high toward
the sky and give a leap into the air. There came a crash of breaking
glass, and I saw a whirl of white garments far above me that came
fluttering down in a spiral motion. I rushed toward it ere it fell: there
came a sickening thud on the ground beside me, and a lifeless mass lay
there.

I can scarcely narrate this calmly or well, but thee sees I have tried my
best.

Then when friend Afton came to me, and in pardonable and much agitation
asked me to write to the friends of the dead woman, I complied, and
directed the letter to the Reverend Richard Jordan; and his address was
the place where friend Hicks sojourned, as likely thee has guessed.

"What was this man to the deceased? does thee know?" I asked friend Afton.

"No, sir. He placed her with me a year ago, and asked me to take the best
of care of her, and has always sent me money for her wants, and paid me
well besides. And, strange to say, I never could get her to mention him.
He seemed to be a good man, but poor in his dress--too young in the
profession to get a wealthy 'call.'"

So the Reverend Richard Jordan, who had cared for this woman, was the man
whom friend Barbara thought well of! This was what the money had been
wanted for--this was the secret which was "neither sinful nor shameful,
but the most holy that a man can have"!

When he came in at friend Afton's I went to him. "Who was the deceased?" I
asked--most bluntly, I fear me.

"She was my wife," he said sadly, and so altogether frankly that I knew he
was no guilty man, whatever else he might be.

"I grieve with thee," I said. "And before thee goes up to thy solemn
office of praying by thy dead wife's side, I would tell thee something. I
met thee--look at me!--months ago, when I almost stumbled against thee
outside of Benjamin Hicks's garden-gate. Thee was new to the place, thee
told me."

"I remember you," he said, and flushed painfully.

"Nay, do not redden," I said almost with anger. "I know all things about
thee, and nothing that is harmful."

"Nor ever has been harm," he said firmly.

"I know thee has had much money sent to thee, and thee does not know from
whom."

"I do," he said, "and am ashamed to say I accepted it. It came from your
friend Hicks's daughter, but it was for my poor wife--for her alone. I
could not help myself--I--"

"Thee has no need of shame for that. The Lord must have made it patent to
thee that we are placed here to help one another. And so much as