The storm was over and the rain drops on tree, shrub and flower,
glittered like untold wealth of diamonds in the bright rays of
the newly risen sun, as Clendenin and Nell walked down the street
together.
There was nothing in the looks or manner of either to excite
curiosity or suspicion in those who saw them pass.
He left her at her brother's door with a half playful order, not from
the lover but the physician, to take some breakfast and go directly
to bed and to sleep.
"I shall not promise," she answered saucily, lifting a a pair of
bright, roguishly smiling eyes to his face, "I have not resigned my
liberty yet, you know."
"Ah well, I think I may count on obedience," he said with the grave,
tender smile that had first won her heart.
"I want you to rest all day and let me come to you this evening," he
whispered, bending down to speak close to her ear, "I have much to
tell you, my darling. You have a right to know what so long prevented
my lips from repeating the story you must have read a thousand times
in my eyes, if they spoke the true language of my heart."
"Never mind, I am quite content without the knowledge if, as your
face seems to say, it is something painful," she said with generous
confidence, and sudden gravity of looks and tone.
"Nay, dearest, you shall hear it. I will have no secrets from her who
is to be 'bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh,' the nearest and
dearest of all created beings," he said, lifting her hands to his
lips.
Her eyes filled with happy, grateful tears, as from the vine covered
porch where they had had their chat, she watched him hurrying away
down the street, then turned and went into the house.
"Was that Dr. Clendenin?" asked Clare, meeting her in the hall.
"Yes."
"Why didn't he come in and take breakfast with us?"
"I didn't ask him."
"You didn't? Nell Lamar, I'm ashamed of your rude behavior to that
man! If he treats you henceforward with the coldest politeness, I am
sure it will be no more than you deserve."
A curious smile trembled about the corners of Nell's lips for an
instant, then was gone.
"Flora has passed the crisis," she remarked, "and the doctor says
will get well if she has proper care."
"Oh, I am glad!"
"Can you take my place for to-day? He wouldn't let me stay, and her
mother would kill her with the fretting and worrying."
"No wonder he wouldn't let you stay. You look wretchedly tired. Yes;
I'll go over presently. You'd better eat your breakfast at once and
go directly to bed."
"I will," Nell answered with unaccustomed meekness, and proceeded to
redeem her promise without delay.
Kenneth, too, needed rest after his wearisome journey and long
night vigil, but did not seek it till a letter telling of his great
happiness had been written to the dear ones at Glen Forest, and sent
to the mail by Zeb.
Nell came down at tea-time to find the major alone in the parlor. He
looked up on her entrance, with a smile that brought swift blushes to
her cheek, then rose and came to meet her.
"I know all about it, Nell," he said, giving her a brotherly kiss.
"You have made me very happy by the wisdom of your choice; I shall be
proud of my new brother. Ah, here he is just coming in at the gate!
You must let me share the pleasure of his society now, and after tea
I will take care that you have the parlor to yourselves."
Kenneth's eyes shone at sight of his betrothed. Sleep had refreshed
her and restored her bloom, and her simple white dress with no
ornaments save a few delicate, sweet-scented blossoms at her throat
and in her hair was very becoming.
The major kept his word, and early in the evening they found
themselves sole occupants of the parlor.
Then, seated by her side, with her hand in his, Kenneth told the
story of his birth and the accompanying tragedy; then went on to tell
of the removal of his supposed parents to Glen Forest, and of the
life there.
He described his childhood as bright and happy. Angus and he
believed themselves, and were believed by others to be twins. They
were devotedly attached and almost inseparable. The parents made no
difference between them, and indeed, had no reason for so doing, as
they were entirely unable to decide which of the two was their own
child.
The boys knew nothing about the circumstances attending their birth
except that at or near that time there had been an attack by the
Indians in which their mother's stepfather had been slain, and that
the shock had killed his wife; she being just then very ill and weak.
They could perceive that their mother was at times oppressed with sad
memories of that fearful past, but for the most part she was very
cheerful, and they found her ever ready to sympathize with them in
joy as well as grief.
The father was inclined to be somewhat strict in his discipline, but
kind and genial, a parent whom they sincerely loved and respected.
Nell listened with intense interest; wondering within herself too,
why the doubt as to which of the two couples were his true parents
should have been, as she began to perceive that it had, a reason why
Dr. Clendenin should feel that marriage was not for him; in either
case his birth was not ignoble.
He paused, seeming for a moment lost in painful thought, then casting
it off with a slight sigh, went on.
"Yes, ours was a very happy childhood till we, Angus and I, were
about twelve years old. Then sickness and death came into the family,
two little sisters being taken away within a few weeks of each other.
"The heart of the tender mother seemed well-nigh broken; but alas!
the time came when she was unutterably thankful for their early
removal to a better land.
"There were still two little ones, a brother and sister, left, and
within the next two years Marian was born.
"Troubles came thick and fast during the first year of her life.
There was a great and sudden change in our father. He had received
a package of letters and papers from England, and from the hour
of their perusal was a strangely altered man; silent, morose,
disinclined to mix with his fellows, or even with his own family,
and at times looking haggard and wretched in the extreme.
"It was a sad mystery to us boys, but mother, who seemed to have a
sorrowful understanding of it, hushed every enquiry into its cause,
and would suffer no allusion to it in her presence.
"A few months later came one of the sorest trials of my life,"
continued Kenneth, his voice trembling with excess of feeling.
"Angus, my twin brother, my second self, was accidentally drowned. I
cannot dwell upon the particulars, but shall never forget my mother's
look of woe, her white despairing face, as the dripping corpse was
borne and laid down before her, nor the strange unnatural laugh, the
expression of mingled agony and triumphant pleasure, with which the
father bent over his dead son, saying, 'It's better so! Wife, why do
you grieve? I've no tear to shed for him.'
"I was inexpressibly shocked and very angry at what I deemed his
heartlessness.
"This mother saw, with deep sorrow; she loved her husband devotedly,
and could not bear to have him unjustly blamed. She felt, too, that
it would be necessary at some time for me to know the fatal secret.
So one day, after the grave had closed over all that remained of our
loved one, she sought me in my room and told me all.
"Her husband was an only child, had lost his father by death shortly
before coming to this country. Of his mother he had no recollection,
but had always understood that she had died soon after his birth.
"That, however, was not the case, and those letters from England
had revealed to him the fact that she had only just died, at the
time when they were written; died in a mad house, a furious, raving
maniac, having been in that condition for many years; also that such
had been her mother's fate, and that of several others of the family;
in short, insanity was undoubtedly hereditary.
"From the moment of learning all this he had felt that his doom was
sealed, and that of each of his children also.
"I cannot describe to you the horror and fear that came over me
as I listened to the tale. Then mother told me, oh, so gently and
tenderly, of the mystery that hung over my birth; leaving, while it
almost orphaned me, a faint hope that that fearful curse was not mine.
"And now you know, sweet one, why, when I would fain have poured into
your ear the story of my love, my lips were sealed. I could not ask
you to link your life with that of one for whom so sad a fate might
be in store. I dared not risk the transmission to future generations
of a curse so fearful.
"But God, in His great mercy, has sent me the knowledge that it is
not mine," he added, with a look of deepest gratitude and joy.
"And I was at times shamefully angry with you," murmured Nell,
penitent tears shining in her eyes.
"I cannot blame you under the circumstances," he said, smiling
tenderly upon her.
"And this was the explanation of the rumors that reached us of some
white woman, living among the Indians, giving testimony before the
squire in regard to some matter of importance to you?"
"Yes, it was Reumah Clark." And he went on to give a narrative of
his interview with her, then to finish his story of the life at Glen
Forest.
The two remaining little ones older than Marian, had followed Angus
to the better land in the course of a few months, leaving her sole
inheritor--after her father--of that terrible curse.
He described, in moving words, his own and the mother's anxiety
for her, and for the wretched husband and father; the wife's life
of devotion to him, the long years of fear and care, of untiring
sympathy and love, of faith and submission; rewarded at last by
seeing him pass peacefully away to another and happier existence, for
he had gone trusting in a crucified and risen Saviour.
Marian, still spared to them, was now their one great anxiety, but
he was hopeful for her. She had stood some severe tests of late, and
it might be, he trusted it was the case, that her mental powers and
peculiarities were inherited from her mother's side of the house,
or her father's paternal ancestors; all of whom were free from that
dreaded taint.
"We have endeavored, and thus far with success, to keep the fatal
secret from her," he said, "deeming that her danger would be greatly
enhanced by the knowledge.
