University of Virginia Library

56. CHAPTER LVI.
CONCLUSION.

For something more than nine days Mliss was
a heroine. Everybody had beard her romantic
history, and everybody desired to see her. She
became so well-known that Regina hardly dared
to appear with her on the street or at the
theatre, except when protected by the drapery
of a private-box.

The young girl bore her honors with becoming
grace. Always a conspicuous personage, even
when conspicuous in wretchedness, she was not
in the least abashed when masculine heads turned
to catch a glimpse of her face in the street,
or when ladies leveled their opera-glasses at her
in the theatre.

Bob continued to be her escort everywhere,
and he enjoyed the position. There was now no
question as to his allegiance. He had eyes only
for the little dark beauty whose willful and imperious
ways were a constant torment and a constant
delight. The young ladies of the Free-and-Easy
Club recognized their rival and scoffed
at his infatuation. Bob Shaw, they said, was
not the boy he used to be. Formerly he had
ruled the girls—now a girl ruled him.

Mliss, however, was not the girl to fold her
wings until she had tried their power. As she
advanced toward young ladyhood she developed
decided symptoms of that coquettish instinct
which is said to be an especial attribute of her
sex. Her early experience gave her an ease and
assurance in gentlemen's society that were a
constant surprise. A little impertinent at times,
she was so bright and piquant that men only
vied with each other to see which should contribute
most to the pleasant process of making her a
spoiled child.

Mr. Gray alone retained his old ascendancy over her
mind. Kind and indulgent, though firm, he held her
in a restraint the more absolute as it was self-imposed.
A glance would check the wildest excess of animal
spirits, and bring her, tender and repentant, to his
side.

One afternoon, about two months after her return'
Mliss entered Mr. Gray's office. The business of the
day was over, and the young lawyer was comparatively
at leisure. She perched herself upon the table,
and, taking his head between her two hands, looked
into his eyes.

“You wicked man,” she said, after a time, “why
don't you tell me your secrets?”

“Suppose I have no secrets to tell?”

“You thought you had, but you haven't. I see it
all in her eyes.”

“In whose eyes, wonderful child.”

“Reg e's, wonderful man.”

“What do you see in Regie's eyes?”

“I see you there, and I see her in your eyes. You
needn't deny it; I give my consent.”

“Thank you, Lissy. What shall I say to Regie's
brother when he asks me for my little pet?”

“Tell him I'm going to be an old maid.”

“A nice old maid you'll make! You are not yet
fifteen, and you have more beaux than any other gal
I know of.”

“What a story! You know I give them no encouragement.”

Of course not! You always were a model of proriety!
But tell me, Lissy,” he continued, drawing
the young girl to his side, “do you love Regie as
much as ever?”

“Yes, just as much. It is strange, but I have never
been jealous of Regie. If she is your wife,” she continued,
in a low tone, “she will let you love me all
the same. You will, won't you?”

“Always, Lissy. Are you not my darling sister as
much as ever?”

For answer the child wound her arms round his
nack and laid her cheek against his.

At this interesting moment Regina appeared in the
doorway. She paused a second, and then advanced
into the room.

“I thought I would find you here,” she said to
Mliss. “Why didn't you tell me you were coming?”

“Because,” answered Mliss, “I wanted to see Mr.
Gray alone. I'll go now and have a romp with Tim.”

Mliss disappeared, thoughtfully closing the office-door
behind her. Mr. Gray arose, and putting Regina
into a chair, stood by her side.

“We have her consent,” he said, bending over Regina
and kissing her forehead. “The child has divined
all.”

“Are you sure she doesn't care?”

“I cannot flatter myself that she has ever thought
of me except as a friend and brother.”

“I hope,” said Regina, “that she will love Bob.
He worships her. If she should prove indifferent he
would return to his old ways.”

“Lissy is very young yet to love any one except as
she loves me.”

“I am so glad she doesn't love you as I do,” responded
Regina, with a flush on her cheek and a
tender light to her eyes.

“So am I,” replied Mr. Gray, bending lower and
folding the young girl in his arms. “So glad.”

Mliss finished her romp with Tim, and came bounding
back to the office. If her loving heart felt a pang
at the thought of losing the first place in her old master's
affections, neither Regina nor the master were
permitted to know it.

Some months passed. One day when Regina and
Mliss were taking their afternoon stroll on Montgomery
street, the former was startled by an exclamation
from her companion. The next moment Mliss had
left her side, and was darting like a fawn across the
street.

They were at the corner of California street, and a
group of gentlemen were standing in front of a
broker's office. From the group a tall gentleman detached
himself, and advanced to meet the young
girl.

“What will become of that child?” murmured Regina
to herself, as she beheld an unconventional
greeting, after which Mliss and the gentleman walked
slowly along on the opposite side of the street.

Mliss, unconscious of the eyes that were upon her
was talking rapidly and earnestly to her companion.
At the corner of the next street they shook hands, and
Mliss came back to Regina, her cheeks aglow with excitement.

“Guess who that gentleman is,” she said, ignoring
in her enthusiasm the look of reproof that was plainly
visible in Regina's face.

“He ought to be a very near relation,” said Regina,
to justify such a cordial greeting.”

“How could I help it!” answered Mliss. “That
gentleman is Colonel Wade.”

“Colonel Wade?”

“Isn't he a splendid-looking man? and he's come
to San Francisco to live.”

“But, Lissy, what will Mr. Gray say to such an
exhibition of affection in public, for a man of his reputation!”

