Chapter Twenty-seventh.
"Wooing thee, I found thee of more value Than stamps in gold, or sums in sealed bags; And 'tis the very riches of thyself That now I aim at." --Shakspeare.
Early in June, the Dinsmores repaired to the sea-shore, taking Mildredwith them; also little Elsie and her mammy.
The whole summer was spent at watering-places, and Mr. Landreth wasgenerally one of their party.
Mildred enjoyed it, the time spent at the sea-shore, especially,very much in a quiet way, taking no part in the gaieties of thefashionables, but delighting in walks and drives along the beach, andin boating and bathing.
Elsie was fond of a morning stroll on the beach, with "Cousin Milly,"Aunt Chloe being always at hand to carry her pet when the little feetgrew tired, and Mildred was never averse to the companionship of thesweet child, never in too great haste to accommodate her pace to thatof the little one, or to stop to examine and explain whatever excitedher curiosity, or to let her pick up sea-weed, shells and pebbles.
Sometimes the other children joined them; occasionally Mr. Landrethalso. Later in the day he was almost sure to be Mildred's companion,unless she contrived to elude him.
This she attempted quite frequently toward the latter part of thesummer, declining his attentions whenever she could, without positiverudeness.
At first he would not believe it was by design, but at length hecould no longer shut his eyes to the fact, and, much disturbed andmortified, he determined to seek an explanation; he must know whatwas her motive--whether aversion to his society, or fear that he wastrifling with her; and if the latter, it should speedily be removed; hewould tell her what was the sober truth, that he esteemed and admiredher above all the rest of her sex, and would be supremely happy if shewould consent to be his wife.
They and their party had left the sea-shore for a fashionable resortamong the mountains, where they had now been for a fortnight ormore, and where they had found the elder Mr. Landreth and his wifeestablished for the season.
Mildred set out for a walk, one morning, directly after breakfast,taking Elsie and her nurse with her.
They found a cool, shady spot, beside a little brook, at the foot ofa hill where the grass was green, and a rustic seat under a spreadingtree invited to rest.
They sat down, and Elsie amused herself with throwing pebbles and bitsof bark into the water.
"Aunt Chloe," Mildred said, presently, "I want to climb this hill, forthe sake of the view; so will leave you and Elsie here. I don't intendto be gone long, but if she gets tired waiting, you can take her backto the house, and I will follow."
So saying, she tripped away back to the road, made her ascent, seatedherself upon a log, at a spot which commanded a fine view of themountain, hill and vale, and taking out her drawing materials, wasabout to sketch the scene, when a voice addressed her.
"Good-morning, Miss Keith. I am happy to have come upon you just now,and alone.
"I'm quite out of breath with climbing the hill," the voice went on, asMildred, turning her head, recognized Mrs. Landreth, responded to hergreeting, and made room for her on the log. "Thank you; yes, I will sitdown here beside you, for I want to rest and to have a little talk withyou."
"I am at your service, Mrs. Landreth," Mildred said, closing hersketch-book, recalling as she did so her companion's formerlyexpressed opinion that such employment was a sinful waste of time, andanticipating a lecture on that subject.
However, the good woman's thoughts were, at that moment, too full of amore important theme to allow her to so much as notice with what theyoung girl had busied herself.
"My dear," she began, "I have a strong liking and high respect foryou; because you seem to me sincerely desirous to do right and live ina Christian way, according to your light. You are gayer, of course,in your dress than I can think quite consistent; but we don't all seealike; and I should be rejoiced to receive you into the family if thatmight be without the danger to you--spiritually--which it involves."
Mildred rose, her cheeks burning, her eyes flashing.
"When I have shown my desire to enter your family, Mrs. Landreth, itwill be time enough to--"
"Ah, my dear, my dear, you quite misunderstand me," interrupted theolder lady. "Except for your own sake and your duty as a Christian tomarry only in the Lord, I should be delighted. And I've never felt atall sure that Charlie could get you; but I see plainly that he wantsyou; and so it seemed my duty to warn you not to take him."
