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Mercedes, by this time, had dried her eyes and was regaining, apparently, her more normal energies. "Not here? Not seen? Not heard of?" she repeated. "But where is she then?" Mrs. Talcott stood at the door of the car and looked at her charge. "Well, I'm afraid she made off in the night, straight away, after I'd talked to her." "Made off in the night?"
"I'm going to explain Mercedes. And I'm going way back to the very beginning to do it." "Explain it to me. What is she? Has it all been false all her loveliness?" "I don't know about false," said Mrs. Talcott. "Mercedes ain't all bad; not by a long shot. She feels good sometimes, like most folks, when it ain't too much trouble. You know how it began, Karen.
"Bring the manuscript in at once," replied Flower. "It may be just what we are looking for. If it is we will print it as a serial this summer, and bring it out in book form next winter." In high excitement I hurried home to dig up and re-read the fragment which I called at this time Bradley Talcott. It contained about thirty thousand words and its hero was a hired man on an Iowa farm.
Mrs. Talcott rose and stood by the bed looking down into Karen's eyes. "Honey, I can bring him up, can't I?" she asked. Karen's eyes looked up at her with an intensity that had passed beyond joy or appeal. Her life was concentrated in her gaze. "You would not lie to me?" she said. "It is not pity? He loves me?" "No, I wouldn't lie to you, dearie," said Mrs.
When his eyes fell on the writing, his hands ceased to shake, and his quick breathing fell away into a long, shuddering inspiration. He read the first page twice without moving a muscle. Then he turned the page, and finished it. It was not long, and it was very direct. Dear Mr. Talcott: Your letter has moved me deeply, very deeply. I would have prevented its being written if I could.
I met him, on the headland, that morning, and he was to take me to his mother, and I was so ill that he brought me here. That was all." Mrs. Talcott smoothed back her hair. "Take it easy, honey," she said. "There's nothing to worry over one mite. And now I've asked my questions and had my answers, and I've got something to tell.
In the privacy of his room he croaked a few notes before he realized that he could not sing. His gloomy sky had let fall a sudden ray of dazzling sunshine. He did not see her again till the next afternoon. She came out into the ante-room in the hotel looking so lovely he could hardly believe his good fortune. "Now you are in my hands, Mr. Talcott."
But of the two men, Herbert Talcott is the more sought after." "Sought after?" said my host inquiringly. "Yes, sought after," repeated Mrs. Bannister. "He is asked everywhere. I suppose his name has something to do with it, but in these days, when name counts for so little and money for so much, it is remarkable."
The next day, being Sunday, everybody went to meeting, except the Doctor, who was obliged to ride away upon his round of visits. Accordingly, Mr. Talcott walked twice to and fro across the green, with Miss Amelia tripping demurely by his side, and served as the target for a thousand eyeshots as he stood up at the head of the Doctor's pew during the long prayers.
All my sacred things he despises." "Mercedes, you mean?" Mrs. Talcott suggested after a moment's silence. "Yes. And more." Karen could not name her mother. Mrs. Talcott sat silent. "Has Tante not told you why I was here?" Karen presently asked. "No," said Mrs. Talcott. "I haven't had a real talk with Mercedes since she got back. Her mind is pretty well taken up with this young man."
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