. CALIF.
 
 She Waited Patiently, 
 
 BY 
 
 MRS. MARY DIUGUID DAVIS. 
 
 LYNCHBURG, VA.: 
 
 J. P. BELL COMPANY, PRINTERS. 
 1900.
 
 COPYRIGHT 1HOO 
 
 BY 
 
 MARY DIUGUID DAVIS.
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 A GREAT SORROW AT SUNNYMEADE. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 CHANGES MADE BY THE WAR. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 ATJNT HANNAH AWAKENS A NEW CHORD. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 PLEASANT VISITORS. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 THE INDIAN LEGEND. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 A VISIT TO RICHMOND. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 MRS. GRAY'S PROTEST. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 FISHING IN DAVIS' MILL POND. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 WEDDING BELLS. 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 THE BRIDAL PARTY ON THE WING. 
 
 2061740
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTEK XL 
 ANOTHER ADDITION TO THE PARTY. 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 MRS. GRAY UNITES WITH THE CITY CHURCH. 
 
 CHAPTER XHI. 
 MAMMY'S PREDICTION VERIFIED. 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION. 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 A RESTFUL VISIT AT SUNNYMEADE. 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 HENCEFORTH WE WILL WALK TOGETHER ON OUR WAY 
 TO THE BETTER LAND. 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 MAMMY GOES HOME.
 
 She Waited Patiently. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 A GEEAT SORROW AT SUNNYMEADE. 
 
 "I TELL you, honey, dese. linen clo'es jes' looks 
 lovely sweet ernough to eat. But den " 
 
 The sudden pause, the deep-drawn sigh, caused the 
 girl to whom these remarks were addressed to raise her 
 eyes from her embroidery. 
 
 " But what, Mammy ? One would think, from your 
 very doleful manner and deep sighs, you were selecting 
 from that snowy heap of linen and lace my shroud. 
 You may well say they look sweet enough to eat. 
 Eliza has certainly done herself great credit as a laun- 
 dress. I know you will miss me ; that is but natural ; 
 for eighteen years I have been your care. You must 
 remember I am not going a long way off; I will be 
 here so often you will scarcely miss me. I do not 
 mind telling you a little secret : Before I gave Dr. 
 Gray his final answer I exacted the promise that I 
 should often visit this dear old Sunnymeade. I knew 
 how much you, father and Aunt Lizzie would miss me. 
 Then, between my visits, you will all come to see me." 
 
 Eloise Carter w r as the idol of the household at Sun- 
 nymeade. She had been wooed and won by one of the
 
 6 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 most talented young physicians of a near-by city. In 
 a short time she would leave this home, where she had 
 been as free from care as the birds, for a new one in 
 the city. She did not remember her mother, who died 
 when she was only two years old. 
 
 Her father's sister had as faithfully as possible sup- 
 plied the mother's place. To do this, she had bravely 
 declined the offer of the hand and heart of one who 
 would have placed her as mistress of one of the love- 
 liest homes in the county. 
 
 When Mrs. Carter was told by her physician that 
 her end was near, and if she wished to say anything 
 special in regard to her child she had better do it at 
 once, she turned her face to the wall, and to those who 
 were watching her it seemed that the shock was so 
 great she would probably not rally. But she had gone 
 to that One who had never failed her in her hours of 
 need. Turning to him, as he stood with his hand on 
 her pulse, awaiting the result, she said : 
 
 "Ah, Doctor, a most important question you failed to 
 ask, and that was, ' Is it well with your soul ? ' I know in 
 whom I have believed, and not only that he is able, but 
 will keep me and those whom I now commit to his care." 
 
 She missed her husband and sister-in-law. They 
 could not trust themselves to hear the doctor break the 
 startling news to her. Standing near was her faithful 
 nurse, who had been with her all her life, and now had 
 charge of her own little Eloise.
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 7 
 
 " Mammy, tell your master and Miss Lizzie to come 
 in. I must speak to them." ' 
 
 The poor husband was almost broken-hearted. The 
 greatest pleasure he had ever known was to make her 
 happy. He knew that his wife was very sick, but 
 apprehended no such termination as this ; in fact, the 
 idea of her death had never presented itself to him. 
 She was happy, and naturally of the most buoyant dis- 
 position. Everything for them had a golden hue. 
 Theirs was a typical Virginia home before the terrible 
 times of carnage laid in waste so many like it. We can, 
 then, appreciate his feelings when, just one hour before, 
 Dr. Thornton asked him to walk with him into the 
 grove near by, and, as gently as he could, had broken 
 to him the sad intelligence that his wife was past all 
 human aid. He was so dazed for the moment that he 
 seemed as one awakening from some horrible night- 
 mare. 
 
 " Oh, my God ! Doctor, do not say that ! All I have 
 in this world shall be yours, if you will only save her." 
 
 u John, you know not what you say. I would need 
 no other reward but the pleasure of having her well 
 again." 
 
 He had to wait for him to somewhat recover from his 
 outburst before proceeding. 
 
 " Oh, that I had the power to keep her here ! I had 
 hoped that she would pass the crisis safely, and for that 
 reason would not say anything to you about my fears. 
 In my anxiety, I've not closed my eyes for nearly
 
 8 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 twenty-four hours. I watched every stage of the dis- 
 ease, and it was not till within the last hour that certain 
 symptoms have developed which put the case beyond 
 medical skill. As but a few hours at most are left to 
 her, I feel it my duty to tell her. She may wish to say 
 something in regard to her wishes concerning Eloise. 
 I hnow she has laid many plans for her future." 
 
 The two men returned to the house. 
 
 Mr. Carter, feeling that he could not trust himself in 
 his wife's presence, went into the parlor. Falling on his 
 knees, he earnestly pleaded with God to spare his wife. 
 
 " Oh, dear father, spare her, spare her ! " was his 
 cry. He knew he voiced his own desires ; but was it 
 the Christian's petition he was making ? " O God, help 
 me to do what is right in thy sight. Help me, O Father, 
 to say, ' If it be thy will.' " 
 
 Aunt Hannah's knock at the door aroused him. 
 
 " Mars John, Miss Kate wants you." 
 
 That was enough. He went at once, and as she ap- 
 peared to be so much brighter and stronger, hope welled 
 up in his bosom. The thought came to him that perhaps 
 the doctor, in his own anxiety, had been mistaken. 
 
 As he went in she reached out her hand. He clasped 
 it in his own and fell on his knees beside her. 
 
 " Poor John ! I am so sorry for you. We have been 
 so happy together, I thought we would have many years 
 to share our joys and sorrows. So far there have been 
 no sorrows. You were so kind, loving and thoughtful, 
 John, that there was no time for anything but happiness.
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 I have so often pictured a bright and sunny old age for 
 us. But the Father has willed otherwise, and we, as 
 his children, must submit. I want to tell you my wishes 
 in regard to Eloise. Do not let her come in now. I 
 could not finish what I would say if she were here." 
 
 Could she have seen into the nursery and looked upon 
 the beautiful little sleeper in her crib, with the sunny 
 curls around her white forehead, and ever and anon a 
 smile playing around her dimpled mouth, she would 
 have been glad that for the present she knew nothing 
 of trouble. 
 
 " Come, Lizzie, Mammy. To you three I commend 
 my greatest earthly treasure my own child, with an 
 immortal soul to be reared for God. Do not spoil her. 
 Teach her obedience and reverence. Lizzie, Mammy, 
 when she is old enough to understand, tell her to comfort 
 her father to make his declining years happy and 
 pleasant by her love and obedience. Tell her early of 
 Jesus' love, and how he was the only solace and comfort 
 of her mother at this hour. Will you each promise 
 me this ? " 
 
 " I will do all you ask," said her sister. 
 
 A tighter clasp of the hand and a heart-broken sob 
 was the only answer her husband could give. It sufficed. 
 
 Then turning to the other one, who, though her 
 skin was dark, had the perfect confidence of her mis- 
 tress as to her Christian character and integrity. She 
 well knew her child would be safe in her keeping. 
 With the excitement of her race she fell on her
 
 10 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 knees, and, with her hands uplifted to Heaven, she ex- 
 claimed : 
 
 " Yes, yes, Miss Kate, jes' as sure as I knows I'll 
 meet you at de great white throne and have ter give 
 account ter God, jes' dat sure I'll do my duty by dat 
 baby." 
 
 "I am content. It is all well with me. 'Yea, 
 though I walk through the valley of the shadow of 
 death, I will fear no evil ; thy rod and thy staff they 
 comfort me.' It is all light. The music ! Did you 
 ever hear any like it ? " 
 
 It seemed to those around her bed that her mind was 
 clouded, but the bright eye and radiant countenance 
 showed that this was not so. 
 
 " John, sing once more our favorite hymn." 
 
 He tried to do it, but not one note could he utter. 
 The silence was profound. Then clearly, as if there 
 was nothing to obstruct the voice, the dying woman 
 herself sang that grand old song : 
 
 " How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord, 
 Is laid for your faith in his excellent word ! 
 What more can he say than to you he hath said ; 
 You who unto Jesus for refuge have fled?" 
 
 Aunt Hannah was the first to join in the song. Keep- 
 ing time with the swaying motions of her body that 
 only negroes can do effectively, she seemed oblivious to 
 all else. 
 
 It was a scene never to be forgotten by those who 
 witnessed it.
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 11 
 
 Mrs. Carter's face fairly beamed with the light of the 
 other world. So near was she to the great white throne 
 that its ineffable glory seemed to be all around her. 
 
 More impressive, if possible, was the last verse, which 
 has been the solace of many another death-bed. 
 
 " The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose, 
 I will not, I will not, desert to its foes. 
 That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake, 
 I'll never, no never, no never forsake !" 
 
 She seemed exhausted, and no one would have been 
 surprised if the end came quickly. Instead, a little 
 rest seemed to refresh her. 
 
 " Mammy, call Uncle Tom and the rest of them. I 
 want to say a word to them before I go." 
 
 Her husband went out into the hall and, beckoning 
 to the doctor, said : 
 
 " Will it not be too much for her to see them all ? 
 Would it not be better to allow Tom only to come, and 
 he could take a message to them from her ? " 
 
 " No ; I think it will not do any harm. To me it 
 seems she lingers on this side to accomplish some wise 
 purpose which neither you nor I can comprehend. I 
 thought when I spoke to you that all would have been 
 over ere this. I'll speak to them before they go in, 
 and warn them to be very quiet and restrain their 
 feelings." 
 
 The news had spread very rapidly over the farm that 
 the mistress was dying. 
 
 Mr. Jones, the manager, seeing that they could not
 
 12 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 do their work, had allowed them to lay aside their im- 
 plements and go to the house. They were collected in 
 groups, and in hushed tones were talking and waiting 
 to hear the latest news. Each one had a kind word to 
 say of her. Many heart-felt prayers went up for her 
 recovery. 
 
 Mammy called Uncle Tom, who was her husband, 
 and told him that Miss Kate wished to say " good-bye " 
 to him and the others. He called them all up, and 
 Dr. Thornton came out and spoke to them. They passed 
 in one by one. As Uncle Tom, with weeping eyes, 
 approached, she looked up at him with a smile and 
 said : 
 
 " It is all bright, Uncle Tom. There is no shadow 
 in the valley. Jesus is the light. I'll meet you when 
 you cross over. I want you to tell the sweet old story 
 to the young ones who are growing up." 
 
 "I will. Bless de Lord. Bless de Lord for his 
 conserlation." 
 
 The others passed by and took the hand and went out. 
 
 " Ask Mr. Jones to come." 
 
 He had been taken into the family and treated as one 
 of the inmates ever since he came to live with them. 
 He was not a Christian, and often in her quiet, gentle 
 way had she urged him to accept Christ. He always 
 listened to her respectfully, but had given her no reason 
 to hope he had done more than that. 
 
 Taking his hand, and feeling that her voice was 
 growing more feeble, she drew him down to her.
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 13 
 
 " I want you to promise me not to put off your prep- 
 aration for this hour till it is too late. Come to Jesus 
 at once and devote your life to his service. He is not 
 a hard master. His yoke is easy and his burden is 
 light. You will never regret it." 
 
 " I promise to try to do what you ask." 
 
 He had always admired her beautiful life and honored 
 her Christian character. He knew now there must be 
 a reality in the religion which she not only professed, 
 but daily exemplified. He went out from that room 
 with a firm resolve to keep his promise. 
 
 The impress made by the character and words of this 
 humble, unostentatious child of God will tell through 
 many coming generations, as we shall see. 
 
 She had asked to see their pastor, Dr. Gordon, whose 
 home was only three miles distant. A man, on one of 
 the fleetest horses, had already been sent for him. 
 Waking from a fitful sleep, her eyes wandered from 
 one to another as if in search of some one. Faintly 
 she asked : 
 
 " Has he come ? " 
 
 The sound of the hurrying hoofs of the horse an- 
 swered the question. The news of her extreme illness 
 had been a severe blow to this faithful man of God. 
 As he rode along, in answer to this urgent summons, 
 memory was busy and carried him back over the years 
 he had been the shepherd of this flock. This had been 
 his first and only pastorate, and she had been among 
 the first seals to his ministry. He was young and in-
 
 14 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 experienced when he came to take charge, and felt 
 burdened by the work before him. His success had 
 far exceeded his expectations, and his fondest hopes had 
 been as nearly realized as they ever are in this world. 
 Very soon after he took charge of the church the Lord 
 sent a gracious revival. Many were added to its mem- 
 bership. The old members were greatly strengthened. 
 Among the new ones were some of the most aggressive, 
 stalwart Christians he had ever known. Often was his 
 heart raised to God in prayer to spare this one, if con- 
 sistent with his will. 
 
 How well he remembered that bright June morning. 
 Could he ever forget it ? It was the first time he had 
 been allowed to trouble the baptismal waters. How 
 humble, yet how thankful, he felt, as he stopped on the 
 banks of the stream, to once more ask God's blessing 
 on what he was about to do. Standing by were twenty 
 candidates. The first one to go down was Mr. Johnson. 
 He had always had the confidence of the entire com- 
 munity, but up to this time had never shown any inter- 
 est in religion. In fact, he had put his own morality 
 and strict integrity far before the Christianity of most 
 of the professors he knew. But now he had been 
 brought to see himself as a sinner, and had taken hold 
 of the only hope for salvation. It was a genuine con- 
 version. No one doubted it. As he started down into 
 the stream, much to the surprise of all he began that 
 grand old paean :
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 15 
 
 " In all my Lord's appointed ways, 
 
 My journey I'll pursue ; 
 ' Hinder me not,' ye much loved saints, 
 
 For I must go with you. 
 
 " Through floods and flames, if Jesus leads, 
 
 I'll follow where he goes, 
 ' Hinder me not ' shall be my cry, 
 Though earth and heaven oppose. 
 
 Through duties and through trials, too, 
 
 I'll go at his command ; 
 ' Hinder me not,' for I am bound 
 To my Immanuel's land. 
 
 "And when my Saviour calls me home, 
 
 Still this my cry shall be, 
 ' Hinder me not,' come welcome death ; 
 I'll gladly go with thee." 
 
 The entire crowd joined in, and surely no sweeter 
 music was ever wafted to heaven than went up from 
 the banks of that stream. 
 
 One after another came down into and went up out 
 of the water just as their Elder Brother had done in 
 the far away Jordan. 
 
 Then he thought of that lovely, fair-haired girl who 
 modestly came last, as he repeated, " I baptize thee, 
 Catherine Eloise Lee, into the name of the Father, Son 
 and Holy Ghost," and saw her rise from that liquid 
 grave to walk in newness of life with a steadfastness 
 worthy of emulation. From that hour to the present she 
 had been her pastor's faithful help in all things pertain- 
 ing to the good of Christ's cause. He had never known 
 her to swerve from the right, nor to shrink from any duty.
 
 16 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 The mind travels rapidly. Another scene presents 
 itself. It is just four years later, and her wedding day. 
 It is another bright June day, with the same blue sky 
 overhead. Nature seemed just as gay as it did on the day 
 of her baptism. When he united in that holiest of all 
 bonds John Edward Carter and Catherine Eloise Lee, 
 and saw them walk down the aisle, he thought it had 
 never before been his privilege to perform that solemn 
 ceremony for two more perfectly suited to each other. 
 In social standing, in educational advantages and intel- 
 lectual endowments they were certainly well matched. 
 He predicted a long, useful and happy life. 
 
 It is so hard for us always to remember that " Man 
 proposes, but God disposes." 
 
 As he neared the house and saw the groups of sor- 
 rowing negroes, the doctor, with his head bowed, 
 pacing to and fro the long portico, the hope he had 
 nurtured died within him. He was taken at once to 
 the chamber. Her face, though wan and pale, lighted up 
 with pleasure as he approached and grasped her hand. 
 Her voice was growing feeble, and it was with diffi- 
 culty that she could articulate. 
 
 "Ah, brother ! I am glad to greet you once more on 
 this side. I was afraid I would not see you again. 
 Preach ! Preach the word faithfully. Work while yet 
 it is day. Souls are perishing. I want you to pray 
 that grace may be given me. I have yet the hardest 
 thing to do. O Lord, forgive my doubt." 
 
 In the most beseeching terms he begged God to con-
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 17 
 
 tinue his unbounded grace to this child of his, whose 
 feet were now on the brink of death's cold stream. As 
 he rose from his knees she said, as calmly as though she 
 were only about to fall asleep : 
 
 " Mammy, bring Eloise." 
 
 She brought her at once. Ah, how little she knew 
 what it all meant ! Her little mind comprehended 
 that something unusual was going on. She sprang from 
 her mammy's arms and ran to the bed. 
 
 " P'itty muzzer ! sweet muzzer ! Woise tiss you and 
 make you well. You tiss Woise and make Woise 
 well." 
 
 Printing a kiss on the icy-cold cheeks, and patting 
 them with her soft little hands, she said : 
 
 " Muzzer dit well now." 
 
 " Poor child ! I would that you could understand ; 
 but it is best thus. To each one of you I leave this 
 charge. Train her for heaven. Tell her that her 
 mother's last prayer was that she would early seek her 
 Saviour and live for him. Good-bye, all. Even so, 
 come, Lord Jesus." 
 
 One gasp, and all was over. She had passed through 
 the pearly gates and entered into that home prepared 
 for her, and to which she had longingly looked for- 
 ward. To human eyes, blurred with weeping, it seemed 
 that the life of this young Christian ended, while, in 
 fact, it was just beginning. 
 
 The whole neighborhood mourned, for she was a 
 universal favorite. 
 2
 
 18 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 The hour announced for her funeral was eleven 
 o'clock, two days after her death. 
 
 Long before the hour people began to arrive from 
 every direction. In carriages, buggies, on horseback 
 and afoot, they came to pay the last tribute to one who 
 had been a friend to all, but especially to the poor. 
 
 See that woman as she wends her way to the casket 
 to take a last look at one who had often befriended her. 
 She seems to be oblivious to the fact that there are 
 others present. As the briny tears course each other 
 down her cheeks she moans : 
 
 " What will I do without her ? Who will come now 
 when I'm in trouble? If it hadn't been for her, my 
 Tom would have died. She brought things to make 
 him comfortable and things he could eat. She staid of 
 nights when I couldn't hold my eyes open, I had 
 worked so hard all day." 
 
 And so one after another told of some deed of kind- 
 ness and charity which she had never mentioned. 
 
 Early that morning Uncle Tom came to the house. 
 Going to his master's door, he said : 
 
 " Marse John, I's come ter ax a favor for your ser- 
 vants. We has talked it over, and six of de men wants 
 you ter let 'em carry Miss Kate ter de grave. Dey 
 thinks they'd do it more gentler than anybody else 
 could. Den we would like ter form a percession-like 
 and march in front, and, if you'd let us, we wants ter 
 sing ' Swing Low, Sweet Chariot,' as we go erlong, 
 'ca'se Miss Kate was mighty fond of hearin' us sing uv
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 19 
 
 nights, an' dat was her favorite. You know she'd 
 come to de quarters jes' ter lis'en at us, an' she always 
 axed us ter sing dat." 
 
 " Yes, Tom, I consent. While six of the neighbors 
 were to do it, I appreciate your feelings in the matter, 
 and I am sure they will, too. I want to say through 
 you to all the rest that I cannot express my feelings 
 towards you in this. I know that your love for your 
 mistress prompted you to make this request. Could 
 she speak to me now, I know she would say, ' Yes, 
 John, let them do it.' ' ; 
 
 When Dr. Gordon had finished the solemn and im- 
 pressive service, the six young colored men, dressed in 
 their best, came in, and, gently lifting the coffin to their 
 shoulders, walked slowly and sadly out. Uncle Tom 
 led the procession of negroes, who walked two and two. 
 The men were hatless, and the women each had a white 
 handkerchief tied turban-like on her head. The sing- 
 ing was just such as only plantation negroes can do. 
 
 Arriving at the grave, the coffin was lowered by the 
 bearers, and the vast concourse listened in respectful 
 silence till the song was finished. 
 
 As Uncle Tom had said, no " more gentler " hands 
 could have performed the task. 
 
 The burial service being concluded, the colored men 
 filled the grave, and the sad cortege went slowly back. 
 
 Sunnymeade was a sad misnomer for this home now, 
 for to those bereft it seemed that all of its sunshine 
 had been buried in that little mound on the hill.
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 CHANGES MADE BY THE WAR. 
 
 ONLY those who have passed through just such trials 
 as this can ever know what it meant to the forlorn 
 household who returned to that home to take up again 
 the burdens and sorrows of life. 
 
 Dr. Gordon went in and tried as best he could to 
 offer words of comfort. But they seemed to be lost on 
 the husband, who abandoned himself to his grief and 
 refused to be comforted. 
 
 When bidding Miss Lizzie good-bye, he suggested 
 that perhaps the prattle of the child might act as a 
 balm to his feelings and attract his thoughts from his 
 own sorrows for a time, at least. 
 
 Accordingly, she carried Eloise to the door, and said : 
 
 " Run to father ; he wants you." 
 
 He had never been too busy or too much absorbed to 
 catch her up when she name to him, and do something 
 to amuse her. 
 
 When she saw her father with his face buried in his 
 hands, and heard his convulsive sobs, she was at a loss 
 to know what to do. 
 
 " Farder, Woise tiss you. What you twy for ? I 
 tell muzzer, her turn whip bad mans make you twy." 
 
 Running to the door, she called :
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 21 
 
 " Muzzer, turn whip bad mans make farder twy." 
 
 Rushing to the door, he called : 
 
 " Hannah, come and take Eloise ; take her out of 
 my sight. I cannot bear it." 
 
 She caught the little prattler up in her arms and car- 
 ried her to her own room. She was dumbfounded. 
 She had never seen her master give way to his grief 
 before, and she knew not what to do or say. 
 
 He had sincerely mourned the death of his parents, 
 who had died within a few days of each other. But 
 he seemed to become perfectly reconciled to his loss. 
 The fact was, for his father he could not mourn. For 
 from the hour of the burial of his wife he lost all in- 
 terest in the affairs of this world. He at once set his 
 house in order, and apparently only waited to be called 
 hence, and listened to hear the Master say, "Child, 
 come up higher." 
 
 One morning, when Mr. Carter went into his father's 
 room, as had been his custom since his mother went 
 away, to see how he had passed the night, he found he 
 had not yet arisen. He was surprised, and turned to 
 go out without disturbing him. 
 
 However, noticing the profound stillness, he ap- 
 proached the bed, to find that he had silently "gathered 
 the drapery of his couch around him" and passed over 
 the river to meet the wife who, no doubt, awaited his 
 coming. 
 
 He called his sister and wife, and as they looked on 
 the quiet, placid face of the sleeper they could shed no
 
 22 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 tears. Knowing that it was well with him, they would 
 not recall him if they could. 
 
 In his inordinate grief, he thought of those two " who 
 were lovely in their lives, and in their death were not 
 divided," and wished that he, too, might share what 
 now appeared to him so great a joy. 
 
 The only consolation he could get he failed to seek, 
 and forgot to turn to the One who alone could bring 
 surcease of sorrow. 
 
 At bed-time his sister came quietly into the room, 
 followed by the nurse, who had always waited for family 
 worship. Handing him the Bible, she said : 
 
 "It is time for prayers. We should retire early 
 to-night." 
 
 He took it up listlessly and opened it shall we say, 
 accidentally ? No ; for, guided by the great comforter 
 promised to his children, he turned to John xiv. He 
 read it at first almost inaudibly, but as the promised 
 comfort came to him he realized for the first time the 
 selfishness of his sorrow. 
 
 Closing the book, he poured out his heart to his 
 Father. He begged forgiveness for his lack of faith 
 for his want of that abiding trust in God which was 
 his privilege. 
 
 His two listeners were hardly able to believe that 
 such a change could come over one as the closing sen- 
 tences of that prayer indicated. 
 
 "Oh, Father, take me, and all that thou hast given 
 me, into thy own keeping. Use us for thy own glory.
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 23 
 
 May we live in daily expectation of meeting those who 
 have only gone before. May we never be idle in thy 
 service, remembering the time cometh when no man 
 can work." 
 
 He arose from his knees with this avowed purpose* 
 knowing that his wife would have advised this course 
 instead of the one he seemed likely to take. 
 
 There was great unrest in the country. The political 
 parties were greatly agitated. The troubles which had 
 been brewing for years seemed likely at this time to 
 terminate in war. No one was settled, for none could 
 tell what the end would be. 
 
 Well it was that no eye could penetrate the vista of 
 that time which tried men's souls, from 1861 to 1865. 
 
 The little household at Sunnymeade were to know of 
 many things which had never been thought of. 
 
 Of course, after the fiery little South Carolina had 
 taken the lead, and her sisters, one after another, had 
 followed her example, Virginians knew that the time was 
 near at hand when the loved old Commonwealth would 
 have to make a decision for or against the little South- 
 ern band. 
 
 The action of her convention was awaited with 
 breathless anxiety. The people were divided in senti- 
 ment. From the Atlantic to her extreme western 
 boundary were many true sons, who felt that she would 
 never desert the Union, of which she was the grand 
 old mother ; while there were others, equally true, who
 
 24 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 thought her duty was plain to link her fortunes with 
 those of her Southern sisters. 
 
 Those days of heartaches, bloodshed and desolate 
 homes we will not recall, except so far as they affect 
 the inmates of Sunnymeade. 
 
 "When the guns of Sumter announced the determina- 
 tion of the South to defend her rights, a change came 
 over many Virginians, and two days later, by a majority 
 of the votes of her convention, she formally seceded 
 from the Union. 
 
 The wires flashed the news over her broad territory, 
 and at once preparation was made for protecting her 
 borders. Many military companies were formed, and 
 all was bustle and confusion. 
 
 Mr. Carter did not expect at once to go, as he felt 
 that his sister and child needed him, and he must 
 arrange for their care and protection. His manager, 
 Mr. Jones, had announced his determination to go at 
 once. 
 
 A company was formed in the neighborhood, and all 
 eyes turned to Mr. Carter as its captain. He was a 
 graduate of the Virginia Military Institute, but had 
 never had a fondness for military life. So urgent was 
 the call that he decided it was his duty to accept. 
 
 Great consternation prevailed when it was known 
 that he was to go off with the soldiers. 
 
 He was a very busy man the short time he was to be 
 at home. The crops were not all planted, and, as Mr. 
 Jones was to go, too, he had to look as far into the
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 25 
 
 future as possible. He, like many others, thought it 
 would be only a few months, at most, when all diffi- 
 culties would be settled. 
 
 Calling his servants together, he made known his 
 wishes to them. After telling them that he and Mr. 
 Jones would both be away for some time, he said : 
 
 " I leave Tom as head man. He has experience, 
 and will better know how to conduct affairs than the 
 rest. I shall expect you to do as he says. He will 
 make his daily report to Miss Lizzie, and she will write 
 it to me, so I shall know just how you are doing all the 
 time. The prospect for a large crop has never been 
 better, and, with seasonable weather and faithful work, 
 I shall expect a large yield. Just what Tom tells you 
 to do I expect to be done. I'll see how well you have 
 obeyed when I return." 
 
 In a few days the cavalry company commanded by 
 Captain John E. Carter left for Richmond, to be 
 formally mustered into service, and to go into camp and 
 await orders to go to the front. 
 
 Many of that noble band fill honored graves on the 
 soil of their native State to-day. 
 
 The final act of this great drama, which took place 
 at Appomattox Courthouse, found Colonel Carter com- 
 manding a regiment instead of the company at whose 
 head he marched away. 
 
 He, like many another one, turned his face to what was 
 left of home. In this instance the devastation had not been 
 so great, as it was not in the line of march of either army.
 
 26 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 What a change ! His little girl had grown consid- 
 erably. There had been many changes all around. 
 Some of the servants had died. There had been sev- 
 eral births among them. 
 
 But now they are all free. What will they do ? 
 How many will remain ? These were puzzling ques- 
 tions. 
 
 When the tired and wayworn colonel had reached 
 home there was great rejoicing. He looked but little 
 like the handsome young man who marched away five 
 years before. The hardships had told on him ; gray 
 hairs were showing themselves in his raven locks. The 
 splendid charger he rode away was left on the battle- 
 field of Manassas, having been shot from under him. 
 
 He said nothing about the change in affairs, but 
 waited to see what was to be done. He rode over the 
 farm, and was pleased to see how far advanced the 
 spring work was, considering the implements and teams. 
 Of course but little had been done towards keeping 
 them up. He expressed himself to Tom as greatly 
 pleased at his management. He asked him what he 
 thought about the servants leaving. 
 
 " Now, Marse John, I can't tell you. I knows what 
 Tom an' Hannah gwine ter do. We're gwine ter stay 
 right here. We're too old ter begin erfresh. Some of 
 dese young uns may go I can't say but it's likely. 
 But me an' Hannah, we's gwine ter stay. First place, 
 'twud jes' kill her ter leave dat baby. She say dat 
 promise she make Miss Kate jes' as bindin' es if Gen'l
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 27 
 
 Lee had er whipped Gen'l Grant ; 'ca'se Miss Kate she 
 spected her ter live an' die right here. She never make 
 no 'lowance fer dis war when she tell Hannah ter take 
 keer uv dat baby." 
 
 " That is all right, Tom. The cabin is yours and 
 Hannah's till God calls you home. If I outlive you 
 I'll see that you are laid side by side there on the hill. 
 I am proud of your work, and will tell all the others 
 so when I talk with them." 
 
 With very few exceptions, all decided to remain, and 
 the matter of wages was to be determined when the 
 crops were made. 
 
 This digression was made that the reader might 
 understand Aunt Hannah's solicitude. Through these 
 eighteen years she had been faithful to the trust given 
 her. Her advancing age admonished her that the time 
 was approaching when she would have to give her 
 account and meet Miss Kate before the " great white 
 throne," and tell her she had been faithful to the baby. 
 She firmly believed that Miss Kate knew ; but she 
 constantly looked forward to the face-to-face interview, 
 when she would say, " Miss Kate, I kep' de promise, 
 and me and Miss Lizzie never slacked a doin' our duty 
 to dat chile, even endurin' de war, when Marse John 
 was away er fightin'." 
 
 " Now, Mammy, you ought not to look so solemn, 
 for I am just the happiest girl you know. I have the 
 sweetest home here, and will be the proud mistress of
 
 28 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 another one by and by. After a while Dr. Gray says 
 he is going to let me have one all my own. Then 
 there will be a nice little nook there for you when you 
 come. Will not that be lovely ?" 
 
 Glancing up, she saw tears coursing down the with- 
 ered cheeks. 
 
 " Mammy, tell me what troubles you. It must be 
 more than the fact that I am going away. As I'll be 
 called, no doubt, as the wife of a physician, to hear 
 many tales of woe, I'll take my first lesson from 
 you." 
 
 " Now, honey, I'se done seen lots of trouble 'bout 
 dis. Taint jes givin' you up, case I spected dat. 
 Wonder is you staid here dis long. You knows de 
 Bible is all true. We jes' got to take it all from one 
 lid ter de uder. It's true I can't read it fer myself, 
 but I'se put erway in my head all I is heard. Your 
 ma read it ter me many en hour when she was er chile. 
 Jes' wait er minit ; I want you ter find de place where 
 it say it is er sin to marry an unbelievin' man." 
 
 " Oh. Mammy, you know there is nothing like that 
 in the Bible ! I never read it." 
 
 " Can't help it, chile 'tis dere. It says you ain't 
 to yoke wid unbelievers. Now, what does dat mean, 
 ef it don't mean marryin' folks widout religion. Now 
 you jes' see fer yourself." 
 
 Going to the bureau drawer, r .she brought to Eloise 
 her mother's well-worn Bible, which she kept carefully 
 put away as a memento of the one of whom she remem-
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 29 
 
 bered so little. To humor the old woman, she turned 
 to her concordance. 
 
 "Ah ! here. 2 Cor. vi. 14. Now we'll see what it 
 says." Reading slowly to the attentive listener, " ' Be 
 ye not unequally yoked with unbelievers, for what fel- 
 lowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness ? and 
 what communion hath light with darkness ?' " 
 
 A nod of approval was the only sign made. 
 
 " Go on, chile ; what else it say ?" 
 
 " < And what concord hath Christ with Belial ?' " 
 
 " Umph ! dat de devil. Dey jes' call him dat high- 
 soundin' name. He ain't nothin' 'tall but de devil. 
 Go on." 
 
 " * Or what part hath he that believeth with an 
 infidel?'" 
 
 "Dar 'tis again. Jes' like I said. You is er 
 believer ; you is followed de Lord in baptism. Now 
 ain't it plain 'bout de other one ? Ain't dar no more ? " 
 
 Eloise wished that she could close the Bible and end 
 the conversation ; for it had awakened a train of 
 thought entirely new to her. 
 
 " ' And what agreement hath the temple of God with 
 idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; 
 as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in 
 them ; and I will be their God, and they shall be my 
 people. 
 
 " ' Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye 
 separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean 
 thing ; and I will receive you,
 
 30 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 " * And will be a father unto you ; and ye shall be 
 my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.' ' 
 
 " Now, chile, don't you see Mammy knows jes' what 
 she's talkin' about?" 
 
 " But, Mammy, you've taken too much for granted. 
 While it is all true that I am a believer that, as I see 
 it, I have followed my Lord in baptism ; but we must 
 allow others to have their own opinions as we do ours. 
 Dr. Gray's family belong to a different denomination, 
 but that need make no difference with us. How many 
 dear Christian friends have we who belong to other 
 churches, yet we never make that a point of dispute. 
 They have chosen for themselves and allow us to do 
 the same." 
 
 " But all de same he ain't no believer. He is de 
 Lord's enemy. He breaks de commandments. I 
 ain't heerd him wid my own ears ; but Henry he say 
 it mos' make his hair stan' on end to hear how he talks 
 sometimes, when he comes out to de stable to see 'bout 
 his boss. He say he 'lowed to Bob one day he don't 
 know how Miss Eloise gwine ter stan' dat, case she 
 ain't uster sich talk. If de Doctor begins it whar she 
 is 'twill skeer her ter death. Now, baby, you jes' read 
 dat commandment 'bout swearin'." 
 
 " Mammy, I do not think the servants ought to speak 
 in that way of visitors who come to the house cer- 
 tainly not of Dr. Gray, for every one knows that we 
 are soon to be married." 
 
 " Dat jes' what 'tis. Ef he was goin' ter marry some-
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 31 
 
 body else 'twould be all right ; but de servants on dis 
 place jes' loves de groun' you walks on. Dey wants you 
 ter have de best. You knows your pa would be mighty 
 offended ef he knew anybody was cussin' on dis place, 
 from de overseer down ter de littlest one. You ain't 
 found dem commandments yit. I learned 'em every 
 one on my fingers when your ma was learnin' 'em to say 
 to her Sunday-school teacher. She beat 'em all, and 
 was jes' as proud of de little red book dey give for it 
 es she could be. I ain't forgot a one of 'em, but I 
 wants you to read dat one out loud." 
 
 Again were the well-worn pages turned, and she 
 read with a fervency and pathos she had never before 
 used in reading the " ten commandments." 
 
 " < Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy 
 God in vain ; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless 
 that taketh his name in vain.' " 
 
 " Don't you see, chile, while dis is close to de fust 
 lid, and de yokin' wid unbelievers is close to de las' lid, 
 it's all true and has to be obeyed jes' es sure." 
 
 " You wait, Mammy, till Dr. Gray comes again and 
 I think I'll have no trouble in proving to you that he 
 is not to be classed with the unbelievers. He writes 
 that he will be here at the earliest possible moment. 
 He has a very ill patient, in whom he is very much 
 interested. He is to perform a most difficult operation, 
 and will await the result with much anxiety. As soon 
 as the crisis is past he'll get some one to look after her, 
 and will come here for a day or two. I regret as much
 
 32 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 as you that he does not belong to the same church that 
 I do. I think it would be much better. I hope to 
 live so consistently that he may be in love with my 
 doctrine and church. There are many kind and noble 
 deeds performed by physicians that are never known 
 to the outside world. I know that he does many deeds 
 of charity. In fact, this very young woman who is 
 keeping him at the post of duty now is a poor, friend- 
 less creature, to whom he not only gives his services, 
 but furnishes all of her medicines. I think he is cer- 
 tainly getting God's commendation for that. You know 
 he says if we only give the cup of cold water to one of 
 his children it is as if we gave it to him. In this in- 
 stance alone I am sure he is doing the part of the Good 
 Samaritan, whom Christ held up as an example to us. 
 Yon know, Mammy, that there are always two sides to 
 every question, and in courts of law the judge never 
 renders a decision till he has heard from the lawyers on 
 both sides. As Dr. Gray is not here to defend his side, 
 you must let me be the lawyer to defend him." 
 
 " Dai's so ; but who's ter be de judge ? " 
 
 " Oh, I think we can each be a judge, and with this 
 very story we can settle the matter without calling in 
 a third parly." 
 
 She opened the book again and read the full account 
 of the man who fell among thieves. 
 
 " I can assure you that Dr. Gray never goes by on 
 the other side when there ia distress to be relieved, but 
 he does just what Christ commended the Samaritan for.
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 33 
 
 I'll leave it to you if that doesn't look like the work 
 of a Christian?" 
 
 " Yes, but appearances mighty deceitful. Dey's out- 
 side. "Pis de inside God sees way down to de bottom. 
 Ef you're a Christian, you boun' ter show it. Dat's jes' 
 like de Yankees ketching your Uncle Joe endurin' de 
 war. Now, ef he had seen dat dem men was dressed 
 in blue clo'es, would he er stopt en waited till dey come 
 up ter him? No, honey, he'd jes' took out through dem 
 woods, kase he knowed every hog path in 'em. But 
 when he see dem old gray clo'es, what did he do but jes' 
 stop en wait till dey rode up. He kep' wonderin' how 
 did dey git sich fine bosses en good close. But dey say 
 dey Georgy soldiers, an' was jes' in front ter find some- 
 thin' ter eat. What must he say but, ' You jes come 
 erlong wid me ; I 'got plenty yit, an' I's always proud 
 ter divide wid de soldiers.' Now ef he had jes* stopt ; 
 but he didn't. He say, ' My boys an' dar ain't no 
 better fitin' soldiers in de army den dey is might git 
 down in Georgy some time, en I'd be mighty glad ter 
 know dat some of de folks would take 'em in, en let 
 'em have a good night's sleep en er sure 'nuff supper.' 
 Den he get mighty full en he turned his head tother 
 way. When he looked he thought dem soldiers looked 
 mighty tickled, en he thought dat a mighty funny way 
 fer Georgy soldiers to do. Jes' den dey come to de 
 cross roads, en he turned ter go home. He said to 'em : 
 ' We'll take dis road.' Dey jes' seemed more ermused 
 dan ever. Marse Joe he couldn't see what so funny in 
 3
 
 34 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 axin' 'em home, till one ur 'em said : ' Excuse us, old 
 man, but sence dem boys of yourn is sech fine soldiers, 
 and you got so much for de Johnnies, we won't accept. 
 We's a little far from base now. "We belongs to de 
 New York soldiers, and will have ter hurry back to 
 report de road to de Colonel. But we'll invite you ter 
 spend de night, in fact some time, wid us.' Marse Joe, 
 in his perlitest manner, thanked 'em, and sed he erbliged 
 to git on home, 'kase his wife would be expectin' him. 
 Dey jes' compelled him ter go ; jes' allowed him ter 
 leave a note wid ole widder Smith ter send ter Miss 
 Carline, fust passin'. Den next day what should dey 
 do but jes' send him off and lock him up in Fort 
 Monroe all on ercount de 'ceitful 'pearance of dem 
 Yankees. 'Tis jes' so wid a Christian ; dey got ter 
 be one thing or tother. You can't hole wid de hare 
 and run wid de houn' in religion. I sees lots uv 
 trouble 'bout it. You knows who'll show you 'bout it." 
 
 This to Eloise had been like a startling apparition. 
 She wondered that it had never presented itself to her 
 in that light before. Scarcely two months would 
 elapse before she took the most important step of her 
 life. Was it possible for her to take it unadvisedly ? 
 
 She had seen only the gilded side of the picture. If 
 the thought of a cloud had presented itself, the silver- 
 lining had so far overshadowed it that she saw it not. 
 The old woman's words had carried much of truth 
 with them. She felt inexpressibly sad. She repeated 
 over and over again to herself, "Why, oh, why, did 
 I not think of it before ?"
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 AUNT HANNAH AWAKENS A NEW CHORD. 
 
 ALL. night Eloise tossed on her bed. The little 
 sleep she got was fitful and unrefreshing. 
 
 When she appeared at the breakfast table the next 
 morning, both her father and aunt noticed that there 
 was something amiss. 
 
 " Are you sick ?" they asked, almost in the same 
 breath. 
 
 " No, but I was restless and did not sleep very well. 
 I'll be all right as soon as I have had a cup of coffee." 
 
 So carefully had they both watched her all of her 
 life, that there could be no concealment from them. 
 
 She seemed to brighten up and exerted herself to 
 appear as cheerful as usual. She succeeded so well 
 that both left the table satisfied that nothing was 
 wrong. 
 
 As soon as the meal was finished, she went out and 
 was busy with her flowers, hoping in that way to rid 
 herself of the haunting thoughts which would not down 
 at her bidding. She gathered some of the handsomest 
 ones and carried them to the parlor, where she arranged 
 them with that exquisite taste she knew so well how to 
 display. Then she busied herself with other little 
 jobs, trying to divert her thoughts till the return of the 
 boy who had gone for the mail.
 
 36 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 She was the first to get possession of the bag on his 
 arrival. How eagerly she opened it and threw out the 
 letters and papers till the expected missive came in 
 view. She gathered up what belonged to her and went 
 to her room. Opening the first one, she read : 
 
 " My Dearest Eloise : 
 
 " I know you will rejoice with me, when I tell you 
 yow beautifully I have succeeded with my operation. 
 It is the marvel of the medical faculty of the city. 
 None of the physicians present had seen one of its 
 kind. 
 
