iled. "I am thinking of old days, that is all," she said. But
she entered the little parlor, where Tom and the guest were seated, in
a perfectly self-possessed manner, saying, as she held out her hand:

"Good-evening, teacher. How goes the battle with Apollyon?"

And the young lawyer sprang to his feet, exclaiming: "Rachel! is it
possible?" and he retained her hand and looked into her eyes so long
that Susy, who had followed her into the room, and Tom declared that
he fell in love then and there. However that may be, it is certain Mr.
Gray showed a wonderful interest in Stillman's district. The trial in
progress at Meywood was tedious, but his patience did not give out;
and when some of the lawyers proposed to hold night sessions of
court he objected earnestly, saying: "It would be too hard on the old
judge."

But all things must end, and the case was at last decided in favor
of Mr. Gray's client. As Rachel congratulated him on his victory, he
said, with a look that brought the color to her face:

"How long must I stay in Doubting Castle, Rachel?"

"Why, dear me," she answered, saucily, "I did not think a promising
young lawyer, as father calls you, ever got into such a dismal place!"

Then Susy came in, and the young man bade her good-by, but he
whispered promise of speedy return to Rachel, and as he travelled
homeward those wonderful eyes of hers seemed to haunt him.

"Who would have thought," he said to himself, "she could have become
such a woman? No wonder I could not find a girl to suit me when she
has been my ideal."

You see, he was trying to persuade himself he had thought of her ever
since that term of school; and it may be, unknown to himself, those
eyes had held him. At any rate, he says they did; and when, time after
time, they drew him back to Stillman's, he at last made Rachel believe
it, and with the little key of promise she delivered him from Doubting
Castle.

Let us take one more look, two years later, at the Stillman homestead.
There is a family gathering, and all the girls are present--Martha
and Margaret, with their sturdy boys and rosy girls; Rachel, with her
baby; and Susy, a gay young aunt, flits to and fro, playing with and
teasing the little ones. Elizabeth, with unwonted brightness in her
eyes, looks on, enjoying the merriment.

"Doesn't it seem odd," whispers Margaret, "that Lizzie's minister
should come back after all these years."

"Yes," answers Rachel, in the same low tone.