ased to know that the baby was
a boy who would grow up as his own son.

It was late that night when Mrs. Hampton went to bed. She had stayed
up longer than usual, waiting for John. But when the clock struck
eleven and he had not arrived, she wearily made her way upstairs to her
room. She left the front door unlocked, and a lunch on the dining-room
table, for John always liked something to eat before retiring.

Mrs. Hampton found it hard to get to sleep, and she lay awake for some
time. When slumber did at last seal her eyes she was beset by a
fantastic dream. She was surrounded by all kinds of people, greatly
excited. They were constantly moving, some coming and others going.
Faces and forms appeared and vanished in a bewildering manner. At last
one stood out clear from all the rest. It was the face of a beautiful
girl, who looked upon her with longing eyes and called her "mother."
With a cry, Mrs. Hampton reached out her arms to enfold her, but the
girl disappeared, and in her stead stood John, with a smile upon his
face.

"Been having a dream, mother?" he asked. "It must have been an
exciting one."

Somewhat dazed, Mrs. Hampton looked at the young man before her, and
her senses returned. She smiled faintly, and asked him the time.

"It is past midnight," was the reply. "I am sorry to disturb you, but
you are needed downstairs. I have someone with me who has met with a
slight accident."

"A man or a woman?"

"A woman. Just slip on your dressing-gown."

"All right, John, I shall be down in a few minutes." Mrs. Hampton was
sitting up in bed now, fully awake. Someone needed her, so she must
not delay.

It did not take her long to dress, and as she left her room and
descended the stairs, she noticed a light shining from the parlour.
She thought it strange that John should take the woman in there.
Stepping softly, she reached the door, and was about to enter, when she
suddenly stopped, and stared with amazement upon the scene which met
her eyes. Lying upon the sofa was a young woman, a mere girl so she
seemed, with a white bandage bound about her forehead. John was
kneeling by her side, with his right hand in hers, and his eyes fixed
lovingly upon her face. All this Mrs. Hampton noted at the first
glance, and the reason for John's visit to the quarry was at once
apparent,

And as she looked the girl slightly turned her head, and as Mrs.
Hampton's eyes rested upon her face, she gave a great sta