Lola Page 5

  CHAPTER V

  A LOVER'S QUARREL

  Dr. Crossett looked at his friend anxiously and found, as he wasprepared to find, that the Doctor seemed nervous and depressed, butwhen, after a few moments, Lola left them together, he was hardlyprepared for the look of shame and humiliation he saw on his face.

  "You sent for me, Martin," he said, trying to show in his voice thedeep sympathy and friendship that he really felt.

  "Paul," the Doctor answered, after a moment's hesitation, "the money Iborrowed from you is gone! Gone! and not for the purpose for which youloaned it."

  "I made no condition, Martin. The loan was my own suggestion. I am nota poor man, and all that I have is at your service. It is not worththe tragedy in your face. With the fame that your discovery will bringto you, you can easily repay me. Come!" He put his arm affectionatelyover Dr. Barnhelm's shoulder. "Let's say no more about it. Just tellme of your work. It must be only a few days now before you demonstratebefore the Medical Society."

  "To-morrow night," replied the Doctor. "I have remedied the flaws inthe construction of my apparatus, and Saturday Karn & Co. promised todeliver the new machine. They sent me a bill for eight hundreddollars. I"--he stopped, his face flushed with shame; then recoveredhimself with an effort--"I was unable to pay the amount, andthey--they refused to give me credit."

  "But, Martin," Dr. Crossett spoke gravely, "your life's work wasdepending upon the delivery of your apparatus in time fordemonstration to-morrow. Surely you should have set aside that sum, nomatter what else you sacrificed."

  "I was selfish enough," replied the Doctor, "to want my mind freed ofevery care. I allowed Lola to persuade me to place all of the loan inher hands. She knew that this bill was coming. Saturday I--I asked herfor the money, and--and she told me that it was gone."

  "She had spent it?"

  "Yes."

  "How?"

  The Doctor pointed, with a smile that almost brought the tears to hisfriend's eyes, to the expensive furniture and rather elaborate windowhangings.

  "I--I blame myself," he said quickly, as if to prevent any criticalmention of his daughter. "She is young, and she doesn't understand. Ihad grown used to trusting her with everything. Why, Paul! In thesepast years there have been times when I could not collect enough topay our rent, little as it was. Not once did I even have to tell herof it. She always seemed to guess it for herself, and she would bringme what I needed, saved from her pitiful little housekeepingallowance, or earned by her teaching. All this selfish greed ofpleasure and luxury is new to her. I do not like it. It is not like mygirl!"

  "Our fault," agreed Dr. Crossett. "We spoke too much of the greatsuccess that was coming to you. It turned her head. Come, let usforget it."

  "Not yet, Paul; I want you to understand. I could not speak of her, asI am speaking now, to anyone but you. When she first insisted upontaking this apartment I knew that I did wrong not to forbid it, butshe was in a peculiar nervous condition--she seemed morbid and unlikeherself. I hardly dared to oppose her."

  "And the change?" inquired Dr. Crossett. "Has it done her good?"

  "I hardly know," the father answered, anxiously. "Her health seems tobe satisfactory. In fact, she never, even as a child, seemed to be insuch perfect physical condition, and yet----"

  He stopped, seemingly unable to finish.

  "It is the emotion," exclaimed Dr. Crossett, "the love. Young girlsbefore marriage often have serious nervous disorders. We must bepatient. There is no need to worry. Marriage will restore her oldpoise. I speak with authority, Martin, for my practice has shown memuch of the delicate nature of these nervous disorders; there isnothing here that need alarm you. Come! Tell me. When is this marriageto take place?"

  "I cannot tell. It was to have been very soon after her recovery, butshe has already postponed it twice. Young Dorris is almost out ofpatience."

  "Almost out of patience!" repeated Dr. Crossett scornfully. "A badmood in which to begin a lifelong companionship with even the best ofwomen. Come." He put his hand almost playfully on the Doctor'sshoulder and shook him gently. "Facts! Always stick to the facts. Weknow her. She is a good girl. We love her. There is no more to say."

  "If it is money she wants," exclaimed Dr. Barnhelm bitterly, "I willmake it for her. It isn't that I think anything money can buy too goodfor her, but for her to be selfish."

  "Hush," said Paul very tenderly. "She has no mother; we must rememberthat. We are men, and we stand helpless before her womanhood, likechildren in the dark. Now! We will say no more. We will go to the bankto-day, while there is time. We will get that money, and to-morrownight, before the Medical Society, you shall make your name big,famous. Eh?"

  "If I do," exclaimed Dr. Barnhelm gratefully, "I shall have you tothank for it."

  "She shall thank me, Martin. You will tell her that part of the silks,and ribbons, and laces that you buy for her come from me. Eh? She willlove me then. Come."

  Dr. Crossett allowed Dr. Barnhelm no time for remonstrance, butinsisted so firmly that they should go at once to the bank that he wasobliged to agree, and leaving a message for Lola that they would soonreturn, they descended in the elevator and walked briskly down theDrive, the Frenchman declaring that it was nothing short of a crime toride on such a day, and he kept up such a flood of cheerful talk andhappy reminiscence that, in spite of his deep humiliation, Dr.Barnhelm soon found himself laughing merrily.

