Whispering Tongues

by Homer Greene

  CHAPTER VII.

  THE WELCOME HOME.

  Parmenter went back from New York to his home, and spent a nightwriting a letter to Professor Lee, which was to reach him at Paris.When it was finished the young man read it over, and threw it from himin disgust. It sounded tame, formal, insincere. He felt that such aletter would fail of its mission.

  He tore it up and wrote another, but with no better success. He triedto write to Charley, but his heart and courage gave out in doing that.He knew that such desperate illnesses as Charley's sometimes washed thesoul clear and the mind free of everything that had stained and cloggedit. Charley might no longer feel any need for his friendship.

  Parmenter perceived at last that such an offense as his could beexplained, and apologized for only in person. Written lines were whollyinadequate. It needed the voice, the eyes, the spirit breathing throughthe words, to make them effective. He knew now that his confession andhis plea must await Professor Lee's return.

  Now and then he heard indirectly from the travelers. They had been inBerlin, in Vienna, Moscow, St. Petersburg, Copenhagen. The next winterthey wrote from Florence, and afterward they journeyed through the HolyLand. Charley was gaining every day in health and strength; still theywere not ready to return.

  Parmenter waited with all patience and in all hope. He devoted himselfto his studies; he worked at his college tasks with the strength andearnestness of an enthusiast. He regained his former position in theclass. His old, cordial manner came back to him. He was once more afavorite and leader among his fellow-students.

  The experiences, the follies, the remorse, the suffering, of thatsecond college year had turned the channel of his life and thought, andhe stood on the threshold of a broad, earnest, and sincere manhood.

  Two years went by, and Commencement was at hand again. Parmenter'sclass was to graduate, and Parmenter himself was to have thevaledictory. All deemed it certain that he would carry off the lion'sshare of the honors of Commencement Day.

  There was no better speaker in the class than he, and the first prizein oratory was sure to fall to him. There was no quicker and morelogical thinker in debate. The big Dobell prize was conceded to him inadvance. So far as the essays were concerned, no one hoped to surpasshim. In class standing it had long been known that he was first.

  Commencement Day was sure to be a great day, and a succession oftriumphs, for Parmenter.

  "There's only one thing that will give any of the rest of us a chance,"said Robinson to him, banteringly; "and that is for you to get into acane rush and break your collar-bone again; and if you could managealso to fracture two or three ribs while you're about it, you wouldconfer a lasting debt of gratitude on your disconsolate classmates."

  There was another thing, too, that was going to happen. "Sammy Lee"was coming home. He and his wife and Charley had already set sail forAmerica. They would reach New York on Tuesday of Commencement week, andbe at home on Wednesday morning for the Commencement exercises.

  A private letter from Professor Lee had communicated the news, joyfulto all his friends at the college, that Charley would return fullyrestored to health and strength, wholly free from his old weaknesses,ready to take up his work where he had left it off, and earnest in hisdesire to reach up to the measure of sterling manhood.

  A small party went down to New York from the college on Monday night tomeet the Lees when they should land, and escort them home. Parmenterwas among the number. When his friend Robinson heard that he wasgoing, he said to him with great earnestness:

  "Why, Fred, you're crazy! You can't get back here till Tuesday atmidnight, at the very best; and how can you expect to go on the stageWednesday morning all broken up with the journey, and be any creditto yourself or your friends? For your own sake, and the sake of yourclass, you ought not to do it. With all due deference to Sammy Lee, Irepeat that you're crazy."

  Robinson paced the floor in a high state of indignation, forgetting,in his unselfish zeal for his friend's success, that he was himself acompetitor for the same honors.

  Parmenter smiled a little, and said quietly, "Don't fret, Rob. I wantto see the professor and Charley when they land; but I shall be backhere all right on Wednesday morning, and all ready."

  So Parmenter went to New York. Some of Professor Lee's enthusiasticadmirers among the alumni there had chartered an excursion steamer togo down the bay, meet the incoming ocean vessel, take the professor andhis family off at quarantine, and give them such a welcome home as theywould not soon forget.

  Invitations were sent to all the old Concord boys and their families toaccompany the party, and quick messages were to notify them to hastento the pier of the excursion boat as soon as the incoming vessel shouldbe sighted.

  But Tuesday morning went by and no call came. Noon passed, and thesteamer had not yet been heard from. The party of undergraduates andalumni that had gathered at the office on the pier dwindled slowly asthe afternoon slipped by, until at last only Parmenter and Delavan wereleft. Delavan had stepped from the place of tutor up to a professor'schair; he filled it most worthily.

  He pulled out his watch, glanced at it, and turned to Parmenter insurprise.

  "Why, man!" he exclaimed. "What are you thinking of? You have barelytime to get to the Grand Central Station before the last train goesout. Come, I'll go to the station with you, but I won't go up to-night.I'm not needed at the college, and I'll wait for Professor Lee."

  He had started to his feet and was moving toward the door. Parmentersat still.

  "I'm not going up to-night, either," he said, quietly.

  Delavan turned back in amazement.

