Part 27 (2/2)
She could not resist the pleading of the voice, and, besides, she had expected to see him again; but how could she read to him.
”I was intending to brush away a little of the dust of morning labor before coming to you,” she remarked with a smile as she entered and took a seat beside the bed.
”Do a better thing, Anna, and brush away the dust from my hopes and out of my life! Would not that be a more merciful act?”
”Can I do all that, George?” and she laid her hand soothingly upon his white forehead.
”You ought to be able to do so, since it was your hands scattered it.”
There was a long silence.
”Is it your purpose to go home and leave me here with your b.l.o.o.d.y spectre to haunt and distract me? Do I deserve such punishment? Should loyalty to my native land be crowned with such terrible thorns? You have confessed, Anna, that a few months ago you loved me, is that most holy attribute so easily uprooted? If so, then I have been mistaken in woman's heart?” He was looking in her face, that was thinner and, it may be, paler than he had ever seen it, and his manly nature came to the rescue. ”Forgive me, Anna, I will not be so cruel! There is somewhere a G.o.d who will make all right in His own good time, as Old Auntie would say; and last night as Toby lay snoring on the lounge yonder, I thought it all over. Yes, there is a G.o.d; and it may be He is at work in this great war problem, and when the final result is summed up, we shall be glad that the storm pa.s.sed this way, because of the happy issues. Who knows? But, dear girl, a.s.sure me of my guiltlessness in creating the blast, or the terrible lightning that is desolating so many hearts and homes! Will you?”
She raised her eyes to his face, and a smile broke over her own. ”How low are the mighty fallen!” and a low, rippling laugh mingled itself with her words. ”Did you ever imagine that I thought you such a great man, so strong and powerful?”
”My own Anna!” he exclaimed, taking her hand pa.s.sionately in his. ”You are not going to leave me comfortless, but will wipe away the mold from hopes, and thus brighten up the future by letting the suns.h.i.+ne in upon them again.” He drew the beaming face down to his own and their lips sealed the contract of mutual love and forgiveness.
”I did not mean to grieve you,” she said at last, ”but the blow was a heavy one, and all things seemed to combine their powers to keep my 'phantom' in active existence, but they are gone now.”
”Tell me that no more shall this murderous spectre stand between us.
This terrible war may have crippled me for life; my home and fortune be taken from me through its ravages; but if you love and trust me, I shall, notwithstanding all, be the happiest of men.”
”Is the wound then, so very bad.”
”The surgeon has more than hinted that my days of soldiering are over, but was that all you heard of my long speech, made especially for your ear?” he laughed. ”You would not care to unite your destinies with a cripple, and how would it be if the fortune was also gone? O, Anna!”
”Do not, George. I had not thought of all that, my mind is not capable of taking such fanciful leaps; I was only thinking how sad all this would be for one like you. But I could not be sorry if a.s.sured that you would fight no more.”
”Even though a broken back was my preventive?”
”The glimpses that come to us at this moment from the overshadowed future are too bright to be flecked with such dark presentiments; I cannot believe them. But there is Mrs. Howard's steps, on the stairs.
How kind she has been, and what a miserable nurse I have proven myself.”
”Oh pshaw! I have improved more during the last half hour, under your fostering care, than I should have done in three weeks of her nursing.
But you must not go yet or there will be great danger of a serious relapse! I will send the good soul to Jericho as soon as I have swallowed her potion, for I have much I want to say while the opportunity is ours.”
”I think it will be necessary for you to begin again on these fever drops, as I see your cheeks are quite red this afternoon,” carelessly remarked the good lady, as she placed the spoon to his lips. There was a roguish twinkle in her eye, however, which Anna did not fail to perceive.
”Hang the fever drops!” exclaimed the patient; ”I am ever so much better, and am pondering the propriety of going home with Miss Pierson to-morrow.”
The kind lady shook with suppressed mirth as she went from the room, for her keen eyes had looked deeper than ever before.
In the evening Ellen and her father arrived. It had been a weary morning to Anna, for she had waited their coming with an anxious heart, but the sky was clear now and she returned their greetings with fervor, wearing her great grief, it was true, but the joys of the previous hours had so covered it that the dear ones were astonished to find her bright beneath the shadow of sorrow.
”My poor son,” exclaimed Mr. St. Clair, as the first greetings were over. ”Yes, Anna; show us the way to him.” She obeyed, and as they were ascending the stairs, the father remarked, ”I have no doubt we shall receive a favorable report of your nursing, for I am convinced by the pallor of your cheeks that there have been sad hours of watching and anxiety.”
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