ters. He turned very white.

"Oh, the pity of it!" said he.

"I wish I could gather her slanderers into one room and read them these
letters," said Belle.

For days afterward she button-holed people in the street to tell them
about Mary, or to read them scraps of her letters. If they had said she
was vain and idle, and selfish and incompetent, just like the half of
their own daughters, Belle could have forgiven them. It was their
determination to shove her into the gutter which made my wife her
valiant champion.

"Whatever that girl amounts to, Dave, will be born of our faith in her,
and we must never go back on her. She writes me that whenever she has a
hard task, such as attending fits, there I stand at her back and help."

"Just between ourselves, though, you must confess that it is a great
relief to have her away."

"You can't begin to feel that as I do. I live again! I read my own
books, think my own thoughts. I belong to myself. No one says, 'What's
the matter?' 'Where are you going?' 'What makes you grave--or gay?' I
sit and chat with my 'odd-fish.' I go to all kinds of meetings and
discuss all kinds of 'isms, and have no tag-tail constantly asking
'Why?' 'Why?' or 'Tell me!' It's the little things that grind. The next
time I try to help a young girl, I'll not risk losing my influence with
her by taking her into my house. Do you know, Dave, I sometimes feel
that Mary must have been my own child in a previous incarnation, and I
neglected and abused her; that's why she was thrust back upon me this
time, whether I liked it or not."

After Christmas Isabel decided that she must go up to Chicago to see
Mary, and on her return thrilling was the account she gave of her
experiences, which included an attendance at an autopsy--but upon that I
shall not enlarge.

Introducing herself to the Superintendent of the School, she said:

"Can I have Miss Gemmell for two days at my hotel?"

"Indeed, no, madam. We are short of help, and it would be entirely
against the rules."

"Then I'll stay here with her."

The Lady Superintendent looked distressed.

"Don't think us inhospitable, but there is absolutely no provision for
guests in all this great building."

"Oh!" said Belle, unabashed. "I seem to be unfortunate in breaking, or
wanting to break, the rules of this house. Now, will you kindly tell me
what I can do? How can I see the very most of my Mary while I am in
Chicago?"

After some thought the answer came: