CHAPTER III
A BREAKING OF ICE
The troupe in its wandering arrived at Bolton Junction early on aSaturday afternoon, and Winston, lingering a moment in the hoteloffice, overheard Miss Norvell ask the manager if they would probablyspend Sunday there; and later question the hotel clerk regarding anyEpiscopalian services in the town. Their rather late arrival, however,kept him so exceedingly busy with stage preparation for the evening'sperformance that this conversation scarcely recurred to mind until hisnight's labor had been completed. Then, in the silence of his room, heresolved upon an immediate change in conditions, or else the deliberategiving up of further experiment altogether. He was long since tiredenough of it, yet a strange, almost unaccountable attraction for thisyoung woman continued binding him to disagreeable servitude.
He came down stairs the following morning, his plans completelydetermined upon. He was carefully dressed in the neat business suitwhich had been packed away ever since his first reckless plunge intotheatrical life, and thus attired he felt more like his old self thanat any moment since his surrender to the dictation of Albrecht. Insome degree self-confidence, audacity, hope, came promptly troopingback with the mere donning of clean linen and semi-fashionable attire,so that Winston "utility" became Winston gentleman, in the twinkling ofan eye. The other members of the troupe slept late, leaving him tobreakfast alone after vainly loitering about the office in the hopethat Miss Norvell might by some chance appear and keep him company. Itwas almost mortifying to behold that young woman enter the deserteddining-room soon after he had returned to the lonely office, but shegave no sign of recognition in passing, and his returned audacityscarcely proved sufficient to permit his encroachment upon her privacy.He could only linger a moment at the desk in an effort to catch abetter view of her through the partially open door.
Nervously gripping a freshly lighted cigar, Winston finally strolledforth upon the wide porch to await, with all possible patience, theopportunity he felt assured was fast approaching. It was a brightspring morning, sufficiently warm to be comfortable without in thesunshine, although the mountains overshadowing the town were yet whitewith snow. The one long, straggling business street appearedsufficiently lonely, being almost deserted, the shops closed. Thenotable contrast between its present rather dreary desolation and thewild revelry of the previous night seemed really painful, while thesolemn prevailing stillness served to weaken Winston's bold resolutionsand brought him a strange timidity. He slowly strolled a block ormore, peering in at the shop windows, yet never venturing beyond easyview of the hotel steps. Then he sauntered as deliberately back again.Lane and Mooney were now stationed upon the porch, tipping far back intheir chairs, their feet deposited on the convenient railing, smokingand conversing noisily with a group of travelling men. Winston, to hisdisgust, caught little scraps of the coarse stories exchanged,constantly greeted by roars of laughter, but drew as far away fromtheir immediate vicinity as possible, leaning idly against the rail.Far down the street, from some unseen steeple, a church bell rangsolemnly. Listening, he wondered if she would come alone, and a dreadlest she might not set his heart throbbing.
Albrecht, looking not unlike a fat hog newly shaven, sauntered out ofthe open office door, and stared idly about. He spoke a gracious wordor two to his rather silent utility man, viewing his well-cut clothingwith some apparent misgiving, finally drifting over to join the morecongenial group beyond. Winston did not alter his chosen position, butremained with watchful eyes never long straying from off the ladies'entrance, a few steps to his left. All at once that slightly used dooropened, and the hot blood leaped through his veins as Miss Norvellstepped forth unaccompanied. She appeared well groomed, looking daintyenough in her blue skirt and jacket, her dark hair crowned by thetasteful blue toque, a prayer-book clasped in one neatly gloved hand.As she turned unconsciously toward the steps, Winston lifted his hatand bowed. With a quick upward glance of surprise the girl recognizedhim, a sudden flush crimsoning her cheeks, her eyes as instantlydropping before his own. In that sudden revelation the young manappeared to her an utterly different character from what she hadformerly considered him; the miracle of good clothing, of environment,had suddenly placed them upon a level of companionship. That Winstonlikewise experienced something of this same exaltation was plainlyevident, although his low voice trembled in momentary excitement.
"I trust you will pardon my presumption," he said, taking the singlestep necessary to face her, "but I confess having been deliberatelywaiting here to request the privilege of walking to church beside you."
