Chapter XXI
He was looking very fit and comfortable, lying at full length in aGloucester hammock with cushions beneath his head, a book in his hand,and a package of cigarettes within reach.
"Sylvia!" he cried, springing up and advancing toward her withoutstretched hand. "Sylvia! What a brick you are to come!"
Angry as she was, when face to face with him she could not resist thecontagion of his smile.
"I'm glad to see you so well," she said. "This is Mr. Horatio Fuller ofAlton City."
Horatio looked Heath up and down and then stepped forward and grippedhis hand with unmistakable cordiality.
"Mighty glad to know you, sir," was his greeting. "You seem to have gotyourself into a jam. If there is anything I can do--any way I can be ofservice--"
"Horatio, you forget we are not here to make a social call," interruptedSylvia, who had by this time regained her routed chilliness andindignation. "On the contrary, Mr. Heath, we have come on a very painfulerrand. We are returning this check to you."
She extended it toward him, gingerly holding its corner in the tips ofher fingers as if it were too foul a thing to touch. "It was outrageousof you, insulting to leave a thing of this sort for Marcia--to attemptto pay in cash--kindness such as hers."
"I'm--sorry," Heath stammered.
"Sorry! You couldn't have been very sorry, or you would have sensed suchan act would hurt her terribly."
Horatio Fuller fumbled nervously with his tie.
"You deserve," swept on young Sylvia with rising spirit, "to bethrashed. Hortie and I both think so--don't we, Hortie?"
Horatio Junior turned crimson.
"Oh, I say, Sylvia, go easy!" he protested. "Don't drag me into this. Idon't know one darn thing about it."
"But I've explained everything to you."
"You've tried to. Nevertheless, the whole affair is beyond me. I can'tmake head or tail out of it," shrugged Horatio. "Suppose I just stepinside and listen to the news flashes while you and Mr. Heath transactyour business. It will be less awkward all round. If you want me you canspeak."
Nodding courteously in Heath's direction, Horatio Junior disappeared.
"Your Mr. Fuller is a man of nice feeling," Stanley Heath declaredlooking after him. "I congratulate you."
"Thank you."
"Everything is settled then?"
She nodded.
"I hope you will be very happy."
She did not reply at once. When she did, it was to say with a humilitynew and appealing:
"I shall be. I never appreciated Hortie until now. I was too silly."
"Perhaps you were merely young."
"It wasn't that. I was vain--feather-headed. I have realized it sinceknowing Marcia."
"We all want to be different after we have seen Marcia," Stanley Heathsaid gently.
"We don't just want to be--we set about it," was the girl's grave reply.
"Sit down, Sylvia, and let us talk of Marcia," ventured Heath after apause. "I am deeply sorry if I have wounded her--indeed I am."
The girl searched his face.
"I cannot understand you, Mr. Heath," she said. "What has Marcia donethat you should have left her as you did? Hasn't she believed in youthrough thick and thin? Stood up for you against everybody--going itblind at that? Few women would have had such faith in a stranger."
"I realize that. You do not need to tell me," he answered. "It isprecisely because she has gone so far I believed her capable of goingfarther yet--the whole way."
"What do you mean by the whole way?"
"To the end."
"Well, hasn't she?"
He shook his head.
"No. She has fallen short--disappointed me cruelly. When it came tothe final test, her affection collapsed. Oh, she has been wonderful,"he added quickly. "Do not think I fail to appreciate that. She has farout-distanced every other woman I ever have known. I simply expected toomuch of her, doubtless the impossible. Human nature is frail--a woman'sheart the frailest thing of all. I have always said so."
"You wrong Marcia," cried Sylvia hotly. "Her heart is not frail. Neitheris she the weak sort of person you have pictured. In all the world youcould not match her loyalty or the depth of her affection. I owe Marciaa great debt. I could tell you things she has done that would make youthoroughly ashamed of your superficial rating of her. But why go intothat? If after the experience we three have lived through together youhave not discovered what she is, it is futile for me to attempt to showyou.
"You came into our lives like a meteor--entirely detached fromeverything. We knew nothing about you and in the face of damagingevidence you offered neither Marcia nor me one word of explanation.Marcia asked none. Without rhyme or reason she believed in you. I hadnot her faith. I freely confess I thought you guilty. Oh, I liked yousufficiently well to be ready to help you save your skin. But Marciacared enough for you to want you to save your soul.
