"Because the whole affair was most unnatural, and I am deeply incensed.
In a case of necessity I am ready to risk my life, although it has unusual attractions for me; but I"m no melodramatic hero looking for adventures. What necessity was there in this case? It is the old story of Munson over again in another guise. The act was that of an inconsiderate, heartless woman who follows her impulses and inclinations, no matter what may be the consequences." After a moment he added less indignantly, "I must give her credit for one thing, angry as I am--she behaved well in the water, otherwise she would have drowned me."
"She is not a fool. Most women would have drowned you."
"She is indeed not a fool; therefore she"s the more to blame. If she is ever so reckless again, may I be asleep in my room. Of course one can"t stand by and see a woman drown, no matter who or what she is."
"Jack, what made her so reckless?" Mrs. Alston asked, with a sudden intelligence lighting up her face.
"Hang it all! How should I know? What made her torture Munson? She follows her impulses, and they are not always conducive to any one"s well-being, not even her own."
"Mark my words, she has never shown this kind of recklessness before."
"Oh, yes, she has. She was running her horse to death the other hot morning and nearly trampled on a child;" and he told of an unexpected encounter while he was taking a rather extended ramble.
"Well," exclaimed Mrs. Alston, smiling significantly, "I think I understand her symptoms better than you do. If you are as cold-blooded as you seem, I may have to interfere."
"Oh, bah!" he answered impatiently. "Pardon me, but I should despise myself forever should I become sentimental, knowing what I do."
"Jack, had you no compunctions when fearing that such a beautiful girl might perish? We are going to have an awful night. Hear the wind whistle and moan, and the sky is already black with clouds. The roar of the surface grows louder every hour. Think of that lovely form being out in those black angry waves, darted at and preyed upon by horrible slimy monsters. Oh, it fairly makes my flesh creep!"
"And mine too," he said with a strong gesture of disgust; "especially when I remember that I should have kept her company, for of course I could not return without her. I confess that when at first I could not find her I was fairly sick at the thought of her fate. But remember how uncalled for it all was--quite as much so as that poor Will Munson is on his way to die with the yellow fever, like enough."
"Jack," said his cousin, affectionately, laying her hand on his arm, "blessings on your courage to-day! If what might have happened so easily had occurred, I could never have looked upon the sea again without a shudder. I should have been tormented by a horrible memory all my life. It was brave and n.o.ble--"
"Oh, hush!" he said angrily. "I won"t hear another word about it even from you. I"m not brave and n.o.ble. I went because I was compelled to go; I hated to go. I hate the girl, and have more reason now than ever.
If we had both drowned, no doubt there would have been less trouble in the world. There would have been one lawyer the less, and a coquette extinguished. Now we shall both prey on society in our different ways indefinitely."
"Jack, you are in an awful mood to-day."
"I am; never was in a worse."
"Having so narrowly escaped death, you ought to be subdued and grateful."
"On the contrary, I"m inclined to profanity. Excuse me; don"t wish any dessert. I"ll try a walk and a cigar. You will now be glad to be rid of me on any terms."
"Stay, Jack. See, Miss Van Tyne has so far recovered as to come down.
She looked unutterable things at you as she entered."
"Of course she did. Very few of her thoughts concerning me or other young men would sound well if uttered. Tell your friends to let this topic alone, or I shall be rude to them," and without a glance toward the girl he had rescued he left the dining-room.
"Well, well," murmured Mrs. Alston, "I never saw Jack in such a mood before. It is quite as unaccountable as Miss Tyne"s recklessness. I wonder what is the matter with HIM."
Ackland was speedily driven back from his walk by the rain, which fact he did not regret, for he found himself exhausted and depressed.
Seeking a retired piazza in order to be alone, he sat down with his hat drawn over his eyes and smoked furiously. Before very long, however, he was startled out of a painful revery by a timid voice saying:
"Mr. Ackland, won"t you permit me to thank you?"
He rose. Miss Van Tyne stood before him with outstretched hand. He did not notice it, but bowing coldly, said:
"Please consider that you have thanked me and let the subject drop."
"Do not be so harsh with me," she pleaded. "I cannot help it if you are. Mr. Ackland, you saved my life."
"Possibly."
"And possibly you think that it is scarcely worth saving."
"Possibly your own conscience suggested that thought to you."
"You are heartless," she burst out indignantly. He began to laugh.
"That"s a droll charge for you to make," he said.
She looked at him steadfastly for a moment, and then murmured: "You are thinking of your friend, Mr. Munson."
"That would be quite natural. How many more can you think of?"
"You are indeed unrelenting," she faltered, tears coming into her eyes; "but I cannot forget that but for you _I_ should now be out there"--and she indicated the sea by a gesture, then covered her face with her hands, and shuddered.
"Do not feel under obligations. I should have been compelled to do as much for any human being. You seem to forget that I stood an even chance of being out there with you, and that there was no more need of the risk than there was that my best friend"s life should be blight--"
"You--you out there?" she cried, springing toward him and pointing to the sea.
"Certainly. You cannot suppose that having once found you, I could come ash.o.r.e without you. As it was, my strength was rapidly giving way, and were it not for the rope--"
"Oh, forgive me," she cried pa.s.sionately, seizing his hand in spite of him. "It never entered my mind that you could drown. I somehow felt that nothing could harm you. I was reckless--I didn"t know what I was doing--I don"t understand myself any more. Please--please forgive me, or I shall not sleep to-night."
"Certainly," he said lightly, "if you will not refer to our little episode again."
"Please don"t speak in that way," she sighed, turning away.
"I have complied with your request."
"I suppose I must be content," she resumed sadly. Then turning her head slowly toward him she added hesitatingly: "Will you forgive me for--for treating your friend--"
"No," he replied, with such stern emphasis that she shrank from him and trembled.
"You are indeed heartless," she faltered, as she turned to leave him.
"Miss Van Tyne," he said indignantly, "twice you have charged me with being heartless. Your voice and manner indicate that I would be unnatural and unworthy of respect were I what you charge. In the name of all that"s rational what does this word "heartless" mean to you?
Where was your heart when you sent my friend away so wretched and humbled that he is virtually seeking the death from which you are so glad to escape?"
"I did not love him," she protested faintly.
He laughed bitterly, and continued, "Love! That"s a word which I believe has no meaning for you at all, but it had for him. You are a remarkably clever woman, Miss Van Tyne. You have brains in abundance.
See, I do you justice. What is more, you are beautiful and can be so fascinating that a man who believed in you might easily worship you.
You made him believe in you. You tried to beguile me into a condition that with my nature would be ruin indeed. You never had the baby plea of a silly, shallow woman. I took pains to find that out the first evening we met. In your art of beguiling an honest, trusting man you were as perfect as you were remorseless, and you understood exactly what you were doing."
For a time she seemed overwhelmed by his lava-like torrent of words, and stood with bowed head and shrinking, trembling form; but when he ceased she turned to him and said bitterly and emphatically: