CHAPTER LXXV. GERTRUDE'S ARRIVAL AT HOME.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 246, 14 March 1888, Page 4

CHAPTER LXXV. GERTRUDE'S ARRIVAL AT HOME.

Oil, if indeed to part With a soul's lo\ou oitts bo a iai>-rul th"i<r, When we j.ro fo. ih m joyousne ol Ivea. v, And bouring till » lie olcs-sums o£ our spL-iiij?, lit it les3 so to nioct "When thoso arc WiUievcd I Who shall call it sweet? „ „ .„

Felecia Hkmans. On Monday morning Gertrude was up with the sun. It was a fine, bright, frosty morning, and a acesh, light wind from the "west, blowing over thousands of miles of land, mndo the air scorn peculiarly Mveet and elastic after so many months of salt sea breezes. Gertrude's trunk had been packed for -many days before, in anticipation of this landing. All she had to do now was to gather her few outlying elVects, and put them into the top cavity of the same trunk, secure it, and then pack a t>mail hand-bag for hd* journey. So eager was bhc to be off that she came to the breakfast table a 1 ready equipped for icr journey in healskin jacket, cap and collar. The captain of tho Reeky, standing at the head ol Uie table, received her with an amused smiie. " Why, my child, there is time enough for that, 'i'lie t.nin does not si-art tor "Washington the.-c two hours," he faaid, in he set for ncr ;•. chair. "Oh, but, Capram Waiies. I fuel much nearer going now that I have my tinvellins: suit on," she taid, w ith a s>miie, a*> bhe took ter seat. " But, my dear young lady, you need not really go till the affcoiuoon train; lot- you lenow that the coach by which you must travel does not leave until evening. You would only have to wait v\ Washington." "Oh, but, dear Captain Waiies, you must understand, I shall feel so much nearer Lome when I have gone one stage on my journey !" &'»e pleaded. Sallusb llowloy and the two mates then joined them, and breuk»ast began. Sallu.'t had liis own comment) to make on Gertrude's haste io be off; but they received the same reply that had beea giveu toCaptaia Waile-. «*I wonder," thought tho young man ■** who id going to be ove. joyed at my resurrection. I suppose my sister Horatia, and my little cousin Patricia ! And not another living soul ! I wonder who it dead and n\ ho married, since I last heard of them 1 Nobody probably. Years pass Without anything hanpening while we are at home ; bub if we happen to be away, if even ior a few weeks, we think that everything is froing to lmppe.i ! Bo&h ! nothing does !" And with this conclusion, Mr liowley gave his mind lo his beefsteak, new-laid «£gs, fresh butter, and Other land luxuries, that the stoward had brought from tho Pells' Point Market that very morning. After breakfast Mr Rowley proceeded Tery leisurely to pub up bis belongings mid make himself ready to attend Gertrude. The captain of the Becky also packed a valise. Gertrude walked restlessly up and down the deck, until they joined her there, *' I have sent a man on shore to bring a carriage 10/ you, Mrs Fitzgerald, and a van for jour trunk," said the captain. "Thanks, Captain Waiies. But now that the hour ha-3 come I feel very sorry to part from you and the Becky, even in the very midst of my joy a> my going Jiome," replied Gertrude, as^ tears softened Jher dark eyes. " I know you do, my dear young lady ; hub the parting hour has not come yet. I am ready to go to Washington wicb you. I shall nob leave you until I see you safe aboard the stage-coach. Then I shall take the evening boat and run down to Old St. Mary's County and see the old lady and the little gii'l," replied the captain. •* Oh, that is delightful ! but this is another instance of your kindness to me. Colonel Fitzgerald can ne\er be too grateful to you." " Nonsense, my child. Ido for you ■what, no doubt, he would do for my wife or daughter if our circumstances were reversed." They talked much longer in this friendly strain. Iti fact, they talked until they were interrupted by the return of the messenger, Wto reported the carriage and the van waiting on the wharf. The baggage was then carried on shore, and put in tho van. While this was being done, Gertrude went around the ship, and shook hands every man on board, and with the stewardess in the cabin, to whom she had made many parting gifts from her wellstocked sea-trunk, and last of all, like the tender child Bhe was, she went to