E-text prepared by Juliet Sutherland, Mary Meehan, and the Project
Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team
by
1886
"O married love! each heart shall own;
Where two congenial souls unite,
Thy golden chains inlaid with down,
Thy lamp with heaven's own splendor bright."
LANGHORNE.
"There, there, little woman! light of my eyes, and core of my heart! ifyou don't stop this pretty soon, I very much fear I shall be compelledto join you," Edward Travilla said, between a laugh and a sigh, drawingZoe closer to him, laying her head against his breast, and kissing hertenderly on lip and cheek and brow. "I shall begin to think you alreadyregret having staid behind with me."
"No, no, no!" she cried, dashing away her tears, then putting her armsabout his neck, and returning his caresses with ardor of affection."Dear Ned, you know you're more than all the rest of the world to yoursilly little wife. But it seems lonely just at first, to have them allgone at once, especially mamma; and to think we'll not see her again formonths! I do believe you'd cry yourself, if you were a girl."
"Altogether likely," he said, laughing, and giving her another hug;"but, being a man, it wouldn't do at all to allow my feelings toovercome me in that manner. Besides, with my darling little wife stillleft me, I'd be an ungrateful wretch to repine at the absence of otherdear ones."
"What a neat little speech, Ned!" she exclaimed, lifting her head tolook up into his face, and laughing through her tears—for her eyes hadfilled again. "Well, you know I can't help feeling a little lonely andsad just at first; but, for all that, I wouldn't for the world beanywhere else than here in your arms:" and with a sigh of content andthankfulness, she let her pretty head drop upon his breast again.
"My darling! may it ever be to you the happiest place on earth! Godhelping me, I shall always try to make it so," he said, with a suddenchange to gravity, and in low, moved tones.
"My dear, dear husband!" she murmured, clinging closer to him.
Then, wiping her eyes, "I sha'n't cry any more; for, if I'm not thehappiest woman in the world, I ought to be. And what a nice time weshall have together, dear Ned! each wholly devoted to the other allwinter long. I have it all planned out: while you are out about theplantation in the mornings, I'll attend to my housekeeping and mystudies; and in the afternoons and evenings,—after I've recited,—wecan write our letters, or entertain ourselves and each other with musicor books; you can read to me while I work, you know."
"Yes: a book is twice as enjoyable read in that way—sharing thepleasure with you," he said, softly stroking her hair, and smiling downinto her eyes.
"Especially if it is a good story, or a bit of lovely poetry," sheadded.
"Yes," he said: "we'll have both those in turn, and some solid readingbesides."
"I don't like solid reading," she returned, with a charming pout.
"One may cultivate a taste for it, I think," he answered pleasantly.
"But you can't cultivate what you haven't got," she objected.
"True enough," he said, laughing. "Well, then, we'll try to get a littlefirst, and cultivate it carefully afterward. I must go now, love," headded, releasing her: "the men need some directions from me,