CHAPTER XXXV
JACK'S RETURN
It is quite time to return to New York, from which Ida was carried butthree short weeks before.
"I am beginning to feel anxious about Jack," said Mrs. Harding. "It'smore than a week since we heard from him. I'm afraid he's got into sometrouble."
"Probably he's too busy to write," said the cooper, wishing to relievehis wife's anxiety, though he, too, was not without anxiety.
"I told you so," said Rachel, in one of her usual fits of depression."I told you Jack wasn't fit to be sent on such an errand. If you'd onlytaken my advice you wouldn't have had so much worry and trouble abouthim now. Most likely he's got into the House of Reformation, orsomewhere. I knew a young man once who went away from home, and nevercame back again. Nobody ever knew what became of him till his body wasfound in the river half eaten by fishes."
"How can you talk so, Rachel?" said Mrs. Harding, "and about your ownnephew, too?"
"This is a world of trial and disappointment," said Rachel, "and wemight as well expect the worst, for it's sure to come."
"At that rate there wouldn't be much joy in life," said Timothy."No, Rachel, you are wrong. God did not send us into the world to bemelancholy. He wants us to enjoy ourselves. Now, I have no idea thatJack has jumped into the river, or become food for the fishes. Even ifhe should happen to tumble in, he can swim."
"I suppose," said Rachel, with mild sarcasm, "you expect him to comehome in a coach and four, bringing Ida with him."
"Well," said the cooper, good-humoredly, "that's a good deal better toanticipate than your suggestion, and I don't know but it's as probable."
Rachel shook her head dismally.
"Bless me!" interrupted Mrs. Harding, looking out of the window, in atone of excitement, "there's a carriage just stopped at the door,and--yes, it is Jack and Ida, too!"
The strange fulfillment of her own ironical suggestion struck even AuntRachel. She, too, hastened to the window, and saw a handsome carriagedrawn, not by four horses, but by two, standing before the door.
Jack had already jumped out, and was now assisting Ida to alight. Nosooner was Ida on firm ground than she ran into the house, and was atonce clasped in the arms of her adopted mother.
"Oh, mother," she exclaimed, "how glad I am to see you once more!"
"Haven't you a kiss for me, too, Ida?" said the cooper, his face radiantwith joy. "You don't know how much we've missed you."
"And I am so glad to see you all, and Aunt Rachel too!"
To her astonishment, Aunt Rachel, for the first time in her remembrance,kissed her. There was nothing wanting to her welcome home.
But the observant eyes of the spinster detected what had escaped thecooper and his wife, in their joy at Ida's return.
"Where did you get this handsome dress, Ida?" she asked.
Then, for the first time, the cooper's family noticed that Ida was moreelegantly dressed than when she went away. She looked like a youngprincess.
"That Mrs. Hardwick didn't give you this gown, I'll be bound!" said AuntRachel.
"Oh, I've so much to tell you," said Ida, breathlessly. "I've found mymother--my other mother!"
A pang struck to the honest hearts of Timothy Harding and his wife. Idamust leave them. After all the happy years which they had watched overand cared for her, she must leave them at length.
While they were silent in view of their threatened loss, an elegantlydressed lady appeared on the threshold. Smiling, radiant with happiness,Mrs. Clifton seemed, to the cooper's family, almost a being from anothersphere.
"Mother," said Ida, taking the hand of the stranger, and leading her upto Mrs. Harding, "this is my other mother, who has always taken suchgood care of me, and loved me so well."
"Mrs. Harding," said Mrs, Clifton, her voice full of feeling, "how can Iever thank you for your kindness to my child?"
"My child!"
It was hard for Mrs. Harding to hear another speak of Ida this way.
"I have tried to do my duty by her," she said, simply. "I love her as ifshe were my own."
"Yes," said the cooper, clearing his throat, and speaking a littlehuskily, "we love her so much that we almost forgot that she wasn'tours. We have had her since she was a baby, and it won't be easy atfirst to give her up."
"My good friends," said Mrs. Clifton, earnestly, "I acknowledge yourclaim. I shall not think of asking you to make that sacrifice. I shallalways think of Ida as only a little less yours than mine."
The cooper shook his head.
"But you live in Philadelphia," he said. "We shall lose sight of her."
