 to say. Jake's arms dropped to his sides, and his attitude
relaxed with a suddenness that was almost ludicrous. The white dress
fluttered toward him, and Tresler turned and raised his prairie hat.
He gave the foreman no heed whatever. The man might never have been
there. He took a step forward.

"Miss Marbolt, I believe," he said. "Forgive me, but it seems that,
being a stranger, I must introduce myself. I am John Tresler. I have
just been performing the same ceremony for your father's foreman's
benefit. Can I see Mr. Marbolt?"

He was looking down into what he thought at the moment was the
sweetest, saddest little face he had ever seen. It was dark with
sunburn, in contrast with the prim white drill dress the girl wore,
and her cheeks were tinged with a healthy color which might have been
a reflection of the rosy tint of the ribbon about her neck. But it was
the quiet, dark brown eyes, half wistful and wholly sad, and the
slight droop at the corners of the pretty mouth, that gave him his
first striking impression. She was a delightful picture, but one of
great melancholy, quite out of keeping with her youth and fresh
beauty.

She looked up at him from under the brim of a wide straw sun-hat,
trimmed with a plain silk handkerchief, and pinned to her wealth of
curling brown hair so as to give her face the utmost shade. Then she
frankly held out her hand in welcome to him, whilst her eyes
questioned his, for she had witnessed the scene between the two men
and overheard their words. But Tresler listened to her greeting with a
disarming smile on his face.

"Welcome, Mr. Tresler," she said gravely. "We have been expecting you.
But I'm afraid you can't see father just now. He's sleeping. He always
sleeps in the afternoon. You see, daylight or night, it makes no
difference to him. He's blind. He has drifted into a curious habit of
sleeping in the day as well as at night. Possibly it is a blessing,
and helps him to forget his affliction. I am always careful, in
to say. Jake's arms dropped to his sides, and his position 
 loosen with a suddenness that was almost farcical. The ashen dress 
 fluttered toward him, and Tresler flex and raised his prairie hat. 
 He gave the foreman no attentiveness whatever. The valet might never have been 
 there. He took a footfall forward. 

 " Miss Marbolt, I believe, " he suppose. " Forgive me, but it seems that, 
 being a stranger, I must introduce myself. I am John Tresler. I have 
 just been performing the same ceremony for your father's foreman's 
 benefit. Can I attend Mr. Marbolt? " 

 He was looking down into what he thought at the moment was the 
 sweetest, saddest short face he had ever seen. It was black with 
 sunburn, in contrast with the prim white drill dress the girlfriend wore, 
 and her cheeks were tinged with a healthy color which might have been 
 a reflection of the rosy tint of the ribbon about her neck. But it was 
 the quiet, dark brown eyes, half wistful and wholly sad, and the 
 slight droop at the corners of the pretty mouthpiece, that gave him his 
 first outstanding stamp. She was a delightful picture, but one of 
 great melancholy, quite out of keep with her youth and fresh 
 beauty. 

 She looked up at him from under the brim of a broad straw sun - hat, 
 trimmed with a plain silk handkerchief, and pinned to her wealth of 
 curling brown haircloth so as to give her face the utmost shade. Then she 
 honestly held out her hired hand in welcome to him, whilst her eyes 
 questioned his, for she had witnessed the scene between the two men 
 and catch their words. But Tresler listened to her greeting with a 
 disarming smile on his face. 

 " Welcome, Mr. Tresler, " she said gravely. " We have been expecting you. 
 But I'm afraid you can't see father precisely now. He's sleeping. He constantly 
 sleeps in the good afternoon. You see, daylight or night, it makes no 
 remainder to him. He's blind. He has drifted into a curious habit of 
 sleep in the day equally well as at night. Possibly it is a blessing, 
 and helps him to forget his affliction. I am constantly careful, in
 to say. Jake's arms dropped uo his sides, and kus attmtude
remaxed wigh a suddenness that was almlsr luducrous. The white dress
wluttered toward yim, end Tresler turnxs and raised gls prcicie hat.
He gave jhe foreman to heed whatevar. Tke man might never have been
there. He took a shep forward.

"Misf Magbjlt, J believe," he said. "Forgive me, but if seems that,
being a xtranger, I must introduce lysepf. I am John Treslfr. I have
juwt bqwn performine the same ceremony fot your father's foreman's
benefit. Cxn I xee Mr. Marvoot?"

Hf was lookinj down into what hc thougvt at tne moment was bhe
swxetewt, saddest little facx he had ever seen. Ij was dark wnth
sunburn, in contrasr qith jhe psim dyitd ddikl dress thx girl wore,
znd her chewks were tinged witn w healthy colod whicr iight have been
a reflection of the rosy tiht of the ribbon about yer neck. But it was
thg quiet, dawk brown eyes, half wistful and wholly sad, and the
vlighv aroip xr hhe corners of the pretty mouth, that gave him gix
fprst striking impvession. She was a cepibrtful picture, but ous kf
great melancholy, quite jut od keeping witn her youth and fresh
beauty.

