CHAPTER XLV.
MRS. RALSTON'S STORY.
Mrs. Ralston entered the drawing-room with the light of a new andstrong purpose shining in her eyes.
"Dear friends," she said, "sit near me and give me your attention. Ihave a story to tell, and I must not fatigue myself too much in thetelling."
Without a word, Clarence moved forward an easy chair. As she seatedherself, they all grouped about her with grave, expectant faces.
"I will make brief mention of myself," said the lady, sinking back inthe luxurious chair with a slightly weary smile. "My life has neverbeen a bright one. Married for the first time at the age of sixteen,my childhood was prematurely blighted, and my first real trouble fellupon me. It was not a happy marriage, and during the years of my firsthusband's life, I became more and more alienated from my relatives.
"When at last my husband died, I was thirty-six years old, and owingto ill-health, looked much older. But--I was wealthy. Then I met aman, younger than myself, and very handsome. I was weak and foolish. Ibelieved in him and--married him. For four years he squandered mymoney and made my life a burden. At last, when I could endure nolonger, and when, because he had inherited a fortune from somerelative, I knew he would trouble himself little as to particulars, Icaused him to believe me dead and buried.
"In reality I was in better health than usual, and while he wasspending his new fortune and fancying me in the grave, I sailed forEurope. Before I departed, however, I saw him once more, myselfunseen. It is this part of my story that will make your hearts glad."
She paused for a moment, and her three listeners gazed into eachother's faces in silent wonder.
"I was going to Europe in company with some friends of Mrs. Lord who,of course, knew my secret. They twice postponed their time forsailing, and while waiting for them I went with my maid to a littlemountain inn where travelers only came for a day, and then went on upthe mountain.
"When I first arrived, the garrulous hostess made frequent mention ofa hunting party that had gone up the mountain a few days before,stopping for dinner at the inn. I had been nearly two weeks in mymountain retreat when my maid came rushing in, one day, crying outthat the hunting party had come back, and that one of their number hadbeen badly hurt.
"Well, they brought the wounded man up-stairs, and put him in the roomthat adjoined my sleeping apartment. The partitions between were ofthe sham kind--merely boards papered over. After he was settled, andthe hum of many voices died away, I went into my little bed-room.
"I had scarcely entered when a voice from the next room, a man'svoice, deep and full, although then subdued, startled me. I listenedunthinkingly. 'There's no use in being weak about this business,' hesaid. 'Of course, you can make me trouble if you like, but hang me,Percy, I can't see how it will benefit you.'
"I see you are amazed, Doctor Vaughan, and Mrs. Girard is turningpale. You are beginning to guess the truth. Yes, it _was_ Edward Percywho answered the first speaker, and--Edward Percy is my husband."
Again she paused for a moment. One could have heard a pin drop, sobreathlessly eager, so silent, were her listeners. No one stirred orspoke, and she soon resumed:
"At the first sound of the other voice, I sank down sick with fearlest the man should, in some way, find me out. Sitting there, I heardhim say, in the half fretful, wholly languid tones that I knew sowell, 'It's easy to talk as you do; show me wherein it will be to myadvantage, if you don't want me to knock down your pretty story. Curseyou, what did you try to murder me for?"
"Then the other answered impatiently: 'I tell you, man, I wasmistaken. I took you for him. Now listen: Neither you nor I love thefellow, and we each hold a trifle of power over the other. You canrefute my statement, if you like, and accuse me of attacking you. Inthat case I may be imprisoned; but that won't keep you above waterlong. If I am arrested for assault with intent to kill, you will soonfind yourself in the next cell, accused of the still more seriouscrime of bigamy. On the other hand, if you let the matter rest as itis, and let _him_ take his chances, I won't use those little documentsI hold, which prove conclusively that you married a second wife whilethe first was living. Come, what do you say?'
"I remember their very words; not one syllable escaped me then, or hasdrifted from my mind since. And I could have predicted what the nextwords of my husband would be. I know his weakness so well, and I knew,too, then, for the first time, that my vague suspicions had been tootrue--that he had indeed been false to me, more than false.
