the cakes, or the fruit and ices,
until she had feasted like a princess.

He, in the meantime, ate but little, seeming to feed upon the sight of
her enjoyment. At length she pushed her plate and cup away and declared
she could touch nothing more.

Then he arose as if to clear the service; but she stopped him, saying:

"Leave it just as it is and come and sit with me on the porch outside.
The night is beautiful, and I want to sit there and talk with you. I
have something to propose."

And she ran into the back room for her bonnet and shawl.

He got up and gave her his arm and took her out upon the porch.

And they sat down together on the bench, under thickly overhanging
vine-leaves.

"Craven," she murmured, with her head upon his shoulder, "do you really
love me as much as you profess to do?"

"Do I really love you?" he repeated, with impassioned earnestness. "Oh,
how shall I prove to you how much? Protestations are but words. Show me
how I can prove to you how much I love you! Put me to the test! Try
me--_try me!_"

She hesitated and sighed--perhaps in pity and remorse for this poor boy,
who loved her so devotedly, and whom she was about to require to pay
down his honor and his life as the price of her hand.

"Oh, tell me how I can show you the height and depth and breadth--no; I
should rather say the immeasurability of my infinite love!" he pleaded,
prayerfully.

Again she sighed and trembled--yes, trembled at the contemplation of the
wickedness she was about to perpetrate; but she did not draw back from
it. She slid her arm around his neck and kissed him softly, and then
said:

"Listen to me, Craven, my dearest. This is Monday night, you know."

"Yes," he said, attentively.

"On Wednesday morning I am to start for Philadelphia."

"Oh!" he exclaimed, uneasily.

"Hush! Wait until you hear me out. You must meet me in Philadelphia on
Friday morning. And we will be married on Friday noon."

He was struck speechless, breathless, for a few moments with the excess
of his delight.

Then he panted forth the words:

"Oh, bless you! Bless you, my queen, my angel! I bless you for this
great joy!"

"You must be calm, my dear, and hear me out. You must be punctual, and
meet me on Friday morning at ten o'clock, at _this_ address," she
continued, handing him a slip of paper with the address in question
written upon it. "There; now put it into your pocket-book and keep it
safe."

"I will--I will, my queen