The night of the Harris reception at "Rosemont," in honor of Lord
Beauchamp, was beautiful. Dark, yet serene and tranquil as the
illimitable void through which the myriad of glittering stars swept
along on their steady course.
The long, gentle, sloping, velvety lawn, stretching away from the
broad steps of the great columned piazza, down to the placid waters of
the Willamette, was artistically beautified by clusters of magnolias
and chestnut trees and native oaks and firs, while the soft sway of
advanced Autumn was disclosed in the mellow, gorgeous tints of the oak
and maple leaf projected against the dark evergreen of the stately
fir; and afar off, to the north, through vistas in the foliage,
gleamed the steady electric arc lights of the city.
Marble statuary glistened in white repose, and groups of majestic
palms and ferns and holly stood illumined in the soft light of frosted
electric globes and quaint Oriental lanterns.
Out from the deep shadow of a wide-spreading oak, and remote from the
range of illumination, an old, decrepit and poorly clad man emerged,
peering cautiously about, as if afraid of discovery. As he approached
near the house and came under the gleams of light, it could be seen
that he was gray-haired and a cripple, for he hobbled slowly with the
aid of a stout stick. He proceeded to a clump of ferns and close to a
high-back, rustic seat, behind which he stood partially concealed.
Feeling satisfied that he had not been seen, and that he was alone,
that part of the grounds being temporarily deserted, he muttered
impatiently: "Where the devil does Rutley keep himself? I've been
dodging about these grounds for an hour trying to locate him, and to
get posted."
The words had scarcely escaped his lips when down behind the seat he
ducked.
Simultaneously, Virginia Thorpe and William Harris appeared,
descending the piazza steps.
"Congratulations, Mr. Harris, on your reception. It is a brilliant
affair, and the grounds are simply beautiful."
"I am delighted at receiving congratulations from a lady whose taste
is acknowledged without a peer."
"Now, Mr. Harris, you know I object to flattery," responded Virginia,
in a deprecating tone of voice. "Why, I have lost my fan. How
unfortunate! I fear I have dropped it in the ball-room."
"I shall try to find it immediately. No, no; no trouble whatever."
"Thanks, Mr. Harris. I shall await your return here."
As Mr. Harris hastened up the steps, Virginia leisurely moved a few
yards, and then sat down on a seat, quite unconscious of the figure
crouched in hiding behind it.
The proximity of Virginia did not suit the fellow, and he forthwith
endeavored to sneak away unseen, but the noise, faint as he made,
attracted her attention.
She sprang to her feet with a slight, terrified shriek, but quickly
recovering her self-possession, as she noted his aged and bent
condition, gently said: "Poor old man, your intrusion on these
premises may be unwelcome." After a pause, evidently for an answer,
she went on kindly: "Do you seek alms?"
Leaning on his stick he humbly removed his hat, and said in abject
tones: "Pitty da sorrar dees old-a da gray hairs. Eesa mak-a da bolda
to come a da here, so much-a da rich-a kind-a people to da poor old-a
men lik-a da me. Ten-a years eesa black-a da boot; saw da-ood, sella
da ba-nan, turnoppsis, carrotsis, ca-babbages; do any-ting for
mak-a-da mon, go back-a da sunny Italy. Look-a da lame! Canna da
work--mussa da beg, sweet-a da lady--kind-a charity."
"Dear me!" replied Virginia, regretfully. "I haven't a coin with me,
but let me advise you to begone, for you must know that if you are
discovered here your age will not protect you."
The old man bowed low. "Essa many tanks, kind-a lady. Essa da go."
"And mark me, sir," added Mr. Harris, who had quickly returned with
the fan. "Should I find you loitering around these grounds again
tonight, officers will take care of you."
"Oh, Signor! Dona tell a da po-lis. Da poor a da old a man essa much
da hunger. Begga do mon to buy a da bread. Eesa da all-a Signor. Eesa
da all."
"Oh, Mr. Harris, please lend me a coin for him. I fear he really is in
need," broke in Virginia.
"There!" responded Mr. Harris, throwing him a coin. "You can thank
this benevolent lady, whose presence affords you liberty. Not a word.
Off with you from these grounds. Begone."
The old fellow picked up the half-dollar piece, and hobbling away,
soon disappeared into the shadow.
"It is a pleasure to return your fan. I found it in the vestibule
uninjured."
"Thanks, Mr. Harris," said Virginia, receiving the fan. "I shall be
more careful of it hereafter."
"Ea-ah, I guess so, eh, Uncle!" broke in Sam, striding toward them.
"Oh, oh, Sam! Really!" laughed Mr. Harris, as he looked meaningly at
him. "Ah! You seem delighted."
"I think so, eh, Uncle," accompanied by the habitual side movement of
his head. "Congratulate me on having found Miss Thorpe after a long
search," and turning to Virginia, he added, with a smile broadening
his face--"you have promised to dance with me. May I indulge in the
pleasure now?"
"Yes, Sam," she replied, with an air of fatigue, "but I would rather
you defer the pleasure."
"Miss Thorpe is fatigued and Sam is too much of a gallant to deny her
a little rest," appealed Mr. Harris.
"Cert!" answered Sam, as a shade of disappointment flitted across his
face. "Anything I can do to serve Miss Thorpe shall be done."
"Thank you, Sam," replied Virginia, relieved.
"I will call upon Miss Thorpe to favor me with her company later, eh,
Uncle?" and Sam bowed and quickly disappeared.
"Sam is a noble-hearted fellow! Ranged the Texas plains a few years,
didn't he?"
"Yes," replied Mr. Harris. "When a lad he was threatened with
consumption, and physicians recommended a few years of out-door life
in Texas. It cured him, but he became a little fixed in the customs.
Sterling fellow, though--great heart--all heart. Be seated," pointing to
the seat which she had previously occupied.
At that moment there appeared descending the piazza steps Mr. Corway,
with Hazel and Constance on either side of him.
"Your reason, Corway, for doubting his title of lord?" interrogated
Constance.
"I possess no proofs," replied Corway. "I but express an opinion," and
he discreetly refrained from further utterance on the subject, though
his thoughts were insistent on his identity of Lord Beauchamp as
Philip Rutley.
"But you must have some grounds even for an opinion," persisted
Constance.
"Well, if he is not a lord," hazarded Hazel, who, purposely or
otherwise, by her joining the discussion, released Mr. Corway from an
embarrassing reply, which at that time he was loath to make, "he
certainly should be one, for he is such a dear, sweet man, so
eminently exact and proper."
"And so distinguished, don't-che-know," finished Mr. Corway, with such
peculiarly keen mimicry and smiling abandon as to draw from Hazel a
flash of admiration, and from Mrs. Thorpe a ripple of laughter with
the remark, "Satire unmasked by Cupid."
Further conversation was interrupted by Beauchamp himself, who
appeared alone, descending the broad piazza steps. "It's so warm in
there I decided to refresh a little in the cool air."
He halted a moment on one of the steps, fixed the monocle to his left
eye, and lordly surveyed the two groups.
After evidently satisfying himself as to their personnel, he
deliberately removed the monocle from his eye and resumed his passage
down the steps. "Miss Thorpe here, and Mr. Harris, and Mrs. Thorpe,
and the fair Hazel"--and ignoring Corway, he went on--"then I shall have
no need to commune alone with my thoughts."
"I am sure my Lord Beauchamp is too much of a devotee to the 'tripping
muse' to absent himself very long from the ball-room?" volunteered
Constance.
"Indeed it would be difficult for me to enjoy myself for any length of
time away from the place where, as Byron puts it, 'Youth and Beauty
meet, to chase the glowing hours with flying feet.'" And moving over
to Hazel, he said: "By the way, you have promised me the pleasure of
dancing with you the next waltz."
"Indeed!" replied the maid, eyeing him archly, "the honor of a waltz
with my lord is too rare a favor to be neglected."
The gracious and suave smile with which Rutley answered her was not at
all appreciated by Mr. Corway.
And as Rutley glanced his way, their eyes met. Virginia saw it. She
instantly grasped the full meaning of that glance--the deadly hatred of
rivals.
Rutley, with familiarity begotten of mutual esteem, as he fondly
hoped, linked Hazel's yielding arm in his and led her toward the
piazza. "By the way," and he spoke very confidently, "Mr. Corway seems
to have a warm attachment for Mrs. Thorpe"--
The girl halted and looked questioningly at him.
"I mean," continued Rutley, in a sort of apologetic tone, "he is
apparently quite the lion with her."
Passing a few feet near them were John Thorpe and Mrs. Harris, who had
appeared unnoticed from another part of the grounds.
John Thorpe plainly heard Rutley's allusion to Corway and his wife,
and became profoundly sensible of that same strange feeling infolding
him, as he experienced when Virginia first intimated Corway's
questionable character. "Is it possible that, after all, Constance,
and not Hazel, is the real object of his attention?"
He was conscious of a sense of jealousy arising within him, and so
strong and virulent as to be beyond control, and compelled him to turn
aside, to conceal the anger that must be depicted on his face. He
halted while Mrs. Harris joined Virginia and Mr. Harris.
"Mrs. Thorpe is most attractive," Hazel at length replied.
"I have heard that not long ago he was attached to Miss Thorpe, but
lately has transferred his affection to another," continued Rutley.
"Virginia was fond of his society, yet 'tis not always, you may
remember, that those who have won our love return it."
The strains of dreamy music drifted out upon the air.
"Well, at present, Corway seems persistent in his attentions to Mrs.
Thorpe."
Again John Thorpe winced at the connection of his wife's name with
Corway.
And then Rutley felt himself pushed aside, while Corway offered his
arm to Hazel.
"Will you accompany me to the ball-room?"
Hazel drew a step aside and exclaimed, half angrily, yet seemingly
rather pleased at Corway's audacity.
"Joe!"
"Hazel!" he responded with just the faintest suggestion of command in
his voice.
It was his first assumption of authority over his affianced, and he
won--for unlike the "feminine forwards" of the new school, she
appreciated his strong character and showed it by clinging to his arm.
Neither of these two men could be considered handsome, though Corway
had the advantage of being more youthful and taller of stature, with
large, bright eyes and dark curly hair, which with clear-cut, manly
features, seemed to charm the fancy and captivate the maiden's eye.
While Rutley's graceful and pliant frame carried more elegance, an
assumed superb superiority, a cold, ironical disdain and lofty ease,
bespoke an imperious nature, indifferent to that soft, beguilement so
charming to women.
Corway turned to Rutley, and, bowing low, exclaimed, with studied
politeness: "I beg my lord's pardon," and so saying, he passed up the
piazza steps with Hazel and disappeared within.
They were closely followed by Mr. Harris and Mrs. Thorpe.
Rutley fixed the monocle to his eye and stared at the retreating
Corway in blank amazement.
Meanwhile, John Thorpe was absorbed in profound thought, and oblivious
of his surroundings, said to himself: "What can his lordship mean?
Corway's persistent attention to my wife! Was that mere accidental
gossip? He shall explain!" And he looked fixedly at Rutley.
It was at that moment that Mrs. Harris, having reached his side, said:
"Your arm, Thorpe. Dear me!" And she started back at seeing his gloomy
face. "Why, I declare, the frowning 'Ajax' could not look more
unsociable."
For a moment Thorpe displayed confusion, but by a strong effort
subdued his agitation and offered his arm. "Of late," he explained,
"my nervous system has been subject to momentary shocks." Leading her
toward the piazza, "I beg your pardon."
"I am afraid that unless you provide yourself with a mask for such
occasions the shock is likely to become contagious," she remarked, as
they passed up the steps.
Meanwhile Rutley, having removed the monocle from his eye, allowed his
frigidity to dissolve, and, slowly stepping a few paces toward the
east end of the house, paused under the shadow of a magnolia, and at
once seemed to plunge in deep reflection, to be startled a few moments
later by hearing Virginia close to him, in a low tone, saying: "How
does my lord propose to resent that insult?"
Seeing him alone, she had noiselessly and unperceived, stolen to his
side, convinced by what she had just discovered, that he was
meditating some sort of revenge on Corway, and she determined to
ascertain its nature.
Her fertile brain had already conceived Rutley her ally, and it was
with no uncertain or wavering purpose that she approached him with a
question pregnant with sinister import.
Rutley looked at her steadily, as though trying to penetrate her
motive, then, without moving his eyes from hers, said deliberately:
"Well, if he doesn't apologize, my friend will call on him."
"You mean a shooting affair?"
"I do not say, but I understand that is a popular way in this country
to avenge an outrage."
