EXCITEMENT
They were not early risers at Terrace Hill, and the morning following
Adah's flight Anna slept later than usual; nor was it until Willie's
baby cry, calling for mamma, was heard, that she awoke, and thinking
Adah had gone down for something, she bade Willie come to her. Putting
out her arms she lifted him carefully into her own bed, and in doing so
brushed from her pillow the letters left for her. But it did not matter
then, and for a full half hour she lay waiting for Adah's return.
Growing impatient at last, she stepped upon the floor, her bare feet
touching something cold, something which made her look down and find
that she was stepping on a letter--not one, but two--and in wondering
surprise she turned them to the light, half fainting with excitement,
when on the back of the first one examined she saw the old familiar
handwriting, and knew that Charlie had written again!
Anna had hardly been human had she waited an instant ere she tore open
the envelope and learned how many times and with how little success
Charlie Millbrook had written to her since his return from India. He had
not forgotten her. The love of his early manhood had increased with his
maturer years, and he could not be satisfied until he heard from her
that he was remembered and still beloved.
This was Charlie's letter, this what Anna read, feeling far too happy to
be angry at her mother, and delicious tears of joy flowed over her
beautiful face, as, pressing the paper to her lips, she murmured:
"Dear Charlie! darling Charlie! I knew he was not false, and I thank the
kind Father for bringing him at last to me."
Hiding it in her bosom, Anna took the other letter then, and throwing
her shawl around her, for she was beginning to shiver with cold, sat
down by the window and read it through--read it once, read it twice,
read it thrice, and then--sure never were the inmates of Terrace Hill
thrown into so much astonishment and alarm as they were that April
morning, when, in her cambric night robe, her long hair falling unbound
about her shoulders, and her bare feet, gleaming white and cold upon the
floor, Miss Anna went screaming from room to room, and asking her
wonder-stricken mother and sisters if they had any idea who it was that
had been an inmate of their house for so many weeks.
"Come with me, then," she almost screamed, and dragging her mother to
her room, where Willie sat up in bed, looking curiously about him and
uncertain whether to cry or to laugh, she exclaimed, "Look at him,
mother, and you, too, Asenath and Eudora!" turning to her sisters, who
had followed. "Tell me who is he like? He is John's child. And Rose was
Lily, the young girl whom you forbade him to marry! Listen, mother, you
shall listen to what your pride has done!" and grasping the bewildered
Mrs. Richards by the arm, Anna held her fast while she read aloud the
letter left by Adah.
Mrs. Richards fainted. She soon recovered, however, and listened eagerly
while Anna repeated all her brother had ever told her of Lily.
Poor Willie! He was there in the bed, looking curiously at the four
women, none of whom seemed quite willing to own him save Anna. Her heart
took him in at once. He had been given to her. She would be faithful to
the trust, and folding him in her arms, she cried softly over him,
kissing his little face and calling him her darling.
"Anna, how can you fondle such as he?" Eudora asked, rather sharply.
"He is our brother's child. Mother, you will not turn from your
grandson," and Anna held the boy toward her mother, who did not refuse
to take him.
Asenath always went with her mother, and at once showed signs of
relenting by laying her hand on Willie's head and calling him "poor
boy." Eudora held out longer, but Anna knew she would yield in time,
and satisfied with Willie's reception so far, went on to speak of Adah.
Where was she, did they suppose, and what were the best means of finding
her.
At this Mrs. Richards demurred, as did Asenath with her.
"Adah was gone, and they had better let her go quietly. She was nothing
to them, nothing whatever, and if they took Willie in, doing their best
with him as one of the Richards' line, it was all that could be required
of them. Had Adah been John's wife, it would of course be different, but
she was not, and his marriage with 'Lina must not now be prevented."
This was Mrs. Richards' reasoning, but Anna's was different.
"John had distinctly said, 'I married Lily and she died.' Adah was
mistaken about the marriage being unlawful. It was a falsehood he told
her. She was his wife, and he must not be permitted to commit bigamy.
She would tell John in private. They need not try to dissuade her, for
she should go."
This was what Anna said, and all in vain were her mother's entreaties to
let matters take their course. Anna only replied by going deliberately
on with the preparations for her sudden journey. She was going to find
Rose, and blessing her for this kindness to one whom they had liked so
much, Dixson and Pamelia helped to get her ready, both promising the
best care to Willie in her absence, both asking where she was going
first and both receiving the same answer, "To Albany."
