The Harvester

Many of the moths had emerged and flown, but the luna cases remained in t

you would so interest her that she would forget her fear of me. I'd like mighty well to take you along, becaus

oked and found the open cocoon and the wet moth c

you to her and be mighty careful what I say

ke. He went to an art store and bought the pencils and paper she had ordered. He wanted to purchase everything he saw for her, but he was fast learning a lesson of deep caution. If he took more than she ordered, she would worry

aced a little folding table and chair. On the table he spread the pencils, paper, colour box and brushes, and went to the river to fill the water cup. Then he sat on the log he had rolled to one side and waited. After two hours he arose and crept as close the house as he could through the woods, but he could not secure a glimpse of the Girl. He went back and waited an hour more, and then undid his work a

difficult, but the Harvester lived through them, and in the afternoon went back to the woods, spread his rug, and set up the table. Only one streak of luck brightened the gloom in his heart

me straight as if walking a bridge. As she reached the place she glanced hastily around and then at him. The Harveste

can't afford it, and I know you shouldn't have done it, but oh, what a comfort! If you will promise never to do any such expensive, foolish,

omething like that,"

d handed him th

the books and everything. I hid them in the thicket, so they will be all right. I've almost prayed it wouldn't rain. I didn't dare carry them to the house. Please

ket. The Girl went to the table, opened and

here?" she touch

the o

ive? May

y left its case in the night and may fly. When the weather is s

pale yellow wings, flecked with heliotrope, outspread as

it?" sh

oths that emerge and fl

ou want for you

other I prefer, but it may not come

ou mean by

copy it before

oroform and pin it

f killing and impaling exqu

't draw it when it is just

d

hy

ld yo

business, but why wouldn't you take

raid," replied

aid?

the man. "I cannot give life; I have no right to take

hat p

at follows me and makes me s

ar pose in which you w

nown in the books as eagles imperialis," he said.

k up a

aper? I very much want the colour, also, and you can use it on this. I b

ave this s

had a

the one you

it's no di

t go because I

ngs. You see, that one was a delicate green, where this is yellow, plain pale blue green, with a laven

ifference with a pencil he had picked up; now he lai

he Girl. "And t

uched

he box, with the help of the clerk who sold them to me. If they are not r

d the box, and bent over it

can wait to try it. I do hope I can have i

empty tin box was only a few cents, and the paints differ according to colour. Some

Girl's face as she drew her slender fi

be a comfort," she said, as she resolutely closed

press office, hospital or of any druggist in Onabasha, you will find t

said was 'dared accept,' which means I must not, because I have no right. But you make one

hing of me and what they asked. If you would undertake to coax and insinuate, you never w

oked at him

you 'why' some of these days. Just now answer me this question: Do you want me

nd with my work," she said. "If you

er. "But if you are more comfortable with me away

The Harvester stepped to the Girl's side, and dropping on o

r," he said. "Watch! Y

dog!" exclaimed the Girl.

ame. It means 'to protect' and that is the office all of them perform; this one especially has filled it admirably. Once I fa

Sikes' dog, i

vester

ld speak you'd say that was

e face of the man and rubbed a

And incidentally, Bel, tell her that she can't exterminate me more than once a day, and the performance is accompli

r arose and

ing attempts to

x a few seconds, until he settles and clings quietly again, and then slowly draw it

he t

danger, why do y

ither. I know a woman who goes alone and unafraid through every foot of woods in this part of the country. She has climbed, crept, and waded, and she tells me s

e afraid

is not afraid or she would not

ever f

rstands that I work in the earth. I think I have encountered three dangerous ones in my life.

y leave

ur uncle might have turned in some of his cattle, o

im with utter p

cow than a snake!" she cr

alone far enough to find the ginseng?"

s and carried a rake, and I su

und what you wanted, and cam

y forced. There's n

the mere mention of a cow. I have risen inestimably in my own self-respect. Belshazzar, you may pursue the elusive chipmunk. I

bird and insect notes and occasionally Belshazzar's excited bark broke the silence. The Harvester stretched on the ground, his eyes feasting on the Girl. Intensely he watched every movement. If a squirrel barked she ga

s it?"

crashes when one doesn't kn

talk? Perhaps the sound

ollow you, and that will prevent me from thinking. There are dreadful things in my mind wh

te, drawn face that restrained him. He was almost forced to tell her how he loved and longed for her; about the home he had prepared; of a thousand personal interests. Instead, he took a firm grip and said casually, "Foxglove harvest is over. This plant has to be taken when the leaves

had seen me

had a dream that may interest you some day, after you've overcome your fear of me. Now this bed of w

ou sell foxglo

d five for mullein and from seventy-five to a dollar for flowers of the latter, depending on how wel

picking them, I could be earning sevent

on the fact that you would have to stand and work mostly in hot sunshine, because mullein likes open roads and fields and sunny hills. Now you can sit securely in the shad

ic. "You were charged too much!

for the cream of my design. I paid just right. You can earn the same for all you can do. If you can embroider linen,

do," s

ver the Girl's shoulder. He could no

ny time you want to go to Onabasha you can make enough to pay your board, dress you well, and

full of aches I am. I could not work much just now, if I had

e well," he said. "It is a crime against natu

a little practice, I can dr

The work was delicate and exact.

said gently, "because you

r the price

SIGNS. I've got a thousand in my head, that old Mother

e yours; I ca

. Wild rose and golden-rod are not the only flowers. The other day I was gathering lobelia. The seeds are used in tonic preparations. It has an upright stem with flowers scattered along it. In itself it is not much, but close beside it always grows its cousin, tall bell-flower. As the name indicates, the flowers ar

boughs, each floral

perfume on t

n the fields, a

to pr

l!" said

have to wait for your day and hour of worship. Anywhere the blue bell rings its cal