"Beside me? Indeed!" and both lips and eyes smiled unreservedly backat him. "And how did you chance to guess it was my intention toattend? Is it a peculiarity of leading ladies?"
"As to that I cannot safely say, my acquaintance among them beinglimited." He was acquiring fresh confidence from her cordial manner."But I chanced to overhear your questioning the clerk last night, andthe bold project at once took possession of me. Am I granted suchpermission?"
Her dark eyes wandered from their early scrutiny of his eager facetoward that small group of interested smokers beyond. What she mayhave beheld there was instantly reflected in a pursing of the lips, aswift decision.
"I shall be delighted to have your company," she responded, franklymeeting his eyes, "but longer delay will probably make us late, and Iabominate that."
As they passed down the steps to the street Winston caught a glimpse ofthe others. They were all intently gazing after them, while Mooney hadeven risen to his feet and taken a step forward, his cigar still in hismouth. Then the group behind laughed loudly, and the younger man sethis teeth, his cheeks flushed from sudden anger. He would have enjoyeddashing back up the steps, and giving those grinning fools amuch-needed lesson, but he glanced aside at his companion, her eyesdowncast, seemingly utterly unconscious of it all, and gripped himself,walking along beside her, erect and silent. They traversed the entiredeserted block without speaking, each busied indeed with theintricacies of the board walk. Then Winston sought to break thesomewhat embarrassing silence, his first words sounding strangelyawkward and constrained.
"It was exceedingly kind of you to grant such privilege when we havescarcely even spoken to each other before."
She glanced aside at his grave face, a certain coquettish smile makingher appear suddenly girlish.
"Possibly if you realized the exact cause of my complete surrender youmight not feel so highly flattered," she confessed, shyly.
"Indeed! You mean why it was you consented so easily? Then possiblyyou had better inform me at once, for I acknowledge feeling quiteconceited already at my good fortune."
She lifted her eyes questioningly, and for the first time he lookeddirectly down into their unveiled depths.
"Then I must certainly make confession. What if I should say, I merelyaccepted the lesser of two evils--in short, preferred your company tosomething I considered infinitely worse?"
"You refer to Mooney?"
She nodded, her dark eyes once again shadowed, her cheeks slightlyreddening beneath his steady gaze.
"Why, I can scarcely feel greatly flattered at being made the subjectof such a choice," Winston acknowledged with frankness. "The veryconception brings me uneasiness in fear lest my presence may beunwelcome now that Mooney has been safely left behind. Yet it yieldsme boldness also, and I venture to ask Miss Norvell what she wouldprobably have answered had Mooney been left out of the problementirely?"
His low voice held a ring of subdued earnestness, and the face of thewoman as quickly lost its smile. An instant she hesitated, her eyesdowncast, fully conscious he was anxiously searching her countenancefor the exact truth.
"And under those conditions," she responded finally, "Miss Norvellwould very probably have answered yes, only it would have been moredeliberately uttered, so that you should have realized the measure ofher condescension."
Winston laughed.
"You can have small conception of the inten
se relief brought me by thatlast acknowledgment," he explained cheerfully. "Now I can proceed withclear conscience, and shall undoubtedly discover in the church servicean expression of my own devout gratitude."
It was an exceedingly alert exchange of words which followed, eachcautiously exploring a way in toward a somewhat clearer understandingof the other, yet both becoming quickly convinced that they were notdestined for ordinary acquaintanceship. To Miss Norvell observing hercompanion with shy intentness, this erect, manly young fellow withweather-browned, clean-shaven face and straightforward gray eyes seemedto evince a power of manhood she instinctively felt and surrendered to.His were those elements which a woman of her nature must instantlyrecognize--physical strength and daring, combined with mental acutenessand indomitable will. The fact of his present unworthy employmentadded the fascination of mystery to his personality, for it wasmanifestly impossible to conceive that such a position was all this manhad ever achieved in life. And Winston wondered likewise at her, hisearlier admiration for the bright attractiveness of face and mannerbroadening as her mind gave quick response to his leadership. Here wascertainly no commonplace girl of the stage, but an educated, refined,ambitious woman, matured beyond her years by experience, herconversation exhibiting a wide range of reading, interwoven, with adeep knowledge of life. They spoke of ideals, of art, of literature,of secret aspirations, not often mentioned during such earlyacquaintanceship, breaking through that mental barrenness which hadcharacterized their living for weeks, this common ground of thought andinterest awakening between them an immediate friendliness and franknessof utterance delightfully inspiring. Almost without comprehending howit occurred they were chatting together as if the eventful years hadalready cemented their acquaintanceship. With cheeks flushed and eyesglowing from aroused interest Miss Norvell increased in beauty, andWinston observed her with an admiration finding frank expression in hiseyes.
