A Daughter of the Land

"Katherine Eleanor," she said slowly and distinctly, "I'm going

now. I can't fight it off any longer. I confess myself. I

burned those deeds. Every one of them. Pa got himself afire, but

he'd thrown THEM out of it. It was my chance. I took it. Are

you going to tell them?"

Kate was standing as tall and straight as her mother, her hands

extended the same, but not touching her.

"No," she said. "You were an instrument in the hands of God to

right a great wrong. No! I shall never tell a soul while I live.

In a minute God himself will tell you that you did what He willed

you should."

"Well, we will see about that right now," said Mrs. Bates, lifting

her face to the sky. "Into thy hands, O Lord, into thy hands!"

Then she closed her eyes and ceased to breathe. Kate took her

into her arms and carried her to her bed.