"LIVE! LIVE!"--ANNIE'S APPEAL
Annie's swoon was so prolonged that both her aunt and Hunting were
alarmed. It was the reaction from the deep and peculiar excitement of
the last few days. Every power of mind and body had been under the
severest strain, and nature now gave way.
The doctor, when he came to make his morning call, was most welcome. He
said there was nothing alarming about Miss Walton's symptoms, but added
very decisively that she would need rest and quiet of mind for a long
time in order to regain her former tone and health.
When Annie revived he gave something that would tend to quiet her
nervous system and produce sleep.
"I now understand Mr. Walton's case," he said to Miss Eulie. "I could
not see why his severe cold, which he had apparently cured, should
result as it did. But now it's plain that it was complicated with heart
difficulties."
His visit to Gregory was not at all satisfactory, for his patient's
depression was so great that he was sinking under it. Mr. Walton's
death, leaving Annie defenceless, as it were, in the hands of a man
like Hunting, seemed another of the dark and cruel mysteries which to
him made up human life. The death that had given Daddy Tuggar such an
impulse toward faith and hope only led him to say with intense
bitterness, "God has forgotten His world, and the devil rules it."
"Mr. Gregory," said the physician, gravely, "do you know that you are
about the same as taking your own life? All the doctors in the world
cannot help you unless you try to live. Drugs cannot remove your apathy
and morbid depression."
"Very well, doctor," he replied; "do not trouble yourself to come any
more. I absolve you from all blame."
"But I cannot absolve myself. Besides, it's not manly to give up in
this style."
"I make no pretence of being manly or anything else. I am just what you
see. Can a broken reed stand up like a sturdy oak? Can such a thing as
I reverse fate? Thank you, doctor, for all you have done, but waste no
more time upon me. I knew, weeks ago, that the end was near, and I
would like to die in the old place."
The doctor looked at him a moment in deep perplexity, and then silently
left the room.
"Internal injuries that I can't get at," he muttered, as he drove away.
Miss Eulie came to Gregory's side, and laying her hand gently on his
brow said, "You are mistaken, my young friend. You are going to live."
"Why do you think so?" he asked.
"The dying often have almost prophetic vision;" and she told him all
that Mr. Walton had said, though nothing of the contemplated marriage.
She dwelt with special emphasis on the facts that he had told Annie to
be a sister to Gregory and had gone to heaven with the assurance to his
old friend that his son would join him there.
Gregory was strongly moved, and turning his face upon the pillow, gave
way to a passion of tears; but they were despairing, bitter, regretful
tears. He soon seemed ashamed of them, and when he again turned his
face toward Miss Eulie, it had a hard, stony look.
Almost with sternness he said, "If the dying have supernatural insight,
why could not Mr. Walton see what kind of a man Hunting is? Please
leave me now. I know how kind and well-meant your words are, but they
are mockery to me;" and he turned his face to the wall.
Miss Eulie sighed very deeply, but felt that his case was beyond her
skill.
Daddy Tuggar was at first grievously disappointed. He had wrought
himself up into the hope of a celestial scene, and the abrupt and quiet
termination of Mr. Walton's life seemed inadequate to the occasion. But
Miss Eulie comforted him by saying that "the Christian walked by faith,
and not by sight--that God knew what was best, better than we, His
little children.
"Death had not even the power to cause him a moment's pain," she said.
"God gave him a sweet surprise, by letting him through the gates before
he was aware."
Thus she led the strange old man to think it was for the best after
all. The Rev. Mr. Ames, who had come on such a different mission, also
tried to make clearer what Mr. Walton had said to him. But Daddy Tuggar
would not permit his mind to wander a moment from the simple truth,
which he kept saying over and over to himself, "I'm an awful sinner,
and the good Lord come after just such."
Another thing that greatly perplexed the old man was that Mr. Walton
had not been permitted to live long enough to see his daughter married.
As an old neighbor, and because of his strong attachment to Annie, he
had been invited to be present.
"'Pears to me that the Lord might have spared him a few minutes
longer," he said.
"It _appears_ to you so," replied Mr. Ames, "but the Lord _knows_ why
he did not."
"Well, parson," said Daddy Tuggar, "I thank you very kindly for what
you have said, but John Walton has done the business for me. I'm just
goin' to trust--I'm just goin' to let myself go limber and fall right
down on the Lord Jesus' word. I don't believe it will break with me.
Anyhow, it's all I can do, and John Walton told me to do it and I
allers found he was about right." And thus late in the twilight of life
the old man took his pilgrim's staff and started homeward.
As soon as Hunting recovered from his bitter disappointment and almost
superstitious alarm at the sudden thwarting of his purpose, his wily
and scheming mind fell to work on a new combination. If he still could
induce Annie to be married almost immediately, as he greatly hoped, all
would be well. If not, then he would assume that they were the same as
married, and at once take his place so far as possible at the head of
the household, in accordance with Mr. Walton's wish. On one hand, by
tender care and thoughtfulness for them all, he would place Annie under
the deepest obligation; on the other, he would gain, to the extent he
could, control of her affairs and property. In the latter purpose Mr.
