l deed 'em all over to you."

"No, no, that won't do it. My mind has got to change. It's all in my
mind. Don't you see? I've got to get away from the whole outfit and
think it all out. If I can come back I will, but you mustn't bank on my
return, Mart. You mustn't be surprised if I settle on the other side of
the range."

"I know," he said, sadly. "I know your reason and I don't blame you.
'Tis not for an old derelict like me to hold you--but you must let me
give you some of me money--'tis of no value to me now. If ye do not let
me share it with you me heart will break entirely."

"I haven't a right to a cent of it, Mart--I owe you more than I can ever
pay. No, I can't afford to take another cent."

In the pause which followed his face took on a look of new resolution.
"Bertie, I've had something happen to me to-day. I've learned something
I should have known long since."

Her look of surprise deepened into dismay as he went on: "I know what's
the matter with you, girlie. 'Tis after seeing Ben your face always
shines. You love him, Bertie--and I don't blame you--"

A carriage driving up to the gate brought diversion, and she sprang up,
her face flushed, her eyes big and scared. "There comes Dr. Steele! I'd
plumb forgot about his call."

"So had I," he answered, as he rose to meet his visitor.

Dr. Steele, a gray-haired, vigorous man, entered the gate and came
hurriedly up the path, something fateful in his stride. He greeted them
both casually, smilelessly. "I've got to get that next train," he
announced, mechanically looking at his watch, "and that leaves me just
twenty minutes in which to thump you."

Bertha was in awe of this blunt, tactless man of science, and as they
moved towards the house listened in chilled silence while he continued:
"Brent writes me that you were doing pretty well down by the lake. Why
didn't you stay? He says he advised you not to come back."

"This is me home," answered Haney, simply.

Lucius took Bertha's place at Mart's shoulder and the three men went
into the library, leaving her to wait outside in anxious solitude. There
was something in the doctor's manner which awed her, filled her with new
conceptions, new duties.

Steele was one of these cold-blooded practitioners who do not believe in
the old-fashioned manner. "Cheery suggestion" was nonsense to him. His
examination was to Bertha, as to Haney, a dreaded ordeal. However, Brent
had advised it, and they had agreed to subm