The Place of Honeymoons - Page 67/123

"What is it?"

"Father is coming up the path!"

"I am glad to see him. But I do not recollect having seen the face of the

man with him."

The lithe eagerness went out of Nora's body instantly. Everything seemed

to grow cold, as if she had become enveloped in one of those fogs that

suddenly blow down menacingly from hidden icebergs. Fortunately the

inquiring eyes of the padre were not directed at her. He was here, not a

dozen yards away, coming toward her, her father's arm in his! After what

had passed he had dared! It was not often that Nora Harrigan was subjected

to a touch of vertigo, but at this moment she felt that if she stirred

ever so little she must fall. The stock whence she had sprung, however,

was aggressive and fearless; and by the time Courtlandt had reached the

outer markings of the courts, Nora was physically herself again. The

advantage of the meeting would be his. That was indubitable. Any mistake

on her part would be playing into his hands. If only she had known!

"Let us go and meet them, Padre," she said quietly. With her father, her

mother and the others, the inevitable introduction would be shorn of its

danger. What Celeste might think was of no great importance; Celeste had

been tried and her loyalty proven. Where had her father met him, and what

diabolical stroke of fate had made him bring this man up here?

"Nora!" It was her mother calling.

She put her arm through the padre's, and they went forward leisurely.

"Why, father, I thought you weren't coming," said Nora. Her voice was

without a tremor.

The padre hadn't the least idea that a volcano might at any moment open up

at his side. He smiled benignly.

"Changed my mind," said Harrigan. "Nora, Molly, I want you to meet Mr.

Courtlandt. I don't know that I ever said anything about it, but his

father was one of the best friends I ever had. He was on his way up here,

so I came along with him." Then Harrigan paused and looked about him

embarrassedly. There were half a dozen unfamiliar faces.

The colonel quickly stepped into the breach, and the introduction of

Courtlandt became general. Nora bowed, and became at once engaged in an

animated conversation with the Barone, who had just finished his set

victoriously.

The padre's benign smile slowly faded.