bid goodbye to the ship's cow, who had given milk for her tea and coffee during the long voyage. "How I wish I could take you home with me to the green pastures of Virginia, poor Molly," she said, btroking the kindly, stupid face. " And now I hope, for your .sake, that there may be some iuture life of compensation for such as you. And I beukve there is!' 1 she exclaimed, suddenly *n& emphatically. " Come, Couhin Gertrude ! Come ; we «re waiting for you," called the voice of Sallusb Rowley . She hastily put a little apple in the -mouth of poor Molly, and ran to the gangplank, where her friends were standing. ** You don't mean to say you were kissing the cow 1" said Sallust mockingly. •* No ; but I don't think the old woman ■mrho is said to have done bo such a fool as she is represented to have been, after all," .answered Gertrude, between tears and ©miles. She then shook hands with Mr Burroughs* and Mr Estep, and cordially invited' them to visit herself and Colonel Fitzgerald 4 at their Virginia home. > [ Finally she took the offered arm of Captain Waiies and went on shore to the carriage. Sallust Rowley followed.. A rapid drive of forty minutes brought. Ifcexa to the railway depot, where they found' good seats in the ♦'ladies' car.". Five minutes later they wore rushing 'on to Washington at " railway speed." ; -,< After. her long ;sea voyage, Gerfcrudie keenly enjoyed her tyvq- hours' ride,j>hrpugfi ahp undulating. ,and Ayell* wooded ; country lying between Baltimore and WaahiftgAuni ' . Jjb sgftSvyet ea/.y;4n;t.he forejip,on\w^©n the '^«l*i'yan^nto 7 the'^Yasinngton ternjin^s.,, J / , « jNow.wJiereVpjald yQutike^gQ, Jl^rsFitzger^ld ? ., u Xqu have eighfc . bout's to. wait? iji this oity, / yqu ? kn,ovY," t sa,id^Cap^ain Waiies, *s he handed Qertrude 'from .the car. to.fche, 1 yhsEprm, followed by Mr Rowley, with the {bravelling-bagß. • . . ' „,, . * " Oh, to Fuller's. The stagb,-,coacl}gs forj . W«st yirgin^'Bt%rt. from, there, y#u kn,oyjN". ■awwered the}i^le^dy., (i< .; A, * tR . Hu \ . Tho captained ber^ufc pn t sidewftlj, m followed by S»Uusf with the u l igHt'

luggage, and beckoned a hackman, who immediately drove up. The party entered the back, Captain Wailes gave fcu Q order, and they wero driven down to Pennsylvania A\enue and up lo Fuller's. Captain Wailes conducted Gertrude in" to the house and up to the ladies' parlour, while Salhisb paid and discharged the hack. Re engaged a room for Mrs Fitzgerald and another for himself and Mr Kowley. Gortrudo was about to retiro to her own room, when the old seaman & Lopped her to inquire : "Shall I order a private sitting-room and luncheon for our party, or will you go lo the public table ?'' "Ko private sitting-room, if you please, Captain Wailes. We will lunch at the public table," answered Gertrude, with her toot ju.st poised for flight tv her own apartment. " A moment longer, my dear young lady. The public lunch will be ready from twelve to th toe. Wo iag not ihe lease tiicd from our ride on the train. Wo havo eight hours, to wait here, a? I said It will be tedious to you. Now suppose, us wo breakfasted at seven, that, we take an early lunch, iay at twelve, and then get a carriage and go foe a lo:k.c ride, to rclu: .» to the six o'clock dinner, alter which, at seven o'clock, you will take your &e:it in t>ie s-la<,e-coa*ch for We^-t Virginia, and I bhall go down and lake the nine o'clock boat for Leonardtown ami Old St. Mary*. Come! whau do you say to my progwimme for killing time 'i ' " Only what you have o\\ en mo occasion to fay a thousand times bea re— t ! iat you are too kind tome, Captain Wailes." "Then yoa cou&etu io the ananyemenb? • That is right," exclaimed the captain, J heartily. •'Forgive me -no.' With many thanks, dear Captain Wailes, I must decline this pleasant drive. X—lX — I niubl remain here, unUll I enter the stage-coach to t,o home," [ said Gertuide, gently, but rigidly adhering to the rule she had made for ncr&clf, ue\er to go anywhere in the company of her escor.