CHAPTER LXXIII.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 245, 10 March 1888, Page 2

CHAPTER LXXIII.

IIOMKWAUD I'AST, AND ILOMK AT LAST. The lijrht of sm'.los shall fill again Tlu> lids that overflow with tears; And ui'iuj lioui-. <jr woo and pniii Aro i>rotnises ot' h,i;ipicr yoart.

There is a (lav of sunny rest l«\u- every dark and troubled night ; And tfriet may bide an evening (-'JK'St, But ]oy shall coino with curly light. Bkyaxt. •' Tin. uk is a lady in the case." This careless newspaper phrase, I '•aid, had pierced the heart of (Jertrude like n daggor, and, despite all hor efibit^, tho dagger rankled there, and could not. be ■withdrawn. Her knowledge of (Jeialdinc had taught her that the haughty beauty would descend to any devices to win the hand of Gerald Fit/goiald, even to tho humiliating one ot wuiking upon h\> compassion. "Geiald lou's me, and willno\er cea^c to love me Such a lo\e ahGeraldbeais to me can never die. Such live will live forever, here and hereafter. Yet he may marry Geialdino, all the same. Believing 1 me to ])a\e been lo^t at «-oa, listening to the counsel ot od iuends. and, more than all compassionating Geraldinc, lie may marry hor betoie 1 can leach him to j)ve\cnc the honor. But it will be from pity, nob fiom Jove. Yes, proud beauty, if you descend to practise on his, pity, he will ltiarry you for pity's sake, and sacrifice his life's freedom and happiness, as many a noble man has done before for some weak or wicked woman's t»ako," she murmured to herself, as she tossed icst essly to and fro on her sleepless bed. Poor ehi'd ! how fast her troubles were teaching her the hardest knowledge of the world ! The next day being the .Sabbat!), Gertrude accompanied the family to church, fcpth in the morning 1 and in the afternoon, and heard two excellent sermons from the rector. She hoped to have seen Captain Wailcs at church, and even at dinner with hi* relatives ; but she did not see him on either occasion. The good captain ot the Becky had the invariable habit ot holding religious services on hi.s own ship, and looking after the spiritual need 1 ? of his own men, ojj at least of such among them as could be induced to listen to his teachings ; lor in this respect he would not coeice them. And this habit ho did not depart from even on this day. On Monday morning. Captain Wailes called eaiJy, and asked to see Mrs Fleming 1 alone. And when that merry little woman went down to welcome him, h^ put a handful of bank notes in her hand, saying, confidently : "Now, Cousin Caroline, 3 on have made more than oue long sea-voyage, and you know what a lady would lequiro to make her comfoi table iJuiing a live 01 si\ months' i evidence on a ship.'" " Of com so I do." '' Well, f-ay nothing to Mrs Fitzgerald : the poor child is so sensitive about incun ing obligations ; but do me the favour to take thU money and use it in her intercut, (io out and buy a big sea-chest ; she is my only lady passenger, and she and the stewai de&s will have the whole cabin to themselves, so there will be plenty of room in it for her big chest and all her effects. Fill it with everything that she can possibly need." " Very well, I will attend to it this morning, Cousin George." "And don't forget to put in all the -newest novels and poems out, for she is a great reader. " " I will remember." "And pencils and paints to make pictures." "Very well." "And be sure to get some—somesome—" " Some tchat, George ?" *' Some of those things that you women use when you punch holes and cut scallops in strips of white stuff and sew them around." " Oh, you mean white cambric embroidery." "Idon't know what the sphinx it is, but if you do, get it. And also something you use when you make bright, fuzzy flowers and puppies and things on bits of sailcloth." " Worsted, embroidery ?" *' Very likely. And don't forget the stuff to knit tine, bright little fish-nets." " Ob, nonsense, Cousin George; you mean crochet work." "Just so! Egyptian mysteries I call it. Bub I know it keeps you women qniet ; for when you are busy with it you never think how tedious the thing is. Get her plenty of it, and everything else you can think of." "1 will do ib ; bub lam wondering now how the poor lady managed to exist without these things during the last six months on the