Reading High School - Arxalma Yearbook (Reading, PA)

Page 14 text:

10 THE RED AND BLACK . Yes-his pictures have been making a stir lately. He sails tomorrow morning on the Slavonic. Fine fellow-I like Dan Varick. You know this commission will mean a lot of money, and it's the begin- ning of bigger things for him. , Sails tomorrow morning! Slavonic! Ordinary words, just a collection of syllables, but they flashed like a comet against the horizon, and left Elizabeth shaken. Dan was going from New York just as she had reached lt, and had not told her. His good-by had been final. He had indeed wiped her out with a. flourish forever. She had not been con- scious of hope or expectation regarding him, but the thought of the seas between them put the seal upon her desolation. Some time later she went along the hall to the library, where Lord Poyndale was waiting for her. Her nervousness and absentmlndedness had not escaped him. But she did not know that he had dismissed thought on the subject as un- important. She would become practical enough when she was his wife and had children to give her real anxiety. This white-faced, moody girl was his, though she had not given him one responsive glance. It would be taming her to make her acknowledge this tonight. The mas- ter in him was pleasantly stimulated by the prospect. Elizabeth came in slowly. Her excited eyes and red lips were vivid in her white, still face. She was dream-like, unexpec- tant. She irritated him. He crossed to hcr sharply. You don't seem very glad to see me. But you are-aren't you? His look of ownership as he put his arms about her made an acute repulsion seize her. No, no, no! The words rushed in a shivering way from her averted lips. She hold him back with an angry wildness. He was never so surprised in his life. You won't let me kiss you? I'd-I'd-die first, Elizabeth said, an- guish in the words, Die? This is strange language, he said crisply, his clasp on her arms tight- ening in exasperation. Are you out of your mind? Lord Poyndale, she said piteously, let me go and I'll tell you. His hands fell sharply, and she sank back, leaning on the table to steady her- self. What's the meaning of this-this-er -remarkable conduct? he asked, his light brows twitching. She drew off the ring and placed it on the table between them.. I can't marry you, Lord Poyndale, she said, and went blindly toward the door. One moment, if you please, he said, in a cold voice that conveyed, however, a. deep, shutin wrath. Pray, when did you discover that you could not marry me?l' Today I'm sorry to hurt you. I hope you'll forgive me. And your reason? I don't love you, break in her voice. she repeated, with dull emphasis, and went away. she said, a wild I don't love you, She seemed to have been only a mo- ment in her room, when her father, after an aggressive knock, stepped in. He was ashen from anger. He stared at her in unbelief. What's this Lord Poyndale tells me? he asked. That you've thrown him over? He leaned his fists on the table and brought his face close to hers. I know what's the matter and it's got to stop this minute. I found out from Jack- son where you had him drive you today. You've been with your artistic vagabond friends, and you've come back full of that stuff about aims and ideals that you used to talk. That's what has made you insult a. peer of England tonight. She quailed at his look, but as suddenly rallied, and her words were as surprising as flame darting from ashes. Not that alone, father. I love Dan Varick. I love him with every beat of my heart. I wasn't sure of this when I reached home today. I felt only then that in this life that seems so full of everything a girl could want my soul has been starving, and I began to wonder how Lord Poyn- he tried to I had ever promised to be dale's wife. But-oh, when kiss me, I-I-knew. I knew, father, how a woman must love a man to marry him. Then I knew, too, how I loved Dan-for he kissed me today, father-kissed me to- day- There was a foreboding silence between

Page 13 text:

LITERARY 9 Was she the greedy thing he had derided? She craved self-denial for herself, but de- pression hung upon her like a weight as she faced self conviction, one accusation after another iiaming and retreating be- fore her. All he had said was true. Without loving him she had enjoyed mastering him. She had never wanted to marry him, yet she would have been sorry to marry, and step from a pic- see him turesque role to be somebody's husband. As Lady Poyndale she had meant to be very nice to him, present him to rich clients who would buy his pictures, keep the sparkle of the old fellowship to leaven her days, and all the while enjoy know- ing that she was standing between him and the sun-that he was loving her si- lently, miserably, in his stubborn, stormy way. She had been this sort of a woman, something of a metaphysical vampireg and he had told her so in a kiss of an- guish and rebellion. But she could not analyze the magic accomplished by that kiss further. Her accounting had created a mortal fear. She was shivering when her maid's defer- ential knock fell on the door, and she knew it was time to dress for dinner and Lord Poyndale. ' Elizabeth's reputation as a beauty was very secure, but on this' night there was an unusual splendor about her that those who saw her remembered long after. She was ofa startling pallor, but her eyes were burning. Her gown fell about her like a snow mistgmany red roses wreath- ed her hairy the cold flash of diamonds touched her throat and bosom. She was a spirit woman with passionate eyes. Lord Poyndale was the last of the guests to come. As Elizabeth waited for him, one thought kept facing her, and each moment its aspect grew more odious: she was to be married to a man she did not love because he was Lord Poyndale. He was an ugly, clever, and amusing man, and she had liked himg but marriage with him would never have occurred to her or to her father had he not represented an earldom, Boscowan Abbey in Lincolnshire. For a month she had not seen him, not since the afternoon he had placed the Poyndale ruby on her finger. His wooing had been stately, his expressions of endearment temperate, and he had kissed her hand that day. These and other like thoughts fioated like mists about the head of the inseparable thought, that ever and anon raised its Sphinxlike head and glared darkly at her. She was to be' married to a mlm she did not love because he was Lord Poyndale. When she saw him crossing the room to her the thought was routed by a ques- tion that rang from her affrighted heart: 'tWhat is the thing I am about to do? She heard it when she gave him her hand, 'as his eyes rested on her with sat- isfaction: as his square, widespread teeth showed in a complacent smile under his military mustache. Was it nice of you to bolt today when I was expected for luncheon? he asked. After a month's absence too-eh? Well, never mind, I dare say I deserved it. I've seemed a tepid lover, Elizabeth, I'll admit. That beastly Colorado mining business kept me here all these weeks, but now that you've fooled me-eh?-eh?-it will be dilferent, you know. You look ripping -color a little bit off, that's all. l'm longing to see you tonight when the rest go. Your father agreed with me today there's no need for delay. You might as well be a true American girl and get mar- ried under the Stars and Stripes, and go straight to Boscowan as Lady Poyndale- eh?--eh? His trick of quick questioning with a convulsion of noiseless laughter had never irritated her -before-now she hated it-she seemed to hate him. Yet as she went hurriedly from him, she knew she was unjust. Hers had been a willing sale, though never recognized as such un- til tonight. Yet, fair or unfair, it was torture to look at him during the dinner, and an atmosphere of dire dread hung about her. Except for a score or so of words spoken by a man opposite to her, the hours at the table were without the slightest grain of interest to Elizabeth. These, though not meant for her, came to her over the liowers and candles as if spoken to her only: I had a letter from Colonel Hethering- ton a short time ago. He's crazy over the decorating and furnishings of his Paris house. lt's going to be a dream. He's given the mural decorating, by the way, to young Varick-you know him.

Page 15 text:

u . LITERARY 11 them. A certain likeness deepened in the two pale faces defying each other. You're going to treat me this way- are you? An ineffectual sob broke on the rush of words. I tell you-no. You've got to marry Lord Poyndale. You must. She held out her hands to him and shook her head slowly. Can't you see, father? It's not enough for you to say 'I must.' It's not enough for me to try to obey you, and say, 'I will.' I can't. I can't. Come my way. It's the right way. You're a. fool, he cried, in his distress and disappointment. Do you think I want to make you miserable? Do you think I don't want every good for you? But I know what I am saying and you don't. You think your silly infatuation for this artist is worth the price? I tell you nothing lasts but the real, big things. Don't you cheat me Elizabeth. I've worked like a navvy to get where I am. You don't know the one-hundredth part of what I've suffered. We have every- thing but social position. I can't get it- you can. A weakness rushed over him. Pm an old man now. Don't you fool' me, Elizabeth. He went out, his head shaking, in a feeble way never seen before. His last words had touched herg her heart yearn- ed over him. He was her father, he adored herg she loved him tenderly. But she could not be true to herself without hurting him. Unconsclously she stood, clasping and unclasping her hands. Weak tears welled up to her wide-open eyes. Her future was balanced on this moment. One word would decide it. - Dan was going away tomorrow morn- ing-if she let him sail without a word,- if she spared her father? That was one way. If she obeyed the tender, whispering voice in her heart-if she went to her lover? That was the other way. Which? There was but one answer. It leaped to her question as inevitably as sparks from an anvil stroke. ' She did not know when the Slavonic was to sailg perhaps very early. She dared not delay until the morning. If she went at once to Dan she could be back within an hour before her father returned from his nightly game of bridge at the club to which he had recently been granted membership. Just to see Dan, confess to him-after that-well, she had no plan. After dismissing her maid for the night, she put on a hat and veil and a long coat over her dinner gown. She paused in the hall and listened. The house was still brilliantly lighted but as silent as if untenanted. No one met her as she went softly and quickly down the stairs, and the heavy street door closed after her with only a smooth click. When she saw the wide, empty avenue and felt the rush of keen air, the last figment of depression faded from her, and she came into her own-a heady, feverish joyg a craving for her lover's eyes, arms and lips: and, oh, for his voice, speaking words that would redeem her as a woman to herself, and blot out those words of the morning. In the whirl of the adventure, she had not considered the possibility of Dan be- ing out. When she arrived at his door, however, and saw a big square of white paper, with words printed in pencil on it, the practical side of the situation dawned on her. With startled eyes she peered in the gas light at this message: Dick: If you come before I get back, you'll find the key in the usual place. DAN. A smile rippled over Elizabeth's face. It all seemedso familiar, like reading a well known story. She knew 'tDick. He was Dan's brother, coming, no doubt, from Boston, to bid him good-bye. She knew, too, where the keys were kept, where she had always kept her own. A thrill of the old happiness went through her, as, reaching to the high ledge above Dan's door, she felt her fingers close around the key. When she crept into Dan's apartment, feeling very much like an intruding mouse, she found the place only dimly lighted, and in such a whimsical disorder as only a man could have evolved. A big trunk stood in the center, half-packed. The smaller one for the steamer was still empty, but with clothes, books, and knick knacks in a heap on the floor beside it. Chairs were overturned, tables littered with a medley of things, some of them' so wildly astray she found herself laughing aloud g for instance, a revolver, a sponge,