CHAPTER XIX.
CATHERINE'S DEFIANCE.
"Hear you, best and dearest father in the world?" she cried, lookingquickly up at him again. "Of course I will! Only, I beg you,don't--don't ask me to--"
"I will ask you nothing, Kate, my girl, save this--to considereverything well, and to act like a reasoning, thinking creature, notlike an impetuous and romantic school-girl!"
Releasing her hands, he once more sat down in the easy-chair, crossedhis legs and peered keenly at her, to fathom if he could the innerworkings of that other brain and heart.
"Well, father," she said, "I'll admit, right away, that I've done wrongto keep this from you, or to try to. We--I--broke the engagement, thatday of the accident, out at Longmeadow. I _meant_ to tell you, tell youeverything and explain it all, but somehow--"
"You needn't explain, my dear," said Flint, judicially. "Wally hasalready done so."
"And does he blame me, father?" cried the girl, eagerly, clasping herhands on her knees.
"No, not at all. On the contrary, he claims the fault is all his own.And he's most contrite and repentant, Kate. Absolutely so. All he asksin the world is to make amends and--well, resume the old relation,whenever you are willing."
Kate shook her head.
"That's noble and big of him, father," said she, "to assume all theblame. Really, half of it is mine. But he's acted like a true man, intaking it. However, that can't change my decision. I want him for afriend, in every way. But for a husband, no, no, never in this world!"
The Billionaire frowned darkly. Already a stronger opposition wasdeveloping than he had expected; and opposition was the one thing in allthe world that he could neither tolerate nor endure.
"Listen, Kate," said he. "You don't grasp the situation at all. Waldronis an extraordinary man in many ways. In refusing him, you seriouslyinjure yourself. Of course, he has never done any spectacular, heroicthing for you, like--for instance--that young man who rescued you, andwhom I shall suitably reward as soon as I find him--"
"What!" she exclaimed, peering eagerly at her father. "What do you mean?Find him? Reward him?"
"Eh? Why, naturally," the Billionaire replied, scowling at theinterruption. "His game of refusing his identity was, of course, just aclever dodge on his part. He certainly must expect something out of it.I have--er--set certain forces at work to discover him; and, as I say,when I've done so, I will reward him liberally, and--"
"You'd better _not_!" ejaculated Kate, with animation. "He isn't thesort of man you can take liberties with!"
"Hm? What now?" said Flint, with vexation. "What do _you_ know abouthim?"
"Oh, nothing, nothing, father," the girl answered quickly. "Only, Ithink you're making a mistake to try and force a reward on a man whodoesn't want it. But no matter," she added, her face tinged by a warmerglow--which Flint was quick to see. "Forgive my interruption. Now, aboutWally?"
The old man peered intently at his daughter, a full minute, then with apeculiar sinking at his heart, made shift to say:
"About Wally, yes; you simply don't understand. That's all. Listen now,Kate, and be reasonable."
"I will, daddy. Only don't ask me to marry a man I don't and can't love,ever, ever, so long as I live!"
"That isn't anything, my girl. Love isn't all."
"It is, to _me_! Without it, marriage is only--" She shuddered. "No,daddy; a thousand times better for me to be an old maid, and--and allthat, than give myself to _him_!"
Flint set his teeth hard together.
"Kate," said he, his voice like wire, "now hear what I have to say! Iwant you fully to understand the character and desirability of MaximWaldron!"
Then in a cold, analytic voice, carefully, point by point, he analyzedthe suitor, told of his wealth and power, his connections and hisprospects, his culture, travel, political influence and world-widereputation.
"Furthermore," he added, while Kate listened with an expression as coldas her father's tone itself, "he is my partner. We are allied, inbusiness. I hope we may be, too, in family. This man is one that anywoman in the world might be proud to call her husband--proud, and glad!Love flies away, in a few brief months or years. Wealth and power andrespect remain. And, with these, love too may come. Be strong, Kate! Besensible! You are no child, but a grown woman. I shall not try to forceyou. All I want to do is show you your own best interest. Think this allover. Sleep on it. Tomorrow, let us talk of it again. For your own sake,and mine, do as you should, and let folly be averted. Renew theengagement. Hush the breath of gossip and scandal. Conform. Play thegame! Do right--be strong!"
She only shook her head; and now he saw the glister of tear-drops inthose beautiful gray eyes.
"Father," cried she, standing up and holding out both hands to him."Have mercy on me! I can't--I can't! My heart refuses and I cannot forceit. All this--what is it to me?" She swept her hand at the glowingluxury around her. "Without love, what would such another home be to me?Worse than a prison-cell, I swear! A living death, to one like me!Barter and sale--cold calculation--oh, horrible prostitution, horrible,unspeakable!
"Poverty, with love--yes, I would choose it. Without love, I never,never can give myself! Never, as long as I live!"
The Billionaire, too, stood up. He was shaking, now, as in a palsy,striving to control his rage. His fingers twitched spasmodically, andhis eyes burned like firecoals behind those gleaming lenses.
Then, as he peered at her, he suddenly went even paler than before.Through his heart a stab of understanding had all at once gone home. Theveils were lifted, and he knew the truth.
Her manner in speaking of that unknown, wandering rescuer; the blushthat had burned from breast to brow, when he had mentioned the fellow;her aversion for Waldron and her reticence in talking of theaccident--all this, and more, now surged on Flint's comprehension,flooding his mind with light--with light and with terrible anger.
And, losing all control, he took a step or two, and raised his shakinghand. His big-knuckled finger, shaken in denunciation, was raised almostin her face. Choking, stammering, he cried:
"Ah! Now I know! Now, now I understand you!"
Terrified, she retreated toward the door of the music-room.
"Father, father! What makes you look so?" she gasped. "Oh, you havenever looked or spoken to me this way! What--what can it be?"
"What can it be?" he mouthed at her. "You ask me, you hypocrite, whenyou well know?"
Suddenly she faced him, stiffening into pride and hard rebellion.
"No more of that, father!" she exclaimed, her eyes blazing. "I am yourdaughter, but you can't talk to me thus. You must not!"
"Who--who are _you_ to say 'must not?'" he gibed, now wholly besidehimself. "You--you, who love a vagabond, a tramp, scum and off-scouringof the gutter?"
A strange, half-choking sound was his only answer. Then, with no word,she turned away from him, biting her lip lest she answer and betrayherself.
"Go!" he commanded, bloodless and quivering. "Go to your room. No moreof this! We shall see, soon, who's master of this house!"
She was already gone.
Old Flint stood there a moment, listening to her retreating footfalls onthe parquetry of the vast hall. Then, as these died he turned andgroped his way, as though blind, back to his chair, and fell in it, andcovered his eyes with both his shaking hands.
For a long time he sat there, anguished and crucified amid all thatunmeaning luxury and splendor.
At last he rose and with uncertain steps sought his own suite,above-stairs.
Billionaire and world-master though he was, that night he knew his heartlay dead within him. He realized that all the fruits of life were DeadSea fruits, withered to dust and ashes on his pale and quivering lips.
Air Trust Page 20