of either wearing himself to skin and bone or
unmercifully overworking dumb cattle, but I found satisfaction in toiling
on alone, often until after the lingering darkness fell, for each fathom
of rich black clod added to the long furrow seemed to lessen the distance
that divided me from Grace. Then little by little a measure of
cheerfulness returned, for sun, wind, and night dew had blended their
healing with the smell of newly-turned earth, a smell I loved on the
prairie, for it told that the plough had opened another channel into
treasure locked fast for countless ages. So hope was springing up again
when I waited one morning with my wagon beside the railroad track to
welcome my sister Aline.

I could scarcely believe my eyes when she stepped down from the car
platform, for the somewhat gawky maiden, as I used to term her in our not
altogether infrequent playful differences of opinion, when similar
compliments were common, had grown into a handsome woman, fair-skinned,
but ruddy of color, as all of us were, and I was embarrassed when to the
envy of the loungers she embraced me effusively. The drive home across the
prairie was a wonder to her, and it touched me to notice how she rejoiced
in its breadth and freedom, for the returning luster in her eyes and the
somewhat too hollow face told their own tale of adversity.

"It is all so splendid," she said vaguely. "A poor lunch, you say; it is
ever and ever so much better than my usual daily fare," and her voice had
a vibration that suggested tearfulness. "This is almost too good to be
true! I have always loved the open space and sun, and for two weary years
I lived in a dismal room of a dismal house in a particularly dismal
street, where there was nothing but mud and smoke, half-paid work, and
sickening drudgery. Ralph, I should ten times over sooner wash milk-pans
or drive cattle in a sunlit land like this."

I laughed approvingly as she ceased for want of breath, realizing that
Aline had much in common with myself; while the rest of the journey passed
very cheerfully, and her face was eager with curiosity when I handed her
down at the house. She looked around our living room with disdainful
eyes.

"It is comfortable enough, but, Ralph, did you ever brush it? I have never
seen any place half so dirty."

I had not noticed the fact before. Indeed, under pressure of work we had
usually dispensed with small comforts, superfluous cleanliness I fear
among them, and Fairm