?"

"Yes; I was in heaven for--for a little while, and then he left me--for
another woman. I am sure he cared for me, and he did not mean to treat
me so; but she was rich and so beautiful, and--what was I?" She gave an
expressive gesture of self-abnegation.

"Poor fool!" said Keith to himself. "Poor girl!" he said aloud.

"I have written; but, maybe, he never got my letter. He would not have
let me suffer so."

Keith's mouth shut closer.

She went on to tell of Wickersham's leaving her; of her hopes that after
her child was born he would come back to her. But the child was born and
died. Then of her despair; of how she had spent everything, and sold
everything she had to come home.

"I think if I could see him and tell him what I have been through, maybe
he would--be different. I know he cared for me for a while.--But I can't
find him," she went on hopelessly. "I don't want to go to him where
there are others to see me, for I'm not fit to see even if they'd let me
in--which they wouldn't." (She glanced down at her worn and shabby
frock.) "I have watched for him 'most all day, but I haven't seen him,
and the police ordered me away."

"I will find him for you," said Keith, grimly.

"Oh, no! You mustn't--you mustn't say anything to him. It would make
him--it wouldn't do any good, and he'd never forgive me." She
coughed deeply.

"Phrony, you must go home," said Keith.

For a second a spasm shot over her face; then a ray of light seemed to
flit across it, and then it died out.

She shook her head.

"No, I'll never go back there," she said.

"Oh, yes, you will--you must. I will take you back. The mountain air
will restore you, and--" She was shaking her head, but the look in her
eyes showed that she was thinking of something far off.

"No--no!"

"I will take you," repeated Keith. "Your grandfather will be--he will be
all right. He has just been here hunting for you."

The expression on her face was so singular that Keith put his hand on
her arm. To his horror, she burst into a laugh. It was so unreal that
men passing glanced at her quickly, and, as they passed on, turned and
looked back again.

"Well, good-by; I must find my husband," she said, holding out her hand
nervously and speaking in a hurried manner. "He's got the baby with him.
Tell 'em at home I'm right well, and the baby is exactly like
grandmother, but prettier, of course." She laughed again as she turned
away and started off hastily.

Kei