vera, the medium-第22章

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frightened　sigh；　again　began。　〃I　am　an　old　man；〃　he　murmured；　〃a
sick　man。　I　will　be　joining　you　very　soon。　what　am　I　to　do　with
my　money？　I　have　made　great　plans　to　give　it　to　the　poor。　Or；
must　I　give　it；　as　I　have　given　it　in　my　will；　to　Helen？　Perhaps
I　did　not　act　fairly　to　you　and　Helen。　You　know　what　I　mean。　She
would　be　rich；　but　then　the　poor　would　be　that　much　the　poorer。〃
The　confidence　of　the　speaker　was　increasing；　as　though　to　a
living　being；　he　argued　and　pleaded。　〃And　I　want　to　do　some　good
before　I　go。　What　shall　I　do？　Tell　me。〃

There　was　a　pause　that　lasted　so　long　that　those　who　had　held
their　breath　to　listen；　again　breathed　deeply。　When　the　answer
came；　it　was　strangely　deprecatory；　uncertain；　unassured。

〃You；〃　stammered　the　voice；　〃you　must　have　courage　to　do　what
you　know　to　be　just！〃

For　a　brief　moment；　as　though　surprised；　Mr。　Hallowell
apparently　considered　this；　and　then　gave　an　exclamation　of
disappointment　and　distress。

〃But　I　don't　know；〃　he　protested；　〃that　is　why　I　called　on　you。
I　want　to　go　into　the　next　world；　Kate；〃　he　pleaded；　〃with　clean
hands！〃

〃You　cannot　bribe　your　way　into　the　next　world；〃　intoned　the
voice。　〃If　you　pity　the　poor；　you　must　help　the　poor；　not　that
you　may　cheat　your　way　into　heaven；　but　that　they　may　suffer
less。　Search　your　conscience。　Have　the　courage　of　your
conscience。〃

〃I　don't　want　to　consult　my　conscience；〃　cried　the　old　man。　〃I
want　you　to　tell　me。〃　He　paused；　hesitating。　Eager　to　press　his
question；　his　awe　of　the　apparition　still　restrained　him。

〃What　do　you　mean；　Kate？〃　he　begged。　Am　I　to　give　the　money
where　it　will　do　the　most　good　　to　the　Hallowell　Institute；　or
am　I　to　give　it　to　Helen？　Which　am　I　to　do？〃

There　was　another　long　silence；　and　then　the　voice　stammered；
〃If　　if　you　have　wronged　me；　or　my　daughter；　or　the　poor；　you
must　make　restitution。〃

The　hand　of　the　old　man　was　heard　to　fall　heavily　upon　the　arm
of　his　chair。　His　voice　rose　unhappily。

〃That　is　no　answer；　Kate！〃　he　cried。　〃Did　you　come　from　the　dead
to　preach　to　me？　Tell　me　　what　am　I　to　do　　leave　my　money　to
Helen；　or　to　the　Institute？〃

The　cry　of　the　old　man　vibrated　in　the　air。　No　voice　rose　to
answer。　〃Kate！〃　he　entreated。　Still　there　was　silence。　〃Speak　to
me！〃　he　commanded。　The　silence　became　eloquent　with　momentous
possibilities。　So　long　did　it　endure；　that　the　pain　of　the
suspense　was　actual。　The　voice　of　Rainey；　choked　and　hoarse　with
fear；　broke　it　with　an　exclamation　that　held　the　sound　of　an
oath。　He　muttered　thickly；　〃What　in　the　name　of　　〃

He　was　hushed　by　a　swift　chorus　of　hisses。　The　voice　of
Hallowell　was　again　uplifted。

〃Why　won't　she　answer　me？〃　he　begged　hysterically　of　Vance。
〃Can't　you　　can't　the　medium　make　her　speak？〃

During　the　last　few　moments　the　music　from　the　organ　had　come
brokenly。　The　hands　upon　the　keys　moved　unsteadily；　drunkenly。
Now　they　halted　altogether　and　in　the　middle　of　a　chord　the
music　sank　and　died。　Upon　the　now　absolute　silence　the　voice　of
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