by Rex Beach
XXIII
A PLOT AND A SACRIFICE
Kirk never passed a more unpleasant night than the one which followed.In the morning he went straight to Runnels with the statement that hecould take no part in the little testimonial they had intended to giveCortlandt.
"But it's too late now to back out. I saw him at the University Clublast evening and fixed the date for Saturday night."
"Did you tell him I was in the affair?"
"Certainly. I said it was your idea. It affected him deeply, too. Inever saw a chap so moved over a little thing."
Kirk thought quickly. Perhaps Edith had spoken rashly in herexcitement, and her husband did not know her feelings after all.Perhaps he only suspected. In that case it would never do to withdraw.It would seem like a confession of guilt.
"If he has accepted, that ends it, I suppose," he said, finally.
"What has happened?" Runnels was watching him sharply.
"Nothing. I merely wish I hadn't entered into the arrangement, that'sall. I've ordered a watch for him, too, and it's being engraved. Iwanted to give him something to show my own personal gratitude for whathe and his wife have done for me. Lord! It took a month's salary. Iknow it's a jay present, but there's nothing decent in these shops."
"Look here! I've wanted to say something to you for some time, thoughit's deuced hard to speak of such things. Maybe I have more moralscruples than some people, but--" Runnels stirred uncomfortably in hischair. "Steve Cortlandt has put us where we are--you understand, when Ispeak of him I include his wife, too. Well, I like him, Kirk, and I'dhate to see him made unhappy. If a chap loves a married woman, he oughtto be man enough to forget it. Rotten way to express myself, ofcourse--"
Kirk looked the speaker squarely in the eyes as he answered: "I don'tunderstand what you're driving at. I haven't the least interest in anymarried man's affairs--never have had, in fact. I'm in love withGertrudis Garavel, and I'm engaged to marry her."
"The devil!"
"It's a fact. I didn't know until last night that I'd been accepted."
"Then just forget what I said. I was going north on a south-boundtrack--I ran ahead of orders. I really do congratulate you, old man;Miss Garavel is--well, I won't try to do her justice--I had no idea.Please pardon me."
"Certainly! Now that it's settled I'm not going to let any grass growunder my feet."
"Why, say! Garavel is to be the next President! Jove! You ARE lucky!Cortlandt told me last night that the old fellow's candidacy was to beannounced Saturday night at the big ball; that's how he came to acceptour invitation. He said his work would be over by then and he'd be gladto join us after the dance. Well, well! Your future wife andfather-in-law are to be his guests that night, I suppose you know."
"Then they have patched up a truce with Alfarez? I'm glad to hear that."
"It's all settled, I believe. This dance is a big special event. TheAmerican Minister and the various diplomatic gangs will be there,besides the prominent Spanish people. It's precisely the moment tolaunch the Garavel boom, and Cortlandt intends to do it. After it'sover, our little crowd will have supper and thank him for what he hasdone for us. Oh, it will be a big night all around, won't it? Do yourealize the skyrockety nature of your progress, young man? Lord! Youtake my breath."
"It does seem like a dream. I landed here with a button-hook forbaggage, and now--Say, Runnels, her eyes are just like two big blackpansies, and when she smiles you'll go off your trolley."
"Your promotion came just in time, didn't it? Talk about luck! We oughtto hear from Washington before Saturday and know that our jobs arecinched. This uncertainty is fierce for me. You know I have a wife andkid, and it means a lot. When you give Cortlandt that watch you'll haveto present him with a loving-cup from the rest of us. I think it'scoming to him, don't you?"
"I--I'd rather you presented it."
"Not much! I can run trains, but I can't engineer social functions.You'll have to be spokesman. I suppose jobs and increased salaries andpreferments, and all that, don't count for much with a young fellow whois engaged to the fabulous Miss Garavel, but with the Runnels familyit's different. Meanwhile, let's just hold our thumbs till ourpromotions are ratified from headquarters. I need that position, andI'm dying of uneasiness."
