“I hope not, dearest, but when the Lord’s time comes we must be ready to answer to our names. If I am to go now I would spend the few hours that remain to me listening to your sweet voice reading the Master’s Word.”
“Reuben,” said Loo, with sudden animation, “will you grant me a favour?”
“You know I will, whatever it be,” replied the hunter, with a languid smile; “what is it?”
“That we may be married to-night—within this hour,” said Loo, with decision.
“Why? Of what use to wed a dying man?”
“Because I want to nurse you as your wife, to the end, if it be His will that you shall go, and I wish to be for ever after called by your dear name.”
“It is a strange notion—a sweet one to me, dearest Loo. It shall be as you wish. Call father.”
At first the Highlander strongly objected to the wish of his child, but Loo knew how to overcome her father’s objections! In the course of half-an-hour Reuben sent for Mr Tucker. The MacFearsome’s medicine, whatever it was, was potent as well as patent. Reuben was able to talk with considerable energy when the pastor appeared—summoned, as he fancied, to prepare the dying man for the great change. Great, therefore, was his amazement when Reuben begged of him to make arrangements for performing the interrupted marriage ceremony within half-an-hour.
“But you seem to be dying, friend?” said the perplexed pastor.
“That may be so,” replied the hunter quietly, “but Loo wants to be wed before I die, and we’d better waste no time about it.”