CHAPTER XXI
SURPRISES
The next morning Robert Morton awoke with the fixed determination thatanother sun should not go down until he had acquainted Mr. Galbraithwith Janoah's accusations. The misgivings, the suspicions, the fearshe entertained must be cleared up at any cost or further residencebeneath Willie's roof would be impossible. If necessary he would go toNew York to see the financier. But he must know where the blame forSnelling's treachery lay, whether with the capitalist or with hisemployee. Accordingly he arose early, and having breakfasted went downto the store where the nearest telephone was and called up theBelleport residence. He was fortunate in getting Parker, the oldbutler, on the wire.
"Mr. Galbraith, Mr. Bob?" came the voice of the servant. "Yes, sir, hearrived home last night. I think he is going over to Wilton to-day tosee you. I heard him saying something about it. Wait a minute. Ihear him on the stairs now."
There was a pause; then after a delay another voice that Bob instantlyrecognized to be that of the master of the house called:
"Bob? Well, hello, boy! I guess you thought we had all left you andyour affairs high and dry, didn't you? I've been in New York, youknow--am just back. I want to see you as soon as I can about severalimportant matters. Suppose I run over in the car this morning? Willyou be there? Good! I'll see you later, then."
Robert Morton hung up the receiver and walked meditatively along thesandy road to the gray cottage. The die was cast. Whatever happened,it could not be worse than had been the days of suspense and anxietythat he had endured.
The morning was close and humid, a land breeze wafting across thefields perfumes of sun-scorched pine and blossoming roses. Scarce aripple marred the glittering surface of the bay that stretched like asheet of burnished brass as far as one could see. Now and then a faintzephyr, rising from the wooded slopes, swept down the hill, swirlinginto billows of vivid emerald the coarse salt grass that swayed on themarshes. So still it was that every whisper of the surf lapping theedge of the bar could be heard; over and over the waters stole up onthe shore, fretted into foam and receded, each wave creepingrhythmically back into the deep to a song of shifting sand and pebbles.How silvery the tiny houses of the hamlet looked against the azure ofthe sky! The few scattered trees that had braved the onslaughts ofrepeated gales listed landward, but the pines sheltered in the hollowsof the dunes stood erect and darkly mysterious, their plumes bendingidly in the soft wind.
It was all a part of the idyl, the daydream, Robert Mortonthought,--too flawless a thing to last. Willie, so childlike andsimple, his kindly aunt, Delight with her rare beauty, and even theromance of his love seemed a part of its unreality. Was it not to beexpected that sooner or later man with his blundering touch woulddestroy the loveliness, making prose of the poem? The Galbraiths,Snelling, the greed for money, Janoah's jealousy and evilsuspicions--ah, it did not take long for such influences to mar thepeace of a heaven and smear the grime of earth upon its fairness! Onlyglimpses of perfection were granted the dwellers of thisplanet,--quick, transient flashes that mirrored a future free fromfinite limitations. He who expected to remain on the heights in thisworld was doomed to disappointment.
Slowly he skirted the curving beach and reached the weathered cottagewhere the sun beat hotly down, kissing into flower every bud of theclinging roses that festooned its gray doorway. Willie welcomed himbut a glory had passed from the old man's face since the conversationof the night before. How could it be otherwise? Sleepless hours hadleft behind them weary, careworn lines; and in the troubled depths ofthe blue eyes the old interrogation had once more awakened. Bob knewnot how to meet its silent combat between hope and disappointment, andhe hailed as a glad relief the beating echo of the Galbraiths'motor-car as it swept the horseshoe outline of the harbor and came to astop before the gate.
Mr. Galbraith, who was alone, beckoned to him, and as the younger manclimbed to the seat beside him said:
"I thought perhaps you might like to go for a spin along the shore. Itis warm to-day and we shall get more breeze; besides, we can talk morefreely in the automobile than here or at the Belleport house. Rogerhas just arrived and also Howard Snelling."
In spite of himself, Robert Morton betrayed his surprise.
"Mr. Snelling back again!" he exclaimed.
"Yes, he is down," was the laconic answer.
For all his boasted eagerness to talk, however, Richard Galbraith didnot immediately avail himself of the privilege of conversation. On thecontrary, as Bob shot a questioning glance toward him, he thought hedetected for the first time in his life a strange uneasiness in thecapitalist's habitually self-contained manner. He seemed to be framingan introduction for what he wished to say.
"I have several matters to talk over with you, Bob," he began at lastin a resolute tone. "Some of them are pleasant and some of them maynot, I fear, prove to be so. But we must take them as they come, andpleasant or unpleasant, I want you to believe that I have no choice butto place them before you. I have always felt for you a warmfriendship, my boy, and that friendship has in no way lessened.Therefore if any word I speak causes you unhappiness, I want you toremember that I only say it because I must. We are not alwayspermitted to readjust life according to our inclinations. Duty mapsout many of our paths and we must close our lips and travel them."
He stopped as if considering how to proceed.
"While in New York," he presently resumed, "I probated Madam Lee'swill. She was possessed of a large estate and knew very definitelywhat she wanted done with it. The will was made several years ago, andno document that I have ever seen was more specifically andconscientiously drawn up. Although she left jewels and heirlooms to myfamily, she left none of her other property to the Galbraiths,explaining that her daughter had all she needed and that both Cynthiaand Roger had more already than was good for them." He smiledhumorously. "I guessed pretty accurately what she intended to do, assome time ago we talked the matter over, and I heartily approved of herproposed bequest."
He cleared his throat and in wondering silence Robert Morton waited.
"The property was left in bulk to an old friend whom Madam Lee hadknown for years--some one entirely outside the family."
Bob did not speak.
"I would gladly see the Lee money administered as its owner desired tohave it," Mr. Galbraith went on. "Her ideas were wise, kind, and just,and the fulfilment of her wishes would have brought to me--to usall--the greatest happiness. But since that will was made a newcondition has arisen. Delight Hathaway, the child of her favoritedaughter, has appeared. Had the old lady lived, I feel certain that inview of this fact she would have altered the document that this girlmight inherit at least a portion of the fortune in which her mothernever had any share. You knew Madam Lee very intimately, Bob--probablybetter than any of the rest of us. What do you think?"
The reply came without hesitation.
"I am certain Madam Lee would have seen to it that her granddaughterwas provided for."
"So it seems to me," rejoined Mr. Galbraith with evident relief. "I amglad that our code of ethics agrees thus far. Now the question is,Bob, how strong are you for the right? If honorable action meantsacrifice, would you be ready to meet it?"
"I hope so," was the modest response.
"I know so," Mr. Galbraith declared earnestly, "and it is because I amso sure of it that I came to you to-day. Bob, it was to you that MadamLee left her fortune. It was to be used for the furthering of yourdearest wish because--to quote her own words--_because I love the boyas if he were of my own blood_."
As he listened, Robert Morton's eyes grew cloudy, and emotion chokedhis utterance until he could not speak.
Apparently Mr. Galbraith either expected no reply or tactfullyinterpreted his silence, for without waiting he continued:
"You can understand now, Bob, feeling toward you as we all do, thatthis recent family development has not been easy for us to confront.Delight Hathaway is a beautiful girl who poss
esses, no doubt, admirablequalities. We expect to become warmly attached to her in time. Butfor all her kinship she is a stranger to us while you are of our own--abrother, friend." For the first time the kind voice faltered. "I haveeven cherished a hope," it went on in a lower tone, "that perhaps inthe future a closer bond might bind you to us. Nothing in the worldwould have given me greater satisfaction."
Bob suddenly felt the blood leap to his face in a crimson flood. Hegasped out an incoherent word or two, hoping to check Mr. Galbraith'sspeech, but no intelligible phrases came to his tongue.
"Life is a strangely perverse game, isn't it?"' mused the capitalist."We build our castles, build them not alone for ourselves but forothers, and those we love shatter the structure we have sopainstakingly reared and on its ruined site make for themselves castlesof their own."
His eyes were fixed on the narrowing ribbon of sand over which the carsped.
"I--I--have another surprise for you, Bob," he said in a lower tone,without lifting his gaze from the reach of highway ahead. "Cynthia isto be married."
"Cynthia!" A chaos of emotions mingled in the word.
"Her engagement has been an overwhelming shock to her mother and me,"the elder man continued steadily, still without shifting his eyes fromthe road over which he guided the car, "I don't know why thepossibility never occurred to us; but it never did. She is to marryHoward Snelling."
A quick wave of revulsion swept over Robert Morton. This, then, wasthe reason Snelling had filched from Willie his invention,--that hemight have greater riches to lay at the feet of his fiancee, andperhaps reach more nearly a financial equality with her family. He sawit all now. And probably it was Snelling's jealousy of himself thathad led him to retaliate by heaping his unwelcome attentions onDelight. At last it was clear as day,--Cynthia's growing coldness andher continual trips to and from Belleport in the boatbuilder's company.Robert Morton could have laughed aloud at his own stupidity. Theengagement explained, too, Mr. Snelling's confusion and embarrassmentat every mention of the Galbraith family. Why, a child might havefathomed the romance!
Again Mr. Galbraith was speaking.
"And now, Bob, for the last surprise of all. At first, I thought Iwould delay telling you until the papers were all in shape and readyfor signature; but on second thought it seemed a pity to shut you outof the fun. We have all the data prepared to take out a patent on Mr.Spence's motor-boat."
