Story of Chester Lawrence: Being the Completed Account of One who Played an Important Part in "Piney Ridge Cottage"Anderson, Nephi
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Story of Chester Lawrence: Being the Completed Account of One who Played an Important Part in "Piney Ridge Cottage"
Anderson, Nephi
Christian fiction; Latter Day Saints -- Fiction
"Don't think of it. I'm going to live a long, long time, Chester--with
you. Listen, dear, and don't look so worried. Things have changed again.
I don't need to break good news gently, so I may tell you now, papa--I
mean, your father, has been telling me something I never dreamed
of--Chester, listen. I'm not your father's child--only by
adoption--you're not my brother, only of course in the brotherhood of
the faith."
"Lucy, what are you saying?"
"I am telling you the truth--as I was told it. He adopted me as a
baby--I was an orphan--I am not your sister. Chester--I--"
He seized her hands, and held her at arms length, while his eyes seemed
to devour her. She could not repress the tears, and when he saw them, he
drew her close and kissed her.
"Lucy, not my sister, but my sweetheart again, my little wife to
be--what--does it all mean?"
There came a loud knock at the door, and the father entered without
being bidden. He walked firmly up to them, placed a hand on each
shoulder, and said:
"My son, I have to ask your forgiveness again. I intended to tell you
about Lucy as soon as you learned the truth about yourself, but I was
hindered. Don't think, my boy, that I would purposely cause you
suffering. What Lucy has told you is true, and I am so glad that the
misunderstanding and the mixups no longer exist between us."
The three now found seats and talked over the new situation in which
they found themselves, not forgetting the part Uncle Gilbert had taken
in recent events, until the strenuous voice of Captain Brown had to
supplement the housekeeper's bell, before the three would come down for
luncheon.
Those were golden days to Chester, Lucy, and the Rev. Thomas Strong. Out
of restless uncertainty, doubts, fears, and heart-aching experiences
they now had come to a period of peaceful certainty. Out of straits they
had come to a quiet sun-kissed harbor.
Captain Brown looked on all this happiness approvingly. His shore leave
was going splendidly. The neighbor's horse and carriage were often
brought into requisition, and the father would not be denied his share
of these drives. The captain's own boat, long since unused, was put into
commission, and with the captain at the tiller the whole family sailed
over the placid Mersy. The moon grew rounder, and as the evenings were
warm, the boat often lingered in the moonlight. Then songs were sung,
Chester and Lucy singing some which the father recognized as "Mormon,"
but which the captain knew only as beautiful and full of sweet spirit.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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