Speaker 1: Chapter sixteen of Wide Love by Ella chi Va Thayer.
Speaker 1: This LibriVox recording is in the public domain.
Speaker 2: O Kay.
Speaker 1: Leaving Clem on no arrival at the hotel to bear
Speaker 1: the burden of the green stuff they had brought from
Speaker 1: the woods, Sin, with a trace of melancholy on her
Speaker 1: sunny face, followed Natty to her room for Sinn's joyous picnic,
Speaker 1: with its gay beginning, had ended sadly enough for her.
Speaker 1: I want to ask you, something, Syn said with frank directness,
Speaker 1: as she carefully closed the door behind them, and that is,
Speaker 1: are you can you be foolish enough to imagine that
Speaker 1: Clem and I are in love with each other? The
Speaker 1: small basket Natty held in her hand fell to the floor.
Speaker 1: At this unexpected question. Had Sin drawn forth a bowie
Speaker 1: knife and playfully clicked off her nose. She could not
Speaker 1: have been more astounded. If you can possibly reduce your
Speaker 1: eyes to their ordinary size and give me a candid
Speaker 1: yes or no, I will be obliged, Seinn said, rather petulantly,
Speaker 1: after waiting in vain for an answer. The events of
Speaker 1: the day had sorely tried her usually even temper a
Speaker 1: little tremulously, while a burning flush covered her face. Natty
Speaker 1: answered her, I I have heard it intimated. You've heard
Speaker 1: it intimated. That means yes to my question, said Syn. Then,
Speaker 1: sinking despairingly on the lounge, she added, here is a
Speaker 1: crisis of which I never dreamed. Not understanding very well,
Speaker 1: and moreover much agitated by the subject, Natty knew not
Speaker 1: what to say. This is awful, went on Sinn, savagely
Speaker 1: beating the pillow with her fist. What contrary things love
Speaker 1: affairs are fearful of having in some way betrayed her secret?
Speaker 1: The only conclusion she could draw from Syn's extraordinary outburst.
Speaker 1: Natty stood looking guiltily at the floor a few moments, Then,
Speaker 1: recovering herself, she went to Sin and said, in a
Speaker 1: voice full of emotion, I do not just comprehend your meaning, dear,
Speaker 1: But it may be you think I might not quite
Speaker 1: like the idea on account of that that first affair
Speaker 1: on the wire. If so, dismiss the thought you and
Speaker 1: clam are suited to each other. And Natty stopped, unable
Speaker 1: to continue. Syin, who had been beating the innocent pillow
Speaker 1: as if it was the cause of all this while
Speaker 1: Natty was speaking, now threw it across the rooms. She exclaimed, Oh,
Speaker 1: the perversity of human nature. Oh, you degenerate girl. As
Speaker 1: if I cared for Clem in that way, I not
Speaker 1: from the first set my heart on this real life
Speaker 1: romance ending in the only way it could rightfully end.
Speaker 1: A sudden light came into Natty's face, but it died
Speaker 1: away in a moment. Then you do not care for him,
Speaker 1: poor Clem, she said in a low voice. Poor Clem, indeed,
Speaker 1: cried Sinn, pacing the floor excitedly. I cannot no, I
Speaker 1: cannot believe it of him. He certainly has sagacity enough
Speaker 1: not to run his head against a beam in broad daylight,
Speaker 1: even if Joe had not. He was about to add,
Speaker 1: but checked herself suddenly, not for the world which she
Speaker 1: betrayed Joe's confidence. What had passed between them to day
Speaker 1: should be a secret, always, never again to be mentioned,
Speaker 1: but never forgotten in the friendship and companionship of after years.
Speaker 1: You must be very difficult to suit, dear, if you
Speaker 1: do not like Clem, said Natty with unconscious significance, after
Speaker 1: waiting in vain for Sin to finish her sentence. It
Speaker 1: is not that, replied Sin, somewhat sadly, do you not
Speaker 1: know I have only one love? Music? Poor Clem, again,
Speaker 1: said Natty from the depths of her tender heart, for
Speaker 1: I know he loves you, dear could not help it.
