On the following evening, just as early as the rules of propriety would permit, Mr. McGowan turned into the private road that led up to the Fox estate. He walked slowly along the wide avenue beneath the spreading elms and stately chestnuts. He had dined with the Elder many times during the few months he had been in the village, but on those other occasions Elizabeth had been absent. The house had always seemed cold and forbidding both outside and inside. As he came out of the shaded roadway into the sweeping semicircle described before the main entrance to the house, he caught himself wondering if the stiff interior would seem softened by the presence of the girl. He began at once to chide himself for entertaining such a sentimental notion, but before he could finish the rebuke the door swung back, and Elizabeth Fox stood in the opening. She was dressed in a simple blue frock of clinging stuff, which “Good evening, Mr. McGowan. We are so glad you could come. Father will be right down.” The minister’s emotions played leap-frog with his heart, and he stumbled awkwardly on the upper step. He made some stupidly obvious observation concerning the condition of the weather as he followed his hostess into the library. He realized that he was acting strangely for one who had reached the supposedly practical view of life where all sentiment is barred from social intercourse with the fair sex, but he also realized that he was powerless to check the surge of what he now felt within. With kaleidoscopic rapidity there flashed through his mind every occasion when he had been with Miss Fox, from the first meeting beneath the elm-tree in the Captain’s yard to the present time, and he recognized what it was that had sent scurrying his practical views of life. He was in love, not Elizabeth had preceded him into the library, and was standing motionless before the mantel. She became suddenly aware of what was going on within the mind of Mr. McGowan, and a shy embarrassment crept into her eyes. Simultaneously, an unreasoning determination took possession of the minister. Unconsciously, he began to move in her direction, unmindful of the sound of footfalls on the stair. Only one step remained between Mr. McGowan and Elizabeth when Elder Fox entered the room. “I trust I’m not intruding–––” The Elder began nervously to stroke his chops. His breath came heavily, shutting off his words. A hunted look leaped into his eyes Mr. McGowan drew off to the far end of the mantel, and began, figuratively, to kick himself. He had often declared that a man in love was the biggest mule on earth, and now here he was, the king of them all, a genuine descendant of “I––I beg your pardon,” he stammered. “There is no occasion for excuses,” graciously replied the girl. “Father, Mr. McGowan and I were–––” She paused, blushing in confusion. “Really, Mr. McGowan, what were we saying?” She laughed, and it was so infectious that the men forgot to look serious, and joined with her. “I should say––er––that you have put the It was not long till they were called to table, and in the discussion of parish matters the strangeness of the Elder’s action was for the time being relegated to the background. “You have doubtless heard a hundred times to-day how proud we all were of the way you answered the questions yesterday,” commented the Elder enthusiastically. “You showed a fine spirit, too, sir, one––er––which some of the older men might well emulate.” “I feel greatly indebted to you, Mr. Fox, for the final outcome.” The Elder waved his hand as though lightly to brush aside such words of praise, and yet in the same movement he modestly acknowledged “I might also add, that we are delighted with the work you are doing at the church,” continued the Elder magnanimously. “It is––er––very good. Though I am still a little dubious about your associations down at the club, still–––” “Father’s ambition is to have all the pews filled,” broke in Elizabeth, attempting to divert her father from a delicate topic. “No, my dear. That is hardly my position. There must never be a sacrificing of principle, even for the sake of full pews. A full church––er––is not the most important part of parish work. Am I not right, Mr. McGowan?” “Quite right, if that is the end sought in itself.” “I am convinced from what you said yesterday that you will furnish us––er––with both. I am confidently looking forward to one of our most prosperous years.” “Both?” queried the minister. “Yes. I am old-fashioned enough to believe in the need of––er––the saving power of “You think Little River needs reforming, Father?” “That is exactly the point I make: it is more than reformation we need, it is conversion. Take the Athletic Club, for example. Will reform stop them? No, sir, no more than a straw-stack would stop a tornado. They need––er––a mighty thunderbolt from heaven, and I hope that you will let God use you, sir, as the transmitting agency.” A picture of himself occupying the place of Zeus, holding in his hand the lightnings of heaven, flitted through the minister’s mind. He smiled faintly. Elizabeth evidently caught what was in the young man’s mind, for she met his glance with a merry