot^rh?^ ''' '"'"*■ '-^^
I ^•fZt.T:'^^ *° ^p- •-^- ^y^- "Cl-u'le.
t think you will."
301:
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
•'Oh yes, I gh«a."
"What makes you so sure?"
Because I am."
^•?n aot. Or. «ther. if I «„ „^^., ^ ^^
^Sl^SZ't^ tiL^ "». °- -'^ch there
for God's Mtel m^H?^ ^ '^y *^ covering. "Lois,
thing. Teuti ^^ =*» y«« mean? You know some^
^. leume. She hasn't gone away with ThorVllL
^^.nmBreen. She'/S'in ^ *.^ tT)^' , ^j^
se^ruSaSirto^crS'^iL^^^iT^^^ ^
the deck-chair aeain thourfTh.^* ' J! ^^ ''"''^ ^to
feet o„^ ^o^jXt'-C'^tZ^^^ ^
becaSSeSg'ofShlS?!'^*^ '»«'*"«^y
"^e h^t"^ through^'wi.?^^.'. "^ ^~ ^
leaving her^Sv^liT^"" ""5^^^-
into the house to find a d^'and foT^ffn "IT ^°T 8°^K
respite necessary to selS,S^ t ^ ^^ ''^ '^"*«'''
come that throb of h^T^r' , T° "^^ ■'— to over-
holding her W Wh^! "^ °^^?^ *» walk steadily,
of the%i^^S ^th T f'^!*^' *°°' *° "^t
Claude.C-^^^^t^S^h'SS'^-
30a "™»UI,
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
to prepare him by desrae* Tu. t ^ .
>n8ly passed ovJl^^'^^J'^,,^^^ it had seem-
«ge. As she mounted tte ^SLTJ^*"? *° *« °"t-
she repeated her own f<Cuir^'^l*'"V° ''*' "«»
?»dw.n thought cut be/^^'. ^fi '^'>'' *•■'«'
been neither weU thought^'no, w ^ *£* '"^ ^"^ had
tion had been oveChSZ* pj^t^' ^' *^* '^"P*-
seemed secondary that TW*^., JT ** "^^ant Jt had
lust«y of the episode thS^e diT^r^"^."'' '^
t Jch an action possible M«^ S .^' ""^ ^°^eht
«he saw that so^apnallC^^ ^'er bef^
of the litUe c«at4 S^va^f ' ^T *'«' P°^'°n
had been going oTdW t*^^ P'^l ""d that it
apparently so peaceftHLd^TC^ ':?*?' '"^ '^
fool's paradise. It was n^t tm h.T^-,^ ^"^^ " her
Thor had come to h« in^.^^w ^ '^' ** ^k''' that
twitter of birfs and ^edZ'^'^J"^ "^^ *e
accompanying those haStS 5^^°'^!^ *'*^"^
beheve. She herself had be^fef,!^ ^ ''^ ^««- to
jng thc,t he could love her-^Tt ?^h "'"* ,^^" ^ «^«»»-
her, there was nothSgTt'aul hi ft,T ^"'^ *° ^^ ^o^
been the more falsefor ?he ^It^tw ^°^^- »« had
he had been siac^ il wl!^" J^*- ?« far as he went,
tri<*ed her. L^Tthan ^rtt^- ^-""^^^ty that had
he had stamm^ S^ f^I*fS ^"? '"^ ^V "hen
It possible to pardon hiiT ^P^anations did she feel
But there was somethiie else M«w v u ,
could Jbwn;. in his orp3 ♦ 1 , ' "^ *he chose, she
betmy anything ShSol? °^ "^^ ^^""^^ "^^^^
the emphasis aLi Uy iS oJthl''"''^'?.'^' '° throw
would come out. It waTTil.?., !^' ^",'' ^""^ ''hole story
hands-, key that So^ld S'ock IS'fh^i'^ T^ '"^ "2
were her terror. She was stiU i^^T "?y^tenes which
"Sing it after she h«l^^ '"^'"'*' ''°''«^er, as to
wardrobe, thrown it ov^^^ ^ ^ opera-cloak from a
stai« agaiT^ * ^^ shoulders, and gone down-
303
THE SIDP, OF THE ANGELS
She found Claude as she had left him— astnde on the
deck-chair, his face in his hands, the burning end of the
cigar that protruded between his fingers making a point
of light. The abject attitude moved her to pity in spite
of everything. She herself remained standing, her tall
figure thrown into dim relief between two of the white
Corinthian pillars of the portico. By standing, it seemed
to her obscurely, she could more easily escape if any such
awful revelation as she was afraid of were to spring on her
against her will. She could almost feel it waiting for her
in the depths of the heavy-scented darkness.
For the minute, however, the folly of Claude's return
was the matter immediately to be dealt with; to get him
to go away again was the end to be attained. It was with
this in view, as well as with a measure of compassion, that
she said:
"You poor Claude! You havt been through things,
haven't you?"
The answer came laconically: "Been in hell."
"Yes, that's what I thought," she agreed, simply. "I
thought it the instant you came round the comer this
afternoon. But why? For what reason— exactly?"
He lifted his haunted face, stammering out his recital
in a way that reminded her of Thor. She could see that
he had profited by his mistake of a few minutes earlier,
and that just as Thor had tried to tell Claude's story with-
out involving his own, so Claude was endeavoring to
sppje her by doing the same thing. Being able to supply
the blanks more accurately now than on the former
occasion, she found a kind of poignant, torturing amuse-
ment in fitting her knowledge in.
He began with his first meeting with Rosie, describing
the scene. He had not taken the adventure seriously, not
any more than he had taken a dozen similar. Girls like
that could generally be thrown off as easily as they were
taken on, and they bore you no ill-will for the change.
As a matter of fact, a new flirtation generally began wherv
304
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
the old one ended, which made pwt of the fan for tho
JiriMfortheman. He wm „«kmg of «.pectS,l7rirS
1*™ »o vmderBUnd-vilkge girta. Aop girU. and oSS
of the h gher wage-eanung variety, who didn't mind show-
UuTt^e^'^d^.'^'T '"^^ "^"^ •"<* '^'^'^ ^■
If vf.f „ » ]• ""? "*" "° ""»* '«»• it « the end.
flz^? ' "f^ to him that Rode would be different
from other, of the class, or that she would take in Sy
ean»«t what was no more than play for him
d™r^.!^ Y made this discovery he had tried to with-
to pledge himself he grew incoherent, as also over the si™
which caused him to suspect that Rosie was playine fwt
who was m love with her" and who was "ready d out
up money" threw her back on memories o7w» u^eS
f^T t"'*™^^ '^^ °" *e evenings after the return
trom the honeymoon. It was with a sense of the key
shppmg mto the lock that she said: ^
"Aiid that made you jealous?"
"As the devil. It was because it did that I knew I
couWn t give her up-that I'd never let her go."
There was smcere curiosity in her tone as she asked the
question, "But. Claude, why did you ?" ^^
"Because slie lied to me."
"Oh I And had you never lied to her>"
th,W '"1^"'^ something about that not 'being the same
thmg. She swore to me that there'd never been any
put-up job between her and— and— " ^
.™!h l!^''^.,-'^ °"*- "Th^the other person." She
tS" ^^ ^*^^ "^ '* *'™<^- "^^ ^^
.J^l "^? 5^ impatient, circular movement of his head,
^though his coUar chafed him, with which she was
•^rT'., .! 7^ ^^^^^ *™^ ^ °^er to use tact.
Oh, I don t know. There was-theie was somethine
30S ^
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
Whateyw it wu, the denied it, when aU the wUle tlwr
She felt obliged fuUy to turn the k^y. She knew how
keepitUdc. "They were what. Clmude?"
They were trying to catch me in a trap."
Ur^Zf*^ '?' ^.°°r ^*^ ^ '^ °' mysterie. opening,
but only to make disclosures dimmer and more myiS
•tiU. The postponement of dreadful certainties eniAled
to. however, to say with some slight relief, "But thia-
l^J^fu"*^ *^*^'* •^^ '^ ^O^ fond <rf her
himself if he— if he gave her up to you "
J«l,?T*^i^ '"^«'?' '•^'^ ^'° h" hands, muttering
toward the floor: "Oh, I don't know. I don't w^
now. Anyhow, she lied to me. and "-he lifted his has-
^rdey« again-'-and I jumped at it. I saw the ^y
out-and I jumped at it. I told h«--I told her-I'd Jo
and marry some one else." "
"Did you mean Elsie Darling?"
He nodded speediles^l/.
1..? '^ to fnie back again to the point which her anger
had caused her to miss that she went forwarti and laid
her hand oa his shoulder kindly. " I would, Claude if I
were you, she said, in a matter-of-fact voice. "She'd
make you a good wife."
"No "ne will niake me a good wife now," he said
hoarsely. " I m gomg to marr-^ Rosie. I'U marry her if
itpute mem the gutter. I'll many her if I n^have a
She went back to her place between the pillars, leaning
agamst one of them. "But. Claude." dT^S^
wou^d that do any good? Would it make either of yoJ
happy, after aU that's been said and done ?"
*W T°^.*° 'T**'- "I don't care anything about
that. I've got to do it." / s "u
';You haven't got to do it if Rosie doesn't want it."
It s got nothmg to do with her."
306
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
wiS^hiT'^^^i^SJ^t. ■•Nothin.tod.
He tried to explain furtker. He hmA nr* ~.- _.i
^ iMudcto .tone for T^^l J^Ld tn^
5:rrhL'hin.,5!-Sr^^Lirhir '••
S^oS^hif '**'* ^"^ cha«tisen,ent^ulS:
Sfs thS .K. ^"«,^* y*""^ ^ ^^'^ hounding^^f
i-ois thought that traveline in the W«it «ro. u .
woma sacnfioe both to regain a measure of his self-resoect
s^t^dr='in'ti" "^r -pp-^<^^t
longer to tile n«W^^ m maxrymg hrni, but that was no
Shave b2±ft° ^: ■ ^'^^°8 ^''^ Claude who
307
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
"I'm a gentlemen— what?" he asked, raising his white
face pitifuUy. "Imustactlikeagentlemen-whatr
^^Yes, but if it's too late, Claude-for that particular
']0h, but it isn't— it won't be— not when she sees me "
It might be; and if she doesn't want it, Claude I
don t see why you — "
"You don't see why because you're not me. If you
were, you would. A woman hasn't a man's sense of
honor, anyhow."
^ She let this pass with an inward smile in order to say
But, Claude, suppose you can't do it?"
He twisted his neck, with his customary chafing
irntated movement. "I'll do it— or croak."
"Oh, but that's nonsense!"
"To you— not to me. You haven't been through the
mill that I ve been ground up in. You don't know what
It IS to have been bom— bom a gentleman— and to have
blasted yourself into human remains. That's what I am
now— not a man— to say nothing of a gentleman— just
human remains— too awful to look at."
She tried to reason with him. "But, Claude you
mustn't exaggerate things or put the punishment out of
proportion to the crime. Admitting that what you did
to Roste was dishonorable — ^brutal, if you like—"
"Oh, it isn't that. It's what I did to myself. Can't
you see?"
She saw, but not with the intensity of Claude himself
Sittmg down at last, she let him talk again. He had felt
SOTiething shattered in him, so he said, at the very minute
when he had turned to leave the cucumber-house on the
day of the final rapture. He knew already that he was a
cad, and that he was doing what only a cad would have
done; but he had expected the remorse to pass. He had
known himself for a cad on other occasions, and yet had
outlived the sense of shame. That he should outKve it
agam he had taken for g v-.nted, though he knew that this
308
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
S2>'thrSSL^:'*K*°"*^"'"«- H« was willing
of SvX T ? ""^ V ' ^""^ ^ ''^'^ h^mcL^:
W f„ ,r '^'.u ^"^"^ '* °°t unreasonable to exoect
her to share the responsibility for what had o^eS!
follow his ex^pie in marrying some one elS!^ ^
tw u u .,, „°PP°'^"°>'y t° have fully come "T
KhtaSe "''^^'" '^ J'^ ^-—^ ^"'-ly
"Oh, rot!"
distaste for diversion having declared itiw^fr^tt H
My thmj to be dofic ™ to tm hi, (,«» euo».S
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
deem himself. Redemption had become for him a need
more urgent than food, more \ital than life. Though he
didn't use the word, though his terms were simple and
boyish and slangy, Lois could see that his stress was that
which sent pilgrims to the Holy Sepulcher, and drove
Judas to go and hang himself. Redemption lay in
marrying Rosie, and restoring his honor, and bringing the
Claude who might have been back to life. Indeed, it was
difficult to tell at times which of the two was slain—
whether the Claude who might have been, or the other
Claude— so distraught and involved were his appeals.
But beyond marrying Rosie and keeping his word— being
a gentleman, as he expi-essed it— his outlook didn't
extend. "Any damn thing that liked could happen"
when that atoning act had been accomplished.
There were so many r^titions in his turns of thought
that Lois ended by following them no more than listlessly.
Not that she had ceased to be interested, but her mind was
occupied with other phases of the drama. She remem-
bered, what she had so often heard, that in the Master-
mans there was this extraordinary strain of idealism of
which no one could foresee the turn it would take. She
knew the traditions of the great-grandfather whose heart
had broken on findine that America was not the regen-
erated land he hoped for. Tales were still current in the
village of old Dr. Masterman, his son, who through sheer
confidence in his fellow-men never paid any one he owed
and never collected money from any one who owed it to
him. Archie Masterman, in the next generation, was
supposed to have taken the altruistic tendency by the
throat in himself and choked it down; but Unde Sim
was a byword of eccentric goodness throughout the
countryside. Now the impulse was manifest in Claude,
in this revulsion against his own failure, in this marred
and broken vision of a Something to which he had not
been true. And as for Thor . . .
310
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
But here she was tortured and frightened. Who knew
wtat this strange inheritance might be working in him?
Who could teU how big and tender and transcending it
might become ? That it would be transcending and tender
and big was certain. If poor, frivolous, futile Claude
could feel hke this, could feel that he must I'edeem his soul
though "^y damn thing that liked" should happen as the
PTKX of his redemption, in Thor the yearning would
outflank her .^ge. Might not the secret of secrets be in
that? Might not that which she had been seeing as
treachery to herself be no more than a conflict of aspira-
tions? If Claude, with his blurred distortion of the di-
vine m him, served no other purpose, he at least threw a
hght on Thor. Thor, too, was a Masterman. Thor too
was bom to the vision— to the longing after the nationally
perfect that had become legendary since the time of the
great-grandfather--to the sweet, neighborly affection that
ran through all the tales of that man's son— to the sturdy
righteousness of Unde Sim— to the standards of honor
from which poor Claude had fallen as angels fall— and to
God only knew what high promptings strangled and
vitiated m his father. Thor was heir to it all, with
something of his own to boot, something strong, something
patient, something laborious and loyal, something long-
suffermg and winning and meek, that might have marked
the leader of a rebeUious people or a pagan, skeptic Christ.
Her mmd was so full of this ideal of the man against
whom— and also for whom— her heart was hot that she
made no effort to detain Claude when, after long silence,
he picked up his hat and slipped away into the darkness.'
m
' m
CHAPTER XXXI
'1
LJE slipped away into the darkness, but only to do
i 1 what he had done on the previous evening ufter
making arrangements with old Maggs. He climbed the
hiU north of the pond, not so much in the hope of seeing
Rosie or any one else, as to haunt the scenes so closely
associated with his spiritual downfall.
It was a languorous, luscious night, with the scent of
new-mown hay mingling with that of gardens. If there
was any breeze it was lightly from the east, bringing
that mitigation of the heat traditional to the week fol-
lowmg Independence Day. As there was no moon, the
stars had their full midsummer intensity, the Scorpion
trailing hotly on the southern horizon, with Antares
throwing out a fire like the red rays in a diamond. Be-
neath it the city flung up a yellow glow that might have
been the smoke of a distant conflagration, while from the
hilltop the suburbs were a-sparkle. As, standing in the
road, Claude looked through the open gateway down
over the slope of land, the hothouse roofs and the dis-
tant levels of the pond gleamed with a faint, ghostly
radiance like the sheen of andent tarnished crystal.
The house was dark. It was dark and dead. It was
dark and dead and haunted. Everything was haunted-
everything was dark. Even the furnace chimney loom-
ing straight and black against the stars was plumeless.
But m the silence and stiUness there was something that
drew him on. He crossed the road and went a few paces
w.thm the gate. He hi«i not ventured so far on the
previous evening, and during the day he had dared no
3"
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
more than to look upward from the boulevard below after
that pilgrimage to Duck Rock on which William Sweet-
apple had surprised him. Now in the darkness and
quietness he stood, not searching so much as dreaming
He was dreaming of Rosie, dreaming of her with a kind of
cheer. After all, he would be bringing joy to her as well
as gettmg peace of spirit for himself. It wouldn't be so
hard. She would meet him as she used to meet him here
as she used to let hun come and visit her, and then the
atonement would be made. The process would be simple,
and he should become a man again.
