CHAPTER XXV.
"Those that he loved so long and sees no more, Loved and still loves,--not dead, but gone before,-- He gathers round him." --_Rogers._
The morning was but dull and dreary, for though the storm had spentitself, the sky was obscured with clouds and the sea still wroughttempestuously; but its sullen roar may, perchance, have been asfavorable to the prolonged slumbers of our worn-out friends, whom thetempest had robbed of so many hours of their accustomed sleep, as thelack of brightness in the sky and atmosphere.
However that may have been, most of them, retiring about dawn of day,slept on till noon, or near it.
In Mrs. Travilla's cottage the family gathered round the breakfast tableat the usual hour.
The meal was nearly concluded when a servant brought in the morningpaper and handed it to Mr. Dinsmore.
"I fear that brings news of many disasters caused by the storm,especially on the Atlantic seaboard," remarked his daughter as he tookit up.
"Altogether likely," was his rejoinder. Then as he ran his eye down thelong list of casualties, "Why, what is this?" he exclaimed, and went onto read aloud.
"Went ashore last night at Ocean Beach, the Curlew, a pleasure yachtbelonging to W. V. Tallis; Captain Collins. She is a total wreck, but nolives were lost, passengers and crew being taken off by the men ofLife-Saving Station No. --. List of passengers, Mr. W. V. Tallis, Mr.Edward Travilla, Mr. Charles Perrine, Miss Mary Keith, Miss AmyFletcher, and Miss Ella Neff."
There was a moment of astonished silence, then "Violet!" gasped themother, turning deathly pale.
"She was evidently not on board," Mr. Dinsmore hastened to reply, "orelse her name was carelessly omitted in the list, for it saysdistinctly, 'No lives were lost.'"
"I hope you are right, Horace," Mrs. Conly remarked, "but if she were mychild I shouldn't have any peace till I knew all about it."
"There isn't the least probability that if a life had been lost thereporter would have failed to say so," returned Mr. Dinsmore with someseverity of tone.
"Of course you are in the right, Horace, you always are," she said,bridling.
"Well," remarked Virginia, "I'm astonished, I must own, that suchpattern good children should go off on such an expedition without somuch as saying by your leave to either mother or guardian."
"I have just said that I am morally certain Violet did not go," said Mr.Dinsmore.
"And I do not blame Edward that he did," added the mother in her sweet,gentle tones; "he is old enough now to decide such matters for himselfin the absence of his natural guardians. Also he knows me well enough tojudge pretty correctly whether I would approve or not, and I should nothave objected had I been there."
"Shall we drive over and see about the children?" asked her father.
"Yes, papa, if you please, and let us start as soon as the necessaryarrangements can be made."
Violet had scarcely completed her morning toilet, though it was a littlepast noon, when glancing from the window she saw a carriage at the gateand her grandfather in the act of assisting her mother to alight fromit.
With a low, joyous exclamation, she flew to meet and welcome them.
"Mamma, mamma! I am so glad, so glad you have come!"
"My darling, my darling! Thank God that I have you safe in my arms!" themother said, holding her close with kisses and tears. "What is this Ihear of danger and shipwreck?"
"It is a long story, mamma; but we are all safe. Edward, Charlie, andthe girls are still sleeping, I believe, for they were worn out withanxiety and the loss of two nights' rest."
"And you, dear child?"
"Was not with them, but of course slept but little last night--indeednot at all until after daybreak, when they were all safe on shore--andhave only just risen."
"Then we will hear the story after you have breakfasted," hergrandfather said.
They did not get the whole of it, however, until Edward joined them, anhour or two later. It was to them a deeply interesting and thrillingaccount that he gave. He had also much to say in Violet's praise, butwas relieved and gratified to learn that neither mother nor grandfatherblamed him for the course he had taken. He brought in his friend Tallisand introduced him, and was glad to see that the impression on bothsides was favorable.
Edward had already urged Tallis to pay him a visit, and Mr. Dinsmore andElsie repeated the invitation. But the young man declined it for thepresent, on the plea that the loss of his vessel made it necessary forhim to give his attention to some pressing business matters.
