Elsie at Ion Page 2

  CHAPTER II.

  “AH, how I wish poor dear Marian was blessed with such a father asmine,” Lula said to herself as she moved noiselessly about her roomgetting ready for bed. “But I doubt if there is another quite so dearand good—though Mamma Vi says hers was, and Grandma Elsie seems tothink hers could not possibly be excelled! The idea! I’m as glad as canbe that I wasn’t born his child, though the older he grows the betterand kinder he seems to be. And that’s the way it ought to be with allof us; papa says so, and I know it’s according to Bible teachings.‘Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour JesusChrist,’ it says. Ah me! there’s nobody needs to do that more than youyourself, you bad-tempered, wilful Lulu Raymond. I am glad you have afather who understands the business of training you up in the way youshould go, as well as mine does,” and presently, when he came in, sheturned to him with a remark to that effect.

  “If I have succeeded in training my children at all in the right way,it is only by the wisdom given me of God in answer to earnest prayerfor it,” he replied with grave earnestness. “Now good-night, my dearlittle daughter,” again laying a hand tenderly upon her head. “‘TheLord bless thee and keep thee; the Lord make his face to shine uponthee, and be gracious unto thee; the Lord lift up his countenance uponthee, and give thee peace.’”

  “Dear papa, thank you,” she said, lifting dewy eyes to his; “it is sucha beautiful, beautiful blessing!”

  “It is indeed! the blessing which the Lord directed Moses to give toAaron and his sons to use in blessing the children of Israel; adding‘and they shall put my name upon the children of Israel, and I willbless them.’ Now again good-night, daughter. Get to bed and to sleep asquickly as you can.”

  Lulu obeyed, and her head had scarcely more than touched the pillowbefore her senses were lost in sound sleep, from which she did notawake till just as the sun appeared above the tree-tops.

  “Oh, what a lovely morning! everything looking so beautiful within andwithout!” she exclaimed to herself, glancing around the handsomelyfurnished room, then out at the beautiful grounds. “Ah, I want amorning stroll with my dear father!” and with the words she sprangfrom the bed and began a hasty but neat toilet; but first she laid herBible open on the dressing-table that she might commit a verse or moreto memory as she worked.

  Then a few moments were spent on her knees giving thanks for God’sprotecting care over her and hers during the silent watches of thenight, the many, many blessings of her lot in life, and the hope ofeternal life through the righteousness and atoning blood of Christ,confessing her sins, asking forgiveness for Jesus’ sake, and help tolove him more and serve him better.

  Grace still slept soundly, as Lulu discovered on peeping in at theopen door communicating with her own room. Polly woke and called fora cracker, according to her custom. Lulu gave her one, told her to besilent and not disturb tired sleepers, then passed quietly out to thehall and to Marian’s door, where she stood listening till satisfiedthat no movement was going on within that room; then seeing her fatherpassing out of his dressing-room into the hall, she ran to him, waswelcomed with a smile and a kiss, slipped her hand into his, and theywent down the stairs together.

  “Have you had anything to eat?” he asked, adding, “It will be more thanan hour yet before we are called to breakfast, and that will make toolong a fast from the time you must have left your bed.”

  “No, sir, I haven’t,” she replied. “Shall I call for a glass of milkfor you and one for myself?”

  “Suppose instead we take a basket and go out to the strawberry bed. Howwould you like that?” he asked.

  “Oh, ever so much, papa!” she exclaimed delightedly. “And might we notgather some for breakfast too? Mamma Vi and the rest will enjoy them aswell as you and I.”

  “I entirely approve of the suggestion,” he returned, and they set offtogether for the strawberry patch.

  It was a large one supplied with an abundance of the finest varieties,the vines now loaded with delicious fruit just in prime condition foreating.

  “Oh, how beautiful they are!” cried Lulu. “So many too, and so nicelyarranged and trained that they don’t get any sand at all on them; andso large that it won’t take long to fill our basket, papa.”

  “No, not many minutes. Gather and eat all you wish and we will fill thebasket afterward.”

  “Thank you, sir,” she said, and hastened to avail herself of thepermission. For some minutes she was too busy to talk, but at length,when the filling of the basket began, she broke the silence with aquestion: “Papa, did Marian tell you how she escaped from Minersville?”

