CHAPTER XXI.
"Annis, dear, my ain love, my bonny lass," Mr.Lilburn said, when at last he could get a moment's private chat with her, "why condemn me to wait longer for my sweet young wife?
Is it that you fear to trust your happiness to my keeping ?" "Oh, no, not that," she replied, casting down her eyes, and half turning away her face to hide the vivid blush that mantled her cheek; "but you hardly know yet, hardly understand, what a risk you run in asking me to share your life." "Ah," he said, "my only fear is that you may be disappointed in me; and yet if so, it shall not be for lack of love and tenderest care, for to me it seems that no dearer, sweeter lass ever trod this earth." "Ah, you don't know me!" she repeated, with a slight smile.

"I am not afraid to trust you, and yet I think it would be better for us to wait a little and enjoy the days of courtship.

One reason why I would defer matters is that we will never again have an opportunity to see this wonderful Fair, and I have seen but little of it yet; also I would not willingly miss spending as much time as possible with my dear brother and sisters whom I am about to leave for a home with you, and I must make some preparation in the matter of dress too." "Ah, well, my bonny lass, 'if a woman will, she will you may depend on't, and if she won't, she won't and there's an end on't.' So I'll even give up to you, comforting mysel' that ye'll be mine at last; and that in the mean time I shall have your dear companionship while together we explore the streets and buildings of this wonderful White City." At that moment others came upon the scene and put an end to the private talk.
The next two weeks were those of delightful experience to all our friends, to Annis in particular, spent in visits to that beautiful Court of Honor, and to various interesting exhibits to be found in other parts of the Fair, with an occasional change of scene and occupation by a shopping excursion to Chicago in search of wedding finery.
She would not allow herself to anticipate the pain of the partings from the dear brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews, that lay before her, but gave herself up to the enjoyment of the present; in especial of the intercourse with him who was the chosen companion of her future life on earth.
The yacht could not furnish night accommodations for all, but usually all the relatives and friends gathered about its supper table and afterward spent an hour or more upon its deck in rest that was particularly enjoyable after the day's exertion, and in cheerful chat over their varied experiences since separating in the morning; for they were now much too large a company to keep together in their wanderings in and about the White City.
But the time approached when they must separate.

The trousseau--with the exception of such articles as it was considered more desirable to purchase in New York or Philadelphia--was ready, all the arrangements for the wedding feast had been made, and but a day or two intervened between that and the one which was to see Annis become a bride and set out upon her wedding tour.
The evening meal was over, and leaving the table they assembled upon the deck.
"Has anyone seen the evening paper or the morning one either ?" asked Mr.
Dinsmore, addressing his query to the company in general.
"Yes, sir; I have," answered Harold.

"There has been an awful railroad collision, one section of the train running into another; a good many killed; one lady meeting with a most terrible fate," he added with emotion, "but she was an earnest, active Christian worker, and no doubt is now rejoicing before the throne of God." "But oh, couldn't they have saved her ?" asked his mother, in tones tremulous with feeling.