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diff --git a/old/tharv10.txt b/old/tharv10.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9cc7165 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/tharv10.txt @@ -0,0 +1,19619 @@ +Project Gutenberg Etext of The Harvester, by Gene Stratton Porter + +Number Four in our Gene Stratton Porter Series + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world, be sure to check +the copyright laws for your country before posting these files! + +Please take a look at the important information in this header. +We encourage you to keep this file on your own disk, keeping an +electronic path open for the next readers. Do not remove this. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**Etexts Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*These Etexts Prepared By Hundreds of Volunteers and Donations* + +Information on contacting Project Gutenberg to get Etexts, and +further information is included below. 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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.04.29.93*END* + + + + + +Scanned by Charles Keller with +OmniPage Professional OCR software +donated by Caere Corporation, 1-800-535-7226. +Contact Mike Lough <Mikel@caere.com> + +THE +HARVESTER + +BY +GENE STRATTON-PORTER + +AUTHOR OF +A GIRL OF THE LIMBERLOST, +FRECKLES, ETC. + + + + THIS PORTION + OF THE LIFE OF A MAN OF TO-DAY +IS OFFERED IN THE HOPE THAT IN CLEANLINESS, + POETIC TEMPERMENT, AND MENTAL FORCE, + A LIKENESS WILL BE SEEN + TO + HENRY DAVID THOREAU + + + + +CHAPTER +I. Belshazzar's Decision +II. The Effect of a Dream +III. Harvesting the Forest +IV. A Commission for the South Wind +V. When the Harvester Made Good +VI. To Labour and to Wait +VII. The Quest of the Dream Girl +VIII. Belshazzar's Record Point +IX. The Harvester Goes Courting +X. The Chime of the Blue Bells +XI. Demonstrated Courtship +XII. ``The Way of a Man with a Maid'' +XIII. When the Dream Came True +XIV. Snowy Wings +XV. The Harvester Interprets Life +XVI. Granny Moreland's Visit +XVII. Love Invades Science +XVIII. The Better Man +XIX. A Vertical Spine +XX. The Man in the Background +XXI. The Coming of the Bluebird + + +CHARACTERS + +DAVID LANGSTON, A Harvester of the Woods. +RUTH JAMESON, A Girl of the City. +GRANNY MORELAND, An Interested Neighbour. +DR. CAREY, Chief Surgeon of the Onabasha Hospital. +MRS. CAREY, Wife of the Doctor. +DR. HARMON, Who Concludes to Leave the City. +MOLLY BARNET, A Hospital Nurse with a Heart. +HENRY JAMESON, A Trader Without a Heart. +ALEXANDER HERRON, Who Made a Concession. +MRS. HERRON, A Gentle Woman. +THE KENNEDYS, Philadelphia Lawyers. + + + +The Harvester + +CHAPTER I + +BELSHAZZAR'S DECISION + +``Bel, come here!'' +The Harvester sat in the hollow worn in the +hewed log stoop by the feet of his father and +mother and his own sturdier tread, and rested his head +against the casing of the cabin door when he gave the +command. The tip of the dog's nose touched the gravel +between his paws as he crouched flat on earth, with +beautiful eyes steadily watching the master, but he did +not move a muscle. + +``Bel, come here!'' + +Twinkles flashed in the eyes of the man when he +repeated the order, while his voice grew more imperative as +he stretched a lean, wiry hand toward the dog. The +animal's eyes gleamed and his sensitive nose quivered, yet +he lay quietly. + +``Belshazzar, kommen Sie hier!'' + +The body of the dog arose on straightened legs and his +muzzle dropped in the outstretched palm. A wind +slightly perfumed with the odour of melting snow and +unsheathing buds swept the lake beside them, and lifted +a waving tangle of light hair on the brow of the man, while +a level ray of the setting sun flashed across the water and +illumined the graven, sensitive face, now alive with keen +interest in the game being played. + +``Bel, dost remember the day?'' inquired the Harvester. + +The eager attitude and anxious eyes of the dog betrayed +that he did not, but was waiting with every sense alert +for a familiar word that would tell him what was +expected. + +``Surely you heard the killdeers crying in the night,'' +prompted the man. ``I called your attention when the +ecstasy of the first bluebird waked the dawn. All day +you have seen the gold-yellow and blood-red osiers, the +sap-wet maples and spring tracing announcements of her +arrival on the sunny side of the levee.'' + +The dog found no clew, but he recognized tones he +loved in the suave, easy voice, and his tail beat his sides +in vigorous approval. The man nodded gravely. + +``Ah, so! Then you realize this day to be the most +important of all the coming year to me; this hour a solemn +one that influences my whole after life. It is time for +your annual decision on my fate for a twelve-month. +Are you sure you are fully alive to the gravity of the +situation, Bel?'' + +The dog felt himself safe in answering a rising inflection +ending in his name uttered in that tone, and wagged +eager assent. + +``Well then,'' said the man, ``which shall it be? Do I +leave home for the noise and grime of the city, open an +office and enter the money-making scramble?'' + +Every word was strange to the dog, almost breathlessly +waiting for a familiar syllable. The man gazed +steadily into the animal's eyes. After a long pause he +continued: + +``Or do I remain at home to harvest the golden seal, +mullein, and ginseng, not to mention an occasional hour +with the black bass or tramps for partridge and cotton- +tails?'' + +The dog recognized each word of that. Before the +voice ceased, his sleek sides were quivering, his nostrils +twitching, his tail lashing, and at the pause he leaped up +and thrust his nose against the face of the man. The +Harvester leaned back laughing in deep, full-chested +tones; then he patted the dog's head with one hand and +renewed his grip with the other. + +``Good old Bel!'' he cried exultantly. ``Six years you +have decided for me, and right----every time! We are of +the woods, Bel, born and reared here as our fathers before +us. What would we of the camp fire, the long trail, the +earthy search, we harvesters of herbs the famous chemists +require, what would we do in a city? And when the sap +is rising, the bass splashing, and the wild geese honking +in the night! We never could endure it, Bel. + +``When we delivered that hemlock at the hospital +to-day, did you hear that young doctor talking about his +`lid'? Well up there is ours, old fellow! Just sky and clouds +overhead for us, forest wind in our faces, wild perfume in +our nostrils, muck on our feet, that's the life for us. Our +blood was tainted to begin with, and we've lived here so +long it is now a passion in our hearts. If ever you sentence +us to life in the city, you'll finish both of us, that's +what you'll do! But you won't, will you? You realize +what God made us for and what He made for us, don't +you, Bel?'' + +As he lovingly patted the dog's head the man talked and +the animal trembled with delight. Then the voice of the +Harvester changed and dropped to tones of gravest +import. + +``Now how about that other matter, Bel? You always +decide that too. The time has come again. Steady now! +This is far more important than the other. Just to be +wiped out, Bel, pouf! That isn't anything and it concerns +no one save ourselves. But to bring misery into +our lives and live with it daily, that would be a +condition to rend the soul. So careful, Bel! Cautious +now!'' + +The voice of the man dropped to a whisper as he asked +the question. + +``What about the girl business?'' + +Trembling with eagerness to do the thing that would +bring more caressing, bewildered by unfamiliar words +and tones, the dog hesitated. + +``Do I go on as I have ever since mother left me, +rustling for grub, living in untrammelled freedom? Do +I go on as before, Bel?'' + +The Harvester paused and waited the answer, with +anxiety in his eyes as he searched the beast face. He +had talked to that dog, as most men commune with their +souls, for so long and played the game in such intense +earnest that he felt the results final with him. The +animal was immovable now, lost again, his anxious eyes +watching the face of the master, his eager ears waiting +for words he recognized. After a long time the man +continued slowly and hesitantly, as if fearing the outcome. +He did not realize that there was sufficient anxiety in his +voice to change its tones. + +``Or do I go courting this year? Do I rig up in +uncomfortable store-clothes, and parade before the country and +city girls and try to persuade the one I can get, +probably----not the one I would want----to marry me, and +come here and spoil all our good times? Do we want +a woman around scolding if we are away from home, +whining because she is lonesome, fretting for luxuries +we cannot afford to give her? Are you going to let us in +for a scrape like that, Bel?'' + +The bewildered dog could bear the unusual scene no +longer. Taking the rising inflection, that sounded more +familiar, for a cue, and his name for a certainty, he +sprang forward, his tail waving as his nose touched the +face of the Harvester. Then he shot across the driveway +and lay in the spice thicket, half the ribs of one +side aching, as he howled from the lowest depths of +dog misery. + +``You ungrateful cur!'' cried the Harvester. ``What +has come over you? Six years I have trusted you, and +the answer has been right, every time! Confound your +picture! Sentence me to tackle the girl proposition! I +see myself! Do you know what it would mean? For +the first thing you'd be chained, while I pranced over the +country like a half-broken colt, trying to attract some +girl. I'd have to waste time I need for my work and +spend money that draws good interest while we sleep, to +tempt her with presents. I'd have to rebuild the cabin +and there's not a chance in ten she would not fret the life +out of me whining to go to the city to live, arrange for her +here the best I could. Of all the fool, unreliable dogs that +ever trod a man's tracks, you are the limit! And you +never before failed me! You blame, degenerate pup, +you!'' + +The Harvester paused for breath and the dog subsided +to a pitiful whimper. He was eager to return to the +man who had struck him the first blow his pampered +body ever had received; but he could not understand a +kick and harsh words for him, so he lay quivering with +anxiety and fear. + +``You howling, whimpering idiot!'' exclaimed the +Harvester. ``Choose a day like this to spoil! Air to +intoxicate a mummy! Roots swelling! Buds bursting! Harvest +close and you'd call me off and put me at work +like that, would you? If I ever had supposed +lost all your senses, I never would have asked you. +Six years you have decided my fate, when the first +bluebird came, and you've been true blue every time. +If I ever trust you again! But the mischief is done +now. + +``Have you forgotten that your name means `to protect?' +Don't you remember it is because of that, it is +your name? Protect! I'd have trusted you with my +life, Bell! You gave it to me the time you pointed that +rattler within six inches of my fingers in the blood-root +bed. You saw the falling limb in time to warn me. You +always know where the quicksands lie. But you are +protecting me now, like sin, ain't you? Bring a girl +here to spoil both our lives! Not if I know myself! +Protect!'' + +The man arose and going inside the cabin closed the +door. After that the dog lay in abject misery so deep +that two big tears squeezed from his eyes and rolled down +his face. To be shut out was worse than the blow. He +did not take the trouble to arise from the wet leaves +covering the cold earth, but closing his eyes went to sleep. + +The man leaned against the door and ran his fingers +through his hair as he anathematized the dog. Slowly his +eyes travelled around the room. He saw his tumbled bed +by the open window facing the lake, the small table with +his writing material, the crude rack on the wall loaded +with medical works, botanies, drug encyclopaedias, the +books of the few authors who interested him, and the bare, +muck-tracked floor. He went to the kitchen, where he +built a fire in the cook stove, and to the smoke-house, from +which he returned with a slice of ham and some eggs. He +set some potatoes boiling and took bread, butter and milk +from the pantry. Then he laid a small note-book on the +table before him and studied the transactions of the +day. + +10 lbs. wild cherry bark 6 cents $ .60 +5 `` wahoo root bark 25 `` 1.25 +20 `` witch hazel bark 5 `` 1.00 +5 `` blue flag root 12 `` .60 +10 `` snake root 18 `` 1.80 +10 `` blood root 12 `` 1.20 +15 `` hoarhound 10 `` 1.50 + ----- + $7.95 + + +``Not so bad,'' he muttered, bending over the figures. +``I wonder if any of my neighbours who harvest the +fields average as well at this season. I'll wager they don't. +That's pretty fair! Some days I don't make it, and then +when a consignment of seeds go or ginseng is wanted the +cash comes in right properly. I could waste half of it on +a girl and yet save money. But where is the woman who +would be content with half? She'd want all and fret +because there wasn't more. Blame that dog!'' + +He put the book in his pocket, prepared and ate his +supper, heaped a plate generously, placed it on the floor +beneath the table, and set away the food that remained. + +``Not that you deserve it,'' he said to space. ``You get +this in honour of your distinguished name and the faithfulness +with which you formerly have lived up to its import. +If you hadn't been a dog with more sense than some +men, I wouldn't take your going back on me now so +hard. One would think an animal of your intelligence +might realize that you would get as much of a dose as I. +Would she permit you to eat from a plate on the kitchen +floor? Not on your life, Belshazzar! Frozen scraps +around the door for you! Would she allow you to sleep +across the foot of the bed? Ho, ho, ho! Would she have +you tracking on her floor? It would be the barn, and +growling you didn't do at that. If I'd serve you right, I'd +give you a dose and allow you to see how you like it. But +it's cutting off my nose to spite my face, as the old adage +goes, for whatever she did to a dog, she'd probably do +worse to a man. I think not!'' + +He entered the front room and stood before a long shelf +on which were arranged an array of partially completed +candlesticks carved from wood. There were black and +white walnut, red, white, and golden oak, cherry and +curly maple, all in original designs. Some of them were +oddities, others were failures, but most of them were +unusually successful. He selected one of black walnut, +carved until the outline of his pattern was barely +distinguishable. He was imitating the trunk of a tree with +the bark on, the spreading, fern-covered roots widening +for the base, from which a vine sprang. Near the top was +the crude outline of a big night moth climbing toward +the light. He stood turning this stick with loving hands +and holding it from him for inspection. + +``I am going to master you!'' he exulted. ``Your +lines are right. The design balances and it's graceful. If +I have any trouble it will be with the moth, and I think +I can manage. I've got to decide whether to use cecropia +or polyphemus before long. Really, on a walnut, and in +the woods, it should be a luna, according to the eternal +fitness of things----but I'm afraid of the trailers. They +turn over and half curl and I believe I had better not +tackle them for a start. I'll use the easiest to begin on, +and if I succeed I'll duplicate the pattern and try a luna +then. The beauties!'' + +The Harvester selected a knife from the box and began +carving the stick slowly and carefully. His brain was +busy, for presently he glanced at the floor. + +``She'd object to that!'' he said emphatically. ``A +man could no more sit and work where he pleased than +he could fly. At least I know mother never would have +it, and she was no nagger, either. What a mother she +was! If one only could stop the lonely feeling that will +creep in, and the aching hunger born with the body, for +a mate; if a fellow only could stop it with a woman like +mother! How she revelled in sunshine and beauty! +How she loved earth and air! How she went straight to +the marrow of the finest line in the best book I could +bring from the library! How clean and true she was and +how unyielding! I can hear her now, holding me with +her last breath to my promise. If I could marry a girl +like mother----great Caesar! You'd see me buying an +automobile to make the run to the county clerk. Wouldn't +that be great! Think of coming in from a long, difficult +day, to find a hot supper, and a girl such as she must have +been, waiting for me! Bel, if I thought there was a woman +similar to her in all the world, and I had even the ghost of +a chance to win her, I'd call you in and forgive you. But +I know the girls of to-day. I pass them on the roads, on +the streets, see them in the cafe's, stores, and at the library. +Why even the nurses at the hospital, for all the gravity +of their positions, are a giggling, silly lot; and they never +know that the only time they look and act presentably to +me is when they stop their chatter, put on their uniforms, +and go to work. Some of them are pretty, then. +There's a little blue-eyed one, but all she needs is feathers +to make her a `ha! ha! bird.' Drat that dog!'' + +The Harvester took the candlestick and the box of +knives, opened the door, and returned to the stoop. Belshazzar +arose, pleading in his eyes, and cautiously advanced +a few steps. The man bent over his work and +paid not the slightest heed, so the discouraged dog sank to +earth and fixedly watched the unresponsive master. The +carving of the candlestick went on steadily. Occasionally +the Harvester lifted his head and repeatedly sucked his +lungs full of air. Sometimes for an instant he scanned +the surface of the lake for signs of breaking fish or splash +of migrant water bird. Again his gaze wandered up the +steep hill, crowned with giant trees, whose swelling buds +he could see and smell. Straight before him lay a low +marsh, through which the little creek that gurgled and +tumbled down hill curved, crossed the drive some distance +below, and entered the lake of Lost Loons. + +While the trees were bare, and when the air was clear as +now, he could see the spires of Onabasha, five miles away, +intervening cultivated fields, stretches of wood, the long +black line of the railway, and the swampy bottom lands +gradually rising to the culmination of the tree-crowned +summit above him. His cocks were crowing warlike +challenges to rivals on neighbouring farms. His hens +were carolling their spring egg-song. In the barn yard +ganders were screaming stridently. Over the lake and the +cabin, with clapping snowy wings, his white doves circled +in a last joy-flight before seeking their cotes in the +stable loft. As the light grew fainter, the Harvester +worked slower. Often he leaned against the casing, and +closed his eyes to rest them. Sometimes he whistled +snatches of old songs to which his mother had cradled +him, and again bits of opera and popular music he had +heard on the streets of Onabasha. As he worked, the +sun went down and a half moon appeared above the wood +across the lake. Once it seemed as if it were a silver bowl +set on the branch of a giant oak; higher, it rested a tilted +crescent on the rim of a cloud. + +The dog waited until he could endure it no longer, and +straightening from his crouching position, he took a few +velvet steps forward, making faint, whining sounds in his +throat. When the man neither turned his head nor gave +him a glance, Belshazzar sank to earth again, satisfied +for the moment with being a little closer. Across Loon +Lake came the wavering voice of a night love song. +The Harvester remembered that as a boy he had shrunk +from those notes until his mother explained that they +were made by a little brown owl asking for a mate to +come and live in his hollow tree. Now he rather liked +the sound. It was eloquent of earnest pleading. With +the lonely bird on one side, and the reproachful dog eyes +on the other, the man grinned rather foolishly. + +Between two fires, he thought. If that dog ever +catches my eye he will come tearing as a cyclone, and I +would not kick him again for a hundred dollars. First +time I ever struck him, and didn't intend to then. So +blame mad and disappointed my foot just shot out before +I knew it. There he lies half dead to make up, but I'm +blest if I forgive him in a hurry. And there is that +insane little owl screeching for a mate. If I'd start out +making sounds like that, all the girls would line up and +compete for possession of my happy home. + +The Harvester laughed and at the sound Belshazzar +took courage and advanced five steps before he sank belly +to earth again. The owl continued its song. The Harvester +imitated the cry and at once it responded. He +called again and leaned back waiting. The notes came +closer. The Harvester cried once more and peered across +the lake, watching for the shadow of silent wings. The +moon was high above the trees now, the knife dropped in +the box, the long fingers closed around the stick, the head +rested against the casing, and the man intoned the cry +with all his skill, and then watched and waited. He had +been straining his eyes over the carving until they were +tired, and when he watched for the bird the moonlight +tried them; for it touched the lightly rippling waves of +the lake in a line of yellow light that stretched straight +across the water from the opposite bank, directly to the +gravel bed below, where lay the bathing pool. It made +a path of gold that wavered and shimmered as the water +moved gently, but it appeared sufficiently material to +resemble a bridge spanning the lake. + +``Seems as if I could walk it,'' muttered the Harvester. + +The owl cried again and the man intently watched the +opposite bank. He could not see the bird, but in the +deep wood where he thought it might be he began to +discern a misty, moving shimmer of white. Marvelling, +he watched closer. So slowly he could not detect motion +it advanced, rising in height and taking shape. + +``Do I end this day by seeing a ghost?'' he queried. + +He gazed intently and saw that a white figure really +moved in the woods of the opposite bank. + +``Must be some boys playing fool pranks!'' exclaimed +the Harvester. + +He watched fixedly with interested face, and then +amazement wiped out all other expression and he sat +motionless, breathless, looking, intently looking. For +the white object came straight toward the water and at +the very edge unhesitatingly stepped upon the bridge of +gold and lightly, easily advanced in his direction. The man +waited. On came the figure and as it drew closer he could +see that it was a very tall, extremely slender woman, +wrapped in soft robes of white. She stepped along +the slender line of the gold bridge with grace unequalled. + +From the water arose a shining mist, and behind the +advancing figure a wall of light outlined and rimmed her +in a setting of gold. As she neared the shore the +Harvester's blood began to race in his veins and his lips parted +in wonder. First she was like a slender birch trunk, then +she resembled a wild lily, and soon she was close enough +to prove that she was young and very lovely. Heavy +braids of dark hair rested on her head as a coronet. Her +forehead was low and white. Her eyes were wide-open +wells of darkness, her rounded cheeks faintly pink, and +her red lips smiling invitation. Her throat was long, +very white, and the hands that caught up the fleecy robe +around her were rose-coloured and slender. In a panic +the Harvester saw that the trailing robe swept the undulant +gold water, but was not wet; the feet that alternately +showed as she advanced were not purple with cold, but +warm with a pink glow. + +She was coming straight toward him, wonderful, +alluring, lovely beyond any woman the Harvester ever +had seen. Straightway the fountains of twenty-six years' +repression overflowed in the breast of the man and all +his being ran toward her in a wave of desire. On she +came, and now her tender feet were on the white gravel. +When he could see clearly she was even more beautiful +than she had appeared at a distance. He opened his lips, +but no sound came. He struggled to rise, but his legs +would not bear his weight. Helpless, he sank against +the casing. The girl walked to his feet, bent, placed a +hand on each of his shoulders, and smiled into his eyes. +He could scent the flower-like odour of her body and +wrapping, even her hair. He struggled frantically to +speak to her as she leaned closer, yet closer, and softly +but firmly laid lips of pulsing sweetness on his in a +deliberate kiss. + +The Harvester was on his feet now. Belshazzar shrank +into the shadows. + +``Come back!'' cried the man. ``Come back! For +the love of mercy, where are you?'' + +He ran stumblingly toward the lake. The bridge of +gold was there, the little owl cried lonesomely; and did +he see or did he only dream he saw a mist of white vanishing +in the opposite wood? + +His breath came between dry lips, and he circled the +cabin searching eagerly, but he could find nothing, hear +nothing, save the dog at his heels. He hurried to the +stoop and stood gazing at the molten path of moonlight. +One minute he was half frozen, the next a rosy glow +enfolded him. Slowly he lifted a hand and touched his +lips. Then he raised his eyes from the water and swept +the sky in a penetrant gaze. + +``My gracious Heavenly Father,'' said the Harvester +reverently. ``Would it be like that?'' + + + +CHAPTER II + +THE EFFECT OF A DREAM + +Fully convinced at last that he had been dreaming, +the Harvester picked up his knives and +candlestick and entered the cabin. He placed +them on a shelf and turned away, but after a second's +hesitation he closed the box and arranged the sticks +neatly. Then he set the room in order and carefully +swept the floor. As he replaced the broom he thought +for an instant, then opened the door and whistled softly. +Belshazzar came at a rush. The Harvester pushed the +plate of food toward the hungry dog and he ate greedily. +The man returned to the front room and closed the door. + +He stood a long time before his shelf of books, at last +selected a volume of ``Medicinal Plants'' and settled +to study. His supper finished, Belshazzar came scratching +and whining at the door. Several times the man +lifted his head and glanced in that direction, but he only +returned to his book and read again. Tired and sleepy, +at last, he placed the volume on the shelf, went to a +closet for a pair of bath towels, and hung them across a +chair. Then he undressed, opened the door, and ran +for the lake. He plunged with a splash and swam vigorously +for a few minutes, his white body growing pink +under the sting of the chilled water. Over and over he +scanned the golden bridge to the moon, and stood an +instant dripping on the gravel of the landing to make sure +that no dream woman was crossing the wavering floor! +He rubbed to a glow and turned back the covers of his +bed. The door and window stood wide. Before he lay +down, the Harvester paused in arrested motion a second, +then stepped to the kitchen door and lifted the latch. + +As the man drew the covers over him, the dog's nose +began making an opening, and a little later he quietly +walked into the room. The Harvester rested, facing +the lake. The dog sniffed at his shoulder, but the man +was rigid. Then the click of nails could be heard on the +floor as Belshazzar went to the opposite side. At his +accustomed place he paused and set one foot on the bed. +There was not a sound, so he lifted the other. Then +one at a time he drew up his hind feet and crouched as +he had on the gravel. The man lay watching the bright +bridge. The moonlight entered the window and flooded +the room. The strong lines on the weather-beaten face +of the Harvester were mellowed in the light, and he +appeared young and good to see. His lithe figure stretched +the length of the bed, his hair appeared almost white, +and his face, touched by the glorifying light of the moon, +was a study. + +One instant his countenance was swept with ultimate +scorn; then gradually that would fade and the lines soften, +until his lips curved in child-like appeal and his eyes +were filled with pleading. Several times he lifted a +hand and gently touched his lips, as if a kiss were a material +thing and would leave tangible evidence of having +been given. After a long time his eyes closed and he +scarcely was unconscious before Belshazzar's cold nose +touched the outstretched hand and the Harvester lifted +and laid it on the dog's head. + +``Forgive me, Bel,'' he muttered. ``I never did that. +I wouldn't have hurt you for anything. It happened +before I had time to think.'' + +They both fell asleep. The clear-cut lines of manly +strength on the face of the Harvester were touched to +tender beauty. He lay smiling softly. Far in the night +he realized the frost-chill and divided the coverlet with +the happy Belshazzar. + +The golden dream never came again. There was no +need. It had done its perfect work. The Harvester +awoke the next morning a different man. His face was +youthful and alive with alert anticipation. He began +his work with eager impetuosity, whistling and singing +the while, and he found time to play with and talk to +Belshazzar, until that glad beast almost wagged off his +tail in delight. They breakfasted together and arranged +the rooms with unusual care. + +``You see,'' explained the Harvester to the dog, ``we +must walk neatly after this. Maybe there is such a +thing as fate. Possibly your answer was right. There +might be a girl in the world for me. I don't expect it, +but there is a possibility that she may find us before we +locate her. Anyway, we should work and be ready. +All the old stock in the store-house goes out as soon as +we can cart it. A new cabin shall rise as fast as we +can build it. There must be a basement and furnace, +too. Dream women don't have cold feet, but if there is +a girl living like that, and she is coming to us or waiting +for us to come to her, we must have a comfortable home +to offer. There should be a bathroom, too. She couldn't +dip in the lake as we do. And until we build the new +house we must keep the old one clean, just on the chance +of her happening on us. She might be visiting some +of the neighbours or come from town with some one +or I might see her on the street or at the library or +hospital or in some of the stores. For the love of mercy, +help me watch for her, Bel! The half of my kingdom +if you will point her for me!'' + +The Harvester worked as he talked. He set the rooms +in order, put away the remains of breakfast, and started +to the stable. He turned back and stood for a long time, +scanning the face in the kitchen mirror. Once he went +to the door, then he hesitated, and finally took out his +shaving set and used it carefully and washed vigorously. +He pulled his shirt together at the throat, and hunting +among his clothing, found an old red tie that he knotted +around his neck. This so changed his every-day appearance +that he felt wonderfully dressed and whistled gaily +on his way to the barn. There he confided in the old +gray mare as he curried and harnessed her to the spring +wagon. + +``Hardly know me, do you, Betsy?'' he inquired. +``Well, I'll explain. Our friend Bel, here, has doomed me +to go courting this year. Wouldn't that durnfound you? +I was mad as hornets at first, but since I've slept on the +idea, I rather like it. Maybe we are too lonely and dull. +Perhaps the right woman would make life a very different +matter. Last night I saw her, Betsy, and between +us, I can't tell even you. She was the loveliest, sweetest +girl on earth, and that is all I can say. We are going to +watch for her to-day, and every trip we make, until +we find her, if it requires a hundred years. Then some +glad time we are going to locate her, and when we do, well, +you just keep your eye on us, Betsy, and you'll see how +courting straight from the heart is done, even if we lack +experience.'' + +Intoxicated with new and delightful sensations his +tongue worked faster than his hands. + +``I don't mind telling you, old faithful, that I am in +love this morning,'' he said. ``In love heels over, Betsy, +for the first time in all my life. If any man ever was a +bigger fool than I am to-day, it would comfort me to +know about it. I am acting like an idiot, Betsy. I know +that, but I wish you could understand how I feel. Power! +I am the head-waters of Niagara! I could pluck down +the stars and set them in different places! I could twist +the tail from the comet! I could twirl the globe on my +palm and topple mountains and wipe lakes from +the surface! I am a live man, Betsy. Existence is over. +So don't you go at any tricks or I might pull off your +head. Betsy, if you see the tallest girl you ever saw, +and she wears a dark diadem, and has big black eyes and +a face so lovely it blinds you, why you have seen Her, and +you balk, right on the spot, and stand like the rock of +Gibraltar, until you make me see her, too. As if I wouldn't +know she was coming a mile away! There's more I +could tell you, but that is my secret, and it's too precious +to talk about, even to my best friends. Bel, bring Betsy +to the store-room.'' + +The Harvester tossed the hitching strap to the dog and +walked down the driveway to a low structure built on +the embankment beside the lake. One end of it was a +dry-house of his own construction. Here, by an arrangement +of hot water pipes, he evaporated many of the barks, +roots, seeds, and leaves he grew to supply large concerns +engaged in the manufacture of drugs. By his process +crude stock was thoroughly cured, yet did not lose in +weight and colour as when dried in the sun or outdoor +shade. + +So the Harvester was enabled to send his customers +big packages of brightly coloured raw material, and the +few cents per pound he asked in advance of the catalogued +prices were paid eagerly. He lived alone, and never +talked of his work; so none of the harvesters of the fields +adjoining dreamed of the extent of his reaping. The +idea had been his own. He had been born in the cabin +in which he now lived. His father and grandfather +were old-time hunters of skins and game. They had +added to their earnings by gathering in spring and fall +the few medicinal seeds, leaves, and barks they knew. +His mother had been of different type. She had +loved and married the picturesque young hunter, and +gone to live with him on the section of land taken +by his father. She found life, real life, vastly different +from her girlhood dreams, but she was one of those +changeless, unyielding women who suffer silently, but +never rue a bargain, no matter how badly they are +cheated. Her only joy in life had been her son. For +him she had worked and saved unceasingly, and when +he was old enough she sent him to the city to school +and kept pace with him in the lessons he brought home +at night. + +Using what she knew of her husband's work as a guide, +and profiting by pamphlets published by the government, +every hour of the time outside school and in +summer vacations she worked in the woods with the boy, +gathering herbs and roots to pay for his education and +clothing. So the son passed the full high-school course, +and then, selecting such branches as interested him, +continued his studies alone. + +From books and drug pamphlets he had learned every +medicinal plant, shrub, and tree of his vicinity, and for +years roamed far afield and through the woods collecting. +After his father's death expenses grew heavier and the +boy saw that he must earn more money. His mother +frantically opposed his going to the city, so he thought out +the plan of transplanting the stuff he gathered, to the +land they owned and cultivating it there. This work +was well developed when he was twenty, but that year +he lost his mother. + +From that time he went on steadily enlarging his +species, transplanting trees, shrubs, vines, and medicinal +herbs from such locations as he found them to similar +conditions on his land. Six years he had worked +cultivating these beds, and hunting through the woods on +the river banks, government land, the great Limberlost +Swamp, and neglected corners of earth for barks and +roots. He occasionally made long trips across the +country for rapidly diminishing plants he found in the +woodland of men who did not care to bother with a few +specimens, and many big beds of profitable herbs, +extinct for miles around, now flourished on the banks of +Loon Lake, in the marsh, and through the forest rising +above. To what extent and value his venture had grown, +no one save the Harvester knew. When his neighbours +twitted him with being too lazy to plow and sow, of +``mooning'' over books, and derisively sneered when they +spoke of him as the Harvester of the Woods or the +Medicine Man, David Langston smiled and went his way. + +How lonely he had been since the death of his mother +he never realized until that morning when a new idea +really had taken possession of him. From the store- +house he heaped packages of seeds, dried leaves, barks, +and roots into the wagon. But he kept a generous supply +of each, for he prided himself on being able to fill all +orders that reached him. Yet the load he took to +the city was much larger than usual. As he drove +down the hill and passed the cabin he studied the +location. + +``The drainage is perfect,'' he said to Belshazzar beside +him on the seat. ``So is the situation. We get the cool +breezes from the lake in summer and the hillside warmth +in winter. View down the valley can't be surpassed. We +will grub out that thicket in front, move over the driveway, +and build a couple of two-story rooms, with basement +for cellar and furnace, and a bathroom in front of +the cabin and use it with some fixing over for a dining- +room and kitchen. Then we will deepen and widen +Singing Water, stick a bushel of bulbs and roots and +sow a peck of flower seeds in the marsh, plant a hedge +along the drive, and straighten the lake shore a little. I +can make a beautiful wild-flower garden and arrange +so that with one season's work this will appear very +well. We will express this stuff and then select and fell +some trees to-night. Soon as the frost is out of the +ground we will dig our basement and lay the foundations. +The neighbours will help me raise the logs; after that I +can finish the inside work. I've got some dried maple, +cherry, and walnut logs that would work into beautiful +furniture. I haven't forgotten the prices McLean offered +me. I can use it as well as he. Plain way the best +things are built now, I believe I could make tables +and couches myself. I can see plans in the magazines +at the library. I'll take a look when I get this off. I +feel strong enough to do all of it in a few days and I am +crazy to commence. But I scarcely know where to begin. +There are about fifty things I'd like to do. But to fell +and dry the trees and get the walls up come first, I believe. +What do you think, old unreliable?'' + +Belshazzar thought the world was a place of beauty +that morning. He sniffed the icy, odorous air and with +tilted head watched the birds. A wearied band of ducks +had settled on Loon Lake to feed and rest, for there was +nothing to disturb them. Signs were numerous everywhere +prohibiting hunters from firing over the Harvester's +land. Beside the lake, down the valley, crossing +the railroad, and in the farther lowlands, the dog was a +nervous quiver, as he constantly scented game or saw +birds he wanted to point. But when they neared the +city, he sat silently watching everything with alert +eyes. As they reached the outer fringe of residences +the Harvester spoke to him. + +``Now remember, Bel,'' he said. ``Point me the +tallest girl you ever saw, with a big braid of dark hair, +shining black eyes, and red velvet lips, sweeter than wild +crab apple blossoms. Make a dead set! Don't allow +her to pass us. Heaven is going to begin in Medicine +Woods when we find her and prove to her that there +lies her happy home. + +``When we find her,'' repeated the Harvester softly +and exultantly. ``When we find her!'' + +He said it again and again, pronouncing the words with +tender modulations. Because he was chanting it in +his soul, in his heart, in his brain, with his lips, he had a +hasty glance for every woman he passed. Light hair, +blue eyes, and short figures got only casual inspection: +but any tall girl with dark hair and eyes endured rather +close scrutiny that morning. He drove to the express +office and delivered his packages and then to the hospital. +In the hall the blue-eyed nurse met him and cried gaily, +``Good morning, Medicine Man!'' + +``Ugh! I scalp pale-faces!'' threatened the Harvester, +but the girl was not afraid and stood before him laughing. +She might have gone her way quite as well. She could +not have differed more from the girl of the newly begun +quest. The man merely touched his wide-brimmed hat +as he walked around her and entered the office of the +chief surgeon. + +A slender, gray-eyed man with white hair turned from +his desk, smiled warmly, pushed a chair, and reached a +welcoming hand. + +``Ah good-morning, David,'' he cried. ``You bring +the very breath of spring with you. Are you at the +maples yet?'' + +``Begin to-morrow,'' was the answer. ``I want to get +all my old stock off hands. Sugar water comes next, +and then the giddy sassafras and spring roots rush me, +and after that, harvest begins full force, and all my land +is teeming. This is going to be a big year. Everything +is sufficiently advanced to be worth while. I have +decided to enlarge the buildings.'' + +``Store-room too small?'' + +``Everything!'' said the Harvester comprehensively. +``I am crowded everywhere.'' + +The keen gray eyes bent on him searchingly. + +``Ho, ho!'' laughed the doctor. `` `Crowded everywhere.' +I had not heard of cramped living quarters +before. When did you meet her?'' + +``Last night,'' replied the Harvester. ``Her home is +already in construction. I chose seven trees as I drove +here that are going to fall before night.'' + +So casual was the tone the doctor was disarmed. + +``I am trying your nerve remedy,'' he said. + +Instantly the Harvester tingled with interest. + +``How does it work?'' he inquired. + +``Finely! Had a case that presented just the symptoms +you mentioned. High-school girl broken down +from trying to lead her classes, lead her fraternity, lead +her parents, lead society----the Lord only knows what +else. Gone all to pieces! Pretty a case of nervous +prostration as you ever saw in a person of fifty. I began +on fractional doses with it, and at last got her where she +can rest. It did precisely what you claimed it would, +David.'' + +``Good!'' cried the Harvester. ``Good! I hoped it +would be effective. Thank you for the test. It will +give me confidence when I go before the chemists with it. +I've got a couple more compounds I wish you would +try when you have safe cases where you can do no harm.'' + +``You are cautious for a young man, son!'' + +``The woods do that. You not only discover miracles +and marvels in them, you not only trace evolution and the +origin of species, but you get the greatest lessons taught +in all the world ground into you early and alone---- +courage, caution, and patience.'' + +``Those are the rocks on which men are stranded as a +rule. You think you can breast them, David?'' + +The Harvester laughed. + +``Aside from breaking a certain promise mother rooted +in the blood and bones of me, if I am afraid of anything, +I don't know it. You don't often see me going head- +long, do you? As to patience! Ten years ago I began +removing every tree, bush, vine, and plant of medicinal +value from the woods around to my land; I set and sowed +acres in ginseng, knowing I must nurse, tend, and cultivate +seven years. If my neighbours had understood +what I was attempting, what do you think they would +have said? Cranky and lazy would have become adjectives +too mild. Lunatic would have expressed it better. +That's close the general opinion, anyway. Because I +will not fell my trees, and the woods hide the work I do, +it is generally conceded that I spend my time in the sun +reading a book. I do, as often as I have an opportunity. +But the point is that this fall, when I harvest that ginseng +bed, I will clear more money than my stiffest detractor +ever saw at one time. I'll wager my bank account won't +compare so unfavourably with the best of them now. +I did well this morning. Yes, I'll admit this much: +I am reasonably cautious, I'm a pattern for patience, +and my courage never has failed me yet, anyway. But +I must rap on wood; for that boast is a sign that I probably +will meet my Jonah soon.'' + +``David, you are a man after my own heart,'' said the +doctor. ``I love you more than any other friend I have +I wouldn't see a hair of your head changed for the world. +Now I've got to hurry to my operation. Remain as +long as you please if there is anything that interests you; +but don't let the giggling little nurse that always haunts +the hall when you come make any impression. She is +not up to your standard.'' + +``Don't!'' said the Harvester. ``I've learned one of +the big lessons of life since last I saw you, Doc. I have +no standard. There is just one woman in all the world +for me, and when I find her I will know her, and I will +be happy for even a glance; as for that talk of standards, +I will be only too glad to take her as she is.'' + +``David! I supposed what you said about enlarged +buildings was nonsense or applied to store-rooms.'' + +``Go to your operation!'' + +``David, if you send me in suspense, I may operate +on the wrong man. What has happened?'' + +``Nothing!'' said the Harvester. ``Nothing!'' + +``David, it is not like you to evade. What happened?'' + +``Nothing! On my word! I merely saw a vision and +dreamed a dream.'' + +``You! A rank materialist! Saw a vision and +dreamed a dream! And you call it nothing. Worst +thing that could happen! Whenever a man of common- +sense goes to seeing things that don't exist, and dreaming +dreams, why look out! What did you see? What did +you dream?'' + +``You woman!'' laughed the Harvester. ``Talk about +curiosity! I'd have to be a poet to describe my vision, +and the dream was strictly private. I couldn't tell it, +not for any price you could mention. Go to your operation.'' + +The doctor paused on the threshold. + +``You can't fool me,'' he said. ``I can diagnose you +all right. You are poet enough, but the vision was +sacred; and when a man won't tell, it's always and forever +a woman. I know all now I ever will, because I know +you, David. A man with a loose mouth and a low mind +drags the women of his acquaintance through whatever +mire he sinks in; but you couldn't tell, David, not even +about a dream woman. Come again soon! You are +my elixir of life, lad! I revel in the atmosphere you bring. +Wish me success now, I am going to a difficult, delicate +operation.'' + +``I do!'' cried the Harvester heartily. ``I do! But +you can't fail. You never have and that proves you +cannot! Good-bye!'' + +Down the street went the Harvester, passing over city +pave with his free, swinging stride, his head high, his +face flushed with vivid outdoor tints, going somewhere +to do something worth while, the impression always left +behind him. Men envied his robust appearance and +women looked twice, always twice, and sometimes +oftener if there was any opportunity; but twice at least +was the rule. He left a little roll of bills at the bank and +started toward the library. When he entered the reading +room an attendant with an eager smile hastily came toward him. + +``What will you have this morning, Mr. Langston?'' she +asked in the voice of one who would render willing service. + +``Not the big books to-day,'' laughed the Harvester. +``I've only a short time. I'll glance through the magazines.'' + +He selected several from a table and going to a corner +settled with them and for two hours was deeply engrossed. +He took an envelope from his pocket, traced lines, and +read intently. He studied the placing of rooms, the +construction of furniture, and all attractive ideas were +noted. When at last he arose the attendant went to +replace the magazines on the table. They had been +opened widely, and as she turned the leaves they +naturally fell apart at the plans for houses or articles +of furniture. + +The Harvester slowly went down the street. Before +every furniture store he paused and studied the designs +displayed in the windows. Then he untied Betsy and +drove to a lumber mill on the outskirts of the city and +made arrangements to have some freshly felled logs of +black walnut and curly maple sawed into different sizes +and put through a course in drying. + +He drove back to Medicine Woods whistling, singing, +and talking to Belshazzar beside him. He ate a hasty +lunch and at three o'clock was in the forest, blazing and +felling slender, straight-trunked oak and ash of the +desired proportions. + + + +CHAPTER III + +HARVESTING THE FOREST + + +The forest is never so wonderful as when spring +wrestles with winter for supremacy. While +the earth is yet ice bound, while snows occasionally +fly, spring breathes her warmer breath of +approach, and all nature responds. Sunny knolls, +embankments, and cleared spaces become bare, while shadow +spots and sheltered nooks remain white. This perfumes +the icy air with a warmer breath of melting snow. The +sap rises in the trees and bushes, sets buds swelling, and +they distil a faint, intangible odour. Deep layers of +dead leaves cover the frozen earth, and the sun shining +on them raises a steamy vapour unlike anything else in +nature. A different scent rises from earth where the +sun strikes it. Lichen faces take on the brightest colours +they ever wear, and rough, coarse mosses emerge in rank +growth from their cover of snow and add another perfume +to mellowing air. This combination has breathed a +strange intoxication into the breast of mankind in all +ages, and bird and animal life prove by their actions that +it makes the same appeal to them. + +Crows caw supremacy from tall trees; flickers, drunk +on the wine of nature, flash their yellow-lined wings +and red crowns among trees in a search for suitable +building places; nut-hatches run head foremost down +rough trunks, spying out larvae and early emerging insects; +titmice chatter; the bold, clear whistle of the cardinal +sounds never so gaily; and song sparrows pipe from every +wayside shrub and fence post. Coons and opossums +stir in their dens, musk-rat and ground-hog inspect the +weather, while squirrels race along branches and bound +from tree to tree like winged folk. + +All of them could have outlined the holdings of the +Harvester almost as well as any surveyor. They understood +where the bang of guns and the snap of traps +menaced life. Best of all, they knew where cracked +nuts, handfuls of wheat, oats, and crumbs were scattered +on the ground, and where suet bones dangled from bushes. +Here, too, the last sheaf from the small wheat field at the +foot of the hill was stoutly fixed on a high pole, so that +the grain was free to all feathered visitors. + +When the Harvester hitched Betsy, loaded his spiles +and sap buckets into the wagon, and started to the +woods to gather the offering the wet maples were pouring +down their swelling sides, almost his entire family came +to see him. They knew who fed and passed every day +among them, and so were unafraid. + +After the familiarity of a long, cold winter, when it had +been easier to pick up scattered food than to search for +it, they became so friendly with the man, the dog, and +the gray horse that they hastily snatched the food offered +at the barn and then followed through the woods. The +Harvester always was particular to wear large pockets, +for it was good company to have living creatures flocking +after him, trusting to his bounty. Ajax, a shimmering +wonder of gorgeous feathers, sunned on the ridge pole +of the old log stable, preened, spread his train, and uttered +the peacock cry of defiance, to exercise his voice or to +express his emotions at all times. But at feeding hour +he descended to the park and snatched bites from the +biggest turkey cocks and ganders and reigned in power +absolute over ducks, guineas, and chickens. Then he +followed to the barn and tried to frighten crows and +jays, and the gentle white doves under the eaves. + +The Harvester walked through deep leaves and snow +covering the road that only a forester could have +distinguished. Over his shoulder he carried a mattock, +and in the wagon were his clippers and an ax. Behind +him came Betsy drawing the sap buckets and big evaporating +kettles. Through the wood ranged Belshazzar, +the craziest dog in all creation. He always went wild +at sap time. Here was none of the monotony of trapping +for skins around the lake. This marked the first full +day in the woods for the season. He ranged as he pleased +and came for a pat or a look of confidence when he grew +lonely, while the Harvester worked. + +At camp the man unhitched Betsy and tied her to the +wagon and for several hours distributed buckets. Then +he hung the kettles and gathered wood for the fire. At +noon he returned to the cabin for lunch and brought back +a load of empty syrup cans, and barrels in which to +collect the sap. While the buckets filled at the dripping +trees, he dug roots in the sassafras thicket to fill orders +and supply the demand of Onabasha for tea. Several +times he stopped to cut an especially fine tree. + +``You know I hate to kill you,'' he apologized to the +first one he felled. ``But it certainly must be legitimate +for a man to take enough of his trees to build a +home. And no other house is possible for a creature of +the woods but a cabin, is there? The birds use of the +material they find here; surely I have the right to do the +same. Seems as if nothing else would serve, at least for +me. I was born and reared here, I've always loved +you; of course, I can't use anything else for my home.'' + +He swung the ax and the chips flew as he worked on +a straight half-grown oak. After a time he paused an +instant and rested, and as he did so he looked speculatively +at his work. + +``I wonder where she is to-day,'' he said. ``I wonder +what she is going to think of a log cabin in the woods. +Maybe she has been reared in the city and is afraid of a +forest. She may not like houses made of logs. Possibly +she won't want to marry a Medicine Man. She may +dislike the man, not to mention his occupation. She may +think it coarse and common to work out of doors with +your hands, although I'd have to argue there is a little +brain in the combination. I must figure out all these +things. But there is one on the lady: She should have +settled these points before she became quite so familiar. +I have that for a foundation anyway, so I'll go on cutting +wood, and the remainder will be up to her when I find +her. When I find her,'' repeated the Harvester slowly. +``But I am not going to locate her very soon monkeying +around in these woods. I should be out where people +are, looking for her right now.'' + +He chopped steadily until the tree crashed over, and +then, noticing a rapidly filling bucket, he struck the ax +in the wood and began gathering sap. When he had +made the round, he drove to the camp, filled the kettles, +and lighted the fire. While it started he cut and scraped +sassafras roots, and made clippings of tag alder, spice +brush and white willow into big bundles that were ready +to have the bark removed during the night watch, and +then cured in the dry-house. + +He went home at evening to feed the poultry and +replenish the ever-burning fire of the engine and to +keep the cabin warm enough that food would not freeze. +With an oilcloth and blankets he returned to camp and +throughout the night tended the buckets and boiling +sap, and worked or dozed by the fire between times. +Toward the end of boiling, when the sap was becoming +thick, it had to be watched with especial care so it would +not scorch. But when the kettles were freshly filled +the Harvester sat beside them and carefully split tender +twigs of willow and slipped off the bark ready to be +spread on the trays. + +``You are a good tonic,'' he mused as he worked, +``and you go into some of the medicine for rheumatism. +If she ever has it we will give her some of you, and +then she will be all right again. Strange that I should +be preparing medicinal bark by the sugar camp fire, +but I have to make this hay, not while the sun shines, +but when the bark is loose, while the sap is rising. Wonder +who will use this. Depends largely on where I sell it. +Anyway, I hope it will take the pain out of some poor +body. Prices so low now, not worth gathering unless +I can kill time on it while waiting for something else. +Never got over seven cents a pound for the best I ever +sold, and it takes a heap of these little quills to make a +pound when they are dry. That's all of you----about +twenty-five cents' worth. But even that is better than +doing nothing while I wait, and some one has to keep the +doctors supplied with salicin and tannin, so, if I do, +other folks needn't bother.'' + +He arose and poured more sap into the kettles as it +boiled away and replenished the fire. He nibbled a twig +when he began on the spice brush. As he sat on the +piled wood, and bent over his work he was an attractive +figure. His face shone with health and was bright with +anticipation. While he split the tender bark and slipped +out the wood he spoke his thoughts slowly: + +``The five cents a pound I'll get for you is even less, +but I love the fragrance and taste. You don't peel so +easy as the willow, but I like to prepare you better, +because you will make some miserable little sick child well +or you may cool some one's fevered blood. If ever she +has a fever, I hope she will take medicine made from my +bark, because it will be strong and pure. I've half a +notion to set some one else gathering the stuff and tending +the plants and spend my time in the little laboratory +compounding different combinations. I don't see what +bigger thing a man can do than to combine pure, clean, +unadulterated roots and barks into medicines that will +cool fevers, stop chills, and purify bad blood. The +doctors may be all right, but what are they going to do +if we men behind the prescription cases don't supply them +with unadulterated drugs. Answer me that, Mr. Sapsucker. +Doc says I've done mighty well so far as I +have gone. I can't think of a thing on earth I'd rather +do, and there's money no end in it. I could get too rich +for comfort in short order. I wouldn't be too wealthy +to live just the way I do for any consideration. I don't +know about her, though. She is lovely, and handsome +women usually want beautiful clothing, and a quantity +of things that cost no end of money. I may need all I +can get, for her. One never can tell.'' + +He arose to stir the sap and pour more from the barrels +to the kettles before he began on the tag alder he had +gathered. + +``If it is all the same to you, I'll just keep on chewing +spice brush while I work,'' he muttered. ``You are +entirely too much of an astringent to suit my taste and +you bring a cent less a pound. But you are thicker and +dry heavier, and you grow in any quantity around the +lake and on the marshy places, so I'll make the size of +the bundle atone for the price. If I peel you while I wait +on the sap I'm that much ahead. I can spread you on +drying trays in a few seconds and there you are. Howl +your head off, Bel, I don't care what you have found. I +wouldn't shoot anything to-day, unless the cupboard was +bare and I was starvation hungry. In that case I think +a man comes first, and I'd kill a squirrel or quail in season, +but blest if I'd butcher a lot or do it often. Vegetables +and bread are better anyway. You peel easier even than +the willow. What jolly whistles father used to make! + +``There was about twenty cents' worth of spice, and +I'll easy raise it to a dollar on this. I'll get a hundred +gallons of syrup in the coming two weeks and it will +bring one fifty if I boil and strain it carefully and can +guarantee it contains no hickory bark and brown sugar. +And it won't! Straight for me or not at all. Pure is +the word at Medicine Woods; syrup or drugs it's the same +thing. Between times I can fell every tree I'll need for +the new cabin, and average a dollar a day besides on spice, +alder, and willow, and twice that for sassafras for the +Onabasha markets; not to mention the quantities I +can dry this year. Aside from spring tea, they seem +to use it for everything. I never yet have had enough. +It goes into half the tonics, anodyne, and stimulants; +also soap and candy. I see where I grow rich in spite of +myself, and also where my harvest is going to spoil +before I can garner it, if I don't step lively and double +even more than I am now. Where the cabin is to come +in----well it must come if everything else goes. + +``The roots can wait and I'll dig them next year and +get more and larger pieces. I won't really lose anything, +and if she should come before I am ready to start to find +her, why then I'll have her home prepared. How long +before you begin your house, old fire-fly?'' he inquired +of a flaming cardinal tilting on a twig. + +He arose to make the round of the sap buckets again, +then resumed his work peeling bark, and so the time +passed. In the following ten days he collected and +boiled enough sap to make more syrup than he had +expected. His earliest spring store of medicinal twigs, +that were peeled to dry in quills, were all collected and +on the trays; he had digged several wagon loads of sassafras +and felled all the logs of stout, slender oak he would +require for his walls. Choice timber he had been curing +for candlestick material he hauled to the saw-mills to +have cut properly, for the thought of trying his hand +at tables and chairs had taken possession of him. He +was sure he could make furniture that would appear +quite as well as the mission pieces he admired on display +in the store windows of the city. To him, chairs and +tables made from trees that grew on land that had +belonged for three generations to his ancestors, trees among +which he had grown, played, and worked, trees that +were so much his friends that he carefully explained +the situation to them before using an ax or saw, trees +that he had cut, cured, and fashioned into designs of his +own, would make vastly more valuable furnishings in his +home than anything that could be purchased in the city. + +As he drove back and forth he watched constantly +for her. He was working so desperately, planning far +ahead, doubling and trebling tasks, trying to do everything +his profession demanded in season, and to prepare +timber and make plans for the new cabin, as well as to +start a pair of candlesticks of marvellous design for her, +that night was one long, unbroken sleep of the thoroughly +tired man, but day had become a delightful dream. + +He fed the chickens to produce eggs for her. He +gathered barks and sluiced roots on the raft in the lake, +for her. He grubbed the spice thicket before the door +and moved it into the woods to make space for a lawn, +for her. His eyes were wide open for every woven case +and dangling cocoon of the big night moths that propagated +around him, for her. Every night when he left +the woods from one to a dozen cocoons, that he had +detected with remarkable ease while the trees were bare, +were stuck in his hat band. As he arranged them in a +cool, dry place he talked to them. + +``Of course I know you are valuable and there are +collectors who would pay well for you, but I think not. +You are the prettiest thing God made that I ever saw, +and those of you that home with me have no price on +your wings. You are much safer here than among the +crows and jays of the woods. I am gathering you to +protect you, and to show to her. If I don't find her by +June, you may go scot free. All I want is the best pattern +I can get from some of you for candlestick designs. +Of everything in the whole world a candlestick should +be made of wood. It should be carved by hand, and +of all ornamentations on earth the moth that flies to +the night light is the most appropriate. Owls are not +so bad. They are of the night, and they fly to light, +too, but they are so old. Nobody I ever have known +used a moth. They missed the best when they neglected +them. I'll make her sticks over an original pattern; +I'll twine nightshade vines, with flowers and berries +around them, and put a trailed luna on one, and what +is the next prettiest for the other? I'll think well before +if decide. Maybe she'll come by the time I get to carving +and tell me what she likes. That would beat my taste +or guessing a mile.'' + +He carefully arranged the twigs bearing cocoons in a +big, wire-covered box to protect them from the depredations +of nibbling mice and the bolder attacks of the +saucy ground squirrels that stored nuts in his loft and +took possession of the attic until their scampering +sometimes awoke him in the night. + +Every trip he made to the city he stopped at the +library to examine plans of buildings and furniture and +to make notes. The oak he had hauled was being hewed +into shape by a neighbour who knew how, and every +wagon that carried a log to the city to be dressed at +the mill brought back timber for side walls, joists, and +rafters. Night after night he sat late poring over his +plans for the new rooms, above all for her chamber. +With poised pencil he wavered over where to put the +closet and entrance to her bath. He figured on how wide +to make her bed and where it should stand. He remembered +her dressing table in placing windows and a space +for a chest of drawers. In fact there was nothing the +active mind of the Harvester did not busy itself with +in those days that might make a woman a comfortable +home. Every thought emanated from impulses evolved +in his life in the woods, and each was executed with +mighty tenderness. + +A killdeer sweeping the lake close two o'clock one +morning awakened him. He had planned to close the +sugar camp for the season that day, but when he heard +the notes of the loved bird he wondered if that would +not be a good time to stake out the foundations and +begin digging. There was yet ice in the ground, but the +hillside was rapidly thawing, and although the work +would be easier later, so eager was the Harvester to have +walls up and a roof over that he decided to commence. + +But when morning came and he and Belshazzar +breakfasted and fed Betsy and the stock, he concluded to +return to his first plan and close the camp. All the sap +collected that day went into the vinegar barrel. He +loaded the kettles, buckets, and spiles and stopped at +the spice thicket to cut a bale of twigs as he passed. He +carried one load to the wagon and returned for another. +Down wind on swift wing came a bird and entered the +bushes. Motionless the Harvester peered at it. A +mourning dove had returned to him through snow, +skifting over cold earth. It settled on a limb and began +dressing its plumage. At that instant a wavering, ``Coo +coo a'gh coo,'' broke in sobbing notes from the deep +wood. Without paying the slightest heed, the dove +finished a wing, ruffled and settled her feathers, and +opened her bill in a human-like yawn. The Harvester +smiled. The notes swelled closer in renewed pleading. +The cry was beyond doubt a courting male and this +an indifferent female. Her beady eyes snapped, her +head turned coquettishly, a picture of self-possession, +she hid among the dense twigs of the spice thicket. +Around the outside circled the pleading male. + +With shining eyes the Harvester watched. These +were of the things that made life in the woods most worth +while. More insistent grew the wavering notes of the +lover. More indifferent became the beloved. She was +superb in her poise as she amused herself in hiding. A +perfect burst of confused, sobbing notes broke on the +air. Then away in the deep wood a softly-wavering, +half-questioning ``Coo-ah!'' answered them. Amazement +flashed into the eyes of the Harvester, but his face +was not nearly so expressive as that of the bird. She +lifted a bewildered head and grew rigid in an attitude of +tense listening. There was a pause. In quicker measure +and crowding notes the male called again. Instantly +the soft ``Coo!'' wavered in answer. The surprised +little hen bird of the thicket hopped straight up and +settled on her perch again, her dark eyes indignant as +she uttered a short ``Coo!'' The muscles of the +Harvester's chest were beginning to twitch and quiver. +More intense grew the notes of the pleading male. Softly +seductive came the reply. The clapping of his wings +could be heard as he flew in search of the charmer. ``A'gh +coo!'' cried the deserted female as she tilted off the branch +and tore through the thicket in pursuit, with wings hastened +by fright at the ringing laugh of the Harvester. + +``Not so indifferent after all, Bel,'' he said to the dog +standing in stiff point beside him. ``That was all `pretend!' +But she waited just a trifle too long. Now she +will have to fight it out with a rival. Good thing if +some of the flirtatious women could have seen that. +Help them to learn their own minds sooner.'' + +He laughed as he heaped the twigs on top of the wagon +and started down the hill chuckling. Belshazzar followed, +leading Betsy straight in the middle of the road by the +hitching strap. A few yards ahead the man stopped +suddenly with lifted hand. The dog and horse stood +motionless. A dove flashed across the road and settled +in sight on a limb. Almost simultaneously another +perched beside it, and they locked bills in a long caress, +utterly heedless of a plaintive ``Coo'' in the deep wood. + +``Settled!'' said the Harvester. ``Jupiter! I wish my +troubles were that nearly finished! Wish I knew where +she is and how to find my way to her lips! Wonder if +she will come when I call her. What if I should find her, +and she would have everything on earth, other lovers, +and indifference worse than Madam Dove's for me. +Talk about bitterness! Well I'd have the dream left +anyway. And there are always two sides. There is +just a possibility that she may be poor and overworked, +sick and tired, and wondering why I don't come. Possibly +she had a dream, too, and she wishes I would hurry. +Dear Lord!'' + +The Harvester began to perspire as he strode down +the hill. He scarcely waited to hang the harness properly. +He did not stop to unload the wagon until night, +but went after an ax and a board that he split into pegs. +Then he took a ball of twine, a measuring line, and +began laying out his foundation, when the hard earth +would scarcely hold the stakes he drove into it. When +he found he only would waste time in digging he put +away the neatly washed kettles, peeled the spice brush, +spread it to dry, and prepared his dinner. After that +he began hauling stone and cement for his basement +floor and foundation walls. Occasionally he helped at +hewing logs when the old man paused to rest. That afternoon +the first robin of the season hailed him in passing. + +``Hello!'' cried the Harvester. ``You don't mean +to tell me that you have beaten the larks! You really +have! Well since I see it, I must believe, but you are +early. Come around to the back door if crumbs or wheat +will do or if you can make out on suet and meat bones! +We are good and ready for you. Where is your mate? +For any sake, don't tell me you don't know. One case +of that kind at Medicine Woods is enough. Say you +came ahead to see if it is too cold or to select a home and +get ready for her. Say anything on earth except that +you love her, and want her until your body is one quivering +ache, and you don't know where she is.'' + + + +CHAPTER IV + +A COMMISSION FOR THE SOUTH WIND + +The next morning the larks trailed ecstasy all +over the valley, the following day cuckoos were +calling in the thickets, a warm wind swept +from the south and set swollen buds bursting, while +the sun shone, causing the Harvester to rejoice. Betsy's +white coat was splashed with the mud of the valley road; +the feet of Belshazzar left tracks over lumber piles; +and the Harvester removed his muck-covered shoes at +the door and wore slippers inside. The skunk cabbage +appeared around the edge of the forest, rank mullein and +thistles lay over the fields in big circles of green, and +even plants of delicate growth were thrusting their +heads through mellowing earth and dead leaves, to reach +light and air. + +Then the Harvester took his mattock and began to +dig. His level best fell so far short of what he felt capable +of doing and desired to accomplish that the following day +he put two more men on the job. Then the earth did +fly, and so soon as the required space was excavated the +walls were lined with stone and a smooth basement +floor was made of cement. The night the new home stood, +a skeleton of joists and rafters, gleaming whitely on the +banks of Loon Lake, the Harvester went to the bridge +crossing Singing Water and slowly came up the driveway +to see how the work appeared. He caught his breath +as he advanced. He had intended to stake out generous +rooms, but this, compared with the cabin, seemed like +a big hotel. + +``I hope I haven't made it so large it will be a burden,'' +he soliloquized. ``It's huge! But while I am at it I +want to build big enough, and I think I have.'' + +He stood on the driveway, his arms folded, and looked +at the structure as he occasionally voiced his thoughts. + +``The next thing is to lay up the side walls and get +the roof over. Got to have plenty of help, for those +logs are hewed to fourteen inches square and some of +them are forty feet long. That's timber! Grew with +me, too. Personally acquainted with almost every +tree of it. We will bed them in cement, use care with +the roof, and if that doesn't make a cool house in the +summer, and a warm one in winter, I'll be disappointed. +It sets among the trees, and on the hillside just right. +We must have a wide porch, plenty of flowers, vines, +ferns, and mosses, and when I get everything finished +and she sees it----perhaps it will please her.'' + +A great horned owl swept down the hill, crossed +the lake, and hooted from the forest of the opposite +bank. The Harvester thought of his dream and turned. + +``Any women walking the water to-night? Come if +you like,'' he bantered, ``I don't mind in the least. In +fact, I'd rather enjoy it. I'd be so happy if you would +come now and tell me how this appears to you, for it's +all yours. I'd have enlarged the store-room, dry-houses +and laboratory for myself, but this cabin, never! The +old one suited me as it was; but for you----I should have +a better home.'' + +The Harvester glanced from the shining skeleton to +the bridge of gold and back again. + +``Where are you to-night?'' he questioned. ``What +are you doing? Can't you give me a hint of where to +search for you when this is ready? I don't know but I +am beginning wrong. My little brothers of the wood +do differently. They announce their intentions the +first thing, flaunt their attractions, and display their +strength. They say aloud, for all the listening world to +hear, what is in their hearts. They chip, chirp, and sing, +warble, whistle, thrill, scream, and hoot it. They are +strong on self-expression, and appreciative of their +appearance. They meet, court, mate, and THEN build their +home together after a mutual plan. It's a good way, +too! Lots surer of getting things satisfactory.'' + +The Harvester sat on a lumber pile and gazed questioningly +at the framework. + +``I wish I knew if I am going at things right,'' he said. +``There are two sides to consider. If she is in a good +home, and lovingly cared for, it would be proper to court +her and get her promise, if I could----no I'm blest if I'll +be so modest----get her promise, as I said, and let her +wait while I build the cabin. But if she should be poor, +tired, and neglected, then I ought to have this ready when +I find her, so I could pick her up and bring her to it, +with no more ceremony than the birds.'' + +The Harvester's clear skin flushed crimson. + +``Of course, I don't mean no wedding ceremony,'' +he amended. ``I was thinking of a long time wasted in +preliminaries when in my soul I know I am going to marry +my Dream Girl before I ever have seen her in reality. +What would be the use in spending much time in courting? +She is my wife now, by every law of God. Let +me get a glimpse of her, and I'll prove it. But I've got +to make tracks, for if she were here, where would I put +her? I must hurry!'' + +He went to the work room and began polishing a table +top. He had bought a chest of tools and was spending +every spare minute on tables, chair seats, and legs. +He had decided to make these first and carve candlesticks +later when he had more time. Two hours he +worked at the furniture, and then went to bed. The +following morning he put eggs under several hens that +wanted to set, trimmed his grape-vines, examined the +precious ginseng beds, attended his stock, got breakfast +for Belshazzar and himself, and was ready for work when +the first carpenter arrived. Laying hewed logs went +speedily, and before the Harvester believed it possible +the big shingles he had ordered were being nailed on the +roof. Then came the plumber and arranged for the +bathroom, and the furnace man placed the heating pipes. +The Harvester had intended the cabin to be mostly the +work of his own hands, but when he saw how rapidly +skilled carpenters worked, he changed his mind and +had them finish the living-room, his room, and the +upstairs, and make over the dining-room and kitchen. + +Her room he worked on alone, with a little help if +he did not know how to join the different parts. Every +thing was plain and simple, after plans of his own, but +the Harvester laid floors and made window casings, +seats, and doors of wood that the big factories of Grand +Rapids used in veneering their finest furniture. When +one of his carpenters pointed out this to him, and +suggested that he sell his lumber to McLean and use +pine flooring from the mills the Harvester laughed +at him. + +``I don't say that I could afford to buy burl maple, +walnut, and cherry for wood-work,'' said the Harvester. +``I could not, but since I have it, you can stake your life +I won't sell it and build my home of cheap, rapidly +decaying wood. The best I have goes into this cabin +and what remains will do to sell. I have an idea that when +this is done it is going to appear first rate. Anyway, it +will be solid enough to last a thousand years, and with +every day of use natural wood grows more beautiful. +When we get some tables, couches, and chairs made +from the same timber as the casings and the floors, I +think it will be fine. I want money, but I don't want it +bad enough to part with the BEST of anything I have for +it. Go carefully and neatly there; it will have to be +changed if you don't.'' + +So the work progressed rapidly. When the carpenters +had finished the last stroke on the big veranda +they remained a day more and made flower boxes, and a +swinging couch, and then the greedy Harvester kept +the best man with him a week longer to help on the +furniture. + +``Ain't you going to say a word about her, Langston?'' +asked this man as they put a mirror-like surface on a +curly maple dressing table top. + +``Her!'' ejaculated the Harvester. ``What do you +mean?'' + +``I haven't seen you bathe anywhere except in the +lake since I have been here,'' said the carpenter. ``Do +you want me to think that a porcelain tub, this big +closet, and chest of drawers are for you?'' + +A wave of crimson swept over the Harvester. + +``No, they are not for me,'' he said simply. ``I don't +want to be any more different from other men than I +can help, although I know that life in the woods, the +rigid training of my mother, and the reading of only +the books that would aid in my work have made me +individual in many of my thoughts and ways. I suppose +most men, just now, would tell you anything you want +to know. There is only one thing I can say: The +best of my soul and brain, the best of my woods and +store-house, the best I can buy with money is not good +enough for her. That's all. For myself, I am getting +ready to marry, of course. I think all normal men do +and that it is a matter of plain common-sense that they +should. Life with the right woman must be infinitely +broader and better than alone. Are you married?'' + +``Yes. Got a wife and four children.'' + +``Are you sorry?'' + +``Sorry!'' the carpenter shrilled the word. ``Sorry! +Well that's the best I ever heard! Am I sorry I married +Nell and got the kids? Do I look sorry?'' + +``I am not expecting to be, either,'' said the Harvester +calmly. ``I think I have done fairly well to stick to my +work and live alone until I am twenty-six. I have +thought the thing all over and made up my mind. As +soon as I get this house far enough along that I feel I can +proceed alone I am going to rush the marrying business +just as fast as I can, and let her finish the remainder to +her liking.'' + +``Well this ought to please her.'' + +``That's because you find your own work good,'' +laughed the Harvester. + +``Not altogether!'' The carpenter polished the board +and stood it on end to examine the surface as he talked. +``Not altogether! Nothing but good work would suit +you. I was thinking of the little creek splashing down +the hill to the lake; and that old log hewer said that in +a few more days things here would be a blaze of colour +until fall.'' + +``Almost all the drug plants and bushes leaf beautifully +and flower brilliantly,'' explained the Harvester. +``I studied the location suitable to each variety before I +set the beds and planned how to grow plants for continuity +of bloom, and as much harmony of colour as possible. +Of course a landscape gardener would tear up some of +it, but seen as a whole it isn't so bad. Did you ever +notice that in the open, with God's blue overhead and +His green for a background, He can place purple and +yellow, pink, magenta, red, and blue in masses or any +combination you can mention and the brighter the colour +the more you like it? You don't seem to see or feel that +any grouping clashes; you revel in each wonderful +growth, and luxuriate in the brilliancy of the whole. +Anyway, this suits me.'' + +``I guess it will please her, too,'' said the carpenter. +``After all the pains you've taken, she is a good one if +it doesn't.'' + +``I'll always have the consolation of having done my +best,'' replied the Harvester. ``One can't do more! +Whether she likes it or not depends greatly on the way +she has been reared.'' + +``You talk as if you didn't know,'' commented the +carpenter. + +``You go on with this now,'' said the Harvester hastily. +``I've got to uncover some beds and dig my year's supply +of skunk cabbage, else folk with asthma and dropsy who +depend on me will be short on relief. I ought to take +my sweet flag, too, but I'm so hurried now I think I'll +leave it until fall; I do when I can, because the bloom +is so pretty around the lake and the bees simply go wild +over the pollen. Sometimes I almost think I can detect +it in their honey. Do you know I've wondered often +if the honey my bees make has medicinal properties +and should be kept separate in different seasons. In +early spring when the plants and bushes that furnish +the roots and barks of most of the tonics are in bloom, +and the bees gather the pollen, that honey should partake +in a degree of the same properties and be good medicine. +In the summer it should aid digestion, and in the fall +cure rheumatism and blood disorders.'' + +``Say you try it!'' urged the carpenter. ``I want a +lot of the fall kind. I'm always full of rheumatism by +October. Exposure, no doubt.'' + +``Over eating of too much rich food, you mean,'' +laughed the Harvester. ``I'd like to see any man expose +his body to more differing extremes of weather than I do, +and I'm never sick. It's because I am my own cook +and so I live mostly on fruits, vegetables, bread, milk, +and eggs, a few fish from the lake, a little game once in +a great while or a chicken, and no hot drinks; plenty of +fresh water, air, and continuous work out of doors. That's +the prescription! I'd be ashamed to have rheumatism +at your age. There's food in the cupboard if you grow +hungry. I am going past one of the neighbours on my +way to see about some work I want her to do.'' + +The Harvester stopped for lunch, carried food to +Belshazzar, and started straight across country, his +mattock, with a bag rolled around the handle, on his +shoulder. His feet sank in the damp earth at the foot +of the hill, and he laughed as he leaped across Singing +Water. + +``You noisy chatterbox!'' cried the man. ``The +impetus of coming down the curves of the hill keeps you +talking all the way across this muck bed to the lake. +With small work I can make you a thing of beauty. +A few bushes grubbed, a little deepening where you +spread too much, and some more mallows along the +banks will do the trick. I must attend to you soon.'' + +``Now what does the boy want?'' laughed a white- +haired old woman, as the Harvester entered the door. +``Mebby you think I don't know what you're up to! +I even can hear the hammering and the voices of the men +when the wind is in the south. I've been wondering +how soon you'd need me. Out with it!'' + +``I want you to get a woman and come over and spend +a day with me. I'll come after you and bring you back. +I want you to go over mother's bedding and have what +needs it washed. All I want you to do is to superintend, +and tell me now what I will want from town for your +work.'' + +``I put away all your mother's bedding that you were +not using, clean as a ribbon.'' + +``But it has been packed in moth preventives ever +since and out only four times a year to air, as you told +me. It must smell musty and be yellow. I want +it fresh and clean.'' + +``So what I been hearing is true, David?'' + +``Quite true!'' said the Harvester. + +``Whose girl is she, and when are you going to jine +hands?'' + +The Harvester lifted his clear eyes and hesitated. + +``Doc Carey laid you in my arms when you was born, +David. I tended you 'fore ever your ma did. All +your life you've been my boy, and I love you same as my +own blood; it won't go no farther if you say so. I'll +never tell a living soul. But I'm old and 'til better +weather comes, house bound; and I get mighty lonely. +I'd like to think about you and her, and plan for you, +and love her as I always did you folks. Who is she, +David? Do I know the family?'' + +``No. She is a stranger to these parts,'' said the +unhappy Harvester. + +``David, is she a nice girl 'at your ma would have +liked?'' + +``She's the only girl in the world that I'd marry,'' said +the Harvester promptly, glad of a question he could +answer heartily. ``Yes. She is gentle, very tender +and----and affectionate,'' he went on so rapidly that +Granny Moreland could not say a word, ``and as soon +as I bring her home you shall come to spend a day and +get acquainted. I know you will love her! I'll come +in the morning, then. I must hurry now. I am working +double this spring and I'm off for the skunk cabbage +bed to-day.'' + +``You are working fit to kill, the neighbours say. +Slavin' like a horse all day, and half the night I see your +lights burning.'' + +``Do I appear killed?'' laughingly inquired the Harvester. + +``You look peart as a struttin' turkey gobbler,'' said +the old woman. ``Go on with your work! Work don't +hurt a-body. Eat a-plenty, sleep all you ort, and you +CAN'T work enough to hurt you.'' + +``So the neighbours say I'm working now? New +story, isn't it? Usually I'm too lazy to make a living, +if I remember.'' + +``Only to those who don't sense your purceedings, +David. I always knowed how you grubbed and slaved +an' set over them fearful books o' yours.'' + +``More interesting than the wildest fiction,'' said the +man. ``I'm making some medicine for your rheumatism, +Granny. It is not fully tested yet, but you get ready +for it by cutting out all the salt you can. I haven't +time to explain this morning, but you remember what I +say, leave out the salt, and when Doc thinks it's safe +I'll bring you something that will make a new woman +of you.'' + +He went swinging down the road, and Granny Moreland +looked after him. + +``While he was talkin','' she muttered, ``I felt full of +information as a flock o' almanacs, but now since he's +gone, 'pears to me I don't know a thing more 'an I did +to start on.'' + +``Close call,'' the Harvester was thinking. ``Why +the nation did I admit anything to her? People may +talk as they please, so long as I don't sanction it, but I +have two or three times. That's a fool trick. Suppose +I can't find her? Maybe she won't look at me if I can. +Then I'd have started something I couldn't finish. +And if anybody thinks I'll end this by taking any girl I +can get, if I can't find Her, why they think wrongly. +Just the girl of my golden dream or no woman at all +for me. I've lived alone long enough to know how to do +it in comfort. If I can't find and win her I have no +intention of starting a boarding house.'' + +The Harvester began to laugh. `` `I'd rather keep +bachelor's hall in Hell than go to board in Heaven!' '' +he quoted gaily. ``That's my sentiment too. If you +can't have what you want, don't have anything. But +there is no use to become discouraged before I start. +I haven't begun to hunt her yet. Until I do, I might as +well believe that she will walk across the bridge and take +possession just as soon as I get the last chair leg polished. +She might! She came in the dream, and to come actually +couldn't be any more real. I'll make a stiff hunt of +it before I give up, if I ever do. I never yet have made a +complete failure of anything. But just now I am hunting +skunk cabbage. It's precisely the time to take it.'' + +Across the lake, in the swampy woods, close where the +screech owl sang and the girl of the golden dream walked +in the moonlight the Harvester began operations. He +unrolled the sack, went to one end of the bed and +systematically started a swath across it, lifting every other +plant by the roots. Flowering time was almost past, +but the bees knew where pollen ripened, and hummed +incessantly over and inside the queer cone-shaped growths +with their hooked beaks. It almost appeared as if the +sound made inside might be to give outsiders warning +not to poach on occupied territory, for the Harvester +noticed that no bee entered a pre-empted plant. + +With skilful hand each stroke brought up a root and +he tossed it to one side. The plants were vastly peculiar +things. First they seemed to be a curled leaf with no +flower. In colour they shaded from yellow to almost +black mahogany, and appeared as if they were a flower +with no leaf. Closer examination proved there was a +stout leaf with a heavy outside mid-rib, the tip of which +curled over in a beak effect, that wrapped around a +peculiar flower of very disagreeable odour. The handling +of these plants by the hundred so intensified this +smell the Harvester shook his head. + +``I presume you are mostly mine,'' he said to the busy +little workers around him. ``If there is anything in my +theory of honey having varying medicinal properties +at different seasons, right now mine should be good for +Granny's rheumatism and for nervous and dropsical +people. I shouldn't think honey flavoured with skunk +cabbage would be fit to eat. But, of course, it isn't all +this. There is catkin pollen on the wind, hazel and sassafras +are both in bloom now, and so are several of the +earliest little flowers of the woods. You can gather +enough of them combined to temper the disagreeable +odour into a racy sweetness, and all the shrub blooms are +good tonics, too, and some of the earthy ones. I'm +going to try giving some of you empty cases next spring +and analyzing the honey to learn if it isn't good medicine.'' + +The Harvester straightened and leaned on the mattock +to fill his lungs with fresh air and as he delightedly sniffed +it he commented, ``Nothing else has much of a chance +since I've stirred up the cabbage bed. I can scent the +catkins plainly, being so close, and as I came here I +could detect the hazel and sassafras all right.'' + +Above him a peculiar, raucous chattering for an instant +hushed other wood voices. The Harvester looked +up, laughing gaily. + +``So you've decided to announce it to your tribe at +last, have you?'' he inquired. ``You are waking the +sleepers in their dens to-day? Well, there's nothing like +waiting until you have a sure thing. The bluebirds +broke the trail for the feathered folk the twenty-fourth +of February. The sap oozed from the maples about +the same time for the trees. The very first skunk cabbage +was up quite a month ago to signal other plants to +come on, and now you are rousing the furred folk. I'll +write this down in my records----`When the earliest bluebird +sings, when the sap wets the maples, when the +skunk cabbage flowers, and the first striped squirrel +barks, why then, it is spring!' '' + +He bent to his task and as he worked closer the water +he noticed sweet-flag leaves waving two inches tall beneath +the surface. + +``Great day!'' he cried. ``There you are making signs, +too! And right! Of course! Nature is always right. +Just two inches high and it's harvest for you. I can +use a rake, and dried in the evaporator you bring me ten +cents a pound; to the folks needing a tonic you are worth +a small fortune. No doubt you cost that by the time +you reach them; but I fear I can't gather you just now. +My head is a little preoccupied these days. What +with the cabbage, and now you, and many of the bushes +and trees making signs, with a new cabin to build and +furnish, with a girl to find and win, I'm what you might +call busy. I've covered my book shelf. I positively +don't dare look Emerson or Maeterlinck in the face. +One consolation! I've got the best of Thoreau in my +head, and if I read Stickeen a few times more I'll be able +to recite that. There's a man for you, not to mention +the dog! Bel, where are you? Would you stick to me +like that? I think you would. But you are a big, +strong fellow. Stickeen was only such a mite of a dog. +But what a man he followed! I feel as if I should put +on high-heeled slippers and carry a fan and a lace +handkerchief when I think of him. And yet, most men +wouldn't consider my job so easy!'' + +The Harvester rapidly pitched the evil-smelling plants +into big heaps and as he worked he imitated the sounds +around him as closely as he could. The song sparrow +laughed at him and flew away in disgust when he tried +its notes. The jay took time to consider, but was not +fooled. The nut-hatch ran head first down trees, larvae +hunting, and was never a mite deceived. But the killdeer +on invisible legs, circling the lake shore, replied +instantly; so did the lark soaring above, and the dove +of the elm thicket close beside. The glittering black +birds flashing over every tree top answered the ``T'check, +t'chee!'' of the Harvester quite as readily as their mates. + +The last time he paused to rest he had studied scents. +When he straightened again he was occupied with every +voice of earth and air around and above him, and the +notes of singing hens, exultant cocks, the scream of +geese, the quack of ducks, the rasping crescendo of +guineas running wild in the woods, the imperial note of +Ajax sunning on the ridge pole and echoes from all of +them on adjoining and distant farms. + +`` `Now I see the full meaning and beauty of that +word sound!' '' quoted the Harvester. `` `I thank God +for sound. It always mounts and makes me mount!' '' + +He breathed deeply and stood listening, a superb +figure of a man, his lean face glowing with emotion. + +``If she could see and hear this, she would come,'' +he said softly. ``She would come and she would love +it as I do. Any one who understands, and knows how to +translate, cares for this above all else earth has to offer. +They who do not, fail to read as they run!'' + +He shifted feet mired in swamp muck, and stood as +if loath to bend again to his task. He lifted a weighted +mattock and scraped the earth from it, sniffing it delightedly +the while. A soft south wind freighted with aromatic +odours swept his warm face. The Harvester +removed his hat and shook his head that the breeze +might thread his thick hair. + +``I've a commission for you, South Wind,'' he said +whimsically. ``Go find my Dream Girl. Go carry +her this message from me. Freight your breath with +spicy pollen, sun warmth, and flower nectar. Fill all +her senses with delight, and then, close to her ear, +whisper it softly, `Your lover is coming!' Tell her that, O +South Wind! Carry Araby to her nostrils, Heaven to +her ears, and then whisper and whisper it over and over +until you arouse the passion of earth in her blood. Tell +her what is rioting in my heart, and brain, and soul this +morning. Repeat it until she must awake to its meaning, +`Your lover is coming.' '' + + + +CHAPTER V + + +WHEN THE HARVESTER MADE GOOD + +The sassafras and skunk cabbage were harvested. +The last workman was gone. There was not a +sound at Medicine Woods save the babel of bird +and animal notes and the never-ending accompaniment +of Singing Water. The geese had gone over, some flocks +pausing to rest and feed on Loon Lake, and ducks that +homed there were busy among the reeds and rushes. In +the deep woods the struggle to maintain and reproduce +life was at its height, and the courting songs of gaily +coloured birds were drowned by hawk screams and crow +calls of defiance. + +Every night before he plunged into the lake and went +to sleep the Harvester made out a list of the most pressing +work that he would undertake on the coming day. By +systematizing and planning ahead he was able to accomplish +an unbelievable amount. The earliest rush of +spring drug gathering was over. He could be more +deliberate in collecting the barks he wanted. Flowers +that were to be gathered at bloom time and leaves were +not yet ready. The heavy leaf coverings he had helped +the winds to heap on his beds of lily of the valley, +bloodroot, and sarsaparilla were removed carefully. + +Inside the cabin the Harvester cleaned the glass, swept +the floors with a soft cloth pinned over the broom, and +hung pale yellow blinds at the windows. Every spare minute +he worked on making furniture, and with each piece +he grew in experience and ventured on more difficult +undertakings. He had progressed so far that he now +allowed himself an hour each day on the candlesticks +for her. Every evening he opened her door and with soft +cloths polished the furniture he had made. When her +room was completed and the dining-room partially finished, +the Harvester took time to stain the cabin and +porch roofs the shade of the willow leaves, and on the logs +and pillars he used oil that served to intensify the light +yellow of the natural wood. With that much accomplished +he felt better. If she came now, in a few hours +he would be able to offer a comfortable room, enough +conveniences to live until more could be provided, and +of food there was always plenty. + +His daily programme was to feed and water his animals +and poultry, prepare breakfast for himself and Belshazzar, +and go to the woods, dry-house or store-room +to do the work most needful in his harvesting. In the +afternoon he laboured over furniture and put finishing +touches on the new cabin, and after supper he carved and +found time to read again, as before his dream. + +He was so happy he whistled and sang at his work much +of the time at first, but later there came days when doubts +crept in and all his will power was required to proceed +steadily. As the cabin grew in better shape for occupancy +each day, more pressing became the thought of how he +was going to find and meet the girl of his dream. Sometimes +it seemed to him that the proper way was to remain +at home and go on with his work, trusting her to come to +him. At such times he was happy and gaily whistled +and sang: + + ``Stay in your chimney corner, + Don't roam the world about, + Stay in your chimney corner, + And your own true love will find you out.'' + + +But there were other days while grubbing in the forest, +battling with roots in the muck and mire of the lake +bank, staggering under a load for two men, scarcely taking +time to eat and sleep enough to keep his condition +perfect, when that plan seemed too hopeless and senseless +to contemplate. Then he would think of locking +the cabin, leaving the drugs to grow undisturbed by +collecting, hiring a neighbour to care for his living +creatures, and starting a search over the world to find her. +There came times when the impulse to go was so strong +that only the desire to take a day more to decide where, +kept him. Every time his mind was made up to start +the following day came the counter thought, what if I +should go and she should come in my absence? In the +dream she came. That alone held him, even in the face +of the fact that if he left home some one might know of +and rifle the precious ginseng bed, carefully tended these +seven years for the culmination the coming fall would +bring. That ginseng was worth many thousands and he +had laboured over it, fighting worms and parasites, covering +and uncovering it with the changing seasons, a +siege of loving labour. + +Sometimes a few hours of misgiving tortured him, but +as a rule he was cheerful and happy in his preparations. +Without intending to do it he was gradually furnishing +the cabin. Every few days saw a new piece finished in +the workshop. Each trip to Onabasha ended in the +purchase of some article he could see would harmonize +with his colour plans for one of the rooms. He had filled +the flower boxes for the veranda with delicate plants +that were growing luxuriantly. + +Then he designed and began setting a wild-flower +garden outside her door and started climbing vines over +the logs and porches, but whatever he planted he found +in the woods or took from beds he cultivated. Many of +the medicinal vines had leaves, flowers, twining tendrils, +and berries or fruits of wonderful beauty. Every trip +to the forest he brought back a half dozen vines, plants, +or bushes to set for her. All of them either bore lovely +flowers, berries, quaint seed pods, or nuts, and beside +the drive and before the cabin he used especial care +to plant a hedge of bittersweet vines, burning bush, +and trees of mountain ash, so that the glory of their colour +would enliven the winter when days might be gloomy. + +He planted wild yam under her windows that its queer +rattles might amuse her, and hop trees where their castanets +would play gay music with every passing wind of +fall. He started a thicket along the opposite bank of +Singing Water where it bubbled past her window, and in +it he placed in graduated rows every shrub and small tree +bearing bright flower, berry, or fruit. Those remaining +he used as a border for the driveway from the lake, so that +from earliest spring her eyes would fall on a procession of +colour beginning with catkins and papaw lilies, and running +through alders, haws, wild crabs, dogwood, plums, +and cherry intermingled with forest saplings and vines +bearing scarlet berries in fall and winter. In the damp soil +of the same character from which they were removed, in +the shade and under the skilful hand of the Harvester, few +of these knew they had been transplanted, and when May +brought the catbirds and orioles much of this growth was +flowering quite as luxuriantly as the same species in the +woods. + +The Harvester was in the store-house packing boxes +for shipment. His room was so small and orders so +numerous that he could not keep large quantities on hand. +All crude stuff that he sent straight from the drying-house +was fresh and brightly coloured. His stock always was +marked prime A-No. 1. There was a step behind him and +the Harvester turned. A boy held out a telegram. The +man opened it to find an order for some stuff to be shipped +that day to a large laboratory in Toledo. + +His hands deftly tied packages and he hastily packed +bottles and nailed boxes. Then he ran to harness Betsy + +and load. As he drove down the hill to the bridge he +looked at his watch and shook his head. + +``What are you good for at a pinch, Betsy?'' he asked +as he flecked the surprised mare's flank with a switch. +Belshazzar cocked his ears and gazed at the Harvester +in astonishment. + +``That wasn't enough to hurt her,'' explained the man. +``She must speed up. This is important business. The +amount involved is not so much, but I do love to make +good. It's a part of my religion, Bel. And my religion +has so precious few parts that if I fail in the observance +of any of them it makes a big hole in my performances. +Now we don't want to end a life full of holes, so we must +get there with this stuff, not because it's worth the exertion +in dollars and cents, but because these men patronize +us steadily and expect us to fill orders, even by telegraph. +Hustle, Betsy!'' + +The whip fell again and Belshazzar entered indignant +protest. + +``It isn't going to hurt her,'' said the Harvester +impatiently. ``She may walk all the way back. She can rest +while I get these boxes billed and loaded if she can be +persuaded to get them to the express office on time. The +trouble with Betsy is that she wants to meander along the +road with a loaded wagon as her mother and grandmother +before her wandered through the woods wearing a bell to +attract the deer. Father used to say that her mother +was the smartest bell mare that ever entered the forest. +She'd not only find the deer, but she'd make friends with +them and lead them straight as a bee-line to where he was +hiding. Betsy, you must travel!'' + +The Harvester drew the lines taut, and the whip fell +smartly. The astonished Betsy snorted and pranced down +the valley as fast as she could, but every step indicated +that she felt outraged and abused. This was the loveliest +day of the season. The sun was shining, the air was +heavy with the perfume of flowering shrubs and trees, the +orchards of the valley were white with bloom. Farmers +were hurrying back and forth across fields, leaving up +turned lines of black, swampy mould behind them, and +one progressive individual rode a wheeled plow, drove +three horses and enjoyed the shelter of a canopy. + +``Saints preserve us, Belshazzar!'' cried the Harvester. +``Do you see that? He is one of the men who makes a +business of calling me shiftless. Now he thinks he is +working. Working! For a full-grown man, did you ever +see the equal? If I were going that far I'd wear a tucked +shirt, panama hat, have a pianola attachment, and an +automatic fan.'' + +The Harvester laughed as he again touched Betsy and +hurried to Onabasha. He scarcely saw the delights +offered on either hand, and where his eyes customarily +took in every sight, and his ears were tuned for the faintest +note of earth or tree top, to day he saw only Betsy and +listened for a whistle he dreaded to hear at the water tank. +He climbed the embankment of the railway at a slower +pace, but made up time going down hill to the city. + +``I am not getting a blame thing out of this,'' he +complained to Belshazzar. ``There are riches to stagger +any scientist wasting to-day, and all I've got to show is one +oriole. I did hear his first note and see his flash, and so +unless we can take time to make up for this on the home +road we will have to christen it oriole day. It's a perfumed +golden day, too; I can get that in passing, but how +I loathe hurrying. I don't mind planning things and +working steadily, but it's not consistent with the dignity +of a sane man to go rushing across country with as much +appreciation of the delights offered right now as a chicken +with its head off would have. We will loaf going back to +pay for this! And won't we invite our souls? We will +stop and gather a big bouquet of crab apple blossoms to +fill the green pitcher for her. Maybe some of their +wonderful perfume will linger in her room. When the +petals fall we will scatter them in the drawers of her +dresser, and they may distil a faint flower odour there. We +could do that to all her furniture, but perhaps she doesn't +like perfume. She'll be compelled to after she reaches +Medicine Woods. Betsy, you must travel faster!'' + +The whip fell again and the Harvester stopped at the +depot with a few minutes to spare. He threw the hitching +strap to Belshazzar, and ran into the express office with +an arm load of boxes. + +``Bill them!'' he cried. ``It's a rush order. I want it +to go on the next express. Almost due I think. I'll help +you and we can book them afterward.'' + +The expressman ran for a truck and they hastily +weighed and piled on boxes. When the last one was +loaded from the wagon, a heap more lying in the office +were added, pitched on indiscriminately as the train pulled +under the sheds of the Union Station. + +``I'll push,'' cried the Harvester, ``and help you get +them on.'' + +Hurrying as fast as he could the expressman drew the +heavy truck through the iron gates and started toward +the train slowing to a stop, and the Harvester pushed. +As they came down the platform they passed the dining +and sleeping cars of the long train and were several times +delayed by descending passengers. Just opposite the +day coach the expressman narrowly missed running into +several women leading small children and stopped +abruptly. A toppling box threatened the head of the +Harvester. He peered around the truck and saw they +must wait a few seconds. He put in the time watching +the people. A gray-haired old man, travelling in a silk +hat, wavered on the top step and went his way. A fat +woman loaded with bundles puffed as she clung trembling +a second in fear she would miss the step she could not see. +A tall, slender girl with a face coldly white came next, and +from the broken shoe she advanced, the bewildered fright +of big, dark eyes glancing helplessly, the Harvester saw +that she was poor, alone, ill, and in trouble. Pityingly +he turned to watch her, and as he gauged her height, +saw her figure, and a dark coronet of hair came into view, +a ghastly pallor swept his face. + +``Merciful God!'' he breathed, ``that's my Dream +Girl!'' + +The truck started with a jerk. The toppling box fell, +struck a passing boy, and knocked him down. The +mother screamed and the Harvester sprang to pick up the +child and see that he was not dangerously hurt. Then +he ran after the truck, pitched on the box, and whirling, +sped beside the train toward the gates of exit. There was +the usual crush, but he could see the tall figure passing up +the steps to the depot. He tried to force his way and was +called a brute by a crowded woman. He ran down the +platform to the gates he had entered with the truck. +They were automatic and had locked. Then he became a +primal creature being cheated of a lawful mate and +climbed the high iron fence and ran for the waiting room. + +He swept it at a glance, not forgetting the women's +apartment and the side entrance. Then he hurried to the +front exit. Up the street leading from the city there were +few people and he could see no sign of the slight, white- +faced girl. He crossed the sidewalk and ran down the +gutter for a block and breathlessly waited the passing +crowd on the corner. She was not among it. He tried +one more square. Still he could not see her. Then he +ran back to the depot. He thought surely he must have +missed her. He again searched the woman's and general +waiting room and then he thought of the conductor. +From him it could be learned where she entered the car. +He ran for the station, bolted the gate while the official +called to him, and reached the track in time to see the +train pull out within a few yards of him. + +``You blooming idiot!'' cried the angry expressman as +the Harvester ran against him, ``where did you go? +Why didn't you help me? You are white as a sheet! +Have you lost your senses?'' + +``Worse!'' groaned the Harvester. ``Worse! I've lost +what I prize most on earth. How could I reach the +conductor of that train?'' + +``Telegraph him at the next station. You can have an +answer in a half hour.'' + +The Harvester ran to the office, and with shaking hand +wrote this message: + +``Where did a tall girl with big black eyes and wearing a +gray dress take your train? Important.'' + +Then he went out and minutely searched the depot and +streets. He hired an automobile to drive him over the +business part of Onabasha for three quarters of an hour. +Up one street and down another he went slowly where +there were crowds, faster as he could, but never a sight +of her. Then he returned to the depot and found his +message. It read, ``Transferred to me at Fort Wayne +from Chicago.'' + +``Chicago baggage!'' he cried, and hurried to the +check room. He had lost almost an hour. When he +reached the room he found the officials busy and unwilling +to be interrupted. Finally he learned there had been a +half dozen trunks from Chicago. All were taken save +two, and one glance at them told the Harvester that they +did not belong to the girl in gray. The others had been +claimed by men having checks for them. If she had been +there, the officials had not noticed a tall girl having a white +face and dark eyes. When he could think of no further +effort to make he drove to the hospital. + +Doctor Carey was not in his office, and the Harvester +sat in the revolving chair before the desk and gripped his +head between his hands as he tried to think. He could +not remember anything more he could have done, but +since what he had done only ended in failure, he was +reproaching himself wildly that he had taken his eyes +from the Girl an instant after recognizing her. Yet it +was in his blood to be decent and he could not have run +away and left a frightened woman and a hurt child. +Trusting to his fleet feet and strength he had taken time +to replace the box also, and then had met the crowd and +delay. Just for the instant it appeared to him as if he +had done all a man could, and he had not found her. If +he allowed her to return to Chicago, probably he never +would. He leaned his head on his hands and groaned in +discouragement. + +Doctor Carey whirled the chair so that it faced him +before the Harvester realized that he was not alone. + +``What's the trouble, David?'' he asked tersely. + +The Harvester lifted a strained face. + +``I came for help,'' he said. + +``Well you will get it! All you have to do is to state +what you want.'' + +That seemed simplicity itself to the doctor. But when +it came to putting his case into words, it was not easy for +the Harvester. + +``Go on!'' said the doctor. + +``You'll think me a fool.'' + +The doctor laughed heartily. + +``No doubt!'' he said soothingly. ``No doubt, David! +Probably you are; so why shouldn't I think so. But +remember this, when we make the biggest fools of ourselves +that is precisely the time when we need friends, +and when they stick to us the tightest, if they are worth +while. I've been waiting since latter February for you +to tell me. We can fix it, of course; there's always a way. +Go on!'' + +``Well I wasn't fooling about the dream and the vision +I told you of then, Doc. I did have a dream--and it +was a dream of love. I did see a vision--and it was a +beautiful woman.'' + +``I hope you are not nursing that experience as +something exclusive and peculiar to you,'' said the doctor. +``There is not a normal, sane man living who has not +dreamed of love and the most exquisite woman who came +from the clouds or anywhere and was gracious to him. +That's a part of a man's experience in this world, and it +happens to most of us, not once, but repeatedly. It's a +case where the wish fathers the dream.'' + +``Well it hasn't happened to me `on repeated +occasions,' but it did one night, and by dawn I was converted. +How CAN a dream be so real, Doc? How could I see as +clearly as I ever saw in the daytime in my most alert +moment, hear every step and garment rustle, scent the +perfume of hair, and feel warm breath strike my face? I +don't understand it!'' + +``Neither does any one else! All you need say is that +your dream was real as life. Go on!'' + +``I built a new cabin and pretty well overturned the +place and I've been making furniture I thought a woman +would like, and carrying things from town ever since.'' + +``Gee! It was reality to you, lad!'' + +``Nothing ever more so,'' said the Harvester. + +``And of course, you have been looking for her?'' + +``And this morning I saw her!'' + +``David!'' + +``Not the ghost of a chance for a mistake. Her height, +her eyes, her hair, her walk, her face; only something +terrible has happened since she came to me. It was the +same girl, but she is ill and in trouble now.'' + +``Where is she?'' + +``Do you suppose I'd be here if I knew?'' + +``David, are you dreaming in daytime?'' + +``She got off the Chicago train this morning while I was +helping Daniels load a big truck of express matter. +Some of it was mine, and it was important. Just at the +wrong instant a box fell and knocked down a child and +I got in a jam----'' + +``And as it was you, of course you stopped to pick up +the child and do everything decent for other folks, before +you thought of yourself, and so you lost her. You needn't +tell me anything more. David, if I find her, and prove +to you that she has been married ten years and has an +interesting family, will you thank me?'' + +``Can't be done!'' said the Harvester calmly. ``She +has been married only since she gave herself to me in +February, and she is not a mother. You needn't bank +on that.'' + +``You are mighty sure!'' + +``Why not? I told you the dream was real, and now +that I have seen her, and she is in this very town, why +shouldn't I be sure?'' + +``What have you done?'' + +The Harvester told him. + +``What are you going to do next?'' + +``Talk it over with you and decide.'' + +The doctor laughed. + +``Well here are a few things that occur to me without +time for thought. Talk to the ticket agents, and leave +her description with them. Make it worth their while to +be on the lookout, and if she goes anywhere to find out +all they can. They could make an excuse of putting her +address on her ticket envelope, and get it that way. +See the baggagemen. Post the day police on Main +Street. There is no chance for her to escape you. A +full-grown woman doesn't vanish. How did she act when +she got off the car? Did she appear familiar?'' + +``No. She was a stranger. For an instant she looked +around as if she expected some one, then she followed the +crowd. There must have been an automobile waiting +or she took a street car. Something whirled her out of +sight in a few seconds.'' + +``Well we will get her in range again. Now for the +most minute description you can give.'' + +The Harvester hesitated. He did not care to describe +the Dream Girl to any one, much less the living, suffering +face and poorly clad form of the reality. + +``Cut out your scruples,'' laughed the doctor. ``You +have asked me to help you; how can I if I don't know what +kind of a woman to look for?'' + +``Very tall and slender,'' said the Harvester. ``Almost +as tall as I am.'' + +``Unusually tall you think?'' + +``I know!'' + +``That's a good point for identification. How about +her complexion, hair, and eyes?'' + +``Very large, dark eyes, and a great mass of black hair.'' + +The doctor roared. + +``The eyes may help,'' he said. ``All women have +masses of hair these days. I hope----'' + +``Her hair is fast to her head,'' said the Harvester +indignantly. ``I saw it at close range, and I know. It +went around like a crown.'' + +The doctor choked down a laugh. He wanted to say +that every woman's hair was like a crown at present, but +there were things no man ventured with David Langston; +those who knew him best, least of any. So he suggested, +``And her colouring?'' + +``She was white and rosy, a lovely thing in the dream,'' +said the Harvester, ``but something dreadful has +happened. That's all wiped out now. She was very pale +when she left the car.'' + +``Car sick, maybe.'' + +``Soul sick!'' was the grim reply. + +Then Doctor Carey appeared so disturbed the Harvester +noticed it. + +``You needn't think I'd be here prating about her if I +wasn't FORCED. If she had been rosy and well as she was +in the dream, I'd have made my hunt alone and found +her, too. But when I saw she was sick and in trouble, it +took all the courage out of me, and I broke for help. She +must be found at once, and when she is you are probably +the first man I'll want. I am going to put up a pretty +stiff search myself, and if I find her I'll send or get her to +you if I can. Put her in the best ward you have and +anything money will do----'' + +The face of the doctor was growing troubled. + +``Day coach or Pullman?'' he asked. + +``Day.'' + +``How was she dressed?'' + +``Small black hat, very plain. Gray jacket and skirt, +neat as a flower.'' + +``What you'd call expensively dressed?'' + +The Harvester hesitated. + +``What I'd call carefully dressed, but----but poverty +poor, if you will have it, Doc.'' + +Doctor Carey's lips closed and then opened in sudden +resolution. + +``David, I don't like it,'' he said tersely. + +The Harvester met his eye and purposely misunderstood him. + +``Neither do I!'' he exclaimed. ``I hate it! There is + +something wrong with the whole world when a woman +having a face full of purity, intellect, and refinement of +extreme type glances around her like a hunted thing; +when her appearance seems to indicate that she has +starved her body to clothe it. I know what is in your +mind, Doc, but if I were you I wouldn't put it into words, +and I wouldn't even THINK it. Has it been your experience +in this world that women not fit to know skimp their +bodies to cover them? Does a girl of light character and +little brain have the hardihood to advance a foot covered +with a broken shoe? If I could tell you that she rode in a +Pullman, and wore exquisite clothing, you would be doing +something. The other side of the picture shuts you up +like a clam, and makes you appear shocked. Let me tell +you this: No other woman I ever saw anywhere on God's +footstool had a face of more delicate refinement, eyes of +purer intelligence. I am of the woods, and while they +don't teach me how to shine in society, they do instil +always and forever the fineness of nature and her ways. +I have her lessons so well learned they help me more than +anything else to discern the qualities of human nature. +If you are my friend, and have any faith at all in my +common sense, get up and do something!'' + +The doctor arose promptly. + +``David, I'm an ass,'' he said. ``Unusually lop-eared, +and blind in the bargain. But before I ask you to forgive +me, I want you to remember two things: First, she +did not visit me in my dreams; and, second, I did not see +her in reality. I had nothing to judge from except what +you said: you seemed reluctant to tell me, and what you +did say was----was----disturbing to a friend of yours. +I have not the slightest doubt if I had seen her I would +agree with you. We seldom disagree, David. Now, will +you forgive me?'' + +The Harvester suddenly faced a window. When at +last he turned, ``The offence lies with me,'' he said. ``l +was hasty. Are you going to help me?'' + +``With all my heart! Go home and work until your +head clears, then come back in the morning. She did not +come from Chicago for a day. You've done all I know +to do at present.'' + +``Thank you,'' said the Harvester. + +He went to Betsy and Belshazzar, and slowly drove up +and down the streets until Betsy protested and calmly +turned homeward. The Harvester smiled ruefully as he +allowed her to proceed. + +``Go slow and take it easy,'' he said as they reached the +country. ``I want to think.'' + +Betsy stopped at the barn, the white doves took wing, +and Ajax screamed shrilly before the Harvester aroused +in the slightest to anything around him. Then he looked +at Belshazzar and said emphatically: ``Now, partner, +don't ever again interfere when I am complying with +the observances of my religion. Just look what I'd have +missed if I hadn't made good with that order!'' + + + +CHAPTER VI + +TO LABOUR AND TO WAIT + +We have reached the `beginning of the end,' +Ajax!'' said the Harvester, as the peacock +ceased screaming and came to seek food from +his hand. ``We have seen the Girl. Now we must +locate her and convince her that Medicine Woods is her +happy home. I feel quite equal to the latter proposition, +Ajax, but how the nation to find her sticks me. +I can't make a search so open that she will know and +resent it. She must have all the consideration ever +paid the most refined woman, but she also has got to +be found, and that speedily. When I remember that +look on her face, as if horrors were snatching at her +skirts, it takes all the grit out of me. I feel weak as a +sapling. And she needs all my strength. I've simply +got to brace up. I'll work a while and then perhaps +I can think.'' + +So the Harvester began the evening routine. He +thought he did not want anything to eat, but when he +opened the cupboard and smelled the food he learned +that he was a hungry man and he cooked and ate a +good supper. He put away everything carefully, for +even the kitchen was dainty and fresh and he wanted to +keep it so for her. When he finished he went into the +living-room, stood before the fireplace, and studied the +collection of half-finished candlesticks grouped upon it. +He picked up several and examined them closely, but +realized that he could not bind himself to the exactions +of carving that evening. He took a key from his pocket +and unlocked her door. Every day he had been going +there to improve upon his work for her, and he loved the +room, the outlook from its windows; he was very proud +of the furniture he had made. There was no paper- +thin covering on her chairs, bed, and dressing table. +The tops, seats, and posts were solid wood, worth hundreds +of dollars for veneer. + +To-night he folded his arms and stood on the sill +hesitating. While she was a dream, he had loved to +linger in her room. Now that she was reality, he paused. +In one golden May day the place had become sacred. +Since he had seen the Girl that room was so hers that +he was hesitating about entering because of this fact. +It was as if the tall, slender form stood before the chest +of drawers or sat at the dressing table and he did not +dare enter unless he were welcome. Softly he closed +the door and went away. He wandered to the dry- +house and turned the bark and roots on the trays, but +the air stifled him and he hurried out. He tried to work +in the packing room, but walls smothered him and again +he sought the open. + +He espied a bundle of osier-bound, moss-covered ferns +that he had found in the woods, and brought the shovel +to transplant them; but the work worried him, and he +hurried through with it. Then he looked for something +else to do and saw an ax. He caught it up and with +lusty strokes began swinging it. When he had chopped +wood until he was very tired he went to bed. Sleep +came to the strong, young frame and he awoke in the +morning refreshed and hopeful. + +He wondered why he had bothered Doctor Carey. +The Harvester felt able that morning to find his Dream +Girl without assistance before the day was over. It +was merely a matter of going to the city and locating +a woman. Yesterday, it had been a question of whether +she really existed. To-day, he knew. Yesterday, it +had meant a search possibly as wide as earth to find her. +To-day, it was narrowed to only one location so small, +compared with Chicago, that the Harvester felt he could +sift its population with his fingers, and pick her from +others at his first attempt. If she were visiting there +probably she would rest during the night, and be on the +streets to-day. + +When he remembered her face he doubted it. He +decided to spend part of the time on the business streets +and the remainder in the residence portions of the city. +Because it was uncertain when he would return, everything +was fed a double portion, and Betsy was left +at a livery stable with instructions to care for her until +he came. He did not know where the search would +lead him. For several hours he slowly walked the +business district and then ranged farther, but not a +sight of her. He never had known that Onabasha was +so large. On its crowded streets he did not feel that he +could sift the population through his fingers, nor could +he open doors and search houses without an excuse. + +Some small boys passed him eating bananas, and the +Harvester looked at his watch and was amazed to find +that the day had advanced until two o'clock in the +afternoon. He was tired and hungry. He went into +a restaurant and ordered lunch; as he waited a girl +serving tables smiled at him. Any other time the +Harvester would have returned at least a pleasant +look, and gone his way. To-day he scowled at her, and +ate in hurried discomfort. On the streets again, he had +no idea where to go and so he went to the hospital. + +``I expected you early this morning,'' was the greeting +of Doctor Carey. ``Where have you been and what +have you done?'' + +``Nothing,'' said the Harvester. ``I was so sure she +would be on the streets I just watched, but I didn't +see her.'' + +``We will go to the depot,'' said the doctor. ``The +first thing is to keep her from leaving town.'' + +They arranged with the ticket agents, expressmen, +telegraphers, and, as they left, the Harvester stopped +and tipped the train caller, offering further reward worth +while if he would find the Girl. + +``Now we will go to the police station,'' said the doctor. + +``I'll see the chief and have him issue a general order to +his men to watch for her, but if I were you I'd select +a half dozen in the down town district, and give them a +little tip with a big promise!'' + +``Good Lord! How I hate this,'' groaned the Harvester. + +``Want to find her by yourself?'' questioned his friend. + +``Yes,'' said the Harvester, ``I do! And I would, if +it hadn't been for her ghastly face. That drives me to +resort to any measures. The probabilities are that she +is lying sick somewhere, and if her comfort depends on +the purse that dressed her, she will suffer. Doc, do you +know how awful this is?'' + +``I know that you've got a great imagination. If the +woods make all men as sensitive as you are, those who +have business to transact should stay out of them. +Take a common-sense view. Look at this as I do. If +she was strong enough to travel in a day coach from +Chicago; she can't be so very ill to-day. Leaving life +by the inch isn't that easy. She will be alive this time +next year, whether you find her or not. The chances +are that her stress was mental anyway, and trouble +almost never overcomes any one.'' + +``You, a doctor and say that!'' + +``Oh, I mean instantaneously----in a day! Of course +if it grinds away for years! But youth doesn't allow it +to do that. It throws it off, and grows hopeful and happy +again. She won't die; put that out of your mind. If +I were you I would go home now and go straight on with +my work, trusting to. the machinery you have set in +motion. I know most of the men with whom we have +talked. They will locate her in a week or less. It's +their business. It isn't yours. It's your job to be ready +for her, and have enough ahead to support her when +they find her. Try to realize that there are now a dozen +men on hunt for her, and trust them. Go back to your +work, and I will come full speed in the motor when the +first man sights her. That ought to satisfy you. I've +told all of them to call me at the hospital, and I will tell +my assistant what to do in case a call comes while I +am away. Straighten your face! Go back to Medicine +Woods and harvest your crops, and before you know it +she will be located. Then you can put on your Sunday +clothes and show yourself, and see if you can make her +take notice.'' + +``Idiot!'' exclaimed the Harvester, but he started home. +When he arrived he attended to his work and then sat +down to think. + +``Doc is right,'' was his ultimate conclusion. ``She +can't leave the city, she can't move around in it, she +can't go anywhere, without being seen. There's one +more point: I must tell Carey to post all the doctors +to report if they have such a call. That's all I can +think of. I'll go to-night, and then I'll look over the +ginseng for parasites, and to-morrow I'll dive into the +late spring growth and work until I haven't time to think. +I've let cranesbill get a week past me now, and it can't +be dispensed with.'' + +So the following morning, when the Harvester had +completed his work at the cabin and barn and breakfasted, +he took a mattock and a big hempen bag, and followed +the path to the top of the hill. As it ran along the lake +bank he descended on the other side to several acres of +cleared land, where he raised corn for his stock, potatoes, +and coarser garden truck, for which there was not +space in the smaller enclosure close the cabin. Around +the edges of these fields, and where one of them sloped +toward the lake, he began grubbing a variety of grass +having tall stems already over a foot in height at half +growth. From each stem waved four or five leaves of +six or eight inches length and the top showed forming +clusters of tiny spikelets. + +``I am none too early for you,'' he muttered to himself +as he ran the mattock through the rich earth, lifting +the long, tough, jointed root stalks of pale yellow, from +every section of which broke sprays of fine rootlets. +``None too early for you, and as you are worth only +seven cents a pound, you couldn't be considered a `get- +rich-quick' expedient, so I'll only stop long enough with +you to gather what I think my customers will order, +and amass a fortune a little later picking mullein flowers +at seventy-five cents a pound. What a crop I've got +coming!'' + +The Harvester glanced ahead, where in the cleared soil +of the bank grew large plants with leaves like yellow-green +felt and tall bloom stems rising. Close them flourished +other species requiring dry sandy soil, that gradually +changed as it approached the water until it became +covered with rank abundance of short, wiry grass, half +the blades of which appeared red. Numerous everywhere +he could see the grayish-white leaves of Parnassus +grass. As the season advanced it would lift heart- +shaped velvet higher, and before fall the stretch of emerald +would be starred with white-faced, green-striped flowers. + +``Not a prettier sight on earth,'' commented the +Harvester, ``than just swale wire grass in September +making a fine, thick background to set off those delicate +starry flowers on their slender stems. I must remember +to bring her to see that.'' + +His eyes followed the growth to the water. As the +grass drew closer moisture it changed to the rank, sweet, +swamp variety, then came bulrushes, cat-tails, water +smartweed, docks, and in the water blue flag lifted +folded buds; at its feet arose yellow lily leaves and farther +out spread the white. As the light struck the surface +the Harvester imagined he could see the little green +buds several inches below. Above all arose wild rice +he had planted for the birds. The red wings swayed on +the willows and tilted on every stem that would bear +their weight, singing their melodious half-chanted notes, +``O-ka-lee!'' + +Beneath them the ducks gobbled, splashed, and chattered; +grebe and coot voices could be distinguished; +king rails at times flashed into sight and out again; +marsh wrens scolded and chattered; occasionally a kingfisher +darted around the lake shore, rolling his rattling +cry and flashing his azure coat and gleaming white +collar. On a hollow tree in the woods a yellow +hammer proved why he was named, because he carpentered +industriously to enlarge the entrance to the home he +was excavating in a dead tree; and sailing over the +lake and above the woods in grace scarcely surpassed +by any, a lonesome turkey buzzard awaited his mate's +decision as to which hollow log was most suitable for +their home. + +The Harvester stuffed the grass roots in the bag until +it would hold no more and stood erect to wipe his face, +for the sun was growing warm. As he drew his handkerchief +across his brow, the south wind struck him with +enough intensity to attract attention. Instantly the +Harvester removed his hat, rolled it up, and put it into +his pocket. He stood an instant delighting in the wind +and then spoke. + +``Allow me to express my most fervent thanks for +your kindness,'' he said. ``I thought probably you +would take that message, since it couldn't mean much +to you, and it meant all the world to me. I thought +you would carry it, but, I confess, I scarcely expected +the answer so soon. The only thing that could make me +more grateful to you would be to know exactly where +she is: but you must understand that it's like a peep +into Heaven to have her existence narrowed to one +place. I'm bound to be able to say inside a few days, +she lives at number----I don't know yet, on street---- +I'll find out soon, in the closest city, Onabasha. And +I know why you brought her, South Wind. If ever a +girl's cheeks need fanning with your breezes, and painting +with sun kisses, I wouldn't mind, since this is strictly +private, adding a few of mine; if ever any one needed +flowers, birds, fresh air, water, and rest! Good Lord, +South Wind, did you ever reach her before you carried +that message? I think not! But Onabasha isn't so +large. You and the sun should get your innings there. +I do hope she is not trying to work! I can attend to +that; and so there will be more time when she is found, +I'd better hustle now.'' + +He picked up the bag and returned to the dry-house, +where he carefully washed the roots and spread them +on the trays. Then he took the same bag and mattock +and going through the woods in the opposite direction +he came to a heavy growth in a cleared space of high +ground. The bloom heads were forming and the plant +was half matured. The Harvester dug a cylindrical, +tapering root, wrinkling lengthwise, wiped it clean, +broke and tasted it. He made a wry face. He stood +examining the white wood with its brown-red bark and, +deciding that it was in prime condition, be began digging +the plants. It was common wayside ``Bouncing Bet,'' +but the Harvester called it ``soapwort.'' He took every +other plant in his way across the bed, and when he +digged a heavy load he carried it home, stripped the +leaves, and spread them on trays, while the roots he +topped, washed, and put to dry also. Then he whistled +for Belshazzar and went to lunch. + +As he passed down the road to the cabin his face was +a study of conflicting emotions, and his eyes had a far +away appearance of deep thought. Every tree of his +stretch of forest was rustling fresh leaves to shelter him; +dogwood, wild crab, and hawthorn offered their flowers; +earth held up her tribute in painted trillium faces, spring +beauties, and violets, blue, white, and yellow. Mosses, +ferns, and lichen decorated the path; all the birds +greeted him in friendship, and sang their purest melodies. +The sky was blue, the sun bright, the air perfumed +for him; Belshazzar, always true to his name, protected +every footstep; Ajax, the shimmering green and gold +wonder, came up the hill to meet him; the white doves +circled above his head. Stumbling half blindly, the +Harvester passed unheeding among them, and went +into the cabin. When he came out he stood a long +time in deep study, but at last he returned to the +woods. + +``Perhaps they will have found her before night,'' he +said. ``I'll harvest the cranesbill yet, because it's growing +late for it, and then I'll see how they are coming on. +Maybe they'd know her if they met her, and maybe +they wouldn't. She may wear different clothing, and +freshen up after her trip. She might have been car sick, +as Doc suggested, and appear very different when she +feels better.'' + +He skirted the woods around the northeast end and +stopped at a big bed of exquisite growth. Tall, wiry +stems sprang upward almost two feet in height; leaves +six inches across were cut in ragged lobes almost to the +base, and here and there, enough to colour the entire +bed a delicate rose or sometimes a violet purple, the +first flowers were unfolding. The Harvester lifted a +root and tasted it. + +``No doubt about you being astringent,'' he muttered. +``You have enough tannin in you to pucker a mushroom. +By the way, those big, corn-cobby fellows should spring +up with the next warm rain, and the hotels and restaurants +always pay high prices. I must gather a few +bushels.'' + +He looked over the bed of beautiful wild alum and +hesitated. + +``I vow I hate to touch you,'' he said. ``You are a +picture right now, and in a week you will be a miracle. +It seems a shame to tear up a plant for its roots, just at +flowering time, and I can't avoid breaking down half I +don't take, getting the ones I do. I wish you were not +so pretty! You are one of the colours I love most. +You remind me of red-bud, blazing star, and all those +exquisite magenta shades that poets, painters, and the +Almighty who made them love so much they hesitate +about using them lavishly. You are so delicate and +graceful and so modest. I wish she could see you! +I got to stop this or I won't be able to lift a root. I +never would if the ten cents a pound I'll get out of it +were the only consideration.'' + +The Harvester gripped the mattock and advanced +to the bed. ``What I must be thinking is that you are +indispensable to the sick folks. The steady demand for +you proves your value, and of course, humanity comes +first, after all. If I remain in the woods alone much +longer I'll get to the place where I'm not so sure that +it does. Seems as if animals, birds, flowers, trees, and +insects as well, have their right to life also. But it's +for me to remember the sick folks! If I thought the +Girl would get some of it now, I could overturn the bed +with a stout heart. If any one ever needed a tonic, I +think she does. Maybe some of this will reach her. If +it does, I hope it will make her cheeks just the lovely +pink of the bloom. Oh Lord! If only she hadn't +appeared so sick and frightened! What is there in all +this world of sunshine to make a girl glance around her +like that? I wish I knew! Maybe they will have +found her by night.'' + +The Harvester began work on the bed, but he knelt +and among the damp leaves from the spongy black +earth he lifted the roots with his fingers and carefully +straightened and pressed down the plants he did not +take. This required more time than usual, but his +heart was so sore he could not be rough with anything, +most of all a flower. So he harvested the wild alum +by hand, and heaped large stacks of roots around the +edges of the bed. Often he paused as he worked and +on his knees stared through the forest as if he hoped +perhaps she would realize his longing for her, and come +to him in the wood as she had across the water. +Over and over he repeated, ``Perhaps they will find +her by night!'' and that so intensified the meaning +that once he said it aloud. His face clouded and grew +dark. + +``Dealish nice business!'' he said. ``I am here in the +woods digging flower roots, and a gang of men in the +city are searching for the girl I love. If ever a job seemed +peculiarly a man's own, it appears this would be. What +business has any other man spying after my woman? +Why am I not down there doing my own work, as I +always have done it? Who's more likely to find her +than I am? It seems as if there would be an instinct +that would lead me straight to her, if I'd go. And you +can wager I'll go fast enough.'' + +The Harvester appeared as if he would start that +instant, but with lips closely shut he finally forced +himself to go on with his work. When he had rifled the bed, +and uprooted all he cared to take during one season, +he carried the roots to the lake shore below the curing +house, and spread them on a platform he had built. +He stepped into his boat and began dashing pails of water +over them and using a brush. As he worked he washed +away the woody scars of last year's growth, and the tiny +buds appearing for the coming season. + +Belshazzar sat on the opposite bank and watched +the operation; and Ajax came down and, flying to a +dead stump, erected and slowly waved his train to attract +the sober-faced man who paid no heed. He left the +roots to drain while he prepared supper, then placed +them on the trays, now filled to overflowing, and was +glad he had finished. He could not cure anything else +at present if he wanted to. He was as far advanced as +he had been at the same time the previous year. Then +he dressed neatly and locking the Girl's room, and leaving +Belshazzar to protect it, he went to Onabasha. + +``Bravo!'' cried Doctor Carey as the Harvester +entered his office. ``You are heroic to wait all day for +news. How much stuff have you gathered?'' + +``Three crops. How many missing women have you +located?'' + +The doctor laughed. There was no sign of a smile +on the face of the Harvester. + +``You didn't really expect her to come to light the +first day? That would be too easy! We can't find her +in a minute.'' + +``It will be no surprise to me if you can't find her at +all. I am not expecting another man to do what I don't +myself.'' + +``You are not hunting her. You are harvesting the +woods. The men you employ are to find her.'' + +``Maybe I am, and maybe I am not,'' said the Harvester +slowly. ``To me it appears to be a poor stick of a man +who coolly proceeds with money making, and trusts to +men who haven't even seen her to search for the girl +he loves. I think a few hours of this is about all my +patience will endure.'' + +``What are you going to do?'' + +``I don't know,'' said the Harvester. ``But you can +bank on one thing sure----I'm going to do something! +I've had my fill of this. Thank you for all you've done, +and all you are going to do. My head is not clear enough +yet to decide anything with any sense, but maybe I'll +hit on something soon. I'm for the streets for a while.'' + +``Better go home and go to bed. You seem very +tired.'' + +``I am,'' said the Harvester. ``The only way to +endure this is to work myself down. I'm all right, and +I'll be careful, but I rather think I'll find her myself.'' + +``Better go on with your work as we planned.'' + +``I'll think about it,'' said the Harvester as he went +out. + +Until he was too tired to walk farther he slowly paced +the streets of the city, and then followed the home road +through the valley and up the hill to Medicine Woods. +When he came to Singing Water, Belshazzar heard his +steps on the bridge, and came bounding to meet him. The +Harvester stretched himself on a seat and turned his +face to the sky. It was a deep, dark-blue bowl, closely +set with stars, and a bright moon shed a soft May radiance +on the young earth. The lake was flooded with light, +and the big trees of the forest crowning the hill were +silver coroneted. The unfolding leaves had hidden the +new cabin from the bridge, but the driveway shone white, +and already the upspringing bushes hedged it in. Insects +were humming lazily in the perfumed night air, +and across the lake a courting whip-poor-will was +explaining to his sweetheart just how much and why he +loved her. A few bats were wavering in air hunting +insects, and occasionally an owl or a nighthawk crossed +the lake. Killdeer were glorying in the moonlight and +night flight, and cried in pure, clear notes as they sailed +over the water. The Harvester was tired and filled +with unrest as he stretched on the bridge, but the longer +he lay the more the enfolding voices comforted him. +All of them were waiting and working out their lives +to the legitimate end; there was nothing else for him to +do. He need not follow instinct or profit by chance. +He was a man; he could plan and reason. + +The air grew balmy and some big, soft clouds swept +across the moon. The Harvester felt the dampness +of rising dew, and went to the cabin. He looked at +it long in the moonlight and told himself that he could +see how much the plants, vines, and ferns had grown +since the previous night. Without making a light, he +threw himself on the bed in the outdoor room, and lay +looking through the screening at the lake and sky. He +was working his brain to think of some manner in which +to start a search for the Dream Girl that would have +some probability of success to recommend it, but he +could settle on no feasible plan. At last he fell asleep, +and in the night soft rain wet his face. He pulled an +oilcloth sheet over the bed, and lay breathing deeply of +the damp, perfumed air as he again slept. In the morning +brilliant sunshine awoke him and he arose to find the +earth steaming. + +``If ever there was a perfect mushroom day!'' he said +to Belshazzar. ``We must hurry and feed the stock and +ourselves and gather some. They mean real money.'' + + + +CHAPTER VII + +THE QUEST OF THE DREAM GIRL + +The Harvester breakfasted, fed the stock, hitched +Betsy to the spring wagon, and went into the +dripping, steamy woods. If anyone had asked +him that morning concerning his idea of Heaven, he +never would have dreamed of describing a place of gold- +paved streets, crystal pillars, jewelled gates, and thrones +of ivory. These things were beyond the man's comprehension +and he would not have admired or felt at home +in such magnificence if it had been materialized for him. +He would have told you that a floor of last year's brown +leaves, studded with myriad flower faces, big, bark- +encased pillars of a thousand years, jewels on every +bush, shrub, and tree, and tilting thrones on which +gaudy birds almost burst themselves to voice the joy +of life, while their bright-eyed little mates peered +questioningly at him over nest rims----he would have told you +that Medicine Woods on a damp, sunny May morning +was Heaven. And he would have added that only +one angel, tall and slender, with the pink of health +on her cheeks and the dew of happiness in her dark +eyes, was necessary to enter and establish glory. +Everything spoke to him that morning, but the Harvester +was silent. It had been his habit to talk constantly +to Belshazzar, Ajax, his work, even the winds and perfumes; +it had been his method of dissipating solitude, +but to-day he had no words, even for these dear friends. +He only opened his soul to beauty, and steadily climbed +the hill to the crest, and then down the other side to the +rich, half-shaded, half-open spaces, where big, rough +mushrooms sprang in a night similar to the one just +passed. + +He could see them awaiting him from afar. He began +work with rapid fingers, being careful to break off the +heads, but not to pull up the roots. When four heaping +baskets were filled he cut heavily leaved branches to +spread over them, and started to Onabasha. As usual, +Belshazzar rode beside him and questioned the Harvester +when he politely suggested to Betsy that she +make a little haste. + +``Have you forgotten that mushrooms are perishable?'' +he asked. ``If we don't get these to the city all woodsy +and fresh we can't sell them. Wonder where we can +do the best? The hotels pay well. Really, the biggest +prices could be had by----'' + +Then the Harvester threw back his head and began +to laugh, and he laughed, and he laughed. A crow on +the fence Joined him, and a kingfisher, heading for Loon +Lake, and then Belshazzar caught the infection. + +``Begorry! The very idea!'' cried the Harvester. +`` `Heaven helps them that help themselves.' Now you +just watch us manoeuvre for assistance, Belshazzar, old +boy! Here we go!'' + +Then the laugh began again. It continued all the +way to Onabasha and even into the city. The Harvester +drove through the most prosperous street until he reached +the residence district. At the first home he stopped, +gave the lines to Belshazzar, and, taking a basket of +mushrooms, went up the walk and rang the bell. + +``All groceries should be delivered at the back door,'' +snapped a pert maid, before he had time to say a word. + +The Harvester lifted his hat. + +``Will you kindly tell the lady of the house that I +wish to speak with her?'' + +``What name, please?'' + +``I want to show her some fine mushrooms, freshly +gathered,'' he answered. + +How she did it the Harvester never knew. The +first thing he realized was that the door had closed +before his face, and the basket had been picked deftly +from his fingers and was on the other side. After a +short time the maid returned. + +``What do you want for them, please?'' + +The last thing on earth the Harvester wanted to do +was to part with those mushrooms, so he took one long, +speculative look down the hall and named a price he +thought would be prohibitive. + +``One dollar a dozen.'' + +``How many are there?'' + +``I count them as I sell them. I do not know.'' + +The door closed again. Presently it opened and the +maid knelt on the floor before him and counted the +mushrooms one by one into a dish pan and in a few minutes +brought back seven dollars and fifty cents. The +chagrined Harvester, feeling like a thief, put the money +in his pocket, and turned away. + +``I was to tell you,'' said she, ``that you are to bring +all you have to sell here, and the next time please go +to the kitchen door.'' + +``Must be fond of mushrooms,'' said the disgruntled +Harvester. + +``They are a great delicacy, and there are visitors.'' +The Harvester ached to set the girl to one side and +walk through the house, but he did not dare; so he +returned to the street, whistled to Betsy to come, and went +to the next gate. Here he hesitated. Should he risk +further snubbing at the front door or go back at once. +If he did, he only would see a maid. As he stood an +instant debating, the door of the house he just had +left opened and the girl ran after him. ``If you have +more, we will take them,'' she called. + +The Harvester gasped for breath. + +``They have to be used at once,'' he suggested. + +``She knows that. She wants to treat her friends.'' + +``Well she has got enough for a banquet,'' he said. +``I--I don't usually sell more than a dozen or two in +one place.'' + +``I don't see why you can't let her have them if you +have more.'' + +``Perhaps I have orders to fill for regular customers,'' +suggested the Harvester. + +``And perhaps you haven't,'' said the maid. ``You +ought to be ashamed not to let people who are willing +to pay your outrageous prices have them. It's regular +highway robbery.'' + +``Possibly that's the reason I decline to hold up one +party twice,'' said the Harvester as he entered the gate +and went up the walk to the front door. + +``You should be taught your place,'' called the maid +after him. + +The Harvester again rang the bell. Another maid +opened the door, and once more he asked to speak with +the lady of the house. As the girl turned, a handsome +old woman in cap and morning gown came down the +stairs. + +``What have you there?'' she asked. + +The Harvester lifted the leaves and exposed the +musky, crimpled, big mushrooms. + +``Oh!'' she cried in delight. ``Indeed, yes! We are +very fond of them. I will take the basket, and divide +with my sons. You are sure you have no poisonous +ones among them?'' + +``Quite sure,'' said the Harvester faintly. + +``How much do you want for the basket?'' + +``They are a dollar a dozen; I haven't counted them.'' + +``Dear me! Isn't that rather expensive?'' + +``It is. Very!'' said the Harvester. ``So expensive +that most people don't think of taking over a dozen. +They are large and very rich, so they go a long +way.'' + +``I suppose you have to spend a great deal of time +hunting them? It does seem expensive, but they are +fresh, and the boys are so fond of them. I'm not often +extravagant, I'll just take the lot. Sarah, bring a pan.'' + +Again the Harvester stood and watched an entire +basket counted over and carried away, and he felt the +robber he had been called as he took the money. + +At the next house he had learned a lesson. He carpeted +a basket with leaves and counted out a dozen and a +half into it, leaving the remainder in the wagon. Three +blocks on one side of the street exhausted his store and +he was showered with orders. He had not seen any +one that even resembled a dark-eyed girl. As he came +from the last house a big, red motor shot past and then +suddenly slowed and backed beside his wagon. + +``What in the name of sense are you doing?'' demanded +Doctor Carey. + +``Invading the residence district of Onabasha,'' said +the Harvester. ``Madam, would you like some nice, +fresh, country mushrooms? I guarantee that there are +no poisonous ones among them, and they were gathered +this morning. Considering their rarity and the difficult +work of collecting, they are exceedingly low at my price. +I am offering these for five dollars a dozen, madam, +and for mercy sake don't take them or I'll have no excuse +to go to the next house.'' + +The doctor stared, then understood, and began to +laugh. When at last he could speak he said, ``David, +I'll bet you started with three bushels and began at the +head of this street, and they are all gone.'' + +``Put up a good one!'' said the Harvester. ``You +win. The first house I tried they ordered me to the +back door, took a market basket full away from me +by force, tried to buy the load, and I didn't see any +one save a maid.'' + +The doctor lay on the steering gear and faintly groaned. + +The Harvester regarded him sympathetically. ``Isn't +it a crime?'' he questioned. ``Mushrooms are no go. +I can see that!----or rather they are entirely too much +of a go. I never saw anything in such demand. I +must seek a less popular article for my purpose. To- +morrow look out for me. I shall begin where I left off +to-day, but I will have changed my product.'' + +``David, for pity sake,'' peeped the doctor. + +``What do I care how I do it, so I locate her?'' +superbly inquired the Harvester. + +``But you won't find her!'' gasped the doctor. + +``I've come as close it as you so far, anyway,'' said +the Harvester. ``Your mushrooms are on the desk in +your office.'' + +He drove slowly up and down the streets until Betsy +wabbled on her legs. Then he left her to rest and walked +until he wabbled; and by that time it was dark, so he +went home. + +At the first hint of dawn he was at work the following +morning. With loaded baskets closely covered, he + +started to Onabasha, and began where he had quit the +day before. This time he carried a small, crudely +fashioned bark basket, leaf-covered, and he rang at the +front door with confidence. + +Every one seemed to have a maid in that part of the +city, for a freshly capped and aproned girl opened the +door. + +``Are there any young women living here?'' blandly +inquired the Harvester. + +``What's that of your business?'' demanded the +maid. + +The Harvester flushed, but continued, ``I am offering +something especially intended for young women. If +there are none, I will not trouble you.'' + +``There are several.'' + +``Will you please ask them if they would care for +bouquets of violets, fresh from the woods?'' + +``How much are they, and how large are the bunches?'' + +``Prices differ, and they are the right size to appear +well. They had better see for themselves.'' + +The maid reached for the basket, but the Harvester +drew back. + +``I keep them in my possession,'' he said. ``You may +take a sample.'' + +He lifted the leaves and drew forth a medium-sized +bunch of long-stemmed blue violets with their leaves. +The flowers were fresh, crisp, and strong odours of the +woods arose from them. + +``Oh!'' cried the maid. ``Oh, how lovely!'' + +She hurried away with them and returned carrying +a purse. + +``I want two more bunches,'' she said. ``How much +are they?'' + +``Are the girls who want them dark or fair?'' + +``What difference does that make?'' + +``I have blue violets for blondes, yellow for brunettes, +and white for the others.'' + +``Well I never! One is fair, and two have brown hair +and blue eyes.'' + +``One blue and two whites,'' said the Harvester calmly, +as if matching women's hair and eyes with flowers were +an inherited vocation. ``They are twenty cents a +bunch.'' + +``Aha!'' he chortled to himself as he whistled to Betsy. +``At last we have it. There are no dark-eyed girls here. +Now we are making headway.'' + +Down the street he went, with varying fortune, but +with patience and persistence at every house he at last +managed to learn whether there was a dark-eyed girl. +There did not seem to be many. Long before his store +of yellow violets was gone the last blue and white had +disappeared. But he calmly went on asking for dark- +eyed girls, and explaining that all the blue and white +were taken, because fair women were most numerous. + +At one house the owner, who reminded the Harvester +of his mother, came to the door. He uncovered and in +his suavest tones inquired if a brunette young woman lived +there and if she would like a nosegay of yellow violets. + +``Well bless my soul!'' cried she. ``What is this +world coming to? Do you mean to tell me that there +are now able-bodied men offering at our doors, flowers +to match our girls' complexions?'' + +``Yes madam?'' said the Harvester gravely, ``and +also selling them as fast as he can show them, at prices +that make a profit very well worth while. I had an +equal number of blue and white, but I see the dark +girls are very much in the minority. The others were +gone long ago, and I now have flowers to offer brunettes +only.'' + +``Well forever more! And you don't call that fiddlin' +business for a big, healthy, young man?'' + +The Harvester's gay laugh was infectious. + +``I do not,'' he said. ``I have to start as soon as I +can see, tramp long distances in wet woods and gather +the violets on my knees, make them into bunches, and +bring them here in water to keep them fresh. I have +another occupation. I only kill time on these, but I would +be ashamed to tell you what I have gotten for them this +morning.'' + +``Humph! I'm glad to hear it!'' said the woman. +``Shame in some form is a sign of grace. I have no use +for a human being without a generous supply of it. +There is a very beautiful dark-eyed girl in the house, +and I will take two bunches for her. How much are +they?'' + +``I have only three remaining,'' said the Harvester. +``Would you like to allow her to make her own selection?'' + +``When I'm giving things I usually take my choice. I +want that, and that one.'' + +``As my stock is so nearly out, I'll make the two for +twenty,'' said the Harvester. ``Won't you accept the +last one from me, because you remind me just a little +of my mother?'' + +``I will indeed,'' said she. ``Thank you very much! +I shall love to have them as dearly as any of the girls. +I used to gather them when I was a child, but I almost +never see the blue ones any more, and I don't know as +I ever expected to see a yellow violet again as long as I +live. Where did you get them?'' + +``In my woods,'' said the Harvester. ``You see I +grow several members of the viola pedata family, bird's +foot, snake, and wood violet, and three of the odorata, +English, marsh, and sweet, for our big drug houses. +They use the flowers in making delicate tests for acids +and alkalies. The entire plant, flower, seed, leaf, and +root, goes into different remedies. The beds seed +themselves and spread, so I have more than I need for the +chemists, and I sell a few. I don't use the white and +yellow in my business; I just grow them for their beauty. +I also sell my surplus lilies of the valley. Would you +like to order some of them for your house or more +violets for to-morrow?'' + +``Well bless my soul! Do you mean to tell me that +lilies of the valley are medicine?'' + +The Harvester laughed. + +``I grow immense beds of them in the woods on the +banks of Loon Lake,'' he said. ``They are the convallaris +majallis of the drug houses and I scarcely know what +the weak-hearted people would do without them. I +use large quantities in trade, and this season I am selling +a few because people so love them.'' + +``Lilies in medicine; well dear me! Are roses good +for our innards too?'' + +Then the Harvester did laugh. + +``I imagine the roses you know go into perfumes +mostly,'' he answered. ``They do make medicine of +Canadian rock rose and rose bay, laurel, and willow. +I grow the bushes, but they are not what you would +consider roses.'' + +``I wonder now,'' said the woman studying the +Harvester closely, ``if you are not that queer genius I've +heard of, who spends his time hunting and growing +stuff in the woods and people call him the Medicine +Man.'' + +``I strongly suspect madam, I am that man,'' said +the Harvester. + +``Well bless me!'' cried she. ``I've always wanted to +see you and here when I do, you look just like anybody +else. I thought you'd have long hair, and be wild- +eyed and ferocious. And your talk sounds like out of +a book. Well that beats me!'' + +``Me too!'' said the Harvester, lifting his hat. ``You +don't want any lilies to-morrow, then?'' + +``Yes I do. Medicine or no medicine, I've always +liked 'em, and I'm going to keep on liking them. If +you can bring me a good-sized bunch after the weak- +kneed----'' + +``Weak-hearted,'' corrected the Harvester. + +``Well `weak-hearted,' then; it's all the same thing. +If you've got any left, as I was saying, you can fetch +them to me for the smell.'' + +The Harvester laughed all the way down town. There +he went to Doctor Carey's office, examined a directory, +and got the names of all the numbers where be had sold +yellow violets. A few questions when the doctor came +in settled all of them, but the flower scheme was +better. Because the yellow were not so plentiful as the +white and blue, next day he added buttercups and cowslips +to his store for the dark girls. When he had rifled +his beds for the last time, after three weeks of almost +daily trips to town, and had paid high prices to small +boys he set searching the adjoining woods until no more +flowers could be found, he drove from the outskirts of +the city one day toward the hospital, and as he stopped, +down the street came Doctor Carey frantically waving +to him. As the big car slackened, ``Come on David, +quick! I've seen her!'' cried the doctor. + +The Harvester jumped from the wagon, threw the +lines to Belshazzar, and landed in the panting car. + +``For Heaven's sake where? Are you sure?'' + +The car went speeding down the street. A policeman +beckoned and cried after it. + +``It won't do any good to get arrested, Doc,'' cautioned +the Harvester. + +``Now right along here,'' panted Doctor Carey. ``Watch +both sides sharply. If I stop you jump out, and tell the +blame policemen to get at their job. The party they +are hired to find is right under their noses.'' + +The Harvester began to perspire. ``Doc, don't you +think you should tell me? Maybe she is in some store. +Maybe I could do better on foot.'' + +``Shut up!'' growled the doctor. ``I am doing the +best I know.'' + +He hurried up the street for blocks and back again, +and at last stopped before a large store and went in. +When he returned he drove to the hospital and together +they entered the office. There he turned to the +Harvester. + +``It isn't so hard to understand you now, my boy,'' +he said. ``Shades of Diana, but she'll be a beauty when +she gets a little more flesh and colour. She came out +of Whitlaw's and walked right to the crossing. I almost +could have touched her, but I didn't notice. Two girls +passed before me, and in hurrying, a tall, dark one knocked +off one of your bunches of yellow violets. She glanced +at it and laughed, but let it lay. Then your girl hesitated +stooped and picked it up. The crazy policeman yelled +at me to clear the crossing and it didn't hit me for a +half block how tall and white she was and how dark +her eyes were. I was just thinking about her picking +up the flowers, and that it was queer for her to do it, +when like a brick it hit me, THAT'S DAVID'S GIRL! I tried +to turn around, but you know what Main Street is in +the middle of the day. And those idiots of policemen! +They ordered me on, and I couldn't turn for a street car +coming, so I called to one of them that the girl we wanted +was down the street, and he looked at me like an addle- +pate and said, `What girl? Move on or you'll get +in a jam here.' You can use me for a football if I +don't go back and smash him. Paid him five dollars +myself less than two weeks ago to keep his eyes open. +`TO KEEP HIS EYES OPEN!' '' panted the doctor, shaking +his fist at David. ``Yes sir! `To keep his eyes open!' +And he motioned for things to come along, and so I +lost her too.'' + +``I think we had better go back to the street,'' said +the Harvester. + +``Oh, I'd been back and forth along that street for +nearly an hour before I gave up and came here to see +if I could find you, and we've hunted it an hour more! +What's the use? She's gone for this time, but by gum, +I saw her! And she was worth seeing!'' + +``Did she appear ill to you?'' + +The doctor dropped on a chair and threw out his hands +hopelessly. + +``This was awful sudden, David,'' he said. ``I was +going along as I told you, and I noticed her stop and +thought she had a good head to wait a second instead +of running in before me, and there came those two girls +right under the car from the other side. I only had +a glimpse of her as she stooped for the flowers. I saw +a big braid of hair, but I was half a block away before +I got it all connected, and then came the crush in the +street, and I was blocked.'' + +The doctor broke down and wiped his face and +expressed his feelings unrestrainedly. + +``Don't!'' said the Harvester patiently. ``It's no use +to feel so badly, Doc. I know what you would give to +have found her for me. I know you did all you could. +I let her escape me. We will find her yet. It's glorious +news that she's in the city. It gives me heart to hear +that. Can't you just remember if she seemed ill?'' + +The doctor meditated. + +``She wasn't the tallest girl I ever saw,'' he said slowly, +``but she was the tallest girl to be pretty. She had on a +white waist and a gray skirt and black hat. Her eyes +and hair were like you said, and she was plain, white +faced, with a hue that might possibly be natural, and +it might be confinement in bad light and air and poor +food. She didn't seem sick, but she isn't well. There +is something the matter with her, but it's not immediate +or dangerous. She appeared like a flower that had got +a little moisture and sprouted in a cellar.'' + +``You saw her all right!'' said the Harvester, ``and +I think your diagnosis is correct too. That's the way +she seemed to me. I've thought she needed sun and air. +I told the South Wind so the other day.'' + +``Why you blame fool!'' cried the doctor. ``Is this +thing going to your head? Say, I forgot! There is +something else. I traced her in the store. She was at +the embroidery counter and she bought some silk. If +she ever comes again the clerk is going to hold her and +telephone me or get her address if she has to steal it. Oh, +we are getting there! We will have her pretty soon now. +You ought to feel better just to know that she is in town +and that I've seen her.'' + +``I do!'' said the Harvester. ``Indeed I do!'' + +``It can't be much longer,'' said the doctor. ``She's +got to be located soon. But those policemen! I wouldn't +give a nickel for the lot! I'll bet she's walked over +them for two weeks. If I were you I'd discharge the +bunch. They'd be peacefully asleep if she passed them. +If they'd let me alone, I'd have had her. I could have +turned around easily. I've been in dozens of closer +places.'' + +``Don't worry! This can't last much longer. She's +of and in the city or she wouldn't have picked up the +flowers. Doc, are you sure they were mine?'' + +``Yes. Half the girls have been tricked out in yours +the past two weeks. I can spot them as far as I can +see.'' + +``Dear Lord, that's getting close!'' said the Harvester +intensely. ``Seems as if the violets would tell her.'' + +``Now cut out flowers talking and the South Wind!'' +ordered the doctor. ``This is business. The violets +prove something all right, though. If she was in the +country, she could gather plenty herself. She is working +at sewing in some room in town, either over a store +or in a house. If she hadn't been starved for flowers +she never would have stopped for them on the street. +I could see just a flash of hesitation, but she wanted them +too much. David, one bouquet will go in water and be +cared for a week. Man, it's getting close! This does +seem like a link.'' + +``Since you say it, possibly I dare agree with you,'' +said the Harvester. + +``How near are you through with that canvass of +yours?'' + +``About three fourths.'' + +``Well I'd go on with it. After all we have got to +find her ourselves. Those senile policemen!'' + +``I am going on with it; you needn't worry about +that. But I've got to change to other flowers. I've +stripped the violet beds. There's quite a crop of berries +coming, but they are not ripe yet, and a tragedy to +pick. The pond lilies are just beginning to open by +the thousand. The lake border is blue with sweet-flag +that is lovely and the marsh pale gold with cowslips. +The ferns are prime and the woods solid sheets of every +colour of bloom. I believe I'll go ahead with the wild +flowers.'' + +`` I would too! David, you do feel better, don't you?'' + +``I certainly do, Doctor. Surely it won't be long +now!'' + +The Harvester was so hopeful that he whistled and +sang on the return to Medicine Woods, and that night +for the first time in many days he sat long over a candlestick, +and took a farewell peep into her room before he +went to bed. + +The next day he worked with all his might harvesting +the last remnants of early spring herbs, in the dry-room +and store-house, and on furniture and candlesticks. + +Then he went back to flower gathering and every day +offered bunches of exquisite wood and field flowers and +white and gold water lilies from door to door. + +Three weeks later the Harvester, perceptibly thin, +pale, and worried entered the office. He sank into a +chair and groaned wearily. + +``Isn't this the bitterest luck!'' he cried. ``I've +finished the town. I've almost walked off my legs. I've +sold flowers by the million, but I've not had a sight of +her.'' + +``It's been almost a tragedy with me,'' said the doctor +gloomily. ``I've killed two dogs and grazed a baby, +because I was watching the sidewalks instead of the +street. What are you going to do now?'' + +``I am going home and bring up the work to the July +mark. I am going to take it easy and rest a few days +so I can think more clearly. I don't know what I'll +try next. I've punched up the depot and the policemen +again. When I get something new thought out I'll let +you know.'' + +Then he began emptying his pockets of money and +heaping it on the table, small coins, bills, big and little. + +``What on earth is that?'' + +``That,'' said the Harvester, giving the heap a shove +of contempt, ``that is the price of my pride and humiliation. +That is what it cost people who allowed me to +cheek my way into their homes and rob them, as one +maid said, for my own purposes. Doc, where on earth +does all the money come from? In almost every house +I entered, women had it to waste, in many cases to throw +away. I never saw so much paid for nothing in all my +life. That whole heap is from mushrooms and flowers.'' + +``What are you piling it there for?'' + +``For your free ward. I don't want a penny of it. I +wouldn't keep it, not if I was starving.'' + +``Why David! You couldn't compel any one to buy. +You offered something they wanted, and they paid you +what you asked.'' + +``Yes, and to keep them from buying, and to make +the stuff go farther, I named prices to shame a shark. +When I think of that mushroom deal I can feel my +face burn. I've made the search I wanted to, and I +am satisfied that I can't find her that way. I have +kept up my work at home between times. I am not +out anything but my time, and it isn't fair to plunder +the city to pay that. Take that cussed money and put +it where I'll never see or hear of it. Do anything you +please, except to ask me ever to profit by a cent. When +I wash my hands after touching it for the last time +maybe I'll feel better.'' + +``You are a fanatic!'' + +``If getting rid of that is being a fanatic, I am proud of +the title. You can't imagine what I've been through!'' + +``Can't I though?'' laughed the doctor. ``In work +of that kind you get into every variety of place; and +some of it is new to you. Never mind! No one can +contaminate you. It is the law that only a man can +degrade himself. Knowing things will not harm you. +Doing them is a different matter. What you know +will be a protection. What you do ruins----if it is +wrong. You are not harmed, you are only disgusted. +Think it over, and in a few days come back and get +your money. It is strictly honest. You earned every +cent of it.'' + +``If you ever speak of it again or force it on me I'll +take it home and throw it into the lake.'' + +He went after Betsy and slowly drove to Medicine +Woods. Belshazzar, on the seat beside him, recognized +a silent, disappointed master and whimpered as he rubbed +the Harvester's shoulder to attract his attention. + +``This is tough luck, old boy,'' said the Harvester. +``I had such hopes and I worked so hard. I suffered +in the flesh for every hour of it, and I failed. Oh but +I hate the word! If I knew where she is right now, Bel, +I'd give anything I've got. But there's no use to wail +and get sorry for myself. That's against the law of +common decency. I'll take a swim, sleep it off, straighten +up the herbs a little, and go at it again, old fellow; that's +a man's way. She's somewhere, and she's got to be +found, no matter what it costs.'' + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +BELSHAZZAR'S RECORD POINT + +The Harvester set the neglected cabin in order; +then he carefully and deftly packed all his dried +herbs, barks, and roots. Next came carrying +the couch grass, wild alum, and soapwort into the store- +room. Then followed July herbs. He first went to his +beds of foxglove, because the tender leaves of the second +year should be stripped from them at flowering time, and +that usually began two weeks earlier; but his bed lay in +a shaded, damp location and the tall bloom stalks were +only in half flower, their pale lavender making an exquisite +picture. It paid to collect those leaves, so the Harvester +hastily stripped the amount he wanted. + +Yarrow was beginning to bloom and he gathered as +much as he required, taking the whole plant. That only +brought a few cents a pound, but it was used entire, so +the weight made it worth while. + +Catnip tops and leaves were also ready. As it grew +in the open in dry soil and the beds had been weeded that +spring, he could gather great arm loads of it with a sickle, +but he had to watch the swarming bees. He left the +male fern and mullein until the last for different reasons. + +On the damp, cool, rocky hillside, beneath deep shade +of big forest trees, grew the ferns, their long, graceful +fronds waving softly. Tree toads sang on the cool rocks +beneath them, chewinks nested under gnarled roots +among them, rose-breasted grosbeaks sang in grape-vines +clambering over the thickets, and Singing Water ran +close beside. So the Harvester left digging these roots +until nearly the last, because he so disliked to disturb +the bed. He could not have done it if he had not been +forced. All of the demand for his fern never could be +supplied. Of his products none was more important to +the Harvester because this formed the basis of one of the +oldest and most reliable remedies for little children. The +fern had to be gathered with especial care, deteriorated +quickly, and no staple was more subject to adulteration. + +So he kept his bed intact, lifted the roots at the proper +time, carefully cleaned without washing, rapidly dried +in currents of hot air, and shipped them in bottles to +the trade. He charged and received fifteen cents a pound, +where careless and indifferent workers got ten. + +On the banks of Singing Water, at the head of the fern +bed, the Harvester stood under a gray beech tree and +looked down the swaying length of delicate green. He +was lean and rapidly bronzing, for he seldom remembered +a head covering because he loved the sweep of the wind +in his hair. + +``I hate to touch you,'' he said. ``How I wish she +could see you before I begin. If she did, probably she +would say it was a sin, and then I never could muster +courage to do it at all. I'd give a small farm to know +if those violets revived for her. I was crazy to ask +Doc if they were wilted, but I hated to. If they were +from the ones I gathered that morning they should have +been all right.'' + +A tree toad dared him to come on; a chipmunk grew +saucy as the Harvester bent to an unloved task. If he +stripped the bed as closely as he dared and not injure +it, he could not fill half his orders; so, deftly and with +swift, skilful fingers and an earnest face, he worked. +Belshazzar came down the hill on a rush, nose to earth and +began hunting among the plants. He never could +understand why his loved master was so careless as to go +to work before he had pronounced it safe. When the +fern bed was finished, the Harvester took time to make +a trip to town, but there was no word waiting him; so +he went to the mullein. It lay on a sunny hillside beyond +the couch grass and joined a few small fields, the only +cleared land of the six hundred acres of Medicine Woods. +Over rocks and little hills and hollows spread the pale, +grayish-yellow of the green leaves, and from five to seven +feet arose the flower stems, while the entire earth between +was covered with rosettes of young plants. Belshazzar +went before to give warning if any big rattlers curled +in the sun on the hillside, and after him followed the +Harvester cutting leaves in heaps. That was warm +work and he covered his head with a floppy old straw hat, +with wet grass in the crown, and stopped occasionally +to rest. + +He loved that yellow-faced hillside. Because so much +of his reaping lay in the shade and commonly his feet +sank in dead leaves and damp earth, the change was +a rest. He cheerfully stubbed his toes on rocks, and +endured the heat without complaint. It appeared to +him as if a member of every species of butterfly he knew +wavered down the hillside. There were golden-brown +danais, with their black-striped wings, jetty troilus with +an attempt at trailers, big asterias, velvety black with +longer trails and wide bands of yellow dots. Coenia +were most numerous of all and to the Harvester wonderfully +attractive in rich, subdued colours with a wealth of +markings and eye spots. Many small moths, with transparent +wings and noses red as blood, flashed past him +hunting pollen. Goldfinches, intent on thistle bloom, +wavered through the air trailing mellow, happy notes +behind them, and often a humming-bird visited the +mullein. On the lake wild life splashed and chattered +incessantly, and sometimes the Harvester paused and stood +with arms heaped with leaves, to interpret some unusually +appealing note of pain or anger or some very attractive +melody. The red-wings were swarming, the killdeers +busy, and he thought of the Dream Girl and smiled. + +``I wonder if she would like this,'' he mused. + +When the mullein leaves were deep on the trays of the +dry-house he began on the bloom and that was a task +he loved. Just to lay off the beds in swaths and follow +them, deftly picking the stamens and yellow petals from +the blooms. These he would dry speedily in hot air, +bottle, and send at once to big laboratories. The listed +price was seventy-five cents a pound, but the beautiful +golden bottles of the Harvester always brought more. +The work was worth while, and he liked the location and +gathering of this particular crop: for these reasons he +always left it until the last, and then revelled in the gold +of sunshine, bird, butterfly, and flower. Several days +were required to harvest the mullein and during the +time the man worked with nimble fingers, while his brain +was intensely occupied with the question of what to do +next in his search for the Girl. + +When the work was finished, he went to the deep wood +to take a peep at acres of thrifty ginseng, and he was +satisfied as he surveyed the big bed. Long years he +had laboured diligently; soon came the reward. He +had not realized it before, but as he studied the situation +he saw that he either must begin this harvest at once or +employ help. If he waited until September he could not +gather one third of the crop alone. + +``But the roots will weigh less if I take them now,'' he +argued, ``and I can work at nothing in comfort until +I have located her. I will go on with my search and +allow the ginseng to grow that much heavier. What +a picture! It is folly to disturb this now, for I will lose +the seed of every plant I dig, and that is worth almost as +much as the root. It is a question whether I want to +furnish the market with seed, and so raise competition +for my bed. I think, be jabbers, that I'll wait for this +harvest until the seed is ripe, and then bury part of a +head where I dig a root, as the Indians did. That's +the idea! The more I grow, the more money; and I +may need considerable for her. One thing I'd like to +know: Are these plants cultivated? All the books quote +the wild at highest rates and all I've ever sold was wild. +The start grew here naturally. What I added from the +surrounding country was wild, but through and among +it I've sown seed I bought, and I've tended it with every +care. But this is deep wood and wild conditions. I +think I have a perfect right to so label it. I'll ask Doc. +And another thing I'll go through the woods west +of Onabasha where I used to find ginseng, and see if I +can get a little and then take the same amount of plants +grown here, and make a test. That way I can discover +any difference before I go to market. This is my gold +mine, and that point is mighty important to me, so I'll +go this very day. I used to find it in the woods northeast +of town and on the land Jameson bought, west. Wonder +if he lives there yet. He should have died of pure meanness +long ago. I'll drive to the river and hunt along +the bank.'' + +Early the following morning the Harvester went to +Onabasha and stopped at the hospital for news. Finding +none, he went through town and several miles into the +country on the other side, to a piece of lowland lying +along the river bank, where he once had found and +carried home to reset a big bed of ginseng. If he could +get only a half pound of roots from there now, they would +serve his purpose. He went down the bank, Belshazzar +at his heels, and at last found the place. Many trees +had been cut, but there remained enough for shade; +the fields bore the ragged, unattractive appearance of +old. The Harvester smiled grimly as he remembered +that the man who lived there once had charged him for +damage he might do to trees in driving across his woods, +and boasted to his neighbours that a young fool was paying +for the privilege of doing his grubbing. If Jameson +had known what the roots he was so anxious to dispose +of brought a pound on the market at that time, he would +have been insane with anger. So the Harvester's eyes +were dancing with fun and a wry grin twisted his lips as +he clambered over the banks of the recently dredged +river, and looked at its pitiful condition and straight, +muddy flow. + +``Appears to match the remainder of the Jameson +property,'' he said. ``I don't know who he is or where he +came from, but he's no farmer. Perhaps he uses this +land to corral the stock he buys until he can sell it again.'' + +He went down the embankment and began to search +for the location where he formerly had found the ginseng. +When he came to the place he stood amazed, for from +seed, roots, and plants he had missed, the growth had +sprung up and spread, so that at a rapid estimate the +Harvester thought it contained at least five pounds, +allowing for what it would shrink on account of being +gathered early. He hesitated an instant, and thought +of coming later; but the drive was long and the loss +would not amount to enough to pay for a second trip. +About taking it, he never thought at all. He once had +permission from the owner to dig all the shrubs, bushes, +and weeds he desired from that stretch of woods, and had +paid for possible damages that might occur. As he bent +to the task there did come a fleeting thought that the +patch was weedless and in unusual shape for wild stuff. +Then, with swift strokes of his light mattock, he lifted +the roots, crammed them into his sack, whistled to +Belshazzar, and going back to the wagon, drove away. +Reaching home he washed the ginseng, and spread it on +a tray to dry. The first time he wanted the mattock +he realized that he had left it lying where he had worked. +It was an implement that he had directed a blacksmith +to fashion to meet his requirements. No store contained +anything half so useful to him. He had worked with it +for years and it just suited him, so there was nothing to +do but go back. Betsy was too tired to return that +day, so he planned to dig his ginseng with something +else, finish his work the following morning, and get the +mattock in the afternoon. + +``It's like a knife you've carried for years, or a gun,'' +muttered the Harvester. ``I actually don't know how +to get along without it. What made me so careless I +can't imagine. I never before in my life did a trick like +that. I wonder if I hurried a little. I certainly was +free to take it. He always wanted the stuff dug up. Of +all the stupid tricks, Belshazzar, that was the worst. +Now Betsy and a half day of wasted time must pay for +my carelessness. Since I have to go, I'll look a little +farther. Maybe there is more. Those woods used to +be full of it.'' + +According to this programme, the next afternoon the +Harvester again walked down the embankment of the +mourning river and through the ragged woods to the +place where the ginseng had been. He went forward, +stepping lightly, as men of his race had walked the forest +for ages, swerving to avoid boughs, and looking straight +ahead. Contrary to his usual custom of coming to heel +in a strange wood, Belshazzar suddenly darted around the +man and took the path they had followed the previous +day. The animal was performing his office in life; he +had heard or scented something unusual. The Harvester +knew what that meant. He looked inquiringly at the +dog, glanced around, and then at the earth. Belshazzar +proceeded noiselessly at a rapid pace over the leaves: +Suddenly the master saw the dog stop in a stiff point. +Lifting his feet lightly and straining his eyes before +him, the Harvester passed a spice thicket and came in +line. + +For one second he stood as rigid as Belshazzar. The +next his right arm shot upward full length, and began +describing circles, his open palm heavenward, and into +his face leapt a glorified expression of exultation. Face +down in the rifled ginseng bed lay a sobbing girl. Her +frame was long and slender, a thick coil of dark hair; +bound her head. A second more and the Harvester bent +and softly patted Belshazzar's head. The beast broke +point and looked up. The man caught the dog's chin +in a caressing grip, again touched his head, moved soundless +lips, and waved toward the prostrate figure. The +dog hesitated. The Harvester made the same motions. +Belshazzar softly stepped over the leaves, passed around +the feet of the girl, and paused beside her, nose to earth, +softly sniffing. + +In one moment she came swiftly to a sitting posture. + +``Oh!'' she cried in a spasm of fright. + +Belshazzar reached an investigating nose and wagged +an eager tail. + +``Why you are a nice friendly dog!'' said the trembling +voice. + +He immediately verified the assertion by offering his +nose for a kiss. The girl timidly laid a hand on his head. + +``Heaven knows I'm lonely enough to kiss a dog,'' +she said, ``but suppose you belong to the man who stole +my ginseng, and then ran away so fast he forgot his---- +his piece he digged with.'' + +Belshazzar pressed closer. + +``I am just killed, and I don't care whose dog you are,'' +sobbed the girl. + +She threw her arms around Belshazzar's neck and laid +her white face against his satiny shoulder. The Harvester +could endure no more. He took a step forward, his face +convulsed with pain. + +``Please don't!'' he begged. ``I took your ginseng. +I'll bring it back to-morrow. There wasn't more than +twenty-five or thirty dollars' worth. It doesn't amount +to one tear.'' + +The girl arose so quickly, the Harvester could not see +how she did it. With a startled fright on her face, and the +dark eyes swimming, she turned to him in one long look. +Words rolled from the lips of the man in a jumble. Behind +the tears there was a dull, expressionless blue in the +girl's eyes and her face was so white that it appeared +blank. He began talking before she could speak, in an +effort to secure forgiveness without condemnation. + +``You see, I grow it for a living on land I own, and I've +always gathered all there was in the country and no one +cared. There never was enough in one place to pay, and +no other man wanted to spend the time, and so I've always +felt free to take it. Every one knew I did, and no +one ever objected before. Once I paid Henry Jameson +for the privilege of cleaning it from these woods. That +was six or seven years ago, and it didn't occur to me that +I wasn't at liberty to dig what has grown since. I'll +bring it back at once, and pay you for the shrinkage from +gathering it too early. There won't be much over six +pounds when it's dry. Please, please don't feel badly. +Won't you trust me to return it, and make good the +damage I've done?'' + +The face of the Harvester was eager and his tones +appealing, as he leaned forward trying to make her +understand. + +``Certainly!'' said the Girl as she bent to pat the dog, +while she dried her eyes under cover of the movement. +``Certainly! It can make no difference!'' + +But as the Harvester drew a deep breath of relief, she +suddenly straightened to full height and looked straight +at him. + +``Oh what is the use to tell a pitiful lie!'' she cried. +``It does make a difference! It makes all the difference +in the world! I need that money! I need it unspeakably. +I owe a debt I must pay. What----what did I +understand you to say ginseng is worth?'' + +``If you will take a few steps,'' said the Harvester, ``and +make yourself comfortable on this log in the shade, I will +tell you all I know about it.'' + +The girl walked swiftly to the log indicated, seated +herself, and waited. The Harvester followed to a +respectful distance. + +``I can't tell to an ounce what wet roots would weigh,'' +he said as easily as he could command his voice to speak +with the heart in him beating wildly, ``and of course +they lose greatly in drying; but I've handled enough that +I know the weight I carried home will come to six pounds +at the very least. Then you must figure on some loss, +because I dug this before it really was ready. It does +not reach full growth until September, and if it is taken +too soon there is a decrease in weight. I will make that +up to you when I return it.'' + +The troubled eyes were gazing on his face intently, +and the Harvester studied them as he talked. + +``You would think, then, there would be all of six +pounds? + +``Yes,'' said the Harvester, ``closer eight. When I +replace the shrinkage there is bound to be over seven.'' + +``And how much did I understand you to say it brought +a pound?'' + +``That all depends,'' answered he. ``If you cure it +yourself, and dry it too much, you lose in weight. If +you carry it in a small lot to the druggists of Onabasha, +probably you will not get over five dollars for it.'' + +``Five?'' + +It was a startled cry. + +``How much did you expect?'' asked the Harvester +gently. + +``Uncle Henry said he thought he could get fifty cents +a pound for all I could find.'' + +``If your Uncle Henry has learned at last that ginseng +is a salable article he should know something about the +price also. Will you tell me what he said, and how you +came to think of gathering roots for the market?'' + +``There were men talking beneath the trees one Sunday +afternoon about old times and hunting deer, and +they spoke of people who made money long ago gathering +roots and barks, and they mentioned one man who lived +by it yet.'' + +``Was his name Langston?'' + +``Yes, I remember because I liked the name. I was +so eager to earn something, and I can't leave here just +now because Aunt Molly is very ill, so the thought came +that possibly I could gather stuff worth money, after +my work was finished. I went out and asked questions. +They said nothing brought enough to make it pay any +one, except this ginseng plant, and the Langston man +almost had stripped the country. Then uncle said he +used to get stuff here, and he might have got some of +that. I asked what it was like, so they told me and I +hunted until I found that, and it seemed a quantity to +me. Of course I didn't know it had to be dried. Uncle +took a root I dug to a store, and they told him that it +wasn't much used any more, but they would give him +fifty cents a pound for it. What MAKES you think you +can get five dollars?'' + +``With your permission,'' said the Harvester. + +He seated himself on the log, drew from his pocket +an old pamphlet, and spreading it before her, ran a pencil +along the line of a list of schedule prices for common +drug roots and herbs. Because he understood, his eyes +were very bright, and his voice a trifle crisp. A latent +anger springing in his breast was a good curb for his +emotions. He was closely acquainted with all of the +druggists of Onabasha, and he knew that not one of them +had offered less than standard prices for ginseng. + +``The reason I think so,'' he said gently, ``is because +growing it is the largest part of my occupation, and it was +a staple with my father before me. I am David Langston, +of whom you heard those men speak. Since I was a +very small boy I have lived by collecting herbs and roots, +and I get more for ginseng than anything else. Very +early I tired of hunting other people's woods for herbs, +so I began transplanting them to my own. I moved +that bed out there seven years ago. What you found has +grown since from roots I overlooked and seeds that fell +at that time. Now do you think I am enough of an +authority to trust my word on the subject?'' + +There was not a change of expression on her white +face. + +``You surely should know,'' she said wearily, ``and +you could have no possible object in deceiving me. Please +go on.'' + +``Any country boy or girl can find ginseng, gather, +wash, and dry it, and get five dollars a pound. I can +return yours to-morrow and you can cure and take it +to a druggist I will name you, and sell for that. But if +you will allow me to make a suggestion, you can get +more. Your roots are now on the trays of an evaporating +house. They will dry to the proper degree desired by +the trade, so that they will not lose an extra ounce in +weight, and if I send them with my stuff to big wholesale +houses I deal with, they will be graded with the +finest wild ginseng. It is worth more than the cultivated +and you will get closer eight dollars a pound for +it than five. There is some speculation in it, and the +market fluctuates: but, as a rule, I sell for the highest +price the drug brings, and, at times when the season is +very dry, I set my own prices. Shall I return yours or +may I cure and sell it, and bring you the money?'' + +``How much trouble would that make you?'' + +``None. The work of digging and washing is already +finished. All that remains is to weigh it and make a +memorandum of the amount when I sell. I should very +much like to do it. It would be a comfort to see the +money go into your hands. If you are afraid to trust +me, I will give you the names of several people you can +ask concerning me the next time you go to the city.'' + +She looked at him steadily. + +``Never mind that,'' she said. ``But why do you offer +to do it for a stranger? It must be some trouble, no +matter how small you represent it to be.'' + +``Perhaps I am going to pay you eight and sell for +ten.'' + +``I don't think you can. Five sounds fabulous to me. +I can't believe that. If you wanted to make money you +needn't have told me you took it. I never would have +known. That isn't your reason!'' + +``Possibly I would like to atone for those tears I +caused,'' said the Harvester. + +``Don't think of that! They are of no consequence +to any one. You needn't do anything for me on that +account.'' + +``Don't search for a reason,'' said the Harvester, in +his gentlest tones. ``Forget that feature of the case. +Say I'm peculiar, and allow me to do it because it would +be a pleasure. In close two weeks I will bring you the +money. Is it a bargain?'' + +``Yes, if you care to make it.'' + +``I care very much. We will call that settled.'' + +``I wish I could tell you what it will mean to me,'' said +the Girl. + +``If you only would,'' plead the Harvester. + +`` I must not burden a stranger with my troubles.'' + +``But if it would make the stranger so happy!'' + +``That isn't possible. I must face life and bear what +it brings me alone.'' + +``Not unless you choose,'' said the Harvester. ``That +is, if you will pardon me, a narrow view of life. It cuts +other people out of the joy of service. If you can't tell +me, would you trust a very lovely and gentle woman I +could bring to you?'' + +``No more than you. It is my affair; I must work it +out myself.'' + +``I am mighty sorry,'' said the Harvester. ``I believe +you err in that decision. Think it over a day or so, and +see if two heads are not better than one. You will +realize when this ginseng matter is settled that you profited +by trusting me. The same will hold good along +other lines, if you only can bring yourself to think so. +At any rate, try. Telling a trouble makes it lighter. +Sympathy should help, if nothing can be done. And +as for money, I can show you how to earn sums at least +worth your time, if you have nothing else you want +to do.'' + +The Girl bent toward him. + +``Oh please do tell me!'' she cried eagerly. ``I've tried +and tried to find some way ever since I have been here, +but every one else I have met says I can't, and nothing +seems to be worth anything. If you only would tell me +something I could do!'' + +``If you will excuse my saying so,'' said the Harvester, +``it appeals to me that ease, not work, is the +thing you require. You appear extremely worn. Won't +you let me help you find a way to a long rest first?'' + +``Impossible!'' cried the Girl. ``I know I am white +and appear ill, but truly I never have been sick in all +my life. I have been having trouble and working too +much, but I'll be better soon. Believe me, there is no +rest for me now. I must earn the money I owe first.'' + +``There is a way, if you care to take it,'' said the +Harvester. ``In my work I have become very well +acquainted with the chief surgeon of the city hospital. +Through him I happen to know that he has a free bed in +a beautiful room, where you could rest until you are +perfectly strong again, and that room is empty just now. +When you are well, I will tell you about the work.'' + +As she arose the Harvester stood, and tall and straight +she faced him. + +``Impossible!'' she said. ``It would be brutal to leave my +aunt. I cannot pay to rest in a hospital ward, and I will +not accept charity. If you can put me in the way of earning, +even a few cents a day, at anything I could do outside +the work necessary to earn my board here, it would bring +me closer to happiness than anything else on earth.'' + +``What I suggest is not impossible,'' said the Harvester +softly. ``If you will go, inside an hour a sweet and gentle +lady will come for you and take you to ease and perfect +rest until you are strong again. I will see that your aunt +is cared for scrupulously. I can't help urging you. It +is a crime to talk of work to a woman so manifestly worn +as you are.'' + +``Then we will not speak of it,'' said the Girl wearily. +``It is time for me to go, anyway. I see you mean to +be very kind, and while I don't in the least understand +it, I do hope you feel I am grateful. If half you say about +the ginseng comes true, I can make a payment worth +while before I had hoped to. I have no words to tell you +what that will mean to me.'' + +``If this debt you speak of were paid, could you rest +then?'' + +``I could lie down and give up in peace, and I think +I would.'' + +``I think you wouldn't,'' said the Harvester, ``because +you wouldn't be allowed. There are people in these days +who make a business of securing rest for the tired and +over weary, and they would come and prevent that if +you tried it. Please let me make another suggestion. +If you owe money to some one you feel needs it and the +debt is preying on you, let's pay it.'' + +He drew a small check-book from his pocket and slipped +a pen from a band. + +``If you will name the amount and give me the address, +you shall be free to go to the rest I ask for you inside +an hour.'' + +Then slowly from head to foot she looked at him. + +``Why?'' + +``Because your face and attitude clearly indicate that +you are over tired. Believe me, you do yourself wrong +if you refuse.'' + +``In what way would changing creditors rest me?'' + +``I thought perhaps you were owing some one who +needed the money. I am not a rich man, but I have no +one save myself to provide for and I have funds lying +idle that I would be glad to use for you. If you make a +point of it, when you are rested, you can repay me.'' + +``My creditor needs the money, but I should prefer +owing him rather than a perfect stranger. What you +suggest would help me not at all. I must go now.'' + +``Very well,'' said the Harvester. ``If you will tell me +whom to ask for and where you live, I will come to see +you to-morrow and bring you some pamphlets. With +these and with a little help you soon can earn any amount +a girl is likely to owe. It will require but a little while. +Where can I find you?'' + +The Girl hesitated and for the first time a hint of colour +flushed her cheek. But courage appeared to be her +strong point. + +``Do you live in this part of the country?'' she asked. + +``I live ten miles from here, east of Onabasha,'' he +answered. + +``Do you know Henry Jameson?'' + +``By sight and by reputation.'' + +``Did you ever know anything kind or humane of him?'' + +``I never did.'' + +``My name is Ruth Jameson. At present I am +indebted to him for the only shelter I have. His wife +is ill through overwork and worry, and I am paying for +my bed and what I don't eat, principally, by attempting +her work. It scarcely would be fair to Uncle Henry to +say that I do it. I stagger around as long as I can stand, +then I sit through his abuse. He is a pleasant man. +Please don't think I am telling you this to harrow your +sympathy further. The reason I explain is because I +am driven. If I do not, you will misjudge me when I +say that I only can see you here. I understood what +you meant when you said Uncle Henry should have +known the price of ginseng if he knew it was for sale. +He did. He knew what he could get for it, and what +he meant to pay me. That is one of his original methods +with a woman. If he thought I could earn anything +worth while, he would allow me, if I killed myself doing +it; and then he would take the money by force if necessary. +So I can meet you here only. I can earn just +what I may in secret. He buys cattle and horses and +is away from home much of the day, and when Aunt +Molly is comfortable I can have a few hours.'' + +``I understand,'' said the Harvester. ``But this is an +added hardship. Why do you remain? Why subject +yourself to force and work too heavy for you?'' + +``Because his is the only roof on earth where I feel I +can pay for all I get. I don't care to discuss it, I only +want you to say you understand, if I ask you to bring the +pamphlets here and tell me how I can earn money.'' + +``I do,'' said the Harvester earnestly, although his +heart was hot in protest. ``You may be very sure that +I will not misjudge you. Shall I come at two o'clock +to-morrow, Miss Jameson?'' + +``If you will be so kind.'' + +The Harvester stepped aside and she passed him and +crossing the rifled ginseng patch went toward a low +brown farmhouse lying in an unkept garden, beside a +ragged highway. The man sat on the log she had vacated, +held his head between his hands and tried to think, +but he could not for big waves of joy that swept over +him when he realized that at last he had found her, had +spoken with her, and had arranged a meeting for the +morrow. + +``Belshazzar,'' he said softly, ``I wish I could leave you +to protect her. Every day you prove to me that I need +you, but Heaven knows her necessity is greater. Bel, +she makes my heart ache until it feels like jelly. There +seems to be just one thing to do. Get that fool debt +paid like lightning, and lift her out of here quicker than +that. Now, we will go and see Doc, and call off the +watch-dogs of the law. Ahead of them, aren't we, +Belshazzar? There is a better day coming; we feel it in our +bones, don't we, old partner?'' + +The Harvester started through the woods on a rush, +and as the exercise warmed his heart, he grew wonderfully +glad. At last he had found her. Uncertainty was +over. If ever a girl needed a home and care he thought +she did. He was so jubilant that he felt like crying +aloud, shouting for joy, but by and by the years of sober +repression made their weight felt, so he climbed into +the wagon and politely requested Betsy to make her +best time to Onabasha. Betsy had been asked to make +haste so frequently of late that she at first almost doubted +the sanity of her master, the law of whose life, until +recently, had been to take his time. Now he appeared +to be in haste every day. She had become so accustomed +to being urged to hurry that she almost had developed +a gait; so at the Harvester's suggestion she did her level +best to Onabasha and the hospital, where she loved to +nose Belshazzar and rest near the watering tap under +a big tree. + +The Harvester went down the hall and into the office +on the run, and his face appeared like a materialized +embodiment of living joy. Doctor Carey turned at his +approach and then bounded half way across the room, +his hands outstretched. + +``You've found her, David!'' + +The Harvester grabbed the hand of his friend and +stood pumping it up and down while he gulped at the +lump in his throat, and big tears squeezed from his eyes, +but he could only nod his proud head. + +``Found her!'' exulted Doctor Carey. ``Really found +her! Well that's great! Sit down and tell me, boy! +Is she sick, as we feared? Did you only see her or did +you get to talk with her?'' + +``Well sir,'' said the Harvester, choking back his +emotions, ``you remember that ginseng I told you about +getting on the old Jameson place last night. To-day, +I learned I'd lost that hand-made mattock I use most, +and I went back for it, and there she was.'' + +``In the country?'' + +``Yes sir!'' + +``Well why didn't we think of it before?'' + +``I suppose first we would have had to satisfy +ourselves that she wasn't in town, anyway.'' + +``Sure! That would be the logical way to go at it! +And so you found her?'' + +``Yes sir, I found her! Just Belshazzar and I! I was +going along on my way to the place, and he ran past +me and made a stiff point, and when I came up, there she +was!'' + +``There she was?'' + +``Yes sir; there she was!'' + +They shook hands again. + +``Then of course you spoke to her.'' + +``Yes I spoke to her.'' + +`` Were you pleased?'' + +``With her speech and manner?