Chapter XIX

by Mary Jane Holmes

　　JULIA ANNOUNCES HER ENGAGEMENT TO DR. LACEY

　　Summer was gone and the bright, sunny days of autumn had come.

　　Again in Kate Wilmot's home were tears wept and blessings breathed, as Mr.and Mrs. Wilmot bade farewell to their "children," as they affectionatelycalled all three of the individuals who were that morning to start fortheir home in Kentucky.

　　"God bless you, Kate, my darling Kate," said Mrs. Wilmot as she fondlykissed her only child. Then turning to Fanny, she said, "And you, too, myother daughter, you have my love and earnest prayers for your happiness."

　　Mr. Wilmot could not speak, but his feelings were not less deep, as heembraced his child and shook the hands of Mr. Miller and Fanny. OldHector, too, shared in the general sorrow, but for some undefinable reasonhe seemed to cling more closely to Fanny. He would look up in her face andhowl, as if he knew she was leaving him forever. "Noble Hector!" saidFanny, "and do you indeed love me so well?" Then kneeling down by him, shedrew from her neck a tiny locket, in which was a daguerreotype of herself.To this she attached a blue ribbon, which she fastened around Hector'sneck, saying, "I cannot stay with you, Hector, but you shall have mylikeness." Afterward when strangers visited the house and marvelled atHector's unusual neck gear, they were shown the fair, sweet face, whichlooked forth from the golden casing, and were told the story of the younggirl, whose presence had been like Sunshine in Richard Wilmot's darkenedhome.

　　Mr. Miller was not willing that Fanny should leave New York without firstvisiting Niagara Falls. Accordingly, they stopped at the Falls, and werethere joined by Mr. and Mrs. Stanton and Frank, the latter of whom wasdesirous of seeing Fanny as long as possible. He accompanied them toBuffalo, and stayed upon the boat which was to bear them away until thelast bell rang out its warning. As he was leaving them Kate playfullyasked if they were taking anything of his with them. "Yes, everything,everything," he answered.

　　Soon the steamer was moving proudly over the blue waters of Lake Erie. Onthe upper deck our Kentucky friends were waving their handkerchiefs toFrank, who stood upon the wharf as long as one bright-haired girl could bedistinguished by the light of the harvest moon, whose rays fell calmlyupon the placid waters.

　　In a few days Mr. Middleton again folded to his bosom his Sunshine, nowmore precious than ever, because, as he said, "He'd lain awake a heap o'nights, worryin' about her. The dogs had howled, the death watches hadticked on the wall, and everything had carried on, t'other side up, eversince she'd been gone. But look, Nancy," he continued to his wife, "she'sfattin' up right smart. Her journey has done her a heap of good, and I'mglad I let her go."

　　The blacks now crowded round, delighted to welcome home their youngmistress, who had a kind word and some little gift for each. Particularlywere Aunt Katy and Aunt Judy pleased with the present of a tasty lace cap,whose value was greatly increased from the fact that they were bought inNew York City. In these simple creatures' estimation, New York andFrankfort were the largest places in the world. "I s'pose," said AuntKaty, "that this New York is mighty nigh three times as large asFrankfort."

　　"Three times as large!" repeated Fanny. "Why, yes, Katy, forty times aslarge."

　　From that time Aunt Katy looked upon Fanny as one not long for this world."'Tain't in natur," said she, "that she should stay long. Allus was peartlike and forrud, and now has been ridin' in the railroad all over theairth, and hain't got lost nuther, besides a-sailin' along in the steamengine over the salt water."

　　It was indeed marvelous how much Fanny had seen, and when she came to tellthe wonder-stricken negroes of the cataract of Niagara, their amazementknew no bounds. Our friend Bobaway did not fail to ease himself by a roundof somersaults, his usual manner of expressing surprise or pleasure. Atthe same time he whispered to Lucy that "He's mistaken if Miss Fanny wan'ttellin' 'em a stretcher this time," for which declaration Lucy rewardedhim with a smart box on the ear, saying, "Is you no better manners than to'cuse white folks of lyin'? Miss Fanny never'd got as well as she is ifshe's picked up a mess of lies to tell us."

　　Fanny's health was indeed much improved, and for a day or two after herreturn home, she bounded about the house and grounds as lightly andmerrily as she had done in childhood. Mr. Middleton noticed the change andwas delighted. "I b'lieve she's forgettin' that paltry doctor," said he,but he was wrong.

　　The third day after her return she was sitting with her parents, relatingto them an account of her journey, when Ike entered the room. He had beensent to the post office and now came up to Fanny, saying, "Here, I donegot this air," at the same time handing her a letter, which she instantlysaw was from her sister. Eagerly taking it, she said, "A letter fromJulia. I am delighted. It is a long time since I have heard from her."Then quickly breaking the seal, she commenced reading it.

　　Gradually as she read there stole over her face a strange expression. Itwas a look of despair--of hope utterly crushed, but she finished the letterand then mechanically passing it to her father, she said, "Read it; itconcerns us all," and then rising she went to her room, leaving her fatherto read and swear over Julia's letter at his leisure. That he did so noone will doubt when they learn its contents.

　　The first page contained assurances of love; the second congratulatedFanny upon her engagement with Frank, but chided her for suffering LidaGibson to be the bearer of the news. "Why did you not write to meyourself?" she said--"that is the way I shall do, and now to prove mywords, you will see how confiding I am." Then followed the intelligencethat Dr. Lacey had the night before offered his heart and hand and ofcourse had been accepted. "You will not wonder at it," she wrote, "for youknow how much I have always loved him. I was, however, greatly surprisedwhen he told me he always preferred me to you, but was prevented fromtelling me so by my silly engagement with Mr. Wilmot and my supposedaffection for him." The letter ended by saying that Dr. Lacey wouldaccompany her home some time during the latter part of October, when theirmarriage would take place. There was also a "P.S.," in which Julia wrote,"Do, Fan, use your influence with the old man and make him fix up theinfernal old air castle. I'd as soon be married in the horse barn asthere."

　　This, then, was the letter which affected Fanny so, and called all ofUncle Joshua's biggest oaths into use. Mrs. Middleton tried to calm herhusband and remind him of his promise not to swear. "I know it," said he,"I know I promised not to swear, and for better than two months I hain'tswore, but I can't help it now. And yet I expected it. I know'd 'twould beso when I let Tempest go to New Orleans. But he'll run himself into ahornet's nest, and I ain't sure but it's just the punishment for him."

　　"Why, then, do you rave so?" asked Mrs. Middleton.

　　"Because," answered her husband, "when I let Tempest go, I'd no ideeSunshine cared so much for him. If I had, I'd have slung a halter roundTempest's neck and tied her up in the hoss barn she likes so well!"

　　The old man was evidently piqued at Julia's thrust at the old house. "Fixup! A heap I'll fix up for her to be married," continued he.

　　"Then you'll give your consent?" said Mrs. Middleton.

　　"Consent! Who's asked any consent?" replied he, "and 'tain't likely theywill nuther; and if I should refuse, Tempest wouldn't mind clamberin' outof the chimbly to run away, and the doctor has showed himself jest asmean. No; he may have her and go to the old boy for all of Josh. Butwhat's this about Cameron? I hope 'tis so, but I'm mighty feared it ain't.Sunshine can't love two at a time."

　　While Mr. Middleton was thus expending his fury, Fanny was alone in herroom, struggling hard to subdue the bitter feelings which were rising inher heart. Until now she had not been aware how much she loved Dr. Lacey.True, she had said it was impossible she could ever marry him; and she hadbelieved she was trying to forget him; but ever in her heart she had,perhaps unconsciously, cherished a half formed belief that all would yetbe well, and when she refused the noble, generous heart which FrankCameron laid at her feet, it was with a vague hope that Dr. Lacey wouldyet be hers. But now every hope was gone. "There is nothing left for me,"said Fanny, "but woe, woe!" 'Twas fearful--the tide of sorrow which sweptover the young girl, but amid the wild storm of passion came the echo of astill, small voice, whispering of one who loves with more than an earthlylove, who never proves faithless--never fails. Fanny listened to theSpirit's pleadings and resolved that henceforth she would seek to placeher affections where "there is no variableness, neither shadow ofturning."

　　The whirlwind of excitement passed over, leaving no trace to mark itspassage, save a fixed calm expression, which a more violent demonstrationof feeling would not have done.

