Jack and his father then drove to his claim, and upon their arrival
there dismissed the driver with instructions to call for them the
following morning, and Jack added:
"Please tell Mr. and Mrs. Gully that we will not be over to either
supper or breakfast."
After the driver had gone, Jack turned to his father and said: "I have
learned, Dad, that one of the first requisites of a successful farmer is
the proper care of his stock, so if you will accompany me, I will care
for mine before we go into the house."
Mr. Norton followed Jack as he went about his chores and noted with
satisfaction the care he took in the performance of each in its turn,
and passed favorable comments on the appearance of Jack's horses, their
comfortable stables and abundance of feed.
Jack was proud of his father's interest in things, and with boyish
delight showed him over the place.
When they entered Jack's house, the old gentleman was in an excellent
mood, and had been joking his son about his prowess as a homesteader. He
viewed the interior with a quizzical gaze and seemed to locate
everything at a glance. He removed his hat and coat, and after hanging
them on a chair, rolled up his sleeves and began removing the lids from
the stove. Jack watched him for a moment, then took the bucket and went
to the well. When he returned, his father had the fire going.
"Pretty quick work, Dad," he said.
"It's not the first time, my boy," his father answered, and then he
asked: "Where's the coffee?"
"In the box on the wall; I'll get it in a minute," said Jack. But his
minute was too long, for his father got the can and was measuring out a
handful of the contents before Jack finished washing his hands.
Jack watched him prepare the coffee, after which he fried some bacon and
eggs, located some stale sourdough bread, and taking Jack's table cloth
from the table, set the dishes on the bare boards, and setting back the
chairs, pulled up a bench and an empty box, and looking at Jack nodded
toward the table and said:
"Grub's ready."
"Comin' up," answered Jack. "Want some butter?"
"Nope, not with bacon grease," replied the old gentleman.
After they sat down to the meal, Mr. Norton helped himself and remarked:
"This is the life." He quaffed the steaming coffee with a relish, and
looking across the table, asked suddenly:
"How about the girl, Jack, who are these Gullys?"
"I don't know, Dad," replied Jack in surprise. "I never saw them until I
came here, but they are mighty fine people."
"Naturally," said his father, "but what makes you think so; the girl?"
"Not altogether," said Jack, "I have reasons to know."
"In what way?" asked his father.
"In more ways than one," was Jack's answer.
"Specify," said the old gentleman bluntly.
Then Jack told his father of his first meeting with Gully, of how he had
sold Gully the lumber in his shack when he had become discouraged, and
had then accompanied him to the harvest field, of how Gully had
persuaded him to return and try once more, which he had done, and then
when the contract for clearing the land was under consideration, Gully
had taken him in on it and been the means of giving him a start.
He explained further that it had been under Gully's directions that he
had accomplished the success he had, and when he had finished, his
father asked:
"Is it out of gratitude for all this kindness that you propose to marry
his daughter?"
"No," Jack replied.
"Don't you know," continued his father, "that in the station in life to
which I can restore you, you can have your choice of hundreds of young
ladies?"
"This is my station in life," replied Jack, "and the best thing about
it, Dad, is that I did not have to have you put me here, and as for Ida,
she does not know any other life, and I hope she never learns."
"Is this Miss Anderson a relative of theirs?" asked his father.
"No; just a friend who has taught this little school ever since I came
here," answered Jack.
"A very able teacher," commented Mr. Norton.
"How do you mean?" queried Jack.
"This Miss Gully did not acquire her genteel manner from her parents,
did she? And you say this is the only life she has ever known," said his
father.
"Miss Anderson has taken a great deal of interest in Ida," said Jack,
"and she learns very readily."
"Will you postpone this marriage until you have made final proof on your
claim, and give me one year of your life?" asked his father.
"No, sir," Jack answered.
Burns Norton arose from the table and began to collect the soiled dishes
and pile them together, and as he started for a pan in which to wash
them, Jack said: "Let them go until morning, Dad." "All right, we'll go
to bed then," answered the old gentleman, and the subject of the Gullys
was not again referred to that night.
The following morning after Mr. Norton and Jack had eaten their
breakfast they went out and walked over Jack's claim.
Mr. Norton asked him many questions about the climatic conditions and
the possible future of the country. Jack answered his father as best he
could, and handed him the paper he had prepared, giving an account of
his experiences and observations, explaining to him that he had
assembled the data contained therein for the express purpose of
furnishing information to the owners of the land he and Mr. Gully had
cleared, but added that he had no idea at the time who the owner would
prove to be.
Mr. Norton glanced at the paper, and thanking Jack, said he would look
it over. He took specimens of the soil and told Jack if things looked
favorable he would arrange to have wells drilled on his land before
returning to the South.
