rewarded in this life and the life to come. She and her husband were in
complete harmony on this vital point. Yet not a miserly trait entered into
their humble thrift. It was a necessity entailed by their meager resources;
it was inspired by the wish for an honest independence in their old age.

There was to be no old age for her. She took a heavy cold, and almost before
her husband was aware of her danger, she had left his side. He was more than
grief-stricken, he was appalled. No children had blessed their union, and
they had become more and more to each other in their simple home life. To
many it would have seemed a narrow and even a sordid life. It could not have
been the latter, for all their hard work, their petty economies and plans to
increase the hoard in the savings bank were robbed of sordidness by an honest,
quiet affection for each other, by mutual sympathy and a common purpose. It
undoubtedly was a meager life, which grew narrower with time and habit. There
had never been much romance to begin with, but something that often wears
better--mutual respect and affection. From the first, James Holcroft had
entertained the sensible hope that she was just the girl to help him make a
living from his hillside farm, and he had not hoped for or even thought of
very much else except the harmony and good comradeship which bless people who
are suited to each other. He had been disappointed in no respect; they had
toiled and gathered like ants; they were confidential partners in the homely
business and details of the farm; nothing was wasted, not even time. The
little farmhouse abounded in comfort, and was a model of neatness and order.
If it and its surroundings were devoid of grace and ornament, they were not
missed, for neither of its occupants had ever been accustomed to such things.
The years which passed so uneventfully only cemented the union and increased
the sense of mutual dependence. They would have been regarded as exceedingly
matter-of-fact and undemonstrative, but they were kind to each other and
understood each other. Feeling that they were slowly yet surely getting
ahead, they looked forward to an old age of rest and a sufficiency for their