brighten the mesas in spring-time, and one tiny scrap of paper, on which was written, in evident haste
"Dear Brother Joe: Let these violets tell
you all that I would say; and, as you are good
to our little one, may God be good to you.
"Helen."
"Well, there's no great injury done anybody
by that deed, I think. We'll put the
note back in the box and the flowers in
water. When the mislaid Joseph arrives we'll
restore him his property in the best shape we
can," said Mr. Smith.
Peter listened, surprised. His master was almost mirthful, and that, too, even during an attack of his dreaded malady. If this were the effect of Josephine's presence, he hoped that she would remain; though he was shrewd enough to comprehend, from Mr. Smith's words, that this was doubtful.
"The worst I hopes about it is that that other out-of-the-way Joe Smith turns out a
