“This has been a wonderful night to me,” he said. “The lost one has been restored, and my heart is so filled with gratitude that I am going to ask you all to sing the Doxology. Jean, dear, you know the words, so suppose you start it.”
The girl did as she was directed, and at once all lifted up their voices in the old familiar words of “Praise God from whom all blessings flow.” It was no mere lip-service offered up there that night, but sincere gratitude from humble thankful hearts.
The Colonel, Jean, and Dane sat late before the fire that night. It was a marvellous story the girl related of her rescue from her captors by Sam and Kitty. But when she spoke of Thomas Norman, her father was deeply moved. He leaned forward so as not to miss a single word.
“Poor Tom! Poor Tom,” he said. “What a pity that such a life was wasted. If I could only have seen him before he was taken away. How wonderful, though, that my daughter should have been by his side when he died. That is some comfort, at any rate.”
“But you have his son with you now,” Jean replied.
“His son! What do you mean?”
“Just what I said. Dane is the only son of your old friend.”
Jean never forgot the expression of astonishment upon her father’s face at these words. He looked from one to the other to be sure that he was not being deceived.
“It is true, daddy,” Jean smilingly told him. “Dane is really Thomas Norman’s son, so his name is not ‘Norwood’ at all. Won’t you believe me?”
“Yes, I believe you, dear, but I am greatly confused over what I have just heard. Why didn’t you tell me this sooner? Did you know of this before you were stolen away?”
“Why, no. I only learned of it after I met Mr. Norman. But on our way down river Dane and I planned that we would keep this surprise until the last.”
“I see, I see,” the Colonel mused. “It is good of you. But, dear me, how wonderful everything has happened! Why didn’t you tell me about your father?” he asked, turning to the courier. “You remember our conversation out in the hills the day you saved me from the moose. Why didn’t you tell me then about your father?”
“For the same reason why I would not tell Major Studholme at Fort Howe when he asked me,” Dane replied.
“And what was that?”
“I would not betray my father.”
“Even though he was a rebel?”
“He was my father, remember, and I never forgot that, even though he drove me away from home. And more than that, for my mother’s sake I could not betray him.”
Dane ceased, and gazed thoughtfully into the fire. The Colonel was deeply stirred. Impulsively he reached out and seized Dane by the hand.
“Young man,” he began, “I honour you more than words can express. You did what was right, and I should have done the same. I was a fool for doubting you, as I did that day in the hills. As the son of my old friends, Thomas Norman and his noble wife, I now take you to my heart and home, and have no hesitation in giving to you her who is dearer to me than life.”