“Oh, mamma, I wanted to be the first to tell him,” objected the boy. “I am sorry; but we must not run the risk, indeed,” Mrs. Rodney said. Max looked disappointed. “Well, then, I cannot keep it any longer!” he burst out. “We--that is, the boys and me--we have found Mr. Delaney’s crazy wife--” “Impossible!” Mrs. Rodney exclaimed. “Under a melted snow-drift,” continued Max. “She must have been dead a long time--ever since that night she set fire to Delaney House, I guess--for she is in a very bad state; but we are perfectly certain that she is the one. She is dressed just as papa described her, in the finery and the jewels. Do you think that Mr. Delaney will be glad, mamma?” “Glad that the poor creature is dead, Max?” she cried, quite shocked. “Yes, mamma,” he replied, undauntedly. “Everybody should be glad, for what pleasure could that poor, afflicted creature have in her life, and why should one wish her to live? Mr. Delaney will be glad, I know, and no one can blame him!” “Hush, dear, you do not know what you are saying,” said his mother, “and, besides, this is all surmise on your part. It may not be the woman at all.” “Very well, mamma, we shall soon know, for they have sent me to bring Mrs. Griffin to identity her,” he said. It all turned out as the little lad had said. The poor creature who had lain for long weeks under the frozen snow-drifts proved to be Julie Sanson, indeed. The mystery of her fate was solved at last. She had not perished in the fiery flames that consumed Delaney House. She had wandered out into the dark and stormy night and met her death in the cold, white, drifting snow that wrapped the earth like a ghostly winding sheet. It came upon Oran Delaney with a shock that the deformed maniac was dead. It pained him that death had come to her in such horrible shape. Indeed, the very existence of such a creature upon the earth had always seemed to him something for which one might almost arraign Divine Providence. Why was it permitted? “I cannot understand it,” he said. “And it pains me that she died so hard a death. Yet I cannot be sorry that she is dead. She was a horrible burden upon my life, and her existence was a joyless one. I thank God that having done my duty by her, I am free at last.” They buried her quietly and simply, but the circumstances were so well known that a large number of people attended the burial. Every one rejoiced that Oran Delaney was free at last from the horrible fetters that had bound him. He had become quite a hero in these few days.