.

"Bamfoozle all the rest of them as much as you please, lad, but I stand
to you in the place of your ma, and so I ast you plainly----got ary
friend that could help?"

"I can think of no way in which any one possibly could help me, dear,"
said the Harvester gently. "It is a matter I can't explain, but I know
of nothing that any one could do."

"You mean you're tight-mouthed! You COULD tell me just like you would
your ma, if she was up and comin'; but you can't quite put me in her
place, and spit it out plain. Now mebby I can help you! Is it her fault
or yourn?"

"Mine! Mine entirely!"

"Hum! What a fool question! I might a knowed it! I never saw a lovinger,
sweeter girl in these parts. I jest worship the ground she treads on;
and you, lad you hain't had a heart in your body sence first you saw her
face. If I had the stren'th, I'd haul you out of this keeridge and I'd
hammer you meller, David Langston. What in the name of sense have you
gone and done to the purty, lovin' child?"

The Harvester's face flushed, but a line around his mouth whitened.

"Loosen up!" commanded Granny. "I got some rights in this case that
mebby you don't remember. You asked me to help you get ready for her,
and I done what you wanted. You invited me to visit her, and I jest
loved her sweet, purty ways. You wanted me to shet up my house and come
over for weeks to help take keer of her, and I done it gladly, for her
pain and your sufferin' cut me as if 'twas my livin' flesh and blood;
so you can't shet me out now. I'm in with you and her to the end. What a
blame fool thing have you gone and done to drive away for months a girl
that fair worshipped you?"

"That's exactly the trouble, Granny," said the Harvester. "She didn't!
She merely respected and was grateful to me, and she loved me as a
friend; but I never was any nearer her husband than I am yours."

"I've always knowed they was a screw loose somewhere," commented Granny.
"And so you've sent her off to her worldly folks in a big, wicked city
to get weaned away from you complete?"

"I sent her to let her see if absence would teach her anything. I had
months with her here, and I lay awake at nights thinking up new plans
to win her. I worked for her love as I never worked for bread, but I
couldn't make it. So I let her go to see if separation would teach her
anything."

"Mercy me! Why you crazy critter! The child did love you! She loved you
'nough an' plenty! She loved you faithful