"Yes, that is true," she said, "particularly in our West, but it is
fast going out of fashion. In fact, on the Coast, it is seldom
practiced now. Besides, my lord, I advise you not to try it. I've
heard he's a dead shot," and she abruptly stopped and looked furtively
about, and then, in a more discreet tone of voice, said: "Will you
walk?"
He instantly comprehended her desire to confide something of interest
to him, and as they slowly proceeded over the soft, velvety grass, and
without betraying haste to know what she was evidently anxious to
disclose, he replied, sneeringly:
"Ah, he is! Well, these affairs are settled in an honorable way in a
gentleman's country."
"I again warn you not to try it," she said. "If you do, you will
likely find yourself a subject for some hospital surgeon."
"Indeed!" laughed Rutley, with a sarcastic ring in his voice.
She halted, turned to him, and continued in a low tone. "Yes, there is
a better plan--that insult can be wiped out in a more effectual
manner."
"How?"
For one moment Virginia looked far off across the placid waters of the
Willamette, over and beyond the rugged hills shrouded in gloomy
repose. Was it the "still small voice within her crying in anguish
'beware, beware'," if so, it was unheeded, drowned in the impetuous
desire for revenge.
Shocked and enraged by the discovery of what she considered Corway's
perfidy, a strain of virulent passion possessed her, and subdued her
softer and otherwise most charming personality.
"Corway has done me a wrong I never will forget, and I shall not pause
at any opportunity to avenge it. My cousin, Hazel, is betrothed to
him. My brother has a rash, impetuous temper, and is exceedingly
jealous of our family honor. By insinuating Corway's insincere
attachment to Hazel, his money-mad impecuniosity, and so forth, you
will produce a coolness between John and Corway that may end in their
complete estrangement. We are watched," she whispered. "Let us move
on." Her alert eyes had discovered Sam standing alone on the piazza
steps, shading his eyes with his hand as he looked at them.
She guessed his purpose, but was too far away to hear him say angrily:
"If that lord attempts any fooling with that fair party, I'll give him
some eye-shutters, I guess so!"
Without heeding the episode, Rutley replied: "But you must know that
your brother has not insulted me, and you must also be aware that the
attempt to influence him may fail."
"If you will follow my directions John will consider you his friend.
If properly managed you need have no fear of its ultimate success. For
several months last year John was in China. During that time Corway
paid frequent visits to his home."
"But"--interposed Rutley, quickly.
"Do not misunderstand my meaning," responded Virginia, with an
involuntary flash of indignation. "Corway is a man of great moral
probity. But John may be brought to think him something the reverse.
Do you understand?"
"I will have satisfaction!" exclaimed Rutley.
"Somebody is following us," whispered Virginia.
"Where?" queried Rutley. "I fail to see anyone."
"It may have been the shadow of the swinging light," at length she
remarked, reassured, and, dismissing the thought from her mind,
continued: "I have already warned you of a duel. To prove how
insincere Corway's affection is for Hazel, you may call my brother's
attention to a ring that he wears on the little finger of his left
hand. I let Hazel have it for a short time because she admired it, and
begged it from me, and Corway took it from her."
"Has the ring any peculiar feature by which it may be distinguished
from others?"
"Yes, a single diamond set in a double heart of pearls."
"Is it yours?" he asked, softly.
"No," Virginia promptly answered, but she added in a hesitating
manner, as though weighing the propriety of further explanation--"that
is--well--it is mine for the purpose. I let Hazel have it unknown to
Constance."
And so it happened, a slip of the tongue, one inadvertent, indiscreet
admission, gave him his cue. A vision opened to his mind and he
immediately speculated on its possibilities.
"Then the ring belongs to Mrs. Thorpe?" he questioned, insidiously.
"Yes," Virginia affirmed, in a halting way. "John gave it to Constance
before they were married."
"Oh, indeed!" Rutley exclaimed, and he muttered low and meaningly,
while the whites of his eyes gleamed with sinister import. "Corway
wears a ring given by John Thorpe to his wife."
Soon as he had spoken Virginia heard and instinctively felt that she
had been indiscreet in admitting the ring belonged to Constance, and
said by way of caution: "Of course, I trust in the honor of your
lordship to refrain from connecting Mrs. Thorpe's name with the ring,
or to, in any manner, let it be known that you know it is not mine."
Evidently Rutley did not hear her, for he was absorbed in
thought--thought that produced an evil gleam in his eyes.
A slight pause followed, and taking it for granted my lord would not
betray the trust she reposed in him, she said, as looking in his eyes
with significant daring: "Draw John's notice to it as confirming
Corway's bold and deceitful attention to Hazel."
Virginia was aware that John would recognize the ring as his wife's,
but she under-rated the violence of the storm it would precipitate,
and she trusted too much in her own ability to control it in the
direction she desired. She likewise rated Beauchamp as a weak,
egotistical, effeminate sort of man. She was now to experience her
great mistake.
Rutley in his turn fixed his gaze steadfastly upon her, and which
became so intense, so mysteriously searching, as to cause her,
strong-minded woman as she was, to feel she was but a weak thing
beside him.
He spoke quietly and without the faintest tremor in his voice. "Do you
know to whom you suggested this?"
"Lord Beauchamp," she timidly responded. And then there suddenly
sprang into her eyes a new light, accompanied by a slight start.
"Why do you start?" asked Rutley, not for a moment removing his eyes
from hers.
"No, 'tis impossible. You cannot be Philip Rutley?" she gasped, as she
drew back amazed. "For you have already denied him once to me."
"Yes, I am he!" he exclaimed.
There followed a moment of profound silence. Rutley watching the
effect of his disclosure upon her.
And she, at first astounded by his audacious nerve, at length grasped
his position, and finally smiled, as though in admiration of his arch
achievement. "You are a master imposter," she broke in. "Be as clever
with the material I have given you, and Corway will not long stand in
your way."
"Did Hazel tell you of my proposal to her three years ago?"
"Yes," she answered promptly.
"I believe she rejected me at that time because of Corway," he
musingly added.
"Your opportunity is at hand," she affirmed.
"I accept it;" and then he cautioned in a low tone: "Be careful never
to breathe my real name."
"And you--you will continue to be?"--and she smiled quizically as she
put the question.
"My Lord Beauchamp."
"A most consummate scoundrel!" she added pleasantly.
"The scoundrel begs to share the compliment with his colleague, Miss
Virginia Thorpe," he ironically replied, again bowing low.
That accentuated remark by Rutley revealed to her with sudden
vividness the detestable character she was developing.
