CHAPTER XX.
THE SECRET MARRIAGE.
The day following the fire was gloomy; the smouldering pile of brick,stone and charred timbers marked the work of the destroying element.The immense factory was a ruin, and among the debris were seen the ironframes of intricate machinery, whose busy hum had so long gladdened thehearts of seven hundred operatives and their kindred. Many sad facesgathered about the ruins, and with trembling voices asked: "What willbecome of our wives and little ones?"
George Alden's act of heroism was the theme of general conversation,and prayers for his recovery sprang spontaneously from the hearts ofmen who had seldom prayed before. The newspapers were full of glowingeulogiums of the brave fellow who lay in so critical a condition. Hisspirit seemed undecided whether to remain in the bruised tenement orwing its flight to another world, but two devoted women watched at hisbedside, and a skilful surgeon noted every movement of the patient,who occasionally opened his eyes and stared unmeaningly about. Nointelligible words escaped his lips, for his mind wandered. But near thehour of noon, he opened his eyes, exclaiming:
"Where is the key? Oh, how it burns! Tell Belle and Fannie I died doingmy duty," and, closing his eyes, was silent. Suddenly opening themagain, he looked about, as if in doubt of his whereabouts. When his gazebecame fixed on Belle and Fannie, for the first time since the disasterhe spoke coherently and said:
"God bless you both! where am I?"
"In your own bed, George. Do you feel better?" gently replied his sister.
"My poor back is broken. Did I--did I save them?"
"Yes, all escaped. Do you remember it?" said Fannie.
"Yes--yes, but never mind."
Raising his burned hand to Belle's, he said:
"You are _so_ kind to remain with me," then closed his eyes as ifexhausted. A spasmodic moan escaping him, he cried out:
"My back is broken! I shall be a cripple and a burden to my friends. Oh,why did I escape?"
His two companions tried to calm him. As Dr. Briar entered theapartment, George looked into his face and asked:
"Doctor, is my back broken?"
The kind-hearted physician did not reply, but soothed him withencouraging words.
The ladies withdrawing, an examination by the physician and hisassistant revealed the fact that the poor sufferer's back was seriouslyinjured. Everything was done by the good doctor to make him comfortable,and as the examination caused great suffering a sleeping potion wasgiven him, for a raging fever indicated danger. The two women enteringthe room, to Belle's interrogations concerning her lover's injuries thedoctor replied that he hoped for the best.
Meanwhile other scenes were taking place in the community. SenatorHamblin sat in his private room at his residence, looking haggard, andseemingly in great trouble. He arose from his chair and began pacing theapartment.
"Everything is against me," he said. "All my late investments have beenlosses--and now comes this fire to wipe out over one hundred thousanddollars of my property. Oh, what fools we were to hesitate aboutrenewing those policies! I can see nothing but financial ruin unlessI can extricate myself from the strait I am in. With my credit good,I can raise plenty of money, but how can I repay it? Within the nextmonth I must borrow at least fifty thousand dollars. These losses almostunman me. Had I kept out of politics, giving my exclusive attention tobusiness affairs, I should not have been in this predicament. What aninfernal fool I am to allow ambition to lead me to ruin!"
He placed his hands over his head as if to get rest, but apparently hefound none, for he continued:
"It seems like a dream, that George Alden entered the burning factory.He is a brave fellow, and the physician says he cannot live--thank God!but he is happier than I, for I am standing between _two_ fires--twopowers are pulling my conscience in opposite directions--one for Mannisand his fortune, the other for George Alden and his honor. Pshaw! whatis honor? Will it buy bread? Will it obtain station and fame? Not a bitof it. If Alden dies, Belle will be the wife of Walter Mannis, and I,her father, will be saved. If he lives there is only one way to disposeof him. By the way!--as Sargent is doctoring the books, why shouldn't hemake the deficit fifty thousand, which I need, instead of five thousand?I might look over the securities and cash, stea--abstract that amount,and give Sargent such good cause that he will have no excuse for goingback on me as he did once before. I'll go down to the bank at once."
On his way to the bank, the Senator met many persons who inquired aboutthe condition of Cashier Alden. To all inquiries he returned the sameanswer:
"Poor fellow, I am afraid he cannot live."
Entering the bank, Sargent said to him:
"By present indications our cashier will step out without our aid, eh?"
"It does look so, but he is a brave fellow after all. What is thelatest, Sargent?"
"He awoke to consciousness at noon, complaining of his back, which Dr.Briar, upon examination, found seriously injured, and says his caseis almost hopeless. He fears internal injuries, as Alden has a highfever--everything pointing to danger."
