A Daughter of the Land

"It's no difference whether I am fair or unfair," Kate said,

wearily. "It explains why you simply will not brace up, and be a

real man, and do a man's work in the world, and achieve a man's

success."

"Who can get anywhere, splitting everything in halves?" he

demanded.

"The most successful men in this neighbourhood got their start

exactly that way," she said.

"Ah, well, farming ain't my job, anyway," he said. "I always did

hate it. I always will. If I could have a little capital to

start with, I know a trick that would suit you, and make us

independent in no time."

Kate said no word, and seeing she was not going to, he continued:

"I've thought about this till I've got it all down fine, and it's

a great scheme; you'll admit that, even angry as you are. It is

this: get enough together to build a saw mill on my strip of

ravine. A little damming would make a free water power worth a

fortune. I could hire a good man to run the saw and do the work,

and I could take a horse and ride, or drive around among the

farmers I know, and buy up timber cheaper than most men could get

it. I could just skin the eyes out of them."

"Did it ever occur to you that you could do better by being

honest?" asked Kate, wearily.

"Aw, well, Smarty! you know I didn't mean that literally!" he

scoffed. "You know I only meant I could talk, and jolly, and buy

at bed-rock prices; I know where to get the timber, and the two

best mill men in the country; we are near the railroad; it's the

dandiest scheme that ever struck Walden. What do you think about

it?"

"I think if Adam had it he'd be rich from it in ten years," she

said, quietly.

"Then you DO think it's a bully idea," he cried. "You WOULD try

it if we had a chance?"

"I might," said Kate.

"You know," he cried, jumping up in excitement, "I've never

mentioned this to a soul, but I've got it all thought out. Would

you go to see your brother Adam, and see if you could get him to

take an interest for young Adam? He could manage the money

himself."

"I wouldn't go to a relative of mine for a cent, even if the

children were starving," said Kate. "Get, and keep, THAT clear in

your head."

"But you think there is something in it?" he persisted.

"I know there is," said Kate with finality. "In the hands of the

right man, and with the capital to start."

"Kate, you can be the meanest," he said.

"I didn't intend to be, in this particular instance," she said.

"But honestly, George, what have I ever seen of you in the way of

financial success in the past that would give me hope for the

future?"