ain."

"That's not so easy, Lucy. I would much rather your father would do
that. But I can tell you a little, for it's very little I know--and,
Lucy, that little is not pleasant."

"But I must know." Her face was serious again. She was bracing herself
bravely too.

"I was born outside the marriage relation, and your father was my
father!"

That was plain enough--brutally plain. The girl turned to marble. Had he
killed her?

"Go on," she whispered.

"No more now--some other time."

"Go on, Chester."

Chester told her in brief sentences the simple facts, and what had led
to his discovery of the truth just the other day. It was this that had
caused the change she had noticed in him.

"Lucy, I was not sure," he said, "so I went to your father last night
and asked him pointedly, directly, and he said 'Yes.' That explains the
situation you found us in. My heart went out to my father, Lucy; and his
heart went out to his son."

"The son to which his heart has been reaching for many long years,
Chester. Yes, I see it plainly.... You have told the truth ... you are
my brother--you--"

She trembled, then fell into his arms; but she controlled herself again,
and when he kissed her pale face and stroked her hair, she opened her
eyes and looked steadily up into his face. Thus they remained for a
time, heedless of the few passers-by who but looked at a not uncommon
sight. She closed her eyes again, and when she opened them Chester was
struggling hard to keep back the tears.

To tell the truth, both of them cried a little about that time, and it
did them good too. They got up, walked about on the grass for a time
until they could look more unmovedly at their changed standing to each
other. Then they talked more freely, but things were truly so newly
mixed that it was difficult to get them untangled. At last Lucy said she
would have to go back to her father--our father, she corrected.

"And he knows, remember," said Chester to her. "I and you also know. We
know too," he added, "that the Lord is above, and will take care of us
all."

"Yes," said Lucy.

Then they went back. The father was still very ill. Chester did not try
to see him, for Uncle Gilbert had not relented.

"I'm going to see Elder Malby this afternoon," said Chester. "This
evening I shall call again. Meanwhile"--they were alone in the hall
now--"you must keep up your courage and faith. I feel as though
everything will yet turn out well."

He took he