The night had been as hard for Edith Cortlandt as it had been for Kirk,but during its sleepless hours she had reached a determination. She wasnot naturally revengeful, but it was characteristic of her that shecould not endure failure. Action, not words or tears, was the naturaloutlet of her feelings. There was just one possible way of winning Kirkback, and if instead it ruined him she would be only undoing what shehad mistakenly done. As soon after breakfast as she knew definitelythat her husband had gone out, she telephoned to General Alfarez,making an appointment to call on him at eleven.
It was the first time she had ever gone to see him, for she was in thehabit of bringing people to her, but this was no ordinary occasion, andshe knew the crafty old Spaniard would be awaiting her with eagerness.
Her interview with him was short, however, and when she emerged fromhis house she ordered the coachman to drive directly to the GaravelBank. This time she stayed longer, closeted with the proprietor. Whatshe told him threw him into something like a panic. It seemed thatAnibal Alfarez was by no means so well reconciled to the death of hispolitical hopes as had been supposed. On the contrary, in spite of allthat had been done to prevent it, he had been working secretly and hadperfected the preliminaries of a coup which he intended to spring atthe eleventh hour. Through Ramon, he had brought about an alliance withthe outgoing Galleo, and intended to make the bitterest possible fightagainst Garavel. Such joining of forces meant serious trouble, anduntil the banker's position was materially strengthened it would bemost unwise to announce his candidacy as had been planned. The Generalhad worked with remarkable craftiness, according to Mrs. Cortlandt'saccount, and Galleo's grip upon the National Assembly was so strong asto threaten all their schemes. She did not go into minutedetails--there was no need, for the banker's fears took fire at themere fact that Alfarez had revolted. He was dumfounded, appalled.
"But it was only last week that we were assured that all was well," hecried in despair.
She shrugged her shoulders. "One is privileged to change his mindovernight, I suppose. Politics is not a child's game."
"Oh, I am sorry I ever entertained the proposal. To be defeated nowwould do me immeasurable harm, not only in my pride, but in my businessaffairs. My affiliations with the government are of the closest--theymust be, for me to live. To be a candidate, to make the fight, and tobe beaten! What consideration will come to the firm of GaravelHermanos, think you?"
"Not much, but you are not so deeply committed that you cannotwithdraw."
This cool suggestion brought the expected outburst. "Rather than such adisgrace," cried Garavel, "I would go to certain defeat. One's pride isnot for sale, madame. What has caused this so sudden change ofsentiment?"
"Ramon is partly to blame. He is just as proud as you or as his father.When he heard of your daughter's engagement to our friend Anthony--"
"Ah! Now I see it all." His face darkened. "So, this is my reward forheeding your advice in regard to Gertrudis. She should have wed Ramon,as was intended, then I would have had a lever with which to lift hisfather from my path. Very well, then, there is no engagement with thisAnthony. It may not be too late even yet to capture Ramon."
"The city is already talking about Gertrudis and Kirk."
"No word has been spoken, no promise given. There is not even anunderstanding. It is merely an old custom that has caused this report.He seemed a pleasant fellow, she had dreams, so--I yielded. But do yousuppose I would allow my great ambition to be thwarted by the whim of agirl--to be upset by a stranger's smile? Bah! At their age I loved adozen. I could not survive without them." He snapped his fingers. "Yousee now the truth of what I told you when we first spoke of mydaughter. It is the older heads that must govern, always. I should haveforeseen this effect,
but Ramon was offended, and he said too little.Now, I admire his spirit; he is desperate; he will fight; he is noparrot to sit by and see his cage robbed. So much the better, since heis the pivot upon which this great affair revolves. You see what mustbe done?"
"Certainly."
"Come! We will see my friend Anibal at once."
But Mrs. Cortlandt checked him, saying, quietly:
"That is all right as far as it goes, but you forget the other youngman."
Garavel paused in his heavy strides across the room.
"Eh? How so? Gertrudis will not marry this Anthony."
"Perhaps she loves him."
