CHAPTER 20

Two weeks later, at noon, I entered Edsum’s studio. He had been working on a poppy field. Edsum would oscillate between glorious poppy fields with a leaf-canopied live oak and a bit of low hillside, and far, dreamy stretches of silent beach, low tide by moonlight, as one of literary temperament dwells in the bright and the dark moods.

I came in on him as he was eating his French loaf and salami.

“ Did you see it in the paper? ” Edsum looked up and pointed to a Sunday sheet. “ There it is, all about our portrait. Fine stuff, indeed, and never a word about the man who did it, save the name. I believe Squares wrote it—he can’t paint, so he writes about those who can. He knows me, but would never give me much credit; but this time he had to—or go without his dinner, I bet. I’ve no kick about what he says, but you see, as I told you, they’ll rob a deaf fellow of his desserts, if they can. ” He cut several slices of salami and pushed them and the bread towards me. “ I work better on a lunch like this—maybe you would too, try it. ”

I nibbled the sausage and crammed a chunk of bread.

“ It’s good—where from? ” I signed rather inelegantly.

“ Italy—the sausage; I mean the Italians make it. Dermit and I have eaten a mile of it. ”

“ What did Dermit say when you showed him your check? ”

“ He said I had that fool, Mickey, to thank. I gave him a check to pay an old debt, and he cheered up. ”

“ He might have had Marion done out of a Parian block, as you have done her on canvas, if he had taken me seriously. Marion is a beauty, both in face and form, and a very wonderful girl, and I am curious to know what trick of nature could have caused deafness. But Dermit was a doubting Thomas, and he has lost his chance, so far. I admire him and his work, but he’s too damned explosive and cocksure of himself in regard to art matters. Cut out his darn temper and he’s admirable and a good one to know and get close to. ”

“ What have you been doing? ”

“ Counting my rejection slips. It’s amusing to read them, almost as interesting and inspiring as to get a check. These editors have a thousand and one ways of excusing themselves. Now, they tell us what they want and what they don’t want, and you send them what they want, and it comes back and in the next few months you find their pages full of the stuff they had said they didn’t want! I’ve decided to quit this town and Marion, for a while, and go south to try the movies—go to Los Angeles. ”

“ Leave Marion—try the movies? ” Edsum turned an amazed face to me. “ The first, impossible—the second, ridiculous. Marion loves you, I can tell that, and she’s just now got free from her chains. You’d be a fool to leave this town. As for the movies they’re harder than the magazines—you’ll only add to your collection of rejection slips, and your ideas might be stolen, at that. Then if you should actually land a story, you’d be in for the very pleasant shock of seeing your play quite changed about on the screen, and your name left out of it. ”

“ I had not thought of that, ” referring to the warning. “ Is it really that way—often? ”

“ I’ve heard of a few cases—about fifty. ”

“ Fifty! ”

“ And what would Mickey do in such a case? ”

“ Mickey would sue. ”

Edsum laughed. “ Yes, sue, good idea, like this: Mickey Dunmore, not rated in Dunn’s, delayed in ‘ Who’s Who, ’ owner of a box of rejection slips, without parents or relatives, place of residence, Room 10, Snag House, San Francisco, vs. The Billion Dollar Film Corporation. ”

“ That’s very encouraging, Mr. Edsum, ” rather sarcastically, “ But I mean to try, anyway. ”

“ Better marry Marion first and make a story out of your romance, then if they steal it, you have Marion’s millions to awe the honorable corporation—money’s the best bluff in the world. ”

“ Are you saying that with your mind on the money I helped you get? ”

“ Hang it, Mickey, no; anyway the money, or about all of it, has left my hospitable dwelling already. ”

“ You don’t mean that you’ve spent it this soon? ” I exclaimed, in amazement.

“ No, ” he laughed, “ I spent it before I got it. ”

“ Then maybe that’s why you find bread and salami good to work on. ”

“ Guess again. You see, when a rich fellow comes in and wants a picture but doesn’t fancy my price and begins to haggle, if it happens to be the noon hour I am very careful to draw his attention to my fare, some of which I leave on the table. That makes him ashamed of himself and he agrees to my price. ”

I returned to my room that afternoon with my head filled with ideas I lacked the courage to carry out. In the evening I attended a social gathering at the local silent club. It was the first time I had mixed with the deaf since my arrival on the coast, and to my horror and consternation whom should I come face to face with but Mrs. Raleigh! My heart almost stopped. I had been through weeks and months of toil and discouragement. My incessant writing had brought me nothing, and it was only the companionship of my art friends that had borne me along. Marion had obsessed me; but I felt that my case was hopeless by the very significance of my lot and my miserly financial condition. It was still some months before I should be of age and come into my inheritance. So I had now come among my own kind for a change and to take a chance at making new friends, only to meet the one person who could do me harm and was undoubtedly eager for the chance. Marion was free; but Mrs. Raleigh was here!

