Peter Hyde had gone away--without a word! He would read her letter--he
would always think of her as she had pictured herself in it! And he
might never know how the curious tangle had come out!

CHAPTER XXVII

ARCHIE EATON RETURNS

Liz, returning from her "afternoon's work at the meeting house, blew
breathlessly into the Hopworth kitchen.

"As I live, Archie Eaton's comin' home--this blessed day! His ma got a
telegram last night; Sammy Todd brought it over from Nor' Hero on his
bicycle. And Webb's put a notice in the post-office--he wants every
man, woman and child to meet on the Common to-night at seven to sort o'
welcome Archie to home."

"Everybody? Me and Davy," broke in Nonie, excitedly.

"Of course, when Webb says every man, woman and child it means all of
us," answered Liz with importance, smoothing out her gingham apron.

Three days had entirely made over Liz Hopworth. Sarah Hopkins' death
had given Liz, hitherto an outcast, a position of importance in the
community. However unfitting Freedom's ladies might have thought it,
nevertheless it was an undisputable fact, and everyone knew it, that
Liz's hands had "done for" the stricken family; she had cleaned and
comforted, dusted and baked and stitched together suitable mourning for
poor Jennie, the oldest Hopkins girl. At the simple funeral it had
been Liz who had greeted the neighbors and had urged them to "just look
at Sarah Hopkins--you'd think she was enjoyin' it all, she's that happy
lookin'!" What no one else knew was that it had been Liz who had put
her arms around Jennie Hopkins when a complete realization of her loss
had swept over the girl and had bade her "just lay your poor little
head right here and cry all you want to!" Never in all her life had
Liz's arms known such a labor of love. Jennie _had_ cried all she
wanted to--great, heart-breaking sobs that had, though they exhausted,
finally soothed her.

From his corner where old Dan'l, with hanging head waited his supper,
came a grunt of unbelief. Liz turned reprovingly.

"Anyway, Archie Eaton's a soldier even if he be an Eaton!" Then, to
Nonie: "I met Mis' Sniggs comin' up the village and she wants all the
little girls to wear white and throw bouquets at Archie as he's gettin'
off the stage and sing America. She's goin' to get the flowers at Mis'
Todd's and Mis' Brown's. Miss Nancy's white's too nice, but I guess
your gingham's faded most white 'nough. Anyways, it's ple