"Love is a fancy, a something seen through a distant haze, an illusionwhich vanishes with the sun. In a month, a year, she will haveforgotten; but with me it is different. This is my life's climax; therewill be no other. I am a Garavel; I have looked into the future and Icannot turn back. I think also of Panama herself. There are greatissues at stake."
"But how will you handle Anthony?"
Garavel looked at her blankly. "He is in my way. He is ended! Is notthat all?"
"I am glad you are practical; so many of you Latin-Americans areabsurdly romantic."
"And why should I not be practical? I am a business man. I love but twothings, madame--no, three: my daughter, my success, and--my country. Bythis course I will serve all three."
"Since you take this view of it, I am sure that with Ramon's help wecan dissuade Don Anibal from his course. The General is sensible, anddoesn't want a fight any more than you do. If your daughter willconsent--"
"My dear lady, give yourself no uneasiness. She does not know themeaning of rebellion. If necessary--but there is not the slightestquestion. It is done."
"Then let me look up Ramon. He and I will approach the Generaltogether." She gave him her neatly gloved hand. "Things are never sobad as they seem."
"And I thank you for your promptness, which alone, perhaps, has savedour hopes and our ambitions." He escorted his caller to her carriage,then hurriedly returned to his office.
That afternoon Kirk received a formal communication from the bankerwhich filled him with dismay. It ran:
MY DEAR MR. ANTHONY,--To my extreme distress, I hear a rumor thatGertrudis is to become your wife. I assure you that neither she nor Iblame you in the least for this unfortunate report; but since busytongues will wag upon the slightest excuse, we feel it best that nofurther occasion for gossip should be given, I am sure you willco-operate with us.
Sincerely and respectfully, your friend, ANDRES GARAVEL.
A sense of betrayal crept over him as he read. What the lettersignified, beyond the fact that Mr. Garavel had changed his mind, hecould not make out, and he resolved to go at once and demand anexplanation. But at the bank he was told that the proprietor had gonehome, and he drove to the house only to learn that Senor Garavel andhis daughter had left for Las Savannas not half an hour before. So,back through the city he urged his driver, across the bridge, and outalong the country road.
Darkness had settled when he returned, raging at the trickery that hadbeen practised upon him. If they thought to gain their point by sendinghim on wildgoose chases like this, they were greatly mistaken. Heproposed to have Chiquita now, if he had to burst his way to herthrough barred doors. Never in all his easy, careless life had anythingof moment been denied him, never had he felt such bitterness ofthwarted longing. Reared in a way to foster a disregard of allrestraint and a contempt for other people's rights, he was in a fittingmood for any reckless project, and the mere thought that they shouldundertake to coerce an Anthony filled him with grim amusement. He hadyielded to their left-handed customs out of courtesy; it was time nowto show his strength.
What folly he might have committed it is hard to tell, but he wasprevented from putting any extravagant plan into operation by a messagefrom the girl herself.
As he dismissed his coachman and turned toward his quarters, Stephaniecame to him out of the shadows.
"I have been waiting," she said.
"Where is Chiquita? Tell me quickly."
"She is at the house. She wants to see you."
"Of course she does. I knew this wasn't any of her doing. I've beenhunting everywhere for her."
"At nine o'clock she will be in the Plaza. You know the dark placeacross from the church?"
"I'll be there."
"If we do not come, wait."
"Certainly. But, Stephanie, tell me what it is all about?"
The black woman shook her head. "She is sick," she said, in a harshvoice, "that is all I know. I have never seen her act so." From herexpression Kirk fancied that she held him responsible for hermistress's sufferings.
"Now, don't be angry with me," he made haste to say. "I'm sick, too,and you're the only friend we have. You love her, don't you? Well, sodo I. and I'm going to make her happy in spite of her father and allthe rest. Run along now, I won't keep you waiting to-night."
Long before the appointed time he was at the place of meeting, butscarcely had the city chimes rung out nine when he saw two women emergefrom the dark side-street next the Garavel mansion and come swiftlytoward him.
