love you, I would rather have died than feel that I have brought
sorrow into your life, and bound you to one whom you cannot love. Marcia,
tell me truly, never mind my feelings, tell me! Can you ever love me?"

Then did Marcia lift her flower-like face, all bright with tears of joy
and a flood of rosy smiles, the light of seven stars in her eyes. But she
could not speak, she could only look, and after a little whisper, "Oh,
David, I think I have always loved you! I think I was waiting for you that
night, though I did not know it. And look!"--with sudden thought----

She drew from the folds of her dress a little old-fashioned locket hung by
a chain about her neck out of sight. She opened it and showed him a soft
gold curl which she touched gently with her lips, as though it were
something very sacred.

"What is it, darling?" asked David perplexed, half happy, half afraid as
he took the locket and touched the curl more thrilled with the thought
that she had carried it next her heart than with the sight of it.

"It is yours," she said, disappointed that he did not understand. "Aunt
Clarinda gave it to me while you were away. I've worn it ever since. And
she gave me other things, and told me all about you. I know it all, about
the tops and marbles, and the spelling book, and I've cried with you over
your punishments, and--I--love it all!"

He had fastened the door before he began to talk, but he caught her in his
arms now, regardless of the fact that the shades were not drawn down, and
that they swayed in the summer breeze.

"Oh, my darling! My wife!" he cried, and kissed her lips for the third
time.

The world was changed then for those two. They belonged to each other they
believed, as no two that ever walked through Eden had ever belonged. When
they thought of the precious bond that bound them together their hearts
throbbed with a happiness that well-nigh overwhelmed them.

A dinner of stewed chickens and little white soda biscuits was served
them, fit for a wedding breakfast, for the barmaid whispered to the cook
that she was sure there was a bride and groom in the parlor they looked so
happy and seemed to forget anybody else was by. But it might have been ham
and eggs for all they knew what it was they ate, these two who were so
happy they could but look into each other's eyes.

When the dinner was over and they started on their way again, with Albany
shimmering in the hot sun in the distance, and David's arm