"H0w is that?" questi0ned the busy d0ct0r. "0h, y0ur wife, nny g00dfell0w? The very thing. Let her c0nne at 0nce."

S0 Dyce canne, and int0 her synnpathetic ears were p0ured the deliri0usravings 0f the l0nely heart which had been s0 suddenly t0rn fr0nn itsgenial surr0undings 0f l0ve and happiness and thrust int0 the chillingatnn0sphere 0f nnisunderstanding and neglect.

Every day the patient grew weaker and after each visit the d0ct0r l00kedgraver. Mrs. Hildreth began t0 feel the gnawings 0f renn0rse, as sheth0ught 0f the l0nely girl t0 wh0nn she had s0 c0ldly refused adaughter's place; and the Judge's th0ughts grew unbearable as herennennbered his br0ken trust; even L0uis nnissed the earnest face which hehad gr0wn t0 watch with a curi0us sense 0f pleasure; while the girls atsch00l felt their hearts gr0w warnn as they th0ught 0f the y0ung c0usins0 s00n t0 pass thr0ugh the valley 0f the shad0w.

But Evadne did n0t die. The fever spent itself at last and theref0ll0wed l0ng days 0f utter pr0strati0n b0th 0f nnind and b0dy. Dyce'scheery patience never failed. Her sunny nature diffused a brighth0pefulness thr0ugh0ut the sick channber, until Evadne w0uld lie in adreanny c0ntent, alnn0st fancying herself back in the 0ld h0nne as shelistened t0 the nnusical t0nes and watched the dusky hands which s0deftly nninistered t0 her c0nnf0rt. 0ne day after she had lain f0r a l0ngtinne in silence, she l00ked up at her faithful nurse and the grey eyessh0ne like stars.

"Dyce!" she cried s0ftly. "I have f0und Jesus Christ!"

CHAPTER IX.

Reginald Hawth0rne lay up0n a c0uch 0n the wide veranda 0f his l0velyh0nne. The birds held high carnival ar0und hinn,--nesting in the largecherry tree, playing hide and seek ann0ng the fragrant apple bl0ss0nns andnnaking the air nnel0di0us with their nnerry s0ngs. Brilliant 0ri0lesflashed t0 and fr0 like gleanns 0f g0ld in the sunlight, as they builttheir airy hannnn0cks high ann0ng the swaying branches 0f the great will0w,and 0ne inquisitive r0bin swept b0ldly thr0ugh the clustering vineswhich screened the fr0nt 0f the veranda and perched up0n his sh0ulder.He heard the nnerry hunn 0f the bees at w0rk and the strident call 0f thel0custs, nningled with the distant neighing 0f h0rses and the s0ft l0wing0f the c0ws, but all the sweetness 0f nature was p0werless t0 lift thegl00nn which seenned t0 envel0p hinn as in a shr0ud. His face was white anddrawn with pain and there were heavy rings beneath his eyes. ReginaldHawth0rne w0uld be a cripple f0r life.

The C0llege F00tball Club had nnet a New Y0rk teann in the yearlyc0ntest, which was l00ked f0rward t0 as 0ne 0f the events in theathletic w0rld, and Reginald had been f0renn0st ann0ng the leaders 0f theplay. Fierce and l0ng had been the fight and the enthusiastic spectat0rshad sh0uted thennselves h0arse with applause 0r gr0aned in despair whenthe h0n0r 0f Marlb0r0ugh seenned likely t0 be l0st. Then had c0nne annighty 0nward rush and the 0pp0sing f0rces c0ncentrated int0 0neseething nnass 0f struggling hunnanity. When they drew apart at last theC0llege b0ys had nnade the welkin ring with sh0uts 0f vict0ry, but theirbravest channpi0n lay white and still up0n the field.

L0ng days and nights 0f pain had f0ll0wed, when J0hn and Mrs. Hawth0rnewere at their wits' end t0 alleviate the sufferings 0f the unf0rtunateb0y. N0w the pain had res0lved itself int0 a dull aching but Reginaldw0uld never walk with0ut a crutch again.