t refusal. He
was to learn, however, of his mistake later.

CHAPTER XXIII

DISPELLING THE CLOUDS

During the night the clouds rolled away, and Sunday morning dawned warm
and clear. It was good to be abroad, so Douglas thought, as he walked
along the road with his violin under his arm. It would soon be time
for the shoe-maker to begin his morning service, and he knew how Joe
and his wife would enjoy a little music. He had not seen the former
since Friday afternoon, and he was most anxious to learn the outcome of
his struggle between right and wrong.

He found Mrs. Benton in the sitting-room, rocking herself to and fro in
a splint-bottom chair. Her face was thin and care-worn, and her hair
seemed whiter than the last time he had seen her, and he truthfully
divined the cause.

Mrs. Benton's face brightened as her visitor entered the room, and she
at once offered him a chair.

"It is good of you to come this morning, sir," she told him.

"I did not wish to miss the service," Douglas replied. "I thought you
might like me to play a little," and he pointed to the violin which he
had placed upon the table.

"I fear there will be no service this morning," and a troubled
expression came into Mrs. Benton's eyes as she spoke. "Joe's been very
strange of late, and has not been able to settle down to his work. He
can't eat nor sleep, and I am greatly worried about him."

"He is grieving, I suppose."

"Yes, about poor Jean."

"Has he seen her lately?"

"Not since Friday. He may have gone to see her this morning, though,
for he left here about half an hour ago, but he didn't tell me where he
was going. He seems like a man in a dream."

"He didn't go down the road, Mrs. Benton, or I should have seen him. I
was sitting in front of Jake's house reading for some time before I
left to come here."

"Oh, he didn't go that way, sir. There is a shortcut across the hills,
though it has not been used much of late. The path goes up just in
front of our house to the top of the hill, and then turns to the left.
Joe took that this morning, though I do not know why, as he has not
travelled that way for years. Perhaps he wishes to be alone. I hope
he is not going to do anything desperate. He is so down-hearted and
strange that I feel terribly worried about him."

"I am going over to Mrs. Dempster's to-day," Douglas replied, "as she
sent word for me to come and see her as soon as possible. I might as
well go a