CHAPTER XVIIIMAJOR WALDEN
The fire was burning with active energy in the tall stove, and the dish of water sitting upon it, “to keep the room healthy,� was sending forth steam clouds, as Nathan and Lissa, after closing the door behind the last departing guest, returned to their family room.
Donald had walked home with Esther McCleary, and Mrs. Clyne had retired for the night, leaving them alone.
“It is an ugly night,� Nathan said, shivering and lifting his shoulders, as he stood with his hands held behind him and his back to the stove.
“Yes, and I’m afraid I’m going to have neuralgia in my face again,� said Lissa, pressing her cheek closer to the glowing heat of the fire.
“That’s too bad. I should think that wisdom-tooth would have done troubling you some time. Ain’t it through yet?�
“No; I pity teething children, if they have the pain I have.�
“Better get good and warm before you go to bed. The house seems unusually cool to-night.�
“It’s having the doors open so much. But, Nathan, what is the matter? You have been uncommonly grave and silent all the evening. I hope you have had no trouble at the office?�
“Ihave had no trouble,—only,—well, something happened which was quite unlooked for by me, anyway. Major Walden is in trouble, I think, though I do not understand the nature of it.�
Lissa looked interested, and her eyes searched his face questioningly.
Nathan drew up a chair and sat down.
“We were both in the office looking over some notes and papers in the desk this morning when the mail was brought in. There were two or three letters and some newspapers, which latter he tossed over to me to examine. While thus engaged I was startled by a strange sound from the Major, and looking up I at first thought he was in a fit. His face was pale and distorted, and he shook like a man with the ague. He clenched an open letter in his hand, which I thought must be answerable for his condition. I sprang to him and unbuttoned his collar, as he appeared to be choking, and he seemed to be relieved, though it was some time before he could control himself, or articulate. When he did, it was to hiss the words ‘scoundrel, villain, devil!’ with insane fury. I did not know how to act, or what to say to him, and so after shutting and fastening the door, that no one might intrude on us,—an act which he seemed to approve,—I stepped into a little private office opening from the room and busied myself with the ledger accounts, while I waited for him to grow calmer.
“It was fully an hour, I think, before he called me, and then I was surprised at the change in him. He looked ten years older, and his face had the pinchedlook of one recovering from an illness. His hands shook and he seemed entirely unnerved. ‘Nathan,’ he said, ‘I have received a severe shock, and it has proven almost too much for me. But there are reasons why I wouldn’t want my family to know anything about it, and I shall have to ask you to say nothing here of what you have heard or witnessed. I will explain it all when I feel able to do so. At present I think the best thing for me to do is to take a little change of air, and I believe I’ll run down to Omaha for a day or two. I reckon I’m really sick enough to warrant a day off,’ he said, trying to smile.
“‘Just call at noon and say to Mrs. Walden that I’ve gone to Omaha on business. Had to hurry off to catch a train, or some such clap-trap, or say—I’ll write a note to that effect. You see, I fancy she’d better not see me now.’
“I told him his countenance would betray him, for he really looked ill, and he had much better not go home if he wanted to conceal the fact, and so he went off to the station and left me to fix up matters as best I could. I am more puzzled about the matter, as I am familiar with all his business affairs and investments, and know everything is ship-shape and flourishing. However, as he promised to explain everything when he returns, I need not speculate upon it now I suppose.
“There is another matter I wanted to speak of,� continued Nathan, “and that is in regard to this man Russell. I don’t know what to think of him. Mark is terribly opposed to him and his coming totheir home, and if we encourage Alice’s meeting him here—�
“I think Mark has no right to let unreasoning prejudice rule him the way he does,� interrupted Lissa. “He knows nothing against him, and yet he is ready to accuse him of all the crimes in the decalogue.�
“I don’t like to think of his power over Esther McCleary, Lissa.�
“O, as for Esther, I don’t think she need yield to his power if she prefers not to. She can avoid him.� Lissa spoke sharply.
