Happy weeks! Happy moons! uncounted days of uncounted joys! For Elliott and Dorothy the summer passed away in blissful Arcadian fashion. She was to him that most precious and sustaining of all good influences—a woman gently wise and kindly sympathetic, an influence such as weans men by the beauty of purity from committing grosser sins and elevates them above low tastes and its objects by the exquisite ineffable loftiness of soul, which is the noblest attribute of pure womanhood.
There was a bond between these two, real eternal, independent of themselves, made not by man, but God.
With the hope of sparing her father sorrow over the fact that another shared her affection, Dorothy did not at first tell him of her engagement, and Elliott was not unnaturally reticent about it, having so often heard that Mr. Carr would feel it a heavy blow to have his daughter leave him alone.
September was now well advanced and the equinoctial storms were bold and bitter on the hills. Many trees succumbed to their violence, broken branches filled the roads and tall tree trunks showed their wounds. The long blue grass looked like the dishevelled fur of an animal that had been rubbed the wrong way. There were many runnels and washouts trending riverward in the loose soil. By the time the storm showed signs of abating, considerable damage had been done. Many barns, cabins and even houses were unroofed or blown down. Among other victims of the wind was Mr. Field, inasmuch as the old homestead which he had purchased of Elliott was one of the buildings wrecked.
It happened that the morning after the storm, Elliott was to drive into town with Dorothy. As they passed along, they noted here and there the havoc wrought. Finally, as they approached the old Harding place, they saw that the fury of the storm had counted it among its playthings. Elliott gazed lingeringly and sadly at the wreck. Then he stopped the horses and helping Dorothy out of the vehicle he tied the team and together they went up the pathway, looking often at each other in mute sorrow. She felt that any words of consolation would be out of place while the first shock lasted, so kept silent, letting her eyes tell of her sympathy. For a time they stood and looked at the scene of devastation, the ruins covered with abundant ivy that gleamed and trembled in the light of the sun. Then Elliott said slowly:
“My father’s wish is now beyond the reach of possible denial. Nature has destroyed it, just as he wished it should be done.”
Walking about, looking now at this, now at that remnant of the wreck, he kept biting his lips to keep back the tears, but the sight was so like looking upon a loved one dead, that he could not long keep them back—hot tears came in a passionate gush, and he must allow himself relief of them.
Business successes eventually rendered it possible for Elliott to gratify his old ambition about the homestead and thinking that the time for action had come the next day, when his uncle dropped into his office to talk over the storm and its destroying of the old homestead, Elliott suggested:
“Uncle Philip, I have a mind to buy that lot from you. Would you sell it?”
“Why do you ask? Are you going to get married?”
“If I can ever get the father’s blessing of the woman I love, I am,” was Elliott’s straightforward reply.
Mr. Field looked solemn. “I am afraid no man will ever get his willing consent, if you refer to Mr. Carr,” he remarked.
“Well, never mind, that has no connection with this proposition. I have long had a desire to do something to perpetuate my father’s memory. Since fate has removed the house, I have an idea of erecting a building and presenting it as an institution for the manual education of colored children.”
The astonished look on Mr. Field’s face gave place to one of admiration as Elliott proceeded and he quickly interrupted:
“My dear boy, I am glad to say I have anticipated you. The bank has in its safe keeping a deed already made out in your name. The property has always been and now is yours to do with as you please.”
“Uncle Philip, you overwhelm me with surprise and gratitude,” exclaimed Elliott grasping the old man’s hand firmly in his. “You are too good to me.”
Mr. Field rested his face in his hand and regarded his nephew with all the fondness of a parent. After a pause, Elliott continued:
“Since you have so greatly aided me by giving me such a generous start, I will myself erect the building, but together we will make the gift of it in my father’s name, and call it the ‘Richard Harding Institute.’”
Mr. Field showed the warmth of his appreciation by grasping his nephew’s hand, and together they discussed at length the plan of the buildings.