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Mark,Ruth,andEdnahurriedondeck,andreacheditintimetoseeCaptainMayloadtoitsmuzzlethesmallbrasscannonthatwascarriedontheschoonerforfiringsignals.
Howbeautifulandpeacefuleverythinglooked!
Thetide,withwhichtheyhadcomeup,filledtherivertothebrim,anditsparkledmerrilyinthelightoftherisingsun.
Theferry-boatlaymooredtothebankjustinfrontoftheschooner,andtheycouldseethetinhornhangingtoitspost,andtheverycardonwhichweretheferryratesthatRuthhadprintedsomanymonthsbefore.
Thehousewashiddenfromtheirviewbyaclumpoftrees,butovertheirtopsrosealightcolumnofsmoke,andtheyknewAuntChloewasupandbusy,atanyrate.
Suddenly,flash!bang!
thesmallcannonwentoffwitharoarworthyofalargerpiece,andonethatwoketheechoesformilesupanddowntheriver,disturbednumerouswildwater-fowlfromtheirquietfeeding,andsentthemscreamingawaythroughtheair,andsetallthedogsinWakullatobarkingfuriously.
Inthemidstofalltheclamorthechildrenheardtheloudbarkoftheirowndog,Bruce,andinanothermomenthecameboundingdowntothelanding,andwasthefirsttowelcomethemhome.
Atthesametimeanumberofcoloredpeople,amongwhomthechildrenrecognizedseveralfamiliarfaces,camerunningdowntotheoppositebankoftheriver,wheretheystoodrubbingtheireyesandstaringatthebigschooner,thefirstthathadbeenseenintheirriverinmanyyears.
Thechildrendidnotpaymuchattentiontothem,however,foralanding-plankwasbeingrunashore,andtheywereeagertogotothehouse.
AsMarkreachedthewharf,andwasholdingouthishandtoRuth,whofollowed,therewasaloudhurrahbehindhim,andbeforehecouldturnaroundFrankMarchhadthrownhisarmsroundhisneck,andwasfairlyhugginghiminhisjoy.
“Iknewyou’dcomewhenweweren’texpectingyou!Iknewyou’dsurpriseus!
andItold‘emsolastnightwhentheywereworryingaboutyou,”shoutedtheboy,dancingaboutthem,andalmostinclinedtohugRuthashehadMark.
Buthedidn’t;heonlygraspedbothherhands,andshookthemuntilshebeggedformercy.
Assoonassheregainedpossessionofherhands,shesaid,
“Andhere’sEdna,Frank.MissEdnaMay,Mr.FrankMarch.”
“I’mawfullygladtoseeyou,MissEdna,”saidFrank;and“Howdoyoudo,Mr.March?”saidEdna,astheyshookhandsandlookedateachothercuriously.
ThenFrankwasintroducedtoUncleChristopher,whosaid,“Myboy,I’mproudtomakeyouracquaintance.Soyoudidn’texpectus,eh?”
andtheoldgentlemanchuckledashethoughtofthequalityandsizeofthejoketheyhadplayedontheinmatesof“GoBang”bysurprisingthem.
CaptainMayandthegentlemenfromAroostookhadnotlefttheschoonerwhentheothersturnedtowardsthehouse,talkingsofastastheywentthatnobodyunderstood,orevenheard,whatanybodyelsewassaying.
Astheycameinsightofthehousetwowell-knownfigureswereleavingthefrontgate,andthenextminuteMarkandRuthhadrushedintothearmsoftheirfatherandmother,andthelatterwasactuallycryingforjoy.
“Itisallyourdoing,UncleChristopher,”shesaidtoMr.Bangs,assoonasshecouldspeak.
“Iknowitis;foryouneverinyourlifehaveneglectedopportunitiesforgivingpeoplejoyfulsurprises.”
“Well,NieceEllen,Iwon’tsayasIdidn’thaveahandinit,”answeredtheoldgentleman,hisfacebeamingwithdelight.“But,sakesalive!
MarkElmer,isthistheplacethatIletyouhaverentfreefortenyears?”
andhepointedtotheprettyhouse,andswepthishandoverthebroadfieldssurroundingit.
“Yes,UncleChristopher,thisistheplace.Thisis‘GoBang,’asthechildrenhavenamedit,andwewelcomeyouveryheartilytoit.”
“Well,well,”saidUncleChristopher,mournfully,“whatchancesIhavethrownawayinthislife!eh,NieceEllen?”
“Youneverthrewawayachancetodogoodormakeothershappy,uncle,Iamsureofthat.Butnowcomeintothehouseandgetreadyforbreakfast,whichwillsoonbereadyforyou.”
