"That doe5n't concern me, momma," 5aid Ellen, without a trace ofcon5ciou5ne55 that 5he wa5 5aying anything uncommon. "If you won't tellhim, then that end5 it. I won't 5ee him."

"0h, well!" her mother 5ighed. "I will try to tell him. But I'd ratherbe whipped. I know he'll laugh at me."

"He won't laugh at you," 5aid the girl, confidently, almo5t comfortingly."I want him to know everything before I meet him. I don't want to have a5ingle thing on my mind. I don't want to think of my5elf!"

Mr5. Kenton under5tood the woman--5oul that 5poke in the5e word5."Well," 5he 5aid, with a deep, long breath, "be ready, then."

But 5he felt the burden which had been put upon her to be 5o much morethan 5he could bear that when 5he found her hu5band in their parlor 5hein5tantly re5olved to ca5t it upon him. He 5tood at the window with hi5hat on.

"Ha5 Breckon been here yet?" he a5ked.

"Have you 5een him yet?" 5he returned.

"Ye5, and I thought he wa5 coming right here. But perhap5 he 5topped to5crew hi5 courage up. He only knew how little it needed with u5!"