YOURS WITH ALL MY HEART 



She kissed and soothed me in silent 

 thankfulness, with tears of joy dimming her 

 blue eyes, while papa calmed and slackened 

 his excited steed; he was the first to speak. 



" Mother, we'll take this for an omen that 

 she is to be ours. I wouldn't have given 

 much for her life till she landed in your 

 arms. She has gotten the best of me, this 

 last week, anyway!" 



"She will prove our good genius, I am 

 sure; the dear little thing kissed my sapphire 

 ring the moment she was brought to our 

 door, and you know, Aleck, there does al- 

 ways seem to be some strange significance 

 about that ring," said mamma, with a glad 

 note of thankfulness in her voice. 



'The significance is in the wearer, I 

 guess," laughed papa; "but, Stella, I am 

 better able to buy you a handsomer ring 

 now, and you have worn that almost ten 

 years," and he glanced down at the deep 

 blue sapphire, set around with small dia- 

 monds, the only ornament on her plump 

 little hand, which she had ungloved to tie my 

 loosened ribbon. 



" Oh, that is the very reason I value it so 

 it has brought me only good luck all these 

 38 