Acutely sensitive, the stigma smote her with a repugnance that stung
and smarted as quivering flesh under the sharp cut of a lash; and
being naturally of a fiery temper, she passionately retorted, "It's
false!"
The words had scarcely escaped her lips when she realized her
indiscretion, and faltered, "I--I--mean--" and then unable to recover
from her sudden flight of passion, or to completely subdue her
agitation, she burst out aloud, in utter disregard of her
surroundings, "Oh! It is awful, awful!"
Rutley was alarmed, and hastily gripped her wrist, and in low tones
cautioned, "For God's sake, hush! Don't shout it to the winds!
Remember, you urged this damnable business upon me. Do you want me to
give it to the world?"
His artifice succeeded, and under his influence she became quieter.
"No! No! No!" she whispered. "Don't, please!" Then again she stared at
the ground as though dazed with some vague terror. Suddenly she
covered her face with her hands and moaned, "What have I done?"
Then, arising from a place of concealment close by, the old Italian
Cripple previously mentioned doffed his hat and said, "Eesa da bet,
much-a keep-a do mon! Do poor old-a man, Eesa beg-a da mon, a da
charity Signora, Signor."
Tossing him a coin, Rutley said, "This is an unseasonable place for
your calling, old man." Then, turning to Virginia--"Permit me to escort
you to the house."
"I don't like that old man," she replied. "He is prying about
everywhere. Do you think he heard me?"
"I have no fear of that," replied Rutley, as they moved on toward the
house. "He appears quite old and no doubt is partially deaf."
"Very well," responded Virginia, "and now that we understand each
other, I think it time for me to mingle with the guests."
As they disappeared in the distance, the old cripple followed them,
flitting from shadow to shadow, with catlike agility, astonishing in
such an apparently old man.
Having arrived at the piazza steps, Rutley and Virginia parted.
Returning some distance into the shadow, he softly laughed. "A little
startled, eh? Didn't think I could impersonate a peer of England's
realm. Well, she knows the secret now and I can safely rely on her
assistance because Corway has cast her aside for Hazel. She has given
me material with which to strike at him and I will strike home--but not
as she suggests. Oh, no!" and again a sinister smile crept over his
face. "Dangerous, but Hazel's wealth is worth the risk.
"Meanwhile, I am getting short of funds, and cannot keep up the pace
much longer, unless my other plan succeeds. But should I fail
altogether----" and he became absorbed in deep study, silent and
motionless as the statue of Lincoln by which he stood, but only for a
moment. "Everybody here lionizes me, believing I am a genuine
nobleman." And then he looked up with a far-off, triumphant expression
in his eyes and a cunning smile on his lips, "My lord will borrow a
few thousand on his--name--just for a temporary accommodation, and then
he will vanish."
A slight noise behind startled him and caused him to look about; but,
discovering no one, he regained his composure. To make sure, however,
he called in a low voice, "Jack! Jack!"
Whereupon the old cripple again stood forth from his concealment, this
time from behind the trunk of the wide spreading oak and, leaning on
his stick, obsequiously doffed his hat. "I uncover to a prince of
villainy."
"Ha, ha, to my arms, you rascally imposter!" joyfully exclaimed
Rutley, as he embraced him.
Halting and drawing away in pretended surprise, Jack exclaimed with
dreamy reflection, "Naw, Eesa, not-a bees-a da imposeator. Eesa be
Ital-e-own!"
"Splendid, Jack!" exclaimed Rutley with admiration. "Your disguise is
perfect, but"--and Rutley laughed--"a little pale about the gills, eh?"
"Eesa look-a like-a ma fadder," and Jack proudly expanded himself.
"Make-a da great-a soldier. Note-a da pale here--Naw," touching his
ears. "Garibaldi geev-a ma fadder dees-s da Palestrino," and Jack
threw open his coat and proudly displayed a medal.
"Palestrino!" exclaimed Rutley gleefully. "Jack, things are coming our
way with a rush. Did you hear her--the maiden fair, with the blue black
hair, how she plays into our hands?"
Jack grinned and chuckled, "Ah, ah--a Portland rose, Phil!"
"Incomparably beautiful, Jack! But, oh, such devilish thorns!"
"Good for twenty thousand simoleons at any rate? Eh, Phil?"
"Twenty thousand or bust, Jack," grinned Rutley. "You watch me do the
trick. I'll make Thorpe wish he were dead. I shall connect his wife's
name instead of Hazel's with Corway."
"What!" gasped Jack, dismayed by Rutley's daring.
"By a little juggling of facts, as it were, I'll make Thorpe believe
Corway wears the ring given him as a love token by Constance. It was
Thorpe's gift to his wife. Do you comprehend? Now, do you understand
how simple a thing it will be to make Thorpe wish he were dead?
Remember how he and old Harris broke up our investment company?
"Maybe I don't," replied Jack dolefully, rubbing his stomach in a
significant manner.
"And, Jack!" and Rutley glinted at him meaningly and said very
seriously, "That fellow Corway suspects me."
"The devil he does! We must get him out of our way."
"Tomorrow!"--and for the space of perhaps five seconds they looked
meaningly at each other. Then Rutley broke the silence.
"The child is in the house," continued Rutley seriously and in a low
voice.
"Good!" responded Jack. "I was afraid your tableau scheme had failed
and Dorothy remained at home."
"Not at all. They jumped at the idea," laughed Rutley, "and on my
suggestion Mrs. Harris begged for Dorothy's presence at the 'Fete'."
"Fate!" corrected Jack.
"Too pointed," calmly remarked Rutley.
"Well, the tableau was a great success, 'Hebe' attended by 'Circe' and
'Cupid'."
"Dorothy as 'Circe' posed splendidly; she is the pet of the
guests"--and, lowering his voice, Rutley continued gravely:
"I have persuaded her indulgent mother to let the child remain up and
enjoy her honors a little longer; she may be out and around now at any
moment."
"She wears a white dress and with a light brown sash about her waist.
Long golden hair--oh, you know her."
"I shall keep a sharp lookout and take her the first opportunity."
"Skip!" suddenly cautioned Rutley. "Somebody's coming. Keep in the
deep shadow."
"Trust me." And as Jack turned to move away he said to himself,
"Tonight there'll be things doing, for the devil is at work and hell's
a-brewing."
Rutley watched Jack vanish in the gloom, then muttered to himself,
"Why this fear? Out with it and to my purpose."
