Mildred Keith

by Martha Finley

  Chapter Eighteenth.

  "Farewell, a long farewell."

  THE Keiths were scarcely more than well settled in their new home whenMiss Stanhope announced her intention of returning to Ohio almostimmediately.

  This news was received by the family with something akin toconsternation. "How could they do without her?" they asked; "didn'teverybody need her every day of their lives, from father and mother downto Annis?"

  "Ah," she answered smiling, though her eyes were dim with unshed tears,"you'll have each other and will soon find that you can get on very wellindeed without your blundering old auntie. But the question is how shallshe do without you? The old Lansdale home will be very lonely with nolittle feet pit-patting about it."

  "Then what makes you go, Aunt Wealthy?" chorused the children, clingingto her with many a loving caress.

  "I must, my darlings; there's business I have to attend to; and I feelthat the ague is breaking me down."

  "I fear that is too true," Mrs. Keith said, with a strong effort tospeak cheerfully, "and therefore I will not entreat you to stay, dearauntie; but rather urge your departure before the sickly season sets in.

  "Though it just breaks my heart to think of the parting!" she added,hurrying from the room to conceal her emotion.

  "But you'll come back soon, won't you, auntie?" pleaded the children.

  "Not very, I'm afraid, dears, it's a long and expensive journey."

  "Too long for you to take alone, Aunt Wealthy," Mildred said. "I dreadit for you. I don't see how we can let you go without a protector."

  "I shall not, child. Is not the promise to me, 'Behold, I am with thee,and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest?' Yes; to me and toeach one of His children. So I am not afraid, and you need not fear forme."

  "Dear auntie, if the Saviour were here, I think he would say to you, 'Owoman, great is thy faith!'"

  "My dear, I deserve no such commendation; my faith is often very weak.But I want you to remember and try to realize that this almighty Friendnot only goes with me when I leave you, but stays with you also;according to His gracious promise, 'I will never leave thee nor forsakethee.'

  "Troubles and trials will come and there are dark and stormy days inevery life--but 'as thy days so shall thy strength be.'

  "I can not tell you, Mildred, how hard it is for me to leave you all,"she continued, her voice trembling with emotion, "but it would be tentimes harder were it not that I know 'this God is our God forever andever;' and that 'he will be our guide even unto death.'"

  "Aunt Wealthy," said Mrs. Keith coming in again, "Stuart and I have beentalking this over--this resolve of yours to return to Ohio--and he saysit will never do for you to attempt it without an escort."

  "I shall be very glad of an escort, if there is one to be had," MissStanhope answered; "but if not, I must even go without--trusting inProvidence."

  "But you would wait a few weeks rather than go alone?"

  "Certainly; God works by means, and we are to use them, while at thesame time we trust only in him."

  "Stuart says the merchants will be going on East to buy their fallgoods. He will inquire among them and let you know."

  "Ah yes; I think I heard Mr---- what's his name? Mimicker? Sneerer?"

  "Mocker?" suggested Mildred with a smile.

  "Yes, yes, Mr. Mocker, I heard him say something about it being his turnthis fall to lay in a new supply of goods."

  "Ah, I hope it will turn out that you will have him for your escort,Aunt Wealthy," said Mildred, "for I know that he will take the bestpossible care of you. But do try, auntie, to get his name fixed in yourmemory."

  "That I will," Miss Stanhope answered with a good humored smile; "for hemight not fancy the synonyms of it; the meaning not being the mostcomplimentary in the world."

  Mr. Keith brought home word that Mr. Mocker would leave for the East ina fortnight and would be happy to take charge of Miss Stanhope.

  Aunt Wealthy had always been very dear to these nieces and nephews, butnow that they were about to lose her, it seemed to them that they hadnever realized half her worth.

  They lingered near her, they hung upon her words and looks, and when thetime for parting came, clung about her with sobs and tears, loading herwith caresses, till she was forced to tear herself from their embracesand hurry away.

  The stage had drawn up before the gate; she hastened down the gardenpath, the weeping children running after; Mr. Keith and Mr. Mockerassisted her into the vehicle, the latter took his place by her side,and in another moment she was whirled away out of sight, all drowned intears, and leaving the others in like condition.

