A Daughter of the Land

"Why, Nancy Ellen --!" said Kate, then fled to the kitchen too

happy to speak further.

None of them ever forgot that week. It was such a happy time that

all of them dreaded its end; but when it came they parted

cheerfully, and each went back to work, the better for the happy

reunion. Kate did not return to Walden until Monday; then she

found Mrs. Holt in an evil temper. Kate could not understand it.

She had no means of knowing that for a week George had nagged his

mother unceasingly because Kate was gone on his return, and would

not be back until after time for him to go again. The only way

for him to see her during the week he had planned to come out

openly as her lover, was to try to find her at her home, or at her

sister's. He did not feel that it would help him to go where he

never had been asked. His only recourse was to miss a few days of

school and do extra work to make it up; but he detested nothing in

life as he detested work, so the world's happy week had been to

them one of constant sparring and unhappiness, for which Mrs. Holt

blamed Kate. Her son had returned expecting to court Kate Bates

strenuously; his disappointment was not lightened by his mother's

constant nagging. Monday forenoon she went to market, and came in

gasping.

"Land sakes!" she cried as she panted down the hall. "I've got a

good one on that impident huzzy now!"

"You better keep your mouth shut, and not gossip about her," he

said. "Everyone likes her!"

"No, they don't, for I hate her worse 'n snakes! If it wa'n't for

her money I'd fix her so's 'at she'd never marry you in kingdom

come."

George Holt clenched his big fist.

"Just you try it!" he threatened. "Just you try that!"

"You'll live to see the day you'd thank me if I did. She ain't

been home. Mind you, she ain't been HOME! She never seen her

sister married at all! Tilly Nepple has a sister, living near the

Bates, who worked in the kitchen. She's visitin' at Tilly's now.

Miss High-and-Mighty never seen her sister married at all! An' it

looked mighty queer, her comin' here a week ahead of time, in the

fall. Looks like she'd done somepin she don't DARE go home. No

wonder she tears every scrap of mail she gets to ribbons an' burns

it. I told you she had a secret! If ever you'd listen to me."

"Why, you're crazy!" he exclaimed. "I did listen to you. What

you told me was that I should go after her with all my might. So

I did it. Now you come with this. Shut it up! Don't let her get

wind of it for the world!"