TENNYSON NEELY. PUBLISHER. NEW YORK S. LONDON >^^ 7.7 /*? QIarncll Ittiugtaitg ffixbratg atljata, Hew ^orfe LIBRARY OF LEWIS BINGLEY WYNNE A. B.. A.M. .COLUMBIAN COLLEGE.'71 .'73 WASHINGTON. D. C. THE GIFT OF MRS. MARY A. WYNNE AND JOHN H. WYNNE CORNELL *9B 1922 The flight of Icarusjan Idyl of Prlntln( 3 1924 022 160 521 The original of tliis book is in tine Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924022160521 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS An Idyl of Printing-House Square. BY JAY ROBIN. " vice is a monster of so frightful mien As to be hated needs but to be seen ; Yet seen too oft, familiar with her face, We first endure, then pity, then embrace.' 1 ''■^ 'lI)PU&LI5HERIO% ^. ///////1 1 1 i.Usl.y^'^V^Vjl P. TENNYSON NEELY, PUBLISHER, LONDON. NEW YORK. Oopyrieht, 1808, by F. TSNHTSON NsaLT, in United States and Great Britain. All Rights Begerred. SUfS PREFACE. "Le vrai peut quelquefois n'etre pas vralsemblable.'' These words, quoted by poor De Maupas- sant in the course of his admirable introduc- tion to "Pierre and Jean," contain the only defense the author can offer to the charge that the story tdld in the following pages is, per- haps, slightly illogical in some of its details. With all due deference to those who claim that a novel should be a strictly logical exposi- tion of the events of life, the author begs to submit the story told herein, contenting him- self with the fact that the most illogical por- tions of the narrative are those which he has copied from life ! Human actions are not amenable to the laws of logic. You cannot forecast human events either by deduction or induction. In the annals of human effort we find the en- thusiastic idealist of to-day the low "politicas- IT PREFACE. tro' ' of to-morrow. The all-conquering Maro Antony lays the destiny of the world at the feet of Cleopatra. Mirabeau not only gives his heart — but literally breaks it — for his Queen. And in both cases, what might not other circumstances, other environments have done for the history of the human family ! Of the countless number of plans conceived by a man in a lifetime, how many are realized? The evolution of a plan or scheme is the ex- emplification of subjectivity — as for the actual eventuality — that is the result of surroundings, of extraneous influences — how often of chance 1 To attempt to actually particularize individ- uality is either folly or an assumption of the most flagrant kind. When we consider the infinity of character — of self — when we take the merest glance at the incoinprehensibly various nature of personality, it seems little short of an affront to the whole race for any member of it to attempt to indicate a certain line of action for a certain "character." There is nothing fixed or immutable in human nature. This must be accepted as a basic fact. The most wicked of men are apt PREFACE. V to be the authors of the most benign acts, and the most noble may — indeed, do — participate in the most wicked deeds (not to speak of thoughts). Man is always in the process of evolution — and in blindly pursuing an un- known path, what individual can choose his steps or avoid the precipices ? It may be urged that the thoughts which the author has attempted to convey in this volume have already found expression in more artistic plots, in better words, in more convincing argument. He can only reply that, as the fact of other men having breathed before him does not discourage his consuming his share of the free air, so he, too, perforce, adds his expres- sion of thoughts, appreciating that many may have said the same thing before, and may have said it more aptly, but still holding to the one main claim that no one before could possi- bly have had the same particular attributive thought, as he here puts it into form and ex- pression. Finally, the author sincerely trusts that the fugitive underlying thoughts embodied in this volume may be recognizable through the veneer of the story. If its contents VI PREFACE. shall cause one man, at least, to view less harshly the acts of his neighbor — if it shall cause one judge of his brother to "judge not" — if it shall cause one uncompromising de- nouncer to abate his vehemence, or if it shall instill in the crusty breast of one moral censor the sentiment of human kindliness — if it shall lead him to recognize the frailty of human resolutions, the weakness of human inhibition and the abject slavery of man to circumstance — he ■will count his labors well rewarded. Jay Eobin. CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. PAOB Saint Anthony 9 CHAPTER IL Digging a Pit 18 CHAPTER III. The Snake 29 CHAPTER IV. A Glimpseof Paradise 41 CHAPTER V. "He's Black!" 60 CHAPTER VI. First Blood 57 CHAPTER VII. A Kewcomer 71 CHAPTER VIII. Love 85 CHAPTER IX. Sweet Alice 94 CHAPTER X. A Kiss at Auction 106 CHAPTER XI. A Flame Kindled 180 viii CONTENTS. CHAPTER XII. PAGB Check 1 133 CHAPTER Xni. An Assignment 139 CHAPTER XIV. "She's a Regular Witch!" 145 CHAPTER XV. Bacchus and Terpsichore 150 CHAPTER XVI. A Victim of Circumstances 159 CHAPTER XVII. The Fleeting Vision 166 CHAPTER XVin. " My Pure, Innocent Dove." 170 CHAPTER XIX. Two Friends 176 CHAPTER XX. The Temptation 181 CHAPTER XXI. The Reaction 190 CHAPTER XXII. A Gentleman and a Man 193 CHAPTER XXIII. The Morning After 197 CHAPTER XXIV. Found 1 203 CHAPTER XXV. " Sophie Duval ! " 208 CONTENTS. IX CHAPTER XXVI. paok The Old, Old Story 316 CHAPTER XXVII. At the French Ball 231 CHAPTER XXVIII. " Do You Think I Ought to Marry Him?" 330 CHAPTER XXIX. A Question of Principle 238 CHAPTER XXX. "Why are Women Bad?" 245 CHAPTER XXXI. A Wedding 351 CHAPTER XXXII. Breach of Promise 358 CHAPTER XXXIII. The Verdict 267 CHAPTER XXXIV. Morphine 275 CHAPTER XXXV. "SomeDay You Will Know." 279 CHAPTER XXXVI. "Do Not Forget Me." 288 CHAPTER XXXVII. Better Late than Never. 299 CHAPTER XXXVIII. The World Is Mine 1 806 CHAPTER XXXIX. The Cup and the Lip 312 X CONTENTS. CHAPTER XL. paqk "Before the Clock Strikes Twelve." 817 CHAPTER XLI. The Last Assignment 836 CHAPTER XLIL At Midnight 831 CHAPTER XLHI. A Tenderloin Raid 343 CHAPTER XLIV. "Elaine 1" 349 CHAPTER XLV. An Interrupted Wedding 3S5 CHAPTER XLVL The Known and the Unknown 861 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. CHAPTEE I. SAINT ANTHONY. DuFPiT leaned back in his chair and sneered. "A second Saint Anthony, eh?" he drawled. "That's the chap as stood up agin all them liyin' picters, ain't it? Well, you're about right. That's him. I never did see sech a chap, s'help me never! AUersas p'liteas a — a deacon an' as see-rous as a cigar-store Injun. Never no offense, ye know, but allers makes a feller feel 's if he'd put his foot in it fer sure." "Oh, I know the run. They're deep, they are. Tou can never tell what they're up to. I don't like 'em, either. They always seem to me to be posing around, expecting to be wor- shiped. ' ' "I dunno. He's different, he is. Dey ain't a squarer chap on earth than this same John Eevere, but I kain't make 'im out an' there's an end to't. Look here, what d'ye 10 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. think of a chap as walks along Fourteent' Street wid ye as pleasant as a house a-fire an' talks away t'irteen t' th' dozen, but when ye hails a couple of dames ye knows, cuts clear an' steers fer the 'L' as fast as his walkers kin carry imf "Why, I think he's either a hypocrite, or " "Well, never mind what ye think," O'Tear interrupted, "here's the chap now, an' ye'U have a chance t' find out fer yerself, ' ' and ris- ing from his chair, he called out : "Hey, Eevere, come over here!" "Just a moment," came the reply, "wait till I've reported at the desk. ' ' "There he goes," O'Tear said to his friend, looking after the tall, well-formed young man admiringly, "as true blue as ever wuz. No nonsense till he's reported to th' old man; then a shake o' them brown hair o' his'n an he's at yer services, John Eevere, Esquire, late o' th' wild and woolly West, now special reporter on this great an' glee-orious organ o' the people. ' ' "How did he get here?" DuflSt asked, glan- cing disdainfully at the sturdy stranger. "Oh, old man Timbers discovered 'im. He THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 11 wuz sent out one day on a speshul story an' 'is copy wnz bang-up. So he wuz put on reg'lar. ' ' "Well, here he comes now. I hope he de- serves all your encomiums. ' ' "What's them?" "Why, your praises. " "O, I wuzn't sure. Ye'U find 'im all right, I guess, " O' Tear concluded, as the subject of their conversation approached the duo, and turning tov?ard the young man: "Say, Kevere, " he said, "I want t' introjuce ye t' me partic'ler frien'. Mister Thomas Duffit. " The usual conventionalities followed the in- troduction, but somehow or other the conver- sation, which was generally lively where John Kevere was around, languished woefully on this occasion. All three, in fact, hailed with relief the call from the desk for Eevere, and the young man hurried off again. "What d'ye think uv 'im?" O'Tear asked, as soon as Eevere was out of earshot. "Humph," Duffit grunted, "I wouldn't trust that fellow an inch further than my eyes could see him. ' ' "Ye don't cotton t' 'im, then?" ' • Cotton to him ? Not by a d— d sight. ' ' 12 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. "Well, old man, there's where ye makes a glee-orious mistake. Just ye wait till he goes out on 'signment an' see what Timbers has to say ebout 'im. " A few minutes later the two friends were leaning over Timbers' desk. "Say, Timbers," O'Tear suggested, "I want ye t' tell Duffit what ye think o' that chap Eevere. Duffit has jest come down to th' office, fust time this week, an' ain't seen yer new star yet." Timbers leaned back and chuckled. He was one of those dried-up specimens of humanity one so often meets in the editorial sanctums of the metropolitan press. He had started in the business as a printer's devil, and having, one happy day, graduated to the reportorial table, proceeded to distinguish himself in various efforts at news-getting. To cap the climax, he had once published a novel which had been exhibited on the booksellers' stalls for three whole weeks, and he was now, therefore, counted one of the bright particular stars of the editorial constellation, being accredited with the rather doubtful titles of "veteran" and ' ' progressive old schooler. ' ' It was his delight The flight of iCarUS. 13 to be looked upon as the discoverer of geniuses in the ranks of the profession ; the only draw- back to that laudable ambition being the fact that his enthusiasm was as ephemeral as it was torrid. Hence, one of his discoveries had hardly had time to accustom himself to his stellar position, before he was ignominously forsaken for some other, newer attraction. At the moment, his faith in John Eevere was just developing, and he was, consequently, in the mood for lauding that young man away up to the skies. Himself a man of very little moral sensitiveness, however, he could not help con- demning the apparently puritanical scruples of his protige, and was as ready to exploit them for his auditors' edification as he was to resent any imputation against his new acquisi- tion's extraordinar3' newspaper abilities. "Queer chap, Eevere, isn't he?" Timbers sententiously replied, shuffling the papers on his desk — a mannerism of his, which was quite effective in convincing undesirable visi- tors that he was a very busy man indeed. "Crank, I should say," Duffit answered. "Does he know anything?" "Know anything?" Timbers exclaimed, "I 14 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. should say he does ! Great guns, man, do you know what you're talking about? That man knows more than half the rest of the staff put together! Do you suppose I'd have put him where he is now if he didn't know anything? Holy cat, man, what do you take me for " O'Tear nudged Duffit. "Ye've done it now," he whispered. Duffit attempted to conciliate the irate chief. "I did not mean to impute, you know" — ^he began. "Impute nothing! I'll bet eight cents to a broken peanut that he can beat you four times over, editing your society stuff, and never turn a hair." The statement was too emphatic to be con- troverted, and Duffit swallowed it down with the best grace he could muster. His silence mollified the "old man, " and the war cloud passed as quickly as it had risen. "Say, Timbers, we wuz jest talkin' ebout his Saint — Saint — what's 'is name, now?" O'Tear said, turning to Duffit for help. "Saint Anthony," Duffit prompted. "That's the chap! We wuz talkin' ebout 'is Saint Anthony ways, ye know." THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 15 "Oh," Timbers replied, his face expanding in a broad grin, "that's different. Geewhill- ikers, I never did see such a crank on women. I swear, I don't know what to make of him. Send him out on a story, and there is not a virago but will open her heart and unburden her whole soul to him ; but try to steer him into a quiet little place, you know, for an even- ing, and Lord! he's got an engagement, or isn't feeling well, or something. Queerest thing on earth!" "That's it," O'Tear supplemented. "Ain't got no more use f er a goil than a priest. ' ' Duffit curled his lip. "Probably for the same reason," he said. "How's that?" O'Tear asked. "Too many in reserve." Timbers flushed. "Look here, Duffit," he exclaimed, "no talk about the church, if you please. I am a Catholic myself, although I haven't been to mass in ten years, and I will not listen to any such " "Oh, very well, I take it all back." Duffit hastened to apologize. "There ye two go, like a couple uv dogs iu l6 TttE FLIGHT OF rCARUS. a pit," O'Tear jokingly commented. "Honest Injun, though, I don't b'lieve the man has spoken fourteen words more'n he ought t' a goil since he's ben in New York. ' ' "And I'll bet you a hundred that the man would jump at the first girl that would crook a finger at him," Duffit answered. O'Tear slapped his knee. "Done!" he exclaimed. "You show me a goil what kin bring 'im down within a month, an' the money's your'n." "And I'll take a hundred dollars' worth of that myself," Timbers put in, his sporting blood asserting itself on the instant. "I'll go you," Duffit answered. "Even money that your paragon worships at the shrine of one of the town's Venuses within a month. But understand, no warning to Eevere; no working against me." "No warning; no working against," thfe two echoed. Ten minutes later Duffit was busily engaged in conversation with a sallow-featured, black- haired and low-browed young aspirant for journalistic honors, who was known to the THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 17 staff by the various nicknames of "Parrot," "Cold Brass," and other like terms of endear- ment. "Understand, Perry, you must get out of him all you can of his past and present. Be- come his friend, and if you possibly can, his confidant. Spare no pains. I am determined to show him up and it will pay you to help me. "Trust me," Perry answered. "I am sick of hearing Severe here and Kevere there. There isn't a man on the staff who has any chance with him in the office. Leave it all to me." 18 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. CHAPTEK II. DIGGING A prr. All unconscious of the interest which his short stay in the office had aroused, Kevere quickly descended the steps of the Twenty- eighth Street "L" station, and struck across into the heart of the Tenderloin district. He was not particularly eager to execute the work he had in hand. In fact, he was rather annoyed at the frequency with which Timbers had lately sent him out, day after day, on Tenderloin assignments. But duty was duty, and although he would have preferred doing almost anything else in the world, no one could ever complain about the thoroughness of his investigations or the quality of his "copy." It had been a queer plunge for him — from the quiet of his Western village home into the hurry and bustle of never-sleeping New York. Born a dreamer, he was at the same time en- THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 19 (lowed by Nature with all the attributes of perfect manhood. Consequently, he found but little sympathy or appreciation in the crowd of hlasi men with whom he was forced into daily association. He could take no part in their peculiar amusements and recreations, and was therefore looked upon by some as a fool, by others as a hypocrite, and by still others as a knave. Bevere's assignment that day took him to a flat house on "West Twenty-eighth Street, then well known both to the police and the sporting fraternity as a nest wherein certain members of the jeunesse dorSe found shelter for their sub- rosa amours. There had been many rumors of an impending revival of police activity in the district, and it wag Eevere's duty to write up an "exposS " of the place, which his paper was to expand upon at a sacrifice of much space, and claim credit for as a Social Reform sheet. Eevere found no trouble in effecting an entrance into the house, and in the usual guise of a simple countryman was soon circulating amorg the different flats, spending some money un various "refreshments," and storing up a 20 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. goodly amount of information. As he was walking along one of the halls, escorted by two sirens, he encountered another man coming from the opposite direction. This individual, who gave one the impression of an animated clothing-house wax-figure — so spruce was his appearance — stopped short when he saw Eevere and grasped the balustrade for support, while his ruddy countenance turned, all of a sudden, to the color of a freshly-laundered sheet. "Pardon me," he gasped out, "may I speak to you a moment?" Bevere halted, hesitated a moment, and then followed him a few steps to the side. "You are a newspaper man?" the stranger blurted out. Eevere bit his lip in vexation. . "Well, what then?" he asked. "For God's sake, tell me the truth. Are you here to write this place up?" "Why?" "Good heavens, man, you simply must notl Look here, what will you take " Kevere's jaw closed with a snap. The stranger perceived that he had blundered. "I'll do anything under the sun to stop THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 21 this," he said. "I'll give you information enough about other, places to more than pay up; but I can't have this place pulled." Eevere looked doubtful. "I'll keep my word all right enough," the young man went on, seeing his advantage. "Tou are under Timbers, are you not?" Eevere nodded. "I thought I had seen you there. Well, you come and telephone down to him and see what he says. Tell him that Mr. Armstrong has promised you valuable information in re- turn for a let-up on this place. Tell him to ask Mr. Duffit about me." It took but a few minutes for Timbers to grasp the import of Eevere' s message over the wire. After a hasty consultation with Duffit, he ordered Eevere to come back to the office with Armstrong. "Thank heaven," the latter individual ex- claimed with a sigh of relief as he heard Tim- bers' decision. "It would have killed her if the house had been raided. ' ' Eevere said nothing and the two proceeded downtown in silence. At the office Timbers received them with a 22 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. great show of jubilation. It was no mean feat to have hit that leader of the fast coterie — Alfred Armstrong — in a weak spot. "Aha, Mr. Armstrong, so we have you in our drag-net, have we?" he exclaimed, slap- ping the young man on the shoulder. "Well, what can you do for us in return for our mag- nanimous self-sacrifice?" "Anything I can do is at your command," the victim stiffly replied. "All right, all right," Timbers genially ex- claimed. "We'll put you in the hands of your friend Mr. Duffit." Armstrong's face brightened. "Thank you," he said. "I appreciate your courtesy. ' ' Armstrong soon convinced Duffit that he had sufficient information to more than compensate for that which Eevere had gained in the West Twenty-eighth Street house, and after Duffit had reported to his chief to that effect the two friends strolled out on Broad- way. For a few minutes neither spoke. Then Duffit broke the silence. "By the way," said he, "what do yoij think of that chap Eevere?" THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 23 "The fellow who was up to my place? Oh, I don't know; he's an ordinary enough chap, I suppose. Confoundedly straight, though, I should judge. Tried to sugar him, but it was no go. How does he stand with the crowd?" "Pretty poorly, I may assure you. You see, the chap poses as a sort of ^Nemo me impune, JacessiV angel around the office. There is not a man who has ever seen him around town except on business, and you couldn't draw him into a joint of any sort with a yoke of oxen." "Phew! He seemed thick enough with the girls this afternoon. ' ' "That's his way. When he's out on the hustle there is not a wench but opens up heart and soul and receives him like the old Harry himself. After he gets through his work, however, he will no more look at the fairies than jump oflf the Park Eow dome. He puts on the air of having no earthly use for them, and the fellows up at the office are just broken up about him. ' ' Armstrong smiled. "He must be a queer customer," he re- inarkejii " jf he can thug iaffect a crowd of news- 24 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. paper men. I wish, now, I had paid closer attention to him. You don't like the man, do yon?" "Like him? No, not I; and what's more, I don't believe in all this assumed saintliness of his, either. I'll tell you what I think — I believe he is a fraud. I've laid money on it with Timbers and O'Tear, and I'll make him crawl to some one of our demi-monde within a month. You wait and see if I don't. I have not devised any plan as yet, but I will, and when I do, it will be all day with my fine fellow's angelic pretensions." "H'm, what do you think you'll do?" "Oh, I'll put up some job. By Jove, here's an idea! What do you say to helping me? There'll be a lot of sport in it. ' ' Armstrong's chubby face fairly beamed. "I'm with you, old man!" he exclaimed, slapping Duffit on the back, "the cad came pretty near getting me into the dickens of a hole, and I don't mind getting even. How do you propose to arrange it?" "I'll tell you how we can do it. Suppose, now, we fix up a fine little supper uptown. Then we invite his angelic highness, and have THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 25 some nice little girl lay for him. Presto, there's the whole affair! I'll bet that before he's drunk his second glass he'll be ready to fall at the fair one's feet and worship. There's nothing so contagious as example, you know, and what with that and a few drops of the real old stuff in his glass — he'll come around mighty soon, I think. ' ' "Good idea, by Jove!" Armstrong cried. "I'll bring around Mattie and Eosie myself. You know them, don't you? They're corkers, both of them. Look as innocent as new-born babes, and are as full of the devil as two imps. ' ' "They'll do," answered Duffit, "but say, old man, whom will we have for our bright particular star, the one that's to do the trick, you know? One of the ordinary run won't do, at all. Can't you suggest some one out of the rabble?" Armstrong looked wise for a moment. "I don't know," he drawled, "most of them are the same " "I have it!" Duffit exclaimed. "Just the one ! Look here, Armstrong, are you in this in earnest?" 26 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. "Of course." "Well, then, how would you like to lend us your belle amie for the night?" Armstrong frowned. "Lil, you mean?" "Yes, she'd do capitally." "Well, you see, old fellow, I'm mighty fond of Lil, and I'm keeping her for myself. She's one in ten thousand, I assure you, al- though she has the devil of a temper. But there is not a siren that can look more like a saint than she, when she wants to, and I tell you " "That's just it!" Duffit impatiently ex- claimed. "She's just the sort to catch that fellow. He's deep, and so, as far as I can make it out, is she, and it would be a case of diamond cut diamond. ' ' "Ye — es, I suppose so," Armstrong agreed, "but still I don't know. She's been pretty peevish of late, and I can't, for the life of me, make her out. She hardly goes out at all, wears a heavy veil, and never goes to any of the regular balls or dances, don't you know. Always either a masquerade affair or quiet theater party. I really don't know wfeafp THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 27 come over her. Three or four months ago there was not a gayer bit of a woman in the city. George ! She led me the very devil of a dance ! Balls, parties, receptions and hops till I thought I would not have a pair of legs left to stand upon. But now — shucks ! if ever a girl was staid and prim, she is. In the house all day and evening, excepting an oc- casional stroll in the park, and then, all alone. Doesn't give a d — n for company, and I verily believe, hardly bears the sight of me — even me!" Duffit laughed at the air of injured pride which Armstrong assumed. "So you are growing tired of her, eh?" he quizzed. "Tired?" Armstrong exclaimed with more than ordinary vehemence, his weak attempt at a mustache fairly bristling, "not by a long shot! Why, my dear boy, I adore her more than ever! I simply worship her ! B' George, I never knew how much I could love until now. Why, my dear fellow, if she didn't display such a vixenish temper so often and make me feel small enough to creep through a needle- hole, I verily believe I would come to the point of —of " 28 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. "Marrying her?" Duffit sneered. Armstrong nodded. "Pretty near it, anyway," he muttered in a low tone. DuflSt laughed. "Well, well, old fellow, we'll try to get along without your vixenish beauty. I'll look around for some one else's darling. But why don't you give us a chance to meet this para- gon of yours? Say a supper party of a dozen jolly souls or so. I might induce hia angelic highness to come along." "Well, I'll try it, but I'm doubtful." "All right; see you uptown later. I'll prob- ably arrange all the particulars of the supper party to-day. Make arrangements with who- ever you wish to bring along, and remem- ber — the more of the fair sex the better. ' ' "Trust me." tHE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 29 CHAPTER ni. THE SNAKE. Pebcy Peeet, Esquire, was a man who never allowed the grass to grow under his feet. Having undertaken the task of ingratiating himself with Revere, he set about his mission like the systematic worker that he was. Ac- cordingly, when Revere came down to the oflSce the next day, he found himself contin- ually stumbling over some little kindness of Mr. Perry's. Genial Mr. Perry ! Nothing seemed too troublesome for him. Was Mr. Revere well supplied with copy paper? Yes? Too bad. He had some extra fine supplies on hand, and if Mr. Revere would only deign — He would? How very kind of Mr. Revere ! By the way, was Mr. Revere aware of the new issue of guide books? No? Then he was very fortunate, in- deed, in having the pleasure of presenting Mr. 30 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. Eevere with his copy. He really had no use for it, and Mr. Eevere, as a stranger, would, doubtless, find it of great value in making his way about the obscure parts of the city. And was Mr. Eevere aware of the beauties of this special make of lead pencil? Very soft, he could assure him, and quite to be depended upon. Mr. Eevere would accept a half-dozen of them? No? But really, he would feel so happy — if Mr. Eevere only would — would not Mr. Eevere alter his decision? Yes? De- lighted! Delighted! John Eevere. was at a loss. He could not make this man out. Surrounded as he was, on all sides, by hard, unsympathetic, inquisitive faces, he could but feel that this man of self- sacrificing words and ways was quite an excep- tion to the run of the newspaper fraternity. What aim could he have ? None, beyond ques- tion. Eevere was a man of neither prominence nor influence. He must be disinterested. Was all this display of good feeling, then, simply the result of pure kind-heartedness? If this was the case, Eevere felt he could con- gratulate himself on having discovered a man rare among thousands. THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 31 Eevere could do no less than reciprocate the obliging Perry's affability. The more he talked to the model young philanthropist, the greater grew his wonder. Would Mr. Eevere favor him with his com- pany at dinner? Did not Mr. Eevere feel lonesome, being all alone in the city? Mr. Eevere was all alone in the country, too? And in the world, as well? How sad! He could sympathize with Mr. Eevere, although he him- self was endowed with a perfect horde of rela- tives. Would Mr. Eevere favor him with his com- pany at his house some day in the near future? His sisters were quite musical; he was sure they would entertain Mr. Eevere. And he himself would be pleased to engage in any game which Mr. Eevere liked. Mr. Eevere did not play cards? Heh-heh-he-h ! then Mr. Eevere did not know the joys of poker! But, Mr. Eevere played chess? Ah! There it was ! Mr. Perry would not rest until he had mastered the royal game. He knew its rudiments only, for it was such a hard game, took so much brain power, and when one had not much more than a sufficiency for general 32 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. uses — heh-heh-heh! Mr. Eevere saw the joke? Mr. Perry always did think that the right kind of jokes were those which turned on the one who cracked them. By the bye, did Mr. Revere enjoy the opera? Yes? how very fortunate, Mr. Perry had free entrSe to the Metropolitan Opera House (great thing — a "pull!"), and if Mr. Eevere would only favor him with his company ? Mr. Eevere would be delighted? How fortunate! Mr. Perry felt the greatest pleasure in giving pleasure to others. When the two met at dinner that evening, Eevere was simply charmed. Surely, the world had never seen such a large-hearted man. Who could thenceforth assert that there was anything in the study of the human physiog- nomy? What if Percy Perry's face was small and weazened and sallow ; what if his hair was bristly ; what if his hands were claw-like, and his eyes mean, and shifty, and his motions cat- like and his voice harsh and piping? Surely, that was a big, warm heart which beat within that ill-favored body, and that was a highly sensitive and well-intentioned mind which rested behind that low, knobby forehead. THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 33 Exceptional Mr. Perry! No man ever exerted himself so conscientiously or so successfully to make himself agreeable. The impersonation growing upon him, he really felt himself what he pretended to be ; and it is little to be doubted that, had conscience, which was fortunately an unknown quality in his constitution, attempted to suggest to him the farcical view of his impersonation, he would have arisen in his honest indignation and repudiated its arraignment with the full conviction of his own righteousness ! Prompted, perhaps, by curiosity, or by that instinct which sometimes demonstrates to our unwilling selves the superiority of nature over all our artificial acquirements, Eevere inter- rupted Mr. Perry's flow of language long enough to ask him the cause of his sudden interest in one who was really a complete stranger. "My dear Eevere," Perry answered, gra- ciously extending his cigar-case to Eevere and pressing him to retain several of the perfeetos as a slight favor to himself. "My dear Mr. Eevere, I wish you could appreciate what it is for a man of sensibilities to be enabled to 34 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. come in contract with a man so much to his own heart as you are to mine. No, no, do not smile, Mr. Eevere; I may assure you that I speak from my very soul. In this profession of ours, where one encounters so much jealousy and antagonism, it feels like striking an oasis after many days' travel in a desert to come upon a man who talks and thinks and feels like a human being. ' ' "You are unjust to our colleagues," Bevere remonstrated. "Allow me," Perry replied, filling Eevere's glass, "allow me, who have had more expe- rience with our people than you — allow me, I say, to contradict you. Wait until you have seen more of us, and then you will be able to judge better," and having rounded off this little piece of wisdom, Mr. Perry leaned back and smiled benignly. "If, then," Kevere answered, "you think that I draw conclusions upon too slight ac- quaintance, are you not guilty of the same sin?" "Heh-heh-heh-heh-heh-heh!" Mr. Perry cackled, "well put, extremely well put! But you can't catch me there, Mr. Eevere, you THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS, 35 can't catch me there! The fact of the matter is that jou come among us as one, and we all look at you and study you. To you, we are a multitude, and you haven't yet had time to know one of us intimately." "There's Mr. O'Tear," Kevere began. "Eh, yes. O'Tear is a queer fellow, to be sure. Quite out of the ordinary, I may as- sure you. Seems to be a mystery about him, don't you know. To see him and hear him, you'd think he was low — quite low; but he isn't. Some of the fellows say he was a swell once — quite a swell. Eh, there are many stories about him. Sometimes, you know, he'll talk English like Stevenson's books — that's when he's in earnest, you know. Queer character, Mr. O'Tear." "Ah, yes," Eevere mused, "life is queer, in general. ' ' "Tou, too, have cause to say so?" Perry exclaimed, grasping the opportunity thus offered. "I shouldn't think there would be anything in your life, simple as I understand it to have been, to make you look upon it as in any way a queer article. Eevere smiled at the apparent naivetL 36 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. "My dear sir," he answered, "the mere fact that I come from the more or less bucolic regions of the trans-Mississippi must not prej- udice you against my ability to judge of life, to some little extent, at least. ' ' "You are a real Westerner, then?" Perry inquired, as if the fact were quite a new one to him. "Yes; my birthplace, and until lately, resi- dence, is a little town far in the land of the setting sun. It may be a queer confession to make for one who claims allegiance to a metro- politan newspaper, yet I had hardly seen any- thing of the outside world before I came to New York." Perry now saw that he had Eevere started, and played his cards like the veteran gambler that he was. "Impossible!" he answered. "Surely, no man who has not had a personal experience with the bitters as well as with the sweets of life could write in such a style as you do or, above all, hold such — such — such " "Such what?" Eevere asked, seeing his em- barrassment. "Why, such views of life in general and THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 37 morals, don't you know, and their application, in particular." Kevere smiled. "Alas!" he replied; "I see that you joiu with the others in condemning my opiiiioiia and ideas. "Well, small blame to you. I sup- pose that you, who have lived in the active world so long, have much more practical views of life than I have, and yet ' ' Eevere paused and hesitated, but Perry's rapt expression induced him to continue. "And yet," he went on, "I would much rather find myself without life than without those ideas which I hold so sacred. ' ' Had Perry now asked Eevere to tell him in detail what his opinions were, he would never have heard them. Like the highly bred horse, which answers most readily the slightest indi- cation of its rider's will, as expressed by the almost imperceptible twitch of the rein or pressure of the heel, but if urged with the lash, breaks away and never more holds to the true path, so this free, noble soul, hungering for human sympathy and appreciation — • although it would have resented the slightest exhibition of goading — being left entirely to 38 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. its own course, gradually unrolled itself and exposed to the irreverent gaze the deepest im- pulses of its being. "With all that," Eevere continued, after a slight pause, "I must admit that my views are such as must naturally, I suppose, be repu- diated by humanity at large as both impracti- cable and meretricious. ' ' "Surely not," Perry interposed. "Ah," Eevere answered, "I well appreciate, my friend, the spirit of gallantry which leads you to make that remark. But as a matter of fact, what can humanity think of a programme which embraces the renunciation of all mere carnal pleasures for the higher, nobler ones of the soul? Alas, we all of us have too much of the Adam after the fall in us to ever aspire to the Adam before the fall." "Surely," replied Perry, really at a loss now as to what Bevere was driving at, "surely, there is nothing wrong in that if that is all your programme contains. As a matter of fact, you know, the boys have a sort of idea that you hold that pleasure should be abolished alto- gether?" "I am sorry for 'the general idea,' " Bevere THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 39 answered, smiling; "and yet, it is but natural that people should run to extremes. What else do they think?" "Why, er, you know, er — er-^— they say that you think that a man should never have any- thing to do with a woman, that is, you know, with girls, don't you know " Eevere gave a short laugh. "Well," he said, "perhaps they're right. Come, what do you think, Mr. Perry? What views do you hold on our relations with woman?" "Why, er — er — don't you see, er — er — I have never really devoted any thought to the subject ' ' "Ah, yes. And yet, how important a sub- ject it is ! It strikes so deeply into all princi- ples, and especially those of love ! ' ' "Eh, yes, then you do believe in love?" Perry interrogated. "Believe in love? Why, certainly, man. Who does not believe in that holiest of all religions?" "I didn't know " "Tes, yes. I know the popular misconcep- tion. And yet, little as you would think it. 40 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. there is no one who advocates love, the true, the only love, as earnestly as I do. "The true love?" "Yes, the only love worthy the name. Ah, what do your libertines know of the meaning of that sweet word ? No, no, its appreciation goes hand in hand with the utmost purity only. Take the last away and all else flees of its own accord. ' ' Perry nodded, as if in approval. At that moment the waiter appeared with the check. Perry hastened to settle the bill and they strolled out of the restaurant and up Nassau Street, Perry congratulating himself on having laid a good foundation for future inroads into Eevere's confidence, and Eevere happy at hav- ing found so congenial a colleague. THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 4l CHAPTEE IV. A GLIMPSE OF PAEADISE. Having broken ihe ice of Eevere's reticence, Perry did not allow the fissure to become closed again. In a thousand little ways, so easy to discover if one loots for them, he found opportunities for exhibiting his pro- fessed regard for the young Westerner. On his side, Bevere was not at all averse to the formation of so promising a friendship. Thus it happened that the passing of two or three days saw Eevere and Perry on the most intimate of terms. The other men of the staff, knowing Perry for what he was, won- dered, while Duffit could scarcely conceal his glee at the fine way in which his little plot was developing. Late one night the two new friends had, on Perry ' 8 invitation, strolled down to the Battery. The hour was late, and save for an occasional 42 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. homeless wanderer, slinking from one part of the park to another, as the policeman on post drove him from the bench on which he was snatching a wink of sleep, the sea-wall was entirely deserted. The great full moon and the cloudless sky were in harmony with the glistening lights of the opposite shores and the gentle washing of the waters made appropriate music to the enchanting scene. It was such a setting as the poet might select for some heart- touching ballad, and under its injfluence Eevere's heart melted, and he talked to Perry as he had never talked before. Love, the beautiful, the divine love, was the subject of their conversation, and it was not long before Eevere had confided to Perry that he was no stranger to the passion. It was a queer story — that one of his — he confessed. He was not sure whether he ought to tell about it, and yet, it was such a beautiful story. "Ah, Perry," Eevere said, "if you only knew the beauty of such love as mine!" and then he bent his head and gazed at the rippling water with large, almost burning eyes. Without evincing any curiosity, Perry man- aged to lead up to the point of the happy woman's name. THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 43 Eevere laughed lightly. "Strange as it may seem," he answered, "I know no more than her first name and that — is sacred. ' ' Perry lifted his eyebrows in surprise. "It is a strange affair, " Eevere went on, noticing the other's surprise; "but all the sweeter for its strangeness. There can be no harm in telling you about it, and it may serve to show you what that passion which I call 'Love' means." Perry bowed his head. "It all came about in this manner," Eevere continued : "You probably know that portion of Central Park which is called 'The Eamble.' As I have my rooms quite near the East Seventy-second Street entrance, and as I am an early riser, I got in the habit of straying over to 'The Eamble' every morning or so, and there, in that beautiful little imitation of Nature's wilderness, imagining myself back in my Western home. You probably know the squirrels which are so numerous in that part of the park? Well, they soon came to know me, and I took great delight in bringing a bag of nuts and feeding the little rascals. 