AN AMERICAN MADONNA WV. OF CALIF. LIBRAAY. LOS Raphael, ir/iom Iro, irlicti in hix hcst mood, resembled. AN AMERICAN MADONNA A STORY OF LOVE By MARY IVES TODD 'And tell me horv Love goelh ? 'that was not Love that went.'" 1909 THE BINGHAMTON BOOK MFG. CO. NEW YORK COPYRIGHT, 1908, BY MARY IVES TODD To My sisters, Jennie and Vina; Loyal wives; devoted mothers; staunch friends; Queens of Home! M. I. T. 2133207 CHAPTER I Of the true predestined love alone do I speak here. When Fate sends forth the woman it has chosen for us sends her forth from the fastnesses of the great spiritual cities in which we live, all unconsciously, and she awaits us at the crossing of the road we have to traverse when the hour has come we are warned at the first glance. MAURICE MAETERLINCK. Jt- An American Madonna CHAPTER I The Niobe of nations ! There she stands Childless and crownless in her voiceless woe. BYRON. OH, Rome! How magnificent hast thou been! . . . But, alas, how cruel I . . . Truly, thou hast richly deserved thy fate! These words were slowly and thoughtfully uttered by a young lady, Harriet White by name, as her father and herself sat on their fine but restive horses, gazing in sadness and awe at the most stupendous and thrilling ruin in a world of ruins! Indeed this ruin repre- sented all that was left of what had once been a wondrously vast, almost inconceivably mag- nificent work of art. Ah, and to think, that notwithstanding its prodigious cost and mar- velous, gorgeous beauty, it has contributed more to the undoing and degradation of great 10 AN AMERICAN MADONNA multitudes of people than any other building, past or present, reared by man. Since, within its walls, vast numbers of men, women and children were taught to love idleness, low pleasures, and reckless cruelty. Nay, in a thou- sand hideous spectacles, they learned to take delight not only in the long, protracted, tortur- ing death struggles of countless dumb crea- tures, but, likewise, of human beings, male and female, Christian and pagan. Prematurely cut short in this revolting manner were the lives of some of the loveliest, bravest, noblest heroes that ever dared to descend to our bloody globe and assume mortal robes of flesh. For this huge, slowly decaying structure, once so truly representative of Rome in the height of her magnificence, was the Coliseum. There it stands ; in the new Rome of to-day the most grand, the most solemn, the most mournful, and the most impressive object-les- son of the past. As Mr. White and his daughter finally turned their horses about, in order to leisurely pursue their ride, a newspaper, caught by the AN AMERICAN MADONNA 11 wind, came swirling through the air, attacking viciously and blinding for an instant Har- riet's fiery, black horse. Quick as lightning the horse reared high in the air, then rushed madly forward, emulating the wind which had tossed the paper into his flashing eyes. Har- riet tried to calm the mad beast. As well might she have endeavored to control the subtle cur- rent of air in its swift course. To add to her discomfiture the saddle began to slip to one side. In order to keep from being dashed un- der the animal's flying feet, Harriet was obliged to secure a firm hold of the horse's mane with one hand, while with the other she held on to one of the pommels of the sliding saddle. As the beast continued his flight she realized that her hands were becoming par- alyzed with their tense grip. She could not hope to hold on much longer. It was when things looked their darkest that two Italian soldiers, the one a captain and the other a lieutenant, saw her predicament. These officers had but lately returned from military service in Africa, where they had met with 12 AN AMERICAN MADONNA many a thrilling and hair-raising experience, and had learned a trick or two in the handling of horses. When they saw the mad black beast coming toward them full tilt, they imme- diately took measures to intercept his danger- ous flight. It was arranged that the Lieuten- ant should make a dash for the bridle while the Captain was to vault on the horse's neck and give his windpipe a strangling embrace. On came the mad beast. Swift as thought the Lieutenant made a grasp for the bridle, seized it, and held on. The Captain, too, had been sucessful had landed on the neck of the beast, had stuck, and lost no time in choking the creature without mercy, until he perforce stopped, almost ready to drop. Harriet, having extricated herself from her perilous situation, was quickly joined by Cap- tain Bruno, who looked anxiously into her countenance to see if she were going to faint. He wished to be ready to support her in case of need. Observing his look of apprehension she smiled reassuringly, and for an instant her beautiful eyes looked straight into his dark, AN AMERICAN MADONNA 13 handsome ones. Like an electric current, the glance seemed to penetrate every fiber of his being, and to set them vibrating in an exquisite manner. It was all he could do to keep from dropping on his knees and adoring her, as if she were indeed a Madonna straight from heaven. Ah, but she had stopped smiling and had begun to speak to him in the most musical of tones so deep, so tender, so true ! He must perforce wake from his dream of bliss and lis- ten. It was not often that Harriet's speaking voice was quite the musical instrument that was now uttering simple, commonplace words. Though she looked calm and was unshaken in deportment, yet the great peril she had been in had affected her tones and made them un- usually clear, sweet, penetrating. " Not in the least," she said. Then, as Lieu- tenant Mayer stepped up, holding the bridle of the panting horse, she remarked gayly, " Ah, gentlemen, I am so happy to meet you I To be able to witness your gallant exploit is well worth my hazardous ride." As Harriet finished speaking she held out 14 AN AMERICAN MADONNA her firm, ungloved hand, first to the Captain, then to the Lieutenant. This handshaking on Harriet's part was of that frank, close, tender character which expressed more truly the debt of gratitude she owed than any words could have done. Besides, she gave the Captain an- other straight glance as she did so, which, com- ing so close as it did on the heels of the other, made him wildly desire to prostrate himself at her feet. However, sanity quickly returned to the Captain's brain, when he observed two men riding swiftly up to where they stood. They were Mr. White and his guide. The face of the former was pallid with fear; a cold sweat stood in drops on his capacious forehead, while his breathing was labored. Harriet immediately helped her father to dismount, then took his hand sympathetically in hers as she said, " You see, dear father, that I am not in the least hurt. But I am so sorry that you should have had such a fright." Turn- ing to the two men by her side she exclaimed, " These are the two gallant gentlemen who AN AMERICAN MADONNA 15 have saved my life just as my hands were go- ing back on me." By this time Mr. White had got the use of his tongue, though he spoke with difficulty. " Gentlemen, I beg of you to call upon me at your earliest leisure, and give me an oppor- tunity to relieve my heart of its burden of gratitude." " Altro! It is we who should be grateful for the privilege of being able to serve so brave and tenacious a young lady as your daughter has proved herself to be. But, since it is your wish that we call upon you, we shall do so more particularly as we shall desire to learn if neither your daughter nor yourself experience any deleterious after-effects." 