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out　each　other。〃　　And　he　was　in　the　auto　and　off　for　the　station。



XVII

TWO　AND　THE　BARRIER。


Scarborough　often　rode　with　Gladys　and　Pauline；　sometimes　with　Gladys　alone。　　One　afternoon　in　August　he　came　expecting　to　go　out　with　both。　　But　Gladys　was　not　well　that　day。　　She　had　examined　her　pale　face　and　deeply　circled　eyes　in　her　glass；　she　had　counseled　with　her　maida　discreetly　and　soothingly　frank　French　woman。　　Too　late　to　telephone　him；　she　had　overruled　her　longing　to　see　him　and　had　decided　that　at　what　she　hoped　was　his　〃critical　stage〃　it　would　be　wiser　not　to　show　herself　to　him　thus　even　in　her　most　becoming　tea…gown；　which　compelled　the　eyes　of　the　beholder　to　a　fascinating　game　of　hide　and　seek　with　her　neck　and　arms　and　the　lines　of　her　figure。

〃And　Mrs。　Dumont？〃　inquired　Scarborough　of　the　servant　who　brought　Gladys'　message　and　note。

〃She's　out　walking；　sir。〃

Scarborough　rode　away；　taking　the　long　drive　through　the　grounds　of　the　Eyrie；　as　it　would　save　him　a　mile　of　dusty　and　not　well…shaded　highway。　　A　few　hundred　yards　and　he　was　passing　the　sloping　meadows　that　lay　golden　bronze　in　the　sun；　beyond　the　narrow　fringe　of　wood　skirting　and　shielding　the　drive。　　The　grass　and　clover　had　been　cut。　　Part　of　it　was　spread　where　it　had　fallen；　part　had　been　raked　into　little　hillocks　ready　for　the　wagons。　　At　the　edge　of　one　of　these　hillocks　far　down　the　slope　he　saw　the　tail　of　a　pale　blue　skirt；　a　white　parasol　cast　upon　the　stubble　beside　it。　　He　reined　in　his　horse；　hesitated；　dismounted；　tied　his　bridle　round　a　sapling。　　He　strode　across　the　field　toward　the　hillock　that　had　betrayed　its　secret　to　him。

〃Do　I　interrupt？〃　he　called　when　he　was　still　far　enough　away　not　to　be　taking　her　by　surprise。

There　was　no　answer。　　He　paused；　debating　whether　to　call　again　or　to　turn　back。

But　soon　she　was　risingthe　lower　part　of　her　tall　narrow　figure　hid　by　the　hillock；　the　upper　part　revealing　to　him　the　strong　stamp　of　that　vivid　individuality　of　hers　which　separated　her　at　once　from　no　matter　what　company。　　She　had　on　a　big　garden　hat；　trimmed　just　a　little　with　summer　flowers；　a　blouse　of　some　soft　white　material；　with　even　softer　lace　on　the　shoulders　and　in　the　long；　loose　sleeves。　　She　gave　a　friendly　nod　and　glance　in　his　direction；　and　said：　　〃Oh；　nonot　at　all。　　I'm　glad　to　have　help　in　enjoying　this。〃

She　was　looking　out　toward　the　mists　of　the　horizon　hills。　　The　heat　of　the　day　had　passed；　the　woods；　the　hillocks　of　hay　were　casting　long　shadows　on　the　pale…bronze　fields。　　A　breeze　had　sprung　up　and　was　lifting　from　the　dried　and　drying　grass　and　clover　a　keen；　sweet；　intoxicating　perfumelike　the　odor　which　classic　zephyrs　used　to　shake　from　the　flowing　hair　of　woodland　nymphs。

He　stood　beside　her　without　speaking；　looking　intently　at　her。　　It　was　the　first　time　he　had　been　alone　with　her　since　the　afternoon　at　Battle　Field　when　she　confessed　her　marriage　and　he　his　love。

〃Bandit　was　lame；〃　she　said　when　it　seemed　necessary　to　say　something。

She　rode　a　thoroughbred；　Bandit；　who　would　let　no　one　else　mount　him；　whenever　she　got　a　new　saddle　she　herself　had　to　help　put　it　on；　so　alert　was　he　for　schemes　to　entrap　him　to　some　other's　service。　　He　obeyed　her　in　the　haughty；　nervous　way　characteristic　of　thoroughbredsobeyed　because　he　felt　that　she　was　without　fear；　and　because　she　had　the　firm　but　gentle　hand　that　does　not　fret　a　horse　yet　does　not　let　him　think　for　an　instant　that　he　is　or　can　be　free。　　Then；　too；　he　had　his　share　of　the　universal；　fundamental　vanity　we　should　probably　find　swelling　the　oyster　did　we　but　know　how　to　interpret　it；　and　he　must　have　appreciated　what　an　altogether　harmonious　spectacle　it　was　when　he　swept　along　with　his　mistress　upon　his　back　as　light　and　free　as　a　Valkyr。

