"Those that he loved so long and sees no more,
Loved and still loves,--not dead, but gone before,--
He gathers round him."
--_Rogers._
The morning was but dull and dreary, for though the storm had spent
itself, the sky was obscured with clouds and the sea still wrought
tempestuously; but its sullen roar may, perchance, have been as
favorable to the prolonged slumbers of our worn-out friends, whom the
tempest had robbed of so many hours of their accustomed sleep, as the
lack of brightness in the sky and atmosphere.
However that may have been, most of them, retiring about dawn of day,
slept on till noon, or near it.
In Mrs. Travilla's cottage the family gathered round the breakfast table
at the usual hour.
The meal was nearly concluded when a servant brought in the morning
paper and handed it to Mr. Dinsmore.
"I fear that brings news of many disasters caused by the storm,
especially on the Atlantic seaboard," remarked his daughter as he took
it up.
"Altogether likely," was his rejoinder. Then as he ran his eye down the
long list of casualties, "Why, what is this?" he exclaimed, and went on
to read aloud.
"Went ashore last night at Ocean Beach, the Curlew, a pleasure yacht
belonging to W. V. Tallis; Captain Collins. She is a total wreck, but no
lives were lost, passengers and crew being taken off by the men of
Life-Saving Station No. --. List of passengers, Mr. W. V. Tallis, Mr.
Edward Travilla, Mr. Charles Perrine, Miss Mary Keith, Miss Amy
Fletcher, and Miss Ella Neff."
There was a moment of astonished silence, then "Violet!" gasped the
mother, turning deathly pale.
"She was evidently not on board," Mr. Dinsmore hastened to reply, "or
else her name was carelessly omitted in the list, for it says
distinctly, 'No lives were lost.'"
"I hope you are right, Horace," Mrs. Conly remarked, "but if she were my
child I shouldn't have any peace till I knew all about it."
"There isn't the least probability that if a life had been lost the
reporter would have failed to say so," returned Mr. Dinsmore with some
severity of tone.
"Of course you are in the right, Horace, you always are," she said,
bridling.
"Well," remarked Virginia, "I'm astonished, I must own, that such
pattern good children should go off on such an expedition without so
much as saying by your leave to either mother or guardian."
"I have just said that I am morally certain Violet did not go," said Mr.
Dinsmore.
"And I do not blame Edward that he did," added the mother in her sweet,
gentle tones; "he is old enough now to decide such matters for himself
in the absence of his natural guardians. Also he knows me well enough to
judge pretty correctly whether I would approve or not, and I should not
have objected had I been there."
"Shall we drive over and see about the children?" asked her father.
"Yes, papa, if you please, and let us start as soon as the necessary
arrangements can be made."
Violet had scarcely completed her morning toilet, though it was a little
past noon, when glancing from the window she saw a carriage at the gate
and her grandfather in the act of assisting her mother to alight from
it.
With a low, joyous exclamation, she flew to meet and welcome them.
"Mamma, mamma! I am so glad, so glad you have come!"
"My darling, my darling! Thank God that I have you safe in my arms!" the
mother said, holding her close with kisses and tears. "What is this I
hear of danger and shipwreck?"
"It is a long story, mamma; but we are all safe. Edward, Charlie, and
the girls are still sleeping, I believe, for they were worn out with
anxiety and the loss of two nights' rest."
"And you, dear child?"
"Was not with them, but of course slept but little last night--indeed
not at all until after daybreak, when they were all safe on shore--and
have only just risen."
"Then we will hear the story after you have breakfasted," her
grandfather said.
They did not get the whole of it, however, until Edward joined them, an
hour or two later. It was to them a deeply interesting and thrilling
account that he gave. He had also much to say in Violet's praise, but
was relieved and gratified to learn that neither mother nor grandfather
blamed him for the course he had taken. He brought in his friend Tallis
and introduced him, and was glad to see that the impression on both
sides was favorable.
Edward had already urged Tallis to pay him a visit, and Mr. Dinsmore and
Elsie repeated the invitation. But the young man declined it for the
present, on the plea that the loss of his vessel made it necessary for
him to give his attention to some pressing business matters.
