faced Alan Larned, the son of her
employer. There was a faint smile
on his lips.
"You say-oh, do not misconstrue
me !" cried the agitated Eunice, losing
all control of herself amid her pro
found embarrassment. "Your father
has been my best friend. I owe so
much to him that I was overcome by
gratitude. I I could not help it."
"Dear Lady," said Alan Larned
gravely and with the greatest defer
ence, "I take your devotion to my
father as I knew he fully appreciates
it and as a sad reminder to me of
how unworthy of his confidence I
have been."
Eunice scanned the troubled face
grown suddenly serious and haggard
closely. She with Mr. Larned sup
posed this only son to be at work in
another city. His words, his manner,
desperate, intense, told Eunice that
the young man had dismissed his
present discovery as trivial compared
to some heavy weight of trouble, of
remorse that lay heavy upon his
mind.
"I can trust you, Miss Graydon,"
said Alan, "more than ever now. I
must make a confidant of somebody
or go mad with what is troubling
me. I came 'here to tell all to my
father. But it will break his heart.
I am unworthy of his confidence, his
esteem."
Eunice glanced at the clock. Her
employer would not be due for nearly
half an hour. Alan had sunk to a
chair, his head bowed in bitter
thought. She sat down beside him
and placed a gentle, tremulous hand
upon his own.
"Mr. Larned," she said earnestly,
"tell me all about.your trouble. Let
me try and spare your father, who
loves you so, if possible. Let me help
you."
The young fellow's eye's filled with
tears at this exhibition of a warm,
sincere sympathy. He blurted out his
wretched story money lost in gam
bling, threats of exposure over claims
held by a grasping loan shark.
"How much is it?" asked Eunice
fearsomely, and her face brightened
as Alan named a sum approximately
the amount of her savings.
."I am going to help you," she said
simply, "and, oh, I am so glad that
it is in my power to do so. It is bet
cause I trust you; it is because I
know you will evade the pitfalls in
the future. Will you not try to do
so?"
"I could not acsept " he began
brokenly.
"I was going to invest some
money," interrupted Eunice. "I
shall do so with you. I am not
afraid that you will not repay me.
Take it, dear," and she proffered her
savings unostentatiously. "Because
of your father, because. I shall think
of you and pray for yoii. Oh, do not
forfeit the trust!"
Not a word of all this to Mr. Lar
ned. The trustful father knew not
of the abyss his son had escaped, nor
of the loving hand that had guided
him to a haven of hope and courage.
And this proved true. Naught but
pleasing news came from the boy
after that. And then at the end of a
year Eunice received a remittance
covering her generous loan, with in
terest. Alan Larned wrote, blessing her.
He told her of a new life, where he
had developed a literary ability that
was earning him a liberal income.
And at the end of his grateful letter
were four words: "I have told
father."
It was two days after that when
Mr. Larned called Eunice into his
private office. There was a strange
expression on his face, but he said in
his usual tone:
"Dictation, please. Miss Graydon,
address a letter to your mother."
Eunice started, but wonderingly
began the letter.
" 'Respected madam,' " pursued
Mr. Larned, " 'I write regarding the
noblest woman I know? your daugh
ter. It is to ask your permission to
offer her my heart's best love ' "