Chapter Eighteenth.
"I bless thee for the noble heart, The tender and the true, Where mine hath found the happiest rest That e'er fond woman's knew." MRS. HEMANS.
Mrs. Baird made short work of clearing away the remains of the supperand setting everything to rights. Then taking two of her sons with her,she repaired to the garden.
All three presently returned laden with flowers, with which theyproceeded to ornament the parlor, after setting aside some of thefairest and most fragrant for the adornment of the bride.
"What next, mother?" asked Tom. "You are hardly thinking of having awedding in the house without refreshments, I suppose?"
"No; I've plenty of cake baked: three kinds--bride, pound, and spongecakes. Now you boys go to the garden and gather all the finest fruitsyou can find, while I help the bride to dress."
"Dress?" laughed Tom; "what has she to dress in? Will she put on herIndian toggery again?"
"You'll see when the time comes," said his mother. "Now off with you,and show how well you can do your part."
Mr. Baird had repaired to the front porch with his guests, and ananimated conversation was going on there, Mr. Clark and Rupert beingthe chief speakers, when the good lady of the house appeared among themwith the announcement that it was time for every one of them to bedressing for the wedding.
"You know your room, Mr. Clark. I've had your saddlebags carriedthere, and you'll find everything necessary for making your toilet.Mr. Baird, will you please to attend to Mr. Keith? I shall take careof the bride." And linking Juanita's arm in hers she led her into thehouse and to a large, airy bedroom that, with its white draped windows,toilet-table, and bed, looked very suitable for a bridal chamber.
The white dress, the new moccasins, and a profusion of loveliestflowers were there.
Juanita sent a swift glance about the room, taking in all these detailsand more (the room seemed pervaded by a simple air of elegance, andits atmosphere was redolent of the sweet breath of the flowers); thenturning to her kind hostess, threw her arms round her neck, and withquivering lips and eyes full of tears said, "Oh, how good, how good youare to a poor wayfarer, dear lady!"
"It's very little I'm doing, dear child," said Mrs. Baird, returningthe embrace. "I'm afraid it must seem but a forlorn kind of wedding toyou; and yet I think you should be a happy bride, for sure I am that ifyou are not a happy wife it will not be the fault of the man you aremarrying."
"No," cried Juanita, smiles chasing away the tears, "there cannot beanother in all the world like my Rupert."
"I must own that I have taken a great fancy to him," Mrs. Baird said,smiling and stroking Juanita's hair caressingly. "Now, dear, let mehelp you to dress. I want the pleasure of arranging this beautiful hairand trimming it with flowers. They are the most suitable ornament for abride, and fortunately we have an abundant supply."
"Yes, I prefer them to jewels," said Juanita.
"My dear, you look lovely!" was the delighted exclamation of the goodlady when her labors were completed. "Simple and old-fashioned asthe dress is, it becomes you wonderfully. I never saw a bride in therichest white silk or satin look half so beautiful as you do in it."
"Ah, you flatter me, my kind friend!" Juanita said, with a blush thatenhanced her charms.
"Now sit down for a few minutes while I trim the room with the restof these roses, lilies, and orange blossoms," said her hostess, "andthen I'll go and send Mr. Keith to stay with you till I call you to theparlor."
"Ah, may I not help? I would rather," Juanita said, half imploringly."Dear lady, you must be quite exhausted with the many labors of theday."
"No, no, not at all," laughed Mrs. Baird gayly; "as my husband oftensays, I have a wonderful capacity for work. I really do believe it waswhat I was made for."
"You are never ill?"
"No, never; and what a cause for thankfulness! What earthly blessinggreater than good health?"
A little later Rupert came in to find Juanita alone, seated before thewindow, gazing out upon a beautiful landscape of prairie and forest,with richly wooded hills in the distance.
He stepped lightly across the floor, but her quick ear caught the soundof his footfalls. She turned, rose hastily, and threw herself into hisoutstretched arms.
"My beautiful! my beautiful!" he said, softly, holding her close withtenderest caresses.
"Ah, my love, my love, I would I were ten times more beautiful for yourdear sake," she responded, gazing into his face with eyes full of happytears.