Walton had greatly aided by naming him one of the executors of his
will; and only Miss Eulie, the sister-in-law, was united with him as
executrix. Thus he would substantially have his own way. Indeed, Mr.
Walton, in his perfect trust, meant that he should.
Having seen Annie quietly sleeping, he started for New York to make
arrangements for the funeral, and look after some personal matters that
had already been neglected too long.
His feelings on the journey were not enviable. He had enough faith to
fear God, but not to trust and obey. The thought recurred with
disheartening frequency, "If God is against this, He will thwart me
every time."
The day had closed in thick darkness and a storm before Annie awoke
from the deep sleep which the sedative had prolonged. Though weak and
languid, she insisted on getting up. Her aunt almost forced her to take
a little supper, and then she went instinctively and naturally to that
room which had always been a place of refuge, but which now was the
chamber of death.
She turned up the light that she might look at the dear, _dear_ face.
How calm and noble it was in its deep repose! It did not suggest
death--only peaceful sleep.
With a passionate burst of sorrow she moaned, "O father, let me sleep
beside you, and be at rest!"
Then she took his cold hand, and sat down mechanically to watch, as in
the days and nights just passed. But as she became composed and thought
grew busy, the deep peace of the sleeper seemed imparted to her. In
vivid imagination she followed him to the home and greetings that he
had so joyously anticipated. She saw him meet her mother and sister,
and other loved ones who had gone before. She saw him at his Saviour's
feet, blessed and crowned. She heard the wild storm raging without in
the darkness, and then thought of his words "There is no night there."
"Dear father," she murmured, "I would not call you back if I could. God
give me patience to come to you in His own appointed way."
Then she dwelt upon the strange events of the day. How near she had
come to being a wife! Why had she not become one? That the marriage
should have been so suddenly and unexpectedly prevented on the very eve
of consummation, caused some curious thoughts to flit through her mind.
"It is enough to know that it was God's will," she said; "and my future
is still in His hands. Poor Charles! it will be a disappointment to
him; and yet what difference will a few weeks or months make?"
Then her father's words, "Be a sister to Gregory," recurred to her, and
she reproached herself that she had so long forgotten him. "Father is
safe home," she said, "and I am leaving him to wander further and
further away. Father told me to be a sister to him, and I will. When he
gets well and strong, if he ever does, he will feel very differently;
and if he is to die (which God forbid), what more sacred duty can I
have than to plead with him and for him to the last?"
Pressing a kiss on her father's silent lips, she went to fulfil one of
their last requests. She first asked her aunt if it would be prudent to
visit Gregory. "I hardly know, Annie, what to say," said Miss Eulie, in
deep perplexity; and she told her what had occurred in relation to
Gregory, the doctor, and herself, omitting all reference to Hunting.
"If he is not roused out of his gloom and apathy, I fear he will die,"
concluded her aunt; "and if you can't rouse him, I don't know who can."
Annie gave her a quick, questioning glance.
"Yes, Annie, I understand," she said, quietly. "He received his worst
injury before the ladder fell."
"O aunty, what shall I do?"
"Indeed, my dear child, I can hardly tell you. You are placed in a
difficult and delicate position. Perhaps your father's words were
wisest, 'Be a sister to him.' At any rate, you have more power with him
than any one else, and you owe it to him to do all you can to save him."
"I am ready to do anything, aunty, for it seems as if I could never be
happy if he should die an unbeliever."
Annie stole noiselessly to Gregory's side, and motioned to the young
man who was in charge to withdraw to the next room. Gregory was still
asleep. She sat down by him and was greatly shocked to see how
emaciated and pale he was. It seemed as if he had suffered from an
illness of weeks rather than days.
"He will die," she murmured, with all her old terror at the thought
returning. "He will die, and for me. Though innocent, I shall always
feel that his blood is upon me;" and she buried her face in her hands,
and her whole frame shook with a passion of grief.
Her emotion awoke him, and he recognized with something like awe the
bowed head at his side.
Her grief for her father, as he supposed it to be, seemed such a sacred
thing! And yet he could not bear to see her intense sorrow. His heart
ached to comfort her, but what words of consolation could such as he
offer? Still, had she not come to him as if for comfort? This thought
touched him deeply, and he almost cursed his unbelieving soul that made
him dumb at such a time. What could he say but miserable commonplaces
in regard to a bereavement like hers?
He did not say anything, but merely reached out his hand and gently
stroked her bowed head.
Then she knew he was awake, and she took his hand and bowed her head
upon it.
"Miss Walton," he said, in a husky voice, "it cuts me to the heart to
see you grieve so. But, alas! I do not know how to comfort you, and I
can't say trite words which mean nothing. After losing such a father as
yours, what can any one say?"
