I never have pipe-dreamed
much about marriage, though I've done my share of flirting in my day.
But for the first time in my life I realize that Bobby Burns knew what
human life is in its innermost essence when he said:

"'To make a happy fireside clime for wean and wife,
That's the true purpose and sublime, of human life!'"

Charley did not speak but she turned and looked into Roger's blue eyes
with her own bespeaking a depth of feeling that was beyond words. Roger,
looking at the splendid brow above the brown eyes, kissed it reverently
and then gazing at the beautiful curving mouth, he crushed his lips to
Charley's. Then again they sat watching the bees in the alfalfa.

Charley noted before Roger the sound of hoof beats and looking round,
beheld Hackett's two seated buckboard crawling slowly toward them.

"Who on earth now!" exclaimed Roger. "It can't be--yes, by Jove it is
Dean Erskine--and--and Mamma and Papa Wolf! Oh, Elsa and Dick are going
to have real trouble now!"

They hurried round to the corral, and shouted to the others so that the
whole ranch was present to welcome the travelers. Ernest was first,
lifting his mother bodily to the ground and kissing her a dozen times
before Elsa had a chance.

"Guess I can pull off a surprise party when I try!" he shouted. "Here,
Papa, this is Charley. Don't you remember the little roly-poly who used
to play in the swimming pool? And Dick--who tried to boss us."

"Come up to the house! I know you're half dead," said Charley, leading
the way as she spoke.

"I don't want to go into any house till I've seen the Plant," exclaimed
Dean Erskine, wiping the sand from his face.

"Not a Plant for me, but coffee and some shade and a little breeze,
maybe," cried Papa Wolf.

"Better have some breakfast first, Dean," suggested Roger. "There's a
long story goes with seeing the plant."

"There's a long story goes with a number of things here I would
suspect," grunted Papa Wolf, mounting the steps to the porch.

"Now, Papa, don't try to talk until you've eaten," called Mamma
anxiously, from Ernest's arm. "Oh, but children, this is very pleasant,"
as the party entered the living room. "How do you keep it so cool and
how have you endured this dreadful heat?"

"Heat!" laughed Elsa, "why, Mamma, this is our cool fall weather we're
having now. You should have been here in the good old summer time."

"God forbid, if it was warmer than this yet. Papa, take off your coat,