daughters, I know. Is it not so?"

"Yes, yes. You are always right," murmured her husband.

"There, dear, go to sleep now. Some time when you are easy we will fix
this," said Mrs. Brownson.

And the next day, at an hour when she knew her husband's mind was best
prepared, a lawyer was summoned, and a statement of stocks and bonds
to the amount of two hundred thousand dollars placed before him, and
Mark Brownson expressed his wish to have an equal division of his
effects made between his wife and two children.

The will was made, and duly signed and witnessed by two of the nearest
neighbors and the only domestic, a worthy woman who had been with Mrs.
Brownson for many years.

A few days more, and Mark Brownson had passed from earth.

Many wondered at the very quiet and unostentatious style of the last
services for him; but the widow had said:

"In death it shall be with him as he always preferred in life."

And then when all was over, and the summer months were coming, Mrs.
Brownson sold out the modest little establishment, and, with her
daughters and their faithful servant, went to board by the seashore,
at a very fashionable resort; but, of course, not to mingle in the gay
festivities of the season, only to recruit her health, which was very
much impared by long attention to her suffering husband, and to have
the girls escape the heat and dust of the city.

A few days after they were settled in their new abode, Mrs. Brownson
said to her attendant:

"Margaret, you were very much surprised by hearing Mr. Brownson's
will."

"Oh, yes, ma'am, indeed I was."

"Well, Margaret, I do not wish you to mention anything about it down
here. Mr. Brownson, you know, never let it be known to the world. And
so it must be for the present. I do not wish my daughters to be
married for anything but their own good qualities. They are good and
beautiful enough to marry well, without having any other inducements
for suitors. Now, Margaret, you know just how I feel, and what I
mean?" said the anxious mother.

"Certainly I do! And I feel as much concerned about my beautiful young
ladies as you do, ma'am. Never fear but I will look out for their
interest," answered the worthy woman.

And to do as she said, to the best of her understanding, Margaret set
out for a walk on the beach, with some of the other servants and their
escorts, the waiters from the hotel. And before the next noon it was
well known what a good chance there was