THE ] .IBRARY 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES 
 
 MABEL R. GILLIS
 
 LIST OF THE ELSIE BOOKS AND 
 OTHER POPULAR BOOKS 
 
 BY 
 
 MARTHA FINLEY 
 
 ELSIE DINSMORB. 
 
 ELSIE'S HOLIDAYS AT ROSELANDSi 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 ELSIE'S WOMANHOOD. 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 ELSIE'S CHILDREN. 
 ELSIE'S WIDOWHOOD. 
 GRANDMOTHER ELSIE. 
 
 ELSIE'S NEW RELATIONS. 
 ELSIE AT NANTUCKET. 
 THE TWO ELSIES. 
 
 ELSIE'S KITH AND KIN. 
 ELSIE'S FRIENDS AT WOODBURN. 
 
 CHRISTMAS WITH GRANDMA ELSIB. 
 ELSIE AND THE RAYMONDS. 
 
 ELSIE YACHTING WITH THE RA YMOND&. 
 ELSIE'S VACATION. 
 
 ELSIE AT VIAMEDE. 
 ELSIE AT ION. 
 
 ELSIE AT THE WORLD'S FAIR. 
 
 ELSIE'S JOURNEY ON INLAND WATERS. 
 ELSIE AT HOME. 
 
 ELSIE ON THE HUDSON. 
 ELSIE IN THE SOUTH. 
 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 1LDRED KEITH. 
 MILDRED AT ROSELANDS. 
 MILDRED'S MARRIED LIFE. 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 MILDRED AT HOME. 
 
 MILDRED'S BOYS AND GIRLS. 
 MILDRED'S NEW DAUGHTER. 
 
 G4SSLLA. 
 
 SIGNING THE CONTRACT AND WHAT IT COST. 
 THE TRAGEDY OF WILD RIVER VALLEY. 
 OUR FRED. 
 
 AN OLD-FASHIONED BOY. 
 WANTED, A PEDIGREE. 
 
 THE THORN IN THE NEST.
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 BY 
 
 MAETHA FILLET, 
 
 (MARTHA FARQUHARSON,) 
 
 ATJTHOB OP THE "ELSIE BOOKS," "MILDRED KEITH/ 
 "MILDRED AT ROSELANDS," "SIGNING THE 
 CONTRACT," ETC., ETC. 
 
 ' Through suffering and sorrow thou hastpass'd, 
 To show us what a woman true may be." 
 
 J. R. LOWELL. 
 
 " A lovely being scarcely form' d or moulded, 
 A rose with all its sweetest leaves yet folded." 
 
 BYRON 
 
 NEW YORK : 
 DODD, MEAD & COMPANY, 
 
 PUBLISHERS.
 
 COPYRIGHT, 1881, BY DODD, MEAD & COMPANY.
 
 
 MILDRED AM) ELSIE, 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 " 'Tis beautiful when first the dewy light 
 
 Breaks on the earth 1 while yet the scented air 
 Is breathing the cool freshness of the night, 
 And the bright clouds a tint of crimson bear." 
 
 ELIZABETH M. CHANDLER. 
 
 ' 'A long, long kiss, a kiss of youth and love." 
 
 Bnoar. 
 
 MORNING was breaking over the landscape ; 
 a cool, refreshing breeze, laden with woodland 
 sweets and wild birds' songs, softly kissed Mil 
 dred's cheek and awoke her. 
 
 She started up with a low exclamation of 
 delight, sprang to the open window, and kneel 
 ing there with her elbow on the sill and her 
 cheek in her hand, feasted her eyes upon the 
 beauty of the scene a grand panorama of 
 wooded hills, falling waters, wild glens and 
 forests and craggy mountains, above whose 
 lofty summits the east was glowing with crim 
 son and gold. 
 
 Another moment and the sun burst through 
 
 577437
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 the golden gate and began anew his daily round, 
 " rejoicing as a strong man to run a race." 
 
 The brightness of his face was too dazzling 
 for Mildred's eyes, and her gaze fell lower 
 down, where wreaths of gray mist hung over 
 the valleys or crept slowly up the mountain 
 sides. Presently it rested on one of the nearer 
 hill-tops, and a sudden, vivid blush suffused 
 her cheek, while a sweet and tender smile 
 shone in her eyes and hovered about her lips. 
 
 But a sigh quickly followed, smile and blush 
 faded away, and she dropped her face into her 
 hands with a low-breathed exclamation, " Oh 
 what shall I do ? What ought I to do ?" 
 
 There was a question of grave importance 
 awaiting her decision a decision which would 
 in all probability affect the happiness of her 
 whole future life on earth ; yea, who should say 
 its influence would not reach even into eternity? 
 
 She longed to take counsel of her mother, 
 but that mother was far distant, and the ques 
 tion one the girl shrank from putting upon 
 paper and trusting to the mails. 
 
 But a dearer, wiser, even more loving friend 
 was close at hand, and to Him and His Word 
 she turned for guidance. 
 
 Subdued sounds of life came to Mildred's 
 ear ere she closed the Book ; servants were
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 1 
 
 astir setting the house to rights and preparing 
 breakfast for the numerous guests, most of 
 whom still lingered in the land of dreams. 
 
 Mildred made a rapid but neat toilet, then 
 stole softly from the room, promising herself 
 a stroll through the grounds while yet the 
 quiet and dewy freshness of early morning 
 lingered there. 
 
 In one of the wide cool porches of the hotel 
 a young man paced to and fro with hasty, agi 
 tated step, glancing up again and again with 
 longing impatience at the windows of a certain 
 room on the second floor. Pausing in his walk, 
 he drew out his watch. 
 
 " Only a brief half -hour !" he sighed. " Am 
 I not to see her at all ?" 
 
 But at that instant there stepped from the 
 open doorway a slight, graceful, girlish figure 
 in a dainty white muslin, a bunch of wild- 
 Sowers in her belt, a broad-brimmed straw hat 
 in her hand; and with a low exclamation, " Ah, 
 at last !" he hurried to meet her. 
 
 She started slightly at sight of him and sent 
 a hurried glance this way and that, as if medi 
 tating flight. 
 
 " O Mildred, don't run away ! why should 
 you avoid me ?" he said entreatingly, holding 
 out his hand.
 
 8 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 There was a scarcely perceptible hesitation 
 in her manner as she gave him hers. 
 
 " Good-morning," she said softly. " Is any 
 thing wrong ? I think you look troubled." 
 
 "Yes, I am called away suddenly; must 
 leave within the hour ; a dear, only sister lies 
 at the point of death." 
 
 His tones grew husky and her eyes filled 
 with tears. 
 
 " Oh what sad news ! I am so sorry for 
 you !" she murmured. 
 
 He drew her hand within his arm and led 
 her down a shaded alley. 
 
 " It is in your power to give me unspeakable 
 comfort," he said, bending over her. "You 
 wear my flowers; O dearest! is not that a 
 whisper of hope to me ? You have decided in 
 my favor ? is it not so 2" 
 
 " O Charlie, don't ask me ! I I have not 
 been able yet to see that that I may that I 
 ought" 
 
 " To follow the dictates of your heart ? Is 
 that what you would say 2" he asked, as she 
 broke off abruptly, leaving the sentence unfin 
 ished. " O Mildred ! you cannot have the heart 
 to refuse me this one crumb of comfort ? "We 
 must part in a few moments when to meet 
 again neither of us knows. You have refused
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 9 
 
 to pledge yourself to me, and I will not ask it 
 now though I solemnly promise you " 
 
 "No, don't," she interrupted, struggling 
 with her tears ; " I would have you free free 
 as air ; since I I can promise nothing." 
 
 " I will never marry any one but you," he 
 said with vehemence. " If I cannot win you, 
 I will live single all my days. But you do 
 care for me ? You do love me ? O Mildred ! 
 one word, only a word or a look, that I may 
 not go away on my sorrowful errand in utter 
 despair. Only assure me that I have won your 
 heart, and I shall never abandon hope that this 
 barrier may some day be removed." 
 
 She could not refuse him : she had not power 
 to hide either her love or her grief that they 
 must part; both had their way for a short 
 Nspace. 
 
 He had led her into an arbor whose shelter 
 ing vines would screen them from prying eyes ; 
 and there clasped in each other's arms, heart 
 beating against heart, his bearded lip softly 
 touching again and again her cheek, her brow, 
 her quivering lips, they passed the few precious 
 moments that yet remained to them. 
 
 He was gone ; and as the last echo of his de 
 parting footsteps died away upon her ear there 
 came over Mildred such a sense of utter deso-
 
 10 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 lation as she had never known before. Sink 
 ing down upon a rustic bench she hid her face 
 in her hands, and for a few moments allowed 
 her full heart to ease itself in a burst of weep 
 ing. 
 
 But this would not do ; the breakfast hour 
 drew near, and though it had been of late her 
 aunt's custom to take that meal in bed, her 
 uncle would expect to see her in her usual 
 place at the table, and his keen eye would be 
 quick to detect the traces of tears. The 
 cousins, too, would notice them and not scruple 
 to inquire the cause. 
 
 She hastily dried her eyes, rose, and leaving 
 the arbor, strolled about the grounds, resolutely 
 striving to recover her wonted cheerfulness. 
 
 She had made the circuit once, and again 
 neared the arbor, when she heard her name 
 called in sweet, childish treble, " Cousin Milly, 
 Cousin Milly !" and as she turned in the direc 
 tion of the sound, little Elsie, closely followed 
 by her faithful mammy, came bounding toward 
 her with a letter in her hand. 
 
 " Grandpa said I might bring it to you. 
 Ain't you so glad, cousin ?" she asked ; and the 
 missive was put into Mildred's hand, the sweet 
 baby face held up for a kiss. 
 
 Mildred bestowed it very heartily, taking
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. H 
 
 the little one in her arms and repeating the 
 caress again and again, " Yery glad, darling," 
 she said, "and very much obliged to my pet 
 for bringing it. Is it time to go in to break- 
 fast, Aunt Chloe 3" 
 
 " Massa Dinsmore say you will hab time to 
 read de lettah first, Miss Milly," replied the 
 nurse, dropping a courtesy. 
 
 " Then I will do so," Mildred said, re-enter 
 ing the arbor. 
 
 "May mammy and Elsie stay wis you?" 
 asked the baby girl coaxingly. 
 
 " Yes indeed, darling," Mildred said, making 
 room for the child to sit by her side. 
 
 "Dere now, honey, keep quiet and don't 
 'sturb yo' cousin while she reads de lettah," 
 cautioned Aunt Chloe, lifting her nursling 
 and settling her comfortably on the bench. 
 
 Mildred had broken the seal, and was already 
 too much absorbed in the news from home to 
 hear or heed what her companions might be 
 saying. 
 
 Elsie watched her, as she read, with loving, 
 wistful eyes. "Did your mamma write it, 
 cousin ?" she asked, as Mildred paused to turn 
 the page. 
 
 " Yes, dear ; and she sends love and kisses 
 to you, and wishes I could take you home with
 
 12 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 me when I go. Oh, if I only could !" And 
 Mildred bent down to press another kiss on the 
 sweet baby lips. 
 
 " Maybe my papa will let me go, if grandpa 
 will write and ask him," returned the child, 
 with an eager, joyous look up into Mildred's 
 face. " But I couldn't go wisout mammy." 
 
 " Oh no ! if you should go, mammy would 
 go too ; you can't be separated from her, and 
 we would all be glad to have her there," Mil 
 dred said, softly caressing the shining curls of 
 the little one, glancing kindly up into the dusky 
 face of the nurse, then turning to her letter 
 again. 
 
 It was with mingled feelings that she per 
 used it, for though all was well with the dear 
 ones beneath her father's roof, and the thought 
 of soon again looking upon their loved faces 
 made most welcome the summons home which 
 it brought, there was sorrow and pain in the 
 prospect of soon bidding a long farewell to 
 the darling now seated by her side the little 
 motherless one over whom her heart yearned 
 so tenderly because of the lack of parental 
 love and care that made the young life seem so 
 sad and forlorn, spite of all the beauty and 
 wealth with which she the little fair one 
 was so abundantly dowered. 
 
 As she read the last line, then slowly refold-
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 13 
 
 ed the letter, tears gathered in her eyes. Elsie 
 saw them, and stealing an arm round her neck, 
 said in her sweet baby tones, "Don't cry, 
 Cousin Milly. What makes you sorry? I 
 loves you ever so much." 
 
 " And I you, you precious, lovely darling !" 
 cried Mildred, clasping the little form close and 
 kissing the pure brow again and again. " That 
 is just what almost breaks my heart at the 
 thought of oh why, why don't you belong to 
 us !" she broke off with a half -stifled sob. 
 
 A firm, quick step came up the gravel walk, 
 and Mr. Dinsrnore stood looking down upon 
 them. 
 
 " Why, what is wrong ? not bad news from 
 home, I hope, Milly ?" 
 
 "No, uncle; they are all well, and every 
 thing going smoothly so far as I can learn 
 from my letter," she said, brushing away her 
 tears and forcing a smile. 
 
 "What then?" he asked, "Elsie has not 
 been troubling you. I hope ?" 
 
 " Oh no, no, she never does that ! " 
 
 " Breakfast has been announced ; shall we go 
 and partake of it ?" 
 
 " If you please, sir. I am quite ready," Mil 
 dred answered, as she rose and took his offered 
 arm. 
 
 "Bring the child," he said to Chloe; then
 
 14 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 walking on. "What is wrong, Milly? thera 
 must have been a cause for the tears you have 
 certainly been shedding." 
 
 " I am summoned home, uncle, and glad as 
 I shall be to see it and all the dear ones there, 
 again, I can't help feeling sorry to leave you 
 all." 
 
 "I hope not. Dear me, I wish we could 
 keep you always !" he exclaimed. " But when 
 and how are you to go ?" 
 
 "Mother wrote that a gentleman friend 
 our minister, Mr. Lord will be in Philadel 
 phia in the course of three or four weeks, 
 spend a few days there, then go back to Pleas 
 ant Plains, and that he has kindly offered to 
 take charge of me. Mother and father think 
 I should embrace the opportunity by all means, 
 as it may be a long time before another as good 
 will offer." 
 
 "And doubtless they are right, though I 
 wish it had not come so soon." 
 
 " So soon, uncle ?" Mildred returned bright 
 ly. " Do you forget that I have been with you 
 for nearly a year ?" 
 
 "A year is a very short time at my age," he 
 answered with a smile. 
 
 But they were at the door of the breakfast- 
 room, and the topic was dropped for the pres 
 ent, as by mutual consent.
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 " O my good lord, the world is but a word; 
 Were it all yours, to give it in a breath, 
 How quickly were it gone." 
 
 SHAKESPEARE. 
 
 THE end of the week found the Dinsmores 
 and Mildred in Philadelphia, very busy with 
 sight-seeing and shopping. Each one of the 
 party was to be furnished with a suitable out 
 fit for fall and the coming winter, and Mildred 
 had a long list of commissions from her 
 mother. 
 
 Mrs. Dinsmore showed herself keenly in 
 terested in the purchase of her own and her 
 children's finery, languidly so in Mildred's; 
 these procured, she immediately declared her 
 self completely worn out and unfit for further 
 exertion. 
 
 No one regretted it ; Mildred had learned 
 to rely to a great extent upon her own taste 
 and judgment, and with Mr. Dinsmore's 
 efficient help succeeded quite to her satisfac 
 tion in filling out the remainder of her list. 
 
 To him fell the task of buying for his little 
 granddaughter, and Mildred was not a little
 
 16 NILDEED AND ELSIE. 
 
 gratified by being taken into his counsels and 
 invited to assist his choice of materials and 
 the fashion in which they should be made up. 
 
 Spite of some drawbacks to her pleasure, 
 principally caused by Mrs. Dinsmore's infirmi 
 ties of temper, Mildred thoroughly enjoyed 
 her stay in the City of Brotherly Love. 
 
 It was drawing to a close, when, on coming 
 down from her room one morning and enter 
 ing the private parlor of their party, she was 
 met by a joyous greeting from little Elsie. 
 
 " O Cousin Milly, I'm so glad ! Grandpa 
 has got a letter from my papa, and my papa 
 says Elsie must go and buy some pretty 
 presents for all the folks at your home. Isn't 
 that ever so nice ?" 
 
 " Thank you, darling, you and your papa," 
 Mildred said, stooping to caress the child. 
 " He is very kind, and I know your generous 
 little heart can find no greater pleasure than 
 in giving to others." 
 
 " She's a Dinsmore in that," her grand 
 father said with a proud smile ; " they have 
 always esteemed it the greatest luxury wealth 
 can purchase. And Elsie is fortunately abun 
 dantly able to gratify herself in that way, and 
 her father has given her carte blanche (subject 
 to my approval, of course) ; eo, my dear, you
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. YT 
 
 are not to object to anything we may take it- 
 into our heads to do." 
 
 He patted Elsie's curly pate as he spoke, 
 and looked smilingly into Mildred's eyes. 
 
 "You are very kind now and always, 
 uncle," the young girl responded, returning 
 his smile and blushing slightly ; " and I don't 
 know that I have a right to object to anything 
 that is not done for myself." 
 
 The entrance of Mrs. Dinsmore and her 
 children simultaneously with the bringing in 
 of breakfast, put a stop to the conversation. 
 
 " "Well, Mildred, if it suits your conveni 
 ence, we will set out at once upon this final 
 shopping expedition," her uncle said as they 
 left the table ; and her consent being given,, 
 he directed Chloe to make Elsie ready to ac 
 company them. 
 
 The child was in her element as they went 
 from one store to another, and she chose, with 
 the asisstance of her grandfather and cousin, 
 her gifts to Mildred's parents, brothers, and 
 sisters. 
 
 At length they entered the largest jewelry 
 sstablishment in the city, and Mr. Dinsmore 
 asked to be shown some of their best gold, 
 watches for ladies. 
 
 " I am commissioned to select one for a lady
 
 18 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 friend," he said to Mildred in a grave, half- 
 preoccupied tone as the jeweller promptly 
 complied with his request, "and I want your 
 assistance in making a choice." 
 
 " But I am no judge of a watch, uncle," she 
 returned ; " Elsie here could select about as 
 well as I." 
 
 " Elsie shall have her say about it, too," Mr. 
 Dinsmore said, looking smilingly from one to 
 the other. " All I want from either of you is 
 -an opinion in regard to the outside appearance, 
 while this gentleman and 1 will judge of the 
 quality of the works." 
 
 They presently made a selection of both 
 watch and chain satisfactory to all parties. 
 Elsie chose a plain gold ring for Mildred, and 
 one for each of her sisters, and they left the 
 store. 
 
 Elsie whispered something to her grand 
 father as he took his seat beside her in the 
 carriage. 
 
 He shook his head. "Wait till we get 
 home," he said rather curtly ; " we are going 
 now to choose the new piano." 
 
 It was for the drawing-room at Roselands, 
 and he took Mildred with him to try the in 
 struments and tell him which she thought the 
 best and finest toned.
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. \& 
 
 Mildred was equally charmed with several 
 two in particular and they had some little 
 difficulty in fixing upon the one that should 
 be ordered to Eoselands. 
 
 " I will leave it undecided for to-day," Mr. 
 Dinsmore said at length, " and will call again 
 to-morrow." 
 
 On the way to their hotel, and when arrived 
 there, little Elsie seemed all eagerness, yet 
 kept it in check in obedience to an occasional 
 warning look from her grandfather. 
 
 Mildred went directly to her room to re 
 move her bonnet and shawl, then sat down in. 
 a low chair by the window to rest and think 
 while awaiting the summons to dinner. 
 
 She had scarcely done so when there was a 
 gentle tap, as of baby fingers, at her door, and 
 Elsie's sweet voice was heard asking in eager r 
 excited tones for admittance. 
 
 " Yes, darling, come in," Mildred answered ; 
 and the door flew open and the child ran in, 
 closely followed by her mammy. 
 
 The small hands held a jewel-case, and the 
 large, soft brown eyes were full of love and 
 delight as she hastened to place it in Mildred's 
 lap, saying, "It's for you, cousin; my papa 
 said in his letter that Elsie might buy it for 
 you."
 
 20 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 She raised the lid. "See, Cousin Milly, 
 see ! Aren't you so glad ?" 
 
 There lay the watch and chain they had 
 helped Mr. Dinsmore select that morning. 
 
 A watch was a far greater luxury in those 
 days than it is now, and this a costly and 
 beautiful one. Mildred could scarcely believe 
 the evidence of her senses ; surely it must be 
 all a dream. She gazed at the child in dumb 
 surprise. 
 
 Elsie lifted her pretty present with dainty 
 are, threw the chain round Mildred's neck, 
 ^nd slid the watch into the bosom of her dress ; 
 then stepping back a little to take a better 
 "view, " See, mammy, see !'' she cried, clapping 
 her hands and dancing up and down in delight, 
 "" doesn't it look pretty on cousin ?" 
 
 " Jus' lubly, honey. Don't Miss Milly like 
 it?" 
 
 Aunt Chloe's look into Mildred's face was 
 half reproachful, half entreating. Could it be 
 possible that her darling's beautiful, costly gift 
 ^was not appreciated ? 
 
 " Like it ?" cried Mildred, catching the child 
 in her arms and covering the little face with 
 kisses, a tear or two mingling with them to 
 the great wonderment of the little one ; " like 
 it ? Oh it is only too lovely and expensive to
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 21 
 
 be bestowed upon me ! Sweet pet, you should 
 keep it for yourself. Cousin Milly ought not 
 to take it from you." 
 
 " Yes, papa did say so in his letter. Grand 
 pa read the words to Elsie. And when I's 
 big enough I is to have my mamma's watch." 
 
 " But it cost so much," murmured Mildred 
 half to herself, as she drew out the watch and 
 gazed at it with admiring eyes. 
 
 " My chile hab plenty ob money," respond 
 ed Aunt Chloe, " and houses and land and 
 eberyting ob dis world's riches ; and she lubs 
 you, Miss Milly, and ef you don' take dat 
 watch and chain she will most break her 
 bressed little heart. "Won't you, honey ?" 
 
 The child nodded, and the soft eyes gazing 
 into Mildred's filled with tears. It was im 
 possible to resist their eloquent pleading. 
 
 " Then cousin will accept it with her hearti 
 est thanks, and value it more for the sake of 
 the dear little giver than for its usefulness, its 
 beauty, or its cost," Mildred said, taking Elsie 
 on her lap and holding her in a close, loving 
 embrace. " Dear little girlie," she murmured 
 tenderly, " cousin will never intentionally rob 
 you of the smallest pleasure or plant the least 
 thorn in your path." 
 
 Another light tap at the door, and Mr-
 
 52 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 Dinsmore joined them. " Ah ! that is right," 
 lie said with a smiling glance at the chain about 
 Mildred's neck. 
 
 " Uncle, it is too much. You should not 
 have allowed it. How could you?" Mildred 
 asked half reproachfully. 
 
 " I only obeyed orders," was his laughing 
 rejoinder. "Horace feels, as I do also, that 
 we owe a debt of gratitude to your mother 
 "to say nothing of the affection we have for 
 you all ; and he knows from the reports I have 
 given him of his child that he could not af 
 ford her a greater gratification than the per 
 mission to do this. Beside, you have been ex 
 tremely kind to her, and ought not to object 
 to her making you some small return in the 
 only w r ay she can." 
 
 " O uncle ! her love and sweet caresses have 
 more than recompensed the little I have been 
 able to do for her, the darling!" cried Mildred, 
 heaping fresh caresses upon the little fair one. 
 
 Mr. Lord called that afternoon to report 
 himself as arrived in the city, and to inquire 
 if it were Mildred's intention to accept his 
 escort on the homeward journey. His stay 
 would necessarily be short not more than 
 :two or three days. 
 
 Mildred met him with outstretched hand
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. g$ 
 
 and eyes shining with pleasure. She had been 
 so long away from home, was so hungry for 
 a sight of anything connected with Pleasant 
 Plains, that had she unexpectedly encountered 
 Damaris Drybread she would very probably 
 have greeted her with something like affec 
 tion. 
 
 She perceived no change in Mr. Lord, ex 
 cept that he had a new set of teeth ; he seemed 
 to her in all other respects precisely what he- 
 was when she bade him good-by a year ago ;. 
 but he was astonished, bewildered, delighted 
 at the change in her. He had always admired 
 her fresh young beauty, but it was as though 
 the sweet bud had blossomed into the half- 
 blown, lovely rose, with just a few of its pet 
 als still softly folded. 
 
 He blushed and stammered, answered her 
 eager queries about old friends, and all that 
 had been going on in Pleasant Plains since 
 she left, in the most absent-minded way, and 
 scarcely took his eyes from her face. In short, 
 so conducted himself as to make his feelings 
 toward her evident to the most careless ob 
 server. 
 
 " Mildred," said Mrs. Dinsmore, when at 
 last he had taken his departure for that day,. 
 " if I were your mother you should stay from.
 
 24 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 liome another year before I would trust you 
 to travel with that man !" 
 
 "Why, aunt, you cannot think hi:n any. 
 thing but a good man !" exclaimed the girl in 
 astonishment. 
 
 " Humph ! that's a question I don't pretend 
 to decide. But don't, I beg of you, let him 
 persuade you on the way that it is your duty 
 to marry him. If he can only make you be 
 lieve it's your duty, you'll do it whether you 
 Tvant to or not." 
 
 Mildred's cheek flushed hotly. "O Aunt 
 Dinsmore !" she cried, " he could never be so 
 foolish ! why, he is old enough to be my father, 
 and so wise and good ; and I but a silly young 
 thing, as unfit as possible for the duties and 
 responsibilities of a " 
 
 " Minister's wife," suggested Mrs. Dinsmore, 
 as the young girl broke off in confusion. 
 " "Well, I don't know about that ; you are 
 pious enough in all conscience. But, Mildred, 
 you positively must reject him ; it would be a 
 terribly hard life, and " 
 
 " Aunt, he has not offered, and I believe, I 
 hope, never will. So I am not called upon to 
 consider the question of acceptance or rejec^ 
 .lion." 
 
 " That was very rude, Miss Keith your in-
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 25 
 
 terrupting me in that way," Mrs. Dinsmore 
 said, half in displeasure, half in sport. " "Well, 
 if you will allow me, I shall finish what I had 
 to say. I've set my heart on seeing you and 
 Charlie Landreth make a match. There ! why 
 do you color so, and turn your head away? 
 Charlie likes you is in fact deeply in love, I 
 feel perfectly certain, and doubtless will follow 
 you before long. You may take my word for 
 it that he would have proposed before we left 
 the springs if it hadn't been for that sudden 
 summons to his dying sister." 
 
 Mildred made no reply ; she had kept her 
 face studiously averted, and was glad that the 
 entrance, at that moment, of a servant with a 
 letter for Mrs. Dinsmore gave her an oppor 
 tunity to escape from the room.
 
 CHAPTEE III. 
 
 " And 't shall go hard, 
 But I will delve one yard, below their mines, 
 And blow them at the moon." 
 
 SHAKESPEARE. 
 
 THE sun was just peeping over the tops of 
 the tall city houses as Mildred entered the 
 carriage which was to convey her to the depot. 
 Mr. Dinsmore and little Elsie the two whom 
 it was a grief of heart to her to leave were 
 with her; Mrs. Dinsmore and the others had 
 bidden good-by before retiring the previous 
 night, and were still in bed. 
 
 "Elsie, darling, won't you sit in cousin's 
 lap ?" Mildred said, holding out her arms to 
 receive the child as her grandfather handed 
 her in at the carriage door. 
 
 " No, no ! she is much too heavy, and there 
 is abundance of room," he said hastily. 
 
 " But I want to hold her, uncle," returned 
 Mildred, drawing the little one to her knee. 
 " I love dearly to have her in my arms, and 
 this is my last chance." 
 
 " As you will, then ; a wilful woman will
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 27 
 
 have her way," he said lightly, as he settled 
 himself on the opposite seat and the door 
 closed upon them with a bang. 
 
 The rattling of the wheels over the cobble 
 stones, as they drove rapidly onward, made 
 conversation next to impossible ; but Mildred 
 was not sorry : her heart was almost too full 
 for speech. She clasped little Elsie close, the 
 child nestling lovingly in her arms, while they 
 mingled their caresses and tears. 
 
 At the depot, too, where there was a half 
 hour of waiting, they clung together as those 
 who knew not how to part. Elsie's low sobs 
 were pitiful to hear, but she stood in too great 
 awe of her grandfather to indulge in any loud 
 lament. 
 
 He, however, did not reprove her, but 
 seemed to quite compassionate her grief, and 
 tried to assuage it with promises of gifts and 
 indulgences ; for Mildred had succeeded to 
 some extent in softening his heart toward the 
 motherless little one which she now per 
 ceived with joy and thankfulness. 
 
 His kindness to herself had been uniform 
 from the first, and continued to the last mo 
 ment. Not till he had seen her on board the 
 train, and made as comfortable as possible, did 
 he resign her to the care of Mr. Lord ; then,
 
 28 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 with a fatherly kiss and an affectionate message 
 to her mother, he left her. 
 
 As the train moved slowly on, she caught a 
 last glimpse of him, and of Aunt Chloe stand 
 ing by his side with the weeping Elsie in her 
 arms. 
 
 Mr. Lord essayed the office of comforter. 
 
 " That is a sweet child, Miss Mildred, a very 
 sweet child. And Mr. Dinsmore seems a 
 noble man. These partings are sad especially 
 so when we are young ; but let the thought of 
 the dear ones to whom you are going, and of 
 the better land where partings are unknown,, 
 console and cheer you now." 
 
 Mildred could hardly have commanded her 
 voice to reply, and was glad the increasing 
 noise of the train relieved her of the necessity 
 for doing so, but she dried her eyes and reso 
 lutely forced her tears back to their fountain, 
 calling to mind the lessons on the duty of 
 cheerfulness taught her by her mother, by both 
 precept and example. 
 
 And oh, it was joy to know that each mile 
 passed over was bearing her nearer to that 
 loved monitor! "What a cheering thought 
 was that ! and scarcely less so the prospect of 
 seeing Aunt "Wealthy, with whom she and Mr, 
 Xord were to spend a few days; Lansdale
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 29 
 
 being not far out of their route in crossing 
 Ohio. 
 
 At that day there was no continuous line of 
 railroad from Philadelphia to Pittsburg. They 
 traveled sometimes by canal, sometimes by 
 stage, passing over the mountains in the latter. 
 This proved the most exciting and perilous 
 part of the journey, the roads being almost 
 all the way very steep, and often lying along 
 the edge of a precipice, to plunge over which 
 would be certain, horrible death. 
 
 Much of the scenery was grand and beauti 
 ful, but the enjoyment of it greatly interfered 
 with by the sense of danger. Many a time 
 Mildred's heart seemed to leap into her mouth, 
 and she sent up a silent but strong cry to God 
 that he would keep the horses from stumbling, 
 their feet from treading too near the verge. 
 
 There was one afternoon so full of terror of 
 this kind, and importunate prayer for preser 
 vation, that she felt she could never forget it 
 to the day of her death should she live to the 
 age of Methuselah. 
 
 The stage was full : the back seat was occu 
 pied by our heroine and a young mother with 
 a babe in her arms and another little one by 
 her side ; the remaining seats were filled with 
 gentlemen.
 
 30 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 " That fellow is drunk and in a terribly bad 
 humor," remarked one of the latter, as the 
 driver slammed the door to upon them and 
 mounted to his perch. 
 
 " In no fit condition to guide those horses 
 over the steep and narrow passes that lie be 
 tween this and our next halting-place," added 
 another uneasily. "You had an altercation 
 with him, hadn't you, Blake ?" addressing the 
 first speaker. 
 
 " Yes, Mr. Grey, I had ; what business had 
 he to hurry us off in this style? Why, we 
 were scarcely seated at the dinner-table when 
 he blew his horn, and we all had to run to 
 avoid being left." 
 
 " Quite true." 
 
 " That's so," assented several voices. 
 
 " And the same thing is repeated again and 
 again, until it has become quite unbearable," 
 Blake went on, his eyes sparkling with anger j 
 " we pay for our food and have no chance to 
 eat it." 
 
 " There seems to be some collusion between 
 the innkeepers and drivers for the purpose of 
 defrauding travelers," remarked Mr. Lord. 
 
 " Are we not going very fast ?" asked the 
 young mother, turning a pale, anxious face 
 toward the last speaker.
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. SI 
 
 " Yes, dangerously so." And, putting his 
 head out of the window, he called to the 
 driver, mildly requesting him to slacken hia 
 speed. 
 
 The reply was a volley of oaths and curses, 
 while the whip was applied to the horses in a 
 way that made them rear and plunge fright 
 fully. 
 
 They had been toiling up a steep ascent, 
 and now were skirting the mountain side, a 
 high wall of rock on the one hand, a sheer 
 descent of many hundred feet on the other. 
 
 Blake glanced from the window with a 
 shudder, and turning a ghastly face upon the 
 others, " We shall be hurled into eternity in 
 another minute," he said, in a hoarse whisper. 
 
 Then voice after voice was raised, calling to 
 the driver in expostulation, warning, entreaty. 
 
 " You are risking your own life as well as 
 ours," cried one. 
 
 " I tell you I don't care !" he shouted back, 
 with a fearful oath ; " we're behind time, and 
 I'll lose my place if I don't make it up. I'll 
 
 get you to C by half -past five, or land you 
 
 in h 11, I don't care which." 
 
 " O my children, my poor little children !" 
 cried the mother, clasping her babe closer to 
 her breast and bursting into tears. Then, in
 
 32 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 a sort of desperation, she thrust her head out 
 of the window and shrieked to the man, " For 
 the love of Heaven, driver, have mercy on my 
 poor babes !" 
 
 The man was probably a father, for that 
 appeal reached his heart, hardened as it was : 
 there was instantly a very sensible diminution 
 of their fearful velocity, though the stage still 
 rolled on at a dangerously rapid rate ; keeping 
 them all in terror until at length it drew up 
 before the door of a tavern ; where they were 
 to halt for their supper. 
 
 The gentlemen made haste to alight. Mr, 
 Lord handed out Mildred, then the mother 
 and her children. 
 
 " You must be very tired, ladies," he said, 
 following them into the parlor of the inn y 
 which was very plainly furnished with rag 
 carpet, wooden chairs and settee, and green 
 paper window-blinds, nothing tasteful, noth 
 ing inviting, except an appearance of order 
 and cleanliness. 
 
 " Yes, sir, I am dreadfully tired," the strange 
 lady answered, dropping into a chair and set 
 ting her babe on her knee, while she drew 
 the older child to her side and wiped the 
 tears from its cheeks, for it was sobbing piti 
 fully; "that was a fearful ride, the jolting
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 33 
 
 and shaking were bad enough, but the fright 
 was ten times worse. And we're almost 
 starved," she added. "My little Mary is cry 
 ing with hunger. I hope they'll give us time 
 to eat here. Do you know, sir, how soon the 
 stage starts on again ?" 
 
 " I will step out and inquire ; also how soon 
 the supper will be ready," Mr. Lord said, mov 
 ing toward the door. 
 
 " Can I do anything for you, Miss Mil 
 dred ?" he asked, pausing upon the threshold. 
 "You are looking wretchedly pale and fa 
 tigued," he added, in a tone of concern. 
 
 The other gentlemen had gone to the bar* 
 room ; but at this moment Blake came to a 
 window of the parlor, looking out upon a porch 
 which ran along the whole front of the house. 
 He looked red and angry. 
 
 " It seems the same game is to be repeated 
 here," he said, addressing Mr. Lord ; " the sup 
 per is not ready and the stage will leave in 
 half an hour. There is every appearance of 
 rain. too; the night will be cloudy and dark, 
 making travel over these mountains doubly 
 dangerous. I propose that we all decide to 
 remain where we are over night and let the 
 stage go empty. If the whole party will agree 
 in doing so, 'twill serve the rascal right, and
 
 34 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 perhaps teach him a useful and much needed 
 lesson. What do you say, sir ? you and your 
 daughter ?" 
 
 "My lady friend," stammered Mr. Lord, 
 coloring violently. " What do you think of 
 the plan, Miss Mildred ?" 
 
 " Her cheek, too, flushed a rosy red as she 
 answered eagerly : " Oh, let us stay, by all 
 means ! I'm sure it would be better a great 
 deal, than risking our lives on such roads at 
 night." 
 
 " Just what I think," said the other lady, 
 "and my little ones are too tired to travel 
 any farther to-night. I shall stay whether the 
 rest do or not. I intend that the children and 
 I shall have a chance to eat one full meal at 
 any rate," she added to Mildred, as the gen 
 tlemen walked away together. 
 
 The call to supper followed almost imme 
 diately upon the announcement that no one 
 would leave in the stage that night. 
 
 With the keen appetites they brought to it, 
 our travellers found the fare excellent good 
 bread and butter, baked potatoes, ham and 
 fresh-laid eggs. 
 
 Mr. Lord, seated between the two ladies, 
 was very kind and attentive to both, but as 
 usual did some absurdly absent-minded things.
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 35, 
 
 " Do you really prefer salt to sugar in your 
 coffee, Mr. Lord ?" asked Mildred demurely r 
 but with a mischievous twinkle in her eye, as 
 she saw him draw the salt-cellar toward him 
 and dip his teaspoon into it. 
 
 She had stayed his hand just in time. " Oh 
 no, certainly not," he said, laughing to cover 
 his confusion as he hastily emptied the spoon 
 into his saucer. " It is a very pleasant even 
 ing," he remarked, sugaring his potato. 
 
 " Do you think so ?" said Mildred, listen* 
 ing to the dash of the rain against the window^ 
 for the threatened storm had come. " Then I 
 suppose, like the Shepherd of Salisbury Plains, 
 you are pleased with whatever kind of weather- 
 is sent ?" 
 
 " Certainly we all should be," he said. 
 " But I was not aware till this moment that 
 it was raining." 
 
 Mildred presently becoming interested in- 
 some talk going on between her opposite 
 neighbors, had for the moment almost for 
 gotten Mr. Lord's existence. She was recalled 
 to it by a hasty movement on his part. He 
 suddenly pushed back his chair, rose, and 
 walked out of the room. 
 
 A glance at his saucer, half full of coffee,, 
 then at the laughing eyes of the other lady,,
 
 .36 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 enlightened our heroine as to the cause of 
 his sudden exit. 
 
 " Salted coffee is not, I find, particularly 
 palatable," he remarked, coming back and re 
 suming his seat. " I am a sadly absent-minded 
 person, Miss Mildred ; you should watch over 
 me and prevent such mistakes, as my mother 
 does at home." 
 
 " I really do not feel equal to so arduous an 
 undertaking," was her sprightly rejoinder. 
 
 " This is a lonely spot, not another house 
 in sight, they say," remarked the mother of 
 the children to Mildred, as they returned to 
 the parlor. "I am timid about sleeping alone 
 in a strange place, and should like to have a 
 room adjoining yours, if you do not object, 
 are not afraid of being so near a lioness and 
 her cubs," she added, with a slight laugh. " I 
 am Mrs. Lyon." 
 
 " Mildred gave her name in return, and ex 
 pressed entire acquiescence in the proposed 
 arrangement, and being much fatigued with 
 their journey they presently retired. 
 
 They were up and dressed betimes to make 
 sure of their breakfast before the early hour 
 at which the stage was to leave. But they 
 were treated to a repetition of former ex 
 periences. The meal was delayed, and they
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 37 
 
 had been scarcely ten minutes at the table 
 when they heard the roll and rumble of the 
 wheels and the loud " Toot, toot !" of thfr 
 driver's horn, as the stage swept round from 
 the stables and drew up before the tavern door. 
 
 There was a hasty swallowing down of an 
 other mouthful or two, a hurried scramble 
 for hats, bonnets, and parcels, a crowding into 
 the vehicle, and in a moment more it was toil 
 ing up the mountain side. 
 
 The appetite of no one of the party had. 
 been fully satisfied, and there was a good deal 
 of grumbling and complaining from this one 
 and that. 
 
 " I tell you, friends," said Blake, " it is high- 
 time there was a stop put to this thing. I 
 have an idea in my head, and at the next 
 stopping place, if we are hurried off in the 
 usual style, I want you all to follow my ex 
 ample. If you will, these rascally fellows will 
 find themselves outwitted." 
 
 "What is it?" 
 
 " "What's your plan ?" queried one and an 
 other, but the only answer was, "Wait and 
 you will see, gentlemen." 
 
 "There is one thing I have thought of," 
 Mrs. Lyon said to Mildred, " I'll have my own 
 and the children's bonnets on always before
 
 38 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 we are called to the meals. If there should 
 be some soiling of ribbons, it will be better 
 than going hungry." 
 
 This driver was sober and quiet ; the ride, in 
 consequence, less trying than that of the pre 
 vious afternoon. Between twelve and one 
 they halted for dinner at another country 
 inn. 
 
 There was, as usual, a little waiting time, 
 then they sat down to an abundant and very 
 inviting meal, but had not half satisfied their 
 ^appetites when roll of wheels and toot of 
 horn again summoned them to resume their 
 journey. 
 
 Every eye in the party turned upon Blake. 
 He sprang up instantly, seized a roast chicken 
 by the leg with one hand, his hat in the other, 
 and ran for the stage. 
 
 " All right !" cried Grey, picking up a pie. 
 " I'll send the plate home by the driver, land 
 lord," he shouted back, as he, too, darted from 
 the door. 
 
 Looking on in dumb astonishment, the land 
 lord saw bread, rolls, butter, pickles, cheese, 
 and hard-boiled eggs disappear in like manner, 
 and before he could utter a remonstrance the 
 tage was whirling away down the mountain, 
 not a passenger left behind, nor nearly so
 
 MILDEED AND ELSIE. 39 
 
 much food as would have remained had they 
 been permitted to finish their meal at the 
 table. 
 
 " Outwitted this time, sure as I'm born !" 
 he muttered at length, turning back into the 
 deserted dining-room and ruefully eying his 
 despoiled board. 
 
 His wife came hurrying in from the 
 kitchen. 
 
 " So they're off, and we'll have our dinner 
 now. But," and she stared aghast at an 
 empty platter. " I say, Jones, where is that 
 chicken ? Didn't I tell you that was for our 
 selves, and you wasn't to put a knife into 
 it?" 
 
 " Neither I did," he answered half savagely > 
 " and it's all the worse for us, seein' they've 
 carried it off whole, and if I'd a cut it there 
 might a ben part left on the plate." 
 
 "Carried it off!" she cried. "Well, I 
 never ! and it was the nicest, fattest, tenderest 
 bit of a spring chicken ever you see !" and 
 with a groan she began gathering up the 
 empty dishes. 
 
 " Take that newspaper out of my coat 
 pocket and spread it over my knees, won't 
 you, Grey?" said Blake, the moment they 
 were fairly seated in the stage. " Now your
 
 40 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 jack-knife, please, and I'll carve this fowl. 1 
 fear it'll not be very scientifically dismem 
 bered," he went on, when his requests had 
 been complied with, "but sufficiently so to 
 enable me to make a tolerably equal distribu 
 tion. "What is your choice, ma'am ?" address 
 ing Mrs. Lyon. 
 
 The result of their coup cPetat was a very 
 comfortable, enjoyable meal seasoned with 
 many a merry jest over the discomfiture of 
 the foe, and the makeshifts they themselves 
 were put to for lack of the usual table ap 
 pliances.
 
 CHAPTER IY. 
 
 *' Alas! my lord, if talking would prevail, 
 I could suggest much better arguments 
 Than those regards you throw away on me, 
 Your valor, honor, wisdom, prais'd by alL 
 But bid physicians talk our veins to temper 
 And with an argument new-set a pulse, 
 Then think, my lord, of reasoning into love." 
 
 YOUNG. 
 
 BY the time they reached Lansdale, Mildred 
 was weary enough to be very glad of a few 
 days' rest; rest whose delights were doubled 
 and trebled by being taken in the society of 
 her dear old aunt. 
 
 The travellers were received with the warm 
 est of welcomes, Mildred embraced over and 
 over again, and Mr. Lord repeatedly and 
 heartily thanked for bringing her. 
 
 " Dear child, how you are improved !" Aunt 
 "Wealthy said the first moment they found 
 themselves alone together. 
 
 "Have I grown, auntie?" Mildred asked 
 with an arch smile, laying two shapely, soft 
 white hands on the old lady's shoulders and 
 gazing lovingly into her eyes, as they stood 
 facing each other on the hearth-rug in front of
 
 42 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 the open fire-place in Miss Stanhope's cosey sit 
 ting-room ; for it was a cool rainy evening, and 
 the warmth of a small wood fire blazing and 
 crackling there was by no means unpleasant. 
 
 "Not in height, Milly," Miss Stanhope an 
 swered, giving the young girl a critical survey, 
 " nor stouter either ; but your form has devel 
 oped, your carriage is more assured and grace 
 ful, your dress has a certain style it lacked 
 before, and But I must not make you 
 vain," she added, breaking off with her low 
 musical laugh. " Come tell me all about your 
 uncle Dinsmore and his family." 
 