  "It seems just like a funeral!" sobbed Ada, "oh, will she never, nevercome back any more!"

  "Perhaps she may, dear," said the mother, wiping away her own tears, "wewill try to think so at least, and be cheerful and happy in lookingforward to that time. And in the meanwhile we may hope for a letter nowand then."

  "Oh," cried Rupert, "that reminds me that there's a letter in the officefor you now, mother! I saw it there, but had no money with me to paythe postage. If you'll give me the two shillings, I'll run and get itnow."

  "Do so, my son," Mrs. Keith said, giving him the money. "I'm sorry youforgot it and did not get it out in time for Aunt Wealthy to see it."

  Letters were rarities in those days, and the older members of the familyawaited Rupert's return from the post-office with a good deal ofeagerness, not unmixed with anxiety.

  He was not long gone for he too was curious in regard to it, desirous tolearn its contents and who was the writer.

  "It's post marked Detroit," he said, delivering it to his mother. "Ican't think who'd be likely to write to any of us from there.

  "Unless it might be Captain or Edward Wells," he added with a quizzicalglance at Mildred.

  "The hand looks familiar," remarked Mrs. Keith carefully breaking theseal; then opening out the sheet, "Horace Dinsmore!" she exclaimed, "Andhe is coming to see us! Oh, what a pity that Aunt Wealthy has justmissed him!"

  "A pity indeed!" echoed her husband. "But he may stay with us someweeks, and perhaps take Lansdale on his way home."

  "I hope he won't; won't stay here long, I mean," muttered Rupert in anaside to Mildred. "I didn't like him the other time."

  "Nor I, very much, but perhaps he has improved."

  "Mother, who is he?" the younger ones were asking.

  "My cousin; his mother and mine were sisters."

  "Were? Aren't they now?" queried Zillah.

  "Yes, dear, but they both went home to heaven many years ago. My motherfirst--before Aunt Eva married Mr. Dinsmore and went away down south tolive.

  "But wait till I have read the letter and then you may ask all thequestions you wish."

  It was not a lengthy epistle. Mrs. Keith glanced over it, then read italoud. Its tone was cousinly and affectionate.

  The writer stated that he had lately graduated from college and was nowtaking a tour to rest and refresh himself after many months of hardstudy; that he had arrived in Detroit, would tarry there a week and thenjourney on into Indiana to visit his relatives in Pleasant Plains.

  "This letter has been some time on the way," Mrs. Keith remarked,examining the date, "and really I think he may walk in upon us dayafter to-morrow."

  "Then we'd better be getting ready for him!" exclaimed Mildred, startingup in her energetic way.

  "Wait a little. Mother promised to tell us about him," cried thechildren.

  "Yes, and will. There's time enough, Milly."

  Mildred resumed her seat; for she, too, wanted to hear all her motherhad to tell.

  "My mother," Mrs. Keith began, "was two years younger than Aunt Wealthy,who was the daughter of my grandfather by his first wife; therefore onlyhalf sister to my mother and Aunt Eva, who were the children of thesecond.

  "Aunt Eva was five years younger than my mother and was still singlewhen mother died; which, as you have all heard, was when I, her onlychild, was but little more than two years
old.

  "Cousin Horace, too, was the only child of his mother, and quite alittle fellow when she died. I was there, on a visit, at the time anddid what I could to comfort him.

  "We grew quite fond of each other then and have always been so eversince, though we have lived far apart and met very seldom."

  "Has he got a father?" asked Cyril, "and does he live with him?"

  "Yes; he has a father, and lives with him when he is at home; but foryears past most of his time has been spent at school and college."

  "I thought Cousin Horace had brothers and sisters?" Rupert said,inquiringly.

  "Yes; his father soon married again and has a large family by the secondwife."

  "What is Cousin Horace like, mother?" asked Ada.

  "Wait until he comes and see for yourself," was the smiling rejoinder.

  "How glad you look, mother!" said Mildred, "are you really so muchpleased that he is coming?"

  "Why, certainly, my child! he is my near kinsman, and, as I have justtold you, I am very fond of him; he's like a dear younger brother to me.And particularly welcome just now as his coming will take from thedreadfully lonely feeling Aunt Wealthy's departure has given the house."