The conviction was so sweet that he lingered to enjoy
It, penetratmg a few steps farther into the spacious dim-
ness of the yard. It was the first minute of inward ease
he had known since he had turned his back on it. Now
aiat he was once more on the spot, the Claude who was a
devil-of-a-fellow, something of a sport, but a decent chap
aJl the same, began again to run with red blood where
there had been nothing but a whining, shriveling apostate
It was like rejuvenescence, like a re-creation.
Suddenly something moved. It moved at first in the
shadow of the house, and then out in the starlit spaces
It moved stealthily and creepily and with a grotesque
swiftness. Its action seemed irregular and uncertain
hke that of some night-marauding animal, till Claude per-
ceived that it was stalking him. He waited long enough
to get a view that was almost clear of a crouching attitude
the crouching attitude of a beast when it means to sprine
whereupon he tuniisd and fled.
That is, he turned and walked away swiftly. He would
have run had it not been for his renascent self-respect
He couldn't bring himself to run frxjm poor old Fay even
though his nerves were tingling. "He tried to reassure
hmiself by saying that it was no more than a repetition
of that dogging to which he had been subjected before
and that it would discontinue once he w s off the premises.
But when he turned to glance over his shoulder it seemed
^1 313
1i!
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
re^eS,%ti!rve'<^^o^«ded after hi». T^,
startlmgofsi<imMrin=2J^ XT .themselves to the
with renewed tap,^*^^°!l.^ ^/J^-J^. "'ways
track him down. 1^^ ^JL^T^ u^'^- *^8 ^
own driveway, he bX^f i?j^ *^f. "^^^'y °f thw
which was no^t s^^ tiSe^^^^i*^ "^^^^ ^
tection of the door. ^ "" ''^ reached the relative pro-
do it promptly. Wkh s^l^f.. "l * "^ ^^'^^^ *<>
sense of being hLea^ltr?^^^^'* ^"^^ and the
was a devilif-aSl^iTir "^' *^ ^'^"''« ^h"
Waiting after bi^L^!^, >" * ^ ^ir way to be reborn.
he took'his way ^^LS^^Jr^ ^°-^^ ^ be discreet.
Of hL''stiid\?nS%rr ^ T°- - •—
woidd be no mo^ sIuiii^J^^„ ^ cwcealments. There
hotho,«e. or h2itS^^o^^'''^°^^^*^°f«'e
walkupkndav?wSf-t„??J°^*^.°^- »« would
-oH^e. ^eiShi^;-^----
aS4S::£t'h?rci^'^ttr ^ ^
hTs^Jd"stS^SI.->.^jS£rhT^
himself, a gash in his o^^J^^ "i^a P-h !^tlun,
d«am of a reconstituted self ^wL « gash m the
father had refused SrreS;al ^ ^^ "^"^l '^' ^
some time in the near^^~ p '"^ "^"^ *at at
but he had not ^p^ th^ ^!^ ^^ have to go;
demoralizaUon X^^^* «nmedmte signs of compl^
concerted wS! ^* ^^ '^ ^^ere they dis-
314
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
grown. Vetch, burl^ td 11^ fantastically over-
not with the pETanTlS^fTe Tp^^
to be on the soot Hp ihlTT? j '''^° '^ * "ght
^^o.^ehoth^,t^?irto"X^r^J-
tiU the fern-tree was deSd i^X T' ^'t"'^^ P^"^
Hello, Claude!"
315
i i
THE SIDE OF TJE ANGELS
which had come back, not with ita native spontaneity, but
danngly and aggressively, as a brave man smiles at a foe
Claude resented the attitude; he resented the smile- he
resented the use of his Christian name; but he was re-
solved to be diplomatic. He went forward a few steps
farther still, but m spite of himself his voice trembled
when he spoke. "Mr. Pay 'round?"
Jim answered nonchalanUy. "No; gone to town Want
a good fern-tree, Claude? Two or three corkera here
Look at that one, now. Get it cheap, too. Dandv in the
comer of a big room."
Sickeningly aware of his feebleness in contrast with this
ea^, honest vigor, Claude made an effort to be manly
and matter-of-fact. " Mr. Pay selling off?"
"Not exactly selling off. Fixed things up with father.
Fathers taken the stock, and Mr. Pay's going in with
hmi. Dicto t want this old place any longer." Jim con-
tmued, loftily. "Kind o' clung to it because he'd put
money mto it, like. Money-eater; that's what it was
Make more m a year with father than he would in this
^d rockery in ten. Hadley B. Hobson's bought the place
Know that, don't you? Come to think of it, it was your
old man who owned it. Well, it's Hadley B. Hobson's
now— or will be the day after to-morrow. Have a sweU
residence here. Good enough for that, but too small for a
plant like Mr. Fay's." ^^
Claude did his best to digest such details in this informa-
taon M were new to him while he nerved himself to say
Is Miss Fay a-about ?" '
Jim nodded toward the blank windows of the house.
Moved. Better take a fern-tree, Claude. Won't get a
bargain hke this, not if every florist in the town goes
bankrupt. This one's a peach, and yet you'll caU it a
scream compared to the one I've got inside. Bring it out
M as you can get a squint at it. Can't wait, can-'t you?
WeU.solong! Got to finish my job. Back, Maud, tock!
Any time you do want a fern-tree, Claude—"
316
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
awved to^ ^ '»«ot to know where the Fays have
"iteL^^fthXiSi.?^- "^'^' - ^-'^'-
What part of town?"
^m. turned at the hothouse door. "Oh. a ve^r rn'oe
"But that's not telling me."
anybody else. H old^ ^^ ^^t^^^^"" won't ask
nule of the place—" ^ *° ^ y°" within a
Claude decided to be confidential -nu
is.;^/£'*'^^r K^^^ H'sasfarashe
^^SS/s^S'oJ&r.ri* ^r «» ^«^-
Jkw. " If he think^" to get his information some-
give him a darned wide h.»*ut^' ^ "as you I'd
"fS<^/^^-^-^"^iS^'°""
don't STo^iTS^vS^^Sf^-' ?^^'^- « 3^-
Claude was beside^^ ^.h**!,^* six mo„th^.,
good God. man?rv^ ^fh,T^ «asperation. "But.
don't you s^ -^ ve come back to many Rosie! Now
ovi'"th^i°XJt^:Zr'^ ""^"^ ''°-' ^t-*ng
Clear out. aU ^^^ °^ ^^"^ ^ old man Fay.
317
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
weU, you can't." " ^** marrying Rode-
thS^.^ aggx^ve. "If thaf. becu« you
on-*, t' B* a {^ r^T* "^"^ "^ *^* «^ I'«
very good reason" ' ^^^ you. and for «
te^^'^^' ^''"'^ '^--'^. -th hi. best at-,
tha?-!t£'=2^^'^"— <l<^tic. -ne reason
-other Rosie altogether tittS^ght^J 'iS ;:„S
The Rosie you knew, Claude was »n i;™« j u-
as I held her in my arm^ whaeW^- ^/T" *"'* ^^^
ashore. She was eonT^-^hr J^i ^'"^ ^'^^ ^^^ "s
was as much iXa^ as Se^Xl^x. "".* °* ''*'• ^he
eyes were shut aS^lyXt^"^^*^^- Her
see the fringe of a flo^ hSrSfH' 'T ^ ^"^ "^^^^
ing. AndLmoSSTyrw'rlrd^^'^T
Si^^y'^^trs-S*?^^^-^
THE SIDE OF THE ANGE
^^^^^"^1'''^.^^^'^ •^'^d her
LS
lips
compunction. ^' * *^ *°"* '»°^«d Jin> to
thJS 2S^ !2u^e rtsr arth'" *"^ *° "'^''
siating from his obiect"^™ * ^f ^^* '™e de-
you uunk I m gomg to run away—"
ago about the place being too
319
smnH
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
My Lord I you d think no one ever h.d hothott«bdfo«
•nd never would again. You'd think it wa. the «^^
the world to hear him talk. You'd die laughS« The
feUow he'd like to put it over on is your old i^" (^
me a mouthful about him three or four timet a dav-^
atfem. Lucky he's in Europe. But I'U catei him do^
don't you fret: <«d I'U calm down Matt, once I J^aS
Let me have two months-let me have a m<mth(-and
1 Uhave em commg to you like a gnty squir«l comes for
Out in the roadway Claude made a last effort to react
agamst his humiliation, doing it almost tearfuUy. "But
-^ T" J™' ^> «°* *° ""^ Rosie-I've gat to." '
ilie Irishman m the young man was stiU in the as-
cendant as he wagged his head sympathetically. "Sure
you've got to-if she wants it."
''Well, she does want it, doesn't she? She must have
told you so, or you wouldn't know so much about it."
•♦- nJ. ^^.""f ■" "*^* •* ^"»n seeding to sale, and
It s God s truth I m handing out to you-no blu«E at all.
inis Kosie s another proposition."
Jl^'l^^A^^- ^^^^""^ she is," Claude declared,
bravely; and I've got to see her, too."
Jrni looked thoughtful. "It isn't so easy to see her
because- Well, now. Ill teU you strS cCd^
because it makes her kind o' sick to think of you. Oh
thats nothmg!" he hastened to add. on seeing a second
convulsion pass across Claude's face. "Sure she'd feel
the same about any one who'd done the like o' that to her
now wouldn't she? It isn't you at all-mot any more thai^
It d be me or anybody else." ^^
ex'kL'^""^'^ see her." Claude said, weakly. "I'd-I'd
^u.^\^\y°^,"^'^'* "^P^^ V^<^ enoagh. That's
where the trouble about that 'd be. She'd be dowToa
3ao
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
the floor in a faint before you'd be able to «ay knife.
You couldn't get near her at aU at aU-not this Ro^
""'l .J".** ^P"*" "'^y the pound beneath her feet."
Shed get over that-' Claude began to plead.
Mi.l'H if ./T/' "^ '* '^'^'^ ^ her fint; but it's my
^fjl Zff ^ T ~^*^ '^^ ■«*" her the night Se
told me about you! It was like cutting out her owS heart
and pickmgit to pieces. She's never mentioned you before
norsmcj^dldon'ttWnkeverwillagain. nJmT^'
he contmued. m a reasoning tone, "there's no two wa^
r^' U "^^ J°"> ff ^ «•* °"*-^°' * spei at S
rate. If you don't, old man Fay 'U be after wu with a
gun and what Matt Fay '11 do^may be wo^ Tc^
handle them if you'll keep from hanging yourself out
hke a red rag to a buU, like; but if yoS7on'^T«i toe
Lord only knows what '11 happen."
"What 'U happen," Claude cried, with a final up-
leapmg of resistance, " is that you'U many Rarie."
,.J'^^^^^,^^^'^^yerae. Don't you fret about
that But I won t try to marry her-not if I see that she's
got the east httle bit of a wish to many you, Claude
il^^^i^; «'*erfr««'^^°^''^thr'^ysheis
now and gets so as to be able to think of you ag^ and
.T.? y^-'T^ y°" of her own free will-thei I'li put
up the ba^ for you myself-and that's honest to God."
♦.uv « i^ , . °" ** compact, but Claude didn't
take It. He didn't take it because he didn't see it, and he
^^ TkI ^"f ^* '°°''^ °^« >t ^d beyond it, as
tw Tu/°^^ *,^ 5:°^ ^"''•^^ himself. It was not
G^ ^^.T ^^- ^^.V^'^ ^°^ being honest to
wf ' w u *■ ^* 'J'iestioned Rosie's state of mind as Jim
C^ude who was a gentleman and a hero and a devilW
!^w>,'*?^%'"'°u*'' ^"^^ ^^^ he was left eternally
with the Claude who remained behind
l,.^?*.?!**?" resentment for the neglect of his proffered
hand, but the long stare of those sick, unseeing eyes made
3»i
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
CHAPTER XXXn
TWENTY-POUR hours after Claude turned to take
the way of humiliation down the hill, undeceived
by Jim Breen's friendly tone and the hope of future
possibilities held out to him, Thor Masterman found
himself almost within sight of home. On arriving in the
dty late in the afternoon he went to a hotel, where he took
a room and dined. When he had devised the means of
letting^ Lois know that he was camping outside her gates
she might be sufficiently touched to throw them open.
She might never love hin again; she might never have
really loved him at all; but he would content himself
with a benevolent toleration. Like her, he was afraid
of love. The word meant too much or too little, he was
not sure which. It was too explosive. Its dynamic
force was at too high a pressure for the calm routine of
married life. If Lois could find a substitute for love, he
was willing to accept it, giving her his own substitute in
return. All he asked was the privilege of seeing her, of
being with her, of proving his devotion, of having her
once more to share his life.
It was not to force this issue, but to play lovingly with
the hope in it, that when dusk had deepened into evening
he took the open electric car that would carry him to the
village. He had no intention beyond that of enjoying the
cool night air and loitering for a few minutes in sight of
the house that sheltered her. She might be on the
balcony outside her room, or beneath the portico of the
purden door, so that he should catch the flutter of her
That would be enough for him — ^to-night. He
323
' i
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
County Street was i^ hL^^ """*•
f^^, night since he^ a toy ^ 'l°" ^^ '^
"npresaon which every sL^er^ehTl^^' '^''^y^' ««t
^* and only one Sits™''^J'^^«y«. of being the
lugh and clear and spanXl J? .f^o'^ majesticaUy
"^ ight of Antares^ aC 1?'-?^P^°° ^^^ *«
Ataag the streets and W ^''^^^^^X"^ .«W.
<fsting gigantic tremb^ne shart™,^.™^*'^ fa«»tly.
etonc lights. The bre^ S To,f ,,*" '^'^ °f the
the tang of sea-salt miXj^? f iTJ^*^* ^""^ ««*.
new-fflown hay and STb Sd^^* "^^f ''^ «=ent o
of gardens. All door, wir^S^^ °^ a countryside
so were aU windows (^\TlT}^ P"^^ along, and
steps faint figures^d^ls^^^ '"'^ P°^ and
most part, but sending ouT^^"^' '"J^-^oi^d for the
of sorjg Thor knew wh^^rp^^ '^"^'^ «* snatch
were friends; to some of th^^i! '^^ n»nyofthem
few with whom he hadn't «^ YJ ^^' there were
soothingtohim,ashSi^^n '•'^^'>^- It^
the elms, to know ^C^ t^^^^'^ "^^^y shadow^
of the house l^£ ^ ,^ '^™^* *° «y- the ma^
str^ge ttog ^^-* l^l ^^ ob««rity. '^
He passed slowly wi^h^ Vj, '*,"'^-
yards of the drivev^y ^"^^^f^^^.and along the few
to place the quiet b^^^thk^^* to time in order
»g to the angle frW^S ^..^ ** ^ *^*' accord-
notalarxned; he w^TSi^^^ ^ burn. He was
sy.ttey^^HZrd^f^^'s^
o—ta. con^^^es whSffit^ -^
THE SIDE np Ttrr- .
lut. OF THE ANGELS
in County Sti«et H ■"■'-o
Maggs, who lived' in 4*^^^. ""^^*« >* »» oW
end rf the property. tho^.n?r°l' T"^ »* the f„
be doing in the housT^ ti^jf k*° '^^^ °^^ Maggs could
t«ne when the pat^wL^ T "* «>« ^^g.^t
holiday. ,he w^X^TS "^f Claudel^; on a
pvestigating spirit wLfa^^^I^y Inquisitive'^ A^
ZZ'' u°* ^ P*"^ rS ad^, ''^ f * ^^ that
halted, he was su« he hTarf p^^'*'^ advanced and
footstep, it was a sti^^thtt,"^ « '' '^ noTa
had either aiove^ away^t^sSuS^'j^;,-^ " «»°«thing
He was still unalarJL^ xr- , ™to hiding. *
village. and^a^Si,^'^''*-^^' we^ r^ i, the
^tted. The soSfhe'SS^-^« they wei^'oS!
by some roving dog or bva ^* ^^* have been made
T^^'"^^''^hThtw^*d"«S?S^'^<^- Hadt
^aten in conjunction with th» r I?^-^ ^^ noticed it.
