Norton's voice dropped to pitiful tenderness:
"You--you--don't understand, my boy. Helen knows that--I'm right. We have talked it over. She has agreed to go at once. The carriage will be at the door in a moment. She can never see you again"--he paused and lifted his hand solemnly above Tom's head--"and in the name of Almighty God I warn you not to attempt to follow her----"
He turned quickly, picked up the fallen bag and coat and added:
"I'll explain all to you at last if I must."
"Well, I won't hear it!" Tom cried in rage. "I'm a free agent! I won't take such orders from you or any other man!"
The sound of the carriage wheels were heard on the graveled drive at the door.
With a sudden leap Tom was by his side, tore the bag and coat from his hand, hurled them to the floor and turned on his father with blazing eyes:
"Now, look here, Dad, this thing's going too far! You can't bulldoze me. There's one right no American man ever yields without the loss of his self-respect--the right to choose the woman he loves. When Helen leaves this house, I go with her! I'm running this thing now--your carriage needn't wait."
With sudden decision he rushed to the porch and and called:
"Go back to your stable--you're not wanted."
"I'll send for you if I want you--wait a minute till I tell you."
Norton's head drooped and he blindly grasped a chair.
Helen watched him with growing pity, drew near and said softly:
"I'm sorry, major, to have brought you this pain----"
"You promised to go without seeing him!" he exclaimed bitterly.
"I tried. I only gave up for a moment. I fought bravely. Remember now in all you say to Tom that I am going--that I know I must go----"
"Yes, I understand, child," he replied brokenly, "and my heart goes out to you. Mine is heavy to-night with a burden greater than I can bear. You're a brave little girl. The fault isn't yours--it's mine. I've got to face it now"--he paused and looked at her tenderly. "You say that you've been lonely--well, remember that in all your orphan life you never saw an hour as lonely as the one my soul is passing through now! The loneliest road across this earth is the way of sin."
Tom's brusque entrance interrupted her. With quick, firm decision he took her arm and led her to the door opening on the hall: