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Becky Saletan, publisher of the adult trade division, will leave next week in a sign of further unraveling at the publisher.

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Mr. Friedlaender was a book-loving lawyer and financial adviser whose collection of early printed books caused a stir in bibliophilic circles when it went to auction.

Stanford Eveleth - Miss Dexie

S >> Stanford Eveleth >> Miss Dexie




With a quick movement Hugh dropped the curtain behind him and came forward
with outstretched hands.

"You cannot keep me away, Dexie. You refused to let me in at the door, but
you forgot the secret passage in the attic. My darling! I did not intend to
frighten you!" noticing for the first time how terrified she looked. "I
only came to ask your forgiveness."

He reached out his hands to catch her, but he was too late, for, as he
spoke, she fell in a heap on the floor in a dead faint. With trembling
hands Hugh lifted the unconscious form to the little sofa, and kneeling
beside her bent over her, chaffing her hands and calling her by all the
tender names which he had only dared to give her in his heart; and the
pent-up emotions of weeks found relief in a shower of kisses, which rained
on the upturned face and ruffled hair that framed it like a glory. It was
very wrong of him, to be sure; but the man who is famishing, and who steals
the loaf that will put life into his starving body, should not be severely
dealt with, and Hugh's hungry heart was sadly in need of some satisfying
food.

Dexie's faint lasted so long that Hugh began to feel alarmed, yet he could
not think of calling to Nancy for help. Not for anything would he have her
know that he had dared to enter the house in this clandestine manner, and
he knew Dexie would feel vexed enough if anyone should find him there with
her; so he hastily opened the nearest chamber door, and securing the
water-pitcher on the stand, he bathed the white face until the quivering
eyelids told that consciousness was returning. A few minutes later Dexie
opened her eyes, and seeing Hugh still beside her she tried to raise
herself, but sank back again on the sofa.

"Leave me at once!" she said, faintly. "Oh! I feel so sick! Go, I say."

"I cannot leave you until I see you better, Dexie. I will not touch you
again, so do not be afraid of me."

Dexie felt too helpless even to object, so she laid back with closed eyes,
wondering what had come over her just when she needed to be strong and
bold. At last, when the silence was beginning to be unbearable to both of
them, she opened her eyes, and Hugh, seeing her efforts to rise, gently
helped her to a sitting posture, then seated himself in the chair beside
her.

"Why did you come here, Mr. McNeil?" looking at him with offended eyes. "It
is unfair to persecute me in this way."

"Forgive me for coming, then, but I had no thought of persecuting you. I
heard news to-day that troubled me, and I was not strong enough to resist
the temptation of coming to see you once more, when I found you were not at
the party."

Dexie sat with tight-clasped hands, but said not a word, and Hugh saw no
relenting look in the dark eyes that looked almost black in their
intensity.

"Dexie, you are displeased with me, and justly so, for my mad behavior in
the boat, but I have longed for the chance to ask your forgiveness, and I
went to Mrs. Beverly's to-night solely to ask it of you. Dexie, your heart
is not as hard as you would have me think, for I know whose kind hands
helped Mrs. Gurney during my illness, and how you watched beside me when
others were too terrified to be of service."

Still no response from the white lips, for Dexie's heart was throbbing too
fast to allow of speech.

"I am going away, Dexie--somewhere--it matters little where--so bear with
me, for this is the last time I shall see you alone. I cannot stay here,
knowing that others have obtained the happiness I longed for," and looking
into her face, he added: "Is it really true, Dexie, that you are going to
marry Lancy? I heard it to-day as a fact."

A deep flush spread over the face that before was so deathly white, and not
wishing Hugh to think there was any doubt about the matter she drew from
her neck the gold chain, and, as she held up the ring, said in a low tone:
"Is that enough to convince you?"

"No, Dexie, it is not, for you would not hesitate to wear the ring in its
proper place if you felt sure of your own heart."

"If I was not sure before, I am now!" and in an instant the ring was
flashing on her finger, and her eyes were lit up by an angry gleam. She
wondered how it was that Hugh always seemed to bring up her worst feelings.
She was angry, and she did not attempt to hide it.

"You have no right to speak to me like that! You have no right even to seek
me here against my will! I have plenty of unpleasant memories of you
already, so be kind enough to go home! When I remember that boat sail, your
very presence seems an insult."

"Dexie, I did not mean to vex you again, but it is not my fault that your
memory is full of unpleasant happenings in connection with me. Fate seems
against me," said he, with a sigh, "but, Dexie, let us part friends," and
he rose from his seat and stood beside her.

