A Prairie Courtship

helped her and his wife into his wagon in front of the little hotel at Graham's Bluff, where he had passed the last half-hour in conversati

f them. Alison was convinced that she had rarely seen a more uninteresting place, though she had discovered that its inhabitants were not only quite satisfied with it, but firmly believed in its roseate future. This seemed s

stood upon a box in it seemed to be addressing the assembly. Alison could not see his face, and his voice was, for the most part, drowned by bursts of laughter, but he was waving his hands to emphasize his remarks, and

rp, and the figures of the men stood out with a curious distinctness. Most of them were picturesque in wide, gray hats and long boots, with blue shirt and jacket hanging

ght," chuckled Farquhar. "We'll get a little nearer; I

ged in his profession, and this kind of thing seemed extremely undignified. She had got rid of a good many prejudices during the past few years, and was, for that matter, in due time to

ixed her eyes upon the crowd and Thorne. His remarks were received with uproarious laughter, but she was

clothing pushed forward through the crowd, with another, who was big and

hings, and he's been on Mavy's trail for quite a while. So far, Mavy has generally talked him down, but to-night he's got a b

f there's likely to be any t

voking actual hostilities, and added that they could go on later if it seemed advisa

In fact, it's all clever. I wonder

rquhar

d. I believe one of his cl

hem, an English one, in Montreal, who wasn't a patch on Mavy. A

ce broke in upon Thor

ry decent storekeeper in the town. We're making the place grow; we're always willing to make a deal when you ha

an at any time consult me about anything, from the best way to make your hair curl to the

han you do when I was asleep," int

isregard

ng to hold them up as deserving objects of your compassion. If you have any doubt on that point you have only to look at their clothes. I don't like to be personal, b

ed in temper to notice the simple trap, "it's English gold.

waved h

t five. I think you can see the inference. If you don't, I should

he men were quite aware that they ha

eep as smart a team as our friend does, if I struck you

t want no pity. They've got bonds on half our fa

torekeeper lift

your money until harvest's in, and then when you drive round the homestead's e

possessions, usually upon the owner's back, in most of western Canada, and the notice thus implies that the defaulting

on the land, anyway

"When it's free-grant land, and the man

, seemed disposed to drift off into a disquisition

hat you ask for with the maker's label stuck fast on it. Maverick keeps loose ones, and

ar chu

till, it's to Mavy's credit that when the case is seriou

ekeeper had secured the a

ded vehemently. "Get up and tell

nion wave

'll do a little more. I went to Maverick most two weeks ago wh

like to point out that I can cure the kind of sourness he said it was every time, but I can't do very muc

powerful sick

crowd, speaking i

le handy, with a wrong label on. I've no use for a man who doses yo

but Custer appeared perfectly seri

"in your case it w

asped the nature of the compliment which had been paid him. The term hog is a particularly offensive one in that countr

le-he said he was sick the next morning. Well, as my internal cure is a powerful one, there are instructions on every bottle to take a tablespoonful every six

" commented Farquhar. "T

you can let Mr. Custer go. If it's the only

Custer. "If you're not out wh

started

hand, but I'm inclined to fancy that Custer will b

yards when his wife loo

y great self-

stion, I'm afraid it w

hat they don't impose on Mavy-I mean too many of them.

imself over the

avy, but, as Sergeant has one or two t

miled at Alison

. "After all, if he comes home with a s

d himself out to amuse the crowd and had, as the result of it, been drawn into a discreditable brawl was far from pleasant. She was compelled to confess on reflection that he could no

d Farquhar alighted from a two-seated vehicle.

Mavy's friends kept the toughs off, and I believ

Cus

well as he could an hour ago-as o

drove on faster into the dusk that

n which cut off the view of one strip of prairie. He got down from his wagon and appeared disconcerted when he saw the

plained. "I saw him at the settlement las

usy." Then something impelled her to add, "You don'

though she noticed that he first pulled the b

to cause you much sati

shoul

and, there's just as little reason w

g her up to some definite expression of indignation. This would, as she realized, be tan

'll call it disgusted, if you like,"

ly taken her resentment for granted it might

ou figured in last night is naturally re

r on Mrs.

mitted, "I don'

of any kind really aren't very common in western Canada

was a trifle disconcerted, for instead of standing on h

to explain th

that there are occasions when a man is driven into doing things he has an aversion for. In a way, it's

you suggest that there

now and then the consequences of choosing i

for the resolution that could boldly grapple with a crisis as soon a

lement to make trouble for me. Of course I could have backed down, or at least I could have tried it, but the result would natura

e was right, and she shi

with very great reluctance you jump

laughed

one must be honest, I can

st-though she felt that was not the right word-with his conduct had greatly lessened,

n the least afr

courage is largely the result of experience. Now, I knew I was a match for Sergeant's

know that-fro

hat he was utterly wrong in maintaining that the country derived the least benefit from the l

n lau

very great interest. I wonder why you went t

sly, though as a smile crept into his eyes she could not be sure whether it was done in seriousness or whim

d leaving his team plucking at the grass he turned away and entered the house. As it happened, F

tions, I want you to do me

diness, but Mrs. Farquhar

it's possible that he may not have formed a very accurate opinion of my character. In f

y," Farquhar admi

im that I'm a perfectly resp

har laughe

ther more than Harry

he told Grantly that I generally paid my bills. I don't ask him to

r with uncompromising decision. "Are

I might take up a quarter

significant glance at

t w

n now and then pick up a few dollars that way," Thorne explained. "B

her reasons-more

s hostess with und

instance, I've doubled my holding and raised a

in a day," wa

en, and one breaker-plow doesn't appeal to me. I want a couple of hors

nduce Grantly to let you have

read out

n an opportunity for supplying it. I don't see

the rash expe

htened himsel

take hold, which isn't quite cert

into his usual

ll the outlying settlements and

s hostess, "the ca

subject drop, but Alison, who entered the room just then,