The Wind Before the Dawn

hey rode along, the light-floating clouds were dyed blazing tints of red and gold, as glowing and rosy as life itself appeared to the young pair. Elizabeth took off her hat and let the c

was unaware that John was not talking. She was just drinking in the freshness of the evening breeze and sky, scarcely

r presence, and trying to formulate the thing he had brought her out to say. It was not till they were turn

till the spirit moves, Mr. Hunter," she said, facing abo

d call me John. I've been intending to ask you

o the same?

lf John?"

if a great witticism

me by my g

s?" he asked, remembering the v

ose," she answered, drawing the p

ound to the left side of her pony. Laying one hand on its neck and the other on

I may, Elizabeth," and held up his ar

he barred her way and stood, pulsing

looking down at their feet, he looking at her

with happy tears, and without waiting for her answer in words, Joh

he horses to the new hitching

," the young man said, and then looked d

most unconscious of the man at her side, stunned by the unexpectedness of this precious gift

one step in the sitting room. It'll be back far enough from the chimney to be out of the

ificance of the question. John Hunter laughed at the look she turned upon him and

re to have it as you want it. The only desi

er wanted to do anything for me," she said, and opening her arms held them

of their conversation

said at one point. "I have never known love

tling a merry tune. He had not known that love poured itself out with such abandonment. It was a new feature of t

kins and the old man sucks his coffee out of his saucer as if it hurt him. Mother 'll like her too, after we get her away from

ad of always rendering services, which were seldom satisfactory after she had sacrificed herself to them, she was to be served as well. Oh, the glad thought! Not of service as such, but of the mutuality of it. She loved John Hunter and he loved her. There was to be understanding between them. That

those of superior advantages, and she was resolved to show what could be done in a year in the way of improvement; then she would come home and teach for money with which to buy her wedding outfit, and then they would be married. Two years and the certainty of graduation would have suited her better, but two years was a long time. The picture of John without her, and the home he was building for her, planted themselves in the foreground of her thoughts, and Elizabeth was unselfish. She would not make John Hunter wait

n Elizabeth's horizon. She had always been conscious of a note of anxiety in John Hunter's voice and manner whenever he spoke of his mother coming to Kansas to live, and she found the anxiety had been transferred to her own mind when she began to consider her advent into the home John was building. She had gathered, more from his manner than anything definitely said, that his mother would not approve of much that she would be obliged to meet in the society about them, that

ts could be decided upon. As they returned they walked close together in the centre of the deep road so as to avoid the dew-laden grass on either side. The open door of Nathan's house gave out a hospitable light,

engagement to-night," John sa

's keep it a secret for a while. I haven't told Aunt Susan yet, and I don't want to tell

ohn exclaimed

a to school this winter-and-and I hope You'll come a lot. We'll have awfully good times. Then I'll teach another term a

get married?" John Hunter asked with such incredulity that Elizabeth laughed

I'll want to brush up on lots of things before I have to live near your

t two years, and that is all there is about it." Elizabeth argued easily at first, certain that

y, pointing out that it was to be her last little fling at the education for which she had planned so lon

ll need you. It's time for me to get down to business and raise some money. Between building the house and going"-John hesitated-"and not applying myself as I should, I'm not making anything this summer. I want

beth recognized it, but her plans were ma

way and learning some things. When I become your wife I want to be a

waited. They were getting nearer the house and she moved more slowly, drawing on his arm to check his advance. At last, realizing that he did not inte

at have I done

nd besides, I need you. Now see here"-and he went on to show her how his mother knew all

turbed until she saw her way clear. Elizabeth was sound and sturdy but not quick and resourceful when attacked. John talked on till he had finished his argument and

ming into the house, and when she saw that he did not she slippe

, and passed on to the door of her own room. S

ive up the year away at school. It was absolutely essential that she come into the Hunter family equipped and ready to assume the r?le which a wife should play in it. She would be married without a whole new outfit of clothes, but the year at school was a necessity. Elizabeth's pride revolted against

's hands. Just before noon he stopped, on his way back from Colebyville, to give Susan Hornby the

er?" He spoke across the backs of the horses as

contracted visibly. He h

do it?" she ask

ear, much less two. I told you about getting Mitchell County land an

side and looked down at her foot to hide her tears. It was a blow. She was conscious that somehow there had been a lack of high principle in it. Her silence the night before had given some co

s cut short by feeling John's arm stealing around her

up for argument. "It wouldn't matter if they did, since we are to be marrie

the vital point of difference away to be settled in her own mind before she discussed it. Perhaps after all John ha

fuse outright to consent to the early m

long, sweet. I want yo

nsistent grasp of his strong ar

e's sake. She wished to believe him. It came over her that she had wronged him by even the thought of an advantage having been taken of her. John's arm was about her, he was pleading his love. Why be un

e to Liza Ann's waiting

rked better than I had any reason to expect. She's going to be easy to manage. Mother ain't able to cook for hi

now. She decided to go home, to walk. The long stretches of country road would give time and isolation in which to think. She announced her determination briefly as she passed through the kitchen, oblivious of Aunt Susan's questioning eyes. Snatching up the large

nsafe procedure, but the tumult within her demanded that she ge

ods than she had been when she started out. The sun burned her shoulders where the calico dress was thin, and she wip

side. "I wouldn't care if it weren't for his mother. I'd like to get some of these country ways worked out of me before I have to see too much of her. She'l

d away her distrust of the means by which her consent had been gained, but her heart clung to the desire to appear w

I ought to have insisted last night if I meant to hold out, and not have

o those of the farmers' wives about them, it was to be sumptuous. She thought of its size, its arrangement, and the man who was inviting her to share it with him, and a g

than to do things for me," she said, springing

the door by the barking

e of day?" Mrs. Farnshaw's hands were covered w

d to come," Elizabeth cried, givin

r head to avoid the man

u see I'm in th' fl

dress sleeve and lau

sily, ma," she said, "and I'

w's mouth twitched in a ple

way home to tell something of importance. She sat down and leaned her elbows on the littered kitchen table too confused to speak for a moment. She had made the plunge; there was no other excuse fo

d I are going

ws; we seen it comin' weeks ago,"

ou knew," the girl said, st

ping the side of her bread pan with a kitchen knife, and ready to enter

any and don't get married eithe

ferent," the mother said.

r words dragging. She had consented, but t

w asked, her mind, like her hands

get the broom with which to sweep the ever d

ted? Will it be white a

the gratified pride

ng for the shovel, which, when it c

sudden suspicion, "don't you go an' spoil him right t' begin with. You let him see that you want things your own way about th' house. If you set your foot down now, You'll have it e

ngry stove with cobs and st

e most any way t' get off t' town so's t' keep me from knowin' he's goin', an' then make me send th' eggs an' butter by some one that's goin'

s as she listened to the spiritless tal

elp from you now," Mrs. Farnsh

and put her arms tenderl

ry few days. Don't let's spoil these last few weeks by worryi

baking, and broke away from the sympath

urned to Elizabeth again. "You'll have th' nicest hous

ered. "I believe you think more of

glad t' see you doin'

king, Mr. Farnshaw c

leasantly. She wanted to tell him of her engagement, now that s

empty basket standing beside the stove, went out of

d with a half-shamed look in her mother's di

ful thing you said about pa

ays been that way," Elizabeth objected, determined

ght. They get worse, too, as they get older. You do what I said an' set your foot dow