44 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. until they became quite tame, and, at my whistle, would come scampering from their hid- ing places and clamber up the back of my seat and play in my lap and dance around and around me like the happy little fellows they are. "One morning, coming somewhat later than usual, I found that but a few of my little friends answered my call. Curious to learn the cause of the sudden desertion, I went wind- ing in and out along the paths, repeating my whistle again and again, but in vain. "Finally, as I turned into the path which skirts along the lake shore, the whistle died upon my lips and I stood stock-still, gazing at the prettiest picture that ever mortal eye rested on. "There were all my friends, nay, two or three times the number which I generally en- tertained, all gathered around a bowlder pro- jecting over the path, and on the bowlder sat a woman, with her back toward me, feeding the animals with sweets and nuts. "Struck with the beauty of the picture, and not wishing to disturb the friendly group, I was just turning to retreat, when the bagful of THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 45 nuta I carried in my hand slipped, the paper split as it struck the asphalt, and the contents went rolling in all directions. The ever- hungry rascals, who had turned at the sound of the falling bag, no sooner spied me than they made a rush in my direction and were soon crawling all over me and into my pockets and bosom, while the lady remained entirely deserted. "Hesitating about my course in the emer- gency, I advanced with the half-formed idea of apologizing for involuntarily enticing her friends away from the lady. But hardly had I had time to take off my hat and begin to stammer out an 'I beg your pardon, ' when I lifted my eyes to her face and remained dumb ! "Ah, my dear Perry, you may talk of divine beauty, and a heavenly spirit, but surely such a picture as this girl presented has never be- fore been seen on earth. The pure, almost transparent skin, the deep-blue eyes, the ripe, full lips, the pearl-like, even teeth which peeped from beneath them, and the golden halo of hair which formed a fitting setting for so im- maculate a presence, these were things seldom seen outside of poets' dreams. She smiled 46 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. upon me as she saw my embarrassment, and in a voice as soft as it was clear and tender, begged me not to apologize. She had remarked that her little friends had not been quite as ravenous lately as they had been wont to be. She inferred that some one must have been feeding them before her usual arrival. I confessed that I was the guilty individual, and the subjects of our conversation having now all scampered off to where my luckless nuts were rolling around on the pavement, we remained silent for a few minutes, watching the animals dart hither and thither, snatching a nut here and, burying it there, and then coming back for more. "Exchanging the compliments of the day, I left her a few minutes later, but you may imagine why I found it convenient to come to the park an hour or so later than usual the next day. Alas ! she was not there, nor did she appear the day following, nor yet the day after that. But on the fourth morning I found her there, and hastening forward, greeted her with a great gladness at my heart, and was overjoyed to see that she was not annoyed. "Well, what need is there for me to tell you THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 47 the rest of the story at any length? Before many days had past we found it quite conve- nient to come to feed the squirrels at the same time every morning, and as soon as the first coldness had worn off, I found that no woman had ever fulfilled my ideal as she did. Those calm blue eyes could flash with the fire of heaven and those tremulous red lips could form words which thrilled my soul. Ah, Perry, could you but know the joy of such a sacred friendship as can exist only between the man and woman who are made for each other and are intended for each other by that mystic force which ordains all things! "I see her now, sometimes every day, some- times every two days. I understand that she is now living further downtown and finds it quite hard to come up to the park early. And yet she comes. I have never asked her who she was, because I never cared to know. I know her given name, because it was her wish that I should address her by it, but further I have never tried to press my inquiries and never shall. "Why should I? It is not for her position — high as it doubtless is, that I would love her ; — ^her identity is a matter of 48 THE FLIGHT OF ICARtJS. supreme indifference to me. I love her for herself, and I know that she is the personifica- tion of all that is true and noble and pure and generous. "So I love her, and better still, I know that she loves me. I know it by her eyes and by her blushes and her presence. I know it, be- cause it could not be otherwise, and so I am happy and can well afford to look with con- tempt upon those who seek love in the arms of Anteros or at the shrine of Bacchus. ' ' During the latter part of his recital, Eevere had spoken more as if he were talking to him- self than to an auditor, and even Perry could not help being somewhat moved by the strange story. But shaking off so undesirable a feel- ing, the latter, having achieved his aim, gave a short laugh and slapped Severe on the back. "There you go, my boy," he said in a patronizing tone, "raving about your young lady in the most approved Byronio fashion. But wait, just wait till you discover what a deceitful piece of baggage woman is. Oh, I'll bet you'll sing a different tune then!" Eevere started at the sudden familiarity and bit his lip. Then he arose and put his hands in his pockets. THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 49 "I think it is time for me to return," he said. Perry cackled. "Just as you please. Nice place, though, this, for 'dreaming love's young dream,' as the song puts it, isn't it? All the adjuncts of poetry — trees, water, moonlight, sky — H'm, who wouldn't be a poet amid such surround- ings? By Jove, I have half a mind to fall in love myself. I swear, there's nothing " "Let's go," Eevere interrupted, frowning. "I'm with you," Perry answered, cowed a little by Eevere' s angry look. "And remember, what I told you to-night is a matter of sacred confidence. You under- stand?" Perry nodded. The remainder of the walk up Broadway and to Printing House Square was taken in silence, Eevere gloomy — regretting his sudden outburst of confidence, and Perry smiling and smirking without, and raging within, at the sturdy figure by his side. 50 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. CHAPTEE V. "Please, Mr. Eevere." Eevere dropped his pencil and turned around in his chair. "Well?" "Please, Mr. Eevere," the office boy said, gazing down at the toe of his shoe, "may I speak t' you?" "Why, certainly, Joe. What is it?" "You see, sir, it's dis 'ere way. You know, sir, as I like you very much, Mr. Eevere, an' when I seeth' other fellows a' mak- in' game of you I don't like it, sir." Eevere's face became grave. "Ah, Joe," he answered, "wait till you have lived as long as I have, then you will know what a common thing it is to be 'made game of. ' But what is it that bothers you so very much?" THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 51 "Why, you see, sir, it's Mr. Parrot — I mean Perry." Eevere started. "Why, what do you mean, my boy?" "Oh, please now, don't go fer t' git angry at a feller, will you, Mr. Eevere? You see, it's dis way. Mr. Parrot — we all calls 'im Parrot, sir — he's areg'lar nigger, he is. Dey ain't not'in' white erbaut 'im, dat's what dey ain't. He jes' goes 'roun' like's if he owned the whole eart' an' he's not'in' but a big fraud, an' we fellers what's been here long knows it, too, you kin betcher life. ' ' "Now, now, Joe, don't you think you are going it rather too fast?" Eevere remonstrated, "No, sir, I ain't, if you please, sir. Te know I wouldn't tell yer no lie, sir. He's a bad 'un all t'rough an' t'rough, he is. Ye see, sir, we all on us likes yer, 'cause ye treats us fellers white. Dey's blokes what t'inks as how boys is not'in' but pieces uv m'cheenry t' be ordered 'round 'ere an' there jest like the devil an' all. Dem's the kind o' blokes what gets it in the neck every time we gets a crack at 'em, I kin jest tell ye; an' Parrot, he's a bird among 'em. Hully Gee, 52 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. dey ain't a man in de place what likes Parrot, not even Mr. Timbers hisself. Why, Mr. Eevere does yer know how Parrot come 'ere foist? Holy Jimminy, bless me an' die if he didn't come as baseball editor. Gee! He knew 'boat as much 'bout baseball as a kioodle knows erbaut writin' dime novels. Well, sir, arter he got t'rough doin baseball, an' it didn't take 'im long t' git t'rough neither — for he was fired outen the work quicker'n he knew what struck 'im — then, Mr. Timbers, he didn't want 'm in his d'partment, but they had t' find place fer 'im somm'eres, so they put 'im in wid Mr. Duffit. So there they be, a pair on 'em. But Parrot, he's meaner'n dirt, he is. You know, Mr. Eevere, he goes 'roun' you, showin' the white front an' lookin' all like a reg'lar gen'lman, but he ain't an' 'e never was, nohow. I tell yer what, Mr. Eevere, if ye don't believe me, ye kin jest ask o' Mr. O'Tear. He'll tell yer erbaut Parrot all right. Ter oughter have seen what Mr. O'Tear done to Parrot one day, you'd have burst your buttons laffin'. Sure, t'was the funniest sight I ever seen. "Ter see, sir," Joe rattled on, quite un- THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 53 mindful of Eevere's haggard look, and reveling in his own abuse of the hateful "Parrot," "yer see, sir, Mr. O'Tear, he don't stand no bossin' from any one, so one day, when 'e was a-workin' on a picter fer the sassiety page, Parrot, he comes up and begins t' talk big, say in' as how Mr. O'Tear wuz t' do this an' that an' fix that up an' scratch this out an' so forth. So Mr. O'Tear, he don't say nothin' fer a long time, but goes on, scratch — scratch, wid his pen, never payin' no 'tention an' we fellers all a hangin' aroun' an' snickerin' an' all the artists a-winkin', and Parrot a-growin' madder and madder all the time. So, fin'ly Parrot, he says: 'I won't let dis 'ere picter go in like that, ' says he, in the swaggerest way you kin t'ink, sir. Den Mr. O'Tear, he looks uj} and says, real quiet like, says he: 'T'ell ye won't, an' who the devil be you?' So Parrot, he gits on 'is ear intirely, he does, an' he becomes rattled an' yells out, he yells: 'I'd have ye know as how I'm de 'sistant sassiety editor, I am, an' any tin' I says goes!' "So Mr. O'Tear, he t'rows down his pen, an' he stands up an' he looks at Parrot, a- measurin' 'im like, he does, an' he says t' 'im: 54 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 'Parrot, you git. ' But Parrot, he don't pay no 'tention t' 'is wisdom teeth, he don't, an' he stands there, an' Mr. O'Tear, he says: 'Anytin' yer says goes, eh? Well, den, yer goes, too!' "An' so, afore Parrot knows what's struck 'im, he catches 'im be th' back uv 'is coat an' th' seat uv 'is pants an' he says 'once,' says he, an' 'twice' an' 'three' times an' there's Parrot a-sprawlin' out in the hall an' the whole crowd a-laughin' fit t' split. "So, ever since dat time. Parrot an' O'Tear don't say no word, one to th' othesr. Parrot, yer see, 'e went t' th' court an' tried t' git a warrant out t' arrest Mr. O'Tear fer 'asaalt an' batt'ry, but they give 'im th' big laugh in th' court an' everyone giv' him th' marble heart in th' oflSce, an' 'e ain't had no picnic since, I kin tell you fer a fact." "But what has all this to do with me, Joe?" Revere asked, passing his hand over the boy's tow hair. "Why, ye see, sir, it's dis 'ere way. Parrot, he's got it in fer you, 'cause I hoid 'im tell one of the fellers as how yer was a ipercrit. I dunno what a ipercrit means, THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 55 'less it's in fightin' an' I ain't never heard as you was a fighter, sir, an' den it ain't no ipercrit, but a uppercut. But th' fellow, he laughed an' he answered, as how he didn't see what Parrot wanted t' 'sociate wid yer, for if he t' ought as how yer wuz a ipercrit an' Parrot 'e scowled an' said, 'dam' several times, an' so I sp'ose ipercrit mus' be suthin' pretty tough. So I just t'inks as how I'll tell yer erbaut it, sir, 'cause why? 'Cause I knows as how you'se is a gen'lman an' Parrot 'e ain't as good even as a 'Chink, an' I hates 'im like poison." "There, there," Eevere answered, twirling his pencil between his fingers, "you have told me enough now, Joe. I'll look out for 'Mr. Parrot' in the future and stop his calling me an 'ipercrit.' So run away, Joe; I think your'e wanted at the desk." "All right, Mr. Eevere," Joe replied, moving away, ' ' but look out for Parrot. He ' s black ! ' ' As Eevere heard Joe's last words, his eyes involuntarily traveled to where Perry was sit- ting at his desk. His heart bounded as he observed Perry's eyes fastened upon him with a malignant stare. For a moment their glances 56 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. met, then Perry smirked and bent over his "copy" and Eevere turned back to his desk. But his heart was heavy and the work he did that evening was not of the sort which would have won him high commendation from his chief. THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 57 CHAPTEE VI. FIBST BLOOD. The following afternoon found Eevere at his desk quite early, for he felt that he should, in a measure, pay up for the previous night's dere- liction of duty. And yet, he had to confess to himself that he hardly felt any better for the night's rest. There was something queer in the atmosphere of the office, he said to him- self. Surely, never was there a more idiotic set of men than the one which surrounded him. What had struck them that day ? There they were, flitting about from desk to desk, slapping one another's backs, and now and again pro- gressing from a low giggle to a quickly sup- pressed guffaw. What was all this happiness about? And why did they now and again, when they thought he was not looking, cast side glances at Bevere, glances full of some 58 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. mysterious meaning, and then turn away and fairly shake with suppressed laughter? Disgusted with the spectacle, Eevere turned about and fell to examining the morning's edition of the paper. To the conscientious newspaper man it is a paramount duty to closely explore every inch of his paper's columns, advertisements and all, in order that no important, although possibly small, news item should escape him, and that he should at no time be guilty of the unpardonable sin of "duplication." Up and down, up and down ; now one page is finished and now another. To the trained eye a "head" tells everything, and two or three stray lines convey the whole plot of a "story." Now the third page. Good God! What is this? Eevere 's eyes fairly started from their sockets as they rested upon this "head:" "The Eamble, the Squirrels and Love." The title told the whole story, but hoping against hope and determined to see all there was to be seen, Eevere sat still and read all there was of the story, and this was what he read : "JJew Yorkers who complain of the prosaic THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 59 spirit of their city are certainly not acquainted with that most delightful spot which fairly equals, if it does not surpass, the most fabled retreats of Europe in romantic possibilities. How many of our fellow-citizens have ever taken advantage of the opportunities offered by 'The Eamble' in New York's Central Park? Ask those who have done so and they will tell you of the delights of the place. "In the first place, there are the winding paths and the cozy nooks, everyone of which offers a fitting shrine for Beauty to preside over and Beast, or to specify more correctly, Man, to worship at. "Then there are the squirrels. Surely, there never was so rapacious a lot. So if Beauty and Beast wish to meet, all they have to do its to touch upon that common chord, viz., the squirrels, and the nuts will serve as the messengers of Cupid; the weapons of offense and defense ; and finally there are the rustic benches upon which the two B's can repose at ease and discuss at leisure the great question of Love. "A great place is 'The Eamble' if one takes advantage of it!" 60 THK FLIGHT OF ICARUS. For a few moments after he had finished reading the article Revere remained almost stunned. Then the full meaning of the affair datvned upon him. So this was the signifi- cance of all those little attentions and smirk- ings and toadyings ! This was the cause of Mr. Perry's lamblike subjection and most praiseworthy self-sacrifice ! It was to wriggle himself into his victim's confidence, to worm out of him his heart's dearest secrets, and for what purpose? To ridicule them and parody them in the sight of all men ! Now he understood the queer looks and the giggles and sneers of that whole crowd. The story had gone around ; Perry had retailed to all the information he had gained from him and he, John Eevere, was the laughing stock of the entire staff ! And what now ? Yes, there was the ques- tion — ^what now? How should he answer this studied insult? Should he let it pass by without observation? This was what Perry had probably counted on. Eevere, he had probably thought, would not care to create a scene, and so he would eat his own heart out with impotent rage and endeavor to show a calm exterior. THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 61 But no, Mr. Perry, sharp, astute Mr. Perry ; for the once your plans have miscar- ried ! No, no, said Kevere to himself, silence would not do in this case. Perry must be taught a lesson which should last him for a life- time. And yet, there was she, his Elaine, the heroine of his dreams. Pshaw! The story was public already. Everyone knew it. There was no further harm entailed. Yes, it was the only thing to do. He slowly arose from his seat. Suddenly a hand was brought down on his shoulder. He looked up quickly. O'Tear's bluff face was bending over him. Those usually small gray eyes were now large and hard as steel, those usually flaccid nostrils were distended and a grim expression rested upon the thin lips. "What are you going to do?" he asked, in the purest English. "What do you mean?" Eevere asked. "I want to know what you are going to do. I know the entire story. I heard about it from the boys. I saw you when you came in, I watched you ; I saw when you reached that dastardly article. Now, I want to know what you are going to do. ' ' 62 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. There was a moment's pause. "I am going," Eevere finally answered, in slow, measured words, "to choke the life out of the rascal's body." O' Tear's hand tightened its hold upon Eevere's arm. "You are my sort," he said. "Do nothing rash, however, " he continued, "smash him, kick him, brand him for the coward he is, but for heaven's sake, man, do nothing you may be sorry for in the future. Do you under- stand me?" "I understand," Eevere replied. Then he calmly looked around the room, studded with its numerous desks. Perry's face was no- where to be seen. "I am going to look for him, ' ' Eevere said to O'Tear in the same monotonous, harshvoice. "Do; and remember what I told you," O'Tear answered. In and out among the desks Eevere walked, the whole staff following his motions with morbid interest. Still no Perry. Now he was at the entrance from the hallway. "What was that he heard? Two voices. One was Timbers' ; the other — he stopped. THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 63 "Don't go in, man; he looks ready to com- mit murder!" Timbers was saying in a plead- ing tone. "Nonsense," Perry's voice responded. "He's not the chap to do anything rash. He ■wouldn't lay a finger on me. Do you suppose I would have done the trick if I had thought it ■would be otherwise? No, sir, he'll try to make me feel sorry, heh-heh-heh, and we'll all have the laugh on him!" "I tell you, you are mistaken, man. It was a mean enough job, and had I known about it, that story would never have gone in, but as it is, I must iirevent mischief in the office. I tell you, you are mistaken. You " "He is not mistaken," Eevere's cold voice interrupted as he came into the hall. "Mr. Perry, I wish to see you in the office for a few minutes. Will you oblige me?" Now that he was face to face with his vic- tim, Perry's momentary courage oozed out in an instant. He shrunk behind Timbers and called out : "No violence, now remember, no violence. I won't have it. I'll have you in court if you &i THE FLIGHT Ot" ICARUS. are guilty of violence. A joke's a joke, you know, and I won't have any violence!" Timbers became entirely disgusted at this outbreak. "Ugh," he growled, "you coward, who has talked violence to you? Go in there like a man, and take your medicine, now that you're in for it. By the eternal jumping jack, but I never thought I'd see one of my men make such an exhibition of himself. ' ' "Juat the same," Perry continued, posi- tively whining, "I won't have any violence." "I am waiting for you, Mr. Perry," Eevere remarked. "Oh, all right, I'm coming, I'm coming, but remember, no infraction of the law ! The constitution protects me. As an American citizen I am protected from personal violence." With these words upon his lips Perry entered the room. There was a general stir. Now something would happen, everyone said to himself, as they came marching in — Perry — now not that radiant Perry who had a few hours before told amused groups all about his little joke — but a crestfallen, shrinking, uncertain Perry, in front, Eevere second and THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 65 Timbers, anxious, but still smiling, bringing up the rear. No sooner were the two well into the room than Kevere bent over and said to Perry in a low voice : "If you attempt to resist for a moment, I'll crush the life out of your worthless carcass." "No violence," Perry almost blubbered. "Shut up," Eevere curtly ordered, and clutching his unhappy victim by the nape of his coat, marched him to the head of the room. In an instant all became silent. Timbers only ventured to interfere. "Kevere," he began, "you know " "I know just this," Eevere interrupted, "any man who tries to reason with me at the present moment will fare badly. You are no exception, Mr. Timbers." Timbers was silenced and remained where he was, awaiting developments. Having marched Perry to the head of the room, Eevere stopped and turned around. "Gentlemen!" he began. His voice low though it was, penetrated every corner of the room. The men of the staff were but too ready to listen. 66 THE FLIGHT OF ICARtfg. "Gentlemen," Kevere repeated, "I have a painful duty to perform. I am compelled to play the role of announcer to-day and to make known to you the greatest rascal and most shameless scamp that has ever defiled the air by breathing it." Perry writhed, but Eevere's clutch was as firm as steel. "Now, gentlemen," Eevere continued, "it may interest you to know that I once thought a good deal of this man. So good an opinion, in fact, did I have of him, that I confided to him many facts about my life which I had hitherto kept to myself as things sacred. "Well, gentlemen, how this man has used my confidence, you all know. That he counted upon a different denouement, you may take for certain. His mistake he now appreciates, and so will you, presently. Now, what do you think I am going to do? Crush the life out of his worthless body? Hardly. Cripple him ? Not at all. I am going to brand him as a coward and poltroon after this fashion." With these words Kevere raised his open hand high in the air and brought it down with terrific force upon his victim's right cheek. THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 67 Then before the latter, or any of these present, had time to recover their senses, and while Perry was articulating the words: "No vio- lence, " Eevere changed hands and inflicted another blow upon the unhappy schemer's left cheek, after which he gave him a contemptuous kick which sent him sprawling upon the floor, and walking to his desk, picked up his news- paper and proceeded with his interrupted reading. To describe the scene which ensued would be a difficult task indeed. For a moment, as Perry's prostrate body remained inert upon the ground, it looked as if he had indeed re- ceived his last blow. Timbers rushed up and with the assistance of several of the men lifted Perry from the floor, when he wriggled out of their hands and fell upon his knees, crying : "No violence!" Never had the office presented such a scene of turmoil as at the moment when, with the help of several of his comrades. Perry made his way downstairs and into a cab which had been hastily called. A trail of blood from his nose and lips marked his footsteps and ever and anon he clasped his hands together and 68 THE, FLIGHT OF ICARUS. dodged first to one side and then to the other, as if to escape the repetition of those terrible blows. Perry goiie, the men fell to discussing the occurrence among themselves. Some there were, indeed, who were inclined to forget the provocation which had led Bevere to act as he had, but the majority of them felt ashamed of the part they had played in the dastardly "joke" on the young Westerner, and so it happened that before long the word "Shame" which some had uttered at first, was entirely forgotten, and the men said to one another that it had "served Perry right." As for Eevere, he paid no further attention to the crowd, but kept on reading his paper, two bright spots on his cheeks and a slight twitching of his nostrils, being the only re- maining signs of his late excitement. But he was not to get off so modestly. O'Tear, who had kept at a distance during the entire performance, now came up to him, and grasping his hand, shook it heartily. "Me boy," he exclaimed delightedly, "ye're a buck! Ye're a lulu from 'way back, an' don't ye fergit it! I never seen a thing done THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 69 SO neat in me life, an' chuck me in the gutter 'f I ain't proud o' you." Encouraged by O'Tear's example, the other men now came up, singly and in groups, to express to Revere their appreciation of his conduct, and before long he found that what weeks of gentlemanliness and unobtrusiveness had failed to accomplish, two blows had done in an instant, for they one and all joined in offering him their friendship, such as it was. Last of all came Mr. Du£6t. Unwilling to become conspicuous by setting himself up as the only condemner of Kevere's revenge, he strolled over to him, and rolling his cigar be- tween his fingers, assured Eevere that he was "deuced sorry Perry had made such a fool of himself, don't you know, but the man was clearly daft, and your punishment will surely serve to recall him to his senses. ' ' Having done which he concluded that the situation required nothing more from him and lounged back into his chair, where he leaned back and chuckled in anticipation of the racket there would be when the story would come out of how the "Saintly Eevere" had fallen victim to the guiles of some well-known Broadway belle, 70 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. As for Perry, after spending the day in re- covering from the effects of the terrible whip- ping he had received, he showed up at the office the following morning . as if nothing had happened at all, and, within a few days, was reciting, for the benefit of interested, if incred- ulous, groups, the story of his "awful fight with that chap Eevere, who would never have got the best of him had it not been that he slipped on a banana peel and so gave Eevere an opportunity to strike him while he was down." And before long he actually came to believe the story himself- — so much so that he would have been ready to swear to its truth in all good faith, "bein'," as Joe put it in elucidat- ing the matter to 'Gene, his fellow laborer in the dark and devious paths of newspaper office boyiam, "one o' them fellers what t'inks dey is on de stage allers, an' putty soon begins t' b'lieve t'ings dey has in deir minds, so that, if dey t'inks long enough, dey b'lieves as how dey is millionaires, an' when dey goes daft dey becomes dead broke. See?" And 'Gene "saw." THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 71 CHAPTEE VIL A NEWCOMEE. Timbers cleared his throat and looked im- portant. "Gentlemen," he announced to the men, ■whom he had gathered around his desk, "we are about to have a new and desirable addition to our staff. ' ' Here he paused, to give greater emphasis to what was coming. "Gentlemen," he resumed, "the addition is a-a-a lady!" "Ah-ah-h, " the crowd ejaculated. "And what's more, gentlemen," Timbers continue^, "it's a young and a pretty lady, and better still, a lady of artistic tendencies. ' ' "She is not to be a reporter, then?" DufiSt made bold to inquire. Timbers turned a withering look upon him. "A reporter? No. We have one lady re- porter. Miss Overley answers all purposes. 72 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. No. This lady is an artist and is going to make pictures — pictures which shall raise our woman's department far above the standard of any one of our contemporaries. ' ' Within the confines of the " city room, ' ' Tim- bers' announcement furnished sufficient food for a day's gossip. A young and pretty woman was enough of an acquisition in herself, but when she was also an artist, why, it was a matter for universal gratulation. The members of the art department, of course came in for the greatest amount of chaflSng. That was natural. Hints were freely thrown about of broken hearts and turned heads, while love sonnets and ditties were scattered about in profusion. And so Miss Sophie Duval came to take her place in the ranks of the pen and ink experts. Where she had dropped from no one knew. Her engagement had been the work of the "higher powers" of the editor-in-chief's sanctum. For a few days after her advent in the office, Sophie Duval was left strictly to herself. In that narrow atmosphere, where ridicule lurks in every corner and jealousy furnishes the THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 73 principal impulae to endeavor, it takes a soul much braver than the ordinary to make a step which is out of the regular routine. But one day Mr. Timbers himself stepped up to Miss Duval's desk and spoke to her for seven and a half consecutive minutes ; after which the en- tire force insisted on introductions, and Miss Duval became common property — in the minds of the stafif. No penned description of Miss Duval can convey the impression one received of her per- sonality in her presence. A brunette of the most decided type, with melting black eyes and straight, regular features, even the merest passing glance would have been sufficient to apprise one of the presence of an extraor- dinary girl, for girl she was, not more than twenty years having marked her life-span. Her slim, tall, willowy figure, with its ex- quisite proportions, combined to charm the eye of the beholder, while the soft, low voice ravished the senses in its melodious flow. If the men in the office had been joyous at the prospect of the girl's advent and had reveled in the anticipation of the "jolly good times" they were to have with her, they experi- 74 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. enced a distinct disappointment as soon as they came to know her. Where they had ex- pected to find some giddy aspirant for the joys of that youthful chimera: Bohemia, with whom unconventionality should count as the highest of all virtues; they found a woman of the highest acquirements, one who prevented famil- iarity before its inception, and inspired respect simultaneously with admiration. That every man in the office should soon fall hopelessly in love with Miss Duval was a thing to be expected, and that she rejected the slightest advances from any of them was a matter which excited no surprise. And yet she was neither haughty nor austere. In her own simple way, she gave men to understand that they were making themselves disagreeable, and most of them required no more than one hint. Those who needed another got it very quickly, how- ever. If one could conceive a soul like Duffit's fired with love, then Duffit was the most lovelorn swain in the office. To his degenerate nature, oteeped in the filth of debauchery, there was something peculiarly sweet and attractive in the calm, almost frigid personality of the THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 76 young girl. It took all the self-restraint ac- quired by a lifetime of artificiality for him to hold in check his passion, such as it was ; for he knew that it would not do to attack the girl as the others had attacked her. No, he must devise some surer, more systematic way. So it happened that one morning found Mr. DuflSt in a tremendous rage. It took all Tim- bers' suavity to calm him down suflBciently to elicit an explanation. "It's an eternally d — d shame!" Duffit howled. "What is?" Timbers asked. "Why, just look at these papers, look at them, and then look at this order of mine to the art department! I tell you I won't stand it! Here they have all gone and published this picture and I ordered it to go in last night, too, and it was never made. Do you suppose I'm going to sit around and be beat by every paper in town in this fashion? Not by ad — d sight! The art department is rotten all through, and I've got to have some arrange- ment made to have my pictures drawn when- ever I want them, or " "But," Timbers interposed, "this picture 76 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. doesn't amount to anything. It's nothing important ' ' "That doesn't make a d — d bit of differ- ence!" Duffit insisted. "It isn't the first time I've been served this way, and there's got to be an end to it!" "But you know we can't give you an artist all to yourself. There isn't enough work on the society stuff to keep a man busy. With the exception of Miss Duval, there is no one in the office all day, either. You know that they are all liable to be called on to go outside on assignments at any moment. ' ' "I don't care who it is, or how it's done, but I must have some one to whom I can give my own orders, that's all. If there's no one else but that girl — what's her name? — why, let it be her, but some one I must and will have. ' ' "Well, I'll try to arrange it," Timbers an- swered, and Duffit walked off in triumph, chuckling at the way he had circumvented "the old man." "I wonder what the devil he's up to?" mut- tered Timbers to himself as he looked after Duffit's retreating figure. "He snapped me up about Miss Duval before I could catch my THE FLIGHT Of ICARtJS. 11 breath. Humph!" and he leaned back and fairly shook with suppressed laughter. "The idiot!" he ejaculated. Nevertheless, the matter was soon arranged, and Miss Duval received orders to divide her time equally between the woman's page and the society work. DuflSt, accordingly, pre- sented himself, and in the most patronizing manner imaginable, took up an hour and a half in explaining how he wanted his work done. "Not," said he, in conclusion, "that I want to make matters hard for you. Miss Duval. On the contrary, I shall take great pleasure in making the work as light as possi- ble, if you will only allow me. As a matter of fact, you will find me quite a light taskmas- ter. ' ' And up went his upper lip in a grin, disclosing a row of large, yellowish teeth, which were ordinarily concealed by his heavy blond mustache. Miss Duval merely nodded in reply, and Duffit, finding no further excuse for staying, strolled off, quite well satisfied with himself and his neat little plan. Had he, however, caught the contemptuous look with which Miss Duval followed his tall, ungainly figure, it is 78 T'HE FLfGHT Of^ ICARUS. doubtful whether he would have enjoyed quite as great a sense of self-satisfaction. After that day it became the usual thing for Duffit to hang about Miss Duval's desk for hours at a time. Now it was this, pretext and now another, but Mr. DufiBt's in- ventive faculties seemed to be limitless. After a fGW days had passed, he made bold to ask Miss Duval whether she lived far uptown. No, Miss Duval answered. Did not Miss Duval find the elevated railroad an awful nuisance ? Not at all. Did not Miss Duval think that there were many very rude men in the trains? Would not Miss Duval then allow him to escort her home that evening? No, she was very sorry, but she was going to Brooklyn that day. To-morrow evening then? She did not care to trouble Mr. Duffit. It would be no trouble at all — it would be the greatest pleasure. Eeally, Mr. Duffit was complimenting. And Duffit retired from the first round, beaten. But in a day or two the attack was renewed. "Eeally, Miss Duval, I think you are work- ing too hard, ' ' Duffit ventured in the most amiable manner he could muster. THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 79 "Not at all," Miss Duval answered. "Do you take any recreation?" "Some." "Ah, Miss DuYal, if you would grant me the pleasure of increasing your recreation. Would you honor me with your company to the theater some evening?" "I don't like theaters." "The opera, then?" "I really have no ear for music." "I should be delighted to have your com- pany for a country drive. ' ' "I thank you very much, Mr. Duffit, but I have a great horror of horses." "The devil's in the girl!" Duffit said to himself as he walked away. Two days after this the climax came. Miss Duval had already become cognizant of the fact that there was no little gossip going around about Mr. Duffit's attentions to her. So, when he came and sat down at half-past one in the afternoon, she waited until two, and then calmly took her lunch basket out of her desk and proceeded to arrange her meager repast. Then, while Duffit was still talking, she very deliberately fell to her meal, biting away with 80 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. the greatest gusto and paying no more atten- tion to him than if he were not in existence. And Duffit gave it up. After that day he left his orders for her in little notes, which began the first time with "Miss Sophie Duval. Dear madam," and soon got to running: "My dear Miss Duval." But one day some of the boys got together a lot of envelopes, and addressing them "To Miss Duval, from Mr. Duffit," heaped them a foot or more high on the young lady's desk. Mr. Duffit happening to pass by before Miss Duval arrived, saw the point of the joke, swore quite extensively, and within a week had re- turned to the regular art department for his work, while Miss Duval was left in compara- tive peace. But Duffit was not the sort of man to rest quiet long. Having experienced a defeat at Miss Duval's hands, he determined to be re- venged, and very naturally settled upon Eevere as the most satisfactory agent of his vengeance. Hence, Eevere was not a little surprised when Duffit came to him one day, and, in the most friendly manner imaginable, THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 81 asked him what he thought of their new col- league. "Whom do you mean?" Eevere asked. "Why, Miss Duval." "Miss Duval? I have never had the pleasure of .meeting the young lady." "No?" Duffit exclaimed in affected surprise. "That's too bad. I really must see that you are not neglected. Come with me, and I'll introduce you." "No, excuse me," Eevere replied, "not in this fashion. If the opportunity presents it- self I shall be pleased, but ■' ' "Oh, very well," Duffit responded, laugh- ing, "have your way," and walked off. But Duffit watched for an opportunity, and soon found it. That same evening he entered the elevator just behind Eevere and found Miss Duval already in it. The introduction fol- lowed quite naturally, and Eevere and Miss Duval met. A woman is at all times a creature of moods, but all the more so in her likes. Hence, it would be futile to attempt to explain why Miss Duval found Eevere' s company so agreeable that she volunteered the information that she 82 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. was going up the Third Avenue elevated and ■wondered whether he was going the same way. Possibly it was because Revere did not do what ninety-nine men out of a hundred would have done in his situation — ask her which way she was going and then discover that his destination lay in the same direction. As it was, they were soon on their way uptown together, and Eevere had to admit to himself that he had seen many women less entertaining than Miss Duval. It followed quite naturally that Eevere should stop at Miss Duval's desk for a few moments every day and exchange the custom- ary compliments. In a less narrow sphere such things would have been take at their true worth, but in the newspaper oiBce there is but one construction put upon any familiarity be- tween a man and a woman, and that construc- tion is never flattering to the latter. It was just this that DufEt had counted upon, and he fairly beamed with pleasure as he saw the little plan he had arranged progressing so favorably. He sounded Perry and found that individual quite ready to go into any under- hand scheme to annoy Eevere. THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 83 "Only be careful," Perry stipulated, "that he doesn't get on to me. Ugh ! I hate the brute!" "Nonsense," Duffit replied, "do your work cleverly and he will never know whom to blame. ' ' So it came to pass that rumors began to cir- culate about Eevere and Miss Duval. No one knew, apparently, whence they emanated, and no one was willing to acknowledge their author- ship. But the rumors were there and reached the ears of everyone outside of the two most interested. Things might have gone on in this way an indefinite length of time had not O'Tear happened to become informed. He immediately told Eevere all he knew. Eevere became livid with rage. "Wait, me boy," O'Tear counseled, "trust your uncle. I'm a goin' on a still hunt an' when I find out the feller as starts this 'ere tork, there's agoin' t' be big trouble." True to his word, O'Tear lost no time in making inquiries, and soon struck Perry's track. Within twenty-four hours he had the matter sifted down, and the nest evening Perry found himself confronted by Eevere with 84 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. a demand for an apology. Perry pretended ignorance. Eevere caught his nose between his thumb and first finger and gave it a yank. Perry struck out and' received a blow in the chest which sent him spinning half across the room. There was, of course a great commotion in the ofiice, and men came running from all sides. Perry had, meanwhile, regained his feet, this time to be kicked into a corner by the irate victim of his venom. Then the crowd interfered. Eevere turned upon his heel and strode off. But Perry had had enough. The next day Timbers received his resignation. Eevere smiled when he heard of it. It was O'Tear who told the whole story in detail to Miss Duval, and he wondered then at the two big tears which rolled down her cheeks. THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 85 CHAPTEE Vni. LOVE. Balmy was the air, green the trees and happy were the songs of the birds as John Eevere walked along the western shore of the lake in Central Park, searching with eager eyes for the form he longed so much to see. At last, as he made the turn at the northern path, he spied her, coming toward him, and his heart bounded and his face flushed as he quickened his pace. She was a regal woman, truly. Tall and of gracious bearing, with a mass of golden hair gathered on her head, the stray ringlets curl- ing lovingly over her brow; her liquid blue eyes harmonizing well with the soft, satin- like complexion, and the sweet curve of lier rather full lips bespeaking her gentle as well as passionate nature. She was, indeed, a picture for poets to ?avQ over, m she appeared to 86 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. Eevere that morning, fresh as the morning rose and thrilling with the happiness of life in her every fiber. "Elaine !" he gently exclaimed, and grasped her two little hands in his own. "John!" she softly murmured, lingering over the word as if she would fain caress its letters ; and her eyes beamed their love into his, so that it was all he could do to keep him- self from folding her in his arms and straining her to his heart. "Ah, Elaine, darling," he murmured, as he gently drew her arm in his and led her up the path, "it is so long since I have seen you!" "Two long weeks," she answered; "they have seemed to me like years." "And like centuries to me," he added. She laughed softly. "But we may meet oftener again," she said. "We are living quite near here now — we did notfind it congenial downtown." "How happy I am to hear that, my love," he answered. "Alas! life seems so dreary without you. The birds do not sing so .^weetly, |he sun -does not shine so brightly. THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 87 Ah, darling, would we could be together always ' ' And thus they went on. Who needs to be told the sweet nothings of lovers' talk, the tender looks, the happy sighs? Hours slip by like minutes and the future seems roseate with joy. They wonder how they could ever have lived without each other and laugh be- cause they feel the happiness of living. Before long, however, Revere and Elaine fell to discussing more serious topics. Revere' s ardent love chafed under the re- straint which his inability to take his darling to himself forever placed upon him. Souls like Revere's require the ever-ready sympathy and ever-enduring confidence of some noble woman to stimulate them to the best in their work. In the dark moments of dejection and despair, when the whole world seems well-nigh lost and all ambition appears a delusion, it is just such a presence that lifts the soul from the lowest depth of misery, to the highest pinnacles of aspiration and prompts new efforts which are sooner or later crowned with success. Elaine was to Revere what the sun is to the 88 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. bud or the rain to the leaf. She shone upon him and his heart expanded, his brain threw off the chains of apathy and his thoughts flowed as the perfume flows from the body of the rose. She felt with him in his misery, and her gentle tears washed away his grief. So Revere talked to Elaine about his work and his prospects. He discussed with her characters which figured in the book he was writing and felt absurdly happy because her ideas and his own harmonized so well. Many suggestions he received from her, too — sugges- tions which startled him by their indications of a ripe judgment and wide understanding ; and then he felt happier still as he considered that they really came not so much from a knowl- edge of the world as from an instinctive com- prehension of the laws of right and wrong. She had genius, he said to himself, of an ex- traordinary sort. What a pleasant dream life passed with such a companion would be ! "Ah, Elaine, dear," Eevere was saying to her as they slowly paced along the shore of the lake, "how long, I wonder, will it be before I can call you mine, my very own, before all tha world? Everything seems to go so slowly. i^ % almost ^isb^artepisg," THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 89 Elaine blushed and drooped her eyes, and Eevere, thrilled into the veriest ecstasy by her bashful modesty, gave her arm just the slight- est squeeze, as he almost whispered : "Some day, you know, some happy day, we shall go out two and come back one, one for- ever more, darling. ' ' He paused, but she did not answer. So they wandered on, and the talk turned to himself again. "Is it, then, so hard to get a book pub- lished?" she asked. "Hard? Yes, very hard, if it be the first. After one has a success, almost any trash goes, but the first step in this field, as in all others, is a most difficult one to make. ' ' "But yours is bound to be a success, dear?" "All authors and their friends think so." She laughed. "Now you are trying to discourage me, as well as yourself, ' ' she pouted. "Perhaps I was, but I shan't do so again," he promised. At this moment they passed a slight open- ing in the trees which border the path, and Eevere, perceiving two familiar figures on the 90 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. walk below ascending in their direction, halted. "I must leave you at once, Elaine," he ex- claimed, releasing her arm and pressing her hand; "there is some one coming toward us, whom I do not wish to have see you. Come again as soon as you possibly can." "Yes, John dear, " she answered. "Good- by, ' ' and hurried off in the direction they had come, the extreme pallor of her face testifying to the shock the sudden parting had caused her. Eevere lingered for a moment, gazing ten- derly after her swiftly retreating figure and then, with a sigh, walked on. At the turning of the path, Armstrong and Duffit met him. "How 'do, Eevere!" the two exclaimed in concert. "Good-morning, gentlemen," Eevere stiffly replied, and then turning to Duffit : "Pardon me, Mr. Duffit, there are a few words I wish to exchange with you in private. Mr. Armstrong will excuse us for a moment or two?" "Certainly, certainly," Armstrong answered in the most affable manner, "go ah^ad, I'll ■jvait behind. ' ' THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 91 "Duffit, " Eevere sternly said, as soon as they had left Armstrong some twenty paces behind, "I want you to tell me why you came up to this part of the park this morning. ' ' "Why, my dear Eevere, " Duffit exclaimed, "the park is open to all the world, and I don't see any reason why I should give you an accounting. Besides ' ' "I know all about that," Eevere impa- tiently answered, "what I want to know is whether that story of Perry's had anything to do with your coming up here this morning. That's plain, isn't it?" "Oh," Duffit replied, "I see what you are driving at now. No, I assure you, my boy, I never even thought of you when I came into the park with Armstrong. 'You see, we were simply " "I don't want to know any more about it, " Eevere interrupted. "I beg your pardon for questoning you, but I owed it to myself to do so. Now let me bid Mr. Armstrong good day. ' ' "Through so soon?" Armstrong exclaimed in a jocose tone, as the two rejoined him. "Yes, our business was not of a lengthy nature," Duffit dryly answered. 