'Yes, indeed!" added Lieutenant Mayer, " we shall be eager to learn if you remain well, and the lady proves none the worse for her thrilling and hazardous ride. She showed great pluck and has the qualities for the mak- ing of a great soldier." Hearing so generous a compliment from one who knew what he was talking about, Har- 16 AN AMERICAN MADONNA riet felt it incumbent upon herself to make the Lieutenant a profound obeisance, whereupon all laughed gayly, except Mr. White, who was still breathing with difficulty. Observing this, the guide said, " Signor White, shall I get a cab?" Mr. White bowed, and the guide rode away. While this arrangement was being made the Captain and Harriet were gazing anew into each other's eyes the one pair so dark and thrilling, the other so luminous and beautiful. But little attention was being paid by these two to the Lieutenant, who addressed himself more particularly to Mr. White. By the time the guide reappeared, accompanied by a fierce- looking but hustling Jehu with a rather rusty vehicle and an inferior-looking little horse, Harriet had convinced herself that the Cap- tain was the handsomest man she had ever seen. A little later on she was to discover that he was likewise the easiest man to fall desper- ately in love with, and the hardest to forget. CHAPTER II DIGNITY OF TRADE Men must eat, they must be clothed, they must be housed. It is quite as necessary that you should eat good food as that you should read good books, listen to good music, hear good sermons, and look upon beautiful pictures. That is sacred rvhich serves. There are no menial tasks. " He that is greatest among you shall be your servant." The physical reacts on the spiritual and the spiritual on the physi- cal, and, rightly understood, they are one and the same thing. We live in a world of spirit and our bodies are the physical manifestation of a spiritual thing. We change men by changing their environ- ment. Commerce changes environment and gives us a better society. To supply water, better sanitary appliances, better heating ap- paratus, better food served in a more dainty way these are tasks worthy of the highest intelligence and devotion that can be brought to bear upon them. We have ceased to separate the secular from the sacred. The way to help yourself is to help humanity. The way to cheat humanity is to cheat yourself. We benefit ourselves only as we benefit others. ELBERT HUBBARD. CHAPTER II ON the following evening, but one of the two gentlemen instrumental in extricating Harriet White from a situation fraught with peril, called upon father and daughter. It was Lieutenant Mayer, sturdy of build, swarthy as to com- plexion, with hair like a raven's wing and eyes to match in color, who, after a few pleasant words by way of greeting, said very earnestly : " I am sorry to inform you that my com- rade is confined to his room with illness. In- deed he is a dangerously sick man, with a rag- ing fever, and is occasionally delirious." " How very sad! " murmured Harriet, while her countenance suddenly paled with appre- hension. ' Why, how comes it that he should be so ill, and so suddenly? He looked the pic- ture of manly beauty and health last evening, when we bade him adieu." " It was excitement that g^Ve him a false 19 20 AN AMERICAN MADONNA appearance of ruddy health. The truth is, he has been for some time slowly convalescing after a very serious surgical operation." " Indeed! " Harriet spoke but one word by way of reply, her mind being full of eager wonderment as to what had given occasion for the dreaded knife of the surgeon. She did not dare, however, to ask. Presently the Lieuten- ant gratified her curiosity by relating Captain Bruno's last gallant exploit in Africa, where, with his company, he had suddenly turned de- feat into victory, thus saving the prestige of the white troops engaged, as well as the lives of a group of Italian soldiers. But the Cap- tain himself had been carried from the field wounded so frightfully that it was thought he would never live to see his native land again. Nevertheless, when the hospital steamer ar- rived in Rome he was still breathing, and, after a very skilful operation, gradually grew stronger. Had he been in his usual health yesterday's trifling experience with the run- away horse would not have imperiled his health in the least. Under the circumstances, with a AN AMERICAN MADONNA 21 wound superficially healed, he might find it hard to recover lost ground. For a moment both Harriet and her father remained silent. They were deeply affected by what they had heard. Could it be possible that yesterday's accident was, after all, to cost thejife of a human being? " And that human being so handsome, so easy to love," sighed Harriet to herself. As for Mr. White, he was thinking, " Thank God, that it did not cost the_Jife,of my precious and only child! But it is a bad business, as it is. I wonder w r hat we ought to do under the circumstances?" The Lieutenant, seeing both father and daughter absorbed in sad reflections, continued speaking, facing Harriet at the same time. " I wish you could find it in your heart to return with me, at least for a short call upon my poor friend. Your presence at his bedside now might give him a new chance for his life. Ah, but you should hear him beg me in the most beseeching manner to bring to him 'Raphael's American Madonna'! Something in your countenance yesterday caused my 22 AN AMERICAN MADONNA friend to believe that he saw in your face a strong resemblance to the Madonnas of our greatest Madonna painter, Raphael. So, to- day, whenever he is partially delirious he de- mands, ' Comrade, bring Raphael's American Madonna 1 Don't forget ! It is the American one I want. Make no mistake! Hurry up! Be off with you ! ' When I would bow in meek response, hesitating a little what to do, he would rise up in bed, with cheeks red as poppies, frantically urging me to ' Go! go! go ! * Of course I would have to disappear a while. Then, when I would return, he would give me the same orders over again. At last he got so irritated at hearing me explain that you would come as soon as a cab could bring you that you were on the way and so on any old thing I could think of to quiet him, that he began to throw things at me. Finally I hit upon an expedient which I hoped would work like a charm. I had our most beautiful nurse, about your height and form, put on her street clothes with a hat much like yours also a veil, contributed by another AN AMERICAN MADONNA 23 nurse. Now, I thought, I'm all right. He will never know the difference, with his brain in a dizzy whirl. Would you believe it? No sooner did he glance into her eyes than the poor sick Captain turned his back on us, and buried his head in a pillow. We were obliged to silently retreat, quite discouraged. You see, Signer White, I was actually compelled to come for your daughter." " Yes, yes, I understand," commented Har- riet's father. But he added nothing further, and when the situation was becoming a little painful, the Lieutenant suddenly laughed, then explained: " Really, we have had a good deal of amusement at the Captain's expense. Our young doctor a raw substitute the other one being still off on his vacation of a humorous turn declared that the Captain, ill as he was, had discovered what Italians, or, indeed, all Europeans had failed to find among Americans; that is, a woman of the madonna type. He further declared that ' America breeds clever women, handsome women, intellectual women, brave, independ- 24 AN AMERICAN MADONNA ent women; but, madonna women! Dio mio, never I* After that, whenever we would hear the Captain pleading that Raphael's Amer- ican Madonna be brought to his bedside, we would laugh in spite of our anxiety about his health." Harriet understood perfectly her father's reluctance to have her meet again the hand- some captain. His clear mind saw danger ahead, and whenever in the past anything seemed to menace his plans in respect to Har- riet, he had said to himself, " This must be nipped 1 " Hitherto success had crowned his efforts in removing every impediment which threatened to affect seriously the career for which he had zealously trained his Harriet for two whole decades, ever since she was a little maid of five; ever since he had divined that Dame Nature had placed within her head a brain of the same far-seeing, exact, compre- hensive, and subtle business fiber as his own. True, Dame Nature had acted with her usual idiotic blindness in respect to conse- fluences, since, having given wee Harriet her AN AMERICAN MADONNA 25 father's capacious brain, she had placed in her bosom her Italian mother's madonna heart; and, as if this were not enough to handicap her seriously for success as a competitor in Amer- ican business enterprise, she had recklessly endowed her with the most ardent Italian love for art in its manifold phases. The result be- ing that poor Mr. White was continually kept busy " nipping " some new conflicting devel- opment in Harriet's manifold nature. The first had to do with her growing attachment for her dolls. They having multiplied to seven before Harriet herself was seven, and her care of them becoming a passion, Mr. White said one day, " These dolls consume too much of your time. Put them away. You are now too big to play with such senseless things." " Oh, but I love them so," was the little mother's reply as she sorrowfully obeyed. But the most trying nipping experience of all for Harriet had been when her father paid and discharged her Italian singing teacher, remarking, " I do not wish my daughter to perfect herself farther in the vocal art. How 26 AN AMERICAN MADONNA are your wife and children in Italy?" The man replied with embarrassment and de- parted. Harriet never saw him again. Her father had perceived that his daughter, des- tined for a high and commanding place in the business world, was rapidly developing an uncontrollable love for music. Her lovely, mezzo-soprano voice, with excellent training, bid fair to rival that of the great Malibran. Also Mr. White perceived that Harriet was falling in love with her teacher, a highly trained Italian maestro and an agreeable gen- tleman, who, for some reason best known to himself never hinted to his devoted pupil that he possessed such inconvenient things as wife and children, dependent upon him for support. Hence in this instance two loves were "nipped." But everything and everybody that prom- ised danger farther on, had been just as promptly and successfully nipped. Was he to be checkmated now that he was old and be- coming feeble, and had his Harriet perfectly trained to step into his business shoes? In- AN AMERICAN MADONNA 27 deed, she already was in them he merely act- ing as adviser, doing little of the real drudg- ery. His success in playing the part of both mother and father to his only child, and molding her in the form desired, had been " simply marvelous," everyone said. How- ever, here was a new occasion for his " nip- ping " process. To permit Harriet, with her ardent Italian heart, to fall seriously in love now, meant, he feared, ruin to his hopes. Yet, what to do? While he was vainly conjuring some way out of the difficulty that should not appear too heartless, Harriet spoke: " Dear father, surely you can trust me. Let us go at once, before it is too late. Come, I will get our hats and gloves, and we will be off." Mr. White reluctantly consented, wishing for once that Harriet were not the picture of perfect health, or that he had taken the pre- caution to retire early on this fateful evening ill. Under the circumstances he must per- force go with Harriet to the bedside of the most handsome man he had ever set his eyes 28 AN AMERICAN MADONNA upon a type of beauty that recalled old Venice when her ruddiest, strongest, bravest, handsomest brood of virile citizens were on her stage playing their parts, to the admi- ration of the world. The ride in the cab was quickly made, the horse being driven at a swift gallop and the distance not great. They found the Captain's nurse playing hide and seek with her patient from behind a partly opened door. She had been driven out by the Captain, whom they could see through the crevice wildly tossing his arms about as if trying to drive something away that menaced his peace of mind. His aspect, though frenzied, was picturesque. His curling, dusky-gold, luxuriant hair, grown longer than usual, formed a magnificent bur- nished background for his Raphael face with its perfect eyebrows and expressive dark eyes. True, his glance was glowering now, and quite unlike in expression to that of the ever calm and beautiful countenance of the world's greatest painter. While the Lieutenant hesitated what to do AN AMERICAN MADONNA 29 with Mr. White and his daughter, now that he had brought them to the very door of his sick comrade's room, Harriet herself quickly crossed the threshold and soon had secured both the Captain's hot hands in her cool, strong palms. Next for a moment she held his glance firmly with her own. Doubtless a person with keener eyes than our ordinary ones could have seen Harriet's eyes sending a stream of tender, healing love straight into that other pair, now, alas, so full of pain and bewilderment. Presently she laid his hands down that she might place one of her own at the base of his brain, while with the other she skillfully mas- saged his hot forehead. Thus had she often relieved her father when his head was hot and throbbing with pain. She hoped to have the same success with Captain Ivo Bruno. While she was busy exercising her powers of healing on a new patient, her father had permitted the Lieutenant to seat him just inside the door. As for the Captain's comrade, he stood where he could watch Raphael's American Madonna ply her madonna gifts. He smiled broadly when the beneficial effects of her treatment became apparent and her patient's regular breathing proclaimed that he was fast asleep. At once he came forward, and, warmly shak- ing her hand, said in a low voice, "Brava! You are the right sort of a magician." " No, not a magician; but I believe I am en- dowed with some healing power. However, Lieutenant Mayer, your comrade is a very sick man. He should have a skilful doctor immediately. Pray, let us send for my father's physician. He is very clever." " By all means I Because, if there is any danger of blood poisoning setting in, the more promptly such indications are skillfully dealt with, the better!" Harriet now turned to her father, saying, " We will go for him right away, shall we not, dear father? " " Yes, indeed! " responded Mr. White with alacrity. He was only too glad to get his daughter away from that handsome fellow's bedside. He sincerely hoped that the next AN AMERICAN MADONNA 31 day would find the Captain so much improved that they could proceed at once to New York, for they had already overstayed their vacation by three days, and all because Harriet had wished to give Rome a hurried visit when she could view once more the majestic, awe-in- spiring Coliseum by moonlight: a fearful, a haunting, but always a glorious spectacle I CHAPTER III Raphael's St. Barbara,'* whom Harriet resembled. CHAPTER III QOTWITHSTANDING the fact that the best of medical skill, sup- plemented with exquisitely tender and intelligent nursing, promptly took Captain Ivo in hand, a fortnight tedi- ously and anxiously passed ere that young man gave promise of being able "to pull through " ; for his vital forces were at a low ebb when this new demand was made upon them, and nature must, sorely handicapped, do her healing work over again. In the mean- time Captain Ivo had become so attached to " Raphael's American Madonna " that it was with difficulty he could be persuaded to part with her long enough for her to obtain neces- sary sleep. As for her meals, she was for a long time obliged to take them with her patient, he obstinately refusing to eat any- thing unless she shared it with him. When the Captain began really to mend, 35 he quickly turned their dainty repasts into lit- tle comedies, he himself playing the part of star performer. Often would he pretend that he was too weak to feed himself. Harriet would humor him by giving him his food with smiling grace and madonna tenderness. This gave him his coveted opportunity to intercept and kiss her hands as often as he liked; and he liked not seldom. Occasionally he would bite instead of kiss the hand that was feeding him. Feigning contrition, he would beg her to kiss and make up. In this way he secured a lot of kisses while he was still in more or less dan- ger of a fatal relapse; sweet madonna kisses which he never forgot as long as he lived. As he got stronger, and it became correspond- ingly difficult to obtain a kiss on his lips from those of " Raphael's American Madonna," he made the ones he did get last as long as possi- ble by clutching her hair with both hands and holding her face close to his until she either screamed or managed to get hold of his hair, when, sometimes, he found her a not unequal competitor in hair-pulling. AN AMERICAN MADONNA 37 Often, however, the two chatted in a serious manner, Captain Ivo finding it delightful to pour into Harriet's sympathetic ear his past life with its intermingled joys and sorrows, successes and failures, loves and aversions, hopes and aspirations. He told her how his mother had secretly abetted him at every op- portunity to become an artist. How his father, on the other hand, had been determined that he should win military laurels as he him- self had done with Garibaldi; and how, to bring to pass this desired end, he had been obliged to pass through a certain military academy, and next to accept a position in the army, to his infinite disgust. " But it appears from what Lieutenant Mayer tells me, that you proved yourself a gallant and splendid soldier." " Oh, I'm not a coward," said Ivo, " but now that my father is dead, I shall lose no time in dedicating myself to that art made so divine a thing by Raphael." At this point, Harriet exclaimed, " Bravo! " very energetically for so calm a person. Then 38 AN AMERICAN MADONNA half closing her eyes, she repeated dreamily from Hawthorne's " Twice Told Tales ": " Oh, glorious art! Thou art the image of the Creator's own. The innumerable forms that wander in nothingness start into being at thy beck. The dead live again. Thou recall- est them to their old scenes, and givest their gray shadows the luster of a better life, at once earthly and immortal. Thou snatchest back the fleeting moments of history. With thee there is no past; for at thy touch, all that is great becomes forever present; and illustrious men live through long ages, in the visible per- formance of the very deeds which made them what they are. Oh, potent Art." " It is my turn to cry ' Brava ! ' " said Ivo, quite beside himself with joy. " Now that we discover that we are of one mind, children of Art, come to my arms, and let us embrace like " He started to say, "like brother and sister," when it occurred to him that an embrace of that character would not suit him at all. In the meantime Harriet guessed his pre- AN AMERICAN MADONNA 39 dicament, and, fearing that he might declare his love in a manner she would find hard to repel, she at once rose, saying: " Do you know I am neglecting my poor father for you? Every day sees him more feeble, while each new day finds you making prodigious leaps back to health and strength. I must leave you with the Lieutenant and re- turn to him." These words punctured Ivo's bubble of happiness. He lay back on his pillow, look- ing pale and bloodless. Next he sighed and closed his eyes, wondering if Harriet really would go and leave him half -fainting with fear for he divined that her next move would be to tell him she must return to America with her father, now that he was out of danger. The thought of her going far, far away, was too much for his self-control in his present weak state of health. The tears would come would roll in big drops over his pale, thin cheeks. Being ashamed to cry "like a woman," he turned his back to Harriet, who now stood by his bedside in hat and wrap 40 AN AMERICAN MADONNA ready to depart. She could not leave him thus, for it took so little to retard his re- covery. " Come," she said, " turn over that hand- some, shining head of yours, and let us kiss and make up." This offer was so tempting that the Captain lost no time in obeying. As he did so, he remarked, " It's an age since I've had one." " It's an hour," interposed Harriet. " And I mean to make the most of my di- minishing opportunities," replied Ivo, pretend- ing not to hear Harriet's interpolation. So when her face came close to his he grasped her hair and held on viciously, while he covered her eyes, cheeks, nose and lips with ardent kisses. Indeed he did not let up until a fiercer hair-pulling bout than usual had left him panting but happy once more. " Sit down! " he urged. " I have something very important to say to you." "Oh, it will keep," replied Harriet. "I really must return to my dear father. His health is very precarious. He has missed me AN AMERICAN MADONNA 41 fearfully since you .have been so ill and re- quired so much of my attention; and his health has declined until he is quite irritable and im- patient. Immense business affairs also claim his attention make him feel that we should be turning our faces homeward. I shall sim- ply run away this time." And, suiting the action tp the word, Harriet disappeared be- fore Ivo could utter another syllable, or even groan. Harriet found her father in the apartments they had taken, close to the hospital, looking unusually feeble and ill. He was lying on the sofa and did not attempt to rise to a sitting posture when she came in. At once she re- lieved herself of her wraps, then took his head in her two strong, magnetic palms, placing one at the base of his brain, while with the other she skillfully massaged his forehead. When he began to look more cheerful, and a slight glow appeared in his cheeks, she re- marked soothingly: " The Captain is so much better that I think we can be off to-morrow for our dear Amer- 42 AN AMERICAN MADONNA ica. Thank God! Have you decided about the sum to deposit in the bank for each of the two men who, without a thought of what it might cost them, so gallantly saved my life?" " I have already attended to that matter. When we are on the ocean, they will learn that they have each to their credit $50,000." "A generous living for each, in Italy provided they invest it well." " What they do with it is their business, of course. They are, however, deserving men; have served their country in a gallant and dis- tinguished manner as well as my dear daugh- ter andj Lieutenant Mayer has a big fam- ily of children to support, besides a weakly wife and a feeble mother. He can now afford to educate his children, instead of turning them prematurely into bread-winners. As for Captain Bruno, the doctor informs me that he may never be a strong man again; that he cannot hope to re-enter military life." " I do hope they will accept the sums you have placed at their disposal." Harriet felt AN AMERICAN MADONNA 43 almost sure that Ivo would have nothing to do with his. " They will feel obliged to accept them after they have read the letter which is to be delivered to them when too late to refuse a small gift, considering the service rendered. In the letter I have told them the burden of gratitude their noble act has placed on my life. I have explained that it would be cruel to me in my present state of health to refuse me." " Ah, I am very glad that you have made it impossible for two deserving men to be un- just to themselves. Dear father, never did I admire you more or love you so well as now. You are a truly great man one who does the right, beneficent thing at the right time, and in the right way." Harriet captured one of her father's hands, softly caressed it, and, before giving it up to its owner, covered it with kisses from the sweetest of lips rosy, beautifully formed, healthy, full of vitality! Apprehensive tears filled the eyes of Mr. White as he slowly, reluctantly answered, 44 AN AMERICAN MADONNA " Dear Harriet, I could not live without you. You have been all in all to me ever since, as a babe, you would cling so tenaciously to my forefinger, or, indeed, any finger you got hold of." Harriet smiled as she said, " You will find me clinging to you with the same tenacious grip, as long as we live. Nobody shall be permitted to separate us should such an atrociously selfish thought enter the head of anyone." " Thank you. My heart is greatly relieved. I have feared that you might fall in love with another handsome Italian, you yourself being half Italian; but, thank God! you have your father's brains." A look of proud joy took possession of Mr. White's countenance and made him appear a different man. " Everyone tells me I am ' a chip of the old block,' father. But I owe not only my brains to you, but all that I am, or ever hope to be, for you have been both a tender mother to me, and a wise, thoughtful father." AN AMERICAN MADONNA 45 " I have done my best to rear you right. I have read, aye, studied a thousand books and spent countless hours trying to solve the prob- lem how to train and educate my little Harriet so that she could play a really useful and great part in life, and I think I am but speaking the truth when I affirm that there are few women perhaps none who are to-day your match in the possession of great stores of well- digested, practical knowledge. As for your grasp of business details, affairs, and compli- cations, few men are your superior, young as you are." !