A Daughter of the Land

affled and angry, she kept reviewing the situation as she went swiftly on her way, regardless of dust and heat. She cou

y that ridiculing her had been regarded as perfectly legitimate pastime. For Agatha WAS funny; but she had no idea of it, and could no more avoid it than a bee could avoid being buzzy, so the manner in whi

cres of land to each of them on coming of age, and the same sum to each for the building of a house and barn and the purchase of stock; gave it to them in words, and with the fullest assurance that it was theirs to improve, to live on, to add to. Each of them had seen and handled his deed, each had to admit he never had known his father to tell a lie or deviate the least from fairness in a deal of any kind, each had been compelled to go in the way indicated by his father for years; but not a man of them held his own deed. These precious bits of paper remained locked in the big wooden chest beside the father's bed, while the land stood on the records in his name; t

other, so what was to be expected? Her face was narrow and set, her body and her movements almost rigid, her hair, always parted, lifted from each side and tied on the crown, fell in stiff little curls, the back part hanging free. Her speech, as precise as her movements, was formed into set habit through long study of the dictionary. She was born antag

gazines, which she read and remembered. And she danced! When other women thought even a waltz immoral and shocking; perfectly stiff, her curls exactly in place, Agatha could be seen, and frequently was seen, waltzing on the front porch in the arms of, and to a tu

d a habit of keeping her house always immaculate, finishing her cleaning very early and then reading in a conspicuous spot on the veranda when other women were busy with their most tiresome tasks. Such was Agatha, whom Kate dreaded meeting, with every reason, for Agatha, despite curls, bony structure, language, and dance, was the most powerful factor in the whole Bates family with her father-in-law; and all because when he purchased the original two hundred acres for Adam, and made the first allowance for buildings and stock, Agatha slipped the money

e was about her work when several of the blooming girls he had selected for wives for his sons were confined to the sofa with a pain, while not one of them schemed, planned, connived with her husband and piled up the money as Agatha did, therefore she stood at the head of the women of the Bates family; while she was considered to have worked miracles in the hea

e had the boy first and five years the older, so that he could look after his sister when they went into company. Also she walked up and sat upon Adam's lap whenever she chose, ruffled his hair, pulled his ears, and kissed him squarely on the mouth, with every appearance of having help, while the dance on the front porch with her son or daughter was of daily occurrence. And anything funnier than Agatha, prim and angular with never a hair out of place, stiffly hoppin

reened back porch dining room and "proceeded" to take a chair, while the family finished the Sunday night supper, at which they were seated. Kate was not hungry and she did not wish to trouble her sister-in-law to set another place, so she t

ther won't give me money to go to Normal, as he has all the

d she needs help," said Adam,

ke my turn at Normal? There wasn't a thing I could do last summer to help her off that I didn't do, even to lendi

lways studied harder, and was ahead of her, even after she'd been to Normal. And I got up early and worked late, and cooked, and washed, and waited on her, while she g

much help on anything he ma

essive as her face. Her head was very erect, her shoulders stiff and still, not a curl moved as she poured Adam's tea and Susan's milk. Only Adam, 3d,

ing been born a few years after Nancy Ellen makes me her slave, and cuts me out of my chance to teach, and to have some freedom and clothes. They might as well have told Hiram he was not to have any land and stay at home and help Father because he was the youngest boy; it would have been quite as fair; but nothing

e you here fo

way to Normal, so I can pass the examinations, and teach this fall. And when you have all refused, I am going to the neighbours, until I find someo

peared stiffer and more uncompromising in the back than before, which Kate had not thought possible. But the sam

word what you are going to say. I dare you let me! You know I can!" Still laughing, his eyes dancing, a picture to see, he

ome so wealthy? I'll give you one dollar if

to his mother: "You were just opening your lips to say: 'Give it to her! If you don't, I will!' And you are

s fork and stared at his wife in deep amazement. Adam, 3d, stretched

it is reposing in my purse, in juxtaposition to the other articles that belong there,

e with your paternal land-grabber, and endanger your precious deed that you hope to get in the sweet by-and-by. But if Mother loans the money, Grandfather can't say a word, because it is her very own, and didn't cost him anything, and he always agrees with her anyway! Hurrah for hurrah, Kate! Nancy

said his fat

ur Aunt Katherine's instructions,"

