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Page 63
"No, but there is an end to everybody's rope, and sometimes I think I am
about at the end of mine. I don't know. Anyway, it is a comfort to me to
think that Clemency has you in case anything should happen to me."
"She has me as long as I live," James said fervently. Red overspread his
young face, his eyes glistened. Again the great pity and understanding
with regard to the other man came over him, and a feeling for Clemency
which he had never before had: a feeling greater than love itself, the
very angel of love, divinest pity and protection, for all womanhood,
which was exemplified for himself in this one girl. His heart ached, as
if it were Clemency's upstairs, lying miserably asleep under the
influence of the drug, which alone could protect her from indescribable
pain. His mind projected itself into the future, and realized the
possibility of such suffering for her, and for himself. The honey-sting
of pain, which love has, stung him sharply.
Gordon seemed to divine his thoughts. "God grant that you may never have
to undergo what I am undergoing, boy," he said. Then he added, "It was
in poor Clara's blood, her mother before her died the same way. Clemency
comes, on her mother's side at least, of a healthy race, morally and
physically, although the nervous system is oversensitive. If my poor
sister had been happy, she would have been alive to-day. And as far as I
know of the other side, there was perfect physical health, although he
had that abnormal lack of moral sense that led one to dream of
possession. Did you notice how much less evil he looked when he was
dead, even with that frightfully disfigured face?"
"Yes."
"There are strange things in this world," said Gordon with gloomy
reflection, "or else simple things which we are strange not to believe.
Sometimes I think people will have to take to the Bible again in that
literal sense in which so many are now inclined to disregard it. Well,
Elliot, I honestly feel that you have nothing to fear in taking poor
little Clemency. I should tell you if I thought otherwise. She will
make you happy, and I can think of no reason to warn you concerning any
possible lapses, in either her physical or her moral health, and I have
had her in my charge since she first drew the breath of life. Come, my
son, it is late, and we have a great deal to do to-morrow. This awful
business has made me neglect patients. I have to see Clara again, and
get what rest I can." Gordon looked older and wearier than James had
ever seen him, as he bade him good-night, old and weary as he had often
seen him look. A sudden alarm for Gordon himself came over him. He
wondered, after he had entered, his room, if he were not strained past
endurance. He recalled his own father's healthy, ruddy face, and Gordon
was no older.
He lay awake a while thinking anxiously of Gordon, then his own happy
future blazoned itself before him, and he dreamed awake, and dreamed
asleep, of himself and Clemency, in that future, whose golden vistas had
no end, so far as his young eyes could see. The sense of relief from
anxiety over the girl was so intense that it was in itself a delight.
Clemency herself felt it. The next morning at breakfast she looked
radiant. Gordon had assured her the sick woman had rested quietly, and
told her that Mrs. Blair was coming.
"To-day I can go where I choose," Clemency exclaimed gayly.
"Not until afternoon," replied Gordon, then he relented at her look of
disappointment, and suggested that she go with Elliot to make his calls,
while he went with Aaron and the team. It was a beautiful morning;
spring seemed to have arrived. Everywhere was the plash of running
water, now and then came distant flutings of birds. "I know that was a
bluebird," Clemency said happily. "I feel sure mother will get well now.
It seems wicked to be glad that the man is dead, especially on such a
morning, but I wonder if it is, when he would have spoiled the morning."
"Don't think about it, anyway!" James said.
"I try not to."
"You must not!"
"I know why Uncle Tom did not want me to go out alone this morning,"
Clemency said, with one of her quick wise looks, cocking her head like a
bird.
"Why?"
"He wanted to make sure that that woman has really gone."
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