"Oft what seems
A trifle, a mere nothing, by itself,
In some nice situation, turns the scale
Of fate, and rules the most important actions."
Thomson.
Because of the near approach of his appointed wedding-day Mr. Dinsmore
could not linger long in Pleasant Plains. All felt the parting keenly,
for even in the few days they had spent together a strong attachment
had sprung up between Elsie and her cousins, while the renewal of
former congenial intercourse had strengthened the tie of affection that
had long existed between Mrs. Keith and her Cousin Horace.
Fan and Annis wept so bitterly as the stage whirled away out of sight,
that their mother and Mildred found it necessary to deny themselves the
indulgence of their own grief in order to comfort them.
At the same time Mr. Dinsmore was wiping the tears from Elsie's eyes,
and soothing her with tender caresses and the hope that she and
Mildred and Annis would meet again before a great while.
"Who knows," he said in cheery tones, "but we may be able to persuade
their father and mother to let them spend the winter at the Oaks next
year!"
"O papa, how nice that would be!" exclaimed the child, smiling through
her tears; "will you ask them?"
"Yes; if you will stop crying now. Perhaps if you keep on I may be
tempted to join you," he added jestingly, "and how ashamed we would
both feel."
That made Elsie laugh. Then he interested her in plans for purchasing
gifts for the cousins they had just left, and for her "new mamma," when
they should reach New York, and soon she was quite her usual sunny self.
Fortunately up to this time their little party had been the only
occupants of the stage.
We have not space to speak further of their journey, which brought
them finally to Philadelphia, Miss Rose Allison's home, and where the
wedding was to take place.
On arriving in that city Mr. Dinsmore sent Elsie and her nurse to Mr.
Allison's, while he, with his servant John, went to a hotel. He was to
be married the next morning, and it was already late in the afternoon,
so the separation would not be for long.
While taking his supper at the hotel table Mr. Dinsmore became the
unconscious object of close scrutiny by a gentleman seated nearly
opposite; a rather fine-looking man, tall, well-proportioned, with good
features, an open, intelligent countenance, benevolent expression,
clear blue eyes, light brown hair and beard.
"I can hardly be mistaken; it is no common face; but I will make
certain," the stranger said to himself, as he rose and left the room at
the conclusion of his meal.
He went to the hotel register and found Mr. Dinsmore's name among those
entered that day. He saw it with a thrill of pleasure; and yet--"well,
he could not know till he had tried to renew the acquaintance, whether
to do so would be agreeable to the friend of his boyhood."
Mr. Dinsmore retired to his own apartment on leaving the table, and had
scarcely done so when a servant handed in a card.
"Charles Landreth, M.D.," was the inscription it bore. Mr. Dinsmore
read it at a glance. His first emotion was surprise, the next a mixture
of feelings.
"Show the gentleman up here; tell him I shall be happy to see him," he
said to the waiter. Then, as the man closed the door and departed, he
turned and paced the floor with slow, meditative step.
"It may be a good Providence that brings us together so unexpectedly
just at this time," he said to himself. "I should never have expected
dishonorable conduct from my old chum Charlie Landreth, and I'll give
him the benefit of the doubt as long as I can. Ah, God grant I may be
able to set this matter right for poor Mildred!"
Steps approached, the door opened, and the two stood face to face.
"Horace! you have not forgotten me?" The voice, the grasp of the hand,
the beaming countenance, all spoke such sincere pleasure, such warmth
of friendship, that Mr. Dinsmore's doubts vanished; that was not the
face of a false, cold-hearted villain. He returned the greeting as
cordially as it was given.
"Forgotten you, Charlie? No, indeed! and I'm particularly glad that you
have made yourself known to-night; for to-morrow I shall be on my way
south again."
"Ah, going back to the old neighborhood where we were boys together,"
and Charlie heaved a sigh to the memory of the days of auld lang syne,
as he accepted a mute invitation to be seated. "Have you been long
absent?" he asked.
"For several months. I am lately returned from Indiana, where I have
been visiting my cousins the Keiths."
As he pronounced the name Mr. Dinsmore looked keenly at his companion.
Landreth flushed hotly and his look was both eager and pained as he
responded, with a little hesitation in his speech. "Ah! and were
they--all well?"
"Yes, thank you, and prospering. One of the girls--there are five in
all--is married."
