Part 14 (2/2)

Then the wife drew off her own wedding-ring, and guided his feeble fingers to put it back in its place again. ”With this ring I thee wed,”

said the Major, repeating after her in a voice that was growing tired.

”Let us pray,” said Owen. They knelt, and the Major bowed his head, and put his hand over his eyes. ”Our Father, who art in heaven,” prayed Owen, ”hallowed be thy name.”

As he came to the benediction, the sun's last rays, sent from the golden line of Lonely Mountain, shot triumphantly under the apple-blossoms and entered the room; they shone on Madam Carroll's kneeling figure, and lighted up the old Major's silver hair--”that in the world to come, ye may have life everlasting. Amen.”

There was a silence. Then the Major took down his hand and tried to look from one to the other as they stood round his bed. His wife kissed him.

And then Sara, her eyes full of tears, came and kissed him also.

”Where is the clergyman?” said the Major to his wife, again supposing himself to be speaking apart. ”I ought to shake hands with him, you know.”

Owen came forward, and the Major bowed and put out his hand. Then he seemed to be forgetting all that had occurred. ”I am very tired, Marion,” he said, not complainingly, but as if surprised. ”I don't know what is the reason, but I am very tired.” They took out the cus.h.i.+ons, and he put his head down upon the pillow. In a few minutes he was asleep.

At late twilight Scar came back in the wagon with Judith Inches and Caleb. His mother was waiting for him on the piazza; she took him in her arms and kissed him several times. ”Why, mamma, you are crying!” said the boy, surprised. ”Are you sorry about anything, mamma?”

”Yes, Scar. But it is over now. Come up-stairs.”

The Major was awake; he looked very tranquil. Sara was sitting beside him. Scar went up to the bedside. ”It is Scar,” said Madam Carroll.

”Don't you remember him, Major? Little Scar?”

”Certainly,” said the Major. ”Of course I remember him; a little child.”

She took his hand and put it on the boy's head. The Major stroked the fair hair gently. ”Little Scar,” he murmured softly to himself. ”Yes, certainly I remember; little Scar.”

THE END.

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