Read Online The Captive Bride by Gilbert Morris - Free Book Online

and she said right smartly, “Afraid? How could I be afraid to go to Him whom I have loved and longed for these fifty years!”
    She had memorized your letters word for word and only wishes that she might have seen your bride. But what has meant the most to her—and to me, my son!—is the portion of the last letter where you indicated your intention to pursue the Lord. That, along with the word from your uncle in which he speaks of your interest in preaching along with good Master Bunyan, have been the joy of her heart, and mine also.
    When we parted, Matthew, I said, “Be true to God and to yourself.” I can add nothing to that, except that your mother and I have great faith now in you, and that if we do not meet again on this earth, we will be reunited in a better Kingdom!
    Gilbert Winslow
    Matthew blinked rapidly, his eyes burning as he read the lines, and he bit his lip as he folded the letter and stored it in his pocket. He had been over-hasty in his marriage, he knew, and the guilt of it bore heavily on him. The original plan had been for a trip to Plymouth with Lydia so she might meet his parents, then marry there. But there had been such objections from Martha Smith over Lydia making such a voyage in anunmarried state that they had given up on the idea. “We’ll go to America soon, dear,” Lydia had said, knowing something of the pain he felt. But the trip was long and expensive. So the five months of their marriage had served only to increase the pain Matthew felt over his parents.
    He shook off the thought and heard his uncle speaking of the restoration of Charles to the throne. “The whole country is one big ball, John. You should have seen the excitement when Charles came ashore day before last! He came in a barge with two dukes. Mr. Pepys was with him, and the captain of the brigantine steered. There was also Mr. Mansell and a dog the king loves—and many others from his nest in France. A large crowd was there to meet him, including General Monk, who fell on him with all imaginable love and respect, thousands of horsemen it seemed, and noblemen of all sorts. The mayor of the town presented him his white staff, the badge of his place, which the King gave him again.” He gave a short laugh and a sardonic light came into his eyes. “You’ll like this, John, the mayor gave him a very rich Bible, which he took and said, holding it up, ‘This is what I love more than anything else in the world!’ ”
    â€œYou don’t think he meant it?” Matthew asked.
    â€œMeant it? Him, with his fancy French whores in his cabin on the ship he’d just left?” Winslow shook his head violently and struck the table with a clenched fist. “The man’s an actor, I tell you! Now it pleases him to play the benevolent monarch, forgiving his enemies—but mark my word, within months the gallows in England will bear the weight of those who were closest to Cromwell.”
    â€œWhat about you, Edward?” Gifford asked quickly.
    â€œI would not be at all surprised to find myself among those pinpointed by Charles.”
    â€œBut—you won’t stay here, will you, Uncle?” Matthew asked.
    â€œStay here? Of course I’ll stay here! I’ve not so much lifein front of me that I’d sell out what I’ve lived for just to have a few more hours on this earth!”
    â€œThat’s very well for you, Edward,” Gifford nodded. “But I think for your nephew it might be best to return to Plymouth.”
    â€œI agree,” the old man said.
    â€œWell, I don’t!” The face of young Winslow flushed and there was a stubbornness in the set of his chin that brought a sudden image of Gilbert Winslow to the older man. He watched as Matthew got to his feet and paced the confines of the small room in agitation, his trim figure alive with nervous energy. “What sort of man do you take me for? A