"I meant to have come before," she said, seating herself by Mark, "but I could not get away. I have brought you some good news. I think--that is--yes, I know there has been some mistake, some wrong somewhere, whether intended or not. Mark Ray," and the impetuous girl faced directly toward him, "if you could have any wish you might name what would it be? Come now, imagine yourself a Cinderella and I the fairy godmother. What will you have?"
Mark knew she was in earnest and her manner puzzled him greatly, but he answered, laughingly: "As a true patriot I should wish for peace on strictly honorable terms."
"Pshaw!"
The word dropped very prettily from Bell's lips as with a shrug she continued: "You men are very patriotic, I know, especially if you wear shoulder straps, but isn't there something dearer than peace? Suppose, for instance, Union between the North and South on strictly honorable terms, as you say, was laid upon one scale and union between yourself and Helen Lennox was laid upon the other, which would you take?"
Mark's lips were very white now, but he tried to laugh as he replied: "I should say the Union, of course."
"Yes, but which union?" Bell rejoined, and then as she saw that Mrs. Banker was beginning to frown upon her she continued: "But to come directly to the point. Yesterday afternoon I found--no matter where or how--a letter intended for Helen Lennox, which I am positive she never saw or heard of; at least her denial to me that a certain Mark Ray had ever offered himself is a proof that she never saw what was an offer made just before you went away. I read enough to know that, and then I took the letter and--"
She hesitated, while Mark's eyes turned dark with excitement, and even Mrs. Banker, scarcely less interested, leaned eagerly forward, saying: "And what? Go on, Miss Cameron. What did you do with that letter?"
"I sent it to its rightful owner, Helen Lennox. I posted it myself, so it's sure this time. But why don't you thank me, Captain Ray?" she asked, as Mark's face was overshadowed with anxiety.
"I was wondering whether it were well to send it--wondering how it might be received," he said, and Bell replied: "She will not answer no. As one woman knows another I know Helen Lennox. I have sounded her on that point. I told her of the rumor there was afloat, and she denied it, seeming greatly distressed, but showing plainly that had such offer been received she would not have refused it. You should have seen her last summer, Captain Ray, when we waited so anxiously for news from the Potomac. Her face was a study as her eyes ran over the list of casualties, searching not for her amiable brother-in-law, nor yet for Willard Braxton, their hired man. It was plain to me as daylight, and all you have to do is to follow up that letter with another, or go yourself, if you have time." Bell said, as she arose to go, leaving Mark in a state of bewilderment as to what he had heard.