Chapter 34 - If Thou Wilt Remember

The lifting of the quarantines meant that at last the community could mourn their loved ones properly.

The minister, John Elliot, met with a small council of townspeople to arrange the memorial service. They were meeting at the house of Albert and Julie Monroe, and he was pleased to see Leah Curry there, visiting her friend, Charlotte.

"Leah! It's nice to see you, when did you get back?"

"Yesterday, sir."

"Good! How is everybody?"

"We're all well now, thank you. Joe gets tired a lot, he still has to rest up some. They say he's getting better."

"Good! As soon as I get a moment, I'm planning to come and see your family. How are your parents holding up?"

"They're okay. They get real quiet sometimes. We all miss Adam."

"I'm so sorry. At least the rest of you escaped unharmed, you have to hold onto that."

"Yes, sir. Thank you."

"Have you heard anything more about Han Heyes?" In the wake of Caleb Curry's questions, the whole town was abuzz with the news of Han's disappearance. In truth, most people thought it was what the boy had deserved.

"No, sir. Pa's still waiting for the doctor to get back."

Julie Monroe brought in tea for everyone and Leah moved to join the rest of the group.

Although the Monroes didn't normally include their daughter in meetings of this type, they - like many others - were finding hard to let her out of their sight. All of the remaining children in the community felt precious.

Miss Walters, a curmudgeonly old maid in her sixties, looked at the last point to be discussed. "We need to discuss the memorial stone next. Does anyone know Sarah and Peggy's last name?"

There was a general shaking of heads. Charlotte and Leah exchanged a glance. They knew it wasn't appropriate for them to speak up at a meeting like this, but they felt they had to.

Charlotte gently touched her mother's arm. "Mother?"

Julie frowned at her daughter. It wasn't like Charlotte to forget her place so much that she would interrupt the adults when they were talking. "Yes, Charlotte? What is it?"

"Peggy's last name was Murphy."

Now it was Albert's turn to frown. "However would you know that, Charlotte?"

Leah spoke up now. "We knew her. She and Thomas were…" she tried to find the right words, "fond of each other."

Neither of the girls could understand the shock on the faces that surrounded them.

John Elliot was the first to break the silence. "I'm sorry, girls - are you saying that Peggy was…" he also tried to find a delicate way to phrase it, "walking out with Thomas Brown."

The girls nodded and Leah answered, "Yes, sir."

"Do you know if she was acquainted with Han Heyes?"

Charlotte couldn't help a small burst of laughter. "Hannibal Heyes? No, of course not! He's only eight! Besides, Thomas hated him, so Peggy wouldn't have given him the time of day!"

"Charlotte!" Her mother was shocked by her outburst.

Charlotte suddenly realized the nastiness of what she'd said and colored. "Sorry."

"Go to your room right now, young lady. We will talk about this later. You can go with her, Leah. Be sure that your mother will hear about this."

The girls quickly left the room, shamefaced.

There was a horrified silence. Doctor Masterson had told everyone the infection had started because of Peggy and Hannibal Heyes. He had been so certain; there were very few people who hadn't believed him.

Julie Monroe's voice broke into their thoughts. "What should we do? Should we say something?"

Harvey Evans said, "The news would destroy the Brown's reputation. To think that their boy had been in such company… We should say nothing."

Albert knew what his wife was about to say. "But what about David and Elizabeth Heyes? Everyone believes their boy was the culprit."

"I understand the boy has been sent back to where he came from. Since the matter is already so conveniently settled, why not let it rest?"

The minister had to speak. "Because it's a lie! We can't let everyone believe in a lie! And they are searching for the boy and planning to bring him back - what then?"

"They may never find him. And even if they do, what of it? He's just an orphan child. He has no family pride to concern him. It's doubtful he even knows the name of his father. The Heyes' should have thought better of bringing such a child into decent society."

John gasped in shock. "They did a charitable thing as good Christians…"

"Then let their charity extend to saving the good name of a respectable family that we all knew. What of poor Annabelle? Should she go through life with her family's good name tainted in such a way?"

John Elliot couldn't believe his ears. "But… but… it isn't right! And what of the poor boy himself? He shouldn't have to go through life believing that he's responsible for the deaths of all of those people - as well as his own brother and cousin!"

