Bright Arrows (24 page)

"No," said Eden thoughtfully. "But if there were, I don't think it would be a matter for us to discuss. It would be my affair and not yours, unless I voluntarily chose to tell you. But even if there were such a situation, it would make no difference whatever. You see, you have made it quite definite that you and I could never belong to each other even if we could love each other, because of what you have just said about the Bible."

"Eden! You don't mean that! You certainly can't be as ignorant and narrow-minded as that."

"I certainly do mean that, Niles. Jesus Christ means more to me than anything or anyone else on earth. You see, the reason you think I am ignorant and narrow-minded is because
you
do not
know
my Lord. If you really would come to know Him, you would see that you are the one who is ignorant and narrow-minded. Perhaps you will come to know Him someday, really know Him, and then you will understand."

"There is no chance whatever that I shall become deluded by that superstitious belief that has blinded your eyes. But what I hope to do is to teach you little by little that you have taken up with an unfounded tradition that is as antiquated as it is unscientific. Eden, I see it might take some time to bring you to a right way of thinking, but I am willing to bear with you until you can come to see things in a right light."

"Oh really?" said Eden, lifting her brows gravely. "But I'm afraid
I
would never be able to bear with
you
while you were learning what my Lord is willing to be to you."

"Oh, forever!" exclaimed the young man angrily. "Will you stop talking that nonsense and listen to me?"

"I'm sorry, Niles, but I'm afraid you haven't anything to say to me that I consider worth hearing."

"But don't you understand that you will never get married if you go on that principle all your life? You wouldn't be able to find anyone who would agree with you when you talk like that. Do you want to go unmarried all your life?"

"It doesn't seem very important to me. I have no desire to get married just for the sake of being married. And now, Niles, I think we have said just about all there is to say on this subject, don't you?"

"Eden, do you really mean that this is final?"

"I do. I do not think we have anything in common."

"But Eden, you do not seem to understand. Has it ever occurred to you what it might mean to my relatives if I should bring a girl into the honorable family to which I belong, who had embraced such peculiar beliefs as you seem to have taken up? It isn't as if you just kept it in the background. A little original whim one might stand, but you seem to put it so in the foreground, to make it an oddity that would be hopelessly embarrassing to my mother and the family."

"And has it never occurred to you how embarrassing it would be to
my
family for me to lend my companionship to one who repudiates my family, its great Founder, and all that He stands for? I'm a child of the heavenly King, and I would rather die than dishonor my Lord Jesus Christ. And now, Niles, here comes Janet with word that lunch is ready. Shall we go out? I think it is high time to end this unprofitable discussion, don't you? Come and let us talk of something else, for it is all too evident that we are not getting anywhere in this. I know I shall not change. I doubt if you ever will. Tell me, please, where it is you are planning to go with your mother. Is it the same place she went before when she was so ill?"

And so Janet ushered them into the dining room, and the discussion for the time being was ended, although there was about the young man's expression an offended haughtiness that did not register contentment. He was not a young man who was accustomed to being disappointed, or accepting even the slightest deviation from his own planned way.

Nevertheless, as the meal progressed and the talk drifted into more formal conversation, he watched Eden in a kind of amazement. He had never seen a girl like this, seldom seen one who would have so casually turned down such a well-set-up and altogether respectable, good-looking, wealthy young man as his honorable self,
just for an idea
. Was this only a pose, or was it real? Would it be better for him to drop her for a while and let her see that she couldn't wind him around her little finger this way? He
must
make her understand what was due his family.

So Niles Nevin made the most of his opportunity to impress Eden with his desirability in the small talk that the lunch table afforded. He showed himself a master of adjustability, able to keep a calm exterior and carry on in the face of what he had made to appear utter disaster to all his plans. He would show her that he could be a wise and good companion, able always to be self-controlled no matter what occurred.

Of course, he reasoned within himself that he might give in to her ideas and easily win her that way, but that would only make future trouble for himself, and it would not be wise to allow her to think even for a moment that he would ever give in on matters that had to do with his family's conventional views and customs. Of course, they all belonged to a respectable church, which they attended regularly--whenever it was convenient--never in excess, but they did not stand for unnecessary religiosity. And so although it did not meet with his plans at present to be firm on this subject, he felt that in the end it would finally win a lasting victory over Eden's fanatical views and show the girl he meant to marry that she must conform to his family's ways of doing things. The lunch was delicious, for Janet knew what New Yorkers liked, and she did not intend to have her dear lady fall short in any matter that was in her hands. Also the meal was
deliberately
served, for she wanted to understand just what this sudden visit from the young man meant. She had never been quite easy in her mind when she considered the possibility of Eden marrying this Mr. Nevin. Somehow he seemed too easygoing to marry her precious nursling. And yet when she came to think it over, she could never quite explain to herself why she felt this way.

So the two young people talked on, pleasantly, politely, and Eden did not hasten matters herself, for she was quite content to be talking, with Janet coming and going, knowing very well that Niles Nevin would not likely revert to the subject of marriage while Janet was present. Niles was very formal, and it was scarcely good form to press a girl to marry him in the presence of servants. So the conversation was pleasant and she had plenty of time to study her guest. She knew now definitely that Niles and she would never be congenial. She would not be able to forget that look in his eyes when he had told her she was narrow-minded and fanatical.

It was late when they at last adjourned to the living room and found comfortable chairs around the fire, which the servants had burning cheerfully.

Two chairs were placed invitingly near the fire, and a little coffee table between the chairs bore a fresh box of delicious-looking confectionery. No more inviting setting for a talk could have been found.

Eden came quietly to her chair, trying to be sweet and bright but not feeling too cheerful about it. She dreaded the next two hours more than she would have liked to acknowledge, even to herself. She was desperately tired of the subject of marriage, especially as relating to Niles Nevin, and yet she could not seem to think of talkable topics enough to tide over this time until the visitor would leave.

