th should
have. That girl was slenderer and not quite so tall, but he said
everything was made long on purpose. Now what else should I get?"
He turned to the dressing table and taking a notebook from his pocket
made this list:
Rugs for bed and bath room.
Mattresses, pillows and bedding,
Dresses for all occasions.
All kinds of shoes and overshoes.
"There are gloves, too!" exclaimed the Harvester. "She has to have some,
but how am I going to know what is right? Oh, but she needs shoes!
High, low, slippers, everything! I wonder what that clerk wears. I don't
believe shoes would be comfortable without being fitted, or at least the
proper size. I wonder what kind of dresses she likes. I hope she's fond
of white. A woman always appears loveliest in that. Maybe I'd better buy
what I'm sure of and let her select the dresses. But I'd love to have
this room crammed with girl-fixings when she comes. Doesn't seem as
if she ever has had any little luxuries. I can't miss it on anything a
woman uses. Let me think!"
Slowly he wrote again:
Parasols.
Fans.
Veils.
Hats.
"I never can get them! I think that will keep me busy for a few days,"
said the Harvester as he closed the door softly, and went to look at
the pupae cases. Then he carved on the vine of the candlestick for her
dressing table; with one arm around Belshazzar, re-read the story of
John Muir's dog, went into the lake, and to bed. Just as he was becoming
unconscious the beast lifted an inquiring head and gazed at the man.
"More 'fraid of cow," the Harvester was muttering in a sleepy chuckle.
CHAPTER XI. DEMONSTRATED COURTSHIP
When the Harvester saw the Girl coming toward the woods, he spread the
rug, opened and placed the table and chair, laid out the colour box, and
another containing the last luna.
"Did the green one come out?" she asked, touching the box lightly.
"It did!" said the Harvester proudly, as if he were responsible for the
performance. "It is an omen! It means that I am to have my long-coveted
pattern for my best candlestick. It also clearly indicates that the
gods of luck are with me for the day, and I get my way about everything.
There won't be the least use in your asking 'why' or interposing
objections. This is my clean sweep. I shall be fearfully dictatorial and
you must submit, because the fates have pointed out that they favour
me to-day, and if you go contrary
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