ar
relative by the war, and--to wee Elsie's delight--the meeting between
"Aunt Lottie and mamma," seemed one of unalloyed pleasure.

Unlike those of her older sisters, May's was a private wedding--none but
the family and a few near relatives and connections being present. Though
deeply attached to Harry, and trusting him fully, much of sadness was
unavoidably mingled with her happiness as she prepared for her bridal. It
could not be otherwise, as she thought of Fred in his soldier grave,
Harold soon to follow, and Sophie--whose had been the last wedding in the
paternal home, and so gay and joyous a one--now in her widow's weeds and
well-nigh broken-hearted.

"Mine will not be a gay bridal," May had said, in arranging her plans;
"and I will just wear my traveling suit."

But Harold objected. "No, no, May; I want to see you dressed as Rose and
Sophie were--in white, with veil and orange blossoms. Why shouldn't your
beauty be set off to the best advantage as well as theirs, even though
only the eyes of those who love you will look upon it?"

And so it was; for Harold's wishes were sacred now.

They were married in the morning; and after a sumptuous breakfast the
bridal attire was exchanged for the traveling suit, and the new-made
husband and wife set out upon their wedding trip. It was very sad for poor
May to leave, not only childhood's home, parents, and brothers and sisters
whose lease of life seemed as likely to be long as her own, but to part
from the dying one to whom she was most tenderly attached.

But Harry promised to bring her back; and she was to be immediately
summoned, in case of any marked unfavorable change in the invalid.

Then, too, Harold was so serenely happy in the prospect before him, and
talked so constantly of it as only going home a little while before the
rest, and of how at length all would be reunited in that better land, to
spend together an eternity of bliss, that it had robbed death of half its
gloom and terror.

It was Harold's earnest desire that all his dear ones should be as gay and
happy as though he were in health; he would not willingly cast a shadow
over the pathway of any of them, for a day; especially the newly married,
whose honeymoon, he said, ought to be a very bright spot for them to look
back upon in all after years.

So Lottie felt it right to let her heart swell with gladness in the new
love that crowned her life; and the time passed cheerfully and pleasantly
to the