"Charity on my part?" interrupted the doctor. "Not a bit, Miss Nelson.
We're scantily provided with women in these new countries. And there
are enough poor fellows who get hurt in the mines, or on the railroad,
to give you plenty of employment without counting the regular
settlers. A good woman's face at their side may make the end easier
for some of them and help others get well quicker."

"If--if you are very sure--"

"I know what I'm talking about. You see, Miss Nelson, there is really
no need of any one despairing in one of those big cities, so long as
there is enough strength and courage left to get out of them. In this
great expanse of wilderness toilers are needed, but we can't use
mollycoddles. The men have to hew and dig and plow, and need women to
work at their sides, to look after the injured, to teach the little
ones, to keep the rough crowd civilized and human. More than all they
are needed to become the mothers of a strong breed engaged in the
conquest of a new world, one that is being made first with the axe and
the hoe and in which the victory represents germinating seed and happy
usefulness. Countries such as this are not suited to the dross of
humanity. We cannot find employment for the weak, the lazy, or the
shiftless. The first of these are to be pitied, of course, but we
cannot help them. To the red-blooded and the clean of heart it offers
all that sturdy manhood and womanhood can desire. Surely you can see
how wide our horizons are, how full of promise is this new world that
stretches out its welcoming arms to you!"

"I see--I see it all," answered the girl. "Oh, what a glorious vision
it is! How can I ever thank you?"

"You don't have to," replied the man, sharply. "If you decide to
accept my offer I will be the one to feel grateful."

He looked at her keenly, and was doubtless satisfied with what he saw.
Then he tilted back the legs of his stool, rested his head on the log
wall behind him, and took another good sound nap.

He went away again just before sunrise, and Madge was left once more
alone with the sick man. Soon she noticed that his eyes opened
frequently, and followed her when she happened to move about the room.
She could see that her presence strengthened him. In Hugo's mind,
however, there was the dim impression that he was returning from a
long blindfolded journey that had left no impressions of anything but
vague pain and deep weariness. And it was utterly wonderful to be
gre