there's always the possibility that something may happen. You know
Edna's dead, but there's always a chance that Sylvia's father may turn
up. It's not likely; but there's no telling about such things; and it
wouldn't be quite fair for you to leave her unprepared if it should
happen."

"There's one more circumstance I haven't told you about. It happened
only a few days ago. It was that, in fact, which crystallized my own
ideas about Sylvia's education. A letter was sent to me by a stranger,
offering money for Sylvia's schooling. The whole thing was surrounded
with the utmost secrecy."

"So? Then some one is watching Sylvia; keeping track of her, and must be
kindly disposed from that. You never heard anything before?"

"Never. I was asked to send a verbal answer by the messenger who brought
me the letter, accepting or declining the offer. I declined it."

"That was right. But there's no hiding anything in this world; you must
have some idea where the offer came from."

"I haven't the slightest, not the remotest idea. The messenger was a
stranger to me; from what Sylvia said he was a stranger at Montgomery
and had never seen the college before. Time had begun to soften the
whole thing, and the knowledge that some one has been watching the child
all these years troubles me. It roused all my old resentment; I have
hardly slept since it occurred."

"It's queer; but you'd better try to forget it. Somebody's conscience is
hurting, I reckon. I wouldn't know how to account for it in any other