"Not unless you refuse to come to Philadelphia, too."
"I am a poor man. Perhaps I might not find work there."
"That shall be my care, Mr. Harding. I have another inducement to offer.God has bestowed upon me a large share of this world's goods. I amthankful for it since it will enable me in some slight way to express mysense of your great kindness to Ida. I own a neat brick house, in aquiet street, which you will find more comfortable than this. Justbefore I left Philadelphia, my lawyer, by my directions, drew up a deedof gift, conveying the house to you. It is Ida's gift, not mine. Ida,give this to Mr. Harding."
The child took the parchment and handed it to the cooper, who took itmechanically, quite bewildered by his sudden good fortune.
"This for me?" he said.
"It is the first installment of my debt of gratitude; it shall not bethe last," said Mrs. Clifton.
"How shall I thank you, madam?" said the cooper. "To a poor man, likeme, this is a most munificent gift."
"You will best thank me by accepting it," said Mrs. Clifton. "Let meadd, for I know it will enhance the value of the gift in your eyes, thatit is only five minutes' walk from my house, and Ida will come and seeyou every day."
"Yes, mamma," said Ida. "I couldn't be happy away from father andmother, and Jack and Aunt Rachel."
"You must introduce me to Aunt Rachel," said Mrs. Clifton, with a graceall her own.
Ida did so.
"I am glad to make your acquaintance, Miss Rachel," said Mrs. Clifton."I need not say that I shall be glad to see you, as well as Mr. and Mrs.Harding, at my house very frequently."
"I'm much obleeged to ye," said Aunt Rachel; "but I don't think I shalllive long to go anywheres. The feelin's I have sometimes warn me thatI'm not long for this world."
"You see, Mrs. Clifton," said Jack, his eyes dancing with mischief, "wecome of a short-lived family. Grandmother died at eighty-two, and thatwouldn't give Aunt Rachel long to live."
"You impudent boy!" exclaimed Aunt Rachel, in great indignation. Then,relapsing into melancholy: "I'm a poor, afflicted creetur, and thesooner I leave this scene of trial the better."
"I'm afraid, Mrs. Clifton," said Jack, "Aunt Rachel won't live to wearthat silk dress you brought along. I'd take it myself, but I'm afraid itwouldn't be of any use to me."
"A silk dress!" exclaimed Rachel, looking up with sudden animation.
It had long been her desire to have a new silk dress, but in herbrother's circumstances she had not ventured to hint at it.
"Yes," said Mrs. Clifton, "I ventured to purchase dresses for both ofthe ladies. Jack, if it won't be too much trouble, will you bring themin?"
Jack darted out, and returned with two ample patterns of heavy blacksilk, one for his mother, the other for his aunt. Aunt Rachel would nothave been human if she had not eagerly examined the rich fabric withsecret satisfaction. She inwardly resolved to live a little longer.
There was a marked improvement in her spirits, and she indulged in noprognostications of evil for an unusual period.
Mrs. Clifton and Ida stopped to supper, and before they returned to thehotel an early date was fixed upon for the Hardings to remove toPhiladelphia.
In the evening Jack told the eventful story of his adventures to eagerlisteners, closing with the welcome news that he was to receive thereward of a thousand dollars offered for the detection of thecounterfeiters.
/> "So you see, father, I am a man of fortune!" he concluded.
"After all, Rachel, it was a good thing we sent Jack to Philadelphia,"said the cooper.
Rachel did not notice this remark. She was busily discussing with hersister-in-law the best way of making up her new silk.
CHAPTER XXXVI
CONCLUSION
As soon as arrangements could be made, Mr. Harding and his whole familyremoved to Philadelphia. The house which Mrs. Clifton had given themexceeded their anticipations. It was so much better and larger thantheir former dwelling that their furniture would have appeared to greatdisadvantage in it. But Mrs. Clifton had foreseen this, and they foundthe house already furnished for their reception. Even Aunt Rachel wastemporarily exhilarated in spirits when she was ushered into the neatlyfurnished chamber which was assigned to her use.
Through Mrs. Clifton's influence the cooper was enabled to establishhimself in business on a larger scale, and employ others, instead ofworking himself for hire. Ida was such a frequent visitor that it washard to tell which she considered her home--her mother's elegantresidence, or the cooper's comfortable dwelling.