 " And little Elsie, the sweet darling !" sighed 
 Mildred. "Aunt Wealthy, she is a perfect 
 little fairy : the sweetest, most beautiful creat 
 ure you ever laid eyes on." 
 
 " Ah ! I only wish I could lay eyes on her," 
 the old lady rejoined. "Does she resemble 
 her father in looks ?" 
 
 " Not in the least : she is said to be the image 
 of her mother ;" and from that Mildred went 
 on to dwell with minuteness and enthusiasm 
 on all the charms of the little one, arousing in 
 her companion a very strong desire to see and 
 know Elsie for herself. 
 
 That subject pretty well exhausted, Mildred 
 could talk of something else, and found a great
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 43 
 
 deal to tell about the other Dinsmores, her 
 own experiences in the South, and the inci 
 dents of her late journey. 
 
 They had seated themselves on a sofa. Mr. 
 Lord, suffering from an attack of sick head 
 ache, had retired to his own apartment directly 
 after tea, leaving them to the full enjoyment 
 of each other. 
 
 . "And have you come back heart whole, 
 Milly, my dear ?" asked the old lady, smiling 
 into the eyes of her young relative and softly 
 stroking the hand she held. 
 
 The question brought a vivid blush to the 
 fair young face. 
 
 " Excuse me, dear child ; I do not wish to 
 pry into your secrets," Aunt "Wealthy hastened 
 to say. 
 
 "No, no, auntie dear, I do not consider it 
 prying, or wish to keep my affairs from your 
 knowledge. You and mother are the two I 
 wish to confide in and consult." 
 
 And with many blushes, sighs, and now and 
 then a few quiet tears, Mildred poured out the 
 whole story of Charlie Landreth's and her own 
 love for each other, and the barrier between 
 them : Aunt Wealthy listening with deep inter 
 est and heartfelt sympthy. 
 
 " Don't despair, dear child," she said, caress-
 
 44 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 ing the narrator in tender, motherly fashion, 
 " and don't give him up. "We will join our 
 prayers in his behalf, and the Lord will, in his 
 own good time, fulfil to us his gracious prom 
 ise to those who agree together to ask a boon 
 of him." 
 
 ' Yes, auntie, I do believe he will," Mildred 
 responded, smiling through her tears, "if we 
 pray in faith ; for in asking for the conversion of 
 a soul we shall certainly be asking that which 
 is agreeable to his will. And yet O auntie I 
 it may be long years before our prayers receive 
 the answer, and I I may never see him 
 again !" 
 
 "'Surely goodness and mercy shall follow 
 me all the days of my life,' " repeated Miss 
 Stanhope in low, soft tones. " Milly dear, try 
 to leave the future in the hands of Him who 
 has said, ' I have loved thee with an everlast 
 ing love ; I will never leave thee, nor forsake 
 thee.' " 
 
 Both mused in silence for a little ; then Miss 
 Stanhope said, turning with a slight smile to 
 ward her young relative, "Milly, child, you 
 are very attractive to the other sex." 
 
 Mildred colored and looked down. "Aunt 
 Wealthy," she said, "I hope you do not think 
 me a coquette ?"
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 45 
 
 " No, child, no ! I'm quite sure you are too 
 kind-hearted to enjoy giving pain to any living 
 creature." 
 
 " That is true, auntie ; and for that reason I 
 wish none would care for me in that way but 
 the one I can care for in return." 
 
 "Yes, and therefore I wish" Miss Stan 
 hope paused, then in answer to Mildred's in 
 quiring look concluded her sentence " that 
 some other escort had been found for you." 
 
 Mildred's cheek crimsoned. " Aunt Weal 
 thy !" she exclaimed, " do you do you really 
 think he cares for me in that way? Oh I 
 hope not. Aunt Dinsmore said something of 
 the sort, but I hoped she was mistaken." 
 
 Miss Stanhope's only answer was a meaning 
 smile and a slight shake of the head. 
 
 " Then, Aunt Wealthy, you must help me to 
 avoid being left alone with him !" cried Mil 
 dred in a tone of apprehension and annoyance ; 
 "" and I do hope there will always be other pas- 
 gjiigers in the boats and stages, so that he will 
 have no chance to say a word." 
 
 " I'll do what I can, child ; cling as close to 
 me as you will, but you may rest assured ho 
 is bound to speak and have it out with you, 
 sooner or later." 
 
 "He shall not if I can prevent him. How
 
 46 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 can he be so extremely silly! But indeed^ 
 Aunt Wealthy, I think you must be mistaken- 
 He surely has too much sense to fancy me." 
 
 " You won't be rude, Milly ? you won't for 
 get the respect due to him as your minister ?" 
 
 " Not if I can help it. Aunt Wealthy, you 
 must help me by not leaving us alone together 
 for a single moment." 
 
 " But, my dear, how are my household af 
 fairs to be attended to ? " 
 
 " When we are all together and you want to 
 leave the room, just clear your throat and give 
 me a look, and I'll go first. Then you can 
 readily excuse yourself on the plea of domes 
 tic matters calling for your attention ; and he 
 may amuse himself with a newspaper or a book 
 until we rejoin him." 
 
 Miss Stanhope laughingly agreed to the 
 proposed programme, and they carried it out 
 during the whole visit. 
 
 Mr. Lord was very desirous to see Mildred 
 alone, but found every effort to that end frus 
 trated. Miss Stanhope seemed always in the 
 way, and Mildred would accept no invitation 
 to walk or drive unless her aunt was included 
 in it. He had formerly considered the aunt 
 quite a charming old lady, but changed his 
 opinion somewhat at this particular time.
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 47 
 
 ** Though undoubtedly a most excellent woman, 
 and without a superior as a hostess, it was a 
 decided bore to have to listen to and answer 
 her talk when he was longing for a private 
 chat with Mildred." 
 
 He bore the trial with what patience he 
 might, comforting himself with the hope of a 
 favorable opportunity for his wooing some 
 where on the journey from Lansdale to Pleas 
 ant Plains. 
 
 Mildred was dreading the same thing, and 
 fully resolved to prevent it if possible. There 
 fore, when the stage drew up for them at Miss 
 Stanhope's gate, it was with very different 
 feelings they perceived that it already con 
 tained several passengers. 
 
 "Safe for the present, auntie," whispered 
 the young girl, as they folded each other in a 
 last, lingering embrace. 
 
 "You can't expect to be BO fortunate aL 
 ways," returned the old lady in the same low 
 key, and with a humorous look. "Be sure 
 to let me have the whole story in your next 
 letter." 
 
 It was staging all the way now. Sometimes 
 they travelled day and night ; sometimes stopped 
 for a few hours' rest and sleep at a wayside inn. 
 It was on Monday morning they left Lansdale,
 
 48 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 and the journey was not completed until Sat 
 urday noon. 
 
 Through all the earlier part of the route 
 they had plenty of company, the stage being 
 always pretty well filled, if not crowded. 
 Most of their fellow-travellers proved intelligent 
 and agreeable, some, both ladies and gentlemen 
 remarkably so; and the tedium of the way 
 was beguiled by talk, now grave, now gay, and 
 embracing a wide range of topics. 
 
 On one occasion a discussion arose on the 
 propriety and lawfulness of intermarriage be 
 tween Christians and worldlings. Some took 
 the ground that it was a mere matter of choice ; 
 others that it was both dangerous and sinful 
 for a follower of Christ to marry any other than 
 a fellow-disciple, or one who was esteemed such. 
 
 Of these latter Mr. Lord was one of the 
 strongest and most decided in the expressions 
 of his sentiments and convictions, quoting a 
 number of passages of Scripture to sustain his 
 views. 
 
 During the whole of the conversation Mildred 
 was a silent but deeply interested listener, 
 her heart sinking more and more with each 
 word uttered by Mr. Lord ; for as her pastor 
 and spiritual instructor, his expressed convic 
 tions of truth carried great weight with her,
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 49 
 
 and seemed to widen the gulf between herself 
 and him who was the choice of her heart. 
 
 Her only comfort was the hope that some day 
 the barrier might be removed ; but ah ! many 
 long years might intervene, and who should 
 say that in the mean time Charlie would not 
 grow disheartened and weary of waiting ; or, 
 incredulous of the love that could keep him 
 waiting, allow some other to usurp her place 
 in his affections ? 
 
 These were depressing thoughts, and through 
 out the remainder of the journey they filled 
 Mildred's mind almost constantly. It was only 
 by a determined effort that she could shake 
 them off and talk of other things. 
 
 In the course of that day and the next, 
 which was Friday, the other passengers drop 
 ped off one by one, until, to her dismay, she 
 found herself alone with Mr. Lord for the first 
 time since they had left Lansdale. 
 
 The last to leave them was an elderly lady 
 who had been occupying the back seat along 
 with Mildred since the stage had started that 
 morning. "When it drew up before her door, 
 Mr. Lord alighted and politely handed her out. 
 On getting in again, instead of resuming his 
 former seat, he took the one she had just 
 vacated.
 
 MILDBED AND EL81E. 
 
 Mildred's heart gave a throb and the color 
 rushed over her face, for she foresaw what 
 would follow. Still she would foil him if pos 
 sible, and perhaps their numbers might be 
 presently again augmented as they rolled on 
 ward. 
 
 With that last thought in his mind also, the 
 gentleman was disposed to seize his opportunity 
 instantly. He cleared his throat, turned to his 
 companion, and opened his lips ; but with her 
 back toward him she was gazing eagerly from 
 the window. 
 
 " Look, look at those maples !" she cried ; 
 "was there ever more gorgeous coloring? 
 How perfectly lovely the woods are ! And the 
 weather is delightful to-day. October is the 
 pleasantest month of the year for travelling, I 
 think." 
 
 "Any month and any weather would be 
 pleasant to me with you for my companion," 
 he said, " and nothing, my dearest girl, could 
 make me so supremely happy as to secure you 
 as such for the whole journey of life." 
 
 She feigned not to have heard or fully un 
 derstood. " I for one have travelled quite far 
 enough," she responded, still keeping her face 
 toward the window. " I'm tired cf it, and of 
 being so long away from the dear home-circle*
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 51 
 
 Oh, I am so glad that I shall be with them to 
 morrow, if all goes well !" 
 
 " God grant it, dear Mildred ; I shall rejoice 
 in your happiness and theirs, but " 
 
 "Oh see!" she interrupted, pointing to a 
 group of trees near the roadside, " what bril 
 liant reds and yellows ! And there ! what a 
 beautiful contrast those evergreens make !" 
 
 " Yes ; God's works are wonderful and his 
 ways past finding out," he answered devoutly, 
 then kept silence ; while for some minutes 
 Mildred rattled on, hardly knowing or caring 
 what she was saying so she might but avoid 
 the necessity of listening to and answering the 
 proposal he was evidently so desirous to make^ 
 
 But his silence disconcerted her, he did not 
 seem to hear her remarks, and at length she 
 found herself too much embarrassed to continue 
 them. For five minutes neither spoke, then 
 he made her a formal offer of his heart and 
 hand, which she gently but decidedly declined, 
 saying she felt totally unfit for the position 
 he would place her in. 
 
 He said that in that he could not agree with 
 her ; he had never met any one who seemed 
 to him so eminently fitted for the duties and 
 responsibilities he had asked her to assume. 
 " And he loved her as he never had loved and
 
 52 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 never could love another. "Would she not re 
 consider ? Would she not be persuaded ?" 
 
 She told him she highly esteemed him as a 
 man and a minister, that she felt greatly hon 
 ored by his preference, but could not love him 
 in the way he wished. 
 
 " Ah," he said, " what a sad blunderer I am ! 
 J see have spoken too soon. Yet give me a 
 little hope, dear girl, and I will wait patiently 
 and do my best to win the place in your heart 
 I so ardently covet." 
 
 She could not bring herself to acknowl- 
 edge that that place was already filled, and he 
 would not resign the hope of finally winning 
 ier. 
 
 During the rest of that day and the morning 
 of the next he treated her to frequent, length 
 ened discourses on the duty of every one to 
 live the most useful life possible, on the rare 
 opportunities of so doing afforded by the posi 
 tion of minister's wife, and on the perman 
 ence and sure increase of connubial love when 
 founded upon mutual respect and esteem, 
 till at length a vague fear crept over her 
 that he might finally succeed in proving to her 
 that it was her duty to resign the hope that at 
 some future day the barrier to her union with 
 the man of her choice would be swept away.
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. gft. 
 
 and to marry him on account of the sphere of 
 usefulness such a match would open to her. 
 
 She heard him for the most part in silence, 
 now and then varied by a slight nod of acqui 
 escence in the sentiments he expressed, yet even 
 from these scant tokens of favor he ventured 
 to take courage and to hope that her rejection 
 of his suit would not prove final. 
 
 It was a great relief to her that they were 
 not alone for the last ten miles that lay be 
 tween them and Pleasant Plains.
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 i 
 
 " Nor need we power or splendor, 
 
 Wide hall or lordly dome ; 
 The good, the true, the tender 
 These form the wealth of home." 
 
 MRS. HALE. 
 
 COULD that be home that pretty, tasteful 
 dwelling, embosomed in trees, shrubs, and 
 vines? Mildred was half in doubt, for the 
 house itself seemed to have grown as well as 
 the vegetation that environed it. But yes, the 
 stage was stopping : and there were father and 
 Rupert at the gate, mother and the rest on the 
 porch ; every face beaming a joyous welcome. 
 
 How Mr. Lord envied them as the stage 
 whirled him rapidly away, out of sight and 
 .hearing of the glad greetings ! 
 
 "We will not attempt to describe these : there 
 were close embraces, tears of joy, low-breathed 
 words of tenderness and love, of gratitude to 
 Him who had preserved a beloved child in all 
 her journeyings, and brought her to her home 
 again in safety and health ; and there were 
 shouts of delight from the little ones, to whom 
 it seemed half a lifetime since sister Milly 
 went away.
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 55 
 
 " How we have missed you ! and, oh, how 
 glad we are to have you back again!" her 
 mother said, looking smilingly at her, but with 
 glistening eyes. 
 
 " She's changed," said Rupert, regarding her 
 critically ; " she's prettier than ever, and and 
 something else." 
 
 Zillah supplied the word " More stylish." 
 
 " And you ! why, you are a young lady !" ex 
 claimed Mildred, gazing at her in astonishment. 
 
 "I'm fifteen, and taller than you, I do be 
 lieve," returned Zillah, laughing and blushing. 
 
 " And how you're all grown !" Mildred went 
 on, glancing round the circle. 
 
 " Except father and mother," laughed Ru 
 pert. " Haven't I nearly caught up to father 
 in height ?" 
 
 " So you have, and I shall be very proud of: 
 my big brother." 
 
 " Well, I declare, if you hain't come at last 
 thought you never was a comin' !" exclaimed a 
 voice in Mildred's rear; and as she turned 
 quickly about, a toil-hardened hand seized hers 
 in a grasp that almost forced from her a little 
 cry of pain. 
 
 " Yes," she said, " I have, and am very glad 
 to find you here, Celestia Ann. You kept 
 your promise."
 
 56 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 " A heap better'n you did yours. Why you 
 stayed more'n as long agin as you said you was 
 agoin' to when you went off. Had a good 
 time 3" 
 
 " Yes ; but I'm very glad to get home." 
 
 "So you'd ought to be. You look right 
 down tired ; and I reckon you are all that, and 
 hungry, too. "Well, I'll have dinner on table in 
 about ten minutes ;" and with the last word she 
 vanished in the direction of the kitchen. 
 
 A look of expectant delight was on every 
 face of the group about Mildred as the mother, 
 saying, "Come, dear child, you will want to 
 get rid of some of the dust of travel," led the 
 way from the room, the others all following. 
 
 " "Why, the house has grown too," was the 
 young girl's delighted exclamation, as she was 
 ushered into an apartment she had never seen 
 before large, airy, neatly and tastefully though 
 inexpensively furnished ; white muslin curtains 
 at the windows, a snowy counterpane on the 
 bed; everything new and fresh except the 
 books in the hanging shelves on the wall, and 
 some little ornaments which she recognized as 
 her own peculiar property. 
 
 " Yes," her father answered, smiling fondly 
 upon her, " so much so that we shall now have 
 abundance of room, even with our eldest girl
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 57 
 
 at home, and we hope it will be a very long 
 while before she will want to run away again." 
 
 " Tes, indeed, father dear," she said, putting 
 her arms around his neck ; " oh, if you only 
 knew how glad I am to get back !" 
 
 " This is your room, Hilly ; do you like it ?" 
 the children were asking in eager tones. 
 
 " Yes, yes, indeed ! it is perfectly lovely ! 
 But, mother, it ought to be yours ; it is larger 
 and cheerier than yours." 
 
 " Ah ! you are assuming to know more than 
 you do, my child," laughed Mrs. Keith. " I, 
 too, have one of the new rooms there are six 
 in all and it is in every respect quite equal to 
 this. But make haste with your toilet, for the 
 dinner bell will soon ring." 
 
 They lingered at the table, eating slowly, 
 because there was so much talking to be done 
 such pleasant, cheerful chat. 
 
 Then came the opening of Mildred's trunk, 
 tind the distribution of the purchases she had 
 been commissioned to make, and of her own 
 modest gifts to father, mother, brothers, and 
 sisters, and the more expensive ones from. 
 Aunt Wealthy and the Dinsmore relatives. 
 Of these last, little Elsie's were by far the 
 most costly and valuable. 
 
 The children were wild with delight, the
 
 68 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 parents quietly happy in their pleasure, and 
 gratified with the remembrances to them 
 selves. 
 
 Mildred exhibited her watch and chain, 
 calling forth exclamations of intense admira 
 tion and hearty congratulations. 
 
 " O sister Milly, how lovely !" cried Zillah ; 
 "I never saw anything so beautiful, and I'm 
 so glad you have it ! I don't believe there's 
 another lady in town who has a gold watch." 
 
 "No, I presume not," returned Mildred, 
 gazing down upon it with a pleased, but rather 
 absent look, " and it is extremely pretty ; yet 
 not half so beautiful as the dear little giver.'* 
 And then she launched out into the warmest 
 of eulogies upon little Elsie her loveliness of 
 both person and disposition. 
 
 " She must have loads of money to buy you 
 that splendid watch, and all these things for 
 the rest of us," remarked Cyril. 
 
 " Yes, indeed ! I'd like to be in her place," 
 said Ada. 
 
 " I wouldn't," said Mildred ; " and I don't 
 believe you would, Ada, if you quite under 
 stood her position." 
 
 " Why ?" the children asked, clustering close 
 about their sister, with looks of surprise and 
 eager interest ; " tell us why. It must be nice-
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 59 
 
 to be so rich ; to own houses and lands, and all 
 sorts of things." 
 
 "Do not be too sure of that/' said their 
 father ; " though poverty has its trials, wealth 
 brings cares, and cannot of itself give happi 
 ness ; in fact, it has sometimes proved a curse 
 to its possessors. Remember our Saviour said, 
 4 How hardly shall they that have riches enter 
 into the kingdom of God.' " 
 
 " Yes," added Mrs. Keith ; " and in another 
 place he says, ' Take heed and beware of covet- 
 ousness ; for a man's life consisteth not in the 
 abundance of the things which he possesseth.' " 
 
 "But some rich people are good, aren't 
 they ?" queried Cyril. " I'm sure Milly said 
 Elsie was." 
 
 " But she's just a baby girl," put in Don, 
 "and maybe she'll get bad by the time she 
 grows up." 
 
 " Now, boys, keep quiet, can't you ? and let's 
 hear what Milly's going to tell," said Ada. 
 
 Mildred glanced at the nearly emptied trunk, 
 the piles of clothing on the bed and chairs, and 
 shook her head. " Another time, children ; I 
 ought to be putting these things in place in 
 the wardrobe and bureau." 
 
 " Oh ! you're too tired. Sit down in the 
 rocking-chair and rest while you talk, and I'll
 
 60 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 help you afterward to arrange your things," 
 Zillah said; and with a word of thanks Mildred 
 yielded. 
 
 Taking Annis on her lap, and glancing 
 with a half smile from one eager, expectant 
 face to another, " What would any one of you 
 sell all the rest for ?" she asked. 
 
 Several pairs of young eyes opened wide 
 with astonishment. "Why, Milly, what a 
 question !" " Not for anything !" " Not for 
 all the world ! You know we wouldn't !" 
 were the answering exclamations; and then 
 there were loving looks exchanged, and Don 
 gave Fan a hug, while Cyril squeezed her 
 hand and patted Annis on her curly head. 
 
 " It would be dreadfully lonesome not to 
 have any brothers or sisters !" he said, with a 
 long-drawn sigh of satisfaction. 
 
 " Little Elsie has none," said Mildred. " But 
 what if we had no mother, children ?" 
 
 "Milly, don't! what makes you say such 
 things!" cried Fan, hastily releasing herself 
 from Don, and running to her mother to hide 
 her face in her lap with a half sob. 
 
 " No ; what's the use ?" Zillah asked huskily, 
 while Ada's eyes filled and the boys looked 
 distressed, as though the idea was too painful 
 to contemplate.
 
 MILDEED AND ELSIE. 61 
 
 " Just to convince you that little Elsie is not 
 so much to be envied by us. She has no 
 mother, has never seen her father, and does 
 not know whether he loves her or not." 
 
 "Does she show any desire to see him?" 
 asked Mrs. Keith, stroking Fan's hair. 
 
 " Oh yes, mother ! yes, indeed ! She talks a 
 great deal about him, often wishes he would 
 come home, and is never more interested than 
 when he is the theme of conversation." 
 
 " 1 hope her grandfather and his wife love 
 and fondle her ?" 
 
 "Not at all ; they treat her with almost un 
 varying coldness and neglect !" Mildred said, 
 her eyes sparkling with indignant anger. 
 
 Then she went on to tell of various acts of 
 injustice and oppression to which the little 
 girl had been subjected since her coming to 
 Roselands, and to give a pathetic description of 
 her loneliness and unsatisfied yearning for the 
 love of her kindred. In conclusion, Mildred 
 asked, " Now would any of you change places 
 With her?" 
 
 " No, no, indeed we wouldn't ! Poor dear 
 little thing! we're very sorry for her," the 
 children cried in chorus. 
 
 "Mother, mayn't Elsie come here and be 
 your little girl 'long with us ?" asked Annis.
 
 62 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 "I should gladly take her, darling, if I 
 could," Mrs. Keith answered; "but she be 
 longs to her father, and it is he who directs 
 where she shall live." 
 
 " Tell us some more, Milly ; tell about that 
 beautiful Yiamede," entreated Ada, putting 
 an arm coaxingly round her sister's neck. 
 
 " Some other time ; but now I must really 
 go to work and finish my unpacking." 
 
 " "No, you must go into another room and 
 lie down for an hour or two," said her mother. 
 "You need rest and sleep; and your sisters 
 and I will set things to rights here." 
 
 Mildred objected. "Mother, dear, I have 
 come home to ease your burdens, not to add 
 to them." 
 
 " And which will you do by wearing your 
 self out and getting sick ?" asked the mother,, 
 with a merry look and smile. "Set these 
 younger ones a good example by prompt obe 
 dience to my direction. We want you bright 
 for a good long talk after tea." 
 
 " But, mother, you always have so much to 
 tax your time and strength, and " 
 
 "Run away now, without another word," 
 was the playful reply. " I'm neither busy nor 
 tired this afternoon." 
 
 So Mildred went, slept soundly for a couple
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 63 
 
 sof hours, and toward tea-time came down to 
 the sitting-room, looking quite rested and re 
 freshed ; very sweet and pretty, too, they all 
 thought, in new and tasteful attire, and with 
 her glossy brown hair becomingly arranged. 
 
 She found her mother and the older girls 
 sewing. 
 
 " How nice you look !" Zillah said, surveying 
 .her admiringly. " That's a lovely dress, and 
 made so prettily ! Will you let me have mine 
 .made like it ?" 
 
 "Yes, indeed, and help you make it, too. 
 .Mother, how have you managed with the sew 
 ing while I've been gone ?" 
 
 "Pretty well, Milly. Zillah has become 
 ^uite a needle-woman, and Ada does remark- 
 ably well, too, considering her imperfect sight. 
 Housework suits her best on that account. 
 They are dear, helpful girls both of them." 
 
 " Milly, Milly," cried Cyril, rushing in from 
 the grounds, " come and look at our gardens, 
 and our hens and chickens, before it grows too 
 dark." 
 
 " The gardens aren't much to look at no\v," 
 laughed Zillah. 
 
 " But she can see pretty well what they have 
 been, and we'll tell her the rest," returned, 
 Cyril, leading the way.
 
 64 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 " Come, girls, we'll all go," Mrs. Keith said, 
 folding up her work ; " the rest of the after 
 noon and evening shall be a holiday, in honor 
 of our wanderer's return." 
 
 There was, in truth, little to exhibit in the 
 gardens now, save a few late-blooming fall 
 flowers; but Mildred admired them, and lis 
 tened with interest to the accounts given of 
 what had been raised by each little worker 
 during the past spring and summer. 
 
 And there was really a large flock of fowls, 
 all in fine condition, promising plenty of egga 
 and poultry even through the cold winter 
 months; for Rupert had built a snug hen 
 house to protect these feathered friends from 
 the inclemency of the weather. 
 
 " Now this way, Mildred ; I want to show 
 you the vines I've trained over the front 
 porch," Rupert said. 
 
 As they stood looking at the vines, the front 
 gate opened and shut, and a firm, elastic step 
 came quickly up the walk. Mildred turned 
 and found an old acquaintance at her side. 
 
 ""Wallace Mr. Ormsby!" she exclaimed,, 
 offering her hand in cordial greeting, though 
 the rich color surged over her face with the 
 sudden recollection of his parting words, spo 
 ken a year ago.
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 65 
 
 " No ; keep to the first name, please," he 
 said in an undertone, as he grasped her offered 
 hand. " Excuse so early a call, but I did not 
 know how to wait. It seems an age since you 
 went away." 
 
 " We are always glad to see you, "Wallace," 
 said Mrs. Keith. " You must stay and take 
 tea with us; it is nearly ready. Come, we 
 will all go in now, for the air is growing 
 chilly." 
 
 Ormsby was by no means loath to accept the 
 invitation. Mildred seemed to him lovelier 
 than ever, and his eyes were constantly seeking 
 her face, when politeness did not require him 
 to look elsewhere. Enchanted anew by her 
 charms of person, manner, and conversation, 
 he lingered for an hour or more after tea, 
 watching, hoping for an opportunity to breathe 
 some words into her ear which should reach 
 no other. 
 
 But parents, brothers, and sisters clustered 
 about her, and soon other neighbors began to 
 drop in to bid her welcome home Dr. Grange 
 and his daughter, Clandina Chetwood and her 
 brother Will, and one or two others of those 
 who were most intimate with the family. Then 
 a look from Mr. Keith reminding Wallace of
 
 66 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 an important paper which should be drawn up 
 that evening, he took a reluctant leave. 
 
 He paused an instant at the gate to glance 
 back regretfully at the brightly lighted parlor 
 windows and the comfortable-looking group 
 within, of which Mildred was the centre. 
 
 A tall, muscular figure was approaching 
 from the opposite direction as Ormsby, turning 
 away with a sigh, hurried down the street 
 toward Mr. Keith's office. There was an ex 
 change of greetings as the two passed each 
 other. " Good-evening, Mr. Ormsby." " How 
 d'ye do, Sheriff ?" and each hastened on his 
 way. 
 
 The next moment the tall man was standing 
 where Wallace had been but now, gazing in 
 tently in at the same group ; though, in truth, 
 he scarcely saw any but that central figure 
 the graceful, girlish form so tastefully attired ; 
 the bright, sweet face, full of animation and 
 intellect. He could not take his eyes from 
 her great, dark eyes, hungry and wistful 
 as for many minutes he stood resting his left 
 hand on the top of the gate, the right arm, 
 hanging at his side. 
 
 At last, with a sigh that was almost a groan, 
 be, too, turned and went on his way.
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 67 
 
 " She's prettier than ever the sweetest thing 
 alive," he murmured half aloud, " and I'll 
 never forgit how good she was to me in that 
 awful time when even my mother couldn't 
 stand by me. But, for all that, 'tain't no ways 
 likely she cares enough for Gote Lightcap to 
 so much as ask if he's alive or no."
 
 CHAPTER VL 
 
 " Ah me 1 for aught that I could ever read, 
 Could ever hear by tale or history, 
 The course of true love never did run smooth." 
 
 SHAKESPEAKB. 
 
 THE callers departed to their own homes. 
 Mr. Keith called the household together, and, 
 as usual, closed the day with prayer and praise 
 and the reading of the word of God. 
 
 The good-nights were exchanged, and pres 
 ently Mildred sat alone in her own room, 
 slowly taking down her wealth of rich brown 
 hair, while thought, half troubled, half pleas 
 urable, was busy in her brain. 
 
 A gentle tap on the door, then it was softly 
 opened, and her mother stood by her side. 
 
 Instantly the dreamy look left Mildred's 
 eyes, and they were lustrous with love and joy 
 as she lifted them to the sweet face bending 
 over her. 
 
 " Darling mother !" she cried, hastening to 
 rise and bring forward the easiest chair in the 
 room, "I'm so glad you have come. I am 
 longing so for one of our old quiet talks." 
 
 "Ah! I knew it," Mrs Keith said, taking
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. QQ 
 
 the chair ; " I saw it in your eyes, dear child, 
 and am as anxious for it as yourself. Oh, it is 
 nice to have you at home again !" 
 
 "And so nice to be here. Mother dear, 
 there have been times when I felt in sore need 
 of your wise, loving counsels." 
 
 Shaking out her abundant tresses, she seated 
 herself on a cushion at her mother's feet and 
 laid her head in her lap, as she had been wont 
 to do in childhood's days. 
 
 " Then I trust you carried your perplexities 
 to a wiser Friend, whose love is even greater 
 than that of the tenderest mother," Mrs. Keith 
 said, gently caressing the silken hair and the 
 blooming cheek. 
 
 " Yes, mother. Ah ! what could I have done 
 without that Friend?" 
 
 Then, with blushes and tears, she poured 
 out the story of her love, and her refusal to 
 engage herself, because the chosen of her heart 
 was not a Christian man. 
 
 Mrs. Keith was a little surprised, a trifle 
 disappointed. " I had almost set my heart on 
 having Wallace for my future son-in-law," she 
 remarked in a playful tone, "and no such, 
 objection could be brought against him." 
 
 "No," said Mildred, half averting her blush 
 ing face; "he is good and noble and true a
 
 70 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 sincere Christian, I do believe, and I heartily 
 respect and like him ; but, O mother ! why is 
 it that the course of true love never will run 
 smooth ?" 
 
 " I think it does sometimes ; at least often 
 enough to prove the rule." 
 
 " I was in hopes it might have been out of 
 sight out of mind with Wallace," Mildred said 
 presently. 
 
 " No ; Cupid's arrow had gone too deep for 
 that. But perhaps it may prove so with the 
 other, and you may yet learn to care for poor 
 Wallace." 
 
 "No, mother; I am sure, quite sure, that 
 I can never give him anything but the sisterly 
 affection that is already his. Mother, I know 
 girls who think it must be a delightful thing 
 to have a number of lovers, but I don't find it 
 so, there is so much that is painful and per 
 plexing connected with it." 
 
 " Perplexing, my child! " 
 
 "Yes, mother. Do you do you think it 
 can ever be the duty of one who cannot marry 
 the man of her choice to become the wife of 
 another because it will open to her a wider 
 sphere of usefulness ?" 
 
 " Why that question, Mildred ?" asked Mrs. 
 Keith, in grave surprise.
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 71 
 
 " Because Mr. Mr. Lord thinks I ought 
 that it is my duty to to marry him; and 
 though he did not convince me, he he made 
 me afraid it might be." 
 
 A very mirthful look had come into Mrs. 
 Keith's eyes. 
 
 "My dear, silly little girl," she said, bend 
 ing down to get a better view of the blushing 
 face, " why did you not tell "him you are quite 
 unfit for the position he offered you ?" 
 
 "I did, mother," Mildred answered, with 
 sincere humility, " but he still insisted. He 
 has somehow formed a very mistaken opinion 
 of me." 
 
 "That is a pity; but we will not let him 
 sacrifice himself. I shall utterly refuse con 
 sent, and so will your father." 
 
 "But don't you think him a good man?" 
 Mildred asked, lifting her head and gazing 
 into her mother's eyes with a look of mingled 
 relief and perplexity. 
 
 "Very good, but very unsuitable in dispo^ 
 sition and in years for a husband for you, or 
 a son-in-law for me. His absent-mindedness 
 would put a great deal of cafe on your young 
 shoulders. But, my dear child, leaving the 
 question of his character and suitableness in 
 other respects entirely out of sight, the fact
 
 72 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 that you prefer another is quite sufficient of 
 itself to make your acceptance of his suit both 
 foolish and wrong. Nothing can make it 
 right for man or woman to marry one while 
 his or her heart turns more strongly to another. 
 As to his argument that thus a wider sphere of 
 usefulness would be opened to you, all I have 
 to say is, that it is not, cannot ever be right to 
 do evil that good may come." 
 
 Mildred drew a long sigh of relief. "O 
 mother, I am so thankful that you take that 
 view of it ! and I am sure it is the right one. 
 Yon have lifted half my load, but " 
 
 " Can you not cast the other half on the 
 Lord?" 
 
 "I do try to. But, mother, what do you 
 think ? would it be wrong for me to " 
 
 " Follow the dictates of your heart ?" Mrs. 
 Keith asked, as Mildred paused, leaving the 
 sentence unfinished. "My child, that is a 
 question for you to settle with your own con 
 science. You have God's holy word to guide 
 you, and in answer to prayer he will give you 
 the guidance of the Spirit also. I will only 
 Bay that it cannot be other than a dangerous 
 experiment for a Christian to enter into the 
 closest of earthly relations with one who is 
 living for this world alone."
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 73 
 
 " Especially one so weak and ready to wan 
 der out of the way as I," sighed the young 
 girl. 
 
 " Well, darling, you are young enough to 
 wait ; and let us hope all will come right at 
 length. Ah ! we may be sure of it, for ' we 
 know that all things work together for good 
 to them that love God ; to them who are the 
 called according to his purpose.' But it is 
 growing late, and you ought to be resting 
 after your long journey." And with a tender 
 good-night they parted. 
 
 Mr. Lord filled his own pulpit the next day, 
 both morning and evening, preaching with 
 acceptance to his flock. 
 
 Mildred attended both services, but carefully 
 avoided meeting the speaker's eye during the 
 sermon, and slipped out of the church as 
 quickly as possible after the benediction was 
 pronounced. Each time she was delayed a 
 little in her exit by the necessity of stopping 
 for a shaking of hands and the exchange of a 
 few words with friends and neighbors who 
 stepped forward to greet and welcome her 
 home ; but others were crowding about the 
 minister with the same kindly intent, and thus 
 unconsciously assisted in her desired avoidance 
 of him.
 
 74 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 She was little lees anxious to escape "Wallace 
 Ormsby, but in that was not so successful : he 
 walked by her side in the morning, as far as 
 their roads lay in the same direction ; yet as 
 Don held fast to one of Mildred's hands and 
 Fan to the other, his talk was only on topics 
 of general interest, the sermon, the Sunday- 
 school, etc. 
 
 In the evening, as she stepped into the ves 
 tibule, she saw "Wallace waiting near the outer 
 door, and read his purpose in his eyes. She 
 turned to Zillah, who was close beside her, 
 seized her hand, and, holding it fast, whis 
 pered in her ear, " "We'll walk home together. 
 Be sure to keep close to me." 
 
 Zillah nodded with a roguish smile, and, to 
 "Wallace's no small annoyance, did as requested. 
 Offering one arm to Mildred, he could do no 
 less than ask Zillah to take the other, which 
 she did with alacrity. And all the way home 
 she kept up a constant stream of talk, Mildred 
 listening with inward amusement, "Wallace 
 wondering whether it was with a purpose, and 
 wishing she was somewhere out of earshot of 
 what he wanted to say to her sister. 
 
 The Keiths neither paid nor received visits 
 on the Sabbath : so he bade the girls good 
 evening at their father's door, and quietly
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 75 
 
 wended his way to his lonely bachelor quar 
 ters over the office ; while the girls, listening 
 to his departing footsteps, exchanged a few 
 words of congratulation on the one side and 
 thanks on the other, mingled with a little 
 girlish laughter at his expense. 
 
 " Mother," said Mildred, as they were about 
 separating for the night, " I will be up in good 
 season to-morrow morning and get breakfast, 
 as Celestia Ann will of course be busy with 
 her washing." 
 
 " Indeed you'll do no such thing," cried 
 Zillah. " Ada and I will get breakfast and 
 dinner to-morrow, and you're not to so much 
 as put your nose into the kitchen. You're to 
 play lady for a week at least, while you look 
 on and see how nicely we can manage without 
 you." 
 
 " I've played lady long enough, and " 
 
 " Mother, isn't it to be as I've said ?" de 
 manded Zillah, not giving Mildred time to 
 conclude her sentence. 
 
 " Yes, Milly, you and I can find enough to 
 do out of the kitchen for the present, and we 
 will let these young cooks have a chance to 
 show what they can do," Mrs. Keith said, 
 looking from one to the other with a proud, 
 fond, motherly smile.
 
 76 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 " I like to cook," put in Ada. " Millj>, I 
 can make nice cakes and desserts ; they all say 
 so. And Zillah and I made pickles and pre 
 serves this fall, mother only overseeing and 
 telling us how. Celestia Ann wanted to turn, 
 us out of the kitchen and do it all herself, but 
 mother said no we must learn how." 
 
 Monday morning found the Keith house 
 hold like a hive of cheerful, busy bees. Mrs. 
 Keith and Mildred, busied together in the 
 dining-room, washing and putting away the 
 breakfast china and silver, which were never 
 allowed to go into the kitchen, laid plans for 
 the fall and winter sewing. 
 
 " I have been learning to cut and fit, 
 mother," Mildred said ; " taking lessons of 
 one of Aunt Dinsmore's servants who is excel 
 lent at it ; so now, if you like, I shall fit all 
 the dresses of the family, beginning to-day 
 with Ada's and Zillah's calicoes." 
 
 "I'm very glad, my dear," Mrs. Keith 
 replied, "for really there is not a competent 
 dressmaker in town. But I see I shall have 
 to take care that you do not overwork your 
 self," she added, with an affectionate smile. 
 
 " Mother," said Zillah, putting her head in 
 at the door, "we're nearly out of salt and 
 sugar both. Who shall go for them ?"
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 77 
 
 " Cyril and Don ; it is a lovely day, and 
 they will enjoy the walk. Mildred, there will 
 be some little articles wanted about our dress 
 making ; suppose you go also and select them. 
 The walk will be good for you, and you will 
 like to see how the town has grown in your 
 absence." 
 
 Fan and Annis put in an eager plea to be 
 permitted to be of the party. 
 
 Mildred demurred. " I'm afraid, Annis, dar 
 ling, you can't walk fast enough. Sister Milly 
 wants to come back quickly because of the 
 sewing." 
 
 o 
 
 " Never mind that ; we will not deprive the 
 darling of so great a pleasure merely to save a 
 few minutes," the mother said, with a loving 
 smile at the little, disappointed face, which 
 instantly grew bright again. " Linger a little 
 on the way, Mildred, and enjoy the sweet air 
 and the beauty of the woods. These things 
 were given for our enjoyment." 
 
 "Dearest mother! always so kind and 
 thoughtful for each one of us," Mildred whis 
 pered, bending over her mother's chair to kiss 
 the still fresh and blooming cheek. 
 
 Mildred had returned to her home entirely 
 restored to health, and full of the old energy, 
 and with a desire to accomplish a great deal in
 
 78 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 the way of relieving her mother's cares and 
 burdens and promoting the material interests 
 of each member of the family of loved ones. 
 She had planned to do a certain amount of 
 sewing that day, and was eager to begin ; but 
 she was learning the difficult lesson of readi 
 ness to cheerfully yield her own plans and 
 wishes to those of others, remembering that 
 " even Christ pleased not himself." 
 
 With a face bright and sweet as the lovely 
 October morning she made herself ready and 
 set out on her errand ; Fan clinging to one 
 hand, Annis to the other, while the two little 
 brothers now brought up the rear, now hast 
 ened on in front, or trotted alongside, as incli 
 nation dictated. 
 
 "Yonder comes the sheriff; we'll meet him 
 in a minute," said Cyril presently. 
 
 " Who is sheriff now ?" asked Mildred. 
 
 " Gotobed Lightcap. He's learned to write 
 with his left hand, and they 'lected him sheriff 
 last week. Everybody voted for him because 
 they were so sorry for him. Wasn't it nice ? 
 Mother says the folks in this town are the 
 kindest people in the world, she thinks." 
 
 "Yes, it was nice and kind," Mildred re 
 sponded, looking a little curiously at the tall, 
 broad-shouldered, masculine figure approach-
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 79 
 
 ing from the opposite direction. In dress, in 
 gait, in the intelligence of his countenance, ha 
 was an improvement upon the Gotobed of two 
 years ago. 
 
 In another moment they had met. He 
 lifted his hat with his left hand and bowed a 
 little awkwardly, while a deep-red flush suf< 
 iused his swarthy face. 
 
 Mildred colored slightly too, but greeted 
 him cordially and without any other show of 
 embarrassment, inquiring after his health and 
 that of his family. 
 
 " We're all as well as common, thank ye, 
 Miss Keith," he said, devouring her face with 
 his eyes, " and I hope you're the same, and as 
 glad to git back as all your friends is to see 
 
 ye." 
 
 " Thank you, I do find it nice to be at home 
 again," she responded, bowing and passing on. 
 
 Their way lay past her father's office 
 Ormsby, looking up from the deed he was 
 drawing and catching a glimpse of her grace 
 ful figure as it hurried by, sprang up and 
 stepped to the door just in time to see her go 
 into Chetwood & Mocker's. 
 
 He was on the watch for her as she came 
 out again, and waylaid her with an invitation 
 to drive out with him that afternoon.
 
 80 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 " Thank you," she said, with a winsome 
 smile ; " I fully appreciate your kindness, but 
 don't you think, after my long vacation, I 
 ought now to stay at home and work ? I had 
 planned to do a good deal of sewing to-day." 
 
 " But the weather is so fine, and we ought 
 to take advantage of these lovely days, which 
 will so soon be gone," he said persuasively. 
 " Let the sewing wait ; 'twill be just the thing 
 for the stormy days that will soon be upon us. 
 I may come for you ?" 
 
 " Yes," she answered, laughing and nodding 
 good-by. 
 
 Zillah met her at the door, her eyes dancing 
 with fun. "Mr. Lord's in the parlor with 
 mother, and you're wanted there too." 
 
 " Oh, dear !" sighed Mildred ; but, throwing 
 off her hat in the hall, she went at once to 
 meet the dreaded ordeal. 
 
 The gentleman rose on her entrance, and 
 with beaming eyes and outstretched hand came 
 eagerly forward to greet her. " My dear Miss 
 Mildred, I have been telling your mother of 
 my plans and wishes, and asking her consent 
 and approval of my the proposal I made to 
 you the other day ; and " 
 
 " And she has declined to give them ?" Mil 
 dred said, allowing him to take her hand for
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 8L 
 
 an instant, then hastily withdrawing it, her 
 eyes seeking her mother's face, while her own 
 flushed crimson. 
 
 " Yes, I have been trying for the last half 
 hour to convince Mr. Lord how entirely unsuit 
 able you are for the place and position he 
 offers you," Mrs. Keith answered in a grave, 
 quiet tone. "Come and sit down here by 
 me," making room for her on the sofa by her 
 side, "and we will try together to convince 
 him." 
 
 " That will ' be no easy task," remarked the 
 middle-aged lover, as Mildred hastened to ac 
 cept her mother's invitation ; then, stand 
 ing before them and fixing his eyes admir 
 ingly upon the blushing, downcast face of the 
 maiden, he went on to plead his cause with 
 all the force and eloquence of which he was. 
 master. 
 
 He spoke very rapidly, as if fearful of 
 interruption, and determined to forestall all 
 objections, Mildred listening in some embar 
 rassment and with much inward disgust and 
 impatience. 
 
 These changed directly to almost overpow 
 ering mirthfulness, as the man, perhaps find 
 ing his false teeth, to which he was yet not 
 fully accustomed, impeding his speech to some
 
 $2 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 extent, in his intense interest in his subject, 
 "hardly conscious of the act, jerked them out, 
 twirled them about in his fingers for an instant, 
 then with a sudden recollection thrust them in 
 again, his face turning scarlet with mortifica 
 tion and the last word faltering on his tongue. 
 
 Controlling her inclination to laugh, Mildred 
 seized her opportunity. " Mr. Lord," she said, 
 with gentle firmness, " please do not waste any 
 more words on this subject, for I have no other 
 answer to give you to-day than that which I 
 gave before. Nor shall I ever have any other. 
 I highly respect and esteem you, feel myself 
 greatly honored by your preference, but it is 
 utterly out of my power to feel toward you as 
 a woman should toward the man with whom 
 she links her destiny for life." 
 
