Thesuncameupinthatblueskylikeacurse，andhungtheretillnightcametocomforttheblisteringearth。Andonemorningaterriblethinghappened。Anniewasstandingoutofdoorsintheshadeofthosemiserablelittleoaks，ironing，whensuddenlyablastofairstruckherintheface，whichmadeherlookupstartled。Foramomentshethought，perhaps，therewasafirenearinthegrass。Buttherewasnone。
　　Anotherblastcame，hotterthistime，andfifteenminuteslaterthatwindwassweep-
　　ingstraightacrosstheplain，burningandblasting。Anniewentinthehousetofinishherironing，andwasworkingthere，whensheheardJim'sfootsteponthedoor-sill。
　　Hecouldnotpalebecauseofthetan，buttherewasalookofagonyandofanger——
　　almostbrutishanger——inhiseyes。Thenhelooked，foramoment，atAnniestandingthereworkingpatiently，androckingthelittlecribwithonefoot，andhesatdownonthedoor-stepandburiedhisfaceinhisbrownarms。
　　Thewindblewforthreedays。Attheendofthattimeeveryearwaswitheredinthestalk。Thecorncropwasruined。
　　Butthereweretheothercropswhichmustbeattendedto，andJimwatchedthosewiththealertnessofadespairingman；andsoharvestcameagain，andagainthehousewasfilledwithmenwhotalkedtheircarelesstalk，andwhowerenotashamedtogorgewhilethisonewomancookedforthem。
　　Thebabylayonaquiltonthefloorinthecoolestpartofthekitchen。Anniefeditirregularly。Sometimesshealmostforgotit。Asforitswailing，shehadgrownsousedtoitthatshehardlyheardit，anymorethanshedidthetickingoftheclock。
　　Andyet，tighterthananythingelseinlife，wastheholdthatlittlethinghadonherheart-strings。Atnight，aftertheintermin-
　　ableworkhadbeenfinished——thoughinslovenlyfashion——shewouldtakeitupandcaressitwithfierceness，andwornasshewas，wouldbatheitandsootheit，andgiveitwarmmilkfromthebigtinpail。
　　"Laythechilddown，"Jimwouldsayimpatiently，whilethemenwouldtellhowtheirwivesalwaysputthebabiesonthebedandletthemcryiftheywantedto。
　　Anniesaidnothing，butshehushedthelittleonewithtendersongs。
　　Oneday，asusual，itlayonitsquiltwhileAnnieworked。Itwasaterriblybusymorning。Shehadrisenatfourtogetthewashingoutofthewaybeforethemengotonhand，andtherewereadozenloavesofbreadtobake，andthemealstoget，andthemilktoattendto，andthechickensandpigstofeed。Sooccupiedwasshethatsheneverwasabletotellhowlongshewasgonefromthebaby。Sheonlyknewthattheheatofherownbodywassogreatthatthebloodseemedtobepoundingatherears，andshestaggeredasshecrossedtheyard。Butwhenshewentatlastwithacupofmilktofeedthelittleone，itlaywithclenchedfistsandfixedeyes，andassheliftedit，alastconvulsionlaiditbackbreath-
　　less，anditshearthadceasedtobeat。
　　Annieranwithittoherroom，andtriedsuchremediesasshehad。Butnothingcouldkeepthechillfromcreepingoverthewastedlittleform，——noteventheheatoftheday，noteventhemother'sagonizedembrace。Then，suddenly，Annielookedattheclock。Itwastimetogetthedinner。
　　Shelaidthepiteoustinyshapestraightonthebed，threwasheetoverit，andwentbacktothewelteringkitchentocookforthosemen，whocameatnoonandwhomustbefed——whomustbefed。
　　Whentheywereallseatedatthetable，Jimamongthem，andshehadservedthem，shesaid，standingattheheadofthetable，withherhandsonherhips:——
　　"Idon'tsupposeanyofyouhavetimetodoanythingaboutit；butIthoughtyoumightliketoknowthatthebabyisdead。
　　Iwouldn'tthinkofaskingyoutosparethehorses，forIknowtheyhavetorest。ButIthought，ifyoucouldmakeoutonacoldsupper，thatIwouldgotothetownforacoffin。”
　　Therewassatireinthevoicethatstungeventhroughthedullperceptionsofthesemen，andJimarosewithacryandwenttotheroomwherehisdeadbabylay。
　　AbouttwomonthsafterthisAnniein-
　　sistedthatshemustgohometoIllinois。
　　Jimprotestedinaway。
　　"Youknow，I'dliketosendyou，"hesaid；"butIdon'tseewherethemoneyistocomefrom。AndsinceI'vegotthisnomination，IwanttorunaswellasIcan。
　　Myfriendsexpectmetodomybestforthem。It'saduty，youknow，andnothingless，forafewmen，likeme，togetinthelegislature。We'regoingtogetarailroadbillthroughthissessionthatwillstraightenoutagoodmanythings。Bepatientalittlelonger，Annie。”
　　"Iwanttogohome，"wastheonlyreplyhegot。"Youmustgetthemoney，someway，formetogohomewith。”
　　"Ihaven'tpaidacentofinterestyet，"
　　hecriedangrily。"Idon'tseewhatyoumeanbybeingsounreasonable!"
