wondered no more at the apparent indifference
of Providence. He had one hope, which was to be true to his faith,
and teach it to the end.

Nell mastered her grief by an astonishing reserve of strength.
Undoubtedly it was that marvelously merciful power which enables a
person, for the love of others, to bear up under a cross, or even to
fight death himself. As Young had his bright-eyed Indian boys and
girls, who had learned Christianity from him, and whose future
depended on him, so Nell had her aged and weakening uncle to care
for and cherish.

Jim's attentions to her before the deep affliction had not been
slight, but now they were so marked as to be unmistakable. In some
way Jim seemed changed since he had returned from the Delaware
encampment. Although he went back to the work with his old
aggressiveness, he was not nearly so successful as he had been
before. Whether or not this was his fault, he took his failure
deeply to heart. There was that in his tenderness which caused Nell
to regard him, in one sense, as she did her uncle. Jim, too, leaned
upon her, and she accepted his devotion where once she had repelled
it. She had unconsciously betrayed a great deal when she had turned
so tenderly to him in the first moments after her recognition, and
he remembered it. He did not speak of love to her; he let a thousand
little acts of kindness, a constant thoughtfulness of her plead his
cause.

The days succeeding Heckewelder's departure were remarkable for
several reasons. Although the weather was enticing, the number of
visiting Indians gradually decreased. Not a runner from any tribe
came into the village, and finally the day dawned when not a single
Indian from the outlying towns was present to hear the preaching.

Jim spoke, as usual. After several days had passed and none but
converted Indians made up the congregation, the young man began to
be uneasy in mind.

Young and Edwards were unable to account for the unusual absence
from worship, yet they did not see in it anything to cause especial
concern. Often there had been days without visitation to the Village
of Peace.

Finally Jim went to consult Glickhican. He found the Delaware at
work in the potato patch. The old Indian dropped his hoe and bowed
to the missionary. A reverential and stately courtesy always
characterized the attitude of the Indians toward the young white
father.

"Glickhican, can you tell me why no Indians have come here lately?"

The