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 evidently alone when she set forth on her journey.

Mr. Stone started to walk back by the way he came, and encountered his wife at the apple-tree.

"Nattie really went this way, it seems," she said; "these are her tracks; I should know them anywhere, for she had a peculiar way of treading her boots. Have you traced her to the street."

"Yes, but no farther."

"Could you tell which way she turned when she got there?"

"Her little feet seem to have been undecided, at first; there are tracks in both directions, though, at last, she seems to have taken the way which leads soonest from the village to the country."

"Have you been up to the roof?" said the wife.

"I have."

"Do you think that Nattie was there last night?"

"Yes; and I will show you the evidence."

He drew the shawl fringe from his pocket. His wife caught it, eagerly.