than ever before, if
that were possible, because she was capable of making the awful
sacrifice. He well knew what she would suffer. The thought of her
anguish drowned the pain he felt on his own account, and his suffering
for her sake seemed more than he could bear. Billy Little, he supposed,
had gone to the wedding, and for the first time in Dic's life he was
angry with that steadfast friend. Dic knew that the sudden plunge from
joy to anguish had brought a benumbing shock, and while he sat beside
the fire he realized that his suffering had only begun--that his real
anguish would come with the keener consciousness of reaction.

At four o'clock that same afternoon Billy was seated in Rita's parlor,
whispering to her. "My dear girl, I bring you good news. You can't save
Tom. He forged Wallace's name to a note for four hundred dollars, and
passed it at the bank six weeks ago. He wanted to borrow the money from
me to pay the note, but I did not have it. I gave him fifty dollars, and
he has run away--left the state for no one knows where. He carried off
two of Yates's horses, and, best of all, he carried off Sukey. All
reasons for sacrificing yourself to this man Williams are now removed,
save only your father's debt. That, Fisher tells me, has been renewed
for sixty days, and at the end of that time your father and Fisher will
again have it to face. You could not save them, Rita, if you were to
marry half the men in Boston. Even if this debt were paid--cancelled
--instead of renewed, your father would soon be as badly
off as ever. A bank couldn't keep him in business, Rita. Every one he
deals with robs and cheats him. He's a good man, Rita, kind, honest, and
hard working, but he is fit only to farm. I hate to say it, but in many
respects your father is a great fool, very much like Tom. It is easier
to save ten knaves than one fool. A leopard is a leopard; a nigger is a
nigger. God can change the spots of the one and the color of the other,
but I'm blessed if I believe even God can unmake a fool. Now my dear
girl, don't throw away your happiness for life in a hopeless effort to
save your father from financial ruin."

"But I have given my word, Billy Little," replied the girl, to whom a
promise was a sacred thing. "I believe my father and mother would die if
I were to withdraw. I must go on, I must; it is my doom. It is only
three hours--oh, my God! have mercy on me--" and she broke down,
weeping piteously. Soon she contin