While such thoughts surged through the brain of Imelda, what was it that
clouded the brow of fair Alice, causing now and then the ruby lips to
part with a tremulous sigh? What caused the eyes to grow dim, the
child-like mouth to quiver? Was there a skeleton in her closet also? Ah,
could we always but lift the veil and look underneath! What aching,
breaking hearts the smiling lips sometimes mask. Imelda looked up just
in time to see a bright drop splashing upon the dainty gloved hand, but
which was hastily brushed away. Another moment and the young woman was
laughing and chatting in a way that showed a light and merry (?) heart
underneath, and Imelda forbore to question. The two had a very nice
drive, enjoying the parks and open air sports. The hours of rest were
doing Imelda a world of good, reviving her spirits and calling a rosy
hue to the pale face.
The evening found them at the home of the Lelands, where they were both
heartily welcomed. Alice watched the faces about her, wondering whose
lover the handsome Wilbur Wallace was. She read in his face an almost
worshipful love when his eyes rested on the proudly regal Margaret,
while they followed with a passionate intensity every movement of the
queenly Imelda, which glance would soften to a holy glow when he bent
his head above her and when his hand touched hers. Alice felt the warmth
of Mrs. Leland’s motherly manner, and soon found that her heart was in
every word she uttered. Although here and there a silver thread could be
seen among the brown, her manner was as bright and youthful as that of
the young girl’s. Later the generous hostess brought in fruits, cake and
cream, and merry sallies were passed round, while the refreshments were
being discussed. Music and singing came in also for their share, and
Alice felt that she had passed a very pleasant evening indeed.
The absence of all formality was not the least pleasing feature. The
naturalness of every movement and action was refreshing in the extreme
to Alice, whom the wealth of her husband had led, during the years of
her married life, into those circles of society where empty phrases and
society small talk are paramount, but which must be delivered in a
stiff, formal, cut and dried manner. To talk, to act, to laugh, to eat,
to drink, to sleep, to rule—that is society life; anything but to be
natural. O, how homelike the little circle was! The evening passed by
and the time came for parting. Margaret reminded Imelda of her promise
of yesternight, and tendered the same invitation to Alice, but the
latter did not accept.
“No! no! I would only be intruding. It is enough that I am about to
separate these precious friends without intruding upon the last days and
hours they can have together. With many thanks for the pleasant evening
I have spent I will bid you good night. Tomorrow is another day when I
shall see you again.” Leaning back in the cushions of her carriage she
was rapidly driven to her hotel. Wilbur kissed both fair girls and for a
moment his arms wound about Imelda’s form. She could feel the beating of
his heart and heard his rapid breathing. She smiled into his face, wound
her arms about his neck, laid her cheek against his, for an instant
touched her lips to his whispered “Good night,” and the next instant had
slipped from his embrace, and from the room.
Margaret was standing at the window gazing at the starry heavens when
she heard the door close after Imelda’s retreating form. Turning she saw
that they two were alone. Again she turned to the window giving him time
to recover himself, and when a few minutes later she crossed the room to
his side Wilbur had regained his composure. She laid both hands upon his
shoulder and looked into the dark eyes.
“Wilbur,” she whispered. Only that one word, the mention of his name,
but O, it spoke volumes. The next moment he had caught her to his breast
and covered the fair face with kisses.
“My darling! my darling!” he said. “You love me, you trust me?” There
was a suspicious moisture in the dark blue eyes as she crept closer into
his arms.
“You know I do.” The girl’s heart was passing through a fiery ordeal.
Would she prove pure gold? Long were they locked in each other’s
embrace, not a word was spoken, but the lips were sealed each with the
vibrating glowing lips of the other. Holding her thus close he drew her
to his knee as he sank into the swelling cushions of an arm chair, and
Imelda’s dark head had for several hours pressed the snowy pillow ere
Margaret sought her side. She leaned over and kissed her on the forehead
when the white lids opened and the soft arms closed about the neck of
her friend. Thus the two clasped in each other’s arms a dark head and a
fair one pressing the same pillow, their breath mingling, they fell
asleep, and not until Mrs. Leland gently shook them and laughingly
called them the seven sleepers, did they awake.
