Elsie at Ion

by Martha Finley

  CHAPTER IV.

  “WELL, how many of you would like to go to the city to-day?”the captain asked in pleasant tones the next morning at thebreakfast-table. “You, my dear?” looking at Violet.

  “No, thank you, sir, I think not, as I have a number of matters toattend to at home and will not be needed to assist in the shopping, asmamma and Sister Elsie are both going; probably Evelyn also, as somedresses are to be bought for her.”

  “You will go, Marian?” he said inquiringly, turning to her as he spoke.“You will want to exercise your own taste and judgment in the selectionof articles of dress; at least so I presume, as such is the case withmy eldest daughter,” he concluded with a smiling glance at Lulu. “Andshe, I dare say, wants to be of the party.”

  “If you are going, papa,” Lulu replied; “otherwise I’d rather stay athome, if I may.”

  “You may do exactly as you please, go or stay; so may Gracie.”

  “But you don’t say whether you are going of not, papa.”

  “I shall stay at home, as there are some matters for me to attend to,perhaps nearly as important as those which will keep my wife at home,”he said in a playful tone, turning toward her again as he spoke.

  “I am not sorry to hear it, my dear,” Violet responded.

  “And I don’t want to go,” said Grace. “I never do like to go to thecity without my father to take care of me,” with an affectionate lookup into his face. “Besides, I’ve promised to help Elsie arrange herdoll-house and make some new clothes for her dollies.”

  “Ah? and of course promises must be kept; but as you do not want to gowithout papa you will not feel it a hardship, I hope, to keep yours toyour little sisters.”

  “But I wouldn’t want Gracie to stay at home if she wanted to go,” saidlittle Elsie; “no indeed I wouldn’t, papa.”

  “No, my dear baby girl is not so selfish as that, I am sure,” hereturned with a loving look into the rosy, dimpled face. “But I feelquite sure Gracie does not want to go.”

  “And somehow papa always knows what we want, Elsie,” Grace said with acontented little laugh.

  “And as you will have Grandma Elsie, Aunt Elsie, Rosie and Evelynalong to help you select your dresses and other things, you won’tmiss me if I stay at home, Marian,” said Lulu. “I want to get out ourschool-books—Gracie’s and mine—and arrange our desks ready for school;for papa says we are to begin lessons again to-morrow.”

  “I shall miss you, I know,” Marian answered with a smile; “but ofcourse it is by no means necessary that you should go, and I should besorry to be a hindrance to you.”

  Half an hour later the carriages from Ion and Fairview were seen comingup the drive. The Raymonds and their guest were all on the veranda,watching for them, Marian ready dressed for the little jaunt.

  “Well, here we are!” called out a cheery voice as the foremost vehicledrew up in front of the veranda. “How many of you are going with us?”

  “Only one—our young guest,” the captain replied, handing Marian in ashe spoke. Cousin Ronald, Grandma Elsie, and her daughter Rosie were itsoccupants, and each gave Marian an affectionate morning greeting. ThenViolet stepped forward for a moment’s chat with her mother, in whichRosie and the captain joined; thus leaving Marian and Mr. Lilburn theopportunity for a bit of private chat of their own.

  “Lassie,” he said with a kindly smile, “dinna forget that you are asort o’ adopted child o’ my ain, and that I hae a father’s right toat least help provide you wi’ a’ things needful,” slipping a roll ofbank-notes into her hand.

  “Oh,” she exclaimed, half under her breath and with starting tears,“how good and generous you are to me! I never had half as much in allmy life.”

  “Why, my bairnie, you have na counted it yet!” he exclaimed with a low,gleeful laugh.

  “No, sir; but such a roll—so many bills!”

  He laughed again. “It’s clear enough, lass, that you’ve had smallacquaintance wi’ bank-notes. One alone may be worth a thousand o’another denomination. There are twenty there—ten tens and ten fives.”

  “A hundred and fifty dollars! Oh, how much! I feel myself a woman ofwealth. But what can I ever do to show my gratitude?” she said low andtremulously, happy, grateful tears shining in her eyes.

  Then good-mornings were exchanged and the carriage drove on.