----yes. But, Doc, if +ever a woman needed everything on earth!'' + +``Well did you get any kind of a start made?'' + +``I couldn't do so very much. I had to go a little slow +for fear of frightening her, but I tried to get her to come +here and she won't until a debt she owes is paid, and she's +in no condition to work.'' + +``Got any idea how much it is?'' + +``No, but it can't be any large sum. I tried to offer +to pay it, but she had no hesitation in telling me she +preferred owing a man she knew to a stranger.'' + +``Well if she is so particular, how did she come to tell +you first thing that she was in debt?'' + +The Harvester explained. + +``Oh I see!'' said the doctor. ``Well you'll have to +baby her along with the idea that she is earning money +and pay her double until you get that off her mind, and +while you are at it, put in your best licks, my boy; perk +right up and court her like a house afire. Women like it. +All of them do. They glory in feeling that a man is +crazy about them.'' + +``Well I'm insane enough over her,'' said the Harvester, +``but I'd hate like the nation for her to know it. +Seems as if a woman couldn't respect such an addle-pate +as I am lately.'' + +``Don't you worry about that,'' advised the doctor. +``Just you make love to her. Go at it in the good old- +fashioned way.'' + +``But maybe the `good old-fashioned way' isn't my +way.'' + +``What's the difference whose way it is, if it wins?'' + +``But Kipling says: `Each man makes love his own +way!' '' + +``I seem to have heard you mention that name be +fore,'' said the doctor. ``Do you regard him as an +authority?'' + +``I do!'' said the Harvester. ``Especially when he +advises me after my own heart and reason. Miss Jameson +is not a silly girl. She's a woman, and twenty-four +at least. I don't want her to care for a trick or a +pretence. I do want her to love me. Not that I am worth +her attention, but because she needs some strong man +fearfully, and I am ready and more `willing' than the +original Barkis. But, like him, I have to let her know +it in my way, and court her according to the promptings +of my heart.'' + +``You deceive yourself!'' said the doctor flatly. ``That's +all bosh! Your tongue says it for the satisfaction of +your ears, and it does sound well. You will court her +according to your ideas of the conventions, as you understand +them, and strictly in accordance with what you +consider the respect due her. If you had followed the +thing you call the `promptings of your heart,' you would +have picked her up by main force and brought her to +my best ward, instead of merely suggesting it and giving +up when she said no. If you had followed your heart, +you would have choked the name and amount out of her +and paid that devilish debt. You walk away in a case +like that, and then have the nerve to come here and +prate to me about following your heart. I'll wager my +last dollar your heart is sore because you were not allowed +to help her; but on the proposition that you followed +its promptings I wouldn't stake a penny. That's all +tommy-rot!'' + +``It is,'' agreed the Harvester. ``Utter! But what can +a man do?'' + +``I don't know what you can do! I'd have paid that +debt and brought her to the hospital.'' + +``I'll go and ask Mrs. Carey about your courtship. I +want her help on this, anyway. I can pick up Miss +Jameson and bring her here if any man can, but she is +nursing a sick woman who depends solely on her for care. +She is above average size, and she has a very decided +mind of her own. I don't think you would use force +and do what you think best for her, if you were in my +place. You would wait until you understood the situation +better, and knew that what you did was for the +best, ultimately.'' + +``I don't know whether I would or not. One thing is +sure: I'm mighty glad you have found her. May I +tell my wife?'' + +``Please do! And ask her if I may depend on her if +I need a woman's help. Now I'll call off the valiant +police and go home and take a good, sound sleep. Haven't +had many since I first saw her.'' + +So Betsy trotted down the valley, up the embankment, +crossed the railroad, over the levee across Singing Water, +and up the hill to the cabin. As they passed it, the +Harvester jumped from the wagon, tossed the hitching +strap to Belshazzar, and entered. He walked straight +to her door, unlocked it, and uncovering, went inside. +Softly he passed from piece to piece of the furniture he +had made for her, and then surveyed the walls and floor. + +``It isn't half good enough,'' he said, ``but it will have +to answer until I can do better. Surely she will know +I tried and care for that, anyway. I wonder how long +it will take me to get her here. Oh, if I only could know +she was comfortable and happy! Happy! She doesn't +appear as if she ever had heard that word. Well this +will be a good place to teach her. I've always enjoyed +myself here. I'm going to have faith that I can win +her and make her happy also. When I go to the stable +to do my work for the night if I could know she was in +this cabin and glad of it, and if I could hear her down +here singing like a happy care-free girl, I'd scarcely be +able to endure the joy of it.'' + + + +CHAPTER IX + +THE HARVESTER GOES COURTING + +``She is on Henry Jameson's farm, four miles west of +Onabasha,'' said the Harvester, as he opened his +eyes next morning, and laid a caressing hand on +Belshazzar's head. ``At two o'clock we are going to see +her, and we are going to prolong the visit to the ultimate +limit, so we should make things count here before we +start.'' + +He worked in a manner that accomplished much. There +seemed no end to his energy that morning. Despatching +the usual routine, he gathered the herbs that were ready, +spread them on the shelves of the dry-house, found +time to do several things in the cabin, and polish a piece +of furniture before he ate his lunch and hitched Betsy +to the wagon. He also had recovered his voice, and +talked almost incessantly as he worked. When it neared +time to start he dressed carefully. He stood before +his bookcase and selected several pamphlets published +by the Department of Agriculture. He went to his +beds and gathered a large arm load of plants. Then he +was ready to make his first trip to see the Dream Girl, +but it never occurred to him that he was going courting. + +He had decided fully that there would be no use to try +to make love to a girl manifestly so ill and in trouble. +The first thing, it appeared to him, was to dispel the +depression, improve the health, and then do the love +making. So, in the most business-like manner possible +and without a shade of embarrassment, the Harvester +took his herbs and books and started for the Jameson +woods. At times as he drove along he espied something +that he used growing beside the road and stopped to +secure a specimen. + +He came down the river bank and reached the ginseng +bed at half-past one. He was purposely early. He laid +down his books and plants, and rolled the log on which she +sat the day before to a more shaded location, where a big +tree would serve for a back rest. He pulled away brush +and windfalls, heaped dry brown leaves, and tramped +them down for her feet. Then he laid the books on the +log, the arm load of plants beside them, and went to the +river to wash his soiled hands. + +Belshazzar's short bark told him the Girl was coming, +and between the trees he saw the dog race to meet her +and she bent to stroke his head. She wore the same +dress and appeared even paler and thinner. The Harvester +hurried up the bank, wiping his hands on his +handkerchief. + +``Glad to see you!'' he greeted her casually. ``I've +fixed you a seat with a back rest to-day. Don't be +frightened at the stack of herbs. You needn't gather +all of those. They are only suggestions. They are just +common roadside plants that have some medicinal value +and are worth collecting. Please try my davenport.'' + +``Thank you!'' she said as she dropped on the log and +leaned her head against the tree. It appeared as if her +eyes closed a few seconds in spite of her, and while they +were shut the Harvester looked steadily and intently on +a face of exquisite beauty, but so marred by pallor and +lines of care that search was required to recognize just +how handsome she was, and if he had not seen her in +perfection in the dream the Harvester might have missed +glorious possibilities. To bring back that vision would +be a task worth while was his thought. With the first +faint quiver of an eyelash the Harvester took a few +steps and bent over a plant, and as he did so the Girl's +eyes followed him. + +He appeared so tall and strong, so bronzed by summer +sun and wind, his face so keen and intense, that swift +fear caught her heart. Why was he there? Why should +he take so much trouble for her? With difficulty she +restrained herself from springing up and running away. +Turning with the plant in his hand the Harvester saw the +panic in her eyes, and it troubled his heart. For an +instant he was bewildered, then he understood. + +``I don't want you to work when you are not able,'' he +said in his most matter-of-fact voice, ``but if you still +think that you are, I'll be very glad. I need help just +now, more than I can tell you, and there seem to be so +few people who can be trusted. Gathering stuff for drugs +is really very serious business. You see, I've a reputation +to sustain with some of the biggest laboratories in the +country, not to mention the fact that I sometimes try +compounding a new remedy for some common complaint +myself. I rather take pride in the fact that my stuff goes +in so fresh and clean that I always get anywhere from +three to ten cents a pound above the listed prices for it. I +want that money, but I want an unbroken record for doing +a job right and being square and careful, much more.'' + +He thought the appearance of fright was fading, and a +tinge of interest taking its place. She was looking +straight at him, and as he talked he could see her summoning +her tired forces to understand and follow him, so +he continued: + +``One would think that as medicines are required in +cases of life and death, collectors would use extreme caution, +but some of them are criminally careless. It's a +common thing to gather almost any fern for male fern; to +throw in anything that will increase weight, to wash +imperfectly, and commit many other sins that lie with the +collector; beyond that I don't like to think. I suppose +there are men who deliberately adulterate pure stuff to +make it go farther, but when it comes to drugs, I scarcely +can speak of it calmly. I like to do a thing right. I +raise most of my plants, bushes, and herbs. I gather +exactly in season, wash carefully if water dare be used, +clean them otherwise if not, and dry them by a hot air +system in an evaporator I built purposely. Each package +I put up is pure stuff, clean, properly dried, and fresh. If +I caught any man in the act of adulterating any of it I'm +afraid he would get hurt badly--and usually I am a +peaceable man. I am explaining this to show how +very careful you must be to keep things separate and +collect the right plants if you are going to sell stuff to +me. I am extremely particular.'' + +The Girl was leaning toward him, watching his face, +and hers was slowly changing. She was deeply interested, +much impressed, and more at ease. When the Harvester +saw he had talked her into confidence he crossed +the leaves, and sitting on the log beside her, picked up +the books and opened one. + +``Oh I will be careful,'' said the Girl. ``If you will +trust me to collect for you, I will undertake only what +I am sure I know, and I'll do exactly as you tell me.'' + +``There are a dozen things that bring a price ranging +from three to fifteen cents a pound, that are in season +just now. I suppose you would like to begin on +some common, easy things, that will bring the most +money.'' + +Without a breath of hesitation she answered, ``I will +commence on whatever you are short of and need most +to have.'' + +The heart of the Harvester gave a leap that almost +choked him, for he was vividly conscious of a broken +shoe she was hiding beneath her skirts. He wanted to +say ``thank you,'' but he was afraid to, so he turned the +leaves of the book. + +``I am working just now on mullein,'' he said. + +``Oh I know mullein,'' she cried, with almost a +hint of animation in her voice. ``The tall, yellow +flower stem rising from a circle of green felt leaves!'' + +``Good!'' said the Harvester. ``What a pretty way +to describe it! Do you know any more plants?'' + +``Only a few! I had a high-school course in botany, +but it was all about flower and leaf formation, nothing +at all of what anything was good for. I also learned +a few, drawing them for leather and embroidery designs.'' + +``Look here!'' cried the Harvester. ``I came with an +arm load of herbs and expected to tell you all about +foxglove, mullein, yarrow, jimson, purple thorn apple, +blessed thistle, hemlock, hoarhound, lobelia, and everything +in season now; but if you already have a profession, +why do you attempt a new one? Why don't you go +on drawing? I never saw anything so stupid as most +of the designs from nature for book covers and +decorations, leather work and pottery. They are the same +old subjects worked over and over. If you can draw +enough to make original copies, I can furnish you with +flowers, vines, birds, and insects, new, unused, and +of exquisite beauty, for every month in the year. I've +looked into the matter a little, because I am rather handy +with a knife, and I carve candlesticks from suitable +pieces of wood. I always have trouble getting my +designs copied; securing something new and unusual, +never! If you can draw just well enough to reproduce +what you see, gathering drugs is too slow and tiresome. +What you want to do is to reproduce the subjects I +will bring, and I'll buy what I want in my work, and +sell the remainder at the arts and crafts stores for you. +Or I can find out what they pay for such designs at +potteries and ceramic factories. You have no time to +spend on herbs, when you are in the woods, if you can +draw.'' + +``I am surely in the woods,'' said the Girl, ``and I +know I can copy correctly. I often made designs for +embroidery and leather for the shop mother and I worked +for in Chicago.'' + +``Won't they buy them of you now?'' + +``Undoubtedly.'' + +``Do they pay anything worth while?'' + +``I don't know how their prices compare with others. +One place was all I worked for. I think they pay what +is fair.'' + +``We will find out,'' said the Harvester promptly. + +``I----I don't think you need waste the time,'' faltered +the Girl. ``I had better gather the plants for a +while at least.'' + +``Collecting crude drug material is not easy,'' said +the Harvester. ``Drawing may not be either, but at +least you could sit while you work, and it should bring +you more money. Besides, I very much want a moth +copied for a candlestick I am carving. Won't you +draw that for me? I have some pupae cases and the +moths will be out any day now. If I'd bring you one, +wouldn't you just make a copy?'' + +The Girl gripped her hands together and stared +straight ahead of her for a second, then she turned to +him. + +``I'd like to,'' she said, ``but I have nothing to work +with. In Chicago they furnished my material at the +shop and I drew the design and was paid for the pattern. +I didn't know there would be a chance for anything like +that here. I haven't even proper pencils.'' + +``Then the way for you to do this is to strip the first +mullein plants you see of the petals. I will pay you +seventy-five cents a pound for them. By the time you +get a few pounds I can have material you need for drawing +here and you can go to work on whatever flowers, +vines, and things you can find in the woods, with no +thanks to any one.'' + +``I can't see that,'' said the Girl. ``It would appear +to me that I would be under more obligations than I +could repay, and to a stranger.'' + +``I figure it this way,'' said the Harvester, watching +from the corner of his eye. ``I can sell at good prices +all the mullein flowers I can secure. You collect for +me, I buy them. You can use drawing tools; I get +them for you, and you pay me with the mullein or out +of the ginseng money I owe you. You already have +that coming, and it's just as much yours as it will be ten +days from now. You needn't hesitate a second about +drawing on it, because I am in a hurry for the moth +pattern. I find time to carve only at night, you see. +As for being under obligations to a stranger, in the first +place all the debt would be on my side. I'd get the drugs +and the pattern I want; and, in the second place, I +positively and emphatically refuse to be a stranger. +It would be so much better to be mutual helpers and +friends of the kind worth having; and the sooner we +begin, the sooner we can work together to good advantage. +Get that stranger idea out of your head right now, +and replace it with thoughts of a new friend, who is +willing''--the Harvester detected panic in her eyes and +ended casually--``to enter a partnership that will be of +benefit to both of us. Partners can't be strangers, you +know,'' he finished. + +``I don't know what to think,'' said the Girl. + +``Never bother your head with thinking,'' advised +the Harvester with an air of large wisdom. ``It is +unprofitable and very tiring. Any one can see that you are +too weary now. Don't dream of such a foolish thing as +thinking. Don't worry over motives and obligations. +Say to yourself, `I'll enter this partnership and if it brings +me anything good, I'm that much ahead. If it fails, I +have lost nothing.' That's the way to look at it.'' + +Then before she could answer he continued: ``Now +I want all the mullein bloom I can get. You'll see the +yellow heads everywhere. Strip the petals and bring +them here, and I'll come for them every day. They +must go on the trays as fresh as possible. On your part, +we will make out the order now.'' + +He took a pencil and notebook from his pocket. + +``You want drawing pencils and brushes; how many, +what make and size?'' + +The Girl hesitated for a moment as if struggling to +decide what to do; then she named the articles. + +``And paper?'' + +He wrote that down, and asked if there was more. + +``I think,'' he said, ``that I can get this order filled +in Onabasha. The art stores should keep these things. +And shouldn't you have water-colour paper and some +paint?'' + +Then there was a flash across the white face. + +``Oh if I only could!'' she cried. ``All my life I have +been crazy for a box of colour, but I never could afford +it, and of course, I can't now. But if this splendid +plan works, and I can earn what I owe, then maybe +I can.'' + +``Well this `splendid plan' is going to `work,' don't +you bother about that,'' said the Harvester. ``It has +begun working right now. Don't worry a minute. +After things have gone wrong for a certain length of +time, they always veer and go right a while as +compensation. Don't think of anything save that you are +at the turning. Since it is all settled that we are to be +partners, would you name me the figures of the debt +that is worrying you? Don't, if you mind. I just +thought perhaps we could get along better if I knew. +Is it----say five hundred dollars?'' + +``Oh dear no!'' cried the Girl in a panic. ``I never +could face that! It is not quite one hundred, and that +seems big as a mountain to me.'' + +``Forget it!'' he cried. ``The ginseng will pay more +than half; that I know. I can bring you the cash in a +little over a week.'' + +She started to speak, hesitated, and at last turned to him. + +``Would you mind,'' she said, ``if I asked you to keep +it until I can find a way to go to town? It's too far to +walk and I don't know how to send it. Would I dare +put it in a letter?'' + +``Never!'' said the Harvester. ``You want a draft. +That money will be too precious to run any risks. I'll +bring it to you and you can write a note and explain +to whom you want it paid, and I'll take it to the bank +for you and get your draft. Then you can write a +letter, and half your worry will be over safely.'' + +``It must be done in a sure way,'' said the Girl. ``If +I knew I had the money to pay that much on what I +owe, and then lost it, I simply could not endure it. I +would lie down and give up as Aunt Molly has.'' + +``Forget that too!'' said the Harvester. ``Wipe +out all the past that has pain in it. The future is going +to be beautifully bright. That little bird on the bush +there just told me so, and you are always safe when you +trust the feathered folk. If you are going to live in the +country any length of time, you must know them, and +they will become a great comfort. Are you planning +to be here long?'' + +``I have no plans. After what I saw Chicago do to my +mother I would rather finish life in the open than return +to the city. It is horrible here, but at least I'm not +hungry, and not afraid----all the time.'' + +``Gracious Heaven!'' cried the Harvester. ``Do you +mean to say that you are afraid any part of the time? +Would you kindly tell me of whom, and why?'' + +``You should know without being told that when a +woman born and reared in a city, and all her life confined +there, steps into the woods for the first time, she's bound +to be afraid. The last few weeks constitute my entire +experience with the country, and I'm in mortal fear +that snakes will drop from trees and bushes or spring +from the ground. Some places I think I'm sinking, +and whenever a bush catches my skirts it seems as if +something dreadful is reaching up for me; there is a +possibility of horror lurking behind every tree and----'' + +``Stop!'' cried the Harvester. ``I can't endure it! Do +you mean to tell me that you are afraid here and now?'' + +She met his eyes squarely. + +``Yes,'' she said. ``It almost makes me ill to sit on +this log without taking a stick and poking all around +it first. Every minute I think something is going to +strike me in the back or drop on my head.'' + +The Harvester grew very white beneath the tan, +and that developed a nice, sickly green complexion for +him. + +``Am I part of your tortures?'' he asked tersely. + +``Why shouldn't you be?'' she answered. ``What do +I know of you or your motives or why you are here?'' + +``I have had no experience with the atmosphere that +breeds such an attitude in a girl.'' + +``That is a thing for which to thank Heaven. Undoubtedly +it is gracious to you. My life has been different.'' + +``Yet in mortal terror of the woods, and probably +equal fear of me, you are here and asking for work that +will keep you here.'' + +``I would go through fire and flood for the money I +owe. After that debt is paid----'' + +She threw out her hands in a hopeless gesture. The +Harvester drew forth a roll of bills and tossed them +into her lap. + +``For the love of mercy take what you need and pay +it,'' he said. ``Then get a floor under your feet, and try, +I beg of you, try to force yourself to have confidence +in me, until I do something that gives you the least +reason for distrusting me.'' + +She picked up the money and gave it a contemptuous +whirl that landed it at his feet. + +``What greater cause of distrust could I have by any +possibility than just that?'' she asked. + +The Harvester arose hastily, and taking several steps, +he stood with folded arms, his back turned. The Girl +sat watching him with wide eyes, the dull blue plain +in their dusky depths. When he did not speak, she +grew restless. At last she slowly arose and circling +him looked into his face. It was convulsed with a +struggle in which love and patience fought for supremacy +over honest anger. As he saw her so close, his +lips drew apart, and his breath came deeply, but he did +not speak. He merely stood and looked at her, and +looked; and she gazed at him as if fascinated, but +uncomprehending. + +``Ruth!'' + +The call came roaring up the hill. The Girl shivered +and became paler. + +``Is that your uncle?'' asked the Harvester. + +She nodded. + +``Will you come to-morrow for your drawing materials?'' + +``Yes.'' + +``Will you try to believe that there is absolutely +nothing, either underfoot or overhead, that will harm +you?'' + +``Yes.'' + +``Will you try to think that I am not a menace to +public safety, and that I would do much to help you, +merely because I would be glad to be of service?'' + +``Yes.'' + +``Will you try to cultivate the idea that there is nothing +in all this world that would hurt you purposely?'' + +``Ruth!'' came a splitting scream in gruff man-tones, +keyed in deep anger. + +``That SOUNDS like it!'' said the Girl, and catching up +her skirts she ran through the woods, taking a different +route toward the house. + +The Harvester sat on the log and tried to think; but +there are times when the numbed brain refuses to work, +so he really sat and suffered. Belshazzar whimpered +and licked his hands, and at last the man arose and +went with the dog to the wagon. As they came through +Onabasha, Betsy turned at the hospital corner, but the +Harvester pulled her around and drove toward the +country. Not until they crossed the railroad did he +lift his head and then he drew a deep breath as if starved +for pure air and spoke. ``Not to-day Betsy! I can't +face my friends just now. Someway I am making an +awful fist of things. Everything I do is wrong. She +no more trusts me than you would a rattlesnake, +Belshazzar; and from all appearance she takes me to be +almost as deadly. What must have been her experiences +in life to ingrain fear and distrust in her soul at that +rate? I always knew I was not handsome, but I never +before regarded my appearance as alarming. And I +`fixed up,' too!'' + +The Harvester grinned a queer little twist of a grin +that pulled and distorted his strained face. ``Might +as well have gone with a week's beard, a soiled shirt, +and a leer! And I've always been as decent as I knew! +What's the reward for clean living anyway, if the girl +you love strikes you like that?'' + +Belshazzar reached across and kissed him. The +Harvester put his arm around the dog. In the man's +disappointment and heart hunger he leaned his head +against the beast and said, ``I've always got you to love +and protect me, anyway, Belshazzar. Maybe the man +who said a dog was a man's best friend was right. You +always trusted me, didn't you Bel? And you never +regretted it but once, and that wasn't my fault. I +never did it! If I did, I'm getting good and well paid +for it. I'd rather be kicked until all the ribs of one side +are broken, Bel, than to swallow the dose she just handed +me. I tell you it was bitter, lad! What am I going to +do? Can't you help me, Bel?'' + +Belshazzar quivered in anxiety to offer the comfort +he could not speak. + +``Of course you are right! You always are, Bel!'' +said the Harvester. ``I know what you are trying to +tell me. Sure enough, she didn't have any dream. +I am afraid she had the bitterest reality. She hasn't +been loving a vision of me, working and searching for +me, and I don't mean to her what she does to me. Of +course I see that I must be patient and bide my time. +If there is anything in `like begetting like' she is bound +to care for me some day, for I love her past all expression, +and for all she feels I might as well save my breath. +But she has got to awake some day, Bel. She can make +up her mind to that. She can't see `why.' Over and +over! I wonder what she would think if I'd up and tell +her `why' with no frills. She will drive me to it some +day, then probably the shock will finish her. I wonder +if Doc was only fooling or if he really would do what +he said. It might wake her up, anyway, but I'm dubious +as to the result. How Uncle Henry can roar! He +sounded like a fog horn. I'd love to try my muscle +on a man like that. No wonder she is afraid of him, +if she is of me. Afraid! Well of all things I ever did +expect, Belshazzar, that is the limit.'' + + + +CHAPTER X + +THE CHIME OF THE BLUE BELLS + +The Harvester finished his evening work and went +to examine the cocoons. Many of the moths +had emerged and flown, but the luna cases remained +in the bottom of the box. As he stood looking +at them one moved and he smiled. + +``I'd give something if you would come out and be +ready to work on by to-morrow afternoon,'' he said. +``Possibly you would so interest her that she would +forget her fear of me. I'd like mighty well to take +you along, because she might care for you, and I do need +the pattern for my candlestick. Believe I'll lay you in +a warmer place.'' + +The first thing the next morning the Harvester looked +and found the open cocoon and the wet moth clinging +by its feet to a twig he had placed for it. + +``Luck is with me!'' he exulted. ``I'll carry you to +her and be mighty careful what I say, and maybe she will +forget about the fear.'' + +All the forenoon he cut and spread boneset, saffron, +and hemlock on the trays to dry. At noon he put on a +fresh outfit, ate a hasty lunch, and drove to Onabasha. +He carried the moth in a box, and as he started he picked +up a rake. He went to an art store and bought the +pencils and paper she had ordered. He wanted to purchase +everything he saw for her, but he was fast learning +a lesson of deep caution. If he took more than she +ordered, she would worry over paying, and if he refused +to accept money, she would put that everlasting ``why'' +at him again. The water-colour paper and paint he could +not forego. He could make a desire to have the moth +coloured explain those, he thought. + +Then he went to a furniture store and bought several +articles, and forgetting his law against haste, he drove +Betsy full speed to the river. He was rather heavily +ladened as he went up the bank, and it was only one +o'clock. There was an hour. He rolled away the log, +raked together and removed the leaves to the ground. +He tramped the earth level and spread a large cheap porch +rug. On this he opened and placed a little folding table +and chair. On the table he spread the pencils, paper, +colour box and brushes, and went to the river to fill +the water cup. Then he sat on the log he had rolled +to one side and waited. After two hours he arose and +crept as close the house as he could through the woods, +but he could not secure a glimpse of the Girl. He +went back and waited an hour more, and then undid +his work and removed it. When he came to the moth +his face was very grim as he lifted the twig and helped +the beautiful creature to climb on a limb. ``You'll +be ready to fly in a few hours,'' he said. ``If I keep you +in a box you will ruin your wings and be no suitable +subject, and put you in a cyanide jar I will not. I am +hurt too badly myself. I wonder if what Doc said was +the right way! It's certainly a temptation.'' + +Then he went home; and again Betsy veered at the +hospital, and once more the Harvester explained to her +that he did not want to see the doctor. That evening +and the following forenoon were difficult, but the Harvester +lived through them, and in the afternoon went back +to the woods, spread his rug, and set up the table. Only +one streak of luck brightened the gloom in his heart. +A yellow emperor had emerged in the night, and now +occupied the place of yesterday's luna. She never need +know it was not the one he wanted, and it would make +an excuse for the colour box. + +He was watching intently and saw her coming a long +way off. He noticed that she looked neither right nor +left, but came straight as if walking a bridge. As she +reached the place she glanced hastily around and then +at him. The Harvester forgave her everything as he +saw the look of relief with which she stepped upon the +carpet. Then she turned to him. + +``I won't have to ask `why' this time,'' she said. ``I +know that you did it because I was baby enough to tell +what a coward I am. I'm sure you can't afford it, and +I know you shouldn't have done it, but oh, what a +comfort! If you will promise never to do any such +expensive, foolish, kind thing again, I'll say thank you +this time. I couldn't come yesterday, because Aunt Molly +was worse and Uncle Henry was at home all day.'' + +``I supposed it was something like that,'' said the +Harvester. + +She advanced and handed him the roll of bills. + +``I had a feeling you would be reckless,'' she said. ``I +saw it in your face, so I came back as soon as I could +steal away, and sure enough, there lay your money and +the books and everything. I hid them in the thicket, +so they will be all right. I've almost prayed it wouldn't +rain. I didn't dare carry them to the house. Please +take the money. I haven't time to argue about it or +strength, but of course I can't possibly use it unless +I earn it. I'm so anxious to see the pencils and +paper.'' + +The Harvester thrust the money into his pocket. The +Girl went to the table, opened and spread the paper, +and took out the pencils. + +``Is my subject in here?'' she touched the colour box. + +``No, the other.'' + +``Is it alive? May I open it?'' + +``We will be very careful at first,'' said the Harvester. +``It only left its case in the night and may fly. When +the weather is so warm the wings develop rapidly. Perhaps +if I remove the lid----'' + +He took off the cover, exposing a big moth, its lovely, +pale yellow wings, flecked with heliotrope, outspread as +it clung to a twig in the box. The Girl leaned forward. + +``What is it?'' she asked. + +``One of the big night moths that emerge and fly a +few hours in June.'' + +``Is this what you want for your candlestick?'' + +``If I can't do better. There is one other I prefer, +but it may not come at a time that you can get it right.'' + +``What do you mean by `right'?'' + +``So that you can copy it before it wants to fly.'' + +``Why don't you chloroform and pin it until I am +ready?'' + +``I am not in the business of killing and impaling +exquisite creatures like that.'' + +``Do you mean that if I can't draw it when it is just +right you will let it go?'' + +``I do.'' + +``Why?'' + +``I told you why.'' + +``I know you said you were not in the business, but why +wouldn't you take only one you really wanted to use?'' + +``I would be afraid,'' replied the Harvester. + +``Afraid? You!'' + +``I must have a mighty good reason before I kill,'' +said the man. ``I cannot give life; I have no right to +take it away. I will let my statement stand. I am +afraid.'' + +``Of what please?'' + +``An indefinable something that follows me and makes +me suffer if I am wantonly cruel.'' + +``Is there any particular pose in which you want this +bird placed?'' + +``Allow me to present you to the yellow emperor, +known in the books as eacles imperialis,'' he said. ``I +want him as he clings naturally and life size.'' + +She took up a pencil. + +``If you don't mind,'' said the Harvester, ``would you +draw on this other paper? I very much want the colour, +also, and you can use it on this. I brought a box along, +and I'll get you water. I had it all ready yesterday.'' + +``Did you have this same moth?'' + +``No, I had another.'' + +``Did you have the one you wanted most?'' + +``Yes----but it's no difference.'' + +``And you let it go because I was not here?'' + +``No. It went on account of exquisite beauty. If +kept in confinement it would struggle and break its +wings. You see, that one was a delicate green, where +this is yellow, plain pale blue green, with a lavender +rib here, and long curled trailers edged with pale yellow, +and eye spots rimmed with red and black.'' + +As the Harvester talked he indicated the points of +difference with a pencil he had picked up; now he laid it +down and retreated beyond the limits of the rug. + +``I see,'' said the Girl. ``And this is colour?'' + +She touched the box. + +``A few colours, rather,'' said the Harvester. ``I +selected enough to fill the box, with the help of the clerk +who sold them to me. If they are not right, I have +permission to return and exchange them for anything you +want.'' + +With eager fingers she opened the box, and bent over +it a face filled with interest. + +``Oh how I've always wanted this! I scarcely can +wait to try it. I do hope I can have it for my very own. +Was it quite expensive?'' + +``No. Very cheap!'' said the Harvester. ``The paper +isn't worth mentioning. The little, empty tin box was +only a few cents, and the paints differ according to +colour. Some appear to be more than others. I was +surprised that the outfit was so inexpensive.'' + +A skeptical little smile wavered on the Girl's face as +she drew her slender fingers across the trays of bright +colour. + +``If one dared accept your word, you really would be +a comfort,'' she said, as she resolutely closed the box, +pushed it away, and picked up a pencil. + +``If you will take the trouble to inquire at the banks, +post office, express office, hospital or of any druggist +in Onabasha, you will find that my word is exactly as +good as my money, and taken quite as readily.'' + +``I didn't say I doubted you. I have no right to +do that until I feel you deceive me. What I said was +`dared accept,' which means I must not, because I have +no right. But you make one wonder what you would +do if you were coaxed and asked for things and led by +insinuations.'' + +``I can tell you that,'' said the Harvester. ``It would +depend altogether on who wanted anything of me and +what they asked. If you would undertake to coax and +insinuate, you never would get it done, because I'd see +what you needed and have it at hand before you had +time.'' + +The Girl looked at him wonderingly. + +``Now don't spring your recurrent `why' on me,'' +said the Harvester. ``I'll tell you `why' some of these +days. Just now answer me this question: Do you want +me to remain here or leave until you finish? Which +way would you be least afraid?'' + +``I am not at all afraid on the rug and with my work,'' +she said. ``If you want to hunt ginseng go by all +means.'' + +``I don't want to hunt anything,'' said the Harvester. +``But if you are more comfortable with me away, I'll +be glad to go. I'll leave the dog with you.'' + +He gave a short whistle and Belshazzar came bounding +to him. The Harvester stepped to the Girl's side, +and dropping on one knee, he drew his hand across the +rug close to her skirts. + +``Right here, Belshazzar,'' he said. ``Watch! You +are on guard, Bel.'' + +``Well of all names for a dog!'' exclaimed the Girl. +``Why did you select that?'' + +``My mother named my first dog Belshazzar, and +taught me why; so each of the three I've owned since have +been christened the same. It means `to protect' and +that is the office all of them perform; this one especially +has filled it admirably. Once I failed him, but +he never has gone back on me. You see he is not a +particle afraid of me. Every step I take, he is at my +heels.'' + +``So was Bill Sikes' dog, if I remember.'' + +The Harvester laughed. + +``Bel,'' he said, ``if you could speak you'd say that was +an ugly one, wouldn't you?'' + +The dog sprang up and kissed the face of the man +and rubbed a loving head against his breast. + +``Thank you!'' said the Harvester. ``Now lie down +and protect this woman as carefully as you ever watched +in your life. And incidentally, Bel, tell her that she +can't exterminate me more than once a day, and the +performance is accomplished for the present. I refuse +to be a willing sacrifice. `So was Bill Sikes' dog!' What +do you think of that, Bel?'' + +The Harvester arose and turned to go. + +``What if this thing attempts to fly?'' she asked. + +``Your pardon,'' said the Harvester. ``If the emperor +moves, slide the lid over the box a few seconds, until he +settles and clings quietly again, and then slowly draw it +away. If you are careful not to jar the table heavily +he will not go for hours yet.'' + +Again he turned. + +``If there is no danger, why do you leave the dog?'' + +``For company,'' said the Harvester. ``I thought +you would prefer an animal you are not afraid of to a +man you are. But let me tell you there is no necessity +for either. I know a woman who goes alone and unafraid +through every foot of woods in this part of the +country. She has climbed, crept, and waded, and she +tells me she never saw but two venomous snakes this +side of Michigan. Nothing ever dropped on her or +sprang at her. She feels as secure in the woods as she +does at home.'' + +``Isn't she afraid of snakes?'' + +``She dislikes snakes, but she is not afraid or she would +not risk encountering them daily.'' + +``Do you ever find any?'' + +``Harmless little ones, often. That is, Bel does. He +is always nosing for them, because he understands that +I work in the earth. I think I have encountered three +dangerous ones in my life. I will guarantee you will +not find one in these woods. They are too open and +too much cleared.'' + +``Then why leave the dog?'' + +``I thought,'' said the Harvester patiently, ``that your +uncle might have turned in some of his cattle, or if pigs +came here the dog could chase them away.'' + +She looked at him with utter panic in her face. + +``I am far more afraid of a cow than a snake!'' she +cried. ``It is so much bigger!'' + +``How did you ever come into these woods alone far +enough to find the ginseng?'' asked the Harvester. +``Answer me that!'' + +``I wore Uncle Henry's top boots and carried a rake, +and I suffered tortures,'' she replied. + +``But you hunted until you found what you wanted, +and came again to keep watch on it?'' + +``I was driven--simply forced. There's no use to +discuss it!'' + +``Well thank the Lord for one thing,'' said the +Harvester. ``You didn't appear half so terrified at the sight +of me as you did at the mere mention of a cow. I have +risen inestimably in my own self-respect. Belshazzar, +you may pursue the elusive chipmunk. I am going to +guard this woman myself, and please, kind fates, send +a ferocious cow this way, in order that I may prove my +valour.'' + +The Girl's face flushed slightly, and she could not +restrain a laugh. That was all the Harvester hoped for +and more. He went beyond the edge of the rug and +sat on the leaves under a tree. She bent over her work +and only bird and insect notes and occasionally Belshazzar's +excited bark broke the silence. The Harvester +stretched on the ground, his eyes feasting on the Girl. +Intensely he watched every movement. If a squirrel +barked she gave a nervous start, so precipitate it seemed +as if it must hurt. If a windfall came rattling down +she appeared ready to fly in headlong terror in any +direction. At last she dropped her pencil and looked +at him helplessly. + +``What is it?'' he asked. + +``The silence and these awful crashes when one doesn't +know what is coming,'' she said. + +``Will it bother you if I talk? Perhaps the sound +of my voice will help?'' + +``I am accustomed to working when people talk, and it +will be a comfort. I may be able to follow you, and that +will prevent me from thinking. There are dreadful things +in my mind when they are not driven out. Please talk! +Tell me about the herbs you gathered this morning.'' + +The Harvester gave the Girl one long look as she bent +over her work. He was vividly conscious of the graceful +curves of her little figure, the coil of dark, silky hair, +softly waving around her temples and neck, and when her +eyes turned in his direction he knew that it was only the +white, drawn face that restrained him. He was almost +forced to tell her how he loved and longed for her; about +the home he had prepared; of a thousand personal +interests. Instead, he took a firm grip and said casually, +``Foxglove harvest is over. This plant has to be taken +when the leaves are in second year growth and at bloom +time. I have stripped my mullein beds of both leaves +and flowers. I finished a week ago. Beyond lies a +stretch of Parnassus grass that made me think of you, +it was so white and delicate. I want you to see it. It +will be lovely in a few weeks more.'' + +``You never had seen me a week ago.'' + +``Oh hadn't I?'' said the Harvester. ``Well maybe +I dreamed about you then. I am a great dreamer. +Once I had a dream that may interest you some day, +after you've overcome your fear of me. Now this bed +of which I was speaking is a picture in September. You +must arrange to drive home with me and see it then.'' + +``For what do you sell foxglove and mullein?'' + +``Foxglove for heart trouble, and mullein for catarrh. +I get ten cents a pound for foxglove leaves and five for +mullein and from seventy-five to a dollar for flowers +of the latter, depending on how well I preserve the colour +in drying them. They must be sealed in bottles and +handled with extreme care.'' + +``Then if I wasn't too childish to be out picking them, +I could be earning seventy-five cents a pound for mullein +blooms?'' + +``Yes,'' said the Harvester, ``but until you learned the +trick of stripping them rapidly you scarcely could gather +what would weigh two pounds a day, when dried. Not +to mention the fact that you would have to stand and +work mostly in hot sunshine, because mullein likes open +roads and fields and sunny hills. Now you can sit securely +in the shade, and in two hours you can make me a +pattern of that moth, for which I would pay a designer +of the arts and crafts shop five dollars, so of course you +shall have the same.'' + +``Oh no!'' she cried in swift panic. ``You were charged +too much! It isn't worth a dollar, even!'' + +``On the contrary the candlestick on which I shall +use it will be invaluable when I finish it, and five is +very little for the cream of my design. I paid just +right. You can earn the same for all you can do. If +you can embroider linen, they pay good prices for that, +too and wood carving, metal work, or leather things. +May I see how you are coming on?'' + +``Please do,'' she said. + +The Harvester sprang up and looked over the Girl's +shoulder. He could not suppress an exclamation of +delight. + +``Perfect!'' he cried. ``You can surpass their best +drafting at the shop! Your fortune is made. Any time +you want to go to Onabasha you can make enough to +pay your board, dress you well, and save something every +week. You must leave here as soon as you can manage +it. When can you go?'' + +``I don't know,'' she said wearily. ``I'd hate to tell +you how full of aches I am. I could not work much just +now, if I had the best opportunities in the world. I +must grow stronger.'' + +``You should not work at anything until you are well,'' +he said. ``It is a crime against nature to drive yourself. +Why will you not allow----'' + +``Do you really think, with a little practice, I can +draw designs that will sell?'' + +The Harvester picked up the sheet. The work was +delicate and exact. He could see no way to improve it. + +``You know it will sell,'' he said gently, ``because you +already have sold such work.'' + +``But not for the prices you offer.'' + +``The prices I name are going to be for NEW, ORIGINAL +DESIGNS. I've got a thousand in my head, that old +Mother Nature shows me in the woods and on the water +every day.'' + +``But those are yours; I can't take them.'' + +``You must,'' said the Harvester. ``I only see and +recognize studies; I can't materialize them, and until +they are drawn, no one can profit by them. In this +partnership we revolutionize decorative art. There +are actually birds besides fat robins and nondescript +swallows. The crane and heron do not monopolize the water. +Wild rose and golden-rod are not the only flowers. The +other day I was gathering lobelia. The seeds are used +in tonic preparations. It has an upright stem with +flowers scattered along it. In itself it is not much, but +close beside it always grows its cousin, tall bell-flower. +As the name indicates, the flowers are bell shape and +I can't begin to describe their grace, beauty, and delicate +blue colour. They ring my strongest call to worship. +My work keeps me in the woods so much I remain +there for my religion also. Whenever I find these +flowers I always pause for a little service of my own +that begins by reciting these lines: + + `` 'Neath cloistered boughs, each floral bell that swingeth + And tolls its perfume on the passing air, + Makes Sabbath in the fields, and ever ringeth + A call to prayer.'' + + +``Beautiful!'' said the Girl. + +``It's mighty convenient,'' explained the Harvester. +``By my method, you see, you don't have to wait for +your day and hour of worship. Anywhere the blue bell +rings its call it is Sunday in the woods and in your heart. +After I recite that, I pray my prayer.'' + +``Go on!'' said the Girl. ``This is no place to stop.'' + +``It is always one and the same prayer, and there are +only two lines of it,'' said the Harvester. ``It runs this +way---- Let me take your pencil and I will write it +for you.'' + +He bent over her shoulder, and traced these lines on +a scrap of the wrapping paper: + + ``Almighty Evolver of the Universe: + Help me to keep my soul and body clean, + And at all times to do unto others as I would be done by. + Amen.'' + + +The Girl took the slip and sat studying it; then she +raised her eyes to his face curiously, but with a tinge of +awe in them. + +``I can see you standing over a blue, bell-shaped +flower reciting those exquisite lines and praying this +wonderful prayer,'' she said. ``Yesterday you allowed +the moth you were willing to pay five dollars for a drawing +of, to go, because you wouldn't risk breaking its wings. +Why you are more like a woman!'' + +A red stream crimsoned the Harvester's face. + +``Well heretofore I have been considered strictly +masculine,'' he said. ``To appreciate beauty or to try to +be just commonly decent is not exclusively feminine. +You must remember there are painters, poets, musicians, +workers in art along almost any line you could +mention, and no one calls them feminine, but there is +one good thing if I am. You need no longer fear me. +If you should see me, muck covered, grubbing in the +earth or on a raft washing roots in the lake, you would +not consider me like a woman.'' + +``Would it be any discredit if I did? I think not. +I merely meant that most men would not see or hear +the blue bell at all----and as for the poem and prayer! +If the woods make a man with such fibre in his soul, +I must learn them if they half kill me.'' + +``You harp on death. Try to forget the word.'' + +``I have faced it for months, and seen it do its grinding +worst very recently to the only thing on earth I loved or +that loved me. I have no desire to forget! Tell me +more about the plants.'' + +``Forgive me,'' said the Harvester gently. ``Just +now I am collecting catnip for the infant and nervous +people, hoarhound for colds and dyspepsia, boneset heads +and flowers for the same purpose. There is a heavy head +of white bloom with wonderful lacy leaves, called yarrow. +I take the entire plant for a tonic and blessed thistle +leaves and flowers for the same purpose.'' + +``That must be what I need,'' interrupted the Girl. +``Half the time I believe I have a little fever, but I +couldn't have dyspepsia, because I never want anything +to eat; perhaps the tonic would make me hungry.'' + +``Promise me you will tell that to the doctor who +comes to see your aunt, and take what he gives you.'' + +``No doctor comes to see my aunt. She is merely +playing lazy to get out of work. There is nothing the +matter with her.'' + +``Then why----'' + +``My uncle says that. Really, she could not stand and +walk across a room alone. She is simply worn out.'' + +``I shall report the case,'' said the Harvester instantly. + +``You better not!'' said the Girl. ``There must be a +mistake about you knowing my uncle. Tell me more +of the flowers.'' + +The Harvester drew a deep breath and continued: + +``These I just have named I take at bloom time; +next month come purple thorn apple, jimson weed, and +hemlock.'' + +``Isn't that poison?'' + +``Half the stuff I handle is.'' + +``Aren't you afraid?'' + +``Terribly,'' said the Harvester in laughing voice. +``But I want the money, the sick folk need the medicine, +and I drink water.'' + +The Girl laughed also. + +``Look here!'' said the Harvester. ``Why not tell +me just as closely as you can about your aunt, and +let me fix something for her; or if you are afraid to +trust me, let me have my friend of whom I spoke yesterday.'' + +``Perhaps I am not so much afraid as I was,'' said +the Girl. ``I wish I could! How could I explain where +I got it and I wonder if she would take it.'' + +``Give it to her without any explanation,'' said the +Harvester. ``Tell her it will make her stronger and she +must use it. Tell me exactly how she is, and I will fix +up some harmless remedies that may help, and can do +no harm.'' + +``She simply has been neglected, overworked, and +abused until she has lain down, turned her face to the +wall, and given up hope. I think it is too late. I +think the end will come soon. But I wish you would +try. I'll gladly pay----'' + +``Don't!'' said the Harvester. ``Not for things that +grow in the woods and that I prepare. Don't think of +money every minute.'' + +``I must,'' she said with forced restraint. ``It is the +price of life. Without it one suffers----horribly---- +as I know. What other plants do you gather?'' + +``Saffron,'' answered the Harvester. ``A beautiful +thing! You must see it. Tall, round stems, lacy, delicate +leaves, big heads of bright yellow bloom, touched +with colour so dark it appears black--one of the loveliest +plants that grows. You should see my big bed of it in +a week or two more. It makes a picture.'' + +The words recalled him to the Girl. He turned to +study her. He forgot his commission and chafed at +conventions that prevented his doing what he saw was +required so urgently. Fearing she would notice, he +gazed away through the forest and tried to think, to +plan. + +``You are not making noise enough,'' she said. + +So absorbed was the Harvester he scarcely heard her. +In an attempt to obey he began to whistle softly. A +tiny goldfinch in a nest of thistle down and plant fibre +in the branching of a bush ten feet above him stuck her +head over the brim and inquired, ``P'tseet?'' ``Pt'see!'' +answer the Harvester. That began the duet. Before +the question had been asked and answered a half dozen +times a catbird intruded its voice and hearing a reply +came through the bushes to investigate. A wren followed +and became very saucy. From----one could not see +where, came a vireo, and almost at the same time a +chewink had something to say. + +Instantly the Harvester answered. Then a blue jay +came chattering to ascertain what all the fuss was about, +and the Harvester carried on a conversation that called +up the remainder of the feathered tribe. A brilliant +cardinal came tearing through the thicket, his beady +black eyes snapping, and demanded to know if +any one were harming his mate, brooding under a +wild grape leaf in a scrub elm on the river embankment. +A brown thrush silently slipped like a snake between +shrubs and trees, and catching the universal excitement, +began to flirt his tail and utter a weird, whistling +cry. + +With one eye on the bird, and the other on the Girl +sitting in amazed silence, the Harvester began working +for effect. He lay quietly, but in turn he answered a +dozen birds so accurately they thought their mates were +calling, and closer and closer they came. An oriole in +orange and black heard his challenge, and flew up the +river bank, answering at steady intervals for quite a +time before it was visible, and in resorting to the last +notes he could think of a quail whistled ``Bob White'' +and a shitepoke, skulking along the river bank, stopped +and cried, ``Cowk, cowk!'' + +At his limit of calls the Harvester changed his notes +and whistled and cried bits of bird talk in tone with +every mellow accent and inflection he could manage. +Gradually the excitement subsided, the birds flew and +tilted closer, turned their sleek heads, peered with bright +eyes, and ventured on and on until the very bravest, +the wren and the jay, were almost in touch. Then, +tired of hunting, Belshazzar came racing and the little +feathered people scattered in precipitate flight. + +``How do you like that kind of a noise?'' inquired the +Harvester. + +The Girl drew a deep breath. + +``Of course you know that was the most exquisite +sight I ever saw,'' she said. ``I never shall forget it. +I did not think there were that many different birds in +the whole world. Of all the gaudy colours! And they +came so close you could have reached out and touched +them.'' + +``Yes,'' said the Harvester calmly. ``Birds are never +afraid of me. At Medicine Woods, when I call them +like that, many, most of them, in fact, eat from my +hand. If you ever have looked at me enough to notice +bulgy pockets, they are full of wheat. These birds +are strangers, but I'll wager you that in a week I can +make them take food from me. Of course, my own +birds know me, because they are around every day. +It is much easier to tame them in winter, when the +snow has fallen and food is scarce, but it only takes +a little while to win a bird's confidence at any +season.'' + +``Birds don't know what there is to be afraid of,'' +she said. + +``Your pardon,'' said the Harvester, ``but I am familiar +with them, and that is not correct. They have more +to fear than human beings. No one is going to kill you +merely to see if he can shoot straight enough to hit. +Your life is not in danger because you have magnificent +hair that some woman would like for an ornament. +You will not be stricken out in a flash because there are +a few bits of meat on your frame some one wants to eat. +No one will set a seductive trap for you, and, if you are +tempted to enter it, shut you from freedom and natural +diet, in a cage so small you can't turn around without +touching bars. You are in a secure and free position +compared with the birds. I also have observed that +they know guns, many forms of traps, and all of them +decide by the mere manner of a man's passing +through the woods whether he is a friend or an +enemy. Birds know more than many people realize. +They do not always correctly estimate gun range, they +are foolishly venturesome at times when they want +food, but they know many more things than most +people give them credit for understanding. The greatest +trouble with the birds is they are too willing +to trust us and be friendly, so they are often +deceived.'' + +``That sounds as if you were right,'' said the Girl. + +``I am of the woods, so I know I am,'' answered the +Harvester. + +``Will you look at this now?'' + +He examined the drawing closely. + +``Where did you learn?'' he inquired. + +``My mother. She was educated to her finger tips. +She drew, painted, played beautifully, sang well, and she +had read almost all the best books. Besides what I learned +at high school she taught me all I know. Her embroidery +always brought higher prices than mine, try as I +might. I never saw any one else make such a dainty, +accurate little stitch as she could.'' + +``If this is not perfect, I don't know how to criticise +it. I can and will use it in my work. But I have one +luna cocoon remaining and I would give ten dollars for +such a drawing of the moth before it flies. It may open +to-night or not for several days. If your aunt should +be worse and you cannot come to-morrow and the moth +emerges, is there any way in which I could send it to +you?'' + +``What could I do with it?'' + +``I thought perhaps you could take a piece of paper +and the pencils with you, and secure an outline +in your room. It need not be worked up with +all the detail in this. Merely a skeleton sketch would +do. Could I leave it at the house or send it with +some one?'' + +``No! Oh no!'' she cried. ``Leave it here. Put it +in a box in the bushes where I hid the books. +What are you going to do with these things?'' + +``Hide them in the thicket and scatter leaves over +them.'' + +``What if it rains?'' + +``I have thought of that. I brought a few yards of +oilcloth to-day and they will be safe and dry if it pours.'' + +``Good!'' she said. ``Then if the moth comes out +you bring it, and if I am not here, put it under the cloth +and I will run up some time in the afternoon. But +if I were you, I would not spread the rug until you +know if I can remain. I have to steal every minute I +am away, and any day uncle takes a notion to stay at +home I dare not come.'' + +``Try to come to-morrow. I am going to bring some +medicine for your aunt.'' + +``Put it under the cloth if I am not here; but I will +come if I can. I must go now; I have been away far +too long.'' + +The Harvester picked up one of the drug pamphlets, +laid the drawing inside it, and placed it with his other +books. Then he drew out his pocket book and laid a +five-dollar bill on the table and began folding up the +chair and putting away the things. The Girl looked at +the money with eager eyes. + +``Is that honestly what you would pay at the arts +and crafts place?'' + +``It is the customary price for my patterns.'' + +``And are you sure this is as good?'' + +``I can bring you some I have paid that for, and let +you see for yourself that it is better.'' + +``I wish you would!'' she cried eagerly. ``I need that +money, and I would like to have it dearly, if I really have +earned it, but I can't touch it if I have not.'' + +``Won't you accept my word?'' + +``No. I will see the other drawings first, and if I +think mine are as good, I will be glad to take the money +to-morrow.'' + +``What if you can't come?'' + +``Put them under the oilcloth. I watch all the time +and I think Uncle Henry has trained even the boys so +they don't play in the river on his land. I never see a +soul here; the woods, house, and everything is desolate +until he comes home and then it is like----'' she paused. + +``I'll say it for you,'' said the Harvester promptly. +``Then it is like hell.'' + +``At its worst,'' supplemented the Girl. Taking pencils +and a sheet of paper she went swiftly through the woods. +Before she left the shelter of the trees, the Harvester +saw her busy her hands with the front of her dress, and +he knew that she was concealing the drawing material. +The colour box was left, and he said things as he put +it with the chair and table, covered them with the rug +and oilcloth, and heaped on a layer of leaves. + +Then he drove to the city and Betsy turned at the +hospital corner with no interference. He could face his +friend that day. Despite all discouragements he felt +reassured. He was progressing. Means of communication +had been established. If she did not come, +he could leave a note and tell her if the moth had not +emerged and how sorry he was to have missed seeing +her. + +``Hello, lover!'' cried Doctor Carey as the Harvester +entered the office. ``Are you married yet?'' + +``No. But I'm going to be,'' said the Harvester with +confidence. + +``Have you asked her?'' + +``No. We are getting acquainted. She is too close to +trouble, too ill, and too worried over a sick relative for +me to intrude myself; it would be brutal, but it's a +temptation. Doc, is there any way to compel a man to provide +medical care for his wife?'' + +``Can he afford it?'' + +``Amply. Anything! Worth thousands in land and +nobody knows what in money. It's Henry Jameson.'' + +``The meanest man I ever knew. If he has a wife it's +a marvel she has survived this long. Won't he provide +for her?'' + +``I suppose he thinks he has when she has a bed to lie +on and a roof to cover her. He won't supply food she +can eat and medicine. He says she is lazy.'' + +``What do you think?'' + +``I quote Miss Jameson. She says her aunt is slowly +dying from overwork and neglect.'' + +``David, doesn't it seem pretty good, when you say +`Miss Jameson'?'' + +``Loveliest sound on earth, except the remainder of it.'' + +``What's that?'' + +``Ruth!'' + +``Jove! That is a beautiful name. Ruth Langston. +It will go well, won't it?'' + +``Music that the birds, insects, Singing Water, the +trees, and the breeze can't ever equal. I'm holding on +with all my might, but it's tough, Doc. She's in such a +dreadful place and position, and she needs so much. +She is sick. Can't you give me a prescription for each +of them?'' + +``You just bet I can,'' said the doctor, ``if you can +engineer their taking them.'' + +``I suppose you'd hold their noses and pour stuff down +them.'' + +``I would if necessary.'' + +``Well, it is.'' + +``All right----I'll fix something, and you see that +they use it.'' + +``I can try,'' said the Harvester. + +``Try! Pah! You aren't half a man!'' + +``That's a half more than being a woman, anyway.'' + +``She called you feminine, did she?'' cried the doctor, +dancing and laughing. ``She ought to see you harvesting +skunk cabbage and blue flag or when you are angry +enough.'' + +The doctor left the room and it was a half hour before +he returned. + +``Try that on them according to directions,'' he said, +handing over a couple of bottles. + +``Thank you!'' said the Harvester, ``I will!'' + +``That sounds manly enough.'' + +``Oh pother! It's not that I'm not a man, or a laggard +in love; but I'd like to know what you'd do to a girl +dumb with grief over the recent loss of her mother, who +was her only relative worth counting, sick from God +knows what exposure and privation, and now a dying +relative on her hands. What could you do?'' + +``I'd marry her and pick her out of it!'' + +``I wouldn't have her, if she'd leave a sick woman for +me!'' + +``I wouldn't either. She's got to stick it out until +her aunt grows better, and then I'll go out there and +show you how to court a girl.'' + +``I guess not! You keep the girl you did court, courted, +and you'll have your hands full. How does that appear +to you?'' + +The Harvester opened the pamphlet he carried and +held up the drawing of the moth. + +The doctor turned to the light. + +``Good work!'' he cried. ``Did she do that?'' + +``She did. In a little over an hour.'' + +``Fine! She should have a chance.'' + +``She is going to. She is going to have all the +opportunity that is coming to her.'' + +``Good for you, David! Any time I can help!'' + +The Harvester replaced the sketch and went to the +wagon; but he left Belshazzar in charge, and visited the +largest dry goods store in Onabasha, where he held a +conference with the floor walker. When he came out he +carried a heaping load of boxes of every size and shape, +with a label on each. He drove to Medicine Woods +singing and whistling. + +``She didn't want me to go, Belshazzar!'' he chuckled +to the dog. ``She was more afraid of a cow than she +was of me. I made some headway to-day, old boy. +She doesn't seem to have a ray of an idea what I am +there for, but she is going to trust me soon now; that is +written in the books. Oh I hope she will be there to- +morrow, and the luna will be out. Got half a notion to +take the case and lay it in the warmest place I can find. +But if it comes out and she isn't there, I'll be sorry. +Better trust to luck.'' + +The Harvester stabled Betsy, fed the stock, and visited +with the birds. After supper he took his purchases +and entered her room. He opened the drawers of the +chest he had made, and selecting the labelled boxes he +laid them in. But not a package did he open. Then +he arose and radiated conceit of himself. + +``I'll wager she will like those,'' he commented proudly, +``because Kane promised me fairly that he would have the +right things put up for a girl the size of the clerk I selected +for him, and exactly what Ruth should have. That girl +was slenderer and not quite so tall, but he said everything +was made long on purpose. Now what else should I get?'' + +He turned to the dressing table and taking a notebook +from his pocket made this list: + Rugs for bed and bath room. + Mattresses, pillows and bedding, + Dresses for all occasions. + All kinds of shoes and overshoes. + + +``There are gloves, too!'' exclaimed the Harvester. +``She has to have some, but how am I going to know what +is right? Oh, but she needs shoes! High, low, slippers, +everything! I wonder what that clerk wears. I don't +believe shoes would be comfortable without being fitted, +or at least the proper size. I wonder what kind of dresses +she likes. I hope she's fond of white. A woman always +appears loveliest in that. Maybe I'd better buy what +I'm sure of and let her select the dresses. But I'd love +to have this room crammed with girl-fixings when she +comes. Doesn't seem as if she ever has had any little +luxuries. I can't miss it on anything a woman uses. +Let me think!'' + +Slowly he wrote again: + Parasols. + Fans. + Veils. + Hats. + + +``I never can get them! I think that will keep me busy +for a few days,'' said the Harvester as he closed the door +softly, and went to look at the pupae cases. Then he +carved on the vine of the candlestick for her dressing +table; with one arm around Belshazzar, re-read the story +of John Muir's dog, went into the lake, and to bed. +Just as he was becoming unconscious the beast lifted an +inquiring head and gazed at the man. + +``More 'fraid of cow,'' the Harvester was muttering +in a sleepy chuckle. + + + +CHAPTER XI + +DEMONSTRATED COURTSHIP + +When the Harvester saw the Girl coming toward +the woods, he spread the rug, opened and +placed the table and chair, laid out the colour +box, and another containing the last luna. + +``Did the green one come out?'' she asked, touching +the box lightly. + +``It did!'' said the Harvester proudly, as if he were +responsible for the performance. ``It is an omen! It +means that I am to have my long-coveted pattern for +my best candlestick. It also clearly indicates that +the gods of luck are with me for the day, and I +get my way about everything. There won't be the +least use in your asking `why' or interposing objections. +This is my clean sweep. I shall be fearfully +dictatorial and you must submit, because the fates +have pointed out that they favour me to-day, and +if you go contrary to their decrees you will have a +bad time.'' + +The Girl's smile was a little wan. She sank on a chair +and picked up a pencil. + +``Lay that down!'' cried the Harvester. ``You haven't +had permission from the Dictator to begin drawing. You +are to sit and rest a long time.'' + +``Please may I speak?'' asked the Girl. + +The Harvester grew foolishly happy. Was she really +going to play the game? Of course he had hoped, but +it was a hope without any foundation. + +``You may,'' he said soberly. + +``I am afraid that if you don't allow me to draw the +moth at once, I'll never get it done. I dislike to mention +it on your good day, but Aunt Molly is very restless. I +got a neighbour's little girl to watch her and call me if +I'm wanted. It's quite certain that I must go soon, so if +you would like the moth----'' + +``When luck is coming your way, never hurry it! You +always upset the bowl if you grow greedy and crowd. +If it is a gamble whether I get this moth, I'll take the +chance; but I won't change my foreordained programme +for this afternoon. First, you are to sit still ten minutes, +shut your eyes, and rest. I can't sing, but I can whistle, +and I'm going to entertain you so you won't feel alone. +Ready now!'' + +The Girl leaned her elbows on the table, closed her +eyes, and pressed her slender white hands over them. + +``Please don't call the birds,'' she said. ``I can't rest +if you do. It was so exciting trying to see all of them +and guess what they were saying.'' + +``No,'' said the Harvester gently. ``This ten minutes +is for relaxation, you know. You ease every muscle, +sink limply on your chair, lean on the table, let go all +over, and don't think. Just listen to me. I assure you +it's going to be perfectly lovely.'' + +Watching intently he saw the strained muscles +relaxing at his suggestion and caught the smile over the +last words as he slid into a soft whistle. It was an +easy, slow, old-fashioned tune, carrying along gently, +with neither heights nor depths, just monotonous, sleepy, +soothing notes, that went on and on with a little ripple +of change at times, only to return to the theme, until at +last the Girl lifted her head. + +``It's away past ten minutes,'' she said, ``but that was +a real rest. Truly, I am better prepared for work.'' + +``Broke the rule, too!'' said the Harvester. ``It was, +for me to say when time was up. Can't you allow me +to have my way for ten minutes?'' + +``I am so anxious to see and draw this moth,'' she +answered. ``And first of all you promised to bring the +drawings you have been using.'' + +``Now where does my programme come in?'' inquired +the Harvester. ``You are spoiling everything, and I +refuse to have my lucky day interfered with; therefore +we will ignore the suggestion until we arrive at the place +where it is proper. Next thing is refreshments.'' + +He arose and coming over cleared the table. Then +he spread on it a paper tray cloth with a gay border, +and going into the thicket brought out a box and a big +bucket containing a jug packed in ice. The Girl's eyes +widened. She reached down, caught up a piece, and +holding it to drip a second started to put it in her mouth. + +``Drop that!'' commanded the Harvester. ``That's +a very unhealthful proceeding. Wait a minute.'' + +From one end of the box he produced a tin of wafers +and from the other a plate. Then he dug into the ice +and lifted several different varieties of chilled fruit. From +the jug he poured a combination that he made of the +juices of oranges, pineapples, and lemons. He set the +glass, rapidly frosting in the heat, and the fruit before +the Girl. + +``Now!'' he said. + +For one instant she stared at the table. Then she +looked at him and in the depths of her dark eyes was an +appeal he never forgot. + +``I made that drink myself, so it's all right,'' he +assured her. ``There's a pretty stiff touch of pineapple +in it, and it cuts the cobwebs on a hot day. Please +try it!'' + +``I can't!'' cried the Girl with a half-sob. ``Think of +Aunt Molly!'' + +``Are you fond of her?'' + +``No. I never saw her until a few weeks ago. Since +then I've seen nothing save her poor, tired back. She lies +in a heap facing the wall. But if she could have things +like these, she needn't suffer. And if my mother could +have had them she would be living to-day. Oh Man, +I can't touch this.'' + +``I see,'' said the Harvester. + +He reached over, picked up the glass, and poured its +contents into the jug. He repacked the fruit and closed +the wafer box. Then he made a trip to the thicket and +came out putting something into his pocket. + +``Come on!'' he said. ``We are going to the house.'' + +She stared at him. + +``I simply don't dare.'' + +``Then I will go alone,'' said the Harvester, picking +up the bucket and starting. + +The Girl followed him. + +``Uncle Henry may come any minute,'' she urged. + +``Well if he comes and acts unpleasantly, he will get +what he richly deserves.'' + +``And he will make me pay for it afterward.'' + +``Oh no he won't!'' said the Harvester, ``because I'll +look out for that. This is my lucky day. He isn't going +to come.'' + +When he reached the back door he opened it and +stepped inside. Of all the barren places of crude, +disheartening ugliness the Harvester ever had seen, that was +the worst. + +``I want a glass and a spoon,'' he said. + +The Girl brought them. + +``Where is she?'' + +``In the next room.'' + +At the sound of their voices a small girl came to the +kitchen door. + +``How do you do?'' inquired the Harvester. ``Is Mrs. +Jameson asleep?'' + +``I don't know,'' answered the child. ``She just lies +there.'' + +The Harvester gave her the glass. ``Please fill that +with water,'' he said. Then he picked up the bucket and +went into the front room. When the child came with +the water he took a bottle from his pocket, filled the spoon, +and handed it to her. + +``Hold that steadily,'' he said. + +Then he slid his strong hands under the light frame and +turned the face of the faded little creature toward him. + +``I am a Medicine Man, Mrs. Jameson,'' he said casually. +``I heard you were sick and I came to see if a +little of this stuff wouldn't brace you up. Open your +lips.'' + +He held out the spoon and the amazed woman swallowed +the contents before she realized what she was +doing. Then the Harvester ran a hand under her shoulders +and lifting her gently he tossed her pillow with +the other hand. + +``You are a light little body, just like my mother,'' +he commented. ``Now I have something else sick people +sometimes enjoy.'' + +He held the fruit juice to her lips as he slightly raised +her on the pillow. Her trembling fingers lifted and +closed around the sparkling glass. + +``Oh it's cool!'' she gasped. + +``It is,'' said the Harvester, ``and sour! I think you +can taste it. Try!'' + +She drank so greedily he drew away the glass and +urged caution, but the shaking fingers clung to him and +the wavering voice begged for more. + +``In a minute,'' said the Harvester gently. But the +fevered woman would not wait. She drank the cooling +liquid until she could take no more. Then she watched +him fill a small pitcher and pack it in a part of the ice +and lay some fruit around it. + +``Who, Ruth?'' she panted. + +``A Medicine Man who heard about you.'' + +``What will Henry say?'' + +``He won't know,'' explained the Girl, smoothing the +hot forehead. ``I'll put it in the cupboard, and slip it +to you while he is out of the room. It will make you +strong and well.'' + +``I don't want to be strong and well and suffer it all +over again. I want to rest. Give me more of the cool +drink. Give me all I want, then I'll go to sleep.'' + +``It's wonderful,'' said the Girl. ``That's more than +I've heard her talk since I came. She is much stronger. +Please let her have it.'' + +The Harvester assented. He gave the child some of +the fruit, and told her to sit beside the bed and hold the +drink when it was asked for. She agreed to be very +careful and watchful. Then he picked up the bucket, +and followed by the Girl, returned to the woods. + +``Now we have to begin all over again,'' he said, as +she seated herself at the table. ``Because of the walk in +the heat, this time the programme is a little different.'' + +He replaced the wafer box and opened it, filled the +glass, and heaped the cold fruit. + +``Your aunt is going to have a refreshing sleep now,'' +he said, ``and your mind can be free about her for an hour +or two. I am very sure your mother would not want you +deprived of anything because she missed it, so you are +to enjoy this, if you care for it. At least try a sample.'' + +The Girl lifted the glass to her lips with a trembling +hand. + +``I'm like Aunt Molly,'' she said; ``I wish I could drink +all I could swallow, and then lie down and go to sleep +forever. I suppose this is what they have in Heaven.'' + +``No, it's what they drink all over earth at present, +but I have a conceit of my own brand. Some of it is +too strong of one fruit or of the other, and all too sweet +for health. This is compounded scientifically and it's +just right. If you are not accustomed to cold drinks, +go slowly.'' + +``You can't scare me,'' said the Girl; ``I'm going to +drink all I want.'' + +There was a note of excitement in the Harvester's +laugh. + +``You must have some, too!'' + +``After a while,'' he said. ``I was thirsty when I made +it, so I don't care for any more now. Try the fruit and +those wafers. Of course they are not home made-- +they are the best I could do at a bakery. Take time +enough to eat slowly. I'm going to tell you a tale while +you lunch, and it's about a Medicine Man named David +Langston. It's a very peculiar story, but it's quite +true. This man lives in the woods east of Onabasha, +accompanied by his dog, horse, cow, and chickens, and +a forest full of birds, flowers, and matchless trees. He +has lived there in this manner for six long years, and +every spring he and his dog have a seance and agree +whether he shall go on gathering medicinal herbs and +trying his hand at making medicine or go to the city +and live as other men. Always the dog chooses to remain +in the woods. + +``Then every spring, on the day the first bluebird comes, +the dog also decides whether the man shall go on alone +or find a mate and bring her home for company. Each +year the dog regularly has decided that they live as +always. This spring, for some unforeseen reason, he +changed his mind, and compelled the man, according to +his vow in the beginning, to go courting. The man was +so very angry at the idea of having a woman in his home, +interfering with his work, disturbing his arrangements, +and perhaps wanting to spend more money than he could +afford, that he struck the dog for making that decision; +struck him for the very first time in his life----I believe +you'd like those apricots. Please try one.'' + +``Go on with the story,'' said the Girl, sipping +delicately but constantly at the frosty glass. + +The Harvester arose and refilled it. Then he dropped +pieces of ice over the fruit. + +``Where was I?'' he inquired casually. + +``Where you struck Belshazzar, and it's no wonder,'' +answered the Girl. + +Without taking time to ponder that, the Harvester +continued: + +``But that night the man had a wonderful, golden +dream. A beautiful girl came to him, and she was so +gracious and lovely that he was sufficiently punished +for striking his dog, because he fell unalterably in love +with her.'' + +``Meaning you?'' interrupted the Girl. + +``Yes,'' said the Harvester, ``meaning me. I----if +you like----fell in love with the girl. She came so +alluringly, and I was so close to her that I saw her better +than I ever did any other girl, and I knew her for all time. +When she went, my heart was gone.'' + +``And you have lived without that important organ +ever since?'' + +``Without even the ghost of it! She took it with her. +Well, that dream was so real, that the next day I began +building over my house, making furniture, and planting +flowers for her; and every day, wherever I went, I watched +for her.'' + +``What nonsense!'' + +``I can't see it.'' + +``You won't find a girl you dreamed about in a +thousand years.'' + +``Wrong!'' cried the Harvester triumphantly. ``Saw +her in little less than three months, but she vanished and +it took some time and difficult work before I located +her again; but I've got her all solid now, and she doesn't +escape.'' + +``Is she a `lovely and gracious lady'?'' + +``She is!'' said the Harvester, with all his heart. + +``Young and beautiful, of course!'' + +``Indeed yes!'' + +``Please fill this glass. I told you what I was going +to do.'' + +The Harvester refilled the glass and the Girl drained it. + +``Now won't you set aside these things and allow me +to go to work?'' she asked. ``My call may come any +minute, and I'll never forgive myself if I waste time, and +don't draw your moth pattern for you.'' + +``It's against my principles to hurry, and besides, my +story isn't finished.'' + +``It is,'' said the Girl. ``She is young and lovely, gentle +and a lady, you have her `all solid,' and she can't `escape'; +that's the end, of course. But if I were you, I wouldn't +have her until I gave her a chance to get away, and saw +whether she would if she could.'' + +``Oh I am not a jailer,'' said the Harvester. ``She shall +be free if I cannot make her love me; but I can, and I +will; I swear it.'' + +``You are not truly in earnest?'' + +``I am in deadly earnest.'' + +``Honestly, you dreamed about a girl, and found the +very one?'' + +``Most certainly, I did.'' + +``It sounds like the wildest romancing.'' + +``It is the veriest reality.'' + +``Well I hope you win her, and that she will be +everything you desire.'' + +``Thank you,'' said the Harvester. ``It's written in +the book of fate that I succeed. The very elements are +with me. The South Wind carried a message to her for +me. I am going to marry her, but you could make it +much easier for me if you would.'' + +``I! What could I do?'' cried the Girl. + +``You could cease being afraid of me. You could +learn to trust me. You could try to like me, if you see +anything likeable about me. That would encourage me +so that I could tell you of my Dream Girl, and then you +could show me how to win her. A woman always knows +about those things better than a man. You could be the +greatest help in all the world to me, if only you would.'' + +``I couldn't possibly! I can't leave here. I have no +proper clothing to appear before another girl. She would +be shocked at my white face. That I could help you is +the most improbable dream you have had.'' + +``You must pardon me if I differ from you, and persist +in thinking that you can be of invaluable assistance to +me, if you will. But you can't influence my Dream +Girl, if you fear and distrust me yourself. Promise me +that you will help me that much, anyway.'' + +``I'll do all I can. I only want to make you see that +I am in no position to grant any favours, no matter how +much I owe you or how I'd like to. Is the candlestick +you are carving for her?'' + +``It is,'' said the Harvester. ``I am making a pair of +maple to stand on a dressing table I built for her. It is +unusually beautiful wood, I think, and I hope she will +be pleased with it.'' + +``Please take these things away and let me begin. This +is the only thing I can see that I can do for you, and the +moth will want to fly before I have finished.'' + +The Harvester cleared the table and placed the box, +while the Girl spread the paper and began work eagerly. + +``I wonder if I knew there were such exquisite things +in all the world,'' she said. ``I scarcely think I did. I am +beginning to understand why you couldn't kill one. You +could make a chair or a table, and so you feel free to destroy +them; but it takes ages and Almighty wisdom to evolve +a creature like this, so you don't dare. I think no one else +would if they really knew. Please talk while I work.'' + +``Is there a particular subject you want discussed?'' + +``Anything but her. If I think too strongly of her, I +can't work so well.'' + +``Your ginseng is almost dry,'' said the Harvester. +``I think I can bring you the money in a few days.'' + +``So soon!'' she cried. + +``It dries day and night in an even temperature, and +faster than you would believe. There's going to be +between seven and eight pounds of it, when I make up +what it has shrunk. It will go under the head of the +finest wild roots. I can get eight for it sure.'' + +``Oh what good news!'' cried the Girl. ``This is my +lucky day, too. And the little girl isn't coming, so Aunt +Molly must be asleep. Everything goes right! If only +Uncle Henry wouldn't come home!'' + +``Let me fill your glass,'' proffered the Harvester. + +``Just half way, and set it where I can see it,'' said the +Girl. She worked with swift strokes and there was a +hint of colour in her face, as she looked at him. ``I +hope you won't think I'm greedy,'' she said, ``but truly, +that's the first thing I've had that I could taste in----I +can't remember when.'' + +``I'll bring a barrel to-morrow,'' offered the Harvester, +``and a big piece of ice wrapped in coffee sacking.'' + +``You mustn't think of such a thing! Ice is expensive +and so are fruits.'' + +``Ice costs me the time required to saw and pack it at +my home. I almost live on the fruit I raise. I confess +to a fondness for this drink. I have no other personal +expenses, unless you count in books, and a very few +clothes, such as I'm wearing; so I surely can afford all +the fruit juice I want.'' + +``For yourself, yes.'' + +``Also for a couple of women or I am a mighty poor +attempt at a man,'' said the Harvester. ``This is my +day, so you are not to talk, because it won't do any good. +Things go my way.'' + +``Please see what you think of this,'' she said. + +The Harvester arose and bent over her. + +``That will do finely,'' he answered. ``You can stop. +I don't require all those little details for carving, I just +want a good outline. It is finished. See here!'' + +He drew some folded papers from his pocket and laid +them before her. + +``Those are what I have been working from,'' he said. + +The Girl took them and studied each carefully. + +``If