he
hummed over the tune that floated across the marsh. She was very busy
when the Harvester came, but he spoke casually of his morning's work,
ate heartily, and ordered her to take a nap while he washed roots and
filled the trays, and then they went to the woods together for the
afternoon.

In the evening they came home to the cabin and finished the day's
work. As the night was chilly, the Harvester heaped some bark in the
living-room fireplace, and lay on the rug before it, while the Girl sat
in an easy chair and watched him as he talked. He was telling her about
some wonderful combinations he was going to compound for different
ailments and he laughingly asked her if she wanted to be a millionaire's
wife and live in a palace.

"Of course I could if I wanted to!" she suggested.

"You could!" cried the Harvester. "All that is necessary is to combine
a few proper drugs in one great remedy and float it. That is easy! The
people will do the remainder."

"You talk as if you believe that," marvelled the Girl.

"Want it proven?" challenged the Harvester.

"No!" she cried in swift alarm. "What do we want with more than we have?
What is there necessary to happiness that is not ours now? Maybe it is
true that the 'love of money is the root of all evil.' Don't you ever
get a lot just to find out. You said the night I came here that you
didn't want more than you had and now I don't. I won't have it! It
might bring restlessness and discontent. I've seen it make other people
unhappy and separate them. I don't want money, I want work. You make
your remedies and offer them to suffering humanity for just a living
profit, and I'll keep house and draw designs. I am perfectly happy,
free, and unspeakably content. I never dreamed that it was possible for
me to be so glad, and so filled with the joy of life. There is only one
thing on earth I want. If I only could----"

"Could what, Ruth?"

"Could get that kiss right----"

The Harvester laughed.

"Forget it, I tell you!" he commanded. "Just so long as you worry and
fret, so long I've got to wait. If you quit thinking about it, all
'unbeknownst' to yourself you'll awake some morning with it on your
lips. I can see traces of it growing stronger every day. Very soon now
it's going to materialize, and then get out of my way, for I'll be a
whirling, irresponsible lunatic, with the wild joy of it. Oh I've got
faith in that kiss of yours, Ruth! It's on the way. The fates have
booked