emently against Eloise's leaving her even
for an hour, that Mrs. Biggs departed without her, thinking to herself
as she rode in state behind the fleet horses, "It beats the Dutch what
luck some folks have. I've lost my boarder, and Ruby Ann has got the
school, just as I knew she would, and mebby I'll have to pay for the
rig. I wonder how long I've had it."

CHAPTER IV

THE SHADOW OF DEATH

This was on Saturday, and by Monday the whole town of Crompton, from
District No. 5 to the village on the seashore, was buzzing with the news
told eagerly from one to another. The young girl who had sprained her
ankle while coming to take charge of the school in District No. 5 had,
it was told, turned out to be the daughter of Mrs. Amy, and was at the
Crompton House with her mother, who had thought her dead. This some
believed and some did not, until assured by Mrs. Biggs, who, having done
her washing on Saturday, was free on Monday to call upon her neighbors
and repeat the story over and over, ending always with, "I mistrusted
from the first that she was somebody."

The second piece of news was scarcely less exciting, but sad. After his
interview with Eloise, the Colonel had complained of nausea and
faintness, and had gone early to bed. Before going, however, he had
asked if Eliza Ann were still in the house. An idea once lodged in his
brain was apt to stay, and Eliza Ann had taken too strong a hold upon
his senses to be easily removed.

"Bring her here," he said.

She came at once and asked what she could do for him.

"Sit down," he said. "You seem to be lame."

He had evidently forgotten about the accident, and Eloise did not remind
him of it, but sat down while he catechised her with regard to what she
had told him of herself. Some of his comments on Homer Smith were not
very complimentary, and this emboldened Eloise to tell him who her real
father was.

"Thank God!" he said emphatically. "I'm glad you are not that rascal's,
and because you are not you can stay with Amy and fare as she fares. But
why did she think you dead?"

Eloise told him all she thought necessary to tell him, while his face
grew purple with anger, and his clenched fists beat the air as if
attacking an imaginary Homer Smith.

"It's a comfort to know, if there is a God--and I know there is--he is
getting his deserts," he said. Then, as his mood changed, he continued,
"And you are the little normal I didn't want, and you board with Mrs.
Big