A Day of Fate

watched the shadows lengthen across the valley. Sudd

he thinks I'm moping and sighing in my room. Moreover, I shall not let my shadows make a background for the banker's general prosperity. Stately and patronizing he cannot help being, and Miss Warren may lead

o wait. As the sun sank below the horizon, the banker appeared. "Very ap

he surrounding objects of interest, and he was listening w

ered. "The idea of anything going

seat with Reuben, and that he was letting her d

e in return was very benign, for it was evident that, in their plac

That trunk that fills half the rockaway doesn't look as if he had come to spend Sunday

arlor bedroom, on the ground floor, and I he

d have been happy enough had I remained here and sighed like a f

ething to Mrs. Yocomb, but I soon hea

less and rather unsteady tread. Excitement, however, lent me a transient strength, and I felt as if the presence of the banker would give me sinew

way that suggested a habit of complacency and self-felicitati

ton, I p

earn. I congratulate yo

ith an accident. Glad to see you able to be down, for from

to-day, sir," I

ng so pleasant a place of summer sojourn. It will form a delightful contrast to great hotels and jostling crowds." I now saw Mi

hen she looked distressed. Was Mrs. Yocomb telling her of my profane and awful mood? I lent an inattentive ear to Mr. Hearn's excellent reaso

tones, "that it will also be just the place for my little gi

ly, "they are nice peopl

k a step toward the door, then pau

exclaimed, "what does the

that will astonish you

give thee leav

to-morrow, so I haven

seeing that I had recognized her, she cam

than I that you are

prise me, and I also noted that what must have been a vivid color was fading

!" I thought. "I wish y

with great apparent fr

h better to-night, and

. Yocomb, "thee has st

ee'll be the

our captive has escaped. I'm goi

s if I ought to take thee

ho now stood staring at me in the doorway, "I

g to give thee a grand ovation to-morrow, and mother

. Hearn's ample waistcoat; but I leaned back

. Yocomb, now that I know I've escaped

really feel s

ver felt bette

make of thee," she sai

le knew what a case I was

down to supper, and have what thee pleases. Thee may a

may go too far. To-morrow is Sunday, Mrs. Yocomb, and I'll be as g

oo long in the background. "I congratulate you. At the same time, Mr. and Mrs. Yocomb," with a courtly bend toward them, "I

I looked very ridiculous," and I turned a quick, mischievous glance t

, "your appearance did no

lied, dryly. "At any rate, I much p

of the most interested parties, to thank

little brusquely. "Thanks do not a

uben, looking in a

umed. "Even after being struck by lig

ee needn't think thee's going to palm that thi

hen said to me, "You look so well and genial to-nig

mp; for, as Reuben says, we

er thee was sick. 'Twas mighty lucky thee wasn'

" said Mr. Hearn, feelingly. "It was really a providen

indow. Reuben evidently had not liked the term "young lad,"

I guess thee thinks thee ha

en I brought thee home from meeting. Never was a stranger so taken in before. I don't believe thee'll

Yocomb and Miss Warren looked uncomfortably conscious of wha

e kindness received in this home has repaid me a thousand times. With a sick

smiling to herself, but met in the doorway Adah and the little stranger-a girl of about the same age as Zillah, with large, vivid black eyes, and long dark hair. Zillah was follo

ad-I'm so glad

ong to make so shy a child for

"I told you that your

y Warren's roses too," p

g. "Well, there's no escapi

Warren, but saw that Mr.

ught. "Can he be fool

t trust herself to enter. I put Zillah down, and crossing the ro

. I'm going to have the honor of taking you out to supper." I placed her hand on my arm, and its thrill and tremble touched my very soul. In my thoughts I said, "It's all a wretched muddle, and, as the b

re. I seemingly had done the very thing she would have wished me to do. As we bowed our heads in grace, I was graceless enough to growl, u

her face now was quiet and pale, and I was compelled to believe that for

the head of the table, "thy cheeks are

" she said. "Does thee remember, Richard, w

ion lest Mr. Yocomb should discover whom, in h

ed the old gentleman. "Good is

t before," remarked Mr. Hearn

a reporter I called on you on

not extract the information as if it had been a tooth. Your manner was not that of a

rhaps that is tru

me that a reporter's lot must frequently bring

d Adah, a trifle indignantly; "he's

rowing much more benign; "why, E

e of Mr. Morton

that I have mistaken my calling,

Yocomb would not even trust you

ly. But I must correct your impressions, Miss Adah. I'm not the dig

ight very well. I hope it may be the earnest

more than once at Miss Warren when I spoke, and I imag

farmhouse that night. I merely did what any man would have done, and could have done just as well. My action involved no personal peril, and no hardship worth naming. My illness resulted from my own folly. I'd been over

chard," she said

rn, you will not be led to expect more

e your modesty, you

my words had any leaning toward affectation. I wished to state the actual truth

benignly, and his smile was

been led to believe that you cherish a high and scrupulous sense

to you?" I merely bowed a trifle coldly to this tribute and suggestive statement, and turned the conver

y measures?" I thought. "He'd better