All eyes then turned upon the father, who took the happy and exultant bridegroom by the hand and said in a voice tremulous with emotion: “Ashton Ashleigh, my son through marriage, you have taken to yourself the priceless jewel that I once fondly thought was mine! Value not lightly the radiant gem of womanhood you guard!” Then to the bride he said, embracing her tenderly, while the eyes of the multitude filled afresh with tears: “Beloved daughter of thy sainted mother, go thy way with the husband of thy choice. But do not forget to hold thyself always as his equal before God and man. Then shalt thou be his best counsellor, his real helpmate, and his wisest friend.” To both he added, as he folded their clasped hands between his own broad palms: “Keep step together, my children; and, whether your way shall lead you up the mountain-sides of difficulty, or through the quagmires of sorrow, or into the glad valleys of happiness and peace, always march side by side, in time and tune to the eternal harmonies of religion, liberty, equality, justice, and progression.” And here, patient reader, with Life before them, and Love leading the way, these chronicles shall bid adieu to the happy pair while they take temporary leave of the remnant of the Ranger household and the Ranch of the Whispering Firs. THE END FOOTNOTES [1] The writer has not been able to trace the date or origin of these stanzas. She learned them in her childhood of a Scotchwoman who recited them on a winter evening in her chimney corner, and who has long been dead. She herself has often recited the whole ballad at weddings within the past fifty years. [2] Since called the Ogden Gateway. BOOKS RELATING TO THE NORTHWEST THE JOURNALS OF LEWIS AND CLARK GASS’S JOURNAL OF THE LEWIS AND CLARK EXPEDITION THE CONQUEST THE BRIDGE OF THE GODS McLOUGHLIN AND OLD OREGON LETTERS FROM AN OREGON RANCH FROM THE WEST TO THE WEST A SHORT HISTORY OF OREGON (OVER) These books are for sale by all booksellers, or will be sent by the publishers on receipt of price. An extra for postage will be made on “net” books. A. C. McCLURG & CO., PUBLISHERS, CHICAGO The Conquest By EVA EMERY DYE. Being the True Story of Lewis and Clark. Third Edition, with frontispiece in full color by Charlotte Weber. 12mo, gilt top, 504 pages. $1.50. No book published in recent years has more of tremendous import between its covers, and certainly no recent novel has in it more of the elements of a permanent success. A historical romance which tells with accuracy and inspiring style of the bravery of the pioneers in winning the western continent, should have a lasting place in the esteem of every American. “No one who wishes to know the true story of the conquest of the greater part of this great nation can afford to pass by this book.”—_Cleveland Leader._