CHAPTER XXII.
A LOST TRAIL DISCOVERED.
They reached Indianapolis in due time; stopped at a hotel, and Sedgwickhad no difficulty in finding the Forbeses. He was presented to theirfriends, the Brunswicks, and Mrs. Brunswick insisted that Sedgwick shouldgo straight to the hotel and bring his wife to her house.
He thanked the old lady warmly, but begged to be excused, saying theycould visit without that.
"Very well," said the old lady, "but I will certainly have my way inanother thing. You must go right off and tell your wife that an oldEnglish woman up the street says she must waive ceremony and come righthere for dinner."
This was agreed to, and Sedgwick proceeded to do the errand.
The Sedgwicks were shown into the drawing-room of the Brunswicks, and hadbeen for a few minutes conversing when the door opened and a ladyentered.
A glance was enough to show that she was exceedingly beautiful. She wasperhaps twenty-six or twenty-seven years of age, not too tall, roundedinto full maturity, with a most strong but winsome face. Her eyes wereblue, her hair a golden brown and glossy, and when she spoke, her teethwere revealed, perfect and white.
She was presented to the strangers as Mrs. Hazleton.
Dinner was shortly after announced, and after dinner, when the gentlemenhad returned to the drawing-room, Mrs. Brunswick asked Mrs. Hazleton tosing. She did not say "Mrs. Hazleton," but just "Margaret."
Without making any excuses she went to the piano and asked Mrs. Brunswickif she desired any particular piece. She answered:
"No, my dear, sing anything you feel like singing; only have itold-fashioned and sweet, rather than scientific."
Strangely enough, she struck a few wailing chords on the instrument, andthen with a pathos and tenderness most touching, sang the old songbeginning:
"Could you come back to me, Douglas."
The effect was great on all the company, but to Sedgwick and his bride itwas intensely thrilling.
The eyes of Grace filled with tears, and Sedgwick, who was near,unobserved by the rest, took and pressed her hand.
The company separated early, with an agreement for the ensuing day, whichwas to fill it with rides, luncheon, a matinee for the ladies, and dinnerafterward.
So soon as Sedgwick and his bride were by themselves, Grace said: "Love,did you ever hear anything half as sweet as that singing?"
"Yes," said Sedgwick, "I heard that same song once, more sacredly sung."
"O James!" Grace replied, and a celestial glow warmed her face.
"But that lady has a secret grief, certain," said Grace. "There was realsorrow in her tones, and there is a sorrow in her face, despite itssuperb serenity."
"Well, she is a widow," said Sedgwick.
"Yes, I know," was the answer; "but there is more than sorrow; she givesme the idea that her thought is that something priceless has been lostwhich she might have saved."
"Now I think, little one, that 'you have struck it,' as the miners say,"said Sedgwick.
"How do you mean?" asked Grace.
"Some one who would have made her his wife and worshiped her has gone,and she is miserable," said Sedgwick.
"What makes you say that, dearest?" asked Grace.
"Because," replied Sedgwick, "I know it, and I know where he has gone,and she does not."
"Why, what do you know of her? Did you ever meet her before?" askedGrace.
"No, I have never met her, but I have met some one who has," saidSedgwick.
"O, tell me all about it!" said Grace.
"Why, child," Sedgwick said, "that is the lady who went to Texas andtaught school one season, who set the honest heart of Tom Jordan on fire,and burned it half to ashes, made him sell his home because he was sowretched, and finally, with my help, or through my fault, set him torunning a tunnel to a mine in Southern Africa, among the Boers andKaffirs."
"Do you believe that can be true?" asked Grace.
"I know it," said the confident man. "The description an the singingtally, and the name is the same. Tom says her singing would make a lark,out of envy, 'fall outer a tree'."
"Upon my soul!" said Grace, and then lapsed into silence.
"What are you thinking of, sweet?" asked Sedgwick, after a pause.
"I was thinking what accidents our lives hang upon," she said. "O, love,suppose you had not fancied me at all, what would have become of me?"
"And suppose you had, when I did fancy you and you knew my heart was inthe dust at your feet, that the touch of the hem of your robe upon methrilled me like old wine; suppose then I had pleaded for your love, andthough you felt it was mine and intended to give it to me, still hadrefused me; might you not be singing, Could you come back to me, Douglas,in tones to break any one's heart who might hear you?"
Grace thought a moment, and then said: "There's more than all thatto this, love; you men do not know much when it comes to the heartsof women. She had some other and good reason when she refused thetrue-souled man."
"I believe now that you are right, my little sorceress," said Sedgwick,"and I believe that the reason has since been removed, and her greatgrief now is in thinking of Jordan's sorrow and than she cannot findhim."
"I will tell you what," said Grace; "I will get as near her to-morrow asI can, and will try to coax her, hire her--if needs be--to accompany usto England."
"A capital thought, my wise little wife!" said Sedgwick. "Then when yougain her confidence, if you think it best, we will try and help her findthe great-hearted man."
"I believe you are an angel," said Grace.
"I know you are," said Sedgwick, and involuntarily they kissed eachother.