How priceless it appeared! 'I did hope once,' said Joe, in his homely way, 'that I might come back a rich man, and marry you.

But I was a boy then, and have long known better than that.

I am a poor, maimed, discharged soldier, and must be content to rub through life as I can.

I can't say, even now, that I shall be glad to see you married, Dolly; but I AM glad--yes, I am, and glad to think I can say so--to know that you are admired and courted, and can pick and choose for a happy life.

It's a comfort to me to know that you'll talk to your husband about me; and I hope the time will come when I may be able to like him, and to shake hands with him, and to come and see you as a poor friend who knew you when you were a girl.