r and then what would
he do? If her mother heard she would take her off to Europe and then
would Suzanne forget? What a tragedy that would be! No, before that
should happen, he would run away with her. He would realize all his
investments and get away. He could not live without her. He must have
her at any cost. What did the United Magazine Corporation amount to,
anyway? He was tired of that work. Angela might have the Sea Island
Realty Company's stock, if he could not dispose of it advantageously, or
if he could, he would make provision for her out of what he should
receive. He had some ready money--a few thousand dollars. This and his
art--he could still paint--would sustain them. He would go to England
with Suzanne, or to France. They would be happy if she really loved him
and he thought she did. All this old life could go its way. It was a
dreary thing, anyhow, without love. These were his first thoughts.
Later, he came to have different ones, but this was after he had talked
to Suzanne again. It was a difficult matter to arrange. In a fit of
desperation he called up Daleview one day, and asked if Miss Suzanne
Dale was there. A servant answered, and in answer to the "who shall I
say" he gave the name of a young man that he knew Suzanne knew. When she
answered he said: "Listen, Suzanne! Can you hear very well?"
"Yes."
"Do you recognize my voice?"
"Yes."
"Please don't pronounce my name, will you?"
"No."
"Suzanne, I am crazy to see you. It has been ten days now. Are you going
to be in town long?"
"I don't know. I think so."
"If anyone comes near you, Suzanne, simply hang up the receiver, and I
will understand."
"Yes."
"If I came anywhere near your house in a car, could you come out and see
me?"
"I don't know."
"Oh, Suzanne!"
"I'm not sure. I'll try. What time?"
"Do you know where the old fort road is, at Crystal Lake, just below
you?"
"Yes."
"Do you know where the ice house is near the road there?"
"Yes."
"Could you come there?"
"What time?"
"At eleven tomorrow morning or two this afternoon or three."
"I might at two today."
"Oh, thank you for that. I'll wait for you, anyhow."
"All right. Good-bye."
And she hung up the receiver.
Eugene rejoiced at the fortunate outcome of this effort without thinking
at first of the capable manner in which she had handled the situation.
Truly he said afterwards she must be very courageous to think so
directly and act so
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