[Illustration: "Jo Morey was forty and as dark as a midwinter day deprived of the sanctifying warmth of the sun. She was formed for service, not charm."]
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Beside each cradle—so an old legend runs—Fate stands and with just scale weighs the sunshine and shadow to which every life is entitled. But if Dame Fate is in a kindly mood ’tis said she throws in a bit of extra brightness for the pure joy of giving.
BARBARA WILSON COMSTOCK you are "THE EXTRA BIT" To you I dedicate this book
I. Mam’selle Jo Is Set Free II. Mam’selle Must Buy a Husband III. Mam’selle Does Not Buy a Husband IV. But Mam’selle Makes a Vow V. Enter Donelle VI. Mam’selle Hears Part of the Truth VII. Marcel Takes Her Stand by Jo VIII. The Priest and the Road Mender IX. Woman and Woman X. Pierre Gets His Revenge XI. The Great Decision XII. The Hidden Current Turns XIII. The Inevitable XIV. A Choice of Roads XV. The Look XVI. The Story XVII. The Blighting Truth XVIII. Tom Gavot Settles the Matter XIX. The Confession XX. Gavot Gets His Call XXI. Donelle at Last Sees Tom XXII. Norval Comes Back XXIII. Both Norval and Donelle—See XXIV. The Glory Breaks Through
"Jo Morey was forty and as dark as a midwinter day deprived of the sanctifying warmth of the sun. She was formed for service, not charm" . . . _Frontispiece_
"At the foot of the cross, her head bowed and her tears falling, Donelle shivered and prayed"
"Tom looked at her. He saw the thrill of life, adventure, and youth shake her. He saw with an old, old understanding that because he was going away, alone, upon the road, he meant to her what he never could have meant had he remained"
"’Indeed, Mr. Norval, it is your sacred duty to tell it to—to that girl in Canada. You promised and she ought to know’"
This is a story of a woman who having no beauty of face or form was deprived for a time of the beautiful things of life.
Then she prayed to the God of men and He gave her material success. Having this she raised her eyes from the earth which had been her battlefield and made a vow that she would take what was possible from the odds and ends of happiness and weave what she could into love and service.