unpunished." Few if
any of them would escape a violent and terrible death at the last;
and--"after that the judgment"; from which none may be excused.

CHAPTER SEVENTEENTH.

"His house she enters, there to be a light
Shining within, when all without is night;
A guardian angel o'er his life presiding,
Doubling his pleasure, and his cares dividing."
--ROGERS' HUMAN LIFE.

At the set time our friends turned their faces homeward, leaving their
loving dependents of Viamede all drowned in tears. In the six weeks of
their stay, "Massa" an' "Missus" had become very dear to those warm,
childlike hearts.

Elsie could not refrain from letting fall some bright sympathetic drops,
though the next moment her heart bounded with joy at the thought of home
and father. The yearning to hear again the tones of his loved voice, to
feel the clasp of his arm and the touch of his lip upon brow and cheek and
lip, increased with every hour of the rapid journey.

Its last stage was taken in the Ion family carriage, which was found
waiting for them at the depot.

Elsie was hiding in her own breast a longing desire to go first to the
Oaks, chiding herself for the wish, since her husband was doubtless fully
as anxious to see his mother, and wondering why she had not thought of
asking for a gathering of both families at the one place or the other.

They had left the noisy city far behind, and were bowling smoothly along
a very pleasant part of the road, bordered with greensward and shaded on
either side by noble forest trees; she with her mind filled with these
musings, sitting silent and pensive, gazing dreamily from the window.

Suddenly her eyes encountered a well-known noble form, seated on a
beautiful spirited horse, which he was holding in with a strong and
resolute hand.

"Papa!" she exclaimed, with a joyous, ringing cry; and instantly he had
dismounted, his servant taking Selim's bridle-reins, the carriage had
stopped, and springing out she was in his arms.

"My dear father, I was so hungry to see you," she said, almost crying for
joy. "How good of you to come to meet us, and so much nicer here than in
the crowded depot."

"Good of me," he answered, with a happy laugh. "Of course, as I was in no
haste to have my darling in my arms. Ah, Travilla, my old friend, I am
very glad to see your pleasant face again." And he shook hands warmly.
"Many thanks to you (and to a higher pow