I was soon admitted. What a picture of neatness that room was, and how
sweet and pretty Ellen looked, despite the trouble she had gone
through! I declare a lump rose in my throat as I looked at her--but
there! another man had got her, and he was worthy of her, and she of
him.
We spoke low because her boy was asleep in the next room, and as she
listened to the story I had to relate, tears of joy ran down her
beautiful face.
I finished, and rose to go.
"John is to be brought up to-morrow," I said, "and to-morrow he will
be free. Come to my office at half-past nine in the morning, and we
will go to the court together. I know you would like to be there to
welcome him. That is one of my reasons for coming here at such an
hour. Another reason is, that I thought it would be a sin if I lost a
single minute in giving you the good news."
She fell upon her knees and buried her face in her hands. Tears were
in my eyes, too, as I was stealing out of the room. But she sprang to
her feet and caught my hand, and kissed it.
"How can we repay you--how can we repay you!" she sobbed.
"I am repaid already," I said, and I pressed her hand and left her.
* * * * * *
And indeed in one way I was more than repaid. You know the stir the
case made in the papers, and the flattering things that were said of
my skill--which I am too modest to set down here. My proceedings were
not perhaps exactly regular, and it is quite likely that Scotland Yard
would rather have had the credit of bringing the Mystery to light. I
doubt if they would have succeeded had it been left to them. And as
for what I did, and the way I did it--well, nothing succeeds like
success.
I became famous--really. And the business that flocked upon me! I am
in a fair way of making my fortune. No need to go on the stage.
* * * * * *
All this happened twelve months ago. John and Ellen are in Australia
doing well, and as happy as birds in summer time. We write to each
other regularly, and they are continually sending me little presents.
Pleasant, isn't it, to feel that, though many thousands of miles are
between us, we shall hold one another in affectionate remembrance to
the last days of our lives?
And then, would you believe it, a week or two ago I was introduced to
a young lady so like Ellen that they might be sisters. The moment I
set eyes on her my heart went twenty to the dozen, and---- But that
has nothing to do with the story.
THE END.
* * * * * *
A Few Press Opinions on
A Little Wizard
By STANLEY J. WEYMAN
16mo, Cloth, 50 Cents
New York Times
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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