"I couldn"t have been any better off than I was with Mrs. Taylor,"
replied the boy, turning to the woman.
The colonel took her hand, and expressed his grat.i.tude to her for all she had done.
"He is a good boy, and I wish he was my son," said Mrs. Taylor. "I can"t bear to think of losing him."
"You shall not be separated, and he and I both will see that you never want for anything while you live."
Mrs. Montague and Grace were sent for, and presently appeared.
"I am glad to see you, my boy," said the lady, as she took both his hands. "You are my son now."
"And did you know I was Colonel Montague"s son before?" asked Robert.
"I knew it before I was married to him," she replied. "My husband always reproached himself--and now more than ever--because he concealed his first marriage from his father; but my brother and I always thought it right for him to do so."
"I know it was wrong," added the colonel, bitterly.
"Undoubtedly it was wrong in the abstract, but it was the least of two evils," said Mr. Barkesdale.
"Now you are my brother, I shall kiss you again," was the greeting of Grace, as she suited the action to the word.
The rest of the day was spent in talking over the events of the past, and Robert Montague was duly installed as a member of the household. The funeral took place the next day, and hundreds of people stared at the boy who rode with the other members of the family in the first carriage, and wondered why he was there. In a few days the strange story was fully circulated both in Belfast and in Camden.
On the day after the funeral Robert returned to his former home with Mrs. Taylor. He was greeted by his friends with a deference which made him feel very awkward; and when he went on board of the Skylark, Monkey hardly dared to speak to him. But he soon convinced all that his altered fortunes had not changed his heart. He was more amazed himself than other people were to find himself the son of one of the richest and most distinguished men in the state. He returned to his new home in the Skylark on the same day, and arrived soon enough to give Grace a sail in the yacht before dark.
In due time Robert attended the trial of Captain c.h.i.n.ks, who pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to a year"s imprisonment for opening the letter and stealing the money. The yacht and the liquor were condemned and sold. The captain was fined a thousand dollars; and it was said that he got off easy because he pleaded guilty. Colonel Montague bought the Skylark when she was sold, with his son"s share of "the moiety of the penalty and forfeiture." With his father as a pa.s.senger, Robert sailed the yacht home.
The Pen.o.bscot was got off by the sailing-master and crew at the next tide after she went on the ledge. Buoyed up with casks she was towed to Belfast, where she was put on the ways, and made as good as new.
"I thought your sailing-master was rather reckless that night," said Robert, one day, as they pa.s.sed the Pen.o.bscot on the ways, and were discussing the mishap.
"It was not his fault. The wheel broke down," replied the colonel.
"I didn"t know the wheel broke."
"Yes; that was the trouble; but if it had been the sailing-master"s fault, I wouldn"t have said a word, after he saved my father. He"s a brave fellow; he is like you, my son. If you had been less brave, Robert, Grace would certainly have been drowned, or killed on the rocks."
Colonel Montague shuddered as he thought of such a calamity, and then gazed with admiration upon his son.
"I would have done that any time for the fun of it," laughed Robert.
"It was hard for me, when we met on the deck of the Pen.o.bscot, to keep from telling you the truth--that you were my son."
"It"s all right now."
The conversation turned to Mrs. Taylor. Colonel Montague wanted to take her into his family, but her drunken husband was in the way of such a step. On one of her trips down the bay the Skylark put into Camden, and Robert and his father called upon her.
"I"m all alone now," said Mrs. Taylor, after she had exchanged greetings with her visitors.
"Why, where is Ezekiel?" asked Robert.
"He went off a-fishing yesterday in Prince"s boat, and caught a great fare of mackerel. He sold them for nine dollars, and of course he has been intoxicated ever since. This afternoon he got into a quarrel with Moses Pitkins, and struck him with a club. Both of them were drunk, and they say Moses is so badly hurt that he may die. Ezekiel was taken up, and sent over to Rockland."
"Then you had better go with us to Belfast, Mrs. Taylor," added Colonel Montague.
Robert begged her to do so, and she consented. Squire Simonton was engaged to defend Ezekiel when his trial came off. Mrs. Taylor went to Belfast in the Skylark, and was kindly welcomed at the elegant mansion.
Moses Pitkins did not die, but Ezekiel was sentenced to two months"
imprisonment. Squire Simonton labored diligently with him to abandon his cups; but the two months" abstinence did him more good than the arguments, able and kind as they were. When he was discharged he returned to Camden to find his home deserted. Squire Simonton renewed his efforts to secure the reform of the toper. He a.s.sured Ezekiel that his wife would not live with him if he continued to be intemperate. He promised faithfully never to drink a drop, and the squire kept an eye on him. He let the house to Prince, and boarded with him. He went to work at his trade, and people said Ezekiel Taylor was a new man since he came out of prison. Mrs. Taylor heard of his good behavior, and came down to see him. He promised her faithfully that he would never drink another drop. Colonel Montague had given her a beautiful little cottage near his own house, handsomely furnished, when the reports indicated that Ezekiel had actually reformed. Having satisfied herself of the truth of the report, she invited him to his new home. Thus far he has kept his promise, and both are happy in their new residence, which Robert visits every day, and sometimes oftener.
Mr. Walker and his family spent a week with the Montagues, in September, after Mr. Barkesdale had gone. Though picnics and pleasure parties were not in order so soon after the death of the Hon. Mr. Montague, Robert took Grace and Emily out to sail every day in the Skylark; and up to this date, he thinks Miss Walker is the prettiest girl in the State of Maine. He may change his mind within ten years; but if he does not, she will probably have an opportunity to accept or refuse his hand.
Monkey was retained for service in the Skylark during the rest of the season. He still thinks his friend, the skipper, is the greatest man in the world. He sends a portion of his wages to his mother, and in the fall moved her up to Belfast. Robert goes to Camden occasionally, and always calls upon Mr. Simonton, who invariably gives him a cheerful welcome. His views in regard to smuggling are very definite now, and, as Robert Barkesdale Montague, he believes that fidelity to principle is the only safe rule of life, whether it brings worldly prosperity or adversity, as did LITTLE BOBTAIL.