is on my mind, and I want you to read it to Ben. He
has been hurt by my strange reluctance to be with him.

"Jack came home on the night of March second. You'll remember that day,
so gloomy and dark and dreary. It snowed and sleeted and rained. I
remember how the rain roared on the roof. It roared so loud we didn't
hear the horse. But we heard heavy boots on the porch outside the
living-room, and the swish of a slicker thrown to the floor. There was a
bright fire. Dad looked up with a wild joy. All of a sudden he changed.
He blazed. He recognized the heavy tread of his son. If I ever pitied
and loved him it was then. I thought of the return of the Prodigal
Son!... There came a knock on the door. Then dad recovered. He threw it
open wide. The streaming light fell upon Jack Belllounds, indeed, but
not as I knew him. He entered. It was the first time I ever saw Jack
look in the least like a man. He was pale, haggard, much older, sullen,
and bold. He strode in with a 'Howdy, folks,' and threw his wet hat on
the floor, and walked to the fire. His boots were soaked with water and
mud. His clothes began to steam.

"When I looked at dad I was surprised. He seemed cool and bright, with
the self-contained force usual for him when something critical is about
to happen.

"'Ahuh! So you come back,' he said.

"'Yes, I'm home,' replied Jack.

"'Wal, it took you quite a spell to get hyar.'

"'Do you want me to stay?'

"This question from Jack seemed to stump dad. He stared. Jack had
appeared suddenly, and his manner was different from that with which he
used to face dad. He had something up his sleeve, as the cowboys say. He
wore an air of defiance and indifference.

"'I reckon I do,' replied dad, deliberately. 'What do you mean by askin'
me thet?'

"'I'm of age, long ago. You can't make me stay home. I can do as I
like.'

"'Ahuh! I reckon you think you can. But not hyar at White Slides. If you
ever expect to get this property you'll not do as you like.'

"'To hell with that. I don't care whether I ever get it or not.'

"Dad's face went as white as a sheet. He seemed shocked. After a moment
he told me I'd better go to my room. I was about to go when Jack said:
'No, let her stay. She'd best hear now what I've got to say. It
concerns her.'

"'So ho! Then you've got a heap to say?' exclaimed dad, queerly. 'All
right, you have your say first.'

"Jack then began to talk in a level and monotonous voice, so unlike him
that