, 1925-04-01

feeling was so strong that she was
surprised to find herself still standing
there in the Dutch wedding gown n
swering 81 do" in the proper place.
After the wedding they went
straight to belongs house. In May
the vegetable farmer cannot neglect
! his garden even for a day. The house
had been made ready for them.
Throughout the supper Selma had
had thoughts which were so foolish
and detached as almost to alarm her.
"Now / am married. / am Mrs. Per-
vus DeJong. That's a pretty name. II
would look quite distinguished on a
calling card, very spidery- and fine:
MRS. PERvUS DE JoNG
At Home Fridays"
She recalled this later. grimly, when
she was Mrs. Pervus DeJong. at home
not only Fridays, but Saturdays. Sun
days, Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednes-
days and Thursdays.
They drove down the road to De
longs place. Selma thought, Now |
am driving home with my husband.
feel his shoulder against mine. |
wish he would talk. l wish he would
say something. Still, l am not
frightened"
Pervus' market wagon was standing
in the yard, shafts down. He should
have gone to market today; would GER
tainly have to go tomorrow, starting
early in the afternoon so as to get a
good stand in the Haymarket. BY the
light of his lantern the Wagon seemed
to Selma to be a symbol. She had
often seen it before. but now that II
was to be a part of her life-this the
DeJong market wagon and she Mrs.
DeJong-she saw clearly what a crazy.
dlsreputable and poverty-proclaimlng
old vehicle 1t was, In contrast with the
neat strong wagon In Klaas Pools
yard, smart with green paint and red
lettering that announced, "Klaas Pool,
Garden Produce" With the two sleek
farm horses the turnout looked as
prosperous and comfortable as Klaas
himself.
Pervus swung her down from the
seat of the buggy. his hand about her
waist, and held her so for a moment,
close. Selma said: "You must have
that wagon painted, Pervus. And the
seat-springs fixed n the sideboard
mended."
He stared. "Wagon !"
"Yes. 1t looks Il sight"
The house was tidy enough. but none
too clean. Pervus lighted the lamps.
There was a fire In the kitchen stove.
II made the house seem stuffy on this
mild May night. Selma thought that
her own little bedroom at the Pools,
no longer hers, must be deliciously cool
and still with the breeze tanning fresh
from the west. Pervus was putting
the horse into the barn. The bedroom
was OF the sitting room. The window
was shut. This last year had taught
Selma to prepare the night before for
next mornings rising, so MS to lose the
lenst possible time. She did this now,
unconsclOusly. She brushed her hnIr,
laid out tomorrow's garments. put on
her high-necked, long sleeved night
gown and got into this strange bed.
She heard Pervus DeJong shut the
kitchen door; the latch clicked. the
lock turned. Heavy quick footsteps
across the bare kitchen floor. This
man was coming into her room. =.
you can't nj far enough" MaartJe
Pool had said. Except you stop liv.
Ing you can't run away from llfc.'
Next morning II was dark when he
awakened her at four. She started up
with n little cry ana sat up, strainlng
her ears, her eyes. "Is that you.
fntherf' She was little Selma Peake
ngnin, and Simeon Penke had come In.
gay. d%ebonair, from u nights gaming,
Pervus DeJong was already padding
about the room in stocking feet. "what
what time Is 1T what's the matter,
fatherf Why ARE you upl Haven't
you gone to bed. 4. :" Then she re-
%membered.
Pervus DeJong laughed and came
toward her. Get up. little lazy bones.
It's after four. All yesterdays work
I've got to do, and all today's. Break.
fast. little Lima. breakfast. You are n
farmers wife now"
Dirk DeJong wns born In the bed.
room on the sitting room on the M.
teenth dny OF March. OF n bewlldcred.
somewhat %resentful, but deeply inter.
estcd mother; md n proud. foolish,
md yalnglorious father whose air OF
achievement. considering the really
slight part he had plnyed In the long
tedious, and rucklng business, was dis