% except when :~he wr.s actually obliged by stiess of cireum-tauceo to dofao, as in her sea-\oyage and land-journey. The old captain partly understood and approved her. '•Litvle prude,' 1 he paid to himself; "littlo p«-udo, io refute to ildu out with an old sea-dot; like myself, who might be her grandfather, and an honest joung pup, like Kowley, with whom I would tuibt my own daughter around the woild, if necessary! Wen, she is. iiu r ht, after all : Prudery is the path of safety, especially to a lenely young married woman away from her husband. Then he answered aloud : •' Very well, my child ; please yourself and you will pleasu me.' 1 "But, Captain Wailes, you nnd Mr Rowley shall go for that drive, '" ?aid Gertrude. "Well, peihaps so, my dear; we will sec about it after luncheon," said the old seaman. At that moment Salluso Rowley entered the parlour, and Geitrude escaped, and called a waiuefcsto thow her to ncr own room. By the mere s l.chance, it happened to be the one she had occupied with Colonel Fitzgeiald when he fiisfc brought her to Washington as hit. bride, thiee yoais before. But the furnitute, which was quite fresh then, had never been renewed, and it was toned down, if not. faded, by v.se. Cerbrude looked around upon the familiar chamber, and then her eyes rested on the door communicating with the sitting room that had been heis. It was closed fast now. " There used to be a parlour in connection with this chamber," she said. " Yeo, Miss, ' answered the waitress, who very naturally supposed this childlike young creature to be the daughter of her elder escort, and the sister of her younger one. "Oh, ye*, Miss ; but as I explained to your pa and your brother, this is the height of the season, and the house is quite full, and we had to turn that parlour into a bedroom. Anything else, Miss ?" "No thank you," answered Gertrude, who did not like the mistake made by the waitress, yet did not bee her way clear through correcting it without entering into long explanations. But seeing the woman about to leave the room, she felt that she could not even silently be a party to her self-deception. So she called her back, and said : " You are in error. Those gentlemen are no kin to me. I am only related to the younger one by marriage.'' "Oh, ye?, Miss; I see." "My name is Fitzgerald — Mrs Fitzgerald. 1 ' "Oh, I beg your pardon, ma'am, I'm sure. I meant no offence," said the girl, who had not self-control enough to prevent her from opening wide her eyes at this childlike matron. "No offence has bpen taken. 1 only wished to set you right. There, that will do, thank you," said Gertrude, gently. The girl retired and left her alone. Gerti ude took off her upper dreee, and lay down on the bed — not .that she was tired, bub she remembered she would have to sit up in the stage coach for three nights and two days, and bo she lay down as a matter of prudent foresight. She did not sleep, but she lay and wished for something to read, to help to ease her thoughts of their incessant labour of the possible or probable circumstances attending her approaching meeting with her husband. " Brood as I may, I cannot now alter events by one hair's breath. I can do nothing but go straight to Gerald as fast as the means of, travel will lot me. But I wish . I could think of something else, if it were only to save me from monomania," she said to herself. As if in answer to her thoughts, there came a rap at the door. Gertrude arose, and standing well under shelter behind it, opened it cautiously. " Here's some books and papers, Miss, the old gentleman sent you— l beg your pardon, ma'am, I Meant," said the voice of the unseen waitress. < /'Oh, it is- you I Come in," said Gertrude, as 6he opened wide the door. The girl entered, and laid a large parcel of magazines and newspapers down on the table, and then went out. - Gertrude, who had not Been a magazine for the last five months, eagerly eei&ed' them, and selected one to read while she rested. t ' _' At one o'clock the waitress brought her fa, message from Captaip Wailes, inviting her down to luncheon, Sliej hastily/ dressed, and went down to f the $Hiurig-i!6pm, where she Svas soon joined, by he.? two escpr'ti' '" : , '' ! Wliile at/tKe''talsle/>'Sallust said' to her : j , ' "<« Cousin jGertHUe, I 'Bad better book our places in.th' 6 nigl^'s'cGach^ t'suppose you' fttfectly pn^Wiiaeville/'" '' " r'» "\ , tf i'wi&h4"Arave'rda^'and »igfit until we" reach Blackville-;^^tbere^X«s»nuBt changk' coaches and go on to Wendover, where,. ColonelJitzgeraM's regiment is quartered!', answered t the^ttjejaay.. . , t , $„/,.,,.*, . ' f, 1 .QKX~*y/!—^9 b^sure fl,.ijever thb.uglit B>ckViUty7* said Sapust, .prompts. , | .

necessity, dear coueih, why you should go outof /our way for be. You may see mo safo on tho Blaokville coach, and my husband will rccoivo me safo at Wendover," said Gertrude, sweetly, bub decidodly. " Well, now, I be blossed if i like that ! I really think I have got iv right to see you safe into FitzgnraUt's quarters, and with my hands to place you under Fitzgerald's care," said Sallusb, with the boyish petulance he sometimes betrayed. " Mr Rowley, you havo hitherto been a loyal knight to this lady ; bo so still, and oboy her wi»he«," said tho old captain, gravely. " What 1 , and leave her to go through tho. wildest part of the mountain country unprotected ?" demanded ttallusb. " Slio can protoct herself. You will see her into tlie fatajrb-coach at Blackville, and her husband will receive her at Wendover." " Dear Sallust, that will bo best," said Gertrude. " Oh, well, Mrs Fitzgerald, if you are tired of my company, I won't force myself on yours. lam sure," said Sallust. Then, scoing Gertrude's grieved look, he hastened to lutt act his implied reproach by avid ing : " Rut I won't say that, like the ill-tempered dog that 1 am. You know bes-c, Cousin Uoitrudo, and 1 should submit, though T am so disappointed. I did want to i>ee \our meeting wMi Gerald, and his look>." "Such a meeting should not be a spectacle, dear Sallust," said Gertrude, gently. " Afterwards, dear cousin, when 1 havo told my husband to vthose coin-ago and devotion! owe my life, he will send for you, and i eceivo you according to your merits. 1 ' " Oomhe hoo ! Like a king graciously accords audience tosomo poor wretch who 1m.5 J bceu battered to death in his royal service. I But there ! I won't say that, cither. I'm a pendant cur this afternoon, Cousin Gertiude, and not tit to talk to anyone," said Sallust, i king from tho table. " You are one of the bu'.vest and truest gentlemen that over lived, and I, and all I who know you, honour you as s-uch," said Gertrude, in> she and C<ip*aiu Wailcs followed liis example and rose from their seats. Gertrude retired to her room to lie down And rest until the hour approached for the commencement qt her long and fatiguing journey. A few minutes before six o'clock she aro^e «nd made her simple toilet, and went down to dinner, whore she was joined by Captain Wailet. and Sallust ilowley. " ' When shall we thrco meet a'?atn ? In thunder, lightning, or i.i ram?'" said Captain Wailes, in a serio-comic tone, as ho handed hiB young protegee to her seat at t!ic little table set apart tor them. " 'In summer sunshine on the main. Thoro ahull we three meet u#ain,"' icponded Gertrude, with a smile, adding: " You know you promised to take us foi a sea trip, Captain Wailes." " Well answered, little lady. Come, sit down, and let this last dinner that we shall take together for some time, afc least, be a happy one." The dinner was a happy, if not a merry one. At its conclusion G-ertn.de had barely timo to put on her saquo and hat, and return her comb and brushes to her hand-bag, when she was called to take her seat in the stage-coach. The short February afternoon had closed in. It was now seven o'clock, and a clear, starlight nighfc. Gertrude came downstairs, and Captain Wailes took her out to fchecoachaud placed her comfortably in the back seat, and then, leaning in at the window, took a last affectionate leave of the little angel he had so long succoured, and not "unawares."' Then he retreated, and Sallust entered himself at the other corner of tho same back seat. Half a dozen other passengers got in. They were all men, and all strangers to both Sallust and Gertrude. From their conversation they seemed to be country merchants on their way home from Northern cities, where they had been to purchase g-oods. When they were seated in their places the stage-coach started on its long night journey westward. They crossed the Potomac by the I-Ong Bridge, and took the turnpike road through the forest of Fairfax county. Soon one after another of the men dropped asleep, and some snored. Sallust slept without dreaming. Gertrude dreamt without sleeping, and all her dreams were of her coming meeting with Gerald. She woudered whether