But the firm, closed mouth gave no promise of yielding until Hugh dropped
beside her on the sofa, and in a voice choking with emotion made one
further appeal.

"Dexie, if you could but picture the anguish of my heart when I returned
that day to the vessel with other help than mine, and found no trace of
you, I think that even you would admit that I suffered enough for my
madness and folly; and since I have been sick, memory has given me many a
weary hour and adds many a thrust to wounds that are almost unbearable. It
is hard to give up all hope and face the dreary future without you, for you
have robbed my life of all happiness. If I must be sent hopeless away, tell
me, at least, that the unfortunate past is forgiven; it would make it
easier to bear."

His voice had grown soft, and his eager, pleading tone was hard to resist.

Dexie felt her anger giving place to a feeling of pity.

"I do not forgive easily, I fear, Mr. McNeil," said she, in a low tone,
"but I will try and think less bitterly of that unpleasant affair in the
future. I would be sorry to think that I had, even unintentionally, spoiled
your life; but you will not feel so low-spirited when you get stronger. The
best years of your life are yet before you, and I will soon drop out of
your memory as entirely as if you had never known me. Forget me as soon as
you can; that is the best wish I can give you."

"Ah! Dexie, that proves that you do not know what true love really is! When
your heart awakens, as it surely will sometime, you will know how cruel you
have been to me. Well, you have told me to go, and I suppose I must; but
it is hard--hard to leave you so! Do we part friends?" and he held out his
hand as he rose to his feet again.

"Yes, I think so," and she gave him her hand, "but I hope you will not come
here any more; it is unpleasant for both of us."

"And this is to be our good-bye! It is hard to give you up, my darling!"
and he held her hand as if he would never let it go. "I wonder if I shall
ever see you again!"

"Mr. McNeil, I have not troubled you with many favors, so I think you might
grant me one. Please do not leave the Gurneys just now; on my account, I
mean. We are going away from Halifax so soon ourselves, and I know it will
be a disappointment to them if you leave just now. I am sure they do not
wish you to go away until you are stronger. They have all been so kind to
me, I wish you would not make any change until we are gone."

"That is a great temptation, Dexie, coming from you; but a few weeks of
your presence, even though I may not see you, will be heaven itself,
compared to the life I must spend without you. I may, perhaps, see you
again."

"No! Not alone, at least! Let this be good-bye, Mr. McNeil," and she tried
to draw away her hands.

But he drew her close to him, and giving one long, earnest look into her
eyes, he lifted her hands to his lips and pressed a burning kiss upon them;
then the curtain dropped behind him.

Dexie stood where Hugh had left her for some minutes, listening to his
retreating footsteps as he disappeared up the attic stairs, then sank down
in the chair Hugh had occupied, and buried her face in her hands. There was
a tumult in her heart that required some deep thinking before she would
feel like herself again. Thoughts had arisen that had disquieted her. Hugh
had told her that her heart had not yet awakened; was it so? Why, then, was
she wearing Lancy's ring? She blushed as she pulled it hastily off, hiding
it on her chain like a guilty thing.

The story she had been reading, and which she had thought so overdrawn,
came into her mind; it had pleased her because she had thought it so
delightfully unreal. But had there not been passages in her own life quite
as romantic in their nature as that which seemed so interesting when read
out of a story-book.

Her heart had not yet awakened! How those words seemed to repeat themselves
over and over as she sat.

Had she awakened Hugh's heart only to disappoint him? Well, she had not
intended nor wished to do it; but he was very much in earnest, and she was
sorry. She sighed as she rose from her chair and picked up the book that
still lay on the floor, but she had lost all interest in the story; so she
threw it carelessly on the table and went downstairs to await the coming of
the rest, her thoughts still busy over the problems that Hugh's unexpected
visit had aroused.

Dexie found that the party had not improved Gussie's temper, for she came
home with many complaints as to how she had been neglected.

"I wish you had gone," she said spitefully to Dexie. "I was sick and tired
of hearing people ask where you were, and why you had not come, and there
was not a soul there that I cared to talk to, even Mr. McNeil disappeared,
no one knows where."

Dexie colored slightly as her father regarded her curiously; no further
mention was made of the matter at the time. Mr. Sherwood, however, was not
surprised when, a short time after, someone came behind him, and, with arms
around his neck, confessed in his ear that "Mr. McNeil had been in to see
her, but had come in through the attic, because he was not allowed in by
the door, and that they had quarrelled a little, but parted friends," and
ended by asking him "not to tell mamma, for fear Gussie might get hold of
it."

