"Poor Jerusha looked upon this pen as a mascot," remarked Hilda, taking it up to examine it after finishing the letter. "Oh, Aunt Merryman, how could I bear resentment toward her after reading this story of her life?"

"Yes, we should be patient with our fellow creatures. We cannot know the burdens that many of them are bearing. I have often wondered what trials poor old Archie has had to bring him to the condition he is in now, for he has evidently seen better days."

"I have often said that Archie is my good genius. Besides saving my life, it seems that through him, guided by a kind Providence, I have found three beautiful homes, and now through him this package has been found."

"Did you ever see anything so capable of keeping a secret as is this desk?" commented Mrs. Merryman. "Let us examine it more closely."

"How simple when one understands it!" said Hilda, raising and lowering the lid. "The desk has a false bottom to which the lid is attached by hinges not placed at the end, but a short distance above it. Thus, when we put up the lid it closes the secret s.p.a.ce, and when the desk is open-that is, the lid down and resting upon the open drawer beneath it-it is concealed."

"It is the greatest curiosity in the shape of a desk that I have seen,"

commented Mrs. Merryman. "Who would suspect a vacancy under what they suppose to be the floor of the desk, large enough to hold a larger package than yours? In truth, several of that thickness could be concealed there if laid side by side."

"But the hiding place is easily seen if one knows that the secret lies in holding the lid in a horizontal position; but being always under it, and the entrance to the secret nook being partly filled in by the lower end of the lid, it is sure to elude detection."

"It eluded ours, and Archie was puzzled, although he had seen it."

"It cannot be seen except at the moment that someone is raising or lowering the lid," remarked Hilda, experimenting, "and then only by an observing person who was standing where a side view of the desk could be had, as did Archie. When the desk is closed it conceals the false floor; when it is open it conceals the real one."

"But you and I are as intelligent as most persons," said Mrs. Merryman, reflectively. "How is it that we could not find out the secret of that desk as did Jerusha Flint? She said in her letter that she had used the pen, and yet we find it with her letter in the secret nook. Who told her how to find it?"

"The information must have been in the letter she destroyed. She feared it would fall in other hands."

"Yes, I am sure you are right," answered Mrs. Merryman.

"It is no wonder that she longed to see me," continued Hilda. "I wish for her sake that I had reached here in time to listen to all she wished to say."

They arose, locked the desk and the cottage door, and, followed by Archie with the basket, went home, Hilda carrying the package which had been kept so long from its rightful owner.

Since her return to Dorton she had gone several times to the village churchyard to visit the grave of her Aunt Ashley-on which Mrs. Warfield had long before ordered to be placed a handsome memorial stone-and never left it without evincing her forgiveness by pausing at that of Jerusha Flint.

The wish had been in her heart to mark that lowly mound by a headstone, however small and plain-a greater longing than she had ever felt for any acquisition for herself. Now the way was opened, and the next day she made it part of her errand to the city to visit the marble yard where Mrs. Warfield's order had been faithfully executed, and order one of snow-white marble bearing only the carved words-"Jerusha Flint."

Invitations to the wedding reception at "My Lady's Manor" were sent to the four members of the Warfield family, but Mrs. Warfield and Fred sent a courteous regret, promising to visit Hilda at some future time.

"They will never come," commented Hilda, after reading the letter aloud to Mr. Courtney. "Fred will not wish to come, and Aunt Sarah would not travel so far unless Fred or Paul accompanied her."

"After we are settled in our home we will invite them again," said Mr.

Courtney, "and if they are kept in ignorance of my knowledge of the engagement between you and Mr. Warfield it will save them embarra.s.sment."

"I shall never tell them unless they ask, and I scarcely think they will mention it to us, or to anyone."

Mrs. Lura purposed making her annual visit to her uncle Robert De Cormis and his family in Philadelphia about that time, and Paul accompanied her there, and to the reception at "My Lady's Manor."

Upon her return to Ohio she discanted so volubly upon the beauty of the bride, the elegance of the bridegroom, and the grandeur of their home when in the presence of Fred that Mrs. Warfield was constrained to think that the chief pleasure she took in the visit was the opportunity it gave her to embarra.s.s him.

Mrs. MacQuoid and Chloe were rejoiced that the home had a mistress, and that mistress, Hilda, and Sandy, who had resumed his position as coachman as soon as Mr. Courtney returned from Europe, was more than satisfied, and drove the iron-grays to town and back happier than a king.

