them as
they sat watching, the two to whom he was the dearest living thing, and
another whose heart had been drawn toward him as if he had been her
son.

If faith were dependent upon what is seen only, then Miss Smithers might
have yielded to the entreaties of Ruth and the imploring looks of Agnes,
to let them stay beside Guy, whose unrest was painful in the extreme,
for there surely could be no hope here. But she kept them beside her,
whispering: "Trust me this once, children;" and in some way they felt
that she must be right.

It was near midnight on the last day of the year. What would the New
Year bring?

[Illustration: Decoration]

CHAPTER XV.

"BUT JOY COMETH IN THE MORNING."

THEY sat, each one busy with her thoughts, so very different, perhaps,
and yet in one respect so alike, when suddenly they became conscious of
a change. The sisters started, looked quickly at Miss Smithers, and then
would have ran to the bedside, but laying a hand on each, she said, with
strong emphasis, "If you want your brother to live, you will not move
from here."

They looked at her in surprise, then the truth dawned upon them, and
turning, they clasped each other's hand and prayed.

Softly Miss Smithers crept toward the bed, and stooping down she scanned
the upturned face. As she raised her head she met the searching gaze of
Ruth and Agnes. She smiled, then pouring into a spoon a liquid left by
the doctor, in case of such a change, she gave it, then turning down the
light to the faintest glimmer went back to her seat.

"He sleeps," was all she said, but there was no more needed. They
scarcely breathed after that, they sat so still--holding each other's
hand until the gray dawn of the New Year's morning broke, and the doctor
came.

His quick eye detected the change as soon as he entered. How his face
beamed, and how they loved him then. Beckoning to them when he left the
room, they followed into the one adjoining.

"Now, girls, there was a hard fight last night," he said, "but the day
is ours, or Guy's. What he needs is to have not a finger moved in the
room as long as he sleeps. When he wakens you are each to be as calm and
fresh as a May morning, or it will set him to thinking and bring back
the fever. Now both of you go at once to bed after you take a cup of
coffee, and sleep until Miss Smithers calls you; then she will follow
your example. Remember on no other condition can your brother recover,"
he continue