the frontier here, and somehow you found peace. You
have done your part in the making of the lawless Territory into a
law-abiding State, this portion of it at least. The frontier moves
westward rapidly now."

"Well?" he queried.

"I have lost--not by the sea--but, well, I've lost. I want to go to the
frontier too. I must get away from here. The Plains--somewhere--may help
me."

"But why leave here?" he asked. After all, the father-heart was
yearning to keep his son.

"Why did you leave Massachusetts?" I could not say Rockport. I hated the
sound of the name.

"Where will you go, my boy?" He spoke with deepest sorrow, and love
mingled in his tones.

"Out to the Saline Country. They need strong men out there. I must have
been made to defend the weak." It was not a boast, but the frank
expression of my young manhood's ideal. "Your friend Mr. Morton urged me
to come. May I go to him? It may be I can find my place out in that
treeless open land; that there will come to me, as it came to you, the
help that comes from helping others."

Oh, I had fought my battle well. I was come into a man's estate now and
had put away childish things.

My father sitting before me took both my hands in his.

"My son, you are all I have. You cannot long deceive me. I have trusted
you always. I love you even unto the depths of disgrace. Tell me truly,
have you done wrong? I will soon know it. Tell me now."

"Father," I held his hands and looked steadily into his eyes. "I have no
act to conceal from you, nor any other living soul. I must leave here
because I cannot stay and see--Father, Marjie is lost to me. I do not
know why."

"Well, find out." He spoke cheerily.

"It is no use. She has changed, and you know her father's firmness. She
is his mental image."

"There is no stain somewhere, no folly of idle flirtation, no weakness?
I hear much of you and Lettie."

"Father, I have done nothing to make me ashamed. Last night when I
fought my battle to the finish, for the first time in my life I knew my
mother was with me. Somehow it was her will guiding me. I know my place.
I cannot stay here. I will go where the unprotected need a strength like
mine."

The stage had stopped at the courthouse door, and Rachel Melrose ran up
the steps and entered the outer office. My father went out to meet her.

"Are you leaving us?" he asked kindly.

"Yes, I had only a day or two that I could spend here. But where is
Philip?"

John Baronet