saints keep thee, Bo Tantibba
and thy husband! and thy husband!" rose from scores of voices as the
diligence moved slowly away.

Dr. Macgowan, who had somewhat reluctantly persuaded himself to be
present at the wedding, and had walked stiffly in the merry procession
from the chapel to the inn, stood on the inn steps, and raised his hat
in a dignified manner for a second. Father Antoine stood bareheaded by
his side, waving a large white handkerchief, and trying to think only of
Hetty's happiness, not at all of his own and the village's loss. As the
shouts of the people continued to ring on the air, Dr. Macgowan turned
slowly to Father Antoine.

"Most extraordinary scene!" he said, "'pon my word, most extraordinary
scene; never could happen in England, sir, never." "Which is perfectly
true; worse luck for England," Father Antoine might have replied; but
did not. A few of the younger men and maidens ran for a short distance
by the side of the diligence, and threw flowers into the windows.

"Thou wilt return! thou wilt return!" they cried. "Say thou wilt
return!"

"Yes, God willing, I will return," answered Hetty, bending to the right
and to the left, taking loving farewell looks of them all. "We will
surely return." And as the last face disappeared from sight, and the
last merry voice died away, she turned to her husband, and, laying her
hand in his, said, "Why not, Eben? Will not that be our best home, our
best happiness, to come back and live and die among these simple
people?"

"Yes," answered Dr. Eben, "it will. Tantibba, we will come back."

* * * * *

And now is told all that I have to tell of the Strange History of Eben
and Hetty Williams. If there be any who find the history incredible, I
have for such a few words more.

First: I myself have seen, in the old graveyard at Welbury, the
"beautiful and high monument of marble," of which Father Antoine spoke
to Dr. Macgowan. It bears the following inscription:

"Sacred to the Memory
of
HENRIETTA GUNN,
Beloved Wife of Dr. Ebenezer Williams,
Who was drowned in Welbury Lake."

The dates, which I have my own reasons for not giving, come below; and
also a verse of the Bible, which I will not quote.

Second: I myself was in Welbury when there was brought to the town by
some traveller a copy of a Canadian newspaper, in which, among the
marriages, appeared this one:

"In the parish o