Sawyer, when I asked you to tell me a little secret you had in your
possession, you refused. I wanted a friend, but I also wanted a proven
friend. No doubt I took the wrong way to win your friendship, but I am
going to tell you something, Mr. Sawyer, if you will listen to me, that
will at least secure your pity for one who is rich in wealth but poor in
that she has no friends to whom she can confide her troubles."

Quincy saw that he was in for it, and like a gentleman, determined to
make the best of it, so he said, "Miss Putnam, I will listen to your
story, and if, after hearing it, I can honorably aid you I will do so
with pleasure."

Lindy took his hand, which he had half extended, and said, "Come, sit
down, Mr. Sawyer. It is a long story, and I am nervous and tired," and
she looked down at her black dress.

They sat upon the sofa, he at one end, she at the other.

"Mr. Sawyer," she began abruptly, "I am not a natural-born child of Mr.
and Mrs. Putnam. I was adopted by them when but two years of age. I do
not know who my father and mother were. I am sure Mrs. Putnam knows, but
she will not tell me."

"It could do no harm now that you are a woman grown," said Quincy.

"At first they both loved me," Lindy continued, "but a year after I came
here to live their son was born, and from that time on all was changed.
Mr. Putnam was never unkind to me but once, but Mrs. Putnam seemed to
take delight in blaming me, and tormenting me, and nagging me, until it
is a wonder that my disposition is as good as it is, and you know it is
not very good," said she to Quincy with a little smile. She resumed her
story: "I loved the little boy, Jones I always called him, and as we
grew up together he learned to love me and took my part, although he was
three years younger than myself. This fact made Mrs. Putnam hate me more
than ever. He stayed at home until he was twenty-two, then he went to
his father and mother and told them that he loved me and wished to marry
me. Both Mr. and Mrs. Putnam flew into a great rage at this. The idea of
a brother marrying his sister! They said it was a crime and a sacrilege,
and the vengeance of God would surely fall upon us both. Jones told them
he had written to a lawyer in Boston, and he had replied that there was
no law prohibiting such a marriage. 'But the law of God shines before
you like a flaming sword,' said Mrs. Putnam; and Mr. Putnam agreed with
her, for she had all his property in her posses