Mrs. Raleigh greeted me with an air of accomplished triumph, and soon spread it around that Michael Dunmore was among them. She had long since told some of her new acquaintances about me, fully expecting me to appear in their midst any time. She did not know that I had long since arrived.

I mixed with the crowd, danced when they danced, and finally met a few who seemed interested to make my acquaintance. I learned from these new friends that Mrs. Raleigh (they had never heard of her as the “ She-mute ”) had made her appearance among them about two months before. She was widowed, as she told people, possessed of a small income which, with occasional jobs and her own cunning, enabled her to live, and to keep up a good appearance. But her forte seemed to be in making trouble; and undoubtedly she found a real, yet devilish, pleasure in so carrying on among the deaf. Here as elsewhere, she readily won admirers, charming those that gathered about her, completely throwing them off their guard. In this way she had readily worked her way as she had done back in the Silver State. It happened that she had come among these deaf people at a time when they were in a rather demoralized condition, brought about by petty jealousies and quarrels. All the little cliques and factions, each unable to gain the upper hand and control local affairs, were glad to find in a newcomer, a neutral, the spirit of leadership, and the craftiness necessary to enable her to manage things. Mrs. Raleigh had proved herself highly entertaining and masterful in handling debatable matters; so, as weeks rolled by she rapidly rose to her old place of leadership. I had not been at the club long before I was fully aware of her importance.

And how did I feel on seeing this body of silent people being thus taken in? But experience prompted silence, so I did not mention Mrs. Raleigh to others. I was sure a collision would yet come, although I dreaded it. But I little dreamed it was to come at once, and in such a manner as greatly to alarm me: Mr. Carrel brought Marion to the club!

When I saw the two standing in the doorway a chill shot over me. Nothing so undesired as a meeting between Mrs. Raleigh and the Carrels could happen. I wished a thousand times that they had not come. Carrel, indeed, was carrying out his promise to Marion. I brushed my way through the crowd and reached the door. What a striking figure Marion made! There were pretty girls in that room, and well-dressed ones, but nothing to compare with this seeming ethereal being so suddenly come among us.

The fact that I, a visitor, should be the only one to greet the pair naturally arrested attention. I met them with an undoubted air of trepidation, despite my efforts to conceal it, and hastily drew them aside to the cloak room.

“ Daddy found out about this club and has brought me to it to see how I like it. We didn’t know you would be here; but I’m awfully glad you are. ”

“ It is my first visit—I’m not a member. Are you going to remain for the evening—is Mr. Carrel to remain? ”

Marion turned to her father for advice.

He turned to me, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth, “ I shall leave Marion here in your care, and you will bring her back home to me. ” Marion’s eyes sparkled.

“ That will make me very happy, Mr. Carrel— ” I was on the point of asking him into the clubroom to meet its members, when I caught myself, knowing that Mrs. Raleigh would demand attention. “ I stood at the door, Michael, looking on the happy faces that filled the room. It is all very strange to me; but these people do appear to be very much alive and happy, and very much in earnest. I should like to remain and see more of them, but I have something to engage my time tonight, so I shall leave. Try to make Marion enjoy the evening. ” I felt the chill of fear leave me and I gave a sigh of relief. I could handle Marion, I was sure; but if Mr. Carrel came into the room, too, no telling what would happen. He kissed Marion and bade me good-bye. Marion removed her wraps, and giving a touch to her hair before a mirror, followed me into the large hall.

Imagine my feelings as I led that beautiful, innocent girl into the hall and among that heterogeneous gathering of high and low. Immediately we were the cynosure of all eyes, quickly we were surrounded, and I was, both thrilled and embarrassed. This was Marion’s first entrance among the deaf, and she found herself surrounded by a diversity of color quite unexpected and confusing. The rich and the poor, the good and the bad, were gathered there and freely mingling. I was almost a total stranger and could only halfway make introductions, and I must need introduce all who approached without a show of the slightest impartiality. Yet how graciously and charmingly Marion met the situation! I loved her a thousand times more for that. There were poor, ill-dressed men in there, men whose lives had brought little cheer and ceaseless toil; there were haughty, self-sufficient, well-dressed and well-clothed sons and daughters of the rich, and Marion greeted them all alike.

