Elsie and Her Loved Ones

by Martha Finley

  CHAPTER XXI

  MAX and Evelyn were in their own Sunnyside home, leaning over theirsleeping babe, their faces shining with love and joy.

  “The darling!” exclaimed Max, speaking low and tenderly. “She seems tome the dearest, loveliest child that ever was made.”

  “To me, too,” returned Eva with a low and sweet laugh, “though I knowthat is because she is yours and mine; and there must have been verymany others quite as beautiful and sweet.”

  “Yes, no doubt; and I suppose it is because she is our very own thatshe seems so wonderfully attractive and lovable to me. And yet sheseems to be so to others not related to her.”

  “Quite true, Max, and my heart sings for joy over her; and yet wecannot tell that she will always be an unmixed blessing, for we do notknow what her character in future life may be. Oh, Max, we must try totrain her up aright, and we must pray constantly for God’s blessingupon our efforts; for without His blessing they will avail nothing.”

  “No, dearest, I am sure of that, and my darling little daughter will bealways remembered in my prayers. That will be almost all I can do forher in that line, as my profession will call me almost constantly to adistance from home. You, dearest, will have to bear the burden of hertraining and education; except such parts as money can procure.”

  “I know, I know,” Evelyn replied in moved tones, “and you must pray forme that I may have wisdom, grace and strength according to my day.”

  “That I will, dear wife; and we will converse every day by letter,shall we not?”

  “Yes, indeed, and you shall know as well as written words can tell youhow baby grows, and looks, and learns. And she shall know her papa byseeing his photograph and hearing a great deal about him from mamma’slips.”

  “It is pleasant to think of that,” Max said with a smile. “And of myhome-coming, which I hope will be rather frequent, as we are at peaceand I am likely to be on some vessel near the shore of this, our ownland.”

  “Oh, I hope so!” exclaimed Evelyn. “How I shall look and long for yourcoming! Ah, I envy those women whose husbands are always at home withthem.”

  “Oh, my dear, some of them would be glad if they weren’t.Unfortunately, all marriages are not the happy ones that ours is; somehusbands and wives have little love for each other, little enjoyment ineach other’s society.”

  “Alas, my dear, that is a sad truth,” sighed Evelyn; “and our mutuallove and happiness in each other is still another cause for gratitudeto God.”

  “Yes, indeed, and I thank Him every day—and many times a day—for thedear, lovable wife He has given me.”

  “As I do for my best and dearest of husbands,” she said in response.

  “And oh, what a number of dear relatives and friends our marriage hasgiven me! Friends they were before, but not really relatives. I am soglad to be able to call your father, sisters and little brother mine.It is so sad to have no near relatives.”

  “Yes, I feel that it must be, though I have not known it by experience,having always had my dear father and sisters, Lu and Grace. But now,dearest, it grows late and you are looking weary. Had you not betterget to bed as quickly as possible?”

  “Yes, my dear, thoughtful husband; it has been quite an exciting dayand I am weary,” she said, turning from the cradle to him, her eyesshining with love and joy.

  After Grace had said good-night and retired to her own apartmentsthe captain and Violet sat chatting together in the library for sometime. It was quite past their usual hour for retiring, when at lengththey went up to their bedroom. The door was open between it and thenext room, which had formerly been occupied by Grace, but was nowgiven up to Ned, he having graduated from the nursery, much to his owngratification. He considered it plain proof that he was no longer ababy boy, but a big fellow hastening on toward manhood.

  “I have been feeling somewhat anxious about our little boy,” Violetsaid in an undertone to her husband, while laying aside her jewelry,“he was so flushed and excited while getting ready for bed. Oh, hark,how he is talking now!”

  She paused in her employment and stood listening, the captain doinglikewise.

  “I got to the base first, and it’s your turn to be ‘It,’ Eric!” Nedcalled out in excited tones.

  Tears started to Violet’s eyes as she turned toward her husband with aquestioning, appealing look.

  “I fear he is indeed not well,” returned the captain, moving toward theopen door. “We will see what can be done for him.”

  Violet followed. The captain lighted the gas and both went to thebedside. Ned was rolling and tumbling about the bed, muttering andoccasionally calling out a few words in regard to the game he imaginedhimself playing.

  “Ned, my son,” the captain said in soothing tones, “you are not at playnow, but at home in your bed. Try to lie still and sleep quietly.”

  The captain took the little hot hand in his as he spoke. He wassurprised and alarmed at its heat, and that the little fellow did notseem to know where he was or who it was that spoke to him.

  “Oh, Levis, the child is certainly very ill,” said Violet in low,trembling tones. “Would it not be well to ’phone for one of my doctorbrothers? I am sure either of them would come promptly and cheerfullyif he knew our boy was ill and we wanting advice for him.”

  “I haven’t a doubt of it, dearest, and I will go at once to the’phone,” replied the captain, leaving the room, while Violet leanedover her little son, smoothing the bedclothes and doing all she couldto make him more comfortable.

  At Ion most of the family had retired to rest, but Harold had lingeredover some correspondence in the library, and was going quietly up thestairway when he heard the telephone bell. He went directly to theinstrument, saying to himself a trifle regretfully:

  “Somebody wanting the doctor, I suppose. Hello!” he called, and wasinstantly answered in Captain Raymond’s unmistakable voice:

  “I am glad it is you, Harold, for we want you badly, as soon as you cancome to us. Ned is, I fear, very ill; has a high fever and is quitedelirious.”

  “I will come at once,” returned Harold. “Poor, dear little chap! Hisuncle loves him too well to let him suffer a moment’s illness that hemay possibly be able to relieve.”

  As Harold turned from the instrument his mother’s bedroom door openedand she stood there arrayed in a dressing-gown thrown hastily over hernight-dress.

  “What is it, Harold, my son?” she asked. “I heard the telephone. Areany of our dear ones taken sick?”

  “Don’t be troubled, mother dear,” he returned in tenderly respectfultones. “It was only a call from Woodburn to say that little Ned is notwell and they would like me to come and do what I can for him.”

  “And you are going?”

  “Yes, mother, with all haste.”

  “I should like to go with you, to do what I can for the child and tocomfort poor Vi.”

  “Oh, don’t, mother! Please go back to your bed, take all the rest andsleep that you can and go to them to-morrow. That is your eldest doctorson’s prescription for you. Won’t you take it?” putting an arm abouther and kissing her tenderly.

  “Yes,” she said, returning the caress with a rather sad sort of smile,“for I think he is a good doctor, as well as one of the best of sons.”And with that she went back to her bed, while he hurried away to hispatient.

  It was an anxious night to both him and Ned’s parents, and the morningbrought little, if any, relief to them or the young sufferer.

  Chester and his wife were breakfasting cozily together that morning,when Captain Raymond walked in upon them unannounced.

  “Father!” cried Lucilla, springing up and running to him. “Goodmorning. I’m so glad to see you. But—oh, father, what is the matter?You look real ill.”

  As she spoke she held up her face for the usual morning kiss.

  He gave it with affection, then said in moved tones:

  “Your little brother is very, very ill. Harold and we have been up withhim all night. He is no
better yet, but we do not give up hope.”

  “Oh, I am so, so sorry!” she sighed, tears filling her eyes. “He issuch a dear little fellow, and has always been so healthy that I havehardly thought of sickness in connection with him.”

  Chester had left his seat at the table and was standing with them now.

  “Do not despair, captain,” he said with feeling; “all is not lost thatis in danger, and we will all pray for his recovery, if consistent withthe Lord’s will.”

  “Yes, the effectual, fervent prayer of the righteous man availeth much,and the Lord will spare our dear one if He sees best,” returned thecaptain feelingly.

