dding."

"And you like this one better? and the veil that goes with it?" Maud
returned with a joyous blush and smile.

"Oh, yes, yes, certainly; it is far handsomer, and so becoming! But how
did you get it up so quickly?"

"I didn't. It was dear Cousin Elsie's wedding dress, and she has lent it
to me to be married in. It was just like her--always so kind and
thoughtful of others."

"That is true, indeed!" said Lucilla; "I do think that in all this world
there is not a kinder person than dear Grandma Elsie."

Just then the little flower girls appeared in the doorway and uttered
their exclamations of surprise and delight at the beauty of the bride's
attire. Their mothers were just behind them, and Violet seemed as much
surprised and pleased as the children. She recognized the dress and
veil--which she had seen a number of times in the course of her life,
and was well content that her mother had seen fit to lend them to Maud
for this important time when she could not provide such luxuries for
herself.

"The dress fits you wonderfully well, Maud; and both it and the veil are
very becoming," Violet said. "I am glad mamma had them, and thought of
producing them for this occasion."

"Yes, it was very, very kind in Cousin Elsie," returned the bride,
blushing with pleasure.

"And you are all ready to go down now, are you not?" asked Mrs.
Dinsmore. "Everybody is here and waiting for the ceremony to begin. The
appointed hour has come, too, and here is the minister," as the Rev. Mr.
Keith appeared in the doorway.

At that the little procession formed at once and passed down the broad
stairway, through the flower-bedecked hall, and into the large parlour
where the guests were gathered.

All went well; the ceremony was short but impressive, the
congratulations were warm and sincere, and the wedding breakfast that
followed a grand affair. Soon after it was over the bride changed her
wedding dress for a neat and pretty travelling one. Then she and her
new-made husband bade good-bye, entered a carriage, and started for a
train that was to carry them on their homeward way.

Most of the other relatives from a distance left for their homes during
the afternoon or evening. Captain Keith had announced his intention to
leave that night by a later train. He was to start from Woodburn, so he
bade adieu to all the friends but that family, then went home with his
friend, Captain Raymond.

After a late dinner there, he found and se