res forth from the shelter and
comparative comfort of the dull cabins. Families, pressed thus close and
debarred from the freedom of the open, suffer mentally and spiritually
as one from the wider haunts of men can hardly conceive.

When Nella-Rose turned away from Truedale that golden autumn day, she
faced winter and the shut-in terrors of the cold and loneliness. In two
weeks the last vestige of autumn would be past, and the girl could not
contemplate being imprisoned with Marg and her father while waiting for
love to return to her. She paused on the wet, leafy path and considered.
She had told Truedale that she would go home, but what did it matter.
She would go to Miss Lois Ann's. She would know when Truedale returned;
she could go to him. In the meantime no human being would annoy her or
question her in that cabin far back in the Hollow. And Lois Ann would
while away the long hours by story and song. It seemed to her there was
but one thing to do--and Nella-Rose did it! She fled to the woman whose
name Truedale had barely heard.

It took her three good hours to make the distance to the Hollow and it
was quite dark when she tapped on the door of the little cabin. To all
appearances the place was deserted; but after the second knock a shutter
to the right of the door was pushed open and a long, lean hand appeared
holding a lighted candle, while a deep, rich voice called:

"Who?"

"Jes' Nella-Rose!"

The hand withdrew, the shutter was closed, and in another minute the
door was flung wide and the girl drawn into the warm, comfortable room.
Supper, of a better sort than most hill-women knew, was spread out on a
clean table, and in the cheer and safety Nella-Rose expanded and decided
to take the old woman into her confidence at once and so secure present
comfort until Truedale came back to claim her.

This Lois Ann, in whose sunken eyes eternal youth burned and glowed, was
a mystery in the hills and was never questioned. Long ago she had come,
asked no favours, and settled down to fare as best she could. There was
but one sure passport to her sanctuary. That was--trouble! Once
misfortune overtook one, sex was forgotten, but at other times it was
understood that Miss Lois Ann had small liking or sympathy for men,
while on the other hand she brooded over women and children with the
everlasting strength of maternity.

It was suspected, and with good reason, that many refugees from justice
passed through Miss Lois An