We are both so young that I should not have spoken yet but for the peculiar circumstances in which we are placed; but I truly, dearly love the sweet girl and earnestly desire to be given the right to protect, provide for and cherish her as my dearest earthly treasure so long as we both shall live." "But your friends, your relatives ?" "I think my mother would not object, if she knew all.

But I am of age, so have an undoubted right to act for myself even in so vitally important a matter." "Then if my darling loves you, let me see you united before I die." At this moment the door of the adjoining room opened and Zoe's voice was heard in imploring, tearful accents: "Mayn't I come back now?
O papa, I cannot stay away from you any longer!" Edward hastened to her, and taking both her hands in his, "Dear Miss Zoe," he said, "I love you, I feel for you, I want to make you my very own, if you can love me in return, that I may have the right to take care of you.
Will you be my dear little wife?
will you marry me now, to-night, that your father may be present and feel that he will not leave you alone and unprotected ?" She looked up at him in utter surprise, then seeing the love and pity in his face, burst into a passion of grief.
"Leave me! papa going to leave me!" she cried.

"Oh, no, no! I cannot bear it! He must, he will be better soon! O Mr.Travilla, say that he will!" "No, my darling!" replied a quivering voice from the bed, "I shall not live to see the morning light, and if you love Mr.Travilla tell him so and let me see you married before I die." "Can you, do you love me, dear little Zoe ?" Edward asked in tenderest tones, passing his arm about her waist.
"Yes," she said half under her breath, with a quick glance up into his face, then hid her own on his breast, sobbing, "Oh, take care of me! for I'll be all alone in the wide world when dear papa is gone." "I will," he said, pressing her closer, softly pushing back the fair hair from the white temple and touching his lips to it again and again.

"God helping me, I will be to you a tender, true, and loving husband." "Come here, Zoe, darling," her father said, "our time grows short;" and Edward led her to the bedside.
"O papa, papa!" she sobbed, falling on her knees and laying her wet cheek to his.
Edward, with heart and eyes full to overflowing, moved softly away to the farther side of the room, that in this last sad interview the constraint of even his presence might not be felt.
Low sobs and murmured words of tenderness and fatherly counsel reached his ear, and his heart went up in silent prayer for both the dying one and her just about to be so sorely bereaved.
Presently footsteps approached the door opening into the passage, a gentle tap followed, and he admitted the minister who had been sent for, beckoning Ben to come in also.
A few whispered words passed between Edward and the minister, then both drew near the bed.
A brief talk with the dying man, in which he professed himself ready and willing to depart, trusting in the atoning blood and imputed righteousness of Christ, a short fervent prayer for him and his child, then Edward, leaning over the still kneeling, weeping Zoe, whispered, "Now, dearest!" The tear-dimmed eyes looked up inquiringly.
"We are going to belong to each other, are we not ?" he said very low and tenderly.

"The minister is ready now to speak the words that will make us one for the rest of our lives." Without speaking she rose, wiping away her tears, put her hand within his arm, and the ceremony began.
When it was over Edward took her in his arms, saying softly as he pressed his lips again and again to her forehead, her cheek, her lips, "My wife, my own dear little wife!" "My child! my darling!" murmured the father, feebly reaching for her hand.
Edward took it and put it into his.
The dying fingers closed feebly over it.