had offered her his hand, and had been accepted.
At first we could hardly credit the story; but when Mrs. Hudson
herself confirmed it we gave it up, and again I wondered if I should
be invited. All the nicest and best chestnuts which I could find, to
say nothing of the apples and butternuts, I carried to her, not
without my reward either, for when invitations came to us I was
included with the rest. Our family were the only invited guests, and I
felt no fears this time of being hidden by the crowd.

Just before the ceremony commenced there was the sound of a heavy
footstep upon the outer porch, a loud knock at the door, and then into
the room came Mr. Gilbert! He seemed slightly agitated, but not
one-half so much as Mrs. Hudson, who exclaimed, "William, my son, why
are you here?"

"I came to witness my sister's bridal," was the answer; and turning
toward the clergyman, he said, somewhat authoritatively, "Do not delay
for me, sir. Go on."

There was a movement in the next room, and then the bridal party
entered, both starting with surprise as they saw Mr. Gilbert. Very
beautiful did Mabel look as she stood up to take upon herself the
marriage vow, not a syllable of which did one of us hear. We were
thinking of Mr. Gilbert, and the strange words, "my son" and "my
sister."

When it was over, and Mabel was Mrs. Sherwood, Mr. Gilbert approached
Mrs. Hudson, saying, "Come, mother, let me lead you to the bride."

With an impatient gesture she waved him off, and going alone to her
daughter, threw her arms around her neck, sobbing convulsively. There
was an awkward silence, and then Mr. Gilbert, thinking he was called
upon for an explanation, arose, and addressing himself mostly to Mr.
Sherwood, said, "I suppose what has transpired here to-night seems
rather strange, and will undoubtedly furnish the neighborhood with
gossip for more than a week, but they are welcome to canvass, whatever
I do. I can't help it if I was born with an unusual degree of pride,
neither can I help feeling mortified, as I many times did, at my
family, particularly after she," glancing at his mother, "married the
man whose name she bears."

Here Mrs. Hudson lifted up her head, and coming to Mr. Gilbert's side,
stood proudly erect, while he continued: "She would tell you he was a
good man, but I hated him, and swore never to enter the house while he
lived. I went away, took care of myself, grew rich, married into one
of the first families in Hartf