Dedication
DEDICATION
Note
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
HARRIET T. COMSTOCK.
Flatbush—Brooklyn, N. Y.
List of Illustrations
“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’”
LIST OF CHARACTERS
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.
Through this she won a reward far beyond her wildest dreams and found peace and joy.
“You are a strange man”—she said to him who discovered her.
“You are a very strange woman, Mam’selle”—he returned.
Besides these two there are:
Captain Longville—and his wife Marcel.
Pierre Gavot—and his wife Margot who found life paid because of her boy Tom.
Old Father Mantelle—more friend than priest who helped them all.
But Dan Kelly—of Dan’s Place—better known as The Atmosphere—made life difficult for them all.
Then after a time the Lindsays of the Walled House drew things together and opened a new vista. Here we find:
Man-Andy; called by some, The Final Test, or Old Testy.
James Norval—who had some talent and an occasional flash of genius.
Katherine Norval, his wife, who from the highest motives nearly drove him to hell.
There are Sister Angela with the convenient memory and Little Sister Mary with the Lost Look.
Mary Maiden who happened into the story for a second only.
And lastly: Tom Gavot who dreamed of roads, played with roads, made roads, and at last found The Right Road which led him to the top, from that high point he saw—who can tell what?
And—Donelle who early prayed that she might be part of life and vowed that she was willing to suffer and pay. Life took her at her word, and used her.