broad fireplace. Then facing her, he said, still smiling:

"Am I afraid to be out late at night with you? Well, that depends." His direct glance into her eyes made the color mantle her cheeks. "The train will not be in until long after we are on duty, so I do not think I will be tempted to beg you to elope with me. Not to-night, anyway."

Theo tossed her head and waved her muff at him.

"You'd be glad to send me back as soon as we reached the Junction, wouldn't he, Uncle Poly?" Mr. Carter bent an admiring look upon her and bowing with old-time courtesy said:

"Speak for him, but don't speak for me. I believe in holding fast to what is good."

"And you call her good?" cried Richard, raising both hands in an attitude of deprecation.

Come, come, children," said Madam, joining in the laugh that followed Richard's remark, “the moments are slipping by and Duty calls. Give my fondest love to Clara, and I shall not expect you home until I see you, Son."

Richard raised her face to his and kissed his mother tenderly.

"Go to bed, Duchess dear, and sleep well. You and Uncle Poly can have a nice little heart-toheart' talk after we go, and that will cheer you up, I know. Theo will simmer down pretty soon

and will be my Right Supporter for to-night, at least."

"Yes, dearest friend," said Theo, her arm about Madam's waist. "You know I am a great one to jest and carry on, but it is only on the surface. We shall not forget to be loving and thoughtful. I thought as I was on my way over here to-night of what you told us on your last birthday," and she quoted from Browning:

Our times are in His hand,

Who saith, 'A whole I planned.''

So we need not worry for poor Joe, or anyone else if we really trust in Him. With love in our hearts, what have we to fear?" And the Grand Master with Theo Hayden beside him passed out into the frosty night along the avenue to the village street on their mission of Love the exemplification of the principles of Odd Fellowship.

And it came to pass, that on the following Sunday afternoon, the mortal remains of Joseph Powers were laid in the receiving tomb in the little cemetery by the riverside. The Odd Fellows took charge, and the beautiful service was observed according to the ritual. Mrs. Powers and the two children came directly to Ledgelawn on their return from the cemetery, there to remain while the cottage was being dismantled, incident to their removing to Portland to make their home with

the paternal grandparents. The days of their stay in the home of the Grand Master were very happy ones, particularly for Miriam. She was on the top wave of delight having two congenial playmates, and many were the pilgrimages the children made on their way to the Promised Land.

CHAPTER IX

INSTITUTING THE REBEKAH LODGE AT ELMHURST

A

T last the day arrived when the long anticipated event, the instituting of the Rebekah Lodge at Elmhurst, was to be celebrated. The degree staff of Esperanza Rebekah Lodge, No. 31, of Norwood, had been invited by the State Assembly President, Miss Lucretia Ward, to exemplify the work of the degree in the beautified form. The members of the staff were at the hall bright and early rehearsing, and with the assistance of the brothers, packed the paraphernalia preparatory to making an early start.

On her way to the station, Theo ran into Ledgelawn to see Madam.

"I do wish you were going with us," said Theo. "We all shall miss you so much. Just think, it will be the first time since I was initiated that you have not filled the Chaplain's station. Oh, why can't you go?" she pleaded. "She'll be perfectly safe." And they both glanced toward Miriam in her little chair in the inglenook. The child looked up from under her curls, she knew that Theo referred to her.

"Sweetheart can't possibly go to-day, Theo.

Moses is busy and Aawon is away. The childwen do get into mischief so." She sighed a funny little sigh and folded her hands and looked at Bonnie stretched at length beside her.

"Yes," said Madam, "these supposititious brothers are unusually busy since the Powers left, for they went part way with them, you know." And she opened her eyes very wide as she looked at Theo. Then in an undertone, "I sometimes wonder if there are any others. Do you suppose there can be?"

Theo gave her a look, the meaning of which could not be misunderstood, and as they passed into the hall said:

"Don't you spend one second in worrying about that, Madam, there never was and never will be but one of her kind, believe me! Her imagination knows no bounds. Why, the other day she confided to me that Bonnie was her brother Aaron in a dog's skin! Talk about fairy tales! Well, I must away." Looking in the library she called: "Good-by, Baby Bunting, Theo's going!"

The child came running into the hall. She held up her face to be caressed.

"I'll pick a rose right here," said Theo, as she kissed the dimple in the little cheek.

A moment more and Theo was in the sleigh, Madam with Miriam beside her waving their hands from the window.

As the afternoon wore on the sun became