"No," she protested, "it is the work of G.o.d!"
"It is evolution!" he insisted.
"Ah, that"s it," she retorted, "you evolve new ideas, new schemes, new tricks--you all worship different G.o.ds--G.o.ds of your own making!"
He was about to reply when there was a commotion at the door and Theresa entered, followed by a man servant to carry down the trunk.
"The cab is downstairs, Miss," said the maid.
Ryder waved them away imperiously. He had something further to say which he did not care for servants to hear. Theresa and the man precipitately withdrew, not understanding, but obeying with alacrity a master who never brooked delay in the execution of his orders. Shirley, indignant, looked to him for an explanation.
"You don"t need them," he exclaimed with a quiet smile in which was a shade of embarra.s.sment. "I--I came here to tell you that I--" He stopped as if unable to find words, while Shirley gazed at him in utter astonishment. "Ah," he went on finally, "you have made it very hard for me to speak." Again he paused and then with an effort he said slowly: "An hour ago I had Senator Roberts on the long distance telephone, and I"m going to Washington. It"s all right about your father. The matter will be dropped. You"ve beaten me. I acknowledge it. You"re the first living soul who ever has beaten John Burkett Ryder."
Shirley started forward with a cry of mingled joy and surprise.
Could she believe her ears? Was it possible that the dreaded Colossus had capitulated and that she had saved her father? Had the forces of right and justice prevailed, after all? Her face transfigured, radiant she exclaimed breathlessly:
"What, Mr. Ryder, you mean that you are going to help my father?"
"Not for his sake--for yours," he answered frankly.
Shirley hung her head. In her moment of triumph, she was sorry for all the hard things she had said to this man. She held out her hand to him.
"Forgive me," she said gently, "it was for my father. I had no faith. I thought your heart was of stone."
Impulsively Ryder drew her to him, he clasped her two hands in his and looking down at her kindly he said, awkwardly:
"So it was--so it was! You accomplished the miracle. It"s the first time I"ve acted on pure sentiment. Let me tell you something. Good sentiment is bad business and good business is bad sentiment--that"s why a rich man is generally supposed to have such a hard time getting into the Kingdom of Heaven." He laughed and went on, "I"ve given ten millions apiece to three universities. Do you think I"m fool enough to suppose I can buy my way? But that"s another matter. I"m going to Washington on behalf of your father because I--want you to marry my son. Yes, I want you in the family, close to us. I want your respect, my girl. I want your love. I want to earn it. I know I can"t buy it. There"s a weak spot in every man"s armour and this is mine--I always want what I can"t get and I can"t get your love unless I earn it."
Shirley remained pensive. Her thoughts were out on Long Island, at Ma.s.sapequa. She was thinking of their joy when they heard the news--her father, her mother and Stott. She was thinking of the future, bright and glorious with promise again, now that the dark clouds were pa.s.sing away. She thought of Jefferson and a soft light came into her eyes as she foresaw a happy wifehood shared with him.
"Why so sober," demanded Ryder, "you"ve gained your point, your father is to be restored to you, you"ll marry the man you love?"
"I"m so happy!" murmured Shirley. "I don"t deserve it. I had no faith."
Ryder released her and took out his watch.
"I leave in fifteen minutes for Washington," he said. "Will you trust me to go alone?"
"I trust you gladly," she answered smiling at him. "I shall always be grateful to you for letting me convert you."
"You won me over last night," he rejoined, "when you put up that fight for your father. I made up my mind that a girl so loyal to her father would be loyal to her husband. You think," he went on, "that I do not love my son--you are mistaken. I do love him and I want him to be happy. I am capable of more affection than people think. It is Wall Street," he added bitterly, "that has crushed all sentiment out of me."
Shirley laughed nervously, almost hysterically.
"I want to laugh and I feel like crying," she cried. "What will Jefferson say--how happy he will be!"
"How are you going to tell him?" inquired Ryder uneasily.
"I shall tell him that his dear, good father has relented and--"
"No, my dear," he interrupted, "you will say nothing of the sort.
I draw the line at the dear, good father act. I don"t want him to think that it comes from me at all."
"But," said Shirley puzzled, "I shall have to tell him that you--"
"What?" exclaimed Ryder, "acknowledge to my son that I was in the wrong, that I"ve seen the error of my ways and wish to repent?
Excuse me," he added grimly, "it"s got to come from him. He must see the error of _his_ ways."
"But the error of his way," laughed the girl, "was falling in love with me. I can never prove to him that that was wrong!"
The financier refused to be convinced. He shook his head and said stubbornly:
"Well, he must be put in the wrong somehow or other! Why, my dear child," he went on, "that boy has been waiting all his life for an opportunity to say to me: "Father, I knew I was in the right, and I knew you were wrong," Can"t you see," he asked, "what a false position it places me in? Just picture his triumph!"
"He"ll be too happy to triumph," objected Shirley.
Feeling a little ashamed of his att.i.tude, he said:
"I suppose you think I"m very obstinate." Then, as she made no reply, he added: "I wish I didn"t care what you thought."
Shirley looked at him gravely for a moment and then she replied seriously:
"Mr. Ryder, you"re a great man--you"re a genius--your life is full of action, energy, achievement. But it appears to be only the good, the n.o.ble and the true that you are ashamed of. When your money triumphs over principle, when your political power defeats the ends of justice, you glory in your victory. But when you do a kindly, generous, fatherly act, when you win a grand and n.o.ble victory over yourself, you are ashamed of it. It was a kind, generous impulse that has prompted you to save my father and take your son and myself to your heart. Why are you ashamed to let him see it? Are you afraid he will love you? Are you afraid I shall love you? Open your heart wide to us--let us love you."
Ryder, completely vanquished, opened his arms and Shirley sprang forward and embraced him as she would have embraced her own father. A solitary tear coursed down the financier"s cheek. In thirty years he had not felt, or been touched by, the emotion of human affection.
The door suddenly opened and Jefferson entered. He started on seeing Shirley in his father"s arms.
"Jeff, my boy," said the financier, releasing Shirley and putting her hand in his son"s, "I"ve done something you couldn"t do--I"ve convinced Miss Green--I mean Miss Rossmore--that we are not so bad after all!"
Jefferson, beaming, grasped his father"s hand.
"Father!" he exclaimed.
"That"s what I say--father!" echoed Shirley.
They both embraced the financier until, overcome with emotion, Ryder, Sr., struggled to free himself and made his escape from the room crying:
"Good-bye, children--I"m off for Washington!"
THE END