A Sherburne inheritance

Front matter

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Contents

Chap. Page.

I. A Home-Coming i

II. Inner and Outer Discords * . . i6

Chapter I. A Home-coming

^T^HERE is no country like your own. There is no place like home. How many thousands of people do you suppose have reechoed the sentiment,” and Lyndell Carew smiled as she turned a bright, tender face to her husband. ‘‘ We have been ’mid pleasures and palaces, ’mid the hopes and the work of a great world. We are not the only country that is making rapid strides, but our own seems best to us if it is not greater. I do suppose nations get fitted to their environment. But when you leave the wide ocean and enter this beautiful bay, and see all the busy whirl in the distance, the city of one’s

home, that holds its heart’s dearest treasures ”

She was out of breath with her rapid talk, and a throb of emotion sped along every nerve. So many things might have happened to make it a less joyous home-coming. The great steamer floated majestically. There was Liberty with her hand pointing upward. There was the busy city, a mass of spires and points and domes in half- veiled glamour and softly glowing tints, the rare lights, the tremulous shadows of the sunset of a dying summer.

But you do not regret going? ” Dr. Carew recalled her half-heartedness and her hesitation about leaving the children, her anxiety the first few weeks they were abroad.

Regret! It has been delightful. I would not blot out one day.’*

And I have had you to myself,” smiling a little and taking her hand that lay on the rail.

^^We have had each other,” and a limpid softness illumined her eyes. We both seem so much engrossed at home. Do we take up too many things? ”

A thoughtful line crossed Lyndell’s brow.

do not think I should have enjoyed a narrow woman, and oh, Dell,” laughing with almost boyish gayety, ^*the narrow woman would not have enjoyed me. I often think, dear, how wise and generous and patient, yes and self-sacrificing you have been. And this has proved a red letter holiday for me, a going back to old times and the love of youth. It is good to have a glimpse of the earlier life. We shall be strengthened for whatever comes in the future.”

‘‘Bertram,” and an exquisite touch of something, not sorrow or fear, hardly apprehension, crossed her face; “we seem to stand at the parting of the ways. Are we really getting to be middle-aged ? Our babies are even outgrowing childhood. They will be men and women in such a little while. We shall have to go down the other side ”

“Don’t start now,” he drew her closer. “Let us stand on the hilltop a long while. It is such a coign of vantage. You have the girl’s bloom and eagerness — yes you have gone back five good years since we started.”

“Thank you.” She made a charming inclination of the head. “You must be idle indeed when you have time to think up compliments.”

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<< We ought to have some seal to affix to this last day. Have I been so chary of compliments ? ’ ^

'^You have never been chary of the truest, sweetest appreciation a wife can have,” raising her eyes alight with content.

They were standing unmoved with the bustle all around them, the excitement of travelers getting in, the breathless amazement of newcomers to a strange land, the indifference of the floating pilgrims of fashion who were ever seeking something new, who had seen everything and were alike bored at home and abroad.

I carry so many pictures of you in my heart,” in the low tone that seems to linger among the remembrances of the past. The first time I saw you — why I can shut my eyes and feel the soft girl fingers over them, and your voice as you bade me guess ’ '

DelFs face was scarlet with a girl’s flush. Then she laughed.

I thought your father’s son was only a big boy. And I had seen him sit there so many times.”

^‘And father had always called you a little girl. First and last I had a good many guesses about you,” smiling, ^^and the time we were fighting for Leonard’s life !

I think I fell in love with you all along. I keep on falling in love. This has been a new wedding journey, — all to ourselves.”

It was odd, when they came to think of it, how little of their life had been solely for each other. Perhaps all the larger lives were so. Her eyes grew grave and deep with emotion, and still held their soft, rich brown tint. Lyndell Carew had reached the fine levels of womanhood where youth still lingers and its sun is at the zenith. She had been very happy, not perfectly so, for no life is per- ^ feet in its bliss. And though the glamour of romance

A SHERBURNE INHERITANCE.

illumines the love of youth with its almost incredulous rapture of possession ; deep and strong natures come to know something finer when the dross has burned out.

When the plan was first proposed, and Dr. Carew had been appointed a delegate to a medical session abroad, Lyndell found a dozen reasons for not going. But Miilicent Drayton had helped overrule the objections.

