Captivating Mary Carstairs Part 50

"Out into the world," said Varney, "where Mary Carstairs is waiting for you and me."

"But--but--I feel extremely nervous--does she know?"

"She is going to know in about thirty seconds, and we are the three happiest people in America."

"I think," said the old man palely, "that she--she likes me--"

"In less than a minute," said the young one, "she is going to love you."

His voice betrayed him a little on the words, but he instantly recovered his poise, and, hand on the k.n.o.b, faced the other with his gayest smile.

"Tell me, Mr. Higginson--_did_ you skip to New York that afternoon, when Maginnis and I, you know, dashed up here to a.s.sa.s.sinate you?"

"Yes," replied the handsome old intriguer with a nervous cough, "yes, I--you see, it had been reported to me that Mr. Maginnis had threatened to horsewhip me in the public square, after my attempt to buy the paper and save us all from scandal. So naturally, on the afternoon you mention, I--I antic.i.p.ated trouble. However, I quietly returned to Hunston on the next train back, going, of course, to a different hotel, a most dreadful little place--"

Varney shouted.

"It's just as Peter said, I declare! You're the n.o.blest plotter of them all, Mr. Higginson. Dear old Hunston will not look upon your like again."

The two enemies came out into the corridor arm-in-arm, and advanced in utter amity to the doorway. And as they walked, Varney's tongue unloosed, and he spoke his still incredible happiness aloud: only, because he was not Latin and exuberant, he spoke it according to the indirect uses of his race.

"That man we pa.s.sed standing in the hall--the one with the face of incredulity and chagrin--was old Callery--horribly miffed because you and I failed to lock in mortal combat. He's a fine fellow, Callery is, only I imagine he's had a lot of hard luck. Did you ever see a prettier little hotel than this--I mean, of course, for a town of this size?

_Look_! That's the clerk behind the desk there. An amazingly clever fellow--you just ought to have seen how sharp he was in knowing where you were--and that's a _Cypriani_ cigar he's smoking, if you'd like to know. Jim Hackley's house is just over on the other corner--why, you can _see_ it from here. I want you to know Hackley, sir! A great big whimsical fellow with a fist like a ham and a heart like a woman's....

Ah!..."

They emerged from the hotel upon the noisy street, still lively with the rush of home-goers; and now the two men stood side by side before the waiting carriage, and Varney's flow of talk had ceased.

From the square there came the shouts of many lingerers, making merry in the tail of the great day according to their desire. Down either sidewalk poured a stream of people, laughing, talking, and calling to each other; the street still rumbled under pa.s.sing vehicles; the Palace Hotel, in particular, had become a lodestone and near to Tommy's victoria much human traffic converged. In truth, it was a public place where all who wished could see, and many did see. Yet there was nothing in the little scene to fix the gaze of the casual wayfarer: a young girl sitting in a well-appointed carriage, and two men, one young and one old, approaching with bared heads to speak to her. Only a close observer would have been likely to notice that the old man's cheek was markedly pale, and that upon the marred face of the younger one there had descended a strange and solemn look....

For Mary there had been no surprise in seeing the young man come out to her with the old one on his arm--had he not told her that he went in peace?--and even the glorious metamorphosis in Mr. Higginson's appearance quite failed to arrest her attention. She had smoothed his approach with a welcoming smile and the beginning of a gay greeting; but her eyes were for her lover. And now as she saw the look on Varney's face, and became aware of the odd and impressive silence in which he stood, like one called to officiate at some high ceremony, understanding incredibly dawned within her, and she was suddenly without speech or breath. Her little greeting was never finished; all at once her face, grown wonderfully sweet, was whiter than the old man's own; and the eyes which she now turned back to him were full and overfull of tears.

"Miss Carstairs," said Varney, not quite steadily, "may I have the great honor of presenting your father?"

THE END