In a few hours Sir Arthur was dead, and Inez was an orphan.  But her grief was soothed by the presence of Ashton, who, a few days before sailing for America, made her his wife.  During the voyage Mr. Middleton informed Ashton that as soon as he reached home he intended making his will, by which he should bequeath his property to Inez.  Said he, “I have spent so many years of my life in India that I find the climate of New Orleans more congenial to my feelings than a colder one would be, consequently I shall purchase a house in that city, and as I look upon you and Inez as my children, I shall insist upon your living with me if you have no objection.”

During the winter Fanny wrote frequently to her father urging him to visit her; but this he declined doing, and early the following May, he stood one evening impatiently awaiting the arrival of Ike, who had gone to Frankfort with the expectation of meeting Fanny and her husband.  Everything had been put in readiness.  The parlors and best chamber were opened and aired.  The carriage and carriage horses had been brushed up, a new saddle had been bought for Fanny’s pony, and a new dress for each of the black women, and everything and everybody seemed expecting a joyful time.

As the carriage approached the house Uncle Joshua looked wistfully toward it, trying to catch a glimpse of “Sunshine,” whom he had not seen for nearly a year and a half.  But only the face of a little negro girl was seen looking from the window, and Uncle Joshua exclaimed, “Now, what’s possessed them to fetch that yaller gal!  I’ve got niggers enough to wait on ’em.”

But the “yaller gal” knew very well why she was there, and so ere long did Uncle Joshua.  The steps were let down, and there, blithesome and gay as ever, Fanny sprang from the carriage and ran into the arms of her father, who kissed her again and again, holding her off to look at her and then again drawing her to him and saying, “You’re handsomer than ever.”

During this process the yellow girl, Rose, had brought from the carriage a mysterious looking bundle of flannel and white cambric, which now in Dr. Lacey’s arms was crowing with delight as its little nurse bobbed up and down, making at it all sorts of grimaces.

“What the ——­, no, I forgot, I didn’t mean so.  But what—­is—­that!” said Uncle Joshua, releasing Fanny and advancing toward Dr. Lacey, who proudly placed in his arms a beautiful nine-month-old baby, saying, “We have brought you a second Sunshine.”

***End of the project gutenberg Ebook tempest and sunshine***

CREDITS

December 2005

Project Gutenberg Edition
Roger Frank
Online Distributed Proofreading Team

A WORD FROM PROJECT GUTENBERG

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