r employment helped to speed the time,--a truly
charming occupation,--the preparation of a home for his bride.

Mrs. Walton assisted the young lawyer in the agreeable task of selecting
furniture, and making those arrangements which demanded a woman's hand.

A never-failing happiness flowed to Maurice from the exchange of letters
with Madeleine. Each day commenced with the sending, and closed with the
receiving, of one of these precious paper messengers. But Madeleine's
letters, by no means, came under the head of "love letters." She could
not have poured out upon paper, any more than she could have spoken, the
fulness and depth of her affection; but Maurice found inexhaustible
delight in what she wrote, which was always suggestive of so much left
unsaid.

Madeleine rented her house to Ruth, who now became the head of the
establishment which "Mademoiselle Melanie" had rendered so popular. At
Madeleine's suggestion, Ruth had written to her widowed mother and young
sister and requested them to make their future home with her. That
letter was read by streaming eyes, and its contents filled to
overflowing two joyful hearts.

Mrs. Lawkins was to accompany Madeleine to Charleston and take charge of
her household there.

Madeleine proposed closing her establishment on the day of her wedding;
for she well knew that her _employees_ would desire to witness the
ceremony. And she further evinced her thoughtfulness by ordering a
bountiful collation to be spread in the apartments usually devoted to
business, at the same time that the table was prepared for her own
bridal party in the apartments beneath.

Madeleine and Bertha had both apprised their bridegrooms elect that they
preferred to forego the French custom of receiving the usual
_corbeille_, containing laces, India shawls, jewelry, etc., etc., adding
that some simple bridal token would be more acceptable.

The day before the wedding arrived, and with it Maurice and the Waltons.

We will not attempt to paint the meeting between Maurice and
Madeleine,--it was too full of joy for language, too sacred for
description,--but pass on to the events of the evening when the exchange
of bridal gifts was made.

Maurice fastened about Madeleine's white throat a small chain of
Venetian gold, to which was suspended a cross of rare pearls; and on the
back of the cross were inscribed these words of the prophet,--

"Labor is worship."

M. de Bois, knowing that