? You couldn't see! You are blind!"

"Oh, Davie, not any more! I can see!"

"You can see?" He put a hand at each side of the white-capped head and
looked into her eyes. They were not the dull, half-staring eyes of
blindness but eyes lighted by loving recognition.

Again words failed him as he swept her into his arms. But he could not
long be silent. "Tell me," he cried. "I must know! What
miracle--who--how--who did it? When?"

"Oh, Davie, you're not changed a bit! Same old question box! But I'll
tell you all about it."

Throughout the story Mother Bab told ran the name of Phoebe. "Phoebe
planned it all, Phoebe made the arrangements with the doctor, Phoebe
took me down to Philadelphia, Phoebe was there when I found I could
see"--it was Phoebe, Phoebe, till the man felt his heart singing the
name.

"Isn't she going on with her music lessons?" he asked. "I was afraid
she'd be in the city when I got back."

"She's given them up. It ain't like her to begin a thing and get tired
of it so soon. All at once after we came back from Philadelphia she said
she had enough of music, she was tired of it, and was going to stay at
home and be useful. I'm glad she's not going off again, for it gets
lonesome without her. You stopped to see her on the way up?"

"Yes, just a minute. I'm going down again later. She hardly said two
words to me."

"You took her by surprise, I guess. Give her a chance and she'll ask you
a hundred questions."

But when he paid the promised visit to Phoebe he was again disappointed
by her lack of the old comradely friendliness. She shared his joy at
Mother Bab's restored sight but when he began to thank her for her part
in it she disclaimed all credit and asked questions to lead him from the
subject of the operation. The girl seemed interested in all he said yet
there was a restraint in her manner. For the first time in his life
David was baffled by her attitude. As he climbed the hill again he
thought, "Now, what's the matter with Phoebe? Was she or wasn't she glad
to see me? I couldn't tell her I love her when she acts like that! And
I'm a cripple, and she's beautiful---- Oh, my mind's in a muddle! But
one thing's clear--I want Phoebe Metz for my wife."

CHAPTER XXXVII

"A LOVE THAT LIFE COULD NEVER TIRE"

THE next morning Phares Eby called David, "Wait, I want to see you.
I--David," the preacher began gravely, "perhaps I shouldn't tell you,
but I really think I ought. Do you know all P