sea." " Oh, the cabin was chock full of women -and children, and she constituted herself free nurse, seamstress, governess, and maid of -all- work to every one of them j and she wore the same brown stuff dress she has on now, during the whole time, and you notice it looks as nice now as if it were torand-new. Oh, 6he is as new as a ■Quakeress, this little lady," i»aid the Captain of the Becky, as he arose to go. " And shall I have the chest sent to the ship !" "Of course, as soon as it is packed. Good-morning. " When the captain had left the house, Mrs Fleming gob ready and went out on her mission, and spent the whole of the forenoon in making her various purchases. She returned in time to preside at her luncheon table, and in reply to the rector* questions merely answered that she had been shopping. During that afternoon a large chest, with compartments, arrived, and was followed by packages of all sizes, shapes and qualities, that poured in at the parsonage door all the evening. These were all placed in an empfcy bedroom, and there Mrs Fleming and her three daughters shut themselves in for the couple of hours that ifc took them to pack the great chest. The, rector himself was called in to write the direction and then aworn to secrecy. Early the next morning the great chest was sent down on board the Becky. Gertrude, up to thai time, knew nothing about it. On Tuesday evening, Captain Wailes and Sallust Rowley came, to spend their last evening with lsr. and Mrs Fleming., Gertrude, putting aside her deep trouble, played and gang some ,0^ her very, best pieces for the circle. ,•'• Afterwards, Sallust Rowley enter&ained/them w jth some 1 ofwHis finest recitations both in tragedy and comedy, "' v ' \ < There 'wad a late ttM'itam^tudus' supper in honour Of thtf occasion, and afCer'supper quiet conversation untft the hour, of retire ment arrived. , „. . , „< y Then the captain of the Becky' and Mr,' Sailusfc KoWley iihited \ with th^Kotfsenold in their evening worship, in 1 whibK' 'special' prayers were offered up for those aWutjtago'

Finally, Captain Wailes, haying received the promise of tho i color fco bring his guest and passenger on the ship early in the morning, took a hearty leave of the family, and, accompanied by Mr Rowley, left the hou*c. Immediately after the doparture of tho visitors, tho family retired to rest. They aroeu the next morning to an extra early breakfast, and then Gertrude, accompanied by the rector, his wife, and their three daughters, wont down to the Boclcy, where Captain Wailes and his officers, all in their semi-naval uniforms, received them on deck with tho heartiust welcome. They found the Becky thoroughly renovated, and in the trimmest order, and all | the sailors in their holiday clothes, and every mast-head gaily Hying tho national btais. and stripes. Mrs Fluminy cast an admiring glance around, exclaiming : "Ah! but I am so glad to tread the boards of the dear old Becky again ! 1 have not been tho staunch old ship — for indeed she has not been to this port— since 1 fix ot came out in her, with my husband and children, five jeais a<;o. How do you do, Mr Hurrough.s? You don'tgiowa bit old !" "1 grow younger in your presence, madam," answered the gallant first mate. "Ah, yes, that is quite likely,"' laughed the lady. " ilow are you, Mr Kstep ? Not mauied yet?" " No, ma'am. Waiting for one of your young ladies to grow up," replied the second mate. "Not you '. You know 1 wouldn't give one of my girls to a sea- faring man ; no, j nob even if he weie an admiral, with a pri- ! \atu foitune of a hundred thousand a year. i 1 don': want either of my daughtois to be a widow naif her married lite." '• I'd resign and btay home," said Estep. " Stay whore you arc. It is tho bust place tor you," ictorted the lady. The young mate laughed goodj humouredly. " Come, my dear," said Mrs Fleming to I (lertrude, "let us leave the gentlemen here and go down into the cab\n. 1 wibh to see my old quarters. Pete and I and the children had it all to oui>clves mlumi we came out here. There were no other passenger?. Come, girls ! You lomembui the old cabin, don't you, though Rebecca wn* only seven years old when we came out?" The three daughteis clamorously assured their mamma that they remembtiett the old ship and tho cibin, and the mate and