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"Ah, no," he answered with a smile; "I have only feared that your youth and my years might stand in the way of my winning you; that a girl so sweet, fresh, and young would feel herself thrown away upon a man of my age. It would be but natural that you should prefer a much more youthful and finer-looking man."

"I do not know where I could find a finerlooking one," she answered with an earnest sincerity that made him smile. "Your face is so benevolent in expression, so full of goodness and kindness, that I could not help loving and trusting you from the first."

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'Ah, darling, those are sweet words," he said, his eyes shining. "And you I found so patient and uncomplaining under suffering, so grateful for any and every kindness done you, every effort to give you relief, that I could but admire and end by loving you as I never loved before. Ah, dearest, that you return my love and have given yourself to me has made me the happiest of men! What a joy it will be to have you for my very own to love, cherish, and provide for!"

"And how sweet to me to belong to one who is so good and kind," she exclaimed, half-hiding her blushing face on his shoulder. "Oh, never before in all my life was I so happy as I am at this moment!"

CHAPTER XVII.

A WHISTLE from the direction of the house startled the lovers.

"Ah, that is Cal's call to me," said Arthur, "and I presume that the mail is received, a letter for me in it; perhaps one for you too, my Marian."

"Oh, I hope so," she said, "it is so long since I heard from my dear brother Sandy, my only

one now."

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'Ah," he said as they walked on to the house, for he had risen and given her his arm, "you must tell me about him, dearest, when opportunity offers. Your only brother? Well, I shall give you several more when you give yourself to me.

They found the family all on the porch, most of them with letters, papers, or magazines in their hands.

Elsie looked smilingly at Arthur and Marian as they came up the steps, something in their faces telling what had passed between them since they walked down to the beach together.

Arthur saw and returned her smile, and lead

ing Marian to her, said in joyous tones, "You were right, cousin. I followed your advice, and she, dear girl, has given herself to me; or rather we have given ourselves to each other."

His clear though not loud tones reached every ear, and in a moment all the relatives, old and young, had gathered about the happy pair with their hearty congratulations.

"I am truly glad, Miss Marian," said Calhoun, taking her hand in a warm pressure; "glad for both you and Art, who will, I am sure, make the best of husbands, and for myself also that I am to have so sweet a new sister." "And we are to be sisters too, it seems,' Mary said, giving the young girl a warm embrace.

"And Hugh and I are to be left desolate and alone," remarked Mr. Lilburn in a rueful tone. "Hugh, laddie, it is high time you were hunting up a wife."

"I think I shall have to try, father," returned the young man, coloring and laughing. "I contemplate robbing those who have robbed us; but a fair exchange is no robbery."

At that both the Conlys turned surprised, inquiring looks upon him.

"Ah," he laughed, "I perceive that I have stolen a march upon you. This, sirs," holding up a letter, "is from your sister Ella, accepting

my heart, hand, and fortune, which I offered her some days ago by letter.'

At that there was a murmur of surprise from the listeners, accompanied by looks of pleasure; then the brothers shook hands with Hugh, wishing him joy and saying they should be glad to receive him into the family.

"My! what a lot of weddings we seem to be going to have!" exclaimed Rosie. "I think I'll wait for mine till they are not quite such common affairs.”

"Particularly as there's nobody offering to pair off with you yet, my pretty young sister," laughed Walter. "I think, though, that the school-room is the best place for you and me for a while yet."

"Ah, Marian, here is a letter for you, my bonny lass; from your brother Sandy, I presume," said Mr. Lilburn, holding it out to her.

She took it eagerly, exclaiming, "Oh, yes, that is Sandy's writing! The dear laddie! how I have wanted to hear from him."

"Read it, lass, and tell us if he says he will come to us, and if so how soon," said the old gentleman.

She hastened to obey, and presently announced in joyous tones, "Oh, yes, Cousin Ronald, he is delighted with your kind offer, and will come as soon as he has finished his present engage

ment, which will be in about a couple of months."

In the mean time Arthur had opened and read a letter handed him by his brother. He looked much pleased with its contents.

"Cousin Elsie," he said, "do you think you can accommodate me here a few days longer?"

"I am quite certain of it, provided you will stay," she answered with her own bright, sweet smile. "You need not have the slightest fear that you are not as welcome as the sunlight."

"Thank you very much," he said; "then I shall stay perhaps another week. This letter is from Cousin Dick Percival. He writes he has come there-to Roselands-for change of scene and air, as well as to see his relatives; can stay some weeks, and will take charge of my patients for a time, which he has in fact already begun to do."

"How nice!" exclaimed Rosie. "Dick is a good boy to enable us to keep you a little longer, and when you go back he will, I hope, come and pay a little visit here himself."

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'Yes, I hope he will," said her mother. "I shall write and invite him to do so."

"Well, Cousin Art, I'm glad you are going to stay longer," said Walter, "but I hope none of us will be expected to get sick in order to give you employment."

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