ay
have the building and the hundred and sixty blanked acres, scarcely ten of
them broken. It's easier peddling pictures than farming, any day, and no
one else would buy it in the circumstances. It's not even mine without the
patent, and if I die in the meantime you'll get nothing."

"We'll get the crop and the cattle feed; you don't suppose we've bought it
to look at; and if you died the pay would stop," said Harry dryly, and
turned toward me when Hudson, moving away contented, sat down to enjoy a
peaceful smoke.

"That settles it, Ralph," he said. "The deal ought to show a good result,
and I wanted the house. Now that I have got it, it's time for me to ask
you a question which would have to be answered presently in any case. I
was waiting to see how things would go, out of fairness to her, but as we
have bound ourselves hard and fast to Fairmead for several years at least,
I'm going to ask you a great thing. Will you give me Aline?"

"Will she have you?" I said smiling.

"That's just what I don't know," Harry answered rather dismally.
"Sometimes I hope so, and sometimes I've a cold fear that she won't. But
now that I've told you, I'll ask her this very evening. You'll wish me
Godspeed, won't you?"

I looked at him with sympathy, for I knew the feeling, and I had some
experience of Aline's moods. Then I laid my hand on his shoulder, "We
have been as brothers for a long time, Harry, and it would be only good
news if you strengthen the tie. If Aline has the wisdom I give her credit
for, she won't say no, and there's no one in the Dominion I should sooner
trust her to."

"Then I'll make the plunge," said Harry. "Ralph, I'm very grateful for
your good-will. Hudson, where did you fling that confounded bucket? Get up
and straighten yourself, and go after Miss Kenyon. Take her anywhere away
from Miss Lorimer, and, if you feel like it, make love to her. You're not
bad-looking when you wash yourself, and I think she has a fancy for you."

"Not much!" said Hudson grinning as he refilled his pipe. "I've had one
experience in that line, and I don't want another. No, sir, henceforward I
leave women alone."

Harry went back to the house to shed his working attire, and I strode on
toward Fairmead, leaving Hudson sitting among his furniture and kitchen
utensils on the darkening prairie, smoking tranquilly. The stars shone out
when Harry and Aline came in together. Harry looked exultant, Aline
unusually subdued, and me first t