Jack put his thousand dollars into a savings bank, to accumulate till heshould be ready to go into business for himself, and required it ascapital. A situation was found for him in a merchant's counting-room, andin due time he was admitted into partnership and became a thriving youngmerchant.
Ida grew lovelier as she grew older, and her rare beauty and attractivemanners caused her to be sought after. It may be that some of my readersare expecting that she will marry Jack; but they will probably bedisappointed. They are too much like brother and sister for such arelation to be thought of. Jack reminds her occasionally of the timewhen she was his little ward, and he was her guardian and protector.
One day, as Rachel was walking up Chestnut Street, she was astonished bya hearty grasp of the hand from a bronzed and weather-beaten stranger.
"Release me, sir," she said, hysterically. "What do you mean by suchconduct?"
"Surely you have not forgotten your old friend, Capt. Bowling," said thestranger.
Rachel brightened up.
"I didn't remember you at first," she said, "but now I do."
"Now tell me, how are all your family?"
"They are all well, all except me--I don't think I am long for thisworld."
"Oh, yes, you are. You are too young to think of leaving us yet," saidCapt. Bowling, heartily.
Rachel was gratified by this unusual compliment.
"Are you married?" asked Capt. Bowling, abruptly.
"I shall never marry," she said. "I shouldn't dare to trust my happinessto a man."
"Not if I were that man?" said the captain, persuasively.
"Oh, Capt. Bowling!" murmured Rachel, agitated. "How can you say suchthings?"
"I'll tell you why, Miss Harding. I'm going to give up the sea, andsettle down on land. I shall need a good, sensible wife, and if you'lltake me, I'll make you Mrs. Bowling at once."
"This is so unexpected, Capt. Bowling," said Rachel; but she did notlook displeased. "Do you think it would be proper to marry so suddenly?"
"It will be just the thing to do. Now, what do you say--yes or no."
"If you really think it will be right," faltered the agitated spinster.
"Then it's all settled?"
"What will Timothy say?"
"That you've done a sensible thing."
Two hours later, leaning on Capt. Bowling's arm, Mrs. Rachel Bowlingre-entered her brother's house.
"Why, Rachel, where have you been?" asked Mrs. Harding, and she lookedhard at Rachel's companion.
"This is my consort, Capt. Bowling," said Rachel, nervously.
"This is Mrs. Bowling, ma'am," said the captain.
"When were you married?" asked the cooper. It was dinner time, and bothhe and Jack were at home.
"Only an hour ago. We'd have invited you, but time was pressing."
"I thought you never meant to be married, Aunt Rachel," said Jack,mischievously.
"I--I don't expect to live long, and it won't make much difference,"said Rachel.
"You'll have to consult me about that," said Capt. Bowling. "I don'twant you to leave me a widower too soon."
"I propose that we drink Mrs. Bowling's health," said Jack. "Can anybodytell me why she's like a good ship?"
"Because she's got a good captain," said Mrs. Harding.
"That'll do, mother; but there's another reason--because she's wellmanned."
Capt. Bowling evidently appreciated the joke, judging from his heartylaughter. He added that it wouldn't be his fault if she wasn't wellrigged, too.
The marriage has turned out favorably. The captain looks upon his wifeas a superior woman, and Rachel herself has few fits of depressionnowadays. They have taken a small house near Mr. Harding's, and Racheltakes no little pride in her snug and comfortable home.
One word more. At the close of her term of imprisonment, Peg came toMrs. Clifton and reminded her of her promise. Dick was dead, and she wasleft alone in the world. Imprisonment had not hardened her, as it oftendoes. She had been redeemed by the kindness of those whom she hadinjured. Mrs. Clifton found her a position, in which her energy andadministrative ability found fitting exercise, and she leads a laboriousand useful life in a community where her history is not known. As forJohn Somerville, with the last remnants of a once handsome fortune, hepurchased a ticket to Australia, and set out on a voyage for thatdistant country. But he never reached his destination. The vessel waswrecked in a violent storm, and he was not among the four that weresaved. Henceforth Ida and her mother are far from his evil machinations,and we may confidently hope for them a happy and peaceful life.
The next volume in this series will be SHIFTING FOR HIMSELF.
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