A Daughter of the Land

of a man he was. He succeeded in what he hoped he might do. He so influenced her in his favour that during the coming year whenev

same time they had glimpses of her mental processes. The boys learned many things: that they must not lie or take anything which did not belong to them; that they must be considerate and manly, if they were to be her friends; yet not one word had been said on any of these subjects. As she spoke to them, they answered her, and soon spoke in the same way to each other. She was very careful about each statement she made, often adducing convenient proof,

ow she could possibly conceal the rupture with her family, Robert Gray drove into Walden and found her at the schoolhouse. She was so delighted to see him that she made no attempt to conceal her joy. He had driven her

hed Kate. "What

ey with me and do what you can to straighten out the house,

it wouldn't be possible for me to fix Nancy Ellen's house the way she would, but I could put everything where i

will do it

e to do it. How do you think I'm to explain my not going home for the Holiday

k of it in tha

e. "Take me quickly!

carpets down, and furniture all there, but not unwrapped or in place. D

have the house warm, arranged so you can live in it, and the fir

rse; I'm trying this one. I think of you often so I

like the woman I board with. Her son is some better, yes,

octor, with no conscience about takin

s THAT?"

Why?"

; but I must run to the house where I board a minute. I

come for me, Mrs. Holt. I don't know exactly when I shall be back, but in plenty of ti

appointed to death

Kate, calmly. "You never have ha

eeing the woman's face as she perjured herself. "You're like one of the family, George is c

uldn't,"

ter you?" as

y," answ

Hartley? Why, be y

her and felt sudden pity. The woman was warped. Everything in her life had gone wrong.

ations in a few days. He's going to mar

she added: "He came after me early so I could go to Hartley and he

them the house?" ask

bought his hom

t did your fat

until I come back," she said. "I haven't the gift

telescope and saying "g

ous to see your house," said Kate. "Did

id the doctor. "That is all

a beautiful wife in every way. She's a good cook, she knows how t

the doctor. "But I notice you put

e you get through wit

one house Robert Gray had selected in every particular. They went inside and built fires, had lunch together at the hotel, and then Kate rolled up her sleeves and with a few yards of cheese-clo

m basement to garret she had it immaculate and shining. No Bates girl, not ev

, because Robert had promised her that he would not eat any more of the wedding feast than he could help, and he would bring Nancy Ellen as soon afterward as possible. Kate saw them drive to the gate

called: "Kate! Kate! Where are you? Nobody else wou

s, while they laughed and very nearly cried together, so that the doctor felt it incumbent upon him to hug both of

, "I haven't had time to eat a square meal

rt to gloat over the carpets they had selected, as they appeared on their floors, to arrange the furniture and re-examine their wedding gifts; while she slipped into the kitchen and began washing the dishes and planning what she woul

e family; the Kate drew a perfect picture of the Walden school, her boarding place, Mrs. Holt,

wing morning, Kate said to Nancy Ellen: "Now

anything else!"

e helps ever so little, I like to stay, and I'll be glad to cook and wash dishes, while you fix your house to suit you. But if you'd rather be alone, I'll go

I'm not keeping you to work for me, either! We'll do everything together, and then we'll plan how to mak

te, then fled to the kitchen

nceasingly because Kate was gone on his return, and would not be back until after time for him to go again. The only way for him to see her during the week he had planned to come out openly as her lover, was to try to find her at her home, or at her sister's. He did not feel that it would help him to go where he never had been asked. His only recourse was to miss a few days of school and

ted down the hall. "I've got a goo

ut, and not gossip about her,"

es! If it wa'n't for her money I'd fix her so

clenched h

he threatened. "J

tes, who worked in the kitchen. She's visitin' at Tilly's now. Miss High-and-Mighty never seen her sister married at all! An' it looked mighty queer, her comin' here a week ahead of time, in t

e was that I should go after her with all my might. So I did it. Now you

ls a cent. It's up to the men they marry to take keer of them. The old skin-flint! What you want to do is to go long t

his girls anything when they marry, they'll get more when he dies. And so far as money is concerned, this has gone PAST money with me. I'm going to marry Kate Bates, as soon as ever I can, and I've got to the place

t will regret

u, or I'll come at you in a w

ere," said Mrs. Holt, starting

of her little pupils had said: "Tilly Nepple's sister say you wasn't

her, and went to her boarding house forewarned. She greeted both Mrs. Holt and her son cordially, then sat down to di

the wedding through. You know our house isn't very large, and close relatives fill it to bursting. I've seen the

arrange it, and to have a supper ready. I was glad. I'd seen six weddings that I can remember, all exactly alike-there's nothing to them; but brushing those new carpets, unwrappin

mother in too great disgus

ed a great hullabaloo because you were not at the wedding. You probably haven't got a leg left to stand on. I suspect the old cats of Walden have chewed them both

ay brou

made talk, your staying there

eir own affairs," said Kate. "Doctor Gray had been boarding at the ho

, and laughing in a silly, half-confused manner she s

dollars and cents," said Ka

s work. As soon as the meal was finished he walked with her to school, visiting until the session began. He remained three days, and before he left he told Kate h

tant I saw you!" he

ell, when I have had that much time, I