with her arm along the carved back, one hand shading her eyes as she
watched our coming.

This is not a memory to be written about for stranger eyes to read, but
as I turned from them after that first greeting, their glances were
upon her who stood waiting beside me, so sweet and pure in her young
womanhood.

"And this, my son?" questioned my father kindly. "We would bid her
welcome also; yet surely she cannot be that little child for whose sake
we sent you forth?"

I took her by the hand as we faced them.

"You sent me in search of one whom you would receive even as your own
child," I answered simply. "This is Roger Matherson's daughter, and
the dear wife of your son."

What need have I to dwell upon the love that bade her welcome? And so
it was that out of all the suffering and danger,--forth from the valley
of the shadow of death,--Toinette and I came home.

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