Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 8.djvu/341

Rh questions, but it was mere child's play: each heart was full to overflowing. We tried to hide our agitation from each other: that, too, was utterly useless. After what seemed an eternity,—but, upon gazing at the mantle clock, I found it was just ten mubutes,—I heard footfalls in the passageway, and knew my loved one was approaching.

I was watching the door,—in fact, we both were,—when a slight sound caused us to turn our heads; and there, holding aside the portière, with her beautiful face in a glow of expectation, stood Carina, in all her radiant youth and glorious beauty. I had not dreamed of the effect her sudden appearance might have upon Mr. Travers, and I was greatly shocked.

"My God! Elinor!" he wailed, and would have fallen had I not sprung to his side, and placed him in a chair. She crept to him, and, putting her soft, fair hand to his face, whispered, "Granpadre mio."

He rallied at that sweet sound; and, drawing her face to him, he looked searchingly into her lovely eyes, as he murmured,—

"Elinor over again. Great Heaven, I thank thee! It seems almost as if it must be she.—How can I ever thank you for this great happiness you have found for me in my old age? "

"By letting me share it, sir," I modestly answered.

He looked from her blushing face to my—shall I say sheepish?—one; and drawing her head to his shoulder, as she knelt beside his chair, he said,—

"Ah, is it so? Have I only found my darling to lose her again?"

"Ah, no!" she murmured.

"Indeed, sir, I would not dream of such a thing. We can all be happy together, cannot we?"

"I hope we can," he heartily cried, grasping my hand, and looking at me with worlds of thanks in his fine eyes.

I greatly feared opposition from the Signor, to my desire of carrying his idol far away over the seas, but was happily disappointed, insomuch as the handsome old fellow was intending to take unto himself another wife; and he informed me, kindly and frankly, that perhaps it might be better all around.

Our marriage was celebrated at the same altar that Elinor's was, but under how much happier circumstances!

A splendid sum was settled upon Carina by her paternal grandfather, and handsome gifts bestowed by all the relatives. My gift I reserved until reaching home; and I assure you she would part with any one of the others, ere she would lose one tiny particle of mine.

It was that statue of her mother. When I drew aside those curtains, and told her whom it was, she fell upon her knees as before a saint: she wept, she kissed the hands, the cheeks, she patted the hair, and strove to peer into the downcast eyes.

"Oh, my husband, how cold she is! If she would only speak! Ah, madre, madre! "

The artist in me thrilled, the heart of the man ached.

I lifted and soothed her, and upon my breast her grief was short.

But that is her daily shrine, and offerings of flowers are regularly placed as you now see them.

"And so you are married."

"I am happy to answer, yes."

"And your boarding-mistress—?"

"Is my wife; in a little while you shall see her."

And, oh. Jack, I did! Ah, such beauty! I was almost mad with