Activate Javascript or update your browser for the full Digital Library experience.
Previous Page
–
Next Page
OCR
0
TH E NEW YORK VLE l)GER.
FEBRUARY 7, ‘I891.
deriianded iny presence upon iiirportaiii
business, I had to come. That is business,
you linollk"
Silence for a moment. Soiiieivhere.
deeper in the woods, a squirrel uttered his
short, staccato bar -. A scurry of light,
biting wind swept down through the long
" -s of birch and oak, crackling the dry
upon the gray lroughs and whirling
a slight glitter of siioiv from the ground
around and around their feet. Save for
these noises. there was almost the cold-
ness and liusl) of death in the great,
lonely woods. The sky was very blue
reach, save where the riiai-ks of each inan’s
footsteps cirt down to the moss and dead
leaves beneath.
The silence was growing awkward for
both, each instiiictiiely recalling how much
the other had to do iiitlr his life, and it
must at once be broken or leave them in
its poiver. i
““r'ell,” said George Chesney, feeling
this weight irpon them, beating his hands
swifrlyaiid lightly togctlicr that theyslrould
not become beiruinbed by the cold, the
sliatlow that seemed rctlectctl froiii his
companion’s face lifting from his owni‘
“well, this is an insinuating wind, Ilil-
ton. I must be off to Nyack. Iivalked
through the woods from Nanuet to old
I-Iardman's house a pretty long ivalk, to
be sure, but for a fellow like myself, ivlio is
shut up all day in the office or in some
stuffy court, it is a regular outing, you see!
I'm not so hard to please as you fellows
who have no onc’s wishes to consider. Of
taster of the
s arts, tlrcv sav; having walked to
Hardman’s, I am obliged to w:ilk from
here I”
“You wrote you would walk and might
possibly meet us here,” Roy Ililton said,
this strange uneasiness upon him. “ Vl. e ‘
ho ed this would be the case, but I seem
to be the only fortunate one.” 1
“And how does this happen P” queried
Chcsney, easily. “VVhere are the other
fellows? Ten of you there are,I think?
tjoin you, but so the j
l
right out of my hands, you know! Maybe
the old lady-justice, of courseiis blind-
folded; but it seems to me she falls upon
one fellow over and over again, as though
she had some special spite yagairrst him,
and knew instinctively which iias he, even
ifshe cou1dn’t'see. Perhaps I believe too
thoroughly in fatality, Hilton. You’re a
steadicr fellow, and have no such light
ideas.”
Roy joined in his laughter. A darkness
settled in ' eyes as the ' rested upon
the frank face opposite. Ilis lips looked
almost cruel, shut close as they were under r
the blond mustache. Then he swung liim-
self clear of the wall and faced about. In
that one instant of turning, he conquered
whatever emotion set that change upon his
far, . II auglicd easily, also; and his ‘
eyes, in their new cxpression,werc pleasant
to see.
“ There is a fatality that shapes our
lives, I believe as well as you, C esney,”
he said. “Not without our own riiotii-es
behind them, but still running straight on
in an giien line and impossible to avoid.
Perhaps this iiill be proved to you when I
saythat here am I lost from the others, and
the onl‘ one to meet you, iv en we all
hoped to have that pleasure.”
A new expression swept over Cliesncy's
face. A shadow darkened his own eyes.
For an instant, he bit his lip savagely, as
though to avoid making some reply other
than he would allow hiiiiselfto utter.
“A mutual pleasure,” he said then,
quietly. “I had no thought of meeting
you here, Hilton. when you spoke, 1 at
nrst thniight it might be one of those iirys-
terious warnings that our mediums tell us
of. I'm not a medium. I'm merely ex-
plaining my sensation at tlremomcnt. It's
absurd.”
“And yoii’ll say that I am absurd also,"
said Roy Hilton, lightly, swinging the rifle i
down from his shoulder and resting the butt ‘
upon the ground, one hand upon the niiiz-
zle. “I think it absurd myself since meet-
ing u so accidentally." l
Chesncy lifted his head with a sudden
movement ofsuspicion. W as t ere inte -
was not a suspicious man, but
the strange, unpleasant relation e s
betwec himself and Ililton caused him to;
be sensitive. Then he sltriigged his slroiil-
ders and laughed.
“ In what are you absurd, Ililton ?” hc
queried, carelessly. ()n ii-oiiltlii’t expect
you to utter such sentiments, and they need
an explanation."
“ iVliy--” there was a irairge restlcssn rss
upon Roy Hilton, as he ground the impres-
sion ofthe rifle-butt deeper and ileeperinto
the snow and dead leaves “why. to tell
you the truth, Chesncy, I believe I ‘in lost!
i you came. VVe were lover
We fellows were up on a iidve where the me once. She would have been my wife
uiitlergiouih s pretty thic ,aird iie disa- to-day had you remained away! And now
greed regarding the traces of r bbits, and, this subject must die forever between us!
uas in the utter minority of um, I "he riieiirory belongs to me. Until I have
turned off to the right to put iriy ideas into conquered memory I demand that silence
practice and justify uiy clairiis, v -ing shall restupon it. No man, especially your-
others to go in the opposite dir self, has the right to touch upon it! And
' I can say that the subject is not a
7
::
5.9
ca
were to meet at the break in the woodsi until ,
b.ick on the Nyack turnpike; but when I sad one to me I cannot permit myself to
come to search for that spot I failed to dis- : accept such an invitation from you-and
cover it; aird --here we a I" , lu'r.’”
(‘ieorge Chesney laughed hcartil, There
was alway constraint upon these two
men when in e otliei-‘s society, but they
struggled against the feeling as being un-
manly, and both were manly men.
He was remarkably handsome as the fad-
ing glow of sunset struck through the trees
and, flushing the snow aroun thcin,
touched even the hiiiuan faces marked
with bitterness and pride and passion.
‘Here we are- 1 a," he said; “and i A frown was groiviirgblacker and blacker
here I was m be, as I think I Wrtitc you; ‘over Roy IIilton‘s face. His blood “'35
but ivhat you are doing here is another proud and hot, and swift to take offense,
thing. rlain yourself. It’s rather ab- strive as re ' to restrain his pas-
surtl for lxny‘ Ililton, our crack shot, to be siori for the sake of his inanlrood. Ile
lost among the Killnilpo llillsttilllin two drew his mu figure proudly erect and his
miles of Nauuct.” l lips took on a haughty curve, his eyes black
“ Iiut you niust remember,” Roy Hilton with the intensity of his emotion.
took him up liastily--neither could bear “That, as you well say, Chcsney, is for
interference from the otlrer-“tliat the you to decide,” he said, between his lips.
Raiiiapo Ilills might better be the “'ind “I am bound to respect your pride, but I
River hlouritains There, I would must also-and I, too, have the right to de-
be on familiar ground; here, I am lost." mand-that you sha not again speak of
“ H0tVL'VCt‘-anti I say it iiitli regret, re- my wife- my rut" 1', rcineinhcr-in the terms
mernbcring yihatbroiiglrt me here -allthis of your old relations with her. That she
country is familiar to rm‘, Hilton, and if you ; chose me instead of yourself was her pre-
choose to come, I ‘ll show you the way to rogative. The right has forever gone from
tie Nanuet station. You can take the you to speak of hcr---even to think of her
New jersey 8; New York Railway from -other than as another man’s wife. She
there to the cit ', you kiioiv. f you don't , would scorn you if she knew7"
show up, the fellows will think that you, Chesney started forward, as though
have gone onhomc. 'I' cy’< ncvcr believc‘he ivoii s r ‘e the man before him in
that Roy Ililton V115 lost when rabbit l his swift fury born of the last ivords. '
shooting.’ eyes glezunetl at this thativas tohis wounded
Both men laughed pleasantly, and the heart an ins lt He was white to the lips,
sound ran lightly along the silence with a but he clenched his hands and conquered
ring of good comradeship and life, in the his anger. Then he spoke, and his voice
quiet ivoo s. was such as no one had ever before heard
Far down in the distance the chattering from George Clrcsney.
squirrel broke the white silence, and an- “Hilton !" he exclaimed, under his
other iv ir wind sent the crisp snow breath, as though he must keep down even
eddying around their feet. his words, lest they conquer him and throw
“ T e only objection to your suggestion down all barriers of manhood. “ You ar
' Because Helen
is,” Hilton said, after a moment's thought- , going too far, Hilton.
fulness, “ that I agreed to meet the fellows l Stuart chose y()ll7"
at the edge of the ivood, and I would not l Roy lifted his right hand with a passion-
like to go on home without them, Chesney. ate gesture, his face matching in pallor
They might linger here searching for that of his companion. His eyes burned
me. Besides, I promised, y'ou kiiow.” blackly.
He smilcr.l7:intl Roy Hilton's smile uas “I refuse to even hear her name from
gong >to see. “ XVhy should I break my yoqy lips at lsuch abgirie q-s this,” he lspid,
wor .” wit a stcatmcss rn o intense se -re-
Chesney shrugged his shoulders lightl '. ‘ pression. “I have done my best to hold
“ It wouldn't be Roy Hilton in br you my friend in spite oftlris that has come
his word,” he aid “I cannot blame betivcen us; but now-”
you, my dear fellow. Only---do not‘ “‘I3iitnowl’”retorted Chesncy. “Now
fl"fllI go from the at‘ti. A ni"llt in I demand that you let this subject die
tiicsc woods W0lIl(ln'[ be the r as-.i”.igrce. utterly out, Ililton. When 1 IIZWC lost
I understand them thoroughly. 1 memory, we may spea ' o it. hot new.”
ivaru ‘on 1” 1 There was a rustling of the bushes near
- Rloy nodded. A slumbering tire woke atliand,:indawonian’s facepeered through,
in us eves, a pecu
checks; the pulled at one cndof his nius- cart track ran along beyond the hedge of and having no an
bush and brier to the right. and those pass-
, id, nervously and ing tlirougli the wood from the main road
ivitli hesitation, as though lie iiould not to Nauuct used this rouuh road.
needlessly woiind his coinpanion, “ I think “And I tell you,”cxcIairned RoyHilton,
you did not ask about my wife, Chcsncy. starting forii-ard, his Cy es upon the other-‘s,
She is well-she is always well, you knoi . j his hand raised, clenched above him-“I
I rope ”’and now the lresitatiori made tell you here and iioiv, Clicsncy, that I will
words almost harsh-“I hope that you , not b<:ar one more ii or d from you upon this
will come doivii to usrsoon, my dear subject I It is an insult to her as well as to
fellow. “'e must not , ou and I--be myself, and any man iiho dares breathe
other than friends. Ilere"-he held out insult to her may hold hislife clieaply-when
his right hand, that nervous left hand still in my hands. Her honor is more to me
upon the title “ lcre is my hand, Chcs- than all the world. Iwould aveiige any
tache, aivkwardlv.
“ llv
ncy Take it, and let it bind our friend- lightest uord against her uithout the least
sl ” llcsltzitltm. RL‘IIIL‘ll]l.)t)rilI1ti.”
'1 he frank good-nature died from Clics- “ So I" whispered the wonian behind the
ncy's face. he gray’ L-yes flamed with thicket, a gleainin her eyes. S ie shrugged
The head was lifted with a her shoulders SlIggL‘Slll'L'ly and turned
siiift liaiiglitiness that could match even 'ay. “jcalous,cli? Audtliat’s Lawyer
Roy Hilton's old blood. A pallor struck Cliesney, tool Smart man; but Iwonder
the sternly I'L‘[)I'C.>:CLl. proud race, and set ‘ that lie dot-sii’t make a charge agriirist the
' Involuntarily his hands fell, l other, and so gain a pretty high damage.
' t man in the height But KlIC:C folks in high life are so mighty
afraid of their honor I"
he said, steadily, though She laughed conteinptuously and disap-
there iias. an llhnillllfiil limirscncss in his pcared in the thickriess of the ivoods.
usually c voice, aiul the stern lips could George (jliesney did not reply to Roy's
scarcely articulate as he iiould have them, last words. Ile dared not speak lest his
"I bear no ill-uill toward you more than I passion gain the mastery, and he uould
would toward any iuan uliohcld the place not yield to passion. Ile was rr splendid
towartl nry-elf that you hold. The race fellow, in spite of his natural carelessness.
iias free. You won lIL'f. I lost. I have Ile stood facing his rival quite motionless
-it-lrlcil to fatality. But this I must say for a few minutes. The pallor faded and
you shall hear me now that the opportunity tlushcd and returned to his ace '
ias come to spca --t rat I had an equal teeth were shut down fiercely over his lips.
chance iiitlr you. re was kind to me until Ile kept his hands at his sides resolutely.
- mris up to that Then. as though still iw could not speak,
time. I would not rec ll old scenes and he breathed deeply, biting his lip, and
nu-rriories. I ii mild not wound you or my turned away doivn the path tlr:it soon hid
ownlionorenouglitospeak:-ftliethingsthat liiiu in the distance. A crisp silence rc-
have gone. She was a woman who would inaint-d. liien the squirrel “its still. The
be just and generous. I ran be no less than wind had died away is the sunset glowed
the saint: S ie is, too, a iioiiiau and must , and flushed.
elioose for he ‘elf wliorri she would bless‘ “ l)ast:ir<l !" miiriniired Roy Ililton,
l
l
l
angry tire.
E
with ltt:t'l0V('. Only and until you spoke presently, l)(‘l“'(‘(‘ll his stitf lips. his eyes
I never thought that I would . ' Illl'4,lIltnI("ll)' falliiig upon the rifle which
only, ri-uieiiilrer: she was pi-oiiiised to he still g sped so fiercely-, his face betray-
uie Illllil you caiiii- and ivon her iiwivl 1 ing the str-iiggle pzissiiig ivitliiii bi-twet-n
'l'li;it I concede. llut there is this niucli j his inad pzission of l.’L‘ and jealoi and
that you must yield to I'Il(‘: that she loved his strength of nobility -jealousy wakencd
at the thought that any man should dare
lthink of his wife as this other man ad
1 dared. “ He to tell me to my face that he
,has not yet placed that memory behind
i him, as any mart should do 1”
CHAPTER II.
