The «Genius» II

THE “GENIUS” II

“No, thanks. The one in the corner will do. But I might as well introduce myself, since there isn’t anyone here to do it. I’m Mrs. Wilson, Mrs. Hibberdell’s daughter. You’re Mr. Witla?”

“Yes, I answer to that,” said Eugene, smiling. He was not very much impressed at first. She seemed nice and he fancied intelligent – a little older than he would have preferred any woman to be who was to interest him. She sat down and looked at the water. He took his chair and held his peace. He was not even interested to talk to her. She was nice to look at, however. Her presence lightened the scene for him.

“I always like to come up here,” she volunteered finally. “It’s so warm in the city these days. I don’t think many people know of this place. It’s out of the beaten track.”

“I enjoy it,” said Eugene. “It’s such a rest for me. I don’t know what I would have done if your mother hadn’t taken me in. It’s rather hard to find any place, doing what I am.”

“You’ve taken a pretty strenuous way to get health, I should say,” she observed. “Day labor sounds rough to me. Do you mind it?”

“Not at all. I like it. The work is interesting and not so very hard. It’s all so new to me, that’s what makes it easy. I like the idea of being a day laborer and associating with laborers. It’s only because I’m run down in health that I worry. I don’t like to be sick.”

“It is bad,” she replied, “but this will probably put you on your feet. I think we’re always inclined to look on our present troubles as the worst. I know I am.”

“Thanks for the consolation,” he said.

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She did not look at him and he rocked to and fro silently. Finally the dinner gong struck. Mrs. Hibberdell came down stairs and they went in.

The conversation at dinner turned on his work for a few moments and he described accurately the personalities of John and Bill and Big John the engineer, and little Suddsy and Harry Fornes, the blacksmith. Carlotta listened attentively without appearing to, for everything about Eugene seemed singular and exceptional to her. She liked his tall, spare body, his lean hands, his dark hair and eyes. She liked the idea of his dressing as a laboring man in the morning, working all day in the shop, and yet appearing so neat and trim at dinner. He was easy in his manner, apparently lethargic in his movements and yet she could feel a certain swift force that filled the room. It was richer for his presence. She understood at a glance that he was an artist, in all probability a good one. He said nothing of that, avoided carefully all reference to his art, and listened attentively. She felt though as if he were studying her and everyone else, and it made her gayer. At the same time she had a strong leaning toward him. “What an ideal man to be associated with,” was one of her repeated thoughts.

Although she was about the house for ten days and he met her after the third morning not only at dinner, which was natural enough, but at breakfast (which surprised him a little), he paid not so very much attention to her. She was nice, very, but Eugene was thinking of another type. He thought she was uncommonly pleasant and considerate and he admired her style of dressing and her beauty, studying her with interest, wondering what sort of a life she led, for from various bits of conversation he overheard not only at table but at other times

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he judged she was fairly well to do. There was an apartment in Central Park West, card parties, automobile parties, theatre parties and a general sense of people – acquaintances anyhow, who were making money. He heard her tell of a mining engineer, Dr. Rowland; of a successful coal-mining speculator, Gerald Woods; of a Mrs. Hale who was heavily interested in copper mines and apparently very wealthy. “It’s a pity Norman couldn’t connect with something like that and make some real money,” he heard her say to her mother one evening. He understood that Norman was her husband and that he probably would be back soon. So he kept his distance – interested and curious but hardly more.

Mrs. Wilson was not so easily baffled, however. A car appeared one evening at the door immediately after dinner, a great red touring car, and Mrs. Wilson announced easily, “We’re going for a little spin after dinner, Mr. Witla. Don’t you want to come along?”

Eugene had never ridden in an automobile at that time. “I’d be very pleased,” he said, for the thought of a lonely evening in an empty house had sprung up when he saw it appear.

There was a chauffeur in charge – a gallant figure in a brown straw cap and tan duster, but Mrs. Wilson manoeuvred for place.

“You sit with the driver, coz,” she said to Simpson, and when her mother stepped in she followed after, leaving Eugene the place to the right of her.

“There must be a coat and cap in the locker,” she said to the chauffeur; “let Mr. Witla have it.”

