Cora Receives Her Reward.
The next morning they parted, the Quicks returning to their farm at
Milford, and Walter, Amy and friends to the Hudson, arriving there on the
evening of the third day.
They were met at the landing by Lieutenant Powers and escorted to the
Reindeer, where they were joyfully received by Captain Davis and wife.
Then the events of the journey were related, and Amy and Walter
introduced to them as husband and wife.
Cora was in the best of spirits, and sought the first opportunity to make
a demand on Captain Davis for the reward he had offered for the recovery
of his son.
I claim the reward, she said.
You shall have it, he replied. Let me see. I believe it was one hundred
and fifty pounds. We will call it that, more or less. Purser, bring the
sparkling gold.
I prefer sparkling eyes, replied Cora, taking Charles by the hand and
advancing to the Captain. I want the one hundred and fifty pounds you
promised, but I don’t want it in gold, I want one hundred and fifty
pounds avoirdupoise, in flesh and blood. In a word, I want your son for a
husband.
My son is of age and can speak for himself, said the Captain.
And he has spoken for himself. He has promised to marry me.
Ah, sly puss, said the Captain. That is the result of allowing you to go
off together in the wilds of the Delaware Valley.
You are mistaken there, Captain. As far as our hearts are concerned, that
was settled before we started.
Charles, said the Captain, marriage is a personal matter in which parents
should advise, but never control their children. But if you have agreed,
you have my consent. Set the time for the wedding, and I will see that
ample arrangements are made.
I think, said Charles, that my mother should be consulted.
Certainly, replied Cora.
I think, said Mrs. Davis, that the marriage should be deferred until we
reach home. A few months’ acquaintance may change your feelings. I fear
the promise made to Cahoonshee is the moving cause to this engagement. If
so, it might be disastrous to both parties.
While Cora was standing at the grave of Mary Powers she resolved that
if she married Drake, it should be at her father’s house, and for that
reason intended to defer the marriage until they arrived in London. But
she didn’t like the reasoning of Mrs. Davis. The idea that any change
could take place was preposterous, as she was convinced that Charles
loved her, and that her heart was in the right place.
The parties then went into a committee of the whole, and resolved to let
all matters rest until they arrived in London.
In a few days the anchor is raised, and the Reindeer starts on her ocean
voyage, and in due time entered the Thames.
This brought to Walter’s mind the contrast between the past and present.
When he sailed up the river before, all was doubt and uncertainty. Then
the object of his affections was far behind, somewhere in the wilderness
of America. Now she stood by his side, his Amy, his loving bride. Then
it was uncertain how he would be received. Now he knew that he would be
welcome and received as the child and heir of two of the first families
in London.
In the mean time, the Reindeer is nearing the harbor, the docks of which
were lined with people. The parties landed, and Lord and Lady Wallace
gave their children a hearty welcome. Amy was put in possession of her
share of her grand-father’s property, and Tom Jones married Jack Frost’s
eldest daughter.
A few evenings after their arrival, the mansion of the old Admiral was
ablaze of light. The occasion was the marriage of Charles Davis to Cora
Powers.
After the ceremony was over, Walter invited all present to the art
gallery, which contained many objects of interest, but none were more
conspicuous than the preserved skins, stuffed and made natural, of the
white cats, Walt and Amy, and standing between them, looking as natural
as life, was the dog Rolla. And here we will dismiss them and return to
the Delaware Valley.