In Name Only by Ellen Gable Page B

have found
herself in this situation.
    There was a
knock, then Mother Superior opened the door. “Excuse me, Miss Martin.”
    “Yes?” Caroline
responded.
    “Do you need more
time?  The priest is here.”
    “No.  I should be
going.” She straightened and turned toward the door.  She nodded to the priest,
who was dressed in a black cassock and carrying a small book and a crucifix.
    She paused.  “How
much do I owe you, Mother?”
    “Nothing, dear. 
We received a sizeable amount of money last week to cover her expenses.  It may
have been from the father of the baby.”
    “I see.”
    Mother Superior
nodded.  “Good day.”
    Caroline reached
for her hat.  She turned and stared, one last time, at the dead servant girl,
the image now etched in her mind.  This girl, who was younger than Caroline,
was now gone.
     
    *  *  *
    Caroline stumbled
onto the street and began to walk without making a conscious effort to put one
foot in front of the other.  She passed the area where David’s carriage had
been parked but did not stop.
    “Miss Martin,”
she heard from behind her.
    She stopped and
turned around.  She could see him motioning for her to come to the carriage. 
He was parked on the side of the street, the horse tethered to a small tree. 
    Caroline pressed
her back against a lamp post, allowing it to bear the weight of her body and
her heavy heart.  Within minutes, David stood before her.
    “What happened?”
    Caroline stared
straight ahead, her eyes unfocused.
    He leaned close
to her face. “Miss Martin, is everything all right?”
    She shook her
head, then looked into his eyes and said, “She’s dead.” 
    He gasped.
    “Along with your
baby daughter.”  She began to walk away, then felt his arm on her shoulder. 
She jerked away.  “Don’t touch me,” she said through her teeth, her back facing
him.
    “I’ll take you
home.”
    “I am not going
home with you.”
    “Miss Martin?”
    “Leave me alone.”
    “Miss Martin,
please. . .”
    She spun around
so quickly that David stepped back. “This...this is your fault.  You killed her
as sure as you put a gun to her head.  She died delivering your child!” Impulsively,
she began to beat his chest as he stood motionless.  “No, no, no,” she yelled,
then she began to sob.  He took hold of her gloveless hands and, studying them,
his eyes widened.  Soon, she could feel his arms begin to embrace her, but she
pushed away from him.
    “Leave me alone.”
    “Caroline,” he
whispered. “Come,” he pulled her to the buggy.
    Neither spoke for
the duration of the ride. David pulled up to the end of the Martin house driveway.
“I know it will be dark soon, but it’s best for you to walk the rest of the
way, in case Ben or your uncle are home,” he said, his voice a soft monotone.
    He stepped out of
the carriage to assist her.  He took hold of her middle and lifted her out. 
She cringed as he touched her.
    She started
toward the house, then stopped as she heard the rustling of the parchment in
her skirt pocket.  Selly’s last words.  He ought to have the letter, to know
what a kind girl Selly was, to know that he was responsible for her death.
    “Wait,” she
called.  David turned and walked toward her.  Caroline lifted out the letter
from her pocket. 
    “You should have
this.”  She handed it to him, then turned and ran down the laneway.
    Closer to the
house, she heard Patsie’s loud piercing voice, “Miss Caroline, ye be home!  I
jest can’t be believin’ ye be home so soon.  Why, Himself isn’t back yet.”
    Caroline avoided
eye contact, her eyes filling with tears.
    “Miss Caroline,
what in all that’s holy happened? Did ye get to the convent then?  Why sure an’
that Mr. David didn’t do naught to ye, did he?  I was scared he might be after
tryin’ some’n.”
    Caroline finally
brought her gaze up and shook her head.
    “Ah, Miss, what
is it that’s ailin’ ye, then?  Ye can tell ole Patsie ‘bout it