A s'rRL'<;r;I.E WITH
Roy had forgotten where he uas. Still
.standing where George Cliesirey left him,
his eyes now turned along the darkening
lpath, now bent inoodily upon his boots,
‘his thoughts were of the past and of the
l future. Of the past uhen, just gr-adii-aied
j and left to the care of guardians, he took
, irp his life with a zest and impulse natural
j to rim. He had no special vocation in life
but to be a true gentleman, and live ii ) to
the pride, the nolJil'y of character and
kindness of heart that descended to him
through a long line of stem old Knicker-
bockers, one black vein among the high-
And this black vein was a. jealousy in
‘ love that was almost insanity--among 5(ll‘nL‘
of his ancestors had even developed into
that rnalad '. Knowing this ivell-for the
old Knickerbocker Ililtons were proud of
their genealo;:y, and rcpt their history
alive-Roy did all in human power to
‘ strengthen his character against this black
enemy of peace; but it In ed too long and
, ran too strong through the generations to
yield to one man's uill.
l Standing in the silence of the woods,
Roy Hilton realized this, and irivoluritarily
gr-oaned, with a swift gesture of despair at
the futi 'ty of his effort. e had travelled,
not aimlessly, but that he should gain bet-
ter knowledge than books could give, and
with a widening appreciation of humanity,
not as a people, but as individuals.
He was eight-and-twenty and a high-
souled, cultured gentleman when he re-
, turned home and met Helen Stuart. She
‘was a cultured woman, graceful and gra-
cious, with zi sou, per ops, not so roa
as his own, because lacking contact with
the uorld, but anoble woman’s soul, never-
theless.
l He loved her. He met many women as
beautiful. cultured and gracious, but Helen
Stuart was the first woman whom lrc loved
72m with him to love once was to love
alivays.
Ileleir Stuart had many suitors. George
i Clresney was most favored anion them.
He and Helen were children together; he
was her boy-lover even then ‘he Stuarts
had a country-seat at Nyack. The Ches-
ueys made this beautiful riverside toii-n
their home, spending little time in the
city, even ' the seasons. ‘
lonly uas in New York a great deal as
‘Helen's recognized . Naturaly,
tltcv drifted into an iintlcistantliiig, if not
ir lltlsll (‘rcpt to his but neither man saw or heard. The broad an iictual engagement. She admired him,
'ening as to the height
of a life briglitcned by love, she mistook
sentiment for passion. He loved her and
' love was as intense as Roy Hilton's.
But Roy Hilton came-and uon.
' ‘ reirs was not love at first sight. With
either of them that was impossible. There
was an intensity and a depth in Helen’:
character and Roy's that could not be
aiiakcned at a touch. They became
fricnds; afterward, lovers.
But when Roy Ililtori let love into his
heart, Ire also opened the road to that
dciiion ofjealousv that spoiled many a life
among the generations gone before him.
knew it had always been so, but
trusted that with him, stii wvling against it
as re hail, it might be ditlerent; but tie
stain on a glass cannot be iv. shed out by
one pure diop. Ile was as insane as airy
ainong those stern forefatliers, for the time,
‘iiitli the thmlglit that another man held
loie in his heart for his iiife-My uife.
Ilelen rrurim was to be tlmuglit of by no
l one but as his oun. That this man strug-
gled to conquer his love could not droivii
‘the truth Ile loved her, and loved her
still. This demon, lying latent in his
, blood, grew stronger and blacker the more
, he thought ofit. It rested so equally be-
, tueen tlicm. uhich should win. that (ieorge
‘Chesriey might IIZHC been in his place
‘tn-day but for “ fatality." That other
j man, with his liaiidsoine face and 1l'v’77nrIIIil1rz'
manners once clainied IIelen‘s love, had
jgiveii her his oivii-nay, gave it to her
‘ still ! 'l‘hat other man
l Ile hit his lip savagely, and It lluslisuept
the pallor fI'()lII his face. Ilis iillgcr-nziils
cut recklessly into the paint of his liand as
it fell clenched at his side.
Ile raised the ride suddeiily and siiuiig
it to his slmulder: wliucling upon Ii 1ILL'l
j- his face set like iiiarblt---riot iii tiie
ldirection pointed out for liiiii to take, but
lin (ieorgje Cl)L‘5!lL‘y'S H‘ , fttnlslcfh. His
eyes uere storiiiy .n<l yvt iioridei-f..uy szltl
with this bitter, biting struggle lretweeii a
noble sutll and :i tlciiion horn in the bi.io<i
centuries p. . .
The snow crushed undcr foot, stirring the
., .. ....a.u ...r
L.
."1‘