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The Man Between
when she perceived there would be but a shabby and tardy restoration for
him socially； she advised him to shake off the dust of his feet from Monk…
Rawdon； and begin life in some more civilized place。 And in order that he
might do so； she induced Lord Surrey to get him a very excellent civil
appointment in Calcutta。〃
〃Then he is going to India？〃
〃He is probably now on the way there。 He sold the Mostyn estate〃
〃I can hardly believe it。〃
〃He sold it to John Thomas Rawdon。 John Thomas told me it belonged
to Rawdon until the middle of the seventeenth century； and he meant to
have it back。 He has got it。〃
〃Miss Sadler must be a witch。〃
〃She is a sensible； practical woman； who knows how to manage men。
She has soothed Mostyn's wounded pride with appreciative flattery and
stimulated his ambition。 She has promised him great things in India； and
she will see that he gets them。〃
〃He must be completely under her control。〃
〃She will never let him call his soul his own； but she will manage his
affairs to perfection。 And Dora is forever rid of that wretched influence。
The man can never again come between her and her love； never again
come between her and happiness。 There will be the circumference of the
world as a barrier。〃
〃There will be Jane Sadler as a barrier。 She will be sufficient。 The
Woman Between will annihilate The Man Between。 Dora is now safe。
What will she do with herself？〃
〃She will come back to New York and be a social power。 She is young；
beautiful； rich； and her father has tremendous financial influence。 Social
affairs are ruled by finance。 I should not wonder to see her in St。 Jude's； a
devotee and eminent for good works。〃
〃And if Basil Stanhope should return？〃
〃Poor Basilhe is dead。〃
〃How do you know that？〃
〃What DO you mean； Tyrrel？〃
〃Are you sure Basil is dead？ What proof have you？〃
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〃You must be dreaming！ Of course he is dead！ His friend came and
told me sotold me everything。〃
〃Is that all？〃
〃There were notices in the papers。〃
〃Is that all？〃
〃Mr。 Denning must have known it when he stopped divorce
proceedings。〃
〃Doubtless he believed it； he wished to do so。〃
〃Tyrrel； tell me what you mean。〃
〃I always wondered about his death rather than believed in it。 Basil
had a consuming sense of honor and affection for the Church and its
sacred offices。 He would have died willingly rather than drag them into the
mire of a divorce court。 When the fear became certainty he disappeared
really died to all his previous life。〃
〃But I cannot conceive of Basil lying for any purpose。〃
〃He disappeared。 His family and friends took on themselves the means
they thought most likely to make that disappearance a finality。〃
〃Have you heard anything； seen anything？〃
〃One night just before I left the West a traveler asked me for a night's
lodging。 He had been prospecting in British America in the region of the
Klondike； and was full of incidental conversation。 Among many other
things he told me of a wonderful sermon he had heard from a young man
in a large mining camp。 I did not give the story any attention at the time；
but after he had gone away it came to me like a flash of light that the
preacher was Basil Stanhope。〃
〃Oh； Tyrrel； if it wasif it was！ What a beautiful dream！ But it is only
a dream。 If it could be true； would he forgive Dora？ Would he come back
to her？〃
〃No！〃 Tyrrel's voice was positive and even stern。 〃No； he could never
come back to her。 She might go to him。 She left him without any reason。 I
do not think he would care to see her again。〃
〃I would say no more； Tyrrel。 I do not think as you do。 It is a dream； a
fancy； just an imagination。 But if it were true； Basil would wish no
pilgrimage of abasement。 He would say to her； ‘Dear one； HUSH！ Love is
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The Man Between
here； travel…stained； sore and weary； but so happy to welcome you！' And
he would open all his great； sweet heart to her。 May I tell Dora some day
what you have thought and said？ It will be something good for her to
dream about。〃
〃Do you think she cares？ Did she ever love him？〃
〃He was her first love。 She loved him once with all her heart。 If it
would be right safe； I mean； to tell Dora〃
〃On this subject there is so much NOT to say。 I would never speak of
it。〃
〃It may be a truth〃
〃Then it is among those truths that should be held back； and it is likely
only a trick of my imagination； a supposition； a fancy。〃
A miracle！ And of two miracles I prefer the least； and that is that Basil
is dead。 Your young preacher is a dream； and； oh； Tyrrel； I am so tired！ It
has been such a long； long； happy day！ I want to sleep。 My eyes are
shutting as I talk to you。 Such a long； long； happy day！〃
〃And so many long； happy days to come； dearest。〃
〃So many；〃 she answered； as she took Tyrrel's hand； and lifted her fur
and fan and gloves。 〃What were those lines we read together the night
before we were married？ I forget； I am so tired。 I know that life should
have many a hope and aim； duties enough； and little cares； and now be
quiet； and now astir； till God's hand beckoned us unawares〃
The rest was inaudible。 But between that long； happy day and the
present time there has been an arc of life large enough to place the union
of Tyrrel and Ethel Rawdon among those blessed bridals that are
〃The best of life's romances。〃
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