Yes, if you could get a homestead out in the
openprairie . They walked on in silence, swinging along in great, vigorousstrides.
High above, far ahead stood an ideal;towards that ideal they walked. Amundsen
shouldhave let me locate his well. Niels felt ashamed of his behaviour in the
morning.
Thats the way, she said in the tone of
politeexplanation, its with us every Sunday. No smile lighted her features; her eyes
werestern and nearly condemnatory. They walked on in silence, swinging along in
great, vigorousstrides. Thus it came to pass that the two friends returned to Lunds
soonerthan they had expected. Yes, the boy replied with a grin on his frank and
humorous face.
Andmeanwhile you havent been working sos to make a
cripple out ofyourself. They drove up on a dam; and the view to the yard opened up.
Niels andNelson prepared to leave for the latters own place, seven milesnorth and
one mile west.
They say hes worked her to death, Nelson
said.
She and Bobby were going into the bush after
firewood.
We might come along, Nelson suggested, and tramp it
back. Somehow he felt less a stranger in the bush. Struck a pocket or a vein, Nelson
called after him.
He is a great actor; and the laziest fellowIve ever
met. Hed charge twenty-five orthirty dollars to come .
Better not take too much notice of the girl, Nelson
said when theman had disappeared.
Then they went to the house and opened the door.
Niels washushed with a sense of longing for his own old home, for his
deadmother.
Its him they smash up every once in a
while.
And here he is in debt again to the tune of some
two thousanddollars.
No smile lighted her features; her eyes werestern
and nearly condemnatory. He was no more than astranger to her, a stranger who
happened to have worked on herfathers place.
Noneof the silks to-day; but no sheep-skin,
either.
Lundsnext post-office-cheque which was due in
January.
Olgacoloured dark red; and Bobby made things worse
by his desperateefforts to suppress a giggle.
And thats for six, seven years of
back-breakingwork; and sometimes for longer.
Lundsnext post-office-cheque which was due in
January.
With amazementNiels noticed that her skirt was of
black silk . And after a silence he added, veryseriously, Ill tell you, I like the
work. Then they went to the house and opened the door. Lund was slowly walking about
with closedeyes, a forked willow-branch in his hands.