O Pioneers!

hated family parties, would be absent, dancing at Amedee Chevalier's wedding, up in the French country. The table was set for company in the dining-r

things, and she was willing to be governed by the general conviction that the more useless and utterly unusable objects were, the greater their virtue as ornament. That seemed reasonable enough. Since she liked plain th

, as Alexandra said of them long ago, grown to be more and more like themselves. Lou now looks the older of the two; his face is thin and shrewd and wrinkled about the eyes, while Oscar's is thick and dull. For all his dullness, however, Oscar makes more money than his brother, which adds to Lou's sharpne

r in a high pompadour, and is bedecked with rings and chains and "beauty pins." Her tight, high-heeled shoes give her an awkward walk, and she is always mor

, and his boys do not understand a word of Swedish. Annie and Lou sometimes speak Swedish at home, but Annie is almost as much afraid of b

t of the asylum, and I was telling him about Ivar's symptoms. He says Ivar's case is one o

ctors would have us all crazy if they could. Ivar's queer, c

He was very much surprised when I told him how you'd put up with Ivar. He says he's li

andra's eyes twinkled. "That was too much for Signa, Lou. We all know that Ivar's

long. He may burn anybody's barn. It's only necessary for one property-owner in the township to make c

of the neighbors try that, I'll have myself appointed Ivar's guardian an

e to have people see him around here, Alexandra?" she went on with persuasive smoothness. "He IS a disgraceful object, and you're fixed up so nice now. It sor

er lip. She looked like her grandmother Bergson, and had her comfortable and comfort-loving nature. She grinned

s own way of dressing and thinking as we have. But I'll see that he doesn't bother other people. I'll keep him at ho

n't keep him out of it. He washes himself all over three times a week now, and uses all the hot

for Ivar, if it will ease people's minds. But before

What does Milly want of a pianny? What's the matter with he

t his sister did for Lou's children. Alexandra did not get on with Oscar's wife at all. "Milly can play in church just the same, an

on pretty good if she's got past the organ. I know

od, and she's going to play for her commenc

er. I'll tell you when I first thought I would like to give you a piano, Milly, and that was when you learned that book of old Swedish songs that your grandfather used to sing. He had a sweet tenor vo

d it made from a little photograph, taken for his friends just before he left Sweden; a slender man of thirty-five, with soft hair curling abou

hed the dishes. She could always find out more about Alexandra's domestic economy from the prattling maids than from Alexandra herself, and what she discovered she used to her own advantage with Lou. On the Divide, fa

y were walking among the flower beds, a buggy drove up the hill and stopped in front of the gate. A man got out and stood talking to the driver. The little girls were delighted at the advent of a stranger, some one from very far away, they knew by his clothes, his gloves, and the sharp, po

lexandra? I would hav

Linstrum? Why, Carl, it is!" She threw out both her hands and caught his across the gate. "Sadie, Milly, run tell your father and Uncle Oscar that ou

put me up overnight? I couldn't go through this country without stopping off to have a look at you. How little you have changed! Do you k

went away a little boy." She reached for his suitcase and when he intercepted her she threw up her hands. "You se

tay only a few days. I am

ee this, you have walked into a trap. You do not get away so easy." She put her hand affectionately

rtune hunter. From Sea

in astonishment. "Are you

not a painter, Alexandra. I'm an engrav

or wall I have

re good. What a wonderful place you have made of this, Alexandra." He turned and looked back at the wide, map-like prospect of

ken their pace when they saw Carl; indeed, they did not openly look in his direct

nk I am trying to fool them. Come, bo

sidelong glance and thrust o

ther their offishness came from unfriendliness or from e

d, "is on his way to Seatt

r's yellow shoes. "Got b

get rich. Engraving's a very interesting profession, but a man

ech, and Lou looked up with some interest.

ine who went out from New York and has d

ear," remarked Oscar. "I thought p

Seattle and I am to stay with him there and learn some

et's see, how long have

member that, Lou, for you were

with us some ti

if Alexandra

dially. "You won't hardly know it. But there's a few chunks of your old s

e, and in her excitement talked very loud and threw her head about. "And you ain't married yet? At your age, now! Think of that! You'll have to wait for Milly. Yes, we've got a boy, too. The youngest. He's at home with his grandma. You must come over to s

g distressed her. "I'm sure she's a clever little girl," he murmured, looking at her thoughtfully. "Let me see - Ah, it's your mother that she looks like, A

y different. We are going to rent the place and move into town as soon as the girls are old en

better go get your things on. Ivar's h

ss their wives by name. It

Lou began to bluster, as he always did when he talked politics. "We gave Wall Street a scare in ninety-six, all right, and we're fixing another to han

surely, it did do th

r responsibilities, out here, and we ain't afraid, neither. You fellows back there must be a tame lot. If you had any

on in another street. The street doesn't matter. But what have you fellows out here got to kick about? You have the only safe plac

when we were poor," said Lou threateningly.

at that looked like the model of a battleship. Carl rose and took her

come for?" he asked, jerki

sit. I've been beggi

dra. "He didn't let yo

e? I told him to

esn't seem to have done much for h

om the depths of a cavern.

helped her into the carriage. Old Ivar, his white head bare, stood holding the horses. Lou came down the path and climbed into the front seat, took up the reins, and drove off without saying anything further to any one. Oscar p