“That is true; and I am real down proud of my new nephew, and his mother, too!” cried the old lady.
Arthur’s mother had taken the first opportunity to make her peace with Cinthia.
“Dearest, I was cruel to you once, but I am a changed woman now, and I love you dearly since I know that you never belonged to that woman I hated so. Can you forgive me—if not for my own sake, because you will be Arthur’s wife!”
Cinthia, understanding everything now, gladly accorded forgiveness and sympathy that soon ripened into love.
In the spring, when Mr. Dawn was well and strong again, his son was married to Cinthia at her mother’s home—Lodge Delight. It was a grand wedding, and Cinthia the fairest bride ever seen. They remained with Madame Ray until Love’s Retreat was rebuilt, then made their home with his parents, while Mrs. Flint remained ever afterward with Cinthia’s mother, who would not permit her return to Virginia.
“We are two lonely old widows. Let us be company for each other,” she said, with pensive cheerfulness.
One thing that transpired touched Cinthia very much, and showed her the tenderness of Arthur’s love.
Madame Ray said to Mr. Dawn, while he still lay on his bed of suffering:
“That fortune Cinthia has been enjoying as your daughter, Mr. Dawn, must be restored to you now, as she never had any legal right to it.”
Mr. Dawn looked embarrassed for a moment, then frankly explained: