CHAPTER IX.
AT CHURCH.
On the following Sunday, which in fact was the day after the scene in the office, Lyman went to church. There were several churches in Old Ebenezer, but he chose the one which was the religious affiliation of the banker"s family. A number of clean looking young fellows stood outside to gaze at the girls going in, and they nudged one another and giggled as they saw Lyman approaching. He pretended not to notice them, going straightway into the church. Most of the pews were free, and he sat down about the middle of the house and began carefully to look about over the congregation. A strange feeling possessed him, and he looked back with a thrill when he heard the rustle of skirts in the doorway. At last he saw her and he thought that Zeb Sawyer came with her to the door. The banker and his stately wife came in, but Lyman had no eye for them. He sat almost in a trance, gazing at the young woman as she walked slowly down the opposite aisle. She reminded him of a peach tree blooming in the early spring, there was so much pink and the rich color of cream about her. She sat down not far from him and he gazed at the silk-brown hair on the back of her neck. Once she looked around but her eye did not rest on him. She sang with the congregation, and he selected a sweet tone for her voice, and smiled afterward to discover that it was in the voice of a plain woman seated near her. Some one sat down beside him, and he was surprised to find Caruthers.
The lawyer was surprised too, and he made a motion as if to move away.
"Never mind," whispered Lyman, "stay where you are."
"Thank you," Caruthers whispered in turn. "I didn"t know but that fog was still between us."
"It is, and that"s the reason we didn"t recognize each other sooner."
"Then I"d better move."
"It is not necessary. I can stand it if you can."
"All right. Deuce of an affair you"ve got into."
"Yes, rather out of the ordinary."
"Has the old man offered you money to turn loose?"
"He offered to lend me a small sum."
"Why don"t you make him give you a big sum?"
"Because I am not a scoundrel."
"No. Because you are weak. I would."
"Yes," Lyman whispered. "Because you are a scoundrel."
"Don"t say that to me."
"Sit over there," said Lyman.
Caruthers moved away, and Lyman sat gazing at the young woman. "I am going to be of service to her," he mused. "And one of these days when she finds herself really in love she will thank me. She is dazzling, but I don"t believe I could love her. I don"t believe she has very much sense. She looks like a painting. I"d like to see her in an empire gown. I wonder what she thinks of me. Perhaps she doesn"t." He smiled at himself, and then became aware that the preacher was in the heated midst of his sermon.
While the congregation was moving out, with greetings in low voices, and with many a smiling nod, the banker caught sight of Lyman, and made a noise as if puffing out a mouthful of smoke. His wife, who was slightly in front, glanced back at him.
"That wretched Lyman," he said, leaning toward her.
"Where?" she asked.
"Over at the right, but don"t look at him. Everybody is staring at us."
"Where is Eva?"
"You ought to know," he answered.
"She is coming, just behind us."
They pa.s.sed out. Lyman saw Zeb Sawyer standing at the door. He bowed to Mr. and Mrs. McElwin and continued to stand there, waiting for the young woman. She came out. She said something, and catching the expression of her face Lyman thought she must have remonstrated with him. But she permitted him to join her, and they walked away slowly.
Lyman overtook them.
"Pardon me," he said to her, paying no attention to Sawyer, "but do you realize the scandalous absurdity of your action at his moment?"
"Sir!" Her graceful neck stiffened as she looked at him.
[Ill.u.s.tration: outside the church]
"Don"t you know that it is not in good form to receive the attentions of an old lover so soon after marriage?"
She stopped, jabbed the ground with her parasol and laughed. But in a moment she had repented of her merriment. "I wish you would go away,"
she said. "You have already caused me tears enough."
"What, so soon? The beautific smile, rather than the tear should be the emblem of the honeymoon. But this is not what I approached you to say. I wish to ask when I may expect a visit from you."
"I, visit you!"
"Yes. To ask me to sign the pet.i.tion to the Court."
"I ask you now, sir."
"There!" said Sawyer, walking close beside the young woman.
"In the name of the love you bear this man?"
She looked at him with a blush. "In the name of my father, my mother and myself," she said.
"Oh," said he, "you are not the simple-minded beauty I expected to find. I suspect that your flatterers have not given you a fair chance.
It is difficult to look through the dazzle and estimate the intelligence of a queen."
"Really! You come with a new flattery. My father"s money--"
"Miss, or madam, your father is a pauper in comparison with the man who loves nature. He is a slave, living the life of a slave-driver. He is proud of you, not because you are a woman, but because you are, to him, a picture in a gilt frame."
"I just know everybody is looking at us," she said.
"You mean that you are afraid some of them may not be looking."
"Really! You are impudent, Mr.----"
"Have you forgotten your own name? Oh, by the way, your maiden name was McElwin, I believe."