, without their becoming
criminals in the eye of the law, or outcasts in the eyes of society."

At this moment Ezekiel looked in the door and said, "Alice's room is
nice and warm now." Advancing, he took her hand and led her from the
room. Uncle Ike thanked Quincy for his kindness and followed them.
Quincy sat and thought. The picture that his mind drew placed the woman
who had just left his room in a large house, with servants at her
command. She was the head of the household, but no menial nor scullion.
She did not work, because he was able and willing to support her. She
did not vote, because she felt with him that at home was her sphere of
usefulness; and then Quincy thought that what would make this possible
was money, money that not he but others had earned, and he knew that
without this money the question could not be solved as his mind had
pictured it; and he reflected that all women could not have great houses
and servants and loving husbands to care for them, and he acknowledged
to himself that his solution was a personal, selfish one and not one
that would answer for the toiling million's of the working world.

CHAPTER XXII.

AFTER THE GREAT SNOWSTORM.

Mandy was, of course, greatly pleased inwardly because Hiram had come
through such a great storm to see her, but, woman-like, she would not
show it.

So she said to Hiram, "Your reason is a very good one, and of course I
am greatly flattered, but there must be something else besides that.
Now, what have you got to tell me?"

"Well, the fact is, Mandy, I've got two things on my mind. One of 'em is
a secret and t'other isn't. I meant to have told you yesterday; but Mr.
Sawyer kept me busy till noon, and the Deacon kept me busy all the
afternoon, and I was too tired to come over last night."

"Well," said Mandy, "tell me the secret first. If the other one has kept
so long it won't spoil if it's kept a little longer."

Hiram had kept his eyes on the stove since taking his seat, and he then
remarked, "I am afraid that cider will spoil unless I get a drink of it
pretty soon."

"Well, I declare," cried Mandy, "if I didn't forget to give it to you,
after sending Mrs. Crowley down stairs for it, when you was out there in
the road."

"That's all right," said Hiram, as he finished the mugful she passed
him, and handed it back to be refilled. "That sort o' limbers a feller's
tongue a bit. Well, the secret is," said Hiram, lowering his voice,
"that whe