CHAPTER XXVI. A HAPPY REUNION
The tall, fine-looking man who stood on the front porch lifted his hat asMrs. Gray opened the door.
"I'm Mr. Morrison," he said, and then he hastened to inquire: "How is mylittle girl today?"
The housekeeper's face brightened. "Oh, I'm so glad that you have come,"she said. "Geraldine was asking for you but a moment ago. She is muchbetter, but I am not sure that she is strong enough to see you unless Ifirst tell her that you are here. Sudden joy may be as great a shock assudden sorrow."
But, as they ascended the stairs and went quietly down the corridor, theyheard the girl calling, "Daddy! Oh, I know it's you, Daddy. I've beenexpecting you all day long."
When the tender greeting was over, with shining eyes the girl looked athim as she said, "I'm going to get well right away now, I know. I've beenso lonesome for you, Dad." Turning toward the little old lady, she addedlovingly: "Mrs. Gray is my make-believe grandmother, and you can't guesshow good she has been to me." Then suddenly thinking of something, shesmilingly declared: "Why, that makes Mrs. Gray your make-believe mother,doesn't it, Dad?"
The man, because of his great anxiety about his daughter, had scarcelynoticed the old lady. He now turned and looked at her, intending to thankher for her kindness to his little girl. To his surprise tears wererolling unheeded down the wrinkled cheeks, although, in the sweet face,there was an expression of radiant joy. Then Mrs. Gray held out her armsto the amazed man and said in a voice that trembled with emotion,"Alfred, my boy, don't you know me?"
A few moments later when the Colonel entered the room he smiled around atthe happy group.
"Well, Mrs. Gray," he said after he had exchanged greetings with thenewcomer, "we don't have to keep our secret any longer, do we?"
"Oh, Colonel Wainright," Geraldine exclaimed, "have you known all thetime that Mrs. Gray was my real grandmother?"
"Yes, lassie, but she did not want me to tell you. She wished first ofall to win your love."
A door banged below and Alfred leaped up the stairs two steps at a time,Susan having told him that his father had arrived.
He, too, was amazed to learn that Mrs. Gray was their grandmother. "I'mbully glad," the lad exclaimed, as he kissed the beaming old lady. Thenhe added: "Of course I knew that Dad ran away from home when he wassixteen and that he had never since seen his parents, but you thoughtthey were dead, didn't you, Dad?" His father nodded.
"I've been alone for ten years," Mrs. Gray told them, "and during thattime I've been hunting for my boy."
"All's well that ends well!" Alfred said, and his father added: "Just assoon as Geraldine is able to travel, we must return to our home inDorchester."
"Oh, Dad!" the girl protested, "I do wish we might stay in the countryforever."
* * * * * * * *
The next day, at Mrs. Gray's suggestion, her son took her for a drive inthe light buggy. Although the Colonel had two automobiles, the little oldlady preferred the old-fashioned way of traveling. They drove alongWillowbend Road, where the last bits of snow were rapidly disappearingand where reddish green buds were to be seen on the drooping trees thatgave the country road its name.
Mrs. Gray lifted a beaming face and smiled up at her long lost son fromunder her quaint Quaker-like bonnet. "You haven't asked me, Alfred, whymy name is Gray?"
"No," he acknowledged, "I supposed that you would tell me in time if youhad married again."
She shook her head. "No, I never did. Because I always dressed in grey,friends began to call me that, and when I came here once more searchingfor some trace of you, I thought I would use that name; and I am gladthat I did, for by so doing I won the love of my granddaughter. She mightotherwise have cared merely from a sense of duty." Then, as they turnedin between two stone gate posts, the man said: "How strange it seems tobe, coming back to our old home. I thought it had been sold for taxeslong ago."
"It was nearly sold," Mrs. Gray replied, "but I heard of it in time topay the back taxes and keep it. At first I thought, when I couldn't findyou, that I did not care to own it, for every corner and tree reminded meof you when you were a boy, but now I am so glad that I have kept our oldhome. It is rather dilapidated," she added brightly, "but in a week or sowe can have it all in readiness before we tell the children a word aboutit. Then, when Geraldine is strong enough to be moved, we will bring herover here."
"How pleased she will be," Mr. Morrison declared. "I will go toDorchester tomorrow and see about selling our other place and have thefurniture sent down here."
"I thought we'd let Alfred have the room that was yours when you were aboy," Mrs. Gray continued, "and that sunny bay window room whichoverlooks the garden is the one I have planned for Geraldine."
"Mother," the smiling man protested, "you know how completely I have beenspoiling our girl. You aren't going to do the same thing, are you?"
The little old lady shook her head. "Geraldine is a changed lassie. Shewon't spoil now."
"And it's all due to your loving influence, I am sure," Mr. Morrisondeclared.
There were twinkles in the eyes that looked up at him. "I can't take allof the credit," Mrs. Gray replied. "I think someone else had even more todo with the change in Geraldine than I have had."
She was thinking of Jack Lee, but at that time she did not care to tellher son about him.
The old house was one of those charming places, pillared in front, withwide halls and large, many windowed rooms that could easily betransformed into just the kind of a home that Geraldine liked best.
Busy days followed for Mrs. Gray and her son. Then, three weeks later,Doctor Carson announced that Geraldine was strong enough to be moved.
So well had the secret been kept that the lassie supposed that they weregoing to Dorchester.