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250 RAINBOW VALLEYthe paper now and I'llbringallsign."out the lantern and we'llFifteen minutes later the document was solemnlysigned on Hezekiah Pollock's tombstone, on the centreof which stood the smoky manse lantern, while thechildren knelt around it. Mrs. Elder Clow was goingpast at the moment and next dayall the Glen heardthat the manse children had been having another prayingcompetition and had wound itup by chasing eachother all over the graves with a lantern. This pieceof embroidery was probably suggested bythe factthat, after the signing and sealing was completed, Carlhad taken the lantern and had walked circumspectlyto the little hollow to examine his ant-hill. The othershad gone quietly into the manse and to bed."Do you think it is true that father isgoing to marryMiss West?" Una had tremulously asked of Faith,after their prayershad been said."I don't know, but I'd like it," said Faith."Oh, I wouldn't," said Una, chokingly. "She isnice the way she is. But Mary Vance says it changespeople altogether to be made stepmothers.They gethorrid cross and mean and hateful then, and turn yourfather against you. She says they're sure to do that.She never knew it to fail in a single case.""I don't believe Miss West would ever try to dothat,"cried Faith."Mary says anybodywould. She knows all aboutstepmothers, Faith she says she's seen hundreds of