 With the last word she rose and would have 
 left the room, but he intercepted her. " Not 
 now, I suppose. Ah, my foolish impatience, 
 which has a second time betrayed me ! But I 
 will wait wait years, if " 
 
 " It is useless, quite useless, I assure you," 
 ehe interrupted, in some impatience. "To 
 convince you of that, I will acknowledge that 
 that my heart has already been given to 
 another." 
 
 Hiding her blushing face in her hands, she
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. $3 
 
 hurried from the room, leaving to her mother 
 the task of consoling the rejected suitor. 
 
 Mrs. Keith afterward reported that he stood 
 for a moment as if struck dumb with sur 
 prise and dismay; then muttering, ""Wallace 
 Ormsby it must be he," was rushing bare 
 headed from the house, when she called hinv 
 back and gave him his hat, with a consolatory 
 word or two, which he did not seem to hear, 
 as he merely turned about without replying, 
 and walked rapidly away with the hat in his- 
 hand. 
 
 Mildred, hurrying to the privacy of her own 
 room with cheeks aflame and an indignant 
 light in her brown eyes, found herself inter 
 cepted by Zillah. 
 
 " Good girl not to say yes," cried the latter 
 gayly, putting her arm round Mildred's neck 
 and kissing her. 
 
 ""What do you mean, Zillah? You don't 
 know anything about it," Mildred said, repuls 
 ing her slightly and averting her face. 
 
 " Yes, I do. Mr. Lord's been asking you to 
 marry him I knew by his looks that that was 
 what he came for and I'm glad you won't 
 have him. He's nice enough as a minister, 
 but too old and ugly and awkward for a hus 
 band for my pretty sister Milly. "Wallace
 
 84 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 Ormsby would be far more suitable, in my 
 humble opinion," she added, with a merry 
 twinkle in her deep blue eyes. 
 
 Mildred looked at her and took a sudden 
 resolution. " Come in here," she said, push 
 ing open her room door. "Zillah, can you 
 keep a secret ?'' 
 
 " Suppose you try me," was the laughing 
 rejoinder. 
 
 " I will. I am sure I may trust you." 
 
 So Zillah presently knew how matters stood 
 between her sister and Charlie Landreth, and 
 Mildred felt that she had another hearty sym 
 pathizer, and was safe from any more teasing 
 about "Wallace Ormsby from that quarter. 
 
 As for the latter, he of course improved his 
 chance as they drove together that afternoon 
 over the prairies and through the beautiful 
 autumn woods ; and Mildred had the painful 
 task of crushing his hopes as she had already 
 crushed those of her older admirer.
 
 CHAPTEK VII. 
 
 "A mighty pain to love it is, 
 And 'tis a pain that pain to miss; 
 But of all pains, the greatest pain 
 It is to love, but love in vain." 
 
 COVLET. 
 
 " O WALLACE, forgive me ! !N"ot for worlds 
 would I have hurt you so if if I could have 
 helped it." Mildred's voice was full of tears, 
 and she ended with a sigh that was half a sob. 
 
 His head was turned away so that she could 
 not catch so much as a glimpse of his face. 
 
 "It is just what I expected when you went 
 away," he answered huskily; "but I don't 
 blame you. I've always known I wasn't half 
 good enough for such a girl as you." 
 
 "No, don't say that!" she cried, almost ea 
 gerly; "you are good enough for anybody, 
 Wallace; you are noble and true and brave; 
 and father says that with your talent and in 
 dustry you are sure to make your mark in the 
 world." 
 
 " What do I care for that now ?" he returned 
 bitterly. " You have been my inspiration, Mil 
 dred ; it was for you to win you and to make 
 you rich and happy that I have studied and.
 
 -86 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 toiled and planned, and now you are lost to 
 me !" he groaned. 
 
 " O Wallace !" she murmured softly, " I had 
 .hoped yours was a higher ambition that you 
 had consecrated your time, talents, everything, 
 to Him who gave them, and whose love is bet 
 ter beyond comparison than any or all earthly 
 loves." 
 
 " You are right," he said, after a moment's 
 rsilence, and his voice was low and humble, " it 
 ought to be so ; it shall be so henceforward. 
 But O Mildred, Mildred, what happiness can 
 'there be in life without you !" 
 
 " I will be your sister, Wallace ; I have a real 
 .sisterly affection for you." 
 
 "I ought to be thankful for even that I 
 .shall be some day; but O Mildred! now it 
 seems like giving me a crumb when I am starv 
 ing so famished that nothing less than a whole 
 loaf will relieve the dreadful pain. And this 
 other fellow that has won you away from me 
 will he will he be taking you away from us 
 soon?" 
 
 " ISTo, Wallace, not soon, perhaps never," she 
 answered in low, quivering tones. 
 
 He turned and faced her with an inquiring 
 look. " I have misunderstood. I thought you 
 :said the the affection was mutual."
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 87 
 
 " I will tell yon all about it," she said after 
 a moment's embarrassed silence. "I think I 
 owe you the confidence as some slight amends 
 for the pain I have unwillingly caused you." 
 
 Then in a few words she told him just how 
 matters stood between Charlie Landreth and 
 herself, withholding only the name of her fa 
 vored suitor. 
 
 When she had finished, silence fell between 
 them for many minutes. Mildred's eyes were 
 cast down, Wallace's gazing straight before him 
 or taking note of the inequalities of the road. 
 They were nearing the town when at last he- 
 spoke again. 
 
 "I thank you for your confidence, dear Mil 
 dred, (you will let me call you that this once?) 
 You know I shall never abuse it. I am sorry 
 for your sake that he is not all you could wish- 
 But don't let it make you unhappy. I couldn't 
 bear that. And I hope and believe it will all 
 come right in the end." 
 
 "Wallace, how good and noble you are!" 
 she cried, looking at him with eyes brimming 
 with tears. "We will always be friends 
 good, true friends, shall we not?" she asked, 
 almost beseechingly, holding out her hand to 
 him. 
 
 He caught it in his and pressed it to his lips.
 
 .88 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 with a low, passionate cry, " O Mildred ! and 
 can I never be more than that to you! ' ' 
 
 An hour later Mrs. Keith found her eldest 
 daughter in her own room, crying bitterly. 
 
 " My dear child ! what is the matter ?" she 
 asked in concern. 
 
 "O mother, mother, I seem to have been 
 born to make others unhappy!" sobbed Mil 
 dred. 
 
 " I have often thought you were born to be 
 the great comfort and blessing of your mother's 
 life, and have thanked God with my whole 
 heart for this his good gift to me," the mother 
 responded, with a loving caress; and a glad 
 smile broke like sunlight through the rain of 
 tears. 
 
 "Mother, what a blessed comforter you are !" 
 sighed Mildred, resting her wet cheek on her 
 mother's shoulder. "Mother, Wallace loves 
 me and seems almost heart-broken because I 
 I cannot return it. And he is such a dear, 
 noble fellow, too worthy of a far better wife 
 than I would make !" 
 
 " We must try to convince him of that, and 
 make him glad of his fortunate escape," Mrs. 
 Keith said in her playful tone. 
 
 Mildred laughed in spite of herself, but a 
 little hysterically ; then growing grave again :
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 89 
 
 "But, mother, he does really seem heart 
 broken, and it is dreadful to me to have caused 
 such suffering to one so deserving of happi 
 ness." 
 
 " I do not doubt it, my dear, and I feel for 
 you both; but trouble does not spring from 
 the ground ; all our trials are sent us, for some 
 good purpose, by that best and dearest of all 
 friends, who knows just what each one of uf 
 needs, and never makes a mistake. I am sorrj 
 for you both, but I do not think either is tc 
 blame, and I believe you will come out of the 
 trial better and happier Christians than you 
 would ever have been without it. 
 
 " Now, dear child, I shall leave you, that you 
 may be able to spend a few minutes with that 
 best Friend before joining us downstairs. Try 
 to cast all your care on Him, because he bids 
 you do so, and because it is for your happi 
 ness." 
 
 Mildred followed the kind, wise advice; 
 then, having done what she could to remove 
 the traces of her tears, hastened to join the 
 family at the tea-table in answer to the bell. 
 
 Her mother adroitly contrived to take the 
 attention of the others from her, and no one 
 noticed that she had been weeping. 
 
 The faces and the chat were cheerful and
 
 90 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 bright, as was almost invariably the case in 
 that family circle, and the joy of being among 
 them again after so long an absence soon re 
 stored Mildred to her wonted serenity. 
 
 They discussed their plans for study and 
 work for the coming fall and winter months. 
 The town was still destitute of a competent 
 teacher ; efforts had been made to procure one 
 from the Eastern States, but as yet without 
 success ; therefore Mildred proposed to resume 
 her duties as governess to her younger brothers 
 and sisters: she could assist Rupert, too, in 
 some branches, and wished to perfect herself 
 in some, and to improve her mind by a course 
 of reading. 
 
 Then, as always, there was the family sew 
 ing, beside various housekeeping cares of which 
 she desired to relieve her mother. 
 
 Zillah listened with a mirthful look to Mil 
 dred's long list, and at its conclusion asked, 
 with a merry laugh, " Is that all, Milly ?" 
 
 Mildred echoed the laugh, and blushingly 
 acknowledged that it was very much easier 
 to plan than to execute, and she feared she 
 should fall very far short of accomplishing aU 
 she desired. 
 
 "Yes," said her father, "but it is best to aim 
 high, for we are pretty sure never to do more
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 91 
 
 than we lay out for ourselves, or even so 
 much." 
 
 u But if Milly undertakes all the work, father, 
 what are Ada and I to do?" queried Zillah, in 
 a sprightly tone. 
 
 "She'll be glad enough before long to let 
 us help with it," remarked Ada quietly. " If 
 she'd had breakfast and dinner to get to-day 
 she couldn't have walked out this morning; 
 and I don't think she could have taken time to 
 drive out this afternoon if she had been the 
 only one to help mother with the sewing." 
 
 " No, that is quite true," said Mildred, smiling 
 at Ada's serious face, "and I'm delighted to 
 find what helpful girls you two have be 
 come, for there is abundance of work for us 
 all." 
 
 " Enough to leave us no excuse for idleness," 
 added the mother, " but not so much that any 
 one of us need feel overburdened ; for ' many 
 hands make light work.' " 
 
 " Especially when the head manager knows 
 how to bring system to her aid," concluded 
 Mr. Keith, with an affectionate, appreciative 
 glance at his wife. 
 
 "Yes," she rejoined brightly, "very little 
 can be accomplished without that, but with it 
 I think we shall do nicely."
 
 92 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 The little ones were asking when lessoni 
 were to begin. 
 
 " To-morrow, if mother approves," answered 
 Mildred. 
 
 Her father smiled approval, remarking, 
 " Promptness is one of Mildred's virtues ; one 
 we may all cultivate with profit." 
 
 " I quite agree with you, Stuart," Mrs. Keith 
 said, "and yet it is sometimes best to make 
 haste slowly. Mildred, my child, you have 
 had a long, wearisome journey, and may law 
 fully rest for at least this one week." 
 
 "And we all need our new clothes made 
 up," remarked Ada. "Mother, have Milly 
 make your black silk dress first." 
 
 Mildred and Zillah chimed in at once, " Oh 
 yes ! certainly mother's dress must be the very 
 first thing to be attended to." 
 
 "I can fit it to-night," said Mildred. 
 
 " And I cut off the skirt and run the breadths 
 together," added Zillah. 
 
 "Come, come, you are entirely too fast," 
 laughed Mrs. Keith. "I will not have any 
 one of you trying her eyes with sewing on 
 black at night. "We will all work this evening 
 on the calicoes begun to-day, and Milly shall 
 fit a calico for me before she tries her hand on 
 the silk. But we will give this week to sewing
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 93 
 
 and reading. Cyril can read nicely now, and 
 lie and Rupert shall take turns reading aloud 
 to us. Lessons shall begin next Monday." 
 
 Aside from her desire to be as helpful as 
 possible to her dear ones, Mildred felt that 
 constant employment for head and hands was 
 the best earthly antidote for her present griefs 
 and anxieties. So she plunged into study and 
 work, and gave herself little time for thought 
 about anything else, and her mother, under 
 standing her motive, not only did not oppose, 
 but encouraged her in that course. 
 
 Some new books she had brought in her 
 trunk proved a rare treat to the entire family, 
 and work, enlivened now by the reading of 
 these and now by cheerful chat, was decidedly 
 enjoyable. 
 
 There were many calls, too, from old friends 
 and acquaintances, and so the week slipped 
 away very quickly and pleasantly. 
 
 Saturday's mail brought Mildred a letter 
 from Charlie Landreth, which gave her both 
 pain and pleasure. 
 
 The ardent love to her that breathed in 
 every line sent a thrill of joy to her heart ; yet 
 it bled for him in his deep grief for the loss of 
 his sister ; grief unassuaged by the consolations 
 of God.
 
 94 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 Her prayers for him went up with increased 
 fervor. Earnestly, importunately, she besought 
 the Lord to comfort him in this great sorrow, 
 and to make it the means of leading him to a 
 saving knowledge of Christ Jesus. 
 
 Then she sat down and answered his letter 
 with one that through all its maidenly modesty 
 and reserve breathed a tender sympathy that 
 was as balm to his wounds, a cordial to his 
 fainting spirit, when at length it reached him. 
 
 Mildred desired to have no secrets from her 
 wise and dearly-loved mother ; both Charlie's 
 letter and her own were carried to her, and the 
 latter submitted to her approval ere it went on 
 its mission of consolation. 
 
 This communication from him whose love 
 found a response in her own heart did good 
 service in banishing from her mind, in great 
 measure, disturbing thought about the other 
 two. 
 
 For some weeks they absented themselves 
 from the house, then gradually resumed their 
 former intimacy with the family, Mildred 
 meeting them, when compelled by circum 
 stance, without embarrassment, but avoiding 
 a meeting when she could without seeming to 
 do so purposely.
 
 CHAPTER Till. 
 
 A DELIGHTFUL SURPRISE. 
 
 " THERE is a letter, my dear, which concerns 
 you quite as much as myself," Mr. Keith said, 
 putting it into his wife's hand. " It gives in 
 formation which perhaps, for several reasons, 
 it may be as well for us to keep to ourselves 
 for the present," he added, with a smile. 
 " That is why I kept it back until now that we 
 are alone." 
 
 They had retired to their own room for the 
 night, and the little ones who shared it with 
 them were fast asleep. 
 
 "From Uncle Dinsmore!" Mrs. Keith ex 
 claimed, recognizing the hand-writing at a 
 glance. 
 
 Her husband watched her face with interest 
 and some curiosity as she read, a slight smile 
 on his lips and in his eyes. 
 
 She looked up presently with hers shining. 
 " How good, how wonderfully good and kind 
 they always are !" 
 
 " Almost too kind," he responded, his face
 
 96 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 clouding a little. " At least I wish there was 
 no occasion for receiving such favors. I should 
 have been tempted to decline, had I been con 
 sulted beforehand. But it would hardly do 
 now that the goods are almost here. We could 
 not well send them back." 
 
 " No ; certainly that is not to be thought of 
 for a moment," she said, lifting to his, eyes 
 smiling through tears. " We must follow the 
 Golden Rule, Stuart, and accept their kind as 
 sistance in educating our children just as we 
 would wish them to accept ours were our situ 
 ations reversed." 
 
 " Yes," he said, heaving a sigh, " doubt 
 less you take the right view of it ; but ah ! 
 Marcia, wife, * it is more blessed to give than 
 to receive.' " 
 
 " It is indeed, my dear husband, and we 
 will not refuse them that blessedness now, but 
 receive their kindnesses in the spirit in which 
 they are offered, hoping that we may have our 
 turn some of these days. Shall we not ?" 
 
 He gave a silent assent. " Do you not agree 
 with me that it will be well to keep the mat 
 ter a secret from the children until the boxes 
 arrive ?" he asked. 
 
 " Oh, yes, indeed ! we will not let even Mil 
 dred know. It will be such a delightful sur-
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 97 
 
 prise to her, dear child ! for though she has 
 uttered no word of complaint, I am sure it 
 must have been a great disappointment to her 
 that you could not furnish her with a piano 
 this fall to enable her to keep up her music. 
 Now she can do that and teach her sisters too.'' 
 
 "And her playing will be a great treat to us 
 all," added Mr. Keith, with a smile that spoke 
 volumes of fatherly affection and pride in his 
 first-born. 
 
 " And then the books ! what delightful times 
 we shall have over them !" she added, her eyes 
 sparkling ; " what a help they will be in culti 
 vating our children's minds ! I think our dear 
 girl must have completely won her way into 
 the hearts of my uncle and cousin Horace." 
 
 "As her mother did before her," he re 
 sponded, with a light happy laugh. 
 
 When preparing to leave Ohio for the wilds 
 of Indiana, Mr. Keith had sold most of their 
 heavy articles of furniture, among them the 
 piano. Its loss had been greatly lamented in 
 the family, especially by the older girls and 
 .Rupert. The purchase of another had become 
 a darling project with him, and to that end he 
 had worked and saved till he had now quite a 
 little hoard, earned mostly by the sale of fruits, 
 vegetables, and fowls of his own raising; his
 
 98 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 mother paying him for these at the market 
 price, and whatever surplus he had finding 
 ready sale at the stores. 
 
 The lad was very industrious and painstak 
 ing, generally very successful in what he un 
 dertook as such people are apt to be and 
 while generous to others spent little on him 
 self. 
 
 Since Mildred's return, the desire for a 
 piano was stronger than ever : there was not 
 one in the town, nor an organ, or any kind of 
 keyed instrument ; so that there was no chance 
 for them to hear her play and judge of her 
 improvement ; and worse still, she would be in 
 danger, from want of practice, of losing all 
 she had gained. But pianos cost a great deal 
 in those days, and Mr. Keith could not just 
 now spare the money to make the purchase 
 and pay the heavy cost of transportation. 
 
 Money was scarce in that region then, busi 
 ness carried on very largely by barter. This 
 made it easier for him to be at the expense of 
 enlarging his house than to pay for something 
 that must come from a distance. 
 
 There was little or no fretting or complaint 
 over this state of things, but the children often 
 talked longingly of the good time coming, 
 when father would be able, with the help of
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. Q9> 
 
 what they could earn and save, to send for a, 
 piano. 
 
 That time seemed to be brought a little 
 nearer by an act of thoughtful kindness on the 
 part of their dear Aunt Wealthy. She had 
 set apart from her income a certain sum which 
 she engaged to send to their mother, at regu 
 lar intervals, to be divided among them as 
 pocket-money. The dear old lady could 
 hardly have devised anything that would have 
 given more pleasure. The news, as announced 
 by Mildred on the day of her arrival, was re 
 ceived with demonstrations of wild delight, 
 and evidently the little ones now considered 
 themselves moneyed individuals, taking great 
 pride and pleasure in consulting together, or 
 with father and mother, as to the disposal of 
 their incomes. 
 
 This opened up to the careful Christian 
 parents a new opportunity for the study of the 
 natural character of each of their children, and 
 the curbing of wrong inclinations, whether to 
 ward extravagance or penuriousness. 
 
 One day, several weeks after Mildred's re 
 turn, Rupert came in near the dinner hour, 
 and drawing his mother aside, whispered 
 something in her ear. There was a look of 
 covert delight in his face, and his eyes sparkled.
 
 100 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 :as he added, "One's long, low and broad, 
 mother ; can only be one thing, I think just 
 the thing we're all wanting so much. But 
 where could it come from 2" 
 
 " "Where do you suppose ?" she answered 
 merrily. "Well; the instant you are done 
 your dinner you may go down and see them 
 brought up." 
 
 " But father said it was your wish and his to 
 .make it a complete surprise to the children." 
 
 " Mildred included 2" laughed his mother ; 
 ** you are so much older than she. I will man- 
 age it. They shall all be out of the way while 
 we unpack." 
 
 Mr. Keith came in presently, and with his 
 Arrival the call to dinner. 
 
 Mildred looked curiously at Rupert several 
 times during the meal, wondering at his unao 
 -eustomed air of importance, the half -exultant, 
 meaning glance he now and then sent across 
 the table to one or the other of their parents, 
 and the haste with which he swallowed his 
 food and hurried from the table and the 
 house, having asked to be excused, as he had 
 business of importance to attend to. 
 
 " Dear me, what airs !" laughed Zillah, as he 
 whisked out of the room. " One would think 
 iie was a man, sure enough."
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 1Q1 
 
 " Girls," said Mrs. Keith, " I want you to 
 take the little ones out for a walk this after 
 noon. It is a bright day and the walking 
 good, and if you are all well wrapped up, you 
 will not feel the cold." 
 
 " Not if they go at once," put in Mr. Keith. 
 
 " Run away and make yourselves ready, all 
 of you." 
 
 " The party will be large enough without- 
 me, won't it, mother?" queried Mildred. 
 " You know I have a piece of sewing on- 
 hand that I am very desirous to finish before 
 night." 
 
 " Let it go, child ; you need air and exercise 
 far more than I do the dress," was the kind 
 and smiling rejoinder. 
 
 Then came a chorus of entreaties from all 
 the children that mother would go too. 
 
 But she would not hear of it, had a matter 
 of importance to attend to at home ; perhaps, 
 if to-morrow should prove pleasant, she would 
 go with them then. 
 
 And so with smiles and merry, loving words 
 she helped to make them ready and sent them 
 on their way. 
 
 Barely in time, for hardly were they out of 
 sight when a wagon drove up with two large,, 
 weighty looking boxes. Rupert and two men r
 
 102 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 beside the driver, were in the vehicle also, and 
 it took all their strength, with Mr. Keith's 
 added, to lift and carry the boxes into the 
 house. 
 
 " Oh, it is a piano ! I know it is !" cried 
 Hupert, as they set down in the hall the box 
 he had described to his mother. 
 
 " A pianer did ye say ?" queried one of the 
 men, as for a moment they all stood panting 
 from their exertions and gazing down upon the 
 burden they had just deposited upon the floor. 
 " Let's get it open quick then, for I never see 
 >one in my life." 
 
 Rupert ran for the hatchet, and in another 
 five minutes the lid was off the box, and all 
 remaining doubt vanished. 
 
 " It is, it is !" cried the lad, fairly capering 
 about the room in his delight. " Oh, what a 
 joyful surprise for the girls and all of us ! 
 But where on earth did it come from? 
 Father" 
 
 " 1 had nothing to do with it, my son," Mr. 
 Keith asserted with a grave earnestness that 
 precluded the idea that he might be jesting. 
 
 The boy looked bewildered, then disap 
 pointed. "There's been some mistake, I'm 
 afraid. Perhaps there's another family of our 
 name somewhere in this region, and "
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 103 
 
 But his mother whispered a word in his 
 ear and his face grew radiant. " Is that it ? 
 O mother, how good they are !" 
 
 " Let's git the thing out and see what it's 
 like," said the man who had spoken before. 
 
 The others eagerly assented, and set to work 
 at once, Mr. Keith giving assistance and direc 
 tions, Mrs. Keith pointing out the place in the. 
 parlor where she wished it to stand. 
 
 " You kin play, I 'spose, Mrs. Keith. "Won't 
 you give us a tune ?" was the eager request 
 when their task was ended. 
 
 Smilingly she seated herself and played 
 "Yankee Doodle" with variations. 
 
 They were delighted. " First-rate !" com 
 mented the one who seemed to act as chief 
 spokesman of the party. "Now, ma'am, if 
 you please, won't you strike up ' Hail 
 Columby.' " 
 
 She good-naturedly complied, added " Star 
 Spangled Banner," then rose from the instru 
 ment. 
 
 They thanked her warmly, saying they felt 
 well paid for bringing " the thing " in. 
 
 " You must come in again some day, if you 
 enjoy hearing it," she said with gracious sweet 
 ness. " I think you will find my daughter a 
 better performer than I am."
 
 104 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 " Yours is plenty good enough for us," they 
 answered, bowing themselves out. 
 
 " It is a very sweet-toned instrument," she 
 remarked, running her fingers over the keys ; 
 " a most magnificent present. How delighted 
 Mildred and the rest will be !" 
 
 " I am eager to witness it," her husband 
 fiaid with a smile. " It is indeed a most valu 
 able gift, and nothing could have been more 
 acceptable." 
 
 " They're the kindest, most generous rela 
 tions anybody ever had," added Rupert em 
 phatically. " "What's in that other box ? shan't 
 we open it now ?" 
 
 " Books," answered his mother. " Yes, we 
 may as well open it and spread them out ready 
 for Mildred's inspection. Most of them be 
 long to her." 
 
 This done Mrs. Keith again seated herself 
 at the piano. 
 
 The young people had taken a pretty long 
 walk, moving briskly to keep themselves warm, 
 for the November air was frosty, and were 
 now returning in gay spirits, eyes sparkling 
 and cheeks glowing with health and happiness, 
 while the tongues of the little ones ran fast, 
 and a joyous shout or a silvery laugh rang out 
 now and then ; for the greater part of their
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 105 
 
 way lay not through the streets of the town, 
 but on its outskirts along the river bank, 
 through the groves of saplings, and over still 
 unoccupied prairie land. "When they came 
 where there were houses and people to be dis 
 turbed by their noise, their mirth subsided a 
 little, and they spoke to each other in subdued 
 tones. 
 
 As they drew near home, unaccustomed, sur 
 prising sounds greeted their astonished ears. 
 
 " Oh, what's that music ?" cried the little 
 ones, " such pretty music !" 
 
 " Why, it sounds like a piano !" exclaimed 
 the older ones; "but where could it come 
 from ?" and they rushed tumultuously into the 
 house, even Mildred forgetting the staid pro 
 priety of her years. 
 
 The parlor door stood open, and yes, there 
 it was a beautiful piano, mother's skilful fin 
 gers bringing out its sweetest tones, father and 
 Rupert standing enraptured close beside her, 
 and Celestia Ann, sleeves rolled up, dish-towel 
 in hand, eyes dancing, and mouth stretched in 
 a broad grin, stationed at the farther end. 
 
 " Well, I never ! where on airth did the 
 critter come from ?" she exclaimed just as the 
 others came upon the scene. " I never see the 
 like, I never did !" she went on. " I just ran
 
 106 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 down town of an arrant, and I'd come home 
 again and in the back door and begun to wash 
 up them dishes, when I heered this agoin', and 
 come in to find out what under the sun was 
 agoin' on." 
 
 But no one seemed to hear a word she said ; 
 the children were jumping and careering about 
 the room in frantic delight, clapping their 
 hands, pouring out questions and exclamations. 
 "Oh, aren't you glad? aren't you glad?" 
 " Isn't it a beauty ?" " It's just too nice for 
 anything !" Who did send it ?" 
 
 Mildred stood silently gazing at it, her 
 eyes full of glad tears. Father and Rupert 
 were watching her, taking no notice of the 
 others. 
 
 " Well, dear ?" her mother said, whirling 
 about on the piano stool and looking up into 
 her face with tender, loving eyes. 
 
 " O mother, it is too much !" she cried, the 
 tears beginning to fall. "Uncle Dinsmore 
 sent it, I know ; and I do believe it's one of 
 the very two I liked the best of all we saw. 
 He bought the other for themselves and this 
 for us." 
 
 " For you, dear ; but indeed it is, he says, 
 not his own gift, but Cousin Horace's. The 
 books are from him our kind, generous
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 107 
 
 uncle." And she pointed to them where they 
 lay piled high upon the table. 
 
 "Books too!" Mildred exclaimed in in 
 creased astonishment and delight. 
 
 "Yes, he has marked out a course of reading 
 for you subject to your father's and my ap 
 proval and sent the necessary books and some 
 others beside." 
 
 While his wife was speaking Mr. Keith had 
 drawn near and put an arm about Mildred's 
 waist ; and now she fairly broke down, and 
 hiding her face on her father's shoulder, sobbed 
 aloud. 
 
 The children were immediately awed into 
 silence. They gathered around liBr, asking in 
 half-frightened tones, " Milly, Milly, what's 
 the matter ? are you sorry the piano's come ? 
 We thought you'd be so glad." 
 
 " And so I am," she said, lifting her head 
 and smiling through her tears. 
 
 Her mother vacated the stool, her father 
 seated her thereon, and hastily wiping away 
 her tears, she sent her fingers flying over the 
 keys in a lively merry tune that set the chil 
 dren to jumping and dancing more wildly 
 than before.
 
 CKAPTEE IX. 
 
 " Labor in the path of duty, 
 Gleam' d up like a thing of beauty." 
 
 CRANCH. 
 
 " MY dear child, you have improved wonder 
 fully," Mrs. Keith said, as Mildred concluded 
 a much longer and more difficult piece of mu 
 sic than the one with which she had begun. 
 
 " She has indeed ! I'm quite proud of her 
 performance," echoed Mr. Keith. 
 
 " She does make terrible fine music," put in 
 Celestia Ann ; " but I wisht she'd stop a bit, or 
 them dishes o' mine '11 never git washed." 
 
 "And I must go to the office," said Mr. 
 Keith, looking at his watch, and glancing 
 about in search of his hat. 
 
 " And I to my sewing," added Mildred, ris 
 ing. 
 
 The children entreated somewhat clamor 
 ously for more, but yielded their wish at once 
 on mother's decision that they must wait till 
 after tea. 
 
 " Oh, the books !" cried Mildred, springing 
 toward them with an eager gesture. "But
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 109 
 
 no," turning away with a half sigh, " I must 
 not take time to even look at them now." 
 
 " Yes, you may," her mother said smilingly ; 
 " glance at the titles, and dip in here and there, 
 just to whet your appetite ; read this note from 
 your uncle, too, and then we can talk over your 
 plans for mental culture, while busy with our 
 needles." 
 
 " Always the same kind, indulgent mother," 
 Mildred said, with a look of grateful love. " I 
 will do so, then, and try to work fast enough 
 afterwards to make up for lost time." 
 
 " Half an hour later she joined her mother 
 and sisters, who were all sewing industriously. 
 
 " Such a nice note, mother. Shall I read it 
 to you ?" 
 
 " Yes, if you like. I always enjoy uncle's 
 letters." 
 
 " It sounds just like his talk," Mildred said 
 when she had done reading, saying the kindest 
 things half jestingly, half earnestly. But the 
 idea of his thinking I must have wondered 
 that he gave me no special parting gift ! when 
 he was all the time heaping favors upon me." 
 
 "But it was Cousin Horace who gave the 
 piano," said Ada. 
 
 " Yes ; uncle the books. And now I must 
 strive to show my appreciation of their kind-
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 ness by making the best possible use of both 
 presents." 
 
 " For your own improvement and that of 
 others," added her mother. " I want you to 
 lend them, one at a time, to Erne Prescott and 
 poor Gotobed Lightcap." 
 
 " "What about him, mother ?" Mildred asked, 
 taking up her sewing. " The children told me 
 he had been elected sheriff." 
 
 " Yes ; I was very glad. He deserves every 
 encouragement, for he is trying hard to edu 
 cate himself, and I really hope some day may 
 be able to enter one of the learned profes 
 sions." 
 
 " Poor fellow !" Mildred exclaimed feelingly, 
 tears starting to her eyes as memory brought 
 vividly before her the sad scenes connected 
 with the loss of his right hand, " he is welcome 
 to the use of any or all of my books. I will 
 gladly do anything in my power to help 
 him." 
 
 " Now, suppose we talk about ourselves and 
 our own affairs," Zillah suggested in her 
 sprightly way. "I'm extremely anxious to 
 learn to play on that lovely piano, but don't 
 see how either you, mother, or Milly is to find 
 time to give me lessons, for you are both busy 
 as bees now from morning to night."
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 " And I want to learn too," put in Ada im 
 ploringly. 
 
 "So you shall, dears, both of you, if you 
 continue to be the good, industrious, helpful 
 girls you have been for the past year," the 
 mother said, with her cheery smile. " Milly 
 and I will manage it between us. Almost all 
 our winter clothes are made now, so that we 
 will not need to give so much time to sewing 
 as we have for the past month or more." 
 
 Mildred seemed to be thinking. " I believe 
 we can manage it," she said presently. " I 
 hear the recitations from nine to eleven now, 
 you know ; we must begin at eight after this, 
 and then from ten to twelve can be spared for 
 the two music lessons." 
 
 " And the afternoons and evenings you must 
 reserve for yourself your exercise, study, 
 reading and recreation," added Mrs. Keith, 
 " while I oversee the practicing and the pre 
 paration of lessons for the next day. Two 
 music lessons a week to each will be all suffi 
 cient. Yes, I am sure that with system and 
 rigid economy of time making good use of 
 each golden minute as it flies we can accom 
 plish all that is necessary, if not all that is de 
 sirable." 
 
 Again a few moments of thoughtful silence
 
 112 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 on Mildred's part, then, "Mother," she said, 
 " do you think I ought to take that Sunday- 
 school class? I don't feel fit, and and be 
 sides, it will take a good deal of my time to 
 attend right to it prepare the lessons, and oc 
 casionally visit the children through the week." 
 
 " ' I would have you consider the question 
 carefully and prayerfully, and in the light of 
 God's holy word, which is our only rule of 
 faith and practice, daughter. 'As we have 
 therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all 
 men.' ' He that winneth souls is wise.' " 
 
 " But, mother, I am not wise." 
 
 Mildred's tone was low and humble. 
 
 " If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of 
 God, that giveth to all men liberally, and up- 
 braideth not ; and it shall be given him.' Ask 
 for it and search the Scriptures for it, for we 
 are told, 'The entrance of thy word giveth 
 light ; it giveth understanding to the simple.' 
 And while you study it for the benefit of 
 others, you will be cultivating your own soul 
 a matter of even greater importance than 
 the culture of your intellect.' " 
 
 " And I could not do the first without at the 
 same time doing the last." 
 
 "No; that is very true. Also I trust, 
 daughter, that your great motive for improv-
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. H3 
 
 ing your mental powers is that you may thus 
 be prepared to do better service to the Mas 
 ter?" 
 
 " I hope so, mother ; it is, if I know my own 
 heart," Mildred said, looking up with shining 
 eyes. " I know it is said that duties never 
 conflict, yet it does seem sometimes as though 
 they did." 
 
 " As, for example ?" and her mother's eye& 
 smiled encouragingly and sympathizingly into 
 hers. 
 
 " Why, there is the weekly church prayer- 
 meeting to take one whole evening out of the 
 six." 
 
 " Only from an hour to an hour and a half," 
 corrected Mrs. Keith. 
 
 " But it breaks into the evening so that one 
 can hardly do much with the leavings," Mil 
 dred said with a slight laugh. "And then the 
 young girls' prayer-meeting breaks up one 
 afternoon of every week, and besides O 
 mother ! it is a real trial to me to lead in 
 prayer, and I am sure to be called on." 
 
 " I hope you will never refuse," Mrs. Keith 
 said gently, and with a tender, loving look. 
 " We should never fear to attempt any duty, 
 looking to God for help, for it shall be given, 
 and a blessing with it."
 
 114 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 " It is a great cross to me." 
 
 " Greater than that the Master bore for 
 you?" 
 
 " Oh no, no ! nothing to compare to it, or 
 even to what many a martyr and many a mis 
 sionary has done and borne for him." 
 
 " And is it not a blessed privilege to be per 
 mitted to do and bear something for his dear 
 .sake ?" Mrs. Keith asked with glistening eyes, 
 and in tones trembling with emotion. 
 
 "O mother, yes!" And Mildred's head 
 bowed low, a tear fell on her work. 
 
 " O my darling, be a whole-hearted Chris 
 tian !" the mother went on, speaking with in 
 tense earnestness, " consecrate yourself and all 
 you have to the Master's service time, talents, 
 influence, money everything you possess. He 
 gave himself for us ; shall we hold back any 
 thing from him ?" 
 
 " Oh no ! But mother" 
 
 "Well, dear?" . 
 
 " Shall I not do better service by and by, 
 perhaps, by now giving my whole time, ener 
 gy, and thought to preparation for it ?" 
 
 " Do you find that you can always do a given, 
 amount of mental work in a given space of 
 time ?" 
 
 " No, mother ; sometimes my brain is so ac-
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. H5 
 
 tive that I can do more in an hour than at. 
 some other times I can accomplish in a 
 day." 
 
 " ' And cannot He who made you, and gave 
 you all your mental powers, cause them at any 
 time to be thus active ? My child, he never 
 lets us lose by working for him ; in some way 
 he will more than make it good to us. ' He 
 that watereth shall be watered also himself/ 
 ' Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and Hia 
 righteousness; and all these things shall be 
 added unto you.' " 
 
 Mildred looked up brightly. " I think I 
 am sure you are right, mother ; and I will take- 
 up all those duties, trusting to the dear Master 
 to help me with them and with my studies. 
 My time is his as well as all else that I have." 
 
 " ' Yes, ye are not your own, for ye ara 
 bought with a price; therefore glorify God 
 in your body and in your spirit, which are 
 God's.'" 
 
 " "Who, mother ?" asked little Fan, playing 
 with her doll near by. 
 
 "All God's children, my child." 
 
 " I want to be one, mother. But who bought 
 them ? and what with ? what price ?" 
 
 " Christ bought them, dear, with his own 
 precious blood."
 
 116 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 "Mother," said Ada softly, "how good he 
 was ! I wish I could do something for him ; 
 but I'm not old enough to teach in Sunday- 
 school, or pray in the prayer-meeting." 
 
 " No, darling ; but you can pray at home, 
 kneeling alone in your own room, and join with 
 your heart in the prayers at family worship 
 and at church ; you can pray in your heart at 
 any time and in any place ; for yourself and 
 for others. In his great kindness and conde 
 scension God listens to our prayers at all times, 
 if they come from the heart, and just as readi 
 ly to those of a little child as to those of the 
 wisest and mightiest of men." 
 
 " O mother, I'm glad of that ! but if I could 
 do some work for him I'd love to do it." 
 
 " ' Do you remember, dear, that once when 
 Jesus was on earth the people asked him 
 * What shall we do that we might work the 
 works of God ?' and Jesus answered and said 
 unto them, ' This is the work of God, that ye 
 believe on him whom he hath sent.' " 
 
 "That was Jesus himself," the child said 
 thoughtfully, staying her needle in mid air, 
 while her eyes sought the floor. "Mother, 
 could you tell me just what is meant by be 
 lieving on him so as to be saved ? It can't 
 mean only believing all the Bible says about
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. H7 
 
 him is true, because it tells us ; the devils also 
 believe, and tremble.' I heard father read it 
 from the Bible at worship this morning." 
 
 " Yes, my dear child, it does mean much 
 more than that," the mother said, and silently 
 asked help of God to make it clear to the ap 
 prehension of all present, even to little Annis, 
 who leant confidingly against her knee, the 
 blue eyes gazing earnestly into her face. 
 
 " The devils know the truth, but they don't 
 love it," she said ; " God's children do : they 
 are glad that he reigns and rules in all the uni 
 verse ; but the devils gnash their teeth with 
 rage that it is so, and would tear him from hia 
 throne if they could." 
 
 The two little boys were in the room, Cyril 
 whittling, Don poring over a new book that 
 Mildred had brought him from Philadelphia. 
 The one shut his jack-knife, the other his book, 
 and both drew near to listen. 
 
 " Jesus didn't die for them, did he, mother ?" 
 asked Cyril. 
 
 " No, my son, there is no salvation offered 
 them, and God might justly have left us in 
 the same awful condition; but of his great 
 love and mercy he has provided a wonderfu] 
 way by which we can be saved. ' For God so 
 loved the world that he gave his only begotten
 
 118 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not 
 perish, but have everlasting life.' 
 
 " Faith is another word that means the same 
 as believing. The Bible tells us that without 
 faith it is impossible to please God ; also, that 
 the faith which availeth anything worketh by 
 love. ' Unto you, therefore, which believe, he 
 (that is, Jesus) is precious.' The faith that 
 pleases God and will save from sin and eternal 
 death, loves the Lord Jesus Christ, and trusts 
 for salvation only in what he has done and 
 suffered for us." 
 
 "We can't do anything to save ourselves, 
 mother?" 
 
 " ' "We can not do anything to earn our sal 
 vation ; we can have it only as God's free, un 
 deserved gift. We have all broken God's holy 
 law, but Jesus kept it perfectly in our stead. 
 Our sins deserve God's wrath and curse, both 
 in this life and that which is to come, for it is 
 written, ' Cursed is every one who continueth 
 not in all things which are written in the book 
 of the law to do them ; ' but Jesus has borne 
 that curse for all his people. ' Christ hath re 
 deemed us from the curse of the law, being 
 made a curse for us.' " 
 
 " I should like to have that right kind of 
 faith if I knew just how to get it, mother," said 
 Ada.
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 " * By grace are ye saved, through faith ; 
 and that not of yourselves : it is the gift of 
 God,' " quoted Mrs. Keith. " Ask for it, my 
 child. Jesus said, 'Every one that asketh, re- 
 ceiveth ; ' and again, ' If ye shall ask anything 
 in my name I will do it.' ' : 
 
 " ' You know, my child, that though we can 
 not see him, he is always near. Go to him in 
 prayer, confess your sins, tell him that you are- 
 altogether sinful by nature and by practice^ 
 and can do nothing at all to deserve his favor ; 
 but that you come in his name, and pleading- 
 what he has done and suffered for you, because 
 he has invited you so to come. Ask him to 
 take away your wicked heart and give you a 
 new one full of love to him ; accept his offered 
 salvation from sin and hell ; give yourself ta 
 him and he will take you for his own ; for he- 
 says, ' Him that cometh to me I will in no wise 
 cast out.' He will give you true faith and 
 true repentance sorrow for sin because it is 
 displeasing to God; a sorrow that will lead 
 you to hate and forsake it, and to be a follower 
 of God as a dear child, doing him service from 
 the heart, striving to please, honor, and glorify 
 him in all things ; not that you may be saved,, 
 but because you are saved.' " 
 
 " But what can a little girl like me do for 
 him, mother ?"
 
 120 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 " Or a boy like me or Cyril ?" added Don. 
 
 " Christ is our example, and one thing the 
 Bible tells us of him is that when he was a 
 child on earth he was subject to his parents ; 
 that is, he obeyed and honored them. You 
 must do the same by yours, if you would be 
 his disciples. There are few, comparatively, 
 whom God calls to do what men consider great 
 things for him, but if we do faithfully each 
 little every-day duty it may be only to learn 
 a lesson, to sweep or dust a room, to make a 
 bed, go on an errand, or something else quite 
 as simple and easy because we want to please 
 and honor him ; he will accept it as work 
 done for him. Men can judge only from ap 
 pearances God sees the heart, the motives ; 
 and according as they are good or bad is he 
 pleased or displeased with our acts." 
 
 "Mother," cried Ada, looking up with a 
 glad smile, "how nice that is ! Any work must 
 be sweet when we think of God watching and 
 being pleased with us for doing it just as well 
 as we can because we love him." 
 
 " Yes, daughter, love is a great sweetener of 
 labor of whatever kind it may be."
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 " True faith and reason are the soul's two eyes, 
 Faith evermore looks upward and descries 
 Objects remote." QUAKLIS. 
 
 MR. KEITH and Wallace Onnsby were busy, 
 eacli at his own desk ; unbroken silence had 
 reigned in the office for the last half hour, 
 when suddenly dropping his pen and wheel 
 ing about in his chair, the elder gentleman 
 addressed the younger : 
 
 " Why, how's this, Wallace ? I haven't seen 
 you in my house or heard of your being there 
 for weeks ; what's wrong ?" 
 
 Wallace, taken by surprise, could only stam 
 mer out rather incoherently something about 
 having had a good deal to do "correspond 
 ence and other writing, studying up that case, 
 you know, sir." 
 
 "Come, come, now, you're not so hard 
 pushed with work that you can't take a little 
 recreation now and then," returned his inter 
 rogator kindly ; " and really I don't think you 
 can find a much better place for that than my 
 house; especially since Mildred's at home 
 again."
 
 122 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 " That is very true, sir," said "Wallace, " but 
 I'd be extremely sorry to wear out my wel 
 come," he added, with a laugh that seemed a 
 trifle forced. 
 
 " No fear of that, "Wallace ; not the slight 
 est," Mr. Keith answered heartily : " why, we 
 consider you quite one of the family ; we can 
 never forget how kindly you nursed us in that 
 sickly season. And we've a new attraction." 
 
 " Yes, sir, so I heard. A very fine instru 
 ment, isn't it ?" 
 
 "Yes; if we are judges. Come up thi& 
 evening and hear Mildred play. I think she 
 has really a genius for music ; but that may be 
 a fond father's partiality." 
 
 The invitation was too tempting to be de 
 clined : it had taken a very strong effort of will 
 to enable the love-sick swain to stay so long 
 away from his heart's idol, and now under her 
 father's hospitable urgency his resolution gave 
 way. 
 
 "Thank you, sir; I shall be delighted to 
 come : and I have no doubt Miss Mildred is 
 quite as fine a performer as you think her," he 
 said ; and each resumed his pen. 
 
