efore.

"Elsie!" he cried. "Oh that mamma could see you! she herself could hardly
have been a lovelier bride! yet these are wanted to complete your attire,"
opening a box he had brought, and taking therefrom a veil of exquisite
texture and design and a wreath of orange blossoms.

"How kind and thoughtful, Edward!" she said, thanking him with a sweet
though tearful smile; "but are they suitable for such a bridal as this?"

"Surely," he said. "Come, Dinah, and help me to arrange them."

Their labors finished, he stepped back a little to note the effect.

"O darling sister," he exclaimed, "never, I am sure, was there a lovelier
bride! I wish the whole world could see you!"

"Our own little world at Ion is all I should ask for," she responded in
tremulous tones.

"Yes, it must be very hard for you," he said; "especially not to have
mamma here, you who have always clung to her so closely. Such a different
wedding as it is from hers! But it's very romantic you know," he added
jocosely, trying to raise her drooping spirits.

"Ah, I am forgetting a piece of news I have to tell I met an American
gentleman and his daughter, the other day, fell into conversation with
him, and learned that we have several common acquaintances I think we were
mutually pleased, and I have asked him and his daughter in to the wedding;
thinking it would not be unpleasant to you, and we should thus have two
more witnesses."

"Perhaps it is best we should," she returned, in her sweet, gentle way,
yet looking somewhat disturbed.

"I'm afraid I ought to have consulted you first," he said. "I'm sorry, but
it is too late now His name is Love; his daughter--an extremely pretty
girl by the way--he calls Zoe."

Ben now came to the door to say that all was in readiness--the minister,
the doctor, and the other gentleman and a lady had arrived.

Edward gave his arm to his sister and led her into the room, to which
Lester had been carried a few moments before, and where he lay on a
luxurious couch, propped up with pillows into a half-sitting posture.

A touch of color came into his pale cheeks, and his eyes shone with love
and joy as they rested upon his lovely bride, as Edward led her to the
side of his couch.

Dinah and Ben followed, taking their places near the door and watching the
proceedings with interest and sympathy.

The minister stood up, the doctor, the stranger guests, the nurse also,
and the ceremony began.

Elsie's eyes were full of