those are worth five dollars to you,'' she said gently, +``why then I needn't hesitate to take as much for mine. +They are superior.'' + +``I should say so,'' laughed the Harvester as he took +up the drawing and laid down the money. + +``If you would make it half that much I'd feel better +about it,'' she said. + +``How could I?'' asked the Harvester. ``Your fingers +are well trained and extremely skilful. Because some +one has not been paying you enough for your work is +no reason why I should keep it up. From now on you +must have what others get. As soon as you can arrange +for work, I want to tell you about some designs I have +studied out from different things, show you the plants +and insects, and have you make some samples. I'll +send them to proper places, and see what experts say +about the ideas and drawing. Work in the woods is +healthful, with proper precautions; it's easy compared +with the exactions of being bound to sewing or embroidering +in the confinement of a room; it's vividly interesting +in the search for new subjects, changes of material, and +differing harmonious combinations; it's truly artistic; and +it brings the prices high grade stuff always does.'' + +``Almost you give me hope,'' said the Girl. ``Almost, +Man----almost! Since mother died, I haven't thought +or planned beyond paying for the medicine she took and +the shelter she lies in. Oh I didn't mean to say that----!'' + +She buried her face in her hands. The Harvester +suffered until he scarcely knew how to bear it. + +``Please finish,'' he begged. ``You hadn't planned +beyond the debt, you were saying----'' + +The Girl lifted her tired, strained face. + +``Give me a little more of that delicious drink,'' she +said. ``I am ravenous for it. It puts new life in me. +This and what you say bring a far away, misty vision +of a clean, bright, peaceful room somewhere, and work +one could love and live on in comfort; enough to give a +desire to finish life to its natural end. Oh Man, you +make me hope in spite of myself!'' + +`` `Praise God from whom all blessings flow;' '' quoted +the Harvester reverently. ``Now try one of these peaches. +It's juicy and cold. Get that room right in focus in your +brain, and nurture the idea. Its walls shall be bright +as sunshine, its floor creamy white, and it shall open +into a little garden, where only yellow flowers grow, and +the birds shall sing. The first ray of sun that peeps +over the hills of morning shall fall through its windows +across your bed, and you shall work only as you please, +after you've had months of play and rest; and it's coming +true the instant you can leave here. Dream of +it, make up your mind to it, because it's coming. I +have a little streak of second sight, and I see it on the +way.'' + +``You are talking wildly,'' said the Girl, ``else you are +a good genie trying to conjure a room for me.'' + +``This room I am talking of is ready whenever you want +to take possession,'' said the Harvester. ``Accept it as +a reality, because I tell you I know where it is, that it +is waiting, and you can earn your way into it with no +obligation to any one.'' + +The Girl stretched out her right hand and slowly turned +and opened and closed it. Then she glanced at the Harvester +with a weary smile. + +``From somewhere I feel a glimmering of the spirit, +but Oh, dear Lord, the flesh is weak!'' she said. + +``That's where nourishing foods, appetizing drinks, +plenty of pure, fresh air, and good water come in. Now +we have talked enough for one day, and worked too +much. The fruit and drink go with you. I will carry +it to the house, and you can hide it in your room. I am +going to put a bottle of tonic on top that the best surgeon +in the state gave me for you. Try to eat something +strengthening and then take a spoonful of this, and use +all the fruit you want. I'll bring more to-morrow and +put it here, with plenty of ice. Now suppose you let +the moth go free,'' he suggested to avoid objections. +``You must take my word for it, that it is perfectly harmless, +lacking either sting or bite, and hold your hand before +it, so that it will climb on your fingers. Then stand +where a ray of sunshine falls and in a few minutes it will +go out to live its life.'' + +The Girl hesitated a second as she studied the clean-cut, +interested face of the man; then she held out her hand, +and he urged the moth to climb on her fingers. She +stepped where a ray of strong light fell on the forest floor +and held the moth in it. The brightness also touched +her transparent hand and white face and the gleaming +black hair. The Harvester choked down a rising surge +of desire for her, and took a new grip on himself. + +``Oh!'' she cried breathlessly, as the clinging feet +suddenly loosened and the luna slowly flew away among the +trees. She turned on the Harvester. ``You teach me +wonders!'' she cried. ``You give life different meanings. +You are not as other men.'' + +``If that be true, it is because I am of the woods. The +Almighty does not evolve all his wonders in animal, +bird, and flower form; He keeps some to work out in +the heart, if humanity only will go to His school, and allow +Him to have dominion. Come now, you must go. I +will come back and put away all the things and tomorrow +I will bring your ginseng money. Any time you +cannot come, if you want to tell me why, or if there is +anything I can do for you, put a line under the oilcloth. +I will carry the bucket.'' + +``I am so afraid,'' she said. + +``I will only go to the edge of the woods. You can +see if there is any one at the house first. If not, you can +send the child away, and then I will carry the bucket to +the door for you, and it will furnish comfort for one night, +at least.'' + +They went to the cleared land and the Girl passed on +alone. Soon she reappeared and the Harvester saw the +child going down the road. He took up the bucket and +set it inside the door. + +``Is there anything I can do for you?'' + +``Nothing but go, before you make trouble.'' + +``Will you hide that stuff and walk back as far as the +woods with me? There is something more I want to +say to you.'' + +The Girl staggered under the heavy load, and the man +turned his head and tried to pretend he did not see. +Presently she came out to him, and they returned to +the line of the woods. Just as they entered the shade +there was a flash before them, and on a twig a few rods +away a little gray bird alighted, while in precipitate +pursuit came a flaming wonder of red, and in a burst +of excited trills, broken whistles, and imploring gestures, +perched beside her. + +The Harvester hastily drew the Girl behind some +bushes. + +``Watch!'' he whispered. ``You are going to see a +sight so lovely and so rare it is vouchsafed to few mortals +ever to behold.'' + +``What are they fighting about?'' she whispered. + +``You are witnessing a cardinal bird declare his love,'' +breathed the Harvester. + +``Do cardinals love different birds?'' + +``No. The female is gray, because if she is coloured +the same as the trees and branches and her nest, she +will have more chance to bring off her young in safety. +He is blood red, because he is the bravest, gayest, most +ardent lover of the whole woods,'' explained the Harvester. + +The Girl leaned forward breathlessly watching and a +slow surge of colour crept into her cheeks. The red bird +twisted, whistled, rocked, tilted, and trilled, and the gray +sat demurely watching him, as if only half convinced +he really meant it. The gay lover began at the beginning +and said it all over again with more impassioned gestures +than before, and then he edged in touch and softly +stroked her wing with his beak. She appeared startled, +but did not fly. So again the fountain of half-whistled, +half-trilled notes bubbled with the acme of pleading +intonation and that time he leaned and softly kissed her +as she reached her bill for the caress. Then she fled in +headlong flight, while the streak of flame darted after her. +The Girl caught her breath in a swift spasm of surprise +and wonder. She turned to the Harvester. + +``What was it you wanted to say to me?'' she asked +hurriedly. + +The Harvester was not the man to miss the goods the +gods provided. Truly this was his lucky day. Unhesitatingly +he took the plunge. + +``Precisely what he said to her. And if you observed +closely, you noticed that she didn't ask him `why.' '' + +Before she could open her lips, he was gone, his swift +strides carrying him through the woods. + + + +CHAPTER XII + +``THE WAY OF A MAN WITH A MAID'' + +The next day the Harvester lifted the oilcloth, +and picking up a folded note he read---- + +``Aunt Molly found rest in the night. She was +more comfortable than she had been since I have known +her. Close the end she whispered to me to thank you +if I ever saw you again. She will be buried to-morrow. +Past that, I dare not think.'' + +The Harvester sat on the log and studied the lines. +She would not come that day or the next. After a long +time he put the note in his pocket, wrote an answer +telling her he had been there, and would come on the +following day on the chance of her wanting anything +he could do, and the next he would bring the ginseng +money, so she must be sure to meet him. + +Then he went back to the wagon, turned Betsy, and +drove around the Jameson land watching closely. There +were several vehicles in the barn lot, and a couple of +men sitting under the trees of the door yard. Faded +bedding hung on the line and women moved through +the rooms, but he could not see the Girl. Slowly he +drove on until he came to the first house, and there he +stopped and went in. He saw the child of the previous +day, and as she came forward her mother appeared in +the doorway. + +The Harvester explained who he was and that he was +examining the woods in search of some almost extinct +herbs he needed in his business. Then he told of having +been at the adjoining farm the day before and mentioned +the sick woman. He added that later she had died. +He casually mentioned that a young woman there seemed +pale and ill and wondered if the neighbours would see +her through. He suggested that the place appeared as +if the owner did not take much interest, and when the +woman finished with Henry Jameson, he said how very +important it seemed to him that some good, kind-hearted +soul should go and mother the poor girl, and the woman +thought she was the very person. Without knowing +exactly how he did it, the Harvester left with her promise +to remain with the Girl the coming two nights. The +woman had her hands full of strange and delicious fruit +without understanding why it had been given her, or +why she had made those promises. She thought the +Harvester a remarkably fine young man to take such +interest in strangers and she told him he was welcome +to anything he could find on her place that would help +with his medicines. + +The Harvester just happened to be coming from the +woods as the woman freshly dressed left the house, so +he took her in the wagon and drove back to the Jameson +place, because he was going that way. Then he returned +to Medicine Woods and worked with all his might. + +First he polished floors, cleaned windows, and arranged +the rooms as best he could inside the cabin; then he +gave a finishing touch to everything outside. He could +not have told why he did it, but he thought it was +because there was hope that now the Girl would come +to Onabasha. If he found opportunity to bring her +to the city, he hoped that possibly he might drive home +with her and show Medicine Woods, so everything must +be in order. Then he worked with flying fingers in the +dry-house, putting up her ginseng for market, and never +was weight so liberal. + +The next morning he drove early to Onabasha and +came home with a loaded wagon, the contents of which +he scattered through the cabin where it seemed most +suitable, but the greater part of it was for her. He +glanced at the bare floors and walls of the other rooms, +and thought of trying to improve them, but he was +afraid of not getting the right things. + +``I don't know much about what is needed here,'' +he said, ``but I am perfectly safe in buying anything a +girl ever used.'' + +Then he returned to the city, explained the situation +to the doctor, and selected the room he wanted in case +the Girl could be persuaded to come to the hospital. +After that he went to see the doctor's wife, and made +arrangements for her to be ready for a guest, because +there was a possibility he might want to call for help. +He had another jug of fruit juice and all the delicacies +he could think of, also a big cake of ice, when he +reached the woods. There were only a few words for +him. + +``I will come to-morrow at two, if at all possible; if +not, keep the money until I can.'' + +There was nothing to do except to place his offering +under the oilcloth and wait, but he simply was compelled +to add a line to say he would be there, and to express +the hope that she was comfortable as possible and thinking +of the sunshine room. Then he returned to Medicine +Woods to wait, and found that possible only by +working to exhaustion. There were many things he +could do, and one after another he finished them, until +completely worn out; and then he slept the deep sleep +of weariness. + +At noon the next day he bathed, shaved, and dressed +in fresh, clean clothing. He stopped in Onabasha for +more fruit, and drove to the Jameson woods. He was +waiting and watching the usual path the Girl followed, +when her step sounded on the other side. The Harvester +arose and turned. Her pallor was alarming. She stepped +on the rug he had spread, and sank almost breathless +to the chair. + +``Why do you come a new way that fills you with fear?'' +asked the Harvester. + +``It seems as if Uncle Henry is watching me every +minute, and I didn't dare come where he could see. I +must not remain a second. You must take these things +away and go at once. He is dreadful.'' + +``So am I,'' said the Harvester, ``when affairs go too +everlastingly wrong. I am not afraid of any man living. +What are you planning to do?'' + +``I want to ask you, are you sure about the prices of +my drawing and the ginseng?'' + +``Absolutely,'' said the Harvester. ``As for the ginseng +it went in fresh and early, best wild roots, and it +brought eight a pound. There were eight pounds when +I made up weight and here is your money.'' + +He handed her a long envelope addressed to her. + +``What is the amount?'' she asked. + +``Sixty-four dollars.'' + +``I can't believe it.'' + +``You have it in your fingers.'' + +``You know that I would like to thank you properly, +if I had words to express myself.'' + +``Never mind that,'' said the Harvester. ``Tell me +what you are planning. Say that you will come to the +hospital for the long, perfect rest now.'' + +``It is absolutely impossible. Don't weary me by +mentioning it. I cannot.'' + +``Will you tell me what you intend doing?'' + +`I must,'' she said, ``for it depends entirely on your +word. I am going to get Uncle Henry's supper, and then +go and remain the night with the neighbour who has +been helping me. In the morning, when he leaves, she +is coming with her wagon for my trunk, and she is going +to drive with me to Onabasha and find me a cheap room +and loan me a few things, until I can buy what I need. +I am going to use fourteen dollars of this and my drawing +money for what I am forced to buy, and pay fifty on +my debt. Then I will send you my address and be +ready for work.'' + +She clutched the envelope and for the first time looked +at him. + +``Very well,'' said the Harvester. ``I could take you +to the wife of my best friend, the chief surgeon of +the city hospital, and everything would be ease +and rest until you are strong; she would love to have +you.'' + +The Girl dropped her hands wearily. + +``Don't tire me with it!'' she cried. ``I am almost +falling despite the stimulus of food and drink I can +touch. I never can thank you properly for that. I +won't be able to work hard enough to show you how +much I appreciate what you have done for me. But +you don't understand. A woman, even a poverty-poor +woman, if she be delicately born and reared, cannot go +to another woman on a man's whim, and when she +lacks even the barest necessities. I don't refuse to meet +your friends. I shall love to, when I can be so dressed +that I will not shame you. Until that times comes, if +you are the gentleman you appear to be, you will wait +without urging me further.'' + +``I must be a man, in order to be a gentleman,'' said +the Harvester. ``And it is because the man in me is +in hot rebellion against more loneliness, pain, and suffering +for you, that the conventions become chains I do +not care how soon or how roughly I break. If only you +could be induced to say the word, I tell you I could bring +one of God's gentlest women to you.'' + +``And probably she would come in a dainty gown, +in her carriage or motor, and be disgusted, astonished, +and secretly sorry for you. As for me, I do not require +her pity. I will be glad to know the beautiful, refined, +and gentle woman you are so certain of, but not until +I am better dressed and more attractive in appearance +than now. If you will give me your address, I will write +you when I am ready for work.'' + +Silently the Harvester wrote it. ``Will you give me +permission to take these things to your neighbour for +you?'' he asked. ``They would serve until you can do +better, and I have no earthly use for them.'' + +She hesitated. Then she laughed shortly. + +``What a travesty my efforts at pride are with you!'' +she cried. ``I begin by trying to preserve some proper +dignity, and end by confessing abject poverty. I yet +have the ten you paid me the other day, but twenty-four +dollars are not much to set up housekeeping on, and +I would be more glad than I can say for these very +things.'' + +``Thank you,'' said the Harvester. ``I will take them +when I go. Is there anything else?'' + +``I think not.'' + +``Will you have a drink?'' + +``Yes, if you have more with you. I believe it is really +cooling my blood.'' + +``Are you taking the medicine?'' + +``Yes,'' she said, ``and I am stronger. Truly I am. +I know I appear ghastly to you, but it's loss of sleep, +and trying to lay away poor Aunt Molly decently, +and----'' + +``And fear of Uncle Henry,'' added the Harvester. + +``Yes,'' said the Girl. ``That most of all! He thinks +I am going to stay here and take her place. I can't +tell him I am not, and how I am to hide from him when +I am gone, I don't know. I am afraid of him.'' + +``Has he any claim on you?'' + +``Shelter for the past three months.'' + +``Are you of age?'' + +``I am almost twenty-four,'' she said. + +``Then suppose you leave Uncle Henry to me,'' +suggested the Harvester. + +``Why?'' + +``Careful now! The red bird told you why!'' said +the man. ``I will not urge it upon you now, but keep +it steadily in the back of your head that there is a +sunshine room all ready and waiting for you, and I am going +to take you to it very soon. As things are, I think you +might allow me to tell you----'' + +She was on her feet in instant panic. ``I must go,'' +she said. ``Uncle Henry is dogging me to promise to +remain, and I will not, and he is watching me. I must +go----'' + +``Can you give me your word of honour that you will +go to the neighbour woman to-night; that you feel +perfectly safe?'' + +She hesitated. ``Yes, I----I think so. Yes, if he +doesn't find out and grow angry. Yes, I will be safe.'' + +``How soon will you write me?'' + +``Just as soon as I am settled and rest a little.'' + +``Do you mean several days?'' + +``Yes, several days.'' + +``An eternity!'' cried the Harvester with white lips. +``I cannot let you go. Suppose you fall ill and fail to +write me, and I do not know where you are, and there +is no one to care for you.'' + +``But can't you see that I don't know where I will +be? If it will satisfy you, I will write you a line to- +morrow night and tell you where I am, and you can come +later.'' + +``Is that a promise?'' asked the Harvester. + +``It is,'' said the Girl. + +``Then I will take these things to your neighbour and +wait until to-morrow night. You won't fail me?'' + +``I never in all my life saw a man so wild over designs,'' +said the Girl, as she started toward the house. + +``Don't forget that the design I'm craziest about is +the same as the red bird's,'' the Harvester flung after +her, but she hurried on and made no reply. + +He folded the table and chair, rolled the rug, and +shouldering them picked up the bucket and started down +the river bank. + +``David!'' + +Such a faint little call he never would have been sure +he heard anything if Belshazzar had not stopped suddenly. +The hair on the back of his neck arose and he +turned with a growl in his throat. The Harvester dropped +his load with a crash and ran in leaping bounds, but the +dog was before him. Half way to the house, Ruth Jameson +swayed in the grip of her uncle. One hand clutched +his coat front in a spasmodic grasp, and with the other +she covered her face. + +The roar the Harvester sent up stayed the big, lifted +fist, and the dog leaped for a throat hold, and compelled +the man to defend himself. The Harvester never knew +how he covered the space until he stood between them, +and saw the Girl draw back and snatch together the +front of her dress. + +``He took it from me!'' she panted. ``Make him, oh +make him give back my money!'' + +Then for a few seconds things happened too rapidly to +record. Once the Harvester tossed a torn envelope +exposing money to the Girl, and again a revolver, and +then both men panting and dishevelled were on their +feet. + +``Count your money, Ruth?'' said the Harvester in a +voice of deadly quiet. + +``It is all here,'' said she. + +``Her money?'' cried Henry Jameson. ``My money! +She has been stealing the price of my cattle from my +pockets. I thought I was short several times lately.'' + +``You are lying,'' said the Harvester deliberately. +``It is her money. I just paid it to her. You were trying +to take it from her, not the other way.'' + +``Oh, she is in your pay?'' leered the man. + +``If you say an insulting word I think very probably +I will finish you,'' said the Harvester. ``I can, with my +naked hands, and all your neighbours will say it is a +a good job. You have felt my grip! I warn you!'' + +``How does my niece come to be taking money from you!'' + +``You have forfeited all right to know. Ruth, you +cannot remain here. You must come with me. I will +take you to Onabasha and find you a room.'' + +A horrible laugh broke from the man. + +``So that is the end of my saintly niece!'' he said. + +``Remember!'' cried the Harvester advancing a step. +``Ruth, will you go to the rest I suggested for you?'' + +``I cannot.'' + +``Will you go to Doctor Carey's wife?'' + +``Impossible!'' + +``Will you marry me and go to the shelter of my home +with me?'' + +Wild-eyed she stared at him. + +``Why?'' + +``Because I love you, and want life made easier for +you, above anything else on earth.'' + +``But your Dream Girl!'' + +``YOU ARE THE DREAM GIRL! I thought the red bird told +you for me! I didn't know it would be a shock. I +believed I had made you understand.'' + +By that time she was shaking with a nervous chill, +and the sight unmanned the Harvester. + +``Come with me!'' he urged. ``We will decide what +you want to do on the way. Only come, I beg you.'' + +``First it was marry, now it's decide later,'' broke in +Henry Jameson, crazed with anger. ``Move a step +and I'll strike you down. I'd better than see you +disgraced----'' + +The Harvester advanced and Jameson stepped back. + +``Ruth,'' said the Harvester, ``I know how impossible +this seems. It is giving you no chance at all. I had +intended, when I found you, to court you tenderly as +girl ever was wooed before. Come with me, and I'll +do it yet. The new home was built for you. The +sunshine room is ready and waiting for you. There is +pure air, fresh water, nothing but rest and comfort. +I'll nurse you back to health and strength, and you shall +be courted until you come to me of your own accord.'' + +``Impossible!'' cried the girl. + +``Only if you make it so. If you will come now, we +can be married in a few hours, and you can be safe in +your own home. I realize now that this is unexpected and +shocking to you, but if you will come with me and allow +me to restore you to health and strength, and if, say, in +a year, you are convinced that you do not love me, I +will set you free. If you will come, I swear to you that you +shall be my wife first, and my honoured guest afterward, +until such time as you either tell me you love me or that +you never can. Will you come on those terms, Ruth?'' + +``I cannot!'' + +``It will end fear, uncertainty, and work, until you +are strong and well. It will give you home, rest, and +love, that you will find is worth your consideration. I +will keep my word; of that you may be sure.'' + +``No,'' she cried. ``No! But take back this money! +Keep it until I tell you to whom to pay it.'' + +She started toward him holding out the envelope. + +Henry Jameson, with a dreadful oath, sprang for it, +his contorted face a drawn snarl. The Harvester caught +him in air and sent him reeling. He snatched the revolver +from the Girl and put the money in his pocket. + +``Ruth, I can't leave you here,'' he said. ``Oh my +Dream Girl! Are you afraid of me yet? Won't you +trust me? Won't you come?'' + +``No.'' + +``You are right about that, my lady; you will come +back to the house, that's what you'll do,'' said Henry +Jameson, starting toward her. + +``No!'' cried the Girl retreating. ``Oh Heaven help +me! What am I to do?'' + +``Ruth, you must come with me,'' said the Harvester. +``I don't dare leave you here.'' + +She stood between them and gave Henry Jameson +one long, searching look. Then she turned to the Harvester. + +``I am far less afraid of you. I will accept your offer,'' +she said. + +``Thank you!'' said the Harvester. ``I will keep my +word and you shall have no regrets. Is there anything +here you wish to take with you?'' + +``I want a little trunk of my mother's. It contains +some things of hers.'' + +``Will you show me where it is?'' + +She started toward the house; he followed, and Henry +Jameson fell in line. The Harvester turned on him. +``You remain where you are,'' he said. ``I will take +nothing but the trunk. I know what you are thinking, +but you will not get your gun just now. I will return +this revolver to-morrow.'' + +``And the first thing I do with it will be to use it on +you,'' said Henry Jameson. + +``I'll report that threat to the police, so that they +can see you properly hanged if you do,'' retorted the +Harvester, as he followed the girl. + +``Where is his gun?'' he asked as he overtook her. +When he reached the house he told her to watch the +door. He went inside, broke the lock from the gun in +the corner, found the trunk, and swinging it to his +shoulder, passed Henry Jameson and went back through +the woods. The Harvester set the trunk in the wagon, +helped the Girl in, and returned for the load he had +dropped at her call. Then he took the lines and started +for Onabasha. + +The Girl beside him was almost fainting. He stopped +to give her a drink and tried to encourage her. + +``Brace up the best you can, Ruth,'' he said. ``You +must go with me for a license; that is the law. Afterward, +I'll make it just as easy for you as possible. I +will do everything, and in a few hours you will be +comfortable in your room. You brave girl! This must +come out right! You have suffered more than your +share. I will have peace for you the remainder of the +way.'' + +She lifted shaking hands and tried to arrange her +hair and dress. As they neared the city she spoke. + +``What will they ask me?'' + +``I don't know. But I am sure the law requires you +to appear in person now. I can take you somewhere +and find out first.'' + +``That will take time. I want to reach my room. +What would you think?'' + +``If you are of age, where you were born, if you are +a native of this country, what your father and mother +died of, how old they were, and such questions as that. +I'll help you all I can. You know those things. don't +you?'' + +``Yes. But I must tell you----'' + +``I don't want to be told anything,'' said the Harvester. +``Save your strength. All I want to know is any way +in which I can make this easier for you. Nothing else +matters. I will tell you what I think; if you have any +objections, make them. I will drive to the bank and get +a draft for what you owe, and have that off your mind. +Then we will get the license. After that I'll take you +to the side door, slip you in the elevator and to the +fitting room of a store where I know the manager, and +you shall have some pretty clothing while I arrange for +a minister, and I'll come for you with a carriage. That +isn't the kind of wedding you or any other girl should +have, but there are times when a man only can do his +best. You will help me as much as you can, won't +you?'' + +``Anything you choose. It doesn't matter----only +be quick as possible.'' + +``There are a few details to which I must attend,'' +said the Harvester, ``and the time will go faster trying +on dresses than waiting alone. When you are properly +clothed you will feel better. What did you say the +amount you owe is?'' + +``You may get a draft for fifty dollars. I will pay the +remainder when I earn it.'' + +``Ruth, won't you give me the pleasure of taking you +home free from the worry of that debt?'' + +``I am not going to `worry.' I am going to work and +pay it.'' + +``Very well,'' said the Harvester. ``This is the bank. +We will stop here.'' + +They went in and he handed her a slip of paper. + +``Write the name and address on that?'' he said. + +As the slip was returned to him, without a glance he +folded it and slid it under a wicket. ``Write a draft +for fifty dollars payable to that party, and send to that +address, from Miss Ruth Jameson,'' he said. + +Then he turned to her. + +``That is over. See how easy it is! Now we will go +to the court house. It is very close. Try not to think. +Just move and speak.'' + +``Hello, Langston!'' said the clerk. ``What can we do +for you here?'' + +``Show this girl every consideration,'' whispered the +Harvester, as he advanced. ``I want a marriage license in +your best time. I will answer first.'' + +With the document in his possession, they went to +the store he designated, where he found the Girl a chair +in the fitting room, while he went to see the manager. + +``I want one of your most sensible and accommodating +clerks,'' said the Harvester, ``and I would like a few words +with her.'' + +When she was presented he scrutinized her carefully +and decided she would do. + +``I have many thanks and something more substantial +for a woman who will help me to carry through a slightly +unusual project with sympathy and ability,'' he said, +``and the manager has selected you. Are you willing?'' + +``If I can,'' said the clerk. + +``She has put up your other orders,'' interposed the +manager; ``were they satisfactory?'' + +``I don't know,'' said the Harvester. ``They have not +yet reached the one for whom they were intended. What +I want you to do,'' he said to the clerk, ``is to go to the +fitting room and dress the girl you find there for her +wedding. She had other plans, but death disarranged +them, and she has only an hour in which to meet the +event most girls love to linger over for months. She +has been ill, and is worn with watching; but some time +she may look back to her wedding day with joy, and if +only you would help me to make the best of it for her, +I would be, as I said, under more obligations than I can +express.'' + +`` I will do anything,'' said the clerk. + +``Very well,'' said the Harvester. ``She has come from +the country entirely unprepared. She is delicate and +refined. Save her all the embarrassment you can. Dress +her beautifully in white. Keep a memorandum slip of +what you spend for my account.'' + +``What is the limit?'' asked the clerk. + +``There is none,'' said the Harvester. ``Put the prettiest +things on her you have in the right sizes, and if you are +a woman with a heart, be gentle!'' + +``Is she ready?'' inquired the manager at the door an +hour later. + +``I am,'' said the Girl stepping through. + +The astounded Harvester stood and stared, utterly +oblivious of the curious people. + +``Here, here, here!'' suddenly he whistled it, in the +red bird's most entreating tones. + +The Girl laughed and the colour in her face deepened. + +``Let us go,'' she said. + +``But what about you?'' asked the manager of the +Harvester. + +``Thunder!'' cried the man aghast. ``I was so busy +getting everything else ready, I forgot all about myself. +I can't stand before a minister beside her, can I?'' + +``Well I should say not,'' said the manager. + +``Indeed yes,'' said the Girl. ``I never saw you in +any other clothing. You would be a stranger of whom +I'd be afraid.'' + +``That settles it!'' said the Harvester calmly. ``Thank +all of you more than words can express. I will come in +the first of the week and tell you how we get along.'' + +Then they went to the carriage and started for the +residence of a minister. + +``Ruth, you are my Dream Girl to the tips of your +eyelashes,'' said the Harvester. ``I almost wish you +were not. It wouldn't keep me thinking so much of the +remainder of that dream. You are the loveliest sight +I ever saw.'' + +``Do I really appear well?'' asked the Girl, hungry +for appreciation. + +``Indeed you do!'' said the Harvester. ``I never could +have guessed that such a miracle could be wrought. And +you don't seem so tired. Were they good to you?'' + +``Wonderfully! I did not know there was kindness +like that in all the world for a stranger. I did not feel +lost or embarrassed, except the first few seconds when +I didn't know what to do. Oh I thank you for this! +You were right. Whatever comes in life I always shall +love to remember that I was daintily dressed and +appeared as well as I could when I was married. But +I must tell you I am not real. They did everything +on earth to me, three of them working at a time. I feel +an increase in self-respect in some way. David, I do +appear better?'' + +When she said ``David,'' the Harvester looked out of +the window and gulped down his delight. He leaned +toward her. + +``Shut your eyes and imagine you see the red bird,'' +he said. ``In my soul, I am saying to you again and +again just what he sang. You are wonderfully beautiful, +Ruth, and more than wonderfully sweet. Will you +answer me a question?'' + +``If I can.'' + +``I love you with all my heart. Will you marry me?'' + +``I said I would.'' + +``Then we are engaged, aren't we?'' + +``Yes.'' + +``Please remove the glove from your left hand. I want +to put on your ring. This will have to be a very short +engagement, but no one save ourselves need know.'' + +``David, that isn't necessary.'' + +``I have it here, and believe me, Ruth, it will help in a +few minutes; and all your life you will be glad. It is a +precious symbol that has a meaning. This wedding won't +be hurt by putting all the sacredness into it we can. +Please, Ruth!'' + +``On one condition.'' + +``What is it?'' + +``That you will accept and wear my mother's wedding +ring in exchange,'' she said. ``It is all I have.'' + +``Ruth, do you really wish that?'' + +``I do.'' + +``I am more pleased than I can tell you. May I have +it now?'' + +She took off her glove and the Harvester held her +hand closely a second, then lifted it to his lips, passionately +kissed it and slipped on a ring, the setting a big, +lustrous pearl. + +``I looked at some others,'' he said, ``but nothing +got a second glance save this. They knew you were +coming down the ages, and so they got the pearls ready. +How beautiful it is on your hand! Put on the glove +and wear that ring as if you had owned it for the long, +happy year of betrothal every girl should have. You +can start yours to-day, and if by this time next year I +have not won you to my heart and arms, I'm no man +and not worthy of you. Ruth, you will try just a little +to love me, won't you?'' + +``I will try with all my heart,'' she said instantly. + +``Thank you! I am perfectly happy with that. I +never expected to marry you before a year, anyway. +All the difference will be the blessed fact that instead +of coming to see you somewhere else, I now can have +you in my care, and court you every minute. You +might as well make up your mind to capitulate soon. +It's on the books that you do.'' + +``If an instant ever comes when I realize that I love +you, I will come straight and tell you; believe me, I +will.'' + +``Thank you!'' said the Harvester. ``This is going +to be quite a proper wedding after all. Here is the +place. It will be over soon and you on the home way. +Lord, Ruth----!'' + +The Girl smiled at him as he opened the carriage door, +helped her up the steps and rang the bell. + +``Be brave now!'' he whispered. ``Don't lose your +lovely colour. These people will be as kind as they were +at the store.'' + +The minister was gentle and wasted no time. His +wife and daughter, who appeared for witnesses, kissed +Ruth, and congratulated her. She and the Harvester +stood, took the vows, exchanged rings, and returned to +the carriage, a man and his wife by the laws of +man. + +``Drive to Seaton's cafe','' the Harvester said. + +``Oh David, let us go home!'' + +``This is so good I hate to stop it for something you +may not like so well. I ordered lunch and if we don't +eat it I will have to pay for it anyway. You wouldn't +want me to be extravagant, would you?'' + +``No,'' said the Girl, ``and besides, since you mention +it, I believe I am hungry.'' + +``Good!'' cried the Harvester. ``I hoped so! Ruth, +you wouldn't allow me to hold your hand just until we +reach the cafe'? It might save me from bursting with +joy.'' + +``Yes,'' she said. ``But I must take off my lovely +gloves first. I want to keep them forever.'' + +``I'd hate the glove being removed dreadfully,'' said +the Harvester, his eyes dancing and snapping. + +``I'm sorry I am so thin and shaky,'' said the Girl. +``I will be steady and plump soon, won't I?'' + +``On your life you will,'' said the Harvester, taking +the hand gently. + +Now there are a number of things a man deeply in +love can think of to do with a woman's white hand. +He can stroke it, press it tenderly, and lay it against his +lips and his heart. The Harvester lacked experience +in these arts, and yet by some wonderful instinct all +of these things occurred to him. There was real colour +in the Girl's cheeks by the time he helped her into the +cafe'. They were guided to a small room, cool and restful, +close a window, beside which grew a tree covered with +talking leaves. A waiting attendant, who seemed perfectly +adept, brought in steaming bouillon, fragrant tea, +broiled chicken, properly cooked vegetables, a wonderful +salad, and then delicious ices and cold fruit. The happy +Harvester leaned back and watched the Girl daintily +manage almost as much food as he wanted to see her +eat. + +When they had finished, ``Now we are going home,'' +he said. ``Will you try to like it, Ruth?'' + +``Indeed I will,'' she promised. ``As soon as I grow +accustomed to the dreadful stillness, and learn what +things will not bite me, I'll be better.'' + +``I'll have to ask you to wait a minute,'' he said. +``One thing I forgot. I must hire a man to take Betsy +home.'' + +``Aren't you going to drive her yourself?'' + +``No ma'am! We are going in a carriage or a motor,'' +said the Harvester. + +``Indeed we are not!'' contradicted the Girl. ``You +have had this all your way so far. I am going home +behind Betsy, with Belshazzar at my knee.'' + +``But your dress! People will think I am crazy to +put a lovely woman like you in a spring wagon.'' + +``Let them!'' said the Girl placidly. ``Why should +we bother about other people? I am going with Betsy +and Belshazzar.'' + +The Harvester had been thinking that he adored her, +that it was impossible to love her more, but every +minute was proving to him that he was capable of feeling +so profound it startled him. To carry the Girl, his +bride, through the valley and up the hill in the little +spring wagon drawn by Betsy--that would have been +his ideal way. But he had supposed that she would be +afraid of soiling her dress, and embarrassed to ride in +such a conveyance. Instead it was her choice. Yes, +he could love her more. Hourly she was proving that. + +``Come this way a few steps,'' he said. ``Betsy is +here.'' + +The Girl laid her face against the nose of the faithful +old animal, and stroked her head and neck. Then she +held her skirts and the Harvester helped her into the +wagon. She took the seat, and the dog went wild with +joy. + +``Come on, Bel,'' she softly commanded. + +The dog hesitated, and looked at the Harvester for +permission. + +``You may come here and put your head on my knee,'' +said the Girl. + +``Belshazzar, you lucky dog, you are privileged to sit +there and lay your head on the lady's lap,'' said the +Harvester, and the dog quivered with joy. + +Then the man picked up the lines, gave a backward +glance to the bed of the wagon, high piled with large +bundles, and turned Betsy toward Medicine Woods. +Through the crowded streets and toward the country +they drove, when a big red car passed, a man called +to them, then reversed and slowly began backing beside +the wagon. The Harvester stopped. + +``That is my best friend, Doctor Carey, of the hospital, +Ruth,'' he said hastily. ``May I tell him, and will you +shake hands with him?'' + +``Certainly!'' said the Girl. + +``Is it really you, David?'' the doctor peered with +gleaming eyes from under the car top. + +``Really!'' cried the Harvester, as man greets man with +a full heart when he is sure of sympathy. ``Come, give +us your best send-off, Doc! We were married an hour +ago. We are headed for Medicine Woods. Doctor +Carey, this is Mrs. Langston.'' + +``Mighty glad to know you!'' cried the doctor, reaching +a happy hand. + +The Girl met it cordially, while she smiled on +him. + +``How did this happen?'' demanded the doctor. ``Why +didn't you let us know? This is hardly fair of you, +David. You might have let me and the Missus share +with you.'' + +``That is to be explained,'' said the Harvester. ``It +was decided on very suddenly, and rather sadly, on +account of the death of Mrs. Jameson. I forced Ruth +to marry me and come with me. I grow rather frightened +when I think of it, but it was the only way I knew. She +absolutely refused my other plans. You see before you +a wild man carrying away a woman to his cave.'' + +``Don't believe him, Doctor!'' laughed the Girl. ``If +you know him, you will understand that to offer all he +had was like him, when he saw my necessity. You will +come to see us soon?'' + +``I'll come right now,'' said the doctor. ``I'll bring +my wife and arrive by the time you do.'' + +``Oh no you won't!'' said the Harvester. ``Do you +observe the bed of this wagon? This happened all +`unbeknownst' to us. We have to set up housekeeping +after we reach home. We will notify you when we are +ready for visitors. Just you subside and wait until you +are sent for.'' + +``Why David!'' cried the astonished Girl. + +``That's the law!'' said the Harvester tersely. ``Good- +bye, Doc; we'll be ready for you in a day or two.'' + +He leaned down and held out his hand. The grip +that caught it said all any words could convey; and +then Betsy started up the hill. + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +WHEN THE DREAM CAME TRUE + +At first the road lay between fertile farms +dotted with shocked wheat, covered with +undulant seas of ripening oats, and forests +of growing corn. The larks were trailing melody above +the shorn and growing fields, the quail were ingathering +beside the fences, and from the forests on graceful wings +slipped the nighthawks and sailed and soared, dropping +so low that the half moons formed by white spots on +their spread wings showed plainly. + +``Why is this country so different from the other side +of the city?'' asked the Girl. + +``It is older,'' replied the Harvester, ``and it lies higher. +This was settled and well cultivated when that was a +swamp. But as a farming proposition, the money is +in the lowland like your uncle's. The crops raised there +are enormous compared with the yield of these fields.'' + +``I see,'' said she. ``But this is much better to look +at and the air is different. It lacks a soggy, depressing +quality.'' + +``I don't allow any air to surpass that of Medicine +Woods,'' said the Harvester, ``by especial arrangement +with the powers that be.'' + +Then they dipped into a little depression and arose to +cross the railroad and then followed a longer valley +that was ragged and unkempt compared with the road +between cultivated fields. The Harvester was busy +trying to plan what to do first, and how to do it most +effectively, and working his brain to think if he had +everything the Girl would require for her comfort; so +he drove silently through the deepening shadows. She +shuddered and awoke him suddenly. He glanced at +her from the corner of his eye. + +Her thoughts had gone on a journey, also, and the +way had been rough, for her face wore a strained +appearance. The hands lying bare in her lap were tightly +gripped, so that the nails and knuckles appeared blue. +The Harvester hastily cast around seeking for the cause +of the transformation. A few minutes ago she had +seemed at ease and comfortable, now she was close open +panic. Nothing had been said that would disturb her. +With brain alert he searched for the reason. Then it +began to come to him. The unaccustomed silence and +depression of the country might have been the beginning. +Coming from the city and crowds of people to the gloomy +valley with a man almost a stranger, going she knew not +where, to conditions she knew not what, with the +experiences of the day vivid before her. The black valley +road was not prepossessing, with its border of green +pools, through which grew swamp bushes and straggling +vines. The Harvester looked carefully at the road, +and ceased to marvel at the Girl. But he disliked to let +her know he understood, so he gave one last glance at +those gripped hands and casually held out the lines. + +``Will you take these just a second?'' he asked. +``Don't let them touch your dress. We must not lose +of our load, because it's mostly things that will make +you more comfortable.'' + +He arose, and turning, pretended to see that everything +was all right. Then he resumed his seat and +drove on. + +``I am a little ashamed of this stretch through here,'' +he said apologetically. ``I could have managed to have +it cleared and in better shape long ago, but in a way +it yields a snug profit, and so far I've preferred the +money. The land is not mine, but I could grub out +this growth entirely, instead of taking only what I need.'' + +``Is there stuff here you use?'' the Girl aroused +herself to ask, and the Harvester saw the look of relief +that crossed her face at the sound of his voice. + +``Well I should say yes,'' he laughed. ``Those bushes, +numerous everywhere, with the hanging yellow-green +balls, those, in bark and root, go into fever medicines. +They are not so much used now, but sometimes I have +a call, and when I do, I pass the beds on my----on our +land, and come down here and get what is needed. +That bush,'' he indicated with the whip, ``blooms +exquisitely in the spring. It is a relative of flowering +dogwood, and the one of its many names I like best is +silky cornel. Isn't that pretty?'' + +``Yes,'' she said, ``it is beautiful.'' + +``I've planted some for you in a hedge along the driveway +so next spring you can gather all you want. I +think you'll like the odour. The bark brings more than +true dogwood. If I get a call from some house that uses +it, I save mine and come down here. Around the edge +are hop trees, and I realize something from them, and +also the false and true bitter-sweet that run riot here. +Both of them have pretty leaves, while the berries of the +true hang all winter and the colour is gorgeous. I've +set your hedge closely with them. When it has grown +a few months it's going to furnish flowers in the spring, a +million different, wonderful leaves and berries in the +summer, many fruits the birds love in the fall, and bright +berries, queer seed pods, and nuts all winter.'' + +``You planted it for me?'' + +``Yes. I think it will be beautiful in a season or two; +it isn't so bad now. I hope it will call myriads of birds +to keep you company. When you cross this stretch of +road hereafter, don't see fetid water and straggling bushes +and vines; just say to yourself, this helps to fill orders!'' + +``I am perfectly tolerant of it now,'' she said. ``You +make everything different. I will come with you and +help collect the roots and barks you want. Which +bush did you say relieved the poor souls scorching with +fever?'' + +The Harvester drew on the lines, Betsy swerved to +the edge of the road, and he leaned and broke a branch. + +``This one,'' he answered. ``Buttonbush, because +those balls resemble round buttons. Aren't they +peculiar? See how waxy and gracefully cut and set +the leaves are. Go on, Betsy, get us home before night. +We appear our best early in the morning, when the sun +tops Medicine Woods and begins to light us up, and in +the evening, just when she drops behind Onabasha back +there, and strikes us with a few level rays. Will you +take the lines until I open this gate?'' + +She laid the twig in her lap on the white gloves and +took the lines. As the gate swung wide, Betsy walked +through and stopped at the usual place. + +``Now my girl,'' said the Harvester, ``cross yourself, +lean back, and take your ease. This side that gate +you are at home. From here on belongs to us.'' + +``To you, you mean,'' said the Girl. + +``To us, I mean,'' declared the Harvester. ``Don't +you know that the `worldly goods bestowal' clause in a +marriage ceremony is a partial reality. It doesn't give +you `all my worldly goods,' but it gives you one third. +Which will you take, the hill, lake, marsh, or a part of +all of them.'' + +``Oh, is there water?'' + +``Did I forget to mention that I was formerly sole +owner and proprietor of the lake of Lost Loons, also a +brook of Singing Water, and many cold springs. The +lake covers about one third of our land, and my neighbours +would allow me ditch outlet to the river, but they +say I'm too lazy to take it.'' + +``Lazy! Do they mean drain your lake into the +river?'' + +``They do,'' said the Harvester, ``and make the bed +into a cornfield.'' + +``But you wouldn't?'' + +She turned to him with confidence. + +``I haven't so far, but of course, when you see it, +if you would prefer it in a corn----Let's play a game! +Turn your head in this direction,'' he indicated with +the whip, ``close your eyes, and open them when I say +ready.'' + +``All right!'' + +``Now!'' said the Harvester. + +``Oh,'' cried the Girl. ``Stop! Please stop!'' + +They were at the foot of a small levee that ran to the +bridge crossing Singing Water. On the left lay the valley +through which the stream swept from its hurried rush +down the hill, a marshy thicket of vines, shrubs, and +bushes, the banks impassable with water growth. Everywhere +flamed foxfire and cardinal flower, thousands of +wild tiger lilies lifted gorgeous orange-red trumpets, +beside pearl-white turtle head and moon daisies, while +all the creek bank was a coral line with the first opening +bloom of big pink mallows. Rank jewel flower poured +gold from dainty cornucopias and lavender beard-tongue +offered honey to a million bumbling bees; water smart- +weed spread a glowing pink background, and twining +amber dodder topped the marsh in lacy mist with its +delicate white bloom. Straight before them a white- +sanded road climbed to the bridge and up a gentle hill +between the young hedge of small trees and bushes, +where again flowers and bright colours rioted and led +to the cabin yet invisible. On the right, the hill, crowned +with gigantic forest trees, sloped to the lake; midway +the building stood, and from it, among scattering trees +all the way to the water's edge, were immense beds of +vivid colour. Like a scarf of gold flung across the face +of earth waved the misty saffron, and beside the road +running down the hill, in a sunny, open space arose +tree-like specimens of thrifty magenta pokeberry. Down +the hill crept the masses of colour, changing from dry +soil to water growth. + +High around the blue-green surface of the lake waved +lacy heads of wild rice, lower cat-tails, bulrushes, and +marsh grasses; arrowhead lilies lifted spines of pearly +bloom, while yellow water lilies and blue water hyacinths +intermingled; here and there grew a pink stretch of water +smartweed and the dangling gold of jewel flower. Over +the water, bordering the edge, starry faces of white pond +lilies floated. Blue flags waved graceful leaves, willows +grew in clumps, and vines clambered everywhere. + +Among the growth of the lake shore, duck, coot, +and grebe voices commingled in the last chattering +hastened splash of securing supper before bedtime; crying +killdeers crossed the water, and overhead the nighthawks +massed in circling companies. Betsy climbed the +hill and at every step the Girl cried, ``Slower! please go +slower!'' With wide eyes she stared around her. + +``WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME IT WOULD BE LIKE THIS?'' she +demanded in awed tones. + +``Have I had opportunity to describe much of +anything?'' asked the Harvester. ``Besides, I was born +and reared here, and while it has been a garden of bloom +for the past six years only, it always has been a picture; +but one forgets to say much about a sight seen every +day and that requires the work this does.'' + +``That white mist down there, what is it?'' she +marvelled. + +``Pearls grown by the Almighty,'' answered the +Harvester. ``Flowers that I hope you will love. They +are like you. Tall and slender, graceful, pearl white and +pearl pure----those are the arrowhead Lilies.'' + +``And the wonderful purplish-red there on the bank? +Oh, I could kneel and pray before colour like that!' + +``Pokeberry!'' said the Harvester. ``Roots bring five +cents a pound. Good blood purifier.'' + +``Man!'' cried the Girl. ``How can you? I'm not +going to ask what another colour is. I'll just worship +what I like in silence.'' + +``Will you forgive me if I tell you what a woman +whose judgment I respect says about that colour?'' + +``Perhaps!'' + +``She says, `God proves that He loves it best of all the +tints in His workshop by using it first and most sparingly.' +Now are you going to punish me by keeping silent?'' + +``I couldn't if I tried.'' +Just then they came upon the bridge crossing +Singing Water, and there was a long view of its +border, rippling bed, and marshy banks; while on +the other hand the lake resembled a richly incrusted +sapphire. + +``Is the house close?'' + +``Just a few rods, at the turn of the drive.'' + +``Please help me down. I want to remain here a while. +I don't care what else there is to see. Nothing can +equal this. I wish I could bring down a bed and sleep +here. I'd like to have a table, and draw and paint. +I understand now what you mean about the designs +you mentioned. Why, there must be thousands! I +can't go on. I never saw anything so appealing in all +my life.'' + +Now the Harvester's mother had designed that bridge +and he had built it with much care. From bark-covered +railings to solid oak floor and comfortable benches +running along the sides it was intended to be a part of +the landscape. + +``I'll send Belshazzar to the cabin with the wagon,'' +he said, ``so you can see better.'' + +``But you must not!'' she cried. ``I can't walk. I +wouldn't soil these beautiful shoes for anything.'' + +``Why don't you change them?'' inquired the Harvester. + +``I am afraid I forgot everything I had,'' said the Girl. + +``There are shoes somewhere in this load. I thought +of them in getting other things for you, but I had no +idea as to size, and so I told that clerk to-day when she +got your measure to put in every kind you'd need.'' + +``You are horribly extravagant,'' she said. ``But if +you have them here, perhaps I could use one pair.'' + +The Harvester mounted the wagon and hunted until +he found a large box, and opening it on the bench he +disclosed almost every variety of shoe, walking shoe +and slipper, a girl ever owned, as well as sandals and high +overshoes. + +``For pity sake!'' cried the Girl. ``Cover that box! +You frighten me. You'll never get them paid for. +You must take them straight back.'' + +``Never take anything back,'' said the Harvester. +`` `Be sure you are right, then go ahead,' is my motto. +Now I know these are your correct size and that for +differing occasions you will want just such shoes as other +girls have, and here they are. Simple as life! I think +these will serve because they are for street wear, yet +they are white inside.'' + +He produced a pair of canvas walking shoes and kneeling +before her held out his hand. + +When he had finished, he loaded the box on the wagon, +gave the hitching strap to Belshazzar, and told him to +lead Betsy to the cabin and hold her until he came. +Then he turned to the Girl. + +``Now,'' he said, ``look as long as you choose. But +remember that the law gives you part of this and your +lover, which same am I, gives you the remainder, so +you are privileged to come here at any hour as often as +you please. If you miss anything this evening, you +have all time to come in which to re-examine it.'' + +``I'd like to live right here on this bridge,'' she said. +``I wish it had a roof.'' + +``Roof it to-morrow,'' offered the Harvester. ``Simple +matter of a few pillars already cut, joists joined, and +some slab shingles left from the cabin. Anything else +your ladyship can suggest?'' + +``That you be sensible.'' + +``I was born that way,'' explained the Harvester, +``and I've cultivated the faculty until I've developed +real genius. Talking of sense, there never was a proper +marriage in which the man didn't give the woman a +present. You seem likely to be more appreciative of +this bridge than anything else I have, so right here and +now would be the appropriate place to offer you my +wedding gift. I didn't have much time, but I couldn't +have found anything more suitable if I'd taken a year.'' + +He held out a small, white velvet case. + +``Doesn't that look as if it were made for a bride?'' +he asked. + +``It does,'' answered the Girl. ``But I can't take it. +You are not doing right. Marrying as we did, you never +can believe that I love you; maybe it won't ever happen +that I do. I have no right to accept gifts and expensive +clothing from you. In the first place, if the love you +ask never comes, there is no possible way in which I can +repay you. In the second, these things you are offering +are not suitable for life and work in the woods. In the +third, I think you are being extravagant, and I couldn't +forgive myself if I allowed that.'' + +``You divide your statements like a preacher, don't +you?'' asked the Harvester ingenuously. ``Now sit +thee here and gaze on the placid lake and quiet your +troubled spirit, while I demolish your `perfectly good' +arguments. In the first place, you are now my wife, +and you have a right to take anything I offer, if you +care for it or can use it in any manner. In the second, +you must recognize a difference in our positions. What +seems nothing to you means all the world to me, and you +are less than human if you deprive me of the joy of +expressing feelings I am in honour bound to keep in my +heart, by these little material offerings. In the third +place, I inherited over six hundred acres of land and +water, please observe the water----it is now in evidence +on your left. All my life I have been taught to be +frugal, economical, and to work. All I've earned either +has gone back into land, into the bank, or into books, +very plain food, and such clothing as you now see me +wearing. Just the value of this place as it stands, with +its big trees, its drug crops yielding all the year round, +would be difficult to estimate; and I don't mind telling +you that on the top of that hill there is a gold mine, +and it's mine----ours since four o'clock.'' + +``A gold mine!'' + +``Acres and acres of wild ginseng, seven years of age +and ready to harvest. Do you remember what your few +pounds brought?'' + +``Why it's worth thousands!'' + +``Exactly! For your peace of mind I might add that +all I have done or got is paid for, except what I bought +to-day, and I will write a check for that as soon as the +bill is made out. My bank account never will feel it +Truly, Ruth, I am not doing or going to do anything +extravagant. I can't afford to give you diamond necklaces, +yachts, and trips to Europe; but you can have +the contents of this box and a motor boat on the lake, +a horse and carriage, and a trip----say to New York +perfectly well. Please take it.'' + +``I wish you wouldn't ask me. I would be happier +not to.'' + +``Yes, but I do ask you,'' persisted the Harvester. +``You are not the only one to be considered. I have +some rights also, and I'm not so self-effacing that I +won't insist upon them. From your standpoint I am +almost a stranger. You have spent no time considering +me in near relations; I realize that. You feel as if you +were driven here for a refuge, and that is true. I said +to Belshazzar one day that I must remember that you +had no dream, and had spent no time loving me, and I +do I know how this wedding seems to you, but it's +going to mean something different and better soon, +please God. I can see your side; now suppose you +take a look at mine. I did have a dream, it was my +dream, and beyond the sum of any delight I ever +conceived. On the strength of it I rebuilt my home and +remodelled these premises. Then I saw you, and from +that day I worked early and late. I lost you and I +never stopped until I found you; and I would have +courted and won you, but the fates intervened and here +you are! So it's my delight to court and win you now. +If you knew the difference between having a dream that +stirred the least fibre of your being and facing the world in +a demand for realization of it, and then finding what you +coveted in the palm of your hand, as it were, you would +know what is in my heart, and why expression of some +kind is necessary to me just now, and why I'll explode +if it is denied. It will lower the tension, if you will +accept this as a matter of fact; as if you rather expected +and liked it, if you can.'' + +The Harvester set his finger on the spring. + +``Don't!'' she said. ``I'll never have the courage if +you do. Give it to me in the case, and let me open it. +Despite your unanswerable arguments, I am quite sure +that is the only way in which I can take it.'' + +The Harvester gave her the box. + +``My wedding gift!'' she exclaimed, more to herself +than to him. ``Why should I be the buffet of all the +unkind fates kept in store for a girl my whole life, and +then suddenly be offered home, beautiful gifts, and wonderful +loving kindness by a stranger?'' + +The Harvester ran his fingers through his crisp hair, +pulled it into a peak, stepped to the seat and sitting on +the railing, he lifted his elbows, tilted his head, and +began a motley outpouring of half-spoken, half-whistled +trills and imploring cries. There was enough similarity +that the Girl instantly recognized the red bird. Out +of breath the Harvester dropped to the seat beside her. + +``And don't you keep forgetting it!'' he cried. ``Now +open that box and put on the trinket; because I want +to take you to the cabin when the sun falls level on the +drive.'' + +She opened the case, exposing a thread of gold that +appeared too slender for the weight of an exquisite +pendant, set with shimmering pearls. + +``If you will look down there,'' the Harvester pointed +over the railing to the arrowhead lilies touched with +the fading light, ``you will see that they are similar.'' + +``They are!'' cried the Girl. ``How lovely! Which is +more beautiful I do not know. And you won't like it +if I say I must not.'' + +She held the open case toward the Harvester. + +`` `Possession is nine points in the law,' '' he quoted. +``You have taken it already and it is in your hands; +now make the gift perfect for me by putting it on and +saying nothing more.'' + +``My wedding gift!'' repeated the Girl. Slowly she +lifted the beautiful ornament and held it in the light. +``I'm so glad you just force me to take it,'' she said. +``Any half-normal girl would be delighted. I do accept +it. And what's more, I am going to keep and wear it +and my ring at suitable times all my life, in memory +of what you have done to be kind to me on this awful +day.'' + +``Thank you!'' said the Harvester. ``That is a flash +of the proper spirit. Allow me to put it on you.'' + +``No!'' said the Girl. ``Not yet! After a while! I +want to hold it in my hands, where I can see it!'' + +``Now there is one other thing,'' said the Harvester. + +``If I had known for any length of time that this day was +coming and bringing you, as most men know when a +girl is to be given into their care, I could have made it +different. As it is, I've done the best I knew. All +your after life I hope you will believe this: Just that if +you missed anything to-day that would have made it +easier for you or more pleasant, the reason was because +of my ignorance of women and the conventions, and lack +of time. I want you to know and to feel that in my +heart those vows I took were real. This is undoubtedly +all the marrying I will ever want to do. I am old-fashioned +in my ways, and deeply imbued with the spirit +of the woods, and that means unending evolution along +the same lines. + +``To me you are my revered and beloved wife, my +mate now; and I am sure nothing will make me feel +any different. This is the day of my marriage to the +only woman I ever have thought of wedding, and to +me it is joy unspeakable. With other men such a day +ends differently from the close of this with me. Because +I have done and will continue to do the level best I know +for you, this oration is the prologue to asking you for +one gift to me from you, a wedding gift. I don't want +it unless you can bestow it ungrudgingly, and truly want +me to have it. If you can, I will have all from this day +I hope for at the hands of fate. May I have the gift +I ask of you, Ruth?'' + +She lifted startled eyes to his face. + +``Tell me what it is?'' she breathed. + +``It may seem much to you,'' said the Harvester; +``to me it appears only a gracious act, from a wonderful +woman, if you will give me freely, one real kiss. I've +never had one, save from a Dream Girl, Ruth, and you +will have to make yours pretty good if it is anything +like hers. You are woman enough to know that most +men crush their brides in their arms and take a thousand. +I'll put my hands behind me and never move a muscle, +and I won't ask for more, if you will crown my wedding +day with only one touch of your lips. Will you kiss +me just once, Ruth?'' + +The Girl lifted a piteous face down which big tears +suddenly rolled. + +``Oh Man, you shame me!'' she cried. ``What +kind of a heart have I that it fails to respond to such +a plea? Have I been overworked and starved so long +there is no feeling in me? I don't understand why +I don't take you in my arms and kiss you a hundred +times, but you see I don't. It doesn't seem as if I ever +could.'' + +``Never mind,'' said the Harvester gently. ``It was +only a fancy of mine, bred from my dream and unreasonable, +perhaps. I am sorry I mentioned it. The sun is +on the stoop now; I want you to enter your home in +its light. Come!'' + +He half lifted her from the bench. ``I am going to +help you up the drive as I used to assist mother,'' he +said, fighting to keep his voice natural. ``Clasp your +hands before you and draw your elbows to your sides. +Now let me take one in each palm, and you will scoot +up this drive as if you were on wheels.'' + +``But I don't want to `scoot','' she said unsteadily. +``I must go slowly and not miss anything.'' + +``On the contrary, you don't want to do any such +thing----you should leave most of it for to-morrow.'' + +``I had forgotten there would be any to-morrow. It +seems as if the day would end it and set me adrift +again.'' + +``You are going to awake in the gold room with the +sun shining on your face in the morning, and it's going +to keep on all your life. Now if you've got a smile in +your anatomy, bring it to the surface, for just beyond +this tree lies happiness for you.'' + +His voice was clear and steady now, his confidence +something contagious. There was a lovely smile on her +face as she looked at him, and stepped into the line of +light crossing the driveway; and then she stopped and +cried, ``Oh lovely! Lovely! Lovely!'' over and over. +Then maybe the Harvester was not glad he had planned, +worked unceasingly, and builded as well as he knew. + +The cabin of large, peeled, golden oak logs, oiled to +preserve them, nestled like a big mushroom on the side +of the hill. Above and behind the building the trees +arose in a green setting. The roof was stained to their +shades. The wide veranda was enclosed in screening, +over which wonderful vines climbed in places, and round +it grew ferns and deep-wood plants. Inside hung big +baskets of wild growth; there was a wide swinging seat, +with a back rest, supported by heavy chains. There +were chairs and a table of bent saplings and hickory +withes. Two full stories the building arose, and the +western sun warmed it almost to orange-yellow, while +the graceful vines crept toward the roof. + +The Girl looked at the rapidly rising hedge on each +side of her, at the white floor of the drive, and long and +long at the cabin. + +``You did all this since February?'' she asked. + +``Even to transforming the landscape,'' answered the +Harvester. + +``Oh I wish it was not coming night!'' she cried. ``I +don't want the dark to come, until you have told me the +name of every tree and shrub of that wonderful hedge, +and every plant and vine of the veranda; and oh I +want to follow up the driveway and see that beautiful +little creek--listen to it chuckle and laugh! Is it +always glad like that? See the ferns and things that +grow on the other side of it! Why there are big beds of +them. And lilies of the valley by the acre! What is +that yellow around the corner?'' + +``Never mind that now,'' said the Harvester, guiding +her up the steps, along the gravelled walk to the screen +that he opened, and over a flood of gold light she crossed +the veranda, and entered the door. + +``Now here it appears bare,'' said the Harvester, +``because I didn't know what should go on the walls +or what rugs to get or about the windows. The table, +chairs, and couch I made myself with some help from a +carpenter. They are solid black walnut and will age +finely.'' + +``They are beautiful,'' said the Girl, softly touching +the shining table top with her fingers. ``Please put +the necklace on me now, I have to use my eyes and hands +for other things.'' + +She held out the box and the Harvester lifted the +pendant and clasped the chain around her neck. She +glanced at the lustrous pearls and then the fingers of +one hand softly closed over them. She went through +the long, wide living-room, examining the chairs and +mantel, stopping to touch and exclaim over its array +of half-finished candlesticks. At the door of his room +she paused. ``And this?'' she questioned. + +``Mine,'' said the Harvester, turning the knob. ``I'll +give you one peep to satisfy your curiosity, and show +you the location of the bridge over which you came to +me in my dream. All the remainder is yours. I reserve +only this.'' + +``Will the `goblins git me' if I come here?'' + +``Not goblins, but a man alive; so heed your warning. +After you have seen it, keep away.'' + +The floor was cement, three of the walls heavy screening +with mosquito wire inside, the roof slab shingled. +On the inner wall was a bookcase, below it a desk, at +one side a gun cabinet, at the other a bath in a small +alcove beside a closet. The room contained two chairs +like those of the veranda, and the bed was a low oak +couch covered with a thick mattress of hemlock twigs, +topped with sweet fern, on which the sun shone all day. +On a chair at the foot were spread some white sheets, +a blanket, and an oilcloth. The sun beat in, the wind +drifted through, and one lying on the couch could see +down the bright hill, and sweep the lake to the opposite +bank without lifting the head. The Harvester drew the +Girl to the bedside. + +``Now straight in a line from here,'' he said, ``across +the lake to that big, scraggy oak, every clear night the +moon builds a bridge of molten gold, and once you walked +it, my girl, and came straight to me, alone and unafraid; +and you were gracious and lovely beyond anything a +man ever dreamed of before. I'll have that to think of +to-night. Now come see the dining-room, kitchen, and +hand-made sunshine.'' + +He led her into what had been the front room of the +old cabin, now a large, long dining-room having on each +side wide windows with deep seats. The fireplace +backwall was against that of the living-room, but here +the mantel was bare. All the wood-work, chairs, the +dining table, cupboards, and carving table were golden +oak. Only a few rugs and furnishings and a woman's +touch were required to make it an unusual and beautiful +room. The kitchen was shining with a white hard-wood +floor, white wood-work, and pale green walls. It was a +light, airy, sanitary place, supplied with a pump, sink, +hot and cold water faucets, refrigerator, and every +modern convenience possible to the country. + +Then the Harvester almost carried the Girl up the +stairs and showed her three large sleeping rooms, empty +and bare save for some packing cases. + +``I didn't know about these, so I didn't do anything. +When you find time to plan, tell me what you want, and +I'll make--or buy it. They are good-sized, cool rooms. +They all have closets and pipes from the furnace, so they +will be comfortable in winter. Now there is your place +remaining. I'll leave you while I stable Betsy and feed +the stock.'' + +He guided her to the door opening from the living- +room to the east. + +``This is the sunshine spot,'' he said. ``It is bathed +in morning light, and sheltered by afternoon shade. +Singing Water is across the drive there to talk to you +always. It comes pelting down so fast it never freezes, +so it makes music all winter, and the birds are so numerous +you'll have to go to bed early for they'll wake you by +dawn. I noticed this room was going to be full of sunshine +when I built it, and I craved only brightness for +you, so I coaxed all of it to stay that I could. Every +stroke is the work of my hands, and all of the furniture. +I hope you will like it. This is the room of which I've +been telling you, Ruth. Go in and take possession, +and I'll entreat God and all His ministering angels to +send you sunshine and joy.'' + +He opened the door, guided her inside, closed it, and +went swiftly to his work. + +The Girl stood and looked around her with amazed +eyes. The floor was pale yellow wood, polished until +it shone like a table top. The casings, table, chairs, +dressing table, chest of drawers, and bed were solid +curly maple. The doors were big polished slabs of it, +each containing enough material to veneer all the furniture +in the room. The walls were of plaster, tinted +yellow, and the windows with yellow shades were +curtained in dainty white. She could hear the Harvester +carrying the load from the wagon to the front porch, the +clamour of the barn yard; and as she went to the north +window to see the view, a shining peacock strutted down +the walk and went to the Harvester's hand for grain, +while scores of snow-white doves circled over his head. +She stepped on deep rugs of yellow goat skins, and, +glancing at the windows on either side, she opened the +door. + +Outside it lay a porch with a railing, but no roof. +On each post stood a box filled with yellow wood-flowers +and trailing vines of pale green. A big tree rising through +one corner of the floor supplied the cover. A gate +opened to a walk leading to the driveway, and on either +side lay a patch of sod, outlined by a deep hedge of +bright gold. In it saffron, cone-flowers, black-eyed +Susans, golden-rod, wild sunflowers, and jewel flower +grew, and some of it, enough to form a yellow line, was +already in bloom. Around the porch and down the +walk were beds of yellow violets, pixie moss, and every +tiny gold flower of the woods. The Girl leaned against +the tree and looked around her and then staggered +inside and dropped on the couch. + +``What planning! What work!'' she sobbed. ``What +taste! Why he's a poet! What wonderful beauty! +He's an artist with earth for his canvas, and growing +things for colours.'' + +She lay there staring at the walls, the beautiful wood- +work and furniture, the dressing table with its array of +toilet articles, a low chair before it, and the thick rug +for her feet. Over and over she looked at everything, +and then closed her eyes and lay quietly, too weary and +overwhelmed to think. By and by came tapping at +the door, and she sprang up and crossing to the +dressing table straightened her hair and composed +her face. + +``Ajax demands to see you,'' cried a gay voice. + +The Girl stepped outside. + +``Don't be frightened if he screams at you,'' warned +the Harvester as she passed him. ``He detests a stranger, +and he always cries and sulks.'' + +It was a question what was in the head of the bird as +he saw the strange looking creature invading his domain, +and he did scream, a wild, high, strident wail that +delighted the Harvester inexpressibly, because it sent the +Girl headlong into his arms. + +``Oh, good gracious!'' she cried. ``Has such a +beautiful bird got a noise in it like that? Why +I've fed them in parks and I never heard one explode +before.'' + +Then how the Harvester laughed. + +``But you see you are in the woods now, and this is +not a park bird. It will be the test of your power to see +how soon you can coax him to your hand.'' + +``How do I work to win him?'' + +``I am afraid I can't tell you that,'' said the Harvester. +``I had to invent a plan for myself. It required a long +time and much petting, and my methods might not +avail for you. It will interest you to study that out. +But the member of the family it is positively essential +that you win to a life and death allegiance is Belshazzar. +If you can make him love you, he will protect you at +every turn. He will go before you into the forest and +all the crawling, creeping things will get out of his way. +He will nose around the flowers you want to gather, and +if he growls and the hair on the back of his neck rises, +never forget that you must heed that warning. A few +times I have not stopped for it, and I always have been +sorry. So far as anything animate or uncertain footing +is concerned, you are always perfectly safe if you obey +him. About touching plants and flowers, you must +confine yourself to those you are certain you know, +until I can teach you. There are gorgeous and wonderfully +attractive things here, but some of them are rank +poison. You won't handle plants you don't know, +until you learn, Ruth?'' + +``I will not,'' she promised instantly. + +She went to the seat under the porch tree and leaning +against the trunk she studied the hill, and the rippling +course of Singing Water where it turned and curved +before the cabin, and started across the vivid little +marsh toward the lake. Then she looked at the Harvester. +He seated himself on the low railing and smiled at +her. + +``You are very tired?'' he asked. + +``No,'' she said. ``You are right about the air being +better up here. It is stimulating instead of depressing.'' + +``So far as pure air, location, and water are concerned,'' +said the Harvester, ``I consider this place ideal. The +lake is large enough to cool the air and raise sufficient +moisture to dampen it, and too small to make it really +cold and disagreeable. The slope of the hill gives perfect +drainage. The heaviest rains do not wet the earth for +more than three hours. North, south, and west breezes +sweep the cool air from the water to the cabin in summer. +The same suns warm us here on the winter hillside. +My violets, spring beauties, anemones, and dutchman's +breeches here are always two weeks ahead of those in +the woods. I am not afraid of your not liking the location +or the air. As for the cabin, if you don't care for +that, it's very simple. I'll transform it into a laboratory +and dry-house, and build you whatever you want, +within my means, over there on the hill just across +Singing Water and facing the valley toward Onabasha. +That's a perfect location. The thing that worries me +is what you are going to do for company, especially while +I am away.'' + +``Don't trouble yourself about anything,'' she said. +``Just say in your heart, `she is going to be stronger than +she ever has been in her life in this lovely place, and she +has more right now than she ever had or hoped to have.' +For one thing, I am going to study your books. I never +have had time before. While we sewed or embroidered, +mother talked by the hour of the great writers of the +world, told me what they wrote, and how they expressed +themselves, but I got to read very little for myself.'' + +``Books are my company,'' said the Harvester. + +``Do your friends come often?'' + +``Almost never! Doc and his wife come most, and +if you look out some day and see a white-haired, bent +old woman, with a face as sweet as dawn, coming up the +bank of Singing Water, that will be my mother's friend, +Granny Moreland, who joins us on the north over there. +She is frank and brusque, so she says what she thinks +with unmistakable distinctness, but her heart is big and +tender and her philosophy keeps her sweet and kindly +despite the ache of rheumatism and the weight of seventy years.'' + +``I'd love to have her come,'' said the Girl. ``Is that +all?'' + +``Yes.'' + +``Why?'' + +``Your favourite word,'' laughed the Harvester. ``The +reason lies with me, or rather with my mother. Some +day I will tell you the whole story, and the cause. I +think now I can encompass it in this. The place is an +experiment. When medicinal herbs, roots, and barks +became so scarce that some of the most important were +almost extinct, it occurred to me that it would be a +good idea to stop travelling miles and poaching on the +woods of other people, and turn our land into an herb +garden. For four years before mother went, and six +since, I've worked with all my might, and results are +beginning to take shape. While I've been at it, of course, +my neighbours had an inkling of what was going on, +and I've been called a fool, lazy, and a fanatic, because +I did not fell the trees and plow for corn. You readily +can see I'm a little short of corn ground out there,'' +he waved toward the marsh and lake, ``and up there,'' +he indicated the steep hill and wood. ``But somewhere +on this land I've been able to find muck for mallows, +water for flags and willows, shade for ferns, lilies, and +ginseng, rocky, sunny spaces for mullein, and open, fertile +beds for Bouncing Bet----just for examples. God never +evolved a place better suited for an herb farm; from +woods to water and all that goes between, it is perfect.'' + +``And indescribably lovely,'' added the Girl. + +``Yes, I think it is,'' said the Harvester. ``But in +the days when I didn't know how it was coming out, +I was sensitive about it; so I kept quiet and worked, +and allowed the other fellow to do the talking. After +a while the ginseng bed grew a treasure worth guarding, +and I didn't care for any one to know how much I had +or where it was, as a matter of precaution. Ginseng +and money are synonymous, and I was forced to be away +some of the time.'' + +``Would any one take it?'' + +``Certainly!'' said the Harvester. ``If they knew it +was there, and what it is worth. Then, as I've told you, +much of the stuff here must not be handled except +by experts, and I didn't want people coming in my +absence and taking risks. The remainder of my reason +for living so alone is cowardice, pure and simple.'' + +``Cowardice? You! Oh no!'' + +``Thank you!'' said the Harvester. ``But it is! +Some day I'll tell you of a very solemn oath I've had to +keep. It hasn't been easy. You wouldn't understand, +at least not now. If the day ever comes when I think +you will, I'll tell you. Just now I can express it by +that one word. I didn't dare fail or I felt I would be +lost as my father was before me. So I remained away +from the city and its temptations and men of my age, +and worked in the woods until I was tired enough to +drop, read books that helped, tinkered with the carving, +and sometimes I had an idea, and I went into that little +building behind the dry-house, took out my different +herbs, and tried my hand at compounding a new cure +for some of the pains of humanity. It isn't bad work, +Ruth. It keeps a fellow at a fairly decent level, and some +good may come of it. Carey is trying several formulae +for me, and if they work I'll carry them higher. If +you want money, Girl, I know how to get it for you.'' + +``Don't you want it?'' + +``Not one cent more than I've got,'' said the Harvester +emphatically. ``When any man accumulates more than +he can earn with his own hands, he begins to enrich +himself at the expense of the youth, the sweat, the +blood, the joy of his fellow men. I can go to the city, +take a look, and see what money does, as a rule, and +it's another thing I'm afraid of. You will find me a +dreadful coward on those two points. I don't want +to know society and its ways. I see what it does to +other men; it would be presumption to reckon myself +stronger. So I live alone. As for money, I've watched +the cross cuts and the quick and easy ways to accumulate +it; but I've had something in me that held me to +the slow, sure, clean work of my own hands, and it's +yielded me enough for one, for two even, in a reasonable +degree. So I've worked, read, compounded, and carved. +If I couldn't wear myself down enough to sleep by any +other method, I went into the lake, and swam across and +back; and that is guaranteed to put any man to rest, +clean and unashamed.'' + +``Six years,'' said the Girl softly, as she studied him. +``I think it has set a mark on you. I believe I can trace +it. Your forehead, brow, and eyes bear the lines and +the appearance of all experience, all comprehension, +but your lips are those of a very young lad. I shouldn't +be surprised if I had that kiss ready for you, and I really +believe I can make it worth while.'' + +``Oh good Lord!'' cried the Harvester, turning a +backward somersault over the railing and starting in +big bounds up the drive toward the stable. He passed +around it and into the woods at a rush and a few seconds +later from somewhere on the top of the hill his strong, +deep voice swept down, ``Glory, glory hallelujah!'' + +He sang it through at the top of his lungs, that +majestic old hymn, but there was no music at all, it was +simply a roar. By and by he came soberly to the barn +and paused to stroke Betsy's nose. + +``Stop chewing grass and listen to me,'' he said. ``She's +here, Betsy! She's in our cabin. She's going to remain, +you can stake your oats on that. She's going to be the +loveliest and sweetest girl in all the world, and because +you're a beast, I'll tell you something a man never could +know. Down with your ear, you critter! She's going +to kiss me, Betsy! This very night, before I lay me, +her lips meet mine, and maybe you think that won't +be glorious. I supposed it would be a year, anyway, +but it's now! Ain't you glad you are an animal, Betsy, +and can keep secrets for a fool man that can't?'' + +He walked down the driveway, and before the Girl +had a chance to speak, he said, ``I wonder if I had not +better carry those things into your room, and arrange +your bed for you.'' + +``I can,'' she said. + +``Oh no!'' exclaimed the Harvester. ``You can't lift +the mattress and heavy covers. Hold the door and tell +me how.'' + +He laid a big bundle on the floor, opened it, and took +out the shoes. + +``Your shoe box is in the closet there.'' + +``I didn't know what that door was, so I didn't +open it.'' + +``That is a part of my arrangements for you,'' said +the Harvester. ``Here is a closet with shelves for your +covers and other things. They are bare because I +didn't know just what should be put on them. This +is the shoe box here in the corner; I'll put these in it +now.'' + +He knelt and in a row set the shoes in the curly maple +box and closed it. + +``There you are for all kinds of places and varieties of +weather. This adjoining is your bathroom. I put +in towels, soaps; brushes, and everything I could think +of, and there is hot water ready for you----rain water, +too.'' + +The Girl followed and looked into a shining little +bathroom, with its white porcelain tub and wash bowl, +enamelled wood-work, dainty green walls, and white +curtains and towels. She could see no accessory she +knew of that was missing, and there were many things +to which she never had been accustomed. The Harvester +had gone back to the sunshine room, and was kneeling +on the floor beside the bundle. He began opening +boxes and handing her dresses. + +``There are skirt, coat, and waist hangers on the +hooks,'' he said. ``I only got a few things to start on, +because I didn't know what you would like. Instead +of being so careful with that dress, why don't you take +it off, and put on a common one? Then we will have +something to eat, and go to the top of the hill and watch +the moon bridge the lake.'' + +While she hung the dresses and selected the one to +wear, he placed the mattress, spread the padding and +sheets, and encased the pillow. Then he bent and pressed +the springs with his hands. + +``I think you will find that soft and easy enough for +health,'' he said. ``All the personal belongings I had +that clerk put up for you are in that chest of drawers +there. I put the little boxes in the top and went down. +You can empty and arrange them to-morrow. Just +hunt out what you will need now. There should be +everything a girl uses there somewhere. I told them to +be very careful about that. If the things are not right +or not to your taste, you can take them back as soon as +you are rested, and they will exchange them for you. +If there is anything I have missed that you can think +of that you need to-night, tell me and I'll go and get it.'' + +The Girl turned toward him. + +``You couldn't be making sport of me,'' she said, +``but Man! Can't you see that I don't know what to +do with half you have here? I never saw such things +closely before. I don't know what they are for. I +don't know how to use them. My mother would have +known, but I do not. You overwhelm me! Fifty +times I've tried to tell you that a room of my very own, +such a room as this will be when to-morrow's sun comes +in, and these, and these, and these,'' she turned from +the chest of boxes to the dressing table, bed, closet, and +bath, ``all these for me, and you know absolutely +nothing about me----I get a big lump in my throat, +and the words that do come all seem so meaningless, +I am perfectly ashamed to say them. Oh Man, why do +you do it?'' + +``I thought it was about time to spring another `why' +on me,'' said the Harvester. ``Thank God, I am now +in a position where I can tell you `why'! I do it because +you are the girl of my dream, my mate by every law of +Heaven and earth. All men build as well as they know +when the one woman of the universe lays her spell on +them. I did all this for myself just as a kind of +expression of what it would be in my heart to do if I +could do what I'd like. Put on the easiest dress you can +find and I will go and set out something to eat.'' + +She stood with arms high piled with the prettiest +dresses that could be selected hurriedly, the tears running +down her white cheeks and smiled through them at him. + +``There wouldn't be any of that liquid amber would +there?'' she asked. + +``Quarts!'' cried the Harvester. ``I'll bring some. + . . . Does it really hit the spot, Ruth?'' he +questioned as he handed her the glass. + +She heaped the dresses on the bed and took it. + +``It really does. I am afraid I am using too much.'' + +``I don't think it possibly can hurt you. To-morrow +we will ask Doc. How soon will you be ready for +lunch?'' + +``I don't want a bite.'' + +``You will when you see and smell it,'' said the +Harvester. ``I am an expert cook. It's my chiefest +accomplishment. You should taste the dishes I improvise. +But there won't be much to-night, because I want you +to see the moon rise over the lake.'' + +He went away and the Girl removed her dress and +spread it on the couch. Then she bathed her face and +hands. When she saw the discoloured cloth, it proved +that she had been painted, and made her very indignant. +Yet she could not be altogether angry, for that flush +of colour had saved the Harvester from being pitied by +his friend. She stood a long time before the mirror, +staring at her gaunt, colourless face; then she went +to the dressing table and committed a crime. She +found a box of cream and rubbed it on for a foundation. +Then she opened some pink powder, and carefully dusted +her cheeks. + +``I am utterly ashamed,'' she said to the image in the +mirror, ``but he has done so much for me, he is so, so---- +I don't know a word big enough----that I can't bear him +to see how ghastly I am, how little worth it. Perhaps +the food, better air, and outdoor exercise will give me +strength and colour soon. Until it does I'm afraid I'm +going to help out all I can with this. It is wonderful +how it changes one. I really appear like a girl instead +of a bony old woman.'' + +Then she looked over the dresses, selected a pretty +white princesse, slipped it on, and went to the kitchen. +But the Harvester would not have her there. He seated +her at the dining table, beside the window overlooking +the lake, lighted a pair of his home-made candles in his +finest sticks, and placed before her bread, butter, cold +meat, milk, and fruit, and together they ate their first +meal in their home. + +``If I had known,'' said the Harvester, ``Granny +Moreland is a famous cook. She is a Southern woman, +and she can fry chicken and make some especial dishes +to surpass any one I ever knew. She would have been +so pleased to come over and get us an all-right supper.'' + +``I'd much rather have this, and be by ourselves,'' said +the Girl. + +``Well, you can bank on it, I would,'' agreed the +Harvester. ``For instance, if any one were here, I +might feel restrained about telling you that you are +exactly the beautiful, flushed Dream Girl I have adored +for months, and your dress most becoming. You are +a picture to blind the eyes of a lonely bachelor, Ruth.'' + +``Oh why did you say that?'' wailed the Girl. ``Now +I've got to feel like a sneak or tell you----and I didn't +want you to know.'' + +``Don't you ever tell me or any one else anything you +don't want to,'' said the Harvester roundly. ``It's +nobody's business!'' + +``But I must! I can't begin with deception. I was +fool enough to think you wouldn't notice. Man, they +painted me! I didn't know they were doing it, but when +it all washed off, I looked so ghastly I almost frightened +myself. I hunted through the boxes they put up for +you and found some pink powder----'' + +``But don't all the daintiest women powder these +days, and consider it indispensable? The clerk said so, +and I've noticed it mentioned in the papers. I bought +it for you to use.'' + +``Yes, just powder, but Man, I put on a lot of cold +cream first to stick the powder good and thick. Oh +I wish I hadn't!'' + +``Well since you've told it, is your conscience +perfectly at ease? No you don't! You sit where you are! +You are lovely, and if you don't use enough powder to +cover the paleness, until your colour returns, I'll hold +you and put it on. I know you feel better when you +appear so that every one must admire you.'' + +``Yes, but I'm a fraud!'' + +``You are no such thing!'' cried the Harvester hotly. +``There hasn't a woman in ten thousand got any such +rope of hair. I have been seeing the papers on the hair +question, too. No one will believe it's real. If they +think your hair is false, when it is natural, they won't +be any more fooled when they think your colour is real, +and it isn't. Very soon it will be and no one need ever +know the difference. You go on and fix up your level +best. To see yourself appearing well will make you +ambitious to become so as soon as possible.'' + +``Harvester-man,'' said the Girl, gazing at him with +wet luminous eyes, ``for the sake of other women, I +could wish that all men had an oath to keep, and had +been reared in the woods.'' + +``Here is the place we adjourn to the moon,'' cried +the Harvester. ``I don't know of anything that can cure +a sudden accession of swell head like gazing at the heavens. +One finds his place among the atoms naturally and +instantaneously with the eyes on the night sky. Should +you have a wrap? You should! The mists from the +lake are cool. I don't believe there is one among my +orders. I forgot that. But upstairs with mother's +clothing there are several shawls and shoulder capes. +All of them were washed and carefully packed. Would +you use one, Ruth?'' + +``Why not give it to me. Wouldn't she like me to +wear her things better than to have them lying in moth +balls?'' + +The Harvester looked at her and shook his head, +marvelling. + +``I can't tell how pleased she would be,'' he said. + +``Where are her belongings?'' asked the Girl. ``I +could use them to help furnish the house, and it wouldn't +appear so strange to you.'' + +The Harvester liked that. + +``All the washed things are in those boxes upstairs; +also some fine skins I've saved on the chance of wanting +them. Her dishes are in the bottom of the china closet +there; she was mighty proud of them. The furniture +and carpets were so old and abused I burned them. I'll +go bring a wrap.'' + +He took the candle and climbed the stairs, soon +returning with a little white wool shawl and a big pink +coverlet. + +``Got this for her Christmas one time,'' he said. ``She'd +never had a white one and she thought it was pretty.'' + +He folded it around the Girl's shoulders and picked +up the coverlet. + +``You're never going to take that to the woods!'' she +cried. + +``Why not?'' + +She took it in her hands to find a corner. + +``Just as I thought! It's a genuine Peter Hartman! +It's one of the things that money can't buy, or, rather, +one that takes a mint of money to own. They are +heirlooms. They are not manufactured any more. +At the art store where I worked they'd give you fifty +dollars for that. It is not faded or worn a particle. +It would be lovely in my room; you mustn't take a +treasure like that out of doors.'' + +``Ruth, are you in earnest?'' demanded the Harvester. +``I believe there are six of them upstairs.'' + +``Plutocrat!'' cried the Girl. ``What colours?'' + +``More of this pinkish red, blue, and pale green.'' + +``Famous! May I have them to help furnish with +to-morrow?'' + +``Certainly! Anything you can find, any way on earth +you want it, only in my room. That is taboo, as I told +you. What am I going to take to-night?'' + +``Isn't the rug you had in the woods in the wagon yet? +Use that!'' + +``Of course! The very thing! Bel, proceed!'' + +``Are you going to leave the house like this?'' + +``Why not?'' + +``Suppose some one breaks in!'' + +``Nothing worth carrying away, except what you have +on. No one to get in. There is a big swamp back of +our woods, marsh in front, we're up here where we can +see the drive and bridge. There is nothing possible +from any direction. Never locked the cabin in my life, +except your room, and that was because it was sacred, +not that there was any danger. Clear the way, Bel!'' + +``Clear it of what?'' + +``Katydids, hoptoads, and other carnivorous animals.'' + +``Now you are making fun of me! Clear it of what?'' + +``A coon that might go shuffling across, an opossum, +or a snake going to the lake. Now are you frightened +so that you will not go?'' + +``No. The path is broad and white and surely you +and Bel can take care of me.'' + +``If you will trust us we can.'' + +``Well, I am trusting you.'' + +``You are indeed,'' said the Harvester. ``Now see +if you think this is pretty.'' + +He indicated the hill sloping toward the lake. The +path wound among massive trees, between whose branches +patches of moonlight filtered. Around the lake shore +and climbing the hill were thickets of bushes. The +water lay shining in the light, a gentle wind ruffled the +surface in undulant waves, and on the opposite bank +arose the line of big trees. Under a giant oak widely +branching, on the top of the hill, the Harvester spread +the rug and held one end of it against the tree trunk to +protect the Girl's dress. Then he sat a little distance +away and began to talk. He mingled some sense with +a quantity of nonsense, and appreciated every hint of a +laugh he heard. The day had been no amusing matter +for a girl absolutely alone among strange people and +scenes. Anything more foreign to her previous environment +or expectations he could not imagine. So he +talked to prevent her from thinking, and worked for a +laugh as he laboured for bread. + +``Now we must go,'' he said at last. ``If there is the +malaria I strongly suspect in your system, this night air +is none too good for you. I only wanted you to see the +lake the first night in your new home, and if it won't +shock you, I brought you here because this is my holy +of holies. Can you guess why I wanted you to come, +Ruth?'' + +``If I wasn't so stupid with alternate burning and +chills, and so deadened to every proper sensibility, I +suppose I could,'' she answered, ``but I'm not brilliant. +I don't know, unless it is because you knew it would be +the loveliest place I ever saw. Surely there is no other +spot in the world quite so beautiful.'' + +``Then would it seem strange to you,'' asked the +Harvester going to the Girl and gently putting his arms +around her, ``would it seem strange to you, that a woman +who once homed here and thought it the prettiest place +on earth, chose to remain for her eternal sleep, rather +than to rest in a distant city of stranger dead?'' + +He felt the Girl tremble against him. + +``Where is she?'' + +``Very close,'' said the Harvester. ``Under this oak. +She used to say that she had a speaking acquaintance +with every tree on our land, and of them all she loved +this big one the best. She liked to come here in winter, +and feel the sting of the wind sweeping across the lake, +and in summer this was her place to read and to think. +So when she slept the unwaking sleep, Ruth, I came +here and made her bed with my own hands, and then +carried her to it, covered her, and she sleeps well. I +never have regretted her going. Life did not bring her +joy. She was very tired. She used to say that after +her soul had fled, if I would lay her here, perhaps the +big roots would reach down and find her, and from +her frail frame gather slight nourishment and then +her body would live again in talking leaves that would +shelter me in summer and whisper her love in winter. +Of all Medicine Woods this is the dearest spot to me. +Can you love it too, Ruth?'' + +``Oh I can!'' cried the Girl; ``I do now! Just to see +the place and hear that is enough. I wish, oh to my +soul I wish----'' + +``You wish what?'' whispered the Harvester +gently. + +``I dare not! I was wild to think of it. I would be +ungrateful to ask it.'' + +``You would be ungracious if you didn't ask anything +that would give me the joy of pleasing you. How long +is it going to require for you to learn, Ruth, that to make +up for some of the difficulties life has brought you would +give me more happiness than anything else could? +Tell me now.'' + +``No!'' + +He gathered her closer. + +``Ruth, there is no reason why you should be actively +unkind to me. What is it you wish?'' + +She struggled from his arms and stood alone in white +moonlight, staring across the lake, along the shore, deep +into the perfumed forest, and then at the mound she now +could distinguish under the giant tree. Suddenly she +went to him and with both shaking hands gripped his +arm. + +``My mother!'' she panted. ``Oh she was a beautiful +woman, delicately reared, and her heart was crushed and +broken. By the inch she went to a dreadful end I could +not avert or allay, and in poverty and grime I fought +for a way to save her body from further horror, and it's +all so dreadful I thought all feeling in me was dried +and still, but I am not quite calloused yet. I suffer +it over with every breath. It is never entirely out of +my mind. Oh Man, if only you would lift her from the +horrible place she lies, where briers run riot and cattle +trample and the unmerciful sun beats! Oh if only you'd +lift her from it, and bring her here! I believe it would +take away some of the horror, the shame, and the heartache. +I believe I could go to sleep without hearing the +voice of her suffering, if I knew she was lying on this hill, +under your beautiful tree, close the dear mother you +love. Oh Man, would you----?'' + +The Harvester crushed the Girl in his arms and +shuddering sobs shook his big frame, and choked his voice. + +``Ruth, for God's sake, be quiet!'' he cried. ``Why I'd +be glad to! I'll go anywhere you tell me, and bring her, +and she shall rest where the lake murmurs, the trees +shelter, the winds sing, and earth knows the sun only +in long rays of gold light.'' + +She stared at him with strained face. + +``You----you wouldn't!'' she breathed. + +``Ruth, child,'' said the Harvester, ``I tell you I'd be +happy. Look at my side of this! I'm in search of bands +to bind you to me and to this place. Could you tell +me a stronger than to have the mother you idolized +lie here for her long sleep? Why Girl, you can't know +the deep and abiding joy it would give me to bring +her. I'd feel I had you almost secure. Where is she +Ruth?'' + +``In that old unkept cemetery south of Onabasha, +where it costs no money to lay away your loved ones.'' + +``Close here! Why I'll go to-morrow! I supposed +she was in the city.'' + +She straightened and drew away from him. + +``How could I? I had nothing. I could not have +paid even her fare and brought her here in the cheapest +box the decency of man would allow him to make if +her doctor had not given me the money I owe. Now +do you understand why I must earn and pay it myself? +Save for him, it was charity or her delicate body to +horrors. Money never can repay him.'' + +``Ruth, the day you came to Onabasha was she with +you?'' + +``In the express car,'' said the Girl. + +``Where did you go when you left the train shed?'' + +``Straight to the baggage room, where Uncle Henry +was waiting. Men brought and put her in his wagon, +and he drove with me to the place and other men lowered +her, and that was all.'' + +``You poor Girl!'' cried the Harvester. ``This time +to-morrow night she shall sleep in luxury under this oak, +so help me God! Ruth, can you spare me? May I +go at once? I can't rest, myself.'' + +``You will?'' cried the Girl. ``You will?'' + +She was laughing in the moonlight. ``Oh Man, I +can't ever, ever tell you!'' + +``Don't try,'' said the Harvester. ``Call it settled. +I will start early in the morning. I know that little +cemetery. The man whose land it is on can point me +the spot. She is probably the last one laid there. Come +now, Ruth. Go to the room I made for you, and sleep +deeply and in peace. Will you try to rest?'' + +``Oh David!'' she exulted. ``Only think! Here where +it's clean and cool; beside the lake, where leaves fall gently +and I can come and sit close to her and bring flowers; and +she never will be alone, for your dear mother is here. Oh +David!'' + +``It is better. I can't thank you enough for thinking +of it. Come now, let me help you.'' + +He half carried her down the hill. Then he made the +cabin a glamour of light by putting candles in the sticks +he had carved and placing them everywhere. + +``There is a lighting plant in the basement,'' he said, +``but I had not expected to use it until winter, and I +have no acetylene. Candles were our grandmothers' +lights and they are the best anyway. Go bathe your +face, Ruth, and wash away all trace of tears. Put on +the pink powder, and in a few weeks you will have +colour to outdo the wildest rose. You must be as gay +as you can the remainder of this night.'' + +``I will!'' cried the Girl. ``I will! Oh I didn't know +a thing on earth could make me happy! I didn't know +I really could be glad. Oh if the ice in my heart would +melt, and the wall break down, and the girlhood I've +never known would come yet! Oh David, if it would!'' + +``Before the Lord it shall!'' vowed the Harvester. +``It shall come with the fulness of joy right here in +Medicine Woods. Think it! Believe it! Keep it before +you! Work for it! Happiness is worth while! +All of us have a right to it! It shall be yours and soon.'' + +``I will try! I will!'' promised the Girl. ``I'll go +right now and I'll put on the blessed pink powder so +thickly you'll never know what is under it, and soon it +won't be needed at all.'' + +She was laughing as she left the room. The Harvester +restlessly walked the floor a few minutes and then sat +with a notebook and began entering stems. + +When the Girl returned, he brought the pillow from her +bed, folded the coverlet, and she lay on them in the big +swing. He covered her with the white shawl, and while +Singing Water sang its loudest, katydids exulted over +the delightful act of their ancestor, and a million gauze- +winged creatures of night hummed against the screen, +in a voice soft and low he told her in a steady stream, +as he swayed her back and forth, what each sound of the +night was, and how and why it was made all the way +from the rumbling buzz of the June bug to the screech +of the owl and the splash of the bass in the lake. All +of it, as it appealed to him, was the story of steady +evolution, the natural processes of reproduction, the joy of +life and its battles, and the conquest of the strong in +nature. At his hands every sound was stripped of terror. +The leaping bass was exulting in life, the screeching owl +was telling its mate it had found a fat mouse for the +children, the nighthawk was courting, the big bull +frogs booming around the lake were serenading the moon. +There was not a thing to fear or a voice left with an +unsympathetic note in it. She was half asleep when at last +he helped her to her room, set a pitcher of frosty, clinking +drink on her table, locked her door and window screens +inside, spread Belshazzar's blanket on her porch, and set +his door wide open, that he might hear if she called, and then +said good night and went back to his memorandum book. + +``No bad beginning,'' he muttered softly, ``no bad +beginning, but I'd almost give my right hand if she hadn't +forgotten----'' + +In her room the exhausted Girl slipped the pins from +her hair and sank on the low chair before the dressing- +table. She picked up the shining, silver backed brush +and stared at the monogram, R. F. L, entwined on it. + +``My soul!'' she exclaimed. ``WAS HE SO SURE AS THAT? +Was there ever any other man like him?'' + +She dropped the brush and with tired hands pushed +back the heavy braids. Then she arose and going to +the chest of drawers began lifting lids to find a night +robe. As she searched the boxes she found every dainty, +pretty undergarment a girl ever used and at last the +robes. She shook out a long white one, slipped into it, +and walked to the bed. That stood as he had arranged +it, white, clean, and dainty. + +``Everything for me!'' she said softly. ``Everything +for me! Shall there be nothing for him? Oh he makes +it easy, easy!'' + +She stepped to the closet, picked down a lavender +silk kimona and drawing it over her gown she gathered it +around her and opening the bathroom door, she stepped +into a little hall leading to the dining-room. As she +entered the living-room the Harvester bent over his book. +Her step was very close when he heard it and turned his +head. In an instant she touched his shoulders. The +Harvester dropped the pencil, and palm downward laid +his hands on the table, his promise strong in his heart. +The Girl slid a shaking palm under his chin, leaned +his head against her breast, and dropped a sweet, tear-wet +face on his. With all the strength of her frail arms she +gripped him a second, and then gave the kiss, into which +she tried to put all she could find no words to express. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +SNOWY WINGS + +The Harvester sat at the table in deep thoughts +until the lights in the Girl's room were darkened +and everything was quiet. Then he locked +the screens inside and went into the night. The moon +flooded all the hillside, until coarse print could have been +read with keen eyes in its light. A restlessness, born of +exultation he could not allay or control, was on him. She +had not forgotten! After this, the dream would be +effaced by reality. It was the beginning. He scarcely +had dared hope for so much. Surely it presaged the love +with which she some day would come to him and crown +his life. He walked softly up and down the drive, passing +her windows, unable to think of sleep. Over and over +he dwelt on the incidents of the day, so inevitably he +came to his promise. + +``Merciful Heaven!'' he muttered. ``How can such +things happen? The poor, overworked, tired, suffering +girl. It will give her some comfort. She will feel better. +It has to be done. I believe I will do the worst part of it +while she sleeps.'' + +He went to the cabin, crept very close to one of her +windows and listened intently. Surely no mortal awake +could lie motionless so long. She must be sleeping. He +patted Belshazzar, whispered, ``Watch, boy, watch for +your life!'' and then crossed to the dry-house. Beside +it he found a big roll of coffee sacks that he used in +collecting roots, and going to the barn, he took a spade and +mattock. Then he climbed the hill to the oak; in the +white moonlight laid off his measurements and began +work. His heart was very tender as he lifted the earth, +and threw it into the tops of the big bags he had propped +open. + +``I'll line it with a couple of sheets and finish the edge +with pond lilies and ferns,'' he planned, ``and I'll drag +this earth from sight, and cover it with brush until I +need it.'' + +Sometimes he paused in his work to rest a few minutes +and then he stood and glanced around him. Several +times he went down the hill and slipped close to a window, +but he could not hear a sound. When his work was +finished, he stood before the oak, scraping clinging earth +from the mattock with which he had cut roots he had +been compelled to remove. He was tired now and he +thought he would go to his room and sleep until daybreak. +As he turned the implement he remembered how through +it he had found her, and now he was using it in her +service. He smiled as he worked, and half listened to +the steady roll of sound encompassing him. A cool +breath swept from the lake and he wondered if it found +her wet, hot cheek. A wild duck in the rushes below +gave an alarm signal, and it ran in subdued voice, note +by note, along the shore. The Harvester gripped the +mattock and stood motionless. Wild things had taught +him so many lessons he heeded their warnings instinctively. +Perhaps it was a mink or muskrat approaching +the rushes. Listening intently, he heard a stealthy step +coming up the path behind him. + +The Harvester waited. He soundlessly moved around +the trunk of the big tree. An instant more the night +prowler stopped squarely at the head of the open grave, +and jumped back with an oath. He stood tense a second, +then advanced, scratched a match and dropped it into +the depths of the opening. That instant the Harvester +recognized Henry Jameson, and with a spring landed between +the man's shoulders and sent him, face down, headlong +into the grave. He snatched one of the sacks of +earth, and tipping it, gripped the bottom and emptied +the contents on the head and shoulders of the prostrate +man. Then he dropped on him and feeling across his +back took an ugly, big revolver from a pocket. He swung +to the surface and waited until Henry Jameson crawled +from under the weight of earth and began to rise; then, +at each attempt, he knocked him down. At last he +caught the exhausted man by the collar and dragged +him to the path, where he dropped him and stood gloating. + +``So!'' he said; ``It's you! Coming to execute your +threat, are you? What's the matter with my finishing +you, loading your carcass with a few stones into this sack, +and dropping you in the deepest part of the lake.'' + +There was no reply. + +``Ain't you a little hasty?'' asked the Harvester. +``Isn't it rather cold blooded to come sneaking when you +thought I'd be asleep? Don't you think it would be +low down to kill a man on his wedding day?'' + +Henry Jameson arose cautiously and faced the Harvester. + +``Who have you killed?'' he panted. + +``No one,'' answered the Harvester. ``This is for the +victim of a member of your family, but I never dreamed +I'd have the joy of planting any of you in it first, even +temporarily. Did you rest well? What I should have +done was to fill in, tread down, and leave you at the +bottom.'' + +Jameson retreated a few steps. The Harvester laughed +and advanced the same distance. + +``Now then,'' he said, ``explain what you are doing +on my premises, a few hours after your threat, and +armed with another revolver before I could return the +one I took from you this afternoon. You must grow +them on bushes at your place, they seem so numerous. +Speak up! What are you doing here?'' + +There was no answer. + +``There are three things it might be,'' mused the +Harvester. ``You might think to harm me, but you're +watched on that score and I don't believe you'd enjoy +the result sure to follow. You might contemplate trying +to steal Ruth's money again, but we'll pass that up. +You might want to go through my woods to inform yourself +as to what I have of value there. But, in all prob- +ability, you are after me. Well, here I am. Go ahead! +Do what you came to!'' + +The Harvester stepped toward the lake bank and +Jameson, turning to watch him, exposed a face ghastly +through its grime. + +``Look here!'' cried the Harvester, sickening. ``We +will end this right now. I was rather busy this afternoon, +but I wasn't too hurried to take that little weapon +of yours to the chief of police and tell him where and how +I got it and what occurred. He was to return it to you +to-morrow with his ultimatum. When I have added +the history of to-night, reinforced by another gun, he +will understand your intentions and know where you +belong. You should be confined, but because your name +is the same as the Girl's, and there is of your blood in her +veins, I'll give you one more chance. I'll let you go this +time, but I'll report you, and deliver this implement to +be added to your collection at headquarters. And I +tell you, and I'll tell them, that if ever I find you on my +premises again, I'll finish you on sight. Is that clear?'' + +Jameson nodded. + +``What I should do is to plump you squarely into +confinement, as I could easily enough, but that's not my +way. I am going to let you off, but you go knowing the +law. One thing more: Don't leave with any distorted +ideas in your head. I saw Ruth the day she stepped +from the cars in Onabasha and I loved her. I wanted +to court and marry her, as any man would the girl he +loves, but you spoiled that with your woman killing +brutality. So I married her in Onabasha this afternoon. +You can see the records at the county clerk's office and +interview the minister who performed the ceremony, +if you doubt me. Ruth is in her room, comfortable as +I can make her, asleep and unafraid, thank God! This +grave is for her mother. The Girl wants her lifted from +the horrible place you put her, and laid where it is +sheltered and pleasant. Now, I'll see you off my land. +Hurry yourself!'' + +With the Harvester following, Henry Jameson went +back over the path he had come, until he reached and +mounted the horse he had ridden. As the Harvester +watched him, Jameson turned in the saddle and spoke +for the second time. + +``What will you give me in cold cash to tell you who +she is, and where her mother's people are?'' + +The Harvester leaped for the bridle and missed. +Jameson bent over the horse and lashed it to a run. +Half way to the oak the Harvester remembered the +revolver, but being unaccustomed to weapons, he had +forgotten it when he needed it most. He replaced the +earth in the sack and dragged it away, then plunged +into the lake, and afterward went to bed, where he slept +soundly until dawn. First, he slipped into the living- +room and wrote a note to the Girl. Then he fed Belshazzar +and ate a hearty breakfast. He stationed the +dog at her door, gave him the note, and went to the oak. +There he arranged everything neatly and as he desired, +and then hitching Betsy he quietly guided her down the +drive and over the road to Onabasha. He went to an +undertaking establishment, made all his arrangements, +and then called up and talked with the minister who +had performed the marriage ceremony the previous day. + +The sun shining in her face awoke Ruth and she lay +revelling in the light. ``Maybe it will colour me faster +than the powder,'' she thought. ``How peculiar for him +to say what he did! I always thought men detested it. +But he is not like any one else. ``She lay looking around +the beautiful room and wondering where the Harvester +was. She could not hear him. Then, slowly and painfully, +she dragged her aching limbs from the bed and +went to the door. The dog was gone from the porch +and she could not see the man at the stable. She +selected a frock and putting it on opened the door. +Belshazzar arose and offered this letter: + +DEAR RUTH: + +I have gone to keep my promise. You are locked in +with Bel. Please obey me and do not step outside the +door until four o'clock. Then put on a pretty white +dress, and with the dog, come to the bridge to meet me. +I hope you will not suffer and fret. Put away your +clothing, arrange the rooms to keep busy, or better +yet, lie in the swing and rest. There is food in the ice +chest, pantry, and cellar. Forgive me for leaving you +to-day, but I thought you would feel easier to have this +over. I am so glad to bring your mother here. I hope +it will make you happy enough to meet us with a smile. +Do not forget the pink box until the reality comes. + With love, + DAVID. + + +The Girl went to the kitchen and found food. She +offered to share with Belshazzar, but she could see from +his indifference he was not hungry. Then she returned +to the room flooded with light, and filled with treasures, +and tried to decide how she would arrange her clothing. +She spent hours opening boxes and putting dainty, pretty +garments in the drawers, hanging the dresses, and placing +the toilet articles. Often she wearily dropped to the +chairs and couches, or gazed from door and windows at +the pictures they framed. ``I wonder why he doesn't +want me to go outside,'' she thought. ``I wouldn't +be afraid in the least, with Bel. I'd just love to go across +to that wonderful little river of Singing Water and sit +in the shade; but I won't open the door until four o'clock, +just as he wrote.'' + +When she thought of where he had gone, and why, the +swift tears filled her eyes, but she forced them back and +resolutely went to investigate the dining-room. Then +for two hours she was a home builder, with a touch of +that homing instinct found in the heart of every good +woman. First, she looked where the Harvester had said +the dishes were, and suddenly sat on the floor exulting. +There was a quantity of old chipped and cracked white +ware and some gorgeous baking powder prizes; but there +were also big blue, green, and pink bowls, several large +lustre plates, and a complete tea set without chip or +blemish, two beautiful pitchers, and a number of willow +pieces. She set the green bowl on the dining table, +the blue on the living-room, and took the pink herself, +while a beautiful yellow one she placed in the dining- +room window seat. + +``Oh, if I only dared fill them with those lovely flowers!'' +She stood in the window and gazed longingly toward the +lake. ``I know what colour I'd like to put in each of +them,'' she said, ``but I promised not to touch anything, +and the ones I want most I never saw before, and I'm +not to go out anyway. I can't see the sense in that, +when I'm not at all afraid, but if he does this wonderful +thing for me I must do what he asks. Oh mother, +mother! Are you really coming to this beautiful place +and to rest at last?'' + +She sank to the window seat and lay trembling, but +she bravely restrained the tears. After a time she +remembered the upstairs and went to see the coverlets. +She found a half dozen beautiful ones, and smiled as +she examined the stiffly conventionalized birds facing +each other in the border designs, and in one corner of +each blanket she read, woven in the cloth---- + Peter and John + Hartman + Wooster + Ohio + 1837 + +She took a blue and a green one, several fine skins +from the fur box the Harvester had told her about, and +went downstairs. It required all her strength to push +the heavy tables before the fireplaces. She spread papers +on them to stand on, and tacked a skin above each +mantel. She set all of the candlesticks, except those +she wanted to use, in the lower part of an empty bookcase. +A pair of black walnut she placed on the living- +room mantel, together with a big blue plate, a yellow +one, and an old brass candlestick. She admired the +effect very much. She spread the blue coverlet on +the couch, and arranged the blue bowl and some books +on the table. Here and there she hung a skin across a +chair back, or spread it in a wide window seat. Having +exhausted all her resources, she returned to the dining- +room, spread a skin before the hearth and in each window +seat, set a pink and green lustre plate on the mantel, +and a pair of oak candlesticks, and arranged the lustre +tea set on the side table. The pink coverlet she took +for herself, and after resting a time she was surprised +on going back to the rooms to see how homelike they +appeared. + +At three o'clock she dressed and at almost four unlocked +the screen, called Belshazzar to her side, and slowly +went down the drive to the bridge. She had used the +pink powder, put on a beautiful white dress, carefully +arranged her hair, and she wore the pearl ornament. +Once her fingers strayed to the pendant and she said +softly, ``I think both he and mother would like me to +wear it.'' + +At the foot of the hill she stopped at a bench and sat +in the shade waiting. Belshazzar stretched beside her, +and gazed at her with questioning, friendly dog eyes. +The Girl looked from Singing Water to the lake, and +up the hill to make sure it was real. She tried to quiet +her quivering muscles and nerves. He had asked her +to meet him with a smile. How could she? He could +not have understood what it meant when he made the +request. There never would be any way to make him +realize; indeed, why should he? The smile must be +ready. He had loved his mother deeply, and yet he +had said he did not grieve to lay her to rest. Earth +had not been kind. Then why should she sorrow for +her mother? Again life had been not only unkind, but +bitterly cruel. + +Belshazzar arose and watched down the drive. The +Girl looked also. Through the gate and up the levee +came a strange procession. First walked the Harvester +alone, with bared head, and he carried an arm load of +white lilies. A carriage containing a man and several +women followed. Then came a white hearse with snowy +plumes, and behind that another carriage filled with +people, and Betsy followed drawing men in the spring +wagon. The Girl arose and as she stepped to the drive +she swayed uncertainly an instant. + +``Gracious Heaven!'' she gasped. ``He is bringing +her in white, and with flowers and song!'' + +Then she lifted her head, and with a smile on her lips +she went to meet him. As she reached his side, he +tenderly put an arm around her, and came on steadily. + +``Courage Girl!'' he whispered. ``Be as brave as she +was!'' + +Around the driveway and up the hill he half carried +her, to a seat he had placed under the oak. Before her +lay the white-lined grave, and the Harvester arranged +his lilies around it. The teams stopped at the barn and +men came up the hill bearing a white burden. Behind +them followed the minister who yesterday had performed +their marriage ceremony, and after him a choir +of trained singers softly chanting: + + ``Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord, + For they shall cease from their labours.'' + + +``But David,'' panted the Girl, ``It was mean and +poor. That is not she!'' + +``Sush!'' said the Harvester. ``It is your mother. +The location was high and dry, and it has been only a +short time. We wrapped her in white silk, laid her +on a soft cushion and pillow, and housed her securely. +She can sleep well now, Ruth. Listen!'' + +Covered with white lilies, slowly the casket sank into +earth. At its head stood the minister and as it began +to disappear, the white doves, frightened by the strange +conveyances at the stable, came circling above. The +minister looked up. He lifted a clear tenor, and softly +and purely he sang, while at a wave of his hand the choir +joined him: + + ``Oh, come angel band! Oh, come, and around me stand! + Oh, bear me away on your snowy wings to my immortal home!'' + + +He uttered a low benediction, and singing, the people +turned and went downhill. The Harvester gathered +the Girl in his arms and carried her to the lake. He +laid her in his boat and taking the oars sent it along the +bank in the shade, and through cool, green places. + +``Now cry all you choose!'' he said. + +The overstrained Girl covered her face and sobbed +wildly. After a time he began to talk to her gently, +and before she realized it, she was listening. + +``Death has been kinder to her than life, Ruth,'' he +said. ``She is lying as you saw her last, I think. We +lifted her very tenderly, wrapped her carefully, and +brought her gently as we could. Now they shall rest +together, those little mothers of ours, to whom men +were not kind; and in the long sleep we must forget, as +they have forgotten, and forgive, as no doubt they have +forgiven. Don't you want to take some lilies to them +before we go to the cabin? Right there on your left +are unusually large ones.'' + +The Girl sat up, dried her eyes and gathered the white +flowers. When the last vehicle crossed the bridge, the +Harvester tied the boat and helped her up the hill. The +old oak stretched its wide arms above two little mounds, +both moss covered and scattered with flowers. The +Girl added her store and then went to the Harvester, and +sank at his feet. + +``Ruth, you shall not!'' cried the man. ``I simply +will not have that. Come now, I will bring you back +this evening.'' + +He helped her to the veranda and laid her in the swing. +He sat beside her while she rested, and then they went +into the cabin for supper. Soon he had her telling +what she had found, and he was making notes of what +was yet required to transform the cabin into a home. +The Harvester left it to her to decide whether he should +roof the bridge the next day or make a trip for furnishings. +She said he had better buy what they needed +and then she could make the cabin homelike while he +worked on the bridge. + + + +CHAPTER XV + +THE HARVESTER INTERPRETS LIFE + +They went through the rooms together, and +the Girl suggested the furnishings she thought +necessary, while the Harvester wrote the list. The +following morning he was eager to have her company, +but she was very tired and begged to be allowed to +wait in the swing, so again he drove away and left her +with Belshazzar on guard. When he had gone, she went +through the cabin arranging the furniture the best she +could, then dressed and went to the swinging couch. It +was so wide and heavy a light wind rocked it gently, +and from it she faced the fern and lily carpeted hillside, +the majesty of big trees of a thousand years, and heard +the music of Singing Water as it sparkled diamond-like +where the sun rays struck its flow. Across the drive and +down the valley to the brilliant bit of marsh it hurried +on its way to Loon Lake. + +There were squirrels barking and racing in the big trees +and over the ground. They crossed the sodded space +of lawn and came to the top step for nuts, eating them +from cunning paws. They were living life according +to the laws of their nature. She knew that their sharp, +startling bark was not to frighten her, but to warn straying +intruders of other species of their kindred from a nest, +because the Harvester had told her so. He had said +their racing here and there in wild scramble was a game +of tag and she found it most interesting to observe. + +Birds of brilliant colour flashed everywhere, singing +in wild joy, and tilted on the rising hedge before her, +hunting berries and seeds. Their bubbling, spontaneous +song was an instinctive outpouring of their joy over +mating time, nests, young, much food, and running water. +Their social, inquiring, short cry was to locate a mate, +and call her to good feeding. The sharp wild scream of a +note was when a hawk passed over, a weasel lurked in +the thicket, or a black snake sunned on the bushes. She +remembered these things, and lay listening intently, +trying to interpret every sound as the Harvester did. + +Birds of wide wing hung as if nailed to the sky, or +wheeled and sailed in grandeur. They were searching +the landscape below to locate a hare or snake in the waving +grass or carrion in the fields. The wonderful exhibitions +of wing power were their expression of exultation +in life, just as the song sparrow threatened to rupture +his throat as he swung on the hedge, and the red bird +somewhere in the thicket whistled so forcefully it sounded +as if the notes might hurt him. + +On the lake bass splashed in a game with each other. +Grebes chattered, because they were very social. Ducks +dived and gobbled for roots and worms of the lake shore, +and congratulated each other when they were lucky. + +Killdeer cried for slaughter, in plaintive tones, as their +white breasts gleamed silver-like across the sky. They +insisted on the death of their ancient enemies, because +the deer had trampled nests around the shore, roiled the +water, spoiled the food hunting, and had been wholly +unmindful of the laws of feathered folk from the beginning. + +Behind the barn imperial cocks crowed challenges +of defiance to each other and all the world, because +they once had worn royal turbans on their heads, and +ruled the forests, even the elephants and lions. Happy +hens cackled when they deposited an egg, and wandered +through their park singing the spring egg song +unceasingly. + +Upon the barn Ajax spread and exulted in glittering +plumage, and screamed viciously. He was sending a +wireless plea to the forests of Ceylon for a gray mate to +come and share the ridge pole with him, and help him +wage red war on the sickening love making of the white +doves he hated. + +Everything was beautiful, some of it was amusing, +all instructive, and intensely interesting. The Girl +wanted to know about the brown, yellow, and black +butterflies sailing from flower to flower. She watched +big black and gold bees come from the forest for pollen +and listened to their monotonous bumbling. Her first +humming bird poised in air, and sipped nectar before +her astonished eyes. It was marvellous, but more +wonderful to the Girl than anything she saw or heard was +the fact that because of the Harvester's teachings she +now could trace through all of it the ordained processes +of the evolution of life. Everything was right in its way, +all necessary to human welfare, and so there was nothing +to fear, but marvels to learn and pictures to appreciate. +She would have taken Belshazzar and gone out, but +the Harvester had exacted a promise that she would not. +The fact was, he could see that she was coming gradually +to a sane and natural view of life and living things, and +he did not want some sound or creature to frighten her, +and spoil what he had accomplished. So she swayed +in the swing and watched, and tried to interpret sights +and sounds as he did. + +Before an hour she realized that she was coming +speedily into sympathy with the wild life around her; for, +instead of shivering and shrinking at unaccustomed +sounds, she was listening especially for them, and trying +to arrive at a sane version. Instead of the senseless +roar of commerce, manufacture, and life of a city, +she was beginning to appreciate sounds that varied and +carried the Song of Life in unceasing measure and +absorbing meaning, while she was more than thankful +for the fresh, pure air, and the blessed, God-given light. +It seemed to the Girl that there was enough sunshine at +Medicine Woods to furnish rays of gold for the whole +world. + +``Bel,'' she said to the dog standing beside her, ``it's a +shame to separate you from the Medicine Man and pen +you here with me. It's a wonder you don't bite off my +head and run away to find him. He's gone to bring more +things to make life beautiful. I wanted to go with him, +but oh Bel, there's something dreadfully wrong with +me. I was afraid I'd fall on the streets and frighten and +shame him. I'm so weak, I scarcely can walk straight +across one of these big, cool rooms that he has built for +me. He can make everything beautiful, Bel, a home, +rooms, clothing, grounds, and life----above everything +else he can make life beautiful. He's so splendid and +wonderful, with his wide understanding and sane +interpretation and God-like sympathy and patience. Why +Belshazzar, he can do the greatest thing in all the world! +He can make you forget that the grave annihilates your +dear ones by hideous processes, and set you to thinking +instead that they come back to you in whispering leaves +and flower perfumes. If I didn't owe him so much that +I ought to pay, if this wasn't so alluringly beautiful, I'd +like to go to the oak and lie beside those dear women +resting there, and give my tired body to furnish sap for +strength and leaves for music. He can take its bitterest +sting----from death, Bel----and that's the most +wonderful thing----in life, Bel----'' + +Her voice became silent, her eyes closed; the dog +stretched himself beside her on guard, and it was so the +Harvester found them when he drove home from the +city. He heaped his load in the dining-room, stabled +Betsy, carried the things he had brought where he thought +they belonged, and prepared food. When she awakened +she came to him. + +``How is it going, Girl?'' asked the Harvester. + +``I can't tell you how lovely it has been!'' + +``Do you really mean that your heart is warming a +little to things here?'' + +``Indeed I do! I can't tell you what a morning I've had. +There have been such myriad things to see and hear. Oh, +Harvester, can you ever teach me what all of it means?'' + +``I can right now,'' said the Harvester promptly. +``It means two things, so simple any little child can +understand----the love of God and the evolution of life. +I am not precisely clear as to what I mean when I say +God. I don't know whether it is spirit, matter, or force; +it is that big thing that brings forth worlds, establishes +their orbits, and gives us heat, light, food, and water. To +me, that is God and His love. Just that we are given +birth, sheltered, provisioned, and endowed for our work. +Evolution is the natural consequence of this. It is the +plan steadily unfolding. If I were you, I wouldn't +bother my head over these questions, they never have +been scientifically explained to the beginning; I doubt if +they ever will be, because they start with the origin of +matter and that is too far beyond man for him to +penetrate. Just enjoy to the depths of your soul----that's +worship. Be thankful for everything----that's praising +God as the birds praise him. And `do unto others' +that's all there is of love and religion combined in +one fell swoop.'' + +``You should go before the world and tell every one +that!'' + +``No! It isn't my vocation,'' said the Harvester. +``My work is to provide pain-killer. I don't believe, +Ruth, that there is any one on the footstool who is doing +a better job along that line. I am boastfully proud of +it----just of sending in the packages that kill fever, +refresh poor blood, and strengthen weak hearts; +unadulterated, honest weight, fresh, and scrupulously clean. +My neighbours have a different name for it; I call it a +man's work.'' + +``Every one who understands must,'' said the Girl. +``I wish I could help at that. I feel as if it would do +more to wipe out the pain I've suffered and seen her +endure than anything else. Man, when I grow strong +enough I want to help you. I believe that I am going +to love it here.'' + +``Don't ever suppress your feelings, Ruth!'' hastily +cried the Harvester. ``It will be very bad for you. You +will become wrought up, and `het up,' as Granny Moreland +says, and it will make you very ill. When we drive +the fever from your blood, the ache from your bones, the +poison of wrong conditions from your soul, and good, +healthy, red corpuscles begin pumping through your +little heart like a windmill, you can stake your life you're +going to love it here. And the location and work are +not all you're going to care for either, honey. Now +just wait! That was not `nominated in the bond.' I'm +allowed to talk. I never agreed not to SAY things. What +I promised was not to DO them. So as I said, honey, +sit at this table, and eat the food I've cooked; and by +that time the furniture van will be here, and the men will +unload, and you shall reign on a throne and tell me where +and how.'' + +``Oh if I were only stronger, David!'' + +``You are!'' said the Harvester. ``You are much +better than you were yesterday. You can talk, and that's +all that's necessary. The rooms are ready for furniture. +The men will carry it where you want it. A decorator +is coming to hang the curtains. By night we will be +settled; you can lie in the swing while I read to you a +story so wonderful that the wildest fairy tale you ever +heard never touched it.'' + +``What will it be, David?'' + +``Eat all the red raspberries and cream, bread and +butter, and drink all the milk you can. There's blood, +beefsteak, and bones in it. As I was saying, you have +come here a stranger to a strange land. The first thing +is for you to understand and love the woods. Before +you can do that you should master the history of one +tree; just the same as you must learn to know and love +me before your childlike trust in all mankind returns +again. Understand? Well, the fates knew you were on +the way, coming trembling down the brink, Ruth, so +they put it into the heart of a great man to write largely +of a wonderful tree, especially for your benefit. After +it had fallen he took it apart, split it in sections, and year +by year spread out history for all the world to read. It +made a classic story filled with unsurpassed wonders. +It was a pine of a thousand years, close the age of our +mother tree, Ruth, and when we have learned from Enos +Mills how to wrest secrets from the hearts of centuries, +we will climb the hill and measure our oak, and then I +will estimate, and you will write, and we will make a +record for our tree.'' + +``Oh, I'd like that!'' + +``So would I,'' said the Harvester. ``And a million +other things I can think of that we can learn together. +It won't require long for me to teach you all I know, and +by that time your hand will be clasped in mine, and +our `hearts will beat as one,' and you will give me a kiss +every night and morning, and a few during the day for +interest, and we will go on in life together and learn songs, +miracles, and wonders until the old oak calls us. Then +we will ascend the hill gladly and lie down and offer +up our bodies, and our children will lay flowers over our +hearts, and gather the herbs and paint the pictures? Amen. +I hear a van on the bridge. Just you go to your room +and lie down until I get things unloaded and where they +belong. Then you and the decorator can make us home- +like, and to-morrow we will begin to live. Won't that +be great, Ruth?'' + +``With you, yes, I think it will.'' + +``That will do for this time,'' said the Harvester, as +he opened the door to her room. ``Lie and rest until +I say ready.'' + +As he went to meet the men, she could hear him singing +lustily, ``Praise God from whom all blessings flow.'' + +``What a child he is!'' she said. ``And what a man!'' + +For an hour heavy feet sounded through the cabin +carrying furniture to different rooms. Then with a floor +brush in one hand, and a polishing cloth in the other, +the Harvester tapped at her door and helped the Girl +upstairs. He had divided the space into three large, square +sleeping chambers. In each he had set up a white iron +bed, a dressing table, and wash stand, and placed two +straight-backed and one rocking chair, all white. The +walls were tinted lightly with green added to the plaster. +There was a mattress and a stack of bedding on each bed, +and a large rug and several small ones on the floors. He +led her to the rocking chair in the middle room, where +she could see through the open doors of the other two. + +``Now,'' said the Harvester, ``I didn't know whether +the room with two windows toward the lake and one on +the marsh, or two facing the woods and one front, was +the guest chamber. It seemed about an even throw +whether a visitor would prefer woods or water, so I made +them both guest chambers, and got things alike for them. +Now if we are entertaining two, one can't feel more highly +honoured than the other. Was that a scheme?'' + +``Fine!'' said the Girl. ``I don't see how it could be +surpassed.'' + +`` `Be sure you are right, then go ahead,' '' quoted the +Harvester. ``Now I'll make the beds and Mr. Rogers +can hang the curtains. Is white correct for sleeping +rooms? Won't that wash best and always be fresh?'' + +``It will,'' said the Girl. ``White wash curtains are +much the nicest.'' + +``Make them short Mr. Rogers; keep them off the +floor,'' advised the Harvester. ``And simple----don't +arrange any thing elaborate that will tire a woman to +keep in order. Whack them off the right length and pin +them to the poles.'' + +``How about that, Mrs. Langston?'' asked the decorator. + +``I am quite sure that is the very best thing to do,'' +said the Girl; and the curtains were hung while the mattress +was placed. + +``Now about this?'' inquired the Harvester. ``Do I +put on sheets and fix these beds ready to use?'' + +``I would not,'' said the Girl. ``I would spread the +pad and the counterpane and lay the sheets and pillows +in the closet until they are wanted. They can be sunned +and the bed made delightfully fresh.'' + +``Of course,'' said the Harvester. + +When he had finished, he spread a cover on the dressing +table and laid out white toilet articles and grouped a +white wash set with green decorations on the stand. +Then he brushed the floor, spread a big green rug in the +middle and small ones before the bed, stand, and table, +and coming out closed the door. + +``Guest chamber with lake view is now ready for +company,'' announced the Harvester. ``Repeat the +operation on the woods room, finished also. Why do +some people make work of things and string them out +eternally and fuss so much? Isn't this simple and easy, +Ruth?'' + +``Yes, if you can afford it,'' said the Girl. + +``Forbear!'' cried the Harvester. ``We have the goods, +the dealer has my check. Excuse me ten minutes, until +I furnish another room.'' + +The laughing Girl could catch glimpses of him busy +over beds and dresser, floor and rugs; then he came where +she sat. + +``Woods guest chamber ready,'' he said. ``Now we +come to the interior apartment, that from its view might +be called the marsh room. Aside from being two windows +short, it is exactly similar to the others. It occurred +to me that, in order to make up for the loss of those +windows, and also because I may be compelled to ask +some obliging woman to occupy it in case your health +is precarious at any time, and in view of the further fact +that if any such woman could be found, and would kindly +and willingly care for us, my gratitude would be +inexpressible; on account of all these things, I got a shade +the BEST furnishings for this room.'' + +The Girl stared at him with blank face. + +``You see,'' said the Harvester, ``this is a question of +ethics. Now what is a guest? A thing of a day! A +person who disturbs your routine and interferes with +important concerns. Why should any one be grateful +for company? Why should time and money be lavished +on visitors? They come. You overwork yourself. +They go. You are glad of it. You return the visit, +because it's the only way to have back at them; but why +pamper them unnecessarily? Now a good housekeeper, +that means more than words can express. Comfort, +kindness, sanitary living, care in illness! Here's to the +prospective housekeeper of Medicine Woods! Rogers, +hang those ruffled embroidered curtains. Observe that +whereas mere guest beds are plain white, this has a +touch of brass. Where guest rugs are floor coverings, +this is a work of art. Where guest brushes are celluloid, +these are enamelled, and the dresser cover is hand +embroidered. Let me also call your attention to the chairs +touched with gold, cushioned for ease, and a decorated +pitcher and bowl. Watch the bounce of these springs +and the thickness of this mattress and pad, and notice +that where guests, however welcome, get a down +cover of sateen, the lady of the house has silkaline. +Won't she prepare us a breakfast after a night in this +room?'' + +``David, are you in earnest?'' gasped the Girl. + +``Don't these things prove it?'' asked the Harvester. +``No woman can enter my home, when my necessities +are so great I have to hire her to come, and take the +WORST in the house. After my wife, she gets the best, +every time. Whenever I need help, the woman who will +come and serve me is what I'd call the real guest of the +house. Friend? Where are your friends when trouble +comes? It always brings a crowd on account of the +excitement, and there is noise and racing; but if your soul +is saved alive, it is by a steady, trained hand you pay to +help you. Friends come and go, but a good housekeeper +remains and is a business proposition--one that +if conducted rightly for both parties and on a strictly +common-sense basis, gives you living comfort. Now that +we have disposed of the guests that go and the one that +remains, we will proceed downward and arrange for +ourselves.'' + +``David, did you ever know any one who treated a +housekeeper as you say you would?'' + +``No. And I never knew any one who raised medicinal +stuff for a living, but I'm making a gilt-edged success of +it, and I would of a housekeeper, too.'' + +``It doesn't seem----'' + +``That's the bedrock of all the trouble on the earth,'' +interrupted the Harvester. ``We are a nation and a +part of a world that spends our time on `seeming.' Our +whole outer crust is `seeming.' When we get beneath +the surface and strike the BEING, then we live as we are +privileged by the Almighty. I don't think I give +a tinker how anything SEEMS. What concerns me is +how it IS. It doesn't `seem' possible to you to hire a +woman to come into your home and take charge of its +cleanliness and the food you eat--the very foundation +of life--and treat her as an honoured guest, +and give her the best comfort you have to offer. The +cold room, the old covers, the bare floor, and the cast +off furniture are for her. No wonder, as a rule, she +gives what she gets. She dignifies her labour in the +same ratio that you do. Wait until we need a housekeeper, +and then gaze with awe on the one I will raise +to your hand.'' + +``I wonder----'' + +``Don't! It's wearing! Come tell me how to make our +living-room less bare than it appears at present.'' + +They went downstairs together, followed by the +decorator, and began work on the room. The Girl +was placed on a couch and made comfortable and then +the Harvester looked around. + +``That bundle there, Rogers, is the curtains we bought +for this room. If you and my wife think they are not +right, we will not hang them.'' + +The decorator opened the package and took out +curtains of tan-coloured goods with a border of blue and +brown. + +``Those are not expensive,'' said the Harvester, ``but +to me a window appears bare with only a shade, so I +thought we'd try these, and when they become soiled +we'll burn them and buy some fresh ones.'' + +``Good idea!'' laughed the Girl. ``As a house +decorator you surpass yourself as a Medicine Man.'' + +``Fix these as you did those upstairs,'' ordered the +Harvester. ``We don't want any fol-de-rols. Put the +bottom even with the sill and shear them off at the top.'' + +``No, I am going to arrange these,'' said the decorator, +``you go on with your part.'' + +``All right!'' agreed the Harvester. ``First, I'll lay +the big rug.'' + +He cleared the floor, spread a large rug with a rich +brown centre and a wide blue border. Smaller ones of +similar design and colour were placed before each of the +doors leading from the room. + +``Now for the hearth,'' said the Harvester, ``I got this +tan goat skin. Doesn't that look fairly well?'' + +It certainly did; and the Girl and the decorator +hastened to say so. The Harvester replaced the table and +chairs, and then sat on the couch at the Girl's feet. + +``I call this almost finished,'' he remarked. ``All we +need now is a bouquet and something on the walls, and +that is serious business. What goes on them usually +remains for a long time, and so it should be selected with +care. Ruth, have you a picture of your mother?'' + +``None since she was my mother. I have some lovely +girl photographs.'' + +``Good!'' cried the Harvester. ``Exactly the thing! +I have a picture of my mother when she was a pretty +girl. We will select the best of yours and have them +enlarged in those beautiful brown prints they make in +these days, and we'll frame one for each side of the +mantel. After that you can decorate the other walls +as you see things you want. Fifteen minutes gone; we +are ready to take up the line of march to the dining-room. +Oh I forgot my pillows! Here are a half dozen tan, +brown, and blue for this room. Ruth, you arrange +them.'' + +The Girl heaped four on the couch, stood one beside +the hearth, and laid another in a big chair. + +``Now I don't know what you will think of this,'' +said the Harvester. ``I found it in a magazine at the +library. I copied this whole room. The plan was to +have the floor, furniture, and casings of golden oak and +the walls pale green. Then it said get yellow curtains +bordered with green and a green rug with yellow figures, +so I got them. I had green leather cushions made for +the window seats, and these pillows go on them. Hang +the saffron curtains, Rogers, and we will finish in good +shape for dinner by six. By the way, Ruth, when will +you select your dishes? It will take a big set to fill +all these shelves and you shall have exactly what you +want.'' + +``I can use those you have very well.'' + +``Oh no you can't!'' cried the Harvester. ``I may live +and work in the woods, but I am not so benighted that +I don't own and read the best books and magazines, and +subscribe for a few papers. I patronize the library and +see what is in the stores. My money will buy just as +much as any man's, if I do wear khaki trousers. Kindly +notice the word. Save in deference to your ladyship I +probably would have said pants. You see how ELITE +I can be if I try. And it not only extends to my wardrobe, +to a `yaller' and green dining-room, but it takes in +the `chany' as well. I have looked up that, too. You +want china, cut glass, silver cutlery, and linen. Ye! +Ye! You needn't think I don't know anything but how +to dig in the dirt. I have been studying this especially, +and I know exactly what to get.'' + +``Come here,'' said the Girl, making a place for him +beside her. ``Now let me tell you what I think. We +are going to live in the woods, and our home is a log +cabin----'' + +``With acetylene lights, a furnace, baths, and hot and +cold water----'' interpolated the Harvester. + +The Girl and the decorator laughed. + +``Anyway,'' said she, ``if you are going to let me have +what I would like, I'd prefer a set of tulip yellow dishes +with the Dutch little figures on them. I don't know +what they cost, but certainly they are not so expensive +as cut glass and china.'' + +``Is that earnest or is it because you think I am +spending too much money?'' + +``It is what I want. Everything else is different; why +should we have dishes like city folk? I'd dearly love +to have the Dutch ones, and a white cloth with a yellow +border, glass where it is necessary, and silver knives, +forks, and spoons.'' + +``That would be great, all right!'' endorsed the decorator. +``And you have got a priceless old lustre tea set +there, and your willow ware is as fine as I ever saw. If +I were you, I wouldn't buy a dish with what you have, +except the yellow set.'' + +``Great day!'' ejaculated the Harvester. ``Will you +tell me why my great grandmother's old pink and green +teapot is priceless?'' + +The Girl explained pink lustre. ``That set in the +shop I knew in Chicago would sell for from three to five +hundred dollars. Truly it would! I've seen one little +pink and green pitcher like yours bring nine dollars there. +And you've not only got the full tea set, but water and +dip pitchers, two bowls, and two bread plates. They +are priceless, because the secret of making them is lost; +they take on beauty with age, and they were your great- +grandmother's.'' + +The Harvester reached over and energetically shook +hands. + +``Ruth, I'm so glad you've got them!'' he bubbled. +``Now elucidate on my willow ware. What is it? Where +is it? Why have I willow ware and am not informed. +Who is responsible for this? Did my ancestors buy +better than they knew, or worse? Is willow ware a +crime for which I must hide my head, or is it further +riches thrust upon me? I thought I had investigated +the subject of proper dishes quite thoroughly; but I am +very certain I saw no mention of lustre or willow. I +thought, in my ignorance, that lustre was a dress, and +willow a tree. Have I been deceived? Why is a blue +plate or pitcher willow ware?'' + +``Bring that platter from the mantel,'' ordered the +Girl, ``and I will show you.'' + +The Harvester obeyed and followed the finger that +traced the design. + +``That's a healthy willow tree!'' he commented. ``If +Loon Lake couldn't go ahead of that it should be drained. +And will you please tell me why this precious platter +from which I have eaten much stewed chicken, fried +ham, and in youthful days sopped the gravy----will +you tell me why this relic of my ancestors is called a +willow plate, when there are a majority of orange trees +so extremely fruitful they have neglected to grow a leaf? +Why is it not an orange plate? Look at that boat! +And in plain sight of it, two pagodas, a summer house, +a water-sweep, and a pair of corpulent swallows; you +would have me believe that a couple are eloping in broad +daylight.'' + +``Perhaps it's night! And those birds are doves.'' + +``Never!'' cried the Harvester. ``There is a total +absence of shadows. There is no moon. Each orange +tree is conveniently split in halves, so you can see to +count the fruit accurately; the birds are in flight. Only +a swallow or a stork can fly in decorations, either by day +or by night. And for any sake look at that elopment! +He goes ahead carrying a cane, she comes behind lugging +the baggage, another man with a cane brings up the +rear. They are not running away. They have been +married ten years at least. In a proper elopement, they +forget there are such things as jewels and they always +carry each other. I've often looked up the statistics +and it's the only authorized version. As I regard this +treasure, I grow faint when I remember with what +unnecessary force my father bore down when he carved +the ham. I'll bet a cooky he split those orange trees. +Now me----I'll never dare touch knife to it again. I'll +always carve the meat on the broiler, and gently lift it +to this platter with a fork. Or am I not to be allowed +to dine from my ancestral treasure again?'' + +``Not in a green and yellow room,'' laughed the Girl. +``I'll tell you what I think. If I had a tea table to match +the living-room furniture, and it sat beside the hearth, +and on it a chafing dish to cook in, and the willow ware +to eat from, we could have little tea parties in there, +when we aren't very hungry or to treat a visitor. It +would help make that room `homey,' and it's wonderful +how they harmonize with the other things.'' + +``How much willow ware have I got to `bestow' on +you?'' inquired the Harvester. ``Suppose you show me +all of it. A guilty feeling arises in my breast, and I fear +me I have committed high crimes!'' + +``Oh Man! You didn't break or lose any of those +dishes, did you?'' + +``Show me!'' insisted the Harvester. + +The Girl arose and going to the cupboard he had +designed for her china she opened it, and set before him +a teapot, cream pitcher, two plates, a bowl, a pitcher, +the meat platter, and a sugar bowl. ``If there were all +of the cups, saucers, and plates, I know where they would +bring five hundred dollars,'' she said. + +``Ruth, are you getting even with me for poking fun +at them, or are you in earnest?'' asked the Harvester. + +``I mean every word of it.'' + +``You really want a small, black walnut table made +especially for those old dishes?'' + +``Not if you are too busy. I could use it with beautiful +effect and much pleasure, and I can't tell you how proud +I'd be of them.'' + +The Harvester's face flushed. ``Excuse me,'' he said +rising. ``I have now finished furnishing a house; I will +go and take a peep at the engine.'' He went into the +kitchen and hearing the rattle of dishes the Girl followed. +She stepped in just in time to see him hastily slide something +into his pocket. He picked up a half dozen old +white plates and saucers and several cups and started +toward the evaporator. He heard her coming. + +``Look here, honey,'' he said turning, ``you don't want +to see the dry-house just now. I have terrific heat to +do some rapid work. I won't be gone but a few minutes. +You better boss the decorator. + +``I'm afraid that wasn't very diplomatic,'' he muttered. +``It savoured a little of being sent back. But if what +she says is right, and she should know if they handle +such stuff at that art store, she will feel considerably +better not to see this.'' + +He set his load at the door, drew an old blue saucer +from his pocket and made a careful examination. He +pulled some leaves from a bush and pushed a greasy +cloth out of the saucer, wiped it the best he could, and +held it to light. + +``That is a crime!'' he commented. ``Saucer from your +maternal ancestors' tea set used for a grease dish. I am +afraid I'd better sink it in the lake. She'd feel worse +to see it than never to know. Wish I could clean off +the grease! I could do better if it was hot. I can set it +on the engine.'' + +The Harvester placed the saucer on the engine, entered +the dry-house, and closed the door. In the stifling air +he began pouring seed from beautiful, big willow plates +to the old white ones. + +``About the time I have ruined you,'' he said to a white +plate, ``some one will pop up and discover that the art +of making you is lost and you are priceless, and I'll have +been guilty of another blunder. Now there are the +dishes mother got with baking powder. She thought +they were grand. I know plenty well she prized them +more than these blue ones or she wouldn't have saved +them and used these for every day. There they set, +all so carefully taken care of, and the Girl doesn't even +look at them. Thank Heaven, there are the four remaining +plates all right, anyway! Now I've got seed in some +of the saucers; one is there; where on earth is the last one? +And where, oh unkind fates! are the cups?'' + +He found more saucers and set them with the plates. +As he passed the engine he noticed the saucer on it was +bubbling grease, literally exuding it from the particles +of clay. + +``Hooray!'' cried the Harvester. He took it up, but +it was so hot he dropped it. With a deft sweep he caught +it in air, and shoved it on a tray. Then he danced and +blew on his burned hand. Snatching out his handkerchief +he rubbed off all the grease, and imagined the saucer +was brighter. + +``If `a little is good, more is better,' '' quoted the +Harvester. + +Wadding the handkerchief he returned the saucer to +the engine. Then he slipped out, dripping perspiration, +glanced toward the cabin, and ran into the work room. +The first object he saw was a willow cup half full of red +paint, stuck and dried as if to remain forever. He took +his knife and tried to whittle it off, but noticing that he +was scratching the cup he filled it with turpentine, set +it under a work bench, turned a tin pan over it, and +covered it with shavings. A few steps farther brought one +in sight, filled with carpet tacks. He searched everywhere, +but could find no more, so he went to the laboratory. +Beside his wash bowl at the door stood the last +willow saucer. He had used it for years as a soap dish. +He scraped the contents on the bench and filled the dish +with water. Four cups held medicinal seeds and were in +good condition. He lacked one, although he could not +remember of ever having broken it. Gathering his +collection, he returned to the dry-house to see how the +saucer was coming on. Again it was bubbling, and he +polished off the grease and set back the dish. It certainly +was growing better. He carried his treasures into the +work room, and went to the barn to feed. As he was +leaving the stable he uttered a joyous exclamation and +snatched from a window sill a willow cup, gummed and +smeared with harness oil. + +``The full set, by hokey!'' marvelled the Harvester. +``Say, Betsy, the only name for this is luck! Now if +I only can clean them, I'll be ready to make her tea table, +whatever that is. My I hope she will stay away until +I get these in better shape!'' + +He filled the last cup with turpentine, set it with the +other under the work bench, stacked the remaining pieces, +polished the saucer he was baking, and went to bring a +dish pan and towel. He drew some water from the pipes +of the evaporator, put in the soap, and carried it to the +work room. There he carefully washed and wiped all +the pieces, save two cups and one saucer. He did not +know how long it would require to bake the grease from +that, but he was sure it was improving. He thought he +could clean the paint cup, but he imagined the harness +oil one would require baking also. + +As he stood busily working over the dishes, with light +step the Girl came to the door. She took one long look +and understood. She turned and swiftly went back to +the cabin, but her shoulders were shaking. Presently +the Harvester came in and explained that after finishing +in the dry-house he had gone to do the feeding. Then he +suggested that before it grew dark they should go through +the rooms and see how they appeared, and gather the +flowers the Girl wanted. So together they decided everything +was clean, comfortable, and harmonized. + +Then they went to the hillside sloping to the lake. For +the dining-room, the Girl wanted yellow water lilies, so +the Harvester brought his old boat and gathered enough +to fill the green bowl. For the living-room, she used wild +ragged robins in the blue bowl, and on one end of the +mantel set a pitcher of saffron and on the other arrowhead +lilies. For her room, she selected big, blushy +mallows that grew all along Singing Water and around +the lake. + +``Isn't that slightly peculiar?'' questioned the Harvester. + +``Take a peep,'' said the Girl, opening her door. + +She had spread the pink coverlet on her couch, and +when she set the big pink bowl filled with mallows on the +table the effect was exquisite. + +``I think perhaps that's a little Frenchy,'' she said, +``and you may have to be educated to it; but salmon +pink and buttercup yellow are colours I love in combination.'' + +She closed the door and went to find something to +eat, and then to the swing, where she liked to rest, look, +and listen. The Harvester suggested reading to her, but +she shook her head. + +``Wait until winter,'' she said, ``when the days are +longer and cold, and the snow buries everything, and +then read. Now tell me about my hedge and the things +you have planted in it.'' + +The Harvester went out and collected a bunch of twigs. +He handed her a big, evenly proportioned leaf of ovate +shape, and explained: ``This is burning bush, so called +because it has pink berries that hang from long, graceful +stems all winter, and when fully open they expose a +flame-red seed pod. It was for this colour on gray and +white days that I planted it. In the woods I grow it in +thickets. The root bark brings twenty cents a pound, +at the very least. It is good fever medicine.'' + +``Is it poison?'' + +``No. I didn't set anything acutely poisonous in +your hedge. I wanted it to be a mass of bloom you were +free to cut for the cabin all spring, an attraction to birds +in summer, and bright with colour in winter. To draw +the feathered tribe, I planted alder, wild cherry, and +grape-vines. This is cherry. The bark is almost as +beautiful as birch. I raise it for tonics and the birds +love the cherries. This fern-like leaf is from mountain +ash, and when it attains a few years' growth it will flame +with colour all winter in big clusters of scarlet berries. +That I grow in the woods is a picture in snow time, and +the bark is one of my standard articles.'' + +The Girl raised on her elbow and looked at the hedge. + +``I see it,'' she said. ``The berries are green now. I +suppose they change colour as they ripen.'' + +``Yes,'' said the Harvester. ``And you must not +confuse them with sumac. The leaves are somewhat similar, +but the heads differ in colour and shape. The sumac and +buckeye you must not touch, until we learn what they +will do to you. To some they are slightly poisonous, to +others not. I couldn't help putting in a few buckeyes +on account of the big buds in early spring. You will +like the colour if you are fond of pink and yellow in +combination, and the red-brown nuts in grayish-yellow, +prickly hulls, and the leaf clusters are beautiful, but you +must use care. I put in witch hazel for variety, and I +like its appearance; it's mighty good medicine, too; so +is spice brush, and it has leaves that colour brightly, and +red berries. These selections were all made for a purpose. +Now here is wafer ash; it is for music as well as medicine. +I have invoked all good fairies to come and dwell in this +hedge, and so I had to provide an orchestra for their +dances. This tree grows a hundred tiny castanets in a +bunch, and when they ripen and become dry the wind +shakes fine music from them. Yes, they are medicine; +that is, the bark of the roots is. Almost without +exception everything here has medicinal properties. The +tulip poplar will bear you the loveliest flowers of all, +and its root bark, taken in winter, makes a good fever +remedy.'' + +``How would it do to eat some of the leaves and see +if they wouldn't take the feverishness from me?'' + +``It wouldn't do at all,'' said the Harvester. ``We +are well enough fixed to allow Doc to come now, and he +is the one to allay the fever.'' + +``Oh no!'' she cried. ``No! I don't want to see a +doctor. I will be all right very soon. You said I was +better.'' + +``You are,'' said the Harvester. ``Much better! We +will have you strong and well soon. You should have +come in time for a dose of sassafras. Your hedge is +filled with that, because of its peculiar leaves and odour. +I put in dogwood for the white display around the little +green bloom, lots of alder for bloom and berries, haws +for blossoms and fruit for the squirrels, wild crab apples +for the exquisite bloom and perfume, button bush for the +buttons, a few pokeberry plants for the colour, and I +tried some mallows, but I doubt if it's wet enough for +them. I set pecks of vine roots, that are coming nicely, +and ferns along the front edge. Give it two years and +that hedge will make a picture that will do your eyes +good.'' + +``Can you think of anything at all you forgot?'' + +``Yes indeed!'' said the Harvester. ``The woods are +full of trees I have not used; some because I overlooked +them, some I didn't want. A hedge like this, in +perfection, is the work of years. Some species must be cut +back, some encouraged, but soon it will be lovely, and +its colour and fruit attract every bird of the heavens +and butterflies and insects of all varieties. I set several +common cherry trees for the robins and some blackberry +and raspberry vines for the orioles. The bloom is pretty +and the birds you'll have will be a treat to see and hear, +if we keep away cats, don't fire guns, scatter food, and +move quietly among them. With our water attractions +added, there is nothing impossible in the way of making +friends with feathered folk.'' + +``There is one thing I don't understand,'' said the Girl. +``You wouldn't risk breaking the wing of a moth by keeping +it when you wanted a drawing very much; you don't +seem to kill birds and animals that other people do. You +almost worship a tree; now how can you take a knife +and peel the bark to sell or dig up beautiful bushes by +the root.'' + +``Perhaps I've talked too much about the woods,'' +said the Harvester gently. ``I've longed inexpressibly +for sympathetic company here, because I feel rooted for +life, so I am more than anxious that you should care for +it. I may have made you feel that my greatest interest +is in the woods, and that I am not consistent when I +call on my trees and plants to yield of their store for my +purposes. Above everything else, the human proposition +comes first, Ruth. I do love my trees, bushes, +and flowers, because they keep me at the fountain of life, +and teach me lessons no book ever hints at; but above +everything come my fellow men. All I do is for them. +My heart is filled with feeling for the things you see +around you here, but it would be joy to me to uproot +the most beautiful plant I have if by so doing I could +save you pain. Other men have wives they love as well, +little children they have fathered, big bodies useful to +the world, that are sometimes crippled with disease. +There is nothing I would not give to allay the pain of +humanity. It is not inconsistent to offer any growing +thing you soon can replace, to cure suffering. Get that +idea out of your head! You said you could worship at +the shrine of the pokeberry bed, you feel holier before +the arrowhead lilies, your face takes on an appearance of +reverence when you see pink mallow blooms. Which +of them would you have hesitated a second in uprooting +if you could have offered it to subdue fever or pain in the +body of the little mother you loved?'' + +``Oh I see!'' cried the Girl. ``Like everything else +you make this different. You worship all this beauty +and grace, wrought by your hands, but you carry your +treasure to the market place for the good of suffering +humanity. Oh Man! I love the work you do!'' + +``Good!'' cried the Harvester. ``Good! And Ruth- +girl, while you are about it, see if you can't combine the +man and his occupation a little.'' + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +GRANNY MORELAND'S VISIT + +The following morning the Girl was awakened by +wheels on the gravel outside her window, and +lifted her head to see Betsy passing with a load +of lumber. Shortly afterward the sound of hammer +and saw came to her, and she knew that Singing Water +bridge was being roofed to provide shade for her. She +dressed and went to the kitchen to find a dainty breakfast +waiting, so she ate what she could, and then washed the +dishes and swept. By that time she was so tired she +dropped on a dining-room window seat, and lay looking +toward the bridge. She could catch glimpses of the +Harvester as he worked. She watched his deft ease in +handling heavy timbers, and the assurance with which +he builded. Sometimes he stood and with tilted head +studied his work a minute, then swiftly proceeded. He +placed three tree trunks on each side for pillars, laid +joists across, formed his angle, and nailed boards as a +foundation for shingling. Occasionally he glanced toward +the cabin, and finally came swinging up the drive. He +entered the kitchen softly, but when he saw the Girl +in the window he sat at her feet. + +``Oh but this is a morning, Ruth!'' he said. + +She looked at him closely. He radiated health and +good cheer. His tanned cheeks were flushed red with +exercise, and the hair on his temples was damp. + +``You have been breaking the rules,'' he said. ``It +is the law that I am to do the work until you are well +and strong again. Why did you tire yourself?'' + +``I am so perfectly useless! I see so many things that +I would enjoy doing. Oh you can do everything else, +make me well! Make me strong!'' + +``How can I, when you won't do as I tell you?'' + +``I will! Indeed I will!'' + +``Then no more attempts to stand over dishes and +clean big floors. You mustn't overwork yourself at +anything. The instant you feel in the least tired you must +lie down and rest.'' + +``But Man! I'm tired every minute, with a dead, dull +ache, and I don't feel as if I ever would be rested again +in all the world.'' + +The Harvester took one of her hands, felt its fevered +palm, fluttering wrist pulse, and noticed that the brilliant +red of her lips had extended to spots on her cheeks. He +formed his resolution. + +``Can't work on that bridge any more until I drive +in for some big nails,'' he said. ``Do you mind being +left alone for an hour?'' + +``Not at all, if Bel will stay with me. I'll lie in the +swing.'' + +``All right!'' answered the Harvester. ``I'll help you +out and to get settled. Is there anything you want +from town?'' + +``No, not a thing!'' + +``Oh but you are modest!'' cried the Harvester. ``I +can sit here and name fifty things I want for you.'' + +``Oh but you are extravagant!'' imitated the Girl. +``Please, please, Man, don't! Can't you see I have so +much now I don't know what to do with it? Sometimes +I almost forget the ache, just lying and looking at all the +wonderful riches that have come to me so suddenly. +I can't believe they won't vanish as they came. By +the hour in the night I look at my lovely room, and I +just fight my eyes to keep them from closing for fear +they'll open in that stifling garret to the heat of day and +work I have not strength to do. I know yet all this will +prove to be a dream and a wilder one than yours.'' + +The face of the Harvester was very anxious. + +``Please to remember my dream came true,'' he said, +``and much sooner than I had the least hope that it would. +I'm wide awake or I couldn't be building bridges; and +you are real, if I know flesh and blood when I touch +it.'' + +``If I were well, strong, and attractive, I could +understand,'' she said. ``Then I could work in the house, at +the drawings, help with the herbs, and I'd feel as if I +had some right to be here.'' + +``All that is coming,'' said the Harvester. ``Take +a little more time. You can't expect to sin steadily +against the laws of health for years, and recover in a +day. You will be all right much sooner than you think +possible.'' + +``Oh I hope so!'' said the Girl. ``But sometimes I +doubt it. How I could come here and put such a burden +on a stranger, I can't see. I scarcely can remember what +awful stress drove me. I had no courage. I should +have finished in my garret as my mother did. I must +have some of my father's coward blood in me. She +never would have come. I never should!'' + +``If it didn't make any real difference to you, and meant +all the world to me, I don't see why you shouldn't humour +me. I can't begin to tell you how happy I am to have +you here. I could shout and sing all day.'' + +``It requires very little to make some people happy.'' + +``You are not much, but you are going to be more +soon,'' laughed the Harvester, as he gently picked up +the Girl and carried her to the swing, where he covered +her, kissed her hot hand, and whistled for Belshazzar. +He pulled the table close and set a pitcher of iced fruit +juice on it. Then he left her and she could hear the rattle +of wheels as he crossed the bridge and drove away. + +``Betsy, this is mighty serious business,'' said the +Harvester. ``The Girl is scorching or I don't know fever. +I wonder----well, one thing is sure----she is bound to +be better off in pure, cool air and with everything I can +do to be kind, than in Henry Jameson's attic with +everything he could do to be mean. Pleasant men those +Jamesons! Wonder if the Girl's father was much like +her Uncle Henry? I think not or her refined and lovely + +mother never would have married him. Come to think +of it, that's no law, Betsy. I've seen beautiful and +delicate women fall under some mysterious spell, and +yoke their lives with rank degenerates. Whatever he +was, they have paid the price. Maybe the wife deserved +it, and bore it in silence because she knew she did, but +it's bitter hard on Ruth. Girls should be taught to think +at least one generation ahead when they marry. I +wonder what Doc will say, Betsy? He will have to come +and see for himself. I don't know how she will feel about +that. I had hoped I could pull her through with care, +food, and tonics, but I don't dare go any farther alone. +Betsy, that's a thin, hot, little hand to hold a man's +only chance for happiness.'' + +``Well, bridegroom! I've been counting the days!'' +said Doctor Carey. ``The Missus and I made it up this +morning that we had waited as long as we would. We +are coming to-night. David'' + +``It's all right, Doc,'' said the Harvester. ``Don't +you dare think anything is wrong or that I am not the +proudest, happiest man in this world, because I appear +anxious. I am not trying to conceal it from you. You +know we both agreed at first that Ruth should be in the +hospital, Doc. Well, she should! She is what would +be a lovely woman if she were not full of the poison of +wrong food and air, overwork, and social conditions that +have warped her. She is all I dreamed of and more, +but I've come for you. She is too sick for me. I hoped +she would begin to gain strength at once on changed +conditions. As yet I can't see any difference. She needs +a doctor, but I hate for her to know it. Could you come +out this afternoon, and pretend as if it were a visit? +Bring Mrs. Carey and watch the Girl. If you need an +examination, I think she will obey me. If you can avoid +it, fix what she should have and send it back to me +by a messenger. I don't like to leave her when she is +so ill.'' + +``I'll come at once, David.'' + +``Then she will know that I came for you, and that +will frighten her. You can do more good to wait until +afternoon, and pretend you are making a social call. +I must go now. I'd have brought her in, but I have no +proper conveyance yet. I'm promised something soon, +perhaps it is ready now. Good-bye! Be sure to come!'' + +The Harvester drove to a livery barn and examined a +little horse, a shining black creature that seemed gentle +and spirited. He thought favourably of it. A few days +before he had selected a smart carriage, and with this +outfit tied behind the wagon he returned to Medicine +Woods. He left the horse at the bridge, stabled Betsy, +and then returned for the new conveyance, driving it +to the hitching post. At the sound of unexpected wheels +the Girl lifted her head and stared at the turnout. + +``Come on!'' cried the Harvester opening the screen. +``We are going to the woods to initiate your carriage.'' + +She went with little cries of surprised wonder. + +``This is how you travel to Onabasha to do your shopping, +to call on Mrs. Carey and the friends you will +make, and visit the library. When I've tried out Mr. +Horse enough to prove him reliable as guaranteed, he +is yours, for your purposes only, and when you grow +wonderfully well and strong, we'll sell him and buy you a +real live horse and a stanhope, such as city ladies have; +and there must be a saddle so that you can ride.'' + +``Oh I'd love that!'' cried the Girl. ``I always wanted +to ride! Where are we going?'' + +``To show you Medicine Woods,'' said the Harvester. +``I've been waiting for this. You see there are several +hundred acres of trees, thickets, shrubs, and herb beds +up there, and if the wagon road that winds between +them were stretched straight it would be many miles in +length, so we have a cool, shaded, perfumed driveway +all our own. Let me get you a drink before you start +and the little shawl. It's chilly there compared with +here. Now are you comfortable and ready?'' + +``Yes,'' said the Girl. ``Hurry! I've just longed +to go, but I didn't like to ask.'' + +``I am sorry,'' said the Harvester. ``Living here for +years alone and never having had a sister, how am I +going to know what a girl would like if you don't tell +me? I knew it would be too tiresome for you to walk, +and I was waiting to find a reliable horse and a suitable +carriage.'' + +``You won't scratch or spoil it up there?'' + +``I'll lower the top. It is not as wide as the wagon, +so nothing will touch it.'' + +``This is just so lovely, and such a wonderful treat, do +you observe that I'm not saying a word about extravagance?'' +asked the Girl, as she leaned back in the carriage +and inhaled the invigorating wood air. + +The horse climbed the hill, and the Harvester guided +him down long, dim roads through deep forest, while +he explained what large thickets of bushes were, why he +grew them, how he collected the roots or bark, for what +each was used and its value. On and on they went, +the way ahead always appearing as if it were too narrow +to pass, yet proving amply wide when reached. Excited +redbirds darted among the bushes, and the Harvester +answered their cry. Blackbirds protested against +the unusual intrusion of strange objects, and a brown +thrush slipped from a late nest close the road wailing in +anxiety. + +One after another the Harvester introduced the Girl +to the best trees, speculated on their age, previous history, +and pointed out which brought large prices for +lumber and which had medicinal bark and roots. On +and on they slowly drove through the woods, past the +big beds of cranesbill, violets, and lilies. He showed her +where the mushrooms were most numerous, and for the +first time told the story of how he had sold them and the +violets from door to door in Onabasha in his search for +her, and the amazed Girl sat staring at him. He told +of Doctor Carey having seen her once, and inquired +as they passed the bed if the yellow violets had revived. +He stopped to search and found a few late ones, deep +among the leaves. + +``Oh if I only had known that!'' cried the Girl, ``I would +have kept them forever.'' + +``No need,'' said the Harvester. ``Here and now I +present you with the sole ownership of the entire white +and yellow violet beds. Next spring you shall fill your +room. Won't that be a treat?'' + +``One money never could buy!'' cried the Girl. + +``Seems to be my strong point,'' commented the +Harvester. ``The most I have to offer worth while is +something you can't buy. There is a fine fairy platform. +They can spare you one. I'll get it.'' + +The Harvester broke from a tree a large fan-shaped +fungus, the surface satin fine, the base mossy, and +explained to the Girl that these were the ballrooms of the +woods, the floors on which the little people dance in +the moonlight at their great celebrations. Then he +added a piece of woolly dog moss, and showed her how +each separate spine was like a perfect little evergreen +tree. + +``That is where the fairies get their Christmas pines,'' +he explained. + +``Do you honestly believe in fairies?'' + +``Surely!'' exclaimed the Harvester. ``Who would +tell me when the maples are dripping sap, and the mushrooms +springing up, if the fairies didn't whisper in the +night? Who paints the flower faces, colours the leaves, +enamels the ripening fruit with bloom, and frosts the +window pane to let me know that it is time to prepare +for winter? Of course! They are my friends and +everyday helpers. And the winds are good to me. +They carry down news when tree bloom is out, when +the pollen sifts gold from the bushes, and it's time to +collect spring roots. The first bluebird always brings +me a message. Sometimes he comes by the middle of +February, again not until late March. Always on his +day, Belshazzar decides my fate for a year. Six years +we've played that game; now it is ended in blessed reality. +In the woods and at my work I remain until I die, with +a few outside tries at medicine making. I am putting +up some compounds in which I really have faith. Of +course they have got to await their time to be tested, but +I believe in them. I have grown stuff so carefully, +gathered it according to rules, washed it decently, and +dried and mixed it with such scrupulous care. Night +after night I've sat over the books until midnight and +later, studying combinations; and day after day I've +stood in the laboratory testing and trying, and two or three +will prove effective, or I've a disappointment coming.'' + +``You haven't wasted time! I'd much rather take +medicines you make than any at the pharmacies. Several +times I've thought I'd ask you if you wouldn't give me +some of yours. The prescription Doctor Carey sent +does no good. I've almost drunk it, and I am constantly +tired, just the same. You make me something from +these tonics and stimulants you've been telling me about. +Surely you can help me!'' + +``I've got one combination that's going to save life, +in my expectations. But Ruth, it never has been tried, +and I couldn't experiment on the very light of my eyes +with it. If I should give you something and you'd +grow worse as a result--I am a strong man, my girl, +but I couldn't endure that. I'd never dare. But +dear, I am expecting Carey and his wife out any time; +probably they will come to-day, it's so beautiful; and +when they do, for my sake, won't you talk with him, tell +him exactly what made you ill, and take what he gives +you? He's a great man. He was recently President +of the National Association of Surgeons. Long ago he +abandoned general practice, but he will prescribe for you; +all his art is at your command. It's quite an honour, +Ruth. He performs all kinds of miracles, and saves +life every day. He had not seen you, and what he gave +me was only by guess. He may not think it is the right +thing at all after he meets you.'' + +``Then I am really ill?'' + +``No. You only have the germs of illness in your blood, +and if you will help me that much we can eliminate +them; and then it is you for housekeeper, with first assistant +in me, the drawing tools, paint box, and all the woods +for subjects. So, as I was going to tell you, Belshazzar +and I have played our game for the last time. That +decision was ultimate. Here I will work, live, and die. +Here, please God, strong and happy, you shall live with +me. Ruth, you have got to recover quickly. You will +consult the doctor?'' + +``Yes, and I wish he would hurry,'' said the Girl. +``He can't make me new too soon to suit me. If I had +a strong body, oh Man, I just feel as if you could find a +soul somewhere in it that would respond to all these +wonders you have brought me among. Oh! make me well, +and I'll try as woman never did before to bring you +happiness to pay for it.'' + +``Careful now,'' warned the Harvester. ``There is +to be no talk of obligations between you and me. +Your presence here and your growing trust in me are all +I ask at the hands of fate at present. Long ago I learned +to `labour and to wait.' By the way----here's my +most difficult labour and my longest wait. This is the +precious gingseng bed.'' + +``How pretty!'' exclaimed the Girl. + +Covering acres of wood floor, among the big trees, +stretched the lacy green carpet. On slender, upright +stalks waved three large leaves, each made up of five +stemmed, ovate little leaves, round at the base, sharply +pointed at the tip. A cluster of from ten to twenty small +green berries, that would turn red later, arose above. +The Harvester lifted a plant to show the Girl that the +Chinese name, Jin-chen, meaning man-like, originated +because the divided root resembled legs. Away through +the woods stretched the big bed, the growth waving +lightly in the wind, the peculiar odour filling the air. + +``I am going to wait to gather the crop until the seeds +are ripe,'' said the Harvester, ``then bury some as I +dig a root. My father said that was the way of the +Indians. It's a mighty good plan. The seeds are +delicate, and difficult to gather and preserve properly. +Instead of collecting and selling all of them to start rivals +in the business, I shall replant my beds. I must find +a half dozen assistants to harvest this crop in that way, +and it will be difficult, because it will come when my +neighbours are busy with corn.'' + +``Maybe I can help you.'' + +``Not with ginseng digging,'' laughed the Harvester. +``That is not woman's work. You may sit in an especially +attractive place and boss the job.'' + +``Oh dear!'' cried the Girl. ``Oh dear! I want to +get out and walk.'' + +Gradually they had climbed the summit of the hill, +descended on the other side, and followed the road through +the woods until they reached the brier patches, fruit +trees; and the garden of vegetables, with big beds of sage, +rue, wormwood, hoarhound, and boneset. From there +to the lake sloped the sunny fields of mullein and catnip, +and the earth was molten gold with dandelion creeping +everywhere. + +``Too hot to-day,'' cautioned the Harvester. ``Too +rough walking. Wait until fall, and I have a treat +there for you. Another flower I want you to love because +I do.'' + +``I will,'' said the Girl promptly. ``I feel it in my +heart.'' + +``Well I am glad you feel something besides the ache +of fever,'' said the Harvester. Then noticing her tired +face he added: ``Now this little horse had quite a trip +from town, and the wheels cut deeply into this woods +soil and make difficult pulling, so I wonder if I had not +better put him in the stable and let him become +acquainted with Betsy. I don't know what she will think. +She has had sole possession for years. Maybe she will be +jealous, perhaps she will be as delighted for company +as her master. Ruth, if you could have heard what +I said to Belshazzar when he decided I was to go courting +this year, and seen what I did to him, and then take +a look at me now----merciful powers, I hope the +dog doesn't remember! If he does, no wonder he forms a +new allegiance so easily. Have you observed that lately +when I whistle, he starts, and then turns back to see if +you want him? He thinks as much of you as he does of +me right now.'' + +``Oh no!'' cried the Girl. ``That couldn't be possible. +You told me I must make friends with him, so I have +given him food, and tried to win him.'' + +``You sit in the carriage until I put away the horse, +and then I'll help you to the cabin, and save you being +alone while I work. Would you like that?'' + +``Yes.'' + +She leaned her head against the carriage top the +Harvester had raised to screen her, and watched him +stable the horse. Evidently he was very fond of animals +for he talked as if it were a child he was undressing and +kept giving it extra strokes and pats as he led it away. +Ajax disliked the newcomer instantly, noticed the carriage +and the woman's dress, and screamed his ugliest. +The Girl smiled. As the Harvester appeared she inquired, +``Is Ajax now sending a wireless to Ceylon asking +for a mate?'' + +The Harvester looked at her quizzically and saw a +gleam of mischief in the usually dull dark eyes that +delighted him. + +``That is the customary supposition when he finds +voice,'' he said. ``But since this has become your home, +you are bound to learn some of my secrets. One of them +I try to guard is the fact that Ajax has a temper. No +my dear, he is not always sending a wireless, I am sorry +to say. I wish he was! As a matter of fact he is venting +his displeasure at any difference in our conditions. He +hates change. He learned that from me. I will enjoy +seeing him come for favour a year from now, as I learned +to come for it, even when I didn't get much, and the road +lay west of Onabasha. Ajax, stop that! There's no +use to object. You know you think that horse is nice +company for you, and that two can feed you more than +one. Don't be a hypocrite! Cease crying things you +don't mean, and learn to love the people I do. Come +on, old boy!'' + +The peacock came, but with feathers closely pressed +and stepping daintily. As the bird advanced, the Harvester +retreated, until he stood beside the Girl, and then +he slipped some grain to her hand and she offered it. +But Ajax would not be coaxed. He was too fat and well +fed. He haughtily turned and marched away, screaming +at intervals. + +``Nasty temper!'' commented the Harvester. ``Never +mind! He soon will become accustomed to you, and then +he will love you as Belshazzar does. Feed the doves +instead. They are friendly enough in all conscience. +Do you notice that there is not a coloured feather among +them? The squab that is hatched with one you may +have for breakfast. Now let's go find something to eat, +and I will finish the bridge so you can rest there to-night +and watch the sun set on Singing Water.'' + +So they went into the cabin and prepared food, and +then the Harvester told the Girl to make herself so pretty +that she would be a picture and come and talk to him +while he finished the roof. She went to her room, found +a pale lavender linen dress and put it on, dusted the +pink powder thickly, and went where a wide bench made +an inviting place in the shade. There she sat and +watched her lightly expressed whim take shape. + +``Soon as this is finished,'' said the Harvester, ``I am +going to begin on that tea table. I can make it in a +little while, if you want it to match the other furniture.'' + +``I do,'' said the Girl. + +``Wonder if you could draw a plan showing how it +should appear. I am a little shy on tea tables.'' + +``I think I can.'' + +The Harvester brought paper, pencil, and a shingle +for a drawing pad. + +``Now remember one thing,'' he said. ``If you are +in earnest about using those old blue dishes, this has +got to be a big, healthy table. A little one will appear +top heavy with them. It would be a good idea to set +out what you want to use, arranged as you would like +them, and let me take the top measurement that way.'' + +``All right! I'll only indicate how its legs should be +and we will find the size later. I could almost weep +because that wonderful set is broken. If I had all of +it I'd be so proud!'' + +The Girl bent over the drawing. The Harvester +worked with his attention divided between her, the bridge, +and the road. At last he saw the big red car creeping up +the valley. + +``Seems to be some one coming, Ruth! Guess it must +be Doc. I'll go open the gate?'' + +``Yes,'' said the Girl. ``I'm so glad. You won't +forget to ask him to help me if he can?'' + +The Harvester wheeled hastily. ``I won't forget!'' +he said, as he hurried to the gate. The car ran slowly, +and the Girl could see him swing to the step and stand +talking as they advanced. When they reached her they +stopped and all of them came