threshold of your life--and I am near the end of mine, but for the first
time in many years, I am content and all my sorrows are paid for."

"Father!" she exclaimed brokenly, but he went on.

"I can now go, knowing that your life is secure on the rock of a stable
marriage: all your dangers over. You are making of my poor life a
success after all--and its end is a thing of peace. Eben is not as young
as you, but his heart is great and his character sincere. In the shadow
of his strength you will 'be secure and at peace beside still waters'
and I can leave you without fear. In his blood is the steadfastness of
Plymouth Rock--ay, and the Rock of Ages and the honor of our
forefathers."

The old man broke off, and raised his thin hand to his lean face with a
gesture of appealing physical weakness. His enthusiasm had tired him and
now a smile came to his lips of unaccustomed sweetness and tenderness.
When he spoke again it was in a different tone.

"But you know all that. My life has been one of stress, and you've not
known a mother. What I came to tell you, my dear, is that I realize you
may have missed that tenderness, and that whatever I may have seemed, I
have always felt it."

She was kneeling by his chair now with her hands gently stroking his
white mane.

"I know, Dad," she declared, and he reached up and took her fingers
between his two palms.

"You are making me happy, my daughter, unspeakably happy," he said. "And
I, who have long been old, feel young again. The Bible tells us that
marriage means leaving father and mother and cleaving only to the
one--but thank God, Eben insists that I shall spend my remaining days
with you both, and I am very happy."

At last he was rolled out again, leaving behind him a memory of that
exalted peace of countenance, and with a stifled groan the bride-to-be
turned back to her room--her period of reflection almost consumed.

"It would kill him!" she moaned. "It would be murder. And that look!
That happiness! I guess that will have to be my compensation."

CHAPTER XIV

When the bridesmaids entered it was a pale but firm face that greeted
them. "It was panic," said Conscience slowly. "If I hadn't decided
freely and fully and finally, I wouldn't have come this far. No one has
forced me.... He, Eben, is worth a dozen of me.... Please believe me,
never speak of this to anyone. It was sheer nerves and panic."

Of the wedding itself, Conscience had always a memory as c