Jim would say, and each man as listens understands in his own way its language.  It brings ter ther human ear the tones uv ther ocean when it sobs agin ther sands; it steals ther echo of the melodies thet the winds wakes when they touches ther arms uv ther great pines on ther mountain tops and makes ’em ther harps; it steals ther babble from the brooks; it calls back all ther voices of the woods when within ’em ther matin’ birds is all singin’ in chorus; it borrers ther thunder from ther storm; it sarches ther whole world for melodies, ’nd blends ’em all for our use.

“Still, they all ter-night war, ter me, only compniments.  Underneath all wur a symphony which wur thet of a higher soul singin’ ter my soul—­may be ‘twere my mother’s singin’ ter my soul uv glories thet we hasn’t yet reached.  It war a call fur men ter look higher ter whar thar is melodies too solemn ’nd sweet fur ther dull ears uv poor mortality ter hear, ter whar ez picters too fair fur our darkened eyes ter see, but which all august is a-waitin’ fur us.

“When I war sick, I thot one night I hearn Margery prayin’ fur me; some uv thet music ter-night seemed like a rehearsal uv thet prayer.”

“Why, Mr. Jordan, that is better than the opera itself,” said Grace; and Margaret bent and kissed the brave man’s hand, while he blushed like a girl, and said, “Sho’.”

CHAPTER XXXI.

Marriage bells.

A month more rolled by, and Jordan became himself again.  Grace and Rose worked together to make such a wedding for him and Margaret as should be a joy in their memories as long as life should last.

The day before the wedding, so soon as breakfast was over, Sedgwick went out, telling Grace to tell Jack that he wanted to meet him and Tom at the “Wedge of Gold” office at 1 p.m.

Grace went to deliver the message, but learned from Rose that her husband had gone an hour before, leaving word for Sedgwick and Jordan to meet him at the same place at 12:30 p.m.

They all met there at about the appointed time.

A meeting of the directors of the “Wedge of Gold” Company was called to order, and a motion made and carried that another dividend of two shillings per share should be declared.

Then Sedgwick arose and said he had an important matter to lay before the company.  He had received an offer of L7 per share for the property, and the proposition had been guaranteed by the Baring Brothers, and asked Browning what he thought it best to do.

Browning thought it best to sell.

“Then,” said Sedgwick, “there will be no more work for us except to resign as officers of the company, our resignations to take place with the transfer of the property.”

“There is yet another matter,” said Browning.  “How is the division of the proceeds to be made?”

“That all rests with you, Jack,” said Sedgwick; “only I think you should pay me back what I advanced to put the property on its feet, and you should keep in mind that this was made a success by our friend Jordan.”