“Not when her mother compels her to see him. My child, do you really believe in spiritism yourself?�
“Why, Nate, what a question for you to ask! I am sure you are the one who gave the most credence to it when I first knew you. I didn’t take any stock in it then.�
“And now?�
“And now I think there’s something in it which cannot be accounted for in any other way, and—I think it is a blessed thought that our friends are near us after death.�
“I don’t know whether it is or not. It can’t be pleasant for them to be witnessing all the pain and suffering which we are perhaps bearing. If we are promised happiness in the other world it would seem a poor fulfilment of it to me. I could not be happy if I could look back and see you suffering for food and not be able to provide it.�
“I was not thinking so much of their happiness,I confess, Nathan,� Lissa murmured. “But if I should die, and be happy, wouldn’t you like to feel that I was near you? Wouldn’t you like to hear from me?�
“But how could I be sure of it? I think I should prefer you did not have to worry over me any more. I was really startled by a remark made by Major Walden the other day. In the course of conversation I chanced to allude to Professor Russell in some way, and spoke of his being a spirit-medium. The Major turned on me with more anger and vehemence than I have ever before seen in him and said, ‘Bartram, in God’s name have nothing to do with one of those mediums! Shun him as you would a rattlesnake that crawls in the grass at your feet, for I tell you his bite is as deadly, and you never know when he may strike. On no account give him access to your home and family. As you value your present peace of mind or your domestic happiness, never let him cross your threshold!’ I was a trifle knocked out, but I told him the medium had been and was a friend of the family and frequent visitor at my house, and that he appeared to be a respectable and intelligent man. ‘Yes,’ he replied, ‘the Devil may wear the garb of a saint, but he’s not to be trusted for all that. I pray you be warned, and shun the fellow in time, as you would old Clovenhoof himself! I know what I’m talking about.’ I suppose Walden is prejudiced for some reason, but I can’t help wishing Russell did not come here.�
“I’m sure I can’t see what possible harm he can dohere,� Lissa replied.
“But about Alice. She was not looking well to-night, and I am sorry to have her oppose Mark.�
“O, of course she feels bad, because Mark has forbidden her to have Russell at the house when he is not there, and Alice is very set in her way. It may make trouble between them. I know Mark was angry, for Alice told me so, and she said he should find she had mind enough to attend to her own affairs. I expect she’d let him come in spite of Mark.�
“We will hope not,� said Nathan gravely. “Mark may have wisdom in his objection to Russell. I wish he did not comehere.�
“How absurd you are.Youwere the one who introduced him to me, who believed in him and tried to overcome the horror which in infancy I had imbibed of spiritism. And now, because of Major Walden’s prejudice, and Mark’s fanaticism, you are ready to turn round and forbid a spiritist your hospitality.�
“Well, perhaps I am wrong. I confess I have an unaccountable fear and distrust of him. I presume Walden’s warning has had something to do with it. I shouldn’t blame the man for his belief.�
“But if the belief takes away all fear of death, why should we not embrace it? If I should die before you, I want you to teach little Lucy that her mamma is near and watching over her. Don’t you think it might keep her from wrong-doing if she knew it?�
“If she knew it? Ah, there’s the thing! If we really knew.�
“But, haven’t we proof? What human, unassisted, could turn water into wine as Professor Russell did a few weeks ago?�
“But haven’t you heard Mark’s exposé of that? That is simple. Mark can do the same.�
“Mark Cramer?�
“Yes; Mark’s university training has served him a good turn in this as in everything else. You know he is a good chemist, and he can prepare the glasses so that when water is poured into them a pleasant wine is produced. He claims the Professor does the same. You will not deny that Mark speaks the truth. We have known him much longer than Professor Russell,—or at least much better,—and you know he is the soul of honor.�
“Oh, how awful it is for Mark to do such a thing!� said Lissa severely. “I wonder he does not receive some terrible punishment. I am sure he will if he is not more believing. I pity Alice.�
Nathan felt like retorting that he pitied Mark, but he forbore.
“I confess,� he said, “I did feel as if Russell was almost sacrilegious in assuming to duplicate one of Christ’s miracles, but I can see no harm in Mark’s exposing the means employed.�
“One thing, Nathan, I want to speak of now, while I think of it. If I should die first, I will, if there is such a thing as the spirit returning to earth—come back to you. Now let us determine upon a test, and see how I shall come in such a way as to be convincing to you if you are left behind. We will tell no living soul what it is. Then if one of us goesand can fulfil the conditions, there can be no doubt in the other’s mind of its genuineness. If I go first and give you the test, you will have no doubt my disembodied spirit is near you.�
Nathan looked thoughtfully at his wife.
“Your idea is a good one, but God knows I don’t like to think of a time when it could be tested. Still, it might be a satisfaction to the one that is left.�
Then they planned a test that should never again be spoken aloud or imparted to another person.
“There would be danger from the mind-reader, even in this,� Nathan said to himself. “He might surmise the secret and make use of it to deceive. Ah, how can we know the truth?�
The next morning the white snow had covered and shut in all the outer world, and so filled the air that they could only get to the stables by tying themselves to ropes, and the cold was so intense that many of the fowls froze upon their perches in the coops.