CHAPTER XX
MR. BARNES RETURNS
"Will you have another cup, Mrs. Mooney?"
"No, thank you; I will not, though better tea I never tasted. Well--ifyou are that set on it, I suppose I might as well."
Maria poured out Mrs. Mooney's third cup, and leaving the tea-pot nearat hand, left her to sit and sing the praises of the two doctors toNellie, who from a lifelong experience had developed into a reallywonderful listener.
On her way down the hall Maria had to pass the open door of theDoctor's bedroom, and as she glanced in she saw that he was sleepingpeacefully, and that Dr. Crossett still sat quietly beside the bed,looking down earnestly into the pale, tired face of his old friend.
DOCTOR MORTIMER WARNS LOLA THAT TOO MUCH EXCITEMENT MAYPROVE FATAL TO HER.]
"He's trying to find out what's the matter," she thought gratefully,"and he'll do it, too, if anybody can; 'course it's natural that he'sawful unhappy about Miss Lola, but it looks to me like that ain't all;somehow he seems to me more like he was afraid of something."
As she passed down the hall on her way to the front door, the bellrang, and she, anxious that the sleeper should not be disturbed,opened the door quickly. There in the hall stood a slender youngfellow in the dark-blue uniform of the navy. His face, what little ofit that was not hidden behind quite the widest smile that mortalcountenance ever wore, was tanned to about the shade of a fashionablesummer shoe, and above it his yellow hair made a symphony in colorvery good to look upon. At least this seemed to be Maria's opinion,for at the first sight of him a look of gladness came into her eyes,the like of which many a man goes through his whole life without everonce seeing.
"Mr. Barnes! Oh, Mr. Barnes!"
"Maria," he said or rather roared in greeting.
"Hush!" She put her finger quickly to her lips. "He's asleep;whisper."
"Maria," he repeated obediently, in what passed with him as a whisper,but the sound of which rushed whistling down the narrow hall like adeep sea breeze.
"Don't whisper; talk natural," she suggested hurriedly. "Here, comeinto the front room an' I'll close the door. I'm awful glad to hearyour voice, Mr. Barnes, but I do wish you could keep from lettin' allthe neighbors hear it."
Once in the room and the door shut, she lost her air of severity,however; he was so tall and strong and had such a way with him thatwhen he opened his arms and smiled so invitingly, she surrenderedcompletely, and allowed him to embrace her with an ardor thatcompletely took her breath away.
"Ha, ha, ha!" he roared gleefully; "maybe this is bad."
"Mr. Barnes! However did you get here?"
"Five days' shore leave. The ship's anchored off Ninety-fifth Street.Say, this ain't so bad, is it?"
"It's, it's mighty nice!" He was so delighted by her admission that heroared again, but her alarmed look sobered him, and lowering his voiceas much as possible, he faced her with a look he meant to be one ofgreat severity and determination, a look that he had practicedcarefully for the occasion before a little mirror in the ward room ofthe battleship.
"Ain't you well, Mr. Barnes?" she enquired anxiously.
"Well," he responded indignantly, "why shouldn't I be well? I'm hereto get to cases. You've been writing me fine letters lately, Maria,easy to read, and the spelling getting more usual every day."
"Thank you, Mr. Barnes."
"But letters ain't no good when folks has really got anything to say.So I'm here to ask when it is going to be?"
"What going to be?"
"You said you was going to marry me, didn't you?"
"Well--I--yes--I did."
"Then what's the use of jiggling?"
"I ain't jiggling," she spoke, with great indignation. "I don't knowwhat jiggling is, but I ain't doin' it."
"I get a month off ther first of May. Let's call it May the second;will yer, Maria?"
"I--I'd love to do it, Mr. Barnes. I'd love to do it awful well,but--but who's to take care of him?"
"I know, but, Maria, don't you think you'd rather take care of me?"
"But him!" Maria was very much in earnest and very anxious for thishero of hers to fully understand. "You know all he's done for me. Ifit hadn't been for him and his, I'd be just nothing at all, instead ofbein' what I am, an' goin' to marry a real high-class man like you.I--I'm afraid you'll have to wait, Mr. Barnes," she added veryregretfully. "I'm awfully sorry, but I couldn't leave him all alone!"
He looked at her for a moment with as close an approach to a frown aswas possible for his face to assume, and something very like a threatof jealousy in his voice.
"Sometimes, Maria, I believe you love that old Doctor of yours morethan you do me!"
"I don't know. Maybe I do, but it ain't the same. You see, he needsme, because he's old and sick, and all alone, and you--just look atyourself--red-faced, an' strong, an' jolly, an' handsome. You may wantme, Mr. Barnes, but you don't need nobody."
Mr. Barnes tried to assume an injured look at this, but only succeededin grinning cheerfully, so he gave it up, and decided to make the bestof things. His life in the Navy had taught him the virtue of loyalty,and in his heart he loved all the better for her devotion.
"Well, Maria, you're the boss. I ain't kicking, but it's tough. Nevermind; you get off to-night, and we'll have a good time, anyhow. I'lltake you to the Hippodrome."
"Oh! Won't that be fine? I can get away all right, because Dr.Crossett is here, and they wouldn't want me around anyway. We'll havethe best time in the world!"
Whatever disappointment the sailor might have felt was overshadowed byher happiness, and he started to describe in advance some of thewonders they were to see that night, when a ring at the bellinterrupted them.
"Darn the door," exclaimed Maria rather emphatically. "You wait heretill I see who it is." As she started toward the hall Barnes tried tokiss her, but she avoided him laughingly, and turned at the door,looking back at him and shaking her head reproachfully.
"You ought to be ashamed, Mr. Barnes. You sailors are awful!"
She left the room, Barnes looking after her, very much flattered. Likeother bashful men, the idea that he was looked upon as a dangerousladies' man was enough to make him completely happy; had he beencalled a brave fellow he would have taken it quite as a matter ofcourse.
At the door Maria found John Dorris, and as she admitted him hestopped to ask anxiously,
"How is he to-day?"
Since John's return from his unsuccessful journey he had done his bestto keep in touch with the Doctor, although he had the feeling that hispresence was not always quite welcome, or at least that the sight ofhim did more to remind the Doctor of Lola and to disturb him than itdid to bring him any comfort.
"He's going to be better," Maria answered. "Dr. Crossett is here!"
"Good!" John was greatly relieved. He knew that to no one in the worldwould Dr. Barnhelm be so willing to turn for help as to this oldfriend, and he felt that with all his skill, and with his great love,Dr. Crossett might be able to see a way to ease the old man's mind andpersuade him to give up his growing habit of moody solitude.
"This is--is a friend of mine, sir, Mr. Barnes," said Maria bashfully,as they entered the front room and saw Barnes standing there.
"No! Not _the_ Mr. Barnes," cried John, greatly pleased.
"Yes."
"I am glad to know you, Mr. Barnes. Very glad!" John shook hands withhim heartily, noting with approval his frank, open countenance and hishonest, homely manner. "I have heard a lot about you, and I like allthat I have heard."
"Thank you, sir."
"We are all of us very fond of Maria," continued John. "I wonder ifyou realize what a lucky fellow you are. There are not many girls likeMaria."
"Thank you, sir," responded Mr. Barnes heartily. "One of 'em is enoughfor me."
Dr. Crossett, followed by Nellie and Mrs. Mooney, whom he had foundpatiently waiting in the kitchen, came into the room, the Doctorholding Nellie by the hand and looking at her with pride.
"John!"
He cried out in surprise and joy, and took his hand as helistened to John's warm greeting. "I am so glad to see you, my boy,and look, look at little Nellie here. Her arm is well. I have neverseen a cure more complete." His eyes fell upon Barnes, who wasshuffling from one foot to another in an agony of embarrassment. "Ah!"The Doctor knew him at once. "Maria! A sailor! Not the famous Mr.Barnes?"
"Yes, sir," answered Maria proudly.