Some readers would call it fate, others would probably have construed
it as accidental, while yet again others of a more scientific turn of
mind would have reasoned it a result of that strange magnetic
attraction whereby two minds, simultaneously engaged in deep absorbing
thought on the same subject, are mysteriously drawn toward each other.
That John Thorpe was alone at that moment descending the steps of the
piazza, was proof of the phenomenon, there could be no question, and
that he was deeply thinking of a subject very near and dear to him was
also evident, for he paused on one of the steps and clapped his hand
to his forehead as though to draw out some evil thing that lay leaden
within.
Once he shivered as if shaken with a cold of the shadow of some
indefinable disaster about to overwhelm him, and then he passed on
down the steps muttering to himself in an abstracted manner, "Doubt;
terrible, torturing doubt; I cannot endure it!"
"Welcome, Mr. Thorpe," came from Rutley in the mild regularly
moderated voice of a man content with his surroundings. "It only needs
the quiet tones of a gifted conversationalist to make this beautiful
spot supremely pleasant. All honor to Mrs. Harris and her companion."
Mrs. Harris, accompanied by Virginia, had just then appeared from
around the east side of the house--"Ah, my lord, your absence from the
ballroom occasions much inquiry," said Mrs. Harris.
"Mrs. Harris will confer a favor by satisfying the inquirers with the
excuse that his lordship is enjoying a smoke with a friend. Does my
lord approve the answer?" replied John Thorpe, eyeing Rutley
furtively.
"Most decidedly!" he affirmed.
"Then Virginia and myself will be spectators of the next waltz. Your
lordship will favor us with your company soon? Mr. Thorpe, you will
not forget your promise to Constance for the Newport?"
"Just in time, eh, auntie, I guess so!" cut in the cheerful voice of
strenuous Sam, who had bounded down the steps and stood in front of
them before they could turn around.
"Oh, horrors!" gasped Virginia under her breath.
"Why, Sam!" laughed Mrs. Harris, "you want me to dance with you again
and Virginia here?"
"Oh, no, not you! I mean her, auntie. If you please," and he bowed to
Virginia as he offered her his arm.
Without an instant's hesitation she accepted his arm and at the same
time so artfully masked her real feelings that the hot blood raced
with joyous glee to the very roots of his hair and caused him to say
proudly, "Ha, ha! at last, eh, auntie!"
"I shall be a witness, Sam," replied his aunt in a tone which conveyed
a warning.
On ascending the steps Virginia paused to gather up her skirt, turned
half around and looked very significantly at Rutley.
He met her glance and bowed. The action brought Mrs. Harris also to a
stop.
Observing the halt, Mr. Thorpe exclaimed, "His Grace and myself will
be along presently. Au revoir."
And as the party moved on, Sam rejoined under his breath, "I guess so,
but not with his fair party, not if Sam knows it."
In the silence that followed for both men, now being alone, were
alert, instinctively apprehending danger, John Thorpe drew from the
inside pocket of his coat a small cigar case and tendered it to
Rutley.
Silently and with studied poise, Rutley took therefrom a cigar and
returned the case.
Thorpe then took from the case a match, lighted and offered it to
Rutley, who, having meanwhile clipped the end of the cigar with a
penknife, accepted the light and then broke the silence with, "Are you
not going to smoke, Thorpe?"
"Not at present. A stroll through the grounds is more to my fancy."
"Agreed!" promptly responded Rutley, who added, "and may the exercise
lighten your spirits, which appear heavy tonight."
"Yes, unfortunately I have never been able to conceal my emotions,
hence the correctness of your conjecture. My spirits are heavy
tonight," replied Thorpe in a low voice and with a deep, long drawn
sigh.
It was plain to Rutley that Thorpe was evading an abrupt approach to
some potent question in his mind, feverishly eager, yet dreading the
kind of information it might elicit.
"Bad digestion, Thorpe. Headaches, troubled dreams and the like
fellow," suggested Rutley in his jerky manner.
"Deeper!" added Thorpe in a low voice.
"Ha!" exclaimed Rutley significantly, as he eyed his companion
askance. "Family!"
"Oh, God! what shall I do?" suddenly broke from Thorpe in a stifled
cry of anguish. "I cannot carry the load!" And then he did that which
some readers might term a cowardly thing. No doubt he was actuated by
motives irresistibly impelling in a man of his peculiarly sensitive
nature.
With head bent low, much as a culprit condoning his infamy, humbled as
was his pride, to thus confide his misgivings to a stranger, he began
in a low voice:
"My Lord, a few moments since I casually heard you drop a remark
suggesting a knowledge of my domestic affairs. I speak to you in
confidence, and I am sure Your Grace will spare me the humiliation of
feeling that confidence is misplaced. Your position gives you at times
the advantage of hearing--a--things said of others that is of no moment
or concern to you."
Rutley's first thought was, "My opportunity to strike at Corway has
come," and if Thorpe at that moment could have seen the cunning leer
play about the corners of Rutley's mouth and the flash of exultation
that sprang into his eyes, he might have hesitated, nay, ceased to
have conversed with him further on such a grave subject.
But the fleeting smile went unseen, the exultant flash as quickly
disappeared, and in its place a very serious look came over Rutley's
face, as in a low voice he replied, slowly but very distinctly.
"Really, Thorpe, I am at a loss to understand your motives in
questioning me on matters relative to your domestic affairs, and
though I may possess information in which I am not particularly
interested, still to asperse the character of any person on mere rumor
is not compatible with the dignity or honor of my house; however, if
you will be explicit on the subject of your singular request, I shall,
through sympathy, communicate all I have heard to relieve or confirm
your mind of a--I fancy--a terrible suspicion."
For a few moments Thorpe could not control his agitation. Overpowered
by a sense of shame, his imagination at once conjured up dreadful
thoughts.
"Sympathy! a--a--to relieve or confirm a terrible suspicion! My God!
what does he mean?" And he placed his left hand tightly over his
breast as if something hurt him there, while a cold sweat stood out on
his brow. Then with a forced calmness, said:
"A--a--have you heard any disparaging remarks about--a--Mr. Corway?"
"Well, Thorpe, you know 'tis not honorable to repeat the 'chic'
scandals one hears, though to satisfy you I will say that if you will
look at the little finger of Corway's left hand, you will see a gold
ring with a single diamond set in a double heart, which he at
times--a--carelessly displays."
