e what you want, overcome
anything in your way, and get it. I'd go crazy hanging around like
that. You've always told me I couldn't do the things in business I
said I would; and I've always proved to you that I could, by doing
them. Now watch me do this."

"You know I'll do anything to help you, John. You know how proud I am
of you, how I love you! I realize now that I've talked volumes to Kate
about you. I've told her everything from the time you were a little
boy and I slaved for you, until now, when you slave for me."

"Including how many terms I'd gone to school?"

"Yes, I even told her that," she said.

"Well, what did she seem to think about it?" he asked.

"I don't know what she thought, she didn't say anything. There was
nothing to say. It was a bare-handed fight with the wolf in those
days. I'm sure I made her understand that," she said.

"Well, I'll undertake to make her understand this," he said. "Are you
sure that Jennie Weeks is taking good care of you?"

"Jennie is well enough and is growing better each day, now be off to
your courting, but if you love me, remember, and be careful," she said.

"Remember--one particular thing--you mean?" he asked.

She nodded, her lips closed.

"You bet I will!" he said. "All there is of me goes into this. Isn't
she a wonder, Mother?"

Mrs. Jardine looked closely at the big man who was all the world to
her, so like her in mentality, so like his father with his dark hair
and eyes and big, well-rounded frame; looked at him with the eyes of
love, then as he left her to seek the girl she had learned to love, she
shut her eyes and frankly and earnestly asked the Lord to help her son
to marry Kate Bates.

One morning as Kate helped Mrs. Jardine into her coat and gloves,
preparing for one of their delightful morning drives, she said to her:
"Mrs. Jardine, may I ask you a REAL question?"

"Of course you may," said Mrs. Jardine, "and I shall give you a 'real'
answer if it lies in my power."

"You'll be shocked," warned Kate.

"Shock away," laughed Mrs. Jardine. "By now I flatter myself that I am
so accustomed to you that you will have to try yourself to shock me."

"It's only this," said Kate: "If you were a perfect stranger, standing
back and looking on, not acquainted with any of the parties, merely
seeing things as they happen each day, would it be your honest
opinion--would you say that I am being COURTED?"

Mrs. Jardine laughed until she was we