vera, the medium-第12部分

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disdain　which　at　all　times　she　had　found　the　most　convenient
defense；　fell　from　her。

〃It's　not　fair！〃　she　cried；　〃it's　not　fair。〃　To　her
mortification；　the　tears　of　self…pity　sprang　to　her　eyes；　and　as
she　fiercely　tried　to　brush　them　away；　to　her　greater　anger；
continued　to　creep　down　her　cheeks。　〃It　was　nine　years　ago；〃　she
protested；　〃I　was　a　child。　I've　been　punished　enough。〃　She
raised　her　face　frankly　to　his；　speaking　swiftly；　bitterly。

〃Of　course；　I　want　to　get　away！〃　she　cried。　〃Of　course；　I　want
friends。　I've　never　had　a　friend。　I've　always　been　alone。　I'm
tired；　tired！　I　hate　this　business。　I　never　know　how　much　I　hate
it　until　the　chance　comes　to　get　away　　and　I　can't。〃

She　stopped；　but　without　lowering　her　head　or　moving　her　eyes
from　his。

〃This　time；〃　said　the　man　quietly；　〃you're　going　to　get　away
from　it。〃

〃I　can't；〃　repeated　the　girl。　〃you　can't　help　me！〃

Winthrop　smiled　at　her　confidently。

〃I'm　going　to　try；〃　he　said。

〃No；　please！〃　begged　the　girl。　Her　voice　was　still　shaken　with
tears。　She　motioned　with　her　head　toward　the　room　behind　her。

〃These　are　my　people；〃　she　declared　defiantly；　as　though　daring
him　to　contradict　her。　〃And　they　are　good　people！　They've　tried
to　be　good　friends　to　me；　and　they've　been　true　to　me。〃

Winthrop　came　toward　her　and　stood　beside　her；　so　close　that　he
could　have　placed　his　hand　upon　her　shoulder。　He　wondered；
whimsically；　if　she　knew　how　cruel　she　seemed　in　appealing　with
her　tears；　her　helplessness　and　loveliness　to　what　was　generous
and　chivalric　in　him；　and；　at　the　same　time；　by　her　words；
treating　him　as　an　interloper　and　an　enemy。

〃That's　all　right；〃　he　said　gently。　〃But　that　doesn't　prevent　my
being　a　good　friend　to　you；　too；　does　it？　Or；〃　he　added；　his
voice　growing　tense　and　conscious　　〃my　being　true　to　you？　My
sisters　will　be　here　tomorrow；〃　he　announced　briskly。

Vera　had　wearily　dropped　her　arms　upon　the　table　and　lowered　her
head　upon　them。　From　a　place　down　in　the　depths　she　murmured　a
protest。

〃No；〃　contradicted　Winthrop　cheerfully；　〃this　time　you　are　going
to　win。　You'll　have　back　of　you；　If　I　do　say　it；　two　of　the　best
women　God　ever　made。　Only；　now；　you　must　do　as　I　say。〃　There　was
a　pause。　〃Will　you？〃　he　begged。

Vera　raised　her　head　slowly；　holding　her　hand　across　her　eyes。
There　was　a　longer　silence；　and　then　she　looked　up　at　him　and
smiled　pathetically；　gratefully；　and　nodded。　〃Good！〃　cried
Winthrop。　〃No　more　spooks；〃　he　laughed；　〃no　more　spirit
rappings。〃

Through　her　tears　Vera　smiled　up　at　him　a　wan；　broken　smile。　She
gave　a　shudder　of　distaste。　〃Never！〃　she　whispered。　〃I　promise。〃
Their　eyes　met；　the　girl's　looking　into　his　shyly；　gratefully；
the　man's　searching　hers　eagerly。　And　suddenly　they　saw　each
other　with　a　new　and　wonderful　sympathy　and　understanding。
Winthrop　felt　himself　bending　toward　her。　He　was　conscious　that
the　room　had　grown　dark；　and　that　he　could　see　only　her　eyes。
〃You　must　be　just　yourself；〃　he　commanded；　but　so　gently；　so
tenderly；　that；　though　he　did　not　know　it；　each　word　carried
with　it　the　touch　of　a　caress；　〃just　your　sweet；　fine；　noble
self！〃

Something　he　read　in　the　girl's　uplifted　eyes　made　him　draw　back
with　a　shock　of　wonder；　of　delight；　with　an　upbraiding
conscience。　To　pull　himself　together；　he　glanced　quickly　about
him。　The　day　had　really　grown　dark。　He　felt　a　sudden　desire　to
get　away；　to　go　where　he　could　ask　himself　what　had　happened；
what　it　was　that　had　filled　this　unknown；　tawdry　room　with
beauty　and　given　it　the　happiness　of　a　home。

