d look as
if the owner of the face was fully prepared to slam the door and take to
her heels at a second's notice. The man in the chair by the stove smiled
faintly and called:

"Come in, Nancy; it's all right."

The little stooped figure sidled into the room but stood with her hand
upon the door ready for flight at any moment. She could not trust her
eyes and ears, she knew they must be deceiving her.

"Come in, Nancy," the man repeated. "Come in and sit down there in the
chair you occupied this afternoon when you dared to tell me the truth
that all others feared to tell. You're a brave little woman, Nancy, and,
thanks to you, all is well with me at last. As he said, he brought me
forgiveness for my sins and peace which surpasseth all understanding.
Thanks to you, Nancy, thanks to you."

"Thanks to me is it, lad? Not a bit of it, not a bit of it. Thanks be
to God!" ejaculated Nancy fervently.

"Thanks be to God!" whispered Maggie, as a tear rolled down her worn and
faded cheek and splashed into the pan of water in which she was washing
the supper dishes. "Thanks be to God for bringin' him back even at the
eleventh hour!"

THE STORY OF JULIE BENOIT.

Julie leaned against the door of the room from which she had just been
summoned. Her black eyes flashed defiance into the eyes of the woman
watching her in sorrowful silence.

"Why you come here?" she cried. "Why you not leave me alone? I not want
to see you nor anyone. You no right to come here; you not my forewoman
now. You dismiss me in disgrace a week ago, you and that superintendent
in your factory over there. What you come for; to punish me some more?"

"My poor child," returned the other gently, "you must not hate me so.
Believe me, I love you, Julie, and I've come here as your friend."

"You a friend to me; me, Julie Benoit who is sent away from the factory
because I steal all that money! No, no, I know better than that, you no
friend to me, you despise me. All the girls point their finger at me,
for I steal that money. But I give it all back, do I not? And the
superintendent he say it is my first offense and he will not send me to
prison. Oh yes! he is very kind. Julie have give back the money, Julie
is forgiven, but she is a thief and cannot work with honest people. She
must go, and without a reference. No one could recommend a thief. Well,
Julie does go, so why you not let her alone?"

"Julie, Julie, listen to me," cried the forewoman almost i