on belongs to
us."

"To you, you mean," said the Girl.

"To us, I mean," declared the Harvester. "Don't you know that the
'worldly goods bestowal' clause in a marriage ceremony is a partial
reality. It doesn't give you 'all my worldly goods,' but it gives you
one third. Which will you take, the hill, lake, marsh, or a part of all
of them."

"Oh, is there water?"

"Did I forget to mention that I was formerly sole owner and proprietor
of the lake of Lost Loons, also a brook of Singing Water, and many cold
springs. The lake covers about one third of our land, and my neighbours
would allow me ditch outlet to the river, but they say I'm too lazy to
take it."

"Lazy! Do they mean drain your lake into the river?"

"They do," said the Harvester, "and make the bed into a cornfield."

"But you wouldn't?"

She turned to him with confidence.

"I haven't so far, but of course, when you see it, if you would prefer
it in a corn----Let's play a game! Turn your head in this direction,"
he indicated with the whip, "close your eyes, and open them when I say
ready."

"All right!"

"Now!" said the Harvester.

"Oh," cried the Girl. "Stop! Please stop!"

They were at the foot of a small levee that ran to the bridge crossing
Singing Water. On the left lay the valley through which the stream swept
from its hurried rush down the hill, a marshy thicket of vines, shrubs,
and bushes, the banks impassable with water growth. Everywhere flamed
foxfire and cardinal flower, thousands of wild tiger lilies lifted
gorgeous orange-red trumpets, beside pearl-white turtle head and moon
daisies, while all the creek bank was a coral line with the first
opening bloom of big pink mallows. Rank jewel flower poured gold from
dainty cornucopias and lavender beard-tongue offered honey to a million
bumbling bees; water smart-weed spread a glowing pink background, and
twining amber dodder topped the marsh in lacy mist with its delicate
white bloom. Straight before them a white-sanded road climbed to the
bridge and up a gentle hill between the young hedge of small trees and
bushes, where again flowers and bright colours rioted and led to the
cabin yet invisible. On the right, the hill, crowned with gigantic
forest trees, sloped to the lake; midway the building stood, and from
it, among scattering trees all the way to the water's edge, were immense
beds of vivid colour. Like a scarf of gold flung across the face of
earth waved the misty saffron, and b