When they found him and punished him as he deserved, there was a little lady looked down at him and was sorry, and he's traveled over all the years from then to now to thank her for it." Ruth drew back in amazement, and Sandy's courage failed for a moment.
Then his face hardened and he plunged recklessly on: "I've blacked boots, and sold papers; I've fought dogs, and peddled, and worked on the railroad.

Many's the time I've been glad to eat the scraps the workmen left on the track.

And just because a kind, good man--God prosper his soul!--saw fit to give me a home and an education, I turned a fool and dared to think I was a gentleman!" For a moment pride held Ruth's pity back.

Every tradition of her family threw up a barrier between herself and this son of the soil.
"Why did you come to Kentucky ?" she asked.
"Why ?" cried Sandy, too miserable to hold anything back.

"Because I saw the name of the place on your bag at the pier.