oing to do
something different, but always something held her to her present task.
Just now it was a brother who needed her to keep house for him. When she
was free, however, she meant to buy a horse and cart, to stock it with
goods, and drive across the continent as a peddler. They were two
evenings filling that cart, and Mr. Saunders was each time so exhausted
with merriment that he slept all night without waking. "I may never buy
the cart," she once said confidentially to Billy, "but for many a year
it's been a good stock in trade." Again, she meant to save enough to go
to Paris where they were always wanting American nurses and paid
fabulously for them, and where she could work for a year; and then, on
the proceeds, travel for the rest of her days. And where to go? That
brought up endless suggestions and much useful information. After Mr.
Saunders, who had gone once to South America as a salesman, had
explained to her the ways of the insect life of the tropics, and his
experience with snakes, she struck out everything south of thirty
degrees of the equator. She could be as merry as a child in runabouts;
but when the occasion came for discipline and serious work the men dared
not jest with her, fearing the set look that came into her face.

Mr. Saunders got well and went back to his work, but before that time
Mr. William Applebaum had asked Kathleen to be his wife.

"Marry an Appletree," she said, "you must think me Eve herself."

She always refused to give him a serious answer. "She had no idea of
marrying any one. She had enough to do taking care of folk who took such
ties upon themselves. And, if she did marry, did he suppose she'd choose
a little man with a head on him like a comic supplement? Did he think
he'd like to be a good husband sitting up nights for her, waiting
patiently till he heard her footfall on the stair? As for wanting a
home, she'd had more than enough home in her life. Caring for her own
had worn her to the shadow she was, and it was a blessed comfort to be a
free woman."

The last of Kathleen's rejoinders contained something more than mockery.
She had had her share in the rearing and supporting of her kin, and this
winter with Hertha was proving a beautiful respite. Had her lover been
of a jealous disposition he would have disliked the southern girl who
occupied so strong a place in Kathleen's affection, but he was devoid of
pettiness. For a year he had unavailingly striven to win his godde