cteristic of the
treacherous disease.

"Why don't you speak to me, Barney? You haven't said a word except just
'Iola, Iola, Iola.' Haven't you anything else to say, sir? After your
long silence you might--" She raised her head and looked into his eyes
with her old saucy smile.

"There is nothing to say, Iola. What need to speak when I can hold you
like this? But you must not talk too much."

"Tell me something about yourself," she cried. "What? Where? How? Why?
No, not why. I don't want that, but all the rest."

"It is hardly worth while, Iola," he replied, "and it would take a long
time."

"Oh, yes, think what a delicious long time. All the time there is. All
the day and every day. Oh, Barney! does one want more Heaven than this?
Tell me about Margaret and--yes--and Dick," she shyly added. "Are they
well and happy?"

"Now, darling," said Barney, stroking her hair; "just rest there and
I'll tell you everything. But you must not exhaust yourself."

"Go on then, Barney," she replied with a sigh of ineffable bliss,
nestling down again. "Oh, lovely rest!"

Then Barney told her of Margaret and Dick and of their last few days
together, making light of Dick's injury and making much of the new joy
that had come to them all. "And it was your letter that did it all,
Iola," he said.

"No," she replied gently, "it was our Father's goodness. I see things
so differently, Barney. Lady Ruthven has taught me. She is an angel from
Heaven, and, oh, what she has done for me!"

"I, too, Iola, have great things to be thankful for."

A tap came to the door and, in response to their invitation, Lady
Ruthven, with Jack in the background, appeared.

"Dinner will be served in a few minutes, Iola, and I am sure Dr. Boyle
would like to go to his room. You can spare him, I suppose?"

"No, I can't spare him, but I will if you let me go down to-night to
dinner."

"Is it wise, do you think?" said Lady Ruthven gravely. "You must save
your strength now, you know."

"Oh, but I am strong. Just for to-night," she pleaded. "I'm not going to
be an invalid to-night. I'm going to forget all about it. I am going to
eat a good dinner and I'm going to sing, too. Jack, tell them I can go
down. Barney, you will take me down. You may carry me, if you like. I am
going, Jack," she continued with something of her old imperious air.

Barney searched her face with a critical glance, holding his fingers
upon her wrist. She was growing excited. "Well, I