Elsie's Young Folks in Peace and War

by Martha Finley

  CHAPTER XIII.

  It was growing late, and Evelyn's guests, accustomed to keeping earlyhours while at Crag Cottage, had nearly all retired to their rooms forthe night. But Chester Dinsmore and Lucilla Raymond were just returningfrom a stroll down the river bank, and as they neared the house theycould see the captain pacing the front porch.

  "There is papa now," said Lucilla. "I am afraid he will think I havebeen out rather late."

  "Are you afraid of a scolding?" asked Chester.

  "No; I may get a gentle reproof, but nothing worse. Papa never reallyscolds; but I can't bear to have him displeased with me. My dear, dearfather! I believe I give him all the love that would have been dividedbetween him and my mother had she lived."

  "I am not surprised at that," returned Chester, "for he is certainlyworthy of it. I have learned to love and honor him myself as if I werehis own son."

  "Oh, Chester, how glad I am to hear you say that!" exclaimed Lucilla.

  But that ended the talk, for they were at the foot of the porch steps,and the captain spoke, addressing them. "Ah, so here you are at last,my dears. I was beginning to feel a trifle anxious lest something hadbefallen you."

  "Oh, no, father! we are all right," exclaimed Lucilla, in lively tones,"but the bewitching moonlight and pleasant breeze tempted us to lingerlonger than usual. I hope you are not vexed with us?"

  "Not very seriously, daughter," he said, with a smile, "but it is hightime now that you were getting ready for your night's rest. I want youto have plenty of that, and I know you like to be up early."

  "Yes, indeed, father; for my early walks and talks with you are amongmy greatest pleasures."

  "Your father in the morning, your lover at night," Chester said, witha pleasant laugh. "I'm glad and thankful, captain, that you let me haveher for something like half the time. Good-night, now! and pleasantdreams to you both," he added, turning away and passing into the house,hardly waiting for their return of his parting good wishes.

  "Now I suppose I must say good-night and go too," Lucilla said, puttingher arms about her father's neck and looking up lovingly into his face.

  "I shall take about five minutes of your society first," he returned,smiling and patting her cheek. "I have something to tell you; somethingthat will, perhaps, be a little surprise to you."

  "Nothing bad, I hope, father?"

  "No, not exactly bad--though I must own it is something of a trial tome. Your sister Grace has followed your bad example, and given thefirst place in her heart to another; my consent has been asked, given,and they are engaged, though not to marry for the next five years."

  "Father!" exclaimed Lucilla, in a tone of utter astonishment, "to whom?Chester's brother Frank?"

  "What a guess!" laughed her father. "No; try again."

  She reflected a moment, then--"It can't be Uncle Harold?" she ventured,in a tone that seemed to say that that was hardly possible. "He issurely much too old for her."

  "Unfortunately I cannot make that objection, since there is some years'less difference in their ages than in your Mamma Vi's and mine."

  "Oh, papa! and are they really lovers, and engaged?"

  "Yes; though such a match is very distasteful to me--simply on accountof the mixed-up relationship that their marriage would bring about; butwhen I found the fancy and affection were mutual, I could not withholdmy consent."

  "You dear father! you are always so kindly considerate of otherpeople's welfare and happiness," she said in tones tremulous withemotion. "I am sure nobody ever had a kinder, better father than ours."

  "It is most pleasant to have my daughter think so, whether I deserveit or not," he said low and tenderly, holding her close to his heartand pressing kisses on her forehead, cheek, and lips. "Now go andmake yourself ready for bed," he added, "and don't let this bit ofsurprising news keep you from sleeping. I want my dear eldest daughterfresh and bright for my entertainment in the morning."

  The house being so full, Lucilla, Grace, and Evelyn shared the sameroom. Grace was in bed, but not asleep as usual, Eva preparing forrest, when Lucilla came in from her talk with her father. She glancedat her sister, and seeing her eyes closed thought her sleeping.

  "Oh, Eva!" she whispered to her friend, "do you know--have you heardthe news?"

  "News? No. I have been busy about household matters, and no one hastold anything. What is it--war news?"

  "No, oh, no!" glancing smilingly toward Grace; "something even moreinteresting, I think, unless Max were concerned in it. It is thatwe have another pair of lovers in the house--Gracie there and UncleHarold. I'll have to quit calling him 'uncle,' though, since he is tobe my brother one of these days."

