e said
with a sob, stealing an arm around his neck and laying her cheek to his.
"You know--you cannot have forgotten--that it is just one year to-day
since dear papa died."

"Think what a blessed year it has been to him, love; think what a happy
meeting with him in that blessed land you may look forward to. There,
death-divided friends will meet never to part again, free from sin and
sorrow, pain and care, and to be 'forever with the Lord.'

"No; I have not forgotten what this day one year ago took from you, or
what it gave to me--my heart's best treasure."

He drew her closer, and again touched his lips to her cheek.

Smiling through her tears, she offered her lips.

"Oh, I'm very, very happy!" she said. "It has been a happy year in spite
of my grief for my dear, dear father, except when--O Ned, we won't ever be
cross to one another again, will we?"

"I trust not, my darling," he said. "It is too sharp a pain to be at
variance with one's other half," he added, with playful tenderness. "Is it
not, love!"

"Indeed, indeed it is!" she cried.

"See! this is to prove to you that I have not forgotten what a treasure I
secured a year ago," he said, reaching for an open jewel case that stood
on a table near at hand, and laying it in her lap.

"Pearls! Oh, how lovely! the most magnificent set I ever saw. Many, many
thanks, dear Ned!" she exclaimed in delight. "I shall wear them this
evening in honor of the day.

"But what shall I give you? I'm afraid I have nothing but--what I gave you
a year ago--myself."

"The most priceless treasure earth can afford!" he responded, clasping her
close to his heart.

"And your love," she said softly, her arm stealing round his neck again,
her shining eyes gazing fondly into his, "is more to me than all its gold
and jewels."

* * * * *

[Transcriber's notes:

Page 14 text reads: ". . . tempter; (smudge) having . . ."; the word "as"
was inserted in place of the smudge.

Page 70 missing word "bit" inserted to read ". . . not a bit cold . . .:]

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