g not to confuse the rambling
wits. "Just where was old Miss Lanley's place?"

Andrew laughed foolishly.

"Lanley!" he pattered on. "Susie May Lanley! I reckon she was a right
putty one in her day. I uster set and watch her and say this-er-way:
'plenty o' them! I'm going to get one!' meaning to make her jealous
long o' gals, but she never took no heed--but Landy! she died forsaken
and lone, and times is when I think she would have been a mighty sight
better off if she had took me!"

Townley's long reminiscence had tired him woefully and he began to cry
pitifully, swaying to and fro and repeating:

"She done died forsaken and lone!"

Then he fell asleep, his white head on Marcia Lowe's shoulder, the full
radiance of the late sun flooding over them through the western window.
For a half hour he slept and when he awakened he seemed hopelessly
addled. Muttering and groping, hardly seeming to notice his companion,
he made his way out of the church.

"Old Miss Susie May Lanley!" the little doctor repeated over and over.
"I must hold to that until I get it on paper. I guess Uncle Theodore
was married by some one living near old Miss Susie May Lanley's!"

Just as Marcia Lowe was leaving the church, Cynthia came running down
the trail. She was smiling and calm.

"I came back," she said confidingly, "to tell you something. I've
worked it out myself."

"Yes, dear;" the girl's face struck Marcia strangely. A new expression
rested upon it.

"I'm--not--going--to suffer any more."

"Why, little Cyn?"

"No. No more! It hurts and hurts and then you get over it, and go on
just the same. I'm not going to suffer!"

Miss Lowe went close and took the pretty face in her hands.

"See here, little girl, if suffering is a teacher it is not such a
cruel thing; be a good learner."

"No. Last night in the blackness and fear something happened--here!"
The girl put her hand over her heart. "But now with the sun shining
over Lost Mountain, it's all so right safe and still and happy that I'm
sorry for the hurt of last night. No, I am not going to suffer. I'm
going to be just lil' Cyn again. I thought you would like to know."

"Oh, dear," and then Marcia laughed. "You-all make me want to cry so
easily! I am glad, dear. Surely I do not _want_ any one to suffer;
but see here, will you come to me every day, Cynthia? I want to teach
you some necessary things. Things like--well--book things! Things
that Sandy just