BY THE OLD PINE TREE
While Douglas was talking to the people, Nell had slipped out of the
church by way of the vestry room. She wanted to be alone that she
might think. Her head was aching, and the fresh air made her feel
better. She went straight across the field toward her own home,
following the path she had so often travelled. This led her to the old
pine where she and Douglas had stood on that beautiful day which now
seemed so long ago.
Here she stopped and looked out over the river. The water was as clear
as glass, and she could see her reflection in the clear depths. Nell
believed she was safe here from all interruption, for those who had
been at church would go home by the main road. Her mind was greatly
agitated, and after a while she sat down by the side of the tree and
leaned her head against the trunk. Her face bore a strained look, and
her eyes were dry. She felt that she must now banish Douglas from her
mind forever. Why had he deceived her? she asked herself over and over
again. Why had he come into her life, bringing such joy to her lonely
heart, and then dispelling it all in one brief hour? If he had only
remained the same ordinary man as when working for Jake Jukes, how
happy she would be. She could love him then with all the ardour of a
true, pure woman. But a clergyman in disguise! The thought repelled
and stung her, even though she knew why he had done it. Henceforth, he
would be a changed man, so she believed, hedged about by the dignity
and conventions of his position, and no longer the free and
companionable John Handyman as she had known him.
As she sat thus and thought, her mind gradually grew calmer, and she
became more self-possessed. She even chided herself for feeling so
depressed. What was John Handyman to her, anyway? Merely an
acquaintance, whom she had known but a few weeks. She really knew
nothing about his past life, for he had been most guarded in speaking
about himself. Perhaps he was already engaged to some girl, and he may
have been with her during his absence from Rixton. She had no
guarantee that he loved her, although she believed that he liked to be
with her. She recalled how he had held her hand in his and had looked
into her eyes in a way that had thrilled her whole being. But no
matter where he might go or what he might become, the memory would be
ever dear to her. He would never know of her love for him, and the
world would not have the slightest suspicion of the deep things of her
heart. She would go on her way as in the past, and none would be the
wiser.
Nell was now more like her old self, and as people knew her. Her
self-reliant and reserved nature had always added a certain dignity to
her personal charms. It would, therefore, have been a great surprise
to many could they have looked into her heart on this beautiful
afternoon and discovered the secret. They would then have found how
deep are the real wells of life, that they who feel most keenly say the
least, and that the passionate love of a noble woman is often expressed
in simple outward acts of gentleness, mercy and truth.
For about half an hour Nell sat there, although the passing of time
never once occurred to her. She might have remained thus for the rest
of the afternoon, had she not been suddenly aroused by the sound of
approaching footsteps. Glancing around, great was her astonishment and
embarrassment to see the very one who was in her thoughts hurrying
toward her.
As Nell sprang to her feet, her heart was beating rapidly, and the rich
blood mantled her cheeks and brow, making her more charming than ever,
so Douglas thought. His face was radiant, and his eyes glowed with the
intensity of love. His impulsive nature could brook no further delay,
neither did mere formal words of affection fall from his lips.
Instead, he stepped quickly forward, caught Nell in his arms, and
imprinted a kiss upon her trembling lips.
So great was Nell's surprise at this sudden and audacious act, that she
was rendered almost powerless. A joy surpassing words possessed her,
and she longed to remain forever in her lover's strong embrace. But in
a few seconds, a feeling of maidenly reserve swept over her, and she
tore away the encircling arms.
"How dare you do such a thing?" she demanded. But the tone of her
voice and the expression in her eyes caused Douglas to laugh with
rapturous joy.
"You must get up more fire than that if you expect to frighten me," he
told her.
"But how could you? How did you dare without permission?" Nell
faltered.
"My heart gave permission; you must blame it. And, oh, Nell, tell me
that you love me," he pleaded. "If you do, then you will forgive
everything. Surely your love must respond to mine."