the stewardess, and the cow and — "There! Stop your din ! And be careful now coming down this companion-way, or you will pitch head-foremost to the bottom of the stahs. Here we are 1" exclaimed the rector's wife, as she led the way into the after- cabin. " How clean and comfortable it looks !" said (Jortrude, glancing around. "Yes, George has hud it thoroughly cleansed, and 1 am sure it must have wanted it, after ha\ ing been hospital and nnrseiy forascoio of women and children for six months," observed tho rector's lady. Gcrtiude's eyes fell upon the big chest stowed atone end of the cabin. She looked more closely upon it and read her own name. " Why, what i.° this ?" she inquired of no one in particular. " It's your kit, my dear." " But I mean this big chest." "So do I." ** Is io for me V " Yes ; it is your outfit for the voyage. Cousin George had it sent in." "Oh. how kind! hosv very kind of Captain U'aHes !" " Fiddle-de-dee, my dear. He doesn't hurt himself," laughed the lady. Grateful tears filled Gertrude's eyes. " Oh, surely no one ever had such friends as I have ! How will I — how will Gerald ever be üble to repay them 1" she thought, as she remembered all the kindness that had been shown her. " Now show mo which is your state-room, my love, and then I will point out those that "were occupied by me and my party," said Mrs Fleming. " This on the right as you come down to t>he foot of the stairs," said Gerttude. "The opposite one is occupied by the stewardess," she added. "Exactly; though, as there will be no other passenger but yourself here, you can be queen of the cabin and sleep were you please." " 1 think I shall be contented with this one." " Well, my dear, it is the most comfortable one in "the cabin, I think. Pete and I occupied ib when we were coming over. The two elder girls had the next one to us, and the younger girl, with the nurse, had the next to that. The stewardess had the opposite one— the same as, it seems, that she has got now. We had a delight- ! ful time after we had gotten over the sea i sickness." I "The cabin will feel less Jonely and more interesting after what you have told me," said Gertrude, smiling. " What on earth are they doing on deck ?" exclaimed the lady, as the loud uproar of many sounds and many voices assailed their ears. " They are hoisting sails and getting up the anchor, I think," explained Gertrude. " Why, to be sure. I ought to have known. But whab a little sailor you are getting to be ! Well, come on, my dear ; we had better go up on desk. Come, children, we must prepare to go on shore, if we don't want to go to sea," said the chatty little woman, as she turned and went up the companion-way, followed by the others. When they reached the deck, they found the usual noise and seeming confusion attending the clearing of a large merchantman. Captain Wuiles Ay as on the quarter-deck, Mr Burroughs fore, and Mr Estep aft. , Dr. Fleming hastened to meet them. "I was just coming down after you. Wo must go on shoio now," he hastily said. . "The hour has come. 'The best of friends must part,' " exclaimed Mrs Fleming, in a serio-comic tone. The captain sprang down from the poop and came towards them. " We shall offer prayers for your safety every nighfc and morning, my dear. And on next Sunday the congregation will pray for you," said the rector, kindly, as he took leave of Gertrude. "Keep, a stiff upper lip, little woman. The staunch old Becky will be sure, to carry you safe home. She never cuts capers, and won't take any nonsense either from wind or wave," said 'Mrs Fleming, as she heartily shook Gertrude's hand and kissed her cheek. ' ' ' ",$ will nevei; forget all your gdodr ness to me," replied j&erbrudo, in a broken by emotion.' * iThe three young girls • kissed her gboH>bye. » •: ' > • • ' - ' J( ThentMMrwJiole party- bade 1 farewell to ilie captain of the 'ftecky frnd. his officers* ;at}d\la¥tl/ ! to 'Salfijjili' Row^yj'Vho came <rujnning'from to re^•ceive, .their ftdieincl* Ut t *, A ' „«' finally they wsnt ashore/ „ .„ ;v. . i ,w 'In ran fninufces ' 4fterwar,ds,. 'jbtie glprjous old BeckyfwitH'al'l'tier' canvas &MoVand "all her colours flying, stood.out to sea. u > Gertrude remained on deck, as long asv ■>th;eland *fc» Irf^s %h/<wm&ohbWr group^of ; friends j taqiMßtoodf uponS&htfpieX!

