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Read Ebook: The Great Experience by Farr Julia
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Ebook has 1597 lines and 37368 words, and 32 pages
nderness superseded his sterner mood. He folded her gently in his arms.
"You have said it, dear. I am so doubtful about everything to-night. I was almost foolish enough to think you wouldn't."
Her white arms lovingly encircled his neck and he could feel her tears wet his face.
"Dear Will, I love you--more to-night than ever. I don't know why. Something new has come to me--a sort of mother-love for my poor, tired Will."
Never had he known her in such a mood. He asked no reason for it. It soothed and quieted his misery. So he gave himself up to being loved as he never before had been privileged to do.
It was ten o'clock when the bell announced a visitor.
Will started from his chair.
"Who can it be at this hour?" Alma asked wonderingly.
"Who?" returned Will shortly, and they both listened.
Will seemed scarcely able to breathe, until the maid announced "Dr. Cadman."
"Let him come right in," said Will with evident relief.
Dr. Cadman entered, beaming with the freshness of a morning hour rather than tired with the late evening.
Alma and Will advanced to meet him and he took one hand of each simultaneously.
"Too bad to disturb such a happy picture,--firelight and lovelight. How we bachelors do envy you, lucky dogs!" he said, pressing their hands warmly.
"But, George, we love fine pictures, too, but unfortunately we cannot see ourselves," returned Alma laughingly.
"Sufficient that you see one another," returned the doctor banteringly.
"Now, Alma," he continued, as he seated himself near the fire, "I have just a few minutes to see Will on important business. A patient demands my attention shortly. Are you going to be a good little wife and allow us a few minutes' conversation?"
"Assuredly," and Alma smiled assent. "But I will vanish in the meantime, I'm sure to interrupt if I stay."
The two men laughed. As she opened the door, she wafted a kiss to each one and disappeared.
"Dear girl!" murmured Will.
"Dear girl! I should say so, Will. Then why on earth that sad, mournful face? I have the check, old boy! Knew you'd come home anxious, so didn't wait until morning," he added, drawing an envelope from his pocket and handing it to Will. "Twenty thousand dollars you had to have, didn't you? Well, I made it ,000 over so that Alma couldn't suspect, from your drawing it too tight."
Will took the check mechanically. Speechless and dazed he stood, watching George with increasing pallor.
"Cousin, what ails you?" asked George with alarm.
"You're so good, that is all,--in fact, too good for a wretch like me! and to think that it won't help--all that money even can't save me now!"
Haggard and white he sank into the nearest chair and buried his face in his hands. Sobs convulsed his form as he hid his face from view.
He laid a strong, kind hand upon the bent head.
"Will, you're overwrought. Look up. Be a man."
Will's sobs ceased, and he met Cadman's scrutiny with a sullen doggedness.
"George, you will not call me a man after to-night. I couldn't myself, even."
"Come, out with it," returned Cadman briskly "Don't beat around the bush,--and I object to your disowning your sex!"
"For God's sake, don't joke!" exclaimed Will fiercely.
"Far from it! Be quick--what awful crime have you committed?"
George possessed a pair of keen gray eyes that compelled frankness.
Will did not hesitate.
George's face became serious, and he watched Will keenly.
"Didn't I tell you that I would get the money for you tonight? Is that all?" he asked gravely. "Will, you are hiding something," he added with firmness.
"Yes, there is more," Will replied, a crimson flush surmounting to his temples. Suddenly he looked around with a hunted expression.
George grasped his shoulder in consternation.
"You're crazy, man! Stop such names! you are exaggerating some mis-step. Tell me everything! I'll stand by you. Don't be a coward!"
The hunted expression gave way to one of misery.
"George, you're a brick, but you can't save me. When I lost my own money, I became frenzied--succeed I must or be in disgrace for debt. I don't know how I did it. I took the bank's money when sure of success--meant to put it back--speculated with it, lost all, all! I heard tonight they had discovered it. To-morrow will come the arrest. I'll be a jail-bird soon--a thief behind the bars!"
George's face became stolidly set.
"How much did you borrow?" he asked calmly.
"Fifty thousand," he answered hoarsely.
"Whew!" returned George, with a low whistle.
Both men stared into the fire with tragic silence.
"Well?" finally asked Will wearily.
George arose and slowly buttoned his coat before replying.
"But it makes it less black--anyway to those who care a heap for you!" George exclaimed, grasping Will's hand.
"Now that I know what you are? I know that you are a man up against a devilish proposition, and all on account of your love for a beautiful, adorable woman. You don't think that I'd break with you for that, do you?"
A glimmer of hope shot from Will's fine, dark eyes.
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