servants--in two hours to the seaport
where they were to take the steamer for New Orleans; for their honeymoon
was to be spent at Viamede, Elsie still adhering to the plan of a year
ago.

Her adieus were gayly given to one and another, beginning with those least
dear; very very affectionately to Mrs. Travilla, Aunt Wealthy, Rose, and
the little Horace (the sleeping Rosebud had already been softly kissed in
her crib).

Her idolized father only remained; and now all her gayety forsook her, all
her calmness gave way, and clinging about his neck, "Papa, papa, oh papa!"
she cried, with a burst of tears and sobs.

"Holy and pure are the drops that fall,
When the young bride goes from her father's hall;
She goes unto love yet untried and new--
She parts from love which hath still been true."

It was his turn now to comfort her. "Darling daughter," he said, caressing
her with exceeding tenderness, "we do not part for long. Should it please
God to spare our lives, I shall have my precious one in my arms in a few
short weeks. Meantime we can have a little talk on paper every day. Shall
we not?"

"Yes, yes, dear, dear, precious father."

Mr. Travilla stood by with a face full of compassionate tenderness.
Putting one hand into her father's, Elsie turned, gave him the other, and
together they led her to the carriage and placed her in it. There was a
hearty, lingering hand-shaking between the two gentlemen. Mr. Travilla
took his seat by Elsie's side, and amid a chorus of good-byes they were
whirled rapidly away.

"Cheer up, my dear," said Rose, leaning affectionately on her husband's
arm; "it is altogether addition and not subtraction; you have not lost a
daughter but gained a son."

"These rooms tell a different tale," he answered with a sigh. "How
desolate they seem. But this is no time for the indulgence of sadness. We
must return to our guests, and see that all goes merry as a marriage bell
with them till the last has taken his departure."

CHAPTER THIRTEENTH.

"My bride,
My wife, my life. O we will walk this world
Yok'd in all exercise of noble aim
And so through those dark gates across the wild
That no man knows."
--TENNYSON'S PRINCESS.

Elsie's tears were falling fast, but an arm as strong and kind as her
father's stole quietly about her, a hand as gentle and tender as a woman's
drew the weary head to a r