The Woman Who Vowed (The Demetrian)

by Ellison Harding

  CHAPTER XIV

  "I CONSENTED"

  When I reached our chambers I found them empty. At the bath, however,though Ariston was not there I learned the incidents of the day. Almostimmediately after my interview with Balbus he had headed the attempt torescue Chairo; it had been carefully planned, for exactly at threeo'clock there converged upon the House of Detention from every side noless than six different lines of attack, which took shape only within afew yards of the house itself, so as to avoid conflicts at points otherthan the one upon which the attack was concentrated. But the cult hadtaken precautions. Some machine guns had been put into position andBalbus and his followers were blown out of existence, leaving a mass ofwounded men and but few unwounded survivors. The constables that daysworn in had at once repaired to the _Liberty_ offices where I had metthem. Ariston was doubtless at that moment conferring with Chairo andthe authorities as to how far this act of violence was to affect theprocedure.

  Ariston did not appear at our chambers until after midnight, and he wasthen so weary that I did not press him for details. He informed me,however, that my message to Balbus would probably constitute the pivotalfact in his defense of Chairo; that Balbus was shot to pieces; and thatthe question whether Chairo was to be kept in confinement would probablybe heard within a week.

  The next morning Ariston had a long conference with me over the wholesituation, which was a complicated one. The courts, though fair, wereundoubtedly strongly Demetrian in their tendencies, and Ariston did notbelieve they would set Chairo at liberty; but he felt it his duty asChairo's counsel to make the effort. Ariston did not conceal from me,however, his conviction that Chairo was insisting on the effort beingmade in order to use the decision of the courts on the political arena,where the issue must be ultimately decided. He, Ariston, doubted thewisdom of his appearing as Chairo's counsel under the circumstances, foron the political issue Ariston would fight Chairo to a finish, andChairo knew this. But Chairo had declined to release Ariston. He claimedthat Ariston having offered to act for him, and he having accepted theoffer, Ariston was no longer free to withdraw except for better reasonthan he could give.

  The importance of the testimony I could give, and the fact that I was alawyer admitted me into all the conferences that were held. Chairo'scase was to come up on habeas corpus, and I undertook to prepare anaffidavit as to the message sent through me by Chairo to Balbus. In thepreparation of this affidavit I was confronted with the question whetherit was necessary to introduce Neaera's name; there was in me a strongrepugnance to doing so. If by involving Neaera I could save an innocentman I should have been guilty in omitting her intervention in myinterview with Balbus; but the only person that to my mind could beaffected by her intervention was Balbus, and Balbus was dead. Nor wouldhis memory gain much by testimony that would tend to prove that theincriminating act was done at the bidding of a woman.

  Three days after Chairo's arrest I was still hesitating over thisquestion when I received a message from Masters asking for an interview.I readily accorded one, and we met in Chairo's chambers which were putat my disposal during his detention.

  Masters opened the conversation by telling me confidentially that Neaerahad promised to marry him, and that he was naturally, therefore, anxiousto exonerate her from responsibility as regarded the rash attempt atrescue. I let him speak preferring to hold my tongue till I learned thestory Neaera had told him. He admitted that Neaera had taken a strongstand in favor of Chairo and all that Chairo stood for, but explainedthe enormous difference between constitutional opposition and appeal toforce. Neaera had told him that no word of writing that she couldremember--save such as might have been written at the dictation ofothers--could possibly compromise her, but that she did not know how farsome of the survivors might not seek to escape punishment by throwingresponsibility on her. Neaera had particularly asked Masters to see meand find out how far this was to be feared.

  I recognized the fine work of our astute friend in the story told byMasters, and anxious to know just how far Masters was committed toNeaera, I asked:

  "When do you expect to be married?"

  Masters lowered his voice as he answered:

  "Confidentially, we are already married. I found her wandering aimlesslyabout the street expecting arrest; so I took her at once to Washingtonand married her there. I have left her among friends in a neighboringstate till this matter blows over."

  The marriage having taken place, there was clearly no duty upon me toenlighten Masters, so I said to him:

  "Assure Neaera from me that I shall keep you informed of how mattersmove and particularly if any witness testifies in a manner to compromiseher. No such testimony has been given as yet to my knowledge--but then,none of the survivors of the rescue party have yet been examined."