She raised her head and said, impetuously, "It's not for father I am
grieving. He is in heaven--he is not lost to me. It's for you--you. You
are breaking my heart."
"Miss Walton," he began, in much surprise, "I don't understand--"
"Why don't you understand?" she interrupted. "What do you think I am
made of? Do you think that you can lie here and die for me and I go
serenely on? Do you not see that you would blight the life you have
saved?"
His apathy was gone now. But he was bewildered, so sudden and
overpowering was her emotion. He only found words to say, "Miss Walton,
God knows I am yours, body and soul. What can I do?"
"Live! live!" she continued, with the same passionate earnestness. "I
impose no conditions, I ask nothing else. Only get well and strong
again. If you will do this, I have such confidence in your better
nature, and the many prayers laid up for you, as to feel sure that all
will come out right. But if you will just lie here and die, you will
imbitter my life. What did the doctor tell you this morning? And yet I
shall feel that I am partly the cause. O, Mr. Gregory, you may think me
foolish, but that strange little omen of the chestnut burr is in my
mind so often! I never was superstitious before, but it haunts me.
Don't you remember how you stained my hand with your blood? I can't get
it out of my mind, and it has for me now a strange significance. If I
had to remember through coming years that you died for me all hopeless
and unbelieving, do you think so poorly of me as to imagine I could be
happy? Why can't you be generous enough to brighten the life you have
saved? Among my father's last words he said I must be a sister to you.
How can I if you die? You would make this dear old place, that we both
love, full of terrible memories."
He was deeply moved, and after a moment said, "I did not know that you
felt in this way. I thought the best thing that I could do was to get
out of the world and out of the way. I thought I knew you, but I do not
half understand your large, generous heart. For your sake I will try
and get well, nor will I impose any conditions whatever. But pardon me:
I am going to ask one thing, which you can grant or not as you choose.
Please do not wrong me by thinking that I have any personal end in
view. I have given all that up as truly as if I were dead. I ask that
you do not speedily marry Charles Hunting--not till you are sure you
know him."
"O dear!" exclaimed Annie, in real distress, "this dreadful quarrel!
What trouble it makes all around!"
"If your father," continued Gregory, with grave earnestness, "told you
to be a sister to me, then I have some right to act as a brother toward
you. But as an honest man, with all my faults, and with your interests
nearest my heart, I entreat you to heed my request. Nay, more: I am
going to seem ungenerous, and refer for the first and last time to the
obligation you are under to me. By all the influence I gained by that
act, I beg of you to hesitate before you marry Charles Hunting. Believe
me, I would not lay a straw in the way of your marrying a good man."
"Your words pain me more than I can tell you," said Annie, sadly. "I do
not understand them. Once they would have angered me. But, however
mistaken you are, I cannot do injustice to your motive.
"I do not see how your request can injure Charles," she continued,
musingly. "I have no wish to marry now for a long time--not till these
sad scenes have faded somewhat from memory. If you will only promise to
live I will not marry him till you get strong and well--till you can
look upon this matter as a man--as a brother ought. But your hostility
must not be unreasonable or implacable. I _know_ you do Mr. Hunting
great injustice. And yet such is my solicitude for you that I will do
what seems to me almost disloyal. But I know that I owe a great deal to
you as well as Charles."
"What I ask is for your sake, not mine. I only used the obligation as a
motive."
"Well," said Annie, "I yield; and surely a sister could do no more than
I have done to-night."
"And I have simply done my duty," he answered, quietly. "And yet I
thank you truly. You also may see the time when you will thank me more
than when I interposed my worthless person between you and danger."
"Please never call yourself 'worthless' to me again. We never did
agree, and I fear we shall be gray before we do. But mark this: I am
never going to give you up, whatever happens. I shall obey dear
father's last words from both duty and inclination. But let us end this
painful conversation. What have you eaten to-day?"
"I'm sure I don't know," he said.
"Will you eat something if I bring it?"
"I will do anything you ask."
"Now you give me hope," and she vanished, sending the regular watcher
back to his post.
Gregory found it no difficult task to eat the dainty little supper she
brought. She had broken the malign spell he was under. As we have seen,
his was a physical nature peculiarly subject to mental conditions.
Soon after she said, in a low tone meant only for his ear, "Good-night,
my poor suffering brother. We all three shall understand each other
better in God's good time."
"I hope so," he said, with a different meaning. "You have made me feel
that I am not alone and uncared for in the world, though I cannot call
you sister yet. Good-night."
Annie went back to her father's side, and remained till her aunt almost
forced her away.
It is not necessary to dwell on the events of the next few days. Such
is our earthly lot, nearly all can depict them by recalling their own
sad experience: the hushed and solemn household, even the children
speaking low and treading softly, as if they might awake one whom only
"the last trump" could arouse.
John Walton's funeral was no formal pageant, but an occasion of sincere
and general mourning. Even those whose lives and characters were the
opposite of his had the profoundest respect for him, and the entire
community united in honoring his memory.
