ent was a great thing, and the friends of the
young people received it in their several ways. Dr. Howe was surprised,
but disposed to make the best of it. "This is always the way," he said,
with his big, jolly laugh: "a man brings up his girls, and then, just as
soon as they get old enough to amount to something and be a comfort to
him, some other man comes along and carries them off. What? Mind, now,
Gifford, don't you go further away than Mercer!"

As for Mrs. Dale, she was delighted. "It is what I have always wanted; it
is the one thing I've tried to bring about; and if Lois will do as I tell
her, and be guided by a wiser head than her own, I have no doubt she will
be very reasonably happy."

"Doesn't a woman expect to be guided by her husband?" Mr. Dale asked.

"When he has sense enough," responded his wife significantly.

Miss Deborah and Miss Ruth were greatly pleased. "Of course they are very
young," said Miss Deborah, "but I'll have an eye to the housekeeping
until Lois gets older. Fortunately, they'll be so far away from dear
Adele, she cannot interfere much. Even with the best intentions in the
world, a girl's relations shouldn't meddle."

"They seem very much in love, sister," said Miss Ruth thoughtfully.

"Well, really, dear Ruth," replied her sister, "you are hardly capable of
judging of that; but you happen to be right; they are as much attached
as one can expect young people to be."

But Miss Ruth, as she stood that night before her cherry-wood
dressing-table, its brass rings glimmering in the candle-light, opened
Mr. Denner's daguerreotype, and, looking wistfully at the youthful face
behind the misty glass, said softly to herself, "Ah, well, it's good to
be young."

THE END.

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