A Young Girl's Wooing

by Edward Payson Roe

  CHAPTER XVIII

  MAKE YOUR TERMS

  Graydon's uppermost thought now was to make his peace with Madge. Hedismissed all his former theories about her as absurd, and felt that,whether he understood her or not, she had become a splendid woman, ofwhose friendship he might well be proud, and accept it on any termsthat pleased her. He also was sure that Miss Wildmere's prejudiceswould be banished at once and forever by Madge's heroism, believingthat the girl's hostile feeling was due only to the natural jealousyof social rivals. "If Stella does not regard Madge's action withgenerous enthusiasm, I shall think the worse of her," was hismasculine conclusion.

  The wily girl was not so obtuse as to be unaware of this, and whenhe came down she said all he could wish in praise of Madge, buttook pains to enlarge upon his own courage. At this he pooh-poohedemphatically. "What was that duck-pond of a lake to a man!" he said."Madge herself has become an expert ocean-swimmer, I am told. Shewasn't afraid of the water. It was her skill in finding the childbeneath it, and in resuscitation afterward, that chiefly commands myadmiration."

  "Oh, dear!" cried the girl, "what can I do to command youradmiration?"

  "You know well, Miss Wildmere, that you command much more."

  She blushed, smiled, and looked around a little apprehensively.

  "Don't be alarmed," he added; "I have such confidence in you that Iwill bide your time."

  "Thank you, Graydon," she whispered, and hastened away, leaving himsupremely happy. It was the first time she had called him "Graydon."

  Seeing Dr. Sommers emerging from the hotel, he hastened after him,bent on procuring a peace-offering for Madge--the finest horse thatcould be had in the region.

  "I know of one a few miles from here," said the doctor. "He's asplendid animal, but a high and mighty stepper. I don't believe thateven she could manage him."

  "I'll break him in for her, never fear. Of course I won't let her takeany risks."

  "Well, leave it to me, then. I can manage it. He's awfully headstrong,though. I give you fair warning."

  "Take me to see him as soon as you can; the horse, I mean, or, rather,both man and horse."

  "To-morrow morning, then. I have patients out that way."

  At supper and during the evening Madge and her exploit were the themesof conversation. Some tried to give Graydon a part of the credit, buthe laughed so contemptuously at the idea that he was let alone. HenryMuir did not say much, but looked a great deal, and with Graydonlistened attentively as his wife explained how it was that Madge hadproved equal to the emergency.

  "Why don't more people follow her example?" said the practical man,"and learn how to do something definite? As she explains the rescue,there was nothing remarkable in it. If she could swim and dive in theocean for sport, she would not be much afraid to do the same in thatso-called lake, to save life. As to her action on shore, the knowledgeshe used is given in books and manuals. What's more, she had seen itdone. But most people are so pointless and shiftless that theynever know just what to do in an emergency, no matter what theiropportunities for information may have been."

  "Now you hit me," Graydon remarked, ruefully, "Left to myself I shouldhave finished the young one, for I was about to run to the hotel withher, a course that I now see would have been as fatal as idiotic."

  "Madge says," Mrs. Muir continued, "that they used to bathe a greatdeal, and that Mr. Wayland explained just what should be done in allthe possible emergencies of their outdoor life at Santa Barbara."

  "Wayland in a level-headed man. If he is bookish, he's not a dreamerwith his head in the clouds. Madge was in good hands with them, andproves it every day."

  "I think she shows the influence of Mrs. Wayland even more than thatof her husband. Fanny is a very accomplished woman, and saw a greatdeal of society in her younger days."

  "Confound it all! Why didn't you tell me that Madge had been livingwith two paragons?" said Graydon.

  "Oh, you have been so occupied with another paragon that there hasnot been much chance to tell you anything," was Mrs. Muir's consolingreply.

  "Madge has not been made what she is by paragons," Mr. Muir remarked,dryly. "She made herself. They only helped her, and couldn't havehelped a silly woman."

  "It's time you were jealous, Mary," said Graydon, laughing.

  "Mary isn't a silly woman. I should hope that no Muir would marryone."

  "I see no prospect of it," was the rather cold reply.

  "I fear I see a worse prospect," was his brother's thought. "Of whatuse are his eyes or senses after what he has seen to-day?"

  Mrs. Muir had explained to some lady friends about Madge, and theinformation was passing into general circulation--the ladies rapidlycoming to the conclusion that the young girl's action was not soremarkable after all, which was true enough. The men, however,retained their enthusiastic admiration, although it must be admittedthat its inspiration was due largely to Madge's beauty.

  "Of course women have done braver things," said one man, with sportingtendencies, "but it was the neat, gamy way in which she did it thattook my eye. Her method was as complete and rounded out as herself.Jove! as she bent over that child she was a nymph that would turn thehead of a Greek."

  "She has evidently turned the head of a Cyprian," laughed one of hisfriends.

