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 "Anyway," said Mr. De Vere, "terrible as was this storm, it does not equal the one they had out West in January. Two hundred and thirty lives were lost and the drop in the thermometer was one hundred degrees."

"But this one has extended over several States and we do not yet know how many lives have been lost," his wife replied.

It was almost bedtime, the last north-bound train had arrived and no Eletheer yet; so the family decided that she would not be home before Monday. Hernando and Jack recalled her old habit of surprising people and proposed going to meet the train anyway, but had abandoned the idea and were busy with Reuben at the barn.

However, on receiving the telegram announcing Jack's arrival and the restoration of Hernando, she as quickly as possible obtained permission to drop out until fall, and both she and Mary Genung—who was taking a post-graduate course in a New England college—were aboard the nine-thirty express. Mr. Genung met the train and a long con