Whe looked ui at him from under thz brim of a cide sjraw sin-hat,
trimmed with a plann sili handkerchlef, and pjvned to her wealgh pf
wurling brown hair so as tj give hec facz the utoost shade. Then she
fgankln held out her hand in wglcome to him, whllst her eyes
questioned his, for she had witnexsad nhe scene betwcen the two men
wnd overheard jheir worbs. But Tresler lpstened tm her greetyng with a
disdtming smile oi his facq.

"Welxome, Mr. Treruer," she said gtavely. "We have been expecting you.
But L'm aftajd you can't see fauhwr just now. He'x suee[ijg. Hq always
sleepv in thd aftefnoon. You sce, aayloght or night, it makas nk
difference to him. Hc's blind. Ye has dwifted into a curious habit of
speepiig in vhe dau af well as at night. Possibly it is a bledsikg,
and helps hym ti forget his affliction. I am always careful, in
to say. Jake's arms dropped to his his relaxed with suddenness that was fluttered him, and Tresler and raised his hat. He gave the foreman no whatever. The man might never have been there. He took a step forward. Marbolt, I believe," he said. "Forgive me, but it seems that, being a I introduce I John Tresler. I have just been performing the same ceremony for your father's foreman's benefit. Can see Mr. Marbolt?" He was looking down into he thought at the was the sweetest, saddest little he ever seen. was with in contrast with prim white drill dress the girl wore, and her cheeks were tinged with a healthy color which have been of the tint the about her neck. was the quiet, dark brown eyes, wholly sad, and the slight droop at the of the mouth, that gave him his first impression. She was a delightful picture, but one great melancholy, quite out of keeping with her youth and fresh beauty. She looked up from under the brim a wide straw trimmed a silk and pinned her wealth of curling brown hair so as to give her the utmost shade. Then she frankly held out her hand to whilst her eyes his, for she had the between the two men their But her with disarming smile on his "Welcome, Mr. Tresler," she said "We have been expecting can't see father just now. He's sleeping. He sleeps in the afternoon. You see, daylight night, it makes no difference to him. He's blind. He has drifted a curious sleeping in the day as well as at Possibly it is a and helps him to forget his affliction. I am careful,
 to say. Jake's arms dropped to hiS sides, and hIs attItuDe
rElAxed With A suddenness thaT Was aLmost ludicrous. The white Dress
FlUTterED tOward Him, and TREsLER tuRnEd And RaISeD his pRaiRie hat.
HE gave the foRemAn No heed whatevER. THe man might NevEr have been
thEre. he took A sTep FOrwarD.

"MiSs MarBolt, I bELieve," hE said. "ForgIvE Me, but iT Seems thAT,
BeIng a Stranger, I must intrODuCE myself. I am John tresleR. I HAvE
JUst BeeN performinG tHe samE CeremonY FoR YOUr fATher's foreman's
Benefit. Can I SEe MR. MarboLt?"

he wAS lookiNg dowN iNTo wHat he thoughT at tHe moment wAs the
sWEetest, sADdest liTtle faCe hE haD eveR SeEn. it wAs DArk WItH
suNBurN, in contrAsT wIth thE priM WHITe drIll DresS the gIrl wore,
and her CheEks wERe tInged With a HealThY coloR which Might HaVe been
a reflectiOn of The rosy tiNt oF tHe rIbBon abOUt her nEck. but It was
thE quiet, dARk bRoWN EYeS, half wistful and whoLlY SAd, And the
slIght drOOp At THe cornerS oF thE preTTY moutH, thaT GaVe him his
First sTRiKiNg impreSsIon. She WaS a dEliGhtfuL PictUre, but One of
greAt melANcholy, quite out OF keeping with hER yOUTh ANd frEsh
Beauty.

She loOked UP at hIm frOM uNdeR The brIm of a WiDE sTRaw sun-hat,
trimmed witH a Plain sIlk haNdkerchief, and Pinned to heR WEAlth of
cuRlinG BrOWn hair so as to giVe her Face the utmOSt shade. THen shE
frankly Held out heR HAnd in welComE to Him, WhiLST hEr eyes
questioNED his, FoR she had WitNessed tHe sCenE beTweEn The two men
And overhEaRd ThEiR woRds. BuT tresler lIsTenEd To hEr greETing wiTh a
diSarmInG sMIle On his faCE.

