ned to go to her father in Kentucky.
I'll have a talk with her, bring her over to the bungalow, show her
through it on the pretext of its model construction and then you can
tell her that you built it with your own hands for her and the baby. You
might be loafing around the place about that time."

Jim's hand was suddenly lifted.

"I got ye, Doc, I got ye! I'll be there--all day."

"Don't let her see you until I give the signal."

"Caution's my name."

"We'll see what happens."

Jim pressed close.

"Say, Doc, if you know how to pray, I wish you'd send up a little word
for me while you're talkin' to her. Could ye now?"

"I'll do my best for you, boy--and I think you've got a chance. She's
been watching the blue eyes of that baby lately with a rather curious
look of unrest."

"They're just like mine, ain't they?" Jim broke in with pride.

"Time has softened the old hurt," the Doctor went on. "The boy may win
for you----"

The square jaw came together with a smash.

"Gee--I hope so. I'll wait there all day for you and I'm goin' to try my
own hand at a little prayer or two on the side while I'm waiting. Maybe
God'll think He's hit me hard enough by this time to give me another
trial."

With a friendly wave of his hand the Doctor hurried home.

He found Mary seated under the rose trellis beside the drive, watching
for his coming. The day was still and warm for the end of April. Birds
were singing and chattering in every branch and tree. A quail on the top
fence-rail of the wheat field called loudly to his mate.

The boy was screaming his joy over a new wagon to which Aunt Abbie had
hitched his goat. He drove by in style, lifted his chubby hand to his
mother and shouted:

"Dood-by, Doc-ter!"

The Doctor waved a smiling answer, and lapsed into a long silence.

He waked at last from his absorption to notice that Mary was
day-dreaming. The fair brow was drawn into deep lines of brooding.

"Why shadows in your eyes a day like this, little mother?" he asked
softly.

"Just thinking----"

"About a past that you should forget?"

"Yes and no," she answered thoughtfully. "I was just thinking in this
flood of spring sunlight of the mystery of my love for such a man as the
one I married. How could it have been possible to really love him?"

"You are sure that you loved him?"

"Sure."

"How did you know?"

"By all the signs. I trembled at his footstep. The touch of his hand,
the sound of his voice thril