To these passionate words Nell made no reply. She was too greatly
overcome to utter a word so sudden and overwhelming had been the change
during the last few minutes. Her form trembled from the vehemence of
her emotion, and then the tears, which for so long had been restrained,
came to her relief, and, sinking upon the ground, she buried her face
in her hands and sobbed like a child.
"Nell! Nell!" Douglas cried, dropping by her side, and placing his
arms tenderly around her. "What have I done? Have I offended you?
Oh, tell me; tell me quick. I didn't mean to make you feel badly.
Forgive me; please forgive me!"
"I am only foolish, that is all," was the sobbing reply, as Nell lifted
her head and endeavoured to brush away the tears. "I didn't mean to
give way like this. But I am weak, and all this is so unexpected."
"And you forgive me? You are not offended?"
In reply, Nell threw her arms impetuously about his neck, and laid her
face close to his.
"There is my answer," she whispered. "Are you satisfied now?"
Never had the old pine witnessed such a scene of perfect bliss as that
which then took place at its foot. It gave no sign, however, that it
saw anything, but kept its secret well. It was in league with the
happy lovers, and never babbled its knowledge.
"It was here where I first saw you, Nell," Douglas told her, as they
nestled close to each other upon the sand. "How well I remember that
night, and how entranced I was with your playing."
"Don't speak of that time any more," Nell pleaded. "It seems now like
a terrible dream. Oh, how that man followed me, and tried to get me in
his power."
"But Ben is gone now, darling, and can trouble you no more. It is not
likely that he will ever come back to this place. He has been taught a
severe lesson, and I trust it will do him good."
"Oh, I hope so," and a tremor shook Nell's body. "I want to forget him
and those awful days that are past."
"And you must forget, Nell, in the joy of the present. Oh, I can
hardly believe it is true that you love me. I was almost frightened
out of my wits lest you should refuse me."
"You acted like it, didn't you?" Nell bantered, turning her happy face
to his. "Why, you swept down upon me like a cyclone, and had me in
your arms before I could utter a word of protest."
"I was afraid, darling; that was the reason. You see, I knew what a
shock I gave you when I bounced into the vestry. And then all through
the service I was watching you, and noticed how agitated you were. I
wanted to speak to you at once when the service was over, but, no, I
was captured by the whole congregation and when at last I was able to
look around, you were nowhere to be seen. Suspecting that you might be
here, I hurried over as fast as I could, and when I beheld you standing
by this tree looking a thousand times more lovely than ever, I lost my
head completely, and, oh, you know the rest. It was all your fault,
darling, and so don't blame me. If you will persist in being so
charming, you must put up with the result."
"But was that really the whole reason?" Nell asked. "Wasn't there
something else? You said you were afraid, did you not?"
"Now you are cornering me," Douglas laughed. "Yes, I confess I was
afraid of the questions you might ask about my strange behaviour in
coming to Rixton in disguise. I felt that you were offended, and so
great was my love, I was in no mood to have parts of the Catechism
hurled at me. Just imagine my standing before you like a child, and
being asked, 'What is your name?' and meekly answering, 'Douglas
Stanton, ma'm.' Then, 'Who gave you this name?' and I would say that
my godfathers and godmothers gave it to me in my baptism. And you
would ask me, 'Why are you so ashamed of your name that you take
another?' Now, as that is not in the Catechism, it would have been
more difficult for me to answer, and so I would have blundered and
stumbled and made such a fool of myself that you would have despised
me. No, I could not endure that, and so I acted with audacious
boldness. You are not sorry, are you?"
"No, I am glad now, although it was a terrible shock to me at first. I
had no idea that you loved me so much. Isn't it wonderful!"
"I loved you ever since I first saw you, Nell," and Douglas drew her
closer to him. "And I shall love you always. Nothing can separate us
now."
"But this war will," was the low response. "You are going away, and I
may never see you again. How can I get along without you?"
