m St. Helen's; but with that exception the whole wedding was
"valley-made," as Elsie declared, including delicious raspberry
ice-cream, and an enormous cake, over which she and Clover had expended
much time and thought, and which, decorated with emblematical designs in
icing and wreathed with yucca-blossoms, stood in the middle of the
table.

The ceremony took place at noon precisely, when, as Phil facetiously
observed, "the shadows of the high contracting parties could never be
less." There was little that was formal about it, but much that was
reverent and sweet and full of true feeling. Imogen and Johnnie had both
agreed to wear white muslin dresses, very much such dresses as they
were all accustomed to wear on afternoons; but Imogen had on her head
her mother's wedding-veil, which had been sent out from England, and
John wore Katy's, "for luck," as she said. Both carried a big bouquet of
Mariposa lilies, and the house was filled with the characteristic
wild-flowers of the region most skilfully and effectively grouped and
arranged.

A hospitably hearty luncheon followed the ceremony, of which all
partook; then Imogen went away to put on her pretty travelling-suit of
pale brown, and the carry-all came round to take Mr. and Mrs. Theodore
Carr to St. Helen's, which was the first stage on their journey of life.

The whole party stood on the porch to see them go. Imogen's last word
and embrace were for Clover.

"We are sisters now," she whispered. "I belong to you just as much as
Isabel does, and I am so glad that I do! Dear Clover, you have been more
good to me than I can say, and I shall never forget it."

"Nonsense about being good! You are my Dorry's wife now, and our own
dear sister. There is no question about goodness,--only to love one
another."

She kissed Imogen warmly, and helped her into the carriage. Dorry sprang
after her; the wheels revolved; and Phil, seizing a horseshoe which hung
ready to hand on the wall of the house, flung it after the departing
vehicle.

"It's more appropriate than any other sort of old shoe for this Place of
Hoofs," he observed. "Well, the Carr family are certainly pretty well
disposed of now. I am 'the last ungathered rose on my ancestral tree.' I
wonder who will tear me from my stem!"

"You can afford to hang on a while longer," remarked Elsie. "I don't
consider you fairly expanded yet, by any means. You'll be twice as well
worth gathering a few years from now."

"Oh, ve