The year had held many trials for Lyndell, and the buoyancy of her nature seemed waning. She had been fighting, too, against the inevitable. In her inmost soul she had mapped out her first-born’s life, for Randolph’s vigorous cry had reached her ears while the little babygirl lay gasping for breath. He had been his grandfather’s delight, his father’s pride. A fine, manly little fellow, stout and sturdy, with no girlish ways or prettiness, a boy of boys ; a little careless and rough at times, full of sport and anxious to excel, affectionate, yet preferring his own sex. The twins might have been years apart for any similarity. Even now Millicent, slim, fair and unformed, did not look a day older than Honor. Indeed, they often were mistaken for the twins. Millicent had always sheltered herself under grandmother’s wing, as all the children called Miss Carew. Dell seldom interfered, for she could trust Aunt Neale’s wisdom. Then Honor had been such a joyous, rollicking baby, such a bright, saucy, impetuous little girl, full of mischievous daring. Lyndell often thought she saw herself reproduced in her. She wanted to think, she did persuade herself that Millicent resembled her dearest cousin, Mrs. Drayton. Then had come Reese, who was a counterpart of his father except that he had his mother’s lovely brown eyes. Afterwards the first deep sorrow of her life, when she had laid another baby boy in his narrow bed and kissed him for the last time, finding comfort and

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strength in the human love of her husband and the divine love of God.

The household altar had another blossom laid upon it,, to the great joy of all. Florence was the family darling, a bewitching little fairy that bid fair to inherit the Sherburne beauty. Lyndell had lived in her lovely garden of young souls, trying to train and shape, having theories as. all mothers do, finding unlooked-for traits, comparing notes with Millicent Drayton, and amused with Nora MaF lory's little host that seemed to flourish without any espe^ cial training like a field of wild flowers.

She had a new element when Sherburne and Bertram Beaumanoir entered their borders. Bertram was a. born student, eager, industrious, enthusiastic. Sherburne had idled away his winter, indulged in wayward tempers and fancies, but his manly decision during his father’s illness had delighted them all ; and the fine accord inta which he was growing with his parents, gave Lyndell hope that her own boy would be moved so to do.

Because he knew the hurt he would give them, Randolph rarely mentioned his own desires. He hated to pain his grandfather, whose favorite he had always been since childhood.

‘‘Don’t urge him,” pleaded the elder man. “He might take it up if his heart was not elsewhere, but he has no real love for our profession.”

“I’m going to be a doctor,” declared Reese, “ and we don’t want two in the family. Grandpapa, you will have to take me for your boy.”

‘ ‘ And what will papa do ? ”

“ Why you see it will be right in the line.”

“ There will be an old doctor and a young doctor and a middle-aged doctor. Reese, people will begin by telling you you are not half as good a doctor as your father.’*

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^^Well — I don’t expect to be at first.”

‘‘ And you may have to go out West or somewhere.”

‘^I’m going to stay just here with you and papa.” The brown eyes glanced up resolutely, and the boy’s young arms were clasped about his grandfather’s neck.

Early in the autumn Miss Carew decided to go to Virginia. Everybody opposed at first. But Judge Beaumanoir and his wife came up to the city, and though she was so gentle she was very resolute, too. She wanted to see the old place once more, to greet a few of the old friends who were dropping out so rapidly. Was there another presentiment ?

They let her go reluctantly, yet there was no reasonable objection.

<< Will you stay a month ? ” asked Millicent. I shall miss you so. I shall have no one to talk over my troubles with,” declared the young girl.

As if a young thing like you, with affection on every side, ought to have any troubles.”

^‘Not real troubles, but just little things. Honor laughs at them,” and Millicent gave as much of a pout as her pretty mouth would allow.

I am afraid I have spoiled you, Milly. If I hear a bad account of you I shall stay two months. ’ ’

O, grandmamma ! Whatever should I do ! ”

There is so much to do. You are backward in your studies. Honor will be ahead of you everywhere.”

I don’t like study, at least, nothing but music. And I’m not going to college as Honor declares she is. I just want to be somebody’s girl all my life long ; have some one love me best of all. You do, grandmamma? ” in a pleading tone.

Aunt Neale kissed her tenderly. She was so unlike the little girl Dr. Carew had brought her from Slier-

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burne House, ill and full of very real troubles. Millicent was sweet and clinging; the child Lyndell had shown that she could stand alone. Bertram had been strong and manly all his life. Perhaps Millicent’s twin had taken the strength of character and left her the winsome refinement.

They all missed grandmamma dreadfully. Millicent used to go to the lonely room and cry, but she never told any one. She was slow in her studies, and it rather annoyed her mother. Reading and music were her delights, and she could repeat poetry by the hour.

'^And then you say you can’t remember things!” Honor would rejoin impatiently. ‘‘You won’t apply yourself. You idle away your time dreaming over vague music or verses full of tragedy. What do you suppose you will do with real, earnest life? ”

“ What will you do with it ? ”

There was an almost helpless expression in the elder’s face, and it had the hesitation of fifteen. She felt as if blown upon by a strong wind, and inwardly protested against being forced another’s way, yet she seemed to have no definite way of her own.

