octor was just
emerging.

"Matter of a few hours," he said to Howard. "I am glad you have come.
Evidently he wants to see you, or wants something, nobody can make out
what. You have heard the news?"

Howard bowed, and entering the house, ran up to his uncle's room. The
Colonel was propped on pillows, laboring for breath, and trying to
articulate words impossible to speak, while, if ever eyes talked, his
were talking, first to Amy and then to Eloise, both of whom were beside
him, Amy smoothing his hair and Eloise rubbing his cold hands.

They had been with him for hours, trying to understand him as he
struggled to speak.

"There is something he wants to tell us," Eloise said, and in his eyes
there was a look of affirmation, while the lips tried in vain to frame
the words, which were only gurgling sounds.

What did the dying man want to say? Was he trying to reveal a secret
kept so many years, and which was planting his pillow with thorns? Was
he back in the palmetto clearing, standing in the moonlight with Dora,
and exacting a promise from her which broke her heart? No one could
guess, and least of all the two women ministering to him so
tenderly,--Amy, because she loved him, and Eloise, because she felt that
he was more to her than a mere stranger. She was very quiet and
self-contained. The events of the last two days had transformed her from
a timid girl into a fearless woman, ready to fight for her own rights
and those of her mother. Once when Amy was from the room a moment she
bent close to the Colonel and said, "You are my mother's father?"

There was a choking sound and an attempt to move the head which Eloise
took for assent.

"Then you are my grandfather?" she added.

This time she was sure he nodded, and she said, "It will all be right.
You can rest now," but he didn't rest.

There was more on his mind which he could not tell.

"I believe it is Mr. Howard," Eloise thought, and said to him, "He is
coming on the next train. I hear it now. He will soon be here. Is that
what you want?"

The dying man turned his head wearily. There was more besides Howard he
wanted, but when at last the young man came into the room, his eyes
shone with a look of pleased recognition, and he tried to speak a
welcome. In the hall outside Jack was waiting, and as Eloise passed out
he gave her his hand, and leading her to a settee, sat down beside her,
and told her how glad he was for the news he had heard of her, but
feeli