  Toward evening Marian returned with what was to her an astonishingwealth of lovely apparel. She had a great dislike of mourning, but hadchosen quiet colors, such as met with Grandma Elsie’s cordial approval.Her purchases came to Woodburn in the carriage with her; she tookgreat delight in showing them to Violet and the little girls, and theyscarcely less in looking at them.

  “Now,” said Violet, “we will get several persons to work to-morrow onyour dresses and have them ready as soon as possible for your wearing.I am delighted with your choice, and feel sure everything you havebought will prove very becoming.”

  “Oh, how good you are to me, dear Cousin Vi!” exclaimed Marian withfeeling. “But I do think that after so much has been done for me, tomake up my dresses myself is the least that ought to be asked of me.”

  “No, no, Marian,” said the captain, “that would never do. I could notthink of allowing it, because it would keep you so long out of theschool-room.”

  “Ah, my dear, it is easy to see that you are in haste to get her whereshe will be subject to your control,” exclaimed Violet laughingly.“Ah, Lu, don’t look so indignant! that was but a jest—a sorry oneperhaps—for I appreciate the kindness of your father’s motives fully asmuch, I think, as any one else can.”

  “Ah, I fear my dear eldest daughter is but a silly little girl asregards her father and the respect paid him by others,” remarked thecaptain, laying a hand affectionately upon Lulu’s shoulder as she stoodby his side.

  “I’m afraid I am, papa,” she returned, coloring and smiling rathershamefacedly, “but I just can’t bear to have even Mamma Vi talk as ifyou weren’t quite perfect.” At that the captain laughed.

  “It would never do coming from a daughter,” he said, “but is entirelyexcusable in a wife.”

  “Thank you, sir,” laughed Vi, “I quite appreciate the privilege youaccord me.”

  “I’m afraid it is time for me to go to my room and make myself neat fortea,” said Marian, pulling out a pretty little watch; at which Lulu andGrace cried, “How lovely!”

  “Yes; it is another of Cousin Ronald’s gifts; something I had hardlyever dared to hope to possess. Was it not good and kind in him to giveit to me?”

  Then she told of the roll of bank-notes he had put into her hand thatmorning, and that the price of the watch did not come out of that.

  It was handed about from one to another, admired by all, then returnedto its owner, who immediately gathered up a number of her packages and,with Lulu and a servant carrying the rest, hastened to her room.

  The two girls came down again presently in answer to the tea-bell.

  It was the usual tempting meal to which they sat down, simple butdaintily prepared, daintily served, and made all the more palatable andenjoyable by cheerful chat in which even the little ones were allowed ashare.

  On leaving the table Marian was taken by Lulu and Grace to see theschool-room.

  “Oh, what a lovely room! what beautiful desks and comfortable-lookingchairs!” she exclaimed. “And with your dear father for teacher it mustbe only a pleasure, a great pleasure, to study here!”

  “So Lu and I think,” said Grace, “though I must own that there aretimes when I’m a little lazy.”

  “I too,” said Lulu, “oftener than Gracie, I think; but though papais always very patient and kind, he insists that if we are well thelessons must be learned.”

  “I am sure that is kind,” said Marian; “a good education is so, sovaluable—better than wealth, because not so easily lost.”

  “And for other reasons quite as well worth considering,” added a manlyvoice behind them, and turning in its direction they found Cap
tainRaymond standing near.

  Marian’s look was inquiring and he went on: “Knowledge of the rightkind brings more real pleasure into one’s life than can be found inwealth, fits one for greater usefulness, and is, as you just remarked,not so easily lost.”

  “Very true, sir,” Marian responded thoughtfully, “and if you help me togain that you will be a benefactor indeed.”

  “I am disposed to do all I can to help you, my good girl,” he said in akindly tone; “and I think your companionship with Lulu in her studieswill so interest and spur her on that I shall feel more than repaid forthe slight addition to my labor.”

  “Papa,” asked Grace thoughtfully, “doesn’t it say somewhere in theBible that it is better to get wisdom than gold?”

  “Yes; in Proverbs Solomon exclaims, ‘How much better is it to getwisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen thansilver; and knowledge rather than choice gold. For wisdom is betterthan rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to becompared to it.’ But doubtless he there refers to heavenly wisdom—asaving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the wisdom by which Godestablished the heavens and founded the earth.”

