Jewel: A Chapter in Her Life Part 52

There was silence in the brougham. The flash of hurt in the girl's eyes was quenched by quick tears. Her companion reddened under the look of surprise she bent upon him, her lovely lips unsteady.

"No offense," he added hastily. "Ballard's sentiments are evident enough, and he is a fine fellow."

Eloise controlled herself. "Will you take the trouble to explain our affairs to me?" she asked.

"Certainly," responded Mr. Evringham quickly. "I wish for your sake there was more to explain, more possibilities in the case."

"We have nothing?" exclaimed the girl acutely.

"Your father took heavy chances and lost. His affairs are nearly settled, and what there is left is small indeed." The speaker cast a quick glance at the girl beside him. She had caught her lip between her teeth. Jewel's soft voice sounded in his ears. "Cousin Eloise feels sorry because she isn't your real relation." An inkling of what the girl might suffer came to him.

"Your mother and you have a claim upon me," he went on. "I should certainly feel a responsibility of all my son's debts, and the one to his wife and daughter in particular. I will try to make the situation easier for you in some way."

"Manage for us to go away, grandfather. Haven't you a little house somewhere?"

The beseeching in her tone surprised Mr. Evringham still more. What did the girl mean? Didn't she intend to marry Ballard? He had believed her to be planning to preside in the Mountain Avenue mansion.

"Yes, it can be arranged, certainly," he answered vaguely; "but there's no hurry, Eloise," he added, in the kindest tone he had ever used toward her. "Some evening we will go over the affairs, and I will show you where your mother stands financially, and we will try to make some plan that shall be satisfactory."

Eloise gave him a grateful look, as much in response to his manner as to his words. "Thank you. The present condition is certainly--error," she said.

"Well, we'll try to find harmony," replied the other. "Jewel would say it was easy. I should like to have you remain at my house at least as long as she does, Eloise. I should probably have to tie her hair ribbons again if you went."

The two found themselves smiling at each other. The atmosphere was lightened, and the brougham drew up at the clubhouse.

Mr. Evringham handed out the girl, gave Zeke the order to return for them, and they went up the steps.

"I would drive back with him, grandfather, only that mother would wonder, and ask questions," said Eloise. "Don't let me detain you in any way. I'll just sit here on the piazza."

"Not play? Nonsense!" returned Mr. Evringham brusquely.

"Please don't feel obliged"--Eloise began humbly.

"But I can't help being obliged if you'll play with me," interrupted her companion.

Some men observed the confidential att.i.tude of the broker and the beautiful girl. "What's doing over there?" asked one. "Is Evringham beginning to take notice?"

"Why, don't you know?" returned the other. "That's his granddaughter."

"His daughter, do you mean? Didn't know he had one."

"Not a bit of it. She's Lawrence's stepdaughter."

The other shook his head. "That's too involved for me. She's a queen, anyway."

"Going to marry Ballard, they say."

"That so? Then I won't go up and fall on Evringham's neck. My bank book isn't in Ballard's cla.s.s. She can play, too," as he observed Eloise make a drive while she waited the reappearance of her companion from the clubhouse. "Isn't that a bird!--and say, there's young Lochinvar himself!" for here a light automobile whizzed briskly up to the clubhouse.

Dr. Ballard sprang out, for he had recognized the figure at the first teeing ground.

"You gave me the slip!" he cried as he approached.

"Oh, I just went with a handsomer man," returned Eloise, smiling, as they shook hands.

"I didn't know I could come until the last minute, then I went to the house for you and found I had missed you."

Mr. Evringham and the caddy approached. "I cut you out for once, Ballard," he said. "Well, we're off, Eloise. I saw you drive. I doubt if he catches us."

Jewel's eyes questioned Eloise that evening when she reached home, and she received the smiling, significant nod her cousin gave her with satisfaction.

It was an apparently united family party that gathered about the dinner table. Mr. Evringham and Eloise discussed their game, while Mrs.

Evringham fairly rustled with complacence.

As Jewel clung to her grandfather's neck that evening in bidding him good-night, she whispered:--

"How happy we all are!"

"Are we, really? Well now, that's very gratifying, I'm sure. Good-night, Jewel."

CHAPTER XXII

IN THE HARNESS ROOM

"Mother, can I have three dollars?" asked Eloise the next morning.

"Were you thinking of a new riding hat, dear? I do wish you had it to wear this afternoon. Yours is shabby, certainly, but you can't get it for that, child."

"No; I was thinking of a copy of 'Science and Health.' I don't like to take Jewel's any longer, and I'm convinced."

"What of--sin?" asked Mrs. Evringham in dismay.

"No, just the opposite--that there needn't be any. The book teaches the truth. I know it."

"Well, whether it does or doesn't, you haven't any three dollars to spend for a book, Eloise," was the firm reply. "The _idea_, when I can barely rake and sc.r.a.pe enough together to keep us presentable!"

"Where do you get our money?" asked the girl.

"Father gives me a check every fortnight. Of course you know that he has charge of our affairs."

Eloise's serene expression did not change. She looked at the little black book in her hand. "This edition costs five dollars," she said.

"Scandalous!" exclaimed Mrs. Evringham. "I can tell you this is no time for us to be collecting _editions de luxe_. Wait till you're married."