-sack! When do we start

't own a telescope or anything to put what little I have in, and Nancy Ellen ne

, and return it when you please. I shall proceed to my chamber and formulate your check immediately. You are

into anything you wear, but it would almost tickle me to death to have Nancy Ellen know you let me take yo

The cape is new and very fashionable. Com

offer as if the hat had been most becoming. Then Agatha brought out her telescope, in which Kate laid the cape while Agatha wrote her a check for one hundred and twenty dollars, and told her where and how to cash it. The extra twenty was to buy a pair of new walking shoes, some hose, and a hat, before she went to her train. When they went dow

t. These she made into a parcel and carried to the wash room, brought in the telescope and packed it, hiding it under a workbench and covering it with shavings. After that she went to her room and wrote a note, and then slept deeply until the morning call. She arose at once and went to the wash room but instead of washing the family clothing, she took a bath in the largest tub, and washed her hair to a

to plow corn and Kate fervently hoped he would plow until noon, which he did. Nancy Ellen washed the dishes, and went into the front room to study, while Mrs. Bates put on her sunbonnet and began hoeing the potatoes. Not one of the family noticed that Monday's wash was not on the clothes l

a will be pretty

he slightest chance but t

home when school i

not," sh

you do?" he

about my qualifications to teach their schools this winter. All the other girls did well and taught first-class schools, I shall also. I am not a bit afraid

you stay at our

don't want to make trouble that might extend to

m. "If Grandfather rows, he rais

e in from the potatoes and Nancy Ellen comes out from the liv

hed appre

cried. "Kate, you like

ndid. I never dreamed of such a th

aid Adam, "until-I b

straight i

that, Adam?

as shut so tight it didn't look as if she could open it if she wanted to. I thought it would be better for you to borrow the

re a dandy!

d you ought to go," said he. "It's all rig

ny one ever offered to take care of me in my life. With me i

Why didn't you get some gloves? Your hands are so

o look badly. I wish I had taken a pair of the lady's gloves; but I doubt if she would have survived

with Adam's parting injunction in her ears

leaned to speak to him again. Just as the train started he thrust his hand inside, dropped his

ollar, while her eye

er!" she said. "The Ji

y happy was to do something kind for someone else. But he reflected that there would be far from a happy family at his grandfather's; and he was right. Grandmother Bates came in from her hoeing at eleven o'clock

e saw no signs of Kate or of dinner, then she

rry. "Why, Mother, what

k in the wash room! Why aren't the clothes on

k pale and amazed. "Maybe she is sick," she ventured. "She

he wash not out! You simp

upstairs and came ba

r clothing is gone

mal-thing! Where did she get

ut of course I told her that so long as you and Father decid

ok if she h

tened. "Mother! I d

ok your clothes,

e last year. She'll

r darkens these doors again. This is the first time

Agatha; and he strutted like

either, even if you are showing signs of standin

s hung his hat on its hook and saw the

summer to let her take what she wanted of mine. Mother: I think you can get Sally Whistler to help you as cheaply as any one and that she will do very well. Nancy Ellen: I have taken your second best hat and a few of your things, but not half so many as I lo

y inch of his six feet six, his face a dull red, his

oper clothing and on borr

s. Bates. "I was hoeing

zed at him anxiously. Was he so surprised and angry he was choking? Might it be a stroke? It was! It was a master stroke. He got no farther than "taught me things you didn't know yourself," when he lowered the sheet, threw back his head and laughed as none of his family ever had seen him laugh in his life; laughed and laughed until his fr