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138 pages

English

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Had New Illington been part of an empire instead of one of the most important cities in the greatest republic in the world, the cry The King is dead! Long live the King! might well have resounded through its streets on that bleak November morning when Pennington Lawton was found dead, seated quietly in his arm-chair by the hearth in the library, where so many vast deals of national import had been first conceived, and the details arranged which had carried them on and on to brilliant consummation.

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Publié par	Pub One Info
Date de parution	23 octobre 2010
Nombre de lectures	0
EAN13	9782819907374
Langue	English

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CHAPTER I
P ENNINGTON LAWTONAND THE GRIM REAPER
Had New Illington been part of an empire instead ofone of the most important cities in the greatest republic in theworld, the cry "The King is dead! Long live the King!" might wellhave resounded through its streets on that bleak November morningwhen Pennington Lawton was found dead, seated quietly in hisarm-chair by the hearth in the library, where so many vast deals ofnational import had been first conceived, and the details arrangedwhich had carried them on and on to brilliant consummation.
Lawton, the magnate, the supreme power in thefinancial world of the whole country, had been suddenly cut down inhis prime.
The news of his passing traveled more quickly thanthe extras which rolled damp from the presses could convey itthrough the avenues and alleys of the city, whose wealthiestcitizen he had been, and through the highways and byways of thecountry, which his marvelous mentality and finesse had somanifestly strengthened in its position as a world power.
At the banks and trust companies there werehurriedly-called directors' meetings, where men sat about longmahogany tables, and talked constrainedly about the immediatefuture and the vast changes which the death of this great man wouldnecessarily bring. In the political clubs, his passing wasdiscussed with bated breath.
At the hospitals and charitable institutions whichhe had so generously helped to maintain, in the art clubs andmuseums, in the Cosmopolitan Opera House – in the founding of whichhe had been leading spirit and unfailingly thereafter, its mostgenerous contributor – he was mourned with a sincerity no less deepbecause of its admixture of self-interest.
In aristocratic drawing-rooms, there were whispersover the tea-cups; the luck of Ramon Hamilton, the rising younglawyer, whose engagement to Anita Lawton, daughter and sole heiressof the dead financier, had just been announced, was remarked uponwith the frankness of envy, left momentarily unguarded by thesudden shock.
For three days Pennington Lawton lay in simple, butveritable state. Telegrams poured in from the highestrepresentatives of State, clergy and finance. Then, while the banksand charitable institutions momentarily closed their doors, andflags throughout the city were lowered in respect to the man whohad gone, the funeral procession wound its solemn way from thearistocratic church of St. James, to the graveyard. The last extraswere issued, detailing the service; the last obituaries printed,the final pæans of praise were sung, and the world went on itsway.
During the two days thereafter, multitudinousaffairs of more imperative public import were brought to light; acelebrated murder was committed; a notorious band of criminals wasrounded up; a political boss toppled and fell from his self-madepedestal; a diplomatic scandal of far-reaching effect wasunearthed, and in the press of passing events, the fact that Lawtonhad been eliminated from the scheme of things faded intocomparative insignificance, from the point of view of the generalpublic.
In the great house on Belleair Avenue, which the manwho was gone had called home, a tall, slender young girl satlistlessly conversing with a pompous little man, whose clericalgarb proclaimed the reason for his coming. The girl's sablegarments pathetically betrayed her youth, and in her soft eyes wasthe pained and wounded look of a child face to face with its firstcomprehended sorrow.
The Rev. Dr. Franklin laid an obsequious hand uponher arm. "The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away; blessed bethe name of the Lord."
Anita Lawton shivered slightly, and raised atrembling, protesting hand. "Please," she said, softly, "I know – Iheard you say that at St. James' two days ago. I try to believe, tothink, that in some inscrutable way, God meant it for the best whenhe took my father so ruthlessly from me, with no premonition, nosign of warning. It is hard, Dr. Franklin. I cannot coordinate mythoughts just yet. You must give me a little time."
The minister bent his short body still lower beforeher. "My dear child, do you remember, also, a later prayer in thesame service?" – unconsciously he assumed the full rich, rounded,pulpit tones, which were habitual with him. "'Lord, Thou hast beenour refuge from one generation to another; before the mountainswere brought forth or ever the earth and world were made – '"
A low knocking upon the door interrupted him, andthe butler appeared. "Mr. Rockamore and Mr. Mallowe," Anita Lawtonread aloud from the cards he presented. "Oh, I can't see them now.Tell them, Wilkes, that my minister is with me, and they mustforgive me for denying myself to them."
