“Susanna, will you be brave enough for this?  Can you make up your mind to be a soldier’s wife, even before the war has closed?  I had not thought to ask you so soon; but year after year passes by, and though nearer and ever nearer to the goal of peace, the clouds still hang in the sky, and there is still stern work for the soldier to do.  But we seem now to see the end of the long, long war, and that a happy end; and so I ask if you can marry me, even with the chances of one of those separations which wring the heart and entail so much anxiety and sorrow upon the wife left at home.”

She was clinging to him even before he had done, shedding tears, and yet half laughing as she looked with dewy eyes into his face.

“O Fritz, Fritz, don’t you understand yet what a woman’s love is like?  As though I would not rather a hundred thousand times be your wife, come what may in the future, than live the safest and most sheltered life without you!  As though I should not glory and delight to share the perils and hardships you are called upon to endure!  As though being together would not make up a hundredfold for everything else!”

When Benjamin Ashley, together with Humphrey and John Stark, came in search of the others, they all saw at a glance what had taken place.  Susanna’s blushing face and Fritz’s expression of proud, glad happiness told the tale all too plainly.  But all had been prepared for it; and Ashley laughed as he took his daughter’s face between his hands and kissed it, though he heaved a quick sigh, too.

“Ah me! so all the birds leave the nest at last.  And nothing but a red-coat would serve your turn, my maid!  That I have known for long enough.  Well, well, I cannot blame you.  We owe a debt of gratitude to our brave soldiers which we must all be willing to pay.

“Take her, Fritz my boy; take her, and her father’s blessing with her.  She will not come to you empty handed; she has a snug little fortune from her mother ready for her dowry.  But you have wooed her and won her like a man; and her love will be, if I mistake not, the crown of your manhood and of your life.”

“Indeed it will, sir,” answered Fritz fervently, and possessed himself of Susanna’s hand once more.

Barely a week later, and the party stood upon the quay to say farewell to their friends and comrades who were sailing away for England.  October was waning.  The departure of the ships could no longer be delayed.  Many had already gone; but today the mortal remains of the gallant Wolfe had been conveyed on board the Royal William, and all the town had come forth to pay its last tribute of respect to one who was mourned by friends and foes alike.  Flags hung half-mast high, the guns had boomed a salute, and the bells of the city had tolled in solemn cadence as the coffin was borne to the quay and reverently carried to the place prepared for it upon the ship.

Now all was bustle and animated farewell as the sailors began to make preparations for unfurling the sails and hoisting up the anchor.  Julian and Fritz stood together a little apart from the crowd; their hands were locked in a close clasp.  The tie which bound them together was a very strong and tender one.