Girl. "This is n

y two lines of it," said the Harvester. "It runs this wa

and traced these lines on a

volver of t

ep my soul an

do unto others as

en

t; then she raised her eyes to his face c

is wonderful prayer," she said. "Yesterday you allowed the moth you were willing to pay five dollars

rimsoned the H

emember there are painters, poets, musicians, workers in art along almost any line you could mention, and no one calls them feminine, but there is one good thing if I a

ld not see or hear the blue bell at all--and as for the poem and prayer! If the wo

eath. Try to f

very recently to the only thing on earth I loved or that loved

colds and dyspepsia, boneset heads and flowers for the same purpose. There is a heavy head of white bloom with wonderful la

lieve I have a little fever, but I couldn't have dyspepsia, because I

the doctor who comes to see your

merely playing lazy to get out of work

n wh

ould not stand and walk across a r

e case," said the

e must be a mistake about you knowing

rew a deep brea

loom time; next month come purple th

that

stuff I

t you

g voice. "But I want the money, the sick

l laugh

ou can about your aunt, and let me fix something for her; or if you ar

the Girl. "I wish I could! How could I explain

will make her stronger and she must use it. Tell me exactly how she is, a

wn, turned her face to the wall, and given up hope. I think it is too late.

ngs that grow in the woods and that I pre

the price of life. Without it one suffers--horr

ate leaves, big heads of bright yellow bloom, touched with colour so dark it appears black-one of the

d chafed at conventions that prevented his doing what he saw was required so urgently.

aking noise en

him stuck her head over the brim and inquired, "P'tseet?" "Pt'see!" answer the Harvester. That began the duet. Before the question had been asked and answered a half dozen times a catbird intruded its voi

ed tribe. A brilliant cardinal came tearing through the thicket, his beady black eyes snapping, and demanded to know if any one were harming his mate, brooding under a wild grape leaf in a scrub

y thought their mates were calling, and closer and closer they came. An oriole in orange and black heard his challenge, and flew up the river bank, answering at steady intervals for quite a

Gradually the excitement subsided, the birds flew and tilted closer, turned their sleek heads, peered with bright eyes, and ventured on and on until the very br

kind of a noise?" in

drew a de

l forget it. I did not think there were that many different birds in the whole world. Of a

nough to notice bulgy pockets, they are full of wheat. These birds are strangers, but I'll wager you that in a week I can make them take food from me. Of course, my own birds know me, becaus

hat there is to be

frame some one wants to eat. No one will set a seductive trap for you, and, if you are tempted to enter it, shut you from freedom and natural diet, in a cage so small you can't turn around without touching bars. You are in a secure and free position compared with the birds. I also have observed that they know guns, many forms of traps, and all of them decide by the mere manner of a man's passing thr

if you were righ

so I know I am," ans

look at

d the draw

you learn?"

st all the best books. Besides what I learned at high school she taught me all I know. Her embroidery always brought hig

g and I would give ten dollars for such a drawing of the moth before it flies. It may open to-night or not for several days. If

uld I do

e an outline in your room. It need not be worked up with all the detail in this. Merel

t in a box in the bushes where I hid the book

thicket and scatte

if it

few yards of oilcloth to-day and th

will run up some time in the afternoon. But if I were you, I would not spread the rug until you know if I can r

I am going to bring some

re; but I will come if I can. I must g

his other books. Then he drew out his pocket book and laid a five-dollar bill on the table and beg

you would pay at the

tomary price f

u sure this

aid that for, and let you see

oney, and I would like to have it dearly, if I really

u accept

t, and if I think mine are as good, I w

you can

n the boys so they don't play in the river on his land. I never see a soul here; the woods

id the Harvester promptly

e trees, the Harvester saw her busy her hands with the front of her dress, and he knew that she was concealing the drawing material. The colour

Despite all discouragements he felt reassured. He was progressing. Means of communication had been established. If she di

rey as the Harvester entered th

o be," said the Harv

ou aske

d over a sick relative for me to intrude myself; it would be brutal, but it's a temp

e affo

ds in land and nobody knows wha

s a wife it's a marvel she has survive

lie on and a roof to cover her. He won't supply fo

do you

ays her aunt is slowly dying

m pretty good, when yo

n earth, except th

t's

ut

l name. Ruth Langston. It

'm holding on with all my might, but it's tough, Doc. She's in such a dreadful place and pos

the doctor, "if you can e

d their noses and po

d if ne

l, i

something, and you

," said th

You aren't

ore than being a

ancing and laughing. "She ought to see you harvesting s

om and it was a half h

to directions," he said, han

aid the Harves

nds manly

girl dumb with grief over the recent loss of her mother, who was her only relative worth counting, sick

r and pick he

r, if she'd leave a

until her aunt grows better, and then I'll g

court, courted, and you'll have your h

mphlet he carried and held

turned to

he cried. "Di

a little ov

should have

ing to have all the opportu

David! Any ti

dry goods store in Onabasha, where he held a conference with the floor walker. When he came out he carried a heap

to have a ray of an idea what I am there for, but she is going to trust me soon now; that is written in the books. Oh I hope she will be there to-morrow, and the luna w

hases and entered her room. He opened the drawers of the chest he had made, and selecting the labelle

ght things put up for a girl the size of the clerk I selected for him, and exactly what Ruth should have. That gir

ble and taking a notebook fr

bed and b

, pillows

for all

f shoes and

hoes would be comfortable without being fitted, or at least the proper size. I wonder what kind of dresses she likes. I hope she's fond of white. A woman always appears loveliest in that. Maybe I'd better buy what I'm sure

he wrot

aso

a

il

a

the pupae cases. Then he carved on the vine of the candlestick for her dressing table; with one arm around Belshazzar, re-read the story of

he Harvester was mutter