uble of years. But it is useless to say more--"

Then he went on to tell her that he had come West to see the country--
and a fine country it was, grand for growing grain. He had not made up
his mind to stay in it. "It is a fine country, but it has a dreary look
to me. There is not a hill to be seen far or near, and in some parts,
not a tree for scores of miles. I hardly think I will stay here long."

Allison read all this with painful misgivings. Willie alone and
discouraged, and alas! open to temptation, perhaps, as he had been
before--how would it end? Her heart sank within her, and she said to
herself, that there was no need for her to wait for a settlement of that
troublesome business. There were those who could settle it without her
help, and she would away to her brother.

His name was signed at the end of the page, but she turned the leaf over
and read a few lines more.

"I have gotten a letter from John Beaton, and I have made up my mind to
go back to Barstow. John says he is going home to bring out his mother,
and he will give you all the news--so no more at present."

Allison's heart was lightened as she read.

"There cannot be much wrong with him since he is going back again," she
thought, "and I can wait patiently till his friend comes, to hear more."

She had not long to wait. One night, when she came home in the early
gloaming, she found Mrs Robb standing at the door.

"Mr Robert is in the room," said she, "and a friend with him. He asked
for you, and I thought ye might maybe like to take off your cap and
change your gown before you went in to them."

"I may as well," said Allison. "It is some one from Nethermuir, I
suppose," she thought as she went up the stair.

So she came down quite unprepared to find John Beaton standing in the
middle of the room, with his eyes fixed on the door. They stood for a
moment looking at one another, and then their hands met, but not a word
of greeting passed between them. Then Allison sat down, and John took a
turn up and down the room.

"I heard from my brother that you were coming home for your mother, but
I did not think it was to be so soon," said Allison.

"It is the best time for me to leave my work. It is rather early in the
season for my mother, I am afraid. But the voyage is shorter than it
used to be, and she can have every comfort."

"She will be glad to go," said Allison.

"Yes, for some reasons. But at her age, changes are neith