You do not only take this woman, young and blooming, but old and sick and withered and wearied, perhaps.

Do you take her for any lot ?" "For any lot," said August solemnly and humbly.
And Julia, on her part, could only bow her head in reply to the questions, for the tears chased one another down her cheeks.

And then came the benediction.

The inspired old man, full of hearty sympathy, stretched his trembling hands with apostolic solemnity over the heads of the two, and said slowly, with solemn pauses, as the words welled up out of his soul: "The peace of God--that passeth all understanding" (here his voice melted with emotion)--"keep your hearts--and minds--in the knowledge and love of God .-- And now, may grace--mercy--and peace from God--_the Father_--and _our_ Lord Jesus Christ--be with you--evermore--Amen!" And to the imagination of Julia the Spirit of God descended like a dove into her heart, and the great mystery of wifely love and the other greater mystery of love to God seemed to flow together in her soul.

And the quieter spirit of August was suffused with a great peace.
They soon left the castle to return to the mount of ascension, but they walked slowly, and at first silently, over the intervening hill, which gave them a view of the Ohio River, sleeping in its indescribable beauty and stillness in the moonlight.
Presently they heard the melodious voice of the old presiding elder, riding up the road a little way off, singing the hopeful hymns in which he so much delighted.