 " Indeed, they are very rare, and fully ninety-nine 
 per cent, die during or immediately after the opera- 
 tion. I certainly expect, without some unforeseen 
 symptoms develop, to see her well and sound again. I 
 almost feel sure that she will be restored to her wid- 
 owed mother, who is entirely dependent on her for 
 support. 
 
 " Thanks to the training I got in the German Uni- 
 versity for my ability to do it. I saw one there, and 
 took a very minor part in it, which was almost like 
 this one. 
 
 " I confess, in my anxiety I passed many sleepless 
 hours before, and dared not close my eyes for some 
 time after it was over. I felt that it would do more to 
 establish my reputation and give prestige than one 
 hundred ordinary cases. 
 
 " I know any one save your own dear self would
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 37 
 
 class me the veriest egotist under the sun. I must 
 own that my pride will assert itself; for if the cure is 
 Avhat it promises to be, I'll not have to leave my native 
 heath in search of patients ; but will prove that the 
 Scripture adage, ' A prophet is not without honor save 
 in his own country/ etc., will not always hold good 
 with the medical fraternity, at least. 
 
 " To no one else would I let the ego take so promi- 
 nent a part ; but I know you feel just as much interest 
 in the case as I do. 
 
 " My first thoughts were of you ; but I would not 
 write till a few hours had elapsed, to see if I might 
 be able to write so sanguinely as I have. When I left 
 her an hour ago, she was sleeping as naturally and 
 peacefully as a child. 
 
 " I'll be with you at the earliest possible moment. 
 It seems an age since I saw you. I am living now on 
 the hope that only a little while longer and I will bask 
 in the sunshine of your smiles no matter what goes 
 on in the outside world. 
 
 " With fondest love, 
 
 " CHARLIE." 
 
 She left the rest of her mail untouched, and flew to 
 tell the gladsome news to her father and Aunt Lizzie. 
 
 Meeting Mammy on the stairway, she blurted out : 
 " I tell you, Mammy, the Doctor is on the top round 
 of the ladder now. He has succeeded beyond his own 
 expectations, and we may expect him almost any day 
 now."
 
 38 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 Her father, entering the door at that moment, saw 
 that something had happened to clear the brow and 
 bring sunshine into the face, and guessed from whom 
 the good news had come. 
 
 She did not wait to be questioned, but opened the 
 letter and read that portion of it relating to his suc- 
 cess. 
 
 "Well, well, daughter, I am delighted to hear it. 
 Not only is it a life saved, but the reputation gained by 
 it will be so very valuable to him. It is not often that 
 a young man can attain prominence in any profession 
 without years of application. But with Dr. Gray it 
 seems that it was thrust upon him at once." 
 
 Miss Lizzie appeared at the dining-room door just as 
 Eloise opened the letter to read to her father. She 
 waited to hear the result, as all of them had been deeply 
 interested in the case, and awaited the result most 
 anxiously. 
 
 " I cannot agree with you, brother, that the promi- 
 nence was thrust upon him at once. I feel that he 
 worked very hard for it. Do you not remember how 
 pale and hollow-eyed he looked when he came home 
 from Germany ? His looks then told plainly that he 
 had burned the midnight oil long and often. I think 
 they are hard-earned honors, which makes me rejoice 
 with him the more. He deserves it all. Extend my 
 warmest congratulations, Eloise." 
 
 " You are right, Lizzie ; but hard study is not always 
 rewarded so quickly. Add my good wishes, too."
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 39 
 
 Aunt Hannah took her seat on the stairway and was 
 an interested listener to it all. 
 
 " God be praised for de success, I say. I hopes he 
 ain't failed ter see de Lord's hand in it all. Dat mid- 
 night ile mighty good in its place ; but ef de Lord 
 don't take no part in it, it boun' to lose its virtue. Tell 
 him fer me dat I hopes he give de credit to de Lord en 
 not to his own smartness, nor dat midnight ile, neither." 
 
 Miss Lizzie and her brother could not repress a smile 
 at Aunt Hannah's earnestness. To Eloise her words 
 meant so much ! For the first time it occurred to her 
 that a real humble Christian would have given to God 
 the praise, that he had been an humble instrument in 
 his hands of accomplishing almost a miracle. As it 
 was, there was no allusion in the whole letter to any 
 other than " self." As he himself said, it was solely 
 the " ego." 
 
 She felt cast down at once. 
 
 She knew that he would expect a reply by return 
 mail ; so she went at once to her room to write. She 
 told him of the congratulations sent by her father and 
 Aunt Lizzie ; of how proud all were of him. " Mammy 
 sends quite a lengthy message, but I'll keep that till 
 you come." 
 
 It occurred to her that she might in that way lead 
 him to express himself, and thus find out his convictions 
 on a subject which she now felt was of so much im- 
 portance to both. 
 
 It seemed so strange that this unlettered woman had
 
 40 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 been able to penetrate so much more deeply into this 
 matter than she had. She remembered the trite saying, 
 " Love hides a multitude of faults," and saw the truth- 
 fulness of it. 
 
 He was highly cultured, with a most attractive man- 
 ner of address. He had a commanding figure, a flashing 
 black eye, and an expression which indicated strong 
 character. His intelligence was very apparent, though 
 he had quite a modest air, and in no way seemed to try 
 to court attention. To her, to whom he had plighted 
 his troth, he had seemed well-nigh perfect. Now she 
 found herself contrasting him with the young man who 
 came to the Saviour, and, after enumerating all of his 
 good qualities, was told there was yet a lack of one 
 thing. Could it be the case with this talented young 
 man that, with all of his possessions, he had failed to 
 take hold of the most important. 
 
 This question, to her, was assuming a grave character. 
 She wondered why it had not forced itself on her before 
 now. What must be the result, and how was she to 
 meet it, were becoming burning questions which she had 
 no idea how to answer. 
 
 She had to make one more trip to Richmond to com- 
 plete her purchases and give the dressmaker an oppor- 
 tunity to finish up her trousseau. She determined to 
 be just as busy as possible till Dr. Gray came, so that 
 there would be but little time for thinking. She drew 
 out her memorandum book and began to think of what 
 other articles were needed. As she glanced over the
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 41 
 
 items already put down, she saw there were many ad- 
 ditions to make of the smaller things which are so 
 often forgotten till the very last moment. She was so 
 busily engaged that she did not notice the arrival of a 
 visitor. 
 
 " Let's see gloves to match the lavender silk, lace 
 and ribbon for same." A long-drawn sigh, and she was 
 startled by a soft pair of hands closing over her eyes. 
 
 " Oh, Jennie, how you frightened me ! You came 
 in as stealthily as a cat. Take your hands off, that I 
 may see you." 
 
 " No, my lady ; not till you, Eloise Carter, the most 
 highly favored lady in the land, can give some excuse 
 for that sigh. It was enough to give one the horrors 
 to hear it. Has the Doctor jilted you ? If so, tell me 
 quickly, that I may arrange to catch his heart in the 
 rebound. I shall always hold it against you that you 
 captivated him before he saw me. There, after that 
 speech, I'll let you look at me ; but, in fact, if I had 
 seen him first I am sure I would have used all my 
 wiles to have entrapped him. What is the matter with 
 you, really? You do not seem to be well. I am sure if I 
 were in your place I would not have an ache nor a 
 pain, much less look pale and hollow-eyed. I would 
 have a chronic case of smiles. When are you going 
 to answer me? You might at least ask me to be 
 seated and tell me that you are delighted to see me, for 
 I have ordered Rob to be put in the stable and am 
 here for the day."
 
 42 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 " Firstly, as soon as I get an opportunity ; secondly, 
 take this rocker here by the window and make your- 
 self very comfortable ; thirdly, I am delighted to see 
 you. I am so glad that you have come to spend the 
 day. I was just thinking of writing for you to come. 
 I am longing for a ride, and we can have a canter this 
 afternoon. It may be that lack of exercise and loss of 
 sleep may cause my paleness. I must get up a color, 
 as I am expecting Dr. Gray almost any hour now. As 
 he has not yet jilted me, I do not want to be brought 
 into comparison with you, for I must say I never saw 
 you looking better. I am afraid you would make 
 quite a formidable rival." 
 
 " What inventory was that you were taking when I 
 surprised you so? You left off at ' lace for same/ '' 
 
 " I had a letter from Mrs. Bryan, who is about to 
 finish up my trousseau, and she wants me to come and 
 try on my dresses once more before she puts the finish- 
 ing touches on. There were many little articles that I 
 knew I would need, so I concluded to put them on my 
 memorandum book as I thought of them. Now you 
 can suggest some things, while I am putting these 
 down, that you feel sure I will need and be very apt 
 to overlook. I find that I always leave off some of 
 the most important articles when I go on a shopping 
 excursion. The dresses and wraps are all provided 
 for. I have all of my millinery to buy now. I was 
 waiting till the last, so as to get good matches for my 
 dresses."
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 43 
 
 " What an old goose you are, Eloise ! If I were 
 engaged, I think my first purchase thereafter would be 
 the bridal veil and orange blossoms. But I expect I 
 would wear them out trying them on, and when the 
 supreme hour arrived I would have to buy others." 
 
 " I have my mother's, and think of using them, if 
 they are not too yellow. I shall certainly use the dia- 
 mond pin with which hers was fastened. Father had 
 it reset some time ago." 
 
 " I am ready with my suggestions. Get your pencil 
 ready. My ideas flow fast. You'll have to be in a 
 hurry. One, two, three go ! Shoes, hose, gloves, 
 pins, needles, cotton, buttons, one box suspender but- 
 tons, assorted sizes." 
 
 "Are you crazy, Jennie?" 
 
 " Never was more sane in my life. I heard of a 
 newly-married pair once who went on a bridal tour 
 and he a luckless wight burst off one of his sus- 
 pender buttons. A man, as soon as he is married, 
 becomes a very helpless animal, although he refers to 
 himself as one of the lords of creation. This fellow, 
 having married a wife, forgot how to repair damages 
 at once. But having married a helpmeet, he called on 
 her to get her needle, thread, scissors, thimble and but- 
 tons, and then he thought he would find out if she 
 knew as much about sewing on buttons as he did. She 
 stood aghast. She had not even brought along the 
 necessary articles to repair the damages to her own 
 wardrobe. She certainly had no thought of being
 
 44 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 called on by him for a long time. Then she heard a 
 long discourse on what a comfort a practical wife 
 would be. A visit to a tailor was necessary. I made 
 a note of that for my own benefit. You may rest 
 assured I'll provide myself with a few dozen when I 
 start out. Next, half dozen balls of darning cotton." 
 
 " What on earth are you thinking about, Jennie ?" 
 
 " Thinking only of your future happines, and trying 
 to preserve you from the evil to come. Didn't old 
 Tom Slocum take his bride home and hand her in at 
 the front door, and, before she had time to take off her 
 bonnet, he came in at the back with a bundle of old 
 socks, saying, ' You can work on these, Sallie, till I 
 find some more work for you?' Now you well know 
 he never thought of providing the cotton or needles. 
 If you are treated that way, thanks to me you will be 
 provided with the proper appliances for the first greas- 
 ing of your household machinery." 
 
 Her good humor was irresistible, and Eloise was 
 already much more cheerful. 
 
 "Unfortunately," she said, "I am not to have a 
 house. I feel cramped already. Just to think of being 
 confined to two rooms, when I have always roamed 
 these hills and dales at my own sweet will. It will be 
 a novel sensation to me." 
 
 "All that may be true ; but that man, as wonderful 
 as you think he is, will wear out socks and burst off 
 buttons just like any ordinary man. A hint to the wise 
 should be sufficient. If you do not heed this sage
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 45 
 
 advice of mine, and the first family broil should be 
 caused by the lack of them, you see my skirts will be 
 clear." 
 
 She saw that her little sallies had the desired effect. 
 
 Jennie Marvin had been Eloise's boon companion all 
 of their lives. They were nearly of the same age, and, 
 although they were quite unlike in disposition, they had 
 been the fastest friends. 
 
 Jennie knew as soon as she heard that sigh that 
 something was giving her trouble. Naturally she sup- 
 posed it was the thought of leaving her loved ones and 
 the happy home. 
 
 " Now, since I've done my duty as far as the buttons, 
 pins and needles are concerned, I'll settle down to 
 business. I've changed my mind as to my dress for the 
 great event. Mother insists that it shall be white satin. 
 She offers me her point lace to trim it with. As 
 it has seen many summers and winters pass, it has not 
 whitened by age, but rather grown yellow. She suggests 
 that I get cream white instead of the pearl, as it will be 
 a better match. I intended to come one day this week, 
 but after we discussed the question at home I concluded 
 to come at once and get your opinion on the subject." 
 
 "I like that. It will be beautiful, and so very 
 becoming to you. An idea has occurred to me that 
 will settle all difficulty, I think. You go down to 
 Richmond with me. You can take the lace along and 
 get a good match for it. Of course, you will have Mrs. 
 Martin to make it."
 
 46 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 " I guess so ; but I will have to write and see what 
 about her engagements, she has them so far ahead at 
 this season ; though she usually saves a place for me, 
 knowing I am always in a hurry when I come. I'll 
 write as soon as I go home." 
 
 " There is no need to wait for that," Eloise replied ; 
 " you'll find everything you need there in my desk, 
 and we can mail your letter when we go out this after- 
 noon. You write while I put these things away, and 
 then we will go down and sit with Aunt Lizzie. I stay 
 with her all I can, for I know she will be so lonesome 
 when I am gone. I find myself wishing sometimes 
 that I could transfer her, father and Mammy to my 
 new home. That would be selfish, for neither one 
 would be satisfied a week. Besides, I would not, for 
 any consideration, have this dear old home broken up. 
 I'll be able to come so often, and father and Aunt 
 Lizzie are remarkably well and strong they will not 
 consider the drive anything. Poor Mammy will be 
 the loneliest one. Since Uncle Tom was laid away she 
 has seemed to depend on me more than ever. Do you 
 know that she hasn't really found out that I am out of 
 my swaddling clothes yet? It is touching to see her 
 watchfulness over me. I told her the other day that 
 when I got me a home I intended to have a comforta- 
 ble nook for her. She said, ' 'Tain't a place for your 
 Mammy to be comfortable, but a good place to look 
 after you. I lays awake studyin' 'bout who's goin' to 
 see to havin' your clo'es aired and your overshoes
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 47 
 
 ready, 'ca'se I mighty 'fraid dem folk ain't been use 
 ter much where you goinV They would not feel very 
 highly complimented by her opinions, do you think ? " 
 
 " I guess not. I know she feels it sorely, and I ex- 
 pect she worries herself into sleeplessness on account 
 of it. She has impressed me all of my life as being 
 very much superior to most of her race. I think she 
 has the strongest religious convictions of any one I 
 know certainly less of the superstitious ideas of the 
 race than any of them." 
 
 " You are right in that. Her knowledge of the Bible 
 is perfectly wonderful. I had no idea she knew it so 
 thoroughly. I felt severely rebuked at my lack of it, 
 as compared with hers. I venture she could put many 
 an educated Christian to the blush," said Eloise. 
 
 " How in the world did she obtain it ? Not being 
 able to read, I shouldn't think she would be able to 
 retain what she heard," said Jennie. 
 
 " She does retain it, though, and you would be sur- 
 prised in what a connected way she has it how one 
 passage is related to another, and how one is affected by 
 the other." 
 
 Eloise felt that the conversation, drifting into this 
 channel without any seeming intention, was providential. 
 She so longed to hear what some one else thought of 
 the ideas Aunt Hannah had advanced on the union of 
 a Christian and an unbeliever. Yet she had not been 
 able to bring herself to the point of agitating the ques- 
 tion. Aunt Hannah's argument had been almost con-
 
 48 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 vincing ; at least, it looked very differently to her now. 
 If she had felt that any one in whom she had confidence 
 could have upset her opinions, she would gladly have 
 gone to them. She had thought of her father, Aunt 
 Lizzie, and Dr. Gordon, who still ministered to them. 
 He was getting old for the pastorate, but retained his 
 faculties, and was much more active than most men of 
 his age. There was a strong mutual attachment be- 
 tween him and his church which was beautiful to behold. 
 With few exceptions, he had baptized them all. He 
 had officiated in nearly every family, either at the mar- 
 riage altar or buried their dead. She knew his counsel 
 would be wise ; yet she had an innate dread of ap- 
 proaching him on this subject. It was the first time 
 she had ever felt towards him in this way. She had 
 always spoken to him about any little doubts or worries 
 which crossed her pathway. But this was so different 
 to anything that she had ever mentioned to him. To 
 tell him would only awaken a lack of trust in one to 
 whom she had committed her whole future. She would 
 have to give her reasons, and she shrank from laying 
 bare his faults to her pastor. 
 
 She had thought over it in all of its aspects and con- 
 cluded to keep her feelings concealed from living mor- 
 tal, certainly till she had talked with the Doctor on the 
 subject, which she felt she would do when he came. 
 Each time she thought of it, it seemed to become a 
 greater difficulty, and she wondered how she would 
 manage to introduce the subject to him. She often said
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 49 
 
 to herself, " Oh, Mammy, if you only had known, you 
 would not have troubled me so." 
 
 She so much hoped that Jennie might say something 
 that would set matters right. A great many thought 
 Jennie to be gay and frivolous, and not much given to 
 deep thought. But Eloise knew that beneath that 
 exterior at which only the others looked there beat a 
 heart as true as steel. In any emergency, she knew she 
 could always be depended on. She would have her 
 fun sometimes, perhaps, at another's expense. But 
 withal she was the staunch and loyal friend. 
 
 " I'll just give you an instance of her knowledge of 
 scripture ; but I do not wish you to speak of it to 
 another/' said Eloise. " As to how she got it in the 
 first place, she is blessed with a remarkably retentive 
 memory. Mother became a Christian in her early 
 childhood, and you know Mammy nursed her and did 
 for her just as she has for me except her mother 
 lived, and she did not feel the same responsibility for 
 her that she always felt for me. She says mother al- 
 ways read aloud to her, and would ask what certain 
 passages meant, and in this way they talked about it a 
 great deal. She kept up the habit of reading to her as 
 long as she lived, and no doubt made many things plain 
 to her. You know I was given jointly to her, father, 
 and Aunt Lizzie. by my mother in her dying hour, with 
 the request that I be early taught to love Jesus. Very 
 faithfully have they done their duty, and I am sure 
 none of my sins can be laid to their charge. The other 
 4
 
 50 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 day she seemed greatly troubled, and I found out, by 
 a series of questions, that it was something about me. 
 Finally she said the Bible said a Christian and unbeliever 
 must not marry. I laughed heartily and told her she was 
 mistaken. She brought the Bible and told me what to 
 find. She kept me busy for more than an hour, and I con- 
 fess I was greatly startled to find out that she knew just 
 what she was talking about. I told her the Doctor was 
 brought up in another church, and it was only a difference 
 of opinion as to doctrine, and need make no difference 
 with us. But she really feels that he is not a Christian. 
 
 " By way of digression, did I tell you of his success 
 in an operation ? Not a word ? But I do not think 
 I've given you time to ask about him. He has just 
 covered himself with glory. He writes that the whole 
 medical faculty of the city are perfectly astounded. Not 
 one of them had ever seen one of the kind. Fortunately, 
 he took part in one similar while in Germany, and thus 
 got his knowledge of it. I read what he wrote about it 
 to father and Aunt Lizzie, and Mammy sat on the stair- 
 way and heard it all. ' Ef he had been a sure 'nough 
 Christian he'd give God some of dat honor and glory,' 
 she remarked. I was thinking over all these things 
 when you surprised me. Doubtless you think I ought 
 not to let it worry me, but it hangs over me like a great 
 dark pall, and, try as I may, I cannot shake it off." 
 
 " I suppose she is so very close in her views as a 
 Baptist that she thinks he must be one if he is a Chris- 
 tian," was Jennie's reply.
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 51 
 
 " I suggested that to her, and named over a number 
 of our dearest Christian friends who belonged to other 
 denominations, and we esteemed their Christian char- 
 acters and loved them none the less because of their 
 difference of opinion." 
 
 "Well, I must confess," said Jennie, "she has 
 thought much more deeply on that subject than I ever 
 have. You are right about her putting some of the 
 educated to shame with her knowledge of the Bible. 
 * The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the 
 simple,' is well illustrated in Aunt Hannah. You 
 know, Eloise, I am not given to preaching, and I verily 
 believe that som* folks think I belong to the monkey 
 tribe and chatter all the time, without ever having a 
 solemn thought. They certainly make a mistake. I 
 know I do not live as circumspectly as it is my duty 
 and privilege to do ; yet I have an abiding trust in 
 God's promises, and believe he will hear and answer 
 our prayers if we go to him in trust. My advice is to 
 let it alone. You can do nothing to change it, except 
 as you do your other cares and burdens take it to the 
 Lord." 
 
 " That is true. I can go to God at all times ; and it 
 may be that this is allowed, that I may win his soul, 
 and thus have it added as the brightest star in my 
 crown of rejoicing. My, how we've neglected Aunt 
 Lizzie ! It is nearly twelve o'clock. We'll go down 
 at once. I had no idea we had talked so long." 
 
 " Neither did I," said Jennie. " I must not forget
 
 52 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 to ask a dozen or more questions for mother, and cer- 
 tainly not fail to get the recipe for the muffins she had 
 for tea when she was here last week. The last injunc- 
 tion, as I galloped away, was, ' Do not forget the recipe 
 for the muffins.' "
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 PLEASANT VISITORS. 
 
 AFTER dinner the girls went into the parlor. Jen- 
 nie played several favorite airs for the Colonel. Miss 
 Lizzie came in with the muffin recipe and handed it to 
 Jennie. 
 
 " I hope this is not a suggestion for me to leave, 
 Miss Lizzie." 
 
 " No, indeed ! Instead, I came to urge that you 
 spend the night with us, and let me send a message to 
 your mother. It has been a long time since you have 
 given us that pleasure. Besides, I have seen so little 
 of you to-day. I knew that you two were discussing 
 ribbons, laces and other finery, and, as my ideas of 
 dress are rather antiquated, I could be of no assistance 
 by any suggestions." 
 
 Colonel Carter added his invitation to that of his 
 sister. 
 
 " I hope you will stay, Jennie. I have been won- 
 dering how Lizzie and I will manage to get you here, 
 when our bird has flown." 
 
 " There will be no trouble about that, I can assure 
 you. I will be only too glad to come. I would miss 
 the pleasure of coming much more than either of you 
 could possibly miss my visits."
 
 54 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 " That is real kind of you to say so, said the Colo- 
 nel, "and I hope you will not forget to keep your 
 promise." 
 
 "Father, will it be convenient for me to go to 
 Kichmond next week? Mrs. Bryan writes that she 
 must have me once more, before she can finish my 
 work. I have several things to buy. It seems there 
 is no end to a wedding outfit. I am afraid I'll find an 
 end to your purse, however." 
 
 " Perfectly convenient, dear. How much money 
 will you need ?" he asked. 
 
 " I can't say exactly, because one never knows when 
 there is enough trimming ?" 
 
 "Well, well, that can be easily arranged. I can 
 fill out several checks, leaving the amount blank, which 
 you can add as you need it. Get everything you want, 
 and let it be the very best," he replied. 
 
 " Just listen to that/ Jennie. It is too bad to leave 
 such a father, isn't it?" 
 
 " No, child ; I try to put self out of the question 
 every time. It will be better thus. Lizzie and I can- 
 not stay with you always. We will be better satis- 
 fied to see you settled in life. Do you propose to go 
 alone ? I am very busy, but will go with you if you 
 prefer it." 
 
 " I think Jennie will go. We are going out for a 
 ride, so we'll go there ourselves and consult Mrs. Mar- 
 vin about our plans, and let her know that Jennie will 
 spend the night here. Then we'll go to the postoffice
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 55 
 
 for the evening mail and come home famished, I 
 expect, Aunt Lizzie ; so you can govern yourselves 
 accordingly." 
 
 " I'll get an evening waist, Eloise, in case some of 
 your numerous admirers should call." 
 
 The horses were brought and they were off. 
 
 " I tell you, Lizzie, those two will miss each other 
 sadly. They have always been such loving, pleasant 
 friends. I feel sorry for them," said the Colonel. 
 
 " Yes, brother, that is so. I am trying so hard not 
 to be selfish about Eloise ; but I feel sometimes that it 
 will almost break my heart to be separated from her. 
 Just to think of a real sorrow ever coming to her. We 
 have guarded her so jealously that nothing should bring 
 a pang to her heart. I thought, when you said 
 what you did to her just now about her purchases, 
 what a wonder it was that she was not a spendthrift. 
 For never has a single expressed wish of hers been 
 left ungratified that I can remember. Yet, with it all 
 she is not one bit spoiled. Her ideas are not one bit 
 extravagant. I had to insist, when we were buying 
 her outfit, on her having several things which she said 
 she could very well do without. She would say, ' I 
 feel that I commit a sin when I indulge self and know 
 that the heathen are perishing for the bread of life.' 
 She knew, of course, that it would be expected by Dr. 
 Gray's friends for her to make a very creditable 
 appearance." 
 
 " As to your being selfish in anything, Lizzie, you
 
 56 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 have no idea what the word means. If I outlive you, 
 I think I'll have this epitaph on your tombstone : 
 1 Sacred to the memory of Elizabeth Carter, who buried 
 self in her girlhood, and lived only for others.' " 
 
 " I can suggest one much more fitting, and that 
 would be, 'A sinner saved by grace.' That would 
 speak the truth more plainly than any other you put 
 for me. I think there is a considerable quantity of 
 selfishness in my composition," she replied. 
 
 " If so, God's grace has been all sufficient, and you 
 have been enabled to put it down, till not a semblance 
 of it appears to the most critical observer." 
 
 " Look at poor Hannah. She seems to be so dis- 
 tressed of late. I had no idea she would grieve so 
 about her going away. I've come upon her several 
 times lately and found her in tears. I think since 
 Tom's death she has felt that she was only a sojourner 
 for a time here. She is a bright Christian," said Miss 
 Lizzie. 
 
 " That, I think, is not to be wondered at," said Col- 
 onel Carter. " She is above the ordinary negro in 
 intelligence, and has associated but little with them. 
 Of course, she has in a great measure followed after 
 those with whom she has been most closely connected. 
 Her manner and carriage indicate that. I've expected 
 to hear her propose to go with Eloise, as she still seems 
 to feel all the responsibility she did when she was a 
 child." 
 
 " I, too, have expected her to say she was going.
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 57 
 
 She was worrying the other day for fear she would not 
 have her clothing and room properly aired, and Avould 
 leave off her overshoes at the wrong time. The girls 
 have a beautiful afternoon for their ride. I think I'll 
 give orders for an early tea, as they will have good 
 appetites after their long ride. I will not be at 
 all surprised to see the Doctor at any time. I will 
 order broiled chicken and tongue, for he is specially 
 fond of both." 
 
 " While you are looking after the creature comforts 
 of others I'll look after my own and take a nap. Do 
 not allow me to sleep too long. I want to ride over to 
 see about the sheep. I think I'll have them transferred 
 to the pasture nearest the ' quarters.' I hear that a dog 
 or dogs have worried several flocks below here. The 
 Widow Smith had several fine ones killed. I'll be 
 glad if you will send John for Trent. I want him here 
 at five o'clock. Also tell him to have my horse ready 
 at that time. Now I'll sleep a little," he said. 
 
 Broiled chicken, tongue and muffins were added to 
 the order for supper, on account of the premonition of 
 extra guests. Several other little household duties were 
 attended to. She saw Mr. Trent coming, and called 
 her brother. 
 
 Mr. Trent came to the porch and they discussed the 
 removal of the sheep, and decided it would be much 
 better to bring them nearer the house. 
 
 "Though," said Mr. Trent, "it seems when the 
 notion takes the dog he'll come right into the yard. I
 
 58 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 was coming to the house to see you about this when 
 John came for me. Joe Smith had just passed up the 
 road. I asked him about the killing of his mother's 
 sheep. "Would you believe it, sir ? It was that worth- 
 less cur of Tom Watson's, that ought to have been 
 killed months ago. He killed that Shropshire ram, for 
 which she paid fifty dollars when it was only six 
 months old. They were in that pasture just opposite 
 the house. The hands were at work some distance off, 
 and it was several minutes before they got there. So 
 intent was he, that Joe got near enough to shoot before 
 he saw him. He did not kill him outright, and he 
 went yelping off in the direction of home. Joe went 
 back to the house and got his horse and rode after him. 
 When he got there Tom's wife and children were out 
 crying over him. He says it made him so mad that he 
 forgot his manners. He asked if Tom was at home, 
 but he was not. He told her to get the children out of 
 the way. She refused at first ; but when she saw him 
 level his gun, she didn't stand on the order of her 
 going. He killed him and went to the house to ex- 
 plain his reason for it. She wouldn't listen to him at 
 all. Said she knew ' Tige' wouldn't be caught kill- 
 ing sheep he was too well raised ; wanted to know 
 how he knew he killed the right dog. Said no doubt 
 Tom would make him pay dearly for it. As soon as 
 she stopped long enough to give him a chance to ex- 
 plain, he told her about shooting him right on the 
 sheep. < Besides,' he said to her, ' I guess the pay will
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 59 
 
 have to come from Tom, as mother paid fifty dollars 
 for the sheep, and there will be other costs, and it may 
 be a fine for keeping such a dog.' At that she changed 
 her tune and expressed great sorrow. She said it 
 would ruin them if Tom had to pay that much, and 
 she hoped Mrs. Smith would let them oif with less. 
 Joe said he knew Tom couldn't pay it, but when she 
 got so angry and talked so much, he couldn't help 
 giving her a scare. Tom went over as soon as he got 
 home. He expressed many regrets and made many 
 apologies for his wife. He said he would be willing to 
 pay the whole amount if he could, but would do the 
 best he was able to do. Mrs. Smith told him as long 
 as the dog was killed, she would let the matter drop. 
 He seemed greatly relieved." 
 
 Mr. Trent called three of the hired men, and they 
 went to transfer the sheep. 
 
 Miss Lizzie, dressed in a cool, fresh muslin, came 
 out on the porch still strongly of the opinion that her 
 premonitions would prove correct. She saw the dust 
 rising and discovered a horseman approaching. It 
 proved to be only the colored boy by whom Jennie had 
 sent her dress, while she and Eloise continued their ride. 
 
 He dismounted and brought the basket to the porch. 
 
 " Here's Miss Jinnie's dress what she sent, 'ca'se she 
 and Miss Luisa dey gone t'other way. Dey say dey be 
 here 'bout six. En Miss Alice she say she much 
 erbleged for dat paper 'bout dem nuflfins, en she gwine 
 ter speriment on 'em fer supper."
 
 60 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 As soon as he delivered his message he was gone. 
 
 Miss Lizzie was restless, and went to see again that 
 everything was all right in the dining room. She 
 found Mary busy polishing the silver and getting 
 everything in readiness. 
 
 She heard the tinkling of the bells and the bleating 
 of the sheep, and knew that her brother was close by. 
 She walked out to see them put the sheep into the 
 field. For a wonder, the leader seemed to be struck 
 with the idea of going in the right direction, and they 
 found it an easy matter 
 
 " Come, brother, and brush off your dust and get 
 ready ; the girls will be here soon." 
 
 Pretty soon after taking his seat on the porch, he 
 saw riders approaching. 
 
 " Why, Lizzie, each of the girls has an escort. They 
 have been lucky each to get one. Let's see yes, 
 that is the Doctor's grey mare, but the other one I do 
 not know. It is a handsome animal, though. I'll have 
 to congratulate Jennie on not being that proverbial 
 crowd, ' two is company,' eh ? That gentleman with 
 Jennie is a stranger in this section, I am sure some 
 friend of the Doctor's, I guess." 
 
 He left the porch and sauntered slowly down to the 
 gate by the time the riders had dismounted. 
 
 " How are you, Doctor ? Glad to see you, sir. But 
 you are no taller. Didn't know but what I would 
 have to look up to you." 
 
 "No, no, my stature has not visibly increased, sir.
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 61 
 
 Allow me, Colonel, to present my friend and school- 
 fellow, Fred Young, of New Jersey. I took the priv- 
 ilege of bringing him along, knowing that he was sure, 
 as I told him, to have an old Virginia welcome." 
 
 " Most happy to meet you, Mr. Young, and, as you 
 ace not a Virginian, to make you most welcome to 
 Virginia's hospitality. It is a trite saying with us that 
 the latch-string always hangs on the outside of old 
 Virginia doors." 
 
 They went in and were introduced to Miss Lizzie. 
 They sat for awhile on the porch. 
 
 "I tell you, Miss Lizzie, I've been thinking of 
 your supper ever since I left home, and hoped to arrive 
 in time to have broiled chicken added, but we were a 
 little late starting." 
 
 Colonel Carter laughed and said : 
 
 " Thanks, Doctor, to one of Lizzie's premonitions of 
 extra company, the chickens are already broiling, I 
 expect." 
 
 " Good ! I told Fred it was worth the ride here to get 
 one of Miss Lizzie's delightful suppers. I was getting 
 ready to start as early as possible, when who should 
 appear, like an apparition, but this fellow. He announced 
 at once that he was a self-invited guest of mine for a few 
 days. ' If that is so/ I said, ' I'll entertain you to 
 suit myself." He said, ' Barkis is willing.' I replied, 
 'As soon, then, as Barkis gets his dinner we will go 
 out into the country. How will that suit you?' 
 ' Just the thing I would most like/ he said. ' I won-
 
 62 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 dered if I would find you too busy to show me any of 
 the surrounding country.' I didn't have time to 
 explain till we were on our way. He wanted to know 
 why I didn't tell him, so that he could have brought 
 along an evening suit." 
 
 " I hope you will make yourself quite at home, Mr. 
 Young, and enjoy our delighful air and cool breezes," 
 said Miss Lizzie. " And now, Doctor, John is ready to 
 show you to your room, and by the time you have 
 brushed off the dust, supper will be ready. If you do 
 not hurry you will find your chicken overdone, I am 
 afraid." 
 
 When they came down, they found the ladies await- 
 ing them. They were telling the Colonel and Miss 
 Lizzie of their accidental meeting, just as they neared 
 the postoffice. 
 
 " Now, Colonel," said Jennie, " do you not think 
 that Mr. Young deserves a chromo for coming with 
 the Doctor, and thus preventing me from assuming that 
 most awkward position of a third party." 
 
 " Indeed, I do. I told Lizzie, when I saw you com- 
 ing, that I meant to congratulate you on your good 
 luck, but I had not had an opportunity to do so." 
 
 This was Mr. Young's first visit to Virginia. As 
 he observed the well-filled table, and saw with what 
 ease and grace they entertained, he was not surprised 
 at the reputation Virginia had for her hospitality. HB 
 did not wonder at his friend's enthusiastic description 
 of the home and family, and could but admire his se-
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 63 
 
 lection of a wife. He had known of the engagement 
 for some time, and the Doctor had written him quite 
 an extravagant description of his fiancee, but he remem- 
 bered such loud praise from an ardent lover should 
 always be taken cum grano salis. 
 
 The whole party did full justice to Miss Lizzie's sup- 
 per, much to her satisfaction. She was a model house- 
 keeper, and, like all such, loved to have her viands 
 enjoyed. She insisted on each one eating more, affirming 
 that none of them seemed to have an appetite. 
 
 " I object, Miss Lizzie, as I fear I would have to 
 establish a hospital, and I came without my chest of 
 medicines," said the Doctor. 
 
 They took a little stroll, as there yet remained some 
 minutes of daylight. The evening was spent in 
 pleasant converse and music. 
 
 Mr. Young was a fine vocalist, and they enjoyed his 
 songs very much. 
 
 Eloise and Jennie played several instrumental selec- 
 tions, when Colonel Carter came in from the porch, 
 where he had remained when the young people went 
 to the parlor. 
 
 " Jennie has done herself no credit at all," he said 
 " I mean as a real musician. Her forte is singing 
 those grand old Scotch airs, which have more music in 
 them than all of the fashionable music you can find in 
 these days. Why, I wouldn't give her rendering of 
 4 Blue-Eyed Mary' for everything both have played 
 to-night."
 
 64 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 " Now, Fred, here is a chance for the display of 
 your voice. He is of Scotch descent, and nothing gives 
 him more pleasure than to revel in those old Scotch 
 ballads." 
 
 " We may expect something grand, then," said the 
 Colonel, " for when you hear Jennie, you will think 
 she was to the heather born, so naturally does she sing 
 them." 
 
 " I fully agree with you, Colonel. They are grand. 
 I went with my mother to visit her relatives in Scot- 
 land when a boy, and I confess I have been right much 
 of a Scotchman ever since. We were there a year, and 
 in that time I imbibed a fondness for everything 
 Scotch except the bag-pipe. I attended a select 
 school while there with some of my young kinsmen. 
 The students were a happy, bright lot, and some of 
 them were quite musical. I fell into many of their 
 ways, and since then I've been an admirer of their 
 songs." 
 
 " Miss Carter, have you any of the songs ?" 
 
 " Oh, yes ; Jennie knows just where to find them, 
 for she is called on every time she comes." 
 
 " Here is the portfolio, Mr. Young," said Jennie. 
 " Make your own selection ; I am familiar with all of 
 them." 
 
 One after another was chosen. Mr. Young and 
 Jennie sang well together. They were all surprised at 
 the lateness of the hour when the Doctor took out his 
 watch and announced that it was after eleven o'clock.
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 65 
 
 There was one duty never neglected in that house- 
 hold, it mattered not who the guests were family 
 worship. Usually, it was in Colonel Carter's room, 
 but occasionally, when strangers were present, they all 
 assembled in the parlor. 
 
 Aunt Hannah always remained in the house until 
 after that time. For one reason, she really enjoyed it, 
 and she always liked to see that Eloise had everything 
 made comfortable for her every night. 
 
 Miss Lizzie quietly laid the Bible near the lamp. 
 Her brother took it up and read the twenty-third Psalm. 
 After the reading, they knelt and he offered a fervent 
 prayer for each one present. 
 
 Mr. Young could not understand Aunt Hannah's 
 position in the family. He observed her closely as she 
 brought a small chair and placed it just outside the 
 parlor door, where she seemed to be a reverent and in- 
 terested listener. To him it was a novel sight. He 
 observed that she was treated with the greatest respect 
 by all of the family. 
 
 After they went to their room he asked Dr. Gray 
 what position she held in the family. 
 
 "Now, Fred, that is a luxury you Yankees have 
 never enjoyed a black mammy. We Virginians class 
 them along with our other attainments which put us 
 ahead of the common herd. Aunt Hannah has been 
 in this family all of her life. She nursed Mrs. Carter, 
 and came with her as maid when she married Colonel 
 Carter. She died when Eloise was just two years old, 
 5
 
 66 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 and on her death-bed she gave her into the keeping of 
 the three you've seen to-night. When Lee surrendered 
 and freedom came to her, she spurned the idea of leav- 
 ing the ( baby/ as she still calls Eloise." 
 
 " Ah, I see how it is that she has the post of honor. 
 I could but observe her during the time of worship, 
 how devoutly she seemed to enter into the service. I 
 say, Charlie, is all Virginia like this ? If so, you may 
 count me a citizen of the Old Commonwealth at once. 
 I have never enjoyed an evening at a strange place so 
 much in my life. Every one of them treated me as a 
 personal friend. I would like to know if Miss Marvin 
 is ' heart-whole and fancy free.' She is a charming 
 young woman. How far is her home from here? 
 Have you known her long ?" 
 
 "Stop, if you please, Fred, and ask one question 
 only at a time. I don't know how you do in New 
 Jersey, but when our lawyers get a witness on the 
 stand, they have one question answered at a time. Do 
 you put them to them by the dozen and let them an- 
 swer at their leisure ? That is what you have done 
 now. While I did not take them down in regular 
 order, I'll try to give you the desired information, to 
 the best of my knowledge and ability. She lives about 
 two and a half miles from here. She and Eloise have 
 been the fastest friends. The two families are quite 
 congenial. Now, as to the ' heart whole and fancy 
 free' part, I cannot answer truly ; I know she has 
 many admirers. I expect she has or could have had
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 67 
 
 an offer from every young man for miles around, be- 
 sides numberless city swains who visit her. I was 
 thinking if you were in that state, it would not be long 
 before you would fall a victim." 
 
 " I was fully so up to a couple of hours ago, but 
 will not be so sure about it now. She has a magnificent 
 voice. I've never heard any one who could sing 
 ' Annie Laurie ' as she did to-night," he replied. 
 
 " Get to bed, old fellow ! I can make a diagnosis 
 of your case in my sleep. I'll give you the prescription 
 right now. ' Faint heart ne'er won fair lady.' Enter 
 the race, no matter how many contestants there may 
 be. Go in to win. You have my best wishes. Good- 
 night." 
 
 They were up by six o'clock, feeling as fresh as pos- 
 sible. They went out for a walk. 
 
 Fred Young and Charles Gray met for the first time 
 at school, where they were assigned to the same room. 
 About the same thought came to each " Shall I like 
 him ? Can there be any affinity between us ? " Time 
 answered the questions. No truer friendship had ever 
 existed. Although they parted one to take his degree 
 at Yale, the other one first at the University of Virginia, 
 and then at a celebrated German University they had 
 always kept up a correspondence. 
 
 Dr. Gray had on several occasions, when in New 
 York, gone to his friend's home for a day or two, but 
 until now he had not the pleasure of entertaining him. 
 
 " I am specially glad, Charlie, that I found you so
 
 68 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 heart-hungry for this visit. I would not have missed 
 it for a great deal." 
 
 " I knew you would enjoy it, and I really believe 
 that unexpected pleasures are always more appreciated. 
 I am very glad that we found Miss Jennie here. She 
 is a remarkably entertaining young lady. I wish we 
 had time to visit her at her home." 
 
 When they got in sight they saw that the young ladies 
 were already down. 
 
 Breakfast was soon announced. At the table Jennie 
 said : 
 
 " Doctor, excuse my seeming curiosity I believe 
 you gentlemen say we have it all in asking what time 
 you will return to the city ? " 
 
 " Certainly, Miss Jennie ; but let me disabuse your 
 mind as to the ladies having all of the curiosity ; for 
 this friend of mine plied me with so many questions 
 that I had to order him to bed, in order to sleep at all. 
 Now for the question. We have decided, as there is a 
 full moon, to stay till about nine o'clock, and enjoy a 
 moonlight ride home." 
 
 " I am glad to hear that. I hope you will give us 
 the pleasure of having you to take tea with us at Bel- 
 mont. That will be about three miles on your way. I 
 am sure mother would be delighted to have you." 
 
 " And I am sure that we will accept the invitation 
 with much pleasure," replied Dr. Gray. 
 
 " Of course, Colonel Carter, Miss Lizzie and Eloise 
 will join us. I forgot to mention that," she said.
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 69 
 
 " Miss Marvin, I must be allowed to defend myself 
 against the charge brought by my friend Gray, that I 
 am the only man with superabundance of curiosity, 
 for I can assure you that he asks so many questions that 
 I sometimes think him a veritable Yankee. I must 
 add my thanks for the invitation. I have heard all my 
 life of the ' garden spot ' of Virginia. I think I must 
 have had the good fortune to have reached it at once."
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 THE INDIAN LEGEND. 
 