  "Come, that's putting it too strong," said the man, with a frown."I'll affect no airs, though. I'm not a saint, as you all know, butthe aspect of that girl, in her self-forgetful effort, might well makeme wish I were one. She is as good and pure-hearted as the child shesaved. If there had been a flaw in the white marble of her nature shewould have been self-conscious. An angel from heaven couldn't havebeen more absorbed in the one impulse to save."

  Graydon had approached the group unobserved, and heard these words.He walked away, smiling, with the thought, "My sentiments, clearlyexpressed."

  The night was warm, and he saw Miss Wildmere and Arnault going outfor a stroll. Following a half-defined inclination, he bent his stepstoward the lake. The moon was mirrored in its glassy surface, theplace silent and deserted. With slight effort of fancy he called upthe scene again. He saw in the moonlight the fairy form of thechild, and what even others had regarded as the embodiment of humanloveliness and truth bending over it.

  "And she was the little ghost that once haunted me," he thought, "andseemed all eyes and affection. How those eyes used to welcome and turnto me, as if in some subtle way she drew from me the power to exist atall. I wish I could follow the processes of her change from the hourof our parting, and see how I passed from what I was to her to whatI am now. She does not seem to forget or ignore the past. She is notconventional, and never was; hence, friendship may not mean what itdoes to so many of her sex and age--a little moony sentiment blendedwith calculation as to a fellow's usefulness. If we could enjoysomething of the good-comradeship that obtains between man andman, she is the one woman of the world with whom I should covet therelation. Stella, in herself, is all that I could ask for a wife,but I don't like her family much better than Henry does. Confound thefather! Why should he so mix his daughter up in his speculation thatshe dare not dismiss Arnault at once and follow her heart? If I werenot a good-natured man I wouldn't submit to it. As it is, since I amsure of the girl, I suppose I should give _paterfamilias_ a chance toturn himself. She has appealed to me as delicately, yet as openly,as she can, and has given me to understand by everything exceptplain words that she is mine. Probably that is all she can do withoutbringing black ruin upon them all. Well, I suppose I should imitateher self-sacrificing spirit; but I hate this jumbling of Wall Streetwith affairs of the heart. It angers me that she must play with thatfellow for financial reasons, and that he, conscious of power, may uselanguage which she would not dare to resent. I can't imagine Madgein such a position. Yet, who knows? As the French say, 'It is theunexpected that happens,' and this has proved true enough in myexperience. I'll go and see how Madge is now, and be as penitent asshe requires. I don't mind being tyrannized over a little by such agirl;
" and he returned.

  As he approached Mrs. Muir's door he heard the sound of voices andlaughter, and plainly those of his brother and Madge. In responseto his knock Mrs. Muir opened the door a little way, and he caught aglimpse of Henry.

  "Well?" said Mrs. Muir.

  "It's not well at all," he began, in an aggrieved tone. "Here's afamily party, and I'm shut out in outer darkness. What have I done tobe banished from Rome?"

  "'What's banished but set free?'" trilled out Madge. "Oh, Graydon, I'mnot fit to be seen!"

  "How can I know that unless I see you?"

  "Nonsense, Madge!" expostulated her sister, "you look charming. Whyput on airs? As he says, it's a family party. Let him join in ourfun;" and, without waiting for further objections, she brought him inand gave him a chair.

  "Now this warms an exile's heart," he began. "If you had shut thedoor on me I should have asked Henry to send me back to Europe. Mary'sright, Madge; you do look charming."

  And so she did, blushing and laughing in her dainty wrapper, with herlong hair falling over her shoulders and fastened by a ribbon.

  "How comes it that you are in such a deserted and disconsolatecondition?" cried Mary.

  "I am not in such a condition. Since crossing your threshold I havebecome contentment itself. Indeed, I regard myself as the most favoredman in the house, for I, first of all, am able to lay my homage atMadge's feet."

  "Let me warn you from the start that it will prove a stumbling-blockin both our paths," said the girl. "Did you not receive my message?But, then, it's stupid to think you will ever consider me."

  "I have been considering you a great deal more than you think,especially since you metaphorically boxed my ears this morning, andtook away my breath generally this afternoon."

  "You seem to have plenty left."

  "Oh, I'm recovering. Reason is trying to scramble back on her throne.I've been out to the lake alone in the moonlight, and have had thewhole scene over again, to assure myself that it was real."

  "What! You have not been in the water?"

  "No; I was content to moon it out on the shore; but it seemed to methat I saw you as clearly there as here."

  "Little wonder! I must have been the most extraordinary lookingcreature that ever prowled in these wilds."

  "You were; only lookers-on did all the devouring. I wouldn't dare tellyou the compliments I have heard."

  "You had better not, if your reason is even within sight of herthrone. When the danger was all over I caught a mental glimpse ofmyself, and fell over as if shot;" and a slow, deep crimson stole intoher face.

  "Madge," said Graydon, gravely and almost rebukingly, "do you thinkthere was a man present who did not reverence you? I was proud even ofyour acquaintance."

  Her face softened under his words, but she did not look at him. "Wewere partners in misery," she said, laughing softly; "I have a vagueremembrance that you were as great a guy as I was."

