And read it Ruth did when she had once seen the heading--she read it
all through with breathless attention. Her rosy face paled as she
came to the conclusion, and she glanced suddenly toward the bedroom
as she heard Aunt Alvirah's voice again.

Dropping the old wallet on the table, Ruth folded the clipping and
hastily thrust it into the bosom of her frock. She did not dare face
the old woman when she appeared, but kept her back turned until she
was sure the color had returned to her cheeks. And all the time she
helped Aunt Alvirah get supper, Ruth was very, very silent.




CHAPTER IV

THE MYSTERIOUS BEHAVIOR OF FRED HATFIELD


Uncle Jabez Potter came in from the mill after a time. He was a
gaunt, gray-faced man, who seldom smiled, and whose stern, rugged
countenance had at first almost frightened Ruth whenever she looked
at it. But she had fortunately gotten under the crust of Mr. Potter's
manner and learned that there was something better there than the
harsh surface the miller turned to all the world.

Uncle Jabez hoarded money for the pleasure of hoarding it; but he
had been generous to Ruth, having put her at one of the best boarding
schools in the State. He could be charitable at times, too; Aunt