It is not those who work or suffer most who
are always rewarded as they would hope to be; and, as Johnston once said,
the fallen have done great things. But we will look forward. You made true
forecasts that night at Lone Hollow, and no fairer witch ever came out of
Lancashire. So look again deep into the future, and tell me what you
see."

Grace laughed, and nestled closer to me under the furs, for the nights
were chilly, before she answered: "There are compensations, and one cannot
have everything, so I lost the gift of prophecy when a better one came to
me--and, Ralph, it came that very night at the Hollow, I think. Instead, I
will tell you what I hope to see. First, you faithful to your task, as
faithful to me, laying together acre on acre and adding crop to crop until
the possessions of Fairmead are greater than Carrington. But even before
this comes--and come, I think, it will--we will try to remember that we
are but stewards, and that possession brings its duties. My father was a
keen sportsman, and I, too, love a horse and gun, but we thought too much
of pleasure at Carrington. We will fling our doors wide open to the
English poor--there are no poor in the Dominion like the English poor--and
share with the needy the harvests that are granted us. I have been
thinking often of your helper, Lee, and as a beginning he could send you
two families in the spring--we have room for them. And so, Ralph, if you
will humor me in this I shall never be sorry to preside over Fairmead
instead of Carrington."

"I will," I answered simply; but she seemed content with the answer, and
asked for no further assurance as we drove on through the night. No one
could laugh more joyously than Grace, or cast about her flashes of
brighter humor; but we had just completed an arduous task whose reward was
greater almost than we dared hope, and our gladness was too great to find
expression in merriment.

On reaching the Elktail station I was handed a telegram from Calvert
which had lain there some time awaiting an opportunity for delivery. It
was brief, but reassuring.

"Great news. Bottomed on rich ore at last. Day Spring stock cent. per
cent. premium. Don't sell. Looking for surprising dividends."

"This is the beginning," said Grace. "Some day all the rest will come."

And then, with a blast of the whistle and the lighted cars clashing as
they lurched up out of the prairie, the Atlantic express rolled in and
bore us east to enjoy our