  "Is it possible! Well, he has won a prize, I think."

  Grace was not asleep now; her wide open eyes were fixed upon the twogirls and her cheeks rosy with blushes. "No, it's I that have, Eva,"she said. "I don't know how anybody so good and wise and kind couldtake a fancy to poor silly little me!"

  At that Lucilla ran to the bed, threw her arms about her sister, andshowered kisses upon her lips and cheeks. "You dear, dear thing! youare neither poor nor silly," she said. "I think the only wonder is thatall the men don't fall head over ears in love with you. They certainlywould if they had good sense, taste, and discernment."

  At that Grace indulged in a peal of low, soft laughter. "You funnygirl!" she said. "I am glad indeed that they are not so silly, forwhat in the world could I do with so many lovers? One is quite aplentiful supply for me."

  "That's right, Gracie," exclaimed Evelyn. "I'm sure one such as mineshould be quite enough for anybody."

  "Well, I'm not going to say 'Uncle Harold' any more," laughed Lucilla.

  "No, he doesn't want either of us to," said Grace. "But now I supposeboth he and papa would say I must try to go at once to sleep."

  "Yes; so I'll stop hugging and kissing you, and be quiet as a mouse,getting ready for bed, so as not to keep you awake," said Lucilla,giving her a final loving embrace, then gliding away from the bed tothe toilet table.

  "Do you think Max will like it?" asked Evelyn, in an undertone.

  "Yes, I do. He and Harold have always been good friends. But as papasays, it will make an unpleasant mixture of relationships. He will bebrother-in-law to Grace besides being her own father," she added, witha slight laugh; "yet I know very well she will always remember that heis her father--her dearly loved and honored father."

  "I am certain of it," said Evelyn; "and that she would never make thematch without her father's knowledge and consent."

  "No, indeed!" responded Lucilla, turning a loving look upon the nowsleeping Grace.

  Lucilla had scarcely left her father on the porch when Violet joinedhim there.

  "I thought it possible, Levis, that you might not object to your wife'scompany in your walk here," she said in a lively tone, and slipping herhand into his arm.

  "Object, my darling, light of my eyes and joy of my heart!" he said ina loving, mirthful tone, bending down to kiss the sweet lips. "Yours isthe sweetest companionship I know of. I should be glad to think minewas as delightful to you."

  "As I don't know how to measure either one, I can only say that it isthe most delightful of all in the world to me," she returned with ahappy laugh. Then in a somewhat graver tone, "Oh, my dear husband, youdon't know how dearly I and all your children love you! Neither Elsienor Ned is ever willing to go to bed without your fatherly good-nightcaresses, and they always bewail the necessity for doing that when youare away from home."

  "Probably not regretting it more than their father does," he said."Yes, the love of my children is a highly esteemed blessing to me,and, unfortunately, I cannot help feeling it something of a grief anddisappointment when I learn that their tenderest affection has beentransferred to another."

  "Ah, you are thinking of Grace and Harold. But be comforted, my dear; Iam certain that Grace does not love her father less because Harold haswon a place in her heart. I do not love my dear mother any the less forloving you, my dear husba
nd, or you any the less for loving her."

  "I am glad to hear it, my darling," he said, tenderly pressing the handshe had laid in his.

  "And surely we cannot blame my brother and your daughter for lovingeach other when they are both so worthy of affection that no one whoknows them can help giving it to them."

  "You are a special pleader, my dear," he said with a smile; "and theyhardly need one with me, for I am fond of them both--particularly of myfrail young daughter."

  "Ah, and does not that cause you to rejoice that she loves, and isbeloved by, a good and successful physician?"

  "That is a cause for thankfulness, my dear," he returned pleasantly."But shall we not go in now and retire to rest? It is growing late."

  "Yes, if you have finished your evening promenade; I don't want to robyou of that."

  "I think I have taken sufficient exercise, and now prefer rest andsleep," he answered laughingly, as he drew her on toward the doorway.

  As Lucilla came tripping down the stairway the next morning, Harold waspassing through the lower hall.

  "Good-morning, Lu," he said, looking up at her.

  "Good-morning, Dr. Travilla," she returned demurely.

  "What!" he exclaimed, "what's that you are calling me?"

  "Dr. Travilla. That's your name, isn't it?"

  "Yes--to strangers and people not related to me; but--you called me'uncle' yesterday."

