ng survey he had
been taking of his patent-leather boots.

It is almost frightful to remember how few moments it takes to bind
immortal souls together in a union which may be for happiness, and,
alas, may be for such misery as eternal bondage alone can give.

The feeling of awe befitting that sacred place had scarcely settled on
the gay assembly, when the altar was deserted, and Grantley Mellen led
his wife out of the church. Agitation had brought a faint glow of color
to her cheek, softened the mouth into its sweetest smile, and whenever
the clear gray eyes were lifted, one could see the timid, shrinking
happiness, which made their depths so misty and dark.

Grantley Mellen was a proud, somewhat stern man, and at the church-door
he betrayed, in spite of himself, some annoyance at the _eclat_ which
Mrs. Harrington had given to the affair, in spite of his express wishes.
But whenever he looked at the lovely girl at his side, or felt the
clinging touch of her hand upon his arm, his face cleared and softened
into an expression of such tenderness as changed its entire character.

Elsie followed close, dexterously keeping her dress from under Tom's
feet; indeed, she looked so lovely and fairy-like, that it made the
awkwardness and embarrassment of her great, honest-hearted companion
more apparent.

Tom Fuller knew that he appeared dreadfully out of place playing a part
at this imposing ceremony, but he had never in all his life refused a
request that Elizabeth made, and during the last three months, the
mischievous sprite by his side had kept his blundering head in a state
of such constant bewilderment, and so stirred every chord in his great,
manly heart, that he would not have minded in the least stumbling over
red hot ploughshares for the pleasure of walking with her even the
length of a church aisle.

The group had reached the porch and lingered there a moment, waiting for
the carriages to draw up. The shadows were all gone from Grantley
Mellen's face now; he bent his head and whispered a few words, that made
Elizabeth's cheek glow into new beauty. Suddenly her glance wandered
towards the crowd on her left--a sudden pallor swept the roses from her
cheek--her hand closed convulsively on Mellen's arm; but in an instant,
before even he had noticed her agitation, it had passed--she walked on
to the carriage graceful and queen-like as ever.

Standing among the throng at which she had cast that one glance, stood
the ma