"This is the little girl who turned the bird loose."
Molly was still watching the far off skies, too earnest to hear the new comers. Mrs. Johnson's eyes fell on her. She stopped; started on again; stopped again, and drew her hand across her forehead, as if she were dreaming and trying to awake. The next second with a cry she was down on her knees beside Molly's lounge, her arms around her.
"My baby——!"
The cripple lay quite still, gazing into her eyes with vague wonder. Then a sudden light seemed to fall across her face.
"Mother?" she whispered, with an awed inquiry in her tone. Then as she caught the look in the eyes fastened on hers the inquiry passed away and a deeper light seemed to illumine her face.
"'MOTHER,' SHE WHISPERED"
"Mother!" she cried.
THE END