l-house as had been his wont of late. He found him there, idle, sitting at the rough table that s

e you do

you been te

were almost

?" repeated the Reverend Orme. "W

is eyes on Le

g to marry Nat to th

Orme shifted

s any of your business, but it is probab

m one foot to the other,

ton know about this? Do

lucky girl. Dom Francisco is the wealthiest man in the province. Look around you, sir. Wh

cheeks b

he answered, "but you might be kinder to her than to ma

Orme leaped f

loper!" He strode toward Lewis, hi

his eyes flaming. "I'm

no

in his stride. A ghastly

ered. "What do you

, he suddenly realized that it had been the thread that held him to Nadir. He had broken it. Never more could he

ked at his head, streaked with white, at his brow, terribly lined, and at his vacant, sta

shame at asking for money. For seven years he had tended Leighton's goa

tossed it on the table. Lewis picked out two notes from the roll, and pushed the res

sorry I let you kno

did not

ewis," he s

away, and spread a large red handkerchief in their place. He heard Natalie come in and call for him, but he did not answer. In the handkerchief he

ss. From among his discarded treasures he chose the model in clay of a kid, jumping, the best he had ever made. He tucked it

urprised. Lewis stared at Natalie. She wore a dress he had seen but twice before and then on great occasions. I

head. Through it and over it ran a bright ribbon. The gloss of the satin ribbon was as naught beside the gloss of her s

, Lewis?" said Mrs.

rise to his eyes. H

have sold Natalie." Then he turned fiercely on mammy. "And you," h

hen began to cry softly. M

ng Marster?" she

and leaned forward. "Lew

nd fled. He went to the rough lean-to that se

rged by drought, called an ugly night. The full moon rose visibly into the pale b

m the house. She held her new dress above her knees.

ed. "Wait! What

hand upon his arm. Her brown eyes, shot with gold, were b

ed with your dad. There's not

ew? Go

ugged his

ow," he sai

gainst him. Her two han

heart would break. Lewi

ones of her thin, warm

a

rmured, brokenly, "d

ren. They did n