CRIMSON MOUNTAIN
Page 23
Then there was a loud roar of laughter from the entire table, and Daisy puckered her lip, looked around the table in dismay, and then burst into tears, with great big heart-wrung sobs.
It took some time for Daisy to be quieted, but finally when Phil Pilgrim took her on his lap and began to talk to her gently, she stopped crying and began to smile.
“But you see, little sister,” he said, quite clearly so they all could hear, “I do know your Laurel Sheridan. In fact, we’re quite old friends,” and he gave Laurel a quick, merry wink. “And Daisy, we’re going to be something better than friends someday pretty soon.”
“Oh!” said Daisy. “Is there something better than friends?”
“Yes,” said Pilgrim solemnly, “there’s something better than friends. Someday pretty soon, I hope, we are going to be married!”
Daisy looked from one to the other of them for a minute uncertainly, and then her face broke into smiles.
“Oh!” she said joyously. “I guess that is nice. Can I be bridesmaid?”
“Well, we’ll have to talk that over and see,” said Pilgrim. “Those details are not all settled yet. Perhaps you might be flower girl or something.”
“Oh,” said Daisy, “what is a detail? Could I be one of those too? Will it be tomorrow? Because my white dress isn’t ironed yet.”
“No, probably not tomorrow,” said Pilgrim. “I have to do a little cleaning up on Crimson Mountain first, you know, and you’ll have time to iron your dress. And now, suppose you hop down, little detail, and go and finish your dinner. I’ve got to finish mine and get back to my job pretty soon.”
So Daisy reluctantly hopped down and went to her neglected plate, and they all began to eat again, Laurel with her cheeks quite rosy and one hand in Pilgrim’s under the edge of the tablecloth.
When supper was finished, they opened the parlor door. Dad had supervised the putting back of the old furniture into the parlor, and now there was a suitable place for the young lovebirds to go, when the rest of the family, at the instigation of the mother, all drifted away to duties.
So they sat down on the old haircloth sofa and had a blessed few minutes together.
Pilgrim brought out a little box from an inner pocket.
“This is yours, my dear, if you will have it,” he said, looking down at the box and up to Laurel’s lovely face. “It was my dear mother’s engagement ring. She gave it to me when she was dying. I’ve carried it over my heart ever since. Perhaps it’s a bit old-fashionednow, but I wanted to give it to you because it’s all I have yet. Will you like it, or would you rather I waited till I can get you a better one, a diamond?”
Laurel looked down at the ring as he slipped it on her finger.
“Oh, I would rather have this one. I shall love it. Why, Phil, it’s a star sapphire! A lovely one. I’ve always wanted to have a star sapphire. And I shall like it so much better because it was your mother’s!”
He gathered her close, and their lips met once more. It seemed the sweetest moment of their lives.
And then suddenly the old parlor door swung softly open and there stood Daisy wide-eyed and wondering.
They looked up smiling, and then a scared expression came over her face. She turned and fled toward the dining room, calling in a loud, startled voice, “Mom! They’re doing it again! They’re kissing each other again. What do they wantta do that for?”
“Sh-ss-sh!”
GRACE LIVINGSTON HILL (1865–1947) is known as the pioneer of Christian romance. Grace wrote over one hundred faith-inspired books during her lifetime. When her first husband died, leaving her with two daughters to raise, writing became a way to make a living, but she always recognized storytelling as a way to share her faith in God. She has touched countless lives through the years and continues to touch lives today. Her books feature moving stories, delightful characters, and love in its purest form.
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The White Flower
Duskin
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Crimson Mountain
Beauty for Ashes