head, cooing softly, and its mate nestled down with outspread pinions,
pecking at the white muslin folds on Doctor Douglass' shoulder.

"Paracletes, dun plumed! Leo, let us accept them as happy auguries,
prophetic of divine blessing on our future work in the Master's
vineyard. My cousin, I wish you a very happy Christmas."

He had approached the organ where she sat, and held out his hand.

"Happy Christmas, Leighton, and many thanks to you for this
consecrating service in my place of prayer. After today, it will always
seem a more hallowed shrine, and before you leave us, we will gather
here as a family, and join in the celebration of the Holy Communion."

They stood a moment hand in hand, looking into each other's eyes; and
watching them, Miss Patty's heart swelled with pardonable pride in the
two, whom her loving arms had so tenderly cradled. Pinching her
brother's hand, as she walked with him under the velvet draperies, she
whispered:

"What a noble match for both! And he's only her second cousin."

Leo's eyes were wet with tears, which Doctor Douglass ascribed to
devotional fervor; and withdrawing her hand, she opened one of the
windows, and called the doves to the stone ledge, putting them very
gently out upon the ivy wreaths that clambered up the wall, and peeped
into the chapel.

"I believe you are sacristan here?" he said, pointing to the candles
that flared, as the wind rushed in.

"Yes, here I sweep, dust, decorate daily, allowing no other touch; and
here I bring my daintiest, rarest flowers, as tribute to Him who
tapestried the earth with blossoms, and sprinkled it with
perfumes--when? Not until just before the advent of humanity, whose
material kingdom was perfected, and furnished in anticipation of his
arrival."

Extinguishing the candles, she closed the old Bible, covered it with a
square of velvet, and hung the cross of hyacinths upon the folded hands
of one of the marble angels that upheld the altar.

"Pure-handed women are natural priestesses, meet for temple
ministration; and I have no doubt your exoteric labors here, merely
typify the secret daily sweeping out of evil thoughts, the dusting away
of motes of selfishness, the decorating with noble beautiful aims, and
holy deeds, whereby you sanctify that inner shrine, your own soul."

"Praise from you means so much, that you need not stoop to flatter me.
The very vestments of you Levites should exhale infectious humility;
and I especially n