to come. But now, it thrilled him with a great new joy. After all he had
given the kiss to the right one. It was Marcia to whom his soul bowed in
the homage that a man may give to a woman. Did his good angel guide him to
her that night? And how was it he had not seen the sweetness of Marcia
sooner? How had he lived with her nearly a year, and watched her dainty
ways, and loving ministry and not known that his heart was hers? How was
it he had grieved so long over Kate, and now since he had seen her once
more, not a regret was in his heart that she was not his; but a beautiful
revelation of his own love to Marcia had been wrought in him? How came it?

And the importunate little songsters in the night answered him a thousand
times: "Kate-did-it! Kate-she-did it! Yes she did! I say she did. Kate did
it!"

Had angel voices reached him through his dreams, and suddenly given him
the revelation which the little insects had voiced in their ridiculous
colloquy? It was Kate herself who had shown him how he loved Marcia.

CHAPTER XXVIII

Slowly the moon rode over the house, and down toward its way in the West,
and after its vanishing chariot the night stretched wistful arms. Softly
the grey in the East tinged into violet and glowed into rose and gold. The
birds woke up and told one another that the first of August was come and
life was good.

The breath that came in the early dawn savored of new-mown hay, and the
bird songs thrilled Marcia as if it were the day of her dreams.

She forgot all her troubles; forgot even her wayward sister next door; and
rose with the song of the birds in her heart. This was to be a great day.
No matter what happened she had now this day to date from. David had asked
her to go somewhere just because he wanted her to. She knew it from the
look in his eyes when he told her, and she knew it because he might have
asked a dozen men to go with him. There was no reason why he need have
taken her to-day, for it was distinctly an affair for men, this great
wonder of machinery. It was a privilege for a woman to go. She felt it.
She understood the honor.

With fingers trembling from joy she dressed. Not the sight of her pink
calico sunbonnet lying on the chair, nor the thought of wearing it upon so
grand an occasion, could spoil the pleasure of the day. Among so large a
company her bonnet would hardly be noticed. If David was satisfied why
what difference did it make