Silverbeach Manor (17 page)

"Nay, it is no
use, my sweet, my own. I have not sought you half over England to
let you go in a moment. Oh, Pansy, how could you forsake me with
those brief, cold lines of farewell? But there will be no farewell
between us, my own little wife, for evermore."

Pansy is
silent, overwhelmed, faint with happiness. All she can do is to
rest against his shoulder, her hands clasped in his, wondering if,
indeed, it
is
Marlow's own familiar face
that the stars are showing her.

He tells her
how he became convinced, on reading her letter, that she had
changed her mind as to her feelings towards him. He went off then
and there to America in misery and indignation. But a letter from
England told him that Pansy had fled from Silverbeach, and had lost
her inheritance through returning to a poor relation. He returned
to England, and commenced searching for her, but his search did not
succeed till he chanced to find her as the hired musician at The
Grange, which he had only reached that day on a short visit. Then
Pansy tremblingly begins her explanation as to the old name she has
taken back, her aunt's history, Deb's devotion, and her own
thankless selfishness.

"Oh, Marlow,"
she says, "we cannot be more than friends. I am only a poor woman
now, and, besides, I have Aunt Temperance to keep. I will never
part again from her, who was my second mother. You must marry some
girl in society, Marlow."

"I shall
marry
you,"
he tells her, "next week at
yonder little church among the pines. I have a nest not only big
enough for my darling, but for the poor old lady as well. She
is
mine,
being yours, Pansy, and I claim
my right to care for her. Deb shall keep the gates, and Rumsay
shall have that charming little lodge by the fernery, and work as
one of the gardeners. They deserve our best lodge, don't you think
so, sweetheart?"

"The lodge by
the fernery? What do you mean, Marlow?" asks Pansy,
wonderingly.

"Simply this,
my dearest. I knew my father had English relations, but their name
had left no impression on my mind, and I really did not know I was
connected with Mrs. Adair. Her will left Silverbeach Manor to her
husband's cousin or his heirs if you broke her stipulation. I am
that cousin's only child, and I have now taken possession. So, you
see, Pansy, you gave your property to me, and therefore it still
belongs to you. Let me have your good old aunt, and you shall have
Silverbeach Manor. Do not cry, my own! How can we thank our God
enough for all His compassion and loving-kindness in giving us back
to each other again?"

He sees
she cannot speak for her rainbow tears and smiles. Presently he
dismisses the old flyman, with
largesse
beyond his dreams, and Pansy and he go slowly homeward
between the pines through which they see the blossoming of radiant
golden stars, while across their path there floats the echo of
happy bells. The ringers are practising this evening at the church
where so soon these two will be made one.

THE END

Here are two
questions you might like to answer by yourself or in a group
sharing this story.

1. It is 1891,
and you are either Pansy Piper or Marlow Holme. What would you do
with the inheritance?

2. It is the
present time in the 21st century, and you are either Pansy Piper or
Marlow Holme. What would you do with the inheritance?

More books
from White Tree Publishing are on the next pages, many of which are
available as both eBooks and paperbacks. More Christian books than
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Four short
books of help in the Christian life:

So, What Is a Christian?
An introduction to a personal
faith. Paperback ISBN: 978-0-9927642-2-7, eBook ISBN:
978-0-9933941-2-6

Starting Out
-- help for new Christians of all ages.
Paperback ISBN 978-1-4839-622-0-7, eBook ISBN:
978-0-9933941-0-2

Help!
-- Explores some problems we can encounter with our
faith. Paperback ISBN 978-0-9927642-2-7, eBook ISBN:
978-0-9933941-1-9

Running Through the Bible
--
a simple
understanding of what’s in the Bible
--
Paperback ISBN:
978-0-9927642-6-5, eBook ISBN: 978-0-9933941-3-3

Bible Words of
Peace and Comfort

There may come
a time in our lives when we want to concentrate on God’s many
promises of peace and comfort. The Bible readings in this book are
for people who need to know what it means to be held securely in
the Lord’s loving arms.

Rather than
selecting single verses here and there, each reading in this book
is a run of several verses. This gives a much better picture of the
whole passage in which a favourite verse may be found.

As well as
being for personal use, these readings are intended for sharing
with anyone in special need, to help them draw comfort from the
reading and prayer for that date. Bible reading and prayer are the
two most important ways of getting to know and trust Jesus Christ,
our Lord and Saviour.

The reference
to the verses for the day are given, for you to look up and read in
your preferred Bible translation.

Paperback
ISBN: 978-0-9932760-7-1

116 pages
5x7.8 inches

e-Book ISBN:
978-0-9933941-4-0

A Previously
Unpublished Book

The Simplicity
of the Incarnation

J Stafford
Wright

Foreword by J
I Packer

“
I believe
in ... Jesus Christ ... born of the Virgin Mary.”
A beautiful
stained glass image, or a medical reality? This is the choice
facing Christians today. Can we truly believe that two thousand
years ago a young woman, a virgin named Mary, gave birth to the Son
of God? The answer is simple: we can.

The author
says,
“In these days many Christians want some sensible
assurance that their faith makes sense, and in this book I want to
show that it does.”

In this
uplifting book from a previously unpublished and recently
discovered manuscript, J Stafford Wright investigates the reality
of the incarnation, looks at the crucifixion and resurrection of
Jesus, and helps the reader understand more of the Trinity and the
certainty of eternal life in heaven.

This book was
written shortly before the author’s death in 1985.
The
Simplicity of the Incarnation
is published for the first time,
unedited, from his final draft.

Paperback
ISBN: 9-780-9525-9563-2

160 pages 5.25
x 8 inches

Available from
bookstores and major internet sellers

eBook ISBN 13:
978-0-9932760-5-7

An
Unforgettable A-Z of Who is Who in the Bible

In a
fascinating look at real people, J Stafford Wright shows his love
and scholarly knowledge of the Bible as he brings the characters
from its pages to life in a memorable way.

Read this book
through from A to Z, like any other title

Dip in and
discover who was who in personal Bible study

Check the
names when preparing a talk or sermon

The good, the
bad, the beautiful and the ugly – no one is spared. This is a book
for everyone who wants to get to grips with the reality that is in
the pages of the Bible, the Word of God.

With the names
arranged in alphabetical order, the Old and New Testament
characters are clearly identified so that the reader is able to
explore either the Old or New Testament people on the first
reading, and the other Testament on the second.

Those wanting to become more familiar with the Bible will
find this is a great introduction to the people inhabiting the best
selling book in the world, and those who can quote chapter and
verse will find everyone suddenly becomes much more real – because
these people
are
real. This is a book to keep handy and refer to frequently
while reading the Bible.