“I simply had to do it,” he said. “It was as inevitable as life itself. I knew it was right, and that settled it.”
“So you came!” Ethel cried. “You came back.”
“Yes, and when I reached here that night and learned the truth I saw God's hand in it all. Now, you see why I have told you this. Can you believe there is any other design than good—infinite good—behind sorrow, trouble, and agony? Your grief is great—it seems unbearable now; but behind it, above it, beyond it is a purpose so divinely wise that no mortal sense can grasp it.”
Just then Cato appeared at the kitchen door ringing the breakfast-bell. Ethel rose apathetically, and they slowly walked toward the house together. They saw her mother among the flowers waiting for them. Paul heard his companion sigh and, looking at her, he saw that she had lapsed into despair again.
“I can't bear it,” he heard her say. “I can't—I can't. It's awful, awful!”
CHAPTER IX
HOAG rode into the village the next morning, and as his horse bore him along through the balmy air he ruminated over the object he had in view. He had determined to see Sid Trawley and have a straight talk with him about certain private matters. He no longer doubted that the liveryman was persistently avoiding him. Sid had not answered to his name at the last roll-call of the “klan,” and vague rumors were afloat. One of the younger members had jocularly remarked that Sid had simply “got cold feet, an' was tryin' to shirk the entire thing.” At any rate, Hoag was sure that Trawley was not deporting himself as an aide-decamp should, and Hoag was determined to have a distinct understanding about it. It was not Hoag's way to beat about the bush, and Trawley knew too much regarding matters more or less confidential to be allowed to act as he was acting without good and sufficient reasons. As his horse cantered along the street near the livery-stable, Hoag was quite sure that he saw Trawley in the doorway and that he had purposely withdrawn from view.
“Huh, that's cheeky!” Hoag muttered, as he reined in at the stable, dismounted, and threw his bridle-rein to a negro attendant.