Mrs. Richards was too much stunned clearly to comprehend what had
happened or what would be the result; and in a kind of apathetic maze
she bade Anna good-by, and then went back to where Willie sat upon the
sofa, examining and occasionally tearing the costly book of foreign
prints which had been given him to keep him still and make him cease his
piteous wail for "mamma." It seemed like a dream to the three ladies
sitting at home that night and talking about Anna, wondering that a
person of her weak nerves and feeble health should suddenly become so
active, so energetic, so decided, and of her own accord start off on a
long journey alone and unprotected.
And Anna wondered at herself when the excitement of leaving was past and
the train was bearing her swiftly along on her mission of duty. She had
written a few lines to Charlie Millbrook, telling him of her unaltered
love and bidding him come to her in three weeks' time, when she would be
ready to see him.
It was very dark and rainy, and the passengers jostled each other
rudely as they passed from the cars in Albany and hurried to the boat.
It was new business to Anna, traveling alone and in the night, and a
feeling akin to fear was creeping over her as she wondered where she
should find the eastern train.
"Follow the crowd," seemed yelled out for her benefit, though it was
really intended for a timid, deaf old lady, who had anxiously asked what
to do of one whose laconic reply was: "Follow the crowd." And Anna did
follow the crowd which led her safely to the waiting cars. Snugly
ensconced in a seat all to herself, she vainly imagined there was no
more trouble until Cleveland or Buffalo at least was reached. How, then,
was she disappointed when, alighting for a moment at Rochester, she
found herself in a worse babel, if possible, than had existed at Albany.
Where were all these folks going, and which was the train? "I ought not
to have alighted at all," she thought; "I might have known I never could
find my way back." Never, sure, was poor, little woman so confused and
bewildered as Anna, and it is not strange that she stood directly upon
the track, unmindful of the increasing din and roar as the train from
Niagara Falls came thundering into the depot. It was in vain that the
cabman nearest to her helloed to warn her of the impending danger. She
never dreamed that they meant her, or suspected her great peril, until
from out of the group waiting to take that very train, a tall figure
sprang, and grasping her light form around the waist, bore her to a
place of safety--not because he guessed that it was Annie, but because
it was a human being whom he would save from a fearful death.
"Excuse me, madam," he began, but whatever she might have said was lost
in the low, thrilling scream of joy with which Anna recognized him.
"Charlie, Charlie! oh, Charlie!" she cried, burying her face in his
bosom and sobbing like a child.
There was no time to waste in explanations; scarcely time, indeed, for
Charlie to ask where she was going, and if the necessity to go on were
imperative.
"You won't leave me," Anna whispered.
"Leave you, darling? No," and pressing the little fingers twining so
lovingly about his own, Charlie replied: "Whither thou goest I will go.
I shall not leave you again."
He needed no words to tell him of the letters never received; he knew
the truth, and satisfied to have her at last he drew her closely to him,
and laying her tired head upon his bosom, gazed fondly at the face he
had not seen in many, many years. Curious, tittering maidens, of whom
there are usually one or two in every car, looked at that couple near
the door and whispered to their companions:
"Bride and groom. Just see how he hugs her. Some widower, I know,
married to a young wife."
But neither Charlie nor Anna cared for the speculations to which they
were giving rise. They had found each other, and the happiness enjoyed
during the two hours which elapsed ere Buffalo was reached more than
made amends for all the lonely years of wretchedness they had spent
apart from each other. Charlie had told Anna briefly of his life in
India--had spoken feelingly, affectionately of his gentle Hattie, who
had died, blessing him with her last breath for the kindness he had ever
shown to her; of baby Annie's grave, by the side of which he buried the
young mother; of his loneliness after that, his failing health, his
yearning for a sight of home, his embarkation for America, his hope
through all that she might still be won; his letters and her mother's
reply, which awakened his suspicions, and his last letter which she
received.
Sweetly she chided him, amid her tears, for not coming to her at once,
telling how she had waited and watched with an anxious heart, ever since
she heard of his return; and then she told him next where she was going,
and why, sparing her brother as much as possible, and dwelling long upon
poor Lily's gentleness and beauty.
So it was settled that Charlie should go with her, and his presence made
her far less impatient than she would otherwise have been, when, owing
to some accident, they were delayed so long that the Cleveland train was
gone, and there was no alternative but to wait in Buffalo. At Cincinnati
there was another detention, and it was not until the very day appointed
for the wedding that, with Charlie still beside her, Anna entered the
carriage hired at Lexington, and started for Spring Bank, whither for a
little we will precede her, taking up the narrative prior to this day,
and about the time when 'Lina first returned from New York, laden with
arrogance and airs.