  In the meantime things were not going smoothly in Lola's sitting roomin the apartment. John Dorris had for some hour or more been doing hisbest to win Lola into a promise of an early marriage, and in spite ofhis best resolution he found himself rapidly growing impatient.

  "It is no use, John!" Lola spoke almost angrily.

  "The more we talk of it, the less we seem to agree. I do not care tobe married before winter."

  "This is the third time you have changed the date," remonstrated John."I am beginning to think that----"

  "Well?" She interrupted sharply and with so much of challenge in hermanner that John had to curb his rising indignation as he replied.

  "If I am not careful we will quarrel again, and we have done more thanenough of that lately."

  "I am sure I can't help it, John, if you choose to be cross andunreasonable."

  "Has it all been my fault?"

  "No, of course not," cried Lola, with one of the sudden changes ofmood that had so often puzzled him of late. "I have been perfectlyhorrid, I know, and I won't be any more. Just forgive me,John--and--and"--she looked up at him sweetly--"and kiss me, if youwant to."

  John stooped and kissed her, and asked earnestly, "And we shan'tpostpone the wedding again, shall we?"

  "Only a little while, dear."

  He turned angrily away, but she caught his arm.

  "Now, John! Can't you trust me? Don't you love me enough to give me myway in a little thing like this?"

  As he stood rather coldly beside her, she suddenly threw both her armsabout his neck and clung to him. Much as he loved her there wassomething in the utter abandon of her manner that shocked him, and fora moment he tried to draw away, but her delicate-looking arms werestrong, and she clung all the tighter, laughing at his half-heartedeffort to escape.

  "Am I so dreadfully ugly, John, that you can't bear to have me nearyou?"

  "Lola!" he exclaimed passionately, "what are you doing? What is itthat has changed you so? If you love me what reason have you forputting me off with one foolish excuse after another? What is it thatyou want?"

  "I know that I ask a great deal, dear," she replied tenderly, "but Iwant a love great enough for anything."

  "My love is great enough, Lola," said John, as he once more triedgently to remove her arms from about his neck. "Please don't try tomake it any greater until you are ready to return it."

  She looked up again into his face and laughed at the cold expressionshe saw there, then suddenly drew him close, her arms straining abouthim, and kissed him, not as a young girl timidly kisses the man sheloves, but with the kiss
of a passionate woman. He was a man, likeother men, and the man in him took fire in a moment, and he returnedher kiss and would have drawn her still closer into his arms, but witha little low laugh she freed herself, and stepping back of the tableshook her finger at him playfully.

  "Now, John! You mustn't be silly."

  She laughed lightly, mockingly, as he stood there, already ashamed ofthe sudden fierce feeling that had mastered him, and full of disgustof himself for the physical passion that had for the first timeentered into any of his thoughts toward her.

  "It is all right, John," she continued, feeling that she had him at adisadvantage. "It is all settled. The marriage is postponed, but onlyfor a little, little while. Now run along, and come back late thisafternoon to see Dr. Crossett, and if you will promise to be very goodyou may stay to dinner."

  "I will, Lola, thank you," replied John, "but--but I wish you wouldtell me what you are going to do this afternoon?"

  "Why, I am going out."

  "Not--Lola! You are not going to that Harlan woman's house?"

  "Why, John! You know that you told me you didn't like to have me gothere?" She looked at him so innocently that he felt himself a bruteto continue, but he forced himself to go on.

  "The woman is hardly respectable, and the crowd she has hanging aroundher house are not proper acquaintances for a girl like you. I haven'tgot over the shock of seeing you in that woman's carriage yesterday."

  "Now, please," cried Lola impatiently, "please don't begin that allover again. You have been scolding about that all the afternoon."

  "But, if you have known this woman for months, why is it that you havenever spoken of her? Would you have spoken of her at all if you hadnot known that I saw you with her?"

  "If she is such a terrible person, how is it that you know her sowell?"

  "Lola! I am a man. Men are different! Surely you must see that?"

  "Why are they different? I am not a child. I am a woman! Why shouldn'tI have a little fun once in a while? Why should men have everything?"

  "Do you call it fun to live the life that woman lives? You don't knowwhat she is; if you did you would rather stay shut up in this room aslong as you were alive than call yourself a friend of hers."

  "John! You are absurd."

  "No! I am not absurd. A girl like you, Lola, doesn't even know whatsuch women as that Mrs. Harlan are. It is your very innocence, dear,that makes you so bold."

  "I'm tired of being a fool." She spoke with a fierce impatience thatfrightened him. "She is a woman, isn't she, made of the same flesh andblood, living in the same world. Why should I avoid her? She is theonly person I know who cares for anything but work, and worry, andduty! Life isn't all drudgery to her; she loves laughter, andhappiness, and gayety, and good clothes, and beautiful surroundings!If that is a sin, then I am a sinner, too, and I'm glad of it."

  "You don't understand, Lola."

  "I want to understand! I must understand! I cannot, will not, go onany longer like an ostrich, my head hidden, pretending not to see thethings that are all around me. If you love me you will help me, youwill stop this absurd pretence. You will help me to know what thisworld I live in really is. I am warning you, John, just this once. Ifyou do not listen to what I am saying it will be your own fault; Iwon't speak like this again."

  "My dear," said John in much distress, "I want to help you. Surely youknow that. I am going to be your husband, and all our lives I am goingto stand between you and everything that is evil. I am going to do allthat a man can do to protect you from all the sorrow, and suffering,and sin of the world."

  Lola looked at him, as he stood before her, gravely, his fine youngface flushed with embarrassment and earnest with his strong intentionto do his best to make her life all innocent happiness. She looked athim, and laughed, laughed so heartily, and with such real merriment,that after a moment's indignation he was reassured. "Surely," hethought, "everything is all right now; she is laughing at me because Itook her innocent girlish talk too seriously," and he resolved infuture to avoid such discussions; but because he was worried at hisdiscovery of her acquaintance with this really objectionable woman hefelt that he must not stop until he had secured an earnest promisethat she would avoid her as much as possible, so he continued. "Lola,Mrs. Harlan's greatest friend, the man who has helped to give her areputation that a decent woman can hardly envy, is Dick Fenway."

  She interrupted him angrily. "So! That is the explanation? Now, we aregetting the real truth. That is why I am to stay shut up here. That iswhy I am not to go to my friend's house."

  "Have you seen Dick Fenway there?" He was angry now himself, hurt byher tone, and jealous of the thought of this man, whom he knew to beunworthy of any decent girl's acquaintance. "Have you seen him there?"he repeated as he turned away scornfully.

  "Are you trying to insult me?" she demanded.

  "I want an answer."

  "No, I haven't seen him there."

  "Have you seen him at all since the day he did his best to kill you?"

  "No," she replied coldly. "I have not, and now, if you think that youhave hurt me enough, you may go, or are you anxious to accuse me ofanything more?"

  "Lola," John began gravely, "I am sorry, but you have not been frankwith me. I had a right to ask you that question. I am glad that youcould answer it as you did."

  "I hope, John," she replied, "that before our marriage does take placeyou will have learned to trust me."

  "Lola," he cried, remorseful, "I do trust you."

  "No, John." She avoided him as he tried to put his arm about her."Please go now. I am not angry, but you have hurt me. I think that youhad better go. By to-night we will have forgotten it, or at least wewill try to forget."

  "I must be a beast of a fellow," he said, quite convinced of his ownunreasonable temper. "I am always hurting you, and yet I never mean todo it. Forgive me, Lola. I will try to do better after this."

  He tried to kiss her, but she drew herself away, and he had to leaveher, although his heart ached and he felt that between them each daythat passed was bringing a more complete misunderstanding. He had donehis best; once away from the witchery of her presence he was sure ofthat, but the old confidence, the sweetness of perfect understandinghad already gone. His nature was a generous one, and he tried toconvince himself that the fault must be his, but how? In what had hefailed? He could not answer, but once more he made up his mind to bepatient and tender. He knew little of women, but if their natures weremore complex, their moods more uncertain, he could only do his best totry to understand. Of one thing alone he was sure, as sure as he wasof his own life, her perfect loyalty, her real purity, and, after all,was not that enough? What right had he to ask for more?

  MRS. HARLAN IS A STATELY CHAPERON FOR LOLA.]

  As the door of the apartment closed behind him, Lola, without amoment's hesitation crossed the hall to the telephone, and with aglance over her shoulder, to be sure that she was alone, she took downthe receiver and called "2164 Rector." After a moment she wasanswered, and she asked quietly, "Is Mr. Fenway there? Yes, Mr.Richard Fenway."

  She stood there smiling to herself until she heard his voice at theother end of the wire. "Hello," she said gayly. "This is Lola. I havechanged my mind, Dick, about that ride. I am very much bored to-day,and I have decided to go with you, if you are sure you really wantme."

  "You know how much I want you," he answered ardently. "Or, if youdon't know, I'll tell you. I am all alone here just now, and I'llnever have a better chance."

  "I wouldn't trouble myself if I were you," continued Lola, "andperhaps you may have fully as good a chance this afternoon; anyway, Iam perfectly sure that Central is laughing at you, and I don't at allblame her."

  "All right," he answered. "I'll call for you in an hour."

  "Oh, no," she retorted. "You know you must not come here. John andfather would have a fit. Meet me at Mrs. Harlan's at three, just threeo'clock exactly, for I will have to be back by seven."

  He started to tell her how delig
htful he was at the prospect of hercompany, but as he spoke the door bell rang and she cut him offwithout warning and turned away as Maria opened the door from herkitchen and started down the hall.