waving handkerchiefs, in response to which sho constantly waved hers, and when they could no longerbe scon, patching the distant spires of the city until they sank , beneath tho horizon, and nothing but sea j and sky remained to be scon. Then Captain Wailes came up to her with words of cheer, " Well, my dear, tho Becky is flying over the sea this morning, is she not ? But, then, wind and tide aro both in her favour, i and I hope they will continuo to be so as long as possible. And how aro you this morning, my child ? I have hardly had time to ask you." " Above all things I am grateful, Captain Wailes. 1 have seen your last munificent donation in the cabin ! " Only a «.oa kit, my child— a few indispensnbles to mako you less uncomfortable." "Oh, Captain Wailes, how shall 1 thank you /" " Nonsense, my food littlo lady ! Don'fc mention it Jt is not worth talking about. —Burroughs !"' and thus hailing his lh\st mate a.s an excuse for leaving, the worthy captain hurried o(I to avoid her thanks. Is it necessary to describe this long vovagoalw ? I think not. To do so would only weaiy my readers. Gertrude's thoughts constantly revolved about onu centre — her love for her absent husband. That unlucky phrase, "A woman in tho case," still rankled like a planted dagger in her bo^oni, nor could she draw it out ! It caused a i aging level of impatience at her own euloiced absence fioin him, to burn through her vein**, consuming her strength. That this did not utterly destroy her young life was clue to her absolute faith in her hus-band's undying love, and to her realisation of the fact that every hour bi ought her nearer and nearer to him. Every night sho counted oil' one day from the days of absence Every Wednesday night, dating from the day of sailing, sho counted on one week. On the in st of October, sho counted off one month gone ! They had run down the Pacific coast at an unusual degree of speed, for the "slow and sure " old Becky, but then they had been f.iumred with unusually tine weather. They were now nearing Cape Horn, beginning to feel the hea\y seas in tUe | great shock of tho meeting ocean?. Their experience in doubling the Capo on then homewaid was quite as bad. as that of their outward bound voyage ; but by the hist of November tho Becky was in comparatively smooth water again. Gertrude fccored two months gone from the long sea voyage, and the captain assuicd her that by the lust of February the Becky would be anchored in Baltimore harbour. " Then our voyage is nearly half over !" exclaimed Gertrude, with animation. " Yes, my dear, it is already two-fifths over. How glad you will be to be quit of old George Wailes and the Beck)'." " Oh, no, no, no! I shall never, never, never forget Captain Wailes and the Becky ! I shall always echo the sailors' prayers — ' God bless Captain Wailes and the Becky.' And I will never consent for you to di op our acquaintance. You must \isit us at the Summit in Wilde county, and we must visit you at your home in St. Mary's. And sometime or other, Captain Wailes, I hope Colonel Fitzgerald and myself will take a voyage with you in the Becky. Oh, pray never say again that I shall be glad to get rid of you and the Becky, because it is not true. I shall only be glad to get home, and only too eon'y to leave you and the old ship," fcaid Gertrude, with emotion. " I will never say it again, my child, for I know it is not true," answered Captain Wailes, heartily. The remainder of the voyage seemed the happiest, and therefore the shortest to Gertrude. On the first of December phe scored another month off the length of her banishment. At Christmas the captain celebrated the great religious holiday by holding divine service in the main cabin during the forenoon, and giving a feast to his passengers and officers, and a treat to his men, in the afternoon. In the evening Sallust gave recitations and readings, and Gertrude songs and accompaniments, in the main! cabin. After which Gertrude distributed Christmas gifts of embroidered slippers and smoking-caps that she had been at work upon during the voyage, to the captain, the mates, and Sallust Rowley. These the recipients took with pride and pleasure, and vowed to keep them to the last day of their lives, and only to wear them on grand holidays. One week later, on the first of January, Gertrude wished all her fellow- voyagers a happy New Year with more real joy than is usually felt on such occasions ; for on that morning she had scored off the fourth month of her long homeward voyage, and the eleventh month of her protracted separation from her husband. "One month more," she said to herself, " will complete the year of unexpected absence. Oh , if when we left Calais together on tho Messenger, on that fatal first of February, it had been foretold me thab within a few hours Gerald and myselt would be suddenly and violently sundered, not to meet again, or communicate even by message or letter again for twelve months — no, I would not have believed it, though an angel of light had been the prophet. But in one little month, Gerald, we will met. Oh ! we will meet as loved ones, severed by death— meet in Heaven — unless— Oh, Gerald ! Gerald ! do nothing to change this meeting of joy and blessedness into one of horror and grief ! Oti^ Gerald 1 that my spirit had strength to .pierce through t time and space, and