Chapter x.x.xVII.
The Diplomacy Of Mrs. O"Keefe.
Mrs. O"Keefe was a warm-hearted woman, and the sad, drawn face of Mr.
Linden appealed to her pity.
"Why should I let the poor man suffer when I can relieve him?" she asked herself.
So the next morning, after Curtis had, according to his custom, gone downtown, being in the invalid"s sick chamber, she began to act in a mysterious manner. She tiptoed to the door, closed it and approached Mr. Linden"s bedside with the air of one about to unfold a strange story.
"Whist now," she said, with her finger on her lips.
"What is the matter?" asked the invalid, rather alarmed.
"Can you bear a surprise, sir?"
"Have you any bad news for me?"
"No; it"s good news, but you must promise not to tell Curtis."
"Is it about Florence? Your messenger can hardly have reached Chicago."
"He isn"t going there, sir."
"But you promised that he should," said Mr. Linden, disturbed.
"I"ll tell you why, sir. Florence is not in Chicago."
"I--I don"t understand. You said she was there."
"Begging your pardon, sir, it was Curtis that said so, though he knew she was in New York."
"But what motive could he have had for thus misrepresenting matters?"
"He doesn"t want you to take her back."
"I can"t believe you, Mrs. Barnes. He loves her, and wants to marry her."
"He couldn"t marry her if she consented to take him."
"Why not? Mrs. Barnes, you confuse me."
"I won"t deceive you as he has done. There"s rason in plinty. He"s married already."
"Is this true?" demanded Mr. Linden, in excitement.
"It"s true enough; more by token, to-morrow, whin he"s out, his wife will come here and tell you so herself."
"But who are you who seem to know so much about my family?"
"I"m a friend of the pore girl you"ve driven from the house, because she would not marry a rascally spalpeen that"s been schemin" to get your property into his hands."
"You"re a friend of Florence? Where is she?"
"She"s in my house, and has been there ever since she left her home."
"Is she--well?"
"As well as she can be whin she"s been workin" her fingers to the bone wid sewin" to keep from starvin"."
"My G.o.d! what have I done?"
"You"ve let Curtis Waring wind you around his little finger--that"s what you"ve done, Mr. Linden."
"How soon can I see Florence?"
"How soon can you bear it?"
"The sooner the better."
"Then it"ll be to-morrow, I"m thinkin", that is if you won"t tell Curtis."
"No, no; I promise."
"I"ll manage everything, sir. Don"t worry now."
Mr. Linden"s face lost its anxious look--so that when, later in the day, Curtis looked into the room he was surprised.
"My uncle looks better," he said.
"Yes, sir," answered the nurse. "I"ve soothed him like."
"Indeed! You seem to be a very accomplished nurse."
"Faith, that I am, sir, though it isn"t I that should say it."
"May I ask how you soothed him?" inquired Curtis, anxiously.
"I told him that Miss Florence would soon be home."
"I do not think it right to hold out hopes that may prove ill-founded."
"I know what I am about, Mr. Curtis."
"I dare say you understand your business, Mrs. Barnes, but if my uncle should be disappointed, I am afraid the consequences will be lamentable."
"Do you think he"ll live long, sir?"