"And Joe Powers is worth a hundred millions.""That settles it. I must have been wrong." Alice looked at him with a flash of demure daring. "Valencia said something to me the other day I didn't quite understand. Ought I to congratulate you?""What did she say?" he asked eagerly.
"Oh, I'll not tell you what she said. My question was in first.""You may as well, though it's still a secret. Nobody knows it but you and me.""And Valencia."
"I didn't know she knew it yet."
Alice stared. "Not know that she is going to marry you? Then it isn't really arranged?""It is and it isn't." "Oh!"
"I know it and she suspects it." "Is this a riddle?""Riddle is a good word when we speak of your cousin," he admitted judicially.
"Perhaps I asked a question I ought not to have.""Not at all. I'm trying to answer you as well as I can. Last time I mentioned the subject she laughed at me.""So you've asked her?" "No, I told her."
"And she said?"
"Regretted that other plans would not permit her to fall in with mine." "Then I don't quite see how you are so sure.""That's just what she says, but I've a notion she is planning the trousseau."Alice flashed a sidelong look at him. Was he playing with her? Or did he mean it?
"You'll let me know when I may safely congratulate you," she retorted ironically.
"Now is the best time. I may not see you this evening." "Oh, it's to be this evening, is it?""To the best of my belief and hope."
His complacency struck a spark from her. "You needn't be so cock sure. I daresay she won't have you."His smile took her into his confidence. "That's what I'm afraid of myself, but I daren't let her see it.""That sounds better."
"I think she wants to eat her cake and have it, too." "Meaning, please?""That she likes me, but would rather hold me off a while." Alice nodded. "Yes, that would be like Val.""Meanwhile I don't know whether I'm to be a happy man or not."Her fine eyes looked in their direct fashion right into his. "I must say you appear greatly worried.""Yes," he smiled.
"You must be tremendously in love with her." "Ye-es, thank you.""Why are you going to marry her then--if she'll let you?""Now I'm having Joe Powers' railroads and his steamboats and his mines thrown at me, am I not?" he asked lightly.
"No, I don't think that meanly of you. I know you're a victim of ambition, but I don't suppose it would take you that far."He gave her an ironical bow. "Thanks for this testimonial of respect. You're right. It wouldn't. I'm going to marry Joe Power's daughter, _Deo volente_ because she is the most interesting woman I know and the most beautiful one.""Oh! That's the reason."
"These, plus a sentimental one which I can't uncover to the cynical eyes of my young cousin that is to be, are my motives; though, mind you, I'm not fool enough to be impervious to the railroads and the ocean liners and the mines you didn't mention. I hope my reasons satisfy you," he added coolly.
"If they satisfy Val they do me, but very likely you'll find they won't." "The doubt adds a fillip to the situation." Her eyes had gone from timeto time out of the window. Now she gave a sigh of relief. "Here we are at the hospital. Oh, I do hope that poor man is all right!""I'm sure he is. He was recovering consciousness when they left.
James helped her out of the cab and they went together up the steps. In the hall they met Jeff. He had just come down stairs.
"Everything's all right. His head must have struck the asphalt, but there seems to be no danger."Alice noticed that the newspaper man spoke to his cousin and not toher.
PART 2
Though Valencia Van Tyle had not made up her mind to get married, James hit the mark when he guessed that she was interesting herself in the accessories that would go with such an event. The position she took in the matter was characteristic. She had gone the length of taking expert counsel with her New York modiste concerning gowns for the occasion, without having at all decided that she would exchange her present independence for another venture into stormy matrimonial seas.
"Perhaps I shatn't have to make up my mind at all," she found amusement in chuckling to herself. "What a saving of trouble it would beif he would abduct me in his car. I could always blame him then if it did not turn out well." Something of this she expressed to James the evening of the day of the accident, watching him through half-shuttered eyes to see how he would take her first concession that she was considering him.
He took without external disturbance her gay, embarrassed suggestion, the manner of which might mean either shyness or the highest expression of her art.
"I'd kidnap you fast enough except that I don't want to rob you of the fun of getting ready. How long will it take you? Would my birthday be too soon? It's on the fourth of June.""Too soon for what?" she asked innocently. "For my birthday present--Valencia Powers."She liked it that he used her maiden surname instead of her married one. It seemed to imply that he loved her in the swift, ardent way of youth.
"Are you sure you want it?"
The lawyer appreciated her soft, warm allurement, the appeal of sex with which she was so prodigally endowed. His breath came a little faster.
"He won't be happy till he gets it."
Her faint laughter rippled out. "That's just the point, my friend. Will he be happy then? And, which is more important to her, will she?""That's what I'm here to see. I'm going to make you happy."She laced her fingers behind her tawny head, not quite unaware perhaps that the attitude set off the perfect modeling of her soft, supple body.
"I don't doubt your good intentions, but it takes more than that to make marriage happy when the contracting parties are not Heaven-sent.""But we are--we are."
Valencia shook her head. "Oh, no! There will be no rapturous song of birds for us, none of that fine wantonness that doesn't stop to count the cost. If we marry no doubt we'll have good reasons, but not the very best one--that we can't help it."He would not consent to that. "You're not speaking for me. The birds sing, Valencia.""Canaries in a cage," she mocked.
