22

CHAPTER IV.
Flaxen Adopts Anson as "Pap" 32

CHAPTER V.
Flaxen Becomes Indispensable to the Two Old Bachelors 38

CHAPTER VI.
A Question of Dress 46

CHAPTER VII.
After Harvest 69

CHAPTER VIII.
An Empty House 78

CHAPTER IX.
"Baching" it Again 86

CHAPTER X.
Flaxen Comes Home on a Vacation 105

CHAPTER XI.
Flaxen Grows Restless 113

CHAPTER XII.
Flaxen Says Good-bye 124

CHAPTER XIII.
Flaxen's Great Need 133

CHAPTER XIV.
Kendall Steps Out 148

CHAPTER XV.
Bert Comes Back 153

A LITTLE NORSK.

CHAPTER I.

HER ADOPTIVE PARENTS.

"Ans, the next time you twist hay f'r the fire, I wish't you'd dodge the
damp spots," said the cook, rising from a prolonged scrutiny of the
stove and the bread in the oven. His pose was threatening.

"Cooks are always grumblin'," calmly remarked Anson, drawing on his
gloves preparatory to going out to the barn; "but seein' 's this is
Chris'mus, I'll go out an' knock a barrel to pieces. I want them
biscuit to be O.K. See?"

"Yes: I see."

"Say, Bert!"

"Well?"

"Can't we have some sugar-'lasses on our biscuits, seein' it's
Chris'mus?"

"Well, I s'pose we can, Ans; but we're gittin' purty low on the thing
these days, an' they ain't no tellin' when we'll be able to git more."

"Well, jes' as you say, not as I care." Anson went out into the roaring
wind with a shout of defiance, but came back instantly, as if to say
something he had forgotten. "Say, wha' d'ye s'pose is the trouble over
to the Norsk's? I hain't seen a sign o' smoke over there f'r two 'r
three days."

"Well, now you speak of it, Ans, I've be'n thinkin' about that myself.
I'm afraid he's out o' coal, 'r sick, 'r somethin'. It 'u'd be mighty
tough f'r the woman an' babe to be there without any fire, an' this
blizzard whoopin' her up. I guess you'd better go over an' see what's
up. I was goin' to speak of it this mornin', but f'rgot it, I'm cook
this week, so I guess the job falls on you."

"All right. Her