  "But, mother, we can't entertain him suitably, we're so cramped for roomand our house only half-furnished; and he is used to living in suchgrand style. You know you have often told me about it--what a beautifulplace Roselands is, and how many carriages and horses, and what aretinue of servants they keep."

  Mrs. Keith smiled kindly at the anxious face turned toward hers. "Well,daughter dear, we'll just do the best we can for him and it won't hurthim to try roughing it in the backwoods--or prairies rather--for alittle while."

  "Well, it's a little better than if he had come while we were in the oldyellow house. We've a nice porch here, and a front yard shaded withgrand old oaks; and no neighbors near enough to watch every movement."

  "A good many conveniences, too," added her mother, cheerily, "and abeautiful view of river and town. I think, too, that we can manage togive him a room to himself, and to feed him well, with the help ofRupert's garden, the cow and the chickens."

  The expectation of this visit was a real blessing to the family; to Mrs.Keith and Mildred in especial--just at this time; giving occupation totheir thoughts as well as hands, in the necessary preparation for theproper accommodation and entertainment of the coming guest; thuspreventing much of the sadness the loss of Miss Stanhope's loved societywould have caused them.

  The next arrival of the semi-weekly stage brought Horace Dinsmore, hisservant and luggage to their door.

  Mr. Dinsmore was a dark-eyed, handsome youth of distinguished appearanceand with the air of a prince of the blood royal; yet evidently a kindmaster; for his man John, a spruce young negro, seemed to take thegreatest pride and pleasure in waiting upon "Massa Horace" andanticipating his every wish.

  While warmly welcoming her young relative, Mrs. Keith was somewhatdismayed at the unexpected sight of the servant--house room being soscarce; but the difficulty was obviated by placing a cot-bed in theempty loft of the newly erected stable at the foot of the garden.

  "How very thoughtless and selfish in Cousin Horace to bring that fellowalong," Mildred said to her mother.

  "No, my dear, not when we consider that they have always been togetherand neither would know very well how to do without the other. I was thethoughtless one not to remember that and expect John."

  "Always together, mother?"

  "Yes; they are nearly the same age--John a few months older than hisyoung master--and were playfellows in infancy.

  "John's mother was Horace's 'mammy' as the children down south calltheir nurses; and I think loved her white nursling even better than herown children.

  "John's affection for Horace is probably as great, and it would comenear breaking his heart to be separated from him."

  Horace Dinsmore had paid a visit to Lansdale the year before the removalof the Keiths to Indiana. The impression he had then made upon his youngcousins was not at all favorable; he was silent, morose and seemed totake little or no interest in anybody or anything.

  "He is not like himself," Mrs. Keith had said to Aunt Wealthy again andagain; "he is in trouble, some great sorrow has come to him."

  But they did not succeed in winning his confidence; he rejected theirsympathy, locked up his secret in his own bosom, and left them as sadand moody as when he came.

  He was changed for the better now; was cheerful, at times even gay, andshowed much interest in them and their affairs, making them valuablepresents; for he had large means and a generous nature.

  Some gifts--of dress-goods, jewelry and children's toys, he had broughtwith him, and in addition he presented Mildred and Rupert each with atown lot in the immediate neighborhood of their new home.

  Mr. Keith, in his sturdy pride of independence, was inclined to rejectthese last; but his wife said,

  "No, Stuart, do not; you will hurt Horace's feelings; the land is verycheap, the price of it nothing to him with his large wealth; I know itis a real pleasure to him to give it to the children."

  Mr. Keith yielded the point and said nothing.

  Mr. Dinsmore, not being a religious man, and belonging to a very proudand aristocratic family, was not one to mingle with those he denominated"the common herd," as his cousin well knew. Therefore only a few oftheir acquaintances--the educated and refined--were invited to meet himand accompany them on some little excursions--riding, boating, andfishing--gotten up for his entertainment.

  He made himself agreeable on these occasions;--an easy thing for him todo with his handsome person, polished manners and good conversationalpowers--but soon let it be known to his relatives that he decidedlypreferred exclusively family parties. After that they had only suchwhile he staid, which was for several weeks.