Christian Science -- Fiction; People with disabilities -- Fiction
But with Carolina absorbed in her work, and Moultrie puzzling over the
sudden changes in her behaviour, it could not be said that the remainder
of the ride was proving as pleasant as each had hoped. However, a
perfect day, a fine animal, and the spirits of youth and enthusiasm are
not to be ignored for long, and presently Carolina began to feel
Guildford in the air. She looked inquiringly at Moultrie, and he
answered briefly:
"In another mile." But there was a look in his eyes which made
Carolina’s heart beat, for it was the glance of comprehension which one
soul flings to another in passing,--sometimes never to meet again,
sometimes which leads to mating.
In another five minutes Moultrie raised his arm.
"There!"
Carolina reined in and Araby stood, tossing her slim head, raising her
hoofs, champing her bit, and snuffing at the breeze which came to her
red nostrils, laden with the breath of piny woods and balsam. Moultrie,
sitting at parade rest on Scintilla and watching Carolina catch her
breath almost with a sob, said to himself: "She feels just as that horse
acts."
Carolina could find no words, nor did she dare trust herself. She was
afraid she would break down. She lifted her gauntleted hand and the
horses drew together and moved forward.
For more than a mile an avenue as wide as a boulevard led in a straight
line, lined on each side by giant live-oaks. Ragged, unkempt shrubbery,
the neglect of a lifetime, destroyed the perfectness of the avenue, but
the majesty of those monarchs of trees could not be marred. The sun was
only about an hour high, and the rays came slantingly across meadows
whose very grasses spoke of fertility and richness. The glint of the
river occasionally flashed across their vision, and between the
bird-notes, in the absolute stillness, came the whispering of the
distant tide.
At the end of the avenue lay the ruined stones of Guildford.
Carolina sprang down, flung her bridle-rein to Moultrie, and ran
forward. She would not let him see her eyes. But she stumbled once,
and by that he knew that she was crying. They were, however, tears of
joy and thanksgiving. Guildford! Her foot was on its precious turf.
These stones had once been her father’s home. And she was free, young,
strong, and empowered to build it up, a monument to the memory of her
ancestors. Every word which Mrs. Goddard had prophesied had come true,
and Carolina’s first thought was a repetition of her words:
"See what Divine Love hath wrought!"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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