The Soul of Nicholas Snyders | Page 6

"Have you forgotten all that has passed between us?" demanded the
Dame.
"Wish I could," sighed Nicholas.
"At your age--" commenced the Dame.
"I am feeling younger than I ever felt in all my life," Nicholas
interrupted her.
"You don't look it," commented the Dame.
"What do looks matter?" snapped Nicholas. "It is the soul of a man that
is the real man."
"They count for something, as the world goes," explained the Dame.
"Why, if I liked to follow your example and make a fool of myself,
there are young men, fine young men, handsome young men--"
"Don't let me stand in your way," interposed Nicholas quickly. "As you
say, I am old and I have a devil of a temper. There must be many better
men than I am, men more worthy of you."
"I don't say there are not," returned the Dame: "but nobody more
suitable. Girls for boys, and old women for old men. I haven't lost my
wits, Nicholas Snyders, if you have. When you are yourself again--"
Nicholas Snyders sprang to his feet. "I am myself," he cried, "and
intend to remain myself! Who dares say I am not myself?"
"I do," retorted the Dame with exasperating coolness." Nicholas

Snyders is not himself when at the bidding of a pretty-faced doll he
flings his money out of the window with both hands. He is a creature
bewitched, and I am sorry for him. She'll fool you for the sake of her
friends till you haven't a cent left, and then she'll laugh at you. When
you are yourself, Nicholas Snyders, you will be crazy with
yourself--remember that." And Dame Toelast marched out and
slammed the door behind her.
"Girls for boys, and old women for old men." The phrase kept ringing
in his ears. Hitherto his new-found happiness had filled his life, leaving
no room for thought. But the old Dame's words had sown the seed of
reflection.
Was Christina fooling him? The thought was impossible. Never once
had she pleaded for herself, never once for Jan. The evil thought was
the creature of Dame Toelast's evil mind. Christina loved him. Her face
brightened at his coming. The fear of him had gone out of her; a pretty
tyranny had replaced it. But was it the love that he sought? Jan's soul in
old Nick's body was young and ardent. It desired Christina not as a
daughter, but as a wife. Could it win her in spite of old Nick's body?
The soul of Jan was an impatient soul. Better to know than to doubt.
"Do not light the candles; let us talk a little by the light of the fire
only," said Nicholas. And Christina, smiling, drew her chair towards
the blaze. But Nicholas sat in the shadow.
"You grow more beautiful every day, Christina," said Nicholas--
"sweeter and more womanly. He will be a happy man who calls you
wife."
The smile passed from Christina's face. "I shall never marry," she
answered. "Never is a long word, little one."
"A true woman does not marry the man she does not love."
"But may she not marry the man she does?" smiled Nicholas.
"Sometimes she may not," Christina explained.

"And when is that?"
Christina's face was turned away. "When he has ceased to love her."
The soul in old Nick's body leapt with joy. "He is not worthy of you,
Christina. His new fortune has changed him. Is it not so? He thinks
only of money. It is as though the soul of a miser had entered into him.
He would marry even Dame Toelast for the sake of her gold-bags and
her broad lands and her many mills, if only she would have him.
Cannot you forget him?"
"I shall never forget him. I shall never love another man. I try to hide it;
and often I am content to find there is so much in the world that I can
do. But my heart is breaking." She rose and, kneeling beside him,
clasped her hands around him. "I am glad you have let me tell you," she
said. "But for you I could not have borne it. You are so good to me."
For answer he stroked with his withered hand the golden hair that fell
disordered about his withered knees. She raised her eyes to him; they
were filled with tears, but smiling.
"I cannot understand," she said. "I think sometimes that you and he
must have changed souls. He is hard and mean and cruel, as you used
to be." She laughed, and the arms around him tightened for a moment.
"And now you are kind and tender and great, as once he was. It is as if
the good God had taken away my lover from me to give to