The young man"s arms closed around her in a fond embrace, but a sudden contraction in his throat would not admit of his speaking for the moment. This little revelation of her great and absorbing love for him moved him deeply. Mollie observed it, and, flashing a sly, mischievous glance into his face, she demurely remarked:
"I"m very sorry, Cliff, if you are going to feel burdened to take me with the appendage that has been thrust upon me. Of course, you know I would rather have you than the fortune--love in the proverbial cottage with you than the whole world without you--but since I cannot get rid of the fortune, I don"t see but that you will have to take me just as I am, be it for "better or worse.""
"Mollie! Mollie!" murmured Faxon, in a voice that almost made her weep--it was so intense from the emotion which nearly mastered him--"what a rare, sweet woman you are!"
He was silent for a moment, and then he resumed with more self-control.
"I dared to love you when you were "Miss Heatherford the heiress," but I should not have presumed to try to win you while you were rich and I was poor. I have been so glad and proud to have won you while we were on the same plane socially, and to feel that we love each other for just what we are. I have exulted in the thought that it would be my privilege to work for you, and, perchance, restore you to the position you once occupied; but since I am to be denied that I can only bend all my energies toward making my name one that you will be proud to bear by and by."
"I am already proud of it, dear," said Mollie, with beaming eyes, "but I shall be even more so when it becomes my own."
Clifford"s answer to this loving tribute need not be recorded, but, judging from the sweet laugh which rippled over Mollie"s lips, it was entirely satisfactory.
CHAPTER XII.
MR. HEATHERFORD"S RECOVERY.
Immediately after Mr. Heatherford"s removal to the Lamonti mansion, Mollie resolved to make one more desperate effort for his recovery and to spare no expense to put him under the most noted specialists for diseases of the brain that could be secured. After making diligent inquiries, she decided to send for Doctor ----, of New York, to come to Washington and diagnose her father"s case. The great man came, but, after a careful and protracted examination, p.r.o.nounced the fatal verdict, which she so dreaded to hear.
"Miss Heatherford, it pains me deeply to have to tell you that there is not the slightest ray of hope, as far as I can see," he said, and then lapsed into a learned description of the patient"s condition, describing the state of his brain, the probable progress of the disease, and its inevitable termination, while Mollie felt as if she would herself become distracted before he concluded his terrible picture.
"Oh!" she cried at last, "then he must live on like this indefinitely, growing gradually more and more helpless! He is never to know anything more of life, never even give me, his only child, one fond word or look of recognition! How can I bear it?"
"My dear young lady, it is hard, I know," said the physician kindly, and deeply touched by the tearless grief, "and were it in my power to give you the least encouragement, I should be more than glad to do so. I have given you my opinion of the case as it appears to me," he went on after a moment of deep thought, "but if it would comfort you any to make one more trial, I will suggest that a noted Paris specialist, who is now in this country, be called to examine Mr. Heatherford. There is no higher authority in the world that I know of."
Mollie grasped eagerly at this straw, and the highest authority in the world, the great Paris doctor, was sent for at once. He came and went; but he left behind him only bitter disappointment and a sentence of doom.
Poor Mollie, who had hoped against hope, was utterly prostrated for a time in view of this ultimatum. She shut herself into her room to meet this terrible blow and fight her battle out where no eye could witness her anguish.
The fate to which her father had been doomed by the verdict of the doctors seemed absolutely unbearable, and she cried aloud in her anguish that she would not submit to it.
She was nearly worn out with this conflict by luncheon-time, two hours and more after the departure of the Paris authority, and was only able to drink a cup of tea when her maid brought a temptingly arranged tray to her; but she felt that she could not live through the afternoon, left alone with her own thoughts, and finally, ringing for Nannette, she ordered her to make Lucille ready for a drive, and half an hour later found them rolling out toward the Washington monument. They drove for nearly two hours, and then Mollie ordered the coachman to turn toward home.
As the carriage was pa.s.sing through Fourteenth Street something caught Mollie"s eye--something which made her sit suddenly erect, while a look of eager interest swept over her pale, lovely face. The object which had attracted her attention was a very modest sign hanging in a window.
It read thus: "John L. Freeman, Christian Science Healer," and into the girl"s mind flashed the thought, accompanied by a wild hope: "Perhaps that man can help my father--I have heard that Christian Scientists do wonderful things."
Almost before she was aware of what she was doing, she had ordered the driver to stop, when, taking Lucille by the hand, she alighted, mounted the steps, and rang the bell of the house where Mr. Freeman resided.