　　The week following the receipt of Julia's letter Mr. Middleton hadbusiness which took him to Frankfort. Fanny accompanied him and remainedseveral days. The morning after her arrival she and Mr. Stanton werewalking upon the upper balcony at Mrs. Crane's, when they were joined byAshton, who had returned from New Orleans a few days before. He had alwaysbeen a frequent visitor there, but since his return, his visits had beenmore frequent and of longer duration. There was to him something veryfascinating about Stanton's fair bride, and yet he always felt uneasy whenwith her, for her manners and appearance reminded him of the past.

　　This morning, however, the mystery was explained, but in what way he couldnot tell.

　　Soon after he appeared on the balcony, Nellie pointed to a gentleman whowas crossing the street and inquired his name. On being told she replied:"He looks very much like a Mr. Barnard I used to know years ago in ----,"mentioning the town where she was born.

　　"Used to know where?" asked Ashton quickly.

　　Nellie repeated the name and Ashton said, "Why, that's my native town, andI knew Mr. Barnard well." Then as if the light of a sudden revelation fellupon him, he added, "And your name, too, was Nellie Ashton? I once had asister Nellie, on whose rosy cheeks I dropped a tear the night I ran awayto sea. Can it be that you are that Nellie?"

　　A few moments more sufficed them to discover what we have long surmized,viz., that Henry Ashton and Nellie Stanton were brother and sister. Thesurprise and pleasure of their recognition is better imagined thandescribed. We will only say that when Stanton, on his return from theoffice, stepped out upon the balcony in quest of his wife, he was greatlyshocked at beholding her in Ashton's arms, and his amazement was increasedwhen he saw that she not only suffered his caresses, but also returnedthem in a manner highly displeasing to the young husband. Fanny, however,soon explained all, and Stanton gladly received Ashton as a newly foundbrother.

　　It is unnecessary for us to repeat what Nellie and her brother had torelate concerning themselves since the night when Ashton sounceremoniously took leave of his home. With the important points in theirhistory the reader is already acquainted, so for the present we leavethem, while we take a brief glance at Mrs. Carrington. The reader willdoubtless think that for once in her life that estimable lady has done agood deed, although her motive was not the best in the world. Before Juliawent to New Orleans, Mrs. Carrington so far overcame her dislike as to askher to write. Julia did not promise to do so, but probably concluded shewould, for soon after her arrival in New Orleans she wrote to her aletter, in which she hinted at the probable result of her visit. She wasthen a guest of Dr. Lacey, and she spoke of his attention and politenessin the most extravagant terms. This so provoked Mrs. Carrington that shedetermined at once to write to Dr. Lacey, and give him an insight intoJulia's real character.

　　The letter was accordingly written. We must do Mrs. Carrington the justiceto say that though her object in writing was purely selfish, she assertednothing in her letter but what she knew to be strictly true. She wasignorant of Julia's conduct concerning Fanny, consequently she saidnothing upon that head, but she spoke of her generally deceitfulcharacter, and mentioned several instances in which she had not hesitatedto stoop to the basest falsehood for the accomplishment of her purpose.

　　As she was folding the letter it occurred to her that by some accidentJulia might possibly get hold of it. "And then," thought she, "she willrecognize my handwriting, and curiosity will impel her to open the letter,after which she wouldn't hesitate a moment to destroy it."

　　The next moment Mrs. Carrington was rapping at the door of Mrs. Miller'sroom. Kate opened it and was greatly surprised at beholding her visitor,who seldom came there. Mrs. Carrington, however, smilingly presented herletter to Mr. Miller, saying that she had business with Dr. Lacey, whichrendered it necessary for her to write to him, and as she did not care tohave the post office clerks gossip about her writing to a gentleman, shewished him to direct it for her. Mr. Miller complied with her request andthe next morning the important document was on its way to New Orleans.

　　As our readers have twice made the voyage of the Mississippi, they willnot refuse, again, to run the risk of its floating snags, sandbars andboat races; so stepping on board the same steamer which bears Mrs.Carrington's letter, we will once more, visit Louisiana, and stopping withDr. Lacey, will see how much of Julia's letter to her sister was true.