pen and laid a sheet of paper in place. Once she had begun
to write it was as though an unseen power guided her to inspiration. She
wondered if somewhere under the stars Tom Gray was seeking, at the same
time, to send her a message. Never before had she been so thoroughly
imbued with the mystical impression of his nearness to her. It was not a
long letter, yet somehow she had managed exactly to convey the meaning
she had intended. As she was finishing it, she heard the distant chime
of the grandfather's clock downstairs, striking the half hour, and she
smiled tenderly as the words of Nora's song returned to her. "I wonder:
'Is it I who write to thee, or thou to me?'"

CHAPTER XX

THE LAST CHANCE

Despite her midnight vigil, Grace rose before seven o'clock the next
morning. On the previous afternoon Jean had stated that he would come
early to Mrs. Gray's the following morning to bid them farewell before
starting on his search for Tom. Eight o'clock found herself and Elfreda
Briggs walking rapidly up Chapel Hill. They found the old hunter had
stolen a march on them, however. When they entered the library he was
already there, in earnest conversation with Mrs. Gray.

"I hav' wait for you," he said, after bidding them a quaint _bon jour_.
"But now the time grow short. The train, she run at nine o'clock. It is
now that we must say the _au revoir_. Not long an' I see the camp and
M'sieu' David. It is good that you hav' telegraph the young man. Ol'
Jean will do his best. _Le bon Dieu_ will do the rest." The hunter
reverently crossed himself.

"I have a letter for you, Jean, to give to Tom." Grace was wearing her
most hopeful face as she gave the cherished letter into the old man's
keeping. "When you have found Tom, and I know that you will, tell him
that I am waiting for him and give--him--this--letter."

[Illustration: "When You Have Found Tom, Give Him This Letter."]

"It shall be of a sacred trust," Jean assured, crossing himself again.
"Be of the brav' heart, Mam'selle. For you and M'sieu' Tom the 'appiness
is near. Now it is time to go."

Warmly shaking hands with the two for whom he was about to "do his
best," Jean turned to Elfreda and offered his hand with: "I am the lucky
man to hav' meet such good frien' to Mam'selle Grace."

"Thank you, Jean." Elfreda colored with pleasure at the sincere tribute.
"Some day, when Tom Gray has been found and you are back again in
Oakdale, we'll pay a visit to your ca