CHAPTER XLII

kthat.Iwaswildlyhappywhenshepromisedtomarryme.Forafewmonths.Then—Ifoundoutshedidn’t.Iwasaninvoluntaryeavesdropperonacertainoccasionforamoment.Thatmomentwasenough.Theproverbialfateoftheeavesdropperovertookme.AgirlfriendofherswasaskingherhowshecouldstomachDoc.Redfern’ssonandthepatent-medicinebackground. “‘HismoneywillgildthePillsandsweetentheBitters,’saidEthel,withalaugh.‘MothertoldmetocatchhimifIcould.We’reontherocks.Butpah!Ismellturpentinewheneverhecomesnearme.’” “Oh,Barney!”criedValancy,wrungwithpityforhim.ShehadforgottenallaboutherselfandwasfilledwithcompassionforBarneyandrageagainstEthelTraverse.Howdaredshe? “Well,”—Barneygotupandbeganpacingroundtheroom—“thatfinishedme.Completely.IleftcivilisationandthoseaccurseddopesbehindmeandwenttotheYukon.ForfiveyearsIknockedabouttheworld—inallsortsofoutlandishplaces.Iearnedenoughtoliveon—Iwouldn’ttouchacentofDad’smoney.ThenonedayIwokeuptothefactthatInolongercaredahangaboutEthel,onewayoranother.ShewassomebodyI’dknowninanotherworld—thatwasall.ButIhadnohankeringtogobacktotheoldlife.Noneofthatforme.IwasfreeandImeanttokeepso.IcametoMistawis—sawTomMacMurray’sisland.Myfirstbookhadbeenpublishedtheyearbefore,andmadeahit—Ihadabitofmoneyfrommyroyalties.Iboughtmyisland.ButIkeptawayfrompeople.Ihadnofaithinanybody.Ididn’tbelievetherewassuchathingasrealfriendshiportrueloveintheworld—notforme,anyhow—thesonofPurplePills.Iusedtorevelinallthewildyarnstheytoldofme.Infact,I’mafraidIsuggestedafewofthemmyself.Bymysteriousremarkswhichpeopleinterpretedinthelightoftheirownprepossessions. “Then—youcame.Ihadtobelieveyoulovedme—reallylovedme—notmyfather’smillions.Therewasnootherreasonwhyyoushouldwanttomarryapennilessdevilwithmysupposedrecord.AndIwassorryforyou.Oh,yes,Idon’tdenyImarriedyoubecauseIwassorryforyou.Andthen—Ifoundyouthebestandjolliestanddearestlittlepalandchumafelloweverhad.Witty—loyal—sweet.Youmademebelieveagainintherealityoffriendshipandlove.Theworldseemedgoodagainjustbecauseyouwereinit,honey.I’dhavebeenwillingtogoonforeverjustaswewere.Iknewthat,thenightIcamehomeandsawmyhomelightshiningoutfromtheislandforthefirsttime.Andknewyouweretherewaitingforme.Afterbeinghomelessallmylifeitwasbeautifultohaveahome.Tocomehomehungryatnightandknowtherewasagoodsupperandacheeryfire—andyou. “ButIdidn’trealisewhatyouactuallymeanttometillthatmomentattheswitch.Thenitcamelikealightningflash.IknewIcouldn’tlivewithoutyou—thatifIcouldn’tpullyoulooseintimeI’dhavetodiewithyou.Iadmititbowledmeover—knockedmesilly.Icouldn’tgetmybearingsforawhile.That’swhyIactedlikeamule.Butthethoughtthatdrovemetothetalltimberwastheawfulonethatyouweregoingtodie.I’dalwayshatedthethoughtofit—bu