  "But you're not my uncle, and it seems you intend to become mybrother-in-law, so----"

  "So Harold without the 'uncle' would be the most appropriate name,wouldn't it?"

  "Perhaps so, if--if you won't think it disrespectful."

  "Not a bit of it. Call me Harold, or I'll be very apt to call you Mrs.Dinsmore one of these days."

  They ended with a laugh and cordial handshaking, just as the captainappeared in the outer doorway. Then they joined him in a stroll aboutthe grounds.

  "There is a dark cloud in the east," remarked Lucilla, in a regretfultone; "we are likely to have a rainy day, are we not, papa?"

  "Yes," he said, "but it need not necessarily be an unpleasant one. Wemay find plenty of indoor employment and recreations."

  "Yes," said Harold, "there have been many pleasant rainy days in mypast experiences. And they are not so bad for a strong, healthy man,even if he must go out in the rain."

  "And when gardens and fields are needing rain, we long and pray forit," added Lucilla.

  "How is Grace this morning?" asked Harold.

  "She was still sleeping when I left the room," replied Lucilla; "butprobably she is up and ready for the call to breakfast by this time."

  "And there it is," said the captain, as the sound of the ringing of ahand-bell came from the house; "so let us go in and not keep the otherswaiting."

  They met Violet and Grace in the hall as they entered, and it waspretty to see the latter's blush and smile as Harold greeted her.

  The clouds were increasing and growing darker, and before they left thetable the rain had begun to fall. So they talked of indoor occupationsand amusements.

  "We might have a little fun, if everybody's willing," remarked NedRaymond, giving Mr. Lilburn a significant look and smile.

  "Yes; little boys--big ones too--can generally get up some fun amongthemselves when they try," was Cousin Ronald's answering remark,without the slightest indication that he took Ned's hint.

  "And I know Cousin Ronald is very kind about helping in that," returnedNed insinuatingly.

  "Yes, he is fond of giving pleasure to his young friends," remarkedMrs. Lilburn, with a loving smile up into her husband's face. "I think,Ned, he will help you to some before the day is over."

  They were on the porch, for there was no wind at the moment to drivethe rain in upon them, and it was cooler there than within doors. AsAnnis finished speaking there was a sudden cry of distress, seeminglycoming from the river just below. "Help! help! I shall drown! nobodywill help me!"

  It was a man's voice and there was a foreign accent in the tones.It made quite a stir in the little assembly on the porch, the ladsexclaiming: "Oh, the poor fellow! Can't we help him, Grandma Elsie?Surely the men on the _Dolphin_ will do what they can!" But hardly werethe words spoken when another voice called out in reply to the first:

  "Hould on there, me jewel, an' I'll give ye a lift. I'm the b'ye thatkin do it."

  "Oh, I hope he will get him out!" cried Ned, in great excitement."Papa, you'll let them take him on board the yacht, won't you?"

  "Certainly, if he wishes to be taken there," replied the captain, witha smiling glance at Cousin Ronald.

  Just then the second voice called out, "Here he is--the half drowndedFrenchman; an' now will the likes of yees aboord that craft take 'im inan' dry 'im off?"

  "Of course; that's exactly what the captain would do if he were here,"answered a third voice, which sounded exactly like that of the man atpresent in charge of the yacht.

  "Oh, I'm glad he didn't drown!" exclaimed Elsie Raymond, with a sigh ofrelief.

  "I presume such people don't often drown, Elsie dear," laughed hermother.

  "Oh, mamma, I often hear of people drowning," said the little girl."And, Uncle Harold, don't they need a doctor when they are nearlydrowned?"

  "They are very apt to," he replied with a slight laugh. "Do you want meto go down now and see about that man?"

  "If you could, without getting wet," she answered hesitatingly.

  "Suppose I go," said her Uncle Herbert; "I'm pretty well now, and amperhaps almost as skilful a physician as my older brother."

  But now the captain interposed.

  "I can't have either of my young brothers expose himself to thisrain, for the men on the yacht are quite competent to deal with thatFrenchman's case."

  "I should say so indeed," said Mr. Lilburn gravely, "for it is notlikely that he was in the water many minutes. So, my wee bonny bairnieElsie, dinna fash yersel' ony mair aboot him," he concluded, with anaffectionate look and smile into the face of the little girl.

  "Oh, Cousin Ronald, did you do it all?" exclaimed Ned. "Dear me, howstupid I am! I might have known it was you."

