Title:  The Man Thou Gavest

Author:  Harriet T. Comstock

Release Date:  February 1, 2005 [EBook #14858]

Language:  English

Character set encoding:  ASCII

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[Illustration:  “Do you think I am the sort of girl who would sell herself for anything—­even for the justice I might think was yours?”]

THE MAN THOU GAVEST

BY

HARRIET T. COMSTOCK

Author of Joyce of the north woods, A son of the hills, etc.

FRONTISPIECE BY E.F.  WARD

DEDICATION

I dedicate this book of mine to the lovely spot where most of it was written

THE MACDOWELL COLONY PETERBOROUGH NEW HAMPSHIRE

AND

“To her who understands”

Deep in the pine woods is the little Studio where work is made supremely possible.  Around the house the birds and trees sing together and no disturbing thing is permitted to trespass.

Within, like a tangible Presence, an atmosphere of loved labour; good will and high hopes greet the coming guests and speed the parting.

Little Studio in the pine woods, my appreciation and affection are yours!

HARRIET T. COMSTOCK

THE MAN THOU GAVEST

CHAPTER I

The passengers, one by one, left the train but Truedale took no heed.  He was the only one left at last, but he was not aware of it, and then, just as the darkness outside caught his attention, the train stopped so suddenly that it nearly threw him from his seat.

“Accident?” he asked the conductor.  “No, sah!  Pine Cone station.  I reckon the engineer come mighty nigh forgetting—­he generally does at the end.  The tracks stop here.  You look mighty peaked; some one expecting yo’?”

“I’ve been ill.  My doctor ordered me to the hills.  Yes:  some one will meet me.”  Truedale did not resent the interest the man showed; he was grateful.

“Well, sah, if yo’ man doesn’t show up—­an’ sometimes they don’t, owing to bad roads—­you can come back with us after we load up with the wood.  I live down the track five miles; we lie thar fur the night.  Yo’ don’t look equal to taking to yo’ two standing feet.”

The entire train force of three men went to gather fuel for the return trip and, dejectedly, Truedale sat down in the gloom and silence to await events.