Perhaps the most painful time of all to the stricken family was the
evening after their slow, dreary ride to the village cemetery. Then, as
not before, they realized their loss.
Annie felt that her best solace would be in trying to cheer others. She
had seen Gregory but seldom and briefly since the interview last
described, but had been greatly comforted by his decided change for the
better. He had kept his word. Indeed, it was only the leaden hand of
despondency that kept him down, and he rallied from the moment it was
lifted. This evening he was dressed and sitting by the fire. As she
entered, in her deep mourning, his look was so wistful and kind, so
eloquent with sympathy, that instead of cheering him, as she had
intended, she sat down on a low ottoman, and burying her face in her
hands, cried as if her heart would break.
"Oh that I knew how to comfort you!" said Gregory, in the deepest
distress. "I cannot bear to see you suffer."
He rose with difficulty and came to her side, saying, "What can I do,
Miss Walton? Would that I could prevent you, at any cost to myself,
from ever shedding another tear!"
His sympathy was so true and strong that it was a luxury for her to
receive it; and she had kept up so long that tears were nature's own
relief.
At last he said timidly, hesitatingly, as if venturing on forbidden
ground, "I think the Bible says that in heaven all tears will be wiped
away. Your father is surely there."
"Would that I were there with him!" she sobbed.
"Not yet, Annie, not yet," he said, gently. "Think how dark this world
would be to more than one if you were not in it."
"But will you never seek this dear home of rest?" she asked.
"The way of life is closed to me," he said, sadly.
"O, Mr. Gregory! Who is it that says, 'I am the way?'"
"But He says to me, 'Depart.'"
"And yet I, knowing all--I, a weak, sinful creature like yourself--say,
Come to Him. I am better and kinder than He who died for us all! What
strange, sad logic! Good-night, Walter. You will not always so wrong
your best Friend."
Gregory's despairing conviction that his day of mercy was past was
hardly proof against her words and manner, but he was in thick darkness
and saw no way out.
Annie went down to her aunt and Hunting in the parlor. "Why will Mr.
Gregory be so hard and unbelieving?" she said, tearfully.
"If you knew him as well as I do you would understand," said Hunting,
politicly, and then changed the conversation.
He was consumed by a jealousy which he dared not show. Annie's manner
toward him was all that he could ask, and he felt sure of her now. But
it was the future he dreaded, for he was satisfied that Gregory had
formed an attachment for Annie, whether she knew it or not, and, unless
he could secure her by marriage, the man he had wronged might find
means of tearing off his mask. With desperate earnestness he resolved
to press his suit.
His course since Mr. Walton's death had been such as to win Annie's
sincerest gratitude. When action rather than moral support was
required, he was strong, and no one could be more delicately thoughtful
of her feelings and kinder than he had been.
"Dear Charles," said Annie, when they were alone. "What should I have
done without you in all these dreary days! How you have saved me from
all painful contact with the world!"
"And so I ever wish to shield you," said Hunting. "Will you not, as
your father purposed, give me the right at once?"
"You have the right, Charles. I ask no more than you have done and are
doing. But do not urge marriage now. I yielded then for father's sake,
not my own. My heart is too sore and crushed to think of it now. After
all, what difference can a few months make to you? Be generous. Give me
a respite, and I will make you a better wife and a happier home."
"But it looks, Annie, as if you could not trust me," he said, gloomily.
"No, Charles," she said, gravely, "it looks rather as if you distrusted
me; and you must learn to trust me implicitly. Out of both love for you
and justice to myself, I exercise my woman's right of naming the day.
In the meantime I give you my perfect confidence. No words of
others--nothing but your own acts can disturb it, and of this I have no
fear."
He did not seek to disguise his deep disappointment. While she felt
sorry for him, she remained firm, and he saw that it would not be wise
to urge her.
Annie would not carelessly give pain to any one, much less to those she
loved. And yet her mind was strong and well-balanced. She knew it was
no great misfortune to Hunting to wait a few months when her own
feelings and the duty she owed another required it. "When Mr. Gregory
gets strong and well and back to business," she thought, "he will
wonder at himself. I have no right almost to destroy him now in his
weakness by doing that which can be done better at another time; and
indeed, for my own sake, I should have required delay."
The next day Hunting was reluctantly compelled to go to the city.
Somewhat to Annie's surprise, Gregory made no effort to secure her
society. In her frank, sisterly regard she was slow in understanding
that her presence caused regretful pain to him. But he seemed
resolutely bent upon getting well, and was gaining rapidly. He walked
out a little while during the middle of the day, and her eyes followed
him wistfully as he moved slowly and feebly along the garden walk. She
saw, with quickly starting tears, that he went to the rustic seat by
the brook where they had spent that memorable Sunday afternoon, and
that he stood in long, deep thought.
When he came back she offered to read to him.
"Not now--not yet," he said, sadly. "I know my own weakness, and would
be true to my word."
"Why do you shun me?" she asked.
"May you never understand from experience," he said with a smile that
was sadder than tears, and passed on up to his room.
