"You are never ill?"
"No, never; and what a cause for thankfulness! What earthly blessing greater than good health?"
A little later Rupert came in to find Juanita alone, seated before the window, gazing out upon a beautiful landscape of prairie and forest, with richly wooded hills in the distance.
He stepped lightly across the floor, but her quick ear caught the sound of his footfalls. She turned, rose hastily, and threw herself into his outstretched arms.
"My beautiful! my beautiful!" he said, softly, holding her close with tenderest caresses.
"Ah, my love, my love, I would I were ten times more beautiful for your dear sake," she responded, gazing into his face with eyes full of happy tears.
"That would be quite impossible," he said, holding her off a little, the better to view her charms, then drawing her close again to repeat his caresses.
So happy in each other were they that the time did not seem long till they were summoned to the parlor, where the whole Baird family and the minister were in waiting.
It was a short, simple, yet impressive ceremony, and the spectators, though few in number, were very hearty and sincere in their congratulations at its close. Rupert felt that all he needed to complete his happiness was the presence of his parents, brothers, and sisters—all, alas, so far away.