“I wonder if this could have been her mother’s father,” for Mrs. Blossom’s mind at once turned to the subject she had thought of so often—that of Rose’s family. “There was a chain to the locket once, but I broke and lost that. I remember that mamma used sometimes to let me wear it, and it seems to me she said it was Uncle Samuel’s picture, but I’m not sure.” “It certainly is a good face.” And Mrs. Blossom held out the open locket to Miss Eudora, who as she took it let it drop from her fingers that the unwonted excitement had made tremulous. In striking the floor a spring was pressed to a compartment behind the picture, and as Mr. Nathan Fifield stooped to pick it up a piece of closely folded paper fell out. Mrs. Blossom hastily spread this out, and found it the marriage certificate of Kate Jarvis and James Shannon, dated at Fredonia, N. Y., some sixteen years before. “Here is a clue to Rose’s family,” she exclaimed, as they all clustered about the bit of time-yellowed paper, forgetting for the moment the cloud that rested so heavily over Rose. “It surely should be,” responded Mr. Nathan. “I shall write to Fredonia at once,” continued Mrs. Blossom. “And as the minister whose name is signed may in the meantime have died or moved away, my best course would be to write first to the postmaster for information, would it not?” [Illustration: “HERE IS A CLUE TO ROSE’S FAMILY.”—_Page 216._] “That is what I should advise.” Squire Nathan was never so happy as when giving advice. “It might be well to inclose a letter to the minister, and also a copy of the marriage certificate. If Rose has any relatives living she ought to trace them by this. Though whether she is likely to prove any credit to her family or not is doubtful,” he added, recalling with a frown the fact that she was a suspected criminal. “I have faith in her that she will.” Mrs. Blossom’s tone was decided. “And if you are willing to let matters rest for the present I will, if you have no objections, take Rose home with me.” “I shall be only too glad to have you, for my part.” Miss Eudora’s tone was fervent. “After what has happened I don’t feel that I could endure her in the house another day.” “And of course I shall consider you responsible for her safekeeping,” added Mr. Nathan. “She admits that she ran away once; she may do so again.” “No, I won’t, you need not be afraid.” Rose’s voice was trembling, but she held it firm. “For you understand,” with emphasis, “that I am not dropping the matter of the missing money, but only, at your request, passing it over for the present. I will repeat, however, that if Rose will confess and return the money, no one but ourselves shall ever know of it. If she does not I shall feel myself constrained, much as I may regret the necessity, to resort to more severe measures,” and he blew his nose with a great flourish of his red silk handkerchief by way of emphasis. CHAPTER XVII SUNSHINE AGAIN