"There is a difference in that sort of caring, Mr. Heath--a bigdifference. When you were taken ill, we both nursed you--I willingly,she devotedly. Here lay another difference had you been able to detectit. What happened as a result of this enforced intimacy? You know--knowfar better than I."
"I fell in love with Marcia," replied the man without an instant'shesitation.
"You fell in love!" Sylvia repeated, her lip curling. "You call itlove--the poor thing you offered her! Why, Marcia would have gone to theworld's end with you, Stanley Heath, had she the right. She would havefaced any humiliation for your sake. If prison doors closed upon you,she would have remained faithful until they swung open and afterwardfollowed you to any corner of the earth in which you chose to begin anew life."
"That's where you're wrong, Sylvia," contradicted Heath. "Marcia wasnot ready to do that. I tried her out and she refused. When I told herI should return to her, and asked her in so many words whether she waswilling to face shame and public scorn for my sake she turned her backon me. She could not go to that length."
"Are you sure she understood?" asked Sylvia, stepping nearer and lookingfearlessly into his eyes. "There is a shame Marcia never in this worldwould face for any man; but it is not the shame you have just described.
"It is the shame of wronging another woman; destroying a home. Iknow that sounds old-fashioned in days like these. Perhaps Marcia isold-fashioned. Perhaps I am. In the villages where we have been broughtup, we do not go in for the new standards sponsored by more up-to-datecommunities. We believe in marriage as a sacred, enduring sacrament--nota bond to be lightly broken. When you offered Marcia less than that--"
"I never offered Marcia any such shameful position, Sylvia," criedStanley Heath. "I would not so far insult her."
"But you are married."
"That is a lie. Who told you so?"
"The--the wire to Mrs. Stanley Heath--the telephone message. I heard youcall her Joan."
"But, Sylvia, Mrs. Stanley Heath is not my wife. She is my youngstep-mother, my father's widow. I always have called her Joan."
"Oh! I beg your pardon."
"I see it all now," the man exclaimed. "You have entirely misunderstoodthe situation. I'm a Junior. Since my father's death, however, peoplehave got out of the way of using the term. Sometimes I myself amcareless about it. So Marcia thought--"
"Of course she did. We both did. So did Elisha Winslow and EleazerCrocker. So did lots of other people in Wilton."
"Heavens!"
"Well, how were we to know?" Sylvia demanded.
"How, indeed? If an innocent citizen cannot visit a town without beingarrested as a criminal within a week of his arrival, why shouldn't he bemarried without his knowledge? Circumstantial evidence can, apparently,work wonders."
Then suddenly he threw back his head and laughed.
"Bless you, little Sylvia--bless you for setting me right. I told youyou were a brick and you've proved it. Thanks to you, everything is nowstraightened out."
"Not quite everything, I am afraid," the girl protested.
"Everything
that is of importance," he amended. "The rest will untangleitself in time. I am not worrying about it. Here, give me your hand. Howam I to thank you for what you have done? I only hope that young HoratioFuller of yours realizes what a treasure he is getting."
"He does, Mr. Heath--he does," observed that gentleman, strolling at thesame instant through the door and encircling his tiny bride-to-be withhis arm. "Haven't I traveled half way across this big country of ours tomarry her?"
"Oh, we're not going to be married yet, Hortie," demurred the girltrying to wrench herself free of the big fellow's hold.
"Certainly we are, my dear. Didn't you know that? I'm surprised how manythings there are that you don't know," he went on teasingly. "I thoughtI explained exactly what brought me East. Didn't I tell you this morningI came to get married? I was perfectly serious. Dad gave me two monthsvacation with that understanding. I must either produce a wife whenI get home or lose my job. He'll never give me another furlough if Idon't."
"Looks to me as if you had Mr. Fuller's future prosperity in your hands,Sylvia," Heath said.
"She has. She can make or break me. A big responsibility, eh, littleSylvia?"
"I know it, Hortie," retorted the girl seriously.
"She is equal to it, Fuller--never fear," Stanley Heath asserted.
