The Sins of the Father: A Romance of the South

by Thomas Dixon

  CHAPTER XVI

  THE CHALLENGE

  Norton was morally certain now that the boy was interested in Helen. Howfar this interest had gone he could only guess.

  What stunned him was that Tom had already taken sides with the girl. He hadnot said so in words. But his embarrassment and uneasiness could mean butone thing. He must move with caution, yet he must act at once and end thedangerous situation. A clandestine love affair was a hideous possibility.Up to a moment ago he had held such a thing out of the question with theboy's high-strung sense of honor and his lack of experience with girls.

  He was afraid now of both the boy and girl. She had convinced him of herpurity when the first words had fallen from her lips. Yet wiser men hadbeen deceived before. The thought of her sleek, tawny mother came with ashudder. No daughter could escape such an inheritance.

  There was but one thing to do and it must be done quickly. He would sendHelen abroad and if necessary tell her the whole hideous truth.

  He lifted his head at the sound of Cleo's footsteps, rose and confrontedher. As his deep-set eyes surveyed her he realized that the hour had comefor a fight to the finish.

  She gazed at him steadily with a look of undisguised hate:

  "What is it?"

  He took a step closer, planted his long legs apart and met her greenisheyes with an answering flash of rage:

  "When I think of your damned impudence, using my typewriter and letterheadsto send an invitation to that girl to spend the summer here with Tom athome, and signing my name----"

  "I have the right to use your name with her," she broke in with a sneer.

  "It will be the last time I'll give you the chance."

  "We'll see," was the cool reply.

  Norton slowly drew a chair to the table, seated himself and said:

  "I want the truth from you now."

  "You'll get it. I've never had to lie to you, at least----"

  "I've no time to bandy words--will you tell me exactly what's been going onbetween Tom and Helen during my absence in this campaign?"

  "I haven't seen anything!" was the light answer.

  His lips moved to say that she lied, but he smiled instead. What was theuse? He dropped his voice to a careless, friendly tone:

  "They have seen each other every day?"

  "Certainly."

  "How many hours have they usually spent together?"

  "I didn't count them."

  Norton bit his lips to keep back an oath:

  "How often have they been riding?"

  "Perhaps a dozen times."

  "They returned late occasionally?"

  "Twice."

  "How late?"

  "It was quite dark----"

  "What time?--eight, nine, ten or eleven o'clock?"

  "As late as nine one night, half-past nine another--the moon was shining."She said it with a taunting smile.

  "Were they alone?"

  "Yes."

  "You took pains to leave them alone, I suppose?"

  "Sometimes"--she paused and looked at him with a smile that was a sneer."What are you afraid of?"

  He returned her gaze steadily:

  "Anything is possible of your daughter--the thought of it strangles me!"

  Cleo laughed lightly:

  "Then all you've got to do is to speak--tell Tom the truth."

  "I'll die first!" he fiercely replied. "At least I've taught him racialpurity. I've been true to my promise to the dead in this. He shall neverknow the depths to which I once fell! You have robbed me of everything elsein life, this boy's love and respect is all that you've left me"--hestopped, his breast heaving with suppressed passion. "Why--why did youbring that girl into this house?"

  "I wished to see her--that's enough. For twenty years, I've lived here as aslave, always waiting and hoping for a sign from you that you werehuman----"

  "For a sign that I'd sink again to your level! Well, I found out twentyyears ago that beneath the skin of every man sleeps an ape and a tiger--Ifought that battle and won----"

  "And I have lost?"

  "Yes."

  "Perhaps I haven't begun to fight yet."

  "I shouldn't advise you to try it. I know now that I made a tragic blunderwhen I brought you back into this house. I've cursed myself a thousandtimes that I didn't put the ocean between us. If my boy hadn't loved you,if he hadn't slipped his little arms around your neck and clung to yousobbing out the loneliness of his hungry heart--if I hadn't seen the tearsin your own eyes and known that you had saved his life once--I wouldn'thave made the mistake that I did. But I gave you my word, and I've lived upto it. I've reared and educated your child and given you the protection ofmy home----"

  "Yes," she broke in, "that you might watch and guard me and know that yoursecret was safely kept while you've grown to hate me each day with deeperand fiercer hatred--God!--I've wondered sometimes that you haven't killedme!"

  Norton's voice sank to a whisper:

  "I've wondered sometimes, too"--a look of anguish swept his face--"but Igave you my word, and I've kept it."

  "Because you had to keep it!"

  He sprang to his feet:

  "Had to keep it--you say that to me?"

  "I do."

  "This house is still mine----"

  "But your past is mine!" she cried with a look of triumph.

  "Indeed! We'll see. Helen leaves this house immediately."

  "She shall not!"

  "You refuse to obey my orders?"

  "And what's more," she cried with angry menace, "I refuse to allow you toput her out!"

  "To _allow_?"

  "I said it!"

  "So I am your servant? I must ask your permission?--God!----" he sprangangrily toward the bell and Cleo stepped defiantly before him:

  "Don't you touch that bell----"

  Norton thrust her aside:

  "Get out of my way!"

  "Ring that bell if you dare!" she hissed.

  "Dare?"

  The woman drew her form erect:

  "If you dare! And in five minutes I'll be in that newspaper office acrossthe way from yours! The editor doesn't love you. To-morrow morning thestory of your life and mine will blaze on that first page!"

  Norton caught a chair for support, his face paled and he sank slowly to aseat.

  Cleo leaned toward him, trembling with passion:

  "I'll give you fair warning. There are plenty of negroes to-day your equalin wealth and culture. Do you think they have been listening to their greatleader's call to battle for nothing--building fine houses, buying land,piling up money, sending their sons and daughters to college, to come atyour beck and call? You're a fool if you do. They are only waiting theirchance to demand social equality and get it. Wealth and culture will giveit in the end, ballot or no ballot. Once rich, white men and women willcome at their command. I've got my chance now to demand my rights of youand do a turn for the negro race. You've got to recognize Helen before yourson. I've brought her here for that purpose. With her by my side, I'll bethe mistress of this house. Now resign your leadership and get out of thiscampaign!"

  With a stamp of her foot she ended her mad speech in sharp, high tones,turned quickly and started to the door.

  Between set teeth Norton growled:

  "And you think that I'll submit?"

  The woman wheeled suddenly and rushed back to his side, her eyes flaming:

  "You've got to submit--you've got to submit--or begin with me a fight thatcan only end in your ruin! I've nothing to lose, and I tell you now thatI'll fight to win, I'll fight to kill! I'll ask no quarter of you and I'llgive none. I'll fight with every ounce of strength I've got, body andsoul--and if I lose I'll still have strength enough left to pull you intohell with me!"

  Her voice broke in a sob, she pulled herself together, straightened herfigure and cried:

  "Now what are you going to do? What are you going to do? Accept my terms orfight?"

  Norton's face was livid, his whole being convulsed as he leaped to his
feetand confronted her:

  "I'll fight!"

  "All right! All right!" she said with hysterical passion, backing towardthe door. "I've warned you now--I didn't want to fight--but I'll showyou--I'll show you!"