ter's
ministrations Madge was left, while Graydon waited, with intense
anxiety, in the porch, explaining what had occurred, with a manner
much distraught, in answer to many questions.

"The cursed brute is done for now," he concluded.

Madge's faint proved obstinate, and at last Graydon began to urge the
farmer to go for a physician.

The daughter at last appeared with the glad tidings that the young
girl was "coming to nicely."

Graydon breathed a fervent "Thank God!" and sank weak and limp into
a seat on the porch. The farmer brought him a glass of cool milk from
the cellar, and then Graydon sent in word that he would like to see
the lady as soon as possible.

When he entered the "spare room" of the farmhouse Madge, with a smile
that was like a ray of sunshine, extended her hand from the lounge on
which she was reclining, and said:

"You didn't fail me, Graydon. I couldn't have kept up a moment longer.
I should have fainted before had I not heard your voice. How good God
has been!"

He held her hand in both his own, his mouth twitched nervously, but
his emotion was too strong for speech.

"Don't feel so badly, Graydon," she resumed, and her voice was
gentleness itself; "I am not hurt, nor are you to blame."

"I am to blame," he said, hoarsely. "I gave you that brute, but he's
dead. I shot him instantly. Oh, Madge, if--if--I feel that I would
have shot myself."

"Graydon, please be more calm," she faltered, tears coming into her
eyes. "There, see, you are making me cry. I can't bear to see you--I
can't bear to see a man--so moved. Please now, you look so pale that
I am frightened. I'm not strong, but shall get better at once if I see
you yourself."

"Forgive me, Madge, but it seems as if I had suffered the pangs of
death ten times over--there, I won't speak about it till we both have
recovered from the shock. Dear, brave little girl; how can I thank you
enough for keeping up till I could reach you!"

She began to laugh a little too nervously to be natural. Her heart was
glad over her escape, and in a gladder tumult at his words and manner.
He was no shadow of a man, nor did ice-water flow in his veins. His
feeling had been so strong that it had almost broken her self-control.

"Some day," she exulted, "some day God will turn his fraternal
affection into the wine of love."

"I'm so nervous," she said, "that I must either laugh or cry. What a
plight we are in! How shall we go forward or backward?"

"