The Wind Before the Dawn

as John turned back to get into the wagon af

a reluctant smile he gave her, but the bid fo

ught as she walked back to t

thought c

e wedding?" she asked of

of that Swede?" Mrs. Farnshaw as

t of the house like a flash, calling to John Hunter as she ran dow

of that Swede-he always seems to cut such a figur

ends the invitation, will you?

ped it might be that John would appreciate the good things in Luther which even his nationality could not spoil. Dear old Luther! In spite of the observation she had seemed to resent the night before, Eliza

m to do," and then was struck with th

ther asked, for Elizabeth

I hate thi

all I've done to give you a goo

I want most. It isn't my wedding. I'm going to stand up and be married so as to get rid of it all, but John won't have the minister I want, you won't have the

you say preacher, like the rest of your folks? It's that Hornby woman. She made you talk of divorces--" At thought of all her supposed wrongs at the hand of Susan Hornby Mrs. Farnshaw broke into a half s

aused, Elizabeth fell on her knees by her mother's sid

is, I didn't mean it that way. Don'

d not speak, and the penitent daughter soothed and comforted her

t Susan to you. I can't bear to have you feel so bad about me liking her. She hasn't put a single notion into my head. Be good and get acquainted with her. She'd l

r back from the passion-worn f

r head, but could not

talk your own kind of talk," she said with conviction. "'Taint any use

l the time, anyhow

done t' your mother then. Be good, an' go t' 'im, an' settle 'is mind 'fore you're married. It don't matter if I know Miss Hornby 'r

ortured eyes of her mother studied her with an intensity which she could not avoid. To consent was to fail with her father, to refuse was to make matters much worse with the mother she had just hurt. Luther had warned her to avoid collisions with her family which were liable to

e mother begged wi

luctantly, and not looking toward her. "If I do it and fail, You'll be wanting me to go right

. She began to have hopes. Now, if only sh

reful-like this time, I'll never ask you again. I can't live this way any longer. I won

dear, what's the use to tell you what you said?" the gi

the use

he argued herself into that mood before she agreed to the move. Her mother had a hard life; on one who knew her doubted that fact.

n a good humour,"

rt from any quarter. S

away to be happy. John and his mother neve

. It's something they get t' feel about their wives that's th' trouble. Women think th' only way t' be good wiv

There's lots to do

ference with her father to the utter exclusion of every other thou

s as Elizabeth turned away to begin the work she had suggested. "My! it don't seem like six weeks since I was your age

let her hair down and loosened it with a toss of her head. It was a glittering garment which covered her from head to knees in wavy strands which flew about her in lines of beauty as she moved about getting her hot water and towels. Mrs. Farnshaw watc

shaking her head sadly. "I wisht she wasn't s' set aga

red upon the same thing as she

as I can for her before I go. Will we ever be like they are?" she asked herself half seriously, and felt sure it could not be. "Ma has always in

d with a wagon-load of snapped corn. Joe drove the team and his father sat in the back with his

his out with her mother listening, and if she did not do it now it would be forced upon her at suppe

not approach him. Mr. Farnshaw delighted in making people wait. With a pail in either hand he advanced to the fence. The hogs left the gate and ran to meet him, upsetting the trough as they came. Setting the pails down, he snatched up a peeled osage stick, kept outside of the pen for that purpose, and belaboured angrily th

ke," she remarked, smilin

o see that a propitious moment should not arrive when he was in one of his sulking fits. Elizabeth had played that game with him before. With her c

me, pa. Really I do

and potato peelings over his heavy plow-shoes as it went. To avoid the onrush of the greasy tide he sprang back, slipped in its oily overflow, and fell, the pail he held pouring its contents over him as he wen

such a look of malignity on his face as he jerked away and turned to face her that the girl, suddenly sobered, dodged and started to run. Her long hair trailed acros

is th' kind of f

n her hair. It hurt cruelly. She veered around on her knees and caught the now tangled hair with both hands to ease the strain.

some marks on you that'll show 'im what kind of a wife he's gettin'. You told you

position infuriated the man. He was not accustomed to defence. His fury knew no restraint. He rained the blows harder than ever and the girl finally caught the whip itself. Catching the

larm and pity, he stooped to lift his unconscious d

at you've go

knew the girl's intention was to be square about the apology and she had strained every

you mig

shed. He dropped the limp bod

Of all th' blasted, impossible things it's t' have a snivelling she-devil always at your elbow. Keep your hands

soon as the water touched her. Mrs. Farnshaw left the task of resuscitation to her sons and looked after her rapidly disappearing husband with eyes that longed for reconciliation. Reconciliation for one thing or another had been the most driving ins

asp what was going on around her; then the full value of the mishap broke upon her. All tha

ed, and every member of the family pressed into the service. The entire house was cleaned and rearranged. Not till after midnight did the members of the little group seek their beds. Mr. Farnshaw had not returned. They had even forgotten him a large part of the time in the hurry. Elizabeth

ind of thing t' our young ones? Everybod

, an' don't begin any talk about your pa. Ev

surrounded Mrs. Farnshaw's bed when she retired, and unaccustomed things filled every nook of the usually unattractive room. Evergreen boughs stared at her from the corner opposite her bed; the bed was to be removed in the morning. It had been her own romantic idea to have a bower for the bride and groom.

ared. In spite of youth, and of humiliation, she saw that the blow that had undone her had been accidental. She saw what the encouragem

she decided, were at the root of them. They were the universal topics of the conversations

that matters is what is wrong and to find a way to make it come out better next time," and at last went t