Summary
A poignant saga unfolds on the rugged Cape Cod coastline, where two aging maritime traders, Shad Gould and Zoeth Hamilton, unexpectedly find their solitary lives intertwined with the fate of Mary-'Gusta, the orphaned daughter of their recently deceased business partner. Driven by a profound sense of duty and affection, these weathered seafarers undertake her upbringing, eventually orchestrating her passage to an elite Boston institution, under the guise of an inherited fortune. This benevolent fabrication, designed to secure her future, sets the stage for Mary's encounter with Crawford Smith, a burgeoning romance blooming amidst the city's genteel society. However, the fragile edifice of their happiness is imperiled by a revelation: Crawford is the progeny of Edgar Fuller, a notorious charlatan who once absconded with Zoeth's wife and his life savings, casting a long shadow of past betrayal over the present. As Mary unearths the devastating truth of her guardians' impending financial ruin, a direct consequence of their selfless investment in her education, she forsakes the gilded cage of Bostonian pretense. Returning to the windswept shores of Cape Cod, she heroically salvages the struggling enterprise with her innate acumen and resolute spirit. The narrative culminates in a redemptive arc, as Edgar Fuller's posthumous confession absolves him and paves the way for Mary and Crawford's long-delayed union, a testament to enduring love and the triumph of integrity over inherited disgrace.
Synopsis
When the third partner in their small Cape Cod trading business dies, Shad Gould and Zoeth Hamilton adopt his little daughter Mary-'Gusta. After several years, the two old salts decide that Mary should be properly educated and send her to an exclusive school in Boston, telling her that her father left her a large fortune. In Boston, Mary meets Crawford Smith, but their happiness together is threatened when she learns that he is the son of Edgar Fuller (alias Smith), a scoundrel who had run off with Zoeth's wife and stolen his money. Having discovered that Shad and Zoeth, in order to pay her bills, are nearing bankruptcy, Mary returns to Cape Cod and saves the business with her capable management. Crawford's father dies, leaving a letter of apology to Shad and Zoeth, whereupon the two young people become engaged.
