ared you would stop him, if you
heard about it, Isaac."

"I'd have tried, anyhow," was the grim comment.

"And as the opportunity had to be taken up quickly, or be lost, Will
went away in a hurry," continued his father. "He says he wants to show
all of us that he can make his own way in the world, if given a chance,
and he doesn't want to come back until he has done so. He thinks he has
had enough of school. He sends his love to--to all of us--and his
mother, and says he will write again soon, and run up for a few days'
visit as soon as he can get the time."

Mr. Ford's voice faltered a little as he went on. After all, he loved
Will very much, and he knew that it was only the spirit of a proud boy
that was keeping him away from home.

"Are you going to let him stay, Daddy?" asked Grace again.

"No, Grace, I think I'll write to him to come home," replied Mr. Ford.
"I think this has been a lesson to him. He gives his prospective
Jacksonville address in this note. I'll just send him a wire."

Going to the telephone, Mr. Ford dictated this brief telegram to his
son.

"Come home. All is forgiven."

"It's like one of those advertisements you see in the newspapers," said
Grace, with a little laugh.

She was much relieved now, and so were her chums. They could think with
more pleasure of the prospective trip to Florida.

"But if Will left you a week ago, Uncle Isaac, I don't see why this
letter has only now arrived," spoke Grace. "When is it postmarked,
father?"

"It reached Deepdale to-day, but it was mailed in--let me see--why, I
can't make out the other mark, nor the date either."

"Let me try," suggested Uncle Isaac, putting on his glasses. But he had
no better luck.

"Either Will carried that letter around in his pocket after writing it,"
said Mr. Ford, "or he dropped it in some obscure postoffice where their
cancelling stamps are worn out and letters go only once a week or so.
The letter was written on the night he left your house, evidently," he
said to his brother, indicating the superscription. "I guess the mails
down your way are not very certain, Isaac."

"Not always. Well, I'm glad the boy is all right. I tried to do my duty
by him, as I promised I would, Jim."

"I know you did, Isaac, and I think this will be a lesson to him. I'll
be glad to have him back, though. For I--I've missed him," and again Mr.
Ford's voice faltered.

"So have I," said Grace, softly. "And this will make mamma'