The butler retired, and the Rev. Dr. Franklin, atthe mention of two of the most prominent and influential men in thecity since the death of Lawton, turned bulging, inquiring eyes uponthe girl. "My dear child, is it wise for you to refuse to see twoof your father's best friends? You will need their help, theirkindness – a woman alone in the world, no matter how exalted herposition, needs friends. Mr. Mallowe is not one of my parishioners,but I understand that as president of the Street Railways, he wasclosely associated with your dear father in many affairs offinance. Mr. Rockamore I know to be a man of almost unlimited powerin the world in which Mr. Lawton moved. Should you not see them?Remember that you are under my protection in every way, of course,but since our Heavenly Father has seen fit to take unto Himselfyour dear one, I feel that it would be advisable for you to placeyourself under the temporal guidance of those whom he trusted, atany rate for the time being." "Oh, I feel that they were myfather's friends, but not mine. Since mother and my little sisterand brother were lost at sea, so many years ago, I have learned todepend wholly upon my father, who was more comrade than parent.Then, as you know, I met Ramon – Mr. Hamilton, and of course Itrust him as implicitly as I must trust you. But although, on manyoccasions, I assisted my father to receive his financial confrèreson a social basis, I cannot feel at a time like this that I care totalk with any except those who are nearest and dearest to me." "Butsuppose they have come, not wholly to offer you consolation, but toconfer with you upon some business matters upon which it would beadvantageous for you to inform yourself? Your grief and desire forseclusion are most natural, under the circumstances, but one mustsometimes consider earthly things also." The minister's evidentlyeager desire to be present at an interview with the great men andto place himself on a more familiar footing with them was soobvious that Anita's gesture of dissent held also something ofrepugnance. "I could not, Dr. Franklin. Perhaps later, when thefirst shock has passed, but not yet. You understand that I likethem both most cordially. Those whom father trusted must be men ofsterling worth, but just now I feel as must an animal which hasbeen beaten. I want to creep off into a dark and silent place untilmy misery dulls a little." "You have borne up wonderfully well,dear child, under the severe shock of this tragedy. Mrs. Franklinand I have remarked upon it. You have exhibited the sameself-mastery and strength of character which made your father theman he was." Dr. Franklin arose from his chair with a sigh whichwas not altogether perfunctory. "Think well over what I have said.Try to realize that your only consolation and strength in this hourof your deepest sorrow come from on High, and believe that if youtake your poor, crushed heart to the Throne of Grace it shall behealed. That has been promised us. Think, also, of what I have justsaid to you concerning your father's associates, and when next theycall, as they will, of course, do very shortly, try to receive themwith your usual gracious charms, and should they offer you anyadvice upon worldly matters, which we must not permit ourselves toneglect, send for me. I will leave you now. Mrs. Franklin will callupon you to-morrow. Try to be brave and calm, and pray for theguidance which will be vouchsafed you, should you ask it, franklyand freely."
Anita Lawton gave him her hand and accompanied himin silence to the door. There, with a few gentle words, shedismissed him, and when the sound of his measured footsteps haddiminished, she closed the door with a little gasp of half relief,and turned to the window. It had been an effort to her to see andtalk with her spiritual adviser, whose hypocrisy she had vaguelyfelt.
If only Ramon had come – Ramon, whose wife she wouldbe in so short a time, and who must now be father as well ashusband to her. She glanced at the little French clock on themantel. He was late – he had promised to be there at four. As sheparted the heavy curtains, the telephone upon her father's desk, inthe corner, shrilled sharply. When she took the receiver off thehook, the voice of her lover came to the girl as clearly, tenderly,as if he, himself, stood beside her. "Anita, dear, may I come toyou now?" "Oh, please do, Ramon; I have been waiting for you. Dr.Franklin called this afternoon, and while he was here with me Mr.Rockamore and Mr. Mallowe came, but I could not see them. There issomething I feel I must talk over with you."
She hung up the receiver with a little sigh, and forthe first time in days a faint suspicion of a smile lightened herface. As she turned away, however, her eyes fell upon the greatleather chair by the hearth, and her expression changed as she gavean uncontrollable shudder. It was in that chair her father had beenfound on that fateful morning, about a week ago, clad still in thedinner-clothes of the previous evening, a faint, introspectivesmile upon his keen, inscrutable face; his eyes wide, with apolitely inquiring stare, as if he had looked upon things whichuntil then had been withheld from his vision. She walked over tothe chair, and laid her hand where his head had rested. Then, allat once,