Chapter Nineteenth.
"Happy in this, she is not yet so old But she may learn; happier than this, She is not bred so dull but she can learn; Happiest of all is that her gentle spirit Commits itself to yours to be directed, As from her lord, her governor, her king." SHAKESPEARE.
"What do you think of the new member of the family, Cousin Flora?"asked Dr. Landreth.
It was the afternoon of the day succeeding the arrival of Don, andRupert and his wife. Dr. Landreth had a call to the country, and hadinvited Flora to drive with him.
They had left the town behind, and were bowling rapidly along a smooth,level road running through woods gorgeous in their autumn robes ofcrimson and gold, russet, green, and brown.
Flora had been among the listeners to Rupert's story of his andJuanita's captivity and subsequent wanderings, and had, as the doctornoticed at the time, furtively watched Juanita very closely.
"I admire her, of course," was the reply.
"But why of course?" he asked.
"You all do; no one could help it. She is very dark, but extremelyhandsome in spite of that."
Rupert was at that very time asking his mother that same question,having gone to her room and found her there alone.
"I think her sweet and beautiful in appearance and manners," Mrs. Keithanswered, smiling up at her tall son as he stood at her side, andmaking room for him on the couch where she sat. "There has not beentime for me to form any further judgment," she continued as he acceptedher invitation, taking her hand fondly into his, "but I assure you I amdisposed to the very most favorable opinion, both because you love herand of all she has done for you. Perhaps but for her faithful nursingof my wounded boy I should never have seen his dear face again."
Her voice trembled with emotion as she spoke the last words.
"Very likely not, dear mother," Rupert said, supporting her with hisarm. "But setting aside the gratitude, which is certainly her due,from me at least, I am sure you will soon learn to love her for hermany very lovable qualities."
"I do not doubt it, my son. And it rejoices my heart to see how greatis your mutual love. I trust it may but increase with years, as hasyour father's and mine."
"I hope so indeed, mother. It has always been very evident to me thatyou and my father loved each other dearly. I do not remember ever tohave heard either one address an unkind word to the other."
"No," she said; "your father has been the best of husbands to mealways."
Then after a little pause, "Has your wife any education, Rupert?"
"Not much besides what I have contrived to give her myself in the threeyears we have been together," he said. "But I have really succeeded ingiving her a good deal of general information orally, and have taughther to read English, using my Bible as a text-book, and to write, usinga pointed stick and the sand.
"I had thought of placing her in a boarding-school for a time, but shewas so distressed at the very suggestion--declaring that it would breakher heart to be separated from me--that I have quite given up the idea.
"She is very bright, quick to catch an idea, and more than willing tostudy under my tuition, to please me, if for no other reason.
"And she has great musical talent. I must get her to sing for you allthis evening. You will be delighted with her voice and her execution."
"Well, my boy, I am inclined to think she will make you happy, so faras a wife can. She is very graceful and ladylike, and I think youwill succeed in educating her as far as necessary for her happinessand yours. I suppose she knows little or nothing of housewifelyaccomplishments; but those too she can learn, and you will live with usfor the present at least, I trust, if not permanently, and if she willlet me I shall gladly teach her all I know of such matters."
"Dear mother, thank you," he said, his eyes shining with pleasure; "shecould not have a more competent or kinder instructor, and I know shewill be glad to avail herself of your kind offer, if only for my sake.
"She tried to learn as much as possible from good Mrs. Baird whilewe were there, and succeeded well too, I thought, in everything sheattempted."
On leaving his mother Rupert went in search of his wife. He found heralone in the parlor, hovering over the open piano.
"O Rupert," she cried, looking up almost pleadingly into his face, "doyou think I may try it? would any one be displeased?"
"Certainly you may try it if you wish," he replied, half laughing atthe absurdity of her doubt; "there is no danger of any objection beingraised; but can you play on it?"
She answered only with a sportive, delighted arch smile, seated herselfat the instrument, and dashed off into a brilliant waltz.
Rupert was in raptures.
"Why, Juanita!" he exclaimed, as she struck the last notes, then turnedto look up in his face with dancing eyes, "you never told me you couldplay the piano."
"No, senor; you never asked if I could."
The different members of the family had come flocking in, drawn by themusic, and wondering who the player was, for the tune was new to themand the touch different from that of any of themselves.
"Give us a song, love," requested the delighted young husband.
She complied at once, and the effect upon the small audience was fullyup to Rupert's expectation. She had a magnificent voice, strong, full,of great compass and flexibility, sweet and clear as the warble of abird; a voice that would have made her fortune as a prima donna; norwas it entirely uncultivated.
