"A man's heart deviseth his way; but the Lord directeth his
steps."--_Prov._ 16:9.
The boys were greatly disappointed on learning from the talk at the
dinner-table that Cousin Donald's furlough was so short that he could give
but two days to his Ion friends.
There were many expressions of regret. Then Mr. Dinsmore said, "If you
must leave us so soon we must make good use of our time, by taking you at
once to see relatives, friends, and places of interest in the
neighborhood. If you and the captain are not too weary to enjoy a ride or
drive, we will go to Roselands for a call this afternoon, then on to the
Oaks to take tea with my son Horace and his family."
"You can assure us of a welcome at both places?" Donald said inquiringly
and with a slight smile.
"You need not have the slightest fear on that score," was the quick,
earnest rejoinder.
"I for one," remarked the captain, "am not in the least fatigued, and if
the ladies are to be of the party, accept with pleasure and thanks."
"I also," said Donald, with a look at Violet which seemed to express a
hope that she was not intending to remain behind.
Mrs. Dinsmore and Mrs. Travilla excused themselves from going on the plea
of fatigue from recent nursing of the sick and the long drive of the
morning, Elsie adding that her little convalescents ought hardly to be
deprived of mamma all day.
"Then we will take Vi," said Mr. Dinsmore, looking affectionately at her;
"she has shut herself up with those same convalescents all the morning and
needs air and exercise."
"Yes, papa," her mother said, "and I know she would enjoy a gallop on her
favorite pony. Cousin," turning to Donald, "we have both riding and
carriage horses at your and the captain's service; please do not hesitate
to express your preference."
They thanked her, and after a little more discussion it was arranged that
the whole party, including Harold and Herbert, should ride.
The horses were ordered at once and they set out very shortly after
leaving the table. Mr. Dinsmore and the captain headed the cavalcade,
Donald and Violet came next, riding side by side, and the two lads brought
up the rear.
Donald was well satisfied with the arrangement, and he and Vi found a
good deal of enjoyment in recalling the scenes, doings, and happenings of
the past summer; particularly of the weeks spent together on the New
Jersey coast.
Also Vi rehearsed to him Edward's account of Elsie's wedding and his
description of the suite of apartments he had had fitted up for their use.
Edward expected to spend the winter there, she said.
It was all very interesting to Donald. He thought Lester Leland a man to
be envied, yet perhaps less so than he who should secure for his own the
fair, sweet maiden riding by his side.
They passed a pleasant hour at Roselands, seeing all the family except the
invalid, then rode on to the Oaks, where they found a warm welcome and
most delightful and hospitable entertainment.
Then the return to Ion by moonlight was very enjoyable.
It was still early when they arrived; the two older ladies awaited them in
the parlor, and some time was spent in pleasant converse before retiring
for the night.
"I have not yet had the pleasure of seeing my little favorites, Rosie and
Walter, Cousin Elsie," remarked Donald.
"No," she said, "and they are very eager for an interview with you. They
are in bed now, but I hope they will be well enough to join us at
breakfast to-morrow."
"They have been quite sick?"
"Yes, were dangerously ill for a time, and though about again, still need
constant care lest they should take cold."
The guests given adjoining rooms, opened the door of communication between
and had a little private chat together before seeking their pillows.
"These relatives of yours, Keith, are extremely nice people," remarked the
captain.
"Of course they are," returned Donald, "relatives to be proud of."
"I never saw a more beautiful woman than Mrs. Travilla," pursued the
captain. "I think I may say never one so beautiful; and the most charming
part of it is beauty that will last; beauty of heart and intellect. Can
she be Miss Violet's own mother? There is a resemblance, though their
styles of beauty are quite different, but there does not seem to be
sufficient difference in age."
"She _is_ own mother, though, and not only to Violet, but to two older
ones--a son and daughter."
The captain expressed great surprise. "But youthful looks must be a family
characteristic," he added meditatively. "Mr. and Mrs. Dinsmore look
extremely young to be the grandparents of the family."
Donald explained that Mr. Dinsmore was really only eighteen years older
than his daughter, and Rose, a second wife, but half as many.
"And what think you of Violet's beauty?" he asked.
"Absolutely faultless! She has an angelic face! If I were a young fellow
like you, Keith, I'd certainly not look elsewhere while I could see a ray
of hope in that direction. But there's the relationship in the way."
"It's too distant to stand in the way," returned Donald a trifle shortly,
"I look upon her prospective wealth as a far greater obstacle, having no
fancy for playing the rôle of fortune-hunter, or laying myself open to the
suspicion of being such."
"Then you've no intention of trying for her?"
"I haven't said so, have I? Well, good-night, it's getting late."
"What do you think of Captain Raymond?" Rose was asking her husband. "You
have had by far the best opportunity to cultivate his acquaintance."
"He impresses me very favorably as both a man and a Christian," was the
emphatic reply.
"Ah! I am glad Donald has so nice a friend," was her pleased comment.
"Yes, there seems a warm friendship existing between them, though the
captain must be the older by several years. Married too, for he mentioned
his children incidentally."
On coming down to the parlor the next morning the guests found Mr.
Dinsmore there fondling his little grandchildren--Rosie on one knee,
Walter on the other.
Cousin Donald's entrance was hailed with delight, Walter presently
transferred to his knee.
Then the captain coaxed Rosie to his, saying, "Your dark eyes and hair
remind me of my little Lulu's."
"Have you a little girl of your own, sir?" Rosie asked with a look of
interest.
"Yes, my dear, two of them. Lulu is a year or two younger than I take you
to be, and Gracie is only seven."
"Have you any boys?" inquired Walter.
"Yes, my little man; I have one. We call him Max. He is two years older
than Lulu."
"About as old as I am?" said Rosie half inquiringly.
"Yes; if you are eleven, as I suppose."
"Yes, sir, I'm eleven and Walter's five."
"If they're good children we'd like 'em to come here and play with us,"
remarked Walter.
"I am afraid they are not always good," the captain said with a smile and
a half sigh. "I am not with them enough to give them the teaching and
training that doubtless you enjoy."
"But why doesn't their mamma do it? Our mamma teaches us;" and the child's
eyes turned lovingly upon her as at that moment she entered the room.
The usual morning greetings were exchanged, and Walter's question remained
unanswered.
The gentlemen were out nearly all day, riding or driving; the ladies with
them a part of the time. The evening was enlivened with music and
conversation, and all retired to rest at a seasonable hour; the two guests
expecting to take leave of their hospitable entertainers the next morning.
Darkness and silence reigned for some hours, then the shining of a bright
light into Donald's eyes awoke him.
He sprang from his bed, rushed to the window, saw that a cottage not far
away, which he had noticed in riding by, was in flames. The next moment he
had snatched up a few articles of clothing and was at the captain's side
shaking him vigorously.
"Up, Raymond! up, man! There's a fire and we'll be needed to help put it
out."
"What is it? breakers ahead, do you say?'" muttered the captain, only half
awake.
"Fire! fire!" repeated Keith.
"Fire? where?" and the captain sprang up, now wide awake, and began
hurrying on his clothes.
"That cottage down the road."
"That's bad indeed; but not quite so bad as a vessel foundering or burning
at sea. Anybody else in the house awake?"
"I don't know. Yes, there! I hear steps and voices."
They hurried into the hall and down the stairs. Mr. Dinsmore was in the
lower hall giving directions to the men-servants, who were all collected
there.
"Haste! Solon, Tom, Dick--all of you!" he was saying, "gather up all the
large buckets about the house, ropes too and ladders, and follow me as
fast as you can. Ah, captain! and Donald too! You have seen the fire, I
suppose? Will you come with me? There'll be work enough for us all no
doubt. We've no engine in this neighborhood."
"Certainly, sir!"
"That's the port we are bound for." And each catching up a bucket they all
three set off at full speed in the direction of the burning house, several
of the negroes following close at their heels.
They found a crowd already gathered there--men and women, black and white.
Some were carrying out furniture from the lower rooms, some bringing
water in buckets from a spring near by, others contenting themselves with
looking on and giving orders which nobody obeyed.
"I see the house will have to go," Mr. Dinsmore said. "Are the family all
out of it?"
"All but an old colored woman," some one replied, "old Aunt Betsy. Nobody
thought of her in time, and now it's too late, for the stairs are burned
away. Hark!" as a crash was heard, "there's the last of them."
"What! will you leave a helpless old woman to be burnt alive?" cried
Captain Raymond. "Where is she?"
