436 KATE'S WINTER IN WASHINGTON.
She dared not go home yet and confront Philip, so she drove toward the Avenue. Eve- rett watched her off, took time to go up stairs and see Kate, whisper in her ear a warning to be silent, that everything was settled, to expect to see him in the course of the day or evening; then he started for Marsden’s house.
He met the Texan bound for the same des- tination, boiling with rage, and determined on having some sort of satisfaction. Everett knew him very well, and without entering into any explanation as to the cause, informed his friend that he was bent on the same errand.
They hailed a carriage and drove to the house. Marsden was anxiously expecting his wife’s re- turn; and when he heard the carriage stop, supposed that she had arrived, and went out into the hall and opened the door himself, as both servants chanced to be out.
Before he could make any effort to oppose them the men were in the passage. He was frightened, but too much accustomed to finding himself in unpleasant positions to show it.
‘Hollo!”’ said he, with an attempt at jocularity. ‘Glad to see you both! Come into? the dining-room and take a drink. I was just bound that way.”
They followed him in.
«Never mind the decanters,” said Everett. ‘You can’t be such a fool as not to know what brought us.”
“What did?” cried he, with an oath, seeing that the game was up, and turning like a rat in a corner.
“This,” said Harry, slapping him in the face.
“Good!” pronounced the Texan.
Marsden sprung forward, drew a pistol, and Everett knocked him down.
“Good!” came the Texan’s verdict again; and he picked up the revolver, and stepped into the hall, lest somebody should try to enter and interfere with the little amusement.
Everett had a stout, little bamboo cane in his hand, and he belabored the prostrate bully with it till he fairly shrieked for mercy.
The Texan stood aloof, and regarded the scene with tranquil satisfaction, and heard a pass-key turn in the door. It was Lily come back. She closed the door, heard the groans and curses, saw the Texan, and took in the scene at a glance.
She stood perfectly still, coolly untying her bonnet-strings; and the Texan, prepared to stop her if she attempted to rush forward, looked at her in silent wonder; for she began to smile, and finally to laugh silently, but with evident heartfelt enjoyment.
“I think that’s enough for you!” exclaimed Everett, at last, as the bamboo broke over the prostrate man’s shoulders. ‘Now, you rascal, make out from this before you are three days older, or I’ll have you thoroughly exposed.”
He walked out into the hall; Marsden lay still and groaned—and small wonder. Lily stood still till the two men reached her, then she held out her hand to Everett, and said, in a low voice,
“I forgive you everything for this! No man ever did any woman so great a favor as you have me.’
Everett motioned the Texan to precede him out of the house, then he said to the woman.
‘We will all be silent on condition that you leave Washington. But, remember, if you ever dare to mention Miss Wallingford’s name; if the slightest breath of scandal touches her, it will be visitedeon you both.”
‘Let us alone, and we will her,” sullenly.
“All right! I will make that bargain with you; not because you deserve it, but because it, is the easiest way to settle matters. Matthews could prosecute you for swindling; but if you will take yourselves off, I promise you that he shall not.”
“Have your own way,” replied she. “I ought to hate you, but I vow I can’t. Just hear that brute groan; I never heard such sweet music.”
Everett passed her in silence, the door closed— she was alone with ber husband.
The Marsdens did leave the city; they left so many debts behind that, of course, the gossip, always rife about them, grew into absolute cer- tainty. People talked for a week, then forgot them; and Everett heard that they had made off for Europe with such spoils as were left them.
That evening Everett went back to Kate. He found her up and dressed; she had been too anxious to see him to remain in bed.
Of course, he omitted the horsewhipping de- tails, but he convinced her that she had nothing more to fear from the Marsdens. She was horribly humiliated; it was dreadful to suffer, for the first time, over the knowledge that people whom she had so loved and trusted could be so utterly treacherous and false.
Later, there was the lecture from her uncle, the knowledge that in her attempts to do the female politician, she had exposed herself to much comment and gossip; but she bore it all as well as she could; and in the tears of shame and remorse that she wept, a great deal of her arrogance and willfulness went out forever.