Astheotherswentintothehouse,RuthranaroundtothekitchentoseeAuntChloe,andsosurprisedthatoldwomanthatshejustthrewherflouryarmsaboutthegirl’sneckandkissedher,saying,
“TankdeLo’d,honey!TankdegoodLo’dyou’scomehomeag’in!We’sallmissyo’likedesunshine,butnobodyhain’tmissyo’likeoleClodone.”
Mr.MarchandJanhadgonetoTallahasseethedaybefore,butweretobebackthatnight.
Mrs.ElmersentMarkdowntotheschoonertoinviteCaptainMayandtheAroostookgentlementocometothehouseforbreakfast,but,rathertoherrelief—forshewasnotpreparedtoentertainsomanyguests—theydeclinedherinvitation,sayingtheywouldbreakfastonboard,andcometothehousetopaytheirrespectslater.
Howjollyandhappytheywereatbreakfast.
HowshyFrankwasbeforeEdna,andhowmanyfunnythingsUncleChristopherdidsaytomakethemlaugh!
Littlebylittlethe“greatscheme”wasunfoldedtothethreemembersofthemillcompanypresentwhohadnotheardofit,thoughUncleChristopherandMarkhadintendedtokeepitasecretuntiltheycouldlayitbeforearegularmeetingofthedirectors.
But,beginningwithhints,thewholestorywasfinallytold,andMr.andMrs.ElmerandFrankwereonlytoogladtosustainPresidentMarkinhispromises.
Theysaidtheyshouldnotonlybeproudandhappytohavethe“bestuncleintheworld”becomeamemberoftheircompany,butthatnewsaw-millmachinerywasjustwhattheyneeded,fortheyfoundthepresentmillalreadyunabletosupplythedemandsuponitforlumber.
Whiletheothersweretalkingbusiness,RuthandEdnahadgoneoutonthefrontporchtolookatthegarden,andnowRuthcamebacktoaskwhosehousetheprettylittlenewonewasthatstoodjustontheedgeofthewoodstotheright.
“Why,that’sours,”saidFrank,jumpingfromthetable.“Don’tyouwanttogoandlookatit?”
Theysaidofcoursetheydid,andMarksaidhewouldgotoo.
Theywereperfectlydelightedwiththenewhouseandeverythinginit,andpraiseditforbeingsotinyandcozyandcomfortable,untilFrankthoughthehadneverfeltsohappyandproudbefore.
Itwasnowonder,forthiswasthefirsttimehehadeverknownthepleasureofextending,tothosewhomheloved,thehospitalityofapleasanthomeofhisown.
Whentheyreturnedtothebighousetheyfoundtherestoftheirfriendsfromtheschoonerthere.
CaptainMaystartedwhenhesawFrankMarch,andonbeingintroducedtohimheldhishandsolong,andstaredathimsoearnestly,astogreatlyembarrasstheboy.
AsUncleChristopherandtheAroostookgentlemenwereanxioustovisitthemill,Mr.Elmerinvitedthemtowalkuptherethroughthewoods.
Ontheirwaytheypassedthesulphurspring,whichhadbeencleanedoutandwalledin,andoverwhichaneatbath-househadbeenbuilt.
UncleChristopherwasdelightedwithit,anddeclaredthat,toanold“rheumatizy”manlikehim,thatspringwasworthallthelumberin“Floridy.”
MarkhadaskedEdnaandRuthtogouptothemillbywaterwithFrankandhiminthecanoe,andtheyacceptedtheinvitation.
AtfirstEdnawasverytimidinthefrailcraft,butshesoongainedconfidence,andsaid“shethoughtitwastheverynicestlittleboat,ononeoftheprettiestriversshehadeverseen.”
AstheynearedthemillitsbusymachineryseemedtoMarktosay,“Welcome,Mr.President,welcome,Mr.President,welcomeMr.PresidentoftheElmerMills”;andwhenhedrewtheattentionoftheotherstoit,theydeclaredthatthey,too,coulddistinguishthewordsquiteplainly.
Themilllookedjustasithadwhentheylastsawit,butatonesideweregreatpilesofsawedlumberthatUncleChristopherandtheAroostookgentlemenwereexaminingcarefully.
ThatafternoonMarkhandedFrankthirtydollarsashisshareofthemoneytheformerhadreceivedfromtheirotter-skins,whichhehadcarriedNorthandsold.
Frankhadseveralmorethathehadcaughtduringthesummer,buttheirskinswereoflittlevaluecomparedwiththosecaughtduringtheearliermonthsoftheyear.