Bob felt a sudden sinking of his heart, a stifling of his breath.
"The afternoon you all came over to Belleport," explained thefinancier, "I got Snelling and a draughtsman from our company to go tothe shop and in the old gentleman's absence secure measurements and thenecessary information. These we took to New York and put into properhands, and when the affidavits are sworn to and everything is in legalform I see no reason why the government should not grant the patent.If it does, there should be a little fortune in the appliance."
Robert Morton did not move. He felt as if he had been turned to stone.
"I thought you would be interested," observed Mr. Galbraith, asuggestion of disappointment in his voice. "I did not consult you atfirst because I felt so sure that the idea would please you. I'm sorryif it doesn't. It seemed to me that if we could help Mr. Spence topatent his device, he might do quite a little with it. I thought hemight not know how to go at the matter himself. So we are preparingall the papers for him to file an application in his own name.Afterward I propose either to purchase from him the rights to use it,or to buy the thing outright at a reasonable figure. In either case,the deal will net him quite an income and place him beyond thepossibility of financial worry so long as he lives."
Oh, the relief that surged over Robert Morton! Joy rioted with shame,happiness with self-reproach. How feeble his faith had been. He hopedMr. Galbraith did not read in his eyes the suspicions he had cherished.
Apparently he did not, for in the same kindly manner he asked:
"Do you think it would be better to keep the secret from the little oldchap a bit longer or tell him now?"
"Oh, tell him now! Tell him now!" cried Bob. "Tell him right awaywhen we get back!"
His companion laughed at his eagerness and for the first time theireyes met.
"And now, sir," began Robert Morton, a ring of buoyancy andlight-heartedness in his voice such as had not sounded in it for weeks,"I have a surprise for you. I, too, am going to be married."
The car swerved suddenly as if a tremor had passed through the hands onthe wheel.
"I am engaged to your niece, Mr. Galbraith."
"To my--my niece!" repeated the great man blankly. "I don't think Iquite--"
"To Delight Hathaway."
Bob saw a dull brick-red flush color the neck of the capitalist andsteal up into his face. For a moment he seemed at a loss for words.Then presently, as if he had succeeded in readjusting his ideas, heejaculated:
"My word, Bob! Well, you young people have mixed yourselves up nicely!However, if you all are happy, that is the main thing; you are the onesto be suited. We shall still have you in the family, anyway." Helaughed. "And about the property," he went on thoughtfully,--"thissimplifies matters greatly, for it won't make much difference now whichof you has it--you or the girl."
But Bob stopped him with a quick protest.
"I don't want Delight to know Madam Lee's money has previously beenwilled to me," he said. "If she suspected that, she would never takeit. You are not to tell her--promise me you will see to that."
"Of course I will arrange the affair any way you wish," Mr. Galbraithagreed, with a dubious frown. "But if you are to marry her, I reallycan't see what difference it would make."
"It will make a great deal of difference," declared the younger man."In the one case the fortune will be hers to use as she pleases. Shewill have the independent right to hand it over to the Brewsters if sheso desires. Our entire relation will be placed on another basis; forif I marry her under those conditions I marry an heiress, not the wardof a poor fisherman."
"I hadn't thought of that."
"On the other hand, if she refuses the money, it will be mine to lay ather feet. Can't you see what a vast contrast there will be in myposition?"
Mr. Galbraith nodded thoughtfully as if considering the matter from anew angle.
"That's the only reason the fortune would mean anything to me--that Imight have something to offer her," continued Robert Morton. "Ofcourse, as you said, she would have the benefit of the money in eithercase; but it makes a difference whether it comes to her by the mereright of inheritance, or whether she takes it from her--husband."
"There is a distinction," admitted the elder man. "Now that you callmy attention to it, I can see that readily. It is a delicate one, butits consequences are far-reaching. Well, you shall have your way! Aproportion of the legacy shall be offered to Delight, and the secretregarding it shall be yours to keep or divulge as you see fit. You area noble fellow, Bob. I only wish--" He checked the impulsive phrasethat rose to his lips but not before the listener had caught its import.
"Mr. Snelling is a fine man, Mr. Galbraith," broke in Bob instantly,dreading the words that might follow.
"Oh, I know it--there is no question about that," the capitalistassented with haste. "Success is written all over his future, and Iknow he will be a son-in-law to be proud of. He and Cynthia areroyally happy too, and no doubt know better than I what they want.After all, none of us can live other people's lives; each must work outhis own."
"You've said it, Mr. Galbraith."
The financier smiled and his eyes twinkled beneath the shaggy browsthat arched them.
"You will have to be getting used to calling me by another name, youngman," he said. "Remember I am to be your uncle."
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