92 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. "Just SO," Kevere acquiesced. "But good- day, gentlemen, I must be off. ' ' "Hold on there," Armstrong replied, "what's the hurry? Come up to my rooms and have something before you go down to that beastly old office of yours. Duffit and I were just crossing the park to take a bite together. Come along." "I thank you very much," Kevere answered, "but I really haven't the time." "Humph, that's the eternal cry of the news- paper men — haven't the time. Well, so be it, if you absolutely refuse. But look here, I'm going to have a little blow-out in my rooms next Wednesday. Will you come up? Almost everybody will be there. Lots of pretty girls, you know — jolly company and all that. ' ' "I hardly think" — Eevere began. "Hardly think be d — d!" Armstrong ex- claimed. "Tou needn't be afraid to come; I'm not in West Twenty-eighth Street any longer. I'm right here uptown, and there's no fear of interference. Say the word, man, and come and have a good time." "Some other time I shall be pleased to come, Mr. Armstrong, but I must be excused fHE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 93 this time, ' ' Eevere answered, and bidding the friends good-by, hurried off. "D — it, it's enough to raise any fellow's bile, ' ' Armstrong exclaimed as he turned to Duffit, "there's that fellow refusing an invita- tion that most fellows in town would jump at quicker than scat. ' ' "I know it," DuflBt answered. "You don't know the fellow yet; he's a deep one, he is. But I'll catch him yet, you see if I don't." "Hope you do, Duffit," Armstrong vehe- mently exclaimed. "D — n it, I'd just like to see him taught some manners!" "Never fear," Duffit lightly replied, "we'll do it yet." 94 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. CHAPTEE IX. SWEET AMCE. Having conceived an active liking for Eevere, O'Tear missed no opportunity of strengthening the bond of friendship with him. He seemed to be anxious to make amends for his previous inclination to join in the general ridicule of the new arrival, and finding, upon closer acquaintance, that Eevere was a man after his own heart, avowed the fact to him openly and demonstrated it in many different ways. It now became quite a customary thing for Eevere and O'Tear to go out together on those aimless rambles about the city that are so dear to the Bohemian heart. "East Side, West Side, all around the town," as the song hath it, they wandered, sometimes in daytime, sometimes at night, observing, discussing and THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 96 commenting. O'Tear knew everything and everybody. Now lie would point out celeb- rities of local and national renown as they paced up and down Broadway, and then the squalid headquarters of some notorious crew of "crooks" in the heart of the slums would be the subject of a glowing description. Fifth Avenue or Mott Street, First Avenue and Sixth, were as one to him, and any number of per- sonal adventures entered into his descriptions. It happened, then, that while they were walking down" the Bowery one evening, O'Tear describing the interiors of some of the "dives" they were passing, the talk gradually shifted to the general corruption of the city. "Holy Gee, man," O'Tear said, "what d'ye expect? It's all in a knot, an' Tamm'ny's at th' head o' it. There ain't one o' these 'ere folks but what pays cash down fer every racket an' everybody knows it, too. An' if ye wants t' know what keeps 'em t'gether, I'll tell ye* It'sth' choich." "The church?" Kevere inquired in an incredulous tone. "That's what — the Eoman Cath'lic choich," O'Tear replied. ^6 THE FLIGHT OP ICARUS. "How?" "O, dey's all in it. It's a tough t'ing, dat's what, see? It's all in de gang." Eevere laughed. "I am afraid you are somewhat prejudiced, O'Tear," he said, "are you not?" "Prej'dioed? An' why in h— 1 shouldn't I be? Ain't th' Oath'lic choich broke me whole life?" Eevere looked at him in surprise. "Yes, cully," O'Tear went on with a bitter little laugh, "dat's what. If it hadn't 'a been fer th' Cath'lic choich I wudn't be the bum 1 am now. Say," he continued, his English becoming purer and purer as he became more excited, "d'ye know who Jim O'Tear oncet wuz? Oncet 'pon a time ye cudn't mention Jim O'Tear's name but what people 'd say — there's a young man as '11 make his mark some day. Say, dey wuzn't a better scene painter nor a higher priced pen-and-ink-man in the profession than Jim O'Tear once. "I just tell you, I used to be a regular swell, those days. I was twenty-two years old and away up in the world. "The boys say there's mystery in me life. THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 97 Well, there is, for a fact. But it isn't much of a mystery, after all. It's just the same old story over again. Look here, old chap, would you like to hear the story through? It'll do me good to tell it, for, somehow or other, I feel choked as I think of it to-night, and it just seems as though it'll relieve me to have a chap like you hear it. Come into this gin- mill here, and let me take a bracer or two, and then we'll go at it." "No, no," Revere answered, "let the bracer go, old man. Let's walk along. " "All right, have your way, then. I'll tell you the whole story from the beginning," O'Tear replied. "Tousee, " he began, "as I told you before, there wasn't a chap in town in it with me fif- teen years ago. I'm an old man now; pretty soon I'll be forty, and these hairs of mine, which are just turning gray, will probably never see the day that I'm forty-five. But fifteen years ago I was as bright and likely a youngster as ever drew a line. Everything came my way. I was wanted by every illus- trated paper in the country, and my scenic pieces fetched some steep prices, I can tell 98 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. you. In those days I never drank, either, nor indulged in any other excesses that I could be ashamed of. I was all devotion to my work and — Alice ! "She was a slight, tall girl, with the most beautiful flaxen hair and clear blue eyes, a real angel on earth, was Alice Deane. Ah, my boy, how happy I used to be those days when I'd stroll down Broadway on a sunny day, with Alice on my arm and people turning around and looking after us, and saying: 'There goes that young artist and his sweet- heart, ' for everyone knew me in those times. No work was too hard for me then, and why ? Because I was working for my little wife that was to be. Was I tired, or uneasy, or restless, or in want of ideas? A glance into my Alice's eyes and I was rested and strong and healthy and full of new conceptions. "Of course, there was another side to the story. Alice's people were Catholics and didn't look upon the match with favor from the first, because I, don't you know, was de- scended from Protestant Irishmen. But as there had been no occasion for an open rupture, everything seemed to move along well and I THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 99 was busy furnishing a little home for my dar- ling. "One day, though, old man Deane and I met in a restaurant and got to talking about future prospects. " 'By the way,' says he, 'what are you going to do about the children's religion when they come?' " 'Why,' says I, 'they'll be what their father is. ' "Then down he brought his fist on the table with a bang, and, 'I'll see you in h — 1 before I'll allow that, ' says he. " 'Why, what would you have?' asted I. " 'Half the children Catholic and half your way.' " 'No,' said I, 'I'll tell you what, though, I'll let you have the girls Catholic and I'll keep the boys Protestant.' "But no, 'twas no use. 'Half in half,' said he, and nothing else would do. Then, seeing 'twas a case of pure obstinacy, I got on my ear too, and told him I'd see him d — d before I'd let any of the boys be Catholics, and then he up and cried out that I'd cursed him and he wouldn't have me come near his house and 100 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. daughter again, and I lauglied at him, and so we parted. "The next day, of course, I went to see Alice. But 'twaa no use. 'Nobody at home, air, ' said the servant. Same story next day, too, and the day after that. The fourth day I caught sight of Alice in a horse-car, and I chased it several blocks till I got aboard. Well, I had her get off and walk around with me, and I told her that the best thing we could do was to go and get married right away and let the old folks slide. Then she got to crying and told me how sorry she was I had quarreled with her papa, and how her papa had sworn he'd curse her forever if she had any- thing to do with me, and she asked me to make my peace with him. So I told her not to cry, but to meet me the day after in the park, and I'd try to arrange it with the old man. "Down I sat, then, and wrote a letter to Deane, begging his pardon for offending him, and telling him that I'd let him have his own way about the matter, and asking him to accept the olive branch, don't you know. But it wasn't the least bit of use. Back came the answer, the next day, that I had cursed him THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 101 and his church, and he wouldn't allow his daughter to come near me if I were a king. I saw Alice the next day and showed her the letter, and urged her to do as I wanted, and she cried again and swore she loved me more than all the world, but she could never live with a curse on her soul from her father, and then she begged me to try again. "So I tried again, and wrote another letter, telling him I'd let all the children be Catholic, and asking him not to break two hearts, and all that, but he answered that he didn't give a d — n about the children, because there weren't going to be any children ! "I then determined to see him personally, but he wouldn't allow me to come into his oflSce. Then I got mad and knocked the porter down and walked in and gave the old man a piece of my mind. "So when I met Alice in the park again I told her what had happened and begged her on my knees to marry me at once. But no, she wouldn't be cursed by her father and mother, for her mother was dead set against me, too ; you know women are the worst on religion — and then I toJ(i her she didn't love me, and 102 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. she swore she did love me more than any one else, but she feared for her soul. So I cried out, ' Soul be d-^d, ' and she looked so pained I begged her forgiveness on the spot, and she smiled through her tears and told me I was a naughty boy. Then I begged her again not to ruin both of our lives, but to become my wife. But 'twas no use, she was afraid of the church, and she swore she would never marry any other man but she couldn't marry me. "So we parted, and I couldn't do my work well, and got to taking an occasional cocktail as a bracer, but I got notes from her now and then saying that her parents wanted her to marry some fat old contractor or other, and she wouldn't do it, of course. Then, one day, I got a note from her saying that her father had sworn she'd either marry the contractor or go to a convent, and almost immediately after followed another, informing me that she was writing it while preparing to go off to become a nun, because she had told her father up and down that she wouldn't be anybody's wife but mine, and had told the contractor that he showed himself no gentleman in persecuting her the way he did. THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 10'.] "Well, when I realized that she was off to a convent, I just nearly went crazy. I threw m^' palette down on the floor and put on my hat and coat and went and drew my money at the bank — and a good stiff sum it was, too — and I left the furniture I had bought just where it was, in the flat, paying a year's rent in advance — and then I went off on a drunk. "It was eleven months before I became sober again. During that time I had been to South America, and Australia, and the old continent and England and the Lord only knows where else. I became sober only because I didn't have a cent left to buy a drink with. I fell sick and had a narrow escape from delirium tremens, the doctors said, until, one day, I came out of the hospital in Paris without a sou to my name. "Well, sir, Hooked in the glass and couldn't recognize myself. Where I had been a young- ster with a fresh rosy face and bright eyes, I now resembled a man of sixty, with deep sunken eyes, and the hangdog expression of a lifelong bum. "So I worked my way back to New York on a cattle steamer, and came to my friends and 104 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. asked for work, and was given it. But Lord — my hand was no more like my own than if it had been a dog's paw. The pictures I drew were more like a schoolboy's scrawls than an artist's productions. Besides, I couldn't work three consecutive days at a time. The liquor demon was in me, and I could no more resist him than I could have restrained the winds. So I went on, working one day and boozing two, until my friends slowly dropped oflf, one by one, and I was left all alone — as I am now. But I always paid the rent of that flat-full of furniture, somehow or other, and once every year I have it thoroughly gone through. The years have been long in passing, my boy, and it seems a century since I saw Alice last. I don't know what has become of her, and I am afraid to try to find out. During the first two years or so I used to see old Deane on the street, but he never would recognize me at all. But he faded rapidly, too, and I could see him waste away, until one day I read he was dead. Then I fell sick again and couldn't go to the funeral, where I might have seen Alice. I read about Mrs. Deane's death several months later while I was in Denver, THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 105 "So, you see, my boy, here I am to-day, as hard a drinker as there is in the city, alone and friendless, and withal the man who is known in the office and among the boys in general as 'the jolly O'Tear. ' " Kevere's eyes were moist as he pressed O'Tear's hand, but he said nothing. X06 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. CHAPTEE X. A KISS AT AUCTION. A GAT assemblage crowded Armstrong's rooms. The night of the promised supper had come and a choice coterie was enjoying the hospitality of the urbane host and Miss Lilian Degraw — Lily for short. Duffit and Perry were there, together with a party of Tale students, as well as several other congenial spirits. As for the female part of the aggregation — there was the usual assort- ment of "Eoses" and "Violets" and "Pearls" and ' ' Goldies' ' and the other stock ncmes dear to the heart of the nymph of the pleasure world. Duffit was supremely happy. He was in his element and wished everyone to know it. He made violent love to every girl in turn, and having run through the list, began over again. He was out for a "good time," and to judge THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 107 by the frequency with which he loudly de- clared the fact, seemed anxious to impress it upon all present. Perry, on the other hand, having little of that self-assurance which must figure largely in the make-up of the successful man-about- town, devoted himself assiduously to a little fairy with black eyelashes and golden hair, who, to judge from the weary aspect of her face, would rather have been anywhere else in the cold, cold world, than in his immediate vicinity. Armstrong himself appeared ill at ease. Lily had proven a hard nut to crack that day. She had insisted upon having full charge of all the invitations, and had decided that six hundred dollars were necessary to cover the cost of the evening's entertainment. "Good Lord, Lil, " he had remonstrated, "isn't a hundred generally more than enough?" "Well," she had answered, "if you think you can't afford it, don't have the affair come off, that's all." And of course, he had yielded; a man always does under such circumstances. 108 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. Now Lily had come in and calmly deposited herself in a corner, from which she was quizzi- cally surveying the party, making no endeavor to either welcome or entertain her guests. The chill of the reception soon began to tell on the revelers. The Yale boys vowed to one another that things were "dead slow," the Eoses and Pearls made semi-audible comments on the "stuck-up-ness" of the hostess, and Duffit finally felt concerned enough to ask his friend what the matter was. "I don't know," Armstrong wearily an- swered. "She's been that way off and on for the last couple of months or so. No more life in her than in a piece of wood, unless it's when she wants money. Lord ! How she can go it then, though! There's been the devil to pay during the last week or so. It's money, money, money, all day long. Whatever she does with it— Ugh!" Duffit looked interested. "By the way," he said, "you never told me where you came across her. How did you come to take her? Did you get her from home?" "No," Armstrong replied, "not by a d — d THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 109 sight. I took a girl from home once and I'll be d — d if I ever do it again. Gad ! I've never got over it yet. Poor thing ! — ^I wonder what's become of her^ — • — ■" "Well," Duffit persisted, "where did you get her from?" "Why, I picked her up in Baltimore. She was living alone at the time, you know — had been in the swell set^ — -broken with five or six men — some said a dozen, when I met her. I was hard struck, at first sight. ' ' "Don't blame you," Duffit interrupted, glancing at Lily. "So," Armstrong went on, "I proposed, was accepted, and here we are. She was all right enough at first — regular jewel, and all that; but lately it's been as much as my life has been worth to talk to her above a whisper, so to speak. But, gad, I love her more now than ever I did. That's the way it is, you know. There she sits now, as cool as a cucumber, and the Lord only knows what she's thinking about. ' ' "Well, I'll tell you what," Duffit answered, "she's a beauty, and no mistake. George, 110 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. man, what a figure, what a face ! You're in luck!" "Yes, but the money " "Money be blowed. If you weren't my friend I'd try to cut you out and put ujvall the money she'd ask for — that's what!" Armstrong smiled. "Wait till you've had some experience with a woman like her, ' ' he said, and strolled off to look after the comfort of his young academic friends. Duffit, having begun thinking about Lily, soon convinced himself that he was deeply in love with the young lady. Accordingly he decided to brave the frigid- ity of her demeanor and approached her. "Rather cool evening. Miss Degraw, " he began. "Eather, " she answered, industriously studying the pattern of the rug at her feet. "You look bored," Duffit questioned. "You think so?" "I should judge so. Are you not feeling well?" "Quite well, thank you." Her coolness irritated Duffit. THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. Ill "I don't suppose you like crowds, do you?" he asked. "Sometimes," was her non-committal an- swer. "Do you like this crowd?" "Oh, yes." "You are not enjoying yourself?'" "Oh, yes." "Do you like New York?" "Oh, yes." Duffit was desperate. "Do you always act this way?" he finally asked. "Which way?" she naively queried in return. "Why, so abstractedly. " "Oh, sometimes." "What a divine creature," Duffit said to himself. "I wonder if I could get her away from Armstrong?" "Miss Degraw, you are not candid with me — why do you act so coldly," he asked in a low voice. "Pardon me, what is your name, now?" she suddenly inquired. "Duffit." 112 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. "Oh, yes, Mr. Duffit — well, I am quite can- did with you, I may assure you." Dufi&t saw it was useless to attack indirectly, and changed his method. "Miss Degraw, " he said, "does it ever strike you that you are too divine a creature to be shut up in this manner? Does it ever strike you that you ought to be in the world, flying hither and thither, seeing lands, traveling " "I intend to travel some day," she answered simply. "With whom? Armstrong?" "Possibly." "Miss Degraw!" Dufi&t exclaimed, hardly containing himself, "will you not take me into your conservatory and show me your flowers? I understand you are quite fond of them. ' ' Lily rose. "Certainly, if you insist, Mr. DuflSt, " she replied, "this way." An adjoining door led them into the hall, and in a few moments Lily was discoursing on the virtues of her various favorites, Duflfit, meanwhile simulating great interest, but really watching with hungry eyes the girl's superb figure and ravishing face. THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 113 "Ah, MissDegraw, " he finally exclaimed, "could you but know how beautiful you are, you would indeed be proud that you are your- self." She smiled at the blunt compliment. "Miss Degraw, ' ' he went on, drawing nearer to her, "could anything ever induce you to leave Armstrong?" "What do you mean?" she calmly asted. "You do not love him?" "If I did not like him I should not be here." "But you do not love him?" "Why do you think so?" "Because, Miss Degraw," he burst out, "you are not treated rightly, are you?" "How?" "He is not generous. I could — I would be!" A scornful smile played about her lips. "You are trying to steal your friend's mis- tress, ' ' she said. "Mistress? Friend?" he exclaimed. "Forget the first, do not think of the second word. I would make you my idol — you are adorable, you are an angel — come to me and be my queen!" 114 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. "You are raving, as men always do in such circumstances," she answered. "I am not raving! Why, for one kiss from your lips I'd pawn my soul!" "Easier said than done." "No, I am not exaggerating! Come," he passionately cried, clasping her hand, "give me one kiss and exact your own price." "Nonsense, Mr. Duffit, " she replied, "you are beside yourself." "I am, because I would be away from myself and with you," he answered, restraining her hand in spite of her endeavors to draw it away. With a sudden movement she freed herself. Duffit bit his lip and controlled himself some- what. "Come, Miss Degraw, " he began in a jok- ing tone, "let us strike a bargain." "A bargain?" "A trade then." "The merchandise?" "A kiss." "What do you mean?" "Sell me one." "What " THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 115 "Just one kiss. Let me bid for it in dol- lars and cents. ' ' She curled her lip. "You have much faith in the power of money," she said. "But more in your kindness of heart. Come, I am fairly starving for it. "Will you not sell a hungry man food?" "You mean dessert?" "So be it, then. For the dessert, I bid " "It is not for sale." "But everything is always open to a good offer. Come then, what say you to a hundred dollars?" She seemed about to leave the room. He was rapidly losing his self-control. "Come, then," he cried again, "will not two hundred tempt you — nor three hundred?" "No, no — " she began. "Then four hundred — come one kiss — four hundred dollars. ' ' "No, no," she said, but slower, as if hesi- tating, her eyes downcast, and the color suffus- ing her cheeks. "How much, then — what will tempt you?" 116 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. he said. "Five liundred for one kiss? There, am I not generous — one kiss from your lips — five hundred dollars!" He was almost delirious now, as he drew her to himself. She resisted ; she seemed to be thinking, thinking, thinking — Now he had drawn her to him, now hia arm encircled her waist. Still she made no sign. His arms were around her now. "Darling," he murmured; hia breath fanned her cheeks ; hia lips touched hers She started, as if an electric shock had struck her. Her head flew back from his — she struggled to get free. But he was now frantic. "One more kiss, " he hoarsely whispered, "one more — I must have one more " "Let go, " she panted, struggling with might and main, but helpless in his powerful grasp, "let go, I say!" "One more kiss!" he insisted. "Let go!" she almost screamed. "Yes, let go!" Armstrong's voice sounded from the doorway. Duffit came to his senses on the instant. His arms fell to his sides. THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 117 "What does this mean, DuflSt?" Armstrong sternly interrogated. Lily glanced at him and saw that he would try to exculpate himself. "It means," she quickly interposed, "that your friend tried to kiss me, and I prevented him." Armstrong frowned and looked at Duffit menacingly. "I don't think we shall need you any more to-night, Duffit," he said. Duffit understood. He bowed and walked out of the conservatory, while Lily sank back upon a convenient stool. "Come, Lily," Armstrong kindly said, "let us go back to our guests. ' ' Lily took his arm. In the parlors Duffit's sudden exit with his fair partner occasioned a little talk, but the inci- dent was forgotten in the general hilarity, especially as Lily, apparently anxious to atone for her former delinquency, was now the per- sonification of amiability and good nature. Under her fostering care, the Yale youths be- came positive fountains of joy, and before long the party was in a state of merriment 118 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. highly satisfactory to the generous heart of the host. "Lil," he said, "you're a brick, when you want to be one, why can't you always be the same?" "Because I might become hardened if I were, ' ' she answered ; and Armstrong went into ecstasies over her wit. The influences of the hour had so far embol- dened Perry that he was now telling funny stories about the oflSce he had "lately left, be- cause it was too dead slow, don't you know." His heh-heh-heh sounded again and again as he vividly portrayed certain incidents which, unfortunately for his veracity, instead of actually occurring with him as their hero were simply more or less realistic descriptions of affairs which had come to pass with him as their victim. He spread himself, especially on the recital of the punishment he had in- flicted on a "Western chap called Severe," until Armstrong, being well acquainted with the story, felt compelled to ask him if he hadn't got the main facts slightly confused. Upon which the company, catching their cue from tbe dismayed lookupop Perry's face as welj as THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 119 from their host's disdainful tone, burst out guffawing most unmercifully. To conclude the festivity, the Yale boys pressed their host and hostess to accept an invitation to that time-honored yearly New Haven frolic known as the "0. G. B.," and Lily acquiescing under pressure, the matter was arranged, and everyone left, vowing that it had been the finest kind of a racket; the Tale boys emphasizing the fact by assuring Armstrong and Lily that they were both "smooth, b' George." The next day Lily received a check for five hundred dollars. It bore Duffit's signature. 120 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. CHAPTEE XL A FLAME KINDLED. Miss Maeia Ann 'Ovebley was an extraor- dinary woman. She confessed the fact at every available opportunity, and gloried in the dis- tinction with much noise and assertion. Tall, thin, and — to her mind — commanding, she prided herself on possessing none of those femininities which men are foolish enough to regard as the chief charms of woman. Miss Overley's special mission was to have "experiences" which she afterward described in flowery language, covering many columns, for the delectation of the amazed readers of the "Sunday supplement." In other words, she was the star reporter of the Sunday edition, and the one great aim of her life was to outdo a certain enterprising young woman who had succeeded by hard work in putting herself at THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 121 the head of the active woman "journalists" of the city. For some reason or other, however, she could never really attain her aim, although she faithfully duplicated every move of the above mentioned young lady, from two weeks to three years after it had been made by the latter. Such was the woman who awoke one morn- ing to the disagreeable realization that she could no longer claim the distinction of being the "sole woman member of the staff." Miss Overley, therefore, at once started out to investigate the new arrival. From behind the cover of a newspaper held before her eyes she furtively studied Miss Duval for the space of forty-five or more minutes, and assuming the prerogatives of both judge and jury, returned the verdict of "guilty: in the first de- gree. ' ' Primarily, Miss Maria Ann Overley did not like Miss Duval because the latter young lady did not come up to her aesthetic conception of the "new woman." "She is too feminine, " Miss Overley said to herself, and being entirely satisfied with the decision, walked over to the unconscious victim 133 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. of her scrutiny and introduced herself as "M. A. Overley." Miss Duval was, of course, perfectly de- lighted to meet Miss Overley. Miss Overley, on the other hand, was "glad to know" Miss Duval. "How long are you going to stay here?" Miss Overley curtly inquired. The artiste looked astonished. "Wh — why, I hope for some time — I " "Oh, I know," Miss Overley impatiently interrupted, "you know, women don't stay long here. They are too feminine and don't do the work well. Women require too much sympathy to get along well in a newspaper office, you know. Of course, I've been here a long while, ever since the paper started, almost, but women in general can't stand the work. Hf takes an extraordinary woman, you know.'" Miss Duval, who had at first been quite over- come by the torrent of instruction and infor- mation, caught her clew at the last sentence. "Oh, yes,, I see," she answered, smiling, "it takes a woman of great talent to stay here long?" THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 133 "Exactly," Miss Overley complacently an- swered. "How fortunate they are in having you here!" Miss Duval innocently remarked. "As for that, I suppose there are some others who could do as well, ' ' Miss Overley modestly admitted, "but the work is very ex- acting. Let's see, you draw pictures, don't you?" "Yes." "Well then, I hope you will do good work. I hate to see a woman come in here and score a failure. That's why I try to keep other women out of here. So very few of them are successful!" "Indeed?" "Tes, indeed. It takes a woman with no nonsense, you know ; a woman who does not fall in love and all that rot. By the way, you don't believe in love, do you?" "Certainly not," was the demure answer. "That's right. You know, the woman who succeeds is the one who can hold her own with any man. It is a woman who can swear when swearing is necessary, who can smoke a cigar or play poker, or climb a tree, or run a race, 124 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. just like a man. I hate a woman who is afraid of a rough word!" "Indeed," Miss Duval rejoined, in the most ingenuous manner. "I am very glad I am not afraid of such things. ' ' "I thought otherwise," Miss M. A. Overlay replied. "I hope I was mistaken. The work here is just as hard as the devil ever could make it. Do you think you can stand it?" "I hope so." "Hope — fiddlesticks. If you can't,you had better leave right away. Don't expect any sym- pathy from me. ' ' ( "I couldn't think of it, "Miss Duval assured her. "That's right. As soon as you get used to your surroundings, you must come and join some of the clubs I belong to. ' ' "Clubs?" Miss Duval wonderingly inquired. "Yes, clubs. That's what I said. They're not men's clubs, although I've tried to get into two or three. These are women's clubs." "What are they, please?" "Don't 'please' me. I don't like it! As for the clubs, we have all sorts. There are philosophical clubs and advancement clubs and THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 125 craft clubs. Of course, they all come to the same thing in the end. We meet and discuss things and adopt resolutions. None of your namby-pamby resolutions that men make, you know, but straight-from-the-shoulder, out- right resolutions that make first-class re- porting. Then we read papers and these fill up space wonderfully. Then, once in awhile we make excursions to the slums and study the poor. ' ' "What do you do that for?" "Why, we adopt resolutions about them afterward. Don't you see? Then we try to pass bills about them in the Legislature. I have a bill up at Albany now. It's about marriage restrictions and provides that no man not hav- ing an income of twelve hundred dollars per year shall be allowed to marry. Good bill — that, eh?" "I suppose so, still " "No still about it! It's an A-number-one bill, that's what it is. Why, see how it will reduce those miserable marriages " "Yei," Sophie Duval could not help inter- posing, "God chose a poor carpenter as the protector of Christ. ' ' 136 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. ' ' Ah — there you go. Don't ever talk religion to me again! That's all rot, see? Bosh! These marriages of the poor must be stopped, and the bill is a lovely one — I mean" — she hastened to correct the feminine description, "a damned good one; do you see?" "I suppose so," Miss Duval wearily replied. "Do you? All right. I'll see you again. I want to speak to Mr. Timbers. There he is at his desk now. If you stay here long, I'll see that you get into my clubs. ' ' "Thank you." "Don't mention it." And off trotted Miss Maria Ann. Timbers nodded quite pleasantly at Miss Overley. "How do, Overley?" was his jovial greet- ing. "How do, Mr. Timbers. Anything for me to-day?" "Mm — yes. There's some society work I'd like to have you do." "Society work? I object, Mr. Timbers. Any man could do that. Can't you send me out on something thrilling?' "Not this week. Mr. Duflfit is engineering a story which you can work quite well. ' ' THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. IS? "But " "Eot! The girl around the corner is doing society work, too." "Is she? Well, then, I'll be hanged if I won't do it, too! I can outdo her at anything, hands down, any time!" "Of course you can, Miss Overley. Now, I'll just turn you over to Mr. Duffit. " Mr. Duffit being called and instructed to divide his work with the "lady," he imme- diately exerted himself to make things pleasant for her. But, alas, Miss Overley would have none of it! "Eot!" she cried, "get to work!" But Mr. Duffit was not to be overcome quite so easily. He asked Miss Overley where she bought her toilet soap, her complexion was so charming. After half an hour's skirmishing — "Has it ever struck you. Miss Overley," he suddenly exclaimed, "that your profile is a most perfect one of the classic type?" Miss Overley actually blushed. "I don't know but what you're right," she modestly acquiesced. Duffit was delighted. "It certainly is," he affirmed. "You ought i28 THE FLiCJHt OF iCARtfS. to have some photographs taken of it. It is most unusual. Such beauty is very rare, you know ' ' "Eot!" Miss Overley exclaimed, playfully pushing him away from her. "I'll look into it, however." Then she plunged into work. But the mischief was done. From that day on Duffit regarded Miss Overley as his legiti- mate prey and prosecuted the line of flattery to its utmost limit. He went into raptures over her gowns, he adored her bonnets, he worshiped her hair, he marveled at her figure. Miss Overley, on the other hand, was slowly but surely becoming convinced that she had hitherto woefully neglected her physical self. She assured herself that she could carry away the palm in any beauty contest, and as ample proof of the same, exhibited multifarious pho- tographs of her countenance, which the art of the operator had transformed into likenesses of most divine originals. In short, Mr. Duffit succeeded in doing that which it seemed hardly possible for any man to have done: he turned Miss Overley 's head. And now, witness a most unexpected spec- tacle ; the growth of jealousy on the part of THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 129 Timbers. Alarmed at the sudden intimacy between Duffit and Miss Overley, he paused in dismay and tried to analyze his own feelings on the subject. Already Miss Overley 's work was not what it was wont to be. The pronoun "I," which had previotisly been sufficiently conspicuous in her "copy," had now become almost continuous. Now there came little snatches of: "By the exercise of all the wiles familiar to a beautiful woman, however, I induced him to, ' ' etc. Mr. Timbers groaned in despair. "Overley," said he at the first opportunity, "I have something important to speak to you about. ' ' "At your service," she answered. "Overley, I must come right to the point," he began, and stopped. ""Well?" "Overley, you — you — are — are — are not beautiful!" She gasped. "Sir!" she exclaimed. "I mean it!" he insisted. ^"I don't see" — she began. "And I do!" he answered, braver now that 130 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. the worst was out. "Overley, if you continue imagining that you are beautiful, you will be unable to do any work here. ' ' "You mean " "I mean just what I say. Tou can't work here with any such thoughts buzzing under your bonnet. Tou are positively a plain woman, and any one that says otherwise is a liar!" "But Mr. Duffit"— she tearfully began. "Mr. Duffit is a liar," he answered. "I hope that is quite plain!" Thirty minutes later Miss Overley was- pouring her tale of woe into Mr. Duffit' s sym- pathetic ear. The latter individual assured her that she was a much maligned woman, and that Mr. Timbers was a disagreeable old idiot, who wouldn't know a Venus from a broomstick. Upon which Miss Overley brightened up won- derfully, and, much to his satisfaction, in- formed Mr. Duffit that he was "a gentleman, worthy of being a member of any woman's club, if men were admitted. ' ' After the pacified journaliste had taken her way into the outer world, Duffit lounged up to Timbers' desk. THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 13i "Say, Timbers, old man," he drawled, "did you tell Overley that I lied when I asserted that she was a Juno reincarnated?" "I did," Timbers answered, an ominous glitter lighting his eye. "And did you mean it?" Duffit asked, in the same nonchalant tone. "I did." "Well, then, my dear boy, let me congratu- late you. Tou are the most discerning man under the sun!" Timbers was staggered. "Well, I'll be d— d!" he gasped. 133 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. CHAPTER XII. check! A CERTAIN class of human beings exists whose special mission on earth seems to be, not to enjoy its own possessions, but to envy the possessions of others. It is to this cate- gory that Buffit could rightly claim allegiance. Having seen his little plot regarding Eevere and Miss Duval go to the winds before it had had time to draw the first breath of life, he kept under cover and waited for a favorable opportunity to strike at Eevere and Sophie again. The sudden developments in the case of Miss Overley furnished him the desired chance. "What think you, Miss Duval," he pleas- antly inquired one day, "of our friend Miss Overley?" "She is a very nice woman," was the artiste's noncommittal repl^. THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 133 "But," DuflSt persisted, ignoring the cold tone, "don'tyou think she is rather peculiar?" "Do you think so?" "Most men do. Don't you?" "I would not pit my opinion against yours." "Sharp as a steel blade!" Duffit thought to himself. "You must agree that she is somewhat out of the ordinary?" he said aloud. "She is an extraordinary woman, certainly, " was the adroit answer. Duffit bit his lip. "Do you not think her ideas are rather peculiar?" he asked. "How?" "Why, in general. Her ideas on woman, for instance. ' ' "How?" she repeated. Duffit saw himself ibeing slowly but surely drawn into playing the part he intended Miss Duval to play, but there was no way of getting out of the pit he had 4ug. "Do you not think her a little top mascu- line?" he asked. ^"Doyou?'> 134 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. "Somewhat; we all do, don't you know. Not that we think she really believes in it her- self. "We are inclined to think that it is more or less of a mask she finds it convenient to put on and wear for our delectation. What think you?" "I really have not known Miss Overley long enough to judge. ' ' "But from your brief acquaintance?" " One could not well judge. I should say, however, that Miss Overley is a woman of unlimited capabilities and possessed of a good deal of human nature?" "Perhaps you are right, " be hastened to retrench. "Still," he continued, "there is a good deal of hypocrisy, it seems to me, in people who hold to one set line of views. ' ' She wondered what he was driving at. "Indeed?" she queried. "Tes. I do not think that any of us are either perfect or resolute enough to al\yays adhere to one system of action. People ■^ho profess that they are, it seems to me, are im- postors, more or less." "In what way?" "Well, take a man who holda that a certain THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 135 moral standard is the only one to keep. I do not believe that he really adheres to it him- self." "You allude to " "Our friend Mr. Eevere? Yes. I have told him so personally, many a time. ' ' "Indeed" she replied, a slight jflush of anger showing on her face, "then perhaps you would just as lief tell it to Mr. Eevere now. I see he has just come in." DuflSt colored slightly as he followed the direction of her eyes. Eevere happening to glance in their direction at the moment, their eyes met. He hesitated and then, discerning a beckoning look in Miss Duval's eyes, ap- proached. "Good-afternoon, Miss Duval," and "how do you do, Duffit," he greeted the two. Duffit nodded. "Good-afternoon, Mr. Eevere," Miss Duval answered, her cheeks still glowing, "we were just talking about you. ' ' "Indeed!" "Yes; Mr. Duffit," Miss Duval announced, her eyes gleaming with anger, "has jjust been 136 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. kind enough to assure me that you were a hypocrite!" Duffit actually took a step backward at the blow. He had never expected her to say quite as much as she had. But Eevere under- stood the honest nature of the girl, and while astonished he was by no means astounded by her conduct. "It was very kind of Mr. Duffit," he curtly remarked. Duffit chewed his mustache. "I — I say" — he began. "You have said enough, it seems to me, Duffit, ' ' Eevere interrupted. "But really — I never " "Do you mean to accuse Miss Duval of an untruth?" Eevere almost thundered. Several of the men raised their heads from their work. Miss Duval sat bolt upright in her chair, her face as expressionless as if it were chiseled of marble. "Not at all," Duffit stammered, "really, my dear boy, you jump at — at conclusions, don't you know — I — I was only saying that, don't you know, principles, I didn't — principles, didn't believe ii^ avowals of ideas, of— of set THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 137 principles in — in ideas, in morals, in — in that is to say, in men that don't do what they — that is — don't you know " Here Duffit came to a dead stop. "Well?" Eevere calmly asked. Duffit shifted uneasily from one foot to another. "Duffit," Eevere quietly said, "don't you think we can settle this affair somewhere else?" "Why?" Duffit answered, not at all relish- ing the prospect of having the matter brought up again, "I really don't see that there is any- thing to settle. I didn't mean to speak of you in any disparaging way, in the first place, and Miss Duval entirely " "Leave Miss Duval out," Eevere sternly exclaimed. "Well, then," Duffit continued, resting alternately upon one foot and the other, and his face now paling and now crimsoning, "I may assure you that I didn't mean to insinu- ate anything, merely a slip of the tongue, don't you know — no harm meant. ' ' "By which I understand that you apolo- gize?" 138 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. "N — n — y — yes; I suppose so." "Very well. That ends the matter. Good- day, Miss Duval, ' ' and Eevere stalked off. DufiSt remained behind a moment, not know- ing exactly what to do. But when he looked down, Miss Duval was absorbed in her work. Giving his mustache an extra hard pull, he shuffled off. THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 13!^ CHAPTEE Xin. AN ASSIGNMENT. Mr. TntBEES felt that he had a duty to per- form, and when Mr. Timbers had such a feel- ing he never rested until he had discharged his obligation. "Eevere, " said he, the very next day after the encounter between that young man and Duffit, "there is something I wish to speak to you about particularly." "Yes, sir. What is it?" Eevere inquired. "It's about that confounded temper of yours. ' ' Eevere bit his lip. "It isn't that I want to make a kick, or cause you any unpleasantness," Timbers con- tinued in a kind tone, "but you really mu^ learn to restrain yourself. You know you hold the record for scraps here already, and you simply must stop. ' ' "But" — Eevere began. 14:0 TTHE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. "I know — I know," Timbers interrupted, "you have had sufficient provocation and all that, but there's been too much of it." "It has not been of my seeking." "Probably not. But with all that, you have been too ready to take offense. Revere remained silent a moment. "Look here, Mr. Timbers," he finally burst out, "has it ever struck you that all my trouble has been with just two men — one of them, Perry, a coward and sneak of the meanest type, and the other, Duffit, a man who bids fair to follow faithfully in his comrade's footsteps?" Timbers scratched his nose. "Well," he drawled, "I suppose you're right." "Very well, then, do you blame me?" "Not exactly. I must admit that I was pretty glad to see Perry go. As for DufSt, the least said about him the better. He's been raising the very old cat of a racket here with Overley, and I don't see what I can do with him, either. He's a good enough worker, but he's fuller of tricks than Moses was of piety. What do you think of the Overley affair, anyway?" THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 141 Eevere shook his head. "Well, I'll tell you," Timbers continued, entirely forgetting the prime aim of the con- versation, now that he was launched on a per- sonal grievance. "I'll tell you. I think that a man who'll play a little game like that is either a damned fool or a damneder rascal. Damn it, that's what I think!" "Had he done anything to Miss Overley?" Bevere asked. "Done?" Timbers almost screamed, "squatting Confucius, why he's spoiled her entirely, the girl isn't worth her salt nowadays. Do you know that she imagines herself the reiguing beauty of the world? What do you suppose she said to me the other day? 