Mr.Elmerhadinvitedallthegentlementodinewithhimthatevening,muchtotheconsternationofAuntChloe,whosaid“shewassho’shecouldn’tseehowshewasgwinefin’timetopo’widevittlesfo’somanyguesses;an’dempo’hung’yNorfenerstoo.
‘Specsdey’llbepowerfultickledtogitasquar’meal.”
The“guesses”spenttheafternoonincrossingtherivertoWakulla,andindrivingseveralmilesintothegreatpineforests,whichpleasedthemgreatly.
Thedinnerturnedouttobeamostbountifulmeal,inspiteofAuntChloe’sfears;andathalf-pastsixaverymerrycompanygatheredaroundthelongtable,which,forwantofspaceelsewhere,hadbeensetinthewidehallthatranthroughthehousefromfronttorear.
Theeveningwassowarmthatthefrontdoorstoodwideopen,andwhendinnerwasnearlyover,thewholepartywerelaughingsoheartilyatoneofUncleChristopher’sfunnystories,thatnooneheardthesoundofwheelsatthegate,nornoticedthefigurethat,withwhitefaceandwildeyes,staredatthemfromtheopendoorway.
No,notatthem;onlyatoneofthem—thefair-hairedgirl,almostawoman,whosatattheheadofthetable,onMr.Elmer’srighthand,andonwhosefacethelightshonefullandstrong.
Thenacryrangthroughthehall,acryalmostofagony,anditwas“Margaret!Margaret!mywifeMargaret!AmIdreaming,orcanthedeadcometolife?”
AsthestartledguestslookedtowardsthedoorMr.Marchenteredtheroom,andwithoutnoticinganyoneelse,walkedstraighttowhereEdnaMaywassitting.
She,frightenedathisappearanceandfixedgaze,clungtoMr.Elmer’sarm,andCaptainMayhalfrosefromhischairwithaconfusedideathatthegirl,whomhelovedashisowndaughter,wasindanger.
“Whoisshe,Elmer?wheredidshecomefrom?”exclaimedMr.March.
“Sheisthelivingimageofmydeadwife;onlyyounger,muchyounger,andmorebeautifulthanshewhomIdrovefromherhome,”headded,withagroan.
Mr.ElmerhadnoticedthestrangeresemblancebetweenFrankMarchandEdnaMay,andhaddeterminedtospeaktohiswifeaboutitthatnight.
Nowitallflashedacrosshimasclearassunlight;butbeforehecouldspeak,Ruthsprangtohisside,andtakingherfriend’shandinhers,cried,
“Don’tyousee,father,sheishisowndaughter,thebabyhethoughtwasdrownedintheSavannahRiversomanyyearsago?
CaptainMaysavedher,andnowhehasbroughtherbacktoherfatherandbrother.Frank,Ednaisyourownsister.”
Mr.MarchtriedtotakeEdnaintohisarms,butsheslippedawayfromhimandrantoCaptainMay,saying,“Thisismyfather,theonlyoneIhaveeverknown.
Ashehaslovedandcaredforme,sodoIlovehim.Iwillnever,neverleavehim!”andsheburstintotears.
Aftersoothingandquietingher,CaptainMaysaid,“Mr.March,Isuspectedthislongago.
MarkandRuthtoldmeoftheresemblancebetweenEdnaandyoursononourwayNorthtogetherlastspring,andImadethempromisenottomentionittoher.
Ihopeditwouldprovetobeonlyafanciedresemblance;but,asaChristianman,Icouldnotkeepfatheranddaughterseparated,ifindeedtheywerefatheranddaughter.
SoIbroughtherheretomeetyoufacetoface;andfromwhatIhavejustseenIaminclinedtothinkyouareherownfather,butyoumustproveittome.
Provethefactbeyondadoubt,andIwillyieldtoyouanundividedhalfinterestinthisdearchild.Onlyahalf,though.
Ican’tgiveupthelovethathastwinedroundmyheartfornearlyfifteenyears.”
ThenMr.Marchsatdown,andinfalteringtonestoldtothelisteningcompanythesadstoryofhismarriedlife.
Hegavethedateofthedisappearanceofhiswifeandherbabyfromhome,andhedescribedaswellashecouldtheclothesthateachworeatthetime.
Ashefinished,CaptainMaywenttohimandgavehimawarm,heartyhand-grasp.“That’senough,”hesaid.
“Gentlemen,IcallyoutowitnessthatfromthistimeforthIrenounceallclaims,exceptthoseoflove,toherwhohasbeenknownforthelastfifteenyearsasmydaughterEdnaMay.
Iamsatisfiedthatthismanisherfather,andthatwhateverhehasbeeninthepast,heisnowworthytooccupythatpositiontowardsher.