"I'm not doing any worrying," smiled Horatio. "I--"
The sentence was cut short by the radio's loudspeaker:
_The much sought Long Island gem thief was captured this morning at hislodgings in Jersey City. Harris Chalmers, alias Jimmie O'Hara, a paroledprisoner, was taken by the police at his room on K-- Street. A quantityof loot, together with firearms and the missing jewels were foundconcealed in the apartment. The man readily admitted the theft. He has along prison record._
For a second nobody spoke.
Then as if prompted by common impulse, the three on the piazza rushedindoors.
Elisha was sitting limply before the radio.
"Did you hear that?" he gasped.
"Well, rather!" Horatio Fuller shouted with a triumphant wave of hishand.
"Ain't it the beateree?" exploded the astonished sheriff. "That sendsthe whole case up in the air. All that's needed now to make me out thedarndest fool on God's earth is for Eleazer's young nephew-lawyer in NewYork, who's checking up Heath's story, to wire everything there is O.K.If he does, I'll go bury my head. There goes the telephone! That's him!That's Eleazer--I'll bet a hat."
"_Hello!--Yes, I heard it.--You ain't surprised? Wal, I am. I'm tookoff my feet.--Oh, your nephew wired, did he, an' everything's O.K.?That bein' the case, I reckon there's no more to be said. I feel like ashrimp. How do you feel?_----"
Elisha hung up the receiver.
"Wal, Mr. Heath, the story you told Eleazer an' me is straight as astring in every particular," he announced. "You're free! There ain'tnothin' I can say. To tell you I'm sorry ain't in no way adequate.I shan't offer you my hand neither, 'cause I know you wouldn't takeit--leastways I wouldn't, was I in your place. There's some insultsnothin' can wipe out an' this blunder of mine is one of 'em. You'lljust have to set me down as one of them puddin'-headed idiots that wasover-ambitious to do his duty. I ain't got no other explanation orexcuse to make."
"I shall not let it go at that, Mr. Winslow," Stanley Heath acclaimed,stepping to the old man's side and seizing his palm in a strong grip."We all make errors. Forget it. I'm going to. Besides, you have treatedme like a prince since I've been your guest."
"You are the prince, sir. Livin' with you has shown me that. Had Iknowed you 'fore I arrested you as well as I do now the thing wouldn't'a' happened. Wal, anyhow, all ain't been lost. At least I've met athoroughbred an' that ain't none too frequent an occurrence in thesedays."
"What I can't understand, Mr. Winslow, is why you didn't recognize hewas a thoroughbred from the beginning," Horatio Fuller remarked.
"You've a right to berate me, young man--a perfect right. I ain't goin'to put up no defense. 'Twas the circumstances that blinded me. Besides,I had only a single glimpse of Mr. Heath. Remember that. After he wastook sick I never saw him again. Had we got acquainted, as we have now,everything would 'a' been different. Findin' them jewels--"
"Great hat, man! I had a diamond ring in my pocket when I came toWilton, but that didn't prove I'd stolen it."
"I know! I know!" acquiesced the sheriff. "Eleazer an' me lost ourbearin's entirely. We got completely turned round."
"A thief with a Phi Beta Kappa key!" jeered Horatio. "Godfrey!" Thenturning to Sylvia, he added in an undertone: "Well, so far as I can seethe only person who has kept her head through this affair is our AuntMarcia."
Elisha overheard the final clause.
"That's right!" he agreed with cordiality. "You're 'xactly right, Mr.Fuller. The Widder's head-piece can always be relied upon to staysteady."
"Whose head-piece?" inquired Stanley Heath, puzzled by the term.
"Marcia's. Here in town we call her The Widder."
"Well, you'll not have the opportunity to call her that much longer,"Heath laughed.
"You don't tell me!" Elisha regarded him, open-mouthed. "Humph! Sothat's how the wind blows, is it? Wal, I can see this mix-up would'a' ended my chances anyway. Marcia'd never have had me after this.Disappointed as I am, though, there's a sight of comfort in knowin'she won't have Eleazer neither. He don't come out of the shindy a whitbetter'n me. That's somethin'. In fact it's a heap!"
Chapter XXII
Intense as was the joy of the three persons, who a little later set outtoward the Homestead in the old yellow dory, they were a silent trio.
Too much of seriousness had happened during the morning for them todispel its aftermath lightly.
Horatio, pulling at the oars, was unusually earnest, Sylvia turned thering on her finger reflectively and Stanley Heath looked far out overthe water, too deep in thought to be conscious of either of them.