"It is sad, but may be for the best," was the reply, as Senator Hamblinentered his private office.
Greatly dejected and full of trouble, to him the future looked dark andportentous. Gladly would he have allowed his daughter to act from thedictation of her heart did he not think the fortune of Mannis wouldextricate him from the dilemma.
Poor, foolish man, he little knew Mannis was as "deep in the mire as hein the mud" of financial ruin.
When at first raising objections to Belle's forming an alliance withAlden, he fairly hated the innocent cause of his ire, but gradually hisfeelings underwent a change; his old affection for his child returning,and the brave feat of the cashier touching his heart, he longed for away out of his trouble. Unable to entertain thoughts of bankruptcy, hispride and fear of disgrace made him plot against the cashier.
The full significance of his political victory lost sight of, he couldnot drive the one absorbing thought from his mind, namely, the marriageof his daughter with Mannis; beside saving him, it could be easilybrought about were Alden disposed of.
For two days George Alden's life hung in the balance. Fannie and Belleremained constantly at his bedside. On the morning of the third day,Doctor Briar, after examining his patient, beckoned the two ladies tofollow him to an adjoining room.
"Ladies," he said, "it is my duty to inform you, you have a very sickpatient. Calm yourselves and do not give way to grief--but I fear hecannot recover. He should be told his danger, and I think I can trustyou both to talk with him on this subject."
Belle drew a deep sigh, which found response in the heart of Fannie.
"Oh, save him, sir! if you can, for he is so dear to us. I cannot havehim die. He is too noble and good," impulsively spoke Belle.
"Whatever can be done to save his life we shall do. All the good peopleof Cleverdale are praying for his recovery; let us hope their prayersmay be answered, but as his physician I cannot speak encouragingly. Heis a noble fellow, and I hope and pray it may be God's will to spare hislife."
Bravely the two women repressed their grief, for both saw the necessityof great fortitude. The physician withdrew, and Belle and Fanniere-entered the sick-room, when Alden opened his eyes and in a low tonesaid:
"Belle, you look tired and anxious--are my injuries serious?"
"Yes, George, you are badly injured."
"Is there any possibility of my recovery?"
"We hope for the best, for oh! we could not spare you."
"By the anxiety on your faces, I feel my condition is very serious," hesaid feebly. "Oh, Belle, I wish you were my wife."
A shadow of deep pain crossed his features.
"Would you be happier were I your wife?" Belle asked.
"Happier! If I am to die I should be resigned to go and wait withoutstretched arms for you to join me."
Belle, conversing with him a few moments longer, joined Fannie atthe window, the two whispered together, when Belle, re
turning to thebedside, said:
"George, would you be entirely happy were I your wife?"
"Yes, I could even die happy, for I fear I am to live but a short time.Your faces tell me I am fatally injured. But it would be too muchhappiness to expect, to gaze upon you as my own wife."
Looking for a moment intently into his face, she gently raised hisburned hand with her own, and said:
"George, I will be your wife, though myself is all I have to give."
Bending over the pillow, she touched the parched lips with her own,sealing her promise with a kiss.
"God bless you!" were all the words Alden uttered, as, closing his eyes,he fell back exhausted.
Belle joined Fannie in an adjoining room; the latter said:
"Dear Belle, you are a precious girl--but what will your parents say?"
"Mamma will not object, and for the present Papa must not know of it. Itis all I can do for George."
She threw her arms about Fannie's neck, and a flood of tears followed.Mrs. Hamblin came later, and to her daughter's appeal for consent to theproposed marriage she yielded. She knew her husband would not approvethe arrangement, but acting upon her own convictions she could notrefuse.
None were present at the ceremony but Mrs. Hamblin, Fannie Alden, andthe clergyman, besides the strangely joined pair.
The sufferer had been awake a long time, his eyes beaming with pleasureat the prospect of marriage with the girl he loved. The clergyman,approaching the bedside, commenced the ceremony. The mother trembled,and, turning to conceal her emotion, burst into tears at the moment theclergyman finished the ceremony.
The husband looking into the face of his wife, his eyes filled with joy,and he gasped:
"I--I--am so--so--happy!" and then lost consciousness.
Loving hands quickly applied restoratives, and in a few moments thesufferer opened his eyes, and said:
"I thought I was married--but it was only a dream."
"It is not a dream, for I am your wife," said Belle.
"Mine, all mine at last," he said, and the invisible angels hoveringabout his pillow recorded the nuptials in that book the entries in whichcan never be altered for earthly and dishonest purposes.