 SOON after breakfast Jennie ordered her horse and 
 made ready to leave. 
 
 Eloise saw there was certain to be a dilemma as 
 neither gentleman would feel at all comfortable to see 
 her ride away alone. She quickly thought of a plan 
 by which any unpleasantness might be avoided. 
 
 She had seen the two glance askance at each other, 
 and knew quite well what was passing through their 
 minds. 
 
 Turning to Jennie, who had just come out ready to 
 start, she said : 
 
 " I think as this is Mr. Young's first visit in our 
 section of the State, that it would be really unkind in 
 us not to take him to the scene of our only Indian 
 legend in this neighborhood. I propose, if it meets 
 the approval of the entire party, that we order the 
 other horses, and, after going by with Jennie to tell her 
 mother of our proposed visit this afternoon, we extend 
 our ride to the Indian Spring. Jennie being gifted as 
 a story-teller, we will deputize her to give us the legend 
 as we look into the waters of this lovely spring. What 
 say you ?" 
 
 " I must say, Miss Carter, you have put me under
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 71 
 
 still another obligation. I could not have arranged 
 one-half so well/' said Mr. Young. 
 
 " And I will say that I will be pleased to have your 
 company, and will try to give you the very best version 
 of this legend in the memory of the oldest inhabitant/' 
 replied Jennie. 
 
 All eyes turned to Dr. Gray for his reply. 
 
 " Words are inadequate to express my admiration 
 for Miss Carter as a schemer. I knew if we allowed 
 Miss Jennie to go alone our prestige for gallantry 
 would be forever lost. On the other hand, I could not 
 decide which one of us should have the privilege of 
 escorting her. But this arrangement makes it perfectly 
 agreeable to all parties." 
 
 The horses were soon ready and they set out, with 
 the understanding that they would return for an early 
 dinner. 
 
 When they reached Mrs. Marvin's it was agreed that 
 they would not dismount, except Jennie, who would tell 
 her mother of their arrangements and join them quickly. 
 
 Mrs. Marvin was sitting on the porch, busy with 
 some sewing, when she saw them coming. She was 
 looking for Jennie, and fully expected Eloise to come 
 with her. She wondered who their escorts could be. 
 
 Jennie ran quickly up to the porch and told her 
 mother of their plans. She walked back with her to 
 the gate and was introduced to Mr. Young. 
 
 Dr. Gray dismounted as he saw her coming. As he 
 offered his hand, she said :
 
 72 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 " I must extend my congratulations on the fame you 
 have achieved, Doctor ; I was just reading of it in the 
 Richmond paper. I am always gratified when any 
 Virginian does well, but especially so if that Virginian 
 is numbered among my personal friends." 
 
 " Thank you," he said. " I can assure you I feel 
 very grateful for the many kind and pleasant wishes of 
 my friends." 
 
 " Jennie tells me that you will be with us to tea. I 
 am very glad she thought to give us such a pleasure. 
 I hope you'll come early. Remember, Doctor, we are 
 quite old-fashioned in our notions." 
 
 Jennie mounted, and they soon found themselves at 
 the spring. It was indeed a beautiful, romantic spot. 
 The same old trees were casting their shade, and the 
 same waters were winding their several ways to the 
 James, as when the Indian brave and his dusky sweet- 
 heart met death here, clasped in each other's arms. 
 
 " Now for a drink of the purest water in the State," 
 said Eloise, as they dismounted. 
 
 " And not a drinking-cup in the party, I'll be 
 bound," said Dr. Gray, " and we knew we would be 
 quite famished when we saw this beautifully clear 
 water. Why did none of us think of it ?" 
 
 " Who would use a conventional cup here ? I am 
 surprised at you. It must be nature's own handiwork 
 at such a spring as this. Jennie and I have drank 
 here too often not to know how to improvise a cup. 
 What do you suppose that poplar and this thorn grew
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 73 
 
 so close by for ? If you cut a dozen thorns I'll soon 
 prove their use." 
 
 Very deftly the fingers of the girls worked for a 
 moment or so, and each one had a cup fit for a king. 
 
 " Now, Mr. Young, I know you'll agree with me that 
 these are much more suitable for such a spring than the 
 most handsomely chased silver one to be found at 
 Tiffany's, especially as we are to swallow with the water 
 an old Indian love story," said Eloise. 
 
 "Indeed, I do. I begin to regret that I was not 
 raised in the country. It seems to me that those who 
 are can so much better adapt themselves to circum- 
 stances than we city-bred fellows," said Mr. Young. 
 
 "Miss Marvin, I am getting anxious to hear that 
 legend. Do let us have it." 
 
 They seated themselves on a large, moss-covered 
 stone, and announced their readiness to listen. 
 
 " Of course, you'll have to allow me the privilege of 
 all story-tellers," she said. 
 
 " Certainly," they answered. 
 
 " Once upon a time and that time is supposed to 
 be early in 1700 there roamed over this part of the 
 State quite a large tribe of Indians. The chief had 
 many daughters, but one of the number seemed to have 
 been his favorite, and also of many of the braves of 
 the tribe. Her unpronounceable Indian name meant 
 Bright Eyes, and by that we will know her. 
 
 " One after another of the braves laid his heart at 
 her feet. To each one she gently answered, ' no.'
 
 74 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 " At last came Timid Deer, and for the first time was 
 any emotion shown. This spring was their favorite 
 resort. Probably this very stone, if it could speak, 
 could tell us volumes, could we but interpret their lan- 
 guage. Excuse the digression. 
 
 " Her father was very angry when he knew that 
 Timid Deer was her choice. This name had been given 
 him in derision. He was tall, straight and handsome 
 just the one to win an Indian maiden's heart. But he 
 seemed to be lacking in the qualities which would recom- 
 mend him to his fellow-braves. In the chase he was 
 as fleet as the fleetest. Yet no other arrow flew so wide 
 of the mark as his. Everything that had life seemed 
 to appeal to him. His belt carried not a single scalp, 
 and he became a by-word with the others. We can 
 imagine why he should be the very last to confess his 
 love to Bright Eyes. He knew how he was derided 
 by the others, and he dared not tell her, for fear that 
 she, too, shared their opinions. 
 
 " Chance often threw them in company, and he some- 
 how discovered, to his great joy, that one heart in the 
 tribe beat in unison with his. 
 
 " The old chief was furious, and declared the mar- 
 riage should never be. He selected for her Man of 
 Many Scalps, a bloodthirsty, ill-natured fellow, who 
 was a bitter, implacable enemy to the white man, and 
 in fact to those of his own race, if they dared to cross 
 his path. 
 
 " Her heart quailed within her at this announcement.
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 75 
 
 She pleaded with him not to force her to this ; but he 
 was obdurate. ' Spare, oh, spare me, just two moons 
 more ! ' she begged. Give me my freedom just two 
 moons longer ! ' 
 
 " ' No, no/ he replied ; ' two suns more shall set, and 
 then you will be the wife of Man of Many Scalps. 
 Timid Deer ; fraid of shadow. He no brave. Kill no 
 white man. Two suns more. Do you hear?' 
 
 " Poor Bright Eyes wended her way hither. Soon 
 she was joined by Timid Deer. She told him of her 
 father's decision. In vain they tried to think of some 
 way to circumvent the old chief. 
 
 " At last Bright Eyes said : ' Let's go together to 
 the happy hunting grounds. There will be no Man of 
 Many Scalps there.' 
 
 " He was wild with joy at her proposition. 
 
 " ' Two suns more,' he said. ' To-morrow at this 
 time we will meet here, and there will be no more 
 trouble for us. Remember, Bright Eyes, I'll make all 
 things ready and we will not be seen together again.' 
 
 " She went about her duties quietly, and to all ap- 
 pearances she even listened with seeming attention to 
 the arrangements made by her father and Man of Many 
 Scalps for the approaching marriage. She acquiesced 
 in all their plans, and each felt confident that all 
 was well. 
 
 " The absence of Timid Deer was not noticed, as it 
 often happened for days that he was not seen. To the 
 great relief of Bright Eyes, the other one, too, was
 
 76 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 away. He had crossed the river to watch the move- 
 ments of some white families who were making a settle- 
 ment on the other side. He was an adept at pilfering, 
 and expected to add to his riches from their store. If 
 chance put one in his way he certainly would not 
 scruple to add another to the long string of scalps which 
 had given him his sobriquet. 
 
 " She was seen to go in the same direction soon after 
 his departure ; but, after getting well out of sight, she 
 turned her course and wended her way here. She was 
 soon joined by Timid Deer, who brought with him the 
 poisoned arrows. 
 
 "After chanting the funeral dirge they each plunged 
 an arrow into the heart. 
 
 " When night came on, and neither Bright Eyes nor 
 Timid Deer was at the wigwam, suspicion was aroused. 
 
 " The old%hief summoned his braves, and a search was 
 made. As several had seen Bright Eyes go in an 
 opposite direction, they did not come here at first. 
 
 "Soon after daylight, a party, headed by the chief 
 himself, came to this spot, to find them clasped in each 
 other's arms, and swollen almost beyond recognition 
 from the poisoned arrows. 
 
 " It is said they were buried, just as they died, under 
 that large pine there. 
 
 " The credulous negroes aver that at night they see 
 strange things and hear queer sounds as they pass. 
 They say it is the Indian dirge they hear chanted. I 
 suppose it is only the soughing of the wind through the
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 77 
 
 pines. I am sure I had just as soon hear a veritable 
 dirge as that uncanny sound. It always seems to me 
 as a requiem for lost souls. 
 
 " I hope I have not made you feel * creepy/ Mr. 
 Young." 
 
 " No, indeed. I have enjoyed your story immensely. 
 I always loved to hear Indian stories. As a boy I 
 longed to visit the places made famous by the first set- 
 tlements in our country. I have often promised myself 
 a trip for the sole purpose of visiting some of them. I 
 little thought, when I left home, that I should have 
 this pleasure. I cannot think how I shall ever be able 
 to return the kindness." 
 
 They took another quaff from the spring. 
 
 Just as they were about to mount, Jennie said : 
 
 " I almost forgot to tell another superstition con- 
 nected with it, and that is if you are here &actly at the 
 same hour on which they died, you will see their reflec- 
 tion in the water, instead of your own. I've looked in 
 many times, but no other face save my own has been 
 reflected." 
 
 The trio proceeded on their way after leaving Jen- 
 nie at Belmont. It was eleven o'clock, and they 
 knew they were expected by the household at Sunny- 
 meade. 
 
 Miss Lizzie had the early dinner, and they spent the 
 time till four o'clock in general conversation, when 
 they set out for Belmont. 
 
 They found Mrs. Marvin to be a most charming
 
 78 SHE WATTED PATIENTLY. 
 
 hostess, and she entertained them in the most agreeable 
 manner till tea-time. 
 
 The table, with its snowy napery, beautiful china 
 and silver, of itself looked very inviting. In addition 
 to this, everything was faultlessly cooked. 
 
 Again was Mr. Young impressed with the lavishness 
 of the spread. At his home an invitation to tea gen- 
 erally meant a cold collation, with hot tea, coffee or 
 chocolate. 
 
 He knew that Mrs. Marvin had no notice of their 
 coming till that morning. He saw then that she did 
 not appear in any way perturbed by the announcement, 
 but very gracefully seconded her daughter's invitation. 
 
 " Miss Marvin, I must have some of your music 
 before we leave. I enjoyed your songs very much last 
 night," Mr. Young said to Jennie. 
 
 " Certainly ; we will go to the parlor at once. We 
 are all passionately fond of music, and all play after a 
 fashion. I would like you to hear my younger sister 
 and brother, if I can prevail on them to play. They 
 are quite shy of strangers and do not like to come in." 
 
 Mrs. Marvin left the room and soon returned with 
 the two. Each had an instrument. 
 
 Mrs. Marvin went to the piano, Jennie got out her 
 violin, Belle the guitar, and Elmer his flute. 
 
 They played several selections, and the boy and girl 
 quietly left the room. 
 
 The Doctor put his head in at the window and said : 
 
 " Only one half hour more, Fred, for music. We
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 79 
 
 must be off at that time, if we expect to get any sleep 
 at all. If there are no calls for me at my office, I'll 
 go on home with you and get a good night's rest. I 
 feel that a week like the last two days would quite re- 
 fresh me, and make me feel like another man." 
 
 " Give us ( Good-Bye,' Miss Jennie, and we will go, 
 as I see our horses are at the gate." 
 
 It was a lovely night, and, as they rode on, each was 
 filled with his own thoughts. 
 
 Dr. Gray had discovered new beauties in the charac- 
 ter of his aifianced which he had thought it not possible 
 to do, as he had imagined he had found one almost 
 perfect. 
 
 They arrived at the Doctor's office, and found such 
 a reassuring note as to the condition of his patients that 
 he concluded to go at once to his room. 
 
 Passing the note to his friend, he said : 
 
 " It would have been a fine joke if I had stayed long 
 enough to allow them all to get well, and find myself 
 without patients. An old friend of mine tells it, as a 
 joke on himself, that he got sick one time, and recovered 
 so slowly that all of his patients got out and came to 
 see him, even his chronic cases. He said he stood it 
 all very well till one day a visitor was announced, and 
 in walked an old fellow who had been advised by him 
 to make his will and settle up his business, as his days 
 were numbered. ( That,' he said, ' was the straw which 
 broke the camel's back, and you may be assured I lost 
 no time in getting out, for I saw my living was lost if
 
 80 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 I stayed in longer.' I must see what I can do for your 
 entertainment to-morrow. Though I do not think it 
 will be very long before you turn your face in this di- 
 rection again ; I think I can discern the future to some 
 extent." 
 
 " That remains to be seen. I admit that this heart 
 of mine, which heretofore has been thought by my 
 friends to be made of adamant, has received an im- 
 pression. However, I must not rush into danger, but 
 must calmly take my bearings and see what is ahead of 
 me. It will never do to go blindly into a matter of 
 so much moment. I'll say this much, if there is any 
 chance to win, I am in for the race. I enjoyed my 
 trip so very much. I never saw two more lovely homes 
 than those you introduced me into," was Fred's honest 
 reply. " I could but wonder all the time that Mrs. 
 Marvin should remain a widow. She is rather young 
 looking, handsome, and very attractive in manner." 
 
 " Now do not go to match-making, Fred. It is 
 quite a thankless task. Though some of the neighbor- 
 hood gossips have hinted that she and Colonel Carter 
 would make a match, I hardly, think so. Both seem 
 so wedded to their families and to the memory of hus- 
 band and wife." 
 
 The next morning they started out rather early. Dr. 
 Gray wanted to talk over his plans for his bridal outing 
 with his friend. He said : 
 
 " I am glad to be able to say to you in person what 
 I had intended to write you in a few days. It is so
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 81 
 
 much more satisfactory. The exact date has not been 
 definitely determined on yet for our marriage. I am 
 anxious to spend a month at Niagara and other points 
 of interest, either on the Lakes, or the Catskills, or 
 Adirondacks. We have not quite made up our minds 
 yet. We will, of course, expect you to be present. It 
 was my intention to write to you as soon as a date was 
 decided on." 
 
 " Let me help you to a decision by making a sug- 
 gestion, which you will see at once is not altogether 
 unselfish." 
 
 " I am sure I'll be obliged for one," said Dr. Gray. 
 
 "To Niagara, then, by all means, and there are 
 many points of interest near by which you can easily 
 reach from there, and will consume but little time. A 
 trip then by steamer to Montreal and Quebec ; thence 
 by one of the numerous routes to Champlain, and on to 
 the Adirondacks. I have a friend there who keeps 
 one of the best resorts in this or any other country. 
 He always has the most select crowds, and his rooms 
 are always engaged by the opening of the season. If 
 you can induce Miss Jennie to go with you, I would 
 join the party at my very earliest convenience, and 
 there would be no third party * crowd.' Do you see ?" 
 
 " I see, certainly, that you are truthful at least when 
 you own that you are not a disinterested party. I feel 
 certain that the arrangement will suit Eloise, and think 
 there will be no doubt about Miss Jennie's willingness 
 to go along. She is always ready for fun and pleasure.
 
 82 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 I have been anxious to take my sister along, and that 
 will suit exactly. I'll write at once and unfold your 
 plan, and through Eloise present the invitation to Miss 
 Jennie," was the Doctor's reply. 
 
 " In the meantime I will write to my friend and 
 tell him of our intentions, and get him to hold for us a 
 certain cottage, which I consider the most desirable 
 there. The scenery from its porch is most inspiring. 
 He can hold that one till he hears positively from us. 
 His terms are quite moderate, when the cuisine and 
 other accommodations are considered." 
 
 " That is a capital arrangement, and I hope it can be 
 carried out to the letter, and all the hopes of the party 
 be fully realized," was the reply. 
 
 "To which I say a hearty amen. I go as far south 
 as Atlanta, but will remain only a few days. I'll direct 
 him to write to me at this point, and by the time I 
 return I hope all parties may have been heard from, 
 and we can complete our plans before I go home. I 
 will have to emulate the beaver in industry to get my 
 business in good shape so that I can enjoy the trip." 
 
 " Well, here is my buggy. We'll talk as we go. I 
 must see all my patients, but will make my visits short, 
 except in cases of necessity," replied Dr. Gray. 
 
 " This is a pretty old town, and it looks as if your 
 craft might find it distressingly healthy." 
 
 "It is a fairly healthful city, and we are never 
 visited by epidemics. This is the home of my famous 
 patient ; I may stay a little long here. Suppose you
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 83 
 
 drive up several squares and turn to your left and come 
 down to this street again. It will be more pleasant 
 than sitting alone." 
 
 When he got back he found the Doctor on the 
 pavement waiting for him. 
 
 " I found my patient so near convalescent, I did not 
 have to stay long. Her gratitude is overwhelming. 
 I scarcely know what to say to her. I told her I 
 thought I was to be under obligations, as so few would 
 have submitted to the operation. I was perfectly can- 
 did with her and told her just how slim her chances 
 were ; but it was her only hope. So many would have 
 given up in despair. But for the sake of her widowed 
 mother, whose only support she is, she took the great 
 risk."
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 A VISIT TO RICHMOND. 
 
 ELOISE spent the night at Belmont, that she and 
 Jennie might arrange for their Richmond trip. 
 
 Colonel Carter and Miss Lizzie drove home soon 
 after the departure of the other guests. 
 
 The girls very soon retired to their rooms but cer- 
 tainly not to sleep. There was so much to be talked 
 over, and it was the first time they had had an oppor- 
 tunity to exchange opinions of their new acquaintance. 
 
 Jennie asked : 
 
 " How did you like Mr. Young, Eloise ?" 
 
 " I was charmed with him ; but, having heard so 
 much of him, I was prepared to like him. Of course, 
 as he and the Doctor are such fast friends, I had heard 
 only his good qualities portrayed, and am not at all 
 disappointed. This meeting, however, was quite unex- 
 pected. I knew he was to be here at our marriage, and 
 thought I had spoken to you about him." 
 
 " No, I never heard of him before, and he would 
 have been no more of a surprise if he had dropped 
 from the clouds." 
 
 " Well, give your opinion of him, then," Eloise said. 
 
 " It is quite like your own. Of course, while first 
 impressions are generally most lasting, I think in meet-
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 85 
 
 ing strangers we should be very careful in forming our 
 estimates of them." 
 
 " In this case I am afraid he was not very prudent, 
 then, in forming his. If ever I have seen a case of 
 love at first sight, this was one. I am sure, if he had 
 consulted his own inclination, he would have kept you 
 singing your Scotch ballads till now. Dr. Gray shared 
 my opinion on the subject. He said he thought he 
 would never allow him to get to sleep at all last night. 
 He is a talented lawyer, with a very lucrative practice 
 for so young a man, Dr. Gray thinks. We will have 
 to calmly rest on our oars and see what we shall see. 
 Is that it, Jennie ? " 
 
 " I know of nothing else to do, and I am Presbyte- 
 rian enough to believe ' what's to be will be ' if it 
 never happens." 
 
 " What does Mrs. Marvin say about your trip to 
 Eichmond?" 
 
 " She is quite willing, and approves of our plans. 
 Have you decided as to the time ? " 
 
 " If next Monday suits you I would prefer that day. 
 We can get through with everything and get home 
 before Sunday. I do not wish to be absent from my 
 class. I am so interested in my boys. They are mostly 
 a bright and studious set of boys. I am troubled about 
 a teacher for them. There are four unconverted ones 
 yet ; they are the objects of prayer, and I hope to see 
 them safely in the fold before I leave them. I have so 
 longed to have at least one of them called of God to
 
 86 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 preach. I feel that it may be realized in Gordon Glenn. 
 He has very clear convictions on all religious subjects, 
 and I am sure he is deeply thinking on this subject. 
 While his aspirations lead him in an entirely different 
 direction now, I am sure all of his hopes and aims will 
 succumb to God's call, if it pleases him to send it." 
 
 Eloise left early for home the next morning to com- 
 plete her arrangements. As she rode along she thought 
 over all that transpired during the Doctor's visit. She 
 was so happy when with him that she could not bring 
 herself to the point of broaching the subject which for 
 days had caused her so much anxiety. She tried in 
 vain to think of something he had said that would be 
 reassuring that his heart was stayed on higher and 
 holier things than those of this world. 
 
 She reasoned with herself in this wise. It had been 
 more than a month since she had seen him, and very 
 naturally there were many things to be said. The 
 final details of their wedding tour were to be settled, 
 and they had but little time alone. 
 
 He had left for her to choose a place to quietly 
 spend two weeks of the time, after seeing New York, 
 Niagara and some other points. They did not decide 
 whether it should be one of the many delightful resorts 
 in the Adirondacks or Catskills. It had been her 
 dream to visit these places, and a prospect of the reali- 
 zation made it hard to decide just where they would 
 rest. 
 
 She spent the day in arranging for her trip. There
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 87 
 
 were so many things to be thought of. Every now 
 and then her aunt would come in and add some item 
 to the already long list. 
 
 "I think you have certainly completed it now, 
 Eloise. I had no idea there would be so many things 
 to buy," she said. 
 
 " There is only one thing more. Mammy must have 
 a nice black dress and a suitable cap for the occasion. 
 She will want to look her best." 
 
 " What is troubling her, Eloise ? I have come upon 
 her suddenly several times and found her weeping. 
 She says it is not that you are going away. I thought 
 she would feel so lonely and miss Tom more." 
 
 " Poor old body ! She will not be long in her lone- 
 liness, I am afraid. Her race is almost run. I can 
 see that she fails all the time. I know she will grieve 
 sorely for me. 
 
 " This trunk is ready and I am free for the rest 
 of the day. I'll hunt father and see if he will go 
 with me to see about Tommy Clark. He was absent 
 from his class last Sunday, and I am sure there 
 must be something wrong, as he is always in place 
 promptly." 
 
 She soon found her father, and as usual, her will was 
 his pleasure. They were soon on their way. Much 
 to her surprise, she found all four of the children down 
 with measles. 
 
 Mrs. Clark saw them coming and went out quickly 
 to meet them. She was afraid that if Eloise had not
 
 88 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 had the disease, she would not be willing to come in. 
 In answer to her inquiry, Eloise replied : 
 
 " Oh, yes, Miss Clark, I've been through the whole 
 catalogue chicken-pox, measles, mumps, whooping- 
 cough, etc." 
 
 " I am certainly glad to hear you say so, for my 
 Tommy has begged me to send for you ; says he wants 
 to tell you something. After they all broke out I 
 thought it might not be right to send for you. I 
 heard, too, that you had company." 
 
 " I am sorry you did not send. Has he been very 
 sick?" 
 
 "No, not after he was well broken out. Before 
 that he said he thought his head would burst. He had 
 very high fevers, and was a little delirious for a day 
 and night. His whole talk was about Sunday-school 
 and Bob Sims. I guess Bob is so bad, he thought he 
 was troublesome to you." 
 
 They went in to see the children, who were all beg- 
 ging for something good to eat. They said : u Mother's 
 cooking is not good like it used to be." 
 
 Eloise could but laugh as she thought of her own 
 experience. She begged Aunt Lizzie to get another 
 cook. She couldn't feel that the disease and not the 
 cook was responsible. 
 
 She amused the children very much by relating her 
 experience, and the mother was grateful for the surcease 
 of complaints for a time at least. 
 
 She went over to Tommy's cot and put her hand on
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 89 
 
 his forehead. He looked up into her face, and, with a 
 smile, said: 
 
 " Miss Eloise, I've trusted Jesus since I saw you. 
 I have joined our band, and I have been trying to pray 
 for Bob Sims. I know now that Jesus is willing to 
 save Bob. The trouble is, I'm afraid Bob ain't willing. 
 But it is mostly the Ferguson boys that is the matter 
 with Bob. They won't go to church, and do all they 
 can to keep him away. But he loves you, and hates 
 not to please you." 
 
 " You have no idea how happy you have made me, 
 Tommy. I have expected it, though. You know we 
 have God's promise that where two or three even are 
 agreed to ask a thing in his name, he will surely answer. 
 I think now we must agree upon another thing, and 
 that is to make the Ferguson boys objects of our special 
 prayers. If we can change them, or, rather, if God's 
 grace changes them, we will be able to do more for 
 Bob. I am so glad you told what the trouble is. I'll 
 mention it to each of the band, and, in addition to that, 
 we will make an effort to get them interested in Sunday- 
 school. I'll be away from home all of next week, but 
 expect to return in time for Sunday, and hope you will 
 be well enough to meet with us. I am sure you will 
 be able to come if the weather is at all suitable. You 
 must be very careful and not take cold. It might 
 cause some serious trouble. I see that your mother is 
 keeping a dark room and guarding your eyes. That is 
 well, as so often serious injury is done to the eyes by
 
 90 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 lack of proper care. I am glad that you are all doing 
 so well. 
 
 " I know you will feel greatly relieved, Mrs. Clark, 
 when they are all out again." 
 
 " Indeed, I will. I've been kept pretty close ; but 
 know I'll not be troubled with it again." 
 
 " I am ready, father," said Eloise. 
 
 Mrs. Clark insisted that they stay longer, and ex- 
 pressed her appreciation of the visit. 
 
 "Daughter, I would like to go about a half mile 
 farther down the road. I want to get one of the Hart 
 boys to do some work for me next week. I noticed 
 that several of the out-houses need repairing, as well 
 as the fences. ' A stitch in time saves nine,' the old 
 adage says. I might have gone there while you paid 
 your visit, if I had only thought of it in time." 
 
 " I am glad you did not. I want to go that way. 
 We will have to pass the Ferguson's on our way there, 
 I think." 
 
 "Yes, they live, or rather exist, just this side of 
 Hart's," he replied. 
 
 Just as they came near the house, Eloise saw three 
 boys, with their fishing rods, coming up from the oppo- 
 site direction. One she recognized as Bob Sims. 
 
 " Stop, father ; I'll get out and see Mrs. Ferguson 
 while you go on your errand." 
 
 The boys had stopped, and were watching to see who 
 was passing. They certainly did not think of any one 
 stopping there, or they would have been out of sight
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 91 
 
 before she had time to get out of the buggy. As it 
 was, they were so bewildered when Colonel Carter turned 
 his horse, and she jumped out right in their midst, that 
 they seemed fairly rooted to the ground. 
 
 Bob was the first to recover from his astonishment 
 and reply to her hearty greeting : 
 
 " How do you do, boys ? Where did you catch those 
 beauties ? I had no idea we had such fine fish near us." 
 
 " Down there," with a nod of his head in the direc- 
 tion from which they came, " in Davis' mill pond. Get 
 heap bigger ones than these sometimes." 
 
 " Is that so ? Then I would like to go with you 
 some day. I haven't been fishing since I was a little 
 girl." 
 
 The boys eyed her from head to foot ; then they 
 looked at each other, as if to say, " She can't fool us ; 
 we know she wouldn't be caught with us." 
 
 This thought passed through her mind, as she eyed 
 them just as critically as they did her : " Perhaps this 
 is my opportunity ; I may reach them in this way. 
 The Lord had said to his disciples of old, ' I will make 
 you fishers of men ; ' and may not I, while catching fish 
 in the mill-pond, win these boys to a better life? It 
 is worth the trial." 
 
 " Would you let me go with you some day ? " she 
 asked. 
 
 " Yes'm, if you want to," Aleck Ferguson answered. 
 
 " Bob, you will have to bait for me ; I don't think 
 I could do that."
 
 92 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 " I'll do it, sure. "When are you coming ? " 
 
 " I am going away Monday, and will not be back 
 before Saturday. We can go some nice day the follow- 
 ing week. I'll let you know at Sunday-school what 
 day will suit, and you can tell these boys. We will 
 meet here, if that pleases all of you." 
 
 They nodded assent. 
 
 She had looked towards the house severel times 
 during the conversation. She saw two untidy-looking 
 girls and a woman peeping out at her. 
 
 " I think I'll run in and see your mother, boys. Get 
 over here?" Suiting the action to the question, she 
 was over the rail fence before one of them had recovered 
 from the astonishment of her announcement. 
 
 The girls went out of sight ; but Mrs. Ferguson met 
 her at the door, with evident embarrassment. 
 
 " Good evening, Mrs. Ferguson. I am Eloise Carter. 
 I was talking with the boys about their fish. I had no 
 idea we had such nice ones so near us." 
 
 She had taken the proffered chair, which Mrs. Fer- 
 guson dusted with her apron. 
 
 " Yes'm, the boys are always fishin' or huntin'. I 
 tell 'em they had better be doing something better. I 
 get so tired out of fish, rabbit, and such like." 
 
 " They are good at either, then." 
 
 "Yes'm ; mighty lucky, too. But it is all the same, 
 Sunday or Monday. 'Pears to me they bring in the 
 biggest lots for me to clean on Sundays." 
 
 " Do you never go to church ? "
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 93 
 
 " No'm ; I ain't heard a sermon going on six years. 
 Ferguson and the boys work so little, we are always 
 behind hand getting clothes. I try to get the children's 
 first, and then I am generally left out. I ain't had a 
 thing fit to go to meetin' in ; I can't get the boys to 
 go, and the girls can't go alone." 
 
 " If I were to send you some of my dresses, couldn't 
 you make them over to fit the two girls I saw ? " 
 
 " To be sure, I could, and thank you for them. I 
 used to be handy with my needle, but since we moved 
 here it seems everything has gone down hill, and I've 
 lost heart. I wasn't raised so, but somehow I've fallen 
 into the slipshod ways of Ferguson and the boys ; 
 though I don't hold with their doing like they do on 
 Sunday, Miss Carter ; I just can't help myself." 
 
 " We are all powerless to help ourselves often, Mrs. 
 Ferguson ; but we have a Friend who will always lend 
 a listening ear if we go to him with our cares. I hope 
 you can do that." 
 
 " Not often. I tell you, I am all wrong and off the 
 track. The preacher has been here and invited us to 
 church. Somehow I couldn't talk to him like I have 
 to you. I don't think a man can understand these 
 things like a woman." 
 
 The poor woman felt a sense of relief. It had been 
 so long since she had been able to pour her heart sor- 
 rows into so sympathetic an ear. 
 
 " I see father coming, and I must go ; but I hope to 
 see you again soon. I have promised the boys or
 
 94 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 rather, they promised to let me go with them fishing 
 some day soon. I am glad to have met you, and hope 
 I may be of some service in helping you out of your 
 difficulties soon. You tell me you are the only pro- 
 fessed follower of the Lord in the family. Try to let 
 your light so shine that your husband and boys may be 
 induced to follow it." 
 
 " Lor', miss, it is such a poor one they couldn't take 
 one step by it." 
 
 "It is your privilege to brighten it. I hope to see 
 you soon. Good-bye." 
 
 The Ferguson boys were not in sight when she came 
 out. Bob Sims, with a small split basket, came up 
 to her and said : 
 
 " Miss Eloise, Aleck and Jack want you to have the 
 fish for your breakfast, if you will take them." 
 
 " Certainly I will, and am much obliged to you all. 
 I know I will enjoy them." 
 
 " Were you successful in getting the help you wanted, 
 father?" ' 
 
 " Oh, yes. Tom was very glad to get the job. He 
 had no work and was agreeably surprised to know my 
 business. If I have enough timber I can keep him 
 busy a month." 
 
 " How did you find the Fergusons ? Pretty bad off, 
 aren't they ? " 
 
 " Yes, in many respects they are very poor." 
 
 " What have you in your basket ? " he asked. 
 
 " Guess."
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 95 
 
 " Never could guess anything in my life ; you know 
 that." 
 
 " Fish. The boys gave me their catch." 
 
 " That was bad for them, I am afraid. I expect the 
 woods and streams furnish the greater part of their 
 food, from what Tom Hart told me. He says they are 
 a shiftless set, from the father down." 
 . " I have great sympathy for Mrs. Ferguson. She 
 seems to have seen better days. Everything has gone 
 down hill with them, till she hasn't the courage to even 
 attempt to get up again." 
 
 She then told her father what Tommy Clark told 
 her about them, and their influence over Bob Sims. 
 
 " It seemed really providential that I should have 
 met them just as I did. If I had been a ghost, and 
 dropped in their midst, they could not have been more 
 startled than when I stepped out of the buggy. They 
 had no idea of my stopping there. I found everything 
 at loose ends, inside as well as out. I am going to try 
 to help them to get on the up-grade again. I'll venture 
 you would never guess, sure enough, what my first step 
 is to be, so I'll tell you. I am going fishing with 
 the boys." 
 
 " Well, I must say it looks very much like you 
 would give the kick which is said to be given to those 
 who have reached the level, that they may not rise 
 again, instead of lending a helping hand." 
 
 " I admit that appearances are against me, but trust 
 to my judgment, and wait and see."
 
 96 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 At the supper-table she said to her aunt : 
 
 " Can you get me up a real nice lunch for a lot of 
 hungry boys, the Monday after I get back home?" 
 
 " I guess I can." 
 
 " You cannot guess what wild goose chase she is on 
 now," laughingly said her father. 
 
 " I supposed, as soon as she asked the question, that 
 she wanted to give her boys a pic-nic. I thought I 
 could have all that was necessary for them." 
 
 " No, I am going fishing with the Ferguson boys 
 and Bob Sims, in Davis' mill pond. I went to see 
 Mrs. Ferguson this afternoon. The boys gave me the 
 fish I brought home. I want so much to help them to 
 a better life. The boys fish and hunt on Sunday. I 
 want to get my boys to work on them. The girls 
 would be glad to go to Sunday-school, if their brothers 
 would go with them. I felt ashamed of our neglect. 
 They have lived there several months. I realize that I 
 have lived very selfishly of late, and must try to make 
 amends for it now. I promised to send her a package. 
 I'll be glad for you to let John carry it as early as you 
 can." 
 
 Mrs. Ferguson watched the phaeton till it was out of 
 sight. She felt, as she turned to go in, that a ray of 
 sunlight had penetrated her darkened home. She re- 
 peated softly to herself, " Let your light shine." Con- 
 science asked, " Have you." 
 
 She was forced to admit that she had not. It is 
 true she had little to encourage her, but she remem-
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 97 
 
 bered the command was not to let it shine when all was 
 bright and sunny around you, for there would be less 
 need. How much more was it needed when all within 
 and without was dark and dreary ? She mentally re- 
 solved to hide it no longer under a bushel, but to let it 
 shine, if only it gave out the feeblest light. 
 
 She looked around and felt rebuked by the untidi- 
 ness of everything about the house. She called the 
 two girls to her and said : 
 
 " See how nice and clean you can make everything 
 in here, while I get supper. I was so ashamed that 
 Miss Carter caught the house so dirty. It is too late 
 now, but next week we will clean up generally." 
 
 The two girls, aged thirteen and eleven, seemed to 
 feel the comparison between their visitor and them- 
 selves, and in a way longed to look like her. They 
 went to work earnestly, and by the time supper was 
 ready they had quite transformed the appearance of 
 the room. 
 
 Aleck noticed the change as soon as he entered. 
 
 " Locked the stable door after the horse was stolen, 
 didn't you, ma ?" he asked. 
 
 " Yes. But I am going to keep cleaner. I want 
 you to help me. You are the oldest, and the others 
 will follow your example." 
 
 " Didn't she look nice, though ? She didn't do like 
 
 rich folks. Bob says her father is the richest man 
 
 about here. She is his Sunday-school teacher. We 
 
 were going down to Forbes* to-morrow to get the 
 
 7
 
 98 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 hound he promised us, but Bob says he ain't going, 
 because he promised her to be at Sunday-school, and 
 it will be too late then." 
 
 " My son, I wish you and Jack had the clothes and 
 would go to church, too. I hate to see you roving about 
 and doing things like you do. I admit it is part my 
 fault, but I am going to try to do better." 
 
 Even this little open confession was a relief to her, 
 and she felt like there was something brighter in store 
 for her. 
 
 "She is coming to go fishing with us. She ain't one 
 bit stuck up, is she ? " Aleck asked. 
 
 " No, she ain't. She just sat on that old split-bottom 
 chair like she was used to it. She didn't keep pulling 
 up her skirts, as if the floor was dirty. She is a real 
 lady, I know. When is she coming ? Did she tell you ?" 
 
 With the questions came the mental resolve that the 
 house should be as clean as soap, water and sand 
 could make it. 
 
 " She is going away Monday. She is going to tell 
 Bob to-morrow. He says she'll come certain. She 
 never fools anybody. If me and Jack could get some 
 work we could buy some clothes and go to church, too." 
 
 Bright and early the next morning, Bob set out. 
 He felt so important ; Miss Eloise was to have a special 
 message for him. He secretly hoped the other boys 
 would get there in time to hear her tell him. 
 
 Eloise, too, was a little earlier than usual. She saw 
 Bob as soon as she alighted from the carriage.
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 99 
 
 " Ah ! " she thought, " Tom's prayer may be answered 
 sooner than we expect." 
 
 She went towards him, and he seemed less shy than 
 usual. 
 
 " Good morning, Bob. I am glad we are both so 
 early. I haven't been down to the spring for a long 
 time. I remember when I was a little girl the sight 
 of the path made me thirsty. Let's go down and 
 get a drink. Have you thought about our fishing 
 excursion ? " 
 
 " Yes'm, we talked about it after you were gone. 
 Jack says he bets you fool us ; that he knows rich folks 
 like you ain't going to fish with the likes of us." 
 
 " What did you tell him ? " 
 
 " I said you would, 'cept you was sick or dead, or 
 it rained." 
 
 " Thank you, Bob, for defending me. I've arranged 
 to come to-morrow week. That is a holiday, you know 
 the very day everybody goes fishing. I'll bring the 
 lunch for all. We'll meet at Mr. Ferguson's that is, 
 if I am not sick or dead, or it doesn't rain. Do you 
 think all of the class would like to join us ? " 
 
 Bob almost felt himself grow. To be consulted by 
 Miss Eloise Carter. Whew ! It almost took his breath. 
 
 " Them boys ? They'd be just as proud as me and 
 Aleck and Jack." 
 
 " All right, then, we will ask them ; and if you've 
 had the measles, I'll get you to go and tell the Clarks 
 about it."
 
 100 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 Bob wondered how he came to have all these honors 
 thrust upon him at once. He was delighted, when they 
 came back, to see that almost all of the boys had come, 
 and saw him walking with the teacher. 
 
 After exchanging salutations with them, she said : 
 
 " Boys, Bob and I have a scheme on hand, and want 
 all of you who will join us to say ' Aye.' " 
 
 They responded in chorus. 
 
 " Going to trust us, are you ? Well, it is this : Bob 
 and I, and some other boys " 
 
 They laughed outright at her mistake. 
 
 " What is it ? What did I say wrong ? Oh, I see. 
 I thought I was a boy, too. Bob, some other boys and 
 I are going fishing Whit Monday, and want you to join 
 us. Bob will tell you all about it another time. It is 
 time for the bell, and we will go in." 
 
 She found it a little hard to hold their attention. 
 They were glad when the dismissal came, that they 
 might find out all about it from Bob. 
 
 Before they went out, she told them about Tommy 
 Clark's conversion, and suggested to them that they 
 extend their prayers beyond their own class, to those 
 who did not attend any school. 
 
 " Thereby we will get a two-fold blessing," she said ; 
 " one for our own obedience, and the other one that 
 we've been instrumental in trying to influence others to 
 lead better lives."
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 MRS. GRAY'S PROTEST. 
 
 TUESDAY afternoon, when Eloise and Jennie came 
 in from a shopping excursion, they found several let- 
 ters which had been forwarded to them. 
 
 They were silently busy for a while, when Eloise 
 exclaimed : 
 
 " This is grand !" 
 
 " I thought that was the sentence passed on all of 
 them. I did not know that any of his letters admitted 
 comparison all in the superlative degree," said Jennie. 
 
 " Listen and hear what he says concerning you, and 
 then an expression of opinion will be in order." 
 
 She read that part of his letter which unfolded Mr. 
 Young's plan for their trip. When she came to the 
 part asking her to invite Miss Jennie Marvin to join 
 their party, adding that his sister also would be one of 
 the number, and Mr. Young for a greater part of the 
 time, she rushed so Eloise and, holding out her arm, 
 said to her : 
 
 " Pinch me ! Stick me with a pin ! Do anything 
 to reveal my identity. I cannot believe it all. Surely, 
 Rip Van Winkle was not more uncertain of his iden- 
 tity, when he crept down the mountain side, than I am 
 at this moment. I do not believe it possible that I 
 am about to realize my longed-for desire, and that has
 
 102 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 been this very trip in June bright, leafy June ! Are 
 you sure you have read it aright ?" 
 
 " See for yourself," offering her the letter. 
 
 "No, I'll trust you, but it does seem almost too good 
 to be true. I am so glad I took mother's advice and 
 got the evening dress. I will have to add a dark, 
 heavy one for the cool days in the mountains. I think 
 it would be wise for each of us to get a good, stout pair 
 of walking shoes." 
 
 "Yes, that will be necessary," Eloise replied. 
 Though one of the special attractions of this resort, so 
 highly recommended by Mr. Young, is its fine livery 
 service. Yet there will be many excursions which we 
 will prefer to make afoot." 
 
 They were kept busy all the week, but had so ar- 
 ranged that everything would be ready to be sent to 
 them by the last of the following week. 
 
 Saturday, at noon, they reached home, feeling quite 
 fatigued by their busy week. 
 
 Each household was pleased when told of the ar- 
 rangements made. Mrs. Marvin was specially glad for 
 Jennie to have an opportunity to make this visit in 
 such congenial company. 
 
 There is another to be equally as much startled by 
 this proposition as Jennie was. 
 
 Dr. Gray did not mention his plans in his own home 
 till he had a reply from Eloise. "While he had not a 
 doubt as to her answer, yet he thought it wiser to wait 
 till it came.
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 103 
 
 At the supper table, the same evening on which he 
 received her letter, he said to Alice : 
 
 " Sister mine, how do you think you would enjoy a 
 trip to Niagara and the Adirondacks ?" 
 
