Part 43 (1/2)
”This, Pearl, is the picture of the young lady in whom I was so much interested.” She held it up before him.
He started back in surprise. ”Who is she?” he gasped. ”I should say it was yours, dress and all, just as I saw you first in this very house.
Who is she?”
”Look at that brow and the _hauteur_ of the compressed lips. They are not mine.”
”But the eyes and the queenly bearing, the slender form and white dress--. Taken as a whole, there could scarcely be a better representation of yourself when fourteen.”
”Believe me, my husband, for what I am going to tell you is true. That picture is our child!”
”Lillian, are you mad?” And he started to his feet and stood gazing at her. ”Our child! You told me she was dead. And how can this be?”
”She is ours! Our Lily-Pearl! She did not die, but was taken from me and given to the wife of a fisherman who was to care for her for a paltry sum; but G.o.d interfered and has twice saved her from the sea and many dangers, and she is now called the adopted daughter of this Mrs.
g.a.y.l.o.r.d, for whose husband I have been pleading.”
”Lillian, are you awake? Or am I dreaming? Tell me again. Is this our child?”
”Our Lily-Pearl! Worthy the name she bears, and as true and n.o.ble as your child must be. Can you forgive? There is a long story for you to listen to, but it was to hide her wrongs that the wicked sea now haunts our mother's weakened brain. The blood upon her hands is the mark conscience has placed there, but how thankful am I that no such crime blackens her soul.”
He was walking the floor with rapid steps, and apparently not listening, for he held in his hand the picture that was entrancing him.
Lillian said no more, but waited. At last he stopped before her and asked huskily, ”Why did you not bring her to me? This is cruel! You have feasted your eyes on her beauty, heard her sweet voice speak words of love that have satisfied your heart, and now is this Mrs. g.a.y.l.o.r.d to retain her and rob me? I believe I am angry with you, my precious wife.”
”No, no, Pearl; she is coming to us just as soon as we are ready to receive her. I could not well burden them farther here, and so I waited to consult you. Mrs. g.a.y.l.o.r.d is very sad about giving her up, but she is ours; and Lily is anxious to meet her father.”
”Then I shall go for her. If there is no room in Philadelphia for the daughter of Pearl Hamilton, then I will take her to Was.h.i.+ngton with me.
Get yourself ready, for to-morrow we start for Boston. I will see this child, our daughter.”
[Ill.u.s.tration]
CHAPTER x.x.xIX.
THE HAZY MISTS ARE LIFTING.
Colonel and Mrs. Hamilton arrived in Boston in due time. There had been long talks by the way, much questioning and wondering, but true to the dictates of a n.o.ble, generous soul, he had said, ”Notwithstanding all, I will forgive.”
When the train left the station for Kirkham on the following morning, many eyes were turned on the glittering colonel who, with his wife, entered the car and took a seat near the door.
”Let us go farther on”; requested Lillian, as he stepped back for her to enter. ”There is a seat yonder.”
”Yes, but twelve steps farther away from her”; and he laughed at the absurdities of his own heart.
”Do you know,” she said at last, ”there is a greater conflict before you than any in which you have engaged during the war? Mrs. g.a.y.l.o.r.d is no enemy, yet I believe you will be hardly able to resist her pleadings.”
”Shall I remove my regimental straps now, or wait to lay my sword at her feet?”
”You may wait, but be a.s.sured it must be done! You can laugh now but you will pity her. Lily is fresh, sweet and pure, and has nestled close under the drooping wings of her pining love, and a wound must be made in the severing. Can you do this?”