"I will stay a few hours," returned Betty, smiling. "Only a few hours!" exclaimed Alma, disappointed. "Yes, Alma, but I shall come often, until Harold is better." When Edgeway called for Betty, she went down to him directly. "Come into the library a moment," she said. "Dr. and Mrs. Cadman will be down very soon. I want you to meet them." She led the way, and he followed her. Betty had not been in this room, since she had directed the men in the hanging of Will Lambert's picture, George's gift to his bride. With this thought, she unconsciously turned toward the portrait. First she looked casually, then her gaze concentrated. She stopped abruptly in a remark to Edgeway. "What has struck you?" he asked quickly. "You look as though--" "Those eyes!" she exclaimed, excitedly clutching his arm,--then she stood speechless. He turned and followed her gaze. Will's eyes looked at them both with a life-like expression. "Why, Miss Emmit," exclaimed Edgeway in surprise. "That is the picture of the Salvation Army man!" Betty made no reply. She stood staring at the portrait, too dazed to think. George entered unobserved, and stood watching them keenly. Finally Betty turned to Edgeway. "You must be mistaken," she said in a voice little above a whisper. "That is Harold's father; he is dead." "Then I've seen his ghost!" returned Edgeway, unpersuaded. Betty's heart beat quickly. The longer she looked, the more certain she felt she had seen Will Lambert. "How could it be?" she asked falteringly. George came forward quickly. "Betty!! Mr. Edgeway! Be careful! Say nothing before Mrs. Cadman. The shock would kill her now. What you surmise is true. Will Lambert lives!" A fearful cry made them turn. Rigid as a statue, white as death, they beheld Alma! Her lips moved, but she uttered no words. Her eyes gradually roved from their excited faces to the picture smiling on all. For a moment her gaze was fixed and burning. "Will!" she cried in a wild ecstasy. Then she quivered piteously. As she fell, George caught her in his arms. *********** CHAPTER XXI. The Efficacy of Faith. That night George and Betty never left Alma's bedside. White and still she lay, and George's anxiety was great. A trained nurse had already arrived for Harold, so he tried to persuade Betty to return home with Edgeway. But she refused, and as she said "good-bye" to Edgeway, she said, "You can understand how I am needed here tomorrow. I am sorry to break my engagement with you." "O, that is of little account," he replied with genuine sympathy. "Perhaps Thursday you can go with me to witness the great military parade." "We will see," she said with a grave smile. "I can think of nothing but her now." And she returned to watch by Alma. George observed her endurance with wonder. The following morning there was no change in Alma. "I fear the worst," he said to Betty, in a husky voice. "The shock was more than she could stand. I shall call a consultation."