 Mrs. Keith, with strong faith in the wisdom 
 of the old adage, "All work and no play 
 makes Jack a dull boy," always insisted upon
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 123 
 
 each member of her household taking a due 
 amount of recreation. The older girls would 
 sometimes, in their eagerness to finish a piece 
 of work or learn a lesson for the morrow, be 
 ready to take up book or sewing immediately 
 on leaving the tea-table ; but their mother put 
 a veto upon that, and by precept and example 
 encouraged a half hour of social chat, romping 
 with the little ones, or gathering about the 
 piano to listen to Mildred's playing : and often 
 a little time before tea was given to music both 
 vocal and instrumental, every one, even down 
 to little Annis, frequently taking part in the 
 latter. 
 
 This season of mirth and jollity was over for 
 the evening, Mrs. Keith had taken the younger 
 children away to put them to bed, Zillah and 
 Ada were at their tasks in the sitting-room; 
 but Mildred still lingered at the piano, feeling 
 that she had need of practice to recover lost 
 ground. 
 
 Mr. Keith listened a little longer, then re 
 marking that he must see Squire Chetwood 
 about a business matter, donned hat and over 
 coat and went out. 
 
 Rupert stood beside his sister, turning the 
 pages of her music and praising her execution. 
 " I'd like all the town to hear you," he said.
 
 124 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 "I should prefer a much smaller audience," 
 she returned, laughingly. "Ku, did you re 
 member to mail that letter ?" 
 
 " No, I didn't !" he cried, in some conster 
 nation. 
 
 She drew out her pretty watch. 
 
 " There's time yet," he said, glancing at its 
 face ; " so I'm off." 
 
 Hurrying out of the front door, he encoun 
 tered Ormsby in the porch. 
 
 "Hollo! is that you, Wallace?" he cried. 
 " A little more and there'd have been a colli 
 sion. Haven't seen you here for an age ! been 
 wondering what had become of you. Well, 
 walk right in. You'll find Milly in the parlor. 
 But you must excuse me for awhile as I've a 
 letter to mail." 
 
 He held the door open as he spoke, and hav 
 ing seen the caller inside, hastily shut it with 
 out waiting for a reply to his remarks, and 
 rushed away. 
 
 The parlor door stood ajar. Wallace tapped 
 lightly ; but Mildred, intent upon her music, 
 did not hear, and he stole quietly in. He stood 
 for a moment almost entranced by the low 
 sweet tones of voice and instrument. 
 
 Mildred was thinking of Charlie, and her 
 voice was full of pathos as she sang
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 125 
 
 " ' When we two parted 
 In silence and tears, 
 Half broken-hearted, 
 To sever for years.' " 
 
 A deep sigh startled her and she turned 
 tastily to find not Charlie, but "Wallace re 
 garding her with eyes full of despairing love 
 mingled with tender compassion. 
 
 He saw that her eyes were full of tears, and 
 coming quickly to her side took her hand in 
 his. 
 
 " Dear Mildred, I can't bear to see you un 
 happy," he said, in low, tremulous tones. 
 " Don't grieve, it will all come right some day. 
 Ah, if only I could have won your heart !" and 
 again he sighed deeply. 
 
 " It's the old story, ' the course of true love 
 never will run smooth,' and we can only be 
 sorry for each other," she returned with forced 
 gayety, and hastily wiping away her tears. 
 " Take a seat, won't you, and I'll give you 
 something more cheerful than that sickly sen 
 timental stuff you caught me singing. That 
 is, of course, if you wish to hear it ;" and she 
 looked up into his face with an arch smile. 
 
 A tete-a-tete with him at that time was not 
 desirable would be rather embarrassing ; she 
 wanted to avoid it, and heartily wished some
 
 126 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 one of the family would come in immediately ; 
 therefore was not seriously displeased at the 
 sudden and unexpected entrance of Celestia 
 Ann. 
 
 This very independent maid-of-all-work 
 came bustling in, dressed in her " Sunday 
 best " and with a bit of sewing in her hand. 
 
 " Good-evenin', Mr. Ormsby," she said, nod 
 ding to him ; then turning to Mildred : " I 
 declare, Miss Mildred, your playin' is so pow 
 erful fine I couldn't noways stand it to set out 
 there in the kitchen while the pianner was a 
 goin' in here and nobody to listen to it. You 
 see I thought you were alone ; but I reckon 
 Mr. Ormsby won't mind me." 
 
 "Wallace was too well aware of the value of 
 the woman's services and the difficulty of retain 
 ing them to make any objection. He merely nod 
 ded and smiled in reply to her salutation ; then 
 turning to Mildred answered her with, " Indeed 
 I should be delighted. In fact your father in 
 vited me to call this evening for the express 
 purpose of listening to your music, and," he 
 added in a whisper, " though I feared my visit 
 might not be altogether welcome to you, I had 
 not the courage to deny myself so great a 
 pleasure." 
 
 " There was no occasion," Mildred said, in
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 127 
 
 the same low tone : " we all want you to feel 
 yourself quite at home here. You'll excuse the 
 intrusion of " 
 
 " Oh, certainly : I understand it." 
 
 Celestia Ann had seated herself beside a 
 lamp burning on a distant table, and was in 
 dustriously plying her needle. 
 
 " Come, give us a lively toon, Miss Milly, 
 won't ye ?" she said. " 'Yankee Doodle,' or 
 * Hail Colomby,' or some o' them toons folks 
 dances to." 
 
 " Which or what will you have, Mr. Orms- 
 fcy?" asked Mildred. 
 
 " 1 2" he said, with a smile ; " oh, 1 own to 
 sharing Miss Hunsinger's partiality for our na 
 tional airs, and am well satisfied with the selec 
 tions already made." 
 
 Mildred gave them in succession. 
 
 A tall man with a book under his arm stood 
 in a listening attitude at the gate. Mrs. Keith, 
 seeing him from an upper window, came down 
 -and opened the front door. 
 
 " Good evening, Mr. Lightcap," she said in 
 her pleasant voice, " won't you come in out of 
 ihe cold ?" 
 
 "I come to fetch back your book, Mrs. 
 Heith," he said, moving toward her with long 
 strides, "and I thought I'd not disturb the
 
 128 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 folks in your parlor by knockin' whilst that 
 music was agoin'. I'm a thousand times 
 obleeged fer the loan o' the book, ma'am ;" and 
 he handed it to her, then lifted his cap as if in 
 adieu. 
 
 " No, no ; don't go yet," she said. " I have 
 another book for you, and you must have some 
 more of the music, if you care to hear it,, 
 without standing in the cold to listen." 
 
 Her pleasant cordiality put him at his ease,, 
 and he followed her into the parlor. 
 
 Mildred was playing and singing "Star Span 
 gled Banner," Wallace accompanying her witk 
 his voice, both so taken up with the business in 
 hand that they did not perceive the entrance 
 of Mrs. Keith and Gotobed until they joined 
 in on the chorus ; when Mildred looked up in 
 surprise and nodded a smiling welcome to the 
 latter. 
 
 " Tell you, that's grand !" he exclaimed at 
 the close, his f aoe lighting up with patriotic en 
 thusiasm ; " there's somethin' mighty inspirin' 
 about them national airs o' ourn. Don't ye 
 think so, Mrs. Keith ?" 
 
 " Yes," she said, " they always stir my blood 
 with love for my dear native land, and awaken 
 emotions of gratitude to God and those gallant 
 forefathers who fought and bled to secure her 
 liberties."
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 129 
 
 * Ah !" he sighed with a downward glance 
 at his mutilated arm, " I can never lift sword 
 or gun for her if occasion should come again !" 
 
 " But you may do as much, or even more, in 
 other ways," she responded cheerily. 
 
 " I can't see how, ma'am," he returned, with 
 a rueful shake of the head. 
 
 " ' Knowledge is power ;' intellect can often 
 accomplish more than brute force : go on culti 
 vating your mind and storing up information, 
 and opportunities for usefulness will be given 
 you in due time," she answered with her bright, 
 sweet smile ; then turned with a cordial greet 
 ing to Lu Grange and Claudina and Will Chet- 
 wood, ushered in at that moment by Celestia 
 Ann, who now took her departure to the kit 
 chen probably thinking Miss Mildred had 
 listeners enough to be able to spare her. 
 
 The piano was a new and powerful attrac 
 tion to the good people of Pleasant Plains, 
 and all the friends and acquaintance of the 
 Keiths, as well as some whose title to either 
 appellation was doubtful, flocked to hear it in 
 such numbers that for two or three weeks after 
 its arrival Mildred seemed to be holding a levee 
 almost every evening. 
 
 " How my time is being wasted !" she sighed 
 one evening as the door closed upon the last 
 departing guest.
 
 130 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 "No, dear, I think not," responded her 
 mother, with an affectionate look and a kindly 
 reassuring smile ; " you are recovering lost 
 ground perfecting yourself in facility of exe 
 cution, and giving a great deal of pleasure ; 
 and it is no small privilege to be permitted to 
 do that last to cheer heavy hearts, to lift bur 
 dens, to make life even a little brighter to some 
 of our fellow creatures. Is not that so ?" 
 
 " Yes, mother, it is, and yet I find it very 
 trying to have my plans so often interfered 
 with." 
 
 "Ah! my child, we must not allow ourselves 
 to become too much attached to our plans," 
 returned Mrs. Keith, with a slightly hilrnorous 
 look and tone, and passing her hand caressing 
 ly over Mildred's hair ; " for all through life 
 we shall be very frequently compelled by cir 
 cumstances to set them aside." 
 
 "Is there any use in making plans, then ?" the 
 girl asked half impatiently. 
 
 "Surely there is. If we would accomplish any 
 thing worth while, we must lay our plans care 
 fully, thoughtfully, wisely; then carry them 
 out with all energy and perseverance : yet not 
 allow ourselves to be impatient and unhappy 
 when providentially called upon to set them 
 aside. * It is not in man that walketh to direct
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 his steps ;' and we ought to be not only willing 
 to bend to God's providence, but glad to have 
 him choose for us." 
 
 "Ah, yes, mother yes indeed!" Mildred 
 murmured, a dewy light coming into her eyes ; 
 " if one could only always realize that he sends 
 or permits these little trials they wouldn't be 
 hard to bear ; for it is sweet to have him choose 
 for us." 
 
 It so happened that this was the last of that 
 trial of Mildred's patience. A storm set in 
 that night which lasted for several days, keep 
 ing almost everybody at home ; then came 
 weeks of ice and snow, making fine sleighing, 
 skating, and sliding ; thus furnishing other and 
 more exciting amusement to the residents of 
 the town, both old and young. 
 
 The Keiths took their share in these winter 
 pastimes Mildred as well as the rest : often 
 doing so to please her mother rather than her 
 self, yet always finding enjoyment in them. 
 
 'Twas a busy life she led that winter, and by 
 no means an unhappy one, spite of the obstinate 
 refusal of the course of true love to run smooth. 
 
 It came to a rougher place, to deeper, swifter 
 rapids, in the ensuing spring. 
 
 Through all these months of separation she 
 and Charlie had kept up a correspondence,
 
 132 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 though at somewhat irregular and infrequent 
 intervals. A much longer time than usual had 
 now passed, and yet her last letter to him re 
 mained unanswered. She was secretly very 
 much disturbed in mind, sorely troubled lest 
 some evil had befallen him, though not per 
 mitting herself to doubt for a moment that his 
 love for her remained as strong and fervent as 
 ever. 
 
 At last a letter came. Rupert brought it 
 from the office at noon, and handed it to her 
 with a meaning smile, a twinkle of fun in his 
 eyes. 
 
 " Something to brighten this dull, rainy day 
 for you, sis," he said gayly. 
 
 " Thank you," she returned, flushing rosy 
 red, and her heart giving a joyous bound as she 
 slipped the missive into her pocket. 
 
 " "What ! not going to read it after the long 
 journey it has taken to reach you ?" he asked, 
 lifting his eyebrows in mock astonishment. 
 
 " Not now, it will keep ; and I must get 
 mother's toast and tea ready for her there'll 
 be barely time before father comes in to din 
 ner." 
 
 "How is she?" 
 
 " Better, but not able to be up yet. These 
 bad headaches always leave her weak, and I
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 133 
 
 shall try to persuade her to lie still all the 
 afternoon." 
 
 "With the last word Mildred hurried away 
 to the kitchen. 
 
 The morning had been a very trying one : 
 it was Monday, the day of the week on which 
 Celestia Ann always insisted upon doing the 
 fa'nily washing without regard to the state of 
 the weather. She prided herself on getting 
 her clothes out early and having them white 
 as the driven snow, and her temper was never 
 proof against the trial of a Monday-morning 
 storm. 
 
 There had been a steady pour of rain since 
 before daybreak, and the queen of the kitchen 
 consequently in anything but an amiable mood. 
 A severe headache had kept Mrs. Keith in bed, 
 and to Mildred had fallen the task of guiding 
 and controlling the domestic machinery and 
 seeing that its wheels ran smoothly. 
 
 She had had several disputes to settle be 
 tween Ada and Zillah on the one side, and the 
 irate maid-of-all-work on the other ; also much 
 ado to induce the younger children to attend to 
 their lessons, and then to keep them amused 
 and quiet that her mother might not be dis 
 turbed by their noise, and through it all her 
 heart was heavy with its own peculiar burden ;
 
 134 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 besides, atmospheric influences had their de 
 pressing effect upon her spirits, as upon those 
 of the others, and more than once a sharp or 
 impatient word, repented of as soon as uttered, 
 had escaped her lips. 
 
 " An undeserved blessing/' was her remorse 
 ful thought at sight of the letter. " It may be 
 ill news to be sure oh if it should ! yet any 
 thing is better than this terrible suspense." 
 
 But that must be borne until she could 
 snatch a moment of solitude in which to end 
 it. 
 
 Zillah, stooping over the kitchen fire, looked 
 up hastily as her sister entered. "You've 
 come to get mother's dinner, Milly ? Well, 
 here it is all ready," pointing to the teapot 
 steaming on the hearth, beside it a plate of 
 nicely browned and buttered toast. 
 
 " O you dear good girls !" was Mildred's 
 response as she glanced from the stove to the 
 table, upon which Ada was in the act of plac 
 ing a neatly arranged tea tray. 
 
 " As if it wasn't the greatest pleasure in the 
 world to do a little for mother !" exclaimed 
 the latter half indignantly. "You needn't 
 think, Milly, that the rest of us don't love her 
 just as well as you do." 
 
 " I meant no such insinuation," Mildred said,
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 135 
 
 half laughing. " I'm sure our mother deserves 
 the greatest possible amount of love and devo 
 tion from all her children. But may I claim 
 the privilege of carrying up the dinner you 
 two have prepared ?" 
 
 " Yes : I suppose it's no more than fair to let 
 you do that much ; but you needn't expect me 
 to think it's any great goodness," Ada answered, 
 putting the finishing touches to her work, and 
 stepping aside to let Mildred take possession 
 of the tray. 
 
 " Certainly nothing is farther from my 
 thoughts than claiming credit for any service 
 done to mother," Mildred answered good-hu- 
 moredly as she took up the tray and walked 
 away with it. 
 
 With quick light step she passed up the 
 stairs, and entering her mother's room with al 
 most noiseless tread, was greeted with a smile. 
 
 " I am not asleep, dear ; and the pain ig 
 nearly gone," Mrs. Keith said, speaking from 
 the bed in low, quiet tones. 
 
 " I am so glad, mother, and I hope a cup ot 
 tea will complete the cure," Mildred answered 
 softly, setting down her burden on a little 
 stand by the bedside and gently assisting her 
 mother to a sitting posture. 
 
 " A dainty little meal ! My dear child, you
 
 136 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 are the greatest possible comfort to me !" Mrs. 
 Keith remarked presently, as she handed back 
 the empty cup. 
 
 " But it was Zillah and Ada who prepared 
 it to-day, mother," Mildred returned, ever care 
 ful to give others their just due, though her 
 eyes shone. 
 
 " Yes, they are dear girls too," the mother 
 said ; " I am greatly blessed in my children : 
 but I was thinking more of the freedom from 
 care given me by having you here to take the 
 head of affairs. The others, though doubtless 
 equally willing, are still too young for that. 
 So I could never give myself up to the full 
 enjoyment of a headache while you were away," 
 she added in her own peculiarly pleasant, sport 
 ive tone and manner. 
 
 " I cannot half fill your place, mother dear ; 
 I have not half your wisdom or patience," Mil 
 dred said with a blush and sigh. 
 
 " You exaggerate my virtues, Milly ; I can 
 imagine from past experience how your 
 patience may have been tried to-day. "Well, 
 dear, if there has been a partial failure, do not 
 let that rob you of your peace. ' Like as a 
 father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth 
 them that fear him;' and though he cannot look 
 upon sin with any degree of allowance, yet
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 137 
 
 when we turn from it with true repentance 
 and desire after holiness, pleading the merits 
 of his dear Son as our only ground of accept 
 ance, we find him ever ready to forgive. 
 What a blessing, what a glorious privilege it 
 is that we have, in that we may turn in heart 
 .to him for pardon and cleansing the moment 
 we are conscious of sin in thought, word, or 
 deed !" 
 
 " Yes, mother ; I do feel it so. And how 
 -strangely kind he often is in sending joys and 
 comforts when we feel that we deserve pun 
 ishments rather," Mildred said with tears 
 .springing to her eyes, as she drew out her let 
 ter and held it up. 
 
 "From Charlie!" Mrs. Keith exclaimed, 
 with a pleased smile. " My darling, I am very 
 .glad for you. I hope it brings good news." 
 
 Mildred turned it in a way to show that the 
 seal was not yet broken, answering in low, 
 tremulous tones, and between a smile and a 
 sigh, "I have not found out yet. It must 
 wait for a quiet after-dinner half-hour." 
 
 "My brave, patient girl!" Mrs. Keith said 
 tenderly, passing a hand caressingly over Mil 
 dred's hair and cheek. " Let mother share the 
 joy or sorrow, whichever it brings." 
 
 Mildred brought but scant appetite to the
 
 138 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 meal, which seemed to her an unusually long- 
 and tedious one ; but she was able to control 
 her impatience and give due attention to the 
 comfort of father, brothers and sisters, until at 
 length she found herself at liberty to retire for 
 a season to the privacy of her own room. 
 
 Her hand trembled and her heart beat fast 
 between hope and fear as she drew the letter 
 from her pocket and broke the seal. What if 
 it brought ill news that Charlie was in trou 
 ble, or that his love had grown cold ! Had she 
 strength to bear it ? 
 
 Oh, not of herself ! But there was One who- 
 had said, " In me is thine help." " Fear thou 
 not, for I am wtih thee ; be not dismayed ; for 
 I am thy God : I will strengthen thee ; yea, I 
 will help thee." 
 
 One moment's silent pleading of His gra 
 cious promises, and she had grown calm and 
 strong to endure whatever His providence hacf 
 sent. Tears dropped upon the paper as she 
 read, for Charlie was indeed in sore trouble. 
 The first few sentences read as though tha 
 writer were half frenzied with distress. 
 
 " He had lost everything," so he wrote ; 
 " both his own and his uncle's property had 
 been suddenly and completely swept away, and 
 the shock had killed the old gentleman his
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 139 
 
 only near relative leaving him friendless and 
 alone in the world ; utterly alone, utterly 
 friendless ; for he could not hope that she who 
 had refused him in prosperity would be will 
 ing to share his poverty. Nor could he ask it. 
 But never, never could he forget her, never 
 love another." 
 
 Then under a later date, and in apparently 
 calmer mood, he continued : 
 
 " I am about to leave the home of my child 
 hood and youth ; it passes to-day into the hands 
 of strangers, and I go out into the wide world 
 to seek some way of retrieving my broken for 
 tunes. "With youth, health and strength, and 
 a liberal education, surely I need not despair 
 of finally attaining that end, though it will 
 doubtless take years of toil and struggle ; but 
 when it is accomplished you shall hear from 
 me again : nay, you shall find me at your feet, 
 suing for the priceless boon I have hitherto 
 sought in vain. I will not despair, for my 
 heart tells me you will be true to me even 
 through many long years of separation if such 
 fate has decreed us and that in answer to your 
 prayers the barrier between us will one day be 
 swept away." 
 
 " Share his poverty ! Ah, would I not if I 
 might !" Mildred cried half aloud and with a
 
 140 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 burst of tears. " What greater boon could I 
 ask than the privilege of comforting him in his 
 sorrows ! O Charlie, Charlie, you have given 
 no address, and so put it out of my power to 
 offer even the poor consolation of written 
 words of sympathy, of hope and cheer !" 
 
 No one came to disturb Mildred in her 
 solitude ; she had time for thought and for the 
 casting of her care upon Him who was her 
 strong refuge, whereunto she might continu 
 ally resort. 
 
 Mrs. Keith had not left her own room, and 
 downstairs the two elder girls were busied 
 with their needles, while Rupert kept the 
 younger children quiet with kite-making and 
 a story, moved thereto partly by a good-na 
 tured desire for their amusement, but princi 
 pally through affectionate concern for mother 
 and elder sister. 
 
 Mrs. Keith lay on her couch, thinking, a 
 little anxiously, of Mildred, when the door 
 opened and the young girl stole softly to her 
 side. 
 
 " Is it ill news, my darling ?" the mother 
 asked in tender, pitying accents, glancing up 
 compassionately at the dewy eyes and tear 
 stained cheeks. 
 
 " I will read you his letter, mother. You
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 know I have no secrets from you, my loved 
 and only confidante," Mildred answered a little 
 tremulously, and stooping to press a kiss on 
 her mother's lips. 
 
 Then seating herself, she unfolded the sheet 
 and read in low tones, which she vainly tried 
 to make calm and even. 
 
 " Ah, mother, if only he were a Christian !" 
 she exclaimed with a burst of uncontrollable 
 weeping. 
 
 " Do not despair of seeing him such one 
 day," her mother returned, laying a gentle, 
 quieting hand on that of the weeper. " God 
 is the hearer and answerer of prayer ; the an 
 swer may be long delayed, for the trial of your 
 faith, but it will come at last." 
 
 " What is Charlie waiting for ?" sighed Mil 
 dred. " How strange that he cannot see that 
 God's time for the sinner to come and be rec 
 onciled to him is always now ! Ah, I do so 
 want him to know the comfort of casting all his 
 care on the Lord the blessedness of the man 
 who trusts in him !" 
 
 " Yes, it is a strange delusion ! It is one of 
 Satan's devices to persuade men to put off this 
 most important of all transactions to a more 
 convenient season, which he knows will never 
 come. But, dear child, we will unite our
 
 142 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 prayers on Charlie's behalf to Him who has all 
 power in heaven and in earth, and who has 
 graciously promised, ' If two of you shall agree 
 on earth as touching anything that they shall 
 ask, it shall be done for them of my Father 
 which is in heaven.' "
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 "Ah! what is human life? 
 How, like the dial's tardy moving shade, 
 Day after day slides from us unperceiv'dl 
 The cunning fugitive is swift by stealth; 
 Too subtle is the movement to be seen ; 
 Yet soon the hour is up and we are gone." 
 
 Youwo. 
 
 " MOTHER, he seems to imply that I am not 
 likely to hear from him again for years, Mil 
 dred remarked, half in assertion, half as asking 
 her mother's understanding of the drift of 
 young Landreth's communication. 
 
 " Yes, I think so," Mrs. Keith responded in 
 gentle, pitying tones. Then more brightly and 
 cheerily, " But perhaps, dear, that certainty is 
 better will be less trying than a constantly 
 disappointed looking for of letters." 
 
 Mildred gave a silent assent, while a tear 
 rolled quickly down her cheek. She dashed it 
 hastily aside. "Mother, dearest mother, you 
 must help me to be brave and cheerful, not 
 letting this disappointment and anxiety spoil 
 my life and make me a burden to myself and 
 others," she whispered tremulously, laying her 
 head on her mother's pillow and gazing IOT-
 
 144 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 ingly, but through gathering tears, into those 
 dear eyes. 
 
 "I will, my poor darling," returned Mrs, 
 Keith in moved tones, putting an arm about 
 her daughter's neck and drawing her closer 
 till cheek rested against cheek ; " and there is 
 One who, with all power at his command, and 
 loving you even more tenderly than your mo 
 ther does, will give you such help and conso 
 lation in this sore trial as she cannot give." 
 
 "I know it; I am sure of it," murmured 
 Mildred. "I can trust him for myself 
 though the way looks dark and dreary but 
 O mother, it is not so easy to trust for Char 
 lie!" 
 
 " Perhaps, dear, that is one reason why this 
 trial is sent you : trust for our dear ones as 
 well as for ourselves is a lesson we all need to 
 learn." 
 
 " And to teach me patience, which is another 
 lesson I greatly need and am very slow to 
 learn," sighed Mildred. " ' The trying of your 
 faith worketh patience. But let patience have 
 her perfect work.' Oh, shall I ever be able to 
 do that !" 
 
 " Yes, at last ; I am assured of it : ' being 
 confident of this very thing, that he who hath 
 begun a good work in you will perform it un-
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 145 
 
 til the day of Jesus Christ.' 'In all these 
 things we are more than conquerors through 
 him that loved us.' And trusting in him,, 
 living near to him, in the light of his coun 
 tenance, we may have, we shall have great joy 
 and peace in spite of tribulations." 
 
 "And those I know all must have in one 
 way or another," said Mildred a little sadly, 
 " because we are told in Acts, ' we must through 
 much tribulation enter into the kingdom of 
 God;' and Jesus told his disciples, 'In the 
 world ye shall have tribulation.' " 
 
 " But, he added, ' Be of good cheer : I have 
 overcome the world,' " Mrs. Keith said with 
 emotion, a joyous light shining in her eyes. 
 
 " Mother," said Mildred, " I once heard the 
 assertion that God's people were peculiarly 
 marked out for trouble and trial in this world ; 
 that they must expect to have more than was 
 allotted to worldlings. Do you think that is 
 true ?" 
 
 " No, I find no such teaching in Scripture, 
 nor has experience of life taught it to me. 
 ' Many sorrows shall be to the wicked, but he 
 that trusteth in the Lord, mercy shall compass 
 him about.' ' Many are the afflictions of the 
 righteous, but the Lord delivereth him out of 
 them all.' ' O fear the Lord, ye his saints,
 
 146 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 for there is no want to them that fear him ! ' 
 < Godliness is profitable unto all things, having 
 promise of the life that now is, and of that 
 which is to come.' The Bible is full of the 
 blessedness of those who fear and trust the 
 Lord." 
 
 "'Whom the Lord loveth \e chasteneth, 
 and scourgeth every son whom e receiveth," 
 quoted Mildred doubtfully. 
 
 " Ah, yes ; the afflictions of the, righteous are 
 the loving discipline of a tender Father, while 
 upon the incorrigibly wicked he pours out his 
 fury in judgments that bring no healing to 
 their souls only retribution for the sins unre- 
 pented of and unf orgiven. ' Upon the wicked 
 he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an 
 horrible tempest : this shall be the portion of 
 their cup.' " 
 
 The door opened softly and Ada looked cau 
 tiously in. 
 
 " That is right, dear," Mrs. Keith said, greet 
 ing the child with a loving smile ; " come in 
 and give mother a kiss. The pain is quite gone, 
 and I am going to get up now and dress for tea." 
 
 " Don't, mother, unless you feel quite, quite 
 strong and well," the little girl entreated, re 
 ceiving and returning a tender caress. " I'm 
 so glad you are better (oh, it isn't nice to have
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 147 
 
 to do without mother ! though I'm sure Milly 
 has tried her very best to fill your place). I 
 wouldn't have come here because I was afraid 
 of disturbing you but there's a boy down 
 stairs asking if Milly will go and watch to-night 
 with a sick woman Mrs. Martin. Claudina 
 Chetwood's to watch, but there ought to be 
 two, he says, and they don't know of anybody 
 else for to-night. She's been sick so long that 
 'most everybody is worn out." 
 
 Professional nurses were unknown in the 
 town, and in time of sickness the only depend 
 ence for needed attention, outside of the suf 
 ferer's own family, was upon the kindness of 
 neighbors, and as a rule they were exceeding 
 kind. 
 
 Mrs. Martin's health had been declining for 
 many months ; for weeks she had been con 
 fined to bed and in a condition to need con 
 stant watching and waiting upon. 
 
 The Keiths had scarcely a speaking acquaint 
 ance with her, but that made no difference 
 when help was needed. 
 
 " Do you feel equal to the task, Mildred ?" 
 asked her mother. " I shall be sorry to have 
 you lose your night's rest ; but you can make 
 it up to-morrow. I am not likely to have a 
 return of the headache, and when I am ' to the
 
 148 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 fore ' you can be spared, you know," she added 
 sportively, and with a world of motherly pride 
 and affection in the look she bent upon her 
 first-born. 
 
 " Yes, mother ; it will not hurt me, and I can't 
 hesitate when duty seems so plain," Mildred 
 answered cheerfully. "How soon do they 
 want me, Ada ?" 
 
 " He says about nine o'clock. Mrs. Prior's 
 going to stay till then. I'll go down and tell 
 nim they may expect you ;" and with the last 
 word Ada left the room. 
 
 Mrs. Keith had left the bed for a low seat 
 before her toilet table, and Mildred was softly 
 brushing out and arranging her still beautiful 
 and abundant hair, very tenderly careful lest 
 too rude a touch should cause a return of the 
 torturing pain. 
 
 " Poor, poor woman !" sighed Mrs. Keith, 
 thinking of Mrs. Martin. 
 
 " Is she considered very dangerously ill, mo 
 ther ?" asked Mildred. 
 
 " Mrs. Prior was telling me about her yes 
 terday," Mrs. Keith answered. "Dr. Grange 
 eays she has not long to live; but worst of 
 all, Milly, she is dying without hope." 
 
 " O mother, how terrible ! And has no one 
 tried to lead her to Jesus? has no one told her
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 of his great love and his power and willingness 
 to save ?'" 
 
 " Yes, months ago, while she was still up 
 and about her house, Mrs. Prior and others tried 
 to talk to her about her soul's salvation, but 
 she refused to listen, angrily telling them she 
 was too weak to trouble herself with trying to 
 think on that subject now, and must wait until 
 she grew stronger ; and all the time growing 
 weaker and weaker. My child, I'm glad you 
 are to be with her to-night, for who knows but 
 you may find a fitting moment in which you 
 may speak a word that God may bless to the 
 saving of her soul." 
 
 " How glad I should be to do it," Mildred 
 answered with emotion, /'but I am so young, 
 and foolish and ignorant ! Mother, how can I 
 hope to succeed where older and wiser people- 
 have failed?" 
 
 " ' Not by might, nor by power, but by my 
 Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.' He often works 
 by the feeblest instrumentalities, and may see 
 fit to use even you, my dear girl. Ask his 
 help and his blessing upon your effort, remem 
 bering his promise, 'If any of you lack wis 
 dom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men 
 liberally and upbraideth not ; and it shall be 
 given him.'"
 
 150 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 " I will watch for an opportunity, and you 
 Tvill help me with your prayers, mother ?" 
 
 "You may be sure of that, dear child." 
 
 " But, O mother ! how very much better you 
 could speak to her than I." 
 
 "I doubt it, Milly ; for the work must be of 
 God, or it will come to naught ; and he can as 
 readily make use of your mind and tongue as 
 of mine. Don't rely on yourself ; don't forget 
 that you are only an instrument." 
 
 In spite of a very honest and earnest deter 
 mination to be cheerful under this new trial of 
 her faith and patience, and to bear her own 
 burden according to the scriptural command, 
 Mildred seemed to her father a little sad-eyed 
 and paler than her wont, as he looked at her 
 across the tea.table. 
 
 "My child," he said, "I hear you are ex 
 pecting to watch with the sick to-night, but 
 really I'm afraid you are not able to do so ; 
 you do not look well. ' 
 
 " Appearances are sometimes deceitful, you 
 know, iather," she returned, with an effort to 
 be bright and lively. " I am quite well, and 
 if fatigued to-night can rest and sleep to-mor 
 row." 
 
 "Well," he said, only half convinced, "lie 
 down until it is time for you to go."
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 16J 
 
 "Yes, Mildred, if you can get an hour or 
 two of sleep before your watch begins, it will 
 be a great help," said her mother. " We will 
 call you at nine." 
 
 " Half -past eight, if you please, mother. I 
 want to be there in time to ask directions of 
 Mrs. Prior before she leaves." 
 
 Mildred was not sorry to seek the quiet and 
 solitude of her own room, but she scarcely 
 slept. She seemed to have but just fallen into 
 a doze when Rupert knocked at her door to 
 say that it wanted but ten minutes of the time 
 she had set for starting, and he was ready to 
 see her to her destination. 
 
 " I'm glad you came early," was Mrs. Prior's 
 greeting, " for indeed I ought to be at home 
 seeing to things there. They're pretty sure to 
 go at sixes and sevens when I'm away; and 
 even if my boarders don't growl about it, 
 'tain't treatin' 'em exactly fair. But I'll not 
 leave you alone with her. Claudina'll be here 
 directly, and I'll stay till she comes." 
 
 "Oh, thank you!" Mildred said. "I 
 shouldn't like to be left alone with any one 
 who is so ill, and I shall need to be told just, 
 what I'm to do. How is she now?" 
 
 " Can't last much longer, poor thing," Mrs. 
 Prior returned with a sad shake of the head f;
 
 152 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 " she's dreadful weak and short o' breath, and 
 :awful afraid to go. Dear, dear, to think of 
 anybody putting off preparation to the last 
 minute when they know they've got to die, 
 and after that the judgment ! And she won't 
 allow a minister to come into the house, or let 
 anybody say a word to her about her soul. 
 Several has tried; I have myself, but it's no 
 use. Perhaps if she'd been approached in the 
 :right way at first, it might have been different. 
 Damaris Drybread was the first, I believe, to 
 say anything to her ; and between you and me, 
 though Damaris means well, she's not always 
 over wise in her way of doing what she con 
 siders her duty. But there ! I must run back 
 to her. She oughtn't to be left alone a minute. 
 Come into the sitting-room and take off your 
 things." 
 
 The door into the next room, where the in 
 valid lay, was open, and Mildred could hear 
 her moaning and complaining in hollow, de 
 spairing tones, Mrs. Prior answering in cheer 
 ful, soothing accents. 
 
 Presently Mrs. Prior stepped back to the 
 door and beckoned Mildred in. 
 
 " This is Miss Keith, Mrs. Martin," she said. 
 "" She and Miss Chetwood will watch with you
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 153 
 
 to-night and do all they can to make you com 
 fortable." 
 
 " Yes, you're all very kind. I know you'd 
 help me if you could ; but nobody can give 
 me a minute's ease, and nobody knows what I 
 have to suffer," moaned the sick woman, gaz 
 ing piteously into the fresh young face bending 
 over her. 
 
 Mildred's eyes filled with tears, and she 
 opened her lips to speak, but was stopped by 
 a hasty exclamation : "Hush! don't say a word ! 
 don't talk to me ! don't ask me any questions ! 
 I won't hear it ! I can't bear it ! I'm too weak." 
 
 " I can only pray for her," was Mildred's 
 thought as she turned sorrowfully away and 
 hastened to the outer door, where some one 
 had rapped lightly. 
 
 It was Claudina, and after giving them the 
 necessary instructions Mrs. Prior left them to 
 their melancholy duty. 
 
 As there was not more to be done than one 
 could easily attend to, she had advised them to 
 take turns in watching and sleeping. There 
 was a lounge in the sitting-room, where one 
 might rest very comfortably ; Claudina stretch 
 ed herself on it and almost immediately fell 
 asleep, Mildred having chosen the first watch.
 
 154 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 The latter established herself in the sick 
 room in an arm-chair by the bedside. She had 
 brought a book, but the night lamp did not 
 give sufficient light for reading. 
 
 The invalid slept fitfully, tossing, moaning, 
 and sighing in her sleep, and still more during 
 her moments of wakefulness. 
 
 Mildred had never felt wider awake, so 
 strangely, fearfully solemn it seemed to sit 
 there alone, waiting the coming of the angel 
 of death to one who shuddered and shrank at 
 his approach. Again and again while the dy 
 ing woman slept her watcher knelt by the 
 bedside and poured out fervent though silent 
 petitions on her behalf. And for Charlie too ; 
 for her thoughts were full of him as well, and 
 oh! at that moment it seemed a small matter 
 that they might never meet on earth, could she 
 only have the blessed assurance that eternity 
 would unite them in another and better world. 
 
 "What's that you're doing?" asked the 
 patient, waking suddenly. " Oh, I'm in awful 
 distress ! Kub me with some of that liniment, 
 won't you ?" 
 
 Mildred complied, doing her best to give 
 relief to the physical suffering, and crying 
 mightily in her heart to the Great Physician 
 for the healing of the sin-sick soul.
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 155 
 
 Oh, the distress and anguish in those hollow, 
 sunken eyes, and expressed in every lineament 
 of the wasted features ! 
 
 The bony hand clutched wildly at Mildred's 
 dress and drew her down close, while the pale 
 lips gasped, " I'm dying, and I'm not prepared ! 
 But I can't think I'm too weak. I must 
 wait till I get stronger." 
 
 " Oh no, no ! come now to Jesus ! He waits 
 with open arms to receive you," cried Mildred, 
 the tears coursing fast down her cheeks. " He 
 died to save you, and he is able and willing 
 to save to the uttermost all who come to him. 
 Come now." 
 
 " Too late, too late ! I'm too weak ! I can't 
 think ! Don't talk to me any more." 
 
 Mildred's ear barely caught the faintly 
 breathed words, and with the last the hollow 
 eyes closed, whether in sleep she could not tell. 
 
 She found herself growing very weary, and 
 the hands of the clock pointed to a half hour 
 past the set time for her vigil. She stole softly 
 into the next room, roused Claudina, and took 
 her place. 
 
 Her last thought as she fell into a dreamless 
 slumber was a prayer for the two for whom she 
 had been so importunately pleading. 
 
 She had not slept more than a moment when
 
 156 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 a hand was laid on her shoulder, and Claudina's 
 voice, trembling with fright, said, " Mildred, 
 Mildred, O Mildred, she's gone !" 
 
 "Who?" she asked, starting up only half 
 awake. 
 
 " Mrs. Martin. I was rubbing her, and she 
 moaned out, ' I'm too weak. I can't think. I 
 must wait till I'm stronger,' and with the last 
 word turned her head, gasped once, and was 
 gone." 
 
 Claudina shuddered and hid her face. " O 
 Mildred," she whispered, " those words of our 
 Saviour are ringing in my ears, ' What shall it 
 profit a man if he shall gain the whole world 
 and lose his own soul?' As a girl her head 
 was full of dress and beaux and having a good 
 time ; as a married woman keeping the best 
 table, the neatest house, and helping her hus 
 band to get on in the world. She had no time 
 to think about her soul until sickness came, 
 and then she said she was too weak, she must 
 wait to grow stronger." 
 
 They clasped each other's hands and wept 
 silently. 
 
 Presently there was a sound of some one 
 moving about the kitchen. "The girl's up," 
 said Claudina, rising from her kneeling pos 
 ture beside the lounge. " I'll go and tell her,
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 157 
 
 and she'll let Mr. Martin know. O, the poor, 
 motherless baby !" 
 
 She left the room, and Mildred, starting up, 
 saw through the crack at the side of the win 
 dow-blind that the sun had risen and Mrs. Prior 
 was at the door, come to inquire how the sick 
 woman was. 
 
 Through the sweet morning air, pure and 
 bracing after yesterday's showers, Mildred 
 walked home, full of solemn, anxious thoughts : 
 Charlie was a wanderer, she knew not whither, 
 his absorbing desire and anxiety to retrieve his 
 broken fortunes. "Oh that he would seek 
 first the kingdom of God and his righteous 
 ness !" Henceforward that should be the bur 
 den of her prayer for him, for herself, for all 
 her dear ones. 
 
 Then her heart was filled with a great 
 thankfulness for the spared lives of all these. 
 Some of them had already made preparation 
 for that last, long journey which, sooner or 
 later, every son and daughter of Adam must 
 take, and to the others time was still given.
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 "Awake in me a truer life, 
 
 A soul to labor and aspire 1 
 Touch thou my mortal lips, O God ! 
 With thine own truth's immortal flre. " 
 
 SARA J. CLARKK. 
 
 YES, it was joy and gladness just to be alive 
 this sweet spring morning. The swift-flowing 
 river gleamed and sparkled in the sunlight; 
 the forest trees on the farther side were 
 touched with a tender yellow green; the 
 grass along the wayside and in the dooryardft 
 was of a deeper, richer hue, and spangled 
 thickly with violets and dandelions, and the 
 peach and cherry trees in the gardens were in 
 full bloom ; the air was filled with fragrance, 
 and with the twittering of birds, the ripple of 
 the water, and other pleasant rural sounds. 
 
 The music of glad young voices came pleas 
 antly to Mildred's ear as she reached her 
 father's gate, and Fan and Annis, who had 
 been stooping over the flower-beds, came 
 bounding to meet her with a joyous greeting. 
 
 " How is mother ?" was her first question. 
 
 " Well ; she's downstairs in the sitting-room 
 cutting out sewing work."
 
 MILDEED AND EL8IE. 159 
 
 " Yes ; she's sure to be busy," Mildred said, 
 hurrying into the house, bidding good-morn 
 ing, as she passed, to Ada, who was sweeping 
 the front porch. 
 
 Every one was busy with a cheerful, ener 
 getic activity ; Zillah preparing breakfast, while 
 Celestia Ann put out her clothes to dry; 
 Bupert milked the cow, and the younger boys 
 fed the chickens. 
 
 " Mother ! so early at work after your sick 
 ness yesterday," Mildred said in a tone of 
 affectionate remonstrance as she entered the 
 sitting-room. 
 
 "Yes, daughter dear, there is need, and I 
 am quite able for it," Mrs. Keith answered, 
 looking up with a cheery smile. " And you 
 are not looking so worn and jaded as I feared 
 to see you. Did you get some sleep? and 
 how is the poor sick woman ?" 
 
 " Yes, ma'am, I slept several hours, and am 
 feeling pretty well. Mrs. Martin died about 
 half an hour ago very suddenly at the last. 
 Claudina was with her. I was asleep." 
 
 Mildred's eyes filled and her voice was 
 husky with emotion as she told of the solemn 
 event. 
 
 A silent shake of the head was the only 
 answer she could give to her mother's next
 
 160 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 question, whether the dying woman had given 
 any evidence that she was putting her trust in 
 Christ. 
 
 A look of sadness and pain came over the 
 face of the Christian mother also, while her 
 heart sent up a silent, fervent prayer on behalf 
 of her dear ones, that each of them might be 
 found at last hidden in the Rock of Ages. 
 
 "My dear child," she said to Mildred, "let 
 us look upon this sad event as a solemn warn 
 ing to us to be more faithful and constant in 
 the work of striving to win souls to Christ; 
 remembering that ' the night cometh, when no 
 man can work.' Ah ! can I be sure that I am 
 utterly guiltless of the blood of this woman, to 
 whom I never spoke one word of warning or 
 entreaty?" 
 
 "Mother, don't blame yourself!" cried Mil 
 dred in almost indignant surprise. " You had 
 not even a speaking acquaintance with her." 
 
 " But, my dear, I might have had. I could 
 easily have found some excuse for calling upon 
 her in her sickness, had I not allowed myself 
 to be too much taken up with other cares and 
 duties." 
 
 " But you can't do everything and take care 
 of everybody," said Mildred with affectionate 
 warmth; "and you are always at some good
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 161 
 
 and useful work. It is I who ought to take 
 the lesson to heart. And, God helping me, I 
 will," she added, in low, earnest, trembling 
 tones. " O mother, I feel this morning that 
 the things of this world are as nothing com 
 pared with those of the next, and I want to 
 show by my life that I do feel so ! I want to 
 spend it wholly in the Master's service, par 
 ticularly in winning souls ; for, oh ! the awful 
 thought of one being lost." 
 
 That these were no idle, lightly spoken 
 words, was proven as days, weeks, and months 
 rolled on, by the ever-growing consistency of 
 Mildred's daily walk and conversation ; her 
 constant effort to bring her daily life into con 
 formity to the divine precept, " Whether there 
 fore ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do 
 all to the glory of God ;" and that other, " As 
 we have therefore opportunity, let us do good 
 unto all men, especially unto them who are of 
 the household of faith." 
 
 The members of the home-circle were the 
 first to feel the change in Mildred. She could 
 hardly have made herself more helpful than 
 she had long been, but her cheerfulness was 
 more uniform, and the younger ones found 
 her more patient with their shortcomings, 
 more ready with sympathy and help in their
 
 162 MILDJRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 little trials and perplexities. They soon learned 
 to carry them to her as readily as to their best 
 and kindest of mothers. They thought their 
 eldest sister very wise, and liked to consult 
 her about their plans. This gave her many an 
 opportunity to influence them for good, and 
 very rarely was it neglected. 
 
 Spring was a very busy season with them 
 all; within doors house-cleaning and a vast 
 amount of sewing so many new garments to 
 be made, so many old ones to be renovated 
 and altered to suit the increased stature of the 
 growing lads and lasses ; outside the garden 
 ing, the making everything neat and trim, and 
 the care of the poultry. 
 