Speaker 1: Who could? Such words would have been sweet to the
Speaker 1: vanity of an ordinary woman, but on Sin they had
Speaker 1: a very opposite effect. Things have come to a pretty
Speaker 1: pass if one cannot laugh and joke and enjoy one's
Speaker 1: self with friends without being made love to, she said, annoyed. Then,
Speaker 1: looking scrutinizingly at Natty, she asked, and you did you
Speaker 1: really wish Clem and I might love each other? Natty
Speaker 1: played nervously with a fringe of her dress, hesitated, then
Speaker 1: replied in a low tone. I fear I did not sin.
Speaker 2: Then it may come right, yet.
Speaker 1: Exclaimed Sin hopefully. Natty shook her head, and he loving you?
Speaker 1: Oh no, she said, I shall never be able to
Speaker 1: say okay to what you term your romance of the
Speaker 1: dots and dashes sin. In fact, I have made up
Speaker 1: my mind that there are some people born to go
Speaker 1: through life missing both its best and its worst, and
Speaker 1: that I am one.
Speaker 2: Pray do not say.
Speaker 1: That urged Sin, too disturbed to bring her easy philosophy
Speaker 1: to bear on the situation of all things do not
Speaker 1: get morbid. But it is the truth, persisted Natty. Even
Speaker 1: my name, for instance, proves it. I was christened Natalie,
Speaker 1: a very fine poetic name, but in all my life
Speaker 1: no one ever called me by it. I was always mediocre, Natty,
Speaker 1: and I have could tell you down to nat said
Speaker 1: Sin with whimsical remorse.
Speaker 2: But what a tangle we are in. First it was
Speaker 2: the mound of musk and bear's grease who came between you?
Speaker 2: Then when he was explained away, came blundering eye. Why
Speaker 2: did you not lock me out of sight somewhere? I
Speaker 2: would have done it myself had I known, ironically what
Speaker 2: an extremely fascinating and dangerous person I was. At this,
Speaker 2: Natty could not help smiling.
Speaker 1: It was not your fault. It was fate, she said,
Speaker 1: her smile becoming a sigh that Sin echoed as she
Speaker 1: thought of Joe. But yet unconvinced, she said.
Speaker 2: Fate, No, it cannot be. I think better of Clem
Speaker 2: than to believe he too has made a mistake like
Speaker 2: Quimby and fallen.
Speaker 1: In love with the wrong woman. Then, starting up, she exclaimed, tragically,
Speaker 1: who ah, who shall cut to the Gordian knot and
Speaker 1: bring about a crisis that will cause this wired love
Speaker 1: to terminate in o kay as if invoked by Sinn's words.
Speaker 1: There came a sneeze from outside, and Miss Kling pushed
Speaker 1: open the door unceremoniously. I wish to have some conversation
Speaker 1: with you, Miss Rodgers, she said, in a tone of severity,
Speaker 1: some of the time, if you please. Natty replied impatiently,
Speaker 1: for her talk with Syn had unerved her. Just now
Speaker 1: I am engaged. Miss Kling drew herself up and said,
Speaker 1: with even more austerity, there is no time to make
Speaker 1: the peasant, and since miss Archer is here, it may
Speaker 1: not be miss for her to hear what I have
Speaker 1: to say. Natty frowned, but Sinn, not unwilling to be
Speaker 1: diverted even by miss Cling from the topic that was
Speaker 1: so annoying, her said, very well, we are listening, miss Cling.
Speaker 1: Miss Wadgers proceeded Miss Kling solemnly after a preparatory sneeze.
Speaker 1: I knew all the emphasis on the last word was
Speaker 1: truly tremendous, and Natty started astonished, while Syn looked up
Speaker 1: with awakened curiosity. I inquire what you mean by all,
Speaker 1: inquired Natty stiffly, yes, repeated Miss Kling, without heeding the question.
Speaker 2: I know all. I have some times suspected that something
Speaker 2: and the handed was going on. Now I know what
Speaker 2: it is that has been so carefully concealed for me.
