against an issue of such life
import as this? To plant and gather was a matter of a year, while all
eternity was bound up in his and Lucy's future together.

In consequence, although he realized the probable financial loss that
would result from his going on this amorous pilgrimage, the measure of his
love was so great that everything else, even the patient toil of months,
was as nothing beside it.

It came to him that perhaps, if he confided his present dilemma to his
sisters, they might come to his rescue, and in the exigency of sudden
frosts save at least a portion of his crops from loss. They were fond of
Lucy. Sometimes he had even thought they guessed his secret and were
desirous of helping on the romance. At least, he felt sure they would not
oppose it, for they had always been eager that he should marry and leave
an heir to inherit the Howe acreage; they had even gone so far as to urge
it upon him as his patriotic duty. Moreover, they were very desirous of
demolishing the barrier that for so many years had estranged Howe and
Webster.

The more he reflected on taking them into his confidence, the more
desirable became the idea, and at length he decided that before he went to
bed he would have a frank talk with the three women of his household and
lay before them all his troubles. If he were to do this he must hasten,
for Sefton Falls kept early hours.

When, however, he reached his own land, he found the lights in the house
still burning, and he was surprised to see Jane, a shawl thrown over her
head, coming to meet him.

"Martin!" she called, "is that you?"

The words contained a disquieting echo of anxiety.

"Yes, what's the matter?"

"Oh, I'm so glad you've got back!" she exclaimed. "I was just goin' over
to the Websters' to find you. A telephone message has just come while
you've been gone. Lucy----"

"Yes, yes," interrupted Martin breathlessly.

"There's been an accident to the Boston train, an' they telephoned from
the hospital at Ashbury that she'd been hurt. They wanted I should come
down there!"

She saw Martin reel and put out his hand.

"Martin!" she cried, rushing to his side.

"Is she much hurt? When did the message come?" panted the man.

"Just now," Jane answered. "The doctor said her arm was broken an' that
she was pretty well shaken up an' bruised. He didn't send for me so much
because she was in a serious condition as because her bag with all her
money an' papers was lost, an'