forward. She went to +meet them. She shook hands with Mrs. Carey and +then with the doctor. + +``I am so glad you have come,'' she said. + +``I hope you are not lonesome already,'' laughed the +doctor. + +``I don't think any one with brains to appreciate half +of this ever could become lonely here,'' answered the +Girl. ``No, it isn't that.'' + +``A-ha!'' cried the doctor, turning to his wife. ``You +see that the beautiful young lady remembers me, and has +been wishing I would come. I always said you didn't +half appreciate me. What a place you are making, +David! I'll run the car to the shade and join you.'' + +For a long time they talked under the trees, then they +went to see the new home and all its furnishings. + +``Now this is what I call comfort,'' said the doctor. +``David, build us a house exactly similar to this over +there on the hill, and let us live out here also. I'd love +it. Would you, Clara?'' + +``I don't know. I never lived in the country. One +thing is sure: If I tried it, I'd prefer this to any other +place I ever saw. David, won't you take me far enough +up the hill that I can look from the top to the lake?'' + +``Certainly,'' said the Harvester. ``Excuse us a little +while, Ruth!'' + +As soon as they were gone the Girl turned to the +doctor. + +``Doctor Carey, David says you are great. Won't +you exercise your art on me. I am not at all well, and +oh! I'd so love to be strong and sound.'' + +``Will you tell me,'' asked the doctor, ``just enough to +show me what caused the trouble?'' + +``Bad air and water, poor light and food at irregular +times, overwork and deep sorrow; every wrong condition +of life you could imagine, with not a ray of hope in the +distance, until now. For the sake of the Harvester, I +would be well again. Please, please try to cure me!'' + +So they talked until the doctor thought he knew all he +desired, and then they went to see the gold flower garden. + +``I call this simply superb,'' said he, taking a seat +beneath the tree roof of her porch. ``Young woman, I +don't know what I'll do to you if you don't speedily grow +strong here. This is the prettiest place I ever saw, +and listen to the music of that bubbling, gurgling little +creek!'' + +``Isn't he wonderful?'' asked the Girl, looking up the +hill, where the tall form of the Harvester could be seen +moving around. ``Just to see him, you would think +him the essence of manly strength and force. And he is! +So strong! Into the lake at all hours, at the dry-house, +on the hill, grubbing roots, lifting big pillars to support a +bridge roof, and with it all a fancy as delicate as any +dreaming girl. Doctor, the fairies paint the flowers, +colour the fruit, and frost the windows for him; and the +winds carry pollen to tell him when his growing things +are ready for the dry-house. I don't suppose I can tell +you anything new about him; but isn't he a perpetual +surprise? Never like any one else! And no matter how +he startles me in the beginning, he always ends by +convincing me, at least, that he is right.'' + +``I never loved any other man as I do him,'' said the +doctor. ``I ushered him into the world when I was a +young man just beginning to practise, and I've known +him ever since. I know few men so scrupulously clean. +Try to get well and make him happy, Mrs. Langston. +He so deserves it.'' + +``You may be sure I will,'' answered the Girl. + +After the visitors had gone, the Harvester told her to +place the old blue dishes as she would like to arrange +them on her table, so he could get a correct idea of the +size, and he left to put a few finishing strokes on the +bridge cover. She went into the dining-room and opened +the china closet. She knew from her peep in the work- +room that there would be more pieces than she had seen +before; but she did not think or hope that a full half dozen +tea set and plates, bowl, platter, and pitcher would be +waiting for her. + +``Why Ruth, what made you tire yourself to come +down? I intended to return in a few minutes.'' + +``Oh Man!'' cried the laughing Girl, as she clung +pantingly to a bridge pillar for support, ``I just had to +come to tell you. There are fairies! Really truly ones! +They have found the remainder of the willow dishes for +me, and now there are so many it isn't going to be a table +at all. It must be a little cupboard especially for them, +in that space between the mantel and the bookcase. +There should be a shining brass tea canister, and a wafer +box like the arts people make, and I'll pour tea and tend +the chafing dish and you can toast the bread with a long +fork over the coals, and we will have suppers on the +living-room table, and it will be such fun.'' + +``Be seated!'' cried the Harvester. ``Ruth, that's the +longest speech I ever heard you make, and it sounded, +praise the Lord, like a girl. Did Doc say he would fix +something for you?'' + +``Yes, such a lot of things! I am going to shut my eyes +and open my mouth and swallow all of them. I'm going +to be born again and forget all I ever knew before I came +here, and soon I will be tagging you everywhere, begging +you to suggest designs for my pencil, and I'll simply +force life to come right for you.'' + +The Harvester smiled. + +``Sounds good!'' he said. ``But, Ruth, I'm a little +dubious about force work. Life won't come right for +me unless you learn to love me, and love is a stubborn, +contrary bulldog element of our nature that won't be +driven an inch. It wanders as the wind, and strikes +us as it will. You'll arrive at what I hope for much +sooner if you forget it and amuse yourself and be as +happy as you can. Then, perhaps all unknown to you, +a little spark of tenderness for me will light in your breast; +and if it ever does we will buy a fanning mill and put it +in operation, and we'll raise a flame or know why.'' + +``And there won't be any force in that?'' + +``What you can't compel is the start. It's all right to +push any growth after you have something to work on.'' + +``That reminds me,'' said the Girl, ``there is a question +I want to ask you.'' + +``Go ahead!'' said the Harvester, glancing at her as he +hewed a joist. + +She turned away her face and sat looking across the +lake for a long time. + +``Is it a difficult question, Ruth?'' inquired the Harvester +to help her. + +``Yes,'' said the Girl. ``I don't know how to make +you see.'' + +``Take any kind of a plunge. I'm not usually dense.'' + +``It is really quite simple after all. It's about a +girl----a girl I knew very well in Chicago. She had a +problem----and it worried her dreadfully, and I just +wondered what you would think of it.'' + +The Harvester shifted his position so that he could +watch the side of the averted face. + +``You'll have to tell me, before I can tell you,'' he +suggested. + +``She was a girl who never had anything from life but +work and worry. Of course, that's the only kind I'd +know! One day when the work was most difficult, and +worry cut deepest, and she really thought she was losing +her mind, a man came by and helped her. He lifted her +out, and rescued all that was possible for a man to save +to her in honour, and went his way. There wasn't anything +more. Probably there never would be. His heart +was great, and he stooped and pitied her gently and +passed on. After a time another man came by, a good +and noble man, and he offered her love so wonderful she +hadn't brains to comprehend how or why it was.'' + +The Girl's voice trailed off as if she were too weary to +speak further, while she leaned her head against a pillar +and gazed with dull eyes across the lake. + +``And your question,'' suggested the Harvester at +last. + +She roused herself. ``Oh, the question! Why this---- +if in time, and after she had tried and tried, love to equal +his simply would not come would----would----she be +wrong to PRETEND she cared, and do the very best she could, +and hope for real love some day? Oh David, would +she?'' + +The Harvester's face was whiter than the Girl's. He +pounded the chisel into the joist savagely. + +``Would she, David?'' + +``Let me understand you clearly,'' said the man in a +dry, breathless voice. ``Did she love this first man to +whom she came under obligations?'' + +The Girl sat gazing across the lake and the tortured +Harvester stared at her. + +``I don't know,'' she said at last. ``I don't know +whether she knew what love was or ever could. She +never before had known a man; her heart was as undeveloped +and starved as her body. I don't think she realized +love, but there was a SOMETHING. Every time she +would feel most grateful and long for the love that was +offered her, that `something' would awake and hurt her +almost beyond endurance. Yet she knew he never would +come. She knew he did not care for her. I don't know +that she felt she wanted him, but she was under such +obligations to him that it seemed as if she must wait to +see if he might not possibly come, and if he did she +should be free.'' + +``If he came, she preferred him?'' + +``There was a debt she had to pay----if he asked it. +I don't know whether she preferred him. I do know she +had no idea that he would come, but the POSSIBILITY was +always before her. If he didn't come in time, would she +be wrong in giving all she had to the man who loved +her?'' + +The Harvester's laugh was short and sharp. + +``She had nothing to give, Ruth! Talk about worm- +wood, colocynth apples, and hemlock! What sort of +husks would that be to offer a man who gave honest +love? Lie to him! Pretend feeling she didn't experience. +Endure him for the sake of what he offered her? Well +I don't know how calmly any other man would take that +proceeding, Ruth, but tell your friend for me, that if I +offered a woman the deep, lasting, and only loving passion +of my heart, and she gave back a lie and indifferent lips, +I'd drop her into the deepest hole of my lake and take +my punishment cheerfully.'' + +``But if it would make him happy? He deserves +every happiness, and he need never know!'' + +The Harvester's laugh raised to an angry roar. + +``You simpleton!'' he cried roughly. ``Do you know +so little of human passion in the heart that you think +love can be a successful assumption? Good Lord, Ruth! +Do you think a man is made of wood or stone, that a +woman's lips in her first kiss wouldn't tell him the truth? +Why Girl, you might as well try to spread your tired arms +and fly across the lake as to attempt to pretend a love +you do not feel. You never could!'' + +``I said a girl I knew!'' + +`` `A Girl you knew,' then! Any woman! The idea +is monstrous. Tell her so and forget it. You almost +scared the life out of me for a minute, Ruth. I thought +it was going to be you. But I remember your debt is +to be paid with the first money you earn, and you can +not have the slightest idea what love is, if you honestly +ask if it can be simulated. No ma'am! It can't! Not +possibly! Not ever! And when the day comes that +its fires light your heart, you will come to me, and tell +of a flood of delight that is tingling from the soles of your +feet through every nerve and fibre of your body, and you +will laugh with me at the time when you asked if it could +be imitated successfully. No, ma'am! Now let me help +you to the cabin, serve a good supper, and see you eat +like a farmer.'' + +All evening the Harvester was so gay he kept the +Girl laughing and at last she asked him the cause. + +``Relief, honey! Relief!'' cried the man. ``You had +me paralyzed for a minute, Ruth. I thought you were +trying to tell me that there was some one so possessing +your heart that it failed every time you tried to think +about caring for me. If you hadn't convinced me before +you finished that love never has touched you, I'd be +the saddest man in the world to-night, Ruth.'' + +The Girl stared at him with wide eyes and silently +turned away. + +Then for a week they worked out life together in the +woods. The Harvester was the housekeeper and the +cook. He added to his store many delicious broths and +stimulants he brought from the city. They drove every +day through the cool woods, often rowed on the lake in +the evenings, walked up the hill to the oak and scattered +fresh flowers on the two mounds there, and sat beside +them talking for a time. The Harvester kept up his work +with the herbs, and the little closet for the blue dishes +was finished. They celebrated installing them by having +supper on the living-room table, with the teapot on one +end, and the pitcher full of bellflowers on the other. + +The Girl took everything prescribed for her, bathed, +slept all she could, and worked for health with all the +force of her frail being, and as the days went by it seemed +to the Harvester her weight grew lighter, her hands hotter, +and she drove herself to a gayety almost delirious. He +thought he would have preferred a dull, stupid sleep of +malaria. There was colour in plenty on her cheeks now, +and sometimes he found her wrapped in the white shawl +at noon on the warmest days Medicine Woods knew in +early August; and on cool nights she wore the thinnest +clothing and begged to be taken on the lake. The +Careys came out every other evening and the doctor +watched and worked, but he did not get the results he +desired. His medicines were not effective. + +``David,'' he said one evening, ``I don't like the looks +of this. Your wife has fever I can't break. It is eating +the little store of vitality she has right out of her, and +some of these days she is coming down with a crash. +She should yield to the remedies I am giving her. She +acts to me like a woman driven wild by trouble she is +concealing. Do you know anything that worries her?'' + +``No,'' said the Harvester, ``but I'll try to find out if +it will help you in your work.'' + +After they were gone he left the Girl lying in the +swing guarded by the dog, and went across the marsh +on the excuse that he was going to a bed of thorn apple +at the foot of the hill. There he sat on a log and tried +to think. With the mists of night rising around him, +ghosts arose he fain would have escaped. ``What will +you give me in cold cash to tell you who she is, and who +her people are?'' Times untold in the past two weeks +he had smothered, swallowed, and choked it down. +That question she had wanted to ask----was it for a +girl she had known, or was it for herself? Days of +thought had deepened the first slight impression he so +bravely had put aside, not into certainty, but a great +fear that she had meant herself. If she did, what was +he to do? Who was the man? There was a debt she had +to pay if he asked it? What debt could a woman pay +a man that did not involve money? Crouched on a log +he suffered and twisted in agonizing thought. At last +he arose and returned to the cabin. He carried a few +frosty, blue-green leaves of velvet softness and unusual +cutting, prickly thorn apples full of seeds, and some of +the smoother, more yellowish-green leaves of the jimson +weed, to give excuse for his absence. + +``Don't touch them,'' he warned as he came to her. +``They are poison and have disagreeable odour. But +we are importing them for medicinal purposes. On the +far side of the marsh, where the ground rises, there is a +waste place just suited to them, and so long as they will +seed and flourish with no care at all, I might as well have +the price as the foreign people who raise them. They +don't bring enough to make them worth cultivating, but +when they grow alone and with no care, I can make +money on the time required to clip the leaves and dry the +seeds. I must go wash before I come close to you.'' + +The next day he had business in the city, and again +she lay in the swing and talked to the dog while the +Harvester was gone. She was startled as Belshazzar arose +with a gruff bark. She looked down the driveway, +but no one was coming. Then she followed the dog's +eyes and saw a queer, little old woman coming up the +bank of Singing Water from the north. She remembered +what the Harvester had said, and rising she opened +the screen and went down the path. As the Girl +advanced she noticed the scrupulous cleanliness of +the calico dress and gingham apron, and the snowy hair +framing a bronzed face with dancing dark eyes. + +``Are you David's new wife?'' asked Granny Moreland +with laughing inflection. + +``Yes,'' said the Girl. ``Come in. He told me to +expect you. I am so sorry he is away, but we can get +acquainted without him. Let me help you.'' + +``I don't know but that ought to be the other way +about. You don't look very strong, child.'' + +``I am not well,'' said the Girl, ``but it's lovely here, +and the air is so fine I am going to be better soon. Take +this chair until you rest a little, and then you shall see +our pretty home, and all the furniture and my dresses.'' + +``Yes, I want to see things. My, but David has tried +himself! I heard he was just tearin' up Jack over here, +and I could get the sound of the hammerin', and one +day he asked me to come and see about his beddin'. +He had that Lizy Crofter to wash for him, but if I hadn't +jest stood over her his blankets would have been ruined. +She's no more respect for fine goods than a pig would +have for cream pie. I hate to see woollens abused, as +if they were human. My, but things is fancy here +since what David planted is growin'! Did you ever +live in the country before?'' + +``No.'' + +``Where do you hail from?'' + +``Well not from the direction of hail,'' laughed the +Girl. ``I lived in Chicago, but we were----were not +rich, and so I didn't know the luxury of the city; just the +lonely, difficult part.'' + +``Do you call Chicago lonely?'' + +``A thousand times more so than Medicine Woods. +Here I know the trees will whisper to me, and the water +laughs and sings all day, and the birds almost split their +throats making music for me; but I can imagine no loneliness +on earth that will begin to compare with being among +the crowds and crowds of a large city and no one has a +word or look for you. I miss the sea of faces and the roar +of life; at first I was almost wild with the silence, but now +I don't find it still any more; the Harvester is teaching +me what each sound means and they seem to be countless.'' + +``You think, then, you'll like it here?'' + +``I do, indeed! Any one would. Even more than +the beautiful location, I love the interesting part of the +Harvester's occupation. I really think that gathering +material to make medicines that will allay pain is the +very greatest of all the great work a man can do.'' + +``Good!'' cried Granny Moreland, her dark eyes +snapping. ``I've always said it! I've tried to encourage +David in it. And he's just capital at puttin' some of his +stuff in shape, and combinin' it in as good medicine as +you ever took. This spring I was all crippled up with +the rheumatiz until I wanted to holler every time I had +to move, and sometimes it got so aggravatin' I'm not +right sure but I done it. 'Long comes David and says, +`I can fix you somethin',' and bless you, if the boy didn't +take the tucks out of me, until here I am, and tickled +to pieces that I can get here. This time last year I didn't +care if I lived or not. Now seems as if I'm caperish +as a three weeks' lamb. I don't see how a man could +do a bigger thing than to stir up life in you like that.'' + +``I think this place makes an especial appeal to me, +because, shortly before I came, I had to give up my +mother. She was very ill and suffered horribly. Every +time I see David going to his little laboratory on the hill +to work a while I slip away and ask God to help him to +fix something that will ease the pain of humanity as +I should like to have seen her relieved.'' + +``Why you poor child! No wonder you are lookin' +so thin and peaked!'' + +``Oh I'll soon be over that,'' said the Girl. ``I am +much better than when I came. I'll be coming over to +trade pie with you before long. David says you are my +nearest neighbour, so we must be close friends.'' + +``Well bless your big heart! Now who ever heard +of a pretty young thing like you wantin' to be friends with +a plain old country woman?'' + +``Why I think you are lovely!'' cried the Girl. ``And +all of us are on the way to age, so we must remember +that we will want kindness then more than at any other +time. David says you knew his mother. Sometime won't +you tell me all about her? You must very soon. The +Harvester adored her, and Doctor Carey says she was the +noblest woman he ever knew. It's a big contract to +take her place. Maybe if you would tell me all you can +remember I could profit by much of it.'' + +Granny Moreland watched the Girl keenly. + +``She wa'ant no ordinary woman, that's sure,'' she +commented. ``And she didn't make no common man +out of her son, either. I've always contended she took +the job too serious, and wore herself out at it, but she +certainly done the work up prime. If she's above cloud +leanin' over the ramparts lookin' down----though it gets me +as to what foundation they use or where they get the +stuff to build the ramparts----but if they is ramparts, +and she's peekin' over them, she must take a lot of solid +satisfaction in seeing that David is not only the man she +fought and died to make him, but he's give her quite a +margin to spread herself on. She 'lowed to make him a +big man, but you got to know him close and plenty 'fore it +strikes you jest what his size is. I've watched him pretty +sharp, and tried to help what I could since Marthy went, +and I'm frank to say I druther see David happy than +to be happy myself. I've had my fling. The rest of +the way I'm willin' to take what comes, with the best +grace I can muster, and wear a smilin' face to betoken +the joy I have had; but it cuts me sore to see the young +sufferin'.'' + +``Do you think David is unhappy?'' asked the Girl +eagerly. + +``I don't see how he could be!'' cried the old lady. +``Of course he ain't! 'Pears as if he's got everythin' to +make him the proudest, best satisfied of men. I'll own I +was mighty anxious to see you. I know the kind o' +woman it would take to make David miserable, and it +seems sometimes as if men----that is good men----are +plumb, stone blind when it comes to pickin' a woman. +They jest hitch up with everlastin' misery easy as dew +rolling off a cabbage leaf. It's sech a blessed sight to +see you, and hear your voice and know you're the woman +anybody can see you be. Why I'm so happy when I +set here and con-tem'-plate you, I want to cackle like a +pullet announcin' her first egg. Ain't this porch the +purtiest place?'' + +``Come see everything,'' invited the Girl, rising. + +Granny Moreland followed with alacrity. + +``Bare floors!'' she cried. ``Wouldn't that best you? +I saw they was finished capital when I was over, but +I 'lowed they'd be covered afore you come. Don't you +like nice, flowery Brissels carpets, honey?'' + +``No I don't,'' said the Girl. ``You see, when rugs +are dusty they can be rolled, carried outside, and cleaned. +The walls can be wiped, the floors polished and that +way a house is always fresh. I can keep this shining, +germ proof, and truly clean with half the work and none +of the danger of heavy carpets and curtains.'' + +``I don't doubt but them is true words,'' said Granny +Moreland earnestly. ``Work must be easier and sooner +done than it was in my day, or people jest couldn't have +houses the size of this or the time to gad that women +have now. From the looks of tile streets of Onabasha, +you wouldn't think a woman 'ud had a baby to tend, a +dinner pot a-bilin', or a bakin' of bread sence the flood. +And the country is jest as bad as the city. We're a +apin' them to beat the monkeys at a show. I hardly +got a neighbour that ain't got figgered Brissels carpet, +a furnace, a windmill, a pianny, and her own horse and +buggy. Several's got autermobiles, and the young folks +are visitin' around a-ridin' the trolleys, goin' to college, +and copyin' city ways. Amos Peters, next to us; goes +bareheaded in the hay field, and wears gloves to pitch +and plow in. I tell him he reminds me of these city +women that only wears the lower half of a waist and no +sleeves, and a yard of fine goods moppin' the floors. +Well if that don't 'beat the nation! Ain't them Marthy's +old blue dishes?'' + +``Let me show you!'' The Girl opened the little +cupboard and exhibited the willow ware. The eyes of the +old woman began to sparkle. + +``Foundation or no foundation, I do hope them +ramparts is a go!'' she cried. ``If Marthy Langston is +squintin' over them and she sees her old chany put in a +fine cupboard, and her little shawl round as purty a girl +as ever stepped, and knows her boy is gittin' what he +deserves, good Lord, she'll be like to oust the Almighty, +and set on the throne herself! 'Bout everythin' in life +was a disappointment to her, 'cept David. Now if +she could see this! Won't I rub it into the neighbours? +And my boys' wives!'' + +``I don't understand,'' said the bewildered Girl. + +`` 'Course you don't, honey,'' explained the visitor. +``It's like this: I don't know anybody, man or woman, +in these parts, that ain't rampagin' for CHANGE. They +ain't one of them that would live in a log cabin, though +they's not a house in twenty miles of here that fits its +surroundin's and looks so homelike as this. They run +up big, fancy brick and frame things, all turns and +gables and gay as frosted picnic pie, and work and slave +to git these very carpets you say ain't healthy, and the +chairs you say you wouldn't give house room, an' they +use their grandmother's chany for bakin', scraps, and +grease dishes, and hide it if they's visitors. All of them +strainin' after something they can't afford, and that +ain't healthy when they git it, because somebody else +is doin' the same thing. Mary Peters says she is afeared +of her life in their new steam wagon, and she says Andy +gits so narvous runnin' it, he jest keeps on a-jerkin' and +drivin' all night, and she thinks he'll soon go to smash +himself, if the machine doesn't beat him. But they are +keepin' it up, because Graceston's is, and so it goes all +over the country. Now I call it a slap right in the face +to have a Chicagy woman come to the country to live +and enjoy a log cabin, bare floors, and her man's grandmother's +dishes. If there ain't Marthy's old blue coverlid +also carefully spread on a splinter new sofy. Landy, +I can't wait to get to my son John's! He's got a woman +that would take two coppers off the collection plate while +she was purtendin' to put on one, if she could, and then +spend them for a brass pin or a string of glass beads. +Won't her eyes bung when I tell her about this? She +wanted my Peter Hartman kiver for her ironin' board. +Show me the rest!'' + +``This is the dining-room,'' said the Girl, leading the +way. + +Granny Moreland stepped in and sent her keen eyes +ranging over the floor, walls, and furnishings. She sank +on a chair and said with a chuckle, ``Now you go on and +tell me all about it, honey. Jest what things are and why +you fixed them, and how they are used.'' + +The Girl did her best, and the old woman nodded in +delighted approval. + +``It's the purtiest thing I ever saw,'' she announced. +``A minute ago, I'd 'a' said them blue walls back there, +jest like October skies in Indian summer, and the brown +rugs, like leaves in the woods, couldn't be beat; but this +green and yaller is purtier yet. That blue room will +keep the best lookin' part of fall on all winter, and with +a roarin' wood fire, it'll be capital, and no mistake; but +this here is spring, jest spring eternal, an' that's best of +all. Looks like it was about time the leaves was bustin' +and things pushin' up. It wouldn't surprise me a mite +to see a flock of swallers come sailin' right through these +winders. And here's a place big enough to lay down +and rest a spell right handy to the kitchen, where a-body +gits tiredest, without runnin' a half mile to find a bed, +and in the mornin' you can look down to the `still waters'; +and in the afternoon, when the sun gits around here, you +can pull that blind and `lift your eyes to the hills,' like +David of the Bible says. My, didn't he say the purtiest +things! I never read nothin' could touch him!'' + +``Have you seen the Psalms arranged in verse as we +would write it now?'' + +``You don't mean to tell me David's been put into +real poetry?'' + +``Yes. Some Bibles have all the poetical books in +our forms of verse.'' + +``Well! Sometimes I git kind o' knocked out! As +a rule I hold to old ways. I think they're the healthiest +and the most faver'ble to the soul. But they's some +changes come along, that's got sech hard common-sense +to riccomend them, that I wonder the past generations +didn't see sooner. Now take this! An hour ago I'd +told you I'd read my father's Bible to the end of my +days. But if they's a new one that's got David, Solomon, +and Job in nateral form, I'll have one, and I'll git a joy +I never expected out of life. I ain't got so much poetry +in me, but it always riled me to read, `7. The law of +the Lord is perfect, covertin' the soul. 8. The statutes +of the Lord are right. 9. The fear of the Lord is clean.' +And so it goes on, 'bout as much figgers as they is poetry. +Always did worry me. So if they make Bibles 'cordin' +to common sense, I'll have one to-morrow if I have to +walk to Onabasha to get it. Lawsy me! if you ain't +gathered up Marthy's old pink tea set, and give it a +show, too! Did you do that to please David, or do you +honestly think them is nice dishes?'' + +``I think they are beautiful,'' laughed the Girl, sinking +to a chair. ``I don't know that it did please him. He +had been studying the subject, but something saved him +from buying anything until I came. I'd have felt dreadfully +if he had gotten what he wanted.'' + +``What did he want, honey?'' asked the old lady in an +awestruck whisper. + +``Egg-shell china and cut glass.'' + +``And you wouldn't let him! Woman! What do you +want?'' + +``A set of tulip-yellow dishes, with Dutch little figures +on them. They are so quaint and they would harmonize +perfectly with this room.'' + +The old lady laughed gleefully. + +``My! I wouldn't 'a' missed this for a dollar,'' she cried. +``It jest does my soul good. More'n that, if you really +like Marthy's dishes and are going to take care of them +and use them right, I'll give you mine, too. I ain't never +had a girl. I've always hoped she'd 'a' had some jedgment +of her own, and not been eternally apin', if I had, but +the Lord may 'a' saved me many a disappointment by +sendin' all mine boys. Not that I'm layin' the babies on +to the Lord at all----I jest got into the habit of sayin' +that, 'cos everybody else does, but all mine, I had a purty +good idy how I got them. If a girl of mine wouldn't +'a' had more sense, raised right with me, I'd' a' been purty +bad cut up over it. Of course, I can't be held responsible +for the girls my boys married, but t'other day Emmeline +----that's John's wife----John is the youngest, and I +sort o' cling to him----Emmeline she says to me, +`Mother, can't I have this old pink and green teapot?' My +heart warmed right up to the child, and I says, `What do +you want it for, Emmeline?' And she says, `To draw the +tea in.' Cracky Dinah! That fool woman meant to set +my grandmother's weddin' present from her pa and ma, +dishes same as Marthy Washington used, on the stove +to bile the tea in. I jest snorted! `No, says I, `you +can't! 'Fore I die,' says I, `I'll meet up with some +woman that 'll love dishes and know how to treat them.' +I think jest about as much of David as I do my own boys, +and I don't make no bones of the fact that he's a heap +more of a man. I'd jest as soon my dishes went to his +children as to John's. I'll give you every piece I got, +if you'll take keer of them.'' + +``Would it be right?'' wavered the girl. + +``Right! Why, I'm jest tellin' you the fool wimmen +would bile tea in them, make grease sassers of them, and +use them to dish up the bakin' on! Wouldn't you +a heap rather see them go into a cupboard like David's +ma's is in, where they'd be taken keer of, if they was +yours? I guess you would!'' + +``Well if you feel that way, and really want us to +have them, I know David will build another little cupboard +on the other side of the fireplace to put yours in, +and I can't tell you how I'd love and care for them.'' + +``I'll jest do it!'' said Granny Moreland. ``I got +about as many blue ones as Marthy had an' mine are +purtier than hers. And my lustre is brighter, for I +didn't use it so much. Is this the kitchen? Well if +I ever saw sech a cool, white place to cook in before! +Ain't David the beatenest hand to think up things? +He got the start of that takin' keer of his ma all his +life. He sort of learned what a woman uses, and how +it's handiest. Not that other men don't know; it's +jest that they are too mortal selfish and keerless to fix +things. Well this is great! Now when you bile cabbage +and the wash, always open your winders wide and let +tho steam out, so it won't spile your walls.'' + +``I'll be very careful,'' promised the Girl. ``Now come +see my bathroom, closet and bedroom.'' + +``Well as I live! Ain't this fine. I'll bet a purty +that if I'd 'a' had a room and a trough like this to soak in +when I was wore to a frazzle, I wouldn't 'a' got all twisted +up with rheumatiz like I am. It jest looks restful to +see. I never washed in a place like this in all my days. +Must feel grand to be wet all over at once! Now everybody +ought to have sech a room and use it at all hours, +like David does the lake. Did you ever see his beat to +go swimmin'? He's always in splashin'! Been at it +all his life. I used to be skeered when he was a little +tyke. He soaked so much 'peared like he'd wash all the +substance out of him, but it only made him strong.'' + +``Has he ever been ill?'' + +``Not that I know of, and I reckon I'd knowed it if +he had. Well what a clothespress! I never saw so +many dresses at once. Ain't they purty? Oh I wish +I was young, and could have one like that yaller. And +I'd like to have one like your lavender right now. My! +You are lucky to have so many nice clothes. It's a +good thing most girls haven't got them, or they'd stand +primpin' all day tryin' to decide which one to put on. +I don't see how you tell yourself.'' + +``I wear the one that best hides how pale I am,'' +answered the Girl. ``I use the colours now. When I +grow plump and rosy, I'll wear the white.'' + +Granny Moreland dropped on the couch and assured +herself that it was Martha's pink Peter Hartman. Then +she examined the sunshine room. + +``Well I got to go back to the start,'' she said at last. +``This beats the dinin'-room. This is the purtiest thing +I ever saw. Oh I do hope they ain't so run to white +in Heaven as some folks seem to think! Used to be +scandalized if a-body took anythin' but a white flower +to a funeral. Now they tell me that when Jedge Stilton's +youngest girl come from New York to her pa's +buryin' she fetched about a wash tub of blood-red roses. +Put them all over him, too! Said he loved red roses +livin' and so he was goin' to have them when he passed +over. Now if they are lettin' up a little on white on +earth, mebby some of the stylish ones will carry the +fashion over yander. If Heaven is like this, I won't spend +none of my time frettin' about the foundations. I'll +jest forget there is any, even if we do always have to be +so perticler to get them solid on earth. Talk of gold +harps! Can't you almost hear them? And listen to +the birds and that water! Say, you won't get lonesome +here, will you?'' + +``Indeed no!'' answered the Girl. ``Wouldn't you +like to lie on my beautiful couch that the Harvester made +with his own hands, and I'll spread Mother Langston's +coverlet over you and let you look at all my pretty things +while I slip away a few minutes to something I'd like +to do?'' + +``I'd love to!'' said the old woman. ``I never had a +chance at such fine things. David told me he was makin' +your room all himself, and that he was goin' to fill it +chuck full of everythin' a girl ever used, and I see he +done it right an' proper. Away last March he told me he +was buildin' for you, an' I hankered so to have a woman +here again, even though I never s'posed she'd be sochiable +like you, that I egged him on jest all I could. I +never would 'a' s'posed the boy could marry like this---- +all by himself.'' + +The Girl went to the ice chest to bring some of the +fruit juice, chilled berries, and to the pantry for bread and +wafers to make a dainty little lunch that she placed on +the veranda table; and then she and Granny Moreland +talked, until the visitor said that she must go. The +Girl went with her to the little bridge crossing Singing +Water on the north. There the old lady took her +hand. + +``Honey,'' she said, ``I'm goin' to tell you somethin'. +I am so happy I can purt near fly. Last night I was +comin' down the pike over there chasin' home a contrary +old gander of mine, and I looked over on your land and +I see David settin' on a log with his head between his +hands a lookin' like grim death, if I ever see it. My +heart plum stopped. Says I, `she's a failure! She's a +bustin' the boy's heart! I'll go straight over and tell +her so.' I didn't dare bespeak him, but I was on nettles +all night. I jest laid a-studyin' and a-studyin', and I +says, `Come mornin' I'll go straight and give her a curry- +combin' that'll do her good.' And I started a-feelin' +pretty grim, and here you came to meet me, and wiped +it all out of my heart in a flash. It did look like the boy +was grievin'; but I know now he was jest thinkin' up what +to put together to take the ache out of some poor old +carcass like mine. It never could have been about you. +Like a half blind old fool I thought the boy was sufferin', +and here he was only studyin'! Like as not he was thinkin' +what to do next to show you how he loves you. What +an old silly I was! I'll sleep like a log to-night to pay +up for it. Good-bye, honey! You better go back and +lay down a spell. You do look mortal tired.'' + +The Girl said good-bye and staggering a few steps +sank on a log and sat staring at the sky. + +``Oh he was suffering, and about me!'' she gasped. +A chill began to shake her and feverish blood to race +through her veins. ``He does and gives everything; I +do and give nothing! Oh why didn't I stay at Uncle +Henry's until it ended? It wouldn't have been so bad +as this. What will I do? Oh what will I do? Oh +mother, mother! if I'd only had the courage you did.'' + +She arose and staggered up the hill, passed the cabin +and went to the oak. There she sank shivering to earth, +and laid her face among the mosses. The frightened +Harvester found her at almost dusk when he came from +the city with the Dutch dishes, and helped a man launch +a gay little motor boat for her on the lake. + +``Why Ruth! Ruth-girl!'' he exclaimed, kneeling +beside her. + +She lifted a strained, distorted face. + +``Don't touch me! Don't come near me!'' she cried. +``It is not true that I am better. I am not! I am worse! +I never will be better. And before I go I've got to tell +you of the debt I owe; then you will hate me, and then I +will be glad! Glad, I tell you! Glad! When you despise +me? then I can go, and know that some day you will +love a girl worthy of you. Oh I want you to hate me +I am fit for nothing else.'' + +She fell forward sobbing wildly and the Harvester +tried in vain to quiet her. At last he said, ``Well then +tell me, Ruth. Remember I don't want to hear what +you have to say. I will believe nothing against you, not +even from your own lips, when you are feverish and +excited as now, but if it will quiet you, tell me and have +it over. See, I will sit here and listen, and when you +have finished I'll pick you up and carry you to your room, +and I am not sure but I will kiss you over and over. +What is it you want to tell me, Ruth?'' + +She sat up panting and pushed back the heavy coils +of hair. + +``I've got to begin away at the beginning to make you +see,'' she said. ``The first thing I can remember is a small, +such a small room, and mother sewing and sometimes +a man I called father. He was like Henry Jameson made +over tall and smooth, and more, oh, much more heartless! +He was gone long at a time, and always we had most to +eat, and went oftener to the parks, and were happiest +with him away. When I was big enough to understand, +mother told me that she had met him and cared for him +when she was an inexperienced girl. She must have +been very, very young, for she was only a girl as I first +remember her, and oh! so lovely, but with the saddest +face I ever saw. She said she had a good home and +every luxury, and her parents adored her; but they knew +life and men, and they would not allow him in their home, +and so she left it with him, and he married her and +tried to force them to accept him, and they would not. +At first she bore it. Later she found him out, and +appealed to them, but they were away or would not forgive, +and she was a proud thing, and would not beg more after +she had said she was wrong, and would they take her +back. + +``I grew up and we were girls together. We embroidered, +and I drew, and sometimes we had little treats +and good times, and my father did not come often, and +we got along the best we could. Always it was worse on +her, because she was not so strong as I, and her heart +was secretly breaking for her mother, and she was afraid +he would come back any hour. She was tortured that +she could not educate me more than to put me through +the high school. She wore herself out doing that, but +she was wild for me to be reared and trained right. So +every day she crouched over delicate laces and embroidery, +and before and after school I carried it and got +more, and in vacation we worked together. But living +grew higher, and she became ill, and could not work, +and I hadn't her skill, and the drawings didn't bring much, +and I'd no tools----'' + +``Ruth, for mercy sake let me take you in my arms. +If you've got to tell this to find peace, let me hold you +while you do it.'' + +``Never again,'' said the Girl. ``You won't want to +in a minute. You must hear this, because I can't bear +it any longer, and it isn't fair to let you grieve and think +me worth loving. Anyway, I couldn't earn what she did, +and I was afraid, for a great city is heartless to the poor. +One morning she fainted and couldn't get up. I can see +the awful look in her eyes now. She knew what was +coming. I didn't. I tried to be brave and to work. +Oh it's no use to go on with that! It was just worse and +worse. She was lovely and delicate, she was my mother, +and I adored her. Oh Man! You won't judge harshly?'' + +``No!'' cried the Harvester, ``I won't judge at all, +Ruth. I see now. Get it over if you must tell me.'' + +``One day she had been dreadfully ill for a long time +and there was no food or work or money, and the last +scrap was pawned, and she simply would not let me +notify the charities or tell me who or where her people +were. She said she had sinned against them and broken +their hearts, and probably they were dead, and I was +desperate. I walked all day from house to house where I +had delivered work, but it was no use; no one wanted anything +I could do, and I went back frantic, and found her +gnawing her fingers and gibbering in delirium. She did not +know me, and for the first time she implored me for food. + +``Then I locked the door and went on the street and I +asked a woman. She laughed and said she'd report me +and I'd be locked up for begging. Then I saw a man +I passed sometimes. I thought he lived close. I went +straight to him, and told him my mother was very ill, and +asked him to help her. He told me to go to the proper +authorities. I told him I didn't know who they were +or where, and I had no money and she was a woman of +refinement, and never would forgive me. I offered, if he +would come to see her, get her some beef tea, and take +care of her while she lived, that afterward----'' + +The Girl's frail form shook in a storm of sobs. At +last she lifted her eyes to the Harvester's. ``There must +be a God, and somewhere at the last extremity He must +come in. The man went with me, and he was a young +doctor who had an office a few blocks away, and he knew +what to do. He hadn't much himself, but for several +weeks he divided and she was more comfortable and not +hungry when she went. When it was over I dressed +her the best I could in my graduation dress, and folded +her hands, and kissed her good-bye, and told him I was +ready to fulfill my offer; and oh Man!----He said +he had forgotten!'' + +``God!'' panted the Harvester. + +``We couldn't bury her there. But I remembered +my father had said he had a brother in the country, +and once he had been to see us when I was very little, +and the doctor telegraphed him, and he answered +that his wife was sick, and if I was able to work I could +come, and he would bury her, and give me a home. +The doctor borrowed the money and bought the +coffin you found her in. He couldn't do better or he +would, for he learned to love her. He paid our +fares and took us to the train. Before I started I +went on my knees to him and worshipped him as the +Almighty, and I am sure I told him that I always would +be indebted to him, and any time he required I would +pay. The rest you know.'' + +``Have you heard from him, Ruth?'' + +``No.'' + +``It WAS yourself the other day on the bridge?'' + +``Yes.'' + +``Did he love you?'' + +``Not that I know of. No! Nobody but you would +love a girl who appeared as I did then.'' + +The Harvester strove to keep a set face, but his lips +drew back from his teeth. + +``Ruth, do you love him?'' + +``Love!'' cried the Girl. ``A pale, expressionless word! +Adore would come closer! I tell you she was delirious +with hunger, and he fed her. She was suffering horrors +and he eased the pain. She was lifeless, and he kept +her poor tired body from the dissecting table. I would +have fulfilled my offer, and gone straight into the lake, +but he spared me, Man! He spared me! Worship +is a good word. I think I worship him. I tried to tell +you. Before you got that license, I wanted you to +know.'' + +``I remember,'' said the Harvester. ``But no man +could have guessed that a girl with your face had agony +like that in her heart, not even when he read deep trouble +there.'' + +``I should have told you then! I should have forced +you to hear! I was wild with fear of Uncle Henry, +and I had nowhere to go. Now you know! Go away, +and the end will come soon.'' + +The Harvester arose and walked a few steps toward +the lake, where he paused stricken, but fighting for +control. For him the light had gone out. There was +nothing beyond. The one passion of his life must live +on, satisfied with a touch from lips that loved another +man. Broken sobbing came to him. He did not even +have time to suffer. Stumblingly he turned and going +to the Girl he picked her up, and sat on the bench holding +her closely. + +``Stop it, Ruth!'' he said unsteadily. ``Stop this! +Why should you suffer so? I simply will not have it. +I will save you against yourself and the world. You +shall have all happiness yet; I swear it, my girl! You +are all right. He was a noble man, and he spared +you because he loved you, of course. I will make you +well and rosy again, and then I will go and find +him, and arrange everything for you. I have spared +you, too, and if he doesn't want you to remain +here with me, Mrs. Carey would be glad to have you +until I can free you. Judges are human. It will be +a simple matter. Hush, Ruth, listen to me! You shall +be free! At once, if you say so! You shall have him! +I will go and bring him here, and I will go away. +Ruth, darling, stop crying and hear me. You will grow +better, now that you have told me. It is this secret +that has made you feverish and kept you ill. Ruth, +you shall have happiness yet, if I have got to circle +the globe and scale the walls of Heaven to find it for +you.'' + +She struggled from his arms and ran toward the lake. +When the Harvester caught her, she screamed wildly, +and struck him with her thin white hands. He lifted and +carried her to the laboratory, where he gave her a few +drops from a bottle and soon she became quiet. Then +he took her to the sunshine room, laid her on the bed, +locked the screens and her door, called Belshazzar to +watch, and ran to the stable. A few minutes later with +distended nostrils and indignant heart Betsy, under the +flail of an unsparing lash, pounded down the hill toward +Onabasha. + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +LOVE INVADES SCIENCE + +The Harvester placed the key in the door and +turned to Doctor Carey and the nurse. + +``I drugged her into unconsciousness before I +left, but she may have returned, at least partially. Miss +Barnet, will you kindly see if she is ready for the doctor? +You needn't be in the least afraid. She has no strength, +even in delirium.'' + +He opened the door, his head averted, and the nurse +hurried into the room. The Girl on the bed was beginning +to toss, moan, and mutter. Skilful hands straightened +her, arranged the covers, and the doctor was called. +In the living-room the Harvester paced in misery too +deep for consecutive thought. As consciousness returned, +the Girl grew wilder, and the nurse could not follow the +doctor's directions and care for her. Then Doctor +Carey called the Harvester. He went in and sitting +beside the bed took the feverish, wildly beating hands +in his strong, cool ones, and began stroking them and +talking. + +``Easy, honey,'' he murmured softly. ``Lie quietly +while I tell you. You mustn't tire yourself. You are +wasting strength you need to fight the fever. I'll hold +your hands tight, I'll stroke your head for you. Lie +quietly, dear, and Doctor Carey and his head nurse +are going to make you well in a little while. That's +right! Let me do the moving; you lie and rest. Only +rest and rest, until all the pain is gone, and the strong +days come, and they are going to bring great joy, love, +and peace, to my dear, dear girl. Even the moans take +strength. Try just to lie quietly and rest. You can't +hear Singing Water if you don't listen, Ruth.'' + +``She doesn't realize that it is you or know what you +say, David,'' said Doctor Carey gently. + +``I understand,'' said the Harvester. ``But if you +will observe, you will see that she is quiet when I stroke +her head and hands, and if you notice closely you will +grant that she gets a word occasionally. If it is the +right one, it helps. She knows my voice and touch, and +she is less nervous and afraid with me. Watch a +minute!'' + +The Harvester took both of the Girl's fluttering hands +in one of his and with long, light strokes gently brushed +them, and then her head, and face, and then her hands +again, and in a low, monotonous, half sing-song voice he +crooned, ``Rest, Ruth, rest! It is night now. The +moon is bridging Loon Lake, and the whip-poor-will +is crying. Listen, dear, don't you hear him crying? +Still, Girl, still! Just as quiet! Lie so quietly. The +whip-poor-will is going to tell his mate he loves her, +loves her so dearly. He is going to tell her, when you +listen. That's a dear girl. Now he is beginning. He +says, `Come over the lake and listen to the song I'm +singing to you, my mate, my mate, my dear, dear mate,' +and the big night moths are flying; and the katydids are +crying, positive and sure they are crying, a thing that's +past denying. Hear them crying? And the ducks are +cheeping, soft little murmurs while they're sleeping, +sleeping. Resting, softly resting! Gently, Girl, gently! +Down the hill comes Singing Water, laughing, laughing! +Don't you hear it laughing? Listen to the big owl courting; +it sees the coon out hunting, it hears the mink softly +slipping, slipping, where the dews of night are dripping. +And the little birds are sleeping, so still they are sleeping. +Girls should be a-sleeping, like the birds a-sleeping, for +to-morrow joy comes creeping, joy and life and love come +creeping, creeping to my Girl. Gently, gently, that's +a dear girl, gently! Tired hands rest easy, tired head +lies still! That's the way to rest----'' + +On and on the even voice kept up the story. All over +and around the lake, the length of Singing Water, the +marsh folk found voices to tell of their lives, where it +was a story of joy, rest, and love. Up the hill ranged the +Harvester, through the forest where the squirrels slept, +the owl hunted, the fire-flies flickered, the fairies squeezed +flower leaves to make colour to paint the autumn foliage, +and danced on toadstool platforms. Just so long as +his voice murmured and his touch continued, so long the +Girl lay quietly, and the medicines could act. But no +other touch would serve, and no other voice would answer. +If the harvester left the room five minutes to show the +nurse how to light the fire, and where to find things, he +returned to tossing, restless delirium. + +``It's magic David,'' said Doctor Carey. ``Magic!'' + +``It is love,'' said the Harvester. ``Even crazed with +fever, she recognizes its voice and touch. You've got +your work cut out, Doc. Roll your sleeves and collect +your wits. Set your heart on winning. There is one +thing shall not happen. Get that straight in your mind, +right now. And you too, Miss Barnet! There is nothing +like fighting for a certainty. You may think the +Girl is desperately ill, and she is, but make up your minds +that you are here to fight for her life, and to save it. +Save, do you understand? If she is to go, I don't need +either of you. I can let her do that myself. You are +here on a mission of life. Keep it before you! Life +and health for this Girl is the prize you are going to win. +Dig into it, and I'll pay the bills, and extra besides. If +money is any incentive, I'll give you all I've got for life +and health for the Girl. Are you doing all you know?'' + +``I certainly am, David.'' + +``But when day comes you'll have to go back to the +hospital and we may not know how to meet crises that +will arise. What then? We should have a competent +physician in the house until this fever breaks.'' + +``I had thought of that, David. I will arrange to send +one of the men from the hospital who will be able to +watch symptoms and come for me when needed.'' + +``Won't do!'' said the Harvester calmly. ``She has +no strength for waiting. You are to come when you can, +and remain as long as possible. The case is yours; your +decisions go, but I will select your assistant. I know the +man I want.'' + +``Who is he, David?'' + +``I'll tell you when I learn whether I can get him. +Now I want you to give the Girl the strongest sedative +you dare, take off your coat, roll your sleeves, and see +how well you can imitate my voice, and how much you +have profited by listening to my song. In other words, +before day calls, I want you to take my place so successfully +that you deceive her, and give me time to make a +trip to town. There are a few things that must be done, +and I think I can work faster in the night. Will +you?'' + +Doctor Carey bent over the bed. Gently he slipped +a practised hand under the Harvester's and made the +next stroke down the white arm. Gradually he took +possession of the thin hands and his touch fell on the +masses of dark hair. As the Harvester arose the doctor +took the seat. + +``You go on!'' he ordered gruffly. ``I'll do better +alone.'' + +The Harvester stepped back. The doctor's touch was +easy and the Girl lay quietly for an instant, then she +moved restlessly. + +``You must be still now,'' he said gently. ``The moon +is up, the lake is all white, and the birds are flying all +around. Lie still or you'll make yourself worse. Stiller +than that! If you don't you can't hear things courting. +The ducks are quacking, the bull frogs are croaking, and +everything. Lie still, still, I tell you!'' + +``Oh good Lord, Doc!'' groaned the Harvester in desperation. + +The Girl wrenched her hands free and her head rolled +on the pillow. + +``Harvester! Harvester!'' she cried. + +The doctor started to arise. + +``Sit still!'' commanded the Harvester. ``Take her +hands and go to work, idiot! Give her more sedative, +and tell her I'm coming. That's the word, if she realizes +enough to call for me.'' + +The doctor possessed himself of the flying hands, and +gently held and stroked them. + +``The Harvester is coming,'' he said. ``Wait just a +minute, he's on the way. He is coming. I think I hear +him. He will be here soon, very soon now. That's +a good girl! Lie still for David. He won't like it if you +toss and moan. Just as still, lie still so I can listen. I +can't tell whether he is coming until you are quiet.'' + +Then he said to the Harvester, ``You see, I've got it +now. I can manage her, but for pity sake, hurry man! +Take the car! Jim is asleep on the back seat----Yes, yes, +Girl! I'm listening for him. I think I hear him! I +think he's coming!'' + +Here and there a word penetrated, and she lay more +quietly, but not in the rest to which the Harvester had +lulled her. + +``Hurry man!'' groaned the doctor in a whispered +aside, and the Harvester ran to the car, awakened the +driver and told him he had a clear road to Onabasha, to +speed up. + +``Where to?'' asked the driver. + +``Dickson, of the First National.'' + +In a few minutes the car stopped before the residence +and the Harvester made an attack on the front door. +Presently the man came. + +``Excuse me for routing you out at this time of night,'' +said the Harvester, ``but it's a case of necessity. I have +an automobile here. I want you to go to the bank with +me, and get me an address from your draft records. +I know the rules, but I want the name of my wife's +Chicago physician. She is delirious, and I must telephone +him.'' + +The cashier stepped out and closed the door. + +``Nine chances out of ten it will be in the vault,'' +he said. + +``That leaves one that it won't,'' answered the +Harvester. ``Sometimes I've looked in when passing in the +night, and I've noticed that the books are not always +put away. I could see some on the rack to-night. I +think it is there.'' + +It was there, and the Harvester ordered the driver to +hurry him to the telephone exchange, then take the +cashier home and return and wait. He called the Chicago +Information office. + +``I want Dr. Frank Harmon, whose office address is 1509 +Columbia Street. I don't know the 'phone number.'' + +Then came a long wait, and after twenty minutes the +blessed buzzing whisper, ``Here's your party.'' + +``Doctor Harmon?'' + +``Yes.'' + +``You remember Ruth Jameson, the daughter of a +recent patient of yours?'' + +``I do.'' + +``Well my name is Langston. The Girl is in my home +and care. She is very ill with fever, and she has much +confidence in you. This is Onabasha, on the Grand +Rapids and Indiana. You take the Pennsylvania at +seven o'clock, telegraph ahead that you are coming so +that they will make connection for you, change at twelve- +twenty at Fort Wayne, and I will meet you here. You +will find your ticket and a check waiting you at the +Chicago depot. Arrange to remain a week at least. +You will be paid all expenses and regular prices for your +time. Will you come?'' + +``Yes.'' + +``All right. Make no failure. Good-bye.'' + +Then the Harvester left an order with the telephone +company to run a wire to Medicine Woods the first thing +in the morning, and drove to the depot to arrange for +the ticket and check. In less than an hour he was holding +the Girl's hands and crooning over her. + +``Jerusalem!'' said Doctor Carey, rising stiffly. ``I'd +rather undertake to cut off your head and put it back +on than to tackle another job like that. She's quite +delirious, but she has flashes, and at such times she knows +whom she wants; the rest of the time it's a jumble and +some of it is rather gruesome. She's seen dreadful +illness, hunger, and there's a debt she's wild about. I +told you something was back of this. You've got to find +out and set her mind at ease.'' + +``I know all about it,'' said the Harvester patiently +between crooning sentences to the Girl. ``But the crash +came before I could convince her that it was all right and +I could fix everything for her easily. If she only could +understand me!'' + +``Did you find your man?'' + +``Yes. He will be here this afternoon.'' + +``Quick work!'' + +``This takes quick work.'' + +``Do you know anything about him?'' + +``Yes. He is a young fellow, just starting out. He is +a fine, straight, manly man. I don't know how much +he knows, but it will be enough to recognize your +ability and standing, and to do what you tell him. +I have perfect confidence in him. I want you to come +back at one, and take my place until I go to meet +him.'' + +`I can bring him out.'' + +``I have to see him myself. There are a few words +to be said before he sees the Girl.'' + +``David, what are you up to?'' + +``Being as honourable as I can. No man gets any too +decent, but there is no law against doing as you would +be done by, and being as straight as you know how. +When I've talked to him, I'll know where I am and I'll +have something to say to you.'' + +``David, I'm afraid----'' + +``Then what do you suppose I am?'' said the Harvester. +``It's no use, Doc. Be still and take what comes! +The manner in which you meet a crisis proves you a +whining cur or a man. I have got lots of respect for a +dog, as a dog; but I've none for a man as a dog. If you've +gathered from the Girl's delirium that I've made a mistake, +I hope you have confidence enough in me to believe +I'll right it, and take my punishment without +whining. Go away, you make her worse. Easy, Girl, the +world is all right and every one is sleeping now, so you +should be at rest. With the day the doctor will come, +the good doctor you know and like, Ruth. You haven't +forgotten your doctor, Ruth? The kind doctor who cared +for you. He will make you well, Ruth; well and oh, +so happy! Harmon, Harmon, Doctor Harmon is coming +to you, Girl, and then you will be so happy!'' + +``Why you blame idiot!'' cried Doctor Carey in a +harsh whisper. ``Have you lost all the sense you ever +had? Stop that gibber! She wants to hear about the +birds and Singing Water. Go on with that woods line of +talk; she likes that away the best. This stuff is making +her restless. See!'' + +``You mean you are,'' said the Harvester wearily. +``Please leave us alone. I know the words that will +bring comfort. You don't.'' + +He began the story all over again, but now there ran +through it a continual refrain. ``Your doctor is coming, +the good doctor you know. He will make you +well and strong, and he will make life so lovely for +you.'' + +He was talking without pause or rest when Doctor +Carey returned in the afternoon to take his place. He +brought Mrs. Carey with him, and she tried a woman's +powers of soothing another woman, and almost drove the +Girl to fighting frenzy. So the doctor made another +attempt, and the Harvester raced down the hill to the +city. He went to the car shed as the train pulled in, and +stood at one side while the people hurried through the +gate. He was watching for a young man with a travelling +bag and perhaps a physician's satchel, who would be +looking for some one. + +``I think I'll know him,'' muttered the Harvester +grimly. ``I think the masculine element in me will +pop up strongly and instinctively at the sight of this man +who will take my Dream Girl from me. Oh good God! +Are You sure You ARE good?'' + +In his brown khaki trousers and shirt, his head bare, +his bronze face limned with agony he made no attempt to +conceal, the Harvester, with feet planted firmly, and +tightly folded arms, his head tipped slightly to one side, +braced himself as he sent his keen gray eyes searching the +crowd. Far away he selected his man. He was young, +strong, criminally handsome, clean and alert; there was +discernible anxiety on his face, and it touched the +Harvester's soul that he was coming just as swiftly as he +could force his way. As he passed the gates the Harvester +reached his side. + +``Doctor Harmon, I think,'' he said. + +``Yes.'' + +``This way! If you have luggage, I will send for it +later.'' + +The Harvester hurried to the car. + +``Take the shortest cut and cover space,'' he said to +the driver. The car kept to the speed limit until toward +the suburbs. + +Doctor Harmon removed his hat, ran his fingers +through dark waving hair and yielded his body to the +swing of the car. Neither man attempted to talk. +Once the Harvester leaned forward and told the driver +to stop on the bridge, and then sat silently. As the +car slowed down, they alighted. + +``Drive on and tell Doc we are here, and will be up +soon,'' said the Harvester. Then he turned to the +stranger. ``Doctor Harmon, there's little time for words. +This is my place, and here I grow herbs for medicinal +houses.'' + +``I have heard of you, and heard your stuff +recommended,'' said the doctor. + +``Good!'' exclaimed the Harvester. ``That saves +time. I stopped here to make a required explanation +to you. The day you sent Ruth Jameson to Onabasha, +I saw her leave the train and recognized in her my ideal +woman. I lost her in the crowd and it took some time +to locate her. I found her about a month ago. She +was miserable. If you saw what her father did to her +and her mother in Chicago, you should have seen what +his brother was doing here. The end came one day in +my presence, when I paid her for ginseng she had found +to settle her debt to you. He robbed her by force. +I took the money from him, and he threatened her. She +was ill then from heat, overwork, wrong food----every +misery you can imagine heaped upon the dreadful conditions +in which she came. It had been my intention +to court and marry her if I possibly could. That day +she had nowhere to go; she was wild with fear; the fever +that is scorching her now was in her veins then. I did +an insane thing. I begged her to marry me at once and +come here for rest and protection. I swore that if she +would, she should not be my wife, but my honoured +guest, until she learned to love me and released me from +my vow. She tried to tell me something; I had no idea +it was anything that would make any real difference, and +I wouldn't listen. Last night, when the fever was +beginning to do its worst, she told me of your entrance into +her life and what it meant to her. Then I saw that I +had made a mistake. You were her choice, the man +she could love, not me, so I took the liberty of sending +for you. I want you to cure her, court her, marry her, +and make her happy. God knows she has had her share +of suffering. You recognize her as a girl of refinement?'' + +``I do.'' + +``You grant that in health she would be lovelier than +most women, do you not?'' + +``She was more beautiful than most in sickness and +distress.'' + +``Good!'' cried the Harvester. ``She has been here +two weeks. I give you my word, my promise to her has +been kept faithfully. As soon as I can leave her to +attend to it, she shall have her freedom. That will be +easy. Will you marry her?'' + +The doctor hesitated. + +``What is it?'' asked the Harvester. + +``Well to be frank,'' said Doctor Harmon, ``it is +money! I'm only getting a start. I borrowed funds +for my schooling and what I used for her. She is +in every way attractive enough to be desired by +any man, but how am I to provide a home and +support her and pay these debts? I'll try it, but I +am afraid it will be taking her back to wrong conditions +again.'' + +``If you knew that she owned a comfortable cottage +in the suburbs, where it is cool and clean, and had, +say a hundred a month of her own for the coming three +years, could you see your way?'' + +``That would make all the difference in the world. I +thought seriously of writing her. I wanted to, but I +concluded I'd better work as hard as I could for some +practice first, and see if I could make a living for two, +before I tried to start anything. I had no idea she would +not be comfortably cared for at her uncle's.'' + +``I see,'' said the Harvester. ``If I had kept out, life +would have come right for her.'' + +``On the contrary,'' said the doctor, ``it appears very +probable that she would not be living.'' + +``It is understood between us, then, that you will +court and marry her so soon as she is strong enough?'' + +``It is understood,'' agreed the doctor. + +``Will you honour me by taking my hand?'' asked the +Harvester. ``I scarcely had hoped to find so much of a +man. Now come to your room and get ready for the +stiffest piece of work you ever attempted.'' + +The Harvester led the way to the guest chamber over +looking the lake, and installed its first occupant. Then he +hurried to the Girl. The doctor was holding her head +and one hand, his wife the other, and the nurse her feet. +It took the Harvester ten strenuous minutes to make +his touch and presence known and to work quiet. All +over he began crooning his story of rest, joy, and love. +He broke off with a few words to introduce Doctor +Harmon to the Careys and the nurse, and then calmly +continued while the other men stood and watched him. + +``Seems rather cut out for it,'' commented Doctor +Harmon. + +``I never yet have seen him attempt anything that he +didn't appear cut out for,'' answered Doctor Carey. + +``Will she know me?'' inquired the young man, +approaching the bed. + +When the Girl's eyes fell on him she grew rigid and lay +staring at him. Suddenly with a wild cry she struggled +to rise. + +``You have come!'' she cried. ``Oh I knew you would +come! I felt you would come! I cannot pay you now! +Oh why didn't you come sooner?'' + +The young doctor leaned over and took one of the +white hands from the Harvester, stroking it gently. + +``Why you did pay, Ruth! How did you come to +forget? Don't you remember the draft you sent me? +I didn't come for money; I came to visit you, to nurse +you, to do all I can to make you well. I am going to +take care of you now so finely you'll be out on the lake +and among the flowers soon. I've got some medicine +that makes every one well. It's going to make you strong, +and there's something else that's going to make you +happy; and me, I'm going to be the proudest man alive.'' + +He reached over and took possession of the other hand, +stroking them softly, and the Girl lay tensely staring +at him and gradually yielding to his touch and voice. +The Harvester arose, and passing around the bed, he +placed a chair for Doctor Harmon and motioning for +Doctor Carey left the room. He went to the shore to +his swimming pool, wearily dropped on the bench, and +stared across the water. + +``Well thank God it worked, anyway!'' he muttered. + +``What's that popinjay doing here?'' thundered +Doctor Carey. ``Got some medicine that cures everybody. +Going to make her well, is he? Make the cows, +and the ducks, and the chickens, and the shitepokes well, +and happy----no name for it! After this we are all +going to be well and happy! You look it right now, +David! What under Heaven have you done?'' + +``Left my wife with the man she loves, and to whom I +release her, my dear friend,'' said the Harvester. ``And +it's so easy for me that you needn't give making it a +little harder, any thought.'' + +``David, forgive me!'' cried Doctor Carey. ``I don't +understand this. I'm almost insane. Will you tell +me what it means?'' + +``Means that I took advantage of the Girl's illness, utter +loneliness, and fear, and forced her into marrying me for +shelter and care, when she loved and wanted another +man, who was preparing to come to her. He is her Chicago +doctor, and fine in every fibre, as you can see. There +is only one thing on earth for me to do, and that is to +get out of their way, and I'll do it as soon as she is well; +but I vow I won't leave her poor, tired body until she +is, not even for him. I thought sure I could teach her to +love me! Oh but this is bitter, Doc!'' + +``You are a consummate fool to bring him here!'' +cried Doctor Carey. ``If she is too sick to realize the +situation now, she will be different when she is normal +again. Any sane girl that wouldn't love you, David, +ain't fit for anything!'' + +``Yes, I'm a whale of a lover!'' said the Harvester +grimly. ``Nice mess I've made of it. But there is no real +harm done. Thank God, Harmon was not the only +white man.'' + +``David, what do you mean?'' + +``Is it between us, Doc?'' + +``Yes.'' + +``For all time?'' + +``It is.'' + +The Harvester told him. He ended, ``Give the fellow +his dues, Doc. He had her at his mercy, utterly alone +and unprotected, in a big city. There was not a living +soul to hold him to account. He added to his burdens, +borrowed more money, and sent her here. He thought +she was coming to the country where she would be safe +and well cared for until he could support her. I did the +remainder. Now I must undo it, that's all! But +you have got to go in there and practise with him. +You've got to show him every courtesy of the profession. +You must go a little over the rules, and teach him all +you can. You will have to stifle your feelings, and be +as much of a man as it is in you to be, at your level +best.'' + +``I'm no good at stifling my feelings!'' + +``Then you'll have to learn,'' said the Harvester. +``If you'd lived through my years of repression in the +woods you'd do the fellow credit. As I see it, his side +of this is nearly as fine as you make it. I tell you she was +utterly stricken, alone, and beautiful. She sought his +assistance. When the end came he thought only of her. +Won't you give a young fellow in a place like Chicago +some credit for that? Can't you get through you what +it means?'' + +Doctor Carey stood frowning in deep thought, but the +lines of his face gradually changed. + +``I suppose I've got to stomach him,'' he said. + +The nurse came down the gravel path. + +``Mr. Langston, Doctor Harmon asked me to call +you,'' she said. + +The Harvester arose and went to the sunshine room. + +``What does he want, Molly?'' asked the doctor. + +``Wants to turn over his job,'' chuckled the nurse. ``He +held it about seven minutes in peace, and then she began +to fret and call for the Harvester. He just sweat blood +to pacify her, but he couldn't make it. He tried to +hold her, to make love to her, and goodness knows what, +but she struggled and cried, `David,' until he had to give +it up and send me.'' + +``Molly,'' said Doctor Carey, ``we've known the +Harvester a long time, and he is our friend, isn't he?'' + +``Of course!'' said the nurse. + +``We know this is the first woman he ever loved, +probably ever will, as he is made. Now we don't like +this stranger butting in here; we resent it, Molly. We +are on the side of our friend, and we want him to win. +I'll grant that this fellow is fine, and that he has done +well, but what's the use in tearing up arrangements +already made? And so suitable! Now Molly, you are +my best nurse, and a good reliable aid in times like this. +I gave you instructions an hour ago. I'll add this to +them. YOU ARE ON THE HARVESTER'S SIDE. Do you understand? +In this, and the days to come, you'll have a +thousand chances to put in a lick with a sick woman. +Put them in as I tell you.'' + +``Yes, Doctor Carey.'' + +``And Molly! You are something besides my best +nurse. You're a smashing pretty girl, and your occupation +should make you especially attractive to a young +doctor. I'm sure this fellow is all right, so while you are +doing your best with your patient for the Harvester, why +not have a try for yourself with the doctor? It couldn't +do any harm, and it might straighten out matters. Anyway, +you think it over.'' + +The nurse studied his face silently for a time, and then +she began to laugh softly. + +``He is up there doing his best with her,'' she said. + +The doctor threw out his hands in a gesture of disdain, +and the nurse laughed again; but her cheeks were pink +and her eyes flashing as she returned to duty. + +``Random shot, but it might hit something, you +never can tell,'' commented the doctor. + +The Harvester entered the Girl's room and stood still. +She was fretting and raising her temperature rapidly. +Before he reached the door his heart gave one great leap +at the sound of her voice calling his name. He knew what +to do, but he hesitated. + +``She seems to have become accustomed to you, and at +times does not remember me,'' said Doctor Harmon. ``I +think you had better take her again until she grows quiet.'' + +The Harvester stepped to the bed and looked the +doctor in the eye. + +``I am afraid I left out one important feature in our +little talk on the bridge,'' he said. ``I neglected to tell +you that in your fight for this woman's life and love you +have a rival. I am he. She is my wife, and with the +last fibre of my being I adore her. If you win, and she +wants you to take her away, I will help you; but my heart +goes with her forever. If by any chance it should occur +that I have been mistaken or misinterpreted her delirium +or that she has been deceived and finds she prefers me and +Medicine Woods, to you and Chicago, when she has had +opportunity to measure us man against man, you must +understand that I claim her. So I say to you frankly, +take her if you can, but don't imagine that I am passive. +I'll help you if I know she wants you, but I fight you +every inch of the way. Only it has got to be square and +open. Do you understand?'' + +``You are certainly sufficiently clear.'' + +``No man who is half a man sees the last chance of +happiness go out of his life without putting up the stiffest +battle he knows,'' said the Harvester grimly. ``Ruth- +girl, you are raising the fever again. You must be quiet.'' + +With infinite tenderness he possessed himself of her +hands and began stroking her hair, and in a low and soothing +voice the story of the birds, flowers, lake, and woods +went on. To keep it from growing monotonous the +Harvester branched out and put in everything he knew. +In the days that followed he held a position none could +take from him. While the doctors fought the fever, +he worked for rest and quiet, and soothed the tortured +body as best he could, that the medicines might act. + +But the fever was stubborn, and the remedies were +slow; and long before the dreaded coming day the doctors +and nurse were quietly saying to each other that when +the crisis came the heart would fail. There was no +vitality to sustain life. But they did not dare tell the +Harvester. Day and night he sat beside the maple +bed or stretched sleeping a few minutes on the couch +while the Girl slept; and with faith never faltering and +courage unequalled, he warned them to have their remedies +and appliances ready. + +``I don't say it's going to be easy,'' he said. ``I just +merely state that it must be done. And I'll also mention +that, when the hour comes, the man who discovers that +he could do something if he had digitalis, or a remedy he +should have had ready and has forgotten, that man had +better keep out of my sight. Make your preparations +now. Talk the case over. Fill your hypodermics. Clean +your air pumps. Get your hot-water bottles ready. +Have system. Label your stuff large and set it conveniently. +You see what is coming, be prepared!'' + +One day, while the Girl lay in a half-drugged, feverish +sleep, the Harvester went for a swim. He dressed a little +sooner than was expected and in crossing the living-room +he heard Doctor Harmon say to Doctor Carey on the +veranda, ``What are we going to do with him when the +end comes?'' + +The Harvester stepped to the door. ``That won't +be the question,'' he said grimly. ``It will be what will +HE do with us?'' + +Then, with an almost imperceptible movement, he +caught Doctor Harmon at the waist line, and lifted and +dangled him as a baby, and then stood him on the floor. +``Didn't hardly expect that much muscle, did you?'' +he inquired lightly. ``And I'm not in what you could call +condition, either. Instead of wasting any time on fool +questions like that, you two go over your stuff and ask +each other, have we got every last appliance known to +physics and surgery? Have we got duplicates on hand +in case we break delicate instruments like hypodermic +syringes and that sort of thing? Engage yourselves with +questions pertaining to life; that is your business. +Instead of planning what you'll do in failure, bolster your +souls against it. Granny Moreland beats you two put +together in grip and courage.'' + +The Harvester returned to his task, and the fight went +on. At last the hour came when the temperature fell +lower and lower. The feeble pulses flickered and grew +indiscernible; a gray pallor hovered over the Girl, and a +cold sweat stood on her temples. + +``Now!'' said the Harvester. ``Exercise your calling! +Fight like men or devils, but win you must.'' + +They did work. They administered stimulants; applied +heat to the chilled body; fans swept the room with +vitalized air; hypodermics were used; and every last resort +known to science was given a full test, and the weak +heart throbbed slower and slower, and life ran out with +each breath. The Harvester stood waiting with set +jaws. He could detect no change for the better. At +last he picked up a chilled hand and could discover no +pulse, and the gray nails and the dark tips told a story +of arrested circulation. He laid down the hand and +faced the men. + +``This is what you'd call the crisis, Doc?'' he asked +gently. + +``Yes.'' + +``Are you stemming it? Are you stemming it? Are +you sure she is holding her own?'' + +Doctor Carey looked at him silently. + +``Have you done all you can do?'' asked the Harvester. + +``Yes.'' + +``You believe her going out?'' + +``Yes'' + +The Harvester turned to Doctor Harmon. ``Do you +concur in that?'' + +``Yes.'' + +Then to the nurse, ``And you?'' + +``Yes.'' + +``Then,'' said the Harvester, ``all of you are useless. +Get out of here. I don't want your atmosphere. If you +can believe only in death, leave us! She is my wife, and +if this is the end she belongs to me, and I will do as I +choose with her. All of you go!'' + +The Harvester stepped to the bathroom door and +called Granny Moreland. ``Granny,'' he said, ``science +has turned tail, and left me in extremity. Fill your hot- +water bottles and come in here with your heart big with +hope and help me save my Dream Girl. She is breathing +Granny; we've got to make her keep it up, that's +all----just keep her breathing.'' + +He returned to the sunshine room, placed a small +table beside the bed, and on it a glass of water, spoon, and +a hypodermic syringe. When Granny Moreland came +he said: ``Now you begin on her feet and rub with long, +sweeping, upward strokes to drive the blood to her heart.'' + +Around the Girl he piled hot-water bottles and +breathlessly hung over her, rubbing her hands. He wiped +the perspiration from her forehead, and then dropped +by her bed and for a second laid his face on her cold +palm. + +``If I am wrong, Heaven forgive me,'' he prayed. +``And you, oh, my darling Dream Girl, forgive me, but +I am forced to try----God helping me! Amen.'' + +He arose, took a small bottle from his pocket, filled +the spoon with water, and measured into it three drops +of liquid as yellow as gold. Then he held the spoon to +the blue lips, and with his fingers worked apart the set +teeth, and poured the medicine down her throat. Then +they rubbed and muttered snatches of prayer for fifteen +minutes when the Harvester administered another three +drops. It might have been fancy, but it seemed to him +her jaws were not so stiff. Faster flew his hands and he +sent Granny Moreland to refill the hot bottles. When +he gave the Girl the third dose he injected some of +the liquid over her heart and of the glycerine the doctors +had left, in the extremities. He released more air and +began rubbing again. + +The second hour started in the same way, and ended +with slowly relaxing muscles and faint tinges of colour +in the white cheeks. The feet were not so cold, and when +the Harvester held the spoon he knew that the Girl +made an effort to swallow, and he could see her eyelids +tremble. Thereupon he pointed these signs to Granny, +and implored her to rub and pray, and pray and rub, +while he worked until the perspiration rolled down his +gray face. At the end of the second hour he began +decreasing the doses and shortening the time, and again he +commenced in a low rumble his song of life and health, +to encourage the Girl as consciousness returned. + +Occasionally Doctor Carey opened the door slightly +and peeped in to see if he were wanted, but he received +no invitation to enter. The last time he left with the +impression that the Harvester was raving, while he +worked over a lifeless body. He had the Girl warmly +covered and bent over her face and hands. At her feet +crouched Granny Moreland, rubbing, still rubbing, beneath +the covers, while in a steady stream the Harvester +was pouring out his song. If he had listened +an instant longer he would have recognized that the tone +and the words had changed. Now it was, ``Gently, +breathe gently, Girl! Slowly, steadily, easily! Deeper, +a little deeper, Ruth! Brave Girl, never another so +wonderful! That's my Dream Girl coming from the +shadows, coming to life's sunshine, coming to hope, +coming to love! Deeper, just a little deeper! Smoothly and +evenly! You are making it, Girl! You are making it! +By all that is holy and glorious! Stick to it, Ruth, hold +tight to me! I'll help you, dear! You are coming, +coming back to life and love. Don't worry yourself +trying too hard, if only you can send every breath as +deeply as the last one, you can make it. You brave girl! +You wonderful Dream Girl! Ah, Ruth, the name of this +is victory!'' + +An hour before Doctor Carey had said to Doctor +Harmon and the nurse, as he softly closed the door: ``It +is over and the Harvester is raving. We'll give him a +little more time and see if he won't realize it himself. +That will be easier for him than for us to try to tell +him.'' + +Now he opened the door, stared a second, and coming +to the opposite side of the bed, he leaned over the Girl. +Then he felt her feet. They were warm and slightly +damp. A surprised look crept over his face. He gently +reached for a hand that the Harvester yielded to him. +It was warm, the blue tips becoming rosy, the wrist +pulse discernible. Then he bent closer, touched her face, +and saw the tremulous eyelids. He turned back the +cover, and held his ear over her heart. When he straightened, +``As God lives, she's got a chance, David!'' he +exulted in an awed whisper. + +The Harvester lifted a graven face, down which the +sweat of agony rolled, and his lips parted in a twitching +smile. ``Then this is where love beats the doctors, +Carey!'' he said. + +``It is where love has ventured what science dares not. +Love didn't do all of this. In the name of the Almighty, +what did you give her, David?'' + +``Life!'' cried the Harvester. ``Life! Come on, Ruth, +come on! Out of the valley come to me! You +are well now, Girl! It's all over! The last trace +of fever is gone, the last of the dull ache. Can +you swallow just two more drops of bottled sunshine, Ruth?'' + +The flickering lids slowly opened, and the big black +eyes looked straight into the Harvester's. He met them +steadily, smiling encouragement. + +``Hang on to each breath, dear heart!'' he urged. +``The fever is gone. The pain is over! Long life and +the love you crave are for you. You've only to keep +breathing a few more hours and the battle is yours. +Glorious Girl! Noble! You are doing finely! Ruth, +do you know me?'' + +Her lips moved. + +``Don't try to speak,'' said the Harvester. ``Don't +waste breath on a word. Save the good oxygen to +strengthen your tired body. But if you do know me, +maybe you could smile, Ruth!'' + +She could just smile, and that was all. Feeble, +flickering, transient, but as it crossed the living face the +Harvester lifted her hands and kissed them over and +over, back, palm, and finger tips. + +``Now just one more drop, honey, and then a long rest. +Will you try it again for me?'' + +She assented, and the Harvester took the bottle from +his pocket, poured the drop, and held the spoon to willing +lips. The big eyes were on him with a question. +Then they fell to the spoon. The Harvester understood. + +``Yes, it's mine! It's got sixty years of wonderful +life in it, every one of them full of love and happiness +for my dear Dream Girl. Can you take it, Ruth?'' + +Her lips parted, the wine of life passed between. She +smiled faintly, and her eyelids dropped shut, but presently +they opened again. + +``David!'' + +``My Dream Girl!'' + +``Harvester?'' + +``Yes!'' + +``Medicine Man?'' + +``Don't, Ruth! Save every breath to help your heart.'' + +``Life?'' + +``Life it is, Girl!'' exulted the Harvester. ``Long +life! Love! Home! The man you love! Every happiness +that ever came to a girl! Nothing shall be denied +you! Nothing shall be lacking! It's all in your hands +now, Ruth. We've all done everything we can; you must +do the remainder. It's your work to send every breath +as deeply as you can. Doc, release another tank of air. +Are her feet warm, Granny? Let the nurse take your +place now. And, honey, go to sleep! I'll keep watch +for you. I'll measure each breath you draw. If they +shorten or weaken, I'll wake you for more medicine. You +can trust me! Always you can trust me, Ruth.'' + +The Girl smiled and fell into a light, even slumber. +Granny Moreland stumbled to the couch and rolled on +it sobbing with nervous exhaustion. Doctor Carey +called the nurse to take her place. Then he came to the +Harvester's side and whispered, ``Let me, David!'' + +The Harvester looked up with his queer grin, but he +made no motion to arise. + +``Won't you trust me, David? I'll watch as if it +were my own wife.'' + +``I wouldn't trust any man on earth, for the coming +three hours,'' replied the Harvester. ``If I keep this +up that long, she is safe. Go and rest until I call you.'' + +He again bent over the Girl, one hand on her left +wrist, the other over her heart, his eyes on her lips, +watching the depth and strength of her every breath. +Regularly he administered the medicine he was giving +her. Sometimes she took it half asleep; again she gave +him a smile that to the Harvester was the supreme thing +of earth or Heaven. Toward the end of the long vigil, +in exhaustion he slipped to the floor, and laid his head on +the side of the bed, and for a second his hand relaxed and +he fell asleep. The Girl awakened as his touch loosened +and looking down she saw his huddled body. A second +later the Harvester awoke with a guilty start to find her +fingers twisted in the shock of hair on the top of his head. + +``Poor stranded Girl,'' he muttered. ``She's clinging +to me for life, and you can stake all you are worth she's +going to get it!'' + +Then he gently relaxed her grip, gave her the last dose +he felt necessary, yielded his place to Doctor Carey and +staggered up the hill. As the sun peeped over Medicine +Woods he stretched himself between the two mounds +under the oak, and for a few minutes his body was rent +with the awful, torn sobbing of a strong man. Belshazzar +nosed the twisting figure and whined pitifully. A +chattering little marsh wren tilted on a bush and scolded. +A blue jay perched above and tried to decide whether +there was cause for an alarm signal. A snake coming from +the water to hunt birds ran close to him, and changing +its course, went weaving away among the mosses. +Gradually the pent forces spent themselves, and for hours +the Harvester lay in the deep sleep of exhaustion, and +stretched beside him, Belshazzar guarded with anxious +dog eyes. + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +THE BETTER MAN + +In the middle of the afternoon the Harvester +arose and went into the lake, ate a hearty +dinner, and then took up his watch again. For +two days and nights he kept his place, until he had the +Girl out of danger, and where careful nursing was all that +was required to insure life and health. As he sat beside +her the last day, his physical endurance strained to the +breaking point, she laid her hand over his, and looked +long and steadily into his eyes. + +``There are so many things I want to know,'' she said. + +The Harvester's firm fingers closed over hers. ``Ruth, +have you ever been sorry that you trusted me?'' + +``Never!'' said the Girl instantly. + +``Then suppose you keep it up,'' said he. ``Whatever +it is that you want to know, don't use an iota of +strength to talk or to think about it now. Just say to +yourself, he loves me well enough to do what is right, and +I know that he will. All you have to do is to be patient +until you grow stronger than you ever have been in your +life, and then you shall have exactly what you want, +Ruth. Sleep like a baby for a week or two. Then, +slowly and gradually, we will build up such a constitution +for you that you shall ride, drive, row, swim, dance, +play, and have all that your girlhood has missed in fun +and frolic, and all that your womanhood craves in love +and companionship. Happiness has come at last, Ruth. +Take it from me. Everything you crave is yours. The +love you want, the home, and the life. As soon +as you are strong enough, you shall know all about +it. Your business is to drink stimulants and sleep +now, dear.'' + +``So tired of this bed!'' + +``It won't be long until you can lie on the couch and +the veranda swing again.'' + +``Glory!'' said the Girl. ``David, I must have been +full of fever for a long time. I can't remember everything.'' + +``Don't try, I tell you. Life is coming out right for +you; that's all you need know now.'' + +``And for you, David?'' + +``Whenever things are right for you, they are for me, +Ruth.'' + +``Don't you ever think of yourself?'' + +``Not when I am close you.'' + +``Ah! Then I shall have to grow strong very soon and +think of you.'' + +The Harvester's smile was pathetic. He was +unspeakably tired again. + +``Never mind me!'' he said. ``Only get well.'' + +``David, was there a little horse?'' + +``There certainly was and is,'' said the Harvester. + +``You had not named him yet, but in a few days I can +lead him to the window.'' + +``Was there something said about a boat?'' + +``Two of them.'' + +``Two?'' + +``Yes. A row boat for you, and a launch that will +take you all over the lake with only the exertion of steering +on your part.'' + +``David, I want my pendant and ring. I am so tired +of lying here, I want to play with them.'' + +``Where do you keep them, Ruth?'' + +``In the willow teapot. I thought no one would look +there.'' + +The Harvester laughed and brought the little boxes. +He had to open them, but the Girl put on the ring and +asked him if he would not help her with the pendant. He +slipped the thread around her neck and clasped it. With +a sigh of satisfaction she took the ornament in one hand +and closed her eyes. He thought she was falling asleep, +but presently she looked at him. + +``You won't allow them to take it from me?'' + +``Indeed no! There is no reason on earth why you +should not have that thread around your neck if you want +it.'' + +``I am going to sleep now. I want two things. May +I have them?'' + +``You may,'' said the Harvester promptly, ``provided +they are not to eat.'' + +``No,'' said the Girl. ``I've suffered and made others +trouble. I won't bother you by asking for anything more +than is brought me. This is different. You are completely +worn out. Your face frightens me, David, and +white hairs that were not there a few days ago have come +along your temples. I can see them.'' + +``You gave me a mighty serious scare, Ruth.'' + +``I know,'' said the Girl. ``Forgive me. I didn't +mean to. I want you to leave me to Doctor Harmon +and the nurse and go sleep a week. Then I will be ready +for the swing, and to hear some more about the trees and +birds.'' + +``I can keep it up if you really need me, but if you don't +I am sleepy. So, if you feel safe, I think I will go.'' + +``Oh I am safe enough,'' said the Girl. ``It isn't that. +I'm so lonely. I've made up my mind not to grieve for +mother, but I miss her so now. I feel so friendless.'' + +``But, honey,'' said the Harvester, ``you mustn't do +that! Don't you see how all of us love you? Here is +Granny shutting up her house and living here, just to +be with you. The nurse will do anything you say. Here +is the man you know best, and think so much of, staying +in the cabin, and so happy to give you all his time, and +anything else you will have, dear. And the Careys +come every day, and will do their best to comfort you, +and always I am here for you to fall back on.'' + +``Yes, I'm falling right now,'' said the Girl. ``I +almost wish I had the fever again. No one has touched +me for days. I feel as if every one was afraid of me.'' + +The Harvester was puzzled. + +``Well, Ruth, I'm doing the best I know,'' he said. +``What is it you want?'' + +``Nothing!'' answered the Girl with slightly dejected +inflection. ``Say good-bye to me, and go sleep your week. +I'll be very good, and then you shall take me a drive up +the hill when you awaken. Won't that be fine?'' + +``Say good-bye to me!'' She felt a ``little lonely!'' +They all acted as if they were ``afraid'' of her. The +Harvester indulged in a flashing mental review and +arrived at a decision. He knelt beside the bed, took both +slender, cool hands and covered them with kisses. Then +he slid a hand under the pillow and raised the tired head. + +``If I am to say good-bye, I have to do it in my own +way, Ruth,'' he said. + +Thereupon he began at the tumbled mass of hair and +kissed from her forehead to her lips, kisses warm and +tender. + +``Now you go to sleep, and grow strong enough by the +time I come back to tell me whom you love,'' he said, +and went from the room without waiting for any reply. + +With short intervals for food and dips in the lake the +Harvester very nearly slept the week. When he finally +felt himself again, he bathed, shaved, dressed freshly, +and went to see the Girl. He had to touch her to be +sure she was real. She was extremely weak and tremulous, +but her face and hands were fuller, her colour +was good, she was ravenously hungry. Doctor Harmon +said she was a little tryant, and the nurse that she was +plain cross. The first thing the Harvester noticed was +that the dull blue look in the depth of the dark eyes was +gone. They were clear, dusky wells, with shining +lights at the bottom. + +``Well I never would have believed it!'' he cried. +``Doctor Harmon, you are a great physician! You have +made her all over new, and in a few more days she will +be on the veranda. This is great!'' + +``Do I appear so much better to you, Harvester?'' +asked the Girl. + +``Has no one thought to show you,'' cried the +Harvester. ``Here, let me!' + +He stepped to her dressing table, picked up a mirror, +and held it before her so that she could see herself. + +``Seems to me I am dreadfully white and thin yet!'' + +``If you had seen what I saw ten days ago, my Girl, +you would think you appear like a pink, rosy angel now, +or a wonderful dream.'' + +``Truly, do I in the least resemble a dream, David?'' + +``You are a dream. The loveliest one a man ever had. +With three months of right care and exercise you'll +be the beautiful woman nature intended. I'm so proud +of you. You are being so brave! Just lie there in +patience a few more days, and out you come again to life; +and life that will thrill your being with joy.'' + +``All right,'' said the Girl, ``I will. David are you +attending to your herbs?'' + +``Not for a few weeks.'' + +``You are very much behind?'' + +``No. Nothing important. I don't make enough +to count on what is ready now. I can soon gather +jimson leaves and seed to fill orders, the hemlock is +about right to take the fruit, the mustard is yet in pod, +and the saffron and wormseed can be attended later. +I can catch up in two days.'' + +``What about----about the big bed on the hill?'' + +The Harvester experienced an inward thrill of delight. +She was so impressed with the value of the ginseng she +would not mention it, even before the man she loved---- +no more than that----``adored''----``worshipped!'' +He smiled at her in understanding. + +``I'll have to take a peep at that and report,'' he said. + +``Are you rested now?'' + +``Indeed yes!'' + +``You are