soil, which you say has been taken by your Experiment Station, and
especially your definite plans for the improvement of the land. I
hope the name you have chosen for your farm is not so appropriate as
it would be for some of our old Virginia farms.

I shall also be under renewed obligation to you if I may
occasionally submit questions concerning the best plans for the
restoration of Westover to its former productiveness. I have decided
at least to make another trial with alfalfa next summer, following
the valuable suggestions you gave me.

In closing let me renew my assurance of our deep gratitude for the
special service you so nobly rendered when fiendish danger
threatened my daughter. We shall always regard you as a gentleman of
the highest type. Very respectfully yours,

CHARLES WEST.

Percy read this letter hurriedly to the end, and then slowly reread
it. His mother noticed that he absent-mindedly replaced the letter
in the envelope instead of reading it to her as was his custom.
However, he laid the letter by her plate and talked with her about
the corn-shelling which was to begin as soon as the corn sheller
could be brought from the neighbor's where Percy had been helping to
haul the corn from the sheller to elevator at Winterbine. Dinner
finished, he hurried out to complete the preparations for the
afternoon's work. We have no right to follow him. His mother only
saw that he went to the little granary where a few loads of corn
were to be stored for future use. Yes, she saw that he closed the
door as he entered. Not even his mother could see her son again a