her away from us? That can never be allowed."

None felt the anguish of the announcement keener than the man who made
it, but he looked calmly into the angry faces and said:

"You forget, my friends, that she is his child and he has the moral
and legal right to do what he thinks is best for her."

"But where are _our_ rights?" demanded Wade Ruggles; "they mustn't be
forgot."

"We haven't any,--not a single one. But I am satisfied that one cause
of Dawson's distress of mind is the very question you have asked. He
can never cease to be deeply grateful to all of us for what we have
done for him and his child. He doesn't wish to take her away for it
will be as painful to her as to us. But friends," continued the
parson, with a sense of right that was creditable to him, "Dawson's
first duty is to his child. She is now twelve years old, quite a large
girl and is growing fast. She has never seen girl or woman since she
was brought here; she will soon be a young woman; she requires
association with others of her own sex; her welfare demands this; her
education and proper training can never be obtained in this mining
settlement."

"Eddycation!" exclaimed Vose Adams; "what have you been doing with her
all this time? She must be as far along in her studies and eddycation
as me and Ruggles."

"It is to be hoped so," replied the parson with a smile; "I doubt
whether she will meet any one of her age as proficient in book
learning as herself, but there remains music, etiquette, and above
all, the social customs and accomplishments which can be acquired
nowhere except in the abode of civilization. There is none upon whom
this blow will fall more heavily than myself, but I have no right to
interpose when a man is doing his duty."

An exploding bomb could not have caused more consternation than the
news brought by the parson. Every one felt the truth of his words and
respected him for their utterance, but it was like asking them to
consent to the blotting of the sun from the heavens.

"I see a way out of it," finally remarked Wade Ruggles with a
brightening face; "we can compermise."

"In what way?"

"Why, if Dawson feels that he and the gal must go, let him split the
difference atween us; he can go and leave her; that will satisfy
everybody."

"It will hardly satisfy him, since the whole question is that of
taking her with him. He must be left free to do whatever he chooses."

The parson looked into the gloomy faces turn