ng. He sat bolt upright, his eyes
staring. Once he opened his lips, then thought again and closed them.
The sound persisted. Billy vaulted the fence, and ran down the road with
his queer sidewise hop. When he neared the Comstock cabin, he left the
warm dust of the highway and stepped softly at slower pace over the
rank grasses of the roadside. He had heard aright. The violin was in the
grape arbour, singing a perfect jumble of everything, poured out in an
exultant tumult. The strings were voicing the joy of a happy girl heart.

Billy climbed the fence enclosing the west woods and crept toward the
arbour. He was not a spy and not a sneak. He merely wanted to satisfy
his child-heart as to whether Mrs. Comstock was at home, and Elnora
at last playing her loved violin with her mother's consent. One peep
sufficed. Mrs. Comstock sat in the moonlight, her head leaning against
the arbour; on her face was a look of perfect peace and contentment. As
he stared at her the bow hesitated a second and Mrs. Comstock spoke:

"That's all very melodious and sweet," she said, "but I do wish you
could play Money Musk and some of the tunes I danced as a girl."

Elnora had been carefully avoiding every note that might be reminiscent
of her father. At the words she laughed softly and began "Turkey in the
Straw." An instant later Mrs. Comstock was dancing in the moon light.
Ammon sprang to her side, caught her in his arms, while to Elnora's
laughter and the violin's impetus they danced until they dropped panting
on the arbour bench.

Billy scarcely knew when he reached the road. His light feet barely
touched the soft way, so swiftly he flew. He vaulted the fence and burst
into the house.

"Aunt Margaret! Uncle Wesley!" he screamed. "Listen! Listen! She's
playing it! Elnora's playing her violin at home! And Aunt Kate is
dancing like anything before the arbour! I saw her in the moonlight! I
ran down! Oh, Aunt Margaret!"

Billy fled sobbing to Margaret's breast.

"Why Billy!" she chided. "Don't cry, you little dunce! That's what we've
all prayed for these many years; but you must be mistaken about Kate. I
can't believe it."

Billy lifted his head. "Well, you just have to!" he said. "When I say
I saw anything, Uncle Wesley knows I did. The city man was dancing with
her. They danced together and Elnora laughed. But it didn't look funny
to me; I was scared."

"Who was it said 'wonders never cease,'" asked Wesley. "You mark my
word, once yo