Part 13 (1/2)
The next moment he was shaking hands with the entire party, coming last of all to Amy Lawrence.
”They told me of your being here,” he said, looking straight into her clear, beautiful eyes; ”and I thought I might find you at Mrs. Marsden's.
She was our best friend when we were in Honolulu. They told me, too, that you desired to go by the Doric, but feared she would be crowded,” he continued, turning to Mr. Prime. ”There is one vacant stateroom now; its occupants have decided to stay over and visit the islands. There will be, I think, another.” And drawing a letter from an inner pocket he calmly turned to Nita, now shrinking almost fearfully behind her sister. ”The colonel gave this to me to hand to you, Mrs. Frost, on the chance of your being here. He will arrive by next week's steamer, and, pardon me, it is something I think you should see at once as a change in your plans may be necessary.”
It was vain for Margaret to interpose. The letter was safely lodged in her sister's hands, and with so significant a message that it had to be opened and read without delay. Gayly excusing herself, and with a low reverence and comprehensive smile to the a.s.sembled party, she ushered her sister into the long parlor, and the curtain fell behind them. There followed a few minutes of brisk conference upon the _lanai_, the Marsdens pleading against, the father and daughter for, immediate return to the hotel, there to claim the vacated rooms aboard the steamer. In the eager discussion, pro and con, both young soldiers joined, both saying ”go,”
and promising to follow by the Sedgwick. In this family council, despite the vivid interest Armstrong felt in the result, neither Amy Lawrence nor himself took any part. Side by side at the snowy railing over the breaking sea they stood almost silent listeners. Suddenly there came from the front again the sound of hoofs and wheels, loud and distinct at the start, then rapidly dying away with the increasing distance. Miss Lawrence turned and looked inquiringly into the eyes she well knew were fixed upon her. Mrs. Marsden hesitated one moment, then stepped across the _lanai_, peered into the parlor and entered. It was a minute before she returned, and in that minute the decisive vote was cast, the carriage ordered.
”Oh, I ought to have known how it would be if I left you a moment!” she cried despairingly, on her reappearance, a little folded paper in her hand. ”But at least you must stay half an hour. We can telephone direct to the dock and secure the staterooms, if go you must on the Doric. Yes,”
she continued, lowering her voice, ”they are not going farther until Colonel Frost comes. Mrs. Garrison explains that her sister was really too ill and too weak to come out here, but she thought the drive might do her good. She thought best to slip quietly away with her, and bids me say good-night to you all.”
So, when next day the Doric sailed, four new names appeared upon the pa.s.senger list, and the last men down the stage already ”trembling on the rise,” were two young fellows in white uniform, who turned as they sprang to the dock and waved their jaunty caps. ”Join you in ten days at 'Frisco!” shouted the shorter of the two, gazing upward and backward at the quartette on the promenade deck. ”Oh! beg a thousand pardons,” he added hastily, as he b.u.mped against some slender object, and, wheeling about to pick up a flimsy white fan, he found himself face to face with Witchie Garrison, kerchief waving, beaming, smiling, throwing kisses innumerable to the party he had so lately left. The hot blood rushed to his forehead, an angry light to his eyes, as she nodded blithely, forbearingly, forgivingly at him. ”Dear boy,” she cried, in her clear, penetrating treble, ”how could you be expected to see any one after leaving--her?” But Gov.'s arm was linked in his at the very instant and led him glowering away, leaving her close to the edge of the crowded dock, smiling sweetness, blessing and bliss upon a silent and unresponsive group, and waving kerchief and kisses to them until, far from sh.o.r.e, the Doric headed out to sea.
They were nearing home again. Day and night for nearly a week the good s.h.i.+p had borne them steadily onward over a sea of deepest blue, calm and unruffled as the light that shone in Amy's eyes. Hours of each twenty-four Armstrong had been the constant companion, at first of the trio, then of the two--for Mr. Prime had found a kindred spirit in a veteran merchant homeward bound from China--then of one alone; for Miss Prime had found another interest, and favor in the eyes of a young tourist paying his first visit to our sh.o.r.es, and so it happened that before the voyage, all too brief, was half over, Amy Lawrence and Armstrong walked the s.p.a.cious deck for hours alone or sat in sheltered nooks, gazing out upon the sea. The soft, summer breezes of the first few days had given place to keener, chillier air. The fog ahead told of the close proximity of the Farallones. Heavier wraps had replaced the soft fabrics of the Hawaiian saunterings. But warmth and gladness, coupled with a strange new shyness in his presence, were glowing in her fresh young heart. One day she had said to him: ”You have not told me how you came to leave there--just now,” and it was a moment before he answered.
”That was the surgeons' doing. They sent me back from the front because the wound did not properly heal, and then ordered a sea voyage until it did; but I turn back at once from San Francisco.”
She was silent a few seconds. This was unlooked for and unwelcome news.
”I thought,” she said, ”at least Gov. heard Dr. Frank say it would be four months before you could use that arm.” She plucked at the fringe of the heavy shawl he had wrapped about her as she reclined in the low steamer chair; but the white lids veiled her eyes.
”Possibly,” answered Armstrong; ”but you see I do not have to use it much at any time. I'm all right otherwise, and there will soon be need of me.”
”More campaigning?” she anxiously inquired, her eyes one moment uplifting.
”Probably. Those fellows have no idea of quitting.”