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Henry started to walk fast down the road. 'The poor old man is sick in his mind, ' Dodge said to himself. 'He has been living alone too long. ' Henry met no one until he reached Matilda's farm. His Phoebe and Matilda Race had been good friends. Phoebe must be here. He opened the gate and walked to the house. Matilda opened the door. 'Why, Henry Reifsneider. What a surprise! ' 'Is Phoebe here? ' Henry asked. 'Phoebe? Which Phoebe? ' 'Why, my Phoebe, of course, ' Henry smiled a little, 'you do not have to keep it a secret. She is here, isn't she? ' He looked inside the house. 'Well, ' Matilda Race said, 'you poor old man. Come in and sit down while I get you some coffee and food. I will take you to Phoebe. I know where she is. ' While Matilda worked in the kitchen, she talked to Henry, but he was not listening. He was thinking about Phoebe. He decided she was not there. 'I will go now, ' he said, getting up, 'I think she went over to the Murray Farm. ' Then he was out on the road again. It was like this for many weeks. Every night he returned to his house to see if Phoebe had come back. Soon everyone in the area knew old Henry and answered his questions. 'I have not seen her, ' they would say, or 'No Henry, she has not been here today. ' For several years, Henry walked in the sun and rain, looking for Phoebe. His white hair grew longer and longer. His black hat was the brown color of the earth and his clothes were dusty and torn. It was in the seventh year of looking when Henry came to Red Hill. It was late at night and he was tired and sleepy. Years of walking and very little food had made him thin. Each passing year seemed to bring him closer to Phoebe. Tonight, he felt that Phoebe was nearer than she had ever been before.