Secrets of the Heart (37 page)

“I want to show you a verse of Scripture Pastor Humbert read to me during one of our sessions.” As Tom spoke, he went to the small table on his side of the bed where he had laid his Bible. Returning to sit beside her, Tom thumbed his way to the Psalms. “Here, honey. Psalm 44:21…’Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart.’

“Did you hear that? ‘He knoweth the secrets of the heart.’ Even though you kept Meggie’s existence from me and held this bitter hatred toward the Stallworths, all the time God knew those secrets. You will one day face Him for it all. And unless you let Jesus save you, you will one day die in your sins and meet God without Jesus and without forgiveness.”

Tears spilled from Kathleen’s eyes as the Spirit of God ran
Scripture after Scripture through her mind. She was hearing Moody’s sermons and Ira Sankey’s singing and Hennie’s pleading for her to be saved. Suddenly she pictured God’s Son hanging on the cross for her.

The floodgates broke, and she reached for her husband, sobbing, “Oh, Tom! I want to be saved! I want Jesus to save me!”

Tom Harned had the joy of leading his mail order bride to Jesus.

A
HUMBLED AND BROKEN
J
OHN AND
M
ARIA
Stallworth sat side by side in their parlor as attorney J. H. Bledsoe opened his briefcase and took out some official-looking papers.

Bledsoe set his gaze on the dark-haired little girl with the big blue eyes and said, “Folks, before I tell you why I’m here, it might be best if Meggie doesn’t witness this.”

“We have no one to watch over her, Mr. Bledsoe,” John said. “We had to let her nanny go.”

Maria caressed Meggie’s head and said, “I think she can play out in the backyard by herself for a while, John. Would you do that, Meggie?”

“Sure, Grandma. I’ll take some of my dollies and play on the back porch.”

Maria sent Meggie upstairs to fetch a couple of dolls, then left the men in the parlor for a moment while she took Meggie out on the back porch.

When she returned, she said, “Mr. Bledsoe, though John and I haven’t had a moment to speak to each other since you arrived, I believe we both know that you are here because Kathleen wants to take Meggie away from us. Isn’t that right?”

“Yes, ma’am, it is,” the attorney said flatly.

Maria’s deeply lined face looked at John and she said, “Didn’t I tell you that Kathleen was working on a scheme to take Meggie away from us? Somehow, way out in Nevada, she learned of our misfortune and has decided to take advantage of it.”

“That’s not the way it is, Mrs. Stallworth,” Bledsoe said. “Mrs. Harned and her husband arrived in Chicago day before yesterday, not knowing a thing about your bankruptcy. They came ready to fight you in court for legal custody of Mrs. Harned’s daughter.”

John and Maria stared at each other. Then Maria said, “Are you kidding? Fight us with what?”

“You must not be aware that the Harneds are very wealthy people. They own gold mines that are producing heavily.”

Maria’s mouth fell open. “No…we weren’t aware of this.”

“We’ve lost Meggie, Maria,” John said.

The lawyer looked at the Stallworths dispassionately. “These papers I hold in my hand are court records, folks. Records of what you did to take Meggie from Kathleen shortly after she was widowed. I have proof that your attorneys used underhanded methods to steal Meggie from her mother and put her in your custody. And, with a little more effort, I believe I can prove that you bribed Judge Clarence Waymore.”

When neither Stallworth commented, Bledsoe said, “Are you going to tell me it didn’t happen?”

Their dead silence was answer enough.

J. H. Bledsoe placed the papers back in his briefcase, rose to his feet, and said, “That’s it, folks. Thanks for letting me talk to you.”

“What now, Mr. Bledsoe?” John asked with tears in his eyes.

“You’ll hear from me soon,” the attorney replied. “I’ll let myself out.”

As Bledsoe opened the front door to leave, he heard Maria break into sobs, and John—weeping, himself—trying to comfort her.

“Come in, come in, Mr. and Mrs. Harned.”

As the secretary ushered them through his office door, Mr. Bledsoe showed them a triumphant smile.

When they were comfortably seated, the attorney said, “I’ve
examined the court records, and I can nail the hides of John and Maria Stallworth to the wall.”

Tom and Kathleen nodded solemnly.

“I was at the Stallworth mansion two hours ago,” Bledsoe said. “I saw that beautiful little Meggie. She’s a doll if I ever saw one.”

Tom smiled. “I can’t wait to see her,” he said, squeezing Kathleen’s hand.

“Does she look healthy, Mr. Bledsoe?” Kathleen asked.

“Oh, yes. They’ve taken good care of her, that’s evident.” He leaned forward on his elbows. “But let me tell you, those two people are broken. They were both in tears when I left them. I let them see the court records in my hand, and they looked real sick when I said I could prove their attorneys had used underhanded methods to steal Meggie from her mother.”

Bledsoe expected this to bring a smile to Kathleen’s face. When it didn’t, he went on. “And when I told them I believed I could also prove they had bribed Judge Waymore, they didn’t say a word. We’ve got them. They have nothing to fight back with, even if they thought they had a chance.

“While Mrs. Stallworth was taking Meggie out on the back porch so she wouldn’t hear any of this, John told me they must move out of their mansion within a month. They have to sell the furniture and all their fancy china and silverware. They’ve lost everything.”

Both Harneds nodded without comment.

“So…” said the silver-haired lawyer, “I already have enough evidence to get a court order for Meggie’s release from their custody. I can take law officers with me to enforce it if you think I should. One thing’s for sure, you’re going to have your pretty little daughter back by tomorrow, Mrs. Harned.”

Kathleen leaned forward and said, “Tom and I very much appreciate your excellent work in this, Mr. Bledsoe, but you won’t need the court order, nor the law officers. We’re going to handle this situation in another way.”

Bledsoe’s eyes widened. “What do you mean?”

“We’ll pay you for what you’ve done up to this point, sir,” Tom said. “But we’ll go to the Stallworth home and peacefully get Meggie on our own.”

Bledsoe set his bewildered gaze on Kathleen and said, “Yesterday, Mrs. Harned, you displayed bitterness toward those people like I’ve seldom ever seen. You were ready to see them suffer. And now you seem so docile. May I ask what caused this change of heart?”

Kathleen smiled. “You used the right words, Mr. Bledsoe. Indeed it
was
a change of heart. I’ve been resisting the call of God for a long time. He’s been working on me lovingly and patiently, but I was so full of hate and bitterness I didn’t want Him interfering in my life. Well, last night I stopped fighting Him. I repented of my sin and opened my heart to the Lord Jesus Christ. He saved me and forgave me of all my sins. He made me a new creature in Christ and took all the hatred and bitterness out of me.

“I no longer hate the Stallworths, and though they did Meggie and me wrong, I’m ready to forgive them. I have absolute peace in my heart that I will have Meggie back for good very shortly. Thank you for laying the groundwork. It’ll be all right now.”

J. H. Bledsoe looked stunned. “I have to say, ma’am, that I’ve never seen anything quite like this. Ah…God bless you.”

Tom pulled out his checkbook. “What’s the charge for your services, Mr. Bledsoe?”

“Why…ah…let’s make it three hundred dollars.”

“Fair enough.”

Tom borrowed pen and ink and wrote out a check. He laid it on the desk before the attorney and said, “There’s the three hundred, sir, plus a little bonus for a job well done.”

Bledsoe eyed the check.
“Five
hundred? Mr. Harned, really…you didn’t need to—”

“Like I said, a job well done. Thank you, Mr. Bledsoe.”

As Tom and Kathleen rode toward the lakeshore area, Kathleen could hardly contain herself. She had waited what seemed like a life-time for this day. Over and over she’d visualized the first moment when she and Meggie would be reunited.

She’d dreamed of touching her little girl, holding her, drying her little-girl tears, calming her fears, watching her grow, and teaching her about life. She’d longed to be with her daily, and to be there to care for her every need.

Tom looked over at Kathleen and smiled. “It’s going to be all right, sweetheart,” he said. “The Lord has His mighty hand on this situation.”

Kathleen blinked at the tears filming her eyes and took hold of Tom’s callused hand. He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it tenderly.

“Oh, Tom, I’m going to get to touch my sweet Meggie and hold her again. I know I can’t make up for the time we’ve been apart, but I can make sure her future is secure and filled with love. And together, you and I can raise both of our children in church and teach them of God’s love. I never gave up, darling. I came close a few times, but I never gave up. And now I’m going to have my Meggie back!”

“Yes, and all the praise goes to our Lord. How wonderful He is!”

Soon they were in the Stallworths’ neighborhood. Many memories raced through Kathleen’s mind as she let her gaze roam over the streets she used to walk.

“Turn left up here at the next street,” Kathleen said. “Go one block, then turn right. We’re almost there.”

Tom guided the buggy up the circle drive and drew rein at a post at the edge of the porch, then went around to Kathleen’s side of the vehicle to help her down.

When Kathleen looked at the stately mansion, for just an instant she relived the pain the Stallworths had put her through. The old bitterness came to life inside her, and she clenched her teeth as tears rushed to her eyes.

Tom sent a silent plea heavenward, asking the Lord to comfort and strengthen his wife, then spoke in a low tone: “Sweetheart, Jesus is here to help you. Lean on Him.”

Kathleen bit down hard on her lower lip and nodded. At the same time, a quiet peace stole over her like a warm ocean wave. The hard lines vanished from her face, and a radiant glow appeared as she looked down at Tom with one foot on the buggy step.

He smiled up at her, arms open, and she smiled back, knowing that the Lord was also there with open arms to help her overcome the fresh rise of old bitterness and create in her a clean heart and a right spirit.

As Kathleen leaned into Tom’s arms, she caught a glimpse of a small face in the parlor window. Big blue eyes popped, and even though Meggie was inside, her voice came through the window: “Mommy!”

Tom heard it, and as he helped Kathleen touch ground, he whirled around. By that time, Meggie had vanished.

“She’s going to the door,” Kathleen said, hurrying toward the porch.

Tom took Kathleen’s hand and guided her up the steps. The door flew open, and the beautiful little brunette bolted for her mother, yelling, “Mommy!”

As Meggie threw herself at her mother, Kathleen went down on her knees and clasped the child to her breast as though she would never let go.

Happy tears coursed down both of their cheeks as Meggie cried, “Mommy, you came back! I knew you would! I missed you! I love you, Mommy!”

“Oh, and I’ve missed you too, my sweet Meggie. I’ve waited so long to hold you. I don’t ever want to let you go.”

Tom kept glancing at the open door, expecting to see the Stallworths, but as yet they hadn’t appeared.

After several minutes of clinging to each other and weeping, mother and daughter finally broke apart. Kathleen kept her hands on
Meggie’s shoulders as she gazed into her little girls eyes. She studied them, then took in the rest of Meggie’s face as if to make sure everything was there as it should be and as she remembered it.

It was at that moment that Tom saw two people come into view at the door. Both looked worn and downcast. They glanced at him, then set tired eyes on the scene before them.