Yes, she was dead!  No more could the libertine prosecute her with his hellish passions; no more could his vile and lustful desires wreak their vengeance on her, because of disappointment.  No more could the heartless extortioner turn her from a shelter to perish in the streets.  No more could the gardened and uncharitable speculator wring from her the last farthing, nor could suffering and starvation tempt her any more to commit wrong.  No—­she is in heaven. There the libertine is not and can never be. There she will ever find a shelter, for there the extortioner rules not.  There the speculator can never dwell, and in that holy abode suffering and starvation can never be known.  An eternity of happiness was now hers.  To the home of the Father and to the dwelling of the Son, her spirit had winged its flight, and henceforth, instead of tears, and lamentations the voice of another angel would be heard in Paradise chanting the praises of Jehovah.

Yes, the eye of God was turned upon the soldiers wife, and she was made happy.  Her months of grief and misery were obliterated, and the Almighty in his infinite goodness, had taken her to himself—­had taken her to Heaven.  The spirit of the mother is with the child, and both are now in that home, where we all hope to go.  In the ear of the soldier, two angels are whispering words of divine comfort and peace, and as their gentle voice enter his heart, a feeling of resignation steals over this mind, and kneeling over the dead body of his wife he gently murmurs,

“Thy will be done oh God!”

Every voice is hushed, every tear is dried, and the prayer of the soldier ascends to Heaven for strength to hear his affliction.  The eye of God is now upon him, and He can minister to the supplicant.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIRST.

CONCLUSION.

The dead was buried.  The hearse was followed by a large concourse of Dr. Humphries’ friends, who were brought there by the sad tale of the trials of the Soldier’s Wife.  The funeral service was read, and after the grave was closed many grouped around Alfred and offered their condolence.  He only bowed but made no reply.  The body of Ella had been previously disinterred and placed in the same grave which afterward contained her mother, and on the coffins of his wife and child Alfred Wentworth took a last look.  When the service was over he turned away, and accompanied by Harry returned to the dwelling of the doctor, where, with his boy on his knees, he conversed.

“My furlough does not expire for forty days,” he observed, “but I shall rejoin my regiment in a week from this time.  The object for which it was obtained being no longer there, it is only just that I shall report for duty.”

“You must do no such thing,” answered Harry, “I wish you to remain until your leave expires.”

“Why?” asked Alfred, in a tone of surprise.