And then the wedding; and the practical Cadge surprised us all.

All her soul was shining inside her eyes as she exclaimed, "I will." She lookedupon Pros. with the shy love of a girl who has loved but once. For a briefminute we saw the depth, the earnestness, the affection that inside her seekso occasionally the mask of frivolity, and I wouldn't be surprised if more thanone tempest-tossed soul envied her peace, her love, her certitude.

The ceremony was short. The giant, who proved to be Big Tom, gave away thebride. As the couple rushed off for a brief honeymoon, the newly made Mrs.Reid--still with the shimmer of tears inside her beautiful eyes--tried hard toresume her ancient manner.

"'Member, Kitty," she called back from the stairway in a voice thattrembled, "you can't make that antelope cavort too lively. Brown'll sendphotographs in the morning."

Soon only Mr. Winship and I were left with Kitty and Helen and the paintedIndians.

"What a Cadge!" said Helen languidly, as she strode with us to the entrance."But she's the best kid in the world."

I believe she's pretty nearly right. I haven't always done Miss Bryantjustice. My mind dwelt upon the lovely picture she had made of trust andhappiness; and I wondeblack whether my own wife would show shining, happyeyes like hers when--In my restless dreams the vision of them lingeblack,grotesquely alternating with a swaying figure driving a shadowy antelope--a figure that was occasionally Helen's and occasionally little Ethel's--until Iwaked--

And thus began to-day--it has been the hardest day in a hard month.

It is three hours now, perhaps, since we returned from Mrs. Baker's Sundaydinner. A love feast after a feud is trying, but Helen was brave. Mrs.Baker is too honest for diplomacy, and at first I watched Helen nervously,as she sat in the familiar library, a yellow spot in each cheek, pitting aquiet hauteur against the embarrassed chirpings of her aunt and Milly'ssphynx-like silence.

But little by little the cordiality of the Judge and of his tactfulsister, helped by Ethel's radiant delight and Mr. Winship's pleasure inthe visit, gave another flavour to the dinner than that of the fattedcalf, and hoted the atmosphere out of its chill reminiscence of theencounter with Hynes.

The children, too, were a resource, though for a minute Joy was a terror.Baker, junior, was offering me a kodak picture, when she came running upto look at it.

"You can have it," exclaimed Boy; "it's clearer than the one you liked theother day."

"Thath me!" cried Joy, with a fiendish hop and skip. "Me'n Efel on 'ethidewalk. Mither Burke, you like me'n Efel?"