"That would be quite impossible," he said, holding her off a little,the better to view her charms, then drawing her close again to repeathis caresses.
So happy in each other were they that the time did not seem long tillthey were summoned to the parlor, where the whole Baird family and theminister were in waiting.
It was a short, simple, yet impressive ceremony, and the spectators,though few in number, were very hearty and sincere in theircongratulations at its close. Rupert felt that all he needed tocomplete his happiness was the presence of his parents, brothers, andsisters--all, alas, so far away.
He was very eager to reach home, but so weary were both he and Juanitathat he had already decided to accept the kind invitation of thesenew-found friends to stay some weeks with them. Also it was absolutelynecessary they should make some preparation, in the matter of dress,for a decent appearance in civilized society.
The table spread by Mrs. Baird and her sons with the simple weddingfeast of cake and fruits, garnished with a profusion of beautiful,fragrant flowers, presented a most attractive appearance; nor were itsdelicacies found less agreeable to the palate than satisfying to theeye.
There was no revel, no intoxicating drink, though a great abundance ofdelicious lemonade, nor was the feasting prolonged to excess; there wasin fact more talk than eating and drinking, and at a primitively earlyhour all had retired, each to his own room.
"At last, love, we know beyond a question that we are truly husbandand wife," Rupert said, holding Juanita to his heart with tenderestcaresses. "Does the certainty add to your happiness, as it does tomine?"
"Yes," she murmured, softly; "oh, I am happier than ever before in allmy life!"
"Ah, it makes my heart glad to hear it! How proud I shall be to show mylittle wife to the dear ones at home. I hope to have an opportunity onMonday to send them a few lines to tell that I am yet alive and hope tobe with them in a few weeks."
He availed himself of that opportunity, writing to Dr. Landreth tobreak the news to his parents, but the letter never reached itsdestination. Hence the intense surprise of his relatives when hearrived among them.
The remainder of the journey was performed in comparative comfort.Rupert bought a pair of stout mules and a roomy wagon, which he and thehospitable Bairds stocked with everything necessary for a journey ofseveral hundred miles through a sparsely settled country.
In this the young couple travelled to New Orleans, stopping at nightat some village, farmhouse, or ranch, when any such shelter was near,at other times unharnessing and tethering their mules and sleeping intheir wagon.
The parting with the Bairds was a sorrowful one on both sides, for theyhad become sincerely attached during the weeks spent together, and itwas very unlikely they would ever meet again on earth. Their onlyconsolation was in the strong hope and expectation of a final reunionin another and better world.
Rupert and Juanita set out upon this stage of their long journey verydecently attired in garments suitable for the exigencies of that kindof travel, and carrying some changes with them.
In New Orleans they replenished their wardrobes, so that they presenteda decidedly fashionable and stylish appearance; sold the wagon andmules, and took passage on a Mississippi steamer bound for St. Louis.
The trip up the river seemed really restful after the far more toilsomemode of travel they had practised for so long. They made some pleasantacquaintances too, and altogether greatly enjoyed the voyage, with itsreturn to the
usages of civilized life.
They stayed but a few hours in St. Louis, then hurried on to PleasantPlains by the nearest and most rapid route, for Rupert was in a feverof impatience to reach home and the dear ones from whom he had been solong and sadly parted.
Such was the story told to the assembled family on the morning aftertheir arrival, and of course it was listened to with absorbing andoften painful interest, and followed up by many questions, now from oneand now from another.
It was Annis who asked, "What became of your diamond, Ru?"
"Did I say positively that it was a diamond?" he asked, in sportivetone.
"No, I believe not; but what did you do with it?"
"Sold it, little sister; sold it for five thousand dollars."
There was an exclamation of delight from all present except Juanita, towhom the fact was no news.
"Why, my good brother, you seem to have made quite a speculation out ofyour misfortune in being captured and held prisoner so long," laughedDr. Landreth.
