aned. "My Jean coming home for
repairs!" His body shook from the vehemence of his emotion, and tears
rolled down his cheeks.

"Perhaps she is only sick, and needs home care," Douglas soothed,
though in his heart he well knew it was worse than that.

Joe made no reply, but sat very still looking straight before him. His
eyes were fixed upon the picture of the Good Shepherd saving the
wandering lamb. A struggle was evidently going on in his mind, and it
seemed that he needed that scene to help him. At length he rose slowly
from the bench, and turned toward a door on the right.

"We will have service now," he quietly remarked. "We would consider it
an honour to have you join us."

Douglas followed him through the kitchen into a little room beyond,
where Mrs. Benton was sitting rocking herself in a splint-bottom chair.
She arose as they entered, and held out her hand to the visitor. She
was a small woman, dressed in plain clothes. But Douglas had eyes only
for her face which, though wrinkled and care-worn, bore an expression
of great sweetness, and her eyes shone with loving sympathy. She had
been weeping, but she hastily brushed away her tears with the corner of
her apron, as she bade the stranger welcome and offered him a chair.

On a little table rested two well-worn volumes, a Bible and a Prayer
Book. Here the shoe-maker took his stand and reverently began to read
the service. His voice was low, though distinct, and he seemed to feel
deeply every word he uttered. Never had Douglas been so impressed by
any service. He knew how the hearts of these two people were bleeding,
and yet here they were taking their sorrow to the Master and laying it
at His feet.

"Would you mind reading the lesson?" Joe asked, handing Douglas the
opened Bible. "That is the chapter," and he placed his finger upon the
page. "My eyes seem a bit dim of late."

A feeling of compunction smote Douglas' heart as he took the Book and
began to read. What a deceiver he was, and what would these two
sincere people think if they knew who he really was? Was he right in
coming to Rixton in such a guise? he asked himself. Would it not have
been better and more manly to have come in his official capacity
instead of as a spy? But the thought of the failure of his
predecessors somewhat soothed his troubled conscience. If the majority
of the people were like the Bentons, it would be different. There was
a disease of some kind in the par