'Eeally, Mr. Timbers,' she minced, 'I think that ripe beauty is the most effective. It isn't the beauty of the girl of sixteen that captivates men; it's the mature beauty of the woman of the world. ' There ! how's that for Miss Maria Ann Overley — eh?" Eevere smiled. "Oh, it's no joke," the irate chief con- tinued; "it's a damned bad thing! H — 1, man, do you realize what the breaking down iii THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. of an old member of the staff means to me? Confound it, it took me long enough to get the woman trained in the work and now — ugh! Away she goes!" Timbers was now fairly snorting with rage. "Well, Mr. Timbers," Eevere smilingly said, "it seems that you do not find yourself any less excitable than I do myself?" Timbers tried to look severe, but gave it up almost immediately. "You've got me, by God!" he exclaimed, slapping Eevere on the back. "leave! But seriously, now, you'll have to go slow, you know. ' ' "I'll try my best," Eevere answered. "Very well. Now then, I want to talk to you about a special assignment I have for you. How would you like to go up to New Haven for a night's work?" "What is it?" "It's an annual blow-out the boys have there. There is generally the devil to pay, and I'm going to spread about it in great shape this year. I guess I'll let you write it up. Here are the tickets." Eevere bit his lip. THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 143 "Don't you think some of the boys would enjoy the affair more than I should?" he sug- gested. Timbers giggled. "I have no doubt they would, "he answered, "and get drunk in the bargain, and send down a lot of trash that won't be worth the trouble of setting. No, sir, you're the man to handle the story, and no one else!" "Very well, then," Eevere answered. "Just try to make a good story of it — some- thing rich, you know. ' ' "Very well." Hardly had Eevere left the desk when Duffit, who had been hovering around, gazing fur- tively, now at his chief and now at the young "Westerner, made a bee line for Timbers. "Hello, Timbers," he airily exclaimed, "has the 'wild and woolly' been detailing griev- ances?" "No," Timbers curtly replied. "I thought he might have been," Duffit sen- tentiously remarked. "Well, you thought wrongly." "Honest, now," Duffit went on, "I don't know what is the matter with the chap. I 144 THE FLIGHT OP iCAftUS. swear, I'd lite to be friendly with him, but he just hangs out the danger sign, and there's no approaching him. ' ' "Perhaps you don't know the road," Tim- bers dryly remarked. "Perhaps," Duffit jauntily replied. "Do you know it?" "I think so." "Will you indicate the royal road?" "I doubt whether you are able to travel on it." "Still " "Well, then, I'll show it to you." "Merci." "Not at all. All you have to do ik to act like a gentleman. ' ' Duffit gave a short laugh. "Thanks for the information, " he answered, and turning on his heel, strode off. "I thought it would be too much for him," Timbers muttered to himself. THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 145 CHAPTER XIV. "she's a begulab witch!" DuFPiT would now have preferred to drop Eevere and all plans against him for good, but unfortunately for his tardily-acquired wisdom, he had spoken more or less openly about his forthcoming "coup" against the "Saint," and it was impossible for him to back out at that stage of the game with the least show of grace. Beside, the bets he had made with Timbers and O'Tear were no inconsiderable incentive, and the invitations having all gone out, it now remained to get Eevere to promise to come to the supper. So, Duffit, actually profiting by the advice Timbers had given him, approached Eevere one morning with the most honest expression on his face he could muster, and extending his hand, asked him to "shake." Eevere could not refuse, but wondered what Duffit was up to again. US THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. "I'll tell you what it is," the latter individ- ual jovially explained, "I want to make friends with you." "I am pleased — " Eevere began, when Duffit interrupted him. "I know all that!" he exclaimed, "but I do not want any formalities. Just shake hands on it and cry quits. I have acted more or leas like a cad toward you and I'm sorry for it." Eevere could hardly credit his ears. "I am sure I am delighted to have you — " he began again. "All right, all right, old man," Duffit inter- rupted again, "call it square at that. I'm off now, but I want you to remember that there are to be no more scraps between us." As soon as Duffit had left, Eevere walked over to Timbers. "Pardon me, Mr. Timbers," said he, "will you tell me whether you have had any sort of a talk with Duffit about me recently?" "Yes," Timbers answered. "Why?" "I just wanted to know. Can you tell me the particulars?" "Cert. He wanted to know how to act to- ward you and I told him." THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 147 "What?" "Told him to act like a gentleman." Eevere laughed. "Tour advice has taken root, I think, " he said. "Getout!"Timbers incredulously exclaimed. "Fact. He came up to me like a little lord, said he wanted to be friends ; was sorry for previous mistakes, and all that." Timbers grimaced. "Hope he'll keep it up, that's all," he grumbled. Meanwhile Duffit was walking down Broad- way, chuckling. "I'll have him now, sure," he said to him- self. At Wall Street he came face to face with Armstrong. "Hello, old man," the latter exclaimed, "how are things getting along?" "So, so." "How's the supper coming on?" Duffit described the success of his latest plan. "So it's a sure thing?" Armstrong asked. "Dead sure. But look here, have you got 148 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. over that nasty temper of yours about your girl?" "Oh, it's all right. I don't blame you a little bit. I swear, she's a regular witch ! As I told you before, I don't believe any man could withstand her." "Well, couldn't you manage to bring her around to the supper?" "Impossible, man. Neither love nor money could induce her to come. I told her the whole plan, showed her where the fun would be in making a fool of that fellow Bevere, but you might just as well have talked to a stone wall." "Are you sure that a certain amount of dol- lars couldn't induce her to do it?" "Dead sure. I tried it, but hungry as she is for money, she wouldn't bite. I wonder, though, what she does with all that money? Hang it! I wouldn't mind its going if I knew where it went." "Supporting some old hag of a mother, or a grandmother, or cousin, or sister, probably." "Perhaps — I really can't imagine anything else. By Jove, that must be it ! Perhaps she has some sister, whom she is keeping out of THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 149 harm's way, or something like that. I'll find out to-night! I'll just tax her with it and see what she has to say. By Jove, if that's the case, I won't begrudge her the last dollar I've got in the world!" "1 don't see that it would help you much if you did begrudge her, ' ' Duffit dryly replied, "«he'd get it anyway." 4k.rmstrong laughed. ''Perhaps you're right," he answered. 150 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. CHAPTER XV. BACCHUS AMD TEKPSICHOBE. There was joy on Chapel Street in New Haven, and the Tale Campus was filled with immaculately attired striplings, boisterously discussing the prospects of the evening's "tear." For 'twas the night of New Haven's annual "blow-out." That night the sages were to be left in peace by the jeunesse dorie of old Eli and Bacchus and Terpsichore were to reign absolute masters both over the hilarious students and the less-learned youths of that portion of the town which, to use the language of the author of the "Commentaries," "is bounded by Congress Avenue on the one side and by the waters of the Long Island Sound on the other, all between being divided into many provinces and inhabited by many nations, chief among whom are the wanderers from the Hibernian part of the Islands of the J^ritons, ' * THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 151 This occasion is the only one on which the proud aristocrats of the University deign to mix with the plebeian inhabitants of the "town" and the latter, seizing the opportunity with no unwilling grasp, manage to express their ap- probation by various acts of hospitality, which somehow or other generally result in a very sore, and sometimes bleeding "stoodint" finding himself "all by his lonesome" in the darkness of the cool outer world. Two of the elect were walking down York Street, discussing the coming festivities with no little gusto. "B' George, dear boy, "said one, "have you heard whether that stunner of a girl is coming up to-night — the one we saw at Armstrong's?" "You mean Lil? Oh, yes, she's here; put up at the New Haven House in great shape, you know. ' ' "Mm— you don't tell me! Well, that's good. Really, old chap, I'm dead stuck on the girl. Do you know, if the guv'nor would put up the necessary cash, I wouldn't mind having her myself. But pshaw, times are too hard nowadays. Guv'nor grudges every copper he hands out. ' ' 152 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. "Too bad," the other sympathized. " 'Twould take a lot of cash to support a girl like that, though. She's a stunner and no mistake — no Night Owl kicker, you know." "I s'pose you're right," the first youth sighed. "Anyway, ' ' he added with a brighter face, "we'll see her to-night, and if I don't get her to do high jinks my name is not my own, that's all." The second youth poked his companion in the ribs. "You're a sly one, you are," he chuckled. "Oh, I'm no worse than the rest," was the modest answer. In an entirely different frame of mind, Eevere was hastening from the depot, to arrive in time to see the "opening march" of the "mask ball." Some two hundred couples almost packed the floor as Eevere entered the hall. Some of the men were in evening dress and others in grotesque costumes. Chief among these was a stalwart "Indian brave, ' ' who moved about the floor with an air of utmost self-confidence. He seemed to know everyone and everyone certain- ly knew him. For he was tlie floor manager. THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 153 director and bouncer — a man known more for his fistic than Terpsichorean abilities. The women were the representatives of their class. Only a few of them wore masks, the greater number preferring to have the use of their countenances, such as they were, in pur- suit of their game. Now the band struck up and the "grand march, ' ' started on its tortuous path, soon to break up into a whirlwind of "spieling" couples. Madder and madder grew the revel as the hours slipped by. The "order of dances," which had been lavishly distributed at the be- ginning of the "ball, " became a superfluous quantity. There was now no thought of "waltzes," "lanoiers, " or "polkas." It was one mad conglomeration of spangled dresses, gayly striped hose, flesh-colored tights and flashing toes, now making their way through the crowns of sleek "stovepipes," and now flying higher and higher in a mad endeavor at reaching the glass-globed chandeliers over- head. Totally indisposed to taking part in the mad gayety, Eevere paced along the sides of the 154 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. hall, seeting distinguishing particulars in the confusing medley. Now he paused near one or another of the "private boxes," where men with flushed faces and glistening eyes were bending over women in little better condition, lavishing caresses, interchanging words of en- dearment and patting the heavily-painted cheeks. Beer, wine, whisky, followed one another in rapid succession, until all reason was destroyed and the rioting brain produced actions which no ravings of acute mania could match Callow youths, whose fond mammas and papas opened wide their pursestrings in order that their darlings might not suffer want, pledged their love to women old enough to be their grandmothers, and howled for the waiters to "set 'em up again!" Now a woman handsomer than the rest might have been seen all alone in a "box" with her partner. A joke, a laugh, a turning away of a man's head, the jeweled white hand travels quickly over the victim's glass, and in a few min- utes he lies senseless on the ground, while his paramour courts the freshness of the outer air, leaving him sans his watch^ chain, money aod other valuables.. THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 155 On Eevere passed and from the vantage point of a small flight of steps, leading to an exit, glanced over the crowd. A cloud of tobacco smoke hung heavily over the heads of the revelers, dimming the un- steady gaslight and lending to the whole pic- ture a weird, infernal aspect. The same flushed faces he had seen before, multiplied over and over again — the same bedizened women, the same suggestiveness, the same flashiness. Hard faces they were, faces which spoke of years of cunning and craft, years of carousal and dissipation, linked with years of want and misery. As Kevere stood there, regarding the scene below, he became conscious of two half-closed eyes, staring at him quizzically. Their owner smiled when he saw he was observed. "Pardon my staring," he said, approaching Bevere, "I saw that you were new to the scene." Eevere smiled in return. "Eather, " he answered. "I knew it. What do you think of us?" "Us?" "Oh, yes, I always call it 'us.' I've seen 156 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. this same scene some fifteen or more times in succession. Feel like a part of it, you know. ' ' "You are the proprietor?" "Not at all. Simply a visitor. I know everyone here. No one knows me. I clame here first when I was at college, and I've come here ever since. ' ' "You enjoy it?" "Hardly. But, there you are! It's the same old story. You come once, and you come again, and you keep on coming. Yes, you keep on, ' ' he finished in a low tone, as if speaking to himself. Revere looked at the man in wonder. This was certainly a character out of the ordinairy. He was tall and undeniably handsoihe. Broad, well-marked features he had, and a small, well-trimmed beard. His dress was immaculate, his bearing that of a gentleman. True, his face had a weary, sallow appearance, and the twinkling gray eyes looked dull and listless when he was not in action ; but he was certainly a man of the world, with none of the look of the habitul rorii about him. "Fifteen years?" Eevere repeated, "that's a long time. ' ' THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 157 "Not very, if one passes it the way I have," the stranger answered. "Come and sit down. Perhaps I may serve to do that which this show has not succeeded in doing — amuse y on. " Revere followed his new acquaintance. The latter ordered drinks, and watched Revere curiously as he sipped his glass. "Tou are foolish, young man," said he. Revere flushed. "What do you mean, sir?" he exclaimed. The stranger held his hand up deprecatingly. "Do not become excited. Would you be- lieve me if I told you that it is to taking a drink with a stranger the way you did just now, fifteen years ago, that I owe my presence here to-night?" Revere looked incredulous. "I don't see" — he began. "Of course you don't," his companion replied. "It sounds somewhat like a prop- osition out of the 'Arabian Nights, ' does it not? Well, I think I'll celebrate my fifteenth annual appearance here by telling you a little story which may, to use the circus man's for- mula, 'amuse as well as instruct' you. Do you care to listen?" 158 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS, "I shall be more than pleased." "Very well. I do not know why I talk to you to-night, but I somehow think that it will make me feel easier. So here goes. ' ' Draining his glass, the stranger proceeded as follows. THE FLIGHT OF iCARUS. 159 CHAPTEE XVI. A TIOTIM OP CEBCUMSTANCES. "The story I am about to tell you, young man, is full of neither incident nor adventure. It is a simple enough tale, such as you may come across any day, probably, could you lift the cover off the hearts of men and read their unwritten records — which would be a rather unpleasant task ! "You are new to this life, I can see. Has it ever struck you to ask why we men, so old in it, cling to it? Everyone knows that there is little or no enjoyment in it after the first glamor has worn off. And yet we do cling to it, or it clings to us ; I'll be hanged if I know which. "There goes the band now, clashing out the 'Ta-ra-ra-boom-de-ay.' Fifteen years ago it was not that song, but the French can-can, that I heard as I sat at a little table, just as I am sitting with you now. We were a gay 160 THE FLIGHT OP ICARXT*. party — ^I, a freshman at the grand old Univer- sity, just stretching my wings out after emerg- ing from the narrow confines of the paternal and maternal shell. Life seemed one great, broad vista of pleasure to me then, just as it seems to these young fellows over there, who are tripping it so gayly with the sirens. Look at their smooth cheeks and nicely parted hair and sparkling eyes ! That's the way I was that evening. "There was a whole crowd of us, as there is every year; bright, joyous idiots, who thought they were just like 'real men,' because they smoked cigarettes, mixed with women, and drank beer. Oh, we were a 'fast crowd,' sure enough. "There was Sadie and Mamie and Jennie and Eosie and Gracie, and all the rest of them — they are here now, most of them. And there were we, the representatives of our class, don't you know — Charlies and Freddies and Bobbies and Algernons and Bichards. And, of course, we had lots of money in our pockets when it began, and the 'girls' had it all in their stock- ings before we were halfway through. "But all these things were mere incidentals. THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 161 "As I sat at one of the tables, a man came up with his partner and took the adjoining seats. He was a sociable sort of a chap, and we soon got to talking quite freely. I asked him to drink, and he asked me to drink, and the girls were quite merry, and we hugged and kissed to our heart's content, when I suddenly began to feel quite giddy — faint in fact. I had not drunk enough to be overpowered, and could not understand what the matter was. My new friend looked at me curiously and asked me if I wouldn't have another drink. I declined, he insisted, I grew angry and he tried to force a glass of liquor down my throat. Then I struck him and he fell, and people rushed up. One of the 'bouncers' happening around, just looked at the man and then kicked him with his foot. " 'Dat's knock-out Charlie,' " said he. "I did not know what that meant at the time, but I knew that I was feeling quite weak and dizzy, and I asked my 'girl' to come out into the street. So she put on her cloak and things, and we wandered out. Before I knew it, we were on the 'campus, ' and then I insisted on her coming with me to my room. So we 162 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. went in together, and I must have succumbed to the effects of the drugged liquor, for I did not remember anything else until I found my room full of janitors and tutors and the Lord knows who else, and there was 'Lottie' with me, and I knew my career at the University was over. "Well, father and mother, who had always thought me a model, as most fathers and mothers do, were heartbroken over the affair. I was expelled, of course, and father sent word that he did not want to see my face again. So I drew my regular allowance and went down to New York, determined to live down the disgrace. "A few months later father died. I was the only son, and mother came to New York to live with me. For a little while everything went straight, but I soon found the quiet of home life intolerable. I could not shake off the thought that my father's death had been caused by my disgrace, and whenever mother got a-crying about him, as she often did, I felt like killing myself, too. "You can see how the thing went. The next year I came up to this affair just to see what it looked like — the cause of all my misery. THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 163 I looked at the crowd and laughed to myself as I thought how idiotic it was, and I stayed until it was all over. But I found that I forgot myself a few moments at a time in following the mad motions of the revelers. So when I went back to New York I sought the same sort of places there. Of course there is no scarcity of them. Soon I grew to enjoy the whirl and riot. I came again and again, and still kept on coming. My mother drooped and pined and passed away, and after a short pause I plunged in deeper than ever, and I've been at it ever since. "Of course, I have my moments of regret, and disgust and sorrow, as I have at present. But these soon pass, you know, as they always do with everyone, and then we plunge still depeer and deeper. Some day we strike bot- tom head first, and then there is an end to it. "What think you of my story?" Kevere was silent for a few moments. "Where is your will?" he finally asked. The stranger laughed. "The will," he replied, "is a pleasant fiction invented for the use of hypocrites. Once one plunges in the way I did, thfe will is 164 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. of as much use as it is to a drunkard or mor- phine fiend. No, no, my dear friend, the road ■we travel closes up behind us as we progress. The only way to be safe is to keep out of it." Revere shook his head. "I cannot believe it," he said. "That is because you are inexperienced." "Perhaps." "Surely." The two lapsed into silence. "Why," Eevere finally asked, "have you never married?" "Married?" the stranger exclaimed. "Married? Why, man, you don't suppose that I would be scoundrel enough to tie some pure young girl to myself? No, sir, whatever I may be, I am not as low as that. I know how society looks upon these things ; it for- gives everything in the man and nothing in the woman. But some day it will see its mis- take. Then there will be a change!" Eevere was visibly affected by the stranger's speech. With an impulsive movement, he stretched his hand out to his companion. "Sir," he exclaimed, "allow me to claim THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 165 the privilege of a friend. My name is John Eevere. ' ' The stranger shook his hand warmly. "And mine," he answered, "is Bobert Keene." 166 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. CHAPTEE XVn. THE FLEETING VISION. "While Eevere's hand still rested in Mr. Keene's, a hearty slap on the back and an astonished "Well, well, well," brought him about with a turn. "How are you, Mr. Armstrong," he an- swered, seeing that worthy's smiling visage bending over him. "Fine as silk, old boy," Armstrong replied, "but what are you — you, John Eevere, doing here?" "Business," Eevere curtly answered. "Oh, I see, beg pardon," Armstrong apol- ogized. "Well, what do you think of it?" "Haven't had time to see it thoroughly yet," was Eevere's evasive answer. After Mr. Keene had been introduced to Armstrong, the latter sat down and the three were soon chatting in quite sociable fashioQ, THE FLIGHT 6f ICARUS. 167 "Are you here all alone?" Keene asked Armstrong. "Alone? No, not much; but my friends are taking care of my partner for me. As soon as they get through I'll have a chance to join her. ' ' "H'm," Keene grunted, "guess you won't have much, then. Kids like these here don't know when they have had enough." Armstrong laughed outright. "You seem to know them well?" he asked. "Too well," was the brief response. Meanwhile Kevere had been making sketches of such groups as he thought might prove of use to him. Suddenly his pencil came to a standstill. "Mr. Keene," said he, "did you tell me that you knew every one here?" "Pretty nearly." "Well, then, just look over yonder, toward the right, do you see that woman there, the one with the rose domino? Who is she?" "Let's see," Keene replied, "that — that — strange, she appears unfamiliar. Who can that be, now? I'll swear, I've seen her some- where before.'' 168 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. Keene wrinkled his forehead and followed the woman's figure as she whirled now hither now thither in the mad throng. Eevere still kept his eyes upon her. "Strange," he muttered to himself — "such a magnificent figure — a little fuller, perhaps, but who can it be?" At this moment Armstrong arose. "Who is it you are talking about?" he inquired. Eevere and Keene got upon their feet, too. Eevere pointed at the woman. "There," he said, "do you see her? she is turning in our direction now. ' ' Armstrong laughed. "You mean that girl who is looking toward us now? Why, that is " But Armstrong never finished the sentence. AIL in a second, as it were, the woman they were looking at sank down on the floor as if in a faint. With an oath Armstrong darted across the floor toward her. Eevere was about to follow, when Keene laid a restraining hand upon his shoulder. "Don't get into the crowd," he admonished, "I see that you have your watch and chain with you. This trick of creating excitement THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 169 13 an old one. It generally coats one all re- movable valuables. ' ' While Eevere was still hesitating, the crowd surged toward the ladies' room. "She'll be out again pretty soon, " Keene said. But although Eevere remained several hours after, he did not see the woman again. 170 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. CHAPTEE XVin. "my puee innocent dote." The cool balmy air of the morning went but a little way toward abating Eevere's headache as he walked along the secluded paths of the Ramble. His wan face and frowning brow in- dicated too well the weariness he felt after the previous night's experience. All at once his face cleared and his eye brightened. He had discerned her — ^her who would, best of all things, serve as the panacea for his ills. "My darling!" he passionately exclaimed, as they met. She blushed divinely as she returned his ardent glance. "I am so glad you are here this morning, Elaine, dear, ' ' Eevere continued. She glanced up archly. "Only this morning?" she pouted. "And every other morning, dear, " he ^Q" THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 171 swered, "and evening and night, too, for that matter. ' ' "You enthusiastic boy," she half whis- pered, taking his arm, "but tell me, what makes you appear so utterly worn out this morning?" "A little tired, dear, that's all." "Is that all?" she quickly rejoined. "Tou are bound to pity me, dear, " was hia laughing answer. "So I'll admit that I was rather unpleasantly situated last night. ' ' "Tell me all about it," she urged. "I don't like to, dear." Her lips trembled a moment and then she looked up at him with a whole world of entreaty in her eyes. Eevere surrendered. "Come and sit down, dear, and I'll tell you, ' ' he said. She pressed his arm. "Then I'll try to cure you," she replied. "Now, since you want to know," he began, "I'll tell you that I went to a very bad place last night; a place I don't like to mention to you, you know; one of those places over which one might well put Dante's inscription over the gateway to the Inferno. ' ' It2 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. "So bad?" she asked. "Yes, darling, so bad that it seems a sin to even think of it in your presence." Her face became rosy. "Darling, you idealize me," she mildly protested. "No, dearest," he answered. "I only pay you your due. But to proceed. I stayed there until after midnight, because I had to, for the paper, you know. I saw lots of things which I wish I had never seen and I only wish I were well out of the whole thing, that's all." "What kind of people were there?" she asked. "All kinds: men, women, beasts. It seems inconceivable that they should really be men and women. And yet I met men there whom I know to be quite 'respectable' in the com- munity at large. I met one man, who is an acquaintance of mine in this city, a certain Mr. Armstrong. It seemed queer to see there a man I actually knew ; it was one of those 'balls' you read about in the papers, you know. I actually feel that I am not fit to touch any human being just now, after having been there. ' ' THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 173 As Eevere spoke, he unconsciously released Elaine's hand. "No, no," she exclaimed, clasping his hand with her two, "do not think such things. It is people who go to such places voluntarily who are to blame, not people who are forced to go — as — as you are." "You are a capital comforter, dear," Eevere smilingly answered. "Still, I wish I were well out of the entire business. Oh, if some publisher would only give my book a chance! They are so afraid to touch a new man. The old hands turn out volume after volume of trash, but they swallow it all. Take a new author, however, and he goes begging from house to house. Then he scores a suc- cess and they curse themselves for confounded idiots, and repeat the performance!" "Well, you'll score your success some day, dear, you know, ' ' she brightly answered. "Are you so sure, darling?" "Perfectly," she replied, with a world of trust beaming from her eyes. "Then it must be so, dear," he exclaimed, patting her little hand, "and then" — bui it 174 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. was unnecessary for him to say more. His ardent glance told the rest. "Would you remember poor little me in your success?" she asked, with a pretty show of doubt. "You little goose," he answered. "You like to tease. ' ' "Ah, but I know," she continued in the same strain. "You will look for some one prettier and better " "There is no one," he gently interrupted. "You would seek " " 'Twould be useless, dear." "You think so now." "Ah, darling, men like me love once and once only. You are my ideal, love, in beauty and goodness, but abo" <* all, in true womanli- ness. Were you lacking in any of these you would not be what you are. But you are what you are — you are yourself, dear, and in you I love all goodness and purity and innocence. ' ' She could say nothing after such an answer. She only lay back and looked at him with her magnificent eyes. The look electrified him. Her hands gently moving over his own seemed like the two THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 175 poles of some powerful current, stirring the very depths of his soul. "Darling," he almost whispered, "I wish we were sure of isolation. ' ' "Why?" she asked in the same tone. "I wish to have you to myself, to hold you, to feel you ' ' His arms were stealing around her. "Take me!" she whispered. He clasped her to his heart. "My pure, innocent dove," he murmured, and their lips met in one long, clinging, passionate kiss. Ite THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. CHAPTEE XIX. TWO FRIENDS. EAvma completed all arrangements for the "supper," at which he hoped to prove Eevere "no better than he ought to be," it now re- mained for Duffit to get his victim's consent to grace it with his presence. Under cover of his recent declaration of friendship, then, the wily society editor ap- proached Eevere on the subject of the "love- feast." "Come now, Eevere, old man," he urged, during the course of his conversation, "don't set up in that fashion. You might just as well be companionable as not. We are all going to be there — Timbers and O'Tear and Arm- strong — and I wish you would complete the party. ' ' "But — " Eevere attempted to object. "But me no buts! We are all co-workers and when we have a little family reunion, so THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 177 to speak, you have no right to stay away. Timbers says there is no work to keep you away and I really won't accept a 'no' for an answer. ' ' StiU Eevere was cautious. "Who will be there?" he asked. "Everybody, and all of them jolly good fellows. Every man brings along one part- ner, and no more. ' ' "You mean " "No, no. Not that sort. It's all straight, you know. Simply fun-loving girls. Tou needn't have any scruples on that score. Will you come?" "I'll see " "Oh, the dickens! Why don't you say you will and put an end to it?" Eevere still hesitated. "I have no one to bring along, you know," he objected. "We'll provide some one for you." "How?" was the quick response. "Oh, I mean — we'll find some one to talk to you. Tou won't be lonely." Eevere now saw that he could not very well 178 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. refuse to come without appearing a boor. So, unwilling as he was, he consented. "Very well, " he said. "I will come. " Dufi&t was overjoyed. "That's better," he exclaimed, slapping Eevere on the back. "You may be sure you'll have a good time!" Duffit having hurried away, Kevere slowly walked across the room. He stopped at Sophie's desk. "Hard at work as ever, Miss Duval?" he smilingly remarked. The artiste dropped her pen and stretched her fingers. "Not especially, Mr. Eevere," she replied, "just scratching away." "Don't you get terribly tired?" Eevere asked. "Sometimes. But that's the penalty of labor, you know. 'By the sweat of thy brow,' etc." Eevere joined in her laughter. "By the way," Sophie said,"I see that Mr. Duffit and you are quite friends now." "Friends?" "Good acquaintances, then." THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 179 Eevere curled his lip. "As acquaintances go, Miss Duval," he answered. The artiste was silent for a few moments. Then she looked up at Revere. "Do you know Mr. Eevere — " she began and stopped. "What, Miss Duval?" he encouraged her. "I don't know that I shall tell you. You may be offended. ' ' "Never at you," he gallantly replied. "Flatterer!" "Not guilty." "Worse and worse!" she chided in a mock-serious tone. "But you were going to say " "Well, I'll tell you. I was going to say that I don't like Mr. Duffit, and I don't like to see you with him." She colored as she completed the sentence. Eevere bit his lip. "Now you are offended, " she said. "No," he answered,"! am pleased that you think as you do. ' ' "Eeally?" 180 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. "Eeally. Tou have paid me a great compli- ment, which you must let me pay for by allow- ing me to take you to dinner to-night." And after a little of the usual woman's coquetry she assented. THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 181 CHAPTEB XX. THE TEMPTATION. In the "private dining hall" of a Broad- way resort, then known only to a certain coterie of the "gilded youth" of the metrop- olis, but now familiar to all newspaper read- ers, the favored few who had been initiated into Puffit's scheme were assembled, eagerly awaiting the appearance of the tardy "Saint." O'Tear was there, resplendent in a wonder- fully cheeked waistcoat and a shirt front which had already lost its first polish ; Timbers was there, irreproachable in his evening dress and with a mustache which tapered to a pin point on each side. There was Armstrong, joyous and fresh as ever and, not the least of them all — Robert Keene — man-about-town and con- noisseur of women. A few others there were — lesser lights, who shone by the reflected glory of the leadejrs — but these were coiiseious 182 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. of their inferiority and kept in a separate group to themselves. "Who is to play the principal feminine role to-night, DuflSt?" Armstrong asked. "She'll be here soon," was the answer. "You know her well. It's Polly Powell." "Polly Powell?" Armstrong exclaimed. "Then Kevere is done for!" "Indeed?" Timbers queried. "And who is this Polly?" "Don't know Polly Powell?" Duffit and Armstrong exclaimed with one accord, "why, Polly is the rage of the town!" "I'm an old man, you know," Timbers apologized. "Well, then, I'll tell you," Duffit replied. "Polly Powell is thei star of the burlesque con- stellation. No one knows much about her early history, but she burst on us some six months ago, and has been raising the deuce with the fellows in general ever since. She is the most consummate actress in private life I have ever seen. It took me a good long while to induce her to come, but she finally consented, and is coming all armed for triumph. "There isn't a girl who can turn a fellow's THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 183 head quicker than Polly. She is a voluptuous creature and a paat-mistress in all the arts and wiles of the sirens. There isn't a woman who can raise more of the devil in a given time than can Polly, and she faithfully promised to raise an extraordinary amount of the old one to-night. You'll see if she doesn't carry that angel away with her. ' ' Timbers shook his head. "Tou don't believe it, eh? "Well, then, wait till you see. There she is now, by Jove, as big as life ! Come over and I'll introduce you." The greater portion of the male constituency had already gathered about Polly when Duffit and Timbers approached her. "Miss Powell," Duffit said, "allow me to introduce my chief, Mr. Timbers." "Glad to meet you, Mr. Tim— Timbers, " was Polly's breezy salutation as she held a little pink-nailed hand out to the old fellow. She was certainly a magnificent woman. Her form showed those truly Venus-like pro- portions which are seldom seen in the flesh, and while there was just a trace of command in her bearing, it was really more like that of 184 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. a thoughtless, careless butterfly, •winging, now to this side and now to that, void of all re- straint or confinement, the whole appearance giving one the impression of that curious combination of seriousness and mockery, wis- dom and folly, and above all, lurking deviltry, which go to make up the history-building woman of easy love. Timbers had to admit to himself that he had underestimated the powers of the "rage of the town. ' ' "Suffering Aaron," said he to Duffit, in a confidential aside, "she's a corker from Cork- viUe." "She must be Irish, then," O'Tear ven- tured, "an' if she is, I'll claim fambly ties wid'er, damned if I don't. What'ell. She's a good t'ing!" Duffit was delighted. "Have you changed your programme any, Miss Powell?" he anxiously inquired. "Changed nothing, my boy, " she chirruped, "Trot out your angel and I'll annihilate him before he can say the Lord's prayer." "Tou won't have long to wait," Duffit re- plied, "for here he coines now." THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 185 Polly looked at Eevere curiously as he shook hands with Keene. "H'm," she commented, "doesn't seem to be anything extraordinary about him. No long hair, no last century collar. ' ' The company now seated themselves at the table, Duffit seeing to it that Polly was placed next to Eevere. "Allow me to introduce to you Miss Powell, Eevere," Duffit took the opportunity to say. Before Polly had time to give her customary off-hand salutation, Eevere was on his feet bowing. "I am pleased to form your acquaintance," he murmured, and Polly was literally forced into the conventional interchange of courtesies. Without knowing it, Eevere had won the first round. And now Polly laid herself out to capture the young Westerner. With the oysters she tried to be jolly, but Eevere was polite. With the consomme Polly was quite happy. Severe was distant. When the entree came, Polly endeavored to convert Eevere to her way of eating, but the young man stuck to the conven- tional method. Polly fairly languished over 186 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. the asparagus, but Eevere simply would not follow the graceful motions of her tapering fingers. Clearly, there was something wrong there. Polly's spirits began to flag. Eevere became interested in proportion. With the wine, Duffit looked for some outburst, but none came. Polly was as docile as a lamb. Eevere talked about current topics and Polly listened. Daffit finally caught her eye. "Why don't you go ahead?" his glance plainly asked. But she gave no answer. Duffit was in despair. The other feminine members of the gather- ing were now becoming hilarious on their own account. "Polly?" one of the "ladies" called out. Polly looked up. "How high can you kick now?" the curious one cried. Eevere started. He looked at his companion inquiringly. The girl flushed. "I am an actress," she half-whispeTsd. Eevere bit his lip. THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 187 "And who are the others?" he asked. She cast her eyes down and became redder than ever. "They are women. "Polly," Duffit exclaimed, determined to bring things to a crisis, and forgetful of the fac^ that until that moment he had called her "Miss Powell," "Polly, won't you show us some of your fancy steps to-night?" Eevere felt his hand under the tablecloth caught by hers. It was burning hot. "Miss Powell does not fell well, Duffit," he answered for her. "Nonsense!" Duffit, whom the wine and chagrin were fast driving furious, cried out, "Polly is never too ill to dance! clear the floor there, and let's see her do something pretty." Eevere felt the grip tightening on his hand. "I have told you, Duffit," he said, laying emphasis on the "I," "that Miss Powell is ill." Duffit was rapidly losing all his self-control. "What in hell do you know about Polly?" he cried, "I know all about her! Polly can dance at any time. ' ' Bevere'seyes fairly flashed Are as he started 188 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. to rise from the table, but the same hot little hand kept him down, and a tremulous voice whispered : "Do nothing rash, but let me go home." "Gentlemen," Eevere said, composing his voice, "this lady wishes to go home. I shall therefore" — but she interrupted him with a faint : "Mr. Keene will see me home." "Mr. Keene," he asked, "will you see Miss Powell home?" "With pleasure," was the answer. Polly arose, leaning on Eevere 's arm. The others followed. "Tee-hee-hee, " one damsel snickered, "Polly's experienced religion." "Shut yer mout," O'Tear gently admon- ished. "Eevere," Keene said in an undertone, as Polly was putting her wraps on, ' 'get out of here: it's no place for you. You're a brick." At this moment Polly announced herself ready to go. "Miss Powell," Eevere asked her as they shook hands, "did you have a mission her© to-night?" THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 189 Her eyes sought the floor again. ' ' Yes, ' ' was the almost inaudible reply. "Are you glad you did not execute it?" She looked up now. "Yes," she answered in a firmer tone. "Then I am glad I have met you, Miss Powell, and wish you all prosperity in the future." She seemed pleased at his expression of good will. "And I wish you" — she replied, "to — to remain ever the same as you are." He pressed her little hand warmly. "Good-by, Mr. Eevere, " she half -sobbed, "and — and God bless you." 190 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. CHAPTEE XXI. THE BEACTION. Silence reigned supreme in the room as Miss Powell and Keene walked out — silence which was broken at last by Timbers approach- ing Eevere with his hand extended. "Eevere, my boy," said he, "I'm damned proud of you. 'Twas all a put-up job, you know, and I'm glad it fell though." Eevere saw the old man was in earnest, and silently pressed his hand. But hardly had Timbers ceased speaking when O'Tear came up. He was already well "under the influ- ence," but he still had consciousness enough left to appreciate the light in which they appeared. "John, me boy," said he, grasping Eevere's arm, "kin yer fergive an ole chap like me?" "For what?" Eevere cheerily asked. "Per bein' in wid dis yer gang. But I had me tin on yer, ye know." THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 19J: "What do you mean?" "Why, 'twaz all a put-up job, ye know. Timbers an' me put our boodle on yer agin Duffit, see?" "The hound!" "Dat's what he is," O'Tear acquiesced. "But yer'll fergive me, won't ye?" He was almost in tears. "All right, old chap, all right," Eevere an- swered, "but I must be going now." "Not before you have let me into a share of your dispensations," Armstrong interposed, putting his hand on Kevere's shoulder. "This is getting to be too dramatic, alto- gether," Eevere laughingly protested. "Ee- ally, gentlemen, I can attach no blame to any of you for wishing to see the fun, but that hound Duffit " "Don't bother yourself about him," Arm- strong replied, "he'll soon be beyond the reach of us all, if he keeps on the way he is doing now. ' ' All four instinctively looked about for the arch-conspirator, and were surprised to see him prostrate upon a couch. "What is it?" Eevere inquired. 193 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. "Morphine. He's been at it for some time and just took some to help himself through the excitement." "Ugh," Eevere shivered, as he put his overcoat on, "the miserable wretch!" As soon as Eevere had left the party aban- doned all restraint. Heels went up in the air, bottle popped after bottle and the frenzy grew more and more intense as the hours flew by. But Duffit lay still upon the sofa, his heavy breathing unheard in the general din, sleeping off the effects of the subtle poison that had already laid hold upon his vitality and was slowly but surely dragging him down, lower, lower, lower, into the bottomless abyss of the narcotic's pseudo-Paradise. THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS, 193 CHAPTEE XXn, A GENTLEMAN AND A MAN. Meanwhile Polly and her escort were being driven home. Polly had no sooner entered the carriage than she had burst into a flood of tears, and it was all that Keene could do to keep from jumping out into the roadway, for, like most men, he would have faced a roaring lion rather than a crying woman. "There, there Polly, don't be a big baby," he coaxed, attempting to pacify her, "cheer up now, and dry your eyes. Don't cry." "I-I-I am n-n-not-t c-c-cry -cry -crying!" Polly managed to gasp between sobs, "I-I a- am-am a-all ri-right n-n-now. ' ' "All right, then," was the dubious answer. "The-the me-mean wr-wretch!" Polly ex- claimed, as soon as she had regained some control over herself. "Who?" Keene wickedly asked, "Eevere?" 