<«e who had been wTdSjaShi^''' ',' ^^^ested some
that thought was slighuTS^ "^^ ^'^y-' hut even
a community. He went on Im^*''' "* "" weU-ordei^
^. at a point wher^e ^-J ''" .^ ^*.*^" ^°°t of the
>n the upper window, buT^M °°^ ''^"^ the glow
^8ht over the inne; Zr^ CT!u*^«h^the
7^ .dark, the electrics X,^ • ""^'^ *he lower hall
mtoior of the house ""^^^ somewhere in tte
into ttTSfibStKrtS',,*^^ ^ «nd peering
«des of the outer doT^^f^P of ^dow TSf
he was surpri^ to find it^^ '^ ^°*'. tentatively,
fthe porch and listened ^r °° '^tering, he stood
fron" within. Taking ^^^* ?° ««"d reached him
he detached his latchrke^soS^* "^^^^ *^ his pocfcrt
*« lock. The dT SX;;«,''"?^^"y'»««^i^'
down the stairway fi^the ^^^' '^""^S a ligS
h^ some one mo^ ^v^ "*^- He could niw
^th an opening ^^^^YJ^ the topmost fl^
been those of dosets.TXw^l*'rL*^' "^S''* '^^
3,5 "y * «"shiag sound like
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
that of Refolding or packing of clothes. He entered ind
closed the door with a distinctly audible bang
Listening apin. he found that the sounds ceased sus-
piciously Whoever was there was listening. toTlt ^
easy by the light streaming from above, to find the but^
and turn on the electricity in the lower hall, wher«^ Ae
S7^*T^^^"«^- Some'one^S^out
rfa room and peered downward. He himself went to the
^ fl^ '^' ^°°^^ ."P- '^"^ «»« 'Etcher on the
third floor spoke at last it was in a voice he d-'dn't in-
stantly recogmze. He would have taken it for CiaudVs.
only that It was so frightened and shrill
"Who's there?"
«,H^^7°"-u t^'^ demanded, in tones that rolled
and echoed through the house.
Thwe was a long, hesitating silence. Straining his eves
upward. Tkor could dimly mate out a white ilt^
a.er the high^t banister. When the question c^f
last It was as if reluctantly and shrinkinelv
"Isthatyou, Thor?"
iih^^ i;rtreated from the stairs, backing away to the
^r^, of which the door was the nearest o^ one.
He distinctly recorded the words that passed tbWgh hfs
fflmd He might have uttered them audibly, so indeUble
was the mprKsion with which they cut themselves in.
ijy God! I've got him."
^J^S^*^ the confused suffering of two months earUer he
heard himself saying: "I swear to God that if I ever see
Claude again I'll kill him." ""v u i ever see
He hadn't meant on that occasion dehberately to regis-
ter a great oath; the oath had registered itself. It was
ttiere m the archives of his mind, signed and seal-d and
h^ W7 ^u "?"^,* °^ P"**^8 •* ^t° execution. He
^U^/^^'^^^l'^ '* ^'^ *^«: ^d now it urged
^llL^'"*',?"*^''- It w^ a vow to cover not
^y oneoffense, but many-^ the long years of name-
less, unrecorded imtations, ignored but never allayed
3»6 '
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
w'^'S^L^-*" ''ct by which this nian had robbed
him; robbed him uselessly robheH t,;^TZ * robbed
spoil, but to ffing ,t^^' ^ ^ ''°* *° ^°J°y the
in his'^e' "^"te'inTf^ ^"^ ^ «^y others
thing or wei^ ^<^ S Ish h.^'Sd'^.r'^ -f l"^"
to nothing in the enH Tt wiT^?' '* '"^^ "»ne
"<£s^S;S^sil5:'!Sr^^^-"^"p^ciaude.
threatening That 1^^ T "°P«"°"^: '* '^ even
unable to ^ppiS ^^ °^ ="°^ «* '^t he was
Claude's steps could be heard on the stair.: Ti,-,
slow and cla'-kinp h,^„^J^ ^^- ^^^ '^ere
house fiirf S^^^T^^ f^*^ ^^ "P ^^ the
-med as ^cS-d:.^e?^^f^;^r^«- '*
sSki^x^s^'sri?^"^- - =^
thing else-caL!^!'^7'*J^ "^^^ that than any-
3J7
I! ? 1
■ Y f I'
/
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
riiritifcing, clanking advance. In proportion as Claude .
seemed to be afraid of him, he was the more aware that he
was a man to be afraid of. The consciousness caused
him to get deeper into the dimly lighted room, taking his
stand at the remotest possible spot, with his back to the
empty fireplace
But when Claude appeared coatless in the doorway, his
head was thro'ffn up defiantly in apparent effort to treat
Thor's entrance as tmwarranted. "What the devil are
you doing here?"
Because of the semi-obscuiity his face was white with a
whiteness that quickened Thor's sympathy into self-
reproach.
"What are you 6taag here?"
"That's my business." In making this reply Claude
seemed to take it for granted that they met on tenns of
hostility, though he added, less aggressively: "If you
want to know, I'm packing up. Taking the train for
New York at one o'clock to-night."
Thor endeavored to speak with casual fraternal interest.
"What brought you back?"
Claude took time to light a cigarette, saying, as he
blew out the match, "You."
"Me? I thought it might be — might be some one
else."
"Then you thought wrong." He walked to a metal ash-
tray which helped to keep the covering that protected one
of the low bookcases in its place, and deposited the
burnt match. He threw off with seeming carelessness aa
he did so, "I know only one traitor, to make me keep
returning on my tracks."
Because the impulse to violence was so terrific, Thor
braced himself against it, standing with his feet planted
apart and his hands clenched behind him till the nails
dug into the flesh. He could not, however, restrain a
scornful little grunt which was meant for laughter.
"You talk of traitorsi I'd keep quiet about them,
*a8
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
a««de^a I were you. You make it too easy for an
"Oh. weU." Claude returned, airily, "I'm used to
doM^that I made it iafeinaUy easy for an oS^
Z^ ^^- ^"*' ^' »«»l^'s always e^Ta
snake, till you get your heel on him." / <« •
^And snarling's easy to a puppy, till you've throtUed
J^'/t^ bluster's easy to a fool, till you let him see you
hold hun in contempt." '
nl^J° ^°^^ ^ .contempt, two can pUy at that game.
Claude; and you might find the competition dangerous ''
fi«™l= ..'ST "^*^' ** ^^'^^ °8arette between his
iKt «wi rZT '"^' '^^'^ one thing in which
plaatu^ himself withm a few paces of his brother. Hi^
^X^^f^: ^^-"^'^ ^^. held Thor's eyes
as It had held Lois's a day or two before. He made an
^ort to speakjauntily. "Why, Thor. a volcano can't
Ske £tr ^'^'^^'^^^ «">*«»?* on you. Therel
With a rapid twist of the hand he threw the Mghted
«^tte into Thor's face, where it struck with a UWe
mwrting bum below the eye. Thor held himself in
^^k,^'^?*'^«t'^ ^ ^^ t^sJ^tly «nd standing
TffiJ^ •*?• J*T^»°^«teormorebeforehewM
sufficiently master of himself to loosen the grip with which
his fingers dug mto one another, and put up his hand to
brush the spot of ash from his cheek. Being in so great
^f^^ius passions, he felt the necessity for spe^
*' What did you do that for, Claude? It's beastly silly."
Oh no, it isn't— not the way I mean it."
But why should you mean it that way? What have
I ever done to you?"
"Good Lord! what haven't you done? You've-
you ve ruined me.
^ 3*9
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
1 didn't mean to interfere-"
ev^-ne eke's affair as ^^xZ^'^oTyScr ^ ""
it's be^-" " ^ ^ ""'^ a nwss of my own, Claude.
By a great effort Thor manaeed to sfy«t ».-.«
Hoj^wnildlkeepawaywh**-^ ^-
The elder brother found himself unable tTLi.^ *u
opportunity. "If you look 1^71 ^ t ^ ^
l««auseyti'veacteaMkel J? t^ ^ "^PP*^ '^'^
"ni. iu^< Ir^ . * '^^^ " s the usual reason "
Oh. there scad and cad. There's a feUoTw^^
330 « "
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
•narled up in the barbed wim h«~.... i.
there's another wtTddib^fS^^T \"^ "*° '*• '^
The one can affortlo cS^w '^ -^ **" *™P ^"^ Wm.
wlge the atherSrS:ld*rd^2;^r "" "^ ^''^
"Ah dM-t^r^' r "*^ I « lamed for life."
b^ in,.the le^hich^ X^^^y^nU^-/- ,*
-;s.^':c5°'the-4££-i-"s
The proof of what?"
teeth." ^^^^^^^"'^^'^rowmg the words in her
33 X
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
Aied the topulw of the ini«cl« M well M thmt of fpewh
.?^^J" «»«1 of iome nutter of no toportW^
Who do you think?" -"j~ri«aoe.
*;Tniere'8 oiJy one penon who coM have told yoa--"
Oh you «ta,t a. much a. that, do you? Thi«7«
penon who oould have told me?"
J;_^5^n^t^« much „ that-but you murt have
W. dignity «id telf-rertralnt were not without an
we texxfter « conaaence been screamine faraieaneimaf
on which to lay a portion of hiT^^or^ TXl
m^ weight had become intolerable^'^^T^SThS
^eZ^^i, «.ch. vicarious burfens before Z^.h
S^Sy^* ""' ""^^ do so again. Claude an«eereJ.
n,»W„?'^'* "^derstand her when she Kiid you were
S^K*^dTI^ '^ ^'^^ y°" wouldn'tTy^
sett wjat kind of stuff are you made of. Thor? You
g flauntmg your nioney before a poor Kttle girl who yZ
to do God knows what, you push her off on me and want
to pay me for the job of relieving you of your dirty w^
"Stop I"
The roar of the monosyllable echoed through the emotv
W^ the daU of a toreador in throwing his cloak into the
fir 4**"^ '^'^*' "•^'^ '^^ ^*°°d ^d flung it in tC's
face. The result was to check the latter in his adv^
«mng Claude time to dart nimbly to ^ZT^ZT^
room. As Thor stared about hii. dazed by hS ««. ^
iZaT^ SbSrS. "" "^''"'* *^ ' '^^
33a
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
hood. portheStefS^:r.vp»j-«'c£rd-
only make the mpegM^h^^^ "f he could not
h««rt whfle he ST^ "^ "^ ■™' •«* -^b him to the
"Stop?" he toughed, shrilly. "Lit. t,.ii tmi
"Did y^ sto^S« y^^'^"iS;'«-«t°«°i"8 0n.
actions off onloie. and^^Kett^ ** ''^^ ''"^y
white face and wildiS^ !? Place his victim, who, with
have you now»" rea^h^ ^e muttered, "By God, I'U
Kps -^trwhi^rffn^SJiT' ^"^! *° «-
huge figure chained again nSh^^JT^ '^"^ **"»
was alert, dan^p3^:fc-^'*^**°'^cation Claude
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
n^^L^"^ ^^ *° P**"* Claude found hinwelf
nope of throwing up the aash thr«,„u -.-JT^f
defended the outside IW^ i^.u^*^ *''''""»
Junwdf imaU, he knew ThnT^.. ifii • ^5''"*'™>K
^^^ »u, ne jmew Thor was stalking him by the
thf tJ!!f ''^"^^ ""• *""* yet in the inky blackness of
breath 'setmed to oroceeH Tf i^-^i^ u . °^ * panting
334
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
pictum. ^ "''•"**"«»> «to one of the covered
didn't help toTS^cel^^ ^"^ **° *^* ^'t"™
Neverthel4sT«Srr^* "" "°^ displaced.
««1 creepl^d XdrSc^S-ro? f'^?^"' ''^ '^««'«
upon him biif h-ftL ^ ^"^ * *='"*'* was actuaUv
no'^r^;^^%'^«^^^ tear himself free S
Thor seized himXtXt^I^w'"^''l''*^''- ^^"^
A third time Th^^ s?^; « ' "'"" ^"«> *e stud,
throat, ^y^tl^l^^'^ ^f^ '^'^« "^^ his
been able JsLp ^av 1wglf'°^!.«J^ "e had
posed himself so S T?Z ™°^ ''"^ ^'^'"'" ^P"
had fdt Thor's hoV^th «^Z„T \^''^ ^^"^ he
was able to pick udTZ^^ ^j"* 1".' ^^- '^^ ^^
mother somettatpIa^'TSir^'' table on which his
towanl his pursuo- SinTi!^^ ^•' *°^'"« '* hurUing
of stifled SxhttL'Jrr^ WitAaspluttJ
throwing it viotoUy Ucf^afu^ J"^°^ .^"™'t"«»'
into a window and l,^«i ^^ ^°"*^ ** '' «^hed
only knew wWcTof t^-^ ** •'*"***" °"*^'>«- « he
ch^ce oTh.'Siitt'^tr '* ""■ *"«« '^«''* «- «
ThTlJSf ffJS^f^?"- '; *°°^ '^-^ ««-•
& his whereaWsXwi*?IC r '"^''""^ "^ *°
unexpected hope of Zf uy. ^ ^ '"^^ ^"^^ the
335
THE SIDE OF THE ANGEIS
R"^."""* ■'»«l to bom Iron, hU boayi Boolv
™^<top!h . botth^d.1 H. nuMn'riSTu^
SiTJS'^T'S.'groiJ^'SSS
no WMOwit on miEht have t«n written Mke a fat* It
So he stalked his prey while the minutes passed-*™
might have been in some subterranean vault Wh«nth»
-"SSr.L'r.tSrS'rp'tS.'sS'Kj
ir.'4S^"'.iLe'-.^'3i^^£3
336
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
«««ddrunkenlyCrSw' ^^^ °^ ^^^ Pictures
?nd glass. C(«4i.gtaa^'"'^^^°fgadedwood
"^. himself with a cbtk^^ IW^'n^^v " ^'^ *«^ ««-
whiteness, that stinT^^ to a ,SL^,^P°°' ^"^ ^is
One of his anns vSal^''^^ ^hfS:-:?^"* ^y'^<^-
J°ni from it; one ^dVot^^^^f^^ ^ been
*"«»•. his eyes startine frm^f,' ..^^P* ''^ P^ed in
f«>ld have done^^i^y^^-^The thing Thor
h^., ™ Jiearted appeal, saying. "Claude, come
Cla^TgiSe^'JiJSSylrt^^ -^-^ <*^.
to reassure him Thor <3r . ^ ?*° ^ «»™er. When
al<»gthewSr;„^°LXif„^f---d. Claude Cvl^'
spnng and dodge a^ if L^* P^'«=t«». «ady to
after the attacks of 'the p^ few ^nf i^' ^^"'"^^gly. but
hoUow and tmconvindSt Sf ^ ^°''* '"""''"^
^^y^^X^T^r^ '^^^ ^^f away,
brother's sincerity ^'^^^^ b«t it mjphed a test of the
^^^^XXT^'i:^'^^' t-nin« the
?«iet light bun^gl^ Svt^Mt^'^" °P^- The
m. the nature of a dTo^ Te «t^,^"'*^ something
wipe his brow and^ lSs^^« "'*°m">« '^ »»
his own panJon for the m^^„f 5f ""^"J never win
an hour. Neither, probaUkT^^K ^ ^^ ""^^ »*
*•• — '- ' s m«rf -J f ™°a°'y. could he ever win Claude's,
t go back and make the
337
attempt.
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
w> It and nothing to follow aftw v-,,^ +t, K
their mutual onskughS^^ofj"" ^^ "^"^^^ °*
for what now took p^TsoX^av tSftL^"^*'""
unable to re(>nr,i i* '^X^/*' rapituy that the mind was
.«ponsf there he Sn't^W.l„"°* '3^ ''^^ *
SfltdlrlT'-n'^^t*^ K-t oath'KL'^^
faioZw^.^ *^^- ^^''^ *^ *at instant had he
whom he had always recognized dimly within hims^ wa^
338
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
breathing the wa^ nS^f „w '^^ '"^ ^^"'^
because he <3-rCSrS"2.?tr "^ °"*
pu;^f4?d*thS;r^gt?}^°* ^ "-" ^* *^"
anyj,here!-give hin back to .^ ° G«!-^ you're
work again He 'S ^^fn "^ "' • ' '''^* °° ^^^b his
Kttle ^pe. I^ fl^ld hrSw 71?°' and perhaps a
much of a chaaee-aMttlfJ!^*? ^^*- ^* ''^ "o*
had thrown a match Th^T^' ^^ ]°*° ^'"'=b Claude
tmy underTs^^^th^*^^ ^"^ *^^' ^^^ ^be ash-
paralyzing ML~^lfi^,^P'v™°*'°° °f tbe ann-the
with STl^^'^? ^fi*-l?"d *en the blow
striking ll to ttTfl^^ TW w^°^.°° ^'""'^''•
ordinate these mJ«JZ^' ^^ °° t™e to co-
acconl rhfSfed S^ f k^^**'™ '=^^ °^ ^^^ "'^
ff?Ltrfit£?r^-^
339
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
^- baby «d '^^i^Ztr^^^J^
iooedy over his di™i^^. u ^™ body hune
laidit';«tSi'^SSo^t„«;««^ ««» "'^ and
nw, for a Httle air wm ^fflSTaT^*^ "T^ **« P'«1»«'
whers the wo«i^ Zt^^ -^^ '* *'^K'' the J^ot
j^xr^asThtLtrrr'--
for the suminer^t^^i^^ "^ *^ disconnected
to run to his oSce. iT^j^J^^^^: «> ««8y thing
hcwse, which ^ni^cwr** stiU to run to hi!
now. He could be^-jeS'^^^^.Jtj^tbin^&^ly
was aU he needed to be aUv V^ ^ °',""'*^ '''^<*
the boy would soon beln^^eet^^n ""^'' "^""^
Godt Thank God" 'nlJ^Jf'^^^^P^- "Thank
wasdeIiverance^iwrX2L"'?h'^"'"'«»^-. ^*
tmgeofcolorinthech^ rt^" ^here was a positive
closed again. Tw2Zf:u"l?^°P«'«' wearily and
•ndspokeT ^'*^"'«*^«>ld hands in his own
*:ii"r*'* 'all right, old chap. Tust hV ««ii *
wa?p^r^fS'^'^*'^°^«'"8htfornc^e. Theworst
2^<a pt^rhisTwn^n.. r**^ *beZ>^d*
the pale Hns^h a^jfllf^' ^? '^^ ^°^a^ and kissed
-Print Claude stin«i4:L"asS"^,7^i^f *^
340
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
it might have been ^ Z^^ ^'"' ''«« midnight-
W the villageXk^"^^- He was «»a«i to
1»^^ a lifetime since oST ^^^^ **«' ««1 he had
fr°m her room to S^ np^ 1^!^ ^^^ '^^^t ''t^^ning
nearer stiU he caueht fh» f^ balcony outside it. When
She was ^tting^t^^^f'f^'' ^ * white S
so often sat ^et^^S::^.^ ^" "''*' '^ ""^^ '-«'
he. hS;^..T^r<r d^oi: ^"^^ ^ -^^ -^ her
LSgf^-^^'^-S-doLlT^t
There was a hurried "Oh tu— • .
