UNMASKED.
For just a moment Richard Raleigh stood in the corridor outside
Lillian’s room, in utter silence; then, with a muttering, he turned and
walked away. Back to the library he hastened, finding, to his relief,
that Mrs. Vernon had taken her departure. Pale and troubled, he sunk
into a seat, gazing into the fire in moody silence.
“Well, the deed is done!” he said, harshly, with a swift upward glance
into his father’s face, “and I have caught a Tartar.”
Grafton Raleigh smiled when he had heard his son’s story.
“Nonsense, Rick; I would pay no more heed to her caprices than to the
blowing of the wind. All we want is her signature.”
Richard nodded.
“Very true. But, my dear sir, the girl is capable of anything. Suppose
she refuses to sign our little document?”
Grafton Raleigh started up, pale and alarmed.
“She must sign it,” he returned, firmly. “If she is not willing we must
force her into it, that’s all. Rick, the day for scruples and foolish
hesitation is past. It is ruin if we do not get control of--”
“Hush! The very walls have ears; and since I have seen Bessie Vernon in
the house I am uneasy. This matter is of vital importance to us both;
to me it is more than you know. There is something which I have never
dared to tell you, and I prefer keeping it to myself. But, believe
me, if Lillian is not coerced into signing this paper, there will be
blacker trouble for me than you realize.”
Grafton Raleigh sighed.
“I am sorry, Richard. But then I do not anticipate much difficulty in
the matter. Let her alone until morning; then your mother must go and
see her in her room, do the maternal, treat her like a young princess,
flatter and defer to her, spoil her generally, and secure that
signature by fair means or foul. After that I will wash my hands of the
management of your wife.”
And while the worthy pair consulted together, Bessie Vernon was
standing in an anteroom where every word distinctly reached her ears,
waiting for Rosamond to come. She had accompanied that young lady home
on an errand, after which she would return to the Vernon mansion for a
longer visit. After awhile Mrs. Vernon left the anteroom and tripped
lightly upstairs, moved softly past Rosamond’s door and down the long
corridor to the wing in which Lillian’s room was situated.
Her face was pale with anger, the large, soft eyes were flashing
indignantly, the small hands clinched as though she longed to strike
some one.
“The hypocrite!” she muttered, softly; “he has just devoted himself
to me of late. And he wrote me a letter in which he spoke of himself
as fated to marry a woman whom he did not love, while his heart was
attracted elsewhere, though he did not, of course, dare to say all that
was in his mind. And now--now,” catching her breath hard, “he bursts
in upon his father with the announcement of his marriage. Ah, Richard
Raleigh, I will teach you a lesson! You shall learn that a woman’s
friendship is not to be trifled with. How dared he make me believe all
that foolish sentiment? I am provoked with myself for believing it. But
I will pay him back for his falsehood--I declare I will!”
Poor little silly moth! She had singed her wings in the flame of
flattery, and her vanity was suffering now, and her pride was horribly
wounded.
She paused at the door of Lillian’s room and rapped lightly.
“Miss Leigh!” she cried, softly, through the key-hole--“I beg your
pardon--Mrs. Raleigh--will you open the door just a moment? I have
something of importance to say to you. It is I--Bessie Vernon.”
Wondering somewhat, for Lillian had never exchanged a dozen words with
Mrs. Vernon in her life, she opened the door.
Bessie darted into the room.
“Hush!” she whispered, warningly; “do not speak a loud word. I have
not a moment to waste, for I must get back to Rosamond. I have just
learned of your marriage.” Lillian shuddered. “And I want to warn you.
If Grafton Raleigh or his hopeful son try to get you to sign a paper--a
legal document of some description--refuse to do it. Remain firm; do
not be frightened into it. Go to some competent lawyer and tell him
that these two men hold in their possession a document which I firmly
believe to be a will, and which bequeaths property--I do not know how
much--to one Lillian Leigh. The paper reads to the effect that the
testator gives his all to his beloved niece, Lillian Leigh. Hush! I
hear Rosamond! I have no time for further explanations. Good-night!”
and she was gone, leaving Lillian in a perfect whirl of excitement.
The next morning Mrs. Raleigh was induced to go to Lillian’s room and
accompany her down to breakfast. The meal was a constrained one, and
Lillian was devoutly thankful when it was over. But, like everything
in this world, it came to an end at last, and then Grafton Raleigh
invited Lillian into the library. With pale face and compressed lips
she followed him, while Richard brought up the rear.
Once in the library and the door closed, a strange chill passed over
Lillian. She felt that a decisive moment had come. Grafton Raleigh led
the way to the escritoire.
“My dear Lillian,” he began, taking a gold pen in a jeweled holder
from the silver and ebony rack, “I would like to have you sign your
name to a little business matter. You see, as a married woman you will
be expected to sign deeds in conjunction with your husband. Richard
is about to convey a piece of property, and he cannot legally do so
without his wife’s signature. We have sent for a notary--Ah! there he
is now,” as the door opened and a grave-looking man entered the room.
Two of the servants were summoned to act as witnesses.
Pale as marble, Lillian turned away.
“I can not sign any paper, Mr. Raleigh, without first knowing its
contents,” she said, firmly. “My father taught me to read, understand,
and weigh well any document to which I am requested to sign my name.
Pardon me, but I must first read the paper.”
Richard snatched the document from the desk.
“You shall not read it!” he cried, angrily. “You are my wife, and must
obey me. Sign your name, Lillian--there,” indicating a line.
“I will not. I must first know its contents. Besides, I have no right
to sign business documents; I am not yet of age.”
The notary started in surprise.
“If this be true, I refuse to act in the matter,” he said. “Mr.
Raleigh, there is some mistake here--suppose we postpone action for the
present?”
And, smiling urbanely and bowing courteously, the little notary bowed
himself out.
The servants returned to their duties, and Lillian stood facing her
husband, alone.
“Curse you!” he muttered, harshly. “You little demon! you have
ruined my father and blasted your own prospects as well. And all
because you are heart-broken for the sake of Jack Lyndon. You think
to spite me by this conduct, but you shall learn that I am master.
Now, listen, madame, and you shall hear the whole truth. You have
been duped--deceived--made a fool of. Jack Lyndon did not murder your
father--and Jack Lyndon loves you as he loves his own soul. And--you
are my wife!”