USA > Kentucky > Livingston County > Chronicles of a Kentucky settlement > Part 28
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"She smiled more sweetly than before," he answered, "but that was many years ago, and, if she knew- how-much-I loved her-still, I wonder what she now would say if I should-kiss her-once again ! "
Male eyes of black looked into female eyes of blue. A question had been asked and yet there was no answering voice. But eyes flashed answering signal back to eyes, and glowing, happy faces told the tale. There was no need for words.
" True love 's the gift which God has given
To mau alone beneath the heaven.
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It is the secret sympathy, The silver link, the silken tie, Which heart to heart, and mind to mind, In body and in soul can bind."
" Upon my word ! " exclaimed Adair, " Ben Simon is a most considerate horse, but at this rate night would come on ere we get home."
Then hand in hand they journeyed slow ; and oh the jostling, crowding questions that were asked, and the quick glad answers that were given !
" And just to think ! " at last she said, " you should have loved me when a child ; and how, in after years, you hunted long to find my home. And oh how pass- ing strange, that I, who could not remember to have ever gazed upon his face, should have dreamed, far back as I have memory of dreams, of one black-eyed boy, and should have loved-and loved but him. There surely is some charm-some talismanic power about this emerald stone you found and gave to me, and which I have worn through all these years."
"I know not how that may be," he smilingly re- plied, " but would you have me believe your dreams have now been realized ? and, if so, will not your eme- rald lose its power to conjure up dreams-of pleasing things to come ? "
"I hope and believe not," she answered. "But should it lose its magic power, I still would wear it, as I do to-day, in memory of what it hath already done. But," she added, " my dreams have not yet been fully realized. I still look forward-forward to many years of blessed companionship-and love with you, -to all the endearing and hallowing influences of an earthly home, and for the glad fruition in our heavenly home."
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" You do not know," he rapturously said, "how glad I am to hear you speak such words of the endear- ing and hallowing influences of home !"
" But now," she said, and with a most appealing look, " come tell me why and how it is you have so long withheld from me the pleasing story which you just have told ? You would not, I am sure, so have done had you but known how much I wished to hear- how uneasy, yea unhappy, I have been lest all my dreams should turn out mere illusions."
" The how," he said, " was only by one continuous struggle 'gainst my inclinations and desires. But, when I come to tell you why, I fear that I may strip myself of much, if not all, of the tinsel your far too partial eyes have made you think was gold. But listen, and you shall know the truth."
And the truth, the plain, unvarnished truth, he told her-told her all-of his love, hopes, intentions ; then of the death of his brother, and of his doubts, fears, duties, obligations, poverty ; and, in conclusion, said : "It was only last night my sister found out my secret, and notwithstanding her advice, of which I have told you, so late as this morning, I had not resolved to break my long silence. I had often noted your reserve when with me alone, and feared I occupied no warmer place in your heart than respect and esteem ; and that you sought to prevent my making a declaration which would prove painful to us both. But now I see that what I mistook for precaution, was modest reservation. But now that I have broken silence I would not for worlds recall the words I've spoken and be doomed to silence, nor for worlds exchange the words you 've said to me unless you 'd say them o'er again."
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"Ah, now I see and understand it all," she said ; and, looking up at him, her pure unselfish soul lighting up her azure eyes, went on : " And 't is just as I have hoped it was ! It has shown me that the man I loved unselfishly recognizes the duties of a son and a brother, and discharges them. Now know ye this ! You have not only told me that you loved me, but you have asked me to become your wife ; and I, with all my heart, have answered, 'Yes, I will.' But think you not that I can now become impatient. I have now that other gem for which my heart has so long pined-your love ! To be in doubt, or without hope, oh how it blasts and withers the buds, the flowers, and the fruits of life ! But. now that I will doubt no more, I can calmly, hopefully, cheerfully wait-look on and love you all the more, because you are doing your duty, and pray God to help you. And when, in the fulness of time, you would come and ask this hand " (placing her right hand in his), "it shall be yours ; and, in after years, it will cheerfully share with you labors that will not prove unguerdoned toil ; for they will be lightened and made easy by a love that will cheer, support, and comfort us."