 " More than anything else I can think of, except, 
 perhaps, one to Europe. One seems as much a proba- 
 bility as the other. Why did you ask the question ?" 
 
 " I hope the desire for the European tour may as 
 easily be gratified as this one. I have decided to take 
 you with us on our tour for the month." 
 
 Mrs. Gray's ideas of propriety were somewhat 
 shocked, and she felt that she must express herself on 
 the subject before the idea took firm hold on her daugh- 
 ter. She knew it would be a very great disappoint- 
 ment to her if her expectations could not be realized. 
 So she said to her son : 
 
 " Charlie, have you thought advisedly on this matter ? 
 There are many ways of looking at it. Perhaps Miss 
 Eloise would greatly prefer that the honeymoon should 
 be spent without the third party." 
 
 Mrs. Gray was a lady of the old regime, who thought 
 there should be a moral fitness in everything. She added : 
 
 " I know some ladies have very strict ideas on this 
 subject, and I certainly would not be willing for Alice 
 to intrude on her sense of propriety at all." 
 
 Poor Alice felt as if she was about to tumble from 
 some lofty height. She was so delighted at the proposal, 
 and in her imagination was already gazing on the beauties 
 of Niagara.
 
 104 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 " Oh, mamma, do not object ! I am sure brother 
 Charlie would not have asked me if it had not been 
 proper." 
 
 " I can set that matter at rest at once. I have always 
 thought that what she wrote to me was to be known only 
 to myself. However, I'll let Alice read aloud what 
 she says on this subject, and then you can judge for 
 yourselves. I had thought all the time of taking Alice. 
 When Fred was here he met Miss Jennie Marvin, and 
 I think fell desperately in love with her. We were 
 talking the matter over, and he proposed inviting her 
 to join us, and he would spend a large part of the time 
 with us, too. That made the way plain, and I at once 
 wrote to Eloise about it. Here is her reply. You can 
 read that much aloud." 
 
 " I am perfectly delighted at the proposition to take 
 your sister and Jennie along. Jennie is perfectly wild 
 at the idea. Says she cannot believe it true, and ex- 
 presses a very sympathetic feeling for Rip Van Winkle 
 when he was trying to settle himself. I am longing to 
 know your people and love them all, but more especially 
 your sister. I have always felt so poor in respect to 
 relationship. I could never help feeling a little pang 
 of jealousy when I see large happy families and realize 
 that I never knew a brother's or sister's love. It has 
 been different about my mother, of whom I have so 
 indistinct a recollection. I have been brought up to 
 feel that she was near me all the time. She is daily and 
 hourly talked about. Her likes and dislikes are as
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 105 
 
 familiar to me as if I had them from her own lips. 
 Aunt Lizzie and Mammy have been so true to the trust 
 she gave them that I cannot feel her loss as I would 
 under other circumstances. I know Mr. Young will 
 enjoy the girls' society. He seemed to be quite a 
 gallant. I am not at all given to match-making, but 
 it seems to me the attraction was mutual when he and 
 Jennie met. However, we will have to await further 
 developments. Do you not think so ? " 
 
 " I am sure, mamma, you could not wish a more 
 cordial acquiescence than that ; I, for my part, am per- 
 fectly satisfied. I shall try to give her all the sisterly 
 affection she is pining for," Alice said. 
 
 " Yes, daughter, I like the tone of the letter very 
 much, and, having heard so much of her many amiable 
 qualities, I am sure we will all love her. I am glad 
 to have you with us for an evening, Charlie, and hope 
 we will have no interruptions. I have seen so little of 
 you of late that I am quite in the dark as to your ar- 
 rangements. I am sorry that your father had the 
 engagement with his friends to-night. I would have 
 been glad to have had him with us. I do not think 
 he will object to Alice joining the party. I will have 
 to know at once, though, so as to make the necessary 
 preparations for such an extended tour. Now I want 
 to know your plans, if you have settled them definitely. 
 Will you board at the hotel or bring your bride to live 
 with us ? " 
 
 " I think I know enough to say that we will do
 
 106 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 neither. Colonel Carter is anxious to give her a nicely 
 furnished house as a bridal present. But he wishes 
 that kept a profound secret. That is why I have not 
 mentioned it to you earlier. 
 
 He is negotiating with a party for one now ; but 
 there is some trouble as to the title, and he has a law- 
 yer looking into the matter. He is waiting to see if it 
 can be settled satisfactorily. It is 618 street." 
 
 " Oh, what a lovely home that will be, brother ! 
 And so near us, too. That will be perfectly splendid." 
 
 " I think the title is all right, and there will be no 
 trouble about procuring it. He thinks the month that 
 we are away will be sufficient for the furnishing, and he 
 intends to ask your assistance in that. I have often 
 wished for that house. I felt real queer when he told 
 of his intention. He asked if it was in an eligible 
 neighborhood, and how it would suit my convenience ?" 
 
 Nothing could have been more pleasing to Mrs. 
 Gray than to be selected to assist in furnishing the 
 house. She had exquisite taste, and had often wished 
 to have the money to gratify it. 
 
 " Another question, my son. At what hour will the 
 marriage take place ? Will it be a church or home 
 wedding ? Of course you expect to take our own min- 
 ister with you to perform the ceremony." 
 
 " One at a time, please. It will take place at eleven 
 o'clock, June tenth, in the parlors at Sunnymeade. A 
 lunch will be served immediately after, and we will 
 catch the train which passes the station at 3:30 in the
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 107 
 
 afternoon. We will reach Norfolk at seven o'clock 
 next morning, in time to go aboard the New York 
 steamer. We will get breakfast on the steamer. I 
 had never thought of asking Dr. Allison to perform 
 the ceremony. Of course, there will be an invitation 
 sent to him and his family. 
 
 " Eloise is a Baptist, ' dipped and dyed in the wool.' 
 Her pastor, Dr. Gordon, has served the church for 
 almost a half century. He, I am sure, baptized her 
 mother. I know he officiated at their marriage, and 
 also at her funeral. It would almost break her heart 
 for any one else to be asked. He is a grand man, and 
 has grown old more gracefully than any one I ever 
 saw. He enters into all the work and plans of the 
 church as heartily as any man of thirty would do." 
 
 "Surely she will not join this Baptist Church here? 
 Does she know how very plain the members are? You 
 must certainly tell her candidly about them. She 
 would never forgive you if you allow her to cast her lot 
 with that set. There is not a single family in the 
 church, as far as I know, who goes at all into society. 
 Of course, if she goes there some of them will call on 
 her and she will have to return the calls, or she will be 
 considered proud. To prevent anything of the kind, 
 it would he much wiser for you to get a pew in our 
 own church, and tell her that you prefer that she 
 should go with you." 
 
 " Go with me, did you say ? I haven't heard a ser- 
 mon, except those I heard Dr. Gordon preach, since I
 
 108 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 came from Germany. I am sure I will not be expected 
 to go now. I can easily get out of it by attending to 
 my practice at that hour. Etiquette will demand two 
 or three times to any church of her selection. After 
 that, well " 
 
 " In that case, my son, I see the greater need for 
 arranging for her to attend with us. You certainly will 
 not want to turn her, a stranger in the city, loose with 
 all of those poor folks in that church." 
 
 " Between us, the poorer they are and the more they 
 need help, the better she will like them, I think. I 
 will not interfere with her religion, and I hope she will 
 not with mine that is, with the lack of it." 
 
 A ring at the door-bell meant an urgent call to a 
 child with convulsions. That settled the family con- 
 clave for that night. 
 
 It was well for the two who had spent so many 
 wakeful hours on this subject of late that they were 
 not allowed to listen to that and the subsequent con- 
 versation in this fashion-loving home. Neither would 
 have enjoyed the tranquil night's rest which they did. 
 
 " I am surprised at your brother, Alice. The idea 
 of his not interfering in such a serious matter. I 
 know he has taken very little interest in the church 
 since he came home. But I certainly thought he would 
 show some spirit and pride in having his wife go in the 
 best society. That she certainly will not find in the 
 Baptist church here. I wonder how he would feel to 
 see her going around with the laboring class of people ;
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 109 
 
 for instance, with those Smiths, who live near your Aunt 
 Laura's, or Policeman Scott's daughters. I do not be- 
 lieve he has ever given it a serious thought." 
 
 "Mother, I think you look at it too seriously. I see 
 no use of taking that gloomy view of the matter. You 
 seem to forget that one of the things we Americans take 
 most pride in is our religious liberty. While I per- 
 sonally know very few who belong to the Baptist 
 church, those I know very favorably. If all of them 
 are as intelligent as the Scott girls, they have no cause 
 to be ashamed. Annie was always at the head of her 
 class at school, and it is said Emma has a magnificent 
 voice. I heard some one say she had gone to the Bos- 
 ton Conservatory to complete the course in music." 
 
 " That may be true, yet I cannot think your brother 
 would willingly allow her to associate with them," she 
 replied. 
 
 "My opinion is that Mrs. Dr. Charles Gray will 
 think and act to suit herself, in spite of the entire Gray 
 family, and that Dr. Charles Gray will insist that she 
 be allowed to do it. I am sure this member of the 
 family will certainly not dare to molest nor make her 
 afraid," Alice quietly responded. 
 
 " I guess, then, that this is as favorable an oppor- 
 tunity as I may have to enter my protest against your 
 going around visiting any of them with her. As a 
 matter of course, you will be expected to return with 
 her all calls from our set ; but beyond that I draw a 
 line. They I mean those Baptists are a pushing
 
 110 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 set. Our seamstress belongs there. What do you sup- 
 pose she said to me the other day ? " 
 
 " I can't imagine." 
 
 " ( Mrs. Gray, come around some time and hear our 
 new pastor. I am sure you will be pleased with him. 
 They say he is decidedly the best preacher in the city.' 
 I thanked her, but could but wonder who expressed 
 such an opinion of him." 
 
 " It seems to me we ought to be glad to have brother 
 in any church. I feel like he is fast drifting into some 
 of the { isms ' that we would not wish to have him do." 
 
 " I certainly want him in the church, but not the 
 Baptist, if you please," she replied. 
 
 Visitors are announced, and the conversation is nec- 
 essarily ended. 
 
 If they could join the party and go to Davis' mill 
 pond the following Monday, poor Mrs. Gray would be 
 almost ready to forbid the banns. She would feel that 
 her son was to get almost a plebeian wife not one to 
 be any credit to him in society.
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 FISHING IN DAVIS' MILL, POND. 
 
 MONDAY dawned bright and clear, to the great de- 
 light of the Ferguson boys and ten others. 
 
 It had been arranged that they should meet as early 
 as eight o'clock and get the bait ready and cut out 
 some of the weeds on the margin of the pond. 
 
 Mrs. Ferguson had veritably swept and garnished 
 her house. It was scrupulously clean, though sparsely 
 furnished. 
 
 The boys had brought in some beautiful wild flow- 
 ers. An old stone crock and a broken pitcher had 
 been utilized as vases. The boys had whitened the 
 hearth with fuller's clay, also the jamb. The flowers 
 in the improvised vases, and around them a bank of 
 moss and maiden-hair fern, made a beautiful picture 
 against the white background. 
 
 They had found a patch of wild strawberries and had 
 gathered them. They were anxious for a way to serve 
 them. Aleck asked his mother if she had enough 
 saucers she could lend them. She had them, but it 
 was such a dilapidated, odd lot she was ashamed for 
 them to be seen. She said : 
 
 " This is a kind of pic-nic, and nobody eats out of 
 dishes at pic-nics. The best thing is to get some real 
 pretty, smooth leaves and make little baskets. I used
 
 112 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 to do that when I was a little girl, and they taste lots 
 better out of them than they would out of china dishes." 
 
 It struck them as the proper thing to do. 
 
 Aleck had real taste, if there had ever been any 
 chance to develop it. Very soon he had arranged 
 enough baskets to serve the party. 
 
 How eagerly they watched the clock. First one 
 and then another would go to the door to see if they 
 were yet in sight. 
 
 At last Jack said : 
 
 " Here they come. No, it is only a wagon, but it is 
 full of people. She will come in a carriage." 
 
 Pretty soon they recognized her. The wagon was full, 
 indeed. She had brought some girls along, and called 
 by for the Clark boys, who were well enough to come. 
 
 "Well, boys, here we are. Had you given us out? 
 I waited just a little while at Mr. Clark's. I am glad 
 to see that you are all here. Have you found a good 
 place to lay the cloth for the lunch ?" she asked. 
 
 u Yes'm," said Bob ; down there by the mint spring. 
 It is so shady and cool there." 
 
 " If it will be safe to put the hampers there now, let 
 John drive down and deposit them. He is going to 
 unhitch the horses and leave them till he comes back 
 for us. He wants a little holiday, too. I guess we 
 will not catch all the fish in the pond before he gets 
 back. I forgot to tell you, Aleck, how much I enjoyed 
 your nice perch for breakfast. I'll go in and speak to 
 your mother a moment, and then we will go."
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 113 
 
 She was surprised and delighted at the changed ap- 
 pearance of the room. The little girls were both pre- 
 sentable this time. She noticed that their calico dresses 
 were clean and neatly made. 
 
 "What a lovely, artistic fireplace you have, Mrs. 
 Ferguson ! This is the first hawthorn I've seen. And 
 what lovely ferns ! Did they grow near here ? The 
 arrangement of your flowers would suggest that you 
 have an artist in the family." 
 
 " Yes'm ; there is no end to the wild flowers ou this 
 place. The blooms are fine this year. My old man 
 says it is a sign of a good crop year. Aleck fixed up 
 the fireplace. He is right smart at anything like that. 
 If he would only take some schooling, he would learn 
 lots about flowers." 
 
 " He certainly ought to cultivate such taste as that," 
 said Eloise. " I will talk to him about it." 
 
 " I do wish you would, Miss Eloise. It will do 
 good, I am sure. They have got a notion of sprucing 
 up since you were here. I hope now they will go to 
 work and get them some clothes to wear to church." 
 
 "Aren't you and the girls coming with us ? I said 
 there was to be no dinner prepared by the mothers to- 
 day," Eloise said to her. 
 
 " Yes'm, we will come after a little while." 
 
 Soon they were all busy with rod and line. Such 
 talking and chattering ! Aleck said : 
 
 " Miss Eloise, the fish ain't going to bite in all this 
 noise. They'll have to be still, if you catch anything." 
 8
 
 114 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 Soon the corks began to bob, and one or two fine 
 perch were caught. 
 
 " By way of encouragement to persevere/' said Jen- 
 nie, who had come along to help entertain the boys. 
 
 It was a source of great amusement to the boys when 
 she, with a great effort, drew up her line, to see dang- 
 ling to it a large eel. 
 
 " Take the thing ! " she screamed out. " I feel as if 
 I had a snake. I have always thought they were 
 cousins." 
 
 " He is a beauty, Miss Jennie," said one of the boys, 
 as he took him from the hook. 
 
 " Ugh ! It gives me the shivers to look at him," 
 she replied. 
 
 The sun began to get warm, and one by one the rods 
 were put aside, and each went nearer the spring and 
 the hampers of lunch. Eloise followed. Glancing up 
 the hill, she saw a pretty, mossy place. She said : 
 
 "All who want to hear some real funny tales, just go 
 up there and sit down with Miss Jennie. She is a 
 marvellous story-teller, and will entertain you till Mrs. 
 Ferguson and I arrange for the lunch." 
 
 Away they scampered, and from the loud laughing 
 and clapping of hands, she was a successful as well as 
 marvellous story-teller. 
 
 They spread the cloths, and soon a bountiful repast 
 was displayed. Mrs. Ferguson spoke to Aleck, and he 
 went in the direction of home. He was soon back with 
 his strawberries, which he had put in the box at the
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 115 
 
 spring to keep cool. He put the little baskets all 
 around the table. 
 
 " My, what a surprise ! " said Eloise. " I didn't 
 know they were ripe yet." 
 
 u No more did I till yesterday. I was walking over 
 the hill, and kept smelling something so good, it made 
 me hungry. I went on further, and I found this patch, 
 just spoiling for somebody to eat them. I had pulled 
 about a dozen when I thought of saving 'em for to-day. 
 I asked ma if they would be good. She said, ' First 
 rate.' Me and Jack got up by time 'twas good day- 
 light and got 'em." 
 
 " I will certainly enjoy them. I prefer the flavor to 
 cultivated ones. The wild ones are generally sweet and 
 juicy." 
 
 " I do, too, Miss Eloise," said Mrs. Ferguson. " I 
 like to pick them out of the patch and eat them. Any- 
 thing else I can do now ? " 
 
 " Yes ; open those tin buckets and fill them out of 
 the spring." 
 
 " Whew ! Ma, just look ! No longer than yester- 
 day you was wishin' you had some lemonade, and here 
 it is," Aleck said. 
 
 " Didn't the ice keep well ? Aunt Lizzie said she 
 thought it would, if covered over with the lemons and 
 sugar. There are the tin cups. I thought of this while 
 I was in Richmond, and was sure it would be a treat. 
 I must look after the Clarks ; I do not want them to 
 get sick. I'll go and call the children."
 
 116 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 She found them very much interested in Jennie's 
 story, and joined in the hand-clapping and hurrahs 
 when it was over. 
 
 " Now I'll tell you one much more interesting than 
 that one," said Eloise. " Once upon a time two ladies 
 spread two cloths on a green, grassy spot, by a cool 
 spring ; then they opened two hampers and put the 
 contents on the two cloths ; then they opened two 
 buckets and and what next ? Everybody who wants 
 to eat from the two cloths and drink from the two 
 buckets must do as I do." 
 
 Suiting the action to her words, she ran as fast as she 
 could down the hill, pursued by a hungry little crowd, 
 who would do full justice to the dinner. 
 
 " Hold on, boys," said Gordon Glenn. " We did not 
 applaud Miss Eloise's story and, with due respect to 
 Miss Jennie, I think hers was the best. Three cheers 
 for her." 
 
 You may rest assured, they were given with a will. 
 
 No dinner served on the finest of china, glass or 
 silver could have been more enjoyed than this one. 
 
 Mrs. Ferguson got rid of her tired look, and entered 
 into the children's pleasure and amusement as she had 
 not done for years. 
 
 There was a superabundance of everything. Eloise 
 insisted that Mrs. Ferguson take the " fragments " 
 as she termed what was left home for her supper, and 
 thus be saved the trouble of preparing that meal. 
 
 f{ Now, children," she said, " I want to express my
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 117 
 
 pleasure at being with you to-day. I am sure we have 
 all enjoyed it. While we sat by the pond and fished, 
 I was reminded of that story of the fishermen in the 
 Bible. You remember, as Christ walked by the Sea of 
 Galilee, he saw two men fishing. He called them and 
 said, l Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.' 
 From that day to this he has wanted us all to be ' fish- 
 ers of men.' Some of you are young and inexperienced, 
 and can do but little towards fishing for men ; yet there 
 is always something that we can do, and none of us 
 must despise the day of small things. I hope to greet 
 you all at Sunday-school. Perhaps Mrs. Ferguson may 
 not be able to come, but the others can." 
 
 " I would like the best in the world to go, if I could. 
 I'll do all I can to get the children off. I must thank 
 you for myself and the children for this day. You 
 have made it brighter for us, and I hope you will get 
 your reward," she said. 
 
 " I feel equally indebted to you for your kindness 
 and hearty cooperation in carrying out my plans. I 
 must speak to Aleck before I go. Oh, here he is ! I 
 want you to come to Sunnymeade one day this week. 
 I want to get you to decorate for me. Since I have 
 seen the taste you displayed at home, I do not think it 
 will be necessary to get any one from the city, as I had 
 intended to do. I think you can do it. Come, and we 
 will talk about it." 
 
 " I'll come," he said. 
 
 " I see John is ready, and we will go. I'll say
 
 118 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 good-bye to each, with the hope of many more happy 
 days like this." 
 
 The children watched them out of sight. Such 
 pleasant things each one had to say of her ! 
 
 Several of the boys invited the Fergusons to join 
 their class. 
 
 Mrs. Ferguson said she would certainly get some of 
 them ready. She belonged to that class of women who 
 had seen better days, and when reverses came was 
 unable to buffet the tide, and drifted with the current 
 of hopelessness, forgetting to trust the only help she 
 could* have. There was something in the kind, affable 
 manner of this young woman which had quite won her 
 heart. She had learned to look with suspicion on the 
 rich, and felt there was always some selfish motive 
 beneath everything they did. There must be some way, 
 she thought, to use the poor to put more money into 
 their pockets. She could see no reason to distrust this 
 act of Eloise. She fully realized that in no way could 
 she get benefit from them. Only a desire to do them 
 good seemed plain to her. 
 
 She saw her error, and determined by God's help to 
 make an effort to lead her children to a better life. She 
 had never reached that point where her conscience 
 approved of the way she was living. 
 
 When she went home she looked critically at the 
 fireplace decorations, and wondered why her motherly 
 intuition had not enabled her to see that Aleck had 
 talent in that direction before. She remembered now
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 119 
 
 how fond he was of the very first flowers that came in 
 spring. He would have a cup or glass filled often with 
 the lovely trailing arbutus when she had not thought 
 the snows were over. Again he would come in with 
 " Jack-in-the-pulpit " or "lady's slipper," and point 
 out beauties which she could not see, for her vision was 
 filled with what seemed much more important than 
 wild flowers, which could not in any way help her. 
 
 The neglected housework was a rebuke to her. She 
 began to catechise herself. She saw things differently 
 now. Before, she felt that her husband's shiftless ways 
 were entirely responsible for the boys' lack of energy. 
 She could but wonder now why she had not taken any 
 of the blame to herself. 
 
 She sent Aleck to the store with a few dozen eggs 
 and exchanged them for spool cotton, buttons and 
 needles. She gave all of the clothing an overhauling, 
 and was surprised to find that some of the garments 
 which she had cast aside as too far gone for repairs 
 could, by a little ingenuity, be used. 
 
 It seemed to be a thinking family, as no comments 
 were made. She noticed that the boys were more 
 careful to clean their feet at the door ; even her hus- 
 band spat less often on the whitened hearth. The boys 
 wondered why she had not always kept the floor so 
 clean as she did now. The two girls used much more 
 soap and water than they did, and their mother, with 
 the extra work, found time to plait their hair for them 
 every day.
 
 120 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 Altogether it was a much improved house. 
 
 Aleck was anxious for his mother to get ready for 
 him to make the trip to Sunnymeade. He asked her 
 every day how long it would be. Much to his satisfac- 
 tion, she announced one bright morning that she had 
 ironed his best shirt and so altered an old alpaca coat 
 of his father's that he could go that day. He started 
 pretty early, but not before his mother had given him 
 many admonitions as to what to say and how to act. 
 
 " Take off your hat when you go in, and don't forget 
 to say ' yes, ma'am ' and ' no, ma'am,' " was her parting 
 injunction. 
 
 As he neared the house his knees began to quake. 
 When he saw Colonel Carter seated on the front porch 
 he almost wished he could go in an opposite direction. 
 He went up to him, but what to say or what to do with 
 his hands or hat he couldn't think. He knew his 
 mother told him something. 
 
 " Good morning, my boy," said the Colonel. 
 
 " I am well, I thank you, ma'am." 
 
 He knew he had not said the proper thing, and his 
 embarrassment increased. Colonel Carter saw it, and 
 said : 
 
 " What can I do for you, young man ? " 
 
 "Nothin', sir. Miss Eloise told me to come," he 
 said. 
 
 " Yes, yes, that is all right. She will be here in a 
 little while. Just take a seat. You are Mr. Fergu- 
 son's son, I believe ?"
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 121 
 
 Aleck felt that his wits were returning, and he was 
 able to give intelligible answers to the questions put to 
 him. 
 
 By the time Eloise put in an appearance he began to 
 feel at ease. But when she asked him into the house, he 
 hardly knew how to act. Remembering that his hat 
 was to be looked after when he went in, he put it be- 
 hind the front door,, without once thinking of hanging 
 it on the rack. 
 
 " Just sit here, Aleck," drawing a chair near to hers. 
 " I want to consult you about arranging these fire- 
 places for me. I am to be married in two weeks, and 
 I want these rooms tastefully arranged. These very 
 large fire-places had given me right much trouble till I 
 saw how you had arranged your mother's. I knew if 
 I could get your help that I saw my way out of the 
 trouble." 
 
 " Yes'm, that I will, and anything else for you." 
 
 " You know where ferns are plentiful, do you ?" 
 
 " Yes'm ; there are thousands of 'em in the edge of 
 the woods close by where we eat our dinner. I never 
 did see such big ones in my life. They come right up 
 out of the moss so thick you can hardly get 'em with- 
 out the moss, too." 
 
 " So much the better. I thought it looked like a 
 pretty green carpet. I want three filled. You can 
 find the prettiest ones, and father will send the wagon 
 for them. I will have some blooming plants to put 
 with them."
 
 122 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 " Lor', Miss, the woods will be full by that time, 
 and it 'pears to mix them with the moss and ferns 
 would look nicer. I don't know, though, 'cause I 
 never seen any fixed. Don't folks have white flowers 
 for weddins?" 
 
 " Certainly." 
 
 " Thunderwood will be all bloomin' by that time." 
 
 He seemed in his enthusiasm to loose all of his em- 
 barrassment. Going to the hearth, he said : 
 
 " I tell you what will look nice. There is a lot of 
 Johnny-jump-ups this year the biggest ones I ever 
 saw. Mix them all along in the moss, right around on 
 the edge of the hearth ; then a bank of ferns ; then 
 another row raised up on a plank or somethiu', and fill 
 up the rest with them thunderwood blooms, will be 
 pretty." 
 
 " I like your idea, but do not know the thunder- 
 wood by that name. How does it look ?" 
 
 "It is a white, fringy-looking flower. I'll bring 
 you some if I can find a bit out by Sunday. Ma is 
 tryin' to get us ready. It ain't but two miles straight 
 though the woods to your church." 
 
 " I am glad to hear that," she said. " I am sure a 
 boy who is as fond of nature as you are will love to 
 learn of Nature's God. There are several things here 
 that I wish your mother had. I am sure she could 
 utilize them to advantage. If you think she would not 
 be angry, and you are williug to carry them, I'll send 
 her a package now, and another by the first passing. I
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 123 
 
 may come myself. I want some sewing done, if she 
 has time." 
 
 " No'm, she won't get mad. She's taken a mighty 
 notion to fix up. Instead of buyin' sugar and coffee 
 with her aigs, she got buttons, needles and thread, and 
 she's sewed a heap this week." 
 
 She went up-stairs and got several pairs of pants, a 
 vest or two, and several other things, and put them in 
 a basket. 
 
 She talked to Aleck a while on various subjects. She 
 showed him her pictures and flowers, for she had seen 
 that his talent was for something in that line. She 
 felt that Ifor him to spend his time as a day laborer on 
 a farm was like " casting pearls before swine." But 
 she saw no prospect for aught else, now ; though she 
 secretly resolved to keep him in mind, and, if possible, 
 find a way for him to cultivate the talent with which 
 God had endowed him. 
 
 He started home, filled with delight at having some 
 part to do for the grand wedding. He wondered if he 
 would be allowed to see it. 
 
 The basket was thankfully received, and Mrs. Fer- 
 gusan saw that both of the boys, with a little extra 
 effort on her part, could have a decent pair of pants for 
 Sunday. She went to work with a will, and was so 
 far successful that Eloise could scarcely believe her 
 own eyes when she showed them to her. 
 
 She and Miss Lizzie drove down Saturday afternoon 
 with a package of dresses, curtains and other things
 
 124 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 that had done good service at their home, but were yet 
 too good to throw aside. 
 
 While in Richmond she bought Aunt Hannah a new 
 dress, which she wished to have made for her to wear 
 at the wedding. She remembered that Mrs. Ferguson 
 told her she used to be handy with her needle, and when 
 Aleck told her of exchanging the ' aigs' for sewing ma- 
 terial, instead of sugar and coffee, she well knew it 
 meant privation. 
 
 She carried the material for the dress to get her to 
 make it, so that she might have some ready cash to 
 help her fix up the things she had sent her. 
 
 Both of the visitors were agreeably surprised to find 
 the house so tidy. 
 
 Mrs. Ferguson told them of her success in making 
 over the garments. She thought all of the children 
 would be able to go to Sunday-school, and she hoped to 
 get to church very soon herself. 
 
 Aleck was not in the house, but just as they were 
 about to leave he came in with a bunch of the thunder- 
 wood bloom, which he had been out to hunt. 
 
 " If you ain't too tired, Miss Eloise, I'll show you 
 them Johnny-jump-ups I was tellin' you about. It 
 ain't far." 
 
 "All right, I'll go." 
 
 It did indeed seem like a beautiful green and purple 
 carpet, so thickly were they scattered over the moss. 
 
 " Now you see I can just cut 'em out deep, and the 
 moss soaks up so much water you can make it real wet,
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 125 
 
 and they'll keep on bloomin'. They ain't bloomin' 
 real good yet, but there'll be thousands by two weeks." 
 
 They parted, to meet the next morning. 
 
 The children were there early. At first they seemed 
 a little shy and out of place, but the feeling soon wore 
 off and they enjoyed the novelty of the situation. 
 
 Eloise took the two boys in her own class, as she 
 was anxious to have them under the influence of her 
 band. 
 
 She and the superintendent had a private talk be- 
 tween the close of the school and the church service. 
 She felt so anxious as to the one who was to be her 
 successor. This had been a serious consideration. 
 They were bright boys, and she was afraid of the influ- 
 ence from without, if there was not one to be extremely 
 watchful. 
 
 She wished so much that Gordon Glenn could take 
 them. She suggested to the superintendent that he 
 make him an assistant, to look after those who were 
 irregular. It was so decided, and the appointment of 
 a teacher was postponed till the following Sunday. In 
 the meantime he would call at Sunnymeade, and they 
 would carefully consider the question, and visit the one 
 selected. 
 
 As the time approached for her to give up her work, 
 she felt more sad than she imagined it possible. 
 
 She had not told them of it as yet, but intended to 
 do so the next Sunday, and invite them all to be 
 present at the marriage.
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 WEDDING BELLS. 
 
 ACCORDING to promise, Mr. Lipscombe came. After 
 a very careful consideration of the subject, they decided 
 that Miss Mary Bruce would be the most suitable person 
 to take the class, with Gordon to assist. 
 
 Eloise promised to see her and gain her consent to 
 the plan. She felt that she would like to tell her about 
 the needs of each. 
 
 She felt very hopeful of Bob Sims now. Since the 
 Fergusons had become interested, they would not prove 
 the hindrance she had feared. But she felt that much 
 depended on keeping an eye on them and not allowing 
 them to lose their interest at all. 
 
 She asked her father to drive her over to Mr. Brace's 
 the next morning. They made an early start, in order 
 to go by the postoffice to mail some letters. 
 
 Whom should she see, when they drove up at the 
 postoffice, but Gordon Glenn. He was about to start 
 for home when he saw them coming. He recognized 
 them and waited to speak. 
 
 " I am so glad to meet you, Gordon. I was just 
 wishing to see you." 
 
 While her father went in for the mail she unfolded 
 her plan to him.
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY". 127 
 
 " I am as willing as I can be to do all I can, but I 
 feel afraid I am not capable." 
 
 " I think you are. You are much more advanced 
 in your studies than any of them, and you are always 
 prepared with your lesson. I do not think much of 
 the teaching will devolve on you. Your part will be 
 mainly to look after the absentees and try to keep them 
 interested in the school. I hope you'll have but little 
 trouble in that direction now. It seems that the Fer- 
 guson boys have come to stay. But it is very hard for 
 any of us to break old habits. They may need help 
 along that line. I want you to write to me and let me 
 know how you all get on. You can let me know of 
 any particular case that you think a word from me 
 would help, and I'll do all I can. Of course, from 
 time to time I'll be with you, and will always feel an 
 abiding interest in each of you." 
 
 " Thank you, Miss Eloise ; I am sure you'll have 
 the very best wishes of each one of us. Good-bye." 
 
 They found Miss Mary at home. She did not at 
 first feel that she could take the class. She said : 
 
 " There'll be a great difference in my present class 
 and yours. I am afraid we'll both be too prone to 
 compare. They are so very much attached to you, and 
 I've had no experience with boys. Mine have all been 
 small girls. Somehow I think they are much more 
 easily managed than boys." 
 
 " You were never more mistaken. Those boys are 
 very lovable. They can be led by gentle means to do
 
 128 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 almost anything. With four exceptions, they are 
 Christians, and of those I am very hopeful. The new 
 additions, Aleck and Jack Ferguson, may need help ; 
 but I've formed a most favorable opinion of them, es- 
 pecially Aleck. I think he is a boy of considerable 
 promise, if only the right means could be used to de- 
 velop him." 
 
 It was agreed that she would try it, though with 
 many misgivings. She said : 
 
 " I am afraid to slip into your shoes, Miss Eloise. 
 I have my doubts about the fit." 
 
 As she and her father started, she said : 
 
 " This is settled now, and I've nothing more to do 
 in a business way. So I'll just make the most of my 
 last days at dear old Sunnymeade." 
 
 " Not last, daughter. You are not giving us up 
 only taking another into the family. This is always to 
 be home above all others." 
 
 " Do you know, father, I've been wondering if I'll 
 ever be as happy anywhere else as I've been here. I 
 do not suppose there is another girl of my age who 
 has seen so little sorrow as I have. Will those with 
 whom I am to be thrown now make the excuses for 
 my shortcomings that you and Aunt Lizzie do ? " 
 
 " Of course, daughter, no one will see you with our 
 eyes. To your husband I do not doubt you'll be ' the 
 fairest among ten thousand, the one altogether lovely.' 
 I've long since come to the conclusion that happiness 
 and love are not to be compared. I mean this, that
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 129 
 
 there is a difference in the object of love, and conse- 
 quently a difference in the love. But the two do not 
 admit of comparison in the natural sense. For in- 
 stance, my love for you and for your mother, I could 
 never compare in intensity. They were entirely dif- 
 ferent. I could not have loved her more as my wife 
 than I did. Nor has any man loved his child more 
 than you are loved. Yet the two loves could not be 
 compared. So with your happiness. In your new re- 
 lation it will be of a different nature ; and you cannot 
 compare the happiness of the home and love where you 
 will reign as wife to the one in which you were the 
 child." 
 
 " That is so, father. I am glad you explained it in 
 that way. I've thought a great deal about it." 
 
 Truly did she make the most of these last days. The 
 lunch which was to be served to the guests did not 
 trouble her; she knew that there would be nothing 
 lacking there. The trousseau was complete. The 
 trunk which she would take with her was almost ready. 
 She paid visits to all the neighbors, to every haunt about 
 the place which had been dear to her as a child. 
 
 Time sped on its swiftest wings, it seemed to the 
 entire household. Only two days more, and they such 
 busy days ! 
 
 Monday afternoon found Aleck in place with his 
 
 mosses, ferns and Johnny-jump-ups. They were put 
 
 into the coolest place, and a bountiful supply of water 
 
 given them. He promised to be on hand bright and 
 
 9
 
 130 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 early the next morning. In his selection he seemed to 
 have known just where this drooping spray would suit, 
 or that tall and stately cluster show to the best ad- 
 vantage. 
 
 Eloise was more than ever impressed with his taste. 
 
 Jennie Marvin had charge of the decorations. She 
 did not feel so confident as Eloise that Aleck knew just 
 what he was doing ; however, she stood aloof while he 
 arranged the hearth in the dining-room. She did not 
 make a single suggestion. Every few minutes he would 
 step back and view his work from different stand- 
 points ; then one spray would be turned a little to the 
 left, another to the right, or some other little change. 
 
 Jennie saw no improvements to suggest. She went 
 out on the porch, where her mother and several other 
 friends were with Miss Lizzie and Colonel Carter. 
 
 " I just tell you, friends and fellow-citizens, I am 
 the fifth wheel in this decoration wagon. That boy was 
 born for such work. Who would have thought of it, 
 except Eloise? Did any of you ever happen to meet 
 Pere Ferguson in the road ? He hardly looks as if he 
 had gumption enough to tell a rosebud from a cow ; yet 
 this offspring of such a sire puts to the blush some of 
 the decorators of the cities." 
 
 All went in to see how he was progressing, and were 
 as much pleased as Jennie. 
 
 That afternoon a number of invited guests arrived. 
 
 Dr. Gray had come a few days before, and he and 
 Colonel Carter had gone to the courthouse and obtained
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 131 
 
 the license and arranged everything, so that he would 
 not come back till the morning of the marriage. 
 
 About an hour before the appointed time it was 
 announced "they are coming." From the windows 
 were seen a dozen or more carriages coming down the 
 long lane leading to the house. Already numbers of 
 carriages and buggies bearing the neighbors from miles 
 around had arrived. 
 
 All of the boys of Eloise's Sunday-school class had 
 arrived each one so much afraid he would be late. 
 
 Jennie, standing so as to be out of sight of the arri- 
 vals, but able to see them as they alighted, announced 
 them thus : 
 
 " No further uneasiness on your part, Eloise ; the Doc- 
 tor didn't forget to come. The very first man to alight. 
 
 "Mr. Young!" 
 
 If there was an extra pulsation of the heart no one 
 was aware of it. 
 
 " There is Papa Gray, a stately old gentleman ; Ma 
 Gray, quite stylish ; Sister Alice, real sweet ; brother, 
 sisters, cousins and the aunts I couldn't see all at 
 once, so they got by me." 
 
 Mrs. Marvin was assisting Miss Lizzie to receive the 
 guests. 
 
 It was arranged that Alice Gray would be brought 
 to Eloise's room, as she was to be a maid of honor, and 
 would have to dress. Mrs. Marvin came with her and 
 introduced her. She met Eloise as if they had been 
 bosom friends all their lives.
 
 132 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 "I am glad to know you, Eloise. I've loved you 
 almost as long as Brother Charlie has." 
 
 " I am equally glad to know you, and so glad to 
 have a sister." 
 
 " Here, you two will have a whole month to make 
 love in. Miss Alice must make her toilet. The Doc- 
 tor will be in such a hurry he'll not wait." 
 
 The three chattered like so many magpies, and by 
 the time Alice was dressed they were fully acquainted. 
 
 " I declare, Eloise, I would hate to leave this lovely 
 home, if I were you. Brother Charlie always said it 
 was an ideal country place, but we knew that every- 
 thing was looked at here through one pair of spectacles 
 and we knew the glamour of those." 
 
 Soon the solemn words were said by the hoary- 
 headed man of God which linked two lives in one, for 
 weal or woe. 
 
 Congratulations and introductions filled the time till 
 the lunch was announced. 
 
 Reader, did you ever go to a genuine country wed- 
 ding ? If not, you've missed lots of something good 
 to eat. The quantity and quality of the dishes at one 
 of them w r ould supply a dozen spreads to the same 
 number of guests in some fashionable city. Everybody 
 seemed to enjoy it to the full. 
 
 The travelers repaired to their rooms and changed 
 their apparel and made ready for the journey. 
 
 It was a gay cavalcade that passed out from Sunny- 
 meade on its way to the station. They were literally
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 133 
 
 showered with rice and good wishes. The train sped 
 its way towards the sea, and the others to their respec- 
 tive homes. 
 
 We will join some of the homeward-bound ones first, 
 as they comment on the events of the day. 
 
 " I must say, Janet, I think our son has made a 
 very wise choice of a wife. I am quite prepared to 
 take her to our hearts and home." 
 
 "Yes, she seems to be quite a sweet girl. I only 
 wish we were to have he*r in our home for a time, at 
 least. If we could only bring some influence to bear 
 on her as to her church relations ! Charlie seems to 
 think we would have a hopeless task to turn her ; in 
 fact, he as much as said he would not interfere in any 
 way. Of course, if she goes with the class of people 
 in her church, she will not be taken up by those of our 
 set. There is certainly no affinity between them. If, 
 however, they had come to live with us for a while, by 
 degrees we could have doubtless gotten her to come 
 with us ; as it is, she'll not be under our influence. I've 
 talked with Alice and warned her sufficiently, I think, 
 about her associating with those Eloise may take up with. 
 I've seen real trouble about it. I did my duty as far as 
 I could in the matter. I urged Charlie to rent a pew in 
 our church, and tell her his preference in the matter." 
 
 " I do not look at it in the same light, Janet. I 
 think that is something we ought to settle individually. 
 If that is her only fault, we'll not quarrel about it," 
 her husband replied.
 
 134 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 " A man never looks at such things in the right 
 light. The first thing you know she'll want to pur- 
 suade Charlie to her way of thinking. How would 
 you like to see him mixing up with the plain people in 
 that Baptist church?" 
 
 His mind went back, while she talked, to some of 
 those plain people's ancestors he had known in his 
 childhood, in his country home. He remembered 
 they were counted as the "salt of the earth." They 
 were known far and near for their integrity and strict 
 adherence to principle. He had not mixed much with 
 these, but what he had known of them was most favor- 
 able. He knew if he fully expressed his mind on the 
 subject his wife would feel quite outraged. He re- 
 plied : 
 
 " I am afraid Charlie gives very few serious thoughts 
 to religion. I've sometimes thought we were probably 
 wrong to gratify his wish to go to Europe. I've often 
 heard that many students there are led to doubt God. 
 I think he has shown but little interest in church 
 affairs since his return. If his wife can awaken that 
 interest, I feel that we ought to rejoice at it." 
 
 " I assure you right now I should be very much dis- 
 pleased to see a child of mine leave the mother church 
 for a dissenting one," replied Mrs. Gray. 
 
 Her husband could not refrain from a smile as he 
 said : 
 
 " I fear, my dear, that you'll have to take some 
 lessons in church history from that daughter-in-law of
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 135 
 
 yours. I venture she would tell you pretty quickly 
 that the Baptists were not dissenters. I expect she is 
 pretty well up in her denominational affairs. She 
 comes from intelligent stock on both sides of the house, 
 and I know that both families are quite prominent in 
 the denomination." 
 
 " I wish with all my heart she would come with us. 
 I am afraid, from several things I saw and heard to- 
 day, that she'll care but little for gay society. I hap- 
 pened to be near when the minister bade her good- 
 bye," said Mrs. Gray. " He urged her to go at once 
 into the work of the church there. f I'll write,' said 
 he, ' before you get there, to Brother Elliott, the pas- 
 tor. I'll tell him to find work for you at once. I'll 
 see that a letter is granted you at our next church 
 meeting. You will feel more at home there. I've 
 talked to my flock so much about idleness in the Mas- 
 ter's work, that I am sure you will never be an idler.' 
 Now I am sure you'll admit that he was meddling. 
 She doesn't belong to his church any more, and he 
 ought to allow her to do to suit herself." 
 
 " Well, well, we will not meddle, either," said Mr. 
 Gray. 
 
