-IN-LAW

Next morning I busied myself making a few additions to my outfit for
the winter. Then I borrowed a two-and-a-half fathom canoe and paddled
across the lake to Spearhead. The town I had heard so much about from
the Free Trader was just a little clearing of about three acres on the
edge of the forest; in fact, it was really just a stump lot with a
small one-and-a-half story log house standing in the middle. Where
there was a rise in the field, a small log stable was set half
underground, and upon its roof was stacked the winter's supply of hay
for a team of horses, a cow, and a heifer.

At the front door Mr. and Mrs. Spear welcomed me. My hostess was a
prepossessing Canadian woman of fair education, in fact, she had been a
stenographer. On entering the house I found the trading room on the
right of a tiny hall, on the left was the living room, which was also
used to eat in, and the kitchen was, of course, in the rear. After
being entertained for ten or fifteen minutes by my host and hostess, I
heard light steps descending the stairs, and the next moment I beheld a
charming girl. She was their only child. They called her Athabasca,
after the beautiful lake of that name. She was sixteen years of age,
tall, slender, and graceful, a brunette with large, soft eyes and long,
flowing, wavy hair. She wore a simple little print dress that was
becomingly short in the skirt, a pair of black stockings, and low,
beaded moccasins. I admired her appearance, but regretted her shyness,
for she was almost as bashful as I was. She bowed and blushed--so did
I--and while her parents talked to me she sat demurely silent on the
sofa. Occasionally, I caught from her with pleasant embarrassment a
shy but fleeting glance.

Presently, dinner was announced by a half-breed maid, and we four took
our places at the table, Athabasca opposite me. At first the talk was
lively, though only three shared in it. Then, as the third seemed
rather more interested in his silent partner, he would from time to
time lose the thread of the discourse. By degrees the conversation
died down into silence. A few minutes later Mrs. Spear suddenly
remarked:

"Father . . . don't you think it would be a good thing if you took
son-in-law into partnership?"

Father leaned back, scratched his head for a while, and then replied:

"Yes, Mother, I do, and I'll do it."

The silent though beautiful Athabasca, without even raising her eyes
from her pl