  “Yes,” he replied; “and now you want me to tell you, I suppose?”

  “Oh, yes, sir, if you will.”

  “I will tell you something about it, but let you get the particularsfrom Marian herself. My agent, Mr. Short, was a good friend to the poorgirl, supplied her with funds and whatever else she needed; took herby night to a station some miles distant on the railroad, bought her aticket, had her trunk checked, put her on board an eastern train andwatched it out of sight.”

  “And she travelled all the rest of the way alone, papa?”

  “Yes; as far as Union, where I met her with my carriage.”

  “I think she was very brave, papa; but anything was better than thefate she would have had if she had stayed where that wicked, cruelfather of hers could have done what he pleased with her. Oh, how gladand thankful I am that God gave me such a good, kind father!”

  “And I that you are mine,” he returned with a loving look into herbeaming eyes. “It speaks ill indeed for Mormonism that it can soharden the heart against those who should be regarded with thetenderest affection. There! we have filled our basket and now we willgo back to the house.”

  The breakfast-bell rang just as they stepped into the veranda. Violetwas there with the three younger children; morning greetings wereexchanged, then all repaired to the breakfast-room.

  “I think our weary young guest is still sleeping,” Violet said. “Iknocked softly at her door and listened for several minutes, but couldhear no sound; so thought it best to let her sleep on and give her herbreakfast when she wakes of herself.”

  “Quite right, my dear,” returned the captain as he lifted baby Ned tohis high chair, then seated himself.

  He asked a blessing upon their food and the meal began. They werethe usual cheerful little family party, chatting pleasantly amongthemselves while they ate.

  As they rose from the table Violet said: “I think I will go to thetelephone and have a little chat with mamma while the servants areeating.”

  “And may I go with you?” the captain asked with a smile.

  “I shall be happy to have you, sir,” she returned with a laughing lookup into his face. “The children are welcome to come, too, if they wish.”

  At Ion the family were about leaving the breakfast-table when thetelephone bell rang. It was answered by Edward. “Hello! who is there?and what’s wanted?”

  “It is I. I wish to speak to mamma,” was the reply in Violet’s ownsweet tones. “No objections to others hearing, though.”

  “Dear me, I hope she isn’t going to say they can’t come to-day!”exclaimed Rosie, while Edward stepped aside and their mother took theplace he vacated.

  “What is it, Vi?” she asked, and all listened intently for the reply.

  “We have a guest, Marian McAlpine—that Minersville young girl you haveall heard my husband, Max and Lu speak of.”

  “Ah! then bring her with you to-day, if she will come.”

  “Thank you, mamma; we will if she is able and willing to accompany us;she was greatly fatigued by her journey and seems to be still sleeping.”

  “McAlpine?” exclaimed Mr. Lilburn, standing near. “You and I havesome distant relatives of that name, Cousin Elsie. Please ask for thefather’s first name.”

  “I have heard the captain say his wife called him Willie,” Elsieanswered.

  “Ah, indeed!” exclaimed Mr. Lilbu
rn, in a tone of some excitement. “Imust see the lassie. Please say to Cousin Vi that I will be over therean hour hence. And will you not accompany me, cousin?”

  “With pleasure,” she replied, and turning to her father, “Shall we notmake up a party, papa?” she asked.

  “Yes,” he said. “It is a lovely morning for a drive and we may as welldo so, all going who have time and inclination.”

  “I wonder if our young guest is awake yet,” Violet said to her husbandas they turned away from the telephone. “Shall I send a servant up tosee?”

  “No, my dear, I think I wouldn’t,” the captain replied. “I told herlast night to lie and sleep as late this morning as she would, ring forher breakfast when she was ready to eat it, and it should be carried upto her. Ah! there is her bell now. I will direct that it be taken up atonce, and then we will have family worship.”

  On coming down nearly an hour later Marian found the family gatheredupon the front veranda. The captain rose on her appearance andgallantly handed her to a seat, remarking that she was looking muchbetter and brighter than on her arrival the previous evening.

  “Yes, sir,” she said, “and I feel far better. I was very weary with mylong journey (what a very big country America is!), but I slept welland am almost rested now.”

  Just then a carriage was seen to turn in at the gates opening upon thehigh-road. Ned greeted its approach with a shout of delight.

