The Wedge of Gold

ey sought a hotel, where they breakfasted; then waiting until business men had gone t

"Bless my soul, Jim!" said he, "no drift on the Co

wning asked for Mrs. and Miss Hamlin, and bade

ed the coming of those ladies into

mblings ceased a little, Browning's sister drew him a little a

said he, "I

meet her, tell her mother has a caller, and propose that we go to the library. When we get t

married?" as

plied hi

le?" Brown

ster; "but there is the door-bell. H

. Grace met and gre

, "you have been crying

all, and I have not been crying." And all th

the world is the matter? What

race. "Mamma has a caller in the

said, pettishly, "There! I have forgotten a letter I

ace closed the door behind her, t

She saw a manly fellow with hair cut short and full mustache. He saw a woman a little above the medium height, with hazel eyes, full and proud, a fair, clear-cut face, a slig

ising and opening his arms, in a voic

, Jack!" sprang into the outstretched arms, and

and both were shaking as with a burning ague. Browning sank upon a sofa, s

nd land, under the sunshine, in the deep mine's depths, by day and night. I love yo

than four years." But with a smile which was enchantment to Jack, she added: "If I could have found any o

he Stone Age, the burden of which was that the memory of her face had been his light in the darkes

own, because it had never been asked; how hard it had been for her to simulate contentment and cheerfulness,

be his wife, if nothing could be done in England, they would bid England good-bye and make their home beyond the sea. And she consented, adding: "If you

the happy pair arm-in-arm walking up and down the room.

ve been crying; wh

ut, Grace, was it fair to give me no hint, and thus permit Jack to surprise me into giving away

aid: "Are you quit

," he

happy as you des

h other until Jack gently separated them, and said: "Come, we must find Jim. Jim

I told him where you were and who was with you, he laughed and said: 'It is liable to be a case of working after hours. When the young lady succe

Mr. Sedgwick

st man in all this

ck!" sa

Browning. "I have seen him tested. He has bee

e. "But why did he run away? I

id Browning. "He knew how I felt, and he hoped I would not be disappointed,

l and considerate, but why did he not stop to ask h

"and this act of his shows an absence of

Grace blushed a litt

in. She warmly congrat

, and daily express the belief that the home paper is the worst specimen they ever saw, but let one of them absent himself or herself for a week, and the same newspaper from the old home is the one thing they want above a

elled, she never susp

been splendid. I wish I could have seen it. How it must have astonished

aughingly. "I will tell

re, danced around the room with it, holding it in both hands as though bating an angry bull, and suddenly dropping it, made a

nd when I meet the man I will te

him I would like to kiss h

so you can tell hi

him, Jack?"

d and said

mean, Jack?

Grace; and so d

" aske

" said

Why, who is there in -- that

gotten a somewhat diffident and reserved young man wi

ank into a seat. "O, J

"it was Sedgwick, and it was splen

?" aske

will deliver

Grace sprang up

little while. "But," he added, "I believe Jim would give more to see your imitatio

commit myself before ever gaining a gl

ing a friendly dispute, he threatened that unless I came to his terms he

not seen me," sai

ut, if he is your close friend, and has come to En

a little uncertain, when I went away, and now I, too, am going to the hotel. When my father comes, Grace, you may tell him I have been here, that I called, but that I am staying at the -- Hotel. If he comes and calls upon me, I shall be glad to

he drew her to him, and said: "We will give the old folks a chan

e is to be my home, your God my God." Then she bent and touched h