Fate Knocks at the Door Part 44

"I will keep it, Beth."

"Even from Vina. Vina is pure. He would read it in her eyes--if she knew. I wonder that he loved me.... G.o.d!... You have enough of the world left--to bury this evil thing--for me. I am glad of your happiness."

"Vina will want to see you to-day."

"She may come.... You may say I have been ill. It is true.... I shall stay and be with you for your marriage. You want me----"

"We came back to New York for that."

"Yes.... And then I shall go away."

Cairns lingered. "But Beth, Bedient will always love you. He will come back----"

"It is not the same. You will see when he writes. I made him suffer--until a great light came--and he is the world's--not mine."

"Beth," he said humbly, "you are Absolute!"

"I shall come back--strong enough to meet him--as one of the world's women--or I shall stay away," she said.

THIRTY-NINTH CHAPTER

ANOTHER SMILAX AFFAIR

The _Hatteras_ was warping into a New York slip the day before Christmas. Bedient was aboard. There was to be a little party for him, given by Cairns and Vina at the _Smilax Club_ that night. The Cairns'

had come over from Nantucket for the winter, and were living at the Club. This was Bedient's third trip to New York in the half-year preceding. He had not seen Beth, but there had been letters between them--of late, important letters, big with reality and understanding.

She had been in Europe since July, but had promised to be home for the holidays. Vina's last letter told him that Beth would be at their affair of greeting to-night.

Adith Mallory saw Jim Framtree in New York, after her hours with Beth Truba. It was the day before he sailed for Equatoria. Framtree asked her not to tell Mr. Bedient that the name of Framtree was spoken in her conversation with Beth. This request gave her a clearer understanding.

Bedient may have guessed that the mystery of the return of Jim Framtree was penetrated by Beth, but he did not ask Miss Mallory, nor mention Framtree in his letters to the l.u.s.trous lady. He doubtless wondered at the hasty return of his young friend, but it was a privilege of Beth to return his gifts--one of the glowing mysteries of Beth.

Just now, Bedient caught the waving hand of David Cairns in the small crowd below. Fifteen minutes later they were in a cab together.... Beth had returned to New York. This was the answer to Bedient's first question.

"Are you going to stay with us this time, Andrew?" Cairns asked, raptly studying his friend.

"Yes. Several weeks at least."

"At the Club?"

"No. I shall go back to Broderick Street to-morrow."

This was a broken arrow of black sorrows near the East River, straight East from Gramercy. Bedient had found it in the summer, where it had lain rotting in its wound.

"So the New York office of the Carreras plantations is to be in Broderick Street," Cairns said thoughtfully.

"But I'll be with you often.... And, David, I've brought up a small ma.n.u.script which I want you to read. After that we'll advise together about its publis.h.i.+ng----"

"That _is_ important--if the stuff is anything like your letters to me.... Have you thought of attaching your name to this beginning?"

"Not more than _A.B._"

"Is everything bright down yonder?" Cairns asked after a moment.

"Bright past any idea you can have. Framtree is doing greatly--indispensable--and loves the life. Miss Mallory still unfolds.

She's a Caribbean of buried treasure----"

"And _they_?" Cairns asked.

"Are friends."

...Vina met them in her studio. The three stood for a moment in silence among the panels. It was not yet four in the afternoon, but the dusk was thickening.... Vina put on her hat.

"I've just received word from Mary McCullom," she said. "She's in Union Hospital--I don't know--but I must hurry. The word said that Mary McCullom wanted me--nothing more. That was her maiden-name. I knew her so. Her husband died recently, but I didn't hear in time to find her.

She must have left New York for a time. They were _so_ happy.... I'm afraid----"

David went to her.

"No, you mustn't go with me, David. There are too many things to do--for to-night----"

"Let me go, Vina," Bedient said.

In the cab, she told him the story of Mary McCullom's failure as an artist and conquest as a woman--the same story she had told Beth Truba--and what meant the love of the nurseryman--to Mary McCullom.

Vina's voice had a strange sound in the shut cab. She felt Bedient's presence, as some strength almost too great for her vitality to sustain. He did not speak.

"Sometimes it seems almost sacrilege," she said in a trembling tone, "to be so happy as we have been.... I should have persevered until I found her--after her ... oh, what that must have meant to her!... And she used to rely upon me so----"

"... Oh, Vina!" the woman whispered, holding out her arms. "I have wanted you!... I have waited for you to come.... I knew you would. I always loved you, because you made me take him!... We were so happy....

Draw the coverlet back----"

A new-born child was sleeping at her breast.

Vina had knelt. Her head bent forward in silent pa.s.sion.

"Won't you, Vina--won't _you_ take him?"

Vina covered her face, but made no sound.

"She will take the little one," said the voice above them.