ne with it. And the sum of sixty dollars was needed the next
day, in the morning, too, so it could go to the city by the afternoon
mail. After she had racked her brain in vain for some method of
raising the money, she made up her mind that she must borrow it. The
storekeeper would let her have it; she was certain. But how could she
pay it back?

She thought of all these things as the night dragged by. Her wide
sleepless eyes were still staring into space as the faint dawn of a new
day came stealing gently into the room, and the birds outside the
window began their early morning chorus. She arose, dressed herself,
and attended to her household duties. There was also the work at the
barn to be done, the cows to be milked, turned out to pasture, and the
horses to be fed. Very rarely was she called upon to do such work, as
John had always attended to this himself, and she wondered why he had
not mentioned it that afternoon. He seemed, to have forgotten all
about it. The business which took him to the quarry must be of special
importance, she mused. If it was anyone else than John she would feel
sure that he was in love.

About the middle of the forenoon she went to the store, and surprised
the storekeeper by asking him to lend her sixty-five dollars for one
month. He was quite willing to accede to her request, for she was a
good customer, and always paid cash for whatever she bought. He looked
at her curiously, nevertheless, after he had counted out the bills, and
then made out a money order payable at St. John. He had known Mrs.
Hampton for many years, and had never known her to borrow money before.
Everyone supposed that she had a large bank account.

"You must have some security for this," she told him. "I shall give
you a note."

"Not at all, Mrs. Hampton," the storekeeper protested. "Your word is
all the note I need. I wish the same could be said of others. By the
way, John seems very busy these days. He went by here like a whirlwind
last night. Nothing wrong, I hope."

"No, nothing so far as I know. John is a fast driver, anyway."

Mrs. Hampton waited until the mail arrived, and when she had received
her daily paper she walked slowly down the road. It was a beautiful
day, though rather hot, so after she had gone some distance, she was
glad to sit down to rest under the shade of a big maple tree. Hardly a
ripple ruffled the surface of the river which stretched out before her.
Its calmness