〃I　was　sorry　to　miss　the　ride；〃　Pauline　went　on　after　another　pauseto　her；　riding　was　the　keenest　of　the　many　physical　delights　that　are　for　those　who　have　vigorous　and　courageous　bodies　and　sensitive　nerves。　　Whenever　it　was　possible　she　fought　out　her　battles　with　herself　on　horseback；　usually　finding　herself　able　there　to　drown　mental　distress　in　the　surge　of　physical　exultation。

As　he　still　did　not　speak　she　looked　at　himand　could　not　look　away。　　She　had　not　seen　that　expression　since　their　final　hour　together　at　Battle　Field；　though　in　these　few　last　months　she　had　been　remembering　it　so　exactly；　had　been　wondering；　doubting　whether　she　could　not　bring　it　to　his　face　again；　had　been　forbidding　herself　to　long　to　see　it。　　And　there　it　was；　unchanged　like　all　the　inflexible　purposes　that　made　his　character　and　his　career。　　And　back　to　her　came；　as　it　had　come　many　and　many　a　time　in　those　years；　the　story　he　had　told　her　of　his　father　and　mother；　of　his　father's　love　for　his　motherhow　it　had　enfolded　her　from　the　harshness　and　peril　of　pioneer　life；　had　enfolded　her　in　age　no　less　than　in　youth；　had　gone　down　into　and　through　the　Valley　of　the　Shadow　with　her；　had　not　left　her　even　at　the　gates　of　Death；　but　had　taken　him　on　with　her　into　the　Beyond。　　And　Pauline　trembled；　an　enormous　joy　thrilling　through　and　through　her。

〃Don't！〃　she　said　uncertainly。　　〃Don't　look　at　me　like　that；　PLEASE！〃

〃You　were　crying；〃　he　said　abruptly。　　He　stood　before　her；　obviously　one　who　had　conquered　the　respect　of　the　world　in　fair；　open　battle；　and　has　the　courage　that　is　for　those　only　who　have　tested　their　strength　and　know　it　will　not　fail　them。　　And　the　sight　of　him；　the　look　of　him；　filled　her　not　with　the　mere　belief；　but　with　the　absolute　conviction　that　no　malign　power　in　all　the　world　or　in　the　mystery　round　the　world　could　come　past　him　to　her　to　harass　or　harm　her。　　The　doubts；　the　sense　of　desolation　that　had　so　agitated　her　a　few　minutes　before　now　seemed　trivial；　weak；　unworthy。

She　lowered　her　eyesshe　had　thought　he　would　not　observe　the　slight　traces　of　the　tears　she　had　carefully　wiped　away。　　She　clasped　her　hands　meekly　and　lookedand　feltlike　a　guilty　child。　　The　coldness；　the　haughtiness　were　gone　from　her　face。

〃Yes；〃　she　said　shyly。　　〃YesII〃　　She　lifted　her　eyesher　tears　had　made　them　as　soft　and　luminous　as　the　eyes　of　a　child　just　awake　from　a　long；　untroubled　sleep。　　〃Butyou　must　not　ask　me。　　It's　nothing　that　can　be　helped。　　Besides；　it　seems　nothingnow。〃　　She　forced　a　faint　smile。　　〃If　you　knew　what　a　comfort　it　is　to　cry　you'd　try　it。〃

〃I　have；〃　he　replied。　　Then　after　a　pause　he　added：　　〃Once。〃　　Something　in　his　toneshe　did　not　venture　to　look　at　him　againmade　her　catch　her　breath。　　She　instantly　and　instinctively　knew　when　that　〃once〃　was。　　〃I　don't　care　to　try　it　again；　thank　you；〃　he　went　on。　　〃But　it　made　me　able　to　understand　what　sort　of　comfort　you　were　getting。　　ForYOU　don't　cry　easily。〃