Elsie proposed taking her son and daughter home with her, and they were
nothing loath. She would have had all the rest of the young party come
at once to her cottage and remain as long as they found it agreeable to
do so, but all declined with thanks however, except Donald, Mary and
Charlie, who promised to come in a few days. Amy was not quite able to
travel; they would stay with her until she was sufficiently recruited to
undertake the journey to her own home. Charlie would see her and Ella
safely there, and follow Mary to the cottage home of the Travillas.
Before leaving Ocean Beach, Elsie and her father visited the life-saving
station, and the latter insisted upon bestowing a generous reward upon
each of the brave surfmen. Also he contributed largely to the making
good their losses to the poor shipwrecked sailors.
Most joyously was the return of Edward and Violet welcomed by
grandmother, brothers and sisters. Edward was the hero of the hour,
especially with Harold and Herbert, who in fact quite envied him his
adventure now that it was safely over.
Violet found home and its beloved occupants dearer and more delightful
than ever. The presence there of her aunt and cousin seemed the only
drawback upon her felicity; yet that occasionally proved a serious one
to both herself and "Cousin Donald," with whom Virginia was determined
to get up a flirtation.
He did not admire her and would not fall in with her plans, perceiving
which she turned against him, became his bitter foe, and made him and
Violet both uncomfortable by sly hints that he was seeking her; and that
simply because she was an heiress.
Old Mr. Dinsmore had gone to visit his daughter Adeline and most
sincerely did Violet wish that "Aunt Louise" and Virginia would follow.
Mrs. Travilla was, as we have said, living a very retired life, not
mingling in general society at all, but an old friend of her husband and
father, who had been a frequent and welcome guest at the Oaks and Ion,
had taken up his temporary residence at a hotel near by, and now and
then joined their party on the beach or dropped in at the cottage for a
friendly chat with Mr. Dinsmore.
Sometimes Mrs. Travilla was present and took part in the conversation;
once or twice it had happened that they had been alone together for a
few moments. She neither avoided intercourse with the gentleman nor
sought it; though he was a widower and much admired by many of her sex.
Perhaps Mrs. Conly and Virginia were the only persons who had any
sinister thoughts in connection with the matter; but they, after the
manner of the human race, judged others by themselves.
One day Violet accidentally overheard a little talk between them that
struck her first with indignation and astonishment, then with grief and
dismay.
"What brings Mr. Ford here, do you suppose, mamma?" inquired Virginia,
in a sneering tone.
"What a question, Virginia, for a girl of your sense!" replied her
mother, "he's courting Elsie, of course. Isn't she a rich and beautiful
widow? I had almost added young, for she really looks hardly older than
her eldest daughter."
"Well, do you think he'll succeed?"
"Yes, I do; sooner or later. He is certainly a very attractive man, and
she can't be expected to live single all the rest of her days. But what
a foolish will that was of Travilla's--leaving everything in her hands!"
"Why, mamma?"
"Because Ford may get it all into his possession and make way with it by
some rash speculation. Men often do those things."
Violet was alone in a little summer-house in the garden, back of the
cottage, with a book. She had been very intent upon it until roused by
the sound of the voices of her aunt and cousin, who had been pacing up
and down the walk and now paused for an instant close to her, though a
thick growth of vines hid her from sight.
They moved on with Mrs. Conly's last word, and the young girl sprang to
her feet, her cheeks aflame, her eyes glittering, her small hand
clenched till the nails sank into the soft flesh. "How dare they talk so
of mamma! and papa too, dear, dear papa!" she exclaimed half aloud; then
her anger and grief found vent in a burst of bitter weeping as she cast
herself down upon the seat from which she had risen, and bowed her head
upon her hands.
The storm of feeling was so violent that she did not hear a light,
approaching footstep, did not know that any one was near until she felt
herself taken into loving arms that clasped her close, while her mamma's
sweet voice asked in tenderest tones, "my poor darling, what can have
caused you such distress?"
"Mamma, mamma, don't ask me! please don't ask me!" she cried, hiding her
blushing, tearful face on her mother's bosom.
"Has my dear Vi then secrets from her mother?" Elsie asked in tones of
half reproachful tenderness.
"Only because it would distress you to know, dearest mamma. Oh I could
not bear to hurt you so!" sobbed the poor girl.
"Still tell me, dearest" urged the mother. "Nothing could hurt me so
sorely as the loss of my child's confidence."
"Then mamma, I will; but oh don't think that I believe one word of it
all." Then with a little hesitation. "I think mamma, that I am not
doing wrong to tell you, though the words were not meant for my ear?"
