lips, or the uneasy moving of the golden crowned head on the
pillow, betrayed the fact that the spark of life still glowed faintly.
Could she, by the power of will and prayer, keep that spark alight until
the one on whom she pinned her faith should arrive, and fan it back to a
flame by his miraculous skill? That was Smiles' one thought.

The violet shadows of evening began at last to tinge the virgin
whiteness of the out-of-doors, and Rose caught herself starting eagerly,
with quickened pulse, at every new forest sound. The crunching tread of
Judd, who paced incessantly outside the window, grew almost unbearable.
She counted the steps as they died away, and listened for them to
return, until her nerves shrieked in protest, and it was only by an
effort that she curbed their clamoring demand that she rush to the door
and scream at him; bid him stand still or begone.

* * * * *

Through the shadows Donald was once again making his way up the now
familiar mountain side. To have climbed up the footpath with Miss
Merriman and their essential baggage would have been impossible, and he
had, after much persuasion, finally succeeded in hiring a man in
Fayville to drive them up in a springless, rickety wagon. This had
necessitated their taking a much more circuitous route, and what seemed
like an interminably long time.

During the railway journey from the Hub, he had told his companion all
of the relevant facts, and much of the story of Rose, and the nurse's
sympathetic interest in the recital had made her almost as anxious as
the man himself to arrive at their destination and answer the girl's cry
for aid.

Once she had voiced a doubt as to the wisdom of leaving his urgent
practice and taking such a trip on so slender grounds.

"But how do you know that it _is_ brain tumor, doctor, or that there is
either any chance of saving the child's life, or any real need of a
surgeon? At the most you have only the conclusion of a country doctor
who can hardly be competent to determine such a question."

"I have considered all that, Miss Merriman," he had replied, shortly,
and then added, as though he felt that an explanation were due,
"Frankly, when I made up my mind to go, I wasn't thinking of the patient
so much as I was of my foster-sister. Perhaps she won't appeal to you as
she has to me; but I really feel a strong responsibility for her future,
and I don't want her faith in m ... in physicians to