15,

0 A

n over his ears and buttoned his bl

ks done up in straps, "be sure to keep an eye on Mark at recess-time. Don't let him run and get all hot a

y stooped and took her little brother's mittened hand in hers. She said

eriously, "Oh, I'll look

, "I can looken out fo

er older son, so clear, so quiet, so unchanging and true

ll his life he'll look out for

trong and rooted deep in health, and little Mark was stepping off gallantly into his own life as the others had done. But she felt afraid. What could she be afraid of? As she opened the door, their advance was halted by the rush upon them

ed her soft cheek against her mother's hand. Paul, seeing his mother shiver in the keen March air, said,

Paul," she agreed; "

he road. They were chattering to each other as they went. Their voices sounded at first loud and gay in their mother's ears. Then they sank to a

ound left in the stark gray valley, empty and motionles

smaller and smaller. How far away they were, already! And that very strength and vigor of which she was so pro

the hill now. Perhaps they wo

ot take her eyes from the children. She thought to herself bitterly, "This is the beginning of the end. I've been feeling how, in their hearts, they want to escape from me when I try to hold them, or when I try to make them let me into their lives. I've given everything to them, but they never think

he thin mountain air. They were running mostly, once in a while stopping to throw a stone o

ed. Perhaps, after all, they would remember

appeared, withou

road. It seemed to her that the chi

still snow-covered, and struck at her like a sword. Sh

RT