CHAPTER XXXIX.

"FOR ALL ETERNITY."

Ah, what ineffable joy those two letters of Mrs. Middleton and Ailsa

Scott carried to the heart of Fidelio in New York!--joy that his darling

still lived, and that the proof of their marriage could be so readily

obtained, to confound the woman who thought herself secure in the

enjoyment of his wealth.

And who could blame him that he wept like a woman on reading Ailsa's

long letter, telling all she knew of Dainty's fate, not concealing the

fact that had caused her banishment from the dressmaker's house?

"Dear little wife, soon to be the mother of my child! Oh, heavens! what

must she not have suffered in her lonely grief! Oh, we must find her

quickly, and take her home to Ellsworth!" he cried, passionately, to his

friends, who agreed with him in everything.

Letters were hastily forwarded to Ailsa and Mrs. Middleton, thanking

them for their information and saying that "Fidelio," who was ill in New

York, hoped to be well enough to travel soon, and would make a personal

call on them within the week.

Happiness made his recovery so swift that within a week he was able to

leave New York for Richmond, accompanied by Doctor Platt and the

faithful Franklin.

He hurried to Ailsa's humble home at once, and the lovely girl wept for

joy at the wonderful story he had to tell her about his own and

Dainty's trials, that he hoped would soon be happily ended.

"How I thank you for your noble faith in my poor girl, when all the

world was against her, I can not express in mere words; but I shall

rejoice in my ability to supplement it by a solid reward as soon as I am

reinstated in my property," he exclaimed, as he wrung her hand in

passionate gratitude.

But Ailsa protested that she wished for no reward beyond the pleasure of

continuing her friendship with her dear school-mate and friend.

"You shall come to live at Ellsworth, and be our dear sister, if you

will," he exclaimed, generously; and the young girl smiled happily as

she answered:

"I shall be very happy to come and spend my vacation with Dainty this

summer."

Then they discussed the mystery of Dainty's whereabouts. Ailsa told him

she had inquired all around, but could not get any clew at all.

"Sometimes I think she may have returned to West Virginia," she said;

but Love shuddered at the idea lest his darling had fallen into some new

trap set by her enemies.

After two days in Richmond, he was informed by the private detective he

had put on the case that Dainty had indeed left the city--a young girl

answering her description having bought a ticket at the Chesapeake and

Ohio railway station for West Virginia on the night of the last of

March.

"We must go at once! Heaven only knows what new evil has befallen my

poor love, thus venturing alone into the lion's den!" Love exclaimed, in

wild agitation.

John Franklin was sent to Staunton to see Mrs. Middleton and Mrs.

Chase, to get them to join the travelers on their journey, and Doctor

Platt and Love followed on the next train.

It was the first of May, a beautiful evening, with the sun just sinking

in the west, when they reached the station, and a carriage was quickly

procured for the drive to Ellsworth.

Mrs. Chase and Mrs. Middleton had joined them at Staunton, and the

mother's heart was thrilled with unspeakable love and tenderness at the

story her eager, handsome son-in-law poured into her ears.

It seemed too good to be true that Love was restored to himself again,

and that nothing remained but to find Dainty to make the sum of their

happiness complete.

It was the one anxiety that brooded darkly over their hearts, the fear

that evil had befallen the hapless girl on her return to Ellsworth.

"If they have injured but one hair of my darling's head, they shall

answer to the law they have broken," Love said, grimly, as they started

from the station toward Ellsworth, with the fixed resolve to tax Mrs.

Ellsworth and her nieces at once with their crimes, and demand Dainty at

their hands.

Old Doctor Platt was jubilant over the part he had played in restoring

Love to his own, and he rubbed his hands in glee as he pictured to

himself the consternation of Mrs. Ellsworth, when she should find

herself accused and detected in her plot against Love and his persecuted

bride.

"Drive fast, Franklin; I'm anxious to see the madame's face when she

sees the master of Ellsworth returning to claim his own!" he exclaimed,

joyously, just as they came abreast of a large frame house standing

close to the road about a mile from the station.

The next moment Love startled them all with a surprised and happy laugh,

exclaiming:

"Look! Look! There's my old black mammy sitting there in the door of

that house! Listen! She is crooning the old nursery song that charmed me

in my babyhood! Let us stop here, Franklin. Perhaps she can tell us

something about my wife--who knows?"

Yes, there sat black mammy in a capacious armchair in Mrs. Peters'

door-way. Across her knees lay a small white bundle, and she was swaying

softly back and forth, while she crooned in a low, loving monotone her

favorite nursery lullaby:

"Byo, baby boy, bye--

Byo, li'l boy!

En 'e run ter 'is mammy,

Ter rock 'im in 'er arms--

Mammy's li'l baby boy!

"Who all de time er frettin' in de middle er de day?

Mammy's li'l boy, mammy's li'l boy!

Who all de time er gittin' so sleepy--

"Sho'! what am de matter now, and who am dese folks stoppin' deir

kerridge in front o' de gate?" the lullaby ending in these exclamations

of surprise.

Lovelace Ellsworth sprang from the carriage and rushed to the gate.

"Mammy, mammy, don't you know me? Your Marse Love?" eagerly.

"Oh, my good Lord in hebben, am I dreamin', or is it yo'self, Marse

Love, a-laffin' an' a-talkin' lak in de dear old days 'fore you was

shot?" cried the old negress, shaking with joyful excitement.

"It is Love, sure enough, mammy. You may pinch me if you choose, and

you'll find I am your old nursling alive and well. Oh, mammy, I am

searching for my Dainty, my sweet, darling wife!"

"T'ank de good Lord for all His mercies! Dis is de day dat I been

prayin' fo' so long! Oh, Marse Love, I'll he'p yo' fin' yo' darlin'

wife, indeedy I will! But won't you look at my nurse-chile on my knee?

Aine he pritty? See him yaller curls fine as silk, and him skin like de

crumply rose-leaf, an' him big black eyes like his pappy's? Don't you

want ter kiss him fo' his sweet mudder's sake?" laughing.

"Mammy!" he cried in sudden, wild, suspicious excitement, as he bent

closely to look at the infant.

"Yes, Marse Love, 'tis your own li'l baby boy borned almost two weeks

ago, an' de fines' li'l chap alive! Miss Dainty she come to black mammy,

o' course, in her trubble, an' I cheers her up till li'l Marse Lovelace

Ellsworth he come to laugh at her wid his pappy's sassy black eyes. Hi!

hi! he gone like a shot at de fust call o' her voice!" for Love had

dashed past her wildly at a low, startled cry, from the open door of a

room just beyond.

He dashed wildly across the threshold, glanced around, and there she lay

lovely and pale as a lily among soft white pillows--his lost bride, his

adored wife, the tender mother of his beautiful child!

"My darling!" and he was on his knees with his arms about her, and his

lips on her face.

For a moment, under the shock of joy, Dainty's senses reeled; but he

kissed the life back to her closing eyes and the smiles back to the

quivering lips.

"Oh, my darling, my wife, God has given us back to each other for all

time and eternity!"