The Girl from Keller's

his work at the half-finished railroad bridge. Besides, he felt thoughtful, for something had happened during the visit of a Montreal superintendent engineer that had given him a hint. It was

d, no doubt, be disappointed when he applied for the next, and it was significan

, swollen by melting snow. He heard the ring of the riveters' hammers and the clang of flung-down rails. The whistle of a grave

gures of a man and horses moved slowly across the fading light; but except for this, the wide landscape was without life and desolate. Festing, however, knew it would not long remain a silent waste. A change was coming with the railroa

ed him on up to the present, but it looked as if he could not go much farther. It was eight years since he began by joining a shovel gang, and he felt the lack

he railroad and join the breakers of virgin soil. He knew something about prairie farming and believed that success was largely a matter of temper

brain and muscle were needed in the wide, silent land that would soon waken to busy life; but one must not give way to romantic impulses. Stern experience had taught Festing caution, his views were utilitarian, and he distrusted se

wth had withered down and the wood was very quiet, with the snow-bleached grass growing about its edge, but he seemed to feel the pulse of returning life. The damp sod that the f

ctic Sea; they would rest for a few days in the prairie sloos and then push on again. Their harsh clamor had a note of unrest and rang through the dark like a tru

w lakes that seldom quite dried up. Soon the land would be covered with grain; already there were scattered patches on which the small homesteaders labored to free themselves from debt. For the most part, their means and tools were inadequate, the haul

beehives grew into shape. The homestead was good, as homesteads in the back townships went, but Festing knew the land was badly worked. Charnock had begun well,

was falling down, and was met on the veranda by Charnock's dogs. They sprang upon him with welcoming barks, and pushing through them, he e

wn and take a smoke while

pensive English guns, a piano stood in a corner, and lumps of the gumbo soil that lay about the floor had gathered among its legs. Greasy supper plates occupied the end of the table, and the boards round the stove were blackened by the dist

came to Canada. Festing remembered his keenness and careless good-humor when he began to farm, but disappointment had blunted the first, though his carelessness remained.

ook happy,"

looks very like a notice to quit." He threw Festing a paper and swept the others into a dr

ce. However, if you'll kee

ing thought it might be wiped off, or at least pulled down, by economy and well-directed effort. The trouble was that Cha

esn't make much difference. Things look pretty ba

it take you to p

is, if I got moderately good crops, but I'd cut out drinks, the pool game

Charnock replied, and added while his face w

English girl hung on the wall behind the stove,

't got one yet. We're told this is a great country for the small farmer, and perhaps it is, so long as he

s, but they're

ld the storekeeper or implement dealer takes all they get. When the fellow's sure of their honesty he carried them on, for the sake of the interest,

lt that Charnock must be answere

e nerve. But he has a chance of making good, and a few years of self-denial do a man no harm. In fact, I ex

kind before! You're a Spartan; but suppose we admit

thing. I suppose you

r? You know the stuff the storekeepers supply their debtors. Would you expect a delicately brought-up girl to cook for you, and men

f view was essentially practical. He had grappled with so many difficulties that he regarded them as problems to be solved and not troubles to complain about. He believed that what was necessary or desirable must be don

e with steady eyes; her gaze was frank and fearless, as if she had confidence in herself. Yet it was not an aggressive confidence, but rather a calm that sprang from pride-the right kind of pride. In a way, he knew nothing about her, but he was sure she would disdain anything that was shabby and mean. He was not a judge of be

d recently got more marked. Festing was not fastidious, but he lived with clear-eyed, wiry men who could do all that one could expect from flesh and blood. They quarreled about their wages and sometimes struck a domineering boss, but they did their work, in s

quitting?" Festin

time, but it would only mean that I'd slave for another year or two and come down after all. I don't see why I

have mad

for a railroad job. The pay's pretty good, a

ody else might afterwards put you o

t know that it's prudent

uggle out with what you want. Come up to the track

You see, I expect an offer of another post though nothing's been fixed yet. We'

. "Certainly not! Did you ever know

did! My opinion is you thin

joined. "Anyhow, what amusement do you think I

you a gun. In fact, I'll lend you my second

and I imagine she got very tired. She certainly looked tired; the girls about the settle

to take Sa

ather awkwardly. "Well, of course, I don't see

f organizer of the picnic, Sadie does want to go. For tha

usy," Festing declared, and soon afterwards

p. Then he did not like Bob's taking Miss Keller to the picnic, because he had met and thought her dangerous. It was not that she had tried to flirt with him, although she had done so; he felt that if he had played up, it might ha

t looked as if she had thrown Bob some favor, which was ominous, because Sadie had generally an object. Of course, if Bob were free and content to marry a girl from the settlement, Sadie would not be a bad

s plans, supposing that she had made some. Besides, it was Charnock's affair, not his. By and by