194 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. "No!" she almost screamed, "you know who I mean. It's that sneaky Duffit!" "What about him?" "He's a wretch!" "Why?" "Why did he induce me to coma, when — when he knew who Mr. Eevere was, and — and how different he was from the others, and — and what did he want to talk to me in that horrible fashion for? Oh, the next time I see him I'll scratch his miserable eyes out, that's what I'll do!" "There, there," Keene gently remonstrated, "he won't come near you again, you know. Just calm down and be nice. ' ' "I can't calm down!" she answered, "when I think of the show he made of me! The beast! When I plainly told him with my eyes that I wished him to remain quiet!" "What did you come for, in the first place?" Keene asked. '■'Because he coaxed me to." "And didn't you intend to do as he wanted you to?" She hesitated before she replied. "Yes," she finally admitted. THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 195 "Why didn't you, then?" he pressed on interrpgatively. "Why?" she exclaimed, "why didn't I? Because! Because things were different. Oh, Mr. Keene, can't you understand?" "Hardly." "I'll tell you, then. Have you ever entered a hall where some one was posing nude for artists? If you were a stranger, did you ever remark how the model would lose the pose, and be confused and ashamed? If you ever have you will see why I couldn't do things the way I always do. It's all right with the regu- lar run, like — like ' ' "Like Duffit or me," Keene quietly sug- gested. "With the regular run," she repeated, ignoring him, "but when some one comes in like — like Mr. Eevere, then I feel that I can't do it, that's all. All the others are not like — like " "Men," Keene again suggested. "Like him," she continued, again ignoring his prompting, "but he — he makes me feel different. He treated me the way he would his mother or sister, or any other real lady, 196 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. and I felt that I was not with the regular run, but with a — a " "A man," Keene suggested. She hesitated a moment. "A man," she finally admitted. They both lapsed into silence, which lasted until the cab drew up at her door. "Polly," Keene gravely said, as he assisted her up the stairs, "Revere and you have taught me a lesson to-night I shall not easily forget. God bless you, Polly." "But you will come to see me, won't you?" Polly asked, as she stood in the doorway. "Yes," Keene answered, "if you will look upon me as a — a " It was his turn to hesitate now. "A man?" she lightly interrogated. "A man," he assented. "I will," she cried, and kissing her hand to him, vanished. Keene dismissed the carriage, and thrusting his hands into his pockets, thoughtfully walked down the avenue. THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 197 CHAPTER XXIII. THE MORNING AETEB. These was an air of general apathy in the office the following day. Timbers, although at his desk, was "sick," and the members of the staff, as is always the case, showed the same lack of interest in matters that their chief did. Severe, having left the "supper" at a compar- atively early hour, suffered no qualms, but he, too, was somewhat depressed. Duffit had come in for a few moments and passed out without exchanging a word with any one. O'Tear had not shown up at all. "Have you seen O'Tear to-day, Mr. Tim- bers?" Eevere asked. "No," was the answer, "he hasn't come dowii. "Is he sick?" "I shoulden't wonder. He was pretty heavily loaded when I saw him last. Gad ! How my head throbs!" 198 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. Revere went back to his desk. He had hardly settled down to work, when he heard Timbers calling him. Timbers' face wore a scared look. "Bad news, Eevere," he said. "About whom?" "O'Tear." "O'Tear? What is it?" "He's in the hospital. Here's the local news bulletin. Just came in. O'Tear was picked up unconscious at the corner of Sixth Avenue and Tenth Street. They took him to the hospital, and he's developed a bad case of theD. T.'s." Kevere paled when he heard the last words. "Heavens!" he exclaimed, "Poor O'Tear." "Poor boy!" Timbers echoed. "To-morrow is my day off, Mr. Timbers," Eevere said, "may I change off, so as to be able to go to see him to-day?" "Nonsense, my dear boy," Timbers an- swered, "you just go ahead and never mind your day off or your day on. The poor lad needs a friend just now. ' ' Eevere almost ran out of the building. At the hospital, he soon received permission THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 199 to see O'Tear, and in charge of a nurse was sent up to the ward. His blood ran cold as he recognized O'Tear's voice, even before the door had opened. "Oh, it's choking me ! There, there, don't you see it? oh, take them off, take them off! Mercy! Mercy! It's choking me! Why don't you take them away?" The tears stood in Eevere's eyes as he slowly approached his friend's bed. Several nurses were already grouped around it. "Poor man," one of them said, "he has just started off. The doctor will be here in a minute. ' ' "Oh, take them off!" O'Tear was now feebly moaning. He grasped at his throat and leaning over motioned as if he were throw- ing something on the floor. Then he passed his hand over his chest. "Ah-h-h!" he shud- dered, and flung his arm out with full force. Bevere caught his hand and leaned over him. "O'Tear, old man, " he whispered, "don't you know me?" A gleam of intelligence shot from the patient's large, watery eyes. He sank back on his pillow. 200 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. "John, my boy," he murmured, "I am bad —bad " "Now, now, dear boy, just brace up." "Those horrible things " "No, no, you don't see them now, do you? They're hallucinations, you know, don't you?" "Yes," he answered, "I don't" — then his body stiffened. The same horrified look came into his eyes. "There they are! Don't you see them? They are crawling all over me! Take them off!" "What is it?" Eevere asked, a big lump in his throat almost choking his utterance. "Snakes! Ugh! Eats! See them staring at me! Take them off! Take them off!" It was at this juncture that the doctor arrived. In a moment the hypodermic barrel was filled, the needle was screwed in, and the opiate went coursing through the blood. O'Tear was now writhing in that terrible convulsion characteristic of a severe attack of the disease. It was all that Kevere could do to keep the tears from gushing out of his eyes, but to his relief the intensity of the shivers soon ceased ; the limbs began to relax. THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 201 and in some ten minutes, O'Tear was entirely under the effects of the narcotic. It was then that Eevere withdrew the hand which O'Tear had retained in his grasp throughout and turned to the doctor. "What are his chances, doctor?" he asked. "I guess he'll pull through all right, " the youthful disciple of Hippocrates replied. "Thank God!" a feminine voice sighed be- hind them. The doctor turned in surprise. "How now, Sister Dolorosa? Crying, too? Do you know the patient?" "Tes, doctor," the sombre-clad Sister who stood at the head of the bed, replied : "I know him." "Then we must take doubly good care of him, for your sake," the physician gallantly exclaimed. Eevere was interested. Who was this woman who knew O'Tear? "Pardon me, madam," said he, "I, too, am a friend of Mr. O' Tear's. I hope he will re- ceive the best of care. ' ' "Yes, indeed," was the gentle answer, "I shall do all I can for him .' ' Eevere now re- 202 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. marked that the Sister's face, although bearing the traces of the passage of many years, still showed indications of great beauty. There was a sad, pensive look in her eyes, which rested caressingly now and again on the sufferer's countenance. "If any money is needed — " Eevere began. "No, no; not at all," she exclaimed. "I shall look after him. With heaven's help, he shall come back to health." "God grant it," Eevere reverently re- sponded, "and reward you for your goodness." He stretched out his hand and held hers for a moment, then hastily walked out of the ward. THE fLlGHt Of iCAftUS. 203 CHAPTEE XXIV. foukd! Theee was quite a little stir in the office when Eevere reported the result of his visit. Timbers at once announced his intention of paying a visit to the hospital the following day. Armstrong, too, happening to meet Eevere on the street, promised to be there the next after- noon. Accordingly, four o'clock found them all at the hospital. Eevere was the first to approach the bedside and was quite surprised to see the improvement in O'Tear's condition. O'Tear was lying back, his pale face show- ing almost ghastly against the snow-white pillow, but with a happy, contented look on it. Sister Dolorosa was busily engaged in arrang- ing some flowers on a table nearby. The patient fairly beamed with pleasure when Ee- vere bent over him. 204 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. "Thanks, John, old chap," he weakly whis- pered. "It's kind of you " "Tut, tut, dear old fellow," Eevere inter- rupted, stroking his hand, "it's a pleasure to see you on the mend. But there are others here, beside me." "Who?" "Why, Timbers and Armstrong. Do you feel like seeing any one?" "Yes, yes," he replied. So Timbers came in, followed by Armstrong, Timbers stepping as gingerly as if he were treading on eggs, and Armstrong handling his hat nervously ; and the two shook O'Tear by the hand as gently as they could, and all three sat down on the bed, and cautioned the sick man not to say a word, and all talked thirteen to the dozen about all manner of things and asked him innummerable questions and stopped him before he could answer them, and spoke to him of the outside world as if he had been out of it a year instead of a day, and petted him as if he were a little child, and called him "dear boy," and "good old chap," and"fine old fellow," and "chummie" to their heart's content and promised to send him in- THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 205 numerable cans of jellies and preserves and dainties enough to stock a hotel pantry, and be- haved in general in the dear old foolish away people always do with patients and finally de- clared that they musn't stay a moment longer, or it might hurt him, and shook hands with him again and again, and were all stealing off together, when O'Tear asked Kevere to stay behind for a few moments. So Timbers and Armstrong promised to wait in the office and tiptoed out again. "John," O'Tear said, as soon as the two friends had gone off, " do you remember the little story I told you one night on the Bowery?" "Tes," Severe answered, "but don't call up those unpleasant memories just now. ' ' "Ah, but they are not unpleasant any longer. ' ' "No? That's good." "No. Do you remember what I told you about the little flat I have kept all these years?" "Yes." "Well, I am going to make use of it, after all. Ah, boy, I'm the happiest man in New York to-day." 206 fttg FLIGHT OF ICARtJg. "You mean " "Tes, old fellow, I have found her. There she is — Sister Dolorosa, as she is known here, but to me, my own darling Alice; my little sweetheart and wife that is to be!" Then, of course, he called her over and introduced her, and she blushed and stammered when Kevere shook her hand and congratulated her, and O'Tear was radiant with joy and love, and patted her hand, and returned Eevere's hearty pressure, and declared over and over again that he was the happiest man in the universe and for just fifteen minutes the three forgot that there was any one else in the world but they, until finally Alice tore herself away and went off to her flowers, and Bevere assured O'Tear again and again that he was a "lucky dog," and O'Tear pleaded guilty. "But just think, John, old man," said he, "all these years she has refused to take the black veil, because she felt that some day we should be brought together again. Ah, m^ boy, I really don't deserve the angel. Now you just wait till I get out and you'll see that there is still something else in Jim O'Tear beside rum and curses." THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 207 "I know it, old fellow, I know it," Eevere assured him, "but I must leave you to rest now. ' ' "All right, but don't tell any of them about it just yet, will you?' "Not if you don't wish me to." "Not yet." "All right, good-by, old man." "Good-by." 208 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS, CHAPTER XXV. "SOPHUS DUVAL 1" In the office Severe found Timbers and Arm- strong pacing up and down impatiently. "Well," Timbers exclaimed, "you've been at it long enough. What wuh it, a last confes- sion?" "More or less," Revere answered, smiling, "Well, hope you won't have any chance to uHe it. Mother of JoHiah I It makes me feel creepy to Hoe the poor boy lying there on that spindle-legged cot I" "Well," Revere replied, "I guess he'll 1)6 out before long, ' ' "Theflooner the better," Timbers muttered, as be aimed a vicious kick at a stray cat which was scudding down the liospital stairs in front of him, "I hate hospitals!" The short journey downtown was completed in silence, TimVjers burying himself in the THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 209 late editions of the evening papers, and Arm- strong thoughtfully staring out of the car window. From the City Hall station Timbers hurried off to the office, while Revere accepted Armstrong's invitation to have dinner with him. They strolled over to the Astor House, but even after they had seated them- selves at the table Armstrong remained taci- turn and morose. "You seem to have the [blues to-day," Bevere finally ventured to remark. Armstrong sighed. "Guess you're about right, " he answered, "only I've been at it for some time." ' ' Blues at length ? Horrible ! ' ' "Yes, it is pretty bad. But what's one going to do? Once you start in, there's no drawing back." Armstrong was now talking more to himself than to Eevere. "Ah, there is no denying that in certain roads one can only walk downward, never up again." Eevere stared at him in astonishment. "What!" he exclaimed, "you moralizing?" "Queer isn't it?" the other returned, a ghost of a smile flitting across his lips, "but we all have our troubles, although they seem worse when we bring them upon ourselves." 310 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. For some time after this outburst Armstrong toyed -with his knife and fork in silence, mak- ing a pretense at eating. Finally he threw the implements down and pushed his plate away. "I'll tell you what I'll do," he exclaimed, "I'm going to ask you for advice. What do you say?" "You know how it is," Eevere replied. "Advice is generally easy to get, but hard to follow." "Oh, I know, but this is (different. You see, it's all about my girl." Eevere shifted uneasily. "I know your scruples," Armstrong quickly said, noting his perturbation, "and that's why I talk to you about it. I think your head is level on the subject. Now I'll tell you how it is. My girl is one in a million, I must admit. But she's been queer of late, almost no life in her at all, and calling for money like the devil. I can't make it out. Whatever she does with the money, I don't know, but I con- jecture that she's got some one she's support- ing or helping support. Now I don't care who it is, if it isn't some man. You know there are such men. THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 211 "And that brings me to the point of the aflfair. I've been thinking for some time of settling down, and I've felt more than once like marrying the girl just as she is. Tou think it strange? Ah, you don't know the girl. She's an angel!" "Well, when a fellow feels that way about a girl he hates to think there's some one else in the background, don't you know. I can't get a word out of her. Says it's a sacred affair of her own only, and all that. "So you see how it is. As a matter of fact, if it wasn't for another affair of mine, which is weighing rather heavily on me, I would probably have made the girl my wife before this. As it is, I feel somewhat squeamish. I may tell you about the other affair some other time, but meanwhile I do not know what to do with my girl. Lily Degraw her name is. I have my susijicions that she is supporting some mother or sister somewhere, but I am not sure, and in case there is a fellow — you see how unpleasant it would be. Oh, Lord, there is no getting out of it. I love the girl down to her little toes, and I can't think any ill of her. ' ' 212 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. Armstrong ceased and looked hard at the tablecloth. "What do you say?" he finally asked. Eevere stroked his chin meditatively. "Well," he finally answered, "you know what my views are. I don't think you had better press me to go on with them at length. You had better look things over carefully your- self. I really do not see any satisfactory solu- tion to your problem." Armstrong groaned. "It's pretty well tangled, I know," he said, "but 'twould become more so if you knew about the other story. That's worse yet. I have half a mind to tell you about it now. But no — I'll wait for some other opportu- uity." The dinner was completed in silence. "Come uptown with me," Armstrong then urged, "I need some one's company to-night." "Very well, I'll be pleased to be the 'com- pany, ' " Eevere answered, "but I want to run into the office and get some papers from my desk. Will you come up?" "Yes. It's some time since I've been up there." THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 213 In a few minutes Eevere was busy sorting out some papers in his desk, Armstrong mean- while standing by and turning over the leaves of a stray periodical. "There," Eevere said, "I have them now." Armstrong was laying the magazine down, when Eevere saw Miss Duval coming down be- tween the row of desks. "Good-evening, Miss Duval," he cheerfully called out. As the words left his lips Armstrong jumped up as if he had been shot. He turned about, and Miss Duval seeing him at the same instant, her inarticulate gasp and his cry of "Sophie!" came simultaneously. For a moment she swayed, as if about to fall, but recovering herself, cast one burning, contemp- tuous glance at him, and then passed on to her desk. Eevere had witnessed this scene with the greatest amazement. Armstrong had made a motion as if to follow Sophie, but restraining himself, turned back and clutched Eevere by the arm. "Come out," he almost groaned, "come into the fresh air. ' ' 214 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. Once outside, Armstrong seemed to regain some of his self-command. "Tell me," he asked, "what is she doing here?" "Miss Duval?" Eevere answered, "why, she is our woman artist." Armstrong sighed. "Poor girl!" he said, "has it come to this? Does she have to work for her living in that miserable hole while I — I — the cause of all her trouble, am rolling in luxury ! Poor, poor little girl!" Eevere listened with amazement. The whole affair appeared incomprehensible to him. "But tell me," Armstrong began again, "how does she get along there? Is she able to do the work? Is she well treated? How does she behave?" "Miss Duval," Revere replied, "is a woman who would command respect any where, and she certainly does in the office. She works hard — harder than any woman should work, I believe, and I esteem her as I would any good, noble woman. ' ' "Good and noble she is, indeed," Arm- strong echoed, "and there is none higher than THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 215 she in any respect. Had it not been for me and my perfidy she would not be here to-day, working herself to death for a miserable pit- tance per week. Listen, I told you a little while ago about 'another affair!' Well, she is that 'other affair!' If you will allow me to do so, I shall tell you about it, and let you see what a miserable coward I am. But I may yet do what I can to make up for my wretched work. I must, however, tell you the whole story. It Vill relieve me. Let us walk up Broadway.' 216 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. CHAPTEE XXVI. THE OLD, OLDSTOBY. "I MET Sophie two years ago. There was no sweeter or prettier girl in New Orleans than she, and as her family was of the best French descent, I did not hesitate to sue for her hand. She was quite childish, even for her young years, and having just come out of the convent, knew next to nothing about the world. She sang angelically, played divinely, and rivaled nature with the brush. In short, she was a little bundle of perfection, and I, being about the first man she had ever seen, it natu- rally followed that I soon won her dear, inno- cent little heart. "But mark you, no sooner had I gained her consent to become my wife than I repented the hasty step. I was still young — I said to my- self — much too young to marry. I loved Sophie, 'twas true, but I loved myself also. THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 217 So, with the growth of one thought after another, I gradually resolved to sacrifice Sophie instead of myself, and — I actually did so. ' ' Under solemn promise of marriage I gained possession of my trusting little sweetheart, and when there appeared danger of the secret leaking out, I easily induced her to fly with me. It was the same old story. We went from city to city, Sophie enjoying the strange sights like the child that she was, and I enjoy- ing my companion as one generally does under the circumstances. But soon Sophie grew im- portunate. She demanded that I fulfill my promise, and I put her off under various pre- tenses. She grew alarmed and began to insist. "Still I delayed. Then came little scenes. Sophie cried, I pacified. Sophie threatened, I cajoled. We came to New York. Week week after went by. Sophie drooped and pined away. But I, plunging deep into the vortex of metropolitan pleasures, cared very little about her or her troubles. Sophie finally made one grand attempt to make me keep my word. I steeled myself and told her she was 218 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. welcome to my protection, but my name she should never bear ! "What a coward I was! Poor little girl! She said nothing after that, but just put her things on and walked out. I thought it was only a trick and did not stop her. I knew she carried very little money and imagined dhe would come back the following day. But three days passed and I heard nothing of her. Then I set detectives on her track and found her be- fore the week's end. As a preliminary, I sent her a substantial check. It came back that same evening, ind my detectives could not trace her again. "So, I grieved a little while, and cursed myself, and swore to do her justice if I got a chance, and went off traveling again. In Bal- timore I picked up Lily Degraw and brought her back with me. As for Sophie, I never saw her again until this day. I see it all now. The poor little girl went to work here and has been supporting herself by the labor of her own hands. Poor darling!" Armstrong paused and the two walked on in silence for a few minutes. "But what am I to do now?" Armstrong THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 219 burst out. "I don't know what to do! I love one, I love the other. God! What a terrible thing it is to get into this maelstrom ! Ah, it is true, we sow the wind and reap — and reap a thousand whirlwinds ! What am I to do now?" Eevere shook his head. "I think the path is clearly marked before you," he said. "To do what?" "Do justice to the poor girl you have in- jured. ' ' "And forsake the one I love?" "Your mistress?" Armstrong winced. The word seemed to have a peculiar acridity coming from Eevere 's mouth. "My — ^mistress," he assented. "You owe her no duty." "True." A short pause followed again. "So you think I ought to marry Sophie?" Armstrong finally said. "I do." "And my — my mistress?" 320 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. "Send her where she belongs, out of the path of an injured girl. Do not allow pleasure to interfere with duty." "Well," was the dejected answer, "I'll see what I can do. ' ' THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 221 CHAPTEE XXVII. AT THE FRENCH BALL. It was the scene at New Haven over again, only on a grander, more magnificent scale. There were the immaculate young bloods — and the old ones — ^the thickly -rouged "ladies," the square-shouldered "bouncers," and all the other appurtenances of the old time "French Ball." What gay New Yorker has not paid his ten dollars for the precious privilege of witness- ing those manifestations — commonly called "breaks" — on the part of the feminine con- tigent, which consist of a grand exhibition of any amount of hosiery and lingerie, framing a more or less diminutive foot, fanning the air in the immediate vicinity of a temptingly held silk hat? The scenes of the "French Ball" have been exploited too much by the daily press to require any lengthy description. Disgusted but alert, Eevere paced up and 332 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. down the floor, faithfully fulfilling — what Tim- bers had promised him should be — the last "gay" assignment of the season. In making the turn at the eastern part of the garden, Eevere came face to face with Keene. It was the first time they had met since the memorable night of Duffit's supper. Their conveijsation naturally reverted to that topic. "Yes, old chap, " Keene was saying, "he's actually here to-night. ' ' "Duffit?" "Exactly. But who his partner may be is beyond me. She's tall and thin and angular — not at all one of the crowd — seems to be trying to appear at ease, but I'll be hanged if I can make her out. Just a little touch of paint, you know — looks like an enameled mummy." Kevere laughed. "And you are all alone?" he asked. ' 'I? Not at all. Who do you think is with me?" "Give it up." "Tou might have tried to guess. Miss Powell!" THE FLIGHT OF ICARtfS. 223 Bevere bit his lip. "I didn't think—" he began. "Oh, you're off the track, old chap," Keerle interpolated, "she's here in strict 'incog.' Come over and see her. She's in a box — all to ourselves, you know." Eevere hung back. "I say," Keene urged, "I really wish you would — don't you know. I want you to meet Miss Powell again and know her better. She's anxious, too, that you should. I've seen her quite often of late. She's no end of a nice girl, don't you know — full of fun, but straight as a church. No nonsense, you understand. I just brought her here because she wanted to see what the thing looked like. ' ' Eevere yielded and followed his friend to the box. After fifteen minutes' conversation with Miss Powell, he had to admit to himself that there was quite a difference between tha woman he had seen at the supper and ths woman he saw that night. She was undeniably handsome, dashing, a mistress of the art of charming, a ravisher of men's senses. She was positively brilliant in her conversatioB that evening Mid seeijaed to 234 THE FLlGHt OF ICARUS. find great pleasure in deriding the creatures who danced and pirouetted on the floor below them. "Look!" Keene,who had been leaning over the back of her chair, suddenly exclaimed, "there goes our friend!" Following the direction of Keene's finger Eevere distinguished Duffit's face in the crowd and there, hanging on his arm, was Maria Ann Overley ! "Who is it?" Keene asked. "One of our reporters!" Eevere briefly re- plied. Almost at the same instant Miss Overley saw the occupants of the box. Eevere stepped back a little, but it was too late. He could see her arguing with her partner for a mo- ment or two, and then she released his arm and struggled across the floor. He had hard- ly turned about, when she was in the box. "Didn't expect to see me here, did you?" she began, by way of salutation, "but you know, a newspaper woman can go anywhere. ' ' "Certainly, madam," Eevere dryly replied. "Miss, just plain miss, " the Amazon cor- rected. THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 225 "Miss, " Eevere acquiesced. "Won't you introduce me to your friends?" Miss Overley calmly asked, and when Eevere had accomplished the task with all the grace he could muster, she at once became confi- dential. "Would you believe it?" she said, "I had to beg and beg of dear Mr. Duffit before he would consent to take me along with him. Finally I bought the tickets, and then he couldn't refuse, don't you know. I tried to induce that namby-pamby Duval girl to come, but she just wouldn't. Mr. Duffit is such an angel of a man, though. I really be- lieve he has been wanting to kiss me all the evening, but I wouldn't encourage him, don't you know — not for the world. I don't think it's right. Beside, what would people think?" Not receiving any answer to the ponderous query. Miss Overley took a fresh start, and proceeded : "It's quite a gay crowd, isn't it? So ro- mantic, don't you know. I declare, I don't think my club friends would back me any longer if they knew I enjoyed this, but they don't, you know. They always think it's duty, 336 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. and painful and all that. I'm a reformer, don't you know." Having taken a long breath, Miss Overlay was just about to start on a new verbal excur- sion, when she observed Duffit hilariously whirling around the floor with a dizzy -looking, be-tighted and be-spangled maiden. "I declare!" she hastily exclaimed, an ominous glitter lighting in her eyes, "there's dear Mr. Duffit calling me now. The dear man actually can't get along without me. Hope you'll excuse me. I'll see you all later." And in a twinkling she was out of the box and sturdily elbowing her way through the crowd. Polly Powell was the first one to break the silence which ensued. Her silvery laughter was soon mingling with Keene's. Eevere alone looked discomfited. "Observe the tragedy !" Polly cried, moving toward the front of the box. Miss Overley had no sooner caught up with Duffit than she laid her hand on his shoulder. Duffit seemed to be pretty well "under the in- fluence, ' ' for he wobbled as he came to a sud- den stop. From the pantomime which fol- lowed it was evident that an argument was in progress, which was brought to a sudden ter- THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 227 mination by the other fair one abandoning the field and flying under the protecting wing of a passing reveler, pursued by nothing more harmful than the indignant glances of the fair Miss Overley, who promptly sank into her escort's arms. It would be difficult to say why he did it, but just as the pair came abreast of the box Kevere was in, Duffit was seen to bend forward and imprint a salute upon the chaste lips of Miss Maria Ann ! The look of triumph which she shot at her colleague the next moment fairly electrified him. Revere turned from the spectacle and engaged Miss Powell in conversation. Now and again Keene joined in, but he seemed to prefer listening. Finally he abandoned the field altogether and devoted his attention to the crowd. Suddenly he turned around. "Eevere, " he said, "will you come here a moment?" Eevere stepped forward. "Do you remember the mysterious lady at New Haven?" Keene asked. "The one who fainted? Yes, Why?" 328 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. "She's here to-night. I know her now. See her over there toward the left?" "Toward the left? Mmm — m — oh, yes, that's the one? She has the same mask on, too. Who is she?" "Guess." "Can't." "Weil, that is the mistress of your friend Mr. Armstrong. Her name is Lily Degraw." "LilyDegraw? What an odd combination! Lily Degraw! See! She must know you — she has turned in our direction. There's Armstrong, right behind her. She has turned away — there she is now — no, it is not she. Can you still see her?" "No," Keene replied. "She'smixed in the shuffle. Why are you so interested?" "I'm sure I don't know. Just curiosity, I suppose. ' ' "Magnificent woman, isn't she?" "More or less." "What do you think of her figure?" "Quite shapely." "Think it compares with Miss Powell's?" Eevere smiled. "I'm a poor judge of those tilings, you know," he replied. THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 229 The two now rejoined Miss Powell, but although Eevere watched for an hour or more, he saw neither the masked Miss Degraw nor Armstrong again. 230 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. CHAPTEE XXVin. "do TOU think I OUGHT TO MAEEY HIM?" DuEiNG the term of his employment in the office Eevere had entirely conquered little Joe's heart. Ho was now the confidant of all his woes and Joe had no small amount of them. With the advent of Miss Duval, Joe had hesi- tated somewhat beween the two, but seeing that Eevere and the young lady were on the best of terms, he swore allegiance to them jointly, as well as separately. Eevere was not at all surprised, therefore, when Joe came to him the following day with fire in his eye, and informed him that he thought that Miss Duval should be looked after. "Why, what's the matter, Joe?" he asked. "It's all on 'count uv dat feller what his nibs Duffit hangs out wid — Armstrong, his name bees. Dat bloke, he come in here yisti- day, an' he goes up t' Miss Doo-val an' she tells 'im as how she don't wan't t' have nnthin' THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 231 to' do wid 'im, but he don't take no water at all, but talks away like 's if lie wuz wound up like a phunnigraph, an' Miss Doo-val, she gits on 'er ear an' tells 'im as how he's no gentle- man, but dat cuts no ice wid 'im. He jist keeps at it an' Miss Doo-val near a-cryin' an' all that. So, fin'ly, she a' most screams an' she wishes he'd leave 'er, an' den he tells 'eras 'ow she'll change 'ermind some day, an' she'll be glad uv it an' all dat. I dunno w'at it's all erbaut, but say, Mr. Eevere, if I wuz grown up an' big, an' not afeared uv bein' fired, I'd jist go in an' wallop de life outen 'im, I would!" Eevere promised to see to the matter and sent Joe away quite jubilant, and then began to sort his mail. The first note he opened was from Keene. "My Deae Eeveke," it read, "I write this just after the ball. I want to see you and dis- cuss some matters this evening. Can you manage to meet me at the X — ■ Club at eight o'clock? It may be an inducement to you to know that Miss P. P. is to be the subject of the conversation. "Sincerely yours, ■'EoBEBT Keene." 233 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. "I wonder what he is up to now?" Eevere muttered, as he replaced the sheet in its en- velope and walked over to Timbers' desk. "Shall I be on duty to-night?" he asked. "No, I guess we won't need you after five. I wish I could say as much for Duffit. Damn it, I don't know what to do with the man. He's not worth his salt. Look here, how would you like to handle his stuff perma- nently?" Eevere shook his head. "Well," Timbers continued, "I suppose you're right, but I really don't see what I can do with the man. He's positively gorging himself with morphine, and there's no stop- ping him. As for Overley — she's no good at all, now. I heard that she was up at the ball with him last night. Is that true?" Eevere nodded. "Well, then," Timbers exploded, "the devil's in it, that's all. Jumping Jerusalem! Who'd have thought she'd go so fast? A decent woman she is, too. I thought a good deal of her myself, and now, to see her go over the side like that!" His emotion seemed to master him for a moment. THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 233 "Boy!" his familiar shrill shout finally rang out, "bring me a big bottle of lager!" "Yes, sir," he continued, as soon as he had seen one of the "devils" whisk down the stairs, "the office is going to the dogs. I don't know what they'd do without me. The only consolation I really have is in O'Tear. Lord, how the man has picked up ! I could swear I'd never known him before." The boy now rushed up with the liquid re- freshment. Having invited Eevere to join him and graciously allowed him to decline the honor with thanks. Timbers took a long draught and immediately became light-hearted. "I suppose it'll all come out right in the end," he concluded. "By the way, are you going to the wedding?" " O ' Tear ' s ? ' ' Eevere replied. ' ' Of course. I'm to be the best man, you know." "And I," Timbers proudly announced, "am to give away the bride!" Upon which he pledged himself in another glass of the amber liquid and nearly startled Joe out of his boots by shying a half dollar at him and ordering him to "rush" another bottle and to keep the change. 234 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. It seemed to be a day of letters for Eevere, for just as he was getting ready to leave, late that afternoon, the mail distributor threw an envelope upon his desk. A glance at the hand- writing told him that it was from Armstrong. "My Deae Eevere," it ran, "I have made an attempt to have Sophie allow me to do her jus- tice, but she would not listen to a word from me. She says she hates me, and does not be- lieve a word I say, and that I am probably meditating more mischief. In some unac- countable way, I mentioned the fact that you knew all about the affair and that you approved of my marrying her. She seemed to be all taken aback when I told her this, and berated me for a scoundrel, for having revealed the story to any one 'not that I care about Mr. Eevere knowing it, but you might tell it to others, ' she said to me. She seems to have a high opinion of you, and I see no better way out of the difficulty than for you to talk to her. I would not ask any one else to do such a thing, but I feel differently with you. What do you say? If she will marry me, I'll follow your advice and let Lily go. In fact, I now very much wish to do so, for, after all, Sophie is really my wife, by all moral laws — strange as it may seem for me to speak of morality. I saw you at the ball last night, but couldn't THE FLIGHT Of ICARt/S. i'65 stay long, because Lily became ill and I had to take her home. You might tell Sophie that the quicker she takes me the better, for Lil is just death to my finances. Some one is having a good time ! "Seriously speaking, though, I wish you would have a little talk with Sophie and show her how wrong she is. "Trusting you can see your way clear to doing so, I am, "Very sincerely yours, ' ' Fbed Abmstbong. ' ' Eevere frowned as he finished reading the note. "Nice commission for me," he muttered. Still frowning, he entered the elevator — to find himself face to face with Sophie. She colored as their eyes met, and his face became no less crimson. "Are you on your way uptown, Miss Duval?" he asked, as soon as they had reached the ground floor. "Yes," she curtly replied. "Shall we go up together?" he gently in- quired. "If you please." In the elevated car both remained silent for 236 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. some time. Finally Kevere resolved to make a decisive stroke. "Miss Duval," he said, "I received a note to-day concerning you. May I speak to you about it?" For a moment she did not reply. "It is not necessary," she finally said, "I know what it is about. ' ' "Are you angry with me?" he asked. She raised her head quickly and laid her hand on his arm: "Not with you," was her simple answer. "Thank you," he said. Then he fumbled in his pocket and took out Armstrong's letter. "May I give it to you?" he asked. "Is it necessary?" "I think it best." She took the envelope. "And you approve of it?" she asked. "Do you not think it most logical?" "But do you approve of it?" she insisted. "How could I, in justice to you, do other- wise?" "But do you think that I — I ought to — to marry him?" "Is it not best?" THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. ^S? "But do you think I ought to?" He saw what she wanted him to say and he found he could not say it. "It is true, he is not worthy of you," he stammered, "but is it not the best repara- tion ' ' She would have none of that, however. "I care nothing for that, " she exclaimed, "only tell me — do you think that you really want me to — to become that man's wife for — forever?" It was evident that she restrained her tears with difficulty. "Eighteenth Street!" the guard called out. She rose before he could frame an answer, and with a hasty "good-day" left the car. 238 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. CHAPTEE XXIX. A QUESTION OP PEINCIPLE. Peomptly at eight o'clock Eevere entered the reception room of the X Club. Keene was there before him. In a few minutes the two friends were comfortably ensconced in a cozy corner, off the main hall. Keene lighted a cigar, and nestling back in the cushions, looked at Eevere from between his half-closed eyes. "Guess what's coming," he said. It was a great habit of Keene's, asking people to "guess" things. He ascribed it to his Yankee blood. "You wrote it was about Miss Powell?" Eevere replied. "True. But what do you suppose it is?" "Give it up." "I thought so. Well, candidly, tell me ■what you think of Miss Powell?" THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 339 "Kather a, comprehensive question." "Granted. Still, what do you think of her?" "I suppose she's good enough, for a woman of her class. But I should think you'd know more about such things than I. ' ' "Nonsense! I want you to analyze Miss Powell, as far as you know her. I have a purpose." "Beg to be excused. I know nothing at all about the lady." "Well, since you won't generalize, I'll have to go at you with particulars. Primarily, then, what do you think of Miss Powell's ex- ternal appearance?" "I should say she's a pretty woman." "Good. What do you think of her conver- sational abilities?" "Yery good." "Another point. What do you think of her temper?" "Give it up. It takes more than two inter- views for a man to judge a woman's temper." "M — m — m. Wisely put. Now, we'll turn our attention to a nearer personage. Do you think I'm a fool?" HO THE FLIGHT OP ICARUS. "Hardly," Eevere smiled. "Thanks. Do you think I am possessed of my share of the world's good things?" "I should infer so." "And now — do you think I ought to get married?" "To " "To Miss Polly Powell?" Eevere drew a long breath, but did not reply. "Tou do not answer," Keene said. "I have nothing to say." "But you must! I insist. Eemember, I do not speak to you as I would to any ordinary man. I want you to speak out of the depth of your heart, Eevere" — Keene leaned over and laid his hand on Eevere's shoulder. "I want you to speak to me as a true friend. I have done nothing in the matter yet. I want to know how it will all seem to others. Don't let any false delicacy stand in your way. Speak to me honestly and frankly. ' ' Eevere was touched by his straightforward appeal. "My dear Keene," he replied, "what you ask me to do is impossible. It is not a man's province to analyze for another man the woman he loves." THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 241 "But I put it in your province. " Eevere shook his head. Keene persisted. "Think of the circumstances," he urged, "I am no callow youth. "Whatever I do now will be done for life. I respect your opinion, and I beg you to express it. The marriage I speak of is not an unusual one, but it is a risky one. Tou know me, you know the woman. I insist upon your telling me what you think of it." Still Eevere hung back. "If I said anything," he replied, "it would not be because of my opinion of either you or Miss Powell. The opinion I hold in the mat- ter is general, and applies to no one person- ally. It might be unjust in your case. " Keene was now determined to hear what Eevere had to say. After some further urging, Eevere finally surrendered. "Yery well, then," he said, "if you will have it so, I'll tell you what I think of mar- riages with off-color women — so to speak. But understand — it is an opinion in general, and is applicable to no one in particular. ' ' "I understand that." "Well, it may interest you, then, to know 242 * THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. •what my ideal of a -woraan is. The woman whom I count fit to become a man's wife — and to make him happy through life — is one who, above all things, possesses that one great quality ; stability. Given a woman without that attribute, and she is not the one to make a man happy. She may appear all that is good and perfect — she may love with her entire soul — she may strive all her lifetime to be a fit mate — -but it is useless. She is bound to give way under a test. "Now, a woman who has once shown her- self capable of sinking her moral forces under the flood of temporary enjoyment — to use a figure of speech — is certainly not in command of the desirable amount of stability. Hence, she is not the one to be a good man's good wife. "All this, of course, is outside of one's own feelings. Personally I cannot imagine myself in any sort of relation with a woman who has once made the fatal step — the selling of her immortal soul for temporary enjoyment. I might"^ — ^he quickly added, a sudden thought striking him — "forgive a woman who has been Jed astray though no fault of her own, but THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 243 where a woman has once held her head up be- fore the world as a willing factor of her soul's destruction, I have no mercy. That summar- izes my opinion." Keene heavy a heavy sigh. "I — suppose" — he slowly replied, "that — you — are — right. But, I am no saint myself, and she has reformed completely. She's given up everything, without my asking her to — just because she knew it pained me. I know she loves me as she has never loved any one, and yet I hesitate. ' ' He chewed his cigar contemplatively for a few moments. "It's queer, too," he suddenly began again, "I've thought several times of asking her to come to live with me as my — my — you under- stand?" Revere nodded. "But I can't do it. Somehow or other I can't bear to think of her that way. It's queer, I know, but when it comes to the woman one loves " Eevere looked up at him feelingly. "I understand," he answered. "She hasn't been well of late, either," 244 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. Keene went on, "I don't knowwLat the matter is with her — something to do with the lungs, I think, and what with one thing and another, I can't make my mind up to do anything." Again silence prevailed. Keene was the first to break it. "Well," he said, in a cheerier tone, "we'll see what time will bring. I'd like to have you see her again, though. She thinks a good deal of you. Can't you make it convenient to come to the opera with us some night?" "Perhaps, if you think it best." "Then it's a go!" THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. ?45 CHAPTEE XXX. "why aee women bad?" It was a clear, crisp, slightly frosty day, and Eevere, hurrying up Twenty-third Street, was about to cross to the north side of the way, to get out of the crowd of shoppers, when he found himself face to face with Elaine. "John!" she exclaimed, holding her hand out to him, and his heart bounded with joy as he took it in his own and passed it through his arm. She was on her way uptown, she said. Would he care to take a short stroll through the park? Accordingly they were soon whirling up Fifth Avenue in a cowpL At Fifty-ninth Street they left the conveyance and took the path to the lake. Elaine was more charming than ever. Eevere could hardly convince himself that this gloriouswoman, hanging so lovingly on his arm, was actually his owjj — all his own ! 