"She has long known there was a grievous thorn in the Clendenin
nest, but what it is she does not know, and I trust never will. Her
mother and I have also another innocent concealment from her. She
still believes that I am her brother by right of birth; and we do not
intend that she shall ever be undeceived."
"No; it would be very cruel to rob her of the blessedness of
believing that," Nell said, with the sweetest look in her beautiful
eyes, "to be your sister would be the greatest happiness, except to--"
But she stopped short, blushing and confused.
"Except to be something far nearer and dearer? Ah, tell me that was
what you were thinking," he whispered, his eyes shining, as he bent
his head for a closer look into the sweet, blushing face.
"Now, don't be too inquisitive, Dr. Clendenin," she said, in
pretended vexation and pretty confusion.
"Never mind the doctor," he returned gayly. "Kenneth is three
syllables shorter and easier."
"But not so respectful."
"Quite sufficiently so, however. It is Marian's and my mother's
name for me, and I hope will be my wife's also," he whispered. "Oh,
dearest, how soon may I claim the right to call you by that sweetest
of names?"
"Ah, don't speak of that yet!" she said, hastily, her cheeks
crimsoning, her eyes drooping.
"Forgive me, I am very selfish," he replied, "but it must be very
soon or not for long weary months, while an ocean will roll between
us; to say nothing of the hundreds of miles of land that will
separate us besides."
"What can you mean?" she asked, with a start and look of surprise and
dismay.
Then he told her of his inheritance in England and the unfortunate
necessity it entailed of a speedy visit there. It could not well be
deferred till the ensuing spring, and must therefore be undertaken
soon if he would avoid the dangerous storms likely to be encountered
in the fall.
"And you must go?" she said, struggling to keep back her tears.
"Yes," he sighed. "I cannot tell you how hard it is to think of
leaving you just now, or how sweet it would be to call you mine
before I go; and to know that, if anything should befall me, you
would--"
"Oh, don't, don't!" she cried, the tears coming now in good earnest,
"I can't bear it! I--I think you might ask me to go with you."
"Would you, oh, would you?" he exclaimed joyously. "My dear girl, how
very sweet and kind in you to propose it."
"Did I?" she asked, smiling through her tears, as she gently released
herself from his enraptured embrace. "I thought I only suggested the
propriety of your asking me."
"I feel very selfish in so doing, dearest Nell," he said, "but will
you go?"
"Yes, if you really want me and will take me."
"Only too gladly, ah, you cannot doubt that, but have you thought of
the long, tedious journey overland, and the dangers of the voyage?"
"Yes; and how can I let you meet them alone?"
"Ah, my darling, you are the most unselfish of women," he exclaimed,
regarding her with tender, loving admiration, "and I the happiest of
men."
"But," said Nell presently, "you will have a poorly attired bride. I
shall have no time to get new dresses made."
"Very much wiser to wait for that till we reach New York, London or
Paris," he answered, with his grave, tender smile. "'Tis the bird I
would secure, sweet one, and I care not for the color or quality of
the feathers she may wear."
So it was all settled, after a little more talk, and in a week they
would be setting off for Europe on their wedding tour.
Great were Clare's astonishment and delight when she heard the news.
"Just the match I've always wanted for you, Nell, even when I'd no
idea he was going to be so rich."
"He didn't say it would be riches," returned the young lady,
supremely indifferent to such trifles.
"But I dare say it will. At all events you are going to Europe for
your wedding trip. Won't the other girls envy you? Yet I don't know,
Nell, I should be afraid of the sea. What if you should be drowned?"
"I hope we shall not," Nell answered gravely, "but even if we should,
I'd rather die with Kenneth than live without him. And as to the envy
the other girls may feel, I should think it would be because of him
rather than anything else," she added, her cheeks glowing and her
eyes shining.
"Oh, I suppose so!" laughed Clare. "It's a great shame, though, that
we can't have a grand wedding and elaborate trousseau. Still the
means can be provided for that last, all the same; and it will be
lovely to have it bought in Paris."
THE END
Transcriber's note:
Minor spelling inconsistencies, mainly hyphenated words,
have been harmonized. Obvious typos have been corrected.
A "Table of Contents" section has been created especially for
the e-version of the project for the benefit of the reader.