A Daughter of the Forest

by Evelyn Raymond

  CHAPTER XXV

  THE MELODY AND MYSTERY OF LIFE

  Swift the way and joyous now, that same road over which Adrian hadjourneyed on the day before, so grudgingly. Yet not half swift enoughthat through express by which they left the city limits for the littletown of Sing Sing, or as would have better suited Indian Joe, ofOssining. Scene of so many tragedies and broken hearts; to be, to-day,a scene of unutterable gladness.

  Margot's eyes were on the flying landscape, counting the lesseninglandmarks as one counts off the stitches of a tedious seam, and witheach mile of progress her impatience growing.

  "Oh! Adrian! shall we never be there! I can hardly breathe. My heartbeats so--I cannot wait, I cannot!"

  In the seat behind them Joe still carefully held the old-fashionedshawl and bonnet, which Angelique had decided her young travelershould--but never would--wear. Her hair was out of that decorous plaitwhich had been commanded, and there had been neither time nor friendto substitute new clothes for old. Therefore, it was just as shelooked in the woodland that Margot looked now when she was first tomeet her father's eyes; and neither she, nor even Adrian, cared onewhit for the curious glances which scrutinized her unusual,comfortable attire.

  What were clothes? Money could soon buy those, if they were needed,and there would be money abundant, Adrian thought, fingering the"specimens" which the girl desired old Joseph to produce from thatwonderful pocket of his, which held so few, yet just the very thingsthat were important.

  "Copper, Margot. I'm sure of it. I have a friend, a man who deals inmining stocks, and I've seen samples at his office which do not lookas pure to me as this."

  "These pieces came from the deep cave under the island. Where I wasthat day during the great storm, the day you came to us. I don't seewhy there shouldn't be plenty of the metal there, for we're in nearlythe same latitude as the copper regions of the great lakes. I hope wemay find it in large enough quantities to pay for getting it out."

  Adrian was surprised and not wholly pleased by what seemed a mercenarytaint upon her fine character, but was ashamed of his momentarymisjudgment when she added:

  "Because, you see, we've suffered so much for money's sake that wewant to use it ourselves to make other people happy. I know what Iwill do with it, if I ever have much, or even little."

  "What is that?"

  "I will use it to defend the wrongfully imprisoned. To help the poormen when they come out, even if they have been wicked once. Tocomfort the families of those who suffer disgrace and poverty. Toforward justice--justice. Oh! Adrian, how far now?"

  "Fifteen minutes, now. Only fifteen minutes!"

  "They will never pass! They are longer than the fifteen years of myignorance, when I didn't know I had a father. My father. My father."

  Over and over, she said the words softly, caressingly, as if she couldnever have enough of all they meant to her; and the listening ladasked once, a trifle warningly:

  "Are you not at all afraid, Margot, that this unknown father will bedifferent from your anticipations? Remember, though so close of kin,you are still strangers."

  "Why, Adrian! My mother loved him and my uncle. I love him, too,unknowing; but I tell you now, this minute, if I found him all thatwas bad and repulsive, I should still love him and all the more. Solove him that he would grow good again and forget all the evil hemust have seen in that evil place. For he is my father, my father."

  "Have no fear, I only meant to try you. He is all that you dream andmore. He has the noblest face I ever looked on; yes, not evenexcepting your uncle's."

  "What? you--have seen him?"

  "Yes. Yesterday;" at which she sat in silent wonder till he said: "Nowcome. We're there!"

  When they stepped out at the final station Adrian called for theswiftest horses waiting possible fares, and burst in upon his sister'spresence with the demand, almost breathlessly spoken:

  "Number 526, at once, Kate. This is Margot---- Ah! mother! Margot! Themoney's found--Number 526--quick!"

  The excitement was all his by then. The girl to whom this moment wasso much more eventful stood pale and quiet, with a luminous joy in herblue eyes that was more pathetic than tears.

  "Adrian, are you crazy? Upon my word, I almost believe you are!Running away as you did last night and coming back again to-day, inthis wild fashion. What do you mean? Who is this--this young person?And what in the world do you, can you, possibly, want of Number 526?"

  He paid no attention to her many questions, nor even to his mother whoclutched his arm in extreme agitation. He had caught the tones of aviolin played softly, tenderly, and oh! so sadly.

  "Yes, that's Number 526, since you wish to see him, though it's quiteagainst the rules and--he's practicing with his men----"

  "Come, Margot. Come."

  The player was in the little alcove behind the screen and palms, anddid not even look up as the two entered his presence, for his own soulhad floated far away from that dread place, on the strains of thatmusic which no prison bars could confine.

  "Father!"

  "MY FATHER! I HAVE COME"]

  The music ceased, but only for an instant. Once the player had heard avoice like that--clear, sweet, exquisitely modulated. The voice of thewife he had loved, silent in death these many years. But the tone hadbeen sufficient to stir his soul to even deeper harmonies: and hestood there forgetful of his shaven head, his prison stripes, oncemore a man among men.

  "Father! My father! I have come! Margot, baby Margot! Come to set youfree!"

  Her arms were about his neck, her wet face pressed close to his, hertender kisses poured upon his lips, his dazed, unseeing eyes, histrembling shoulders.

  Then he put out his hand and held her from him, that he might thebetter see her fairness, hear her marvelous story--told in few words,and comprehend what was the merciful, the Heaven-sent bliss that hadcome to him.

  "Cecily! Margot! My daughter with her mother's face! Free! Free! Oh!God, support me!"

  The indomitable courage which suffering had had no power to weakenfailed in this supreme moment; and as, in his hours of darkness, hehad clung to his music for sustenance so he turned to it now. Hepressed his violin to his shoulder, leaned his cheek upon it, and fromits quivering strings drew out in melody the story of his fifteenyears. All the bitterness, the sadness, the sweetness; and thatexalted faith which had made the mystery of his life, and his shame,almost divine.

  Blinded by their own tears, one by one, the others left them, and whenthe last strain ended in a burst of joyous victory, there were but twoto hear it--parent and child.

  * * * * *

  Adrian watched the train that bore them homeward roll away, with aheart both heavy and glad. In fancy he could see them reach thatjourney's end; with brother clasping the hand of brother, the silent,wonderful forest receiving them into its restful solitude. He couldsee that great room which had waited for its occupant so many years,and which was now all aglow from its flame-filled fireplace, andredolent with wild flowers. He could see the wide couch drawn upbefore the hearth and a toil-worn man, who had not rested before infifteen years, lying there with grateful, adoring eyes fixed upon thatpictured Face of The Man of Sorrows.

  There was a girl in the room, moving everywhere in needless, tendercare that nothing should be wanting. As if anything ever could bewanting where Margot was! The innocent, great-hearted child of nature,whose love no obstacle could overcome, and who hesitated at no dangerfor love's sweet sake.

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  Transcriber's note:

  Minor changes have been made to correct typesetters' errors;otherwise, every effort has been made to remain true to theauthor's words and intent.