"But see that you find him before we find a minister," I said.
"The dominie! Here he is," said some one near us.
"Marry them," said another. "It is Captain Bell of the army, a brave and honorable man."
Does not true love, wherever seen, spread its own quality and prosper by the sympathy it commands? Louise turned to the good man, taking his hand.
"Come," said she, "there is no time to lose."
The minister came to our help. He could not resist her appeal, so sweetly spoken. There, under an elm by the wayside, with some score of witnesses, including Louison and the young Comte de Brovel, who came out of the coach and stood near, he made us man and wife. We were never so happy as when we stood there hand in hand, that sunny morning, and heard the prayer for God's blessing, and felt a mighty uplift in our hearts. As to my sweetheart, there was never such a glow in her cheeks, such a light in her large eyes, such a grace in her figure.
"Dear sister," said Louison, kissing her, "I wish I were as happy."
"And you shall be as soon as you get to Paris," said the young count.
"Oh, dear, I can hardly wait!" said the merry-hearted girl, looking proudly at her new lover.
"I admire your pluck, my young man," said M. de Lambert, as we shook hands. "You Americans are a great people. I surrender; I am not going to be foolish. Turn your horses," said he, motioning to the driver. "We shall go back at once."