at last they passed into the vestry, and, as Margaret decreed, all
must sign the marriage-certificate after the manner of Friends. De
Courval wrote his name, and the Pearl, "Margaret Swanwick," whereat
arose merriment and an erasure when, blushing, she wrote, "De Courval."
Next came Schmidt. He hesitated a moment, and then wrote "Johan Graf von
Ehrenstein," to the surprise of the curious many who followed, signing
with laughter and chatter of young tongues. Meanwhile the German
gentleman, unnoticed, passed out of the vestry, and thus out of my
story.

"What with all these signatures, it does look, Vicomte," said young Mr.
Morris, "like the famous Declaration of Independence."

"Humph!" growled Josiah Langstroth, "if thee thinks, young man, that it
is a declaration of independence, thee is very much mistaken."

"Not I," said Rene, laughing; and they went out to where Mistress
Gainor's landau was waiting, and so home to the mother's house.

Here was a note from Schmidt.

DEAR CHILDREN,

To say good-by is more than I will to bear. God bless you both! I
go at once.

JOHAN GRAF VON EHRENSTEIN.

There were tears in the Pearl's eyes.

"He told me he would not say good-by. And is that his real name, Rene?
No, it is not; I know that much."

Rene smiled. "Some day," he said, "I shall tell you."

In a few minutes came his honor, Mr. Justice Wilson, saying: "I feared
to be late. Madame," to Margaret, "here is a remembrance for you from
our friend."

"Oh, open it!" she cried. "Ah, if only he were here!"

There was a card. It said, "Within is my kiss of parting," and as she
stood in her bridal dress, Rene fastened the necklace of great pearls
about her neck, while Madame de Courval looked on in wonder at the
princely gift.

Then the Judge, taking them aside into Schmidt's room, said: "I am to
give you, Vicomte, these papers which make you for your wife the trustee
of our friend's estate, a large one, as you may know. My
congratulations, Vicomtesse."

"He told me!" said Margaret. "He told me, Rene." She was too moved to
say more.

In an hour, for this was not a time of wedding breakfasts, they were on
their way to Cliveden, which Chief-Justice Chew had lent for their
honeymoon.

* * * * *

So ends my story, and thus I part with these, the children of my mind.
Many of them lived, and have left their names in our history; others,
per