he had got the Jotter she had despatched by the pony express from California. Her reason told her that there were many chances against his having received it. But in any case, she reflected, it did not matter much now. In three days she would be at Wendover, and by his side. She hoped their meeting might be unwitnessed. She resolved to provide for that object aa well as she could. She would, on arriving at Wendover, where she was a perfect stranger, inquire for his quarters, go to them, and send in a message, saying that a lady wished to see the colonel alone for a few minutes. She knew that that would be odd and disagreeable, and might even expose her to remark : bub she could not help it, {or she folb that she must go directly to her husband. She knew, besides, it would all be immediately righted, when the whole regiment would know the whole story. Of course Colonel Fitzgerald, with his well-known courtesy, would at once receive tho lady who wished to see him. And then she would be shown to his presence. She knew her sudden appearance before him, as one raised from, the dead would give him a tremendous shock ; bub she knew it would be a shock of joy, and that he. could stand it. And oh ! then the long, happy hours, days, weeks, months, years, that they would live in peace and harmony together—never, never, never more to be parted. No wonder" that, dreaming this dream, the young wife could not sleep. I have taken my readers so often over this mountain road' thut it> is not necessary to make this journey as tedious to as it was to Gertrude. ' The , coach went' over the same hills', through the same forests, up and down the same mountain ridges, stopping to change horses at the same post-houses, and to take 'breakfast, dinner, or supper at the same wayside inns, dropping old passengers and picking up new (allstrangers to Sallust and 'Gertrude), afc various stations on the road, until about' sunset on the second day it reached Blackville,' wlicre it stopped at the Black Bear Inn to take supper and to change horses. Here 'Svllusb and Gertrude were to part company Sallust yas to go on to* Wilde'ville, 'where' he would probably arrive m' the ftftefrbgn of the heyday, andGertrude was to change coaches arid proceed } to, Wejid-' oVerJ'w.nereßhe'Xyb^cl 'arrive about sunrise 'the riexb morning. "- /.*•-.,,, '. '.'WHile'seated'at thesuppet tabte. Sallust W fe ( ;i.n> JfettftW P^PhC^ 1 !^ leVng <Br6fojft «» make thVnrgH^ui^ey ddwii the' sack 'Rfrer'/Rpad, to Wehdoyer albn*! ; * and } fyould have totfstdd 'on ao;companvmg:Ker;a8 J her. body gu«s. but ihei'lFttfe'Tady^vas so* firhTin (her'res6lvb ( her'res61vb So Her will; But it was under protest; ;'\' :

own, and you submit when you see lib, and not otherwise). I pity Fitzgerald if ever your two wills should clash, that I do !" growled Sallusfc. " Well, yes, you may pily us if ever our wills should cla.su," replied Gertrude. The shrill blast of Uie stage-horn startled them both. ' " There's your coach !" exclaimed Gertrude, rising from the table. " Yea," said Sallust, following her example, and then attending her to the quiet parlour, where, in the open tire-placo, a pleasant firo of oak logs burned. "I suppose you will wait heie until your couch is ready to start ?" " Yes/" replied Ce.trude. "Well, good-bv ! Take good care of yourself !" " Good-by ! Cod bless you for all your goodness tome, Cousin Sallust. Run now, they nave stopped blowing the horn ; tiiab means that tho coach is uetuully übout to start." "Good-by, thon," exclaimed Sallust, a second time Anil oft" he ran. Anxious that ho should recover hi» scat, Ge-fcnule went to tho window and watched and listened. She saw him rush out, hail the coach just as il w as oil, climb into hLs seat and disappear as tho coach rolled away. Then she leturr.cd to her -c it by the wood fire, and sat \\ aiding for the Wendover stage. A negro man, with his arms full of hickory logs, came in. " Wnat tune will tho Wendovor stage start ?" " In five minutes after it comes, Mis^. It comes from Sbaunton, you know, ilhs, and we expect it every minute," atiaweied the man, as he laid the Jogs on the lire. Even in ho spoLo me suri'l notes