" and he held out his hand. "You have indeed
been like a son to me from the very first. You will be good to my little
girl, and do not wait to claim her; take her very soon, and do not let her
fret for me. Raise me up, Traverse! Ah! that is easier," as Guy seated
himself on the bed, and raised his head and shoulders on a pillow with his
arm.

Supported by Guy's arm, and with his head leaning against Guy's shoulder,
Mr. Sherwood embraced his wife, who was led to the bedside by Jarvis, and
Dexie bowed her head from the sight of the despair written on her mother's
face.

The family were soon assembled around the bed. Mrs. Jarvis lifted Flossie
in her arms, and telling her to "kiss papa good-night," laid her on the bed
beside him a moment, then carried her from the room, and the few loving
words spoken to Georgie did much to make him grow up a true, good man.

Gussie was overcome with grief when she realized that her father was dying,
but Louie's loving arm was thrown around her, and she restrained her sobs
to hear her father's last few words.

It was a sad scene. The dying father, supported in the arms of Guy
Traverse, was looking for the last time on the faces of his family. Dexie,
kneeling close to where Guy sat, with one of her father's hands clasped in
both her own, was silently weeping. Mrs. Sherwood was kneeling on the
opposite side of the bed, her face hidden against her dying husband's
breast. Louie and Gussie stood near, their arms around each other's waists;
while Mrs. Jarvis stood behind them, her arms extended across their
shoulders, as if she would willingly protect them from this anguish if she
could. Poor Georgie sobbed at the foot of the bed, a picture of childish
woe.

The minister's words of peace and comfort, spoken at this moment, were
sorely needed, for the prayer had scarcely ended when Mrs. Sherwood raised
her eyes to her husband's face and saw the change that passed over it. A
few murmured words fell from his lips as he looked into her face, then his
eyes closed and his spirit was gone to the God who gave it.

Guy laid the form gently back on the bed, and something in his face must
have told the stricken wife that all was over, for her piercing shriek
chilled everyone to the heart.

Guy was just in time to catch Dexie's fainting form and bear her from the
room, when the children round the bedside understood that they were
fatherless.

CHAPTER XLIII.

Many changes took place in the