He refrained from rushing out to meet them, but when they were close tohis place of concealment he stepped forward, with Chiquita's name uponhis lips and his arms outstretched. She drew away.
"No, no, senor!" she cried. "I sent for you because there was no otherway--that is all. My father would not let you come to the house. Youwill not think me bold?"
"Of course not."
"I could not let you go until you knew the truth. You do not--believeit was my fault?"
"I don't know what to believe, because I don't know what has happened.All I know is that I got a note from your father. But that won't makeme let you go."
She clung desperately to the Bajan woman as if afraid to trust herselfnear him. "Wait--wait," she said, "until you have heard it all."
Never had she appeared so beautiful as now, with her face white, herbosom heaving, as the half-light dimly revealed.
"No matter what it is, I'll never give you up," he declared, stubbornly.
"Ah! I feared you would say those very words; but you must do it, justthe same. It will be hard for us both, I know--but--" She choked andshook her head as the words refused to come.
Stephanie laid a great copper hand soothingly upon her shoulder, andgrowled at Kirk in a hoarse, accusing voice:
"You see?"
"Tell me first why I must give you up?"
"Because, in spite of all, I am to marry Ramon," Gertrudis said,wretchedly.
"Who said so?"
"My father. He has forbidden me to think of you, and ordered that Imarry Ramon. Sick or well, living or dead, I must marry him."
"I'm hanged if you do!"
"It is those miserable politics again. If I do not obey, my fathercannot be President, do you see?" Pausing an instant to master heragitation, she hurried on. "To be President means a great deal to himand to our family; it is the greatest honor that has ever come to aGaravel. Senor Alfarez is terribly angry that I refused to marry hisson, to whom since I was a little child I have been engaged. Ramon alsois furious; he threatened to kill himself. So, it comes to this then:if I will not bind myself to the agreement, Senor Alfarez will contestthe election--I do not know how you say those things--but my fatherwill be defeated--perhaps he will be humbled. Many other terriblethings which I cannot understand will happen also. If I agree, thenthere will be no opposition to his plans. He will be President, and Iwill be a grand lady."
"I won't stand for it. They're making you a sacrifice, that's all. Whatkind of a father is it who would sell his daughter--"
"No, no! You do not understand. He is proud, he cannot accept defeat,he would rather give his life than be humiliated. Furthermore--hewishes me to marry Ramon, and so that ends it." Her lips were tremblingas she peered up at him to see if he really understood.
"Let them rave, dear. What does it matter who is President? What doesanything matter to
you and me?"
"He says I am too young to know my own mind, and--perhaps that is true,Senor Antonio; perhaps I shall soon forget you and learn to love Ramonas he loves me, I do not know--"
In spite of the pathetic quaver in her voice, Kirk cried with jealousbitterness:
"You don't seem to object very strongly; you seem to care about as muchfor Alfarez as you do for me. Is that it?"
"Yes, senor," she said, bravely.
"You are lying!" declared Stephanie, suddenly.
The girl burst into a perfect torrent of weeping that shamed him. Then,without any invitation, she flung herself recklessly into his arms andlay there, trembling, palpitating like an imprisoned bird. "Forgive me,dear," he exclaimed, softly. "I knew better all the time. You mustn'tthink of doing what they ask; I won't allow it." His own heart-beatswere shaking him, and he hardly knew what he was saying. The sight ofher grief maddened him. It was as if they had taken advantage of hishelpless little maid to hurt her maliciously, and his indignationblazed forth. She looked up with eyes gleaming through her tears andsaid, brokenly:
"Senor, I love you truly. You see, I cannot lie."
Her breath intoxicated him, and he bent his head to kiss her, butStephanie tore her roughly from his arms. The woman showed the strengthof a man, and her vulture-like face was working fiercely as she cried:
"No! She is mine! She is mine! She is a good girl."
"Stephanie! She loves me, don't you see?"
"No, no!" The black woman drew the girl into the shelter of her ownarms.
