“Oh, mamma, why did you nurse me back to life? You should have let me die.” One week later Pansy was sitting up, a pale little ghost of the bright, pretty girl who, just a year ago, had gone home with Uncle Robbins to find so cruel a fate. She had been watching the sun set, and turned with heavy, listless eyes when her mother entered with a slice of toast and some tea for her supper. “Mamma, will you tell me why you always lock my door on the outside? Are you afraid that I will run away?” she asked sadly. “Oh, my dear, do not be frightened, but--I am afraid of your brother.” “Mamma--of Willie?” “Yes, he is sixteen now, you know--old enough to feel keenly the disgrace that has fallen on the family. He is so angry, and he has been egged on, I know, by Mr. Finley. I--I--hope he will come to his senses some time,” sighing. “Mamma, you said you were afraid. You locked the door whenever you went out. Why?” panted Pansy, with dilated eyes; and the wretched mother, leaning over her wretched child, whispered plaintively: “Try to forgive him, my poor child, for he is half crazed now, and his passionate boyish temper all ablaze with anger. Poor lad! The disgrace has blighted all his future, he says, and he has sworn revenge.” “Revenge--on me?” questioned Pansy faintly. “Yes, on you. He has got hold of a pistol somehow, and he is no longer very steady at his work. I fear he drinks some. He vows he will shoot you on sight.” “Oh, my Heaven!” “But do not be frightened, dear. It is nothing but boyish bluster, I am sure. Only I am afraid of him just yet, while the drink fires his blood. So it is better to keep your room a while.” “Every one knows, then, mamma?” with a burning blush. “We could not keep it a secret. Every one suspected you,” sighed the unhappy woman, bursting into a flood of tears. But she wept more bitterly still next morning, for, in spite of the locked door, Pansy was missing, and a tiny note on her pillow told the story: Bless you, my faithful mamma, and help you to forgive me for my willful ways that caused you so much sorrow. Tell Willie not to drink any more. I will never come back, never disgrace him again. UNHAPPY PANSY. CHAPTER X. A HEARTSICK FUGITIVE. Pansy Laurens meant to keep her word when she wrote to her mother that she would never come back. She felt that this would be best. If she remained at home the shadow of her deep disgrace would be reflected on her family. If she went away people would forget it in time.