vera, the medium-第15部分

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〃You　haven't　let　me　thank　you；〃　broke　in　Winthrop；　〃and；　now；
you　pretend　this　is　our　last　meeting。　It's　absurd！〃。

〃It　is　our　last　meeting；〃　replied　the　girl。　Of　the　two；　for　the
moment；　she　was　the　older；　the　more　contained。　〃On　the
contrary；〃　contradicted　the　man。　He　spoke　sharply；　in　a　tone　he
tried　to　make　as　determined　as　her　own。　〃Our　next　meeting　will
be　in　ten　minutes　　at　my　sister's。　I　have　told　her　about　this
afternoon；　and　about　you；　and　she　wants　very　much　to　meet　you。
She　has　sent　her　car　for　you。　It's　waiting　in　front　of　the
house。　Now；〃　he　commanded　masterfully；　〃you　come　with　me；　and
get　in　it；　and　leave　all　this〃　　he　gave　an　angry；　contemptuous
wave　of　the　hand　toward　the　cabinet　　〃behind　you；　as；〃　he
added　earnestly；　〃you　promised　me　you　would。〃

As　though　closing　from　sight　the　possibility　he　suggested；　the
girl　shut　her　eyes　quickly；　and　then　opened　them　again　to　meet
his。

〃I　can't　leave　these　things　behind　me；〃　she　said　quietly。

〃I　told　you　so　this　afternoon。　For　a　moment；　you　made　me　think　I
could；　and　I　did　promise。　I　didn't　need　to　promise。　It's　what
I've　prayed　for。　Then；　you　saw　what　happened；　you　saw　I　was
right。　Within　five　minutes　that　woman　came　　〃


〃That　woman　had　a　motive；〃　protested　Winthrop。

〃That　woman；〃　continued　the　girl　patiently；　〃or　some　other
woman。　What　does　it　matter？　In　five　minutes；　or　five　days；　some
one　would　have　told。〃　She　leaned　toward　him　anxiously。　〃I'm　not
complaining；〃　she　said；　〃it's　my　own　fault。　It's　the　life　I've
chosen。〃　She　hesitated　and　then　as　though　determined　to　carry
out　a　programme　she　had　already　laid　down　for　herself；　continued
rapidly：　〃And　what　I　want　to　tell　you；　is；　that　what's　best　in
that　life　I　owe　to　you。〃

〃Vera！〃　cried　the　man　sharply。

〃Listen！〃　said　the　girl。　Her　eyes　were　alight；　eager。　She　spoke
frankly；　proudly；　without　embarrassment；　without　fear　of　being
misconstrued；　as　a　man　might　speak　to　a　man。

〃I'd　be　ungrateful；　I'd　be　a　coward；〃　said　the　girl；　〃if　I　went
away　and　didn't　tell　you。　For　ten　years　I've　been　counting　on
you。　I　made　you　a　sort　of　standard。　I　said；　as　long　as　he　keeps
to　his　ideals；　I'm　going　to　keep　to　mine。　Maybe　you　think　my
ideals　have　not　been　very　high；　but　anyway　you've　made　it　easy
for　me。　Because　I'm　in　this　business；　because　I'm　good…looking
enough；　certain　men〃　　the　voice　of　the　girl　grew　hard　and　cool
　〃have　done　me　the　honor　to　insult　me；　and　it　was　knowing　you；
and　that　there　are　others　like　you；　that　helped　me　not　to　care。〃
The　girl　paused。　She　raised　her　eyes　to　his　frankly。　The　look　in
them　was　one　of　pride　in　him；　of　loyalty；　of　affection。　〃And
now；　since　I've　met　you；〃　she　went　on；　〃I　find　you're　just　as　I
imagined　you'd　be；　just　as　I'd　hoped　you'd　be。〃　She　reached　out
her　hand　warningly；　appealingly。　〃And　I　don't　want　you　to
change；　to　let　down；　to　grow　discouraged。　You　can't　tell　how
many　more　people　are　counting　on　you。〃　She　hesitated　and；　as
though　at　last　conscious　of　her　own　boldness；　flushed
deprecatingly；　like　one　asking　pardon。　〃You　men　in　high　places；〃
she　stammered；　〃you're　like　light　houses　showing　the　way。　You
don't　know　how　many　people　you　are　helping。　You　can't　see　them。
You　can't　tell　how　many　boats　are　following　your　light；　but　if
your　light　goes　out；　they　are　wrecked。〃　She　gave　a　sigh　of
relief。　〃That's　what　I　wanted　to　tell　you；〃　she　said；　〃and；　so
thank　you。〃　She　held　out　her　hand。　〃And；　goodby。〃

