he sick man exclaimed, feebly holding out his hand. "Thank
God for sending you here!"

Edward took the offered hand in his, saying with an effort to steady his
tones, "I am glad indeed to be here, sir, if you can make use of me, but
very sorry to see you so ill."

The hand he held was cold and clammy, and death had plainly set his seal
upon the pale face on the pillow.

"Shall I send Ben for a physician?" Edward asked.

"Thank you. I have had one; he will be here again presently, but can do
little for me," the sick man answered, speaking slowly and with frequent
pauses. "Zoe, my darling, go into the next room for a moment, dear. I
would be alone with Mr. Travilla for a little while."

The weeping girl obeyed at once, her father following her with eyes that
were full of anguish.

"'Leave thy fatherless children, I will preserve them alive,'" repeated
Edward in low tones, tremulous with deep sympathy.

How this scene brought back that other, but a year and a half ago, when
his own father lay wrestling with the king of terrors!

"Yes, yes, precious promise! for she will soon be that, my poor darling!"
groaned the sufferer. "That I must leave her alone in the world, without
one near relative, alone in a strange land, penniless too, oh this is the
bitterness of death!"

"I will be a friend to her, sir," Edward said with emotion, "and so I am
sure will my mother and grandfather when they learn her sad story. Tell me
your wishes in regard to her, and I will do my best to see them carried
out."

As briefly as possible, for his strength was waning, Mr. Love made Edward
acquainted with the state of his affairs. He had retired from business the
previous year with a comfortable competence, and being somewhat out of
health, had undertaken a European tour with the hope of benefit, if not
entire recovery.

The improvement had been very decided for a time, but within the last few
days distressing news had reached him from America; news of the failure,
through the extensive peculation of one of its officers, of a bank in
which the bulk of his savings had been invested.

He had other property, but as the law made each stockholder liable for
double the amount of his stock, that too was swallowed up and he thus
utterly ruined.

The terrible shock of the disaster had so increased his malady that it had
become mortal; he was too utterly prostrated to rally from it, and knew
that his hours on earth were numbered.

He had a l