"I"m all right," answered the spendthrift coolly.
"St. John, Jack saved your life."
"Oh, I would have been all right--although, to be sure, my boat was wrecked."
"Why, what would you have done?" asked Marion, in astonishment.
"I would have swam to sh.o.r.e, or else crawled on the rocks and signaled Old Ben to come out after me," answered St. John.
He never thought to thank Jack, and this made Marion very indignant.
"Jack did a great deal for you, St. John," she exclaimed. "And he won the race, too," she added, and would say no more.
Without loss of time Jack rowed the boat back to the landing and St.
John leaped out. He wished to a.s.sist his cousin, but she gave her hand to Jack. Then the three walked toward the plantation in almost utter silence.
CHAPTER XIII.
DR. MACKEY TELLS HIS STORY.
Left to herself, Mrs. Ruthven grew restless and began to walk around the garden, examining the flower beds and the shrubbery.
She did not like what St. John had had to say concerning Marion. While she did not exactly fear the young man, yet she had heard several reports which were not to his credit.
"They say he gambles on horse races," she thought. "And I have heard that the plantation is heavily mortgaged. Perhaps he wishes to marry Marion only for the money she may bring him. And then it is not right for him to remain around here when other men are at the front, serving their country"s flag."
She remained in the garden for some time, and was on the point of moving for the house when she saw Old Ben approaching with Dr. Mackey.
"A stranger--and dressed in the uniform of a Confederate," she said, half aloud. "What can he wish here?"
"Good-afternoon, missus," said Old Ben, removing his hat. "Here am a gen"man as wishes to see yo"," and he bowed low.
"To see me?" said Mrs. Ruthven.
"Yes, madam," replied the doctor. "Permit me to introduce myself. I am Dr. Mackey, a surgeon attached to the Fifth Virginia regiment," and he bowed gravely.
"I am happy to make the acquaintance of an officer in our army, sir,"
replied Mrs. Ruthven, and held out her hand.
"I understand the late Colonel Ruthven was also of our army, and died at a gallant charge on the field of Gettysburg," continued the doctor, as he shook hands.
"You have been correctly informed, doctor."
"De doctor brings most important information, missus," put in old Ben, who was almost exploding to tell what he knew.
"Is that so?" cried Mrs. Ruthven. "What is it?"
"I came to speak to you about yonder wreck on Hemlock Bluff rocks," said the surgeon. "The sight of that wreck has taken me back to the affairs of about eleven years ago."
"So you were--you knew of it at that time, sir?"
"Yes, I was one of the pa.s.sengers on the ship, madam."
"A pa.s.senger! I thought all of the pa.s.sengers were drowned,--I mean all but those who came ash.o.r.e here."
"I was not drowned. I was swept overboard before our ship came into the bay, and clung to a spar for hours, until the storm abated. Then a ship bound for Cuba came along and took me on board and carried me to Havana.
The shock and the exposure were too much for me, and when I recovered physically the authorities at the hospital adjudged me insane, and I was placed in an asylum for years. Slowly my reason returned to me, and at last I left the island of Cuba and came to the Southern States. This was shortly after the war had broken out, and, knowing nothing else to do, I offered my services to General Lee, and was accepted and placed in the hospital corps."
"But why did you not come here before?"
"I could not tell exactly where the ship had stranded, and did not hear of the wreck on Hemlock Bluff rocks until about three weeks ago. Then I determined to make an investigation. I have now visited the wreck and have learned positively that it is that of the ship upon which myself, my wife, and our little son took pa.s.sage."
"Yourself, your wife, and your little son," repeated Mrs. Ruthven, and then of a sudden her breast began to heave. "Your wife and son were with you?"
"Yes, madam."
"Wha--what was your little son"s name?" she faltered, hardly able to go on.
"Jack."
"By golly, he must be our Jack"s fadder!" burst out Old Ben. "Now don"t dat beat de nation!"
"Jack! No! no! You--you cannot be our Jack"s father!" cried Mrs.
Ruthven.
"I understand you are very much attached to the boy," went on Dr. Mackey smoothly. "It is a pity. Yes, he is truly my son."
The tears came into Mrs. Ruthven"s eyes, but she hastily brushed them away. "Jack does not look much like you," she declared.
"That is true, but he bears a strong resemblance to my dead brother Walter, and that is what made me certain he is my son. I saw him in town a day or two ago, although he did not see me."
"This is very strange." The lady hardly knew how to go on. The thought that she might have to give up Jack was a bitter one. "Have you spoken to Jack yet?"
"No. Isn"t he here?"
"No, he went for a boat race, against his cousin, St. John Ruthven--I mean my nephew," she stammered.
"Do you expect him back soon?"
"I do not believe he will be gone more than an hour or so."
"Then I will wait."
"Of course, Dr. Mackey. Will you come into the house?"