It was a small chapel they sought, situated at the extreme end of thestraggling street, and the worshippers were few. At the conclusion ofthe ritual and the sermon the two walked forth together in silence,their former brief intimacy a mere memory, neither realizing exactlyhow best to resume a conversation which had been interrupted by sosolemn a service. It was Miss Norvell who first broke the constraint.
"You are evidently well acquainted with the intricacies of theprayer-book," she remarked quietly, "and hence I venture to inquire ifyou are a churchman."
"Not exactly, although my parents are both communicants, and I wasbrought up to attend service."
"Do you know, I am glad even of that? It is a little additional bondbetween us merely to feel interested in the same church, isn't it? Iwas guilty during the service of thinking how exceedingly odd it wasfor us to talk so frankly together this morning when we knew absolutelynothing regarding each other. Would you mind if I questioned you justa little about yourself?"
He glanced aside at her in surprise, all remembrance that they werecomparatively strangers having deserted his mind. It seemed as if hehad already known her for years.
"Most certainly question; I had no thought of any concealment."
She smiled at the confusedness of his words, yet her own speech was notentirely devoid of embarrassment.
"It does appear almost ridiculous, but really I do not even know yourname."
"It is Ned Winston."
"Not so bad a name, is it? Do you mind telling me where your home is?"
"I can scarcely lay claim to such a spot, but my people live in Denver."
She drew a quick, surprised breath, her eyes instantly falling, asthough she would thus conceal some half-revealed secret. For a momenther parted lips trembled to a question she hesitated asking.
"I--I believe I have heard of a Colonel Daniel Winston in Denver, abanker," she said finally. "I--I have seen his house."
"He is my father."
Her shadowing lashes suddenly uplifted, the color once again floodingthe clear cheeks.
"You are, indeed, becoming a man of mystery," she exclaimed, affectinglightness of utterance. "The son of Colonel Winston acting as utilityfor a troupe of strollers! I can hardly believe it true."
Winston laughed.
"It does seem a trifle out of proportion," he confessed, "and I canhardly hope to make the situation entirely clear. Yet I am not quiteso unworthy my birthright as would appear upon the surface. I willtrust you with a portion of the story, at least, Miss Norvell. I am byprofession a mining engineer, and was sent out, perhaps a month ago, bya syndicate of Denver capitalists to examine thoroughly into somepromising claims at Shell Rock. I made the examination, completed andmailed my report, and finally, on the same day your company arrivedthere, I discovered myself in Rockton with nothing to do and severalweeks of idleness on my hands. I had intended returning to Denver, buta sudden temptation seized me to try the experiment of a week or two inwandering theatrical life. I had always experienced a boyish hankeringthat way, and have a natural inclination to seek new experiences.Albrecht was favorably impressed with my application, and hence Ieasily attained to my present exalted position upon the stage."
"And is that all?"
"Not entirely; there yet remains a chapter to be added to myconfessions. I acknowledge I should have long since tired of the lifeand its hardships, had you not chanced to be a member of the sametroupe."
"I, Mr. Winston? Why, we have scarcely spoken to each other untilto-day."