  "I doubt if you really know it yet, laddie," laughed the old gentleman.

  Ned turned to his father. "Papa, may I take an umbrella and just rundown to the _Dolphin_ for a few minutes to ask about it?"

  "It is not worth while," replied the captain; "I am very sure you wouldmake no discoveries."

  "Then it was you, Cousin Ronald, wasn't it, now? Please own up,"exclaimed Ned, with a laughing look into the old gentleman's face.

  "Folk shouldna find fault with what they've asked for," was the oldgentleman's non-committal rejoinder.

  "Oh, no, sir! no indeed! but I was not meaning to find fault," laughedNed; "I think it was good fun, and hope you will give us more of it."

  Just as he pronounced the last word a fierce bark, seemingly that of avery large dog, followed instantly by a scream as if a woman were inpain and terror, startled them all, and there were outcries of affrightfrom the children, while several of the grown people started to theirfeet and looked anxiously in the direction of the sounds, which hadseemed to come from the vicinity of the porch, but a little farthertoward the rear of the house.

  Another bark from the dog, then a woman's voice in tones of wildaffright, "Oh, somebody help, help! this dog will tear me to pieces."

  Mr. Leland and Walter Travilla stepped quickly to the end of the porchnearest the sounds and looked around the corner of the house, butinstantly reported that neither woman nor dog was to be seen.

  "Oh, another sell from Cousin Ronald!" laughed Ned. "Oh, there it isagain!" for just then there was a sound as of a loud knock at a sidedoor, and a man's coarse voice thundering, "Let me in oot o' this rain,ye slowgoing, good-for-naught biddies. Let me in, I say, and be quickabout it."

  A woman's scream followed instantly, "Oh, captain, or some o' yougentlemen, come here quick and save us from this drunken rascal."

  Some of those on the porch were a little s
tartled for an instant, buta laugh quickly followed, and the fun went on for some minutes--bees,mice, chickens, and puppies being heard, but not seen or felt.

  But the rainfall was growing heavier, and at length Harold suggestedthat it might be well for Grace, if not for all, to go within doors toescape the dampness.

  Nearly all at once complied with the suggestion, and Mrs. Travilla,inviting Grace to a seat by her side, said low and tenderly:

  "Harold gave me a piece of news last night that has made me very happy.I hope one of these days to number you among my dear daughters, andshall feel most happy in doing so."

  "Oh, Grandma Elsie, it is so kind in you to say that!" returned Gracetremulously, but blushing with pleasure as she spoke; "it will be verysweet to have you for my mother, for I have loved you dearly ever sinceI first saw you."

  At that moment Walter came and took a seat on the other side of her.

  "Oh, Gracie," he said in an undertone, "I am so glad of Harold'snews--that I am to have you for a sister at some future day. I'll tryto be a good brother to you."

  "And I certainly intend to do my best to be a good sister to you,Walter," she answered in the same low tone, and with a vivid blush andone of her sweetest smiles.

  "Thanks," he said. "I wish the wedding was to take place directly;some time this fall, at least. Couldn't we coax your father to allowit?"

  She laughed and shook her head. "Papa would never allow it, andI--don't believe I could consent myself. Really, the very thought ofdoing anything so important so suddenly more than half frightens me."

  "Harold is a mild, good-natured kind of fellow; you needn't be afraidof him," laughed Walter.

  "No, not of him exactly," returned Grace, laughing a little also andblushing quite a good deal, "but of--of the sudden change in my way oflife--leaving my father and all the rest of my family."

  But there the talk between them ended for the time, for Harold's nearrelatives came up, one after another, to tell Grace how welcome a newmember of their near connection she would be. Chester Dinsmore wasthe only one who expressed any regret, and that not to Grace, but toLucilla.

  "I am sorry for my brother Frank," he said. "He has been desperatelyin love with her, but your father would not let him speak. And Ithought it would be pleasant to be so closely and doubly connected--twosisters marrying brothers."

  "I am sorry, since it disappoints you," said Lucilla. "But I hope Frankwill soon get over his disappointment and find some one who will suithim still better. Besides, Grace being so delicate, it is well for herto get into the hands of a good physician."

  "True enough," returned Chester, "and we may as well look at it in thatway, for there is no use in fretting over what can't be helped."

