or son--her only child."

"Ah, I'm afraid that will make it hard for Rosie," said Marian. "By the
way, I think they would better bring her here and put her in our
doctor's care," she added with a smiling and arch look up into her
husband's face.

"Ah, my dear!" he said with a slight smile and a warning shake of the
head, "don't allow yourself to take to the business of hunting up cases
for me; especially chronic and incurable ones."

"But is she so bad as that?" asked Marian, turning to her cousin Elsie
again.

"I suppose so," Elsie replied. "I have never been told that her case was
considered incurable, but I know that she has been an invalid for many
years."

"And with no daughter to nurse and care for her! She may well deem
herself fortunate in getting one so sweet and bright as Rosie."

"Rosie has had no experience as a nurse," said her mother, "but she is
kind-hearted and I hope will prove a pleasant and helpful daughter to
her husband's mother; as she has been to her own."

"I haven't a doubt of it. And is the wedding to come off soon, cousin?"

"The day has not yet been set," replied Mrs. Travilla, with a slight
sigh at thought of the parting that must follow, "but we expect to fix
upon one in the latter part of June; which I hope will give you time to
grow strong enough to make one of our party. But I fear I am keeping you
talking too long," she added, rising and laying the babe, who had fallen
asleep again, gently back among its pillows.

"I am sure your call has done me good, and I hope you will come again
soon, dear cousin," Marian said, receiving and returning a farewell
caress.

"Sometime when your doctor gives permission," was Elsie's smiling reply.
"Never mind coming down with me, Arthur," she added, "I know the way
and have a son waiting there on the veranda to hand me into the
carriage. So good-bye, and don't consider it necessary to wait for
sickness among us to call you to Ion."

CHAPTER VII.

Left alone upon the veranda, Harold sat scanning the columns of the
morning paper, when a light step drew near, a pleasant voice said,
"Good-morning," and looking up he found Mrs. Calhoun Conly, with a babe
in her arms, close by his side.

"Oh! good-morning to you, Cousin Mary," he returned, hastily rising and
gallantly handing her to a seat. "I am glad to see you and the little
one looking so well."

"Thank you," she returned merrily, "it would be a pity if we failed to
keep well with