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She had shared in them, too up till that meeting with Elvine van Blooren at the reception. After that ah, well, there had been very little after for Nan. And the man himself. Four days had sufficed to reduce Jeff's feelings to a condition of love-sickness such as is best associated with extreme youth.
"Because I married Elvine van Blooren just over six weeks ago." A long day of anxiety and fevered apprehension merged into a night of terror. It was the outcome of a conviction that was irresistible. The shadow of disaster was marching hard upon her heels. Nor had she the power to avoid it. As night came on Elvine remained alone in her twilit bedroom.
But then he did not know that there was any unusual interest for her in the fact that Jeff Masters was escorting Mrs. Van Blooren. When she did speak it was with her gaze fixed upon the couple ahead. "Yes, that's it," she said. "Hang on. Hang on with every ounce of courage and strength you've got. And if you've got to go under, why, I guess it's best done with a smile, eh?"
Jeff was certainly a "good-looker," and he was beginning to understand something of the attraction he must have for a woman like Elvine van Blooren. He was slim and muscular, with a keen face of decision and strength. Then, was he not on the rising wave which must ever appeal to the maturer mind of a widow, however young? His disappointment rose again and threatened to find expression.
All he's handed me is that I ain't got no right, an' the thing stands pending your decision. He says the whole proposition is jest business. He's got to safeguard the values of his property. Now, sir, I claim them rights by right of that deed, an' if ther's any case it's between that Van Blooren widder an' Mr. McFarlane. You got my papers, an' wal, how d'you guess I stand?"
Quite abruptly she indicated the woman in front. "I do think she's real beautiful, don't you?" "Who?" The man had no concern for anybody at that moment but the girl at his side. "Who? Say, aren't you just foolish. I was thinking of Mrs. Van Blooren." The man laughed. "I surely am," he declared. "And I've won prizes for thought-reading at parlor games, too." They both laughed.
Furthermore its hold upon him was deeper, more lasting by reason of the innate strength of his character. As for Elvine van Blooren it would be less easy to say. Her beauty was of a darkly reticent order. Hers was the face, the eyes, the manner yielding up few secrets. She rarely imparted confidence even to her mother.
All the lights, the decorations, the beautiful costumes and smiling faces, these became an indistinct blurr, leaving the image of Mrs. Elvine van Blooren and a man standing vividly out. What a wonderful, wonderful picture of radiant womanhood Mrs. Van Blooren had made! Even in her trouble Nan was generous. The woman was beautiful in a way that poor Nan had only dreamed of.
And it's because I love him I want to help him now and always. You won't think me a fool girl, my Daddy, will you, but but I won't hate Elvine van Blooren. I'm I'm going to try so hard to like her, and and anyway, with all my might, I'm going to help them both. D'you guess Jeff would let me get his house ready for his wife?"
There was no time to waste. The horses had already assembled at the start. Nan watched him go with eyes that had lost their last gleam of sunshine. The mask she had set up before the man had completely fallen. Jeff was was betting for Mrs. Van Blooren! He was betting with her! Maybe even they were pooling their bets! Oh! For some moments she stood alone where Jeff had left her.
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