Bob Hampton of Placer

"Without Bob Hampton?"

The girl glanced uneasily toward him, but he stood motionless in the

gloom.

"Yes--I--I suppose I must."

Hampton rested his hand softly upon her shoulder, his fingers

trembling, although his voice remained coldly deliberate.

"I trust this is entirely satisfactory, Mrs. Herndon," he said. "I can

assure you I know absolutely nothing regarding her purpose of coming to

me tonight. I realize quite clearly my own deficiencies, and pledge

myself hereafter not to interfere with you in any way. You accept the

trust, I believe?"

She gave utterance to a deep sigh of resignation. "It comes to me

clearly as a Christian duty," she acknowledged, doubtfully, "and I

suppose I must take up my cross; but--"

"But you have doubts," he interrupted. "Well, I have none, for I have

greater faith in the girl, and--perhaps in God. Good-night, Naida."

He bowed above the hand the girl gave him in the darkness, and ever

after she believed he bent lower, and pressed his lips upon it. The

next moment the black night had closed him out, and she stood there,

half frightened at she knew not what, on the threshold of her new life.