Chapter 23

The Evening's Meeting.--Angles of Cross-Purpose.--Sir Donald's Letter to Oswald.--Paul Committed as a Madman.--Pierre's Odd Ethical Caprices.--"Do Equity."--Esther Inspects Postmarks and Consults Ship Schedules.--An Expected Proposal.--A Sad Home-Coming.--A Northfield Reunion.--Ingenuous Assurance.--Puzzling Interrogatory.--Wordless Betrothal.--Pierre's Release.--Double Wedding.--Hopefully "Shadowed."

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

PAGE "THE STAR! THE STAR! MOTHER!" _Frontispiece_

"THERE WAS A FLASH OF STEEL, A BLOW AND THRUST, FOLLOWED BY THE SPLASH OF TWO BODIES" 60

"WITH UPLIFTED HAND THE APPARITION SLOWLY ADVANCED TOWARD THE COWERING PAUL, AS IF TO STRIKE" 98

"WHEN WITHIN ABOUT A HALF-MILE, THE FOUR RAISED THEIR WEAPONS" 149

"RAPTLY GAZING AT THE CHILD'S INNOCENT FACE, PAUL SOFTLY CROONS SOME CRADLE MELODY" 283

"PO' SICK CHILE! YO' WHITE FACE 'MINDS ME OF MY OWN MANDY CAR'LINE JUST 'FO' SHE DIED!" 306

"THEN BEHOLDING PIERRE IRONED AND HELPLESS, PAUL BURST OUT IN A HYSTERICAL LAUGH" 359

"THIS SAGE REPLY IS HEARD BY THE EAVESDROPPING BESSIE" 407

PREFACE

Though to explain incurs a risk, the author accepts the hazard of a word in advance.

While the novelist's license has been so used that there is need neither to resent an innuendo nor to prove an "alibi," yet, substantially, the incidents narrated occurred within the time stated, and nearly all the actors are still upon life's "boards."

The conscientious tourist in search of that "beautiful country-seat" and "wood-fringed lake" is advised to defer his visit. Perhaps the exact locations are intended to be in doubt. Even that "station" might be hard to find in an English train schedule.

Geographical accuracy may not be always essential. One noted writer has told of infatuation for

"An ounce of common, ugly, human dust,"

and declared that--

.... "Places are too much, Or else too little, for immortal man."

The reader of few or of many books may find "reminders" in these pages. The author hastens to confess echoings from bygone days, hintings of vagrant fancies, and whimsical reveries wherein appeared the vague evasive outlines of half-remembered things.

If keeping that harmless old connoisseur of the "image and superscription," who insisted on positive "rigor mortis," jailed so long seem heartless, it should be remembered that some wrongs are more apparent than real.

The antecedents of that mysterious fair-haired "Find" are still in doubt, but this signifies little. Child-life is always a miracle more inscrutable than the resurrection of Lazarus.

The hinted fate of Pierre and Paul Lanier may merit some criticism. Perhaps summary justice should have been meted out; but in view of all "extenuating circumstances," may not judgment be suspended? Since "Eternity is so long," and in deference to that "bias for saving," can we not allow an "appeal unto Caesar"?

CARSON JAY LEE.