CHAPTER XXI.--RETRIBUTION AT LAST.
It was at Chicago that Will Raymond parted with Mr. Rossmore and thedoctor, for he was anxious to get back to New York, as he knew hismother had not been very well when he left.
In vain did Mr. Rossmore urge him to accept a cheque for a large amountfor his most valuable services, for the boy was firm in his refusal,taking only sufficient for his expenses.
Two boxes, one marked for Mrs. Raymond, the other for Pearl, Mr.Rossmore also gave the youth for his mother and sister, and, with thefeeling that he had done his duty well, and would win the praise of hischief, Will set out on his return to New York.
It was just supper-time, after an absence of one month, that he knockedat the door of his home, and heard a voice say: "Come in!"
In he walked, and, with a cry of joy, the arms of Mrs. Raymond wereabout her son, while Pearl clung to his hand in warm welcome.
"Oh, brother! how like a man you have grown; but you did not lose yourgold badge, did you?" cried Pearl.
"No, sis, I have it safe, and more, for this was a present to me," andhe exhibited his watch and chain to the delight of his mother andsister.
"And here is something for you, mother, a present from the same kindgentleman," and when Mrs. Raymond untied a packet he gave her, a pair ofsuperb diamond earrings were revealed.
"Oh, mother!" cried Pearl.
"And this is for you, sis, from the same source."
Pearl opened her box with trembling hands, and took from a velvet case anecklace of pearls.
"Mr. Rossmore was determined to pay me after all," said Will.
"But, my son, tell us about these superb presents," Mrs. Raymond said.
"I will, mother, and it is a long, strange story," and the Boy Detectivetold the story of his travels.
"We cannot give these presents back, can we, Will, for they ill becomePearl and I in our poverty," said Mrs. Raymond.
"No, mother, for it would deeply offend good Mr. Rossmore, and he wasdetermined to repay me in some way; but I intend to be rich some day,and then your presents won't be amiss; but, mother, did you say that youknew Mr. Rossmore?"
"I said, Will, that I knew a gentleman once of that name," and the womanhastily wiped away a tear.
"But, mother, the strangest of all, and which I forgot to tell you, wasthe story he told me about his home, and how his wife's cousin andadopted sister had treated the farmer I saved from the robbers.
"And the view of his home was just like the painting you gave ColonelIvey, and I seemed to recognize it as soon as I saw it, while both thefarmer, Mr. Kent Lomax--"
"What name did you say, Will?" and Mrs. Raymond sprang to her feet,white and trembling.
"The name of the farmer, mother, Kent Lomax," said Will, in amazement athis mother's excitement.
"And you have seen that man, Kent Lomax?" again she asked, hoarsely.
"Yes, mother; did you know him?"
Unheeding the question, she said: "Tell me of him."
"Well, mother, he is a tall, handsome man, with a stern face, but a kindone, and he is a rich farmer, living near the home of Mr. Rossmore. Hewas very good to me, and I felt sorry for him when Mr. Rossmore told mehe had been engaged to marry Mrs. Rossmore's sister, a young andbeautiful girl, whose home had been at the Mill Farm.
"But there had come a wicked city man down there, and though Mr. Lomaxhad saved his life, he had made the young lady love him and had run offwith her. It was a terrible blow, for the mother of the young lady diedof a broken heart--"
"Died!" groaned Mrs. Raymond, and then she said in a voice that washoarse and quivering: "Go on! what more did you hear, my son?"
"Mr. Rossmore told me that the farmer, Kent Lomax, followed the runawaycouple to Philadelphia, and fought a duel with the wicked man who stolehis sweetheart, and received a wound that nearly cost him his life; butsince then they have never heard of Mrs. Rossmore's sister, or herhusband, for he was caught cheating at cards soon after and driven outof the city by those who had been his friends. But I felt so sorry forMr. Lomax, mother, for he is such a splendid man."
"And the father of this girl who so wickedly fled from her home?" askedMrs. Raymond in the same hoarse whisper.
"He died some years ago, and was buried in the family burying-ground;but, mother, I have something else to show you, and it is this goldwatch, with a small piece of chain attached, which I found in the graveof Willie Rossmore, and it bears the name on it of Ed. Ellis, the mannow in prison, and who was the comrade of Night Hawk Jerry."
"_Ed. Ellis!_ let me see the watch!" and Mrs. Raymond grasped it fromWill's hand and glanced at the name.
"Yes, Ed Ellis, _his friend_," she gasped, and as she did so her headfell back, and her lips crimsoned with her life-blood.
"Oh, Pearl! mother has a hemorrhage! Quick! run for Doctor Churchill!"cried Will, supporting his mother in his arms, while his sister boundedaway to fetch the physician, whom Mrs. Raymond had been compelled tosend for on several occasions.
Pearl soon returned, for fortunately she had met the doctor almost atthe door, and under his care the hemorrhage was stayed and Mrs. Raymondwas greatly relieved.
"You must keep her very quiet, and watch her carefully, for this hasbeen brought on by some sudden shock," said the doctor to Will, as hedeparted, promising to send a faithful nurse to take care of the poorinvalid.
The nurse came and in the morning Mrs. Raymond appeared much better;but she was very pale and weak, and her face had become haggard fromsuffering; but she whispered:
"I must live for you, my children, bitter as life is to me, and I willdo so, for you are my all in this world."
With a heart too full to speak Will kissed his mother and went out toreport to Captain Daly, the poor woman saying aloud as he left the room:"My punishment is greater than I can bear, for my act, I now know placedmy poor mother in her grave, and nearly cost Kent Lomax his life. I knewnot of this duel, for _he_ never told me. But I erred, and I havesuffered, and now a fearful retribution has come upon me; but, for thesake of my children I will cling to life until they are old enough to dowithout me," and closing her eyes, while her lips moved as if in prayer,the poor woman sank into a deep slumber.