%^ disappSn £e liSrCL"^ '" ^ ^'^^
She met him at the door as he ^ *^f,°P« window.
WM no greeting betw^ ^t,-."^"? *he steps. There
enough to speakf ^^lau^rH^"."^ '"^ •»**^
^^'^''r'- IwSrsteSr"l°^"'""^*^«
of the sideboard. ''Nt^^^Vw ""^^ »* '^ 'h^wer
hurt I'll attend to T^aTb^^* "°^- ^* '^'^'t
Claude. Is it here.?" °^ ^^ ^V- I must get back to
I m going with you " ^ ^^- "Now come.
-^''^CrSS^^f^^^-^tion. That could
--. wbile she ^onoiS^^^Sf^.theempty
hil ! I
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
Thor was back-wild-eyed and bleeding. Wha^hS
'^nft^^Zr^YrT ^ "^^ «^t 'X'* the inner
her by coming toa halt instead of leaping up tteS^
SoS'lil?^!-. S*TPJ"8abr«ptly!^ZtS.tt:
^t rfhght, he threw his hands above his head as if he
been shot, because there was no sound. He hadn't^^
b^ woimded. because as she sped towari ^e e^^
^ him stoop-^pnng away-retum-and stoop ^
She was about to call out, "Oh, Thor. what Sh^" ^^^
backf^^.S,^^t.? •"^' '"^'- "^
mS^lJby'SlT- «^—t-ble or danger she
He wheded around again to that over which he had been
TR^^ ""^^f '^*^**°" °^ *h« niovement of^S
f^^ ^- ^*** *^t !>« seemed to crawl aw^
to«uwl away tiU he reached the steps, X^, 3„g
^tf ha^-way up, he lay with his face hidda™!
nn„^ Mf? "^ something fatal and final, lea^ng
no more to be done. The thought came toW thaTI
there was no more for him to do, it was probablethat W
34a
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
^^HAPTBR XXXin
»rved. No human b^l „i..?^ "{.justice had b«n
could have d J^theSS^S,'^ "^ "P^S
<*! man whose sufferiap^SitT^""* °' *^' "it"'
able crime in advance, -n^f- ? ^P'***^ «ny poe-
Pwbable that at^1««,^/!2;,^^« ^"^^ i* ^^
should have been iSd^^ln ftt ^ "^ ^"^^ti-- he
mght and waiting inTh- „ ^ village at ten o'clock at
«^wnof then'^moXrSSS^ "' ^^^
rehef not only in theh^me^ T^^T^*"*?*** with
but by the outside pml ^^^°^*^!«^ty t<»^
more nearly of the'nkt^ rf ^T^ S,« *5^ ''•«°'«ti«'
tunate young man's fan%. ^^ * W *»»« to the unfor-
I^hl,^ W' r^c,^'' r^^ *^« »- While
'«?«. as to be at^« ^SS h^ f^L ""bstitute fe
ongmal For she was ^7^*?!^* '^^ «>f the divine
fy erf every week ^ S^ ^*««?«1 to her. evenr
&^t dreadful necessitir^XS^^l«^*7 day. "^
July having been attend«1^ tftat mght of the pth of
the fether ^, -^^ «>^dS S^* ^^ «* «« ^
them, if 3S'fc.^^y-^tI'«8«ingtodoabout
«« *t^^''CSiSr^«-« ■*« -id that. «.d
waslyinginoneoftht^p^S-tLt^?:!-.^^?
344
> prepared
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
hunting for t«a««f ♦S. • ^* ^^ ^°"«> "U night
not in view from^^w^''^ *"■* *^^8««»'b were
wife we« in the hoSL.T^euTS^, ^'^. ^"^ '^
stone, getting it T^dvt^,I^J^ Dearlove and Bright-
seemly'ff S,e a 'J^.^^t'on. '^ce U was but
should be decentlylodgS '"''* ''^ '^
pointed not to b; ^t ^S^*^ obscmdy disap-
would have appeased in TZJ^.i, ^^^^ ^^^"^
accusation Tah^l^J "f™^ *•» cJamor of self-
wotd in to acc^t^^at";;*^ "T^*** "°<^ '^^'^ »* his
sdf and Cla^S ^e^ i^^tt*^*!^*"*" ^^
W^ dismissed to h^h<^er'fo^d^?ffi LT ""•
|nm:ediate s.mtSS.^::,TS T^^'*-^ *°
had whisked the cov«<n J^Lf^l. , ^°" assistants
stored son^^ Z^'^JTmT ^"^ '^'^ ^
having been sufficiently noted «n^^i ^.^f "'^'^H'.
set in what was aoS^^^ J^ ^ descnbed. had been
taken torn ^,^"^^1^^:*^ broken picture
^^^^^^^ nau ana tae broken window hidden by a
She felt it im^fiJ^t u ' /""** ^^^ «»me in."
toU^Sl^e*^/^ ^d ovea«ne on the
must oonnterart remonJ^^ ^^^ association. He
haunted. Sne^°^t im'Xrf""* '^."^ *«
strained demeanoTrf <^e wh^'h ^'^' '""» ""« '«-
^-mstancesT^ wh.^ sT'L^ofSen^ltr **"
P^^ witi, dark rings under ^T^'^^^^ ~^
34S
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
The strength she insoii«d«^- «_^ ^PmenU graver stflL
\r t^r "^^"^"^ ^"^ " *' ^ -
plater. |«i;^c;i1at:^';^^ '°^~^ -t""**! with
shoulders. "b«tV«,^L toS^ «» the young nm-s
•'l3iT '^ "^- '« » ^««^tlaa than in h«Tor.
n^take and ^^U to l!^ '^u"" ««««»««/
much higher udI dJ^* „ **°°? °n them and be that
what ZleS^iS * ^-^* your sin has been or
utilize them i^^'sJZl^^^VT' ^"^"^
s^sSSg't?.-' '-^-Sin^r^i;
ben^^'ct^-^S^^^t^Jrast^rhiT'^^!'* f' the
-cy that he muttered. "^ dl^Tl^^ ^.^gj^^l
J^twhatGodC^^-Sj^tSLt-tSl^a
in his face than e^Jt^'£;:^.'»°«»°f Don Quixote
n>om, threv, over h^sh^d«^'S?^^ ""^-^^ *^ *«
"Ah.
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
5^.!T*.,**J"P'"***- "• growed impatiently,
don't talk about angeU I" i»"«"uy.
Uncto Sfan continued Wi pacta*. "ButlwiU Now'.
^JThor groaned again. "What good does that do me
"This good that when you've been witi, them tiiey'U be
S^InwJJlir'l'^P"!^^'*^"' Lifedoem-tfo^
the chjldren who've been trying to serve it, not even^Z™
tijey lo«, control of themselves for a few mtauteslTd do^
do what tiiey're Sony for afterward" """^■"<*«»°—
Thorwritiied. "I lolled Oaude."
"It-?\^ T ^^'*' "^^ «^'" Lois said, quietly.
J^JT^uK you to keep saying so. We ^J^
perfectiy weU what has happened, can't we. UndTsi^
^1 S5y!!" '^'' °"'' " ^ *^' -- "-'^S -
" But if it hadn't been for me—"
"As far as that go« I might as well say, If it hadn't
^i?5 ^ T !.. ^'^ ^ ^ ^'> <=«»« to «« twoTy.
ago ani how I discouraged him. We're all iavolved-
you no more than the rest of us." ^voivea
SiI"dSaL^^slwirr *^ t^« ««t <rf us." Unde
«Z»1r^ t. \. ."" *^ ""^ «*«» ''hy the good
m<!l« .T^^l^T""" *«P«ience to aU who've ever
Sc? i^'^^**'^*':" He turned more directly
to Thor. -There s a verse m one of those old songs I'm
fond of quoting at you-l U never trouble you with
*wf^ ^.'"^ nephew's part, "if you'U only listen to
^^ ^f\^^^^^ "^^ P*^*' "^-^ "^^ tbis way: 'Tto
angd of the Lord encampeth round about than that
fear Hmi, and ddivereth them.' They're camping roTd
347
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
u I'y» •Iwsyt tdd yoa they
•bout you now, Thor,
would."
Thor raited U* he«l jutt enough to wy tavudy ov«r
hU ihoulder, "But when I never Imt feued ItoTfai the
way you mean— and don't."
"Oh, but you have-aad do. There'g two types for
S*L**** Si '^^^ '**'' *«teh«>d in graphic style by the
Master. There's the two sons sent to work in the vine-
yard, of whom one said to his father, ' I go, sir,' and went
not. The other said, 'I wiU not,' but went. 'Whether
of thmi twain,' the Master asks, 'did the wiU of his
lather? I leave it to yourself, Thor."
Unable to escape from this ingem'ous pardon that
caught and blessed him whether he would or no, Thor
remamed silent, while the uncle addressed himself to the
mece. "I'll be off now, Lois, but I'U come back before
long and bnng Amy. We'll stay here. The house 11 need
to have people in it, to make it look as if it was lived in
tiUArchie and Ena can be got at and brought home."
Thor turned and looked from the one to the other dis-
teeesfuUy. "Poor father and motherl What about
them?"
It was then that Lois showed that the matter bad al-
ready received her attention. "Thor, dear, I know
exactly what I'm going to do, if you'll let me."
She had been so efficient throughout the night that both
men hstoied expectanUy whUe she sketched her plan,
aie wouM cable the facts as sucdncUy as she could put
them to her own father and mother, who were in their
ptht frou pas elur oa the north coast of France. They
would then cross to England and break the news to
Mr. and Mrs. Masterman. The very fact of the breach
between her parents on the one side and the bereaved
couple on the other was an additional reason for charging
Uie former with the errand of mercy. Where so much
had been taken it was the more necessary to raUy what
remained.
348
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
"SS^"" ""'" ''^ ""^ •* once.
«i«cr pmne. YouTl come up to the houte and have
brer, ..„ ^.t you. Thor? It wiU be ««d7.K
I* «HH AL. « ..
Of. ..-I ; .
«"•-"/ ;h.il
i.' ' X baih
hdi.li ' pii
that Ul'l;;M
Th
«r V,
' -irted. "Oh, but you murt. You
y-v^U. M feel better. i^wh«y„J-~
' '^' ' takeonehere. because Mm. Maggs
"fii: similir maternal couiuela having h«»
It fnm the people m our own office here. IsuDoomtW
^^yttmg will be in the paper, by the aft JnX^d^
KaSf^^.'^i *^* "^^^'y" Seeing the S to
hM face, she took the opportunity to say: "Oh. Cam
iit \^™'^f^«-'^?'*'"^- Wem'ustn'tbe.^
w.^eo^J^r^\^^?i'"y*^e- Whatever hasto
come out wJl get its significance only from the w^we
bearjt; and we can bear it wdl " ' «»" ""> way we
JSi'Z\?^TTf ^^ ^ "P *« '^^- she turned
h! m,^^ ^* ■"*??; «P««J^K down toward ^m
mySrft will ^ rf^'h ^'*°^'* "^^ *° ^ ^<^
S^L^Jl ^ * ?°^ *° her. of couree; but I want
TS.X'Z^^'^t^'^'^''- Don't you S
l^J^^ S^^^P^^^^^^'^fonnofZte
teiepnone to Jmi Breen, askmg him to bring her to see me.
349
(:
m
If
if
I i
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
wen. and always will be" ■"« aiwajs mve
^McM.i^ •■If«tool«,»„,u.lt„™
Hewas almost mdignant. "But when you've?"
nighl^^r'K^^"' ^^? '^ you say yoJ, gave way last
™f5r . ^ 5'°'"'^ "«^^^ doing it again "V^
^Y^l.T^''^^:^'- Isn't that itr^- ^°"
Ves, but if you're like met"
^eis^ouXT«.^St.-^^
CTrqjt most tembly by passion-but I hadn't exn^
Witt somethmg big in the soul—" ^ *^
He put up a hand protestingly. "Eton'tl"
Btan^"*. T*:, It ought to be said. You should under-
wi ;. ^^^}^y~i see it quite SyT^
you re the big primitive creature ttafs SST^^
350 '
THE SIDE or THE ANGELS
she went on, with a IrinH m X?» *e what I mean ,"
"Thordear. I ^nevS^ 1,^^«' "^^^ <=«ioler^.
n.ght^ and I never ''IIS ^'^^l^.*' ^'^° '^ ^-
say. but as on the day ia7e W w^' ^^ ^^ t°
the word for another-" I tr^*^.""^' *« suppressed
r« going to make ^ZJe^Z ^"^ ^^ ^ ""ich.
toward Claude is wSf^roftTlV"" "^^ y°" f*"*
ghmpses. God knowTr a •. ^^ ^^* myself in— b
Ishouldn't^it^t^J.f;^-y that to --Kga hi^
wouldn't have doneli, a^rmc^*^ '^^ °"* ««t you
cametotheact-thanI^w^f'°^^^,^-«°t when it
He hung his headrnt,^^ Y^°^^ 5^- °ow?"
. ':Whatw7ve^tS^T«,«r^'°?^'"^°"
jsn't it? and that's whif tL ^'^ ^«^ human.
Dr. Hilarj^^hen ,hr^L?X?''^T^°'^^ Sin and
'"th a great moral ^ ^J^* y°"^ ^^ to face
used what-^hat?hZen^^thTnT^ *^* ""^^ y°"Ve
as you can use it-as i^!!^*'^. ^^ ""^ few hours-
^ a far st«>ngi^^^ "^^^ <l«-youTl
wa« a strong nan already^ ^ before-aad you
that ?,;i£S;ri^C^r -^ ^ *^ ^ect
r-d'S4?^":L^::Jt^ .«- thing as it cor.es
somethmg that holdsTup L^"!;* '"'''* our feet as
^""•ething that on^tZl^^t^lZ T ^' ««
It may be like climbing a cXJ^S^.^^^^'^^eway?
shaU be thet»-up in^ifd^T^' *^* '^ *he same we
'^th a snuIeT^t tS^,°JJ°'"r««J." «*« added.
?° her lips. "and^W '^^^r'^'^ "^^^er than
« ever on a Calva^/aloo^^ "^ '^'^' «»at no one
Wath these words she tunjed the handle of the door.
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
feading Wm into a room from which the morniiur lieht
JW8 oofy pwtiaUy excluded, and about which vmw ^d
Dowls of roses had ah«ady been set.
Oaude was lying naturaUy, wearing a suit of his own
pajamas, white with a Kttle pink stripe, his face turned
•hghUy and, as rt were, expectantly toward the two who
apprawhed. Havmg entered the room first. Lois kept to
thebac^xwmd, leaving Thor to go to the bedside alone.
^ The difference between the dead Claude and the sleep-
mg one was m the expression. In the sleeping Claude the
features were always as if chiseled in marble, and like
marble cold. The dead Claude's face, on the contrary
ladwted that which might have passed for warmth and
Me. The look was one he would have worn if mystified
and pleased by something he was trying to understand,
to any other case Thor would have explained away this
^enomraon on grounds purely physiological; but since
It was Claude he found himself swept by an invadine
wtmder. He knew what people more credulous than him-
self would say. They would say that on the instant of
the great change toward which he had been so suddenly
mp^ed even poor Claude, with his narrow earthly vision
had been dow-ered with an increase of perception that
, ^f?^«J^and perhaps rejoiced him. Thor couldn't say
, this himself; but he could wonder. Was it possible that
Uaude, with this pleasing, puzzled dawn upon his face
could have entered into phases of life more vivid than any
v^- ,..'^^* behind? Thor found the question surging
withm his soul; but before he could silence it with any of
^ customary answers he heard the counsel of wise old
««vieu of the Institut Pasteur: "Ne meg jamais run."
