For if her father really meant to try--if he should succeed in redeeming himself in Lawler's eyes and in her own, she might one day be able to go to Lawler with no shame in her eyes, with the comforting assurance that her father had earned the right to hold his head up among men.

To be sure, there always would be the shadow of the past mistake lurking behind; but it would be the shadow of a mistake corrected, of a black gulf bridged.
Her father was waiting when she finally turned to him--waiting, his chin on his chest, his face crimson with shame.
"Ruth, girl--you ain't goin' to judge me too harsh, are you ?" he begged.
Once more she yielded to the pathetic appeal in his eyes.

She ran to him again, holding him tightly to her.

A cool gust swept in through the open doorway--the night wind, laden with mystery.

But the girl laughed and snuggled closer to the man; and the man laughed hoarsely, vibrantly, in a voice that threatened to break..