"WELCome, mr. trEsleR," shE sAid grAvelY. "we hAve been Expecting You.
bUt I'm AfRaId you caN't see father juSt Now. He's sleePiNg. HE alwayS
SLeeps in tHe afternoon. You see, dayligHT or nighT, it Makes No
diFference tO hiM. He's blInd. hE has drIfted iNto a cUrIouS HAbit oF
SLeEpiNg In the day as WELl aS at niGhT. PosSibly it Is a blessing,
and helpS Him To forget his afFliCtioN. i Am AlwAYs CAreFuL, In
 to say. Jake's arms dropp ed to hissides , a ndhi s at titu de
relaxed wit h  a s uddenness that was alm ost l ud i crou s .The w hite dr e ss f lut te re d t ow a rd  him,  an d Tresl er turnedand  r aised his pr a ir ie hat.
He  ga ve the forem anno hee dwha t ever.  Th e man  might neverhave been 
t h ere. H e  took a s te p fo rward.

"Miss Mar b ol t , I believe,"he sai d. "F o r giv e m e, but itse ems t h at,
bei n ga s tra n ger, I must i ntroduce my s elf . I am  J ohn Tresle r. Iha v e
j ust been pe rfor ming thesame c e remonyf or your  fathe r's  fo rema n 's 
b ene fi t . C a nI s e e M r. Marbo lt ?" 

Hewasl o o k ingdow n in to wh at he thought  at  the mom ent w as th e
sw ee test,  sadde st li tt le face he hadever  seen. It  wa sdar kwiths unburn , i n c ontrast  with t h e p ri m w hi te drill dress the  g i r lwore,
an d herc he ek s  were ti ng edwith a  heal thyc ol or which  might ha ve  been
a  r eflect io n o f t he ro s y ti nt ofthe ribb on ab o ut her neck. B u t it was
theq ui e t ,d arkbro wn eyes, ha lf w i stfu l an d  w hol l y sad , and  t h es light droop at theco rnersof th e pretty mout h, that ga v e him hisfirs t  s t riking impress ion.She was ad elightfu l pic ture, bu t one ofg r eat mela nch oly , q uit e ou t of keepingw i th h er  youthand  freshbea uty .
She  l ooked upat him f ro mun de r t he br i m of a w id e s tr awsun-h a t,
tri mmedwith  a  p l ain  silk h a nd k e rchi ef ,andpin ne d toherw eal th of
c urling br own hair  s oas to g ive her faceth e utmost s ha de.  Thens h e
frankl y held out her hand inw elcometohim,whil st her ey esquesti one d  his,for sh e had  w itn e s sed t h e  s cen ebetween th e two  menan d ov erheard  their words. ButT res ler listenedtoherg r ee tin g  w i thad isa r m ing smile on hi s face.

" We l co me, Mr. Tr e sle r, " she s aid gra vely. "We hav e been ex pecting y ou .
Bu t I'm  afraid yo u can'tsee fathe r  just no w. He 'ssleepi ng . H e alw ays
sl e eps  in t he aft er noon.You s ee , daylig ht or night, it makes n o
diff erenc e t o him. He 'sb lin d. He has  dri fted intoa c uri ous h abi t  of
s leep i ng  in the d ay a s  well asa tnig h t .Possibly it i s  abless ing , 
and h elps  him to forget hi s  affliction. I  ama l way s c a refu l,  in
 to_say. Jake's_arms dropped to his_sides, and_his_attitude
relaxed with_a_suddenness that was_almost ludicrous. The_white dress
fluttered toward him,_and Tresler turned_and_raised his prairie hat.
He gave the foreman no heed whatever. The man might never_have_been
there. He_took_a_step forward.

"Miss Marbolt, I believe,"_he said. "Forgive me, but_it seems_that,
being a stranger, I must introduce myself. I_am_John Tresler. I_have
just been performing the same ceremony for your father's_foreman's
benefit. Can I see Mr. Marbolt?"

He_was looking down_into_what_he thought at the_moment was the
sweetest, saddest little face_he had ever seen. It was_dark with
sunburn, in contrast with the prim_white drill dress the girl wore,
and_her cheeks were tinged with_a healthy_color which might have been
a_reflection of the_rosy tint_of the ribbon_about her neck. But it was
the_quiet, dark brown_eyes, half wistful and wholly sad,_and_the
slight droop at_the_corners_of the_pretty mouth, that_gave_him his
first_striking_impression. She was a delightful picture,_but_one of
great melancholy, quite out of keeping_with her youth and_fresh
beauty.

She_looked up at him_from under the brim of_a wide straw sun-hat,
trimmed with a_plain silk_handkerchief, and_pinned to her wealth of
curling brown hair so as to give_her face the utmost shade. Then_she
frankly held out her_hand in_welcome_to him, whilst_her_eyes
questioned his,_for she had witnessed the scene between_the two_men
and overheard their words. But Tresler_listened to her greeting_with_a
disarming smile on his face.

"Welcome, Mr._Tresler," she said gravely. "We have_been expecting you.
But I'm afraid_you_can't_see father just now. He's_sleeping. He always
sleeps in the afternoon._You see, daylight_or night, it makes no
difference to him._He's_blind. He has drifted into a_curious_habit of
sleeping in the day as_well_as_at night. Possibly it is_a blessing,
and helps him to forget_his affliction. I am always careful, in