按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Vance； when he spoke； sounded strangely unfamiliar。 It had lost
the priest…like intonation。 Its confidence had departed。 It
showed bewilderment and alarm。
〃I I don't understand；〃 stammered the showman。 〃Ask her
again。 Put your question differently。〃
Carefully； slowly； giving each word its value； Mr。 Hallowell
raised his voice in entreaty。
〃Kate；〃 he cried； 〃I have made a new will； leaving the money to
the poor。 The old will gives it to Helen。 Shall I sign the new
will or not？ Shall I give the money to Helen； or the Institute？
Answer me！ Yes or no。〃
Before the eyes of all； the apparition； as though retreating to
the cabinet； swayed backward； then staggered forward。 There was
a sob； human； heart…broken； a cry； thrilling with distress； a
tumult of weeping； fierce and uncontrollable。
They saw the figure tear away the white kerchief and cap； and
trample them upon the floor。 They saw the figure hold itself
erect。 From it； the voice of Vera cried aloud； in despair。
〃I can't！ I can't！〃 she sobbed。 〃It's a lie！ I am not your
sister！ Turn on the lights；〃 the girl cried。 〃Turn on the
lights！〃
There was a crash of upturned chairs； the sound of men
struggling； and the room was swept with light。 In the doorway
Winthrop was holding apart Vance and the reporter。
In the centre of the room stood Vera； her head bent in shame；
her body shaken and trembling； her hair streaming to her waist。
As though to punish herself； by putting a climax to her
humiliation； she held out her arms to Helen Coates。 〃You see；〃
she cried； 〃I am a cheat。 I am a fraud！〃 She sank suddenly to
her knees in front of Mr。 Hallowell。 〃Forgive me；〃 she sobbed；
〃forgive me！〃
With a cry of angry protest； Winthrop ran to her and lifted her
to her feet。 His eyes were filled with pity。 But in the eyes of
Mr。 Hallowell there was no promise of pardon。 With sudden
strength he struggled to his feet and stood swaying； challenging
those before him。 His face was white with anger； his jaw closed
against mercy。
〃You've lied to me！〃 he cried。 〃You've tried to rob me！〃 He
swept the room with his eyes。 With a flash of intuition； he saw
the trap they had laid for him。 〃All of you！〃 he screamed。 〃It's
a plot！〃 He shook his fist at the weeping girl。 〃And you！〃 he
shouted hysterically； 〃the law shall punish you！〃
Winthrop drew the girl to him and put his arm about her。
〃I'll do the punishing here；〃 he said。
With a glad； welcoming cry； the old man turned to him
appealingly； wildly。
〃Yes； you！〃 he shouted。 〃you punish them！ She plotted to get my
money。〃
The girl at Winthrop's side shivered； and shrank from him。 He
drew her back roughly and held her close。 The sobs that shook
her tore at his heart； the touch of the sinking； trembling body
in his arms filled him with fierce； jubilant thoughts of keeping
the girl there always； of giving battle for her； of sheltering
her against the world。 In what she had done he saw only a
sacrifice。 In her he beheld only a penitent； who was
self…accused and self…convicted。
He heard the voice of the old man screaming vindictively； 〃She
plotted to get my money！〃
Winthrop turned upon him savagely。
〃How did she plot to get it？〃 he retorted fiercely。 〃You know；
and I know。 I know how your lawyer； your doctor； your servant
plotted to get it！〃 His voice rose and rang with indignation。
〃You all plotted； and you all schemed and to what end what
was the result？〃 he held before them the fainting figure of
the girl 〃That one poor child could prove she was honest！〃
With his arms still about her； and her hands clinging to him； he
moved with her quickly to the door。 When they had reached the
silence of the hall； he took her hands in his； and looked into
her eyes。 〃Now；〃 he commanded； 〃you shall come to my sisters！〃
The waiting car carried them swiftly up the avenue。 Their way
lay through the park； and the warm； mid…summer air was heavy
with the odor of plants and shrubs。 Above them the trees drooped
deep with leaves。 Vera； crouched in a corner； had not spoken。
Her eyes were hidden in her hands。 But when they had entered the
silent reaches of the park she lowered them and the face she
lifted to Winthrop was pale and wet with tears。 The man thought
never before had he seen it more lovely or more lovable。 Vera
shook her head dumbly and looked up at him with a troubled
smile。
〃I told you；〃 she murmured remorsefully； 〃you'd be sorry。〃
We don't know that yet；〃 said Winthrop gently； 〃we'll have all
the rest of our lives to find that out。〃
Startled； the girl drew back。 In her face was wonder； amazement；
a dawning happiness。
Without speaking； Winthrop looked at her； entreatingly；
pitifully； beseeching her with his eyes。
Slowly the girl bent forward and； as he threw out his arms； with
a little sigh of rest and content she crept into them and
pressed her face to his。
End