CONCLUSION.
Not the least gratifying circumstance in his sudden change of fortune
was Jed's discovery of a mother--a gracious and beautiful woman--to whom
he was drawn in almost instinctive affection. Before leaving New York
for his native land he expressed a wish to revisit Scranton, and view
once more the scenes of his early privations. His mother not only
consented, but decided to accompany him.
Mr. and Mrs. Fogson were engaged in their usual morning labors when a
handsome carriage stopped at the gate. A servant descended and made his
way to the front door, which Mrs. Fogson herself opened.
"Madam," said the servant bowing, "do you receive visitors?"
Mrs. Fogson espying the handsome carriage was dazzled, and responded
graciously:
"We ain't fixed for company," she said, "but if you'll make allowances
I shall be happy to receive visitors. Who is it?" she inquired
curiously.
"Lady Fenwick and Sir Robert Fenwick, of Fenwick Hall, England."
"You don't say!" ejaculated Mrs. Fogson, awe-stricken. "Tell 'em to come
right in."
Jed assisted his mother to alight and walk up to the front door, Mrs.
Fogson having retreated inside to change her dress.
"And you say you lived in this forlorn place, Robert?" asked Lady
Fenwick with a shudder.
"For fourteen years, mother."
"I never can forgive Guy Fenwick--never!"
"I am none the worse for it now, mother."
Jed led the way into Mrs. Fogson's private sitting-room, where that lady
found them. She stopped short at the threshold.
"Why, it's Jed Gilman!" she said sharply, with a feeling that she had
been humbugged.
"Mrs. Fogson," said Jed, gravely, "I am Jed Gilman no more. I have found
out that I am entitled to a large estate in England, but best of all I
have found a mother, and am no longer alone in the world."
Mr. Fogson, who had followed his wife into the room, was the first to
"take in" the surprising news. Jed's handsome suit, his gold watch-chain
and diamond scarf-pin, as well as his mother's stately figure, convinced
him that the story was true.
"No one is more glad to hear of your good fortune, my dear boy, than
Mrs. F. and myself," he said in a gushing tone. "I have often thought
that you were a nobleman in disguise."
"You never let me suspect it, Mr. Fogson," said Jed, amused. "Probably
you didn't want to raise my expectations."
"Just so, Jed, I mean Sir Robert. We feel that it was an honor to have
you so long under our roof--don't we, Mrs. F.?"
"Certainly, Simeon. If Lady Fenwick will permit me to offer an humble
collation, some of my ginger snaps; you remember them, Jed, I mean Sir
Robert."
"You are very kind," said Lady Fenwick hastily, "but I seldom eat
between meals."
Just then Percy Dixon, who came with a message from his father,
appeared in the door. He opened his eyes wide in amazement when he saw
Jed.
"Jed Gilman!" he exclaimed in astonishment.
"No, Master Percy," said Mrs. Fogson. "We have just learned that our
dear Jed is Sir Robert Fenwick, of Fenwick Hall, England."
"Jehoshaphat!" cried Percy, astounded.
"Percy," said Jed, whose good fortune made him good-natured, "let me
introduce you to my mother, Lady Fenwick. Mother, this is Master Percy
Dixon."
"I am glad to meet any of your friends, Robert," said Lady Fenwick,
really supposing that Jed and Percy were on intimate terms.
"Glad to know you--to make your acquaintance, Lady Fenwick," replied
Percy. "Are you really and truly a lord, Jed?"
"No, not a lord, but a baronet. However, that needn't make any
difference between friends like ourselves."
"No, of course not. You know I always liked you, Jed, I mean Sir Jed."
"Sir Robert," prompted Mr. Fogson.
"Sir Robert. I feel sort of confused by the sudden change," explained
Percy embarrassed.
"Call me Jed, then. In Scranton I mean to be Jed."
"Won't you call at our house? My father, Squire Dixon, will be honored
by a visit."
"We are to call on Mr. and Mrs. Avery first, and then if we have time we
will call on you. Won't you get into the carriage and go with us,
Percy?"
Percy Dixon accepted the invitation with intense delight, and long
afterwards boasted of his ride with Lady Fenwick. Though Jed and his
mother were able to spend but ten minutes at the house of Squire Dixon,
the squire showed himself deeply sensible of the honor, and several
times alluded to his dear young friend Sir Robert. It was the way of the
world. Mr. and Mrs. Avery received from Lady Fenwick a handsome present
in recognition of their past kindness to Jed, and this was the first of
many.
Jed and his mother remained at the Windsor till they were ready to
embark for England. While walking on Fifth Avenue one day he saw just
ahead his little friend, Chester Holbrook, accompanied by his aunt, Miss
Maria Holbrook. He hurried forward, and taking off his hat to Miss
Holbrook, said, "Chester, don't you remember me?"
Chester uttered a cry of delight.
"Why it's Jed!" he said.
Miss Maria Holbrook, surprised at Jed's improved appearance, eyed him
with suspicion.
"Where are you staying, Jedediah?" she inquired. "Have you a situation?"
"I am boarding at the Windsor Hotel, Miss Holbrook. I am in no
situation."
"Then how can you afford to board at a first-class hotel?" asked the
spinster in surprise.
"I am with my mother, Lady Fenwick. Allow me to hand you my card."
Jed placed in her hand a card on which was engraved the name:
SIR ROBERT FENWICK, BART.
The story had already appeared in the daily papers of New York, but
Miss Holbrook never suspected that the young English baronet was
Chester's humble guardian.
"Are you Sir Robert Fenwick?" she ejaculated in amazement.
"I believe so," he answered with a smile. "Now, Miss Holbrook, I have a
favor to ask. May I take Chester in and introduce him to my mother?"
"I should also like to meet Lady Fenwick," said Miss Holbrook.
"I shall be most happy to present you."
"Isn't your name Jed after all?" asked Chester, as he confidingly placed
his hand in that of his former guardian.
"You may call me so, Chester; I wish you would."
Miss Maria Holbrook was delighted with her visit. Like many Americans,
she had a great respect for English aristocracy, and did not understand
that there was considerable difference between titles. It is wonderful
how differently she came to regard one whom she had been accustomed to
style "that boy Jedediah." She was much pleased with Lady Fenwick's
gracious reception, though she found it difficult to think of her as
Jed's mother.
I neglected to say in the proper place that Jed did not fail to call,
when in Scranton, on his two friends Dr. and Mrs. Redmond, and gave them
a cordial invitation to visit his mother and himself if they should ever
come to England.
He did not see fit to extend a similar invitation to Mr. and Mrs.
Fogson. Misfortune has come to these worthy people. Their mismanagement
of the poorhouse had become so notorious that the best citizens of
Scranton not only demanded their removal from the poorhouse, but at the
next town meeting defeated Squire Dixon for re-election to the position
of Overseer of the Poor. Mr. and Mrs. Avery were invited to succeed the
Fogsons, but felt that they were entitled to rest and quiet for the
balance of their lives. The liberal gifts of Jed and his mother made
them independent, and they were willing that younger persons should fill
their old positions.
Jed devoted several years to making up the deficiencies in his
education. The only disagreeable thing in his change of fortune was his
removal from America, but he will probably arrange to spend a portion of
his time in his adopted country, to which he feels the attachment of a
loyal son. Then he has a link connecting him with it in the frequent
visits at Fenwick Hall of his friend Schuyler Roper.
Notwithstanding his accession to the ancestral title and estate, he has
not forgotten the fourteen years during which he was known as "Jed, the
Poorhouse Boy."
* * * * *
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