second and third followed--and then arose a soft bewitching
strain of music; during which the friends of the newly married pair came
forward to offer their congratulations, and wishes for their long life
and happiness.

Among the party present was Colonel Boone; and approaching Algernon and
Ella--who were now seated where the solemn rite had taken place--he took
the hand of each, and said, in a voice of some emotion:

"My children--for ye seem to me as such--may you both live long and be
happy. You've both o' ye had a deal o' trouble since I first saw ye--and
that's but a little while ago--but I hope its now over. Don't think I
want to flatter, sir, when I say I think you're a brave and honorable
young man, and that you've got a wife every way worthy of ye--and she a
husband worthy o' her--and that's saying much. God bless ye both! and ef
you ever need a friend, call on Daniel Boone."

With this he shook their hands heartily, and strode away.

The next who advanced to them was Captain Patterson--the officer, it
will be remembered, whose life Algernon so generously saved at the risk
of his own. After the usual congratulations, he took our hero by the
hand, and said, with deep feeling:

"Sir! I feel that to you, for risking your own life to save mine, I owe
a debt I can never cancel; and an attempt to express to you in words
my sense of obligation for the noble act, would be worse than vain:
therefore accept this, as a slight testimonial of the gratitude of one
who will ever remember you in his prayers, and wear your image in his
heart."

As he concluded, Captain Patterson placed in the hands of Algernon a
sealed packet, and moved away.[25]

"Well, its all over," said Mrs. Younker, coming up in turn to wish the
young couple joy. "I al'ays 'spected as how it 'ud come to this here.
Goodness, gracious, marsy on me alive! what a flustration they has made
about ye, sure enough, for sartin--han't they? I never seed the like
on't afore in all my born days. Why, it's like you war governor's folks,
sure enough. And my own Ella, too; and the stranger as com'd to my house
all bleeding to death like! My! my!--what strange doings Providence
does! Well, its to be hoped you'll al'ays git bread enough to keep
from starving, and that you won't fight nor quarrel more nor is
necessitous--as the Reverend Preacher Allprayer said, when he married
me and Ben together. Ah!--poor Ben!--poor Ben!--I'm a lone widder now.
Well, the Lord's wi