ich she at last succeeded in opening,
and resuming her burden, passed through into the field where the snow
lay on the ground in great white drifts, while the blinding flakes and
cutting sleet from the leaden clouds above, beat pitilessly upon her as
she struggled on the wearisome way.

And while she toiled on, fighting bravely with the storm, and
occasionally speaking a word of encouragement to the little child
nestled in her bosom, Arthur Tracy stood at one of the windows in his
library, with his white face pressed close against the pane, as he
looked anxiously out into the gathering darkness, shuddering
involuntarily as the wind came screaming round a corner of the house,
bending the tall evergreens until their slender tops almost touched the
ground, and then rushing on down the carriage-drive with a shriek like
so many demons let loose from the ice-caves of the north, where the
winds are supposed to hold high carnival.

They were surely holding carnival to-night, and their king was out with
all his legions, and as Arthur listened to the roar of the tempest he
whispered to himself:

'A wild, wild night for Gretchen to arrive, and her dear little feet and
hands will be so cold; but there is warmth and comfort here, and love
such as she never dreamed of, poor Gretchen! I will hold her in my arms
and chafe her cold fingers and kiss her tired face until she feels that
her home-coming is a happy one. It must be almost time,' and he glanced
at a small cathedral clock which stood upon the mantel.

In the adjoining room the dinner table was as usual laid for two, but
one could see that more care than usual had been given to its
arrangement, while the roses in the centre were the largest and finest
of their kind. In the low, wide grate a bright fire was burning, and
Arthur placed a large easy chair before it, and then brought from the
library a covered footstool, with a delicate covering of blue and gold.
No foot had ever yet profaned this stool with a touch, for it was one of
Arthur's specialties, bought at a great price in Algiers; but he brought
it now for Gretchen and saw in fancy resting upon it the cold little
feet his hands were to rub and warm and caress until life came back to
them, and Gretchen's blue eyes smiled upon him and Gretchen's sweet
voice said:

'Thank you, Arthur. It is pleasant coming home.'

For the last two or three weeks, Arthur had been very quiet and
taciturn, but on the morning of this day h