“I am afraid you would be ‘my ladies’ of the first water could you live
according to your inclination. I believe girls are naturally lazy.” Thus
teasing and laughing she moved about opening the shutters and letting in
the bright sunshine.
“Only see how you have let the golden hours of the morning fly away
lazily hugging your bed.” But the smiling faces on the pillow did not
look as though this moralizing had anything to do with them. Margaret
saucily told her mother that she (her mother) was only sorry that she
could not lie there at that hour and enjoy a lazy nap, but if she would
be kind enough to cease moving about and give them a little chance they
would think the matter over, and in a little while come downstairs and
have some breakfast.
“Which means, you saucebox, that I am to leave the room and go to
prepare your breakfast. Very well, Miss Indolence, but I hope you will
condescend to make your appearance when it is prepared.” Thus bright and
cheerful the new day began, and in a little while fresh and rosy,
attired in white muslin dresses they made their appearance. Margaret had
insisted that Imelda should wear one of her own snowy robes for the
morning.
“I am tired of seeing you in this everlasting black.” So the somber gown
had been laid aside and when later in the day Alice came to carry Imelda
off she clapped her little hands in delight at the sight of the spotless
robes. She wanted her to retain the pretty dress for the day, but to
this Imelda would not consent, so she had her way. Then Alice asked
Margaret to join them for the day. “I shall need your advice and help.”
Both girls looked up with a questioning glance, but Alice shook her head
and said:
“No! I will answer no questions, only come.” They were not long in
doubt, however, as to what it was that Alice wanted Margaret’s advice
for. They drove up to a large dress goods emporium where they selected a
variety of beautiful fabrics. Soft gray woolens and dainty white
muslins; also a handsome black silk. At first Imelda did not understand
that they were meant for her; and when she realized it; it was too late
to protest. She was scarcely more than half pleased, as Alice counted
out the price for the pretty material, and made up her mind to accept it
only as a loan, and so she told Alice. Alice did not object, only said:
“There are many things you will need and it will not be a question of
how soon you will return the amount; that can be settled some day when
you leave me. I would far rather, however, have made you a present of
these few necessary articles.” Imelda flushed.
“If you do not wish to offend me, you will cease to speak in such a
strain. I can understand that I look very much out of place with my
plain black muslins, but as your companion, nursery governess to your
children I will hardly need much costly apparel.”
“As my friend,” corrected Alice. “Whatever else you may be; whatever
position you may insist upon filling, I wish it distinctly understood
that you are my friend. An orphan, in reduced circumstances, if you
will, but always, most assuredly my friend.” Thus the matter was settled
for the present. Imelda bit her lip. Alice did not understand that the
act of kindness, as she meant it to be, was, and must be most galling to
the proud spirited girl; but no further comments were made at that time.
The fair trio with their purchases next drove to a dressmaking
establishment. Under protest Imelda was measured, and the order given to
have the dresses made on short notice.
“You have nothing to say in this, only to obey,” Alice had said with
merry laughter. Thus the days slipped by one after another, until
Imelda’s trunks were packed, awaiting the expressman to take them to the
depot. She herself was arrayed in her traveling dress, a plain soft gray
serge, seated at the window awaiting her friends who had promised to
escort her to the depot, Alice having said that she would meet her
there. Tears stood in her eyes as she let them wander over the familiar
objects that she was to take leave of now forever. Many a little trifle
was stored away in the bottom of her trunks, but other and larger
articles she was now forced to part with. Many a token had been given to
Margaret, but there were still others that had to be disposed of, which
Wilbur had promised to do, and as she now heard a familiar step coming
up the stairs she quickly, with a convulsive start, laid her hand upon
her heart and turned her face to the window. Another moment an arm had
drawn her into a close embrace and she lay sobbing upon a manly breast.