30 THE DRAMA OF THE FORESTS 



weeks to make the round trip to Spearhead, just to call on her. 

 I couldn't fathom it at all. 



"Besides, Mother, we might give them the heifer, as a 

 starter, for she will be ready to milk in the spring. Then, too, 

 we might give them a few ducks and geese and perhaps a pig." 



"Excellent idea, Father; besides, I think I could spare enough 

 cutlery, dishes, and cooking utensils to help out for a while." 



"And I could lend them some blankets from the store," 

 the trader returned. 



But at that moment Athabasca miscalculated the distance 

 to her mouth and dropped a bit of potato on the floor, and when 

 she stooped to recover it, I caught a glance from the corner 

 of her eye. It was one of those indescribable glances that 

 girls give. I remember it made me perspire all over. Queer, 

 isn't it, the way women sometimes affect one? I would have 

 blushed more deeply, but by that time there was no possible 

 chance of my face becoming any redder, notwithstanding the 

 fact that I was a red-head. Ponder as I would, I couldn't 

 fathom the mystery . . . who Son-in-law could be ... 

 though I had already begun to think him a lucky fellow quite 

 one to be envied. 



Then Mrs. Spear exclaimed, as we rose from the table: 



"Good! . . . Then that's settled . . . you'll take 

 him into partnership, and I'm glad, for I like him, and I think 

 he'll make an excellent trader." 



Our getting away from the table rather relieved me, as I 

 was dripping perspiration, and I wanted to fairly mop my face 

 of course, when they weren't looking. 



Together they showed me over the establishment : the spare 

 bedroom, the trading shop, the stable, the heifer, the ducks and 

 geese, and even the pig though it puzzled me why they singled 

 out the very one they intended giving Son-in-law. The silent 

 though beautiful Athabasca followed a few feet behind as 

 we went the rounds, and inspected the wealth that was to be 