〃By　Jove！〃　he　exclaimed　nervously；　〃I　had　no　idea　I'd　stayed　so
long。　You'll　not　let　me　come　again。　Goodbye　　until　tomorrow。〃
He　turned；　holding　out　his　hand；　and　found　that　again　the　girl
had　dropped　her　face　upon　her　arm；　and　was　sobbing　quietly；
gently。

〃Oh；　what　is　it？〃　cried　Winthrop。　〃What　have　I　said？〃　The　catch
in　the　girl's　voice　as　she　tried　to　check　the　sobs　wrenched　his
heart。　〃Oh；　please；〃　he　begged；　〃I've　said　something　wrong？　I've
hurt　you？〃　With　her　face　still　hidden　in　her　arms；　the　girl
shook　her　head。

〃No；　no！〃　she　sobbed。　Her　voice；　soft　with　tears；　was　a　melody
of　sweet　and　tender　tones。　〃It's　only　　that　I've　been　so
lonely　　and　you've　made　me　happy；　happy！〃

The　sobs　broke　out　afresh；　but　Winthrop；　now　knowing　that　they
brought　to　the　girl　peace；　was　no　longer　filled　with　dismay。

Her　head　was　bent　upon　her　left　arm；　her　right　hand　lightly
clasped　the　edge　of　the　table。　With　the　intention　of　saying
farewell；　Winthrop　took　her　hand　in　his。　The　girl　did　not　move。
To　his　presence　she　seemed　utterly　oblivious。　In　the　gathering
dusk　he　could　see　the　bent　figure；　could　hear　the　soft；
irregular　breathing　as　the　girl　wept　gently；　happily；　like　a
child　sobbing　itself　to　sleep。　The　hand　he　held　in　his　neither
repelled　nor　invited；　and　for　an　instant　he　stood　motionless；
holding　it　uncertainly。　It　was　so　delicate；　so　helpless；　so
appealing；　so　altogether　lovable。　It　seemed　to　reach　up；　and；
with　warm；　clinging　fingers；　clutch　the　tendrils　of　his　heart。

Winthrop　bent　his　head　suddenly；　and　lifting　the　hand；　kissed
it；　and　then；　without　again　speaking；　walked　quickly　into　the
hall　and　shut　the　door。　In　the　room　the　dusk　deepened。　Through
the　open　windows　came　the　roar　of　the　Sixth　Avenue　Elevated；　the
insistent　clamor　of　an　electric　hansom；　the　murmur　of　Broadway
at　night。　The　tears　had　suddenly　ceased；　but　the　girl　had　not
moved。　At　last；　slowly；　stiffly；　she　raised　her　head。　Her　eyes；
filled　with　wonder；　with　amazement；　were　fixed　upon　her　hand。
She　glanced　cautiously　about　her。　Assured　she　was　alone；　with
her　other　hand　she　lifted　the　one　Winthrop　had　kissed　and　held
it　pressed　against　her　lips。

The　folding　doors　were　thrown　open；　letting　in　a　flood　of　light；
and　Mabel　Vance；　entering　swiftly；　knelt　at　the　table　and　bent
her　head　close　to　Vera。

〃That　woman's　in　the　hall；〃　she　whispered；　〃that　niece　of
Hallowell's。　Paul　and　Mannie　can't　get　rid　of　her。　Now　she's　got
hold　of　Winthrop。　She　says　she　will　see　you。　Be　careful！〃

Vera　rose。　That　Mabel　might　not　see　she　had　been　weeping；　she
walked　to　the　piano；　covertly　drying　her　eyes。

〃What；〃　she　asked　dully；　〃does　she　want　with　me？〃

〃About　tonight；〃　answered　Mabel。　She　exclaimed　fiercely；　〃I　told
them　there'd　be　trouble！〃

With　Vance　upon　her　heels；　Helen　Coates　came　in　quickly　from　the
hall。　Her　face　was　flushed；　her　eyes　lit　with　indignation　and
excitement。　In　her　hand　she　held　an　open　letter。

As　though　to　protect　Vera；　both　Vance　and　his　wife　moved　between
her　and　their　visitor；　but；　disregarding　them；　Miss　Coates　at
once　singled　out　the　girl　as　her　opponent。

〃You　are　the　young　woman　they　call　Vera；　I　believe；〃　she　said。
〃I　have　a　note　here　from　Mr。　Hallowell　telling　me　you　are　giving
a　seance　tonight　at　his　house。　That　you　propose　to　exhibit　the
spirit　of　my　mother。　That　is　an　insult　to　the　memory　of　my
mother　and　to　me。　And　I　warn　you；　if　you　attempt　such　a　thing；　I
will　prevent　it。〃

