whom it most concerns. It is for
her happiness we are most anxious--so entirely is that my object that I
would not influence her determination even by a look. I will not even
ask to be present when you place my proposal before her; but I must
repeat, sir, if you design to do it, there is no time to be lost, for I
must be on my way to Canada to-morrow."

"So be it then--she shall choose for herself, and Heaven direct her
choice!"

"Amen!" responded Captain Percy, as Mr. Sinclair turned from the door.
He heard him ascend the stairs, and ask and receive admission to his
daughter's room. Then he counted the seconds as they grew into
minutes--the minutes as they extended to a quarter of an hour--a
half-hour--and rolled slowly on towards the hour which lacked but little
to its completion, when his straining ear caught the sound of an opening
door, and then Mr. Sinclair's sedate step was heard slowly descending
the stairs and approaching the study. Captain Percy met him at the door,
and looked the inquiry which he could not speak. Mr. Sinclair replied to
the look, "She is yours!"

"May I not see her and receive such a confirmation of my hopes from her
own lips!"

"Not to-night--I have persuaded her to retire at once--she needs repose,
and we must be early astir. Your marriage must for many reasons be kept
secret at present, and as I could not, I fear, find witnesses here on
whose silence I could rely, we will accompany you in the morning to
Major Scott's, and there, in the presence of his wife and sister, your
vows shall receive the sanction of the church. You must have some
preparation to make, and I will bid you good night, for there are
certain legal preliminaries necessary to the validity of a marriage
here, to which I must attend this evening--unusual as the hour is."

There was a strange mingling of emotion in the hearts of the lovers as
they stood side by side within that room in the gray dawn of the next
morning. In a few hours they were to part, they knew not for what
distance of space or duration of time. It might be that they should
never after this morning look upon each other's faces in life; yet, ere
they parted, there was to be a bond upon their souls which should make
_them_ ever present to each other, should give them the same interests,
should, as it were, mould their beings into one. Sacred bond of God's
own forming, which thus offers the support of a spiritual and
indissoluble union amidst the separat