  “Gan’ma tumin’! gan’ma tumin’. Oh, I so blad, I so blad!”

  “Yes, Neddie boy, we are always glad to see dear grandma,” said hisfather. “Grandpa Dinsmore too, Cousin Ronald, Rosie and Walter. Theyare all there, I see.”

  The next minute the carriage had drawn up at the foot of the stepsand the captain was assisting his guests to alight and bidding themheartily welcome.

  Cousin Ronald, waiting only to greet Violet, turned to the youngstranger guest, and grasping her hand said with emotion: “I need ask noquestions, for that bonny, winsome face tells plainer than any wordsthat you are my Cousin Janet’s bairn.”

  Marian gazed at him for a moment in dumb astonishment; then a gladsurprise lighted up her face.

  “A kinsman of my dear mother?” she exclaimed.

  “Yes, my bonny lass. Did you never hear her speak of her Cousin RonaldLilburn?”

  “Oh, I have, sir, I have! and you are he?”

  “That I am, lassie; and old enough to be your grandsire; so dinna thinkit too great a liberty I take,” kissing her on cheek and lip. “And mycousin Elsie here, and her children, may claim kindred with you also,lassie,” putting the hand he held into that of Mrs. Travilla.

  “Yes, we must be permitted to claim you as our own, dear girl,” GrandmaElsie said in tender tones and with an affectionate caress. Thenturning to her children, “Rosie and Walter,” she said, “this is yourcousin, too.”

  “Then mine also, mamma,” exclaimed Violet.

  “Ah, Marian, I am glad to know there is such a tie between us!” takingthe young girl’s hand in hers and holding it for a moment in a kindlypressure.

  “I also, for if related to my wife you are to me too,” the captainsaid, laying a hand affectionately upon the young girl’s shoulder.

  Then the younger ones greeted her warmly in turn. Mr. Dinsmore shookhands with her in a kind, grandfatherly way, saying that she must nolonger feel herself a stranger in a strange land, but that the God ofher fathers had guided her to an abiding-place among her own kith andkin.

  Marian seemed well-nigh overwhelmed with joy and gratitude by thesudden glad change in her condition, laughing and crying hystericallyin turn; but under the kind ministrations of her newly found relativessoon recovered her composure and was able to answer coherently the manyquestions Cousin Ronald had to ask concerning her parents and brothers.

  His manner increased in gentleness and tenderness as he learned of hermany and recent bereavements and the cruel treatment received at thehands of her unnatural father.

  Mr. Lilburn’s brow darkened as he listened. “Ah, to think o’ my ainbonny cousin throwing hersel’ awa upon sic a beast o’ a mon!” hemuttered between his set teeth; then aloud to Marian, “Dinna fashyersel’, lassie; the Lord has blessed your Cousin Ronald wi’ abundanceo’ this worl’s gude; sons too, and one married daughter, but no singleone now the two that were once the pride and joy o’ his heart havingbeen long since called to the Father’s house on high, and if it sopleases you he will be glad to take you in the place of one of them.”

  “How very kind you are, sir!” she exclaimed with starting tears. “Icannot consent to be a burden to any one, but will gladly take helpto fit myself for some useful employment by which I can earn my dailybread.”

  “And that you shall have, my dear lass,” he said emphatically.

  “But we need not settle anything to-day,” their Cousin Elsie remarked,then told Marian of the family gathering to be held at Ion thatafternoon, adding a warm invitation to her to make one of the company.

  Marian accepted with thanks; then, coloring and hesitating, said shefeared she had nothing to wear which would be suitable for such anoccasion.

  “My dear girl, do not allow yourself to be troubled with any suchfears,” Elsie replied in gentle, reassuring accents. “It is only afamily gathering, and the dress you are now wearing will be quitesuitable.”

  “Surely, surely, lassie, it strikes me as far from unbecoming,” CousinRonald said, regarding her and her apparel with critical eyes, “and ifany in the company think ill o’e dress, let him or her forget it ingazing upon the bonny face above it.”

  “I think you need not feel ashamed of it or fear unfavorable criticism,my dear girl,” added Violet.

  “No, dress is but a secondary matter in the connection, so far as Iknow,” said the captain, and Rosie and Lulu added their assurance tothe same effect.

  “Then I shall go with pleasure and try not to think of the dress atall,” returned Marian with a look of relief.

