ild about making inquiries as to the
fate of the boy in whom she was interested.

The boy was motherless, and, by the death of his father, had been left
utterly destitute. He had found a home with Scythia Woods, an eccentric
woman, who lived in a hut on the mountain side, half way between North
End and Rockhold, and he supported himself in a poor way by running
errands and doing little jobs about the works.

Little Cora Haught listened to this account of the poor, friendless,
self-reliant lad with the deepest sympathy.

"Uncle Clarence," she pleaded, "you are so rich. Why don't you give
that poor boy clothes, and shoes, and hats, and all he ought to have?"

"My good little girl, nothing would give me more delight, but that
fellow would see Rockharrt & Sons swallowed up by an earthquake before
he would take a cent from them that he had not earned."

"Oh, I like that--that is grand! But why don't you take him on and give
him good pay?"

"But, my dear, he is a boy, and cannot do regular heavy work. He is
quite uneducated, and cannot do any other except what he does."

Two months later, one lovely spring day, she saw him again for the first
time since their meeting on the train six months previous. He came to
Rockhold one Saturday afternoon to bring a letter from the manager to
the head of the firm. He came to the back door which opened from the
porch. He sent in his letter by the servant who came at his knock, and
he said he was to wait for an answer. Cora, in the back parlor, saw him,
recognized him, and ran out to speak to him.

Perhaps the tiny lady had some faint idea of the duties and
responsibilities of wealth and station. So she spoke to the boy.

"Are you Regulas Rothsay?" she inquired, in a soft tone.

"Yes, miss," replied the boy.

There was an awkward pause, and then the little girl said slowly:

"You won't let anybody give you anything, although you have no father
nor mother. Now, why won't you?"

"Because, I can work for all I want, all--but--" the boy began, and then
stopped.

"You have all but what?"

"A little schooling."

"Here's the answer, Rule! You are to run right away as fast as you can
and take it to Mr. Ryland," said a servant, coming out upon the porch
and handing a letter to the boy.

It was a week after this interview with the lad before Cora saw him
again.

He was on the lawn in front of the house. She was at the window of the
front drawing room. As soon as she espied him