The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-04-12

of shyness unusual with him. We've made quite 8 change since you were up here, Miss Gerard he remarked. ''The ships stop first at Omar now, you see. I trust it won't inconvenience you.''
 Mot in the least,'' said Natalie. ''I shall arrive at Hope quite soon enough
 Dan led the two girls ashore and up through the town to moss green bun galow, it's newness attested by the vel low sawdust and fresh shavings which lay about. Amid their exclamations of delight he showed them the neatly fur nished interior and, among other won ders, a bedroom dainti1y done in white, with white curtains at the mu1loned windows and a suit of wicker furni- ture.
 Where he dug all that up don't know" Dan said, pointing to the bed and dresser and chairs. He must lave had it hidden out scmewhere.'' g
 Eliza surveyed this chamber with wondering eyes. Ut makes me feel quite ashamed she said though, of course, he did it for Dan.4 When he discovers my aboninab1e mission he'll probably set TIC out in the rain and break all my lead pencils. But isn't he magnificent"
 ''He quite overwhelms one," Natalie agreed Back in New York he's been sending me American Beauties every week for more than year It's his princely way" She coIored slightly despite the easy frankness of her manner.
 You are\ still working miracles 2 Natalie told O'Neil an hour later, while he was showing his visitors the few sights of Omar, miracles of kindness, as usual"
 Dan and his sister were following ing like magptes.
 "No, no! That cottage is nothing. Miss Appleton had to have some place to stop.''
 This all seems like magic" Natal paused and looked over the busy lit town. "And to think you have done in year.
 S9It was not I who did it; the cred belongs to those boys of whom tol you. They are all here. by the way Parker, Mckay. Mellen. Sheldon. Do Gray-he has the hospital, you know
 "And Mr. Slater? ?"
 ".Oh, we couldn't exist without Hap py Tom. /No, the only miracle aboI all this is the loyalty that has made Ii possible. It is that which has broker all records in railroad building; that's what has pushed our tracks forwars until we're nearly up to one of natures real miracles. You shall see those gla ciers one of these days. Sometimes wonder if even the devotion of those men win carry us through the final test. But-you shall meet them all to- night-my whole family"
 II can't. The ship leaves this after noon"
 I've arranged to send you to Hope in my motorboat just as MT. Gordon sent me on my way year ago. You will stay with the Appletons tonight and help at the house warming, then Dan will take you on in the morning. Wemen are such rare guests at Omar that we refuse to part with them. You agree?''
 @How can refuse? Your word seems to be law here. I'll send word to mother by the ship that am de tained by royal decree
 She spoke with gayety that seemed little forced, and at mention of her departure a subtle change had come over her face. O'Neil realized that she had matuFed markedly since his last meeting with her; there was no longer quite the same effect of naive girlish- ness.
 This was a very unhappy year for your loyal subject, MT. O'Neil."
 "tPm sorry,'' he declared with such genuine kindliness that she was moved to confide in him.
 .sMother and are ruined"
 fsWin you tell me about it?''
 Its merely-those wretched coal claims. have friend in the land of flee at Washington and, remembering what you said. I asked him to look them up. I knew no other way to go about it. He tells me that something was done, or was not done, by. us, and that we have lost all we put in"
 q urged Gordon to obey that ruling last spring. Natalie saw that his face was dark with indignation, and the knowledge that he really cared set her heart to pounding gratefully. She was half tempted to tell about that other, that greater trouble which had stolen in upon her peace of mind and robbed her of her girlhood. but she shrank from barring her wounds-above all, wound so vital and so personal as this.
 "Does your mother know?' he que ried.
 "No, I preferred to tell her in MT. Gordon's presence" Murray noticed that she no longer called the man un- cae. 'sBut now that the time has come Pm frightened
 Never allow yourself to be afraid. Fear is something false; it doesn't exist.''
 'tIt seems to me he was-unfaithfu1 to his trust. Am right?'
 'HThat is something you must judge for yourself" he told her gravely. 'tYou see, I don't know anything. about the reasons which prompted him to sacrifice your rights. He may have, had very good reasons. dare say he had. In building this railroad I have