lowship of artists who in him honored the best and noblest
in their own aspirations, the emotion of the audience found voice once
more. Paolo, flushed, his eyes filled with happy tears, stumbled out,
he knew not how, with the coveted parchment in his hand.

Home to his mother! It was the one thought in his mind as he walked
toward the big bridge to cross to the city of his home--to tell her of
his joy, of his success. Soon she would no longer be poor. The day of
hardship was over. He could work now and earn money, much money, and
the world would know and honor Paolo's mother as it had honored him.
As he walked through the foggy winter day toward the river, where
delayed throngs jostled one another at the bridge entrance, he thought
with grateful heart of the friends who had smoothed the way for him.
Ah, not for long the fog and slush! The medal carried with it a
travelling stipend, and soon the sunlight of his native land for him
and her. He should hear the surf wash on the shingly beach and in the
deep grottos of which she had sung to him when a child. Had he not
promised her this? And had they not many a time laughed for very joy
at the prospect, the two together?

He picked his way up the crowded stairs, carefully guarding the
precious roll. The crush was even greater than usual. There had been
delay--something wrong with the cable; but a train was just waiting,
and he hurried on board with the rest, little heeding what became of
him so long as the diploma was safe. The train rolled out on the
bridge, with Paolo wedged in the crowd on the platform of the last
car, holding the paper high over his head, where it was sheltered safe
from the fog and the rain and the crush.

Another train backed up, received its load of cross humanity, and
vanished in the mist. The damp, gray curtain had barely closed behind
it, and the impatient throng was fretting at a further delay, when
consternation spread in the bridge-house. Word had come up from the
track that something had happened. Trains were stalled all along the
route. While the dread and uncertainty grew, a messenger ran up, out
of breath. There had been a collision. The last train had run into the
one preceding it, in the fog. One was killed, others were injured.
Doctors and ambulances were wanted.

They came with the police, and by and by the partly wrecked train was
hauled up to the platform. When the wounded had been taken to the
hospital, they bore from the train th