  “When am I to begin school, captain?” asked Marian presently.

  “I think I will let you off until next week, if you wish it,” hereplied in a playful tone; “or, as I go to Annapolis for a day or twoearly the week after, perhaps you may as well delay beginning yourstudies until my return.”

  “O Marian, don’t! do begin next Monday,” urged Lulu. “I do so want tohave you with us in the school-room and for you to find out what a goodand kind teacher papa is.”

  “His eldest daughter being the judge,” remarked the captain with anamused look.

  “And his second daughter being of exactly the same opinion,” addedGrace, slipping a hand into his as she stood close at his side.

  He pressed it affectionately, then, still holding it fast, proposedthat they should return to the veranda where they had been sittingbefore the call to the tea-table.

  He led the way with Grace, the others following, and presently the fourwere seated there, Grace close to her father on one side, Lulu on theother, and Marian near at hand.

  “O Marian, do say you will begin lessons next Monday,” urged Luluagain. “I’m perfectly sure your dresses can be fitted by that time, andif there is any fitting not done, it can be attended to out of schoolhours; or papa will let you go for a little; for he’s always reasonableand kind; if it is his own little girl that says so,” she concludedwith a roguish look up into her father’s face.

  “Ah, Marian, if you are wise you will not put too much faith in theopinion of one who evidently looks at the person under discussionthrough rose-colored glasses,” remarked the captain in a gravelywarning tone.

  “It seems to be the way with every one who knows you, sir,” laughedMarian; “so I will be on my guard till I have learned more of youthrough my own observation.”

  “And do you mean to wait till you have satisfied yourself upon thatpoint before you venture to become one of his pupils?” queried Lulu.

  “It would not be waiting very long, as I am already satisfied thatCaptain Raymond is to be trusted; for I have had a report of histeaching and government from both Rosie and Evelyn; a most favorableone from each,” Marian said in reply.

  “And of course they wouldn’t be as likely to prove partial judges ashis own daughters who love him so dearly,” remarked Grace, with her armabout her father’s neck, her eyes gazing fondly into his.

  “I think I shall venture,” returned Marian. “My intention is to becareful to keep rules and to work very hard at the lessons; so doingI cannot think I shall run much risk of punishment. The worst he couldinflict (expelling me) would only—I was going to say, leave me whereit found me; it would be worse than that, though—real disgrace anddisappointment; but I don’t intend ever to be so idle, mischievous, orrebellious as to bring it on myself.”

  “I have not the slightest fear that you will,” said the captain, “andI think too that I know you pretty thoroughly since the weeks spent inthe same house with you in Minersville.”

  “And do you intend then to begin on Monday?” queried Lulu with, a lookof joyous expectancy.

  “Yes, indeed; if nothing happens to prevent. I do not want to lose anytime, for I wish to be able to earn my own living as soon as possible.”

  “Why, what a very independent young woman you seem to be, CousinMarian!” laughed a sweet girlish voice close at hand, and Violettripped lightly from the doorway to a chair which her husband, hastilyputting Grace from his knee, drew forward for her use.

  “Thank you, my dear,” she said, taking possession. “You are intendingto become one of my husband’s pupils, Marian?”

  “He has invited me, and I have thankfully accepted,” Marian replied. “Ithink it a most kind and generous offer.”

  “I entirely agree with you in that opinion,” Violet returned with alook of ardent, admiring affection up into her husband’s face, “but canassure you that kindness and generosity are nothing new for him.”

  “Ah, I knew that much about him before he left Minersville,” returnedMarian. “Many there can testify to his great kindness and generosity.”

  Just then a carriage was seen coming up the drive and the captain rosewith a sigh of relief to meet and welcome his guests, who proved to becallers from one of the neighboring plantations.

  The next morning, while the other young folks resumed the duties of theschool-room, Marian was, with Alma’s assistance, busied with planning,cutting, and fitting the new dresses. Each had heard something of theother’s story. Alma had many questions to ask about life among theMormons, and the more she heard from Marian in reply, the more did sherejoice in the narrow escape of herself and sister from their toils.

