The Two Elsies A Sequel to Elsie at Nantucket, Book 10

e be

nown and si

LES

his couch, was listening intently for

he lifted his head slightly and greeted her with a

have tried to spare you the bitter truth as long as I could; bitter to you, love, and to me

l for his dear sake, that she might not disturb him

y get well; for I will pray day and night to God to cure you; and have you not taught me that H

ur thoughts; He may see best to take me now to the heavenly home towar

when you are such a help to me in go

other and better helpers

st of all. Perhaps it

g away the earthly fathe

omed t

of talking so much had exhausted his feeble frame, and closi

turb him, forcibly repressed her inclination to

de, gently fanning him, for

nderest love and sympathy-a look that impressed itself indelibly upon her memory and

atherless. I have been pleading with Him for you; pleading His promise to those who trust in Him-'I will be a God to thee and to thy seed after thee.' It is an eve

e whispered, pressing her

the loved sufferer lingered in pain and weakness

e joy of the Lord his strength and stay; yet were

Elsie asked one day, seeing

swered; "'mine iniquities are gone over mine hea

for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upo

'who forgiveth all

impossible that I ever can be pure in His sight who is 'of p

rist his Son cleanseth

tones of deep

Jesus; for he shall save

ontinueth ever, hath an

so to save them to the

ever liveth to make

us, that he might redee

re is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption. A

ll doubt and fear no more; I will trust His power to save; His imputed righteousness is mine,

ispering, "All is peace, peace, unclouded p

saying in moved tones, "Farewell, brother beloved

his eyes, drinking in his every word and look while displaying a power of self-control wonderful to see in a child of her years, burst into a passion of tears and

hysterics; and, resuming her self-control, the little gir

her, "think how blest he is; the angels are even now carrying him home with songs of

o without him, if you can. You couldn't have loved him half s

feeling, "if you could know how I loved him!-my dear, dear fa

you always loved him best; never cared particularly for me; and never

arly too; and you are all I have left." She threw an arm about h

to bed in the next room, and call Hannah. She per

ried her to the bed, while Evelyn hastened to call the nurse who had for the past week or

urning garments. She was careful that they should be of the deepest black, the finest quality, the most fashionable cut; to all of which the bereaved child-a silent und

I suppose, Miss? how ma

I do not care in the l

her mother. "It is something new for you to

lied the little girl in tremulous tones. "I think there

d I think you may well trust everything to my taste; it

e, out of earshot of the dressmaker, and whispered, "Mamma dear, don't put

for I know his business has paid very well indeed for years p

n, hot tears streaming from her eyes. "What

when you are older and wiser," returned her mother, with some severity of tone; for Evelyn's words had seemed to her

pable of loving any one but herself. Since her return home she had been too much occupied with his critical conditi

say on more than one occasion, that whatever he might possess at the time of his death would be left to his wife and child; yet had she

ger absorbed in her grief; it was present with her still, but her thoughts were div

n, being under age and heir to so

ardian too; and I trust he has not associated any one else with me. It would be too

her brother-in-law, said to him, "I want a little talk with you, Lester, for it is time for me to be arranging my plans. As yo

ntire estate to his wi

a grave but

me and two to

uld be the richer of the two, ha

appointed executrix, and gu

pleased with the arrangements Eric had made; "at the earnest solicitation of

it," she hissed at length; "had I not been the most innocent and unsuspicious of women I should have known bett

d Lester mildly, "and you greatly mistake in supposing I had anything to gai

eive a percentage for your trouble, you will be

he retorted, with some slig

as well as women. But surely I am associat

her's will I am sole

hall contest my rights if necessary," returned Laura, def

er, found her husband pacing to and fro

, and he answered with an accou

ready to oppose the carrying out of his dying wishes. But do not let it trouble you, Lester; she is ventin

g. "Ah me! if my poor brother

er father's vacant chair, her elbow resting on the table, her cheek in her hand, her eyes on the carpet at her feet,

pt entrance, and noted with surprise the flush

y, were you let into the secret of t

mamma?" asked the li

ship, and the care of the p

out those things. Must I have a guardian? Why s

o the sole guardianship of your Uncle Lester. You may well look astonished," she added, notin

rse, for nothing can release me from the obligation to keep

ain the young voice pro

bled by illness. And I blame myself also for leaving my husband to that influence; but I little

n a pained, indignant tone; "Uncle Lester is not a designing pers

child of your age is far more capable of judging

ntreated the little girl, unbidden tears springin

Elsie, and I foresee that they will soon ste

words to me?" cried Evelyn. "I woul