But hi.s need was emotional and not philosophical.
Stooping, he kissed once more the Hps on which there was
this qmver of a new life that almost made them move, and
sank on his knees beside the bed. Lois, who knew that
beyond any subsequent moment this would be the one of
last fareweU. sUpped sofUy from the room and closed the
3S»
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
door behind her. She n^^u^^
apart from her ttoid tLTr^-"!u*'' ^^ "> that
greeting between h^^t^'^i'f ^^ff had been no
to her as she sat on the ffil fa l^Tt,'^'* ^ '^
^g up jin^^diSdin°:\'" \^«°°« °f
I'^ce. Since the^^sSvf^T^^ ''f «Wegram to
take her to her^^*^ ^^ *^°'«? the former would
°f changing her^°^^« ^''^ ^"^" *^« «=''^<=«
of the telegraphKj^fa^rin,^ "i^"^ P^'^^city
al^* to exphj the ^^^IT., ^^^ '^^ °^
by this hour would bSS^.*?. ^? «^ts. who
be alanned on finding tt^ wTl^l*^ ^'^ «'ght
<«pied. The door to tte „*h^ ^ °°t been oc-
'jWch would iuy te ^^^J^~ '^K that
WiUoughbyslC^hLw^^"^' ^"^ *«™«d «to
««^;twomeni?^^^t:"--caughtbythe
-^^the w^ess Of r^h^ t.^^^'^^
thiSt"^:Ster'^rwt' '^^«^= ^* - -ving
«K to give thi^ w^::^ f" '»«? than the p„«„pt!
her door, butit^ ^ayfarer a cup of coffee as he pas«d
effort rf'tr^^'Se^blSS*"' """■ ^^ '^ ^ehK
this kindly impui^" KS.i?w^:rL'"^^°" '^y""'^
"^e then^ve. they we^f^^.^s^- ^-^Jo
hoSLt'sJ^lrf b?th.°^';r?'I* ^^'^'^ ««ht or ten
abundantly TlS^*'',;^^''* of that little old man was
Pahner, Harold Or^fh ^' J°'™ Stanchfield, Elias
fanae.^' ^mL^^'"'^' f^ Nathan Ridge. ^
-^ by . dim g^y ^TZS^S.n,'^,^^!^
353
■i^i;
mil
:i^i1
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
"That you, 'Lias?"
"My poor boy! To be let out at five I"
of Ti^^ l^P**^ ^^ ^1«Wes concerning the nature
to*.tt. t™. at M.ri,&M, ™i JO. „, „ ^"3
''W«ffl. the trains didn't just suit. Mardifirfd'. ti«~
^Str^^it''i'^»-SSii^
•■nS'?i,"2i:^..S*?«'"^ ""• •!«■• your
,,Gu«syott fed pretty bad, don't you?"
Wdl,Idid. Don't so much now."
tiot used to it?"
rti«^^?s?:rris-^^A^si.hfofS^
354
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
^^l^^ ^7 ^'^^ °°- He trudged on patiently
1^^ ^ ««» of a man accustomed all his life to ptoE
to Sn Sfl^ir *^*:l^''' -^f^- -^^«»netiC
lomten. He listened most frequenUy to sounds behind
do^. the gallop of gra2ing horses across the dark pal
& « t? the occasional bray of a motorist's ho™
^^^^T""^ ^ "J^' °° '^«- though ^
^renewal of the eflfort his footsteps lagged more
J^'Z 7^ ^^ ^l ^^ ^'^ *"' had como face to face
with the long gnrn house of sorrow. It was Erim ui^
tenMy. grim in spite of weU-meant efforll^ ^
^ up and make it aUuring, at least to the p^bT
^b^'^l^T ^ ^J^^ to damb^^ Z
Suv ™t 1^'»,-°'.5™ *.^* ^^ °f ^^ ^^ kept
n^ay cut; for hmi the national flag floated during dav-
on f^t'^-lP^"^ forhimafountai^ffl
on feast-days. Neither fountain nor flag nor swardn™^
S^S:i"? ^"^^ l"^' ""tsider. bu't^wSC
the effect was plamied For him. too, a Uttle common ^
^iJ^ '^ °^ *5° °*^^ ^^^ "^ the roadway and
dm. Ja?>er Pay sat down on the bench as he had ^
dc^.» It many a time before, hui^hed ani wl«r ""*
shut uoh^h^T.V""' T^^- ^ """^^ Matt S been
«iJ?K, ^ ^^ ^^ther had q)ent with him as many
^po^ble of the minutes aUowed for interco^.^'S^
iTri^! Tt-°* ««™^°° by sitting and s^
tVf^T^ ^ *™^ J^t he had stared in patient long!
Kv^ ^T^* ?^ *5" '^y'^ "^^■- but Ls moS
he only stared. Behind the staring, thought was ^^
t^Z- ^°ll*'"^ '*^P«=t or forecLt; ^d tT^g^w^
nT^t , ^? ^" *^^ overtaxed mind to deal with
He could only „t wearily and expectantly on the b^ch'
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
After the fim flickeTSSt tte^ ^"^ "• •^•
The lowlands around the ^ JT^ ° ^^^ «*°>« "lowly.
«*ta«« and priLn Sl^^rf,^"" ^ '"^^'
'ninutesaft«thedo<irth?S^,?i!f^- ^«>. « few
««y door opened sWdteriv «^^^ '^'^k five, the
put. the effi^waslTSr^ * !5!^ ^«™ "BP^
">« within human kS ^''P*^ "P^* mate,^
-^r^^^m^, Stj""' "-e one who
Wttd the soundlis dowlut ^ ^T * "^ <«• *^° for-
and lone in the widTgt^tlv W I* looked timorous
few paces, stopping, sekrS^.i^^P*' ^^^andng a
dosed a bundle in the wXh?^ '"* v ^^ '' <^^
inon round straw hat T^„ Ji^ f^^ ^*- and a com-
thatmight givel5j*beJ4Slt^^ tf^^^rTd
of some new and awesom« «,i, ^ ''^S <*« conditions
it had suddenly b^^ "^^^ "^ «^tence into wh^
^-^r^iSkSS^ay'^tr'^^*"^^ -^ -»
-ai'SeU\SS^3^:r£
:^:fa^eJrclr^"^7^^-
"Sei^s£S££^--^^-;s"-
catch themovement^dn^te^cfr*^ "^ ""^"^ ^
even of emotion. Allhe^rf!? *^- "•"'as drained
^ the casual grSgc'^eS^Matt*? T"'' ""^ ^'^
<^ome to meet you." ' *****' How are you.?
He explained, how^vM- ♦!■« •
was to go by the five-^v^^TTt?^*^ Program, which
tfking the'^short ^fST w-^^'l^*^^' '^''^ce by
County Street th^J^^j^T'^^^^y'' Lane and
X coma^mich home for breakfast by
THE
SIDE OF THE ANGELS
house on the Thorirestete " ^*'' ,^* ? three-family
yard and nothing aty^f?);,.?? "P"^ P^^^" fe
without a garien t^ Ifoid i^' '^J' "* K^^en. A home
"oftree, but even this evrA^^J^ ^ ^°™® '"t^out a
mild statement rf tiTC^ m^ *" sufferer K,„ly a
Parently satisfied. mwk^Lail f^ . *^' "^S"** "^^ ap-
unfolded as they d1«wS;^J^* ^""'"Ss of the nairative
theopp<«„^tT£Sfarh2L^**°"i^^«^««'°to^k
»"nken face iLT ^ ^^^^?^^^^Ses in th.
encounter. ''"oacea him at the moment of
letters he had receiv^ a^t °^ t° hin in the few
news he h^be^b^.^*'- f * '*=****»^ "ts of famOy
aUofit,nS4S^*°^t^«>^visiting<lays. p"^
for it even if he hSiSv^ l^?^^ ^^"^ '^ P^Pa^ed
^nothing but wh^rtS^* ^ "^^«'' ^'"» •*
^Z and the poor fWtt:^^,^"^.^*."^ *^°
^LXZ^,------ "^?i>enS5e"itt^-.S
the whole busineSlt "^cJ^d ^^ ''""'ve thought
trusties. IntematioMls th^ffll. *^ ^^ togethe.--„s
heard of 'em, haven •^*"^^"^''«r-*he I- I. A-
P-^: Been hand^that ^LJ^i^^ !?«^« - **«>
up to him was thft^we^ a mi^^^ 7^ '^ *«™«1
In a mixTor there wo^^ve CL^-^ ^1°^ ^^■
siveness. Here there wasT^Wn^ refl«^on and respon-
8>=ui. jasper Fay, it seemed to his
357
I''' 'i '
I'll
I"
''J
|i I
^ THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
5^2;^ P«ed into wne pitiful «,d p,^^ ^^ ^
d3^SL?Sr'irsrs,lsrtf r >i* «• ««
««<i Rode in woi^c^^ ^^. •=»»» *^ »^ &*>>«
Since it was far him^ »e^t .? "^ ' "^^ ^o be it
Marchfield. and the awTli?^i« "^f^ °" **« ''ay to
and the gentle. sS sSe "T '".*^ *« K^a^^y ^
beside hia,. Matt pS'^^lT^^'^r^ ">"*«*
hnn the more free to g^tu^^^"^*"*- I* 1*^
at the turnips and i^ts an^''<2'^°'" ^ !«*«««.
dewy glimpses fled b^Z^^^'^' f^ *"* ^
was diiEcult not to S^STZT? 2^ ''««^- I*
the earth greener, ^^e^oJ^^ j^ ^^"^ "««•
iwoductive durini^ ^e ,^1, • u^"*' °' «•*«» «<«
a'^ay." HisS^!/^iir'".<^ he had been "p^^
*he world gave^^^,^ nscogmtion of the beauty of
buSirtS^^^'^S:^ r:^ bird and bee and
the vilie%^^,^^l«t-een Marchfield S
eyed «gged-«,bia: but^iSl^M ^°^' °° ^lue-
he had been ch«t^ T™^^^ Ue,,i^ of which
tJwwgh the b^rfdcid'^Sw^°° as the sun breke
«l«wing jeweled «« ^ th^T^f ""^^ the mist and
in revolution fouThT^'^l^S't:"^' ^^e^-^ recruit
v^' flagging and stu^b1w"rrhe^<^*°.^«^- '^'>
bes.de his own intensified wf^**' '*^ *^* *«>««««1
CHAPTER XXXIV
•hould have broken dowi ,w' .f ^' ^^ °'<^ "^
a kind of fatality to it « ifC ^ ^ '^°°'- '^^ ""^
*t our feet. The »™m ^ "^ """^ *° ^^^'^ W«self
been able to ^g^^^Zt^'^^^'^^"^^^^
It was aU we SSTtoLSl^L^* ''^ ''«'"•'•
into the nearest seat ^ " P°^** **«Ps ^d
yo^'.StiLrcrw'^y^s^^-"^^' «-
a tree that's been attacks »f L f^^ cxanpare, him to
dries in a se^o^ H^' .^t"^*" '^^ ^^^^ and
to Pinety in the oo,^^^*° ^"""^ "*««» from sixty
Prindpte of mCZ^^^rT'^'^' as if the ver?
wasn't woree. I m«m that^^ If ^-f ^ ^'^ ^ '*
though that is a nSteTlwcK ^ V* ""^^ ''^ ''°'«^.
about. ^^ *^«* " y«* I mustn't write
nol'S^e^S^^ «a- "^^^ ^ «>- wen,
and yet attr^ve^M^w *1 ^? ^^^- d«perate
mce his si^:^4'^^^ St^'^'s^S ""^ ""^^
those extraordinary eves rf7h»^V f handsome, with
jade. andT-S^^^ elS^^^^ °f "^e paler kinds of
The prison shows mSSThTc^^^:!^.^*'^-
something furtive in 1*^;^ ^t*«>PP«d hau-, and in
P«>bably paT^ h^^l ^^"^ ^^'^- '^°' ^V^. will
stuff out of whici.Xr,^r «"d of him that he's the
wmcn thsy make revolutionaries and anar-
3S9
$:fl
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
mort repeUed. He m.t J^ ^ moment when yo
prove their uselessn^. ^Ij^**"- ^°^i^ oo
happened here £^?^ Tl "^"^gi^y ^ *
-here it i.. leavin^'criil ^ Su iT^^ '
God knows we would do itXS " P'^M-'wift
-"^^e"--.?^ tST-' "^^ y- could ha
""•o has iust cLr^^^t 2* ^^ ^^^^ P«» ^«"'
gentle and ld„d and toidL -:^ ^i"' •"*' superb-,
tragic sorrow has ;3e„^£' ^L^ ^'^ »" "^ *-
teU you about him~th^tThJ^'^,?^^^'=^'
;f they-n, ever toW at^l^^tlST **^ *° '^ ^^^h,
thatifanygoodistocoffle^of^i.''^ "^^ «^«° nov,
Thw more than any ^ wll!!^'' " '^ '>*' througl
h-t hell find it. HeTfod"tb^e'**"'''''y«y^
ffl«de him march up to M^tt Pav **° =*"« ""Pulse tha
•houlder and looking W^^*,^'^' ^^l his hand on hii
to-man "ympathrwlS^ ™' '^*,?'"' " '^P'«. man-
feet that Thor f4ls Sle^iy^?^.^ 'S!" ^« ^«^
«»y. very much to bS^ ^V ^ *° '''^'^
iMdness. As for Matt^«tT '°'«'^ty now to his
Md shuffled, and thoSh^«i"'t„~'°^ f""* ^*«»»««d
" was without mudTSc^^l*?"^**^ his bravado,
«»«ed when, after Se dd^'„ i,^ ^^ ^'^ """^ embar-
was able to ^ove aS> ^^1^.^?^^ ^ "^^^ and
the car and drive tie tCrf ^±^ ^^ ^^"^^ "^nd
jnf to them about cS^dJ I^^f; J^"" ''^'^ °°th-
b«ng mentioned to th^W-^^,,* *T *^'' '^
to watch the effect, h ZmL^i^T ^ "^^^^
°n at a vivisection. Th^fJ^.u'?^'' '^^K to look
to see or to know. M^J^ ""T ' ''°°'* -ant
aS^* "• "*"y imperative i.
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
KlSST *^ ~*«»~' "^ *o«ld c«Ator «,
Shr!SS^Sr.fSJ1,^*« r- -one tut night.
