, Lois Ann, at her wit's end, believing that death
or insanity threatened, went secretly to the Greyson house to confess
and get assistance.

Peter was away with Jed. The two hung together now like burrs. Whatever
of relaxation Martin could hope for lay in Greyson; whatever of material
comfort Peter could command, must come through Jed, and so they
laboured, in slow, primitive fashion, and edged in a little pleasure
together. Marg, having achieved her ambition, was content and, for the
first time in her life, easy to get along with. And into this
comparative Eden Lois Ann came with words that shattered the peace and
calm.

In Marg's private thought she had never doubted that her sister had
often been with Burke Lawson in the Hollow. When he disappeared, she
believed Nella-Rose was with him, but she had supported and embellished
her father's story concerning them because it secured her own
self-respect and covered the tracks of the degenerate pair with a shield
that they in no wise deserved, but which put their defenders in a truly
Christian attitude.

Marg was alone in the cabin when Lois Ann entered. She looked up flushed
and eager.

"How-de," she said genially. "Set and have a bite."

"I ain't got no time," the old woman returned pantingly. "Nella-Rose is
down to my place."

The warm, sunny room grew stifling to Marg.

"What a-doing?" she said, half under her breath.

"She's got a--lil' baby."

The colour faded from Marg's face, leaving it pasty and heavy.

"Burke--thar?"

"He ain't been thar all winter. I hid Nella-Rose and her shame but I
dare not any longer. I reckon she's going off."

"Dying?"

"May be; or--" and here Lois Ann tapped her head.

"And he--he went and left her?" groaned Marg--"the devil!"

Lois Ann watched the terrible anger rising in the younger woman and of a
sudden she realized how useless it would be to voice the wild tale
Nella-Rose held to. So she only nodded.

"I'll come with you," Marg decided at once, "and don't you let on to
father or Jed--they'd do some killing this time, sure!"

Together the two made their way to the Hollow and found Nella-Rose in
the quiet room with her baby nestling against her tender breast. The
look on her face might well stay the reproaches on Marg's lips--she
almost reeled back as the deep, true eyes met hers. All the smothered
sisterliness came to the surface for an instant as she trembled and drew
near to the two in the old chintz-covered ro