"A thousand thanks! God bless you for your kindness, sir!" exclaimed Leland, with emotion, warmly grasping the hand held out to him; and the two parted, each wending his homeward way.
Chapter Thirteenth.
"Humble love,
And not proud reason, keeps the door of heaven;
Love finds admission, where proud science fails."
—Young
Elsie was on the veranda looking for her husband's return to breakfast; for it was already past the usual hour.
"All alone, little wife?" he asked as he dismounted and came up the steps.
"Not now," she answered, putting her arms about his neck and looking up at him with her own fond, beautiful smile. "But your face is sad, my husband! What news?"
"Sad enough, my little friend; poor old Uncle Mose has been so barbarously handled that he cannot live through the day, Dr. Barton says: and two of the others are suffering very much."
Elsie's eyes were full. "Does Uncle Mose know it?" she asked.
"Yes, I told him, as tenderly as I could, and asked if he was ready to go. 'Yes, Mars Edard,' he said, with a triumphant smile, 'for I'se got fast hold ob Jesus.'"
Elsie's head was laid on her husband's shoulder, the bright drops were coming fast down her cheeks.