ore.

"Married!" gasped Miss Mehitable, again.

"Yes," returned Araminta, firmly, "married. My mother was married, and
Ralph's mother was married, and your mother was married. Everybody's
mother is married, and Mr. Thorpe says it's the nearest there is to
Heaven. He was going to be married himself, but she died.

"Dear Aunt Hitty," cooed Araminta, with winning sweetness, "don't look
so frightened. It's nothing dreadful, it's only natural and right, and
I'm the happiest girl the sun shines on to-day. Don't be selfish,
Aunty--you've had me all my life, and it's his turn now. I'll come to
see you every day and you can come and see me. Kiss me, and tell me
you're glad I'm going to be married!"

At this juncture, Thorpe entered the kitchen, not aware that he was
upon forbidden ground. Attracted by the sound of voices, he had come
in, just in time to hear Araminta's last words.

"Dear child!" he said, his fine old face illumined. "And so you're
going to be married to the man you love! I'm so glad! God bless you!"
He stooped, and kissed Araminta gently upon the forehead.

Having thus seen, as it were, the sanction of the Church placed upon
Araminta's startling announcement, Miss Mehitable could say no more.
During breakfast she did not speak at all, even to Thorpe. Araminta
chattered gleefully of everything under the blue heaven, and even the
minister noted the liquid melody of her voice.

Afterward, she went out, as naturally as a flower turns toward the sun.
It was a part of the magic beauty of the world that she should meet
Ralph, just outside the gate, with a face as radiant as her own.

"I was coming," he said, after the first rapture had somewhat subsided,
"to tell Aunt Hitty."

"I told her," returned the girl, proudly, "all by my own self!"

"You don't mean it! What did she say?"

"She said everything. She told me hell was yawning at my feet, but I'm
sure it's Heaven. She said that she was my father and mother rolled
into one, and I was obliged to remind her that I was of age. You
thought of that," she said, admiringly. "I didn't even know that I'd
ever get old enough not to mind anybody but myself--or you."

"You won't have to 'mind' me," laughed Ralph. "I'll give you a long
rope."

"What would I do with a rope?" queried Araminta, seriously.

"You funny, funny girl! Didn't you ever see a cow staked out in a
pasture?"

"Yes. Am I a cow?"

"For the purposes of illustration, yes, an