< That conies of your pruning away promptly everything that tended to distract my attention and fritter away my precious time. Alas, who can estimate the hours lost by the young in undue attention to trifles light as air! In the mere matter of the arrange- ment of my hair, what a lot of time you have saved me by insisting that I do it simply and then forget it. Ah, yes, if I ever do anything worth while, I shall give you the credit." Har- riet embraced her father anew with glowing 46 AN AMERICAN MADONNA eyes. He felt reassured. No one was to come between them. No one was to recklessly undo what he had been a lifetime laboriously build- ing and storing; that is, a brain capable of handling immense business interests, which had been slowly and toilfully developed by many years of prodigious toil business inter- ests on the success of which thousands de- pended. Mr. White was not unlike John D. Rocke- feller in build, with the same large bald pate, keen, well-set gray eyes in rather deep sockets, a shorter upper lip, a less sanctimonious ex- pression, a little less genius for business, and a little more conscience. In religion he was a commonsense man of the Thomas Paine or- der; preserving a deep and profound faith in a God who obviously knew more than he did, and who was gradually, but unmistakably, as- sisting all creation to progress Godward into something wondrously, inconceivably powerful, wise and good. Harriet proceeded to make the necessary preparations for their journey to America. AN AMERICAN MADONNA 47 She resolutely forebore to think of the mor- row, saying to herself: ' Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.' Besides, I shall need all the reserved strength I can command in what may perhaps be my last meeting with Captain Bruno. Of course in his weak state he will play the part of a baby. Ah, me, how I love babies in general, and Ivo in particu- lar 1" CHAPTER IV " The same rich hair is yours, the tweet deep eyes That meet us in old frescoes, where are wrought The prayers of the old masters as they sought To paint Christ's mother. "I see no, Raphael, Guido mere not blind: 'Twas such as you at twilight come to greet Their tired footsteps at the door, that taught their art To weave its sainted spell about the heart" CHARLES COLEMAN STODDARD. CHAPTER IV 'FTER Harriet had made her father comfortable on the morrow and had attended to importunate business matters, she found her way quickly to Captain Ivo's sick room. No sooner did that gentleman catch sight of her than, as usual of late, he held out his arms, eager to embrace his "madonna nurse." Ivo's face fairly shone, being quite transfigured by the love he bore her. By the way, what is love that it can work such miracles in the human countenance as to make one dream of angels, of gods and goddesses make one know there is something in the universe that eye hath not seen nor ear heard, transcendentally beautiful, compact of Sweetness and Light? On the other hand, when one is possessed by the spirit, of passion, of hate, how one's countenance darkens and glowers like that of a mad beast! After Ivo had held his Harriet to his breast 1 52 AN AMERICAN MADONNA closely yet tenderly, and had given the lov- er's long, clinging kiss, together with half a dozen impetuous boyish ones thrown in for good measure, he said, impatiently: " Sit down! I have a plan to propose something to make your father well and strong." " That is worth considering, surely, seeing that we have tried many things with doubtful success." Harriet smiled indulgently at his boyish enthusiasm. He resumed, giving the hand he held an extra squeeze: '' Why cannot we three or five, rather, since you will want to take your doctor and sec- retary along spend a little time at my beauti- ful ancestral home? Grandmother Bruno left it to me, for I was her idol. The castle villa is perched on an elevation high above the sea, in the purest, best, most invigorating air imagi- nable. The road winding up to this high- perched Bruno Home reveals, as it ascends, a thousand charmingly romantic though some- times magnificent scenes. My friends have frequently told me, while sitting on our ter- AN AMERICAN MADONNA 53 race, that the extended view of the surround- ing country, embracing as it does a great stretch of sea, snow-capped mountains, water- falls, romantic ruins and picturesque, historic places, was the finest, most romantic they had ever seen." " Ah, how I should love to walk or ride up that winding road, and sit on that terrace!" sighed Harriet. The Captain was so pleased that he had not received a calm but firm " non possimus," that he continued piling up new attractions having to do with his ancestral home. ' Why, at one bend of this winding road there is actually a fine view to be had of ancient catacombs " At this point in his narration Harriet shud- dered; but yet she said smilingly, " Go on! go on!" "What's the matter?" " Oh, ever since I nearly got lost in some of the interminable catacombs of underground Rome, the very word somewhat terrorizes me." "But my catacombs are all right," stoutly 54 AN AMERICAN MADONNA asserted Ivo, as Harriet withdrew her hand from his, and, pulling out of her expensive bag a present from her father's manager a fine piece of linen, intended as a little gift to her tutor in New York, began to embroider a bit of poetry in a corner of it. She had already hemstitched it in an exquisite manner. The Captain did not ask her whom the handker- chief was for, hoping that she meant it for him. ' They are not underground not alto- gether," he declared, " but peacefully repose under picturesque, vine-draped walls. But, since catacombs is an unsavory subject, let me call your attention to a view that brings to mind perhaps the most wonderful people, all things considered, who ever made a home for themselves on this little, spotty globe." " The Greeks, you mean," interpolated Harriet, as Ivo paused. "None other; and they, some of them, actually built a theater on a cliff of this wind- ing road, the ruins of which set one dreaming and looking backward, recalling famous Greek plays and equally famous Greek actors AN AMERICAN MADONNA 55 robed in wonderful classic costumes express- ing sentiments wise, witty or pathetic, in a wonderful language." " Ruins of that kind I am always delighted to see, to examine and to dream over." Har- riet looked up from her work smilingly, while Ivo caught the hand nearest to him and kissed it. He was so happy. Surely he might win out yet, and the sad day of parting be indefi- nitely postponed. He continued excitedly: " Why, yes, besides the catacombs beg pardon, I meant to say * Greek ruins ' there's Mt. Etna, far grander than when Nature first tossed her up, more than a thousand feet above the sea, and located her so that her grandeur is very impressive. Also the views to be had of the great, pale turquoise sea, at various places as we ascend or descend this serpentine road, are not by any means to be despised." " Surely not! Sometimes I am tempted to think that the strange, strange sea with its myriad moods, its usually divine, though some- times diabolical beauty, its terrorizing insta- bility and inconceivable cruelty at times is 56 AN AMERICAN MADONNA the most mysterious work of Nature after man." " Say, c after woman ! ' exclaimed Ivo, laughing a little. " Really man does not be- gin to be the mystery a woman is, be she peas- ant or queen." " Oh, I don't know. Both are infinitely mysterious as is everything ; so that man will, doubtless, be infinitely employed guessing and unraveling the infinite mysteries of God. But tell me some more about your romantic, high- perched home." " If one is a lover of myth, fairy lore and legend, one has but to lend an ear to the peas- ants of the soil to have it filled with uncanny tales in connection with every height, water- fall, gorge, cave or rock. Likewise in this divine spot according to tradition the very gods and goddesses of Greece used to descend sometimes, and, instead of quarreling in a scandalous manner, as. they have been accused of doing while on Mt. Olympus, here, on the other hand, they bathed one another's feet, kept their robes spotless, sang holy songs in AN AMERICAN MADONNA 57 short, treated one another like Christians, each preferring the other, and serving one another in a spirit of love " " My heavens ! you must be getting delirious again, caro mio" Harriet laid a cool hand quickly on Ivo's brow, regarding him with so serious a look that he burst out laughing most joyously, hearing which Lieutenant Mayer stepped into the room and improved his oppor- tunity to shake hands with Harriet. " Always you are the magician," he said pleasantly. " Oh, no; not now. It's your comrade who is the magician; raising Greek gods and god- desses for my benefit. And would you believe it, he is endowing them with Christian graces ! " ;< What kind are they?" innocently queried the Lieutenant. " I have been in the army so long, I quite forget." " Oh, don't ask me. I am a business woman. In the world of business we are still barbar- ians. You know we think nothing of decapi- tating one another, financially, or of bringing 58 AN AMERICAN MADONNA ruin upon thousands of people if we can thereby feather our nests more quickly. Ah, hut I must be going must bid my two life- preservers ' good-bye ' for the present. We start at two. Father asked me to thank you again for helping to save his daughter, and to tell you how sorry he was that in his feeble con- dition he must husband his strength; other- wise he would have climbed the necessary flights of stairs in order to see you once again and have the pleasure of taking you both by the hand." While the Lieutenant was unnecessarily prolonging his leave-taking of Harriet meanwhile holding her hand Ivo was not only losing every particle of patience he ever had, or thought he had, but a terrific brain storm, fast becoming a tempest, was brewing in his head or was it Magdalen's seven devils that suddenly took possession of him ? At any rate he rose up in bed, looking very much like a fiend, and, grasping the jeweled bag Har- riet had laid down on her chair near his bed, shot it with great force at his comrade's head. AN AMERICAN MADONNA 59 Next, he leaped out of bed, strong, for the time being, as a giant, and actually thrust his dazed comrade out of the room so quickly that Harriet was not a little disturbed, though she did not show it. She had been rigidly trained by her father to let nothing rob her for an in- stant of perfect self-control. Quickly recov- ering her usual inner poise, she wondered what Ivo would do next, now that he had succeeded in locking the Lieutenant out of the room. It was a queer situation for a beautiful young woman to find herself in ; for, the month being September in Rome, and the Captain, in his tempest of rage having quite forgotten such a small detail as clothes, looked strangely ghost-like in his long, invalid robe. Also it made him seem supernaturally tall in his pres- ent gaunt condition. Having successfully got rid of the Lieu- tenant, Ivo turned about and faced Harriet, his eyes blazing like coals. " Snake! Witch! Fiend! " he hissed. Paus- ing a moment to transfix her with a gaze per- fectly diabolical, he continued, as if addressing 60 AN AMERICAN MADONNA a group of Dantean devils : " A woman is al- ways a woman! Always sly, tricky, treacher- ous! Everlastingly a snake! charming a man with her basilisk eyes, then stinging him into madness! . . . Nevertheless, though your treacherous conduct has envenomed my whole being, I am not yet so mad but that I will listen to an apology, if you have any to offer." As Ivo finished his angry outburst it was evident that Harriet's quiet, calm deportment had somewhat stilled the tempest in his breast. Also, returning sanity made him conscious of his appearance. Of his own accord he got dog- gedly if a little sheepishly back into bed and drew the coverlid about him. After the tempest, or perhaps in the midst of it, comes the rain. So in this human tempest. The tears came swift and fast into Ivo's burning eyes, and flowed down his thin cheeks. Next came heart-breaking sobs, while Harriet was unlocking the door to assure his poor comrade already sporting a darkened eye that the Captain was quite himself once more, and she AN AMERICAN MADONNA 61 would now proceed to put him into a restful slumber by massaging his hot head. "All right! Then I will go and give my eye some more treatment, else I shall look like I had been in a fight. Once more, good-bye." " Good-bye," answered Harriet, as she heartily shook his hand again. ' You are always saying good-bye to that fellow," complained the Captain, in the midst of his sobs. A whiff of jealousy had seized him anew. " To be sure ! So as to get rid of him. We can then go on with our nice little private talk together." "Oh, is that the reason?" exclaimed poor Ivo, all at once immensely relieved; and, swiftly as the tempest had gathered, just so swiftly did it subside. He held out his arms, saying with eyes as full of love as a moment before they had been glowing with hate: " Come, let us kiss and make up." Harriet having satisfactorily performed her part in the love-mending that followed, Ivo once more lay back on his pillow, pale, 62 AN AMERICAN MADONNA spent, but infinitely happy, because he was now convinced that Harriet had not really in- tended to slip away without giving him a chance to come to an understanding with her; for she must know, as well as he himself, that he loved her madly, and must have a word of encouragement to live on when she was gone, else he was sure he could not endure to live. Besides, why had she done her best to save his life, if she meant to cruelly rob him of it at the first opportunity? CHAPTER V FOREVER AND A DAY I little know or care If the blackbird on the bough If filling all the air With his soft crescendo now; For she is gone away, And when she went she took The springtime in her look, The peachblow on her cheek, The laughter from the brook, The blue from out the May And what she calls a week Is forever and a day! It's little that I mind How the blossoms, pink or white, At every touch of wind Fall a-trembling with delight; For in the leafy lane, Beneath the garden boughs, And through the silent house One thing alone I seek. Until she come again The May is not the May, And what she calls a week It forever and a day! THOMAS B. ALURICH. CHAPTER V 'ND now, caro mio, that we are again the best of friends, let me hear what further you wish to tell me about your wonderful Bruno Home. Though we cannot remain to see it now, a few months hence, when we shall likely go abroad to some wonderful place to spend our vaca- tion, we may do so; provided," she added mis- chievously, " it really is worth seeing. Father makes it a point to visit only those countries, places, scenes which he considers of educa- tional value to his daughter, Harriet, whom he has tried so hard to educate ever since she first clung tenaciously to one of his big fingers." "Well, I told you that some Greek gods and goddesses thought it worth their while to visit this romantic spot " " Where they actually developed Christian graces " 65 66 AN AMERICAN MADONNA " Che! che! Pray let me go on. I want to convince you that it is worth your while to visit this noble spot and live for a time on the heights with the glorious God of nature " " Ah, but when it storms I may come down, may I not, and visit with you in your villa " " Che, che, che, che! Stop interrupting me with idiotic questions. Of course we are to climb the great mountains together, hand in hand, freely drinking in the pure nectar " " Of the Greek gods with Christian graces." Ivo, by way of reply, brought his hand down with crushing force; but, happily, Harriet's missed the blow. " How nagging women are the best of them! I don't wonder men have been trying to suppress them ever since the world began! They are inconceivably, insufferably, unen- durably, tantalizingly mean and petty ; enough to drive every man on the globe crazy." Harriet was quite pleased with her success in rousing a belligerent mood in Ivo. To part with him, while he was fuming, would be easier AN AMERICAN MADONNA 67 than to do so when he was sunk in despair. She did not wish to drive him to extremities, however, so she said in an apologetic man- ner: ' You should understand, angelo mio, that having been reared a business person, I have enjoyed but a bowing acquaintance with the God of Nature; while as for the companion- ship of Greek gods and goddesses, that I can- not hope to have. I must, perforce, worship with my people at the shrine of Mammon. But, tell me of your castle-villa. Love for and appreciation of domestic architecture is not yet a lost art with me, though I have ceased designing anything of the kind. I shall prob- ably live and die in our old-fashioned home in ' little old New York.' " "Dip mio: no!" Again Ivo's hand came down with unnecessary force, and, as before, Harriet skillfully evaded the descending palm. 