d her upstairs and laid her in her bed same as if
she was a lil' tired out babby."

"Dear Sally!" Cynthia's eyes shone. "I'll stay home to-day and let
you sleep."

"I reckon you will do nothin' like that! Ole Miss will be good for
mos' the mornin' an' I'se goin' to patch up the libry. If ole Miss
takes a fancy to that-er-room, she goin' to have what she wants! If
she wants to pick 'long o' the hearthstone, she is goin' to do that;
I'll loosen it up."

"I will watch her to-night, then!" Cynthia said, "and I'll be back
right early this evening, Sally."

Just as Cynthia reached The Way, she met Martin Morley.

"Good morning, lil' Miss Cyn," he greeted; "seems like you be part of
this yere pretty day."

"Good morning, Mr. Morley. You look right smart and dandified."

Morley was neatly and decently attired and his calm, clear eyes were
steady and full of purpose. The "charm" had held good with him, and
ever since the well-fought battle in the little doctor's lean-to
chamber, he had gradually worked his way back to self-respect and
content. Mary and Molly had drifted from his life so effectually that
he had accepted the inevitable and never mentioned their names.

"Where you going, Mr. Morley?"

"I am going down to The Forge," Martin answered. "They-all say the
young manager for that company what's going to build a factory up
higher has come, and I'm going to try and get a job."

"Do you believe there _is_ going to be a factory, Mr. Morley? Do you
believe Smith Crothers would let any one have a factory so near his?"

"They-all do say, Miss Cynthia, that that-er company what sends this
young man, is powerful rich and upperty. They-all do say that-er
company ain't so much as consulted with Smith Crothers."

"It must be a mighty brave company!" The slow smile touched the sweet
lips.

"Mr. Morley, I wonder if you will ever hear from Sandy?"

"Sho'! Miss Cynthia, you-all make me right creepy. I woke up this-er
morning from a dream 'bout Sandy. It was a right techersome dream, but
dreams be techersome. I dreamed that Sandy was daid, and yet I woke up
right cheerful. I've reasoned it out this-er-way. Sandy _is_ daid to
me, lil' Miss Cynthia, but alive out in a bigger, wider life and sho' a
right minded father should be mighty glad of that. I'm willing to give
Sandy to a better life."

The old face twitched. "It's 'bout all I can do for my son."

"Oh! Mr. Morley, you're right noble but I don't