ing
their claims, told heavily upon the men, who, already depleted in strength by much hardship, were poorly equipped for their tasks. But there was no shirking of duties nor complaint over backaches, and the borderershomes arose like magic.
"How do you like the appearance of the new buildings?" asked Captain Ranger, addressing Sally O'Dowd.
"Why should you ask me? "was the curt response.
Surprised at her reply but disposed to be communicative, he added: "If all goes well, I'll have a sawmill up yonder in the timber by this time next year."
"That's none of my business," she retorted testily.
He looked at her for a moment in blank astonishment. "Why isn't it your business?" he asked, at length. "Haven't we agreed to first get you free from a bad bargain, and after that take up our line of march together? And won't your belongings then be mine, and mine yours?"
"What about that other woman you are going to Portland to see? Do you take me for an idiot. Squire?"
He looked her in the face for an instant, nonplussed. Then as the reason for her change of manner dawned upon him, he threw back his head and laughed heartily.
"So that's what the matter with us, is it?" he exclaimed, approaching her with a proffered caress. "We ' ve been a trifle jealous, haven't we?"
"Behave yourself, sir!" elbowing him away. "Go to Portland and see that other woman. No doubt a party by the name of Benson is expecting you."
He guffawed again, making her angrier still.
"Come, Sally; let's have no more nonsense," he said, after his laughter had ceased, motioning her to a seat beside him on the doorway.
She stood irresolute.
"Very well, if you prefer to do so, you can sit a-standing, like the Dutchman's hen. I've been keeping a letter that's been burning my pocket for three days waiting for