"Poor little girl, she has quite a time of it among them," her father said
as she left him; "yet I think I can safely leave it all with herself."




CHAPTER XXXIII.


"Only one week more and we must say good-bye to dear old Halifax," said
Dexie one morning, as she hurriedly made her toilet.

"Well, I am glad of it, for it is cold enough here this morning to freeze a
bear," replied Gussie from among the blankets.

"Oh! Gussie, the ground is covered with snow, and it is still snowing,"
said Dexie, joyfully, as she raised the window curtain. "Oh, I do hope it
will last until we can have one more sleigh drive," and she ran downstairs
singing like a lark.

All day the snow kept falling in large heavy flakes, but towards evening
the weather turned clear and frosty. Then the merry jingle of sleigh-bells
could be heard on every side, for everyone who could was taking advantage
of this, the first sleighing of the season.

Lancy had no trouble in getting Dexie to promise him her company for a
sleigh drive, but he was planning for a private little drive in a single
sleigh, with only room for two; while Dexie, not quite so sentimentally
inclined, was hoping to make it a jolly sleighing party, in which a number
should participate. She had watched Lancy as he drove away to the store in
the large open sleigh which was termed "the delivery team," and a few
whispered words to Elsie were hint enough.

A short time before Lancy could be expected home, Dexie and Elsie, well
wrapped in furs, were making their way towards Mr. Gurney's store on
Granville Street; but meeting Maud Harrington and Fanny Beverly, they
stopped a moment to speak to them.

"Which way are you going, girls?" Dexie asked, her eyes sparkling with
mischief.

"We are on our way home, just now," said Fanny, "but it is a wonder that
you girls are not taking advantage of the sleighing, when it will last only
a day or two at the most."

"Oh! we expect to have a drive later on," said Elsie. "Be on the lookout
for us, and if you are not over-fastidious as to the style of the turnout,
there will be a chance for you to have a drive as well."

"Oh! I'll not refuse a sleigh-drive; I would accept a seat on a bob-sled
rather than miss the first sleighing," said Fanny, with a laugh.

Lancy was surprised when Dexie and his sister made their appearance in the
store; but as Dexie carried some parcels with her, he supposed she had been
out to do some shopping.

"I am almost ready to go home, girls, so sit down and wait for me," he
said, as he brought forward some seats, "and if you will accept a drive in
the delivery, it will save you the walk home."

Of course they would wait and drive back with him; so Lancy went out and
placed some temporary seats in the big sleigh, making them soft and
comfortable by the aid of rugs and robes.

"Are you coming back with us, Hugh?" as Hugh made his appearance from the
booking-room.

"Well--yes--if I may," and he looked over to the window where Dexie was
standing, as if to ask her permission.

"Well, there is plenty of room, Mr. McNeil," she said, with a smile, "so
you won't crowd us."

Lancy helped Dexie into the seat beside himself, so Hugh and Elsie took the
seat behind.

"Really, this is very comfortable, Lancy," said Dexie, as they flew along
the street. "I don't see what better accommodation one could ask than this.
Don't drive straight home; let us have our drive without changing the
sleigh," she added, in a low voice.

"No, I want you alone; there is too much room here to please me," he
replied, with a smile.

"Oh! stop a minute, Lancy," cried Elsie, a moment later. "There is Maud
Harrington and Fanny Beverly; I want to speak to them. Do ask them to come
for a drive."

"Elsie, are you crazy?--in this sleigh? Good evening, ladies" (this to the
laughing girls on the sidewalk). "I am delivering some lively freight, you
see. Don't you admire my turnout?"

"Yes; it is superb. May we get on board?"

"Well, if you would care to--I don't mind," was the hesitating reply; "but
I have nothing but boards for seats, you know."

"Oh! no matter. The first sleigh-drive of the season is always the most
enjoyable, no matter what sort of a sleigh carries you along."

Lancy soon had them seated as comfortably as circumstances would permit,
and they drove off with many expressions of delight.

"Turn up Spring Garden Road, Lancy," said Hugh, entering into the spirit of
the fun; "perhaps we will meet another friend or two who would enjoy a
spin."

Presently they came up with Fred Beverly and May Deblois, as they were
stepping briskly along the sidewalk, who started in surprise as the sleigh
drove up and they recognized the occupants.

"Will you have a drive?" was Lancy's greeting.

"Most willingly," replied Fred, laughing. "Really, this is kind of you,
Gurney, to give your friends a drive on the first snow."

"Oh! you need not give _me_ any credit, for you had better believe I never
intended to form a sleighing party when I started out with _this_ team."

