Through stained glass: A NovelChamberlain, George Agnew
General
Through stained glass: A Novel
Chamberlain, George Agnew
Fathers and sons -- Fiction; Love stories
H lne's eyes took on the far-away look that blots out the present
world, and clothes a distant vision in flesh and blood.
"You saw what you saw to-day," she went on in a voice so low that Lewis
leaned forward to catch her words. "Remember that, and then listen. The
love that comes to youth is like the dawn of day. There is no
resplendent dawn without a sun, nor does the flower of a woman's soul
open to a lesser light. The tenth woman," she repeated, "the one woman.
To her awakening comes with a man, not through him. He is part of the
dawn of life, and though clouds may later hide his shining face, her
heart remembers forever the glory of the morning."
The tears welled from her eyes unheeded. Lewis leaped forward with a
cry.
"H lne! H lne!"
She held him off.
"Don't touch me!" she gasped. "I only wanted you to see the whole burden
of love. Now go, dear. Please go. I'm--I'm very tired."
CHAPTER XL
Lewis, walking rapidly toward the flat, was thinking over all that Lady
Derl had said and was trying to bring Folly into line with his thoughts.
He had never pictured Folly old. He tried now and failed. Folly and
youth were inseparable; Folly _was_ youth. Then he gave up thinking of
Folly. That moment did not belong to her. As once before, the fragrance
and the memory of H lne clung to him, held him.
He passed slowly into the room where Leighton sat. He felt a dread lest
his father ask him what it was H lne had said. But he wronged his
father. Leighton merely glanced up, flashed a look into the eyes of his
son. He saw and knew the light that was there for the light that lingers
in the eyes of him who comes from looking upon holy inner places.
For an hour neither spoke, then Leighton said:
"Going out to lunch to-day?"
"No," said Lewis; "I've told Nelton I'd be in."
"About this marriage," said Leighton, smiling. "Let's look on it as a
settled thing that there's going to be a marriage. Have you thought
about the date and ways and means?"
Lewis flushed.
"Don't misunderstand me," said Leighton. "I might as well tell you that
I've decided to divide my income equally between us, marriage or no
marriage."
"Dad!" cried Lewis, half protesting.
"There, there," said Leighton, "you're not getting from me what you
think. What I mean is that I'm not making any sacrifice. I've lived on
half my income for some time. You'll need a lump-sum of money besides.
Your grandmother left you a big house in Albany. It won't bring much,
but I think you'd better sell it. It's on the wrong side of the town
now."
"I'll do whatever you say, Dad," said Lewis.
"I suggest that you fix your marriage for six months from now," went on
Leighton. "That will give us time to go over and untangle certain
affairs, including the house, on the other side. It isn't altogether on
account of the house I want to take you over."
Lewis had winced at six months. Now he looked questioningly at his
father.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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