twinkle. “Really, Father, don’t you think Mr. McGowan would look out of place as a lightning-rod, even on Little River Church?” “I was speaking figuratively, my dear,” “I don’t think that is fair, Father. The church is not wholly without blame for what those boys have done,” declared Elizabeth emphatically. “What did we do to keep them from going out and organizing as they have?” “No doubt we did make mistakes in the beginning, but our errors do not atone for their sins.” “But, Father–––” “There, Beth, never mind. We can never agree on that point, and we should not entangle Mr. McGowan in our differences. I only hope he will do all in his power to make them see the sinfulness of their ways.” Conversation turned into other channels under the direction of Elizabeth. They were discussing modern fiction when the door at the end of the hall swung back with a bang and a loud halloo echoed through the house. “Harold!” cried Elizabeth. “When did you come?” “Just now. Didn’t my war-whoop announce me?” “But how did you get over from Little River station?” “Walked.” “Why didn’t you telephone? I’d have come over to meet you.” “Needed the exercise. Hello, Dad.” The Elder greeted the young man with a cold nod. His hand trembled slightly as he stiffly extended it. “We are just a short time at table. Will you join us?” “Be glad to, Dad. I’m starved,” he declared, eyeing the minister as he drew up a chair. “Oh, Mr. McGowan, please excuse us!” cried Elizabeth. “This is my brother. Harold, this is our new minister, Reverend Mr. “Delighted to meet you, Mr. McGowan,” cordially greeted Harold. “Heard of you before I got in sight of the house.” The young men gripped each other’s hands. Consternation took possession of the Elder. Had his son fully understood? “Mr. McGowan is the minister at our little church,” he said significantly. “That’s what Beth just said. Didn’t I say the right thing to him, Dad? Want me to start all over again like I had to when I was a kid?” He eyed the minister with a curious expression as they took their seats about the table. “Maybe Dad wants me to repeat some verses to you. Used to do it and get patted on the head.” Mr. McGowan laughed heartily, but the Elder showed his displeasure. “That will do, Harold,” he commanded sternly. “I shall not allow profane jesting about sacred things in my house.” “Closet next, is it? Never mind, Dad, I’ll try not to shock you again. Haven’t had much hankering for closets since I got shut up in that hole over in Sydney. They called it a prison, but it was more like a potato-pit than anything else.” “Sydney?” questioned the minister. “Yes, Australia. You see, Mr. McGowan, I was a real prodigal for more than two years. Chased out to California after I graduated from Yale, and got mixed up out there in another fellow’s scrape. To save my skin I shipped on a freighter to Australia. Over there I tried to save another poor devil from the lock-up, and got in bad with the authorities. Yes, I was a real prodigal, always trying to help the other fellow out of trouble and getting the worst end of it every time. The only difference between me and the Bible chap was that Father did not heap treasure on me when I left, and didn’t kill the fatted calf when I returned.” During this recital the Elder had fidgeted to the end of his chair. “I cannot see, son, why you persist in telling of your wickedness “I acknowledge that, Dad, but the closet idea suggested it to my mind. Then, perhaps, it’s not a bad idea for Mr. McGowan to know the worst side of me first. I spent about a week in that hole they called a prison,” he said turning to the minister, “and seven days there couldn’t be very easily effaced from my memory unless I went bugs and had an awful lapse. But the result was not so bad, for that place proved to be my swine-pen where I came to myself. It was just about as much like a pig-sty as any place I ever didn’t sleep in.... Do you happen to know anything about Sydney, Mr. McGowan?” “Not much. I know it’s quite a trading center, but most of my information is second-hand.” “It is the best trading center on the Australian coast. An odd case came to the office from there last week. You know, perhaps, that I’m a member of the Starr and Jordan law firm in New York. Well, our branch office in Sydney referred this case to our office Elder Fox had been listening intently, and at mention of the proposed trip he grew pale. “I––er––should not go if I were you, Harold. They may arrest you again. The police of Australia have a way of remembering things against former prisoners.” “How do you know so much about the police of Australia?” “I’ve read it, sir,” hastily explained the Elder. “But I’ve got to go, Dad. They’ll not pinch me. They found the right chap before they let me go, and couldn’t do enough for me when they discovered their mistake.... You say you’ve never visited Sydney, Mr. McGowan?” “I was born there. But I don’t remember anything about the place, as we moved away when I was a mere lad. I’ve often heard my father speak about it. He was a trader there in the early days.” “May I see your father to-night?” asked Harold eagerly. “He may be able to save me a trip over. Where does he