It was a pleasant surprise to Lucilla to find Grandma Elsie and Walter
there, and to learn that they had come to stay several days. So it was
easy to avoid being left alone with Captain Keith, and there was no more
private talk between them. When the carriage drove up to take him to his
train she was on the veranda with the others, and he shook hands with
her in her turn, saying, "Good-bye, Miss Lu. I shall hope to hear from
your father that you are well and happy."
"Thank you; good-bye, and I wish you a safe journey," she said in reply,
but without lifting her eyes to his face.
Just as she was ready for bed her father came to her room to bid her
good-night as he so often did.
Taking her in his arms and looking searchingly into her eyes, "Is there
anything wrong with you--anything troubling you, daughter?" he asked
tenderly.
"Yes, papa," she said, colouring and dropping her eyes. "Oh, why did you
let Captain Keith talk to me of--of love, when you have so often told me
I was much too young to even think of such things?"
"Well, dear child," he said, "I knew it would be risking little or
nothing, as I was certain I had too large a place in your heart to leave
any room for him, but it seemed the only way to thoroughly convince him
of that was to let him try to push himself in there. And he did try?"
"Yes, papa; and when I told him you had forbidden me to listen to such
things, he said you had given him leave to speak about it to me; and
that surprised me more than his speaking. You didn't want me to say yes,
father?"
"No, daughter; no, indeed! I should not have let him speak if I had not
been very sure that my dear child loved me too well to leave me for him
or anybody else."
"Oh, I am so glad!" she exclaimed with a sigh of relief and laying her
head down on his breast, "though I couldn't believe that my dear father
wanted to be rid of me, or felt willing that I should love anybody else
better than I love him."
"No, dear daughter, you need never be afraid of that. But, now,
good-night. Go at once to your bed, for you are looking very weary."
She obeyed, slept sweetly and peacefully till her usual hour for rising,
and, as was her usual custom, joined her father in a stroll about the
grounds before the breakfast hour.
"How would you and Grace like to have your friends Eva and Sydney here
for a few days, daughter?" he asked as they paced along side by side.
"Oh, I think it would be very pleasant, papa!" she answered in a joyous
tone. "I know Gracie would like it, and I think Sydney would, too. Eva
always does. I believe she loves you almost as well as if you were her
father as well as ours."
"Ah! that is pleasant news for me," he said with a smile. "I am fond of
her, too, though, of course, not with just the fondness I feel for my
own children."
"Oh, I am glad you don't! I shouldn't want you to love her as well as
you do me. Will you invite the girls, papa?"
"Yes; we will call to them through the telephone after breakfast."
They did so, there was a joyful acceptance from each, and before the
dinner hour they had both arrived. Sydney had not gone with Maud and
Dick. It had been decided before the wedding that it would be better for
her to remain in a more northern region till fall, then go South to make
her home with her sister.
"I was glad of your invitation, captain," she said when he helped her
out of the carriage, "for I was finding it dreadfully lonesome without
my sister."
"Ah! so I suspected, as did my wife, and we thought it might relieve
your loneliness a little to spend a few days here with us."
"Yes; it was so kind," she responded, "so very kind! And you are here,
too, Cousin Elsie, and Walter! Oh, I am sure we are going to have a fine
time."
"Yes, indeed, I always do have the best of times here," said Evelyn;
"especially when Grandma Elsie and Walter add their attractions to
those of the Woodburn folks."
"We will all try to make it as delightful as we can," said Grace. "Papa
has kindly excused Lu and me from lessons while you stay; so we can busy
ourselves with fancy work or anything we like, when we are not driving
or walking; and we have some new books and periodicals that one can read
aloud while the rest are doing fancy work or whatever they please. We
can play games, too, so I think we will not lack for amusement."
"No, we never do, here," said Eva.
And they did not; time passed swiftly and pleasantly in the round of
occupations and amusements suggested by Grace. Friday and Saturday
soon slipped by, and Sunday came, bringing its sacred duties and
pleasures--religious services at home, at church, then the Sunday
schools, and after that the home Bible class, which all found so
pleasant. They gathered upon the veranda, each with a Bible in hand;
for even little Ned could now read fluently, and generally find the
references for himself.
"Will you not lead us to-day, mother?" asked the captain when all were
seated.
"No," she said with her pleasant smile, "I very much prefer to have that
burden borne by my son-in-law, Captain Raymond."
"And you wish him to select the subject?"
"Yes; he cannot fail to fix upon a good and interesting one."
"And how is it with you, my love?" he asked, turning to Violet.
"Suppose we take thanksgiving as our subject," she said; "we all have so
much, so very much, to be thankful for."
"Indeed we have!" he returned emphatically, "and I think no better
subject could be found. Neddie, my boy, can you tell papa something you
have to be thankful for?"
"Oh, yes, papa! eyes to see with, ears to hear with, hands and feet, and
that I can use them all; for I saw a boy the other day that can't walk
at all, though he has feet, but must lie on a bed or sit in a chair all
the time; while I can walk, and run, and jump whenever I want to."
"Yes, those are all great blessings," his father said. "And now, Elsie,
can you think of some others?"
"Oh, so many, papa! more than I can count," the little girl answered
earnestly. "A dear, kind father and mother, and grandma among them; and,
oh, so many dear relations besides; 'specially my sisters and brothers.
And I am so glad I was born in this Christian land and taught about God
and the dear Saviour; and have a Bible to read, and know that I may pray
to God, and that he will hear me and help me to be good--to love and
serve him. But, oh! I can't name all my blessings, papa, they are so
very, very many."
"That is very true, daughter," he replied; "and we can all say the same;
our blessings are more than we can count. But the best of all is the
gift of God's dear son. 'God so loved the world, that he gave his only
begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but
have everlasting life.' 'Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.'
'I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my
God while I have being.' So says the Psalmist, and surely we can all
echo his words from our very hearts. Mother, you seem to have selected
a passage. Will you please read it?"
"Yes," she said; "here in Corinthians where the apostle is speaking of
the sting of death and the victory over the grave, he cries exultingly,
'But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord
Jesus Christ.' Then he goes on, 'Therefore my beloved brethren be ye
steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord,
forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.'"
"Yes; and let us all heed that exhortation," said the captain. "Evelyn,
you seem to have a text ready. Will you please read it?"
"These words of Jesus," she said, "'I will not leave you comfortless; I
will come to you,' are they not words to be thankful for?"
"They are, indeed!" he said. "What can be more comforting than the
presence of the Master? His presence and his love. 'He that hath my
commandments and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that
loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will
manifest myself to him.' Ah! what is there more worthy to be thankful
for than the love of Christ! But when should we give thanks, Walter?"
"Always, sir. Here in Ephesians I read, 'Giving thanks always for all
things unto God the Father, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.' Again
in first Thessalonians, 'We give thanks to God always for you all,
making mention of you in our prayers.'"
Then Sydney, Lucilla, and Grace read in turn:
"'Unto thee, O God, do we give thanks, unto thee do we give thanks; for
that thy name is near thy wondrous works declare.'"
"'And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also ye are
called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in
you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms
and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the
Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the
Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.'"
"'Continue in prayer and watch in the same with thanksgiving.'"
They read, in turn, again and again, finding the Bible full of
exhortations to thanksgiving, then joined in singing hymns of
praise--not with their voices only, but with joy, and thankfulness in
their hearts because of the good gifts of God, both temporal and
spiritual, to them all.
So closed the Sabbath day, and after it followed a night of sweet sleep
and peaceful rest.
At the breakfast table the next morning Walter asked: "Where are we
going to spend our summer? Isn't it time to be thinking about it?"
The question seemed to be addressed to no one in particular. There was a
moment's silence; then the captain said:
"Suppose you give us your ideas and wishes on that subject, Walter."
"Well, I haven't much choice, sir; there are so many places that are
about equally agreeable to me. Anywhere with mother and the rest of
you."
"Then what place would you prefer, mother?" asked the captain.
"It is a question I have hardly considered yet," she replied. "Perhaps
it might be well to hold a family council on the subject."
"May I offer a suggestion?" asked Evelyn modestly, blushing as she
spoke.
"Certainly, my dear," said Mrs. Travilla.
"We will be glad to hear it," said the captain.
"Then it is that all who think they would find it agreeable will spend
at least a week or two with me in my cottage on the Hudson. It was
rented for a time, but is vacant now, and I want very much to be in it
for a while, yet certainly not alone."
"It is most kind in you to invite us, Evelyn, dear," said Mrs. Travilla,
"but our party would much more than fill it."
"Unless we should go in relays," laughed Violet; "perhaps it might be
managed in that way, if Eva is very desirous to have us there."
"And perhaps there are hotels in the vicinity where most of us could be
accommodated," said the captain. "We are much obliged for your
invitation, Eva, and will consider the question and talk it over with
the others who may choose to be of our party."
"Oh, I think it would be fun to go there!" exclaimed Sydney. "If I can
have my way, I'll pay you a little visit there, and pass the rest of the
time at the seashore."
"That is what I should like to do," said Lucilla.
"And I also," added Grace; "if papa and mamma approve, and would be with
us in both places."
"Of course I meant that," Lucilla hastened to say; "we would not half
enjoy ourselves without them; and the children," she added, glancing at
Elsie and Ned.
"It seems to me we're getting pretty big to be called that," said Ned a
little scornfully. "I'll be a man one of these days."
"Not quite that yet, little brother," laughed Lucilla.
The talk in regard to the summer's excursion was renewed after family
worship, as they all sat together upon the veranda. Various places were
talked of, various plans discussed, but nothing could be fully decided
upon without consultation with the other near relatives who might
decide to be of the party.
"Hello! here comes Doctor Herbert," exclaimed Walter, as a doctor's gig
turned in at the great gates and came driving rapidly up to the house.
"What is it, Doc?" springing up and hastening down the steps as the gig
halted before them.
"A letter for mother," answered Herbert, handing it to Walter as he
spoke. "Good-morning, mother, and all of you. You are looking well and
have no need of a doctor, I suppose?"
"Yes, we want a call from that one," said Violet. "Come in, won't you,
if it is for only five minutes?"
"Well, yes; since you are so urgent and I know of no urgent call for my
services elsewhere," answered Herbert, suiting the action to the word.
"Good-morning, my son," was his mother's smiling salutation, as he bent
down to give her an affectionate caress. "I suppose you want to hear
what Rosie has to say. I will just glance over her letter, then read
aloud whatever I think she would deem suitable for you all to hear."
It was a pleasant, cheerful letter; all seemed to be going right with
the young couple, they very happy in each other. They were at Niagara
Falls, expecting soon to leave there for some place on the Hudson, and
afterward to visit the seashore; but their plans were not yet definitely
arranged; nor would they be until Will's parents and Rosie's home
friends, intending to go North for the summer, were heard from in regard
to their plans and purposes.
"Well," said Herbert, when the reading of the letter was concluded, "I
think we will have to hold a family council, taking in the Crolys, and
decide those momentous questions. Right quickly, too, for the weather is
growing very warm, and if you all stay here our firm may have too much
to do."
"I think you are right, doctor," said the captain, "and lest you and
Harold and Arthur should be overworked, I intend to see that that
council is held promptly."
"Well, captain, suppose we appoint this evening as the time, and
Roselands as the place, as the Crolys are there, and not so able as the
rest of us to go about from place to place."
"That seems a very good plan," said his mother, "but I think it will not
be necessary for us all to attend. I prefer to leave the decision with
the gentlemen of our party. Can you go, Herbert?"
"To the family council, mother? Oh, yes!"
"That is well," she said with a smile, "but I meant can you go North
with us?"
"For a part of the time, I think; we three doctors can doubtless take
turns in having a vacation."
"You ought to, I think," said Violet. "Doctors certainly need rest as
much, or more, than most other people."
"Yes, they do, indeed!" said the captain; "they are, as a rule, very
much overworked, I think."
"Some of them hardly so much as they might like to be," laughed Herbert.
"You will be coming home soon, mother?" turning to her.
"Yes; probably to-morrow," she answered.
He chatted a little longer, then drove away. The young people presently
went off into the grounds, leaving Grandma Elsie, Violet, and the
captain still sitting in the veranda, they busied with their fancy work,
he looking over the morning paper.
"If you find anything very interesting, my dear, mamma and I will be
glad to hear it," said Violet.
"Yes," he said, "and here is something interesting, though far from
being pleasant news. Davis, one of the burglars whom Lucilla caught, has
escaped from prison; gone no one knows where, and may be even now
lurking in this neighbourhood. I must watch over my daughter or he may
attempt to do her some harm. At the time of the trial he seemed to feel
very revengeful toward her."
"Oh, that is dreadful!" cried Violet. "Indeed we must be watchful over
poor dear Lu. You will not tell her, Levis?"
"I think I shall," he said reflectively; "she will need to be careful
about venturing to a distance from the house, even within the grounds,
without a protector; therefore I must warn her and forbid her to run
any unnecessary risk. I hope it may not be long before the fellow will
be caught and returned to his prison."
"And I think it might be well for us to hasten our departure for the
North for her safety," said Violet. "She would be safer there, would she
not?"
"Probably," he replied, "and we will make haste to be off on that
account."
"Yes; I think you should, by all means," said her mother. "Anything that
I can do to assist your preparations, Vi, will be gladly done."
"I will set to work at once," exclaimed Violet.
"And I shall call my daughters in at once and set them about their
preparations," said the captain, throwing aside his paper and starting
even as he spoke.
The young people were much surprised by his summons and directions to
his daughters, but he did not go into a lengthened explanation; merely
said that he had decided to start northward in a day or two, and
necessary preparations must be made as promptly as possible.
His daughters were accustomed to rendering prompt and unquestioning
obedience to their father's commands, and did so now, though much
wondering at this sudden move.
Some hours later he called Lucilla aside and told her the whole story.
She turned pale for a moment, then, lifting fearless eyes to his,
"Father," she said, "don't be uneasy about me. I will trust in the Lord
and not be afraid; I will trust in his care and yours, and I shall be
safe. I am thinking of those sweet verses in the thirty-seventh Psalm,
'But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord: he is their strength
in the time of trouble. And the Lord shall help them and deliver them:
he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust
in him.'"
"Yes, dear child, trust in him and you will be safe," returned the
captain with emotion. "I shall not go over to Roselands this evening, as
I had intended, but will talk through the telephone to the friends
gathered there to discuss the questions when we shall start for the
North and in what spots locate ourselves for the summer."
He did so, and before they were through with their conference it was
decided that he, with his family, Evelyn, Sydney, Grandma Elsie, Walter,
and all the Lelands should at once pack up, and in two days start for
Eva's cottage on the Hudson.
Little preparation was needed but the packing of trunks; all were ready
at the set time, started away in good health and spirits, and,
travelling by rail, soon reached their destination; where we will leave
them for the present.
THE END.
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Transcriber's notes:
Punctuation normalized.
Page 65: the word "the" inserted: "with the results."
Page 155: "thing" changed to "think": "Don't you think so".
Page 197: "lead" changed to "led": "the minister led the exercises".
Page 264: "On" changed to "No": "No one need be".