Elsie proposed taking her son and daughter home with her, and they werenothing loath. She would have had all the rest of the young party comeat once to her cottage and remain as long as they found it agreeable todo so, but all declined with thanks however, except Donald, Mary andCharlie, who promised to come in a few days. Amy was not quite able totravel; they would stay with her until she was sufficiently recruited toundertake the journey to her own home. Charlie would see her and Ellasafely there, and follow Mary to the cottage home of the Travillas.
Before leaving Ocean Beach, Elsie and her father visited the life-savingstation, and the latter insisted upon bestowing a generous reward uponeach of the brave surfmen. Also he contributed largely to the makinggood their losses to the poor shipwrecked sailors.
Most joyously was the return of Edward and Violet welcomed bygrandmother, brothers and sisters. Edward was the hero of the hour,especially with Harold and Herbert, who in fact quite envied him hisadventure now that it was safely over.
Violet found home and its beloved occupants dearer and more delightfulthan ever. The presence there of her aunt and cousin seemed the onlydrawback upon her felicity; yet that occasionally proved a serious oneto both herself and "Cousin Donald," with whom Virginia was determinedto get up a flirtation.
He did not admire her and would not fall in with her plans, perceivingwhich she turned against him, became his bitter foe, and made him andViolet both uncomfortable by sly hints that he was seeking her; and thatsimply because she was an heiress.
Old Mr. Dinsmore had gone to visit his daughter Adeline and mostsincerely did Violet wish that "Aunt Louise" and Virginia would follow.
Mrs. Travilla was, as we have said, living a very retired life, notmingling in general society at all, but an old friend of her husband andfather, who had been a frequent and welcome guest at the Oaks and Ion,had taken up his temporary residence at a hotel near by, and now andthen joined their party on the beach or dropped in at the cottage for afriendly chat with Mr. Dinsmore.
Sometimes Mrs. Travilla was present and took part in the conversation;once or twice it had happened that they had been alone together for afew moments. She neither avoided intercourse with the gentleman norsought it; though he was a widower and much admired by many of her sex.
Perhaps Mrs. Conly and Virginia were the only persons who had anysinister thoughts in connection with the matter; but they, after themanner of the human race, judged others by themselves.
One day Violet accidentally overheard a little talk between them thatstruck her first with indignation and astonishment, then with grief anddismay.
"What brings Mr. Ford here, do you suppose, mamma?" inquired Virginia,in a sneering tone.
"What a question, Virginia, for a girl of your sense!" replied hermother, "he's courting Elsie, of course. Isn't she a rich and beautifulwidow? I had almost added young, for she really looks hardly older thanher eldest daughter."
"Well, do you think he'll succeed?"
"Yes, I do; sooner or later. He is certainly a very attractive man, andshe can't be expected to live single all the rest of her days. But whata foolish will that was of Travilla's--leaving everything in her hands!"
"Why, mamma?"
"Because Ford may get it all into his possession and make way with it bysome rash speculation. Men often do those things."
Violet was alone in a little summer-house in the garden, back of thecottage, with a book.
She had been very intent upon it until roused bythe sound of the voices of her aunt and cousin, who had been pacing upand down the walk and now paused for an instant close to her, though athick growth of vines hid her from sight.
They moved on with Mrs. Conly's last word, and the young girl sprang toher feet, her cheeks aflame, her eyes glittering, her small handclenched till the nails sank into the soft flesh. "How dare they talk soof mamma! and papa too, dear, dear papa!" she exclaimed half aloud; thenher anger and grief found vent in a burst of bitter weeping as she castherself down upon the seat from which she had risen, and bowed her headupon her hands.
The storm of feeling was so violent that she did not hear a light,approaching footstep, did not know that any one was near until she feltherself taken into loving arms that clasped her close, while her mamma'ssweet voice asked in tenderest tones, "my poor darling, what can havecaused you such distress?"
"Mamma, mamma, don't ask me! please don't ask me!" she cried, hiding herblushing, tearful face on her mother's bosom.
"Has my dear Vi then secrets from her mother?" Elsie asked in tones ofhalf reproachful tenderness.
"Only because it would distress you to know, dearest mamma. Oh I couldnot bear to hurt you so!" sobbed the poor girl.
"Still tell me, dearest" urged the mother. "Nothing could hurt me sosorely as the loss of my child's confidence."
"Then mamma, I will; but oh don't think that I believe one word of itall." Then with a little hesitation. "I think mamma, that I am notdoing wrong to tell you, though the words were not meant for my ear?"
