CHAPTER XIII.
drop-cap
MerryChristmas had come and gone with its ordinary festivities and gifts. Ours had been unusually bright, and we were all well and happy. Only one thing troubled papa and that was the boys.
Louis had spent nearly two months traveling around and then going straight to Wilburton. He was pleasantly situated he wrote, quite well, and had taken up his studies. Papa answered, giving him some friendly counsel, but we had heard nothing since. Stuart had sent two chatty epistles. Stephen was expected home every week.
“I feel as if I ought to have gone to Wilburton and looked after him;” papa would say anxiously.
“You have been so very busy all the time with your duties here;” mamma would replyreassuringly. “And Louis is one of those quietly persistent young men who take their own way and learn, if they ever do, from experience.”
I doubt if it would have made any difference in what occurred. Fan used to say that we had gentle showers of misfortune and rains of adversity, and this must have been both combined. The letter came from Stuart with the bad news, which shocked us beyond description.
I will tell it more briefly than in his rambling, commenting fashion. He had little of the brotherly love that desires to cover up faults, or hide the worst of any untoward incident.
Louis’ boarding place might have proved a judicious home, but a month after his being settled with Mrs. Fuller, a young clerk came to share his comforts, one of those selfish, astute persons as Stephen afterwards learned, who with his pleasing address and flattering deference soon won Louis’ regard and confidence, and introduced him to some dangerous companions. This was followed by late hours and gaming. To a nervous, excitable nature these games of chance with an occasional victory, became a dangerous fascination. Louis was no match for his adversaries. They looked upon him as a rich, hot-headed,ignorant young fellow and drew him on until he found himself heavily in debt. The money sent for his current expenses was swallowed up, and proved but a drop in the whirlpool.
One evening he had begun with the luck in his favor and felt wonderfully elated. At midnight he would fain have left them, but they bantered him to stay, rather hinting that a defection would be from basely selfish motives. He was not to be dared and took his seat again, losing heavily on the first play. The others had been drinking and grown a trifle careless. He was watching with eager, restless eyes and detected to his surprise, a play so unusual that it brought an instant conviction to his mind that even his trusted friend might be in league against him.
He mastered his indignation and went steadily on, every sense alert with suspicion. Presently the trick was repeated, his opponent winning triumphantly. But his endurance came to an end with this, and he burst forth in angry vehemence, accusing everybody, and hurling passionate epithets that roused the wrath of the small circle, which they resented as warmly.A bitter taunt cost Louis the last remnant of self-control, and he flew at his adversary with a tiger’s strength and quickness. One tremendous blow ended the contest.
“Good Heavens! Duncan, you have killed him!” cried one of the party. “You’ll rue this night’s work!”
His youth and his impulsiveness led him astray again. Like a flash he beheld the disgrace, the awful crime, the consternation of all who knew him. Obeying his first unreasoning impulse he fled from the place. Whither should he go? Death would be preferable to arrest and scandal.
He had a small amount of money with him and it was but a few steps to the station. The train made a moment’s halt and he stepped on board in the darkness. If he had waited until morning it would have proved only a disgraceful gambling brawl. The injured youth was brought to consciousness and through the physician’s efforts saved from congestion. A few day’s illness would be the result to him, but the story spread like wild-fire, exaggerated in every respect. This was the account that came from Stuart.
Papa was horror stricken at the first moment.He buried his face in his hands and gave the letter to mother.
“Poor boy!” she said tenderly. “His unfortunate temper, his distrust of those who would have proved his best friends, and his credulity in other respects, have made him an easy victim. But what has become of him?”
“I must go immediately,” papa exclaimed. “I am in some sense his keeper. I ought to have looked after him before. Poor lad. How we prayed for him to be spared last summer! Perhaps—”
“Dear papa,” said Fan, “if God had not thought best to save his life, he would have been taken. Please do not blame yourself. It was our duty to try, and to pray. The end is with God.”
“You are right, my darling, and I must act instead of doubting. Let me think—I can reach Wilburton at eight this evening. I will do all I can. If Stephen were only here!”
Half an hour afterward we received a telegram from him. He was in New York. After a flying visit to the boys he would be with us.
“I had better meet him there;” said papa. “We can consult about the best steps to betaken. And indeed, Louis may have returned to Wilburton.
“Everything always does happen to us at once,” said Fan. “But this is such a sorry happening! We have to take our share of other’s misfortunes, but joys do not always go round so far.”
“I am sure we have had a great many joys;” returned mamma in her sweet tone. “And no—”
“Bad boys of our own;” put in Fan. “Or good ones either for that matter. But thereisone thing to be very thankful for, and that is, that Louis Duncan has not the sin of murder on his soul.”
“True, true, Fanny;” returned papa.
An hour later he put a few articles in a hand satchel and bade us good-bye. That was Wednesday and he did not return until Friday eve, when Mr. Duncan came with him.
Six months of foreign life had changed him considerably. He was stouter, looked older, and wore a full beard. Ididfeel afraid of him. I wondered how Fan could talk so freely. He was grave to the verge of sadness; yet very sweet to mamma with that kind of reverential sweetness so touching.
The victim of the affray was out of danger. Stephen had been investigating his brother’s affairs, but found no extravagances beside the gambling debts. Otherwise his course of conduct had not been blamable. But there were no tidings of him. Stephen had inserted advertisements in one or two papers, begging him to return, which was all that could be done for the present.
The pleasure of the meeting was a good deal dampened by this unfortunate affair. Mr. Duncan had counted so much upon his visit to us, it would seem. He brought mamma a lovely black silk dress from Paris, Edith a necklace and armlets that would make her pretty bracelets by and by. For Fan a choice set of engravings in a beautiful port-folio. Nelly some beautiful handkerchiefs, and the children each a ring.
“And this is for you;” he said, handing me a little box. “I have heard how good you were to my poor brother, and though it is only a trifle, I hope you will accept it and my grateful thanks as well.”
It was a beautiful pearl cross in the most delicate setting. So white and pure that I felt half afraid of it.
“O,” I exclaimed confusedly, “I did not do very much! I—mamma—thank you!” and I turned away from his peculiar look.
“I feel as if I had brought a great deal of trouble upon you all, but I will have no blame attached to any one, least of all you, Mr. Endicott. I know you have done your duty like a Christian gentleman, like a father, indeed. It is the poor boy’s misfortune that he is so self-willed and ungovernable, and I must try, if God spares me, to reclaim him. I was wrong not to begin earlier.”
“If I can be of any assistance command me to the utmost;” and papa wrung Stephen’s hand. “It is my duty to search for the lost souls and point out the way of repentance. I do feel that I have been sadly remiss.”
That evening at twilight I was standing at the study window glancing dreamily over the snowy road, when I heard a step beside me. Ifeltimmediately who it was.
“I believe I owe you an apology,” he began in a low tone. “You were disappointed in your gift, and I do not wonder. I ought not to have bought you a cross. I had already laid one upon you unwittingly. Forgive me.”
“It was too elegant,” I returned. “That was its only fault, if it had one. I was—obliged for the kind remembrance.”
“But you will not like to wear it?”
I was silent, I could not tell why, but I shouldnotwant to wear it.
“I never have had such a costly article;” I faltered.
“Well, put it away, out of sight. I seem to be unlucky—with you!”
His tone was almost impatient. He did not go away and I remained awkwardly by his side.
Did some evil genius tempt me to say—
“I think you feel too hard and severe towards Louis. You don’t know what it is to have such a temper—”
“Thank God, no!” he interrupted.
“And he has never had one good true friend in whom he could trust. He is peculiar and sensitive.”
“I have made several attempts to win his confidence and failed. I fancied perhaps, that coming here might have some effect upon him. It is terrible to think of his being hardened in deceit and given over to violence.”
“Oh, he is not;” I cried impulsively.
“Are you quite sure?”
Something in the tone offended me. I could not say what I wished.
“At least you will forgive him—if he comes back?”
“I can assure you he will not find me unbrotherly. But he must learn that he is not quite his own master.”
Nelly ran in. I was glad to go away and leave him. And yet as we were all singing together that evening, something in his voice touched me, moved me to tears. How tender he could be, and yet how stern.
I told mamma afterward of the talks Louis and I had had. So far I had held them in peculiar confidence. She was a little encouraged, and we tried to hope for the best.
Stephen spent nearly a week with us. He and Fan and Nelly agreed capitally. We went over to the Churchill’s, and the ladies were charmed with him. But he seemed so much older to me than Dick Fairlie, and several of the young villagers.
He took great pleasure in planning with mamma.
The estate owned a rather old-fashioned housein the upper part of the city, which he meant to repair and furnish, and set up house-keeping. If he could find some nice, cheerful, refined woman to take charge—did we know of anybody?
“Oh!” exclaimed Fan, “Mrs. Whitcomb! It will be just magnificent! Only she shall not come unless you promise her—let me see—three vacations a year, to visit us.”
“A month at a time?”
“About that. We have the first claim. She can do everything and is a lovely lady beside. And she is pretty too.”
“That is certainly in her favor,” and he laughed mischievously. “Could we find this paragon?”
“She is at Oxford. If you were to invite me to go sleigh-riding, we might;” said Fan demurely.
“Fanny!” in mamma’s gentle tone.
“Miss Fanny, will you be kind enough to accompany me to Oxford to-morrow?”
“Thank you, Mr. Duncan, I shall be happy to;” and Fan made a sweeping curtsey.
They went off merrily in Mr. Fairlie’s dainty cutter, saw Mrs. Whitcomb, with whom Mr.Duncan was charmed. She promised to consider the matter.
We missed him ever so much when he was gone. Fan seemed odd and restless. Papa was much engrossed with parish work, there being a number of sick people, and at this season of the year the wants of the poor became much more numerous. Employment was duller in the winter and after the poorer class had used up their own subsistence, they became necessarily somewhat dependent upon their neighbors. So papa used to try and interest the richer ones in their behalf. The season had been a pretty severe one. Miss Churchill came over one morning and he asked her assistance.
“I should be glad to do anything in my power, Mr. Endicott,” she said. “Tell me how to begin. For though I have given money, I am learning to understand that something else is needed.”
“Yes,” he answered. “Most of these people are honest and industrious and would work if they could get it to do. Charity in its broad, bold sense does mortify them.”
“I heard Kenton speaking of some woodland he wanted cleared. One of our men went awayin the fall and we have been rather short-handed. Now if some one would undertake it—”
“Just the thing,” interposed papa. “And—I wanted to send the Widow Maxwell a barrel of flour. She has nothing but potatoes in the house, I know.”
“Make out a list and I will see what I can do. We borrow Miss Fanny so often that I wish to make all the return in my power. Lucy enjoys her society so much.”
“And she gives me so much in return,” said Fanny, warmly. “Why, I am getting to be quite an artist. I may be tempted to accept Miss Maynard’s offer after all.”
“What was that?”
Fanny and I explained.
“I suppose itisa temptation for a young girl to wish to distinguish herself. And yet—you are all so happy here that I should be sorry to see a break.”
“There will be none yet awhile,” replied mamma. “I want my girls to learn some useful home lessons first. I do not know but there is as high and worthy an art in managing and saving and in making happiness as in earning money.”
“I think you are right, Mrs. Endicott. While I admit the necessity of every woman knowing something whereby she can support herself, I sometimes wonder if the reformers are not carrying the matter too far. Girls are painters and poets and shop-keepers and teachers. When they marry, housework is distasteful to them. They do not know how to cook a dinner or make a dress, they cannot carry on a household in a pleasant, agreeable manner. They must board or depend upon servants. There is nothing but complaint and discouragement. They may be valuable members of society, but their time is too precious to be wasted upon real living. Every year homes become more rare.”
“It is too sadly true,” said papa. “There is a wide difference between a fashionable house and a pleasant home. And home used to mean something besides a place in which one slept and took his meals.”
“But some women never marry and never have a home,” interposed Fanny.
“There are exceptions. Yet many prefer the other course. I know families of girls who might have assisted and comforted their mothers, but who went to neighboring towns or cities,earning barely enough to keep themselves, sleeping in miserable close attics when they could have clean airy rooms at home, and exposed to flippant injurious companionship that destroys all the finer graces of a woman’s soul. Their mother has to depend upon Irish help whose waste and wages would doubtless dress two daughters. She has no society at home and is worried out of her life. What is it all for? Why can they not make each other happy?”
“An imaginary liberty,” answered mamma. “I want to make my home so pleasant that my girls will be sorry to leave it. I hope to instruct them in such a manner that they will be able to make other happy homes, and then I shall have no fear for them.”
“And when seven daughters rise up and call you blessed, you will be overwhelmed, little mother,” returned Fan clasping her arms around mamma’s neck. “It is what we expect to do by and by, when Edith is old enough to fill out the row gracefully. Yet I do sometimes feel appalled at the host to take care of. Clergymen may abound in grace but they seldom do in this world’s goods. We are not ravens, nor lilies of the field.”
“I think you will find it coming out rightly in the end,” said Miss Churchill with a smile. “Your mother’s theories may not be like the modern ones, but very good women were reared under them, and they are not quite out of date. I would like to see them put in practise oftener.”
Fan blushed vividly at the beginning of Miss Churchill’s sentence. I wondered a little why?
“And now I must go,” declared Miss Churchill rising. “I always get fascinated when I come here, and stay beyond reasonable limits. When your charming nest becomes over-crowded, Mrs. Endicott, I will be glad to take one birdie. You won’t forget the list, Mr. Endicott?”
“No, indeed. I shall be thankful for so good a helper.”
“And now good-bye till I come again,” said she.
We awaited the first letter from Stephen Duncan anxiously. There were no tidings of Louis, and he was feeling very much alarmed. He had inspected the house and was to begin repairs immediately. It was his intention to have a home for himself and his brothers, and to do his duty by them, with God’s help, in-so-far as he could. “And wherein I do succeed,”he wrote, “the work will be in a great measure due to your Christian counsel and solicitude. I shall always esteem it one of the fortunate steps of my life that I came to you, my dear friend, when I needed fatherly advice.”
February was dull and dreary, though we had little time to think of it. Not one busy bee could have been spared from the hive. Miss Churchill called ours a co-operative home, and I think it was. News came to Mr. Fairlie that his mother and sister had decided to go to Europe with a pleasant party. They would return to New York in April and sail in May.
“So I can look out for myself,” said Dick.
“Why do you not go with them?” asked Fan.
“I shouldn’t enjoy it if I did—to travel round with a parcel of women. Now if one could go with a man like Mr. Duncan!”
“That would be just perfection,” she returned eagerly.
He glanced at her in a peculiar manner. Something flashed across my mind at that instant. They liked each other very much. He was hurrying to get his house in order—Mrs. Whitcomb would be there—yes, it would all come around right.
It came faster than any one expected. The first week in March we were surprised by a visit from him. He had commenced furnishing and was in a quandary.
“And so I have come to consult, and to ask a tremendous favor of you, Mrs. Endicott,” he said. “I have gained Mrs. Whitcomb’s consent to come in company with you and see how she would like it. I want you and Miss Fanny and my little god-daughter to go back with me next week, and we will have a kind of family party. I have my dining-room and two guest-chambers furnished, though they want a woman’s graceful fingers to add some final touches. And now like Benedick ‘I will hear of nothing to the contrary.’”
Mamma said at first it was quite impossible. Fan I could see was strongly in favor of the idea. I knew that I could keep house very well, and it would be delightful to have them go. So we talked and talked. Mrs. Whitcomb came over and the matter was actually settled.
Stephen had found some trace of Louis and lost it again, but he was confident that he could follow up the clue. He had grown exceedingly anxious. He and papa had long talks on the subject.
“I heard of his keeping books for a few weeks at a factory,” he explained. “I think he must have gone away nearly destitute, but this effort at independence gives me much hope. Perhaps it will be a good lesson for him—if he does not fall among evil associates.”
It was nothing but Stephen and Mr. Duncan. I began to grow almost jealous. Did he suspect it, I wonder? He used to watch me so curiously, though somehow we never talked. He and Fan were absolutely jolly. I wondered how she dared be so saucy with that great grave-eyed man.
“You won’t mind being left alone for a little while?” he said to me. “I will promise to take excellent care of your mother. I only wish it were a pleasanter season of the year, but Miss Fanny will keep us bright anywhere.”
That was true enough.
“And if I can induce Mrs. Whitcomb to stay I shall be quite satisfied with my lot.”
Indeed, I think any one might have been satisfied with the prospect before him.
We said good-bye to them on Monday morning, as mamma decided that she must be at home by Saturday. I could not realize thatthey had gone for more than the day until evening set in. Then it seemed so strange and quiet. There was a little drizzle of hail and rain, and for a wonder no one dropped in. The children went to bed, Nelly was busy with her studies, papa read, and I sewed some trifle. I believe I felt nervous and almost low-spirited.
“Come,” I said to myself, “this will never do.”
But I did have a little quiet cry when I went to bed. The house would never be the same without Fan. I should miss her so much.
I felt better the next day and went at my work cheerfully. About noon it cleared away bright and crisp.
“Rose,” said papa, “could you go down to old Mrs. Aitkens’ this afternoon? She is very poorly and may want something done.”
“Yes,” I answered quickly. I would give moping no place to settle itself to-day.
Mrs. Elsden came in after dinner and staid quite awhile, to cheer me up, she said. If I was lonesome Addie should come over and spend the day with me.
“I would be glad to see Addie,” I said, “but I should be too busy to get lonesome.”
Then as I was going right by Jennie Ryder’s I remembered a book she wanted, so I decided to call. She and her mother sat in their cheerful parlor, as cosy as you please. I took the chair beside hers and there right in the edge of her pretty willow work-stand lay a gentleman’s glove with her needle in it. Our eyes fell on it at the same moment. She blushed and tucked it out of sight, and then the next instant drew it forth with an odd deliberateness and went on mending the rips.
I laughed a little, so did she.
“Richard left his gloves here last evening;” she said. “He has no one to look after such matters now.”
“He will have quite a trial of loneliness,” I answered. “Mrs. Fairlie and Kate expect to be in Europe two years or more. Kate will have her darling wish.”
“Yes. I don’t know what he would do if you were not so good to him at the Rectory.”
“But we do not mend his gloves,” I said teasingly.
“Oh, that is—nothing;” but she blushed again.
There was a vase of choice flowers on one window-sill, and I went to inspect it.
“Why, I did not know you had an azalea,” I exclaimed in surprise.
“I have not. They—”
“Mr. Fairlie brought them over,” said Mrs. Ryder gravely. “He comforts himself with flowers and birds and kittens. Harmless dissipation for a young man.”
I felt mischievous enough to add,—“And Jennie,” but delicacy forbade me. But Iwaspleased. If ever anybody deserved a good husband it was Jennie Ryder.
Then I went on to Mrs. Aitkens’. She kept me until dusk. I was hurrying home in the cold March twilight and had just passed the Church when some one from across the street paused and eyed me sharply. It was not a familiar face I thought, and went on. The person came over which made me quicken my steps.
“Miss Rose,” a voice said huskily, “Miss Endicott!”
I turned and stood an instant, speechless with surprise. When I could get my breath I held out both hands and said—“Oh, Louis Duncan!”
“Then you don’t quite—hate the sight of me?”
Meeting of Rose and Louis Duncan.Page272.
Meeting of Rose and Louis Duncan.Page272.
Meeting of Rose and Louis Duncan.Page272.
“If you only knew,” I answered eagerly.—“If youcouldknow how anxious every one has felt, and how thankful we all are that you are alive! O, come home with me!”
“Thankful! I had better be dead! But I am not.”