  I worded my answer in a manner to reassure Neaera so far as I myself wasconcerned and Masters left me satisfied. _He_ deserved sympathy, at anyrate.

  Ariston was extremely busy endeavoring to obtain affidavits from thesurvivors as to Chairo's non-complicity in the attack, and asked metherefore to see Lydia and explain to her the importance of silence atthis juncture. Accordingly I went to see her and found Aunt Tiny in astate of great excitement. Lydia was ill and her mother was with her.Aunt Tiny wanted to take the whole matter on her shoulders.

  "Lydia will do just what I tell her to do," assured Aunt Tiny, noddingher curls gravely at me.

  "I think I ought to see Lydia myself if it can be managed," I answered.

  "But she is so ill." Her lisp was childish and I unconsciously smiled alittle. My smile put the little woman in quite a flutter.

  "I'll manage it," she said confidently. "You'll see; I'll manage it";and the busy little body, in spite of her age, tripped out of the room.

  Presently she returned radiant. "It's all right," she said. "You cancome; I told you I should manage it"; and she showed me to Lydia's room.

  Lydia was lying on a couch with a shawl thrown over her knees; but thechiton loosely fastened over her right shoulder showed all the beauty ofher bare arm. Very different, indeed, did she look from the girl I awoketo find bending over me on the hill on Tyringham. The warm color of thesun had left her skin, which was now white and extremely delicate. Herhead, then strong and erect, now leaned upon a pillow so gently that itseemed

  "A petal of blown roses on the grass."

  Her mother was standing as I entered and pushed a chair for me byLydia's side. I sat upon it, and taking Lydia's hand, kissed it. A tearcame in her eye at this act of sympathy and she said:

  "I am glad you have come to see me."

  "I would not have dared to come," said I, "were it not that I have towarn you in Chairo's interest and in your own to say nothing for thepresent."

  "Say nothing!" she exclaimed, raising her head erect. "What! does Chairowish me to say nothing when I can by a word exonerate him altogether!"

  "How so?" I asked.

  "I consented," she said. "If the charge is that he carried me away itmust fall when I say that I consented."

  "Lydia!" exclaimed her mother. "Do be careful! Our friend here can bedepended on; but such an admission might be used against you; it may beno crime in law to have consented, but in the cult you will be disgracedforever."

  "Then may I be disgraced," said Lydia despondingly. "I did consent; andChairo must not suffer the odium of having carried me off against mywill. Besides," added she, erect again, "I am not ashamed of havingconsented. I love Chairo. I am ready to declare it before the world. Iwas wrong when I accepted the mission and those around me should haveknown it. Not you, mother," added Lydia, as she saw her mother start,"not you, but the priests--they should have known it--they did knowit--and yet they allowed me to accept the mission, loving Chairo."

  Lydia put out her arms to her mother, who bent over and kissed her.

  "The time will doubtless come," said I, "when you will be able tovindicate Chairo. But at this moment I think, perhaps, it may be wiserto say nothing. Chairo does not wish to be re
leased. He wants the courtto decide against him. Such a decision will constitute a grievance whichwill to his mind strengthen his cause with the people. I don't know," Iadded, smiling, "whether I am altogether on his side upon all thepolitical issues he stands for; but I am on your side, Lydia. I want youto be happy, and much depends upon the circumstances under which yourdeclaration is made. At this moment it may be wiser to keep silence;they cannot compel you to testify until Chairo is tried, and he proposesto postpone the trial, if he can, until the legislature meets. Mastersis taking a vigorous stand in favor of Chairo, and he may carry asufficient number of votes to constitute a radical majority. Up to thepresent time Masters has voted upon most issues with the government."

  Lydia listened to me with her long blue-gray eyes fixed on mine. It wasa luxury to look into them. I thought I was no longer in love with her,but there was a fascination in those eyes to which it was a delightinnocently to surrender.

  "Chairo is doubtless right," she said, "and you too."

  "The priests will probably ask you for a declaration; you are ill enoughto make illness an excuse for keeping out of the case altogether. Myadvice is not to antagonize them at this moment. You can let them knowthat you propose to make no affidavit whatever, neither on one side noron the other--at present."