Copyright, 1895, by Stone and Kimball
Copyright, 1898, by The Macmillan Company

[Illustration]




THE GOING OF THE WHITE SWAN




[Illustration]

I


"Why don't she come back, father?"

The man shook his head, his hand fumbled with the wolfskin robe covering
the child, and he made no reply.

"She'd come if she knew I was hurted, wouldn't she?"

The father nodded, and then turned restlessly toward the door, as though
expecting some one. The look was troubled, and the pipe he held was not
alight, though he made a pretense of smoking.

"Suppose the wildcat had got me, she'd be sorry when she comes, wouldn't