y returned, and as Dannie passed through
the door, she closed it after him, and he stood still, trying to see in
the dim light. That great snowy stretch, that must be the bed. That
tumbled dark circle, that must be Mary's hair. That dead white thing
beneath it, that must be Mary's face. Those burning lights, flaming on
him, those must be Mary's eyes. Dannie stepped softly across the room,
and bent over the bed. He tried hard to speak naturally.

"Mary" he said, "oh, Mary, I dinna know ye were ill! Oh, believe me, I
dinna realize ye were suffering pain."

She smiled faintly, and her lips moved. Dannie bent lower.

"Promise," she panted. "Promise you will stay now."

Her hand fumbled at her breast, and then she slipped on the white cover
a little black cross. Dannie knew what she meant. He laid his hand on
the emblem precious to her, and said softly, "I swear I never will
leave ye again, Mary Malone."

A great light swept into her face, and she smiled happily.

"Now ye," said Dannie. He slipped the cross into her hand. "Repeat
after me," he said. "I promise I will get well, Dannie."

"I promise I will get well, Dannie, if I can," said Mary.

"Na," said Dannie. "That winna do. Repeat what I said, and remember it
is on the cross. Life hasna been richt for ye, Mary, but if ye will get
well, before the Lord in some way we will make it happier. Ye will get
well?"

"I promise I will get well, Dannie," said Mary Malone, and Dannie
softly left the room.

Outside he said to the nurse, "What can I do?"

She told him everything of which she could think that would be of
benefit.

"Now tell me all ye know of what happened," commanded Dannie.

"After you left," said the nurse, "she was in labor, and she could not
waken her husband, and she grew frightened and screamed. There were men
passing out on the road. They heard her, and came to see what was the
matter."

"Strangers?" shuddered Dannie, with dry lips.

"No, neighbors. One man went for the nearest woman, and the other drove
to town for a doctor. They had help here almost as soon as you could.
But, of course, the shock was a very dreadful thing, and the heat of
the past few weeks has been enervating."

"Ane thing more," questioned Dannie. "Why do her children dee?"

"I don't know about the others," answered the nurse. "This one simply
couldn't be made to breathe. It was a strange thing. It was a fine big
baby, a boy, and it seemed perfect, but we couldn't save