Speaker 2: I have long objected to your associates, Miss Wadgers. But
Speaker 2: pardon me, but that certainly does not concern you, interrupted
Speaker 2: Syn disdainfully. Miss Cling looked at her and sneezed a
Speaker 2: sinister sneeze. It concerns me to know what kind of
Speaker 2: people I have in my house, she replied. And since
Speaker 2: you force me to speak out, Miss Archer, I will
Speaker 2: say that, in my opinion, no truly modest and proper
Speaker 2: girl would become intimate with those who pad their legs
Speaker 2: and paint their faces and show themselves to the public.
Speaker 2: This insinuation struck sin so comically that she could hardly
Speaker 2: suppress a laugh. My suspicions to return to what I
Speaker 2: was about to zay, Miss Waters were first awakened by
Speaker 2: hitting that that instrument.
Speaker 1: Sin and Natty exchanged looks of intelligence you.
Speaker 2: Have are gearing when I knew you were not in
Speaker 2: the room, And now as I said, I know all
Speaker 2: I pass over the audacity of such proceedings of my princess,
Speaker 2: but the atter immoralities too much for me to bear. Yes,
Speaker 2: I found a wire, and I know old leeds into
Speaker 2: the room of two young men. That any young woman
Speaker 2: should so immodests to establish telegraphic communication between her bedroom
Speaker 2: and the bedroom of two young men is beyond my comprehension.
Speaker 2: Syn felt a mischievous desire to inquire howel struck her
Speaker 2: had it been the bedroom of one young man. Natty,
Speaker 2: who had flushed Crimson at the first knowledge of Miss
Speaker 2: Kling's discovery, now drew herself up and replied, with dignity,
Speaker 2: will you, miss Kling? I think this extravagance of language
Speaker 2: utterly uncalled for. I admit it was not exactly correct
Speaker 2: for me to allow the wire to be won without
Speaker 2: consulting you, But beyond that, there was nothing reprehensible in
Speaker 2: my conduct. Miss Kling held her hands up in horror.
Speaker 2: Nothing reprehensible in being connected by a telegraph wire with
Speaker 2: two young men, she exclaimed, nothing excuse my intrusion, but sin,
Speaker 2: will you please'm for me if I understand all night
Speaker 2: loaded with green stuff like a farmer on a market day.
Speaker 2: At this point, the merry voice of Clem interrupted as
Speaker 2: he came hastily in, still bearing the burden sin and
Speaker 2: piled upon him. Then, becoming aware of missus Kling's presence,
Speaker 2: he added to her, I beg pardon for my abrupt entrance.
Speaker 2: With the outer door being open, I made bold to enter. Then,
Speaker 2: explanatory to sin, your door was locked, as also was mine,
Speaker 2: of which Quimby has the key, and as Celest has
Speaker 2: not yet been able to part with him. There I
Speaker 2: have been standing in the hall like patience with a
Speaker 2: load of dandelions. We were having such an interesting conversation,
Speaker 2: Sinn answered, with a scornful glance in Miss Kling's direction.
Speaker 2: But I quite forgot you, and the lapse of time.
Speaker 2: Clem instantly became aware of something amiss in the atmosphere
Speaker 2: and glanced around inquiringly. Miss Kling immediately enlightened him. There
Speaker 2: were many things you make bold to do, young man,
Speaker 2: she said, putting telegraph apparatus in my house, for instance,
Speaker 2: ah exclaimed Clem comprehensively. Years went on the aggrieved Miss Kling.
Speaker 2: You and at Quimby, I suppose did it? The idea
Speaker 2: originated with you? Of course he hasn't brains enough if
Speaker 2: he had the not marry Celeste, and Miss Ling sniffed
Speaker 2: in auta contempt of poor Quimby. Thanks for the compliment
Speaker 2: to my intellectual abilities, said Clem with a mischievous look.
Speaker 2: Then advancing towards her, he answered in his own frank,
Speaker 2: manly ways. And so you have found us out, but
Speaker 2: I trust you will not be offended with us. It is,
Speaker 2: after all a trifle. And we said nothing about it
Speaker 2: merely because we wished to have a little mystery of
Speaker 2: our own. It was, as the newsboys would say, a
Speaker 2: lock of ours, Locke, repeated Miss Kling, drawing herself up stiffly.