246 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. "And how are you getting along in your work?" she asked. "Pretty nearly through, " he replied. "I shall probably hand it in to the publisher I told you about in a couple of weeks. I think I stand more chance there than anywhere else. It is so difficult to force an entrance. ' ' "But I am sure you will have no difficulty," she naively exclaimed. "You are not of the ordinary sort, you know, John, dear." "Tush, tush, darling," Eevere interrupted, "you will turn my head if you go on at such a rate." "Oh, but I couldn't." "Couldn't?" "No, I couldn't turn your head," with a mischievous little twinkle in her eye. "You little tease," he replied, "if it wasn't daylight and there were not so many people about, you'd pay the penalty for going on in this fashion." "What would you do?" "H'm, can't you guess?" "Impossible!" "Well — " he looked about him quickly, and peeing that they were for the njoment oijt of THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 347 sight of passers-by, caught her in his arm, "I'd do this!" and his kisses rained upon her face. "You horrid boy, " she pouted, as he set her free. "You've disarranged my flowers!" "I'm sorry — " he began. "Oh, are you?" "No, no," he corrected himself, "I'm glad." "Because you've put me to the trouble of rearranging them ?" "No, but because you are the sweetest little girl on earth!" She pressed his arm. "But, John, dear," she archly said, "that wasn't punishment at all!" By this time, Eevere was in a perfect ec- stasy of love, and he fairly thrilled with rapture as he gazed into those blue eyes, almost on a level with his own. "You angel," he murmured, "what would I do without you?" "Don't think of such a thing," she replied, "because, you know, you are not without me. " Which sage morsel of advice he hastened tp adopt, 248 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. "By the way, darling," he said, "I have the queerest thing to tell you. I really don't like to speak of it, but it's so curious." "Then I must know it," was her imperious reply. "Well spoken ! Tou see, little girl, I some- times have to go to very bad places, you know, for the paper, and when one goes to bad places, one sees bad people. Well, I saw one woman at those places twice whose figure was so nearly like yours that I was really jealous. Of course you'll pardon my mentioning those things to you," he explained, seeing her blush and then become pale, "but you know, I like to tell you everything I can —especially that which concerns you." She nodded her head. "Yes, of course, John. But you don't like those women do you?" "You foolish little girl! Of course I don't. They're bad — thoroughly bad. Decent people don't even speak to them, you know." "Are there such bad women?" she asked, her voice quivering just a little. "There," he said, noticing her agitation, "I sliouldn't have spoken to you abo^t those THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 249 things. They're not fit for you to know about, dearest." "Oh," she replied, "but I do like to know about them. I — I am interested, you know. Why do women become bad, John, dear?" "For many reasons. Sometimes it runs in the blood." "Then the whole family is bad?" "Generally. One can't be too careful." "How fearfully you put it, John," she said, nestling closer to him. "Do you think you could ever love me if I were to become bad?" "Don't speak such nonsense, child!" he ex- claimed, his face paling. "You are a little angel, and nothing bad can come near you." She gave a short laugh. "Now it's you who are flattering," she faintly replied. He noticed the change in her voice. "Tou are ill, darling?" he asked. "No, no," she replied, "only tired. Let us go out of the park. I'll take a cab home." They turned back toward the south gate. "Pretty soon," he said, as they walked along. "I hope, dear, you will 'go home' no longer, but 'come bom§.' " 250 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. She blushed and smiled. "Yes, John," she replied, "and then you will be 'the famous Mr. Eevere. ' " "But better still, I'll be your husband, darling. ' ' She pressed closer to him as he pronounced the word "husband." "Yes, dear," he continued, "would I could be in the place of my friend O'Tear, who is to become a husband to-morrow. He is one of the men in the office and has been separated from his sweetheart for fifteen years." "Fifteen years! That's a long time to wait!" "But they love each other — almost as well as we do — possibly. And we won't have to wait so long, will we?" A slight pressure of his arm was the elo- quent answer, and as he put her into a carriage at the Eighth Avenue entrance to the park, he felicitated himself on being loved as he was. "Before long, darling, before long," he whispered, and stood back as the carriage started off uptownward, THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 251 CHAPTEE XXXI. A WEDDING. WouiD that Apollo were a Tammany office- holder, for then his good-will might be pur- chased and his lyre induced to thrill forth a glorious psean of joy in honor of the culmina- tion of true love's triumph. Then would this pen fashion cunningly worded sentences, and the heart of the reader would swell with gratu- lations for the long-waiting bridegroom and faithful bride. But Apollo lies hidden somewhere in the Elysian Fields, probably taking a Eip-Van- "Winkle-like slumber of twenty or thirty cen- turies — till the faithless shall again worship at the feet of the thunder-compelling Jove and the lovesick at the shrine of ambrosial Venus. So the intended verse must, perforce, still remain the uneven prose, and the descrip- tion of the joy of the occasion be intrusted 352 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. more to the reader's active imagination than to the writer's sluggish pen. No priest or minister tied the fateful knot that gave the charming Alice to her adoring James, but the stern exponent of the Lave, as exemplified in the person of a popular alder- man, acted as Hymen's plenipotentiary in the premises. Everyone was there — that is to say — every- one who amounted to anything in the office. Timbers was there — resplendent in a tight- fitting frock coat, a clean shave, beautifully striped pale blue trousers and a mirror-like silk hat. Then there was Miss Overley, gor- geously arrayed in an impossible dress of her own creation, the most conspicuous part of which was a high collar almost con- cealing the back of her head — and boasting of any amount of frills and pleatings and other mysteries of feminine apparel, hanging lov- ingly on the arm of Mr. Duffit, who, contrary to expectation, looked anything but happy. But O'Tear had decided that he must be there to witness the height of his happiness. "For," reasoned he, "if it hadn't been for the supper I should never have got into THE FLIGHt OF ICARUS. 253 the hospital, and never have seen Alice, and — " but there all thought of possibilities ended. There, also, was Miss Duval, charming and chic as ever, bustling about the bride and de- claring that she simply must not tire herself out and compelling everyone to do something toward bringing order out of chaos, and caus- ing O'Tear to declare that he didn't know what they should have done without her, which remark caused her to blush most divinely, and order him to stand out of the way and not gossip. And then there was Eevere, next to the bridegroom, only, in importance, and quite as useful as Miss Duval herself, steering poor bemuddled O'Tear around like the big happy baby that he was, and whispering to him every few minutes, to "cheer up, old man, it'll soon be over, " in the most encouraging tone imaginable under the circumstances, con- sidering that the occasion was so grave. Then, too, there was Joe, radiant in the splendor of a white apron and very smartly polished boots. Who was equal to him in im- portance as he hurried to and fro carrying plates and bottles and glasses and trays ? 354: THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. "Git outen de way!" he politely cried to the majestic Miss Overley, as she happened in his road, "dis is *ruah' copy, dis is!" And Miss Overley "got." As for O'Tear himself, he was beyond de- scription. He was superlatively happy. To him the whole world was one great big, im- mense, overwhelming mass of happiness, and he let everyone see that snch was the fact. Of course there were the others, lesser lights of the staff. There was the honest, warm-hearted sporting editor, and the tall, thin and cadaverous financial editor, and numerous reporters and artists, all arrayed in the very nattiest of black suits, with the whitest of white collars (one can't guarantee the shirts, Chinese rates positively are so high), and immaculate neckties and gorgeous diamonds (quality not vouched for), and the cleanest of clean shaven faces — those who didn't wear beards^ — all solemn and important- looking, as befits guests at so momentous an event, and all anxious to impress upon the others that they were quite old friends of the groom, as was but natural. So, then, at last the line of march was laid THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 356 out, and the portly city father took his stand at the upper end of the "parlor, ' ' and Timbers very gallantly gave his arm to Miss Deane, and Eevere performed the same — not at all un- pleasant — duty for Miss Duval, and the others tried to form in file behind, and before they knew it found themselves all together in a bunch in front of the august, tho'jgh smiling, representative of the municiijality ; and before he quite knew what was happening to him, O'Tear was answering "yes" every time there was a long, breathless pause, and before long Bevere had forgotten just which pocket he had put the ring into, and everyone said "ah" when he produced it from the pocket he was sure he had turned inside out at the very be- ginning, and the bride held out every finger but the right one, and O'Tear would persist in trying to stick it on her thumb, and finally it was all adjusted and the jolly alderman was kissing the bride, and every masculine guest was wishing he was the alderman, and every- one was shaking hands with everyone else, and Miss Overley was declaring it was "so very simple" and DufEt was "begging to differ" which she did not allow him to do, and 256 tHE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. Joe suddenly found himself the hero of the hour and acquitted himself nobly, breaking only four platters and three bottles, "which wasn't so bad, considering," and everyone swore 'twas the happiest and joUiest wedding they had ever seen. So they all ate and drank and made merry, and even Miss Duval toasted the bride and bridegroom, and Duffit, especially, paid such ardent court to the various bottles that it soon became impossible for him to attend to either Miss Maria Ann or anything else under the sun, and Joe slyly upset the contents of the salt cellar into his glass when he wasn't look- ing, and Duffit swore he'd never drink wine again, and promptly went to sleep in his chair. Then everyone drank everyone else's health, until the bride arose and went to change her toilet for a traveling gown. Then everyone else got up, too, and Miss Duval went to help Alice, and Miss Overley, after trying in vain to rouse Mr. Duffit, sailed off in a high dudgeon. Then the beaming groom came and thanked Revere for all his kindness, and Eevere protested that he had never enjoyed himself more in his life, and THE FLIGHT Of ICARtJS. 257 O'Tear asserted that he was the happiest man in the world, and that he was unworthy of it all, and almost cried as he spoke, upon which Eevere passed his arm around him and told him not to be a big booby, while his own eyes became quite damp, on account of the atmos- phere, of course, and then the bride came out, looking prettier than ever, if possible, and the newly-married couple proceeded down the front stairway, between the two lines of inter- ested and gaping neighbors, big and little, and any amount of rice was showered on them, and any number of old boots thrown after them, and the driver, cunning fellow — he'd tied a wedding favor to his whip — whistled to his horses and the wheels revolved, and away they went, two loving souls united at last, two hearts intertwined by the loved bonds of wed- lock. Then Eevere locked up the rooms and es- corted Miss Duval to her home. 358 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. CHAPTEK XXXn. BREACH OF PEOBHSE. Aemsteong was in despair. While the youthful Lothario had looked upon himself as more or less of a martyr when he first decided to follow Eevere's advice and offer marriage to Sophie, her refusal had put an entirely new face upon the matter. Finding himself disdained, Armstrong had begun ex- amining the girl, whose betrayer he was, and the closer he examined her, the more he cursed himself for a fool. In short, Armstrong was slowly but surely falling in love with Sophie, not the kind of love he had known hitherto, but a firm, true passion, founded, as all true love must be founded, on respect, as well as adoration of the loved one. But the more 'devoted he grew, the colder Sophie became, if such a thing were possible. THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 269 Did he plead with her? She laughed at his avowals. Did he urge her to look after her own interest in the matter? She derided his sudden self-sacrificing tendencies. Did he urge her to think of her name? She asked him why he had not thought of it before. In short, she showed him plainly that she did not like him, could not tolerate him, and would never surrender to him. And yet Armstrong persisted with the tenac- ity which intense love alone can create. Severe had long since informed Armstrong that he could do nothing. And immediately after she saw him abandon the campaign, Sophie became Eevere's fast friend again. Requiring no like return from him, she gave him all her confidence. Once in awhile he would try to make hay for his friend, but she would immediately freeze up and become un- approachable. "Can't you do anything at all?" Armstrong asked Eevere one day. The latter shook his head. "But she must do it in the end, you know," Armstrong burst out. "She belongs to me rightfully, you know, and I am resolved to 360 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. have her. Good Lord, man, I never had any idea that I could go so crazy over any woman, let alone Sophie. ' ' "You'll have to bide your time, " Eevere suggested. "Bide nothing! I want her just as soon as I can get her, and there is no time too soon for me!" And there it ended, for the time being. "You do not dare tell me," Sophie had said to Eevere one day, "that you are convinced I ought to marry Mr. Armstrong. Were you to tell me so, I might consider the matter, but you know that you really don't think so," and the appealing look in those melting eyes had effectually prevented his saying anything more. After all, she was the one most con- cerned, and if she did not want to do it, what right had he — a perfect stranger — to dictate? So he became her protector and adviser. He looked upon himself as her brother, and found it pleasant to do little things for her and to help her where masculine help was appre- ciated. And she — she just drifted on with the tide — content to enjoy the momentary peace the quiet, uneventful life she lived THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 261 afforded her. He never took lier to any places of amusement, he never spoke to her in any other than brotherly fashion, and she — but who can fathom the depths of a woman's heart? Meanwhile Eobert Keene, Eevere's other lovesick friend, seemed to be just as little favored by fate. A day or two after O'Tear's wedding, Eevere had received the following note: "My Dbae Eeyebe : I am afraid that I shall have to cancel the invitation I gave you to the opera. Miss Powell, whose illness I have already mentioned, has been rapidly grow- ing worse and worse. It's too bad, too, for you would have had a chance to meet Miss Degraw, in whom you seemed to take so much interest the night of the French Ball. She generally goes out with Miss Powell, unless Armstrong accompanies her. As it is, how- ever, I very much fear that Polly will never leave her room again. "Poor little girl! She is paying a heavy penalty for the few bright hours of her short life ! The doctors have at last agreed that she is suffering from consumption. Of course, they say there is every hope, and all that, but I think that they are keeping back from us the fact that it is not the simple disease, but that 262 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. terrible galloping variety of it ! I have seen it before, and I know what it is. "I am very glad that I am by her side now to cheer her and aid her. She believes, poor girl, that she will be up and about soon. But I know better, although I hope that my pre- dictions may not be verified. This is real 'hoping against hope!' "This is all I can say now. As I write, Polly asks me whom the letter is to and on hearing it is for you, blushes, and wishes me to send you her regards. She'd write a line or two herself, but she is too weak. "Drop in, some day, old fellow, and cheer us up. "We need it badly enough. I have established temporary quarters for myself in the house adjoining hers. You'll always be welcome. Sincerely yours, "EoBEET Keenb." Eevere had paid a visit to the sick girl and found that Keene had in no way exaggerated the state of affairs. The hand of the dread disease had fallen heavily upon her and had robbed her, even in that short while, of the greater part of her freshness. Her erstwhile rosy cheeks were already pale, her satin-like skin shriveled, and the whole countenance changed from healthful brightness to the sal- THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 263 lowness of disease. A curious little lump had come in his throat as he had bent over the emaciated girl to bid her good-day. It was such a change ! At the same time, matters of no little moment •were occuring in the office. A most astound- ing rumor had been put in circulation. It was said that Miss Overley was about to sue Mr. Duffit for breach of promise of marriage ! In order - to throughly understand the evo- lution of the affair, it will be necessary for us to go back to the time that Duffit kissed Lily Degraw in Armstrong's conservatory. While he had made his peace with the in- jured host, Duffit had not quite given up the idea of getting Lily away from his friend some day. As long as Armstrong remained the incarna- tion of goodness to Lily, Duffit had no chance, of course, and the latter drew all the fun he could out of his affair with Miss Overley. When Armstrong, however, began to feel his love for Sophie revive and expand, he natu- rally became somewhat hard to get along with at home, and Lily became restive. Duffit was quick to take advantage of the situation and at 264 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. once dropping Miss Overley, devoted himself exclusively to Lily. Perhaps it was this sudden desertion, per- haps it was the sight of Alice O'Tear's happi- ness, or perhaps it was the result of long and profound meditation — it would be hard to tell which. Anyway, Miss Overley decided it was time for her to take action in the matter. She consulted counsel and was assured that she had any easy case. She took several days to think it over. Finally she decided to mention it to Duffit before proceeding. Unfortunately for himself, she struck him just when he was recovering from a prolonged morphine debauch. He cursed her for a d — d fool and told her she was old enough to be locating a grave instead of looking for a hus- band ; and what was still worse, that she looked like a mummy. Miss Maria Ann might have forgiven any- thing but those two last expressions. She be- came resolute on the instant. Mr. Duffit should feel the weight of her anger ! The suit was instituted. Of course, everyone talked about the affair, but the culminating jioint came when a very THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 265 suave little gentleman appeared at the oflSce one day and very generously presented every member of the staff with a crisp one-dollar note, and an accompanying subpoena to appear as witness for the plaintiff in the case of "Overley i;s. DuflSt." No one had any objection to the dollar bill — not at all — but the subpoena : that was quite a different affair. Timbers, like the executive power that he was, was the first one to take action in the matter. He immediately called a counsel of war and put the question before the assembly ; what stand were they to take in the case? And now DufBt reaped the harvest of his sowings. Had he been a man popular with his fellows, there is no doubt that the crowd would have decided to stand by him ; but as it was, they resolved to remain neutral, which meant a virtual victory for Miss Overley. Eevere, on his part, cared but little about the outcome of the affair. He had seen enough of the workings of the breach-of- promise laws to be thoroughly disgusted with them. "I could understand," said he, while dis- 366 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. cussing the matter with O'Tear, "a law which grants protection to women who are betrayed under promise of marriage ; but a law which is simply the resort of blackmailers, disreputable women and shameless creatures who are only too eager to put a money value on their affec- tions is quite beyond my comprehension." "Aren't you a little too harsh?" O'Tear asked. "Perhaps. But what do facts show? Do you not know as well as I do that it is, nowa- days, almost impossible for a man to exchange a dozen sentences with a girl without running the danger of having a breach-of-promise suit on his hands? And who are the women who sue? Tou know, as well as I do. They call it 'outraged affections.' Bah! How would the world look upon a man who were to sue a wealthy girl for fifty thousand dollars for hav- ing 'outraged' his affections? And why does not the rule work both ways, if it is a rule at all?" THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 267 CHAPTEB XXXin. THE TEEDIOT. During the interval between the serving of subpoenas and the day of the trial both Duffit and Miss Overley found it convenient to absent themselves from the ofiBce. Finally the fateful day arrived, however, and those of the wit- nesses who were to be examined first were in the courtroom early. But Miss Overley was there before them all. She had, apparently, expended all her ingenuity in one supreme effort to appear ravishing. The result was truly astonishing. While it is a matter of grave doubt whether Miss Maria Ann succeeded in her prime aim, it is certain that she suc- ceeded in attracting any amount of attention, which, in her case, amounted to the same thing. Before long Duffit lounged in, with a great show of being quite bored. He appeared 268 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. rather more sallow and worn-looking than ever, and frequently tipped back in his chair in order to whisper a word or two into his coun- sel's ear. At last court was formally opened, and the lawyers cleared their throats and everyone leaned forward with renewed interest, and the choosing of the jury began in the usual man- ner, with the ordinary amount of squabbles and challenges and sharp questions and still sharper retorts. Finally all the preliminary difiSculties were over, and the senior counsel for the plaintiff made his opening address to the jury, describ- ing in fervid terms the youth, innocence and beauty of the plaintiff and explaining how the defendant — that monster in human form — • had blasted the life and hopes of this fair and lovely maiden, and had made, for her, all the future a barren and dreary waste. The senior counsel for the defense naturally "ob- jected to the gentleman on the other side sum- ming up in advance" and "begged to have stricken out" and "excepted" to his heart's content, and the whole crowd had warmed up to the work in hand quite nicely, when Miss THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 269 Maria Ann Overley was called to the stand as the principal witness in her own behalf. Then what a tiptoeing and craning of necks there was and how everyone watched Miss Maria Ann as she strolled toward the bar and how everyone snickered when a court officer barred her way and bade her go, via the rear of the jury box and how everyone laughed when she stopped to expostulate and how sol- emn everyone became when the judge pounded his gavel and ordered all disorderly persons removed ! But before long Miss Maria Ann was in the chair and had kissed the Bible quite emphatically, and had given her name and address to the stenographer (as if he did not know the former, already !) and had arranged her dress in its required folds and had given the senior opposing counsel a most withering glance, Mr. Duffit a contemptuous one and the presiding judge a sweet one and the jury an appealing one, all in their due order. What a masterly lawyer hers was, to be sure 1 How adroitly he drew from her lips various admissions about the defendant's professions of love for her, in spite of her evident modest reluctance. 270 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. "Did the defendant, on such-and-such a day do so-and-so and say this-and-that?" he would ask, and she would open her eyes in most apparent astonishment — as if to ask how he knew that such was the case, and would hesi- tate, and cast her eyes on the ground (meta- phorically speaking only) and try very hard to appear coy, and finally yield to the inquisitor's pursuasions and toss her head (monster hat and all) and say: "Yes," in a gentle under- tone which was quite audible at the other end of the room, and then look modest again and gaze at her lawyer in the most bewildered fashion imaginable, as if wondering what on earth that man would ask next. Oh, she was a famous witness, was Miss Overley, and gladdened indeed her counsel's heart. But all things human have an end, and Miss Overley 's testimony came to a finish, too. She had managed to inform or, as it was pre- ferred to have it appear, her counsel had com- pelled her to inform the amazed judge and jury that Mr. Thomas Duffit had declared her to be an adorable woman, had begged her to share his lot through life, had won her youth- ful affections and trusting heart and had thrown THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 2?! both avray, crushed and bleeding, immediately after. Then John Kevere was put upon the stand. The questioning of the lawyer for the plaintiff elicited the facts that he had heard of Mr. Duffit's praising Miss Overlay's profile, had seen them sit at the same desk quite close to each other, and had seen him kiss the plaintiff on the lips at the French Ball. The lawyer for the defense, of course, on cross-examina- tion, did not fail to bring to light the facts concerning Miss Overley's station in the office, the standing joke about her sudden conceit, the fact that Mr. Duffit was quite intoxicated when he was kissed by Miss Overley, and that kiss- ing was a promiscuous feature of the latter part of the social function in question. And the spectators, of course, did not fail to laugh when the counsel for the defense emphasized the fact that it took a very much intoxicated man to pluck up courage enough to kiss the plaintiff, and Miss Maria Ann looked daggers at him, and the judge pounded with his gavel harder than ever, and the trial proceeded. Thus proceeded the legal farce, with witnesses too much and too little willing, 272 THE FLIGllT Of fCARtJSi and the same objections and exceptions and appeals and motions and rulings, until three days had been consumed and all the witnesses had been examined and the counsel started in to sum up. It is not to be supposed that the counsel for Miss Overley neglected to speak of the "charm- ing young lady who stands before you plead- ing for justice," and the "tender bruised heart," and the "untrained affections," and all the other stock quotations that go so far toward convincing even the most hard-hearted juryman that it is his personal and sacred duty to see the fair plaintiff well remunerated for "affections wasted," at so much per affection, and the strength of his appeal may only be appreciated by the fact that the counsel for the defense looked quite dejected as he arranged his papers prior to beginning the summing up from his point of view. Still, he went at it in the best manner he could and he had just swung into the custom- ary denunciation of the plaintiff, when Miss Overley, who had grown very nervous, jumped up all of a sudden, and in her old-time manner and voice denounced the speaker as a liar' THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 273 Then there was great confusion and Miss Over- ley was removed; but the damage was done, and the counsel for the defense did not fail to take advantage of the occurrence and to utilize it in his argument. When all the summing-up had been finished, the judge looked as wise as it is usual for a judge to look and charged the jury in the most masterly fashion, succeeding in favoring neither side, which was very considerate of him, and the jury went out to deliberate. What need to describe the period of waiting, or to enlarge about everyone's nervousness and uncertainty and DufBt's fits of shivering and Miss Overley 's fits of crying ! The fatal knock on the door came, and the jury filed in, ex- pressionless and mysterious-appearing as is the wont of juries, and the judge took his place on the bench, and the clerk called the roll, and everyone strained his hearing to its utmost, as if to catch the sounds before they were uttered, as the clerk asked : "Gentlemen of the jury, have you agreed upon a verdict?" "We have," the foreman replied. "What say you in the case of Overley 374 THE FLIGHT OP ICARUS. against Duffit; do you find for the plaintiff or the defendant?" "We find for the plaintiff," the foreman re- plied and paused. A shriek of joy rent the air as Miss Overlay threw her arms around her counsel's neck, "and," the foreman continued, "we award her six cents damages!" THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 275 CHAPTEE XXXIV. MORPHINE. The excitement and gossip following Misa Overley's suit against DufEt might have made things extremely unpleasant for both at the office had not a topic of greater interest come into existence just then. In the spring of '92 public notice was at- tracted to what has since become known as the "Parkhurst Crusade. " Naturally, the matter was one of the greatest interest to the news- paper fraternity, and formed the subject of almost every discussion in newspaperdom. Baid after raid was being made on various houses in the Tenderloin, and the newspaper men had hard work of it keeping up with the progress of things. Hence, Miss Overley came off rather easily. She absented herself from the office several days, and then appeared as the Miss Overley of old. Qone> -vvere the y ibboug and powder, 276 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. gone the gay gowns. It was plain, everyday Miss Overley again, who attended to her work as of yore and scarcely paid any attention eTen to the enthusiastic Mr. Timbers. As for Duffit, there seemed to be no resting- place for him on the downward slope. The excitement attending the breach of promise suit had driven him more than ever to the use of the life-destroying drug to which he was addicted. As if this were not enough, a fresh blow fell upon him. Armstrong heard from Lily about his friend's doings and forbade him the house. This time there was no pros- pect of a reconciliation, for Armstrong was himself irritated by Sophie Duval's conduct, and was in no condition to display magnanim- ity. So it came to pass that Timbers found Duffit absenting himself from work for days in succession. Duffit's department became a drag on the paper. - Complaints began to come in from abroad. The editorial board started asking questions. Eemonstrances were of no avail. Duffit seemed to have lost all power of reasoning. One Saturday evening the climax came. THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 277 The "typos" were busy preparing the last supplement for the press. Every page except DuflSt's was already in the "forms." Word was sent upstairs for more "copy." Duffit mumbled something about "fifteen minutes." The foreman waited that period of time and sent a boy up again. Duffit was not ready yet. Another boy was sent up five minutes later. He reported that Duffit seemed not to under- stand what was being said to him. The fore- man was frantic. Only twenty minutes were left before the supplement had to go to press and not a "stick" of "society stuff" had been set! He flew upstairs himself. Duffit was leaning over his desk. The foreman reached his side. What was this? Duffit's head lay pillowed on his arms, which were spread on the desk in front of him. The frantic foreman shook him by the shoulder. "Hey, Mr. Duffit!" he yelled. Duffit's inanimate figure wobbled in the chair, but there was no answer. Several of the men gathered about the desk. "Shake him again," some one suggested. The foreman was not unwilling. He gave the man before him a yank that half-lifted 278 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. him from the chair. As the body fell back, there came a sharp sound as of something dropping upon the floor, followed by the tink- ling of broken glass. Some one directed the rays of a pendent incandescent lamp toward Duffit's feet. There, on the floor, lay a hypo- dermic syringe, the needle glistening sugges- tively in the bright light, and the piston pressed down to the bottom, while from a nearby broken bottle a long, sinuous line of fluid traveled across the floor. The foreman picked the bottle up. Around its body was a label, ornamented with the usual druggist's insignia. The lettering on it read : "MOEPHINE." That was the last time Duffit sat at his desk in the oflSce. He was taken home and brought out of his comatose condition, but all efforts at reclaiming him were futile. The insidious drug had fastened to him securely, and he slowly faded away under its influence by that gradual but sure process peculiar to the life- destroying narcotic. THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 379 CHAPTEE XXXV. ' 'some day you will know. ' ' It would be difficult to say just wliat Sophie Duval had expected to result from her connec- tion with Eevere. Although it is certain that he never looked upon her otherwise than as a pleasant acquaintance, she was by no means satisfied to have everything end there. As the weeks advanced and she saw more and more of him, she became dimly conscious of the fact that the young man was, to her, more than a friend. She found herself eagerly watching for his arrival at the office and regretting his absences from it. She began to find it sweet to exchange a few words with him. But Eevere suspected nothing of all this. To him there was but one woman in the world — Elaine. Indeed, even if Blaine had not ex- isted, it was scarcely probable that he would have looked in any other than a brotherly fashion at the charming artiste ; for, although he acknowledged her to be quite out of the line 280 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. of undesirable women, she was still no longer the pure, undefiled creature that formed his ideal, and to him the Byronic sentiment: ' ' Vice cannot fix, and virtue cannot change. The once fall'n woman must forever fall ; " was a stern and inviolable dogma. The natural result of this condition of affairs was that Sophie began to rebel against the cold, unappreciative attitude of her newly- found friend. Like many another woman, both before and after her, she blamed Eevere for his apparent stupidity in not see- ing what she wanted, although she would have given her life rather than run the chance of intimating it to him. What made it more miserable for her was the fact that she had heard something of the story that had resulted in Perry's first chas- tisement, and yet she could not ascertain whether there was or was not any truth in it. She would have liked to think that it was more or less of an all-around joke, or, at the worst, the story of a passing flirtation. But her heart misgave her at those moments, and she had to admit to herself that there was probably more behind the story than any one knew, and THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 281 that Eevere's heart was probably already in the keeping of some one more worthy than she. It takes but little to put a woman in a des- perate mood under such circumstances, and without knowing it, Revere himself stumbled into the one action of all which could serve to quicken into life all Sophie's latent passions. Armstrong's intense desire to do justice to Sophie went a long way toward establishing him firmly in Revere's esteem. Indeed, Eevere felt at times like censuring Sophie severely for her unreasonable attitude to her lover ; but some sentiment of delicacy or — perhaps of some stronger origin — restrained him for for some time. But one day Armstrong complained more bitterly than ever. He spoke of the strained relations existing between himself and Lily, of the elaborate preparations he had made to abandon his old life and to commence a new one and of the cruelty of Sophie's uncom- promising attitude. "Have you sent Miss Degraw away yet?" Eevere asked. "No. But I think the break will come soon. Her demands for money have become enormous and lately I have been compelled to cut the 283 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. supply considerably. As far as I can see now it will take very little to declare war. I can- not do it myself, however. I don't think you can understand it. She has been a nice girl as long as I have had her, a real friend and companion, quite out of the ordinary, you know. To turn around all of a sudden and break off is more than I can make myself do. It's out of question. In fact, I sometimes feel very wretched when I think of her going off at all, perhaps to take up with some other fellow — that's the worst of these liaisons. Tou take up with a girl, and just when you get to like her, to feel that you want her with you, you have to break off and see her go off with some other chap, apparently as happy as she was with you, and as contented." "Do you begin to regret " "No, it isn't that, but — well — just imagine — I think a good deal of Lily. I have loved her and love her now, a little differently from the way a man generally loves his — his mis- tress. Well, man, can't you see that it is somewhat bitter for me to think of some other man loving her and having as good a right to lov^ her as I bad?" THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 283 "But other men have had her before you, haven't they?" "Yes ; but the past does not count with me. That is all forgotten. It's the present and the future. We do not live in the past. ' ' "That's where we differ," Eevere mused; "the past counts a good deal with me. What has been in the past will be in the future, I believe. ' * "Possibly," Armstrong replied, "and yet you see that Sophie loved me in the past and " "Will love you in the future." "You think so?" "I do. She feels that she has been greatly injured by you and ought to receive a goodly amount of urging before trusting you again. ' ' "If I could be sure that was all!" "Time will show." "But time is too long." "Can you shorten it?" "Perhaps I might, if I went to the attack again myself. ' ' "If you think so " "I don't knowi Have you talked to her about it of late?" 384 TH£ FLIGHT OF ICARUS. "Not of late." "Will you try?" "I don't know " "Try." "Perhaps I shall." "I wish you would promise me. You don't know how I am suffering from this uncertainty. If she would only consent and put an end to it!" Eevere smiled at the vacillating little man's avowals. "Well," he replied, "I'll promise to try for you again. If I do not succeed you will have to map out some programme of your own. Poor little girl ! It seems hard that we should be concocting schemes against her in this man- ner, but I think it is best for her ' ' "And for me," Armstrong rejoined. "And for you," Eevere cojiceded. "You probably don't think it, Armstrong," he added in a livelier tone, "but I can fully appreciate your feelings if you love Miss Duval as you say you do." "I assure you — ■ — " "Then I am assured! Yes, old fellow, it Th£ flight ot iCarOs. 285 will make me happy to see you happy, for I know what it is to love!" "You?" "Ask no more. I'll see what I can do for you." "Thank you. I may be able to repay you some day." And with this understanding they parted. As soon after this conversation as was possi- ble, Revere sought Miss Duval and came to the subject of Armstrong's suit as directly as he could. What torture Sophie endured while he spoke to her of Armstrong's good qualities, and claims and rights, no pen can describe. Only one who has experienced the pain of hav- ing the loved one extol the qualities of another can appreciate her sufferings at the time. Ee- sentment never entered her mind, however. She only felt that the hand of fate was falling heavily upon her. Still Eevere went on, totally unconscious of the havoc he was wreak- ing. Then Sophie reverted to her last refuge. Feeling confident that he would never utter the fateful words he had so long evaded pronounc- ing, she finally asked him : 386 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. "Are you, then, firmly and honestly con- vinced, with your heart and soul, that I ought to become Mr. Armstrong's wife?" And he, thinking of nothing but the promise he had given, and the mission he had to fulfill, hesitated a few moments — moments which seemed centuries of torture to the poor girl, and then replied : "Yes. After mature thought, I have come to the conclusion that it is best and wisest for you to do as he wishes." She gasped and turned so pale that he thought for the moment that she was about to fall senseless. But by a mighty effort she regained her self-control, and gazing at him with a world of love and entreaty in her eyes, answered : "Some day you will learn how mistaken you were — some day when you know more than you do now. ' ' He looked puzzled. "Tell me," he gently said, "has Armstrong concealed anything from me? Has he been guilty of any " "No, no," she interrupted him, gasping a THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 287 little, "not he. There ia nothing more to know about him." "Then you" — he began. "No," she quickly exclaimed, "there is nothing to know about me. But — but tell me," she went on rapidly, "have you ever known what it is to love?" He colored as she asked the question. "What did she mean? Did she have another love affair? Impossible! Did he know what it was to love? "Who knew better? The expression of his face told her more than words could. She fell back and buried the nails of her fingers in her palms. ' ' Enough, ' ' she faintly said. "Go tell Mr. Armstrong that I shall — that I shall be ready whenever he is." Eevere felt surprised when he found himself neither jubilant nor even satisfied at hearing her pronounce these words. "I wonder," he said to himself, "if I have acted rightly, after all. ' ' And he could not decide. 