"A ring with a single diamond! What of it?" impatiently questioned
Thorpe.
"Oh!" replied Rutley, with an imperturbable stare, "it was a love
token from Mrs. John Thorpe."
"You lie!" exclaimed Thorpe, the nails of his fingers imprinting
deeply in the flesh of his tightly clenched fists, with the fierceness
of the passion that had flamed within him.
"I do not lie!" Rutley calmly and slowly replied, as he looked
steadily into Thorpe's eyes.
"You confound my wife with Hazel," hoarsely accused Thorpe.
"I reiterate," responded Rutley, in the same even tone of voice, "the
particular ring in question was a gift from Constance, John Thorpe's
wife, and not from Hazel."
Gasping for breath, Thorpe turned his head aside and groaned as he
remembered it was his gift to Constance before they were married.
Suddenly he gripped Rutley by the sleeve. They halted and confronted
each other. And the dark formless shadow that had followed them also
halted.
"From whom have you your information?" queried Thorpe, looking into
Rutley's eyes.
"I do not feel at liberty to mention, but it can be substantiated."
"By whom?" demanded Thorpe.
"Well, I don't know of any person more capable than a--a--Mr. Thorpe's
wife!" replied Rutley in a most nonchalant and matter-of-fact manner.
And even through the depth of the gloom that surrounded them he saw
the scarlet flush of rage and shame flame across Thorpe's white brow
as he bowed his head, humbled to the dust.
For a moment not a word was spoken by either of the men. Suddenly
Thorpe looked up and hoarsely said:
"My wife! Give me two or three, one which she can substantiate."
"My dear Thorpe," deprecatingly pleaded Rutley. "You have called upon
me to undertake a very unpleasant task."
"Your Lordship has gone too far to recede. I must know all"--and there
was imminent danger in Thorpe's quivering voice, which Rutley felt was
not to be trifled with.
"Well--one thing--Corway's close and steady attention to her during your
absence in China."
"You mean to Hazel?" said Thorpe, with a look so deeply concentrated
that the movement of a single hair of Rutley's eyelash would have
meant an instant blow on the mouth.
"No, I mean--to your wife," accentuated Rutley. "Their secret and
protracted wanderings offended your sister. Reproofs, reproaches and
warnings were unavailing and ended in Corway being refused admittance
to your house, which resulted in frequent quarrels between your wife
and your sister."
Thorpe here recalled Virginia's warning, "Corway will bear watching,"
and he moaned, "Oh, God!"
"He tried many pretenses to regain communication with your wife,"
resumed Rutley, "one being to visit Hazel Brooke, for whom, except for
her money, he has no regard whatever. At length on the discovery of
secret correspondence, Virginia became aghast at his boldness and
contemplated seeking legal aid when you returned. Of course, she
retired and left the matter in your hands and she was unwilling at
that time to shock your home-coming with a knowledge of the truth."
"Enough! Enough! Oh, God, what a vile thing has nestled here!" And
John Thorpe pressed both hands tightly over his heart in a vain
endeavor to suppress the emotion that filled his throat and choked his
utterances, and tears of shame gathered in his eyes as he continued
slowly:
"When--I--wedded Constance--I took to myself the purest angel out of
heaven. But now--! Farewell happiness--farewell peace--forever! Oh,
Corway, I want to clutch you by the throat!"
Turning to Rutley, he added tensely, "Follow me."
"Now for satisfaction," muttered Rutley exultantly, and with a
sinister smile on his lips he followed John Thorpe up the broad steps
and into the blaze of the brilliantly lighted ballroom.
A shadow straightened itself up behind a bed of massed asters,
deepened, grew thicker and resolved itself into the solid form of a
man. It was Jack Shore. He had dodged them unseen and overheard their
conversation.
Perhaps it was through hearing the conspiracy and its masterly
execution that shocked him into moralizing on man's inhumanity to man.
At any rate, he exclaimed half aloud, "As cold-blooded a bit of
villainy as possible to conceive. I didn't think Phil had it in him."
Suddenly he shrugged his shoulders.
"I say, old man," cut in Sam, appearing from the east side of the
piazza, "you want to look alive there. You are getting too near the
front. First thing you know uncle will have you sent up as a vag."
Though taken by surprise, Jack, having just turned to move off into
the deeper shadow, halted and, removing his hat, faced Sam in an
assumed most humble and abject terror, "Signor, I don-a mean to come-a
da close. Jess-a tried to get-a da peep ov-a da grand-a fete of-a
much-a da rich people. Eesa da all, Signor."
"It's all right, old man, but take my advice and keep off the grounds.
'Twill be better for your health."
In the meantime Dorothy had fluttered down the great steps and ran
toward Sam.
"Hello, little one! Having lots of fun, eh!"
And with the same, he caught Dorothy's hands and he commenced to dance
her about as he sang the words, "Little Bo-peep had lost her sheep and
couldn't tell where to find them."
"Oh, don't Sam; I want to find papa!" replied the child, impatiently.
"You do, eh? Now, don't you want me to be your escort?"
"Come, I'll tell you how to find him. You shall sit on my shoulder and
be the tallest queen of the party, while I be the horse to 'lope about
in search of your papa."
"Thank you, Sam, but I can't stay for a ride now. I'm in such a hurry;
some other time," and the child turned from him and ran toward the
slowly retreating form of Jack.
"You are, eh? All right, and while you are looking for papa, I'm going
to look for the fair party you call auntie. I guess so!" Whereupon Sam
quickly sprang up the steps. Arriving on the piazza he halted, turned
around and looked toward the child as though the premonition of
something wrong--something associated with the child's insecurity,
being alone--had suddenly darted into his brain; but seeing others of
the guests at that moment emerging from the east front of the house on
the well lighted grounds, he dismissed the "still small voice" of
warning from his mind and passed in among the dancers.
"Papa, papa! Where is my papa?" called Dorothy.
Jack, while pretending to leave the grounds, had kept a sly eye on
Sam, and upon that individual's disappearance, at once turned and
answered the child in a voice soft and gentle, and soothing as that of
dreamy Italy.
"Yous-a tink-a your-a papa was-a da here-a. What eesa da name?"
"Thorpe!" replied Dorothy, without the faintest fear or hesitation.
"That is my name, too. I want to find him right away. Can you tell me
where he is? Mama sent me to ask him to come and dance."
