“No, indeed,” and then such a longing came over him that his heart seemed suffocated, and he wanted to take the girl in his arms and press her to his bosom, and something in his face seemed to tell the girl of his wish. “Say it, Tom,” whispered she, oblivious of Biddy’s presence. “I love, I love you, my own darling, and I want you to be my own little wife.” They looked into each other’s eyes solemnly, and Biddy crept to a chair and sat down. Nellie walked to her lover and laid her hands in his. “I shall count it one of the greatest honors of my life to be your wife,” said she, “and I love you, Tom Cooper.” Then they talked, Biddy leaving them alone, and Tom explained everything save that the island was a prison. Her mother was given the highest of eulogies. “I knew her when she was a little girl, although she was older than I. I loved her very dearly. Now then, you have one second cousin living, but your mother did not want to have him ever see you, or to let him know of your existence. He has the fortune which you ought to have.” “My fortune?” asked Nellie wonderingly. “Yes,” and slowly the girl understood why this same cousin should want to get her out of the way and should want to kill the little child who had never done him any harm. As they were finishing their love-making Biddy came in with a great noise. “If you children won’t mind,” said she, giving Tom a wink, “I’m going to bed; I’m so tired.” “We won’t mind, will we, Tom?” put in Nellie; “I’ve a great deal to say to Tom before I go to bed.” Biddy, with a yawn, went to her room, saying, as she closed the door: “Now, don’t sit up all night, my children.” It amused Nellie to hear Biddy call Tom a child, for he was many years her own senior, and there could not be over a few years between her lover and Biddy. “We’ll go to bed as soon as the sun goes down,” laughed Tom. In fact it was dark, but Biddy had always had the habit of going to bed so early and getting up at an unusual hour that Tom was always making sport of her. “I wanted to ask you something, Tom,” said Nellie, after Biddy’s door was tightly closed. “What makes you wear those long whiskers? Most men shave them off, don’t they?” Tom thought a moment. “Well, I guess it’s habit,” said he slowly. He wished he could take them off and show her the handsome face beneath, but he could not, for it would require an explanation about wearing the grizzly hair upon his face. “Oh, you know I do not care,” replied Nellie, “for I love you just the same, but I just wondered; that’s all.” For a long time they were silent. They were each whispering to their own heart what a happiness had been found. * * * * * A man slouched along close to the river. His hat was on one side, and his hands were in his pockets. Every boathouse he came to he read the name upon the top, as evidently he was looking for some one. Suddenly he stopped before an unusually pretty house, with the boathouse below.