The Lure of the North

house, standing among the orchards of South Ontario, was warm, and furnished with a regard for comfort and artistic taste. Mrs. Farnam was proud of her hou

d a talent for managing other people's business. In fact, she had tried to manage Aga

uence of over-work. Agatha had been her confidential friend when they were at school, but since Mabel married she had sometimes f

et," Mrs. Farnam said after a pause in t

ay in a glistening pool, the fine skin rugs, and thick curtains. She had not an exaggerated love of comfort and her Toronto

e said. "I suppose I rather overdid things, but the examinat

but I don't know that it was worth injuring your health for. You

said Agatha, smiling. "I wanted a b

the post you mean and the girl who's go

r pay," sa

ell, that's plausible; but I never thought

se I shall carry out my plans, and after all, they are too ridiculou

nd love my husband, while you look romantic and in many ways are not. You risk your health for m

life was hard. Instinctive longings that she had fought against awoke. She wanted somebody to shelter her and brus

in British Columbia," she said

bsorbing and sees a chance of promotion, but it's obvious that he's not

had helped Agatha in her studies, and she blamed herself for imagining that common interests and ambitions accounted fo

ke very much-one was forced to like him-but after all t

ay, you're not quite normal. You're too absorbed in your occupation and haven't a woman's natural feeling

d; but the latter went on: "Perhaps, however, your coldness is encouraging. I don'

she saw that frankness was needed and remembered the fortnight she had spent with Thirlwel

aid. "Just now it seems unlikely

thing more to be said about your plans for the next few months, your brother will say it. I'm glad

that he was coming and would stop the night, and Agatha wondered what he wanted to talk about. He would certainly give

d modestly proud. She was obviously satisfied and in a way enjoyed all that a woman could wish for. The house was pretty; Farnam was indulgent and showed his wife a deference that Agatha liked. He owned a large orchard and had sufficient capital to cult

alked to Mrs. Farnam about his wife and child when he was not eating with frank enjoyment and telling humorous stories. While the others laughed and joked Agatha mused. They had com

following his wife. When they had gone George remarked: "I must pull out to-morrow,

tha. "I would like to go, bu

elder brother and it's my duty to see you do what you ought. To begin

t go back to school whe

s is as indispensable

n made remarks like this and imagined that they clinc

seeing the doctor?" s

ad no doubt that if it was needful they would let you off for a time. Now as I can fix

e too far. She felt this worse because she was tempted to

comforting to feel that your efforts are wasted. I shall be quite well in a week or tw

u taking the proper line, I might lend you some-" He stopped and resumed with suspi

k for the lode," s

his cigarette on the floor, although he was generally careful about suc

being sensible," Agatha rem

lode has thrown its shadow on all our lives, and I don't m

ow, because you never

in it now! For all that, I saw fathe

gatha, "I di

bvious. Father thought he hid his feelings, but mother knew and gri

he was not afraid he would give us

were up against, and though she smiled when he talked about the ore, I knew she had an anxio

ll she did not ask him t

glad to set him free, because she loved him and knew what he had borne. He was a dreamer and not a business man. She had run the store and taken care of him, a

and moved. George had a keener imagination and saw farther th

"But the troubles she bore are done with, and now I st

count for much, but we didn't cut loose when

tha, putting her hand on his

spoil your health and get soured by disappointment. Then, if you stop long, you'll lose your post and ruin your career. Th

ed the silver w

hings, and tales of wonderful lodes are common in the mining belts. Father heard something of the kind and bro

pecimens he found and

e found them; but tha

ur theory's plausible, but

ein he claimed to have struck, I reckon

said Agatha, with

h he was obstinate knew he was beaten. Agatha

uit arguing," he remarked with a resigned shrug. "You'll com

gatha agreed, and George we