 " Another thing I overheard," she added, " was the 
 parting injunction of that old colored woman to Char- 
 lie. I think he was somewhat to blame for it. She 
 was on the back porch crying. He went out and said 
 to her : 'Mammy, of course you'll give your parting 
 blessing, and wish us all the joy in the world.' ' Yes,
 
 136 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 sir/ she said, ' I do ; but you've taken the light out of 
 this house to-day, and I'm bound to tell you that you 
 mustn't do nothing to make her heart ache. Me and 
 Mars John and Miss Lizzie has made it our business 
 for seventeen long years to keep her from seein' 
 trouble. Now, if she sees it, you is 'sponsible for it. 
 I'm mighty feerd you ain't a Christian, Doctor, and if 
 you ain't, she'll see trouble.' He, in the most familiar 
 way, said : l Now, Mammy, you needn't see trouble 
 about her ; not a sorrow shall darken her heart if I 
 can prevent it.' ' 
 
 For fear she would keep up the subject, he called 
 her attention to the house they were just passing, and 
 asked her opinion of it. 
 
 She saw many attractions about it, but added : 
 
 " I prefer a city life to one in the country, though the 
 Carters' home was certainly as elegant as anyl ever knew." 
 
 Various comments were made by those in the other 
 carriages. Mrs. Gray's sister said to her husband : 
 
 " I am anxious to hear sister Janet's opinions of to- 
 day. I know she fairly reveled in the display of com- 
 fort and luxury to which her daughter has been raised. 
 At the same time, I venture she was disappointed at 
 the plainness and brevity of the marriage ceremony. 
 She was anxious to have Dr. Allison go to marry 
 them, but Charlie said he wouldn't think of proposing 
 it. I suppose Charlie thought that as she was to hold 
 the strings of the larger purse, he could afford to ac- 
 quiesce in any of her plans."
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 137 
 
 " You are a mercenary creature, Alice," said her 
 husband. "I, for my part, think he has drawn a 
 prize in the lottery of life, if she hadn't a dime. I 
 heard so many complimentary things said of her to- 
 day. There were several boys grouped together after 
 the lunch talking about her. One said, ( I tell you, 
 boys, we'll miss her most as bad as the Colonel.' One, 
 whom the other addressed as Gordon, said : 'The very 
 best way to show how much we thought of her and 
 how much we miss her, is to remember what she would 
 like for us to do. She has told us just how to live, 
 and to make the most of our opportunities.' I thought 
 that was fine praise coming from a lot of boys." 
 
 " I only hope," said his wife, " she'll not be one of 
 the 'goody-good sort' that we find in Sunday-school 
 books. If so, she'll be such a disappointment to sister 
 Janet. I think she would like to have her take a 
 prominent place in society, which, of course, she could 
 do, as she'll have quite a sum to spend if she chooses. 
 "Weren't you rather surprised at the bridal present from 
 her father ? " she asked. 
 
 " I didn't see it ; or, if I did, I do not remember it," 
 was the reply. 
 
 "A check for only five hundred dollars ! I saw him 
 endorse it and hand it to her, and she put it in her 
 purse. ' I'll take it along, but do not think I'll have 
 any need for it,' she said to him. I thought it looked 
 like a paltry sum." 
 
 "At least it was genuine," he said. " I've known of
 
 138 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 instances where checks were numbered among the 
 bridal presents, and were not worth the paper they 
 were written on." 
 
 With the younger people of the party there was but 
 one sentiment. They were charmed with the bride, 
 and would gladly welcome her to their homes. They 
 saw nothing but fairest prospects ahead of them. It 
 was hard for some of them not to feel a little tinge of 
 envy when they saw on every side the many evidences 
 of the lavish prosperity in which she had been 
 brought up.
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 THE BRIDAL PARTY ON THE WING. 
 
 NOT very long after leaving the station, Dr. Gray 
 opened his traveling bag and took therefrom a drinking 
 cup and a small box of powders. 
 
 "What on earth do you intend to do, Doctor? Cer- 
 tainly not to practice on this party," said Jennie. "I 
 never saw a healthier set. You'll not forget all you 
 know of medicine in this one month." 
 
 " I expect to give a dose all around. I may give 
 two to the one who makes least fuss over the first one 
 by way of reward, you know," laughingly said the 
 Doctor. 
 
 " 'Age before beauty/ Miss Jennie ; you may take 
 the first one." 
 
 " Excuse me on that point, if you please. Mrs. Gray 
 is my senior by one month and five days. She always 
 insisted on claiming the five days before we reached 
 our teens. After that she seemed willing for me to 
 have them." 
 
 " Laying all jokes aside, Miss Jennie, I want each 
 one of you to take one of these now, and one about an 
 hour before we go aboard. It is the finest remedy I 
 ever saw tried. You will be glad of it when you can 
 stand upon your feet and observe your fellow-travelers
 
 140 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 1 casting up accounts ' to-morrow. There is nothing in 
 the world to equal mal de mere in the way of sickness. 
 You have no desire to live, and there is but one thing 
 you look forward to as a pleasure, and that is death. I 
 speak from experience. I had not been a day out from 
 New York when I would have gladly given all I had 
 to some one to knock me in the head and cast my body 
 into the sea. The only reason I did not was everybody 
 I saw was in the same condition, and I did not have 
 energy to ask the favor. I found out this remedy, and 
 on my return walked the deck like an old sailor and 
 watched those whose feelings I could so well describe. 
 This does no good after the sickness comes on, but is a 
 sure preventive." 
 
 " Just pass it around, for I wouldn't miss being on 
 my feet when we pass out between the capes to- 
 morrow," answered Jennie. 
 
 " Nor I, either," said Alice. 
 
 They were a merry party, and each tried to do all 
 that was possible for the enjoyment of the others. 
 
 After a fairly good night's rest, they reached Norfolk 
 just before six o'clock. They went aboard the steamer, 
 as their staterooms were already engaged, and had 
 ample time to bathe and be ready for breakfast. 
 
 They were ready to go on deck by the time Old 
 Point was reached. 
 
 They could but notice the change which came over a 
 large number of the passengers as they neared the 
 capes. One by one they would make their way to their
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 141 
 
 staterooms sometimes not being able to reach there 
 before ' casting up accounts ! ' 
 
 The early clouds, which threatened rain, disappeared, 
 and the day proved all they could have wished it to be. 
 
 After seeing them to their hotel, in New York, Mr. 
 Young left them, to look after some business affairs, 
 and promised to join them at the earliest possible 
 moment. 
 
 Dr. Gray was familiar with the city, and ordered a 
 carriage to be in readiness at an early hour. They 
 spent the day (only stopping long enough for a lunch) 
 in sight-seeing. 
 
 The next morning they decided to take the trolley 
 cars and see as much of suburban New York as they 
 could in that way. 
 
 Mr. Young wired them that he would meet them at 
 dinner that day at their hotel ; consequently they ar- 
 ranged to be back by the specified hour. 
 
 It was decided that on their return they would accept 
 a most cordial invitation from his parents to pay them 
 a visit at their home, in New Jersey. 
 
 Mr. Young said business would detain him for sev- 
 eral days, but he would join them just as soon as possi- 
 ble certainly at Lake George, if not sooner. He was 
 to be kept informed as to their movements daily, and 
 would know just where to find them. 
 
 Niagara by moonlight is one of the grandest specta- 
 cles to be seen on this or any other continent. 
 
 How closely had the clouds been watched during
 
 142 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 that ride. They knew that they would reach there at 
 six o'clock, and all were so anxious that the full moon 
 should not be darkened by a single cloud. 
 
 In each imagination was pictured Niagara as it would 
 appear to them that night unlike in many particulars, 
 but each one saw it resplendent with the glow of the 
 full moon. 
 
 They saw here and there a stray cloud in the heavens. 
 But when they had taken supper and started for the 
 falls, they saw only the blue heavens dotted with its 
 myriads of stars, and high up, like a queen surrounded 
 by her subjects, rode the silver orb of night, unclouded. 
 
 They saw the falls from every possible point, and at 
 eleven o'clock they deemed it advisable to return to the 
 hotel, as they had already ordered that they be called 
 up at daylight to see the sun rise on the rushing waters. 
 
 " Macintosh, umbrella and overshoes will be the order 
 of the day, I am afraid," said Eloise, when they met 
 next morning. 
 
 " I was not aware, Mrs. Gray, that you were weather- 
 wise before. Give us your reasons for thinking so. 
 I am sure it seems that the sun is about to rise in all 
 its glory." 
 
 " My reasons are easily given, and before night I 
 am sure you will vote me weather-wise, at least. You 
 can never forget my governess, Miss Constance Patte- 
 son. She was a dear old soul, but a trifle peculiar. 
 One of her peculiarities was that I should daily learn 
 the answers to five questions in familiar science. She
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 143 
 
 never excused me. I might get off from a geography 
 or reading lesson sometimes, but never from dictionary 
 or science. In that she was as inexorable as the laws 
 of the Medes and Persians. These two little couplets 
 I learned then, and I confess they've done me good 
 service many times since, and I've felt grateful to the 
 good woman : 
 
 ' Evening red, and morning gray, 
 Sets a traveller on his way.' 
 
 ' But evening gray, and morning red, 
 Brings down rain upon his head.' 
 
 " Observe the eastern horizon now and you'll see the 
 promise fulfilled, I think. However, there must be 
 some clouds, or we would not appreciate the sunshine." 
 
 " I'll get my umbrella and yours, too, Alice. The 
 overshoes we already have on. We'll that far show 
 our appreciation of the prophecy." 
 
 It is well for them that they did, for in less than an 
 hour there was a steady downpour. 
 
 Alice and Jennie looked quite disconsolate, and won- 
 dered how they were to pass the day. The other pair, 
 they thought, were in that state of bliss which cared 
 not what the weather was. 
 
 Dr. Gray said : 
 
 " I'll go out and interview some of those hackmen ; 
 but I suppose they'll make the pocketbook weep in 
 unison with the clouds. I must say I cannot blame 
 them."
 
 144 SHE WAITED PATIEXTLY. 
 
 " Please do, brother, and let us go over into Queen 
 Vic's domains," said Alice. " I was so afraid we would 
 have to leave before crossing over." 
 
 He came back in a little while and said : 
 
 " I think you had better keep on your waterproof 
 garments, as we may wish to get out of the carriage to 
 see several things. I think we will stay till dinner 
 time and spend the afternoon in rest. I find our train 
 leaves at a most unseasonable hour in the morning 
 five o'clock." 
 
 Soon they were off. 
 
 " This reminds me of a trip I took with a party to 
 the Peaks of Otter three summers ago," said Jennie. 
 "We went by rail to Liberty and spent the night. 
 From there we drove to the hotel at the foot of the 
 mountain. We were to spend the next day on top, so 
 we retired with the chickens. At three o'clock we 
 were up and dressed, ready to begin the ascent. If 
 Eloise had been along she might have prognosticated 
 the weather. As it was, we only thought it was dark 
 because daylight had not dawned. We plodded on, led 
 by a colored man, who carried the lantern. It did not 
 seem to get any lighter as we neared the top. About 
 a quarter of a mile from the summit the rain began to 
 fall occasional drops at first ; but the nearer we ap- 
 proached the top, the faster came the rain. We were 
 glad enough to seek shelter in the old house when we 
 had gained the wished-for goal. 
 
 " Such a disappointed party ! To see the sun rise
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 145 
 
 had been the incentive. Here we were, as disconsolate 
 a party as had ever reached the spot. 
 
 " We tried to make the best of it, and ate our break- 
 fast with as much relish as the circumstances would 
 allow. 
 
 a One of the gentlemen suggested that we would 
 not be able to get down the mountain that day, and he 
 had heard that there were bears and rattlesnakes in un- 
 limited quantities in the immediate neighborhood. That 
 was sufficient to call out just as he knew it would all 
 the nerves in the party. One girl begged to go at 
 once. Another suggested that a large fire be built as a 
 protection, saying she had always read that travellers 
 did that to scare off animals. 
 
 " They were enjoying the discomfiture of the girls, 
 when some one said the rain had ceased. Such scam- 
 pering and scrambling there was to be first out on the 
 rocks. It seemed almost incredible how quickly they 
 were dry. Above us was the blue sky, below the 
 clouds. First on one side and then on the other would 
 they break away, displaying a panorama which could 
 never be put on canvas. Then the thunder would be 
 heard, and the lightning flash. We would betake our- 
 selves to the house again. No less than six times did 
 we have the repetition of that experience. It was 
 grand beyond description. It was not what we hoped 
 for, yet each one acknowledged that it was worth a 
 dozen sunrises. Last night we had a lovely moon- 
 light view, and to-night we'll have the electric light." 
 10
 
 146 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 They saw the main points of interest on the Cana- 
 dian side, and turned their faces toward the States 
 again. 
 
 They had the desired opportunity of seeing the effect 
 of the electric light. 
 
 The next night they spent many miles away from 
 the roar of the great cataract. 
 
 A telegram from Mr. Young said he would meet 
 them the next day at their next stopping place, on the 
 shores of Lake George. They were delayed by a bro- 
 ken rail for a couple of hours, and found that he had 
 arrived first and was awaiting them at the depot. 
 
 As only two days were allotted to them for this 
 point, they were up and ready early for a row on the 
 lake. 
 
 The gentlemen had first gone and tried two or three 
 of the boats, before selecting one to suit. It required 
 but little practice for them to row together. 
 
 They had gone as far as they desired, and landed 
 for a while to look about them. They started back, 
 and, in making a vigorous tug at the oar, off came one 
 of Dr. Gray's suspender buttons. 
 
 Eloise looked at Jennie, who was convulsed with 
 laughter. 
 
 " What is it, Miss Jennie ? Surely not the loss of 
 my button? I should have provided against this 
 emergency. I'll be lucky to reach the starting point 
 with one left." 
 
 That was too much for her. She blurted out :
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 147 
 
 " Eloise has a box full, assorted sizes, in her trunk, 
 with thimble, scissors, needle and thread." 
 
 He glanced at Eloise, whose face was by this time 
 crimson. 
 
 " Indeed, I have a greater treasure than I was aware 
 of. That was extremely thoughtful," said her hus- 
 band. 
 
 "Stop right there. 'Honor to whom honor is 
 due/ " said Jennie. " I get very little credit for any 
 good deeds. They always charge me up with all the 
 bad ones, when I am in a crowd. It is entirely owing 
 to my wisdom and forethought that the said articles 
 were duly bought and put in place. I was afraid the 
 first family broil would occur over just such an acci- 
 dent, and provided against it." 
 
 " That was certainly kind of you, and since the first 
 has been averted, I hope the second will not occur." 
 
 They related the conversation at Sunnymeade, and 
 told about Jennie buying them and the darning mate- 
 rial while in Richmond, which she had hid away in 
 Eloise's trunk one day while she was out. They en- 
 joyed the joke very much. 
 
 " I do not think such disinterested favors should go 
 unrewarded, and I'll promise that you shall be amply 
 paid when your time comes to start off on a like jour- 
 ney," the Doctor said. 
 
 " This is hot work, Charlie," said Fred, " but we'll 
 rest from our labors to-morrow in the mountains. I 
 had a letter just as I was leaving home, saying every-
 
 148 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 thing would be in readiness by the time of our arrival. 
 There will be a lack of dissipation for the evenings, 
 and we can enjoy the days to the full extent." 
 
 "I am so glad to hear that/ 7 said Eloise. "We 
 country folks, you know, are used to early hours, and 
 if we get into bad habits up here it will not be easy to 
 break them." 
 
 " I suppose there will be music ? " inquired Jennie. 
 
 " Yes, there will be a band ; but for our own pleas- 
 ure I sent up direct some of my own instruments. I 
 think, with those, we can enliven our evenings suffi- 
 ciently." 
 
 The next night found them snugly ensconced in their 
 " little love of a cottage," as Alice called it. There 
 were three chambers and a sitting-room. 
 
 With the morning came batches of letters for each. 
 It was known that this was to be the first real stopping 
 place hence the home folks sent their missives. 
 
 Each one was busy for a while, and then began to 
 tell some of the things contained in each. 
 
 " Father writes that he was at your home yesterday, 
 and dined there. Some business must have taken him 
 to town, Charlie," said Eloise. 
 
 " I guess so. Father mentions the fact that he was 
 there ; but he is there right frequently. This is a busy 
 season on the farm, and some implement might be 
 needed." 
 
 Two young girls are never thrown together long at 
 a time before there must be some private conferences ;
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 149 
 
 they are bound to get confidential. Soon Alice and 
 Jennie were seen, arm in arm, promenading and talk- 
 ing to each other in an animated way. 
 
 We'll follow their footsteps and listen, as we are not 
 to be excluded only Eloise is not to know. 
 
 " What is the secret, Alice, which they do not want 
 Eloise to find out?" 
 
 " You know, she thinks that she will live with us or 
 board at some fashionable boarding house when we go 
 home. But her father has bought her the loveliest 
 home, only three blocks from our house. It is almost 
 new, but he had it papered and painted before we left. 
 He is buying the furniture now ; that is what he and 
 Miss Lizzie were in the city for. Mamma is to super- 
 intend the furnishing. They will go there at once, and 
 the deed will be turned over to Eloise as her bridal 
 present. Now, you must be very careful not to say a 
 word ; the Colonel is so anxious for her not to know it. 
 I believe they will bring a cook from home for her." 
 
 "Isn't she the most favored child of fortune you 
 ever knew ? But she deserves it all," said Jennie. 
 
 "I think she is perfectly lovely, and I already love 
 her as a sister," said Alice. " I think Brother Charlie 
 made a fine choice. The only thing mamma doesn't 
 like about it is that she is a Baptist. She hopes she 
 will not attend that church, but will get a pew in ours. 
 I don't see anything to object to in it myself. I said 
 that we Americans believed in religious freedom, and I 
 thought people ought to do to suit themselves. She
 
 150 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 wanted brother to promise to get a pew and tell her he 
 preferred to attend with us." 
 
 This made Jennie almost shudder, for she thought at 
 once of Aunt Hannah's trouble on this very subject, 
 and feared that it might lead to real sorrow. 
 
 " What did he say to that ? " she could not refrain 
 from asking, though she felt she was prying into the 
 private affairs of others. 
 
 " He said he would not meddle in any way with her 
 religion, and she must not meddle with his lack of it. 
 The Baptist church is made up of such plain people, 
 mamma says, is the reason she objects. She is anxious 
 for Eloise to go into society. If these people visit her 
 she is afraid the best people in our set will not think 
 well of it." 
 
 " There will be quite as much probability of turning 
 her from her church as there would be to turn the 
 needle of the compass to the south. The Lees and 
 Carters, for generations, have been Baptists, when it 
 meant something to emblazon it to the world that you 
 were one," replied Jennie. 
 
 " Now, Jennie, whatever you do, don't mention about 
 the housekeeping arrangement. They would be ever so 
 angry with me if I let that cat out of the bag. They 
 term me the ' leaky vessel of the family,' and consider 
 very seriously sometimes about letting me into the fam- 
 ily conclaves on that account." 
 
 " I certainly will not do it, but I expect I'll have a 
 very sore tongue. I generally give it a bite whenever
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 151 
 
 it is about to do the wrong thing, and I'll often be 
 tempted to say something about it. There is always a 
 desire on my part to tell just what I ought not to. 
 But I think I'll manage it. I know she'll just be 
 delighted. I do not think I can go on home till that 
 part of the fun is over," Jennie said. 
 
 " What is the programme for to-morrow ? Do you 
 know, Jennie?" 
 
 " There comes the Doctor and Mr. Young now. I 
 see they have something to tell. I suppose it is about 
 the arrangements for to-morrow ; I think, though, it 
 will be to climb that peak yonder," pointing to the 
 highest point in front of them. " It looks like an im- 
 possibility, though." 
 
 They met them at the cottage, and were joined by 
 Eloise, who had quite a batch of letters she had written. 
 
 " What decision, gentlemen, about to-morrow ? " 
 Eloise asked. 
 
 " If it suits the ladies, we'll go to the summit of that 
 peak there, which is the highest in the group. It will 
 be a day's journey. 
 
 " We could not decide till we saw what was in the 
 stable. I think we've secured a pretty fair mount, and 
 will get an early start. We can ride about ten miles. 
 Fred says the road is good all the way until we've 
 made about half of the ascent, when it becomes diffi- 
 cult on account of the rocks. We can leave our horses 
 there and go afoot the rest of the distance," said Dr. 
 Gray.
 
 152 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 " It is well we came provided with our heavy boots 
 and short skirts, Jennie. In these light shoes we could 
 make but little progress," said Eloise. "Have you 
 heavy ones, Alice ? " 
 
 "Yes, indeed. It was an afterthought of mother's, 
 and she had one of my last winter dresses made over 
 for the occasion. I guess the jacket will come in very 
 well after we are up there, even if it is June." 
 
 " Till evening we'll stroll about and enjoy ourselves 
 in any way we please. An evening of music, and we'll 
 retire early, to be ready for our journey," said Mr. 
 Young. 
 
 Eloise asked if they thought to inquire about the 
 services for Sunday at the hotel. 
 
 " Oh, yes ! " replied Dr. Gray. " One of New York's 
 greatest guns is to hold forth in the ball-room both 
 morning and evening." 
 
 "That will be splendid, to have that pleasure. I 
 was afraid we would be denied the privilege of hearing 
 a sermon. I couldn't imagine what I would do with 
 myself; I'll miss my boys so. I'll have to content 
 myself with an imaginary visit to dear old Berea Sun- 
 day. I wish I could be an unobserved observer and 
 see what the boys do." 
 
 "Now, Mrs. Eloise, I'll go through with the entire 
 programme for you. I know just what each one will 
 have to say. Poor Miss Mary has almost wished she 
 had never seen them or heard of you. I can see the 
 gloss on Jack Ferguson's face now. Not being used to
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 153 
 
 much soap, or water, either, it has a peculiar effect. I 
 know Bob Sims has fallen back into the habit of catch- 
 ing flies again and pinching the other boys." 
 
 ''Stop there, Jennie. You shall not malign my boys 
 in that manner. I think Bob is forever done with 
 those ugly habits. He promised to set a good example 
 for the others, and I am sure he will." 
 
 " Dr. Gray, your first job after settling down at home 
 will be to go out into the highways and hedges and 
 compel some boys to come to Sunday-school for Eloise 
 to teach. She would forsake you, and you would be 
 obliged to warn the public against harboring your wife, 
 who had forsaken your bed and board. Have I got 
 the legal terms right, Mr. Young? She is obliged to 
 have that work to do or be miserable," rattled Jennie. 
 
 Alice caught her breath and glanced first at Eloise and 
 then at her brother to see how each was affected by it. She 
 was* very much relieved when her brother answered : 
 
 " I am afraid, Miss Jennie, she will not find me a 
 very warm ally on the Sunday-school question. I can't 
 tell whenever I was in one. Of course, I was sent and 
 duly drilled in the catechism, the creed, Lord's prayer, 
 and so on ; but I outgrew that just as I did my kilts 
 and pinafores." 
 
 To some people is allowed the privilege of saying 
 what they please to any and everybody without any 
 exceptions being taken. Jennie Marvin belonged to 
 this class. It all came about naturally, and what often 
 seemed spoken in jest meant volumes in truth.
 
 154 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 " All right, sir ; but were you ever put back into 
 those same kilts and pinafores, when you were disobedi- 
 ent, by way of a reminder? I am not so sure you'll 
 not go to Sunday-school again, as old as you are. That 
 girl can make anybody go, whether they want to or not. 
 Did she tell you how she got the Fergusons to go ? " 
 
 "No, indeed. Were they as hard subjects as you 
 think I'll be?" 
 
 " Much harder. They fished, hunted and did lots of 
 things on Sunday. She didn't ask them right out to 
 go, but instead she went fishing with them, and carried 
 a big lunch, and was 'hail fellow, well met,' with 
 them, and the next Sunday there they were, looking as 
 shiny as a glass button. If she had staid long enough, 
 she would probably have gone out hunting with Pa Fer- 
 guson, and he would have gone, too." 
 
 " Aren't you ashamed, Jennie, to make fun of me in 
 that manner ? " 
 
 "I have only spoken the truth, the whole truth, 
 and nothing but the truth. Just let me know, Doctor, 
 when you'll start, and I'll come and go with you, to 
 help you out of your difficulties." 
 
 " All right ; I'll send for you if you are living at a 
 convenient distance, and are not too old to travel." 
 
 " I'll not be too old, I am sure, and expect to be 
 found at Belmont { for years, and it may be forever.' ' 
 
 Alice made no remarks, but she noticed that her 
 brother took the whole matter very pleasantly. She 
 thought if her mother had seen him she would have
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 155 
 
 felt considerable uneasiness over the outcome of this 
 church affair. 
 
 She went to her room, and very soon was fast asleep. 
 
 Eloise went in and got her hat and came out, and 
 said : 
 
 " Come, Charlie, we'll go and mail these letters. 
 I've some curiosity to find where that little stream 
 begins. I do not think it can be far." 
 
 Fred asked if Miss Jennie wouldn't try some music 
 with him. She assented, and he brought out the 
 guitar and mandolin. They played well together, and 
 spent the time in conversation and music till the Doctor 
 and Mrs. Gray returned. They came in at the back 
 entrance and stopped to listen while he sang " Kathleen 
 Mavourneen." 
 
 The Doctor whispered to Eloise : 
 
 "That is favorable. I think they are progressing 
 finely. I'll be delighted at the match. Won't you ? 
 
 " Yes, except that his home is a long way from ours. 
 I do like him, though, and think that their mutual 
 liking is fast increasing, too. He seems to enjoy her 
 little sallies so much, especially when directed at you." 
 
 As they went out on the porch they saw a gentle- 
 men apparently directing his steps towards their cot- 
 tage. Neither Fred nor Jennie had seen him till 
 then. As he came nearer, Fred jumped up and rushed 
 towards him. 
 
 " Why, Robert, old boy, where did you drop from ? 
 I see no cloud which appears to have contained you.
 
 156 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 Come in and let me introduce you to my friends, and 
 then an explanation will be in order. Charlie, this is 
 my friend, Robert Malcom, of whom you've heard 
 me speak." 
 
 He introduced him to the ladies and said : 
 
 " Now, tell us, was this meeting intentional or by 
 chance ?" 
 
 "Both. I got here this morning, and while idly 
 turning over the hotel register I came across your 
 name. I made some enquiries of the clerk, and he 
 directed me hither. So you see it was chance first, 
 then intentional afterwards." 
 
 " All the same, I am glad to see you. How long 
 will you be here ?" 
 
 " That depends on circumstances. I haven't been 
 at all well lately. The doctor ordered me to take a 
 trip. I first thought of crossing the ocean, but my 
 mother objected, and then I decided to try the moun- 
 tains. My physician tells me that there is nothing at 
 all serious, but I must give up business a while. If I 
 improve, I may stay here ; if not, I'll change." 
 
 "Well, I think it fortunate you came here. We 
 have a splendid party, and it is headed by my friend 
 here, Dr. Charles Gray, than whom you'll not find a 
 finer physician. He can minister to the body, the rest 
 of us to the mind, and cure you. What do you say to 
 that?" 
 
 " I should only be too glad to join yottr party, if 
 ageeable to all concerned."
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 157 
 
 With one accord they welcomed him. 
 
 " Come out, Miss Alice. We have just taken the 
 vote without you to welcome another tramp into our 
 circle. Let me introduce to you my friend, Mr. Mal- 
 com, Miss Gray. As you had no vote in the matter, 
 we'll give you the privilege of voting him out if he 
 doesn't suit us." 
 
 " I am indebted to you and Jennie for your very 
 soothing music. It lulled me to sleep, and would have 
 kept me there if my curiosity had not gotten the beter 
 of me, and I had to come to see who the visitor was," 
 Alice said. 
 
 " Do you feel equal to a ten-mile ride, and a pretty 
 steep climb afterwards, Mr. Malcom?" asked Dr. 
 Gray. " Our plans are made for a trip of that kind 
 to-morrow, and we'll be glad to have you join us." 
 
 " I think so ; I am suffering more from nervous de- 
 pression than anything else, I think. It may be that 
 will be just what I need." 
 
 " Just come in with me and we'll talk over your case, 
 and if there is any reason for you not to go, I'll plainly 
 tell you." 
 
 After investigation, Dr. Gray told him outdoor exer- 
 cise and cheerful company would do more than medi- 
 cine to put him in good condition." 
 
 He went at once to secure a horse. He said he 
 would not see them till the next morning, as he was 
 rather fatigued. 
 
 " I am certainly glad we met Malcom. He is a
 
 158 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 capital fellow. He has been too closely confined to his 
 business, is the only trouble, isn't it, Charlie ?" 
 
 " He has the misfortune to be the only child of a 
 doting mother. She no doubt magnifies his ailments 
 and makes him really worse. I think he will be all 
 right by a few weeks rest and exercise. I can tell as 
 I see more of him."
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 ANOTHER ADDITION TO THE PARTY. 
 
 EARLY Saturday morning they set out on their 
 journey. They had to go a little slowly, as Alice was 
 not an expert rider, and felt a little timid. 
 
 By nine o'clock they had begun the ascent of the 
 mountain. 
 
 Higher up they came to the stahle where their 
 horses were to be cared for. They were surprised at 
 the fine appointments of the cafe, where they stopped 
 to lunch. 
 
 Mr. Young had sent an order the day preceding to 
 prepare a dinner for the party at four o'clock. He 
 had not mentioned that fact to them. They con- 
 cluded, at his suggestion, only to take sandwiches and 
 coffee, and dine later. 
 
 When the highest point had been reached, they felt 
 fully repaid. The magnificence of the extended pano- 
 rama was beyond their wildest expectations. Their 
 guide told them of many strange adventures of parties 
 who had preceded them. He carried, in a belt 
 buckled around his waist, several pistols. The ladies 
 wanted to know if he often used them. He said 
 almost every day he killed a snake ; that he found it 
 a surer way to dispatch them, as he could do it at a 
 greater distance, and thus avoid being struck by them.
 
 160 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 He warned them to be on the alert. He led the 
 way as they went down, beating the stunted bushes as 
 he went. Soon they heard him cry, " Look out !" 
 He drew his pistol and fired twice, and there before 
 them was a deadly moccasin writhing in the death throes. 
 
 " Do not come near," he said. " If he should strike 
 you now it would prove fatal." 
 
 He lifted him to one side on his stick, and they 
 passed on. 
 
 " Be careful now," said he. " They always go in 
 pairs. The other one is not far off." 
 
 They were very glad to find a hot dinner awaiting 
 them. They did full justice to it. 
 
 The horses were fresh and they enjoyed the ride 
 back extremely. 
 
 Dr. Gray asked Mr. Malcom how he had enjoyed 
 the trip. 
 
 He said : 
 
 " I am sure I feel very much better than if I had 
 not met your party and joined myself to it. I should 
 certainly not have gone this distance, and perhaps not 
 out at all. I must write to my mother and tell her 
 how well I stood the trip. She will hardly know how 
 to believe it. I know she will feel under many obli- 
 gations to the members of the party for having allowed 
 me to join them." 
 
 The Sabbath was a day of quiet. The whole party 
 went to hear the sermon. It was a fine discourse from 
 a celebrated Presbyterian minister from New York.
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 161 
 
 The days flew by on wings, it seemed to each of the 
 party. Since Mr. Malcom came, Mr. Young and Jen- 
 nie took longer strolls alone. There were often tell- 
 tale blushes on her cheek when some of the party 
 would venture to joke them. It seemed as if in their 
 case the path of true love ran more smoothly than 
 usual. 
 
 The time to turn their faces homeward is almost 
 upon them. Fred said he must go ahead of them a 
 day or two, but would meet them and consider the 
 whole party his guests while in that section. If there 
 were any trips to be made to New York, it could be 
 easily done from his home. 
 
 He left with the understanding that he was. to meet 
 them at the boat two days later. 
 
 They were promptly on hand, and expected to be 
 taken to the hotel. Instead, the carriages drove to one 
 of the handsomest homes on a fashionable street. 
 
 They were ushered in and introduced to Mrs. Young 
 and her daughter, Mrs. Garrett, who made them very 
 welcome. The three days spent here were numbered 
 among the most pleasant of the whole journey. To 
 every place of interest they were taken, and everything 
 was done by the charming hostess and her daughter 
 and sons to make their stay agreeable. 
 
 Mr. Young, senior, was absent in the West, looking 
 after some business interests. 
 
 The farewells were said and the travelers were off 
 for old Virginia. Jennie convulsed the party by wish- 
 11
 
 162 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 ing she could go on a bridal tour every month. It was 
 suggested that she would have to live where it was easy 
 to obtain divorces. She said : 
 
 " Of course, I meant some one else just as I've 
 been on this one." 
 
 To the question put by Dr. Gray, " Shall we stop in 
 Washington ? " Eloise said, " Not unless the girls are 
 very anxious. I've enjoyed this whole month to the 
 fullest extent, but now I am hungry for Virginia." 
 
 The girls seemed to feel likewise, so they made a 
 close connection, and at noon found themselves at home. 
 
 They were driven home, and Eloise was quite lion- 
 ized by her new relations. She was shown to her room 
 in what she thought was her father-in-law's house. 
 There were so many of her belongings from Sunny- 
 meade that she felt almost homesick. 
 
 After changing her dress for a dinner gown, and 
 trying to do her best to be very brave in her new 
 position, she said to the Doctor, who had come for her : 
 
 " I am ready to go to the parlor now. I do not 
 want them to form a bad opinion of me on the start. 
 Then there are so many things in here to remind me of 
 home that I am afraid I'll get a little blue. It was 
 thoughtful of Aunt Lizzie to send them. I am sure 
 she and father will come as soon as they know I've 
 come. What amuses you in that, Charlie? Do you 
 think I am babyish to want to see them so much ? " 
 
 " We'll go down now, if you are ready." 
 
 Jennie and Alice were awaiting her in the hall. She
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 163 
 
 thought they, too, seemed to be very full of something 
 which they would like to divulge. 
 
 As she entered the parlor she found herself clasped 
 in her father's arms, and Aunt Lizzie waiting for her 
 turn. Before she had realized the situation there was 
 another vigorous hug. 
 
 " Bless yer heart, honey, Mammy couldn't let Marse 
 John and Miss Lizzie come widout her ; she was jes' so 
 hungry for a sight of dis baby." 
 
 Turning to Mrs. Gray, she said : 
 
 " Mother, this was so kind and thoughtful of you to 
 have them here. I was almost ready to cry for a sight 
 of them when Charlie came up ; but knowing how a 
 man hates to see a woman in tears, I choked them 
 back." 
 
 " I am very glad, daughter, to have aided in this, 
 but I think you are indebted to some one else for it. It 
 was your father's plan from beginning to end. I've 
 something else to show you now to remind you of home." 
 
 " Into the dining-room they went next. She noticed 
 her father had a paper in his hand, but thought nothing 
 of it. Into the kitchen next and there was Ellen, one 
 of the home cooks. 
 
 "Why, Ellen, did you come to live with Mother 
 Gray on my account ? I suppose Mammy sent you on 
 to keep a watch on me." 
 
 " One more place, and one more friend." 
 
 Into the yard, and there stood a beautiful Jersey, 
 munching her cud complacently.
 
 164 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 " Why, Daisy, and you in the city, too ! What does 
 it all mean ? There is some mystery attached to it all." 
 
 u This explains it all ; read it at your leisure. It is 
 all yours, and you are the lady of the house, and must 
 do the honors of the occasion." 
 
 And she did by bursting into a flood of tears and 
 throwing her arms around her father's neck. 
 
 "Oh, father, how lovely it all is ! I am so happy! 
 I am afraid I can never repay you for all your good- 
 ness to me." 
 
 " I am amply repaid, dear child, in seeing you 
 happy. I have enjoyed this little surprise for you 
 more than you can imagine. Aunt Lizzie and I found 
 most excellent and willing helpers in Mrs. Gray and 
 the other members of the family." 
 
 " I must say, Colonel, that I am very glad that you, 
 and not I, caused the first tears this little woman has 
 shed as Mrs. Gray. The only symptoms of weeping I 
 saw was when an old blind fiddler came to our cottage 
 in the Adirondacks, and, because we were all in such 
 a happy state, we put so many nickles and dimes into 
 his cup, he persisted in playing * Home, Sweet Home/ 
 ' Carry Me Back to Old Virginia,' and ' I Am Gwine 
 Back to Dixie,' ad infinitum. I saw the blue eyes were 
 about to overflow, and suggested l Yankee Doodle ' as a 
 way out of the dilemma." 
 
 Eloise called Jennie to her and said : 
 
 " Did you know about this ?"
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 165 
 
 " I certainly did, Mrs. Gray. Why do you ask ? 
 Do you mean to insinuate that I am a sifter ?" 
 
 " If you knew it and didn't tell, I am sure there is 
 no truth in the adage that * there is nothing new under 
 the sun.' 
 
 " Well, if you must know about it, my tongue will not 
 recover from the numerous bitings it had when I found 
 it was about to slip in this direction, for a whole month." 
 
 " I think, said Dr. Gray, " that the prospects are 
 exceedingly fine for two young ladies of our acquaint- 
 ance to change their places of abode before very long. 
 If I am not mistaken, we'll have some fellows trying 
 the effect of Virginia's climate before many weeks." 
 
 " You brought the tell-tale blushes, Charlie," said 
 Colonel Carter. " These must be the attractive ladies. 
 When shall we expect Mr. Young, Jennie ?" 
 
 " Really, Colonel, I didn't think to ask him a word 
 about it. I was remiss in that particular, I am sure. 
 I'll have to get Dr. Gray to find out for you." 
 
 " I cannot tell you the exact time ; but he said, ' I'll 
 be coming your way before long, Charlie, and will see 
 you.' The other fellow was not so communicative, 
 though he expressed the wish to visit Virginia in the 
 near future, as it had been a long cherished wish, etc." 
 
 Dinner was announced. 
 
 " Who is to sit at the head of the table?" was asked. 
 
 " Aunt Lizzie and father must take the places they 
 are used to, if it appears at all home-like," answered 
 Eloise.
 
 166 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 Never was there a happier party seated around a 
 table than that one. Even Mrs. Gray didn't let the 
 thought of her daughter-in-law associating with the 
 Baptists come into her mind a single time. She was 
 forced to admit that no young man had made a more 
 brilliant match, from many standpoints, than her son. 
 She cherished the secret wish that she might find her 
 more plastic than she was thought to be. If so, she 
 builded many air castles as to the furor she would 
 make in society, and what a help she might be in that 
 direction to Alice. 
 
 " Well, daughter, we'll go home to-night, but you'll 
 see us often. Do not get so wedded to this home that 
 you'll not want to come as often as you can to the 
 other one. As I told you, though, I've weighed this 
 matter well and recognized that your first duty is to 
 your husband. Yet I feel that I have my same place 
 in your heart, and will always keep it." 
 
 " I do wish you could stay ; but you'll come real 
 often, and I am going to do the same." 
 
 At an early hour all the guests left, Jennie going 
 with Colonel Carter and Miss Lizzie. 
 
 Aunt Hannah came in to say good-bye. 
 
 "Now, chile, I'se told Ellen to look after you and 
 see that you always wore your over-shoes, and that the 
 clo'es were all well dried. Take good keer of yourself, 
 and ef you needs Mammy, all you got ter do is ter tell 
 Mars John ter send me on. If I gits mighty hungry 
 ter see you, I's comin' of my own accord."
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 167 
 
 " That's right, Mammy. I'll always be glad to see 
 you, and you know you'll always be welcome here." 
 
 " Well, here we are, under our own vine and fig tree, 
 with none to molest or make us afraid," said Dr. Gray. 
 " Let's go over the house and see it from attic to cellar. 
 I saw it a good many times before I left, but the paint- 
 ers and paper-hangers were holding high carnival when 
 I was in last." 
 
 Over it they went, just like two children with a lot 
 of new toys. The last thing they saw was the most 
 attractive. 
 
 To the kitchen last. Ellen had everything beauti- 
 fully arranged. 
 
 " I tell you, Miss Eloise, this kitchen beats ours at 
 home all to pieces. True 'tain't so big, but much more 
 convenienter. Things all so handy. I'se got to git 
 use' to coal, like Daisy is to dat tub of water. She don't 
 like it one bit. She didn't give no milk hardly de 
 night she got here. She let it down pretty well dis 
 morn in'. Is you seen in de pantry ? Did you ever, 
 now ! Dat's de best of all." 
 
 " I think it is. Just look, Charlie ; we'll have to 
 open a store. Who but dear old father would have 
 thought of all this. I am so afraid I am not grateful 
 enough for it all." 
 
 " What time will you have tea, Mrs. Housekeeper ? 
 I must put in an appearance at my office and see Dr. 
 Jones as to my patients. I may call by and see if 
 Miss Belle has returned from her outing."
 
 168 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 "Seven o'clock, sharp, and mind you are on time. 
 If not well, you'll find out who is Mrs. Housekeeper, 
 and what a sharp tongue she has." 
 
 She remained in the kitchen for some time, asking 
 questions about Sunnymeade. Ellen told her the prin- 
 cipal events which had transpired since her marriage. 
 The arrangements for supper were all made, and she 
 went to her room and put on one of her prettiest mus- 
 lins, and awaited her husband. 
 
 He came promptly, and they seated themselves at 
 the table. She paused and looked at her husband. She 
 felt that to begin life thus without asking God's bless- 
 ing on it would be, of all things, the most ungrateful. 
 
 " Aren't you going to ask a blessing, Charlie ? " 
 
 " My dear, I never did such a thing in my life, and 
 I feel that it would be a most inappropriate thing for 
 me to do." 
 
 Without a word she bowed her head and simply 
 asked God to bless them in their new home, and to give 
 them grateful hearts for the many blessings whi^h had 
 been given them. They chatted pleasantly throughout 
 the meal. She felt that if this cross was to be taken 
 up, it must be done at once. There was no allusion 
 made to it by either one. 
 
 Before they were quite through, Alice ran in. She said : 
 
 " Please excuse me, Eloise, for my lack of formality, 
 but I got so lonesome I was obliged to come." 
 
 " Only on one condition, and that is that you'll get 
 lonesome very often, and come here every time you do."
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 169 
 
 " I told mamma it would not make the least differ- 
 ence with you that you were a regular old shoe." 
 
 " I am glad you came, Alice, for you can be company 
 for Eloise while I am away. I found that there were 
 one or two patients Dr. Jones wished me to see to- 
 night." 
 
 " This is the coziest home I ever saw, Eloise, and 
 you were so surprised. Jennie and I used to talk it 
 over and be so afraid we would let the secret out." 
 
 "I just think it perfectly wonderful that Jennie 
 ever kept it. Did you go everywhere to-day?" she 
 asked Alice. 
 
 " No." 
 
 " Charlie and I went into every nook and corner, 
 even to Daisy's stable, and found nothing wanting." 
 
 " Father and mother are coming for me. I think I 
 hear them now." 
 
 " I am very glad to see you and hope you'll come 
 very often," said Eloise, as she met them at the door. 
 
 " Oh, I guess you'll see a little too much of the 
 women folks, said Mr. Gray. " They'll certainly not 
 let you get lonely. Janet and I came to say that you 
 and Charlie will be expected to drink tea with us 
 to-morrow night, and we want you to feel perfectly 
 free and easy with us under any and all circumstances. 
 Just as you would do at your own home we would 
 wish you to do at ours." 
 
