第66章 AN EFFORT FOR TRUTH(1)

When Eloise spoke in the ravine of talking with her grandfather,it was because for a few days she had been trying to make up her mind to an interview with him.A fortnight ago she would have felt this to be impossible;but subtle changes had been going on in herself,and,she thought,in him.If her mother would undertake the interview now and take that stand with Mr.Evringham which Eloise felt that self-respect demanded,the girl would gladly escape it;but there was no prospect of such a thing.Mrs.Evringham was only too glad to benefit by her father-in-law's modified mood,to glide along the surface of things and wait--Eloise knew it,knew it every day,in moments when her cheeks flushed hot--for Dr.Ballard to throw the handkerchief.

The girl wished to talk with Mr.Evringham without her mother's knowledge,and the prospect was a dreaded ordeal.She felt that they had won his contempt,and she feared the loss of her own self-control when she should come to touch upon the sore spots.

"What would you do,Jewel,"she asked the next morning,after they had read the lesson;"what would you do if you were afraid of somebody?""I wouldn't be,"returned the child quickly.

"Well,I am.Now what am I going to do about it?"Anna Belle,who always gave unwinking attention to the lesson,was in Jewel's lap,and the child twisted out the in-turning morocco foot as she spoke.

"Why,I'd know that one thought of God couldn't be afraid of another,"she replied in the conclusive tone to which Eloise could never grow accustomed.

"Oh,Jewel,child,"the girl said impatiently,"we'd be sorry to think most of the people we know are thoughts of God.""That's because you get the error man mixed up with the real one.

Mother explains that to me when we ride in cable cars and places where we see error people with sorry faces.There's a real man,a real thought of God,behind every one of them;and when you remember to think right about people every minute,you are doing them good.Did you say you're afraid of somebody?""Yes,and that somebody is a man whom I must talk to.""Then begin right away to know every minute that the real man isn't anybody to be afraid of,for God made him,and God has only loving thoughts;and of course you must be loving all the time.It'll be just as easyby the time you come to it,cousin Eloise!"The girl often asked herself in these days why she should begin to feel unreasonably hopeful and lighter hearted.Her mother no longer complained of her moods.Mrs.Evringham laid the becoming change in her daughter's expression to the girl's happiness in discovering that she did reciprocate Dr.Ballard's evident sentiments.

"Eloise is so high minded,"thought the mother complacently."She would never be satisfied to marry for convenience,like so many;"and considering herself passingly astute,she let well enough alone,ceased to bring the physician's name into every conversation,and bided her time.

One morning Mr.Evringham,coming out of the house to go to town,met Eloise on the piazza.

"You are down early,"he said as he greeted her,and was passing on to the carriage.

"Just one minute,grandfather!"she exclaimed,and how her heart beat.

He turned his erect form in some surprise,and his cold eyes met the girlish ones.

"She's a stunning creature,"he thought,as the sunlight bathed her young beauty;but his face was impenetrable,and Eloise nerved herself.

"Were you thinking of going golfing this afternoon?"she asked.

"Yes."

"I thought you said something about it at dinner last evening.Would you let me go with you?"Mr.Evringham,much astonished,raised his eyebrows and took off the hat which he had replaced.

"Such a request from youth and beauty is a command,"he returned with a slight bow.

Tears sprang to the girl's eyes."Don't make fun of me,grandfather!"she exclaimed impulsively.

"Not for worlds,"he returned."You will do the laughing when you see me drive.My hand seems to have lost its cunning this spring.Shall we say four-thirty?Very well.Good-morning.""Now what's all this?"mused Mr.Evringham as he drove to the station.

"Has another granddaughter fallen in love with me?Methinks not.What is she after?Does she want to get away from Ballard?Methinks not,again.She's going to ask me for something probably.Egad,if she does,I think I'll turn her over to Jewel."Eloise's eyes were bright during the lesson that morning.

"It's to-day,Jewel,"she said,"that I'm going to talk with that man I'm afraid of.""Never say that again,"returned the child vehemently."You are not afraid.There's no one to be afraid of.Do you want me to handle it for you?""What do you mean,Jewel?"

"To declare the truth for you."

"Do you mean give me a treatment for it?"

"Yes."

"Oh.Do you know that seems very funny to me,Jewel?""It seems funny to me that you are afraid,when God made you,and the man,and all of us,and there's nothing but goodness and love in the universe.Fear is the belief of evil.Do you want to believe evil?""No,I hate to,"returned Eloise promptly.

"Then you go away,cousin Eloise,and I will handle the case for you.""Oh,are you going golfing?"said Mrs.Evringham that afternoon to her daughter."Do put on your white duck,dear.""Yes,I intend to.I'm going with grandfatehr.""You are?"in extremest surprise."Oh,wear your dark skirt,dear;it's plenty good enough.Do you mean to say he asked you,Eloise?""No,I asked him."

Mrs.Evringham stood in silent amaze,her brain working alertly.She even watched her daughter don the immaculate white golf suit,and made no further protest.

What was in the girl's mind?When finally from her window she saw the two enter the brougham,Mr.Evringham carrying his granddaughter's clubs,she smiled a knowing smile and nodded her head.