272 
THE BEAUTIFUL LADDER. 
agreement or tacitly, Davidson turned to Alice, 
and as he hastily said good-bye left a ten-dollar 
gold-piece in her hand, while Rudolph did the 
same by the mother; and both were out of the 
door before either recipient could fully realize 
what had transpired. 
When once more by themselves it was some 
time before either could get self-control enough 
to give expression to his pent-up feelings. 
Finally, Rudolph broke the silence by asking, 
“ Well, Charley, what do you think of this 
day’s experience ? Do you expect that a few 
hundred dollars will ever pay you such a rich 
dividend as has your last investment?” 
“ Pray, Lew,” was the emphatic answer, 
“ don’t use that term in such a connection. The 
prayers and blessings of two such women are be¬ 
yond all human estimate ; and I will confess that, 
though I am not a professor nor a possessor of 
their faith, I believe that still richer blessings 
will come in response to their supplication.” 
“ I do believe you, Charley,” was the reply; 
” but, whether that may be true or not, one 
thing is certain: I have never experienced any 
happiness compared with that I have this day 
felt; and the transaction fully settles my mind 