Winthrop's　answer　was　to　clasp　her　hand　quickly　in　both　of　his；
and　draw　her　toward　him。

〃Vera；〃　he　begged；　〃come　with　me　now！〃

The　girl　withdrew　her　hand　and　moved　away　from　him；　frowning。
〃No；〃　she　said；　〃no；　you　do　not　want　to　understand。　I　have　my
work　to　do　tonight。〃

Winthrop　gave　an　exclamation　of　anger。

〃You　don't　mean　to　tell　me；〃　he　cried；　〃that　you're　going　on
with　this？〃

〃Yes；〃　she　said；　And　then　in　sudden　alarm　cried：　〃But　not　if
you're　here！　I'll　fail　if　you're　here。　Promise　me；　you　will　not
be　here。〃

〃Indeed；〃　cried　the　man　indignantly；　〃I　will　not！　But　I'll　be
downstairs　when　you　need　me。　And；〃　he　added　warningly；　〃you'll
need　me。〃　〃No；〃　said　the　girl。　〃No　matter　what　happens；　I　tell
you；　between　us；　this　is　the　end。〃

〃Then；〃　begged　the　man；　〃if　this　is　the　end；　for　God's　sake；
Vera；　as　my　last　request；　do　not　do　it！〃

The　girl　shook　her　head。　〃No；〃　she　repeated　firmly。　〃I've　tried
to　get　away　from　it；　and　each　time　they've　forced　me　back。　Now；
I'll　go　on　with　it。　I've　promised　Paul；　and　the　others。　And　you
heard　me　promise　that　woman。〃

〃But　you　didn't　mean　that！〃　protested　the　man。　〃She　insulted
you；　you　were　angry。　You're　angry　now；　piqued　　〃

〃Mr。　Winthrop；〃　interrupted　the　girl；　〃today　you　told　me　I　was
not　playing　the　game。　You　told　the　truth。　When　you　said　this
was　a　mean　business；　you　were　right。　But〃　　for　the　first　time
since　she　had　spoken　her　tones　were　shaken；　uncertain　　〃I've
been　driven　out　of　every　other　business。〃　She　waited　until　her
voice　was　again　under　control；　and　then　said　slowly；
definitely；　〃and；　tonight；　I　am　going　to　show　Mr。　Hallowell　the
spirit　of　his　sister。〃

In　the　eyes　of　Winthrop　the　look　of　pain；　of　disappointment；　of
reproach；　was　so　keen；　that　the　girl　turned　her　own　away。

〃No；〃　said　the　man　gently；　〃you　will　not　do　that。〃

〃You　can　stop　my　doing　it　tonight；〃　returned　the　girl；　〃but　at
some　other　time；　at　some　other　place；　I　will　do　it。〃

〃You　yourself　will　stop　it；〃　said　Winthrop。　〃You　are　too　honest；
too　fine；　to　act　such　a　lie。　Why　not　be　yourself？〃　he　begged。
〃Why　not　disappoint　these　other　people　who　do　not　know　you？　Why
disappoint　the　man　who　knows　you　best；　who　trusts　you；　who
believes　in　you　　〃。

〃You　are　the　very　one；〃　interrupted　the　girl；　〃who　doesn't　know
me。　I　am　not　fine；　I　am　not　honest。　I　am　a　charlatan　and　a
cheat；　I　am　all　that　woman　called　me。　And　that　is　why　you　can't
know　me。　That's　why。　I　told　you；　if　you　did；　you　would　be
sorry。〃

〃I　am　not　sorry；〃　said　Winthrop。

〃You　will　be；〃　returned　the　girl；　〃before　the　night　is　over。〃

〃On　the　contrary；〃　answered　the　man　quietly；　〃I　shall　wait　here
to　congratulate　you　　on　your　failure。〃

〃I　shall　not　fail；〃　said　the　girl。　Avoiding　his　eyes；　she　turned
from　him　and；　for　a　moment；　stood　gazing　before　her　miserably。
Her　lips　were　trembling；　her　eyes　moist　with　rising　tears。　Then
she　faced　him；　her　head　raised　defiantly。

〃I　have　been　hounded　out　of　every　decent　way　of　living；〃　she
protested　hysterically。　〃I　can　make　thousands　of　dollars
tonight；〃　she　cried；　〃out　of　this　one。〃

Winthrop　looked　straight　into　her　eyes。　His　own　were　pleading；
full　of　tenderness　and　pity；　so　eloquent　with　meaning　that　those
of　the　girl　fell　before　them。

〃That　is　no　answer；〃　said　the　man。　〃You　know　it's　not。　I　tell
you　　you　will　fail。〃

From　the　hall　Judge　Gaylor　entered　noisily。　Instinctively　the
man　and　girl　moved　nearer　together；　and　upon　the　intruder
Winthrop　turned　angrily。