And yet, though he did not know it, his course was the best policy, for
it awakened stronger respect and sympathy on her part.
The next morning ushered in the first of the dreamy Indian-summer days,
when Nature, as if grieved over the havoc of the frost, would hide the
dismantled trees and dead flowers by a purple haze, and seek as do
fading beauties to disguise the ravages of time by drawing over her
withered face a deceptive veil.
Gregory felt so much better that he thought he could venture to make a
parting call on Daddy Tuggar. He found the old man smoking on his
porch, and his reception was as warm and demonstrative as his first had
been a month ago, though of a different nature. Gregory lighted a cigar
and sat down beside him.
"I'm wonderful glad to see you," said Mr. Tuggar. "To think that I
should have cussed you when it was the good Lord that brought you here!"
"Do you think so?" asked Gregory.
"Certain I do. Would that house be there? Wouldn't all our hearts be
broke for Miss Annie if it wasn't for you?"
Gregory felt that his heart was "broke" for her as it was, but he said,
"It was my taking her out to walk that caused her danger. So you
wouldn't have lost her if I had not come."
"You didn't knowin'ly git her in danger, and you did knowin'ly git her
out, and that's enough for me," said the old man.
"Well, well, Mr. Tuggar, if I had broken my neck it would have been a
little thing compared with saving the life of such a woman as Miss
Walton. Still, I fear the Lord has not much to do with me."
"And have you been all this time with John Walton and Miss Annie and
still feel that way?"
"It's not their fault."
"I believe that. Are you willin' to say you are a great sinner?"
"Of course. What else am I?"
"That's it--that's it," cried the old man, delightedly. "Now you're all
right. That's just where I was. When John Walton bid me good-by, he
asked me one question that let more light into my thick head than all
the readin' and preachin' and prayin' I ever heard. He asked, 'Whom did
Jesus Christ come to save?' Answer that."
"The Bible says He came to save sinners," replied Gregory, now deeply
interested.
"Well, I should think that meant you and me," said Mr. Tuggar,
emphatically. "Anyhow, I know it means me. John Walton told me that all
I had to do was to just trust the Saviour--not of good people--but of
sinners, and do the best I could; and I have just done it, and I'm all
right, Mr. Gregory, I'm all right. I don't know whether I can stop
swearin', but I'm a tryin'. I don't know whether I can ever get under
my old ugly temper, but I'm a tryin' and a prayin'. But whether I can
or not, I'm all right, for the good Lord came to save sinners; and if
that don't mean me, what's the use of words?"
"But can you trust Him?" asked Gregory.
"Certain I can. Wasn't John Walton an honest man? Wasn't Jesus Christ
honest? Didn't he know what He come for?"
"Admitting that He came to save sinners, how can you be sure He will
save all? He might save you and not me."
"Well," said Mr. Tuggar, "I hadn't been home long before that question
come up to me, and I thought on it a long time. I smoked wellnigh a
hundred pipes on it afore I got it settled, but 'tis settled, and when
I settle a thing I don't go botherin' back about it. But like enough
'twon't satisfy you."
"At any rate, I should like to hear your conclusion."
"Well, I argued it out to myself. I says, 'Suppose there's some sinners
too bad, or too somethin' or other, for the Lord to save, and suppose
you are one of them, ain't ''lected,' as my wife says. If I could be an
unbelievin' sinner for eighty years, it seemed to me that if anybody
wasn't 'lected I wasn't. I was dreadfully down, I tell yer, for I'd set
my heart on bein' John Walton's neighbor again. After I'd smoked a good
many pipes, I cussed myself for an old fool. 'There, you've brought
your case into court,' I says, 'and you're goin' to give it up afore
it's argued.' Then I argued it. I was honest, you may be sure. It
wouldn't do me any good to pettifog in this matter. First I says, if
there was any doubt about the Lord savin' all sinners who wanted Him
to, John Walton orter have spoken of it, and from what I know of the
man he would. Then I says, arter all, it's the Lord I've got to deal
with. Now what kind of a Lord is He? Then I commenced rememberin' all
that Miss Eulie and Miss Annie had read to me about Him, and all I'd
heard, and I got my wife to read some, and my hopes grew every minute.
I tell you what, Mr. Gregory, it was a queer crowd He often had around
Him. I'd kinder felt at home among 'em, 'specially with that swearin'
fisherman Peter.
"Well, the upshot of it was, I couldn't find that He ever turned one
sinner away. Then why should He me? Then my wife, as she was readin',
come across the words, 'Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast
out.' I had heard them words afore often, but it seemed now as the
first time, and I just shouted, 'I've got His word for it,' and my wife
thought I was crazy, sure 'nuff, for she didn't know what I was drivin'
at. And now, Mr. Gregory, you're just shut up to two things, just two
things. Either the Lord Jesus will save every sinner that comes to Him,
or he ain't honest, and don't mean what he says, and won't do as he
used to. I tell yer I'm settled, better settled than yonder mountain. I
just let myself go limber right down upon the promise, and it's all
right. I'm going to be John Walton's neighbor again."
