CHAPTER XXIV
"Home again, at last," gleefully exclaimed Mollie, as the double dragbrought the whole party from the depot to the executive mansion.
The President and Mrs. Craft met them at the private entrance, and gaveto each a cordial welcome. Marie Colchis was received by the old peopleas a beloved niece, for Mollie had, in a letter written some weeksbefore to her father, partially explained the situation of Marie, whomshe wished to be called Leona Bennett.
Once in the house, the several members, excepting Mollie, went directlyto their rooms to change their traveling clothes; but she, takingher father by the hand, asked him and her mother to give her a fewmoments of their time, as she had something of importance to relate.Once in the library, she knelt at her father's feet, and related thewhole story concerning Marie Colchis. She told of finding the letterin Cobb's room, and of her journey to Guadalupe Island, and the rescueof the girl; she dwelt upon all the wonderful incidents of the findingof the cavern and its contents; and then she told him of the letterwhich was found with Marie, and the relations which had existed betweenMarie and Junius Cobb, years ago; that Junius was ignorant of Marie'sidentity, but was in love with her, and had asked her to marry him.
The iron box which was found in the cavern, and which was now in thetrunk, was next spoken of. Finally, she admitted to her parents herlove for Lester, and his adoration of her, and asked for their consentto their union. "And this is not all, dear papa and mamma," she said:"Marie Colchester is Marie Hathaway, Lester's sister; I brought herhere to win the love of Junius, but it was not to be, for"--and shehesitated--"for she is engaged to Hugh."
It was several minutes ere Mr. and Mrs. Craft could grasp the wholesituation, the revelations had come so fast and free; but, finally, theold man took his wife's hand in his, and slowly, but with a smile ofpleasure, said: "Mamma, we were young once."
Mollie accepted the words and expression of his face as evidence that ahappy termination would end the hide-and-seek courtship of herself andLester; she kissed them both, and ran to communicate the good news toher lover.
It was evening of that day. A happy, jolly, bright party wascongregated in the private parlor of the executive mansion. In thecorner, by the great mirror, sat Junius Cobb and Marie Colchis, hiseyes drinking in the beauty of her being, and his thoughts wrapped ina contemplation of her grace and loveliness. On the sofa, across fromthem, sat Hugh and Marie Hathaway; Lester was alone in a big arm-chairnear the window, while Mollie stood in the center of the room under theelectric lights, bright, radiant and vivacious.
"Three spooney couples!" she cried. "No; I mean two and a half--and youare the half, Lester," slyly turning her head toward him. "Six heartsbeating as one; all in unison, but none engaged. He is coming, papa iscoming; and I advise some young gentlemen whom I could name to stepboldly to the front and ask--well, I think I'll say no more, but I pityyou. Papa holds his daughters in an iron fist," and she clenched herlittle hand to emphasize her words.
A moment later and the President and his wife entered the room, and allarose to meet them.
"Be seated, my children," he kindly said. "For the first time in mylife I feel that I have three beautiful daughters and three noble sons.I have asked you to meet me here that I might bring complete happinessto three pairs of loving hearts. I know all your secrets, dearchildren; everything is known to me."
He paused. An expression of surprise came over the face of Hugh, whileanxiety was depicted in Lester's countenance. Marie Colchis turned hereyes upon the speaker, but said nothing. As for Cobb, he thought it allquite natural, as, no doubt, Marie had told her uncle of his proposal.
"I will not keep you long in suspense. You, Lester," and he turnedtoward him. "Love my daughter. You have asked for her hand more thanonce. I know she returns that love; and as her happiness is next myheart, I will not bring sorrow to her by refusing your request." Hestepped forward, and took the hand of Mollie, whose cheeks were redwith blushes, and led her to where Lester stood, having risen from hischair. "Lester, take her; she is yours. Be a good, kind husband to her,is all I ask."
Lester took the fair girl in his arms, and imprinted the first lawfulkiss upon her lips.
"And now," continued Mr. Craft, "as two hearts are thus made happy, letme seek another pair. Hugh; stand up, my son."
Hugh arose, gently raising Marie Hathaway from the sofa, and movedtoward his father. "Father," he said, "here is another pair."
Marie hung her head in confusion, but Hugh was bold and fearless.
"I know all about you two also," said Mr. Craft, smiling. "I am morethan satisfied to receive such a daughter as you, Marie Hathaway." Thegirl started as her name was pronounced, and a guilty blush mantled hercheek at the thought of the deception she had practiced upon this goodold man. "Unto my son I give you, if it be your wish that he shouldbecome your husband."
He paused. Marie made no reply, save to pass her hand through Hugh'sarm, and nestle closer to his heart.