288 THE FLldHT OP ICARUS. OHAPTEE XXXVI. "do not forget me." A SHOKT note, informing him of his success was all that Eevere could bring himself to- write to Armstrong. Hardly had he dispatched it, however, when a message of quite different import was handed to him. It read : ' ' Eevebe : Polly is dy ing. Can you come ? "Keenb." An hour later Eevere was at Miss Powell's house. The servant who opened the door walked on tiptoe and spoke in a whisper. "Is Mr. Keene here?" Eevere asked. "Upstairs, sir," was the significant answer, Eevere ascended the stairs. But softly as he entered the room, the sick girl heard him even before Keene did. Her face lighted up. "Come here," she said in as loud a voice as THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 289 she could command, and stretched her hand out to him. As he caught it, she closed her other hand over his and smiled. "You haven't been here in a longtime," she said. "I had hoped to hear — " he began. "Of my recovery?" she interrupted. "You were foolish." "Polly!" Keene reproachfully exclaimed. She smiled a little. "See the foolish boy," she said, nodding toward Keene. "He is sorry to have me go. ' ' "Don't talk in that fashion, Polly, dear," Keene begged. Polly looked at him affectionately. "I won't tease any more. Bob," she replied. "But give me a little more of that medicine. I want to feel stronger, so that I can talk. ' ' "But you will exhaust yourself." "No, no. Please!" Keene gave her a teaspoonful of the concoc- tion. "There," she said, "now I shall feel stronger. Bob, dear," she went on, "I wish to speak to Mr. Revere all alone for a few minutes. Will you let me?" 290 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. Keene looked pained. "Is it necessary?" he asked. "I'd like to." He bent over and kissed her. "Have your way, little girl," he said, and turning to Kevere, "be careful with her, old fellow, won't you?" he asked. "Don't lather exert herself too much. ' ' Eevere nodded, and Keene walked out of the room. Then Polly had Eevere prop her up with some extra pillows, and again taking his hand between hers, smiled and began : "What do you suppose I want to speak to you about?" "I am sure I do not know," Eevere replied, "but I shall be happy to hear whatever you may have to say." "Now, don't be conventional," Polly said. "I want you to talk to me unreservedly. Tou know what I mean. "Will you promise?" Eevere promised. "Well, then," Polly resumed, "lam going to speak to you about something — something you do not expect. Do — do you recall that night I — I — we first met?" "I do," Eevere quietly replied. THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 291 « • "Well, then, I wish you to forget it." Eevere felt his heart contract within him as he saw and understood the pleading look in her great eyes as she pronounced these words. "I will forget all about it — I have forgotten it, ' ' he almost whispered. Two great big tears rolled down her cheeks as she pressed his hand, and a slight wave of color passed over her face. "Because," she went on, as if she was con- tinuing her sentence, "I have tried very hard to forget it myself. It was such a terrible night ! I — I had been bad before — quite bad, but always for fun, you know, never for harm. I don't know what prompted me to do as that creature asked me to. It was so — so bad. ' ' "He is paying to a higher power," Eevere said. "I know. I have heard. But it is of you I want to speak. I want to thank you for the way you treated me then. You dont know how I felt. Tou can never know. For I was but a woman after all — and you were the first one to treat me as such in a long while. I really don't know how I kept myself frooj — from cry- ing right put; there. " 392 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. She fell back among the pillows, and great tears gushed from her eyes. "It-is-no-no-thing, " she murmured. "The — wa-ter. Some — wa-ter. ' ' He held the glass to her lips and she took a long draught. The fluid seemed to revive her, for she motioned him to take the glass away and again grasped his hand. "I feel — better — now," she said, "and I want to — to finish while — while I can. ' ' He bent over to hear her better and she con- tinued, in a lower tone : "I decided to change that very night. I decided to be worthy of your treatment and I dreamed that if I did so I might, perhaps, de- serve to hold your hand the way — the way I am doing now — when I was on my deathbed. I knew that I couldn't last very long — women like me never do. ' ' He could hardly restrain his own tears as she spoke, and almost unconsciously he brought his other hand on top of hers and pressed it with all the fervor of his soul. Her eyes lighted up at this and she moved her head nearer to his. "Thank you," she murmured, "it makes me THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 293 SO happy. I shall tell Bob. Poor boy ! He loves me so ! I know he will be very unhappy when I am — am gone. You will look after him, won't you? I — I don't want to be the cause of any more unhappiness than I can help. He — he loves me so. But it is best as it is, don't you think so?" He did not answer, but looked at her with a world of pity in his eyes. "Yes," she replied to her own question, "it is better so. I have told him so, but he would not believe it. But I — I know. He wanted to — to marry me, you know, to make a good woman out of me. Dear Bob ! But it would not have been good. I know how it is. "While I was new to him it would have been all right, but after, when he would come to think of the woman he had given his name to, it would have been different. He would have been unhappy, and I too, and there would have been no help for it. "1 have seen like things before. It doesn't work. No, no. It would not have been good for Bob to marry me — and yet he loves me — I know he does, And otherwise he would not 394 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. have me — he loved me too much — I know. So it is best as it is, isn't it?" What could Eevere say? He could only press her little hands and soothe her. "Now, now," he said, "there ia no use speaking about those things now. It doesn't matter, you know — it is not necessary." "Ah," she replied, "but I wanted to tell you — so that you might know — I thought you might think that I was trying to snare him, you know, as some women might. Now you know, you understand. You do not think badly of me, do you? I have tried to do well ever since — since " "I know, little girl," he said, seeing her hesitation. "I understand. Don't think that I do not understand, I know you a little better than you think. You were different then, and you are different now. Believe me, I under- stand everything." "I see now that you do," she replied, "I am happy, I feel easier now. You will talk to him about me sometimes, after I am — am gone, won't you? I don't want to think that he will forget me altogether, or that you will, Pe has bees my 0QI7 friend — -^" THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS, 395 "And I — " he corrected. "May I?" she asked. "And you, then. You have been my only friend and led me to try for a better life. I don't want to think that when I am buried, and no more like what I am now, when I can no longer speak to you, and hear you, and feel you, and see you, that you will think of me no longer. I want you to promise me to come to — to — my — my grave" — a sob half stifled the word — "once in awhile, and drop a flower upon it — I love flowers — and possibly speak my name to Bob and think of me as — as you saw me when I was beautiful and young. It won't be so bad going away then; it won't seem so lonely, I think. I think I shall know when you are there, and I think I shall hear you call my name — and I shall feel happier. ' ' The tears were streaming from her eyes as she fell back upon her pillows again, and the moisture welled in Eevere's eyes as he bent nearer to her. "Don't — don't cry — Jo — John," she mur- mured, and as he clasped her hands closer with a convulsive tremor, she yaised her eyeg ^o hi^ 296 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. "Kiss me — as you would your sister, John, before — you — call — him. ' ' And he reverently bent his head to hers and touched her lips with his as one kisses a thing holy and sacred, while her arms stole around his neck and she clasped him to her. When Eevere called Keene in, a few moments later, she was resting, with her eyes closed, and a happy look on her wan face. She re- mained thus a little while, and then, opening her eyes, looked at Keene. He came to her. "What is it, darling?" he asked. It was some little time before she could use her voice. "Bob," she finally murmured, "I — shall — be — gone — soon. Think — of — me — some- times. I — love — you. Bob; I — love — you." "My darling! My own love!" Keene cried passing his arms around her frail body and gathering her to him, "don't speak of leaving me, Polly, dear. You must not, you must not, my angel!" She pressed her cheek to his. "It is — better — as — it — is," she murmured, "I — am — happy — now — dar-ling," and while THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 397 he still held her in his arms, exhaustion mas- tered her and she sank back unconscious. A hurry call was sent for the doctor, and that functionary came in twenty minutes later, just as Polly was opening her eyes again. He examined her a few moments and then shook his head. "There is nothing more to be done," he said. Even as he spoke, her fingers were busily picking away at the bedcover. Her breath came in short, quick gasps. She seemed to want air. Suddenly a gleam of intelligence showed in her eyes. She looked, first at Keene and then at Eevere. Both bent over her from the different sides of the bed. She moved her hands a little, as if she would raise them. Both men divined her purpose on the in- stant, and each caught the hand nearest to him between his two. A smile of contentment flitted over her lips. "Bob, " she whispered, and then "John." But even as she spoke the words, her fingers stiffened. A convulsive movement shook the whole body. The two men bent closer; her 398 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. eyes became fised, and with a last gasp, Polly's body sank back. The troubled spirit had flown to another — perhaps a brighter and happier domain. tHE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 399 CHAPTEE XXXVII. BETTEB LATE THAK NEVER. The arrangements for Polly's funeral occu- pied quite a little of Eevere's time during the ensuing three days, for Keene was hardly aware of what was passing about him, so pros- trated was he by his darling's death. There was no one else to do anything in the matter, for, as is usually the case in such affairs, no one knew anything about Polly's antecedents and no one appeared to put in any claim for her body. When it was all over Revere returned to his desk, and plunged into work as an antidote for the gruesome events of the week. He had not seen Armstrong since the day he had gained Sophie's consent to become Mrs. Armstrong, but from the few words he had exchanged with the artiste, he knew that the bridegroom-to-be had called, and was then perfecting arrangements for the marriage. 300 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. Sophie had respected Eevere's evident concern at Polly's death, for he had informed her that a friend of his had passed from life, and as Eevere felt very little like talking during the following week or so, nothing more of con- sequence passed between the two. Meanwhile events of no little importance were transpiring in the office under Eevere's very eyes, so to speak, without his knowing it. It would be difficult to say exactly why Tim- bers did it, but he did, and the fact stands pre-eminent. It was the last thing in the world any one would have expected ! Possibly it was because he had become tired of chewing tough beefsteaks in expensive restaurants, or perhaps it was because O'Tear's example was too tempting to be resisted, or it may have been for any one of a dozen different reasons, but Timbers arose one morning to find himself under a solemn engagement to marry ! In order that we may be able to get some idea of the course of events that led to this extraordinary condition of affairs, it may not be amiss to go back and pick up one of our threads where we left it. When Miss Overley (there, the cat's out of THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 301 the bag now!) came back to the oflBce after the termination of her suit against Duffit, she be- came as we have already remarked, quite a model of simplicity again. "Mr. Timbers," she said to that gentleman one day, "do you remember that time when you asserted that I was not beautiful and I took offense?" "I do," was the candid answer. "Well, I take it all back. I am quite con- vinced of the truth of your statement as made at the time. ' ' Timbers struck his hands together. "Miss Overley !" he exclaimed, "you are a sensible woman ! You're a brick!" Miss Maria Ann looked gratified. "Thank you, Mr. Timbers," she replied, "but I have something more to say. Do you remember a certain number of photographs which were once brought to this office by me?" "Of profiles and three-quarters? I do." "Mr. Timbers, they are no more. I had a bonfire yesterday. My room was quite warm when it was all over. Timbers was in an ecstasy. 303 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. "Miss Overley !" he exclaimed again, "you are the most sensible woman in the world!" "Perhaps," she calmly replied, "but I de- sire no more compliments, Mr. Timbers. I wish you to consider me the same as I was before — before ' ' "The photographs?" Timbers prompted. "The photographs," she assented. "I am ready to do hard work again. ' ' "And to drop the pronoun, first person singular?" "And to drop the pronoun, first person sin- gular. ' ' "Then, Miss Overley," Timbers cried, "I can only say that you are a bird, a honey- suckle of the first water and a diamond from Luluville ! And any man that says otherwise is a d — d liar!" And so it began. The developments which followed were but natural. As has already been hinted, Timbers had experienced no little feeling of jealousy when the intimacy between Miss Overley and Duffit had first begun. At the time, however, his disgust at the woman's conduct had mas- tered all else. But now he saw her struggling THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 303 to regain her former position, in his estima- tion, at least. He saw her hard at work, day and night, knowing no rest, heedless of ex- haustion, forgetting even that hitherto para- mount thing with her- — ^the "I," for the time being ; and he pitied her, and said to himself : "Poor thing! She'd be- a d — ^d nice woman if she didn't have to earn her own living!" Probably this thought was the first step to- ward the final declaration. Timbers felt him- self growing old, day by day. He began to appreciate the utter loneliness that falls to the lot of the old bachelor, and it is not to be wondered at if, after awhile, his eyes rested with more than ordinary interest on Miss Overley. After all, she was a woman who could under- stand him, he said to himself. She knew his work and its hardships. She would not be difiScult to get along with. Love ? The time had long since passed for that. It was a ques- tion of convenience now. "By the jumping candlesticks, I'll do it!" Timbers finally exclaimed. And he did. How he watched for the favorable opportu- aOi tHE FLIGHT OF ICARtS. nity, and how he questioned Miss Maria Ann, and how he gradually worked around to the great question, and how he finally put it, and how Miss Overley was overwhelmed, this time with real surprise, and how she suddenly burst into a flood of real tears, and how she protested that she never, never, never, was worthy of him, and how he swore most fervid oaths that she was mistaken, and how she finally acknowledged that she did think more of him than of any other man in the world, and how she said "yes" in the tiniest of whis- pers when he pressed her for a final answer, and how he forthwith proceeded to store away a prodigious amount of liquid refreshment without suffering more than a minimum amount of the subsequent penalty, would make too long a recital to set forth here in detail. Suffice it that it all happened, and that they both agreed to keep it a deep secret until the day before the wedding, and that Timbers did not fail to keep his part of the compact — for three hours and fifteen minutes — after which everyone in the office showered the couple with congratulations and even little Joe swore that he would follow the general example and get The flight of icarus. 305 married to his Sally right off, if his salary would only be raised "ten shillin's a week more, fur," as he put it, "us bach'lors won't be in it no more, if t'ings goes on dis way." Which sentiment the hastily assembled council of office boys, printer's devils and galley-slingers heartily approved and forth- with agreed to at once seek for suitable "best goils"to share their lots without kisses in life. 306 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. CHAPTEE XXXVIII. THE WOBLD IS MINe! Eeyere's fateful day arrived. Neatly tied up, there lay before him a bulky manuscript, the result of many months of faithful toil. In a few moments it was to pass away from his hands, to undergo the ordeal of the "reader's" perusal. It had been a hard task, the completion of this volume. The steady routine of a news- paper man's life is not favorable to the develop- ment of the author's talent. It takes a will above the ordinary, and an instinct well rooted to throw off, during spare hours, all thoughts of the news and its requirements and to con- centrate one's best thoughts on a subject foreign to the doings of the day. That Revere was able to do this, was prob- ably more owing to his dissatisfaction with his mode of life than anything else. The rasks of the newspaper profession contain too THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 307 many examples of men who have started in the work with the idea of graduating into the higher sphere of pure literature, but have found the difficulties too hard to overcome, and discovering, in their occupation, an easy, if somewhat uncertain, means of earning a liveli- hood, have remained there, forever, reporters with "assignments" or special correspondents with "missions." But Eevere had, from the very first, looked with aversion on the newspaper man's mode of life, and had determined, from the first day he had entered it, to seek the quickest possible way of leaving it. To him, neither the tinsel of Bohemianism, nor the happy-go-luckiness of hand-to-mouth existence appeared in any other than their real aspects. Therefore, having long had in mind a cer- tain plot and accessories which, it seemed to him, if put before the public in adequate shape, would arouse a new train of thought and prove of general interest, he at once ap- plied himself to the task of involving it and committing it to paper. But even while in the midst of his work, the constant fear haunted him that he would never 308 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. succeed in getting the volume put before the reading public. For Eevere appreciated too well the difficulties to be encountered in en- deavoring to have a "first production" put into type. The story of the prejudice which exists everywhere against a "first novel" is already well known. It is not to be wondered at, therefore, if Eevere constantly expressed to Elaine the fear that his novel would never see the light of day. Sometimes he would console himself with the stories of those pro- ductions which have, in their day, passed through the hands of dozens of publishers and been ignominiously rejected, only to become wonderful successes when given to the world ; among which is the example of one book, which, after traveling from publisher to pub- lisher for years, had, when finally accepted, a circulation next in number only to the Bible! So, it was with no little trepidation that he awaited the decision of that mysterious func- tionary, the "reader, " after he had dispatched the manuscript to the publisher who, Elaine had agreed with him, was the most likely to accept it. What restless days and sleepless nights were those, during which he awaited THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 309 the result of his venture ! It meant so much to him ! If it was published, it meant the first firm step toward an ultimate literary career ; it meant Elaine for his very own, it meant the abandoning, of this dusty, noisy, heartless town and a return to the primeval simplicity of his own Western home, to meditation and study and further labor in the field of letters. Ah, it meant so much ! So, he waited. And one day the answer came. He took the sealed envelope and dared not open it. He examined the super- scription, as if he he would snatch from it the secret of the inclosed lines. What was it? Was it the stereotyped refusal and request to call for his manuscript? Had the battle all been in vain? Would the package have to travel from one house to another ; was his hope to slowly die away and leave him at last, a withered, broken man, with no past and no future? These and many other thoughts of like im- port passed through his mind as he fin- gered the envelope. At last he determined to wait no longer and with shaking hands tore the top off and extracted the folded sheet. 310 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. Quickly he straightened and smoothed it out. What did it say? That he should call! Call to do what? Take the manuscript? No, to talk about it, "for it had received favorable consideration. ' ' Favorable consideration ! Then there was hope! It might yet go! Thank God! Kevere sank down in a chair and buried his face in his hands. There was hope ! there was hope ! he said to himself. How swiftly Revere flew to the ofl5cea of the publishing company may well ba imagined. There he was cordially received by the man- ager, who introduced him to the "reader" and several other potentates of the sanctum, and then they adjourned to an inner ofiSce to dis- cuss terms. As Severe had himself foreseen, he was no match for the business-like manager, who, as it was, however, appeared more than ordinarily generous in his concessions. All in all, Eevere felt as if he were walking on clouds when he had finally bidden the gentleman good-day and was pacing along the street again. THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 311 How bright the world appeared that day, how happy the faces of the passers-by ! Al- though it was yet early in the spring, the trees appeared full of carroling birds. There seemed to be intoxication in the atmosphere and joy permeated the air. "What a happy world this is!" Kevere said to himself. Even Sophie at the office appeared happy that day. She was packing all her belongings, when Eevere entered, for she was to be mar- ried to Armstrong soon, and to her and her only did Eevere confide the secret of his suc- cess. "Just imagine!" he concluded, "it is to be rushed at top speed and may be out within a month from to-day !" And Sophie congratulated him and appeared happy for his sake while he was looking at her, but her eyes filled with tears when he turned away, and her heart ached with anguish. '612 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. CHAPTEE XXXIX. THE CUP AND THELIP. Natueauly, Eevere sought Elaine early the folowing morning and found her at their usual rendezvous. How beautiful and lovable she appeared as she hastened forward and put her hands into his. "You have something to tell me," she said, "I can read it in your eyes." "You are a prophet as well as an angel," he replied. "I have something very nice to tell you." "Then tell it quick." "Eight away. The book is accepted!" As he said this he slipped his arm around her and ^rew her to him. She nestled closer and raised her laughing eyes. "I knew it would be," was her simple answer. "And are you glad?" he asked. "Why should I be otherwise?" THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 313 "Because, you will have to pay the penalty of my success, you know." "The penalty?" "You fail to grasp? Don't you know what the penalty will be?" Still she looked puzzled. In the very heart of the Eamble there is a small artificial imitation of a cave, which offers a resting-spot quite secluded from observation. Thither Kevere drew Blaine, and throwing himself on the seat beside her, took her hand in his. "Elaine, dear," he said, "shall we get married as soon as my book is published?" She colored and drooped her head, but did not reply. "Shall we, Elaine?" he urged. For a moment she remained silent. Thgn she raised her head. Her face was pale now, and there was a piteous look in her eyes. "Do you think it best?" she asked. "Do I think it best?" he exclaimed in sur- prise, "why should I think otherwise?" She seemed to struggle with herself. Once her lips parted, as if she were about to speak, 314 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. but with a supreme effort, she restrained her- self. "What is it, darling?" he asked, encircling her with his arms. Still she did not reply. A sudden shudder ran through her frame, and she made as if to draw away from him, but he held her fast. "What is it, darling?" he asked again. She lay passive upon his breast now. A world of love swelled his heart as he beheld her supple from reclining there ; that loving and lovable creature, all his own, his very own. "Tell me, darling," he urged again, "what is it that is troubling you?" At last she answered : "John, dear, you have never asked me about my people, you " "Tut, tut, darling," he interruped, "is that all? What matters it?" "But," she went on, and the words fairly stumbled, one over the other, so impatient did she seem to utter them, "but you think that my people are great and of social standing, and that we are rich and that I am ' ' "Nonsense, dear," he interrupted, laying his hand on ber mouth. He thought he saw THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 316 what it all was about now. She was probably the daughter of some man of the middle classes, and feared that he might have thought otherwise. What a dear little stupid she was ! "Nonsense, my dear," he said, "what do I care for your people or their riches? It is you I want, and you are richer than Croesus and higher in birth than any queen ever was. As for money the publishers have surprised me by paying me ten thousand dollars down for my book, beside my royalties. So, let's put an end to it all right here. You are my own darling little innocent dove, and I care not one continental who your grandfather was. There, darling, does that satisfy you?" "But " "No buts, dear. That is all there is to it. Now let's talk of pleasanter topics. Your ancestors put out of question, will you, dar- ling, be my little wife?" She hung her head. "Still unconvinced, eh? Well, let me put it in more glowing colors. Supposing that three weeks from to-day we were very quietly to get married, and at once leave this horrible city and go away — far from the world. You 3i6 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. drop a little note to your ancestors telling, them that you are busily engaged in being happy, and we go to my home and live there forever and ever amen?" She looked up at him quickly. "Forever?" she asked. "Yes. Why — do you love this horrible city so much?" "I? No. And you would never want to come here again?" "Never. You don't like the city, then?" "No, no," she replied. "And you will come with me?" he asked, in. a lower tone, passionately clasping her to him. Her arms slipped about his neck. "I will go with you, John — my — my — hus- band!" "My angel!" he whispered, "my love, my love!" THE FLIGHT OF ICAROS. dll CHAPTEK XL. "bepoee the clock steikes twelve." Sophie Duval had left the office as quietly as she had come to it. No one knew why she was going, and she did not enlighten any one. She has a better position, some said. Others guessed that she was going to stop working, still others that she was to be married, but no one knew just what she was going to do, and in a day or two everyone had forgotten that she had ever existed. All but Eevere and — Joe. This urchin had taken a great liking to the artiste. She was a woman different from those he had been accus- tomed to see, either at home or in the news- paper offices. Her gentle ways and kind words were a revelation to the sturdy boy of the streets, who had known nothing but cuffs and kicks ever since he could recall any memory at all, and who had conceived the idea that a 318 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. •woman was either of the scolding, howling, slatternly virago type, such as he saw at home, of the no less unpleasant, loveless, man-aping and uncompromising type, such as he saw at the office, or of the superhuman, begowned and be-spangled and painted and powdered, unapproachable type, such as he sometimes read about in the"sassiety" page of the paper. So, when Sophie appeared on the scene, with her gentle manners and kind words and loving pats, Joe found that he had discovered a new sort of woman, a creature quite out of the ordinary run of humanity. And he worshiped her, in his own peculiar way. For Sophie there was nothing he would not do. Sophie always had the cleanest desk and easiest chair. No one was ever allowed to disturb Sophie's things, and when Sophie was at work, no one of the other boys was allowed to skylark near her. "Touse kids keep away from 'er!" he had ordered. And respecting his well developed muscles, they kept away. "When Joe found that Sophie had really left the office for good he was inconsolable. THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 319 Naturally, he sought his only other friend in the office. "Mister Eevere," he said, "d'ye t'ink she went off 'cause any uv de mugs 'ere made it hot fer "er?" "No," Eevere replied, "she left because it was best for her. ' ' "I wants ter know," Joe said, "'cause, ef it's any uv the blokes eroun' 'ere, I'll jest go fer 'em." "For all the men?" "I don't care! Ef I cain'tlick de big 'uns, I'll wait till I grows up!" Kevere could well sympathize with the boy. Even to him, the office appeared lonely, now that Sophie was gone. He had often enjoyed sitting back in his chair and watching the girl's profile as she bent over her board and worked away, unconscious of observation. It had been a relief to him, when, in a moment of fatigue he had gone over to her and exchanged a sentence or two. Her sweet voice had soothed, and her calm demeanor rested him. And now, he would look up from the paper be- fore him, and glance toward her desk, as if expecting to see her still there, and a feeling 330 THE FLIGHT OP ICARUS. of disappointment and desolation would sweep over him when the empty chair and litterless desk met his view. Eevere had heard nothing from Sophie after she had left the office, and it was with no little satisfaction that he beheld Armstrong come into the room one afternoon. "Well, Armstrong," he asked, "how is everything getting along?" "Tip-top, old man, tip-top," Armstrong replied, heartily shaking his hand. "All ar- rangements have b0en made. The wedding is to-morrow. I would have invited you, but Sophie didn't want any publicity, so I had to give in. We'll just go over to the church to- morrow afternoon and get married and then we'll be off for a long trip to Europe, while my man here is fixing up a house for us." "That's right, Armstrong," Eevere replied. "I thought at first you might want to take Miss Duval to the same house you occupy now, you know, and " "No, certainly not!" Armstrong exclaimed, "couldn't think of it, you know. She'll have a house all to herself, from the cellar to the roof." THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 321 "I approve the sentiment. By the way, what port do yon sail for?" "Havre, French line, you know." "Then you'll have an acquaintance of yours for a traveling companion. Keenehas decided to take a trip abroad for his health, and sails to-morrow on the French line, too. But look here, where are you living now? I may want to send in a thing or two, you know " "Why," Armstrong replied, "the same place, you know. You have my address. Come to think of it, though, you never have been up to my place, have you?" "What do you mean?" Revere exclaimed. "Do you mean to say that you are still living with that — that woman? On the eve of your marriage?" Armstrong hung his head. "Well, you see," he began, " 'twas kind of awkward, you know. I — I didn't want to say anything to her, you know — I just thought I'd sail off and leave her in possession and so escape all unpleasantness, you know — I — I " Eevere's eyes fairly flashed fire as he looked at the stuttering man. 332 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. "Armstrong," he said, "I never thouglit you were such a coward! Don't flush up, man! What is this you are doing? Living with a dissolute woman till the very morning of your marriage to a girl like Sophie Duval? Armstrong, aren't you ashamed to look her in the face? Do you intend to go from the arms of your mistress to the altar of God?" Armstrong was fairly overwhelmed by this torrent of expostulation, that swept from Ee- vere's very soul. He stood, with hanging head, and said not a word. "Bethink you of what you are doing, man," Eevere urged. "Is it honorable, is it manly, is it honest? While you are talking to Sophie Duval about wedlock and justice, you are keeping a woman without a soul in luxury and affluence ! Do you think I would have urged that pure girl — for to you she is as pure a girl as any vestal virgin — to link her life with yours if I had known you were this sort of a man? Think, Armstrong, what an injustice you are doing to her, to yourself and to me? Do you not think I shall feel guilty if I allow this to go on? Man, man, what are you thinking of?" THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 333 Like a dog who has received a severe whip- ping from the man he acknowledges his master, Armstrong stood and offered not a word of remonstrance or defense. "What are you going to do, Armstrong?" Eevere asked, in a calmer, though harder tone. "I don't know. I didn't mean any — any harm, you know — I didn't think it would ap- pear so — so — so bad. I never thought of it at — at all, you know. It never struck me — I — I never imagined " "But what are you going to do now?" "I don't know. I— I'll— I'll do anything you say, "Armstrong finally cried out, "if you only won't interfere and stop the marriage. For heaven's sake don't do that! Sophie is not over-willing as it is, and if you but say a word, she'll call it off, I am sure. And I — I love her to distraction ! I love her more than ever I loved a woman in my life!" "So much so that you still continue with your mistress? What are you going to do, I ask you again?" "Anything you say." "Will you swear it?" "I swear it." 124: THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. "You'll do just as I tell you?" "I shall." "Very well then. To-night that woman must have left your protection. You under- stand me? To-night! To-night, I say, before the clock strikes twelve!" "To-night?" "This night! Do you swear?" «'But " "There is no 'but. ' It is either 'yes' or 'no.' " "Can't I leave the house to her and go else- where?" "And thus leave root for a possible future reconciliation? No, Armstrong, I know you better than you do yourself. You must sum- mon the courage to take the step. I don't care how you do it, but you must. If Sophie isn't worth the sacrifice " "Yes, yes, it isn't that, but " "But it is hard? That's where the sacrifice comes in. Men have been called upon to do greater deeds for the women they have loved. There is no backing out, Armstrong. Either you'll do it, or you won't. Which ig it?" "I— can't— I " THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 335 "You refuse?" "No, but " "Tou have sworn!" "I— I " "Yes, or no?" "Well, then, yes! I'll do it, if I have to wring myself inside out. I'll do it! Is that enough?" "It will be. Eemember, to-night, before twelve, she must have left your house and presence, forever!" "To-night, then. Before twelve she will have left, I will have seen the last of her. ' ' "Forever?" "Forever." "You swear?" "I swear." 326 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. CHAPTEE XLI. THE LAST ASSIGNMENT. "Sat, Eevere," Timbers called out. "Yes, sir." "Do you want to stay on night duty to- night, or would you rather come on early to- morrow?" "Just as you say. Is there anything special on for to-night?" "There's a bang-up raid on the slate. Those Parkhurst chaps have been raising the devil of a row and I've got a quiet tip on a big raid that's coming off to-night. It may be a scoop, too. I don't think any one else has been let in. ' ' "What sort of a raid will it be?" "Up in the Tenderloin, of course. Almost half a block is to be rounded up. Say, it's a good thing for that chap Armstrong that he cleared out of the house you saw him in. It'9 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 327 one of the holes they'll pull. Good thing his girl is out of it. She's a d — d nice looking bird, she is. Lily, her name is, isn't? Lily De — De — De — something. ' ' "Degraw?" "That's it. Lily Degraw. They've all got those kind of names — English nobility or French nobility or something. Yes, it's a good thing she's out of it, although the place isn't half so bad ; but it'll go down to-night. Do you care to do it for us?" "Well, unless you insist, I'd rather not. Tou know you promised that the French Ball would be the last of this sort of work for me. Can't you let me come on early to-morrow morning?" "All right, have your way. But you'll have to do the police court work for it if you go on to-morrow morning. I wouldn't trust it to any one else. ' ' "We'll compromise on that, then." "Wait 'till I put you down on the schedule. So. Now I want to speak to you about another matter. Have a cigar. No? H'm. I'll have one myself, then. To come to the point, bow do you like the position of best man?" 338 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. "Best man?" "Yes, at a wedding." "Oh, I see. You are about ■" "To be joined in the bonds of matrimony and all that. Wedding comes off next week, dead sure. Miss Overley's ready. Now, I want you to act as my best man. What do you say?" "I say yes with all my heart! Let me congratulate y ou ! " "Don't mention it, dear boy, don't mention it— ^I mean, it's all right — thanks." "I'm glad it's coming off so soon," Eevere said, "for it will enable me to ofiBciate." "What do you mean?" "I'll be off soon." "Wha-at? You're going to leave?" "Precisely." "H — 1, man, what's the cause? Aren't we treating you white?" "It isn't that, Mr. Timbers, The treatment I have received at your hands has been char- acterized by nothing but kindness. I am going to leave simply because I am tired of the work, and I shall soon be able to get along Tritbout doing it," THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 339 "How? Is any one putting you on at read- ing copy? If that's what you're after, I'll find a place for you here. ' ' "No, Mr. Timbers, I am going to drop newspaper work altogether. ' ' "What are you going to do?" "Write." "What?" "Books, if lean." "There's no money in it, I can tell you right now!" "I'll have a try, anyway." "Well, have a try. But when you get tired just come back to us. You'll always find your place vacant. ' ' "Thank you." At this moment O'Tear passed the desk. "Hey, Jim!" Timbers bawled out. "Well?" "What do you think Eevere's up to?" • ' Something big ? What is it ? " "He's going to leave!" "No-o?" "Fact." "You're not really going, are you John?" O'Tear asked, 330 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. "In a couple of weeks." "Well, 'sufficient to the day is the evil thereof, ' as the preacher said last Sunday ' ' "Wha-at!" Timbers howled again, "you — you Jim O'Tear, don't mean to tell me that you go to church Sundays?" "Fact," O'Tear humbly confessed. "It isn't my fault, though. It's all on account of Alice. Lots of fun! Ever tried it?" "Who, I? Not for a decade. I in a church? Gosh! Like to see myself !" "Come next Sunday. We'll find a place for you in our pew. ' ' "Pew? Holy jimmanetties! Worse and worse! Do you mean to stand there and tell me that you — ^you own — pay rent for — claim possession of a pew — a church pew?" "Guilty, yer 'anner, " O'Tear mimicked. "Well, then," Timbers groaned, "I give you up. You're past redemption! Keep on as you are going now and I don't know where you'll fetch up! Pair of tin wings and a catgut lyre, probably. A pew ! Oh, Lord ! A pew — • just imagine! Jim O'Tear and a church pew!" THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 331 CHAPTEE XLII. AT MIDNIGHT. Ths task Armstrong had undertaken was no easy one for him to execute. In his innermost soul Armstrong really felt more than the ordinary amount of affection and re- gard for his mistress and it was, therefore, with no little dismay that he contemplated the step he had committed himself to take as he walked up Broadway after the stormy inter- view with Eevere. The more Armstrong thought over the matter, the more complex it appeared to him. Why should Eevere have taken so obstinate a stand? Surely, a day more or less of association with Lily would in no way affect his future relations with his wife. It was absurd on the face of it ! The logical side of the question never struck him. It was entirely foreign to his nature, habits and customs. But he determined to 332 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. think the matter over at some length before taking the decisive step. Accordingly, he made his way to his favorite clubhouse, and in the seclusion of one of its oriental corners, began to philosophize in the Dutch fashion, i.e., with the aid of bottle and pipe. Hour slipped by after hour, and soon several old cronies joined him. Eight, nine o'clock passed. Armstrong was feeling quite indignant at the position Eevere had taken. The idea of his dictating in such a fashion ! It was preposterous ! So said the pipe ; so reiterated the bottle. And so did another, and another. At half-past nine Armstrong was resolved that he would ignore Bevere altogether. It was all nonsense, anyway. The next morning Sophie would be his wife. Then, where would Eevere come in? What had Eevere to do with it, anyway? Sophie knew a good thing when she saw it. Of course she had seemed reluct- ant, but that was a girlish trick. She would have consented in the long run, without Eevere. He had not done much. But stay a new idea struck him. What was Bevere's aim in all this, anyway ? Was it not THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 333 possible that he was looking out for himself, after all? How now? Was it not possible that Eevere wanted Sophie for his own wife? Why, otherwise, should he try to put diflScul- ties in the way ? Good idea, b' Jove ! That was it! Eevere had repented of letting Sophie slip through his fingers, and would probably take advantage of his (Armstrong's) slight inconstancy to besmirch him in Sophie's eyes and eventually to win her for himself. Why hadn't he seen it before? There was the plot, as clear as it could be. He must be up and doing. He must put Sophie out of Eevere's reach. Oh, he was worth two Eeveres, he was, if it came to that! Ten o'clock! Only two more hours left! Well, he wouldn't do it. He simply wouldn't! His own plan was far more rational. A little note — a year's absence, no tears or scene — ■ Eevere was a rogue! A quarter past ten ! Only an hour and three quarters left. And was Eevere standing out- side his house, waiting, watching, expecting? An hour and three quarters I It was too late now, anyway. He never could explain it all 334 THE FLIGHT OP ICARUS. to her in that short while. Things would have to take their own course now. "Eemember, you have sworn — to-night — before twelve — she must have left your house and presence — forever!" What were those words that came, float- ing as in a mist? Armstrong played with his glass. "Brace up, old man, have another," one of the boys urged. Armstrong shook his head. He heard other words. They seemed to come from everywhere — from nowhere. What were they ? "To-night, then. Before twelve she shall have left, I shall have seen the last of her. ' ' Who had said that? The words seemed to shape themselves in his mouth. He even started to repeat them. Had he uttered them himself? Had his tongue pronounced them? Why had it? Why had he not stuck up for himself? Why had he been such a coward? It was all Eevere's fault. Eevere "Forever?" "Forever." They had both said it. He had pronounced THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 335 the word after Kevere. It was Eevere's fault "You swear?" "I swear." Who had sworn? Not Eevere. But he — what had he sworn? "Forever — out of the house — before twelve — to-night. ' ' He had sworn ! He had given his sacred oath ! "Before twelve!" And it was now — now — ten — no — half-past — half -past ten ! Half-past ten ! Only an hour and a half left ! "Waiter! Waiter! Check! Carriage!" Men started from their seats and looked after him as he reeled through the rooms. "Loaded," they murmured — and forgot about him. But he kept on. Faster, faster; the minutes are precious. He had given his oath ! He, Fred Armstrong, son of a good father. His oath ! Faster ! There, where is that car- riage? Ah, there it is. Now, my man, five dollars if you reach my home in twenty minutes! Ten dollars if in less! Get up! Clatter, clatter, clatter. Whirr, whirr, whirr. Jaggedy, jiggidy, jump. Sway, lean over now on this side; now on that. Leap from cobblestone to cobblestone, turn sharp corners, 336 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. Now on the Boulevard. Away ! Nothing in the way ! Go, cab horses as you never went before ! An oath ! An oath to be redeemed ! ' A woman to be pacified — all before twelve o'clock. Barely an hour and ten minutes now. Faster, driver, for God's sake, faster! The clocks were sounding the hour of eleven when Armstrong flung himself out of the car- riage, threw the driver a bill and ran up the stairs of his house. He did not attempt to use his key, but pulled the bell as it had never been pulled before, and cursed audibly while waiting for the servant to open the door. Armstrong had sobered considerably during his ride and was now in that condition of semi-intoxication in which iall things appear in an intensified light. He realized more than ever the immense task he had to per- form within less than an hour, and cursed his stupidity in not having got at the work before. At last the door creaked, groaned and opened, and Armstrong rushed into the hall, dropping cane, hat and coat as he flew along. Up the stairs he went, leaving the servant gaz- ing after him in open-mouthed astonishment, and fairly burst into Lily 's room. THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 337 Lily had apparently become tired of waiting for Armstrong to return, and was just begin- ning to prepare herself for the evening's re- pose when he appeared. She started and grew pale at his unceremonious entrance. As for Armstrong, he stopped short after making two or three steps and looked blank. Lily was the first to break the silence that ensued. "For heaven's sake, " she asked, "what has happened?" Armstrong worked his fingers convulsively. "A-e-e-a-e" — he began. "Well? What is it?" she interrogated. ' ' E-E-a — d-d-don ' t un-und-undress ! " he stammered. "Why not?" "You — are not — not going to s-sleep h-h- here t-t-to-night. ' ' "I am not going to sleep here to-night? Why not?" Why not, indeed? ' 'Be-because. It's — it's — it's impossible !" She looked perplexed. "Why?" He bit his lip and wriggled his fingers and 33$ THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. dug his nails into his palms — then glanced toward the clock on the mantel. It was five minutes past eleveh ! "Tou must not. You — you — I — that is — • you — I — we — must — that is — before twelve you — we — that is " She had arisen now and was supporting herself by the back of a chair. "Fred," she asked, "what has come over you to-night? What does all this mean? Twelve? I mustn't? What? How? Why?" He pulled at his mustache fiercely. "I — I — I can't help it — really Lil — ^not my fault, don't you know. I — I " " What ? What is it all about ? ' ' His eyes rested on the clock. How fast the hands were traveling ! "Lily, we must part!" "Part?" there seemed to be no pain in the exclamation — only surprise. "Yes. It's settled. You must- " "What?" "You must go away. It isn't that I want to drive you away, you know, but you must. ' ' "To-night?" "Yes." THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 339 "Why?" "I — I — I can't tell you — that is, it's too long. Some other time — perhaps — ^no, we must not see each other again — we — I ' ' "Why all this so suddenly?" she calmly asked. "Because " "A woman's reason." "Yes, of course — hang it! I'll tell you the whole story in a few words. ' ' "Go ahead." "I'm to be — to be m-married to-morrow." "Oh!" she drawled. "Yes." "And I must make way for your bride to- night?" "No, no. She's not coming here. But I promised to have you go to-night, before twelve — away from me — forever!" "To your bride?" ' ' No. Not at all. To a friend. ' ' "A friend? What?" "It's all queer. You won't understand it." "I should say not!" "He's queer — a crank — there never was a worse. He made me swear, ' ' 340 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. "So serious? And I must leave now, near midnight, because you swore to some drunken comrade " "No, no. He — he doesn't drink," he eagerly interpolated. "What a mercy ! Well, do you suppose for one moment that I am going to leave the house all of a sudden — at a moment's notice because you swore to some crank friend of yours — who miraculously does not drink — that you would make me do so? Fred Armstrong, what do you take me for?" "Oh, Lord, the sweetest little woman on earth, if you only will go. Here — here's a — a thousand I drew this morning for wedding expenses. Take them and for — for heaven's sake, go?" She did not refuse the money. "Tou were always generous, Fred," she said, "and it'll take this to carry me through until I can — establish myself. But I shall not leave the house to-night. ' ' Armstrong was nearly frantic. He argued, he urged, he offered further inducements. "No, Fred," she replied, "I want no more money from you. I have received something THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 341 like twelve thousand in the last few months, above my ordinary expenses. I shall willingly leave the house to-morrow morning. But to- night — no!" "But you can send for all your things — anything you choose — whenever you choose. ' ' "Of course. But I will not be turned out at this time of the night." Again Armstrong implored. He grew frantic when Lily calmly started in to unbutton her shoes. The clock showed the larger hand pointing to the Roman figure eleven. It was five minutes of twelve. "Oh, Lord!" he cried, now in real agony it spirit as well as mind, "what shall I do? How shall I ever have the courage to face him again? Such an oath! Have pity, Lily! Oh, Eevere, if you could only see this!" She straightened up as if an electric current had passed through her. "Who did you say — to whom " "Eevere — he helped me get my wife — John Eevere — I swore to him." "He — helped — you — get — your — wife?" she slowly repeated. Then jumping up from the chair she had dropped into, she hastily 342 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. began adjusting her hat. Armstrong could scarcely credit his eyes. "My cloak, quick!" she commanded. He put it on her as she fled down the stairs; he drew her umbrella out of the stand for her, and stuffed her veil into her pocket, while she was adjusting her buttons, and as he opened the door and she stepped on the outside land- ing, and said: "Good-by, Fred, I wish you all happiness, ' ' the clock struck the hour of midnight. He closed the door, re-entered the foyer, and sinking down on the hall chair, buried his head in his hands. THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 343 CHAPTEE XLIII. A TENDERLOIN EAID. When Lily left the house, she had no very clear idea of where she was going to. She turned down Eighth Avenue when she came to it, and walked by the park wall. She seemed to be quite buried in thought and never noticed the occasional male stragglers who threw her a leering "good-evening, " or asked if she were not "lonely all alone. ' ' When she had reached Fifty-ninth Street, however, she bethought her that it was advisable to look about for a place where to spend the night. Accordingly, she entered a cab and had herself driven to a hotel on Broadway. But the bland night clerk in- formed her that they did not receive unescorted women at that hour of the night. Trembling with indignation, she re-entered the cab and told the driver to take her to another hotel, a little further down, but the answer she received there was the same. Another and still another 344 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. hotel was tried, with the same result. Lily nearly wept with vexation. "Well," she murmtired to herself, "if it must be, it must. For the last time I shall sleep under an unclean roof. Then ' ' She leaned out of the cab window. "Drive to No. — "West Twenty-eighth Street, ' ' she ordered. The cabby whipped up his horses. Arrived at the house in which she had spent the first days of her life with Armstrong, Lily found no diflSculty in securing admit- tance. She was, in fact, welcomed with open arms by the woman who had "kept flat" for her while she had been there. "Bless your soul, my dear," this woman assured her, as she fairly pulled her into the room, "you're as welcome as anybody ever could be. I'm all alone in my flat to-night, and it's glad I'll be of a little company, especially of company like yours." Then came the expected avalanche of ques- tions and "guesses" which Lily warded off in quite wonderful fashion, and finally the lights were put out and the two women were goon fast asleep. THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 345 "Hey! Open up, there!" "Open, or we'll break the door down!" "Open the door there!" Lily sat up in bed and rubbed her eyes. "What's the matter, Mrs. Lawrence?" she exclaimed. "Open the door!" "Open or we'll bust it in!" "Hey, open up there!" Shrieks, stamping of feet, knocking about of furniture, thumps,men's rough voices, women's wild shrieks, seemed to echo from all sides. Lily sat bolt upright and tried to collect her senses. "Was there a fire ? Was murder being done? What had happened? She heard her companion jump from her bed. A match scratched and lighted, then a gas jet flared up. Mrs. Lawrence staggered over to the bed. Her face was deathly pale ; her lips were blue, and her eyes seemed to be protruding from their sockets. "Sh-sh-sh — . We're pulled!" she hoarsely whispered. "What do you mean?" "We're raided. We'll be arrested. Quick! Press before they break in!" 346 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. But it was too late. One, two, three, blows on the frail door, and it gave way. "Bah. Only two female birds," the oflBcer in charge grunted. "Come, lively now! Get up and put your togs on !" Lily remained as she was, literally paralyzed with fear. Mrs. Lawrence blubbered outright. "Come," the policeman reiterated, "d'ye hear me ? Dress quick ! ' ' "But, but, leave the room, we — we " "Ho-ho-ho! That's your game, my birds, is it? Leave the room nothing! You just dress and come. 