“Mr. Gray will say I did just right. Colonel Wade
may not be a nice man, but he was good to me. I
don't know what might have become of me if Colonel
Wade had not taken care of me.”

Mliss understood Mr. Gray in this instance better
than Regina. Not only did he fail to censure Mliss,
but he called on Colonel Wade and invited that gentleman
to call on his ward.

The invitation was accepted. In time Mr. Gray was
informed that the handsome colonel was no longer an
objectionable member of society. He had given up
cards and taken to stocks. It was a more dangerous
variety of gambling, he said, but more reputable. He
was tired of being an outcast and longed for respectability.
Stocks were respectable. Henceforth he should
gratify his taste for gambling by buying and selling
raining stocks.

Thus clothed in the garb of respectability, the colonel
became a frequent visitor at the Shaw mansion.
He devoted himself to Mliss until satisfied that devotion
was useless, then relapsed into the position of ordinary
friend. Bob was greatly relieved at this result,
and generously introduced the colonel to some of his
own lady friends.

Among them was the imaginative young girl who
has briefly appeared in these columns—Miss Kitty
Fox. The colonel's manly beauty attracted Miss
Kitty's wayward fancy. A second meeting followed
the first. The colonel probably reasoned that respectability
could not be more readily attained than
through an alliance with a popular clergyman's
daughter. Miss Kitty was not averse to becoming the
medium of his restoration. One day when their acquaintance
was about two weeks old, they went quietly
to Oakland, were married in due form, and returred
to ask the paternal blessing.

The paternal blessing was withheld for a time, but
finding that the wayward couple got along very well
without it, it was finally granted. So far as is known,
the young wife never had occasion to regret her somewhat
venturesome step.

Early in summer Regina and Mr. Gray were married.
Mliss was first bridesmaid, and Clytie, who had
been summoned home, came down to be present at
the ceremony. Mr. Hopp accepted the situation like
a man, and consoled himself as soon as decorum
would permit. Need we add that the correct Clytie
assisted in the work of consolation. Their marriage
took place shortly after. The ceremony was celebrated
at the Mountain Ranch, and among the guests were
Mr. and Mrs. Gray, Mliss, and Bob.

We might write a chapter descriptive of the visit of
Mliss to her old home. The rough miners who remembered
her as the ragged and wretched daughter
of a drunkard were at first a little shy of the brilliant
young lady who now appeared in their midst. But
when they found that her heart was as warm and her
nature as simple and frank as ever, they took her
figuratively speaking, to their bosoms, and made her
visit one long ovation. With Mr. Gray, Regina and
Bob she visited the old school-house, and lived again
in the scene of her first meeting with her beloved
master.

The next two years of the life of our heroine were
devoted to study. At least, she became the inmate of
a fashionable boarding-school and gave sufficient time
to her lessons to keep up with her class. But society
claimed some of her time and Bob claimed more. This
young man had formally proposed for her hand, and
been placed on the list of candidates. Mr. Gray would
not permit his ward to be in any way compromised by
an engagement until she should arrive at years of discretion.
Mliss herself remained firm in the determination
to live an old maid. She had a good home, she
said, with the people she loved best, and she need not
marry. She evinced considerable fondness for the
girlish pastime of playing with hearts, and thereby
kept poor Bob in a state of torment.

The time came, however, in her eighteenth year,
when she changed her mind. We can give no good
reason for the change. The same home remained to
her, and her fortune enabled her to gratify all her
wants. Yet, with reason or without, she must have
changed her mind, for one day Bob made his second
demand of Mr. Gray, this time backed with the sanction

of the other party most deeply interested. A grand
wedding followed in due time, and the guests went into
ecstasies over the brilliant beauty of the bride and
the manly bearing of the groom. Bob was probably
the happiest man in the world that day, and to all appearance
the day has had many fellows. He is proud
of his wife, and at times is disposed to doubt if she
really is the little runaway he accosted so rudely on
the Bay View hills.

Mliss was never brought in contact with her mother.
Mother Nell manifested a little interest in her daughter
at times, but never expressed a desire for an interview.
She comprehended probably that she had badly
fulfilled, or left unfulfilled, the duties of wife and
mother, and was content to remain out of sight.

Mliss and Regina became frequent visitors at the
residence of Mr. and Mrs. Rhodes, and are firm believers
in the Spiritual telegraph. Mr. Gray shakes his
wise head and admits that it is very strange—quite incomprehensible,
in fact. But he is still waiting for
proof which he can't reason away.

Mrs. Smith lived with her young husband a year
and then accepted an annuity from Dr. Fox to set him
free. The good doctor's daughter was more fortunate.
Colonel Wade found respectable gambling as
diverting as the other variety, and less hazardous to
life and limb. He amassed a fortune, joined Dr. Fox's
church, and now, though he engineers operations that
involve in ruin a hundred, where he formerly ruined
one, he is a very respectable member of society.

Mr. Gray prospered in his profession, and his accomplished
wife became a social leader. Regina often
visits the office where she first met her husband, and
recalls the interview when he gave her Supreme Court
Reports to read, and asked her name when she was
preparing to go. She says she never ought to have
spoken to him again, but is glad on the whole that she
did not do as she ought.

Bob never relapsed into what he calls his old ways.
Regina says that a high-spirited and exacting wife is
just what he needs to keep him straight, and daily
thanks her stars that Mliss married Bob instead of
Mr. Gray.