d
be satisfied that my nerves _are_ shaken."

Leslie siezed the paper and read as follows:

"Mayfield Sussex. Last Tuesday Mr. Richard George
Earlsdown of Yellowflower Hall was siezed with
appoplexy. On that same day he had prevented his
neice from marrying a certain gentleman of the
neighbourhood and _she_ has run away with her
intended, viz Mr. Leslie Alexander Woodcock.

Mr. Earlsdown is now repenting that his consent
was not given to his heartless niece and that if
she comes back before he dies, married or
unmarried, she will receive his love and
forgiveness for ever; he is now in a dying state
and we fear that unless his niece soon returns he
will decidedly expire."

"Shall you go home" asked Leslie quietly.

"Yes yes" exclaimed Sylvia "Oh Leslie help me to pack, I feel too weak."

The trunks were soon packed and the heart broken couple were on their
way to Mayfield. Arriving at the Hall Sylvia flew up to her uncle's room
and throwing herself on the floor shook the room with ear piercing sobs.

"Who is crying?" presently asked Mr. Earlsdown.

"It is me uncle--your repentant niece."

Mr. Earlsdown gave a contented smile and turned away his head.
Presently he turned round and his eyes fell upon Sylvia's white hand on
the counterpane.

"Mrs. Woodcock I see" he said with a smile looking at the golden wedding
ring on Sylvia's third finger.

"Yes Uncle" said Sylvia in a low tone "But you wont leave me till I am
better will you child" said her uncle.

"Never uncle" said Sylvia "never to your dying day."

CHAPTER 13

HOW IT ENDED

Seven years have elapsed since the events told in our last chapter and
our scene once more changes to the ball room at Asmer House. Leslie and
Sylvia no longer newly married people are sitting by the piano and
opposite to them on the sofa are Isobel Saunders and Albert Woodcock.
Presently Albert advances to the piano and asks Sylvia to sing a song.

"Yes if I can get anyone to play my accompaniment" says Sylvia.

"I only wish I could play" said Albert rubbing his face and looking
with sad eyes at Mrs. Woodcock. Immediately Isobel seated herself at the
piano and ran her fairy like fingers over the notes while Sylvia's
melodious voice kept time to the music; and as the beautiful words of
"See the conquering hero comes" rang out like a peal