A Daughter of the Land

"Do that from the first profits of the mill," he suggested.

"I'm no good at 'counting chickens before they're hatched,'" said

Kate. "Besides, the first profits from the mill, as you very well

know, if you would ever stop to think, must go to pay for logs to

work on, and there must always be a good balance for that purpose.

No. I reserve enough from my money to fix the home I want; but I

shall wait to do it until the mill is working, so I can give all

my attention to it, while you are out looking up timber."

"Of course I can do all of it perfectly well," he said. "And it's

a MAN'S business. You'll make me look like fifty cents if you get

out among men and go to doing a thing no woman in this part of the

country ever did. Why, it will look like you didn't TRUST me!"

"I can't help how it will look," said Kate. "This is my last and

only dollar; if I lose it, I am out for life; I shall take no

risk. I've no confidence in your business ability, and you know

it. It need not hurt your pride a particle to say that we are

partners; that I'm going to build the mill, while you're going to

bring in the timber. It's the only way I shall touch the

proposition. I will give you two hundred dollars for the deed and

abstract of the ravine. I'll give your mother eight hundred for

the lot and house, which is two hundred more than it is worth.

I'll lay away enough to rebuild and refurnish it, and with the

remainder I'll build the dam, bridge, and mill, just as quickly as

it can be done. As soon as I get my money, we'll buy timber for

the mill and get it sawed and dried this winter. We can be all

done and running by next June."

"Kate, how are you going to get all that land sold, and the money

in hand to divide up that quickly? I don't think it ever can be

done. Land is always sold on time, you know," he said.

Kate drew a deep breath. "THIS land isn't going to be sold," she

said. "Most of the boys have owned their farms long enough to

have enabled them to buy other land, and put money in the bank.

They're going to form a pool, and put in enough money to pay the

girls the share they have agreed to take; even if they have to

borrow it, as some of the younger ones will; but the older ones

will help them; so the girls are to have their money in cash, in

three months. I was mighty glad of the arrangement for my part,

because we can begin at once on our plans for the mill."