 Lessons were intermitted for two or three 
 weeks, to give the older members of the family 
 time for their unusual labors, while the chil 
 dren revelled in the delights of digging, plant 
 ing, and sowing, looking after their sitting 
 hens and tending their broods of little chicks. 
 There was a great deal of healthful pleasure 
 gotten out of the little plots of ground appro 
 priated in severalty to Cyril, Don, Fan, and 
 Annis, and hardly less from their fowls ; be 
 sides, the young owners were learning habits 
 of industry and thrift ; also the enjoyment of
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 being able to give to the Lord's cause of that 
 which had cost them something. 
 
 A beggar was a thing almost unknown in 
 the town, and there were very few people 
 poor enough to be objects of charity ; but it 
 was nice, the children thought, to have some 
 thing of their very own to put into the church 
 or Sabbath-school collection, especially when 
 it was to go to buy Bibles and pay for sending 
 missionaries to the poor benighted heathen. 
 
 The cause of missions was dear to the hearts 
 of the parents, and they were training their 
 children to love and work for it. 
 
 Rupert was the principal gardener and 
 manager of outdoor matters. He had full 
 charge of the fruit and vegetable garden on 
 his father's ground, and it flourished under 
 his care. But not content with that, he had 
 his own lot and Mildred's which he un 
 dertook to cultivate upon shares ploughed 
 up, then sowed them with corn, potatoes and 
 melons. 
 
 He had his mother's talent for system ; and, 
 making the best use of every spare moment, 
 an early riser, industrious, energetic, and pains 
 taking, he managed to do all this without neg 
 lecting the studies, in preparation for college^ 
 which he was still pursuing with Mr. Lord.
 
 164 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 He even found time for setting out trees 
 and shrubs, and digging up the flower-beds in 
 the front and side yards ; doing all the hard 
 work needed there, then giving them into the 
 care of his mother and the older girls, who 
 contrived to spare to the pleasing task an occa 
 sional half hour morning and evening, finding 
 it a rest from almost constant toil with the 
 needle. 
 
 Cheerfully busy as Mildred was from morn 
 ing to night, Charlie was seldom absent from 
 her thoughts: she followed him in imagina 
 tion through all his wanderings, the unbidden 
 tears often springing to her eyes as she dwelt 
 upon the loneliness and hardships he was doubt 
 less called to endure; her only comfort that 
 she might constantly plead for him with that 
 almighty Friend who knew it all, and was ever 
 near to both herself and her loved one. 
 
 She hoped, she prayed, that Charlie might 
 be restored to her, with the barrier to their 
 union removed ; but most of all, that whether 
 she should ever see him again on earth or not, 
 he might inherit eternal life. 
 
 Her father and mother, Eupert, and Zillah 
 were the only members of the family who 
 knew anything of the matter; the others 
 never so much as suspected that their bright,
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 165T, 
 
 kind, helpful, sympathizing sister Milly was 
 burdened with a secret sorrow or care. 
 
 Nor did she make a confidante of Claudina 
 Chetwood, Lu Grange or Effie Prescott, though 
 on intimate terms with all three. 
 
 Effie's health had improved since the Keiths 
 first made her acquaintance, but she was still 
 feeble and often ailing. She was a girl of fine 
 mind, very fond of reading, and very thankful 
 to these good neighbors for their kindness in 
 lending her books and periodicals. And she 
 greatly enjoyed a chat with Mrs. Keith or 
 Mildred, for which the borrowing and return 
 ing afforded frequent occasion. 
 
 She came in one morning while they were 
 hard at work over the pile of spring sewing. 
 
 " Good-morning, ladies. Don't let me dis 
 turb you," she said, as Zillah dropped her 
 work and rose hastily to hand a chair. " I see 
 you are very busy, and I came to ask if you 
 would let me help. I should enjoy spending 
 the morning chatting with you all, and might 
 just as well work while I talk; and I have 
 brought my thimble," taking it from her 
 pocket as she spoke. 
 
 " That is a very kind offer, Miss Effie, and 
 we will be glad to have you. Take yon easy- 
 chair and chat with us as long as you
 
 166 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 Mrs. Keith said, with her pleasant smile ; " but 
 that, I think, will be quite sufficient exertion 
 after your walk." 
 
 " Yes, indeed ; you must get quite enough 
 of sewing at home," said Zillah ; " it takes so 
 many, many stitches to make even one gar 
 ment, and such lots of garments to clothe a 
 family at all respectably." 
 
 "Yes," answered Effie in a sprightly tone, 
 " but I am fond of my needle and can use it a 
 good deal without injury. Mildred, I see you 
 are working buttonholes my especial pride 
 and delight. Won't you hand that waist to 
 me, and find something else to occupy your 
 fingers ?" 
 
 "Do you like to make them?" asked Mil 
 dred in a tone of genuine surprise. " It is my 
 perfect detestation. Therefore I find myself 
 sorely tempted to accept your generous offer." 
 
 Before Mildred's sentence was completed 
 the work had exchanged hands, Effie taking 
 playfully forcible possession. 
 
 " My dear girl, you have a real genius for 
 the business!" Mildred exclaimed presently. 
 " How rapidly and nicely you work them ! two 
 done in less time than I should take for one, 
 without doing it half so well." 
 
 Effie's eyes sparkled. "Generous praise,
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 167 
 
 Mildred," she said; "but you can well afford 
 to allow me the credit of doing one little thing 
 better than you do it." 
 
 " I dare say there may be many others in 
 which you excel me." 
 
 "No, I don't believe there's any other ; and 
 oh, when I hear you play the piano I feel as if 
 I'd give anything in the world if I could play 
 even half as well." 
 
 " "Would you like to take lessons ?" 
 
 " Shouldn't I !" cried Effie, with emphasis. 
 " But, dear me, there's no use thinking of it, 
 as I'm not likely ever to have the chance." 
 
 " I'd rather give a music lesson any day than 
 work buttonholes," remarked Mildred laugh 
 ingly ; " and oh, the quantities of them to be 
 made in this family ! Effie, why shouldn't we 
 exchange work occasionally? an hour of in 
 struction on the piano for an hours sewing? 
 Don't you think it would do, mother ?" 
 
 " Capitally, if you are mutually satisfied." 
 
 Effie's face was sparkling with delight. " Oh, 
 do you really mean it ?" she cried. " Why, I'd 
 gladly give two hours' sewing for one of music 
 lesson, and am sure it would be worth it." 
 
 " No," said Mildred, " I think not, consid 
 ering what a swift and neat needlewoman you 
 are."
 
 168 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 "Not much worldly wisdom in either of 
 you, I think, my dear girls," remarked Mrs. 
 Keith with an amused smile. 
 
 " But there's a difficulty I had not thought 
 of," said Effie. " I have no piano to practise 
 on." 
 
 " You shall have the use of mine." 
 
 " Thank you. I gladly accept your kind offer 
 if I may pay for that also with mv needle." 
 
 Effie spent the day with her friends, and 
 before leaving had come to an arrangement 
 with Mildred perfectly satisfactory to both, 
 and taken her first lesson. 
 
 Just at its close, before the two had left the 
 piano, Claudina and Lu came in, and, hearing 
 what Mildred had undertaken, earnestly begged 
 that she would add them to her class. 
 
 "Father is very anxious for me to learn," 
 said Claudina, " and was wondering, the other 
 day, if it would do to ask you to take me as a 
 scholar. He said you could set your own 
 price ; he'd willingly pay it ; but as you have 
 no need to make money for yourself he was 
 .afraid to propose it. Now, Milly dear, would 
 you be offended? Of course we should feel 
 that you were doing us a favor, even though 
 you let us pay for it." 
 
 "No; I don't feel at all offended," Mildred
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 169 
 
 said, laughing and blushing, " and I'd be glad 
 to do anything in my power to gratify you, 
 girls, or your fathers; but I really haven't 
 time." 
 
 " Then I suppose we'll have to give it up," 
 remarked Lu with a sigh; "but I do wish 
 this town could afford a music teacher, for I've 
 set my heart on learning to play." 
 
 When spring house-cleaning and sewing are 
 done you won't be so very busy, Milly," sug 
 gested Claudina. 
 
 "Yes, very nearly if not quite as busy as 
 now, for then I take up my governessing 
 again." 
 
 " You're the best sister and daughter I ever 
 heard of," was Claudina's comment. 
 
 Tea was just over, and Mrs. Keith stepped 
 out to the kitchen for a consultation with 
 Celestia Ann on the all-important subject of 
 the morrow's breakfast and dinner. Ee turning 
 to the sitting-room, she found her three girls 
 again plying their needles. 
 
 " Come, come, my dears, no more work to 
 night," she said. " You, Zillah and Ada, may 
 help me set everything to rights here, so that 
 we can go on promptly in the morning ; and 
 Mildred, child, if you are not too tired, let 
 your father have some music. It is restful
 
 170 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 and cheering to him after his day's work and 
 worry at the office." 
 
 " I'm never too tired to play for father or 
 mother," Mildred said with a smile as she rose 
 to do her mother's bidding. 
 
 " There ! don't wait to fold that ; I'll do it," 
 Zillah said, taking the work from her hand. 
 "And, mother, please go into the parlor and 
 rest yourself in the big rocking-chair, and leave 
 this clearing up to Ada and me." 
 
 "Yes, mother, please do," chimed in the 
 younger girl ; " we'd a great deal rather, and 
 you know we can just as well as not." 
 
 "Thank you, dears; then I will. "What 
 comforts and blessings you are to me ! all three 
 of you." 
 
 "Me too, mother? me and Fan?" asked 
 little Annis, following and standing beside her 
 mother's chair with eager, upturoed face and 
 pleading eyes. 
 
 "Yes, indeed, darling! Mother wouldn't 
 know how to do without her baby girl or her 
 dear little Fan," Mrs. Keith answered, lifting 
 the one into her lap and drawing the other 
 close to her side; for Fan, too, had followed 
 her in from the sitting-room. 
 
 " I'm not of much use yet, mother, 'cept to 
 love you," she said, nestling closer ; " but I'm
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 171 
 
 going to be some day, if I live. See ! I've 
 hemmed one side o' this handkerchief ; and 
 didn't I make nice bits of stitches ?" she asked, 
 holding it up for inspection. 
 
 "Yes, indeed, darling, I can see that you 
 have taken great pains. Why, I think after a 
 while I shall have no need to sew at all, with 
 so many other fingers to do the work. Go and 
 enow it to father." 
 
 Fan obeyed, was praised, caressed and taken 
 upon her father's knee, where she sat in quiet 
 content listening to Mildred's music. 
 
 Presently Squire Chetwood was ushered in 
 by Celestia Ann. 
 
 " Go on, Miss Mildred," he said as he took 
 the seat Mr. Keith hastened to offer ; " there's 
 no greater treat for me than your music ; and 
 my errand will keep for a bit." 
 
 It proved, when told, one that rejoiced them 
 all. It was to show to Mr. Keith a letter of 
 acceptance from a gentleman teacher with 
 whom they had been corresponding with a 
 view to securing his services as principal of a 
 school which they were trying to establish in 
 the town. It was to be for both sexes, and 
 the gentleman's wife would take charge of the 
 girls' department. 
 
 " I send four pupils Zillah, Ada, Cyril, and
 
 172 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 Don," said Mr. Keith, "thereby considerably 
 lightening your labors, wife, and Mildred's, I 
 trust." 
 
 The squire cleared his throat. " And then, 
 Miss Mildred Ah ! I hardly dare go on lest 
 you should think me presuming=" 
 
 "But after exciting my curiosity you can 
 hardly refuse to gratify it," Mildred returned 
 playfully, though she knew very well what was 
 coming. 
 
 Before the squire went away she had con- 
 sented to take another music scholar, and the 
 terms he offered were very liberal, she having 
 declined to name a price for her services. 
 
 " Having accepted Claudina, you can hardly 
 refuse Lu," her mother remarked when the 
 squire had gone. 
 
 "No, mother; and how little time I shall 
 have left for helping you!" sighed Mil 
 dred. 
 
 " Now, Milly, don't try to make yourself of 
 so much importance !" cried Zillah in a gayly 
 bantering tone. " Didn't mother do without 
 you entirely last year? One would suppose 
 Ada and I were of no consequence where work 
 is concerned." 
 
 " But you will be in school, child !" 
 
 " Not for the first four hours after we leave
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 173 
 
 our beds in the morning, or the last four or 
 five before we return to them at night." 
 
 " Beside an hour or more at noon," added 
 Ada ; " and if we can't do something to help 
 mother in all that time we'll deserve to be 
 called lazy girls." 
 
 " We shall do nicely, I am sure," the mother 
 said, with a pleased, loving glance at each of 
 the three faces in turn. " I think we can man 
 age so that everything will be attended to, and 
 no one of us overworked. I can easily hear 
 Fan's and Annis's little lessons every day while 
 sewing. Your five music scholars, Mildred, 
 will occupy only ten hours a week of your 
 time, while one of them will do an hour's 
 sewing for you every day and the other two 
 outsiders bring you in a nice little sum of 
 pocket money." 
 
 " Why, it doesn't look so very laborious after 
 all !" Mildred said, brightening. 
 
 "No," laughed Zillah, "you could take half 
 a dozen more music scholars and not be hurt."
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 " Wouldst thou from sorrow find a sweet relief, 
 Or is thy heart oppress'd with woes untold? 
 Balm wouldst thou gather for corroding grief, 
 Pour blessings round thee like a shower of gold!" 
 
 CARLOS WILCOX. 
 
 MILDRED'S charity, beginning at home, did 
 not end there : very earnestly and persistently 
 she strove to scatter blessings as " a shower of 
 gold " wherever she went ; to make every life 
 that came in contact with hers, at ever so small 
 a point, the better and brighter for that con 
 tact, though it were by but a cheery word or 
 smile. 
 
 Do you say these are small matters, scarcely 
 worthy of attention ? Ah ! to each of us comes 
 the divine command, "Be pitiful, be cour 
 teous ;" and the Master said of the tithing of 
 mint, anise, and cummin, while the weightier 
 matters of the law were neglected, "These 
 ought ye to have done, and not to leave the 
 other undone." " He that is faithful in that 
 which is least, is faithful also in much." 
 
 It was so with Mildred ; never considering 
 herself off duty as a Christian soldier, she was
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 175 
 
 as ready to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, 
 teach the ignorant, and nurse the sick, as to 
 bestow the kind word and pleasant smile that 
 cost her nothing. Nothing ? Ah ! there were 
 times of weariness and depression when even 
 these trifles cost a heroic effort a determined 
 setting aside of selfish inclination to moodiness 
 or irritability, or indulgence in a pleasing mel 
 ancholy, because one great earthly blessing was 
 denied her. 
 
 In this her bright, cheerful mother, always 
 ready with a word of counsel and encourage 
 ment, was a wonderful help. Indeed, by fre 
 quent precept and constant example Mrs. 
 Keith succeeded in making all her children, to 
 a greater or less degree, sunny tempered and 
 benevolent, kind and courteous. 
 
 The Dorcas society connected with their 
 church had no more active, efficient, or liberal 
 members than this good lady and her eldest 
 daughter ; in proportion to their ability, they 
 gave freely of time, labor, and money. They 
 were, indeed, always found ready to every 
 good work, though they trusted not in their 
 works for acceptance in the sight of God, but 
 only in the atoning blood and imputed right 
 eousness of Christ. "Followers of God as 
 dear children," theirs was a service of love and
 
 176 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 joy, rendered not that they might be saved, 
 but because they were saved. 
 
 Questions of doctrine and duty were freely 
 discussed in the family circle, the children 
 bringing them in all confidence to their parents 
 for decision, the parents always appealing to 
 the Scriptures as the one infallible rule of 
 faith and practice as they are in very truth. 
 
 " To the law and to the testimony : if they 
 speak not according to this word, it is because 
 there is no light in them." "For the com 
 mandment is a lamp, and the law is light." 
 
 One Sabbath a returned missionary preached 
 in the morning to Mr. Lord's congregation, in 
 the afternoon addressed the assembled Sunday- 
 schools of the town. 
 
 The Keiths came home from the latter ser 
 vice very full of what they had heard of the 
 sad condition of the heathen world, the need 
 of money to carry on the work of evangelizing 
 them, and the self-denying efforts some of 
 God's children, both old and young, were mak 
 ing to earn and save that they might be able 
 to give to this good cause. 
 
 Cyril had been especially interested in the 
 story of a little boy who had raised a pig, sold 
 it, and given to missions the whole of what he 
 received for it.
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 177 
 
 "I mean to have a missionary pig," Cyril 
 said to Don as they walked home together. 
 " I'll take good care of it and feed it well, so 
 it will be very fat, so that I can get ten dol 
 lars for it ; and every cent of it shall go to the 
 missionaries. And I'll make more besides 
 for them out of my garden and my chick 
 ens." 
 
 "So will I," said Don; "but I shan't let 
 'em have all the money." 
 
 " How much, then ?" 
 
 " I don't know yet." 
 
 " I'm afraid it won't do for all of us to have 
 pigs," said Ada, overhearing the talk of her 
 little brothers. 
 
 " No," laughed Zillah ; " we'd overstock the 
 market and bring down the price." 
 
 " I don't see what I can do then, except give 
 some of my pocket-money ; unless mother will 
 pay me for doing without butter and tea and 
 sugar, as some of the children do that the mis 
 sionary told about." 
 
 " That's too hard a way," said Cyril ; " you 
 won't catch me trying that : I'll work for the 
 heathen, but I won't starve for 'em." 
 
 " It would be hard ; but we ought to deny 
 ourselves," Ada returned half regretfully. 
 
 " Yes, in some things," Zillah said : " I don't
 
 178 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 feel sure about this. "We'll ask father and 
 mother." 
 
 They did so immediately on entering the 
 house. 
 
 " Your mother and 1 have just been discuss 
 ing that question," Mr. Keith said, "and we 
 think that as good, nourishing food is neces 
 sary to your health and growth, it is not a duty 
 for you to deny yourselves such common com 
 forts as butter and sugar. There are other and 
 better ways in which to practise self-denial." 
 
 " How, father 2" asked Ada. 
 
 " It might be by denying our love of ease 
 working and earning for the good of others, 
 when we would rather be at play ; the Bible 
 speaks of laboring, working with our hands 
 that we may have to give to him that need- 
 th." 
 
 " And who more needy than the poor, be- 
 mghted heathen !" sighed Mrs. Keith. 
 
 " It won't hurt us to deny ourselves in the 
 matter of finery," remarked Mildred. 
 
 " Or eating more than enough to satisfy our 
 appetites, just because it tastes good," added 
 Rupert. 
 
 " No, that is sinful in itself, because injuri 
 ous to health," said his father. 
 
 "But haven't we a right to eat what we
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 179 
 
 please, and just as much as we choose, if we 
 would rather be sick than do without the good 
 things, father?" asked Cyril. 
 
 " No, my son ; health is one of God's good 
 gifts, which we have no right to throw away. 
 We can't serve him with a sick and suffering 
 body so well as with a strong, healthy one. 
 And we are told in Proverbs, ' The drunkard 
 and the glutton shall come to poverty.' " 
 
 " Father, does God want us to give all our 
 money away to other folks 1" asked Don. 
 
 " No, son, not all ; our heavenly Father in 
 tends us to use some of it to supply our own 
 needs." 
 
 " "What proportion ought we to give, father ?" 
 asked Rupert. 
 
 " I think that depends upon how large our 
 means are." 
 
 " Is not a tenth the Bible rule ?" asked Mrs. 
 Keith. 
 
 " Tes ; God claims a tenth as his. It seems- 
 plain that every one should give that, or more 
 properly pay it to the Lord; and those who 
 are able to do more, add offerings in proportion 
 to their ability. So I gather from this text in 
 Malachi, third chapter and eighth verse ;" and 
 opening a Bible, Mr. Keith read aloud : " ' Will 
 a man rob God ? Yet ye have robbed me.
 
 180 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 But ye say, "Wherein have we robbed thee? 
 In tithes and offerings.' " 
 
 " I thought that was the rule under the Le- 
 vitical law, and that the New Testament rule 
 was, ' Give as God has prospered you,' " said 
 Rupert. 
 
 " Yes, we are to give as God has prospered 
 us one dollar out of every ten, one hundred 
 out of every thousand, and so on. The begin 
 ning of tithe-paying was not in the time of 
 Moses, but hundreds of years before ; for we 
 read that Abraham paid tithes, and that Jacob 
 promised to the Lord the tenth of all that he 
 should give him. "We nowhere read that Jesus 
 abrogated this law ; indeed he said, ' Think 
 not that I am come to destroy the law or the 
 prophets; I am not come to destroy, but to 
 fulfil ; ' of the tithing of ' mint and rue and all 
 manner of herbs,' that it ought not to be left 
 undone. And God promises blessings, both 
 temporal and spiritual, to those who faithfully 
 obey this law of the tithes. ' Bring ye all the 
 tithes into the storehouse, that there may be 
 meat in mine house ; and prove me now here 
 with, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open 
 you the windows of heaven, and pour you out 
 a blessing, that there shall not be room enough 
 to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 181 
 
 for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the 
 fruits of your ground ; neither shall your vine 
 cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith 
 the Lord of hosts.' 
 
 " l Honor the Lord with thy substance and 
 with the first-fruits of all thine increase : so 
 shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy 
 presses shall burst out with new wine.' 
 
 " ' Trust in the Lord, and do good ; so shalt 
 thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt 
 be fed.' 
 
 " ' There is that scattereth, and yet increas- 
 eth ; and there is that withholdeth more thaa 
 is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.' 
 
 " ' He that hath pity upon the poor, lendeth 
 unto the Lord ; and that which he hath given 
 will he pay him again.' 
 
 " ' These are not all the texts bearing on the 
 subject, but will suffice for the present." 
 
 " Father," said Don, " God doesn't need our 
 money, does he ? "Why does he tell us to give 
 it to him ?" 
 
 "For our own good, my son. Don't you 
 remember Jesus said, 'It is more blessed to 
 give than to receive ' ? He cannot be happy 
 who indulges a mean, sordid disposition ; the 
 less selfish we are, the more ready to help 
 others and share our good things with them.
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 the happier and the more like our heavenly 
 Father we shall be. Try it, my boy, and yon 
 will find it is so. And the more constantly 
 we practise giving, the more we shall be in 
 love with it." 
 
 "And then shall our gifts be pleasing to 
 God," added the mother. " ' Every man ac 
 cording as he purposeth in his heart, so let 
 him live ; not grudgingly, or of necessity : for 
 God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able 
 to make all grace abound toward you ; that ye, 
 always having all sufficiency in all things, may 
 abound to every good work.' ' : 
 
 " "Well, it seems, if we obey the Bible rule, 
 we will give a tenth of our pocket-money, and 
 of all we can make beside," remarked Rupert. 
 
 " And I am very glad I can earn something 
 by teaching music," said Mildred. 
 
 "I think you can each find some way of 
 earning something for this good purpose," the 
 mother said, glancing smilingly around the 
 little group. 
 
 Cyril told eagerly of his plan. Don adding 
 that he meant to have a missionary pig too, 
 but not to give all that he made on it. 
 
 " You must decide for yourself whether to 
 give more than a tenth of its price," his father 
 said ; " but I think ' missionary pig ' will hardly
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 183 
 
 be an appropriate name unless it is entirely 
 devoted to the cause." 
 
 "Mother," said Fan, "wouldn't it be nice 
 for me to call one of my hens a missionary 
 hen, and give all the money I get for her and 
 her eggs to the heathen ?" 
 
 "Yes, dear, I think it would be very nice," 
 Mrs. Keith answered, with a loving glance into 
 the earnest little face." 
 
 " Then I'll do it, and I hope she'll lay an 
 egg every day." 
 
 " And I'll have a missionary hen !" cried 
 little Annis, clapping her hands with delight 
 at the idea of contributing her mite to the 
 good cause. 
 
 " Ada and I haven't matured our plans yet," 
 said Zillah, "but we'll be sure to find some 
 way to make money, as well as the rest of you." 
 
 " Mother will help us to contrive it ; won't 
 you, mother ?" Ada said, with a look of con 
 fiding affection. 
 
 The answer was a prompt, emphatic " Yes> 
 indeed, my dear." 
 
 But Mr. Keith seemed to have something 
 further to say, and all turned to listen. 
 
 "We want to give the missionary some 
 money to-day or to-morrow to carry away with 
 him. Who has any ready now ?"
 
 184 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 Cyril's countenance fell. He was a great 
 spendthrift, and money slipped through his 
 fingers almost as soon as it came into his pos 
 session. 
 
 "My pocket-money's all gone," he sighed, 
 half aloud, half to himself ; then nudging his 
 younger brother, " Don, you always have some : 
 won't you lend me a little ?" 
 
 " No," said Mr. Keith, " you are not to go 
 into debt, even from a good motive. After 
 this, set aside the Lord's tenth of all your 
 money as soon as it comes into your hands, 
 and use that portion scrupulously for him in 
 giving to the church and the poor. And, my 
 son, I want you to form the habit of laying by 
 a little for your own future needs. You will 
 be a poor man if you spend all your money as 
 fast as you get it." 
 
 " I don't," remarked Don complacently ; " I 
 save 'most all I get." 
 
 " Ah, yes, my boy, I know that, and often 
 feel troubled about my youngest son lest he 
 should become a hard, grasping, miserly man, 
 loving and hoarding money for its own sake. 
 Do you know that that is as truly idolatry as 
 the bowing down of the heathen to images of 
 wood and stone ?" 
 
 " Is it, father ?" murmured the little lad, his
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 185 
 
 face crimsoning, and the tears starting to his 
 eyes. 
 
 " It is indeed, Don ; and so a worse fault 
 than Cyril's foolish spending, bad as that is. 
 The Bible bids us mortify 'covetousness, 
 which is idolatry.' " 
 
 " Try, both of you, to save in order ' to have 
 to give to him that needeth,' and to * provide 
 things honest in the sight of all men.' "We 
 must first pay to the Lord his tenth, then to 
 our fellow-men what we honestly owe them ; 
 after that give to the needy what we feel able 
 to spare from our store. Not pull down our 
 barns and build greater, there to bestow our 
 surplus goods, while we take our ease, eat, 
 drink, and be merry, and neglect to relieve 
 the distress and suffering of the poor and 
 needy." 
 
 " Like the rich man in the Bible," said Fan. 
 " Father, was he a very bad man ?" 
 
 " Probably not what the world calls bad ; 
 we are not told that he was dishonest, drunken, 
 or profane ; but he was selfish and covetous 
 caring for the good things of this world and 
 neglectful of eternal things ; and selfishness is 
 sin as well as covetousness. They seem to go 
 together and shut the soul out of heaven. The 
 Bible says, 'Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor
 
 186 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners shall 
 inherit the kingdom of God." 
 
 "I thought coveting was wanting other 
 people's things," remarked Ada. 
 
 " That is coveting," replied her father, " and 
 so is that inordinate love of gain, which leads 
 men to drive hard bargains, and to heap up 
 riches at the expense of leaving those to suffer 
 whom they are fully able to relieve. When 
 the Lord gives us large means, it is that, as his 
 stewards, we may distribute to others. Well, 
 Rupert, what is it ?" 
 
 "I have the money I had saved toward 
 buying a piano. I will give a tenth of it 
 now." 
 
 " That is well. Who else has anything for 
 the missionary ?" 
 
 " I have a little of the pocket-money Aunt 
 Wealthy supplies," Mildred said. " I wish I 
 could give more now. I hope to when the 
 money comes in from my music scholars ; but 
 that will not be for some time, you know." 
 
 " I haven't much money," said Fan, " but 
 maybe I can sell my eggs. I have a whole 
 dozen." 
 
 " I'll give some of my money," said Don. 
 
 " And I," "And I," said Zillah and Ada. 
 
 Mrs. Keith also promised something, and
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 187 
 
 Mr. Keith added that he, too, would give, and 
 they would collect it all and hand it to the 
 missionary before his departure, which was to 
 be the next afternoon. 
 
 " Father, is it right to pray for earthly pros 
 perity ?" asked Rupert. 
 
 " That depends very much upon the motive. 
 The apostle James says, * Ye have not, because 
 ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because 
 ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon 
 your lusts.' It is not the asking he condemns 
 (he seems, indeed, to reprove them for not ask 
 ing), but the wrong motive for so doing. Let 
 us compare Scripture with Scripture. The 
 Psalmist tells us, ' Except the Lord build the 
 house, they labor in vain that build it : except 
 the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh 
 but in vain. It is vain for you to rise up 
 early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sor 
 rows ; for so he giveth his beloved sleep.' 
 
 " In Deuteronomy we are told, ' Thou shalt 
 remember the Lord thy God, for it is he that 
 giveth thee power to get wealth.' Evidently 
 we cannot attain to worldly prosperity except 
 by God's help his blessing on our efforts. 
 We may work for prosperity, and we may 
 pray for it, from either a right or a wrong 
 motive, and certainly in either case we are
 
 188 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 approved or the contrary according to thcj 
 motive that actuates us. 'Man looketh on 
 the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh 
 on the heart.' 5: 
 
 " What would be a right motive, father ?" 
 asked Ada in her grave, earnest way. 
 
 " The desire to have the ability to ' provide 
 things honest in the sight of all men,' to help 
 on the Lord's cause the work of the church 
 and to give to the poor and needy. Many de 
 sire wealth for their own ease and indulgence, 
 for the consequence it gives them in the eyes 
 of their fellow-men, or as a means of gaining 
 power over them. It cannot be right to pray 
 for it from such motives that is the sort of 
 asking the apostle condemns." 
 
 Mrs. Keith was turning over the leaves of 
 the Bible. " Let the Lord be magnified, who 
 hath pleasure in the prosperity of his serv 
 ants," she read aloud. " What the Lord takes 
 pleasure in, and what he promises upon condi 
 tions, it cannot be wrong to ask for, unless 
 from a wrong motive," she remarked. " And 
 it is clear to my mind that if it be wrong to 
 pray for prosperity, it is also wrong to work 
 for it ; certainly a Christian should never en 
 gage in anything upon which he cannot ask 
 God's blessing. But we are commanded to be
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 189 
 
 * diligent in business,' and told that c the hand 
 of the diligent maketh rich.' " 
 
 " Yes," said her husband, " ' Not slothful in 
 business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.' 
 If we are careful not to divorce these two 
 which God hath joined together, we need not 
 fear to ask his blessing on our labors."
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 "The whining schoolboy with his satchel 
 .And shining morning face, creeping like a snail 
 Unwillingly to school." 
 
 SHAKSPEARB. 
 
 THE new school had opened the previous 
 week, and was now in successful operation. 
 Zillah and Ada were pursuing their studies 
 with redoubled zeal and interest, finding a 
 constant spur in the desire to keep pace with, 
 if not outstrip, the other members of their 
 classes. 
 
 Mildred was often applied to for help in the 
 home preparation of their lessons, and her as 
 sistance, always cheerfully and kindly given, 
 received with due appreciation. 
 
 " With such good help at home," they would 
 say, " we ought to do better than any of the 
 other girls ; for there isn't one of them who has 
 a sister so capable of explaining whatever in 
 their lessons they find difficult to understand, 
 or so willing to do it." 
 
 " I am only returning to you what mother 
 has done for me in past days," Mildred an-
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 191 
 
 swered more than once ; " and if I did not do 
 it she would." 
 
 " Yes," was the rejoinder, " there isn't such 
 another mother in the town, or anywhere else, 
 for that matter." 
 
 The little boys, accustomed to passing most 
 of the day in the open air, after conning their 
 tasks on the porch or in the shade of the trees, 
 found the confinement of the schoolroom very 
 irksome. 
 
 Mother and Mildred were frequently ap 
 pealed to for sympathy in their trial ; and the 
 demand was always sure to be met with bright, 
 hopeful, cheery words of encouragement to pa 
 tience and diligence. " They must be willing 
 to bear with a little discomfort in the pursuit 
 of the knowledge which was so important to 
 their future success in life must try to learn 
 all they could, that they might grow up to be 
 wise, useful men, capable of doing God ser 
 vice, and of helping themselves and others." 
 
 Hitherto the little fellows had been kept out 
 of the streets and carefully shielded from the 
 snares and temptations of association with the 
 evil-disposed and wicked. The time for a trial 
 of the strength of their principles had now 
 come, and parents and elder sister looked on. 
 with deep anxiety for the result.
 
 192 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 The perfect openness engendered in them 
 by never-failing sympathy in all their little 
 childish joys and sorrows, plans and purposes^ 
 now proved a wonderful safeguard. Why 
 should they want to hide anything from those 
 whose interest in and love for them was made 
 so apparent ? They did not ; and so many a 
 wrong step was avoided or speedily retrieved. 
 
 In that first week of school Cyril had got 
 himself into disgrace with his teacher by a 
 liberal distribution among his mates of ginger- 
 bread and candy, for which he had spent hia 
 whole store of pocket-money. 
 
 The good things were carried into the school 
 room, the master's attention drawn to them by 
 the constant munching and crunching among 
 the boys. 
 
 A search was promptly instituted, the re 
 mainder of the feast confiscated, and an expla 
 nation called for. 
 
 " "Who brought these things here ?" was the 
 stern demand. 
 
 " I, sir ; I brought them and gave them to 
 the fellows, and so am more to blame than any 
 body else," Cyril said, rising in his seat and 
 speaking out with manly courage and honesty, 
 though his cheeks were in a blaze and hi& 
 .heart beat fast.
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 193 
 
 " Then, sir, you shall be punished with the 
 loss of your recess and being kept in for an 
 hour after school," was the stern rejoinder. 
 "I will have no such doings here." 
 
 There was not a word of commendation of 
 the boy's moral courage and readiness to confess 
 his fault ; and he had to endure not only the 
 loss of his play -time, but also was severely lec 
 tured and threatened with a flogging if "ever 
 the offence should be repeated. 
 
 He went home very angry and indignant, 
 and his mother being out, carried his griev 
 ance to Mildred. He poured out the whole 
 story without reserve, finishing with " "Wasn't 
 it the greatest shame for him to punish me 
 twice for the same thing? I'm sure the 
 loss of my recess was quite enough, 'specially 
 considering that I owned up the minute he 
 asked about it. And then the idea of threaten 
 ing to flog me ! Why, I haven't had a whip 
 ping since I was a little bit of a fellow, and I'd 
 think it an awful disgrace to get one now I'm 
 so big ; 'specially at school ; and I say nobody 
 but father or mother has a right to touch me. 
 And nobody shall ; I'll just knock old Peacock 
 down if he dares to try it ; that I will 1" 
 
 " O Cyril, Cyril, you should not be so disre 
 spectful toward the teacher father has set over,
 
 194 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 you !" Mildred said, striving to speak quietly 
 though between indignation at the severity 
 md injustice of the treatment the child had 
 received, and the mirth-provoking idea of his 
 imagining himself able to cope with a man, 
 she found it no easy matter. " I'm really sor 
 ry you have wasted your money and broken 
 the rules." 
 
 " No, I didn't !" the boy burst out hotly ; 
 " he'd never made any rule about it ; though 
 he has now, and says I ought to have known 
 and must have known that such things couldn't 
 be allowed." 
 
 " Well, that seems rather unreasonable ; but 
 I suppose you might if you had stopped to 
 think. You know, Cyril dear, how often 
 father and mother have urged you to try to 
 be more thoughtful." 
 
 " Yes, but it seems as if I can't, Milly. 
 How's a fellow to help being thoughtless and 
 careless when it comes so natural ?" 
 
 " Our wicked natures are what we have to 
 strive against, you know ; and God will help 
 us if we ask him," she answered, speaking that 
 holy name in low, reverent tones. 
 
 Don, who had waited about the school-house 
 door for Cyril, and walked home by his side, 
 was standing by listening to the talk. " O
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE ]95 
 
 Milly ! we don't like that school !" he said, 
 with a look of weariness and disgust ; " It's so 
 hard to have to be shut up there, and obliged 
 to sit still most all day long. "Won't you ask 
 father to let us stay at home and say lessons to 
 you again ?" 
 
 " Oh yes, Milly, do !" Cyril joined in. " Fan's 
 ever so lonesome without us, and we'll be as 
 good as we know how ; study hard, and not 
 give you a bit of trouble." 
 
 Mildred explained that the arrangements 
 had been made for the summer, and could not 
 now be altered. 
 
 " And surely," she concluded, with an en 
 couraging smile, " my two little brothers are 
 not such cowards as to be conquered by little 
 difficulties and discomforts. Don't you know 
 we have to meet such things all the way through 
 life ? and the best way is to meet them with a 
 cheerful courage and determination to press 
 on notwithstanding. ' The slothful man saith 
 there is a lion in the way.' ' The way of the 
 slothful man is as an hedge of thorns.' Don't 
 be like him.' " 
 
 " Does that mean that folks are lazy when 
 they give up because things are hard 2" 
 
 " Yes, Don ; and if we are so ready to do 
 that, we are not likely to get to heaven ; be-
 
 196 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 cause that is no easy matter with our sinful 
 hearts, a wicked world, and Satan and all his 
 hosts to fight against. We have to ' fight the 
 good fight of faith ' to ' lay hold on eternal 
 life ' to ' press toward the mark for the prize 
 of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus ' 
 to ' run with patience the race that is set before 
 us.' "Jesus said 'The kingdom of heaven 
 suffereth violence, and the violent take it by 
 force/" 
 
 " Milly. what does that mean ?" 
 
 " That to get to heaven it is necessary to 
 strive very, very earnestly and determinate- 
 
 ly." 
 
 " Milly, how can Don and I fight that fight ?" 
 asked Cyril. Do tell us." 
 
 "Just as grown people must by loving and 
 trusting Jesus, and striving earnestly every 
 day and hour to serve God in doing faithfully 
 the duty that comes nearest to hand. And 
 don't you see that the principal part of yours 
 at present is to be good, faithful workers at 
 school, and obedient to your teacher, because 
 father has given him authority over you when 
 you are at school ?" 
 
 " Yes, I 'spose so," sighed Don. " But O 
 Milly, I did want to run away this afternoon 
 and take a nice walk, 'stead of going to school.
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 197 
 
 It's so nice down by the river and in the woods 
 'mong the birds and flowers." 
 
 " Yes, I know it is, Don ; but it would have 
 been very wrong to go without leave ; and I 
 can't tell you how glad I am that you resisted 
 the temptation." 
 
 Now that money was wanted for the mis 
 sionary, Cyril was sorry for having spent his 
 so foolishly. 
 
 " I was very bad to waste it in that way," he 
 said regretfully; " it was all because I didn't 
 think ; but I mean to think after this, and try 
 to make the best use of all the money I get." 
 
 The new school was nearly as great an af 
 fliction to Fan as to the little boys ; she was 
 so lonely without Cyril and Don hitherto her 
 inseparable companions and playmates ; and 
 now it depended upon her to run errands for 
 her mother and sister when they were in too 
 great haste to wait the boys' leisure ; and Fan, 
 being extremely timid and bashful, found this 
 no small trial. 
 
 It was Monday morning ; the scholars were 
 trooping into the schoolhouse the Keiths 
 among the rest. 
 
 At home Mildred was in the parlor giving a 
 music lesson ; Fan in the sitting room waiting 
 for mother to come and hear her read and spell*
 
 198 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 Mrs. Keith came in and sat down at her 
 writing desk. 
 
 " Fan, darling, mother wants you to do an 
 errand for her," she said, taking up her pen. 
 
 " What, mother ?" the child asked half plain 
 tively. 
 
 " To carry a note for me to Mrs. Clark. I 
 want you to take it there immediately, and tell 
 her you will wait for an answer. And then, 
 as you come back, call at Chetwood & Mock 
 er's and ask for a yard of calico like the piece 
 I shall give you, and also how they are selling 
 eggs to-day by the dozen. Then I will buy 
 your dozen of you, and you will have the money 
 for the missionary." 
 
 " Oh mother," sighed the little girl, " I don't 
 like to go to the store all alone, or to Mrs. 
 Clark's either. I don't know her." 
 
 " I am sorry my dear little girl is so bashful, 
 but that is something that must be overcome, 
 and cannot be except by refusing to indulge 
 it. Tou may take Annis with you, though, if 
 you choose." 
 
 " Thank you, mother ; but Annis is so little 
 that I'll have to do all the talking just the 
 same." 
 
 " "Well, dear, you can talk quite prettily, if 
 you only forget to think? about yourself. Try
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 199 
 
 to forget little Fan Keith, and think of the 
 messages she has to deliver, the questions she 
 must ask, and you will find there is no trouble 
 at all." 
 
 " O mother ! please let somebody else go." 
 
 Fan had put down her book, gone to her 
 mother's side, and was standing there looking 
 pleadingly into her face. 
 
 Mrs. Keith bent down as she folded her note 
 and pressed a loving kiss on the white fore 
 head. 
 
 " My little girl will go to please mother and 
 the dear Lord Jesus. There is no one else to 
 go now, and the errands cannot wait for the 
 boys to come home from school." 
 
 " Will it please Jesus, mother ?" 
 
 " Yes, dear, because he bids you honor and 
 obey your mother, and also to deny yourself 
 when duty calls. You know one part of the 
 errand at the store is to help you to the money 
 for the poor heathen." 
 
 "Mother, I'd rather do 'most anything else 
 for them; but I'll go to please you and the 
 Lord Jesus. And I want Annis to go too. 
 Will you, Annis?" 
 
 " I guess I will! I'd like to," the little one 
 answered joyously. 
 
 It was a busy morning with Mrs. Keith, and
 
 200 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 getting Annis ready for the walk involved 
 eome small loss of time; but she considered 
 the pleasure she would thus give her little ones 
 well worth the sacrifice. 
 
 "Now, Fan," she said, when the children 
 were about to start, and she had put the note 
 and sample of calico into the little girl's hands, 
 with a repetition of her commissions, " remem 
 ber that you are the errand girl and have all 
 the responsibility, because Annis is too little ; 
 but you are mother's big, useful girl. I know 
 you are glad to be a help and comfort to 
 mother." 
 
 The tender, loving words infused courage 
 into the timid little heart for the moment, 
 and the two set off with bright faces; but 
 Fan's clouded again, and her heart beat fast as 
 she neared Mrs. Clark's door. 
 
 Had it not been open her timid little rap 
 would hardly have been heard ; and her mes 
 sage, delivered with the note, was given in 
 tones so low that the lady had to ask her to 
 repeat it, while she bent her ear to catch the 
 words. 
 
 At the store it was even worse. Not yet 
 recovered from the embarrassment of her call 
 upon Mrs. Clark, Fan stumbled and stam 
 mered, said she wanted a dozen calicoes for
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 her mother, and to know how they Bold eggs 
 by the yard. 
 
 Then catching the mirthful gleam in Will 
 Chetwood's eyes and seeing the corners of his 
 lips twitching, she hastily drew back as far as 
 possible into the shelter of her sun-bonnet, quite 
 overwhelmed with confusion by the sudden 
 consciousness of having made a terrible blun 
 der, her cheeks aflame and her eyes filling with 
 tears. 
 
 " I think it is a yard of calico like that in 
 your hand, that you want, and the price of 
 ggs by the dozen, isn't it?" he asked pleasantly. 
 
 " Yes, sir ; that's what mother said," Annis 
 spoke up briskly. 
 
 Fan was quite beyond speaking, and kept 
 her face hidden in her sun-bonnet, and hurried 
 away the moment her little parcel was handed 
 her. 
 
 Mildred was alone in the sitting-room as they 
 came in. 
 
 " "Where's mother ?" asked Annis. 
 
 " In the parlor, talking to Mr. Lord. You 
 got the calico, Fan ? Here, give it to me." 
 Then catching sight of the child's face as she 
 drew near, "Why, what's the matter? what 
 Lave you been crying about ?" she asked in a 
 tone of kindly concern.
 
 202 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 " O Milly, I couldn't help it ! I don't Ilka 
 to go errands !" cried Fan, bursting into tears 
 again. 
 
 Mildred drew the little weeper to her side, 
 wiped away the tears, kissed the wet cheek, 
 and with kindly questioning drew the whole 
 story from her. 
 
 " And Mr. Chetwood was laughing at me, I 
 know he was ! and I don't want ever to go 
 there any more !" concluded the child, hiding 
 her burning cheeks on Mildred's shoulder. 
 
 " Oh ! you needn't mind that," Mildred said; 
 " just join in the laugh. That's the way Aunt 
 Wealthy does ; and your mistake is very much 
 like some of hers." 
 
 " Then I don't care so much, for nobody's 
 nicer than Aunt Wealthy unless it's mother 
 and father and you." 
 
 " You needn't except me. I'm by no means 
 equal to Aunt Wealthy," Mildred said, smiling, 
 and stroking Fan's hair. 
 
 Annis had run into the parlor, and they were 
 quite alone. 
 
 " Milly," said Fan, after a moment's silence, 
 " I thought God heard our prayers ?" 
 
 "So he does, Fan." 
 
