to each other forever and
ever.

Only when the day of parting came--of parting "for three eternal years,"
as they put it in their despair--Odalite cried as if her heart would
break, and refused to be comforted; and Midshipman Leonidas Force, U. S.
N., disgraced his uniform by crying a little for company. But then, "the
bravest are the tenderest."

This was just three years before the opening of our story.

After their separation the young pair corresponded as frequently as
possible under the circumstances.

Their letters were not love letters, in the usual acceptation of that
term. They were frank, outspoken, affectionate letters, such as might have
passed between a brother and sister who loved one another faithfully, and
knew no fonder ties; letters which Odalite read with delight to father and
mother, governess and sisters.

All went on in this way for the first two years.

The third year was an eventful one in the destiny of the young pair.

Early in the spring of that year occurred the death of Miss Laura Notley,
a very aged lady, great-aunt of young Leonidas Force, to whom by will she
left her large plantation, known as Greenbushes, appointing Mr. Abel Force
trustee of the estate during the minority of the heir.

This rich inheritance constituted the young midshipman a much more
eligible _parti_ for the youthful heiress of Mondreer than he had
previously been considered.

Even Mrs. Force acknowledged that she was satisfied as she had never quite
been before this.

The two plantations of Mondreer and Greenbushes joined, both fronting on
the bay, and together would form perhaps the richest estate in the
commonwealth.

And now, when Leonidas should return from his voyage, he might resign from
the navy, and, as he would by that time have reached his majority, he
might marry Odalite, after which the young couple might take up their
residence at Greenbushes and live there during the lifetime of their
parents.

This would certainly be a most delightful arrangement for all parties.

Letters were promptly written to Leonidas, both by his guardian and by his
sweetheart, informing him of his good fortune and congratulating him on
his happy prospects.

Odalite, in her crazy letter, wrote:

"I am so wild with delight that I am dancing when I am not writing, and
the reason why is this--that now you need never go to sea again, and we
shall never, never, never part more this side of heaven!

"You will give up