Mildred was very angry. Drawing herself up to her full height, andspeaking with hauteur, "Excuse me, madam," she said, "if I venture toremind you that unasked advice is seldom acceptable; and if I add thatit is especially unpalatable when it involves the meddling with matterstoo delicate for even the most intimate friend to allude to uninvited."
"What a temper! I begin to think you are none too good for himafter all," grimly commented Mrs. Landreth, rising in her turn."Good-morning, miss," and she stalked away down the hill, while Mildreddropped upon the grass, and hiding her face in her hands, indulged in ahearty cry.
It was a mixture of emotions that brought the tears in those plentifulshowers; anger burned still in her breast, yet at the same time shewas bitterly remorseful on account of it, sorry and ashamed that shehad so disgraced her Christian profession; bringing reproach upon theMaster's cause; and--ah, what meant the pang that meddling woman'swords had caused? could it be the fear that duty called her to resignthat which had become very dear to her heart? Alas, yes! it cried outwith a yearning, passionate cry for this love that she must reject, if,indeed, it was offered her.
Did he, indeed, love her? Oh, what joy! what bliss! But, oh, the bitteranguish if she must put that cup of joy aside untasted! How could she?yet how dare she do otherwise? The Bible did speak of marrying onlyin the Lord; it did say, "Be ye not unequally yoked together withunbelievers."
Some one knelt on the grass at her side, gently lifted up her head andtook her hands in his.
"Don't, darling; I cannot bear to see tears in those dear eyes. I knowall--I met her, and she told me. How dared she so wound your delicacy!But it is true that I love you; yes, a thousand times better than shecan imagine! and that I am utterly unworthy of you. But, Mildred,dearest, sweetest, best of women, give me a little hope, and I willtry to become all you can ask."
She could not speak. She tried to hide her blushing face, and towithdraw her hands; but he held them fast, and continued to pour outearnest pleadings and passionate expressions of love and devotion.
"I cannot, oh, I cannot!" she stammered at last. "I'm afraid she isright. Not, oh, not that I am any better than you! but--but we aretraveling different roads, and 'how can two walk together except theybe agreed?'"
"I would never interfere with your religion," he said. "I know it isdifferent from that which makes my poor uncle's home the most desolateplace on earth. O, Mildred, think that you may be the saving of me! Iam willing to walk in your road if you will show me the way; even tojoin the church at once if that will satisfy you."
She looked up wistfully into his face. "Ah, Charlie--Mr. Landreth--isthat your idea of what it is to be a Christian? Ah, it is more, muchmore.
"'With the heart man believeth unto righteousness'--gets therighteousness of Christ put upon him, imputed to him, while holy livingproves the reality of the change, the saving nature of his faith--'andwith the mouth confession is made unto salvation.'
"Do you not see that conversion must come before joining the church?"
"I don't understand these things," he said; "but I am willing to learn.O, Mildred, be my wife, and you may lead me whither you will!"
She shook her head sorrowfully, tears stealing down her cheeks.
"I am too weak, too ready to stray from the path myself, too easily ledby those I--"
"Love?" he whispered eagerly, and bending over her, as she paused inconfusion, "O, Mildred, darling, say the sweet word! You do love me!you do! I see it in your dear eyes, and I will never desp
air. But speakthe word, dearest, once, just once!"
"Oh, Charlie!" she groaned, covering her face, "I should learn to loveyou too well to bear the thought that we were not to spend eternitytogether."
THE END.
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TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES
Minor punctuation errors repaired.
Italic text is denoted by _underscores_
The following corrections have been made to the text:
p. 220 "... calling himself the Count DeLisle." replaced with: "... calling himself the Count De Lisle."
p. 239 "... added a hundred dollars to her salery," replaced with: "... added a hundred dollars to her salary,"
p. 283 "... and she dosen't believe ..." replaced with: "... and she doesn't believe ..."
The following may be errors but have not been corrected:
p. 96 "Don't ask me," sharply. "Adelaide, ..."
p. 210 "Just what I say and I hope ..."
p. 262 "... be happy alway; ..."
p. 276 "A suit of delightful apartments ..."
Mildred at Roselands Page 27