rnestness.

Alden bowed in silence as they entered the drawing-room together.

"Grandma told me to telegraph for you to come down at once, Alden. She
thinks that she can not be here many days, and perhaps not many hours.
And she wishes to see you at once. Will you go to her now, dear, or
would you rather go to your room first?"

"I will go to see madam first. I have but ridden from the Reindeer this
morning, and so I am neither fatigued nor dusted. I telegraphed you
yesterday that I was coming down to see you to-day, and my telegram
should have reached you yesterday; but it seems to have been delayed. I
left the city by the noon train and reached the village at midnight. So
I happened to meet Jerome just after he had taken my delayed telegram
from the agent, which he supposed to be a magical answer to your
message."

"The whole arrangements of telegraph wires, steam engines, gas-lights
and lucifer matches are magical to him," said Emma, smiling. "And now
stay here a moment, dear, and wait until I go and let grandma know that
you have come," she added, as she went out of the room.

Emma Cavendish found the old lady sitting up in her easy-chair by the
sunny window, looking very white and fragile and serene.

"Alden has come, grandma, dear. When Jerome went to send the telegram
off for him he found Mr. Lytton in Wendover. Mr. Lytton had just arrived
from Richmond and was about to start for Blue Cliffs. It was a
coincidence," said Emma, sitting down by the old lady.

"It was a providence, my dear child--a providence which has saved two
days in time that is very short. And so he is here?" said the old lady,
caressing the golden hair of the girl.

"Yes, dear grandma, he is here and waiting to come to you the moment you
are ready to receive him."

"Tell him to come now. And do you come with him."

Emma left the room, and soon returned with Alden Lytton.

"Welcome, my son! Come here and embrace me," said the old lady, holding
out her arms.

Alden went and folded the faded form to his bosom and pressed a kiss
upon the venerable brow, as the tears sprang to his eyes; for he saw
that she was dying.

"Alden, I am going home. I must go. I want to go. I have been here so
long. I am very tired. I have had enough of this. I want to go home to
my Father. I want to see my Savior face to face. I want to meet my
husband and my children, who have been waiting for me so long on the
other side. What are you crying for, Emma?"