"Oh, I am wicked," Gertrudis said. "I love you, Keerk--yes, I love youvery dearly, but my father--he refuses--I must obey--he has the right,and I must do as he wishes."
"Come with me now. We'll be married to-night," he urged; but she onlyclung to Stephanie more closely, as if to hold herself from falling.
"You are very sweet to me," she said, with piteous tenderness, "and Ishall never forget the honor; but you see I cannot. This is more to myfather than his life; it is the same to all our family, and I must domy duty. I will pray for strength to keep from loving you, senor, andsome day, perhaps, the dear God will hear. You must do likewise, andpray also for me to have courage, I could not let you go away thinkingthis was my doing, so I sent for you. No, one must obey one's people,for they are wise--and good. But one should be honest."
The tears were stealing down her cheeks, and she thrilled to hispleadings as to some wondrous music, yet she was like adamant, and allhis lover's desperation could not shake her. It was strange to see thisslender, timid slip of a girl so melting and yet so cruelly firm. Heappealed to Stephanie, but she was as unresponsive as a bronze image.Seeing that his urging only made matters worse, he said, more gently:
"You are exalted now with the spirit of self-sacrifice, but later youwill see that I am right. I am not discouraged. A thousand things mayhappen. Who knows what to-morrow may bring? Let's wait and see if wecan't find a way out. Now that I know you love me, I have the courageto face anything, and I am going to win you, Chiquita. I have neverlost in all my life, and I don't intend to begin now. I'll see yourfather in the morning, and I'll be here again, to-morrow night--"
But at this Gertrudis cried out: "No, no! I cannot meet you again inthis manner." And Stephanie nodded her agreement.
"Then I'll see you the next night, that is Saturday. You are coming tothe big ball at the Tivoli with him and the Cortlandts--I must see youthen, so make sure to be there, and meanwhile don't give up."
"Oh, there is no hope."
"There is always hope. I'll think of something."
"We must go," said the Barbadian woman, warningly.
"Yes, yes! It is of no avail to resist," came the girl's choking voice.She stretched out her little hand, and then, looking up at him, said,uncertainly: "I--may never speak with you again alone, senor, and Imust pray to--cease loving you; but will you--kiss me once so that Imay never forget?"
He breathed a tender exclamation and took her gently to his breast,while the negress stood by scowling and muttering.
The memory of that long, breathless moment lived with him for years.Strangely enough, at the touch of her lips he felt his courage forsakehim--it ran out like water. He became weak, fearful, despairing, as ifit were his life that was ebbing away. And the pang when she drewherself from him was like a bayonet-thrust. Even when she and Stephaniehad melted into the shadows, he stood motionless under the spell ofthat caress, its ecstasy still suffusing him.
He found himself following slowly in the direction they had taken inthe hope of catching just one more glimpse of her, but as he emergedfrom the darkness of the park he paused. There across the street, inthe little open shrine set in the corner of the great cathedral, shewas kneeling before the shining figure of the Madonna. The candle-glowthat illumined the holy image and shone out so hopefully against thegloom showed her crouched close before the altar, her dark head bowedin uttermost dejection. Outside, and barely revealed, stood the tall,gaunt Bajan woman, silent, watchful, and forbidding.
With a painful grip at his throat Kirk watched until the girl rose andhurried away into the shadows. Then he, too, turned and made his way upthe street, but he went slowly, unseeingly, as if he had beheld avision.
For the first time in his life he was a prey to fear. A thousand panicsclamored at him, his mind began working with the exaggerated speed of aperson in dire peril. Once more, as upon that night when he had firstcalled at her father's house, he turned abruptly at the corner to stareat her window, and again he surprised a figure skulking after him.Without a moment's hesitation he made after it at a run, but the fellowdodged into the Plaza and disappeared among the shrubbery. Not caringto pursue the chase into those lurking shadows Kirk desisted, certainonly of one thing--that he was not Allan who was trailing him. Herecalled the oft-repeated threats of Ramon Alfarez, and returned to hisquarters by way of the lighted thoroughfares.