The Girl From Kellers | Page 7

too deep to get straight. It's possible that the
man I owe most money might give me 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 should sweat and deny myself for somebody else's benefit,
particularly as I'm not fond of doing so for my own."
"Then you have made a plan?"
Charnock laughed. "I'd a notion of applying for a railroad job. The
pay's pretty good, and I daresay you could put me on the track."
"I could. The trouble is that somebody else might afterwards put you
off. However, if you'd like to try--"
"I'll wait a bit. I don't know that it's prudent to plunge into things."
"It is, if you plunge in and stop in until you struggle out with what you

want. Come up to the track and ask for me when you decide to let the
farm go."
"On the whole, I think not," said Charnock, whose look got somewhat
strained. "You see, I expect an offer of another post though nothing's
been fixed yet. We'll let the matter drop in the meantime. Are you
going to the Long Lake picnic?"
Festing looked at him with surprise. "Certainly not! Did you ever know
me leave my job to go to a picnic?"
"It might be better if you did! My opinion is you think too much about
your job."
"You think too little about yours," Festing rejoined. "Anyhow, what
amusement do you think I'd get from lounging round Long Lake all
day?"
"The ducks ought to be plentiful and I'd lend you a gun. In fact, I'll lend
you my second team, if you'll drive the Marvin girls over."
"No, thanks," said Festing firmly. "Somebody left Flora Marvin on my
hands at the supper, and I imagine she got very tired. She certainly
looked tired; the girls about the settlement don't hide their feelings. But
who's going with you, since you want the other team?"
"I promised to take Sadie Keller."
"Sadie Keller?" Festing exclaimed and paused, rather awkwardly.
"Well, of course, I don't see why you shouldn't take her, if she wants to
go."
Charnock looked at him with amusement. "As she's the chief organizer
of the picnic, Sadie does want to go. For that matter, it was her
suggestion that I should bring you."
"I won't be there; for one thing, I'm too busy," Festing declared, and
soon afterwards got up. "It's time I started back to camp."

Leaving the homestead, he walked thoughtfully across the plain.
Charnock had his faults, but he was his friend and was now in trouble.
However, as he had not the pluck to face his difficulties, Festing did
not see how he could help. 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 have been difficult afterwards
to let the matter drop. Sadie was not a silly coquette. She had a
calculating bent, ambition, and a resolute character. She would not flirt
with anybody who was, so to speak, not worth powder and shot.
Festing did not know how Miss Keller rated his value, but he was
satisfied to remain a bachelor, and had perhaps allowed her to
understand this, because she had since treated him with cold politeness.
Now it 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 choice. She certainly had some virtues. But Bob was not free, and
it was unthinkable that a man who had won the love of the girl whose
portrait Festing knew should be satisfied with another of Sadie's type.
Then Festing pulled himself up. He could not warn Bob to be cautious,
or interfere with the girl's plans, supposing that she had made some.
Besides, it was Charnock's affair, not his. By and by he dismissed the
matter and thought about a troublesome job that must be undertaken in
the morning.

CHAPTER II
THE PICNIC
The picnic at Long Lake was an annual function, held as soon as the
weather got warm enough, to celebrate the return of spring. Winter is
long and tedious on the high Western plains, where the frost is often
Arctic and little work can be done, and after sitting by the red-hot stove
through the dark, cold months, the inhabitants of the scattered

homesteads come out with joyful hearts to greet the sunshine. There is,
however, no slow transition. Rushing winds from