"True, yet I strenuously deny that it was my fault. In fact, I hadfirmly determined that we should, and, having been a spoiled child, Iam accustomed to having my own way. This, perhaps, will partiallyaccount for my persistency and for my still being with 'The Heart ofthe World.' But all else aside, I early became intensely interested inyour work, Miss Norvell, instantly recognizing that it required nocommon degree of ability to yield dignity to so poor a thing as theplay in which you appear. I began to study you and yourinterpretation; I never tired of noting those little fresh touches withwhich you constantly succeeded in embellishing your lines and your'business,' and how clearly your conception of character stood forthagainst the crude background of those mummers surrounding you. It wasa lesson in interpretative art to me, and one I never wearied of.Then, I must likewise confess, something else occurred."
He paused, looking aside at her, and, as though she felt the spell ofthat glance, she turned her own face, brightened by such earnest wordsof praise, their eyes meeting frankly.
"What?"
"The most natural thing in the world--my admiration for the art onlyserved to increase my early interest in the artist. I began to feeldrawn not only to the actress but to the woman," he said gravely.
Her eyes never faltered, but faced him bravely, although her cheekswere like poppies, and her lips faltered in their first bold effort atswift reply.
"I am so glad you honestly think that about my work; so glad you toldme. It is a wonderful encouragement, for I know now that you speak asa man of education, of cultivation. You must have seen the highestclass of stage interpretation, and, I am sure, have no desire merely toflatter me. You do not speak as if you meant an idle compliment. Oh,you can scarcely conceive how much success will spell to me, Mr.Winston," her voice growing deeper from increasing earnestness, hereyes more thoughtful, "but I am going to tell you a portion of mylife-story in order that you may partially comprehend. This is myfirst professional engagement; but I was no stage-struck girl when Ifirst applied for the position. Rather, the thought was most repugnantto me. My earlier life had been passed under conditions which held mequite aloof from anything of the kind. While I always enjoyedinterpreting character as a relaxation, and even achieved, while atschool in the East, a rather enviable reputation as an amateur, Inevertheless had a distinct prejudice against the professional stage,even while intensely admiring its higher exponents. My turning to itfor a livelihood was a grim necessity, my first week on the road acontinual horror. I abhorred the play, the making of a nightlyspectacle of myself, the
rudeness and freedom of the audiences, thecoarse, common-place people with whom I was constantly compelled toconsort. You know them, and can therefore realize to some extent whatdaily association with them must necessarily mean to one of my earlytraining and familiarity with quieter social customs. But my positionin the troupe afforded me certain privileges of isolation, while mynecessities compelled me to persevere. As a result, the dormantart-spirit within apparently came to life; ambition began to usurp theplace of indifference; I became more and more disgusted withmediocrity, and began an earnest struggle toward higher achievements.I had little to guide me other than my own natural instincts, yet Ipersevered. I insisted on living my own life while off the stage, and,to kill unhappy thought, I devoted all my spare moments to hard study.Almost to my surprise, the very effort brought with it happiness. Ibegan to forget the past and its crudities, to blot out the presentwith its dull, unpleasant realities, and to live for the future. Myideals, at first but vague dreams, took form and substance. Idetermined to succeed, to master my art, to develop whatever of talentI might possess to its highest possibility, to become an actress worthyof the name. This developing ideal has already made me a new woman--ithas given me something to live for, to strive toward."
She came to a sudden pause, perceiving in the frank gray eyes scanningher animated face a look which caused her own to droop. Then her lipsset in firmer resolution, and she continued as though in utterindifference to his presence.
"You may not comprehend all this, but I do. It was the turning-pointin my life. And I began right where I was. I endeavored to make theutmost possible out of that miserable melodramatic part which had beenassigned to me. I elected to play it quietly, with an intensity to befelt and not heard, the very opposite from the interpretation given byMiss Lyle last season, and I felt assured my efforts were appreciatedby the audiences. It encouraged me to discover them so responsive; butAlbrecht, Lane, and Mooney merely laughed and winked at each other, andthus hurt me cruelly, although I had little respect for theircriticisms. Still, they were professional actors of experience, and Iwas not yet certain that my judgment might not be wrong. Miss Head,the _ingenue_, a girl of sweet disposition but little education,praised my efforts warmly, but otherwise your evident appreciation ismy only real reward. I spoke to you that evening in the wings not somuch to scold you for being in the way, as from a hungry, despairinghope that you might speak some word of encouragement. I was notdisappointed, and I have felt stronger ever since."
