very
well." She was as white as marble. "I will see you again; may I?"

John Baronet was a man of deep sympathy as well as insight. He knew why
the bloom had left her cheeks.

"All right, Marjie. You will be better soon."

He had risen and taken her cold hand. There was a world of cheer and
strength in that rich resonant voice of his. "Little girl, you must not
worry over anything. All the tangles will straighten for you. Be
patient, the sunshine is back of all shadows. I promised your father,
Marjory, that no harm should come to you. I will keep my promise. 'Let
not your heart be troubled.'" His words were to her what the good
minister's had been to me.

In the months that came after that my father was her one strong defence.
Poor Marjie! her days as well as mine were full of creeping shadows. I
had no notion of the stories being poured into her ears, nor did I dream
of the mischief and sorrow that can be wrought by a jealous-hearted
girl, a grasping money lover, and a man whose business dealings will not
bear the light of day.

It has ever been the stage-driver's province to make the town acquainted
with the business of each passenger whom he imports or exports. Our man,
Dever, was no exception. Judson's store had become the centre of all the
gossip in Springvale. Judson himself was the prince of scandalmongers,
who with a pretence of refusing to hear gossip, peddled it out most
industriously. He had hurried to Mrs. Whately with the story of our
guest, and here I found him when I went to see Marjie, before I myself
knew what passenger the stage had carried up to Cliff Street.

After the party at Anderson's, Tillhurst had not lost the opportunity of
giving his version of all he had seen and heard in Topeka. Marjie
listened in amazement but sure in her trustful heart that I would make
it all clear to her in my letter. And yet she wondered why I had never
mentioned that name to her, nor given her any hint of any one with claim
enough on me to keep me for two days in Topeka. After all, she did
recall the name--something forgotten in the joy and peace of that sweet
afternoon out by the river in the draw where the haunted house was. Had
I tried to tell her and lost my courage, she wondered. Oh, no, it could
not be so.

The next day Marjie spent at Red Range. It was noon of the day following
Rachel's arrival before she reached home. The ride in the midday heat,
sympathy for Dave Mead, and the sad funeral rites in th