"Yes-a da child-a. Eesa da know where eesa papa be. Eef-a youse-a be
note-a fraid and will-a come wid-a me, Eesa take-a youse-a da papa,"
and the sly old man looked into her eyes with such beaming kindness
that at once won her confidence.
"I'm not afraid of you. I like old men. Mama says we should respect
old men. But I'm in such a hurry, you know. Mama is waiting for me."
"Well, geeve-a me youse-a da hand and Eesa take-a you straight-a da
heem."
Without the least suspicion or timidity, she instantly placed her
little hand in his and the two proceeded toward the river, much faster
than his supposed crippled condition would lead an older person to
expect.
"Youse-a love-a da papa and da mama much-a, donn-a youse?" he
continued.
"Oh, yes! Ever so much."
"Eesa good-a girl. We'll soon-a da fine eem," and he added to himself,
"when the horn of plenty pours its golden stream into Jack's pocket."
While they were crossing a depression, or rather a long hollow
formation in the contour of the grassy slope, and close to some locust
trees, the thick foliage of which threw a deep shadow on the spot,
Jack thrust his free hand into his pocket and removed the stopper from
a bottle of chloroform which he had provided for this occasion, and
saturated a colored handkerchief with it. Some of it passed through
the lining of his pocket and immediately impregnated the air with its
odor.
Dorothy got a whiff of it and drew away with the remark, "Dear me,
what a funny smell!"
"Naw, eesa--nicey da smell, jes like-a da poppy, so beautiful-a da
flower," replied Jack, reassuringly.
"Well, I don't like it, anyway," she said.
At that moment she was standing a couple of yards from him, they had
come to a halt, and it was necessary for him to act adroitly and with
promptness, to reassure her and avoid arousing her suspicion, so he
pretended to stumble and then fell to the ground.
Arising to his knees, he groaned as though in seeming pain, and
gripped his right wrist with his left hand.
"Oh, oh! Eesa da hurt-a bad. Break-a da arm; oh, oh!" And in order to
get her close to him, he said, "Get-a da bot' in-a da pock'."
The cunning fellow knew well how to touch the chord of sympathy that
is ever present in the guileless heart of innocent childhood.
The response came in a wondering look of infinite tenderness and
compassion, for the child did not clearly comprehend Jack's request
and she asked:
"Did you break your arm?"
"Eesa da hurt-a bad. Oh, oh!" he groaned, "get-a da bot', da bot'-a,
child; get-a da bot'."
"Poor man! Shall I run for the doctor?"
"No, no, no, note-a da dock! Help-a me get-a da bot' in-a da pock!
Quick-a, deeze-a side. Put in-a da hand. Take eem out--oh, oh!"
Perceiving that he meant her to take something out of his pocket, on
the right side of his coat, and not understanding the significance of
the word "bot," she drew near to thrust in her hand.
That instant Jack's left arm encircled her form and his right hand
clapped the saturated handkerchief over her mouth and nostrils and
held her to him.
She struggled in his arms to free herself, but without avail.
As a feeling of stupor stole over her senses, Jack, still on his
knees, watched her with the keenest of eyes, and muttered soothingly,
"Eesa nice-a da girl. Nice-a da smell lak-a da dreamy Italy."
Some rascals would have made short work of the matter, but Jack was by
nature very tender and considerate of children, which accounted for
his slow application of the powerful drug. It soon had her under its
influence, and when she became limp and nerveless he laid her on the
grass. Again he saturated the handkerchief and held it to her
nostrils, and with distended, tragic eyes watched her doze into
unconsciousness.
Feeling satisfied that she would not speedily recover, he let the
handkerchief lie loose on her nostrils and mouth, then he arose to his
feet and with the stealthy, catlike tread of an Indian, skulked from
shadow to shadow until he had made a complete circuit of the spot.
Having assured himself that no one was in the vicinity, he swiftly
turned and again fell on his knees beside the child.
He looked intently in her face and noted the sweet expression of
childish innocence and trust in the repose. "She sleeps, beautiful
child! As sweetly innocent and confiding as God ever inspired with the
breath of life."
Then from under his coat, where a hump appeared in the back, he drew
out a grey woolen cloth about four feet square and folded it about the
child, gathered her in his arms and arose to his feet.
"Mine, mine, though no harm shall come to you, pretty one! Twenty
thousand dollars shall be the price of your liberty."
And, keeping in the shadows and away from the lights as much as
possible, he wended his way toward the river and soon became obscured
in the distant gloom.
When John Thorpe, closely followed by Rutley, entered the great
ballroom in search of Corway, the guests who saw him were struck with
the pallor of his face and the strangely piercing yet lustreless dark
eyes that shone out from beneath his shaggy, frowning eyebrows. His
cold, stony look repelled all smiles and discouraged all questions.
Through the room he strode, regardless alike of the timid whisperings
of women and offended stare of men. He cared not what they thought,
for every sentiment of rudeness or discourtesy, every tender feeling
of grief or pain, was drowned by his one great mad, overpowering
passion to wreak summary vengeance on the author of his bitter shame.
Not for a moment had he suspected "My Lord's" integrity and utter
disinterestedness, and the maddening fire of his disgrace kindled
within him and fanned to a crucible heat by Rutley burned with
unquenchable fury.
Men of the temperament of John Thorpe are not blessed with a stoical
mind in moments of great excitement, nor are they apt to pause and
tranquilly reason out the pros and cons of this most prolific source
of human tragedies.
He had loved his wife too fondly and too well to go and openly charge
her with unfaithfulness.
His life heretofore had been very happy, but now the first "damned
spot" in the clear blue of his domestic horizon would not out, the
feeling of suspicion would not smother. And it grew and enlarged with
amazing rapidity, and haunted him till the very thought of Corway
aroused his latent jealousy to a pitch that became unbearable. Rutley
had developed the demon within him.
The love that had become a fixed part of his being, flooding him with
its radiance, had been violently wrenched from his heart, and his
only, all-absorbing, insatiable desire was to confront the man who was
responsible for it.
Oh, for the frailty of human happiness!
Out near the steps of the east piazza a group of ladies and gentlemen,
composed of Mr. and Mrs. Harris, Mr. Corway and Hazel were chatting
merrily about the new waltz and incidentally they had referred to the
prolonged absence of "My Lord" and John Thorpe from the ballroom. Mrs.
Harris discovered them on the piazza approaching the steps and
exclaimed, "Ah, here come the truants."
Without a moment's hesitation, John Thorpe descended the steps alone,
Rutley remaining on the piazza.