"'I will do this,' said he, halting at every few words. 'If you willgive me back the money you won from me up there, and will give me upthose papers, we will not quarrel over this affair. We will let HisMajesty take the consequences of your act, if you choose. I like himeven less than I do you. But the money I must have.'
"The other replied: 'I'll do it.' Then the money was counted out andthe 'papers' changed hands.
"While they talked, I was seized with an unaccountable desire to seethe man I had once loved. I heard my maid moving in the next room, andI arose and went to her. She was a quick-witted creature, and knewjust what to do. She made me put on a hat and veil, and throw a shawlabout me, and then bade me go down-stairs, while she knocked at thedoor of the sick-room. When I heard it open I was to come up, andwhile she made a pretense of offering her services, in case of need, Icould obtain, over her shoulder, a view of the occupants of the room.Her ruse was successful. When I ascended the stairs, I obtained a fullview of the two men. I should know the dark face of the tall strangerif I came upon it in Africa.
"To do myself justice, I never once thought of the wrong they weredoing their victim; never realized that it was my duty to denouncethem. Having seen the face of my husband I had but one idea, onedesire; to get away, anywhere, the farther the better.
"Early the next morning, I was _en route_ to the city, and there, tomy infinite relief I found my friends ready to sail. When at last Iwas actually on the ocean, and realized that I was safe fromdiscovery, I began to think of the victim whose name I had not heard.But it was too late then, and I tried to ease my conscience bythinking that, after all, as Edward was not dangerously hurt, it mightnot turn out a serious matter. I watched the papers, but somehow theaccounts of the trial all missed me."
As she ceased speaking, her eyes rested sadly upon the face of Olive,and she started forward suddenly, saying: "Doctor, she is going tofaint!"
"No," gasped Olive, half-rising, "I, I--"
And she fell forward to be caught in the ready arms of ClarenceVaughan. When at last they succeeded in arousing her from thatdeath-like stupor, and she could sit up and look about her, slowlyrecalling events, Mrs. Ralston stepped readily into the position ofleader, and turning to Claire, said:
"Go and see that lunch is served immediately, dear. We have much to dobefore night, and must not work fasting."
"Oh," cried Olive, as Claire disappeared, "is this true? Will Philipbe released at last, released with every doubt cleared away, everysuspicion removed? Tell me, I cannot realize it."
"It is true, dear Mrs. Girard; and now you must not give way toweakness. We dare not lose time. Dr. Vaughan, yourself, and I, inputting these facts in the hands of the right parties, must hasten thelegal process by which Philip will be released."
When Claire Keith returned, she found them deep in a discussion as tothe quickest way of effecting the release of Philip Girard.
"Let me settle it," she said, imperiously. "To-day you will go to seePhilip's lawyers, and when this stupid law process is put in motion,Olive--I know her--will go straight and set herself down outside thevery prison gates. But your beautiful laws can lock an honest man upmuch quicker than they can let him out, and can serve a warrant soonerthan do a tardy act of justice. So, if you please, I am going down toOakley to arrest that vile Lucian Davlin, and get him off poorMadeline's hands."
"You!" cried the two ladies in the same breath.
"Yes, I! Philip won't want anyone but Olive, and Olive will snub meunmercifully if I venture to
offer myself as an escort. I'm going todo myself the honor of seeing Mr. Davlin arrested."
"Claire is right," said Mrs. Ralston; "the man must be arrestedimmediately."
"And," interrupted Olive, "you must all three go to Bellair; that is,"looking at Mrs. Ralston, "if--"
"If I will go?" interrupted that lady. "Yes, I, too, intend to bepresent when Miss Payne gives her enemy up to justice."
"No!" gasped Olive, half rising; "I--I--"--page 413.]
"Are you in earnest about going to Bellair, Miss Keith?" ClarenceVaughan asked. "Shall you go, really?"
Claire bestowed upon him a willful little nod over her shoulder,saying, as she did so: "I shall, 'really.' I am confident thatsomething will happen there, and I want a chance to faint!"
Madeline Payne, the Detective's Daughter Page 46