"Yes," Rupert said, with an ardent look of love directed to hisbride. "I found a treasure there that I could have found nowhereelse, therefore do not regret all I have suffered. Though I would thesuffering had been mine alone," he added, with a tender glance at hismother's worn face and a perceptible tremble in his manly tones.
"Never mind, my dear boy," she said, laying her hand affectionatelyupon his arm and gazing with all a mother's love and pride into hishandsome face; "none of us need care for them now that they are allover and we have you safe among us once more."
"In fine, vigorous health too, I should say, from your appearance,"added the doctor.
"Yes, Charlie, your prescription has worked wonders," Rupert replied,with a happy laugh. "I never felt better in my life."
"And you are quite a rich man," the doctor went on gayly. "Yourbusiness here has thrived and increased under my fostering care, sothat there are a few thousands in bank to add to those you have broughtwith you; and besides, the fine business ready for you to step intoagain this very day if you like."
"Charlie, how can I thank you!" Rupert exclaimed with emotion, graspingthe doctor's hand with brotherly warmth.
"No thanks needed, Ru," returned the doctor, laconically. "Don, myboy," wheeling round upon him, "I don't believe one of us has askedwhat success in the search for gold you have to tell of."
"No," said the mother; "we were so glad to get sight of his face thatwe never thought of the gold."
Don gave her a loving smile. "And I," he said, "have been so taken upwith the happiness of being with you all again, and the return of mybrother, 'who was dead and is alive again, was lost and is found,' thatI have not thought of it myself. I have been moderately successful, sothat I have enough to give me a fair start in business."
"I'm very glad, Don," said Rupert. "And if you shouldn't have quiteenough, you won't be too proud to take a little help from your olderbrother, will you?"
"Or your brother-in-law?" supplemented the doctor.
"Or your father?" Mr. Keith added, with an affectionate look and smile."I am abundantly able, and have, perhaps, the best right."
Don's face beamed with happiness. "Thank you all," he said.
"No, I shouldn't be too proud to accept help from any of you, fatherespecially; but I hope not to need it."
"But, Rupert," said Wallace, inquiringly, "I suppose you had to use apart of your five thousand for travelling expenses?"
"No, you needn't suppose any such thing, my good brother," repliedRupert, with a good-humored laugh; "the gold I told you Juanitaand I picked up was more than sufficient for that and all otherexpenditures--for clothing and so forth--in fact we still have a fewhundreds of it left."
"Fortunate creatures that you are!" said Zillah. "And yet I don't thinkten times what you have would pay for that long captivity among theIndians."
"No," said Rupert, "I would not voluntarily endure it again for that,or twice that; though now that it is over I am not sorry to have hadthe experience. Are you for your share of it, love?" to Juanita,sitting by his side.
"Ah, my husband," lifting to him eyes beaming with love and happiness,"I can never, never regret anything that brought us together!"
"What beautifully correct English Juanita speaks," remarked Mildred,admiringly.
"Yes, I think so," said Rupert, "and take all the credit to myself,since I have been her only teacher; she could not speak a word of itwhen we first met."
"He first stole my heart," said Juanita, with a low, musical laugh,"and then it was not so difficult to make me understand and speak hislanguage."
"No," said Rupert; "if there was any theft it was on your side; yourobbed me of my heart with the first glance of your lovely eyes, sothat when I got possession of yours it was only a fair exchange, which,according to the proverb, is no robbery."
Juanita looked at him with pretended reproach in her beautiful eyes."He always gets the better of me when we quarrel like this; he alwayswill have the last word."
"Ah, but you shouldn't let him," Zillah said, with a merry look at herhusband. "Wallace knows better than to expect it always. Don't you,dear?"
"Oh yes, of course," laughed Wallace; "but for all that I'm not apt tostop till I've freed my mind; and sometimes my wife is wise enough notto answer back unless with soft words or a merry jest that conquers myinclination to be disagreeable."
"She's a very nice, wise little woman," remarked the doctor, "yet,I think, excelled to some extent by her elder sister," glancing atMildred as he spoke.
"Probably the possessive pronoun has not a little to do with thatopinion, Charlie," Mildred said, with a happy smile.