Speaker 2: Young man, you will oblige me by not using slang
Speaker 2: in my presence. Pardon me, said Clem, good humoredly. And
Speaker 2: in regard to the wire, blame me if you must
Speaker 2: blame any one, as you say, it was all my doing.
Speaker 2: And I induced Miss Rogers to allow the wire to
Speaker 2: come into her room. And I too, added syn propitiatingly,
Speaker 2: for Natty's sake. I wished to learn the business you knew,
Speaker 2: but Miss Kling would not propitiate Miss Rogers, I have
Speaker 2: no doubt, was very ready to be induced, she said,
Speaker 2: with an effort at sarcasm. I have heard of young
Speaker 2: females so much in love that they would run after
Speaker 2: and pursue young men, But never before of one so
Speaker 2: carried away and so lost to every sense of decorum
Speaker 2: as to be obliged to have a wire, would run
Speaker 2: from the room to his in order to communicate with
Speaker 2: him at improper times. This accusation, far fetched and ridiculous
Speaker 2: as it was yet being uttered in the presence of Clem,
Speaker 2: overwhelmed poor Natty, and she sank on the lounge, burying
Speaker 2: her face in her hands, at which Clem made a
Speaker 2: hasty motion, and then, as if aware any interference of
Speaker 2: his would only make matters worse, checked himself, but syn
Speaker 2: came to the front with striking effort. You ought certainly
Speaker 2: to be well informed on the subject of old females
Speaker 2: who run after old men, she said, witheringly. If one may.
Speaker 1: Believe that the tour what mister Fishblait says, this shot told.
Speaker 1: Miss Cling turned livid with rage and mortification, and burst
Speaker 1: into a terrific spasm of sneezing. Miss Rogers, she said, wrathfully.
Speaker 1: As soon as she recovered sufficiently to speak, Your conduct
Speaker 1: and that of your associates is such that I can
Speaker 1: no longer allow you to remain on my premises. Miss Kling.
Speaker 1: This is is very unjust, said the agitated Natty. It
Speaker 1: is against the wishes of her friends that she has
Speaker 1: remained as long as she has cried syn hotly, Miss Kling,
Speaker 1: your proceedings are infamous, exclaimed Clem, not able to contain
Speaker 1: himself longer, rather afraid to draw out Sin any more,
Speaker 1: Miss Kling gladly seized this opportunity to attack Clem, young man.
Speaker 1: What right of you to interfere? She inquired majestically. Clem
Speaker 1: bit his lip, sure enough, what right had he? He
Speaker 1: glanced at Natty, where she sat pale and disturbed that
Speaker 1: the scene threatened to end seriously for her, and then,
Speaker 1: obeying a sudden impulse, seized the key at his side
Speaker 1: and called N N N. Natty looked up quickly, and
Speaker 1: while Miss Kling, who supposed he was wantonly drumming on
Speaker 1: the obnoxious instrument to exasperate her, vented her indignation and
Speaker 1: also the outraged feelings caused by the torpedo wound inflicted
Speaker 1: by Sin. Still Rankling in a wrathful homily, to which
Speaker 1: no one listened, for sin was watching Clem curiously, he
Speaker 1: wrote rapidly, his eyes on the sounder, He says, I
Speaker 1: have no right to interfere. If you had not so
Speaker 1: changed towards me, If I could hope you loved me
Speaker 1: as I have ever loved you, I would ask you
Speaker 1: to give me the right and let me put this
Speaker 1: pernicious discredit to her sex on the other side of
Speaker 1: that door. As these words and dots and dashes came
Speaker 1: to her ears, Natty forgetting Miss Kling, forgetting everything except
Speaker 1: that she loved Clem, And Clem declare, could it be
Speaker 1: possible that he loved her? Arose hastily, with a quick
Speaker 1: joy suffusing her face, and then their eyes met, and
Speaker 1: neither words or dots and ashes were needed. Love, more
Speaker 1: potent than electricity, required no interpreter, and that most powerful
Speaker 1: of all magnets drew them together before the face and
Speaker 1: eyes of the amazed Miss Kling, who had just delivered
Speaker 1: herself of a sentence intended to be crushing and could
Speaker 1: not conceive why her victim should suddenly look so happy
Speaker 1: over it, advanced to Natty's side, clasped her hand, eagerly
Speaker 1: and tenderly, then, turning to Miss Kling, said, whilstin surmising
Speaker 1: the truth of the matter, embraced herself fervently, Miss Kling,
Speaker 1: and if other observations you may have to make, you
Speaker 1: will be good enough to say to me hereafter and
Speaker 1: now will you oblige me by leaving the room? And
Speaker 1: he politely held open the door. What gasped Miss Kling,
Speaker 1: hardly believing her own ears. I cannot allow you to
Speaker 1: annoy Miss Rodgers, the lady who is to be my wife.
Speaker 1: Clym added, and if she and I choose to have
Speaker 1: twelve telegraph wires, we will let me bid you good evening,
Speaker 1: and he pointed significantly at the open door. Your wife,
Speaker 1: Miss Rogers, echoed the discomfited Miss Kling, and glanced at
Speaker 1: the blushing natty, at sin and disguisedly exultant, and at Clym,
Speaker 1: determinedly waiting for her to go out. This was something
Speaker 1: she had not expected, and it took her aback, though
Speaker 1: with a sneeze. She drew herself up gave a spiteful
Speaker 1: parting shot. Well, she's worked hard enough to get you
Speaker 1: had to bring the telegraph to her assistance, and then
Speaker 1: retreated before Sin could retaliate with the torpedo. Retreated to
Speaker 1: her own room to nurse her wrath and envy, and
Speaker 1: to dream hopelessly. However, more of that other her self,
Speaker 1: never to come nearer than now. The discreet Sin, comprehending
Speaker 1: that miss Cling had brought about that crisis, and at
Speaker 1: something had been said by the wire to the right purpose,
Speaker 1: followed her out and left them alone. Tis hardly necessary
Speaker 1: to mention that as soon as the door closed behind
Speaker 1: Sin plem took Natty in his arms and kissed her.
Speaker 1: It was an inevitable consequence. And now explain why you
Speaker 1: have treated me so you contrary, little girl, he queried. Tenderly,
Speaker 1: I thought, Natty replied, raising her gray eyes from which
Speaker 1: the shadows were all gone, now to his That you
Speaker 1: loved Sin, You did, he said, surprised and reproachful, And
Speaker 1: that is why you have been so cold and distant.
Speaker 1: How could you? But Sin is so handsome, and I
Speaker 1: do not see how you could help it, pleaded Natty
Speaker 1: in self extenuation. Of course, she is handsome, talented, brilliant,
Speaker 1: fascinating everything that is nice, claim answered, but in a
Speaker 1: low voice, Sin was not my little girl that b m.
Speaker 1: Of course, after this there was another inevitable consequence, and
Speaker 1: then Claire masked, and did you care because you imagined
Speaker 1: your naughty, jealous girl that I loved Sin, Yes, Natty answered, blushing,
Speaker 1: But honestly I was very unhappy. Indeed I was Clem.
Speaker 1: I think I loved you from the first when you
Speaker 1: were invisible, you know, And I said, Clem should have
Speaker 1: given myself up a victim to despair like Quimby, if
Speaker 1: it had not been for one thing. Joe made me
Speaker 1: a duplicate of that picture you destroyed, and the fact
Speaker 1: that you never even mentioned the cupid overhead gave me hope.
Speaker 1: And his own roguish look was in his eyes as
Speaker 1: he saw Natty's confusion, and laughing his merry laugh, he
Speaker 1: clasped her in his arms. I beg pardon, said Sin,
Speaker 1: tapping and entering after a cautious interval. But I come
Speaker 1: to inquire if nat I mean Natalie still thinks, as
Speaker 1: she did an hour ago, that Clem and I ad
Speaker 1: just suited to each other. Natty laughed and blushed. You see,
Speaker 1: I set my heart on this the beginning, said Syn
Speaker 1: to Clem, not thinking it necessary to define to what
Speaker 1: this referred. It was such a perfect romance, you know,
Speaker 1: as she has been frightening me by declaring that you
Speaker 1: were in love with me, and was so positive that
Speaker 1: you almost made me believe it, notwithstanding my natural sagacity,
Speaker 1: as I certainly should have been replied clem gallantly, only
Speaker 1: for a prior attachment. You see, I loved Natty before
Speaker 1: ever I saw you. Why I used to pass the
Speaker 1: most of my time when at x N in wondering
Speaker 1: what she was like, and wishing I was as near
Speaker 1: her as I am now, for instance, And how miserable
Speaker 1: I was when she dropped me so suddenly, and how
Speaker 1: happy I was when I came upon her at that
Speaker 1: blessed feast, and the red hair was all explained away.
Speaker 1: And then came another cross on the circuit of my
Speaker 1: true love. And had it not been for that dear
Speaker 1: Betsy Cling with her invectives, we should have been mixed.
Speaker 2: Not at a cue.
Speaker 1: Now exclaimed Syn, I declare I could hug her, but
Speaker 1: Betsy Cling not being available, just then she substituted Natty
Speaker 1: and gave her a most emphatic squeeze. It was your
Speaker 1: shot about the torpedo that finished her, Sin laughed, Clem.
Speaker 2: It was effective. I flatter myself, Sin confessed, and that
Speaker 2: reminds me. You must not stay here now, nat You
Speaker 2: know so I've seen missus Simmonson, and you are going
Speaker 2: to live with me for the present, glancing archly at her,
Speaker 2: until that book is written. For instance, it will be written, now,
Speaker 2: I know, said Natty earnestly, her eyes shining. You remember
Speaker 2: what you once said, Sin, I see now you were right, yes,
Speaker 2: said Sin, seriously, and thank Heaven that it was love
Speaker 2: and not disappointment that came. Love shall not calm in vain,
Speaker 2: Natty said, as seriously, I will be worthy of it.
Speaker 2: The after years only could prove her words, But in
Speaker 2: Clem's face, the belief in them was written as plainly
Speaker 2: as if those future possibilities were acknowledged results. We must
Speaker 2: have another feast to celebrate events. Sin then said, gaily,
Speaker 2: you are happy. My romance is okay, Celeste is ecstatic.
Speaker 2: Quimby as joyful as circumstances permit the victim of a
Speaker 2: mistake to be do. And I hope will of future fame.
Speaker 2: And we certainly must have a feast with plenty of dishes.
Speaker 2: This time, laughed Clem. Er, there shall be no more
Speaker 2: crosses on the wire, and bless my heart ejaculated sin,
Speaker 2: there you too are making love like ordinary models. At
Speaker 2: this Natty hastily withdrew the hand Clym had taken Quimby
Speaker 2: and Celeste, for instance. This will never do. We must
Speaker 2: end this romance of dots and dashes as it commenced,
Speaker 2: to make it truly wired love. True enough, so we must,
Speaker 2: answered Clem merrily, and rising, he went to the quay
Speaker 2: with his eyes looking straight into Natty's, and wrote something
Speaker 2: that made her blush and seize his hand in sly
Speaker 2: and unnecessary alarm, saying, suppose Joe should be over in
Speaker 2: your room, he might be.
Speaker 1: Able to read it.
Speaker 2: Very well, replied Clem, as he laughed and kissed, regardless
Speaker 2: of the spectator, I am quite content to make love
Speaker 2: like a common mortal's sin. And I hope, my darling Natty,
Speaker 2: that we are done now with all brakes and crosses,
Speaker 2: as we are with wired love. Thenceforth ours shall be
Speaker 2: the pure, unalloyed article genuine love. And Natty, half laughing,
Speaker 2: half serious, but wholly glad, took the key and wrote,
Speaker 2: ou Kay. If any one is anxious to know what
Speaker 2: Clem wrote when Natty stopped him here, it is my
Speaker 2: little darling, my wife. End of chapter sixteen, end of
Speaker 2: Wired Love by Elle Chiva there read by Edmund Bloxam
Speaker 2: in London, UK,