"I should never have suspected any such purpose. We have never so muchas exchanged speech since, until to-day, and then I forced it."
She shook her head, a vagrant tress of her black hair loosening.
"You must be a very young and inexperienced man to expect to comprehendall that any woman feels merely by what she says or does."
"No," smilingly, "I have advanced beyond that stage of development,although the mystery of some womanly natures may always remain beyondme. But can I ask you a somewhat personal question, also?"
"Most assuredly, yet I expressly reserve the privilege of refusing adirect reply."
"Is Beth Norvell your real, or merely your stage name?"
"Why do you ask? That is a secret which, I believe, an actress isprivileged to keep inviolate."
"For one particular reason--because I cannot escape a vague impressionthat somewhere we have met before."
She did not respond immediately, her gloved fingers perceptiblytightening about the prayer-book, her eyes carefully avoiding his own.
"You are mistaken in that, for we have never met," she said slowly, andwith emphasis. "Moreover, Beth Norvell is my stage name, but in partit is my true name also." Suddenly she paused and glanced aside athim. "I have spoken with unusual frankness to you this morning, Mr.Winston. Most people, I imagine, find me diffident anduncommunicative--perhaps I appear according to my varying moods. But Ihave been lonely, and in some way you have inspired my confidence andunlocked my life. I believe you to be a man worthy of trust, andbecause I thus believe I am now going to request you not to ask me anymore. My past life has not been so bright that I enjoy dwelling uponit. I have chosen rather to forget it entirely, and live merely forthe future."
They were standing before the door of the ladies' entrance to the hotelby this time, and the young man lifted his hat gravely.
"Your wish shall certainly be respected," he said with courtesy, "yetthat does not necessarily mean that our friendship is to end here."
Her face became transfigured by a sudden smile, and she impulsivelyextended her hand.
"Assuredly not, if you can withstand my vagaries. I have never madefriends easily, and am the greater surprised at my unceremoniousfrankness with you. Yet that only makes it harder to yield up afriendship when once formed. Do you intend, then, to remain with thecompany? I have no choice, but you have the whole world."
"Yet, my intense devotion to the art of the Thespian holds me captive."
Their eyes met smilingly, and the next instant the door closed quietlybetween them.
Winston turned aside and entered the gloomy hotel office, feelingmentally unsettled, undetermined in regard to his future conduct. MissNorvell had proven frankly intimate, delightfully cordial, yetovershadowing it all there remained unquestionably a certain constraintabout both words and actions which continued to perplex and tantalize.She had something in her past life to conceal; she did not even pretendto deceive him in this regard, but rather held him off with deliberatecoolness. The very manner in which this had been accomplished merelyserved to stimulate his eagerness to penetrate the mystery of herreserve, and caused him to consider her henceforth as altogetherdiffering from other girls. She had become a problem, an enigma, whichhe would try to solve; and her peculiar nature, baffling, changeable,full of puzzling moods, served to fascinate his imagination, to invitehis dreaming. A strange thrill swept him when he caught a fleetingglimpse of white skirt and well-turned ankle as she ran swiftly up thesteep staircase, yet, almost at the same instant, he returned to earthwith a sudden shock, facing Mooney, when the latter turned slowly awayfrom the window and sneeringly confronted him. The mottled face wasunpleasantly twisted, a half-smoked cigar tilted between his lips. Aninstant the half-angry eyes of the two men met.
"Must have made a conquest, from all appearances," ventured the leadingman with a knowing wink. "Not so damned hard to catch on with, is she,when the right man tries it?"
There was a swift, passionate blow, a crash among the overturnedchairs, and Mooney, dazed and trembling, gazed up from the floor at therigid, erect figure towering threateningly above him, with squaredshoulders and clenched fists.
"Utter another word like that, you cur," said Winston, sternly, "and I'll break your head. Don't you dare doubt that I 'll keep my word."
For a breathless moment he stood there, glowering down at the shrinkingwretch on the floor. Then, his face, still set and white with passion,he turned contemptuously away. Mooney, cursing cowardly behind histeeth, watched him ascend the stairs, but the younger man never so muchas glanced below.