e mother
love that makes her so in my eyes?"

"No; she is really a remarkably beautiful babe. Strangers pronounce her so
as well as ourselves. Do you feel quite strong enough to hold her?"

"Oh, yes, sir; yes, indeed! The doctor says he thinks there would now be
no danger in my lifting her, but----" laughingly, and with a fond look up
into her husband's eyes, as at that moment he entered the room, "that old
tyrant is so fearful of an injury to this piece of his personal property,
that he won't let me."

"That old tyrant, eh?" he repeated, stooping to take a kiss from the sweet
lips, and to bestow one on the wee face resting on her bosom.

"Yes, you know you are," she answered, her eyes contradicting her words;
"the idea of you forbidding me to lift my own baby!"

"My baby, my little friend," he said gayly.

Elsie laughed a low, silvery, happy laugh, musical as a chime of bells.
"Our baby," she corrected. "But you have not spoken to papa."

"Ah, we said good-morning out in the avenue. Dinsmore, since we are all
three here together now, suppose we get Elsie's decision in regard to that
matter we were consulting about."

"Very well."

"What matter?" she asked, looking a little curious.

"A business affair," replied her husband, taking a seat by her side.

"I have a very good offer for your New Orleans property, daughter," said
Mr. Dinsmore; "shall I accept it?"

"Do you think it advisable, papa? and you, Edward? I have great confidence
in your judgments."

"We do; we think the money could be better and more safely invested in
foreign stock; but it is for you to decide, as the property is yours."

"More safely invested? I thought I had heard you both say real estate was
the safest of all investments."

"Usually," replied her father, "but we fear property there is likely to
depreciate in value."

"Well, papa, please do just as you and my husband think best. You both
know far more about these things than I do, and so I should rather trust
your judgment than my own."

"Then I shall make the sale; and I think the time will come when you will
be very glad that I did."

Mr. Dinsmore presently said good-bye and went away, leaving them alone.

"Are not your arms tired, little wife?" asked Mr. Travilla.

"No, dear; ah, it is so sweet to have her little head lying here; to feel
her little form, and know that she is my own, own precious treasure."

He rose, gently lifted her in his arms, put himself in the eas