"Do you really think she has left Harbison for good?" asked Donald in dismay, when Jefferson gave him Rose's message.

"She is satisfied that her mission in Dothan is fulfilled. She said your speech last night convinced her of that."

"I thought I had won my cause last night," replied Donald, mournfully, "but I fear that I lost it."

"Do not lose heart," responded his friend. "Rememberfaint heart ne'er won fair lady.'

CHAPTER XXIX

THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW

"COME out for a drive with me this morning," said Dr. Rankin to Jefferson Lilly some days after the memorable city caucus. Jefferson had almost recovered from his injuries and was stopping at a down-town hotel when the doctor called for him.

“I shall be glad to accompany you," he exclaimed. "Mr. Shelby still insists on looking after affairs for me at Harbison, and time is hanging heavily on my hands."

When they were seated in the carriage, Dr. Rankin turned to Jefferson and said sadly, “I want you to visit Mose Thomas with me. I am going to his house now. The poor man has only a few more days to live."

"I am sorry to hear it," replied the other, with emotion. "It was a terrible shock but I had hoped that he would recover. I shall be glad to see the poor fellow again."

It is surely a sad case," went on Dr. Rankin. "I never knew a father who was more devoted to a son than Mose Thomas to Nafti. Nafti's fearful fate has almost robbed him of his religious faith. I want you to talk to him and encourage him all you can. He has no ambition now to live."

"How is Martha Thomas getting along?" Jefferson asked, as they came in sight of the humble negro home. "Poor girl," responded the doctor, "I fear she will

soon follow her father to the grave unless she can be aroused to take a fresh interest in life, but she is completely crushed by the tragedy."

As Dr. Rankin ushered Jefferson into the home of Mose Thomas, he remembered vividly his previous visit shortly after his first act of mercy to the helpless black stranger by the wayside. It seemed to him like a different world since that day, and he recognized the important part that Mose Thomas had played in the drama of his own life. "But for this black man I should still be a godless ne'er-do-well," he said to himself.

"Here is Jefferson Lilly, who has come to pay you a visit this morning," said the doctor, cheerfully. "He has almost recovered from his injuries and I wanted him to have a talk with you."

At the sight of Jefferson, the old negro was overcome with his emotion. Tears sprang to his eyes, and he covered his face with his hands.

"Massa Lilly, Massa Lilly, mah heart's broke," he sobbed.

Jefferson sat down quietly by the side of the stricken man and sought to soothe him.

"Don't cry, Mr. Thomas," he said tenderly. "Be brave for Martha's sake. Martha needs you now.'

"Mah po' li'l' girl," said the weeping father; "she has suffered awful. God has done clear forgot us, Massa Lilly."

"No, no," said Jefferson, in kindly tones. "God's protecting arms are around you and Martha all the time. Trust in Him. He will take care of you."

"I'se use alway to think so," said the poor man, "but now I'se goin' to die, and de Lawd is far away."

The negro uttered the last words with a look so pathetic that Jefferson's heart was touched. He thought

of the poem of Burns, " Man Was Made to Mourn," and remembered how Mose Thomas had quoted a few stanzas to him on his former visit. He recalled the pathos with which, in his negro dialect, he had recited the last verse:

"O death, the poor man's dearest friend,

The kindest and the best,

Welcome the hour my aged limbs

Are laid with thee at rest.

The great, the wealthy, fear thy blow,
From pomp and pleasure torn;

But, Oh, a blest relief to those
That weary-laden mourn."

"My poor fellow-mortal," said Jefferson to himself, as he gazed at the hopeless face of the desolate old man, even death now seems to offer you no relief."

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Keep your trust in God," Jefferson said aloud, after a long pause. "We want you to live, Mr. Thomas, for you can live happily now. Did you know that Legree has gone from Dothan forever?"

"Thanks be to de good Lawd," responded the negro, with a little animation, which Jefferson was pleased to see. "He was a bad man, Massa Lilly."

"The whole community is happy that his day is over in Dothan," went on Jefferson, hoping to arouse the spirit of the sick man. "We want you to get well and set a good example to the rest of the colored folks. We need you now more than ever."

"Was Nafti a good boy?" abruptly asked Mose Thomas.

Jefferson was a little surprised at the question, but answered at once, "He was a son to be proud of. I never knew a better boy than your Nafti. I wish you could have seen the crowds at his funeral. I was able to see some of the people from the window of the

hospital. His funeral was the largest ever held in Dothan."

"Den why did de Lawd let mah po' Nafti burn to ashes?" inquired the troubled father, beginning again to weep. As he said this he drew from under his pillow the little silver cross which Nafti always wore and which was found, uninjured, amongst his ashes. "Dis was his," he continued, holding out the little trinket; "I'se give it to him mahself de day he joined church. O God, mah boy, mah po' boy. I'se would have died for you, Nafti."

The negro covered his face with his hands and wept uncontrollably, his sobs shaking his entire body.

"Mr. Thomas," said Jefferson, earnestly, speaking in tender tones, "this cross reminds us of Him who died for us all. God allowed wicked men to crucify His own Son because His death meant salvation to men.”

"I'se knows all dat," said the other, through his tears, seeking in vain to control himself; "I'se read de Bible all mah life."

"Since God gave His Son to save you," continued Jefferson, "are you not willing to give up Nafti to help the colored race? Didn't you want Nafti to live so that he could help the colored people to be better men and women?"

"I'se sho' did," answered Mose Thomas, looking intently at Jefferson, and wondering what he meant.

"Nafti has done more for his race by dying as he did. than he could have accomplished in a long life," said Jefferson emphatically. "We see the results of his sacrifice already in Dothan. Harbison is to be rebuilt on a greater scale than ever, and such men as Legree will never hold up their heads in Dothan again. Donald Shelby is to be our next Mayor. Do you not see why