In this hour of his blind sorrow, he walked directly over to the little cottage on Elm Street, which Grace and her husband had made a perfectly ideal home.
When he came into the parlor, Grace and Rose were sitting together with an open letter lying between them.

It was evident that some crisis of tender confidence had passed between them; for the tears were hardly dry on Rose's cheeks.

Yet it was not painful, whatever it was; for her face was radiant with smiles, and John thought he had never seen her look so lovely.

At this moment the truth of her beautiful and lovely womanhood, her sweetness and nobleness of nature, came over him, in bitter contrast with the scene he had just passed through, and the woman he had left.
"What do you think, John ?" said Grace; "we have some congratulations here to give! Rose is engaged to Harry Endicott." "Indeed!" said John, "I wish her joy." "But what is the matter, John ?" said both women, looking up, and seeing something unusual in his face.
"Oh, trouble!" said John,--"trouble upon us all.

Gracie and Rose, the Spindlewood Mills have failed." "Is it possible ?" was the exclamation of both.
"Yes, indeed!" said John; "you see, the thing has been running very close for the last six months; and the manufacturing business has been looking darker and darker.