Pat had a sudden glimpse of understanding. To Uncle Tom his vanished Merle was not only Merle…she was youth, beauty, mystery, romance…everything that was lacking in the life of a rather bald, more than middle-aged farmer, domineered over by two maiden sisters.

“She had soft, curly, red-brown hair…and soft, sweet red-brown eyes…and such a sweet little red mouth. If you could have heard her laugh, Pat…I’ve never forgotten that laugh of hers. We used to dance together at parties…she was as light as a feather. She was as slim and lovely as…as that young white birch in moonlight, Pat. She walked like…like spring. I’ve never cared for anybody else…I’ve loved her all my life.”

“What became of her?”

“She went out to California…she had an aunt there…and married there. But she is a widow now, Pat. Two years ago…you remember?…the Streeters came home from California for a visit. George Streeter was an old pal of mine. He told me all about Merle…she wasn’t left well off and she’s had to earn her own living. She’s a public speaker…a lecturer…oh, she’s very clever, Pat. Her letters are wonderful. I…I couldn’t get her out of my head after what George told me. And so…I…well, I wrote her. And we’ve been corresponding ever since. I’ve asked her to marry me, Pat.”

“And will she?” Pat asked the question kindly. She couldn’t hurt Uncle Tom’s feelings…poor old Uncle Tom who had loved and lost and went on faithfully loving still. It was romantic.

“Ah, that’s the question, Pat,” said Uncle Tom mysteriously. “She hasn’t decided…but I think she’s inclined to, Pat…I think she’s inclined to. I think she’s very tired of facing the world alone, poor little thing. And this is where I want you to help me out, Patsy.”

“Me!” said Pat in amazement.

“Yes. You see, she’s in New Brunswick now, visiting friends there. And she thinks it would be a good idea for her to run across to the Island and…and…sorter see how the land lays, I guess. Find out maybe if I’m the kind of man she could be happy with. She wanted me to go over to New Brunswick but it’s hard for me to get away just now with harvest coming on and only a half-grown boy to help. Read what she says, Patsy.”

Pat took the letter a bit reluctantly. It was written on thick, pale-blue paper and a rather heavy perfume exhaled from it. But the paragraph in reference to her visit was sensibly expressed.

“We have probably both changed a good deal, honey boy, and perhaps we’d better see each other before coming to a decision.”

Pat with difficulty repressed a grin over the “honey boy.”