University of Virginia Library

48. CHAPTER XLVIII.
LAST SCENE OF ALL, AND FALL OF THE CURTAIN.

Ned received at last a peremptory summons to the city.
It was laconic, but decisive. “Meet me, without fail, at
my office between 9 and 10 o'clock, A. M., to-morrow.”
That was all. And although both he and Susan hoped
and believed that their steadfast and noble friend would
this time be able to produce tangible proofs of having accomplished
something for them, yet they did not indulge
in conjecture, and strove to be prepared for renewed delays
and further disappointments.

When Ned entered the office of his friend, he was surprised
to find assembled there Drs. Drastic and Castor,
Fawner and Radley.

They arose when he appeared, and Mr. Persever advanced,
holding up sundry papers.

“My friend,” said he, “the long struggle is over; and
I have the happiness to place in your hands the documentary
evidence of the legitimacy of your birth, and the
duly attested authority in virtue of which you become the
sole and undisputed possessor of both your father's and
your uncle's estates.”

Ned received the documents in silence. His tears prevented
the utterance of thanks. But Persever understood
the expression of his countenance, and appreciated his
feelings. The announcement was sudden, if not wholly
unexpected, and the matter of momentous importance.

“My uncle! Where is he?” at length asked Ned, after
looking around and not finding him present.

“He is ill,” said Persever. “But everything has been
carefully prepared for this consummation by his direction,
and of course with his hearty concurrence. It is his desire
to see you.”

“Then,” said Dr. Castor, “we must use despatch. For
it is my opinion that Mr. Bainton is rapidly approaching
his end.”

“The carriages are waiting,” said Persever. “We go,

Ned,” he continued, “to hear the confession of the old
woman, Mrs. Sutly. She appointed the hour herself, and
named the ones she desired to be present on the occasion.”

When the party arrived at Cadaver's house, Ned, escaping
a moment from the room where the rest were assembled,
traversed the premises with vivid recollections of the
fearful night on which he had been so cruelly conveyed
thither by Mallex.

“Do you not remember me?” he asked of Mrs. Cadaver,
upon meeting with the old woman, in the same room where
they had confronted each other, when he was a boy.

“No!” said she.

“You have forgotten the little intruder, then? Don't
you recollect how the boy escaped from you and your ferocious
dog? How you ran out in the snow, and dropped
the key?”

“La, me! Are you that little boy?”

“Yes—or rather, I was—”

“On my knees, I beg your pardon!” said she, kneeling
at his feet.

“I forgive you.”

“Remember that night! Why I shall never forget it
to the last minute of my life! My feet got frost-bit, and
I had rhumatiz in my limbs for more nor a year.”

“You were sorely punished, then. But what has become
of your husband?”

“Jack? They got him at last!”

“Who?”

“The doctors.”

“A just retribution! I hope you do not continue the
dreadful business?”

“No. But I mought as well do it. I see every night,
in my dreams, or when I'm awake, I can't say which, and
it amounts to the same thing, whole cords of stark
corpses—”

Ned would hear no more. He hastened to the group
surrounding the dying woman.

“We are now ready to hear you,” said Persever, addressing
the wretched invalid, who was propped up in
bed.

“Where is he—he—the one I want to see?” she asked,
endeavouring to turn her quivering head towards the door.

“Who do you mean?”

“The boy—the boy.”

“She means Ned Lorn,” said Mrs. Cadaver. “She
raved about him all night.”

“I am here,” said Ned, advancing, and standing at the
foot of the bed directly in front of her.

“Yes, you're the one! After your uncle was dead his
face seemed young again, and was the pictur of yours.
He died—Marcy on me! Oh—oh—oh!”

“Speak!” said Persever.

“I've told you once he was murdered, and that Mallex
knew all about it!”

“But you are now going to tell us the particulars,” said
Persever.

“No I aint—no—no—no!”

“Murdered!” exclaimed Ned, pale and agitated.

“Then why did you request us to come hither to-day?”
asked the doctors.

“I wanted to let Ned know that his uncle Bainton had
no hand in it, and didn't know anything about it. He's
innocent!”

