dered. Like a saving angel Annie reentered with
the coffee in time to interrupt her thoughts.

"Now, dear, you drink this at once," she said. Then she went on, in
response to a mute inquiry, "Oh, yes, there's plenty here for me. And
when I come back I'm going to make some more, and cook a nice light
supper, while you watch the boy, and we can sit here together with his
door open until morning."

"But you're not going to stop, Annie," Eve protested. "I can't have
that. You must get your sleep. It's very kind of you----"

"Now look right here, Eve," the busy woman said decidedly, "you've got
nothing to say about it, please. Do you think I could sleep in my bed
with you fretting and worrying your poor, simple heart out? What if he
woke up in the night an'--an' had another? Who's to go and fetch Doc?
Now wot I says is duty's duty, and Angel Gay can just snore his head
off by himself for once, and I'm not sure but what I shall be glad to
be shut of the noise."

The genuine sympathy and kindliness were quite touching, and Eve
responded to it as only a woman can.

"Annie," she said, with a wistful smile, "you are the kindest, dearest
thing----"

"Now don't you call me a 'thing,' Eve Marsham," the other broke in
with a laugh, "or we'll quarrel. I'm just a plain woman with sense
enough to say nothing when Gay gets home with more whiskey aboard than
is good for his vitals. And don't you think I'm not putting a good
value on myself when I say that. Not that Gay's given to sousing a
heap. No, he's a good feller, sure, an' wouldn't swap him for--for
your Will--on'y when he snores. So you see it's a kindness to me
letting me stop to-night."

"You're a dear," Eve cried warmly,--"and I won't say 'thing.' Where
are you going now?"

"Why, I'm going to set Angel's cheese an' pickles, and put his coffee
on the stove. If he's to home when I get around, maybe I'll sit with
him ten minutes or so, an' then I'll come right along back."

She had reached the door, which stood open, and now she paused,
looking back.

"When are you gettin' married, Eve?" she demanded abruptly.

"Two months to-day," the other replied. She was surprised out of
herself, and for a moment a warm glow swept over her as she realized
that there was something still in the world which made for other than
unhappiness.

"Two months," said Annie, thoughtfully. "Two months, eh?" Then she
suddenly became mysterious and smiled into the other's face. "That'll
be ni