He was very thin and pale, and had a worn, tired look. My heart ached for him.
“No,” I said, “it is better that you are alive. Stephen has been searching for you. He was here last week.”
Louis turned deadly pale at that.
“Come,” I urged.
“I have been haunting your house all the afternoon. I thought I should have to go without seeing you. You have heard—of course.”
“Everything, I believe.”
“I know how Stephen feels. His life has been so perfect! His temper is angelic! And yet Rose—Ididmean to do better. I resolved—”
“In your own strength;” I said softly. “God let you see how weak that was. And yet you must not be cast down. Even Christians have to try many times. But thereisthe promise. And God saves to the uttermost, to the fartherest weakness, the blackest sin.”
“I wassoangry. I just understood how they had been cheating me all along, and what a fool I had been. They added taunts and insults. I struck out blindly and madly, not caring.Wasit God who saved me from the commission of an awful crime? I fled thinking myself a murderer. I hid in lanes and byways for three miserable days, knowing how Cain felt when he said his punishment was greater than he could bear. If Kelsey had died I think I should have thrown myself into the river. Then I saw in a paper that he had been only temporarily injured. The affair was headed—‘A gambling brawl,’ and even though I felt relieved, the disgrace stung me so keenly.”
“But it has been forgotten by this time. And Stephen means that you shall stay with him for some months at least. You can redeem all the past. Oh, try.” I pleaded earnestly.
“Tell me about Stephen?” he said tremulously.
I went briefly over the incidents of his return, but I did lay great stress upon Stephen’s anxiety, his willingness to forgive the past, for I knew he would be less severe now than a month ago. I pictured the home, and the pleasure there might be for both in it.
“And your sister is there,” he replied in an odd tone of voice that was more comment than inquiry.
“Yes.” Did he guess? “Oh,” I said, “it may be—perhaps it is wrong for me to hint it—but he likes her very much.”
“Yes,” this time almost harshly. “I understand. She is pretty and bright, and good—but I wish it were you instead. I thought you liked him. You used to take his part. Oh, Rose, if you were to be there I believe I should go. If you were my sister you might save me. You are so sweet, so patient; you know so many tender ways.”
“Why, I should be your sister then,” I said, trembling in shame and confusion, for what, I hardly knew.
“You are so different from most people. I think Stephen would be gentler with you—”
“Hush, he knows best. Come home with me and talk to papa. What have you been doing all this while?”
“Earning my living for a change,” and he laughed bitterly. “Icango West. Not that I mean to relinquish my fortune, but since I have disgraced them all—”
“No, no;” I rejoined firmly. “You must not go.”
“What then?”
“Return to Stephen directly. Redeem the past with a brave, true, upright manhood. Youcando it. I do not believe you will ever be tempted in that way again.”
“You are right there. If you could know how Ihavegoverned myself during the past two months. I feel as if half my temper was gone,—since that awful night. But to go back—to humble myself to him—”
“Have you not hurt his pride cruelly?” I said.
Louis was silent.
“Oh, pleasedogo for my sake,” I entreated. “Let papa—”
“No,” hoarsely. “I couldn’t talk to any one but you. I was wild to see you. I wanted to know what you thought—if I was past redemption—”
“No, you are not. You do not understand how some of these very faults may be transformed into virtues. Is it not braver to struggle than to give up like a coward in despair.”
“I neverwascowardly.”
“Prove your bravery by going to Stephen. Start anew. God will give you strength and grace. I know you can succeed.”
He glanced at me long and earnestly. There was a strange wistfulness in his face that touched me.
“Promise!” I took his cold hand in mine.
“No, I cannot—quite. I must think of it. And I must go, also, I have kept you too long in the cold.”
“But where are you going?”
“I shall take the train at seven;” evasively.
I pleaded again, warmly, earnestly. I fancied that I saw tears in his eyes, but he would not promise me positively.
We said a lingering good-bye in the starlight. I felt assured that he must come to a better sense of the matter.
Then I hurried home. They were through supper. Papa was putting on his overcoat.