The latter extracted a spare linen coat and straw cap which Eugene put on.

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“I like automobiling, don’t you?” she said to Eugene goodnaturedly. “It’s so refreshing. If there is any rest from care on this earth it’s in traveling fast.”

“I’ve never ridden before,” replied Eugene simply. Something about the way he said it touched her. She felt sorry for him because he appeared lonely and gloomy. His indifference to her piqued her curiosity and irritated her pride. Why shouldn’t he take an interest in her? As they sped under leafy lanes, up hill and down dale, she made out his face in the starlight. It was pale, reflective, indifferent. “These deep thinkers!” she chided him. “It’s terrible to be a philosopher.” Eugene smiled.

When they reached home he went to his room as did all the others to theirs. He stepped out into the hall a few minutes later to go to the library for a book, and found that her door which he had to pass was wide open. She was sitting back in a Morris chair, her feet upon another chair, her skirts slightly drawn up revealing a trim foot and ankle. She did not stir but looked up and smiled winningly.

“Aren’t you tired enough to sleep?” he asked. “Not quite yet,” she smiled.

He went down stairs and turning on a light in the library stood looking at a row of books reading the titles. He heard a step and there she was looking at the books also.

“Don’t you want a bottle of beer?” she asked. “I think there is some in the ice box. I forgot that you might be thirsty.”

“I really don’t care,” he said. “I’m not much for drinks of any kind.”

“That’s not very sociable,” she laughed. “Let’s have the beer then,” he said.

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She threw herself back languidly in one of the big dining room chairs when she had brought the drinks and some Swiss cheese and crackers, and said: “I think you’ll find some cigarettes on the table in the corner if you like.”

He struck her a match and she puffed her cigarette comfortably. “I suppose you find it lonely up here away from all your friends and companions,” she volunteered.

“Oh, I’ve been sick so long I scarcely know whether I have any.”

He described some of his imaginary ailments and experiences and she listened to him attentively. When the beer was gone she asked him if he would have more but he said no. After a time because he stirred wearily, she got up.

“Your mother will think we’re running some sort of a midnight game down here,” he volunteered.

“Mother can’t hear,” she said. “Her room is on the third floor and besides she doesn’t hear very well. Dave don’t mind. He knows me well enough by now to know that I do as I please.”

She stood closer to Eugene but still he did not see. When he moved away she put out the lights and followed him to the stairs.

“He’s either the most bashful or the most indifferent of men,” she thought, but she said softly, “Good-night. Pleasant dreams to you,” and went her way.

Eugene thought of her now as a good fellow, a little gay for a married woman, but probably circumspect withal. She was simply being nice to him. All this was simply because, as yet, he was not very much interested.

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There were other incidents. One morning he passed her door. Her mother had already gone down to breakfast and there was the spectacle of a smooth, shapely arm and shoulder quite bare to his gaze as she lay on her pillow apparently unconscious that her door was open. It thrilled him as something sensuously beautiful for it was a perfect arm. Another time he saw her of an evening just before dinner buttoning her shoes. Her dress was pulled three-quarters of the way to her knees and her shoulders and arms were bare, for she was still in her corset and short skirts. She seemed not to know that he was near. One night after dinner he started to whistle something and she went to the piano to keep him company. Another time he hummed on the porch and she started the same song, singing with him. He drew his chair near the window where there was a couch after her mother had retired for the night, and she came and threw herself on it. “You don’t mind if I lie here?” she said, “I’m tired tonight.”

“Not at all. I’m glad of your company. I’m lonely.”

She lay and stared at him, smiling. He hummed and she sang. “Let me see your palm,” she said, “I want to learn something.” He held it out. She fingered it temptingly. Even this did not wake him.

She left for five days because of some necessity in connection with her engagements and when she returned he was glad to see her. He had been lonesome, and he knew now that she made the house gayer. He greeted her genially.

“I’m glad to see you back,” he said.

“Are you really?” she replied. “I don’t believe it.” “Why not?” he asked.

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“Oh, signs, omens and portents. You don’t like women very well I fancy.”

