he kissed the picture in lieu of having his real presence to
bid good-night.

Those gray eyes of Broxton Day reminded her always of his oft-spoken
motto: "Do something!" He seemed to be saying that to Janice from his
photograph; therefore the girl was not likely to lose her interest in
such a momentous affair as the new schoolhouse.

There was another interest that held Janice's mind and sympathy. This
was the condition of poor little Lottie Drugg. As she had been quite
blind when Janice first met her, now her hearing had departed entirely.
She could seldom now distinguish the notes of her father's violin as he
played to her. She would sit on the store counter and put her hand often
on Hopewell's bow-hand as he dragged the more or less harmonious sounds
out of the wood and strings. Otherwise she could not know that he was
playing at all!

Nelson Haley had been touched by the case of the storekeeper's little
girl, and had discussed the matter with Janice. Nelson had even written
to a Boston specialist who treated the eyes, and who had been very
successful in such cases as Lottie's. The fee the surgeon demanded was
from five hundred to a thousand dollars for an operation. And poor
Hopewell Drugg, although he strained every effort, had succeeded in
saving less than two hundred dollars during all these months!

Nevertheless, Janice would not let the storekeeper lose heart. "It will
come in time, Mr. Drugg," she told him, cheerfully. "And Lottie will be
able to go to that wonderful school, too, where she will be taught many
things."

For if the child could once obtain her sight, lip-reading would be
possible for her, and through that the little girl might gradually
become as well educated as any one, and have a fair chance for happiness
in the world after all!

Although Nelson Haley was touched by Lottie's sad condition, and by
anything else going on about him that had the personal note in it,
Janice thought the Poketown school-teacher showed very little public
spirit.

She began to realize that his overseeing of the reading-room and library
was inspired by his wish to please _her_ instead of his actual interest
in the institution. This was very complimentary, but it did not satisfy
Janice Day at all.

She was not interested in Nelson Haley in a way to crave the attentions
that he had begun to show her. Indeed, she did not really appreciate his
attitude, for there was nothing silly in Janice's character. She was
s