Gregory was more affected by the old man's quaint talk than he would
have believed possible. It seemed true that he was "shut up" to one or
the other of the alternatives presented. He commenced pacing up and
down the little porch in deep thought. Mr. Tuggar puffed away at his
pipe with such vigor that he was exceedingly beclouded, however clear
his mind. At last Gregory said, "I shall think over what you have said,
very carefully, for I admit it has a great deal of force to my mind."
"That's right," said Mr. Tuggar; "argue it out, just as I did. Show
yourself no favors, and be fair to yourself, and you can't get away
from my conclusion. You've got to come to it."
"I should be very glad to come to it," said Gregory, gravely.
"I should think you would. There'll be some good neighbors up there,
Mr. Gregory; these Waltons are all bound to be there. Miss Annie would
be kinder good company--eh, Mr. Gregory?"
In spite of himself he flushed deeply under the old man's keen scrutiny.
"There's one thing that's mighty 'plexing to me," said Mr. Tuggar, led
to the subject by its subtle connection with Gregory's blush, "and
that's why the Lord didn't keep John Walton alive a few minutes longer,
so that the marriage could take place."
Gregory gave a great start. "What marriage?" he asked.
"Why, don't you know about it?" said Mr. Tuggar, in much surprise.
"No, nothing at all."
"Then perhaps I ortn't ter speak of it."
"Certainly not, if you don't think it right."
"Well, I've said so much I might as well say it all," said the old man,
musingly. "It's no secret, as I knows of;" and he told Gregory how near
Annie came to being a wife.
Gregory drew a long breath and looked deathly pale and faint.
"Well, now, I'd no idea that you'd be so struck of a heap," said the
old man, in still deeper surprise.
"God's hand was in that," murmured Gregory; "God's hand was in that."
"Do you think so, now? Well, it does seem kinder cur'us, and per'aps it
was, for somehow I never took to that Hunting, though he seems all
right."
"Good-by, Mr. Tuggar," said Gregory, rising; "you have given me a good
deal to think about, and I'm going to think, and act, too, if I can. I
am going to New York to-morrow, and one of the first things I do will
be to fill your pipe for a long time;" and he pressed the old man's
hand most cordially.
"Let yourself go limber when you come to trust, and it will be all
right," were Daddy Tuggar's last words, as he balanced himself on his
crutches in parting.
Gregory found Annie in the parlor, and he said, "I have good news for
you; Daddy Tuggar is a Christian."
Annie sprang joyfully up and said, "I'm going over to see him at once."
When she returned, Gregory was quietly reading in the parlor, showing
thus that he had no wish to avoid her.
She came directly to him and said, "Daddy Tuggar says that you propose
going home to-morrow."
"Well, really, Miss Walton, I have no home to go to; but I expect to
return to the city."
"Now I protest against it."
"I'm glad you do."
"Then you won't go?"
"Yes, I must; but I'm glad you don't wish me to go"
"Why need you go yet? You ought not. You should wait till you are
strong."
"That is just why I go--to get _strong_. I never could here, with you
looking so kindly at me as you do now. You see I am as frank as I
promised to be. So please say no more, for you cannot and you ought not
to change my purpose."
"O dear!" cried Annie, "how one's faith is tried! Why need this be so?"
"On the contrary," he said, "what little faith I ever had has been
quite revived this afternoon. Daddy Tuggar has been 'talking religion'
to me, and, pardon me for saying it, I found his words more convincing
than even yours."
"I am not jealous of him," said Annie, gladly.
"I can't help thinking that God does see and care, in that He prevented
your marriage."
Annie blushed deeply, and said, coldly, "I am sorry you touched upon
that subject," and she left the room.
Gregory went quietly on with his reading, or seemed to do so. Indeed,
he made a strong effort, and succeeded, for he was determined to master
himself outwardly.
She soon relented and came back. When she saw him apparently so
undisturbed, the thought came to her, "He has truly given me up. There
is nothing of the lover in that calmness, and he makes no effort to win
my favor," but she said, "Mr. Gregory, I fear I hurt your feelings. You
certainly did mine. I cannot endure the injustice you persist in doing
Mr. Hunting."
"I only repeat your own words, 'We all three shall understand each
other in God's good time'; and after what I heard to-day, I have the
feeling that He is watching over you."
"Won't you promise not to speak any more on this subject?"
"Yes, for I have done my duty."
She took up his book and read to him, thus giving one more hour of
mingled pain and pleasure; though when he thought how long it would be
before he heard that sweet voice again, if ever, his pain almost
reached the point of anguish. As she turned toward him and saw his look
of suffering, she realized somewhat the effort he had made to keep up
before her.
She came to him and said, "I was about to ask a favor, but perhaps it's
hardly right."
"Ask it, anyway," he said, with a smile.