 " Yes, but I mean I thought he would do 
 what we asked."
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 203 
 
 " Not always, because we often ask for some 
 thing that he sees would not be good for ns. 
 But what are you thinking about ? have you 
 prayed for something that you didn't get? 
 Perhaps you expected the answer too soon. 
 We often have to wait and pray again and 
 again many times, and at last the answer comes. 
 And sometimes it comes in a better way than 
 we had thought of." 
 
 " I'll tell you, Milly," Fan said slowly and 
 hesitatingly, "I prayed that Mrs. Clark 
 mightn't be at home ; but there she was." 
 
 Mildred could scarcely keep from smiling. 
 " That wasn't a good or right prayer, little 
 sister," she said, " because don't you see ? 
 it was selfish, and almost the same as disobey 
 ing mother; since if the prayer had been 
 granted you would have been prevented from 
 doing her errand." 
 
 "Milly, I didn't think of that," Fan an 
 swered penitently. "I won't pray that way 
 any more." 
 
 "No, dear; a better prayer would be for 
 help to overcome your foolish timidity. "We 
 will both ask our kind heavenly Father for 
 that."
 
 CHAPTEK XYI. 
 
 ' Whither my heart is gone, there follows my hand and not 
 elsewhere . ' ' LONGFELLOW. 
 
 will pass briefly over the events of the 
 next five years, during which there were few 
 changes in the Keith family but such as time 
 must bring to all. 
 
 The lines had deepened somewhat on Mr. 
 Keith's brow and the hair on his temples was 
 growing gray. The anxieties and burdens of 
 life pressed more heavily upon him than upon 
 his lighter-hearted, more trustful wife; she 
 having learned more fully than he to " lean 
 hard " upon the Lord, casting all her care upon 
 him, in the full assurance that he cared for her 
 and " that all things work together for good to 
 them that love God;" she looked scarcely a 
 day older than at the time of Mildred's return 
 from her visit to Roselands. 
 
 These had been years of toil and struggle to 
 feed, clothe, and educate their large family of 
 children. They had thus far been successful, 
 but only by dint of good management, close 
 economy, and hard work.
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 206 
 
 Rupert had completed his college course and 
 gone into the drug business in connection with 
 Dr. Grange. 
 
 It was a great joy to Mildred that her earn 
 ings as music teacher had assisted largely in 
 paying the expense of her brother's education. 
 Rupert found it hard to consent to this, but 
 finally did so with the distinct understanding 
 that he was to repay the money with interest. 
 " The sisterly kindness," he said, " I can never 
 repay." 
 
 " Yes," Mildred returned, with an arch look 
 and smile, " you can ; by showing, in like man 
 ner, brotherly kindness to Cyril and Don." 
 
 " As I certainly hope to do," Rupert re 
 sponded with hearty good-will. 
 
 And now he and Mildred were pleasing 
 themselves with the thought that the worst of 
 the struggle was over. Zillah and Ada were 
 done with school, though still pursuing some 
 studies with Mildred at home ; it had been de 
 cided that Fan and Annis could and should be 
 entirely educated by the older sisters ; and so 
 Cyril and Don were the only ones whose tui 
 tion would still be an item of expense to the 
 parents an expense of which the good daugh 
 ter and son each hoped to bear a part. 
 
 Rupert would be able to do so after awhile
 
 206 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 " by the time the lads were ready for col 
 lege" and Mildred could assist now ; as she 
 was still teaching, and finding it more profit 
 able than ever. 
 
 It sometimes seemed weary work, but she 
 would not give it up ; indeed, the joy of help 
 ing to bear the burdens of the dear father and 
 mother far more than repaid her for her self- 
 denying toil. 
 
 The town had grown very much, and one of 
 the new-comers was a music teacher ; but Mil 
 dred had established a good reputation, and had 
 always as many pupils as she cared to take. 
 
 In all these years she had heard not a word 
 from Charlie Landreth ; yet her heart remained 
 true to him. 
 
 She did not seclude herself from society, but 
 generally took part in the innocent pastimes 
 of the young people of her own station, and 
 was always cheerful and pleasant, not seldom 
 even gay and lively; now and then she ac 
 cepted the escort of one or another of her gentle 
 men friends, but she would not receive partic 
 ular attentions from any. Still one or two had 
 determinately sought her hand in marriage, but 
 only to meet with a gentle yet firm rejection. 
 
 Wallace Ormsby still continued on the most 
 friendly terms of intimacy in the family, and
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 207 
 
 after two years had passed without news of his 
 favored rival, ventured to renew his suit. The 
 result of this effort convinced him of the utter 
 hopelessness of ever winning the coveted prize. 
 He grieved over this second disappointment 
 for a time, but of late had begun to turn his 
 longing eyes in a new direction, and Mildred 
 perceived it with pleasure. 
 
 Wallace had been taken into partnership 
 with Mr. Keith, and she would gladly welcome 
 him into the family, for she had, as she had 
 said, a truly sisterly affection for him. 
 
 Zillah and Ada were budding into very 
 lovely womanhood. Of the two, Zillah was the 
 more strikingly handsome and the more 
 sprightly ; full of innocent mirth and gayety, 
 witty and quick at repartee, she was the life of 
 every company of which she formed a part. 
 
 Ada's manner was more quiet and reserved, 
 but suited well with her intellectual counte 
 nance and the noble contour of her features. 
 They were inseparable, and whenever oppor 
 tunity offered "Wallace Ormsby was sure to be 
 with them. 
 
 Speculation was rife among the gossips of 
 the town as to which " he was courting," or 
 whether it might be that he was in love with 
 both. Mildred, with her better opportunitiea
 
 208 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 for observation, and vision sharpened by keen 
 sisterly affection, presently settled that ques 
 tion in her own mind, and satisfied herself that 
 in this instance the course of true love was 
 likely to run smooth. 
 
 The little coterie of which Mildred and 
 Wallace had formed a part was broken up 
 the other four having paired off for life; it 
 was known now that Claudina Chetwood was 
 engaged to Yorke Mocker, and Lucilla Grange 
 to Will Chetwood. 
 
 It was the afternoon for the meeting of the 
 ladies' sewing society. They were preparing 
 a box of clothing for a "Western home mission 
 ary. The whole Keith family took a deep in 
 terest in the good work ; each one had con 
 tributed toward it ; the three older girls were 
 at the meeting, busily plying their needles, 
 while at home the mother was finishing a gar 
 ment, the two little girls sitting beside her 
 hemming towels : all for the box. 
 
 Indeed, the interest was very general in the 
 church, and there was a goodly gathering of 
 ladies in Mrs. Prior's parlor, where the society 
 held its meeting this week. The room was 
 large and the busy workers had grouped them 
 selves together here and there as inclination 
 dictated : Mildred, Claudina, and Lu forming
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 one group ; Zillah, Ada, and several of their 
 young companions another ; while a third wa 
 composed of older ladies. 
 
 The three heads in the first group were very 
 close together, the three voices conversing 
 earnestly in tones too subdued to give any of 
 the others an inkling of the subject of their 
 talk. But there were wise surmises. 
 
 " I reckon they're planning for the wed 
 dings," whispered one elderly lady to her next 
 neighbor, indicating by a motion of the head 
 whom she meant. 
 
 "Likely," was the rejoinder. "Do you 
 know when they're to come off ?" 
 
 " No ; but before long, I guess. I don't see. 
 that there's anything to wait for." 
 
 " Unless for Mildred and Wallace Ormsby 
 to make it up together, so that the whole six. 
 can pair off at once and so make a triple wed 
 ding. It would be a novel and pretty idea, 
 now wouldn't it ?" 
 
 " Yes ; and I used to think that would be a 
 match, but I've changed my mind. It's plain 
 to be seen now that it's one of the younger 
 sisters he's after." 
 
 " Mildred's young enough ; doesn't look a day 
 over twenty, though I suppose she's really 
 twenty-three or four."
 
 210 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 " About that, I suppose ; but she could easily 
 pass for eighteen. I wonder if she's made up 
 her mind to be an old maid. If I can read 
 the signs Wallace was deeply in love with her 
 at one time; and it's said she's had other 
 offers." 
 
 " I don't doubt it ; she's too charming to 
 liave escaped that, if the young men have any 
 taste. Yet she's not so handsome, after all, as 
 .Zillah. I wonder why she wouldn't have Wal 
 lace ; he's fine-looking, and an excellent match 
 ^very way." 
 
 "Perhaps she left her heart in the South- 
 I've thought I could see a change in her ever 
 *ince her visit there. Well, I don't believe her 
 mother's in any hurry to have her marry and 
 leave, for there never was a better daughter or 
 sister. I've heard Mrs. Keith say more than 
 once that she didn't know how she could ever 
 do without Mildred." 
 
 " And she may well say so," joined in Mrs. 
 Prior; "the other two are uncommon nice 
 girls, but Mildred bears off the palm to my 
 thinking. I hear folks wondering now and 
 then how it is that Mr. Lord has lived single 
 all these years. I don't profess to know any 
 thing for certain about it, but I've strong sus 
 picions that he's tried for Mildred Keith and
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 couldn't get her, and can't be content to take 
 anybody else." 
 
 " She seems cut out for a minister's wife,'* 
 remarked one of the others. 
 
 " Yes ; she'd make a good one, I don't 
 doubt," assented Mrs. Prior ; " but I don't 
 blame her for refusing him (if she has done it);, 
 it's a kind of a hard life, and he's too old for 
 her and too absented-minded and odd." 
 
 The girls Mildred and her mates were 
 talking over the arrangements for the ap 
 proaching nuptials. The young men wanted 
 a double wedding and the girls were not averse 
 to the idea, but the parents of each wanted to 
 see their own daughter married beneath their 
 own roof. 
 
 " My father says the ceremony ought to be 
 performed in his house, since one of the con 
 tracting parties in each case is his child," said 
 Claudina ; " but Dr. Grange can't see the force 
 of the argument." 
 
 " No," said Lu, " both he and mother say 
 that it is always at the house of the bride's 
 parents the ceremony should be performed." 
 
 " Can't yon compromise by having it in the 
 church ?" asked Mildred. 
 
 " That is what we'll have to do, I presume," 
 said Claudina, " if we are to have a double
 
 212 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 wedding. And O Mildred ! if you and Wai- 
 lace would only make up a match and let us 
 have a triple one, I think it would be just 
 splendid." 
 
 "And so do I," chimed in Lu. "Now 
 what's to hinder ?" 
 
 " A good deal," replied Mildred with a 
 smile and a blush. " I doubt if it wouldn't 
 make three or four people unhappy for 
 life." 
 
 " What can you mean ! I've been perfectly 
 sure for years past that Wallace adored you," 
 was Claud ina's surprised exclamation. 
 
 Mildred's only reply was a quiet smile. 
 
 " And I dare say he must have popped the 
 question before this," Claudina went on teas- 
 ingly ; " so now do be good and obliging 
 enough to fall in with my plan, for it's a capi 
 tal one. Isn't it, Lu ?" 
 
 " Oh ! just lovely," was the eager rejoinder. 
 "Mildred, do ; that's a dear !" 
 
 " Indeed, girls," Mildred said, her eyes danc 
 ing with merriment, " I do like to oblige, but 
 in this instance it is beyond the bounds of pos 
 sibility. Whatever you may think, Wallace 
 does not want me, nor I him." 
 
 " Well, then, all I have to say is that neither 
 of you has good taste. And I'd set my heart
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 on the match," Claudina said in pretended in 
 dignation. 
 
 Meantime the younger girls were chatting 
 gayly among themselves, flitting lightly from 
 one theme to another school affairs, pleasure 
 parties, dress, and beaux ; teasing each other 
 about the latter, as young girls will. 
 
 Zillah and Ada came in for their share. 
 " Which of them was Wallace Ormsby court 
 ing ?" they were asked. 
 
 " Probably both," Ada answered in a tone 
 of irony. " He is a man of original ideas, and 
 doesn't always do things by rule." 
 
 " And he knows we can't live apart," added 
 Zillah, blushing and smiling. 
 
 " Nonsense ! he can't marry you both. Now 
 which of you is it ?" 
 
 " Suppose you ask him," returned Zillah, the- 
 color deepening still more on her cheek. 
 
 " I declare I've a great mind to ! I believe 
 I'll do it to-night, if I get a chance," returned 
 her tormentor laughingly. 
 
 It was the custom for the ladies to come to 
 the society as early in the afternoon as practi' 
 cable, stay to a plain tea and until nine or ten. 
 o'clock in the evening, the gentlemen joining 
 them for the last hour or two an arrangement 
 which served the double purpose of interesting.
 
 214 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 the latter in the good work in a way to draw 
 forth their contributions, and to provide escorts 
 for the ladies on their homeward walk. 
 
 There was a full attendance that evening. 
 Among the early arrivals came Nicholas Rans- 
 quattle, bowing low, right and left, as he en 
 tered the room. " Good-evening, ladies. I'm 
 happy to see you all." Then straightening 
 himself and throwing back his head (now 
 grown very bald) upon his shoulders in the 
 old, awkward fashion, he sent his dull gray 
 eyes searchingly about the room. 
 
 " He's looking for you," Zillah's next neigh 
 bor whispered in her ear. " I heard the other 
 day that he said down town, talking with some 
 of the fellows, that he was going to cut Wal 
 lace Ormsby out. And there, just see ! he's 
 making straight for this corner. You ought 
 to feel proud of your conquest, Zil." 
 
 " Not till I'm sure I've made it, Sallie ; no, 
 not even then," Zillah returned somewhat 
 scornfully ; " since I should be but one among 
 the multitude of his adorable angels." 
 
 Sallie laughed and nodded assent, as Nicho 
 las drew up a chair and seated himself between 
 them. 
 
 It was the common report that he had 
 -courted every girl of marriageable age in the
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 215- 
 
 town, offering heart and hand to each in suc 
 cession as they moved into the place or grew 
 to young maidenhood. No one had accepted 
 him yet ; he had never been attractive to the 
 softer sex, and did not become more so with 
 advancing years. Behind his back the girls 
 were unsparing in their ridicule of his awk 
 ward carriage, homely features, and unbounded 
 vanity and self-conceit. They had dubbed 
 him " Old Nick" and " The Bald Eagle." 
 
 " Permit your humble servant to be a thorn 
 between two roses, ladies," he said with an 
 other low bow as he seated himself. 
 
 " Provided you are a useful one, Mr. Ran- 
 squattle," replied Sallie, giving him a needle 
 to thread. "They are of use sometimes, I 
 suppose." 
 
 " Yes, Miss Rush, to protect the roses, which 
 I shall be most happy to do." 
 
 " Protect them from what ?" asked Zillah 
 dryly. 
 
 " From rude and careless hands that would 
 fain pluck them from the parent stem ; per 
 chance only to cast them neglectfully aside and 
 let them die." And Nicholas glanced signifi 
 cantly toward Ormsby, who had entered the 
 room at that moment, and was bidding " Good- 
 evening " to their hostess.
 
 216 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 Wallace caught the glance, noted by whom 
 Ransquattle was seated, and flushed angrily. 
 
 " Roses must die whether plucked or not," 
 remarked Sallie, " and the fingers that pluck 
 them save them from wasting their sweetness 
 on the desert air." 
 
 " You'll never be left to so sad a fate, Miss 
 Rush," was the gallant rejoinder. 
 
 " I don't know," she replied, laughing and 
 shaking her head, " there may be some danger 
 if the thorns are too close when the gatherer 
 x)f roses comes." 
 
 "Wallace had found a seat near Mildred, and 
 she noticed that as he talked with her he stole 
 many a furtive and ill-pleased glance in Zil- 
 lah's direction. 
 
 Mildred was folding up her work. 
 
 "You are not going yet," he said. "It 
 wants a full half hour of the usual time for 
 'dispersing." 
 
 " I know, but Mrs. Smith is very sick, and 
 I have promised to watch with her to-night." 
 
 " Milly, I'm going home," Ada said, coming 
 up at that instant. " Mother will be lonely, 
 perhaps, and I can work just as well there as 
 iere." 
 
 " But I must go now, and we must not leare 
 -Zillah to go home alone."
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 217 
 
 " No, but Ru will be here directly I " 
 
 " Let me have the pleasure of escorting yon 
 both, and I'll come back for Zillah," said Wal 
 lace, speaking hastily in an undertone. 
 
 His offer was accepted, and the three slipped 
 quietly away. Mrs. Smith's house was the 
 nearer, and not much out of the way in going 
 to Mr. Keith's; so Mildred was seen to her 
 destination first, then "Wallace and Ada walked 
 on to hers. 
 
 "Wallace expected to leave her at the door, 
 and returning in good season, ask the privilege 
 of seeing Zillah safely home also ; but Mr. 
 Keith called him in, saying he had an impor 
 tant matter to consult him about, and in spite 
 of the young man's ill-concealed impatience to 
 be gone, kept him there for more than an 
 hour. 
 
 In the mean time Bansquattle made good 
 use of his opportunity ; managing so that, to 
 Zillah's extreme vexation, she could not reject 
 his offered escort without great rudeness. 
 
 " Forewarned, forearmed," she said to her 
 self, thinking of Sallie's gossip as they set out : 
 " 'twill go hard with me, but I'll prevent his 
 getting his opportunity to-night ;" and she rat 
 tled on in the liveliest strain without an in 
 stant's intermission, talking the most absurd
 
 218 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 nonsense just to prevent her companion from 
 opening his lips. 
 
 They had reached her father's gate before 
 he succeeded in doing so. She had no notion 
 of asking him in. 
 
 " Good-night, Mr. Ransquattle," she said 
 gayly, letting go his arm and stepping hastily 
 inside as he held the gate open for her. " I'm 
 much obliged for your trouble." 
 
 " Excuse me, Miss Zillah, for detaining you 
 a moment, but I have something very particu 
 lar to tell you," he said, hardly waiting for the 
 end of her sentence. " You are a very lovely 
 and charming young lady." 
 
 " Oh, that's no news ! I've heard it dozens 
 of times," she interrupted, laughing and taking 
 a backward step as if on the point of running 
 away. 
 
 " No doubt ; but never, I am sure, from so 
 devoted an admirer as your humble servant 
 Miss Zillah, I lay my heart, hand, and fortune 
 at your feet." 
 
 " Oh don't Mr. Ransquattle," she inter 
 rupted again, half -recoiling as she spoke ; " it's 
 a dangerous place to lay articles so valuable, 
 lest perchance they should be accidentally trod 
 den on." 
 
 " Can you have misunderstood me ?" he 
 asked, as it would seem in some surprise at her
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 219 
 
 obtuseness. "I meant to ask you to marry 
 me. Will you? But don't answer now. 
 Take time to consider, and I will call to-mor 
 row to learn my fate from the sweetest lipa in 
 the world." 
 
 He was bowing an adieu ; but now she de 
 tained him. Drawing herself up with dignity, 
 and speaking in a calm, cold tone of firm de 
 termination, " No, do not call, Mr. Ransquat- 
 tle," she said : "I need no time to consider the 
 question you have asked, and will give you 
 your answer now. I can never bestow my 
 heart upon you, and therefore never my hand. 
 Good-night, sir;" and turning, she hastened 
 with a quick, light step toward the house. 
 
 In the hall she met Wallace, who had just 
 left her father in the sitting-room busy over 
 some law papers. 
 
 " Zillah !" he exclaimed, " what is it ? what 
 has happened ?" 
 
 " Why do you ask ? why do you think any 
 thing has happened ?" she returned, half avert 
 ing her face. 
 
 "Because you look so flushed and indig 
 nant. If anybody has been insulting you " 
 
 " O Wallace, what nonsense !" she cried, 
 with a little nervous laugh. 
 
 " Well, I'm glad if it is not so," he said. "I 
 hope no one would dare. I meant to go back
 
 220 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 to the society directly, hoping to have the 
 pleasure of seeing you home, but was unavoid 
 ably detained. It's early yet though, and such 
 a lovely moonlight evening. Won't you take 
 a little stroll with me ?" 
 
 " If you'll wait a moment till I tell mother 
 we're going." 
 
 Mildred, finding she was not needed at Mrs. 
 Smith's, had returned home and was just 
 ready for bed ; had blown out her candle and 
 was standing by the window gazing out and 
 thinking how lovely everything looked in the 
 moonlight, when her door opened softly and 
 the next instant Zillah's arms were about her 
 neck, her face half hidden on her shoulder. 
 
 " How you tremble !" Mildred said, putting 
 an arm around the slender waist ; " has any 
 thing gone wrong ?" 
 
 " O Milly, such a funny time as I've had in 
 the last hour or two !" and the eyes that looked 
 up into Mildred's face were fairly dancing 
 with merriment. " I seem destined to play 
 second fiddle to you, so far as the admiration 
 of the other sex is concerned ; having actually 
 received proposals of marriage from two of 
 your old beaux in this one evening." 
 
 " Indeed ! Well, I hope you did not accept 
 both," Mildred said laughingly.
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 221 
 
 l{ Not both, but one," she whispered with a 
 low, joyous laugh, and a blush that was visible 
 even in the moonlight. " O Milly, I'm so 
 happy ! I don't care if I am taking what you 
 refused. Wallace is far beyond my deserts, 
 and I wouldn't exchange him for a king." 
 
 "Wallace! O Zillah, how glad I am! I 
 need no longer feel remorseful for having 
 wrecked his happiness, and shall rejoice to call 
 him brother : he will be one to be proud of." 
 
 "Yes; I am obliged to you for rejecting 
 him ; and I dare say so is he now," she added 
 saucily, her eyes again dancing with fun. 
 
 " I don't doubt it. And now perhaps 
 there'll be a triple wedding after all." 
 
 "What are you talking about?" returned 
 Zillah in astonishment ; " 'tisn't time to be 
 thinking of weddings yet." 
 
 " It would be too soon," Mildred said, and 
 went on to explain the occasion of her remark ; 
 then said, " But you haven't told me whose was 
 the other offer." 
 
 " Oh, can't you guess ?" laughed Zillah ; 
 " don't you know that the Bald Eagle is still 
 in quest of a mate ?" 
 
 " Old Nick was it ? Now then you must just 
 tell the whole story," Mildred said in a tone of 
 amusement.
 
 222 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 " 'Twas quite a variation from his offer to 
 you," Zillah answered mirthfully, and went on 
 to give a detailed and amusing account of the 
 walk home and the short colloquy at the gate. 
 
 Then bidding good-night she hastened to 
 her own room, shared with Ada, and repeated 
 the story to her, winding up with, " Your turn 
 will come, you may depend upon that ; so try 
 to be prepared." 
 
 " Small need of preparation," was the cool 
 rejoinder. "But you've had a walk with 
 Wallace since. Won't you tell me what he 
 said." 
 
 " I couldn't begin to remember it all, but 
 Ada, darling, can you spare me to him ?" 
 
 The last words were spoken in a tremu 
 lous half-whisper, her arm about her sister's 
 neck, her lips close to her ear. 
 
 " I knew 'twould come to that before long !" 
 sighed Ada, with a hug and a kiss, whilo 
 tears sprang to her eyes. " O Zillah, dear, I 
 believe my happiest days are over and gone !' r 
 
 " No ! No ! no, darling ! the very, very 
 sweetest are yet to come ! Love will be yours 
 some day as it is mine to-night ; and 
 
 ' There's nothing half so sweet in life 
 As love's young dream. ' "
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 " But happy they I the happiest of their kind I 
 Whom gentler stars unite, and in one fate 
 Their hearts, their fortunes, and their beings blenct" 
 
 WALLACE OKMSBY sought and obtained a 
 second interview with Mr. Keith that evening, 
 in which he asked his senior partner to take 
 him into still closer relations, and bestow upon 
 him a priceless gift. 
 
 Mr. Keith was both surprised and moved. 
 "I can't realize that she's really grown up," he 
 said, " and I don't know how to spare her 
 even to you, Wallace." 
 
 " But you know, my dear sir, it isn't as if I 
 wanted to carry her away." 
 
 "No, that's quite true. But her mother's 
 right in her is fully equal to mine. Wait a 
 moment till I call her in." 
 
 So the request and the arguments in its fa 
 vor had to be repeated. 
 
 The mother's eyes filled, and for a moment 
 she was silent. Then, holding out her hand to 
 the young man, " I have long had a motherly 
 affection for you, Wallace," she said, "and 
 there is no one else to whom I could so will-
 
 224 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 ingly entrust the happiness of my dear child, 
 and yet it is very hard to give her up." 
 
 "Don't think of it in that way, dear Mrs. 
 Keith," he made answer in tones of the deep 
 est respect, taking the hand and lifting it gal 
 lantly to his lips. "Think of it rather as 
 taking another member, another son, into the 
 family. It would be joy to me to have the 
 right to call you mother." 
 
 " And I should be proud to own you as my 
 son," she returned with her own sweet, moth 
 erly smile. " But Zillah herself must decide 
 this question." 
 
 " Then I have nothing to fear, nothing more 
 to ask," he said joyously. 
 
 In truth, no one had any objection to bring 
 against the match, and all went smoothly and 
 happily with the newly affianced pair. 
 
 The next day "Wallace came hurrying iu 
 with beaming countenance and eager air. "Ah ! 
 it was you I wanted," he said, finding his be 
 trothed alone in the parlor, whither she had 
 betaken herself for her daily hour of practice 
 on the piano. " "Won't you put on a shawl and 
 bonnet and come with me ?" 
 
 " "Where ?" she asked with a merry twinkle 
 in her eye. 
 
 "Just across the street to look at that house
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 225 
 
 of Miller's. It's nearly finished, and he's will 
 ing to sell." 
 
 " But who wants to buy ?" she asked in her 
 pretty, saucy way, as she stepped into the hall 
 and tied on a bonnet which she took from the 
 hat-rack there, while "Wallace threw a shawl 
 about her shoulders. 
 
 "Perhaps we can better answer that ques 
 tion after we've been over it," he said with g 
 smile. 
 
 So it proved ; the snug, pretty, conveniently 
 arranged cottage so close to the old home 
 too seemed just the thing for them. " Father, 
 mother," and all the family were presently 
 brought over to look at and pronounce an 
 opinion upon it, and without a dissenting voice 
 the purchase was decided upon. 
 
 "And now there's another and still more 
 important matter to be settled," whispered 
 Wallace in Zillah's ear. 
 
 " There is no hurry," she answered, blushing. 
 
 " There is to be a double or a triple wedding 
 in our church in about a month from now," he 
 went on lightly and in coaxing tones. " I want 
 it to be the latter ; so do four other people ; 
 but it all depends on you. Come, darling, why 
 should we wait longer than that ?" 
 
 " Ah ! it fairly frightens me to think of such
 
 226 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 haste," she said, half averting her blushing 
 face. 
 
 " I don't know why it should," he respond 
 ed, his tone speaking both disappointment and 
 chagrin, " unless you fear to trust your happi 
 ness to my keeping." 
 
 " That's because men are so different from 
 women ; but to save a quarrel we'll leave it 
 to father's and mother's decision ; shan't we ?" 
 
 And she turned to him again with a smile 
 so arch and sweet that he consented at once, 
 and sealed the promise with a kiss. 
 
 Father and mother said, " Wait at least until 
 next spring ; you are both young enough, and 
 we cannot part so suddenly with our dear 
 child." 
 
 "Hardly a parting just to let her cross the 
 street," Wallace made answer with a sigh that 
 was not altogether of resignation ; then added 
 a hint that he would be willing to leave her in 
 her father's house until spring if only they 
 would let him join her there. 
 
 But that proposal was smilingly rejected, and 
 the wedding day indefinitely postponed until 
 " some time in the spring." 
 
 Intimate friends were not kept in ignorance 
 of the engagement, and the two expectant 
 brides and bridegrooms were, until convinced
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 227 
 
 of its uselessness, very urgent for the triple 
 wedding. 
 
 The double one took place at the appointed 
 time and place, was quite a brilliant affair, and 
 followed by a round of festivities such as the 
 quiet little town had never witnessed before. 
 Evening entertainments were given by the 
 Chetwoods, the Granges, the Keiths, and one 
 or two others. Then life settled back into 
 the ordinary grooves, and the rest of the fall 
 and winter passed without any unusual excite 
 ment. 
 
 The Keiths were quietly, cheerfully busy, as 
 at other times. "Wallace came and went as be 
 fore, but was of tener left to Zillah's sole enter 
 tainment, yet treated more entirely than ever 
 as one of the family. 
 
 Brighter days were dawning for our friends. 
 Through all these years they had been very 
 diligent in business and very faithful in pay 
 ing tithes of all they possessed, and the truth 
 of Scripture declarations and promises "the 
 hand of the diligent maketh rich," and "so 
 shall thy barns be filled with plenty and thy 
 presses burst out with new wine" was being 
 verified in their experience. This fall Messrs. 
 Keith & Ormsby found themselves successful 
 in several very important cases, which brought
 
 228 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 them both fame and money ; the town was now 
 growing rapidly, business looking up, and land, 
 which they had bought for a trifle on first 
 coming to the place, had already doubled and 
 trebled in value. 
 
 Rupert, too, was succeeding well in his 
 chosen vocation, and both he and his father 
 urged Mildred to cease her toil as a music 
 teacher , saying there was now not the slightest 
 necessity for such exertion on her part. 
 
 The mother's views coincided with theirs, 
 but Mildred begged to be permitted to go on 
 in the old way, saying constant employment 
 was good for her; she was used to it and 
 liked it. 
 
 " And besides," she added playfully, " I en 
 joy the thought that I am laying a little some 
 thing by against old age or a rainy day. I am 
 not likely ever to marry, so will do well to be 
 self-helpful; and why should I not have a busi 
 ness the same as if I were a man ? I shall be 
 all the happier, the more useful, and the more 
 independent." 
 
 So they let her have her way. She was not 
 keeping employment from those who needed 
 it, for there were plenty of pupils for all the 
 teachers in the place. Effie Prescott was now 
 one of these most faithful and successful, and
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 229~ 
 
 full of joy and thankfulness that thus she 
 able to win her bread ; for she had not strength 
 to do so in any more laborious way, and her 
 father was poor enough to feel it a relief to 
 have Effie supporting herself. 
 
 " And I have you to thank for it," she had 
 said again and again to Mildred ; " it is one of 
 your good works, and I shall never cease to be 
 grateful to you for it." 
 
 "Indeed, Effie, you owe me nothing," Mil 
 dred would reply; "not even gratitude, for 
 you have paid well for all I have done for you. 
 You owe it all, under God, to your own indus 
 try, energy, and perseverance in the use and 
 improvement of the talents he has given you." 
 
 To the whole household at Mr. Keith's the 
 all-absorbing interest was the fitting up and 
 furnishing of the snug cottage across the street, 
 and the preparation of Zillah's trousseau, in 
 the expense or labor of which each one was 
 determined to have a share. 
 
 All these matters were freely discussed in 
 the family, even the little boys and girls being 
 deemed worthy to be trusted not to speak of 
 them to outsiders. Not that any one felt that 
 there was any special cause for concealment of 
 their plans or doings, but they did not wish to 
 have them canvassed and commented upon by
 
 '230 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 the busybodies and gossips of the town, who, 
 like those of other places, always knew so 
 much more of their neighbors' affairs than did 
 those neighbors themselves. 
 
 No one rejoiced more sincerely than Mil 
 dred in the evident happiness of the affianced 
 pair ; no one entered more heartily into their 
 plans, was of tener consulted in regard to them, 
 or was more generous with money and labor 
 in carrying them out. Her sisterly pride in 
 -Zillah's beauty was without a touch of envy or 
 jealousy, though she was fully aware of the 
 fact that it far exceeded her own. 
 
 "What a lovely bride she will make !" Hil- 
 dred often whispered to herself. "Wallace 
 may well feel consoled for my rejection of his 
 .suit." 
 
 She tried hard for perfect unselfishness, and 
 to entirely fill her mind and heart with the 
 interests of the hour, especially as affecting 
 these two ; but thoughts of the love that now 
 seemed lost to her, of the dreams of happiness 
 which had been for years gradually fading till 
 there was scarcely a vestige of them left, would 
 At times intrude themselves, filling her with 
 a sadness she could scarce conceal from the 
 watchful eyes of the tender mother who knew 
 and so fully sympathized in the sorrows and
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 231 
 
 anxieties of this her first-born and dearly be* 
 loved child. 
 
 She knew that even yet there was a constant 
 longing, a half -unconscious daily looking for of 
 news of the wanderer as the mail came in, fol 
 lowed each time by renewed disappointment, 
 and that often the poor, weary heart grew sick 
 indeed with hope deferred. 
 
 As spring opened, the day for the wedding 
 drew near, and the preparations for it were 
 almost completed. Mildred's sadness of heart 
 increased, until it cost her a constant and often 
 heroic struggle to maintain her cheerfulness 
 before others; while at times she could not 
 refrain from shedding many tears in the pri 
 vacy of her own room. One evening her 
 mother, entering softly, found her weeping. 
 
 " My dear, dear child !" she whispered, taking- 
 her in her arms and caressing her tenderly, 
 " my dear, brave, unselfish girl ! you do not 
 know how your mother loves you !" 
 
 "Precious mother!" responded the weeping 
 girl, hastily wiping away her tears and return 
 ing the caress ; " what could I ever do without 
 your dear love ! I am ashamed of my depres 
 sion ; ashamed that I should yield to it in 
 this way. Ah, I little deserve to be called 
 brave!"
 
 232 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 " It has been a long, hard trial, dear daugh 
 ter," Mrs. Keith said, softly stroking Mildred's 
 hair, " and yon have borne it wonderfully well ; 
 as you could not in your own strength, I well 
 know." 
 
 " No, never ! The joy of the Lord has been 
 my strength, else my heart would have broken 
 long ago; for oh, this terrible suspense! so 
 much worse than any certainty could be !" 
 
 " I know it, darling," her mother responded 
 in moved tones ; " then would it not be your 
 wisest course to endeavor to convince yourself 
 that either utter indifference or death has ended 
 this for you ?" 
 
 "Mother, that is not in the power of my 
 Trill. That Charlie could prove untrue I can 
 not believe, and something tells me that he still 
 lives." 
 
 "Then, dearest, cheer up. "Why this in 
 creased sadness of late ?" 
 
 " I hardly know myself, mother dear ; I am 
 sure my whole heart rejoices in the happiness 
 of my sister and Wallace ; yet somehow the 
 sight of it seems to deepen my own sorrow by 
 -contrast. I fear it is because I am selfish." 
 
 "I cannot think so," her mother said; "so 
 <lo not harbor that thought, thus adding to 
 your distress. Try to cast your care on the
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 233 
 
 Lord, fully believing the inspired declaration 
 that * all things work together for good to them 
 that love God, to them who are the called ac 
 cording to his purpose.' He is never for a 
 moment unmindful of one of his children ; he 
 has a plan for each one, and suffers no real 
 evil to befall them. ' Best in the Lord, and 
 wait patiently for him.' " 
 
 "Ah, mother!" Mildred said, smiling 
 through her tears, " I am more and more con 
 vinced that all I need to make me perfectly 
 happy is strong, unwavering faith in the wis 
 dom and love of my heavenly Father ; then I 
 should rejoice to do and suffer all his holy will, 
 never doubting that what he sends is the very 
 best for me." 
 
 There was an additional cause for Mildred's 
 depression just at this time one felt in greater 
 or less degree by all the Keiths in the thought 
 *hat this was the beginning of the inevitable 
 breaking up of the dear family circle the 
 forming by one of their number of new ties, 
 #hich must in some measure supplant the old 
 the tender loves of parents and children, 
 brothers and sisters. Zillah was not going far 
 away, and they did not fear to trust her to "Wal 
 lace ; but their home would no longer be hers, 
 and another, in whose veins ran no drop oi
 
 234 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 their blood, would henceforth be nearer and 
 dearer to her than they. 
 
 Except the parents, perhaps no other felt 
 this quite so keenly as Ada the nearest in 
 age and hitherto the room-mate and almost in 
 separable companion of the sister who was 
 leaving them. 
 
 It was the morning of the wedding day ; the 
 ceremony was to take place in the evening, in 
 the parlor of Mr. Keith's house, which the sis 
 ters were busily decorating for the occasion with 
 spring flowers from the garden and the woods. 
 
 The supply was not sufficient, and the little 
 boys were sent in search of more ; the mother 
 and Celestia Ann who still lived with them, 
 going home occasionally for a few weeks, but 
 always returning and taking up her duties 
 there with renewed satisfaction were deep in 
 the mysteries of cake-making and kindred arts ; 
 so when the door -bell rang Ada answered it. 
 
 Standing before the open door was a very 
 pleasant-faced young man, whose dress and 
 general appearance seemed to bespeak him a 
 clergyman. He lifted his hat with a low bow, 
 his face lighting up with a smile of recognition. 
 
 "Miss Mildred?" he said half inquiringly, 
 as he held out his hand in cordial greeting. 
 
 "No, sir," returned Ada, giving him her
 
 MILDRED AND ELSDs. 235 
 
 hand, but with a slightly puzzled look ; " I am 
 Ada Keith." 
 
 " Ah 1 one of the little ones when I knew 
 you not old enough to remember me, I fear. 
 I am from Lansdale, your old Ohio home." 
 
 He handed her a card, on which she read at 
 a glance, " Rev. Francis Osborne." 
 
 " Ah, I know now who you are ! I have a 
 slight remembrance of a big boy of that name 
 who has had time enough to grow into a man," 
 she said with an arch smile that he thought 
 very bewitching. "Come in, Mr. Osborne; 
 they will all be glad to see you." 
 
 He was warmly welcomed and hospitably 
 entertained, as an old-time friend, as one com 
 ing from the early home still held in tender 
 remembrance, and as a messenger from Aunt 
 "Wealthy, who sent by him a handsome bridal 
 gift a beautiful gold brooch. Quite unex 
 pected ; for the dear old lady had already given 
 generously toward the house-furnishing. 
 
 Zillah was greatly pleased. There was al 
 ready upon a side-table in the sitting-room 
 quite an array of handsome presents from her 
 near relatives and friends the Dinsmore cous 
 ins and others and Aunt Wealthy's gift was 
 now assigned a conspicuous place among them. 
 
 Mrs. Keith's wedding dress of rich, white
 
 236 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 silk, her bridal veil and orange blossoms, had 
 been carefully preserved, and finding that the 
 dress exactly fitted her, Zillah had chosen to 
 be married in it, in decided preference to hav 
 ing a new one. 
 
 It was, of course, made in very old-fashioned 
 style, but she insisted that she liked it all the 
 better for that, and no one who saw her in it 
 could deny that it was extremely becoming. 
 
 All the sisters were to be bridesmaids in 
 the order of their ages and all to wear white 
 tarlatan. Rupert would be first groomsman ; 
 Robert Grange, a brother of Lu, second ; Cyril 
 and Don, third and fourth. 
 
 A large number of guests were invited and a 
 handsome entertainment was provided. Their 
 pastor, Mr. Lord, had received due notice of 
 the coming event, and promised to officiate. 
 
 Seeing him leaving the parsonage early in 
 the afternoon, his mother called to him, asking 
 where he was going. 
 
 " For a walk and to make a pastoral call or 
 two," he answered, pausing and turning toward 
 her with an air of affectionate respect. 
 
 "Well, Joel, don't forget to come home 
 early enough to dress for the wedding. I 
 shall be ready in good season, and hope you 
 will too."
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 237 
 
 " Oh, certainly, mother ! I'm glad you re 
 minded me, though, for I really had forgotten 
 it." 
 
 "And will again, I'm very much afraid," 
 she murmured, between a smile and a sigh, as 
 she watched him down the street. 
 
 He walked on and on in meditative mood, 
 till nearing a farm-house, several miles from 
 town, he was waked from his revery by the 
 voice of its owner bidding him good-day and 
 asking if he would go with him to the river 
 for an afternoon's fishing. " I was just setting 
 off for it," he said. " I've an extra pole and 
 line here, and shall be glad of your company." 
 
 " Thank you, Mr. Yail, I will : it's a pastime 
 I'm somewhat partial to," the minister made 
 answer. 
 
 " "Will, "Will !" the farmer called to his son, 
 " bring me that other fishing tackle, and tell 
 your mother we'll be back Mr. Lord and I 
 for tea about sundown." 
 
 Seven was the hour set for the wedding 
 ceremony. At half-past five Mrs. Lord's tea- 
 table was ready and waiting for the return of 
 her son. But six o'clock came, and there was 
 no sign of his approach. 
 
 " I'll go and dress ; perhaps he'll be here by 
 that time," she said to herself, turning from
 
 238 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 ,the window from which she had been gazing 
 with constantly increasing anxiety and impa 
 tience. 
 
 She made a hasty toilet, hoping every mo 
 ment to hear his step and voice. But he came 
 not. She ate her supper, watched the clock 
 until the hands pointed to five minutes of 
 seven ; then, filled with vexation and chagrin, 
 donned bonnet and shawl and set off in haste 
 for Mr. Keith's. 
 
 That gentleman met her at the gate. " Ah, 
 my dear madam, I am glad to see you !" he 
 said, shaking hands with her. " Walk in. But 
 where is Mr. Lord ? The guests are all assem 
 bled now that you are here and everything 
 is in readiness for the ceremony." 
 
 "Indeed, Mr. Keith, I'm terribly mortified !" 
 the old lady burst out, flushing like a girl ; " it's 
 just Joel's absent-mindedness. He meant to 
 be here in season, I know ; but he walked out 
 some hours since, and where he is now, or 
 when he will remember to come back, I don't 
 know. Please don't wait for him another min 
 ute, if you can get anybody to take his place." 
 
 " Fortunately we can," said Mr. Keith ; " so 
 please, my dear madam, do not feel disturbed 
 about that." 
 
 He led her into the house, and called Ru-
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 239 
 
 pert and Wallace from the bridal chamber, 
 where the wedding party were assembled. 
 Then Frank Osborne was summoned from the 
 parlor, where, with the other guests, he sat 
 waiting to witness the coming ceremony. There 
 was a whispered consultation ; then Wallace 
 hastened to his bride again, and whispered a 
 word to her, to which she gave a pleased, blush 
 ing assent, as she rose and suffered him to draw 
 her hand within his arm. 
 
 In another minute or two bridegroom and 
 bride, with the whole train of attendants, had 
 taken their places in presence of the assembled 
 guests, and the ceremony began, Frank Os 
 borne officiating. 
 
 He did not seem at all embarrassed or at a 
 loss for words ; his manner was solemn and ten 
 der, and when the ceremony was over every 
 one said, " How beautiful it was !" 
 
 While the bride and groom were receiving 
 the congratulations of relatives and friends, 
 Mr. Lord, having leisurely finished his tea, sat 
 in the farm-house porch, quietly conversing 
 with his host. But a sudden thought seemed 
 to strike him, and he started up in evident 
 perturbation. 
 
 "What is it?" asked Mr. Vail; "anything 
 gone wrong ?"
 
 240 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 "Rather," groaned the minister, glancing at 
 the face of his watch, which he had just drawn 
 from its fob. " I was to have married Wallace 
 Ormsby and one of Mr. Keith's daughters 
 about fifteen minutes ago." 
 
 " Better get back to town, then, as fast as 
 you can," returned the farmer, laughing. " I'll 
 harness up and take you." 
 
 "Alas, man, it's already too late!" sighed 
 the minister. 
 
 " ' Better late than never,' though, and they 
 may be waiting for you still." 
 
 " Why, yes ; that's possible, to be sure !" 
 
 "Where shall I take you?" Mr. Yail asked, 
 half an hour later, as they drove into the town. 
 
 " Drive right to Mr. Keith's, if you please." 
 
 "I thought maybe you'd want to fix up a 
 bit, seeing it's a wedding you're going to." 
 
 " Oh, to be sure ! yes, certainly ! I'm glad 
 you reminded me. I'll go home and dress first." 
 
 " And while you're at that I'll go round and 
 tell 'em you're coming just to keep 'era from 
 getting quite out of heart, you know." 
 
 He went, and by the time Mr. Lord's toilet 
 was completed, returned with the information, 
 delivered in tones of amusement and with eyes 
 twinkling with fun : " You've lost the job, sir ; 
 somebody else has tied the knot ; but they've
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 241 
 
 sent word for you to hurry along and you'll be 
 in time for the refreshments. So cheer up, 
 for that's the main thing, after all, ain't it." 
 
 " Really I I'm ashamed to go now," stam 
 mered the minister, looking much mortified 
 and embarrassed. 
 
 "Tut, tut, man! better treat it as a good 
 joke," returned the farmer gayly. 
 
 " I believe you're right," said Mr. Lord, and 
 proceeded to take the advice. 
 
 His apologies and excuses were received 
 with good-humored raillery, mingled with 
 laughing assurances that he need not disturb 
 himself; as things had turned out 'twas all 
 very well ; it seemed a pleasant accident that 
 had left the performing of the ceremony to an 
 old and valued friend of the bride and her 
 family.
 
 CHAPTER XYIII. 
 
 " A lovely being, scarcely formed or moulded, 
 A rose with all its sweetest leaves yet folded." 
 
 BTBOM. 
 
 THE next morning Mr. and Mrs. Ormsby 
 started on their bridal trip a visit to his rela 
 tives, to Aunt Wealthy and the old Ohio 
 home. 
 