When, however, the boat swung into the channel, Sylvia spoke.
"Hortie and I are not coming with you, Mr. Heath," she said. "We willstay behind. Only do, please, promise me one thing. Do not tell Marciathe whole story before we have a chance to hear it. There are ever somany connecting links I am curious beyond words to have you supply."
"Such as--?"
"The jewels in the first place. I can hardly wait to have that mysterysolved."
Stanley laughed.
"The jewels are no mystery at all. I can satisfy your mind about thosehere and now. They were Joan's--Mrs. Heath's. Her maid, Corinne, tookthem and disappeared. Soon afterward, purely by accident, I met PaulLatimer, a friend who lives on Long Island, and played squash with himat the club and during the course of our conversation, he asked if Iknew of a good man servant, saying that Julien, their butler, had justgiven notice that he was to be married shortly to Corinne, the newparlor-maid, and return with her to France.
"The woman's name instantly caught my attention.
"Why shouldn't I do a bit of sleuthing on my own account?
"Thus far the detectives Joan and I had hired had made no headway atlocating the jewels.
"Why shouldn't I have a try at it myself? It chanced I had ordered apower-boat built in Rhode Island and had for some time been awaiting anopportunity to test her out. Why not combine the two errands?
"I got the boat and used her a couple of days, and finding hersatisfactory cruised along to the Latimers' at whose house I hadfrequently stayed, and with the habits of whose household I wasfamiliar. My plan was to arrive early in the morning before the familywas astir and catch the parlor-maid alone at her work.
"Should she prove to be our Corinne, I would boldly confront her withthe theft and demand the jewels; if, on the other hand, she turned outto be another person altogether, it would be perfectly easy to explainmy presence by falling back on my acquaintance with Paul.
"It seemed, on thinking the matter over, that this would be a far moreconsiderate course anyway than to drag in the detectives, not onlybecause I had no real evidence to present
to them, but also because ofmy friendship for the Latimers and for Julien, who had been in theiremploy many years. I knew they esteemed him very highly and wouldbe dreadfully cut up should they find him involved in an affair asunpleasant as this one. Beside, I felt practically certain he had hadnothing to do with the crime. He was too fine--one of the old-fashioned,devoted type of servant.
"To shame such a man and throw suspicion on him if he were blamelesswould be a pity, especially just on the eve of his resigning fromservice. It might mean that instead of leaving with the gratitude andgood-will of his employers, he might be sent away under a cloud. I didnot wish that to happen.
"Well, my scheme worked to a dot.
"I reached the Latimers' unobserved; found Corinne alone straighteningup the library; faced her and demanded the jewels.
"The instant she saw me she knew the game was up. Nevertheless, shemade a pretense of denying the crime until I threatened to send forJulien, at which suggestion she broke down and, without more ado,produced the gems from her pocket, shouldering all the blame.
"Julien, she protested, knew nothing of the theft. He was aself-respecting, honest man. Should he be told of what she had done itwould end everything between them. She loved him. Indeed it was becauseof him she had committed the crime.
"It proved they had been engaged some time and long before had agreed tosave their money and sometime pool it so they might be married and buy alittle home in France.
"Julien had saved conscientiously; but Corinne had been extravagant andlet the major part of her earnings slip through her fingers. He was nowasking how much she had laid aside and to her consternation she foundshe had almost nothing.
"She was ashamed to face him.
"What could she say?
"She did not know what impulse prompted her to take the jewels. She hadnever stolen before in all her life. The diamonds had been constantly inher care and it had never occurred to her to appropriate them. It hadbeen a sudden, mad temptation created by the need of money and she hadyielded to it without thought. Scarcely were the gems in her possessionbefore she regretted her action and longed to undo it. She would havetaken them back had she not feared the consequences. She begged Julienshould not be told what she had done. If her crime could be concealedfrom him she was willing to make any restitution I demanded.
"Perhaps I was a sentimental fool. Anyway I simply could not see itmy duty to hand the unhappy creature over to the authorities; destroyJulien's faith in her; wipe out the future she had set her heart upon.She was young, with life before her. I felt sure if given a chance shewould make good.
"Promising I would remain silent, I pocketed the gems and came away.
"Whether I acted rightly or wrongly I do not know.