“Don’t I!”

“No, I think not,” she replied.

She was charming in a soft grayish green satin. He noticed that her neck was beautiful and that her hair looped itself gracefully upon the back of it. Her nose was straight and fine, sensitive because of its thin partitioning walls. He followed her into the library and they went out on the porch. Presently he returned – it was ten o’clock – and she came also. Davis had gone to his room, Mrs. Hibberdell to hers.

“I think I’ll read,” he said, aimlessly.

“Why anything like that?” she jested. “Never read when you can do anything else.”

“What else can I do?”

“Oh, lots of things. Play cards, tell fortunes, read palms, drink beer – “ She looked at him wilfully.

He went to his favorite chair near the window, side by side with the window-seat couch. She came and threw herself on it.

“Be gallant and fix my pillows for me, will you?” she asked. “Of course I will,” he said.

He took a pillow and raised her head, for she did not deign to move.

“Is that enough?” he inquired. “One more.”

He put his hand under the first pillow and lifted it up. She took hold of his free hand to raise herself. When she had it she held it and laughed a curious excited laugh. It came over him all at once, the full meaning of all the things she had been do-

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ing. He dropped the pillow he was holding and looked at her steadfastly. She relaxed her hold and leaned back, languorous, smiling. He took her left hand, then her right and sat down beside her. In a moment he slipped one arm under her waist and bending over put his lips to hers. She twined her arms about his neck tightly and hugged him close; then looking in his eyes she heaved a great sigh.

“You love me, don’t you?” he asked.

“I thought you never would,” she sighed, and clasped him to her again.

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CHAPTER XXIII

The form of Carlotta Wilson was perfect, her passion eager, her subtlety a match for almost any situation. She had deliberately set out to win Eugene because he was attractive to her and because, by his early indifference, he had piqued her vanity and self-love. She liked him though, liked every one of his characteristics, and was as proud of her triumph as a child with a new toy. When he had finally slipped his arm under her waist she had thrilled with a burning, vibrating thrill throughout her frame and when she came to him it was with the eagerness of one wild for his caresses. She threw herself on him, kissed him sensuously scores of times, whispered her desire and her affection. Eugene thought, now that he saw her through the medium of an awakened passion, that he had never seen anything more lovely. For the time being he forgot Frieda, Angela, his loneliness, the fact that he was working in supposed prudent self-restraint to effect his recovery, and gave himself up to the full enjoyment of this situation.

Carlotta was tireless in her attentions. Once she saw that he really cared, or imagined he did, she dwelt in the atmosphere of her passion and affection. There was not a moment that she was not with or thinking of Eugene when either was possible. She lay in wait for him at every turn, gave him every opportunity which her skill could command. She knew the

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movements of her mother and cousin to the least fraction – could tell exactly where they were, how long they were likely to remain, how long it would take them to reach a certain door or spot from where they were standing. Her step was noiseless, her motions and glances significant and interpretative. For a month or thereabouts she guided Eugene through the most perilous situations, keeping her arms about him to the last possible moment, kissing him silently and swiftly at the most unexpected times and in the most unexpected surroundings. Her weary languor, her seeming indifference, disappeared, and she was very much alive – except in the presence of others. There her old manner remained, intensified even, for she was determined to throw a veil of darkness over her mother and her cousin’s eyes. She succeeded admirably for the time being, for she lied to her mother out of the whole cloth, pretending that Eugene was nice but a little slow so far as the ways of the world were concerned. “He may be a good artist,” she volunteered, “but he isn’t very much of a ladies’ man. He hasn’t the first trace of gallantry.”

Mrs. Hibberdell was glad. At least there would be no disturbance here. She feared Carlotta, feared Eugene, but she saw no reason for complaint. In her presence all was seemingly formal and at times almost distant. She did not like to say to her daughter that she should not come to her own home now that Eugene was here, and she did not like to tell him to leave. Carlotta said she liked him fairly well, but that was nothing. Any married woman might do that. Yet under her very eyes was going forward the most disconcerting license. She would have been astounded if she had known the manner in which the bath, Carlotta’s chamber and Eugene’s room were being

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