ronze oaks, the yellow elms and the crimson maples along
the shore, now and then dropped a jewel too heavy to be held into the
coloured waters beneath. The tower of the little Indian church across
the lake pointed a silver finger up out of a soft blue haze. The whole
world seemed at peace, in contrast to the tumult within the girl's
untrained heart.

She seated herself on a fallen log beside the water, the warm, hazy
sunshine falling through the golden branches upon her. And sitting
there, she felt the spirit of the serene day steal over hers. Wiser
and nobler thoughts came to her sorely tried young heart. Some strong
unknown Spirit rose up within her and demanded that she do what was
right. It was her only guide, she could not reason with it, but she
blindly obeyed. There would be long days of pain and hard struggle
ahead of her, she well knew, but the Spirit heeded them not at all.
She must do what was right. She must act the strong, the womanly part,
let the future bring what it would.

And she went back from the soft rustling peace of the woods, not a
careless, selfishly happy girl any more, but a strong, steady-purposed
woman.

Roderick was so busy and happy during the ensuing week that he had
almost forgotten the existence of Miss Leslie Graham, when she was
brought to his dismayed senses by the sound of her voice over the
telephone.

"Tra-la-la-la, Mr. Roderick McRae," she sang out in her merriest voice.
"Why don't you come round and say good-bye to your friends? Are you
going to fold your tent like the Arabs and silently steal away?"

Roderick began to stammer out an explanation, but she cut him off gaily.

"Don't apologise, you are going to be punished for your sins," she
called laughingly. "For you can't come now. I am off to-day to
Toronto with Aunt Annabel. We took a sudden notion we wanted to go to
the city. We're going to spend a whole month in a riotous purchasing
of autumn hats. So, as I am a good meek and forgiving person and as
you'll be gone before we get back I just thought I'd say 'Bon Voyage'
to you before I leave."

She talked so fast that Roderick had scarcely any chance to reply. He
tried to stammer out his thanks to her for her kindness, but she
laughingly interrupted him. It was quite too bad they couldn't say
good-bye, Daddy would do that for her. But Mamma was coming to Toronto
with them. They were both dreadfully sorry and Mamma sent her best
regards. They all ho