“We hope it will be immediate, and if so, he ought to reach Havana in a very few days, en route for home.”
“Oh, papa, may I not go and meet him there?” eagerly.
“Dearest, it would not be prudent,” the father said, hesitatingly; adding, after a moment’s thought: “Send me in your place.”
“Papa, would you indeed be so kind?” cried Viola, astonished and delighted.
“I would do anything for your happiness, my dear child,” returned the judge, who never did anything by halves, and was in deep earnest now in his desire to help Viola.
“Oh, thank you, papa, thank you a thousand times, and please don’t think me troublesome, but—but—oh, papa, let us go together to Cuba, you and I, dear, and meet poor Rolfe and bring him home,” coaxed Viola.
Judge Van Lew would have preferred to leave his daughter at home with her aunt, but she would listen to neither argument nor persuasion; her whole heart was set on going, and as a result of her determination, he sailed for Cuba next day, taking her as his companion.
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
“AS FLIES THE DOVE TO SEEK ITS MATE.”
How long the journey seemed to Viola ere they gained at last the beautiful Cuban shores, now, alas! laid waste by cruel, devastating war!