Felix Brush did so in a voice of surprising evenness:
“My Dearest Father:––I have decided to go with Lieutenant Russell. We love each other and I have promised to become his wife. Do not think I love you any less for that can never be. I cannot remain here. You will hear from us soon and then I pray that you will come to your own
Nellie.”
“Have you been to his shanty?” asked Ruggles, who hardly comprehended the meaning of his own words.
“Why would he go there?” angrily demanded the parson.
“Mebbe the villain changed his mind.”
“But, if he had, she would not be there.”
“Yes; I went to his cabin,” bitterly answered Captain Dawson; “he has not been in the place for hours; all is dark and deserted; if I found him, I would have killed him.”
The three were laboring under fearful emotion, but with surprising power forced themselves to seem comparatively calm.
“Captain, tell us about it,” said the parson, carefully folding the bit of paper upon itself and shoving it into his pocket, unobserved by the others.