olin's house.

"Do you bring good news?" his wife called from the window.

"I think so."

Thoma hastened down the stairs with the light, and returned quickly
with the open dispatch in her hand, and cried out:

"Father is acquitted. Not guilty by the court."

The mother sank on her knees. It was long before she could speak a
word. At length she said, half smiling, half weeping:

"He will sit there at the table, there on the bench, once more! He will
eat and drink there again! Wait, Cooper! I'll bring you something. You
must be tired."

Thoma drew her mother into a chair, and then brought food and drink.

"Yes; eat and drink," said the mother. "Why are you so silent, Thoma?
Why are you not happy? Eat your fill, Cooper, and take the rest with
you. Oh, if I could only give food and drink to the whole world! Oh, if
I could only awaken the dead, I would eat only half enough all the rest
of my life! He should have the best of everything. Praise and thanks be
to God! my husband is free; it is so good of him to send word that he
is well. Yes, no one understands his good heart as well as----Cooper,
go to Cushion-Kate, and tell her that I will come to see her to-morrow
morning. As long as I live I will divide with her as though she were my
sister. Tell her to be calm, and thank God with me. It would not have
done her any good if the verdict had been different. Go, Cooper; go
now."

The Cooper went to Cushion-Kate's. The house was open, but she was not
to be found.

In Landolin's house his wife said, "Now we will go to sleep. Thank God
that your father can sleep again in peace. You'll see he will bring
Anton home with him to-morrow, and everything will be all right
again. Dear Anton certainly helped your father a great deal with his
testimony. He is so kind and good. God be praised and thanked,
everything will be all right again."

"Everything all right again?" said Thoma; but her mother did not catch
the questioning tone in which she spoke.

CHAPTER XXXIV.

Cushion-Kate had hurried through the village to the pastor's house near
the church. She rang the bell violently. The pastor looked out, and
asked, "Who is ringing? Have you come for me to take the sacrament to a
dying person?"

"Pastor," shrieked Cushion-Kate, "tell me, is there a God in heaven? Is
there justice?"

"Who are you that dare blaspheme so? All good spirits praise the Lord
our God. Who are you?"

"The mother,