For once Adair could scarcely find words to make reply ; but he gently pressed his loving Laura to his heart, pressed upon her lips a kiss as pure as dew- drops in the bosom of an opening lily, and at last he said-and said it reverently: " Thank God that I have found a heart so true and pure-a woman such as you to love me. To labor now will indeed be sweet, suc- cess will follow, and this hand shall soon be mine."
And in a calm, low tone she reverently replied : "' Let the blessing come upon the head of Joseph, and
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upon the top of the head of him that was separated from his brethren ' ; to whom has come, not his breth- ren but the widow and children of his lost brother, and to whom is yet to come an aged father with his young- est son."
" Amen !" responded Joseph Adair.
But they were now at the gate, and anxious Ada was there awaiting them. " How slowly you have been driving," she said. Then a quick glance into Laura's face and she guessed. She looked into another face, and she doubted not. And soon she knew enough to turn to Mr. Adair and say, with most bewitching frowns : "Oh, you naughty man ! you have been telling tales ; but I forgive you."
He stopped her with a kiss.
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CHAPTER XXVIII.
Duncan Visits his Kitty-Laura, Catherine, and Emily Meet- Adair and Duncan Visit them-How Ada Solved the Rid- dle-Duncan Visits his Brother-Adair Buys Mingo-Ben- ton's Crim .- Con. Case-Benton's Letter from Miss Ritchie -Brantley's Return.
S OON after that memorable drive from the Big Spring Meeting-house, Adair informed, first, his sister, and then Duncan, of the happy event - his engagement to Miss Laura Howard. His sister re- ceived the information in an undemonstrative way, but her congratulations were none the less sincere. She repeated that she wished him, in shaping his course, to consult first his own and Miss Laura's happiness. And again her brother assured her that she and her child- ren would continue to receive all the attention and assistance they required, and occupy the same warm place in his heart.
After telling Duncan of the principal events that occurred at the meeting, Adair went on to tell him of the " happy event." Duncan was demonstrative in his congratulations and declared that he, Adair, had won a prize of inestimable value, by a constancy that was unparalleled in the annals of real life or the realms of romance ; and more, that he deserved what he had won.
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" As for myself," continued Duncan, "I can but feel that, in a strange and most unexpected way, I have fallen heir to a great fortune which I do not deserve ; and the question is constantly popping up in my mind, Can and will I use it well and wisely, or will it turn my head and make a fool of me ? But," he added, " I find consolation in the thought that I will have Kitty to look after and take care of me ! "
"That you distrust yourself," replied Adair, "is conclusive evidence, if any were wanting, not only of your modesty but of your fitness for the honor and trust that await you. And, Duncan, I give you full permission, when you see your Kitty to-morrow, to tell her of my good fortune. For, now that I look back, I can distinctly trace the inception of that trip of mine with Laura to her. She it was who wrote the note to Mrs. Lovell and suggested it; and, I more than sus- pect-and you may so tell her-that she was baiting a trap to have me caught. That she succeeded in her design, not only shows the fertility of her resources, but has entitled her to my lasting gratitude. For, but for that trap, I might, and probably would, have gone stumbling along in the dark without finding my treas- ure. And I must confess, too, Duncan, that your explanation of Laura's reserve, as I thought it, was correct, for her frankness, after I had told her of my love, was all that I could desire."
When-two days later-Duncan returned from his visit to Mr. Wilson's, he at once sought Adair to tell him the news.
"Ah," he said, " I was received and treated like a lord ! I had a long talk with Mr. Wilson ; and not only did he raise no objection to my union with his
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daughter, but he was considerate and generous beyond my expectations. Furthermore, he spoke to me of his own position, surroundings, etc., with a frankness that both surprised and gratified me. In conclusion he asked, in fact urged, me to return from my visit to my brother as soon as I well could, and to come at once to see them. It struck me at the time, and subsequent reflection confirms me in the impression, that, without being positively alarmed, he feels some presentiment of evil, but what I know not. That sad-faced woman, Mrs. Wilson, for once appeared comparatively happy. The engagement of her daughter evidently relieves her mind of much anxiety. And Miss Catherine ! I had heretofore met her, as you know, clandestinely-so to say. But she was now at home, and like a beautiful young queen just crowned ; but, withal, more gentle, calm, thoughtful, and considerate than ever before. She is, I am sure, happy in the contemplation of her own future as my wife ; but she, too, is apparently anxious about her father. She spoke of having, at the meeting, gone to the mourner's bench, and said she had done so, not only from a sense of duty-from an honest desire for light and guidance from above, but hoping that it would, in the providence of God, have a good influence on her father. For all of which I, in my heart, can but love and honor her all the more.
