esting-place on her husband's shoulder, smoothed
back the hair from the heated brow, and wiped away the falling drops.

"My wife! my own precious little wife!"

How the word, the tone, thrilled her! her very heart leaped for joy
through all the pain of parting from one scarcely less dear. "My husband,"
she murmured, low and shyly--it seemed so strange to call him that, so
almost bold and forward--"my dear, kind friend, to be neither hurt nor
angry at my foolish weeping."

"Not foolish, dear one, but perfectly natural and right. I understand it;
I who know so well what your father has been to you these many years."

"Father and mother both."

"Yes; tutor, friend, companion, confidant, everything. I know, dear little
wife, that you are sacrificing much for me, even though the separation
will be but partial. And how I love you for it, and for all you are to
me, God only knows."

The tears had ceased to flow; love, joy, and thankfulness were regaining
their ascendancy in the heart of the youthful bride; she became again
calmly, serenely happy.

The journey was accomplished without accident. They were favored with
warm, bright days, clear, starlit nights; and on as lovely an afternoon as
was ever known in that delicious clime, reached Viamede.

Great preparations had been made for their reception; banners were
streaming, and flags flying from balconies and tree-tops. Mr. Mason met
them at the pier with a face beaming with delight; Spriggs with a stiff
bow. A gun was fired and a drum began to beat as they stepped ashore; two
pretty mulatto girls scattered flowers in their path, and passing under a
grand triumphal arch they presently found themselves between two long rows
of smiling, bowing negroes, whose fervent ejaculations: "God bless our
dear young missus an' her husband!" "God bless you, massa an' missus!"
"Welcome home!" "Welcome to Viamede!" "We've not forgot you, Miss Elsie;
you's as welcome as de daylight!" affected our tender-hearted heroine
almost to tears.

She had a kind word for each, remembering all their names, and inquiring
after their "miseries"; every one was permitted to take her small white
hand, many of them kissing it with fervent affection. They were introduced
to their "new master," too (that was what she called him), and shaken
hands with by him in a cordial interested way that won their hearts at
once.

Aunt Phillis was in her glory, serving up a feast the preparation of which
had exhaust