ses to remain in the woods.

"Then every spring, on the day the first bluebird comes, the dog also
decides whether the man shall go on alone or find a mate and bring her
home for company. Each year the dog regularly has decided that they live
as always. This spring, for some unforeseen reason, he changed his mind,
and compelled the man, according to his vow in the beginning, to go
courting. The man was so very angry at the idea of having a woman in
his home, interfering with his work, disturbing his arrangements, and
perhaps wanting to spend more money than he could afford, that he struck
the dog for making that decision; struck him for the very first time in
his life----I believe you'd like those apricots. Please try one."

"Go on with the story," said the Girl, sipping delicately but constantly
at the frosty glass.

The Harvester arose and refilled it. Then he dropped pieces of ice over
the fruit.

"Where was I?" he inquired casually.

"Where you struck Belshazzar, and it's no wonder," answered the Girl.

Without taking time to ponder that, the Harvester continued:

"But that night the man had a wonderful, golden dream. A beautiful girl
came to him, and she was so gracious and lovely that he was sufficiently
punished for striking his dog, because he fell unalterably in love with
her."

"Meaning you?" interrupted the Girl.

"Yes," said the Harvester, "meaning me. I----if you like----fell in love
with the girl. She came so alluringly, and I was so close to her that
I saw her better than I ever did any other girl, and I knew her for all
time. When she went, my heart was gone."

"And you have lived without that important organ ever since?"

"Without even the ghost of it! She took it with her. Well, that dream
was so real, that the next day I began building over my house, making
furniture, and planting flowers for her; and every day, wherever I went,
I watched for her."

"What nonsense!"

"I can't see it."

"You won't find a girl you dreamed about in a thousand years."

"Wrong!" cried the Harvester triumphantly. "Saw her in little less than
three months, but she vanished and it took some time and difficult work
before I located her again; but I've got her all solid now, and she
doesn't escape."

"Is she a 'lovely and gracious lady'?"

"She is!" said the Harvester, with all his heart.

"Young and beautiful, of course!"

"Indeed yes!"

"Please fill this glass. I told you what I was going to do."