versing on the subject of his marriage, which the fair girl desired
put off until after Mrs. Wentworth's death, which her father told her
could not be postponed many weeks. Her lover endeavored to combat her
resolution, by declaring that while Alfred would always get a furlough
if his wife was still alive at the expiration of its time, he could
neither ask nor expect to obtain any further extension. They were in
the midst of a warm discussion, when Dr. Humphries entered. He had
just come from Mrs. Wentworth's room, and appeared exceedingly sad.

"How is Mrs. Wentworth this morning, father?" inquired Emma, as the
doctor entered, and observing his mournful expression, she added,
"What is the matter."

"Mrs. Wentworth has recovered her reason, and is dying," he replied.

"Poor Alfred," observed Harry, "this hour will not take him by
surprise, but it cannot fail to add to his grief."

"Has he been here this morning," asked the doctor.

"Not yet," answered Harry, "but," he continued, looking at his watch,
"he will soon be here, for it is now his usual hour of coming."

"I trust he will not delay," said Dr. Humphries "for his wife cannot
last three hours longer."

"In that event, I had better go and look for him," Harry observed "he
never leaves his lodgings except to come here, and there will be no
difficulty in finding him."

Rising from his seat, he took up his hat and departed for his friend.
Before he had gone two squares he met Alfred, and without saying
anything to him, retraced his steps to the doctor's window.

"My friend" said Doctor Humphries as Alfred entered, "the hour has
come, when you must summon all your fortitude and hear with
resignation the stern decree of the Almighty. Your wife is perfectly
sane this morning but she is dying. On entering her chamber a while
ago, I found her quite composed and perfectly sensible of the life she
had passed through. Though she did not recognize me, an intuitive
knowledge of who I was, possessed her, and her first request was that
you should be sent to her. Your little boy is now with her and she
awaits your arrival."

Taking Alfred by the hand and followed by Harry, the doctor led the
way to the chamber of the dying wife. The child was sitting on the bed
with his mothers arms around his neck. Emma, Elsie, and the old negro
were standing at the bedside looking sorrowfully at Mrs. Wentworth. As
soon as her husband entered, they made way for him to approach.

"Alf