RICHARD AND ARTHUR.
It was not a common occurrence for a visitor to present himself at
Collingwood at so early an hour as that in which Arthur St. Claire
rung for admittance, and Victor, who heard the bell, hastened in
some surprise to answer it,
"Tell Mr. Harrington a stranger wishes to see him," said Arthur,
following the polite valet into the library, where a fire was
slowly struggling into life.
"Yes, sir. What name?" and Victor waited for a moment, while
Arthur hesitated, and finally stammered out:
"Mr. St. Claire, from Virginia."
Immediately Victor withdrew, and seeking his master, delivered the
message, adding that the gentleman seemed embarrassed, and he
wouldn't wonder if he'd come to borrow money."
"St Claire--St. Claire," Richard repeated to himself. "Where have
I heard that name before? Somewhere, sure."
"He called himself a stranger," returned Victor, adding that a
youth by that name was visiting at Brier Hill, and it was probably
of him that Mr. Harrington was thinking,
"It may be, though I've no remembrance of having heard that fact,"
returned Richard; "but, lead on," and he took the arm of Victor,
who lead him to the library floor and then, as was his custom,
turned away.
More than once during the rapid journey, Arthur had half resolved
to turn back and not run the fearful risk of being recognized by
Richard Harrington, but the remembrance of Edith's mute distress
should he return alone, emboldened him to go on and trust to
Providence, or, if Providence failed, trust to Richard's
generosity not to betray his secret. He heard the uncertain
footsteps in the hall, and forgetting that the eyes he so much
dreaded could not see, he pulled his coat collar up around his
face so as to conceal as much of it as possible.
"Mr. St. Claire? Is there such a person here?" and Richard
Harrington had crossed the threshold of the door, and with his
sightless eyes rolling around the room, stood waiting for an
answer.
How well Arthur remembered that rich, full, musical voice. It
seemed to him but yesterday since, he heard it before, and he
shrank more and more from the reply which must be made to that
question, and quickly, too, for the countenance of the blind man
was beginning to wear a look of perplexity at the continued
silence.
Summoning all his courage he stepped forward and taking the hand
groping in the air, said rapidly, "Excuse me, Mr. Harrington, I
hardly know what to say, I've come upon so queer an errand. You
know Edith Hastings, the little girl who lived with Mrs.
Atherton?"
He thought by introducing Edith at once to divert the blind man
from himself; but Richard's quick ear had caught a tone not wholly
unfamiliar as he replied,
"Yes, I know Edith Hastings, and it seems to me I ought to know
you, too. I've heard your name and voice before. Wasn't it in
Geneva?" and the eagle eves fastened themselves upon the wall just
back of where Arthur stood.
Arthur fairly gasped for breath, and for an instant he was as
blind as Richard himself; then, catching at the word Geneva, he
answered, "Did you ever live in Geneva, sir?"
"Not in the village, but near there on the lake shore," answered
Richard, and Arthur continued,
"You probably attended the examinations then at the Academy, and
heard me speak. I was a pupil there nearly two years before
entering the college."
Arthur fancied himself remarkably clever for having suggested an
idea which seemed so perfectly to satisfy his companion and which
was not a falsehood either. He had been a student in the Academy
for nearly two years, had spoken at all the exhibitions, receiving
the prize at one; he had seen Richard Harrington among the
spectators, and had no doubt that Richard might have observed him,
though not very closely, else he had never put himself in his
power by the one single act which was embittering his young life.
"It is likely you are right," said Richard, "I was often at the
examinations, and since my misfortune I find myself recognizing
voices as I never could have done when I had sight as well as
hearing upon which to depend. But you spoke of Edith Hastings. I
trust no harm has befallen the child. I am much interested in her
and--wonder she has not been here long ere this. What would you
tell me of her?"
Briefly Arthur related the particulars of his visit at Brier Hill,
a visit which had ended so disastrously to Edith, and even before
he reached the important point, Richard answered promptly, "She
shall come here, I need her, I want her--want her for my sister,
my child. I shall never have another;" then pressing his hands
suddenly up on his forehead, whose blue veins seemed to swell with
the intensity of his emotions, he continued. "But, no, Mr. St.
Claire. It cannot be, she is too young, too merry-hearted, too
full of life and love to be brought into the shadow of our
household. She would die upon my hands. Her voice would grow
sadder and more mournful with the coming of every season, until at
last when I had learned to love her as my life, I should some
morning listen for what, would never greet my ear again. It's a
great temptation, but it must not be. A crazy old man and his
blind son are not fit guardians for a child like Edith Hastings.
She must not walk in our darkness."
"But might not her presence bring daylight to that darkness?"
asked Arthur, gazing with mingled feelings of wonder and
admiration upon the singularly handsome noble-looking man, who was
indeed walking in thick darkness.