"I suppose by this time the two are married and on their way to France.I believe Corinne told the truth and that under other influencesshe will become an excellent wife and mother. At least she has theopportunity.
"The other half of my tale--the half I neither foresaw nor planned--isfamiliar to you.
"The fog that drove me out of my course; my subsequent shipwreck andillness; the coming of Currier, our old family servant; the chain ofcircumstances that brought upon me the calamities from which I havejust extricated myself--these are an old story. The only thing that nowremains to clear my sky is for me to right myself with Marcia."
"That will be easy," smiled Sylvia.
"I wish I thought so," was Heath's moody answer.
"Marcia is no ordinary woman. Her understanding and love aremeasureless. Love, Mr. Heath, forgives a great deal."
"I know it does. In that lies my only hope."
* * * * *
She was not in the house when at last Stanley Heath overtook her, butfar up the beach tossing driftwood into the surf for Prince Hal toretrieve.
The man paused, watching them.
Hatless, her splendid body aglow with exercise, Marcia had the freedomand wholesomeness of a young athlete. She threw the sticks with theoverhand swing of a boy pitching a ball. Yet with all her strength andmuscular ease, there was a grace unmistakably feminine in her everymovement. Feminine, too, and very beautiful was her finely poised head,her blowing hair, her glorious color, and her sparkling eyes.
When she turned and saw him, she uttered a faint cry, but she did notadvance to meet him. Prince Hal did that, racing up the beach, utteringshrill yelps of welcome as he came.
A second and the dog was again at Marcia's side, and in this ecstasyof delight he continued to run back and forth until Stanley Heath hadcovered the sandy curve that intervened and himself stood beside her.
"Marcia--dearest--I have come back--come to ask your forgiveness. Imisjudged you cruelly the night we parted and in anger spoke words I hadno right to speak. Forgive me, dear! Forgive me! Can you?"
"I forgave you long ago--before you asked," she whispered.
"Forgave without understanding--how like you! But you must not do that.You have more to forgive in me than you know, Marcia. I have beenproud, unbelieving, unworthy of a love like yours. I have made yousuffer--suffer needlessly. Listen to what I have to tell and then see ifyou can still forgive."
Turning, they walked slowly along the shore.
"I could have told you about the jewels and how I came by them at theoutset had I not suddenly conceived the idea of teasing you. The plan toconceal my story came to me as a form of sport--a subtle, psychologicalgame. Here I was pitched without ceremony into a strange environmentamong persons who knew nothing of my background. What would they makeof me? How rate me when cut off from my real setting? I resolved totry out the experiment. Women are said to be inquisitive, particularlythose living in isolation. My advent could not but stimulate questions.I thought it would be an amusing adventure to circumvent not only yourcuriosity but also that of the village.
"I placed scant dependence on feminine discernment and constancy.
"When I went to the war, I left behind a girl who pledged herself tolove and wait for me. When I came back it was to find her married tomy best friend. The discovery shook my confidence in human nature, andespecially in women, to its foundations. I derided love, vowing I neverwould marry and be made a puppet of a second time.
"The remainder of the story you know.
"I stumbled, a stranger, into your home and instantly you set at naughtall my preconceived theories of womanhood by believing in me with anunreasoning faith. You asked no questions. You did not even exhibita legitimate curiosity in the peculiar network of circumstances thatentangled me. You were a new type of being and I regarded you withwonder.
"Still, I was not satisfied. I felt sure that if pressed too far yourtrust in me would crumble and, therefore, I tried deliberately to breakit down by throwing obstacles in its pathway. When suspicion closed inupon me I put you to further tests by withholding the explanations Icould easily have made. It was a contemptible piece of egoism--selfishand cruel--and dearly have I paid for it. But at least remember that ifI caused you suffering I have suffered also.
"For, Marcia, through it all I loved you. I recognized from the momentI first looked into your eyes that a force mightier than ourselves drewus together--a force not to be denied. Nevertheless, so bitter had beenmy experience I dared not yield to this strange new power. Instead Iopposed it with all my strength, giving my love reluctantly, fightinginch by inch the surrender I sensed to be inevitable.
"You, on the other hand, had like myself known betrayal, but you hadtaken the larger view and not allowed it to warp or mar your outlook onlife. When love came knocking a second time, you were neither too proudnor too cowardly to answer it, but freely gave your affection with thegladness and sincerity so characteristic of you.
