Daughter of the Loom (Bells of Lowell Book #1) (45 page)

Her brother’s eyes opened a mere slit. He moved his mouth, but she couldn’t hear him. She bent her ear to his lips. “I . . . did . . . the best I could.” His words were interrupted with weak coughing spasms. “I . . . set . . . the fire at night . . . so no one . . . would be injured,” he rasped in a barely audible tone. Lilly raised up and looked at him in disbelief. Surely he couldn’t have said what she thought he said.

“Step aside. Let me get to him,” Dr. Barnard said, moving toward Lewis’s side. He stooped down beside Lewis and performed a cursory examination before requesting the aid of several men. “We need to get him to my office. Quickly!”

William Thurston came rushing back as the men moved Lewis onto a board. “What are you doing?” he hollered as they hoisted Lewis into the air.

Lilly remained close to Lewis’s side, certain that her brother’s life was hanging in the balance. “Taking him to Dr. Barnard’s office for treatment,” Lilly replied.

Thurston hastened to Lilly’s side. “I can’t let you do this alone. Lewis has been a loyal friend, and I want to be with him until the . . . well, uh . . . until he regains consciousness,” he stammered.

“Don’t you think they need you here, helping put out the fire?” Lilly inquired. “I can stay with my brother.”

Thurston remained close by her side. “No, I won’t hear of it. I won’t desert a friend in his time of need. Besides, you shouldn’t be alone right now, either, Miss Armbruster.”

“Lilly!” Matthew called out. “I’ll join you at the doctor’s office as soon as possible.” Lilly turned and waved.

“No need, Cheever, I’ll accompany her,” Thurston replied.

Lilly wished Matthew would call Thurston back to fight the fire. She didn’t like William Thurston, and she certainly didn’t want him accompanying her to the doctor’s office.

Once they reached Dr. Barnard’s office, he instructed the two to wait outside. “My wife will assist me. If I need further help, I’ll call you.”

The two of them waited. Nothing Lilly said could persuade Thurston to leave. Finally she ceased her attempts and began to pray for her brother. She wanted Lewis to live, but if that wasn’t to be, she at least wanted one last opportunity to talk with him. There were questions that needed to be answered before her brother left this world.

Lilly startled when Dr. Barnard entered the room. “I wish I had better news to bring you. Unfortunately, I think Lewis is going to slip from his state of unconsciousness into death very soon.”

Thurston jumped up from his chair. “You’re certain he won’t regain consciousness?”

The doctor solemnly wagged his head back and forth. “It doesn’t appear likely,” Dr. Barnard replied and then turned toward Lilly. “I’m so sorry. Even if I had arrived sooner, there would be nothing I could have done. His burns are too severe.”

Thurston had donned his coat and top hat and stood with his gloved hand covering the front doorknob. “I’m sure you’d like to say your good-byes in private, Miss Armbruster,” Thurston said quickly before departing.

“You can come back and sit with him if you’d like,” Dr. Barnard offered.

Lilly followed the doctor and took a chair beside the bed. The smell of burnt flesh again reminded her of her own misdeeds. She desperately wished she’d never succumbed to her need for revenge. Although Nadene had recovered physically from her burns, Lilly knew the pain and misery suffered could never be wiped away.

She wanted to soothe her brother but realized there was nothing she could do that would make him more comfortable. So she bowed her head and began to pray, silently at first and then softly out loud, asking God to ease her brother’s pain.

“Lilly, is that you?” Lewis’s voice was a mere whisper.

“Lewis . . . oh yes, Lewis, it’s me.”

He groaned as he turned his head toward her. His voice was low and gravelly. “You were always a good sister, Lilly. I don’t know how you tolerated my treatment of you. . . . I was a terrible brother, and I’ve been a terrible man.” He gasped for air, making an awful wheezing sound, chilling Lilly to the bone.

“Shh, Lewis, don’t be so hard on yourself. It was my belief in God that enabled me to endure. However, I must admit it wasn’t always easy.” She smiled and gently touched his singed hair. “Sometimes you certainly put my faith to the test, but God was true to His word and sustained me. Lewis, I need to know—have you accepted Christ? Have you invited Him into your heart as your Savior? Have you repented of your sins and asked God’s forgiveness? All you need do is ask,” she fervently explained.

