Anna Alice Chapin

“ Philippa had risen, drawing her white furs about her.
“I will go to-morrow,” she had said.
The French doctor had been right. It would be hard to imagine a civilized dwelling for mankind situated closer to primitive nature's heart. It was miles from any railroad. Supplies came up the lake twice a week—by steamboat when the water was “open,” by sledge when the ice had locked it. Here, in the shadow of a dark and lowering mountain wall, gloomed the sighing pine forests. And here, among those most human and wistful of trees, was the Wood Rest, for so the little inn was felicitously named. ”

“ The blast was tearing in from the north across the frozen lake; the pines were screaming under the lash of it. It was almost impossible to catch one's breath at first, and Arden offered his companion his arm. She shook her head. As they reached the lee of a wing of the inn, they paused for a moment, and Pippa spoke:
“I am taking you to a sick woman, Mr. Arden—one whom I believe you can help. I suppose that is enough for a clergyman?”
She was glad that he said at once, and sincerely:
“Quite enough. You are sure you will not take my arm? The wind is very severe.” ”

“ Arden. No one could possibly suspect you of a romance, even in retrospect!”
“It is not precisely—romance——” said the clergyman, as if trying to analyze and differentiate carefully. “It is merely——”
Pippa Carpenter lost patience.
“And this?” she said, and held out her arms with something in them.
The Reverend Mr. Arden changed color, and a look of horror crossed his chiseled face.
“Her child!” he whispered. “Her child—and his!”
“Yes,” said Pippa relentlessly, not permitting herself to be moved by his obvious suffering. “The child of a live, human man, who loved her enough to—take her! ”

“ Arden.
The firelight danced over the room restfully. The lost baby slept in its glow. There was a glimpse through an open door of a quiet, white bed.
“She fell asleep while I was sitting by her,” said the man irrelevently.
Philippa nodded understandingly. She still kept her hand on his arm. There seemed so much to say, and no one but her to say it!
“Life is always changing,” she said slowly, “being built up, or torn down. And—sometimes—we can't be sure, all at once, which it is that is happening. ”

“ But if ever something is put into our own hands to build with, we've got to go ahead and build! Do you understand? We've got to build!”
The Reverend Mr. Arden was still staring into the fire, and answered never a word, but Pippa knew that he had heard.
All at once she started, and pulled out her watch.
“Why—it's Christmas!” she said, in a hushed voice.
The man turned and looked through the half-open door into the room beyond. The wind had begun to grow drowsy, and the cabin was at peace.
“We shall be married as soon as she is strong enough,” said the Reverend Clarence Arden. ”

“ Sometimes it seems as if it were all—all taking away—tearing apart”—her lips quivered—“but even then we can't be certain. It may be only that They, the Fate people, just want to build it over again—better. ”