"Mr. Harris," said John Thorpe in a husky voice, "in the name of the
society whom he contaminates, I demand that you eject that man from
this place."
This peremptory and extraordinary demand, coupled with its
insinuation, stunned the hearers, who looked from one to the other in
startled amazement.
The dead silence that followed was broken by Mr. Harris, who answered
in a grave, dazed way, as thoughts of Thorpe's sanity flitted through
his brain, "But, Thorpe! I--what--I don't think--my hearing is not
exactly right of late. I did not understand--"
Without removing his steady gaze from Corway, Mr. Thorpe reiterated
his words slowly and with stinging accentuation, "I demand that you
eject that man from this place," and he pointed his finger
dramatically at Corway, while glints of merciless intent shot from his
eyes.
The red flushed into Mr. Harris's face as he realized the indignity
his guests and himself were being subjected to.
"Thorpe--John--you are insulting all of us. Mr. Corway is my guest. What
is the meaning of this affront to my hospitality?"
"To defend my honor!" cried the distracted man, lost to all sense of
propriety or decorum, "or to add my blood to the other crimes that
disgrace him."
"In the name of all that's astounding, what do you mean, Thorpe?"
exclaimed Corway.
"I mean that I intend to avenge the irreparable wrong I have
suffered," replied Mr. Thorpe, fairly hissing the words from between
his teeth.
"Irreparable wrong! To whom do you refer?"
"To you, scoundrel! Tell how you came by that ring!"
Mr. Harris had listened to the two men with ill-concealed impatience,
but when Mr. Thorpe called Mr. Corway, one of his guests, a scoundrel,
and dangerous business appearing imminent, he could control his
indignation no longer and shouted, "Mr. Thorpe's carriage immediately!
Here, Sam, your assistance. Wells, get some more help to maintain
order."
The words had scarcely been uttered, when Sam, who had appeared with
Virginia on the piazza, sprang down the steps to his uncle's
assistance. They were quickly joined by the coachman and gardener who,
having chanced to meet in a nearby secluded angle of the porch, had
heard the loud, passionate words and were at once available for duty.
"Hold, Mr. Harris!" spoke up Corway, who seemed to be less disturbed
than either Thorpe or his host, "don't be hasty in this matter! Mr.
Thorpe is certainly laboring under some delusion."
"I will not listen to you," replied Mr. Harris, now worked up to a
fury. "Mr. Thorpe's conduct is outrageous. Away with him to his
carriage."
"I guess so!" responded Sam, pulling off his coat and looking at his
uncle sideways, "stampede the corral, eh, uncle? That's what you
want!"
"Away with him!" repeated Mr. Harris, gesticulating with his arms
wildly.
The two lackeys advanced, encouraged no doubt by the assurance of
Sam's assistance.
They were brought to an abrupt halt by Corway, who stepped in front of
them and declared with heat, "Stand back! I demand an explanation!"
In a low, hoarse voice that quivered with the intensity of his
passion, with ghastly white face, and glittering eyes that flashed the
lie to his forced calmness, Thorpe replied: "You shall have
it--blackguard, liar, and coward!" With which he struck Corway on the
mouth with the back of his closed hand.
Corway passionately rushed at him and attempted to strike, but Mr.
Harris sprang between them and caught his upraised arm, and with the
help of Sam, separated them.
When Sam sprang down the steps to his uncle's assistance, Virginia was
left standing on the piazza watching the progress of the quarrel with
intense interest and also evidently alarmed at the violent passion her
brother displayed.
With a woman's intuition, she surmised that Rutley had worked on
John's jealous susceptibilities with merciless finesse.
Rutley, who was watching her, noted her alarmed expression, and
feeling it to be a sign of weakening purpose, stepped over and stood
beside her, so silently that she was quite unaware of his presence.
"It's a horrible wrong," she muttered.
The words were caught by Rutley, and he whispered, so close as to
startle her, "Remember the wrong Corway has done you."
The excited men barely had been separated when Corway spoke with
passionate emphasis, "You shall hear from me."
"Quite soon enough for your courage," sneered Thorpe.
"No, no, my brother shall not fight with him!" exclaimed Virginia,
appalled at the magnitude the quarrel had assumed.
Swiftly she glanced at Rutley and said with tremulous lips: "What have
you told him to cause such fearful passion?"
"What you bade me," he coolly replied, and with a gloating smile on
his lips, added: "The result is what you wanted, isn't it?"
"Not so terrible," she gasped. "There must be some awful mistake."
And Rutley's smile deepened, but as he looked into her horrified eyes
and blanched face, and noted the change from vengeance to anxiety and
consternation fast coming over her, he knew but too well when the
change was complete, in a moment of frenzied zeal to explain and save
her brother, she, womanlike, was likely to undo and wreck all his
work.
He realized that the moment was fraught with the gravest danger to his
plans and person, and he acted quickly, but with the utmost coolness.
Her hand held straight down by her side was closed tightly, expressive
of immediate and determined action.
He gripped her wrist. It hurt her. The action concealed from others by
the folds of her dress, succeeded in diverting her attention, and he
followed it up by whispering, so that she alone heard him,
"Remember--the material you gave me; Corway has met his deserts and you
are avenged!"
And then the voice of Constance cleft the air, in a wild, terrifying
scream. "John, John! Save Dorothy! She's adrift on the water."
Her piercing cry freighted with a mother's anguish, at once filled all
who heard it with consternation, in the midst of which Mrs. Harris
exclaimed, "Dear me, how dreadful it all is!"
All turned in the direction of the cry and almost immediately
Constance, in an agony of despair, and deathly white, frantically
rushed among them.
She looked appealingly from one to the other, her heart in her throat
and pathos in her voice. "I heard her cry, 'Mama! Papa! Help! Save
me!' Oh, will no one rescue my darling?"
"I'm off," said Sam, in his short, sententious way, and rushed toward
the river.
The sudden strain on her nerves was greater than Constance could bear.
Naturally of a weak constitution, the ordeal was overpowering; the
mother's affection, forming a magnetic part of her heart, leapt out to
her child and left her numb and cold almost unto death, and then her
limbs trembled, and with Sam's words ringing in her ears, down she
sank, a senseless being.
Virginia's consternation was complete. She rushed down the steps,
knelt beside her prostrate form, thrust her arm lovingly under her
head and sobbed: "Constance! Dear Constance! Don't give way so.
Dorothy will be found."