know the old saying:

"'Something borrowed,
Something blue,
Something old and
Something new.'

I'll borrow these, put a bow of blue ribbon on my under waist, and--ah!
the dress and this lovely lace, veil and all, will be enough of
something old!" she concluded with a light, gleeful laugh.

"Dear child, don't be superstitious!" Mrs. Travilla said with a rather
sad sort of smile, putting an arm round her and giving her a tender
kiss. "I hope and trust you will be very happy with dear Dick, for he is
a noble fellow; but it will depend more upon yourself--upon your being a
true, good, and loving wife--than on what you wear when you give
yourself to him, or at any other time."

"Yes, I know, dear cousin," said Maud, returning the caress; "that was
only my jest. I wouldn't be afraid to marry Dick in any kind of dress,
or willing to marry anybody else in any kind of one. I didn't know that
I was in love with him till he proposed, but now I feel that it would be
impossible to love anybody else; almost impossible to live without him
and his love."

"I am glad, very glad to hear it," Elsie said, "and I hope and expect
that you will make a very happy couple--sharing each other's cares,
toils, and troubles, as well as the joys and blessings of life."

"Yes, cousin dear; if we don't it shall not be my fault," Maud returned
with emotion. "I do really want to be everything to Dick and make his
life as bright and as happy as I can; and I know that is just how he
feels toward me, dear fellow!"

"That's right, Maud," said Mr. Dinsmore heartily, "and I think you and
Dick have every prospect of making a happy couple. Well," rising as he
spoke, "I am going down to have a little chat with father and mother,
then must hasten home to attend to some matters about work to be done on
the plantation. I suppose you and your package will be ready to be taken
along, Maud?"

"Yes; if Cousin Elsie is willing to trust the handsome thing in my care
now," Maud replied, looking inquiringly at Mrs. Travilla.

"Quite willing; for I know you will be careful of them," Mrs. Travilla
replied with her own sweet smile. "I will fold them up and get the
package ready while you resume the dress in which you came," she added
as her brother left the room.

"Maud," said Mrs. Embury, "if I were you I should keep this thing a
secret from everybody but your sister and Cousin Sue, until your
appearance in all t