"Not proved so to the world, but I need no proof," returned Walter. "I never for a moment thought him guilty."
Then after a pause, he added. "I have, I see, unwittingly divulged much of my family history, and lest you should have received a wrong impression, I may as well confess the whole to you, but not now, I am too much excited, too tired to talk longer."
He was indeed exhausted, and for several hours he lay quite still, saying but little and thinking happy thoughts of home and Jessie, who Mr. Graham wrote, "mourned sadly over his absence."
Suddenly remembering the message he had left, and which would seem to say he loved Charlotte Reeves, he bade the captain bring to him pen and paper, and with a shaking hand he wrote to Mr. Graham:
"I am getting better fast, thanks to Captain Murdock, who, though a stranger, has been the best of friends, and kindest nurse. Forgive me, Mr. Graham. I thought the bride was Jessie. Don't hate me, I could not help it, and I had learned to love her before I heard from Mrs. Bartow that you would be displeased. I will overcome it if I can, for I promised the grandmother I would not talk of love to Jessie, until my father was proved innocent."
This was all he had strength to write, and when the letter was finished, he relapsed into a thoughtful, half dreamy state, from which he did not rouse for a day or two. Then, with strength renewed, he called the captain to him, and bidding him sit down beside him, told him the whole story of his life, even to his love for Jessie Graham,—which he must not tell until his father were proved innocent.
There was a smothered groan in the direction where Mr. Marshall sat, and inwardly the unfortunate man prayed:
"How long, dear Lord, oh, how long must thy servant wait?"
"Mr. Graham may release you from that promise," he said, "and then you surely would not hesitate."
"Perhaps not," Walter answered, for in spite of what Mrs. Bartow had said, he, too, entertained a secret hope that Mr. Graham would in some way interfere for him.