God's Green Country

d, to pick lavender pine cones for you, to do something you would never know that I had done. For of the many ways of love, one of the dearest i

in Mary's mind took definite direction. Dan had gone on a two days' trip for one of his agencies. It might be the only opportunity she would have for secrecy. Nothing had ever before driven her to such drastic measures, but never before had she had so much at stake. She felt distinctly guilty as

. By the time she came to the narrow board walk at the edge of the town she was hot and tired and white with excitement. Everyone seemed to be looking at her. She supposed they

ome to the lawyer's office to put her name to the deed, and sign another paper applying the proceeds against the mortgage on the Swamp Farm. It was the first time Mary had put her name to any legal docume

, but when he came home with arrangements all made to take her to town the next day to sign the papers again, she gave him the b

ever it was much better to sell the lot and turn the money into the farm where it would be safe for the children; so

say why. She didn't mention that the farm was running deeper into debt every year; that it was already proving more of an injury than a help to the children, and that in this remnant of her

e of such things for her if not her husband? He also enlarged upon a business man's attitude toward women who cared to mix up in such things instead of keeping their place. Altogether he was very much annoyed over this unexpected check in his affairs. It was extremely humiliating to have to tell Harding that his wife, for sentimental reasons, didn't want the lot sold; besides h

ious of the years-old cut of her dress, the road-dust on her shoes, and her absolute ignorance of what to do. If the lawyer was surprised he didn't sh

rrand, "that you have changed your mind about the lo

him? You couldn't just-telephone him or something? I should be getting back,

ould be easier to leave it as you want to? I'll just ask Hardi

about that. Father paid fi

t go as far now. Do you remember just what

hun

he offer made in his office, and had suspected that

ised casually, "and would you like

about the will. I want it used for the children while they need it, before they come

What about yo

of that. How do

executor, but if there is any reason wh

ad wandered all over the room in nervous embarrassment before, met the lawyer's squarely with something of a challenge. She even held them there in the face of h

afraid to stay alone, and quickened her steps. Several times she slipped her hand into her bag just to feel the copy of the will that was to be their safeguard if anything happened. Once she took out her bank-book and peered through the faint moonlight at the dancing figures. She had never had a bank-book before.

t framed to be beyond a woman's understanding, and the men hadn't seemed to consider her out of her place. A hot wave went over her when she thought of her ignorance of the si

n evolution-the ambition of individuals here and there to

d touches of smocking and embroidery in the cold, weary hours when everyone else was sleeping. When she smoothed them out the soft nap caught on her roughened han

the short, quick ring told him the call was urgent, but when he reached the house he could only stare with growing terror. His mother's face and hair were wet with perspiration; her mouth was set hard and

take the colt and run and

seemed to make his limbs and voice powerless to urge the colt to his hardest run. Only one thing was clear to him-his mother might die, and she was alone. It was

was at home, or when he was coming, but Billy didn't answer. Already he was floating down the road on the horse's neck. He might have told her, he reflected, that they didn't know when his father was coming home; his tr

see his mother, but she lifted the corner of a shawl from a white flannel bundle in the rocking chair and Billy looked. He swallowed his astonishment and looked again, at the squirming, blind, uncomfortable little mite, and sighed. He felt much as he had done when a kindly-intentioned neighbor had unexpectedly thrust into his arms one cold day in winter, a very young, whimper

" he said. "Just sta

lly was beginning awkwardly and heroically, because he hated it, to add several new chores about the house to his regular daily programme. On this afternoon he was riding the disc-harrow up the field toward the house when his mother, who had been washing, came out with a basket of clothes. It occurred to Billy that he might hang out the clothes for her, and he brought down

when the first heavy snowfall came and the young cattle had to be housed. As she had done in other years, Mary went out to help. The next

e had felt a real thrill of pride when anyone who came into the house exclaimed at his sturdy, perfect little form, at his striking resemblance to his father. Now all this was slipping away under his eyes, and he could do nothing but stand there helpless. There was a hard bitterness in the set of his jaw, and it grew harder as he wa

ed in the snow for half a day when you knowed better-after you had give it to him, if you couldn't save him yourself, why

the loss of his child had reformed him. Mary followed him out to the porch, pleading in dry, broken attempts. She reached out and almost touched him, but he folded his arm

oy, there, but I can't trust you. You've

er stagger against the door as she went into the house. The old smoulder