ak. When she could talk, she
said: "Yes, my dear, under the conditions, and in the circumstances
you mention, I would cheerfully go on oath and testify that you are
being courted more openly, more vigorously, and as tenderly as I ever
have seen woman courted in all my life. I always thought that John's
father was a master hand at courting, but John has him beaten in many
ways. Yes, my dear, you certainly are being courted assiduously."

"Now, then, on that basis," said Kate, "just one more question and
we'll proceed with our drive. From the same standpoint: would you say
from your observation and experience that the mother of the man had any
insurmountable objection to the proceedings?"

Mrs. Jardine laughed again. Finally she said: "No, my dear. It's my
firm conviction that the mother of the man in the case would be so
delighted if you should love and marry her son that she would probably
have a final attack of heart trouble and pass away from sheer joy."

"Thank you," said Kate. "I wasn't perfectly sure, having had no
experience whatever, and I didn't want to make a mistake."

That drive was wonderful, over beautiful country roads, through dells,
and across streams and hills. They stopped where they pleased,
gathering flowers and early apples, visiting with people they met,
lunching wherever they happened to be.

"If it weren't for wishing to hear John A. Logan to-night," said Kate,
"I'd move that we drive on all day. I certainly am having the grandest
time."

She sat with her sailor hat filled with Early Harvest apples, a big
bunch of Canadian anemones in her belt, a little stream at her feet,
July drowsy fullness all around her, congenial companions; taking the
"wings of morning" paid, after all.

"Why do you want to hear him so much?" asked John.

Kate looked up at him in wonder.

"Don't you want to see and hear him?" she asked.

He hesitated, a thoughtful expression on his face. Finally he said:
"I can't say that I do. Will you tell me why I should?"

"You should because he was one of the men who did much to preserve our
Union, he may tell us interesting things about the war. Where were you
when it was the proper time for you to be studying the speech of
Logan's ancestor in McGuffey's Fourth?"

"That must have been the year I figured out the improved coupling pin
in the C. N. W. shops, wouldn't you think, Mother?"

"Somewhere near, my dear," she said.

So they drove back as happily as