_Shrewd Mrs. Crawford._
Between Tiara and Ensal there existed a barrier which had seemingly
prevented a development of the ties that all who knew the two expected
with full assurance.
The attitude of a Negro on the social question as between the races was
no child's play with Tiara. It struck at the very root of the deepest
convictions of her soul, and she was firmly resolved to allow no Negro
into the inner circle of her friendship of whose views on that question
she was ignorant. She had, as she felt, practiced "suspension of
judgment" with regard to Ensal, and assured herself that he was making
no progress in her esteem. She also impressed Ensal that he was a
decidedly stationary quantity, no further advanced in her esteem than on
the occasion of their first meeting.
This situation did not displease Ensal altogether. He felt that so long
as Tiara did not and would not take more than a passing interest in him,
he could continue to keep in abeyance that grave question as to whether,
in view of the drift of things, a young Negro, absorbed as he was in
the question of the condition of the race, should form family ties. So
he journeyed along cherishing an ever-increasing attachment, but content
for the present to worship her at a distance.
Mrs. Crawford, with all her quietness, was an exceedingly wise woman.
She did not know exactly what it was, but she knew as well as did Ensal
and Tiara that there was an artificial barrier between them. She also
knew that if ever a man loved a woman, Ensal was in love with Tiara. And
she knew more. She knew that Tiara was self-deceived; that Tiara herself
would be the most astonished person imaginable when she awoke to find
out how much she really cared for Ensal.
Mrs. Crawford knew Ensal's reasons for hesitating to form family ties,
but did not regard them as substantial. She was determined that Ensal
and Tiara should marry; her whole heart was set upon the project. Never
in her whole life had she met a couple more clearly designed for each
other than this pair, as she viewed the matter. She knew how firm of
mind both Ensal and Tiara were and how useless it would be to attempt to
talk to either of them. In view of the secret barrier, Tiara would have
given her to understand that the matter was not worthy of a second's
consideration. As for Ensal he could not have been brought to think that
Tiara came any nearer being in love with him than with the rankest
stranger, for in all their conversations, not being settled upon the
question of marriage, as a matter of honor he had neither sought to
develop nor to test the strength of Tiara's regard for himself.
Mrs. Crawford felt fully justified under the circumstances in forcing
matters to an issue. She perceived that to do this involved a great
sacrifice on her part, the temporary loss of Tiara's friendship; but she
decided that the purchase was worthy of the price.
One night as Tiara was about to retire to rest, Mrs. Crawford dropped
into her room for one of their customary chats. After talking on various
topics she brought the subject around to Ensal.
"Now there is a young man that inspires many people with contempt," said
Mrs. Crawford, in a manner to suggest that she, too, was one of that
many.
Tiara almost fell, clutching the footboard of the bed for support.
"How can any one possibly have such an opinion of Mr. Ellwood?" asked
Tiara, in tones of deepest injury.
Mrs. Crawford merely shrugged her shoulders.
"I have never met a nobler man," continued Tiara.
"Oh, some people have faith in the fellow," said Mrs. Crawford
sneeringly.
"You seem to have changed, Mrs. Crawford. It hasn't been so long since I
heard you speaking of Mr. Ellwood in the highest possible terms."
"We learn more of people from time to time and must revise our estimates
of them in keeping with our more extensive knowledge," replied Mrs.
Crawford.
"Be specific, Mrs. Crawford; Mr. Ellwood is a friend of mine," said
Tiara, now thoroughly aroused.
"Oh, if you are that much of a friend, you might not be competent to
weigh the evidence in the case," said Mrs. Crawford, smiling and arising
as if to go.
"Would you cast aspersions upon a person's character and treat the
matter so lightly?" asked Tiara, a flush of anger appearing on her face.
"Things other than moral blemishes inspire contempt sometimes. I do not
care to say more about the matter. Good night," said Mrs. Crawford.
Tiara went no further with her preparations for retiring. She stowed
away all of her possessions in her trunk and locked it. She then sat
down and wrote a note to Mrs. Crawford, thanking her for her many
courtesies and expressing regret that she found it beyond her power of
endurance to longer stay under her roof.
Tiara now went to the telephone in the hallway and called for a
carriage. It was not long in coming and she was soon being whirled in
the direction of Mrs. Crump's residence.
Mrs. Crump was glad to receive Tiara and she was again assigned to the
room in which she slept on the night of her arrival in Almaville. Tiara
did not go to bed, but rocked to and fro, anxious for day to break,
eager, so eager to see Ensal. At length the question crept into her
consciousness: "Why are you so enraged? Are you as anxious to see every
one whom you have defended as you are to see this one?"
"My God! I love the man!" said Tiara, rising from her chair and throwing
herself face downward across the bed. "Oh, I must never see him again.
He might read this awful, this maddening love in my eyes."
Early the next morning, Mrs. Crawford sent for Ensal.
"Mr. Ellwood, I wish you had been more frank with me," said Mrs.
Crawford.
"Please explain," said Ensal.
"I took occasion to discuss you rather freely last night, and I seem to
have given mortal offense to Miss Merlow, who appears to be madly in
love with you."
Ensal was perplexed and knew not what to say.
"Where is Miss Merlow?" asked Ensal.
"She became so indignant that she left my house last night. When you win
people's love to such a degree as that, you ought to post your friends
so that they may be careful. Miss Merlow has gone to Mrs. Crump's. I
shall offer you no explanation of my course until you have heard from
Miss Merlow. Now leave me and go to her." Much mystified at the strange
turn of events, Ensal took his departure.
The postman early that same morning had left the following note at Mrs.
Crump's for Tiara.
"Ensal Ellwood is a noble young man. You loved him and did not
know it. I have opened your eyes. Forgive me, dear, but I could
not see two, whom I regard so highly, so far apart. As for
Ellwood, the lad has never had his right mind since he first
met you.
"MADGE CRAWFORD."
That day a telegram came to Mrs. Crawford's for Tiara and she carried it
to the latter forthwith. When the two met there was a mischievous
twinkle in Mrs. Crawford's eyes and the light of happiness in Tiara's.
When Tiara read the telegram she appeared much disturbed. That night she
left Almaville. When she returned she bought her a home on the outskirts
of the city, took Mrs. Crump to live with her, and denied herself to all
her former Almaville friends, Ensal included. Eunice Volrees or
Seabright, had come to stay with Tiara and the latter had for the sake
of Eunice shut herself out from all her friends.