A MYSTERY OF THE PAST.
"I do not know that I have done just right by telling you this," went on
Marion. "Mother may not approve of it."
"I am glad you told me. I was bound to find out about it, sooner or
later."
"That is true, Jack. But both mother and I dreaded that time. We were
afraid you might turn from us. And we both love you so much!"
"It is kind of you to say that, Marion." Jack's face flushed. "You
couldn't be nicer if you were my real sister."
"And mother loves you so much."
"I know that, too--otherwise she wouldn't have taken me in as she did."
"What put it in your head to ask me this to-day?"
"Something St. John Ruthven said to Darcy Gilbert. St. John said I was
an upstart, a nobody."
"St. John had better mind his own business! It was not cousinly for him
to interfere!" And Marion's face flushed.
"I suppose he doesn't look at me in the light of a cousin. He considers
me an intruder."
"Well, if he won't count you a cousin he need not count me one
either--so there!"
"But you must not hurt yourself by standing up for me," cried Jack
hastily.
"I will not hurt myself--in the eyes of those whose respect is worth
considering. In the eyes of the law you are my real brother, for my
parents adopted you. St. John must not forget that."
"But tell me of the past, Marion. Where did I come from, and how did I
get here?"
"It's a long story, Jack. Do you see yonder wreck, on Hemlock Bluff
rocks?"
"To be sure I do."
"Well, when that wreck came ashore, between ten and eleven years ago,
you had been one of the passengers on the boat."
"Me!"
"Yes. I have heard mother tell of it several times. It was a fearful
night and Old Ben, he was our slave then, was out on the bluff watching.
Presently there was the booming of a signal gun--showing the ship was in
distress--and soon the ship came in sight, rocking to and fro, with the
wild waves running over her deck. Not a soul was left on board, captain
and crew having all gone down in the ocean beyond."
"But where did they find me?"
"On the beach. Old Ben heard a cry of pain and ran in the direction of
the sound. Soon he made out the form of a woman, your mother. She had
been hurt by being hit with some wreckage. You were in her arms, and as
Old Ben came up you cried out: 'Jack is hungry. Give Jack some bread and
butter, please.'"
"Yes, yes! I remember something of a storm and of the awful waves. But
it's all dreamy-like."
"You were only three or four years old, and the exposure nearly cost you
your life. Old Ben took you and your mother to the boathouse and then
ran up to the plantation for help. Father went back with him, along with
half a dozen men, and they brought you and your mother to the house. I
remember that time well, for I was nearly seven years old."
"But my mother, what of her?" asked Jack impatiently.
"Poor dear! she died two days later. The physicians did all they could
for her, but the shock had been too great, and she passed away without
recovering consciousness."
"Then she told nothing about me--who I was?"
"No. All she did say while she lived was 'Save my husband! Save my
darling little Jack.'"
"Then my father must have been on the boat with her?"
"Yes."
"And they did not find his body?"
"No, the only bodies recovered were those of sailors."
"Didn't they try to find out who I was?"
"To be sure, but, although father did his best, he could learn nothing.
Your father and mother had taken passage on the ship at the last moment
and their names did not appear on the list at the shipping offices, and
none of the books belonging to the ship itself were ever recovered."
"Perhaps they are on the wreck!" cried Jack, struck by a sudden idea.
"No, the wreck was searched from end to end, and all of value taken
away."
"I'd like to row over and look around."
"You may do so, Jack. I presume the wreck will have more of an interest
than ever for you now."
The distance to Hemlock Bluff rocks was a good mile, but Jack soon
covered it and, bringing the boat to a safe corner, he assisted Marion
out and then leaped out himself.
"This news is enough to make a fellow's head whirl," he observed, as
they walked in the direction of the wreck, which lay high up on the
beach.
"I suppose that is true, Jack. But do not let it worry you. You are as
dear to mother and me as if you were one of the family."
"But I would like to know who I really am."
"Perhaps time will solve the mystery."
Soon the pair were at the wreck, which lay with its bow well up on the
rocks and its stern projecting over the sea.
It was no mean task to reach the deck of the wreck, but Jack was a good
climber and soon he was aboard. Then he gave Marion a hand up.
The deck of the wreck was much decayed, and they had to be careful how
they moved around.
"I am going below," said the youth, after a general look around.
"Be careful. Jack, or you may break a limb," cautioned Marion.
"I don't suppose you care to go down with me?"
"I think not--at least, I will wait until you have been down."
Soon Jack was crawling down the rotted companion way. At the bottom all
was dirty and dark. He pushed open the door, which hung upon one rusty
hinge, and peered into the cabin.
"I wish I had brought a lantern along," he murmured, as he stepped into
the compartment.
As Marion had said, the wreck had been cleared of everything of value.
All the furniture was gone and the pantries and staterooms were bare.
From the cabin he passed into several of the staterooms.
"What have you found?" called Marion.
"Nothing much."
"Any mice down there, or spiders?"
"None, so far as I can see."
"Then I'll come down."
Soon Marion was beside Jack, and the pair made a tour of the wreck from
bow to stern. Their investigations proved to be highly interesting, and
they spent more time below than they had anticipated doing.
"We must get back, Jack," said the girl at last.
"Oh, there is no hurry! Mother is not at home," answered Jack. It seemed
a bit odd to call Mrs. Ruthven mother now that he knew she was not his
relative.
So fully another hour was spent below, moving from one part of the big
wreck to another. Presently Jack came to a sudden stop and listened.
"What a queer noise, Marion!"
"It is the wind rising. We had better be getting back, before the bay
grows too rough for rowing."
"You are right."
Jack ran up the companion way and Marion after him. To their surprise
the sky was overcast, and the wind was whipping the surface of the bay
into numerous whitecaps.
"We must lose no time in getting back!" cried Jack. "As it is, the wind
will be dead against us!"
As quickly as possible he assisted Marion over the side, and then both
set off on a run for the little cove where the rowboat had been left
tied up.
As they gained the boat Jack gave an exclamation of dismay.
"The oars--they are gone!"
He was right. Marion had shifted their position before leaving the
craft, and bumping against the rocks had sent them adrift.