"Unexpected blessings thankfully received," said Fred, laughing. "The going
is fine, but it won't last long, unfortunately."

On they went, their merry laughter chiming with the jingling of the sleigh
bells, and more than one person turned to look after them with a feeling of
envy.

"Oh! that was Mrs. Gordon we just passed at the corner," said Elsie, in a
whisper. "How horrified she would be if she knew who we were!"

"Do let us call for Nina," said Dexie; "there is room for one more, and I'm
sure she would enjoy it."

"But she would not consider it 'the correct thing,'" said Fred, with a
laugh, "so you would have your trouble for nothing."

"Oh, I am sure she would _love_ to come! do let me run in and ask her!" she
urged, as they neared the house. "Ten to one she will not come until her
mamma comes home to tell her if it is 'the correct thing' or not," said
Fred, teasingly.

"Yes, that will be just it; she will not know what to wear for this special
occasion, and it is a pity to lose a moment of this beautiful evening,"
said Fanny.

"I'll run the risk, and stand responsible for 'the correct thing' this
time," said Dexie; "so do let me out, Lancy. Give me three minutes, and I
will return with or without her."

Dexie had noticed Nina's wistful face in the window as they drove up, so
she ran into the house without ceremony.

"Come, Nina, can you get ready to go for a drive in three minutes? Say,
quick!"

"Oh, I would _love_ to go, but mamma is out, and I could not get ready so
soon without her. Oh, I am so sorry!" and she looked her disappointment.

"Come along; I'll dress you in a jiffy," and she pulled her out into the
hall, and from among the clothing which hung in the cloak closet she soon
had her muffled to the ears, in spite of Nina's repeated protests that
_none_ of those articles of clothing belonged to herself, but to her uncle.

"Oh, I am so afraid; indeed, I feel _sure_ mamma would say that it is not
the correct thing to go like this."

"Oh, no matter; hurry, or they won't wait for us. It won't hurt to be
dressed in this rig for a short time," and Dexie hurriedly buttoned the big
coat around her, and pulled a fur cap down over her ears, completely
concealing her identity.

"My muff and furs are upstairs somewhere. Mamma put them away."

"This will keep your neck warm," and Dexie snatched a fancy woollen afagan
from the back of a chair, and wrapped it around Nina's neck. "Put your
hands up your sleeves, and you will never miss your muff," and she hurried
her _double_ out on the sidewalk.

"Time is just up," said Fred, "but you have done it complete. Let me help
you in, Miss Gordon," and Nina was soon tucked in among the rest.

"Now, drive on as fast as you like; we must not keep her out long, for fear
her mother should see her. I expect she would never hear the last of it.
For once the correct thing has been set aside. What do you say, Elsie?"
Dexie whispered; "I am sure Nina will enjoy the drive, even though she may
be tormented with the thought of her novel wrappings."

Nina did indeed enjoy the drive. It was so seldom that any girlish
pleasures came her way that for once she forgot to worry about her
appearance.

Dexie's self-reliant manner was doing much to inspire Nina with courage to
act on her own responsibility occasionally, and the few weeks' acquaintance
with girls of her own age made quite an improvement in her manner, so that
she could now laugh with the rest at the harmless jokes which passed back
and forth, without waiting to consult her mamma about the propriety of it.

They were driving along pretty fast, for the streets had become hard and
smooth by the continual passing of so many teams; but the speed only added
to their pleasure, and no one had a thought of a possible mishap. As they
turned a corner the sleigh gave a sudden slew, and instantly all hands
found themselves on the ground in one grand, promiscuous heap, the shrill
screams of the girls adding to the general confusion. Lancy landed on his
feet, and quickly brought the horses to a standstill, and it took but an
instant to right the sleigh on its runners again. With quick movements Hugh
and Fred picked up their scattered belongings, and helped the girls back
into their seats, making many anxious inquiries as to whether any of them
were hurt, and they drove rapidly away before a crowd had time to gather.
The girls were breathless with laughter and excitement; it had all happened
so suddenly they had not time to realize their awkward predicament before
they were back into their places again. Lancy was the only one who did not
laugh over their tumble, and his frequent apologies made them feel that he
blamed himself for the catastrophe.

"Lancy," said Fred, at last, "it was not your fault that we spilled over;
that corner was as smooth as glass, and we _had_ to go, but we are not
hurt a bit, so don't take it to heart. Man alive! it was the crowning event
of the evening to see Hugh sliding off on his ear! Did you have time to
make an observation of my remarkable somersault, Hugh? It was cleverly
done; a professional tumbler could not have done it better!" and Lancy was
obliged to join in the laugh that followed.

