oes. Now you hear me."

This proved to be good advice, for when the chairman introduced Shock
as the Prospector from Loon Lake, Shock simply began, as Brown said, to
"yarn."

"That is what Perault and Ike called me," were his first words, and
from that moment till the close of his speech he had his audience
leaning forward and listening with ears and eyes and heart. He made no
attempt at fine speaking, but simply told them of his friends in the
West, of the men he had come to love as brothers, and who had come to
love him.

As they came down the steps of the Park Church, where the meeting was
held, Brown could hardly keep pace with Helen as she danced along
beside him.

"Oh, wasn't he splendid!" she cried, "wasn't he splendid!"

"Splendid?" said Brown. "There's not a word big enough left."

"Oh, I am so happy," sang Helen.

"Why, what's the matter with you?" cried Brown.

"Oh, nothing, nothing," and she bubbled over with happy laughter until
Brown grew gloomy and cross. But Helen deigned him no further
explanation of her overflowing joy, and left him, still sullen and
somewhat indignant, at her door.

Her radiant face caught her mother's eye as she entered the room.

"Well, my child, you are looking very happy. I have not seen you look
so bright for months. You are very beautiful, my daughter," said her
mother, putting her arm around her daughter as Helen stooped to kiss
her.

"Oh, mother," cried Helen, "I am very happy."

"Well, darling, it makes me happy to hear you say so. Has--has Mr.
Lloyd spoken to you?"

"Mr. Lloyd?" Helen laughed gleefully. "No, mother, he knows better than
that. Oh, mother, Shock loves me."

"What! Has he dared to speak-after promising--"

"No, mother, he has not spoken, not with his lips. But I know it, I
know it, and oh, I am so glad."

"What of his plain declaration to me that he had given you up?"

"Oh, I don't care, mother. He has not changed," cried the happy girl.
"He loves me just the same as ever."

"And what of the girl Mr. Ambherg told us of?"

"No, mother, there is no other girl," cried Helen. "I don't care who
told you."

"Helen, I am ashamed of you," exclaimed her mother, angrily. "Dear
mother," said Helen, falling on her knees and putting her arms about
her mother, "I cannot help loving him, and I cannot help being happy.
Oh, mother, he is splendid. You ought to have heard him to-night, and
you ought to have seen the people. Why, the ministers almost hu