"Hugh, take her, and bless God for the prize which you have received."Hugh led the girl away with joy in his heart.
"Junius"--the President spoke the word low, and with more embarrassmentthan he had used in addressing the others--"I know not how to commence.She who stands by your side is not my niece, but my daughter," and hetook Marie Colchis' hand in his, and drew her toward him. "She is mydaughter; no blood makes the tie, but that of love has given her to me.She stands before you alone in this life. No father or mother, brotheror sister, or relative has she in the wide world." The tears were nowfalling from Marie's eyes, and she clung closer to her adopted father.Hugh and Lester looked on in silence but wonder. "She has come," hecontinued, "like a radiant star in our universe, and from a remoteperiod of time. She lived years ago--a hundred or more. Do not start,Junius," as the other moved a step, and stood gazing on Marie's facewith a look of partial recognition. "Like you, she lived, and died, andlived again. The same methods which were used to prolong your life wereused to give life again to this fair girl. The hand that assisted atyour interment prepared the casket wherein his daughter has lain forover a century. She is--"
The wild excitement of Cobb's soul, paralyzed for a moment by thewords of the other, now broke forth in a hoarse, pathetic cry--"MarieColchis!" and he rushed forward, and almost crushed the fair form inhis strong arms. Regardless of all present, he kissed her face, herlips--kissed her with all the depth and passion of a man receiving backfrom death the being divine of his heart.
When Cobb's feelings had calmed sufficiently for him to realize thesituation, the President led him and Marie to their chairs. "Take her,Junius; God has ordained it!" he said, with a choking sensation in histhroat. Without letting too long a pause ensue, he drew from his pocketa paper, unfolded it, and said: "Listen, my children, to the last wordsof that girl's father, Jean Colchis."
In a low tone he read:
"GUADALUPE ISLAND, December 15, 1897.
"JUNIUS: To you I leave these words! Dead though thou art, yet a voice tells me that you will live again. In this chamber, with the inanimate body of my darling daughter lying beside me, I write my last words to mortal man.
"From the day you left us, and for years after, the heart of Marie has lain like a stone in her bosom; no feeling but that of love for you has gained entrance there.
"Wealth poured in upon me, and I endeavored by its aid to surround her with life, luxury and change of scene, hoping thus to turn her thoughts into other channels than of you. It was in vain! Sad and sorrowful she passed the days and years in hope of your return.
"I did not tell her that you had entered into a state of inanimation from which you would not awake until years had passed. I could not crush her heart! The days came and went, and no change took place. I felt that she was dying of a broken heart. As the conviction forced itself upon me, I prayed to God for help. Long and long I debated the situation. The knowledge was apparent that she would die ere many days had passed unless means were promptly taken to rem
ove the sorrow in her heart on account of your prolonged absence. What should I do? I had assisted in your preparations for a future existence; I knew of the methods you had taken to continue life in your body.
"'Junius can never return to my daughter,' I cried, in the agony of my soul. 'Why not send that daughter to him?' If you lived, she might again live, through the means I might employ. If you did not survive the ordeal, then it were better that she, also, should die. I argued with myself; I won. I sought for a spot where no human being would find the resting place of my beloved daughter until the time should arrive for her deliverance. I selected the island of Guadalupe, far from the busy world. I prepared the chambers and made them beautiful.
"My daughter came, and for nearly a year we lived in quiet but sad community. But, alas! it was of no avail! I saw her dying before my eyes. I resolved to subject her to a living death, in the hope that she might live again and be happy.
"I have prepared her body, even as you had told me yours was to be prepared. I inclose her fair form in a golden coffin, as a fitting receptacle for one so true and noble. With immortelles for her death, should she die, I surround the casket; with orange blossoms at her head, in the hope of future life and of her marriage to you, I lay her to rest.
"In an iron box at the foot of her coffin you will find my last testament, and the dowry I bequeath my daughter. I have prepared everything for this moment. That you might know this place, I put the letter into the copper cylinder; I bored through the walls of your tomb, and pushed in the case; and when I heard it fall on the floor of your sepulchre, I sealed up the hole. I knew if you lived again you would rescue your Marie. I felt, that if you died, it was better that she died also.
"The time has come! I lay this letter upon the snowy bosom of her who loved you as never woman loved a man. O God! can mortal know the anguish that seizes my heart as I am about to seal the lid which closes her sweet face in a living tomb!
"When these words are read by thee, O my daughter, if ever thine eyes shall brighten again in life, my bones will lie bare and naked at the foot of thy coffin. Good-bye, my darling daughter. I close the lid! I seal thy fate!
"JEAN COLCHIS."