“ I’m going to do something with it. I just hate your negative characters ! ” said the girl, with the swift current of positive and unreasoning youth in her veins, and that enthusiastic pulse of life that believed all things possible. “I may write a book some time — it won’t be full of beauty like every line of Aunt Millicent’s, but strong, and cutting down deep among the real things. I may be a college professor, for I am going to college ”

“And what else?” as the pause seemed long and suggestive.

“ I may be a lawyer — women are coming to the front in that line, and Uncle Len said I had a logical mind.

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There are plenty of things to do. Why don’t you rouse yourself and consider some of them?”

Because I like quiet and softness and harmony and leisure, and the tender side of life, the beauty as well.

If I could have my wish out of all the world ”

could you centre your wishes on one thing? Condense; that is better, you revolve around a centre.”

‘^And I don’t want to revolve. Yes — I’d like to be so handsome that people would turn around and look at me.”

Honor laughed with merry mockery. ^^Bud will take the family inheritance, it was saved for the last one. I am afraid it has rather thinned out in this generation. Hope Drayton will be lovely, and Cousin Nora has some pretty children, but Aunt Violet took the largest share. I’d rather be fine looking, like mamma, than beautiful like Pearl Amory. What does she do with her beauty but just set herself up for admiration ! ”

There was a touch of scorn in the strong young voice.

I don’t care so much for the admiration, but I should like to beautiful, through and through.”

‘‘Better wish for good common sense, and go at your lessons with some earnestness,” advised the younger.

They were fond of each other, yet they often had little tiffs. Honor was growing into accord and friendship with Randolph. They both desired to be chummy, not sentimental. They confessed their plans to each other secretly, because mamma did not quite approve of the West Point longing, and was not anxious to have Honor choose a profession.

When grandmamma had gone Millicent felt very lonely, quite as if no one really belonged to her. Mamma belonged to them all, papa was a very busy man, but now and then took them all in some pleasure.

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There were so many cousins, so much coming and going, so many letters and plans, that every day seemed astir with something new.

Lyndell Carew had been enchanted with the sweetness and mystery of babyhood. Her years of waiting had been years of desire as well. Yet she felt that her life' must not be narrowed by the nursery, since there would come a time when the nursery would be outgrown, the blossom season of young lives, and she must garner up wisdom and patience for that period, for she wanted to be the dearest friend in their youth and coming manhood and womanhood. Yet there were times when she questioned her own methods, the results would be so diiferent from what she had anticipated. But she was afraid of too much government. She had suffered so from it in her own girlhood. And Dr. Carew trusted his children even as he had been trusted.

I half believe there never were any thoroughly good children but Mamma Murray's,” Lyndell said once in a mood of discouragement to her husband. I can’t understand what the secret was, but ours have dozens of little faults. When you get one nipped off another springs up in its place.”

^^As if one ever saw a garden without weeds, and having no need of a gardener ! ” returned Dr. Carew in his cheery fashion, with the faith of the future shining in his eyes. As if we with our wider experience did not blunder and make mistakes.”

I suppose I am too impatient for results.”

Do you want them grown up ? ”

O no, no. The years go too fast, the lovely, blessed years ! ” in the passionate tenderness of motherhood.

We will do our best and trust Providence.”

If we could be sure of our best ! ”

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Week after week went by. Tessy Beaumanoir wrote journal like letters about Aunt Neale. She was going slowly over all the old haunts, she could not stand much at a time. Old friends came in to see her ; she was lovely and happy and full of reminiscences about those who were gone. And one day the word came that she had taken the other journey in the same tranquil manner in which she had lived. Sitting out on the porch in the autumnal sunshine she had heard the voice she had tried to follow all through her sweet life, and her spirit arose and went to her new home. They found a smile on her calm white face, and her hands were folded in her lap.

Only the elders went to the burial. Millicent was prostrated by a strange awe. Honor said —

‘ ‘ Mamma — I shall think of her as coming back to us until I am quite resigned. And I will do my best to comfort poor Milly.”

But Millicent did not want to talk about it, and shrank from expressions of sympathy. Lyndell felt in a measure shut out of her daughter’s heart. She was sweet and passive, but for a while no one was very gay. Lyndell had many duties and it was not possible to keep her evenings for her family, though she tried to as often as possible. Honor was full of study and ambition, she urged Millicent on to be sure and graduate the coming June with her, though the elder seemed suddenly impassive.

And then you will be my home girl, Millicent,” said her mother tenderly. I could not part with you both.”

‘‘Dear mamma,” Millicent murmured. Yet there were four others to share this love. And grandmamma had loved her best, she was sure of that, from the very first day of her life.