reads of his work which he had
been dropping with such relief.

Roderick had not come to his final decision without much argument with
himself. His head said Go, but he could not quite convince his heart
that he was right in leaving Lawyer Ed so soon. He had argued the
question with himself during many sleepless nights, but the lure of
success had proved the stronger. And he was going late in the autumn
to take up his new work.

To Old Angus the news was like the shutting out of the light of day.
Roderick was going away. At first that was all he could comprehend.
But he did not for one moment lose his sublime faith either in his boy
or in his God. The Lord's hand was in it all, he told himself. He was
leading the Lad out into larger service and his father must not stand
in the way. He said not one word of his own loss, but was deeply
concerned over Lawyer Ed's. He was worried lest the Lad's going might
mean business difficulties for his friend.

"If the Father will be wanting the Lad, Edward," he said one golden
autumn afternoon, when Lawyer Ed stopped at the farm gate in passing,
"then we must not be putting our little wills in His way. I would not
be minding for myself, oh, no, not at all--" the old man's smile was
more pathetic than tears. "The dear Lord will be giving me so many
children on the Jericho Road, that He feels I can spare Roderick."

Eddie Perkins was stumbling about the lane trying to rake up the dead
leaves into neat piles as Angus had instructed him. He came whimpering
up with a bruised finger which he held up to the old man. Angus
comforted him tenderly, telling him Eddie must be a man and not mind a
little scratch. He looked down at this most helpless of his children
and gently stroked the boy's misshapen head.

"Yes, He would be very kind, giving me so many of His little ones to
care for, and He feels I can spare Roderick. The Lad is strong--" his
voice faltered a moment, but he went on bravely.

"But it was you I was thinking of, Edward. I could not but be fearing
that you were making a great sacrifice. There is your visit to the
Holy Land--and the business. It will be hard for you, Edward?"

Lawyer Ed, seated in his mud-splashed buggy at the gate, turned quickly
away, the anxiety in Old Angus's voice was almost too much for his
tender heart. There was a wistful plea in it that he should vindicate
Roderick from a shadow of suspicion. He jerked his horse's head
violently