ry
bit of it with her own fingers, for she told me so. You should wear it
because of that if for no other reason."

Jasper made no reply, but taking off the muffler folded it up and laid
it upon the table. In fact, he hardly knew what he was doing so full
of happiness was his heart. It was fortunate that just then Mrs.
Peterson announced that breakfast was ready, for it changed the topic
of conversation and gave him time to think it all over.

What a day that was at the Haven! There were so many things to talk
about and such a number of questions to be asked and answered that the
time sped by all too quickly. David was in excellent spirits, for he
learned of the progress the men were making in the woods. Jasper
heard, as well, about Lois, and Betty showed him several letters she
had received from her. In every one she told of her longing for the
spring that she might return to Creekdale.

When Jasper left the Haven he noticed how the weather had changed. The
brightness of the day had passed and the sky was a mackerel grey. The
wind, drifting in from the northeast, hummed a weird prelude to the
coming storm upon the telephone wires stretched along the road.

The journey to the station was a pleasant one, for Pedro, after his
rest, swung along at a swift clip. The wind was in their backs and the
snow had not begun to fall. Jasper realised that the storm would not
hold off much longer, and he wondered how the nurse would mind facing
it for fifteen miles to Mrs. Bean's. The muffler that Lois had given
him he was wearing. Betty had put it there before he left the Haven
with the strict instruction to wear it, because if he didn't Miss Lois
would feel badly. Never had he received any present which he valued
more highly than this. And to think that Lois made it herself,
especially for him, and that it had been so often in her hands. He was
almost like a man beside himself as he thought of this, and several
times his lips pressed the muffler in the fervency of his emotion.

Reaching the station he had half an hour to spare before the train
would arrive. This gave him an opportunity to give Pedro a feed of
oats in a nearby stable, for he well knew that a severe battle was
ahead of him. Already the storm had set in, gentle at first but
increasing in intensity as the afternoon waned. It was snowing hard by
the time the train surged up to the station, and as Jasper waited for
the passengers to alight he wonde