"You're my wife; that's much—to me. Some day I hope it will be the same to you."
There was a knock at the door, and as soon as Sam shouted "Come in!" Judge Prency entered.
"Sam," said he, "ever since I saw you were in earnest about living a new life, I've been trying to arrange matters so that your boy Joe—I suppose you know why he ran away—could come back without getting into trouble. It was not easy, for the man from whom he—took something seemed to feel very ugly. But he has promised not to prosecute."
"Thank God!" exclaimed Sam. "If now I knew where the boy was—"
"I've attended to that, too. I've had him looked up and found and placed in good hands for two or three weeks, and I don't believe you will be ashamed of him when he returns."
Sam Kimper lapsed into silence, and the judge felt uncomfortable. At last Sam exclaimed,—
"I feel as if it would take a big prayer and thanksgiving meeting to tell all that's in my mind."
"A very good idea," said the judge; "and, as you have the very people present who should take part in it, I will make haste to remove all outside influence." So saying, the judge bowed in his most courtly manner to Mrs. Kimper and Jane, and departed.
"Let us all pray," said Sam, dropping upon his knees.