Afterward she wondered if the doorbell hadn't rung in answer to her unspoken cry for help. It was Mr. Worden with a paper for her to look over and sign.

She introduced Niles Nevin to him then listened to his careful explanations and sat reading the paper as he directed, while he chatted with this very nice-looking young man from New York, wondering just what his appearance meant in the picture of Eden's life. Mr. Worden had shrewd eyes and a logical mind, and he knew just what questions to ask to help him find out what he wanted to know. On the whole he was pleased with the young man, and he thought to himself that here at least was no menace to Eden. Though he might turn out to be a menace to the plans Mr. Worden had been dreaming out for Lance Lorrimer and Eden. But then his wife was always getting pretty romances for her friends, and she was particularly fond of Eden. She would be, of course. Well, time would tell.

Eden signed the paper and chatted a moment with Mr. Worden before he left. As she came back from seeing him to the door, Niles met her just inside the living room and took both her hands in his.

"I've been thinking, Eden," he said in quite a brotherly tone, gentle and advisory, "that we have gone about this matter all wrong. And it was all my fault. We began by statements of facts and by discussion, and instead it should be a matter of action." Eden gave a quick, worried glance up, but before she could realize what was coming, Niles drew her up close to his chest, one arm around her shoulders possessively. He held her very close, his nice handsome face boldly and firmly on her own, and then his warm lips were on Eden's in a kiss that was most thorough, and he thought convincing.

"There, isn't that better?" he asked, looking down at her adoringly.

Eden struggled for an instant frantically, and then finding that she could not get free by struggling, she said: "No! No!
Stop
, Niles! Please, don't do that!" She struggled again, dragging her hands from his clasp by main force, drawing back and turning her face away from another caress, which was obviously on its way. "Let me go! You have
no right
!
Stop!
I thought at least you were a gentleman!"

"What is there about a kiss that you could call it ungentlemanly?" he asked and then drew her close again with another quick, purposeful caress. At least she should understand once and for all what his feeling for her was, and he did his best to rouse her own sensibilities. She must be human. She would
have
to remember that kiss. It must be imprinted deep in her soul!

But Eden suddenly struggled free from his embrace and backed to the hall door.

"That will be
all
," she said haughtily, and her eyes were flashing bright with tears.

He stood back a step and looked at her, with a self-confident smile on his lips.

"You
know
you liked that, Eden; now be honest and say yes."

"
No!
" said Eden. "I did
not
like it, and I don't want you ever to touch me again. I don't even want to be friends with you now anymore. You know you had no right."

The young man stood bewildered and looked at her. What strange kind of girl was this that didn't adore to be kissed?

At last he grew dignified, apologetic, quite grave.

"Really, Eden, I see I have been greatly misunderstood. I sincerely beg your pardon. I was merely trying to show you how you had stirred my heart. I thought if you knew, you would be human enough to respond. But I see I was mistaken. I do hope you will forgive me, and perhaps sometime when you know me better you will be kinder to me. I'm sorry I have hurt you. Suppose we just sit down by the fire and have a nice little talk and forget all about this. In a short time now I shall have to go, and I'd rather remember a pleasant talk instead of a disagreement. Are you willing?"

Eden gave him a steady look and then assented, sitting quietly down in her chair and looking to him to do the same.

"Would you like another cup of coffee? I see Janet has brought it in for us," she said with dignity.

"Why, yes, I certainly would," he said affably and sat down opposite to her, accepting the cup she poured. They looked like two well-bred young people having a pleasant chat. It was a great relief to Eden.

And very soon the time came for the young man to leave.

He gave her a quick look as he rose to say good-bye.

"I'm indeed sorry I spoiled the afternoon for you," he said. "I do hope sometime you will let me come back and redeem my character. I want, at least, to be a gentleman to you."

Eden gave him a pleasant, sad little smile and tried to be gentle and forgiving, but he saw plainly that she was not pleased with him, and her reaction humbled him. He had come to win her for his own, hoping to mold her over to suit his family, and he found quite definitely that instead he seemed to have lost her.

At the end he asked: "Have you really forgiven me?" And she answered "Why, of course. Just forget it all and have a good time."

But he answered with a quavering smile, quite humbly, "I can see I was never good enough for you!" With one more lingering wistful look he left her, just in time to catch his train.

As she turned to go back into the house, Janet met her at the door, grimly rejoiceful.

"So, thet's over an' gane, is't? Well, thanks be! He's nae yer koind. Noo, gang awa' an' rest ye whiles ye have a chancet."

Then Eden sat down in her room and looked her life in its face, wondering if she had done altogether right. Would her mother have felt she ought to have waited, perhaps, and not sent this pleasant young man away so summarily? Would Daddy have approved her action? He had not known this man. But he was, of course, in a class with the people her father knew and liked. Still, was he what Daddy would have chosen for her, to go the rest of the way with her? Did God approve what she had done? Had she really put herself in God's hands to show her what would be best for her, or had she just acted on impulse? And did she approve of what she had done herself?

She went back over the afternoon and her own reactions to what her would-be lover had said, and she found herself turning away unpleasantly from some of the memories. Not even those wild, passionate kisses of Niles's had roused any feeling of love for him in her heart. No, she could not have been wrong. She could never have married him, been tied to her reverence for his wonderful family all her life. They might be very wonderful intellectually, financially, socially, but
her
family was a
royal
family, known in heaven.

And so that night she lay down to sleep with a heart at peace and feeling that she was really glad she was at home in her own bed, with her own dear people about her, even though they were but servants. She was glad she was not on her way to New York to begin a new life of journeying wherever an unknown family dictated.