“Is it too late? Do you love Ada?”
“Only you, my darling,” he replied, and with a great sob of joy she flung herself into the arms that closed round her and held her tight.
“Bless you, my children! The wedding shall go on to-night!” cried Mr. Somerville between laughter and tears, touched to the heart by this triumph of true love.
And seeing that all were crowding forward to congratulate the happy pair, he added:
“One moment, my friends, before you begin to rejoice with Eva, for I have a word for Miss Groves!”
Patty met his gaze with sullen fury as he said:
“In the early days of my marriage I took a mortgage on your grandfather’s farm that was never paid, and it stands recorded in the County Court of Harrison County. I intended never to foreclose it, but to leave to you and your sister the inheritance of which, by your persecutions, you defrauded my daughter. But I have changed my mind. I shall send my lawyer to foreclose this mortgage next week, to punish you for your malice as displayed in your last unsuccessful attempt to break my daughter’s heart.”
She cried out in rage that she did not believe him; he was only trying to frighten her; she would engage a lawyer to defend her case.
“It will not do you any good. I have the law on my side!” he returned, and after events proved this to be true.
But looking at Miss Tabby, he added kindly: