He took Gordon with him, thinking that he would help to comfort the little orphaned girl.

The boy had no idea how well he was to know the watering-place in after years.

The child fell to his care and clung to him, finally going to sleep in his arms.

While the arrangements were being made, they moved for a day or two over to Squire Rawson's, the leading man of the Ridge region, where the squire's granddaughter, a fresh-faced girl of ten or twelve years, took care of the little orphan and kept her interested.
The burial, in accordance with a wish expressed by General Huntington, took place in a corner of the little burying-ground at Ridgely, which lay on a sunny knoll overlooking the long slope to the northeastward.
The child walked after the bier, holding fast to Gordon's hand, while Dr.Balsam and General Keith walked after them.
As soon as General Keith could hear from Miss Brooke he took the child to her; but to the last Lois said that she wanted Gordon to come with her.
Soon afterwards it appeared that General Huntington's property had nearly all gone.

His plantation was sold.
Several times Lois wrote Gordon quaint little letters scrawled in a childish hand, asking about the calves and pigeons and chickens that had been her friends.