Then, as the tinkle of the bell came to her ears, she suddenly began to feel ashamed of her errand, for she had always been both skeptical and intolerant of all such "metaphysical nonsense," as she had termed it.
She was half-tempted to beat a hasty retreat, and perhaps would have done so if the door had not been opened at that instant by a sweet, happy-looking girl, whose winning smile at once won her confidence and inspired her with fresh hope.
"Can I see Mr. Freeman?" she briefly inquired.
"I think so; come in, please," replied the girl, and, turning, she led the way into a pleasant room, where a gentleman of perhaps forty years was sitting.
He arose and greeted Mollie with easy courtesy, his dark eyes searching her face with a kind but penetrating look, and instantly a strange feeling of peace fell upon her aching, rebellious heart. She took the chair he offered her, and then opened her heart to him, telling him all her trouble and sorrow--of her father"s long illness, of the many weary months of anxious care and hopeless seeking after help from various sources, and of her last despairing efforts and their result. The gentleman did not once interrupt her, but sat with downcast eyes and attentive mien until she concluded, when she tremulously inquired:
"Can you help him--is there any hope, do you think?"
"My dear child, there is every hope," her companion confidently replied.
"G.o.d is always a help in time of trouble."
"G.o.d!" repeated Mollie, with a bitter inflection. "I have begun to believe there is no G.o.d."
The gentleman bent a pitiful glance upon her.
"I am sure that you will never say that again," he replied after a moment of silence.
Then he asked her a few questions, after which he remarked that he would take the case if she desired, and would visit her father later in the day.
Mollie arose, a peculiar feeling of restfulness and hope having succeeded her previous weariness and despair; and, opening her purse, inquired what she should pay for the consultation.
"Nothing for our little talk, Miss Heatherford," said Mr. Freeman, with a quiet smile; "we are always glad to have people come to us when in trouble. Scientists, when they take patients, usually treat them by the week, the sum being uniform, unless frequent visits are required; of course, you understand that no medicines--no remedies of any kind--are to be used."
He then mentioned the amount for a week"s treatment, and which seemed to the wondering girl exceedingly paltry; but she paid it, and then went away with that same strange, sweet peace still pervading her.
A week pa.s.sed, and while there was no apparent change in Mr.
Heatherford"s mental condition, he was not nearly as restless as he had been, and slept quietly the whole night through, a thing he had not done for months.
The second week he began to take more nourishment. At the end of a month his face began to have some color, and Eliza declared that he was actually gaining flesh, while now and then they found him looking about the room, vacantly, to be sure, and yet with an air as if a dawning consciousness was trying to a.s.sert itself.
Mollie jealously watched every change, and each time that Mr. Freeman came she plied him with questions, eagerly seeking to learn something of the great principle that was governing her dear father"s condition.
She read with avidity the books which the gentleman loaned her, and which taught her much, and gradually a joyous hope--an abiding confidence, rather--took possession of her, a.s.suring her that her loved one would ere long be well again.
At the expiration of two months he had once spoken her name, and had began to try to use his hands to help himself; and finally there came a day when he actually stood upon his feet, with Eliza"s strong arms around him to support him.
"Bress de Lord! I tole yo" to trust de Lord, honey," the woman exclaimed, her black face radiant with joy on this happy occasion.
"I know you did, Eliza; and at last I believe I am beginning to understand what and where G.o.d is," Mollie reverently replied, her golden lashes laden with tears of joy.
Early in May, when the weather began to be oppressive, she closed the house in Washington and took her family to the beautiful villa--one of Lucille"s many possessions--at Cape May, where they remained all summer--five delightful, happy months, for the invalid improved with every day.
Faxon also spent his vacation--the month of August--there, each morning finding him early at the villa, where he and his betrothed vied with each other in making the time pa.s.s pleasantly for Mr. Heatherford, whose mind was fast becoming as clear and active as in the vigorous days of his youth.
He was still somewhat hampered physically, as the obstinate enemy, paralysis, had not been wholly conquered, although it was rapidly disappearing; but there was not a happier nor more grateful family in existence than Mollie"s household, all of whom felt as if the dead had been restored to life.
Faxon returned to Washington the first of September, and a month later the Lamonti house was once more opened, and the family settled for the winter.
Mr. Heatherford was now practically well, and "prepared," he said, "to begin life over again."
Mollie, however, tried to persuade him not to think of business for a long while yet; there was no need, she a.s.serted, for her income was ample for their every want. But Mr. Heatherford was eager to test his recovered powers, particularly as Mr. Freeman encouraged him to do so, and, having been educated for the bar, he soon made arrangements to go into business with an established firm, one of the partners proving to be an old-time friend who knew something of the reputation which Mr.