"Thor i. .?S »t tJrSi^;^ ^ «« ri«*t wort.
darling. I want to be a goodS. i^^^" °^' "«*«•
a good wife to papa hV^Jt ^J^" »* J^''*^*' been
heart he's beariXs S^^'SL"'' ^^ '" '^'' ^"^
•tand me. I haven't SXTT **"-^ °°° ' misunder-
to him. ButlrS not n,^T'^^^8''*'n««««r
^'- ^--^if-i„ «.- r°^ "^^ «> him. There's the truth.
saving"*: .* « nS:^ S^mrth'^^J ^"^ "^
««PPose o. I know yo^T^,? v' *°!!f'' y°" '"^Khtn't
MfCtOCOPr (ISOIUTION TEST CHART
(ANSI and ISO TEST CHART No. 2)
^ APPLIED INA^GE In
^STm '6^3 East Main Street
~^S "ocheater. Ne* York 14609 USA
'.^ (716) *83 - 0300 - Phone
^^ C?16) 288- 5989 -Fax
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
know how to comfort hL-firnJ"'"^ ^^"^^ ^ don
light that leads me oaTs^Ht '"^"'^ ^'^^ e'''"'^<^^ ^
than nothing; lIXS ttrrc^'^- '*'^ '^"^
by it when I might exnefTtV. kL .. , ? ^"P^ ^^ ^a'
oh. mother dear. itVSve '■ """'^ b«wiidered-bui
sure of her^f. Since Se had '^'" ', '■^' *« ^^^ '"'^^
wise to possess her^ul ;„ . . ^^ ^'"^ ^^ ^ ^h^ ^It it
it would"^ lead her Tor "he 'I^! """^ T '° "^^* '^«
substituted, therefore surhfn^^ *^ withdrew she
put her mo hertetou^h wL^w"^^* °^ ^°^^ ^ ^°">d
"It's hard to Slow W tt rt,P^?°" °^ ^'^"<J«'= !««■
she went on, when th^ Snft,''"'!,*^"^ f^l« i«st now,'-
she's so stiin^ byS Tt^,^l^^S^^«".''becau;e
oppresses us all. butwSis tr^X "^' "^^ *^*
them. PorpoorHttleEt^.?;,- \"°'^ *^We for
are secondarfnow to whaftll^ ^ ^^^^ have happened
blots ClaudZouTo^iStfnT f P??,'*"^- ^'"^'"ahnost
deal of pluck-of ^Lf^ . ^"^^'^ ^^^ has a great
Phrase CllS"^* "Zt° Sf^°"^ ^^ ^"^
come out at last tf a W *ft ^° '° *''^ ^''^ ^d
least doubt. espJX^if .^/Prf!; ^ '^^^''"'' ^^e
Breen. to turn to V™,^»r u^ .*^^* ^"« ^^"0^. J™
touching to"^ Ws tSe^^'S'L'T' '°°'*J°"- ^^'^
such a need of him ItS^A ' 1°^ ^^^^ ^^^ ^^s
doesn'tgivehimaTythinVbu,tr» ^T^'^-"^ ^^"^« *«
ment. He knows ?erfXS"?hft'"tf~"^^"
fromhernowwiUbeoXher^^t ''*'t*«^^ he gets
ful even for that ^ "^"^ ''^*' I'"* he's grate-
beiS^ir Idlrw^dl? ^r°^7 °^ ^ -- accom.
hea.ithenewsLdt^^drS-haTS^lSLth'S
It's
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
they have just gone to Hve in Susan Street. Rosie had
been early to the door to take in the milk, and Sw^Lole
wasgouigby. She flew here at once. I kd exported W
to be crushed-but she wasn't. As IVe juTt s'd he
seemed to be looking forward rather tha^ ooking back
She was looking forward to what I've hinted at and dnr^
lt7- ""u r""^ ''^ '^'' ^ ^ ffi"t- tS is how I can
bc^t descnbe her-and yet it was as a flint with a wonderfu"
abne on it as .f something had come to her in the ±
of mner Ulummation that used not to be in her at J
Jnn Breeds fond of saying that this is not °he Rosie of
a year or two ago and it isn't. It's not even the Ros^
of the ep:sode with Claude. Her face is now like a hS
lamp as compared with the time when it was blauk I'm
not enough m her corJidence to know exactlv wtt hZ
wrought the change, so that I can Zy^^S^ t seem
lr„f^7 "^^ '"t^ '2'^' ^^ ^^«^ thf mother a n^w
another way. They re strangely alike, those two-each
«> tense, so strong, so demanding, ea;* broke^V^he
^t\^\"^u^ f'^ '^^' something finn and &e°n the
g^ to which the wheel can do no more than ir^part a
STint "" °^P°"=W"g- They seem to meZ'^blg
SlZS °"/^*f ^ja^ life some of the old, narX
^l^dly austere New England qualities that ha;e S
passed away and to make them bloom-bloom tha?°f
as the portulacca blooms, in a parched soHha^e anv
^h^ plant would bake, and yet 4h an ahnosrSfS^y
viv^d bnlhancy. Doesn't George Meredith say in one
of his books-is it The E^aist?~that the light of the so^
in them— to bum upward with a persistent glow in snite
of conditions that might reasonably put it out " ^
Ihe old man is a mystery to me," she wrote later
ant?f^5:^^ '' " - ^P°-Me to* conneTS^i'^^Th
shrunken and harmless as he sat on the portico yester-
363
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
taken care of. That sinister element whi^^ TV ^ *° ^
•«nl«l 1= « tin then at J« tSTi „J^1. f
Thor saw Rosie, too. He was n^^.v j
frxan taking a bath jist as she w J1^ Sn ^°'^-'*^
It was the first time he'd s^Ter s^~ w^'^^"'^''-
married. He was so U^iTT u ,^ "^^""^ ''^ ^^^
ested in idlis of t?uT- ^ ^7 personaUy are not inter-
Rosie,Tol5^er hand id r -u. ^ 5" '^^ ^"^^'^ ^^^^
those kind e4s of Kn^t '°°^8 <^°'^ ^t her with
364 ^
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
thing on him in the way they woi-. do if he was brother
to them all People talk about tho brotherhood of man-
Dut there will never be any such thing as the brotherhood'
of man tiU more men, and more women, too, get the spirit
inat s m him.
Claude had been a week or more in his grave when the
letters began to arrive from Mrs. Willoughby
"As to our sailing," she wrote from London, "everv-
thmg depaids on Ena. My cablegrams will have told
you that she s better, but not exactly hmv. She's better
mentally and very sweet. 7 think it surprising. Now
that the first shock is past, she's calmer, too, and doesn't
say so often that she expected it. Why she should have
M^scted it I couldn't make out till last night, when Archie
told me that there d been something between Claude and
a gu-1 named Pay. I remember those Fays; queer people
they always were, and rather uppish. She was a big
handsome girl when I was a little one. Eliza Grimes w^
her name, and as long ago as that she couldn't keep her
plac». 1 ranember how she came for a while to Aunt
Rachels school, though not for long. Aunt Rachel
oouldn t draw too exclusive a Kne at first, but she did
drop her m the end. I should never have thought that
Uaude would take up with a girl like that— Claude, of all
people. You can't run counter to class distinctions with-
out m^e trouble, I always say-and you see how it
acts. You and Thor are far too republican, or too
demoaatic, or whatever it is, but I never thought that of
poor Claude.
"Not that Archie attributes this dreadful thing to the
connection with the Fays. He won't hear of any such
aigg^tion Ena seemed to look on it at first as a retribu-
taon, but Ajdue insists that there never was anything to
retribute. There may be two opinions about that, though
mmd you, I m not saying so. To the best of my abiUty
im lettmg bygones be bygones, as I thinl; I've shown.
36s
■1
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
a cablegram awaitfag ^ * vl^°»lu "^ ^^^ ^^^^ of
left home. I askll W in tKt^'' ^T '* before they
goodness they sho^d W ^me^. "u^ ^ '^^ °^« °f
n^e. Or, rather, she dfd a^w^ ^^^ ^f '^'^'^ answer
answer you'd expect fmm W T. ^"'* ^^^ ^^^ °i
things, and she's got t^^w,'^^ *° ^^^ ''°«e new
specially the dinner™ iZ%"^^ ?^ '^"^ ^^'
their money-^;«/ ,j,;,^XL/ Nanette's- -but with
Retribution ind^T It ' '^ h/'T ;:'*'^ ^^ *" dress.
the poor thing j^tolt^atthl'^"^"?'™ ^""^'^ fo^
woman torn Jay's to t^o^J^u She's already had a
heartless, doesn't it? but ZnT"" ""r^fag- Seems
Jay's woman had to ta£l^^^^"^' *" ™"^' ^^^^ it.
gray traveling-suit, for tJmdo^o, ^7"*^'^ ^"»° the
another week' not ^^^"^t^Thll '^.^f "" ^-
how far we are from sail,vi J^ j ^''^^ ^^ show you
the bookings t^cf ^' ^^ ^' Archie has changrf
aw btS^p't^lit'fso'^^- f ,°^ "«' ''^ he f-'s
I've alwayf said thafle woS "^'^""^ ^^^ gentleman,
natural face, but Is a mLkTnd'?l?r"^ °°* ^^ ^is
?rer. IfsamasktharL^ JvI^h,T'"°'t*'^^
Im sure, poor man thev flr>^ f J! ^ *^''^" though
AUthesaro^suTp^tShefi^i^ ^°"^^- ^^""^^^ it.
to be held up herS*: ihiS^tt aT^I'^^^'^^^'^^
wm be mo. teLr:a:i h^;' o^ the^r'^ "^^'^
it was m a subsm„»n+ i.**- ., " the spot.
• ♦
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
;ra,ftsrrs t'^^ ^°^"^ '-^ *° ^^'^ '-^ ^«-.
scramble as we had o get ovS^toIr "'°°"' ^"'^ ^^'^ »
night boat! I can't teU vL IL "/!'"=/'' t™e for the
those shocks soTw tilharviu do' 1'' °' '' ^^ °"« °f
least I didn't feel anytWng ^Whr ^^'.r^"^'"^' ^t
of your father. He o^f'la^^l ^ f f '.^^^ the same
sensitive as he is, STdr^ttpsef wj '^"'">'' ^
to get to Havre in time ^d h.!l /T^- '^e managed
reached London abouT^^ ^1^^*^ ^ ^^^ "°^^"g- We
had no notion of ^J^McS^ ^rEnf ""^ °' ^'^^
drove to their bankers and ^fl! u ,^ "^^^^ S° ^e
they were in Ix.^ on^^^ J" J""'*^ "j.^^" **■ ^"""^^
the north. ^ ''^i' between ComwaU and
and'L":roiSs"'^lfr^rr*'^«''"°*'^-^''°*«'.
I should say so yLt fllu *^* "^^ ''^^- Waited
threatening to go aw^Jth^?, T ^^""^ ^"^ dosser.
We knew they fhS^'Sm.T^l*'^" "^^^ ^' ^•
^ scores, an^d were'Ss^'s^ ~Xh" t n^f' ^'""'
wanted.? I don Wn^i^ ^ '^"^'^ ^^ V^ weren't
1 hope I nev^ s^K^a It w?^'' "^^ "* ''^°^«' ^'^
English sitting-roMns ^^th J* J^ ?"« °f those chintzy
do for you ?' ^ ^^ *^«^^ anything I caa
36r
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
but on y^urs ' I d"in t come on my account,
" ' Is h(-_ ?• A ,!;>,• u ^ ; ^' "' Archie, I sa^d then
moai^^^f^''^ *!:!;''^* '"'- '^ Wnd of strangling
tnere Jina was lying in a Kttip «-„r„Ki^ i. ", ™ -^ sot
couch. She hadVn W n7, L ^'^ ^^^ '^^de the
cold shoulder!^ They did want to give us the
get her on thTcouch irtookthM ^"^.^"^ ^"'^ ^"^
wewe.doingit-io.?ri2d^S-a^--'ij2|
368
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
break it„pandgeth^S'pTe^\*Z''' ■'«?"- If-ld
was so much for him to Z, t^Jif I^ "' * *""«• There
V. hple^^d to jt.^4° t r£'m':,r ""' ^^^ ""
shutSg^Lro^^S^l'S^T'^^^"-^-^^
what I had been aWp^^ Tu ^^ '^l*'"8 Archie tell he^
that I ^hblTa ^llt"^^, Stl^^ - doin,
going to Garland's, where thev »^,m « J^ ^^ ^ ^^"^
could do anything moretahlL^^ Sad us in case we
for him to come out of ^hl l^'^ ^'^\ ^'*°"t "^ting
table and Ct away " '''^'"' ^ ''^^ ^^ ^°^ °n thf
returning with hTto the^if f •'' ^ ,'"'^^*^ °° their
instaUed^them iT^ ^t^of ^'" ^"?^ ^''^'- ^^ ^ad
Moreover, he dung to thlfT ~"''P°"s to his own.
him. It was thSt iiroJ^^^"^ ^''^^ ""* ^ '^^«
Bessie had evS^ot^^'He'SaThe^ °' *''^*^"'^
a man not only stunned but f^fiff « "nP^esaon of
had smitten ClLdSbee^ J^!^' ■ ^! *^^ ^^'^ *^^
he could not have^«^*'^*^'^"«''*°"t°f heaven
afmid-that wa^ whaTTl, ?^°''^''«'- He was
oughbyreadh^a^ght he^T.f- '°- «" ^'^- "^'M"
the fct trum™t-^fe of do^^ *•>""« ^'^^^J ^ hke
house he had built^th If I ^\ was as if he saw the
tumble do^-Sd"w by Z?,lf "*'°" ''^S^g to
was holding up his S T ^ ^^^ *° '^'^'^h he
not merely'inSorSt i^^ iSf' Th''^ '""^^
bhnd to the fact that th.^,. r -""^tion. She was not
i6g
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
poor fellow is say,\^^ luTJXT ^,^*""- "•«* ^^^
in his so«l. Wh«. the dVIv ,-r t^u ^^ "'«' "other
back? Is it "Ha^. ' Vm^J^J? "'* ^^'^^ «»»•
Wdl. it's like thaT He's^^^^' % ""'•' °f Ibsen's?
unhand because we S^eSCtth"*."'"'^"''*"'*
that they can't be thwTt^ iZ^ ** ^''^^ ** °°t the«^-
tenns. Jd that we" e^i u^^, « '''t" ^ °" ««<fiy
The very fact that he pals ^1,?I? *"^'"^ «««^"«t hin.
the ghosts will keep away '°" ^'^^' '"'^^ hiffl hope that
hei £ghtSS^e'° 'f^ "^^'^ l';«"-" *«infonned
H I didn't go sheThTve to Z-^T *'''"«^' ^"^ °*d« n,e.
not leava her tiU she\ s^e^ t™ "'f^L ^^ ^'^ «ther
I can't make her <wt Ihl ^°"'' ^^'"^^- ^ must say
does. Now thaT rweek,aiToneV'",°'T*''^A"=hi«
is over, she's like a p^„ ^w K ^f ^^ ^"^^ «hock
so sweet and gende St?^i^,* °^ ^. *^^- She's
she's always ^Z^^t-tiL^ t^ ,^^'^- ^ «»^e
way. Ulx.VmywoXld5wwh^r'''l*r»»''«
or not-whether she n^^ y^f ^^^^^"^ ^he has a soul
being bom in her BuTlhe'f n^-*' T ^^'"^^ ""^ «
even say «signS. TWs „o '• ^'^ ^°" "^S''*
She'snotabith^totZ "«T''''2' ^'^^ thkt.
demand, and just t^W tT * °'' """^S "ttle or no
She's grieving oti'^Sf^J/t^gth enough to sail
touching quaHtyiritthrtvl^u^^r* ^^ ^^ *« the
I -St say I d<^'t lS^SiK:T„r'^' °'' *^^-
knowledged the ■ 4t lett^fL!? u ^"^^ ^iUoughby ac-
by the RuriJl o^ is TiJT • "'^i^''*^- "^e go
the hints you're aS Vhm^„„ ^'"I'^V' ^-^P'y f"rio«s at
37^
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
to avOTge himself, and must therefore be bey ... susoirim,
.1 must say Archie doesn't strike me as vimh'rtive u^^Tu
« another surprise, if one could ev«rbL su^rilL, • **
t^r^:?eh h ■^*^'"' '^•''"'-' '^^^^::r^jy:t
iTy^^rLVtTx^ctirs^r^- \-r
S^tr« ^- O^'f-'^-ti^terestsus becaus^U^b^
I must LvT/ °" "V l'^' P"^ "" ^l'-' behind me^d
1 must say that your father and I have never been^
along perfectly on what we have, and we don't lack f^r
s'ST^b ° ^'^ *^ "^^ ^^''-'^ y°-"=»*? t£
CHAPTER XXXV
* .!
hm
tenns could be used of a ma , <^Z^^' '" «> ^ <«■ « such
ing ever sat on him with J~ ' ^.^^'^ bereaved. Noth-
charity, and sorrow wthwSclf^ '\^ the air of dignity.
T.hilo his stand toward o^„M i ''*"i"^ ^"^ Europ^
<3cyree of sympa°hrner^vl t"^ ^^^ ^"^^^' ^^
had been sympathetic:^ J-VL^^^^^, P^^^^^y
to Ehza Fay when her husf ,7^^' ^^ '''"'^ ''e wrote
^ociating himselfl^the •/ ofT ''"* "^."^^ '^^- <«'^
and protesting his bTicf i„ W ,1!^" «Y^*'«^ °f the law
was conceived in a s^Htltb^VT'^l'^T'^-
of human nature in the minds of »n •' ""^ «timate
tents. Whatever the inn^ Z! • ^^ "''' '"^w its con-
woman to whoLTjaT^dS^'r ?' - -uch-tri^;,
precous to her husban^s^' i. tTT"* T-?! *~
t^SilTn t™- °^ ^- -viilJ^wS^^^^^
had'coTfSa witV'tSaf£:of ? ^ "V^" ^^ ^^^
^ay he's talked, I y^M^l^^^l^}' °°* ^'«- the
:'Has your son s^TT?"' ^'^ ^«" '^°» *• either."
. heo?g?tSt:rThS?rw *^* ^^^ '^<^'* ^° 't.
comfort to mef T lL t ^^^ he talks. Oh, he's no
Place, buw'didn-'t t^ft ^f f'b'^' ^^^ "^^'-f"
x^%rL-j,£i^4^gnvrj.^^^^
THE SIDE OF THE ANGE.S
"I didn't bring them up right.
•tateff,ent of the case.
