Because of Stephen by Grace Livingston Hill Page A

himself and the cause of it. He wished himself out of this heathenish land, and back into civilization. He decided to let people take care of themselves after this. Of what use was it to try to save this girl from a knowledge of her brother's true self? She was bound to find it out sooner or later , and she would perhaps only hate him for his effort.
    But Stephen, after teasing his sister to dis cover what plan she had for the entertainment of their guests, made up his mind to make the most of Philip's absence, and get his guests well invited before that autocrat interfered. It was marvelous that he had not done so already. Therefore he slipped away to saddle his horse while his sister was busy in her room, and, only leaving a message with Marna , rode away into the sunlight, as gay of heart as the little insects that buzzed about his horse, and with less care for the morrow than they had.
    Margaret was disappointed to find her brother gone when she presently came out, for she had planned to get him to do several little things about the house that morning, and while he was doing them she had intended to sound him on the friends he would invite. She wondered whether there were many and whether among them there would be any who could help her in the work of establishing her Sunday school. There must be some good women about there. Surely she could get a helper somewhere.
    But perhaps this first time it would be only two or three of Stephen's best friends. He had spoken of "the fellows," and it would be better not to have any complications of womankind till she was well acquainted and knew on whom she could count for help. She admitted to her own heart, too, that she could open up the plan to them, and teach a class in her own way, better stilling the flutter of her own frightened heart, if there were no women or girls about to watch.
    She was disappointed, it is true, but after a moment she reflected that perhaps even Ste phen's absence was an advantage. She would take this quiet hour to study up a lesson and plan her program , though it would be much easier if she knew just what kind of scholars she was to have. She spent a happy morning and afternoon planning for the Sun day, and only toward night did she begin to feel uneasy and hover near the door looking down the road.
    Marna came in, shaking her head and mut tering again, and it required all Margaret's faith and bravery to keep her heart up.
    The night closed down like that other night when she had kept a vigil, and still neither of the young men appeared. Margaret wished that Philip would come, so that she might reassure herself by asking where he supposed Stephen had gone and when he would return. She acknowledged to herself that after all there was something strong and good to lean upon in Philip.
    She prayed much that evening, and by and by lay down and tried to sleep. After several hours of restless turnings she did finally fall into an uneasy sleep.
    But , whe n the morning broke with its se rene sunshine, and neither of the two men had returned, she grew more restless. In vain did she try to settle to anything. She constantly returned to look off down the road.
    Marna said little that day; but Margaret remembered her former words, and her old anxieties returned to clutch her till she was driven to her knees. As she prayed, a great, deep love for her new found brother grew and grew in her soul till she felt she must save him, for instinctively she knew that he needed saving more than many.
    And the second day wore away into the night, but still they had not returned.
    Margaret lived through various states of mind. Now she was alarmed, now indignant that they should treat her so; and now she blamed herself for having come out here at all. Then alarm would succeed all other feelings, and she would fly to her refuge and find strength.
    When the third day dawned and seemed likely to be a s the others had been, she ques tioned Marna as to where she thought they could have