"Yonder!" cried several voices; "see, she's at the window! and she's
screaming for help!" as a wild shriek rent the air, a black face full of
terror and despair showing itself at an upper window, where the fire's
lurid light fell full upon it.
"Oh, ain't dar nobody to help ole Aunt Betsy?" she screamed, stretching
out her wrinkled arms and toil-worn hands in passionate entreaty; "will
you ebery one ob you leave de po' ole woman to burn up in dis awful fiah?
Isn't ye got no pity in yo' souls! Oh, somebody come an' help de po' ole
woman to git down 'fore she burn all up!"
"A rope!" shouted the captain, "quick! quick! a rope!"
"Heah, massa cap'n!" answered Solon close it hand. "Ise brung it jus' in
time."
"What can you do with a rope, Raymond?" asked Donald.
"Make an effort to save her with the help of that lightning-rod."
"You risk your own life, and it is worth far more than hers," Donald said
entreatingly.
"Stay a moment, captain," said Mr. Dinsmore, "they are bringing a ladder."
"But there's no time to lose; see! the flames are already bursting out
from the next window."
"Yes, but here it is," as the negroes halted with it close beside them.
"It is to be used to reach that window, boys," he said, turning to them
and pointing upward. "Set it up there."
"Can't do it, sah! 'Mos' as much as a man's life is wuth to go so near de
fire."
"Then give it to me!" cried the captain, taking hold of it, Mr. Dinsmore
and Donald giving their assistance.
It was the work of a moment to set it up against the wall; in another the
captain was ascending it, while the other two held it firmly in place.
He gained the window and sprang in.
"Bress you, massa! bress you!" exclaimed the old negress, "you's gwine to
save me I knows."
"Get out here on to the ladder and climb down as fast as you can," he said
hurriedly, taking hold of her arm to help her.
But she drew back shuddering. "I can't, massa! I'se ole and stiff. I can't
no how 'tall."
There was not a moment to lose. The captain stepped back on to the top
round of the ladder, took her in his arms, and began as rapid a descent as
was possible so burdened.
The ladder shook beneath their weight, for both were heavy, and Aunt Betsy
struggled in his grasp, screaming with fright; then a tongue of flame
shooting out from below caught her cotton gown, and in her frantic terror
she gave a sudden spring that threw her preserver and herself to the
ground.
Mr. Dinsmore and Donald seized the captain and dragged him out of harm's
Way, other hands doing a like service for the woman.
She was shrieking and groaning, but her rescuer neither spoke nor moved.
They took him up, carried him out of the crowd, and laid him gently down
upon a sofa; one of the articles of furniture saved from the fire.
"Poor fellow!" sighed Donald with emotion. "I'm afraid he has paid dear
for his kindness of heart!"
"Solon," said Mr. Dinsmore, "mount the fastest horse here and ride to
Roselands for Dr. Arthur. Tell him we don't know how seriously this
gentleman is hurt. Hurry! make all possible haste!"
Solon was turning to obey, but stopped, exclaiming, "Why, sho' anuff,
dar's de doctah hisself just lightin' off his hoss ober yondah!"
"Then run and bring him here."
Arthur obeyed the summons with all speed. The alarm of the fire had
reached Roselands, and he had hastened to the spot to give aid in
extinguishing it, or to any who might be injured.
He found the captain showing signs of life; he moved his head, then opened
his eyes.
"Where are you hurt, sir?" asked the doctor.
"Not very seriously anywhere, I trust," replied the captain, trying to
rise. "Ah!" as he fell back again, "both back and ankle seem to have had a
wrench. But, friends, are you not needed over there at the fire? My
injuries can wait."
"Little or nothing more can be done there, and there are people enough on
the ground now to leave us free to attend to you," said Mr. Dinsmore.
The doctor was speaking aside to Donald and Solon.
Coming back, "We will have a litter ready in a few moments," he said,
"and carry you over to Ion."
"By all means," said Mr. Dinsmore. "You accompany us, of course, Arthur?"
"Certainly, sir."
"How is she--the old negress? Was she much injured by the fall?" Captain
Raymond asked.
No one could tell him, and he begged the doctor to attend to her while the
litter was preparing.
Arthur went in search of her, and presently returned, saying she had
escaped without any broken bones, though apparently a good deal shaken up
and bruised.