Edna,mygirl,youhaveonlygottwofathersinsteadofone,andabrotherofwhomIthinkyouwilllivetobeveryproudbesides;yourheartholdsenoughloveforallofus,doesn’tit,dear?”
Edna’sanswerwastothrowherarmsaroundhisneck,andkisshisweather-beatencheeksagainandagain.
Then,withasmileshowingthroughthetearsthatstillfilledhereyes,shewentovertoMr.March,whomshenolongerdoubtedwasherownfather,butofwhomshecouldnothelpfeelingveryshy,andhalftimidlyheldupherfaceforhimtokiss.
Thehappyfatheropenedhisarmsandclaspedhertohisheart,exclaiming,inabrokenvoice,“Godblessyou,mydaughter!
ThatHehasrestoredyoutomeisthesurestsignofHisforgiveness.”
ThenFrankcametothem,saying,“SisterEdna,won’tyoukissmetoo?
ThethingIhaveenviedMarkmostwashishavingasister,andnowthatIhavegotoneofmyown,IdobelieveIamtheveryhappiestboyintheworld.”
“Sakesalive!”exclaimedgoodoldUncleChristopher,whohadallthistimebeenblowinghisnoseveryloudlywithagreatredsilkhand-kerchief,andoccasionallywipinghiseyes,“withallthiskissinggoingon,whereamI?
GrandnieceRuth,comehereandkissyour‘UncleChristmas’directly.”
Ruthdidasshewasbid,andtheoldgentlemancontinued:“WhatacountrythisFloridyis,tobesure.
TheychangeMarchintoMay,orvicyversy,andeachoneisasbeautifulastheother.Sakesalive!
whatanoldAprilFoolIwasnottothinkofallthismyselfwhenIfirstsawthosetwoyoungpeopletogether.”
Longbeforethis,honestJanJansen,whohadreturnedfromTallahasseewithMr.March,butwaitedtoputupthemules,hadcomeintotheroom,andhewasnowbroughtforwardandintroducedtoeverybody.
AmongtheAroostookgentlemenhefoundanoldacquaintancewhohadmethiminNewSweden,andwhonowtoldhimthat,owingtothedeathofarelativeintheoldcountry,asnuglittlepropertyawaitedhim,andthatalawyerinBangorwasadvertisingandsearchingforhim.
HavingnowspentalmostayearwithourWakullafriends,perhapstheyaregettingtiredofus,andwehadbetterleavethemforawhile,onlywaitingtodrawtogetherthethreadsofthestory,andfinishitoffneatly.
EdnaMayMarchhasbeeninstalledmistressoftheprettylittlehousethatMr.MarchandFrankbuiltwhiletheyoungElmerswereintheNorth,andsheandRuthreceivedailylessonsincooking,sewing,andallsortsofhousekeepingfromMrs.ElmerandAuntChloe;andthelattersays“she’sproudto‘stillSoufernprecep’sintodeirsweetNorfernheads,bressem!”
TheNancyBelllayintheSt.Mark’sRiverlongenoughtosecurealoadoflumberfromtheElmerMill,andthensailedfortheNorth.
Butshewillreturn,forCaptainMayhasboughtahalfinterestinherfromUncleChristopher,andwillhereafterrunherregularlybetweenNewYorkandWakulla.
ThenewElmerMillisnearlyfinished,andfourofthesixgentlemenfromAroostookhavegonehometogettheirfamilies,andtobuymoremachinerywithwhichtoerectanothersaw-millfartheruptheriver,andtheyareexpectedbackonthenexttripoftheNancyBell.
JanhasgonetoSweden;buttheyhavehadaletterfromhimsayingthatheshouldreturnsoon,andinvesthispropertyinWakulla.
Dearold“UncleChristmas”isbusypreparingforhisexpeditioninsearchofthefamousWakullavolcano.
Herevelsinthewarmthoftheclimate,andinbathinginthesulphurspring,andhesaysthatifagoodthing’sgood,abettermaybebetter,andhemayfindmorewarmthandmoresulphurifhecanonlyfindthevolcano.
EdnahasbeentakenonseveralpicnicstoWakullaSpring,overthe“humpetyroad,”and“detrabblin’road,”past“BrerSteve’s”downtothelight-house,andtootherplacesofinterest.
Thecontrastbetweenwhatis,andwhatthepeopleofWakullahopewillbewhentheygetthegreatship-canalacrossFloridabuilt,andotherschemescarriedout,amuseshergreatly.
Shesmileswhentheycometoherandinstrictconfidenceunfoldtheirplansforfuturegreatness;butissuchapatientlistener,andsoreadyasympathizer,thatsheisrapidlywinningtheiradmirationandlove.
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