dreadfully thin.'' + +``I always am. I'll pick up a little when I get back to +work.'' + +``David, I want you to go to work now.'' + +``Can you spare me?'' + +``Haven't we done well these last few days?'' + +``I can't tell you how well.'' + +``Then please go gather everything you need to fill +orders except the big bed, and by that time maybe you +could take another week off, and I could go to the hill +top and on the lake. I'm so anxious to put my feet on +the earth. They feel so dead.'' + +``Are your feet well rubbed to draw down the circulation?'' + +``They are rubbed shiny and almost skinned, David. +No one ever had better care, of that I am sure. Go +gather what you should have.'' + +``All right,'' said the Harvester. + +He arose and as he started to leave the room he took +one last look at the Girl to see if he could detect anything +he could suggest for her comfort, and read a message +in her eyes. Instantly there was an answering flash +in his. + +``I'll be back in a minute,'' he said. ``I just noticed +discorea villosa has the finest rattle boxes formed. I've +been waiting to show you. And the hop tree has its +castanets all green and gold. In a few more weeks it +will begin to play for you. I'll bring you some.'' + +Soon he returned with the queer seed formations, and +as he bent above her, with his back to Doctor Harmon, he +whispered, ``What is it?'' + +Her lips barely formed the one word, ``Hurry!'' + +The Harvester straightened. + +``All comfortable, Ruth?'' he asked casually. + +``Yes.'' + +``You understand, of course, that there is not the +slightest necessity for my going to work if you really +want me for anything, even if it's nothing more than to +have me within calling distance, in case you SHOULD +want something. The whole lot I can gather now won't +amount to twenty dollars. It's merely a matter of +pride with me to have what is called for. I'd much rather +remain, if you can use me in any way at all.'' + +``Twenty dollars is considerable, when expenses are +as heavy as now. And it's worth more than any money +to you not to fail when orders come. I have learned that, +and David, I don't want you to either. You must fill +all demands as usual. I wouldn't forgive myself this +winter if you should be forced to send orders only partly +filled because I fell ill and hindered you. Please go and +gather all you possibly will need of everything you take +at this season, only remember!'' + +``There is no danger of my forgetting. If you are +going to send me away to work, you will allow me to kiss +your hand before I go, fair lady?'' + +He did it fervently. + +``One word with you, Harmon,'' he said as he left the +room. + +Doctor Harmon arose and followed him to the gold +garden, and together they stood beside the molten hedge +of sunflowers, coneflowers, elecampane, and jewel flower. + +``I merely want to mention that this is your inning,'' +said the Harvester. ``Find out if you are essential to the +Girl's happiness as soon as you can, and the day she tells +me so, I will file her petition and take a trip to the city +to study some little chemical quirks that bother me. +That's all.'' + +The Harvester went to the dry-house for bags and +clipping shears, and the doctor returned to the sunshine room. + +``Ruth,'' he said, ``do you know that the Harvester +is the squarest man I ever met?'' + +``Is he?'' asked the Girl. + +``He is! He certainly is!'' + +``You must remember that I have little acquaintance +with men,'' said she. ``You are the first one I ever knew, +and the only one except him.'' + +``Well I try to be square,'' said Doctor Harmon, +``but that is where Langston has me beaten a mile. I +have to try. He doesn't. He was born that way.'' + +The Girl began to laugh. + +``His environment is so different,'' she said. ``Perhaps +if he were in a big city, he would have to try +also.'' + +``Won't do!'' said the doctor. ``He chose his location. +So did I. He is a stronger physical man than I ever was +or ever will be. The struggle that bound him to the +woods and to research, that made him the master of +forces that give back life, when a man like Carey says +it is the end, proves him a master. The tumult in his +soul must have been like a cyclone in his forest, when he +turned his back on the world and stuck to the woods. +Carey told me about it. Some day you must hear. It's +a story a woman ought to know in order to arrive at +proper values. You never will understand the man until +you know that he is clean where most of us are blackened +with ugly sins we have no right on God's footstool +to commit and not so much reason as he. Every man +should be as he is, but very few are. Carey says Langston's +mother was a wonderful element in the formation +of his character; but all mothers are anxious, and none +of them can build with no foundation and no soul timber. +She had material for a man to her hand, or she couldn't +have made one.'' + +``I see what you mean.'' + +``So far as any inexperienced girl ever sees,'' said the +doctor. ``Some day if you live to fifty you will know, +but you can't comprehend it now.'' + +``If you think I lived all my life in Chicago's poverty +spots and don't know unbridled human nature!'' + +``I found you and your mother unusually innocent +women. You may understand some things. I hope +you do. It will help you to decide who is the real man +among the men who come into your life. There are +some men, Ruth, who are fit to mate with a woman, +and to perpetuate themselves and their mental and +moral forces in children, who will be like them, and there +are others who are not. It is these `others' who are +responsible for the sin of the world, the sickness and +suffering. Any time you are sure you have a chance at a +moral man, square and honest, in control of his brain and +body, if you are a wise woman, Ruth, stick to him as the +limpet to the rock.'' + +``You mean stick to the Harvester?'' + +``If you are a wise woman!'' + +``When was a woman ever wise?'' + +``A few have been. They are the only care-free, +really happy ones of the world, the only wives without +a big, poison, blue-bottle fly in their ointment.'' + +``I detest flies!'' said the Girl. + +``So do I,'' said the doctor. ``For this reason I say +to you choose the ointment that never had one in it. +Take the man who is `master of his fate, captain of his +soul.' Stick to the Harvester! He is infinitely the +better man!'' + +``Well have you seen anything to indicate that I +wasn't sticking?'' asked the Girl. + +``No. And for your sake I hope I never will.'' + +She laughed softly. + +``You do love him, Ruth?'' + +``As I did my mother, yes. There is not a trace in +my heart of the thing he calls love.'' + +``You have been stunted, warped, and the fountains +of life never have opened. It will come with right +conditions of living.'' + +``Do you think so?'' + +``I know so. At least there is no one else you love, +Ruth?'' + +``No one except you.'' + +``And do you feel about me just as you do him?'' + +``No! It is different. What I owe him is for myself. +What I owe you is for my mother. You saw! You +know! You understand what you did for her, and what +it meant to me. The Harvester must be the finest man +on earth, but when I try to think of either God or Heaven, +your face intervenes.'' + +``That's all right, Ruth, I'm so glad you told me,'' +said Doctor Harmon. ``I can make it all perfectly clear +to you. You just go on and worship me all you please. +It's bound to make a cleaner, better man of me. +What you feel for me will hold me to a higher moral +level all my life than I ever have known before; but never +forget that you are not going to live in Heaven. You +will be here at least sixty years yet, so when you come +to think of selecting a partner for the relations of the +world, you stick to the finest man on earth; see?'' + +``I do!'' said the Girl. ``I saw you kiss Molly a +week ago. She is lovely, and I hope you will be +perfectly happy. It won't interfere with my worshipping +you; not the least in the world. Go ahead and be +joyful!'' + +The doctor sprang to his feet in crimson confusion. +The Girl lay and laughed at him. + +``Don't!'' she cried. ``It's all right! It takes a weight +off my soul as heavy as a mountain. I do adore you, as +I said. But every hour since I left Chicago a big, black +cloud has hung over me. I didn't feel free. I didn't +feel absolved. I felt that my obligations to you were so +heavy that when I had settled the last of the money debt +I was in honour bound----'' + +``Don't, Ruth! Forget those dreadful times, as I told +you then! Think only of a happy future!'' + +``Let me finish,'' said the Girl. ``Let me get this out +of my system with the other poison. From the day I +came here, I've whispered in my heart, `I am not free!' +But if you love another woman! If you are going to take +her to your heart and to your lips, why that is my +release. Oh Man, speak the words! Tell me I am free +indeed!'' + +``Ruth, be quiet, for mercy sake! You'll raise a +temperature, and the Harvester will pitch me into the lake. +You are free, child, of course! You always have been. +I understood the awful pressure that was on you with +the very first glimpse I had of your mother. Who was +she, Ruth?'' + +``She never would tell me.'' + +``She thought you would appeal to her people?'' + +``She knew I would! I couldn't have helped it.'' + +``Would you like to know?'' + +``I never want to. It is too late. I infinitely prefer +to remain in ignorance. Talk of something else.'' + +``Let me read a wonderful book I found on the +Harvester's shelves.'' + +``Anything there will contain wonders, because he only +buys what appeals to him, and it takes a great book to +do that. I am going to learn. He will teach me, and +when I come within comprehending distance of him, then +we are going on together.'' + +``What an attractive place this is!'' + +``Isn't it? I only have seen enough to understand the +plan. I scarcely can wait to set my feet on earth and go +into detail. Granny Moreland says that when spring +comes over the hill, and brings up the flowers in the big +woods, she'd rather walk through them than to read +Revelation. She says it gives her an idea of Heaven +she can come closer realizing and it seems more stable. +You know she worries about the foundations. She can't +understand what supports Heaven. But up there in +Medicine Woods the old dear gets so close her God +that some day she is going to realize that her idea +of Heaven there is quite as near right as marble +streets and gold pillars and vastly more probable. The +day I reach that hill top again, Heaven begins for me. +Do you know the wonderful thing the Harvester did up +there?'' + +``Under the oak?'' + +``Yes.'' + +``Carey told me. It was marvellous.'' + +``Not such a marvel as another the doctor couldn't have +known. The Harvester made passing out so natural, +so easy, so a part of elemental forces, that I almost have +forgotten her tortured body. When I think of her now, +it is to wonder if next summer I can distinguish her +whisper among the leaves. Before you go, I'll take you +up there and tell you what he says, and show you what +he means, and you will feel it also.'' + +``What if I shouldn't go?'' + +``What do you mean?'' + +``Doctor Carey has offered me a splendid position in +his hospital. There would be work all day, instead of +waiting all day in the hope of working an hour. There +would be a living in it for two from the word go. There +would be better air, longer life, more to be got out of it, +and if I can make good, Carey's work to take up as he +grows old.'' + +``Take it! Take it quickly!'' cried the Girl. ``Don't +wait a minute! You might wear out your heart in +Chicago for twenty years or forever, and not have an +opportunity to do one half so much good. Take it at +once!'' + +``I was waiting to learn what you and Langston would +say.'' + +``He will say take it.'' + +``Then I will be too happy for words. Ruth, you have +not only paid the debt, but you have brought me the +greatest joy a man ever had. And there is no need to +wait the ages I thought I must. He can tell in a year if +I can do the work, and I know I can now; so it's all +settled, if Langston agrees.'' + +``He will,'' said the Girl. ``Let me tell him!'' + +``I wish you would,'' said the doctor. ``I don't know +just how to go at it.'' + +Then for two days the Harvester and Belshazzar +gathered herbs and spread them on the drying trays. +On the afternoon of the third, close three, the doctor +came to the door. + +``Langston,'' he said, ``we have a call for you. We +can't keep Ruth quiet much longer. She is tired. We +want to change her bed completely. She won't allow +either of us to lift her. She says we hurt her. Will +you come and try it?'' + +``You'll have to give me time to dip and rub off and +get into clean clothing,'' he said. ``I've been keeping +away, because I was working on time, and I smell to +strangulation of stramonium and saffron.'' + +``Can't give you ten seconds,'' said the doctor. ``Our +temper is getting brittle. We are cross as the proverbial +fever patient. If you don't come at once we will imagine +you don't want to, and refuse to be moved at all.'' + +``Coming!'' cried the Harvester, as he plunged his +hands in the wash bowl and soused his face. A second +later he appeared on the porch. + +``Ruth,'' he said, ``I am steeped in the odours of +the dry-house. Can't you wait until I bathe and +dress?'' + +``No, I can't,'' said a fretful voice. ``I can't endure +this bed another minute.'' + +``Then let Doctor Harmon lift you. He is so fresh and +clean.'' + +The Harvester glanced enviously at the shaven face +and white trousers and shirt of the doctor. + +``I just hate fresh, clean men. I want to smell herbs. +I want to put my feet in the dirt and my hands in the +water.'' + +The Harvester came at a rush. He brought a big easy +chair from the living-room, straightened the cover, and +bent above the Girl. He picked her up lightly, gently, +and easing her to his body settled in the chair. She laid her +face on his shoulder, and heaved a deep sigh of content. + +``Be careful with my back, Man,'' she said. ``I think +my spine is almost worn through.'' + +``Poor girl,'' said the Harvester. ``That bed should +be softer.'' + +``It should not!''contradicted the Girl. ``It should be +much harder. I'm tired of soft beds. I want to lie +on the earth, with my head on a root; and I wish it would +rain dirt on me. I am bathed threadbare. I want to +be all streaky.'' + +``I understand,'' said the Harvester. ``Harmon, bring +me a pad and pencil a minute, I must write an order +for some things I want. Will you call up town and +have them sent out immediately?'' + +On the pad he wrote: ``Telephone Carey to get the +highest grade curled-hair mattress, a new pad, and pillow, +and bring them flying in the car. Call Granny +and the girl and empty the room. Clean, air, and fumigate +it thoroughly. Arrange the furniture differently, +and help me into the living-room with Ruth.'' He +handed the pad to the doctor. + +``Please attend to that,'' he said, and to the Girl: +``Now we go on a journey. Doc, you and Molly take +the corners of the rug we are on and slide us into the other +room until you get this aired and freshened.'' + +In the living-room the Girl took one long look at the +surroundings and suddenly relaxed. She cuddled against +the Harvester and lifting a tremulous white hand, drew +it across his unshaven cheek. + +``Feels so good,'' she said. ``I'm sick and tired of +immaculate men.'' + +The Harvester laughed, tucked her feet in the cover and +held her tenderly. The Girl lay with her cheek against +the rough khaki, palpitant with the excitement of being +moved. + +``Isn't it great?'' she panted. + +He caught the hand that had touched his cheek in a +tender grip, and laughed a deep rumble of exultation +that came from the depths of his heart. + +``There's no name for it, honey,'' he said. ``But +don't try to talk until you have a long rest. Changing +positions after you have lain so long may be making +unusual work for your heart. Am I hurting your back?'' + +``No,'' said the Girl. ``This is the first time I have been +comfortable in ages. Am I tiring you?'' + +``Yes,'' laughed the Harvester. ``You are almost as +heavy as a large sack of leaves, but not quite equal to a +bridge pillar or a log. Be sure to think of that, and worry +considerably. You are in danger of straining my muscles +to the last degree, my heart included.'' + +``Where is your heart?'' whispered the Girl. + +``Right under your cheek,'' answered the Harvester. +``But for Heaven's sake, don't intimate that you are +taking any interest in it, or it will go to pounding until +your head will bounce. It's one member of my body that +I can't control where you are concerned.'' + +``I thought you didn't like me any more.'' + +``Careful!'' warned the Harvester. ``You are yet +too close Heaven to fib like that, Ruth. What have I +done to indicate that I don't love you more than ever?'' + +``Stayed away nearly every minute for three awful +days, and wouldn't come without being dragged; and +now you're wishing they would hurry and fix that bed, +so you can put me down and go back to your rank old +herbs again.'' + +``Well of all the black prevarications! I went when +you sent me, and came when you called. I'd willingly +give up my hope of what Granny calls `salvation' to +hold you as I am for an hour, and you know it.'' + +``It's going to be much longer than that,'' said the +Girl nestling to him. ``I asked for you because you +never hurt me, and they always do. I knew you were +so strong that my weight now wouldn't be a load for one +of your hands, and I am not going back to that bed +until I am so tired that I will be glad to lie down.'' + +For a long time she was so silent the Harvester thought +her going to sleep; and having learned that for him joy +was probably transient, he deliberately got all he could. +He closely held the hand she had not withdrawn, and +often lifted it to his lips. Sometimes he stroked the +heavy braid, gently ran his hands across the tired shoulders, +or eased her into a different position. There was +not a doubt in his mind of one thing. He was having a +royal, good time, and he was thankful for the work he +had set his assistants that kept them out of the room. +They seemed in no hurry, and from scuffling, laughing, +and a steady stream of talk, they were entertained at +least. At last the Girl roused. + +``There is something I want to ask you,'' she said. +``I promised Doctor Harmon I would.'' + +Instantly the heart of the Harvester gave a leap +that jarred the head resting on it. + +``You don't like him?'' questioned the Girl. + +``I do!'' declared the Harvester. ``I like him immensely. +There is not a fine, manly good-looking feature +about him that I have missed. I don't fail to do +him justice on every point.'' + +``I'm so glad! Then you will want him to remain.'' + +``Here?'' asked the Harvester with a light, hot breath. + +``In Onabasha! Doctor Carey has offered him the +place of chief assistant at the hospital. There is a good +salary and the chance of taking up the doctor's work as +he grows older. It means plenty to do at once, healthful +atmosphere, congenial society----everything to a young +man. He only had a call once in a while in Chicago, +often among people who received more than they paid, +like me, and he was very lonely. I think it would be +great for him.'' + +``And for you, Ruth?'' + +``It doesn't make the least difference to me; but for +his sake, because I think so much of him, I would like +to see him have the place.'' + +``You still think so much of him, Ruth?'' + +``More, if possible,'' said the Girl. ``Added to all I +owed him before, he has come here and worked for days +to save me, and it wasn't his fault that it took a bigger +man. Nothing alters the fact that he did all he could, +most graciously and gladly.'' + +``What do you mean, Ruth?'' stammered the Harvester. + +``Oh they have worn themselves out!'' cried the Girl +impatiently. ``First, Granny Moreland told me every +least little detail of how I went out, and you resurrected +me. I knew what she said was true, because she worked +with you. Then Doctor Carey told me, and Mrs. Carey, +and Doctor Harmon, and Molly, and even Granny's +little assistant has left the kitchen to tell me that I +owe my life to you, and all of them might as well have +saved breath. I knew all the time that if ever I came +out of this, and had a chance to be like other women, +it would be your work, and I'm glad it is. I'd hate +to be under obligations to some people I know; but I +feel honoured to be indebted to you.'' + +``I'm mighty sorry they worried you. I had no idea----'' + +``They didn't `worry,' me! I am just telling you that +I knew it all the time; that's all!'' + +``Forget that!'' said the Harvester. ``Come back to +our subject. What was it you wanted, dear?'' + +``To know if you have any objections to Doctor Harmon +remaining in Onabasha?'' + +``Certainly not! It will be a fine thing for him.'' + +``Will it make any difference to you in any way?'' + +``Ruth, that's probing too deep,'' said the Harvester. + +``I don't see why!'' + +``I'm glad of it!'' + +``Why?'' + +``I'd least rather show my littleness to you than to +any one else on earth.'' + +``Then you have some feeling about it?'' + +``Perhaps a trifle. I'll get over it. Give me a little +time to adjust myself. Doctor Harmon shall have the +place, of course. Don't worry about that!'' + +``He will be so happy!'' + +``And you, Ruth?'' + +``I'll be happy too!'' + +``Then it's all right,'' said the Harvester. + +He laid down her hand, drew the cover over it, and +slightly shifted her position to rest her. The door +opened, and Doctor Harmon announced that the room +was ready. It was shining and fresh. The bed was +now turned with its head to the north, so that from it one +could see the big trees in Medicine Woods, the sweep +of the hillside, the sparkle of mallow-bordered Singing +Water, the driveway and the gold flower garden. Everything +was so changed that the room had quite a different +appearance. The instant he laid her on it the Girl said, +``This bed is not mine.'' + +``Yes it is,'' said the Harvester. ``You see, we were +a little excited sometimes, and we spilled a few quarts of +perfectly good medicine on your mattress. It was hopelessly +smelly and ruined; so I am going to cremate it +and this is your splinter new one and a fresh pad and +pillow. Now you try them and see if they are not much +harder and more comfortable.'' + +``This is just perfect!'' she sighed, as she sank into the bed. + +The Harvester bent over her to straighten the cover, +when suddenly she reached both arms around his neck, +and gripped him with all her strength. + +``Thank you!'' she said. + +``May I hold you to-morrow?'' whispered the Harvester, +emboldened by this. + +``Please do,'' said the Girl. + +The Harvester, with dog to heel, went to the oak to +think. + +``Belshazzar, kommen Sie!'' said the man, dropping +on the seat and holding out his hand. The dog laid his +muzzle in the firm grip. + +``Bel,'' said the Harvester, ``I am all at sea. One day +I think maybe I have a little chance, the next----none at +all. I had an hour of solid comfort to-day, now I'm in the +sweat box again. It's a little selfish streak in me, Bel, +that hates to see Harmon go into the hospital and take +my place with the Careys. They are my best and only +friends. He is young, social, handsome, and will be +ever present. In three months he will become so popular +that I might as well be off the earth. I wish I didn't +think it, but I'm so small that I do. And then there is +my Dream Girl, Bel. The girl you found for me, old +fellow. There never was another like her, and she has +my heart for all time. And he has hers. That hospital +plan is the best thing in the world for her. It will keep +her where Carey can have an eye on her, where the air +is better, where she can have company without the city +crush, where she is close the country, and a good living +is assured. Bel, it's the nicest arrangement you ever +saw for every one we know, except us.'' + +The Harvester laughed shortly. ``Bel,'' he said, ``tell +me! If a man lived a hundred years, could he have the +heartache all the way? Seems like I've had it almost +that long now. In fact, I've had it such ages I'd be +lonesome without it. This is some more of my very +own medicine, so I shouldn't make a wry face over +taking it. I knew what would happen when I sent for +him, and I didn't hesitate. I must not now. + +``Only I got to stop one thing, Bel. I told him I +would play square, and I have. But here it ends. +After this, I must step back and be big brother. Lots +of fun in this brother business, Bel. But maybe I am +cut out for it. Anyway it's written! But if it is, how +did she come to allow me such privileges as I took to- +day? That wasn't professional by any means. It +was just the stiffest love-making I knew how to do, Bel, +and she didn't object by the quiver of an eyelash. God +knows I was watching closely enough for any sign that I +was distasteful. And I might have been well enough. +Rough, herb-stained old clothes, unshaven, everything +to offend a dainty girl. She said I might hold her again +to-morrow. And, Bel, what the nation did she hug me +like that for, if she's going to marry him? Boy, I see +my way clear to an hour more. While I'm at it, just to +surprise myself, I believe I'll take it like other men. I +think I'll go on a little bender, and make what probably +will be the last day a plumb good one. Something +worth remembering is better than nothing at all, Bel! +He hasn't told me that he has won. She didn't SAY +she was going to marry him, and she did say he hurt +her, and she wanted me. Bel, how about the grimness +of it, if she should marry him and then discover that +he hurts her, and she wants me. Lord God Almighty, +if you have any mercy at all, never put me up against +that,'' prayed the Harvester, ``for my heart is water +where she is concerned.'' + +The Harvester arose, and going to the lake, he cut an +arm load of big, pink mallows, covered each mound with +fresh flowers, whistled to the dog, and went to his work. +Many things had accumulated, and he cleaned the barn, +carried herbs from the dry-house to the store-room, +and put everything into shape. Close noon the next +day he went to Onabasha, and was gone three hours. +He came back barbered in the latest style, and carrying +a big bundle. When the hour for arranging the bed +came, he was yet in his room, but he sent word he +would be there in a second. + +As he crossed the living-room he pulled a chair to the +veranda and placed a footstool before it. Then he +stepped into the sunshine room. A quizzical expression +crossed the face of Doctor Harmon as he closed the book +he was reading aloud to the Girl and arose. Wholly +unembarrassed the Harvester smiled. + +``Have I got this rigging anywhere near right?'' he +inquired. + +``David, what have you done?'' gasped the amazed +Girl. + +``I didn't feel anywhere near up to the `mark of my +high calling' yesterday,'' quoted the Harvester. ``I +don't know how I appear, but I'm clean as shaving, +soap and hot water will make me, and my clothing will +not smell offensively. Now come out of that bed for a +happy hour. Where is that big coverlet? You are going +on the veranda to-day.'' + +``You look just like every one else,'' complained +Doctor Harmon. + +``You look perfectly lovely,'' declared the Girl. + +``The swale sends you this invitation to come and see +star-shine at the foot of mullein hill,'' said the Harvester, +offering a bouquet. It was a loose bunch of long- +stemmed, delicate flowers, each an inch across, and +having five pearl-white petals lightly striped with pale +green. Five long gold anthers arose, and at their base +gold stamens and a green pistil. The leaves were heart- +shaped and frosty, whitish-green, resembling felt. The +Harvester bent to offer them. + +``Have some Grass of Parnassus, my dear,'' he said. + +The Girl waved them away. ``Go stand over there by +the door and slowly turn around. I want to see you.'' + +The Harvester obeyed. He was freshly and carefully +shaven. His hair was closely cropped at the base of +the head, long, heavy, and slightly waving on top. He +wore a white silk shirt, with a rolling collar and tie, white +trousers, belt, hose, and shoes, and his hands were +manicured with care. + +``Have I made a mess of it, or do I appear anything +like other men?'' he asked, eagerly. + +The Girl lifted her eyes to Doctor Harmon and smiled. + +``Do you observe anything messy?'' she inquired. + +``You needn't fish for compliments quite so obviously,'' +he answered. ``I'll pay them without being asked. +I do not. He is quite correct, and infinitely better +looking than the average. Distinguished is a proper +word for the gentleman in my opinion. But why, in +Heaven's name, have we never had the pleasure of seeing +you thus before?'' + +``Look here, Doc,'' said the Harvester, ``do you mean +that you enjoy looking at me merely because I am dressed +this way?'' + +``I do indeed,'' said the doctor. ``It is good to see +you with the garb of work laid aside, and the stamp of +cleanliness and ease upon you.'' + +``By gum, that is rubbing it in a little too rough!'' +cried the Harvester. ``I bathe oftener than you do. My +clothing is always clean when I start out. Of course, +in my work I come hourly in contact with muck, water, +and herb juices.'' + +``It's understood that is unavoidable,'' said Doctor +Harmon. + +``And if cleanliness is made an issue, I'd rather roll +in any of it than put my finger tips into the daily work +of a surgeon,'' added the Harvester, and the Girl +giggled. + +``That's enough Medicine Man!'' she said. ``You +did not make a `mess' of it, or anything else you ever +attempted. As for appearing like other men, thank +Heaven, you do not. You look just a whole world +bigger and better and finer. Come, carry me out +quickly. I am wild to go. Please put my lovely flowers +in water, Molly, only give me a few to hold.'' + +The Harvester arranged the pink coverlet, picked up +the Girl, and carried her to the living-room. + +``We will rest here a little,'' he said, ``and then, if you +feel equal to it, we will try the veranda. Are you easy +now?'' + +She nestled her face against the soft shirt and smiled +at him. She lifted her hand, laid it on his smooth cheek +and then the crisp hair. + +``Oh Man!'' she cried. ``Thank God you didn't give +me up, too! I want life! I want LIFE!'' + +The Harvester tightened his grip just a trifle. ``Then +I thank God, too,'' he said. ``Can you tell me how you +are, dear? Is there any difference?'' + +``Yes,'' she answered. ``I grow tired lying so long, +but there isn't the ghost of an ache in my bones. I can +just feel pure, delicious blood running in my veins. My +hands and feet are always warm, and my head cool.'' + +The Harvester's face drew very close. ``How about +your heart, honey?'' he whispered. ``Anything new there?'' + +``Yes, I am all over new inside and out. I want to +shout, run, sing, and swim. Oh I'd give anything to +have you carry me down and dip me in the lake right +now.'' + +``Soon, Girl! That will come soon,'' prophesied the +Harvester. + +``I scarcely can wait. And you did say a saddle, +didn't you? Won't it be great to come galloping up the +levee, when the leaves are red and the frost is in the air. +Oh am I going fast enough?'' + +``Much faster than I expected,'' said the Harvester. +``You are surprising all of us, me most of any. Ruth, +you almost make me hope that you regard this as home. +Honey, you are thinking a little of me these days?'' + +The hand that had fallen from his hair lay on his +shoulder. Now it slid around his neck, and gripped him with +all its strength. + +``Heaps and heaps!'' she said. ``All I get a chance to, +for being bothered and fussed over, and everlastingly +read mushy stuff that's intended for some one else. +Please take me to the veranda now; I want to tell you +something.'' + +His head swam, but the Harvester set his feet firmly, +arose, and carried his Dream Girl back to outdoor life. +When he reached the chair, she begged him to go a few +steps farther to the bench on the lake shore. + +``I am afraid,'' said the man. + +``It's so warm. There can't be any difference in the +air. Just a minute.'' + +The Harvester pushed open the screen, went to the +bench, and seating himself, drew the cover closely around +her. + +``Don't speak a word for a long time,'' he said. ``Just +rest. If I tire you too much and spoil everything, I +will be desperate.'' + +He clasped her to him, laid his cheek against her hair, +and his lips on her forehead. He held her hand and +kissed it over and over, and again he watched and could +find no resentment. The cool, pungent breeze swept +from the lake, and the voices of wild life chattered at +their feet. Sometimes the water folks splashed, while a +big black and gold butterfly mistook the Girl's dark hair +for a perching place and settled on it, slowly opening +its wonderful wings. + +``Lie quietly, Girl,'' whispered the Harvester. ``You +are wearing a living jewel, an ornament above price, on +your hair. Maybe you can see it when it goes. There!'' + +``Oh I did!'' she cried. ``How I love it here! Before +long may I lie in the dining-room window a while so I +can see the water. I like the hill, but I love the lake +more.'' + +``Now if you just would love me,'' said the +Harvester, ``you would have all Medicine Woods in your +heart.'' + +``Don't hurry me so!'' said the Girl. ``You gave me a +year; and it's only a few weeks, and I've not been myself, +and I'm not now. I mustn't make any mistake, and all +I know for sure is that I want you most, and I can rest +best with you, and I miss you every minute you are +gone. I think that should satisfy you.'' + +``That would be enough for any reasonable man,'' +said the Harvester angrily. ``Forgive me, Ruth, I have +been cruel. I forgot how frail and weak you are. It is +having Harmon here that makes me unnatural. It almost +drives me to frenzy to know that he may take you +from me.'' + +``Then send him away!'' + +``SEND HIM AWAY?'' + +``Yes, send him away! I am tired to death of his +poetry, and seeing him spoon around. Send both of +them away quickly!'' + +The Harvester gulped, blinked, and surreptitiously felt +for her pulse. + +``Oh, I've not developed fever again,'' she said. ``I'm +all right. But it must be a fearful expense to have both +of them here by the week, and I'm so tired of them, +Granny says she can take care of me just as well, and the +girl who helps her can cook. No one but you shall lift +me, if I don't get my nose Out until I can walk alone +Both of them are perfectly useless, and I'd much rather +you'd send them away.'' + +``There, there! Of course!'' said the Harvester +soothingly. ``I'll do it as soon as I possibly dare. You +don't understand, honey. You are yet delicate beyond +measure, internally. The fever burned so long. Every +morsel you eat is measured and cooked in sterilized vessels, +and I'd be scared of my life to have the girl undertake it.'' + +``Why she is doing it straight along now! She and +Granny! Molly isn't out of Doctor Harmon's sight long +enough to cook anything. Granny says there is `a lot of +buncombe about what they do, and she is going to tell +them so right to their teeth some of these days, if they +badger her much more,' and I wish she would, and you, +too.'' + +The Harvester gathered the Girl to him in one +crushing bear hug. + +``For the love of Heaven, Ruth, you drive me crazy! +Answer me just one question. When you told me that +you `adored and worshipped' Doctor Harmon, did you +mean it, or was that the delirium of fever?'' + +``I don't know WHAT I told you! If I said I `adored' +him, it was the truth. I did! I do! I always will! +So do I adore the Almighty, but that's no sign I want +him to read poetry to me, and be around all the time +when I am wild for a minute with you. I can worship +Doctor Harmon in Chicago or Onabasha quite as well. +Fire him! If you don't, I will!'' + +``Good Lord!'' cried the Harvester, helpless until +the Girl had to cling to him to prevent rolling from his +nerveless arms. ``Ruth, Ruth, will you feel my pulse?'' + +``No, I won't! But you are going to drop me. Take +me straight back to my beautiful new bed, and send them +away.'' + +``A minute! Give me a minute!'' gasped the +Harvester. ``I couldn't lift a baby just now. Ruth, dear, I +thought you LOVED the man.'' + +``What made you think so?'' + +``You did!'' + +``I didn't either! I never said I loved him. I said +I was under obligations to him; but they are as well +repaid as they ever can be. I said I adored him, and I +tell you I do! Give him what we owe him, both of us, +in money, and send them away. If you'd seen as much +of them as I have, you'd be tired of them, too. Please, +please, David!'' + +``Yes,'' said the Harvester, arising in a sudden tide +of effulgent joy. ``Yes, Girl, just as quickly as I can +with decency. I----I'll send them on the lake, and I'll +take care of you.'' + +``You won't read poetry to me?'' + +``I will not.'' + +``You won't moon at me?'' + +``No!'' + +``Then hurry! But have them take your boat. I am +going to have the first ride in mine.'' + +``Indeed you are, and soon, too!'' said the Harvester, +marching up the hill as if he were leading hosts to +battle. + +He laid the Girl on the bed and covered her, and called +Granny Moreland to sit beside her a few minutes. He +went into the gold garden and proposed that the doctor +and the nurse go rowing until supper time, and they +went with alacrity. When they started he returned to +the Girl and, sitting beside her, he told Granny to take +a nap. Then he began to talk softly all about wild music, +and how it was made, and what the different odours +sweeping down the hill were, and when the red leaves +would come, and the nuts rattle down, and the frost +fairies enamel the windows, and soon she was sound asleep. +Granny came back, and the Harvester walked around +the lake shore to be alone a while and think quietly, +for he was almost too dazed and bewildered for full +realization. + +As he softly followed the foot path he heard voices, +and looking down, he saw the boat lying in the shade and +beneath a big tree on the bank sat the doctor and the +nurse. His arm was around her, and her head was on +his shoulder; and she said very distinctly, ``How long +will it be until we can go without offending him?'' + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +A VERTICAL SPINE + +By middle September the last trace of illness +had been removed from the premises, and it +was rapidly disappearing from the face and form +of the Girl. She was showing a beautiful roundness, +there was lovely colour on her cheeks and lips, and in +her dark eyes sparkled a touch of mischief. Rigidly +she followed the rules laid down for diet and exercise, +and as strength flowed through her body, and no trace +of pain tormented her, she began revelling in new and +delightful sensations. She loved to pull her boat as +she willed, drive over the wood road, study the books, +cook the new dishes, rearrange furniture, and go with +the Harvester everywhere. + +But that was greatly the management of the man. +He was so afraid that something might happen to undo +all the wonders accomplished in the Girl, and again +whiten her face with pain, that he scarcely allowed her +out of his sight. He remained in the cabin, helping +when she worked, and then drove with her and a big +blanket to the woods, arranged her chair and table, +found some attractive subject, and while the wind +ravelled her hair and flushed her cheeks, her fingers +drew designs. At noon they went to the cabin to lunch, +and the Girl took a nap, while the Harvester spread +his morning's reaping on the shelves to dry. They +returned to the woods until five o'clock; then home again +and the Girl dressed and prepared supper, while the +Harvester spread his stores and fed the stock. Then +he put on white clothing for the evening. The Girl +rested while he washed the dishes, and they explored +the lake in the little motor boat, or drove to the city +for supplies, or to see their friends. + +``Are you even with your usual work at this time of +the year?'' she asked as they sat at breakfast. + +``I am,'' said the Harvester. ``The only things that +have been crowded out are the candlesticks. They +will have to remain on the shelf until the herbs and roots +are all in, and the long winter evenings come. Then +I'll use the luna pattern and finish yours first of all.'' + +``What are you going to do to-day?'' + +``Start on a regular fall campaign. Some of it for the +sake of having it, and some because there is good money +in it. Will you come?'' + +``Indeed yes. May I help, or shall I take my drawing +along?'' + +``Bring your drawing. Next fall you may help, but as +yet you are too close suffering for me to see you do anything +that might be even a slight risk. I can't endure it.'' + +``Baby!'' she jeered. + +``Christen me anything you please,'' laughed the +Harvester. ``I'm short on names anyway.'' + +He went to harness Betsy, and the Girl washed the +dishes, straightened the rooms, and collected her drawing +material. Then she walked up the hill, wearing a shirt +and short skirt of khaki, stout shoes, and a straw hat +that shaded her face. She climbed into the wagon, +laid the drawing box on the seat, and caught the lines +as the Harvester flung them to her. He went swinging +ahead, Belshazzar to heel, the Girl driving after. The +white pigeons circled above, and every day Ajax allowed +his curiosity to overcome his temper, and followed a +little farther. + +``Whoa, Betsy!'' The Girl tugged at the lines; but +Betsy took the bit between her teeth, and plodded after +the Harvester. She pulled with all her might, but her +strength was not nearly sufficient to stop the stubborn +animal. + +``Whoa, David!'' cried the Girl. + +``What is it?'' the Harvester turned. + +``Won't you please wait until I can take off my hat? +I love to ride bareheaded through the woods, and Betsy +won't stop until you do, no matter how hard I pull.'' + +``Betsy, you're no lady!'' said the Harvester. ``Why +don't you stop when you're told?'' + +``I shan't waste any more strength on her,'' said the +Girl. ``Hereafter I shall say, `Gee, David,' `Haw, David,' +`Whoa, David,' and then she will do exactly as you.'' + +The Harvester stopped half way up the hill, and +beside a large, shaded bed spread the rug, and set up the +little table and chair for the Girl. + +``Want a plant to draw?'' he asked. ``This is very +important to us. It has a string of names as long as a +princess, but I call it goldenseal, because the roots are +yellow. The chemists ask for hydrastis. That sounds +formidable, but it's a cousin of buttercups. The woods +of Ohio and Indiana produce the finest that ever grew, +but it is so nearly extinct now that the trade can be +supplied by cultivation only. I suspect I'm responsible +for its disappearance around here. I used to get a dollar +fifty a pound, and most of my clothes and books when +a boy I owe to it. Now I get two for my finest grade; +that accounts for the size of these beds.'' + +``It's pretty!'' said the Girl, studying a plant +averaging a foot in height. On a slender, round, purplish +stem arose one big, rough leaf, heavily veined, and having +from five to nine lobes. Opposite was a similar leaf, +but very small, and a head of scarlet berries resembling a +big raspberry in shape. The Harvester shook the +black woods soil from the yellow roots, and held up the +plant. + +``You won't enjoy the odour,'' he said. + +``Well I like the leaves. I know I can use them some +way. They are so unusual. What wonderful colour in +the roots!'' + +``One of its names is Indian paint,'' explained the +Harvester. ``Probably it furnished the squaws of these +woods with colouring matter. Now let's see what we +can get out of it. You draw the plant and I'll dig the +roots.'' + +For a time the Girl bent over her work and the +Harvester was busy. Belshazzar ranged the woods chasing +chipmunks. The birds came asking questions. When +the drawing was completed, other subjects were found +at every turn, and the Girl talked almost constantly, +her face alive with interest. The May-apple beds lay +close, and she drew from them. She learned the uses +and prices of the plant, and also made drawings of +cohosh, moonseed and bloodroot. That was so wonderful +in its root colour, the Harvester filled the little cup +with water and she began to paint. Intensely absorbed +she bent above the big, notched, silvery leaves and +the blood-red roots, testing and trying to match them +exactly. Every few minutes the Harvester leaned over +her shoulder to see how she was progressing and to +offer suggestions. When she finished she picked up a +trailing vine of moonseed. + +``You have this on the porch,'' she said. ``I think it +is lovely. There is no end to the beautiful combinations +of leaves, and these are such pretty little grape-like +clusters; but if you touch them the slightest you soil +the wonderful surface.'' + +``And that makes the fairies very sad,'' said the +Harvester. ``They love that vine best of any, because +they paint its fruit with the most care. `Bloom' the +scientists call it. You see it on cultivated plums, grapes, +and apples, but never in any such perfection as on moonseed +and black haws in the woods. You should be able +to design a number of pretty things from the cohosh +leaves and berries, too. You scarcely can get a start +this fall, but early in the spring you can begin, and follow +the season. If your work comes out well this winter, +I'll send some of it to the big publishing houses, and +you can make book and magazine covers and decorations, +if you would like.'' + +`` `If I would like!' How modest! You know perfectly +well that if I could make a design that would be +accepted, and used on a book or magazine, I would almost +fly. Oh do you suppose I could?'' + +``I don't `suppose' anything about it, I know,'' said +the Harvester. ``It is not possible that the public can +be any more tired of wild roses, golden-rod, and swallows +than the poor art editors who accept them because +they can't help themselves. Dangle something fresh +and new under their noses and see them snap. The next +time I go to Onabasha I'll get you some popular magazines, +and you can compare what is being used with +what you see here, and judge for yourself how glad they +would be for a change. And potteries, arts and crafts +shops, and wall paper factories, they'd be crazy for the +designs I could furnish them. As for money, there's +more in it than the herbs, if I only could draw.'' + +``I can do that,'' said the Girl. ``Trail the vine and +give me an idea how to scale it. I'll just make studies +now, and this winter I'll conventionalize them and work +them into patterns. Won't that be fun?'' + +``That's more than fun, Ruth,'' said the Harvester +solemnly. ``That is creation. That touches the +provinces of the Almighty. That is taking His unknown +wonders and making them into pleasure and benefit +for thousands, not to mention filling your face with awe +divine, and lighting your eyes with interest and ambition. +That is life, Ruth. You are beginning to live right now.'' + +``I see,'' said the Girl. ``I understand! I am!'' + +``You get your subjects now. When the harvest is +over I'll show you what I have in my head, and before +Christmas the fun will begin.'' + +``What next?'' + +``Sketch a sarsaparilla plant and this yam vine. It +grows on your veranda too----the rattle box, you +remember. The leaves and seeding arrangements are +wonderful. You can do any number of things with them, +and all will be new.'' + +He called her attention to and brought her samples +of ginger leaves, Indian hemp, queen-of-the-meadow, +cone-flower, burdock, baneberry, and Indian turnip, +as he harvested them in turn. When they came to the +large beds of orange pleurisy root the Girl cried out with +pleasure. + +``We will take its prosaic features first,'' said the +Harvester. ``It is good medicine and worth handling. +Forget that! The Bird Woman calls it butterfly flower. +That's better. Now try to analyze a single bloom of +this gaudy mass, and you will see why there's poetry +coming.'' + +He knelt beside the Girl, separating the blooms and +pointing out their marvellous colour and construction. +She leaned against his shoulder, and watched with breathless +interest. As his bare head brought its mop of damp +wind-rumpled hair close, she ran her fingers through it, +and with her handkerchief wiped his forehead. + +``Sometimes I almost wish you'd get sick,'' she said +irrelevantly. + +``In the name of common sense, why?'' demanded the +Harvester. + +``Oh it must be born in the heart of a woman to want +to mother something,'' answered the Girl. ``I feel +sometimes as if I would like to take care of you, as if +you were a little fellow. David, I know why your mother +fought to make you the man she desired. You must +have been charming when small. I can shut my eyes +and just see the boy you were, and I should have loved +you as she did.'' + +``How about the man I am?'' inquired the Harvester +promptly. ``Any leanings toward him yet, Ruth?'' + +``It's getting worser and worser every day and hour,'' +said the Girl. ``I don't understand it at all. I wouldn't +try to live without you. I don't want you to leave my +sight. Everything you do is the way I would have it. +Nothing you ever say shocks or offends me. I'd love +to render you any personal service. I want to take you +in my arms and hug you tight half a dozen times a +day as a reward for the kind and lovely things you do +for me.'' + +A dull red flamed up the neck and over the face of the +Harvester. One arm lifted to the chair back, the other +dropped across the table so that the Girl was almost +encircled. + +``For the love of mercy, Ruth, why haven't I had a +hint of this before?'' he cried. + +``You said you'd hate me. You said you'd drop me +into the deepest part of the lake if I deceived you; and +if I have to tell the truth, why, that is all of it. I think +it is nonsense about some wonderful feeling that is going +to take possession of your heart when you love any one. +I love you so much I'd gladly suffer to save you pain or +sorrow. But there are no thrills; it's just steady, sober, +common sense that I should love you, and I do. Why +can't you be satisfied with what I can give, David?'' + +``Because it's husks and ashes,'' said the Harvester +grimly. ``You drive me to desperation, Ruth. I am +almost wild for your love, but what you offer me is plain, +straight affection, nothing more. There isn't a trace of +the feeling that should exist between man and wife in it. +Some men might be satisfied to be your husband, and +be regarded as a father or brother. I am not. The red +bird didn't want a sister, Ruth, he was asking for a mate. +So am I. That's as plain as I know how to put it. +There is some way to awaken you into a living, loving +woman, and, please God, I'll find it yet, but I'm slow +about it; there's no question of that. Never you mind! +Don't worry! Some of these days I have faith to believe +it will sweep you as a tide sweeps the shore, and then I +hope God will be good enough to let me be where you +will land in my arms.'' + +The Girl sat looking at him between narrowed lids. +Suddenly she took his head between her hands, drew his +face to hers and deliberately kissed him. Then she drew +away and searched his eyes. + +``There!'' she challenged. ``What is the matter with +that?'' + +The Harvester's colour slowly faded to a sickly white. + +``Ruth, you try me almost beyond human endurance,'' +he said. `` `What's the matter with that?' '' He arose, +stepped back, folded his arms, and stared at her. `` `What's +the matter with that?' '' he repeated. ``Never was I so +sorely tempted in all my life as I am now to lie to you, +and say there is nothing, and take you in my arms and +try to awaken you to what I mean by love. But suppose +I do----and fail! Then comes the agony of slow endurance +for me, and the possibility that any day you may +meet the man who can arouse in you the feelings I +cannot. That would mean my oath broken, and my heart +as well; while soon you would dislike me beyond tolerance, +even. I dare not risk it! The matter is, that was the +loving caress of a ten-year-old girl to a big brother she +admired. That's all! Not much, but a mighty big +defect when it is offered a strong man as fuel on which +to feed consuming passion.'' + +``Consuming passion,'' repeated the Girl. ``David +you never lie, and you never exaggerate. Do you +honestly mean that there is something----oh, there is! +I can see it! You are really suffering, and if I come to +you, and try my best to comfort you, you'll only call it +baby affection that you don't want. David, what am +I going to do?'' + +``You are going to the cabin,'' said the Harvester, ``and +cook us a big supper. I am dreadfully hungry. I'll be along +presently. Don't worry, Ruth, you are all right! That +kiss was lovely. Tell me that you are not angry with me.'' + +Her eyes were wet as she smiled at him. + +``If there is a bigger brute than a man anywhere on the +footstool, I should like to meet it,'' said the Harvester, +``and see what it appears like. Go along, honey; I'll +be there as soon as I load.'' + +He drove to the dry-house, washed and spread his +reaping on the big trays, fed the stock, dressed in the +white clothing and entered the kitchen. That the Girl +had been crying was obvious, but he overlooked it, +helped with the work, and then they took a boat ride. +When they returned he proposed that she should select +her favourite likeness of her mother, and the next time +he went to the city he would take it with his, and order +the enlargements he had planned. To save carrying a +lighted lamp into the closet he brought her little trunk +to the living-room, where she opened it and hunted the +pictures. There were several, and all of them were of a +young, elegantly dressed woman of great beauty. The +Harvester studied them long. + +``Who was she, Ruth?'' he asked at last. + +``I don't know, and I have no desire to learn.'' + +``Can you explain how the girl here represented came +to marry a brother of Henry Jameson?'' + +``Yes. I was past twelve when my father came the +last time, and I remember him distinctly. If Uncle +Henry were properly clothed, he is not a bad man in +appearance, unless he is very angry. He can use proper +language, if he chooses. My father was the best in him, +refined and intensified. He was much taller, very good +looking, and he dressed and spoke well. They were +born and grew to manhood in the East, and came out +here at the same time. Where Uncle Henry is a trickster +and a trader in stock, my father went a step higher, and +tricked and traded in men----and women! Mother +told me this much once. He saw her somewhere and +admired her. He learned who she was, went to her +father's law office and pretended he was representing +some great business in the West, until he was welcomed +as a promising client. He hung around and when she +came in one day her father was forced to introduce them. +The remainder is the same world-old story----a good +looking, glib-tongued man, plying every art known to +an expert, on an innocent girl.'' + +``Is he dead, Ruth?'' + +``We thought so. We hoped so.'' + +``Your mother did not feel that her people might be +suffering for her as she was for them?'' + +``Not after she appealed to them twice and received +no reply.'' + +``Perhaps they tried to find her. Maybe she has a +father or mother who is longing for word from her now. +Are you very sure you are right in not wanting to know?'' + +``She never gave me a hint from which I could tell +who or where they were. In so gentle a woman as my +mother that only could mean she did not want them to +know of her. Neither do I. This is the photograph +I prefer; please use it.'' + +``I'll put back the trunk in the morning, when I can +see better,'' said the Harvester. + +The Girl closed it, and soon went to bed. But there +was no sleep for the man. He went into the night, and +for hours he paced the driveway in racking thought. +Then he sat on the step and looked at Belshazzar before +him. + +``Life's growing easier every minute, Bel,'' said the +Harvester. ``Here's my Dream Girl, lovely as the most +golden instant of that wonderful dream, offering me---- +offering me, Bel----in my present pass, the lips and the +love of my little sister who never was born. And I've +hurt Ruth's feelings, and sent her to bed with a heartache, +trying to make her see that it won't do. It won't, +Bel! If I can't have genuine love, I don't want anything. +I told her so as plainly as I could find words, and set her +crying, and made her unhappy to end a wonderful day. +But in some way she has got to learn that propinquity, +tolerance, approval, affection, even----is not love. I +can't take the risk, after all these years of waiting for +the real thing. If I did, and love never came, I would end +----well, I know how I would end----and that would +spoil her life. I simply have got to brace up, Bel, and +keep on trying. She thinks it is nonsense about thrills, +and some wonderful feeling that takes possession of +you. Lord, Bel! There isn't much nonsense about the +thing that rages in my brain, heart, soul, and body. It +strikes me as the gravest reality that ever overtook a +man. + +``She is growing wonderfully attached to me. `Couldn't +live without me,' Bel, that is what she said. Maybe +it would be a scheme to bring Granny here to stay with +her, and take a few months in some city this winter on +those chemical points that trouble me. There is an old +saying about `absence making the heart grow fonder.' +Maybe separation is the thing to work the trick. I've +tried about everything else I know. + +``But I'm in too much of a hurry! What a fool a +man is! A few weeks ago, Bel, I said to myself that if +Harmon were away and had no part in her life I'd be +the happiest man alive. Happiest man alive! Bel, +take a look at me now! Happy! Well, why shouldn't +I be happy? She is here. She is growing in strength and +beauty every hour. She cares more for me day by day. +From an outside viewpoint it seems as if I had almost +all a man could ask in reason. But when was a strong +man in the grip of love ever reasonable? I think the +Almighty took a pretty grave responsibility when He +made men as He did. If I had been He, and understood +the forces I was handling, I would have been too +big a coward to do it. There is nothing for me, Bel, but +to move on doing my level best; and if she doesn't +awaken soon, I will try the absent treatment. As sure +as you are the most faithful dog a man ever owned, Bel, +I'll try the absent treatment.'' + +The Harvester arose and entered the cabin, stepping +softly, for it was dark in the Girl's room, and he could +not hear a sound there. He turned up the lights in the +living-room. As he did so the first thing he saw was the +little trunk. He looked at it intently, then picked up a +book. Every page he turned he glanced again at the +trunk. At last he laid down the book and sat staring, +his brain working rapidly. He ended by carrying the +trunk to his room. He darkened the living-room, +lighted his own, drew the rain screens, and piece by piece +carefully examined the contents. There were the +pictures, but the name of the photographer had been +removed. There was not a word that would help in +identification. He emptied it to the bottom, and as +he picked up the last piece his fingers struck in a +peculiar way that did not give the impression of touching +a solid surface. He felt over it carefully, and when he +examined with a candle he plainly could see where the +cloth lining had been cut and lifted. + +For a long time he knelt staring at it, then he +deliberately inserted his knife blade and raised it. The +cloth had been glued to a heavy sheet of pasteboard the +exact size of the trunk bottom. Beneath it lay half a +dozen yellow letters, and face down two tissue-wrapped +photographs. The Harvester examined them first. They +were of a man close forty, having a strong, aggressive +face, on which pride and dominant will power were +prominently indicated. The other was a reproduction +of a dainty and delicate woman, with exquisitely tender +and gentle features. Long the Harvester studied them. +The names of the photographer and the city were missing. +There was nothing except the faces. He could detect +traces of the man in the poise of the Girl and the carriage +of her head, and suggestions of the woman in the refined +sweetness of her expression. Each picture represented +wealth in dress and taste in pose. Finally he laid them +together on the table, picked up one of the letters, and +read it. Then he read all of them. + +Before he finished, tears were running down his cheeks, +and his resolution was formed. These were the appeals +of an adoring mother, crazed with fear for the safety of +an only child, who unfortunately had fallen under the +influence of a man the mother dreaded and feared, because +of her knowledge of life and men of his character. They +were one long, impassioned plea for the daughter not +to trust a stranger, not to believe that vows of passion +could be true when all else in life was false, not to trust +her untried judgment of men and the world against the +experience of her parents. But whether the tears that +stained those sheets had fallen from the eyes of the +suffering mother or the starved and deserted daughter, +there was no way for the Harvester to know. One +thing was clear: It was not possible for him to rest +until he knew if that woman yet lived and bore such +suffering. But every trace of address had been +torn away, and there was nothing to indicate where +or in what circumstances these letters had been written. + +A long time the Harvester sat in deep thought. Then +he returned all the letters save one. This with the +pictures he made into a packet that he locked in his +desk. The trunk he replaced and then went to bed. +Early the next morning he drove to Onabasha and posted +the parcel. The address it bore was that of the largest +detective agency in the country. Then he bought an +interesting book, a box of fruit, and hurried back to the +Girl. He found her on the veranda, Belshazzar stretched +close with one eye shut and the other on his charge, +whose cheeks were flushed with lovely colour as she bent +over her drawing material. The Harvester went to +her with a rush, and slipping his fingers under her chin, +tilted back her head against him. + +``Got a kiss for me, honey?'' he inquired. + +``No sir,'' answered the Girl emphatically. ``I gave +you a perfectly lovely one yesterday, and you said it +was not right. I am going to try just once more, and +if you say again that it won't do, I'm going back to +Chicago or to my dear Uncle Henry, I haven't decided +which.'' + +Her lips were smiling, but her eyes were full of tears. + +``Why thank you, Ruth! I think that is wonderful,'' +said the Harvester. ``I'll risk the next one. In the +meantime, excuse me if I give you a demonstration +of the real thing, just to furnish you an idea of how it +should be.'' + +The Harvester delivered the sample, and went striding +to the marsh. The dazed Girl sat staring at her work, +trying to realize what had happened; for that was the +first time the Harvester had kissed her on the lips, and +it was the material expression a strong man gives the +woman he loves when his heart is surging at high tide. +The Girl sat motionless, gazing at her study. + +In the marsh she knew the Harvester was reaping +queen-of-the-meadow, and around the high borders, +elecampane and burdock. She could hear his voice +in snatches of song or cheery whistle; notes that she +divined were intended to keep her from worrying. Intermingled +with them came the dog's bark of defiance as +he digged for an escaping chipmunk, his note of pleading +when he wanted a root cut with the mattock, his cry of +discovery when he thought he had found something the +Harvester would like, or his yelp of warning when he +scented danger. The Girl looked down the drive to +the lake and across at the hedge. Everywhere she saw +glowing colour, with intermittent blue sky and green +leaves, all of it a complete picture, from which nothing +could be spared. She turned slowly and looked toward +the marsh, trying to hear the words of the song above +the ripple of Singing Water, and to see the form of the +man. Slowly she lifted her handkerchief and pressed +it against her lips, as she whispered in an awed voice, + +``My gracious Heaven, is THAT the kind of a kiss he is +expecting me to give HIM? Why, I couldn't----not to +save my life.'' + +She placed her brushes in water, set the colour box +on the paper, and went to the kitchen to prepare the +noon lunch. As she worked the soft colour deepened +in her cheeks, a new light glowed in her eyes, and she +hummed over the tune that floated across the marsh. +She was very busy when the Harvester came, but he +spoke casually of his morning's work, ate heartily, and +ordered her to take a nap while he washed roots and +filled the trays, and then they went to the woods +together for the afternoon. + +In the evening they came home to the cabin and finished +the day's work. As the night was chilly, the Harvester +heaped some bark in the living-room fireplace, and lay +on the rug before it, while the Girl sat in an easy chair +and watched him as he talked. He was telling her +about some wonderful combinations he was going to +compound for different ailments and he laughingly +asked her if she wanted to be a millionaire's wife and +live in a palace. + +``Of course I could if I wanted to!'' she suggested. + +``You could!'' cried the Harvester. ``All that is +necessary is to combine a few proper drugs in one great +remedy and float it. That is easy! The people will do the +remainder.'' + +``You talk as if you believe that,'' marvelled the Girl. + +``Want it proven?'' challenged the Harvester. + +``No!'' she cried in swift alarm. ``What do we want +with more than we have? What is there necessary +to happiness that is not ours now? Maybe it is true +that the `love of money is the root of all evil.' Don't +you ever get a lot just to find out. You said the night +I came here that you didn't want more than you had +and now I don't. I won't have it! It might bring +restlessness and discontent. I've seen it make other +people unhappy and separate them. I don't want money, +I want work. You make your remedies and offer them +to suffering humanity for just a living profit, and I'll +keep house and draw designs. I am perfectly happy, +free, and unspeakably content. I never dreamed that +it was possible for me to be so glad, and so filled with +the joy of life. There is only one thing on earth I want. +If I only could----'' + +``Could what, Ruth?'' + +``Could get that kiss right----'' + +The Harvester laughed. + +``Forget it, I tell you!'' he commanded. ``Just so +long as you worry and fret, so long I've got to wait. If +you quit thinking about it, all `unbeknownst' to yourself +you'll awake some morning with it on your lips. I +can see traces of it growing stronger every day. Very +soon now it's going to materialize, and then get out of +my way, for I'll be a whirling, irresponsible lunatic, +with the wild joy of it. Oh I've got faith in that kiss +of yours, Ruth! It's on the way. The fates have +booked it. There isn't a reason on earth why I should +be served so scurvy a trick as to miss it, and I never will +believe that I shall----'' + +``David,'' interrupted the Girl, ``go on talking and +don't move a muscle, just reach over presently and fix +the fire or something, and then turn naturally and look +at the window beside your door.'' + +``Shall miss it,'' said the Harvester steadily. +``That would be too unmerciful. What do you see, +Ruth?'' + +``A face. If I am not greatly mistaken, it is my +Uncle Henry and he appears like a perfect fiend. Oh +David, I am afraid!'' + +``Be quiet and don't look,'' said the Harvester. + +He turned and tossed a piece of bark on the fire. +Then he reached for the poker, pushed it down and +stirred the coals. He arose as he worked. + +``Rise slowly and quietly and go to your room. Stay +there until I call you.'' + +With the Girl out of the way, the Harvester pottered +over the fire, and when the flame leaped he lifted a stick +of wood, hesitated as if it were too small, and laying it +down, started to bring a larger one. In the dining- +room he caught a small stick from the wood box, softly +stepped from the door, and ran around the house. But +he awakened Belshazzar on the kitchen floor, and the +dog barked and ran after him. By the time the Harvester +reached the corner of his room the man leaped upon +a horse and went racing down the drive. The Harvester +flung the stick of wood, but missed the man and hit +the horse. The dog sprang past the Harvester and +vanished. There was the sound and flash of a revolver, +and the rattle of the bridge as the horse crossed it. The +dog came back unharmed. The Harvester ran to the +telephone, called the Onabasha police, and asked them +to send a mounted man to meet the intruder before he +could reach a cross road; but they were too slow and +missed him. However, the Girl was certain she had +recognized her uncle, and was extremely nervous; but +the Harvester only laughed and told her it was a trip +made out of curiosity. Her uncle wanted to see if +he could learn if she were well and happy, and he finally +convinced her that this was the case, although he was +not very sanguine himself. + +For the next three days the Harvester worked in the +woods and he kept the Girl with him every minute. +By the end of that time he really had persuaded himself +that it was merely curiosity. So through the cooling +fall days they worked together. They were very happy. +Before her wondering eyes the Harvester hung queer +branches, burs, nuts, berries, and trailing vines with +curious seed pods. There were masses of brilliant +flowers, most of them strange to the Girl, many to the +great average of humanity. While she sat bending over +them, beside her the Harvester delved in the black earth +of the woods, or the clay and sand of the open hillside, +or the muck of the lake shore, and lifted large bagfuls +of roots that he later drenched on the floating raft on +the lake, and when they had drained he dried them. +Some of them he did not wet, but scraped and wiped +clean and dry. Often after she was sleeping, and long +before she awoke in the morning, he was at work carry- +ing heaped trays from the evaporator to the store- +room, and tying the roots, leaves, bark, and seeds into +packages. + +While he gathered trillium roots the Girl made +drawings of the plant and learned its commercial value. +She drew lady's slipper and Solomon's seal, and learned +their uses and prices; and carefully traced wild ginger +leaves while nibbling the aromatic root. It was difficult +to keep from protesting when the work carried them +around the lake shore and to the pokeberry beds, for the +colour of these she loved. It required careful explanation +as to the value of the roots and seeds as blood purifier, +and the argument that in a few more days the frost +would level the bed, to induce her to consent to its +harvesting. But when the case was properly presented, +she put aside her drawing and stained her slender fingers +gathering the seeds, and loved the work. + +The sun was golden on the lake, the birds of the upland +were clustering over reeds and rushes, for the sake of +plentiful seed and convenient water. Many of them +sang fitfully, the notes of almost all of them were +melodious, and the day was a long, happy dream. There +was but little left to gather until ginseng time. For +that the Harvester had engaged several boys to help +him, for the task of digging the roots, washing and drying +them, burying part of the seeds and preparing the +remainder for market seemed endless for one man to +attempt. After a full day the Harvester lay before the +fire, and his head was so close the Girl's knee that her +fingers were in reach of his hair. Every time he mended +the fire he moved a little, until he could feel the touch +of her garments against him. Then he began to plan +for the winter; how they would store food for the long, +cold days, how much fuel would be required, when +they would go to the city for their winter clothing, +what they would read, and how they would work together +at the drawings. + +``I am almost too anxious to wait longer to get back +to my carving,'' he said. ``Whoever would have thought +this spring that fall would come and find the birds talking +of going, the caterpillars spinning winter quarters, the +animals holing up, me getting ready for the cold, and +your candlesticks not finished. Winter is when you +really need them. Then there is solid cheer in numbers +of candles and a roaring wood fire. The furnace is going +to be a good thing to keep the floors and the bathroom +warm, but an open fire of dry, crackling wood is the +only rational source of heat in a home. You must +watch for the fairy dances on the backwall, Ruth, and +learn to trace goblin faces in the coals. Sometimes there +is a panorama of temples and trees, and you will find +exquisite colour in the smoke. Dry maple makes a +lovely lavender, soft and fine as a floating veil, and damp +elm makes a blue, and hickory red and yellow. I almost +can tell which wood is burning after the bark is gone, by +the smoke and flame colour. When the little red fire +fairies come out and dance on the backwall it is fun +to figure what they are celebrating. By the way, Ruth, +I have been a lamb for days. I hope you have observed! +But I would sleep a little sounder to-night if you only +could give me a hint whether that kiss is coming on +at all.'' + +He tipped back his head to see her face, and it was +glorious in the red firelight; the big eyes never appeared +so deep and dark. The tilted head struck her hand, +and her fingers ran through his hair. + +``You said to forget it,'' she reminded him, ``and then +it would come sooner.'' + +``Which same translated means that it is not here yet. +Well, I didn't expect it, so I am not disappointed; but +begorry, I do wish it would materialize by Christmas. +I think I will work for that. Wouldn't it make a day +worth while, though? By the way, what do you want +for Christmas, Ruth?'' + +``A doll,'' she answered. + +The Harvester laughed. He tipped his head again +to see her face and suddenly grew quiet, for it was very +serious. + +``I am quite in earnest,'' she said. ``I think the big +dolls in the stores are beautiful, and I never owned only +a teeny little one. All my life I've wanted a big doll as +badly as I ever longed for anything that was not absolutely +necessary to keep me alive. In fact, a doll is +essential to a happy childhood. The mother instinct +is so ingrained in a girl that if she doesn't have dolls +to love, even as a baby, she is deprived of a part of her +natural rights. It's a pitiful thing to have been the +little girl in the picture who stands outside the window +and gazes with longing soul at the doll she is anxious +to own and can't ever have. Harvester, I was always +that little girl. I am quite in earnest. I want a big, +beautiful doll more than anything else.'' + +As she talked the Girl's fingers were idly threading +the Harvester's hair. His head lightly touched her +knee, and she shifted her position to afford him a +comfortable resting place. With a thrill of delight that +shook him, the man laid his head in her lap and looked +into the fire, his face glowing as a happy boy's. + +``You shall have the loveliest doll that money can buy, +Ruth,'' he promised. ``What else do you want?'' + +``A roasted goose, plum pudding, and all those horrid +indigestible things that Christmas stories always tell +about; and popcorn balls, and candy, and everything +I've always wanted and never had, and a long beautiful +day with you. That's all!'' + +``Ruth, I'm so happy I almost wish I could go to +Heaven right now before anything occurs to spoil this,'' +said the Harvester. + +The wheels of a car rattled across the bridge. He +whirled to his knees, and put his arms around the +Girl. + +``Ruth,'' he said huskily. ``I'll wager a thousand +dollars I know what is coming. Hug me tight, quick! +and give me the best kiss you can----any old kind of a +one, so you touch my lips with yours before I've got +to open that door and let in trouble.'' + +The Girl threw her arms around his neck and with the +imprint of her lips warm on his the Harvester crossed +the room, and his heart dropped from the heights with a +thud. He stepped out, closing the door behind him, and +crossing the veranda, passed down the walk. He recognized +the car as belonging to a garage in Onabasha, and +in it sat two men, one of whom spoke. + +``Are you David Langston?'' + +``Yes,'' said the Harvester. + +``Did you send a couple of photographs to a New +York detective agency a few days ago with inquiries +concerning some parties you wanted located?'' + +``I did,'' said the Harvester. ``But I was not expecting +any such immediate returns.'' + +``Your questions touched on a case that long has been +in the hands of the agency, and they telegraphed the +parties. The following day the people had a letter, +giving them the information they required, from another +source.'' + +``That is where Uncle Henry showed his fine Spencerian +hand,'' commented the Harvester. ``It always +will be a great satisfaction that I got my fist in first.'' + +``Is Miss Jameson here?'' + +``No,'' said the Harvester. ``My wife is at home. Her +surname was Ruth Jameson, but we have been married +since June. Did you wish to speak with Mrs. Langston?'' + +``I came for that purpose. My name is Kennedy. +I am the law partner and the closest friend of the young +lady's grandfather. News of her location has prostrated +her grandmother so that he could not leave her, and I +was sent to bring the young woman.'' + +``Oh!'' said the Harvester. ``Well you will have to +interview her about that. One word first. She does +not know that I sent those pictures and made that +inquiry. One other word. She is just recovering from +a case of fever, induced by wrong conditions of life +before I met her. She is not so strong as she appears. +Understand you are not to be abrupt. Go very gently! +Her feelings and health must be guarded with extreme +care.'' + +The Harvester opened the door, and as she saw the +stranger, the Girl's eyes widened, and she arose and +stood waiting. + +``Ruth,'' said the Harvester, ``this is a man who has +been making quite a search for you, and at last he has +you located.'' + +The Harvester went to the Girl's side, and put a +reinforcing arm around her. + +``Perhaps he brings you some news that will make +life most interesting and very lovely for you. Will +you shake hands with Mr. Kennedy?'' + +The Girl suddenly straightened to unusual height. + +``I will hear why he has been making `quite a search +for me,' and on whose authority he has me `located,' +first,'' she said. + +A diabolical grin crossed the face of the Harvester, +and he took heart. + +``Then please be seated, Mr. Kennedy,'' he said, +``and we will talk over the matter. As I understand, +you are a representative of my wife's people.'' + +The Girl stared at the Harvester. + +``Take your chair, Ruth, and meet this as a matter +of course,'' he advised casually. ``You always have +known that some day it must come. You couldn't +look in the face of those photographs of your mother +in her youth and not realize that somewhere hearts +were aching and breaking, and brains were busy in a +search for her.'' + +The Girl stood rigid. + +``I want it distinctly understood,'' she said, ``that I +have no use on earth for my mother's people. They +come too late. I absolutely refuse to see or to hold any +communication with them.'' + +``But young lady, that is very arbitrary!'' cried Mr. +Kennedy. ``You don't understand! They are a couple +of old people, and they are slowly dying of broken hearts!'' + +``Not so badly broken or they wouldn't die slowly,'' +commented the Girl grimly. ``The heart that was really +broken was my mother's. The torture of a starved, +overworked body and hopeless brain was hers. There +was nothing slow about her death, for she went out with +only half a life spent, and much of that in acute agony, +because of their negligence. David, you often have +said that this is my home. I choose to take you at +your word. Will you kindly tell this man that he is +not welcome in this house, and I wish him to leave it +at once?'' + +The Harvester stepped back, and his face grew very +white. + +``I can't, Ruth,'' he said gently. + +``Why not?'' + +``Because I brought him here.'' + +``You brought him here! You! David, are you +crazy? You!'' + +``It is through me that he came.'' + +The Girl caught the mantel for support. + +``Then I stand alone again,'' she said. ``Harvester, +I had thought you were on my side.'' + +``I am at your feet,'' said the man in a broken voice. +``Ruth dear, will you let me explain?'' + +``There is only one explanation, and with what you +have done for me fresh in my mind, I can't put it into +words.'' + +``Ruth, hear me!'' + +``I must! You force me! But before you speak +understand this: Not now, or through all eternity, do +I forgive the inexcusable neglect that drove my mother +to what I witnessed and was helpless to avert.'' + +``My dear! My dear!'' said the Harvester, ``I had +hoped the woods had done a more perfect work in your +heart. Your mother is lying in state now, Girl, safe +from further suffering of any kind; and if I read aright, +her tired face and shrivelled frame were eloquent of +forgiveness. Ruth dear, if she so loved them that her +heart was broken and she died for them, think what +they are suffering! Have some mercy on them.'' + +``Get this very clear, David,'' said the Girl. ``She +died of hunger for food. Her heart was not so broken +that she couldn't have lived a lifetime, and got much +comfort out of it, if her body had not lacked sustenance. +Oh I was so happy a minute ago. David, why did you +do this thing?'' + +The Harvester picked up the Girl, placed her in a +chair, and knelt beside her with his arms around her. + +``Because of the PAIN IN THE WORLD, Ruth,'' he said +simply. ``Your mother is sleeping sweetly in the long +sleep that knows neither anger nor resentment; and so +I was forced to think of a gentle-faced, little old mother +whose heart is daily one long ache, whose eyes are dim +with tears, and a proud, broken old man who spends his +time trying to comfort her, when his life is as desolate +as hers.'' + +``How do you know so wonderfully much about their +aches and broken hearts?'' + +``Because I have seen their faces when they were happy, +Ruth, and so I know what suffering would do to them. +There were pictures of them and letters in the bottom +of that old trunk. I searched it the other night and +found them; and by what life has done to your mother +and to you, I can judge what it is now bringing them. +Never can you be truly happy, Ruth, until you have +forgiven them, and done what you can to comfort the +remainder of their lives. I did it because of the pain +in the world, my girl.'' + +``What about my pain?'' + +``The only way on earth to cure it is through +forgiveness. That, and that only, will ease it all away, and +leave you happy and free for life and love. So long as +you let this rancour eat in your heart, Ruth, you are not, +and never can be, normal. You must forgive them, +dear, hear what they have to say, and give them the +comfort of seeing what they can discover of her in you. +Then your heart will be at rest at last, your soul free, +you can take your rightful place in life, and the love +you crave will awaken in your heart. Ruth, dear you +are the acme of gentleness and justice. Be just and +gentle now! Give them their chance! My heart aches, +and always will ache for the pain you have known, but +nursing and brooding over it will not cure it. It is +going to take a heroic operation to cut it out, and I +chose to be the surgeon. You have said that I once +saved your body from pain Ruth, trust me now to +free your soul.'' + +``What do you want?'' + +``I want you to speak kindly to this man, who through +my act has come here, and allow him to tell you why +he came. Then I want you to do the kind and womanly +thing your duty suggests that you should.'' + +``David, I don t understand you!'' + +``That is no difference,'' said the Harvester. ``The +point is, do you TRUST me?'' + +The Girl hesitated. ``Of course I do,'' she said at +last. + +``Then hear what your grandfather's friend has come +to say for him, and forget yourself in doing to others +as you would have them----really, Ruth, that is +all of religion or of life worth while. Go on, Mr. Kennedy.'' + +The Harvester drew up a chair, seated himself beside +the Girl, and taking one of her hands, he held it closely +and waited. + +``I was sent here by my law partner and my closest +friend, Mr. Alexander Herron, of Philadelphia,'' said +the stranger. ``Both he and Mrs. Herron were bitterly +opposed to your mother's marriage, because they knew +life and human nature, and there never is but one end +to men such as she married.'' + +``You may omit that,'' said the Girl coldly. ``Simply +state why you are here.'' + +``In response to an inquiry from your husband +concerning the originals of some photographs he sent to a +detective agency in New York. They have had the +case for years, and recognizing the pictures as a clue, +they telegraphed Mr. Herron. The prospect of news +after years of fruitless searching so prostrated Mrs. +Herron that he dared not leave her, and he sent me.'' + +``Kindly tell me this,'' said the Girl. ``Where were +my mother's father and mother for the four years +immediately following her marriage?'' + +``They went to Europe to avoid the humiliation of +meeting their friends. There, in Italy, Mrs. Herron +developed a fever, and it was several years before she +could be brought home. She retired from society, and +has been confined to her room ever since. When they +could return, a search was instituted at once for their +daughter, but they never have been able to find a trace. +They have hunted through every eastern city they +thought might contain her.'' + +``And overlooked a little insignificant place like +Chicago, of course.'' + +``I myself conducted a personal search there, and +visited the home of every Jameson in the directory or +who had mail at the office or of whom I could get a clue +of any sort.'' + +``I don't suppose two women in a little garret room +would be in the directory, and there never was any mail.'' + +``Did your mother ever appeal to her parents?'' + +``She did,'' said the Girl. ``She admitted that she +had been wrong, asked their forgiveness, and begged to +go home. That was in the second year of her marriage, +and she was in Cleveland. Afterward she went to +Chicago, from there she wrote again.'' + +``Her father and mother were in Italy fighting for the +mother's life, two years after that. It is very easy to +become lost in a large city. Criminals do it every day +and are never found, even with the best detectives on +their trail. I am very sorry about this. My friends +will be broken-hearted. At any time they would have +been more than delighted to have had their daughter +return. A letter on the day following the message from +the agency brought news that she was dead, and now +their only hope for any small happiness at the close of +years of suffering lies with you. I was sent to plead +with you to return with me at once and make them a +visit. Of course, their home is yours. You are their +only heir, and they would be very happy if you were +free, and would remain permanently with them.'' + +``How do they know I will not be like the father they +so detested?'' + +``They had sufficient cause to dislike him. They have +every reason to love and welcome you. They are consumed +with anxiety. Will you come?'' + +``No. This is for me to decide. I do not care for +them or their property. Always they have failed me +when my distress was unspeakable. Now there is only +one thing I ask of life, more than my husband has given +me, and if that lay in his power I would have it. You +may go back and tell them that I am perfectly happy. +I have everything I need. They can give me nothing +I want, not even their love. Perhaps, sometime, I will +go to see them for a few days, if David will go with +me.'' + +``Young woman, do you realize that you are issuing +a death sentence?'' asked the lawyer gently. + +``It is a just one.'' + +``I do not believe your husband agrees with you. +I know I do not. Mrs. Herron is a tiny old lady, with +a feeble spark of vitality left; and with all her strength +she is clinging to life, and pleading with it to give her +word of her only child before she goes out unsatisfied. +She knows that her daughter is gone, and now her hopes +are fastened on you. If for only a few days, you certainly +must go with me.'' + +``I will not!'' + +The lawyer turned to the Harvester. + +``She will be ready to start with you to-morrow morning, +on the first train north,'' said the Harvester. ``We +will meet you at the station at eight.'' + +``I----I am afraid I forgot to tell my driver to wait.'' + +``You mean your instructions were not to let the Girl +out of your sight,'' said the Harvester. ``Very well! +We have comfortable rooms. I will show you to one. +Please come this way.'' + +The Harvester led the guest to the lake room and +arranged for the night. Then he went to the telephone +and sent a message to an address he had been furnished, +asking for an immediate reply. It went to Philadelphia +and contained a description of the lawyer, and asked if +he had been sent by Mr. Herron to escort his grand- +daughter to his home. When the Harvester returned +to the living-room the Girl, white and defiant, waited +before the fire. He knelt beside her and put his arms +around her, but she repulsed him; so he sat on the rug +and looked at her. + +``No wonder you felt sure you knew what that was!'' +she cried bitterly. + +``Ruth, if you will allow me to lift the bottom of that +old trunk, and if you will read any one of the half dozen +letters I read, you will forgive me, and begin making +preparations to go.'' + +``It's a wonder you don't hold them before me and +force me to read them,'' she said. + +``Don't say anything you will be sorry for after you +are gone, dear.'' + +``I'm not going!'' + +``Oh yes you are!'' + +``Why?'' + +``Because it is right that you should, and right is +inexorable. Also, because I very much wish you to; +you will do it for me.'' + +``Why do you want me to go?'' + +``I have three strong reasons: First, as I told you, +it is the only thing that will cleanse your heart of +bitterness and leave it free for the tenanting of a great and +holy love. Next, I think they honestly made every +effort to find your mother, and are now growing old in +despair you can lighten, and you owe it to them and +yourself to do it. Lastly, for my sake. I've tried +everything I know, Ruth, and I can't make you love me, or +bring you to a realizing sense of it if you do. So before +I saw that chest I had planned to harvest my big crop, +and try with all my heart while I did it, and if love +hadn't come then, I meant to get some one to stay with +you, and I was going away to give you a free perspective +for a time. I meant to plead that I needed a few weeks +with a famous chemist I know to prepare me better for +my work. My real motive was to leave you, and let +you see if absence could do anything for me in your +heart. You've been very nearly the creature of my +hands for months, my girl; whatever any one else may +do, you're bound to miss me mightily, and I figured +that with me away, perhaps you could solve the problem +alone I seem to fail in helping you with. This is only +a slight change of plans. You are going in my stead. +I will harvest the ginseng and cure it, and then, if you +are not at home, and the loneliness grows unbearable, +I will take the chemistry course, until you decide when +you will come, if ever.'' + +`` `If ever?' '' + +``Yes,'' said the Harvester. ``I am growing +accustomed to facing big propositions----I will not dodge +this. The faces of the three of your people I have seen +prove refinement. Their clothing indicates wealth. These +long, lonely years mean that they will shower you with +every outpouring of loving, hungry hearts. They will +keep you if they can, my dear. I do not blame them. +The life I propose for you is one of work, mostly for +others, and the reward, in great part, consists of the joy +in the soul of the creator of things that help in the world. +I realize that you will find wealth, luxury, and lavish +love. I know that I may lose you forever, and if it is +right and best for you, I hope I will. I know exactly +what I am risking, but I yet say, go.'' + +``I don't see how you can, and love me as you prove +you do.'' + +``That is a little streak of the inevitableness of nature +that the forest has ground into my soul. I'd rather +cut off my right hand than take yours with it, in the +parting that will come in the morning; but you are +going, and I am sending you. So long as I am shaped +like a human being, it is in me to dignify the possession +of a vertical spine by acting as nearly like a man as I +know how. I insist that you are my wife, because it +crucifies me to think otherwise. I tell you to-night, +Ruth, you are not and never have been. You are free +as air. You married me without any love for me in +your heart, and you pretended none. It was all my +doing. If I find that I was wrong, I will free you without +a thought of results to me. I am a secondary proposition. +I thought then that you were alone and helpless, and +before the Almighty, I did the best I could. But I +know now that you are entitled to the love of relatives, +wealth, and high social position, no doubt. If I allowed +the passion in my heart to triumph over the reason of +my brain, and worked on your feelings and tied you to +the woods, without knowing but that you might greatly +prefer that other life you do not know, but to which +you are entitled, I would go out and sink myself in +Loon Lake.'' + +``David, I love you. I do not want to go. Please, +please let me remain with you.'' + +``Not if you could say that realizing what it means, +and give me the kiss right now I would stake my soul +to win! Not by any bribe you can think of or any +allurement you can offer. It is right that you go to +those suffering old people. It is right you know what +you are refusing for me, before you renounce it. It is +right you take the position to which you are entitled, +until you understand thoroughly whether this suits you +better. When you know that life as well as this, the +people you will meet as intimately as me, then you can +decide for all time, and I can look you in the face with +honest, unwavering eye; and if by any chance your +heart is in the woods, and you prefer me and the cabin +to what they have to offer----to all eternity your place +here is vacant, Ruth. My love is waiting for you; +and if you come under those conditions, I never can have +any regret. A clear conscience is worth restraining +passion a few months to gain, and besides, I always have got +the fact to face that when you say `I love,' and when +I say `I love,' it means two entirely different things. +When you realize that the love of man for woman, and +woman for man, is a thing that floods the heart, brain, +soul, and body with a wonderful and all-pervading +ecstasy, and if I happen to be the man who makes you +realize it, then come tell me, and we will show God and +His holy angels what earth means by the Heaven inspired +word, `radiance.' '' + +``David, there never will be any other man like you.'' + +``The exigencies of life must develop many a finer and +better.'' + +``You still refuse me? You yet believe I do not love +you?'' + +``Not with the love I ask, my girl. But if I did not +believe it was germinating in your heart, and that it would +come pouring over me in a torrent some glad day, I +doubt if I could allow you to go, Ruth! I am like any +other man in selfishness and in the passions of the body.'' + +``Selfishness! You haven't an idea what it means,'' +said the Girl. ``And what you call love----there I +haven't. But I know how to appreciate you, and you +may be positively sure that it will be only a few days +until I will come back to you.'' + +``But I don't want you until you can bring the love +I crave. I am sending you to remain until that time, +Ruth.'' + +``But it may be months, Man!'' + +``Then stay months.'' + +``But it may be----'' + +``It may be never! Then remain forever. That will +be proof positive that your happiness does not lie in +my hands.'' + +``Why should I not consider you as you do me?'' + +``Because I love you, and you do not love me.'' + +``You are cruel to yourself and to me. You talk about +the pain in the world. What about the pain in my heart +right now? And if I know you in the least, one degree +more would make you cry aloud for mercy. Oh David, +are we of no consideration at all?'' + +The muscles of the Harvester's face twisted an instant. + +``This is where we lop off the small branches to grow +perfect fruit later. This is where we do evil that good +may result. This is where we suffer to-night in order +we may appreciate fully the joy of love's dawning. If I +am causing you pain, forgive me, dear heart. I would +give my life to prevent it, but I am powerless. It is +right! We cannot avoid doing it, if we ever would +be happy.'' + +He picked up the Girl, and held her crushed in his +arms a long time. Then he set her inside her door and +said, ``Lay out what you want to take and I will help +you pack, so that you can get some sleep. We must +be ready early in the morning.'' + +When the clothing to be worn was selected, the new +trunk packed, and all arrangements made, the Girl sat in +his arms before the fire as he had held her when she was +ill, and then he sent her to bed and went to the lake shore +to fight it out alone. Only God and the stars and the +faithful Belshazzar saw the agony of a strong man in +his extremity. + +Near dawn he heard the tinkle of the bell and went +to receive his message and order a car for morning. +Then he returned to the merciful darkness of night, and +paced the driveway until light came peeping over the +tree tops. He prepared breakfast and an hour later +put the Girl on the train, and stood watching it until +the last rift of smoke curled above the spires of the city. + + + +CHAPTER XX + +THE MAN IN THE BACKGROUND + +Then the Harvester returned to Medicine Woods +to fight his battle alone. At first the pain +seemed unendurable, but work always had +been his panacea, it was his salvation now. He went +through the cabin, folding bedding and storing it in +closets, rolling rugs sprinkled with powdered alum, +packing cushions, and taking window seats from the +light. + +``Our sleeping room and the kitchen will serve for us, +Bel,'' he said. ``We will put all these other things away +carefully, so they will be as good as new when the Girl +comes home.'' + +The evening of the second day he was called to the +telephone. + +``There is a telegram for you,'' said a voice. ``A +message from Philadelphia. It reads: `Arrived safely. +Thank you for making me come. Dear old people. Will +write soon. With love, Ruth.' + +``Have you got it?'' + +``No,'' lied the Harvester, grinning rapturously. ``Repeat +it again slowly, and give me time after each sentence +to write it. Now! Go on!'' + +He carried the message to the back steps and sat +reading it again and again. + +``I supposed I'd have to wait at least four days,'' he +said to Ajax as the bird circled before him. ``This is +from the Girl, old man, and she is not forgetting us to +begin with, anyway. She is there all safe, she sees that +they need her, they are lovable old people, she is going to +write us all about it soon, and she loves us all she knows +how to love any one. That should be enough to keep us +sane and sensible until her letter comes. There is no