"When I told her," Duncan went on, "of your good fortune and delivered your message, and opinion about the 'trap,' she clapped her hands, and her eyes and face lit up with an animation and a gladness which showed how warm a place Miss Laura and you have in her regard. She admitted that, when she wrote the note to Mrs. Lovell, she did aim to bring you two
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together ; believing, as she said, that a few hours of undisturbed conversation would result in a happy understanding. Moreover, she declared, as soon as I told her the news, that she must see Laura again ; and so she came with me to-day to the Squire's, and will remain for some days. Suppose you and I ride out to see the ladies one day this week, for I wish to leave, to make the visit to my brother, on Monday next."
"All right," said Adair. "I will let you know what day I can best go."
"And," Duncan resumed, " I must not forget Mr. Wilson's message to you. It was that he had seen Mr. Anderson, who was willing to let you have Mingo for eight hundred and fifty dollars, which he had been offered by another party, but would give you the re- fusal. Anderson, however, desires an early answer."
" Very well," said Adair. " I will write or see Mr. Wilson soon, and get him to see Anderson and close the trade."
The meeting between Laura Howard and Catherine Wilson was indeed a joyous one. They had much to say of their betrothment, of their past fears, present joy, and hopes for the future. If they were a little extravagant in the construction of airy castles, none but those of the cynical, sour-grape species would, we are sure, have found fault with them. 'T is said
" Hope springs eternal in the human breast,"
and what a God's mercy that it is so ! else who could encounter the mire, the pitfalls, and the sharp, jagged stones along life's pathway and remain a companion- able creature. Few, too, of mankind, know the full measure of joy there is in a true woman's heart when
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all the twining tendrils of her nature, of body, mind, and heart can clasp and cling without doubt or fear to the man-the strong trunk which assures her not only of support, but of a grateful shade. And when, as in this case, two virgin hearts, full of hope and confidence and love,-two who were not only themselves confid- ing, sympathetic friends, but whose plighted lovers were also warm friends and partners in business, had met together, what less surprising than that their com- munings should be too " secret, sweet, and precious" to be told in cold printed words ; and must, therefore, be left to be imagined, as they well may be, by gener- ous hearts who have loved.
A few evenings later, when Adair and Duncan rode out together to the Squire's, the meeting all round was a joyous one.
Adair soon learned from Laura that she had told her mother all, as he expected her to do. He, himself, soon sought a private interview with the good matron, who felt to him more like a mother than any one he had ever known. And he talked to her much as a son would have talked to a mother-told of his boyish attachment to Laura when a child ; of his great love for her now ; of his duties and obligations, his hopes and prospects.
Mrs. Howard listened, and with a kindly look re- plied : "Ah, Joseph, I need not tell you that both Mr. Howard and I liked you when we first knew you as a boy. When it came to parting with you, I felt almost as if one of my own sons was going from me. Since you have come among us, a man, I have been glad to find you just such a man as I had hoped and believed you would be. And I have long known of
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Laura's love for you, and have hoped that you would learn to love her, for she is a good daughter, and will make you a good wife. But, Joseph, be in no hurry to come and take her from us, for. however glad we may all be to see her happily married, it will, nevertheless, be a sad day when we have to give Laura up-see her go from under our roof !"
" Laura told me," replied Joseph, "she was sure there would be no opposition by you or her father to our union ; and I, myself, hoped there would be none ; but I am none the less pleased with your kind words, for which I thank you with all my heart. Of course, when I come to ask the hand of Laura in marriage, I must ask the Squire's consent ; but, in the meantime, is it necessary or advisable, think you, for me to speak to him as I have done to you ? "
" It is not necessary," answered Mrs. Howard. "I will tell him what you have said to me. And, Joseph," she added smilingly, "I should tell you, you will never be able to obtain Mr. Howard's consent."
" How ! how is that ? " Joseph quickly asked, some- what flustered by Mrs. Howard's words notwithstand- ing her smiles.
" Oh, don't be uneasy !" she laughingly answered. " It is only one of his peculiarities. He never gave his consent to the marriage of any of his daughters, but did not oppose them. I know he esteems you greatly, and would do anything he could to serve you. But he was ever reluctant to give up a daughter ; and, the fewer we have left at home, the more reluctant he becomes. It will come especially hard on him to give up Laura ; for she has been, I may almost say, his favorite, since he thinks her the most uniformly cheer- 28
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ful, considerate, and unselfish member of our family. Moreover, he will, I am sure, think, now that I am growing old, that I, as well as my two younger daugh- ters, will need Laura's assistance ; and so we will, but that must not stand in the way of her happiness. I should, however, add that, should one of his daughters make what he had reason to think was an unwise choice, I doubt if he would oppose her further than to tell me the grounds of his objections, and ask me to lay them before our daughter, and then leave the decision to her."
That afternoon Miss Wilmot was also a visitor at the Squire's ; and, as she had met Miss Wilson before, and knew Mr. Duncan very well, she was heartily wel- comed by all, and added no little to the merriment of the company ; for hers was an outspoken rather than a timid and retiring nature, and she was rather fond of badinage. Her quick glances soon took in the salient points of the situation ; and as there was no disposition on the part of Adair or Laura to withhold their confi- dence and good news from her, she soon knew exactly how matters stood between them ; and, further, that Mr. Duncan and Miss Wilson were engaged. After heartily congratulating Mr. Adair and Laura-
" Ah," she said, "you don't know how much trouble you two have caused me. I have been sur- prised to see how blind you both have been-how you have gone blindfolded as it were. And I have so wanted to take each of you by the hand, lead you out into the light, unbind your eyes, and point out what I more than half-suspected you were both longing rather than looking for."
" And why did n't you do so ?" Adair asked.
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" Why !" she exclaimned. " Ah, you well know why. Did I not offer my assistance ; yea, even urged you to let me help you, and thus in some measure repay the debt I owe you ? You know I did !"
"I admit it," he replied. "But you know I did accept of your services in what I thought was a most important matter ; and I must thank you for having discharged your mission in a most expeditious, secret, and efficient manner."
"None the less, my mission," she rejoined, " was, as it turned out, an unnecessary one ; the apprehended danger being all imaginary."
" All of which," interposed Laura, " you two, per- haps, think is a riddle to me, but I am sure I can guess the answer."
"Let us hear your solution of the riddle," said Adair.
" You," she said, replying to him, "told Emily something about a certain person, and either asked or permitted her to come and tell me, so as to put me on my guard. Have I not solved it ?"
" Your solution is correct," Emily answered. " But now, you must, in order to acquit me of any violation of confidence, explain how you arrived at your solution."
" That is easily done," Laura replied, "for here comes Ada, and to her, and not to me, the credit is due."
Ada, thus appealed to, and after being told the " rid- dle," put on one of her judicial looks and said: " Yes, I understand the case now. You see,"-addressing Mr. Adair-" there are some people who have so much brains, reason so profoundly, and look so far ahead, that they pay no attention to the tracks they are mak-
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ing. And there are some other people "-and here she glanced at Miss Emily-" who, when they have a secret, are so anxious to hide it that they try to cover it up too closely, and sometimes get caught at it. A real, live secret must have breathing space, and, if you cover it up too closely, you will, if you watch closely, see it move its covering. Besides, it's only people who are in love that are blind, and, as I was n't in love, I, of course, soon discovered the secret, and told Laura ; but she, poor innocent, would n't at first believe it, because her heart was so full, she ---- "
"Come, that's enough !" exclaimed the blushing Laura, putting her hand over Ada's pouting lips.
" Hands off !" cried Adair. "I always did say the ' child ' had a wonderfully wise little head, but I never gave her credit for such acuteness. But she must explain her process of ratiocination."
"Hold up !" exclaimed Ada, "while I make a note." And using the forefinger of her right hand as if it were a pencil, she rapidly formed invisible charac- ters on the palin of her left hand.
" And what is it you are making a note of ? " Adair laughingly asked.
"That last long word you used," Ada ruefully answered.
" Well, then, let us know how you spelled it," he said.
"Oh," she exclaimed, "look and see for your- self !" extending her left hand.
Adair took the little hand in his, but instead of examining it, he kissed it.