“Thank heaven! Thank heaven!” cried Ned. “He is
innocent!”

“Innocent — innocent — innocent!” continued the old
wretch. “Yes—yes—yes! But—no—no—don't name
heaven! Don't do it, I say. It's too late—it's too late!
I'm gone—I'm gone! The devil's got me—he's got me!
You can't see him, but I can! He's here! He's grinning!
Oh! oh!—”

Nothing more was revealed. The miserable old woman
was now a raving maniac, and did not cease her cries until
silenced by the hand of death.

Ned hastened away from the appalling scene. Accompanied
by Persever he proceeded to the mansion of his
uncle. He found him sitting in his great chair, dressed,
and awaiting the interview, but with difficulty maintaining
his upright position.

“My nephew,” said he, in weak and tremulous accents,
and extending his hand, which was cordially grasped by
our hero, “can you forgive me?”

“Oh, yes! Truly and sincerely, as I hope to be forgiven!”

“Sit close to me. My cough may return, and then I shall
not be able to speak. I have done you serious injury—I
have possessed your wealth and acquired more, and behold
the end! Ill acquired, it bereft me of peace and happiness,
and finally planted the fatal disease in my breast which
must very soon terminate my mortal career.”

“Oh, no! I hope not, my uncle!” said Ned.

“It is past hope—but, thank heaven, not quite past
remedy. I have had holy men to see me, and have derived
comfort from their promises and the recorded assurances of
Him who died for all. Oh, Ned! Avarice is the great
monster that roams through the world, destroying its
millions. Avoid it. Never seek to possess anything to
which you may not be justly entitled! Oh, that my experience
could be made a warning to mankind! But
Providence has spared me to make restitution—and I am
thankful. It affords me the only taste of real pleasure I
have enjoyed since I committed the first fatal error. Ere
this you have possession of the estates of your father and
uncle. Soon, very soon, what is mine shall be added to it!”

Here he was seized with a fit of coughing, but he was
too feeble to discharge the accumulated mucus; and flushed
and speechless, pointed to the bed, and indicated by signs
that he wished them to convey him thither. Persever and
Ned hastened to obey. And the doctor, coming in at the
same time, shook his head solemnly as he witnessed the
ineffectual efforts of the patient to throw off the burden
that obstructed the breathing. It was soon over.

A few months after these painful events, Ned and Elgiva
were united in holy wedlock in the church at Summerton.
The bishop performed the ceremony, attended by all the
clergy attached to the prosperous institutions he had
founded. The building was filled with admiring spectators.
Persever and Susan accompanied Ned to the altar, and
Elgiva was followed by a long train of beautiful young
ladies, graduates at the Hall.

When the ceremony was over, the congregation remained
to witness the baptism of a number of infants. Among

them was one borne in the arms of Mrs. Tim Trudge, a
fine male child; and the name bestowed upon it was
Persever Ned Lorn Parke. Then Mrs. Timothy Hay presented
to the bishop a daughter—which was called Susan
Meek Elgiva Bloomville.

The gentlemen appointed to settle the affairs of Mallex—
who became a confirmed maniac, ever attended by the
patient Tom—declined paying Radley the ten thousand
dollars he expected to receive. They could not discover
wherein he had earned so large a reward. Only one tenth
of that amount was given him. Mallex's promise amounted
to nothing, he being non compos mentis. But the lawyer
had found among the ex-secretary's papers, a document
which might, if its contents were made known, compromise
some of the party leaders, and even affect the President
himself. With this he posted off to Washington, and obtained
an appointment worth some two thousand a-year.

Fawner became a principal officer in a large moneyed
institution, and gloated over the thousands he had so much
desired to possess. He joined the church again; but
whether or not he remained a worthy member to the end
of his days, which were not many, who shall judge?

Persever of course shared the prosperity of Ned, and
won the high distinction in his profession he so truly
merited.

Mrs. Lonsdale never married again; and Alice, after
so many conquests, did not, at last, possess a single
captive.

Susan's life was long and happy.

Upon every anniversary of the death of the poet Elgiva
placed a crown of laurels over his head.