  Walter, ever ready for a story, had been eagerly watching hisopportunity and now earnestly requested of Marian a detailed account ofher escape from Minersville. She complied and gave the facts in a waythat all her hearers found exceedingly interesting.

  At the conclusion of her narrative the Ion callers departed, and afterdinner the whole Woodburn family, including their guest, followed.

  Marian’s eyes were bright with happiness in the discovery that thecaptain and Lulu, both of whom she had learned to dearly love in theby-gone days of her acquaintance with them in the far West, were insome sort connected with her and disposed to treat her as a near andvalued relative; also that through them she had come upon othersactually of her mother’s kith and kin and disposed to take her inamong them and treat her as one of themselves. Ah, what a sudden anddelightful change from the lonely and forlorn condition which had beenhers but the day before!

  She greatly enjoyed the short drive to Ion, the warm welcome receivedthere by herself as well as the others, the pleasant, kindly greetingsof the different members of the various family connections, all ofwhom, though many of them were not actually even distantly related toher, met her with the greatest cordiality and seemed deeply interestedin the story of her past and her prospects for the future.

  It was a great pleasure to make acquaintance with the young girls fromthe Oaks, with Lora Howard also and Evelyn Leland, with all of whomshe spent the greater part of the afternoon in pleasant chat, whilewandering about the beautiful grounds and boating on the lovely lakelet.

  While the young people strolled over the grounds the older ones satconversing together in the veranda. Much of the talk was of Marian andwhat could be done to help her to a happy and useful life. It soonbecame apparent that any one of them was ready to offer her a home;Captain Raymond more than willing to take her into the number of hispupils, and Mr. Lilburn really anxious to bear all the expense of herclothing and education.

  “If she will accept me as her teacher the education need cost butlittle,” remarked Captain Raymond.
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br />   “And I,” said Mrs. Elsie Travilla, “must claim the privilege ofsupplying at least a part of her clothing; for as my dear mother’srelative she seems very near to me.”

  “And what is left for me to do?” asked Mr. Lilburn with a comical lookof chagrin and dismay.

  “Why, sir, you might supply pocket-money,” suggested Zoe.

  “Or settle a few thousands upon her so that she need not feelabsolutely penniless,” added Edward.

  “Ah ha! ah ha! um hm! that’s no so bad an idea, cousin,” returned theold gentleman with a humorous look and smile; “and it is to be hopedour bonny lassie may not be averse to receiving it from ‘a kinsmannear, a clansman true;’ though the kin be not so near as one mightwish.”

  “Yet if you adopt her that need make but little difference,” Edwardlaughingly returned.

  “Quite true, sir, and whether that is done or no will rest wi’ thesweet lassie hersel’,” said the old gentleman, relapsing into hisScottish brogue. “She is one any man might be proud to call hisdaughter.”

  “So we all think,” said Elsie Leland, “and Lester and I would be gladto give her a home at Fairview. She would make a desirable companionfor Evelyn, we think.”

  “She would do quite as well for Ella at the Roselands; wouldn’t she,Cal?” said Dr. Arthur Conly with a humorous look at his elder brother.

  “Not a doubt of it; for ourselves too, for that matter,” laughedCalhoun.

  “Or for us at the Oaks,” remarked the younger Mr. Horace Dinsmore; andhis sister Mrs. Lacey added, “Or for us at the Laurels.”

  “Evidently she is in no danger of finding herself homeless,” remarkedthe father of the last two with a smile.

  “No, indeed! not while her older Cousin Elsie has one or more to offerher,” added the sweet voice of his eldest daughter. “I propose thatsome of us take her into the city to-morrow morning and buy for herwhatever may be needed to supply her with a wardrobe equal to that ofany one of our own girls.”

  “A very good thought, cousin,” said Mr. Lilburn, “and with your leaveI shall make one of that party. And might it not be well to take thelass herself with us and consult her own taste to supplement the goodjudgment of yourself and any of the other ladies who may care toaccompany us?”

  “And give her the pleasure of seeing the city too,” said Zoe, “if sheis sufficiently rested from her long and wearisome journey to enjoyit.”

  After a little more talk it was fully decided that the trip to the cityand the shopping should be undertaken on the morrow, and Marian invitedto accompany them or not, as might suit her inclination.