A Daughter of the Land

Kate read the joyful letter slowly. It contained all she hoped

for. She had not postponed Nancy Ellen's wedding. That was all

she asked. She had known she would not be forgiven so soon, there

was slight hope she ever would. Her only chance, thought Kate,

lay in marrying a farmer having about a thousand acres of land.

If she could do that, her father would let her come home again

sometime. She read the letter slowly over, then tearing it in

long strips she cross tore them and sifted the handful of small

bits on the water, where they started a dashing journey toward the

river. Mrs. Holt, narrowly watching her, turned with snaky

gleaming eyes to her son and whispered: "A-ha! Miss Smart Alec

has a secret!"