n who had rescued her from danger only a few days before. He was
gazing eagerly into the faces of the newly made husband and wife, with
an expression upon his features which it was not easy to understand. But
after that quick look, Elizabeth never again turned her head, and the
stranger shrank back among the crowd and disappeared.

The guests were gathered about the sumptuous table which Mrs. Harrington
had prepared, and the fair widow herself, in a dress which would have
been youthful even for Elsie, was in a state of flutter and excitement
which baffles description.

She was gay and coquettish as a girl of sixteen; but there was enough of
real kindliness in her character to make those who knew her forgive
these girlish affectations and the little delusion under which she
labored--that certain specially-favored people, like herself, never did
get beyond eighteen, being so sensitive and fresh of soul, that age
never reached them.

I doubt if there ever was a wedding reception that did not prove a
somewhat dull affair, and though this was as nearly an exception as
possible, Mellen seized the first opportunity to whisper Elizabeth that
it was time to prepare for their departure.

"And so I shan't see you for a whole week," said Tom Fuller, ruefully,
as he accompanied Elsie out of the room, when she followed Elizabeth up
stairs to change her dress. "What shall I do with myself all that time?"

"A whole week!" repeated she, laughing merrily; "it's quite dreadful to
contemplate--I only hope you won't die, and put poor Bessie into
mourning before the honeymoon is over."

"Oh, you are laughing at me," said Tom, heaving a sigh that was a
perfect blast of grief.

"How can you fancy that?" cried Elsie; "I thought I was showing great
sympathy."

"You always do laugh at me," urged Tom, "and it's downright cruel! I
know I am awkward, and always do the wrong thing at the wrong moment,
but you needn't be so hard on a fellow."

"There, there!" said Elsie, patting his arm as she might have smoothed a
great Newfoundland dog; "don't quarrel with me now! Next week you are
coming down to Piney Cove, and you shall see how nicely I will entertain
you."

"Shall you be glad to see me--really glad?" pleaded Tom, red to the very
temples.

"Oh, of course," cried Elsie, laughing; "you are a sort of cousin
now--it will be my duty, you know."

Elsie danced away, leaving him to pull his white glove in a perplexed
sort of way, by no mea