"I am glad to see you." The Doctor took his hand as cordially as hewould that of an old friend. "You know, Mr. Barnes, I had my doubtsabout there really being any such person. I feared you were a Mrs.Harris."
"No, sir; Barnes is my right name."
Maria had been made very happy by the doctors and John's kindness toher lover, but she had no idea of allowing him to bore them, and sheknew that these two would have many things to say to one another.
"Now, Mr. Barnes, you go along with Nellie and Mrs. Mooney. They arefriends of mine. You can come back here for me about half past seven."
"I'll be here," he answered. "Good day, good day, gentlemen."
"Good day, Doctor. Go on, Nellie!" Mrs. Mooney took her two charges tothe door, then turned for a final look at Dr. Crossett. "You see,Doctor," she nodded proudly toward Nellie, "you had it right. Just asgood as any of 'em!"
"Excuse me, Doctor." Maria followed them to the door. "He shouldn'thave come here at all, but you know what men are."
When the door closed, and John found himself alone with Dr. Crossett,he turned to him inquiringly.
"Well, Doctor, what do you think?"
"Of him?"
"Yes."
"Sit down, my boy. I must talk with you."
After they were seated, the Doctor went on gravely. "He is in a badstate. I do not understand. I came here expecting to find grief. Ifind instead fear--horror."
"I have felt that from the first," responded John. "I have tried to beof help to him, but when I am here he seems to be more nervous than inmy absence. He never mentions her name, never asks for her."
"Tell me of her, John."
"She went away with that man, Dick Fenway," John began. "He took herfirst to Atlantic City with a party of his friends. I followed them;you know that. What I would have done if I had found them I don'tknow--killed him perhaps, but I am not sure. Later there was a scandalabout them at Narragansett Pier, and she left him."
"Left him?"
"For another man--a man old enough to be her father and rich enough togrant every wish of her heart. Oh, it's a hellish thing to talk about,Doctor. I met this Dick Fenway about that time, and upon my word I wasalmost sorry for the little beast. He loved her in his way; God knowshow much of the fault was his; I can't pretend to say. The wholemiserable business sickens me, but every detail, every word ofscandal, every report of her growing extravagance and moraldegradation stays in my mind!"
"I know." The Doctor put his hand gently on John's arm, and after amoment John continued:
"Wherever she goes the papers are full of her exploits. She has beenthrough scandal after scandal, and has come out more daring, morereckless than before. A month ago I saw her. She was crossing Broadwayin a great touring car. She saw me and"--John's voice broke--"and--shelaughed."
"You love her, John?"
"Yes. I am ashamed to say so, but I do."
"My boy, I loved her mother like that long after my love was hopeless.I knew her well; how this evil ever fell upon a child of hers I cannotunderstand."
They were silent a moment, John thinking of Lola, Dr. Crossett of themother, who, thank God, was not here to feel the shame of this. Herdeath had been a hard blow to him, harder even than the marriage thathad taken her away from him forever, but to-day he was glad that shewas dead. John began again, his sorrow finding the only relief it hadknown in the sympathy of this good friend.
"If I had ever seen a trace of it in her I could bear it better, butshe was so good, so pure, that she used to frighten me. I never saw alook in her face that you would not see on the face of a happy,innocent child, until----"
"Well?"
John hesitated; in his mind there was a thought that he dared not putinto words. Even to himself he had not dared to express it, but thisman was wise; if there could be any truth in the wild idea that hadforced itself into his brain here was a man who would know.
"She was always the same, Doctor, always, until that night, the firsttime I saw her after--after she was--hurt, the change began then; fromthat hour----"
"Oh!" He looked up, startled by a moan of terror, of horror, and sawthat Maria had entered the room with a tea-tray in her hands. She wasstanding now, white as a dead woman, her eyes fixed upon the door. Heturned to follow her frightened gaze, and as he did so a namelessdread came over him. He saw the door open slowly, very slowly, and awoman's figure standing quietly on the threshold; he did not need toraise his eyes; he did not need the frightened cry from Maria nor theDoctor's sharp exclamation; he knew, and knowing he slowly raised hishead and looked into her face.