miss billy-第25章

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was　one　day　to　become。　　But　the　babywent　away；　after　a　time；　and
carried　with　him　all　the　plansand　he　never　came　back。　　Behind　him
he　left　empty　hearts　that　ached；　and　great　bare　rooms　that　seemed
always　to　be　echoing　sighs　and　sobs。　　And　then；　one　day；　such　a　few
years　after；　the　young　wife　went　to　find　her　baby；　and　left　the　man
all　alone　with　the　heart　that　ached　and　the　great　bare　rooms　that
echoed　sighs　and　sobs。

〃Perhaps　it　was　thisthe　bareness　of　the　roomsthat　made　the　man
turn　to　his　boyish　passion　for　collecting　things。　　He　wanted　to
fill　those　rooms　full；　full！so　that　the　sighs　and　sobs　could　not
be　heard；　and　he　wanted　to　fill　his　heart；　too；　with　something　that
would　still　the　ache。　　And　he　tried。　　Already　he　had　his　boyish
treasures；　and　these　he　lined　up　in　brave　array；　but　his　rooms
still　echoed；　and　his　heart　still　ached；　so　he　built　more　shelves
and　bought　more　cabinets；　and　set　himself　to　filling　them；　hoping
at　the　same　time　that　he　might　fill　all　that　dreary　waste　of　hours
outside　of　businesshours　which　once　had　been　all　too　short　to
devote　to　the　young　wife　and　the　baby　boy。

〃One　by　one　the　years　passed；　and　one　by　one　the　shelves　and　the
cabinets　were　filled。　　The　man　fancied；　sometimes；　that　he　had
succeeded；　but　in　his　heart　of　hearts　he　knew　that　the　ache　was
merely　dulled；　and　that　darkness　had　only　to　come　to　set　the　rooms
once　more　to　echoing　the　sighs　and　sobs。　　And　thenbut　perhaps　you
are　tired　of　the　story；　Billy。〃　　William　turned　with　questioning
eyes。

〃No；　oh；　no；〃　faltered　Billy。　　〃It　is　beautiful；　but　sosad！〃

〃But　the　saddest　part　is　doneI　hope；〃　said　William；　softly。　　〃Let
me　tell　you。　　A　wonderful　thing　happened　then。　　Suddenly；　right　out
of　a　dull　gray　sky　of　hopelessness；　dropped　a　little　brown…eyed
girl　and　a　little　gray　cat。　　All　over　the　house　they　frolicked；
filling　every　nook　and　cranny　with　laughter　and　light　and
happiness。　　And　then；　like　magic；　the　man　lost　the　ache　in　his
heart；　and　the　rooms　lost　their　echoing　sighs　and　sobs。　　The　man
knew；　then；　that　never　again　could　he　hope　to　fill　his　heart　and
life　with　senseless　things　of　clay　and　metal。　　He　knew　that　the　one
thing　he　wanted　always　near　him　was　the　little　brown…eyed　girl；　and
he　hoped　that　he　could　keep　her。　　But　just　as　he　was　beginning　to
bask　in　this　new　lightit　went　out。　　As　suddenly　as　they　had　come；
the　little　brown…eyed　girl　and　the　gray　cat　went　away。　　Why；　the
man　did　not　know。　　He　knew　only　that　the　ache　had　come　back；　doubly
intense；　and　that　the　rooms　were　more　gloomy　than　ever。　　And　now；
Billy；〃William's　voice　shook　a　little〃it　is　for　you　to　finish
the　story。　　It　is　for　you　to　say　whether　that　man's　heart　shall
ache　on　and　on　down　to　a　lonely　old　age；　and　whether　those　rooms
shall　always　echo　the　sighs　and　sobs　of　the　past。〃

〃And　I　will　finish　it；〃　choked　Billy；　holding　out　both　her　hands。
〃It　sha'n't　achethey　sha'n't　echo！〃

The　man　leaned　forward　eagerly；　unbelievingly；　and　caught　the　hands
in　his　own。

〃Billy；　do　you　mean　it？　　Then　you　willcome？〃

〃Yes；　yes！　　I　didn't　knowI　didn't　think。　　I　never　supposed　it　was
like　that！　　Of　course　I'll　come！〃　　And　in　a　moment　she　was　sobbing
in　his　arms。

〃Billy！〃　breathed　William　rapturously；　as　he　touched　his　lips　to
her　forehead。　　〃My　own　little　Billy！〃

It　was　a　few　minutes　later；　when　Billy　was　more　calm；　that　William
started　to　speak　of　Bertram。　　For　a　moment　he　had　been　tempted　not
to　mention　his　brother；　now　that　his　own　point　had　been　won　so
surprisingly　quick；　but　the　new　softness　in　Billy's　face　had
encouraged　him；　and　he　did　not　like　to　let　the　occasion　pass　when　a
word　from　him　might　do　so　much　for　Bertram。　　His　lips　parted；　but
no　words　cameBilly　herself　had　begun　to　speak。

〃I'm　sure　I　don't　know　why　I'm　crying；〃　she　stammered；　dabbing　her
eyes　with　her　round　moist　ball　of　a　handerchief。　　〃I　hope　when　I'm
your　wife　I'll　learn　to　be　more　self…controlled。　　But　you　know　I　am
young；　and　you'll　have　to　be　patient。〃

As　once　before　at　something　Billy　said；　the　world　to　William　went
suddenly　mad。　　His　head　swam　dizzily；　and　his　throat　tightened　so
that　he　could　scarcely　breathe。　　By　sheer　force　of　will　he　kept　his
arm　about　Billy's　shoulder；　and　he　prayed　that　she　might　not　know
how　numb　and　cold　it　had　grown。　　Even　then　he　thought　he　could　not
have　heard　aright。

〃Eryou　said〃　he　questioned　faintly。

〃I　say　when　I'm　your　wife　I　hope　I'll　learn　to　be　more　self…
controlled；〃　laughed　Billy；　nervously。　　〃You　see　I　just　thought　I
ought　to　remind　you　that　I　am　young；　and　that　you'll　have　to　be
patient。〃

William　stammered　somethinga　hurried　something；　he　wondered
afterward　what　it　was。　　That　it　must　have　been　satisfactory　to
Billy　was　evident；　for　she　began　laughingly　to　talk　again。　　What
she　said；　William　scarcely　knew；　though　he　was　conscious　of　making
an　occasional　vague　reply。　　He　was　still　floundering　in　a　hopeless
sea　of　confusion　and　dismay。　　His　own　desire　was　to　get　up　and　say
good　night　at　once。　　He　wanted　to　be　alone　to　think。　　He　realized；
however；　with　sickening　force；　that　men　do　not　propose　and　run
awayif　they　are　accepted。　　And　he　was　accepted；　he　realized　that；
too；　overwhelmingly。　　Then　he　tried　to　think　how　it　had　happened；
what　he　had　said；　how　she　could　so　have　misunderstood　his　meaning。
This　line　of　thought　he　abandoned　quickly；　however；　it　could　do　no
good。　　But　what　could　do　good；　he　asked　himself。　　What　could　he　do？

With　blinding　force　came　the　answer：　he　could　do　nothing。　　Billy
cared　for　him。　　Billy　had　said　〃yes。〃　　Billy　expected　to　be　his
wife。　　As　if　he　could　say　to　her　now：　　〃I　beg　your　pardon；　but
'twas　all　a　mistake。　　_I_　did　not　ask　you　to　marry　me。〃

Very　valiantly　then　William　summoned　his　wits　and　tried　to　act　his
part。　　He　told　himself；　too；　that　it　would　not　be　a　hard　one；　that
he　loved　Billy　dearly；　and　that　he　would　try　to　make　her　happy。　　He
winced　a　little　at　this　thought；　for　he　remembered　suddenly　how　old
he　wasas　if　he；　at　his　age；　were　a　fit　match　for　a　girl　of
twenty…one！

And　then　he　looked　at　Billy。　　The　girl　was　plainly　nervous。　　There
was　a　deep　flush　on　her　cheeks　and　a　brilliant　sparkle　in　her　eyes。
She　was　talking　rapidlyalmost　incoherently　at　timesand　her
voice　was　tremulous。　　Frequent　little　embarrassed　laughs　punctuated
her　sentences；　and　her　fingers　toyed　with　everything　that　came
within　reach。　　Some　time　before　she　had　sprung　to　her　feet　and　had
turned　on　the　electric　lights；　and　when　she　came　back　she　had　not
taken　her　old　position　at　William's　side；　but　had　seated　herself　in
a　chair　near　by。　　All　of　which；　according　to　William's　eyes；　meant
the　maidenly　shyness　of　a　girl　who　has　just　said　〃yes〃　to　the　man
she　loves。

William　went　home　that　night　in　a　daze。　　To　himself　he　said　that　he
had　gone　out　in　search　of　a　daughter；　and　had　come　back　with　a
wife。



CHAPTER　XXXVII

〃WILLIAM'S　BROTHER〃


It　was　decided　that　for　the　present；　the　engagement　should　not　be
known　outside　the　family。　　The　wedding　would　not　take　place
immediately；　William　said；　and　it　was　just　as　well　to　keep　the
matter　to　themselves　until　plans　were　a　little　more　definite。

The　members　of　the　family　were　told　at　once。　　Aunt　Hannah　said　〃Oh；
my　grief　and　conscience！〃　three　times；　and　made　matters　scarcely
better　by　adding　apologetically：　　〃Oh；　of　course　it's　all　right；
it's　all　right；　only〃　　She　did　not　finish　her　sentence；　and
William；　who　had　told　her　the　news；　did　not　know　whether　he　would
have　been　more　or　less　pleased　if　she　had　finished　it。

Cyril　received　the　information　moodily；　and　lapsed　at　once　into　a
fit　of　abstraction　from　which　he　roused　himself　hardly　enough　to
offer　perfunctory　congratulations　and　best　wishes。

Billy　was　a　little　puzzled　at　Cyril's　behavior。　　She　had　been　sure
for　some　time　that　Cyril　had　ceased　to　care　specially　for　her；　even
if　he　ever　did　fancy　that　he　loved　her。　　She　had　hoped　to　keep　him
for　a　friend；　but　of　late　she　had　been　forced　to　question　even　his
friendliness。　　He　had；　in　fact；　gone　back　almost　to　his　old　reserve
and　taciturn　aloofness。

From　the　West；　in　response　to　William's　news　of　the　engagement；
came　a　cordially　pleased　note　in　Kate's　scrawling　handwriting。
Kate；　indeed；　seemed　to　be　the　only　member　of　the　family　who　was
genuinely　delighted　with　the　coming　marriage。　　As　to　Bertram
Bertram　appeared　to　have　aged　years　in　a　single　night；　so　drawn　and
white　was　his　face　the　morning　after　William　had　told　him　his
plans。

William　had　dreaded　most　of　all　to　tell　Bertram。　　He　was　very　sure
that　Bertram　himself　cared　for　Billy；　and　it　was　doubly　hard
because　in　William's　own　mind　was　a　strong　conviction　that　the
younger　man　was　decidedly　the　one　for　her。　　Realizing；　however；
that　Bertram　must　be　told；　William　chose　a　time　for　the　telling
when　Bertram　was　smoking　in　his　den　in　the　twilight；　with　his　face
half　hidden　from　sight。

Bertram　said　littlevery　little；　that　night；　but　in　the　morning　he
went　straight　to　Billy。

Billy　was　shocked。　　She　had　never　seen　the　smiling；　self…reliant；
debonair　Bertram　like　this。

〃Billy；　is　this　true？〃　he　demanded。　　The　dull　misery　in　his　voice
told　Billy　that　he　knew　the　answer　before　he　asked　the　question。

〃Yes；　yes；　but；　Bertram；　pleaseplease　don't　take　it　like　this！〃
she　implored。

〃How　would　you　have　me　take　it？〃

〃Why；　justjust　sensibly。　　You　know　I　told　you　thatthat　the
other　never　could　benever。〃

〃I　know　YOU　said　so；　but　Ibelieved　otherwise。〃

〃But　I　told　youI　did　not　love　youthat　way。〃

Bertram　winced。　　He　rose　to　his　feet　abruptly。

〃I　know　you　did；　Billy。　　I'm　a　fool；　of　course；　to　think　that　I
could　everchange　it。　　I　shouldn't　have　come　here；　either；　this
morning。　　But　Ihad　to。　　Good…by！〃　　His　face；　as　he　held　out　his
hand；　was　tragic　with　renunciation。

〃Why；　Bertram；　you　aren't　goingnowlike　this！〃　cried　the　girl。
〃You've　just　come！〃

The　man　turned　almost　impatiently。

〃And　do　you　think　I　can　staylike　this？　　Billy；　won't　you　say
good…by？〃　he　asked　in　a　softer　voice；　again　with　outstretched　hand。

Billy　shook　her　head。　　She　ignored　the　hand；　and　resolutely　backed
away。

〃No；　not　like　that。　　You　are　angry　with　me；〃　she　grieved。
〃Besides；　you　make　it　sound　as　ifif　you　were　going　away。〃

〃I　am　going　away。〃

〃Bertram！〃　　There　was　terror　as　well　as　dismay　in　Billy's　voice。

Again　the　man　turned　sharply。

〃Billy；　why　are　you　making　this　thing　so　hard　for　me？〃　he　asked　in
despair。　　〃Can't　you　see　that　I　must　go？〃

〃Indeed；　I　can't。　　And　you　mustn't　go；　either。　　There　isn't　any
reason　why　you　should；〃　urged　Billy；　talking　very　fast；　and　working
her　fingers　nervously。　　〃Things　are　just　the　same　as　they　were
beforefor　you。　　I'm　just　going　to　marry　William；　but　I　wasn't
ever　going　to　marry　you；　so　that　doesn't　change　things　any　for　you。
Don't　you　see？　　Why；　Bertram；　you　mustn't　go　away！　　There　won't　be
anybody　left。　　Cyril's　going　next　week；　you　know；　and　if　you　go
there　won't　be　anybody　left　but　William　and　me。　　Bertram；　you
mustn't　go；　don't　you　see？　　I　should　feel　lost　withoutyou！〃
Billy　was　almost　crying　now。

Bertram　looked　up　quickly。　　An　odd　change　had　come　to　his　face。
For　a　moment　he　gazed　silently　into　Billy's　agitated　countenance；
th