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. 



"Resides, 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. 



Rut 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 