"Mildred?" asked his listener in a hoarse whisper, and with
half-averted face.
"No; she is still single, and it struck me as strange, for she is a
most lovely and attractive girl in both person and character."
"A perfect woman, nobly planned,
To warn, to comfort, and command;
And yet a spirit still and bright,
With something of an angel light."
"I think I never saw one to whom Wordsworth's description was more
truly applicable."
Landreth turned and grasped Mr. Dinsmore's hand, his face all aglow
with hope and joy. "You have lifted me from the depths of despair!" he
said in tremulous tones.
"You have cared for her?"
"Loved her as never man loved woman before!"
Mr. Dinsmore smiled at that, thinking of Rose, and his early love, the
mother of his child, but did not care to combat the assertion. "She is
worthy of it," was all he said.
"I heard she was married, and it nearly killed me," Landreth went on.
"But I could not blame her, for she had steadily refused to pledge
herself to me."
"But where have you been all these years, and how is it that I find you
here now, Charlie? I should be glad to hear your story."
"I went first to the mines of South America," Landreth said, "saw very
hard times for the first two years, then met with a wonderful turn of
fortune--coming quite unexpectedly upon a very large nugget of gold.
I didn't stay long after that. I had written to Mildred a good many
times, but never received a line from her, and almost the first news
I heard on returning to my native land was that of her marriage. As I
have said, it nearly killed me; but, Dinsmore, my bitter sorrow and
disappointment did for me what perhaps nothing else could. I sought
and found Him, of whom Moses in the law and the prophets did write,
Jesus of Nazareth, the sinner's Saviour and Friend."
"Thank God for that, Charlie!" Mr. Dinsmore returned with emotion; and
again their hands met in a warm brotherly clasp.
"Having found him," continued Landreth, "of course his service became
my first object in life. I looked about for a sphere of usefulness,
and decided upon the medical profession, because I had discovered that
I had a liking for it, the necessities of the men in my employ having
led me to dip into it a little. So I came here to pursue my studies,
received my diploma a year ago, have been practicing in the hospitals
since, and am now looking about for the best place in which to begin my
career as a private physician and surgeon."
"Plenty of room in the West," observed Mr. Dinsmore sententiously and
with a sparkle of fun in his eye.
Landreth sprang up. "And my darling is there, and you have given me
hope that I may yet win her! Dinsmore, I shall make the necessary
arrangements immediately, and set off for Pleasant Plains at the
earliest possible moment."
"Right, Charlie; and you have my best wishes for your success both
with her and in your chosen profession. But I hope you will not leave
Philadelphia before to-morrow noon. I want you at my wedding. Mildred
and the rest will be glad to hear an account of it from an eye-witness."
"Your wedding?"
"Yes, it is to take place at nine to-morrow morning. And I want the
pleasure of introducing my intended cousin to my bride; to say nothing
of showing you one whose charms of person and character are not
eclipsed by even those of sweet and lovely Mildred Keith."
"She must be worth seeing, if that be the case," Landreth answered with
a smile. "And I am keeping you from her now, I daresay; for which she
certainly will not thank me."
"She is too kind-hearted not to be more than content for Mildred's and
your sake."
"Mildred's do you say?" and Landreth's face was one glow of delight.
"Yes, Charlie, for Mildred's; since you have so frankly told me how
it is with you, I shall not conceal from you that it is for your sake
the sweet girl has remained single in spite of several good offers.
I learned it from my Cousin Marcia, her mother. And while I think
of it," he added laughingly, "let me assure you that Marcia will
make--does make--a model mother-in-law."
"I should be glad indeed to try her in that capacity," returned
Landreth lightly. "I think it will hardly be possible for me to leave
before to-morrow noon; so accept your invitation with thanks, Dinsmore.
I have a curiosity to see your bride, and a very strong desire to renew
my acquaintance with your little daughter, whom I used to see quite
frequently in the first two years of her stay at Roselands. I have
always thought her the sweetest little creature I ever beheld. She is
with you of course?"
"In the city? Yes; you will see her to-morrow," Mr. Dinsmore answered,
looking highly gratified by the encomium upon his darling child.
After a little more chat, principally of mutual friends and the changes
that had taken place in their old neighborhood since Landreth left it,
they separated with another cordial hand-shaking, both extremely glad
of the casual meeting, and expecting to meet again on the morrow.