live?” “He is not living. He and Mother both “I beg your pardon,” apologized Harold. “I didn’t know. I’m so anxious to get news of this man that I rush in where angels would fear to tread.” “That is perfectly all right. It’s no more than natural that you should think he would be able to help you in your search.” “Yes. He could have doubtless given me valuable information concerning the traders of his day, and thus have put me on the trail of my client. This man was arrested on some charge trumped up by two scamps, but was later released and exonerated. They’d arrest a man over there for looking at his own watch if he happened to cross his eyes while doing it. At the time when my client was in trouble the convict-ships were in business.” The Elder dropped back from the edge of his chair which he had held since the beginning of the conversation. He gave his son a look of dumb appeal. With an effort he straightened and glared vacantly across the table. “I was aboard the convict-ship Success while she was in the New York harbor this spring,” commented the minister. “I don’t see how civilized men could think out so many different modes of torture and remain civilized, let alone human.” “Nor I. I was aboard the old tub, too. That was the ship my client was on. It was when she first came out.” The Elder was acting queerly. “Dad, what’s wrong?” asked Harold, with concern. “Nothing,––er––nothing. Only I do wish you would not take this trip. Can’t you send some one else?” “I’m afraid not. You see, I’m not my own boss. No, Dad, I can’t get out of it.” Harold had never seen his father so concerned for his welfare, and it greatly affected him. “They won’t trouble me, not in the least. To ease your mind I’ll go under an assumed name, if you say so. But I must get my data at the source concerning this man Adoniah Phillips, if–––” The Elder was sipping his coffee, and his cup fell into the saucer with a crash, breaking both fragile pieces into fragments. The contents were sprayed over the linen, and drops stained the Elder’s white waistcoat. “Father!” cried Elizabeth. “What is the matter? You are ill!” He did not answer. He turned an ashen face toward Mr. McGowan, and with a wild stare studied that young man’s face. The two men sprang to the old man’s assistance, but as the minister reached out his hand Mr. Fox gave a startled cry and threw up his arm as though to ward off a blow. “Go back to your seats!” ordered the Elder thickly. “Do not mind me. I’m all right, or shall be in a few seconds.” He fought helplessly for self-control. “Come, Dad, you must go to your room,” declared Harold, taking his father tightly by the arm. “I’m not ill, sir,” answered the father, stubbornly. “But it might be as well for me to retire from the table. You need not trouble, Mr. Fox drew his handkerchief across his perspiring forehead, and dazedly eyed the stained cloth. “I’m sorry, Beth, very sorry I was so awkward.” “Don’t mind the cloth, Father,” begged the girl tearfully. “You remain with Mr. McGowan, Beth. I shall soon be quite myself. Fainting spell, I guess.” Harold led his father from the room. Elizabeth turned to the minister. “Oh, Mr. McGowan! Is it––do you think–––Oh! I can’t say it! It’s too awful!” “We must telephone for the doctor at once. It may be serious.” “Then, you do think it’s a stroke! What shall we do!” Mr. McGowan telephoned for the doctor, and when he arrived he sent him at once to the Elder’s room. The physician entered unannounced, stopped short on the threshold, and Elizabeth met the doctor as he came down the stair. “Miss Fox, will you be kind enough to tell me if your father has had bad news, or sudden grief?” “Not that I know of, Doctor. Harold had just told him that he must start for Australia to-morrow when Father nearly fainted. That is all that happened.” “Then, I see no occasion for this. There is nothing organically wrong so far as I can discover. But I shall take his blood pressure to-morrow just to be on the safe side. Call me any time during the night if anything out of the ordinary happens. Keep him perfectly quiet. Good night.” Harold called Elizabeth from the head of the stair. “Excuse me, Mr. McGowan. I shall send my brother right down.” “Please, don’t do that. Your father will need you both. I shall be going.” “I’m so sorry!” she exclaimed, offering her “I shall call in the morning to inquire about your father.” “Thank you. Good night.” “Good night.” Mr. McGowan took his hat from the hall-tree and left the house. As he walked very slowly through the avenue of trees a strange passage from the Bible kept tantalizing his attention. “Behold, a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone.... Then there was no breath in them.... Then from the four winds the breath came into them, and they lived.” Half provoked for allowing these words to arouse suspicion, he tried to cast them out. But the effect of them remained. He had witnessed the coming together of the dry bones of a past. Were the four winds from the four corners of the earth to give them life? Had he unwittingly helped to furnish the dry bones with breath? He had gone but a short distance when he heard footsteps behind him. |