  The moment they were dismissed from the school-room, Rosie, Evelyn, andLulu came in search of Marian. Rosie had some news to tell.

  “Mamma had a letter this morning from my brothers Harold and Herbert,begging and entreating her to come to the commencement at Princeton.I suppose you all know that they are to graduate, and they think theymust have mamma there; to enjoy their triumph, I presume,” she addedlaughingly.

  “And will she go?” asked Marian.

  “I think she will,” replied Rosie, “and that grandpa and grandma willgo with her. They both have relatives in and about Philadelphia andwill take the opportunity to visit them too.” “On which side is therelationship with Cousin Elsie?” asked Marian, with a look of interest.

  “Oh, they are none of them her mother’s relatives,” said Rosie. “Butgrandpa’s half-sister—Aunt Adelaide—married a brother of GrandmaRose; so she and her children are related to both sides of our house,and Grandma Rose has other brothers and sisters in that neighborhoodbesides her old father and mother. So she likes to visit therefrequently.”

  “And they of course must always be delighted to have her with them;such a sweet, lovely lady as Cousin Elsie is!”

  “But she will go first to Max’s commencement, won’t she, Rosie? I meanthe commencement at the Naval Academy at Annapolis,” said Lulu.

  “She says she wants and intends to,” replied Rosie; “that is, if sheis well enough, and she certainly seems very well indeed just now.”

  “I am so glad of it!” exclaimed Lulu. “We are all going, in the_Dolphin_, if nothing happens to prevent, and I hope all of you girlswill be with us. It is so lovely there and I think we are likely tohave a delightful time.”

  “It will all be new to you, Marian,” observed Rosie pleasantly.

  “Oh, I do not expect to make one of the party,” returned Marian quicklyand with a blush.

  “Papa said you were to go if you wanted to,” said Lulu, “and I am sureyou would if you could realize what a delightful trip it will be.”

  “I thank both you and your father, Lulu, very much indeed,” Marianreturned with a blush and a smile, “but I have little or nothing fitto wear at such a place an
d in such company, and it would be entirelyimpossible for me to get ready in season.”

  “Yes, I suppose so,” said Lulu, looking somewhat disappointed; “butthere will probably be other times when you can go,” she added,brightening up.

  At that moment Grace looked in at the door with an announcement:“Grandma Elsie, Grandpa Dinsmore, and Cousin Ronald are in the veranda,talking with papa and mamma.”

  “And are we invited to join the conference?” queried Rosie in a merry,jesting tone.

  “I don’t think it’s a secret conference,” replied Grace, “and I supposewe can all join it if we want to.”

  “I should like to do so if I could leave my work,” Marian said, “butI must stay and attend to it unless they say I am wanted for someparticular reason.”

  “In that case we’ll let you know, Marian,” said Lulu as she and theothers hastened from the room together.

  They found the older people arranging plans for attending the Annapolisand Princeton commencements; it was already decided that to the firstall would go from Woodburn and Ion who cared to, some of them by rail,the others in the _Dolphin_, then Mr. and Mrs. Dinsmore and GrandmaElsie to the other; and also, before returning, they would spend someweeks in visiting friends and relatives in and about Philadelphia.

  The young folks listened quietly but with intense interest, now andthen exchanging glances which told plainly how delighted they were withthe prospect of having a share in the expedition to Annapolis; evenGrace, who usually thought home the most desirable place for her, beingno exception.

  She presently stole to her father’s side, slipped her hand into his,and looked up into his face with a bright, glad smile.

  “I am to go too, papa?” she asked in a low tone, meant only for his ear.

  “Unless you prefer to stay at home, daughter,” he said, putting an armaround her and drawing her closer to him, smoothing her hair with theother hand and smiling fondly down into the fair young face.

  “Oh, no, sir! I want to go, ’specially as Mamma Vi and Elsie and babyNed will all go along; and we’ll be in the _Dolphin_ and not in thetiresome cars.”

  “Yes, I think the _Dolphin_ is far more comfortable than the cars,and I trust the little trip will prove very enjoyable to us all,” hereplied, by no means ill-pleased that his little girl was so happy inthe prospect.