* * * * *
My wife sits near me reading in the first reader as I pen these final
lines of my journal. 'Crombie's presence at the Lodge is easily
explained. The time had come for his annual trip to the great north
woods, and he determined to run down and surprise me before he left, and
see how I was getting along. He drove out from Cedarton, and arrived
just as Jeff Angel was leading Celeste up to the Lodge. Buck's club had
not struck her. When she saw his intention she had fainted from fright.
'Crombie's coming was opportune, for he has told me I would have died
without his ready help. I was in a pretty bad way.
I am happy to relate that I did not kill Buck Steele. Just how he
escaped destruction I cannot say, but the morning succeeding our awful
combat 'Crombie made a thorough search at the base of the peak, at my
suggestion, but found nothing. In some miraculous way the smith's life
was preserved, although this was contrary to my intent and purpose at
the time. But now, with my golden-haired Dryad here safe in my home, I
am glad. I had some trouble persuading Granny that this arrangement was
best, but Gran'fer stood by me valiantly and Father John also lent his
aid, so the matter was arranged peaceably. I asked the Satyr how he
managed to induce the runaways to come back, and the graceless rascal
informed me that he told them I had gone back home! A blessed lie, dear
Satyr!
I also questioned 'Crombie about the life-plant, for I had never been
quite easy on the subject.
"You found it and did not know it, my son," he said, his good, honest
face beaming. "Do you remember my description of it? Well, the vivid
green stem is the universal green of Nature's dress; the golden leaves
is the healing sunlight, and the flower--the cluster of clear little
globules, is the crystalline air and water of the untainted wild. I
deceived you in a way, my son, for it was all symbolical, but it was for
your good. Now I think I was hasty in my diagnosis, and that nothing was
wrong with you. Do you forgive me?"
He smiled upon me almost in a pathetic way.
"It was the best thing that could have happened to me!" I replied,
thinking that by it I had gained Celeste.
Now it comes to me that I have told my story and have never told my
name. Which goes to show that a name amounts to very little. But there
may be some curious readers who would be glad to know it, and for such I
do not mind declaring it.
It is Nicholas Jard.