CHAPTER XMERE SPECULATION
The driver returned with the wheel. It fitted the axle but was some twoor three inches larger in diameter than the other rear wheel and,moreover, it was flat on one side, so that when they started toconclude their journey the motion of the carriage was somethingstartling--a "rock-a-bye baby ride" Mary Louise called it.
But the wheels turned and the carriage progressed and when they werewell on their way the girl said:
"What do you think of that man, Gran'pa Jim?"
"Do you mean Alora's father, Jason Jones?"
"Yes, of course."
"I am surprised at two things," said the old Colonel. "First, it iscurious that Tony Seaver, a rarely cultured woman, should have marriedsuch a man, and again it is amazing that she should have confided herdaughter and her fortune to his care."
"Do you know," observed Mary Louise, sliding closer to him and droppingher voice, although there was absolutely no chance of being overheard,"I scent a mystery in that family, Gran'pa Jim!"
"That seems to be one of your regular diversions--to scent mysteries,"he replied. "And usually, my dear, the suspicion is unwarranted. Themost commonplace people frequently impress you with the idea that theyare other than what they seem, are leading double lives, or areendeavoring to conceal some irregularity of conduct. You've a facultyof reading the natures and characteristics of strangers by studyingtheir eyes, their facial expressions and their oddities of demeanor,which is interesting psychologically but too often----"
"You are unjust, Gran'pa!" declared Mary Louise indignantly. "Didn'tyou yourself say there are two curious and surprising things about thisman Jones?"
"Not exactly. I said it was curious and astonishing that AntoinetteSeaver should have trusted so fully a man who impresses me as a churl.His own child, little Alora, appears to dislike and even to despisehim, and----"
"There!" cried Mary Louise. "I'm vindicated. Your observations fullyjustify my remark that there's a mystery in that family. Did you noticethe books he brought home and laid upon the table?"
"No," said Colonel Hathaway, rather bewildered.
"They were novels by Marie Correlli, H. G. Wells and O. Henry. Astudent? Then a student of modern novels, a man who reads and reads tokeep his mind from dwelling on past history. He is a disappointedartist, to begin with."
"That is certainly odd," rejoined the old gentleman, reflectively. "Theone picture I ever saw by Jason Jones was certainly good. I rememberthat once when I was lunching with Bob Seaver--that was Antoinette'sfather, you know--he told me his daughter was interested in a youngartist of exceptional talent, and he took me to a gallery to show mewhat this man could do. I am not an art critic, as you are aware, mydear, but this landscape of Jason Jones appealed to me as delightful.Captain Bob knew art, and so did Antoinette, so it is evident thatJones _could_ paint, but for some reason became dissatisfied with hiswork and abandoned it. Perhaps his ambition was too lofty for humanskill to realize, yet nothing less would content him."
Mary Louise sat silent for a while. Then she asked:
"Did Jason Jones impress you as a man capable of a great ambition?Would you guess him an artist who had once accomplished admirablethings?"
"Artists are always peculiar," stated her grandfather. "They must betemperamental in order to be artists, and temperaments differ widely.Had I not known something of Jason Jones' history I might have felt, onmaking his acquaintance to-day, that he is not an ordinary man. For,gruff and churlish though he proved, it is undeniable that he hasselected a charming and retired spot in which to live----"
"Or to hide," she interrupted.
"Or that, with considerable wealth at his command, he lives simply andunostentatiously, enjoying nature's choice gifts and content with thesimple life he leads, with only the society of his young daughter."
"Whom he neglects and refuses to educate properly," declared the girl."What makes you think he is wealthy?"
"I know that Antoinette made millions, after her father died, from themines. By current report she retired and invested her money wisely, insound securities, which accords with her excellent business reputation.Her daughter not being of age--let me see: she must have been buteleven when her mother passed away--there would be a guardian appointedfor the heiress, and Alora told us that it was her mother's wish thather father act as her guardian. So the conclusion is evident that Mr.Jones has a large income at his command."
"All the more reason he should be generous, but he isn't spending muchof it," said Mary Louise.
"No; he is probably living simply in order that his daughter's fortunemay increase during the years of her minority. That is a point in hisfavor, you must admit."
"Nevertheless," asserted the young girl, "I think there is somethingwrong in the Jones family. It isn't due to Alora; she's a dear littlething, wild and untamed but very lovable, I'm sure; so the fault mustlie with her boorish father. Allowing that once he was a big man,something has mysteriously soured him and rendered his life hateful notonly to himself but to all around him."
"Look, Mary Louise; we're getting into Sorrento," said the Colonel."Here the road leaves the sea and crosses the plateau to the town.You'll like Sorrento, I'm sure, for it is one of the quaintest placesin old Italy--and the hotel is really comfortable."