 " I appreciate your kindness very highly. I have 
 always been heart-hungry for brothers and sisters. I
 
 170 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 am sure Alice and I will enjoy being together and I'll 
 expect her to stay with me a great deal." 
 
 During the next few days there were many callers. 
 The set about whom Mrs. Gray was so anxious were 
 not at all slow in paying their respects to the bride. 
 She was too well and favorably known for them to 
 miss the opportunity of being among the earliest 
 visitors. 
 
 There was but one verdict from the entire number, 
 and that was that she was in every way suited to 
 adorn Dr. Gray's home. They pronounced her a 
 most charming hostess. 
 
 On Friday afternonn, Mr. Elliott's card was brought 
 to her. She went to the parlor at once. She had in 
 her mind compared this pastor with the only one she 
 had ever known. She wondered if she could ever feel 
 towards him at she did to Dr. Gordon. She had 
 fully made up her mind to like him and in every 
 way possible lend a helping hand in the work of the 
 church. 
 
 Her first impression was most favorable. His man- 
 ner was easy and graceful, with a voice soft and rich. 
 She felt at once drawn towards him and his work. 
 After the usual conversation natural to such a meeting, 
 he said : 
 
 "Sister Gray, I received a letter yesterday from 
 your pastor, enclosing your church letter, which he 
 said he had advised you to present at your earliest 
 convenience. I have it with me. Shall I retain it,
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 171 
 
 or will you take it and present it when the doors are 
 opened for the reception of new members ?" 
 
 " Indeed, you'll have to do just what is your custom 
 in like cases. You know I've only known one church 
 at home. I was reared in it ; Dr. Gordon baptized my 
 mother, officiated at the marriage of my parents and at 
 my own. So you see I only know how they do things 
 at Berea ; but I suppose it is about the same the world 
 over." 
 
 " Yes. I open the doors of the church at every 
 service. If it suits you, then, I'll just keep the letter 
 and present it when you come forward Sunday morn- 
 ing that is, if you expect to be present." 
 
 " I shall certainly be there, even if I have to come 
 alone. You know physicians are not to be always 
 counted upon for regularity in anything beyond their 
 profession. I've made up my mind that I'll not let 
 that hinder my attendance. I always expect to feel at 
 home in a Baptist church, wherever it is. I may not 
 be able to attend Sunday-school just now, but hope to 
 do so soon. I am very glad you came before the Sab- 
 bath, as I'll not feel so much a stranger." 
 
 " I should have called anyhow this week, but Dr. 
 Gordon urged me to come at once. He said, ' It is the 
 hardest task I've ever performed, to calmly send this 
 letter to be put into another church ; but a stern sense 
 of duty demands it.' He knew that the remainder of 
 the letter was to be strictly private, so he told her no 
 more of it ; but it made him feel an anxiety for her,
 
 172 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 which he plainly gaw was troubling Dr. Gordon that 
 is, he feared she would meet with the opposition of her 
 husband's family, even if he offered none, in the attend- 
 ance on his own church. 
 
 As he rose to leave, Mrs. Gray and Dr. Allison were 
 announced. He deferred his departure long enough to be 
 introduced to Mrs. Gray ; Dr. Allison he already knew. 
 
 After the exchange of a few pleasant remarks he 
 left. 
 
 "I am sorry, Eloise, that Mr. Elliott got in ahead 
 of us. I felt sure we would get here first. I am afraid 
 he has exacted the promise of you to attend his church. 
 I brought Dr. Allison along to extend you an invita- 
 tion and to add his persuasion to mine for you to attend 
 our church. I wanted Charlie to procure a pew before- 
 hand, but he wouldn't do it. Of course, you will be 
 perfectly welcome with us. I thought you would feel 
 more independent with a pew of your own. I had 
 gone so far as to select a name-plate for it." 
 
 In her anx-iety over the matter she allowed it to get 
 the better of her discretion, and said much more than 
 it was her intention to do. 
 
 At the very first pause Dr. Allison said : 
 
 " Indeed, Mrs. Gray, we had no other expectation 
 but that you would cast your lot with us. Indeed, it 
 would seem a little strange for a member of the Gray 
 family to go elsewhere. I assure you, madam, we will 
 welcome you very heartily into our communion." 
 
 She wanted to make the right reply, and felt so
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 173 
 
 much afraid she would not, that she became a little 
 confused. 
 
 "Indeed, I very much appreciate your " She 
 was about to say kindness, but she felt that she would 
 be telling an untruth. So she hesitated a second, and 
 added " solicitude." 
 
 The thought flashed through her mind, " Is that a 
 better word?" She hardly felt that i# was. "But I 
 feel that my duty is plain, and I'll unite with Mr. 
 Elliott's church on the Sabbath. My people, for gen- 
 erations, have all been Baptists, and I ana sure I could 
 be nothing else il I tried," she replied. I shall cer- 
 tainly take great pleasure in sometimes atending your 
 services, Dr. Allison. Whenever Dr. Gray wishes to 
 go, I'll be only too glad to go with him." 
 
 They remained but a short while longer. No sooner 
 had they reached the street than Mrs. Gray said. 
 
 "Did you ever see a young person so set in her ways 
 as she is? I certainly think she might have seemed 
 more appreciative." 
 
 " That is the way with all the Baptists. It is very 
 seldom you can change one of them. I am afraid we 
 did not go slowly enough. It was a little unfortunate 
 that we met Mr. Elliott there," answered Dr. Allison. 
 
 " I see only one hope in the matter. She said she 
 would go with Charlie whenever he wished to go. 
 We'll have to turn our batteries on him, and try to 
 persuade him to go oftener. You talk with him, Doc- 
 tor, the very first opportunity you have. I tried to
 
 174 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 get him to assert himself from the very first, and tell 
 her she must go with us. But he said he wouldn't 
 meddle with her religion. I hope she will not feel 
 called on to make a Baptist of him." 
 
 " I think you needn't give yourself any uneasiness 
 on that score, Mrs. Gray." 
 
 "Another trouble will be Alice ; I've never seen 
 any one so completely carried away with another as 
 she is with Eloise." 
 
 " I think she is a remarkably attractive young wo- 
 man, and Dr. Gray is certainly to be congratulated on 
 his selection," replied Dr. Allison. " While she was 
 not at all slow to assert her principles, on sober thought 
 I admire her the more for it. I doubt if she would 
 have mentioned the subject, if we had not first broached 
 it. Then she was certainly dignified in her reply 
 very much so for one so young. She is only nine- 
 teen, you said." 
 
 "Just nineteen, and, considering the fact that she has 
 been so very much petted and indulged, she is remarka- 
 bly womanly, I think," said Mrs. Gray. 
 
 " If it were not for Charlie's strong will-power, I 
 would expect him to be like potter's clay in her hands, 
 so great is his love and admiration for her."
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 MRS. GRAY UNITES WITH THE CITY CHURCH. 
 
 How many prayers went up from that heart of the 
 petted child of fortune that she might stand firmly by 
 her principles. 
 
 She had never felt at all that her husband would 
 attempt to interfere with her church privileges. That 
 was not the source of trouble. She saw that he felt 
 no interest in his own salvation. How often did memory 
 carry her over those conversations with Mammy on this 
 subject. She had never spoken to him on the matter 
 which now seemed of so much importance. She feared 
 to do anything which might make it harder to reach 
 him later on. 
 
 She laid the whole thing bare to her Heavenly Father 
 and asked his direction in leading her to do and say 
 just the right thing. 
 
 " Silence is golden," she thought, " If I can live in 
 such a way as to impress him, and make him fall in 
 love with my religion, he may desire to know of my 
 Saviour." Her last prayer on closing her eyes was for 
 divine guidance. 
 
 Sunday came, and to her surprise her husband said 
 at the breakfast table : 
 
 " Are you going to Sunday-school ? "
 
 176 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 " No ; I thought I was such a stranger here, that I 
 would wait till I had met some of the members. Mr. 
 Elliott invited me to come. As I'll cast my lot with 
 them to-day, I suppose they'll find work for me to do. 
 I could not think of being idle in the church. Dear 
 old Doctor Gordon always says, 'Show me an idle 
 Christian and I'll show you a pious devil.' He seems 
 to think one quite as much of an anomaly as the 
 other." 
 
 " I'll be here in time to escort you to church, then. 
 I do not expect to be able to go often ; but suppose it 
 would be considered very bad form not to go to-day. 
 Wouldn't it, little woman ? " he said. 
 
 " Remember, I'll be always glad to have you, but 
 certainly will not stay away because you will not be 
 able to go." 
 
 " That is right." 
 
 He really felt relieved ; for, to tell the truth, he had 
 felt some twinges of conscience on this very point. 
 He knew full well it would be expected of him by the 
 people. 
 
 Many a pair of eyes were turned upon them as the 
 usher showed them to a seat not far from the front. 
 
 Dr. Gray was a well-known figure upon the street, 
 but no one had ever seen him at a service in that 
 church before. Of course, there was considerable spec- 
 ulation as to whether the bride was a Baptist or not. 
 
 After the sermon, Mr. Elliott announced that the 
 doors of the church would be opened to receive new
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 177 
 
 members, either by letter or as candidates for baptism. 
 He gave out that old-fashioned hymn, " Blest be the 
 tie that binds our hearts in Christian love," and asked 
 that any who wished to confess Christ or join by letter 
 from some sister church would come forward. 
 
 What conflicting emotions there were in Eloise's 
 breast ! In imagination she went back to dear Berea. 
 There she saw in their accustomed seats her father and 
 Aunt Lizzie. She felt that in a measure this step 
 was a separation from them. But again she remem- 
 bered that God's church of his divine planting was but 
 one. 
 
 The beginning of the second verse aroused her from 
 her reverie. She quietly rose and went forward. At 
 the same time a young man walked down another aisle ; 
 then came a gentleman, lady and little girl. 
 
 Mr. Elliott met them and gave each a warm grasp 
 of the hand. 
 
 After the hymn he said : 
 
 " Brethren, I have three letters in regular form 
 one from Berea Baptist church, for Mrs. Dr. Charles 
 Gray ; the other two from Antioch, for Mr. and Mrs. 
 George Clark. What is you pleasure, brethren ? " 
 
 A gray-haired brother said : 
 
 " I move they be received." 
 
 " I second the motion," said another. 
 
 " All in favor of this motion, please say ' Aye.' ' 
 There was a most hearty response. " All opposed, 
 ' No.' " Profound silence reigned. 
 12
 
 178 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 "As there is no opposition, you are unanimously 
 received." 
 
 Turning to the little girl he said : 
 
 "Brethren, this is Myrtle, the daughter of our 
 brother and sister Clark, who presents herself as a can- 
 didate for baptism. I've carefully examined her and 
 find that she fully comprehended her condition as a 
 sinner, and her full reliance on Christ as her Saviour. 
 Her father and mother tell me that she has indulged 
 this hope for months ; but they preferred to delay the 
 matter on account of her age ; they now think they 
 have no right longer to delay. And this young 
 brother, Thomas Fletcher, is well known to us all. 
 He tells me that he has put his trust in the Saviour 
 and desires to walk with him and do what he can in 
 his service." 
 
 They were both received as candidates for baptism. 
 
 " As pastor of this church, I extend to you the right 
 hand of Christian fellowship. May the Lord bless 
 each one of you and make you useful in his vineyard. 
 While some familiar hymn is being sung, the brethren 
 and sisters will come forward and welcome these, who 
 have come to live with us to-day." 
 
 Some brother started that grand old stand-by of the 
 Christian warrior, 
 
 "Am I a soldier of the cross." 
 
 The members responded heartily to the request, and gave 
 a most cordial and hearty welcome to the new members.
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 179 
 
 To Dr. Gray this was a strange experience. He 
 had never witnessed anything of the kind in his life, 
 and he certainly could not define the impression made 
 upon him. 
 
 After the benediction several of his acquaintances 
 came up and shook hands with him, and told him they 
 were glad to see him. 
 
 Dr. Morrison, one of the deacons, said to him : 
 
 "Gray, I had no idea you had done so well. I 
 knew it was a first-class marriage in every other 
 respect, but had no idea you had gotten a Baptist 
 wife." 
 
 As they walked home, he said : 
 
 " Eloise, I thought you Baptists opposed infant bap- 
 tism." 
 
 " Pray, who said we didn't ?" she answered. 
 
 " Why, they welcomed that little Clark girl, who I 
 am sure is not ten years old, just as heartily as they 
 did the other four adults. If she is not an infant, 
 what do you call her." 
 
 " She entered that church to-day just as I did at 
 Berea, and as her father and mother did at Antioch 
 on a profession of faith in Christ. She had her own 
 experience. I was no older than she is, I guess, when 
 I was baptized." 
 
 " I never saw any one baptized by immersion except 
 a lot of colored folks in the river. I thought it lots of 
 fun," he said. 
 
 " There are only two ordinances in our church, and
 
 180 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 to me they are the most solemn in the world Baptism 
 and the Lord's Supper and one naturally precedes 
 the other, consequently we cannot accept infant 
 baptism." 
 
 By this time they had reached home and the con- 
 versation ended. 
 
 Pretty soon Alice ran in. 
 
 "You see, Eloise, I am obeying instructions to 
 come whenever I get ready. I didn't do it, however, 
 this time. I felt like I ought to come and go with 
 you to your church, to-day ; but mama wouldn't let 
 me." 
 
 " I am sorry you could not come. But if it suits 
 Charlie, we'll go with you to hear Dr. Allison to- 
 night," Eloise said pleasantly. 
 
 " That will suit exactly. Mama said she would ex- 
 pect you to tea to-night, and I know she'll be glad to 
 have you go with us." 
 
 " You can just tell mother that she need not be at 
 all uneasy about your going there, Alice. I ran the 
 gauntlet very successfully. They didn't offer to bap- 
 tize me ; though Dr. Morrison thought it a cause for 
 extra congratulations that I had done so well as to get 
 a wife out of that flock." 
 
 " I tell you what you would enjoy, Alice," said 
 Eloise, "and that is one of our country basket meet- 
 ings. Did you ever attend one ?" 
 
 " I never did. Why do you call them basket meet- 
 ings ?" Alice asked.
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 181 
 
 " Why, we go in the morning and stay till after an 
 afternoon service, and carry dinner. Between the two 
 sermons we have an intermission and eat our dinners." 
 
 " Do you have them at your church ?" 
 
 "Yes. There will be one some time during the 
 summer, and we'll go. I really want you to visit 
 Sunnymeade, and that will be a good time." 
 
 "I haven't been consulted yet," said Dr. Gray. 
 
 "We'll do that later on, sir; just now we'll do 
 something more important, as dinner is ready," Eloise 
 replied. 
 
 Every time Alice met her brother's wife she was 
 more deeply impressed with her beauty of character. 
 
 " I should like to remain with you ladies so much, 
 but I am late now getting around to see my patients. 
 I expect I'll just have time to get supper. So you 
 can go on with Alice, and I'll meet you there." 
 
 Several of the deacons called in the afternoon, and 
 the superintendent also. He came to invite her to 
 join them and take charge of a class. 
 
 " I am afraid you'll not be so anxious for it if I tell 
 you it is a class of boys who have given trouble. The 
 fact is, when you joined the church to-day, I thought 
 of you as a way out of the difficulty. I said to myself, 
 ' She doesn't know them, and they will have to find 
 her out, so while they are getting acquainted, she may 
 devise some means of interesting them.' You'll admit 
 my honesty, at least, Mrs. Gray." 
 
 " My class at home was composed of boys from ten
 
 182 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 to sixteen, and I so much hated to give them up. 
 However, they have a most excellent teacher. I am 
 waiting to hear from them with much anxiety. I'll do 
 the best I can for them, Mr. Saunders. The only 
 trouble is, I'll necessarily be absent sometimes. I'll 
 go home, and will expect to stay over the Sabbath. 
 You know I couldn't give up that pleasure." 
 
 " That will be all right, if you can succeed in taming 
 them," Mr. Saunders replied. 
 
 The service at the Episcopal church was very much 
 enjoyed by Eloise. Dr. Allison's sermon was plain 
 and practical. 
 
 " There will be considerable difficulty in my remem- 
 bering all the people I've been introduced to to-day," 
 she said to her husband as they went home. " I cer- 
 tainly would be sorry to forget any of them." 
 
 " Well, the only advice I can give you is to do as 
 mother's friend, Mrs. Bronson to whom she intro- 
 duced you does." 
 
 "How is that?" 
 
 " Why, the old thing is so near-sighted she cannot 
 see anything two feet off. She has a holy horror of 
 appearing old, so will not wear glasses. To avoid giv- 
 ing offence to her friends she kisses all the women and 
 bows in a most cordial manner to the men." 
 
 With her household duties and visiting, Eloise was 
 kept so very busy that she did not suffer from home- 
 sickness, as she thought she would. 
 
 She often felt that underneath the cheerful vein of
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 183 
 
 all of her father's letters she could detect the heart- 
 hunger he felt for her. She expected him to visit her 
 during the week, and was not at all surprised when she 
 heard Ellen's exclamation : 
 
 " Lor', Miss Eloise, here's Marse John." 
 
 She gave him a detailed account of her first Sabbath. 
 He felt gratified at her cordial reception in the church. 
 
 She also told him of Mrs. Gray's and Dr. Allison's 
 visit, and their conversation. She had not mentioned 
 to her husband a word that either said to her. She 
 thought it the part of wisdom to say as little on that 
 subject as possible, and await events. 
 
 When her father left, it was understood that she 
 would pay them a visit the following week, and, if 
 possible, Dr. Gray would spend the Sabbath with them, 
 and she would return with him. She felt that she 
 would much prefer the frequent short visits to longer 
 ones, not so often. 
 
 Sunday came, and according to promise she went to 
 Sunday-school. She felt quite nervous over the pros- 
 pect of her class. 
 
 After the preliminary services were over, Mr. Saun- 
 ders introduced her to the boys, eight in number. He 
 said : 
 
 " Boys, Mrs. Gray says she prefers to teach boys ; so, 
 as you are without a teacher, I'll turn you over to her." 
 
 " Well, boys, I am glad to know you. I'll not feel 
 so homesick for my country boys now. I've missed 
 them so much."
 
 184 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 One little freckle-faced boy at the end of the seat 
 eyed her critically as she talked. 
 
 He nudged his next neighbor and whispered half 
 audibly: 
 
 " She is givin' us taffy. Nobody in such a rig as 
 that ain't from the country. More like New York. 
 Do you believe her ? " 
 
 She could not help hearing the remarks, though she 
 tried not to appear at all attentive to them. 
 
 " Don't know/' was the reply. " I got kinfolks in 
 the country. They don't look like her, you bet. Them 
 diamonds must have cost a sight of a money." 
 
 "Listen! What's that she's tellin' ? " said the 
 freckled urchin. 
 
 " I had a letter from my country boys yesterday. I 
 have it here in my Bible, and if you would like to know 
 something about them I'll read it to you. I just wish 
 you could see what a healthy, happy set they are." 
 
 For the first time she received a reply : 
 
 " Read it," said two or three at one time. 
 
 " Of course, all did not write. The oldest boy wrote 
 this time. Another will write next time." 
 
 "NORTON, July 12, 1877. 
 " Dear Miss Eloise : 
 
 "According to promise, I'll write to you to tell you 
 how we are getting on at Berea S. S. We have missed 
 you so much, especially our class. I am glad to tell 
 you that the boys come pretty regular. 
 
 " Aleck and Jack haven't missed a single time.
 
 4 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 185 
 
 They take a book out every Sunday to read in the 
 evening. Aleck says it keeps him from doing what 
 he used to do. He asked me to pick him out a book 
 last week, and I got 'Coster Grew.' He said he 
 wished he could find a friend to help him get some 
 education like Coster did. 
 
 " Miss Mary gets on tolerably well. The most of 
 the boys know their lessons every Sunday. I reckon 
 the Colonel wrote you that Tommy Clark had been 
 baptized. When are you coming here? Miss Mary 
 says you may teach us when you come. The boys all 
 send love. 
 
 " Very truly, your scholar, 
 
 "GORDON GLENN." 
 
 " I do not think we'll have much time for our lesson 
 now ; but we did not know each other, so I thought 
 we would take a little time to get acquainted. How 
 many of you know your lesson ? Hold up your hand, 
 if you do." 
 
 Not a hand was raised. 
 
 " I hardly expected that you would know it. The 
 superintendent told me that you had not had a regular 
 teacher lately. We always get a little lazy when we 
 do not expect to be called on to recite. Can any one 
 tell us what it is about ?" 
 
 One hand was raised. 
 
 " Well, you may answer. What is it ?" 
 
 " About Joseph and his brethren." 
 
 Then in a simple way she told them the story, and
 
 186 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 while there was much restlessness, she felt it was not 
 an hour entirely lost. 
 
 The superintendent had wisely remained at a dis- 
 tance. When the bell tapped, she said : 
 
 " I hope to see all of you next Sunday." 
 
 The visit to her home was in every respect per- 
 fectly delightful. It made her, if possible, more 
 appreciative of it. She saw, as far as possible, all of 
 the neighbors. 
 
 While it was all enjoyed to the full, Sunday seemed 
 to her the best day of all. 
 
 Dr. Gray came, and they went to Berea. Her boys 
 were all in place, and Miss Mary gave a very satisfac- 
 tory account of them. 
 
 Dr. Gordon did not seem more feeble than he was 
 at her marriage, yet she realized that he was failing, 
 and the thought troubled her. She could but picture 
 the flock without its shepherd. She knew all would 
 miss him, but none more than the Sunnymeade house- 
 hold. He announced that their protracted meeting 
 would begin the first Sunday in September, and he had 
 procured the services of a brother from Richmond. 
 
 Eloise reminded Dr. Gray of her engagement with 
 Alice to attend this meeting. 
 
 Jennie Marvin had spent most of the time with her. 
 She promised a visit to her new home in the near future. 
 
 Dr. Gray said to her : 
 
 " What is the latest from New Jersey, Miss Jen- 
 nie ?"
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 187 
 
 " The peach crop is almost an entire failure, but the 
 harvest of mosquitoes is the most prolific known to the 
 memory of the oldest inhabitants," she answered as 
 promptly as if it had been the most important item she 
 knew. 
 
 " Ah ! That accounts for Fred's desire to leave the 
 State and take up his abode in Virginia for a while. I 
 had a letter yesterday saying he would see me by the 
 last of the week. The coward ! I had no idea he 
 would desert old friends in that shameful way. He 
 was brought up with the crew, and had just as well 
 stand by them. Don't you think so ?" 
 
 " That depends on circumstances. Some old friends 
 bleed us shamefully, sometimes, and " 
 
 " Yes, yes, I see just how it is," interrupted Dr. 
 Gray, " and one must of necessity seek new ones, who 
 will sometimes use you worse, if possible, eh? Be 
 kind to him, Miss Jennie, and make up his losses to 
 him." 
 
 " He is coming to see you. I'll not be there either 
 to make or mar his happiness. You have not invited 
 me to meet him." 
 
 " No necessity for that, when I expect he will do 
 just as he said see me, and pass on in this direction." 
 
 " We'll see about that later. Is Mr. Malcom coming 
 with him ?" she asked. 
 
 " Surely, you do not want two buttons on the same 
 string ?" 
 
 " I haven't mentioned buttons to you since I fur-
 
 188 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 nished yours on Lake George. But I don't mind tell- 
 ing you, in a friendly way, you know, that Alice will 
 take charge of one button." 
 
 " Home again and work for me, my little wife," he 
 said on their arrival. " I so much enjoyed the days 
 spent at Sunnymeade. Everything is so restful there." 
 
 " Of course, the old home is everything to me ; yet 
 I am very happy in this one. I, too, must be busy, 
 for Jennie, I expect, will come back with Fred, and 
 they'll be here together several days. He wrote her Mr. 
 Malcom would come with him, if he could possibly 
 leave his business. His health is so much improved 
 that he cannot claim any time on that score. I guess 
 Alice can inform us correctly on the subject. Of course, 
 we will entertain the party. That will mean right much 
 to such a novice as I am. I'll coax father and aunt 
 Lizzie to come, and I'll be all right then," Eloise said. 
 
 " Charlie, no not forget to look around to find some 
 position for Aleck Ferguson. That boy must come 
 here and get advantages he can never have at home. 
 If he could get just enough to board and clothe him 
 the first year and have the advantage of a night school, 
 it would mean so much to him." 
 
 " All right ; I'll not forget."
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 MAMMY'S PREDICTION VERIFIED. 
 
 ELOISE had listened very closely to all that her hus- 
 band said ; for never had she forgotten Mammy's con- 
 versation on the subject of his profanity. 
 
 Lately she had felt that he had been misrepresented, 
 though she knew that Aunt Hannah was fully per- 
 suaded that such was true of him before she mentioned 
 it to her. 
 
 Dr. Gray, in the meantime, had very zealously 
 guarded his tongue, lest he should in her presence say 
 something which he full well knew would be very 
 offensive to her. 
 
 One morning, as she was passing his office, she 
 thought she would go in quietly and surprise him. As 
 her hand was on the knob she heard him use language 
 which was certainly not suited to be repeated. It was 
 too late to retreat, so she went in to find him and one 
 of Jiis friends, whom she had often met, engaged in a 
 very excited conversation. Both looked confused. To 
 each came the same thought did she hear? 
 
 She tried to appear unconcerned, but succeeded 
 poorly in the effort. 
 
 " I came like a thief in the night," she said. 
 
 " I am sure we are more pleased to see you than we 
 would be to see the thief," said the friend.
 
 190 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 Truthfully, though, if they had been perfectly sure 
 she had heard what she really did, they would have 
 much preferred the thief. 
 
 11 Oh, I was just passing and ran in for a moment. 
 I always do, if the buggy is at the door." 
 
 Dr. Gray felt that he would have been willing to do 
 almost anything to recall those words. He knew they 
 went like an arrow into her heart, if she heard, and he 
 was almost sure she did. 
 
 " By the way, I am glad you came in, for two rea- 
 sons," he said. 
 
 He determined to put the best face on it possible 
 and appear nonchalant, if he felt otherwise. 
 
 "A letter from Fred says he'll be here Thursday or 
 Friday. He will go to the country Saturday ; he will 
 remain there for several days. The rest of the pro- 
 gramme you know. Malcom will meet them here then, 
 and they propose to go to the Natural Bridge and sev- 
 eral other places, provided they can find agreeable 
 company. He asks you to chaperone the party." 
 
 "Perhaps mother would do it. I heard her say 
 a few days ago she was anxious for just such an outing, 
 and was urging Father Gray to take her." 
 
 " The other matter was about your protege, Aleck. I 
 think I have a place to suit him exactly. A new art 
 and book store combined is to be opened next week, 
 and I have the promise of a position for him at a small 
 salary to begin with." 
 
 " I am delighted at that. I'll write to father, so he
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 191 
 
 can let them know about it, and give his mother time 
 to get him ready." 
 
 She bade the Doctor and his friend good-morning, 
 and left with a heavier heart than she had carried for 
 many months. 
 
 She walked aimlessly along, busy with her own 
 thoughts. She felt crushed, as if some great blow had 
 fallen upon her. 
 
 She fully realized what he really was in her estima- 
 tion. He had been so true, so manly, so affectionate 
 in all things to her. He did not attend church regu- 
 larly, but she allowed his large practice to excuse that. 
 She noticed that he was an attentive listener when he 
 did go. She always prayed that some arrow of convic- 
 tion might be sent into his heart whenever he went. 
 
 He would have his little jokes at her Baptist doc- 
 trine, but she knew he only did it to tease her. He 
 served his mother the same way. He would say to her 
 after hearing one of Mr. Elliott's sermons : 
 
 " I tell you, mother, our preacher gave us a fine ser- 
 mon to-day. You ought to have heard it." 
 
 She would, in her most dignified manner, reply : 
 
 " My son, I enjoy the services in my own church 
 more than I possibly could in any other." 
 
 Again he would say to her : 
 
 " We are to have baptizing at our church to-night. 
 Won't you go down with us ? " 
 
 All of these remarks Eioise took in the same spirit 
 in which she felt he meant them.
 
 192 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 Dr. Gray contributed very liberally to all the enter- 
 prises of the church, and had never, by word or deed, 
 sought to hinder her in her work. She knew, whenever 
 she saw in her visits to the poor that there was lack of 
 medical attention, she could offer his services freely. 
 He never denied her, but seemed to do it cheerfully. 
 All of these little attentions she had taken as favorable 
 signs that his mind was turning in the right direction. 
 As she walked she pondered on the best way to meet 
 this difficulty. Must she keep silent or speak ? Which 
 would be the better way ? She decided to take no 
 notice of it for the present, but to bide her time and 
 pray to her Father to put just the right words into her 
 mouth. 
 
 She dropped in to see one or two of the sick ones 
 she was in the habit of visiting. 
 
 She went on home and wrote to her father about 
 Aleck, and to Jennie Marvin. 
 
 When her husband came to dinner he found her so 
 bright and cheerful that he flattered himself she had 
 not heard. Since she left him that morning his 
 thoughts had not been idle. He almost hated himself 
 for offending her by the use of such polluting language. 
 She, so refined, so gentle, so very lovable in every way, 
 to be obliged to listen to it ! He felt like calling him- 
 self a brute. He made a firm mental resolve, relying 
 solely on his own strong will power, to break himself 
 of this obnoxious habit. It had never appeared in that 
 light to him before.
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 193 
 
 She was busy arranging for the coming guests, and 
 he unusually so with his increasing practice, so they did 
 not have time to see as much of each other as they 
 wished. 
 
 Sometimes when he would come in so tired at night, 
 with no assurance that he would not have several calls 
 before morning, he would exclaim to his wife, " Oh, for 
 one quiet week at Sunnymeade ! " 
 
 She and Alice were very congenial. Alice was never 
 happier than when she was with her, and would often 
 go with her to church and to prayer meeting. Mrs. 
 Gray did not at all like it, and protested against it, 
 without positively forbidding it. She saw much to 
 admire in her daughter-in-law, and would often say 
 that the only thing she could find fault with her for 
 was that she was incorrigible as a Baptist. 
 
 Once more she made an effort to win back her son 
 to his first allegiance. She appealed to him to join the 
 confirmation class and be ready for confirmation when 
 the Bishop came ; but he protested against church 
 membership without a change of heart. She began to 
 feel she had a hopeless task before her. Then it was 
 that she would blame Eloise with what she termed her 
 stubbornness. 
 
 Thus was Eloise worried from time to time by these 
 accusations ; but she kept on the even tenor of her 
 way, with her face ever set towards the path of duty. 
 
 She was surprised one day when her husband said 
 to her : 
 
 13
 
 194 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 " I've been greatly troubled about something, and I 
 must unburden my heart to you. I want to know if 
 you heard any part of the conversation between Wright 
 and myself the morning you came to the office." 
 
 " Yes, I heard more of it than I wished." 
 
 "I've waited for you to mention it to me, as I 
 expected a lecture on the subject." 
 
 " Am I given to lecturing ? I do not think you 
 have had to play the part of Mr. Caudle to such an 
 extent as to be in dread of it." 
 
 " Well, to be candid, I know I deserved it, and was 
 in the condition of the boy who has been promised a 
 whipping and wants it soon over." 
 
 " Since candor is the order of the day, I'll say I've 
 /been greatly pleased and agreeably disappointed at not 
 hearing it before." 
 
 " What made you expect to hear it ? That is 
 strange." 
 
 " Because I was told you did it before we were mar- 
 ried, and have had many prepared speeches made for 
 the first occasion. As it was, I had waited so long, I 
 was dumbfounded and couldn't say one word." 
 
 She thought there might never be a more propitious 
 time to unburden herself on this subject, so she quietly 
 and carefully detailed to him all the circumstances of 
 her finding it out. She told of her sleepless nights ; of 
 what a burden she carried. She told how she and 
 Mammy wrestled over it, and how Mammy got the 
 better of her.
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 195 
 
 She went over her conversation with Jennie, and the 
 conclusion they reached that perhaps God was allowing 
 her to do this in order that he might be saved. 
 
 He seemed to be deeply moved by this recital. 
 
 " I admit I have for years been a slave to the horri- 
 ble habit, as I see it now. But I made up my mind 
 never to offend you by using an oath in your presence. 
 I was so mortified the other day that I made a firm 
 resolve never to do it again. However, a habit so 
 firmly rooted as that one cannot be broken at once ; 
 unconsciously I've been guilty two or three times. I 
 most solemnly promise you now that I will not be so 
 indiscreet again." 
 
 " I take that as an answer to my earnest prayer, and 
 feel sure that God, in his own good time, will answer 
 fully." 
 
 Her heart throbbed with joy, for she believed that 
 her prayers had been heard and would be fully 
 answered. 
 
 Fred Young arrived on time, but only spent a day 
 and night, so anxious was he to reach Belmont. 
 
 Dr. Gray laughingly said : " That is all right, 
 Fred ; we understand just how it is. It hasn't been so 
 very long that we should forget it." 
 
 The days flew by swiftly. He and Jennie came just 
 a few hours ahead of Mr. Malcom. Dr. and Mrs. 
 Gray insisted that he should abide under their roof 
 during his visit. 
 
 There were various pastimes and excursions, and
 
 196 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 time flitted. Before they were aware of it, the time 
 for separation came. 
 
 Mr. Malcom had avowed himself and been accepted 
 as the suitor of Alice Gray. Mr. and Mrs. Gray as- 
 sented, but stipulated that at least a year should pass 
 before the consummation of their engagement. This 
 seemed a long time to the ardent young lovers, but 
 they agreed to wait. 
 
 Fred would come in two months more to bear away 
 his bride to his northern home. 
 
 Dr. Gray could not forbear to tease her a little. He 
 would say to her sometimes : 
 
 " I must rack my brain to prepare a tanning prepa- 
 ration for you. I'm thinking what a lovely object you'll 
 be when the Jersey ' skeeters' get through with you. I 
 know they are banding together already to attack the 
 Virginia blue blood, which they hear is coming into 
 their midst." 
 
 As 'usual, she was always ready with a reply. She 
 staid several days with them. One day he said to her : 
 
 " Miss Jennie, I've but one wish to make for you 
 and Fred, and that is that you may be just as happy 
 as we have been. 
 
 We will soon pass our first mile-stone in married 
 life, and I am sure no two have ever been happier. If 
 all the others are to be of the same kind, we'll be 
 models for all who are to come after us." 
 
 With the visits home, and her rounds of duty in the 
 church, Mrs. Gray led quite a busy life.
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 197 
 
 Dr. Gray was trying to arrange to spend several days 
 at Sunnymeade after the wedding at Belmont, in order 
 to get the much-needed rest. 
 
 When Aleck Ferguson came, Eloise invited him to 
 stay with them until he became somewhat acquainted 
 with the city and his new surroundings. She felt so 
 much depended on his first associates. He gladly ac- 
 cepted, and in every possible way tried to show his 
 appreciation of the kindness. He was to be left in 
 charge of the house. She had introduced him to the 
 very best young men in the church, and thought his 
 association with them would be very helpful to him. 
 
 His first month's salary, at her suggestion, was 
 mostly spent for himself. There were many necessary 
 things to be had, though Mrs. Ferguson had done the 
 best she could to fit him up. 
 
 When his next month was due, he carried the money 
 to her and said : 
 
 " I want to spend this for mother. Will you take it 
 and buy just what you think she and the girls would 
 like to have, with some little present for father and 
 Jack." 
 
 " I certainly will. You mean something to wear ?" 
 
 " Yes ; you know what will suit. Of course, we 
 cannot have fine things like yours. Get things to fit 
 our circumstances." 
 
 She felt proud, to see him use his native good sense 
 in spending his first earnings. 
 
 She told her husband of her entire day's shopping to
 
 198 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 spend Aleck's money. She said she was sure the mer- 
 chants had pronounced her a " bargain fiend," for never 
 had she bought such a quantity of goods with so little 
 money. 
 
 She was quite as proud as Aleck when she showed 
 him her purchases, and he saw how much his own 
 earnings had accomplished. 
 
 " Thanks to you," he said, " for I would never have 
 gotten this place but for you and Dr. Gray." 
 
 She made it a point to go to him whenever she had 
 anything in that line to buy. She had also introduced 
 several of her friends to him. 
 
 His employers spoke highly of him, and said that 
 " he was both apt and attentive." 
 
 Mrs. Gray went home a week before Jennie's mar- 
 riage, to assist in the preparations. She was to also 
 assist Mrs. Marvin in receiving the guests, while Aunt 
 Lizzie would preside over the supper. It was to be an 
 old-fashioned Virginia wedding, and guests were to 
 come from several different States. 
 
 She carried Aleck's purchase to his mother the next 
 morning. She and her father talked of the improved 
 condition of the family. Mr. Ferguson had gone to 
 work, Col. Carter said, and the entire place showed the 
 improvement. 
 
 " Aleck has grit," he said, " and will some day make 
 his mark. I first thought of offering to send him to 
 school, but, seeing that he was inclined to push for 
 himself, I concluded to let him try. I think it a better
 
 BHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 199 
 
 plan to let boys scuffle sometimes. It makes men of 
 them. I intend yet to aid him. Whenever you and 
 Charlie see that he needs a helping hand, I am ready 
 to assist. That is my idea of benefiting people 
 teaching them self-reliance and helping them to help 
 themselves." 
 
 "I fully agree with you," Eloise answered. "I 
 could easily give him his board, and I was afraid of 
 outside influence over him. He could have the use of 
 our library, and improve himself in that way. This 
 package has already given unbounded pleasure to two 
 Aleck and myself. Now it is to make a whole 
 household happy. The hats in that box there will 
 seem treasures to them." 
 
 Mrs. Ferguson and the girls met them at the gate. 
 
 " I am very glad to see you, Mrs. Gray. How did 
 you leave Aleck ?" 
 
 " Oh, he is well, and, I think, happy. He just seems 
 fitted for the place," Eloise said. 
 
 " He is so proud of it. He writes every time about 
 how kind you and Dr. Gray are to him. I was so 
 thankful to you for taking him to your house. Not 
 many would have done that for poor folks like us. He 
 says every time, ' Ma, be particular with the girls. I 
 hope to be able to help them later.' ' ; 
 
 " He has begun already. Just open the box, chil- 
 dren, and see your pretty hats, bought with Aleck's 
 own earnings. He was so proud of them." 
 
 They were admired and tried on over and over
 
 200 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 again. Every now and then a silent tear of thankful- 
 ness would steal its way down Mrs^ Ferguson's cheek, 
 as she looked over the things her own boy had sent 
 her. Visions of brighter days were before her. 
 
 " I'll see you again before I go," Eloise said to Mrs. 
 Ferguson. " I am glad to see you looking so well." 
 
 Everything was excitement throughout the entire 
 neighborhood. It was not often that so grand a wed- 
 ding took place in that section. 
 
 Between Sunnymeade and Belmont there was con- 
 stant communication. Miss Lizzie and her cook were 
 just as busy as those at Belmont. Hampers of cooked 
 articles were sent over. The guests were arriving, and 
 Mrs. Marvin had all she could do to entertain them. 
 
 Miss Lizzie and Eloise went over the day before for 
 the final preparations. There was not a single 
 unpleasant occurrence. Truly all went "merry as a 
 marriage bell." 
 
 When the last of the guests had departed it certainly 
 had the appearance of a " banquet hall deserted." 
 
 Dr. Gray remained for a few days, and took a much- 
 needed rest. 
 
 Mammy always found a convenient time and place 
 to say a word to him about his soul. At first he always 
 joked with her about it. Of late he was more serious, 
 and seemed to listen more attentively to her. 
 
 Never did she go to her bed at night without asking 
 God to save his soul. She would say to herself, " I 
 could leave my chile better satisfied if he was a 
 Christian." 
 
 Thus she prayed and expected.
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION. 
 
 SUNNYMEADE, April 5, 1878. 
 " My Dear Boy : 
 
 " It is not often that a man has the proposition made 
 to him that I am about to offer to you, and that is, I 
 want to borrow your wife. 
 
 " A sudden and burning desire has seized upon me 
 to attend the meeting of the Southern Baptist Conven- 
 tion, to be held at Louisville, Ky. I am appointed as 
 one of the delegates to represent Virginia, and I 
 shrink from making the journey alone. I know of no 
 companion who would be so agreeable to me as Eloise. 
 I think the trip would be a source of great pleasure to 
 her not only to go with me, but she would doubtless 
 meet many friends and acquaintances. 
 
 "There is yet another reason why I wish to go. 
 I've been in correspondence with one of the Kentucky 
 stock-raisers in regard to the purchase of some horses 
 and mules. I would much prefer to make my own 
 selection from the number he has for sale. 
 
 "I would not propose the trip to her first. If for 
 any reason it would not suit for her to go, I did not 
 want her to have any regret in the matter. 
 
 " We may be absent three weeks. If there is any
 
 202 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 special place she would like to visit, I will take great 
 pleasure in going with her. 
 
 " Please let me know at once if my startling propo- 
 sition meets with your approval, so that I may notify 
 the committee at Richmond of my acceptance. 
 " Love to the dear child. 
 
 Very truly yours, 
 
 JNO. E. CARTER." 
 
 " So, so," he said to himself. " I couldn't say nay, 
 if I wanted to. But I will have a little fun out of it." 
 
 Going to his desk he dashed off the following let- 
 ters: 
 
 "APRIL 5, 1878. 
 " Dear Father : 
 
 " Yours just received, and will reply at once without 
 consulting Eloise. I am sure I could not deny either 
 of you the pleasure. I know she'll be only too glad 
 to go with you. However, I must do something to 
 compensate me for my loss. I am going to show her a 
 copy of the enclosed letter as my reply to you. I'll 
 have the fun of teasing her a little. She takes every- 
 thing I tell her as a bonafide fact. 
 
 "She'll no doubt write you by the next mail. I can 
 assure you that the home will be desolate without her. 
 There is much sickness and I am kept busy. 
 " Affectionately, 
 
 " CHARLIE." 
 
 He went home to his dinner a little earlier than
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 203 
 
 usual. He found his wife entertaining visitors. They 
 left in a few moments, and she ran in to see if it would 
 be necessary to hurry the meal. 
 
 "Are you in a hurry ? If so, I'll have dinner at once." 
 
 " No need to hurry. I have had such a startling 
 proposition made to me that I had to come home to 
 consult with you about it." 
 
 "What can it be?" 
 
 " A man wrote to me to borrow my wife. If that 
 is not startling, what is it ? " 
 
 " Of course it is. But you know it is some poor 
 crazy creature. No sane man would do such a thing," 
 Mrs. Gray said. 
 
 " You are mistaken there. It is a veritable propo- 
 sition from as sane a man as I ever knew," answered 
 the Doctor, gravely. 
 
 " You ever knew ? Do let me see it. Do I know 
 him ? " she asked in rapid succession. 
 
 He handed her the letter. 
 
 " Oh, Charlie ! It is from father. Is he sick ? Why 
 does he need me ? " 
 
 With trembling fingers she opened the letter, and as 
 she read it a change came over her face. 
 