"Look out," cried Ada, " or Laura will be getting jealous of me ! "
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" And should Laura get jealous of you, who is it that would get jealous of me ?" he asked.
"Oh, the Dictionary man !" quickly answered the laughing girl.
" I give it up," said Adair as the laugh went round at his expense.
"But, Ada," said Miss Emily, " now for the pro- cess of-"
"Rat-eye-o-sigh-nation," interposed Ada. "If that's not the right way to spell it, it pronounces about right, and it's the way to keep from forgetting it."
"Tell me," said Adair, "how the 'tracks' or the ' covering ' enabled you to discover the secret ? "
" Well," replied Ada, again assuming a comically judicial look, " the tracks, I soon found, led around by Mr. Wilmot's and directly here, and when they got here, and Mr. Ruffled Bosom was seen here, the tracks from this on were like those of a ' skeered ' rabbit." Here Ada was interrupted by the hearty laughter of Miss Emily, which somewhat deepened Laura's blushes. "And," resumed Ada, presently, "sister had been over to see you, Miss Emily, only two days before, and, of course, you did not know the bugaboo then, or you would have told her. And, when you came here, you spoke of how lonely you had been since sister left ; and when Mr. Adair's name was mentioned, you did not speak of having seen him that morning ; you were trying to cover him up; but the fact came out afterwards through a little breathing space. And sister-"
" Hold up !" exclaimed Miss Emily. "I am acquitted, and that's the only case before you, Judge Ada ; and, if you go on, I fear you will convict Laura."
"Oh, she would n't mind that !" said the teasing
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Ada, " for she would have the Sheriff to take care of her !"
" You 'll be arrested some of these days," said Adair. " And should I then be Sheriff, won't you fare badly !"
" I'm not afraid," Ada answered, " for sister would make you bail me out. And remember, too," she added as she bounded away singing, "'Every lass has got her laddie.' "
After Ada had gone, Adair showed Miss Emily two letters he had that morning received ; one from the former schoolmaster of Mr. Brantley, which was very satisfactory, and one from Mr. Brantley himself, say- ing he hoped to be in Salem in a week or ten days ; and that, as all had gone well with him, he hoped nothing would stand in the way of his marriage at an early day.
" Ah," said Miss Emily, after she had read the let- ters, "if he were only here now, I would feel as proud and happy as Laura and Catherine do ! "
"I wish he was here," replied Adair ; " but you won't have long to wait."
A few days later George Duncan bid good-by to Joseph Adair, and, mounting a good horse, set out on his journey to St. Louis to visit his brother.
The following day Adair rode out to the Squire's, and accompanied Miss Wilson on her return home. Their conversation on the road was varied and inter- esting to both ; and Miss Wilson spoke with so much frankness, and showed so much intelligence, in an unassuming way, that Adair formed even a higher esti- mate of her mind and heart than he had before enter- tained. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson welcomed him most
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cordially ; and the former assured him that he had been greatly pleased by his interview with Mr. Dun- can, and was glad that matters had turned out as they had. Adair's business, in reference to Mingo, was soon arranged, and Mingo was permitted to go that evening to Salem to see his wife, and remain as the property of Mr. Adair.
Mingo, after parting with Mr. Wilson's slaves, made his appearance at the house, and, in his deferential but stoical manner, bid his " Mahs Jim" good-by. When he came to his "ole missus," his profound obeisance, and "Good-by, missus, good-by," was said so earnestly that it was evident he entertained for the sad-faced woman a profound respect, mingled, doubtless, with pity. He found his young " missus " in the yard. His parting with her would have tested his steady nerves and stoicism, but she wore a smiling face, and greeted him as he approached by saying :
" Ah, Mingo, you have come to say good-by ; and I should be very sorry to see you go, but you are going to be with Viney ; and, in Salem, I hope to see you much oftener than if you remained here."
" Yes, Miss Kitty," replied the faithful negro, " ef it wus n't fur that Ise would n't feel like goin', fur you has bin mi'ty good ter me. An' I's mi'ty glad ter know you 's goin' soon ter git a good husban' like Mahs George; an' '11 be in Salem, whar' me an' Viney ken come an' see yer. An' I thinks Mahs Jo '11 be a mi'ty good mahster ; and yous may be shore I won't furget what yous tol' me wunst, ter be a faithful ser- vunt ter him."
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