beginning of the school term. But Andy looked at them with different
eyes.

Then he had been in good spirits, eager to return to his school work.
Now something had happened, he did not yet know what.

Mrs. Grant was in the back part of the house, and Andy was in the
sitting room before she was fully aware of his presence. Then she came
in from the kitchen, where she was preparing supper.

Her face seemed careworn, but there was a smile upon it as she greeted
her son.

"Then you got my telegram?" she said. "I didn't think you would be here
so soon."

"I started at once, mother, for I felt anxious. What has happened? Are
you all well?"

"Yes, thank God, we are in fair health, but we have met with
misfortune."

"What is it?"

"Nathan Lawrence, cashier of the bank in Benton, has disappeared with
twenty thousand dollars of the bank's money."

"What has that to do with father? He hasn't much money in that bank."

"Your father is on Mr. Lawrence's bond to the amount of six thousand
dollars."

"I see," answered Andy, gravely, "How much will he lose?"

"The whole of it."

This, then, was what had happened. To a man in moderate circumstances,
it must needs be a heavy blow.

"I suppose it will make a great difference?" said Andy, inquiringly.

"You can judge. Your father's property consists of this farm and three
thousand dollars in government bonds. It will be necessary to sacrifice
the bonds and place a mortgage of three thousand dollars on the farm."

"How much is the farm worth?"

"Not over six thousand dollars."

"Then father's property is nearly all swept away."

"Yes," said his mother, sadly. "Hereafter he will receive no help from
outside interest, and will, besides, have to pay interest on a mortgage
of three thousand dollars, at six per cent."

"One hundred and eighty dollars."

"Yes."

"Altogether, then, it will diminish our income by rather more than three
hundred dollars."

"Yes, Andy."

"That is about what my education has been costing father," said Andy, in
a low voice.

He began to see how this misfortune was going to affect him.

"I am afraid," faltered Mrs. Grant, "that you will have to leave
school."

"Of course I must," said Andy, speaking with a cheerfulness which he did
not feel. "And in place of going to college I must see how I can help
father bear this burden."

"It will be very hard upon you, Andy," said his mother, in a tone of
sympathy.

"I shall be sorry, of co