to take him
up, papa, and let Cousin Elsie have a better look at him?"

"Yes, mamma; as you know, I am very proud to exhibit my son and heir,"
laughed the doctor, bending over the crib, gently lifting the babe and
placing it in Elsie's arms, smilingly outstretched to receive it.

"He is indeed a lovely little darling," she said, gazing on it with
admiring eyes, then softly pressing her lips to the velvet cheek. "There
is nothing sweeter to me than a little helpless babe. I hope he may live
to grow up if the will of God be so, and I think he is going to resemble
his father," she added with a most affectionate look up into the
doctor's face.

"If he equals his father in all respects, his mother will be fully
satisfied," Marian said with a happy little laugh.

"Ah, love is blind, dearest," was Arthur's smiling response.

"And well for me that it is in your case, as I have often thought," she
said in sportive tone, "for it seems to hide all my imperfections and
show you virtues that are wholly imaginary."

"Then it is a very good and desirable kind of blindness, I think,"
remarked Grandma Elsie with her pleasant smile.

"Now, Cousin Elsie, please tell me about Rosie," Marian requested with a
look of keen interest. "I suppose she is both very busy and very happy."

"Quite busy and happy too, I think, except when her thoughts turn upon
the approaching separation--partial at least--from home and its loved
ones."

"And doubtless that thought makes you sad too, cousin," sighed Marian.
"Ah, what a world of partings it is! and how sudden and unexpected many
of them are."

"Yes; but there are none in that happy land to which we are journeying.
Ah, what a blessed land it must be! no sin, no sorrow, pain or care, no
death, but eternal life at the foot of the dear Master whose love for
his redeemed ones is greater, tenderer than that of a mother for her own
little helpless child."

"How intense it must be!" said Marian musingly. "I can realise that now
as I never could before my little darling came. But now, about Rosie and
her betrothed. Do they not expect to settle somewhere in this region,
cousin?"

"I think that question remains yet to be fully discussed; it is
certainly still undecided. Probably they will not for some time settle
permanently in any one spot. Mrs. Croly is an invalid, almost constantly
being taken from place to place in search of health, and never satisfied
to be long separated from either husband