'We shall live and die in my little, high- perched Paradise, and our bodies shall repose in one tomb. As for our shades, they shall join " 68 AN AMERICAN MADONNA " Those of the Greek gods with Christian graces " " Beware ! You might get a black eye, right in the midst of your idiotic talk! " Ivo was furious, and looked it. Harriet, by way of reply, calmly pulled out her watch, when she said: "I have but a few moments more, and you have not yet told me what a woman wants most to hear about a roman- tic home, the one where, likely, you yourself were born; you, who really must look like a Greek god in form when in health, and your frame is properly cushioned with flesh. As for your face, that often reminds me of the portrait of Raphael painted by his own hand when he was about your age, or, possibly, a couple of years younger." Ivo blushed with pleasure, like a girl hear- ing herself seriously complimented by some one who truly admires her. For two years he had been in the wilds of Africa where a man was valued as he showed courage, disci- pline, and approved himself a gallant and trustworthy officer. AN AMERICAN MADONNA 69 As for personal beauty, he had forgotten he had any, for not seldom, days, weeks, months passed by without his stopping to do more than after shaving himself in an ab- sent-minded manner give his face a hurried glance in a bit of looking glass, which com- ically elongated his features. Ivo quickly recovered himself, ashamed to show that he was so pleased at being compli- mented about what he considered a small matter. To show that it was but a fleeting impression, he said with dramatic impressive- ness : " How can I describe a beautiful, artistic castle-villa, full of antiques, art-treasures, old tapestries, paintings things Italians love in a few minutes! 'Tis not to be done! " " Oh, well, then, tell me how much the thing is worth, in dollars. That is what an Amer- ican cares most to know about." "Imbecile!" exclaimed Ivo, before realiz- ing that Harriet was trying to make a little joke this time at her own people's expense. ' You really deserve a black eye for teasing 70 AN AMERICAN MADONNA a fellow so brutally, when, in a short time, we must part, perhaps forever!" "Ah, angelo mio, I really would like to know what the villa is like. It is easy enough for me to picture an Italian terraced garden, full of all sorts of artistic creations grottos, fountains, statuary pebbly walks wrought in all kinds of fancy patterns, here and there covered with lattice work, embowered with every sort of vine. Flowers, of course, are everywhere charmingly placed; vases every- where; great trees of many varieties pine, palm, fig, olive, orange plentiful, and which know where to disport themselves, show off their shapes or bear their fruit. But the villa itself, a castle- villa at that! You must really enlighten me, so that I can carry a good picture of it home in my mind's eye. Of what material was it built, and who was its archi- tect? " The idea of Harriet's wanting to carry home a picture of his homejso pleased the Cap- tain that he began enthusiastically to answer her questions, after he had tossed off from his AN AMERICAN MADONNA 71 well-proportioned, artistically molded brow a curling lock of tawny gold. " Oh, one of my ancestors drew the plans and supervised the work. The walls are of cement, mixed with rubbish of all kinds ; hunks of lava from Mt. Etna, stones from every- where, broken flower-pots, which in the cement have hardened, making walls so solid that they will never so much as crack till doomsday." " Ah, an improvement on our walls, which not only crack, but tumble too often without warning. But, never mind! We shall yet build well and strong and swiftly perhaps artistically when our Edisons can take the time to evolve the right material and the right way to use it. Just now we are too busy mak- ing money to cultivate our home-making in- stincts. Well, I will take it for granted that your castle-villa is a joy to the eye and as substantial as artistic. But how about Amer- ican improvements? Is it fitted up with those? Also I take it for granted that your help serves you like wise friends instead of envious, greedy enemies." 72 AN AMERICAN MADONNA " Yes, yes ! They take themselves off when their work is done, and leave us in peace. As for American improvements, we are putting them in gradually. We already have gas in place of candles." At this point in their conversation Harriet rose, exclaiming in her most business-like tones : " Time's up ! I must be off ! Father and I shall endeavor to see that wonderful Bruno Home a short year hence." After pinning her hat in place, she drew her gloves from her bag and then approached Ivo's bedside. That young gentleman seemed to be sud- denly paralyzed. He lay on his bed quite motionless, while his countenance paled until he looked like a recumbent statue of Despair. Harriet, in spite of all her skillfully laid and well-executed plans, was not to get off so easy as she had imagined. She had expected a love- battle of some kind; but to see the gallant Captain in a perfectly helpless condition, seemingly as helpless as if dead, was decidedly a situation she had not prepared herself to AN AMERICAN MADONNA 73 face, and endeavor to control. However, as she had been taught, first by her father, then by her own self, to " trust God and fear noth- ing," she boldly faced the pale image on the bed, saying: ' Wake up, Ivo I You are not going to sleep before you bid me good-bye, are you ? " These words roused Ivo from his stupor of despair. He said pathetically, " Harriet, mia, how can you joke when we are parting in all probability never to see each other again? " " Nonsense ! If we live a decent, common- sense life, we shall likely both of us reach the normal century mark. Meanwhile we might meet again. So cheer up I " "Harriet! You are such an idiot!" im- patiently exclaimed Ivo, beginning to sob like a child. As, however, he felt her soft, yet firm hand caress his brow, he opened his eyes and gave her a glance so full of despairing an- guish, that Harriet's eyes in spite of herself filled with tears, seeing which Ivo grasped both of her hands in a tight, apparently never- let-go-clasp, while he said pleadingly: 74 AN AMERICAN MADONNA " Oh, madonna mial One little promise be- fore you go toKeep me alive. Promise me, O promise me, that you will be mine, soon quickly! I, too, will learn business to please your father. I, too, will become a docile money-maker. I, too, will kneel to Mammon, for love of you! " ' You know not what you ask, Ivo. In a few years from now, I shall probably be a dried- up, money-making machine, with a mind concentrated on gain, a heart perfectly atro- phied. My face, which appears comely now, will then be pale, drawn, repellent, with deep furrows of care in it; since, as someone has truly said, ' It is impossible that anyone should have great and grave responsibilities without in some way showing their scars.' You, on the other hand, developing along artistic lines, with your hand clasped in that of the Great Artist, will be handsomer than ever if that is possible ten years from now. You will be envied by men, adored by women. It would be a shame for me to take advantage of your immaturity now, and while, too, you are AN AMERICAN MADONNA 75 ill. Besides, I have already given my word to my father that I will not wed so long as he lives. Since the desertion of my Italian mother, he has been both father and mother to me. Yes, indeed! for twenty-five years a full quarter of a century he has been devoted to