"Stay with her till morning," he said; "she has left her mother behind, poor woman."
Katharine arose and went up to the old man.
"You are his father and believe me," she said.
"Yes, Katharine, I believe you—I will give all that I have to prove how innocent you are—I will mortgage the farm to-morrow, if that will do."
"Only tell me where I can find him. He will not let any one harm me; you know that."
"If we knew—if we only knew; but the sea is a broad desert of waters, where no man finds his fellow for seeking."
"Has Nelson gone to sea?" faltered the poor girl.
"Yes, Katharine, on a long voyage. He may not come back for years."
She stood still, dumb with pain, and thrills of awe ran through her voice when it struggled back to her.
"Who told me of this before?"