ed countenance had at first almost frightened Ruth whenever she looked at it. But she had fortunately gotten under the crust of

ols in the State. He could be charitable at times, too; Aunt Alvirah could testify to that fact. So could a certain little lame friend of Ru

n charity begins in a man's very bed, that seems

abond boy in my bed, Aunt Alvir

back, and oh, my bones! Come in and see him, J

never can get the rights of what he's saying till afterward. Say

m his home at Scarbo

widder's son, to

er is dead," said

aimed Jabez Potter. "And

his as being a re

t-the coat frozen right on him-when they brought him in. I had to git him atween blan

runted Mr

a couch in here near the fire a

know who he is. May rob us before morning.

eir adventure with the bull and Fred Hatfield's appearance. Yet all the time sh

in the center of each of the boy's pallid cheeks, and his eyes were still bright. He had no little fever after

at newspaper clipping fairly burned in the bosom of her fr

thout proper food for some time. But in the midst of

in that wallet when y

ss

plied, truth

was," muttered the boy, a

ks. She knew that it was actual starvation that kept him eating; but he was greatly troubled

is own repose. But though the whole house slept, Ruth could not-at first. Long after it was still, and she knew Aunt Alvirah was asleep and Uncle Jabez was snoring, Ruth arose, slipped on a w

ing her breath. She heard the couch creak

abond boy, shrouded in a blanket. He came to the table and he felt around until he found the wallet. He

nd opened it wide. He

h heard

one! it

ood there, uncertain and-Ruth thought-sobbing softly. Then the boy approached the garmen

irah had wished them left there to be warm when he put them on in the morning. Ruth knew exactly what Fred Ha

latch ever so lightly. Fred stopped and turned fearfully in that di

he door quietly to and stood there, shivering in the dark, wondering what to do. She knew that the boy had it in

Mr. Cameron only supposed him an ordinary runaway, and perhaps wished to advise him to ret

stairs for some minute

er movement from t

n the stairs to guard the boy all night. Something despe

n far enough to slip through into the kitchen. There was no movement f

he garments hung upon the chair backs. She selected one and wi

eathing heavily. "If he wants to run away he c