  “Father dear, you look so weary,” Lucilla said with emotion. “Let me dosomething for you. Won’t you sit down to the table and have a cup ofcoffee, if nothing else?”

  “Thank you, daughter. Perhaps it would help to strengthen me for theday’s trials and duties,” he replied, accepting the offered seat.

  They were about leaving the table when Max came in.

  “Good-morning, father, sister and brother,” he said, looking aboutupon them with a grave, concerned air. “I have just heard bad news fromone of the servants—that my little brother is very ill. Father, I hopeit is not true?”

  “I am sorry, Max, my son, to have to say that it is only too true,”groaned the captain. “We have been up with him all night, and he is avery sick child.”

  “Oh, that is sad indeed! Can I help with the nursing, father, or be ofservice in any way?”

  “I don’t know, indeed; but come over all of you, as usual, to cheer uswith your presence, and perhaps make yourselves useful in some otherway.”

  “Thank you, sir. I shall be glad to do anything I can to help orcomfort; but—if our baby should cry, might it not disturb poor littleNed?”

  “I think not; we have him in the old nursery. Her cry, if she shouldindulge in one, would hardly reach there, and if it did he is not in astate to notice it. So come over as usual; the very sight of you willdo us all good.”

  “I was going into town as usual,” said Chester, “but if I can be of anyuse—”

  “Your help will not be needed, with so many others, and you can cheerus with your presence after you get home in the afternoon,” returnedthe captain in kindly, appreciative tones. “Are Eva and the baby well,Max?” he asked, turning to his son.

  “Quite well, thank you, father, and you will probably see us all atWoodburn in an hour or so.”

  With that Chester and the captain departed.

  At Ion, Mrs. Elsie Travilla came down to breakfast evidently attiredfor a drive or walk. No one was surprised, for the news of NedRaymond’s serious illness had already gone through the house, causingsorrow and anxiety to the whole family.

  Herbert, too, was ready for a drive, and presently after leaving thetable took his mother over to Woodburn in his gig. Dr. Conly alsoarrived about the same time, having been telephoned to in regard to theillness of his young relative.

  Several days followed that were sad ones to not only the immediateWoodburn and Sunnyside families, to whom little Ned was so near anddear, but to the other more distant relatives and friends. All of themwere ready and anxious to do anything and everything in their power forthe relief of the young sufferer and to comfort and help the grievedand anxious parents.

  But Harold’s skill and knowledge of the disease and the most potent andeffectual remedies did more than all other human means to remove it andrestore the young lad to health. Harold was at length able to pronouncehis young patient free from disease and on a fair road to entirerecovery of health. Violet embraced her brother and wept for joy, whilethe father and sisters—the older brother also—were scarcely less gladand thankful.

  “Come into the library, Harold, and let us have a little privatechat,” the captain said, in tones husky with emotion.

  For some moments they sat in silence, the captain evidently too muchmoved to command his voice in speech. But at length he spoke in low,trembling tones.

  “Brother Harold, dear fellow, I can never thank you enough for savingthe life of my little son;—you were the instrument in the hands of Godour Heavenly Father. Money cannot pay the debt, but I should like togive a liberal fee as an expression of the gratitude felt by us all,especially your Sister Violet and myself.”

  There was emotion in Harold’s voice also as he answered:

  “My dear brother, don’t forget that it was not so much your son as myown dear little nephew I was working to save. Thank you heartily foryour desire to reward me with a liberal fee, but I feel that I can wellafford to use all the knowledge, strength and skill I possess for thebenefit of my dear ones without any payment in ‘filthy lucre;’ but, mydear brother, there is one reward you could give me which I should befar from despising—which I should value more than a mint of money, orany amount of stocks, bonds or estate.”

  He paused, and after a moment’s silence the captain spoke:

  “You mean my daughter Grace? Surely, you forget that I long agoconsented to the match.”

  “If I would serve for her as Jacob did for Rachel; but I want her now,and if you will give her to me directly I will watch over her with allthe care and solicitude of both a devoted husband and physician; andI think you will find that marriage will not break down her health.Has not that improved under my care? and may we not hope to see stillgreater improvement when she is my dear devoted wife?—for she does loveme, unworthy as I am.”

  The captain sat for a moment apparently in deep thought. Then he said:

  “Being of the medical profession, you ought to know better than I whatwill be likely or unlikely to injure her health. I believe you to bethoroughly honest and true, Harold, and if such is your opinion, andyou are willing to live here in this house for at least the first year,and afterward in one that I shall build for you and her on this estate,you may have her in a few months. You know, she will want a little timefor the preparation of her trousseau,” he added with a smile.

  “Thank you, captain, thank you with all my heart!” exclaimed Harold,his face aglow with happiness.

  At that moment Grace’s voice was heard speaking to some one in the hallwithout.

  The captain stepped to the door and opened it.

  “Grace, daughter,” he said, “come here for a moment. Harold and I havesomething to say to you.”

  She came immediately, blushing, smiling, a look half of inquiry, halfof pleased expectation on her sweet and lovely face.

  Her father, still standing by the door, closed it after her, took herhand, drew her into his arms and kissed her tenderly, fondly.

  “My child, my own dear child,” he said, “I have given you away, orpromised to do so as soon as you can make your preparations and—want meto give up my right in you to another.”

  “Oh, no, papa, not that,” she returned, her eyes filling with tears;“am I not your very own daughter? and shall I not always be, as long aswe both live?”

  “Yes, yes, indeed, my own precious darling, and this is to be your homestill for at least a year after—you drop my name for Harold’s.”

  “I shall never drop it, father, only add to it,” she returned, withboth tears and smiles.

  Harold stood close beside them now.

  “And you are willing to share mine, dearest, are you not?” he asked,taking her hand in his.

  “Yes, indeed, since I have your dear love,” she answered low andfeelingly.

  “And I think he has been the means of saving your dear life, and nowyour little brother’s also,” her father said with feeling, “so I cannotrefuse you to him any longer, my darling, sorrowful thing as it is tome to give you up.”

  “Oh, don’t give me up, dear father, don’t!” she entreated with pleadinglook and tone. “Surely, I shall not be less yours because I become hisalso.”

  “No, my dear child, I shall surely be as much your father as ever.Shall I not, Harold?”

  “Surely, sir; and mine also, if you will accept me as your son.”

&nbs
p; Violet came to the door at that moment.

  “May I come in?” she asked; “or would that be intruding upon a privateinterview?”

  “Come in, my dear; we will be glad to have you,” replied her husband.

  She stepped in and was a little surprised to find the three alreadythere standing in a group together.

  It was Harold who explained.

  “Congratulate me, sister; I have got leave to claim my bride as soon asshe can make ready for the important step.”

  “Ah? Oh, I am glad, for you richly deserve it for what you have donefor our precious little Ned.”

  “Thank you, sister,” Harold said with emotion, “but give God thepraise. I could have done nothing had He not blessed the means used.”

  “True; and my heart is full of gratitude to Him.” Then, turning toGrace: “I am very, very glad for Harold to be, and feel that he is,rewarded, but, oh, how shall I ever do without you—the dearest of deargirls?”

  “I have not yet consented to her departure from her father’s house,”said the captain, turning a proud, fond look upon his daughter, “buthave stipulated that we are to have them here in this house for atleast a year; then in another to be built upon this estate—if theywish to leave us.”

  “Oh, I like that!” exclaimed Violet. “It removes all objections—exceptwith regard to the mixture of relationships,” she added with a slightlaugh. “But I am forgetting my errand. Ned is awake and asking hungrilyfor his father and his doctor.”

  “Then we must go to him at once,” said both gentlemen, Grace adding:

  “And I, too, if I may, for surely he would not object to seeing hissister also.”

  “No, indeed,” said Violet, “and the sight of your dear, sweet face,Gracie, could not, I am sure, do anything but good to any one who seesit.”

  “Ah, mamma, I fear you are becoming a flatterer,” laughed Grace. “Butit must be for father or the doctor to decide my course of conduct onthis occasion.”

  “You may come, if you will promise not to say more than a dozenunexciting words to my patient,” Harold said in a tone between jest andearnest.

  “I promise,” laughed Grace. “It seems I have to begin to obey you now.”

  “I think you began a year or two ago,” he returned laughingly. “Youhave been a very satisfactory patient.”

  “I am glad to hear it,” she said. “Father, have I your permission to gowith you to take a peep at my little sick brother?”

  “Yes, daughter, if you will be careful to follow the doctor’sdirections.”

  “I will, father, first following in his and your footsteps,” she said,doing so along with Violet as the two gentlemen, having passed into thehall, now began mounting the broad stairway.

  They found the young patient lying among his pillows, looking pale andweak. His eyes shone with pleasure at sight of them.

  “I’m glad you’ve all come,” he said feebly. “I want a kiss, mamma.”

  She gave it and bent over him, softly smoothing his hair. “Mother’sdarling, mother’s dear little man,” she said in trembling tones,pressing kisses on his forehead, cheek and lips.

  “There, Vi dear, that will do,” the doctor said gently. “Let the restof us have our turn. Are you quite easy and comfortable, Ned, my boy?”laying a finger on his pulse as he spoke.

  “Yes, uncle. Give me a kiss, and then let papa and Grace do it.”

  “Be very quiet and good, my son; do just as uncle tells you, and youwill soon be well, I think,” the captain said in cheery tones when hehad given the asked-for caress.

  Then Grace took her turn, saying:

  “My dear little brother, get well now as fast as you can.”

  Then the doctor banished them all from the room, bidding them leave himto his care and that of the old mammy who had again and again provedherself a capital nurse in the family connection.

  CHAPTER XXII

  THE captain, Violet and Grace now returned to the library, where theyfound Lucilla at the typewriter answering some letters for her father.

  “Oh, you have all been up to see Neddie, haven’t you?” she asked,judging so by the expression of their faces.

  “Yes, daughter,” replied the captain, “but the doctor would allow onlyan exceedingly short call, and so much depending upon it, we must allbe careful to follow his directions.”

  “Yes, indeed, the dear little brother!” she exclaimed with emotion.“But surely something pleasant has happened to you, Gracie dear, foryou are looking very happy.”

  “As I am and ought to be,” returned Grace, blushing vividly; “fatherand the—and others, too, have been so kind to me.”

  “Oh, father means to reward Harold, does he?” laughed Lucilla. “Well,sister dear, if you like it I am glad for you.”

  “Your father has, indeed, been very kind to our pair of lovers,” saidViolet, smiling upon both her husband and Grace, “and the best of it isthat he has stipulated that they are to stay here with us for the firstyear of their married life.”

  “After that to remain on the estate, but in a separate house if theywish it,” added the captain.

  “Oh, how nice!” cried Lucilla; “and Harold really deserves it.”

  “As does Grace also,” said their father, “for she has been sweetlysubmissive to her father’s will.”

  “It would have been strange if I had been anything else toward such adear, kind father as mine,” she said, regarding him with an expressionof ardent affection, which he returned, smiling fondly upon her.

  The door opened and Max stood upon the threshold.

  “Am I intruding?” he asked, pausing there.

  “No, my son; we wish to have no family secret from you. Come in andjoin us,” replied his father, and Max stepped in, closing the doorbehind him.

  “You are all looking happy,” he said, glancing about upon them witha pleased smile, “and no wonder; it is such good news that our dearlittle Ned is convalescing.”

  “Yes,” said Lucilla, “and I think Gracie here is somewhat rejoiced overHarold’s promised reward.”

  “Ah, I suppose I know what that is,” said Max, glancing at theblushing, half smiling face of his younger sister. “You are to be ‘It’this time, aren’t you, Gracie?”

  Her only reply was a low, sweet laugh, but their father answered:

  “Yes, I have withdrawn my objection to a speedy union, as I felt thatHarold deserved a great reward, and he preferred that to any other.”

  “And when is it to be?” asked Max.

  “When she has had time to prepare her trousseau.”

  “And I fear that will take so long that I shall miss the sight,” sighedMax.

  “Don’t despair, son; you or I may be able to get an extension of yourleave of absence,” said his father.

  “Perhaps, father, if they do not delay too long.”

  “But we could hardly have a grand wedding now while Neddie is so ill,”said Violet; “especially as Harold is his physician.”

  “It needn’t be a grand wedding, mamma; I should prefer a quiet one,”said Grace; “but I am certainly in no hurry about it.”

  “You must have a handsome wedding dress and trousseau,” said Violet.“And we want Max here at the wedding, and don’t want Harold to leaveour dear little boy till he is fairly on the road to recovery. Now, howshall we manage it all?”

  “Perhaps your mother might help in the arrangement,” suggested Lucilla.

  “Perhaps Harold would want to tell her himself of—the change ofplans,” said the captain.

  At that moment the door opened and mother and son appeared on thethreshold, both looking very cheery and bright.

  The captain sprang to his feet and hastened to bring forward aneasy-chair, while Violet exclaimed:

  “Oh, mother, I am so glad you have joined us! I was just on the pointof going to ask you to do so.”

  “I suppose to tell me the good news I have just heard from Harold,” wasthe smiling rejoinder. “But he was the one to tell it, daughter.
Andcaptain,” turning to him, “I thank you for the change in your decisionin regard to a most important matter, which Harold feels to be a greatreward for what he has been enabled to do for our dear little boy.”

  “I am very glad I had it in my power to do something to show myappreciation of his invaluable services,” the captain said with evidentemotion.

  “Where is Eva?” exclaimed Lucilla. “She should be here with us on thisimportant occasion.”

  “Yes, she is one of the family,” assented Captain Raymond heartily.

  “I will go and bring her,” said Max, hurrying from the room, to returnin a very few minutes carrying his baby and with his wife by his side.

  The little one was cooing and smiling.

  “Excuse me, friends and relatives, for bringing in this uninvited younggirl, for I can assure you she will not repeat anything that is said,”laughed Max as Eva took possession of a chair handed her by Harold,and he gave the child to her. The door opened again at that moment andElsie Raymond’s voice was heard asking:

  “May I come in, papa?”

  “Yes, daughter, you are wanted here,” was the pleasant-toned reply, andas she came near to him he drew her to his knee, saying:

  “We are talking of Grace’s wedding, trying to decide when it shall be.”

  “Oh, is it going to be soon, papa?” she exclaimed. “I thought itwasn’t to be for years yet. And I don’t want my dear Sister Grace to betaken away from us to another home.”

  “No, and she shall not be for a year or more, and then not out of thegrounds.”

  “Oh, I am glad of that! You will build them a house in our grounds,will you, papa?”

  “I hope to do so,” he said. “But now you may listen quietly to whatothers are saying. Mother,” turning to Mrs. Travilla, “I think we canhardly yet set the exact date for the ceremony that will give you adaughter and me a son. We will want our little Ned to be well enough toenjoy the occasion, and to spare his doctor for a wedding trip of moreor less length.”

  “Yes, sir, I agree with you in that. Perhaps Christmas eve would be asuitable time for the ceremony; Neddie will probably be well enough bythen to be present; and if bride and groom want to take a trip, Herbertand Cousin Arthur Conly can give any attention or prescriptions neededduring Harold’s absence.”