　　"Youmustgetthemoney，someway，"
　　shereiterated。
　　Hedidnotspeaktoherforaweek，ex-
　　ceptwhenhewasobligedto。Butshedidnotseemtomind；andhegaveherthemoney。Hetookhertothetraininthelittlewagonthathadmetherwhenshefirstcame。Atthestation，somewomenweregossipingexcitedly，andAnnieaskedwhattheyweresaying。
　　"It'sMis'Dundy，"theysaid。"She'sbeensenttoth'insaneasylumatLincoln。
　　She'sgonestarkmad。Allshesaidonthewayoutwas，'Th'butterwon'tcome!Th'
　　butterwon'tcome!'"Thentheylaughedalittle——astrangelaugh；andAnniethoughtofadrinking-songshehadonceheard，"Here'stothenextwhodies。”
　　TendaysafterthisJimgotaletterfromher。"Iamnevercomingback，Jim，"itsaid。"Itishopeless。Idon'tthinkI
　　wouldmindstandingstilltobeshotdowniftherewasanygoodinit。ButI'mnotgoingbacktheretoworkharderthananyslaveforthosemoney-loanersandtherail-
　　roads。Iguesstheycanallgetalongwith-
　　outme。AndIamsureIcangetalongwithoutthem。Idonotthinkthiswillmakeyoufeelverybad。Youhaven'tseemedtonoticemeverymuchlatelywhenI'vebeenaround，andIdonotthinkyouwillnoticeverymuchwhenIamgone。Iknowwhatthismeans。IknowIambreakingmywordwhenIleaveyou。Butremember，itisnotyouIleave，butthesoil，Jim!I
　　willnotbeitsslaveanylonger。Ifyoucaretocomeformehere，andliveanotherlife——butno，therewouldbenouse。Ourlove，likeourtoil，hasbeeneatenupbythoserapaciousacres。Letussaygood-
　　by。”
　　Jimsatallnightwiththisletterinhishand。Sometimeshedozedheavilyinhischair。Buthedidnotgotobed；andthenextmorninghehitcheduphishorsesandrodetotown。Hewenttothebankwhichheldhisnotes。
　　"I'llconfessjudgmentassoonasyoulike，"hesaid。"It'sallupwithme。”
　　Itwasdoneasquicklyasthelawwouldallow。Andthethingsinthehouseweresoldbyauction。Allthefarmersweretherewiththeirwives。Itmadequiteanoutingforthem。Jimmovedaroundimpassively，andchatted，nowandthen，withsomeofthemenaboutwhatthehorsesoughttobring。
　　Theauctioneerwasacleverfellow。Be-
　　tweentheputtingupofthearticles，hesangcomicsongs，andthefunnierthesong，thelivelierthebiddingthatfollowed。Thehorsesbroughtadecentprice，andthema-
　　chineryadisappointingone；andthen，afteradelicioussnatchaboutNellwhorodethesway-backedmareatthecountyfair，hegotdowntothefurniture，——thefurniturewhichJimhadboughtwhenhewasexpect-
　　ingAnnie。
　　Jimwaswalkingaroundwithhishandsinhispockets，lookingunconcerned，and，asthefurniturebegantogooff，hecameandsatdowninthemidstofit。Everyonenoticedhisindifference。Someofthemsaidthatafterallhecouldn'thavebeenveryambitious。Hedidn'tseemtotakehisfailuremuchtoheart。Everyonewasconcentratingattentiononthecooking-
　　stove，whenJimleanedforward，quickly，overalittlewickerwork-stand。
　　Therewasabitofunfinishedsewingthere，anditfelloutasheliftedthecover。Itwasababy'slinenshirt。Jimletitlie，andthenliftedfromitsreceptacleasilverthimble。
　　Heputitinhisvest-pocket。
　　Thecampaigncameonshortlyafterthis，andJimLancywasdefeated。"I'mgoingtoOmaha，"saidhetothestation-master，"andI'vegotjustenoughtobuyaticketwith。There'sakindofsatisfactioningiv-
　　ingthelastcentIhavetotherailroads。”
　　Twomonthslater，a"plaindrunk"wasregisteredatthestationinNebraska'sme-
　　tropolis。Whentheysearchedhimtheyfoundnothinginhispocketsbutasilverthimble，andJoeBenson，thepolicemanwhohadbroughtinthe"drunk，"gaveittothematron，withhiscompliments。Butshe，whennoonenoticed，wentsoftlytowherethemanwassleeping，andslippeditbackintohispocket，withasigh。Forsheknewsomehow——aswomendoknowthings——thathehadnotstolenthatthimble。
　　THEequinoctiallineitselfisnotmoreimaginarythanthelinewhichdividedtheestatesofthethreeJohns。TheherdsofthethreeJohnsroamedatwill，andnibbledtheshortgrassfarandnearwithoutletorhindrance；andthethreeJohnsthem-
　　selveswereutterlyindifferentastoboun-
　　darylines。Eachofthemhadfiledhisapplicationattheofficeofthegovernmentland-agent；eachwasengagedinthetedioustaskof"provingup；"andeachownedone-thirdoftheL-shapedcabinwhichstoodatthepointwherethethreeranchestouched。
　　Thehundredandsixtyacreswhichwouldhavecompletedthisquadranglehadnotyetbeen"takenup。”
　　ThethreeJohnswerenotanxioustohaveaneighbor。Indeed，theyhadmadeuptheirmindsthatifoneappearedonthatadjoining"hun'erdan'sixty，"itwouldgohardwithhim。Fortheydidnotdealinjusticeverymuch——thethreeJohns。Theyconsiderediteffete。ItbelongedintheEastalongwithotheroutgrownsupersti-
　　tions。Andtheyhadgivenitoutwidelythatitwouldbehealthierforlandapplicantstogivethemelbow-room。Ittookagoodmanymilesofsunburntprairietoaffordelbow-roomforthethreeJohns。
　　TheymetbyaccidentinHamiltonattheland-office。JohnHenderson，freshfromCincinnati，manifestlyunusedtothewaysofthecountry，lookedatJohnGillispiewithalurkingsmile。Gillispieworeasombrero，fresh，white，andexpansive。Hisbootshadhighheels，andwereofelegantleatherandfinelyarchedattheinstep。Hiscorduroysdisappearedinthemhalf-wayupthethigh。
　　Abouthiswaistasashofblueheldalacedshirtofthesamecolorinplace。Hender-
　　sonpuffedathiscigarette，andcontinuedtolookatriflequizzical。
　　SuddenlyGillispiewalkeduptohimandsaid，inavoiceofcompletesuavity，"Damnyeh，smokeapipe!"
　　"Eh？"saidHenderson，stupidly。
　　"Smokeapipe，"saidtheother。"Thatthingyouhaveisbadforyourcomplexion。”
　　"Icantakecareofmycomplexion，"saidHenderson，firmly。
　　Thetwolookedeachotherstraightintheeye。
　　"Youdon'tgoonsmokingthatthingtillyouhaveapologizedforthatgrinyouhadonyourphizamomentago。”
　　"IlaughwhenIplease，andIsmokewhatIplease，"saidHenderson，hotly，hisfaceflamingasherealizedthathewasinforhisfirst"row。”
　　Thatwashowitbegan。Howitwouldhaveendedisnotknown——probablytherewouldhavebeenonlyoneJohn——ifithadnotbeenforthealmostmiraculousappear-
　　anceatthismomentofthethirdJohn。Forjustthenthetwobelligerentsfoundthem-
　　selvesprostrate，theirpistolsonlyhalf-cocked，andbetweenthemstoodamanallgnarledandsquat，likeoneofthosewind-tornoakswhichgrowonthearidheights。Hewasnoolderthantheothers，butthelinesinhisfaceweredeep，andhislargemouthtwitchedashesaid:——
　　"Holdonhere，yehfools!There'stoomuchbloodinyoutospill。You'llspileth'floor，andwastegoodstuff。Weneedbloodouthere!"
