t without considerable surprise that Mrs. Gilbert called to the door about eleven o'clock, just as she

oss. I am glad to see

r skirts, lest they should be soiled as she entered the humble cottage. She

comfortable chair in her little sittin

nt errand, Mrs. Gilbert,"

with quick apprehension. "Has anyt

ld be the messenger of ill tidings, it occurred to Mrs. Gilb

id it matter, she thought, whethe

ned to my boy!" she

e widow, with quick sympat

ken," said Mrs. Ross; "and by y

ting, have they?" asked

wagon, drove into my son's light buggy, damaged it seriously, and my poor Phi

somewhat embellished the story, with the

hurt?" asked the

s injury, so far as we know. He may h

mposure when she learned that neither of the two boys were hurt; "but I cannot accept you

aid Mrs. Ross, coldly; "but I am not surprised. I told m

y boy for fifteen years, and watched him carefully, and I tell yo

statement?" demanded

itness the

the soul of truth, told

Harry, and could not be depended u

trageous conduct, and this is all I proposed. Of course we shall expect you or your son to pay for the da

ook as much terrified

if Harry is really to blame for what has happened

that you are talki

t yet. From what I know of him, I presume that Philip was more in fault than

poor boy. Fortunately, we have laws; and it will be the law that must dec

threat, but Mrs. Gil

nvoke the law, if yo

lt of her mission. She supposed, as a matter of course, that the widow would defend her son; but

d appear panic-stricken. As it was, she felt that she was retiring from t

utrage. I had thought better of you. I knew you were poor, and I sympathized with you. Now I f

t gratify Mrs. Ross by inqu

provoking,

ead, and insist on his

troubled for a moment, and her visitor sailed away, with a slig

reported the accident, and submitted to a close

m to blame, Mr. M

Ross is a disagreeable young puppy; but his family trades with m

r. Mead was a just man

ir," said Har

y this has

I did I should have been there now, f

I shall have a call from Colonel Ross or his wife. I hope it w

son whom Mrs. Ross saw when she e

ell upon the persecutor of her poor boy, b

Mr. Mead?"

madam," answered

rehearsed her story, in terms which

r son maintained his position in the middle of the road and required Harry to do all t

on did not turn out?" a

y him

s story?" demanded Mr

found him to be

elieve he ran into my boy with the intention

when a young man who was stan

n the piece to the left, behind the hedge. Phil Ross wouldn't turn out a mite, and Harry had to do

stened, pale

in a conspiracy with the Gilbert boy against my poor darling. I

ou, Mrs. Ross, but it woul

ies elsewhere!" said Mrs. Ros

r custom, but I see no good r

store, a second time mortif

likely to lose trade on my account

ead s

ive miles for her groceries," he said quietly