  “Don’t forget, mother, that it is the groom’s privilege to fix themonth,” exclaimed Violet. “And, Harold,” turning to him, “please don’tlet it be so early as Christmas, because I want Grace here then. Itwould hardly seem like Christmas without her.”

  “How would New Year’s day do for the ceremony?” suggested Lucilla.

  “Much better than Christmas,” said Violet.

  “So I think,” said the captain. “They are both too soon to suit mydesires, but—I have already relinquished them.”

  “It would be the best New Year’s gift you could possibly bestow uponme, captain,” said Harold.

  “But what is your feeling about it, dearest?” he asked in an undertone,bending over Grace as he spoke.

  “If you are suited, I am satisfied,” she returned in the same low key,and with a charming smile up into his eyes.

  “I, for one, like the New Year’s gift idea,” said Evelyn. “Gracie togive herself to Harold as such, and he himself to her as the same.”

  “Yes, it is a pretty idea,” assented Grandma Elsie; “but, as Vi hasreminded us, it is Harold’s privilege to set the month, but Gracie’s tochoose the day.”

  “New Year’s would suit me better than any later day, but I want myladylove to make the choice to suit herself,” Harold said, giving Gracea look of ardent admiration and affection.

  “I like Eva’s idea,” she said with a blush and smile, “so am more thanwilling to say New Year’s day, if that suits you, Harold; that is,if—if dear little Ned is well enough by that time to attend and enjoythe scene.”

  “I think he will be,” said Harold; “at all events, if we have theceremony performed here in this house.”

  “I should prefer to have it here rather than anywhere else,” said Gracewith gentle decision.

  “I, too,” said Harold.

  “Then let it be understood that such is to be the arrangement,” saidthe captain. “And in the meantime, Grace, daughter, you can be busiedabout your trousseau, shopping and overseeing the dressmakers.”

  “Thank you, father dear,” she said; “but I have abundance of handsomewearing apparel now, and shall not need to get anything new but thewedding dress.”

  “Nonsense!” exclaimed Violet, “you must have a handsome travellingdress and loads of other nice things; and as soon as Neddie is wellenough to be left by us for some hours we must go to the city and dothe necessary shopping.”

  “Yes,” added the captain, “remember that your father wants you to haveall that heart could wish for your trousseau, if—if he is handing youover to another rather against his will.”

  “I trust I shall never give you cause to regret it, sir,” said Haroldpleasantly. “But I must go now to my young patient,” he added, risingto his feet. “Adieu for the present, friends. I know that you canarrange remaining matters without my valuable assistance.”

  With that he left the room, and the talk between the others went on.

  Harold was pleased to find his young patient sleeping quietly. Theimprovement in his condition was steady from that time, so thatin another week it was deemed altogether right and wise to beginpreparations for the approaching nuptials.

  Relieved from anxiety about little Ned, and supplied by the captainwith abundant means, the ladies thoroughly enjoyed the necessaryshopping, and daily brought home an array of beautiful things for theadornment of the bride that was to be. At the same time Max returned tohis vessel, but with the promise of another short leave of absence toenable him to attend the wedding. That made it easier to part with wifeand baby for the time.

  Here we will leave our friends for the present, preparations for thewedding going merrily on, the lovers very happy in each other and thebright prospect before them, the captain not very discontented with theturn events had taken, and Grandma Elsie full of quiet satisfaction inthe thought of Harold’s happiness, and that she herself was to have sosweet a new daughter added to her store of such treasures.

  THE END

  * * * * *

  Transcriber’s Notes:

  Obvious punctuation errors repaired.

  Page 92, “Burk” changed to “Burke” (Burke, says Lossing, used)

  Page 168, “acecpting” changed to “accepting” (accepting the seat)

  Page 200, “enjoing” changed to “enjoying” (if enjoying the ride)

  Page 282, “kisssed” changed to “kissed” (kissed her tenderly)

  Page 293, a paragraph break was inserted between (Captain Raymondheartily.

  “I will go and)