　　Gillispiebouncedtohisfeet。Hendersonarosesuspiciously，keepinghiseyesonhisassailants。
　　"Oh，getup!"criedtheintercessor。
　　"Wedon'tshootmenhereaboutstilltheygitontheirfeetinfightin'trim。”
　　"Whatdoyouknowaboutwhatwedohere？"interruptedGillispie。"ThisisthefirsttimeIeversawyouaround。”
　　"That'sso，"theotheradmitted。"I'mjustdownfromMontana。Cametotakeupaquartersection。WhereIcomefromwegivemenashow，an'Ithoughtperhapsyehdidth'samehere。”
　　"Why，yes，"admittedGillispie，"wedo。
　　ButIdon'twantfolkstolaughtoomuch——notwhenI'maround——unlesstheytellmewhatthejokeis。Iwasjustmentioningittothegentleman，"headded，dryly。
　　"SoIsaw，"saidtheother；"you'rekindaemphaticinyerremarks。Yehoughttogivethegentlemanachancetogitusedtothewaysofth'country。He'llbeastoughasth'restofusifyou'llgivehimachance。
　　Ikinseeitinhim。”
　　"Thankyou，"saidHenderson。"I'mgladyoudomejustice。Iwishyouwouldn'tletdaylightthroughmetillI'vehadachancetogetmyquartersection。I'mgoingtobeoneofyou，eitherasalivemanoracorpse。ButIpreferahundredandsixtyacresoflandtosixfeetofit。”
　　"There，now!"triumphantlycriedthesquatman。"Didn'tItellyeh？Givehimashow!'Tain'tnofaultofhisthathe'satenderfoot。He'llgetoverthat。”
　　Gillispieshookhandswithfirstoneandthentheotherofthemen。"It'sasquaredealfromthison，"hesaid。"Comeandhaveadrink。”
　　That'showtheymet——JohnHenderson，JohnGillispie，andJohnWaite。Andaweeklatertheywereputtingupashantytogetherforcommonuse，whichoverlappedeachoftheirreservations，andsatisfiedthelawwithitssociablesubterfuge。
　　Thelifewasn'tbad，Hendersondecided；
　　andheadoptedallthewaysofthecountryinanastonishinglyshortspaceoftime。
　　Therewasafreedomaboutitallwhichwascertainlycomplete。Thethreealternatedinthenightwatch。Onceaweekoneofthemwenttotownforprovisions。Theywerenotgoodatthemakingofbread，sotheycontentedthemselveswithhotcakes。
　　Thentherewassaltporkforastaple，andprunes。Theysleptinstraw-linedbunks，withwarmblanketsforacovering。Theymadeapointofbringingreading-matterbackfromtowneveryweek，andtherewerealwayscardstofallbackon，andWaitesangsongsforthemwithnaturaldramatictalent。
　　Nevertheless，inspiteoftheircontent-
　　ment，noneofthemwassorrywhentheopportunityofferedforgoingtotown。
　　Therewasalwaysabitofstirringgossiptobepickedup，andnowandthentherewasa"show"atthe"opera-house，"inwhich，itisalmostunnecessarytosay，nooperahadeverbeensung。Thentherewasthehotel，atwhichonenotonlygotgoodfare，butachatwiththethreedaughtersofJimO'Neal，theproprietor——girlswiththeacci-
　　dentoftwoIrishparents，whowere，not-
　　withstanding，astypicallyAmericanastheywellcouldbe。Ahalf-hour'stalkwiththesecheerfulyoungwomenwasallthemoretobedesiredforthereasonthatwithinridingdistanceofthethreeJohns'ranchtherewereonlytwootherwomen。OnewasMinervaFitch，whohadgoneoutfromMichiganaccompaniedbyanoil-stoveandaknowl-
　　edgeoftheEnglishgrammar，withtheintentionofteachingschool，butwhohadbeenunabletocarrythesegoodintentionsintoexecutionforthereasonthattherewerenochildrentoteach，——atleast，nonebutBow-leggedJoe。Hewasasadlittlefellow，wholookedlikeaprairie-dog，andwhohadverymuchthesamesortofanoutlookonlife。
　　TheotherwomanwasthebriskandefficientwifeofMr。BillDeems，of"Missourah。”
　　Mr。Deemshadneverinhislifedoneany-
　　thing，notevensomuchasbringinabasketofbuffalochipstosupplythescantyfire。
　　Thatistosay，hehaddonenothingstrictlyutilitarian。Yethefilledhisplace。Hewasthemostaccomplishedstory-tellerinthewholevalley，andthisaccomplishmentofhiswasheldinashighesteemastheimprovisa-
　　tionsofaWelshminstrelwereamonghisreverencingpeople。Hiswifealonedepre-
　　catedhisskill，andinterruptedhisspiritednarrativeswithsarcasticallusionsconcerningtheemptycupboard，andthe"stateofherback，"towhich，assheconfidedtoanywhowouldlisten，"therewasnotaragfittowear。”
　　Thesetwoladieshadnot，asmaybesurmised，anyparticularattractionforJohnHenderson。Truthtotell，HendersonhadnotcomeWestwiththeintentionoflik-
　　ingwomen，butratherwithadetermina-
　　tiontoseeandthinkaslittleofthemaspossible。Yeteventhemostconfirmedmisogynistmustadmitthatitisagoodthingtoseeawomannowandthen，andforthisreasonHendersonfounditamusingtoconversewiththeamiableMissesO'Neal。
　　Attwenty-fiveonecannotbeunyieldinginone'savoidanceofthesex。
　　Henderson，withhisponyatafinelope，wasonhiswaytotownoneday，inthatcomfortableframeofmindadducedbyanabsenceofanyideaswhatever，whenhesuddenlybecameconsciousofashiverthatseemedtorunfromhislegstothepony，andbackagain。Theanimalgaveastartledleap，andliftedhisears。Therewasastir-
