e seen my Phebe. She won't mind
me," answered Rose, moving on to the parlor.

"Look here," called Steve, "do advise them to hurry up and all be
married at once. We were just ready when Uncle fell ill, and now we
cannot wait a day later than the first of May."

"Rather short notice," laughed Rose, looking back with the doorknob in
her hand.

"We'll give up all our splendor, and do it as simply as you like, if
you will only come too. Think how lovely! Three weddings at once! Do
fly round and settle things there's a dear," implored Kitty, whose
imagination was fired with this romantic idea.

"How can I, when I have no bridegroom yet?" began Rose, with conscious
color in her telltale face.

"Sly creature! You know you've only got to say a word and have a famous
one. Una and her lion will be nothing to it," cried Steve, bent on
hastening his brother's affair, which was much too dilatory and peculiar
for his taste.

"He has been in no haste to come home, and I am in no haste to leave it.
Don't wait for me, 'Mr. and Mrs. Harry Walmers, Jr.,' I shall be a year
at least making up my mind, so you may lead off as splendidly as you
like and I'll profit by your experience." And Rose vanished into the
parlor, leaving Steve to groan over the perversity of superior women and
Kitty to comfort him by promising to marry him on May Day "all alone."

A very different couple occupied the drawing room, but a happier one,
for they had known the pain of separation and were now enjoying the
bliss of a reunion which was to last unbroken for their lives. Phebe sat
in an easy chair, resting from her labors, pale and thin and worn, but
lovelier in Archie's eyes than ever before. It was very evident that he
was adoring his divinity, for, after placing a footstool at her feet, he
had forgotten to get up and knelt there with his elbow on the arm of
her chair, looking like a thirsty man drinking long drafts of the purest
water.

"Shall I disturb you if I pass through?" asked Rose, loath to spoil the
pretty tableau.

"Not if you stop a minute on the way and congratulate me, Cousin, for
she says 'yes' at last!" cried Archie, springing up to go and bring her
to the arms Phebe opened as she appeared.

"I knew she would reward your patience and put away her pride when both
had been duly tried," said Rose, laying the tired head on her bosom with
such tender admiration in her eyes that Phebe had to shake some bright
drops from her own before she c