whisper to your heart, " Keep free, oh, Gerald I for I am coming to you.'" At such moments, when anxiety was wrought to a pitch of excitement scarcely to be endured, her only refuge was prayer. ' Gertrude prayed, and was strengthened. A little later, on the same morning, when she was sitting alone on the forward deck, with her gaze fixed upon the north-western' horizon, beyond which lay her far-distant home, Captain Wailes joined her. She welcomed him with a smile. " Only one month more, dear Captain Wailes. Only one short month more, and we shall all be' at home, and everybody will meet their friends, and I shall meet my,' husband, and you your two dear Rebeccas !" sne-exclainied. "My little lass and her mother. Y t es f my child j in one month, pr less time, we shall drop anchor in Baltimore harbour," responded .the captain of the Becky. * The Jast mpn£h of the -voyage passed quickly, and, on a Sunday afternoon, the first of February, 1 the steady old' Becky nearedthe mou'fcH'of the Patapsbo river. » Gertrude- mentally' struck off the last month fron\.h t e i r,lte,rril?leryear, of Absence,, as she sat clown on the f ore-doq^ anji looked up bUb 'rivetf * Bub; h'efr 'dark eyes were sorrow i hl,s an,d hfwfy 'witf* urilhejj 1 for, /she wae thinking that tfhis was th^.anriiVer-' aaty of the loss of the Messenger. ,and feel>ing howifcerrißle^the»day must be to her absent husband* who „ believed^ thatj she was* -over' him?ahd iWifopfefMtf V ' ■ * s ; f ' • , - bitterly ! I An^ea^jy^uj; £arfi r *wiih yom r jaj)d*|if jwill s,oon stan£ymbl&bjrfpre you/ ,> "v" v „, H^mMuSß TOleVfound'her, and/ fjby6^y'accbßM ifr **w*'\ ;""' "»*

" Well, Cousin Gertrude, we are in sight of pqrfc. >j You may see the spires of Baltii more "glancing in the beams of the setting sun. Take this spy-glass. Eh ! What ! Weeping ? What the mischief is the matter now ?'' he anxiously inquired, as she turned her tearful face towards him. "Oh! Cousin Sallust," said she smiling through her tears, "you know this is the anniversary of my death. I was loskat sea in the burning of the Messenger, twelve months ago to-day." "What ever do you mean? I thought this was the anniversary of your rescue from death !" exclaimed the boy, in a perplexed and aggrieved tone. "So it is ; and Colonel Fitzgerald will soon prove how grateful he can be to the brave hand that saved me. But I have been dead for a year, all the same." " Now, what the bluo dees do you mean '/ Here you are all alive and well, and you say you have been dead for a year." "1 have been dead to my husband, »Sallusl. 1 have been dead for a year to-day. This is the anniversary of my death, and oh ! I can feel how bitter, how grievous this day must be to him ! And I must grieve with him, until I can come to lite in his presence and rejoice with him !" "I understand; yes, I suppose Gerald does feel low to-day. I should think he would. But if he only knew how fast you are coming towards him !" It was on a clear, starlight Sunday night thstt the Becky anehoied in Baltimore harbour. The evening bells were ringing the people into church, and to Gertrude's senMtive mind they seemed to be al©o ringing their own welcome home. As no business could bo done until morning, Captain Wailes invited Geitrude and Sallust to go on shore with him to church. They both willingly consented, (jertrude exchanged her water-proof seasuit for a black hilk walking-dress and a sealskin jacket and hat, that made hei look like a pretty, fanciful, litole Arctic traveller ; and Sallust made a dandy ot himself for the occasion, and even Captain Wailes put on his best holiday suit, and they went on shore, leaving the ship to the care of the two mates and the crew. Once on land the little party divided, Sallust going to attend vespers at the nearest Catholic church, and Captain Wailes and Gertrude, to the evening service ab the Episcopal church. Once more to tread dry land, to walk the streets of a populous city, to enter a wellfilled place of worship, seemed to our little friend like coining back to earth from death. She appreciated the privilege of a united worship as she never had done before. She entered into the services with a depth of earnestness never before experienced, e\en by her earnest soul. Sho listened to the sermon with a profound interest that only circumstances could have inspired, for, in truth, the discourse was scarcely equal to any of those selected from the finest wiitings of the most gifted theologians, read by the captain of the Becky, when he conducted the services of his ship at sea. After the benediction, Gertrude took the old seaman's offered arm, and left the church, cheered, comforted, and strengthened. They met Sallust Rowley by appointment, at the wharf, where he had been waiting for them for a few minutes, and the three returned together to the ship. Gertrude bid the two gentlemen goodnight on the deck, and retired to her cabin, too restless and excited to sleep. '• Now for Washington, by the first train to-morrow morninp," she said; "and then for West Virginia by the first stage ; and then my meeting with Gerald — that meeting which is to be like the meeting of loved ones in heaven, unless — " Her sentence was not completed, even in thought ; it was merged in prayer. But wo must precede Gertrude to her mountain home, and see what her reception there is likely to be.