to my house this night and--partake of--of--a little
collation to be prepared by Mr. Decker and sent in for this occasion."
The old man's voice grew stronger as he proceeded, "Just to welcome
home these boys of ours--our young men--and this man--generous and--"

"You've not been the only one to blame." Larry stepped forward and
seized the Elder's hand, "I take my share of the sorrow--but it is
past. We're friends--all of us--and we'll go all around to Elder
Craigmile's house this night, and help him give thanks by partaking of
his bounty--and now--will ye lift your voices and give a cheer for
Elder Craigmile, a man who has stood in this community for all that is
excellent, for uprightness and advancement, for honor and purity, a
man respected, admired, and true--who has stood for the good of his
fellows in this town of Leauvite for fifty years." Larry Kildene
lifted his hand above his head and smiled a smile that would have
drawn cheers from the very paving stones.

And the cheers came, heartily and strongly, as the four men, rugged
and strong, the gray-haired and the brown-haired, passed through the
crowd and across the town square and up the main street, and on to the
Elder's home.

Ere an hour had passed all was quiet, and the small town of Leauvite
had taken up the even tenor of its way. After a little time, Larry
Kildene and Richard left the Elder and his son by themselves and
strolled away from the town on the familiar road toward the river.
They talked quietly and happily of things nearest their hearts, as
they had need to do, until they came to a certain fork of the road,
when Larry paused, standing a moment with his arm across his son's
shoulder.

"I'll go on a piece by myself, Richard. I'm thinking you'll be wanting
to make a little visit."

Richard's eyes danced. "Come with me, father, come. There'll be others
there for you to talk with--who'll be glad to have you there, and--"

"Go to, go to! I know the ways of a man's heart as well as the next."

"I'll warrant you do, father!" and Richard bounded away, taking the
path he had so often trod in his boyhood. Larry stood and looked after
him a moment. He was pleased to hear how readily the word, father,
fell from the young man's lips. Yes, Richard was facile and ready. He
was his own son.

CHAPTER XL

THE SAME BOY

Mary Ballard stepped down from the open porch where Amalia and the
rest of the family sat behind a screen of vines, interestedl