The　katydids　were　clamoring　drowsily　in　the　tops　of　the　sycamores。　　From　out　of　sight　beyond　the　orchard　came　the　monotonous；　musical　whir　of　a　reaper。　　A　quail　whistled　his　pert；　hopeful；　careless　〃Bob　White！〃　from　the　rail　fence　edging　the　wheat　field。　　A　bumblebee　grumbled　among　a　cluster　of　swaying　clover　blossoms　which　the　mower　had　spared。　　And　the　breeze　tossed　up　and　rolled　over　the　meadow；　over　the　senses　of　the　young　man　and　the　young　woman；　great　billows　of　that　perfume　which　is　the　combined　essence　of　all　nature's　love　philters。

Pauline　sank　on　the　hay；　and　Scarborough　stretched　himself　on　the　ground　at　her　feet。　　〃For　a　long　time　it's　been　getting　darker　and　darker　for　me；〃　she　began；　in　the　tone　of　one　who　is　talking　of　some　past　sorrow　which　casts　a　retreating　shadow　over　present　joy　to　make　it　the　brighter　by　contrast。　　〃To…daythis　afternoon　it　seemed　as　if　the　light　were　just　about　to　go　outfor　good　and　all。　　And　I　came　here。　　I　found　myself　lying　on　the　groundon　the　bosom　of　this　old　cruelkind　mother　of　ours。　　And〃　　She　did　not　finishhe　would　know　the　rest。　　Besides；　what　did　it　matternow？

He　said：　　〃If　only　there　were　some　way　in　which　I　could　help。〃

〃It　isn't　the　people　who　appear　at　the　crises　of　one's　life；　like　the　hero　on　the　stage；　that　really　help。　　I'm　afraid　the　crises；　the　real　crises　of　real　life；　must　always　be　met　alone。〃

〃Alone；〃　he　said　in　an　undertone。　　The　sky　was　blue　nowcloudless　blue；　but　in　that　word　alone　he　could　hear　the　rumble　of　storms　below　the　horizon；　storms　past；　storms　to　come。

〃The　real　helpers；〃　she　went　on；　〃are　those　who　strengthen　us　day　by　day；　hour　by　hour。　　And　when　no　physical　presence　would　do　any　good；　when　no　outside　aid　is　possibletheyit's　like　finding　a　wall　at　one's　back　when　one's　in　dread　of　being　surrounded。　　I　suppose　you　don't　realize　how　much　it　means　toto　how　many　peopleto　watch　a　man　who　goes　straight　and　strong　on　his　waywithout　blustering；　without　trampling　anybody；　without　taking　any　mean　advantage。　　You　don't　mind　my　saying　these　things？〃

She　felt　the　look　which　she　did　not　venture　to　face　as　he　answered：　　〃I　needed　to　hear　them　to…day。　　For　it　seemed　to　me　that　I；　too；　had　got　to　the　limit　of　my　strength。〃

〃But　you　hadn't。〃　　She　said　this　confidently。

〃NoI　suppose　not。　　I've　thought　so　before；　but　somehow　I've　always　managed　to　gather　myself　together。　　This　time　it　was　the　work　of　years　apparently　undonehopelessly　undone。　　They〃she　understood　that　〃they〃　meant　the　leaders　of　the　two　corrupt　rings　whose　rule　of　the　state　his　power　with　the　people　menaced〃they　have　bought　away　some　of　my　best　menbought　them　with　those　‘favors'　that　are　so　much　more　disreputable　than　money　because　they're　respectable。　　Then　they　came　to　me〃he　laughed　unpleasantly〃and　took　me　up　into　a　high　mountain　and　showed　me　all　the　kingdoms　of　the　earth；　as　it　were。　　I　could　be　governor；　senator；　they　said；　could　probably　have　the　nomination　for　president　even；not　if　I　would　fall　down　and　worship　them；　but　if　I　would　let　them　alone。　　I　could　accomplish　nearly　all　that　I've　worked　so　long　to　accomplish　if　I　would　only　concede　a　few　things　to　them。　　I　could　be　almost　free。　　ALMOSTthat　is；　not　free　at　all。〃

She　said：　　〃And　they　knew　you　no　better　than　that！〃

〃Now；〃　he　continued；　〃it　looks　as　if　I'll　have　to　build　all　over　again。〃

〃I　think　not；〃　she　replied。　　〃If　they　weren't　still　afraid　of　you　they'd　never　have　come　to　you。　　But　what　does　it　matter？　　YOU　don't　fight　for　victory；　you　f