The spelling was bad and the writing was bad, but it rang true with a
young man's love for the girl of his choice, and it seemed to Jack like
sacrilege to read it. Very hurriedly he went through the four letters,
finding nothing to guide him but "Atlanta," and a few names of people
who must have been living in the vicinity.
"Here's another," Eloise said, passing him the paper which she had
picked from the floor.
Jack took it, and opening it, glanced at the contents. Then, with a cry
of "Eureka!" he began a sort of pirouette, while Eloise and Mr. Mason
wondered if he, too, had gone quar, like the Harrises.
"It's the marriage certificate," he said, sobering down at last, and
reading aloud that at the Hardy Plantation, Fulton County, Georgia, on
December--, 18--, the Rev. John Covil united in marriage James Crompton,
of Troutburg, Massachusetts, and Miss Eudora Harris, of Volucia County,
Florida.
Upon no one did the finding of this certificate produce so miraculous an
effect as upon Jake.
"Fo' de Lawd!" he exclaimed, "I feels as if I mus' have de pow',--what
I hain't had since I jined de 'Piscopals. To think dat ar was lyin' in
thar all dis time, an' I not know it. I 'members now dat Elder Covil
comed hyar oncet after the lil chile was bawn, to see Miss Dory, an' I
seen him write a paper an' give it to her, an' she put it in her bosom.
I axed no questions, but I know now 'twas this. The Cunnel tole her not
to tell, an' if she said she wouldn't, she wouldn't. Dat's like de
Harrises,--dey's mighty quar, stickin' to dar word till they die like
that Cassy-by-anker on de burnin' ship. Glory to God, glory! I mus'
shout, I mus' hurrah. Glory!"
He went careering round the room like one mad, knocking over a chair,
waking up Amy, and bringing her to the scene of action.
"Bress de Lawd!" he said, taking her by the arm and giving her a whirl,
"we've done foun' your mudder's stifficut in de letters whar she put it
an' tied 'em wid her weddin' ribbon. Glory hollerluyer!"
Amy looked frightened, and when Eloise explained to her she did not seem
as much impressed as the others. Her mind had grasped Jake and the old
home, and could not then take in much more. Still, in a way she
understood, and when Eloise said to her, "Col. Crompton was really your
father,--married to your mother,--and you were Amy Crompton, and not
Harris," she said, "I am glad, and wish he knew. He used to taunt me
with my low birth and call me a Cracker. When are we going home?"
Her mind had reverted at once to Crompton Place, now hers in reality,
although she probably did not think of that.
"I am very glad, and congratulate you that Crompton Place is your home
without a doubt," Jack said to her. Then, turning to Eloise, he
continued, in a low tone, "I can't tell you how glad I am for you,
provided you don't feel so high and mighty that you want to cast me
off."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account