sanctify the money by usin' it for a new wash-boiler."

"The fact is," explained Old Kennebec, somewhat confused, "that the boys made
me spend every cent of it then an' there."

Rose heard her grandmother's caustic reply, and then paid no further attention
until her keen ear caught the sound of Stephen's name. It was a part of her
unhappiness that since her broken engagement no one would ever allude to him,
and she longed to hear him mentioned, so that perchance she could get some
inkling of his movements.

"I met Stephen tonight for the first time in a week," said Mr. Wiley. "He kind
o' keeps out o' my way lately. He's goin' to drive his span into Portland
tomorrow mornin' and bring Rufus home from the hospital Sunday afternoon. The
doctors think they've made a success of their job, but Rufus has got to be
bandaged up a spell longer. Stephen is goin' to join the drive Monday mornin'
at the bridge here, so I'll get the latest news o' the boy. Land! I'll be
turrible glad if he gets out with his eyesight, if it's only for Steve's sake.
He's a turrible good fellow, Steve is! He said something tonight that made me
set more store by him than ever. I told you I hed n't heard an unkind word
ag'in' Rose sence she come home from Boston, an' no more I hev till this
evenin'. There was two or three fellers talkin' in the post-office, an' they
did n't suspicion I was settin' on the steps outside the screen door. That Jim
Jenkins, that Rose so everlastin'ly snubbed at the tavern dance, spoke up, an'
says he: 'This time last year Rose Wiley could 'a' hed the choice of any man
on the river, an' now I bet ye she can't get nary one.'

"Steve was there, jest goin' out the door, with some bags o' coffee an' sugar
under his arm.