 Their departure left the house strangely 
 empty and desolate, to the consciousness of 
 mother and sisters especially, and Frank Os- 
 borne's advent seemed quite a boon. An old 
 friend who could tell them much of others 
 left behind in Ohio, a thorough gentleman, 
 well educated, refined and polished in manner, 
 and an earnest, devoted Christian, he proved a 
 most agreeable companion. 
 
 All these years he had fancied himself in 
 love with Mildred, and it was that, more than 
 anything else, which had drawn him thither ; 
 yet the first sight of Ada had wholly changed 
 the direction of his inclination. 
 
 He had thought Mildred charming in. 
 younger days, and could not see that she had
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 lost in attractiveness the years seemed rather 
 to have added to her loveliness ; her form was 
 more finely developed, her countenance sweeter 
 and more intellectual, while she had lost none 
 of the freshness and bloom of youth : yet he 
 found a superior fascination about Ada, and 
 being of an ardent temperament, open and 
 frank in disposition, his manner toward her 
 soon made this apparent to the older members 
 of the family. 
 
 Mildred was perhaps the first to perceive it, 
 and that without the slightest feeling of envy 
 or jealousy : she would be glad if Frank proved 
 to be one who could fill Ada's heart ; and if an 
 objection to the possibility that presented itself 
 arose in any one's mind, it was merely on the 
 score of unwillingness to part with another 
 member of the newly broken family circle. 
 
 They had urged Frank to make a length 
 ened visit, and he had promised to remain for 
 some days or a week or two. 
 
 He had been but recently licensed to preach, 
 and was yet without charge. The first Sunday 
 after his arrival he filled Mr. Lord's pulpit, 
 by invitation, greatly to the delight and edi 
 fication of his hearers. The next week he 
 preached for a vacant church a few milea 
 distant from Pleasant Plains, and shortly after
 
 544 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 'Consented to take charge of it for the next six 
 months. 
 
 A worldly-minded man, seeking wealth and 
 fame, would have deemed it a most uninviting 
 field of labor ; but Frank Osborne was one of 
 those who are willing to bear hardness as good 
 soldiers of Jesus Christ, and whose aspiration 
 is to win souls rather than earthly riches or 
 fame. Yet the thought of being near enough 
 to his old friends for frequent intercourse 
 may have had its influence also. 
 
 The return of the bride and groom after an 
 absence of some six weeks was a joyful occa 
 sion. They were received in their own cottage 
 home, which loving hands had set in perfect 
 order, and rendered beautiful and delightful 
 with the bloom and perfume of flowers. 
 "When the tender, loving greetings had been 
 exchanged they made the tour of the house 
 attended by every member of the family, each 
 one anxious to witness and have a share in 
 their pleasure. 
 
 The workers had anticipated, as the reward 
 of their labors, great demonstrations of delight 
 from Zillah, and were not disappointed ; she 
 seemed to lack words to properly express her 
 admiration of the effects produced or her
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 345. 
 
 appreciation of this evidence of their kindness- 
 and love. 
 
 Nor was "Wallace far behind in bestowing a 
 like meed of praise and thanks. 
 
 The welcoming feast had been prepared and 
 was partaken of in the house of the parents. 
 After that Zillah began her housekeeping, en 
 joying it exceedingly ; for she was no novice 
 at the business, was defthanded and quick in 
 her motions, had her mother and older sister 
 near enough to be consulted at any time ; and 
 utensils, furniture, and the snug cottage itself 
 were all so new, so fresh and clean. 
 
 Then "Wallace was pleased with everything 
 she did, and the work of a family of two 
 seemed scarce more than play to one used to 
 the numerous household on the other side of 
 the street. 
 
 There was a great deal of running back and 
 forth, a constant interchange of good offices. 
 During the hours that business kept "Wallace 
 at the office, Zillah and Ada were almost sure 
 to be together in one home or the other. 
 
 It was not long before the former discovered 
 that Frank Osborne was a frequent visitor at 
 her father's, and began to suspect what was 
 the particular attraction that drew him thither.
 
 246 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 " I was not at all displeased at the time, as 
 things turned out, that Mr. Lord went fishing 
 on rny wedding day and forgot to many me, 
 but now I begin to feel quite grateful to him," 
 she said teasingly to Ada one day as they sat 
 alone together, with their sewing, in her own 
 pretty parlor. 
 
 " "Why so ?" Ada asked, blushing consciously 
 in spite of herself. 
 
 "Because in after years it will seem very 
 fitting that my brother-in-law had the tying of 
 the knot between Wallace and me." 
 
 " That strikes me as very much like count 
 ing your chickens before they are hatched," 
 returned Ada demurely. " If you are hinting 
 at me, please understand that I've always 
 meant to be the old-maid daughter to stay at 
 home and take care of the dear father and 
 mother." 
 
 " Oh, yes, but folks often miss their voca 
 tion. However, I trust you will not ; and I 
 think you were cut out for a minister's wife. 
 And O Ada dear," she went on, dropping her 
 work to put her arms about her sister, " I want 
 you to know the bliss of wedded love. I never 
 was so happy in my life as now. And I do 
 believe Frank is almost as nice as Wallace, or 
 at least nicer than anybody else except Wai-
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 247 
 
 lace," she corrected herself hastily, and with a 
 merry laugh ; " so don't reject him, there's a 
 dear." 
 
 *' Not until he asks," Ada said a trifle dis 
 dainfully. " My promises can go no further 
 than that at present. I have an idea that he 
 was formerly one of Mildred's admirers. So 
 let him try for her; she is far better fitted 
 than I for the duties and responsibilities of the 
 position." 
 
 " Now don't be naughty and proud," Zillah 
 said gayly ; " you may as well take Mildred's 
 leavings as I, and I can assure you they may 
 be very nice indeed. -What may have been in 
 the past," she added more gravely, "I do 
 not know, but very sure I am that now there 
 is no fancy on either side." 
 
 " A letter for you, Ada !" cried Fan, coming 
 running in at the open door. 
 
 Ada took it quietly and broke the seal. 
 
 "Now here's an offer worth having," she 
 remarked with biting sarcasm, as she turned 
 the page and glanced at the signature, then 
 held it so that Zillah could see what it was. 
 " the bald eagle is still in search of a mate." 
 
 "I told you so," was Zillah's laughing re 
 joinder. 
 
 " Lend me an envelope, will you ?" Ada
 
 248 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 aid, rising with the letter in her hand, a look 
 of quiet, half-scornful determination in her 
 face ; " and he shall not be kept long waiting 
 for his answer." 
 
 " What shall you say ?" Zillah asked as she 
 brought the envelope, pen, and ink. 
 
 " Nothing. Silence cannot be construed to 
 mean consent in this instance. There, Fan, 
 please return it to the office," as she sealed the 
 envelope and handed it to the child ; the letter 
 inside, Nicholas Ransquattle's address on the 
 outside. 
 
 The needles were plied in silence for a few 
 moments ; then Zillah said, with a little amused 
 laugh, " You made short work with him." 
 
 " It seems to be the way of the family," re 
 turned Ada, joining in the laugh. 
 
 ""Well, only treat Frank as differently as 
 possible that is, with the greatest favor and 
 I'll forgive you for this." 
 
 Frank was too wise to speak hastily, there 
 fore the more likely to win at the last. 
 
 One day in the ensuing autumn Mrs. Keith 
 received a letter from her cousin Horace Dins- 
 more, saying that he was travelling with his 
 little daughter in the region of the Great Lakes, 
 and could not persuade himself to pass so near 
 Pleasant Plains without paying her a visit:
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 349 
 
 they might be expected in a day or two after 
 the receipt of this communication. 
 
 This news was received with great delight 
 by the entire family. Mildred's heart bounded 
 at the thought of again clasping little Elsie in 
 her arms ; for through all these years of sepa 
 ration the little fair one had been cherished in 
 her very heart of hearts. 
 
 Every preparation was at once set on foot 
 for entertaining the coming guests in the most 
 hospitable manner. 
 
 There had been an occasional interchange of 
 letters which had kept each of the two families 
 informed of any event of unusual importance 
 occurring in the other. Horace had written 
 his cousin Marcia on his return from Europe 
 two years and a half before this, again upon 
 his recovery from serious illness a year later, 
 and several times since. In one of his late 
 letters he had spoken very feelingly of his 
 child's recovery from an illness that had nearly 
 cost her life, expressing his gratitude to God 
 for her restoration to health, and that the trial 
 had been blessed to himself in leading him to 
 Christ. 
 
 Mrs. Keith had loved him from his early 
 childhood with a sisterly affection, and now 
 there was a new tie between them ; for they
 
 250 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 were disciples of the same Master, servants of 
 the same Lord. And it was in answer to long, 
 continued, fervent supplication on her part 
 that this priceless blessing had come to him. 
 What wonder that her heart bounded at the 
 thought of soon seeing him and little Elsie,. 
 whom she was ready to love almost as she 
 loved her own offspring, because she was 
 Horace's child, and because of all that Mildred 
 had said of her loveliness of character and per 
 son. 
 
 The letter telling of his conversion had 
 brought a double delight to both Mildred and 
 her mother, in the joy a Christian must ever 
 feel in the salvation of a soul, the consecration, 
 of another heart and life to the service of 
 Christ, and in the assurance that the darling 
 Elsie was no longer left to an unsatisfied 
 hunger for parental love ; this the tone of his 
 letter made very evident ; his heart seemed 
 overflowing with the tenderest fatherly affec 
 tion ; and indeed he said plainly that her 
 death would have been worse to him than the 
 loss of everything else he possessed. 
 
 But he did not go into particulars in regard 
 to the nature or exciting cause of her illness. 
 
 On the deck of a steamer rapidly ploughing 
 her way down Lake Michigan, sat a gentleman
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 251 
 
 with a little girl on his knee. His arm encir 
 cled her waist, hers was about his neck. He 
 was a very handsome man, apparently consid 
 erably under thirty years of age; hardly old 
 enough, a stranger would judge, to be the 
 father of the bewitchingly beautiful child he 
 held, though there seemed a world of fatherly 
 affection in the clasp of his arm and the ten 
 derness of his gaze into the sweet face now 
 resting on his shoulder, while the soft brown 
 eyes looked out dreamily over the water, now 
 lifted to his with an expression of confiding 
 filial love and reverence. 
 
 " Papa, I am having a delightful time," she 
 said, softly stroking his face and beard with 
 her small white hand. 
 
 " I am very glad, my darling, that you enjoy 
 it so much, and I trust it is doing you good/ 
 he answered. 
 
 " Yes, papa, but I don't need it ; I'm as 
 well as can be now." 
 
 "Free from disease, but not yet quite so 
 strong as papa would like to see you," he said, 
 with a smile and a tender caress. 
 
 " Shall we be long on this boat, papa ?" 
 
 "Until some time to-morrow morning, 
 when, if all goes well, we expect to land at 
 Michigan City, where we will take the stage
 
 252 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 for Pleasant Plains, the home of our cousins 
 the Keiths. Do you remember your Cousin 
 Mildred?" 
 
 " A very little, papa ; I don't remember her 
 looks, except that they were pleasant to me 
 when she used to take me on her lap and hug 
 and kiss me." 
 
 " Your grandpa wrote me that she was very 
 kind to you. She is the only one of the family 
 YOU have ever met." 
 
 " Please tell me about the rest, papa. Are 
 Cousin Milly's father and mother my uncle 
 ^nd aunt ?" 
 
 "You may say Uncle Stuart and Aunt 
 Marcia to them, though they are really your 
 Cousins. Well, what is it ?" seeing a doubtful, 
 *roubled look in the eyes lifted to his. 
 
 " Please papa, don't be vexed with me," she 
 murmured, dropping her eyes and blushing 
 deeply, "but would it be quite quite true 
 and right to call them so when they are not 
 really?" 
 
 He drew her closer and softly kissing the 
 glowing cheek, " I should prefer to have you 
 call them aunt and uncle," he said, " and I can 
 not see anything wrong or untrue in doing so ; 
 but if it is a question of conscience with you, 
 my darling, I shall not insist."
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 " Thank you, dear papa," she said, looking 
 up gratefully and drawing a long sigh of relief ; 
 " but I want to do as you wish ; please tell me 
 why you do not think it wrong." 
 
 "They may adopt you as their niece, you 
 them as your uncle and aunt," he answered, 
 smiling down at the grave, earnest little face. 
 
 "What a nice idea, papa!" she exclaimed 
 with a low, musical laugh, her face growing 
 bright and glad ; " that makes it all right, I 
 think. I knew about adopted children and 
 adopted parents, but I didn't think of any 
 other adopted relations." 
 
 " But do you not see that that must follow 
 as a matter of course ?" 
 
 A middle-aged colored woman had drawn 
 near carrying a light shawl. " De air gettin' 
 little bit cool, I tink, massa," she remarked, in 
 a respectful tone. " I'se 'f raid my chile cotch 
 cold." 
 
 " Quite right, Aunt Chloe," he returned, 
 taking the shawl from her and wrapping it 
 carefully about the little girl. 
 
 But he had scarcely done so when a sudden 
 storm of wind came sweeping down upon the 
 lake, from the northwest, and drove them into 
 the cabin. 
 
 There were other passengers, but the saloon
 
 254 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 was not crowded, and for a time proved a 
 pleasant enough retreat. Supper was served 
 presently and partaken of in tolerable comfort, 
 though the lake was growing rough, and the 
 vessel rolling and pitching in a way that made 
 it a little difficult to keep the dishes on the 
 table and eat and drink without accident. But, 
 as they were not supposed to be in danger, the 
 little mishaps merely gave occasion for mirth, 
 and pleasantry. 
 
 But ere long the storm increased in violence^ 
 the wind blowing a gale, accompanied with 
 thunder, lightning, and torrents of rain. The 
 faces of men and women grew pale and 
 anxious, conversation had almost ceased, and 
 scarce a sound was heard but the war of the 
 elements mingled with the heavy tread of the 
 sailors and the hoarse commands of the captain 
 and mate. 
 
 The little girl, seated on a sofa by her 
 father's side, crept closer to him, with a 
 whispered, " Papa, is there any danger ?" 
 
 " I'm afraid there is, my darling," he said, 
 putting his arm about her and drawing her 
 closer still ; " but we will trust in Him who 
 holds the winds and the waters in the hollow 
 of his hand. I do not need to remind my 
 little Elsie that no real evil can befall us if 
 we are his children."
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 255 
 
 " No, papa ; and oh, how sweet it is to know- 
 that." 
 
 " It is your bedtime," he said, glancing at 
 his watch. 
 
 " But you will not send me away from you 
 to-night, dear papa?" and she looked plead 
 ingly into his face. 
 
 " No, my precious child ! no, indeed ! not for 
 all I am worth would I let you out of my sight 
 in this storm, but I will go with you to your 
 estate-room." 
 
 He half led, half carried her, for the vessel 
 was now plunging so madly through the 
 water, with such rolls and lurches, that it was 
 no easy matter for a landsman to keep his feet. 
 
 They found Aunt Chloe in the state-room 
 waiting to disrobe her nursling and prepare 
 her for her night's rest ; but Mr. Dinsmore 
 dismissed her, saying Elsie should not be 
 undressed, as there was no knowing what 
 might occur before morning. 
 
 "Don't you undress, either, Aunt Chloe," 
 he added, as she kissed the child good-night 
 and turned to go. " Lie down in your berth 
 and sleep if you can ; but so that you will be 
 ready to leave it the instant you are called. 
 Give John the same direction from me, and 
 tell him to keep near the door f my state-
 
 256 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 Left alone with his little girl, he knelt with 
 her by his side, his arm supporting her while 
 he commended both her and himself, as well 
 as the others on the vessel, and dear ones far 
 away, to the protecting care of Him who 
 neither slumbers nor sleeps. Then lifting the 
 child in his arms he held her to his heart for 
 a moment, caressing her with exceeding ten 
 derness. 
 
 " My darling, you shall lie in your father's 
 arms to-night," he said, as he laid her in the 
 lower berth and stretched himself by her side. 
 
 " That will be so nice," she said, creeping- 
 close and laying her cheek to his ; "it would 
 make me glad of the storm, if I were quite, 
 quite sure that the boat will get safe into port. 
 But O papa ! if it shouldn't I am so glad that 
 you are not here without me." 
 
 " Why, my pet ?" 
 
 "Because if you if anything happens to 
 you, I want to be with you and share it. Papa, 
 papa, don't try to save me if you cannot be 
 saved too, for I couldn't bear to live without 
 you !" she concluded with a low cry of mingled 
 grief, terror, and entreaty, as she clung about 
 his neck, dropping tears on his face. 
 
 " God grant we may not be parted," he 
 returned, holding her close. " We will cling
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 257 
 
 together through whatever comes. But now 
 dearest, try to go to sleep, fearing nothing, for 
 you are not only in the arms of your earthly 
 father, but the Everlasting Arms are under 
 neath and around both you and me. We have 
 asked our heavenly Father to take care of us, 
 and we know that he is the hearer and answerer 
 of prayer." 
 
 " And I'm sure Miss Rose prays for us too, 
 papa," she whispered, " she loves us so dearly ; 
 and I do believe God will spare us to her. 
 But if he does not see best to do that, he will 
 take us to himself, and O dear, dear papa ! I 
 think it would be very sweet for you and me 
 to go to heaven together !" 
 
 " Very sweet indeed, my precious one ! very 
 bitter for either to be left here bereft of the 
 other. But let us not anticipate evil. Still," 
 he added after a moment's thought, " it is right 
 and wise to be prepared for any event ; so, dear 
 one, should I be lost and you saved, tell Mr. 
 Travilla I gave you to him ; that I want him 
 to adopt you as his own. I know he will 
 esteem it the greatest kindness I could possibly 
 have done him, and will be to you a father 
 tender, loving, and true ; a better one than I 
 have been." His tones grew husky and trem 
 ulous.
 
 258 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 "Papa, papa, don't!" she cried, bursting 
 into sobs and tears, and clinging to him with 
 an almost deathlike grasp. " I can't bear it 1 
 I don't want to live without you ! I won't ! I 
 will drown too, if you do !" 
 
 " Hush, hush, darling ! do not talk so ; that 
 would not be right ; we must never throw 
 away our lives unless in trying to save others," 
 he said, soothing her with the tenderest 
 caresses. "But there, I didn't mean to distress 
 you so ; and something seems to tell me we 
 shall both be saved. Let me wipe away your 
 tears. There, do not cry any more ; give papa 
 another kiss, then lay your head down upon 
 his breast and go to sleep." 
 
 She obeyed ; he clasped her close with om 
 arm, while the other hand was passed caress 
 ingly again and again over her hair and cheek. 
 Presently her quietude and regular breathing 
 told him that she slept. 
 
 He lay very still that her slumbers might 
 not be disturbed, but thought was busy in hie 
 brain, thought of the past, the present, the 
 future ; of the fair young girl away in a 
 distant city, expecting soon to become his 
 bride ; of the beloved child sleeping on his 
 breast ; of the father who regarded him with 
 such pride and affection as his first-born, "his
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 359 
 
 might and the beginning of his strength ;" how 
 would his death affect them in case he were 
 lost this night ? Ah, Rose might console her 
 self with another lover ; his father had other 
 sons ; but Elsie ? ah, he was sure his place in 
 her heart could never be filled ; Travilla would 
 be kind and tender, but as she herself had once 
 said he was not her own father and could 
 never be, even if he gave her to him. What 
 a precious, loving child she was ! how deep and 
 strong her filial affection ! she seemed to have 
 no memory for past severity on his part (ah, 
 what would he not give to be able to blot it 
 from his own remembrance, or rather that it 
 had never been !), but to dwell with delight 
 upon every act, word, and look of love he had 
 ever bestowed upon her. Ah, the bitterness of 
 death, should it come, would be the parting 
 from her; the leaving her behind to meet 
 life's dangers and trials bereft of his protect 
 ing love and care. 
 
 But insensibly waking thought merged into 
 dreams ; then his senses were wrapped in pro- 
 founder slumber, and at length he awoke to 
 find that the storm had passed, the sun arisen, 
 and the vessel was nearing port.
 
 CHAPTEE XIX. 
 
 " The angels sang in heaven when she was born." 
 
 LONQFKLLOTT. 
 
 " THANK God, the danger is past !" came in 
 a low- breathed exclamation from Mr. Dins- 
 more's lips. "Ah, my darling, did I wake 
 you?" as he perceived the soft brown eyes of 
 his little daughter gazing lovingly into his. 
 
 " No, papa dear, I have been awake a good 
 while, but have not dared to move for fear of 
 disturbing you," she said, lifting her head 
 from his breast to put her arms about his neck, 
 and kissing him again and again. 
 
 " Did you sleep well, daughter ?" he asked, 
 fondly stroking her hair and returning her 
 loving caresses. 
 
 "Yes, papa, I don't believe I moved once 
 after we stopped talking last night. I hope 
 you too have had a good sleep ?" 
 
 "Yes, and feel greatly refreshed. Our 
 heavenly Father has been very good to us. 
 Let us kneel down and thank him for the 
 light of this new day and for our spared 
 lives."
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 261 
 
 They landed in safety, breakfasted at a hotel, 
 and took the stage for Pleasant Plains ; glad 
 to find they had it to themselves they and 
 their two servants. 
 
 It was a lovely October day ; the roads were 
 good, the woods gay with autumn tints, the 
 sun shone brightly after the rain, and the air 
 was sweet, pure, and invigorating. 
 
 Elsie sat by her father's side gay and happy 
 as a bird chatting, singing, laughing ; plying 
 him with intelligent questions about every 
 thing she saw that was new and strange, and 
 about the cousins whom they were going to 
 visit ; he answering her with a patient kindness 
 that never wearied. 
 
 He had neglected her in her babyhood, and 
 once only a year ago his tyrannical severity 
 had brought her to the borders of the grave : 
 he could not forget it ; he felt that he could 
 never fully atone to her for it by any amount 
 of the tenderest love and care ; but she should 
 have all he could lavish upon her. 
 
 A joyous welcome awaited them on thei* 
 arrival. Mrs. Keith embraced her cousin with 
 sisterly, his child with motherly affection, and 
 Mildred wept for joy as she folded Elsie to hei 
 heart. 
 
 Indeed Elsie's beauty, her sweet, loving
 
 262 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 looks and smiles as she accepted and returned 
 their greetings, won all hearts ; while all pres 
 ently esteemed " Cousin Horace" far more 
 agreeable and lovable than he had been on his 
 former visits ; there was less of pride and 
 hauteur about him, more of gentleness and 
 thought for the comfort and happiness of 
 others. 
 
 Mildred and her mother were especially 
 delighted with the ardent affection evidently 
 subsisting between him and his little girl; 
 neither seemed willing to lose sight of the 
 other for a single hour; she hovered about 
 him, being almost always close at his side or 
 on his knee, he caressing her now and then, 
 half unconsciously, as he talked, or his hand 
 toying with her curls. 
 
 Mrs. Keith remarked upon it to him as they 
 sat alone together the day after his arrival, 
 expressing her heartfelt joy in beholding it. 
 
 Elsie had just left the room with Annis, her 
 father's eyes following her as she went, with 
 the wonted expression of parental pride and 
 tenderness. 
 
 " Yes," he said with a sigh, " she is the very 
 light of my eyes. Ah, Marcia, I shall never 
 cease to regret not having followed your advice 
 on my last visit, by taking immediate posses-
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 263 
 
 sion of my child ! I have lost by that mistake 
 eight years of the joy of fatherhood to the 
 sweetest child ever parent had. And yet it 
 has, perhaps, been better for her, for I should 
 have made her very worldly-minded instead of 
 the sweet little Christian I found her." 
 
 " You have at all events escaped the loss I 
 feared for you," Mrs. Keith said, with a sym 
 pathizing smile. 
 
 " Of her filial love and obedience ? Yes, she 
 could not be more dutiful or affectionate than 
 she is. And yet there was at one time a ter 
 rible struggle between us; but for which, I 
 now see, that I alone was to blame. It was 
 my severity, my determination to enforce 
 obedience to commands that conflicted with 
 the dictates of her enlightened conscience, 
 that caused the almost mortal illness of which 
 I wrote you. Yes, a year ago I had nearly 
 been written childless. At one time I thought 
 she was gone, and never, never can I forget 
 the unutterable anguish of that hour." His 
 voice had grown husky, his features worked 
 with emotion, and tears filled his eyes. 
 
 But recovering himself he went on to give 
 her a somewhat detailed account of the whole 
 affair, as it is to be found in the Elsie books ;
 
 264 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 she listening to the recital with intense, often 
 tearful interest. 
 
 The little girls were in Mildred's room 
 dressing dolls and chatting together the while, 
 Mildred, busied with some sewing, overhearing 
 the most of their talk with both interest and 
 amusement. Elsie was describing the Oaks 
 and her home-life there, in reply to inquiries 
 from Annis. 
 
 " What a lovely place it must be ! and how 
 delightful to have a pony of your own and 
 ride it every day !" exclaimed the latter. 
 
 " Yes, it's very nice ; but the best of all, I 
 think, is living in papa's house with him. You 
 know we used to live at Roselands, with 
 Grandpa Dinsmore and the rest." 
 
 " But I should think you'd often feel lone 
 some in that big house with nobody but Cou 
 sin Horace and the servants. Don't you wish 
 you had a mother like ours and brothers and 
 sisters ?" 
 
 A bright, eager, joyous look came into El 
 sie's face at that question ; she opened her lips 
 as if to speak, then closed them again. " Oh, 
 wait a minute till I ask papa something !" she 
 said, laying down the doll she had in her 
 hands, and running from the room.
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 265 
 
 Mr. Dinsmore was just finishing his sad 
 story of her illness as the little girl caine in. 
 She heard his last, self-reproachful sentence, 
 and coming softly to his side, put her arm 
 about his neck and her lips to his cheek. 
 " Dear, dear papa, I love you so much !" she 
 whispered. " Aunt Marcia," turning to Mrs. 
 Keith, " I think I have the best, kindest father 
 in the world. He was so, so good to me when 
 I was sick, and he always is. To be sure, he 
 punishes me when I'm naughty ; but that's 
 being good to me, isn't it ?" 
 
 " I think so," Mrs. Keith answered with a 
 smile ; then excused herself and left the room 
 for a moment. 
 
 " Papa," said Elsie, taking possession of his 
 knee, "may I tell my cousins about Miss 
 Eose?" 
 
 " I never forbade you to speak of her, did 
 I ?" he returned, in a playful tone, smiling on 
 her and stroking her hair with caressing hand. 
 
 " No, sir ; but I would like to tell them that 
 that she is going to be my mamma soon ; if 
 I may if you would like me to ?" 
 
 " You may tell them ; I do not object ; but 
 it was quite right to ask permission first," he 
 answered; and with a joyful "Thank you, 
 sir," she skipped away.
 
 266 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 When Mrs. Keith rejoined him he had 
 another story for her ear a brighter, cheerier 
 one than the last ; the same that Elsie was 
 gleefully rehearsing to her cousins up-stairs. 
 
 " Miss Rose was so nice, so good, so kind," 
 she had been saying. 
 
 " Is she pretty too ?" asked Annis. 
 
 " Yes, but not nearly so beautiful as my own 
 mamma," Elsie said, drawing from the bosom 
 of her dress a lovely miniature set in gold and 
 precious stones. 
 
 Annis exclaimed at the extreme beauty of 
 both the face and its setting, while Mildred 
 gazed upon the former with eyes full of a 
 mournful tenderness. 
 
 " It's almost prettier than your gold watch," 
 Annis said, " though I thought that was as 
 beautiful as anything could be. Your rings 
 too." 
 
 " They were presents from papa and Mr. 
 Travilla," said Elsie, glancing down at them,. 
 " and the watch was mamma's. Papa had it 
 done up for me this summer, and gave me the 
 chain with it." 
 
 " Such a beauty as it is, too ! Die? you ever 
 go to school, Elsie ?" 
 
 " No, we had a governess at Eoselande ; now 
 papa teaches me hiraeelf."
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 267 
 
 " Do you like that ?" 
 
 " Yes, indeed ! He explains everything so 
 nicely and makes my lessons so interesting. 
 He often tells me a nice story to illustrate, and 
 is never satisfied till I understand every word 
 of my tasks." 
 
 " There !" cried Annis looking out of the 
 window, " Zillah is motioning for me to come 
 over. "Will you come with me, Elsie?" 
 
 " If papa gives permission. I'll run and ask 
 him." 
 
 " "Why, can't you go across the street with 
 out asking leave?" exclaimed Annis in sur 
 prise. 
 
 " No, I'm not allowed to go anywhere with 
 out leave." 
 
 " Now, that's queer ! Your papa pets you 
 so that I really supposed you could do exactly 
 as you pleased." 
 
 "How Enna would laugh to hear you say 
 that," returned Elsie, laughing herself. " She 
 thinks papa is the strictest person she ever 
 saw, and says she wouldn't be ruled as I am 
 for any money." 
 
 " How do you mean ? He seems so fond of 
 you, and you of him too." 
 
 "Yes, indeed, we're ever so fond of each 
 other ; but papa will always be obeyed the in-
 
 2Q8 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 stant he speaks, and without any teasing, fret 
 ting, crying, or sour looks, and he is sure to 
 punish the slightest act of disobedience, never 
 taking forgetfulness of his orders as any ex 
 cuse." 
 
 " Then he is strict," remarked Annis, shrug 
 ging her shoulders. 
 
 The two went down-stairs together, Elsie 
 asked and received the desired permission, and 
 they hastened to inquire what Zillah wanted. 
 
 " I've been baking some jumbles," she said. 
 " I know Annis is very fond of them hot from 
 the oven, and I hope you are too, Elsie. And 
 here is a paper of candy Wallace bought last 
 night. There, sit down and help yourselves." 
 
 Elsie looked a little wishfully at the offered 
 dainties, but politely declined them. Both 
 Zillah and Annis urged her to partake, the 
 latter adding, " I'm sure you can't help liking 
 them, for nobody makes better jumbles than 
 Zillah." 
 
 " They look very tempting," Elsie answered, 
 "and I have no doubt are very nice, but I 
 think they are richer than papa would ap 
 prove; and besides he does not allow me to 
 eat between meals, unless it is some very 
 simple thing that I will eat only if quite hun-
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 269 
 
 " But the candy ; you can eat some of that, 
 can't you?" 
 
 " No, Cousin Zillah, I must never eat that 
 unless papa gives it to me himself. Once in a 
 long while he gives me a very little." 
 
 " Dear me ! I begin to almost think Enna's 
 right," Annis said laughingly. 
 
 " Oh, no, no !" cried Elsie, reddening and 
 the tears starting to her eyes ; " papa is very, 
 very kind to me; he forbids only what he 
 thinks injurious to my health." 
 
 " Certainly," said Zillah, " and it shows that 
 he is a good father; and you are a good 
 daughter to be so ready to stand up for him 
 and so obedient." 
 
 She went out of the room, leaving the little 
 girls alone for a short time. 
 
 " Annis, here is a note I want "Wallace to 
 have at once," she said, coming back. " Will 
 you take it to the office for me ?" 
 
 " Yes, if Elsie will go with me?" 
 
 "I will go and ask papa if I may," Elsie 
 said, tying on her hat. " Ah, there he is now 
 coming out of the gate with Aunt Marcia." 
 
 She ran to him and preferred her request, 
 Annis following close behind. 
 
 "Yes," he said; "Aunt Marcia and I are 
 going to walk down the street, and you may
 
 270 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 run on before with Annis. I shall keep you in 
 sight." 
 
 " Are you to wait for an answer, Annis ?" 
 asked her mother. 
 
 " No, ma'am." 
 
 " Then you and Elsie can join us as soon as 
 you have handed Wallace the note. I am 
 going to show Cousin Horace a part of the 
 town he hasn't seen yet. Run on ahead, and 
 we will meet you at the office door as you 
 come out." 
 
 Eager for the walk with their parents, the 
 little girls made haste to obey. 
 
 " There ! my shoe-string is untied," cried 
 Annis, suddenly stopping short within a few 
 yards of their destination. "Here, Elsie, 
 won't you run in with the note while I'm 
 tying it ?" 
 
 Elsie obligingly complied. 
 
 The door stood open, and stepping in, she 
 caught sight of a strangely uncouth figure: 
 that of a man, coatless and hatless, wearing 
 green goggles, a red flannel shirt with a white 
 bosom tied on over it, and sitting sidewise in 
 Mr. Keith's office chair, with his legs over the 
 arm, dangling in air ; a full set of false teeth 
 twirling about in his fingers, while he gave 
 vent to the most dismal sighs and groans.
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 271 
 
 One sweeping glance showed the child that 
 this was the only occupant of the room, and 
 springing back in terror, she turned and fled, 
 flying with swift feet to the shelter of her 
 father's arms. 
 
 He was not far away, and in a moment she 
 was clinging to him, pale and almost speech 
 less with fright. 
 
 " My darling, what is it ?" he asked, stoop 
 ing to take her in his arms. " You are trem 
 bling like a leaf. What has alarmed you so ?" 
 
 " Papa, papa," she gasped, " there's a crazy 
 man in Uncle Stuart's office." 
 
 " Never mind, he shall not hurt you, daugh 
 ter," Mr. Dinsmore answered in soothing 
 tones. 
 
 Mrs. Keith and Annis were looking on and 
 listening in surprise and bewilderment ; then 
 the former, seeing a tall form issuing from the 
 office door, a coat over one arm, a hat in that 
 hand, while the other seemed to be employed 
 in settling his teeth, burst into a laugh, not 
 loud but very mirthful, saying, " Not a lunatic, 
 dear, but our very odd and absent-minded 
 minister." 
 
 He was walking away in the direction to 
 take him farther from them. They saw Wal 
 lace meet him and stop to shake hands and ex-
 
 272 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 change a few sentences. Then the two parted, 
 Mr. Lord walked on, and "Wallace hurried to 
 meet them. 
 
 The thing was soon explained. Mr. Lord 
 had come in heated by a long walk, and find 
 ing no one in the office, had pulled off his coat 
 and settled himself to rest and grow cool while 
 waiting for the return of Mr. Keith or Wal 
 lace. 
 
 But Elsie, with nerves still weak from her 
 severe illness, could not recover immediately 
 from the effects of her sudden fright ; she still 
 trembled and was very pale. So a carriage 
 was sent for and a drive substituted for the 
 intended walk ; much to the delight of Annis, 
 to whom it was an unusual treat.
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 " She was the pride 
 Of her familiar sphere the daily joy 
 Of all who on her gracefulness might gaze, 
 And in the light and music of her way 
 Have a companion's portion.'' WILLIS. 
 
 WALLACE OKMSBY was not behind his wife 
 in admiration and liking for Frank Osborne ;, 
 he enjoyed his sermons, too, and was desirous 
 that Mr. Dinsmore should hear the young 
 preacher, and make his acquaintance; there 
 fore had persuaded him and Mr. Lord to an 
 exchange of pulpits on the morrow, which was 
 Sunday, and invited Frank to be his and Zillah's 
 guest. "Wallace was hospitably inclined, and 
 not a little proud of his young wife's house 
 keeping. 
 
 The invitation was accepted, and the visit 
 extended a day or two by urgent request. Of 
 course the time was not all spent on the one 
 side of the street, and Mr. Dinsmore, who was 
 not lacking in observation, soon perceived how 
 matters were tending between Ada and the 
 young clergyman. 
 
 He spoke to his cousin about it, saying that
 
 274 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 "he was pleased with Mr. Osborne, finding 
 him agreeable, well-informed, and an able ser- 
 monizer for his years ; but surely his lack of 
 means was an objection to the match, or would 
 be if Ada were his daughter." 
 
 " Yes," she said, " but ' the blessing of the 
 Lord, it niaketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow 
 with it.' If there is mutual love we will raise 
 no barrier to their union. But I should great 
 ly prefer to keep my dear daughter with me 
 for some years yet." 
 
 " Yes ; I do not doubt that. I am glad in 
 deed that it must be many years before I am 
 called to part with mine to some other man. 
 But, Marcia, how is it that Mildred is still 
 single ? So sweet and attractive as she is in 
 every way, it must certainly be her own fault." 
 
 In reply Mrs. Keith told him how it had 
 been between Mildred and Charlie Landreth, 
 and how six long years had now passed with no 
 word from or of the wanderer. 
 
 He was deeply touched. " It would be well 
 if she could forget him and bestow her affec 
 tions upon another," he said, " for surely if still 
 living, he is unworthy of her. I knew and 
 liked him as a boy, but it is long since I have 
 eeen or heard of him. He and his uncle made 
 a disastrous failure in business, though I under
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 275 
 
 stood that no blame attached to either ; then 
 the uncle died, and Charlie disappeared from 
 our neighborhood, where nothing has been 
 heard of him since, so far as I have learned. 
 But I will make inquiries on my return, and 
 may possibly be able to trace him. However,, 
 rest assured that I will do nothing to compro 
 mise Mildred," he added, noticing a doubtful 
 look on his cousin's face. 
 
 " Thank you," she said, her voice trembling 
 slightly. " I can trust you, I know, Horace ; 
 and I cannot tell you how glad I should be to 
 have my dear, patient child relieved of this 
 torturing suspense." 
 
 This visit of their cousins was a grand holi 
 day for all the younger Keiths, Fan and An- 
 nis more especially ; they were excused from 
 lessons, and had delightful daily walks and 
 drives. 
 
 Every morning Elsie would take her Bible 
 into her papa's room and spend a little while 
 there with him, before they were called to- 
 breakfast. He sent her to bed regularly at half 
 past eight, so that she was ready to rise betimes. 
 
 One evening when she came to bid him good 
 night, he kissed her several times, saying, " I 
 shall probably not see you in the morning ; 
 very likely not until to-morrow evening, as I
 
 276 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 am going hunting with your uncle, and we ex 
 pect to start very early." 
 
 " Oh, I wish little girls could go too !" Elsie 
 exclaimed, clinging to him. "But mayn't I 
 get up in time to see you before you go, papa ?" 
 
 " I don't think you will be awake, daughter. 
 We start before sunrise." 
 
 " But if I am, papa, mayn't I run into your 
 room and kiss you good-by ?" 
 
 " Yes ; but try not to feel disappointed if 
 you should miss the opportunity. And don't 
 shed any tears over papa's absence," he added 
 half jestingly. 
 
 " ]$fo, sir ; but it will be a long day without 
 you," she sighed, with her arm about his neck, 
 her cheek to his. 
 
 " I think you will find the time pass much 
 more rapidly than you expect," he said cheeri 
 ly ; " but whether or no, you must try to be 
 bright and pleasant for the sake of those 
 around you. Don't indulge selfishness, even 
 in little things, darling." 
 
 " I will try not to, papa," she answered, giv 
 ing and receiving a final hug and kiss. 
 
 No one was near enough at the moment 
 to observe or overhear what passed between 
 them, and no one knew anything about the 
 few quiet tears Elsie shed as she went up the
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 377 
 
 stairs to her Cousin Mildred's room where she 
 was to sleep that night. Ada, Fan, and An- 
 nis had all had their turn because all wanted 
 the sweet little cousin for a bed-fellow and 
 now it was Mildred's. But she found her mam 
 my waiting to prepare her for bed, and her 
 little trouble was soon forgotten in sound, sweet 
 sleep. 
 
 Mildred came up an hour later, and stepping 
 softly to the bedside, stood for a minute or two= 
 gazing tenderly down upon the sweet little 
 sleeping face. Its expression brought to her 
 mind the lines read she could not remember 
 where 
 
 " I want to be marked for thine own 
 Thy seal on my forehead to wear." 
 
 " Dear little girlie," she whispered, bending- 
 over the child, " you wear it if ever mortal did ! 
 No wonder you are the very idol of your fa 
 ther's heart !" 
 
 Half an hour before sunrise Mildred wa& 
 again moving quietly about, careful not to dis 
 turb her little room-mate while making a neat,, 
 though rapid toilet. 
 
 Going out, she left the door slightly ajar. 
 Her cousin was just issuing from his, seemingly 
 in full readiness for his expedition. They ex 
 changed a pleasant, low-toned good morning.
 
 278 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 " I did not know you were so early a riser," 
 he said. 
 
 " I claimed the privilege of pouring out the 
 coffee for you and father," she returned with a 
 smile. Then pointing to the door, " Go in, if 
 yon like. I know you want to kiss your baby 
 before you start ; she's there asleep." 
 
 " Thank you." 
 
 He stole softly in and bent over the loved 
 sleeper for a moment, his eyes devouring the 
 .sweet, fair face; he stooped lower, and his 
 moustache brushed the round, rosy cheek. 
 
 " Papa," she murmured in her sleep ; but a 
 .second kiss, upon her lips, awoke her. 
 
 Instantly her arm was round his neck. " O 
 papa, I'm so glad you came ! Please, may I 
 get up and see you start ?" 
 
 " No ; lie still and take another nap, my pet. 
 We'll be off before you could dress. There, 
 good-by, darling. Don't expose yourself to the 
 sun in the heat of the day, or to the evening 
 air. Though I expect to be back in tune to see 
 to that last." 
 
 " I hope so, indeed, papa ; but you know I 
 will obey you just the same if you are not here 
 to see." 
 
 " I don't doubt it in the least," he said. 
 
 Then the door closed on him, and the little
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 girl, accustomed to implicit obedience, turned 
 over and went to sleep again. 
 
 When Mildred came up a little before the 
 usual breakfast hour, she found her dressed and 
 reading her Bible. 
 
 " You love that book, Elsie dear ?" she said. 
 
 " Yes, indeed, cousin. And I do love to 
 have my papa read it with me. This is the 
 first morning he has missed doing so since 
 since I was so very sick." The voice sounded 
 as if tears were not far off. 
 
 "How nice to have such a good, kind 
 father," Mildred remarked in a cheery tone. 
 
 " Oh it is so, cousin !" Elsie answered, her 
 whole face lighting up. " I used to be con 
 tinually longing for papa while he was away in 
 Europe. I'd never seen him, you know, and 
 have no mother or brother or sister and now 
 I just want to hold fast to him all the time : 
 my dear, dear papa !" 
 
 "And you are missing him now? Well, 
 dear, take comfort in the thought that he is 
 probably enjoying himself, and will soon re 
 turn to his little pet daughter. I think he 
 never forgets you he asked what we could do 
 with you to-day in his absence, and I told him 
 my plan for the morning. He approved, and 
 now shall I tell it to you 2"
 
 280 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 " Oh, yes, cousin ! if you please," returned 
 the child with a very interested look. 
 
 " Our sewing society meets this afternoon, 
 and as we mother, my sisters, and I have 
 some work to finish before we go, we will have 
 to be busy with our needles. One generally 
 reads aloud while the others sew, and we would 
 like to have you join us ; taking your turn at 
 both aewing and reading, if you choose." 
 
 " Very much, cousin, if if the book is one 
 that papa approves ; he never allows me to read 
 .anything without being sure of that. 
 
 " Ah, that was why he said ' Tell Elsie I say 
 she may read or listen to anything her Aunt 
 Marcia pronounces suitable for her.' "We have 
 -some very nice books that may be new to you." 
 
 " Oh, then I think it will be ever so nice !" 
 
 " Well then," said Mildred, " we will take 
 a short walk soon after breakfast, then spend 
 the rest of the morning as I have proposed. 
 Your papa says you can read aloud very nice 
 ly, and use your needle well, too." 
 
 " I don't know whether you will think so, 
 -cousin," Elsie returned modestly, "but I am 
 ^willing to try, and shall do my very best." 
 
 They carried out their plans with only a 
 short interruption from a caller. After dinner 
 Annis was left to entertain Elsie for a few
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 281 
 
 hours while the others attended the meeting of 
 the society. 
 
 It was an almost sultry afternoon, and An- 
 nis proposed taking the dolls to a grotto her 
 brothers had made for her and Fan, near the 
 spring that bubbled up at the foot of the high 
 river bank, and was reached by a flight of 
 steps that led down from the garden behind 
 the house. 
 
 The grotto was tastefully adorned with moss, 
 pebbles, and shells, and had a comfortable rus 
 tic seat, artistically formed of twigs and the 
 smaller branches of trees with the bark still on 
 them. 
 
 It was a pleasant place to sit and dream on a 
 summer afternoon, with the clear bright water 
 of the river lapping the pebbly shore almost 
 at your feet, the leafy branches of a grape-vine 
 overhead nearly concealing you from the view 
 of any one on the further bank or in a passing 
 boat. A pleasant place, too, for children to 
 play, and not at all a dangerous one ; the little 
 Keith girls went there whenever they chose. 
 
 Elsie and Annis were congenial spirits, en 
 joyed each other's society, and had spent an 
 hour or more very agreeably together in this 
 cool retreat, when the sound of dipping oars 
 near at hand drew their attention, and peer-
 
 282 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 ing out from behind the leafy screen of the 
 grape-vine, they saw a canoe approaching pro 
 pelled by the strong young arms of Cyril and 
 Don, now grown to be lads of sixteen and four 
 teen. 
 
 "Hello! we thought we'd find you here, 
 girls," Cyril called to them. " Don't you want 
 to take a row ?" 
 
