the fortunes of oliver horn-第85章

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　got　up；　including　Richard；　and　with　roars　of　laughter　followed　the　devious　trail　out　into　the　hall　and　so　on　down　the　staircase　as　far　as　they　could　see。　Only　when　Mrs。　Mulligan　on　their　return　to　the　room　held　up　the　tureen　and　pointed　to　a　leak　in　its　bottom；　was　the　mystery　explained。

And　so　the　merry　dinner　went　on。

Ah；　dear　old　man；　if　these　happy　days　could　only　have　gone　on　till　the　end。

On　the　afternoon　of　the　day　following　this　joyous　nightthe　day　the　contracts　were　to　be　signed；　a　　culmination　which　would　make　everybody　happy　Margaret　hurried　up　the　stairs　of　her　building；　and　pushed　open　the　door。　She　knew　she　should　find　the　inventor　waiting　for　her；　and　she　wanted　to　be　the　first　to　get　the　glad　news　from　his　lips。　It　was　　varnishing　day　at　the　Academy；　and　she　had　gone　down　to　put　the　last　touches　on　her　big　portraitthe　one　of　〃Madame　X。〃　that　she　had　begun　in　Paris　the　year　before。

Richard　did　not　move　when　she　entered。　He　was　leaning　back　in　the　chair　she　had　placed　for　him；　his　head　on　his　hand；　his　attitude　one　of　thoughtful　repose；　　the　light　of　the　fast…fading　twilight　making　a　silhouette　of　his　figure。　She　thought　he　was　dozing；　and　so　crept　up　behind　him　to　make　sure。

〃Ah；　my　dear；　is　that　you？〃　he　asked。　The　voice　did　not　sound　like　Richard's。

〃YesI　thought　you　were　asleep。〃

〃No；　my　childI'm　only　greatly　troubled。　I'm　glad　you　have　come〃and　he　took　her　hand　and　smoothed　it　with　his　own。　〃Bring　your　stool；　I　have　something　to　say　to　you。〃

Without　taking　off　her　bonnet　and　cloak；　she　took　her　place　at　his　feet。　The　tones　of　his　voice　chilled　her。　A　great　fear　rose　in　her　heart。　Why　she　could　not　tell。

〃Has　anything　happened　to　Oliver？〃　she　asked；　eagerly。

〃No；　nothing　so　terrible　as　that。　It　is　about　the　motor。　The　bankers　have　refused　the　loan；　and　the　attorneys　have　withdrawn　the　papers。〃

〃Withdrawn　the　papers！　Oh；　no　it　can't　be！〃　She　had　leaned　forward　now；　her　anxious；　startled　eyes　looking　into　his。

〃Yes；　my　dear；　a　Mr。　Gorton　from　Maine　has　perfected　　a　machine　which　not　only　accomplishes　what　I　claim　for　my　own；　but　is　much　better　in　every　way。　The　attorneys　have　been　looking　into　this　new　motor　for　a　week　past；　so　I　learn　now。　Here　is　their　letter〃　and　he　put　his　hand　in　his　pocket　and　took　out　a　white　envelope。　〃They　will；　perhaps；　take　up　Mr。　Gorton's　machine　instead　of　mine。　I　made　a　hasty　examination　of　this　new　motor　this　morning　with　my　old　friend　Professor　Morse；　and　we　both　agree　that　the　invention　is　all　Mr。　Gorton　claims　for　it。　It　is　only　a　beginning；　of　course；　along　the　lines　of　galvanic　　energy；　but　it　is　a　better　beginning　than　mine；　and　I　feel　sure　it　is　all　the　inventor　claims　for　it。　I　have　so　informed　them；　and　I　have　also　written　a　letter　　to　Mr。　Gorton　congratulating　him　on　his　success。〃　　The　calmness　and　gentleness　of　his　voice　thrilled　her。

〃I　suppose　I　ought　to　have　telegraphed　the　news　to　Mrs。　Horn；　as　I　promised；〃　he　continued；　slowly；　as　if　each　word　gave　him　pain；　〃but　I　really　had　not　the　heart；　so　I　came　up　here。　I've　been　here　all　the　afternoon　hoping　you　would　come　in。　The　room　felt　a　little　cold；　my　dear；　and　your　good　woman　made　a　fire　for　me；　as　you　see。　You　don't　mind；　do　you？〃

Margaret　bowed　her　head　on　his　hands　and　kissed　the　thin　fingers　that　lay　in　her　own。　Her　heart　was　full　to　bursting。　The　pathos　of　the　bent　figure；　the　despairing　sound　of　his　voiceso　unlike　his　buoyant　tones；　the　ghostly　light　that　permeated　the　room；　so　restful　always　before；　so　grewsome　and　forbidding　now；　appealed　to　her　in　a　way　she　had　never　known。　She　was　not　thinking　of　herself；　nor　of　Oliver；　nor　of　the　wife　waiting　for　the　news　at　home；　she　was　only　thinking　of　this　dear　old　man　who　sat　with　bowed　head；　his　courage　gone；　all　the　joyousness　out　of　his　life。　What　hurt　her　most　was　her　own　utter　helplessness。　　In　most　things　she　could　be　of　service：　now　she　was　powerless。　She　knew　it　when　she　spoke。

〃Is　it　ended？〃　she　asked　at　last；　her　practical　mind　wanting　to　know　the　worst。

〃Yes；　my　child；　ended。　I　wish　I　could　give　you　some　hope；　but　there　is　none。　I　shall　go　home　to…　morrow　and　begin　again；on　what　I　do　not　know　somethingI　cannot　tell。〃

