enough through all the bewilderment,
thought that she had a beauty he had never noticed before.

"You were handsome, too," he whispered. Janie started.

"Yes," she replied. "I suppose I was, then. Your voice is like his. It
always was, Andy. That was one reason that at times I could not bear it.
Oh, Andy! it is no easy matter to be a lonely woman!" The cry smote the
listener, and his growing manhood reached out to her.

"Mother, you are not alone. You have me. I will come back to you, stand
by you, and we will see what is best to do. I must go on my errand, and
I think you ought to go to--to father!" The word nearly choked him.

"But suppose anything should happen to you?" Janie clung to the hand of
this new, strange, but well-loved son, "whatever shall I do?

"I think I shall come back to you. I think I am needed, and it seems
clear to me that I shall come back." Andy smiled into the troubled
face, and tried to rouse himself into action.

"If you should fall into the hands of the British," whispered Janie,
"tell them you are the son of Lieutenant Theodore Martin; it may help
you, son."

"Your name is my name!" Andy proudly broke in. "I never shall seek favor
through any other. If they take me, they take Andy McNeal, and if I come
back I shall come bearing that name, until my mother bids me take
another!"

Janie bowed her head. It had been her first, only weak attitude toward
her country.

"You are right," she quivered. "But I fear for you."

Presently his mother left him. He and she had work to do, and it must be
done apart. A few minutes after she was gone, Ruth came up bearing a
tray of food. She was limping painfully, and Andy, sitting by the window
lost in thought, got to his feet in alarm. "You are hurt!" he cried. A
smile spread over the girl's pale face.

"I'm a depraved sinner!" she said, setting the tray on a stand and
dropping into a chair. "After the war is over I shall repent and take up
godly ways. For the present I am a lost soul, and given over to Satan.
Andy, the lie I told yesterday about the river road was the beginning of
my downfall. How easily we glide downhill."

"'Twas the only thing to do, Ruth," nodded Andy. "I think such a lie
grows innocent from the start. It was the object, Ruth. What else could
you have done? It puzzles me sore to try and explain. I just leave the
lie to God. He will understand."

"I have left it there, Andy, and from the joy and gladness I have felt,
I beli