TEARS AND ORANGE FLOWERS.
In the morning Sedgwick got a cup of coffee early, and was just going
out, when Grace came running up to him in the hall.
"I believe you were running away," she said gaily, and, seizing his arm,
declared that he was her prisoner.
He told her that it was true he was running away, but would be back
before very long, and would then, he thought, explain everything.
"Then I am still very angry," said she. "I am going to my room to make a
calculation how much I am being slighted, and to consult the fates as to
what penalties shall be prescribed before you can possibly hope for
forgiveness." Then she smiled, stretched out her hand to be kissed by
him, then opened the door and said softly, "Do not be too long away."
Sedgwick went again to Jordan's hotel; found him and told him briefly all
that had happened; all about Browning, the love affairs of both, and how
Jack had been taken in on the mine; ran over the prospectus of the "Wedge
of Gold," and explained that he meant to visit the property; that if it
could be made available with the means he had, he intended to improve it
and bring Jack's shares up to cost; that no one but his Grace and her
mother was to know when he went away, that he was not going to America,
and that he wanted some one with him who understood gold quartz.
Jordan listened with increasing interest as the story was told,
interrupting only when Sedgwick spoke of his love for Grace Meredith, and
when he explained how Jack had been swindled.
To the first he joyfully responded: "I am glad, old boy, blast my
broad-horned heart if I aint! She's a daisy; she's a real woman; and I
thank God she found yo' and tuk pity on yo'."
To the other he said: "Well, the dod-durned, Newgate, Rotten Row, British
thieves! How I would like to 'ave 'em in Texas for one short quarter of a
hour!"
His enthusiasm was at its height at the close of Sedgwick's story. He
cried out:
"It'll be glorious, Jim. Ef the mine can be worked up, we'll make it,
sho'." Then after a pause, he said slowly as to himself, in a low tone:
"It'll take me outer myself, maybe; that'll be wo'th mo' to me than a
gold mine."
"But it is a tough time of year," said Sedgwick. "The Red Sea and the
ocean beyond will be like furnaces at this season."
"Red Sea, ocean, furnace, everything, goes," said Jordan. "I enlist fo'
ther wah."
Another meeting was arranged for that afternoon, and Sedgwick returned to
the Hamlin home.
He went direct to Browning's room, tapped on Jack's door, and then walked
in. Jack was leaning upon the table, thinking, and was so engrossed that
he did not hear the tap or the opening of the door.
He started up as Sedgwick laid his hand on his shoulder, and said: "I
don't believe, Jim, that I heard you come in."
"That's all right," said Sedgwick, "but, Jack, you must hear me now."
Then sitting down close beside his friend, Sedgwick went on:
"I have thought this business all out, Jack. I believe the prime motive
for this swindle was to separate you and Rose, and prevent your marriage.
The first thing to do then, is to secure that matter. You must see Rose,
and if she is willing, you must be married to-morrow. I think she will
consent, and that her mother will approve it when she shall have been
told the truth. This must be, Jack; first, because those old scoundrels
will continue to plot against the marriage until they know it is of no
more use; and second, I want to go away to-morrow evening."
"It cannot be," said Browning. "They took all my money. They left me but
a beggarly £12,500."
"How much did you keep thinking through so long a time would be
sufficient to accumulate before you could come back and 'try to steal
Rose Jenvie?'" asked Sedgwick.
"O yes, I know," said Browning; "but then it was different."
"What have you told Rose about your money matters?" asked Sedgwick.
"Not one word," was the reply.
"Do you think she expects a no-account boy to go off to America, and with
nothing but his head and his hands to accumulate more than £12,500 in
three or four years?" asked Sedgwick. "But this is all foolishness, old
boy," he continued. "The last half of the money those old men obtained
from you can be recovered easily, if not all; if that, after awhile,
proves to be the best thing to do. And, moreover, I tell you that we are
partners in this, and that we still have as much money as you and I can
very well handle. I must have my way about this, old friend."
"But if you are going away, why cannot I go with you?" asked Browning.
"For several reasons," replied Sedgwick. "If you remain here, or go down
on your farm in Devonshire, the conclusion of Jenvie and Hamlin will be,
that with your money mostly gone, all I could do was to return to
America.