  "But my dear man," he exclaimed, "to-morrow morning is Commencement!You're on the Commencement stage!"

  "Yes, I know. I shall not be there."

  The young professor came back into the room and sat down.

  "Parmenter," he said, "what does this mean? Surely you are not goingto let the honors of Commencement Day slip by you in order tomeet Professor Lee and Charley as they land? I know something ofwhat has happened between you, and what you hope for in the way ofreconciliation, and let me assure you that this action is certainlyuncalled for. Pardon me, my dear boy, but it's foolish!"

  Then Parmenter awoke. "Look here, professor!" he said warmly. "I havebeen waiting for this meeting for two years. I have thought of itnight and day. The hope that it may not be wholly fruitless has keptme from disgrace and despair. Do you suppose that a petty prize or thegratification of a selfish ambition would be enough to send me runninglike a coward from it now?"

  "Why, Parmenter, I didn't know that you--I--"

  "I wronged Professor Lee!" interrupted Parmenter, hotly. "I wrongedhim terribly. I contributed my share, and it wasn't a small one, tohis son's disgrace; and I've never said to him one word of contrition,of repentance, or regret. It's too late to make him any adequatereparation now; but I can be here to meet him and Charley when theyland, to acknowledge my fault to him, to tell him of my grief andhumility, and ask him to try me again, and prove me that I am wiser andjuster than I was. Now tell me, professor, isn't that the least that Ican do and have any semblance of a man about me?"

  Parmenter had risen in his excitement, and stood with flashing eyes,flushed face, and heaving breast. Delavan went up to him and took bothhis hands.

  "I understand you, my dear fellow," he said, quietly. "You are right.Come, let's telegraph up to them that we'll not be there. Then we'll goback up town."

  Commencement Day dawned bright and beautiful. It always did. No one hadever known a rainy Commencement Day at Old Concord; and the day wasjust as beautiful on New York Bay as it was in the college city.

  The ocean vessel had been sighted late in the morning; and theexcursion steamer, with more than a hundred enthusiastic men and womenon board, was pulling rapidly down to meet her.

  The little boat was gay with bunting. Flags and banners floated fromevery pole and post. A great streamer at the bow bore the name of"Concord," and another at the stern displayed t
he college cry.

  There was a brass band on the boat, and a brass cannon; and lest theseshould not meet the anticipated demand for noise, every person on boardwas supplied with a college fish-horn. But the party failed to reachquarantine in time. They had hardly got below Governor's Island whenthe black hull of the great vessel loomed up on the smoky horizon,beating up the bay toward them. Ten minutes later the two steamers, bigand little, were directly opposite, though at some distance from eachother. Then the reception began.

  It was peculiarly a college boys' reception. Human throats vied withbrass instruments, with booming cannon, and the blare of horns inproclaiming welcome to the travelers.

  When the people on the big steamer realized that the demonstration wasfor some of their number, they crowded to the side of the vessel, andwaved handkerchiefs and hats.

  After a few minutes one of the upper guard rails was cleared, for alittle space, of all the human figures save one. That one no one whoknew him could fail to distinguish as "Sammy Lee." He stood, with baredhead, waving his hat in one hand and his handkerchief in the other, andapparently shouting some response at the top of his voice.

  Then he called his wife and son to his side; and from that point upthe bay and all the way to the steamer's pier the three stood togetherresponding as best they could to the cries and cheers, the music andthe noise, the waving hats and handkerchiefs that continuously greetedthem.

  At last the big steamer reached her pier and swung slowly in; andthe smaller boat made fast to the wharf that the excursionists mightdisembark and greet the travelers as they landed.

  Through all this demonstration Parmenter stood quietly in thebackground, joining occasionally in the cheering, brushing the tearsfrom his eyes now and then, as he noted the sincerity and enthusiasm ofthe greeting.

  He went out on the pier with the others, but remained in the rear. Nowthat his great opportunity had arrived, he hardly knew how to availhimself of it. His heart beat thunderously against his breast.

  Far up the pier he saw Professor Lee and his wife and son come down thebridge. Then they were swallowed up in the circling crowd that pressedforward to greet them.

  Parmenter's heart failed him then; his courage gave way, and he turnedaside and stood by a wharf-post, with his face toward the water, thatpeople passing by might not see his tears.

  After a little some one touched him on the shoulder, and he turned tosee who it was.

  "Charley!"

  "Fred!"

  For one second the two men looked into each other's eyes; then theirhands met in a heart-thrilling clasp, then their arms were laidlovingly across each other's shoulders.

  They were again in complete accord. No words were necessary toassure them of that. If they had been necessary Parmenter could nothave spoken them. The lump in his throat had effectually choked hisutterance. After a minute he managed to stammer out:

  "Charley--your father--I wronged him! I want to explain--confess--andget forgiveness."

  Lee swung quickly around, and pierced to the center of the party thatwas coming slowly down the pier. He whispered something into hisfather's ear, drew him quietly from the throng, crossed over with himto where Parmenter stood, and then left them alone together.

