ubies, and that I am not worthy of
her."

"Well, Mr. Leland, we will let her be the judge of that," the father
answered. "Shall we not, little wife?" turning to Elsie with a look that
had in it all the admiring homage of the lover, as well as the tender
devotion of the husband.

"Yes," she sighed, seeming already to feel the pang of parting with her
child.

"Do you mean that I may speak now?" Lester asked, half-incredulous of his
happiness.

"Yes," Mr. Travilla said; "though not willing to spare our child yet, we
would not have you part in doubt of each other's feelings. And," he added
with a kindly smile, "if you have won her heart, the want of wealth is not
much against you. 'Worth makes the man.'"

They walked home together--Elsie and her husband--sauntering along arm in
arm, by the silvery moonlight, like a pair of lovers.

There was something very lover-like in the gaze he bent upon the sweet,
fair face at his side, almost sad in its quietness.

"What is it, little wife?" he asked.

"Ah, Edward, how can we spare her--our darling, our first-born?"

"Perhaps we shall not be called upon to do so; he may not have won her
heart."

She shook her head with a faint smile.

"She has tried to hide it--dear innocent child! but I know the symptoms; I
have not forgotten." And she looked up into his face, blushing and happy
as in the days when he had wooed and won his bride.

"Yes, dearest; what a little while ago it seems! Ah, those were gladsome
days to us; were they not?"

"Gladsome? Ah, yes! their memory is sweet to this hour. Yet I do not sigh
for their return; I would not bring them back; a deeper, calmer
blessedness is mine. My dear husband,

"'I bless thee for the noble heart,
The tender and the true,
Where mine hath found the happiest rest
That e'er fond woman's knew;
I bless thee, faithful friend and guide,
For my own, my treasur'd share,
In the mournful secrets of thy soul,
In thy sorrow and thy care.'"

"Thank you, my darling," he said, lifting her hand to his lips, his eyes
shining. "Yes;

"We have lived and loved together,
Through many changing years,
We have shared each other's sorrows,
And we've wept each other's tears.

"Let us hope the future
As the past has been, may be,
I'll share with thee thy sorrows,
And thou my joys with me."

THE END

THE MERRY LYNN SERIES

By HARRIET PYNE GROVE

Cloth Bou