Without allowing the sadness of the moment to weigh upon theirfeelings, the President stepped to the door, and soon returned,followed by a servant bearing the little iron box which Dr. Town hadcarried on his saddle from Guadulupe Island, and which Mollie hadsurrendered to her father.
Soon it had been opened, and its contents exposed to view. A bundle ofpapers was on top, and these the President took out and gave to Cobb.
He took them, and opened the first paper: it was the will of JeanColchis, giving to Junius Cobb, on the day of his marriage to MarieColchis, all money due from the government of the United States onthe contract of sale of the invention of the sympathetic telegraph.The second paper examined was the original contract for the transferof this invention to the government in consideration of $5,000,000paid down and a perpetuity of one-half of one per cent, on the grossearnings derived from its use.
"Why!" exclaimed the President, as Cobb read the contract, "you will beone of the richest men in the country. As near as I remember, there areover a hundred millions of dollars lying unclaimed in the Treasury onthis contract."
The third paper found was the formula for making the needles used inthe invention, sympathetic.
"Ah!" cried Cobb. "This is most important! Not but that the wealthgiven Marie and me is most acceptable; but now," and he held up thepaper, "now the world will again know and make use of the secret ofsympathizing the needles."
"And you forget another thing, Junius," broke in Hugh. "You are fivemillions of dollars richer by that paper, as that is the reward offeredby the government for the discovery of the lost secret."
The last paper in the box was then read:
"That the wealth which I possess may descend to my daughter unimpaired by time and change, I have converted the $5,000,000 which the government paid me for my invention into the sack of stones underneath this paper. J. C."
Cobb reached his hand into the box, and withdrew a silken bag. Openingit, he poured the contents upon the table.
All started with exclamations of astonishment at the sight; and wellthey might. The center of the table seemed ablaze with a millionsparkling, dancing rays of light. Five million dollar's worth ofprecious stones lay before them--the dowry of Marie Colchis.
"Junius," said the President, laying his hand upon the young man'sshoulder, "wealth has rolled in upon you by millions, but above allthe wealth you have received is the fair prize you have won, yourfuture wife," and he kissed the blushing face of Marie. "One more giftI can add to the many you have received," and he drew from his pocketa folded paper bearing the great seal of the Navy Department upon it."Your commission as Admiral of the Aerial Navy of the United States,"and he handed the paper to Junius Cobb. "Your discovery of meteorlenehas revolutionized warfare, and you soon will command a powerful fleetof aerial war ships."
Cobb bowed low as he accepted the paper, and expressed his gratitude tothe President for this additional proof of his generosity.
"I was not far wrong," exclaimed Hugh, grasping his hand, "when Isaluted you as Admiral, on board of the Orion."
"No, Hugh," returned Cobb; "and I wish I had not been, when I returnedit to you as my Commodore."
"And you were not, Junius," laughed the President, as he drew anotherpaper from his pocket. "Your commission as Commodore in the AerialNavy, Hugh," handing him the paper.
"And what does my hubby get?" cried Mollie, pouting her pretty lips.
"A colonelcy in the army for distinguished service during the war," andthe President smiled as he took a third paper from his pocket and gaveit to Lester.
"And now," said Cobb, after a pause, "as wealth more than I can usehas been heaped upon me, I wish to add my mite to the happiness of themoment. Hugh," and he took up the third paper from the bundle on thetable, "here is the secret of the sympathetic telegraph; it is worthfive million dollars. Take it, and divide it between yourself andLester, as a wedding gift from me."
Then Marie stepped forward, and filled her two hands with glitteringstones from the pile on the table. "Take these, my dear sisters," shesaid, as she poured them into the laps of the two astonished girls;"take these as a bridal gift from Marie Colchis."
THE END
A LITERARY GEM.
Mademoiselle de Maupin
A ROMANCE OF LOVE AND PASSION.
By THEOPHILE GAUTIER.
12mo, 413 pages. Paper covers. Illustrated with 16 Half-tones from the original etchings by Toudouze.
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Transcriber's note
Words in italics have been surround with _underscores_, and boldwith =signs=. Small capitals were replac
ed with all capitals. Atranscription of the handwritten note on page 388 was added. Somelines in the note were struck out, this was represented with ~signs~.
A few punctuation errors were corrected, also the following changeswere made, on page
74 The words "completed our task" filled in
97 "a" changed to "as" (as they would not keep so long)
324 "I" changed to "If" (If no lipthalener came into port)
366 "hot" changed to "not" (I should say not.)
375 "quicky" changed to "quickly" (the compartment being quickly emptied of its water)
383 "speed" changed to "sped" (the Orion sped northward)
394 "poinas" changed to "points" (it points somewhere south).
Otherwise the original was preserved, including possible errors inVolapuek, and inconsistencies in spelling and hyphenation.
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