. She was thinking of the parting
that must surely come, and he must find some word to comfort her. "If I
could only feel that you were near me," she whispered, "even though I
could not see you or hear your voice--that you were still loving me and
watching over my poor life!"

"Dearest," he returned tenderly, "I have often had these thoughts. More
than once my father and I have spoken of it. It is his idea that
nothing can divide us from those we love. Continuity of
life--continuity of love, that is his creed."

"Is it yours too, David?"

"Dear Elizabeth," returned the young man simply, "the future is so
veiled in mystery and silence that one hardly knows what one believes,
except that all will be well with us. It seems to me that even in
paradise we must still love our dear ones and pray for them, so tossed
and buffeted by the waves of this troublesome world: but more than that
I dare not say. I think I must always love you--there as well as here."
Then she smiled at him through her tears.

"Dear love," he went on a moment later, "there is something I have
often wanted to say, and yet the words were difficult to utter.
Elizabeth, life is long as you say, and your great loving heart must
not remain unsatisfied. Do not mourn for me too long--do not refuse
comfort that may be offered to you, if you can be happy, dear."

But here Elizabeth's hand was laid over his lips.

"No--no, you shall not say it--I will not hear it;" and Elizabeth's
eyes were wide with trouble. "David--David--" and then she could say no
more for her wild weeping.

"Hush--hush, my darling--I cannot bear this," and David's lips grew so
white that Elizabeth in alarm controlled herself. But as she gave him a
restorative, he held out his feeble hand to her. "Forgive me if I said
too much," he pleaded; "I thought perhaps it might be a comfort
afterwards. Dear Elizabeth, be true to yourself as you have been true
to me, and may God bless and reward you for all your goodness to me and
mine!" David spoke with strange solemnity, for, though neither of them
guessed it then, this was their last farewell before the parting of the
ways.

The evening passed tranquilly. Elizabeth seemed less dejected, but her
head ached, and she sat silently beside David, while Mr. Carlyon went
on with the book they were reading. Once, when there was a pause, she
looked up and saw David's rapt gaze fixed on the sunset, while a look
of almost unearthly beauty seemed to transf