For a brief period my heart beat with pride and joy. Then it almost stopped. Mrs. Raleigh came forward! I sickened. I caught Marion’s eye and motioned her to follow me. As I turned I glanced back and caught Mrs. Raleigh beaming upon me, coming closer. I knew her back East as a handsome woman. Tonight she seemed actually beautiful. She had lost in weight, which was to her advantage, and as I glanced from Marion to her I was shocked by what seemed to me an unearthly similarity in the contour of the two faces! My God! Marion, the pure and beautiful, having anything in common with this bold, sophisticated woman! I felt a burning glow suffuse my face. I bowed my head to hide it and hastened my steps. Marion spoke, turning to me, “ I think that lady wants to meet me, do you know her? ” I flashed, “ Let us slip away. ” Marion looked puzzled.

We joined another group of young people. I made further introductions, as best I could with my limited acquaintance.

And in the midst of this Mrs. Raleigh again came up. I faced her boldly, and my look told her better than words that I did not desire further acquaintance. She turned away, but not without a parting shot at me.

The young men surrounded Marion, and of course all wanted to know whence she came. But neither Marion nor I would reveal her place of residence, and this undoubtedly nettled some of the men, who took it as an affront, giving me a sneer here and a banter there. Many of those about us had read of Edsum’s success; but none had any idea that here in their midst was the model for that wonderful picture. Marion in evening dress was not so easily coupled with Marion in the Greek gown, with bare feet; and who of them could guess how long I had known her?

A young lady approached. “ Miss Carrel, ” she said, a bit timidly, “ your dress is so beautiful I want one like it. Won’t you tell me where you got it? ” She looked at it closely. “ Was it—was it very ex—did it cost much? ”

Marion took in the situation. Poor little girl, she had not meant to be rude, but her love of dress, her vanity, had overcome her, and she could not see how Marion would do otherwise than tell her.

“ I bought it in New York City, ” replied Marion; “ I have really forgotten what it cost. ” The girl stood admiring the dress, and studying the design. She, too, would be admired by the young men if she had a dress like that, and reasoning thus she asked,

“ Do you think I could send for one? ”

“ Why, ” laughed Marion, “ you could get one here just as pretty for about forty dollars. ”

Forty dollars! The girl’s jaw dropped, and she caught her breath.

“ It is so beautiful, ” she sighed; “ but I didn’t dream it cost that much. ” She turned and disappeared in the crowd. Marion looked at me.

“ Mickey, I have more dresses than I can ever use, do you think that poor girl would accept this if we sent it to her? ”

“ She would be crazy over it, Marion; it would be so lovely in you to do that. Many of these girls toil year in and year out in the horrid factories, barely able to live on their earnings, yet craving with all a girl’s natural desire for pretty things to wear. ”

Marion’s eyes dropped. Here was a picture of things she had never dreamed of; the world that Carrel had made for his child was a very different world from the one in which this deaf factory toiler lived. It was too soon for Marion to learn such things, and I decided to start home; it was a long way home, too.

We faced about and started for the door, where, to my chagrin, stood Mrs. Raleigh. That she was waiting for us I had no doubt, and meant to force a meeting. Such a meeting could result in but one thing for me, and I resolved to prevent it.

“ Marion, ” I spoke quickly, concealing my hands within my coat, “ please don’t stop to meet that woman—someday I’ll tell you why, ” and we passed through the door, coldly ignoring the waiting Mrs. Raleigh.

When we had left that club and were well along the street I breathed a sigh of relief. Mrs. Raleigh might go to that club a hundred times, but she should never find me there again, nor Marion; yet I was not at all sure that she would not find us somehow.

When the streetcar brought us to our destination and we two stepped off, there began a walk more wonderful than Marion, with all her wealth at her disposal, ever dreamed of having. It was too dark to read each other’s hands, but darkness never yet interfered with the sense of touch, and how we spelled into each other’s hands all we wished to say! Heard melodies may be sweet, but those of touch are sweeter.

That silent walk was all too short, the great mansion with its heavy oak door and fantastic Russian knocker all too near; it should have been farther away and the hours slower. A drowsy-eyed Quong opened the door, smiling and shaking his own hands in greeting.

“ It has been the most wonderful night of my life, Mickey. ” I took her outstretched hand and pressed it. “ You must get me the name and address of that poor girl, and I will send this dress to her—and some other things. ” She threw off her cloak, and with a “ good night, ” tripped up the stairs.

I passed out the great door and fifteen minutes later boarded the next car, the happiest young man around San Francisco. At the next street crossing the car stopped. Instinctively I turned my head to see who was boarding the car, and as a leaf is swept away by an autumnal blast, so went my spirit of joy—in came Mrs. Raleigh! She had followed us and found where Marion lived!