Kindred of the Dust

husband realized she was thinking considerably about it and, as a result, was not altogether happy. Had he suspected, h

ndoubted power to create or suppress a scandal which some queer feminine intuition warned her impended, the more firmly did she become convinc

irtue regained, since she was about to right a wrong to which she had so thoughtlessly been a party. Her decision had almost been re

it that big heart of his to lead him into further kindnesses that will be misunderstood by certain people

d complacently. "The Laird

h his son, and if, by any chance, th

ndrew. In the meantime, it's none of our business,

n her way to the Sawdust Pile, but as she approached Caleb Brent's garden gate, she observed, with a feeling of gratification, that, after all, it

tly, at the same time walking slowly away at right angles, in order to obviate a meeting. To her surprise, Mrs. Daney also changed

Brent. May I speak to

ly, Mrs.

descendingly and sat

iss Brent, if

ed that she had read her visitor's mind aright, for Mrs. Daney flushed slightly. "Suppose," the girl suggested gently, "that you p

formality." She hesitated for a beginning, and Nan, observing he

imagine any other possible interest in me to account for it. So you may be quite frank. I'm sure nothing save a profound sense of duty brought

you about Donald McKay

licitation

y sighed. "It was j

er it that way. Pr

n you, Nan-at least, that is the impress

ut no matter. Since Port Agnew has no interest in me, pray why, Mrs. Daney, should I have the slightest int

eprecatory shrug. "I'm sure I find this a most difficult matter t

annot be a matter of much import to you or the others. And I'll try

rs that this was his first official act after assuming his father's place in the business. Then he visited you and your father for an hour, and y

up the trail," Nan interrupted bitter

also," Mrs. Daney cont

uld have more faith in

f his son, very devoted to him, and fe

etract from the radiance o

the worthy lady repl

rdihood in noticing me, and he is so much too big for Port Agnew that it is no wonder his motives are misunderstood. However, I am sorry his father is worried. We

be just like Donald McKaye to start a revival of this gossip. He doesn't care a farthing for what people think or

I have had some experience of p

McKaye's impulsive sy

am to discourage

s Brent. For hi

husband's position. P

y's heart

didn't say so in the beginning-not to mentio

my own inclinations in this matter. I suspect you have been doing some talking yourself and may have gone too far, with the result tha

I beg

think I possess a far keener conception of my duty than do you or those whom you have elected to re

She clasped her hands; her l

he a word to him, would you? Promise me you'll say nothi

e nothing," Nan

or his father's sa

my hands than in yours, Mrs. Daney, a

o her child. As the little fellow approached, Mrs. Daney so far forgot her perturbation as to look

gh to tell Donald McKaye of my visit to you,"

f respectability, dear Mrs. D

mise to be silent!" Mary Daney cried

Laird since his retirement; he walks round the bight with his dogs every afternoon

rd, striding briskly along, swinging his stick, and with his two English setters romping beside him. With a final desp

to warn me to protect him! As if I wouldn't lay down my life to uphold his honor! Nevertheless, you dear old bungling bus

s climbed to the seats of the mighty, his fellows strive to drag him back, down to their own ignoble level-or lower. To Nan, child of poverty, sorrow, and solitude, the world had always appeared more or less incomprehensible, but this afternoon, as she retraced her slow steps to the Sawdust Pile, the old dull pain of e

ty for frequent pauses to permit her child to catch up with her, was necessarily slow-so slow, in fact, that presently she

e you of it. I've retired, you know, and the necessity for finding something to do-Bless my soul, the

Kaye. Please do no

emove your apron, girl, and I'll tie the

distress,

she replied. "So very much like your son-I

re when you put it that way," he answered. "Do no

hand, thus freed, in wiping the

pply of wood from the box factory. We have more waste than we can use in the furnaces. Is t

to consider carefully the infant's weight, he searched t

o or three times, smiling paternally as the latter screamed with delight. "Ho

nd gazing up at The Laird ye

rent's flushed and troubled face. Tucking the bundle under one arm and taking Nan's child on the other, he whistled to his dogs and set out for the Sawdust Pi

l!" he said kindly. "I'm very sorry. I

To-day, I am merely a little more depressed than usual. Than

over her, noting her beauty and her swee

u are much neglected, and I-I understand the thoughts that must come to y

" she rep

of his mind, and was expressing himself jerkily and in disconnected sentences. "I do not mean-I do not offer charity, for I take it you have had enough insults-well, you and your father could occupy one of those cottages at whatever

s interview with her prompted

' Mr. McKaye

nk admiration for her au

that ulterior motive you have so unerringly discerned, there is a genuine

I not, Mr. McKaye. I am sorry I spoke j

gotten away with something, eh?" he laughed, much more at his ease

aking with profound earnestness. "I am your debtor, Mr. McKaye, for that speech you found it so hard to make just now, and for past kindnesses from you and your son. I cannot accept your offer. I would like to, did my pride permit, and were it not for the fact that such happiness as is left to my father can only be found by the Bi

at rested so lightly on his sleeve-that dainty left ha

the world will not." He bowed with old-fashioned courtesy over her hand and departed; yet such was his knowledge of life that

nd never will be a woman without virtue. Ah, Donald, my son, she's a bonny lass! For all her fall, she's not a common woman and my son is not a common man-I wonder-Oh, 'tis lies, lies, lies,