Another gentleman, Lawrence Hammond, spoke up then. "Hardly a brother and a cousin! The boy knew them for a matter of months. Besides, where's the harm? As my good friend has already pointed out, it's doubtful that they'll even find him again. Best all around to let sleeping dogs lie." His wife beside him nodded emphatically.

John stared around the room in horror. "But Han wasn't responsible!"

Hammond sighed as if explaining to an idiot. "But it hardly matters now, does it? Everyone believes it already and the Browns can go to their graves with their good name intact."

It was the indomitable old Miss Walters that answered him. "Thomas Brown was an objectionable and untruthful child. He did not have a good name and besmirching another boy's reputation will not give him one now. We have a responsibility to uphold the truth and as leaders of the church; we are answerable to God as well as this community. It would serve you well to remember your commandments - 'thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor'."

"But…"

"You be quiet, Harvey Evans. You had a poor relationship with the truth when you were a boy, but now you are a grown man and expected to set an example. As for you, Lawrence Hammond, I can honestly say that I didn't expect any more of you. You are both a disgrace to this community and should be on your knees before God asking for his forgiveness!"

She turned to the others. "Tomorrow morning I will go to visit Annabelle Brown and tell her what we have learned. Cecelia Brown was a woman of fine moral character. I am sure her daughter will want to know the truth."

John Elliot leaned forward and kissed her cheek, coaxing a rare blush from the old lady. "Miss Walters, you have restored my faith!"

The next day, Caleb saw Doctor Schriever ride back into town. He looked as though he'd had a hard few days and a long ride, and Caleb felt bad about approaching him before he'd had a chance to get any rest.

"Doctor Schriever?"

"Caleb Curry, isn't it? I don't suppose this could wait, could it?"

"I'm sorry, I'm afraid it's important."

"Alright then, come inside. Would you like some coffee?"

"I could make it, if you like. I've been here so often with my children that I know my way around pretty well."

"Thank you, I'd appreciate that." Schriever sank into his chair with a groan, pulled off his boots and began to massage his feet. "What can I do for you?"

Caleb made the coffee while he talked. "Elizabeth Heyes asked Doctor Masterson to take care of their boy, Han, while she nursed her husband David. Han was over the sickness but was in some kind of stupor and David was expected to die within the next day or two. She couldn't take care of them both. Masterson agreed and took him, but now Masterson's dead and we don't know where the boy is."

Schriever's eyebrows rose in surprise.

"We think Masterson may have… misunderstood her request," he tried to be tactful, "and sent the boy back to the orphanage. Andrew, the barman in the saloon, remembers him asking around for someone to take him to the orphan train in Harristown. We wondered if he'd left any notes, any clues as to where the boy went after that. It would be helpful to know which train it was and where it was going."

Schreiber frowned. He seemed to remember something… something about an orphan boy. What was it? He was so tired he could barely think. "Let me think a moment."

Caleb handed him the cup of coffee and sat across from him to wait.

Schriever sipped his coffee and tried to remember. After a few minutes, he jumped up. "I remember!"

Caleb felt suddenly hopeful as Schriever rushed over to a shelf and started riffling through the papers.

"Here!" He pushed a telegram towards Caleb.

Caleb read it. "Valparaiso. Isn't that a home for delinquents?"

"Yes, that's right. The Valparaiso Home for Wayward Boys."

"But Han isn't 'wayward'. He's a good kid."

Schriever shook his head. "I'm sorry. How old is the child?"

"Eight."

Schriever drew in a breath. "That's very young to be in such a place, especially if his health wasn't good to begin with. I hope you find him."

Caleb nodded. "Thanks. Can I keep this telegram?"

"Certainly, if you wish."

Caleb shook the doctor's hand and left the office. He didn't know if it was better or worse than he'd imagined. It was certainly easier than finding out he was in New York and having to travel there to find him, which would have taken weeks. But they'd all heard about Valparaiso; by most accounts, it wasn't a very nice place. Han had been there for more than three weeks.

Caleb would have to tell the others what he'd discovered and then he would leave first thing tomorrow morning.