 " Certainly I'll go. There is not one thing to pre- 
 vent. Ellen wants a holiday, and you can take your 
 meals at father Gray's. That is a capital arrangement. 
 I'll write as soon as dinner is over." 
 
 " No need of that. I answered it at once, and brought 
 along a copy for your approval."
 
 204 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 He passed it to her, and tried to look as unconcerned 
 as possible. 
 
 " Dear Father : 
 
 " I am in receipt of your favor of April 5. I am 
 sorry to disappoint you, but circumstances over which 
 I have no control will prevent Mrs. Gray from leaving 
 the city at this time some of which I'll name : Old 
 Sister Henry is down with the ' wuss spell of rheumatiz 
 she's had for nigh on to ten years ' ; while Dolly Jones' 
 lame back 'don't git no better at all,' notwithstanding 
 the fact that I've prescribed various plasters, lotions, 
 ointments, etc. Tim Brooks will be sure to get drunk 
 and beat his wife, and there will be no ear into which 
 to pour her troubles. Catherine Flynn's three brats 
 have measles. Besides, there are numerous renegades 
 who prefer fishing to Sunday-school. I feel sure Mrs. 
 Gray will prefer to remain at her post of duty rather 
 than to see all the blue-grass farms and high-stepping 
 horses in Kentucky. 
 
 "Very truly, 
 
 CHAS. B. GRAY." 
 
 Her face was -a study. She looked at her husband, 
 but for the moment could not trust herself to speak. 
 He looked as solemn as a judge. There was no sus- 
 picion of a smile. 
 
 "Oh, Charlie ! How could you !" 
 
 The blue eyes overflowed, and a sob finished the 
 sentence.
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 205 
 
 He had not expected her to take it so seriously, and 
 felt sorry he had done it. He caught her in his arms, 
 and tried to make her see it was a joke. In that short 
 time there were many conflicting emotions in her heart. 
 
 " I am afraid you are not well, Eloise, or you would 
 not get nervous this way. Now get quiet and let me 
 explain." 
 
 He told her of the letter he had really written, and 
 how glad he was for her to have the pleasure. 
 
 " I am so much ashamed of crying, but you didn't 
 smile at all, and I thought you were making fun of me. 
 If you were to do that, it would break my heart." 
 
 " Get your hat and go with me for a drive. I've a 
 visit to make about two miles out. We can talk it 
 over as we go." 
 
 " And you'll leave me at mother's, and I'll see if 
 she will take in such a bad fellow as you are. I'll 
 leave my Farm Ballads with Alice and get her to read 
 1 Gone With a Handsomer Man ' daily to you, to pay 
 you for your bad treatment," Mrs. Gray said. 
 
 When they met at supper, every vestige of the trou- 
 ble had passed. 
 
 She was elated at the prospect before her. She 
 could talk of nothing else. There would come times 
 when she would think of the loneliness of Dr. Gray. 
 And who was to see after her boys ? These had become 
 almost as dear to her as those at Berea. Indeed, her 
 solicitude was greater for them, because of the greater 
 temptations by which they were beset.
 
 206 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 The rest of the time was spent in preparation for 
 her trip, and the setting in order of her house. 
 
 She had written to Aunt Lizzie to know if she and 
 Mammy could come up to see her before she left. " If 
 not," she wrote, " I must come, if I can only spend 
 one day. I could not go without seeing you, especially 
 as Mammy is constantly growing more feeble." 
 
 It was arranged that they would come, and both felt 
 that it was better thus, as Aunt Lizzie could see that 
 all of her arrangements for the trip were complete. 
 
 While making her preparations for this excursion, 
 her thoughts often reverted to Jennie in her far-away 
 home. She felt that her time was pretty much occu- 
 pied in her new sphere. 
 
 Her father came the day before the time for them to 
 leave, in order to make his final arrangements. 
 
 At the tea-table that night Colonel Carter said : 
 
 "I've one of your Aunt Lizzie's premonitions, 
 Eloise." 
 
 " Not that the cars will run off the track and break 
 our necks, I hope," she replied. 
 
 " Oh, no ! It is a pleasant one. I do not think I 
 ever started out on a journey feeling so sure of a good 
 time. I am so glad Brother Gordon could go. It was 
 wise for him to start early and rest himself on the way." 
 
 They were both pleased with their trip on the rail- 
 road. They did not intend to come back by the same 
 route, so took in the magnificence of the scenery as 
 they went.
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 207 
 
 Her father had engaged their rooms at the hotel 
 some time before, so they had no trouble in that. 
 
 They went often to the meetings and met many old 
 acquaintances. They heard, of course, much fine 
 preaching and many able debates. 
 
 They saw much of the beautiful city and its envi- 
 ronments. The day before the adjournment they left 
 to spend a few days with an old friend of Colonel Car- 
 ter's whom he had not met since they parted at 
 Appomattox Courthouse, more than twenty years 
 before. He saw his name on the hotel register and 
 called on him. He insisted that he must not leave 
 the State without a visit to him at his home on 
 the Ohio, about fifty miles below Louisville. They 
 spent two days most pleasantly, and their host 
 insisted that they prolong their stay ; but Colonel 
 Carter said he felt obliged to turn his face home- 
 ward. 
 
 Eloise wondered the more that he should take the 
 steamer on Saturday and go to a strange place to spend 
 the Sabbath, when they had been urged to remain with 
 their friends. 
 
 " I can give no urgent reason for going, only I feel 
 impelled to go in that direction," he said. 
 
 They took the steamer at 9 o'clock, and did not ar- 
 rive at their destination till eight in the evening. 
 
 They retired early, and arose much refreshed, to 
 spend a quiet Sabbath. They found that the town only 
 contained about two thousand inhabitants.
 
 208 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 After breakfast Colonel Carter interviewed the land- 
 lord as to the churches and hours of service. 
 
 " We are quite a religious people, sir, if the number 
 of churches is any indication. We have a Methodist, 
 Presbyterian, Campbellite and Baptist Church." 
 
 " Where shall I go to hear the best sermon, do you 
 think?" 
 
 " I cannot speak much from experience, sir," said 
 the landlord. " I don't often go myself. I guess you 
 can hear a pretty fair one at any of them. By the 
 way, there's to be a big time at the Baptist Church to- 
 day. They've been without a preacher for a time, and 
 a new one has come. I think, from what I've heard 
 my folks say, he is a man who is getting on in years, 
 and has begun to preach lately. They are going to 
 have some sort of extra doings over him. May-be 
 that would suit you." 
 
 " How far is it ?" 
 
 " Just go to that corner, yonder, and then straight 
 ahead about five squares ; a white church on the left." 
 
 He went for Eloise and told her of his conversation 
 with the landlord. " He thinks there will be a crowd ; 
 so we'll go on, in order to get seats," he said. 
 
 Even at that early hour they could only get seats 
 near the door. Everybody seemed filled with excitement. 
 
 Pretty soon four ministers entered the pulpit and 
 took their seats. Colonel Carter adjusted his glasses 
 and took a good look at them. He turned to Eloise 
 and said :
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 209 
 
 " There is something strangely familiar in the face of 
 the brother on the right." 
 
 Just then the eldest of the four arose and gave out a 
 hymn. Then one of the others led in prayer. 
 
 The third one arose and said : 
 
 " Brethren, in the examination given Brother Jones 
 by the brethren appointed, one among other questions 
 asked him was, what first led him to think of preach- 
 ing the gospel. He gave us such an interesting ac- 
 count of the events which led him to it that we thought 
 it wise to let him make the same statement to you that 
 he did to us. It will be helpful to many of you. It 
 is certainly an example of Christian living worthy of 
 emulation. It teaches us to sow at all seasons, relying 
 on God for the harvest. It will consume but a short 
 time, as he will only state facts, without going into 
 details." 
 
 As he arose, Eloise saw her father start. She won- 
 dered who the man could be, or if her father had ever 
 known him. He turned to her and whispered : 
 
 " I do believe that is Eobert Jones. You were too 
 small to remember him." 
 
 He came forward and said : 
 
 " It is not of the time which I've lived among you 
 that I'll speak so particularly this morning of that 
 most of you know. I was early left an orphan in my 
 Virginia home, and thrown on my own resources for a 
 living. I was employed on the farm of one of the best 
 men I ever knew. He helped me in many ways. At 
 14
 
 210 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 a very early age he made me manager on his home 
 place, that he could give me the advantage of his expe- 
 rience, and thus enable me sooner to command better 
 wages. He gave me a room in his own house, and I 
 ate at the table with his family, which you know was 
 not always the case with the rich. 
 
 " His wife was one of the godliest women I ever 
 knew. She often talked to me about my soul. I 
 always listened respectfully. I honored her as a Chris- 
 tian ; but still I went on without heeding her many 
 admonitions. 
 
 " She was taken sick, and, though the doctor was 
 there daily, no danger was thought of. But one morn- 
 ing he came, and pretty soon he ordered his horse to be 
 put in the stable. Then came a message to me to send 
 quickly for their pastor. The news flew like wildfire. 
 The poor negroes seemed heartbroken. I found they 
 could not work. I ordered the teams to be put up, 
 and we all went to the house. 
 
 " She was past human aid, the physician said. She 
 had everything to live for, as far as this world goes. 
 There was one little fair-haired, blue-eyed girl, that 
 was almost worshipped by all on the farm. She just as 
 calmly gave directions for bringing up that child as if 
 she was going off on a visit of a few days, and would 
 see if those directions were carried out." 
 
 Eloise laid her hand in her father's in sympathy. 
 She saw that he was greatly excited. 
 
 U A message was brought to me to come, as she
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 211 
 
 wanted to say good-bye. How I wished I knew how 
 to pray ! I felt so unworthy of such kindness as she 
 had always given me. How I wanted to beseech God 
 to spare her ! 
 
 " I went in and she reached out her hand. I saw 
 the damp of death on her brow. She said, ' I want 
 you to promise to meet me in heaven/ and with her 
 feeble voice she urged me to prepare for the same sol- 
 emn hour. I promised ; but, like many others, I put 
 off from time to time seeking God's forgiveness. 
 
 " The war came on soon. I, like thousands of others 
 all over this Southland, hastened to offer myself to 
 fight her battles. 
 
 "Of that time it is needless to speak. Its close 
 found me in Rock Island prison. From its walls I 
 came out without a cent. There were no loved ones 
 waiting to welcome me, and I was not able to trudge to 
 Virginia. 
 
 " Providence led me in this direction. I felt, after 
 crossing the Ohio, that I would take the very first work 
 I found and settle down. 
 
 " From that death-bed there had never passed a day, 
 scarcely an hour, without thought of the promise made. 
 Not until that bleak winter of 1864 and 1865 did I 
 fully put my trust in God. I often wished I could tell 
 her, yet I could not help feeling that she knew. I 
 thought so much of her beautiful Christian living and 
 the good she did while I was sliut up in prison. 
 
 " There came over me the thought that I ought to
 
 212 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 tell the story to my dying fellow-men. I reasoned that 
 I was incapacitated for the work by lack of education. 
 
 " My life among you is known. I've had much to 
 encourage and much to hinder. I've tried often to rid 
 myself of the thought that God really meant that I 
 should preach. I've never hesitated to speak a word 
 for him whenever an opportunity offered, and all the 
 time I've done what I could for my intellectual ad- 
 vancement. When you unanimously called me to be 
 your pastor, I could hold out no longer. From hence- 
 forth ' I desire not to know anything among you save 
 Jesus Christ and him crucified.' 
 
 " One word more to you Christian women. You do 
 not know the influence you can exert, not only in your 
 own home, but outside of it, by a godly life. When 
 the first girl came to our home, I claimed the privilege 
 of giving her a name. My wife acquiesced. I said, 
 ' Then it shall be Kate Virginia Carter Jones. If she 
 grows up to be like the woman for whom she is named 
 Mrs. Kate Carter, of Virginia she will never do any- 
 thing to bring reproach on the fair escutcheon of my 
 native State, nor dishonor the name of the godly woman 
 for whom she is called.' ' ; 
 
 Colonel Carter and Mrs. Gray had attracted consid- 
 erable ndtice from those around them. It was evident 
 they were strangers to all present. Those nearest them 
 had seen that Colonel Carter seemed greatly agitated, 
 and felt some anxiety to know the cause. 
 
 Just as Mr. Jones was about to take his seat, the
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 213 
 
 stranger arose and quietly made his way to the front. 
 He was a man who would attract attention in any com- 
 pany. He was tall and erect, and he still showed his 
 military training in his carriage. Of course all eyes 
 were turned upon him. As Mr. Jones saw him coming 
 he did not at first recognize a single feature ; as he 
 drew nearer, and reached out his hand to him, like the 
 rushing of mighty waters it came to him. Not only 
 Colonel Carter, but Sunnymeade as it appeared to him 
 that May-day, 1861, when he left it, stood out before 
 him. 
 
 The two stalwart men embraced each other and 
 sobbed as children. 
 
 The entire congregation responded in sympathy, and 
 wept without knowing why. 
 
 Mr. Jones said : 
 
 "Excuse us, brethren, but this is my benefactor, 
 Colonel John Carter, of Virginia, who by chance is 
 with us to-day." 
 
 " No, Eobert, not by chance. Truly God's own hand 
 led me hither to-day. I was attending the convention 
 in Louisville, and at its close went down the river to 
 visit an old friend, who brought every persuasive argu- 
 ment to bear that he could, in order to induce me to 
 spend this day with him. Somehow I felt impelled 
 to come on here, as I had some business nearby to trans- 
 act. I am truly glad to meet you again, and under 
 such favorable circumstances." 
 
 The two men, with tear-stained cheeks, stood with
 
 214 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 clasped hands while the congregation rose spontane- 
 ously and sang : 
 
 "God moves in a mysterious way 
 
 His wonders to perform ; 
 He plants his footsteps in the sea 
 And rides upon the storm." 
 
 This episode, though not a part of the programme, 
 
 was the most enjoyed. 
 
 A sister, in describing the scene to another, said : 
 " I didn't know there was so much music in that old 
 
 hymn ; for when they came to that second verse 
 
 1 Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take ; 
 
 The clouds ye so much dread 
 Are big with mercy, and shall break 
 With blessing on your head,' 
 
 I thought they would fairly lift the roof." 
 
 Colonel Carter said in a low tone : 
 
 " I have Eloise with me, and I'll go back to her, as 
 she is alone. I'll remain after the service to speak 
 to you." 
 
 The service was completed, and before the benedic- 
 tion was pronounced Mr. Jones said : 
 
 " I would be glad to have as many of you as wish 
 come forward and shake hands with my friends ; for 
 Colonel Carter has the little blue-eyed girl with him." 
 
 He went down to their seat and, grasping Eloise's 
 hand, said : 
 
 " Can it be possible ? I can hardly believe my own
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 215 
 
 eyes. Yet there are those same blue eyes so like your 
 mother's. I hope you are like her in all things." 
 
 " She is very much like her mother in many respects, 
 Robert. She was all in all to us. But we had to allow 
 her to be stolen from us. She is now Mrs. Dr. Gray. 
 I borrowed her for this trip." 
 
 "I want you both to understand that you are ex- 
 clusively my property while on Kentucky soil, so 
 we will have time to talk it all over. Come down to 
 the front. I want you to meet some of my people." 
 
 They went down, and as soon as the great congrega- 
 tion was dismissed large numbers lingered to shake 
 hands with the strangers. Notwithstanding the fact 
 that they had been kept long beyond the usual hour of 
 dismissal, they seemed loath to leave. 
 
 Mrs. Jones only staid long enough to be introduced 
 to them and hastened on home. She so well knew it 
 would be her husband's wish to have them at his home 
 that she went on to have everything in readiness for 
 them. 
 
 When they arrived, and the children came up to 
 speak to them, Colonel Carter was much pleased at 
 their appearance. There were only three of them 
 Robert, Jr., twelve ; Kate Carter, ten, and Roy, seven. 
 
 " Robert, I greatly appreciate your remembrance of 
 my wife, and if I live I'll educate your girl. I hope, 
 as you said in naming her, she will do credit to both 
 Virginia and my wife." 
 
 There were so many questions to be asked and
 
 216 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 answered that it seemed the time would not suffice for 
 them. 
 
 Colonel Carter told him of the business which 
 caused him to stop here. He found that his corres- 
 pondent was well known to his friend. They arranged 
 to drive out to his farm the next morning and look at 
 the stock for sale. He felt perfectly secure now, as 
 Mr. Jones very highly recommended him as perfectly 
 reliable in every particular. 
 
 Eloise wrote her husband that she couldn't say when 
 father would be able to tear himself away. She then 
 gave an account of their Sunday and how they were 
 " lionized," she said. 
 
 The purchase of mules and horses was made. There 
 was in the lot a lovely iron-gray filly which Mrs. Gray 
 admired extravagantly. t( Oh, father ! did you ever 
 see such a beautifully-shaped head as she has, and sucli 
 symmetry of limbs." 
 
 This led the owner to tell of her wonderful pedi- 
 gree. " We are as proud almost to trace back for the 
 fine blood of our horses as you Virginians are to go 
 back for your own blue blood, Mrs. Gray." 
 
 " I'll take her, Mr. Hunter," said Colonel Carter. 
 
 Turning to Eloise, he said : 
 
 "I must compensate Charlie for his loss in some 
 way. I bought her for him. Do you think he'll 
 admire her as extravagantly as you do? I know 
 he has been lonesome, and we've had such a good 
 time."
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 217 
 
 " If possible he admires a fine horse more than I do. 
 He'll be fairly wild when he sees her." 
 
 Their visit was drawing to a close, though it had 
 been extended two days. 
 
 Mr. Jones said, the last night of their stay : 
 
 " Colonel, the sight of you has made me yearn to see 
 the old place again as I've never done in all these 
 years. I think I'll have to accept your invitation to 
 visit Virginia." 
 
 " I shall expect you and your family, in the near 
 future, to come to see us. Lizzie will be so delighted 
 to see you. She enjoys getting up good dishes for her 
 friends as much as ever." 
 
 It was arranged before parting that Mr. Jones and 
 family would spend the month of October with their 
 Virginia friends. 
 
 They took the steamer Thursday morning and came 
 on home without any further delay. They enjoyed 
 the new mountain scenery of this route extremely. It 
 was a constantly changing panorama. 
 
 Dr. Gray was awaiting them on their arrival home, 
 and expressed his pleasure at the healthy appearance 
 of the pair. 
 
 " Your very warm reception by your friends seems 
 to have accomplished wonders for you, Colonel. I 
 haven't seen you looking so well for a long time." 
 
 "I do feel quite rejuvenated. I enjoyed every 
 moment of time, but none so much as the visit to Rob- 
 ert Jones. That was perfectly delightful to me. I
 
 218 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 return your property none the worse for her jaunt, I 
 hope," said the Colonel. " I'll pay the interest on the 
 loan later." 
 
 " She is a beauty, too. The only trouble will be, I 
 am afraid you will lavish more of your affections on 
 her than on me," said Eloise. 
 
 " What do you mean ? I never was good at solving 
 enigmas." 
 
 " Wait and see for yourself. I'll have to tell, so 
 I had just as well out with it. Father bought you the 
 loveliest iron-gray filly your eyes ever rested upon. I'll 
 tell you about her good blood when you've seen her." 
 
 " I suppose he remembered my weakness for fine 
 horse flesh," rejoined Dr. Gray. 
 
 " I guess so." 
 
 By agreement the stock was to arrive the same day 
 that they did. Colonel Carter wished to see them 
 taken safely from the train. 
 
 He had written for a couple of the farm hands to 
 come the day following to take them home. 
 
 He and Dr. Gray were on hand to see them taken 
 from the cars. They seemed a little cramped, but 
 otherwise were in good condition. 
 
 When the iron-gray was brought out, Dr. Gray's 
 admiration knew no bounds. 
 
 " Eloise was right about her being a beauty. Her 
 good blood speaks for itself. No pedigree needed for 
 her. I certainly appreciate your kindness, Colonel. 
 You keep us under renewed obligations all the time.
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 219 
 
 I fear I can never even begin to repay them in the 
 least measure." 
 
 " Yes, there is but one thing I ask that you make 
 the dear child happy. Let nothing which you could 
 prevent mar her happiness, and I am content." 
 
 When they were quietly at home that night Eloise 
 asked many questions about her poor friends that she 
 left in his care. He told her something about each, 
 and then he said : 
 
 " I turned over the Sunday-school notes to Aleck to 
 look after. I went to church two of the Sundays you 
 were away. The third one I was too busy to go. I 
 only got to prayer-meeting once." 
 
 How her heart leaped for joy ! She felt that meant 
 something for him to go to church and prayer-meet- 
 ing in her absence. 
 
 "Aleck said the class staid together pretty well. 
 He will be home to-night. He is about as tired of 
 wandering around as I am." 
 
 "I suppose you went with mother to church. I 
 know she was delighted to have you by her side again." 
 
 " No, indeed ; I went up and took my accustomed 
 seat just as if you had been at my side. I do think 
 Mr. Elliott was a little surprised to see me," answered 
 the Doctor. 
 
 " I am so glad that you went," responded his wife. 
 
 The Grays all came to sit till bed-time and hear 
 about her visit. 
 
 Her father left early the next morning for home,
 
 220 SHE WAFTED PATIENTLY. 
 
 with the promise to send Aunt Lizzie and Mammy up 
 in a few days. 
 
 " Poor Mammy ! I'm always afraid each visit will 
 be her last," said Eloise. 
 
 " Why don't you keep her with you all the time ? " 
 asked Alice, who heard the remark. 
 
 " I could not tie her here for good. There is nothing 
 here to attract her but me. There is her own little cot, 
 with its little garden attached ; such a medley of flow- 
 ers in it four o' clocks, primroses, black-eyed susans, 
 etc., interspersed with myrrh, thyme, mint and berga- 
 mot. I can smell them almost now. She couldn't 
 transfer that. Then there is the graveyard on the hill, 
 where sleep Uncle Tom and the four children who 
 have been in heaven these many years. She would feel 
 that she had committed the unpardonable sin to leave 
 them. 
 
 I haven't heard the latest from Mr. Malcom, Alice. 
 When do you expect him ? " 
 
 " He will be here in a few days. He couldn't name 
 the day when he wrote. One of the firm has to go to 
 Europe. He rather expects it will fall to his lot. If 
 so, he will come at once." 
 
 "And will you go, too ? How grand for the little 
 sister ! " 
 
 " That is the arrangement now. If so, we will be 
 married fully a month earlier than we thought. 
 Mamma is quite upset by the prospect, as it will neces- 
 sitate a very quiet affair. We will have to leave at
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 221 
 
 once. Jennie is coming very soon. She expects to 
 spend the entire summer in Virginia. Several of the 
 family will come during the summer." 
 
 " So she wrote me. I want to see her so much," 
 responded Eloise.
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 A RESTFUL VISIT AT SUNNYMEADE. 
 
 EARLY one morning, a few days after the conversa- 
 tion between Alice and Eloise, Mrs. Gray put in an 
 appearance at her son's home, before he left for his 
 daily round of visits. 
 
 " Good morning, mother mine," said her son. " Why 
 are you astir so early this morning ? Not making hay 
 while the sun shines, but doing your visiting before its 
 heat is oppressive, eh ?" 
 
 " I expect to be astir for the next month. Alice is 
 expecting Mr. Malcom to-morrow, and he got the ap- 
 pointment for the European trip. They will sail July 
 15. Just to think, not more than a month to do so 
 much in. I am sure I don't see how it is to be done." 
 
 "Being the most accommodating man in the State, 
 I'll have to lend you my wife to help you out of your 
 dilemma. She'll get you out of trouble, if anybody can." 
 
 " That is just my business here now. I came to ask 
 you, Eloise, if you were not too busy, to give me your 
 assistance till this thing is done with." 
 
 " Nothing will afford me more pleasure, I can assure 
 you, and there is nothing to prevent my entire time 
 being given to serve you." 
 
 " That relieves me greatly. I feel confident I can-
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 223 
 
 not rely on Alice for much assistance. She doesn't 
 seem to realize her responsibility in the least. Only 
 yesterday I needed to consult her, on what seemed to 
 me a most important matter. When I found her she 
 was perfectly absorbed in a book. The tears were 
 running down her cheeks, and I felt alarmed lest she 
 had heard some bad news. ' What is it, Alice ?' I 
 said. ( Do tell me ! What book is that you are read- 
 ing ?' I asked, as I had not succeeded in getting an 
 answer, and remembered how many tears she had shed 
 over the troubles in books. ' It is Grace Truman/ she 
 answered. ' Poor thing, how she was persecuted, and 
 by her own father-in-law ! I just couldn't help crying 
 over her. She was so patient with it all.' ' : 
 
 Eloise had a hard time to keep her face straight. 
 She felt as if she would fain have some excuse for a 
 laugh. She dared not look at her husband, for fear of 
 eternal disgrace in her mother-in-law's estimation. 
 
 Mrs. Gray was in such an excited state that she did 
 not notice the expression on the face of either listener, 
 and kept on with her story. 
 
 " After tea I was alone, and went to the library and 
 picked up the wonderful book. I read it for some 
 time before I discovered its character. And what, 
 Charlie, do you suppose it was ? Only a first-class 
 Baptist novel. My child weeping over it ! Do you 
 wonder that I was provoked and indignant ?" said Mrs. 
 Gray. 
 
 Just at this juncture, before a reply could be ex-
 
 224 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 pected, Ellen put her face in at the door to say, " A 
 boy wants you, Miss Eloise." 
 
 " Excuse me a moment, mother," and she went to 
 find the dirtiest little urchin she had seen for some 
 time. So relieved was she to get out of the predica- 
 ment a reply would have placed her in, that she felt 
 she could hug him, black and grimy as he was. 
 
 It was the same tale of woe which she heard almost 
 daily. 
 
 " Mrs. Gray, mother is sick, and we ain't got nothin' 
 to eat." 
 
 She told Ellen to fill his basket with what cooked 
 provisions were in the house. 
 
 " All right, Tommy ; tell your mother Dr. Gray 
 will see her to-day. I'll be there some time during 
 the day myself." 
 
 She heard through the open door the rest of the 
 conversation, as she saw Ellen pack the basket for 
 Tommy. 
 
 " Ha ! ha ! That is rich, mother, for you to find 
 one thing first-class about the Baptists. I thought we 
 were below par with you." 
 
 " I must say you and Alice do me great credit. She 
 reading and crying over one of their books, and you 
 saying < we were below par.' There was one comfort, 
 however, in it it was the father-in-law instead of that 
 much-abused personage, the mother-in-law, who was 
 the persecutor !" 
 
 Eloise said, as she came in :
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 225 
 
 " Charlie, Mrs. Flynn is sick, and I sent her word 
 you would call to-day. Do not forget it. I'll go 
 myself later. Now, mother, just as soon as I change 
 my dress I'm at your service. I'll be ready in a very 
 short time." 
 
 " I am glad that Alice will have the pleasure of a 
 trip to Europe," said Dr. Gray. "She has always 
 wanted to go. I must fix up a little programme for 
 them as to sight-seeing. I could see much more now 
 and at less cost than I did when I first went over. 
 My next excursion is to be there. I want Eloise to 
 have that pleasure. It may be we can go next year." 
 
 Soon the two were off to do what is the delight of 
 every woman's heart buy a wedding outfit. A large 
 part of hers was complete. It was the millinery, 
 gloves, wraps and small articles that were to be had 
 now. It was arranged that Alice would join them at 
 the dressmaker's at eleven o'clock. 
 
 The days which followed were the busiest of busy 
 days. Each night would find them too tired to do 
 aught else. 
 
 It was a relief when the very last purchase was 
 made and the trunk which was to go aboard the 
 steamer was strapped. 
 
 The bridal presents came from all directions, and 
 were handsome. Finally there was laid a small pack- 
 age with the others. On the card was " Best wishes 
 Dr. and Mrs. Charles B. Gray." Mrs. Gray picked 
 it up and opened it, to see a handsome pocket-book, 
 15
 
 226 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 beautifully mounted with silver, with Alice's name 
 engraved on the plate. She felt disappointed, for she 
 had expected them to do something very liberal. She 
 called Alice's attention to it. 
 
 " Have you looked inside ?" 
 
 " No, but it is light." 
 
 She opened it, to find a roll of new, crisp bank- 
 notes, all in English money, with a little note, saying, 
 " Pocket change for the little sister." 
 
 " I am so pleased at having a full purse of my own. 
 It will make me feel quite independent. I can buy 
 anything which pleases my fancy, without calling on 
 anyone," Alice said. 
 
 She expressed herself to the donors as being very 
 much gratified at their gift. 
 
 It seemed incredible how time flew, but these found 
 quite true the old adage, "Time and tide wait for no 
 man." 
 
 The ceremony over and the wedding breakfast served, 
 and a few hours more find our young friends launched 
 not only on the voyage of married life, but veritably on 
 an outgoing steamer, crossing the Atlantic. 
 
 As we are to stay on this side, we will say " Good- 
 bye and bon voyage " to them. 
 
 The reaction after the exciting events of the past 
 month made Mrs. Gray, senior, dull and languid. She 
 said she was unfit for any duty. At Eloise's invitation, 
 she went with her to spend a few days at Sunnymeade. 
 Heretofore she had not felt that she would enjoy the
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 227 
 
 quiet of the place at all. She surprised herself at being 
 so perfectly satisfied and feeling so content. She wrote 
 to her husband to come with Charlie, and they would 
 spend a week together in this " haven of rest," as he 
 calls it. 
 
 There was a revival among the colored people in the 
 neighborhood. They had nightly meetings at their 
 church, and often they could hear them, as they would 
 pass, shouting till they were perfectly hoarse. 
 
 It was proposed one morning that they all go that 
 night to hear the sermon from the colored pastor. 
 
 " He is not at all educated," said Colonel Carter, 
 " but is an excellent man. He has a high sense of 
 right, and urges his people to obey the laws of God and 
 man. He has the confidence and respect of all the 
 whites in this section of country. No one would think 
 of doubting a statement of his. He is a blacksmith, 
 and does most of the work for the neighborhood. He 
 makes very ludicrous blunders in the use of words 
 sometimes." 
 
 There was quite a party when they started out, as 
 they were joined by a number from Belmont. Several 
 of the Young family were visiting there, and it was a 
 novel thing to them. 
 
 They were all attentive and respectful. 
 
 " Uncle Ephraim," as the pastor was known to all in 
 the neighborhood, did not seem to be at all disconcerted 
 by the new element in his audience. He referred to 
 them several times. He prayed thus for them :
 
 228 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 "O Lord ! bless de white folks who is come to hear 
 de gospel. Erluminate dar minds by de light held out 
 by dis servant ter-night." 
 
 The mourners were out in large numbers. The seek- 
 ers, with long faces and bowed heads, were very quiet, 
 while those who " came through " were extremely noisy. 
 Sometimes it would take more than one brother to 
 manage some sister. 
 
 Uncle Ephraim, seeing one fat sister who seemed 
 unmanageable, said : 
 
 " Brer Smith, lend a han' here to hold Sister John- 
 sing." 
 
 At the close of the meeting he announced : 
 
 " Dai^ll be no sermon ter-morrer night, but a spe- 
 rience meetin'. All de new converts will talk. Ef we 
 is ashured dat dey is found de Lord, dey will jine en 
 be baptized at dar own convenience. Dar will be bap- 
 tism Sunday mornin' at sun-up, 'ca'se fo'teen adults en 
 fifteen adulteresses has giv' er sufficient sperience ter 
 jine de church." 
 
 It was well for our party that they sat so near the 
 door and could get out quickly, for they were convulsed 
 with laughter. 
 
 " What did he mean, Colonel ?" asked Mrs. Gray. 
 
 " Only that fourteen men and fifteen women stood 
 approved for baptism," answered Colonel Carter. He 
 was lecturing his son once about using bad language. 
 'Ain't you got no respect fur dat mouf ? I tell you, 
 chile, I ain't goin' to sile mine so, case I eats wid dis
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 229 
 
 mouf, I dus/ which argument he thought sufficient to 
 keep his mouth pure." 
 
 They decided to remain till Monday, and hear Dr. 
 Gordon on Sunday. He had spent a day with them at 
 Sunuymeade. Mr. Gray had only met him the day of 
 the marriage. He was much pleased with him, and 
 felt anxious to hear him preach. He had mixed with 
 the world for so long, and, in the vortex of business, 
 had not indulged in serious reflections about religion, 
 as he felt now that he ought to do. Like many other 
 men, he had delegated the religious training of his chil- 
 dren altogether to his wife. He felt that his whole 
 duty was done when he provided means for the main- 
 tenance of the family. He had seen lately his mistake, 
 but realized it too late. 
 
 To Mr. Gray this was one of the most enjoyable 
 Sundays he had spent in years. The quiet of the sur- 
 roundings, the very air in its purity, all conspired to 
 remind him of his youth. 
 
 Everything was plain ; the music was not such as he 
 listened to every Sunday, yet it was inspiring, and it 
 was evidently worship. Memory was busy. He was 
 back again in the old church. He fancied he saw his 
 mother, with her gentle expression, sitting in her accus- 
 tomed seat. On the opposite side, his father, drinking 
 in the truths of the gospel. He could almost fancy he 
 heard his hearty " Amen," as the minister would pre- 
 sent some thought particularly comforting to him. 
 There were the same sounds of the twitterings of the
 
 230 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 birds, the rustle of the leaves on the trees, the neigh- 
 borly whinny of the horses announcing a new arrival, 
 that he had so often heard at his old church. 
 
 Only the announcement of the text, "Prepare to 
 meet thy God," aroused him from his reverie. 
 
 It was an intensely solemn discourse. It seemed 
 almost the parting injunction of one who was about to 
 step out into that great beyond of which we all, more 
 or less, have an innate dread. 
 
 Eloise oifered a silent prayer that this might be the 
 day that her husband would see himself a lost sinner 
 and heed the advice given. 
 
 There was another heart in that assembly which beat 
 in unison with hers on this point. Aunt Hannah had 
 never moved her membership to the colored church, 
 but always occupied a seat in the gallery. She, too, 
 prayed earnestly for his conviction and conversion. 
 
 Mr. Gray and Colonel Carter rode together in a 
 baggy, while his wife, with Miss Lizzie, Dr. and Mrs. 
 Gray, went in a carriage. 
 
 Soon after leaving the church, Mr. Gray said : 
 
 " Colonel, I've not enjoyed a day at church as much 
 for twenty or more years. I feel that my soul has 
 been blessed. My people were all Methodists, and I 
 found myself going over my early years in the old 
 home church, before the sermon. Retrospection is a 
 fine thing sometimes." 
 
 " Indeed, I am glad to hear you say you've enjoyed 
 the day. I think the habit of looking back over the
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 231 
 
 past is one that grows on us as we grow older," 
 rejoined the Colonel. 
 
 " The sermon was exceedingly solemn, and ought to 
 make a lasting impression on his hearers. I am sure 
 I'll not soon forget his wise admonitions," Mr. Gray 
 replied. 
 
 "That sermon gave me the horrors," said Mrs. 
 Gray, at the dinner table. " Why do preachers feel 
 called upon to make life such a solemn thing? Why 
 not give only the bright hue to everything? It is just 
 as easy." 
 
 "But, my dear," answered her husband, "do the 
 bright hues always last? Are we not daily reminded 
 that they do not ? I feel that the sermon has done me 
 an infinite amount of good. It has awakened a train 
 of thought that I am afraid has lain dormant too long 
 in my mind. It is a preparation we should all make, 
 for death is certainly a surety. I was telling Colonel 
 Carter, as we came on, something of my early church 
 life in the old Methodist church at my home. People 
 of whom I had not thought for years came before me 
 as distinctly as I ever saw them, especially one old 
 woman who shouted very often. As a small boy, my 
 heart would almost stand still when she began. She 
 was one of God's elect. She went home to heaven 
 shouting still as her feet touched the cold stream 
 many years ago. Her influence is still felt in that 
 church." 
 
 " Well, what next ? I begin to fear that my whole
 
 232 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 family will slip through my fingers. I never knew 
 before what a fondness you have for the Methodists. I 
 hope you'll not be a shouting one. It would make me 
 so nervous. I dislike anything of that sort," his wife 
 said. 
 
 Eloise somewhat regretted the conversation. She 
 had hoped that an impression had been made. She felt 
 that the Spirit's influence was at work in her husband's 
 heart. If his mother had only left her words unsaid ! 
 He loved his parents very dearly ; but of late he had 
 expressed himself as wishing that his mother was not 
 so much wedded to the things of the world. 
 
 The expressions from his father seemed to touch 
 him. 
 
 They returned to the city early the next morning. 
 
 Eloise had another conversation with her father in 
 regard to assisting Aleck. It was settled that he 
 would give substantial aid whenever it was practicable 
 to do so. He said : " I think we know the kind of stuff 
 he is made of and can trust him." 
 
 Mrs. Ferguson sent up a basket of fruit to be car- 
 ried to him. " Not," she said, " that he does not get 
 much better in town, but this will remind him of 
 home." 
 
 Eloise made it convenient to see all of her class 
 during the week and let them know she was home 
 again. All of the original class were not present. 
 There had been many changes. Some had been pro- 
 moted to a higher class ; one or two had left the city ;
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 233 
 
 one proved incorrigible, and, after repeated efforts on 
 her part to induce him to come and take interest, she 
 had for the time given him up except to ask God's 
 help to bring him back. 
 
 There came letters full of interest from Alice and 
 her husband sprightly descriptions of people and 
 places. The business which called him there was speed- 
 ily and successfully dispatched. Then they had ample 
 time to see all of the principal cities before their return. 
 
 Alice was an enthusiastic traveler. She had read 
 a great deal about Europe as a child, and knew just 
 what she most desired to see. Sometimes, when ar- 
 ranging at what points they would stop, Mr. Malcom 
 would suggest that they pass that by as of little interest. 
 But she would give some valid reason, and the result 
 would be that she carried her point. For instance, 
 he said : 
 
 " We'll not make a stop at Bingen. There is nothing 
 special there to attract us." 
 
 " Not stop at Bingen ? Oh, Robert ! When the dream 
 of my life has been to see Bingen. In imagination, 
 Fve seen the cot from which 'A Soldier of the Legion ' 
 so proudly marched away ; the well-remembered walks 
 he took < with another not a sister.' Then I've pic- 
 tured her as, with tear-stained cheeks, she watched the 
 remnant of * The Legion ' as they came back again, and 
 sighed as she thought of the far-away grave in Algiers." 
 
 Of course she saw the " vine-clad hills " of Bingen. 
 Who could resist her appeals ?
 
 234 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 We naturally feel a deep anxiety when we know 
 that our friends are crossing the ocean. The Grays 
 felt a little restless until a letter from Alice came an- 
 nouncing their arrival. She said : 
 
 " Some of you must visit me, for Robert says I am 
 not to leave him, and he'll not be able to leave till 
 Thanksgiving. I forgot to tell Eloise that Robert is 
 very much exercised on the subject of baptism. We 
 met, coming over, some very pleasant people, who were 
 Baptists. There was considerable discussion on the 
 subject, and since then he has thought a great deal 
 about it. I told him to wait and let Eloise explain the 
 matter to him ; that she could do it better than those 
 did on the steamer that is, she would make it plainer. 
 For my part, I think I am altogether, and not almost, 
 persuaded on the subject, and hope Robert will look at 
 it in the same light as I do. As he is not a member 
 of any church, we could go together. It is my wish 
 to be useful, like Eloise." 
 
 Her mother made no comments as she read the letter 
 to her son and daughter. 
 
 After she left, Dr. Gray said to his wife : 
 
 " Alice is quite bold at long range. I don't think 
 she would have talked quite so plainly to the mother 
 if she had been face to face. Distance makes lots of 
 difference in what we say." 
 
 " Perhaps it does. I know Alice had thought and 
 read a good deal on the subject. I hope mother will 
 not lay the blame at my door. Whenever she asked
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 235 
 
 me any questions on the subject, I would tell her to 
 read prayerfully the New Testament, and let that be 
 her only guide. I think the one who honestly does 
 that will not make a mistake." 
 
 " I had almost forgotten to say that Aleck's em- 
 ployers think they have a very fine opening for him in 
 New York. They have not yet mentioned it to him, 
 as it would require some small outlay. But in the 
 end it will, they think, prove very advantageous to 
 him. They asked if I thought it would be possible for 
 him to raise two or three hundred dollars. They say 
 he certainly has talent, which he can never develop 
 here as he could there. I told them I would speak 
 with you about it. I thought you said it was your 
 father's intention to give him some help when the 
 proper time arrived," Dr. Gray said to his wife. 
 
 " He will certainly do it. It has been his wish for 
 some time to do it. But he thought it better for Aleck 
 to work his own way, and let people see what was in 
 him. He has certainly reached that point now. I 
 know father will gladly advance the necessary amount. 
 It will not be urgent enough to write him, as he will 
 be here in a few days ?" Mrs. Gray asked. 
 
 " No, when he comes he can talk it over with them 
 and satisfy himself as to the feasibility of the plan. I 
 think that will be much better," replied Dr. Gray. 
 
 " Mr. Elliott called to-day. He was telling me of 
 his plan for the protracted meeting. He has engaged 
 a minister to assist him, and will continue tne meeting
 
 236 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 through the month of October, if the interest justifies 
 it. He seemed very sanguine on the subject. He 
 seems to feel that there is already a deep feeling on 
 this subject pervading the entire church. He says he 
 feels as the farmer does when he sees his field of grain 
 just ready for the reapers' blade. I do trust that he 
 is not mistaken. Though, like him, I feel that the 
 church is ready to receive a great blessing." 
 
 " That is just the month for your friend, Mr. Jones 
 and his family to come. You'll be over-taxed, I am 
 afraid, with the company at home and going to church 
 too," said her husband. 
 
 " They will be glad of the privilege of hearing the 
 distinguished preacher. Father and Aunt Lizzie will 
 like to be here all the time Mr. Jones is here. We had 
 better arrange for the first part of the visit to be at 
 Sunnymeade. I know of a most excellent servant I 
 can engage for that month to help Ellen, and I need 
 have no extra trouble." 
 
 " Do that, by all means. I would get her at once, 
 and let her get used to her position, so she will know 
 exactly what will be expected of her," he said. 
 
 " I'll do it to-morrow, if she can come so early." 
 
 The second day after this conversation her father 
 came. Before she had mentioned her plan to him 
 or had told him of Aleck Ferguson's prospects, he 
 said to her : 
 
 " I had a letter from Robert Jones yesterday. They 
 have been obliged to change their arrangements some-
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 237 
 
 what, and will come between the fifteenth and twen- 
 tieth of September." 
 
 " Oh, I am so glad of that ! for now I can be with 
 them at Sunnymeade." 
 
 " I thought it was settled when we parted in Ken- 
 tucky that you would be there with them." 
 
 She then told him of the meeting and how she had 
 planned for them all to enjoy it together. 
 
 " Now we can all be here and you will have had 
 your visit, too," her father said. 
 
