"

"He has consented, and I will never take you anywhere that you do not
want to go. We will live here among our own dear ones as long as the
Lord spares us to each other."

As he finished he drew her down to him, and their lips met.

"We belong to each other now," he said, "and I hope both of us will
always rejoice that it is so."

"I hope you will, my dear children," said the captain. "And now,
Chester, get well as fast as you can. I cannot give Lucilla up
entirely to you for a year or more yet, but you can visit her here
every day if you like."

So the young couple were engaged, and very happy in each other,
Chester making rapid improvement in health from the hour when he was
assured of the prosperity of his suit.

The betrothal was soon made known to all the connection, and seemed to
give satisfaction to everyone. Sydney had gone South before Chester's
encounter with the escaped convict, and she and Maud wrote their
congratulations. Frank was pleased, and came oftener than before to
Woodburn. Lucilla's bosom friend, Evelyn, approved of the match, and
hoped Lu would be a happy wife, but thought she herself would prefer
to live single. Grace was half-pleased, half-sorry because she did not
seem quite so necessary to her sister's happiness as before.

Captain Raymond did not at all enjoy the thought of even a partial
giving up of his daughter to the care of another, but tried to forget
that the time was coming when it must be done. That Max was expected
home in a few weeks made that difficult task somewhat easier. All were
looking joyfully forward to that happy event.

THE END.

A LIST OF THE ELSIE BOOKS AND OTHER POPULAR BOOKS
BY
MARTHA FINLEY

_ELSIE DINSMORE._

_ELSIE'S HOLIDAYS AT ROSELANDS._
_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 ELSIE._
_ELSIE AND THE RAYMONDS._
_ELSIE YACHTING WITH THE RAYMONDS._
_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._

_MILDRED KEITH._

_MILDRED