“Ah! Old Meg! I have seen you before.”
Scott’s face grew pale. He neither moved nor spoke, but his keen eyes were fastened on Meg’s face, with a gaze that seemed to read every act of her past life.
Mr. Le Moyne, turning toward Scott, said, in a voice trembling with excitement:
“Let me speak for a moment, and perhaps I can help to prove the story which Meg has told. Years ago a very beautiful young lady went from here to France for the purpose of gaining a knowledge of the country. She was in the company of a number of friends and their stay being of short duration, they returned leaving her in Paris. She was a writer of some note and her father being deeply engaged in business at the time, she was allowed to go without him. While there she met my brother Gustavo, and the result was a marriage.”
Crisp moved uneasily.
“She wrote to her father,” continued Mr. Le Moyne, “and, of course, he was displeased, and sent her a very harsh letter, upbraiding her for her disrespect; but the next letter she received was full of love and a plea for forgiveness. In a year’s time a child was born, and the joy of the old gentleman knew no bounds. He was growing old, and if his daughter could gain her husband’s consent to come to America, to live he would will all his property to the little one. My brother was very indulgent to his fair wife, and together they started for America. Cholera broke out on board the ship and my brother and his wife were both buried in the sea. 322 The servant who had been very faithful to my brother’s wife sailed with them, and now, Meg, I ask you where is the child you took away with you—my brother’s child?”
“I don’t know,” Meg answered in a husky voice.
“You do know,” said Le Moyne, while his dark eyes flashed with keen excitement.
“No, on my soul I don’t know,” said Meg, dropping on her knees, “before heaven, I don’t know.”