perfect rose cloud of blushes.

"I know Tom better than I do you," I answered as she fled with the money
in her hand. I looked at Ruth Clinton and we both laughed. It is true
that a broader sympathy is one of the by-products of sorrow, and a week
ago I might have resented Pet to a marked degree instead of giving her
the money and a blessing.

"I'm going quick, Molly, with that laugh between us," Ruth said as she
rose and took me into her arms again for just half a second, and before
I could stop her she was gone.

She met Billy toiling up the front step with a long piece of rusty iron
gas-pipe, which took off an inch of paint as it bumped against the
doorway. She bent down and kissed the back of his neck, which theft was
almost more than I could stand and apparently more than Billy was
prepared to accept.

"Go away, girl," he said in his rudest manner; "don't you see I'm busy?"

I met him in the front hall just in time to prevent a hopeless scar on
my parquet floor. He was hot, perspiring and panting, but full of
triumph.

"I found it, Molly, I found it!" he exclaimed as he let the heavy pipe
drop almost on the bare pink toes. "You can git a hammer and pound the
end sharp and bend it so no whale we ketch can git away for nothing. You
and father kin put it in your trunk 'cause it's too long for mine, and I
can carry father's shirts and things in mine. Git the hammer quick, and
I'll help you do it!" The pain in my breast was almost more than I could