"I don't urge it, but I expect Mr. Hunting this evening. Won't you come
down to supper and meet him?"
"For your sake I will, now that I have gained some self-control. I am
not one to quarrel in a lady's parlor under any provocation. For your
sake I will treat Mr. Hunting like a gentleman, and make my last
evening with you as little of a restraint as possible."
"Thank you--thank you. You now promise to make it one of peculiar
happiness."
Annie drove to the depot for Hunting, and told of Gregory's consent to
meet him. She said, "Now is your opportunity, Charles. Meet him in such
a way as to make enmity impossible."
His manner was not very reassuring, but, in his pleasure at hearing
that Gregory was soon to depart, and that in his absence Annie's
confidence in him had not been disturbed, he promised to do the best he
could. She was nervously excited as the moment of meeting approached,
and, somewhat to her surprise, Hunting seemed to share her uneasiness.
Gregory did not come down till the family were all in the supper-room.
Annie was struck with his appearance as he entered. Though his left arm
was in a sling, there was a graceful and almost courtly dignity in his
bearing, a brilliancy in his eyes and a firmness, about his mouth,
which proved that he had nerved himself for the ordeal and would
maintain himself. Instantly she thought of the time when he had first
appeared in that room, a half-wrecked, blase man of the world. Now he
looked and acted like a nobleman.
Hunting, on the contrary, had a shuffling and embarrassed manner; but
he approached Gregory and held out his hand, saying, "Come, Mr.
Gregory, let by-gones be by-gones."
But Gregory only bowed with the perfection of distant courtesy, and
said, "Good-evening, Mr. Hunting," and took his seat.
Both Hunting and Annie blushed deeply and resentfully. After they were
seated, Annie looked toward Hunting to say "grace" as usual, but he
could not before the man who knew him so well, and there was another
moment of deep embarrassment, while a sudden satirical light gleamed
from Gregory's eyes. Annie saw it, and it angered her.
Then Gregory broke the ice with quiet, well-bred ease. In natural tones
he commenced conversation, addressing now one, now another, in such a
way that they were forced to answer him in like manner. He asked
Hunting about the news and gossip of the city as naturally as if they
had met that evening for the first time. He even had pleasant repartee
with Johnny and Susie, who had now come to like him very much, and his
manner toward Miss Eulie was peculiarly gentle and respectful, for he
was deeply grateful to her. Indeed, that good lady could scarcely
believe her eyes and ears; but Gregory had always been an enigma to
her. At first he spoke to Annie less frequently than to any one else,
for he dreaded the cloud upon her brow and her outspoken truthfulness,
and he was determined the evening should pass off as he had planned.
Though so crippled that his food had to be prepared for him, he only
made it a matter of graceful jest, and gave ample proof that a highly
bred and cultivated man can be elegant in manners under circumstances
the most adverse.
Even Annie thawed and relented under his graceful tact, and felt that
perhaps he was doing all she could expect in view of the simple promise
to "treat Hunting like a gentleman, for her sake." But it had pained
her deeply that he had not met Hunting's advances; and she saw that,
though perfectly courteous, he was not committing himself in the
slightest degree toward reconciliation.
Moreover, she was excessively annoyed that Hunting acted so poor a
part. It is as natural for a woman to take pride in her lover as to
breathe, but she could have no pride in Hunting that evening. He seemed
annoyed beyond endurance with both himself and Gregory, though he
strove to disguise it. He knew that he was appearing to disadvantage,
and this increased his embarrassment, and he was most unhappy in his
words and manner. Yet he could take exception at nothing, for Gregory,
secure in his polished armor, grew more brilliant and entertaining as
he saw his adversary losing ground.
All were glad when he supper-hour was over and they could adjourn to
the parlor. Here Gregory changed his tactics, and drawing the children
aside, told them a marvellous tale as a good-by souvenir, thus causing
them to feel deep regret for his departure. He next drew Miss Eulie
into an animated discussion upon a subject he knew her to be interested
in. From this he made the conversation general, and continued to speak
to Hunting as naturally as if there were no differences between them.
But all saw that he was growing very weary, and early in the evening he
quietly rose and excused himself, saying that he needed rest for his
journey on the morrow. There was the same polite, distant bow to
Hunting as at first, and in deep disappointment Annie admitted that
nothing had been gained by the interview from which she had hoped so
much. They were no nearer reconciliation. While Gregory's manner had
compelled respect and even admiration, it had annoyed her excessively,
for he had made her lover appear to disadvantage, and she was almost
vexed with Hunting that he had not been equal to the occasion. She was
sorry that she had asked Gregory to come down while Hunting was
present, and yet courtesy seemed to require that he should be with
them, since he was now sufficiently well. Altogether it was a silent
little group that Gregory left in the parlor, as all were busy with
their own thoughts.
Hunting determined to remain the following day and see Gregory off and
out of the way forever, he hoped.
The next morning Gregory did not come down to breakfast. But at about
ten o'clock he started for a short farewell stroll about the old place.