"Only for a while, darling. I shall come back to you some day, and
while we are parted from each other, our love will support us and keep
us strong and brave. But I shall not be leaving for several weeks yet,
so during that time we can be so happy together."
"I know it, I know it," Nell replied. "But I am so selfish, and now
that I am sure of your love I want you with me always. I must
remember, though, what so many are sacrificing for the sake of their
King and country, and I must be brave, too. I suppose others will be
going from this parish. I do not see how the young men can remain
behind, especially after your challenge to them to-day."
"I believe a number of them will go at once. Several spoke to me after
service and expressed their intention of enlisting."
"I am so glad that the people this afternoon were kind to you, Douglas.
How terrible if they had been angry at what you did. It would make it
very hard for me when you are away, as I should feel so badly to listen
to their severe criticisms."
"You need not worry about that now, Nell. The people are very
friendly, and most willing to do all they can to assist the new
clergyman who will come here in my stead. I do not know his name, but
the Bishop told me that he would be most careful in his choice of a
man. Even Simon Stubbles shook hands with me this afternoon, and
wished me good luck. Most likely he is delighted to know that I am
leaving the place. Anyway, I am certain that he will behave himself
after this."
"How I wish I could go, too," Nell remarked, as she played with her
left hand in the yielding sand. "But I am only a woman, and must
remain behind."
"You have a noble work to do here, Nell. Your father needs your care,
and, besides, the thought of you will cheer and encourage me. And I
shall need your prayers as well. I am sure they will help me no matter
where I am. But, there, suppose we let the future take care of itself.
We have each other now, and we need not worry about troubles that may
never come."
"Perhaps it is better," and Nell gave a little sigh. "But I feel
selfish in being so very happy. I am thinking of poor Jean. I suppose
her love was just as deep as mine, and now she is broken-hearted. I
wonder what will become of her? She is going away, so she told me when
I saw her in the church on Friday, but she did not say what she is
going to do."
"Why, I forgot to tell you," Douglas replied. "The thought of you
banished everything else from my mind. Jean is going overseas as a Red
Cross nurse."
"As a nurse!" Nell exclaimed.
"Yes. Major Garton, he is that now, you see, took a great interest in
her, and when he found that she had graduated as a nurse from the city
hospital, he was able to get her the position without any difficulty."
"And did she ask to be allowed to go?"
"Yes, she made application, and begged Garton to do what he could for
her. I believe she is quite happy at the thought of going."
"Oh, I am so glad," and Nell clasped her hands before her. "She will
have something to live for now, and I know that she will do a noble
work."
"So you will have nothing more to worry about now, will you, darling?"
and Douglas kissed her again. "Everything has come out all right at
last, as it will in the future."
"I have no fears nor troubles now since I have your love," and Nell
lifted her shining eyes to his.
"Not even your father and Nan when we tell them of our happiness, eh?
Perhaps they may make things uncomfortable for us."
"No, I am not afraid of them," Nell laughingly replied. "Father is
very fond of you, and Nan will be delighted when she hears of it."
"And Empty will have a great piece of news to tell, won't he? We must
go over to-morrow and get Mrs. Dempster's blessing."
"And dear old Joe's, too. His will be a blessing worth while."
"What about Jake? We must not forget him, and his 'Great punkins!'
Why, he'll need a whole field of them to express his astonishment."
They both laughed heartily like two children at the thought of the
good-natured farmer. Then Nell rose to her feet.
"My, it is getting late!" she exclaimed, "and what will father say? We
must go home at once. We shall have a supper to-night that will be
worth while."
Along the sandy beach they made their way. The old pine seemed to
stand a little straighter, as if proud of what it had just witnessed.
The birds flitted to and fro, and their chirpings sounded like sweet
congratulations. Even the branches of the trees along the shore
appeared to bend a little lower to bestow their silent benediction.
All the sweet and beautiful things of Nature were in glad attune with
the young lovers as they turned their faces toward the unknown future
lying golden and mystic in the lap of the years.