  September had come; the summer heat was over and business called thegentlemen of our party to their more southern homes. Preparationsbegan, and one little company after another departed, leaving the restfeeling somewhat lonely and dull without them. The captain and hisfamily, Grandma Elsie, Evelyn, and Mr. and Mrs. Lilburn were to go inthe yacht, which carried them away a few days later--down the HudsonRiver and down the Atlantic coast to the seaport near their Southernhomes.

  A joyous welcome from lovers, relatives, and friends awaited themthere. Then followed the fall, winter, and early spring months, filledup and made delightful by the accustomed round of study, needlework,social calls, and visits, interspersed with religious duties andcharitable work, etc.

  Evelyn was often at Woodburn, and she and Lucilla made many prettythings for the adornment of their future homes. The weddings wereto be postponed till Max came home, and to their disappointmentthat home-coming was deferred month after month till Chester grewexceedingly weary of waiting. Letters were received occasionally fromMax, but he knew no more than they when he would be able to rejoin themand claim his bonny bride. The waiting was doubtless harder for himthan for Chester or either of the girls. They indeed seemed to take itquietly and contentedly.

  Grace was very happy with her lover close at hand and often visitingher professionally or otherwise. And with her this state of thingsseemed to be conducive to health; she grew rosier, stronger, gayer, andmore lively in her speech and manner than she had ever been before. Sogreat a joy was it to her father to perceive the change that he soonfully forgave Harold for seeking her affection while she was still soyoung and feeble. Harold seemed to be waiting very patiently, and whenChester grumbled at his long enforced wait, Lucilla sometimes playfullycalled his attention to the good example set him by Harold.

  "But there isn't the same need of waiting in our case," he would reply,"for, I am thankful to say, you are as healthy a girl as any that Iknow of."

  "Yes; but think of the disappointment to Max and Eva if we shouldn'twait for them, when we can be together almost as much as if we weremarried, and all the time doing things to make our new home as lovelyas possible."

  The continuance of war in the Philippines, a cause of more or lessregret to everybody, was doubly so to Max's friends and relatives,because it delayed his return month after month. They missed himparticularly when Christmas time came and he was not there to sharein the pleasant exchange of gifts and greetings. They had sent giftsto him, hoping they would reach him in good season, and as usual theybestowed them upon each other. For weeks beforehand Violet had spent agood deal of time in her studio, and the result was a handsome portraitof the captain for each of his older daughters. They were highlypleased with them, saying that nothing else could have given them somuch pleasure. The captain's gifts to them and Violet were valuablebooks and some fine paintings for their walls.

  "You see, Chester," Lucilla said, when exhibiting hers to him, "that weare getting more and more for the adornment of our home while we waitfor it."

  "Adornment which could go on just as well if we were already in it," hereturned, with a rather rueful laugh.

  "Well, for your consolation please remember that it is near enough tobe looked at every day," replied Lucilla, in a sprightly tone. "And seehere what your _fiancee_ has prepared for you," drawing a small packagefrom her pocket as she spoke.

  "Thanks! Some of her own work, I hope," he said, with a gratified lookand smile.

  "Yes, I would have you enjoy as much of my work as possible."

  He had it opened now, and found it a beaded purse.

  "Oh, how handsome!" he cried. "Many, many thanks, dearest! I have noneed of a reminder of you, but if I had, this would be one every time Ilooked at it. Now here is my gift to you," taking in his turn a littlepackage from his pocket and putting it in her hand. It was a miniatureof himself--a fine likeness--attached to a beautiful gold chain.

  "Oh, it is excellent, and nothing could have pleased me better!" sheexclaimed, as she examined it.

  Harold had the same sort of gift for Grace, and she had embroidered forhim a set of fine linen cambric handkerchiefs, with which he seemedgreatly pleased.

  Every member of that family, and each of the others in the connection,had prepared some gift of more or less value for each of the others,for their servants and dependents, and for the neighbors poor enough toneed assistance from those able to give it.

  As usual there was a grand dinner at Ion, to which all the connectionwere invited; and pretty much the same thing was repeated at Woodburnon New Year's day. Max was missed and talked of at both gatherings,always being mentioned as one of whom they were proud and fond, whileto Evelyn and the Woodburn family his absence detracted much from theenjoyment of the festivities. Yet they comforted themselves with thehope that the trouble in the Philippines would soon be over, and heallowed to return to his home and dear ones, now so anxious to see him,and to claim his promised wife.