The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1926-02-26
CHAPTER xI-Continued
10

DO you value it?"
"Does a duck swim?"
"Then give me a moments atten-
tion," said Kate Cathrew, land keep
what say under your hat"
I'm like the well that old saw tells
of-the stone sinks and Is never seen
again. Confession in the heart of a
friend, you know"
Thanks. Now listen"
When the woman rode away a half
hour later, carrying another of those
letters from New York which the
trader had come to hate ever since
Selwood's suggestion concerning the
writer, his eyes had a very strange ex-
preston. 1t was mixture of several
expressions, Observation-Disclosures of
personal qualification, and vague, In
congruous regret. If he had been a
better man that last faint seeming of
sorrow might have denoted the loss
of an ideal, the death of something
fine
But he looked after Cattle Kate with
fire of passion that was slowly grow
ing with every interview.
Life at the homestead on Nameless
took on new color with the advent
Of Sonny Fair. Mrs. Allison. an epit-
ONE Of universal motherhood, looked
over the scant, well-mended belongings
Of the family and laid out such articles
as she judged could be spared.
These she began expertly to make
over into little garments.
when did Brand buy you these
pants, SonnyT she inquired. but the
child shook his head.
81 don't know" he answered.
Him. Must be pretty poor" she
opined, but Bud scowled In disap-
prevail.
Pretty durn stingy. I'd say" he re-
marked.
''Hold judgment, Bud.' counseled
Nance, "when a man travels for two
years he don't have much time to make
money. We're poor, too, but that don't
spell anything"
Bud held his tongue, but 1t was
plain he was not convinced.
"What makes him SO contrary, /
wonder" said the girl later.
Hes Jealous" said Mrs. Allison
calmly, because you champion tn
stranger. It's natural"
The field of corn was beautiful.
It's blades were broad and satiny,
and the waving green floor came well
up along the horses legs as Nance
rode down the rows on the shackly cul-
tivator.
For three days she had been at It.
a labor of love. She had many dreams
as she watched the light whipping on
the silky banners. vague. pleasant
dreams that lad to do with her can
celed debt at the store, with the trip
TO Bement about the carpet, and with
the new blue dress she hoped to get
with the surplus.
Bud must have some new things, too,
and her Nanny needed shoes the
worst way.
All these things the growing field
promised her, whispering under the
little wind, and she was happy, deep
In her innocent heart.
She wondered If she dared ask
Brand to let her take Sonny on that
trip to Bement, then instantly decided
she should not.
There might be someone from Name
less in the town, and Brand was par
ticularly insistent on his staying out
of sight.
She never ceased to wonder about
that.
What could be his reason?
What could there be in the Deep
Heart country to whom little child
could make a difference?
But 1t was none of her business. she
sagely concluded, and could wait the
light of the future. Maybe Brand
would some day tell her all about 1t.
So she worked and planned for two
days more At their end she drove the
cultivator to the stable and stood
stretching her tired shoulder muscles
while Bud embarrassed the team.
She looked back at the field with
smiling eyes.