dy."

"And you told him--you owned up to him that you were in the wrong,
Silas?"

"No, I didn't," returned the Colonel promptly; "for I wasn't. And
before we got through, I guess he saw it the same as I did."

"Oh, no matter! so you had the chance to show how you felt."

"But I never felt that way," persisted the Colonel. "I've lent him the
money, and I've kept his stocks. And he got what he wanted out of me."

"Give him back his stocks!"

"No, I shan't. Rogers came to borrow. He didn't come to beg. You
needn't be troubled about his stocks. They're going to come up in
time; but just now they're so low down that no bank would take them as
security, and I've got to hold them till they do rise. I hope you're
satisfied now, Persis," said her husband; and he looked at her with the
willingness to receive the reward of a good action which we all feel
when we have performed one. "I lent him the money you kept me from
spending on the house."

"Truly, Si? Well, I'm satisfied," said Mrs. Lapham, with a deep
tremulous breath. "The Lord has been good to you, Silas," she
continued solemnly. "You may laugh if you choose, and I don't know as
I believe in his interfering a great deal; but I believe he's
interfered this time; and I tell you, Silas, it ain't always he gives
people a chance to make it up to others in this life. I've been afraid
you'd die, Silas, before you got the chance; but he's let you live to
make it up to Rogers."

"I'm glad to be let live," said Lapham stubbornly, "but I hadn't
anything to make up to Milton K. Rogers. And if God has let me live
for that----"

"Oh, say what you please, Si! Say what you please, now you've done it!
I shan't stop you. You've taken the one spot--the one SPECK--off you
that was ever there, and I'm satisfied."

"There wa'n't ever any speck there," Lapham held out, lapsing more and
more into his vernacular; "and what I done I done for you, Persis."

"And I thank you for your own soul's sake, Silas."

"I guess my soul's all right," said Lapham.

"And I want you should promise me one thing more."

"Thought you said you were satisfied?"

"I am. But I want you should promise me this: that you won't let
anything tempt you--anything!--to ever trouble Rogers for that money
you lent him. No matter what happens--no matter if you lose it all.
Do you promise?"

"Why, I don't ever EXPECT to press him for it. That's what I said to
myself when I lent it. And of course