There　was　a　pause。　When　Vera　spoke　it　was　in　the　tone　of　every…
day　politeness。　Her　voice　was　even　and　steady。

〃You　have　been　misinformed；〃　she　said；　〃there　will　be　no　seance
tonight。〃

Vance　turned　to　Vera；　and；　in　a　voice　lower　than　her　own；　but
sufficiently　loud　to　include　Miss　Coates；　said：　〃I　don't　think
we　told　you　that　Mr。　Hallowell　himself　insists　that　this　lady
and　her　friends　be　present。〃

〃Her　presence　makes　no　difference；〃　said　Vera　quietly。　〃There
will　be　no　seance　tonight。　I　will　tell　you　about　it　later；
Paul；〃　she　added。　She　started　toward　the　door；　but　Miss　Coates
moved　as　though　to　intercept　her。

〃If　you　think；〃　she　cried　eagerly；　〃you　can　give　a　seance　to　Mr。
Hallowell　without　my　knowing　it；　you　are　mistaken。〃

Vera　paused；　and　made　a　slight　inclination　of　her　head。

〃That　was　not　my　idea；〃　she　said。　She　looked　appealingly　to
Vance。　〃Is　that　not　enough；　Paul？〃　she　asked。

〃Quite　enough！〃　exclaimed　the　man。　He　turned　to　the　visitor　and
made　a　curt　movement　of　the　hand　toward　the　open　door。

〃There　will　be　a　seance　tonight；〃　he　declared。　〃At　Mr。
Hallowell's。　If　you　wish　to　protest　against　it；　you　can　do　so
there。　This　is　my　house。　If　you　have　finished　　〃　He　repeated
the　gesture　toward　the　open　door。

〃I　have　not　finished；〃　said　Miss　Coates　sharply；　〃and　if　you
take　my　advice；　you　will　follow　her　example。〃　With　a　nod　of　the
head　she　signified　Vera。　〃When　she　sees　she's　in　danger；　she
knows　enough　to　stop。　This　is　not　a　question　of　a　few　medium's
tricks；〃　she　cried；　contemptuously。　〃I　know　all　that　you　planned
to　do；　and　I　intend　that　tomorrow　every　one　in　New　York　shall
know　it　too。〃

Like　a　cloak　Vera's　self…possession　fell　from　her。　In　alarm　she
moved　forward。

〃What　do　you　mean？〃　she　demanded。

〃I　have　had　you　people　followed　pretty　closely；〃　said　Miss
Coates。　Her　tone　was　assured。　She　was　confident　that　of　those
before　her　she　was　the　master；　and　that　of　that　fact　they　were
aware。

〃I　know；〃　she　went　on；　〃just　how　you　tried　to　impose　upon　my
uncle　　how　you　tried　to　rob　me；　and　tonight　I　have　invited　the
reporters　to　my　house　to　give　them　the　facts。〃

With　a　cry　Vera　ran　to　her。

〃No！〃　she　begged；　〃you　won't　do　that。　You　must　not　do　that！〃

〃Let　her　talk！〃　growled　Vance。　〃Let　her　talk！　She's　funny。〃

〃No！〃　commanded　Vera。　Her　voice　rang　with　the　distress。　〃She
cannot　do　that！〃　She　turned　to　Miss　Coates。　〃We　haven't　hurt
you；〃　she　pleaded；　〃we　haven't　taken　your　money。　I　promise　you；〃
she　cried；〃　we　will　never　see　Mr。　Hallowell　again。　I　beg　of　you
　　〃

Vance　indignantly　caught　her　by　the　arm　and　drew　her　back。　〃You
don't　beg　nothing　of　her！〃　he　cried。

〃I　do；〃　Vera　answered　wildly。　She　caught　Vance's　hand　in　both　of
hers。　〃I　have　a　chance；　Paul；〃　she　entreated；　〃don't　force　me
through　it　again。　I　can't　stand　the　shame　of　it　again。〃　Once
more　she　appealed　to　the　visitor。　〃Don't！〃　she　begged。　〃Don't
shame　me。〃

But　the　eyes　of　the　older　girl；　blind　to　everything　save　what；
as　she　saw　it；　was　her　duty；　showed　no　consideration。

Vera's　hands；　trembling　on　his　arm；　drove　Vance　to　deeper　anger。
He　turned　savagely　upon　Miss　Coates。

〃You　haven't　lost　anything　yet；　have　you？〃　he　demanded。　〃S