fter he
appeared in this shop he began to manifest signs of interest in her He
was about her own age, he had a good trade, and she often wondered why
he appeared so reticent and moody, as compared with others in similar
positions. But he always spoke kindly to her, and when her mother's
illness first developed, he showed all the leniency permitted to him in
regard to her work. His apparent sympathy, and the need of explaining
why she was not able to finish her tasks as promptly as usual, led her
gradually to reveal to him the sad struggle in which she was engaged.
He promised to intercede in her behalf with their mutual employers, and
asked if he might come to see her mother.

Recognizing how dependent she was upon this man's good will, and seeing
nothing in his conduct but kindness and sympathy, she consented. His
course and his words confirmed all her good impressions and awakened on
her side corresponding sympathy united with a lively gratitude. He
told her that he also was a stranger in the town, that he had but few
acquaintances and no friends, that he had lost relatives and was in no
need to go about like other young men. His manner was marked
apparently by nothing more than interest and a wish to help her, and
was untinged by gallantry; so they gradually became good friends. When
he called Sunday afternoons the mother looked at him wistfully, in the
hope that her daughter would not be left without a protector. At last
the poor woman died, and Alida was in sore distress, for she had no
means with which to bury her. Ostrom came and said in the kindest
tones:

"You must let me lend you what you need and you can pay me back with
interest, if you wish. You won't be under any obligation, for I have
money lying idle in the bank. When you have only yourself to support
it will not take you long to earn the sum."

There seemed nothing else for her to do and so it was arranged. With
tear-blinded eyes she made her simple mourning, and within a week after
her mother's death was at work again, eager to repay her debt. He
urged her not to hasten--to take all the rest she could while the hot
weather lasted, and few evenings passed that he did not come to take
her out for a walk through the quieter streets.

By this time he had won her confidence completely, and her heart
overflowed with gratitude. Of course she was not so unsophisticated as
not to know whither all this attention was tending, but it was a great