 " Oh yes, yes indeed !" cried Annis, jump 
 ing up and clapping her hands with delight. 
 " Come, Elsie, there couldn't be anything nicer, 
 I'm sure !" 
 
 Elsie rose as if to comply, her face full of 
 eager delight also, but its expression changed 
 suddenly. 
 
 " I'm afraid I ought not, Annis," she said ; 
 " papa might not be willing, and I can't ask 
 him, you know, because he is away." 
 
 The boys had now brought the canoe close 
 up, and Cyril reached out his hand to help her 
 in. 
 
 " Come, little coz," he said in his most per 
 suasive tones, " I'm sure your father would not 
 object ; there isn't a particle of danger. I'm 
 used to rowing on this river, as well as to fish 
 ing and swimming in it and it's not deep or 
 swift, except in mid-current, and I promise to 
 keep near the shore."
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 283 
 
 " But papa is very strict and particular," El 
 sie said, hanging back, though with a longing 
 look in her lovely brown eyes. 
 
 " But he likes to have you enjoy yourself 
 surely ?" put in Don. 
 
 " Indeed, he does, when it's quite safe and 
 right," Elsie returned with warmth ; " he loves 
 me dearly." 
 
 "Then he wouldn't like you to miss this 
 pleasure," said Cyril. " The canoe is a bor 
 rowed one, and it isn't every day I can get it." 
 
 " And if you don't go I can't," remarked 
 Annis. 
 
 " Oh, yes, you can," Elsie said ; " don't stay 
 for me. I'll go up to the house and amuse 
 myself with a book till you come back." 
 
 "No, no, I couldn't think of leaving my 
 company; it wouldn't be at all polite ; and I 
 couldn't enjoy it without you ; yet I want to 
 go ever so much. O Elsie, do come !" 
 
 " I want to, I'm sure ; both to oblige you, 
 Annis, and for my own pleasure," Elsie an 
 swered. " Oh I wish I were quite sure papa 
 would be willing !" 
 
 " Take it for granted," said Cyril, " it's the 
 best you can do, under the circumstances ; so 
 he surely can't be much displeased." 
 
 Still Elsie hesitated.
 
 284 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 " Ah," said Cyril, mischievously, is Cousin 
 Horace so very severe ! Are you afraid he will 
 whip you ?" 
 
 " No," Elsie said, reddening ; " do you think 
 so meanly of me as to suppose I obey my fa 
 ther only from fear of punishment ?" 
 
 "No; and I beg your pardon. I know 
 you're fond of him, too, and that you want to 
 do right. But I have noticed that he is very 
 polite and considerate of others, and don't you 
 think he wishes you to be the same ?" 
 
 " I know he does." 
 
 " Then surely he would tell you to go with 
 us ; because your refusal will spoil all our 
 pleasure." 
 
 " Yes, Elsie ; it was all for your sake we 
 borrowed the canoe," said Don ; " and if you 
 refuse to go it will be a great disappointment. 
 "We wouldn't urge you if it would be disobedi 
 ence ; but did your father ever say you mustn't 
 row with us on the river ?" 
 
 " No, Don ; but perhaps that was only be 
 cause he never thought of your asking me." 
 
 " O Elsie, Elsie, do go !" entreated Annis. 
 "I won't go without you, and I can't bear to 
 lose the row." 
 
 " Didn't Cousin Horace leave you in moth 
 er's care !" asked Cyril.
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 285 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 ""Well, then, what need of hesitation? 
 Mother lets Annis go, and of course she would 
 let you." 
 
 Elsie stood for a moment, silently weighing 
 the question in her mind. Certainly her papa 
 had great confidence in " Aunt Marcia's" opin 
 ion, for had he not said she might read what 
 ever Aunt Marcia recommended ? and he had 
 left her in her care ; also, he did teach her to 
 be considerate of the wishes of others ; he had 
 told her only last night not to be selfish in little 
 things. Surely he would not have her spoil 
 the afternoon's pleasure of these three cousins. 
 
 Ah. but he was never willing to have her 
 exposed to unnecessary danger! But Cyril 
 said there was really no danger, and she did 
 so want to go ! it looked so pleasant on the 
 water ! 
 
 The scales were almost evenly balanced, and 
 finally she allowed inclination to decide her, 
 gave Cyril her hand, and was quickly seated 
 in the canoe with the delighted Annis by her 
 side.
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 "Mutual love, the crown of all our bliss." 
 
 MILTON. 
 
 THE boys took up their oars again, pushed 
 out a little from the shore, and rowed up 
 stream for a short distance, then turned and 
 went down for a mile or more, keeping out of 
 the main current all the time, according to- 
 promise. 
 
 Elsie felt a trifle timid at first, and a little 
 troubled lest she had not done quite right in 
 yielding to her cousins' persuasions ; but grad 
 ually these disquieting thoughts and feelinga 
 passed away, and she gave herself up to thor 
 ough enjoyment of the present pastime. 
 
 They chatted, laughed, and sang; dipped 
 their hands in the clear water ; gazed through 
 it at the pebbly bottom, and the fish darting 
 hither and thither ; landed in several places to 
 gather bright autumn leaves ; then re-entered 
 the canoe for another row. 
 
 The air was delightful, and most of the way 
 they were pretty well shaded from the sun bj? 
 the high bank and its trees and bushes.
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 287 
 
 The boys did not soon tire with their work, 
 for their load was light; going down stream 
 required but little use of their oars, and even 
 rowing up was not very laborious. So the 
 afternoon slipped away before they knew it. 
 
 " I believe the sun is getting low," Cyril 
 said at length, " and we are a good mile from 
 home. We must turn, Don. "What time is it, 
 Elsie?" 
 
 Taking out her pretty watch, "Half-past 
 five," she said in some dismay, "and the air 
 begins to feel a little chilly. Don't you think 
 so?" 
 
 "Yes; and it's supper-time. Come, Don, 
 my lad, we must pull lustily." 
 
 " Yes, a long pull, a strong pull, and a pull 
 both together," responded Don gayly, as he 
 bent to his oar. 
 
 "We ought to have brought shawls along 
 for you girls," Cyril remarked, with an anxious 
 glance at his little cousin. 
 
 " I'm not cold," said Annis. 
 
 " But Elsie is. Here, little coz, let me put 
 this round you," he said, pulling off his coat-, 
 "nobody will see, and I wouldn't have you 
 take a chill from this expedition for anything 
 in the world." 
 
 " But you will be cold," Elsie said, shrinking
 
 288 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 back, as he would have put it about her shoul 
 ders. 
 
 " Not a bit ; rowing keeps a fellow warm ag 
 toast this time of year," he returned, with a 
 light laugh: and she made no further resist 
 ance. 
 
 Nearing the grotto, they saw Aunt Chloe 
 standing at the water's edge, with a shawl on 
 her arm, looking out anxiously for her nurs 
 ling. 
 
 " O mammy ! has papa come ?" Elsie called 
 to her. 
 
 " No, darlin'; 'spect massa'll be 'long dreckly. 
 But what for my chile go off in de boat widout 
 a shawl, when de ebenins gits so cool? Ise 
 'fraid massa be mighty vexed 'bout it. And 
 s'pose you'd got drownded, honey, what den ?" 
 
 " Come now, Aunt Chloe, it's all my fault, 
 and if there's to be any scolding, I'm the one 
 to take it," Cyril said good-humoredly, as he 
 helped Elsie ashore. 
 
 " O mammy ! was it naughty in me to go ? 
 Do you think papa will be displeased with 
 me ?" the little girl asked in an anxious whis 
 per, while the nurse was busied in carefully 
 wrapping the shawl about her; Cyril's coat 
 having been returned with thanks. 
 
 " Maybe not. Dere, honey, don't you fret."
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 " Where was the harm in her going ? But 
 you won't tell of her, Aunt Chloe ?" Annis said, 
 as they climbed the steps that led up the bank. 
 
 " No, chile, s'pect not ; ain't no 'casion no 
 how; massa neber in de house beiy long fo' 
 Miss Elsie tell him all she's been adoinV 
 
 " Shall you tell him, Elsie ?" Annis asked, 
 turning to her cousin as they gained the top 
 of the flight of steps. 
 
 " Yes ; I can't feel easy till papa knows all 
 about it. I'm afraid I oughtn't to have 
 gone." 
 
 There was a tone of distress in Elsie's 
 voice, and, indeed, she began to be sorely 
 troubled in prospect of her father's displeas 
 ure ; for her mammy's words had caused her 
 to see her conduct in going on the river in a 
 new light, and she had now scarce a hope that 
 it would meet his approval. Besides, they 
 were certainly late for supper, and he was 
 particular in regard to promptness at meals. 
 
 They hurried into the house, expecting to 
 find their elders seated about the table. But 
 there was no one in the dining-room, and 
 though the table was set, the meal was not 
 spread. The ladies had returned, but were 
 waiting for the gentlemen, who had not yet 
 come in.
 
 290 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 Elsie was not sorry. She hastened up-stairs 
 to be made neat for tea, and was down again 
 in a few minutes. 
 
 Still nothing was to be seen or heard of the 
 huntsmen, and she began to grow uneasy. 
 Perhaps some accident had happened to her 
 dear papa ; maybe she was to be punished in 
 that way for what she began to look upon as 
 an act of disobedience or something very near it. 
 
 " Aunt Marcia," she said, drawing near to 
 Mrs. Keith, " what do you think makes them 
 stay so long ?" 
 
 " I don't know, dear ; but nothing serious, I 
 trust. They probably went farther than they 
 had intended. But don't be anxious ; I do 
 not see any cause for alarm," was the cheer 
 ful, kindly answer. 
 
 Supper had been delayed a full hour already, 
 and Mrs. Keith decided that it should wait no 
 longer. " It is not worth while," she said, " for 
 very likely our gentlemen have supped some 
 where on the road." 
 
 Elsie was unusually silent, and seemed to 
 have lost her appetite. Her eyes turned every 
 moment towaiv the door ; her ear was strained 
 to catch everj" Bound from the street. Oh, 
 what could be keeping her papa ? 
 
 They left the table, and she stationed her-
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 self at a front window to wait and watch for 
 his coming. 
 
 Mildred drew near, passed an arm about the 
 child's waist, and with a gentle kiss asked, 
 " Why are you so troubled and anxious, dear 
 little girlie ? It is nothing strange that our 
 fathers should be a little late in getting home 
 to-night." 
 
 Then Elsie, laying her head on her cousin's 
 shoulder, whispered in her sympathizing ear a. 
 tearful story of how the afternoon had been 
 spent, and her fear that she had done wrong- 
 in going out in the canoe, and that perhaps- 
 she might be punished by something dreadful 
 happening to her " dear, dear papa." 
 
 " I hardly think it was wrong, dear," Mil 
 dred said ; ' not a very serious fault, at any 
 rate. And I cannot believe our Heavenly 
 Father would visit you with such a punish 
 ment. He never treats us according to our 
 deserts. He is ' a God ready to pardon, gra 
 cious and merciful, slow to anger, and of 
 great kindness. ' " 
 
 " Yes, 1 know ; the Bible tells us that," 
 Elsie returned, wiping away her tears. " How 
 good he is to me, and to all his creatures ; it 
 makes me ashamed and sorry for all the &m 
 in my heart and life."
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 Mildred presently began talking of the old 
 days at Yiamede and Roselands, trying thus 
 to help the little girl to forgetfulness of her 
 anxiety. Elsie grew cheerful and apparently 
 interested in her cousin's reminiscences of her 
 babyhood ; but still her eyes turned every now 
 and then to the window, and her ears seemed 
 attentive to every sound from without. 
 
 The clock struck eight, and with a sigh she 
 drew out her watch and compared the two. 
 
 " Oh," she said, " why don't they come ? I 
 must go to bed in half an hour, and I do so 
 want to see papa first." 
 
 " Do you think he wouldn't let you stay up 
 to wait for him ?" asked Mildred. 
 
 " No, cousin, he always insists on my going 
 to bed at the regular hour, unless he has given 
 me permission to stay up longer." 
 
 The half hour was almost gone only five 
 minutes left when at last Elsie's ear caught 
 the sound of a well-known step and voice. 
 
 She ran to the door, " Papa, papa ! I'm so 
 glad, so glad you've come ! I was so afraid 
 something had happened to you." 
 
 " Ah, I knew my little girl would be anx 
 ious," he said, bending down to give her a 
 tender caress. "Well, there was nothing 
 wrong, except that we went a little farther
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 393 
 
 than we intended ; and here we are safe and 
 sound." 
 
 " And both tired and hungry, I dare say," 
 said Mrs. Keith. 
 
 " The first, but not the last," returned her 
 husband. " We took our supper an hour 
 ago, at Ward's." 
 
 Mr. Dinsmore sat down and drew Elsie to 
 his side. " Ah, is it so late ?" he said, glancing 
 at the clock. "Just your bed-time, daugh 
 ter." 
 
 " Yes, papa, but " and with her arm about 
 his neck, her lips to his ear, she whispered the 
 rest " I want so much to tell you something. 
 Mayn't I?" 
 
 " Tes ; go up now and let Aunt Chloe make 
 you ready for bed ; then put on your dressing- 
 gown and slippers and come to my room. I 
 shall be there by that time, and we'll have our 
 little talk. I should hardly like to go to bed 
 without it myself." 
 
 Elsie obeyed, and he presently excusing him 
 self, on the plea of fatigue, for so early a re 
 tirement, went to his room, where she found 
 him waiting for her as he had promised. 
 
 " Well, my pet, have you anything particu 
 lar for papa's ear to-night ?" he asked, lifting 
 her to his knee.
 
 '294 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 " Yes, papa. But aren't you too tired to 
 hold me?" 
 
 " No ; it rests me to have my darling in my 
 arms," he answered, caressing her with his 
 Wonted tender fondness. 
 
 "Papa, I'm afraid I don't deserve it to 
 night," she murmured, hanging her head, 
 Awhile a deep blush suffused her cheek. 
 
 " I'm sorry indeed, if that is so," he said 
 gently ; " but very glad that my little daugh 
 ter never tries to conceal any wrong-doing 
 <of her own from me." 
 
 Then he waited for her to speak ; he knew 
 there was no need to question her. 
 
 " Papa," she said, so low that he barely 
 caught the words, " I went out on the river in 
 a canoe, with Annis, this afternoon. Cyril and 
 Don rowed it." 
 
 " And my little girl went without her fa 
 ther's permission?" His tone was one of 
 grieved surprise. 
 
 " But you were not here to give it, papa," 
 she said, bursting into tears. 
 
 " A very good and sufficient reason why my 
 daughter should have refused to go." 
 
 " But, papa, I did not know you would ob 
 ject, and I thought you would not want me
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 295 
 
 to spoil the pleasure of my cousins ; and they 
 said I would if I refused to go." 
 
 " I think you certainly knew me well 
 enough to be quite sure, if you had taken 
 time to consider the question fully, that I 
 would be far from willing to let you run 
 into danger for the pleasure of others." 
 
 " But, papa, Aunt Marcia let's Annis go : 
 and Cyril said there was no danger. " 
 
 " Nonsense ! Cyril is only a boy ; not ca 
 pable of judging. The current of the river is 
 very swift and strong. I should not have 
 trusted you upon it in a canoe with those boys 
 for any consideration, and am truly thankful 
 that you escaped without accident. But I am 
 not pleased with you." 
 
 " Papa, I am very sorry. Please don't be 
 angry with me," she sobbed, hiding her face 
 on his shoulder. 
 
 He was silent for a moment, then lifting 
 her face, wiped away her tears with his hand 
 kerchief, and kissing her lips, said, " I sup 
 pose the temptation was strong, and as it was 
 not an act of positive disobedience to orders, I 
 forgive you. But, my little daughter, you 
 must never do anything of the kind again." 
 
 " No, dear papa, I will not," she said, with
 
 296 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 a sigh of relief . " You are very kind not to 
 punish me." 
 
 'Not kinder to you than to myself; it 
 hurts me, I think, quite as much as it does 
 you when I have to punish you," he said, 
 with another loving caress. " Now, darling, 
 bid me good-night and go to your bed."
 
 CHAPTEK XXII. 
 
 " All flesh is grass, and all its glory fades 
 Lake the fair flower dishevell'd in the wind." 
 
 COWPKB'S TASK. 
 
 AJSTNIS was in Mildred's room waiting to say 
 good-night to her cousin, rather uneasy, too, 
 lest she had got her into trouble, by coaxing 
 her into the canoe. 
 
 " O Elsie !" she said, as the latter came in, 
 " was your papa displeased ? did he punish 
 you ? You look as if you had been crying." 
 
 " He said he was not pleased with me," El 
 sie answered, brushing away a tear ; " that was 
 punishment enough, I'm sure ; but he forgave 
 me the next minute and kissed me good 
 night." 
 
 " Oh, I'm glad that was all! " Annis ex 
 claimed, giving Elsie a hug. " I began to be 
 almost afraid he had whipped you." 
 
 " No, indeed ! he never did that, and I 
 don't believe he ever will," Elsie said, a quick, 
 vivid blush dyeing her fair face and neck. 
 
 The next day the little girls were taking a 
 walk on the river bank, Aunt Chloe plodding
 
 298 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 along a little in the rear, that she might watch 
 over her nursling. 
 
 A boy coming from the opposite direction 
 startled them by a loud " Hello, Tim ! where 
 are you going ?" 
 
 Two boys were just passing them, and the 
 younger, who looked to be about ten years 
 old, made answer in a surly tone, and in 
 words so profane that the little girls shud 
 dered with horror. 
 
 " "Well, I wouldn't want to go 'long with 
 you ; not to that place," remarked the first 
 jeeringly ; " but what's the use o' bein' so all- 
 fired cross swearin' at a feller just for askin' 
 a civil question ?" 
 
 " Come, Bill, just you let him alone," said 
 Tim's companion ; " he's worked up and 
 mad, 'cause his mother told him not to go to 
 the river, and that's where we're going this 
 minute." 
 
 " "Well, then, George, if he gits drowned, I 
 guess he'll go where he said he was a-goin'," 
 remarked Bill, passing on. 
 
 The little girls stood still, watching the 
 other two as they hurried on down the bank, 
 entered a canoe that lay on the water, made 
 fast by a rope to a tree, loosed it, and pushed 
 out into the stream.
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 299 
 
 They were not careful as Cyril had been to 
 keep near the shore, and presently the cur 
 rent was carrying them down stream very 
 rapidly. 
 
 A few hundred yards below the spot where 
 they had embarked, a wooden bridge had for 
 merly spanned the river ; it had been torn 
 down shortly before this, but the posts were 
 left standing in the water. Against one of 
 these the canoe struck and instantly overset, 
 throwing the boys into the water where it was 
 deepest and most dangerous. 
 
 The little girls and their attendant saw the 
 mishap, and ran screaming toward some men 
 who were at work at no great distance. The 
 instant the men comprehended what had oc 
 curred, they made all haste to the scene of the 
 disaster, and used every effort to rescue the 
 lads. 
 
 They succeeded in bringing George out 
 alive, but Tim had sunk to rise no more. 
 They could not even find the body. 
 
 "When this announcement was made, the 
 two little girls, who had stood looking on in 
 intense excitement and full of distress for the 
 imperilled boys, burst into bitter weeping. 
 They hurried home, crying as they went, to 
 tell the sad story.
 
 300 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 Mrs. Keith was in the sitting-room, busied 
 with some sewing, as usual, Mr. Dinsmore 
 with her, when the children came rushing in, 
 crying as if their hearts would break. 
 
 " Why, my child, what is the matter ?" Mr. 
 Dinsmore asked, in extreme surprise and 
 alarm, as Elsie threw herself into his arms and 
 clung to him, sobbing convulsively. 
 
 " O mother, mother ! we've just seen a boy 
 drowned !" cried Annis, burying her face in 
 her mother's lap. " It was Tim Jones, and 
 his mother had told him not to go to the 
 river. And we heard him say such wicked 
 words as he was going." 
 
 " And O papa ! he's dead," sobbed Elsie, 
 " and I can't even pray for him ! O papa ! he 
 has lost his soul !" 
 
 " We do not know that certainly, dear 
 daughter," he said, trying to comfort her ; " we 
 may have a little hope, for possibly he may 
 have cried to Jesus for pardon and salvation, 
 even after he was in the water." 
 
 " And Jesus is so kind, so ready to forgive 
 and save us," she said, growing calmer. " But, 
 O papa! it's such a little hope we can have 
 that he did find the way, and get a new heart 
 in that one minute !" 
 
 "Yes, that is too sadly true," he sighed.
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 3Q1 
 
 " Yet the thought uppermost in my mind just 
 now is, What if this had happened to my 
 child yesterday ! O ! my darling, how could 
 I have borne such a loss ? My heart aches 
 for the parents of that boy." 
 
 " Dear papa, God was very good to us," 
 she whispered, laying her cheek to his, as he 
 held her close to his heart. " Oh, I am glad he 
 did not let me fall into the river and drown, 
 though I was so naughty as to go without 
 your leave." 
 
 "But I had not forbidden you," he said 
 tenderly ; " and I know that my little girl 
 loves Jesus, and tries to serve him ; so I 
 should have been spared the terrible pain of 
 fearing that you were lost to me forever. 
 Yet I cannot be thankful enough that I have 
 you still, my precious, precious child !" 
 
 His tones were so low that Mrs. Keith 
 could hardly have caught the words, even had 
 she not been occupied, as she was, in soothing 
 and comforting Annis.
 
 CHAPTEE XXIII 
 
 "Oft what seems 
 A trifle, a mere nothing, by itself, 
 In some nice situation, turns the scale 
 Of fate, and rules the most important actions." 
 
 THOMSON. 
 
 BECAUSE of the near approach of his appoint- 
 ed wedding-day Mr. Dinsmore could not lin 
 ger long in Pleasant Plains. All felt the part 
 ing keenly, for even in the few days they had 
 spent together a strong attachment had sprung 
 up between Elsie and her cousins, while the 
 renewal of former congenial intercourse had 
 strengthened the tie of affection that had long 
 existed between Mrs. Keith and her Cousin 
 Horace. 
 
 Fan and Annis wept so bitterly as the stage 
 whirled away out of sight, that their mother 
 and Mildred found it necessary to deny them 
 selves the indulgence of their own grief in 
 order to comfort them. 
 
 At the same time Mr. Dinsmore was wiping 
 the tears from Elsie's eyes, and soothing her 
 with tender caresses and the hope that she and
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 303 
 
 Mildred and Annis would meet again before a 
 great while. 
 
 ""Who knows," he said in cheerj tones, 
 " but we may be able to persuade their father 
 and mother to let them spend the winter at 
 the Oaks next year !" 
 
 " O papa, how nice that would be !" ex 
 claimed the child, smiling through her tears ; 
 " will you ask them ?" 
 
 " Yes ; if you will stop crying now. Per 
 haps if you keep on I may be tempted to join 
 you," he added jestingly, " and how ashamed 
 we would both feel." 
 
 That made Elsie laugh. Then he interested 
 her in plans for purchasing gifts for the cous 
 ins they had just left, and for her " new mam 
 ma," when they should reach New York, and 
 soon she was quite her usual sunny self. 
 
 Fortunately up to this time their little party 
 had been the only occupants of the stage. 
 
 We have not space to speak further of their 
 journey, which brought them finally to Phila 
 delphia, Miss Rose Allison's home, and where 
 the wedding was to take place. 
 
 On arriving in that city Mr. Dinsmore sent 
 Elsie and her nurse to Mr. Allison's, while he, 
 with his servant John, went to a hotel. He 
 was to be married the next morning, and it was
 
 304 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 already late in the afternoon, so the separation 
 would not be for long. 
 
 While taking his supper at the hotel table 
 Mr. Dinsmore became the unconscious object 
 of close scrutiny by a gentleman seated nearly 
 opposite ; a rather fine-looking man, tall, well- 
 proportioned, with good features, an open, in 
 telligent countenance, benevolent expression, 
 clear blue eyes, light brown hair and beard. 
 
 " I can hardly be mistaken ; it is no common 
 face; but I will make certain," the stranger 
 said to himself, as he rose and left the room at 
 the conclusion of his meal. 
 
 He went to the hotel register and found 
 Mr. Dinsinore's name among those entered 
 that day. He saw it with a thrill of pleasure ; 
 and yet " well, he could not know till he had 
 tried to renew the acquaintance, whether to 
 do so would be agreeable to the friend of his 
 boyhood." 
 
 Mr. Dinsmore retired to his own apartment 
 on leaving the table, and had scarcely done so 
 when a servant handed in a card. 
 
 " Charles Landreth, M.D.," was the inscrip 
 tion it bore. Mr. Dinsmore read it at a glance. 
 His first emotion was surprise, the next a mix 
 ture of feelings. 
 
 " Show the gentleman up here ; tell him I
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 3Q5 
 
 shall be happy to see him," he said to the 
 waiter. Then, as the man closed the door and 
 departed, he turned and paced the floor with 
 slow, meditative step. 
 
 " It may be a good Providence that brings 
 us together so unexpectedly just at this time," 
 he said to himself. " I should never have ex 
 pected dishonorable conduct from my old 
 chum Charlie Landreth, and I'll give him the 
 benefit of the doubt as long as I can. Ah, 
 God grant I may be able to set this matter 
 right for poor Mildred !" 
 
 Steps approached, the door opened, and the 
 two stood face to face. 
 
 " Horace ! you have not forgotten me ?" 
 The voice, the grasp of the hand, the beaming 
 countenance, all spoke such sincere pleasure, 
 such warmth of friendship, that Mr. Dins- 
 more's doubts vanished ; that was not the face 
 of a false, cold-hearted villain. He returned 
 the greeting as cordially as it was given. 
 
 " Forgotten you, Charlie ? No, indeed ! and 
 I'm particularly glad that you have made your 
 self known to-night ; for to-morrow I shall be 
 on my way south again." 
 
 " Ah, going back to the old neighborhood 
 where we were boys together," and Charlie 
 heaved a sigh to the memory of the days of
 
 306 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 auld lang syne, as he accepted a mute invita 
 tion to be seated. " Have you been long ab 
 sent ?" he asked. 
 
 " For several months. I am lately returned 
 from Indiana, where I have been visiting my 
 cousins the Keiths." 
 
 As he pronounced the name Mr. Dinsmore 
 looked keenly at his companion. 
 
 Landreth flushed hotly and his look was both 
 ager and pained as he responded, with a little 
 hesitation in his speech. " Ah ! and were they 
 all well?" 
 
 " Yes, thank you, and prospering. One of 
 the girls there are five in all is married." 
 
 "Mildred?" asked his listener in a hoarse 
 whisper, and with half-averted face. 
 
 " No ; she is still single, and it struck me as 
 strange, for she is a most lovely and attractive 
 girl in both person and character." 
 
 " A perfect woman, nobly planned, 
 To warn, to comfort, and command; 
 And yet a spirit still and bright, 
 With something of an angel light. " 
 
 " I think I never saw one to whom Words 
 worth's description was more truly applicable." 
 
 Landreth turned and grasped Mr. Dins- 
 more's hand, his face all aglow with hope and
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 307 
 
 joy. " You have lifted me from the depths of 
 despair !" he said in tremulous tones. 
 
 " You have cared for her ?" 
 
 " Loved her as never man loved woman be 
 fore !" 
 
 Mr. Dinsmore smiled at that, thinking of 
 Rose, and his early love, the mother of his 
 child, but did not care to combat the assertion. 
 " She is worthy of it," was all he said. 
 
 " I heard she was married, and it nearly 
 killed me," Landreth went on. " But I could 
 not blame her, for she had steadily refused to 
 pledge herself to me." 
 
 " But where have you been all these years, 
 and how is it that I find you here now, Char 
 lie ? I should be glad to hear your story." 
 
 " I went first to the mines of South Amer 
 ica," Landreth said, " saw very hard times for 
 the first two years, then met with a wonderful 
 turn of fortune coming quite unexpectedly 
 upon a very large nugget of gold. I didn't 
 stay long after that. I had written to Mildred 
 a good many times, but never received a line 
 from her, and almost the first news I heard on 
 returning to my native land was that of her 
 marriage. As I have said, it nearly killed me; 
 but, Dinsmore, my bitter sorrow and disap 
 pointment did for me what perhaps nothing
 
 -308 MILDEED AND ELSIE. 
 
 else could. I sought and found Him, of whom 
 Moses in the law and the prophets did write, 
 Jesus of Nazareth, the sinner's Saviour and 
 Friend." 
 
 "Thank God for that, Charlie!" Mr. Dins- 
 more returned with emotion ; and again their 
 hands met in a warm brotherly clasp. 
 
 " Having found him," continued Landreth, 
 " of course his service became my first object in 
 life. I looked about for a sphere of usefulness, 
 and decided upon the medical profession, be 
 cause I had discovered that I had a liking for 
 it, the necessities of the men in my employ 
 having led me to dip into it a little. So I came 
 here to pursue my studies, received my diplo 
 ma a year ago, have been practicing in the hos 
 pitals since, and am now looking about for the 
 best place in which to begin my career as a 
 private physician and surgeon." 
 
 "Plenty of room in the West," observed 
 Mr. Dinsmore sententiously and with a spar 
 kle of fun in his eye. 
 
 Landreth sprang up. " And my darling is 
 there, and you have given me hope that I may 
 yet win her ! Dinsmore, I shall make the ne 
 cessary arrangements immediately, and set off 
 for Pleasant Plains at the earliest possible mo 
 ment."
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 " Eight, Charlie ; and you have my best 
 wishes for your success both with her and in. 
 your chosen profession. But I hope you will 
 not leave Philadelphia before to-morrow noon. 
 I want you at my wedding. Mildred and the 
 rest will be glad to hear an account of it from 
 an eye-witness." 
 
 "Your wedding?" 
 
 " Yes, it is to take place at nine to-morrow 
 morning. And I want the pleasure of intro 
 ducing my intended cousin to my bride ; to 
 say nothing of showing you one whose charms 
 of person and character are not eclipsed by 
 even those of sweet and lovely Mildred 
 Keith." 
 
 " She must be worth seeing, if that be the 
 case," Landreth answered with a smile. " And 
 I am keeping you from her now, I daresay ; 
 for which she certainly will not thank me." 
 
 "She is too kind-hearted not to be more 
 than content for Mildred's and your sake." 
 
 "Mildred's do you say?" and Landreth's 
 face was one glow of delight. 
 
 " Yes, Charlie, for Mildred's ; since you have 
 so frankly told me how it is with you, I shall 
 not conceal from you that it is for your sake 
 the sweet girl has remained single in spite of 
 several good offers. I learned it from my
 
 S10 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 Cousin Marcia, her mother. And while I 
 think of it," he added laughingly, " let me as 
 sure you that Marcia will make does make a 
 model mother-in-law." 
 
 " I should be glad indeed to try her in that 
 capacity," returned Landreth lightly. " I 
 think it will hardly be possible for me to leave 
 before to-morrow noon ; so accept your invita 
 tion with thanks, Dinsmore. I have a curios 
 ity to see your bride, and a very strong desire 
 to renew my acquaintance with your little 
 daughter, whom I used to see quite frequently 
 in the first two years of her stay at Roselands. 
 I have always thought her the sweetest little 
 creature I ever beheld. She is with you of 
 course ?" 
 
 " In the city ? Yes ; you will see her to- 
 morrow," Mr. Dinsmore answered, looking 
 highly gratified by the encomium upon his dar 
 ling child. 
 
 After a little more chat, principally of mu< 
 tual friends and the changes that had taken 
 place in their old neighborhood since Landreth 
 left it, they separated with another cordial 
 hand-shaking, both extremely glad of the cas 
 ual meeting, and expecting to meet again on 
 the morrow.
 
 CHAPTEK XX1Y. 
 
 " Within her heart was his image, 
 
 Cloth'd in the beauty of love and youth, as last she beheld him 
 Only more beautiful made by his deathlike silence and absence.' 1 
 
 LONGFELLOW. 
 
 IT was evening. Mildred was alone in the 
 parlor, all the rest of the family having gone 
 to a concert. They had urged her to go too, 
 but she had declined, saying she greatly pre 
 ferred a quiet evening at home. Truth to tell 
 she was oppressed with sadness, and wanted to 
 be alone that she might indulge it for a little 
 without restraint. 
 
 All day she had maintained a cheerfulness 
 in the presence of others which she did not 
 feel, for there had been scarce a moment when 
 her lost love was absent from her thoughts. 
 "Why was it that her heart went out toward 
 him to-night with such yearning tenderness 
 such unutterable longing to look into his eyes, 
 to hear the sound of his voice, to feel the 
 touch of his hand 2 
 
 She tried in vain to read ; the image of the 
 lost one constantly obtruded itself between 
 her mental vision and the printed page.
 
 312 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 She rose and paced the floor, not weeping, 
 but pressing her hand to her heart with heavy 
 sighing. 
 
 The curtains were not closely drawn, or the 
 shutters closed ; a lamp burned brightly on the 
 centre-table, and the room was full of warmth 
 and cheer. 
 
 She did not hear the opening or shutting of 
 the gate, or a quick, manly step that came up 
 the gravel walk and into the porch ; did not 
 see the stranger pause before the bright win 
 dow and gaze in, half -unconsciously, as if spell 
 bound by the sight of her graceful figure and 
 fair though sad face. She turned to the open 
 piano, struck a few chords, then seated herself 
 and sang in clear, sweet tones, but with touch 
 ing pathos : 
 
 " When true hearts lie withered 
 
 And fond ones are flown, 
 Oh ! who would inhabit 
 This bleak world alone?" 
 
 Then with a sudden change of feeling, she 
 touched the chords anew and burst into a song 
 of praise, her voice swelling out full and high 
 like the glad song of a bird : 
 
 " Oh, the height of Jesus' love! 
 Higher than the heavens above,
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 313 
 
 Deeper than the depths of sea, 
 Lasting as eternity; 
 
 Love that found me wondrous thought! 
 Found me when I sought him not." 
 
 " A gentleman to see you, Miss Mildred," 
 said the voice of Celestia Ann at the parlor 
 door. 
 
 Mildred rose and turned to greet him, in 
 some surprise, for she had not heard the ringing 
 of the door-bell or the sound of the girl's foot 
 steps as she passed through the hall to answer 
 it. 
 
 The latter retreated as she ushered the 
 stranger in, but lingered a moment, peering 
 curiously through the crack behind the door. 
 She saw him step forward with outstretched 
 hand, Mildred moving toward him with an 
 earnest, inquiring look up into his face ; then 
 an ashy paleness suddenly overspread hers, 
 she staggered and would have fallen, but he 
 caught her in his arms, saying in low, tremu 
 lous tones as he held her close to his heart, 
 " Mildred, darling, it is I ! Oh, tell me, dear 
 one, that you have not forgotten me !" 
 
 " I know'd it ! I know'd there was some 
 body somewheres she cared fer! and I'm 
 mighty glad he's come at last, fer her sake," 
 chuckled Celestia Ann, nodding and smiling
 
 314 MJLDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 to herself BR she retreated to her kitchen; 
 " though I'll be dreadful sorry, too, if he car 
 ries her off to some fer-away place." 
 
 To those two in the parlor the next hour 
 was probably the most blissful they had ever 
 known. Dr. Landreth's story was briefly told 
 to be dwelt upon more in detail in future 
 talks, and then but we will not intrude upon 
 their privacy. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Keith, returning from the 
 concert, found their daughter seated by the 
 side of one who was an entire stranger to 
 them ; yet i&ere was small need of introduc 
 tion, for by the look of restful happiness in 
 her face they knew instantly who he was, and 
 that all was right between them. From the 
 first all were favorably impressed by Landreth's 
 open, intelligent countenance, polished man 
 ners, manly yet modest mien ; and a few days 
 of intimate association made him almost as- 
 great a favorite in the family as Wallace 
 Ormsby ; while the latter was not far behind 
 the others in his liking for the new-comer. 
 
 Mildred was very happy, and all her dear 
 ones rejoiced with her ; especially when it be 
 came known among them that it was not Dr, 
 Landreth's intention or wish to carry her 
 away from them.
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 315 
 
 " No," he said; " I know too well how sad a 
 thing it is to be fatherless, motherless, and 
 without any other near relative, to desire to 
 separate the dear girl from hers. "WTiat I 
 want is the privilege of sharing them with 
 her." 
 
 "Which we will all be glad to have you 
 do," returned Mrs. Keith, to whom the re 
 mark was addressed, tears of sympathy for his 
 past forlorn condition glistening in her eyes ; 
 " we will rejoice to make you one of us, not 
 for Mildred's sake alone, but for your own 
 also." 
 
 "Accept my heartiest thanks, my dear 
 madam," the young man said with emotion ; 
 "you may perhaps have some idea what it 
 will be to me to have a mother, when I tell 
 you that mine died before my earliest recol 
 lection." 
 
 Not even to his betrothed had Charlie 
 disclosed the fact that he was again a man 
 of wealth ; he merely assured Mr. Keith that 
 he felt himself able to support a wife com 
 fortably, having a good profession, and means 
 enough to live upon until he should become 
 well established in it. 
 
 Pleasant Plains was now growing so rapidly, 
 the surrounding country filling up so fast,
 
 316 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 that hardly a better location for a young 
 physician could be desired, and he decided 
 to settle in the town at once. 
 
 And now what was to hinder an imme 
 diate marriage? This was the question ho 
 urged upon Mildred and her parents, but 
 without obtaining a prompt and decided an 
 swer. The parents had given full consent to 
 the match, yet seemed very loath to resign 
 their daughter. 
 
 Cyril sided with Landreth ; because, as he 
 said, he wanted to be present at the wedding, 
 and as he was to leave for college in a few 
 days, and felt certain they would not wait 
 till he came back, his only chance was to 
 have it take place before he went; so he 
 coaxed and persuaded, overruled all objections, 
 and finally gained his point. 
 
 " It won't be parting with her," he said 
 to his father and mother ; " they'll board at 
 home at least till spring. I asked the doctor, 
 and he's delighted with the idea." To Mil 
 dred herself : " What's the use waiting to 
 make up a lot of finery ? You can do that af 
 terwards. You have two new dresses just 
 made up for fall any way, and there's mother's 
 wedding-dress that Zillah was married in fits 
 you just as well, and makes you look lovely.
 
 MILDRED AND EL8IE. 317 
 
 We can't get up as big a wedding as Zil'a 
 all in a hurry to be sure, but I don't believe 
 you care for that." 
 
 " K"o," she said ; " I should much prefer hav 
 ing only relatives and a few very near friends." 
 
 "It would save expense to father and a 
 great deal of fuss and trouble to mother," 
 was the next and most effectual considera 
 tion he urged. " Then too," he added a little 
 mischievously, "Mr. Lord's away just now, 
 and that will give you a chance to have the 
 knot tied by your future brother-in-law same 
 as Zillah had.'" 
 
 This last was a stronger inducement than 
 he knew or suspected ; she had an earnest de 
 sire to have the ceremony performed by her 
 old friend Frank Osborne, and was a little ap 
 prehensive of some blunder on the part of ab 
 sent-minded Mr. Lord, should he officiate. 
 
 "Frank's to preach for us next Sunday," 
 Cyril went on. " He'll stay over Monday if we 
 ask him, and if you'll let me arrange matters 
 I'll appoint Monday evening for the wedding." 
 
 "How very kind in you," she returned 
 laughing. 
 
 " Come now, Milly, say yes," he continued, 
 not deigning to notice the interruption. " I'm 
 to leave on "Wednesday you know."
 
 318 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 " Monday, Cyril ! "Why that's wash-day, 
 and Celestia Ann won't " 
 
 " I'll settle that," he interrupted, making a 
 hasty exit from the room. 
 
 After a brief absence he returned in great 
 glee. "I thought I could manage it," he 
 said, " and I have. She's delighted with the 
 idea of a wedding that shall take everybody 
 in town by surprise. She won't give up the 
 washing, but says she'll be up early enough to 
 have it out of the way by nine o'clock ; and 
 then she'll 'turn in and bake cake.' She'll 
 bake some to-morrow, too, so there ' won't be 
 no trouble 'bout the 'freshments, not a mite/ 
 Now, Milly, haven't I taken the last stone out 
 of the way ?" 
 
 " Yes, you dear old fellow," she said, with 
 a look of sisterly love and pride into his bright, 
 eager young face; "and it shall be as you 
 wish. Mother and I have been talking over 
 your plan, and think it practicable. Also that 
 it would be too bad to disappoint you, to say 
 nothing of some one else even more nearly 
 concerned," she added, with a charming blush 
 and smile. 
 
 " That's a good girl ! I knew you would I 
 I'll run and tell the doctor." And he was off 
 before Mildred could stop him.
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 Of course Dr. Landreth was delighted. No 
 one else raised any objection, and hasty prep 
 arations were at once set on foot. 
 
 Mildred thought she ought to be the busiest 
 of them all, but mother and sisters would not 
 hear of it. " You have been working for 
 everybody else for years past," they said ; 
 " now it is your turn to rest and have a good 
 time. So just devote yourself to the enter 
 tainment of the doctor, or to being entertained 
 by him." Finding them determined to dis 
 pense with her assistance, Mildred submitted 
 with a good grace; the more so as Charlie 
 managed to engross her time and attention 
 almost constantly. 
 
 He had arrived on Monday, and it was on 
 Friday that her consent to Cyril's plan was 
 given. 
 
 Mr. Dinsmore's visit had created quite a 
 sensation in the town. It was reported that 
 lie had come for Mildred ; but the advent of 
 this stranger who, though lodging at the prin 
 cipal hotel, spent his days at Mr. Keith's, 
 modified the rumors, and people were on the 
 qui vive to learn which, if either, was the 
 favored suitor. 
 
 The wedding passed off very nicely, just 
 at the time and in the way that Cyril had
 
 320 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 planned, and the next morning the gossips of 
 the town were electrified by the news. 
 
 The bride had a great surprise that day in 
 her turn. It came in the shape of a mysteri 
 ous box directed to her, which on opening 
 was found to contain a beautiful bridal bonnet, 
 three dress-patterns of rich silk a delicate 
 rose color, a silver gray, and a rich dark brown 
 gloves, laces, ribbons, and flowers. 
 
 The whole family had gathered round to 
 watch the opening and unpacking of the box,, 
 and each article was examined in turn with 
 many exclamations of admiration and delight. 
 At the very bottom they came upon a note. 
 
 " DEAR MILLY : 
 
 " A little bird has whispered to me that you 
 are soon to be a bride, and Elsie and I are 
 very glad of the excuse to send a few trifling 
 gifts, which we hope you will do us the kind 
 ness to accept as tokens of the sincere affection 
 we both feel for you. 
 
 " COUSIN HORACE." 
 
 There had been no time for parents and 
 friends to prepare bridal gifts, and excepting 
 a beautiful set of pearls Dr. Landreth had pur 
 chased for her before leaving Philadelphia, 
 these were the first Mildred had received.
 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 321 
 
 "How very kind and thoughtful!" she 
 said, her eyes glistening with mingled emo 
 tions ; "but how did they manage it 2 What 
 time was there for shopping after Cousin Hor 
 ace saw you, Charlie ?" 
 
 " I should say by no means enough for the 
 purchase of all these," Dr. Landreth answered, 
 evidently as much puzzled as herself. 
 
 A letter from Adelaide Dinsmore, received 
 by the next mail, explained it. She had been 
 present at Horace's wedding, acting as brides 
 maid, had remained behind when he left with 
 wife and daughter for their home in the 
 South, and had executed these commissions 
 for him and Elsie, adding some gifts from her 
 self and parents. She wrote in a cordial, 
 affectionate way, and begged for a speedy 
 reply telling all about the marriage. "Be 
 cause she could get nothing out of Horace 
 except that there was to be one." 
 
 "Mildred, you must come out in bridal 
 attire next Sunday," Zillah said with energy. 
 "You're to wear the new bonnet and that 
 grey silk. We'll have it made in time." 
 
 It was made in time, and very lovely Mil 
 dred looked in it. She was the cynosure ot 
 all eyes; yet another bride shared the atteii. 
 tion of the curious.
 
 322 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 
 Years ago Gotobed Lightcap had gone to a 
 distant city to pursue his studies. To-day, a 
 licensed preacher of the Gospel, he filled Mr. 
 Lord's pulpit, and gave the congregation an 
 earnest, able, well- written discourse. 
 
 After the service he brought his wife a 
 pretty, ladylike little body and with a proud 
 and happy look introduced her to Mildred. 
 
 The two ladies shook hands cordially, Mil 
 dred furtively examining the other with curi 
 osity, Gotobed regarding Dr. Landreth in 
 like manner. Then Mildred introduced them, 
 and they exchanged congratulations and good 
 wishes. 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Lightcap was in many ways 
 a vast improvement upon the young black 
 smith of Mildred's early acquaintance, espe 
 cially as regarded education, intelligence, and 
 refinement of speech and manner. 
 
 Dr. Landreth was greatly interested in him 
 and his story as told by Mildred on the home 
 ward walk. And she was very happy in the 
 assurance that she had not, even innocently, 
 wrecked his happiness ; yet more in the love 
 that now made life's pathway look so bright 
 before her. 
 
 THE END.
 
 50 
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