ge and buttons were for the wedding dress, the one in
which Katy was to be married, and which Helen reserved the right to make
to herself. Miss Hazelton must fit it, of course, but to her belonged
the privilege of making it, every stitch; Katy would think more of it if
she did it all, she said; but she did not confess how the bending over
that one dress, both early and late, was the escape valve for the
feeling which otherwise would have found vent in passionate tears. Helen
was very wretched during the pleasant May days she usually enjoyed so
much, but over which now a dark pall was spread, shutting out all the
brightness and leaving only the terrible certainty that Katy was lost to
her forever--bright, frolicsome Katy, who, without a shadow on her heart
sported amid the bridal finery, unmindful of the anguish tugging at the
hearts of both the patient women, Marian and Helen, who worked on so
silently, reserving their tears for the night time, when Katy lay
sweetly sleeping and dreaming of Wilford Cameron. Helen had ceased to
think that Hiss Hazelton had any designs on Dr. Grant, for her manner
toward Uncle Ephraim was just as soft and conciliating, and she
dismissed that subject from her mind with the reflection that it was the
nature of some girls to be very pretty to the gentlemen, without meaning
any harm. She liked Marian on the whole, regarding her as a quiet woman,
who knew her business and kept to it, but never guessing that her
feelings, too, were stirred to their very depths as the bridal
preparations progressed. She only knew how wretched she was herself, and
how hard it was to fight her tears back as she bent over the plaided
silk, weaving in with every stitch a part of the clinging love which
each day grew stronger for the only sister, who would soon be gone,
leaving her alone. Only once did she break entirely down, and that was
when the dress was done and Katy tried it on, admiring its effect, and
having a second glass brought that she might see it behind.

"Isn't it lovely?" she exclaimed; "and the more valuable because you
made it, I shall think of you every time I wear it," and the impulsive
girl found her arms around Helen's neck, kissing her lovingly, while
Helen sank into a chair and sobbed aloud: "Oh, Katy, darling Katy! you
won't forget me when you are rich and admired and can have all you want?
You will remember us here at home, so sad and lonely? You don't know how
desolate it will be, knowing yo