  "I shall be glad to be a guy with you in any circumstances you canimagine, if you will let me make my peace, and will forgive my generalstupidity. Be reasonable also, as well as merciful. If it took youover two years to make such changes, you should give me a few days torub my eyes and get them focused on the result."

  Madge was now laughing heartily. "I don't believe a man could ever eatthe whole of a humble pie," she said. "He ever insists that the donor,especially if she be a woman, should have a piece also."

  "There, now," cried Graydon, ruefully; "give me all of it, and makeyour terms."

  "Solomon himself couldn't have advised you better," said Madge, whileHenry leaned back in his chair and laughed as if immensely amused,while Mary improved the occasion by remarking, "When will men everlearn that that is the way to get the best terms possible from awoman?"

  "Indeed!" said Graydon. "How you enlighten me! Well, Madge, I'm themore eager now to learn your terms."

  She felt that it was a critical moment--that there was, under theirbadinage, a substratum of truth and feeling--and that she had now achance to establish relations that would favor her hope, if it hada right to exist at all, and render future companionship free fromsurmise on the part of her family.

  "Come, Graydon," she said, "we have jested long enough, and there isno occasion for misunderstanding. I have not forgotten the past anymore than you have, nor all your unstinted kindness for years. As Marysays, this is a family party. I'm not your sister, and embarrassmentalways accompanies an unnatural relation. The common-sense thing to dois to recognize the relation that does exist. As I intimated at first,I see no reason why we should not be the best of friends, and then,imitating the stiff-necked Hebrews, do what seemeth good in our eyes."

  "And these are your terms, Madge?"

  "As far as I have any, yes. I don't insist on anything, but warn youthat I shall follow my eyes, and consult a very wilful little will ofmy own."

  "Will your wilful will permit you to accept of a horse that I amgoing after in the morning? Dr. Sommers told me about him, and I hadproposed to make him a peace-offering."

  Madge clapped her hands with the delight of a child.

  "Oh, Graydon, that's splendid of you! I've been sighing, 'My kingdomfor a horse,' ever since I came here. But he's no peace-offering. Iforgave you when I saw your headlong plunge into the lake. You wentinto it like a man, while I flopped in so awkwardly that all said Ihad fallen overboard."

  "Shake hands, then."

  She sprang up and joined hands with him in frank and cordial grasp,saying, "It's all right now, and Mary and Henry will understand us aswell as we do ourselves."

  "One condition: you will let me ride with you?"

  "When you are disengaged, yes," was her arch reply, "and I'll provethat on horseback I can be as good a comrade as a man."

  "Well, if something I've dreamt of is true I never saw such acting,"thought Henry Muir. Then he said, quietly, "Madge, how did you findthe child so surely and quickly?"

  "That accounts for my awkwardness somewhat," she replied, laughing.("How happy she looks!" he thought.) "I never took my eyes from thespot where I had last seen the child sink, and I had to do everythingas if my head was in a vise. Don't let us talk about it any more."

  "No, nor about anything else," said Mary, rising. "I'm proving a finenurse, and am likely to be lectured by the doctor to-morrow. You menmust walk. Here is Madge flushed, feverish, and excited about a horse.Brain-fever will be the next symptom."

  An hour later Madge was sleeping quietly, but the happy flush andsmile had not left her face. She felt that she had at last scored onepoint. Oh, that she could have more time!

  "Jupiter!" muttered Graydon, as he descended the stairs, "her talkmakes a fellow's blood tingle."

  Miss Wildmere had just entered with Arnault, and Graydon asked, "Areyou not going to give me one dance this evening?"

  "Yes, two, if you wish," she replied, sweetly.

  He took her at her word, and was as devoted as ever. He had no thoughtof being anything else. Arnault secured the last word, however,and Graydon made no effort to prevent this. He had accepted thedisagreeable situation, and proposed, although with increasingreluctance and discontent, to let the girl have a clear field andmanage the affair as she thought wise under the circumstances. He wastoo proud to have maintained a jostling and open pursuit with Arnaultin any event, and now, believing that he understood the lady better,felt that there was no occasion for it He had indicated to her justwhere he stood, and just where she could ever find him. When herdiplomacy with Arnault should cease to be essential to her father'ssafety, the final words could be spoken.

  He acted on this policy so quietly that she was somewhat troubled, andfeared that Madge might be taking too large a place in his thoughts.Therefore, when Arnault ventured to make a somewhat humorous referenceto the young girl's appearance, her spite found utterance. "I neversaw such a looking creature in my life. She had the appearance of acrazy woman, with her hair dishevelled, and her wet, muddy clothessticking to her as if glued. She ought at least to have s
lipped awaywhen the doctor came. But instead of that she fainted--all put on, Ibelieve, to attract attention."

  "She perhaps felt that she must put on something," chuckled Arnault."The two Muirs looked as if she were too precious and sacred formortal gaze."

  "Well," concluded Miss Wildmere, "I like to see a lady who neverforgets herself;" and she was an example of the type.

  "I like to see one lady, whom, having seen, no one can forget," washis gallant reply.