then. But just as the bell rang for leaving, the elder man took the
hand of the younger, and clasped it almost passionately. The eyes of
the two met. "Dodd" remembered the day when they walked to school
together, hand in hand.

"My boy," whispered Mr. Bright, "if ever the time comes when you can
stand on your own feet, let me hear from you and know of your success;
but if you continue in the old way, let the world be as a grave to you,
so far as I am concerned; and never let me hear from you again. But,"
he added, as he turned away, "I faintly trust the larger hope." And
without another word he left the car. He went directly home. It was
many a year before he referred again to that day.

There was a hissing of pent-up air as the engineer tried the brakes
before moving out his train, then a slow motion of starting, then away
and away.

"Dodd" Weaver sank back in his seat, and pulled his cap over his eyes.
He did not cast one lingering look behind. Indeed, what had he to care
for, in all that great city?

"I faintly trust the larger hope," repeated "Dodd" to himself, as the
train rushed along. He remembered the day when they had read the lines
in the reading class of Mr. Bright's school.




CHAPTER XXIII.