ely
fair to her to marry her man in a dress she gave me; but I'd stake my
life she'd rather I'd have him than any other woman."

It was an evening of surprises. At six, Adam lighted a big log,
festooned with leaves and berries so that the flames roared and
crackled up the chimney. The early arrivals were the young people who
had hung the mantel, gas fixtures, curtain poles and draped the doors
with long sprays of bittersweet, northern holly, and great branches of
red spice berries, dogwood with its red leaves and berries, and scarlet
and yellow oak leaves. The elders followed and piled the table with
heaps of food, then trailed red vines between dishes. In a quandary as
to what to wear, without knowing what was expected of him further than
saying "I will," at the proper moment, Robert ended by slipping into
Kate's room, dressed in white flannel. The ceremony was over at ten
minutes after six. Kate was lovely, Robert was handsome, everyone was
happy, the supper was a banquet. The Bates family went home, Adam
disappeared with Milly, while Little Poll went to sleep.

Left to themselves, Robert took Kate in his arms and tried to tell her
how much he loved her, but felt he expressed himself poorly. As she
stood before him, he said: "And now, dear, tell me what changed you,
and why we are married to-night instead of at Christmas, or in the
spring."

"Oh, yes," said Kate, "I almost forgot! Why, I wanted you to answer a
letter for me."

"Lucid!" said Robert. He seated himself beside the table. "Bring on
the ink and stationary, and let me get it over."

Kate obeyed, and with the writing material, laid down the letter she
had that morning received from John Jardine, telling her that his wife
had died suddenly, and that as soon as he had laid her away, he was
coming to exact a definite promise from her as to the future; and that
he would move Heaven and earth before he would again be disappointed.
Robert read the letter and laid it down, his face slowing flushing
scarlet.

"You called me out here, and married me expressly to answer this?" he
demanded.

"Of course!" said Kate. "I thought if you could tell him that his
letter came the day I married you, it would stop his coming, and not be
such a disappointment to him."

Robert pushed the letter from him violently, and arose "By----!" he
checked himself and stared at her. "Kate, you don't MEAN that!" he
cried. "Tell me, you don't MEAN that!"

"Why, SURE I