"Again, no one knows how much more money you have. You must remain. Be
generous at the club, move among men, keep the prestige that you have won
since you came here; be entirely independent; keep your eye on the man
the mine was bought from, even if you have to pay him a salary to insure
his remaining here, and so be in a position to help through any line of
action we may agree upon. More, you must restrain yourself and have no
trouble with young Stetson. He is as much fool as knave.
"Another reason is, that Rose has already waited years for you, and it
would be a wicked and cruel thing to disappoint her again. It would kill
her and unman you. No, no, you must be married to-morrow. But Jack, if I
were you, I would never take my wife back under the Jenvie roof until
full reparation should be made. See her, and gain her consent to an
immediate marriage; then go and hire a house or make arrangements at a
hotel to live, and I want you to promise that you will not, after I
shall have gone, bring any suit or make any sign that you have suffered a
loss, or bother yourself much about business until I come back, or you
receive word of me. I will fix money matters before I go, so that you
will not be troubled. And now, think it over."
When Jack aroused himself, Sedgwick had disappeared. He sat in silence
for a few minutes, then rose, went out, secured a conveyance, called and
asked Rose to go out for a drive.
On the road he explained to Rose all that had happened; how rich he was
when he came home; how his confidence had been betrayed; how little he
had left, and then asked if the dear girl was still willing to be his
wife, and if she would consent to become his wife next day.
She laid her hand on his, and said: "Dear Jack! it was to be for all
time; your home to be my home; your God my God. I will be ready when you
come for me. I will go exultingly to become your wife; my joy will be the
deeper, for it will be chilled with no fear of the future, which it might
have been had I known you possessed £100,000. What you have is enough for
us. But, Jack, let me begin to influence you. Do not take a shilling of
your friend's money unless you know that we can some time return it."
Later, Jack found a lovely furnished house, the owner of which desired to
vacate for a year; hired it, paid a year's rent in advance, engaged the
servants of the family, and explained that he would bring his wife on the
succeeding day.
On that same day, Sedgwick sought Grace, and made clear to her the
situation, explaining how Jack had been wronged, what he had advised to
do him, and unfolded his own plan to leave the next day, so soon as
Browning and Miss Jenvie should be married--with Jordan for South Africa,
to see if it was worth while to try to bring out the property, explaining
that if the mine gave no strong promise he would be back in two or three
months. If, on the other hand, he and Jordan decided it was good, he
might be absent for a year, and asked her if she would keep the secret of
where he had gone, and if she were sure enough of her own heart to
undertake to wait for him.
Grace had grown very white and still while Sedgwick was speaking. When he
ceased she continued silent for a moment, and then said:
"I agree to it all, my king, all but one thing."
"And what is that, sweet?" asked Sedgwick.
She leaned over, put her arm around her lover's neck, laid her cheek
against his, and said: "If Jack and Rose are to be married to-morrow, we
should be married also."
"But I am going away, my child," said Sedgwick.
"I know," was her response, "but one object of my father in trying to
break off the match between Jack and Rose was to try to have Jack marry
me. We should complete the work. Then, should you need me, or could you
send for me, I could go better as your wife than any other way; then,
when I gave my heart to you I gave it entirely, and should we never meet,
I would, while I lived, want to keep in thought that you were my husband;
that I was your wife; that all glory had come to me."
By this time the tears were flowing fast down her cheeks, and with tears
in his own eyes, Sedgwick said:
"I wanted to ask you, dearest, to become my wife before I went away, but
thought it a shame to so involve you, with a future so clouded as mine is
to be for the coming months."
"You forget," she replied, "that it is my right in your absence to think
of you as my husband."
So it was settled that on the next day, just before noon, they should be
married; that they should separate at the church, she to return with her
mother, Sedgwick to start with Jordan on their long journey.
Then Grace called her mother. The matter was explained to her, and she
readily consented to the marriage, saying to Sedgwick: "You know I asked
you, in case Grace returned your affection, that the matter might for the
present be held a secret. My reason was that I felt that something
sinister, which I could not understand, was at work. I think you and
Grace have a right to belong to each other; that if you must go away.
Grace is right in wishing that when you are gone she can think of you as
her husband."
So arranged, Sedgwick went to find Jordan. A steamer had sailed the
previous day from Southampton for Port Natal, via the Suez Canal, and
Sedgwick's plan was to join that ship at Port Said.