"I think not, my dear child, since it seems it is something that
concerns both you and me."
The short colloquy had burnt itself into Violet's brain and she repeated
it verbatim.
It caused her loved listener a sharper pang than she knew or supposed.
Elsie was deeply hurt and for a moment her indignation waxed hot against
her ungrateful, heartless relations.
Then her heart sent up a strong cry for help to forgive even as she
would be forgiven.
But she must comfort Vi, and how vividly at this moment did memory
recall a little scene in her own early childhood when she was in like
sore distress from a similar fear, roused in very nearly the same
manner; and her father comforted her.
"Vi, darling," she said in quivering tones, and with a tender caress,
"it is altogether a mistake. And you need never fear anything of the
kind. Your beloved father is no more dead to me than though he were but
in the next room. His place is not now--can never be, vacant in either
my home or my heart. We are separated for time by 'the stream--the
narrow stream of death,' but when I, too, have crossed it, we shall be
together, never to part again."
THE END.
A LIST OF THE ELSIE BOOKS AND OTHER POPULAR BOOKS
BY MARTHA FINLEY
_ELSIE DINSMORE._
_ELSIE'S HOLIDAYS AT ROSELANDS._
_ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD._
_ELSIE'S WOMANHOOD._
_ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD._
_ELSIE'S CHILDREN._
_ELSIE'S WIDOWHOOD._
_GRANDMOTHER ELSIE._
_ELSIE'S NEW RELATIONS._
_ELSIE AT NANTUCKET._
_THE TWO ELSIES._
_ELSIE'S KITH AND KIN._
_ELSIE'S FRIENDS AT WOODBURN._
_CHRISTMAS WITH GRANDMA ELSIE._
_ELSIE AND THE RAYMONDS._
_ELSIE YACHTING WITH THE RAYMONDS._
_ELSIE'S VACATION._
_ELSIE AT VIAMEDE._
_ELSIE AT ION._
_ELSIE AT THE WORLD'S FAIR._
_ELSIE'S JOURNEY ON INLAND WATERS._
_ELSIE AT HOME._
_ELSIE ON THE HUDSON._
_ELSIE IN THE SOUTH._
_ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS._
_ELSIE'S WINTER TRIP._
_ELSIE AND HER LOVED ONES._
_MILDRED KEITH._
_MILDRED AT ROSELANDS._
_MILDRED'S MARRIED LIFE._
_MILDRED AND ELSIE._
_MILDRED AT HOME._
_MILDRED'S BOYS AND GIRLS._
_MILDRED'S NEW DAUGHTER._
_CASELLA._
_SIGNING THE CONTRACT AND WHAT IT COST._
_THE TRAGEDY OF WILD RIVER VALLEY._
_OUR FRED._
_AN OLD-FASHIONED BOY._
_WANTED, A PEDIGREE._
_THE THORN IN THE NEST._
* * * * * *
Transcriber's note:
Punctuation has been made consistent. Spelling, grammar and
hyphenation have been retained as they appear in the original
publication except as follows:
Page 9
here can't be another one, I'm very, evry _changed to_
there can't be another one, I'm very, very
Page 11
so useful and sinful a thing _changed to_
so useless and sinful a thing
Page 15
generous master and mistresss _changed to_
generous master and mistress
Page 55
so fair and spirituel _changed to_
so fair and spiritual
Page 98
pared not, because my papa _changed to_
dared not, because my papa
Page 102
Crudens' Concordance and other _changed to_
Cruden's Concordance and other
Page 144
strong attachment beween herself _changed to_
strong attachment between herself
Page 150
countanence, and her bright _changed to_
countenance, and her bright
Page 213
of the Lord is as trong _changed to_
of the Lord is a strong
Page 214
embassador of Christ is _changed to_
ambassador of Christ is
Page 233
gentlemen's wife among the rest _changed to_
gentleman's wife among the rest
Page 234
aint you _changed to_
ain't you
Page 244
enefit from his visit _changed to_
benefit from his visit
Page 264
al together they watched _changed to_
as together they watched
Page 284
Your bill of fair sounds _changed to_
Your bill of fare sounds
Page 285
which had not yet been freezer _changed to_
which had not yet been taken out of the freezer
Page 286
and as its more ... suppose its very _changed to_
and as it's more ... suppose it's very