Only One Love, or Who Was the Heir Part 76

"Jack, I am sorry to say I have bad news for you. You will be calm."

"Bad news!" said Jack, and his heart stood still. "What is it? Una----"

"Yes," said Stephen; "it is about Una. You will be calm, my dear Jack?"

Jack leaned against the bal.u.s.trade and drew a long breath.

"Is she ill--dead?" he gasped.

"Neither," said Stephen. "Come, be a man."

"I am ready," said Jack. "If she is neither ill nor dead I can bear anything else."

Stephen opened the door, and Jack, entering, saw Gideon Rolfe standing on the hearthrug.

"Mr. Rolfe!" he exclaimed. "How do you do? I am very glad to see you!"

and he held out his hand.

Gideon Rolfe nodded and turned aside.

"What is it? What is the matter?" asked Jack, turning to Stephen, who had carefully closed the door and stood with knitted brow and sad countenance.

At Jack's question he glanced at Rolfe, and then, with a sigh, said:

"Yes, Jack, I will tell you. It will come better from me than Mr. Rolfe.

Jack, you were right in suspecting that the business referred to Una.

She is quite well--and happy. But--but I am afraid your engagement must cease."

At this, Jack's calmness came back to him, and with something like a smile, he said, scornfully:

"Indeed!"

"Yes," said Gideon Rolfe, but Stephen held up his hand and silenced him.

"Perhaps you will tell me for what reason?" said Jack, quietly.

"For a sad, very sad reason," said Stephen, in a subdued and mournful tone. "Jack, my heart bleeds for you----"

"Never mind your heart," said Jack, curtly. "Come to the point, Stephen."

"I sympathize with you deeply," continued Stephen, not at all affronted.

"The fact is, Mr. Rolfe has tonight made a communication respecting our dear young friend, which has completely overwhelmed me----"

"Let me see if it will overwhelm me," said Jack. "What is it?"

"My dear Jack, it is a story involving shame----"

"Shame!" echoed Jack, and his brow darkened. "To whom?"

"To those who can feel shame no longer," said Stephen; "but alas! its shadow falls on a young life as innocent and pure as the angels."

"On Una?" demanded Jack, fiercely.

Stephen bowed his head.

"Yes, Jack. Una is a nameless child--she is illegitimate."

Jack reeled and fell into a chair, and there he sat for a moment.

"It is a lie!" he said at last.

"It is true!" said the deep voice of Gideon Rolfe; and Jack, fixing his startled eyes on the rough, ragged face, knew that it was the truth.

With a groan he covered his face with his hands; then he started up and struck the table a blow that made Stephen wince.

"Well," he exclaimed, with a short laugh--"well, what business is it of anyone's but mine and Una's? What do I care whether she is illegitimate or not? Let her be the daughter of whom she may, married or unmarried, it matters not to me. She _is_ Una, and that is enough!"

His voice rang out loud and clear as a bell's tone, and he looked from one to the other defiantly.

"And now that is settled," he said, sternly. "Let us come to particulars, to proof. Mr. Rolfe, though I know you are averse to our marriage, I believe you. I do not think you are capable of inventing a lie--a base, fiendish lie--to serve your ends. But all the same I ask, and not without reason, some proofs. First, who are Una's parents?"

Gideon Rolfe was about to reply, but a glance from Stephen stopped him.

"That is the question I have implored Mr. Rolfe to answer," he said. "I have entreated him to give us some information, but he declines. It is a secret which he says shall go down to the grave with him, unless----"

"Unless what?" demanded Jack, hoa.r.s.ely.

"Unless you are still determined to hold Una to her engagement.

Then----"

He paused, and Jack looked from one to the other.

"Well?"

"Then he declares he will go to Una and inform her of the shame that clings to her name."

Jack uttered a low cry and sank back in his chair. He saw by what heavy chains he was bound. To get possession of Una he must inflict the agony of shame upon her.

If ever a man loved truly and n.o.bly Jack loved Una. He would have died the death to spare her a moment's pain; and here was this man threatening to darken and curse her whole life if he, Jack, did not relinquish her.

"Are you human?" he said, turning his eyes upon Gideon Rolfe with a wild, hunted gaze.

Gideon Rolfe smiled bitterly.

"I am human enough to prevent this marriage."

Jack rose and confronted him.

"I will not give her up," he said hoa.r.s.ely. "I defy you!"