 " I am troubled about Charlie, father ; yet I cannot 
 help feeling that he is almost persuaded. I may have 
 been wrong in my way of dealing with him. I've not 
 worried him nor urged him. I soon found out that 
 would not do him any good. I think his mother, in 
 her extreme anxiety to get him in the church, made 
 matters worse by constantly urging him. While I may 
 seem to others unconcerned, I daily, yea, almost hourly, 
 importune God to save him." 
 
 " Well, daughter, the truths of God's word are yea 
 and amen. We are his children, and must await his 
 own good time for him to verify those promises to us. 
 I know that more than two or three are agreed touch- 
 ing this thing, and, better than that, I believe he is 
 honestly thinking over the matter himself. Men of 
 his character are the hardest to move ; but when once 
 converted, they make the kind of Christians to be 
 depended on under all circumstances. I have in mind 
 now Mr. Johnson, who was baptized when your mother
 
 238 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 was. In fact he was the first person Brother Gordon 
 ever baptized. He was quite fifty at the time, if not 
 older. He was like a beacon light in that community. 
 He had the most radiant countenance after that. He 
 was never known to murmur. Come what would, he 
 was happy and contented." 
 
 " I am glad you feel so hopeful. I believe myself 
 that whenever he is converted he will make a useful 
 Christian," was her reply. 
 
 She then told him of the offer to be made to Aleck, 
 and what amount would be needed, and suggested that 
 he see the firm and be fully satisfied about it before it 
 was mentioned to him. 
 
 This was done, and as it seemed to be just the thing 
 suited to him, Colonel Carter gave his check for the 
 required sum, which was to be a loan, without bond or 
 security. Nor was he to pay interest on the loan. 
 
 Aleck was delighted at the prospect, and he was 
 just as appreciative as he could be. 
 
 He was thinking deeply on that most important sub- 
 ject his soul's salvation. He felt so unworthy of all 
 of God's goodness to him. He thought over the last 
 three or four years of his life how God had led him 
 on step by step, raising up friends to assist him when- 
 ever he had needed them. He could but ask himself 
 the question, " What have I done for him ?"
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 HENCEFORTH WE WILL WALK TOGETHER ON OUR 
 WAY TO THE BETTER LAND. 
 
 SEPTEMBER opened so oppressively hot that the vis- 
 itors at Belmont decided not to return to New Jersey, 
 but to spend the rest of the month in the mountains, 
 all except Jennie. She and her husband proposed to 
 stay at her mother's. He said he greatly preferred the 
 quiet of the country to the gayety of the most fashion- 
 able resort. He had been with them only a few days 
 during their stay, preferring to take his vacation at 
 this time. 
 
 Eloise and Jennie were delighted at this arrangement, 
 as it enabled them to see much more of each other. 
 
 Mr. Jones wrote to Eloise that he would go by way 
 of Washington and Norfolk, and would expect to meet 
 her at Sunnymeade September twentieth. 
 
 She had arranged all of her household plans, so that 
 it would only be necessary for her to return a couple 
 of days in advance of her guests. 
 
 There seemed to be a revival feeling pervading the en- 
 tire church. Not only were the pastor and deacons active- 
 ly engaged, but a large majority of the church was astir. 
 
 Mr. Elliott said to his brethren and sisters in prayer- 
 meeting :
 
 240 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 " I have felt that we are to have a great meeting ; 
 but to-night I am assured of it. I have never known 
 the church to be in such a prayerful, expectant attitude 
 as it is at this time. I went to see Sister Saunders 
 to-day. I had not been in her room but a few moments 
 before she said : f Brother Elliott, I am not able to 
 sleep well at night, and I spend my time praying for a 
 great outpouring of the Spirit on our church, and I 
 believe it will come.' Ah ! I thought, when one who 
 has suffered as she has for months, and can so far forget 
 self as to spend her time in her hours of wakefulness 
 beseeching God's blessing on us, it must come. She 
 named several who are objects of special solicitude." 
 
 At the morning service the next Sunday, when the in- 
 vitation was given to those who wished to ask an interest 
 in the prayers of God's people, or to unite with the 
 church, there were several to accept the invitation. 
 Among the number was Aleck Ferguson. He pre- 
 sented himself for membership. 
 
 Eloise's heart bounded for joy. She had so much 
 wished to see him take this step, and, now that he was 
 to be thrown with strangers in a large city, she would 
 feel so much better satisfied when she knew him to be 
 a Christian.. 
 
 At every service there were like assurances of the 
 deep religious feeling which was pervading the church. 
 The visiting minister would find them ready for the 
 harvest. 
 
 It so often happens that the faithful pastor sows the
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 241 
 
 seed through the years, and they are tended and watered 
 by the prayers and tears of some of the humblest of 
 God's children, and when the ripened sheaves are just 
 ready to be garnered, an evangelist will come along, 
 and he is credited with the labor and results. 
 
 To Mr. Jones this reunion at Sunnymeade was one 
 of the most delightful episodes in his life. Of course, 
 there were not so many faces that he remembered, but 
 there were some familiar ones. One of the first places 
 to which he carried his wife and children was the little 
 graveyard on the hill. They had heard so much of the 
 one whose grave was their special object of interest, 
 that they, too, almost imagined they could see the 
 funeral procession as it wended its way to the grave. 
 
 Kate Carter read and reread the inscription on the 
 
 shaft : 
 
 In Memory of 
 
 CATHERINE ELOISE CARTER, 
 Aged 24 yrs., 6 mos. 
 
 "And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, 
 Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth. Yea, 
 saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours ; and their 
 works do follow them." 
 
 " Papa," she said, " that is the truth, isn't it ?" 
 
 " What, daughter ?" her father asked. 
 
 " Her works do follow her. You say she induced 
 you to be a Christian, and you are trying to get every- 
 body else to be Christians. I never knew what it 
 meant before for your works to follow you. I thought 
 they went to heaven with you." 
 16
 
 '242 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 " I want you to remember, Kate, that our bad deeds 
 follow us, just as surely as the good ones do. Our 
 reaping will always be of the same kind as our sowing, 
 only we will reap much more than we sow. Look over 
 there at that nicely prepared field. Suppose Colonel 
 Carter would expect to reap only one bushel of wheat 
 for each bushel he sowed, do you think he would have 
 gone to the trouble and expense to put his land in such 
 excellent condition?" 
 
 " I don't expect he would," she replied. 
 
 " No, indeed. As it is, he expects it to yield many 
 fold more than his sowing. So with our deeds, be they 
 good or bad," solemnly Mr. Jones said. 
 
 Colonel Carter had arranged with Dr. Gordon for 
 Mr. Jones to preach for them the following Sunday. 
 There was an immense crowd out, and he preached an 
 excellent sermon. It was plain and practical ; there 
 was no attempt at oratory or display ; it was a heart- 
 searching discourse. An unusual number of colored 
 people occupied seats in the gallery. Most of them 
 were the older ones of the neighborhood, who remem- 
 bered him. Numbers of them came up and spoke to 
 him after the services were over. 
 
 The children particularly enjoyed rambling over the 
 farm with their father and listening to his stories of 
 the things which happened here " before the war." It 
 seemed to them it must have been so long ago. To 
 their father it appeared as but yesterday since he went 
 over it all, so very natural did everything appear to him.
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 243 
 
 Eloise went home with the promise of having them 
 with her in two days. 
 
 The meeting was to begin the next Sunday. 
 
 She found everything in excellent trim, and she had 
 but little to do except to open and air her rooms and 
 put on the fresh linens for the arrival of her guests. 
 This done, she looked after her sick friends, and anx- 
 iously awaited their coming. 
 
 They made the most of their time. Mrs. Jones and 
 the children were so. pleased with Virginia and every- 
 body they had seen. 
 
 " I have always heard of Virginia hospitality," she 
 said, " but with the Queen of Sheba I must exclaim, 
 ' The half has not been told.' " 
 
 Dr. Gray was always an admirable host, but he 
 seemed to vie with his wife to make these visitors have 
 a good time. All of his spare time he gave to their 
 entertainment. 
 
 The church was crowded from the very first service. 
 Its utmost capacity was taxed, and every available 
 space occupied. 
 
 On Sunday afternoon there was to be a meeting 
 especially for men. Mr. Elliott requested that only 
 such brethren come as were willing to do personal 
 work with the unconverted. " The remainder of you 
 and the sisters," he said, " I want to stay at home and 
 spend the hour in prayer for the Spirit's power to come 
 upon us. O that we may have a blessing like unto 
 the day of Pentecost !"
 
 244 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 There was a crowd, but a most intense and solemn 
 stillness pervaded it. The sermon was remarkable for 
 its simplicity and power. Many had heard sermons 
 from that same text, it may be, often before " Come 
 unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I 
 will give you rest for your souls." At the close of the 
 discourse the invitation, as usual, was extended to any 
 who could put their trust in Jesus to come forward. 
 
 Among the first to rise and walk calmly forward was 
 Dr. Gray, his countenance radiant, but over it was a 
 look of serenity and peace which made him lovely to 
 look upon. The inward struggles he had wrestled with, 
 none but he and God knew. For months he had fought 
 against what conscience plainly told him was a duty. 
 He knew his wife was praying for him, as well as 
 others, yet how stubbornly he held out ! Now he sur- 
 rendered wholly and was fully determined to follow 
 Jesus, it mattered not where the path should lead. 
 
 One after another husbands whose wives had prayed 
 for years ; wayward boys, who had brought many heart- 
 aches to their parents ; some fathers, in answer to chil- 
 dren's prayers all came. 
 
 It was a scene that would live forever with those 
 who witnessed it. Strong men wept, but they were 
 tears of rejoicing. 
 
 At the hour of the meeting Eloise excused herself to 
 Mrs. Jones and retired to the privacy of her own room, 
 and there, like Jacob of old, she wrestled and would 
 not let go without the blessing she so much craved.
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 245 
 
 A holy peace stole into her soul, and she felt as if 
 she would be obliged to shout aloud ; and could she 
 have seen what was transpiring in church at that very 
 moment, no doubt she would have done so. 
 
 If the angels rejoice over one sinner that repenteth, 
 can our imagination portray the scene when scores 
 have at this hour done the same ? 
 
 Mr. Elliott gave the invitation to unite with the 
 church, but urged them to consider so important a step 
 well. That many of those converted, of course, would 
 join other denominations, he advised a careful consid- 
 eration of the subject. Some he knew would join his 
 church, hence he opened the doors, and again a num- 
 ber went forward. 
 
 Colonel Carter was somewhat surprised to see his 
 son-in-law among the first to take his place. 
 
 They were all closely questioned as to their conver- 
 sion. Each one was asked his reason for wishing to 
 be baptized. Not one stated his convictions on the 
 subject of baptism and church membership more 
 clearly than Dr. Gray. 
 
 Colonel Carter felt as if he could not wait till the 
 services were concluded to go home and break the 
 news to Eloise. He remembered that it would be 
 better to allow him to tell the story for himself. 
 
 They walked home together. Not finding his wife 
 in the parlor, Dr. Carter went to their own room. 
 
 It was not necessary to speak. She saw the story 
 in his face. He put his arms around her and said :
 
 246 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 " Henceforth we will walk together on our way to the 
 better land." 
 
 She broke forth into praise and thanksgiving to God 
 for his great and unbounded goodness to her. 
 
 He told her of his joining the church, which added 
 to her joy. 
 
 " I'll go and see mother, Eloise, and talk to her 
 about this. She'll regret that I did not go with her ; 
 further than that she'll rejoice with me." 
 
 She felt that he would prefer to make the visit 
 alone, so she did not offer to accompany him. 
 
 She went to the parlor to be with aunt Lizzie and 
 Mrs. Jones. 
 
 Her father met her in the hall and said : 
 
 " Well, my daughter, our prayers are answered, and 
 we have more than we asked for. It is always so, if 
 we will only wait patiently on the Lord." 
 
 The entire city was shaken from center to circum- 
 ference as it had never been before by a religious meet- 
 ing. The interest spread till other ministers were im- 
 pelled to open their churches and have nightly services. 
 
 One of the first persons Eloise thought of was Aunt 
 Hannah. She sat down at once and wrote her a letter, 
 and sent it under cover to the overseer's wife, that she 
 might read it to her. She was feeble, and felt as if she 
 would prefer the quiet of her own cabin to the bustle 
 of Eloise's house, when filled with company. 
 
 Mrs. Gray rejoiced with her son, as did his father. 
 Of course, she preferred him to join her own church,
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 247 
 
 which was so natural, but was very reasonable on the 
 subject much more so than he anticipated. 
 
 His father told him he thought he had acted wisely. 
 " I commend you for it," said he. " I know Eloise is 
 so happy. She is a jewel, Charlie, and I appreciate 
 the wholesome influence she has exerted over you." 
 
 A few days more and the party separated. Mr. 
 Jones and his family, refreshed from their sojourn in 
 Virginia, turned their faces homeward. As he was 
 about to say good-bye to them he said : 
 
 " I have enjoyed every moment of my visit. There 
 has not been a single unpleasant occurrence. On the 
 other hand, so many things have happened to gladden 
 our hearts that we have renewed cause for gratitude. 
 Should we not meet again in this world, we shall meet 
 in the blessed hereafter, where there will be no more 
 farewells." 
 
 They felt the parting sorely. 
 
 The next letter from Alice told that she and her 
 husband had united with the Baptist Church, and 
 would be baptized during that week. 
 
 Mrs. Gray took it quite philosophically, saying she, 
 at least, would be sure and steadfast, and could not be 
 turned by every wind. She surprised all by going to 
 see her son baptized. 
 
 There were more than a hundred additions to the 
 church, and yet the good work was going on. There 
 were new ones added at every service. Many back- 
 sliders were reclaimed.
 
 248 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 Eloise was rejoiced by the conversion of two mem- 
 bers of her class. She had, from time to time, tried to 
 induce some of them to come back who had from vari- 
 ous causes stopped. Some had returned, but there 
 were two whom she considered almost hopeless. They 
 would avoid her whenever they could. The mother 
 of one of them had sent for her and implored her to 
 try to get him back. She said : 
 
 " Mrs. Gray, my heart is breaking. I beg and plead 
 with him to do better, but he will not listen. He was 
 such a sweet little fellow, and I promised myself so 
 much pleasure. It is bad company. I tried to keep 
 him out of the street, but since my health is so poor I 
 am not able to follow him up as I once did." 
 
 She wept and refused to be comforted. 
 
 Eloise thought of many plans to try to influence him 
 in the right direction. She consulted her husband and 
 he promised to try to think of something to save him. 
 
 Not many days thereafter, as he was starting to visit 
 a patient in the country, he saw on the outskirts of the 
 city a group of boys sitting on the ground. He re- 
 cognized Henry Tucker among the number, and, re- 
 membering his promise to Eloise, he called to him. 
 He came up to him, looking right much disconcerted. 
 He thought it was from the fact that he had suddenly 
 called him. He said to him : 
 
 " Jump in, Henry, and take a ride with me. I am 
 going out to Mr. Robertson's, and it is a lonesome ride. 
 He hesitated at first ; but seeming to reconsider, he got
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 249 
 
 in the buggy. He was. always neatly dressed, even if 
 there were some visible patches. His mother was a 
 widow, with a very small income. Up to this time she 
 had been able to add to it by her own industry. But 
 her health having failed, she was not able to do it 
 now. 
 
 Henry had formed these associations which she felt 
 sure would lead to trouble, and she seemed powerless 
 to help. She had only one other child ; a girl of 
 twelve, who was a great comfort to her. 
 
 The Doctor did not ask him any questions at first, 
 but told him several stories of himself when he was a 
 boy. He saw that he was interested, and finally came 
 to the subject of his own school life. He admitted he 
 did not study very well. 
 
 " I am sorry for that," he said. " It may be that 
 you will have to be Adele's support. Your mother 
 does not improve of late. She seems to have some- 
 thing on her mind or heart which is preventing her 
 improvement. I've tried to find out what it is. To 
 me she is very reticent." 
 
 He glanced at the boy to see if his words had any 
 effect. The color had almost forsaken his cheeks. 
 
 "Ma ain't going to die, is she, Doctor? Please 
 don't say that. It would kill me," he said. 
 
 " Your mother is not incurable, Henry. But she is 
 in that state of health that worry and trouble might 
 kill her. She has certainly not gained any in the last 
 two months. I would not like to be responsible for
 
 250 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 any sudden shock in her present low condition. I am 
 anxious for her to live to raise you both. But Adelc 
 needs her especially now," was Dr. Gray's reply. 
 
 He seemed almost choked by this news and couldn't 
 reply. 
 
 Dr. Gray thought perhaps he had struck the right 
 chord. Most boys love their mothers dearly, and the 
 idea of their dying is agony to them. 
 
 They had reached the house and he went in, leaving 
 Henry with the horse. 
 
 When he came out he saw that he had been weeping. 
 He said to him as he got in the buggy : 
 
 " Doctor, if I tell you something, will you promise 
 not to tell anybody ?" 
 
 " Certainly, if it is not morally wrong to keep it." 
 
 " I mean, you will not tell I told you ?" 
 
 " That need not be told." 
 
 They drove on to the next neighbor's to see a sick 
 child. 
 
 He told the Doctor that those boys were planning to 
 do something wrong and wanted him to join them. 
 He told them he could not, but they said they would 
 make him. " They didn't tell me what it was, but 
 they said I was slim and could get in the place easier 
 than any of the others. They said they would divide 
 with me, and I need not take any of the responsibility. 
 I go with those boys, but I ain't ever stole, Doctor. I 
 can't go back ; if I do, they'll just keep coming after 
 me like they do every night, and that will make ma
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 251 
 
 sick. I can stay in the woods, and you send ma word 
 I am safe." 
 
 " If you are in the woods, I will not. If you prefer 
 to stay, I'll see that you are well cared for, and will 
 tell your mother I left you there. I will have to come 
 out again to-morrow, and you can go back with me 
 then. As this is Friday, you can stay that is, if you 
 promise me faithfully to remain where I leave you." 
 
 It was so settled. 
 
 They came back by Mr. Johnson's, and Dr. Gray 
 went into the house and arranged for Henry to remain 
 there till he came out the next day. He gave no 
 special reason, except that he had taken a fancy to stay. 
 
 He drove past Mrs. Tucker's house. He called 
 Adele to him and told her to tell her mother that he 
 had taken Henry with him to the country and would 
 bring him back the next day, and that he would come 
 around after supper and tell her about it. 
 
 " Be sure, Adele, to tell her not to worry about him, 
 as he is perfectly safe. I'll explain all when I see her, 
 which will be soon." 
 
 He thought it best to wait till after dark before go- 
 ing, as he might probably find out something more 
 about the trouble, and thus prevent it. 
 
 After supper he and his wife went to see Mrs. 
 Tucker. They found her, as Dr. Gray expected, in 
 an extremely nervous condition. He felt now that he 
 had the key to her whole trouble, and was very hope- 
 ful of speedy relief.
 
 252 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 He candidly told her of the events of the evening 
 and that it was his opinion it was the turning point in 
 Henry's life. He advised her to bear up bravely and 
 do what she could to assist, promising to stand by them 
 and do all he could to save Henry. 
 
 She gave way to a fit of weeping, and said : 
 
 " Oh, Doctor ! I am perfectly willing to die, if that 
 will save him." 
 
 " I want you, now, to be willing to live to save 
 him. That is what he needs. I think you will be all 
 right by morning. I brought this sleeping powder for 
 you, and you must rest." 
 
 Just then there was a shrill whistle outside. Mrs. 
 Tucker started up in the greatest excitement. 
 
 " There they are now," she said. 
 
 " Do not let it worry you. I'll send them away as 
 we go out, and put a policeman on their track," Dr. 
 Gray said, as he arose to leave. 
 
 When they opened the door to go out they saw two 
 or three boys disappear around the corner. They 
 walked rapidly, hoping to overtake them, but could 
 see nothing of them. They met the policeman on the 
 next square, and Dr. Gray told him of the boys, and 
 asked him to have an eye on them. 
 
 " I certainly will, Doctor, for they are a bad lot. 
 I've run 'em off from Mrs. Tucker's gate several times. 
 I guess they are after that boy of hers now. They try 
 to get him out just to fret her, I believe. She has let 
 them know she dislikes for them to come after him,
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 253 
 
 and they get him out just to let her know they can do 
 it. We've watched 'em, but have never caught them 
 doing anything that we could take them for." 
 
 " I am glad to know it is no worse. I was afraid 
 they were up to some wickedness to-night." 
 
 Dr. Gray carried his wife home and went to see two 
 or three patients, before retiring for the night. While 
 the policeman's words had in a measure quieted his 
 fears, he could but feel some uneasiness about it. How- 
 ever, as he saw or heard nothing more about them 
 while making his visits, he retired feeling more com- 
 fortable. 
 
 In the meantime the policeman kept a sharp look- 
 out for them, not forgetting to tell the man who relieved 
 him to watch for them. 
 
 Young as these boys were, they had been too wary 
 for the two men, who thought that they had arranged 
 to entrap them. 
 
 They had secreted themselves in a dark alley to see 
 who it was who came out of Mrs. Tucker's door. 
 From their hiding place they watched the doctor and 
 policeman during their conversation, and decided they 
 were the subject of it. When they had seen them sep- 
 arate, the policeman going towards Mrs. Tucker's, one 
 of them said to Bill Fisher, their acknowledged 
 leader : 
 
 "Say, Bill, Physic's set the cop on us; but we 
 won't take his medicine. Ain't got so much confidence 
 as Sister Tucker. Don't know whether she sent for
 
 254 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 him to give her something to steady her nerves or 
 strengthen the mind of that milk-sop of hers. Guess 
 he give 'em both some soothing syrup and put 'em to 
 bed. We'd better get away from these parts." 
 
 " That's so," said Bill. " But that milk-sop, as you 
 call him, is thinner and better fitted to crawl through 
 that hole than you or any of the rest of us. That is 
 all I wanted him for. And he would be afraid to tell 
 on us ; he'd die first." 
 
 They decided to go to a vacant lot, near the factory 
 they wanted to enter, and settle the matter. 
 
 " Pity the Doctor couldn't stick to his pills, and not 
 meddle with our plans," said Tom Gofer. 
 
 "One less to divide with," said Bill. "I don't 
 expect that old Jew will pay us enough to set us up in 
 the banking business. I wish it was over and we had 
 the money safe in our pockets." 
 
 " He promises well. When I asked him about wait- 
 ing till next week to get the things he said l No, no ; I 
 ships 'em to-morrow eferyt'ing in dish house. I 
 keeps dese t'ings joost too long already. I joomps 
 efery time I sees a bluecoat. I puts dem, too ; den 
 dey searches ; dey finds not'ing. I gifs you goot pay." 
 
 "His ideas of good pay and ours may differ some- 
 what," said Tom. 
 
 The night was getting dark, and they saw no cause 
 to delay. They separated, each going in a different 
 direction, to meet at the factory which they had planned 
 to rob. It was to be renovated from garret to cellar in
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 255 
 
 order to put in new and modern machinery. The 
 plumbers had been there and detached all of the brass 
 and lead works and left them to be carried away at one 
 time. The boys saw them and planned to get them. 
 Each one had at different times gone in and seen where 
 they were piled near a door. Then they told the old 
 Jew junk dealer about them and he promised to 
 buy them. He had arranged to receive them that 
 night. 
 
 They saw that there was a broken pane of glass large 
 enough to admit a thin figure. So Henry was selected, 
 and it was this plan they were unfolding to him when 
 the Doctor came upon them and carried him away. Of 
 course they thought he came home with him. 
 
 It had been agreed that Tom Gofer, being smaller 
 than any of the present party, should get through the 
 hole and remove a bar which fastened the back door, 
 that no lock might be broken. While they could not 
 explain, they knew that the law was different when a 
 lock was broken. One was to stand out and give a 
 signal if he saw a policeman approaching while the 
 others were effecting an entrance. 
 
 Everything seemed propitious. There was no 
 moonlight, and the gas lamp was some distance away. 
 Tom mounted the shoulders of the tallest boy and 
 pulled himself on the window ledge. He tried several 
 times to get in, and finally was pulling himself well 
 into the aperture, when the alarm signal was given. 
 With the swiftness of the wind the last one of them
 
 256 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 flew and left poor Tom securely fastened. Neither out 
 nor in could he get. 
 
 Realizing that he would be caught anyway, he 
 screamed lustily for help. The policeman located the 
 sound, but could do nothing to release him without 
 help. He blew his whistle and soon had assistance. 
 
 In the mean time Tom got into a very honest frame 
 of mind, and told the whole plot. They released him 
 from his uncomfortable position and locked him up, 
 and went in search of the others. By the time for the 
 police court to open all were captured and brought 
 before the justice for trial. When questioned as to 
 whether they had gotten all of them, Bill, who was 
 known to be the leader, acted as spokesman for the 
 party. 
 
 "All but one," he said. "Henry Tucker ain't 
 here." 
 
 The others looked surprised ; but thought at least it 
 would be a fine joke on Dr. Gray and Henry to have 
 him arrested after all. 
 
 A policeman was sent for him, but returned with the 
 information that he was out of the city. 
 
 Is there any proof of that ?" said the justice. "At 
 least, we'll have to know at what hour and by what 
 train he left." 
 
 Just then Dr. Gray entered the court-room. Going 
 up to the justice, he said : 
 
 " I have heard that you sent for Henry Tucker to 
 appear here at this hour ; but that, sir, is impossible.
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 257 
 
 He is now out of the city ; but he will return to-day." 
 
 "When did he leave the city, Doctor? Do you 
 know?" 
 
 " He went out with me yesterday afternoon, and 
 spent the night with the Johnson boys, out on the pike. 
 I promised to bring him back when I go out to see 
 Mrs. Johnson to-day. I came, at his mother's request, 
 to tell you this." 
 
 " That is all right, Doctor ; thank you. I am glad 
 of it, for these boys reported that he was with them in 
 an attempted robbery last night." 
 
 Henry was anxiously waiting for the Doctor. He 
 had not slept well, and consequently had thought 
 much. He had promised himself and God never, 
 never, to associate with those boys again. 
 
 As soon as the Doctor finished his visit they started 
 home. When he told Henry of his visit to the police 
 court, and of what he saw and heard' there, it almost 
 caused his heart to cease to beat. 
 
 "Oh, Doctor ! and they would have had me in jail, 
 and mother and Adele would have been disgraced. 
 Just suppose I had gone home ! I'll never go with 
 them any more, I don't care if they beat me to death." 
 
 " That is the only way not to get in trouble to keep 
 away from the temptation. I am sure if you do not 
 give your mother more trouble she will get well now," 
 said Dr. Gray. 
 
 It did, indeed, prove the turning point in his life. 
 He felt, whenever he thought of it, that he had been on 
 17
 
 258 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 the very edge of a high precipice and just did escape 
 falling over. But no one, after that time, had occasion 
 to call him a " milk-sop." 
 
 The other boys, along with the old Jew, received 
 their just punishment. It was proven that he had been 
 not only receiving the stolen property brought to him, 
 but had incited numbers of boys to steal.
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 MAMMY GOES HOME. 
 
 As Colonel Carter had predicted, Dr. Gray devel- 
 oped into a warm-hearted, stalwart Christian. He 
 loved God's house, and as often as circumstances would 
 allow, he was in his place. It must be a most urgent 
 case to keep him away from the Lord's Supper. He 
 had made a deep study of these two church ordinances, 
 which are so closely allied, and which he felt no 
 Christian had a right to neglect. 
 
 To him they were peculiarly solemn. He regarded 
 them equally binding. Even before he was converted, 
 he never left the church during the celebration of either 
 ordinance. His wife noticed it, but was very much 
 surprised when he said : 
 
 " Eloise, I am greatly surprised to see members of 
 the church, even some deacons, leave church before the 
 ordinance of baptism is administered. To me that 
 seems rather disrespectful. If they truly believe what 
 they profess that the Lord gave these two, and only 
 these two, to the church I do not see how they can 
 turn their backs on either. I see, every time I am 
 there at the celebration of the Lord's Supper, numbers 
 of the members leave church before it is administered. 
 If it means to them what they profess it docs, I think
 
 260 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 they are wrong. Even if they are not on good terms 
 with some one, I do not consider that a sufficient 
 excuse. As I read the story of the first supper, it 
 seems plain that the Lord did not intend his followers 
 to eat this bread and drink this wine to show their 
 good-fellowship one for another. The reason given is 
 plain t to show forth the Lord's death till he comes.' ' 
 
 This was some months before his conversion, and to 
 his wife it was a revelation. She knew that he always 
 waited respectfully through the administration of both 
 ordinances, but she thought it only out of respect to 
 her feelings. She never remembered in all her life 
 leaving the church at either time. How thankful she 
 felt for it now. Her reply to his remarks was : 
 
 " I agree with you fully in that, and you have the 
 true Baptist idea. Contrary to what some people say 
 of us, we know that neither are saving ordinances, but 
 were given by our Lord to be observed by those who 
 had repented and believed. Your observation on this 
 subject only proves what I have often said, that 
 ' Christians are open books and are critically read by 
 the world.' How carefully we ought to live, not only 
 for ourselves, but as beacon lights for others." 
 
 Knowing his opinions on this subject, she was not at 
 all surprised at his strict observance of them. 
 
 His greatest cross was public prayer ; but this he 
 took up bravely. Without any show or ostentation, he 
 carried his religion about with him in his practice. 
 Never did he hesitate to speak a word for his Master.
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 261 
 
 He carried spiritual comfort into many homes, where 
 he had only been able before to minister to the body. 
 
 The different ministers in the city heard many en- 
 couraging things about him in their visits to the sick 
 of their flocks. 
 
 One old saint said to her pastor one day when he 
 called : 
 
 " I tell you, brother, Dr. Gray is a first-class doctor, 
 but he is a better Christian. He came in the other day 
 and found me, like Martha of old, troubled about many 
 things. I was so overburdened I couldn't help telling 
 him about-some things which were worrying me greatly. 
 He said, < We will talk to the Lord about it.' I tell 
 you, my brother, from no one have I ever heard a 
 prayer to beat that one. He did talk to the Lord. 
 You would have thought that he was present in person, 
 visible to the eye. I never before in my life felt that 
 he was so near to me. I declare to you that prayer was 
 worth more to me than the medicine he gave me ; for 
 he followed it by aid and advice, which straightened 
 out my affairs for me, and I feel that I will really and 
 truly soon be on my feet again." 
 
 There is no class of people who see so much of the 
 real home life of the masses as physicians do. They 
 see them at times and under such circumstances that 
 there can be no sham. The stern realities are laid bare 
 in their presence. 
 
 How necessary is it for them to be able to minister 
 to the wants of the soul as well as those of the body !
 
 262 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 Eloise is always on the lookout for something to do 
 to benefit her boys. She wants them all won for Christ. 
 Sometimes she feels discouraged when some sit Sunday 
 after Sunday and no impression seems to be made. 
 Then her thoughts go back to dear old Berea, and she 
 names over the boys she left in her class when she was 
 married, and how her heart swells with gratitude when 
 she remembers what each one is doing in life. 
 
 Gordon Glenn has already offered himself to the 
 Foreign Mission Board, and is fitting himself for his 
 chosen life-work. 
 
 Frequent letters to herself or the Doctor tell how 
 Aleck Ferguson, as a private member of a New York 
 church, is endeavoring to do what he can for the salva- 
 tion of lost souls. He is succeeding finely from a busi- 
 ness point of view. 
 
 At Christmas he sent an exquisite piece of bric-a- 
 brac, and on Eloise's birthday a beautiful painting. 
 She appreciated them far above the money value, for 
 she knew a heart full of love and gratitude prompted 
 the gift. 
 
 He has bought the home for his mother, and Jack 
 bids fair to be a first-rate farmer. Mr. Ferguson has 
 really roused himself and gone to work. The fences 
 and gates are his special pride. All of the slipshod 
 look is gone from the entire place. 
 
 Mrs. Ferguson and the two girls, tastily and neatly 
 dressed, feel quite proud the first Sunday they are 
 driven up to Berea in their own new spring wagon. Its
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 263 
 
 seats are not cushioned, nor has it a canopy top, but it 
 is their very own. 
 
 There is to be the regular Saturday church meeting, 
 and Dr. Gordon urges every one to be present, as he 
 has a special message to deliver to them at that time. 
 
 There was much speculation as to what it was to be. 
 An unusual number were present. 
 
 After the regular routine business was gone through 
 with, he asked that the senior deacon take the chair as 
 moderator, as he wished to make a statement to them. 
 
 " My dear brethren and sisters, the time has come 
 when in God's providence I feel it my duty to resign 
 as your pastor. My failing health and advancing years 
 have for months admonished me to take this step ; but 
 my affection for you and my love for the cause have 
 induced me to delay this till now. It has given me the 
 greatest sorrow of my life. I sometimes, in the dead 
 hour of the night, feel that my very heart-strings are 
 being wrenched away. I have known no other pastor- 
 ate. Your fathers and mothers, and in many instances 
 your grandparents, bore with all of my shortcomings in 
 my earlier years, and, oh, how tender you have been 
 with me in these later years ! Can you wonder that 
 the very thought of separation brings anguish ? How- 
 ever, I'll not leave the church. My home is here. I'll 
 spend my last days among you. I only ask in parting 
 that when the end comes, with the same tender hands 
 that you have ministered to me in life, you will bear 
 my body to the back of the pulpit and there lay it
 
 264 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 away till the resurrection morn, when I know I shall 
 come forth to meet those I have so fondly loved here." 
 
 Overcome by his feelings, he took a seat. 
 
 There was not a dry eye in all that crowd, but con- 
 vulsive sobbing and weeping. It had come upon them 
 suddenly. It seemed as if they were bereft of speech." 
 
 At last one of the brethren rose, and, as soon as he 
 could compose himself, thus addressed them : 
 
 " Brethren and sisters, I know that you are as much 
 surprised at this as I am, and that you have not yet 
 sufficiently recovered from the shock to think just how 
 to act in this matter. I speak for myself, and I am 
 sure I'll voice the sentiment of this entire church, 
 when I say that Berea Church will not accept that res- 
 ignation. Brother Gordon feelingly alluded to our 
 fathers and mothers sleeping in their graves. I tell 
 you, my brethren, if we did this thing, if such a thing 
 were possible, I believe they would come forth from 
 those very graves to reproach us. He has served this 
 church almost a half century. He has been faithful 
 to the trust. Then shall we, when old age and de- 
 clining health have come to him, lay him aside as we 
 would a cast-oif garment. No, brethren, most emphati- 
 cally I say, no." 
 
 Two brethren rose simultaneously. The moderator 
 recognized Colonel Carter, who said : 
 
 " Brethren, I most heartily endorse every utterance 
 of Brother Norris. Yet I must say I do it with shame. 
 Yes, I say with shame that none of us have seen this,
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 265 
 
 and provided against such an emergency. Long ago 
 we should have gotten an assistant to Brother Gordon, 
 a young man, to do the most of the work, and let him 
 preach as he was able. The trouble has been, I think, 
 that his sermons have shown so much vigorous thought 
 that we did not see that the body failed. I am sure 
 that there is but one sentiment in this church on the 
 subject. I therefore offer this resolution : That the 
 resignation of Dr. Gordon as pastor of Berea Baptist 
 Church will not be accepted ; but that a committe be 
 appointed to select a suitable person as his assistant as 
 soon as possible." 
 
 It met with many hearty seconds. 
 
 " All in favor of Colonel Carter's motion, manifest 
 it by rising." 
 
 As one, the entire church arose. 
 
 After they were seated, the aged minister arose, and, 
 with streaming eyes, he surveyed the body. 
 
 " Oh ! my people ! My people ! " 
 
 He could say nothing more, nor was it necessary. 
 
 When Mr. and Mrs. Malcom went home from their 
 visit to Virginia, they insisted that the family should 
 gather at their Northern home in August. 
 
 A letter telling that Mr. Malcom's aunt had during 
 her lifetime given him his inheritance, a handsome 
 villa on the Hudson, also said that no family arrange- 
 ments must be made for that time, as they would all 
 be expected to spend it in their new home with them. 
 " It is large enough for all," Alice wrote.
 
 266 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 The Sunnymeade household are all as well as usual, 
 except Mammy. She rarely gets beyond her own 
 door now. Occasionally on fine days she hobbles to 
 the house. She is only waiting, she says, for the Lord 
 to call her home. 
 
 " I must see my chile agin, Miss Lizzie. Write en 
 tell her Mammy's mighty anxious ter see her. Some- 
 times I 'fraid I won't, case I feels so weak." 
 
 The boy had gone for the mail, and Colonel Carter 
 and Miss Lizzie were anxiously awaiting his return. 
 It had been longer than usual since they heard from 
 Eloise. When he came and Colonel Carter saw that 
 the letter was from Dr. Gray, and none from Eloise, 
 he tore it open nervously, while Miss Lizzie looked 
 over his shoulder and read : 
 
 " A son and heir arrived at our house this morning. 
 Both are doing finely. He answers to the name of 
 John Carter Gray, and sends his love to you, Aunt 
 Lizzie and Mammy. We will expect you and Aunt 
 Lizzie to-morrow. Hastily, CHARLIE." 
 
 Miss Lizzie carried the letter to read it to Mammy. 
 She was much excited over the news. 
 
 " How I does wish I was able to go ! Is it a sin ter 
 pray ter stay ter see it, Miss Lizzie ? " she asked. 
 
 " I think not. I know Eloise would be glad if you 
 were able to go with us. I'll stay several days. I 
 shall feel better satisfied to stay. I hope you will get 
 better while I am gone."
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 267 
 
 "I don't spect it. I'm erbout seventy-six no\v. 
 I'm livin' on borrowed time now, en may spect ter go 
 any time, Miss Lizzie." 
 
 Of course there was great rejoicing in both the Gray 
 and Carter families over this first grandchild. 
 
 " It is just the image of Charlie," said grandma 
 Gray, while Aunt Lizzie saw several features "so 
 much like Eloise." 
 
 He grew and thrived so fast that Aunt Lizzie felt 
 like she must get home. 
 
 " Charlie, bring Eloise and Carter just as soon as 
 possible. I know Hannah is counting the days. She 
 is so anxious to see them," she said when she bade 
 him good-bye. 
 
 " I will," he said. 
 
 How many times she had to tell Mammy about him 
 and how cute he looked. Then she would say : 
 
 " I'm still prayin'." 
 
 When he was just a month old, Colonel Carter 
 wrote to the Doctor to bring them just as soon as he 
 could, as Hannah was failing fast. 
 
 It was decided to go, and when they got to the 
 house they were distressed to know that Miss Lizzie 
 had feared she would not know them. 
 
 " I'll go first, Eloise, and give her something stimu- 
 lating, and when she revives I'll come for you." 
 
 She raised her eyes to him in the most beseeching: 
 manner as he went in. Almost inarticulately she asked 
 
 "Did you fetch him ?"
 
 268 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 " Yes. Now you swallow this and rest a moment, 
 and I will bring him." 
 
 She closed her eyes and seemed to doze. 
 
 He went back for the mother and babe. He carried 
 it up to her and laid it gently beside her. She put 
 out her hand and Eloise clasped it, while the tears 
 flowed down her cheeks. 
 
 "Don't cry, baby ; Mammy's goin' home. Don't 
 cry !" 
 
 She held the babe so she could see it. A smile 
 played over her face, as she said : 
 
 " I'll tell Miss Kate erbout de baby, 'bout " It 
 seemed as if she would not be able to finish the sen- 
 tence. The Doctor moisened her parched lips. She 
 added, "'bout Doctor love Jesus." 
 
 The eyes closed, one long-drawn breath, and the 
 Lord's chariot, which she long and patiently waited for, 
 came and took her home. 
 
 The next afternoon they bore her body to the grave, 
 and beneath the pine they laid her beside Uncle Tom. 
 
 " I couldn't wish her back, for she is so happy. I 
 so often wish I could see some saint enter through the 
 pearly gates and meet the loved ones gone before. I, 
 of course, cannot remember my mother's features ; but 
 I've always fancied I'll know her when I get to 
 heaven. I believe she knew Mammy, yet she had 
 greatly changed since she saw her last," said Eloise. 
 
 They all went back, much to the Colonel's and Miss 
 Lizzie's sorrow. They felt that the wee stranger
 
 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 269 
 
 belonged to them, and insisted that they remain at 
 least a week longer. For once Dr. Gray was inexora- 
 ble and carried his point. 
 
 " Never mind, father," said Eloise, " you and Aunt 
 Lizzie can amuse yourselves sufficiently with the young 
 man this summer. We will all be together during 
 August. Alice insists that she will not excuse you 
 two. She is making very extensive arrangements for her 
 house party. Mother Gray expects to go up and carry 
 her cook two weeks before the rest of us are expected." 
 
 " With the ' sisters, the cousins and the aunts/ I 
 guess I'll have very little nursing to do. It is fortu- 
 nate for me that Carter is the first grandchild on either 
 side. He will be such a prodigy that I will have 
 nothing to do save to stand quietly by and see him 
 well taken care of." 
 
 " Mother laughingly says by our house is the nearest 
 route everywhere for father Gray now. He makes it 
 a point to stop whenever he passes to see how Carter 
 is, and shows evident disappointment if he finds him 
 asleep. I am afraid I'll find myself getting just a wee 
 bit jealous of the attention paid the youngster. All 
 these years I've been the apple of your eyes, and do 
 not think I could bear to be cast aside for even so 
 wonderful a personage as this one promises to be." 
 
 "Remember," said her father, "that this is only 
 another object of our love. As I told you when you 
 were married, it is not to be compared with other 
 objects in kind or intensity."
 
 270 SHE WAITED PATIENTLY. 
 
 " I shall look for you both very soon," she said in 
 parting. " Where you have an extra attraction, there 
 should be extra visits." 
 
 "I'll be obliged to come pretty often to bring 
 Lizzie. She will feel compelled to come, and then I 
 can always frame an excuse for business when she 
 doesn't feel obliged to go," her father said. 
 
 A few days after their return, when Dr. Gray came 
 to his dinner, he said to his wife : 
 
 " Eloise, I want you to go with me to see a purchase 
 I have made ; I want your opinion of it." 
 
 " What can it be ? You did not tell me that you 
 had any idea of a purchase." 
 
 " I want you to see it first." 
 
 He drove to a marble yard. She couldn't imagine 
 what purchase he could possibly make there. He car- 
 ried her into the house and pointed out to her a slab, 
 divided into two scrolls. On one was carved a scythe, 
 on the other an open Bible. Over the scythe was 
 " Uncle Tom " ; beneath it the one word, " Faithful." 
 Over the Bible, " Mammy " ; beneath, "At Rest." 
 
 " Oh, Charlie, how much I appreciate this I cannot 
 express. It is so simple, yet so expressive. Its very 
 simplicity expresses more of their lives than could be 
 in a volume of meaningless words." 
 
 "Poor Mammy ! How pleased she would be ! I al- 
 most think I can hear her say, ' And the Doctor 'mem- 
 bered Tom, and never knowed him, neither.' ' 
 
 THE END.
 
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