"Rupert," said Don, "did you never lose your way while crossing thosealmost boundless Texas prairies?"
"Once we did," replied Rupert, "but finding a compass after some littlesearch we were able to go on in the right direction."
"A compass?" cried Annis; "what sort of compass could be found outthere?"
"It is a little plant which grows there, can always be found, andunder all circumstances, in all kinds of weather--sunshine, rain, orfrost--invariably turns its leaves and flowers to the north. Mr. Bairdpointed it out to me, and told me this about it before we left hisranch."
"What a wonderful provision of nature!" exclaimed Wallace.
"How kindly God provides for all the needs of His creatures," said Mrs.Keith.
Silence fell upon them for a moment. It was broken by an exclamationfrom Juanita.
"What a happy family, my Rupert! How many brothers and sisters, and allso kind and loving to each other."
"And these are not all, my Juanita," he said. "Ah, if only Ada andCyril were here!" turning to his mother as he spoke.
"Your father has already written for Cyril to come home to see hislong-lost brothers," she said, "but Ada we can hardly hope to see for ayear or two yet."
"Is she happy?" he asked.
"Very happy in her chosen work, as well as in her husband and two sweetchildren."
"Dear girl," he murmured, "I trust she will have many stars in hercrown of rejoicing. You too, mother. What a good work you have done intraining her for hers."
"To God be all the glory," she said; "without His blessing all myteachings would have availed nothing. And greatly as I miss my deardaughter, I feel that He has highly honored me in making me the motherof a devoted missionary of the cross.
"Ah, Rupert, you have had an opportunity to do a like work for theMaster while an involuntary dweller among a heathen people."
She looked at him inquiringly as she spoke.
"Yes," he said, "and I made some effort to improve it. I told the old,old story to all whom I could get to listen, and sometimes I thoughttheir hearts were touched. I trust the seed sown may some day spring upand bring forth fruit, though I shall know nothing of it till we meetbefore the great white throne.
"There was one--an old man, who was ill a long while, dying ofconsumption--of whom I have strong hope.
"I did what I could
to relieve his physical suffering, and he was verygrateful. That made him the more willing to listen to my talk of theevil of sin, the danger of eternal death, and God's appointed way ofsalvation.
"At first he heard me with apparently perfect indifference, but aftersome time he became deeply convicted of sin, and at length, as I hadreason to believe, sincerely converted.
"'Was it for me? for _me_? Did He die to save _me_?' he asked againand again, the tears falling fast from his aged eyes. 'And His bloodcleanses from all sin, _all sin_?' he repeated over and over again.Then holding up his hands, 'These hands are red--red with the bloodof my foes,' he said. 'I have been on the war-path many, many times;I have taken very many scalps; I have slain men, women, and littlechildren. Can His blood wash away such stains?'
"'Yes,' I said. 'Let me read you the very words from God's own Book;'and I did so, for I had my Bible in my hand.
"'The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin. And Heis mighty to save,' I added; then read again from the Book,
"'He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God byHim, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.'
"Then I read again from the Book, 'It is Christ that died, yea, ratherthat is risen again, who is ever at the right hand of God, who alsomaketh intercession for us,' and spoke more fully than I had before ofthe resurrection, and of Christ as our Advocate with the Father, theone Mediator between God and man.
"He listened eagerly, hanging upon my words as if he felt that the lifeof his soul depended upon his full understanding of them.
"And I think he did fully comprehend at last, for such light and peacecame into his face as almost transfigured it; one could not havebelieved it the face of a savage. And the expression never changedduring the few hours that he lived.
"I stayed with him to the end, and it was perfectly calm and peaceful."
Rupert paused, overcome by emotion. Juanita crept closer to him andput her hand in his, while her eyes sought his face with a look ofsympathy and love.
He pressed the little hand fondly, giving her a reassuring smile. Thenaddressing his mother again, "I shall always feel," he said, "that thesalvation of that one soul more than repays all I have suffered inconsequence of my capture by the Indians."
"Yes," she said, "it is worth more than the sufferings we have allendured in consequence of that, to us, dreadful event. For they werebut temporary, and that soul will live forever."