ass not you.'"

"'But I want to tell you,' said the chief, 'I am proud to get a son who
for the Cause can forsake such a mother, and I thank God for the mother
that can give up such a son.'"

"And then he gripped her hand with that downward pull of his,--he gave
it to me once when he heard I was Shock's friend, and nearly jerked me
off my feet,--and without more words he was gone, while I stood behind
them like a blubbering idiot."

"Oh, isn't she a dear!" exclaimed Betty, "poor thing."

"Poor thing!" echoed Helen warmly, "indeed she doesn't think so. She's
as proud of him as she can be, and feels herself rich in his love; and
so she is."

Her tone and manner struck Brown with sudden pity.

"Hang his stupidity!" he said to himself, "can't the old bloke see. But
he has not such a blamed low opinion of himself that he can't imagine
any girl, much less a girl like that, looking at him, and even if he
did come to see it he would not think of asking her to share the life
he's going to out there; and, by Jove! it would be hard enough for her.
I guess I won't take the responsibility of interfering in this
business."

But Brown had no need to interfere. Mrs. Fairbanks, of all people, did
what was necessary. On the morning of Shock's departure it was she who
declared that someone should take pity on "that dear old lady," and
should stand by her in her hour of "desertion."

"So I think I shall drive over this afternoon; and, Helen, perhaps you
had better come with me. You seem to have great influence with her."

But Helen was of quite another mind. She shrank from intruding upon
what she knew would be a sacred hour to mother and son. But when Mrs.
Fairbanks expressed her determination to go Helen finally agreed to
accompany her.

"Oh, let's all go, mother," said Betty.

"I do not think they will want you, Betty, but you may go along," and
so the three ladies proceeded in the afternoon to the Macgregor home.

But at the parting of Shock and his mother there were no tears or
lamentations, or at least none that any could witness. Through the long
night before, they each knew the other to be keeping the watch of love
and agony; yet, each alone, they drank the cup of sacrifice. It was
only when the morning was nearing that Shock could bear it no longer,
and hastily dressing he came into his mother's room and kneeling by her
bedside put his arms about her.

"Mother, mother, why have you not been sleeping?" he whispered.