"I do not deserve such a love.
"Beside the largeness of your nature my own shows itself childish--asmall, poor thing for which I blush.
"Help me to erase the past.
"I love you with my whole soul, dear. Everything in me loves you. Mylife i
s worth nothing unless you share it.
"Will you?
"Ah, you need not fear, Marcia. Sylvia has told me everything. Beloved,there is not and never has been a barrier to our marriage. We havemisunderstood one another. Let us do so no longer.
"I am a free man--acquitted.
"I also am free of any claim that would hinder our wedding. Come to meand let us begin life afresh."
She came then, swiftly.
As he held her in his arms, the last shadow that separated them meltedaway.
* * * * *
Under the glow of the noonday sun, they walked back toward theHomestead, hand in hand.
Sylvia came running to meet them and, throwing her arms about Marcia,kissed her.
"Everything is all right--I can see that," she cried. "Oh, I am soglad--so glad for both of you! I believe I just could not stand it ifyou were not happy, because I am so happy myself. Hortie is here, youknow. Didn't Stanley tell you? Why, Stanley Heath, aren't you ashamedto forget all about Hortie and me? Yes, Hortie came this morning. We'reengaged. See my ring!"
"Ring!" repeated Heath. "Mercy on us, Marcia, you must have a ring. Icannot allow this young sprite of a niece to outdo you. I am afraid Iwas not as foresighted as Mr. Fuller, however. Still, I can produce aring, such as it is. Here, dear, you shall wear this until I can getsomething better."
He slipped from his little finger the wrought-gold ring with itsbeautifully cut diamond.
"I picked this up in India," he said. "I am sure it will fit. Try it,Marcia."
"I--I--do not need a ring," murmured she, drawing back and putting herhands nervously behind her.
"Of course you do," interposed Sylvia. "How absurd! A ring is part ofbeing engaged."
"A very, very small part," Marcia answered.
"Nevertheless, it is a part," the girl insisted. "Come, don't be silly.Let Stanley put it on."
Playfully she caught Marcia's hands and imprisoning them, drew themforward.
On the left one glistened a narrow gold band.
"Jason's!" cried Sylvia. "Jason's! Take it off and give it to me. Youowe nothing to Jason. Even I, a Howe, would not have you preserve longerthat worn out allegiance, neither would my mother. The past is dead. Youhave closed the door upon it. You said so yourself. Never think of itagain. You belong to Stanley now--to Stanley and to no one else."
As she spoke, Sylvia took the ring from the older woman's hand and heldit high in the air.
"The past is dead," she repeated, "and the last reminder ofit--is--gone."
There was a gleam as the golden band spun aloft and catching an instantthe sunlight's glory, disappeared beneath the foam that marked the lineof incoming breakers.
"Now, Stanley, put your ring upon her finger. It is a symbol of a newlife, of hope, of happier things. Isn't it so, Marcia?"
"Yes! Yes!"
Sylvia drew a long breath.
"There! Now we'll not be serious a minute longer. This is the greatestday of our four lives. There must not be even a shadow in our heaven.Kiss me, Marcia, and come and meet Hortie. Poor dear! He is paralyzedwith fright at the thought of appearing into your presence. I left himhiding behind the door. I could not coax him out of the house."
"How ridiculous! You must have made me out an ogre."
"On the contrary, I made you out an enchantress. I told him you wouldbewitch him. That's why he became panic-stricken. Do be nice to him--formy sake. He really is a lamb."
Sylvia stepped to the piazza.
"Horatio," called she imperiously. "Come out here right away and meetyour Aunt Marcia. And please, Stanley, forgive me for mistaking you fora bandit. I'm dreadfully mortified. Still, you must admit circumstantialevidence was strong against you. All of which proves on what shiftingsands rest our moral characters!"
"Say rather our reputations, dear child," Heath corrected.
Transcriber's note:
Every effort has been made to replicate this text as faithfully aspossible. Inconsistent hyphenation is as in the original.
The following is a list of changes made to the original.
Page 19: ensconsed changed to ensconced Page 70: s-pose changed to s'pose Page 72 & 84: villian changed to villain Page 153: housekeper changed to housekeeper
Shifting Sands Page 21