"Well, I have picked up quite an assortment," said Dexie, whose lap was
full of articles she had hastily swept from the ground when she rose to her
feet. "This is your muff, Maud, and this fur glove must be yours, Mr.
McNeil. Now, who claims this silk handkerchief and handbag?"

The handkerchief proved to have come from Nina's pocket, but no one claimed
the handbag.

"I have still a fur-lined driving-glove, with a crown on the buttons, a
bunch of keys, and a--something in a jewel case. Will the owners please
prove property and pay expenses?"

Fred put in a claim for the bunch of keys, but an owner was still wanted
for the handbag, driving-glove and jewel case, which, on examination,
proved to contain a handsome gold watch.

"Someone else must have been spilled out at the corner besides ourselves, I
expect," said Lancy, "and they must have lost these articles. Perhaps we
will find some trace of the owner if we search the handbag when we get
home. Here we are, Miss Gordon, none the worse for your tumble, I hope," he
added, as he drew up to the curb-stone, and Hugh helped her up the steps to
the door. The rest of the party were then left at their respective
door-steps, as they drove along towards home.

At Elsie's request, Dexie followed her into the house, and they were soon
searching the contents of the handbag for some clue to its owner, but with
little success. Not so, however, with the watch, for as Lancy touched the
spring and caused the case to fly open his exclamation of surprise caused
Dexie to look up, and a flush of crimson spread over her face as she read
the words that revealed its owner, for engraved on the inside of the case
were these words:

"Presented to Lieutenant Wilbur by his brother officers, in token of
distinguished bravery."

Hugh could not understand the meaning of Dexie's flushed face, even though
he stepped forward and read the inscription over Lancy's shoulder, for he
had never learned just how Dexie had escaped from the vessel, but supposed
that Lancy had in some way brought it about.

"One good turn deserves another, and--gets it this time," said Lancy, with
a meaning smile. "I fancy that Lieutenant Wilbur would not care to lose
this particular watch."

"Will you send it back to him, Lancy?" said Dexie.

"No, not I; but I will send him word where he will find it. Do you remember
his address?"

"Well, I think I have his card somewhere; but I don't want to see him,
Lancy," she said, in a low tone.

Hugh heard the whispered conversation, and wondered what connection there
could be between Dexie and the lieutenant that caused such a look on her
face at the sight of his name.

Dexie left the watch in Lancy's care and went home, but she was present
next evening when the lieutenant called to claim his property; and as he
brought with him a letter of introduction from Major Gurney, he was well
received, and his pleasant and affable manner won golden opinions from all.

Yet not from all, either, for Hugh McNeil watched him with frowning brows,
and he scowled darkly as he observed Dexie and the lieutenant in close
conversation in a corner by themselves.

When Hugh met the lieutenant in the hall on his way out, he did not
hesitate to put the question that had been troubling him all day:

"You seem to have met Miss Sherwood before, Lieutenant Wilbur. May I ask
where?"

The lieutenant looked at him steadily for a moment before replying:

"I am not at liberty to tell you that, at present, Mr. McNeil, for that is
Miss Sherwood's secret, not mine. She tells me that she will be leaving
Halifax in a few days; if you will call on me at this address, one week
after she has gone," and he handed Hugh his card, "I will be at liberty to
place in your hands a _souvenir_ which Miss Sherwood leaves in my care for
you. Until that time, I wish you good evening;" and, lifting his hat, the
lieutenant departed, leaving Hugh much puzzled over his words.




CHAPTER XXXIV.


The last day in Halifax--Dexie never forgot it. It was engraved so
indelibly on her memory that time had no power to obliterate it. It had
been a busy day as well as a sad one, and Elsie Gurney spent the most of it
by the side of her friend, helping, as well as hindering her, as the
household goods were being packed for removal. Lancy claimed one hour in
the evening for himself; and as the rooms in the Sherwood household were
almost dismantled, the greater part of the time was spent over the piano in
the Gurneys' parlor, and their heart's good-bye was spoken through the one
piece of music which they called their own.

"Remember, Dexie," and Lancy turned on the piano-stool and took her hands
in his own, "you must not play that piece for anyone; it is yours and mine.
When you are alone and think of me, let your thoughts be expressed through
our own sweet music. Do you know, my Dexie, I believe I shall know when you
are playing to me; that invisible power which we have both felt, but cannot
express, much less give it a name, will still be between us, and when my
heart goes out to you, my darling, it shall be through the same medium.
That piece of music shall be sacred to you alone, and I shall play it for
no one else until I see your dear face again. Do you agree, Dexie?"

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