A Daughter of the Land

Nancy Ellen arose and put her arms around Kate's neck, a

stunningly unusual proceeding. "Thank you," she said. "That is

big and fine of you. But I always have shirked and put my work on

you; I guess now I'll quit, and do my sewing myself."

Then she slipped the pink dress over her head and stood slowly

fastening it as Kate started to leave the room. Seeing her go:

"I wish you would wait and meet Robert," she said. "I have told him

about what a nice sister I have."

"I think I'll go on to Adam's now," said Kate. "I don't want to

wait until they go some place, and I miss them. I'll do better to

meet your man after I become more accustomed to bare facts,

anyway. By the way, is he as tall as you?"

"Yes," said Nancy Ellen, laughing. "He is an inch and a half

taller. Why?"

"Oh, I hate seeing a woman taller than her husband and I've always

wondered where we'd find men to reach our shoulders. But if they

can be picked at random from the berry patch --"

So Kate went on her way laughing, lifting her white skirts high

from the late August dust. She took a short cut through the woods

and at a small stream, with sure foot, crossed the log to within a

few steps of the opposite bank. There she stopped, for a young

man rounded the bushes and set a foot on the same log; then he and

Kate looked straight into each other's eyes. Kate saw a clean-

shaven, forceful young face, with strong lines and good colouring,

clear gray eyes, sandy brown hair, even, hard, white teeth, and

broad shoulders a little above her own. The man saw Kate, dressed

in her best and looking her best. Slowly she extended her hand.

"I bet a picayune you are my new brother, Robert," she said.

The young man gripped her hand firmly, held it, and kept on

looking in rather a stunned manner at Kate.

"Well, aren't you?" she asked, trying to withdraw the hand.

"I never, never would have believed it," he said.

"Believed what?" asked Kate, leaving the hand where it was.

"That there could be two in the same family," said he.

"But I'm as different from Nancy Ellen as night from day," said

Kate, "besides, woe is me, I didn't wear a pink dress and pick

you from the berry patch in a blue bowl."

Then the man released her hand and laughed. "You wouldn't have

had the slightest trouble, if you had been there," he said.

"Except that I should have inverted my bowl," said Kate, calmly.

"I am looking for a millionaire, riding a milk-white steed, and he

must be much taller than you and have black hair and eyes. Good-

bye, brother! I will see you this evening."