r close; "we will make it a condition
that you shall not be taken away to any distance. And, in any event,
you are still too young to leave your father; you must remain single
and live with me for at least a year or two longer."

"Oh, I am glad to hear you say that!" she said. "Papa, has Chester
said anything to you?" she asked.

"Yes; he has several times begged permission to tell you of his love
and try to win yours. I have hitherto refused because of your youth,
but shall now let him have his way."

* * * * *

"You are improving fast, and I hope will soon be able to be up and
about again," the captain said to Chester, a few days later.

"Yes," said the young man, "I begin to feel as if I had taken a new
lease of life and--ah, captain, if I could at last find such favor in
your eyes that you would consent to----" His sentence was left
unfinished.

"To letting you tell your tale of love?" Captain Raymond asked with a
smile.

"Just that, sir. I cannot help fearing it may prove useless,
but--anything is better than suspense; which I feel that I have hardly
strength to endure any longer."

"Nor can I any longer ask that of you, since you have freely risked
your life for hers," returned the captain with emotion. "Your nurse
being out just now, this is a good opportunity, and I will bring my
daughter to you and let you have it out," he concluded in a jesting
tone, and left the room as he spoke.

Lucilla happened to be near at hand, and almost immediately her
father had brought her to Chester's bedside. She knew nothing of the
talk that had been going on, yet, remembering her conversation with
her father a few days before, came to the bedside blushing and
slightly embarrassed.

"I am very glad you are better, Chester," she said, laying her hand in
his as he held it out to her. "What a hard, hard time you have had,
and all because you risked your life to save mine."

"I'm not sorry I did, and would do it again without a moment's
hesitation," he said. "Oh, Lu, if I could but tell you how dear you
are to me! Can you not give me a little love in return?"

"Oh, Chester, how could I help it, when you have almost died for me?"
she asked, bursting into tears.

"Don't be distressed over that, dear one," he returned, pressing the
hand he still held in his, then lifting it to his lips. "Will you be
mine?" he asked imploringly.

"If papa consents, and you will never take me far away from him.