I was discontontod — "
in.'iSJiglJ"''''' * '^"'«'* *^''^ ^^-■" Loi» broke
Pays aid the eXnV "^a tT<S^S^' "*"
_ Lois interrupted, hurriedly, "We shouMr.'t ^^ w ^-
'Tel:! "?1T."'"« hi- « advtce.'^*o5d^,.V'»
Good wiU was,i„ fact, what Reuben Hilanr h^^!^V
msmm
fr-? i-tTfS. tr^i"'^re°vir:fTk*;'c£r;i
373
•li
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
S?K2l.nSt±f 7'^° ^' *° -" them?
I'So that wh Jit cS:,*--2«J-kr
"Oh. thank God!" E^h^ ^^'^ *° ^^^ "s word,
infonnatioa em^SLS "^f^"'',^" ''^^ "^s
the soul of honop^^^' '^'^^ ^^ "as always
•"^companied Mr^d£ ^^*^:i^y ti <*e dock, had
so that Lois was able toeS IV^^^^ *°. ^^'^^ '"^ house,
parents alone. ^^glhlinZv'^i^'^^ thesom,wing
letters had oSy%^tch«l Sh«^^ ''"*^' *^^* ^'^'^ h J
of the daughti^ of 4e house t ^LTTf ^If^^^^
for the minute the ret„r^^ "*® tea-table, while
guests. '^*^^ ''°yage« took their place as
his'Ss'^'oiS'^^ cZ£7Jr'^' ^T ^''^ t° «*°
new turn to'theltTaS^tw^f of heart. ^^ *is
seized from what had be«^ Xrif^ t ^"^ ?"* imperfectly
kind of consolation thaSaZt^' ^^ f°^^ ^^ ^^ ^e
son in a war with wuS d ^^^ ^^^ ^o" ^he death of a
deathofabCmLwh^S'C^P"*^^- ^^^^^the
also death in Mioas ttafm^e'^v ^'^ ''°°*- ^^ ^"^
stronger, since it was^ «?d Z'^L^' "^ Portion the
science. It detractJno?},^^ f!l! u- '^^"^^ °f his con-
«« Claude's y^SS fSllT *"' ^^ '^^t ^^^ *°"ld
Jasper Pay Imd^oTIvS ^1^^'°° "^ ^^"^ P'^of that
and With the eUmina^^ of ^TZ^Z 'Z^IT^^
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
Ji^^^^^° imprison him, you see, the family wiU be
3 r^;i^ri„_5?« °^ ^-^ "^y^ ' «^^-^
cS/^''" * "^"^^ "y °* ^PP~^^- "What? After
Sat wein^"' '''^t^^^^.y^t i«. have got hold of ton,
to find the way to iJJ'J^V'tZ'Z^TZ'
wn to them, as a sign of my confidence in poor old
f aLlS^ tSy^« " "^^ --"^ '-o^th-S
SS.^r^P'?"^''^- K^ehadnothing™S
Tea was over and they were on their feet when she felt
her own need demanding consideration It w2 not
375
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
without nervousness that she saiA " v~. i ^
•^sotr^StS^.^^^-^-SrsS^'*
said, pR»nptiy ^^^^ °" '^ account." Mastennaa
Th'a?is:^?«p^°° ^ ^??r^ •»"* <« his own.
account, but ta 'SSty to feS'^^t*^ ^ was on your
yoti would be a comfo^t^W' ^' ""^ *«°^°^8
-Sf L'Se^^MrCfi^s^.^^^^ -'^ --
the stoniness that m»I3 v7 tathas face settled to
look veo. ^eS' « h^s^^lj^'^*''* >*
understand it." People might not
n^aS^^'rinJel^f ^^^'f 'l'^ '* '^•- »«* «»<- that
the past fer;i£."L\'^^^^^the village during
Ignore it." In the hnn» „f ^- '^^'^ « a position to
in what he ha^ to ^^ I^TV:^" ^^^ ^"^ ^hor
While speaking sheSthl^' ^ ^^^^ *° «» *^«--
niay notW Mm WK*^ *''**** ^^tennan. "You
of fact. he"SS ^iTL'Sr^ ^ - r*^
may as weU teU you nownn tif? • u*° ^"^ ^h^** I
the ninth of July-T^^'^^r^* "^ht-the night of
house together Th«^ waT^W tZ*^ ^^ ^ the
Mi^. Mastennan .^p^ w?^^*!rT* *«»•"
«ying. merely, "cl.tr" ' '""'^*' ''""thed hard,
thi;^ t:.* &Z"''* "^"'^'^ -« «-tIy. but-but-
^"Not the blow-r Mastennan began, with honx,r in
brothers, as fi:r as she to^thl,? ^!^ t'^T^ *^
aU over." she continued eS^y b^^°^H^^
Pa-nts could cedent on^^^^ TL 1^^
376
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
"Claude wasn't much hurt. You can s«. thot * ^u
^ttfaUy. '-When it isn't in one way it's to a^^S'
What have I done to deserve—?" ««ioiner.
"He «> terrible," Lois admitted, soothinriy "but nh
HeiZTrri-^''', *^'"« ^ ^'^h spl^did ways-
He hasnt found hunself yet; but he will if you'll givS
priS" -mfw^'r^^^"" came to Lois as a new sur-
^?L "^f*r^,.''^s done '^ng he's sorry for We
^ be sure of that." She turned to her husbaS^ '^cWe
^<^^rw^' T^ "° "•^**? '^''"' '•^PP^'^^1 between
rhorand hmi, I forgive rt, if there's anything to for-
tJIH^T '^}'" ^f^ *^ ''^ something to forrive "
Lo^^confe^ on her husband's behalf, "Ihethrt^;^
tJl'^^l ^J^ to come to me," Ena ommanded in a
^ rT?„°f -^^ had never heanl fix»n h^^ '
with;o:r;h'^eToC"''"'^^'"^'^*°'^yhe.
sheL^^i^hS^.S^i^.tS^^Si^r r^^Z
mU mean ttat you and I are not tryif g to judged t;;*
boys, or take sides between them"-Te gavfa Uttk^^
now when rt's no u^. They quarrded^as br^th^^^
•■TK ^ T ^Ti°^ ^^ °ther. for all that." '
hp Ji^f ^ ^^'"^^'" ^« ^d. simply. "I think
ttritnt5'"°"^^--^°--th7worldth?t-
Mastemian wheeled suddenly and walked away while
his wife made signs to Lois that they had won
25 377
1!
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
C«mty St^et:' -'Nt: T^^^^^^l^^./^^ along
She meant that now hTZ,^! Jj^^ see if he wJUl"
might „.tun. as a ^ oTSLTT. ^ ^'*' ««* *«
own accord, someth^^h^-K he came of his
So much she knew; bS^J^'^f^^^ '^P *» greet him.
«nphasis, throwing theTLoon!^!^ "^^ repeated, with
ft^onhim. It was«i'^^'f/y°f taking the C
J^ asked him to ZTe ^'£^ ^f *' *^at it lay. She
^ imn back, and she was^ofn^ IT^.^'^P""^ ^
fk to be taken back hl^f^.! Prepared. If he were to
ferent. Since it w2 he J!^*u ''? '^^ lawfully be d^
^e i^ad supposed t^tebS 5f ,„'"'^! ^"^'^ *« ««^
suggest another built on^t^JT '* ^^ ^^^ "ni to
substitute. Great as h^ riS^ v ^^ ««ld find as a
by so much ... a glan^^^a il^- ^^' "^^ "^^ "ot
necessity. ^^^ or a smile relieve him from that
As they drew near each othw cfc«
«3 one that would bel^^vfif 1??^^ "^^ «^«te
yet for a long time to ^e ti^VZ ^^ '^ "^ «fe.
select the very tr« und^W.h^t ^^^ ^«* ahead and
«sult of th7fTCt^t^JZ°f^ »^- As a
their hves would blend agS^-T^^ J^ .^"^ exchanged
house and she to the oth^^^ ^t °^^ go to the one
apart than they had^^ K^'^u^^y ^°^ be further
leave him free. Not ^^J^Z *°,?^ ''° influence, to
THE SIDE OF THE ANGE
LS
c^e^displayed by Mr. and M«. Mastmnan he b„>ke.
"They've arrested Pay."
* ,!^* *^^ "^* ""^ "^ "'^^y «f the nature of a vow as
a man could venture on without melodramaticXr^t^
Zi^^T'"' ^"^ "°"«y' ^ his time wt^ to te
death one man. and one man onlv was to w=,«. "-""oe s
^y would have lain in wait for Claude in^^^
^J°^^u^ ''°"ld have been more tl2 a^^tS
l^f^l^:^ ^ ^*^^^?^* ^«> ''hen anned^S^ a
10 Thor It was so clear that he was bevond the^rh
rfargtmient. He was likewise beyond ttSTof^
??ang that anoth^ man shoulda't suffer in hisitod
^m the r^on mto which this absorption and ™
crabon earned him Lois found hereelf Zd her daiST^
hun thrust out. Whether he went back to heTor X h^
he did not was. for the time being at any rate of ^Htt^
moment m his eyes that appar^tly no'^tt^Jt^f S
^ of thar situation had occu4d to SS It ^
TC tSf ^,^T/"'^« "•"* ^^ ^<^d not conidJrt
Sat^Ll'w^"'''^^'*.^^'^^^ She was
™jiy aware that her uony was thrown away when she
^S^lx'. ^"^ '^* "''^ *° «"« matterifS^^d
hoiii^ do^TtvT "**^^ ask you to stay on at the other
apun. iuey U keep me company as long as "-she was
379
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
«he could hanlly oeSj^^^o? SS' !f •'*"' ^"^"^ ^^^^
K she was ual^pp^^^''^*f^ ^°^g anything else
sublinunal abysses to rtme^S^^^""^ "^^ *°° <1««P i^
to the other was asliSrSifhS k " """^ ''"^ ^^ «*«
It was so right ttot d^e w« f ^!^ ^ ^^ »^««-
It was so rilht alt Se ri^t^ "^"^ "^^ its rightness.
opiate. It ;«; Tn£ut^tZ Tt °^ ^ ^^ <«
might have relaxed W hold J h"^ ^^^ helplessness
hadshenothadsudirlJri°r ^^* substitute for love
and then. ** ""^^^ ""^d to make use of it thet^
She made use of it as nr. ~_ •
lavishness, people eke^f^^""" ^"^^ » «how of
plenty of pSle dLmnL^^^ ^^^^^ °' ^^ with
in their old ™s ^Sd^^ *J° ""'^^^ her pa««ts
««ters and S t^t^t^^ *^*°' *^« their jj^^
the pleasure n^^^^'J^^^T^^^^fts she simulated
wtfa While the dS^&4^\t '"i*°'*'""PPy
tempered anything in thnTo^ .^^ home-coming
couldn't forbMaafo^if^w"^ ^ubemncTth^
she was as pnS^iS aTtf hi ^J*^ ^""^ ^''^ "«ht sparlZ
stocked with iT Mc^i.^h*''^'^^^* had been
for the p„,test. "li^T^' ^l^"^ ^ that except
going to do with Thwr^! 5Tu ^°°^^- ''hat are y^
the diflference betw^ wW T"^^^ '^P'^ ^^'^ W
thesterlingmeK^^^^tS"" "^"^ *«" ^^
'ts^^iTo^l^Sr ^ "r.Y^ -"-^ 't reserved
she had occupied L^'5,r°l"^htl^^fled to the «om
hehmd her. the mothfU^S^f „^.^°^e do^
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
k there?" ' °°*'^« **»*«» y°" and Thor.
^^^y^ ""^»**"— «na I doubt if there ever wiU be—
■ubstit. 9 f ™.^^ * .,. ^*f" *** "° bitterness in her
■awut- « fw love, for the substitute for love was
CHAPTER XXXVI
autunia when his 1^ wl^^' '^J^^'^^g in the
'To hear -em you'd ^tLTw^"^ f°^ ^« ««•
for sm. and none ev^^TuZ ^ "i^^**"" ««pt
Post-mortem sUvati^ mavIS, ,n '''^* " P«t^ortS.
..Of^urse^tJ, a good nL'Cyo^.'
one else, didn't wait for iWet, I^ ^??"' '*^'> «v«y
toem. He saved the^*^ ^> «?^,befotB He sav^
**an afterward." * ^"^ ^<J Sin no more' to
^ce. DifferSrLt?eLTo„^'T;j.«otyou«elf-^n
at least save one or two «r o !i ""'' y°n and I can
toward it." «• two or a dozen-«- do someth^
"You ffl^ save them here."
, ';Anr^ou"Sol;rn!:^t4;rtr^^«*' -•*•*'"
Iog|^ sense of saving IKS^""" ""'^ ^ «"« «»eo-
- a'Sd^:r^^S°rthe'^-r-^'-«^^.
from having her bes l^^nef 'sS °h "° ^'-^ '^
salvation— it all meets tfT^ '^^ ''^ rain-it's aU
the ^e Prindpl^f i'';^™ -^~it's all part S
And what is the endT' ^^^ ««d."
382
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
'"«»seW. " I leave vou iTfi- j ® "^ *"<* stretch^
I«a it by a wc;S Tfo^ SteJ^jr ^'^ "^^■
begins with an /. You om't h»™\ '*"«'«*'■ "«><■' it
taow what it i»-wlu^Tius Whal"™"^"* "^ '*■ « yo«
know." ' J"*' "'™t many people don't
wif v^ow^- 'iir w2?ii r^ » ««'«'. but
Uncle Sim?" wonaer if / kno^ ^j^^^ .^ .^^
a^'^yt"i^'f.'^«^^°--''ther. "you',, taldng
w Jn^^n:: t°i £; flToJtV''. "^^ - » ^•«'e
omtive. It was s~i;trZ °^^ Jlununating and c4ob-
Phrase to such tenns of^°p£ jT^.'^I'^^ f«»n a noble
he^ able to fulfil. It^S\^?Z;!^^ ^« ^^'^'^
Md the present >^demi^^e^>h^ ^"^^^ P'^'^-
fr«ts of righteousness^w^^^^ "V!^^- "^"^ ^^e
P?«» beyond anything sh^ Z^ °^ *^«» t^a* ""ake
'wnter afternoonSS^ T^^ptf ^^"^^ ^ 'he
could look back over the iS£ I, '^^ ^"^^^ <*«
and .see how relativdy ^^^ T^u' "^^^^ """"ths
J^Iatively easy for the 4^^tW ^'l^- ^he said
b«enhard. 4edistSshe™ T** ^'^ °^««^ty
been haid would ha^ C^ '"^^''« that what had
taken the prindpfe ^f '^ ^^T'''^'"^ bad she not
«>«ld be b^ght atout^f^ ^^ '^^"*'°«' '^bere it
minute's need ^^rhtStacTtJfT ^ '"^'"^ ^b
the next minute's need l^t^M ^^i^^^^th she found
to suffer a shade :^ or ST^'t ^J, ^°^"e °° °n«
"»Jd help, she perceived a iLf-^^* '°"««'' than she
With the less^Xe^^.f-fthesti^all^nrnd
IfssionsanddisanlantipatW^rL''^ ^^ *° '^^
dse for her substitute f^ tev?'shf ^^ "^^ "^^ """^S
that it worked. ' *® '^^ °bhged to admit
383
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
h^^tt the same glassy stTtKe-, Sl'^tl^
w!^VJi ^*^ * ^^ ''*'*" "* ''w a" over and thcv DushS
^t Cj^^e died 'hTjrddt^/^^t.- S:
^piSS^e?dL^^-r.f
^t.on.shecouldnowfoUowhimburalSly ^^w
did they get home from Colcord?" ^ "
She asked the question to keep him going, lest he should
384
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
Mto-JrfieW." * ""^ took the tnun to
A little crowd at the eou
nirther, had called, "Three
other little crowd had greeted
on their arrival in Susan L^.
in the grounds of ThorV fathe
cheers for Mr. MasterBianl" •
j™! responded by coming out
onef, Idndly speech. He wa.'
*• door, hf recounted
.for Dr. T x>rl" An-
with asimiLj-wdcome
A th. t) hau gathered
uose, shoMtJn*:, "Three
the ob'ien of thi? good
the 1 xjTch and maidng a
ffchver « > „ Thor diwe
fiirther demonstration ji. k™^v ^^ . *• *<> »v°'<i
'^ttne from the
*i»nethiiig she had
■fr a minute she
hope he'll not
.. penalty by this
- — _.» „. x-ur Qes a JO
nirther demonstration, he »i«dced h.
avenue and turned towar J»ahe,
She seized the opportunity to ^^
at tuaxt, which would also help to '
found so embarrassing. "Oh is,
^e to suffer any more. .le'g p^
tone.
"You mean — "
"I mean that I hope heU never haw fn k=
deinite with himself Uian heTbLTljr^w ^^ """^
easily see how it is wiS^ \^ ^^J^ 1°^ "*"
one accusinp- and the ot^AJ ^- r ^^ *^° ""»-
have the dehC b^^lJt?f^er^ '"""Z* '^t.*«
driven to the wall. TcS^t bSt^' " *° ^ ^^
He waited a long minute before soeakinir "rt
Again he waited. " He puts that on ma-
He puts It on you so as not to take it on himself"
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELA
■h* «ld. quickly "tv^. . ^^l-ELS
We know and he knows th«ti/T. 1 ^^ *^- Thor?
not to avenge himseHn'Slii £T ^'"' '"'^ ''■ '' "«
But now that the law sa^ Stav^w*^ ^^ °°« «»»••
, He inteiTuptod. aui^jT^. r. ^^ *'''" '^o 't— "
?"l«; «d ridS^d eaLr^otwlJ' °"* -ith
needn't be afraid on his m«v^ t' '^ I^ectly. Yo„
""..y^. I ought to'Xu:-.- ' "" **"'»' -«^
j2SdS?lS?e^X'"„^^^^^^ <*« ^w ^ that
^^b'^'^^^^^^Z^'^'ZI^' up at hin.
to be thflt much Si^^""! ^'**-to ^^^nd onT^
front door wraXT^ to'r- ^1 "° ^"er. for the
exdt^ entmnce. wfth?^^"-^^- Willoughb?:
Oh. so you're here. ThorrTc • •"? '^'^^d her.
•woman at the limit of h^ st^t '"^J' the tone of
Jou may as weU know it wTf ^- .. ^^' ^'^ glad,
topped into one Ke hS^ehS^ „ B-^thless^he
w bkck and white! Ws K^! ^. y°" ^« Kot it down
f^f-^t's the shnMid^dlTe^rfr ^*'^ ^'"^t « I
been having the Strang^ the vi^''*^^ <=^<Mel Len's
Archie." ^^"^^ tne very strangest, talk with
''eJ:°'"Ko^er*diX?rbou'^.^« ^'^^ toward
386
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
What', come over eL?^-* IIT ^??' '"'^''•
t~l tuning hun.a^"UnrinrSs 'b^! "i*^ °'
believed it and I can harriivt^i; •.' °"' ^ ""^w
;:A.faraswhat,Sl^£'"/:^s"wri ..
us-aUtooTerdinn^'- "m r^f ^f ' ""'^ -^"Z ''^^
"SS°"^ I never cZn^Vt^^r'"^-^''' '^
haJJ^rSrh^o^trth^e^ToSSr '^^' ^'^ ^^
r^ he 2r^ aTC'^jTr £-Hr^
lieveit-notanymore^^ffle" ^heyU never b^
looking wi^^snty b^^^"^' -thin i^" <l°°^ay.
-e spectral, ^ur^^ a^J^^t Sa' t^'^Jy' '^ '^^
CHAPTER XXXVII
were glad of the family Zn«i^'='*?u^ ^"^ They
^ could be togethi^ vt* *^5"* ^°^ whe^
&«m each other in CSv^l^'^i. J*^* "f-ge
clo^ to M:.. Mast™thSy^<ifi"d.they]ce^
father retained his twoZ^feS^'.*^ J^°''' Thor',
the promised e^laaations Utl fa^l*^?""^ f<*
with an emotion like alaitn thS ? *^\«'<««? it was
parents had gone home Sut^I"^ ^ *^t ^^
Pany. Secretly she bL^ to * u!"*^!,*",^ her corn-
away alone. HershSrf'n^'"^*!?^^°''^«aHng
^wifa^-\ri^~r '"^ °«
of ease. She talkeT^t m^f ST "^T-^^l^o^tioi
many things to sav W ?i ?^ "'^"^ <*«fe were so
She talked K^LS^STb^*^''.'^'' °^ ^t
her in the moonhght dt^b' ^^^ *°''««1 «bove
was that sense of Ms^;il£r^tTS^°^*.'"^««^ "
»°st. It was a We ^tw !?^^ ^""^ *«^ed her
'^ait^ng for somet^ ^^ti;^"^* •^'^ ''*«P' »«
could take its time. It ^^.tf ^^l^-'^table that
for the streams, of sKfor^f"! ''f *«» "^ the ocean
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
Shl;.TvS° T^fked over this virginal carpet of snoT^
She taUced with a kind of desperation-of Thor's fa^er
l^^ ^""^^."^ ^°°^^- It^wondeAU^
sorrow had done for Mrs. Mastennan. "I ne^seTw
?^'lSrir:,T*°",^."'^« °f «-t look ^cK
v™?*1;^'f*°V^^^'^'^- I see it in her. Don't
^d .rf^L^thi^r^- tottt?"
^^r.--renX-r£-™£
ZS^ °^J^T^^ ^ court-whrhf £*
the truth She seemed to be answering some unso^
«?«n^t on his side as she continued: '^yr I ^
or the voodoo-mamma's so amusing!-but yc^^^
have nothmg to do with that, have we, Thorf wTL
«jlytekewhatwesee,andjudgebywha isbS. And^
i ^^^/^ *° *^^* *»»« of their money back— welan'f
mus^p^'it^ St "5^ "^ '* wra't.is;:!:^'
th™,„i,* P • ^*' ^"^ °®^er, never let any other
toxght come mto our minds. I know that papa^d
mamma, dear, mnocent things-they are dear Ld iiC
cent, you know, in spite of everythLg!-! know th^TI
only be too glad to take it in tSWe way." ^"
Kwlf^.' for an occasional word he had hardly spoken
W lITr''" h^^reached the confer of Will^S^
h^ ThTL^t ^^ °^ conversation had distracted
her. The crucial mmute was at hand. The dooTwS
but a few yards a«ray. He would either go in witTh J-
or he would go back. She hardly knew wUch id ^
the more supportable-the joy or the dismay
"Oh itW **,*^' ^ Possibffity of post^ning both.
Oh, Its so lovely! Let us walk on a Uttle farthw It
389
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
. yoV,'^o«^hei^^£3--^a -off so early "^^
M «f it had been distilted ^^.'^^^^1~^^^ ^^e air is
the i«ad and looked^d ^XT^.f ">« "^^^ ^
over there-the one HkTa'^r^f u-' ^^* ^- Thor-
told her it was Si^s ad^^^tLT^.'" ^diamond?" He
years to travel to the e^fJ *•'*" ^^^* ^^ eight
^s finger the consTJlaSoTL'^ °" -f?: *^ ^^^h
return to the old habits toot c^ f ^« Jniaute's
^^ her sense jf ^^4^ th^' °£. «>« ^verishness
up the hiU. ° ^ *hey continued their walk-
Up the hill there were onlv f^ j- .
8^o„g the pro.J^Jt^^°^^^^°^f in which to
wmter woods where maW of ^I^ ?"" '°*° ^^^ <!««*
«?th patches of white Mieht w^r ^^ ^^^Persed
«"ght there was not a m^S^-^i^^"" ^his soundless
stwct rather than inteSThe^ fl""!:'°'''- ^^ ^^
°^ar path running under p^y "''"^ ^ ^^' ^^
brought he^ r^d to*r?°t certainly. Rosie C
Matt and Jim otTLScfS^^'^ ^°^*' ^
Fay *„<«£„. It „y^ te a teiJ t^-^PP ' ^-h«t Mrs.
^th a „,aa who-rdone a Z^.^^^ t "^^ ^^ ^^
We must do what we^ toT?^ ^^ ^^*- P°« soul!
She pmsued theTh^ !, . f ^ '?*' ""«*"'* we?"
for the sake of the ofeel'T/*" 1"*^ * ^°«- hut
her. By speaking b^l^^l *° '^^^ ^^ was leading
Breen. she came at £ .J^' °* cu* ^'^ ^''^ °f Ji^^
her. too. at the risk of oLSn^r^' J^^ "^^^ ^^Yot
of lacemting that whi^wL ^ °'^M°""'^^ ^* "^e risk
Her main pu^x^e was to s^ ^J^^v'^' ^*^, ^"^tive.
hm. speak, so that this nSTsk^l/ ^"^"^ *° ""^^
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
luaivdy w of necessity. She was resolute to make it as
litUe to be sliunned as his or her own.
Not that she was successful, for the minute at any rate.
His responses continued to be brief, so brief that they
were hardly r^ponses at aU. They were not grudged or
ungra«ous: they were only like those first Httle flashes
of hghtning which hmt that the heavens wiU soon be
Skt, .^ ^ fnghtened boy whistles frem bravado, she
SnSi^ "" "" ^'^^^^ ^* *"^ '^'^S of celitial
"Oh, Thor, there'U be so much now to do! It's reaUv
only begmmng, isn't it? And it brings in so manv
I hke that I lj£e gettmg out of our o.u. little groove-
with what IS stronger, even if it's terrific. That's what
I f^about Matt Fay-that he's terrific. He rep™
atMTific movem^t, doesn't he? and one we can't ignore.
When I say temfic I don't mean that I'm afraid of it.
of wL n"^^' *° ""* *°° strengthening to be afraid
of. With all you can say against it, it strikes me as a
tome in our rather flaccid life, like iron in the blood I've
sympathy with it, too, to some extent; I've sympathy
^2? '"t, ^'^ ^°^' ^ ^° "^^""g t° t"^- Peopte! rm
gl^ we know ten. and that in a way we've a right to get
n^ to him. It puts us in touch with our own national
reautaes as perhaps otherwise we shouldn't be. Oh Thor
there s so much to work out! Isn't it a splendid thing
that we can help even to the slightest degree in doing it!''
°t™s there was no response whatever. She was not
Zh '^':f ^^^^- ^"^"^ ^'' '^^ t^ fo"" ^tr<Se^n
so^H ^i -^u"^^^ ^^^ ^"■°"°° ^"°^ ^^^ « creaking
sound that roused the winged and funy things of the wood
and silenced her half-hysterical efforts to fight S
hat which awaited her like a glory or a doom cSg
^ddenly awaxe of the uselessness of speaJdng, she said no
391
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
-^..^T^hi^ £t^^^^ .-ned to ,
white as this snowTttis^^.-^"'"^^ »« "ver
?o like the ether b^^d^e a^?*'' "°*^« ^ «
«g was ever so ^d^ ^^T^^ *" *W» "i^: no
or so fflysticaUy ^^^^'"^J^ «"'s purple ^
upward it was UkeZ^^Tl^^ ^ ""ey climl
wh«e evil was not an eS^St* *^' °^**' ^P^e
Pt^'^^^^'^tl^t t^^eTd^ .:"'* ^ «>« --
white altar. It w^ an ^T v^^u *''** «»e Hke a gre
when a half-ho«^i^ Sv'Sf "1*^^ ^ ^<^
othenWse they might W^^te'?"««' their ^
association of the oast ^-^f^ ^'^ "• As it was. tl
starUed then, i^^ ?^g*5 ^^i^* ^^-d th^
^ous to seeing eacA He ^ oT^ff^t' "^^^^^ cor
as could not pass into wc^d-T^t ^ °^^ ^'^ tWng
As ttey contfaZl ttelT^ip^^r^^^ ^'^ ««*»<
»«U of some symbolic ceSr^ >t was as if in fuiffl
^ool^nUt o^4"rd:^£?e^^* °" «>«— >it
when Thor spoke. "I'm noT tlt^f ** ^^ feet,
you've been talking of r,^ „ ."^"^ ^*^* the thing^
thwi any mo^^ ^ ™ °°t Pn«arily interested ^
'You mean — ?"
4'S^i?^e^n°^?«'-^thewayrvetri«,it.
She was faintly surprised. "Indeed?"
truth." ^ ^y ^ ^e stumbled out-to a gW
•■ &dr. °^S??"^ '- -- '-t curio^ty.
but w^th hL's^."" ivrnoTTr^T.t "°* '^th othe^.
^ right on his o^uZnt-'^'A^^t T' '*'" ''^
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
she was too disconcerted to comment on this, he con-
tinued: "If reaching this conclusion seems to you like
discovering the obvious, I can only say that it hasn't
been obvious to me. It's just beginning to come to
me that I was so busy casting out other people's devils
that I'd forgotten all about my own."
"You've been so generous in all you've thought about
other people, Thor— "
He interrupted with decision. "The most effective
way m which to be generous to other people is to be
strict with one's self; but it never occurred to me till
lately. I've been so eager that my neighbor's garden
should be trim and productive, that mine has been over-
run with weeds."
Against this self-condemnation she felt it her duty to
laptest. "But Uncle Sim says you've always been on the
side of the — "
"Yes, I know," he broke in, with what was nearly a
laugh. "But it's just where the dear old fellow has been
wrong about me. I've wanted every one else to be
there, on the side of the good things— I admit that—
but I was to have plenty of rope. Now I'm coming to
understand— and it's taken aU this trouble to drive it
home to my stupidity— that if I want to see any one else
on the side of the angels I must get there first. That's
where the ax must go to the root of the tree. In the main
other people will take care of ihemsdves if I take care of
myseU—tiad I'm going to try."
She was hurt on his behalf. "Oh, Thor. please don't
say such things when you're so— so noble."
"I'm only saying them, Lois, to show you that I see
what s been wrong with me from the start. You've tried
to say it yourself at times, only I couldn't take it in.
Do you remember the day in my office when you came
to tell me that"— he nerved himself to approach the
subject with the simple directness he knew she desired—
"that Rosie had— ?"
» 393
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
"Yes, but I did
n.l^"-?^*?"'^ to come to his aid.
*»^>t w just that way."
t^ iti"^e tusi "ISrirr ^ T '«* back a
"Oh, Thor!" she pl4?i^ ^""^ ^-"
He went on, steadily: "From tt,« ™- • , .
you to mairy me right uo ^J^ 7? '" ^^^ ^ «*"
about Claude." h" was ob^,^ ?~f ''''^* "^PP^"
bt^ath before saying m^ -^^^ *° ^"^ » 'ong. ha,
eveny one else sCd S^rfght th^t I ^^T""^ ">'
«wng / was-which is lik/hl3 ''"^° * *=^ ^o^
poisoned well." *** '^'^« °"t water from
was stSl ti^lrS Sdt^lfL^'^.S- *^"
It unjustly to yourself Thor u ^.' ^^* * P"ttin(
they've been sjde^onS^ Thlt wll"".^" ""'^t^^
Xr^^f r * °' - have'Sn'^g^. ^" """ ">^
She thought he smiled. ^
wanrtL?Sitt>mwt?''^°'^'^«'- I only
on a new pUo Sf ML°ri:? ' ^^ «*^^
and not ircm the outside If rnTfi*^ *^ ^^ ^^^e!
world, something mu^ W L ^?- ^^^^S « tWs
I've got to begfn." Hfl^ilf r^^P??^^ ^ «^-^d
of the dim, whL landSi^1i°? ^' contemplation
you help me.. WiU%r ^o^^ L^ Wr ^* ^^^ "^^
somehoTnt^ tSrSf^he^^ V.°^ *« ''-
glance up at him. SheS" hf-^t "^"^ * * ««<* as
only trembled out asSe^d ^ufc^^V"' ^"^
You can," he «!ai,1 c;^„i ..1 ' ^*or dear."
She barei; hJtedli ^^P'y-."^"- you know."
"You've Ko'- the ^t ^v ^7 '^^ y°« think I do?"
that now-l in^ i ther?''r " ^«*- ^ ^
that's worth leaming.'' ^^^ '' *° everything else
"Oh, Thor, you make me afraid—"
394
THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
"Through aU these dreadful months," he pureued.
tranquiUy "you've kept us straight, and led us lit. wd
raised us higher, not because you're spedally strong, Lois
or speaaUy wise but becaus^because you've got some
other quahty. I want you to show me what it is so^t
I may have it, too. If I c»uld get it-«et just a UtUe of 1t
-^t wodd seem as If Claude hadn't-h-idn't died in
^f^:^ .t was now so near his breast that he was
oWiged to bend his head in order to speak down to her.
You wrote me last year that you were looking for a
substitute 'or love. Couldn't you find it in that?''
She was so close to him that her cheek brushed the fur
coUm of his coat, yet she managed to keep her mind clear
will "^^^ f T°"^ so as to ask the thing she most
vitaUy needed to know. "And if I did. Thor-if I
co«M— what should you find it in?"
"In adoration-for one thing," he said, simply.
It was such happiness that she tore herself away from
J^n. ffT°"^ swiftly over the light snow to a higher
point of the summit, she stood for a minute poised ^one
ag^t the dark sky, crowned to his eyes with a diadem
of stars Very slowly he strode after her, but even when
he reached her side it was only to slip his hand into hers
and gaze outward with her into the far. dim. restful
spaces. """1
It was she who spoke at last, timidly, and against
txsmg tears. "Shall we go home, Thor?" ^
"I'm at borne," he said, quietly. But the quietness
gave way suddenly to fierceness, as Kttle Ughtning flashes
jaeld m a few seconds to the violent magnificence of
storm Sazmg her m his arms with a dasp that would
have been brutal if it had not been so sweet, he whispered
You re home to me, Lois— you're home to me."
And you're the whole wide worU to me, Thor dear "
she answered, drawing his face downward
THE END