“Oh, several things, dear,” was the reply.  “People sometimes cry when they are very happy, you know.”

“I understand, grandma.  You are happy because I am getting well.”

That evening after Rod was snugly tucked in bed, Miss Royanna came and sat down by his side.  She had a book in her hand and she was going to read to him as was her custom now.

“Tell me a story, please,” Rod begged.  “I like that better, and your stories are so interesting.”

“What kind do you want to-night?” the woman asked, as she looked into the bright eyes before her.

“Oh, anything.  You always know best.”

For awhile Anna Royanna remained silent, to all outward appearance very calm.  But she was greatly agitated.  She knew that the moment had arrived of which she had dreamed for years.  Would it make any change in him? she wondered.  Would he feel the same toward her?

“What are you thinking about?” Rod questioned.

“About what I am going to tell you,” and the woman gave a slight laugh.  “It’s the most wonderful story you ever heard.”

“Better than a fairy tale?”

“You can judge that for yourself when you hear it.”

“All right, then.  Go ahead.”

“The beginning of this story goes back quite a number of years,” the woman began.  “There was a young man who went away from home, and left his father and mother alone.  They missed him very much, for he was their only child.  He was a handsome man, and all who saw him admired him.  After awhile he met a woman who loved him dearly.  They were married, and lived so happily together in a little cottage with trees all around it.  They didn’t have much money, but they had each other, and that meant so much to them.  At last a little stranger came to their home, a dear baby boy, and then their cup of joy was full.  He was so sweet and cunning, and they were never tired of watching him grow.  Then something terrible happened.  The father of the baby was suddenly killed.”

“Oh!” It was all Rod could say, as with eyes full of sorrow he fixed them upon the face of the story-teller.

“Yes, he was killed,” the woman continued in a low voice, while with a great effort she restrained her feelings.  “It was in a railway accident.  His wife was thus left alone.  She was a stranger and without money, and for days she wandered about trying to get work.  But no one wanted a woman with a baby.  She was told to put it either in the Poor-House, or the Orphan Home, or let somebody adopt it.  If she did this, she knew that she would have to give up her darling forever, and this she could not do.

“At last, in despair, she worked her way back to her husband’s old home.  It was a dark cold night when she reached the house, and there she left the baby, and hurried away as fast as she could.”

“Why didn’t she stay there?” Rod enquired.  “Wouldn’t they have been glad to take her in?  I know I should.”