One June Morning, precisely a year from that morning when thereader first saw the daylight breaking upon Stillwater, severalworkmen with ladders and hammers were putting up a freshly paintedsign over the gate of the marble yard. Mr. Slocum and Richard stoodon the opposite curbstone, to which they had retired in order to takein the general effect. The new sign read,--Slocum & Shackford.Richard protested against the displacement of its weather-stainedpredecessor; it seemed to him an act little short of vandalism; butMr. Slocum was obstinate, and would have it done. He was secretlyatoning for a deep injustice, into which Richard had been at once toosensitive and too wise closely to inquire. If Mr. Slocum had harboreda temporary doubt of him Richard did not care to know it; it wasquite enough to suspect the fact. His sufficient recompense was thatMargaret had not doubted. They had now been married six months. Theshadow of the tragedy in Welch's Court had long ceased to oppressthem; it had vanished with the hasty departure of Mr. Taggett.Neither he nor William Durgin was ever seen again in the flesh inStillwater; but they both still led, and will probably continue foryears to lead, a sort of phantasmal, legendary life in Snelling'sbar-room. Durgin in his flight had left no traces. From time to time,as the months rolled on, a misty rumor was blown to the town of hishaving been seen in some remote foreign city,--now in one place, andnow in another, always on the point of departing, self-pursued likethe Wandering Jew; but nothing authentic. His after-fate was to be asealed book in Stillwater.
"I really wish you had let the old sign stand," said Richard, asthe carpenters removed the ladders. "The yard can never be anythingbut Slocum's Yard."
"It looks remarkably well up thee," replied Mr. Slocum, shadinghis eyes critically with one hand. "You object to the change, but formy part I don't object to changes. I trust I may live to see the daywhen even this sign will have to be altered to--Slocum, Shackford &Son. How would you like that?"
"I can't say," returned Richard laughing, as they passed into theyard together. "I should first have to talk it over--with the son!"
THE END.
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