"I think not, my dear child, since it seems it is something thatconcerns both you and me."
The short colloquy had burnt itself into Violet's brain and she repeatedit verbatim.
It caused her loved listener a sharper pang than she knew or supposed.Elsie was deeply hurt and for a moment her indignation waxed hot againsther ungrateful, heartless relations.
Then her heart sent up a strong cry for help to forgive even as shewould be forgiven.
But she must comfort Vi, and how vividly at this moment did memoryrecall a little scene in her own early childhood when she was in likesore distress from a similar fear, roused in very nearly the samemanner; and her father comforted her.
"Vi, darling," she said in quivering tones, and with a tender caress,"it is altogether a mistake. And you need never fear anything of thekind. Your beloved father is no more dead to me than though he were butin the next room. His place is not now--can never be, vacant in eithermy home or my heart. We are separated for time by 'the stream--thenarrow stream of death,' but when I, too, have crossed it, we shall betogether, never to part again."
THE END.
A LIST OF THE ELSIE BOOKS AND OTHER POPULAR BOOKS BY MARTHA FINLEY
_ELSIE DINSMORE._ _ELSIE'S HOLIDAYS AT ROSELANDS._ _ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD._ _ELSIE'S WOMANHOOD._ _ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD._ _ELSIE'S CHILDREN._ _ELSIE'S WIDOWHOOD._ _GRANDMOTHER ELSIE._ _ELSIE'S NEW RELATIONS._ _ELSIE AT NANTUCKET._ _THE TWO ELSIES._ _ELSIE'S KITH AND KIN._ _ELSIE'S FRIENDS AT WOODBURN._ _CHRISTMAS WITH GRANDMA ELSIE._ _ELSIE AND THE RAYMONDS._ _ELSIE YACHTING WITH THE RAYMONDS._ _ELSIE'S VACATION._ _ELSIE AT VIAMEDE._ _ELSIE AT ION._ _ELSIE AT THE WORLD'S FAIR._ _ELSIE'S JOURNEY ON INLAND WATERS._ _ELSIE AT HOME._ _ELSIE ON THE HUDSON._ _ELSIE IN THE SOUTH._ _ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS._ _ELSIE'S WINTER TRIP._ _ELSIE AND HER LOVED ONES._
_MILDRED KEITH._ _MILDRED AT ROSELANDS._ _MILDRED'S MARRIED LIFE._ _MILDRED AND ELSIE._ _MILDRED AT HOME._ _MILDRED'S BOYS AND GIRLS._ _MILDRED'S NEW DAUGHTER._
_CASELLA._ _SIGNING THE CONTRACT AND WHAT IT COST._ _THE TRAGEDY OF WILD RIVER VALLEY._ _OUR FRED._ _AN OLD-FASHIONED BOY._ _WANTED, A PEDIGREE._ _THE THORN IN THE NEST._
* * * * * *
Transcriber's note:
Punctuation has been made consistent. Spelling, grammar andhyphenation have been retained as they appear in the originalpublication except as follows:
Page 9 here can't be another one, I'm very, evry _changed to_ there can't be another one, I'm very, very
Page 11 so useful and sinful a thing _changed to_ so useless and sinful a thing
Page 15 generous master and mistresss _changed to_ generous master and mistress
Page 55 so fair and spirituel _changed to_ so fair and spiritual
Page 98 pared not, because my papa _changed to_ dared not, because my papa
Page 102 Crudens' Concordance and other _changed to_ Cruden's Concordance and other
Page 144 strong attachment beween herself _changed to_ strong attachment between herself
Page 150 countanence, and her bright _changed to_ countenance, and her bright
Page 213 of the Lord is as trong _changed to_ of the Lord is a strong
Page 214 embassador of Christ is _changed to_ ambassador of Christ is
Page 233 gentlemen's wife among the rest _changed to_ gentleman's wife among the rest
Page 234 aint you _changed to_ ain't you
Page 244 enefit from his visit _changed to_ benefit from his visit
Page 264 al together they watched _changed to_ as together they watched
Page 284 Your bill of fair sounds _changed to_ Your bill of fare sounds
Page 285 which had not yet been freezer _changed to_ which had not yet been taken out of the freezer
Page 286 and as its more ... suppose its very _changed to_ and as it's more ... suppose it's very
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