“Arthur and the nurse were with her. She feebly requested the nurse to leave us alone, then she kissed me and the baby, and reached out her feverish hands to Arthur. “‘Arthur,’ she said, in trembling tones, ‘Arthur, say once more that you love me and for the sake of that love will do something for me.’ “The scene was pitiful. Arthur knelt beside the bed and took the death marked face between his strong hands and said, ‘Nannie, dear, I do love you, and will do anything you ask.’ “Poor soul, how she struggled for breath while Arthur with his face buried in the white linen sobbed his heart out. “Then she said, ‘Now the baby.’ “He took the baby and placed her on the bed as she requested, where she could pat and caress her. “‘And now you come, too, Virginia.’ “And there, with death stealing in on the bright rays of sunlight, we knelt one on either side of the baby. “With a look of love which I shall always cherish, she began by addressing me: “‘Virginia, I know all; he, Arthur, my Arthur and your Arthur, dear, has been good and truthful, and baby, God bless you, you have a real papa now and one of your choice. Listen—Arthur—Virginia⸺,’ her breath now came in gasps,—‘I’m—going to our little Arthur—see—see—he is watching us—and he’s waiting—for—me. Promise—Arthur—promise—Vir-gin—ia, that when I am gone—you will marry—for the baby’s—sake—and—my—sake—promise.’ “The sun crept through the blinds and lighted the smile that flitted over her face as I closed the bloodless eyelids. “As soon as Arthur could arrange his business affairs in California, he went to New York, where baby and I were to join him. “We were married quietly there a month after Nannie died. Quietly, because the world would have censured us for lack of respect had it known just that much of the affair. “We sailed for Liverpool, and traveled abroad a year, and on our return we married again, and this time publicly. We are very happy, although there was much pain behind it all. We both know now what true happiness is.” TALE THIRTEEN. NOT GUILTY. “I have so loved thee, but cannot, cannot hold thee, Fading like a dream, the shadows fold thee; Slowly thy perfect beauty fades away, Good-bye, sweet day; good-bye, sweet day.”