hattie—or, as we should call her in her own home, georgiana lonsdale—with her force of character, knew that it was wrong to give way to unavailing grief, and with a strong effort she aroused herself to the action so necessary after her mother’s death.
the family physician, and the attorney who had done her father’s business for years before he died—both old and true friends—and the clergyman also, offered all the aid in their power, and the funeral ceremonies were arranged according to the desire of the deceased lady as expressed in her will, found where she had told her daughter it was, almost with her last breath.
as we already know, miss lonsdale, under her own initials, telegraphed to mr. w—— the moment she was able to think what she could and should do.
after her mother was buried by the side of her father in the family cemetery, georgiana at once began to arrange everything for an absence again, for a time, from her home. she caused two bequests of her mother, to charitable institutions, to be paid, even before the legal steps of administration were complied with, so anxious was she to carry out her mother’s desire.
leaving the care of the estate to the long tried and faithful attorney, she arranged that with only servants to keep the house in order, and ready for her occupancy when she came, the old housekeeper should remain there. the carriages were stored in[194] the carriage-house, and the horses all sent off to be kept on a farm near amherst, which belonged to the estate, the old family coachman going along to take care of them until he should be wanted again on beacon hill.
georgiana took sufficient time for all these details, for she felt at rest in her mind after she received the telegram from mr. w——.
when everything was arranged to suit her, dressed plainly but very neatly in her mourning garments, she made ready to return to her humble position, and to carry out the plans which she had laid down.
captain smith, standing by the gangway-plank of his steamer, was surprised one day to see her come on board, and grasping her extended hand, he cried out:
“heaven bless you, young lady. there’s a little woman who never goes to bed at night now, without a thankful prayer on her lips for miss hattie butler, who saved a loving husband for her. and a girl, almost as old as you, but not half as handsome, and four other children, who have your name on their lips, and who speak of nothing but the hope that they will some day meet you and be able to thank you for keeping a father on earth for them, through the mercy of the father above.”
all this the captain was saying as he led our heroine to the best state-room on the boat, and told her, too, that there was every promise of a beautiful night ahead, and a fine run.
“you found that my card took the place of tickets, didn’t you?” he asked, as he called the chambermaid to wait on one whom he considered a guest rather than a passenger.
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“you’ll forgive me, captain, i know,” she answered, “when i tell you i gave your card to a poor weeping widow woman whose pocket had been picked in the depot, and who had not even a ticket to come on with.”
georgiana did not add that she gave the poor woman fifty dollars in cash also.
“it was just like you, and i can’t blame you. i’d have helped her myself,” said the good captain. “it’s a kind of a smith’s failing to put their hands in their pockets when they see any one in distress, and not to take their hands out of their pockets empty.”
and now, having his duties to perform, the captain excused himself, and our heroine made herself comfortable for the trip.
when the steamer started, our heroine went upon the upper deck to enjoy the air and view, and having asked the captain as a favor not to speak of her being the person who had notified him of his danger on that stormy trip, she felt safe from undue notice.
but she was recognized by both the pilots, who raised their hats when she approached the pilot-house, and presently, when the captain came up, he gave her a chair inside the house, whence she could look and enjoy herself without feeling the cold wind that blew in from seaward.
had not the captain and pilots, as requested, been cautious, our heroine would have been lionized, so to speak, on that trip, for there was an unusual number of passengers.
there was only one passenger on board who did approach her, and that was the grateful widow whom she had relieved in her dire distress.