“You don’t know . . . the depth of my sin. I couldn’t ask to be . . . forgiven of the heinous crimes I’ve committed. Jesus won’t forgive me, even if I asked,” he replied, his voice fading.

“Lewis,” Lilly urgently whispered. “Lewis, can you hear me? Lewis!” She leaned over his face until she felt his shallow breath upon her cheek. He had slipped back into unconsciousness, but he was still alive. She sat down, covering her face with her hands, and wept.
Please, Lord, let him live until he realizes there’s no sin you won’t forgive
, she silently prayed.

She didn’t know how long she had been praying when Lewis once again moaned her name. Bending near, she whispered in his ear. “Lewis, just ask God’s forgiveness.”

“Irish woman, she’s dead . . .” he muttered.

“Lewis, you need to ask Jesus to forgive you,” she sighed.

“Baby still alive . . .”

Lilly couldn’t believe the words. “Lewis, what are you saying? Do you have a child? A baby? Where’s the child, Lewis?”

“Yes, baby . . . a boy. Alive. Paddy camp. He has a mushroom birthmark . . . on his arm,” he replied, wheezing for breath.

There was no doubt Lewis was growing weaker by the moment, yet she hadn’t confirmed if he had asked God’s forgiveness. Desperation rose from deep within her. “Lewis, do you understand that God will forgive
any
sin—you have but to ask. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Lilly, I understand,” he whispered.

“Have you accepted Christ into your heart, Lewis?” she urgently questioned. “Lewis, please answer me.”

Lewis exhaled, emitting a soft gurgling noise before his head turned against the pillow.

He was dead—without telling her if he had accepted God’s grace, without saying if he’d asked for forgiveness. She grasped his charred hand, her tears flowing freely as she mourned her brother’s passing.

Someone touched her shoulder. “Lilly, how can I help?” Matthew gently asked.

She jumped up and fell into his arms. “Oh, Matthew, he’s gone. Lewis is dead. He died before telling me if he had accepted Christ,” she said through her tears.

Pulling her close, Matthew held her for several moments, then led her from the room. “There’s nothing more you can do here, Lilly. Let me take you home. Look, I’ve brought your wrap. Miss Addie thought you might need it.” Gently, he helped Lilly on with her cloak and directed her toward the door.

Lilly turned around. “I should tell Dr. Barnard I’m leaving,” she murmured.

“I talked with him when I came in. He knew I was going to escort you home.”

The smoky air filled Lilly’s nostrils. “The fire, Matthew? Were you able to save the mill?”

“We won’t be able to evaluate the actual damage until daylight, but the fire is out. Most of the damage was to the printworks. Mr. Boott and Farnsworth and I will assess the damages first thing in the morning,” Matthew explained. “It doesn’t appear we’ll be shut down for more than a week or so.”

Lilly sighed. “I hope it won’t be too long. The girls can’t afford to pay their room and board when they’re not receiving wages.”

“I’m certain the Corporation will make arrangements to protect the girls,” he said.

The two of them walked in silence until they neared the boardinghouse. “Matthew, I believe Lewis has a son,” Lilly blurted.

Matthew stopped and gave her a look of surprise. “What would give you such an outlandish idea?”

“He mentioned a baby on his deathbed—a boy. I don’t think a man lies while on his deathbed, do you?”

“No, I don’t suppose a man would have much reason to tell falsehoods on his deathbed, but what did he actually say?”

Lilly gave him a thoughtful look. “He said the mother was dead. It’s a boy. I don’t know how old he is, but he has a birthmark, a mushroom-shaped birthmark on his arm,” she recounted.

“Anything else?”

“He said the child is in the Paddy camps. I assume the mother was Irish.”

Matthew rubbed his jaw and gave her a thoughtful look. “I do recall several occasions when I saw Lewis around the Acre. I wondered why he was there. Perhaps he did have more reason to be there than I imagined, but he never mentioned anything to me. You should remember, however, that his words might have been the delirious ramblings of a dying man. Please promise me you’ll not worry any further. I plan to spend a good deal of time in the Acre over the next few days, and if I find any evidence of a child, I’ll tell you.”

“Oh, Matthew, would you? Thank you so much,” Lilly replied, giving him a weary smile. “But why are you planning to spend time in the Acre?”

“Didn’t you hear William Thurston say he had observed Lewis fighting with some Irishmen who were supposed to have started the fire? I need to investigate his allegations.”

