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the river, through your farm. Can't we make a deal? I'm ready to be
liberal--to meet you more than halfway. I'll give you an interest
in the company. I think I've influence enough up at the Capitol to have you
reinstated as inspector. A little reasonableness on your part will put you
right again in Forlorn River, with a chance of growing rich. There's a big
future here....My interest, Belding, has become personal. Radford is in love
with your step-daughter.
He wants to marry her. I'll admit now if I had foreseen this situation I
wouldn't have pushed you so hard. But we can square the thing. Now let's get
together not only in business, but in a family way. If my son's happiness
depends upon having this girl, you may rest assured I'll do all I can to get
her for him. I'll absolutely make good all your losses. Now what do you
say?"
"No," replied Belding. "Your money can't buy a right of way across my ranch.
And Nell doesn't want your son. That settles that."
"But you could persuade her."
"I won't, that's all."
"May I ask why?" Chases's voice was losing its suave quality, but it was even
swifter than before.
"Sure. I don't mind your asking," replied Belding in slow deliberation. "I
wouldn't do such a low-down trick. Besides, if
I would, I'd want it to be a man I was persuading for. I know
Greasers--I know a Yaqui I'd rather give Nell to than your son."
Radford Chase began to roar in inarticulate rage. Belding paid no attention
to him; indeed, he never glanced at the young man. The elder Chase checked a
violent start. He plucked at the collar of his gray flannel shirt, opened it
at the neck.
"My son's offer of marriage is an honor--more an honor, sir, than you perhaps
are aware of."
Belding made no reply. His steady gaze did not turn from the long lane that
led down to the river. He waited coldly, sure of himself.
"Mrs. Belding's daughter has no right to the name of Burton,"
snapped Chase. "Did you know that?"
"I did not," replied Belding, quietly.
"Well, you know it now," added Chase, bitingly.
"Sure you can prove what you say?" queried Belding, in the same cool,
unemotional tone. It struck him strangely at the moment what little knowledge
this man had of the West and of Western character.
"Prove it? Why, yes, I think so, enough to make the truth plain to any
reasonable man. I come from Peoria--was born and raised there. I went to
school with Nell Warren. That was your wife's maiden name. She was a
beautiful, gay girl. All the fellows were in love with her. I knew Bob
Burton well. He was a splendid fellow, but wild. Nobody ever knew for sure,
but we all supposed he was engaged to marry Nell. He left Peoria, however,
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and soon after that the truth about Nell came out. She ran away. It was at
least a couple of months before Burton showed up in Peoria.
He did not stay long. Then for years nothing was heard of either of them.
When word did come Nell was in Oklahoma, Burton was in Denve r.
There's chance, of course, that Burton followed Nell and married her.
That would account for Nell Warren taking the name of Burton. But it isn't
likely. None of us ever heard of such a thing and wouldn't have believed it
if we had. The affair seemed destined to end unfortunately.
But Belding, while I'm at it, I want to say that Nell Warren was one of the
sweetest, finest, truest girls in the world. If she drifted to the Southwest
and kept her past a secret that was only natural.
Certainly it should not be held against her. Why, she was only a child--a
girl--seventeen--eighteen years old....In a moment of amazement--when I
recognized your wife as an old schoolmate--I
blurted the thing out to Radford. You see now how little it matters to me
when I ask your stepdaughter's hand in marriage for my son."
Belding stood listening. The genuine emotion in Chase's voice was as strong
as the ring of truth. Belding knew truth when he heard it. The revelation
did not surprise him. Belding did not soften, for he devined that Chase's
emotion was due to the probing of an old wound, the recalling of a past both
happy and painful. Still, human nature was so strange that perhaps kindness
and sympathy might yet have a place in this Chase's heart. Belding did not
believe so, but he was willing to give Chase the benefit of the doubt.
"So you told my wife you'd respect her secret--keep her dishonor from husband
and daughter?" demanded Belding, his dark gaze sweeping back from the lane.
"What! I--I" stammered Chase.
"You made your son swear to be a man and die before he'd hint the thing to
Nell?" went on Belding, and his voice rang louder.
Ben Chase had no answer. The red left his face. His son slunk back against
the fence.
"I say you never held this secret over the heads of my wife and her daughter?"
thundered Belding.
He had his answer in the gray faces, in the lips that fear made mute. Like a
flash Belding saw the whole truth of Mrs.
Belding's agony, the reason for her departure; he saw what had been driving
Nell; and it seemed that all the dogs of hell were loosed within his heart.
He struck out blindly, instinctively in his pain, and the blow sent Ben Chase
staggering into the fence corner. Then he stretched forth a long arm and
whirled Radford
Chase back beside his father. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]