may not be an answer to my last, I'll get a letter."

She was not disappointed. There was a letter for her, and Adele received
one also.

"Let's hurry to the old elm tree so that we can read them," cried Adele.
"I wonder who mine's from? I didn't expect a letter."

Beatrice assented readily. The old elm tree stood by the side of the
road just outside the town and was a favorite resting place for
pedestrians. It did not take the girls long to reach the spot, so eager
were they to read their letters. Beatrice threw herself down on the
grass without ceremony, and tore open her epistle. Adele sank down with
a graceful and effective arrangement of her draperies. Before she had
quite completed the adjustment she was startled by an exclamation from
her cousin.

"What is it, Bee?" she asked, looking up curiously.

"He is coming home," cried Bee jumping up and dancing about wildly. "Oh,
my father is coming home!"

"Is he?" ejaculated Adele excitedly. "What does he say? Do be quiet,
Bee? Sit down and read me the letter, or let me read it."

"I'll read it to you," answered Bee, kissing the missive rapturously.
"I'll read it in a minute. Oh, oh, oh! I'm so happy I could fly."

She grew quiet presently, however, and seating herself again, began to
read:

"Cairo, Egypt,
May 16th, 19--.

"My dear Little Daughter:--

"When you receive this letter your father will be nearer to you
than he has been for many a day. Child, I am coming home. Yes;
after all these years I am returning to you. How long I shall
remain is problematical, as I have not yet completed my
investigation of the Lepidoptera of tropical countries.
However, that is a matter that may be left to the future.

"Another two years would have terminated my task, but such a
longing has come to me to behold my little daughter who must
now be almost a woman that I have dropped everything, and am
coming to her as swiftly as steam can carry me.

"No doubt you have often wondered that I should have left you,
and the subject has been too painful to me to discuss; but now,
you are old enough to understand my reasons. When your mother
died she left a void in my life that nothing but the most
engrossing occupation could make me forget. Change of scene was
an absolute necessity for me; and so, when Union University
wished to send an entomologist to study the habits of Mo