Annie joined him in the garden.
"I do not think you were generous last evening," she said. "Mr. Hunting
met you half-way."
"Did I not do just what I promised?"
"But I was in hopes you would do more, especially when the way was
opened."
"Do you think, Miss Walton, that Mr. Hunting's manner and feelings
toward me were sincerely cordial and friendly? Was it the prompting of
his heart, or your influence, that led him to put out his hand?"
Annie blushed, in conscious confusion. "I fear I shall never reconcile
you," she said, sadly.
"I fear not," he replied. "There must be a great change in us both
before you can. Though the reason I give you was a sufficient one for
not taking his hand in friendly feeling, it was not the one that
influenced me. I would not have taken it under any circumstances."
"Mr. Gregory, you grieve me most deeply," she said, in a tone of real
distress. "Won't you, when you come to part, take his hand for my sake,
and let a little of the ice thaw?"
"No," he said, almost sternly; "not even for your sake, for whom I
would die, will I be dishonest with myself or him; and you are not one
to ask me to act a lie."
"You wound me deeply, sir!" she said, coldly.
"Faithful are the wounds of a friend," he replied. She did not answer.
"We shall not part in this way, Annie," he said, in a low, troubled
voice.
"The best I can do is to give you credit for very mistaken sincerity,"
she answered, sadly.
"That is all now, I fear," replied he, gently. "Good-by, Annie Walton.
We are really parting now. My mission to you is past, and we go our
different ways. You will never believe anything I can say on this
painful subject, and I would not have spoken of it again of my own
accord. Keep your promise to me, and all will yet be well, I believe.
As that poor woman who saved us in the mountains said, 'There will at
least be one good thing about me. Whether I can pray for myself or not,
I shall daily pray for you'; and I feel that God who shielded you so
strangely once, will still guard you. Do not grieve because I go away
with pain in my heart. It's a better kind of suffering than that with
which I came, and lasting good may come out of it, for my old reckless
despair is gone. If I ever do become a good man--a Christian--I shall
have you to thank; and even heaven would be happier if you were the
means of bringing me there."
"When you speak that way, Walter," she said, tears starting to her
eyes, "I must forgive everything; and when you become a Christian you
will love even your enemy. Please take this little package from me, but
do not open it till you reach the quiet and seclusion of your own
rooms. Good-by, my brother, for as such my father told me to act and
feel toward you, and from my heart I obey."
He looked at her with moistened eyes, but did not trust himself to
answer, and without another word they returned to the house.
Gregory's leave-taking from the rest of the household was no mere form.
Especially was this true of Miss Eulie, to whom he said most feelingly,
"Miss Morton, my mother could not have been kinder or more patient with
me."
When he pressed Zibbie's hand and left a banknote in it, she broke out
in the broadest Scotch, "Maister Gregory, an' when I think me auld gray
head would ha' been oot in the stourm wi' na hame to cover it, I pray
the gude God to shelter yours fra a' the cauld blasts o' the wourld."
Silent Hannah, alike favored, seemed afflicted with a sudden attack of
St. Vitus's dance, so indefinite was the number of her courtesies;
while Jeff, on the driver's seat, looked as solemn as if he were to
drive Gregory to the cemetery instead of the depot.
At the moment of final parting, Gregory merely took Annie's hand and
looked into her eyes with an expression that caused them speedily to
droop, tear-blinded.
To Hunting he had bowed his farewell in the parlor.
When the last object connected with his old home was hidden from his
wistful, lingering gaze, he said, with the sorrow of one who watches
the sod placed above the grave of his dearest, "So it all ends."
But when in his city apartments, which never before had seemed such a
cheerless mockery of the idea of home, he opened the package Annie had
given him--when he found a small, worn Bible, inscribed with the words,
"To my dear little daughter Annie, from mother," and written beneath,
in a child's hand, "I thank you, dear mother. I will read it every
day"--he sprang up, and exclaimed it strongest feeling, "No, all has
not ended yet."
When he became sufficiently calm he again took up the Bible, and found
the leaves turned down at the 14th chapter of St. John, with the words,
"Begin here."
He read, "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe
also in me.
"In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would
have told you. I go to prepare a place for you."
"How sweetly--with what exquisite delicacy--she points me beyond the
shadows of time!" he said, musingly. "I believe in God. I ever have.
Then why not _trust_ the 'Man of Sorrows,' who also must be God? Both
Annie and her quaint old friend are right. He never turned one away who
came sincerely. In Him who forgave the outcast and thief there glimmers
hope for me. How thick the darkness as I look elsewhere. Lord Jesus,"
he cried, with a rush of tears, "I am palsied through sin: lift me up,
that I may come to Thee."
Better for him that night than a glowing hearth with genial friends
around it was Annie's Bible.
Looking at it fondly, he said, "It links me to her happy childhood
before that false man came, and it may join me to her in the 'place'
which God is preparing, when he who now deceives her is as far removed
as sin."