use +to borrow trouble, so we will say everything in the world +is right with us, and be as happy as we can on that until +we find something we cannot avoid worrying over. In +the meantime, we will have faith to believe that we +have suffered our share, and the end will be happy for +all of us. I am mighty glad the Girl has a home, and +the right kind of people to care for her. Now, when she +comes back to me, I needn't feel that she was forced, +whether she wanted to or not, because she had nowhere +to go. This will let me out with a clean conscience, +and that is the only thing on earth that allows a man to +live in peace with himself. Now I'll go finish everything +else, and then I'll begin the ginseng harvest.'' + +So the Harvester hitched Betsy and with Belshazzar +at his feet he drove through the woods to the sarsaparilla +beds. He noticed the beautiful lobed leaves, +at which the rabbits had been nibbling, and the heads +of lustrous purple-black berries as he began digging the +roots that he sold for stimulants. + +``I might have needed a dose of you now myself,'' +the Harvester addressed a heap of uprooted plants, +``if the electric wires hadn't brought me a better. Great +invention that! Never before realized it fully! I +thought to-day would be black as night, but that message +changes the complexion of affairs mightily. So +I'll dig you for people who really are in need of something +to brace them up.'' + +After the sarsaparilla was on the trays, he attacked +the beds of Indian hemp, with its long graceful pods, +and took his usual supply. Then he worked diligently +on the warm hillside over the dandelion. When these +were finished he brought half a dozen young men from +the city and drilled them on handling ginseng. He was +warm, dirty, and tired when he came from the beds the +evening of the fourth day. He finished his work at the +barn, prepared and ate his supper, slipped into clean +clothing, and walked to the country road where it crossed +the lane. There he opened his mail box. The letter he +expected with the Philadelphia postmark was inside. He +carried it to the bridge, and sitting in her favourite place, +with the lake breeze threading his hair, opened his +first letter from the Girl. + +``My dear Friend, Lover, Husband,'' it began. + +The Harvester turned the sheets face down across his +knee, laid his hand on them, and stared meditatively at +the lake. `` `Friend,' '' he commented. ``Well, that's +all right! I am her friend, as well as I know how to be. +`Lover.' I come in there, full force. I did my level +best on that score, though I can't boast myself a howling +success; a man can't do more than he knows, and if I +had been familiar with all the wiles of expert, professional +love-makers, they wouldn't have availed me in the Girl's +condition. I had a mighty peculiar case to handle in +her, and not a particle of training. But if she says +`Lover,' I must have made some kind of a showing on the +job. `Husband.' '' A slow flush crept up the brawny +neck and tinged the bronzed face. ``That's a good +word,'' said the Harvester, ``and it must mean a wonderful +thing----to some men. `Who bides his time.' Well, +I'm `biding,' and if my time ever comes to be my Dream +Girl's husband, I'll wager all I'm worth on one thing. I'll +study the job from every point of the compass, and +I'll see what showing I can make on being the kind +of a husband that a woman clings to and loves at +eighty.'' + +Taking a deep breath the Harvester lifted the letter, +and laying one hand on Belshazzar's head, he proceeded +----``I might as well admit in the beginning that I cried +most of the way here. Some of it was because I was +nervous and dreaded the people I would meet, and more +on account of what I felt toward them, but most of it +was because I did not want to leave you. I have been +spoiled dreadfully! You have taught me so to depend +on you----and for once I feel that I really can claim +to have been an apt pupil----that it was like having +the heart torn out of me to come. I want you to know +this, because it will teach you that I have a little bit +of appreciation of how good you are to me, and to all the +world as well. I am glad that I almost cried myself +sick over leaving you. I wish now I just had stood up +in the car, and roared like a burned baby. + +``But all the tears I shed in fear of grandfather and +grandmother were wasted. They are a couple of dear +old people, and it would have been a crime to allow +them to suffer more than they must of necessity. It all +seems so different when they talk; and when I see the +home, luxuries, and friends my mother had, it appears +utterly incomprehensible that she dared leave them +for a stranger. Probably the reason she did was +because she was grandfather's daughter. He is gentle +and tender some of the time, but when anything irritates +him, and something does every few minutes, he breaks +loose, and such another explosion you never heard. +It does not mean a thing, and it seems to lower his +tension enough to keep him from bursting with palpitation +of the heart or something, but it is a strain for +others. At first it frightened me dreadfully. Grandmother +is so tiny and frail, so white in her big bed, and +when he is the very worst, and she only smiles at him, +why I know he does not mean it at all. But, David, +I hope you never will get an idea that this would be +a pleasant way for you to act, because it would not, +and I never would have the courage to offer you the +love I have come to find if you slammed a cane and +yelled, `demnation,' at me. Grandmother says she +does not mind at all, but I wonder if she did not acquire +the habit of lying in bed because it is easier to endure in +a prostrate position. + +``The house is so big I get lost, and I do not know yet +which are servants and which friends; and there is a +steady stream of seamstresses and milliners making things +for me. Grandmother and father both think I will be +quite passable in appearance when I am what they call +`modishly dressed.' I think grandmother will forget +herself some day and leave her bed before she knows +it, in her eagerness to see how something appears. I +could not begin to tell you about all the lovely things to +wear, for every occasion under the sun, and they say +these are only temporary, until some can be made +especially for me. + +``They divide the time in sections, and there is an hour +to drive, I am to have a horse and ride later, and a time +to shop, so long to visit grandmother, and set hours to +sleep, dress, to be fitted, taken to see things, music lessons, +and a dancing teacher. I think a longer day will have +to be provided. + +``I do not care anything about dancing. I know +what would make me dance nicely enough for anything, +but I am going to try the music, and see if I can learn +just a few little songs and some old melodies for evening, +when the work is done, the fire burns low, and you +are resting on the rug. There is enough room for a +piano between your door and the south wall and that +corner seems vacant anyway. You would like it, David, +I know, if I could play and sing just enough to put you +to sleep nicely. It is in the back of my head that I will +try to do every single thing, just as they want me to, +and that will make them happy, but never forget that +the instant I feel in my soul that your kiss is right on +my lips, I am coming to you by lightning express; and I +told them so the first thing, and that I only came because +you made me. + +``They did not raise an objection, but I am not so dull +that I cannot see they are trying to bind me to them from +the very first with chains too strong to break. We had +just one little clash. Grandfather was mightily pleased +over what you told Mr. Kennedy about my never having +been your wife, and that I was really free. There +seems to be a man, the son of his partner, whom grandfather +dearly loves, and he wants me to be friends with +his friend. One can see at once what he is planning, +because he said he was going to introduce me as Miss +Jameson. I told him that would be creating a false +impression, because I was a married woman; but he only laughed +at me and went straight to doing it. + +``Of course, I know why, but he is so terribly set I +cannot stop him, so I shall have to tell people myself +that I am a staid, old married lady. After all, I suppose +I might as well let him go, if it pleases him. I shall +know how to protect myself and any one else, from any +mistakes concerning me; and in my heart I know what +I know, and what I cannot make you believe, but I +will some day. + +``I suspect you're harvesting the ginseng now. The +roar and rush of the city seem strange, as if I never had +heard it before, and I feel so crowded. I scarcely can +sleep at night for the clamour of the cars, cabs, and +throbbing life. Grandfather will not hear a word, +and he just sputters and says `demnation' when I try to +tell him about you; but grandmother will listen, and I +talk to her of you and Medicine Woods by the hour. +She says she thinks you must be a wonderfully nice person. +I haven't dared tell her yet the thing that will win +her. She is so little and frail, and she has heart trouble +so badly; but some day I shall tell her all about Chicago +that I can, and then of Uncle Henry, and then about you +and the oak, and that will make her love you as I do. +There are so many things to do; they have sent for me +three times. I shall tell them they must put you on the +schedule, and give me so much time to write or I will +upset the whole programme. + +``I think you will like to know that Mr. Kennedy told +grandfather all you said to him about my illness, for +almost as soon as I came he brought a very wonderful +man to my room, and he asked many questions and +I told him all about it, and what I had been doing. He +made out a list of things to eat and exercises. I am +being taken care of just as you did, so I will go on growing +well and strong. The trouble is they are too good to +me. I would just love to shuffle my feet in dead leaves, +and lie on the grass this morning. I never got my swim +in the lake. I will have to save that until next summer. +He also told grandfather what you said about Uncle +Henry, and I think he was pleased that you tried to +find him as soon as you knew. He let me see the letter +Uncle Henry wrote, and it was a vile thing----just +such as he would write. It asked how much he would be +willing to pay for information concerning his heir. I told +grandfather all about it, and I saw the answer he wrote. +I told him some things to say, and one of them was that +the honesty of a man without a price prevented the necessity +of anything being paid to find me. The other was +that you located my people yourself, and at once sent me +to them against my wishes. I was determined he should +know that. So Uncle Henry missed his revenge on you. +He evidently thought he not only would hurt you by +breaking up your home and separating us, but also he +would get a reward for his work. He wrote some untrue +things about you, and I wish he hadn't, for grandfather +can think of enough himself. But I will soon +change that. Please, please take good care of all my +things, my flowers and vines, and most of all tell +Belshazzar to protect you with his life. And you be very +good to my dear, dear lover. I will write again soon, +Ruth.'' + +When the Harvester had studied the letter until he +could repeat it backward, he went to the cabin and answered +it. Then he sent subscriptions for two of Philadelphia's +big dailies, and harvested ginseng from dawn +until black darkness. Never was such a crop grown in +America. The beds had been made in the original home +of the plant, so that it throve under perfectly natural +conditions in the forest, but here and there branches had +been thinned above, and nature helped by science below. +This resulted in thick, pulpy roots of astonishing size +and weight. As the Harvester lifted them he bent the +tops and buried part of the seed for another crop. For +weeks he worked over the bed. Then the last load went +down the hill to the dry-house and the helpers were paid. +Next the fall work was finished. Fuel and food were +stored for winter, while the cold crept from the lake, +swept down the hill and surrounded the cabin. + +The Harvester finished long days in the dry-house and +store-room, and after supper he sat by the fire reading +over the Girl's letters, carving on her candlesticks, or +in the work room, bending above the boards he was +shaving and polishing for a gift he had planned for her +Christmas. The Careys had him in their home for +Thanksgiving. He told them all about sending the Girl +away himself, read them some of her letters, and they +talked with perfect confidence of how soon she would +come home. The Harvester tried to think confidently, +but as the days went by the letters became fewer, always +with the excuse that there was no time to write, but +with loving assurance that she was thinking of him and +would do better soon. + +However they came often enough that he had something +new to tell his friends so that they did not suspect +that waiting was a trial to him. A few days after Thanksgiving +the gift that he had planned was finished. It was +a big, burl-maple box, designed after the hope chests +that he saw advertised in magazines. The wood was +rare, cut in heavy slabs, polished inside and out, dove- +tailed corners with ornate brass bindings, hinges and lock, +and hand-carved feet. On the inside of the lid cut on a +brass plate was the inscription, ``Ruth Langston, Christmas +of Nineteen Hundred and Ten. David.'' + +Then he began packing the chest. He put in the +finished candlesticks and a box of candleberry dips he +had made of delightfully spiced wax, coloured pale +green. He ordered the doll weeks before from the largest +store in Onabasha, and the dealer brought on several +that he might make a selection. He chose a large baby +doll almost life size, and sent it to the dress-making +department to be completely and exquisitely clothed. Long +before the day he was picking kernels to glaze from nuts, +drying corn to pop, and planning candies to be made of +maple sugar. When he figured it was time to start the, +box, he worked carefully, filling spaces with chestnut +and hazel burs, and finishing the tops of boxes with +gaudy red and yellow leaves he had kept in their original +brightness by packing them in sand. He put in scarlet +berries of mountain ash and long twining sprays of yellow +and red bitter-sweet berries, for her room. Then he carefully +covered the chest with cloth, packed it in an outside +box, and sent it to the Girl by express. As he came +from the train shed, where he had helped with loading, +he met Henry Jameson. Instantly the long arm of the +Harvester shot out, and in a grip that could not be +broken he caught the man by the back of the neck and +proceeded to dangle him. As he did so he roared with +laughter. + +``Dear Uncle Henry!'' he cried. ``How did you feel +when you got your letter from Philadelphia? Wasn't it a +crime that an honest man, which same refers to me, beat +you? Didn't you gnash your teeth when you learned +that instead of separating me from my wife I had found +her people and sent her to them myself? Didn't it rend +your soul to miss your little revenge and fail to get +the good, fat reward you confidently expected? Ho! +Ho! Thus are lofty souls downcast. I pity you, Henry +Jameson, but not so much that I won't break your +back if you meddle in my affairs again, and I am taking +this opportunity to tell you so. Here you go out of my +life, for if you appear in it once more I will finish you like +a copperhead. Understand?'' + +With a last shake the Harvester dropped him, and went +into the express office, where several men had watched +the proceedings. + +``Been dipping in your affairs, has he?'' asked the +expressman. + +``Trying it,'' laughed the Harvester. + +``Well he is just moving to Idaho, and you probably +won't be bothered with him any more.'' + +``Good news!'' said the Harvester. He felt much +relieved as he went back to Betsy and drove to Medicine +Woods. + +The Careys had invited him, but he chose to spend +Christmas alone. He had finished breakfast when the +telephone bell rang, and the expressman told him there +was a package for him from Philadelphia. The Harvester +mounted Betsy and rode to the city at once. +The package was so very small he slipped it into his +pocket, and went to the doctor's to say Merry Christmas! +To Mrs. Carey he gave a pretty lavender silk +dress, and to the doctor a new watch chain. Then +he went to the hospital, where he left with Molly a set +of china dishes from the Girl, and a fur-lined great coat, +his gift to Doctor Harmon. He rode home and stabled +Betsy, giving her an extra quart of oats, and going into +the house he sat by the kitchen fire and opened the +package. + +In a nest of cotton lay a tissue-wrapped velvet box, and +inside that, in a leather pocket case, an ivory miniature of +the Girl by an artist who knew how to reproduce life. It +was an exquisite picture, and a face of wonderful beauty. +He looked at it for a long time, and then called Belshazzar +and carried it out to show Ajax. Then he put it +into his breast pocket squarely over his heart, but he +wore the case shiny the first day taking it out. Before +noon he went to the mail box and found a long letter from +the Girl, full of life, health, happiness, and with steady +assurances of love for him, but there was no mention made +of coming home. + +She seemed engrossed in the music lessons, riding, +dancing, pretty clothing, splendid balls, receptions, and +parties of all kinds. The Harvester answered it with +his heart full of love for her, and then waited. It was +a long week before the reply came, and then it was short +on account of so many things that must be done, but she +insisted that she was well, happy, and having a fine time. +After that the letters became less frequent and shorter. +At times there would be stretches of almost two weeks +with not a line, and then only short notes to explain that +she was too busy to write. + +Through the dreary, cold days of January and +February the Harvester invented work in the store-room, in +the workshop, at the candlesticks, sat long over great +books, and spent hours in the little laboratory preparing +and compounding drugs. In the evenings he carved and +read. First of all he scanned the society columns of +the papers he was taking, and almost every day he found +the name of Miss Ruth Jameson, often a paragraph describing +her dress and her beauty of face and charm of +manner; and constantly the name of Mr. Herbert Kennedy +appeared as her escort. At first the Harvester +ignored this, and said to himself that he was glad she could +have enjoyable times and congenial friends, and he was. +But as the letters became fewer, paper paragraphs more +frequent, and approaching spring worked its old insanity +in the blood, gradually an ache crept into his heart again, +and there were days when he could not work it out. + +Every letter she wrote he answered just as warmly as he +felt that he dared, but when they were so long coming +and his heart was overflowing, he picked up a pen one +night and wrote what he felt. He told her all about the +ice-bound lake, the lonely crows in the big woods, the +sap suckers' cry, and the gay cardinals' whistle. He told +her about the cocoons dangling on bushes or rocking on +twigs that he was cutting for her. He warned her that +spring was coming, and soon she would begin to miss +wonders for her pencil. Then he told her about the +silent cabin, the empty rooms, and a lonely man. He +begged her not to forget the kiss she had gone to find +for him. He poured out his heart unrestrainedly, and +then folded the letter, sealed and addressed it to her, in +care of the fire fairies, and pitched it into the ashes of +the living-room fire place. But expression made him +feel better. + +There was another longer wait for the next letter, but +he had written her so many in the meantime that a +little heap of them had accumulated as he passed through +the living-room on his way to bed. He had supposed she +would be gone until after Christmas when she left, but +he never had thought of harvesting sassafras and opening +the sugar camp alone. In those days his face appeared +weary, and white hairs came again on his temples. Carey +met him on the street and told him that he was going +to the National Convention of Surgeons at New York +in March, and wanted him to go along and present his +new medicine for consideration. + +``All right,'' said the Harvester instantly, ``I will +go.'' + +He went and interviewed Mrs. Carey, and then visited +the doctor's tailor, and a shoe store, and bought everything +required to put him in condition for travelling in +good style, and for the banquet he would be asked to +attend. Then he got Mrs. Carey to coach him on spoons +and forks, and declared he was ready. When the doctor +saw that the Harvester really would go, he sat down and +wrote the president of the association, telling him in +brief outline of Medicine Woods and the man who had +achieved a wonderful work there, and of the compounding +of the new remedy. + +As he expected, return mail brought an invitation for +the Harvester to address the association and describe his +work and methods and present his medicine. The +doctor went out in the car over sloppy roads with that +letter, and located the Harvester in the sugar camp. +He explained the situation and to his surprise found his +man intensely interested. He asked many questions +as to the length of time, and amount of detail required +in a proper paper, and the doctor told him. + +``But if you want to make a clean sweep, David,'' he +said, ``write your paper simply, and practise until it +comes easy before you speak.'' + +That night the Harvester left work long enough to +get a notebook, and by the light of the camp fire, and in +company with the owls and coons, he wrote his outline. +One division described his geographical location, another +traced his ancestry and education in wood lore. One +was a tribute to the mother who moulded his character +and ground into him stability for his work. The remainder +described his methods in growing drugs, drying +and packing them, and the end was a presentation for +their examination of the remedy that had given life +where a great surgeon had conceded death. Then he +began amplification. + +When the sugar making was over the Harvester +commenced his regular spring work, but his mind was so +busy over his paper that he did not have much time to +realize just how badly his heart was beginning to ache. +Neither did he consign so many letters to the fire fairies, +for now he was writing of the best way to dry hydrastis +and preserve ginseng seed. The day before time to start +he drove to Onabasha to try on his clothing and have Mrs. +Carey see if he had been right in his selections. + +While he was gone, Granny Moreland, wearing a clean +calico dress and carrying a juicy apple pie, came to the +stretch of flooded marsh land, and finding the path under +water, followed the road and crossing a field reached +the levee and came to the bridge of Singing Water where +it entered the lake. She rested a few minutes there, +and then went to the cabin shining between bare branches. +She opened the front door, entered, and stood staring +around her. + +``Why things is all tore up here,'' she said. ``Now +ain't that sensible of David to put everything away and +save it nice and careful until his woman gets back. Seems +as if she's good and plenty long coming; seems as if her +folks needs her mighty bad, or she's having a better time +than the boy is or something.'' + +She set the pie on the table, went through the cabin +and up the hill a little distance, calling the Harvester. +When she passed the barn she missed Betsy and the +wagon, and then she knew he was in town. She returned +to the living-room and sat looking at the pie as she +rested. + +``I'd best put you on the kitchen table,'' she mused. +``Likely he will see you there first and eat you while you +are fresh. I'd hate mortal bad for him to overlook you, +and let you get stale, after all the care I've took with +your crust, and all the sugar, cinnamon, and butter that's +under your lid. You're a mighty nice pie, and you ort +to be et hot. Now why under the sun is all them clean +letters pitched in the fireplace?'' + +Granny knelt and selecting one, she blew off the ashes, +wiped it with her apron and read: ``To Ruth, in care of +the fire fairies.'' + +``What the Sam Hill is the idiot writin' his woman like +that for?'' cried Granny, bristling instantly. ``And +why is he puttin' pages and pages of good reading like +this must have in it in care of the fire fairies? Too +much alone, I guess! He's going wrong in his head. +Nobody at themselves would do sech a fool trick as this. +I believe I had better do something. Of course I had! +These is writ to Ruth; she ort to have them. Wish't +I knowed how she gets her mail, I'd send her some. +Mebby three! I'd send a fat and a lean, and a middlin' +so's that she'd have a sample of all the kinds they is. +It's no way to write letters and pitch them in the ashes. +It means the poor boy is honin' to say things he dassent +and so he's writin' them out and never sendin' them +at all. What's the little huzzy gone so long for, +anyway? I'll fix her!'' + +Granny selected three letters, blew away the ashes, +and tucked the envelopes inside her dress. + +``If I only knowed how to get at her,'' she muttered. +She stared at the pie. ``I guess you got to go back,'' +she said, ``and be et by me. Like as not I'll stall myself, +for I got one a-ready. But if David has got these fool +things counted and misses any, and then finds that pie +here, he'll s'picion me. Yes, I got to take you back, and +hurry my stumps at that.'' + +Granny arose with the pie, cast a lingering and +covetous glance at the fireplace, stooped and took another +letter, and then started down the drive. Just as she +reached the bridge she looked ahead and saw the Harvester +coming up the levee. Instantly she shot the pie +over the railing and with a groan watched it strike the +water and disappear. + +``Lord of love!'' she gasped, sinking to the seat, ``that +was one of grandmother's willer plates that I promised +Ruth. 'Tain't likely I'll ever see hide ner hair of it again. +But they wa'ant no place to put it, and I dassent let +him know I'd been up to the cabin. Mebby I can fetch +a boy some day and hire him to dive for it. How +long can a plate be in water and not get spiled anyway? +Now what'll I do? My head's all in a whirl! I'll +bet my bosom is a sticking out with his letters 'til he'll +notice and take them from me.'' + +She gripped her hands across her chest and sat staring +at the Harvester as he stopped on the bridge, and seeing +her attitude and distressed face, he sprang from the wagon. + +``Why Granny, are you sick?'' he cried anxiously. + +``Yes!'' gasped Granny Moreland. ``Yes, David, I +am! I'm a miserable woman. I never was in sech a +shape in all my days.'' + +``Let me help you to the cabin, and I'll see what I +can do for you,'' offered the Harvester. + +``No. This is jest out of your reach,'' said the old +lady. ``I want----I want to see Doctor Carey bad.'' + +``Are you strong enough to ride in or shall I bring him?'' + +``I can go! I can go as well as not, David, if you'll +take me.'' + +``Let me run Betsy to the barn and get the Girl's +phaeton. The wagon is too rough for you. Are the +pains in your chest dreadful?'' + +``I don't know how to describe them,'' said Granny +with perfect truth. + +The Harvester leaped into the wagon and caught up +the lines. As he disappeared around the curve of the +driveway Granny snatched the letters from her dress +front and thrust them deep into one of her stockings. + +``Now, drat you!'' she cried. ``Stick out all you please. +Nobody will see you there.'' + +In a few minutes the Harvester helped her into the +carriage and drove rapidly toward the city. + +``You needn't strain your critter,'' said Granny. ``It's +not so bad as that, David.'' + +``Is your chest any better?'' + +``A sight better,'' said Granny. ``Shakin' up a little +'pears to do me good.'' + +``You never should have tried to walk. Suppose I +hadn't been here. And you came the long way, too! +I'll have a telephone run to your house so you can call +me after this.'' + +Granny sat very straight suddenly. + +``My! wouldn't that get away with some of my foxy +neighbours,'' she said. ``Me to have a 'phone like they +do, an' be conversin' at all hours of the day with my +son's folks and everybody. I'd be tickled to pieces, +David.'' + +``Then I'll never dare do it,'' said the Harvester, +``because I can't keep house without you.'' + +``Where's your own woman?'' promptly inquired +Granny. + +``She can't leave her people. Her grandmother is +sick.'' + +``Grandmother your foot!'' cried the old woman. +``I've been hearing that song and dance from the neighbours, +but you got to fool younger people than me on +it, David. When did any grandmother ever part a +pair of youngsters jest married, for months at a clip? +I'd like to cast my eyes on that grandmother. She's +a new breed! I was as good a mother as 'twas in my skin +to be, and I'd like to see a child of mine do it for me; and +as for my grandchildren, it hustles some of them to +re-cog-nize me passing on the big road, 'specially if +it's Peter's girl with a town beau.'' + +The Harvester laughed. The old lady leaned toward +him with a mist in her eyes and a quaver in her voice, +and asked softly, ``Got ary friend that could help you, +David?'' + +The man looked straight ahead in silence. + +``Bamfoozle all the rest of them as much as you please, +lad, but I stand to you in the place of your ma, and so +I ast you plainly----got ary friend that could help?'' + +``I can think of no way in which any one possibly +could help me, dear,'' said the Harvester gently. ``It +is a matter I can't explain, but I know of nothing that +any one could do.'' + +``You mean you're tight-mouthed! You COULD tell +me just like you would your ma, if she was up and comin'; +but you can't quite put me in her place, and spit it out +plain. Now mebby I can help you! Is it her fault or +yourn?'' + +``Mine! Mine entirely!'' + +``Hum! What a fool question! I might a knowed it! +I never saw a lovinger, sweeter girl in these parts. I +jest worship the ground she treads on; and you, lad +you hain't had a heart in your body sence first you saw +her face. If I had the stren'th, I'd haul you out of this +keeridge and I'd hammer you meller, David Langston. +What in the name of sense have you gone and done to +the purty, lovin' child?'' + +The Harvester's face flushed, but a line around his +mouth whitened. + +``Loosen up!'' commanded Granny. ``I got some rights +in this case that mebby you don't remember. You asked +me to help you get ready for her, and I done what you +wanted. You invited me to visit her, and I jest loved +her sweet, purty ways. You wanted me to shet up my +house and come over for weeks to help take keer of her, +and I done it gladly, for her pain and your sufferin' cut +me as if 'twas my livin' flesh and blood; so you can't +shet me out now. I'm in with you and her to the end. +What a blame fool thing have you gone and done to drive +away for months a girl that fair worshipped you?'' + +``That's exactly the trouble, Granny,'' said the +Harvester. ``She didn't! She merely respected and was +grateful to me, and she loved me as a friend; but I never +was any nearer her husband than I am yours.'' + +``I've always knowed they was a screw loose +somewhere,'' commented Granny. ``And so you've sent +her off to her worldly folks in a big, wicked city to get +weaned away from you complete?'' + +``I sent her to let her see if absence would teach her +anything. I had months with her here, and I lay awake +at nights thinking up new plans to win her. I worked +for her love as I never worked for bread, but I couldn't +make it. So I let her go to see if separation would teach +her anything.'' + +``Mercy me! Why you crazy critter! The child did +love you! She loved you 'nough an' plenty! She loved +you faithful and true! You was jest the light of her eyes. +I don't see how a girl could think more of a man. What +in the name of sense are you expecting months of separation +to teach her, but to forget you, and mebby turn +her to some one else?'' + +``I hoped it would teach her what I call love, means,'' +explained the Harvester. + +``Why you dratted popinjay! If ever in all my born +days I wanted to take a man and jest lit'rally mop up +the airth with him, it's right here and now. `Absence +teach her what you call love.' Idiot! That's your job!'' + +``But, Granny, I couldn't!'' + +``Wouldn't, you mean, no doubt! I hain't no manner +of a notion in my head but that child, depending on you, +and grateful as she was, and tender and loving, and all +sech as that I hain't a doubt but she come to you +plain and told you she loved you with all her heart. +What more could you ast?'' + +``That she understand what love means before I can +accept what she offers.'' + +``You puddin' head! You blunderbuss!'' cried Granny. +``Understand what you mean by love. If you're going +to bar a woman from being a wife 'til she knows what +you mean by love, you'll stop about nine tenths of the +weddings in the world, and t'other tenth will be women +that no decent-minded man would jine with.'' + +``Granny, are you sure?'' + +``Well livin' through it, and up'ard of seventy years +with other women, ort to teach me something. The +Girl offered you all any man needs to ast or git. Her +foundations was laid in faith and trust. Her affections +was caught by every loving, tender, thoughtful thing +you did for her; and everybody knows you did a-plenty, +David. I never see sech a master hand at courtin' as +you be. You had her lovin' you all any good woman +knows how to love a man. All you needed to a-done was +to take her in your arms, and make her your wife, and +she'd 'a' waked up to what you meant by love.'' + +``But suppose she never awakened?'' + +``Aw, bosh! S'pose water won't wet! S'pose fire +won't burn! S'pose the sun won't shine! That's the +law of nature, man! If you think I hain't got no sense +at all I jest dare you to ask Doctor Carey. 'Twouldn't +take him long to comb the kinks out of you.'' + +``I don't think you have left any, Granny,'' said the +Harvester. ``I see what you mean, and in all probability +you are right, but I can't send for the Girl.'' + +``Name o' goodness why?'' + +``Because I sent her away against her will, and now she +is remaining so long that there is every probability she +prefers the life she is living and the friends she has made +there, to Medicine Woods and to me. The only thing +I can do now is to await her decision.'' + +``Oh, good Lord!'' groaned Granny. ``You make me +sick enough to kill. Touch up your nag and hustle me to +Doc. You can't get me there quick enough to suit me.'' + +At the hospital she faced Doctor Carey. ``I think +likely some of my innards has got to be cut out and +mended,'' she said. ``I'll jest take a few minutes of your +time to examination me, and see what you can do.'' + +In the private office she held the letters toward the +doctor. ``They hain't no manner of sickness ailin' me, +Doc. The boy out there is in deep water, and I knowed +how much you thought of him, and I hoped you'd give +me a lift. I went over to his place this mornin' to take +him a pie, and I found his settin' room fireplace heapin' +with letters he'd writ to Ruth about things his heart was +jest so bustin' full of it eased him to write them down, +and then he hadn't the horse sense and trust in her +jedgment to send them on to her. I picked two fats, +a lean, and a middlin' for samples, and I thought I'd +send them some way, and I struck for home with them +an' he ketched me plumb on the bridge. I had to throw +my pie overboard, willer plate and all, and as God is my +witness, I was so flustered the boy had good reason to +think I was sick a-plenty; and soon as he noticed it, +I thought of you spang off, and I knowed you'd know her +whereabouts, and I made him fetch me to you. On the +way I jest dragged it from him that he'd sent her away +his fool self, because she didn't sense what he meant by +love, and she wa'ant beholden to him same degree and +manner he was to her. Great day, Doc! Did you ever +hear a piece of foolishness to come up with that? I +told him to ast you! I told him you'd tell him that no +clean, sweet-minded girl ever had known nor ever would +know what love means to a man 'til he marries her and +teaches her. Ain't it so, Doc?'' + +``It certainly is.'' + +``Then will you grind it into him, clean to the marrer, +and will you send these letters on to Ruthie?'' + +``Most certainly I will,'' said the doctor emphatically. +Granny opened the door and walked out + +``I'm so relieved, David,'' she said. ``He thinks they +won't be no manner o' need to knife me. Likely he can +fix up a few pills and send them out by mail so's that I'll +be as good as new again. Now we must get right out +of here and not take valuable time. What do I owe +you, Doc?'' + +``Not a cent,'' said Doctor Carey. ``Thank you very +much for coming to me. You'll soon be all right +again.'' + +``I was some worried. Much obliged I am sure. Come +on!'' + +``One minute,'' said the doctor. ``David, I am making +up a list of friends to whom I am going to send +programmes of the medical meeting, and I thought your +wife might like to see you among the speakers, and +your subject. What is her address?'' + +A slow red flushed the Harvester's cheeks. He opened +his lips and hesitated. At last he said, ``I think perhaps +her people prefer that she receive mail under her +maiden name while with them. Miss Ruth Jameson, care +of Alexander Herron, 5770 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, +will reach her.'' + +The doctor wrote the address, as if it were the most +usual thing in the world, and asked the Harvester if +he was ready to make the trip east. + +``I think we had best start to-night,'' he said. ``We +want a day to grow accustomed to our clothes and new +surroundings before we run up squarely against serious +business.'' + +``I will be ready,'' promised the Harvester. + +He took Granny home, set his house in order, installed +the man he was leaving in charge, touched a match to +the heap in the fireplace, and donning the new travelling +suit, he went to Doctor Carey's. + +Mrs. Carey added a few touches, warned him to remember +about the forks and spoons, and not to forget +to shave often, and saw them off. At the station Carey +said to him, ``You know, David, we can change at Wayne +and go through Buffalo, or we can take the Pittsburg +and go and come through Philadelphia.'' + +``I am contemplating a trip to Philadelphia,'' said the +Harvester, ``but I believe I will not be ready for, say a +month yet. I have a theory and it dies hard. If it +does not work out the coming month, I will go, perhaps, +but not now. Let us see how many kinds of a fool I +make of myself in New York before I attempt the +Quakers.'' + +Almost to the city, the doctor smiled at the Harvester. + +``David, where did you get your infernal assurance?'' +he asked. + +``In the woods,'' answered the Harvester placidly. +``In doing clean work. With my fingers in the muck, +and life literally teeming and boiling in sound and action, +around, above, and beneath me, a right estimate of my +place and province in life comes naturally in daily +handling stores on which humanity depends, I go even +deeper than you surgeons and physicians. You are +powerless unless I reinforce your work with drugs on +which you can rely. I do clean, honest work. I know +its proper place and value to the world. That is why I +called what I have to say, `The Man in the Background.' +There is no reason why I should shiver and shrink at +meeting and explaining my work to my fellows. Every +man has his vocation, and some of you in the limelight +would cut a sorry figure if the man in the background +should fail you at the critical moment. Don't worry +about me, Doc. I am all serene. You won't find I +possess either nerves or fear. `Be sure you are right, and +then go ahead,' is my law.'' + +``Well I'll be confounded!'' said the doctor. + +In a large hall, peopled with thousands of medical men, +the name of the Harvester was called the following day +and his subject was announced. He arose in his place +and began to talk. + +``Take the platform,'' came in a roar from a hundred +throats. + +The Harvester hesitated. + +``You must, David,'' whispered Carey. + +The Harvester made his way forward and was guided +through a side door, and a second later calmly walked +down the big stage to the front, and stood at ease looking +over his audience, as if to gauge its size and the pitch +to which he should raise his voice. His lean frame loomed +every inch of his six feet, his broad shoulders were square, +his clean shaven face alert and afire. He wore a spring +suit of light gray of good quality and cut, and he was +perfect as to details. + +``This scarcely seems compatible with my subject,'' he +remarked casually. ``I certainly appear very much in +the foreground just at present, but perhaps that is quite +as well. It may be time that I assert myself. I doubt if +there is a man among you who has not handled my products +more or less; you may enjoy learning where and how +they are prepared, and understanding the manner in +which my work merges with yours. I think perhaps +the first thing is to paint you as good a word picture as +I can of my geographical location.'' + +Then the Harvester named latitude and longitude +and degrees of temperature. He described the lake, +the marsh, the wooded hill, the swale, and open sunny +fields. He spoke of water, soil, shade, and geographical +conditions. ``Here I was born,'' he said, ``on land owned +by my father and grandfather before me, and previous +to them, by the Indians. My male ancestors, so far as I +can trace them, were men of the woods, hunters, trappers, +herb gatherers. My mother was from the country, educated +for a teacher. She had the most inexorable will +power of any woman I ever have known. From my father +I inherited my love for muck on my boots, resin in my +nostrils, the long trail, the camp fire, forest sounds and +silences in my soul. From my mother I learned to +read good books, to study subjects that puzzled me, +to tell the truth, to keep my soul and body clean, and +to pursue with courage the thing to which I set my +hand. + +``There was not money enough to educate me as she +would; together we learned to find it in the forest. In +early days we sold ferns and wild flowers to city people, +harvested the sap of the maples in spring, and the nut +crop of the fall. Later, as we wanted more, we trapped +for skins, and collected herbs for the drug stores. This +opened to me a field I was peculiarly fitted to enter. I +knew woodcraft instinctively, I had the location of every +herb, root, bark, and seed that will endure my climate; +I had the determination to stick to my job, the right +books to assist me, and my mother's invincible will +power to uphold me where I wavered. + +``As I look into your faces, men, I am struck with the +astounding thought that some woman bore the cold +sweat and pain of labour to give life to each of you. +I hope few of you prolonged that agony as I did. It +was in the heart of my mother to make me physically +clean, and to that end she sent me daily into the lake, +so long as it was not ice covered, and put me at exercises +intended to bring full strength to every sinew and +fibre of my body. It was in her heart to make me morally +clean, so she took me to nature and drilled me in its +forces and its methods of reproducing life according +to the law. Her work was good to a point that all +men will recognize. From there on, for a few years, +she held me, not because I was man enough to stand, but +because she was woman enough to support me. Without +her no doubt I would have broken the oath I took; with +her I won the victory and reached years of manhood +and self-control as she would have had me. The struggle +wore her out at half a lifetime, but as a tribute to her +memory I cannot face a body of men having your +opportunities without telling you that what was possible +to her and to me is possible to all mothers and men. +If she is above and hears me perhaps it will recompense +some of her shortened years if she knows I am pleading +with you, as men having the greatest influence of any +living, to tell and to teach the young that a clean life +is possible to them. The next time any of you are +called upon to address a body of men tell them to learn +for themselves and to teach their sons, and to hold them +at the critical hour, even by sweat and blood, to a clean +life; for in this way only can feeble-minded homes, +almshouses, and the scarlet woman be abolished. In this +way only can men arise to full physical and mental force, +and become the fathers of a race to whom the struggle +for clean manhood will not be the battle it is with us. + +``By the distorted faces, by the misshapen bodies, +by marks of degeneracy, recognizable to your practised +eyes everywhere on the streets, by the agony of the +mother who bore you, and later wept over you, I conjure +you men to live up to your high and holy privilege, and +tell all men that they can be clean, if they will. This +in memory of the mother who shortened her days to make +me a moral man. And if any among you is the craven +to plead immorality as a safeguard to health, I ask, +what about the health of the women you sacrifice to +shield your precious bodies, and I offer my own as the +best possible refutation of that cowardly lie. I never +have been ill a moment in all my life, and strength never +has failed me for work to which I set my hand. + +``The rapidly decreasing supply of drugs and the +adulterated importations early taught me that the +day was coming when it would be an absolute necessity +to raise our home supplies. So, while yet in my teens, +I began collecting from the fields and woods for miles +around such medicinal stuff as grew in my father's +fields, marsh, and woods, and planting more wherever I +found anything growing naturally in its prime. I merely +enlarged nature's beds and preserved their natural +condition. As the plants spread and the harvest increased, +I built a dry-house on scientific principles, a large store- +room, and later a laboratory in which I have been learning +to prepare some of my crude material for the market, +combining ideas of my own in remedies, and at last +producing one your president just has indicated that I come +to submit to you as a final resort in certain conditions. + +``My operations now have spread to close six hundred +acres of almost solid medicinal growth, including a +little lake, around the shores of which flourish a quadruple +setting of water-loving herbs.'' + +Occasionally he shifted his position or easily walked +across the platform and faced his audience from a different +direction. His voice was strong, deep, and rang clearly +and earnestly. His audience sat on the front edge of +their chairs, and listened to something new, with mouths +half agape. A few times Carey turned from the speaker +to face the audience. He agonized in his heart that it +was a closed session, and that his wife was not there to +hear, and that the Girl was missing it. + +By the bent backs and flying fingers of the reporters +at their table in front he could see that to-morrow the +world would read the Harvester's speech; and if it were +true that the little mother had shortened her days to +produce him, she had done earth a service for which many +generations would call her blessed. For the doctor could +look ahead, and he knew that this man would not escape. +The call for him and his unimpeachable truth would come +from everywhere, and his utterances would carry as far +as newspapers and magazines were circulated. The +good he would do would be past estimation. + +The Harvester continued. He was describing the most +delicate and difficult of herbs to secure. He was telling +how they could be raised, prepared, kept, and compounded. +He was discussing diseases that did not readily +yield to treatment, pointing out what drugs were +customarily employed and offering, if any of them had such +cases, and would send to him, to forward samples of +unadulterated stuff sufficient for a test comparison with +what they were using. He was walking serenely and +surely into the heart of every man before him. + +Just at the point where it was the psychological time +to close, he stopped and stood a long instant facing them, +and then he asked softly, ``Did any man among you ever +see the woman to whom he had given a strong man's +first passion of love, slowly dying before him?'' + +One breathless instant he waited and then continued, +``Gentlemen, I recently saw this in my own case. For +days it was coming, so at night I shut myself in my +laboratory, and from the very essence of the purest of +my self-compounded drugs I distilled a stimulant into +which I put a touch of heart remedy, a brace for weakening +nerves, a vitalization of sluggish blood. As I worked, +I thought in that thought which embodied the essence +of prayer, and when my day and my hour came, and a +man who has been the president of your honourable +body, and is known to all of you, said it was death, I +took this combination that I now present to you, and +with the help of the Almighty and a woman above the +price of rubies, I kept breath in the girl I love, and to-day +she is at full tide of womanhood. As a thank offering, +the formula is yours. Test it as you will. Use it if you +find it good. Gentlemen, I thank you!'' + +Carey sank in his chair and watched the Harvester +cross the stage. As he disappeared the tumult began, +and it lasted until the president arose and brought him +back to make another bow, and then they rioted until +they wore themselves out. In an immaculate dress +suit the Harvester sat that night on the right of the gray- +haired president and responded to the toast, ``The +Harvester of the Woods.'' Then the reporters carried +him away to be photographed, and to show him the gay +sights of New York. + +In the train the next day, steadily speeding west, he +said to Doctor Carey: ``I feel as the old woman of Mother +Goose who said, `Lawk-a-mercy on us, can this be really +I?' '' + +``You just bet it is!'' cried the doctor. ``And you +have cut out work for yourself in good shape.'' + +``What do you mean?'' + +``I mean that this is a beginning. You will be called +upon to speak again and again.'' + +``The point is, do you honestly think I helped any?'' + +``You did inestimable good. It only can help men to +hear plain truth that is personal experience. As for that +dope of yours, it will come closer raising the dead than +anything I ever saw. Next case I see slipping, after +I've done my best, I'm going to try it out for myself.'' + +``All right! 'Phone me and I'll bring some fresh and +help you.'' + +At Buffalo the doctor left the car and bought a paper. +As he had expected the portrait and speech of the Harvester +were featured. The reporters had been gracious. +They had done all that was just to a great event, +and allowed themselves some latitude. He immediately +mailed the paper to the Girl, and at Cleveland bought +another for himself. When he showed it to the Harvester, +as he glanced at it he observed, ``Do I appear +like that?'' Then he went on talking with a man he +had met who interested him. + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +THE COMING OF THE BLUEBIRD + +The Harvester stopped at the mail box on his way +home and among the mass of matter it contained +was something from the Girl. It was a scrap +as long as his least finger and three times as wide, and +by the postmark it had lain four days in the box. On +opening it, he found only her card with a line written +across it, but the man went up the hill and into the +cabin as if a cyclone were driving him, for he read, ``Has +your bluebird come?'' + +He threw his travelling bag on the floor, ran to the +telephone, and called the station. ``Take this message,'' he +said. ``Mrs. David Langston, care of Alexander Herron, +5770 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia. Found note after +four days' absence. Bluebird long past due. The fairies +have told it that my fate hereafter lies in your hands. + +As always. David.'' + +The Harvester turned from the instrument and bent +to embrace Belshazzar, leaping in ecstasy beside him. + +``Understand that, Bel?'' he asked. ``I don't know but +it means something. Maybe it doesn't----not a thing! +And again, there is a chance----only the merest +possibility----that it does. We'll risk it, Bel, and to begin +on I have nailed it as hard as I knew how. Next, we will +clean the house----until it shines, and then we will fill +the cupboard, and if anything does happen we won't be +caught napping. Yes, boy, we will take the chance! +We can't be any worse disappointed than we have been +before and survived it. Come along!'' + +He picked up the bag and arranged its contents, +carefully brushed and folded on his shelves and in his +closet. Then he removed the travelling suit, donned +the old brown clothes and went to the barn to see that +his creatures had been cared for properly. Early the +next morning he awoke and after feeding and breakfasting +instead of going to harvest spice brush and alder he +stretched a line and hung the bedding from room after +room to air and sun. He swept, dusted, and washed +windows, made beds, and lastly polished the floors +throughout the cabin. He set everything in order, +and as a finishing touch, filled vases, pitchers, and bowls +with the bloom of red bud and silky willow catkins. +He searched the south bank, but there was not a violet, +even in the most exposed places. By night he was tired +and a little of the keen edge of his ardour was dulled. +The next day he worked scrubbing the porches, straightening +the lawn and hedges, even sweeping the driveway +to the bridge clear of wind-whirled leaves and straw. +He scouted around the dry-house and laboratory, and +spent several extra hours on the barn so that when +evening came everything was in perfect order. Then he +dressed, ate his supper and drove to the city. + + +He stopped at the mail box, but there was nothing +from the Girl. The Harvester did not know whether +he was sorry or glad. A letter might have said the +same thing. Nothing meant a delightful possibility, and +between the two he preferred the latter. He whistled +and sang as he drove to Onabasha, and Belshazzar looked +at him with mystified eyes, for this was not the master +he had known of late. He did not recognize the dress +or the manner, but his dog heart was sympathetic to +the man's every mood, and he remembered times when a +drive down the levee always had been like this, for to- +night the Harvester's tongue was loosened and he talked +in the old way. + +``Just four words, Bel'' he said. ``And, as I +remarked before, they may mean the most wonderful thing +on earth, and possibly nothing at all. But it is in the +heart of man to hope, Bel, and so we are going to live +royally for a week or two, just on hope, old boy. If +anything should happen, we are ready, rooms shining, +beds fresh, fireplaces filled and waiting a match, ice +chest cool, and when we get back it will be stored. Also +a secret, Bel; we are going to a florist and a fruit store. +While we are at it, we will do the thing right; but we will +stay away from Doc, until we are sure of something. +He means well, but we don't like to be pitied, do we, +Bel? Our friends don't manage their eyes and voices +very well these days. Never mind! Our time will come +yet. The bluebird will not fail us, but never before has +it been so late.'' + +On his return he filled the pantry shelves with packages, +stored the ice chest, and set a basket of delicious fruit on +the dining table. Two boxes remained. He opened the +larger one and took from it an arm load of white lilies +that he carried up the hill and divided between the mounds +under the oak. Then he uncovered his head, and standing +at the foot of them he looked among the boughs of +the big tree and listened intently. After a time a soft, +warm wind, catkin-scented, crept from the lake, and +began a murmur among the clusters of brown leaves +clinging to the branches. + +``Mother,'' said the Harvester, ``were you with me? +Did I do it right? Did I tell them what you would have +had me say for the boys? Are you glad now you held +me to the narrow way? Do you want me to go before +men if I am asked, as Doc says I will be, and tell them +that the only way to abolish pain is for them to begin +at the foundation by living clean lives? I don't know +if I did any good, but they listened to me. Anyway, +I did the best I knew. But that isn't strange; you ground +it into me to do that every day, until it is almost an +instinct. Mother, dear, can you tell me about the bluebird? +Is that softest little rustle of all your voice? +and does it say `hope'? I think so, and I thank you for +the word.'' + +The man's eyes dropped to earth. + +``And you other mother,'' he said, ``have you any +message for me? Up where you are can you sweep the +world with understanding eyes and tell me why my +bluebird does not come? Does it know that this year +your child and not chance must settle my fate? Can +you look across space and see if she is even thinking of +me? But I know that! She had to be thinking of me +when she wrote that line. Rather can you tell me---- +will she come? Do you think I am man enough to be +trusted with her future, if she does? One thing I promise +you: if such joy ever comes to me, I will know how to meet +it gently, thankfully, tenderly, please God. Good night, +little women. I hope you are sleeping well----'' + +He turned and went down the hill, entered the cabin +and took from the other box a mass of Parma violets. +He put these in the pink bowl and placed it on the table +beside the Girl's bed. He stood for a time, and then +began pulling single flowers from the bowl and dropping +them over the pillow and snowy spread. + +``God, how I love her!'' he whispered softly. + +At last he went out and closed the door. He was +tired and soon fell asleep with the night breeze stirring +his hair, and the glamour of moonlight flooding the lake +touched his face. Clearly it etched the strong, manly +features, the fine brow and chin, and painted in unusual +tenderness the soft lines around the mouth. The little +owl wavered its love story, a few frogs were piping, and +the Harvester lay breathing the perfumed spring air +deeply and evenly. Near midnight Belshazzar awakened +him by arising from the bedside and walking to the door. + +``What is it, Bel?'' inquired the Harvester. + +The dog whined softly. The man turned his head +toward the lake. A ray of red light touched the opposite +embankment and came wavering across the surface. +The Harvester sat up. Two big, flaming eyes were +creeping up the levee. + +``That,'' said the Harvester, ``might be Doc coming +for me to help him try out my bottled sunshine, or it +might be my bluebird.'' + +He tossed back the cover, swung his feet to the floor, +setting each in a slipper beside the bed, and arose, dressing +as he started for the door. As he opened the screen and +stepped on the veranda a passenger car from the city +stopped, and the Harvester went down the walk to +meet it. His heart turned over when he saw a woman's +hand on the door. + +``Permit me,'' he said, taking the handle and bringing +it back with a sweep. A tall form arose, bent forward, +and descended to the step. The full flare of moonlight +fell on the glowing face of the Girl. + +``Harvester, is it you?'' she asked. + +``Yes,'' gasped the man. + +Two hands came fluttering out, and he just had presence +of mind to step in range so that they rested on his +shoulders. + +``Has the bluebird come?'' + +``Not yet!'' + +``Then I am not too late?'' + +``Never too late to come to me, Ruth.'' + +``I am welcome?'' + +``I have no words to tell you how welcome.'' + +She swayed forward and the Harvester tried to reach +her lips, but they brushed his cheek and touched his ear. + +``I have brought one more kiss I want to try,'' she +whispered. + +The Harvester crushed her in his arms until he frightened +himself for fear he had hurt her, and murmured +an ecstasy of indistinct love words to her. Presently her +feet touched the ground and she drew away from him. + +``Harvester,'' she whispered, ``I couldn't wait any +longer; indeed I could not: and I couldn't leave grandfather +and grandmother, and I didn't know what in the +world to do, so I just brought them along. Are they +welcome?'' + +``Aside from you, I would rather have them than +any people on earth,'' said the Harvester. + +There were two sounds in the car; one was an +approving murmur, and the other an undeniable snort. +The Harvester felt the reassuring pressure of the Girl's +hand. + +``Please, Ruth,'' he said, ``go turn on the light so that +I can see to help grandmother.'' + +A foot stamped before the front seat. ``Madam +Herron, if you please!'' cried an acrid voice. + +`` `Madam Herron,' '' said the Harvester gently, as he +set a foot on the step, reached in and bodily picked up a +little old lady and started up the walk with her in his arms. + +``Careful there, sir!'' roared a voice after him. + +The Harvester could feel the quake of the laughing +woman and he smiled broadly as he entered the cabin, +and placed her in a large chair before the fire. Then +he wheeled and ran back to the car, reaching it as the man +was making an effort to descend. It could be seen +that he had been tall, before time and sorrow had bent +him, and keen eyes gleamed below shaggy white brows +from under his hat brim. He had a white moustache, and +his hair was snowy. + +``Allow me,'' said the Harvester reaching a hand. + +``If you touch me I will cane you,'' said Mr. Alexander +Herron. + +There was nothing to do but step back. The cane, +wheel, and a long coat skirt interfering, the old man fell +headlong, and only quick hands saved him a severe jolt +and bruises. He stood glaring in the moonlight while +his hat was restored. + +``If you run your car to the curve you can back toward +the south and turn easily,'' said the Harvester to the +driver. As the automobile passed them he offered his +arm. ``May I show you to the fire? These spring nights +are chilly.'' + +`` `Chilly!' Demnition cold is what they are! I'm +frozen to the bone! This will be the end of us both! +Dragging people of our age around at this hour of night. +Of all the accursed stubbornness!'' + +``There are three low steps,'' said the Harvester, ``now +a straight stretch of walk, now two steps; there you are +on the level. Here is an easy chair. It would be better +to leave on your coat, until I light the fire.'' + +He knelt and scratched a match, and almost instantly +a flame sprang from the heap of dry kindling, and began +to wrap around the big logs. + +``How pretty!'' exclaimed a soft voice. + +``Kind of a hunting lodge in the wilds, is it?'' growled +a rough one. ``Marcella, you will take your death +here!'' + +``I'm sure I feel no exposure. Really, Alexander, +if I had passed away every time you have prophesied +that I would in the past twenty years you'd have the +largest private cemetery in existence. If you would not +be so pessimistic I could quite enjoy the trip. It's so +long since I've ridden in the cars.'' + +``Of all the abandoned places! And for you to be +here, after your years in bed!'' + +``But I'm not nearly so tired as I am at home, +Alexander, truly.'' + +``Let me help you, grandfather,'' offered the Girl. + +She went to him and took his hat and stick. + +``Leave me my cane,'' he cried. ``Any instant that +beast may attack some of us.'' + +The Girl laughed merrily. + +``Why grandfather!'' she chided, ``Bel is the finest +dog you ever knew, he is my best friend here. By the +hour he has protected me, and he is gentle as a kitten. +He's crazy over my coming home.'' + +She knelt on the floor, put her arms around the dog's +neck, and the delighted brute quivered with the joy of +her caress and the sound of her loved voice. + +``Ruthie!'' cautioned the gentle lady. + +``Put that cur out of doors, where animals belong,'' +roared the old man, lifting his stick. + +``Careful!'' warned the grave voice of the Harvester. + +``I thought you said he was gentle as a kitten!'' + +``Grandfather, I said that,'' cried the Girl. + +``Well wasn't it the truth?'' + +``You can see how he loves me. Didn't I ever tell +you that Bel made the first friendly overture I ever +received in this part of the country? He's watched me +by the day, even while I slept.'' + +``Then what's all this infernal fuss about?'' + +``Try striking him if you want to find out,'' explained +the Harvester gently. ``You see, Belshazzar and I are +accustomed to living here alone and very quietly. He +is excited over the Girl's return, because she is his friend, +and he has not forgotten her. Then this is the first time +in his life he ever heard an irritable voice from a visitor +or saw a cane, and it angers him. He is perfectly safe +to guard a baby, if he is gently treated, but he is a sure +throat hold to a stranger who bespeaks him roughly or +attempts to strike. He would be of no use as a guard +to valuable property while I sleep if he were otherwise. +Bel, come here! Lie still.'' + +The dog sank to the floor beside the Harvester, but his +sharp eyes followed the Girl, and the hair arose on his +neck at every rasping note of the old man's voice. + +``I wouldn't give such a creature house room for a +minute,'' insisted the guest. + +``Wait until you see him work and become acquainted +with him, and you will change that verdict,'' prophesied +the Harvester. + +``I never was known to change an opinion. Never, +sir! Never!'' cried the testy voice. + +``How unfortunate!'' remarked the Harvester suavely. + +``Explain yourself! Explain yourself, sir!'' + +``There never has been, there never will be, a man +on this earth,'' said the Harvester, ``wholly free from +mistakes. Are you warm now?'' He turned to the +little lady, cutting off a reply with his question. + +``Nice and warm and quite sleepy,'' she said. + +``What may I bring you for a light lunch before you +go to bed?'' + +``Oh, could I have a bite of something?'' + +``If only I am fortunate enough to have anything you +will care for. What about a bowl of hot milk and a +slice of toast?'' + +``Why I think that would be just the thing!'' + +``Excuse me,'' said the Harvester rising. + +He went to the kitchen and they could hear him +moving around. + +``I wish the big brute would take his beast along,'' +growled Mr. Alexander Herron. + +``Come, Bel,'' ordered the Girl. ``Let's go to the +kitchen.'' + +The dog instantly arose and followed her. + +``What can I do to help?'' she asked as they reached +the door. + +``Remain where you won't dazzle my eyes,'' said the +Harvester, ``until I help the gentle lady and the gentle +man to bed.'' + +Presently he came with a white cloth, two spoons, and +a plate of bread. He spread the cloth on the table, laid +the spoons on it, and opening the little cupboard, took +out a long toasting fork, and sticking it into a slice of +bread, he held it over the coals. When it grew golden +brown he lifted the table beside the chair, and brought +a bowl of scalded milk. + +``Marcella, that stuff will be too smoky for you! +Your stomach will rebel at it.'' + +``Grandfather, there will not be a suspicion of odour,'' +said the Girl. ``I have had it that way often.'' + +``Then no wonder you came from this place looking +like a picked crane, if that is a sample of what you were +fed on!'' + +The face of the Harvester grew redder than the heat +of the fire necessitated, but at the ringing laugh of the +Girl he set his teeth and went on toasting bread. Grandmother +crumbled some in the milk and picking up the +spoon tested the combination. She was very hungry, +and it was good. She began eating with relish. + +``Alexander, you will be the loser if you don't have +some of this,'' she said. ``It's just delicious!'' + +``Maybe smoked spoon victuals are proper for invalid +women,'' he retorted, ``but they are mighty thin diet +for a hardy man.'' + +``What about a couple of eggs and some beef extract?'' +suggested the cook. + +``Sounds more sensible by a long shot.'' + +``Ruth, you make this toast,'' said the Harvester and +disappeared. + +Presently he placed before his guest a couple of eggs +poached in milk, a steaming bowl of beef juice, and a +plate of toast. For one instant the Harvester thought +this was going into the fire, the next a slice was picked +up and smelled testily. The Girl sat on her grandfather's +chair arm, and breaking a morsel of toast dipped it into +the broth and tasted it. + +``Oh but that is good!'' she cried. ``Why haven't +I some also? Am I supposed to have no `tummy'?'' + +``Your turn next,'' said the Harvester, as he again gave +her the fork and went to the kitchen. + +When he returned and served the Girl he found her +grandfather eating heartily. + +``Why I think this is fun,'' said the gentle lady. ``I +haven't had such a fine time in ages. I love the heat of +the flame on my body and things taste so good. I could +go to sleep without any narcotic, right now.'' + +Close her knee the Harvester knelt on the hearth with +his toasting fork. She leaned forward and ran her fingers +through his hair. + +``You're a braw laddie,'' she said. ``Now I see why +Ruthie WOULD come.'' + +The Harvester took the frail hand and kissed it. +``Thank you!'' he returned. + +``Mush!'' exploded the grizzled man in the rear. + +When no one wanted more food the Harvester stacked +and carried away the dishes, swept the hearth, and +replaced the toaster. + +``Ruth and I often lunched this way last fall,'' he said. +``We liked it for a change.'' + +``Alexander, have you noticed?'' asked the little +woman as she lifted wet eyes to a beautiful portrait of +her daughter beside the chimney. + +``D'ye think I'm blind? Saw it as I entered the door. +Poor taste! Very! Brown may match the rug and +wood-work, but it's a wretched colour for a young girl +in her gay time. Should be pink and white with a gold +frame.'' + +``That would be beautiful,'' agreed the Harvester. +``We must have one that way. This is not an expensive +picture. It is only an enlargement from an old +photograph.'' + +``We have a number of very handsome likenesses. +Which one can you spare Ruth, Marcella?'' + +``The one she likes best,'' said the lady promptly. + +``And the other is your mother, no doubt. What a +girlish, beautiful face!'' + +``Wonderfully fine!'' growled a gruff old voice +tinctured with tears, and the Harvester began to see light. + +The old man arose. ``Ruthie, help your grandmother +to bed,'' he said. ``And you, sir, have the goodness to +walk a few steps with me.'' + +The Harvester sprang up and brought Mr. Herron his +coat and hat and held the door. The Girl brushed past +him. + +``To the oak,'' she whispered. + +They went into the night, and without a word the +Harvester took his guest's arm and guided him up the +hill. When they reached the two mounds the moon +shining between the branches touched the lily faces with +with holy whiteness. + +``She sleeps there,'' said the Harvester, indicating the +place. + +Then he turned and went down the path a little +distance and waited until he feared the night air would +chill the broken old man. + +``You can see better to-morrow,'' he said as he touched +the shaking figure and assisted it to arise. + +``Your work?'' Mr. Alexander Herron touched the +lilies with his walking stick. + +The Harvester assented. + +``Do you mind if I carry one to Marcella?'' + +The Harvester trembled as he stooped to select the +largest and whitest, and with sudden illumination, he +fully understood. He helped the tottering old man to +the cabin, where he sat silently before the fireplace +softly touching the lily face with his lips. + +``I have put grandmother in my bed, tucked her in +warmly, and she says it is soft and fine,'' laughed the +Girl, coming to them. ``Now you go before she falls +asleep, and I hope you will rest well.'' + +She bent and kissed him. + +The Harvester held the door. + +``Can I be of any service?'' he inquired. + +``No, I'm no helpless child.'' + +``Then to my best wishes for sound sleep the remainder +of the night, I will add this,'' said the Harvester---- +``You may rest in peace concerning your dear girl. I +sympathize with your anxiety. Good night!'' + +Alexander Herron threw out his hands in protest. + +``I wouldn't mind admitting that you are a gentleman +in a month or two,'' he said, ``but it's a demnation +humiliation to have it literally wrung from me +to-night!'' + +He banged the door in the face of the amazed +Harvester, who turned to the Girl as she leaned against the +mantel. He stood absorbing the glowing picture of +beauty and health that she made. She had removed her +travelling dress and shoes, and was draped in a fleecy +white wool kimono and wearing night slippers. Her hair +hung in two big braids as it had during her illness. She +was his sick girl again in costume, but radiant health +glowed on her lovely face. The Harvester touched a +match to a few candles and turned out the acetylene +lights. Then he stood before her. + +``Now, bluebird,'' he said gently. ``Ruth, you always +know where to find me, if you will look at your feet. +I thought I loved you all in my power when you went, +but absence has taught its lessons. One is that I can +grow to love you more every day I live, and the other +that I probably trifled with the highest gift you had to +offer, when I sent you away. I may have been right; +Granny and Doc think I was wrong. You know the +answer. You said there was another kiss for me. Ruth, +is it the same or a different one?'' + +``It is different. Quite, quite different!'' + +``And when?'' The Harvester stretched out longing +arms. The Girl stepped back. + +``I don't know,'' she said. ``I had it when I started, +but I lost it on the way.'' + +The Harvester staggered under the disappointment. + +``Ruth, this has gone far enough that you wouldn't +play with me, merely for the sake of seeing me suffer, +would you?'' + +``No!'' cried the Girl. ``No! I mean it! I knew +just what I wanted to say when I started; but we had to +take grandmother out of bed. She wouldn't allow me to +leave her, and I wouldn't stay away from you any +longer. She fainted when we put her on the car and +grandfather went wild. He almost killed the porters, +and he raved at me. He said my mother had ruined +their lives, and now I would be their death. I got so +frightened I had a nervous chill and I'm so afraid she will +grow worse----'' + +``You poor child!'' shuddered the Harvester. ``I +see! I understand! What you need is quiet and a +good rest.'' + +He placed her in a big easy chair and sitting on the +hearth rug he leaned against her knee and said, ``Now +tell me, unless you are so tired that you should go to bed.'' + +``I couldn't possibly sleep until I have told you,'' +said the Girl. + +``If you're merciful, cut it short!'' implored the +Harvester. + +``I think it begins,'' she said slowly, ``when I went +because you sent me and I didn't want to go. Of course, +as soon as I saw grandfather and grandmother, heard +them talk, and understood what their lives had been, and +what might have been, why there was only one thing to +do, as I could see it, and that was to compensate their +agony the best I could. I think I have, David. I really +think I have made them almost happy. But I told them +all any one could tell about you in the start, and from the +first grandmother would have been on your side; but you +see how grandfather is, and he was absolutely determined +that I should live with them, in their home, all +their lives. He thought the best way to accomplish +that would be to separate me from you and marry me +to the son of his partner. + +``There are rooms packed with the lovely things they +bought me, David, and everything was as I wrote you. +Some of the people who came were wonderful, so gracious +and beautiful, I loved almost all of them. They took +me places where there were pictures, plays, and lovely +parties, and I studied hard to learn some music, to dance, +ride and all the things they wanted me to do, and to read +good books, and to learn to meet people with graciousness +to equal theirs, and all of it. Every day I grew stronger +and met more people, and there were different places +to go, and always, when anything was to be done, up +popped Mr. Herbert Kennedy and said and did exactly +the right thing, and he could be extremely nice, +David.'' + +``I haven't a doubt!'' said the Harvester, laying hold +of her kimono. + +``And he popped up so much that at last I saw he was +either pretending or else he really was growing very fond +of me, so one day when we were alone I told him all +about you, to make him see that he must not. He +laughed at me, and said exactly what you did, that I +didn't love you at all, that it was gratitude, that it was +the affection of a child. He talked for hours about how +grandfather and grandmother had suffered, how it was my +duty to live with them and give you up, even if I cared +greatly for you; but he said what I felt was not love at all. +Then he tried to tell me what he thought love was, and I +could see very clearly that if it was like that, I didn't +love you, but I came a whole world closer it than loving +him, and I told him so. He laughed again and +said I was mistaken, and that he was going to teach +me what real love was, and then I could not be driven +back to you. After that, everybody and everything +just pushed me toward him with both hands, except +one person. She was a young married woman and +I met her at the very first. She was the only real friend +I ever had, and at last, the latter part of February, when +things were the very worst, I told her. I told her every +single thing. She was on your side. She said you were +twice the man Herbert Kennedy was, and as soon as I +found I could talk to her about you, I began going there +and staying as long as I could, just to talk and to play +with her baby. + +``Her husband was a splendid young fellow, and I +grew very fond of him. I knew she had told him, because +he suddenly began talking to me in the kindest way, and +everything he said seemed to be what I most wanted to +hear. I got along fairly well until hints of spring began +to come, and then I would wonder about my hedge, and +my gold garden, and if the ice was off the lake, and +about my boat and horse, and I wanted my room, and +oh, David, most of all I wanted you! Just you! Not +because you could give me anything to compare in +richness with what they could, not because this home was +the best I'd ever known except theirs, not for any reason +at all only just that I wanted to see your face, hear your +voice, and have you pick me up and take me in your arms +when I was tired. That was when I almost quit writing. +I couldn't say what I wanted to, and I wouldn't write +trivial things, so I went on day after day just groping.'' + +``And you killed me alive,'' said the Harvester. + +``I was afraid of that, but I couldn't write. I just +couldn't! It was ten days ago that I thought of the +bluebird's coming this year and what it would mean to +you, and THAT killed me, Man! It just hurt my heart +until it ached, to know that you were out here alone; +and that night I couldn't sleep, because I was thinking +of you, and it came to me that if I had your lips then I +could give you a much, much better kiss than the last, +and when it was light I wrote that line. + +``Nearly a week later I got your answer early in the +morning, and it almost drove me wild. I took it and went +for the day with May, and I told her. She took me +upstairs, and we talked it over, and before I left she made +me promise that I would write you and explain how I +felt, and ask you what you thought. She wanted you +to come there and see if you couldn't make them at least +respect you. I know I was crying, and she was bathing +the baby. She went to bring something she had forgotten, +and she gave him to me to hold, just his little +naked body. He stood on my lap and mauled my face, +and pulled my hair, and hugged me with his stout little +arms and kissed me big, soft, wet kisses, and something +sprang to life in my heart that never before had been +there. I just cried all over him and held him fast, and +I couldn't give him up when she came back. I saw why +I'd wanted a big doll all my life, right then; and oh, +dear! the doll you sent was beautiful, but, David, did +you ever hold a little, living child in your arms like that?'' + +``I never did,'' said the Harvester huskily. + +He looked at her face and saw the tears rolling, but +he could say no more, so he leaned his head against her +knee, and finding one of her hands he drew it to his lips. + +``It is wonderful,'' said the Girl softly. ``It awakens +something in your heart that makes it all soft and tender, +and you feel an awful responsibility, too. Grandmother +had them telephone at last, and May helped me bathe +my face and fix my hat. When we went to the carriage +Mr. Kennedy was there to take me home. We went +past grandmother's florist to get her some violets---- +David, she is sleeping under yours, with just a few +touching her lips. Oh it was lovely of you to get them; your +fairies must have told you! She has them every day, +and one of the objections she made to coming here was +that she couldn't do without them in winter, and she +found some on her pillow the very first thing. David, +you are wonderful! And grandfather with his lily! +I know where he found that! I knew instantly. Ah, +there are fairies who tell you, because you deserve to +know.'' + +The Girl bent and slipping her arm around his neck +hugged him tight an instant, and then she continued +unsteadily: ``While he was in the shop----Harvester, +this is like your wildest dream, but it's truest truth----a +boy came down the walk crying papers, and as I live, +he called your name. I knew it had to be you because +he said, ``First drug farm in America! Wonderful +medicine contributed to the cause of science! David +Langston honoured by National Medical Association!'' +I just stood in the carriage and screamed, `Boy! Boy!' +until the coachman thought I had lost my senses. He +whistled and got me the paper. I was shaking so I +asked him how to find anything you wanted quickly, +and he pointed the column where events are listed; +and when I found the third page there was your face so +splendidly reproduced, and you seemed so fine and noble +to me I forgot about the dress suit and the badge in +your buttonhole, or to wonder when or how or why it +could have happened. I just sat there shouting in my +soul, `David! David! Medicine Man! Harvester Man!' +again and again. + +``I don't know what I said to Mr. Kennedy or how I +got to my room. I scanned it by the column, at last +I got to paragraphs, and finally I read all the sentences. +David, I kissed that newspaper face a hundred times, +and if you could have had those, Man, I think you +would have said they were right. David, there is +nothing to cry over!'' + +``I'm not!'' said the Harvester, wiping the splashes +from her hand. ``But, Ruth, forget what I said about +being brief. I didn't realize what was coming. I should +have said, if you've any mercy at all, go slowly! This is +the greatest thing that ever happened or ever will happen +to me. See that you don't leave out one word of it.'' + +``I told you I had to tell you first,'' said the Girl. + +``I understand now,'' said the Harvester, his head +against her knee while he pressed her hand to his lips. +``I see! Your coming couldn't be perfect without knowing +this first. Go on, dear heart, and slowly! You +owe me every word.'' + +``When I had it all absorbed, I carried the paper to +the library and said, `Grandfather, such a wonderful +thing has happened. A man has had a new idea, and he +has done a unique work that the whole world is going to +recognize. He has stood before men and made a speech +that few, oh so few, could make honestly, and he has +advocated right living, oh so nobly, and he has given +a wonderful gift to science without price, because through +it he first saved the life he loved best. Isn't that +marvellous, grandfather?' And he said, `Very marvellous, +Ruth. Won't you sit down and read to me about it?' +And I said, `I can't, dear grandfather, because I have +been away from grandmother all day, and she is fretting +for me, and to-night is a great ball, and she has spent +millions on my dress, I think, and there is an especial +reason why I must go, and so I have to see her now; but +I want to show you the man's face, and then you can +read the story.' + +``You see, I knew if I started to read it he would stop +me; but if I left him alone with it he would be so curious +he would finish. So I turned your name under and +held the paper and said, `What do you think of that +face, grandfather? Study it carefully,' and, Man, only +guess what he said! He said, `I think it is the face of +one of nature's noblemen.' I just kissed him time and +again and then I said, `So it is grandfather, so it is; for it +is the face of the man who twice saved my life, and lifted +my mother from almost a pauper grave and laid her to +rest in state, and the man who found you, and sent +me to you when I was determined not to come.' And I +just stood and kissed that paper before him and cried, +again and again, `He is one of nature's noblemen, and he +is my husband, my dear, dear husband and to-morrow I +am going home to him.' Then I laid the paper on his +lap and ran away. I went to grandmother and did everything +she wanted, then I dressed for the ball. I went +to say good-bye to her and show my dress and grandfather +was there, and he followed me out and said, `Ruth, +you didn't mean it?' I said, `Did you read the paper, +grandfather?' and he said 'Yes'; and I said, `Then I +should think you would know I mean it, and glory +in my wonderful luck. Think of a man like that, +grandfather!' + +``I went to the ball, and I danced and had a lovely +time with every one, because I knew it was going to be +the very last, and to-morrow I must start to you. + +``On the way home I told Mr. Kennedy what paper +to get and to read it. I said good-bye to him, and I +really think he cared, but I was too happy to be very +sorry. When I reached my room there was a packet for +me and, Man, like David of old, you are a wonderful +poet! Oh Harvester! why didn't you send them to me +instead of the cold, hard things you wrote?'' + +``What do you mean, Ruth?'' + +``Those letters! Those wonderful outpourings of love +and passion and poetry and song and broken-heartedness. +Oh Man, how could you write such things and throw +them in the fire? Granny Moreland found them when +she came to bring you a pie, and she carried them to +Doctor Carey, and he sent them to me, and, David, +they finished me. Everything came in a heap. I would +have come without them, but never, never with quite +the understanding, for as I read them the deeps opened +up, and the flood broke, and there did a warm tide go +through all my being, like you said it would; and now, +David, I know what you mean by love. I called the +maids and they packed my trunk and grandmother's, +and I had grandfather's valet pack his, and go and secure +berths and tickets, and learn about trains, and I got +everything ready, even to the ambulance and doctor; +but I waited until morning to tell them. I knew they +would not let me come alone, so I brought them along. +David, what in the world are we going to do with them?'' + +The Harvester drew a deep breath and looked at the +flushed face of the Girl. + +``With no time to mature a plan, I would say that we +are going to love them, care for them, gradually teach +them our work, and interest them in our plans here; +and so soon as they become reconciled we will build them +such a house as they want on the hill facing us, just across +Singing Water, and there they may have every luxury +they can provide for themselves, or we can offer, and the +pleasure of your presence, and both of them can grow +strong and happy. I'll have grandmother on her feet in +ten days, and the edge off grandfather's tongue in three. +That bluster of his is to drown tears, Ruth; I saw it to- +night. And when they pass over we will carry them up +and lay them beside her under the oak, and we can take +the house we build for them, if you like it better, and use +this for a store-room.'' + +``Never!'' said the Girl. ``Never! My sunshine +room and gold garden so long as I live. Never again +will I leave them. If this cabin grows too small, we will +build all over the hillside; but my room and garden and +this and the dining-room and your den there must remain +as they are now.'' + +The Harvester arose and drew the davenport before +the fireplace, and heaped pillows. ``You are so tired you +are trembling, and your voice is quivering,'' he said. He +lifted the Girl, laid her down and arranged the coverlet. + +``Go to sleep!'' he ordered gently. ``You have made +me so wildly happy that I could run and shout like a +madman. Try to rest, and maybe the fairies who aid +me will put my kiss back on your lips. I am going to +the hill top to tell mother and my God.'' + +He knelt and gathered her in his arms a second, then +called Belshazzar to guard, and went into the sweet +spring night, to jubilate with that wild surge of passion +that sweeps the heart of a strong man when he is most +nearly primal. He climbed the hill at a rush, and standing +beneath the oak on the summit, he faced the lake, +and stretching his arms widely, he waved them, merely +to satisfy the demand for action. When urgency for +expression came upon him, he laughed a deep rumble +of exultation. + +The night wind swept the lake and lifted his hair, +the odour of spring was intoxicating in his nostrils, +small creatures of earth stirred around him, here and there +a bird, restless in the delirium of mating fever, lifted +its head and piped a few notes on the moon-whitened +air. The frogs sang uninterruptedly at the water's +edge. The Harvester stood rejoicing. Beating on his +brain came a rush of love words uttered in the Girl's +dear voice. ``I wanted you! Just you! He is my husband! +My dear, dear husband! To-morrow I am going +home! Now, David, I know what you mean by love!'' +The Harvester laughed again and sounds around him +ceased for a second, then swelled in fuller volume than +before. He added his voice. ``Thank God! Oh, thank +God!'' he cried. ``And may the Author of the Universe, +the spirits of the little mothers who loved us, and all the +good fairies who guide us, unite to bring unbounded joy +to my Dream Girl and to guard her safely.'' + +The cocks of Medicine Woods began their second +salute to dawn. At this sound and with the mention of +her name, the Harvester turned down the hill, and striding +forcefully approached the cabin. As he passed the +Girl's room he stepped softly, smiling as he wondered if +its unexpected occupants were resting. He followed +Singing Water, and stood looking at the hillside, studying +the exact location most suitable for a home for the old +people he was so delighted to welcome. That they would +remain he never doubted. His faith in the call of the +wild had been verified in the Girl; it would reach them +also. The hill top would bind them. Their love for the +Girl would compel them. They would be company for +her and a new interest in life. + +``Couldn't be better, not possibly!'' commented the +delighted Harvester. + +He followed the path down Singing Water until he +reached the bridge where it turned into the marsh. +There he paused, looking straight ahead. + +``Wonder if I would frighten her?'' he mused. ``I +believe I'll risk it.'' + +He walked on rapidly, vaulted the fence enclosing +his land, crossed the road, and unlatched the gate. As +he did so, the door opened, and Granny Moreland stood +on the sill, waiting with keen eyes. + +``Well I don't need neither specs nor noonday sun +to see that you're steppin' like the blue ribbon colt at +the County Fair, and lookin' like you owned Kingdom +Come,'' she said. ``What's up, David?'' + +``You are right, dear,'' said the Harvester. ``I have +entered my kingdom. The Girl has come and crowned +me with her love. She had decided to return, but the +letters you sent made her happier about it. I wanted +you to know.'' + +Granny leaned against the casing, and began to sob +unrestrainedly. + +The Harvester supported her tenderly. + +``Why don't do that, dear. Don't cry,'' he begged. +``The Girl is home for always, Granny, and I'm so happy +I am out to-night trying to keep from losing my mind +with joy. She will come to you to-morrow, I know.'' + +Granny tremulously dried her eyes. + +``What an old sap-head I am!'' she commented. ``I +stole your letters from your fireplace, pitched a willer +plate into the lake----you got to fish that out, come day, +David----fooled you into that trip to Doc Carey to get +him to mail them to Ruth, and never turned a hair. +But after I got home I commenced thinkin' 'twas a pretty +ticklish job to stick your nose into other people's business, +an' every hour it got worse, until I ain't had a fairly +decent sleep since. If you hadn't come soon, boy, I'd +'a' been sick a-bed. Oh, David! Are you sure she's over +there, and loves you to suit you now?'' + +``Yes dear, I am absolutely certain,'' said the +Harvester. ``She was so determined to come that she +brought the invalid grandmother she couldn't leave and +her grandfather. They arrived at midnight. We are all +going to live together now.'' + +``Well bless my stars! Fetched you a family! David, +I do hope to all that's peaceful I hain't put my foot in it. +The moon is the deceivingest thing on earth I know, +but does her family 'pear to be an a-gre'-able family, +by its light?'' + +The Harvester's laugh boomed a half mile down the +road. + +``Finest people on earth, next to you, dear. I'm +mighty glad to have them. I'm going to build them a +house on my best location, and we are all going to be +happy from now on. Go to bed! This night air may +chill you. I can't sleep. I wanted you to know first---- +so I came over. In mother's stead, will you kiss me, and +wish me happiness, dear friend?'' + +Granny Moreland laid an eager, withered hand on +each shoulder, and bent to the radiant young face. + +``God bless you, lad, and grant you as great happiness +as life ort to fetch every clean, honest man,'' she prayed +fervently, with closed eyes and her lined old face turned +skyward. ``And, O God, bless Ruth, and help her as +You never helped mortal woman before to know her own +mind without `variableness, neither shadow of turnin'.' '' + +The Harvester was on Singing Water bridge before he +gave way. There he laughed as never before in his life. +Finally he controlled himself and started toward the +cabin; but he was chuckling as he passed the driveway, +and walked down the broad cement floor leading to his +bathing pool, where the moonlight bridged the lake, +and fell as a benediction all around him. + +He stood a long time, when he recognized the familiar +crash of a breaking backlog falling together, and heard +the customary leap of the frightened dog. He walked +to his door and listened intently, but there was no sound; +so he decided the Girl had not been awakened. In the +midst of a whitening sheet of gold the Harvester dropped +to his stoop and leaned his head against the broad casing. +He broke a twig from a hawthorn bush beside him, and +sat twisting it in his fingers as he stared down the line +of the gold bridge. Never had it seemed so material, +so like a path that might be trodden by mortal feet and +lead them straight to Heaven. As on the hill top, night +again surrounded him and the Harvester's soul drank +deep wild draughts of a new joy. Sleep was out of +the question. He was too intensely alive to know that +he ever again could be weary. He sat there in the moonlight, +and with unbridled heart gloried in the joy that +had come to him. + +He turned his face from the bridge as he heard the +click of Belshazzar's nails on the floor of the bathing +pool. Then his heart and breath stopped an instant. +Beside the dog walked the Girl, one hand on his head +the other holding the flowing white robe around her and +grasping one of the Harvester's lilies. His first thought +was sheer amazement that she was not afraid, for it was +evident now that the backlog had awakened her, and +she had taken the dog and gone to her mother. Then +she had followed the path leading down the hill, around +the cabin, and into the sheet of moonlight gilding the +shore. She stood there gazing over the lake, oblivious +to all things save the entrancing allurement of a perfect +spring night beside undulant water. Screened from her +with bushes and trees the Harvester scarcely breathed +lest he startle her. Then his head swam, and his still +heart leaped wildly. She was coming toward him. On +her left lay the path to the hill top. A few steps farther +she could turn to the right and follow the driveway to +the front of the cabin. He leaned forward watching in +an agony of suspense. Her beautiful face was transfigured +with joy, aflame with love, radiant with smiles, +and her tall figure fleecy white, rimmed in gold. Up +the shining path of light she steadily advanced toward +his door. Then the Harvester understood, and from +his exultant heart burst the wordless petition: + +``LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, HELP ME TO BE A MAN!'' + +With outstretched arms he arose to meet her. + +``My Dream Girl!'' he cried hoarsely. ``My Dream +Girl!'' + +``Coming, Harvester!'' she answered in tones of joy, +as she dropped the white flower and lifted her hands to +draw his face toward her. + +``Is that the kiss you wanted?'' she questioned. + +``Yes, Ruth,'' breathed the Harvester. + +``Then I am ready to be your wife,'' she said. ``May +I share all the remainder of life's joys and sorrows with +you?'' + +The Harvester gathered her in his arms and carried +her to the bench on the lake shore. He wrapped the white +robe around her and clasped her tenderly as behooved a +lover, yet with arms that she knew could have crushed +her had they willed. The minutes slipped away, and still +he held her to his heart, the reality far surpassing his +dream; for he knew that he was awake, and he realized +this as the supreme hour that comes to the strongman +who knows his love requited. + +When the first banner of red light arose above Medicine +Woods and Singing Water the cocks on the hillside +announced the dawn. As the gold faded to gray, +a burst of bubbling notes swelled from a branch almost +over their heads where stood a bark-enclosed little house. + +``Ruth, do you hear that?'' asked the Harvester softly. + +``Yes,'' she answered, ``and I see it. A wonderful +bird, with Heaven's deepest blue on its back and a breast +like a russet autumn leaf, came straight up the lake from +the south, and before it touched the limb that song +seemed to gush from its throat.'' + +``And for that reason, the greatest nature lover who +ever lived says that it `deserves preeminence.' It always +settles from its long voyage through the air in an ecstasy +of melody. Do you know what it is, Ruth?'' + +The Girl laid a hand on his cheek and turned his eyes +from the bird to her face as she answered, ``Yes, Harvester- +man, I know. It is your first bluebird----but it +is far too late, and Belshazzar has lost high office. +I have usurped both their positions. You remain in the +woods and reap their harvest, you enter the laboratory +and make wonderful, life-giving medicines, you face the +world and tell men of the high and holy life they may +live if they will, and then----always and forever, you +come back to Medicine Woods and to me, Harvester.'' + + + + + +THE END + +of + +The Project Gutenberg Etext of The Harvester, by Gene Stratton Porter + |