ooked at her with a heavy sigh, and then added:

"I shrink from appointing the time of going, as a criminal might shrink
from giving the signal for his own execution."

"Then let some other agent do it," said Marian, smiling at his
earnestness. Then she added--"I shall go to Washington with Jacquelina.
Her party will set out on Wednesday next. And, dear Thurston, I shall
not like to leave you here, at all. I shall go with more content, if I
knew that you set out the same day for your journey."

"But fairest Marian, never believe but that if you go to Washington, I
shall take that city in on my way. There is a vessel to sail on the
first of February, from Baltimore, for Liverpool. I shall probably go by
her. I shall pass through Washington City on my way to Baltimore. Nay,
indeed! what should hinder me from joining your party and traveling with
you, since we are friends and neighbors, and go at the same time, from
the same neighborhood, by the same road, to the same place?" he asked,
eagerly.

A smile of joy illumined Marian's face.

"Truly," she answered, after a short pause. "I see no objection to that
plan. And, oh! Thurston," she said, holding out her hand, and looking at
him with her face holy and beaming with affection, "do you know what
fullness of life and comfort--what sweetness of rest and contentment I
feel in your presence, when I can have that rightly?"

"My own dear Marian! Heaven hasten the day when we shall be forever
united."

And he suddenly sprang from his horse--lifted her from her saddle, and
holding her carefully above the sloppy path, folded her fondly to his
bosom, pressed kisses on her lips, and then replaced her, saying:

"Dear Marian, forgive me! My heart was half breaking with its need to
press you to itself! Now then, dearest, I shall consider it settled that
I join your party to Washington. I shall call at Locust Hill and see
Mrs. Waugh, inform her of my destination, and ask her permission to
accompany her. By the way--when do you give your answer to that lady?"

"I shall ride over to the Hill to-morrow morning for that purpose."

"Very well, dearest. In that case I will also appoint the morning as my
time of calling; so that I may have the joy of meeting you there."

They had by this time reached the verge of the forest and the cross-road
where their paths divided. And here they bade a loving, lingering adieu
to each other, and separated.

That evening Marian announced to Edith