Oliver's　footsteps　sounded　in　the　outer　hall。　She　rose　quickly　and　met　him　on　the　outside；　half　closing　the　door；　so　that　she　could　tell　him　the　dreadful　news　without　being　overheard。

〃Broken　their　promises　to　father？　Impossible！　Why？　What　for？　Another　invention？　Oh；　it　cannot　　be！〃

He　walked　quickly　toward　him。　〃But　father；　what　about　your　patents？　They　can't　rob　you　of　them。　Suppose　this　man's　motor　is　better。〃

Richard　did　not　move。　He　seemed　unwilling　to　look　his　son　in　the　face。

〃Let　me　take　hold　of　this　thing。〃　Oliver　was　bending　over　him　now；　his　arms　about　his　neck。　〃I'll　see　Mr。　Slade　at　once。　I　met　him　this　morning　and　told　him　you　were　here；　and　he　is　coming　to　call　on　you。　He　has　always　stood　by　me　and　will　now。　These　people　who　have　disappointed　you　are　not　the　only　ones　who　have　got　money。　Mr。　Slade；　you　know；　is　now　a　banker　himself。　I　will　begin　to…morrow　　to　fight　this　new　man　who〃

〃No；　no；　my　son；　you　must　do　nothing　of　the　kind；〃　said　Richard　leaning　his　cheek　wearily　against　Oliver's　hand；　as　if　for　warmth　and　protection；　but　still　looking　into　the　fire。　〃It　would　not　be　right　to　take　from　him　what　he　has　honestly　earned。　The　lifting　　power　of　his　machine　is　four　times　my　own；　and　the　adjustment　of　the　levers　much　simpler。　He　has　only　accomplished　what　I　failed　to　do。　I　am　not　quite　sure　but　I　think　he　uses　the　same　arrangement　of　levers　that　I　do；　but　everything　else　is　his。　Such　a　man　is　to　be　helped；　not　worried　with　lawsuits。　No；　my　son；　I　must　bear　it　as　best　I　may。　Your　poor　mother！〃　He　stopped　suddenly　and　passed　his　hand　over　his　eyes；　and　in　a　broken；　halting　voice；　added：　〃I've　tried　so　hard　to　make　her　old　age　happier。　I　fear　for　the　result　when　the　news　reaches　her。　And　you　and　this　poor　girl！〃and　he　reached　out　his　hand　to　Margaret〃this　is　the　part　that　is　hardest　to　bear。〃

Oliver　disengaged　his　arm　from　his　father's　neck　and　walked　up　and　down　the　room；　Madge　watching　him。　His　mind　was　searching　about　for　some　way　to　stem　the　tide　of　disaster。　Every　movement　of　his　body　expressing　his　determination。　He　was　not　thinking　of　himself。　He　saw　only　Madge　and　his　mother。　Then　he　turned　again　and　faced　his　father。

〃Will　you　let　me　try？〃　he　urged　in　a　firm　voice。

〃No；　Oliver！　Positively　no。〃

As　he　spoke　he　straightened　himself　in　his　chair　and　turned　toward　Oliver。　His　voice　had　regained　something　of　its　old…time　ring　and　force。　〃To　rob　a　man　of　the　work　of　his　brain　is　worse　than　to　take　his　purse。　You　will　agree　with　me；　I　know；　when　you　think　it　over。　Mr。　Gorton　had　never　heard　of　my　invention　　when　he　perfected　his；　nor　had　I　ever　heard　of　his　when　I　perfected　mine。　He　is　taking　nothing　from　me；　how　can　I　take　anything　from　him！　Give　me　your　hand　my　son；　I　am　not　feeling　very　well。〃　His　voice　fell　again　as　if　the　effort　had　been　too　much　for　him。　〃I　think　I　will　go　back　to　the　hotel。　A　night's　rest　will　do　me　good。〃

He　rose　slowly　from　his　chair；　steadied　himself　by　holding　to　Oliver's　strong　arm；　stood　for　an　instant　　looking　into　Margaret's　eyes；　and　said；　with　infinite　tenderness：

〃Come　close；　my　daughter；　and　kiss　me。〃

She　put　her　arms　about　him；　cuddling　her　head　against　his　soft　cheek；　smoothing　his　gray　hair　with　her　palm。

〃My　child；〃　he　said；　〃you　have　been　a　delight　and　joy　to　me。　A　woman　like　you　is　beyond　price。　I　thank　you　from　the　bottom　of　my　heart　for　loving　my　son。〃

With　something　of　his　old　manner　he　again　straightened　himself　up；　threw　his　shoulders　back　as　if　strengthened　by　some　new　determination；　walked　firmly　across　the　room；　and　picked　up　his　cloak。　As　he　stood　waiting　for　Oliver　to　place　it　about　his　shoulders；　he　put　his　hand　to　his　side；　with　a　quick　movement；　as　if　smitten　by　some　sudden　pain；　staggered　backward；　his　head　upon　his　breast；　and　would　have　sunk　to　the　floor　but　for　Oliver's　hand。　Margaret　sprang　forward　and　caught　his　other　arm。

〃It's　nothing；　my　son；〃　he　said；　between　his　gasps　for　breath；　holding　on　to　Oliver。　〃A　sudden　giddiness。　I'm　often　subject　to　it。　I；　perhaps；　got　up　too　quickly。