of tho stage-horn were heard announcing its approach. Gertrude arose and put on her hat, took her muff and travelling-bag, and wont out. Tho hostlers were actively engaged, some in leading away the tireel hois>e-« horn their harness, and others leading out fres.li ones to take their places. .Su\cral passengers got out oE the coach ami took oil' their light luggage and eiiueuxl tho hotel, as if their journoy by that vehicle ended there. Gertrude stepped down off tho porch, with the intention of entering the coach, when suddenly she found her hand taken and drawn into an arm. Turning quickly, she saw Sallust Rowley at her hide. **Oh, Cousin SallubO ! You heic, after all !" she exclaimed. "Yet, I did start on the Wildoville stage! Honestly 1 dxd\ But I hadn't gone a hundred yards before I began to think of you left alone in this hotel, and I could not staud it ! So I stopped the stage and jumped out, and ran all the way back ! But oaly to see you safe inside this coach, Cousin Gertrude ! not to intrude my company on you." "But, Sallust, you have lost jour own coach, and you will have to lemain here until another oa&ses." " Well, a night's rest will not do me any harm, and another coach for Wildeville will pass here early in tne moaning. 1 shall take that. But, come, let me put you in and pee that you are comfortable." ! She thanked him, and permitted him to hand her into her place- not the bent back seat now, for the whole of the back bench was occupied, but to a middle seat ou the middle bench. *• In some respects, it is most desirable, for, being in the centre of the coach, it's the easie&t on the springs," wlnspeied Snllust, as he " took stock " of the other passengers in&ide. Me was very much relieved on Gertrude's > account, by perceiving that her fellowtravellers on this night, journey were to be —a motherly -looking matron, an equally fatherly-seeming old gentleman, two young girls and two boys, all forming one family party. "Now I feel a greit deal better about you, Cousin Gertrude. I feel that you will travel safely in this company ; but mind, be sure to tell Gerald that it is not my fault you travel unattended." "1 will tell him everything to your honour, Sallust ; of that }ou may be very sure." The parting horn blew a shrill blast, and the coach started so suddenly as nearly to throw Mr ' Rowley off the steps, where he had been standing all this time. With a hasty good-bye he dropped to the ground, while the stage rolled oil" into the darkness of the Black River— a turnpike thafc ran through thick woods along the banks of a deep, dark stream. Gertrude sank back in her seat, and dei livered herself up to dreaming her one 1 dream of the meeting now so near at hand. Her fellow - passengers saemed to have ! commenced their journey from a villago a ' few miles from Blackville, for they did not ! appear to be the least tired, but engaged in an animated convarvsation about their journey and their plans, that effectually broke up Gertrude's reverie. After a while, however, the old people composed themselves to rest, and the boys dropped off to sleep, but the girls stayed awake, and kept up a vivacious duot about their young friends and their beaux, talking with far more freedom than formerly, and seeming totally forgetful or oblivious to the presence of a stranger. Gertrude could neither .sleep nor dream, but she sometimes looked out, seeing nothing on her left but tho Black Woods, that seemed a wall of darkness, but on her right catching occasional' glimmers of the BlacJi River, as its deep, dark waters reflected a 6tar. . The night journey passed without any incident, except th» stopping of the coach at the regular post-houses, when the old people would wake up to yawn and slightly change their positions, the boys would rouse themselves to look out, and the girls would cease their garrulous talking. When the coach would skart again, the old folks and the boys would relapse into sleep, and the girls would commence chattering. It must have been long after midnight when these young ladies succumbed to drowsiness and fell asleep. Last of all, Gertrude dropped into fitful slumbers, that lasted until morning.