Part 35 (2/2)
”Lillian has told me so much about him that he will not seem like a stranger.”
”Lillian's lovers are our friends, my good wife; so he will come in for a share of attention.”
The hour came when a carriage containing the happy trio rolled up to the door of Mrs. Cheevers' very inviting home on Race street, where Mrs.
Cheevers unceremoniously rushed out with open arms to greet them. The host was not far behind. When the first joyous greetings had partially subsided, he took Colonel St. Clair under his kind protection, and helped him gently to an easy chair in the warm, cheerful parlor.
”You will excuse me,” called out Colonel Hamilton, as he stepped back into the carriage; ”there is a little woman down on Twentieth street who wants a kiss from her soldier boy. I'll be back in time for that roast beef!” And the carriage turned the corner and was out of sight.
”Well, that is cool! But, wife, we are not so smart as we take ourselves to be. Why did we not have that mother who wants to be kissed up here, so that it could all be done at once? It is terrible to have such things dragging.”
”I did ask her and insisted, but she said 'No' every time. 'Pearl will come right here,' she declared, 'and it is in his own home where I want to give him welcome.'”
”n.o.ble woman!” interposed St. Clair from his chair by the grate.
”You say she is gone?” asked Mrs. Hamilton in her aunt's dressing room, where she had been escorted by the hostess herself.
”We tried hard to have her remain, but no amount of persuasion could accomplish it. She is dreadfully troubled about something. I attempted to draw her out, but you know how difficult such a thing would be. And, having watched her manner and face, I do believe that something weighs heavily on her mind.”
”She need not have flown from me. My mother's reputation is sacred to her daughter. She should have known this. And you have no idea where she has gone?”
”Not in the least. She said she had been waiting for letters before going to her winter quarters, and was surprised that she received nothing from Charles.”
”It is too bad! But, Auntie, I have much I want to pour into your dear heart, for somehow I feel that in stirring up its pure waters, I may step in and, perhaps, be healed a little!” and she kissed the smiling face. ”What should I do without you? But I fear the gentlemen though will think we have deserted them.”
There was so much to be said; so much calling to be done, and such a large circle of friends to receive, that it was not until the third day, when the dinner was being given at the Girard in honor of the wounded soldier (to which Colonel St. Clair had been officially invited), that Mrs. Cheevers and Lillian found an opportunity for the ”stirring of the waters.”
”Do not let me frighten you, Auntie; and may the dear Father keep me from injustice and wrong! How shall I tell you? There is no use in trying to smooth it over; I do believe that up to six months ago my child lived!”
”Lillian!”
”Yes, I do believe it! George St. Clair, and the whole family saw her!
She was just sixteen, and had the same eyes and ways that I have! It was remarked by all, and my mother, at times, betrayed an unusual degree of interest in her.”
”Where was this?”
”In Savannah. She was the adopted daughter of a Mrs. g.a.y.l.o.r.d, who was visiting friends in that city, and farther down in the country. I did want to see my mother so much! A dark suspicion oppresses me!”
”Lillian!”
”I cannot help it; and you will not blame me when I have told you all!
My mother took that child into a carriage, with only one servant, a dastardly coward, and drove one evening down the river, in sight of the beach; then, getting her to alight, that (as she said), a better view of the sea might be obtained, the child was kidnapped in the darkness and borne away; and with every effort that could be made, no trace has ever been found of her! O, Auntie, _that was my child_! Will G.o.d permit such a deed to remain uncovered? Will not his anger search it out?”
”But, my dear Lillian, you must have greater proof than this before you so grievously accuse another! There is some mistake; she _could_ not have done such a deed! Why not write to Mrs. g.a.y.l.o.r.d and learn where she found the child, and all that she knows about her?”
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