Again she complied.
"Lift your face--look at me."
She essayed to do this also, but failed. Her head sank on his breast.
He had won. Lane held her a moment closely. And then a great and overwhelming pity and tenderness, his first emotions, flooded his soul. He closed his eyes. Dimly, vaguely, they seemed to create vision of long future time; and he divined that good and happiness would come to Mel Iden some day through the pain he had given her.
"Where did you say your things are?" he asked. "It"s a bad night."
"They"re in--the hall," came in m.u.f.fled tones from his shoulder. "I"ll get them."
But she made no effort to remove her arms from round his neck or to lift her head from his breast. Lane had lost now that singular exaltation of will, and power to hold down his emotions. Her nearness stormed his heart. His test came then, when he denied utterance to the love that answered hers.
"No--Mel--you stay here," he said, freeing himself. "I"ll get them."
Opening the hall door he saw the hat-rack where as a boy he had hung his cap. It now held garments over which Lane fumbled. Mel came into the hall.
"Daren, you"ll not know which are mine," she said.
Lane watched her. How the shapely hands trembled. Her face shone white against her dark furs. Lane helped her put on the overshoes.
"Now--just a word to mother," she said.
Lane caught her hand and held it, following her to the end of the hall, where she opened a door and peeped into the sitting-room.
"Mother, is dad home?" she asked.
"No--he"s out, and such a bad night! Who"s with you, Mel?"
"Daren Lane."
"Oh, is he up again? I"m glad. Bring him in.... Why, Mel, you"ve your hat and coat on!"
"Yes, mother dear. We"re going out for a while."
"On such a night! What for?"
"Daren and I are going to--to be married.... Good-bye. No more till we come back."
As one in a dream, Lane led Mel out in the whirling white pall of snow. It seemed to envelop them. It was mysterious and friendly, and silent.
They crossed the bridge, and Lane again listened for the river voices that always haunted here. Were they only murmurings of swift waters?
Beyond the bridge lay the railroad station. A few dim lights shone through the white gloom. Lane found a taxi.
They were silent during the ride through the lonely streets. When the taxi stopped at the address given the driver, Lane whispered a word to Mel, jumped out and ran up the steps of a house and rang the bell.
"Is Doctor McCullen at home?" he inquired of the maid who answered the ring. He was informed the minister had just gone to his room.
"Will you ask him to come down upon a matter of importance?"
The maid invited him inside. In a few moments a tall, severe-looking man wearing a long dressing-coat entered the parlor.
"Doctor McCullen, I regret disturbing you, but my business is urgent.
I want to be married at once. The lady is outside in a car. May I bring her in?"
"Ah! I seem to remember you. Isn"t your name Lane?"
"Yes."
"Who is the woman you want to marry?"
"Miss Iden."
"Miss Iden! You mean Joshua Iden"s daughter?"
"I do."
The minister showed a grave surprise. "Aren"t you rather late in making amends? No, I will not marry you until I investigate the matter," he replied, coldly.
"You need not trouble yourself," replied Lane curtly, and went out.
The instant opposition stimulated Lane, and he asked the driver, "John, do you know where we can find a preacher?" "Yis, sor. Mr.
Peters of the Methodist Church lives round the corner," answered the man.
"Drive on, then."
Lane got inside the taxi and slammed the door. "Mel, he refused to marry us."
Mel was silent, but the pressure of her hand answered him.
"Daren, the car has stopped," said Mel, presently.
Lane got out, walked up the steps, and pulled the bell. He was admitted. He had no better luck here. Lane felt that his lips shut tight, and his face set. Mel said nothing and sat by him, very quiet.
The taxi rolled on and stopped again, and Lane had audience with another minister. He was repulsed here also.
"We"re trying a magistrate," said Lane, when the car stopped again.
"But, Daren. This is where Gerald Hartley lives. Not him, Daren.
Surely you wouldn"t go to him?"
"Why not?" inquired Lane.
"It hasn"t been two months since he married Helen Wrapp. Hadn"t you heard?"
"I"d forgotten," said Lane.
"Besides, Daren, he--he once asked me to marry him--before the war."
Lane hesitated. Yes, he now remembered that in the days before the war the young lawyer had been Mel"s persistent admirer. But a reckless mood had begun to manifest itself in Lane during the last hour, and it must have communicated its spirit to Mel, for she made no further protest. The world was against them. They were driving to the home of the man she had refused to marry, who had eventually married a girl who had jilted Lane. In an ordinary moment they would never have attempted such a thing. The mansion before which the car stopped was well lighted; music and laughter came faintly through the bright windows.