　　ringinthecoarsegrasses；thesky，whichamomentbeforehadbeenlikesapphire，dulledwithanindescribablegrayness。
　　Thencamealittlesingingafaroff，asiffromadistantconvocationofcicadæ；，andbeforeHendersoncouldguesswhatitmeant，acloudofdustwasuponhim，blindingandbewildering，prickingwithsharpparticlesateyesandnostrils。Theponywasanuglyfellow，andwhenHendersonfelthimputhisforefeettogether，heknewwhatthatmeant，andbracedhimselfforthestruggle。Butitwasuseless；hehadnotyetacquiredtheknackofstayingonthebackofabuckingbronco，andthenextmomenthewasontheground，andaroundhimwhirledthatsaffronchaosofdust。Thetemperatureloweredeverymoment。Hendersonin-
　　stinctivelyfeltthatthiswasbutthebegin-
　　ningofthestorm。Hepickedhimselfupwithoutuselessregretsforhispony，andmadehiswayon。
　　Thesaffronhueturnedtoblackness，andthenoutofthemurkshotalivinggreenballoffire，andploughedintotheearth。
　　Thensheetsofwater，thatseemedtocomesimultaneouslyfromearthandsky，swepttheprairie，andinthemidstofitstruggledHenderson，weakasalittlechild，halfbereftofsensebythestrangenumbnessofheadanddullnessofeye。Anotherofthosegreenballsfellandburst，asitactuallyappearedtohim，beforehishorrifiedeyes，andthebellowandblareoftheexplosionmadehimcryoutinamadnessoffrightandphysicalpain。Intheilluminationhehadseenacabinonlyafewfeetinfrontofhim，andtowardithemadefrantically，withanani-
　　mal'sinstinctivedesireforshelter。
　　Thedoordidnotyieldatoncetohispressure，andinthepanicofhisfearhethrewhisweightagainstit。Therewasacryfromwithin，afall，andHendersonflunghimselfinthecabinandclosedthedoor。
　　Intheduskofthestormhesawawomanhalfprostrate。Itwasshewhomhehadpushedfromthedoor。Hecaughtthehookinitsstaple，andturnedtoraiseher。Shewasnottremblingasmuchashe，but，likehimself，shewasdizzywiththeshockofthelightning。InthemidstofalltheclamorHendersonheardashrillcrying，andlookingtowardthesideoftheroom，hedimlyperceivedthreetinyformscrouchedinoneofthebunks。Thewomantookthesmallestofthechildreninherarms，andkissedandsoothedit；andHenderson，afterhehadthrownablanketatthebottomofthedoortokeepoutthedriftingrain，satwithhisbacktoit，bracingitagainstthewind，lestthefrailstapleshouldgiveway。
　　Hemanagedsomewaytoreachoutandlayholdoftheotherlittleones，andgottheminhisarms，——aboy，sotinyheseemedhardlyhuman，andagirlsomewhatsturdier。
　　Theycuddledinhisarms，andclutchedhisclotheswiththeirfranticlittlehands，andthethreesatsowhiletheearthandtheheavensseemedtobemeetinginangrycombat。
　　Andbackandforth，backandforth，inthedimnessswayedthebodyofthewoman，hushingherbabe。
　　Almostassuddenlyasthedarknesshadfallen，itlifted。Thelightningceasedtothreaten，andalmostfrolicked，——littleway-
　　wardflashesofwhiteandyellowdancinginmid-air。Thewindwailedlessfrequently，likeachildwhosobsinitssleep。AndatlastHendersoncouldmakehisvoiceheard。
　　"Isthereanythingtobuildafirewith？"
　　heshouted。"Thechildrenareshiver-
　　ingso。”
　　Thewomanpointedtoabasketofbuffalochipsinthecorner，andhewrappedhislittlecompanionsupinablanketwhilehemadeafireinthecooking-stove。Thebabywassleepingbythistime，andthewomanbegantidyingthecabin，andwhenthefirewasburningbrightly，sheputsomecoffeeon。
　　"IwishIhadsomeclothestoofferyou，"
　　shesaid，whenthewindhadsubsidedsuffi-
　　cientlytomaketalkingpossible。"I'mafraidyou'llhavetoletthemgetdryonyou。”
　　"Oh，that'sofnoconsequenceatall!
　　We'reluckytogetoffwithourlives。I
　　neversawanythingsoterrible。Fancy!
　　halfanhouragoitwassummer；nowitiswinter!"
　　"Itseemsrathersuddenwhenyou'renotusedtoit，"thewomanadmitted。"I'velivedintheWestsixyearsnow；youcan'tfrightenmeanymore。Weneverdieoutherebeforeourtimecomes。”
　　"YouseemtoknowthatIhaven'tbeenherelong，"saidHenderson，withsomechagrin。
　　"Yes，"admittedthewoman；"youhavetheear-marksofamanfromtheEast。”
　　Shewasatallwoman，withlargeblueeyes，andaremarkablequantityofyellowhairbraidedontopofherhead。Hergownwasofcalico，ofsuchapatternasawidowmightwear。
　　"Ihaven'tbeenoutoftownaweekyet，"
　　shesaid。"We'renothalfsettled。Nothavinganyonetohelpmakesitharder；
　　andthebabyisratherfretful。”
　　"Butyou'renotalonewithalltheselittlecodgers？"criedHenderson，indismay。
　　Thewomanturnedtowardhimwithasortofdefiance。"Yes，Iam，"shesaid；"andI'masstrongasahorse，andImeantogetthroughallright。Herewerethethreechildreninmyarms，youmaysay，andnowaytogetinacent。Iwasn'tgoingtostanditjusttopleaseotherfolk。Isaid，letthemtalkiftheywantto，butI'mgoingtoholddownaclaim，andbeaccumulatingsomethingwhilethechildrenaregettingupabit。Oh，I'mnotafraid!"
　　Inspiteofthisboldassertionofbravery，therewasasortofbreakinhervoice。Shewasputtingdishesonthetableasshetalked，andturnedsomehamintheskillet，andgotthechildrenupbeforethefire，anddroppedsomeeggsinwater，——allwitharapiditythatbewilderedHenderson。
　　"Howlonghaveyoubeenalone？"heasked，softly。
　　"Threemonthsbeforebabywasborn，andhe'sfivemonthsoldnow。I——I——youthinkIcangetonhere，don'tyou？Therewasnothingelsetodo。”
　　Shewasfoldinganotherblanketoverthesleepingbabynow，andtheactionbroughttoherguesttherecollectionofathousandtendermomentsofhisdimlyrememberedyouth。
　　"You'llgetonifwehaveanythingtodowithit，"hecried，suppressinganoathwithdifficulty，justfrompureemotion。
　　AndhetoldheraboutthethreeJohns'
　　ranch，andfounditwasonlythreemilesdistant，andthatbothwereonthesameroad；onlyhercabin，havingbeenputupduringthepastweek，hadofcoursebeenunknowntohim。Soitendedinasortofcompactthattheyweretohelpeachotherinsuchwaysastheycould。Meanwhilethefiregotgenial，andthecoffeefilledthecabinwithitscomfortablescent，andallofthematetogetherquitemerrily，Hendersoncut-
　　tingupthehamfortheyoungsters；andhetoldhowhechancedtocomeout；andsheentertainedhimwithstoriesofwhatshethoughtatfirstwhenshewasbroughtabridetoHamilton，theadjacentvillage，andconvulsedhimwithstoriesofthepeople，whomshesawwithhumorouseyes。
　　Hendersonmarvelledhowshecouldinthosefewminuteshaverescuedthecabinfromthedesolationinwhichthestormhadplungedit。Outofthewindowhecouldseethestrickengrassesdrippingcoldmoist-
　　ure，andtheskystillangrilyplungingfor-
　　wardlikeadisturbedsea。Notatreeorahousebroketheview。Thedesolationofitsweptoverhimasitneverhadbefore。Butwithinthelittleoneswerechatteringtothemselvesinoddbabydialect，andthemotherwaslaughingwiththem。
　　"Womenaren'talwaysuseless，"shesaid，atparting；"andyoutellyourchumsthatwhentheygethungryforasliceofhome-
　　madebreadtheycangetithere。Andthenexttimetheygoby，Iwantthemtostopinandlookatthechildren。It'lldothemgood。Theymaythinktheywon'tenjoythemselves，buttheywill。”
　　"Oh，I'llanswerforthat!"criedhe，shakinghandswithher。"I'lltellthemwehavejusttherightsortofaneighbor。”
　　"Thankyou，"saidshe，heartily。"AndyoumaytellthemthathernameisCathe-
　　rineFord。”
　　Onceathome，hetoldhisstory。
　　"H'm!"saidGillispie，"IguessI'llhavetogototownmyselfto-morrow。”
　　Hendersonlookedathimblackly。"She'sawomanalone，Gillispie，"saidhe，severely，"tryingtomakeherwaywithhandicaps——"
　　"Shetup，can'tye，yedarnedfool？"
　　roaredGillispie。"Whatdoyehtakemefur？"
　　Waitewasputtingonhisrubbercoatpreparatorytogoingoutforhisnightwiththecattle。"Guessyou'remakin'amistake，myboy，"hesaid，gently。"Thereain'tnodangerofanywomanbein'treatedrudeintheseparts。”
　　"Iknowit，byJove!"criedHenderson，inquickcontriteness。
　　"Allright，"gruntedGillispie，intacitacceptanceofthisapology。"Iguessyouthoughtyouwasincivilizedparts。”
　　TwodaysafterthisWaitecameinlatetohissupper。"Well，Iseenher，"heannounced。
　　"Oh!didyou？"criedHenderson，know-
　　ingperfectlywellwhomhemeant。"Whatwasshedoing？"
　　"Killin'snakes，b'gosh!Shesaysth'
　　baby'scrazyfurum，an'soshetakesaroun'
　　ahoeonhershoulderwherevershegoes，an'whensheseesasnake，shehasitoutwith'imthenan'there。Isaysto'er，'Yerdon'texpec't'gitallth'snakesoutenthisherecountry，d'yeh？''Well，'shesays，'I'masgoodamanasSt。Patrickanyday。'
　　Sheisajollyone，Henderson。Shetukmeinan'showedmeth'kids，andgivemealoafofgingerbreadtobringhome。Hereitis；see？"
　　"Hu!"saidGillispie。"I'mnotinit。”
　　Butforallofhisscornhewasnotaboveeatingthegingerbread。
　　Itwasgardeningtime，andthethreeJohnswereputtingineverysparemomentinthelittlepalingmadeofwillowtwigsbehindthehouse。Itwaslittleenoughtimetheyhad，though，forthecattlewerenewtoeachotherandtothecountry，andtheywerehardtomanage。ItwasgenerallyconcededthatWaitehadageniusforherd-
　　ing，andhecouldtakethe"mad"outofafractiousanimalinawaythattheotherslookedonaslittlelessthansuperhuman。
　　Thusitwasthatoneday，whentheclayhadbeenwellturned，andtheseedsarrangedonthekitchentable，andallthingspreparedforanafternoonofbusyplanting，thatWaiteandHenderson，whowereneededoutwiththecattle，feltnolittleirritationattheinex-
　　plicableabsenceofGillispie，whowastolookafterthegarden。Itwasquitenight-
　　fallwhenheatlastreturned。Supperwasready，althoughithadbeenGillispie'sturntoprepareit。
　　Hendersonwassorefromhissaddle，andcrossathavingtodomorethanhisshareofthework。"Damnyeh!"hecried，asGillispieappeared。"Whereyehbeen？"
　　"Makinggarden，"respondedGillispie，slowly。
　　"Makinggarden!"Hendersonindulgedinsomemoreharmlessoaths。
　　JustthenGillispiedrewfromunderhiscoatalargeandfriendlylookingapple-pie。
　　"Yes，"hesaid，withemphasis；"I'vebina-makin'gardenfurMis'Ford。”
　　AndsoitcameaboutthatthethreeJohnsknewherandservedher，andthatsheneverhadaneedthattheywerenotreadytosupplyiftheycould。Notoneofthemwouldhavethoughtofgoingtotownwith-
　　outstoppingtoinquirewhatwasneededatthevillage。AsforCatherineFord，shewasfightingherwaywithnativepluckandmaternalunselfishness。Ifshehadfearedsolitudeshedidnotsufferfromit。Theactivityofherlifestifledherfreshsorrow。
　　Shewaspleasantlyexcitedbytherumorsthatarailroadwassoontobebuiltneartheplace，whichwouldraisethevalueoftheclaimshewas"holdingdown"manythou-
　　sanddollars。
　　Itismarvelloushowsorrowshrinkswhenoneisveryhealthyandverymuchoccupied。
　　Althoughpovertywasherclosecompanion，Catherinehadnothoughtofitinthisprim-
　　itivemannerofliving。Shehadcomeoutthere，withtheindependenceanddetermi-
　　nationofaWesternwoman，forthepurposeoflivingattheleastpossibleexpense，andmakingthemostshecouldwhilethebabywas"gettingoutofherarms。”Thatprocesshasitspleasures，whicheverymotherfeelsinspiteofburdens，andthemindishappilydulledbynature'smercifulprovision。Withalittlechildtuggingatthebreast，careandfretvanish，notbecauseofthehappinesssomuchasbecauseofacertainmammalcomplacency，whichisnotatallintellectual，butservesitspurposebetterthanthepro-
　　foundestmethodofreasoning。
　　Sowithoutanyveryunbearablemiseryatherrecentwidowhood，thishealthyyoungwomanworkedinfieldandhouse，caredforherlittleones，milkedthetwocowsoutinthecorral，sewed，sang，rode，baked，andwashappyforverywholesomeness。Some-
　　timesshereproachedherselfthatshewasnotmoremiserable，rememberingthatlonggravebackintheunkemptlittleprairiecemetery，andshesatdowntocoaxhersorrowintoproperprominence。Butthebabycooingatherfromitsbunk，thelowofthecattlefromthecorralbegginghertorelievetheirheavybags，thefamiliarcallofoneofherneighborsfromwithout，eventheburningskyofthesummerdawns，brokethespellofthisconjuredsorrow，andinspiteofherselfshewasagainaveryheartyandhappyyoungwoman。Besides，ifonehasalikingforcomedy，itisimpossibletobedullonaNebraskaprairie。Thepeopleareamerrierdivertissementthanthetheatrewithitshackneyedstories。CatherineFordlaughedagooddeal，andshetookthethreeJohnsintoherconfidence，andtheylaughedwithher。TherewasMinervaFitch，whoinsistedoncomingovertotellCatherinehowtoraiseherchildren，andwhowasalmostoffendedthatthechildrenwouldn'tdieofsunstrokewhenshepredicted。AndtherewasBobAckerman，whohadinflam-
　　matoryrheumatismandaPast，andwhoconfidedthelattertoMrs。Fordwhileshedoctoredtheformerwithhomoeopathicmedicines。Andtherewereallthestrangevisionarieswhocameoutprospecting，andquitenaturallydriftedtoMrs。Ford'scabinforameal，andpaidherincomplimentsofapeculiarlyWesterntype。AndtherewerethethreeJohnsthemselves。Catherinecon-
　　sidereditnotreasontolaughatthemalittle。
　　YetatWaiteshedidnotlaughmuch。
　　Therehadcometobesomethingpatheticintheconstantserviceherenderedher。Thebeginningofhismoreparticulardevotionhadstartedinaparticularway。Malariawasverybadinthecountry。Ithadcarriedoffsomeofthemostvigorousontheprairie，andtwicethatsummerCatherineherselfhadlaidoutthecoldformsofherneighborsonironing-boards，and，withtheassistanceofBillDeemsofMissourah，hadreadtheburialserviceoverthem。Shehadavertedseveralotherfatalrunsoffeverbythecon-
　　tentsofherlittlemedicine-case。Theseremediesshedealtoutwithanintelligencethatastonishedherpatients，untilitwaslearnedthatshewasstudyingmedicineatthetimethatshemetherlatehusband，andwaspersuadedtoassumetheresponsibilitiesofmatrimonyinsteadofthoseofthemedi-
　　calprofession。
　　Onedayinmidsummer，whenthesunwasfocussingitselfontherawpineboardsofhershanty，andCatherinehadtheshadesdrawnforcoolnessandthewater-pitcherswathedinwetrags，EastIndianfashion，sheheardthefamiliarhallooofWaitedowntheroad。Thisgreeting，whichwasusuallysenttoherfromthepointwherethedip-
　　pingroadlifteditselfintothefirstviewofthehouse，didnotcontainitsusualnoteofcheerfulness。Catherine，wipingherhandsonhercheckedapron，ranouttowaveawelcome；andWaite，hissquatbodylookingmoredistortedthanever，hishugeshoulderslurchingashewalked，camefairlyplung-
　　ingdownthehill。
　　"It'sallupwithHenderson!"hecried，asCatherineapproached。"He'sgotthemalery，an'hesayshe'sdyin'。”
　　"That'snosignhe'sdying，becausehesaysso，"retortedCatherine。
　　"Hewantstoseeyeh，"pantedWaite，moppinghisbiguglyhead。"Ithinkhe'sgotsomethin'particulartosay。”
　　"Howlonghashebeendown？"
　　"Threedays；an'yehwouldn'tknow'im。”
　　Thechildrenwereplayingontheflooratthatsideofthehousewhereitwasleasthot。Catherinepouredoutthreebowlsofmilk，andcutsomebread，meanwhiletellingKittyhowtofeedthebaby。
　　"She'sasensiblething，isthelittledaughter，"saidCatherine，asshetiedonhersunbonnetandpackedalittlebasketwiththingsfromthecupboard。Shekissedthebabiestenderly，flungherhoe——heronlyweaponofdefence——overhershoulder，andthetwostartedoff。
　　Theydidnotspeak，fortheirthroatsweresoontooparched。Theprairiewasburnedbrownwiththesun；thegrassescurledasiftheyhadbeenonagridiron。Astrongwindwasblowing；butitbroughtnocom-
　　fort，foritwasheavywithascorchingheat。
　　Theskinsmartedandblisteredunderit，andtheeyesfeltasiftheywerefilledwithsand。
　　Thesunseemedtoswingbutalittlewayabovetheearth，andthoughtheskywasintensestblue，aroundaboutthisburningballtherewasahaloofcopper，asiftheveryetherwerebeingconsumedinyellowfire。
　　Waiteputsomebigburdock-leavesonCatherine'sheadunderherbonnet，andnowandthenhetookabottleofwaterfromhispocketandmadeherswallowamouthful。
　　Shestaggeredoftenasshewalked，andtheroadwasblackbeforeher。Still，itwasnotverylongbeforetheoddlyshapedshackofthethreeJohnscameinsight；andashecaughtaglimpseofit，Waitequickenedhisfootsteps。
　　"Whatifheshouldbegone？"hesaid，underhisbreath。
　　"Oh，comeoff!"saidCatherine，angrily。
　　"He'snotgone。Youmakemetired!"
　　Butshewastremblingwhenshestoppedjustbeforethedoortocomposeherselfforamoment。Indeed，shetrembledsoverymuchthatWaiteputouthissprawlinghandtosteadyher。Shegentlyfeltthepressuretightening，andWaitewhisperedinherear:
　　"IguessI'dstandbyhimaswellasany-
　　body，excep'you，Mis'Ford。He'sbeenmybes'friend。ButIguessyoulikehimbetter，eh？"
　　Catherineraisedherfinger。ShecouldhearHenderson'svoicewithin；itwaspitiablyquerulous。Hewashalfsittingupinhisbunk，andGillispiehadjusthandedhimaplateonwhichtwocakeswereswim-