“I was just coming for you. Why how—excited you look! Is Mrs. Aitken worse?”
“No, I have been walking rapidly.”
“Let me pour your tea;” began Nelly. “I was head of the table, and felt quite grand.”
I tried to be composed. I had promised notto say a word about the meeting, but it seemed strange to have such an important secret in my keeping.
Before I went to bed that night I wrote to Stephen. I never could remember what I said, for I sealed the letter without reading it over, and sent it when Nelly went to school. But I begged him to be patient and merciful to Louis.
Nothing else of importance happened in my week of house-keeping. Thursday evening we received a letter from Fan that was sketchy and funny and incoherent. I felt that she must really be in love. How strangely the links of life join, I said to myself.
We were glad enough to get them home on Saturday afternoon. Edith had a slight cold, but Fan was bright and rosy and glowing in her descriptions. She had never had such fun in her life. They had bought carpets, furniture, pictures, ornaments; the Duncan family silver was wonderful to behold, and the house delightful, just old fashioned enough not to be grand. Mrs. Whitcomb was installed house-keeper and was as much in love with Stephen as everybody else. We were all to make visits as often as we could, and during vacation he meant to have the whole family.
He sent papa a set of new books which were just what he had been wishing for.
“Oh,” exclaimed Nelly, “it will be splendid to go to New York like everybody else. Children, we must begin to save our money.”
“Are there any tidings of Louis?” I asked with my heart in my throat.
“No. Mr. Duncan intends to begin a search himself next week. He is resolved to find him.”
After supper papa came round to Fanny and played with her golden hair and watched her as she talked. How much he loved her! Did he feel that there might be a rival ere long, a break in the chain of girls? Yet she seemed so gladly, so unconsciously happy.
It was the children’s bed time at last. They kissed round and round as if they were never to see anybody again. I had to hurry them finally, their good night was so lingering.
“Fanny,” papa said, “will you come in my study a few moments.”
She put her hand over his shoulder, and his arm was around her waist. I saw them cross the hall, making such a pretty picture that I smiled. Then the door shut.
This was what happened.
They walked together to the library table. Papa took up a letter, fingered it idly and studied Fan’s sweet young face.
“I did not mean to speak of this until Monday,” he began, “but I have a feeling that it may be best finished at once. I received a letter a few days ago,—in which there was an enclosure for you—this.”
He took out a folded paper and handed it to her. She opened it wonderingly. Out fell a faded rose with two or three buds.
She gave a low cry and hid her face on papa’s shoulder. He smoothed the golden hair and presently said in a tremulous tone—
“Will you read my letter? I should like to have you.”
She raised her scarlet face, still keeping her eyes averted. It was some seconds before she could begin to distinguish the words.
A manly straight-forward appeal to papa from Winthrop Ogden. He confessed to having spoken hastily in the summer, and promising to wait long enough to convince Miss Endicott that he was in earnest. His mind had not wavered from that hour, and now he asked papa’s permission to visit her and try his fate, convincedthat his love was loyal and earnest. His family admired Miss Endicott, and such an engagement would meet with their approval, he knew. Might he hope for an answer soon?
“My darling!”
“Oh papa!” and the fair head went down again.
“Shall I send this young interloper about his business?”
There was no answer except as the soft arms crept up round his neck.
“My dear child, what is it?” finding a little place in the forehead to kiss.
“Can I—do—” and the faltering voice paused.
“Just as you like, my darling. While I should be sorry to give you—to another,” and there was a pathetic little break in the voice; “still the young manisunexceptionable. I believe the Churchills would welcome you warmly. And marrying and being given in marriage is the way of the world.”
“Then—papa—” and the remainder of the answer was a long, tender kiss.
“I thought perhaps—Stephen Duncan—”
“Oh, papa, he doesn’t love me—in that way.
“But I know his secret, that is I once saw itgleam out like a tiny snow-drop in the sun. I am not to be the only happy girl in the world.”
Papa looked a little puzzled, then he sighed.
“Why,” said he dolorously—“there will be only five left!”