me. To disturb our relations now would hasten his death. I would be his murderer savez? " Captain Ivo, though much impressed by what Harriet had said, yet made haste to urge, "But I will wait wait wait ! till doomsday, if it is necessary. Only give me the promise! Give it to me now. Now is the accepted time." " Ah, but you are young, mon ami. You will be considered a great match, when you are willing to dig up a few of your titles. Then, pardon me, you are so very handsome and charming. Best of all, there is your record for gallant behavior in the army and out. No, I shall not permit you to enter into any sort of engagement with an American business woman older than yourself. Good-bye ! God bless you! My memories in connection with 76 AN AMERICAN MADONNA my two Italian friends more particularly with one of the two who so gallantly saved my life, shall always be sacred to me; and I feel confident they will ever be the sweetest memories I am to know." Harriet withdrew her hands quickly from those of Ivo's, also quickly kissed him on his forehead, and almost before he was aware, had turned and reached the door. He just had time to hold out his arms and mutely beg her not to leave him in despair. It did not occur to Harriet, trained as she was to business methods, to go back and unsay her parting words. Involuntarily, however, seeing his mute despair, she said, ere she crossed the threshold, and with great dis- tinctness, " Ivo, mio 3 be as brave in love as you have been in war! Remember! " Then the door closed and Ivo swooned dead away. In this condition he was found by the Lieutenant, whom Harriet promptly dis- patched to his bedside. CHAPTER VI A^o man or woman can go through divorce proceedings without awful scars, and most can- didates are ruined by the ordeal. Divorce is heroic treatment. It seeks to give relief from the results of a most unhappy accident the mismating of a man and a woman. There is only one thing more terrible than divorce, and that is to go through life manacled hand and foot, with an iron compress on head and heart. ELBERT HUBBARD. CHAPTER VI IT is to be hoped that few men at the present time have developed so much antipathy to our present mar- riage and divorce system as Har- riet's father, because it is likely to grow worse before it evolves into something better ; and in the meantime people should marry and be given in marriage. To John W. White mar- riage was but another name for scandal, im- mense legal and alimony fees, and, far harder yet to bear, complete loss of reputation as a decent, domestic man ; for Mr. White had had the courage to marry twice over and again twice over to speed swiftly through America's divorce mill to please two impatient young women eager to wed again. His first unfortunate matrimonial venture had been with a society belle, a lovely bit of blond flesh, who found it easy to hypnotize herself into distracting love-infatuations. 79 80 AN AMERICAN MADONNA Consequently this dazzling bit of femininity soon tired of solid, sober, serious John White, and in less than two years after her marriage with the " dull beast," she was conjuring her petty, bird-like brain as to the quickest and most profitable way to get rid of him. She imagined herself " just gone " on a young sporting man, so devoted, so different from the bear she had unwisely married. Mr. White, being a high-bred gentleman, felt that he could do no less than promptly pave the way with gold leading from a hated marriage with himself to divorce, so that his wife could quickly remarry and secure bliss with another man, who was, she declared, her " soul-mate." Mr. White himself was in no particular haste to wed again. He preferred to slavishly lose himself in business affairs, eschewing so- ciety utterly. At thirty-five, however, having built up a huge business plant and accumulated a large fortune, he once more found himself " caring much" for another young woman, employed AN AMERICAN MADONNA 81 by him as a typist. Under his training she developed into a very intelligent secretary, earning a large salary with which she not only supported herself but her old parents, and paid the college fees of a promising younger brother. She was a dark, handsome woman of Italian parentage, but having been in America since she was a little tot, both spoke and wrote English like a native. Her disposition was sympathetic and yielding. Indeed she tried to do that idiotic and impossible thing, viz., to please everybody. Not until Mrs. White No. 2 had eloped did her deserted husband learn that his Leonora had wedded him solely to please her parents and her brother. A note left by her on his desk read as follows : " DEAR MR. WHITE How can you forgive me for leaving you as I have done? when, too, you have been so kind and generous to me and my relatives. " But God forgive me ! I can no longer bear to live in my present state of awful anxiety. You see, my dear Adolphe is very ill, and threatens to blow his brains out, unless I leave ' that American ' and come to 82 AN AMERICAN MADONNA him. He is in Italy, where I shall be as soon as I can get there. The tiny babe, which looks like you, I leave to help you forget me. Please get a divorce as quickly as possible, so that I can be married to my dear Adolphe. " Yours very sincerely, " LEONORA." The idea of having to go through the di- vorce mill a second time so wore on the spirit of the brooding, deserted Mr. White, that he thought seriously of taking the shortest route that of suicide. For some reason, domestic infelicity and scandal bear far more heavily on men than on women. Indeed some women seem actually to enjoy posing as domestic martyrs, while a continuous stream of coin flowing ceaselessly into their coffers not in- frequently makes new creatures of them not exactly in the Lord, but in the matter of feel- ing equal to wedding men much younger than themselves. It was wee Harriet who kept her father from resorting to so awful a method of ob- taining divorce as the suicide route offered; and the way she did it was extremely simple: AN AMERICAN MADONNA 83 merely hanging on for dear life to one of his fingers when she got the opportunity to catch on to it with her tenacipus baby fingers. The soft, clinging hand of his child sent a thrill of pure happiness into the very citadel of his lonely being. Presently the tiny creature had developed a broad smile in repayment for the sad but ten- der ones her father lavished upon her. Next she learned, " faster than any other baby," the nurse declared, to clap her hands and crow for joy as soon as Mr. White came into the nurs- ery upon his return from business. But the baby stunt which captured his heart com- pletely, or, rather, gave him a bran new one, was when the little creature began to shout, " Dad! Dad! Dad! " as soon as her wide-awake round eyes caught sight of him, after a more or less prolonged absence. He was sure no one had ever loved him so truly as his little Harriet: always ready to shout in joy, " Dad! Dad! Dad! " And how quickly did the little creature, by the use of such simple means, create a Paradise for Mr. White, where for- 84 AN AMERICAN MADONNA merly had been a wilderness, full of dead men's bones. The fond father did not spoil the little creature, upon whom he bestowed the long, pent-up love of his nature as, after many years, he bestowed upon her the bulk of his great fortune, gathered together by indomi- table energy, perseverance and intuitive finan- cial genius. On the other hand, he trained her to be like unto himself, a tireless worker and an original thinker; likewise a stoic in the business world; taught her to bear herself in crucial circumstances with the calmness and wisdom of a Greek philosopher, or, that of the best type of American business men, who it has been asserted, having lost one fortune, are ready and eager to stand up and have an- other tussle with fortune ; and, if need be, still another, and still another. While she was quite young and growing rapidly, physically, he selected for her an ex- cellent private school where the scholars were not too many for their teacher to do ample justice to each pupil. AN AMERICAN MADONNA 85 A bonafide Frenchman early became a member of Mr. White's household, to be sup- planted by a German as soon as