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It was so unexpected that Helen could not speak, but she let her head rest on his boso hand crept into his, so that he was answered, and for a irl he kneas his own They could not talk together there very long, for Helenherher a question which made her start away froht--not so soon as that!"
"And why not, Helen?" he asked, with the ht, so there need be no ? I'd rather leave you as my wife than my betrothed Mother will like it better I hinted it to her and she said there was room for you in her love It will make me a better man, a better soldier, if I can say 'my wife,' as other soldiers do You don't knohat a char a man from sin, and if I should die I would rather you should bear my name and share in my fortune Will you, Helen, when the ceree your vows to me? I cannot wait till to-o back to-night, but youas with a chill, but sheher cloak and furs about her, Mark led her down to the sleigh, and taking his seat beside her, drove back to the farmhouse, where the supper waited for her Katy, to whom Mark first communicated his desire, war Helen, who, for so to look up to Katy as to an older sister, so sober, so earnest, so worown since Wilford went away
"It is so sudden, and people will talk," Helen said, knohile she said it how little she cared for people and s at Katy's reply: "They may as well talk about you a while as me It is not so bad when once you are used to it"
After Katy, Aunt Betsy was Mark's best advocate It is true this was not just what she had expected when Helen was married The "infair" which Wilford had declined was still in Aunt Betsy's ht be yet If Mark went back on the next train there could be no proper wedding party until his return, when the loaves of frosted cake, and the baked fowls she had seen in iible forly she threw herself into the scale beginning to balance in favor of Mark, and when at last old Whitey stood at the door ready to take the fa half bewildered, while Katy assured her that she could play the voluntary, even if she had not looked at it, that she could lead the children without the organ, and in short do everything Helen was expected to do except go to the altar with Mark