  The crowd moved on, laughing and chatting, casting backward glances atthe two who remained behind, wondering a little but knowing scarcelyanything of the drama that was being reenacted with lightning-likerapidity in those two hearts.

  Those who looked at the two men a minute later from the deck saw thatsomething unusual was going on. They saw Parmenter standing, hat inhand, looking straight into the professor's eyes, and talking withterrible earnestness.

  They saw, too, that though he did not move a muscle, his face was whiteand his hands were tightly clenched.

  The first time that Professor Lee interrupted him he reached out andtouched the young man's shoulder gently. The next time he grasped bothof Parmenter's hands in his and held them fast; and the third time,after a flow of impassioned words that came hot from the penitent'sheart to his mouth, the old man drew the bared young head down towardhim and pressed it tenderly with his lips. That was all.

  After that they came back, arm in arm, to the boat. Tears were inParmenter's eyes, but his face was radiant with the sunshine ofreconciliation.

  When every one was on board again the excursion steamer left the pierfor a run down the bay and a trip up the North and East Rivers. Aluncheon was served; and after that the party gathered in the cabin,and Professor Lee responded to a brief address of welcome.

  He had never spoken better in his life--never more earnestly, nevermore joyously. His magnificent reception had warmed his heart, andfilled it to overflowing with gratitude and enthusiasm. He told brieflyof his travels, and of the pleasure he found in his return home.

  "This morning," he said, "with my wife and son, I was looking over ourbaggage preparatory to meeting the customs officers. Happening to lookout on the bay I saw your boat with its flags and bunting, its collegemottoes, and its college colors, and its decks dark with people. Icould not believe my eyes. I dared not speak of it to my wife and son.

  "I stole away and went on deck to assure myself. Then I heard a greatcry of 'Sammy Lee!' and I said to myself, 'Sammy, it's you they'reafter--sure.'

  "So I ran down, and called to Mrs. Lee and Charley. 'Come,' I said,'come on deck quick! Let the baggage go! let the custom-house officialsgo! let everything go! The _boys_ are here to welcome us home.'

  "Gentlemen, there were men on that vessel who are worth millions.There were high dignitaries of church and state on board. Yet I, pooras a church-mouse, not known beyond the circle of my own pupils,--I,for my own sake, for the sake of the dear ones who are with me, forthe sake of the grand old college that I have the honor to represent,have commanded such a reception to-day as those men with their combinedwealth, power, and influence couldn't buy, force, or borrow for asingle moment.

  "I feel it to the bottom of my heart. I shall never forget it. I shalllive this scene over in my mind every day so long as I remain on earth."

  There was a storm of applause. When it had subsided the professorcontinued:

  "I went away from you two years ago, tired, hurt, and miserable; but Icome back to you filled with new life. If there were any wounds stillopen when I entered New York Bay this morning your sovereign remedy ofwelcome has completely healed them; if there was one hard or bitterfeeling still lingering in my breast when I stepped upon that pier anhour ago, the splendid courage, the manly confession, the magnificentself-sacrifice, of one among you has swept it from its hiding-placeforever."

  Again the storm of cheers and applause burst forth. No one understoodperfectly what it was all about, but every one felt that the allusionwas to Parmenter.

  "So I am come to you again," the speaker continued, "with nothingbut love and gratitude in my heart for all of you--with nothing butaffection for the dear old college and all who are in it or of it, withthe peace and quiet of serene old age stealing softly over me; with theonly grief I have ever known, during all my life among you, lost andburied in the beautiful memories of the past. I thank you--thank you athousand times; and God bless you always!"

  His voice broke at last, and he sank into his seat and brushed away histears. But all his boys knew that they were tears of joy and not ofsorrow, and the flow of spirits and good-fellowship burst forth anew.

  Commencement Day at Concord went gloriously by. In the absence ofParmenter, Robinson was the most conspicuous member of the graduatingclass, and had the largest share of honors.

  At midnight Professor Lee and his party reached the city, and found arousing welcome awaiting them at the train. In some unaccountable wayParmenter's story had traveled home ahead of him, and he had to sharewith the professor and his family the honors of the night.

  Later a great crowd of students, with Parmenter and Charley Lee arm inarm in the midst of them, marched up the hill and through the collegegate, singing as no one had ever heard them sing befor
e.

  The party halted in front of Professor Lee's residence and sang:"Here's to Sammy Lee, drink it down;" and as that tired but happytraveler laid his head on his pillow in his cherished home, there camesoftly, musically, gratefully to his ears, from some distant quarter ofthe campus, the old familiar good-night song:

  "Sweet dreams, Sammy, sweet dreams, Sammy, sweet dreams, Sammy, We're going to leave you now. Merrily we roll along, roll along, roll along, Merrily we roll along, O'er the deep blue sea."

  Transcriber's Notes:

  --Text in italics is enclosed by underscores (_italics_).

  --Punctuation and spelling inaccuracies were silently corrected.

  --Archaic and variable spelling has been preserved.

  --Variations in hyphenation and compound words have been preserved.