l took
her ring was a lesson to me, and I never took it."

During their stay at Uncle John's Mrs. Hollister came up, and the meeting
between her husband and self was like lovers. Ethel was glad.

"And it was I that kept them apart," she told Kate--"I with my society
and expensive schools. Poor Father! what could he do but grind from
morning until night; and Mother with her hopes and ambitions--what
could she do? Why, they had no time to speak to each other except on
business and money. It was all so false and wrong. Now they are as
they should have been, but think of the lost years, and all for me."
"Never think of it, Ethel," said Kate, "it's past and over. Everything
has come smooth. Forget it, dear; you were not to blame."

Judge Sands called nearly every evening. He and Uncle Archie struck
up quite a friendship. The Judge took him on auto trips far into the
country, Kate, Patty, and Ethel going along.

One evening, after they all had gone back to Akron, Judge Sands called
Patty into the library.

"I wish to have a little talk with you, my dear," he said.

"Are you going to scold me for running over my allowance last month?"
she replied, "because if you are I just couldn't help it. I wanted to
give all of the girls a little remembrance, and--"

"Patty, my child, have I ever scolded you for anything--think? Haven't
you done exactly as you chose since your childhood?"

"Yes," replied the girl, "but I know that there are times when you should
scold me, Papa, for I know I am self-willed and disobedient."

"Well, we shall forget that. You're a pretty good girl considering that
you have but one parent. Now this is what I wish to see you about. Your
mother died when you were three, dear, and you've been with me ever
since. It's been lonely for both of us at times, and for me especially
so while you are away at school. Patty, how should you like a mother? Of
course, no one can take the place of her who has gone, but I mean another
one."

The girl began to cry.

"I should not like it, Papa."

Then she looked at him. He was a handsome man, and if ever she were to
marry he would be alone, in the prime of life.

"I suppose I'm selfish," she sobbed, clinging to him, "but I should hate
a stepmother. Think of her taking Mamma's place. Oh, Papa! I couldn't
bear it."

"But supposing she was a woman of whom you were fond. Would you feel that
way then?"

"I couldn't be fond of her."

"You might be fond of her alrea