A Daughter of the Land

clock when she heard a movement in the adjoining room and went again to the door. This time the woman was awake and smilin

ld what to do first. I forgot to tell you my name last night

d to meet you, Miss Bates," she said. "My nam

er, and then Kate said: "Now, Mrs. Ja

im, and give him a message I want sent, and an order for our breakfast. I wonder if it wouldn't be nice

would be famou

t and touch it. The breakfast was good, nicely served by a neat maid, evidently doing something so out of the ordinary that she was rather stunned; but she was a young person of some self-possession, for when

t. I don't like changing waiters each meal. It gives

mes, while she pointed out parts of the grounds they could see that

r home life, her travels, her friends, her son. She talked of politics, religion, and education; then she talked of her son again. She talked of social conditions, Civic Improvement, and Woman's Rights, then she came back to her son, until Kate saw that he was the real interest in the world to her. The mental picture she drew of him was peculiar. One minute Mrs. Jardine spoke of him as a man among men, pushing, fight

with such an expression on her face that Mrs. Jardi

thinking of what a wonderful s

you mean," sai

f this with its shining water, its rocky, shady, sandy shore lines; of the rowboats and steam-boats, and the people from all over the country. Before I go back, I can tel

y?" asked M

at really fine fabrics are, and about laces, and linens. When the subjects arise, as they always do in teaching, I shall describe each ring you wear, each comb and pin, even the handkerchiefs you carry, and the bags you travel with. To teach m

usette's leaving me as she did was the most cruel thing that ever happened to me. To-day I get from it this lovely

Kate. "Life deals with women much the same as with men. If we go back to where we start, history c

rested, my dear, will you tell me about you

t from my first pretty dress. It is ruffled, and has white stitching. I made it myself. The head that it fits is another matter. I didn't make that, or its environment, or what was taught it, until it was of age, and had worked out its legal time of service

think so. Pl

shocked," w

to set my heart rocking a

ty a man of my stature, dark eyes and hair, because I am so light. I want him to be honest, forceful, h

ur ambitions?" a

t two hundred acres of land, with convenient and attractive buildings and pedigree

in her chair, her mouth agape. "My dear, you d

o shock you? I sincerely

er heard a girl talk like th

ome other man; and in lieu of him, any man at all, in preference to none. Life shows us woman on the age-old quest every day, everywhere we go; why be so secretive a

ught you'd want to educate yourself to such superiority over common woman that you could take the p

. I'm not much interested in masses. They are too abstract for me; I prefer one stern reality. And as for Woman's Rights, i

ay back in her

t in all my travels. Then to put it baldly, y

here's nothing I want so much as two hundred acres of land for myself. I'd undertake to do almost anything with it, if I had it. I know I could, if I

r speculatively. "Ummm!"

heavy boots, and walk the remainder of the way. As a concrete example, I started out yesterday morning wearing a hat that several very reliable parties assured me would so assist me to flight that I might at least have a carriage. Where, oh, where are my hat and my carriage now? The carriage, non est! The hat-I am humbly h

ring such a hat to travel in, m

. Common sense told me that! But what has that got to do with

e advice of those who love you, and the dictates of common sense, the result will be that s

t wasn't it plain logic, that if the hat was to bring the m

hat hat in the morning, on a railway train, he would merely have thought you prideful and ex

Hereafter, sailors or sunbonnets for me in the mo

en we'll have lunch and go to a lecture. I can g

in the hall near her door. When at last that nap was over, a new woman seemed to have developed. Mrs. Jardine was so refreshed and interested the remainder of the day that it was easier than before for Kate to see how shocked and ill she had been. As she helped dress

sked Mrs

two hours three times a day, to pay for her room and board. In the meantime, she attends all the sessions and studies as much as she can; but she's very poor material for a teacher. I pity her pupils. She's a little

r deduct

aught to wash your hair and manicure you with deftness, and who would serve you for re

find a really capable maid here and not have to wire John to bring one, I'd be so glad. It does so

m to my soul. I passed many teachers and summer resorters going to the lecture halls and coming from t

ost it, you probably would have slept soundly while I died across the hall. My life is worth the price of a whole millinery shop to me; I think you value the friend

iry tale," said Kate. "Sti

in a truly graphic man

shall still be telling small people about the out

intervening clouds, so on every side could be seen exquisite pictures painted in delicate pastel colours. Kate, fresh and rosy, wearing a blue ch

. "You are rather an astonishing creature. You're so big,

ay be used for the benefit of others. Tell me some m

lse in this world, until love comes; then we soon learn to a love man more than life, and when a child comes we learn

very well acquainted with many women who have married and borne children, and who a

it and delivered to Mrs. Jardine a box

wire which lifted one side of the brim a trifle, beneath which was fastened a smashing big, pale-pink velvet rose. There was an ostrich plume even longer than the other, broader, blacker, as wonderful a feather as ever dropped from the plumage of a lordly bird. Mrs. Jardine sh

sing," she said. "Do me the favour to accept it as casually as I offer it

orified, sublimated, celestial image. What I described was merely a hat. This is

ranged her hair, set the h

ne. "My dear, I understand NOW why

white lilies, as a bobolink wears its snowy courting crest, as a bride w

k to the hotel with some of the other teachers stopping there, talked a few minutes in the hall, went to the office desk for mail, and slowly ascended the stairs, thinking intently. What she thought was: "If I am not mistaken, my hat did a small bit

, there had been a t

or Jennie Weeks. She slowly lifted her eyes

here?" she demanded after the manner of mothers

n me like that?

uble?" she asked. "Something shows plainly

er?" He advanced a step,

see that for yourself. The questio

ast I have seen a woman I want to marry, that's all; unless I add that

it! What designing creature has been tr

s instead of coming straight to you, as I always have. So you see where I am. I expect you wo

eside the chair, and took it

ng to scold

in my life I've selected a girl for you, the very most suitable girl I ever saw, and I hoped and hoped for three days that when you came you'd li

to meet the girl I've seen. Wait until I ha

es. Oh, why couldn't it have been Kate? Why did she go to that silly concert? If

d still, looking at them. John Jardine stood up, looking at he

xcuse me,

turned to go. John caught his mother's han

dy, Mother," he said, "wh

our coming," she said. "Kate,

g straight into each other's eyes

cert, my dear?" a

Kate. "Not at all up to my expectatio

a concert?

posed to be

e said. "I didn't see it, I didn't

t astonishin

her eyes two big imperative qu

r half-laughing, half-crying, until Kate feared