〃Well？〃　he　demanded　sharply。　〃I　thought　you　had　finished　your
talk；〃　protested　the　Judge。　〃Mr。　Hallowell　is　anxious　to　begin。〃

Winthrop　turned　and　looked　at　Vera　steadily。　For　an　instant　the
eyes　of　the　girl　faltered；　and　then　she　returned　his　glance　with
one　as　resolute　as　his　own。　As　though　accepting　her　verdict　as
final；　Winthrop　walked　quickly　to　the　door。　〃I　shall　be
downstairs；〃　he　said；　〃when　this　is　over；　let　me　know。〃

Gaylor　struggled　to　conceal　his　surprise　and　satisfaction。　〃You
won't　be　here　for　the　seance？〃　he　exclaimed。

〃Certainly　not；〃　cried　Winthrop。　〃I　　〃　He　broke　off　suddenly。
Without　again　looking　toward　Vera；　or　trying　to　hide　his
displeasure；　he　left　the　room。

Gaylor　turned　to　the　girl。　He　was　smiling　with　relief。

〃Excellent！〃　he　muttered。　〃Excellent！　What　was　he　saying　to
you；：〃　he　asked　eagerly；　〃as　I　came　in　　that　you　would　fail？〃

The　girl　moved　past　him　to　the　door。　〃Yes；〃　she　answered　dully。

〃But　you　will　not！〃　cried　the　man。　〃We're　all　counting　on　you；
you　know。　Destroy　the　old　will。　Sign　the　new　will；〃　he　quoted。
He　came　close　to　her　and　whispered。　〃That　means　thousands　of
dollars　to　you　and　Vance；〃　he　urged。

The　girl　turned　and　regarded　him　with　unhappy；　angry　eyes。

〃You　need　not　be　frightened；：〃　she　answered。　For　the　man　before
her　and　for　herself；　her　voice　was　bitter　with　contempt　and
self…　accusation。　〃Mr。　Winthrop　is　mistaken。　He　does　not　know
me；〃　she　said　miserably。　〃I　shall　not　fail。〃

For　a　moment；　after　she　had　left　him；　Gaylor　stood　motionless；
his　eyes　filled　with　concern；　and　then；　with　a　shrug；　as　though
accepting　either　good　or　evil　fortune；　he　called　from　the
bedroom　Mr。　Hallowell；　and；　from　the　floor　below；　the　guests　of
Hallowell　and　of　Vance。

As　Hallowell；　supported　by　Rainey；　sank　into　the　invalid's　chair
in　the　centre　of　the　semicircle；　Gaylor　made　his　final　appeal。

〃Stephen；〃　he　begged；　〃are　you　sure　you're　feeling　strong
enough？　Won't　some　other　night　　〃　The　old　man　interrupted　him
querulously。

〃No；　now！〃　I　want　it　over；〃　he　commanded。　〃Who　knows；〃　he
complained；　〃how　soon　it　may　be　before　　〃

The　sight　of　Mannie　entering　the　room　with　Vance　caused　him　to
interrupt　himself　abruptly。　He　greeted　the　showman　with　a　curt
nod。

〃And　who　is　this？〃　he　demanded。　Mannie；　to　whom　a　living
millionaire　was　much　more　of　a　disturbing　spectacle　than　the
ghost　of　Alexander　the　Great；　retreated　hastily　behind　Vance。

〃He　is　my　assistant；〃　Vance　explained。　〃He　furnishes　the　music。〃
He　pushed　Mannie　toward　the　organ。

〃Music！〃　growled　Hallowell。　〃Must　there　be　music？〃

〃It　is　indispensable；〃　protested　Vance。　〃Music；　sir；　is　one　of
the　strongest　psychic　influences。　It〃

〃Nonsense！〃　cried　Hallowell。

〃Tricks；〃　he　muttered；　〃tricks！〃

Vance　shrugged　his　shoulders；　and　smiled　in　deprecation。　〃I　am
sorry　to　find　you　in　a　skeptical　mood；　Mr。　Hallowell；〃　he
murmured　reprovingly　〃It　will　hardly　help　to　produce　good
results。　Allow　me；〃　he　begged；　〃to　present　two　true　believers。〃

With　a　wave　of　the　hand　he　beckoned　forward　a　stout；　gray…haired
woman　with　bulging；　near…　sighted　eyes　that　rolled　meaninglessly
behind　heavy　gold　spectacles。

〃Mrs。　Marsh　of　Lynn；　Massachusetts；〃　proclaimed　Vance；　〃of　whom
you　have　heard。　Mrs。　Marsh；〃　he　added；　〃is　probably　the　first