He found Jordan, told him of the change in the arrangements; fixed with
him to have all needed baggage at the Dover depot, to meet him at the
church at 11:30 next day, and after the ceremony to start with him from
the church on their long journey.
"I'll be thar, old friend," said Jordan. "Thet's ther sensible business.
Make ther splendid girl yo'r wife, and pervide for her so thet if
anything happens she'll be safe agin the petty cares that break women's
hearts."
Then Sedgwick returned to the Hamlin house, and went straight to Jack's
room.
Browning greeted him with a smile, and said, "Jim, old pard, it's all
right. The marriage goes, even as you planned, and I have found and
secured a nest for my bird."
"Good," said Sedgwick; "but the arrangements have been changed a little;
or, I might say, enlarged upon a little. As I understand it now, you,
with Rose and her mother, will be at the church at 11:30 to-morrow. I
will be there with Mrs. Hamlin and Grace. We will be the witnesses of
your marriage, and then, Jack, old man, you and Mrs. Browning must be
witnesses for Grace and me."
Jack sprang from his chair, and cried: "Are you and Grace fond of each
other?"
"Well, somewhat, I trust," said Sedgwick.
"And you are really engaged?" cried Jack.
"For all this life, at least," said Sedgwick; then added gravely, "and
heaven itself would be a cold and cheerless place to me without my saving
Grace."
Then Browning wrung the hand of Sedgwick, embraced him, danced around the
room; then shook hands again, crying: "This is superb! this is glorious,
by Jove! Why, of course it would be all wrong any other way. O, Jim,
bless my soul, how glad I am!"
Then Sedgwick said: "Browning, we have not much time. You understand I
will leave my wife"--his voice trembled--"at the church door. I am going
away--where, no matter--with a thought in my mind which, please, do not
ask me. I may be gone two months, maybe six months.
"Here is my will. Grace will keep it. Here is a check for her, which will
secure her comfort, so far as money is concerned. Here is a check for
£10,000 for you and Rose. Grace will return from the church to this
house. If our marriage cause any friction here, she will go and live with
you and Rose. I am glad you have secured a house. If I were you, I
repeat, I would never take Rose under the roof of her step-father until I
received full restitution from him. Do not discuss this money part of the
business any more; it will do you no good. And when I am gone, do not get
low spirited. Make life happy for Rose, and"--he halted a moment--"for
Grace."
The dinner was not a happy one that day. A cloud was on the Hamlin house.
As soon as possible the head of the house went out. He was quickly
followed by Browning.
The eyes of Grace and Sedgwick met. They both rose from the table and
passed into the hall. Grace twined her arms around one of his and led him
into the parlor. She swung around an easy chair, made him sit down, then
seated herself on an ottoman at his feet, and said: "It's going to be
awfully hard to bear, my love; but I have thought it all over, and I do
not believe I should ever be quite satisfied if you should not perform
what you have marked out as your duty. Of course, if the property will
not bear examination, you will, if nothing wrong happens you, be back in
two or three months. If it will justify further exertion, I understand it
will be likely to keep you away for a year, and that will be fearful."
The tears filled her eyes.
"But that will be duty, and then if you conclude to remain, maybe you
will send for me. It will not matter how I live. I would go now, but I
know I would be a trouble to you. I should interfere with your work.
To-day you would want to go here; to-night, there; to-morrow you would
want to be off on the mountains; and while I do not imagine you would
think me a burden, nevertheless your very best energies could not be
exerted, and this time they must be."
She seemed very resolute as she spoke, though her face was sadder than
Sedgwick had ever seen it. She continued:
"I shall be brave when the hour comes, my love. I shall not vex you with
a tear when we separate. You shall carry a smile as my last gift away
with you."
Sedgwick was enchanted. He thought her the grandest, noblest woman on
earth, and thanked God for his treasure.
After awhile he told her of Jordan, and all that he had learned from him.
When he rehearsed Jordan's love episode, she kept exclaiming: "Poor, true
man! Poor, honest fellow!" But when it was finished, she said: "Why,
love, he is a ninny; that woman would never have left him had he but had
more faith in himself, and pressed his suit a little. I am glad he is
going with you. You will be a comfort to him, and his mind will have an
object to work upon. Poor fellow!" she added with a sad smile. "You men
are very brave and bright. You tear down mountains, exalt valleys, fight
battles, navigate great ships, tame wild horses and lasso wild oxen, but
you do not--the majority of you--know any more about a woman's heart than
a Fiji islander does of Sanscrit."