"She might," said Richard. "Yes, she might bring the full rich
daylight to us, but on her the shadow would fail with a fearful
blackness if she linked her destiny with mine. Young man, do you
like Edith Hastings, if so, take her yourself and if money----"
Arthur here interrupted him with, "I have money of my own, sir;
but I have no home at present. I am a student in college. I can do
nothing with her there, but--" and his voice sunk almost to a
whisper. "Years hence, I hope to have a home, and then, if you are
tired of Edith I will take her. Meantime keep her at Collingwood
for me. Is it a bargain?"
"You are young, I think," said Richard, smiling at Arthur's
proposition, and smiling again, when in tones apologetical, as if
to be only so old were something of which he ought to be ashamed,
Arthur returned,
"I am nineteen this month."
"And I was thirty, last spring," said Richard. "An old man, you
think, no doubt. But to return to Edith Hastings. My heart wants
her so much, while my better judgment rebels against it. Will she
be greatly disappointed if I refuse?"
"Oh, yes, yes," said Arthur, grasping the hand laying on Richard's
knee. "I CAN'T go back to her without you. But, Mr. Harrington,
before I urge it farther, let me ask as her friend, will she come
here as a SERVANT, or an equal."
There was an upward flashing of the keen black eyes, a flush upon
the high, white forehead, and Richard impatiently stamped upon the
floor as he answered proudly,
"She comes as an equal, or not at all. She shall be as highly
educated and as thoroughly accomplished as if the blood of the
Harrington's flowed in her veins."
"Then take her," and Arthur seemed more anxious than before. "She
will do justice to your training. She will be wondrously
beautiful. She will grace the halls of Collingwood with the air of
England's queen. You will not be ashamed of her, and who knows but
some day--"
Arthur began to stammer, and at last managed to finish with,
"There is NOT such a vast difference in your ages. Twenty-one
years is nothing when weighed against the debt of gratitude she
will owe you--"
"There, I've made a fool of myself," he thought, as he saw the
forehead tie itself up in knots, and the corners of the mouth
twitch with merriment.
"By that last speech you've proved how YOUNG and romantic you
are," answered Richard. "Winter and spring go not well together.
Edith Hastings will never be my wife. But she shall come to
Collingwood. I will return with you and bring her back myself."
Ringing the bell for Victor, he bade him see that breakfast was
served at once, saying that he was going with his friend to
Albany.
"Without ME?" asked Victor in much surprise, and Richard replied,
"Yes, without you," adding in an aside to Arthur, "Victor is so
much accustomed to waiting upon me that he thinks himself
necessary to every movement, but I'd rather travel alone with
Edith, she'll do as well as Victor, and I have a fancy to keep my
movements a secret, at least until the child is fairly in the
house. It will be a surprise to Mrs. Atherton; I'll have John
drive us to the next station, and meet me there to-morrow,"
So saying, he excused himself for a few moments and groped his way
up stairs to make some necessary changes in his dress. For several
minutes Arthur was alone, and free to congratulate himself upon
his escape from detection.
"In my dread of recognition I undoubtedly aggravated its chances,"
he thought. "Of course this Mr. Harrington did not observe me
closely. It was night, and he was almost blind, even then. My
voice and manner are all that can betray me, and as he is
apparently satisfied on that point, I have nothing further to
apprehend from him."
Arthur liked to feel well--disagreeable reflections did not suit
his temperament, and having thus dismissed from his mind the only
thing annoying him at the present, he began to examine the books
arrayed so carefully upon the shelves, whistling to himself as he
did so, and pronouncing Arthur St. Claire a pretty good fellow
after all, if he had a secret of which most people would not
approve. He had just reached this conclusion when Richard
reappeared, and breakfast was soon after announced by the valet,
Victor. That being over, there was not a moment to be lost if they
would reach the cars in time for the next train, and bidding his
father a kind adieu, Richard went with Arthur to the carriage, and
was driven to the depot of the adjoining town. More than one
passenger turned their heads to look at the strangers as they came
in, the elder led by the younger, who yet managed so skillfully
that but few guessed how great a calamity had befallen the man
with the dark hair, and black, glittering eyes. Arthur took a
great pride in ministering to the wants of his companion, and in
all he did there was a delicacy and tenderness which touched a
chord almost fraternal in the heart of the blind man, who, as the
day wore on, found himself drawn more and more toward his new
acquaintance.
"I believe even I might be happy if both you and Edith could live
with me," he said, at last, when Albany was reached, and they were
ascending the steps to the Delevan.
"Poor little Edith," rejoined Arthur, "I wonder if she has been
very lonely? Shall we go to her at once?"
"Yes," answered Richard, and leaning on Arthur's arm, he proceeded
to the door of Edith's room.