How they crowded round her and poured out their thanks and praises,begging for another and still another till the tea-bell summoned themaway to their evening meal!
Juanita's playing and singing were destined henceforth to form one ofthe greatest enjoyments of the entire family.
Cyril came home for a short visit, and for several weeks they all(except the doctor, whose patients had to be attended to) gavethemselves up, for the most of the time, to the enjoyment of eachother's society. It was so delightful to be together again after thelong separation of Rupert and Don from the others, that they seemedunable to remain apart for any length of time.
They gathered now at one of the three houses, now at another. One daythe mother was the hostess, then Mildred, then Zillah; but at whicheverdwelling they congregated all were perfectly at home, Juanita verysoon as much so as the rest, for they all gave her a daughter's andsister's place, calling her by those names, while the little ones weretaught to say, "Aunt Nita."
She was a trifle shy and reserved at first, but her timidity soonmelted away under the sunshine of love that constantly shone upon her.She grew sweetly confiding and affectionate, not to her husband only,but to all his relatives.
Influenced by an ardent desire to be and do all he could wish, shesilently took note of all the housewifely ways of his mother andsisters, determined to copy them as nearly as possible when she alsoshould become a housekeeper; rather dreading, too, the coming of thetime when she must assume the duties of that position, because she feltherself hardly equal to their full performance.
It was several weeks after their arrival in Pleasant Plains that oneday, finding himself alone with her, Rupert asked, "Juanita, my love,which would you prefer, going to housekeeping, or just living on hereas we have been doing so far, with my father and mother?"
"Ah, Rupert, would they like to have us stay?" she asked, with an eagerlook up into his face, for he was standing beside the low chair inwhich she was seated.
"Yes," he said, smiling down on her; "and I see you would like it too."
"Oh no, not unless you please; I mean I should prefer whatever would bemost for the pleasure and happiness of my dear husband."
"Thank you, love," he said, bending down to caress her hair and cheek;"then we will stay here at least for the present, for I perceive thatwill be agreeable to all parties. But whenever you weary of it, andthink you would be happier in a home of your own, you must tell me sowithout reserve. Promise me that you will."
"Yes, senor," she re
turned, gayly, "I promise; but the time will nevercome till I have learned to do all housewifely duties just as your dearmother does."
Her words gave him great pleasure, and she saw with delight that theydid. She sprang up in a pretty, impulsive way she had, threw her armsround his neck, and gazing up into his face with eyes beaming withlight and love, "Oh, my dear husband," she cried, "how good, how kindyou are to me always, always!"
"I should be a brute if I were anything else to you, my precious littledarling!" he said, holding her close, with many a fond caress.
Rupert was again devoting himself to business with all the old energyand faithfulness.
Don, unable to decide what was best suited to his capacity andinclination, waited for some sort of opening, and in the mean timeresumed some of his former studies, and spent a good deal of hisleisure in the society of his sisters and Dr. Landreth's relative andguest, Miss Flora Weston.
He was pleased with her, and the liking was mutual. Don was a handsome,high-spirited fellow, and could be very entertaining in conversation.And Flora, with improving health and spirits, had become quite anattractive girl.
The friendship at length ripened into love. She remained in PleasantPlains through the winter, and before spring had fairly opened the twowere affianced, with the knowledge and consent of parents and relativeson both sides. But as both were very young, the marriage would not takeplace for a year or more.
In May Mr. Weston came for his daughter.
His home was in New Jersey, where he was largely engaged inmanufactures, and he had not been long in Pleasant Plains before heproposed that Don should take a position in his business establishment,with the prospect of becoming a partner at no very distant day.
Don thanked him heartily, took a few days to consider the matter andconsult with parents and friends, then accepted the offer, and againbade farewell to home and kindred; but this time the parting was by nomeans so sorrowful as on a former occasion.
He was not going so far away or into such dangers, difficulties, andtemptations, and might hope to return now and then for a visit to hischildhood's home. It was but such a separation as is common betweenparents and their sons grown to man's estate.
Here we will leave our friends for the present, perhaps taking up thethread of our narrative again at some future day, and telling whatbefell them in after years.
THE END.
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TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES
Obvious punctuation errors repaired.
Italic text is denoted by _underscores_
p14 "that God hath aised Him from the dead" replaced with "that God hath raised Him from the dead"
"Chapter Fifteenth" and "Chapter Sixteenth" have the same quotation under the chapter heading in the original.
Mildred at Home: With Something About Her Relatives and Friends. Page 19