To all of which Sedgwick responded by calling her an angel.
Then the matter of their marriage was talked over, and Sedgwick advised
that in case her step-father should be angry upon learning of the event,
she should take up her home with Jack and Rose.
"My father will not show much vexation," she said. "If he begins that
way, I will remind him of the fortune he has taken from your friend, his
own step-son, and explain that it was his and Jenvie's work that made
necessary what we shall have done."
But it was agreed that all letters to her should be sent to a private box
in the post-office, to which Sedgwick gave her the key. It was agreed,
moreover, that even Jack should not know he had not gone to America,
because, as he explained, if Jack once suspected he was going to Africa,
he, too, would insist upon going, which would break Rose's heart, who had
already waited for years; and then his going would be altogether
unnecessary, as he and Jordan could do as well as three could. Moreover,
to go would be to lose what he had advanced on the Devonshire estate.
They both tried to be cheerful, but it was a sad night. When they came to
separate, Grace broke down, but through her tears promised to be brave
when the final trial came.
Next morning, from half past nine to half past ten, Sedgwick and Grace
were saying their final good-byes. It was an hour never to be forgotten
by them. Grace did not attempt to restrain her tears. In both their
hearts was the feeling that one has when the last look is being taken of
the face of a much-loved one who has gone to the final rest. There were
kisses and embraces and broken words, but there was no faltering on
either side. Both were supported by the thought that a duty had been
presented and must not be avoided.
At 10:30 they retired to their respective apartments. Sedgwick dressed
himself in a business suit of a dark texture. Grace attired herself in a
traveling suit and hat. The baggage of Sedgwick was sent off at 11:15,
and both were ready when the carriage came. The carriage with Mrs.
Jenvie, Rose and Browning came up almost immediately, and the two
vehicles proceeded to the church. Quite a little company had gathered,
drawn by curiosity, when the church doors were opened.
Jordan was present, radiant in a new suit, with a flower in his coat
lapel, and he answered the smile and nod that each couple gave him as
they passed up the aisle.
As stated before, Grace was in a traveling suit, but Rose was radiant in
robe and train and orange wreath, and a buzz of admiration at her
exquisite beauty followed her all the way to her place before the altar.
The ceremony proceeded in the usual order. The mothers gave the brides
away; the last prayer was finished, the kisses given, the papers duly
signed and witnessed, the certificates filled out and given to the
respective brides, and the company turned to leave the church.
Then Jordan came forward. Sedgwick presented the two elder ladies to him,
and all greeted him most cordially. In response he said:
"It's the whitest kind uv a day. I'm glad ter know yo' all; glad ter
congratulate yo', and I wanter say ter Mrs. Sedgwick--Grace grew rosy red
on hearing the appellation--that I've know'd her husband a long time, and
he's true blue, sho'; there's not a better or a braver man on either side
o' ther ocean."
With that he drew a package from his pocket, and tendered it to Grace,
saying: "I wanter give yo' a little keepsake fo' yo' husband's sake."
It was a jewel case and contained a diamond cross worth £300.
At the church door the good-byes were spoken. Browning and his bride
entered one carriage and were driven away to Jack's home. The two elder
ladies and Sedgwick's bride entered the other carriage.
True to her promise, Grace gave to her husband, who stood near, a smiling
good-bye, but when the carriage was driven away, she broke into
uncontrollable sobs, wrung her hands piteously, and not until she reached
home did the paroxysm of grief subside. She went to her room, laid by all
her bright dresses and ornaments, robed herself in simple black--"in
mourning," she said, "for my lost honey-moon."
Sedgwick and Jordan entered a carriage, and from it boarded the Dover
train. Not a word was spoken until the train had passed beyond the great
city's outermost limit, when at last Jordan said:
"Cum, Jim, brace up. It'll be all the sweeter when this accursed bitter
cup shall be passed."
And Sedgwick answered: "You are right, old friend, but the dear girl will
suffer. That last smile was such as is given when hearts break."