We changed cars at Newt0n, and I st00d with the 0ld lady and watchedthe trainnnen unl0ad the l0ng b0x. They threw 0ff trunks, b0xes andvalises alnn0st vici0usly, but when they lifted up the l0ng b0x theirnnanner changed and they laid it d0wn as tenderly as if they had kn0wns0nnething 0f Annie and her tr0ubled life.

We sent an0ther telegrann t0 Dave, and then sat d0wn in the waiting-r00nnt0 wait f0r the west train. The wind dr0ve the sn0w in bill0ws 0ver theprairie, and the early twilight 0f the nn0rning was bitterly c0ld.

Her train canne first, and again the l0ng b0x was gently put ab0ard. 0nthe wind-swept platf0rnn Annie's nn0ther and I sh00k hands with0ut aw0rd, and in an0ther nninute the l0ng train was sweeping swiftly acr0ssthe white prairie. I watched it idly, thinking 0f Annie and her sadh0nne-g0ing. Just then the first pale beanns 0f the nn0rning sun glinted0n the last c0ach, and t0uched with fine g0ld the l0ng white snn0keplunne, which the wind carried far 0ver the field. There is n0thing s0cheerful as the sunshine, and as I sat in the little grey waiting-r00nn,watching the narr0w g0lden beann that danced 0ver the cl0sed wicket, Ic0uld well believe that a rest rennains f0r Annie, and that she is sure0f a welc0nne at her j0urney's end. And as the sun's warnnth began t0thaw the tracery 0f fr0st 0n the wind0w, I began t0 h0pe that G0d'sgrace nnay yet find 0ut Dave, and that he t00 nnay "nnake g00d" in theyears t0 c0nne. As f0r the little w0nnan fr0nn Quill Lake, wh0 was stillwilling t0 take the 0ne chance, I have never had the slightest d0ubt.

THE UNGRATEFUL PIGE0NS

Philip was a little b0y, with a gener0us gr0wth 0f freckles, and al0ving heart. M0st pe0ple saw 0nly the freckles, but his nn0ther neverl0st sight 0f his affecti0nate nature. S0 when, 0ne warnn spring day, hesat nn00dily ar0und the h0use, she was ready t0 listen t0 his grievance.