Part 19 (1/2)

Mr. Grant evidently understood the frame of mind which she described, and when she came to her final interview with the dying girl, he could hardly repress a tear in his own eyes. f.a.n.n.y omitted nothing, but told every incident, and repeated all she could remember of the conversation of poor Jenny,--and hardly a word of it was forgotten,--confirming her statement by exhibiting the anchor on her bosom, and the paper given her by the dying saint.

Mr. Grant read the paper, and the tears came to his eyes in spite of his efforts to suppress them.

”For her sake, f.a.n.n.y, I forgive you,” said he.

”I do not deserve to be forgiven, sir,” sobbed f.a.n.n.y.

”I could not resist such an appeal as this,” answered Mr. Grant, glancing at the paper again.

”I would have come home then, when poor Jenny was gone, but I thought I ought to stay and do what I could for the poor woman;” and f.a.n.n.y continued her narrative, describing everything that took place at Mrs.

Kent's till her departure, including her visit to Dr. Porter's, the funeral, and her confession to the bereaved mother.

”Mrs. Kent felt very bad when I told her that I had stolen the money; and she promised to pay you all I had spent for her. She gave me this note for you,” continued f.a.n.n.y, handing him the paper.

Mr. Grant glanced at it, and put it in his pocket.

”f.a.n.n.y, if your penitence is sincere, as I hope and believe it is, I shall be thankful that this event has happened,” said he. ”I should have been glad of an opportunity to do what you have done with my money. It would have been wrong for you to steal it, even to relieve the distress of so needy and deserving a person as the soldier's wife; but you have put it to a good use. It is impossible for me to doubt your story, but I wish to confirm it. When you have had your breakfast, you may go to the city with me, and we will visit Mrs. Kent.”

”I have told the whole truth, Mr. Grant; and I am willing to do anything you say. I did not ask or expect to be forgiven.”

”I could have forgiven you, even without the request of the dying girl.”

”I do not deserve it. I expected to be sent to prison,” sobbed the penitent.

”I never thought of sending you to prison, or to any such place. I say I forgive you, but I shall be compelled to send you to your uncle's in Minnesota.”

”I am willing to go,” replied f.a.n.n.y, who, a week before, would have deemed this a greater hards.h.i.+p than being sent to prison.

f.a.n.n.y went to her breakfast. Mrs. Green and the servants were surprised, not to say disgusted, to see Mr. Grant treat her with so much tenderness.

CHAPTER XII.

THE NEW HOME.

When f.a.n.n.y had finished her breakfast, she put on her best clothes, and started for New York with Mr. Grant, who, perhaps, was more desirous of a.s.sisting the mother of Jenny than of confirming the story to which he had just listened with so much interest and sympathy. We need not say that the narrative of the returned wanderer was found to be true in every respect, or that Mr. Grant destroyed the poor woman's note of hand, by which she promised to pay the sums f.a.n.n.y had expended in her behalf.

Mrs. Kent, while she condemned and regretted the misdeeds of f.a.n.n.y, was enthusiastic in the praise she bestowed upon her kindness to the dying girl, and of her tenderness and devotion in those last trying hours.

Mr. Grant could not doubt that a great change had come over f.a.n.n.y; that she earnestly intended to lead a true and good life. Whether she would persevere, and in any degree realize her present high aspirations, remained yet to be demonstrated; but he was hopeful. The solemn and impressive scene through which she had pa.s.sed had left deep impressions upon her mind and heart, which he hoped would prove as lasting as they were strong.

Mr. Grant called with f.a.n.n.y to see Dr. Porter; and the benevolent physician gladdened his heart by the warm commendations he lavished upon f.a.n.n.y; and, without knowing of her misdeeds, he declared she was a treasure in whom her friends ought continually to rejoice. It was not necessary that he should know what evil she had done, for he might never see her again, and Mr. Grant's business with him related solely to the future comfort of the soldier's family. The doctor had done everything that could be done for Mrs. Kent, and his family were so deeply interested in the poor woman that she was not likely to suffer in the future. Mr. Grant promised to see him again, and cooperate with him in doing what might be needed for her comfort and happiness.

Mr. Grant and f.a.n.n.y returned to Woodville by the noon train. The penitent girl felt that she had been forgiven, and the kindness of her friend made her all the more determined to be faithful to the resolutions she had made. She had not hoped to escape the punishment she merited, and had not been prepared for the tender words which had been addressed to her when it was evident that her penitence was real.

”f.a.n.n.y,” said Mr. Grant, as they entered the library, on her return, ”I shall, as I said before, be obliged to send you to your uncle in Minnesota.”

”I am willing to go, sir,” replied she, humbly.

”I understand you have frequently declared that you would not go.”