fact?"

Poor Austin! he stood in amazement, his face growing red and white by
turns. He had been priding himself that he could do a man's part by the
children, and had been elated at his success, and here the people thought
he was starving them! When he could find words, he answered, "It is not
true, I assure you. My father is away, but he has not been gone long, and
in that time we have had plenty. At this time the house is well stocked
with food, as you will find if you search it. Go see for yourself that this
report is not true."

"No, I do not want to do that. I only want to know that the children are
having plenty," the man replied.

"But I want you to go. I want you to know that it is not true. If you do
not wish to go alone, take my aunt with you. She lives near by," Austin
urged.

"Well, Austin, for your sake I will investigate. I am sorry I have wounded
you so much, but I had to do something about it," he answered.

An hour later the officer was again in the store to see Austin. "I found
the reports to be utterly false," he said. "If every family in town were as
well supplied as yours, some people would live better." Austin's heart felt
sick, and he was almost too ashamed to lift his head as he started for
home. He felt disgraced and humiliated in the eyes of his neighbors. That
it had been one of them who had uttered the complaint he was certain, but
which one could be so base and false he could not guess. Never before had
he had occasion to think he had enemies. Till now every one had seemed to
be full of faith in him. What had he done to break their confidence? Not