"Well, I"ll be jiggered!" he thundered, when his wife had finished, and laid aside the paper. "Why in time didn"t Eben tie up at some wharf instead of goin" through the Narrows when the tide was runnin" down?
That boy hasn"t enough brains to last him over night."
"Don"t talk that way, Sam"l," his wife chided. "No doubt the poor boy was doing the best he could. He must have used his brains when he saved the boat from going on the mud flats."
"Sure, sure, Martha. Yer quite right. But, say, what a narrow squeeze that was! In another minute Eben an" the boat would have been into the falls, an", then, Good Lord!"
"Doesn"t the paper say there were two men with him?" Flo asked. "Who were they, do you suppose?" The girl"s face was pale, and she was greatly agitated.
"Yes, yes, it does say thar were two men, who left in a motor-boat,"
the captain replied. "Now, who were they? D"ye s"pose they were on the boat when the storm struck, an" helped Eben hist the sail? They must have been thar, fer that boy could never have histed that sail alone. Read it all over agin, Martha."
The Tobin family had now a great subject for conversation, which kept them talking and speculating for the rest of the day. Mrs. Tobin carried the paper to her neighbours across the way, and discussed it with them. Jess said very little, although she was doing some serious thinking. Two men were with Eben, and they had evidently been with him during the storm. Fearful as she was of being followed, she naturally concluded that they were in search of her. Perhaps there was a suspicion abroad that she had taken refuge on the "Eb and Flo," and had not drowned herself. She said nothing, however, about her fears, but listened to Mrs. Tobin as she enlarged upon the danger through which her son had pa.s.sed.
All through the afternoon the captain kept a close watch upon the river. He felt sure that Eben would bring the boat back that day. His foot was not giving him so much trouble, and he longed to be up and doing. But his wife and daughter would not allow him to leave the sofa, notwithstanding his vigorous protests.
"I must git around, Martha," he said after a special rebuke by his wife for his lack of patience. "Me foot needs to be moved, or it"ll be stiff to the end of me days."
"Don"t you worry about that, Sam"l. A sprain needs rest, and you"re going to stay right where you are."
The captain sighed as he tried to possess his soul in patience. But the time dragged heavily, and the "Eb and Flo" was nowhere in sight.
Supper was almost ready when Flo, happening to glance out of the window, gave a cry of joy.
"The boat"s coming now, daddy!" she announced. "I"m sure it"s the "Eb and Flo.""
"Is thar a big patch in the sail?" her father asked.
"Yes, I can see it quite plainly."
"Then it"s her, Flo. Thank the Lord Eben"s come at last. He"s a great boy, that. Guess he"ll amount to something after all. Ye"d better cut an extry slice of that ham, fer Eben"ll have an appet.i.te like a bear when he gits home."
CHAPTER XX
MRS. GRIMSBY"S MISSION
Mrs. Hampton had not the slightest doubt but that Jess Randall was her own daughter. It seemed like a strange dream at first from which she would suddenly awaken. The girl was all that she had imagined her daughter would be when grown up. How she longed to take her in her arms and claim her as her own! But, no, she must not do that now.
What would Jess and John think of her? Would they not despise her for what she had done? It was almost beyond belief that a mother would sell her child for money.
No sleep came to Mrs. Hampton"s eyes during the rest of the night, and when Jess was comfortably in bed and asleep the restless woman paced up and down her own room, racked with conflicting emotions. What should she do? she asked herself over and over again. She knew now that the girl had run away from home, and should she send her back? But how could she? That she must keep her at all cost, was the thought uppermost in her mind. She was her own child, a part of her very self.
The girl had been wonderfully brought to her, and was it not a sign that she should stay? But what about the girl"s foster parents? Could they claim her still?
Twice during the quiet morning hours Mrs. Hampton had stolen gently into the girl"s room and stood watching her as she slept. She could see her plainly by the shaded lamp on the dresser. A deep feeling of pride and love welled up in her heart as she looked upon the fair, pure face. She was certain she could detect the father"s features in forehead, mouth and chin. He had been a handsome man, and this girl resembled him in a marked degree.
During the second visit as she was about to leave the room Jess suddenly opened her eyes. Seeing Mrs. Hampton, a smile illumined her face.
"I have had such a beautiful dream," she said. "I dreamed that you were my mother, and that you were rescuing me from people who were trying to steal me away from you. Wasn"t it funny?"
Mrs. Hampton gave a slight start, and looked searchingly into the girl"s eyes. Then she knelt by her side and gave her a fervent kiss.
"Would you like to have me for your mother?" she asked.
"Would I! Oh, how glorious it would be! I have known you only a few hours, and yet you seem more like my mother than anyone I have ever met. You are so kind and loving, just what I have often longed my own mother to be like."
"She has been good to you, though, has she not?"
"Oh, yes. In a way she has been very good, though there was something lacking which I cannot explain. I never saw her look at me as you are looking at me now. I could never confide in her, nor go to her with my little troubles. She did not wish to be bothered. She was just as affectionate to our cat and dog as she was to me. But you are altogether different. I wonder why it is? I believe you really love me, and for love my heart has been longing for years."
"Then stay right here with us, dear," Mrs. Hampton replied, at the same time pressing the girl"s hand in hers. "I want you to be my daughter, and I shall love you to your heart"s content." She was going to add that John would, too, but she refrained. Just what understanding there was between the two she was not sure, although she had the feeling that they loved each other dearly.
"But suppose daddy finds me here and takes me home?" Jess asked. "I feel that I should get farther away. I must not go back to my old life. I want to be free, to make my own living, and then----" She hesitated, and paused while her face crimsoned.
"I know, dear. You want to marry the one you love. Isn"t that it?"
"It is, but how did you guess it?"
"Oh, I was young once, and understand such things," Mrs. Hampton smilingly told her. "But, there, we must not talk any more now. I am sorry that I disturbed you. Sleep as long as you like."
This was but one of many conversations the two had during the next day.
While John was at work about the place, Mrs. Hampton and Jess talked with each other, either in the kitchen or out upon the verandah. Thus the two were drawn closer together, and understood each other better than before. Then in the evening, when the day"s work was done, John joined them. He was happier than he had ever been in his life, and as he went about his various tasks he could hardly believe it possible that the one girl in the whole world who meant everything to him was but a short distance away, awaiting his return.
The more Mrs. Hampton thought about Jess, the more determined she became that nothing should take her from her. She was her daughter, and she had the right to her, no matter what she had done in the past.
If it came to the worst she would claim her as her own, tell the whole sad story, and bear whatever blame might fall upon her.
She thought over this during the next day, and the more she was with the girl the more she loved her. The fact that John"s love was added to hers gave her much comfort. Nothing would please her better than to see them married. Then she would have both a son and a daughter. But would the girl"s foster parents allow her to marry a man who was merely an ordinary country farmer? It was hardly likely, judging by their ambition to give her to the son of a Lord.
She was thinking of this as she worked in the kitchen, busily preparing supper. John and Jess had gone for a walk down to the river, expecting to be back in a short time. It was a beautiful evening, and as Mrs.
Hampton watched them as they moved down across the field her heart filled with pride. She liked to see them together, for they were so happy, and seemed to be perfectly suited to each other.
When supper was ready, she went out upon the verandah to await their return. It was good to rest after the work of the day, and look out upon the river. Everything was full of peace, and if she could only bring herself in harmony with the world of nature how good it would be.
The music of the birds, and the hum of bees sounded in her ears. But her brain was too much concerned about other affairs to enjoy the bright things around her. She felt restless, and a feeling of some impending calamity oppressed her. Perhaps it was the lack of sleep, for she had rested very little the last two nights.
The click of the little gate aroused her, and looking up she saw a little woman walking up the path toward the house. The visitor was shabbily dressed, and she hurried along as if fearful of being followed. She was panting heavily by the time she was upon the verandah, and seemed about ready to drop from weariness.
"Why, Hettie!" Mrs. Hampton exclaimed, as she rose to receive her.
"What is the matter? You look tired out. Sit here, while I get you some refreshment."
"No, no, I mustn"t sit down," the visitor replied, as she glanced apprehensively around. "Gabe might come at any minute. He"s everywhere, it seems to me, and has eyes like a hawk."
"Yon just sit down and rest," Mrs. Hampton ordered, leading the frightened woman to a chair. "Your husband will not touch you here.
If he does, it won"t be well for him."
"Oh, thank you, thank you, so much. But you don"t know Gabe as well as I do. He will kill me if he knows I"ve been here."
"Indeed he will do no such thing, Hettie. Sit here and calm your mind.
I shall be back in a minute."