Lilly thoughtfully considered his reply. “I don’t think you’ll find anyone to substantiate Thurston’s claims. Lewis admitted he started the fire,” Lilly said, her voice barely audible.

Matthew held her by the shoulders. “Lewis
told
you he started the fire?”

“Yes. He said he set the fire at night so none of the workers would be injured. Somehow he felt it was the one noble thing he could do if he was going to set the fire,” she said, beginning to weep. “Oh, Matthew, I’m truly alone in the world now. My entire family is gone. Even though Lewis and I weren’t close, he was my brother. And just as he was beginning to turn his life around, he’s snatched away. When my father died, I didn’t think the void could be any greater. Now I know I was wrong. I have no one.”

Matthew pulled her into his arms, and Lilly relished the comfort of his embrace. It felt so right to be with him. Perhaps he would speak words of reassurance, even love.

“Everything’s going to be fine, Lilly.”

Lilly looked into his eyes. She had once loved this man and had pushed him away in anger. Her own pain had made it impossible to continue their relationship. Now her pain made her desire that relationship more than anything.

Matthew gently touched her cheek. “You needn’t feel alone. God is always with you, and besides that, you have Addie—and the girls here at the house are your friends. And you know how much my family cares for you.”

Lilly felt a wave of disappointment. Stepping back, she wiped her eyes. “Thank you for helping me tonight. It was good of you to see me home from the doctor’s. Good night, Matthew.”

She walked up the stairs, remembering Matthew’s words and wondering why he had failed to include himself among those who cared about her. When he had asked to escort her to the Blowing Out Ball, she was certain he had romantic feelings for her. Better still, she finally felt that she might be ready to accept her own feelings for Matthew, maybe even open her heart to him. Obviously she had once again misinterpreted his intentions.

Chapter 34

Matthew bounded up the front steps of his parents’ home, still wondering if he had done the right thing. He had wanted to declare his feelings for Lilly the night before, but it seemed inappropriate to avow his love when she was grieving her brother’s death and the loss of all familial bonds. Holding back was the hardest thing he’d ever endured—short of losing Lilly in the first place.

Julia Cheever rounded the corner of the parlor as Matthew entered the front door. “What a wonderful surprise, Matthew. You’re just in time for breakfast,” she greeted, her hair perfectly coiffed and her pale green dress setting off the color in her eyes. She embraced her son, kissing him lightly on his cheek as he bent obediently to receive her greeting.

“Do you miss living on the farm, Mother?” Matthew inquired as they walked to the dining room.

She turned and gave him a puzzled look. “Why are you asking about the farm?”

“I suppose because life seemed much more simple back then.”

Julia patted his hand. “That’s because you were a child, Matthew. Life has complexities in varying degrees throughout the years; where you live is of little importance. It’s
how
you handle the difficulty that really counts. How we deal with life’s problems gives evidence to our love and compassion as well as our relationship with God. Don’t you think?” she asked. “Good morning, Randolph,” she said as her husband entered the room.

Randolph pulled out a chair and seated himself at the table. “Good morning, my dear. Matthew, this is a pleasant surprise. To what do we owe this unexpected visit?”

“We were just discussing the complexities of life,” Julia replied.

Randolph gave her a hearty laugh. “That’s a rather profound subject for so early in the morning, isn’t it? Is that truly why you came over here this morning, son?”

Matthew gave his father a grin as he helped himself to a piece of ham. “Not exactly. I came to tell you that Lewis Armbruster died last night—from the injuries he sustained in the fire at the Merrimack.”

“Oh, Matthew, how sad. When your father returned home last night, he told me Lewis had been injured. I didn’t realize it was so serious.”

Matthew nodded. “Lilly is distraught. With Lewis gone, she has no family. Added to that is the fact that Lilly wasn’t sure where Lewis stood before the Lord prior to his death. She’s feeling an overwhelming sense of loss.”

“And well she would, Matthew. I can’t believe you took her back to that boardinghouse. Why didn’t you bring her here to be with family?” Julia chided.

Matthew stared at his mother momentarily. “Because we are
not
Lilly’s family, Mother,” he said in a patronizing tone.

“Exactly!” Julia replied, giving Matthew a stern look while pointing a serving ladle in his direction. “When are you going to set aside your foolish pride and make Lilly your wife?”