Jack assured his father that he would make no mistake in doing so, and
upon hearing the auto horn, they turned and found that the car was
awaiting them at Jack's house. After returning and arranging things for
the day, Mr. Norton asked Jack how much time it would require to run
over to his land, as he wished to see it in order to get an idea of what
condition it was in and what improvements would be required.
Jack told him it would require but a few minutes, and they decided to go
before returning to the Gully home, which they did, and while there
Jack's father said to him:
"Jack, in view of the fact that you have made up your mind to marry this
Miss Gully and remain on your property here, would you be willing to
take charge of my interests?"
"Why, certainly, Dad!" Jack replied. "I only wish that I could grant
your request to accompany you home for a year, but I am afraid I could
not, in justice to all, do so."
Burns Norton turned to his son and taking him by the hand, said:
"I respect your feelings in this affair, Jack, and am glad that you gave
me the answer that you did last night, for I feel now that you have a
purpose in life, and the determination to see it through."
Jack simply said "Thank you, Dad," and they returned to the car and were
driven directly to the Gully home.
It being Saturday, there was no school, and Miss Anderson, who had
remained overnight at the Gullys, had not yet returned home when they
arrived. She had been told of the occurrence of the day before, of how
Jack and his father had been brought so unexpectedly together and the
circumstances under which they had been separated, and when Mr. Norton
and Jack entered the house upon their arrival she congratulated them on
the happy event and expressed the hope that Jack's experience had taught
him to confide in his father in the future.
Jack assured her that there would be no danger of a recurrence, as it
would take him the rest of his life in his effort at strict obedience to
atone for what he had done.
Mrs. Gully, with Miss Anderson's assistance, had prepared a splendid
dinner, which they told Jack was a reunion dinner, gotten up especially
for him and his father, and they were to be the guests of honor. His
father, they told him, was to be seated at the head of the table and was
to preside, and Jack was instructed that when dinner was announced he
was to escort his father to the place assigned to him.
When dinner time arrived, Jack did as he was bidden and after they were
all seated, he told his friends of how his father had played the typical
bachelor homesteader while his guest the night before, and they
suggested that they induce him to erect a shack on his land and become
one of them.
They laughed heartily at Jack's description of his father as a cook, and
agreed with him that it would be nice if he would stay.
Mr. Norton thanked them for their invitation, and said that nothing
would suit him better, as he was fascinated with their country, and was
sure that it had a great future; so much so, he added, that he had
determined to improve his holding, and would probably acquire more.
"But," he continued, "I am an old man, and have interests in other parts
of the world that require my attention, so I cannot remain with you. But
while I am here I want to thank you, Mr. Gully, and your estimable wife
for the interest you have taken in, and the kindnesses you have shown,
my son, for I have been assured by him that it has been very largely due
to your action and assistance that he has been able to make his
achievements so great.
"He has also told me, as you know, of the honor your daughter has
bestowed upon him by promising to become his wife. This knowledge is
very gratifying to me, for as he has chosen to become a farmer, he has
done wisely in selecting for his help mate one who is familiar with the
life of a farmer, and at the same time one who possesses the grace and
beauty that few are endowed with. I am proud of Jack's choice, and
gladly welcome her as my daughter."
"I feel," he continued, "that under the guiding care of such worthy
people as you and Miss Anderson, who Jack tells me has watched with
patient care the shaping of their destinies, these young people have
nothing to fear for the future.
"In a few days I shall return to my life, and I would like to change the
plans of these young people and take them home with me for a while. It
is but a few weeks until the date set for their marriage, and will cause
but little inconvenience, and I want them with me. What do you say,
Jack?" he asked.
Jack thought for a moment before replying, and then arising, he thanked
his father for what he had said and told him that his proposition had
come so unexpectedly they would have to ask time to talk it over, but as
far as he was concerned, he thought it might be arranged.
"Very well," said his father, "let me know as soon as you have made up
your minds, and I will tell you my plans."
After finishing their dinner, Mr. Norton remarked that he supposed he
ought to send word to Mr. Palmer and the other members of the party that
he would be delayed for several days, and give them an opportunity to
come out and inspect the country and return to Spokane with the cars, if
they so desired, and he called to the driver of the car he had been
using to tell him of his wishes and have him drive to the village with
his message.
As the driver came in response to his call, Jack asked his father if he
would let him deliver his message.
Mr. Norton, knowing that Jack was an expert driver, gave his consent and
dismissed the driver, telling him that young Mr. Norton would use the
car during the afternoon, and turning to his son, gave him the message
to deliver.
Jack listened attentively to his father's instructions, and when he had
finished, went hurriedly into the house calling to Ida and the children
to get their wraps and prepare for a ride to the village in the auto.
The children eagerly sought their mother's permission to accompany Jack,
and when this was given seized their wraps and joined Jack at the car,
where he and the driver were discussing the merits of the machine.
Mr. Norton and Travis Gully had gone to the barn and were inspecting
some of Gully's fine colts and discussing their points, a subject on
which Jack's father was an enthusiast. Ida was accompanied out to the
car by her mother and Miss Anderson. Jack expressed his regrets that
there was not sufficient room in the car for them to go also, but he had
unthoughtedly mentioned the trip to the children first, and now he could
not disappoint them.
Mrs. Gully laughingly replied that she had waited until the present time
without ever having ridden in an automobile, and she did not suppose
that she would suffer by waiting a little while longer, but she added:
"I do propose to have you give me a ride before the car is taken back to
Spokane."
Jack promised her a ride the following day, and after assisting Ida and
the children in, jumped into the driver's seat, and just as he was
starting Miss Anderson approached, and addressing he and Ida, who was
seated by his side, said:
"Make up your minds about your father's proposition to accompany him
home. I think it would be just simply delightful for you to do as he has
suggested."
"What do you think, mother?" Jack asked, addressing Mrs. Gully.
"Just as you and Ida say," she replied.
"You mean just as Ida says," Jack corrected, and laughingly added: "I'm
in with Dad on the proposition."
And with shouts of goodbye and with much waving of caps and hands they
started for the village.
Mrs. Gully and Miss Anderson watched them for a few moments, and turning
to go back into the house, Minnie Gully asked Miss Anderson her opinion
of the early marriage of Jack and Ida.
"I do not see that having it occur a few weeks ahead of the appointed
time would make any difference, and as Mr. Norton seems so anxious to
have them accompany him home, I would be glad to see them agree to his
proposition, but I believe I would leave the matter to them to decide."
Mrs. Gully agreed with her and added: "As we have made no provisions for
their marriage I think should they decide to do as he asks, it would be
best to allow them to accompany Mr. Norton to Spokane and have the
ceremony performed there, and Ida be given an opportunity to prepare
herself for the trip home with him."
"An excellent idea," answered Miss Anderson, "and it would be splendid
if you would accompany them as far as Spokane, be present at the
marriage, and assist Ida in her preparations."
Minnie Gully thought for a few moments before she replied to Miss
Anderson's suggestion about her going and finally said:
"How about Travis and the children? Who would care for them while I am
away."
"Don't worry about them; the other girls are plenty old enough to manage
things for the few days that you would be away; and besides, I will be
home, and I can come and assist them."
"Are you not going?" exclaimed Mrs. Gully, in dismay.
"I had not thought of going," answered Miss Anderson.
"Well, if I go you must accompany me," declared Mrs. Gully in a decisive
tone.
"We will not discuss our plans until we have heard from Jack and Ida,"
Miss Anderson replied.
In the meantime Burns Norton and Travis Gully had walked down into the
alfalfa field and had stopped and were earnestly discussing the future
of the two young people. Not the plans for their approaching marriage,
but of the bright prospects of this beautiful country in which they had
chosen to make their start in life, and the splendid opportunities it
afforded as compared with those that had been given to them when they
were their ages.
Jack and his party reached the village in a very short time--as Joe
expressed it, "by the time papa could have had the horses hitched to the
wagon"--and upon their arrival Jack left them and sought Mr. Palmer, to
whom he delivered his father's message. Mr. Dugan, who was on the street
at the time and had seen their arrival, was at the car talking to Ida
when Jack returned, and after greeting him Jack told him that the party
would probably be out to Mr. Gully's the day following, and he was
particularly anxious to have him come out, as he had a matter of
importance to discuss with him. Dugan was much surprised at this request
but promised to come.
Jack purchased a supply of candy and oranges for the noisy youngsters,
and they returned home after making a detour of many miles.
It was almost dark when the auto party arrived home, and the children
tumbled out of the car and ran into the house, all clamoring to tell of
the delightful time they had enjoyed. Ida was assisted from the car by
Jack, who was then preparing to drive over to his own home and care for
his stock, when he was told by the driver that Mr. Gully and Mr. Norton
had driven over in the buggy a short time before to look after things,
and were expected to return at any time. Upon hearing this Jack joined
the ladies in the house, and as he came in, he started in with the
children telling of their wonderful ride, but seeing the inquisitive
look on the faces of Mrs. Gully and Miss Anderson he asked them if Ida
had not told them, of their decision?
They replied that they had not had time to talk with her since her
return.
"Well, we're going with Dad," Jack announced.
"We are so glad," declared both ladies. "It will be such a delightful
trip for you both."
They did not get to inquire further into their plans, as Mr. Norton and
Gully came in from their trip to Jack's, and after supper was eaten Jack
and Ida made known their decision, and agreed to abide by any
arrangements their parents might make for their marriage and the trip.