Mr. and Mrs. Valentine Courtney made an effort to induce Archie to give up his wanderings and remain with them, but to all inducements he made the same reply, "No, Archie has plenty of homes; he must walk about to find people in the snow."

"My Lady's Manor" was a charming visiting place to the young people of the neighborhood, and to no one more so than to Erma Merryman, who looked upon it as a second home, and upon Hilda as a loved sister.

One morning, about two years after Hilda had taken up her residence there, Mr. Courtney came into the nursery with an open letter in his hand. The king of that small realm was Valentine Courtney, Jr., a healthy, handsome boy, "just as good as he is handsome," being the opinion of each and all who saw him.

"I think I have a pleasant surprise for you, dear," said Mr. Courtney, taking the infant upon his knee and looking with loving admiration upon mother and child.

"I am not easily surprised, but have my share of woman's curiosity. What is it?" smiled Hilda.

"Judge Sylvester happened to mention to me some time ago that he wished a partner in his law business and preferred a young man. I thought immediately of Fred, and as Sylvester appeared willing to have me write to him, I did so, remembering that Mrs. Warfield said in one of her letters that he wished to go into partnership with an established firm.

Fred answered promptly, and the result is that he is coming to Baltimore and we will have him near us."

"That was so kind and thoughtful in you; Aunt Sarah will appreciate it,"

said Hilda, gratefully.

"I have been wishing to do them some favor that they would accept, in return for their kindness to you, and am glad that this was acceptable."

Hilda wrote that evening to Mrs. Warfield, inviting her to come with Fred and make a long visit, a request with which Mrs. Warfield gladly complied.

Thus before a month pa.s.sed Fred Warfield was established as partner with Judge Sylvester in Baltimore, and Mrs. Warfield was at "My Lady's Manor," where her son was always a welcome guest.

CHAPTER XV-HILDA'S HOME

Five happy years had pa.s.sed since Hilda had become the cherished wife of Mr. Courtney, and during those years Mrs. Warfield had spent two winters at "My Lady's Manor," and was there for the third. She was expecting to return to her Ohio home, for spring had again made the earth jubilant with the song of birds and fragrant with the perfume of flowers.

Although no confidences were solicited or given upon the subject, Hilda knew that her beloved guest was happier during these visits than at any other time since Paul's marriage, because away from the domineering presence of Mrs. Lura, who was growing more like Jerusha Flint every year of her life.

No childish voices disturbed the quietude of the farmhouse; perfect order reigned, and Mrs. Lura could devote all the time she wished to embroidery, the chief pleasure of her existence.

There were many reasons for the sojourn at "My Lady's Manor" being pleasant to Mrs. Warfield, not the least of which was having Fred so near, a lawyer in good position, popular in society as he had been in Springfield, and, as was characteristic, falling in love with every beautiful face new to him.

Mr. Courtney invited him frequently to pa.s.s the night with them, taking him back to his office in the morning; and Fred thought, as had Hilda years before, that nothing was more enjoyable than the drive in a luxurious carriage drawn by a span of handsome, spirited horses.

Then Mrs. Warfield was always happy in the company of children, and believed that no better or handsomer boy could be found than the small Valentine; and the dainty blue-eyed darling-Sarah Warfield Courtney-was, in her eyes, the perfection of infantile beauty and excellence.

Another tie which bound her to Hilda and Hilda's home was the articles which had belonged to Mrs. Ashley; and she pa.s.sed some time each day in the room containing them; relics hallowed by the touch of the lovely and beloved young sister.

She loved the neighborhood of Dorton and its people; she and Mrs. Carl Courtney were congenial in every way, were members of the same denomination, and although both were too broad-minded to be rigidly sectarian, it was a dear tie that attached them to each other.

Her visit, however, was nearly finished, and she was making preparations to return to Springfield, when she received a letter from Mrs. Lura, eminently characteristic of that managing little matron. It read:

"Dear Mother-I think you will be surprised to hear of a change made in our household arrangements. Father has always been lonely since I married and left him, and it occurred to me that it would save me much time and trouble going back and forth if I could have him with us. So he has given up the parsonage, and as he has always been accustomed to a large front room with southern exposure, and where sunlight comes in freely, I have given him yours, which, being just across the hall from Paul's and mine, I think suits him well, and I am sure you should be satisfied with the one back of it, as Angie tells me you used it the summer that Mrs. Lacy and two other visitors were at the farmhouse, so you must have preferred it.

"Believing that you cannot fail in agreeing to this, I remain

"Your affectionate daughter, "Lura Warfield."