Alcott, Louisa May - SSC 14 (43 page)

 
          
She
was soon there, and, lying in his mother's arms, one hand in his cousin's, and
one on his sister's bent head, Jasper rapidly told the secret which had
burdened him for a year.

 
          
"I
did it; I forged my uncle's name when I had lost so heavily at play that I
dared not tell my mother, or squander more of my own fortune. I deceived
Maurice, and let him think the check a genuine one; I made him present it and
get the money, and when all went well I fancied I was safe. But my uncle
discovered it secretly, said nothing, and, believing Maurice the forger, disinherited
him. I never knew this till the old man died, and then it was too late. I
confessed to Maurice, and he forgave me. He said, 'I am helpless now, shut out
from the world, with nothing to lose or gain, and soon to be forgotten by those
who once knew me, so let the suspicion of shame, if any such there be, still
cling to me, and do you go your way, rich, happy, honorable, and untouched by
any shadow on your fame.' Mother, I let him do it, unconscious as he was that
many knew the secret sin and fancied him the doer of it."

 
          
"Hush,
Jasper, let it pass. I can bear it; I promised your dear father to be your
staunch friend through life, and I have only kept my word."

 
          
"God
knows you have, but now my life ends, and I cannot die till you are cleared.
Edith, I told you half the truth, and you would have used it against him had
not some angel sent this girl to touch your heart. You have done your part to
atone for the past, now let me do mine. Mother, Tavie loves him, he has risked
life and honor for me. Repay him generously and give him this."

 
          
With
feeble touch Sir Jasper tried to lay his sister's hand in Treherne's as he
spoke; Mrs. Snowdon helped him, and as my lady bowed her head in silent
acquiescence, a joyful smile shone on the dying man's face.

 
          
"One
more confession, and then I
am
ready," he said,
looking up into the face of the woman whom he had loved with all the power of a
shallow nature. "It was a jest to you, Edith, but it was bitter earnest to
me, for I loved you, sinful as it was. Ask your husband to forgive me, and tell
him it was better I should die than live to mar a good man's peace. Kiss me
once, and make him happy for my sake."

 
          
She
touched his cold lips with remorseful tenderness, and in the same breath
registered a vow to obey that dying prayer.

 
          
"Tavie
dear, Maurice, my brother, God bless you both. Good-bye, Mother. He will be a
better son than I have been to you." Then, the reckless spirit of the man
surviving to the last, Sir Jasper laughed faintly, as he seemed to beckon some
invisible shape, and died saying gaily, "Now, Father Abbot, lead on, I'll
follow you."

 
          
 
* * * * *

 
          
A
year later three weddings were celebrated on the same day and in the same
church. Maurice Treherne, a well man, led up his cousin. Frank Annon rewarded
Blanche's patient siege by an unconditional surrender, and, to the infinite
amusement of Mrs. Grundy, Major Royston publicly confessed himself outgeneraled
by merry Rose. The triple wedding feast was celebrated at Treherne Abbey, and
no uncanny visitor marred its festivities, for never again was the north
gallery haunted by the ghostly Abbot.