u, and the sun sort o' shinin' every twenty-four hours in
the day. You know the missis feels just as if she knew you, after I
told her about them hard times we had at Farley's boarding-house, so I
feel that it's paid me to come to New York, even if I didn't book
anything but 'East Lynne' and 'Uncle Tom's Cabin'." Rising and moving
towards the door, he added: "Now, I'm goin'. Don't forget--Gallipolis's
the name, and sometimes the mail does get there. I'd be awful glad if
you wrote the missis a little note tellin' us how you're gettin' along,
and if you ever have to ride on the Kanawha and Michigan, just look out
of the window when the train passes our town, because that is about the
best you'll get."

"Why?"

"They only stop there on signal. And make up your mind that the Weston
family is with you, forty ways from the Jack, day and night. Good-by,
and God bless you!"

"Good-by, Jim," she said, with some emotion. "I'm so glad to know
you're happy."

"You bet," he grinned. "Never mind, I can get out all right. Good-by
again."

"Good-by," she said very softly.

The door closed behind him, and once more she took up her solitary
vigil at the window. If John would only come! The precious minutes were
slipping away. They would never be able to make that train. She
wondered what had detained him. Suddenly, a cold chill ran through her.
Suppose he had met some one downtown who had told him about her and
Brockton. Then he would never come back again, or, if he did, it would
be only to wreak his vengeance. In spite of herself she trembled at the
mere idea. To change her thoughts, she began to busy herself about the
room, collecting the small packages, counting the trunks, showing Annie
how to close the apartment when they had gone. Suddenly the front
doorbell rang. She gave a joyful exclamation.

"Hurry, Annie--there's Mr. Madison!"

The girl passed into the corridor and a moment later her voice was
heard saying:

"She's waitin' for yuh, Mr. Madison."

Laura hastened forward to greet him. John came in, hat in hand,
followed by Annie. He stopped short as he entered, and looked long and
searchingly at Laura, who had hurried joyously to embrace him.
Instinctively she felt that something had happened. That look of
suspicion and distrust was not in his eyes when he left her that
morning, She trembled but remained firm. Annie disappeared and Laura
took his hat and coat and placed them on a trunk.

"Aren't you a little lat