atever they did would be satisfactory to him and that when the deeds
came he would sign them. Not to be outdone, Elizabeth bought the portion
of land which did not have the house and buildings, agreeing to rent the
home eighty until such time as he should choose to sell it, and expressing
a desire, since Jack had been born there, to buy the home if John should
ever wish to part with it. To his suggestion that she use the home without
rent--in fact, an offer of it as his share of support of the
child--Elizabeth refused to listen.

"I'll rent it of him as I would of anybody, Doctor," she had replied, and
made out a note on the spot.

John had written that he was in the commission business in Chicago, and
did not say whether his mother was with him nor not. To Elizabeth he did
not write, but to Jack he sent loads of toys and a sled at Christmas
time.

Elizabeth had not attempted to communicate with John direct, but had
rented his share of the land from him through Doctor Morgan. The sale of
the west eighty gave her enough money to stock the place with every animal
it would hold. When the girl began to look about her for calves, she found
that because of the price of corn many farmers were selling their hogs at
a sacrifice. Hogs were quick money. She invested in such as were ready for
increase, and by harvest time there was a fine lot of pigs on the Hunter
farm. Every cow had been milked, and the calves raised by hand so as to
have the milk for the young pigs till the early corn could be gathered.
Milking was hard work, but Elizabeth Hunter's pride was up.

Elizabeth's pride had had some sore pricks. In spite of every effort to
avoid hearing the small talk regarding herself, Elizabeth had been obliged
to listen to such portions as dribbled through from her mother, and an
occasional remark from Sadie Hansen. Sadie Hansen's life was a reorganized
one, but there were small lapses, and from force of habit she repeated
things, though she was in the main about the kindest neighbour Elizabeth
had. With Mrs. Farnshaw the case was different. She was Elizabeth's
mother, and certain privileges must be accorded her because of the
relationship. When she chose to disapprove of the separation of her
daughter from her husband, the daughter was compelled to recognize her
right to protest, and often inadvertently to listen to the gossip which
her mother urged as reasons for her objections. Mrs. Farnshaw came often
and talked volubly. Eliz