Regina, coming through the hallway at seven o'clock, was amazed to
encounter Miss Sheridan, evidently fresh from a bath, a black hat tipped
over her smiling eyes, and her big fur coat belted about her. Norma's
vigil had lasted until after two o'clock, but then she had had four
hours of restful sleep, for she knew that she had found the way.
She left a message with Regina for Mrs. Melrose; she was going to Mrs.
Sheridan's, and would telephone in a day or two. Smiling, she slipped
out into the quiet street, where the autumn sunlight was just beginning
to strike across the damp pavements, and smilingly she disappeared into
the great currents of men and women who were already pouring to and fro
along the main thoroughfares.
But she did not go quite as far as her aunt's, after all. For perhaps
fifteen minutes she waited on the corner of the block, walking slowly to
and fro, watching the house closely.
Then Wolf Sheridan came out, and set off at his usual brisk walk toward
the subway. Norma stepped before him, trembling and smiling.
"Nono--for the Lord's sake! Where did you come from?"
He took her suit-case from her as she caught his arm, drew him aside,
and looked up at him with her old childish air of coaxing.
"Wolf----! I've been waiting for you. Wolf, I'm in trouble!" She laughed
at his concern. "Not real trouble!" she reassured him, quickly.
"But--but----"
And suddenly tears came, and she found she could not go on.
"Is it a man?" Wolf asked, looking down at her with everything that was
brotherly and kind in his young face.
"Yes," Norma answered, not raising her eyes from the overcoat button
that she was pushing in and out of its hold. "Wolf," she added, quickly,
"I'm afraid of him, and afraid of myself! You--you told me months
ago----" She looked up, suffocating.
"I know what I told you!" Wolf said, clearing his throat.
"And--do you still feel--that way?"
"You know I do, Norma," Wolf said, more concerned for her emotion than
his own. "Do you--do you want me to send this--this fellow about his
business?"
"Oh, no!" she said, laughing nervously. "I don't want any one to know
it; nobody must dream it! I can't marry him, I shall never marry him.
But--he won't let me alone. Wolf----" She seemed to herself to be
getting no nearer her point, and now she seized her courage in both
hands, and looked up at him bravely. "Will you--take care of me?" she
faltered. "I mean--I mean as your wife?"
"Do you mean----" Wolf began. Then his expression changed, and his
colour rose. "Norma--you don't mean that!"
"Yes, but I do!" she said, exquisite and flushed and laughing, in the
sweet early sunlight.
"You mean that you will marry me?" Wolf asked, dazedly.
"To-day!" she answered, fired by his look of awe and amazement and
rapture all combined. "I want to be safe," she added, quickly. "I trust
you more than any other man I know--I've loved you like a little sister
all my life."
"Ah--Norma, you darling--you darling!" he said. "But are you sure?"
"Oh, quite sure!" Norma turned him toward Broadway, her little arm
linked wife-fashion in his. "Don't we go along together nicely?" she
asked, gaily.
"Norma--my God! If you knew how I love you--how I've longed for you! But
I can't believe it; I never will believe it! What made you do it?"
Her face sobered for a second.
"Just needing you, I suppose! Wolf"--her colour rose--"I want you to
know who it is; it's Chris."
"Who--the man who annoys you?" Wolf asked in healthy distaste.
"The man I'm afraid of," she answered, honestly.
"But--Lord!" Wolf exclaimed, simply, "he has a wife!"
"I know it!" the girl said, quickly. "But I wanted you to know. I want
you to know why I'm running away from them all." Relief rang in her
voice as his delighted eyes showed no cloud. "That's all!" she said.
"Norma, I can't--my God!--I can't tell whether I'm awake or dreaming!"
Wolf was all joy again. "We'll--wait a minute!--we'll get a taxi; I'll
telephone the factory later----" He paused suddenly. "Mother's in East
Orange with Rose. Shall we go there first?"
"No; you're to do as I say from now on, Wolf!"
"Ah, you darling!"
"And I say let's be married first, and then go and see Rose."
"Norma----" He stopped in the street, and put his two hands on her
shoulders. "I'll be a good husband to you. You'll never be sorry you
trusted me. Dearest, it's--well, it's the most wonderful thing that ever
happened in my whole life! Here's our taxi--wait a minute; what day is
this?"
"Whatever else it is," she said, half-laughing and half-crying, "I know
it is my wedding day!"