'Twon't be the first time for you, I'll bet." Lily now found her tongue. "OfBcer, we will go with you, ' ' she said in a trembling voice, "but let us dress in privacy. We are women " The officer approached her bed. She shrunk back under his gaze. "Hear her ladyship talk!" he exclaimed. "Look here, I'll stand no funny business, now. We don't hnow you, anyway. You just come along." Lily heard the emphasis on the word "know." She grasped its meaning. She snatched her dress from a nearby chair THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 347 and thrusting her hand in the pocket, drew out the package of bills Armstrong had given her. "Come, step lively, now!" the officer com- manded, laying his hand on the blankets. She shivered. "Stay," she cried, and in a lower voice, hastily explained: "Let us dress in private and two hundred dollars of this is yours." The policeman changed his demeanor on the instant. His threatening hand fell to his side. But he pretended to hesitate. "Orders"^ — -he began, his eyes fairly caress- ing the roll in Lily's hand. "Three hundred, then." "We are ordered " "Three hundred and fifty." "I may— I don't— I " "Four hundred, for the last time!" "Boys!" the officer exclaimed, "clear the room and give the ladies a chance to dress. ' ' The subordinates obeyed the order and the squad stationed itself just outside the door, while the two women hastily donned their garments. 348 THE fLIGHT GF ICARUS. "Don't you think, " one of the patrolmen asked his chief in a low whisper, "you mijght let them go at that?" "Get out!" the former replied, "if they didn't have any more chink I would. But that handsome bird there has a wad as big as your fist. Green as grass, too. I'll get some more tin from her for a discharge to-morrow. The judge'll let them go, anyway." "What a, long head you've got, cap," the junior admiringly responded. Within an hour, Lily was lodged in a station house cell, awaiting trial in the morn- ing, but somewhat reassured by the officer's promise that, in consideration of two hundred dollars extra, she would be set free by the police justice. "I'll fix it," he had promised, and as an extra mark of esteem had given her a separate cell to herself. THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 349 CHAPTER XLIV. "elaine!" Timbers was jubilant. He had scored a "scoop" of no mean proportions. True, it had come in only in a special three o'clock edition, but it completely ' ' beat' ' all the other papers. Timbers had slept in the office that night. In the morning he telegraphed Revere to be at the police court early. "Do not miss anything," he ordered, "spread all you can. ' ' Revere left his room as soon as he had gulped down his breakfast. Generally it was not necessary to go to the court before ten, but on such orders — no time was to be lost. A curious crowd hung about the courthouse steps and Revere had to push his way through it. The court room itself had already become packed. Revere made his way to the re- porters' table. He was sick of the whole dis- 350 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. mal affair, with the leering aspect of the mor- bid spectators, the frightened faces of the prisoners' friends, and the self-satisfied air of the portly court attendants. Hardy had Kevere seated himself, and begun arranging his paper, when O'Tear came in — almost breathless. "The guv' nor sent me down for sketches," he said. "What shall I take?" "Anything you please," Eevere wearily re- plied. "I don't care. Suit yourself. " "All right," O'Tear answered, "but what's the matter with you? You look glum." "Oh, I'm tired of all this. I wish the few remaining weeks of it would fly. It's sicken- ing." O'Tear shook his head. " 'Don't throw your dirty water away, etc.,' " he sententiously remarked. "Good advice, O'Tear; good advice, but wasted on the desert air in this case. ' ' O'Tear began sketching. Suddenly the murmur of voices, which had kept on uninterruptedly, ceased. A court attendant had banged his fist on a table. "Order in the court!" he cried. THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 351 A aide door opened and the police justice hurried in and ascended to his seat. "Open the court," he ordered. The crier made his customary proclamation. The justice appeared out of temper. His eyes were red and his face haggard. "The old man was out on a racket last night," one attendant whispered to another. "How many to-day?" the judge querru- lously asked. "About seventy-five, yer 'oner," the clerk replied. "The devil! It'll take me half a day Call them in squads of six. ' ' "Yes, yer 'oner." The judge unlocked his desk and took out some official papers. "Go ahead," he ordered. The clerk cleared his throat. "Mary O'Leary, Angelette Le Folette, Gen- evieve Eembrandt, Lucy Brady, Marguerite Hannigan, and Annie Laurie, to the bar!" he cried. There was a bustle at the "pen" door and six women marched out. What miserable specimens they were, with their bedraggled 352 THE fLIGHT OF ICARUS. finery and bloodshot eyes and half erased rouge ! The older ones of the school carried their heads high, as if in disdain or contempt of their surroundings, while the younger buried their faces in their hands as they went along, their forms convulsing, now and again, with suppressed sobs. How terri- bly real they appeared and how different from the ideals which many picture them ; creatures with some irresistible attractions, almost superhuman, as some put it, in their sirens' charms. Alas, it takes the deceiving glare of artificial light, the brain befuddled by drink and the incordinate activity of all the latent animalism of man to make these unfortunates appear anything else than what they are. It took the judge but a few minutes to finish with the squad. "Discharged," he decided. A sigh of relief sounded all over the court- room. In her haste to regain the outer air, one of the women stumbled over her own skirt and tore a large strip off the bottom. No one laughed. "Next!" the judge briefly ordered. "Lottie Mulligan, Annette Bourrille, Char- THE FLIGHT OP ICARUS. 353 lotte Ledourge, Lena Lieders, Victoria Wor- cester and Lily Degraw !" the clerk called. Eevere started. Was it possible? Lily Degraw! Was it but a coincidence? Arm- strong's mistress! How had she fallen into the toils ? He arose, hoping to distinguish the woman in the "batch." The line was just forming. O'Tear noticed Eevere's agitation and dropped his pencil. "What's the matter, John?" he quietly asked. "Nothing — I" — Eevere began, and then he stopped. His body stiffened. His eyes seemed to be growing out of their sockets. There was a movement among the spectators as they beheld the tall figure and specter-like face. Then, before O'Tear could utter another word, Eevere's arms shot out from his sides. His tongue moved. "Oh! God!" he cried. "Blaine!" There was a moment's pause, a pause of dreadful silence. Then a shriek rent the air. One of the prisoners reeled and sank to the floor. "John!" she cried as she fell. 364 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. Then, before any one divined what was happening, Eevere's hand flew behind him — something gleamed in his hand — was pressed against his temple ! With an exclamation of horror, O'Tear shot his hand out to prevent the intended deed. It was too late ! A sharp crack rang out, a flash of fire showed for an instant, and with the blood spurting from his head, Eevere sank into O' Tear's arms. THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 355 CHAPTEE XLV. AN INTEEBUPTED WEDDING. At two o'clock of that afternoon, a carriage drew up in front of a church on Madison Avenue. A flunkey jumped down and opened the door and a gentleman stepped out. As he turned back to help out the lady with him, a street arab with a bundle of newspapers under his arm came running up the street and paused for a moment. "'Ere's yer extry ! All erbaut de suercide! Eead de extry ! De court suercide ! ' ' The gentleman had helped the lady out and the two were starting for the church entrance. "Buy an extry, boss?" the urchin persisted ; "all erbaut de suercide in court!" The lady and gentleman had passed half the width of the sidewalk. The newsboy, seeing no prospect of a sale, started down the avenue. 356 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. "Bead d' extry!" he yelled, "John Eevere shoots hisself in de court! All erbaut de suercide!" A muffled shriek, a tottering figure, which the gentlman receives in his arms as it sways and sinks back, a discomfited flunkey flying to his master's aid, and the newsboy, attracted by the noise and turning back, all formed a momentry tableau of peculiar interest. ' ' Sophie, darling, ' ' the man was murmuring, "what is the matter, dear?" Sophie shivered and drew herself up. Her hand clutched Armstrong's shoulder. Her colorless lips moved. "That boy, what— did— he— cry?" she almost whispered. But Armstrong had not heard. Other thoughts had occupied his mind. He gazed at her in astonishment and drew her toward the church door. "Boy?" he exclaimed, "what boy? What has come over you, darling?" But weak as she was, she resisted. "The paper," she said, "get the paper!" "The minister is waiting, love." "The paper!" she commanded. THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS, 357 Armstrong looked at the flunkey helplessly, and the latter comprehended. "Hey, boy!" he called. The flunkey held the paper out to his mas- ter. The latter hesitated, and then unfolded it. The word "EXTEA" occupied the two middle columns. Underneath ran the head- line: "SUICIDE IN COUET!" and under that : "JOHN EEVEEE, A NEWSPAPEE EE- POETEE, ATTEMPTS SUICIDE!" and below that : MAY NOT EECOVEE. and further on : "The Suicide Was Taken to Bellevue— The Cause of the Act Unknown — A Tragic Court Eoom Scene. ' ' AH this Armstrong read, but he had hardly pome to the last word of the headline when he felt the clutch upon his shoulder tighten, ^ophie had read the lines at the same time. "My love — " he began. But she interrupted him. Quickly turning about, she vm toward the carriage. 358 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. "To the hospital!" she hoarsely exclaimed. Armstrong paled. He barred her way. A little crowd began to collect. "The minister is waiting — " he remonstra- ted. "Sophie — remember " But she brushed by him and sprang into the carriage. Her eyes were vacant and fixed. Her lips were white and trembling. He ran after her and put his head in at the door. "Sophie, Sophie," he exclaimed, "what are you doing? We are to be married now — everything is waiting; what are you thinking of? Where do you want to go?" The last words seemed to be the only ones she understood. "To the hospital!" she again exclaimed. "Which hospital?" "Where he is." "Bellevue?" "Bellevue." "But first — the minister " She was fast losing the very last vestige of her self-control. Her fingers worked convul- sively and she tapped her foot upon the floor impatiently. THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 359 "To the hospital!" she cried, "quick! To the hospital!" she almost screamed. Arm- strong stood upon the step, hesitating. What was he to do? What was going to happen? What did it all mean?" "Quick! To the hospital!" she was really screaming now. She half -rose from her seat. The crowd — now considerably augmented — pressed closer and closer. A policeman ap- peared around the corner. Armstrong gazed about him and — surrendered ! "Drive to Bellevue!" he ordered. The carriage rattled off. He was lying, pallid and gaunt, upon the hos- pital cot. A group of doctors and nurses were gathered about the footboard. "A most interesting case," one of the doc- tors was saying. "The bullet just scraped the dura mater and came out again through the upper part of the skull. If his friend had not thrown his arm up as he was pulling the trigger, the ball would have gone right through the brain, doubtless. ' ' "Do you think he'll pull through, doctor?" 360 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. "M-m-m. I shouldn't wonder. May have meningitis, though." "Ah!" a nurse exclaimed, "he's opening his eyes now. ' ' And at the same moment the door flew open, and with a heartrending shriek, Sophie threw herself down at his bed, and the tears — those tears which had so long refused to flow — gushed out at last. "John! My darling! My love! My angel!" she cried, and fondled his helpless hands and caressed them and kissed them. And a few steps away stood Armstrong, seeming to doubt whether he was awake, and still won- dering what it all meant. THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 361 CHAPTER XLYl. THE KNOWN AND THE UNKNOWN. Six long weeka had passed since that dread- ful day ; six weeks of lingering which came as near to a fatal termination as it well could without actually having one. Many events of importance had come to pass during those six weeks of which the sufferer had no knowledge. Only once had he regained consciousness dur- ing the first few days, and then it was to ask O'Tear, who was at his bedside as often as the rules would allow, what had become of her. And with the tears streaming from his eyes, the old fellow, thinking it best to tell the truth, had replied : "She is in an asylum." And he had understood. But he did not fully comprehend, at first, the tragedy that was being enacted at his bedside. For Sophie, loving, adoring Sophie, 362 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. had found strength in his weakness. How she had accomplished it, no one ever knew, but the second morning after the shooting had found her installed as nurse in his ward! Vain had been Armstrong's pleadings and remonstrances. She was deaf to them all. She now knew only one thing ; that her whole heart and her whole soul belonged to him who lay so pale and uncomplaining upon the white cot, and she knew that she could never more live away from him. And so Armstrong had pleaded and stormed every day, and every day she told him to forget forever what had been. "Whatever comes," she had said, "I am his — his only and entirely. ' ' And Armstrong had wondered whether this was the same gentle Sophie he had once known. Eevere's book had come out meanwhile, and had at once proven an enormous success. The world talked of the work and its author, and would fain have lionized him. But he was weary of it all, and as soon as the formalities of the law had been gone through, he determined to go back to his prairie home and ther«, all alons with his THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 363 broken heart and broken life, spend his earthly years. They took him up tenderly and bore him to a special car. He was still weak and needed careful attention. So he did not object when Sophie begged to be allowed to go along. And Armstrong went too, still wondering how it would all end. As had been feared, Bevere grew worse on the road and was quite delirious when they brought him to his home. So Sophie stayed and nursed him. Three more weeks passed and the splendid constitution and loving care triumphed. Then came the happy day when he was put into a chair and propped up with pillows and* wheeled to the window to inhale the balmy early summer air. And she — Sophie — with a joyous, though wan and drawn countenance, bent over him and adjusted his coverings. And Armstrong, who had stayed there, too, sat in the background and wondered — still wondered — where it would all end. "Well," Eevere said, looking out of the window wistfully — as if the swaying branches 364 THE PLIGHT OF ICARUS. and bright sky recalled another scene, "now that I am up again, I shall, I suppose, have to pay the inevitable penalty, by losing for what I am gaining. ' ' "How?" Sophie asked, a startled look com- ing into her eyes. "You will be leaving me now, little nurse, and making the faithful fellow behind us happy for life?" And as he pronounced those three words, "happy for life," the tears welled up in his eyes. How often they had used those words ! Sophie shivered slightly and pressed her hand to her heart. "Leave you?" she vaguely repeated. Armstrong arose and advanced a step, then paused. Eevere looked up at her and read something in her eyes. He caught his breath quickly. "Sophie!" Armstrong exclaimed, moving toward them. She turned around like a tigress at bay. "Once for all!"' she cried out, her eyes gleaming with fierceness, "I say to you, no! No ! NO ! I care not for you ! I shall never go with you!" Armstrong hung his head. THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 365 "Leave us, Armstrong," Eevere iinally said. "Let me tell her something she should know. " For a moment he hesitated, then he gloomily stalked out of the room. With a sigh, Sophie sank at Eevere 's feet. Eevere took her hand and gently stroked it with is own. "Listen, little girl," he began. "Tou have never learned why I — I did what I did?" She shook her head. "I thought not. O'Tear is the only one who knows. Now you shall know, too, be- cause — because — " Their eyes met and her face became suffused with color, "because I think it is best for you to know." And then he went on and told her the whole story of his meeting with Elaine, their love, their aspirations, their hopes and plans. "Tome," he concluded, "there still exists the Elaine I knew — good and pure and holy. To her I pledged my faith and no other woman can ever take her place. That is impossible So I shall remain as I am — loveless and un- loved — a wreck — as I am now — alone and away from the world. ' ' Thus he finished, and his head sank upon his breast. Then she asserted herself. 366 THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. "Oh, God!" she cried, "are you blind that you cannot see? Can I leave you alone in misery — unoared for— unloved? John, John, I love you ! Command me, torture me, beat me, but do not order me away from your side ! John ! My love ! My darling ! My hero ! — ' ' and overcome by her own emotion, the poor, heartrent, loving girl twined her arms about him and pressed him to her with all the convulsive strength of her weakened arms. It was at this moment that Armstrong ap- peared in the doorway. He heard the words, saw the actions; and slapping his hat upon his head, he strode off to the railroad station. He was convinced at last. Then came the battle between those two left alone. In a battle between a lonely, heart- broken man, who yearns for love as the parched plant yearns for water, and an ardent, loving woman, who asks for nothing but love, who shall hesitate to designate the victor? What could the result be but that his weary head should finally drop upon her bosom and find there its rest from turmoil and trouble and weariness? For it so happened, and glorying in the majesty of her love, Sophie took that poor THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS. 36? head in her arms and declared herself the happiest woman in the world. And Elaine — Lily ? In a sombre ward of the forbidding insane asylum structure she sits, day in and day out and rocks herself to and fro, mumbling words which no one under- stands. Sometimes she becomes excited, though, and then she starts from one end of the ward, and takes a few steps, and looks up and cries "John!" and falls senseless on the floor. At other times, when there is no one about, she stealthily opens her dress, and produces, from some unknown hiding-place, a longiah strip of paper. This she unfolds and gloats over many minutes, and reads to herself many times. The contents ? It bears the heading of the X and Y Publishing House at the top, and the body reads : "Keceived of Miss Elaine de Gerau the sum of Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000) in full payment for the publication of the book en- titled and the remuneration of the author, thereof, Mr. John Eevere, for the first edition accord- ing to contract. "The X and Y Publ'ing Co.* 36g TtiE FLIGHT OF ICJARtJS. When any one approaches, the papet is swiftly folded and hidden away, and then she sits down and holds her knees between her arms and mumbles to herself : "I meant well, John, I meant well. If you only knew!" But John does not know. There are many things we fail to know during our short life- span and so Elaine still rocks to and fro and talks to herself of what might have been. And John — is John happy ? Who in this world is happy ? Alas, who shall attempt to judge the dispen- sations which an Omniscient Providence, an unalterable Fate or a non-discriminating Chance, imposes upon mortals? THE END. NEELY'S TOURIST LIBRARY. Paper, Tweuty-flve Cents. (Ta, 1, The White Company. Bv A. Conan Doyler S. The Deemster. By Hall Caine. 8. A Romance of Two Worlds. By Marie Corellii 4. Treasure Island. By Robert L. Stevenson. 5. The Sign of the Four. By A. Conan Doyle. 6. Kidnapped. By Robert L. Stevenson. 7. The Bondman. By Hall Caine. 8. Michael Clarke. By A. Conan Doyle. 9. Sport Ro.val. By Anthony Hope. 10. The Man in Black. By Stanley J. Weyman. 11. Uncle Tom's Cabin. By Mrs. Stowe. 13. Beyond the City. By A. Conan Doyle. 13. Webster's Pronouncing Dictionary. 14. Cosmopolis. By Paul Bourget. 15. People's Reference Book. 19. Around the World in Eighty Days, By Jules Vemft, 17. In Darkest England. By General Booth. 18. Ships That Pa The Passing of Alix. By MRS. MARJORIE PAUL. Neely's Popular Library — Paper, 25c; Newspaper comment may in some minds count for little in settling the value of a novel, but it at least shows the drift of public opinion. Nothing but praise has been spoken of "The Passing of Alix." To show the general trend of this commendation we beg leave to publish a single literary notice from a prominent jo jrnal : ' ' A capital little book, that of Mrs. Marjorie Paul, just the light, breezy sort one delights in reading when swinging idly in a zephyr-tossed hammock in the early fall days, or before the crack- ling wood fire of the winter hearth of a country house. Doubtless many a copy will find its way into the satchel or handbag of tourist and commercial traveler, to whom the weighty novel, writ- ten with the evident intention of reforming this wicked and ignorant world, seldom appeals." " It is a story of a sensational character, but clean in thought and pathetic in its conclusion. It is the story of a woman, and a good one. It contains nothing that is sensational, but is full of human interest, and holds the attention of the reader from start to finish. Besides telling the story, it teaches a lesson, but doeft not sermonize. It is a book, in fact, which will interest all, and furnishes the very best sort of light reading." For Bale everywhere, or sent post-paid on receipt of priea. F. TENNYSON NEELY, Publisher, 96 Qa«eo Street, London. 114 Fifth Avenue, New Yorlfc nONTRESOR, An English-American Love-Story. By " LOOTA." Neely*s Prismatic Library. Gilt top, 50c. In "Montresor" we have a readable little \rolume, airily written, and dealing with the fan- cies of the heart. Our author introduces us to charming society, and we follow the fortunes of the heroine with more than passing interest. " Montresor" is hardly in the line of sensational novels, but one finds running through the story a most delightful vein of love, and the conclusion reached is so pleasant that we close the book with the sensation of having been very pleasant- ly entertained. The author's views upon divorce are in line with the ideas of those who have most seriously pondered upon this grave question. " Montresor " is a book that can be safely placed in the hands of the most exacting, which is more than can be said of most new novels. Fet sal* everywhere, or sent post-paid on receipt of iftiea, P. TENNYSON NEELY, Publisher, t$ Queea Street London. 114 Piftii Avenue, Nw Yot% The King in Yellow. By Robert W. Chambers. Author of <' In the Quarter." Neely's Prismatic Library. out Top, 50 Cents. This book has evidently created an astonishing amount of enthusiasm amsnfe the lovers of the weird and eccentric in literature. On all sides nothing but praise has been heard, coupling the gifted author's name with that of Edgar Allan Foe, and predicting a glorious future for the man whose pen has the magical power to charm the reading public, ever eager to seize on that which borders upon the *i- xir e. The odd and attractive cover appeals to the curiosity of the reader, and once he has dipped into the contents he nnds a feast spread before him that awak- ens a desire for further intercourse with the same fertile pen . Edward Ellis : — " The author is a genius without a living equal, so far as I am aware, in his peculiar field. It is a masterpiece, . . . I nave read many portions several times, captivated by the unapproachable tints of the painting. None but a genius of the highest order could do such work." N. Y. Commercial Advertiser : — " The short prose tale should be a syn- thesis : it was the art of Edgar Poe, it is the art of Mr. Chambers. . . . His is beyond question a glorious heritage. ... I fancy the book will create a sen- sation ; ... in any case it is the most notable contribution to literature which has come from an American publisher for many years ; and fine as the accom- plishment is, ' The King in Yellow ' is large in promise. One has a right to ex- pect a great deal from an author of this calibre.'^ Times Herald :— " The most eccentric little volume of its (little) day ' The King in Yellow ' is subtly fascinating, and compels attention for its style, and its wealth of strange, imaginative force." New York Times :— " Mr. Robert W. Chambers does not have a system to work up to ; he has no fad, save a tendency to write about the marvelous and the impossible ; painting pictures of romance that have a wild inspiration about them. Descriptive powers of no mean quality are perceptible in this volume of stories." The N. Y. World : — *' Mr. Chambers has a great command of words ; he is a good painter. His situations are most delicately touched, and some of his de- scriptions are exquisite. He writes like an artist. He uses colors rather than ideas. . . . The best drama in the volume means madness. The tenderest fancy is a sad mirage. . . . ' The King in Yellow ' is a very interesting con- tribution to the present fund of materio-mysticism. ... To read Mr. Cham- bers' little book is to escape from the actual on poetical wings." Minneapolis Tribune :— " They have a mysterious eerie air about them jhat is apt to stimulate the reader's curiosity." Philadelphia Times :—" Charming, delicate, skilful, vivid." Philadelphia Item :— " Expected to make a sensation, charming, full of color and deUcately tinted." Cleveland Gazette :— "It Is wondrous strong, dramatic, fullof coIor,'nriid, nncannyj picturesque, and yet a gem of exquisite coloring, dreamy, symbolic, exdting." For sale everywhere, or sent post-paid on receipt of price, F. TENNYSON NEELY, Publisher, 9$ Queen Street, London. 114 Fifth Avenae, New York* Father Stafford. By ANTHONY HOPE. The Most Remarkable of Mr* Hope^a Storiet^ Neely's Prismatic Library. Qilt Top, 50 cents. Minneapolis Tribune :— " This story is in the genuine Hope style andfof Aat reason will be widely read." Public Ledger, Philadelphia :— " ' Father Stafford * is extremely clevee a bold privateer venturing upon the high seas." San Francisco Chronicle :— " It is a good story, the strong parts oi which are the conflict between love and conscience on the part of a youn^ Angli- can priest. The charm of the book, however, lies in the briskness of the dialogue, which is as finely finished as any of Hope's novels." Nashville Banner :— " ' Father Stafford ' is a charming story. The whole book sustains the reputation that Anthony Hope has made, and adds another proof that as a portrayer of character of sharp distinctness and individuality ha has no superior." Evening Wisconsin :— " A write* of great merit. . , , Mr, Hope's work has a quality of straightforwardness that recommends it to readers who have grown tired of the loaded novel." Phillipsburgh Journal:— "This is considered by his critics to be one of the strongest, most beautiful and interesting novels Mr, Hope has ever written. There is not a dull line in the entire volume/' Vanity, New York t— " A very interesting narrative, and Mr. Hope telU the story after that fashion which he would seem to have made peculiarly his own." Kansas City Journal :— "There is something more than the romance of ttie action to hold the reader's mind. It is one of the author's best productions," Every Saturday, Elgin, III.: — "Anthony Hope is a master of dialogue, and to his art in this particular is due the enticing interest wliich leads the readMj •& from page to page." f Hebrew Standard :— " The strife between the obligation of a vow of ceH" bacy and the promptings of true love are vividly portrayed in this little book. , , . It contains an admirable description of English country life and is wett written," Boston Daily Globe:— "It has enough of the charm of the author'* thought and style to identify it as characteristic, and make it very pleasing," For sale everywhere, or sent post-paid on receipt of price. ^ F. TENNYSON NEELV, Publisher, 96 Queen Street, London. 114 Fifth Avenuei, New YoRlb Martha WasMngton Goolf Book A COMPENDIUM OF COOKERY AND RELIABLE RECIPES. i-'oHy Illustratctl. 3J5 Pages. lamiy. Oil Cloth Cover, . - . 50 Cti. Paper, (Neely's Popular Library), 35 " Over 1,000,000 copies of this popular and valuable book have been sold. A moat comprehensive work, giving all the minute details pertaining to its subject. Contains hints and suggestions from the best housewives of our land. An in- dispensable adjunct to every culinary department. Tiie Peojiie's (efeiep Book. QQQ QQQ FACTS OF USE 7/7^7/7 TO EVERYBODY. Paper Cover. Neely's Popular Library, 25c. This is an invaluable book of ready reference, applicable to almost every pos^ sible industrial and domestic requirement. It gives information enabling one to meet everyday emergencies intelligently and promptly. Compiled from the best medical and other authorities. So indexed that any required item can be in- stantlj- found. No other similar book in the market to compare with it for effi- ciency and value. For sale everywhere, or sent post-paid on receipt of price. F. TENNYSON NEELY, Publisher, 96 Queen §trfet, Loadog. 114 Flft)i Aveniie, Ne^r Yeil^.. Two Famous Authors. To lovers of military tales and stories of romantic adventuw the world over the names of CAPT. CHAS. KING, U.S.A. AND 5T. GEORGE RATHORNE, Author of " Dr. Jack," have indeed become household words. Their widely circulated novels may be found wherever the English language is spoken, and have served to while away the tedium o£ many a long rail- way journey or ocean voyage. The public seem to eagerly wel- come each new story from these travelers who have searched the strangest corners of the earth for new scenes and remarkable ex- ploits with which to entertain their legion of readers. Mr. F. Tennyson Neely has pleasure in announcing that the very latest and best productions of these wizard pens are now appearing in his attractive list of publications, and may be found en every book-stall here and abroad. THE LATEST BOOKS toy Capt. King. W \BBIOK GAP. Cloth, *1.26. TXiRT FEATNE. Cloth, $1.25 | paper, 80c. AN AEMY WIFE. Fully Illustrated. Cloth, $1.25 ; paper, 60o. A GARRISON TANGLE. Cloth, $1.25 ; paper, 50o. TETTBIPETER FEED. Illuatrated. Gilt top, 50c. NOBLE BLOOD AND A WEST POINT PARALLEL. By Capt. King nai Ernst Von Wildenbruch of the German Army. Gilt top, 60o. THE MOST RECENT NOVELS by St. George Rathborne, Author of " Doctor Jack." Uniform Editions, Cloth, $i.oo ; paper, 50c. SQOIBE JOHN. A SON OF MARS. A BAR SINISTER. A GODDESS OF AFRICA. MASKED m MYSTERY. HER RESCITE FEOM THE TURKS. Others in preparation for early isaae. For sale everywhere, or sent post-paid on receipt of prle«« F. TENNYSON NEELY, Publisher, 96 Queen Street, London. 114 Fifth Avenue, New Yprfb RACHEL DENE, By ROBERT BUCHANAN, , . . Author of . . . "The Charlatan," "The Shadow of the Sword," " Qod and the Man." Cloth, $1.25 ; paper, 25c. HarriibBTv Triegram " ' Rachsl Dene ' is one of Robert Buchanan's best works." Cincinnati Tribune " This is a ^ood story." Bockr Mountain Mews " ' Rachel Dene,' by Robert Buchanan is one of his best stories." Becord Union " Mr. Buchanan has not presented a stronger story. He pre- faces it with the story of his life in literature, and gives the writers and am- bitious youths some excellent ::dvice." Commercial " An excellent story full of strong points, both constructively and BuUrtln from a literary standpoint. It is practical. It deals with the dark ^ and brierht sides of life, but always to show the advantage of the bright side." Nashville Christian " The book is clean and wholesome— enough of complex- Adrocate ity in the plot to furnish the reader with occasional su> prises." Fnllerton News " A very fascinating tale." Western Christian " Fascinating, stimulating— a novel of love, murder, jeal- Advocate ousy, false imprisonment, escape, and vindication." Boston Idfas "Its elements are excellently characteristic — very likely due to The its being an accurate picture for which commendation is due." I American " Is fully equal, if not superior, to his former novels." The Gates of Dawn, By FERGUS HUME, Author of "Mystery of a Hansom Cat," "Miss Mep]ilstopheles,"etc-,ett. Cloth, $1.25; paper, 25c. Otis Library "A remarkably versatile and ingenious romance, replete with vivid Balletin descriptions and stirring incidents." NasliTille Banner A well-arranged plot, and the interest of the story is well- sustained." Mr. Hume has built around a group of interesting characters a story of ths old order of plot and counterplot, where there is mystery surrounding the hero- ine's birth — a wealthy man, in disguise, meets and loves her — a wicked female vil- lain brings danger to the course of their true love— a good friend aids them in their hour of need, and all ends well. The people who make up this story are " A doc- tor addicted to opium, a pair of gypsies, a recluse lady, a lovely liuntress, and a sporting parson,'' besides the hero, a lord of high degree, Pete, a fox terrier, and Simon, a norse. There is a mysterious hatching of plots among the gypsies, and much prophesying. The parson is a " simple, kindly old fellow, given to strong ale, terriers, and bluster." There is a great house with a witch, who holds nightly orgies in the empty rooms at midnight, from which come cries of tortured women and dying men, while by day this witch "tires her head, decks herself with gams, clothes herself in rich garments," and makes a mystery of herself generally. Itif by far Fergus Hume's Best book. For sale everywhere, or sent post-paid on receipt of price, F. TENNYSON NEELY, Publisher, 96 Queen Street, Londoi 114 Flft^ AvQtuip, New Yorl^ Through Field and Fallow. A Choice Collection of Original Poems, By JEAN HOOPER PAGE. CLOTH, QILT TOP, $1.00. IT IS NOT always the brilliant work which appealii to us most keenly. Sarcasm and rhetoric have their place, but the book that lies on the desk and is found in the mending-basket is the book, nine times out of ten, that deals with every-day life and sweeps across the strings of the heart. While Mrs. Page's work> "Through Field and Fallow," often touches the subtle minor chords, it invariably swells to the triumphant major and rings clear and true in the sweetness of undy- ing hope and unquenchable faith. Much of Mrs. Page's work has appeared first in our great daily newspapers, but its life has been less ephem- eral than theirs. Here and there a woman has treasured some bit in her scrap book ; a man has clipped a verse and put it away in the drawer of his desk marked "private." Sooner or later in this little volume the reader will find the poem that was written for him. I Father Ryan once wrote : " To uplift the downcast, ko sweeten any life, to feel that we in some way have helped to lighten the great burden that rests upop 'mankind — this is the only real compensation that comes to the poet." This recompense will be Mrs. Page's. For sale everywhere, or sent post-paid on receipt of price, F. TENNYSON NEELY, Publisher, ^6 Queen Street, London. 114 Fifth Avenue, New York. SnOKINQ FLAX. A Story of Dixie's Latest Problem. By HaLLIE ERMINIE RIVES. Neely's Prismtitic Library. Qllt top, 50 cents. Stories of the South, dealing with its familiar types and lighter scenes, are of ordinary occurrence. Somber essays, descanting wisely upon its social problems are not rare. But seldom, indeed, has any writer succeeded in decking a sectional sermon in the garb of romance or of tragedy and sketching with the bold crayon of realistic circumstance, the trenchant lines of a condition against which theoretic logicians inveigh in vain. In " Smoking Flax " Miss Rives has done this — her story deals with that grave question of southern social economy, the lynching. Miss Rives needs no introduction, since "A Fool in Spots " and numerous short stories gained for this beau- tiful daughter of Dixie a young popularity. She is a cousin of Amelia Rives, now the Princess Troubepkoi, and has much of the poetic feeling which distinguished that vivid authoress. Her present book is a fierce arraignment of the northern societies which see in Judge Lynch only the lawless and unreasoning arbiter of a blind and passion-led mob. And yet the arraignment is before no court, and the briefs are all drawn up by the reader. Upon the stern and rigid warp of brutal and bloody fact. Miss Rives, with the hand of a practised workman, smd with a shuttle wound with the bright hues and odorous warmths of the south-land has woven a woof of romance, of woman's tenderest love and man's manliest devotion. The lights and shades are closely mingled, and through all the story, from its opening in the calm of peace and content, to its tragic close in the storm of death and bitterness and despair, the reader is held in an interest which grows steadily more real and more en- thralling. For sale everywhere, or sent post-paid on receipt of price. F. TENNYSON NEELY, Publisher, 96 Queen Street, London. 114 Fifth Avenue, New York, LATE WORKS OF OPIE READ, Author of **A Kentucky Colonel/' Probably no American writer of to-day excels Opic Read in the delineation of strange characters. He loves to dwell upon Southern scenes, before and after the war, and so vividly are these quaint pictures drawn that the reader seems to see the characters of his story as plainly as though the skill of an artist had painted their por- traits. " Odd Folks " will please all travelers who enjoy a good story, well told, and should meet with as heavy ; sale as "The Captain's Romance" has enjoyed. It iv peculiarly fresh and sparkling, and a sure cure for lone- liness or the blues. The remarkably clever pen-drawn characters wiil live through many editions as true type** of American life. ODD FOLKS. Cloth, ;^i.oo; paper, 250. THE CAPTAIN'S ROMANCE. Cloth, $1.00; paper, 25& Per lale everywhere, or sent post-paid on receipt of price. F. TENNYSON NEELY, Publisher, 96 Queen Street, London. 114 Fifth Avenue, New Yattk- MW$ Tmperial Dbrary. POPULAR AUTHORS, BEST TITLES, nNEST BOOKS. Illuminated Paper Oovers aad man^ Illustrations. Entered as Second-Class Matter. PRICEp 26 CENTS. The Charlatan. Robert Buchanan and Henry Murray. Burkett's Lock. M. O. McClelland. The Land of Promise. (Illustrated.) Paul Bourget. Hypnotism. (Illustrated.) Jules Glaretie. Facing the Flag. Jules Verne. The Fallen Race. (Illustrated.) Austyn Granville. The Disappearance of Mr. Derwent. Thomas Cobb. Sacrificed Love. (Illustrated.) Alphonse Daudet. The One Too Many. Mrs. E. Lynn Lynton. The New Man at Rossmere. Mrs. J. H. Walworth. At Market Value. Grant Allen. A Daughter of the King. Allen. A Monk of Crata. (Illustrated.) E. Phillips Oppen- heim. The Gates of Dawn. Fergus Hume, In Strange Company. (Illustrated.) GuyBoothby. How Women Love. Max Nordau. The Comedy of Sentiment. Max Nordau. HEW TITLES WILL BE ADDED RAPIDLY. I I For sale everywhere, or sent postpaid on receipt of price. F. TENNYSON NEELY, PuWisher, 96 Queen St., London. 114 Fifth Ave., New York. \